Monday, 13 July 2015

MY WOODEN YAGI SWL ANTENNA











        This SWL antenna in the form of YAGI antenna was constructed by me in Nov 2011. I used this antenna with my SANGEAN (ATS-909) receiver. Performance was OK, although I could not compare it with a DIPOLE antenna.

       This is basically an experimental antenna therefore I would not recommend it. Instead a random length DIPOLE antenna is better option for SWL purpose.

Sunday, 10 May 2015

Sunday, 3 May 2015

MY MORSE KEYS

MY SINGLE LEVER PADDLE


     This Single Lever Paddle was given to me on loan by OM Paddy (VU2PEP) on 11 Aug 2014.

     This paddle was actually developed by OM Dev Rama Prabhu (VU2DEV), who gave one piece to OM Paddy for testing. Subsequently the paddle was passed on to me by Paddy to practice CW and give feedback about its performance. It took me more than a month's rigorous practice to get accustomed to this paddle.

     I have been using this paddle since 27 Apr 2015 for regular CW QSOs.


MY STRAIGHT KEY


     This Straight Key was gifted to me by OM LM Rajeev (VU2OCY) on 05 Mar 2008.

     I basically used this key to practice Morse Code for my ASOC (General Grade) exam.

     As a tribute to my membership to SKCC (Straight Key Century Club), I used this key 22-26 Apr 2015 to make regular CW QSOs.


MY HOMEBREW STRAIGHT KEY


     I homebrewed this Straight Key in the year 2011.

     This key was never used for making regular CW QSOs. Its meant only for use with my JAMMER-20 QRP CW transmitter.

73 !!
V KISHORE
VU2JXL
EX-VU3INK

Friday, 6 March 2015

10 WATTS HF LINEAR AMPLIFIER USING IRF530 FOR 20M



10 WATTS HF LINEAR AMPLIFIER USING IRF530 FOR 20M
BY VAGISETTY KISHORE (VU3INK)





1.         This is an easy to build 10 watts HF linear amplifier for 20M. The MOSFET used is IRF530. Based on my experience I have found that IRF530 is more resistant to ‘Thermal Runaway’ than IRF510. Though ‘Input Capacitance’ of IRF530 (700pF) is higher than IRF510 (135pF), I have comfortably used it on 14 Mhz.

2.         I had taken references from the following :
            (a)       M0DAD – For whole circuit idea.
            (b)       YC3LVX – For biasing method.
            (c)        VU3INJ – For making of 4:1 transformer.

3.         The MOSFET IRF530 is biased as Class ‘C’ amplifier (1K resistor between GATE and SOURCE). Since it’s biased as Class ‘C’, I have eliminated the use of variable resistor at the GATE (though variable resistor and resistors are shown in the picture, they are not connected in the circuit) thus making the circuit even simpler.

4.         The linear amplifier takes 1 – 2 watts of RF power input and delivers about 9 – 10 watts output.

5.         The RF voltage at the DRAIN should be about 70V (without DUMMY LOAD) and with 50 OHM DUMMY LOAD, the RF voltage should measure between 30 to 35 volts.

6.         T1 – 6 to 8 turns bifilar on two stacked binocular cores or pig nose cores (OR) 8 turns on FT50 – 43 ferrite core.          

7.         Equivalents for MOSFET used in the circuit:
            (a)       Q1 (IRF530) -  IRF510, IRF830

8.         Appropriate HEATSINK need to be used on Q1.

9.         LPF – Low Pass Filter used is for 20m. L1 is 15 turns on (T68 – 6) yellow toroid (OR) 11 turns on ½ inch diameter air core.

73 !!
(V KISHORE)
VU3INK

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Friday, 13 February 2015

JAMMER - 20 (2 WATT QRP CW TRANSMITTER FOR 20M)



JAMMER-20

A 2 WATT QRP CW TRANSMITTER FOR 20M
BY VAGISETTY KISHORE (VU3INK)




1.         This is an easy to assemble 2 watt QRP CW transmitter for 20M. The crystal used is 14.318 mhz crystal which is the band for SSB signals. It would be better if you could procure 14.060 mhz crystal.

2.         The circuit is straight forward. It has an OSCILLATOR stage (colpitt’s osc.) followed by BUFFER stage followed by DRIVER AMPLIFIER stage and finally POWER AMPLIFIER stage.  
       
3.         To assemble this transmitter, we must be in possession of a good MULTIMETER and an RF PROBE.

4.         The RF voltage at the emitter of Q1 (BC549) should be 0.3V, at the collector of Q2 (2N2219) should be 1V, at the collector of Q3 (2SC1173) should be 2.4V, at the collector of Q4 (2SC1173) should be 36 to 50V (without DUMMY LOAD). With 50 OHM DUMMY LOAD, the RF voltage should measure between 13.6 to 15.2 volts.

5.         L1 – 15 turns on (T68 – 6) toroid.   
  
6.         Equivalents for transistors used in the circuit:
            (a)        Q1 – BC549, BC548, 2N2222, 2N3904
            (b)        Q2 – 2N2219, 2N2218, 2N3866, SL100
            (c)        Q3 & Q4 – 2SC1173, BD139, 2SC1162

7.         RFCs -  20 turns on TV BALUN core (or) 50 turns (30 SWG wire) on ½ watt resistor. You can use commercial inductors also as RFCs.

8.         Appropriate HEATSINKS need to be used on Q2 & Q4.

9.         Key Point : Based on my tests on Key Point, I have found that 'keying of the whole transmitter' is the best option. Just add a key at the power supply point.

           73 !!
           DE
          (V KISHORE)
           VU3INK


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Monday, 9 February 2015

MY FAILED (BITX20 & BITX40)

MY FAILED BITX20

 




MY FAILED BITX40




SWL ANTENNA






RANDOM WIRE SWL ANTENNA BY VA3STL
   




9:1 TRANSFORMER FOR SWL ANTENNA (BY VA3STL)
    




STATIC DISCHARGE UNIT FOR SWL ANT (BY VA3STL)