There was no issue when I had but one radio capable of CW. My straight key and paddles were plugged into their respective ports on the back of my TS-590SG. In time I acquired an all mode 2 m rig, so a second straight key went onto the desk. Then the TS-520S and FT-101E followed over a twelve-month period. Each additional radio increased the number of keys on my desk, and a corresponding decrease of available desk space.
Continue reading CW Key to Radio Switch
There is much angst about programming Philips/Simoco PRM80 radios with modern computers lacking a real serial port. For many years I’ve kept an old laptop available for just that purpose. Today however, after getting grumpy with how slow the laptop was, discovered that it doesn’t need to be that hard.
Continue reading Programming a PRM80 radio with a modern computer.
TinyGS is a great project with a very simple installation. The documentation however is several years out of date, so prepare the pull your hair out. After installing it twice with a six month interlude, I forgot what I needed to do, so am documenting it here for future me.
Continue reading Setting up TinyGS on Heltech Wireless Tracker V1.1
Many software packages deigned for encoding and decoding RF protocols have the capability of keying a transceiver via serial RTS or DTR lines. Here is a simple design to achieve this with a common USB to Serial TTL adapter.
Continue reading Building a USB PTT Interface
Am I the only one who gets thoroughly confused when seeing DIN connector pin diagrams, having no idea which end of the connector you’re looking at? This is particularly bothersome when connectors don’t have the pin numbers indicated on the connector. I’ve put together some foolproof images to remind me the next time I find myself in such a pickle.
Continue reading DIN connector pin numbering
To put the Pi Pico into programming mode, you need to open a connection to it at its magic number port speed. This set of commands allows me to set the mode and upload an .ino file.
Continue reading Changing the PiPico boot mode from PowerShell
The WIA has opened a public consultation on 40 m harmonisation. Below is my submission.
Continue reading 40 m Band Harmonisation – TAC Consultation 2024-2
There is plenty of published information on how to build common mode chokes (CMCs), but not much related to measuring their performance. This post details three such tests using a Nano VNA. If anyone is aware of additional tests which will shed light on a CMC’s performance, I’m all ears.
Continue reading Measuring Common Mode Chokes
My FLDigi settings got messed up, and could not identify how to reset it. I tried deleting what configuration data, and uninstalling then reinstalling, all to no avail. Thankfully a video by Stuart (AG6AG), pointed me in the right direction.
Continue reading Resetting a broken FLDigi install
Getting voice digital voice keying (DVC) working between N1MM+ and my TS-590SG has been an elusive target, but after another contest without it, I decided it really was a bullet which needed to be bitten. The post will explain the vagaries of the TS-590SG, and why it’s not as straight forward as perhaps some other radios.
Continue reading Digital Voice Keying a Kenwood TS-590SG from N1MM+