Ham Radio - Blog Posts
Next two parts of the project. No license required
Began a little project. No amateur radio license required for this one. Whatever could it be? Hint: 900mhz
I ordered the radio on the right, a Yaesu FT-897, as a gift for myself for passing my General Class exam. I've wanted this radio since it was released in 2002 but as a Technician Class I wouldn't have been able to use but two frequency bands, not to mention it was out of my price range. I got it off of ebay and learned that it's a Japanese version and hard wired to not operate on all U.S. frequencies, even after MARS modding it. I already have the two radios on the left and the handheld (HT) for the 2 meter and 70cm bands so it's not a total loss and the radio still has performance abilities (power consumption wise) that far exceeds modern rigs.
MARS modding my FT-897 hoping to fix the TX Error on VHF and UHF. I was unsuccessful, not because of an error on my part, but I learned that it's a Japanese version and is hard wired to prohibit transmission on U.S. various U.S. frequencies.
After being a Technician Class since 1997, I passed my General Class exam last month. I only missed one question! *pats self on the back* It took about two weeks to be updated on the FCC website.
3 tube (41, 42 & 25) regenerative built inside a case I found at Walgreens. Coils for multi bands. Works great, quite sensitive, but the vents aren't cutting it. Going to need a cooling fan. Listening to BBC at the moment.
I got bored and went digging through the box of tubes again... Found a nice looking 6F6 GT and a 6Y6 GT, and kind of ran off in high spirits and decided a little broadcast band receiver would be a fun project. For this project I wanted them outside the box (CD case) where I could see 'em. Mounted all the heavy components. (back-to-back Radio Shack 12V CT transformers to make what amounts to an isolation transformer, picking off filament power between the two... Audio output transformer...) I haven't even decided if it's going to be a regenerative or something that requires less fussing with during operation. Any suggestions, anyone?