Tested the solar panels

Only the weak winter sun.

This was the voltage off the controller, floating charging a 7AH 12V SLA no problem.

However panels definitely generated enough to run the KX3 directly.

I even tested the shade thing by walking in from of one panel to block the sun and the whole lot still output power.

M1KTA DX kit expands... for those locations without power.

Just took delivery of a couple of poly crystalline solar panels in a folding configuration.

Nice simple packaging, survived the transit from Hong Kong.

So what is inside...

 

Nice carry handle and clips to stop it opening up.

Dimensions... 33.5" x 21.5" x c3"

 

handy fold out legs (I'll probably add extenders so will work in most latitudes, not just near equator as best with sun at 90 degrees to the panel

Integrated solar charging regulator and power leads with croc clips able to handle lot more power than these panels will provide.

 

Each is capable (two of them) of producing >3.3A at 18V (60W)... I will test these float charging a beefy SLA or car battery. I will need 12V or 13.8V only.

There is 'space' inside the two panels (they close up for carrying bit like a picnic table) so you ould almost place batteries inside for carrying etc... the weight is 14.6KG in the cardboard wrapper... I expect I'll make up a couple of ali covers for the outside so they get a bit of protection in transit but they just came from Hong Kong in that box without issue!

I was going for an RF budget of 5amps total and couple to run a laptop.... for a DX trip.

RSGB-AFS-CW

Was asked to take part...

START-OF-LOG: 2.0
CREATED-BY: Win-Test 4.12.0
CONTEST: RSGB-AFS-CW
CLUB: camb-hams
CALLSIGN: M1KTA
CATEGORY: SINGLE-OP 80M LOW 
CLAIMED-SCORE: 560
OPERATORS: M1KTA

NAME: Dominic Baines
ADDRESS: Stapleford
SOAPBOX: Ran it with just 35W. Some ops clearly don't understand what qrs
SOAPBOX: means. c3.550 MHz is supposed to be qrs, some were definitely SOAPBOX: sending at 30wpm.
SOAPBOX: RSGB Are NEVER going to encourage new amateurs to take part if SOAPBOX: their own contest rules mean nothing

