Message-ID: <BLU153-W323E52AC6380C542C8245CCF790@phx.gbl>
From: Laurence KL1 X <hellozerohellozero@hotmail.com>
To: "lowfer@mailman.qth.net" <lowfer@mailman.qth.net>,
	"rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org" <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:14:53 -0800
Importance: Normal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
	boundary="_9017291c-2ba4-4f60-9280-b2d5bd0807c7_"
Subject: LF: XPQ Wasilla reports -
Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org


--_9017291c-2ba4-4f60-9280-b2d5bd0807c7_
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable


Dear all - thanks for all the comments and reports chaps - and lack of them=
 is as much of interest too/ I didnt expect much given conditions are a lit=
tle early on all paths=2C and the Alaskan ionosphere is still a little hot=
=2C  but looks like I had success down to BC (Jack) and across the Pacific =
perhaps.

XPQ went off at 1333z after an overnight run at >1Kw constant carrier -=20

The good news is I think Ive discovered the problem with one bolt joint on =
a feedthru and will investigate further it doesn't look like the Brass is t=
he only  culprit. Using an IR/laser sighted  gun I measured the temps of th=
e components as best I can and can localize temps to a few mm

Its around -15C out there at present in air with low humidity - Loop curren=
t 60A which is good. The "hottest" component=2C apart from the joint=2C is =
the 2T:13T transformer at just 9C ! All the current sharing caps are cold a=
nd around 1C - power and ERP held within 0.5dB and phase was maintained as =
far as I can see.

I dont have a (safe) or effective  alternative for a Tx antennae here - Ver=
ticals just dont work as well in a Alaskan Birch/Spruce forest and the loop=
 is easier=2C has less potential wx/tuning issues and more stable by far he=
re in this bespoke location. This loop configuration is the same as XDW but=
 my geographic and topological environment is very very different to Oklaho=
ma!  Still Im very happy that we can continue the tests as we move into the=
 winter - time will tell.

Im building a doubler and interface board for the TS850 at present to provi=
de a locked reference=2C The TS870 had already been modified for WOLF tests=
 with John XES way back when   - Ive been using the FT817 as the transverte=
r source and even with the TXCO is just good=2C or bad=2C enough after a lo=
ng warm up of dot 60 using it at 5.136MHz=2C but its sort of a guess and tw=
eek on where the freq will actually go stable. For last nights test the Fre=
q source was a GPS referenced HP3336B driving the Decca 5501 directly. Heat=
sink temps on the 3 Decca modules were around 30C=2C LPF inductors 37C=2C t=
hough I had the phase meter on top of the LPF vents so this temp should hav=
e been a little lower.

 expect more playing with modes soon - Ill probably take a run at Opera 32 =
tonight (using the FT817 as the drive) but will be likely off air on the 24=
th for the SAQ test.

Laurence KL 1 X  WE2 XPQ Wasilla AK
 		 	   		  =

--_9017291c-2ba4-4f60-9280-b2d5bd0807c7_
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px=3B
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt=3B
font-family:Tahoma
}
--></style></head>
<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>
Dear all - thanks for all the comments and reports chaps - and lack of them=
 is as much of interest too/ I didnt expect much given conditions are a lit=
tle early on all paths=2C and the Alaskan ionosphere is still a little hot=
=2C&nbsp=3B but looks like I had success down to BC (Jack) and across the P=
acific perhaps.<br><br>XPQ went off at 1333z after an overnight run at &gt=
=3B1Kw constant carrier - <br><br>The good news is I think Ive discovered t=
he problem with one bolt joint on a feedthru and will investigate further i=
t doesn't look like the Brass is the only&nbsp=3B culprit. Using an IR/lase=
r sighted&nbsp=3B gun I measured the temps of the components as best I can =
and can localize temps to a few mm<br><br>Its around -15C out there at pres=
ent in air with low humidity - Loop current 60A which is good. The "hottest=
" component=2C apart from the joint=2C is the 2T:13T transformer at just 9C=
 ! All the current sharing caps are cold and around 1C - power and ERP held=
 within 0.5dB and phase was maintained as far as I can see.<br><br>I dont h=
ave a (safe) or effective&nbsp=3B alternative for a Tx antennae here - Vert=
icals just dont work as well in a Alaskan Birch/Spruce forest and the loop =
is easier=2C has less potential wx/tuning issues and more stable by far her=
e in this bespoke location. This loop configuration is the same as XDW but =
my geographic and topological environment is very very different to Oklahom=
a!&nbsp=3B Still Im very happy that we can continue the tests as we move in=
to the winter - time will tell.<br><br>Im building a doubler and interface =
board for the TS850 at present to provide a locked reference=2C The TS870 h=
ad already been modified for WOLF tests with John XES way back when &nbsp=
=3B - Ive been using the FT817 as the transverter source and even with the =
TXCO is just good=2C or bad=2C enough after a long warm up of dot 60 using =
it at 5.136MHz=2C but its sort of a guess and tweek on where the freq will =
actually go stable. For last nights test the Freq source was a GPS referenc=
ed HP3336B driving the Decca 5501 directly. Heatsink temps on the 3 Decca m=
odules were around 30C=2C LPF inductors 37C=2C though I had the phase meter=
 on top of the LPF vents so this temp should have been a little lower.<br><=
br>&nbsp=3Bexpect more playing with modes soon - Ill probably take a run at=
 Opera 32 tonight (using the FT817 as the drive) but will be likely off air=
 on the 24th for the SAQ test.<br><br>Laurence KL 1 X&nbsp=3B WE2 XPQ Wasil=
la AK<br> 		 	   		  </div></body>
</html>=

--_9017291c-2ba4-4f60-9280-b2d5bd0807c7_--