[GreenKeys] RE: Getting Serrious about Autostart

[Roy Norris]

Hi Larry,

Sounds like we are using essentially the same methods.

I just checked to see if I could get my 135 foot dipole fed with
openwire to load and it wont.  I bought the fixins to put up a 10 Mhz
antenna so I guess I need to do that.

I have an Icom M700 Pro marine ssb transceiver that has the high
stability and high accuracy frequency option in it so that it would
always hit the marine channels dead on.  It has been modified so that it
will transmit anywhere it can receive (1.8 to 30 mhz) so it will do very
nicely for 10.1375 Mhz.  It is only 150 watts output so it meets the
criteria of 200 watts or under for the 30 meter band.  I have used it
extensively on Pactor on my boat but am now going to dedicate it to the
autostart frequency.  I have just purchased a HAL DS-3100 KSR that has
WRU capability that I will use to provide WRU functionality until Gil
finishes the TTY Connect project.  I will monitor 24/7 with a Model 28
ASR with the Hal DS-3100 providing WRU function so that people can make
sure they are on frequency and check for propagation.  

On the antenna, I am toying with a vertical dipole with the lower end
maybe 20 feet off the ground fed with open wire.  I have an extra
Johnson KW matchbox here that I can modify to tune 10 Mhz fairly easily.
The other alternative is just a high dipole NE to SW although I am
concerned that the pattern will be a problem for stations in the
Carolinas & Maryland and Virginia.  Another alternative would be a 2
wave length horizontal loop which has a four lobed pattern (N, E, S, W)
that might work fine.  I just have to think about it.  I have the room
and the wire for any of them.

I like you idea of using the loop supply in the ST-6 keyed by the
Dovetron.  I think I am going to do the same thing here with the HAL
ST-8000.  I have a couple of extra ST-6's laying around and I will just
use the ST-8000 to key the loop in the ST-6 and use the ST-6 to drive
the Model 28.

Looking at the Dovetron, it does not appear to have an autostart relay.
You could cut the trace in the ST-6 from the keyer to the loop so that
nothing being received on the ST-6 would cause print (using a connection
from the Dovetron to the keying transistor in the ST-6 to key the loop.
You could then use the ST-6 to provide autostart by connecting it to the
audio output of your receiver along with the Dovetron.  I would have to
look at the schematics but theoretically that should work.  I don't have
that problems since I will be using the Hal ST-8000 which has a line out
for keying a motor relay on the machine.

I should have the DS-3100 here early next week.  I am going to shoot for
this weekend to have the station and antenna all up and running and
should be able to start sending test signals by then.  WRU capability
will be added as soon as the DS-3100 arrives.

By the way, I am retired as well so I am around all day here in my ham
shack !

Best regards -- roy Norris, K4EEG