Cabin POTA: Pairing the IC-705and MC-750 vertical at Gorges State Park!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 лип 2024
- qrper.com/2024/04/cabin-pota-...
Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
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FYI: The clicking of the key was very audible in this video because my OSMO 4 camera mic was picking it up. Being int he cabin sort of amplified it. This CW Morse key doesn't click like it sounds in this video. :)
***GEAR***
Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
-- Icom IC-705 (swling.com/blog/2021/03/a-rev...)
-- Pelican 1400 Waterproof Case (amzn.to/33L72Qp)
-- Icom IC-705 3D Printed Foot (qrper.com/2020/12/a-simple-3d...)
-- ABR Industries Cable Assembly Builder (Use Coupon Code ABR10QRPER for 10% Discount!)--Note that I used RG-174 with a PL-259 and BNC in this video. Typically, though, I prefer RG-316. (abrind.com/shop/cable-builder...)
-- Chelegance MC-750 (chelegance.com/products/jncra...)
-- Tufteln 5Ah 12v LiPo Battery Pack (tufteln.com/collections/batte...)
-- Key cable: Cable Matters 2-Pack Gold-Plated Retractable Aux Cable - 2.5 Feet (amzn.to/3OUUNri)
-- Begali Traveler (www.i2rtf.com/traveler.html)
-- GraphGear 0.9mm 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil (amzn.to/3Ntf1pV)
-- Rite In The Rain Top Spiral Notebook (amzn.to/42O5fa4)
-- Camera: DJI OSMO 4 action camera (amzn.to/3Tf89TH) with Sensyne Phone Tripod (amzn.to/3Zbuz7A)
Chapters:
Intro: 0:00:00
The MC-750 Antenna: 0:01:17
Radio setup in the Cabin: 0:04:32
The QRM and Using NB & DSP: 0:05:22
Activation: 0:08:10
QRT & Summary: 0:45:02 - Наука та технологія
Thank for the video! I think that a good NB (like the one in the 705) can actually lower the noise floor and hear weaker signals. Pure impulsive noise is 99.9% noise-free and 0.1% a terrible noise. The NB removes only that 0.1% noise peak, actually lowering the noise floor. Probably the impulsive noise is not pure and there are some tails around the peak, but still, it works wonders.
Appreciate the detailed explanation of challenges of operating near power lines and how to mitigate. Educational. I’m new to this stuff
If you want Pick and Pluck foam to last. Once you get the way you want it. Take that foam insert out of the case and spray it with several coats of Plasti-Dip Spray. It will last forever after that. Lots of vidoes on youtube that cover the technique.
Thanks for the great videos, always enjoy them. 73 W6XYZ
Thanks Thomas for this video. Had I encountered that level on noise, I wouldn't have even tried. Lesson learned!
With my 7300 (Should be same as 705) I have found that increasing the NB width can help with some of this kind of noise. Maybe something to experiment with next time.
I appreciate you showing the line noise segment. I "RV POTA" for about 98% of my activations and generally are at a park for a solid week. Unfortunately only on SSB here (one day soon... cw). I too hear noise like that but never knew or thought about it. Have been in search of a quieter antenna to use. Haven't tried the NB or NR and will give that a try next time. Robert KD4YDC
Line noise is rough. I dealt with it for months here at home. It's really hard to work through. My 705 actually did a better job of knocking it down for me than even my FTDX10 did.
I was very impressed with how pleasant the IC-705 made the audio in this environment.
Thanks for another great video! I've found that the noise blanker and noise reduction on my Icom IC-7100 is excellent - Better than on my KX3.
Thanks for the Q Thomas. Nice to hear how the straight key sounds on your end. 73! De KD2YDN.
Thank *you*!
You did very well Thomas with that noise level
73 Rob G3RCE
Store my 705 with power supply and extra battery and charger in a clear plastic 3 dollar waterproof ammo box. The taper of the ammo box matches the taper of the radio. Less foot print than pelican case. Also holds small key.
What a shame. I had serious power line interference here and it took them about 6 months to clear the problem. My noise
was 10 db over S9 on 160 meters.
Barry, KU3X
There’s a 230 kV transmission line (Duke Energy Carolinas) running through the state park (up from the Keowee-Jocassee complex towards Sapphire). Probably the source of the QRM…
Yes, it 100% is the source.
Definitely not an easy park to activate due to the power line noise, as you mentioned. I activated near the park office a few months ago and had the same experience… terrible S6-S7 noise on every band. I’m sure I missed many weaker signals but managed to get enough for a valid activation. Probably the most difficult park in western North Carolina aside from Southern Nantahala Wilderness US-10397 which is only challenging due to limited access (long hike, seasonal fire road, or a LONG drive through part of Georgia and back into NC)
Seems like the QRM is a constant at Gorges. :(
👍
For a cabin op such as this, or car camping, I wonder if one of those phase inverting noise canceling units, like MFJ-1026, might help reduce the noise level before it gets into your RX and wrecks your noise floor.
Hmmm...good point! I plan to go back there and try out an outboard NB unit--one that sits between the radio and antenna.
72 = 73/QRP
Its cool to watch these videos and hear yourself. Thanks Tom! KA5TXN
Thank you!
That park has had that noise since 2021-03-21 🤦♂️. I tried numerous locations as I once activated and haven’t made it back. W4JL Dave
Noted. That arcing noise spreads out over a long distance as well.
Just a naive question: have you reported the noise to the utility? It might represent energy loss to them which they'd want to troubleshoot and mitigate.
No, but I have planned to do so. Not sure who the provider is there.
Another great video, Thomas. Out of curiosity, given the high noise floor, why did you choose to set the preamp to 1?
You know, it was just set there by default. Didn't think of altering it!
Too bad Hazel couldn't join you on this trip...
Yes indeed. Next time she will though because I'll be with the family. :)
Thomas, have you found the band markings on the MC-750 whip to be at all accurate or useful? This was a big selling point to me, to be able to change bands very quickly with a minimum of antenna tweaking, but I'm not finding my antenna to be resonant anywhere near those markings. On every band I've tried, I need to greatly reduce the length of the whip, requiring many trips back and forth between the antenna and my operating position.
The markings have been spot-on for me. I trust them so much that I don't even need to look at an SWR meter. I've never (that I can remember) been more than 1.5:1 with the MC-750. Most of the time it's near 1:1.
@@ThomasK4SWL Hey, thanks for getting back to me! Well, that's good to hear, I'm betting the issue is with me and not the antenna. Both times using the MC-750, I've had to set up in less than ideal conditions, very close to dense trees and perhaps that is throwing me off. I'll find a spot where I can put the antenna up in the clear and try again.
@@ThomasK4SWL I took the MC-750 out again today and this time I was able to set it up well clear of any trees or structures. And what do you know, this time it tuned up nicely using the marks on the whip. What a great convenience for setup and changing bands! I tried it on 10/15/20 and 40 this time, great reports using just 4 to 10 watts on SSB and FT4.
@@socallars3748 Excellent!
If you could only own one CW paddle to use with the 705 which would it be?
is there a reason you were running preamp? I would think that would make the noise worse.?
No--it was just by default. Didn't cross my mind at the time.
Have you used the 705 with the MC750 on SSB? Does it perform equally as well. Assume its similar to the WRC in performance.
Yes, it works very well with SSB. Keep in mind that it's a proper 1/4 wave antenna, so pretty efficient!
When I went , the noise was 40 over
Whew! That's high.