Station

Home station at JO59MX

LA0FA is operated from JO59MX with a directional HF beam, a dedicated low-band vertical system, solid-state and tube amplifier capability, and a combined QO-100 and LEO satellite installation built around Mac-based operating software.

The main HF antenna is an Ultrabeam two-element yagi, procured from WiMo in Germany. I have been using this robust and well-engineered antenna for almost 15 years, and the support provided by WiMo has been excellent in every operational situation I have had with this antenna over the years. It is designed to cover 40 m through 6 m, but in daily operation I use it primarily from 20 m through 10 m, including the WARC bands. The folded elements were removed to reduce wind area and snow load.

For the low bands I built an 18 m Spiderbeam-supported vertical system with a common feedpoint. It covers 160 m as an inverted L and also includes dedicated radiator elements for 80 m, 60 m, 40 m, and 30 m. On the ground there is a radial field with about 50 radials in mixed lengths, adapted to the available space.

In the shack the main HF and 6 m transceiver is an Icom IC-7610. Power amplifier coverage comes from both an Expert 2K-FA from SPE in Italy and an ACOM 2000A from ACOM in Bulgaria. For VHF, UHF, and satellite work I use an Icom IC-9700, and the QO-100 chain uses up- and down-converters from Kuhne Electronic.

Locator JO59MX Home QTH in Norway

HF beam 2 elements Ultrabeam yagi for the upper HF bands

HF transceiver IC-7610 Main radio for HF and 6 m operation

Low-band support 18 m Spiderbeam-supported vertical system

Radial field 50 radials Mixed lengths as space allows

6 m array 3 elements Cushcraft now, 5-element upgrade planned

Amplifiers 2 units SPE Expert 2K-FA and ACOM 2000A

QO-100 110 cm Dish with Kuhne converter chain for QO-100

Satellite radio IC-9700 VHF, UHF, and satellite transceiver

Software Mac OS RUMlogNG, MacDoppler, and CocoaModem

Directional HF plus a purpose-built low-band system

The Ultrabeam handles the directional HF work from the main tower. Even though the antenna itself covers a wider range, the present operating focus is on 20 m through 10 m, including the WARC bands. Removing the folded elements has made the antenna better suited to local wind and winter conditions.

The low-band side is built around the 18 m vertical installation. Using a common feedpoint keeps the system practical while still allowing dedicated radiators for each band from 160 m through 30 m. The ground radial network is an important part of the antenna and continues to evolve within the limits of the property.

The IC-7610 is the main operating radio on HF and 6 m. Depending on band, mode, and operating goal, it can be paired with either the SPE Expert 2K-FA solid-state amplifier or the ACOM 2000A. That gives the station both flexibility and strong high-power capability on the HF side.

Ultrabeam two-element yagi with the three-element 6 metre Cushcraft antenna above it — The roof installation with the Ultrabeam two-element yagi and the three-element 6 m Cushcraft above it. Click the image for a larger view.

LA0FA 18 metre vertical antenna in winter conditions — The 18 m Spiderbeam-supported vertical for the low bands. Click the image for a larger view.

VHF/UHF and satellite

6 m, QO-100, and LEO operation

On 6 m the station currently uses a three-element Cushcraft antenna mounted more than one metre above the Ultrabeam. A five-element Cushcraft is planned as the next step to improve gain and pattern on the band.

Satellite operation covers both QO-100 and low-earth orbit work. The geostationary side uses a 110 cm dish together with Kuhne Electronic up- and down-converters, while LEO operation is handled by an IC-9700 and a SPID Az/El rotor carrying 2 m and 70 cm cross-Yagis. Together they give the station a useful mix of fixed-focus and fully tracked satellite capability.

LA0FA satellite array with dish and cross-Yagis — QO-100 and LEO antenna system at JO59MX. Click the image for a larger view.

Software

Mac-based operating workflow

Most of the station software is Mac-based. RUMlogNG by DL2RUM is the centre of that workflow and a program I am extremely pleased with, both for its stability and functionality and for the user interface and support provided by its creator.

For LEO satellite operation I use MacDoppler. FT8, FT4, and related digital modes are operated with multiple instances of JTDX and WSJT-X. For the more traditional digital modes such as PSK and RTTY, I use the recreated CocoaModem application described in the article cocoaModem 2.1rc5: a classic Mac modem brought back for modern DXing.

Read the cocoaModem article

LA0FA shack with radios, amplifiers, monitors, and station-control equipment — The operating desk where Mac-based software, logging, HF, and satellite control come together. Click the image for a larger view.

ARCO rotor controller with Ultrabeam RCU-06 antenna controller — The ARCO rotor controller together with the Ultrabeam RCU-06 controller, part of the station-control side of the shack. Click the image for a larger view.

Other activity

CW, digital voice, and handheld operation

I am also active on DMR. The station therefore extends into digital voice and handheld operation as well, alongside HF, satellites, and the more traditional digital modes.

For CW I also use two Begali quality keyers. They belong naturally in the same part of the station story: practical operating tools chosen because they are enjoyable to use and well made.

That combination of classic HF operating, CW, satellite work, Mac-based station software, and newer digital voice modes reflects how the station is used in practice: broad in scope, but with each part serving a real operating purpose.

Begali CW keyer at the LA0FA station — One of the Begali CW keyers used at LA0FA. Click the image for a larger view.

Second Begali CW keyer at the LA0FA station — A second Begali keyer, part of the CW side of the station. Click the image for a larger view.

Handheld radio programmed for LA0FA — DMR activity is also part of LA0FA, including handheld operation. Click the image for a larger view.

Secondary QTH

Coastal remote station at JO48XX

I am also co-investing in a secondary QTH at locator JO48XX together with Tom, LA9GX, at the QTH of Oystein, LA6YEA. It is a very attractive location close to the coastline, which gives the station a different operating character from the home QTH and makes it especially interesting for low-band and DX work.

The remote station is based on a FlexRadio 8400 together with the PGXL and TGXL. The antenna setup includes a Titanex HD low-band vertical, an HF beam from GXP Antennas in Poland, and a separate five-element Yagi for 6 m.

One of the strongest aspects of this station is that it is fully practical for remote operation. Through SmartSDR for macOS I can operate it from wherever I am, while still taking advantage of the coastal location and the antenna system deployed there.

Titanex HD low-band vertical at the secondary JO48XX QTH — The Titanex HD low-band vertical at the JO48XX remote QTH. Click the image for a larger view.