Got the base station up and running.

[AKRover]

I finally had time this weekend to finish running my antenna feed line into the garage and got it all tuned up and talking.

Hopefully my portable HF antenna will get here soon too so I can play with that a little.

Here's the base station.

And here's the home made j-pole 2 meter antenna. It's amazing what you can do with a good antenna. I was talking loud and clear to someone in Anchorage with 5 watts. I don't think I would be able to do that with my mobil station.

 

[AFSOC]

Schweeeet! Great job on the J-pole, where did you get the plans?

 

[gary in ohio]

I finally had time this weekend to finish running my antenna feed line into the garage and got it all tuned up and talking.

Noah,
Nice looking station the 857 is a nice compact radio. I do have a few suggestions. I really like the LDG big meter.

Dont know how many repeaters there are up your way or if they have controllable functions, If they do you might want to invest in a touch tone mic. Normally not included with HF/VHF/UHF radio, they are worth having if your going to be on repeaters much.

The Alinco 330 power supply is a variable output supply, It goes from 0 to 15 or so volts. I would suggest getting a small drop heat glue or some caulk and lock that knob at 13.5 volts. I would also use a second volt meter to confirm the voltage displayed on the PS is accurate. While the 15v might be within radio tolerances, it right at the top range, Also under voltage can cause as much damage as over voltage.

The Jpole looks nice, Is it a single band or dual band? I didnt see in the photo any ground wire coming off the antenna. It might routed down the eves but in the photo I dont see any and you will want one. How are the winds up your way. Will that antenna stay up in the winter?

 

[xtatik]

Nice shack. Good job on the J-Pole. You know this is just the beginning stage of what will become a very infectiuos disease.......right?
I think we might need a "show yer' shack" thread for those here who are interested beyond the truck appliance applications.
BTW Noah, what did you decide on for an HF antenna?

 

[bj70_guy]

I would also use a second volt meter to confirm the voltage displayed on the PS is accurate. While the 15v might be within radio tolerances, it right at the top range, Also under voltage can cause as much damage as over voltage.

Hey Gary, the 857 has a voltage readout on the faceplate, would that be sufficient?

 

[gary in ohio]

Hey Gary, the 857 has a voltage readout on the faceplate, would that be sufficient?

If you can get a couple of meters saying about the same thing then your good. The goal is to just compare what the PS says and another source.

 

[AKRover]

Thanks for the feed back Gary. I did end up buying the DTMF mic a month ago to use as a remote for the 857 while mobile. I was very disaponted with the little wheel on the side of the remote mic, it feels too free wheeling for me.

The Alinco has a voltage preset switch and a recessed dial on the back of the radio to set a preset voltage. The dial on the back can only be changed with a small screw driver and can be selected with the on/off switch that is also on the back. So when the switch is set to "on" the dial on the front isn't able to change the voltage. One of the green lights on the front is an indicator that the voltage preset switch is on. I'm not sure why a person would need a variable voltage power supply but I liked it because of the size, the location of the main power jacks being on the back, and the 30 amp capability. Plus the price was right on ebay.

The j-pole is right out of the ARRL antenna book. It is a single band antenna for 2 meters. As for the ground wire I didn't even think about that until after I had the thing erected and I stood back to admire my handy work only to realize that I just put up a giant lightning rod on the roof grounded to my radio! :Wow1:
A ground rod and some heavy solid copper running straight down the side of the house to it is the next thing on the list. The thunder storms here are few and far between but that's no excuse not to protect my radio equipment. Do you think I'll need a lightning arrestor on the coax as well?

 

[AKRover]

Nice shack. Good job on the J-Pole. You know this is just the beginning stage of what will become a very infectiuos disease.......right?
I think we might need a "show yer' shack" thread for those here who are interested beyond the truck appliance applications.
BTW Noah, what did you decide on for an HF antenna?

For the HF antenna I just waited until I found a buddiepole on ebay for the right price and picked that up. The guy shipped it on the 5th and it has been sitting in Federal Way, WA since the 11th according to the online tracking thing. I'm impatient when it comes to waiting for the USPS to deliver my stuff.

 

[HanzoSteel]

Looking good!

 

[gary in ohio]

Do you think I'll need a lightning arrestor on the coax as well?

The ground on the antennas is to bleed away static discharge so there is no differental for lighting to strike. If it does strike then no little arrestor is going to stop a direct hit. You should also have a ground on all the gear the shack.

I dont run coax arrestors, I know in areas where lightning is MUCH more common they do. I do have grounds on the antennas and a grounded copper buss in the shack that is grounded and tied to all the radios and gear.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I put gas discharge polyphasers on all my coax. Just in case.....

