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Testing starts Again !
oh6bi
Hello All after long winter !
Yesterday I put my boat to sea and today goeing to summer cottage with FT897 and FC40.. If you dont know about me, just read some earlier messages from oh6bi in this group. OK, last messages during autumn I told to start testing FC40 and OCF dipole, yes I will do that. During this winter I spent 3 months in Zambia (9J2BI) and I didnt get good contacs to Europe with 23m long Wire. I installed The Wire four times to different directions to get better EU signals, but no good success, only some QSOs to Europe, none to OH. JA and UA9 where the best. Also local QRM and QRN where strong with The Wire. After that I did some tests with 7 MHz deltaloop and that was much better. QRN and QRM where lower and receiving signals better. Unfortunately work was disturbing The Hobby and not enough time for the loop. That means I will start this summer experiments with 7 MHz Delta Loop. You will see what happens.. By the way, does anyone have information how FC40 really works ? I mean would be nice to build "universal control box" same way as many has done with Icom AH4(and AH3, what I am using with IC706). Check in AH4 section from AA7OL Niko Takahashi: "AH4 connetion to any Radio". Best Regards and 73s de rami, oh6bi |
Re: fc-40 and feeder?
peterschrader2
Hi Colin,
Exactly what I do when operating portable, 300 ohm transmit grade feeder about 15 metres long, feeding a longish doublet (60 metres total I think, I must measure it some day). I hang it in some trees when camping. Loads up on all bands 160 to 6 metres, and seems to radiate quite well if I can get the wires up flat and high. I tried using the FC40 with a vertical, pretty poor performer compared to the screwdriver I use now while mobile (Codan 9350). 73, Peter VK4TGV --- In YaesuTuner@..., "colin" <kinggreene2003@...> wrote: ratio? i know it says dont use coax but if i just connect a wire i am limited |
Re: fc-40 and feeder?
wb0m
--- In YaesuTuner@..., "colin" <kinggreene2003@...> wrote:
well i have got a Ft-40 that came with the bundle of radio's that iratio? i know it says dont use coax but if i just connect a wire i am limitedHi Colin, Yes, you can connect the FC-40 to your OCF with twin lead. However, I use 450 ladder line and have read that 300 sometimes is not the best because of the spacing between the leads wires. I am unsure about your "don't use coax" comment. You need to use coax between the tuner and radio, of course, but coax between the tuner and antenna is a no-no. The loss will be much to great. I also use a I.C.E. lightning suppressor for twin lead wire between the coupler and my OCF. GL & 73, Jeff/wb0m |
fc-40 and feeder?
colin
well i have got a Ft-40 that came with the bundle of radio's that i
got a short while ago, i am wondering weather i could feed a "off center dipole" with some 300 ohm feeder, something like a 33/66Ft ratio? i know it says dont use coax but if i just connect a wire i am limited to about a 20 Ft vertical. any ideas? colin KB3PNE |
I am gettting
Gerald Gaule
This is KE7GGV...Albany Oregon..I am getting a YAESU FT-707 and looking
at the FC-707 Antenna Tuner....does anyone own one out there...I need any information,tips,ideas,quirks...any info will help..Thanks for your time...DE KE7GGV...73 ke7ggv@... take care www.qrz.com/callsign/ke7ggv |
Re: Control Cable revisited
wb0m
--- In YaesuTuner@..., "dj5hd" <jurgen@...> wrote:
Hello Jurgen, Tnx fer taking the time to reply. I've decided to replace the CAT-5 cable I now use with 8 conductor rotor wire. I cut the cable that Yaesu gave me and will splice the wire in between. At the tuner end I'll use a terminal strip and place it in a waterproof container and on the radio end I'll use a 9-pin molex connector so I can disconnect during storms. Tnx agn & 73, Jeff/wb0m |
Re: Control Cable revisited
dj5hd
I made several control cables for me and my friends using CAT-5 cable,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
20m long, all work fine. The shields were connected to the metal parts of the mini-DIN connectors. 73, Jurgen, DJ5HD --- In YaesuTuner@..., "wb0m" <wb0m@...> wrote:
|
Control Cable revisited
wb0m
Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this group, but not with couplers like the AH-4. I'm replacing my Icom AH-4 with the FC-40 since I've upgraded to the Yaesu FT-950. I've looked through the previous posts, but haven't read anything about what materials to use for the replacement. I already have CAT-5 cable (eight strands of wire) run to the present antenna, but it's pretty light gauge. Has anybody used CAt-5 cable for an extension? I will probably hack the current cable in two pieces and splice to the cable already there. Any thoughts? Tnx & 73, Jeff/wb0m |
Corroded 8-Pin Female DIN Connector
David
Hi all, my 8pin din pigtail on my FC-40 has become corroded, and I am
dithering between trying to replace it with a homebrew pigtail; running the control cable from the radio straight to the connector on the board and eliminating the pigtail; or getting the part number and ordering an OEM replacement pigtail from Vertex. Is there a service manual for the FC-40 (with part numbers) available anywhere? Opinions are welcome. 73 de va3ae |
Random Wire Antenna (Experiences, Performance Tips)????
