[bars] Fw: Notes from ARRL VHF contest

Sat Jun 17 08:11:59 EDT 2023

At this point, I just using for SWR only, so I don't use for other purpose yet. Nano VNA has many other functions. people using for tune own filter, you can check cable loss, cable length and may others.

I have attached a capture of the result of a simple experiment with 6M antenna. My Nano VNA setting is yellow line is indicating SWA, green - Smith chart, The blue line - impedance (resistance), and the purple line - reactance. The band width of these images between 49.5MHz - 51.0MHz ( You can change this setting as you want ). The antenna is 1λ, so I used little more than 6m speaker cable. I made a loop using a paracord with four rings with knots the cable thru those rings, The top and bottom are about 41" width, and height is about 79". It's looks not bad as is (left side) but the lowest SWR is slightly high. If I want to make lowest peak lower, it can be changing add length, or change the ratio of loop or maybe others. If just focus the lowest part of SWR (1.0), I could change from 50.520MHz (left) to 50.310MHz (right) by changing ratio, which I used for 6m FT8 (50.313MHz). The impedance (blue line) about flat, but right side one shows slightly low (49.27Ω vs. 48.4Ω), if I want to closer to 50Ω, I maybe add width to get more closer to 50Ω, etc. I don't know other antenna analyzer, but at least Nano VNA, you can see where it changes in real time, I thought this step was fun part for me.

73,
Nori - AA1NK
________________________________
From: KC1SOZ <kc1soz at bd5.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2023 0:48
To: Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com>
Cc: BARS Reflector <BARS at w1hh.org>
Subject: Re: [bars] Fw: Notes from ARRL VHF contest

How do you use the analyzer? I already have SWR info on mine, what does this add to the little pile of data? I mean, I understand the concepts, I was maintaining avionics and electrical systems on Marine aircraft starting back in 1979, and our helos had HF, VHF and other equipment on it, but the maintenance did not include deeper analysis for maintenance and repair, which was done at the depot level.  :)

73,
KC1SOZ
Juan

On Thu, Jun 15, 2023 at 10:52 PM Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>> wrote:
It's works fine for me. The thing is this first one and only one I ever used, so I cannot compare with the other one. It's because of much less expensive than RigExpert or MFJ's antenna analyzer, many new ham like me using this unit. You can find many info at YouTube. If you want to see this, I can bring it to Field day.

73,
AA1NK Nori
________________________________
From: KC1SOZ <kc1soz at bd5.com<mailto:kc1soz at bd5.com>>
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2023 0:14
To: Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>>
Cc: BARS Reflector <BARS at w1hh.org<mailto:BARS at w1hh.org>>
Subject: Re: [bars] Fw: Notes from ARRL VHF contest

How's that antenna analyzer working for you? Do you like it?

73,
KC1SOZ
Juan

On Thu, Jun 15, 2023 at 7:51 PM Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>> wrote:
I haven't got the hang of this mailing list yet, and I habitually just replied to email. I forward my reply to Joanne just in case.

73,
Nori

________________________________
From: Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 23:53
To: Joanne Dolan <dolans.family at gmail.com<mailto:dolans.family at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [bars] Notes from ARRL VHF contest

Hi Joanne,

That is Nano VNA, I am using for antenna analyzer. I attached the photos of the unit and result of my 6m antenna.
73,
Nori
________________________________
From: Joanne Dolan <dolans.family at gmail.com<mailto:dolans.family at gmail.com>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 13:17
To: Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>>
Cc: BARS Reflector <bars at w1hh.org<mailto:bars at w1hh.org>>
Subject: Re: [bars] Notes from ARRL VHF contest

Nori, what’s the unit on the stool?
Tim, can you send a picture of your antenna setup?
Thank you both for sharing!
73,
Joanne
KC1NMX

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 13, 2023, at 9:49 PM, Nori Kajita <nkajita at outlook.com<mailto:nkajita at outlook.com>> wrote:

Tim,

Thank you for your report and summary. I enjoyed it as well. I planned to make a home drew antenna for 6M. But unfortunately, Glassfiber fishing rod I planned to use as pole did not come on time, so I just use paracord and speaker wire and make kind of 1 λ loop antenna. I attach a photo of antenna how I set up. I set up this antenna on my deck which is only 9 feet from ground. It's very simple but the antenna works just fine and able to QSO to one of west coast station with FT8. I never work other than FT8 yet on 6M, so I will try other mode as well on September!

73,
Nori - AA1NK
________________________________
From: bars <bars-bounces at w1hh.org<mailto:bars-bounces at w1hh.org>> on behalf of Tim KC1RET <kc1ret.radio at gmail.com<mailto:kc1ret.radio at gmail.com>>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 12:16
To: w1hh <bars at w1hh.org<mailto:bars at w1hh.org>>
Subject: [bars] Notes from ARRL VHF contest

My station is solidly in the 'little pistol' category. I have a 4el 6M + 11el 2M + rotor mounted on top of a 10 foot pole mast on my deck. I manage about 100W on 6M and only 50 on 2. It was also my first attempt at SO2R and it was a bit bumpy. I did find it valuable to monitor two bands at the same time, but my software setup (N1MM + JTAlert) isn't 100% yet.
I was only able to operate on Sunday for about 12hrs so my score is quite modest. I heard very little in the way of SSB here - I only managed a handful of phone contacts. FT8 was the most productive for me, by far. I managed ~90 Qs in over 30 grids. My highlight QSO was W1FET/MM in FL66.
Lessons for next time:
- Sort out the software! I duped several stations because N1MM wasn't getting the call from WSJT-X. It did log it fine, just didn't populate the active call window and therefore didn't show dupes correctly.
- Remember to check the FM segments
- Pay more attention to the spots.
- Finish the build of 2 & 6M LNAs.
- Add 432 (222?) to the mix.
I did enjoy it very much -- I look forward to improving for September!
--

Courageously sent from a non-Apple device that includes a headphone jack.

________________________________
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Tim Carter - KC1RET

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