Don't Be An FT8 Lid: Put Out A Clean Signal Instead!

[@drivingsouthwest6895]

My .02 on the LID thing, Yaesu's and Icoms are a little different with ALC and that slider. For sure that slider will reduce ALC, but with the DX10 (991, 891 and others) we have a digital gain setting. Dropping the slider down will decrease your output power. Yaesu radios can and should show something on the ALC meter (about 50%, ALC doesn't actually kick in until past that) otherwise you're just cutting output power. Instead, adjust digital gain down until ALC is out of the red. You DO have to use that slider on Icoms, they don't have that digital gain function. I was so confused running digital on Yaesu radios until I figured that out. Anyway, thanks for the videos Mike!

[@hamradiotube]

Good to know. The Xiegu G90 wants to be at 100% so go figure. Even without an ALC meter though, per the WSJT-X manual (yeah I know, I read the manual) they say to adjust the power slider down until you just start to see the power dip a touch. Then you should be good.

[@M0RMY]

My DX Commander Classic has sat in my garden for over 5 years - have never had any problem with wet or rain on the SO239 I put Vaseline on the join every few months.

[@WaltKO4LFE]

This is what Callum recommends! 😁

[@tulrich2]

This video gets my thumbs up just for the info about ALC and the WSJT-X power slider. I’ve probably been a lid all this time without knowing it! Thank you!

[@hamradiotube]

Great to hear!

[@barndweller4573]

I purchased the Hyperflex 13 for my Earth station installation. Everyone said I would need Pre Amps with a 120 foot run of my coax. I got the Hyperflex 13 coax (had them put on the connectors) I have been operating a bunch of satellites just fine with no preamps. I would have needed 2 of them at 600$ each so I saved money with Great coax! I forgot about any discount code but that's ok. I am so happy that I ordered some of their coax for POAT and a portable satellite setups.

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

I disassemble my masts and wash them in the bath every so often. Get all the grit before it scratches the fibreglass. Also be careful about using adhesive tape - some tapes strip off the lacquer when you take the tape off.

[@ScottWalton]

Thanks Mike for the excellent answer to my rain question, I really appreciate it!

[@hamradiotube]

You bet!

[@MicroOutdoors]

Question--- why not run just one coax at 150' and use a remote antenna switch? This is how my shack is set. One run of 120' with two 6' jumpers to the switch. From the shack I can switch between the 2 antennas without 240' of coax.

[@GoonyMclinux]

Everyone is different, I dislike remote switches and prefer manual switches, also remote switches are expensive as hell for what they are.

[@MicroOutdoors]

@@GoonyMclinux half the price as 100+ feet of coax!

[@pale_2111]

About the LID thing, I was on 20m one morning doing some FT8. One station on there was running an amp, putting out who knows what power, causing harmonics throughout the spectrum all the way down on 14.070. Not sure how far up the harmonics went, but it was absolutely horrendous. I heard the amp kick on when the station was transmitting, it was that bad. After a few minutes of that, I went to another mode. I don't care how much power one uses on FT8 (to each their own), but causing harmonics from 4KHz down, that's ridiculous.

[@thuff3207]

For log runs of UHF / VHF preamps on your antenna and an amp there too could be cheaper to make of the difference.

[@knowmeaning]

TIL the power slider... Holy moley, I've been manually adjusting my volume output levels in alsamixer to reduce my ALC. 🤦‍♂️🤯

[@MIKROWAVE1]

That was an excellent Thumbnail! Mikrowave 1 Channel.

[@jptucsonaz8503]

But also, what is the durability of the ultra coax? If it's twice the lifespan, then that's in your favor!

[@dougdaniels]

With a wet mast (wait, what?) after taking the sections apart, blow out the inside with an air compressor if you have one.

[@kh6qmchristophercolquhoun695]

I use the bottle trick on my Buddie Stick

[@HAMFunko4pdi]

Good job again Mike, Thank youl

[@peterdekeles.]

6:29 Code MP10 not MI10. Great video as always

[@donaldsmith3048]

How hard is it to put the connectors on their coax? Can I do it without special tools? Many of the videos that tell how to set up FT8 do NOT tell about adjusting the output. I don't know why they don't. It seems like a very important thing to tell. 73 W4DES

[@hamradiotube]

Great question Don. I did a video about them a while ago. They are stupid easy. All you need is a soldering iron for the center connector and a couple wrenches to tighten down the rest of the connector on the shield. You can watch this whole video but I've time stamped it here to start the installation part. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGa2aI1paKZ5h8Usi=UIqDgAP8QNzfR-Wm&t=456 Hope this helps

[@donaldsmith3048]

Thank you! I have put PL259 on coax many times RG8 and RG58, but some of the new coax have some strange connectors for them. I have a 60 ft tower, and I don't want to climb it to find out all the run. Just get what I think I will need to come down the tower to the ground rod and from there to inside to the radio and have some so I can move the radio around later. Always give room to move things later because it will happen. 73 W4DES@@hamradiotube

[@KU8RLY]

Do what Lord Callum does with his coax connections.... use some Vaseline in the connector. It actually does work well.

