LDG RT-100/RC-100 Combo Review Part 2

If you want a fit and forget ATU that works then this one is for you. Since installing the ATU I no longer think about tuning up as it does it automatically and seamlessly. As many readers know I operate primarily using DigiModes. These are normally less than 30 watts and my Yaesu FT-450D can be adjusted to operate on any power level between 5 to 100 watts.
The ATU is rated at 30W on high duty cycle modes like PSK or JT65 for instance. I always have the power levels set less than this as it is not necessary to have high powers to work world wide DX.

As mentioned in the previous article I have not been able to get my UNUN end fed antenna to match on 80m at all despite the ATU being right at the feed point. So for now I have dismissed 80m until I make a suitable antenna. But the ATU is superb on all other bands to 6m and it tunes automatically without any user intervention. This can be overridden with the TUNE button on the RC-100 (essentially hold it down for more than 1 second when transmitting and it will force a tuning cycle).

So just to underline this is a fantastic piece of equipment and ideal for matching a multiband antenna to your feedline/rig.

Over-using Q codes in FM Simplex or while using repeaters

One thing that annoys me on 2m/70cm FM simplex or on repeaters is the overuse of Q codes in local contacts. Q codes are normally used in difficult to hear SSB contacts, most likely used in Morse code or digimodes.

One station near me uses "QSL" to punctuate sentences like some people use expletives.

He will say "Do you get what I mean QSL" or "I have a Raspberry PI QSL"

I overheard his conversation with another station today and it went something like this:
"I met a few of the guys from Manchester at a rally- one of the lads said you use satellites don't you - I said yes on my lickle (sic a Manchester word for little) HT - so we walked out to the car park and we had a do QSL - I worked a station by the satellite but he was a station in Croydon ha ha ha. QSL" (Croydon is also in the UK so irony of using a satellite to establish a local contact amused him hence the laughter)
He then continued:
"Satellites are alright and it would be ok normally but by the time they fly over I'm still in bed QSL" - then he drops carrier.

This station I use as an example is about 2 miles from me and is perfectly readable. It seems overusing "QSL" is a habit he just can't get out of.

LDG RT-100 Remote ATU Review

I have 2 LDG ATUs now, the Z-100 Plus and the other day I ordered the RT-100/RC-100 combo from Martin Lynch. I was fed up with having to press the CS button on the FT-450D that I had configured to send a 5 watt carrier to get the Z-100 Plus to tune! I have never found a way of configuring Ham Radio Deluxe to "press" the CS button. There isn't a CAT command defined by Yaesu for it.

On to the remote tuner.

The RC-100 Controller and the RT-100 Tuner

Yaesu FT-450D one year anniversary

Well it is coming up to the 1st anniversary of the purchase of the FT-450D from Haydon Communications. In that time I have had occasional lockups of the rig requiring a power off reboot. I'm not sure why this happens. The connection to HRD via the CAT connector ceases and the front panel becomes non responsive requiring a reboot of the rig.

Other than that I have been extremely pleased with the radio. It is very sensitive and I have worked stations literally all over the world with it on no more than 35 watts.

An earthing/grounding stake on a 9:1 UNUN

Moonraker had a deal on the last weekend for earthing stakes. I bought the solid copper version and buried it underneath the feedpoint of my antenna.
The 9:1 UNUN feeding the 80m-6m length wire had a cable attached to the counterpoise cable so I connected it to the rod. The rig and ATU had to alter their settings to compensate for the change.

I still couldn't get the antenna to tune on 80m but all other bands were matched as before. I got a contact with a Japanese station JA1OTT on 17m and a Uruguay station CX9AU on 15m. So still working OK on all bands 40m to 6m including WARC bands.

Then I ran a few random length radials (just insulated wire) connected to the earthing stake and laid them on the ground. One of them I ran underneath the main antenna wire like a mirror image. Then I went back to the shack and found the external ATU (LDG Z-100Plus|) would match on 80m. This is a bit of a result so I will keep experimenting.

Ham Radio Deluxe Upgrade paid for

I've just paid for an upgrade to another year of support and upgrades for Ham Radio Deluxe. I got an earlybird discount of 15% off the purchase price of $49.95. This took the final price to $42.46 which works out in British Pounds at current rates to be £30.20

I think it is worthwhile paying this and it keeps people in work developing the software.

Ham Radio Deluxe Macro Management on the Yaesu FT450D

HRD is capable at some powerful macro management. Consider this:
You want to program HRD to set your rig to your favourite repeater. This is not difficult IF you work out the logic.

Here are the steps:

• Set the operating frequency
• Set the operating mode
• Turn CTCSS encoding on - this will be needed on transmission but may also be needed on reception too.
• Set the repeater shift
• Set the repeater offset frequency
• Set the CTCSS frequency
• Set squelch

So on the FT-450D here's how I do it with the correct CAT commands:
Consider setting the rig to 6m repeater GB3SX in Stoke On Trent, England.