QSO:  3548 CW 2015-01-11 1402 M1KTA         599 0001   G3PYE         599 004   
QSO:  3536 CW 2015-01-11 1403 M1KTA         599 0002   GW0GEI        599 006   
QSO:  3535 CW 2015-01-11 1405 M1KTA         599 0003   G3TXF         599 010   
QSO:  3530 CW 2015-01-11 1408 M1KTA         599 0004   G4ASR         599 011   
QSO:  3529 CW 2015-01-11 1417 M1KTA         599 0005   G4FNL         599 030   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1432 M1KTA         599 0006   G3PJT         599 060   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1437 M1KTA         599 0007   G3WVG         599 067   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1440 M1KTA         599 0008   G0VQR         599 042   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1443 M1KTA         599 0009   G2NF          599 067   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1445 M1KTA         599 0010   G0DVJ         599 068   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1447 M1KTA         599 0011   G4DJX         599 080   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1448 M1KTA         599 0012   G3SJJ         599 090   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1450 M1KTA         599 0013   G3BJ          599 095   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1451 M1KTA         599 0014   G3ZAY         599 084   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1457 M1KTA         599 0015   G4TSH         599 099   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1501 M1KTA         599 0016   M0DXR         599 110   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1504 M1KTA         599 0017   G3MXH         599 091   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1506 M1KTA         599 0018   G3SVL         599 097   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1507 M1KTA         599 0019   G3YXX         599 092   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1511 M1KTA         599 0020   G0LHZ         599 069   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1516 M1KTA         599 0021   G3HEJ         599 038   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1531 M1KTA         599 0022   G4FJK         599 087   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1537 M1KTA         599 0023   G3SDC         599 129   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1538 M1KTA         599 0024   G3UFY         599 129   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1540 M1KTA         599 0025   G3YYD         599 137   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1541 M1KTA         599 0026   G3LDI         599 133   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1546 M1KTA         599 0027   G7SOZ         599 110   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1550 M1KTA         599 0028   G4FKH         599 123   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1552 M1KTA         599 0029   G4ARI         599 046   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1553 M1KTA         599 0030   G4ALE         599 147   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1604 M1KTA         599 0031   G4ERW         599 060   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1606 M1KTA         599 0032   G4PIQ         599 179   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1607 M1KTA         599 0033   G3ZVW         599 157   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1612 M1KTA         599 0034   G0ORH         599 155   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1614 M1KTA         599 0035   G5LP          599 179   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1619 M1KTA         599 0036   G4FAL         599 176   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1624 M1KTA         599 0037   G4ZUL         599 125   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1630 M1KTA         599 0038   G6MC          599 194   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1634 M1KTA         599 0039   G3WGN         599 118   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1637 M1KTA         599 0040   M5O           599 153   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1639 M1KTA         599 0041   G3UJE         599 195   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1648 M1KTA         599 0042   G0SYP         599 198   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1700 M1KTA         599 0043   M0TDW         599 001    Probably a busted serial.
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1700 M1KTA         599 0044   G3TKF         599 194   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1702 M1KTA         599 0045   G3YHV         599 170   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1706 M1KTA         599 0046   GM3WOJ        599 179   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1712 M1KTA         599 0047   G4ZFE         599 209   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1722 M1KTA         599 0048   M0VAA         599 155   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1723 M1KTA         599 0049   G4ABX         599 066   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1726 M1KTA         599 0050   PA5WT         599 151   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1728 M1KTA         599 0051   G3KLH         599 201   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1733 M1KTA         599 0052   G0ORY         599 230   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1739 M1KTA         599 0053   GM4ZUK        599 195   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1742 M1KTA         599 0054   GM3POI        599 195   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1743 M1KTA         599 0055   G3OLB         599 226   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1750 M1KTA         599 0056   G3XTT         599 206   
QSO:  3551 CW 2015-01-11 1800 M1KTA         599 0057   M5O           599 200   
END-OF-LOG:

M1K

OfCom have given me a NoV for the SCC 'M1K'. So I'll be in some contests using that now.

Working remote

I work remote from employer (8 time zones away and was sent this cartoon by one of the guys I work with.... as they knew i went to the odd island from time to time...

It was their idea what the annual review might look like.

When trying to plan that next DX trip sometimes it gets a bit too much...

I just spent hours working out logistics with a couple of airlines so I could fly with kit.... then I get told I have to visit the DXCC FIRST to get the licence BEFORE I can enter with any radio kit, but if I LEAVE the country then I have to RENEW the licence application all over again as it becomes INVALID on exit. So how do I get the radio in?

On this same trip it is a multi hop from UK and I have to travel through another country before I get to the final location... they want me to surrender my original licence (think they base their system on some reciprocal US FCC licence process) still got to figure out how a UK PDF works and I will then get a temporary licence card in return. But I am reminded I cannot fly in with the radio in the luggage without a licence first. And they will only exchange the licences in person. All this so I can transit with the radio kit in the luggage to the next place, of course no intention of trying to operate in that country!

If I send the kit 'cargo' to the first county I could recover it once I have the temporary licence but only AFTER 72 hours wait for customs to have time to 'inspect' it. That is one heck of a long time to look at a radio!

On the good side this looks like this is also how to get the radio kit into the final location too.

Needless to say the 'cargo' is not on the same flight or day even but "at some point in the same month"!

I cannot wait for the workshop to be warm again so can go back to building stuff and finishing off a K2 I have taken far too long on it all seems so much simpler.

200mW TX on front of SPRAT Winter 2014/2015

This was a KAlmar club field day build 2013 and Rishworth Buildathon project 2014.

The design was SM7UCZ.

This is from my field day build notes: Two copies of same file... one is original size... right click it and download.