Shack Rebuild

 2022!

I never imagined getting here, especially under the surreal conditions of “work from home” and “Covid” that most in the world are experiencing.

After “operating”, limited as it was, for so long with my “shack” such that it is, I found a creep of cables, radios, computers, Walmarts, and much else that started to cramp my ability to be flexible and really know what I had, what I wanted to do, and change from one mode to the other.

My layout or a while consisted of several radio that really need work, as well as a TNC that needs configuration and cabling to be useful.  Pictured are my Ten-Tec Mighty Mite 3, as well as a Clegg “Two-er” both of which need to be checked out before possibly going on the air.

The TNC is an MFJ multi-controller which operates via putty-connection from an unpictured computer but otherwise was not connected to a current radio setup for use.

In addition to that already pictured, I have a new Ten-Tec century 21 to check out and use, a TH-D72A laying around which I was using for occasional ISS packet and a pi-noelec SDR combo for downloading satellite images.

No mention of the FT-736R which is (shudder) still up in the attic, a vintage National Radio speaker cabinet to pair with the century 21 (or whatever) and cabling for an Elk log periodic 2/70 antenna for satellite use, with corresponding az/el controllers, nor my Butternut 6BTV vertical for HF. Also not pictured was a new Ambient weather console.

All things considered, I decided it was time to “rebuild”, label and organize. Hopefully the end result will be a bit more asthetic, flexible and ergonomic.

One goal was to allow more visibility of the Redone table.

In the process, I am going to label coax and other cables for ease of use down the road:

For my own sanity and to help document this for my own enjoyment, I hope to keep this blog somewhat updated. Been very lax in posting over the years, perhaps this will be a fresh start to blogging as well!

73, KA2CZU

Rotor Control - the "next" next step

Note to self:

If I ever purchase a new rotor again, I need to "read the fine print"

I forget that these rotors are used in a variety of configurations and
that they don't assume "simple 4 wire" connections.

I needed to get a cable (or special connectors) to hook up from the controller
to the rotor. - out to the interweb and ordered a pre-assembled 50' cable.

Check.

Then go to mount the rotor.

Oops, no mast mount included. Option.

Back to the interweb.

Check.

Now waiting and waiting and waiting and....

Rotation, part deux

Finally, Have the tripod and Elevation Rotor, which for some reason my old brain had translated into Yaesu whatever.

In reality, it's a Kenpro, KR-500, with matching controller:

This will allow pursuit of many more options, and basically will allow me to work
from my shack, gaining more expertise with the Yaesu FT-736R. 

This is a nice rig, pretty sensitive receiver, and I've had the most success (such that it has been) using this through the linear transponder sats.

If I run into a nice azimuth rotor deal, I may add that in, with commensurate satpc32 control.

However, for now, this is my basic setup: quick manual positioning of the tripod/antenna for optimal vertical rotation, position antenna for start, head into shack to complete, adjusting the angle for best signal.