VA7ST.ca – Page 6 – A radio operator's notebook

QSL cards

Are you waiting for a QSL from VA7ST? All contacts in my log receive a confirmation using the ARRL’s Logbook of the World.

End of an Era: Kon-Tiki

On Christmas Day 2009, Knut Haugland, the last surviving crew member of the Kon-Tiki voyage, passed away at the age of 92.

Farewell to a friend, Bob VE6YR

The radiosport world lost a great competitor with the passing of Bob McCarthy VE6YR on December 22, 2009. Bob was an avid radio contester, particularly active in RTTY (radio-teletype) contests.

Building a Beverage receive antenna

If you have room to run a short 270′-long Beverage antenna, you’ll improve your reception on the low bands (160M and 80M). Here’s how I built the antenna and just-too-easy transformer.

SteppIR 3-element yagi

Choosing the SteppIR 3-element was not a difficult decision. Those who have used this antenna swear by it. Read my notes as I purchased, installed and put one on the air at VA7ST.

FT-2000 — Thoughts and Observations

Observations about owning the Yaesu FT-2000 — with a few tips and tricks for happy owners.

A linear-loaded 40M rotatable dipole

The “crappie pole” is a short, linearly loaded 40M rotatable dipole you can build for $50 or less. And it works!

The Small, Powerful Hex Beam

This is a home-made five-band antenna made from bits of bamboo, some hose clamps, a few wires, and lots of hours of puzzling, building and — at last — huge satisfaction.