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Anita and Fred,
Thank you for the help, especially the leads for the envelops and QSL cards. This is a big help, I have just placed orders for both. I’m really looking forward to getting them and sending them off.
Hamilton
QSLing is a good topic.
Capturing the right Log data and up loading it is tricky. The merits and issues with direct, buros, eQSL, LOTW, and the whole green stamp issue took a while to understand. I donated a lot of “green stamps” and logged a lot of QSOs with near zero confirmations before figuring it out. My first 30 states were never confirmed.
Some methods provide confirmations needed for WAS and DXCC awards (LOTW does, eQSL doesn’t ) and via tools like QRZ and DX Keeper you can see if someone has LOTW or are willing to send a card. A station may skip returning your call if they expect they will not get a confirmation. If I see I’ve worked someone several times before and I still do not have a confirmation I keep tuning up the band unless I’m just looking to rag chew or need a signal report.
A few HAMs I know do not keep a log yet work Award nets, contests and QSO Parties and do not understand the impact to the other station.
Many haven’t experienced the advantage of using computer based tools like DXLabs, N1MM, or a Spotting tool. A OM with decades of experience saw me operating using the mouse and keyboard and was amazed and excited it was just a free download away.
Sound like progress. The 2.2 kHz bandwidth affects Rx only and not Tx.
The Tx power output is adjustable from 5 to 100 watts, check to see what it is set for. It may be set low. There are several meter displays you can select, one is calibrated in watts on transmit. While transmitting you can see peak power. If it is low the Tx power may set low, the microphone gain may be set low, or you may be talking to softly.
What is the noise level on 40m with the antenna disconnected? Have you tried a reset? Are there any new devices in the house, especially wall wart power supplies or new style lights? The wall wart supplied with the Yaesu FT60 takes me from a S2 to S9 on 40m.
Lightning: With the antenna disconnected the rig should be fairly safe. The odds of a strike involving the rig’s station ground and the power ground through the 115 vac service impacting noise floor on a band are low. It is more likely to impact other functions to include the processor which would cause larger problems. I had a strike damage a balun, an antenna scan showed a 7:1 VSWR while your match remained unchanged. It is easy to bypass the Lightning arrestor but given the match it is unlikely to be a problem. Maybe a strike damaged the RFI filtering in some other household device, run the 7300 with a battery or UPC while flipping the main breaker to the rest of the house….
I have a spare 7300 I can loan you.
PS: check the bandwidth setting on 40m, a wide setting would increase the noise floor. Try 2,200 Hz for SSB or 500Hz for CW.
73
What is the noise floor with the antenna disconnected? Are there any new devices especially wall wart power supplies or new tech lights? Have you tried a reset of the 7300?
Lightning: The rig is fairly safe with the antenna disconnected. If the power supply was connected there is a minor risk for mischief between the station ground and 115VAC ground depending on how they are connected. I wouldn’t expect the symptoms you are seeing. It is unlikely you have a damaged balun or lightning arrestor given the VSWR remained the same.
I have a spare 7300 if you want to borrow it to see if it is your rig or just new QRN.
Thanks Mike and Fred,
HRO/AES Milwaukee only had Bencher/Vibroplex so the search continues.
Based on Begali’s web page and various reviews I’m leaning towards the Begali Signature or Sculpture. It’s likely I will pull the trigger on the Sculpture before Monday, and start my collection.
It is my guess that major HAM fests such as Dayton are the only places where brands like Begali, Kent and N3ZN are available to try.
I like LMR-40o. It is not the least expensive but it is reasonable given the performance.
Times has a nice calculator at http://www.timesmicrowave.com/calculator/?productId=52#form You can compare a wide range of cables.
It shows LMR-400 at 2.47 kW average at 54 MHz and 0.9 dB per 100 ft. LMR-240 is 1.11 kW average and 1.8dB per 100 ft. Power handling drops with increasing frequency and loss goes up making 6 meters a good comparison point.
There are a lot of knock off cables out there with “400” in the part number. Some approach LMR-400 at less cost while many are cheap cables trading on the Times brand.
73
Hamilton