After a few days pondering why my new hand free microphone was ticking on the audio I think I figured it out. I'd added 8v bias, but the icom radio already had DC on the mic input. Double bias ftw, or not. Will test it tomorrow morning when there is life on 2m. #hamradio

Contemplating building a small receive loop antenna to connect up to an SDRPlay RSP1 that I can put on the PC in the garage to make a remote receiver.
#hamradio

I've also recently got a hands free microphone in the car on the 2/70 radio and found a fault with my HF antenna mount. Have the new parts to remake the cable and mount and hopefully it'll be a bit more reliable.
#hamradio

It's rather satisfying to be able to solve problems in the shack. Wanted to direct PTT from the K3 between 2m equipment and 4m equipment. Realised the KRC2 band decoder I had lying around from my SO2R days with a K2 would do it. Wired it up last night and installed today. Works a dream!
#hamradio

📻 Amateur radio shaped modern tech, from satellites to the internet. Yet, much of its history is at risk of being lost forever. 🕳️ #VanishingCulture

Why does this matter? ➡️ https://blog.archive.org/2025/01/14/vanishing-culture-digital-library-of-amateur-radio-and-communications/

I had been having some trouble with my 70MHz transverter not working on tx or Rx with the K3. Opened the transverter and the K3 and checked.

Just installed new BNC cables freshly made by me and it springs into life.

Here's what happens to cheap pre-manufactured cables that don't work

#hamradio

We choose to do things in #amateurradio not because they are easy, but because we thought they were going to be easy, initially

And here it is, the new shack layout. Primarily CW on all bands 80m to 2m. #hamradio

The new station is almost complete. Annoyingly I am finding some inconsistent behaviour with the Q5 Signal 70MHz transverter. Could be a dry joint somewhere so will have a poke around sometime.

All other bands work fine on CW HF through 144MHz. Never been too excited about data modes. #hamradio

Spent some time today rationalising the number of poles and ropes on the house. Moved the Comet GP15 to a higher point with better coax. I can now not talk to anyone on 2m over greater distances, slightly.

After only 3 years my "temporary" antennas have now been replaced with the real ones. The plan went smoothly, just a while after I had thought it would get done. #hamradio

I'm not sure that HF radios are supposed to go swimming! Turned out the car boot leaked and filled the spare wheel area where the rigs were. Water poured out the bottom of the case!

No damage done by the looks of it. Needs to dry out before I re-fit. Going to test the boot seals though!

#hamradio

The SMD fuse was the only fault with the TM-D710 so it's now back in action and with its owner. 😁 Always nice when you can get things working again. #hamradio

Started looking for a small form factor PC for the workbench. The Pi3 just isn't up to the job, sadly. Ideally cheap.

Managed some tinkering time today. Diagnosed a faulty Kenwood TM-D710, now waiting for an SMD part to replace, and replaced the charging port on a tablet for a family member. Been a while since I've had the workbench in active duty. #amateurradio

Hoping this might turn out to be a good place to be :)