 

[AKRover]

The ground on the antennas is to bleed away static discharge so there is no differental for lighting to strike. If it does strike then no little arrestor is going to stop a direct hit. You should also have a ground on all the gear the shack.

I dont run coax arrestors, I know in areas where lightning is MUCH more common they do. I do have grounds on the antennas and a grounded copper buss in the shack that is grounded and tied to all the radios and gear.

So it sounds like I should be good with just grounding the antenna then. Like I said the lightening storms don't happen very often here. I looked at the copper clad ground rods at the store the other day and they were less then ten bucks but the wire to run to it was spendy. What gauge wire would you recommend? I was thinking 4 or 6 gauge.

I need to figure out a way to ground everything in the garage then too. I wasn't too worried about it because I'll be moving the radio back and forth between the Rover and the garage. It shouldn't be too hard to rig up something though. I know my wife will be excited when I bring home more parts for my "cheap" installation. I think the most expensive part not counting the used power supply was the LMR-400. Even using my student discount it was $.85 a foot and that adds up quick.

 

[gary in ohio]

I need to figure out a way to ground everything in the garage then too. I wasn't too worried about it because I'll be moving the radio back and forth between the Rover and the garage. It shouldn't be too hard to rig up something though. I know my wife will be excited when I bring home more parts for my "cheap" installation. I think the most expensive part not counting the used power supply was the LMR-400. Even using my student discount it was $.85 a foot and that adds up quick.

I assume the garage has power to it, if so does it have a ground rod? If so there is your ground point. Is it practical to run the antennas to that point?
You dont need a big ground wire, remember you not routing a lighting strike your just bleeding off static electricity. 12/14 gauge wire is fine. I use the thnn electrical wire for antenna's and ground. Its Cheap, you can get 500ft rool for $20 on ebay. I always have a couple of spools on hand for antenna projects.

The LMR is better cable for 2M, but for short runs RG8x (under 50ft) would have been ok and cheaper. For HF RG8/8x is more than acceptable.

Gary

 

[AKRover]

For the price I think the LMR is worth it. The RG8 they had wasn't really that much cheaper, maybe $.20 so I would have only saved a few bucks. I think my cable run came in around 50 feet when it was all done.

The power in the garage is bonded to the ground with the rest of the house on the complete other side from the garage. I could put a rod in the ground below the antenna and I would easily be able to reach it from the station in the garage. It just occurred to me that I better get that rod in right away before the ground freezes.

I also got my buddipole in the mail yesterday and was able to play with that for a little while. I could just barley make out a station from Japan, one from Russia, and one from somewhere else on 20m. Then a short time late everything was quite and I couldn't pick up any more QSOs. I guess that's the nature of the HF bands. Would anyone care to set up a contact with me so I can get an idea of how my set up works?

I also have a modulation question in regards to SSB. Since SSB is a form of amplitude modulation it varies the out put power correct? So when transmitting I will see my power vary on the meter depending on the peaks and dips of my voice? I made a few test transmissions on a clear frequency and that's basically what happened but it never cam close to the peak out put power of 100 watts. I was speaking normally across the mic and it may have peaked at 50. Is this normal or do I need to adjust the mic gain?

 

[gary in ohio]

It just occurred to me that I better get that rod in right away before the ground freezes.

I suspect the freeze is right around the corner for up your way..

I also got my buddipole in the mail yesterday and was able to play with that for a little while. I could just barley make out a station from Japan, one from Russia, and one from somewhere else on 20m. Then a short time late everything was quite and I couldn't pick up any more QSOs. I guess that's the nature of the HF bands. Would anyone care to set up a contact with me so I can get an idea of how my set up works?

The 20m band will start to dry up around dusk, There will be activity but not as much as during the day. How is your buddy pole configured vertical or horizontal? Evenings 40m/80m should be hopping. If horizontal the make sure the antenna is parallel to where you want to hear. If vertical its not going to matter.

I also have a modulation question in regards to SSB. Since SSB is a form of amplitude modulation it varies the out put power correct? So when transmitting I will see my power vary on the meter depending on the peaks and dips of my voice?

On AM you will see a steady center carrier then voice peeks on top of that., on SSB you will see no carrier and the voice peaks will follow your voice. So 1/2 scale is fine. On FM and CW you should see continuous output at max power. You also see less peaks when operating digital modes because there is usually some audio at all times when transmitting. Instead of watching power look at ALC meter if you have one. That should be steady, Not to high and not to low. A few on the air reports will help you with getting the levels set correct.