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Equipment

The Shack

 

I have my "shack" set up in the spare room along with the main home computer. It's sits to the side allowing me to have some radio time whilst on the PC, or some computer time whilst on the radio whichever way you (or your other half) looks at it. 

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So we have the Icom IC-E2820 that was my first D-Star radio that was installed in the car until I upgraded to the the ID-5100. I decided to keep this radio as it's such a great dual band rig and that is connected to a Sharman X-50 antenna in the roof space.

 

The IC-7100 replaced the aging IC-706 Mk 2 and when this was purchased there was an LDG IT-100 Autotuner available which I decided to buy to save time rather than fiddle with the MFJ Versa Tuner II (MFJ-941E). It's still in-line and serves as an antenna switch and also tunes anything the LDG has problems with. It will tune the CX-725 on to 4m, not ideal but ok for local contacts. It switches between the 20m end fed long wire, home made magnetic loop and the CX-725 for 6m. I also have a 1/4 ground plane antenna for 4m in the roof space should I need it. The 20m end fed long wire sits at 6m a.g.l. and the CX-725 is at 8m a.g.l.


A VHF Motorola GM-340 has been used on my personal D-Star gateway for some time now. Due to the changes made to the UK Amateur Radio Licence on the 21st February 2024 this gateway, G1KEA  C, is now available for any local amateurs for use. This is connected to the CX-725 via a Comet CFX-514 triplexer. More details here.

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The UHF Motorola GM-340 is being used on the MB6IKW D-Star and DMR gateway, this is connected to the CX-725 via a Comet CFX-514 triplexer. More details here.

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Both are available daily from approximately 07:00 to 23:30 due to energy saving measures.

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An Alinco DR-435 was used for an Echolink gateway licensed as MB7ADE but when the NoV was surrendered this went back in to use as G1KEA-L and is currently running on a dummy load for use in and around the house. The gateway is a Raspbery Pi running SVXLink.

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There is a collection of hand held radios:

  • Kenwood TH-78E 2m & 70cm

  • Yaesu VX-7R 6m, 2m & 70cm

  • Wouxon KG-699E 4m

  • Icom ID-51E 2m & 70cm D-Star

  • Icom ID-52E 2m & 70cm D-Star

  • TYT uv-MD380 2m & 70cm DMR

  • Tytera MD-380 70cm DMR

  • Baofeng UV-5R 2m & 70cm

 

Other radios available include:

  • Yaesu FT-817ND

  • Yaesu FT-7800R

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The PC is for general use but also interfaces to the IC-7100 using the USB port. The SignaLink was used with the IC-706 MK II but is currently not needed.

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Mobile set-up

 

I have always had a radio installed in the car since I passed my licence exam and received my callsign. There's been the Yaesu FT-290R Mk 1, FT-690R Mk 1, FT-2300R, KDK-740FM, Icom IC-3200E, Yaesu FT-7800R, Icom IC-E2820 and now I have an Icom ID-5100. Cars had less plastic and protection when I was first licensed so there was room for several radios under the dashboard. The last three radios have been remote mounted in the boot and then the control head has been mounted to the windscreen on a boom arm. When away from home and no D-Star repeaters around I use a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with a UHF hat running Pi-Star.

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The ID-5100, with BlueTooth microphone option, is feeding a Comet SBB4 (1/2 wave on 2m and double 5/8 wave on 70cm) mounted on the rear of the car. This is nice sleek black antenna 0.92m in length, claimed gain is 3.0 dBi on 2m and 5.5 dBi on 70cm. Other hardware is the Comet RS-020B small black hatch mount which sits just below the rear windscreen.

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