Doing My "Elmer" part!

I finally was able to help My Nephew with his antenna project. He already had installed a Hustler 6BTV ground mounted vertical and did very well! Coax to the shack, radials and even guyed it. He assembled it to the dimensions in the DX engineering guide but it would not tune using the Kenwood 850 auto tuner. So I brought My MFJ antenna analyzer and We soon determined it was resonant below all the amateur bands. This was actually not bad news since this probably meant as a unit-antenna,radials,coax and grounds were working well. If it showed resonance all bands with no adjustment I would suspect an issue. A ground mounted vertical in aperfect world will have an impedance around 32 ohms- so will never show a perfect SWR when its working well. Resonance is another matter-- adjusting the slip tube distance from the trap only fine tuned it up a bit so We next tried adjusting the trap location. This did bring it upwards within the bands but at the CW portion for all but 10 and 15m. Since We wanted the voice part, more adjustment was needed but I was on a time frame and was already late.
I left but assured him I'd be back-- He also has now aquired a external tuner so He can tune the antenna although on several bands its a compromised setting. We have tried 75 and 40m to contact each other but only slight whispers on 75 were heard. The bands have not been good early evening but might improve for a better QSO.
I'm happy with Our progress but can't wait till I can help bring the other bands into better tuning range.
73---Tim

Too busy for Radio!!

A picture from Our recent trip to Florida. Harry Potter fans will recognize the Hogwarts Castle at Universal studios. The Harry Potter theme park was very well done . I even enjoyed several Potter rides!! That says alot for an "old" guy!!

We took time to have a garage sale on memorial weekend . The preperation and actual sale ate up several weeks or more. Work has also been very busy .The Girls also finished last day of school--summer vacation for them!

I will be missing the VHF contest because of prior commitments-- a little sad but truly enjoy the HF contests better. Will miss the gang at the contesting station--- bummer!

Still have many radio related irons in the fire,but way too many summer projects to complete first! Typical Summer for Me!

73---Tim

Hallicrafters S-40B

I was lucky enough to be given this radio from an ex-Ham who was cleaning out equipment. It appears to be in great shape and even though I haven't had time to open it up,I'm sure the inside looks as nice! This was a lower end priced radio when new but very popular receiver from the early 1950's. This was only owned previously by two people so that might explain the condition.

When I have more time I plan to do a visual inspection and will probably do a Capacitor replacement because they usually are dried out . It will be also slowly brought up to operating voltage with My variac. eventually i would like to pass this to a local young person interested in Radio- maybe a future Ham!!

73--Tim

Vertical Up!!

My Nephew has the Hustler 6BTV up and guyed,coax connected and the Kenwood TS-850s hooked up and He is hearing lots of signals! He doesn't have any radials yet so the tuning is not good, but its' close to being ready. Maybe in the next week or so We'll have a QSO!
73---Tim

but not forgotten!

Yes! Family trip to Walt Disney World has kept Me very busy. I'm back and will be updating
My Ham Radio activity when able. Back to reality here-- furnace ran this morning!!!
73---Tim
PS- the above photo was taken with My iPhone!!