The FT-990 is back and working perfectly thanks to John, KI4NR. He’s an absolute first class technician, his rate for repairs is more that fair, and he’s faster than fast! Playing with the FT-990, I actually like it better than my old Ft-1000D I sold off last time I got out of Amateur Radio.

As far as the amp, I blew a 125μF/450V capacitor in the Heathkit SB-200, but no issues. Went down to Fistell’s and picked up another one and guess what? Blew that one too. Didn’t even last 15 seconds. Nothing like capacitors going off like firecrackers on the kitchen table to wake you up and remind you that there’s some high voltage in that case! After talking with Keith (KØKE) who figured I had a couple other shorted capacitors putting the high voltage load across that specific one, it would probably be cheaper to replace all 6 caps and the entire board with a $80 PM-200 Replacement Power Supply Module kit from Harbaugh Electronics than to try and replace just the electrolytics. And so that’s what I did. Took all of a couple hours to assemble, wire and solder up the new circuit board and about another 30 minutes to install it. The Harbaugh PM-200 Replacement Power Supply Module kit comes with 6 new caps, all bleeder resistors, diodes and a circuit board. All the buyer has to do is follow the simple instructions; assemble and solder the board, then install it into the SB-200. Felt good to have a soldering iron and electronic “pieces parts” in my hands again, but I can’t ever remember having such a difficult time seeing the small parts though. Almost had to get a friggin’ magnifying glass… almost I said! Anyway, the amp is working perfectly now.

As far as the antenna situation… We’re moving forward, slowly. My friend Joe came over yesterday with a TIG machine and touched up about 20 welds on the aluminum tower and Keith (KØKE) found a used Cushcraft A3S for a couple hundred bucks, so it’s coming together nicely. I played hell trying to get the A3S resonant on the old element “tuning” markings, but once I measured everything and adjusted the elements per Cushcraft’s dimensions, she fell right in line. For some reason I can’t seem to get the SWR below 1.5:1, but I’m hoping it’s only because it’s 3 feet off the ground and still in “assembly” mode. Once it’s up at 60′ hopefully the SWR will drop flat to 1.1:1. Like I said,  hopefully.

Next project is to get it on the mast and erected. This should be fun…

NØUN Tower

73 for now,

NØUN

The FT-990 arrived and all was well for about an hour before I remembered just how much I forgot. Seems the SB-200 uses 125V to key the amp and you just can’t key it off the FT-990′s PTT mic line, ooops. It didn’t dawn on me until it was too late.

Anyway, the FT-990 is down in Florida getting repaired and I borrowed a TS-820S from my Father-in-law in the mean time, so at least I’m back on the air.

Propagation during the Contest this last weekend was great. It felt good to hear Europe on 20 and I also worked a few South Pacific stations but it sure died off in the days after. I did manage to say hello to the guys on 14.240 yesterday and just got off the air with Randy in Hawaii (KH6IB) tonight. That good ole’ Ham Radio feeling has been re-lit! It’ll be just a matter of time before I start playing “antenna man” again, and I can say I’m looking forward to that this Autumn.

I was surprised to actually see power out of the SB-200 earlier. I picked up a PAL Watt/SWR meter from a nearby Ham (Eric, KØKE) – plugged’r in, and lo and behold – a rock solid 600W+ on 20 meters to an absolutely flat SWR on the dipole. That’s “progress“! Now I just have to choke some of the RF running around the shack – it’s more than ”annoying” when the computer locks up and the smoke (fire) sensor alarms keep going off…

Couple items of note. Bought and received a used (but mint) SP-6/LL5 speaker phone patch combo (found on eBay) that’ll match the FT-990; the “other” TS-820S made it to AK4AA (Old Ham Dave) who is refurbishing it; and the FT-990 also made it to tech (KI4NR). I made a couple Q’s; found out the SB-200 is rock solid; and oh – I ordered the HVN “Relay Saver” from Sultan Tronics yesterday, so that will take care of the SB-200 amp keying issue, “inexpensively” I should add…

Tomorrow’s another day, but at this rate of “progress” – hell, I should ‘prolly quit while I’m ahead, lol

73,

NØUN

I’m planning on updating this Blog at least once a week or so. We’ll see how it goes – as it goes. Maybe more, maybe less, who knows?

Today, I’m chomping at the bit for the UPS man to arrive. It would have been the perfect day to play radio as it’s overcast and a little cooler than yesterday, but no FT-990 yet, so no Ham Radio.

The New (Used) Rig:  I’ve been watching and searching for a decent used rig the last couple of weeks. I found a used Yeasu FT-990 on eBay a week or so ago and it seems to be just what I’m looking for. I’ve noticed that FT-990′s go anywhere from about $700 to as high as $1,200+ depending on whether they’re AC or DC, what filters and accessories they’re equipped with, and also what condition the rig is in. For some reason I found (and bought) this one (DC model, with MD-1 mic) for $550. What was weird about it, I was the only bidder. All the others I’ve seen (I mean ALL) have 10 – 20 bidders by the time they sell. I have no idea why this one didn’t attract bidders, but I’m not complaining. The Ham that I bought it from also took my offer of $75 for the 35A power supply he was using, so for $625 I’d say that’s a pretty good deal from the looks of it.

I found a SP-6 with LL-5 Phone Patch on eBay yesterday for $140 “Buy it Now”. So now we’ll have the matched set when everything finally arrives (IF everything arrives safely). Seems when the word “FRAGILE” is stamped on the box anymore, it must be some secret truck driver code meaning “kick the shit out of it” anymore. We’ll know Wednesday if the rig and PS make it in one piece (or not).  Next week on the SP-6 to learn its fate.

Thanks to my friend Eric (KØKE) who had a booth at the local Hamfest here a couple of weekends ago. He found a pristine Heathkit SB200 before the doors ever opened to the general public. He worked the deal and stashed the amp for me until I got in the door. In this world, It still pays to know people. It’s not what you know, but who you know.  Case in point, another friend Hank, WØZU had a brand new MD-1 at the shack and said to give him $30 for it. Well hell, brand new MD-1′s don’t grow on trees, so I gave him $50 and that was still a deal. I saw a comparable Kenwood microphone at the Hamfest and even though it was scratched up and obviously well worn, they wanted $100. Now I have two, go figure.

More on the FT-890 that made it here but never made it on the air (US Postal Service dropped it on it’s nose) and more on the antenna situation in the next post.

73,

NØUN