[DSP-10] Brickette QRO QRV at n5bf/6

[Courtney Duncan]

The Brickette at n5bf is now on the air.  The stories of the 
construction ordeal and VHF QSO Party tests and follow on QSOs have been 
added at

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ejccool3/dsp10ci.html

As before, this is blog like.  Read from the bottom up for chronological 
effect.  June 4 is the start date for the Brickette.

My module seems only to put out about 5.5 watts rather than the 8-9 that 
Bob talked about in the QST article.  Do I have a different part or some 
other problem?  I seem to have plenty of DC voltage and the drive from 
the DSP-10 measures roughly as it's own construction article indicated 
it should.  My Figure 12 power meter gives 277, 343, 410, 475, 532, and 
582 mV on Xmit Pwr 95 - 100 respectively.  This seems to agree with 13 
dBm output plus or minus a little though there are things about this 
measurement that I don't understand.

Otherwise, the behaviors are all as expected.  Taking into account that 
I have no mechanical construction skills, I'm quite pleased.

The goal was to get this going for the QSO Party so as to have lots of 
stations to work for checkout and "feel" purposes.  I'd say it performs 
pretty much like a fancy 10 watt rig!  I made 30 easy contacts all over 
the Los Angeles basin, which I overlook from about 390 meters MSL.

I don't plan a big Field Day this year but when I'm around the house 
will give out 2 meter SSB and CW contacts.  If you're within 50 miles 
give me a call!

73, Courtney, n5bf/6