Most Complete K7QO Code Course Version I Could Find: 614 files.

 

 Most of the K7QO Code Course files on line are the 131 file version and perhaps the 149 file version is still out in cyberland.

I know there are at least 4 versions of this code course.  The 131 file, 149 file, 514 file, and the 614 file version.  The date stamp is from 2006.  It includes several files along with the 614 mp3 CW files.  There is a gap in the files from 220 to 301.  I remember searching for the missing files from when I first downloaded this version.  Each one builds on itself with additional files.

I did not contact Chuck about the missing files.  Perhaps someone else has this version and can shed light on the missing files.

When Chuck's site still existed, I recall reading where he had expanded his course, but he stated he made a mistake in something.  I do not recall if that was the answers or the manual (that does not seem to change with the course revisions).

Since I could no longer locate the longest version of his course I created this post to the link for the .zip file.  The file is long, 352 MB zipped.  It could take 2 or 3 minutes to download.

 Typical of Google the link will open to a screen warning that the file is too large for Google to scan it for viruses due to its size.

 

K7QO Code Course, 614 files.

Dentron Jr. Monitor Manual, with Dentron addendum

                                                                        Manual

The file is scanned at 300 d.p.i. and google will not preview it in a browser window, you'll need to download it.

 I recently picked up one of these neat antenna couplers.  I've read about them and wanted to find one for myself.  My main interest is in comparing to MFJ and other cheap but expensive units.  

First thing I noticed is like all Dentron antenna couplers, much better quality in components and assembly.  

First there is more space between the inductor and cabinet. Second the plate spacing of the capacitors.

The one commonality that I have found with Dentron and MFJ is that the capacitor knobs are indexed backwards.  Minimum capacitance is 10 and maximum is 0.

I first noticed this when I purchased my first MFJ coupler. In over 30 years as a broadcast engineer and a technician before that I never saw minimum settings of anything at MAXIMUM and maximum setings at MINIMUM.  Except on MFJ and Dentron.  Maybe there are others, and I have not found them.

Maybe that is why MFJ and others tell people incorrectly how to set their antenna coupler.  Instead of maximum capacitance on 160 & 80, and about 75% of full capacitance on the mid bands, and 1/2 capacitance on 20 and above they just tell everyone to set them 1/2 way and let you be confused when you think your lowering capacitance by approaching 0 and increasing it as you approach 10; in reality you are doing the opposite.

Not only that if I would have designed machine control systems like that there would have not only been many confused operators and confusion on the production floor, hazardous operation would have been created.

As for the rest of the unit, I found what everyone else that posts on these notes, is in the design a second toroid was added for 160 meters.  That seems to be the weak link for 300W.  I don't like tiny wire.  If it ain't made to survive full rated power at A.M. it's junk.  I'm as stubborn that way as those who like to call MFJ mighty fine ......

In actuality, if it works it ain't junk.  Things that work, work.  Just some things are built to better quality standards than others.

For the Manual.  There seems to be only one .pdf of this manual on line.  No problem with that.  I post this one because my Jr. Monitor came with a manual.  The manual is a bit wrinkled, but it scanned ok.  

What I found interesting is that Dentron changed the initial settings with an added sheet. 

What else I found is that some of these units had the toroid and some did not.  Some of the units had the ground jumper for the toroid and some did not.  It also is not in a before or after certain serial number.  Search on line and you can find low serial numbers with the toroid and jumper binding post and higher serial numbers without.  I have not yet found any with the correct spelling on the label (MONITER).

So if you remove and reinstall the capacitor knobs the charts are null and void.  Anything Dentron states set to 0 just set to 10.  4 will become 6.  5 will stay 5.

As for operation, this thing works like a charm. I was able to match 80 through 10 on an end fed wire and on a dipole.  I could match 160 through 10 on my vertical.

Worst case SWR was 15:1 and 12.3:1 on the wire antennas measured with a RigExpert AA-55 Zoom.  Same antenna measurements after the Jr. Monitor match were all less than 2:1.

Vertical antenna worst SWR was  18:1 on 160m which matched 2.2:1 and 2.6:1 after the Jr. Monitor.  

Loss? I did not measure antenna current or field strength, but I did make CW contacts Friday and Saturday night to CA and OR as well as the U.K, Germany, and Italy all QRP.

I used 25W on SSB throughout the USA the same 2 nights.

Since MFJ has ceased production we may not get many new (only what is left in stock) MFJ anything, but for years there will be used on the market.

2024 Field Day

I don't keep up with this blog.  There's a lot went on since my last post.

Radio restorations.

Vibroplex restorations.

Antenna experiments. 

And Field Day.

I didn't post anything from last year's Field Day.  

Seems each Field Day gets better with the peaking of the solar cycle.  I like running QRP rather than going to the club Field Day site or working Class 1D as I did one year.

This year I used a compromise antenna. During the day I used a hitch mount telescoping 18 foot vertical mounted on a Palomar 9:1 unun on a trailer hitch on my truck.

Saturday night I changed to a Sigma-Eurocomm SE HF-X80 vertical on a military mast hitch mount using the stock unun that comes on the antenna.

The HF-X80 did better on 80 Meters and even had low SWR across some of the 160 meter band although I do not use 160.

Soon after the start my PC quit.  Died.  R.I.P.  I did the event using paper logs rather than wasting time with a Windows PC which I think was a hardware failure  rather than the OS for a change, but not repairable in short time.

 

Yaesu FT-450AT set to QRP powered by a solar charged battery pack, and Ten-Tec 247 Antenna Coupler to match the antenna. 

Soon after the PC failed and I made a contact or two, we got rain.  I initially set up outside since I set up my portable QRP set up or another rig that I can reduce RF power to 5 watts output. Now I moved into the garage and set up on the work bench.

Saturday was fine for 5W phone.  Saturday evening I decided to try the HF-X80 and put it up.  Thunderstorms.  Took the antenna back down for safety and did not operate during the overnight storms.

Sunday I decided to use the HF-X80 since it would be the first time using this antenna.  I usually use a Mosley RV-4C with counterpoise since it is such an easy antenna to set up and use.  I wanted to try something different this year.

Solar panels and the HF-X80 installed on the hitch mount. Used a small board over the choke balun to protect the connectors from rain.  Yellow thing across side walk is a cable ramp to protect the coax and prevent tripping over the coax.

 

 

There was quite a bit of activity on Sunday and the set up performed better than expected.  Not as good as using a Mosley antenna, but good enough to score more contacts than 2023.

I monitored the Solar controller to see if it would ever switch to battery power since I did not operate at night this year.  I operated from about 1900 Saturday until 1800 UTC Sunday and never used any battery power; all solar.  Next year I may get a new set of panels that are not as large and still as powerful.

I like setting up and operating from outside.  Portable set up is fast and easy. Fresh air and sun and shade, but rain...that forces me into the garage.  Thundershowers and thunderstorms shut things down.