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The Shack

I am primarily a 6M DX'er. In 3 years (1997-2000), with 100W, I simultaneously made 6M WAS #1069 and VUCC #1070 (200 grids), now I am at 500+ grids Confirmed ,  97 Countries confirmed and 6 Continents confirmed on 6M.

My new shack for 2013 consists of a Yaesu FTDX-5000MP. Audio is via a Heil PR-22 studio mic on a Heil boom. I get many unsolicited comments on my audio from DX stations as well as non-DX, well worth the $99 for the setup. A SDR-IQ running the excellent SDR-Radio software is connected to the FTDX-5000MP's IF output. This provides SDR functionality and expands the receive capability by providing addition "receivers" for the A VFO. Everything is integrated toghether via DX-Labs DXSuite.

Additional rig is the Elecraft KX3 with KXPA100 amp.

My old shack was a pair of  Icom 756 PRO III's and a PW-1 amp. For those who asked here is a picture of auxiliary fans I put on the 756PRO III's to assist in keeping them cool in the rack mounts. The desk was custom built by Columbia Oak and supports 19" rackmounts. Panels are made by NovexComm.

The tower is a foldover 61' (23 sq ft @ 80MPH) Heights Tower, Array Solutions Prosistel PST-2051D rotor, Array Solutions Powermaster watt/SWR meters.

HF antennas are full size dipoles for 160M, 80M and 40M. For 20M to 10M I am using a Tennadyne T8 Log Periodic (this replaced a 3 elemet SteppIR that did not hold up well). 6M beam is a Directive Systems DS50-5 at 71'.

T8 up:

I opted to use some better baluns that what the T8 can be optioned with, I followed W8JI's recommadations and used a 1:1 isolation balun at the mast to boom transition (I used a Balun Design Isolation Balun) and used a second 1:1 current balun at the feedpoint (this was a CalAv balun from Array Solutions).

Here is a SWR and Return Loss plot of the T8 using a Array Solution AIM 4170 VNA.

Tower install Progress pictures

Antennas can be switched between any rig using Top Ten Devices A/B switch. Also seen in this picture are the Power Master sensors and Array Solutions 120V and 240V surge protectors.

Lightning Protection project at new QTH:

I am using products from Array Solutions.

I have 24 grounds connected via 400'+ of #2 AWG solid copper, all connections are Cadwelded. The SPG (Single Point Ground) is in a NEMA 4X (size is 18"x16"x8") box at the entry point. Every I/O in the shack is grounded here. All feedlines are Andrews Helix run in a 3" conduit, and they are all grounded at the tower base before they make the 110' run to the house and SPG, and all control lines have a second set of suppressors at the tower base using a DXEnginnering weatherproof box. All shack AC power (120V and 240V) is also protected via arrestors on a 1' x 2' plate behind the operating desk and grounded back at the SPG with 3 feet of #2 AWG solid. All shack equipment is grounded here.

Trench:

The Shack as well as most of the whole house is on a LP fuelled Generac 16KW automatic generator

6M EME     

With my previous Directive Systems DS50-5 stack on a 37' tower I decided to try it out on EME using WSJT. After a few unsuccessful attempts in getting a complete QSO with JA1RJU we completed on 9 Feb 2005 in under 10 minutes. Both ends only have fixed elevation antennas pointing at the horizon. Besides a new country this completes my WAC on 6M.