Website up and running again!

 Last months i encountered a strange phenomenon on this website; it looked it was in a kind of loop.

No matter the type of browser; the issue looked the same.

Today i removed one of the configurable gadgets / widgets which was based on Java and xml.

That did the job, for now site is working as it should be.

Season’s Greetings.

 Wish you all a healthy 2025.

 PA0FRI SK

This weekend i heard the sad news that Frits PA0FRI passed away at the age of 83 years.

I knew Frits from early nineties and remember him as a real friendly ham operator willing to help many hams not only in the Netherlands but all over the world.

His famous website www.pa0fri.com with a lot of Frits’ knowledge will stay online as promised by his son.

Frits Geerligs PA0FRI is silent key. r.i.p.

 

APRS 144-145 MHz transceiver v2

 Designed by Robert PA2RK and published on PI4RAZ 

This transceiver can be build with a DRA818 and ESP32 as basis.

Locater via build in gps 

Contains preprogrammed repeater frequencies for the Netherlands

Configuration can be done via build in webserver, a quite easy and flexible way to change settings or parameters.

The aprs beacon works via rf and if availble wifi as well.

Nice and easy kit to build, see www.pi4raz.nl where you also can order the 2 pcb’s.

Touch display and DRA818 can be ordered at several Chinese webshops or ebay.

Updates from the shack.

Last year i sold my nanovna and replaced it with this nanovna-F v2

This unit has a solid enclosure, very clear screen and range till 3GHz.

A very nice pice of equipment for an affordable price.

From an estate i got this famous Yaesu FT-7 qrp transceiver from the seventies.

It’s still working fine, but i decided to perform a mod on the rx amplifier in order to reduce the gain which was too high. Mod can be found on PA0FRI website : www.pa0fri.com

Since this transceiver is modular build, it’s easy to take out pcb’s for service purposes.

 Also from the same estate i got this Bird 43 wattmeter which is almost like new.

Several slugs to swap for other power and or frequencies.

Very nice additions to my shack!

Quansheng UV K5 handheld radio

 A lot of information is already written and on Youtube as well.

Basically this radio is used for ham operation on vhf and uhf (145 / 430 ) mhz with the am airband for rx only,

As many of you will know some guys made new firmware for this radio available to expand the frequency and to add usb mode.

After a firmware flash this radio is able to tx and rx from 18 mhz till 1.3 ghz…..

My advise is not to transmit outside both vhf/uhf band since it will produce many harmonics!

But for the price ( i have two, lowest price 16 euro incl shipping to europe) you will have a very nice wideband receiver.

Check the firmware on github:

https://github.com/spm81/Quansheng_UV-K5/blob/main/Firmware/UNIVERSAL%20FIRMWARE%20%28%20All%20Radios%20-%20UV-K5%2C%20UV-K5%288%29%2C%20UV-K6%2C%20UV-5R%20Plus%2C%20etc...%29/Open%20Spectrum%20Firmware%20by%20facgi/uv-k5-firmware-fagci-mod-v1.1.2-SSB-lite-test.bin

Some pictures of the radio after firmware flash:

Season’s Greetings

Wish you all happy holidays and a healthy 2024!