IC-9700 on left mouse/monitor/mic and IC-7610 on the right mouse/monitor/mic.

Both radios are available direct via IP, allowing me to use them from my Amazon Workspace, and by USB cables connecting directly to my PC.

The IC-7610 Has a mouse and keyboard and monitor connected directly, whereas the IC-9700 uses a software client on the local PC for Control, Waterfall, Etc.

I use Kasa power outlets to switch the elements of my station remotely.

Remote Power and Remote Control together let me run my entire station (amps and all) from most internet connected devices, including my phone.

This is the IC-7610 remote from my phone running 250w of FT8.

Click here to see a video of the IC-9700 running remote on a $30 Intel Atom Micro PC.

Here is the whole mess of it! (Q-R-Pinot too)

Now that I have shown you my shack, show me yours!

Send me photos and a description of your shack to have it featured here!

The new antenna has made a substantial difference in the performance of this repeater.

If you had trouble getting in before, try it now and you might make it.

Many thanks to my brother, Jeremy, for giving us yet another of his early Sunday mornings.

Still to come…

100W Amplifier and Bridgecom Duplexer.

NOTE!

If you can hear the D-Star repeater, but cant get in, use VFO mode to tune 444.675 and set your mode to DV.

Most users with an issue have programed a digital memory, which we are not ready for yet. (The D-Star Gateway System is coming soon.)

Phase 2 of the Wires X project is completed. We are currently testing the repeater as a gateway / node. More to complete.  Special thanks to K4QXN, KN4ONN, AND W4DXL for helping find that little switch. A long story for another time.  More to come later. 

73

KT4TAC

Please congratulate KT4TAC Tom Coudriet to the role of Vice President of the Charlotte Amateur Radio Club for 2024.

The club would like to thank Mike Wentz KE4EHC for his service and on going contributions to the club.

Congratulations to Ted (KE6QEY) for retaining the office of Club President for the 2024 term.

Tom (KT4TAC) was elected as Vice President, while Gale and Buck committed to another year of service in their current positions of Secretary and Treasurer.

I am always thinking of antenna projects. Here is one I came up with to entertain myself over Thanksgiving break.

Many people who have a 1.2ghz radio do not have an antenna for it.

This is a simple 1/4 wave antenna that can be built in about 15 minutes for the 1.2ghz band.

Material list is as follows…

1. Mason Jar Lid Like this.
2. N-Connecter to PL-259 connector adapter. Like this.
3. Almost 3″ of bare #6 Like this.
4. The coupling ring from a broken PL-259.
   

Construction is as simple as drilling a hole thru the lid, snipping off a measured length of wire, and assembling the parts as pictured.

The antenna should be installed with the least amount of feed line possible, due to the tremendous loss it presents at these frequencies.

If you have a VNA, the antenna can be fine tuned by moving the copper wire up and down by tiny increments.

If you do not have a VNA, just use the SWR meter on the radio, as the antenna should be very close to perfect at the length pictured.

Also, screwing a mason jar over the top would make for a good outdoor antenna, however, feedline length is such an issue that having the antenna in the shack is usually the best bet.

Feedline loss calculator

Cheers!

PS

This technique works on 70cm with a cookie tin or 2m with a pizza pan.

I also use a barrel connector instead of the N-adapter for 2m.

(70cm Cookie-tin antenna)