Big Antenna Mistake! Testing the BHI Dual In-Line DSP with the (tr)uSDX during a POTA activation.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

qrper.com/2023/07/field-report-testing-the-bhi-dual-in-line-with-the-trusdx-making-a-big-blunder-and-p2p-with-teri/ Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.

[@nevellgreenough404]

Well, we learned that the tr(u)SDX can take infinite SWR without damage! Most of the intermittent crackley noise seems to have been fixed in recent firmware. Some of the apparent "noiseyness" of the receiver can be improved by setting the ATT2 value to 3 or 4 instead of 2. The AGC won't raise the gain quite as high on weak signals. Thanks & 73's, N2GX

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Noted! Thank you.

[@Relayer1974]

Thanks for giving the (tr)uSDX another shot!

[@DesN4IN]

Thomas, I appreciate you publishing this video, you are a true amateur, an excellent one, your humility is something all should strive for in our lives. Thank you for all you do for the amateur and radio hobbies. Dave N4IN

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you, Dave!

[@chipweather]

Suprised the pa fets didn't get blown out. Nice video

[@jertres2887]

The biggest mistake I made is plugging in the power with polarity reversed. Was not good for my QRP+. I have hooked up an antenna tuner backwards and that was also interesting. There is a built in power and SWR meter if you turn it on. My first guess was that you were in practice mode till I caught sight of the gold connector… I am surprised the finals didn’t leak smoke.

[@phildurall7466]

OK Thomas ... from now on, you have to do "live" sessions so that the collective can stop screaming at the screen and tell you about the antenna! 🤣🤣 Nice vid Sir! Appreciated the lesson that to err is human! 😁 72 - KF6IF

[@ThomasK4SWL]

HA HA HA!!!! :)

[@scottkralph]

I love that you showed that it's okay to make a mistake like not plugging in the antenna -- this is classic Scott-Error that I would do, and so it's great to have a "forgive myself" card for the future. I love your videos! Thanks so much!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you so much, Scott. :)

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Hear! Hear! BHI has the best secret sauce for SSB that I've come across...

[@placeholder-065]

It really ruins the fun, have a look at how many cables you have there on the table. Nothing beats back to basics, the transceiver, a cable for the keyer, the coax connection and that's it. Gust ON6KE

[@MentalWhiplash]

What else would I do at 6:26 AM? Getting inspiration to try my first (tru)SDX activation...

[@rodneylamay5926]

Thomas we love ur youtube channel and all you do for amateur radio. If you put ur (tr) usdx on full qsk it will fix ur clicking noise when you key or iambic paddle. At least thats what i did with mine . C u on the air .ki6pxv rod

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Noted. Thank you!

[@JJFalkanger]

I get that same noise after transmitting on the (tr)usdx on 20m with an Oontz portable speaker (I have 2 and both do it). It doesn’t happen with earbuds or the other little directly plugged-in active speaker I have, and it only happens in the field. It’s a strange problem I can’t figure out!

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Interesting evaluation of the BHI, but unfortunately I was not able to hear you that day either so did not make ur log. but we always hunting. thanks for sharing Tom. es 73 de Ellis WA1RKS

[@billcosgrave6232]

I have forgotten to attach my antenna many times. In fact my last big goof-up was last weekend when I deployed my random wire antenna. I attached it correctly to my KX2, however I accidentally plugged both the radiator and counterpoise into the two counterpoise attachment points of the 9:1 transformer. When I turned on the Kx2 it was absolutely quiet. It took me about 10 minutes before I realized there was something wrong with my deployment. Luckily, there were no other hams around to witness my mistake.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

Less common with modern capacitors, but if the radio hadn't been powered in a long time, electrolytic re-polarization of a bypass capacitor might account for the pseudo random clicks, and could well be impacted by the extra current drawn when keying. If you can leave the radio powered up for, say, a day, it would be interesting to know if the clicks then go away.

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Jump-for-Joy-Moment: 13:42 mark...

[@k9eihamradio]

Thomas. It took me about 10 throws for each end of my antenna. I need to practice! Matt K9EI

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I realize that throwing the line in the tree is one of my favorite parts of an activation! :)

[@W7LDT]

Good thing it is a low power rig.

[@JayN4GO]

Would like to hear the bhi with a normal acting rig lol.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I know, right? i just need to find a spot or a day with some QRM or QRN. :)

[@frasermderry]

What 705? 🤣

[@andrewwilliss6500]

Sorry Thomas, but that crackly annoying noise in the RX is a deal breaker...

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

*K4SWL:* _”Don’t tell me my antenna is disconnected.”_ *AF6AS:* _”Your antenna is disconnected.”_ *K4SWL:* _”I asked you not to tell me that!”_ 😀 *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*

[@ThomasK4SWL]

😂

[@NGinuity]

I wanted to let you know that I'm getting into POTA and SOTA, having to reacquaint myself with Morse Code since abandoning it shortly after my Element 1 exam almost 21 years ago now. I am struggling with real time decode and listening to known patterns really helps me learn what I need to be conversational. I feel like videos like this are a better option for me to be able to know and understand that you are sending "CQ POTA K4SWL" than any random morse pattern trainers out there, and appreciate your long form videos.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you. I'm so glad to know you find the sessions helpful.

[@hpbear101]

I really like my TR USDX, other than the on board speaker it is a great little rig. I use an Anker speaker or earbuds and no problems at all with it. I have had other CW QRP rigs but this is my first SSB QRP experience, and best SSB DX so far is MT to HI. 73 DE N7BYD

[@ExtremeSquared]

FT8 would have made it out. -- probably someone

[@kendebusk2540]

I do not like commercial television "reality" shows because they are scripted. However, this is REAL reality :) I know you announced the type of paddles, I couldn't catch it even replaying due to some frequency loss in hearing. Please let me know that. Other question, what WPM? I've been inactive for decades, just getting ready to get back on, rusty. I was at best in the past about 18, now maybe I can do 10-13? Oh well, I'm going to try anyway! Thanks, Ken, KA8VLW

[@kendebusk2540]

Oops, did the "see more" thing and found that key, looks nice, I ordered one. Still wonder about your WPM, I could barely copy the call when I could see it on the notepad. Wild guess would be 25-30?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Ken, I think I was running about 19 WPM or so. I believe you may be able to adjust the sidetone frequency on the (tr)uSDX. Hope you like the key!

[@W7LDT]

OOPS!!! You are human. It’s not the radio.

[@originalgrantbob]

Thank you for your courage.

[@aug853]

After the P to P with KO4WFP, surprise, surprise....that was me contacting Teri over your audio! hihi Great to see you logged two of my friends, Teri and Glenn W4YES on your activation. GL es 73 de KC1FUU Jon