POTA with CW Flea & Belka DX

[@f5nfb446]

I use the same configuration with a tuned EFHW antenna and it's a delight to make contacts... I would like to add a 5W amp and integrate all that into a small suitcase to go on vacation or hiking with.

[@paulkinas7926]

I also have purchased the "Flea" xmtr a few months ago. Have made a successful activation or POTA with it, and made a number of other contacts with it also. I have also noted the delay in switching over to Recieve when you are done transmitting (I also use an external keyer like you), and it is a bit or an annoyance, but able to live with it I guess. Otherwise I like the "Flea" and after 40 or 50 contacts made with it would recommend it if you want to try QRPp. I use my SW3B or HB1B for receive with it ... would be curious what others have to say about the rig. 72 Paul NA9M

[@AE5X]

Regarding the slow T/R turnaround time - I emailed Kevin and he suggested changing the value in line 56 of the open source code for the firmware. This number controls the T/R delay. I'm not an Arduino guy but was able to make my way thru it with Arduino IDE - but I get errors when trying to compile the edited version for upload to the radio. But for those of you so skilled, the problem is fixable.

[@paulkinas7926]

@@AE5X thanks for the info, I am not good with the Arduino programming either, so will probably just leave it as is, and if I miss the beginning of the call just ask them to repeat their call... wonder if there is enough interest in the "Flea transmitter" to form a Facebook" or similar group for it. Will watch for further info or replies on it. I did have a friend #D print the case for it, but have not mounted it in in yet... 72 Paul

[@nvrumi]

Very nice! What keyer are you using? That’s something I need to add to my kit. Is it possible the keyer is causing the delay in the T/R switching?

[@AE5X]

Thanks David - here's the keyer: www.ebay.com/str/radiodanw7rf It can be bought either as a kit or fully built. The build is simple and takes only 30 minutes or so. No, the delay is fully within the Flea's T/R circuitry - maybe a cap value can be changed to shorten it...I'll email Harry and see what he recommends. Also, I didn't notice till later that I was going a bit fast (CW) for a POTA activation, certainly exacerbating the problem. 73, John

[@nvrumi]

@@AE5X I would love to hear if there is a fix for the long T/R delay. Thanks for the link to the keyer. I've bought from Dan before and he's good. Finally, I went back and watched Kevin's demo of the transmitter. He used a straight key and I heard no perceptible delay. I wonder if there was a design change. Hmmm...

[@AE5X]

@@nvrumi I'll confirm later today. I use the same keyer with two other rigs and have no delay...

[@AE5X]

I emailed Kevin and he suggested changing line 56 of the open source code for the firmware. This number controls the T/R delay. I'm not an Arduino guy but was able to make my way thru it with Arduino IDE - but get errors when trying to compile the edited version for upload to the radio. But for those of you so skilled, the problem is fixable.

[@nvrumi]

@@AE5X Thanks for the update, John. This is good information and it didn't occur to me to write Kevin. :/ I have not done any Arduino programming, but have done enough programming of so many other kinds that I think I can work my way a minor change to the Arduino code. I sometimes like to play with very simple rigs/setups. The little receiver looks like a keeper for GP radio reception below 30MHz. It would be the smallest receiver in my collection, although the collection is admittedly small. I have not experimented with QRPp yet and my code is in need of work. (I can do POTA/SOTA fine, but struggle with code off-script.) Again, thanks for the video and the heads-up. 37 de AG7TX

[@patring620]

Hi John. Can you identify the audio sources? Your keying is from the keyer? Is the Belka providing the receiver audio? That is a very cool QRPp project. 73. N0SHU

[@AE5X]

Audio is coming from the speaker built into the Belka. The Belka can be bought either with or without a speaker.