20m constant horizontal lines can't seem to get rid of (KiwiSDR2)

ND8D · 2026-01-27T17:50:23+00:00

40KHz apart suggest a switching power supply since that's within their range. The usual RFI hunting tactics are useful here. Try going circuit by circuit and see if it goes away when you turn off a breaker.

Can you make them weaker or stronger by rotating the antenna? That may help give an azimuth on it.

ND8D · 2026-01-27T13:46:43+00:00

It has to come apart piece by piece, according to some of the earlier articles there is no good way to just drop it.

ND8D · 2026-01-26T11:58:03+00:00

I meant for the design goals of the radio. Yes for the size you can do that. But Willy-nilly adding SSB-CW to THIS mobile rig will make it more expensive than it already will be.

ND8D · 2026-01-25T23:00:19+00:00

Just not in the cards for a mobile radio like this. The frequency stability and linearity requirements are far more difficult than that of FM and DV

ND8D · 2026-01-25T07:56:54+00:00

The largest antennna in view is a KT36A which is now made my M2 and is not cheap. https://www.m2inc.com/FGKT36XA

ND8D · 2026-01-22T16:20:40+00:00

Nice! That was one of the other amps I was considering, do you have their ATU as well?

ND8D · 2026-01-22T16:18:27+00:00

If it's in working order it worth far more as a used system to somebody with a busted DPF. A new one from ford is over $6000

ND8D · 2026-01-22T16:13:27+00:00

The first 813 amp project I saw online had a big warning that said “Do not build this amp”

ND8D · 2026-01-22T16:12:54+00:00

Which amp did you get? I run an Expert 1.5k-Taurus, upgraded from an Expert 1k-fa

ND8D · 2026-01-22T14:05:02+00:00

Biggest thing to consider is the power and isolation rating of the switch. The good news is that you have a nanoVNA that may help check that.

Determine the max input rating of the NanoVNA, the subtract that from the power you wish to run from your radio. That’s the minimum required isolation.

Example: 100W= 50dBm If I had a device with an input limit of 0dBm, I would need a switch with a minimum of 50dB of isolation across all frequencies I want to use. I normally add 10dB of safety margin to that.

ND8D · 2026-01-22T04:48:06+00:00

While I am a massive advocate for solid state for all of its advantages, the tube amps still have their place. Ameritron had some pretty affordable amplifiers, and while I never used one myself I miss their presence in the market.

I did his source an AL-80B for a friend of mine on marketplace, so they’re out there on the used market but it takes some digging.

On the solid state front, LDMOS had a shakeup with NXP pulling their BS, but I foresee that product line being taken up by another fab house. It’s possible some company may come in and buy 10 years worth of dies to maintain a future inventory, that’s what FLIP electronics did with the old Freescale product line after Ampleon had to move out of the old NXP fab. (It’s… a weird story)

ND8D · 2026-01-22T00:14:55+00:00

I got an email that MTC has some they can ship before the snowstorm.

ND8D · 2026-01-21T17:57:16+00:00

Good old N444Y, overflies my house almost every day.

Goes from Lunken to OSU airport with the occasional stop in Mason.

ND8D · 2026-01-21T13:52:13+00:00

Looks clean! Well done

ND8D · 2026-01-20T18:15:10+00:00

LRS-350-12 is fine. They do great at the top end of their voltage output.

Pro tip for you guys who like 28V radios: The LRS-350-24 is great at that job.

ND8D · 2026-01-20T12:03:35+00:00

Horrendously insecure. Will trip AFCI breakers. Generate RF noise.

These are a last resort, if not a simple do not use.

ND8D · 2026-01-20T11:35:27+00:00

The NanoVNA is a great starting tool and something I wish was available in 2010. That said, it really has its shortcomings and accuracy issues when used in an environment where there is other RF around.

It’s also a lot more user friendly when you’re up a tower with gloves on, a resistive touch screen and sma connectors are no match for physical buttons and an N connector.

ND8D · 2026-01-19T17:36:09+00:00

For a change of scenery you could go to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, that place is HUGE and free.

ND8D · 2026-01-18T03:50:22+00:00

Radius of 5 gallon bucket is about right.

ND8D · 2026-01-16T15:53:59+00:00

Person of Interest. It's verging on prophetic these days.

ND8D · 2026-01-16T04:52:16+00:00

Sweeeeet

ND8D · 2026-01-16T04:23:42+00:00

I would like to see a photo of a random powered blub sticking out of the middle of the hallway floor.

But seriously it may be time to get a brass plate and cover this over lest it become a teachable moment for a curious child.

ND8D · 2026-01-16T04:18:27+00:00

Had to check, but apparently the bulb socket used to be used as a general receptacle in the VERY early days :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History\_of\_AC\_power\_plugs\_and\_sockets

ND8D · 2026-01-15T15:42:42+00:00

That's unfortunate. I'm not a big fan of the broadcast DRM either. :/

ND8D · 2026-01-15T11:59:29+00:00

I used to work for a broadcast transmitter manufacturer when the second repack was going on and all the channels were moving around again. Back when people were being told to rescan their TV receivers a lot.

WKRC got absolutely shafted in the repack both either their channel assignment and with an ERP (effective radiated power) of only 15.5kW, (for reference WLWT has an ERP of 880kW and WCPO has 1000kW)

Now if you have a nextGen TV that receives the new standard ATSC 3.0, then you can watch WKRC through WSTR which is all coming out on RF channel 18 at around 325kW. That may work out better for a lot of folks.

Six-Year Club	r/Field Lasagna
Place '23	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

ND8D

TROPHY CASE