G5RV

The G5RV Multiband HF Antenna Over the last 40 years G5RV dipoles have become the most widely used general purpose multi-band antennas in the world.  Good performance, modest size, low cost, simplicity, and versatility are the reasons for this popularity. Invented in 1946 by Louis Varney, whose call sign is G5RV ("Silent key" on June 28, 2000. He was 89).  The basic antenna measures only 102 feet across the top, and is fed at the center through a low loss 34 feet feed-stub. The interaction between the radiating section and the feed-stub makes the G5RV easy to match on all-bands from 80 through 10 meters with an ordinary low-cost antenna tuner. In spite of small size, it provides dipole equivalent coverage on 80 and 40 meters.   From 20 on it favors DX with four to six low angle lobes reaching out in all directions. THE ANTENNA LENGTH : The design center frequency of the full-size version (configured as a 3/2-wave dipole on 20m) is 14.150 MHz, and the dimension of 102 ft is derived from the formula for long-wire antennas which is : LENGTH ( in feet ) = ( 492 ( n - 0.05 )) / f (MHz) = ( 492 ( 3 - 0.05 )) / 14.15 = 102.57 ft ( 31.26 m ) (n = number of half wavelengths of the wire) In practice, since the whole system will be brought to resonance by the use of an antenna tuner, the antenna is cut to 102ft (31.1m). In some cases, this is still too large to fit in one's yard, and not everyone can convince their neighbors to allow one to stretch the wire across property lines. In this case, a half-size version, covering 7 to 28 MHz is useable. Conversely, some amateurs would like to have 1.8 MHz capability, and have the 204 ft ( 62.2 m ) length necessary for this array. The antenna does not need to be put up as a flat-top array, but can be installed as an inverted-V. If the antenna is raised as an inverted-V, the included angle at the apex should not be less than 120 degrees. The center of the antenna should be as high as possible, of course, and the matching section should descend at a right angle to the array. THE MATCHING SECTION : The matching section may use with several ways : Open Wire : It is recommended that the matching section be constructed of open-wire feeder for minimum loss, as it always carries a standing wave on it. Due to the standing wave on it, the actual impedance is unimportant. Ladder Line (Window-type line) : The next most-desirable matching section would be made from window-type open wire line, either 300-ohm, or 450-ohm. This is basically a ribbon line, like heavy duty TV-type twin lead, with #16 to #20 wire, and "windows" cut in the insulation every 4 to 6 inches. The advantage of the "window" line is that the conductors won't short together if the line twists in a high wind. "TV" Twin Lead : The main disadvantage of the TV-type twin lead is durability. The advantage of it is that it is readily available at electronics outlets. Do not use the "shielded" twin lead. The shield will degrade the matching section, especially on 3.5 or 7 MHz. MATCHING SECTION LENGTH : The length of the matching section is an ELECTRICAL half-wave on 14 MHz. The actual physical length is determined by the following formula : LENGTH ( in feet ) = ( 492 x VF ) / f (MHz) ( VF = the velocity factor of the matching section ) The velocity factor is determined by the type of line, and the dielectric properties of its insulation. For the three types of line discussed so far, the VF is : Open wire = 0.97 Ladder line (Window line) = 0.90 "TV" twin lead = 0.82 By substituting the VF in the formula, and calculating for a center frequency of 14.15 MHz, you come up with the following matching section lengths : Open wire = 33.7 ft ( 10.28 m ) Ladder line (Window line) = 31.3 ft ( 9.54 m ) "TV" twin lead = 28.5 ft ( 8.69 m ) This matching section is connected to the center of the array, and allowed to descend vertically at least 20 ft or more, if possible.   It can then be bent and tied off to a suitable post or line, and connected to the coaxial line, and run to the Antenna Tuner. TABLE OF FULL-SIZE, DOUBLE-SIZE and HALF-SIZE : Band Coverage 3.5 - 28 MHz 1.8 - 28 MHz 7 - 28 MHz Length of Antenna 102 ft ( 31.1 m ) 204 ft ( 62.2 m ) 51 ft ( 15.55 m ) Matching section : - Open wire 33.7 ft ( 10.28 m ) 67.5 ft ( 20.56 m ) 16.9 ft ( 5.14 m ) - Ladder line 31.3 ft ( 9.54 m ) 62.6 ft ( 19.08 m ) 15.6 ft ( 4.77 m ) - "TV" twin lead 28.5 ft ( 8.69 m ) 57 ft ( 17.38 m ) 14.3 ft ( 4.35 m )

https://www.qsl.net/yb0emj/g5rv.html

ICOM IC-7100 Headless test

After carefully reading the whole user manual (lol...) I came out to an interesting MENU setting. FUNCTION>POWER OFF(With No Controller) and give it a try.
Here is a small video.

I am not particular happy with my voice so the video is self explanatory.
I don't have my laboratory tools here on my second QTH but I thing I can investigate a little the serial comm with the Controller to see if it is possible to send it through the Ethernet :-)

73 de YO3HJV

PS
For my reference:

Driving one-coil latch relay without H-Bridge

The figure below shows a simple circuit using the MC9S08QE128 microcontroller from Freescale to drive a Finder 40.61.6.005 single-coil latching relay with a standard ULN2003 Darlington driver with open-drain outputs and inductive-kickback protection. Clamping diodes on each ULN2003 output pin catch high-voltage transients that occur when you interrupt the coil current. Because demagnetization uses low-value resistors, you must wire at least two open-drain buffers of the ULN2003 to both endings of the relay coil to ensure enough current when the microcontroller pulls down.
To simpify the schematic, one common reset rail can be used to all relays. The work sequence will be:
    Rel1 ON
     RST
      Rel1 & Rel2 ON
       RST
        Rel1 & Rel3 ON
    RST
... and so on.

External ATU

Just a random thought. 
Often I see people using relatively tunable antennas with their radios and, from no reason (at least, not a technical justified one), they put external tuners after radios that already have internal ATU's. 
Worst, that tuners have (most of them) coaxial output. 
By doing that, they spend the money somehow useless, bypassing the protections that engineers put on the radios. 
At least, if you put an external tuner, get one that can feed the antenna and not the coaxial cable + antenna. You will be pleased with the results! For the coax+antenna, use the internal tuner and if that tuner can't handle the mismatch, try to fix the antenna instead.

That was removed from FB IC-7300 group as being ”offensive”.

HF Arduino Beacon project

I plan to make an Arduino CW beacon.

This are the features I was thinking of:
 -Connected to ICOM IC-7100 via CI-V serial interface;
 -Can send Baro, temperature and humidity;
 -Send at regular time intervals;
 -Send in several frequencies;
 -Send at various power levels.

Will be based on a Atmega 328 uC and will have a DS3231 RTC and BME-280 sensor for meteo info.

DS3231 was chosen for RTC because it have a very precise, thermo-compensated oscillator and keeps time very accurate. Also the local temperature is available for processing it.
BME-280 is a high precision array of sensor measuring relative humidity, temperature and barometric pressure.

It will operate from my second location in KN25UC, abt. 6 km West form Campina and 90 km N from Bucharest.
I am using a Hustler 4 BTV vertical multiband placed directly on the ground and one of my ICOM radios.

If you have suggestions, please leave a comment below.