I'm always wanting to find out more about the technology I use and in this channel I want to share what I've discovered in a clear format that's helpful to others.
Q26 is the name of our website and online electronics shop (Quartertosix Limited) based in Somerset in the South West of England. My technological interests include electronics, radio, amateur radio, 3D printing, photography, multi-rotors and fixing just about anything - and I'm also keen on cycling, running and occasionally fixing cars. Music and Music Technology are a big part of my life too. If you share any of my interests I hope you'll enjoy my videos.
Great video! I, like many many others initially thought these sensors absolutely useless, simply due to not knowing the blue pot must be wound many turns out to set proper sensitivity! Now my unit works great! Clap on, clap off from across the room!
FT817ND is a Swiss Army knife of transceivers. You don't need many radios, just 1 radio such as 817 or maybe even Icom IC703 QRP. If you want more power, just hook up a HF amp. I use Tokyo Hy-Power 45B amp inline to help me with contacts when operating from a base station. For SOTA/POTA activations, I just use it with my trusty LDG Z817 tuner. Will never sell mine for anything else and any additional bells and whistles with a more expensive rigs are very marginal.
This receiver is sensitive. Connected my QSX+ and FT818 on the same antenna with a Y. They heard the same signals equally. Hard to tell even on the weakest signals. I have to recommend the QCX+ Very Highly.
This is a good follow up and very interesting, thanks! Would I be correct in thinking that during your lunch break, the battery was able to recover enough for a final fling?
This channel is now my main reference to operate and learn how to use my FT-817ND. Though it came almos new in the box, I am its third owner. The first owner was British and he unlocked it, maybe because he wanted to use the 60m band. Thanks a lot!
I have an FT-817ND and I wonder if these tips are also good for it since this video features an FT-817. It is a great radio and for those who like DXing, its reception is very good and its features are of great use.
HI again, When using the module in the video to light up an LED strip, it works, but it's much less bright than when powering the LED strip directly. I'm using the supplied 12v power supply to power it and it's super bright when powered directly but only maybe 30% of the brightness when activated by the PIR. It turns out that the 10k resistor is only allowing 7.4v to get to the LEDs when they want all 12v coming from the power supply. I jumpered the resistor and it's as bright as it is when powered directly from the psu and working great!.
Thanks for the interesting video. I found your channel because of your very good QRP labs and FT817 content. Those are the radios I also use. I've been out of the hobby for decades but digital modes got me interested again. I'd not heard of that transceiver before. It's amazing how they can be so very cheap. Some are less than a fiver! Thanks again
I have had my FT-817nd for a number of years and have made numerous global contacts using, it’s a fabulous radio! Having said that I learned so much from this video. Thank you very much for sharing!!
Excellent video. I have the older QCX+ and I love it.I have worked all over Europe from here in Florida USA on 40 meters. Antenna is a half wave end fed cut for 80 meters and strung to the top of a pine tree in a V configuration. All the very best, N2SN.
Other DSS VFO sketches have a frequency calibration mode menu feature. Maybe one can be added as it will be a lot easier than having to load it from a computer every time.
Just a simple loop at the top of the mast? I’ve used a pulley, but a) they seize & b) the cable, or support line always seems to snag. Your KISS seems to be the answer - so simple.
One of the great advantages of 3d printing - I've been able to make a number of fittings for this and my 'tactical mini' pole to manage both the antenna and guy ropes, wire winders and so on. Thanks for your feedback, 73 from Mort / G4BSK
HI, Is there a pir that sends a signal for 1 second only when motion detected and another signal when it times out from the same output? I would like to make a simple motion detector to turn my video camera on and off. I aready have a remote controller for my camera with a spare transmitter and the one button turns the camera on and off. I could use the transister to operate a relay to short out the switch in the transmitter. Great video. Thankyou.
Would it not make sense to calibrate at a much higher frequency? I would think higher frequencies (like 4x your maximum expected operating frequency), the total error at lower frequencuiies would be almost a non-issue. Also, are you using a TCXO on the Si5351?
Hi Tim - I'm following the guidance of NT7S (Jason) and his etherkit library for Arduino and Si5351 - his calibration sketch shows an example of 10MHz and that worked really well for me. I also tried at some other frequencies, eg in the 14MHz band. Getting an accurate zero beat to work another station is really important for QRP and the point of this video is to show it can be done even without specialist equipment (and I did improve on it off camera 🤓😃). 73 from Mort / G4BSK
@@Q26Video Thanks for indulging me. One other question I was not able to answer from a slightly more than cursory read of the datasheet - what is the VFO adjustment range of the analog input, and do you have any experience with the transient response of that SI5351 part? I am curious if that would be suitable for an OFDM transmitter (by directly modulating the VFO input with an external DSP, like say an ESP32).
Sorry Tim, I have no experience or detailed knowledge about any of that - sounds like an interesting project and I hope you figure it out. Best wishes, Mortimer
A common misconception, Lars - most of the contacts I make are with other stations with low power equipment and simple antennas - usually a wire in the garden or a dipole. I have worked stations all over Europe with less than 1/2 watt and many of them have been similar, usually 5w or less. It's a very exciting and satisfying way to enjoy the radio hobby and the idea that it can only be done if one side has a super duper antenna does not stand up to the facts...give it a try - put the huge rig and beam in a cupboard and have fun with QRP! 73 😃