[@hamradiotube]

I've only got one use for Vaseline and it ain't for antennas lol!

[@miket7184]

17:14 A woodpecker drilling through your mast support?

[@CampingandHamRadio-W4POT]

Awesome thumbnail picture. Should be default for all media credential requests. 😆

[@hamradiotube]

😁

[@billbarrett5763]

Ok… I’ll admit I’m about as new a ham as there can be; however, I am lost on the FT8 ALC thing. I completely understand the concept and why to reduce ALC to zero, but I cannot for the life of me see an ALC Blue bar rising under the WSJT-X power slider you reference. What am I missing? Thnx, Bill

[@pale_2111]

It's on the radio, particularly on Icom radios. Not sure about Yaesu, Kenwood and other HF radios.

[@GraymanPOTA]

Good topics this week. 🌮🌮🌮🌮

[@n0vty873]

cheap coax without a lot of loss rg6 does wonders

[@DellFargus]

I run FT8 at 1,500 Watts. I make the whole waterfall red. Am I a lid? Seriously... I use 10 watts +/- per band, and after every QSO, I bump the slider up a click until I'm turning red in the waterfall.

[@daveraf001]

Hey Mike, I looked back a few vids and checked Google and Reddit but can't see why you changed from k8mrd radio stuff. What happened?

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Some love to call out lids but then fail to identify on air....hmmm.

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

It is always DNS or ALC.

[@bullterriertransylvania]

I have a Xiegu X6100. If I use with the default firmware the ALC is 1 with that power slider fully up. If I eun the R1CBU firmware I need to slide down the pwr slider to have ALC beloved 1. BUT in any case sliding that pwr slider it also affects my output power. So what is the trick to have full power (10w what a xiegu x6100 can do) but also have ALC 0?! Best 73 YO5QKA

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

It's funny that folks are called lids in this community. We call script kiddies that are basically nihilistic with their Flipper Zeros "skids."

[@toddcamnyc]

What’s “a lid” mean? Is this regional slang like “a cold 807?”

[@jptucsonaz8503]

Howdy, Let's please add... A) learn how to RTFM (read the freaking manual!) B) learn how to choose a CLEAR FREQUENCY! LOOK, then LOOK, then LOOK again!!! And! Stay off of the DX stations around the world. C) learn how to USE THE TX HOLD box to stay put! (See B above!) D) learn how to operate Fox & Hound properly; i.e. stay off of the Fox freq.! & TX above 1000 Hz. (Unless they call you and pull you down there!) E) finally, if you have a 1500 Watt amp, please find a clear freq instead of the std. FTx freqs. because you WILL splatter & bleed all over. Like 600 - 800 Hz instead of 50 Hz if your QRO in anywhere near another ham within 50 miles... I have 1 guy who's 35 miles away, his signal is clean on a station scope and out the antenna, but he runs 800 Hz wide on FT8, More on FT4. Thanks 73 John

[@cmarchi128]

What kind of watch are you rocking there??

[@hamradiotube]

A cheap horrible supposed to be waterproof but is not Invicta that I got because my nice watch broke and Fossil wasn't able to fix it properly.

[@cokemillion]

I just made my first ft8 contact a few weeks ago. With my computer putting out sound and my mic picking it up lol.

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

5 watts and a good aerial is all you need.

[@phildurall7466]

Nice coverage Mike! 21st century meaning for LID = Licensed Idiot ! Keep up the great work Sir! 73 - KF6IF

[@hamradiotube]

Oh I resemble that lol!

[@nu3qamateurradio930]

ID 10 T error = IDIOT LID

[@DonzLockz]

So ALC = spitting? Lol

[@sassycommentfactory]

If you are too lazy to give a grid square in response to a CQ, you might be a LID.

[@sassycommentfactory]

If you transmit your Gridtracker audio over HF, you might be a LID.

[@sassycommentfactory]

If you take up more than 50Hz having a QSO with a guy in the next state, you might be a LID.

[@sassycommentfactory]

If you respond to a CQ and then hijack the CQ'ers transmit frequency, you might be a LID.

[@sassycommentfactory]

If you are transmitting on top of others even though Pskreporter shows that you hear them, you might be a LID.

[@hamradiotube]

lol you just may be the Jeff Foxworthy of ham radio

[@Atomshamradio]

Personally i cannot stand candyasses iam so perfect clown act just keep it real🙄🙄

[@Atomshamradio]

Instead of lids just call them a holes period🔴

[@norrinradd8952]

Okay, fine, I'm a lesbian. I will no longer be a Lesbian In Denial.

[@feeatlastfeeatlast5283]

Please don't make those ridiculous faces. Please.

[@K1STG-Fred]

K1STG is a lid