I ran over my first ZM-2 with a snowmobile and damaged the caps. EMTECH sent me replacements and the unit was good to go. I wanted a spare tuner and ordered their kit. It’s a well documented fun kit. Very light in the pack but don’t sled over it!
The coolest thing about this paddle is that it's not so noisy and doesn't make all those mechanical sounds which a bit distracting while watching your videos.
Another fun video, Thomas. You get to straight key mode with the FT-817 using the ABC operating menu to toggle KYR to off while leaving BK on. I’ve used the AX1 with the Penntek 45 lite several times; it works great with that rig, too. 72, W5RST
I always wondered if that would work! I have an AX1 and a ZM-2 as well, but could never figure out how to work the counterpoise situation! Thanks Thomas!
Thomas, good to see you use the touch key again. After seeing you use it for the first time I ordered the parts and built one. It was to be a backup key because of the little room it takes, however, it became my main activation key! Love it! N4NN
Makes me feel better about fumbling around with my radio. I think I'm going to print some cards for common procedures and keep them with the rig. Great video.
Reminder, the MODE switch in the FT-818 is bi-directional. So to go from CW to AM give two taps to the right, then back to CW with two taps to the left. You don’t need to go “long path” 🙂
Well I missed you on this one also! went off to do some chores and sure enough that's when you got on. haha. Anyway thanks for another great video and we'll keep on hunting! 72 de Ellis WA1RKS
Hearing the first beeps of the radio itself and I'm immediately triggered. My main rig in an FT-818 and apparently I'm conditioned to the sounds it makes. :) For those in Europe that find that the ZM-2 is a bit hard to get, might I suggest the QRP transmatch by Kanga products? UK based (I said Europe, not EU ;) You can't leave a continent!) No, I'm not an affiliate, just a happy customer.
"And the Oscar goes to.... Thomas, K4SWL". Thank you for your always very interesting, motivating and informativ Videos about your POTA-/SOTA-Activations! They are incredible helpful and as a frequent Camper (VW Bulli) and Backpacker, I especially love your additional gears for preparing i.e. Coffee and Light :)) de Kurt, HB9FMJ
It was great watching this setup and to see how it works. Yes, I was thinking to myself, “ Thomas the C button.” I only knew because I was using it today on my FT-817ND😂😂😂😂. Great video as always. I always learn something new from you. Thank you for the receive practice. I like the way you have your log setup so I can check myself twice. Listen to your response and then check what you penciled in. Again a great thanks my friend. I keep chasing you with ham alert but I seem to have poor propagation on my end. 72, Lou KA6VVD
I wonder if a bead or two on the coax between the rig and the tuner would help with the sensitivity of the tune to operator position? I wonder if the QRM is power line noise, for example, a newly dirty insulator. Or, yes, something breaking down in a lamp. Maybe a local club has power line noise chasing equipment. If you can point the park people to a lamp that's making audible arcing noise, they might be incline to sic maintenance on it before it becomes more expensive.
Think it's possible your EV is the noise source? I've not noticed noise while operating in the cabin of my EV while parked but there are a lot of electronics inside so I would guess it's possible.
No, it's not the EV. I've done activations with it right next to me and the noise floor was low. It's something at this site--it's actually an urban site with a large hospital next door, so not terribly surprising.
ZM-2 works great but make sure the big toroid is supported otherwise transportation will fatigue the connections to the variable cap. It’s almost an impossible repair and a new cap will be required. Shipping will cost way more than the cap if you are outside the US! VA7SZ.
I ran over my first ZM-2 with a snowmobile and damaged the caps. EMTECH sent me replacements and the unit was good to go. I wanted a spare tuner and ordered their kit. It’s a well documented fun kit. Very light in the pack but don’t sled over it!
The coolest thing about this paddle is that it's not so noisy and doesn't make all those mechanical sounds which a bit distracting while watching your videos.
Another fun video, Thomas. You get to straight key mode with the FT-817 using the ABC operating menu to toggle KYR to off while leaving BK on. I’ve used the AX1 with the Penntek 45 lite several times; it works great with that rig, too. 72, W5RST
Love my zm2 might have to pick up an ax1 sometime
I always wondered if that would work! I have an AX1 and a ZM-2 as well, but could never figure out how to work the counterpoise situation! Thanks Thomas!
