I have finally found some time to add some green to my logo (for the website) as the normal M0INI part is black, but this wouldn’t show on a black background theme.
I have also found time to update the text on my website due to the UK amateur radio license changes, and the removal of the mention of my air band radio license now that I am no longer a helicopter pilot.
I must remember to keep my stations website more up to date..!
Yesterday, as club secretary, I visited the summer Red Rose radio rally organised by my club, the West Manchester Radio Club.
The clubs usual hall was out of action, so we were asked to hold it in a much smaller room. It was quite tight getting all the vendors into such a small space, however, it it was managed. Our chair, Les, was busy with his own stand, so I was asked to thank everyone for coming and do the raffle draw with the RSGB. Lamco and the RSGB were sponsors of the raffle, and a small digital hand hand was raffled at the event.
All in all, a lovely little radio rally and I am proud to be the club secretary.
In order to visit the next rally, please see this link… https://wmrc.co.uk/rally.htm
As my favourite classic HF rig, the ICOM 725, is still not operational, I am limited for now to 2m and 70cm using my Yaesu 7800.
If you know someone who is reliable who could take a look at this HF rig, tell them to get in touch, see contacts.
Members have kindly re-elected me to be their secretary of the West Manchester Radio Club for 2024/25.
Picture from left to right: Les Jackson G4HZJ, Tony Adams G7OHA, and me Mark Smith M0INI.
Some advice please…
I have a mint ICOM 725 all mode HF rig with all the bells and whistles (well for a classic rig), and it has all the ICOM options you can add to them, but, it has started with a curious fault that has me puzzled.
All the back lights on the front panel are not working, but, 10 years ago, these were changed to 12v LEDs due to blown blubs at the same time the rig was opened up for 5MHz transmit.
The rig works fine, and has for the last 12 years of ownership, but, only recently with no LED back lights to the front panel.
Today, I took it apart, to trace the fault, and I appear to have a short circuit across the LEDs, no other work has been carried out on the rig for 10 years.
According to the service manual, I should see a voltage of 11.5v to the back lights that are regulated down from 13.1v with two transistors and voltage divider resistors, see the relevant section of the diagram.
I am seeing 0v on this line and there is a very light smell of plastic burning, but, I can’t tell from which component. This line is showing a short to chassis.
My question is, do (or can) transistors just burn out and go short circuit to ground, well all current flowing to ground? What is the best way to test these in circuit, or, do I need to de-solder? I look forward to hearing from someone so that I can get this classic rig back on the air again. Being so lightweight, I love it for both shack and portable use and is my favourite old HF rig.
I originally got the domain name M0INI.radio so that I could have a radio related domain for email.
Since 2017 when the domain was granted by the .radio authority, (you have to prove you have a link to radio or a radio license from a licensing authority), I setup a basic place holder website, and started using the domain for email only.
However, I have now decided, that I will expand the domains usage to also be used for blogging for the station and what I am up to as a radio amateur.
Therefore, during 2024 and onwards, there will be regular posts on the stations website.
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a good DX from myself, Mark M0INI
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a good DX from myself, Mark M0INI
Yippee, at the recent AGM, the members have now elected me as their Secretary of the West Manchester Radio Club.
I am proud to be in post, and it is a great honour. No longer acting secretary.
The West Manchester Radio Club’s website is at… http://www.wmrc.co.uk/
After clubs started opening up after COVID, I was asked by the committee of the West Manchester Radio Club if I would be so kind to support the club and become the club secretary.
My main concern was that I live 65 miles away..! And, I won’t be at club every week. However, since I mix business with pleasure, I am still able to get to club one or two times a month.
So with this concern mentioned, the committee was still happy with this, and so I accepted the position with pleasure as “Acting Secretary” until the next AGM in January 2022. This will allow the club some stability and help to “get the club going” post COVID.
I must say, I find it a great honour to be asked, and I will do the job to the best of my abilities.
The West Manchester Radio Club’s website is at… http://www.wmrc.co.uk/