Ham Radio Equipment & Software

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Last updated: 02/26/2018

Powering the station

Commercial Power, Troybilt Gas Generator (5.5K) and Ever Start Deep Cycle Battery.

Power supplies are: Yeasu FP-1030A and MFJ-4230MVP. I use two power gates, they are: KI0BK-PWRGATE and a Rigrunner PWRgate PG-40S. The PWRgate PG-40S is used to provide backup (battery) power to the Yeasu System Fusion 440 MHz repeater, Motorola MSF5000 100 watt 440 MHz amplifier, Yeasu VX-2000 2 meter transceiver (Packet),  The Yeasu DR-1X, Bridgecom BCR-220 and the Yeasu FP-1030A Power Supply is connected to the AC Power. A Rigrunner PWRgate PG-40S is connected to the Yeasu FP-1030A power supply, Deep Cycle RV Battery and a Rigrunner Rig Runner 4008H. Two KI0BK-PWRGATE  are connected to the Rigrunner. One PWRGATE is used to power the DR-1x Repeater, Motorola MSF5000 PA and changing the Deep Cycle RV Battery. The other PWRGATE is used to power the FT-991, FT-8800 and changing the Deep Cycle RV Battery. I have a CE Power Analyzer connected in line between the battery and the FT-991 to monitor the battery voltage. The Deep Cycle RV Battery is being charge by the repeater and the two power gates. The system ran on the battery for around 4 hours before starting the generator when we arrived back home. My son Kim (WA8KIM) set me up on Anderson power connectors and many other power related items! Thank You Kim!!

Yeasu DR-1X - Analog/Digital Repeater - Quick history of the K8VEB 443.350 MHz repeater. The first repeater system was a Midland UHF 10 watt desktop repeater with internal controller. The antenna was a Ringo Ranger up about 20 feet. Coverage range was 3-5 miles. The second repeater was the Kenwood TKR820 running 10 watts to Motorola duplexer then to the Diamond X500 up 50 feet. The controller was a CAT 300DXL, RLS 1000 remote base board, Audio delay and Digital voice Recorder. We used the system as a repeater/remote base and Echolink systems. The coverage was 8-11 miles.  Jeff N8HEE gave me a Motorola MSF5000 repeater. I had Brian KB8QWJ align and tune the repeater to my frequency pair. The repeater is running 40 watts out of the duplexers to the Diamond X500 on the tower at 50 feet. The coverage area was 15-18 miles. We installed new LMR400 coax and replaced the X500 with the Super Station Master. Thanks to my Son Kim (WA8KIM) and Timber Tree Service for the tower work in the Cherry Picker! The coverage was 17-24 miles. Over time we noted a decrease in range, we found out that there is water in the coax and the pre-amp on the MSF5000 went bad. I wanted to update the system and go digital, so I bought the Yeasu DR-1X repeater. The DR-1X went on-line on June 20, 2014. Replaced the Motorola band pass cavities with Decibel Products band pass/reject cavities. Kim installed a AR2 pre-amp inside of the DR-1X. The DR-1X has a trickle charging system built-in, so the 12V Deep Cycle RV backup battery is automatically maintained. Replaced the LMR400 with 7/8 hardline. Yeasu WIRES-X (Node#11187/Room#21187) is online using the Kangaroo Windows 10 computer for the Wires-x software. Echolink K8VEB-R  #443350 is online using a Raspberry Pi Cube system and the SVXLINK software. My Son (WA8KIM) built and tested the Echolink system for me! Ordered and waiting the ADR interface so I can put the CAT 300DXL controller back on the system. If I am able to add the CAT 300DXL controller, this will allow Autopatch, Digital Voice Recorder (Parrot Mode), DTMF keys testing/read back, Remote base (FT-991), CS700 HT (DMR) and the Midland 13-509 (220 MHz FM) back on the repeater system. The repeater is located in the Motorola MSF5000 half rack and running 45 watts out of the cavities.

Yeasu FT-991 - Multi Mode 160 Meters - 70cm Transceiver - 100 watts on 160 - 6 meters. 50 watts on 144 and 430 MHz - SSB/CW/AM/FM (analog/digital) - 3.5 inch TFT Full-Color Touch Panel Operation - Spectrum Scope - Automatic Mode Selection, Group Monitoring. This is my day to day rig! You may find me on HF using SSB/CW/JT65/PSK31/SSTV or on VHF/UHF FM (Analog/Digital)/SSB/CW/WSJT! The HF antenna is a Off Center Windom up about 30 feet. I still use the LDG Z100Plus automatic antenna tuner. The VHF/UHF antenna is a Comet Tri-Band (50/144/440). Using the USB-A connection, works very well on JT65-HF, WSJT, RTTY, PSK31. On SSTV, I need to use the MIC and SSTV software.  The menu option for SSB needs to be set to "REAR" for digital modes, or 'MIC' for voice (not both). This is why I decided to buy the Yeasu SCU-17 interface. Installed the audio/cat drivers. The interface connects the RS232C port on the FT-991 to the RS232C port on the SCU-17. The SCU-17 connects back to the FT-991 on the data port (mini DB6). Now the digital modes use the RS232C port, and leaves the MIC as normal. Connecting the two units together is very easy with the supplied cables. The back of the SCU-17 interface are labeled and has easy access. Using the SCU-17 interface, I adjust the Input and the Output levels right from the front of the SCU-17 unit!. The software I use is Ham Radio Deluxe Version (6.2.10.377), JT65-HF, WSJT (VHF/UHF). I love the RT Systems programming software! I use the RT System software on my other radios.

