So far so good. POTA is helpful as a test vehicle for new radios, morse key settings, etc.
To this point only one glitch. The disappearing CW indicator after operating split. I put a message out to Yaesu but nothing heard. The September 2025 software update (202511) should take care of this issue.
CW is my main operating mode so my comments result from operating CW. However, I did work a park on SSB with the FTX-1F and all went well (I think).
In the shack:
The transceiver does run hot as reported by many users. I purchased the fan and it appears to cool things down a bit (on a DC supply).
I have used the radio connected to my Mac via a USB-C cable. I am waiting for the Bluetooth unit to arrive. I hope Bluetooth can be used to replace the cable to talk to the computer. Report back when the module is received and installed.
Away from the shack:
The FTX-1F performed well using the battery on the back deck feeding a Wolf River vertical. Hopefully soon it will go on the road for more tests in the wild.
A new addition to the shack is the Yaesu FTX-1 Field radio. The pic here is in its initial testing phase (still in as of this posting). So far so good.
Why do I still hunt POTA stations? After all, nine out of ten calls/parks I hear have been worked multiple times. There are four reasons as follows:
- Test and find tune my Morse keys. Especially bug keys.
- Use of my lower power radios (HW-8, TR-25 and NorCal 40B).
- To not only see hits on the Reverse Beacon but contact someone.
- Work the occasional new park.
MacLoggerDX does all that it says it will do except selecting a VFO from the main entry screen. Its shortfalls from what I would “like to have” were known before purchase so no complaints. It does a very good job, and the customer service is second to none. Even when I did not read the instructions and e-mailed questions I should have known the answer to, Don was great (see note below).
Special note on “band Plan”: My prior logging software had a Band Plan, but I ignored it. I guess its defaults were in line with my operating, so it never entered the equation. However, the defaults in MacLoggerDX kept directing my K3 in ways I did not want it to go. Rather than reading the manual I thought something was wrong with the program. Don set me on the right path, and I started reading the manual and quickly learned how powerful the band plan was in MacLoggerDX.
To say I messed up when downsizing would be an understatement. I am seeing this sunspot cycle slip away ( I am 80 do the math). If you like to work DX and do not want to settle for:
- Being heard fairy well 600 mies away
- Receive marginal reports up to 2,000 miles away
- Work the occasional station beyond that point who works at pulling your signal out of the noise because there is no one else for them to work.
- See your signal on the RBN just above the noise level.
- Work the same park with the same operator for the 25th time.
Do not downsize before really thinking it through!
Note: Yes FT8 is ham radio and I do work the mode from time to time. It has no personality to me. Also, they say it is like shooting fish in a barrel. Well my barrel is very large the fish appear to be very small.
I had a great time building the NorCal 40B and I have made contacts with the little ~2 watts output. However , it needs a little more punch to get out of my attic and to contact other than parks. Enter the 10 watt Pacific Antenna amp. I have not commented on this to date because if I have issues with a product I tend to look deeply within to see what mistakes I have made before pointing the finger elsewhere. My kit build track record has been good other than an obvious bonehead mistake on the TR-25 build (which was quickly remedied by great customer service).
As a retired accountant with very little test equipment trouble shooting is not always the easiest. An amp is so simple one would think getting it operational would be easy. Well not in this case. I have gotten through some issues, but the thing is just not stable. I reached out to the company early on with my first problem (which I have sorted). PACIFIC ANTENNA HAS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! So far I have nothing but a PCB headed to the recycle bin.
Much to my surprise I made 42 contact during this past weekend’s ARRL DX contest. I cannot confirm it, but that just may be more than the sum total of all the contest contacts I have ever made. There is not one reason why I worked so many (for me) stations, but since working DX is not so easy with 25 watts and an attic antenna it was nice to be heard. And no , it did not make me a contester. Not even close!
I like to keep a very detailed log. Why, when time, mode and band Is all that is needed? BECAUSE! Detail about the other station is of interest to me and I am also better prepared if I hear a prior logged station on the air once again. The advantage of a log with a good number of user defined fields is ideal for me. DXLab was great and although MacloggerDX is a very well done program I miss the flexibility afforded me before. My mistake!
Now that I have had MacloggerDX for about a month of actual use I can state the following:
MacloggerDX
- The software performs smoothly.
- The program interfaces very well with LOTW, Clublog and WSJT-X (took some effort – see 3.3 below)
- There are certain items that I knew going in that I would miss. I have to say I miss them more than I thought I would. This is no fault of MacloggerDX as it never claimed to do these things.
- No user defined fields.
- Weak rig control especially for Elecraft
- Talking with WSJT-X and FLDIGI was far from intuitive. (thank you K0PIR)
Mac mini
- The little computer works very well with fast boot up and shutdown.
- The computer has a great footprint for a small shack
- Core Mac software runs very smoothly
- MAC is far from Ham Radio mainstream
I purchased an HW-8 in April 2024. By all accounts it is stock with no mods, just the way I wanted it. I did one minor repair to the meter circuit (cold solder joint), but have left well enough alone. It is fun to operate and I have made many contacts with it. However, there is no doubt it could use some realignment and who knows what else. With old parts that may break and are irreplaceable is it worth the risk? I am not sure if it would be a good idea, but armed with a retired accountants brain, a digital volt meter and a soldering iron I just might be crazy enough to jump in. If there is an HW-8 for sale on eBay for parts only the results will be obvious.
