Finally I’ve started my activities with digital modes too.
After a lot of years spent on swl-ling and reading, I’ve received today my radio-to-PC interface cable.
I ordered two weeks ago a Donner’s interface for my Yaesu FT-857D. Shipping has been fast (two weeks to italy), but italian taxes are always so expensive… 16 euros for a 40 USD value declaration.

As I expected, I’ve been able to make some contact with extremely low power, 5 Watts into my buddipole antenna placed right out of my balcony.  Currently I’ve setup the Buddipole antenna in vertical mode with a wire on “black” side, and tuned on 20 meters.

First QSO, have done in PSK31 with SP9CV Cezar from Poland, and received a 569. I’ve been testing connections and setup with ham radio deluxe, using the PSK31 Deluxe.

I will take the opportunity to test RTTY and SSTV later on this week.

During the night I’ve done some more QSOs into europe ON OK G all with readable signals. It really looks I’ve found a funny way to be active also from my apartament. I know is not the best, but it works for the moment and let me making contacts.

On next days I will post some more infos on the new buddipole antenna, since I’m getting experienced with this portable antenna expecially on finding the best whip lenght for a perfect resonance.

Last weekend I’ve worked also last special DR2006 stations I needed for the Soccer World Cup Award. Just need to work some more DL stations to complete the requirements, will try next weekend or with my “all-new” operating modes. Hi

Technorati Tags: ham radio, hamradio, psk31, rtty, digimode, sstv,

Yesterday evening, even if in late and for just one hour, I’ve taken part to the IARU contest. As I did for the ARI contest, I’ve just partecipated in real sport-spirit….
The occasion has also been good to test the new antenna (buddipole) on 15 meters band, where I did the most of my contacts.

An interesting info for newbies, about the contest log, that need to be in the “Cabrillo format”.
I use ham radio deluxe as main Logging program, and it includes, as many logging program, functions to export to cabrillo log format, so has not really been a big problem
For those who do not have skills on exporting logs into the Cabrillo log format, you can have a look at this online cabrillo form generator. By submitting a simple text log, by typing in the textarea field, it will generate and sumbit the log in the correct format for you.

Just back from holidays and while testing my new ham radio toy, the buddipole antenna, I’ve done an interesting QSO with YO3FXL Mihali about bazooka antennas on 17 meters band. He told me that his roof is plenty of monoband dipoles, generic dipoles, and he is using a bazooka antenna for 17 meters.
According to him, the bazooka antennas outperforms dipoles, and that he is going to dismiss in this summer all his dipoles in favour of the equivalent bazooka type.
I’ve heard and read someting about this antennas, but never gone in deep with technical specifications. They really looks interesting, for those who looks for cheeap and easy to build antennas.
Here you can find some bazooka antenna plans