agusta109amkii
Hi Folks... I have an FT-857 with a FT-40 antenna tuner... My home is located below the surrounding area and my property is heavily wooded... I installed a random wire antenna about 375 feet long oriented basically North <> South... I would be interested in anyone's experience with long-wire antennas using the FT-40 tuner... Here are some images: Thanks... ? ? ? |
FC40 works funny
oh6bi
Hi All !
Last weekend I tried again OFC dipole. It didnt work as well as I was thinking, Maybe I have to change position of the antenna itself but here in Finland cold season is starting (on Sat morning I found ice from my boat), this OFC project will continue when the spring comes... After disappointed to OFC testing I changed back to 23 m long wire. Before that I added one ground rod to my system, I wanted to do that because the ground gets frozen soon. FT897 was on 3,510 and I started tuning, FC40 didnt tune that, radio was telling HIGHSWR, then I changed freq to 3,530 where FC40 was earlier tuned (with the old ground system). FC40 took new settings automatically from its memory and system was perfectly tuned. Then I changed back to 3,510 and FT told HIGHSWR again, pushed tuning button, no change. After that I went up to 3,560, I tuned and everything was ok., then back to 3,510 and tuning again. Now FC40 did it well. I dont understand this, maybe FC40 needs total resetting.. 73s es GL DX de rami, oh6bi |
Re: OFC Dipole and FC40 + CAT
Hi Sami, yes the mic works still in CAT mode, you just lose FST and UP / DOWN controls, but PTT is still good!
cheers Clive - original message - Subject: [YaesuTuner] OFC Dipole and FC40 + CAT From: "oh6bi" <oh6bi@...> Date: 08/10/2007 11:33 am Hi All ! In my last message I told to start new tests with OFC Dipole and FC40. Last weeks not enough time to testing but yesterday I made first test. Antenna was same as in VK2DQ writings, longer leg 38,9m and shorter leg 12,9m connected to FC40s ground. Results where not good, no tune in 80m either 40m. I think my setup needs some works.. continuing the test. Then another thing: I am not sure if this is already in our messages but I put it here: From the FT897 manual: **** MENU MODE No?059 [MIC SEL] Function: The choice of the equipment which connects to the MIC jack. Available Values: NOR/RMT/CAT Default: NOR NOR: Normal Microphone. RMT: Not available at this time. CAT: CAT system: if you are using the optional FC-30 antenna tuner, you can still use the CAT system by connecting the serial Data cable to the MIC jack. **** I have not tested this, but goeing to prepare serial cabel to see if it works. Microphone connectors down=TXD and up=RXD. Ground is same. Maybe it is possible to use the mike for speaking when connector is in CAT mode ? In my manual RMT is not available is it in use with FT897D ? Any Comments ? 73s de rami, oh6bi |
OFC Dipole and FC40 + CAT
oh6bi
Hi All !
In my last message I told to start new tests with OFC Dipole and FC40. Last weeks not enough time to testing but yesterday I made first test. Antenna was same as in VK2DQ writings, longer leg 38,9m and shorter leg 12,9m connected to FC40s ground. Results where not good, no tune in 80m either 40m. I think my setup needs some works.. continuing the test. Then another thing: I am not sure if this is already in our messages but I put it here: From the FT897 manual: **** MENU MODE No?059 [MIC SEL] Function: The choice of the equipment which connects to the MIC jack. Available Values: NOR/RMT/CAT Default: NOR NOR: Normal Microphone. RMT: Not available at this time. CAT: CAT system: if you are using the optional FC-30 antenna tuner, you can still use the CAT system by connecting the serial Data cable to the MIC jack. **** I have not tested this, but goeing to prepare serial cabel to see if it works. Microphone connectors down=TXD and up=RXD. Ground is same. Maybe it is possible to use the mike for speaking when connector is in CAT mode ? In my manual RMT is not available is it in use with FT897D ? Any Comments ? 73s de rami, oh6bi |
Re: Extended Control Cable
nickcollova
Had custom cable made to 125ft lenth and it works fine!
