Well, it was nice while it lasted.  Went downstairs and smelt smoke.   Heard a crackling noise coming from the plastic "shed" housing the ATU .   Opened the door, saw flames and melted plastic.

 

Two buckets of water before they were extinguished - plastic B+Q sheds burn very well

 

Goodbye antenna tuning cabin :-(

 

The loading coil and antenna survived.   My credibiilty didn't  :-(

 

Pictures will follow

Andy
www.g4jnt.com

On 19 September 2010 11:44, Andy Talbot <[email protected]> wrote:

Sinece theere were no reports of my QRP WSPR beacon last night two conclusions can be drawn :

 

a)   No One was listening

b)   Its too weak.

 

To resolve   a) ...... ??  Not a lot I can do apart from post this message :-(

 

But to resolve b), I've now fired up the big switchmode PA   http://www.g4jnt.com/137tx.pdf      

Generating about 600 Watts this will increase ERP into the region of  17dBm

(The WSPR message says 13dBm, but its lying. I've already run up and downstairs with the PIC programmer, and don't want to do it again)

 

 

 

Andy
www.g4jnt.com