https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:39:35 +0000 MyBB https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1469 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:44:19 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1469 READ-ONLY resource should continue.

The forum data is now separately hosted and should continue for at least the short-to-medium term future.

It will remain a source of historical data only, no NEW end user posts can be added.

Doug, admin
16 September 2025]]> READ-ONLY resource should continue.

The forum data is now separately hosted and should continue for at least the short-to-medium term future.

It will remain a source of historical data only, no NEW end user posts can be added.

Doug, admin
16 September 2025]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1468 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:35:16 +0000 VK4CCV]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1468
I am currently putting a High Power 4:1 Current Balun together using 2 stacked FT250-43 Cores.
The design I am using is one I have seen on TRX Bench which has Left & Right Coils on the Core.

He is using 12 turns on each side of the core.

I am using insulated 16AWG Multi-core wire which is 3mm OD.

My problem is, I am unable to wind 12 turns either side of the core.

I can only get 9 Turns on before the ID of the core becomes full.

I am now wondering how much efficiency I would loose with only 9 turns.

Anyone ran into this before?

Regards

Pete DU7/VK4CCV]]>
I am currently putting a High Power 4:1 Current Balun together using 2 stacked FT250-43 Cores.
The design I am using is one I have seen on TRX Bench which has Left & Right Coils on the Core.

He is using 12 turns on each side of the core.

I am using insulated 16AWG Multi-core wire which is 3mm OD.

My problem is, I am unable to wind 12 turns either side of the core.

I can only get 9 Turns on before the ID of the core becomes full.

I am now wondering how much efficiency I would loose with only 9 turns.

Anyone ran into this before?

Regards

Pete DU7/VK4CCV]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1467 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:16:36 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1467 The forum was closed to all new posts and private messaging on 7th November 2025.
It was going to be removed entirely but has been reinstated so that existing posts are searchable, using the search box option at top RHS, for now.
Existing search engine results should find articles but no new details will be found.

Registered users need no longer log in as there are no options available to post.

There will be no new users added so registration is unnecessary, and will fail regardless.

This archive may be moved to piggy-back off another domain at some stage OR may simply disappear entirely.

A revised colour scheme has been applied to differentiate its archive status as against the original blue colours...]]> The forum was closed to all new posts and private messaging on 7th November 2025.
It was going to be removed entirely but has been reinstated so that existing posts are searchable, using the search box option at top RHS, for now.
Existing search engine results should find articles but no new details will be found.

Registered users need no longer log in as there are no options available to post.

There will be no new users added so registration is unnecessary, and will fail regardless.

This archive may be moved to piggy-back off another domain at some stage OR may simply disappear entirely.

A revised colour scheme has been applied to differentiate its archive status as against the original blue colours...]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1466 Sun, 03 Nov 2024 23:38:57 +0000 VK2KRR]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1466 As a result these towers are available for sale, the 21m Flight Bros free standing, Southern Cross free standing tower 19m, Home made heavy duty vertical free standing tower 3 sections should be 9m when bolted to a concrete pad (taller with antenna pipe out top of tower.
The Downer power transmission tower could be available for the right price if wanted by someone.]]> As a result these towers are available for sale, the 21m Flight Bros free standing, Southern Cross free standing tower 19m, Home made heavy duty vertical free standing tower 3 sections should be 9m when bolted to a concrete pad (taller with antenna pipe out top of tower.
The Downer power transmission tower could be available for the right price if wanted by someone.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1465 Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:20:05 +0000 VK2TRF]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1465 I'm looking at this one ATM.

Thanks

  Screenshot 2024-10-13 at 09.36.27.png (Size: 655.15 KB / Downloads: 305) ]]> I'm looking at this one ATM.

Thanks

  Screenshot 2024-10-13 at 09.36.27.png (Size: 655.15 KB / Downloads: 305) ]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1464 Sun, 13 Oct 2024 07:57:35 +0000 VK2CSW]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1464
Given the recent CME and approaching rain and storm fronts I wasn't expecting the conditions to be fantastic, but fired up the 857D anyway.

Feeling both lazy and not expecting much I decided it was an FT8 day.

First CQ on 20m yielded a contact to Costa Rica (TI5VWR)- a new country for me on any band! A little later I bagged Puerto Rico (WP4BRI) on 17m, another new one!

When I started I decided to start on 20m get a contact, move to 17m get a contact, move to 15m, 12m and 10m. That took an hour or so, then back 17m for another hour.

16 contacts all up, with two new entities and a DX Expedition (3D2V Rotuma Island Fiji).

Just a bit of fun and I am quite pleased with the results from my pipsqueak radio and a bit of wire above the shed!]]>
Given the recent CME and approaching rain and storm fronts I wasn't expecting the conditions to be fantastic, but fired up the 857D anyway.

