Home QTH

My home shack is pretty simple since I moved to an apartment. I use the TS590S Kenwood transceiver in combination with a SDR receiver (see project)

My radio is connected to my computer through an USB cable. Up to 12wpm I enjoy the paddle, but spatially on dx exhibitions and contest, most hams using computer driven high speed CW calling. With the Ham MRP40 software I am able to participate the higher speed CW communications.

Early Jan 2015 I repaired my old TS930SAT Kenwood with the help of W3AFC. John had the same power supply problem and broken drivers in the PA too, but ... he took note about everything and wrote a very interesting paper. Thanks John for the help and motivating me to fire-up again this old Flag ship of Kenwood.

I am using 3 antennas for HF communications:

My primary antenna is a End Fed Long wire of 158 m (518 feed) lenght,  covering 1.8 to 30 MHz and mounted about 8m up with the line strung started top of the roof through a few steel poles in the garden ending in a oak tree.

The second antenne is also an End Fed wire of 42m covering 3.5 to 30 MHz.

Entering the shack after a magnetic balun, followed by a current balun and finally matched by the MFJ-993B antenne tuner to the TRX.

I have a clear area and run the antenna wire straight north-south. It has been working just fine for me, considering the low height for the wire and the fix direction.

The third one is a small vertical End Fed : Sigma SE HF360
The Sigma Euro-Comm. SE HF360 is an End Fed, Vertical Fiberglass Antenna capable of allowing the user to work 80 Meters through to 6 Meters using an ATU, also not requiring any counterpoise. The Sigma Euro-Comm. SE HF360 can be pole mounted at ground level or elevated depending on the user’s requirements. The Antenna is rated at 300 Watts side band and comes complete with fixings and full installation guide. The Sigma Euro-Comm. SE HF360 has 4 sections, 3 high grade fiberglass sections and one stainless steel whip.

My VHF antenna is a Diamond X-50 vertical, mounted 8m height and used for the dual band Standard C528 portable transceiver, 70cm and 2m. or the Beofeng UV-5R

My discone antenna is a Sirio 1300 - Specs, mounted 8m height and can be used for the SDR RSP1A receiver, combined the SDRplay software.

Logging Software

I use the Logger32 software as semi-manual logbook. On hand *.ADIF files these info is auto-transmitted to LOTW, e-QSL, Clublog, QRZ and HRDlogs. So far so good.

WSPR hardware

Using the Ultimate3S kit (QRPLab's) 200mW/5W combined different antennas, magnetic loop 90cm, double loop 1.4m.