Today I added a Behringer MiniMon mixer to my shack. First off, for the price, it is a great addition to my station. The minion, which I picked up for 40 dollars allows me to mix four audio sources into my headphone to allow me to monitor my IC-7000 and the PCR-1000 at the same time. My idea was I could feed the receiver into one ear and the transceiver into the other. It works! If I need both ears for either one, I can easily turn off a source and I'm in business.

I looked into some more expensive rack mounted mixers such as the Rane SM-26 but I could find a complete one for under 100 dollars and I was getting impatient. I think new, they go for 200 to 400 dollars and I wasn't willing to drop that much money into this project.

There are a couple of drawbacks I have noticed with this mixer:

1. The lack of a grounding terminal. I haven't noticed any additional noise in signals received so it is not a big concern at this time. I will see how it handles when transmitting and that will push the grounding issue if it comes into play.

2. No way to adjust the signal strength from the sources on the monitor front panel. I knew this when I bought it and considering that 90% of the time I operate my transceiver and receiver via computer interface, all my volume controls are just a couple of mouse clicks away.

With the option to continue using this mixer as my shack grows, I look forward to using this device for years to come. It meets the needs and then some for the time being.

Coming projects... I plan on putting a VHF/UHF antenna in the attic for the shack. I have yet to use these bands on the IC-7000 and would enjoy to have the same capability I have with my HT when on the move. I'm think about putting in a tri-band whip like I have in the truck in the attic, but a directional is an option too.

until next time 73s,
KB3OQY

Going mobile with the HT

As I mentioned in my last blog, I have a Kenwood TH-F6A. I love this little HT. Well, it’s been gathering a little dust over the last couple months as I worked on the IC-7000 and getting it set up just the way I wanted it. Well, a few weeks back, I was listening to the Resonant Frequency podcast hosted by Richard, KB5JBV and he was talking about the HT being a good first rig for a newcomer to the hobby. I couldn’t agree more as that is where I started as well. Well, I’ve been considering putting together a mobile rig for my truck and Richard mentioned using the HT with a mag-mounted antenna as a good option for this. Well, I took it to heart and started saving my pennies.

Last weekend I broke down and made my purchases. After visiting all my favorite online Ham radio stores (the nearest ham radio store besides Radio shack is about two hours away) and reading up on the reviews posted at eham.net, I decided on the Comet SSB-224. It was an easy choice since I previously purchased the HT-224. I also bought the mag mount from Comet as well an SMA to SO-259 connector…. Some parts used, some new. Some new mainly because I couldn’t wait around for everything to show up at a hamfest, flea market, or ebay. I think my total cost was around 90 dollars for everything. Not bad considering I decided that I needed a tri-band antenna. Most of the dual band or single band antennas I found were very reasonably priced new and used.

Well after watching my UPS tracking numbers for the last five days, the last box showed up this afternoon. I put it all together and I turned on the radio and wow, I am very happy. With any luck, I’ll make a contact with the new setup on the commute to work tomorrow morning. I recommend doing this same setup to any ham out there. Thank you Resonant Frequency for this suggestion!

So what’s next for me? I’m going to work on getting mobile with the IC-7000. That will be a task and I will probably have to spend a little more money, but I like the idea of setting up the 7000 at a park or maybe even taking it camping sometime. Who knows, maybe I’ll use it in the truck. It is a mobile rig after all. I’ll need to consider power (solar, gel cell, generator). That seems to be my main consideration for a radio this size and how and where I’m heading.

I’d also like to look into putting a directional antenna in the attic and hooking up the HT to see how far out I can make a contact. Maybe a handheld directional antenna and I’ll try out some of these fox hunting activities.

Until next time… 73s,

Bob, KB3OQY

Setting up the shack

After a a year or so of having my HAM radio license, upgrading to a General license, and learning all I can about the hobby, I finally put together my first station and I am technically on the air! Yea!

My modest station is made up of an IC7000 powered by a PS-125. As I live in a Condo, putting up an outdoor antenna was out of the question for the time being so I was left with the attic. My antenna is a loop cut to 40 meters, It works beautifully on 40,20, and 10 meters and could not be happier with the results. The best part of this set up is all the equipment is used and with the exception of the ladder line running to the loop from the radio.

I also have an old ICOM PCR-1000 that I 've used for years and it comes in handy for all my receiver needs. I bought this handy little receiver shortly after a short cruise on board a Coast Guard cutter. I fell in love withit and it has been on my desk attached to four different computer in the nearly ten years I've had it.

For my 'on-the-move' operations, I use a Kenwood TH-F6. When I first received my Tech License, I was out on the prowl for a good dual bander I could use at home, in the car, and out hiking. I tried various radios my friends and family had, but it was a demo of this little radio at the not so local ham radio store that sold me on this little tri-brander. My primary antenna is a Comet TH-224, a TRI-bander antenna that really works like a dream.

Well, that is pretty much my ham shack at this time. Now I need to make some contacts. :) I'm sure there will be more to come as I try to make my shack bigger and better.

73s,
Bob