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Welcome to the PA0RCT cw station![]() The main trx, an OMNI VI (plus) is located in the center, keyboard and bencher paddles situated for maximum comfort. When not in a contest, the keyboard can be pushed back under the trx. The memory keyer (most important piece of equipment in the shack) is located on the left side, to enable two-handed use. On top of the OMNI sits the Timewave 59+ DSP unit. Although the DSP of the omni is quite effective for CW (it does not decrease the "crud" but enhances the signal, making it really stand out) I like using both at the same time. The T59+ bandwidth is normally set at 500 Hz, noise reduction on. The auxiliary antenna on the OMNI is an EWE, pointing NW. This antenna reduces the noise we have on the mains from the big phase-controlled fans of a chicken farm near-by. The EWE is optimized for 80 meters, but works on all bands with null directions varying per band. (On 20 the null direction is stateside....) To the left of the main TRX is a FT757 used as a second TRX. On top of this a tuner for the 2nd antenna (a low windom for 40-10). The computer monitor is at the far left.
The amplifier is at the right. In the Netherlands only 400 W output is allowed. The tuner is only used for the 4x20m loop skywire. The loop can be used at all bands. A 160m inverted L, the 40m vertical and the 20m dipole are properly matched. 15m is handled via the 40m vertical. The antennas are switched manually with a 4-position coax switch. The thing to the right of the TRX is a clock synched with a caesium standard, allowing the contest to start exactly on the second! The PSION organizer is used for logging outside the contest. (If you have one, don't forget to visit the PSION HAM SOFT PAGE.
Rein Couperus, PA0RCT, 5521NX Eersel, The Netherlands (rein.couperus@iaehv.nl) |