Feeling both lazy and not expecting much I decided it was an FT8 day.

First CQ on 20m yielded a contact to Costa Rica (TI5VWR)- a new country for me on any band! A little later I bagged Puerto Rico (WP4BRI) on 17m, another new one!

When I started I decided to start on 20m get a contact, move to 17m get a contact, move to 15m, 12m and 10m. That took an hour or so, then back 17m for another hour.

16 contacts all up, with two new entities and a DX Expedition (3D2V Rotuma Island Fiji).

Just a bit of fun and I am quite pleased with the results from my pipsqueak radio and a bit of wire above the shed!]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1463 Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:10:34 +0000 VK1DJA]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1463
There are a couple of puzzles.  Can anyone help, please?

Is RDS used in Australia?  I can find only one oldish claim that RDS is used by only one Sydney station and only for traffic reports.  

How is a signal including a pilot tone generated?  A straight FM modulation with only the pilot tone (i.e. during a period of silence in speech or audio) should place all the transmitted power in the pilot tone.  This commentary,  
 ham.stackexchange.com/questions/7517/what-are-the-3-or-5-peaks-in-an-fm-broadcast-during-silence
suggests something different.

Thanks in advance.

Dave VK1DJA]]>
There are a couple of puzzles.  Can anyone help, please?

Is RDS used in Australia?  I can find only one oldish claim that RDS is used by only one Sydney station and only for traffic reports.  

How is a signal including a pilot tone generated?  A straight FM modulation with only the pilot tone (i.e. during a period of silence in speech or audio) should place all the transmitted power in the pilot tone.  This commentary,  
 ham.stackexchange.com/questions/7517/what-are-the-3-or-5-peaks-in-an-fm-broadcast-during-silence
suggests something different.

Thanks in advance.

Dave VK1DJA]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1462 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 07:54:14 +0000 VK6RO]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1462
At the very beginning of the ABC TV news every night there is CW.

This is right at the beginning within maybe 1 to 4 seconds?

Made by some type of musical instrument

Text is A B C T    ._    _...    _._.   _

Probably at about 20 words per minute?

de VK6RO

_._

e&oe]]>
At the very beginning of the ABC TV news every night there is CW.

This is right at the beginning within maybe 1 to 4 seconds?

Made by some type of musical instrument

Text is A B C T    ._    _...    _._.   _

Probably at about 20 words per minute?

de VK6RO

_._

e&oe]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1461 Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:02:50 +0000 VK2XAX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1461
Dear WSJT-X Users,

We are pleased to announce that Release Candidate WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7 is ready for download and use by beta testers. This revision has many improvements to SuperFox mode: better decoding, more reliable message sequencing, and an open source, cryptographically sound verification scheme for Fox transmissions.

On-the-air tests have shown that SuperFox is capable of sustained QSO rates well in excess of 300 per hour.  We heartily recommend that future DXpeditions expecting to make very large numbers of QSOs should use SuperFox. Instructions for usage can be found in the SuperFox User Guide: https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/SuperFox_User_Guide.pdf

Additional details on program changes since RC6 can be found in the Release Notes:
https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/Re....0-rc7.txt

Release Candidates are intended for beta testers. If you download and use WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7, please provide relevant feedback on the new features and anything that does not seem to work properly for you. If your report involves something related to received signals, be sure to provide one or more saved *.wav files that illustrate the perceived problem.  As a general matter, use the option "Save all" when testing.

Direct links to installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS can be found on the WSJT-X page https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html Scroll down to the heading "Candidate release:  WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7".

For those who like to compile from source, a source-code tarball is available on the WSJT-X page. Public access to the git repository for the WSJT project is also available on the "Git" tab here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt/

WSJT-X is licensed under the terms of Version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Development of this software is a cooperative project to which many amateur radio operators have contributed. If you use our code, please have the courtesy to let us know about it. If you find bugs or make improvements to the code, please report them to us in a timely fashion.

The authors and Copyright holders of WSJT-X request that derivative works should not publish programs based on features in WSJT-X before those features are made available in a General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X. Currently this caution applies to all SuperFox and SuperHound features. We will cease making public Release Candidates if this request is ignored.

Feedback should be sent to this email list or one of the of the others mentioned here in the User Guide:
https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/ws...ml#SUPPORT

We hope you will enjoy using WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7, and that you will help us to create a new General Availability (GA) release soon.

     -- 73 from Joe, K1JT; Steve, K9AN; Nico, IV3NWV; Uwe, DG2YCB;
             Brian, N9ADG; John, G4KLA; and Charlie, DL3WDG.]]>
Dear WSJT-X Users,

We are pleased to announce that Release Candidate WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7 is ready for download and use by beta testers. This revision has many improvements to SuperFox mode: better decoding, more reliable message sequencing, and an open source, cryptographically sound verification scheme for Fox transmissions.