--- In YaesuTuner@..., "oh6bi" <oh6bi@...> wrote: of good results with it I decided to by FC40 for my FT897.cable. Anyone experience ? Is it needed to be shielded or not ? How long Ican make it ? How much FC40 needs Voltage and Current for the tuning.With IC AH3 I have had up to 20m long cable with wire size 2x0.5 mm.ground cable between rig and tuner when the distance is longer than 5 m ?vertical part 21 m and horisontal part 41 m , total 62m (204 ft).Gnd. wire , length more than 100 meters . |
23m Project done, next OFC Dipole Project
oh6bi
My 23m wire test is done, it took 6 weekends at cottage.
( HI, I didnt do that all the time..) I started with abt 40m length wire then abt 20m then abt 11m and 15m. Finally 23m which I found best for my needs. The exact length for my wire is 23,2 m, first goeing 3,5 m straight up and then rest horisontal so that the end is abt 10m up. It works 160 to 10m but not 18 MHz. Some narrow areas at 28 MHz not working. "It Works" means that FT897 get tuned. Really working and radiation is another point.. depens of many other things. The ground is one 10 ft Copper rod and 50cm deep 20m long Copper loop. As I have earlier told that I am using also IC706/AH3 system. My opinnion is that AH3 is better unit than FC40. AH3 has bigger coils but FC40 has memories, it depens what you need, if you like more lower bands AH3 is better but if you like higher bands and you are often changing FRG then FC40 is more handy... OK now for that Coming weekend is to start OCF Dipole project. What is OCF Dipole? OCF means Off Center Feed !! There are some wery intresting writings abt OCF and after reading those I decided start OCF Project. Please check VK3APP writing: option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9 The plan is to put FC40 up instead feeder and balun. Wire will be abt 40m long, a bit longer than VK3APP is using in his article, to get it better working at 3,5 MHz(I like more CW than ssb). I did one windom test at my cottage five years ago. It was IC706/AH3 connected to 8m long vertical line. That was connected to 42m long horisontal part 1/3 from the end. As I member that system was quite good but I have lost test records .. it worked 160 to 10m, one band was not working I dont member what it was.. Best Regards es 73s de rami,oh6bi |
Photos of FC-40 with Fiberglass pole
dj5hd
Hi all,
I added photos of my setup in Mauritius, 3B8 from February 2006. The antenna was a "Spiderbeam"-fiberglass pole, 12m tall, fixed at an old construction. The radial system consisted of about 8 wires, 5 to 15m long. The antenna wire was about 11m long, fixed at the top of the pole and ran down to the tuner. The FC-40 tuned well on 40m, 20m and up, but no 160m, 80m and 30m. Signals reports on 40m were quite well from around the globe. I had 800 QSOs in 10 days during the 1-2 hour evening openings on 40m. Would be nice to see how you set up your FC-40. 73, Jurgen, DJ5HD |
NO problems anymore
oh6bi
Hi All !
It was my fault, there was one bad connection. I did new tests to day, here are the results: 1842 kHz OK 1873 kHZ OK 3520 kHZ +++++ 3785 kHz +++++ 7003 kHz OK 7098 kHz ++ 10116 kHz ++ 14030 kHz ++ 14330 kHz ++ 18079 kHZ NOT 18100 kHz NOT 21030 kHz OK 21370 kHZ OK 24945 kHz ++ 28510 kHz ++ 50000 kHz OK OK means some SWR but very low +++++ means perfectly matching ++ means good matching Only 18 MHz was not working. Wire is abt 23 m long and from the FC40 wire is goeing first 4 meters straight up and rest of it horisontally up to 10 meters at the end. I will take it down next weekend and measure it carefully.. Grounding as I told earlier is not very good: there is 20 meter loop 35 sqmm copper abt 10 to 30 cm deep in the ground and in this summer I added 3 m long groundig rod abt 45 degrees angle and some other copper wires. Not yet counterpoises , that will come later. I have never used that 18 MHz band, but because it is not working I have to try something for it ... 73s es GL DX de rami oh6bi |
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