I’ve been driving for a week or so with the new HotRodz capacity hat and MM-1 auto transformer (pictured). As far as I can tell so far, the system seems to be working. Propagation has been pathetic lately, but I did get a chance to have a QSO with J79XBI on Dominica in the Windward [...]
DX Engineering HotRodz, First Impressions
A package arrived yesterday afternoon from DX-Engineering containing:
DXEngineering Hot Rodz
Hustler Safety Spring
DXE-MM-1 dual impedance antenna auto/transformer
A DX Engineering Hat
Of course, the first problem was answering the XYL’s question “You bought another antenna for the car?”.
“It’s not really another antenna… it’s a replacement for the whip on top.”
“Looks like an antenna to [...]
My High Sierra Sidekick seems to be doing a decent job, but there is one hassle. Having to fold it over to go in and out of my garage. The whip portion of the antenna is just a bit too long to clear the garage door (3 ft whip). By adding a cap hat, I [...]
I ordered the Cushcraft XM240 in June from R & L Electronics in Ohio. I’d let them know that I was working on a tower project and I needed this as soon as they could get it to me. Finally, the boxes for the XM240 have arrived! That was quite a long time to wait [...]
Had an interesting/frustrating near-QSO today that I couldn’t complete, but that was just the end of a very long day (literally). It’s too bad because I had a productive 3 day meeting in Pickering, Yorkshire, England - but the return home had some travel-headaches (which included this near QSO).
Here’s my day…
wake [...]
A few weeks ago, I placed my orders for my summer tower project. This includes:
SteppIR 4 Element Yagi
ANWireless 70′ Self-supporting tower
Cushcraft XM-240 40 Meter 2 Element Yagi (shorty forty)
22′ Mast
Yesterday the SteppIR arrived. I’m currently leaning towards the AlfaSpid rotator. Antennas for 80m and 160m will be wire antennas or verticals. This will [...]