Thomas, good to see you use the touch key again. After seeing you use it for the first time I ordered the parts and built one. It was to be a backup key because of the little room it takes, however, it became my main activation key! Love it! N4NN
It is an exceptional key!
I think I've told you before, but while you are activating a park you are also keeping me company while I WFH. Thanks for the videos!
Makes me feel better about fumbling around with my radio. I think I'm going to print some cards for common procedures and keep them with the rig. Great video.
Great idea!
Thanks for doing this setup and activation Thomas! 73 de Gordon
You keep putting ideas in my head...lol. Now I want to try my ZM-2 and AX1 with my MTR4b on 20 this weekend....
I hope you did!
Reminder, the MODE switch in the FT-818 is bi-directional. So to go from CW to AM give two taps to the right, then back to CW with two taps to the left. You don’t need to go “long path” 🙂
That's a brilliant tip, OM! Thank you.
Well I missed you on this one also! went off to do some chores and sure enough that's when you got on. haha. Anyway thanks for another great video and we'll keep on hunting! 72 de Ellis WA1RKS
Hearing the first beeps of the radio itself and I'm immediately triggered. My main rig in an FT-818 and apparently I'm conditioned to the sounds it makes. :) For those in Europe that find that the ZM-2 is a bit hard to get, might I suggest the QRP transmatch by Kanga products? UK based (I said Europe, not EU ;) You can't leave a continent!) No, I'm not an affiliate, just a happy customer.
I need to get that Kanga kit and some others from them just to give them a go. I've only heard great things.
"And the Oscar goes to.... Thomas, K4SWL". Thank you for your always very interesting, motivating and informativ Videos about your POTA-/SOTA-Activations! They are incredible helpful and as a frequent Camper (VW Bulli) and Backpacker, I especially love your additional gears for preparing i.e. Coffee and Light :)) de Kurt, HB9FMJ
Wonderful, Kurt. Thank you so much for the kind compliments! I would LOVE a VW Bulli for camping! Those are so iconic!
It was great watching this setup and to see how it works. Yes, I was thinking to myself, “ Thomas the C button.” I only knew because I was using it today on my FT-817ND😂😂😂😂. Great video as always. I always learn something new from you. Thank you for the receive practice. I like the way you have your log setup so I can check myself twice. Listen to your response and then check what you penciled in. Again a great thanks my friend. I keep chasing you with ham alert but I seem to have poor propagation on my end. 72, Lou KA6VVD
I wonder if a bead or two on the coax between the rig and the tuner would help with the sensitivity of the tune to operator position?
I wonder if the QRM is power line noise, for example, a newly dirty insulator. Or, yes, something breaking down in a lamp. Maybe a local club has power line noise chasing equipment. If you can point the park people to a lamp that's making audible arcing noise, they might be incline to sic maintenance on it before it becomes more expensive.
Nice shirt! Plaid is my favorite color ;)
de KA8VLW, Ken, MI
Tnx for QSO 1:09:16 👍
I wonder if attaching the antenna directly to the tuner results in less signal loss since you are not using coax?
It does. Actually, Elecraft mentions this in many of their field manuals!
An idea…put the antenna on the small Elecraft Tripod Mount?
I've done that before--works fine. The test here was to see if I could directly plug the AX1 onto the ZM-2 and complete an activation.
@@ThomasK4SWL Got it. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Think it's possible your EV is the noise source?
I've not noticed noise while operating in the cabin of my EV while parked but there are a lot of electronics inside so I would guess it's possible.
No, it's not the EV. I've done activations with it right next to me and the noise floor was low. It's something at this site--it's actually an urban site with a large hospital next door, so not terribly surprising.
Can you df that QRM and find the source? It’s pretty bad there.
I will try at some point--especially if it doesn't disappear.
ZM-2 works great but make sure the big toroid is supported otherwise transportation will fatigue the connections to the variable cap. It’s almost an impossible repair and a new cap will be required. Shipping will cost way more than the cap if you are outside the US! VA7SZ.