My Remote station
Some years ago I felt that the room in my home is not enough for me. It was when i started to chaise entities for 160m. I have not place for a 160m antenna. The field where my home lays is about 300 square meter! That is about 20x15m (60x45 feet). So there is not place for dipoles, radials and beverages. One good neighbor allowed me to put a wire and make an inverted L with some sort radials (3-10m) and I managed to have my first 160m antenna. I worked and confirmed 150 DXCC entities with this antenna on 160m!!! Beside this, my home QTH has a big mountain to the North and I couldn't hear pacific ocean countries at all.
I made several tries to find a new place to put my antennas. Unfortunately my financial recourses were very limited. So the only solution was to use a small home owned by my father in a village near Agrinio. It is 40km far from home at 950 high on the mountain. It has a clear view from 30-0-220 degrees so I can work easily South America, USA, Europe and Russia. Japan is ok (at 45 degrees) but Australia (90 degrees), Africa and Indian Ocean is totally closed by the mountain. My field is not so big, about 1200 square meters, but I could use the near forest for beverages. Nothing is perfect. So I decided to give it a try. The quiet location drived me to make my dream true.
So I started building my remote station. It works as remote station the last 10 years. If you want to learn how to setup the remote station read here...
Antennas
- One tower 12m high (40 feet) with 3 element steppir with 40m add on, rotated with a Yaesu G1000.
- Dipoles for 80 and 160m.
- Three Beverages for RX to JA, USA and Carribean (the USA beverage is already in use).
- Antennas for 6m.
- A VHF-UHF vertical for APRS and talking with the locals.
Inside the shack
- lightning protection,
- ADSL,
- power supplies
- remote rig.
- An APRS digi is already installed and transmits as SV1DPI-11
- There is also a Kenwood 480HX and an 1KW amplifier
The station is used for remote operation.
TRANCEIVERS
KENWOOD 480HX (HF + 6m)
I bought just to use it like remote rig. Perfect for this job. I wish it had 2m and 70cm also but it has not... I have 500Hz for CW.
UFO (VHF 144800)
UFO radio... I don't know who is the manufacturer but is has modifies by SV3BSF. It works only on 144800 and it is used like an APRS digi (SV1DPI-11). It's really good and reliable.
ROTATORS
YAESU G-1000DXC
This is used to rotate the steppir. ERC interface is used to control the rotor from the computer.
YAESU G450
This is used to rotate the 6m antenna.
POWER SUPPLIES
DIAMOND GSV-4000
Αγοράστηκε μεταχειρισμένο από το φίλο μου SV1EBV. Αν και το πήρα για να το χρησιμοποιώ σε dxpeditions, δεν κάνει γι' αυτή τη δουλειά, αφού είναι μεγαλύτερο απ' ότι πρέπει. Βρήκε τη θέση του στο απομακρυσμένο σακ και κάνει παρέα στο 480...
ΤΡΟΦΟΔΟΤΙΚΟ SS1200
This is my first power supply (12A). Very reliable. Servicing me more than 15 years. It works for APRS digi SV1DPI-11.
OTHERS
ERC (EASY ROTOR CONTROL)
Leaving from Germany hamfest in Friedrischaffen, I saw this kit. I liked the idea for a kit without smd, I was also hurry and I bought it. DF9GR (the manufacturer) is really great guy. He helped me to assemble the kit (it was easy but I was Goofy). You can control almost any rotator with ERC via computer. When I started to use it, I asked myself how I was living until now without it. More in ERC webpage ...
RRC-1258MKii
DREAM! Unbeleveable tool by SM2O. Many Greeks have already owned one as many amateurs in world. Remote operation is ok for DXCC. You can control your radio over internet with this magic device but not only this. The delay is really nothing about. 40-50msecs for me. You don't need a computer either remote or control side if you use it with a Kenwood 480 or Icom 706. And if you wonder about DXCC, you should now that it is legal for tx/rx from the same dxcc entity, signing with the call of this entity.
ANTENNAS
SteppIR 3-elem with 30/40m
I bought it used. Excellent antenna..
Diamond X510M
I have 2 of these antennas. One of the best vhf-uhf verticals. I have installed the first one in Agrinio. When I was in search for an antenna for my APRS digi in Saint Vlasios, my friend SV1ELF offered me this one... It works like a charm... Thank you George
Beverage
My beverage is about 185 m long. It's a dream to use a beverage in low bands. I can hear much better than the Inv-L on 160m, about the same on 80m, extremely good on 40m and 30m. Sometimes it is better than the quad on 20m!!!
5el TONNA (6m)
Good value for money.
7el DK7ZB WY207 (2m)
I have worked this antenna only for a while on ssb. I bought it as cross for satelite use but I never really used it..
10el DK7ZB WY-7010 (70cm)
As the vhf antenna, i have not used this antenna as well. Just a happy(?) owner....