didn't you have a bit of power on 2m back in those days too?

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Crawford (GI4OPH)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: GI4OPH Station


> Hi Keith,
>
> Yeah, it definately can get warm in here in hot weather, especially when 
> the
> amp and computer are both running.  Although not really a problem this 
> year
> so far.
>
> Yes, finding someone competent to help with aerial work is a big problem.
> My father who would have been my main source of help is getting on in
> years,, and in poor health these days, so it's a bit more difficult to
> change things around.
>
> I have to admit being very reluctant to luff the tower over without the
> assistance of someone experienced in such matters, just in case something
> goes wrong.
>
> Hope you get your Yagi's up, I have the Vine 5 ele here for 4 metres, but
> will probably wait until next sparodic E season now before installing it.
>
> A couple of Yagi's should play well on 2 metres, I had 4 17 ele tonnas up
> back in the dim and distant past, and had loads of fun with them.
>
> Cheers for now,
>
> Tim.
>
>
> Bangor, N. Ireland.
>
>
> Skype:  tim-crawford
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Keith Barrett" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:57 PM
> Subject: Re: GI4OPH Station
>
>
>> Sounds nice out there although a bit hot in summer?
>>
>> I have loads of antenna work needed as well but like you say, not easy
>> to get help with it these days.
>>
>> Also have a 4 metre beam in the garrage and some long yagis for 2 metres
>> but can't get them up on my own.
>>
>> Keith Barrett
>> gw4nby
>>
>>
>> On 23/06/2011 12:20, Tim Crawford (GI4OPH) wrote:
>>> The shack here is housed in a 10 by 12 foot timber shed, attached to the
>>> =
>>> rear of my garage.
>>>
>>> It's double skined, with a 2 inch layer of good quality insulation in =
>>> between.  the roof, floor and walls are insulated, and I've installed a 
>>> =
>>> large double convector radiator making it quite comfortable, even in =
>>> winter.
>>>
>>> The entrance door faces east, with the 12 foot walls running east west.
>>>
>>> The door is in the middle of the east wall, with the corners helping to 
>>> =
>>> form a cupboard on each side.
>>>
>>> These cupboards contain various items, such as shoe boxes of qsl cards, 
>>> =
>>> boxes of connectors, leads and cables and peices of unused equipment.  I
>>> =
>>> have also=20
>>> several photo albums, at least one for each band, containing a qsl for =
>>> each confirmed dxcc entity.
>>>
>>> A fairly substancial 30 inch wide bench runs along the remainder of the 
>>> =
>>> north side, continuing at a right angle along the west wall to form an l
>>> =
>>> shape.
>>>
>>> Heading right to left along the north facing bench, there is a Rotel cd 
>>> =
>>> player, and a Nad hi-fi amp on top, these are 20 and 15 years old =
>>> respectively, but still sound quite good.
>>> Left of the hifi gear,  sits the shack computer, an old pentium 2.8 =
>>> which is beginning to show it's age,a 17" monitor, with a set of small =
>>> pc speakers either side purely for speech, and an external hd.
>>>
>>> Above the bench are a pair of bookshelf KEF speakers mounted on wall =
>>> brackets.  Between which there is a display cabinet containing my =
>>> collection of 1/50th scale diecast model trucks.
>>>
>>> Under the bench I have a chest of drawers, storing around 650 cd albums.
>>> =
>>>   These are prity much unused since I've converted the whole lot to 
>>> flac,
>>> =
>>> and are stored on pc now.
>>>
>>> The bench forming the other leg of the right angle runs along the west =
>>> facing wall, and accommodates the radio equipment.
>>> right to left, is a Palstar 1km atu, Acom 1000 linear used mainly for 6 
>>> =
>>> metres, my Alpha 91b which is the main HF amp, and the FT1000MP.
>>> Left of the MP is my ft847 which I use on 6 metres, and a 4 metre =
>>> transverter awaiting an antenna one of these days.  There is also a =
>>> Kenwood tr751e with a dodgy af gain control, needing repair.
>>>
>>> Above the main bench runs a shelf on which lives the rotator controller,
>>> =
>>> P2000 swr/power meter, the ldg tw1 and 2 meters, and the control box for
>>> =
>>> my Steppir Yagi.
>>>
>>> There are a couple of low pass filters for HF and 50 mhz, a 4 way =
>>> antenna switch, and the senser for the p2000 screwed to the wall =
>>> underneath the operating bench.  A 30 amp psu also sits under here as =
>>> well.
>>>
>>> The shack  has  it's own ring main, with a master switch.  in addition I
>>> =
>>> have 4 8 way surge protected units, providing plenty of mains sockets.
>>>
>>> Above the radio gear, on the wall are a few plaques and pictures =
>>> pertaining to Liverpool football, or if you prefer, "soccer" club,=20
>>> of which I've been a fan since childhood.
>>>
>>> Along the south facing wall there are a couple of salvaged chests of =
>>> drawers which store all sorts of stuff, like blank cds, stationery, and 
>>> =
>>> other assorted junk!  My trusty Perkins sits on top of here.
>>>
>>> This wall also has a double glazed window.
>>>
>>> Finally scattered around the place are various sundry curiousities, such
>>> =
>>> as a peice of the timber mast of a fishing boat I once owned, and bits =
>>> and peices of stuff made by my kids in school.
>>>
>>> The antenna system at present consists of a 3 element Steppir Yagi, with
>>> =
>>> the 40/30 metre driven element dipole kit, on a 60ft crank-up tower.
>>>
>>> I plan to reduce this to a 2 element, to make room for probably a 6 =
>>> element Yagi for 6 metres, and a 5 Element for the 4 metre or 70 mhz =
>>> bands.  I was hoping to make these changes this year, but due to lack of
>>> =
>>> available  help, it will probably be next spring.
>>>
>>> My next chalenge is to get some sort of antenna up for 80 metres, is =
>>> I've really not done anything on that band to date.
>>>
>>> This will probably be an inverted l, however given that a sizable area =
>>> of my garden is paved, an effecient radial system is going to prove =
>>> difficult.
>>>
>>> Apologies for what has turned out to be a rather lengthy post, and hope 
>>> =
>>> it hasn't sent too many of you to sleep smile!
>>>
>>> Best 73,
>>>
>>> Tim.
>>>
>>> Bangor, N. Ireland.
>>>
>>> Skype:  tim-crawford
>>>