On-the-air tests have shown that SuperFox is capable of sustained QSO rates well in excess of 300 per hour.  We heartily recommend that future DXpeditions expecting to make very large numbers of QSOs should use SuperFox. Instructions for usage can be found in the SuperFox User Guide: https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/SuperFox_User_Guide.pdf

Additional details on program changes since RC6 can be found in the Release Notes:
https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/Re....0-rc7.txt

Release Candidates are intended for beta testers. If you download and use WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7, please provide relevant feedback on the new features and anything that does not seem to work properly for you. If your report involves something related to received signals, be sure to provide one or more saved *.wav files that illustrate the perceived problem.  As a general matter, use the option "Save all" when testing.

Direct links to installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS can be found on the WSJT-X page https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html Scroll down to the heading "Candidate release:  WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7".

For those who like to compile from source, a source-code tarball is available on the WSJT-X page. Public access to the git repository for the WSJT project is also available on the "Git" tab here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/wsjt/

WSJT-X is licensed under the terms of Version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Development of this software is a cooperative project to which many amateur radio operators have contributed. If you use our code, please have the courtesy to let us know about it. If you find bugs or make improvements to the code, please report them to us in a timely fashion.

The authors and Copyright holders of WSJT-X request that derivative works should not publish programs based on features in WSJT-X before those features are made available in a General Availability (GA) release of WSJT-X. Currently this caution applies to all SuperFox and SuperHound features. We will cease making public Release Candidates if this request is ignored.

Feedback should be sent to this email list or one of the of the others mentioned here in the User Guide:
https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx-doc/ws...ml#SUPPORT

We hope you will enjoy using WSJT-X 2.7.0-rc7, and that you will help us to create a new General Availability (GA) release soon.

     -- 73 from Joe, K1JT; Steve, K9AN; Nico, IV3NWV; Uwe, DG2YCB;
             Brian, N9ADG; John, G4KLA; and Charlie, DL3WDG.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1460 Sun, 29 Sep 2024 03:23:05 +0000 VK5PJ]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1460   I have for a long time now cringed each time a power bill arrived from our retailer (one of the big nation wide ones).  Over the years I have tried all sorts of strategies to lower our power bill, some bad, (trying to go off grid for the shack with some deep cycle batteries) and some good ones (fitting a Teslar battery after I nearly burnt the shack down with the deep cycle batteries).

No matter what I try we always seem to be paying out for power even though we have no reverse cycle AC and have a wood fire for winter.  I guess me running the HAM shack gear 24/7 is a big part of my problem LOL.

I ran across an advert for a power company with a difference, where they let you access the WHOLESALE power market and you get to buy power when its cheap and sell back from your battery when power prices are High, all to YOUR advantage not the power companies profit.

In many ways for people who have a good glob of Solar and Battery storage this model of power usage is a great way to make the market work for you.  Now I have no affiliation other than being an aspiring customer.  I have a friend a few kilometres away (also a HAM) who has been with them for a little while now and has only good things to say about this company (will not drop any names here).

So do you have grid connected Solar at home, a Grid connected storage battery and feel like you could be doing more with this equipment other than making profits for your power company? 

Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch but I wanted to try and convey the idea that we can do better with what a lot of us have already, I will not include the name of the company directly in here but will link a video about the how wholesale power works, from that you will be able to see their name in the video.

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=tYyM7Nf9EZw

Wholesale power on Youtube 

Oh if your wondering why there is a '-' in the URL between the T and U in youtube, well that fools their playback to not include adverts  give it a go on other youtube videos and see the difference it makes.

Dear Mr senior Admin, if this is bad content, please remove it.]]>   I have for a long time now cringed each time a power bill arrived from our retailer (one of the big nation wide ones).  Over the years I have tried all sorts of strategies to lower our power bill, some bad, (trying to go off grid for the shack with some deep cycle batteries) and some good ones (fitting a Teslar battery after I nearly burnt the shack down with the deep cycle batteries).

No matter what I try we always seem to be paying out for power even though we have no reverse cycle AC and have a wood fire for winter.  I guess me running the HAM shack gear 24/7 is a big part of my problem LOL.

I ran across an advert for a power company with a difference, where they let you access the WHOLESALE power market and you get to buy power when its cheap and sell back from your battery when power prices are High, all to YOUR advantage not the power companies profit.

In many ways for people who have a good glob of Solar and Battery storage this model of power usage is a great way to make the market work for you.  Now I have no affiliation other than being an aspiring customer.  I have a friend a few kilometres away (also a HAM) who has been with them for a little while now and has only good things to say about this company (will not drop any names here).

So do you have grid connected Solar at home, a Grid connected storage battery and feel like you could be doing more with this equipment other than making profits for your power company? 

Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch but I wanted to try and convey the idea that we can do better with what a lot of us have already, I will not include the name of the company directly in here but will link a video about the how wholesale power works, from that you will be able to see their name in the video.

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=tYyM7Nf9EZw

Wholesale power on Youtube 

Oh if your wondering why there is a '-' in the URL between the T and U in youtube, well that fools their playback to not include adverts  give it a go on other youtube videos and see the difference it makes.

Dear Mr senior Admin, if this is bad content, please remove it.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1459 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 23:35:59 +0000 VK2ZRH/4]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1459
This issue is so packed with such sparkling content that the Publications Committee recommends you wear safety glasses to read it!

  AR #5-2024.jpg (Size: 119.97 KB / Downloads: 324)

  Page 3 #5 2024.jpg (Size: 303.34 KB / Downloads: 303) ]]>
This issue is so packed with such sparkling content that the Publications Committee recommends you wear safety glasses to read it!

  AR #5-2024.jpg (Size: 119.97 KB / Downloads: 324)

  Page 3 #5 2024.jpg (Size: 303.34 KB / Downloads: 303) ]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1458 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:59:14 +0000 VK2CSW]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1458
At about 09:00 (local) this morning (Wednesday the 18th) I received a notification from Aust Post that the package was ready for collection here in regional South Australia.

A bloody good effort - kudos to VK Radio Repairs!]]>
At about 09:00 (local) this morning (Wednesday the 18th) I received a notification from Aust Post that the package was ready for collection here in regional South Australia.

A bloody good effort - kudos to VK Radio Repairs!]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1457 Sun, 15 Sep 2024 22:11:10 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1457
Hamfests Australasia Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/16751163...ouncements

Sharing it for the benefit of all...]]>
Hamfests Australasia Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/16751163...ouncements

Sharing it for the benefit of all...]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1456 Sat, 14 Sep 2024 21:41:10 +0000 VK2CSW]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1456
I have been playing around with interfacing a small mixing console (Behringer Q502USB) with my bench radio (Yaesu FT-857D).

There are a couple of reasons I am thinking of doing this. Firstly the microphones I want to use are all low Z stage mics so I need a "z transformer" to overcome the 20dB difference in output between a low Z microphone and a hi z microphone. 

Next is that after over 40 years competitive shooting, about 30 years teaching diving and 40 odd years in and around the music industry my ears ain't what they used to be and some EQ on the headphones and shack speakers wouldn't go astray.

And of course, the main reason is the console and microphones (and all the bibs and bobs for it) are within reach and sitting idle...

The main out from a console is generally said to be around 22dBu, which is way too high for a microphone input.

My plan is to place a 600Ω:600Ω isolation transformer followed by some sort of resistance between main out and mic in.

In my feeble mind I thought that a 1kΩ log variable resistor across the transformer output might do the job. However, I also have had thoughts about doing a voltage divider with a series resistor before the variable resistor. Only I have no ideas on what would be some starting values for the said resistors.

The transformer and resistor/s will be installed into the box on the desktop that already has the 1/4" microphone jack and PTT switch. (Although I just got a router so a new box may be in the offing).

Has anyone done this?

Any ideas what the divider network values might need to be as a starting point?]]>
I have been playing around with interfacing a small mixing console (Behringer Q502USB) with my bench radio (Yaesu FT-857D).

There are a couple of reasons I am thinking of doing this. Firstly the microphones I want to use are all low Z stage mics so I need a "z transformer" to overcome the 20dB difference in output between a low Z microphone and a hi z microphone. 

Next is that after over 40 years competitive shooting, about 30 years teaching diving and 40 odd years in and around the music industry my ears ain't what they used to be and some EQ on the headphones and shack speakers wouldn't go astray.

And of course, the main reason is the console and microphones (and all the bibs and bobs for it) are within reach and sitting idle...

The main out from a console is generally said to be around 22dBu, which is way too high for a microphone input.

My plan is to place a 600Ω:600Ω isolation transformer followed by some sort of resistance between main out and mic in.

In my feeble mind I thought that a 1kΩ log variable resistor across the transformer output might do the job. However, I also have had thoughts about doing a voltage divider with a series resistor before the variable resistor. Only I have no ideas on what would be some starting values for the said resistors.

The transformer and resistor/s will be installed into the box on the desktop that already has the 1/4" microphone jack and PTT switch. (Although I just got a router so a new box may be in the offing).

Has anyone done this?

Any ideas what the divider network values might need to be as a starting point?]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1455 Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:44:17 +0000 ZL2WHO]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1455 Given that 8m is as popular  as Kamila Harris do we want it on air ? It now has Ident ZL28M. Its plug and play so no real effort required this end. Thoughts ?  Mark.]]> Given that 8m is as popular  as Kamila Harris do we want it on air ? It now has Ident ZL28M. Its plug and play so no real effort required this end. Thoughts ?  Mark.]]>