[600MRG] Bad news / help request

[John Langridge]

At risk of "stirring the pot", Ben, N1VF, has recently gone to the
extremes of operating 472kHz JT9 QSO's with an U3S :
https://bgelb.github.io/u3s-qso.html

I fully recognize that this is beyond the scope of most ops but felt
it was important to showcase what the most extreme of operators are
using when the situation and adversity dictates.  Kudos to Ben for
successfully completing two-way's with a loop from an apartment!  If
there is a will, there is a way!

73!

John

On 12/31/18, N1BUG <paul at n1bug.com> wrote:
> Ed,
>
> I do use an amp with the U3S. But there are two serious issues with
> trying to use a U3S for QSOs. One is that even with preprogrammed
> messages it is not possible to change what message is to be sent
> without missing a transmit sequence. The other is it can only send
> 13 character free text messages. This requires a modified QSO
> procedure which the other operator might not understand. For
> example, even without spaces KL7UWN1BUGR-30 won't fit. I suppose one
> could just just call suffixes at that point in a QSO but call signs
> plus report can still be a problem.
>
> The U3S is a fantastic beacon rig but it just wasn't meant for QSO use.
>
> 73,
> Paul
>
>
> On 12/31/18 11:46 AM, Edward R Cole wrote:
>> Paul,
>>
>> Why not consider an amplifier for the Ultimate 3S?  Building an amp
>> is easier than any of  your alternatives with the TS2000X.
>>
>> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>> probably not QRV until spring - Inverted-L on ground for maint on
>> 2m-eme system that supports one end of the antenna.
>>
>> At 04:59 AM 12/31/2018, N1BUG wrote:
>>> So, the latest SlowJT9 test is completed. I regret I was not able to
>>> run one night on 630m as planned.
>>>
>>> I used a QRP Labs Ultimate 3S beacon transmitter for these tests.
>>> Yesterday I checked my ability to use JT9-5 for QSOs and found that
>>> I have none! My FT-2000 transceiver has too much drift to be of any
>>> use on JT9-5 and is very marginal even for JT9-2. What a huge
>>> disappointment, though it did not come as any surprise.
>>>
>>> I can think of several ways to solve this but am not sure any of
>>> them can save some part of this winter season:
>>>
>>> 1. Add insulation and a heater to the FT-2000 TCXO area. I will try
>>> this but I am not convinced I can make enough improvement. The drift
>>> is really ugly!
>>>
>>> 2. Replace the FT-2000 TCXO with an outboard programmable GPS
>>> referenced oscillator, for example a Leo Bodnar unit. The trouble
>>> with this is I do not have sufficient knowledge or experience to
>>> know what kind of problems might be encountered. The GPSDO is enough
>>> of an investment to kill any and all other attempts at a resolution
>>> if I am unable to make it work.
>>>
>>> 3. Use a divide-by-100 circuit with the FT-2000 operating at 13.6
>>> MHz instead of a LO/mixer converter from 10 MHz. This should reduce
>>> drift to the order of 0.1 Hz, probably quite acceptable. So far I
>>> have not found a divide-by-100 circuit using a modern/available part.
>>>
>>> 4. Run away from the junk FT-2000 completely, using audio to 136 kHz
>>> converter for Tx and 136 kHz to audio converter for Rx. This is
>>> finally the direction I want to go but there seems to be much
>>> learning left to do and a lot of building. It's probably not a
>>> solution which can be completed in time for this winter season.
>>>
>>> If anyone has experience in any of these areas and is willing to
>>> share knowledge, please get in touch with me. This may be the last
>>> solar minimum for me, and I would like to make some LF/MF DX QSOs
>>> before these incredible conditions fade away.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Paul N1BUG
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