Are you ready?
All amateur radio operators are affected by the present pandemic in many ways. We stand with all our brothers and sisters as they go through these changing times. Let us keep our ham radio operations active, and keep our mind focused and head level as we weather our personal storms. We hope that we can assist each another when help is needed. A new season is coming , we do not know how it will pan out. Let us keep positive and focused.
I follow a few amateur radio groups on Facebook, and view some of the issues and questions raised. I suspect that some of these issues and questions may also be raised by the new ham radio operators who may read this blog. In 50-years of ham radio I have seen and proved a few things, which may be helpful to someone willing to experiment. I am still learning, as we all are. We never stop learning in ham radio. Antenna experiments are fun, if you have the correct tools. In 2020 I got a RigExpert antenna analyzer, which opened up a new world of antenna experiments that my previous antenna analyzer did not.
Some of us know that the antenna could be the most important component in the DX arsenal. I love verticals because they are affordable, and if set up correctly they can out perform anything. The vertical antenna has to be the right height for where you want to reach, and the ground system has to be almost perfect. The half wave vertical antenna is the best compromise. You get away with not having to lay radials, and a ground system. It is best to place any antenna above head height, so that anyone can walk under it without making contact. Antennas with radials are best with four [4] to eight [8] elevated radials. For on the ground radials, no less that 132 radials may be called for.
When more gain is required a parasitic element is used, and reflectors work best. Two elements give the most gain, but if more is required, be ready to seriously experiment. This means that you need to have the "sophisticated" test tools needed. Most hams just settle for the two elements and maximize performance for what they need. Verticals work best the closer to the seawater. Over sea water they can outperform the best beams. In the case of beam antennas, all single band beams work best. Trap beams are the worst performers, and just wastes our money. No matter who makes them. Proper home brew uncompromised beams are the best. Unfortunately in V4 there is no ready stock of antenna tubing, everything must be imported. There are still a few reliable places from which to order antenna tubing.
DX Engineering fill the needs of the ham fraternity, owned and operated by hams. All hams are free to order from any supplier, but be careful what you get, as being overseas it is almost impossible to return goods for your money back. Recently someone ordered PL259 plugs from a supplier in the USA, only to discover that solder could not hold onto the plug contacts. Investigations reveal that the plugs were made in China. Be careful when you order and from who. For some businesses it is all about making money. Pick your supplier wisely. Here is another supplier for your consideration. Take you time, browse every page of this website, and learn much more about ham radio.
To be a serious ham radio operator, obviously, one has to be taking their ham radio operating seriously. All decisions should be informed, not hearsay. Check and recheck, investigate and research, ask questions, go for a second and third opinion. There are many questionable ham radio business places these days and coming out of this pandemic it may only get worse. I only buy ham radio gear from one or two places in the USA. If possible go to the source to get your ham stuff. A few months ago I developed an interest in Kenwood and discovered that my supplier was in the Dominican Republic, not the USA, Canada or the UK. I could get a Kenwood radio from any of those countries, but the question of warranty could become an issue.
I am now looking at Yaesu but have not made contact as yet. I am watching Yaesu because recently they have cancelled production of all their popular radio because of the pandemic. I suspect that many Yaesu radios are available new and going cheaper, but when that radio fail we will be dead in the water. No spare parts. It is not a wise move to buy an obsolete radio, no matter how cheap it is, unless you can buy a second radio for parts. How the world is shaping up, the safest way is to buy the best current affordable radio. All current radio receivers are of a high quality so brands may not be an issue. Personally I am off the Asian brands, because after sales support has not been stellar.
However a lot can be said about obsolete ham radio gear if one can maintain and modify it and have the tools and equipment to do so. There are some popular and famous equpment that function admirably. Many collector ham radio items are functioning like new, but that can come with a price, but take your best shot, if led to do so. If one has interest in going this route the "Receiver Test Data" table [above] may prove helpful. Search from the bottom up. Many hams are going for the older radios and not these popular modern SDR radios. Maybe this is caused by the economic fallout of the pandemic. We have to watch this wave of ham radio carefully.
I see many DX hams reporting that sunspot cycle 25 is progressing and that ham band conditions are improving. That is great, but in V4 we still cannot use the 40-meter, 80-meter, 160-meter ham bands, because of the noise and RF interference caused by the electric power company by their smart meter system. The Government is talking to themselves, one minister in charge of the electricity company and another minister in charge of the telecom regulators. The telecoms laws that they willfully continue to break is in the middle. I do not even wonder what the people at the ITU, in Geneva, now think about the telecoms situation in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and by extension ECTEL. This is an international embarrassment to all citizens of our country and the OECS. Four years and counting.
Are you ready to take your ham radio to another level? Before or after this hurricane season? There is no time like the present. This is the best time.
[to be continued]
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