Thomas, I might be in the minority, but I watch all of your videos start to finish. I find your videos to be equal parts highly entertaining, informative, and great copy practice. You are the Mr. Rogers of ham radio!
Hi Tomas - my call changed from KI5CDF to N5MHM at the end of November 2022. Thank you for this video and replying to my separate email. I had purchased the ZM-2 tuner for my TX500 which I purchased by watching your channel. Still learning them and CW, so thank you very much for the Elmer-ing. This video helps explain how to manage the manual tuner very well, so thanks again. Please keep uploading videos as much as you can. 73 - and all the best. N5MHM - Matthew
Love your video Thomas, I’ve been on a binge watch lately. I’m seriously into SSB QRP but learning code and will be out there CW portable soon. Your videos are a wealth of information for me and I greatly appreciate them. All the best and 73, Walt K4OGO
You won't regret learning and using CW. It's such a wonderful mode. Thank you so much for the kind comment and regarding CW? You've got this! All the best!
I was happy to hear your. comment about announcing your call sign. I, for now, do SSB. I bought a MTR 4B and plan on starting CW when I do POTA. When doing POTA I sometimes hear people just say QRZ and never give there call sign. I do not want to be rude and ask what there call sign is, but I give up after a while of listening and just ask. It would be easier if they just did it right. Great video as usual. I also have the ZM-2 tuner.
Yes. I, for one, try to announce my call at least every two exchanges if I have a pileup. I feel like it's important to lkeep your call out there for ID purposes. POTA isn't a contest. Thanks for your comment!
Wow, you sent AS and people actually knew what that meant! I had a pileup during a recent activation when a key started acting up. I sent AS three times but they just kept coming. Phew! Early on I was hoping this was the day when you put your paddle in straight key mode and use it as a cootie. 😢
I enjoy my ZM-2 tuner. I need to gather my tuner collection up some day and see exactly what I have, too many for sure, but they all have a place and use...73 Fred VE3FAL
Love a lot being out in the wild hiking and deploying all sorts of efficient dx antennas for the lower bands operating qrp... I have been following your work for quite some time now...! I do really enjoy your videos and your posts a great deal finding them amusing and educating at the same time...! Keep them coming...! The extreme pleasure making a rare dx contact with only 5 to 10w output power and a resonant homemade vertical antenna on 40m band is something i can hardly describe it here and put it into perspective with my rusty English...! Merry Christmas and a happy New year to you and your family... 73 de sv1obi...
The wire probably had resonance in the 30m band that resulted in an impedance outside the tuner’s range. When that happens add or remove a few feet from the wire to move the resonant frequency.
I own the predecessor MTR-4B, the original production model. Only one problem with it. Setting it to 80 meters and it sounds out "9" instead of "8" on CW. I never complained about it. The rest of it works great on the air! I also own the ZM-2 and am very happy with it. I also have collected other MTRs including the original MR-3B, 3B-LCD, & MTR-5B. LD-5 & LD-11 too. You could say that I am a collector! My excuse? A HAMOP can never own too many amateur rigs. Besides, I don't nearly have the ham radio rig collecting obsession that you have, but I am working on it. 😊 Great video. Thanks. 72 de AE5ZX
Feels like you can 3D print some parts and make a TR-45L with this tuner and radio hehe Thomas, I’ve learned how to operate in the cold. First make the spacing of the contacts of the paddle bigger. Also look at the dew point at the weather app, if it’s close to the real temperature (not the feels like) it means the air is saturated with water and will condensate. That’s what you have to avoid. Yesterday I was at the Jeanne-Mance statue in Montreal doing the arrl 10 cw. I use the chameleon jaw to clamp the antenna behind the bench I sit, the antenna (cha ss 17)doesn’t need counterpoises like this. It was -14 celsius and I was there peacefully doing my qsos when suddenly a lot of police officers on horses show up and a lot of people and reporters. That was the meeting point for a protest…. I stayed there in the middle of the protest doing my qsos haha I wanted that a reporter came to talk to me and then I would answer “well, I think the propagation is weak. I’ve been getting tons of usa station, but I’m after the dx station which are not coming through “. It would be fun
Holy cow! I can't say that I've ever been POTAing when a protest formed around me! :) Good notes regarding the paddles. If you ever want to publish a list of tips for cold weather operating, I'd love to put it on QRPer.com. I'm sure many would benefit.
