ZCZCZC

Well, I got a semblance of a RATT station set up for this morning’s MRCA RATT NET. It was my first RTTY attempt since probably before 2012. First, apologies to the net for doubling over someone else. My copy from K4NYW was probably 80% and once I saw my call I thought it was my turn. I later saw Nick turned it over to someone else first and me next. Second, apologies for not sending LFs. This is a new set up for me (glass terminal) and I need to figure out how to send LFs using the software (VanDyke SecureCRT).

I did identify a real problem in my setup. I use a device from Black Box that converts ASCII to ITA2 bidirectionally (ascii terminal program in use). And for some reason this device kept locking up, requiring a hard reset. At first I thought it was when I transmitted, but then I saw that on receive it would frequently lock up and I would no longer receive the text (I could hear the remote station fine on my speaker). This might be tricky to figure out…

And finally, I think I have some RF in the shack. My first transmission was at a full KW and when I began transmitting, my cordless phone when crazy (went into paging mode.. I never knew it had a paging mode!). When I reduced power to 250W that stopped happening.

Station was a Harris RF-1140A consisting of OCF dipole (seven bands), a RF-590 receiver, RF-1310A exciter, RF-1110C KW amp, RF-3466A modem.

Sigs we quite good! Armchair copy for W1AEA, KA3EKH, K4NYW (80%), KD2GFM (70%) and several others who, in my excitement, I neglected to write down!

Thanks to everyone who participates, and thanks to Nick for spearheading the whole thing. I will work on improving the station and my operating practices.

73 Eugene W2HX

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@w2hx

NNNN