ZS6DX/V51VE VHF/UHF Notes I have been having fun on the VHF bands for a long time. The challenge of VHF weak signal work keeps on calling me away from the HF bands to make another contact on the higher frequencies. Over the years I have worked lots of 6m DX, mostly into Europe. I also enjoy meteor scatter and other modes for longer 'local' contacts on 6m and 2m. I have used various radios for the VHF bands over the years, at the moment the primary radios used for VHF are an Icom IC-746 and Yaesu FT-847 for operation from the shack and a Yaesu FT-897D for field operation.

FOR SALE: HENRY TEMPO 6N2 KILOWATT AMPLIFIER Uses a pair of 3CX400A7’s to develop over a Kilowatt out on 6 and 2 Meters. The combination of Push-Pull on 2. Update: The Henry Tempo 6N2 is now in the shack! I have not used it yet as I want to give it a complete cleanup and check, it is rather dusty and dirty. FS: Henry Tempo 6N2 Amp Kilowatt Amp in excellent condition. Tempo 6n2 Amp Does 1KW ++ on 2,or 6. Pair of 8874s.Amp has all relays,interfaces for solid state radios. 2017-11-16T00:00:00+11:34 Daily 0.90 2017-11-16T00:00:00+11:34 Daily 0.90 2017-11-16T00:00:00+11:34 Daily 0.90 2017-11-16T00:00:00+11:34. Visual Basic For Win7 64bit Pe.

I have never used more than 100w on 6m but I have decided a bit more power would be great to compete with some of the local 'big guns'. I love tube amplifiers so those will be investigated first.

I have an old Heathkit SB200 amplifier that could be converted to 6m and have recently acquired a Henry Tempo 6N2 amplifier running 2 x 3CX400A7 (8874) tubes. This amplifier will do 1kw on 2 or 6m from 25w input. Update: I must admit after being active for a while on VHF/UHF I have become rather bored with the local scene. There are a few guys on the bands but to talk to the same, relatively local, guys every weekend is not my idea of fun. I know there are some plans to activate a few grids and high spots soon, maybe it will add some excitement! I am considering taking my 6m/2m/70cm antennas down and using the space on the tower for HF antennas.

Will wait a while before I make the call. Somehow I am not feeling the same excitement when working VHF/UHF as in the past. Update: This morning I listened out for the group on 144.300 SSB, I could hear 8 stations well so between trying to work some DX on HF in the All Asia CW contest I reported into the net and took a few rounds. Today I was only running 100W from the IC-746, no amplifier connected but my signal seemed to be fine and everyone could hear me. Rotating my antenna around showed me that it has quite a narrow beam and a good front to back ratio, I just need to get it a bit higher.

In another late evening development (this seems to be becoming a habit) I secured a Fisher FE-40 linear amplifier for 430-440MHz. It is a really well made unit running a 4CX250B producing 300W output when fed with 5-10W, finally I will have a better signal on 70cm! I am hoping to fetch the unit sometime this week, I hope it is not too difficult to get it running, I am feeling guilty because the Henry 6N2 is still not in service. Update: The shortest day and longest night for us down south! While in the shack this morning I listened to the local 2m SSB net, I heard 10 stations, most of them ok copy but I again did not report in.

I think the main reason why I have not reported in recently is because when there are many stations it is difficult to hear everyone plus you can often get left out and not called in for an hour or so, it has happened to me. I think the way the net is run needs to be looked at with maybe a more official 'round robin' approach. I know some other local stations have given up on the net for the same reason.

I know it is difficult and I am not blaming the 'net controller'!! Update: A quick trip this afternoon secured the few bits and pieces I needed and the Yaesu FT-726R for the collection. Here is the FT-726R after I moved her into the shack, she is still dirty and someone stuck a label right on the display, I need to remove the glue. I don't think the FT-726R will become one of my main operating radios, she is a bit old for that, but I will test her on the local SSB net and use her occasionally for local work.

A few quick tests showed that she is working well. She came with 144Mhz and 430Mhz as well as satellite modules installed. There is place for one more module so I will be looing for a 6m or HF module, won't be easy to find but you never know. Here she is in all her (still dirty) glory. Now the growing stack on the workbench looks like this: Time to move some of them to the main operating position or else to the museum. Update: I Started this morning by working a bunch of stations on 2m and 70cm SSB, that was followed by lots of fun working via and tracking a High Altitude balloon carrying a parrot repeater and APRS tracking equipment.