Conditions during May Contest were quite poor again. The new amplifier gave a good push and it was easy to work even the weakest stations. Next to optimize is the replacement of the 9 element 1.5 Lambda yagi and probably an antenna mounted LNA. The Contest endet up with 171 QSO’s. Stations from 11 Countries and 45 Squares found the way into the log. ODX with 831 km was HG3X from JN96. A report received from F8GGD (IN95 /1.031 km) who heard me in another contact.
During the Easter-vacation on Malta I met David, 9H1TX. We never had a contact before on any band but when we met at ON4KST-chat, David invited me to visit him at his QTH in Zurrieq and so I did. David is a very nice guy and an enthusiasic Radio Amateur, mainly working on 2m and 6m. He has an excellent takeoff especially into Central Europe. Hopefully we’ll meet on one of the bands before too long. Thanks for your hospitality and a nice afternoon talk with you David!
After a long time I participated again in the March 2017 VHF-Contest, 144 MHz. Conditions were quite normal and activity low due to the time of the year. Despite the low power of less than 10 Watts into the 9 Element Yagi 79 QSO’s and stations from 9 Countries and 31 Squares found the way into the log. ODX with 784 km was HG7M from JN97.
Another good Es opening on 2m this Saturday morning. With only 20 Watts out of the Transverter I worked LZ1ZL and LZ1KG from KN31 for a new square and a distance of 1.613 km. Heard but not worked was SV7GBR from KN20IX and several other LZ stations. This was my first ES and first new square since 1989, when I quit serious DX work on 2m!
After my previous homemade 2m Pa with 2x 4CX250B (build around 1975) is getting old, it was time to think about a new “state of the art” amplifier. Transistorized, high power, a low noise blower and all at an affordable price – that would be nice.
In an article of F1JRD, published in Dubus magazine 4/2010, I found the description of a compact (PCB 12 x 7 cm) 2m power amplifier with a Freescale LDMOS transistor. The tremendous gain of about 27 dB, more than 1.000 watts output power, combined with a relatively little effort, was fascinating.
After a longer search in the Internet I decided to build this project and started to assemble the main components. I ordered a BLF578 transistor at ebay, components from France and the copper heatsink from the Netherlands.
