QRP in the Driftless
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Testing the X6100 at Wildcat Mountain
The radio seemed to work okay with the new firmware update; I asked particularly for reports on my signal and audio; “just fine” was the typical response. (lol, insofar as anyone can tell when they’re giving me a 33 signal report). Here’s one ominous note: the volume knob froze on me again. It doesn’t seem…
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Replacing the batteries in the Xiegu X6100
I am wrapping up this series of posts, so here is a set of links to the previous ones for your enjoyment and / or entertainment; or who knows, maybe you want to replace the batteries in your X6100 and prefer text and pictures to a YouTube video: Since the last post I have been…
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Radio surgery, part 4
… the end of the story, or is it? With that computer out of the way, now I have room to work! I decided against using connectors because of the limited space inside the case. Soldering was easy and quick with the usual .015 rosin core 63/37 solder, so the heat sink never even got…
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Radio surgery, part 3
Xiegu X6100 battery replacement, and a sampler of other stuff going on … First, the battery stuff: There’s a computer occupying my electronics bench right now, I need to get that out of the way so I can finish this battery change job. Watch for the next post! Activating US-12077 again It’s always a good…
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Radio surgery, part 2
The new batteries arrived on Wednesday: These batteries were the cheapest, and also had the quickest delivery time, so after some deliberation over the many options I placed the order last weekend. The range of products Amazon returned for the search term “605080 battery” ranged in price up to $49, and some had delivery estimates…
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Radio surgery, part 1
When I got my Xiegu X6100, around 3 years ago, the edge of the back cover was sealed with a little sticker that said “XIEGU VOID IF DAMAGED”. A few days ago, (the warranty long expired), the time came to open the vault and view the mysteries inside! Why, you may ask? Replacing the Xiegu…
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September, and the first signs of Fall
It’s probably two weeks ago, now, that I saw a couple of yellow leaves fall off a tree and land by my feet. Around that same time I noticed a few green acorns on the ground. Nights (and days) have gotten cooler. Sunrise and sunset, always in motion, are contracting the daylight hours, a little…
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Two activations and a window sill
Wildcat Mountain State Park, US-1480 A cool and sunny Sunday morning made for a very pleasant drive through the woods and farm fields on the way to Wildcat Mountain State Park. It felt good to get out in the field again! Setup (in the customary location) was quick and routine. When I turned on the…
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Cutting a dipole for the (tr)uSDX
I have been working up a field kit for the (tr)uSDX for a while, and one remaining part of the effort is preparing a couple of small wire antennas tailored to provide low SWR to protect the rather delicate output transistors. Today I am making one of my favorites; the BNC-to-binding-post-adapter dipole. I set up…
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re: comments on posts
Clearing out spam comments from the blog’s inbox is a chore that I would prefer to avoid, but it has to be done from time to time … most of it is obvious trash or disguised invitations to download malware … the ones purporting to inform me that “you have received 1.3167 bitcoin, click here”,…
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Field Day 2025
It’s like the opposite ends of the spectrum, really; 10 years ago I was doing Field Day with a big club; 8 or 10 stations, each in their own tent, running from a big generator set and operating the full 24 hours … a couple of times I was even the chair, and wore my…
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A misty, moisty morning at Wildcat Mountain
Finally, some prime hiking weather! Last evening cool winds from WNW broke the heat of the past few days and brought welcome rain! What else could I do but get up before dawn and head out there for a hike? It was 67 degrees, calm, foggy and overcast when I left; lots of iced coffee…
A backwater of the Mississippi River in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge on a gloomy, chilly day in early November, viewed from the Lower Diversion Dike Trail.
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