I have been active on 4m on and off for many years. I have recently put up my elderly homebrew NBS 5 element yagi at 30' on a pump up mast.
This has enabled me to join in the DX fun on 4m, working OZ, G, and ON (Xband to 6m) in the first few days. JT6M was used for these Meteor Scatter QSOs. The Es season meant that most of europe was in range for much of the time and on a number of days the 70MHz Broadcast from the Ukraine and beyond were very strong.
In 2005 I worked 11 DXCC 2-way on 4m, G, GM, GW, GD, EI, OZ, 9A, YU, S5, YO, ZB. X-band include PA, ON, CT
New for 2006
CT1HZE on 13/5/06 @ 08:40 First GM to CT on 4m
CU8AO on 3/6/06 @ 14:08 First GM to CU on 4m
SV1OE on 4/6/06 @ 12:20 First GM to SV on 4m
GI4KSO tropo 31/7/06 DXCC#15
LX1JX on 1/8/06 @ 11:09 First GM to LX on 4m confirmed on air DXCC#16
2007
GU8FBO DXCC#17 Meteor Scatter JT6M
HA, I, OY,
LC0VHF on 8/6/07 @22:04 Meteor Scatter FSK441 First GM to LA on 4m, confimed by LC0VHF on ON4KST's chat. DXCC#21
First GM to DL DI2AL 07/08/07 @10:18 MS DXCC#22
2008
First GM to ES, ES3RF 12/02/08 @05:58 MS
First GM to OK, OK1KT 01/03/08 @09:56 MS
IS0 worked Via Es
Total DXCC 25 as of July 08
Equipment is an FT847, with external preamp and power amp ( Pye A200) This is attenuated by 6dB and drives an ex Band II, PA using an TP9383 (140w). Details of the modifications will can be found below. (cct shows original BLW78)
The minimal modifications done to the A200 are below along with the A200 circuit diagram and board layout.
To enable crossband operation, the 6m / 4m output of the FT847 is fed to a filter diplexer, based on Pye bandpass filters type AT29908/E These 2 filters are connected in starpoint configuration using cables phased to ensure that the impedance at the reject frequency is effectively an open circuit at the starpoint
The filter for 6m had to be rebuilt with a new coil in each section (about 10 turns) and re-tuned. Maybe more details next time it is in bits!
