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Tag: amateur radio

LZ1AQ Active Loop Antenna

After many years using an active loop antenna with the Cross Country Wireless Loop antenna amplifier for my SDR, I upgraded to the LZ1AQ active loop amplifier AAC-1C.

I replaced the former single loop wire – made of stainless steel – with two parallel loops using AWG10 (2.6 mm) copper wire. The loop diameter is 70 cm and the distance between both loops is 44.5 mm.

clamps for amplifier box
end cap small
end cap large
loop holder
all parts mounted
LZ1AQ amplifier board

As a holder I use a 1600 x 35.5 mm PVC tube (marked as 32 mm UPVC pipe) and added a 710 x 21.5 mm PVC tube (marked as 15 mm UPVC pipe) to support the loop. All additional parts are 3D printed in PETG. Besides the end caps and loop holder the wires are additional supported using four spreaders.

As before, the loop is mounted horizontal outside the apartment window in the 17th floor. In connection with my SDR the usable frequency range is 20 kHz to 55 MHz.

3D printed parts (stl)Download

WEB-888 SDR

My latest investment in my SDR setup was to purchase the WEB-888 SDR from Aliexpress. Setup was smooth, and finally I replaced my Airspy+ Discovery with the new WEB-888. The WEB-888 allows for 12 HF slots running independently. I have six configured to monitor the FT8 frequencies on the 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15 and 10 m bands. Six other slots are free for external users.

The link to the SDR is the same as before: http://9v1kg.bpmsg.com:8073. An overview of all public WEB-888 can be found on https://www.rx-888.com/web/rx.html.

24-hour FT-8 decoding with the WEB-888 and an active loop antenna

CQWW WPX Contest 2018

The results for the CQWW WPX Contest 2018 are out for CW and SSB. I was able to achieve in both modes #1 in the Philippines for all bands, low power. In CW, first time ever, I became continental winner for Oceania.

Equipment: IC-718, 100W, Inv. Vee dipole for 40 and 80 and 3 el Spider beam for 15 m and 20 m. For 10 m I just matched the Spider beam with a matchbox.

cqww-wpx-ssb-2018
Reached 1 Mio Pts. #3 in Oceania, #16 world wide, not too bad

cqww-pfx-cw-2018
Didn’t manage 1 Mio Its, but still enough to become #1 in Oceania

Solar Power for portable Operations

Today I tested the first time my new solar power setup for portable operations. I am using a 60 W PowerFilm foldable solar panel and a 5 A MPPT charge controller for a LiFePo4 4S battery. The whole weight is 1600 g including the 5 m connection cable.

60 W foldable solar panel with MPPT charge controller

Hanging solar panel on the balcony – testing

It was cloudy day and the sun was most often covered by clouds. The panel is only exposed to 1/3 up to max. 1/2 to the full sunlight, if it is there.

Using a power analyzer to measure the incoming power and charge.

Using a power analyzer, the data show a 1.4 A peak current and 19 W peak power. I was able to charge 10 Wh in about 2 hours. Next time I will try to get the panel under full illumination in the sun and measure again.

Power Analyzer from Turnigy

The analyzer shows current, voltage and power and in addition peak values for current and power as well as total energy (power integrated over time) in Wh.