3D printer stuff

Finally getting around to updating a few things on Creality Ender 3 printer, so going to donate some of the older bits to update an older K8200.

The older V 1.1.3 motherboard will replace the older board or Arduino & RAMPS board.

Will add raspberry Pi and Octoprint and Octoview to it.

New stepper motors for all the axis and extruders. Will add some stepper dampers as well.

The old bed and thermstor will replace with a new one and add the glass Ender 3 bed I had used.

As using TCM2208 steppers on the Ender 3 so will add the TL smoothers to the K8200 instead which will use the original Ender 3 stepper drivers.

Have a couple 1.75 mm filament extruders and a dual head so will make it dual filament, PVA for one. The 3mm (2.85mm) extruder and original nozzle will be put to one side.

Spare BLT V2 so will add auto bed leveling.

Meanwell 24V PSU

Will add LED strip (separate 12V 3A supply).

This will then be used to create test enclosures.

M1K SCC lapsed

Typical. I entered check logs into a few contests in 2019 forgetting that I needed the position info to be able to reapply for the SCC so unlikely M1K will appear in 2020. (not by me anyway). I will reapply (if qualify) for next year.

M1K RSGB IOTA 2018 from St Agnes EU011

As some might know by now I'm going to be doing the RSGB IOTA contest QRP again from EU011 St Agnes.

The antennas will be approximately where I marked on those images.

This time with a few extra challenges.

Rig will be ATS-3B (Designed by KD1JV)
Antennas will be from QRPGUYS for 80m I'll use the 80/60m Vertical Antenna and for 40/20/15 & 10m I'll used the 40m-10m UnUn Plus

I will also take the QRPLABS Hans Summers, G0UPL designed QCX https://qrp-labs.com/qcx.html on 30m and a SOTA Beams WSPRLite  https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-antenna-tester/ (also on 30m) and will be qrv before the contest as M1KTA and the WSPRlite will be on during the contest.

I found the tiny new Mini USB Keyer from K1EL a must have for contesting with Win-Test as used so well as C6AKT earlier this year in BERU/RSGB Commonwealth Contest (won the Lilliput trophey for winning the QRP category) http://k1el.tripod.com/WKmini.html in UK you'll find KANGAUK have it available. https://www.kanga-products.co.uk/k1elsystemproducts-winkeyer

Got a nice shack too, I had operated from an old shed on exact same location in 2016.

G/EU Bearing for E51

Please all...
The short path to E5 from G is the same bearing as VE7(330) rather than ZL(14) or VK(60).

Hopefully some from G might manage a QSO.

The week after BERU I will have a bungalow on the west coast right on the sea so the antennas will be right at the high water mark. I should have clear horizon to the South West right around to almost East. Antenna likely to be GP but might be vertical dipoles/beams.

I will take LF antennas as well as the more usual 20m up so will put something up on 40/80 I expect a GP on 30/17/12 might get used. I don't expect to be on 160m.

If you need the DXCC you could email me (see qrz pages) and see if I can help.

Will take WSPR and QRSS beacon and these should be up and running whilst there.

E51KTA update

I can confirm dates...

E51KTA should be QRV 10th March to 19th March.

Can only promise BERU w/e on S Cook dunno exactly where I will be after
that maybe N Cook maybe not... best listen on air.

20m 40m and 80m during IOTA contest

At one point I connected up SDR-RX (SDRPlay) to an antenna and grabbed these...

The regular lines were my adding QRM :-)

Use a hex beam vertically by the sea

I have use a 20m vertical moxon before to good effect. So was interested in one option with an antenna I have..... take the Hex-beam and turn it through 90 degrees and stick it on a pole next to the sea....

Well modelling says it will work.... thanks to F5VHN

vertical Hexbeam over sea water on a pole of 4m ,  ie 4m to the boom . Higher is NOT better as it creates high lobes .  see 10m

Now to try it out.