[Lowfer] Warming up (not really the right phrase) for SAQ

[JD]

It was pleasant enough when I started my dress rehearsal for SAQ this 
afternoon, but there was frost all over everything by the time I returned to 
town just after dark.  The computer is currently (no pun intended) 
recharging, the upconverter is indoors on its wall wart to save the two UPS 
batteries that source its 24 VDC in the field, and the car and radio are 
receiving supplemental power from the mains until H-Hour.

I'll be using Todd's variation on the AMRAD upconverter and the accompanying 
LPF.  The latter is what I built the buffer amp to be able to use to maximum 
advantage, but it turns out the buffer works so well with the R-5000 that I 
hadn't used the upconverter a lot until something came along below 30 kHz 
that really needed it.  I can't predict how this is going to turn out, 
though.  This afternoon and evening, there was a lot of noise (mostly 
looking like SMPS junk) around 17 kHz.  I just hope it's gone by 2 AM.

With everything working so well, I took the time to become more familiar 
with upconverter reception today.  It's odd trying to mentally compensate 
for frequency error, which is no longer directly proportional to the tuned 
frequency.  There is a bit of net gain over the receiver's native LF mode, 
but not as dramatic as you might expect given the reputation of some other 
receivers at LF.  The filter is pretty aggressive, beginning at or a smidgen 
below 500 kHz, but I was still able to copy XGR/6 quite nicely in slow CW on 
501 kHz right at dusk,  XSH/7 was working the AGC hard in Morse at 476.3, 
and later some FSK or PSK mode that was about 50 Hz wide.  LowFER SIW was 
gaining strength after the sunset fade, but WMS was not very clear yet.  And 
of course, MP was chugging away at 137 both before and after sunset.

Now to find a way to stay warm tonight when the temperature is 15-20 degrees 
less than this afternoon....

John