1st QSO on PSK-31 using Yaesu FT-450D

I've had Ham Radio Deluxe for a while now and decided to give PSK-31 a tryout.
My HF rig, the Yaesu FT-450D has a data port on the rear. This is connected using a bought cable to a USB sound card. There is also another cable used to connect the CAT interface to the computer via a USB COM port. It sounds complicated but it's not and I will write something about the connections in a later post.
After much configuration I still couldn't get the rig to transmit the audio is was being fed. I listened to output of the sound module to make sure that audio was coming out - it was.
Then I got out my very old FRG-7 receiver and tuned to the 20m frequency I was supposed to be transmitting on.

When transmitting the rig was putting out about 5 watts as I thought on upper side band but it also had a carrier wave that I could distinctly hear. I put out a number of CQs with no response. The waterfall of DM-780 sound module of Ham Radio Deluxe showed the correct waveform. I was mystified.

So I resorted to reading the Yaesu FT-450D manual - we all do that when something doesn't work don't we? Anyway I found the problem. You first of all have to set the rig into a "User Mode". Essentially this instructs the rig what to do when put into datamode. In my case I wanted to transmit audio through the rear socket in upper side band. You have to go into the rig menu by pressing F for 1 second then follow the next sequence:

• rotate the DSP/SEL knob until D Type appears (this is Data Type)
• press the DSP/SEL knob - then menu text flashes and RTTY will probably be selected (it was on mine)
• rotate the DSP/SEL knob until USER-U is selected
• press the DSP/SEL knob -the menu text stops flashing
• press the F key for longer than one second
• Next select the mode you want (USB Data mode) using the mode up or down buttons
• Select the frequency of transmission - in my case 14.070.00 MHz on the 20m band

Then you are all set for transmitting data.

When you set the mode to data mode the rig only takes audio from the data socket and the microphone PTT switch is disabled. The microphone is also disabled so you don't run the risk of transmitting expletives along with the data whilst transmitting - it happens apparently when things get heated in the shack during data transmission mode.

What a fantastic rig the Yaesu FT-450D is - once you have read the manual!

I called CQ again and after 2 minutes my first contact was with a station in Konetspol, Ukraine followed by another station in Lyon, France - 1486 miles m and 588 miles away from G8YPH respectably. Not bad from 5 watts into a long wire partially running through the shack!

Interesting radio related websites

There are lots of useful websites out in web land. Here's a few:

• www.bandplans.com - Have you ever wondered where different modes should be operated, what frequencies to avoid as a courtesy (like SSTV), etc? This site will be the database for the following: 1) known net frequencies, 2) known segments for different modes, 3) known beacons
• www.g4nsj.co.uk - Ray G4NSJ's site - quite a lot of useful information and some humorous stuff too.
• hfradio.org.uk/index.html - G4UCJ's website - Digital modes with screenshots and sound files useful if you want to visualize digital reception

Ham Radio Deluxe 6.2.9.354 released

The latest version of HRD has been released and is currently 6.2.9.354
There are a number of bugs fixed in the release and a couple of enhancements so if you haven't already installed it try to do it asap.

The bug in Logbook that I reported seems to be fixed although I had the logbook crash on me again for some other reason. I've not been able to replicate it yet though.

Cable clamps arrived

Both sets of cable clamps have now arrived at long last. The 6mm ones came last weekend and the 3mm ones came today.
The 3mm ones came all the way from China and the 6mm ones from Germany hence the long wait.

Both types look of excellent quality so I just need to make some time this weekend to erect the new antenna.

Bug in Ham Radio Deluxe 6.2.8.330 Logbook module

I paid for the excellent Ham Radio Deluxe yesterday as I had been using the evaluation version for a couple of weeks. My PC required rebuilding so I reinstalled Windows 7 SP1 and patched it to the hilt. Then HRD was installed.

I created a new database in the c:\programdata\HRDLLC\HRD location with my callsign as the logbook name. This is a hidden folder on your C: drive if you didn't already know. I left everything in the HRD Logbook application at its defaults with callsign lookup set at Logbook and Country file.

Then whilst in HRD Logbook I clicked Add and performed the following:

• entered a callsign. 
• clicked the QRZ button 
• waited for something to appear in the country tab
• click cancel
• Then the error "HRDLookbook MFC Application has stopped working" appears

This is very repeatable and the error is written into the Windows application log.

I opened up a support ticket with HRD and after a little communication between me and them they confirmed I had found a bug. There was a new release about to be made and the developers have been made aware of the bug to see if it is also in the new release.

Hopefully they can sort this problem out. I always like helping out software developers and realize that as this software is now so big occasional bugs like this creep in.

50MHz Aurora

Around 5PM on 17th March 2015 I was listening to 2m anda local stations remarked he could hear several auroral contacts on the 6 m band. I tuned to 50.190 USB and heard a Scottish station working several long path contacts. His voice had that strange Dalek like voice reminiscent of auroral QSOs.
The two local stations attempted to contact him and one was successful. I tried but as my antenna is a long wire at the moment and I was only running 5 watts I was unsuccessful.

Then that evening the majority of the UK was blessed with seeing the aurora borealis (or the northern lights where the sky was clear. The earth had just been hit by a huge solar flare and the consequence was enhanced communications via aurora for radio hams in the direction of the flare.

The unexpectedly strong geomagnetic storm meant the lights - seen here in Lewis in the Western Isles - spread far and wide Picture by Chris Lewis from the BBC news website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31936513

Waiting for the postman

I ordered a load of antenna parts from Amazon the other day to aid erection of my new HF dipole. Everything has come apart from 10 off 3mm shackles and 5 off 6mm Stainless Steel Cable Clip Saddle Clamps. These are essential to clamp the guy lines in the air.

I looked on Amazon today, they have been despatched but have a delivery estimate: Monday, 23 March 2015 - Wednesday, 15 April 2015 despite them being ordered 12th March 2015.

Why does it take so long for delivery? Most other items arrived within a couple of days.