[AK-VHF] New 222-MHz Radio

[Edward R Cole]

Shannon,

I bought the DEMI L222-28 (25w) and L432-28 (25w) 
as kits for $395 each in 2012.  I already had a 
L144-28HP (60w) and 1296-28 (25w) so that made a 
complete all-mode station from 50 to 1296 
(excluding 927.5 which I had a surplus MOT 15w FM 
for).  But the only other all-mode 222 station is 
KL6M and we never made a SSB conntact.   I had an 
idea to try 222-eme with 300w and my two yagis 
without elevation, but that would be a marginal 
station for eme and there are not many stations doing eme on that band.

I began to think of getting an FM transceiver 
over a year ago.  One of the drawbacks of using a 
transverter is I had only one IF radio for all 
for bands which meant I could not monitor 223.53 
when operating on one of the other bands.  I 
partially solved that by buying the FT-736R from 
KL6M (gave me alternate radio for 144 or 432, multi-mode).

But there is a growing number of stations using 
223.53 FM simplex which includes KL6M and 
KL7XJ.  Having a dedicated radio that could 
monitor the 222 band independent of the other 
equipment looked really desirable.  When Merle, 
W7YOZ, posted he was looking for a 222 
transverter I saw that as my opportunity to sell 
and get the FM transceiver.  BTW Merle is in WA, 
not OR.  Merle also bought an used L144-28 which 
had a receiver problem which I fixed.  That gave 
me enough funds for the BCM-220.

Right now I am just running 30w directly to the 
antennas, but I will eventually use preamp and 
150w amp.  I ran 100w with the transverter.

73, Ed - KL7UW
Yes, date is earlier for the 2017 June VHF 
Contest.  I will get home only a couple days beforehand.

At 06:12 PM 5/5/2017, Shannon Methe wrote:
>I thought about going the transverter route for 
>223, but it was just too spendy. When I looked 
>at the way most people in town used 223 (FM 
>only) I decided to just go with an Alnico mobile 
>unit. Didn’t expect to have much opportunity 
>to use the USB. I hoe you have good luck with 
>yours. Looking forward to hearing you on Tuesday night from Flat Top.
>
>Speaking of which, JUNE VHF is early this year. 
>Seems like the last couple years it has been on 
>Father’s Day weekend. I’ll probably 
>participate in some way. Was thinking about 
>operating low power portable from the summit of 
>Flat Top 70cm-6m, including 223.
>
>
>
>
> > On May 5, 2017, at 1:08 PM, Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:
> >
> > I decided to sell my DEMI 222-28 transverter to W7YOZ in OR.
> >
> > I bought a new Bridgecom BCM-220 30w FM 
> transceiver.  I can bring up 224.94 repeater (70miles) with 30w.
> >
> > I will eventually interface the BCM-220 to 
> use my 150w Securitor Amp and my tower-top 
> preamp.  I purchased a DEMI sequencer board 
> which will control preamp/TR relays/amp/radio 
> PTT.  I will use a spare TR relay in the shack 
> to select either preamp (Rx) or amp (Tx).  Amp 
> requires 12mw drive so I will run the radio at 
> 5w into a 10w 20-dB attenuator followed by a 
> 6-dB attenuator at amp input:  5,000mw/400 = 
> 12.5mw drive.  The preamp has a separate coax 
> run which will connect thru the TR relay in the 
> shack to the radio.  I'm guessing to run 
> 130-150w with this when its completed (in June, probably).
> >
> > Radio is on and scanning 223.53 & 224.94 
> using two 11-element CC-yagis at 60-foot (pointed at Anchorage).
> >
> > June ARRL VHF Contest is June 10/11: http://www.qsl.net/a/ak-vhf//Contests/
> >
> > 73, Ed - KL7UW
> >  http://www.kl7uw.com
> > Dubus-NA Business mail:
> >  dubususa at gmail.com
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73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com