Mike,

Yes, you understood my question fine. I thought the DSM 780 would key the radio in CW mode just likes it does in PSK or RTTY but the radio has to be in SSM mode and the program in MCW. If anyone knows the technical reason for that it would be instructive to know.

I will check out the CMOS-4 and if anyone else has a favorite memory keyer to suggest, I would appreciate it.

73s

Harlen
W7HDW

Using Digital Master 780 with a Yaesu FT-950. DM 780 doesn’t send CW except as MCW. I want to use it to receive CW and be able to send CW using an iambic paddle and the radio’s keyer program manually most of the time, but I would also like to be able to use a memory keyer to send repetitive sequences such as CQs.

Is there memory keyer hardware that I could connect my paddles to so that I can easily send some memory code and then switch over to manually send?

Thanks.

Also posted in CW Forum.

Using Digital Master 780 with a Yaesu FT-950. DM 780 doesn’t send CW except as MCW. I want to use it to receive CW and be able to send CW using an iambic paddle and the radio’s keyer program manually most of the time, but I would also like to be able to use a memory keyer to send repetitive sequences such as CQs.

Is there memory keyer hardware that I could connect my paddles to so that I can easily send some memory code and then switch over to manually send?

Thanks.

Also posted in Elmer's Forum.

No frost line here in the Pacific Northwest. I will see if I can determine what the power company uses, thanks for that tip.

I am guessing yes since the length measurements while building it for the various coils and other tuning parts that make it a multi band were quite precise.

It will be more difficult but I can mount it so that the radials connect closer to the ground point of the antenna.

The antenna is designed so that the supporting tube is buried into the ground at least 18 inches which would bring the feed point to ground level. I only have 3-4 inches of soil before I hit rock, hence my question. I have a deck extension that is 30’ away from the house proper so I will attach the antenna base to that to provide the support. I will need to build up the soil directly under the antenna so that the radials can feed as horizontally as possible to prevent detuning the antenna.

I am installing a Butternut HF6V multiband vertical at ground level with a 30+ wire radial system using a mounting plate with the radial wires attached to it.

The grounding post of the antenna mount is about 18” above the radial plate lying on the ground. Will this length of wire connecting the grounding post to the radial plate pose any problems to the efficiency of the ground plane?

Thanks.

Harlen

I am installing a Butternut HF6V multiband vertical at ground level with a 30+ wire radial system. Will this require the installation of a grounding rod for proper antenna performance?

If so, the soil is very rocky a few feet below the surface. Could a grounding rod be installed horizontally into the soil 6 to 12 inches below the surface and still be effective?

Thanks.

Harlen

Hi John,

I live about 3 hours from the Portland HRO and was seriously considering driving down to pick up the gear, see the shop and talk to the staff. ‘Course, the plus side of living one state away (WA) is that I don’t have to pay sales tax.

Good luck putting together your first shack and with the hobby. This is actually my second Ham shack but the first was 30 years ago so I am mostly a newbie especially with all of the advances in Ham radio. But, still, it’s just radio waves form one station to another and a friendly QSO, that part hasn’t really changed all that much from the spark transmitter days.

73’s and hope to meet you on the airwaves.

Harlen

I placed this order with Ham Radio Outlet on Tuesday December 22nd at 2 pm: Yaesu FT-950, Astron RS-35M and a Butternut HF6VX antenna. It is scheduled to arrive at my house today, the 23rd! I really didn’t expect it until next week what with the holidays and all. Not only that, its free shipping!!

This is amazing service from HRO.

Harlen

  Wow, I placed this order with Ham Radio Outlet yesterday around 2 pm and most of it will arrive today, the rest tomorrow! I didn’t really expect it until next week what with the holidays and all. That is amazing service!

Harlen

Thanks, Tom, that is an interesting tip. In fact, there is a TV antenna on a roof in my neighborhood. The challenge might be convincing the association that it is for the use of TV since there are no more analog TV broadcasts; everything has switched to digital. But, my association has been friendly enough that they may approve it even knowing it is for Ham radio if it looks like an approved TV antenna.

73’s…Harlen

Tell me more about the ground rod. Is that for the vertical antenna in addition to the radials?

The radio is in a second story room and the grounding for the electrical system for the house is good. Do I need to do more grounding for the radio and, if so, what is the best way to do it?

FYI, lightning is very rare where I live and the antenna is isolated from the house by 20’.

Thanks.

I appreciate all of the input to my many questions. I just placed this order with HRO: Yaesu FT-950, Astron RS-35M, Heil BM-10-5 & Yaesu adapter, and the Butternut HF6VX antenna with the 6 meter kit. I will get the coax from another source and also am going to get a base plate for the antenna to attach radials to. Anything I have missed, let me know.

I will be on the air again soon and hope to meet some of you there.

73’s

Harlen

Haven’t bought it yet, still trying to get all of my ducks in a row. Just a few more details to consider (see my other posts) then I hope to take the plunge in the next few days.

Once reason I am choosing the FT-950 is the availability of the Data Management Unit as an upgrade. I figure if I really get back into this hobby in a big way, that would be a nice upgrade that would give the FT-950 some of the capabilities of the elite rigs.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. I had an HW-101 back then. As for today, I am restricted to vertical antennas because of my homeowners association so will have to forego SSB and CW on the higher frequencies though it does sound intriguing.