 

 

Yeasu FT-1DR - 144/440 Dual Band, Dual Watch, Analog/Digital HT. WOW! Love this radio! Analog/Digital/GPS/APRS/Automatic Mode Selection/4 power settings/Extended Receive/Dual Band Operation/AF Dual Control, micro-SD backup and so much more! I bought the extra battery, desk charger and the Camera/Speaker/Mic. I can monitor my repeater (analog/digital) and the DV4mini systems, while listening to my favorite AM/FM Broadcast radio while working around the house. I love the RT Systems programming software! I use the RT System software on my other radios.

YEASU - FT-8800R - 144/430 MHz Dual Band FM Transceiver - wide Frequency Coverage - Independent Two-Channel Operation - High Power Output (50 Watts) - 1000 Memory Channels - Large, Easy-to-Read Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) - Cross-Band Repeat Capability -4 User-Programmable Microphone Keys - Convenient Remote-Head Mounting Capability with the FT-8800R optional YSK-8900 Separation Kit, The YSK-8900 includes a 20-foot (6 m) remote cable and mounting bracket for the front panel. I use this mainly as a scanner for repeaters, police and simplex frequencies in the office. I love the RT Systems programming software! I use the RT System software on my other radios.

YEASU FT-8900R - Quad Band 29/50/144/430 MHZ VHF/UHF FULL, YSK-8900 Separation Kit included. Quad Band FM transceiver providing 50 Watts of power output on the 29/50/144 MHz Amateur bands, and 35 Watts on the 430 MHz band - Cross-band repeat - dual receive - VHF-UHF Full Duplex - 800 memory channels - 10-meter FM - Convenient Remote-Head Mounting Capability - Convenient Access to WIRES and other Internet-linking Systems - Quad Band Operation - Wide Frequency Coverage of 28-29.7 MHz, 50-54 MHz, 108-180 MHz, 300-480 MHz, and 700-985 MHz (cellular frequencies are blocked and non-restorable). 800 Memory Channels - Six-character Alpha-Numeric “Tags” (labels) - Cross-Band Repeat Capability - CTCSS and DCS Encoders - Independent Two-Channel Operation. This is my mobile station! 4 bands in one small package! RT Systems programming software. This is my mobile unit. I use two antenna systems with this radio. I use the Diamond K9000 motorized mount. Diamond 270 dual band antenna (2 meter and 440 MHz). Diamond SR8900A quad band antenna (28/52/144/440 MHz). I have the left side programmed for the 2 & 70 cm frequencies, and the right side programmed with the quad band frequencies. I love the cross band feature of this radio. I set a repeater frequency on one side and a simplex frequency on the other side. Activate the cross band feature. Now I have the power of my mobile while I'm working, shopping etc. I love the RT Systems programming software! I use the RT System software on my other radios.

DV4mini - DV4mini is a tiny but powerful USB stick that can change any PC/Pi/Mac into a RF HOTSPOT for D-Star, DMR, C4FM and P25. It contains a 32-bit micro controller as well as a complete 70cm transceiver (1 -12 mw) in a small USB interface. It is powered through the USB interface. Uses a comprehensive but simple to use software package which allows for the linking with DCS reflectors for both D-Star and DMR reflectors. DMR will not get you into the DMR Marc network, it will only get you into the DMR+ "Hytera" network at this time. I ordered two DV4mini, and one is running on a Raspberry Pi 2 B. You can follow the Wireless Holding, LLC link to look at the info (manual/price) for the DV4mini. Here is a photo of my DV4mini on the Raspberry Pi 2B.  The other DV4mini is my mobile/portable system running on a WinBook TW-700 Windows 7 inch tablet. I use the "Internet To Go" mobile hotspot for my internet connections when there is not WIFI available. Give me a call on FCS006.

TYT TH9000D - 220 MHz mobile transceiver.

 

Wouxum KG-UVD1P - 144/440 MHz 5/4 Watt HT - DTMF Encoding Function - VHF/VHF - UHF/VHF - UHF/UHF - CTCSS/DCS Scan - VOX - Bright Flashlight - Digital FM Radio - Bandwidth Selection - Priority Scan - Scanning Channel - High/Low Power Selection -

 

Baofeng 888s - 16 Channels - 5 watts - 400 - 470 MHz - VOX Function - Voice Prompts - Emergency Alarm - Intelligent Charging - Battery Save - Low Voltage Alert - Time-out Timer - 3.7V 1500mAh Li-ion battery - Desk Charger - Speaker/Mic - Programming Cable. I have programmed it for the FRS Channels (1-7) and my son's GMRS/Ham repeaters and my repeater. My wife uses this radio when we go shopping or she just wants to keep in touch with me via my son's GMRS repeater system.

 

TYT TH-UVF9 - 220 / 440 MHz 4 watt HT. Dual Band Display - VOX - Battery Saver - Time-out Timer - Voice Prompts - Uses the Baofeng Accessories - Wall Charger - 7.4 volt 1600 mAh Li-ion battery - Speaker/Mic - 12 Volt car adapter -

 

Yeasu HRI-200 - WIRES (Wide-coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System) is an Internet communication system which expands the range of amateur radio communication. For WIRES-X, an amateur node station connecting to the Internet is used as the access point and connects the wireless communication to the Internet. Users' stations can communicate with other amateur stations all over the world using a node within the radio wave range.