Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022
While trying to clean up my corner of the library — where I set up a temporary ham shack for several years — I ran across a Yaesu FT-817 QRP rig, and also a RS-918 SDR QRP rig.
When I went up to Studio C I took both rigs upstairs. While I have the Yaesu set up to use Powerpole connectors, I found power cable for the RS-918 that I put to work once I got to the shack.
I had forgotten just how nice a receiver the RS-918 had. The DSP works great, and the small but detailed display includes band scope and full details of the rig’s operating status.
I found a coax patch cable and connected the rig to my antenna switch. Again, I was pleasant surprised at how well the rig operated. For a while I operated in the phone band and listed to the groups on 3927 and 3958 and others prior to the Georgia CW net.
The NCS typically has a great deal of QRM during the net, depending on the band conditions, so I did not expect to be able to run the RS-918 to check in on the CW net.
The radio not only has full DSP features that are extremely effective, but it also has a built-in keyer. I had no problem checking in on the CW net. On my meter, the rig was putting out just over 10 watts.
Using the radio was a tremendous upgrade in technology over my 1980s era stations, and frankly, I could get spoiled with the rig. I’m actually considering buying a small solid state amplifier for the radio. The radio is compact and full-featured — why not make good use of it. Its easy to run digital modes on the radio too, not a bad portable station, eh?
I had high hopes of getting back upstairs during the day this week to continue to make room for my shack tables, etc., but no such time has become available. Saturday my wife is going to the boat and RV show with her girlfriend, so I should have most of the day to work on that if I wish. I also will have Monday, and will recruit my son for his muscle, hi hi.
It won’t take much more work to create enough room to bring up the first four-foot shack table and shelves — which would be a great first step in the right direction. Once I get my shack desks upstairs, I’ll then allow myself the honor of unboxing my new and still-in-the-box Yaesu FTDX-101MP station.
73 ES CUL … DE KY4Z …. SK SK …. (dit dit) …