SteppIR and Other CARC Equipment

An afternoon of tinkering and the SteppIR now follows the FT1000 frequency. The antenna needs to be in GENERAL mode for this to happen. While the elements are moving the controller shows a flashing * next to the frequency. When the * disappears the antenna is tuned. It is also necessary to have Ham Radio Deluxe running on the PC as the controller listens to the comms between the PC and the radio. This is the only way of having both connected at the same time.

Please don't use the amp while the elements are in motion. Kind of obvious I know but important.

If you ever get a strange response the SteppIR use the CALIBRATE function in the Setup menu to reset the element lengths.

The rotator is working well. In order to show the correct heading I've just pulled the needle of the controller and pointed it where the antenna points. When we put the VHF/UHF antennas up we'll need to:

a. Turn the rotator so that the HF beam is pointing straight up with the tower luffed.
b. Loosen the SteppIR on the stub mast.
c. Turn the rotator until heading points straight down the hill.
d. Put the VHF/UHF beams on pointing down the hill (towards K2).
e. Clamp a large U-bolt onto the stub mast below the SteppIR.
f. Crank the tower vertical.
g. Climb the tower and spin the SteppIR round to match the other beams and tighten the bolts.

The aim is to get the rotator controller pre-sets working properly which will also allow correct PC control of the rotator once the interface is fitted into the controller.

I've managed to get the full output of the amplifier on all bands from 40 - 10m. The best procedure to achieve this seems to be to:

a. Check that the SteppIR frequency is correct and that tuning has finished.
b. Ensure that the amp is in STBY (disabled).
c. Select RTTY on the radio.
d. Select SWR for the TX meter.
e. Set the RF PWR to minimum (fully counter clockwise).
f. Use MOX to transmit.
g. Increase the power from the radio until the SWR meter begins to function.
h. Ensure a VSWR of less than 2:1 is shown.

Don't use the internal tuner to achieve this and DON'T proceed until the VSWR is lower than 2:1.
The first thing to try is to CALIBRATE the SteppIR from the Setup menu.

If you have a good match barefoot then you can think about bringing the amp online.

a. Ensure that the FT1000 is in receive and that the RF PWR is set to minimum.
b. Check the amp is switched to the correct band.
c. Turn the LOAD dial to around 4.
d. Flick the STBY / OPR switch to OPR.
e. Using the MOX button put the FT1000 into TX.
f. Slowly increase the RF PWR until the amp shows that ANODE current is being drawn (lower LED bar meter).
g. Use the PLATE knob to peak the output power.

N.B. NEVER allow the amp to show more than 3 red bars of negative grid current.

h. Slowly increase the RF PWR knob on the FT1000 until either 3 red LEDs of -ive grid current is shown or the desired output power is achieved.

N.B. You should never need to turn the RF PWR knob beyond the 1 o'clock position.

If you have 3 red LEDs showing and have not yet reached the required output power:

i. Reduce the LOAD setting by a small amount.
j. Retune the PLATE knob.

Repeat i-j until the desired output power is reached. Be careful not to reduce the LOAD too far but just far enough.

I've easily achieved full output power on all bands 40 - 10m.

Have a look at the on-line log. Two QSOs with Indian Ocean DXpeditions on 12m and 17m worked first call.
Pile up, what pile up.

Enjoy the DX.