The Ham Shack

Since I got back into the Ham Radio last November, my wife said that I needed to partition off part of her building that we have for her coupon items.  The building is 12 ft X 40ft, my stuff will be in the front part.  I have most of the electrical run already,  still need to finish the insulation.   In one of the photos below, I started installing 1 X 6 tongue & groove pine for the walls.

The Kenwood Two Meter Radio

I recently purchased and received a Kenwood TM-281A two meter amateur mobile radio transceiver.  I was able to hook it up last time I was home and only used it long enough to participate in the weekly ARES net.  Now that I am home again and I have had some time to play with it, I have some thoughts on this radio:  This is a very nice rig with clear audio, fairly easy to use functions, and a very sensitive receive.

Over the years, I’ve owned two other major radio manufacturers for a 2 meter mobile radio: Icom and Yaesu.  This is my first Kenwood, I decided on it thanks to a friend who suggested Kenwood.  The Icom and the Yaesu both have their differences, but with every company  putting out great quality products, I guess it really comes down to features and capabilities. Also, a matter of what you like and feel comfortable with.  For example, my first new dual band radio was a Yaesu FT-8000R, I loved this radio until the transmit side went out on 2M.  I hooked it up the other day to power it up after 10 years sitting in a box, it just felt comfortable to use.

The Kenwood TM-281A 2M transceiver is a great little radio.  This radio is packed with features.  One thing about this radio that I knew when I purchased it was the fact that it only has 6 buttons on the unit itself, which means sub-menu's, and a lot of them.  Luckily, the instruction manual is detailed enough to figure out the radio.

The build quality is great and the front firing speaker is loud but clear.  I do like the heat sink is placed in the back and the bottom.  I have an Icom IC-2100H in my truck and it's heat sink is mainly on top, which does fill with dust.  The TM-261A radio only has 2 power output settings, 65W and 25W.  I thought that having a radio with low power of 25W was kind of strange, I don't think that I have run across another with such a high power setting for "low" power.  Talk on it for 10 minutes and I think I could light a fire cracker with it.

There were only a few things that I didn't care for on this radio:  the "low power" output of 25W, the sub-menu's which most all radios are going to, and the very sensitive receive of this radio.  Overall, I would recommend this radio to someone that is looking for an affordable radio to get started in Ham Radio.  I think once you have all of the frequencies programmed in, you would be set.  

Installing My Ham Radio Gear

Tonight, I did something with Amateur Radio that I normally don't do.  I served as the Net Controller for the LaSalle Parish ARES/RACES Net, (Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services). The purpose of this net is to provide training for emergency preparedness; as well as provide a basis for the establishment of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in the event of an emergency. This net is called each Monday night at 19:30hrs local time on the amateur frequency of 147.105 (+ Offset) with a tone of 103.5. I can recall only checking in on a net a few times since I have been a Ham Operator. It was not too popular here where I live. Since I have got back into the hobby, I learned that another Ham had started the planning of this Net and it's launch. I have tried to fill in on this net a few times but it just never worked out. However, tonight I was able to do it and it went pretty good. Knowing that I committed to doing this, it gave me incentive to get out in the Ham Shack and do a little work. The new Power Supply, 2M Radio, and J-Pole are set up.

Below is a picture of what it looks like so far.  This is the old desk that I got for Christmas back in 1987 or 88.  It's been around for a long time, so I cleaned it up a little and put it in the shack.  

I received some tips from a friend of how he waterproofs his connections to the antenna, he used Scotch 33 Electrical Tape, Rubber Splicing Tape, and more Scotch 33.  He told me told to use some ScotchKote but there was not available at the local Ace Hardware but they did have some liquid electrical tape, so I tried it out.

Michael Martens, KB9VBR, sells this J-Pole Antenna at a reasonable price, he says that you have to make 5-6 wraps of the coax about 1 ft from the connection, this make the Balun since you have to match the coax to the antenna.

I used two each 2IN worm gear clamps to attach the shaft to the push up pole.  I wish I would have taken some pictures of it once I got it complete.

I attached the pole to the building and the J-Pole is about 25ft in the area. So far, it seems to be doing good.

The Astron Power Supply

I have heard many good things about this power supply and I am hoping that I made a good buy.  Eham.net rated this unit 4.7 out 5, that's pretty good numbers in my opinion and that is out of 150 reviewers.  I will be setting it up tomorrow and putting a load on it to see what it will do.

Linear DC Supply 13.6vdc 20 amps with Meters, Output Voltage: 13.8 VDC (+/- 0.05 V) Internally Adjustable (11-15 V)

Continuous Amperage Output 25 Amps

ICS (Surge) Amperage Output 35 Amps

Solid State Electronically Regulated

Fold-Back Current Limiting- Protects Power Supply from Excessive Current & Continuous Shorted Output

Ripple Less than 5 mV Peak to Peak Full Load and Low Line

Maintain Regulation & Low Ripple at Low Line Input Voltage

Three Conductor Power Cord

One Year Warranty- Made in USA

General Thoughts of an Amateur Radio Operator

More to come I'm sure.  I have been in the process of setting up my Ham Shack, it's been a slow process as I have been tied up with other things.  I have a few pieces of new equipment ready for the installation.  I was able to purchase an Astron 35 amp power supply and a Kenwood 2M Radio radio that I will be using as a base station.