@@Nathalie-vg9ok You'll enjoy it. Take your time putting the heat sync in. It is a chore, but done wrong is a radio destroyer. Tight fit. Beautiful rig!! I just finished building a QMX from QPR Labs and it's probably THE tightest and most complicated radio to build. Damned it is doesn't work perfectly. First hour, a dozen European countries on FT8. The 3 element beam might have helped the 3 watts. ;). 73
@@DaveKelleyphotography Dave, I did order it without the case, I want to use it stand alone with a Raspberry Pi4, 7" LCD and a 20w amplifier. I might go to a 10" LCD if I find a suitable enclosure.
Thanks Dave! This is great! I'm a EE so I buy from Digi-Key all the time. They're wonderful and they don't charge an arm and a leg for shipping. The total for me was just under $150 for two with shipping, and, yes the tariff, which is still in place. Still, not bad, since it's been three years since you bought yours. Your instructions were very clear! I think I'll try to devise a way to put the rivets back.
Well, that's just a prototype and the software isn't set up to re-engage after a power up, but I expect I could get back into the remote access of that software and reengage the device. I haven't had the time to design a marketable remote antenna disconnect.
I have had mine for a few months and have used it while in Louisiana and Florida with RemoteTX. It's bee a great device to keep in touch with some of my regular CW QSOs. Looking forward to using this while on the Queen Mary 2 and in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of D Day Thanks, Dave. 73, Tom K4AEN
I looked at those also. Nice for sure. We just took our 190 on a long and VERY bad road to visit some land a friend had in the middle of nowhere. Watching the suspension system come into play and to see how well she handled it has really sold me on just how well she was built.
Great video, thanks Dave. Here in the UK Digikey UK don’t sell the ready made battery pack, but various places do sell the individual Panasonic HHR-370 (L-Fat A size) batteries with solder tabs, so you can make your own easily enough. The original batteries in my velux blinds have started to fail after 14 years- I’ve done 3 so far!
Awesome, I hope its working well and hope to hear you on the air! Just have one question, how big is that base and how deep did you go with it??? 73's N3WUB
Hi Peter! It does seem to be holding up rather well once I put shear pins in each sleeve that connects to the mast. 20x40 beams can have some real torque with even a small breeze. The tower specs said 4x4x5 feet and that is how big the hole was. That's one part I never have to worry about. 73 AI7R
I'm glad it helped. You can bet i watched every YT video I could find on it before I got it. It still took a little head scratching, but it sure has worked well for me. I can totally maintain my Steppir by myself and no ladder.
Dave. I bought a keying rca to replace the original. When I took it apart looked like the .01 uf cap was across both terminals attached to the rectifier. When I looked at the schematic looked like the cap is supposed to go before the rectifier to ground and rectifier to center pin of rca cable. When you did your upgrade. How did you wire the rca key plug?
That's actually something I didn't install, so I can't answer that. And I'm not very inclined technically. If in doubt, check with Harbach I guess. Sorry I can't give you an informative answer.
Dave, did your batteries slide out of the housing easily? It appears that mine has a touch of glue keeping the battery pack in the housing. I see a tear in the wrapping around the battery cluster in the video which is why I asked about glue. Did you use something to tap the battery cluster to get it to slide out of the housing?
It has been years since I filmed this and it sounds like they have either made some changes to improve the battery or make it so you had to buy it from them and not do this cheaper update.
Dave, the battery housing is thin plastic. It appears the only way to install new batteries is to cut the plastic housing, find out what is preventing the removal of the old batteries, remove them, solder the connectors to the new battery pack and tape the housing together so that the end caps can be installed and install it in the shade. I've opted to have BBM Battery retrofit my old battery pack for $84.95+$8.00 shipping. The battery pack alone $55.95. Besides, I don't think Velux sells this battery pack anymore. Oh, well.
You're screwed when the guy you got the custom board from goes under and leaves you on your own with no parts now that you chopped the wiring all up. Dumb...
I'm not sure what you mean. The board installs fine, and really makes the amp far more operable and cooler. If Harbach went out of business tomorrow, my amp is still working great. I've installed a lot of power supply upgrades from them and each one has worked perfecly.
