Transcript K4CJX WinLink - Bill Dietrich's home

HF Radio E-mail Installation
“How To Do It On A Small Boat”
by
Vic Poor, W5SMM
The Basic System
A M A T E U R O R M A R IN E S S B R A D IO
A U D IO
IN P U T
A U D IO
O U TP U T
R G -58
P TT
D AT A C O N T R O LLER
R S -232
A N TE N NA
CO A X
AN T EN N A
C O U PLER
O P T IO N A L
R S -232
GROUN D
Everything else
Engine
Best Marine Radios for E-Mail
» ICOM IC-M710 - Excellent, Reasonable Cost (get
opened up.)
» ICOM IC-802 – Excellent, best radio for Maritime
digital/SSB operations.
» SG-2000 - Not so Good, Reasonable Cost
Amateur HF Radios for E-Mail
• Many High Quality Ham Radios to Pick From:
» Kenwood TS-870 AT, Very High Quality, Moderately
Expensive, Normal size, no additional Filters required. Best
in its class!
» ICOM 746, Smaller, More Economical, FL-100, 500 Hz
filter Recommended. Covers VHF/UHF.
» ICOM IC-706MKII, Excellent, very small with Remote
head. (Watch out for the new “G” version. First models need
modification from factory for email.)
Data Controllers (TNCs)
• SCS PTC-II for Pactor I, Pactor II, & III
• SCS PTC-IIe or ex (less expensive, no direct radio control.
Must use additional comport to control radio.)
• SCS PTC II Pro (less comport will handle modem and radio
functions.)
Details of each modem may be found on http://www.scs-ptc.com
External Antenna Couplers
- Increases output, decreases RF and grounding problems • Internal “auto-tuners” may be inadequate.
• Don’t Assume the Coupler Recommended by the Radio
Manufacturer is Best.
• Consider a High Power Manual Coupler if You Have the Skill
and Patience to Use It.
• SGC makes the Best Automatic Couplers Tested.
• Power Losses in a Poor Coupler Can Be High.
• Antenna matching is a critical element for successful
operations.
The HF Antenna
• Make it long!
– Forget about loaded whips
• Keep it in the clear
– Insulated backstay ideal
– Don’t use a wire topping lift
– Use insulators
• Couple to it properly with minimum SWR.
• Ketch rigs are hard to do
Use Dacron
topping lift
Insulators as near
to top and bottom
of backstay as
possible
Antenna
coupler as
near the base
of the
backstay as
possible
Run RG-213 or
similar coax the
length of the boat
under the cabin
sole - tie to
ground on tuner
Radio Ground
• You need a really good ground
• There is no such thing as ground on a non-metal
boat
• Ground the tuner at it’s base
• Use the long wire ground (counterpoise)
• Use the engine block
• Use a screen
*Picture compliments of KE6RK
*Picture compliments of KE6RK
*Picture compliments of KE6RK
RFI Problems
• Ground the tuner well.
• Use connected copper screen under shelves and tables holding
radio, controller, computer.
• Connect equipment directly to the screen.
• Use shielded wire and keep interconnections short
• Use a “line isolater - Radio Works model T-4 (ungrounded),
about $30 from Radio Works, http://www.radioworks.com
• Use clip-on Ferrites
– Radio shack (fair)
– Fair-Rite, part number for type-43 material: P/N 04-43-164-251 and available
from Newark Electronics (Better)
– Fair-Rite, part number for type-31 by Amidon from Farallon, [email protected]
(best)
Places to look for further Information
• “Pactor Primer” & “RF Interference”
(http://www.airmail2000.com/docs.htm)
• Radio Works Catalog (http://www.radioworks.com/)
Questions?