My basic set-up

Hi all

It doesn't get much more basic than this, until I arrange a better and more organised space this will have to do.

Current set-up is a Galaxy DX 959, Palomar Quadra Power linear amplifier, ½ wave Shockwave Station Master MK1,  12v lead acid battery power supply charged with a maintenance charger with a volt meter to keep an eye on voltage.

Next item on the agenda is setting up the UHF followed by sone other 11m radios.

I'll post new pictures as things improve.

Hi Andrew,

Always good to see a basic setup, exactly what is needed without superfluous junk.
(Love a good battery setup too!)


I'd just like to point out though that you have a link to a commercial website in your posting and refer you to the forum rules at the following link :-

https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/t2-charlie-tango-forum-rules


All the best,
Victor

C.T. Admin.

Apologies Victor,

You've caught me out on not reading the forum rules thoroughly. I'll take some time out to read through them properly. (Clearly stated in the first paragraph.. oops) 



Kind regards
Andrew

No worries Andrew.

I thoroughly enjoy Charlie Tango, the talk, the banter and everyone sharing what they're up to...it's a brilliant place to be!

Just occasionally though as a voluntary admin I have to be seen to be doing my job.
(I'm probably the worst admin though for going 'off-topic' enjoying the conversation!)


Thanks for sharing your setup with Charlie Tango, always good to see what people are running no matter how big or small. Just that I am a fan of keeping it simple and the big old battery really floats my boat in a radio setup.  

Look forward to seeing your station expand mate.

'Thanked' & 'Liked'


All the best,
Victor

Thanks Victor

Good to see your doing your job ; )

I've oped for a battery for a few reasons, my GME PSA126 power supply only delivers 7 amps where as the battery can deliver more than enough to power several pieces of equipment, the battery gives zero interference and best of all remains active in the absence of mains power supply, we have blackout and surging almost weekly here.

All good reasons for battery power Andrew.  

My first ever CB setup decades ago utilised a battery as at that time I couldn't afford a "big" power supply and it did the job nicely. We used to get a lot of blackouts in my village even here in Blighty and although they've since upgraded the village substation I still wonder about power loss so thinking about a battery backup again. Your setup spurred on those thoughts again.

Don't care if I lose TV, or the internet, but I'd hate to lose my radio or the opportunity to run interference free radio!


73's
Victor

Love the setup. Practical and obviously works well for you if you're having frequent power outages.

Regarding the rig itself, do you have much cause to use its filter, GNF on that radio? Just wondered in the real world how well it works. My 6900 is spending a lot of time in my rucksack as I have being going out portable to get away from the home QRM which it doesn't handle well with its filters, and so will probably buy another rig for just home use at some point. I am using mostly SSB which I believe the GNF is for? Does it help on top of using the ANL and NB filters?

Hello SangueG

The GNF (Galaxy Noise Filter) definitely cleans up background noise. Once I started using it I couldn't go back, it stays on all the time in conjunction with  NB/ANL
It won't completely remove QRM bit I think it works extremely well and makes listening much easier on the ears.
I live in a small rural town and despite its small population and lack of industry its still quite "noisy" here. There are some annoying pulsing sounds that never stop throughout the middle frequency that I wouldn't mind tracking down. They're quite strong and the only filter that removes that one is the squelch.



From the user's manual 
"Is a special noise filter that de-emphasises audio high frequency response in order to increase signal to noise ratio of weak signals.
While you will notice a dramatic reduction in the "rushing" sound when the filter is activated it does not have much of fact on the signal-to-noise ratio of strong signals"

Thanks for that. It sounds a little like the hi-cut filter in my radio, but mine does almost nothing. There's bound to be a few vids out there of that model in action, I'll try and look some up.

I do like the big S metre on yours too. I've got to put my glasses on to see mine properly 

The big S meters are great, I love the frequency counter. It's the first radio I've owned with one so it's still a novelty.

I spent the afternoon adjusting and plotting the SWR on my ½ wave today. I also thought I'd try to make the tip more visible to birds by adding contrast with black heat shrink bands. Hopefully those crazy galahs won't smack into it and snap the tip off again... its definitely more visible now.
I made a few interesting observations while tuning the SWR, I might create a new post elsewhere in the forum about that.

Nice setup, Andrew.

73s John.

Thanks John,

73's back at ya.

Nice set up Andrew and interesting read 

Hope to catch you on 11m in the near future 


Craig CT Admin

Just noticed your hand drawn SWR chart Andrew, excellent stuff!

It's one thing to scribble down a few numbers on a scrap of paper, another to have something like a 'RigExpert' plot it on a screen for you, but to take the time and effort to chart it yourself is great. Really helps you understand and appreciate it all.

Keep up the great work with your station. 

we all started some were cb radio battery a big sheet of steel and a dv27 on a mag mount lots of coax and it was fun yes i know it will never be the same but do you think its got to much gadgetry u need this and that i watched gary ctx video basic antenna a bat and grant2 but thats all he needed and on a hill a 137miles ground wave, do i miss the simpler things in the cb day yes we had basic cb antenna power batt power very basic, it works , i hope to be out more this year and on my best spot if the range is closed and get up there and hope to get further down , lets make this year that every one got out to get the contacts

Victor wrote:

Just noticed your hand drawn SWR chart Andrew, excellent stuff!

It's one thing to scribble down a few numbers on a scrap of paper, another to have something like a 'RigExpert' plot it on a screen for you, but to take the time and effort to chart it yourself is great. Really helps you understand and appreciate it all.

Keep up the great work with your station. 

Thanks Victor 

Taking the time to plot my "full" SWR range has taught me a few things that I could have learnt in text books.
I now know if my Antenna needs to lengthened or shortened and by approximately how much if my swr needs adjustment. I can also see a distinctive pattern forming and could estimating with a degree of accuracy what ill need to do if I wish to operate at much higher or lower frequencies than I can currently reach. 
I'll have a decent swr meter shortly, next time I run a test it will be far more accurate.
It was definitely worth the effort.

The latest additions, I've built my own power distribution board to tidy the wiring up and make it easy to swap equipment, I'm happy enough with the results. Also added two pieces of second hand equipment.... I'm running out of room on the shelf, almost time to remodel the space.

That's a very tidy looking distribution box. Very well done.

Thanks SangueG

I didn't like the price of boards so thought I'd just make one.
I would've liked to have made it fused with flush mount blade fuses between the terminals but couldn't find anything suitable. I might work something out later.

Top work, Andrew.

Like your homebrew distribution box Andrew.  

Always appreciate a bit of homemade kit especially if it looks good to boot. Now that I'm adding more radios to my collection this will kick me into touch for making my own.

Love the old Reace meter too, always good to have a bit of vintage gear on the shelf. Be nice if you can dig out an old crystal and see if the 'crystal test' function still works just for the hell of it. Can't remember the last time I saw a crystal tester!

Great work mate, the collection/station is coming along nicely.

nice basic set up and with the battery less likely to get any noise though mains equipment as not connected . If get any will be airborne or though any cables / coax .

enjoy the hobby

Victor wrote:

Like your homebrew distribution box Andrew.  

Always appreciate a bit of homemade kit especially if it looks good to boot. Now that I'm adding more radios to my collection this will kick me into touch for making my own.

Unfortunately I was limited by availability of quality parts.
If I were to build another I'd find some better quality sockets and plugs.
The ends of the sockets I bought are exposed which could make accidents happen easily.
A search of Ebay showed me I could have purchased the same type of plugs and sockets only substantially better quality at a fraction of the price.
I'm still on the lookout for a good way to flush mount or panel mount fuses. Even a resettable overload button would be cool.