Dave just completed this mod and your video was a great help in wrapping my head around what the directions referenced. Thank you. One thing.. I don't think it matters but I think you reversed the terminal locations of the AC1 & AC2. There is a picture at the bottom of the Harbach website home page and I believe they are opposite of yours. I could be wrong, take a look. i0.wp.com/harbachelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ES4L4B-2.jpg?ssl=1 Thanks Again!!
After finally obtaining one to go with my 75A4 I am certainly impressed with what it is for when it was made. I do feel the term 'worked someone' is appropriate with this radio. Sure does sound cool just hearing the fan ramp up.
Thank you for the tour! This is by far my most favorite radio even though I have never used one or even seen one "in person." I just like the look and can imagine the tactical sensation of turning the knobs.
Taking 5 minutes to change bands and flip a knob to go from transmit to receive is certainly a sign of those times. It sounds awesome with the huge fan and, of course, like all gear of the time, fills the room with that wonderful smell evoking memories of our youth.
my solar roller shutter does not connect to the remote control. I want to try changing the battery. I couldn't find any video or explanation where the battery is located. who can help me? for velux it tells me that I have to put everything back in again. Thank you
The battery in the sky light motorized device can only be accessed from the roof. I have to open my glass portion with the hand crank from inside and then I can get to the part that has the long battery in it. There are two clips you open and the battery is right there. Now, there are a LOT of different models of their skylights, so your may or may not be like mine. I take no responsibility for the information of you going on your roof to change a battery. That is all your call.
There are a lot of models, so I'm not an expert on that. There should be two slide latches on the 'engine pipe' that should give you access to the battery if that design is like mine.
Thanks so much for making this video. I see a couple people just leave the amp on and place a on off switch right on the 220 cable. Does putting in this kit eliminate the need for an external keying relay too ? Thanks
This kit does three things. It does a timed power up were it does 120 volts for a second or so before a relay brings it up to 240. Saves the switch. It changes the idling bias so it isn't so hot just sitting there. And yep, it changed the keying circuit so you can key it with a modern solid state radio. Well worth the time and effort.
Enjoy! I’ve had one for a month…also still discovering features/settings in Thetis. I added the companion board which, for me, has greatly enhanced the CW experience with the reduction of latency and the additional of side tone on the headphones jack. Thanks for the vid.
great video, im in the uk and have the db11, its about 12 years old and i did the exact same thing with my relay box when the screws broke off, also i had corrosion inside the box from condensation .
Hi, nice project, what is the name of that type of motor assembly? Is it the one used to open and close windows? I need to solve the problem of what affordable motor I can find here I can use, I suppose a stepper with a screwed rod attached can be a solution for me and others unable to use the same motor assembly you are using. It will be nice if you can make one of this as well. Many thanks. 73's
I've got one wire BOG , totally against every HF rule , +- 40 meter long looped twice in the garden,2 meter high 2,5 mm2 copper wire , Input transformer 9:1 , end resistor 450 ohm.Then a 5 meter telescope somewhere in a corner for de phasing the noise.I receive the whole world for a poorman price.
It looks like you turned on an Attenuator.All of the signals dropped dramatically.Same as turning Off the preamp.I use ClearSpeech DSP modules or Speakers and they actually remove the noise without the signal changing.
Yep, Clear speech works pretty well. And yes, it sounds like I turned on an attenuator, but the difference is the signal-to-noise ratio. The signal sounds weaker, but the noise is lower by more than the signal. Different ways to skin the cat.
Unfortunately this product is no longer available from Digi-key. I searched the part numbers on from your pack on their site and nothing came up. Do you happen to have the link from when you bought them?
I notice that on the tilt winch/rigging- The tower has two locations for lifting sheaves and you are only using one (2:1 lift ratio). If you wanted to go easier on your body, add a second sheave and lengthen the lift winch cable to give you potentially a 3:1 ratio or a 5:1 lift ratio instead with the same hardware youre using now (just a longer cable, if you can fit it on the winch drum). 73, KB2UHF
Thanks for your thoughts. Good ones. Not long after posting this, I changed out the winch with one that had a higher rating a the ratio that makes tilting it up and down is FAR easier.
I like the idea of the distance you pull the connections away. I live in the south where we have very large lighting storms. I wonder if Node Red could work for control as well. I really like the distance you pull apart to help with protection. Did you ever market this idea.