@@ThomasK4SWL Sure, I’ll test more this stuff I learned during the winter and then send you an article about it. When I do so I’ll remind you about putting a big warning in the page because most, if not all, the radio makers put in their manuals that the minimum temperature of operation is -10f (14f). The Xiegu x5105 has been out many times on -25c and it still works perfectly, maybe it’s not the case for all the rigs out there. Thus a warning is important… but I’ll put this when I send you the text =) 73s
Looking at this video and seeing the MTR-4B, I just canot see getting one since I have a KX2. I will say the ZM-2 is a good one for matching, and I have used one with my FT-817. Thank you for another very good video.
Could you use an antenna analyzer like a RigExpert Stick 500 with the ZM-2 to tune on an EFRW with a 9:1 UNUN? I presume that using such a device would allow you to see the SWR profile based on the range setup on the antenna analyzer?
Sure you could. In truth, though, with the ZM-2, there'd be no reason to use the analyzer. You could simply use the ZM-2 to find a good match on its own. But scanning it first would definitely give you an idea where the low impedance points are.
As a Floridian this at first made me have a slight panic that i somehow missed the news then i realized this video was probably shot when Nicole ran through
Hazel is so docile compared to my Anatolian/Pyrenees 120 pound girl, she also gets hair everywhere in my truck because she's constantly shedding when I take her out. I love her though, she's awesome. I love that Z-Match tuner, it's like the one on the TR-45L. 72/73 de AI5DD
Hazel is a pretty docile dog and very much in tune with what I'm doing. It's true, however, that she's been known to forget about everything else in the world when a squirrel appears! :)
Quick question about the ZM-2. I just bought one and was wondering something. If I want to respond to someone calling CQ and I need to tune on their frequency because of how narrow the tuner is, what would be the best way to do that? My initial thought is tune for max signal then put out my call sign and tweak for the led to go out. I don't want to interfere with the operator calling cq but if they hear me then I can proceed to adjust and make the contact. Or does the tuning network provide so much resistance that I'm not really transmitting the 5w the radio is putting out? Thanks for any input. 72.
So it's best to tune maybe 1 kHz away from the target signal (in CW). Frankly, if you tune to peak the audio on a band you know the ZM-2 can match with the antenna you're using, a quick low-power contact is probably fine even if the proper SWR is 3:1 or so. There are some exceptions like the MTR-3B--not sure I'd push the SWR there. With any of my Elecraft rigs, Icom, or Yaesu, I wouldn't think a thing about that for a quick contact. :)
Yes there is. In fact, this is what I mention and show at 0:04:30. There's a little hole in the back of the unit to adjust the pot, but you need a dielectric screwdriver. Otherwise, you simply open the chassis.
I have the Lab599 with an MFJ-9201 just in case I need it. Would using a 9 volt battery be advisable when dealing with 4:1 or higher swr? I was under the impression that the manual tuner would protect the radio from the high swr and the reflected energy would stay on the tuner and antenna side. I am fairly new to amateur radio and learning little bits here and there. Thank you.
Using a 9v instead of 12v shouldn’t help with swr but turning the transmit power down will less reflected loss. A tuner in general will protect the radio from a higher swr because it will take the loss and deal with the heat but it will need to be tuned correctly for it to do that.
Well this was another one I missed you on Tom but enjoyed seeing the video as always , as for tuners I build a lot of my own. mostly little PI networks and they seem to do the job. tnd fer sharing and hopeufully we'll CUSTL OM! 72 de Ellis WA1RKS
Thomas, I might be in the minority, but I watch all of your videos start to finish. I find your videos to be equal parts highly entertaining, informative, and great copy practice. You are the Mr. Rogers of ham radio!
Thank you. There is no bigger compliment in my world than to be compared to the amazing Mr. Rogers. :)
It's better for practising copying CW if there are no captions, which is one reason why I like this channel.
Hi Tomas - my call changed from KI5CDF to N5MHM at the end of November 2022. Thank you for this video and replying to my separate email. I had purchased the ZM-2 tuner for my TX500 which I purchased by watching your channel. Still learning them and CW, so thank you very much for the Elmer-ing. This video helps explain how to manage the manual tuner very well, so thanks again. Please keep uploading videos as much as you can. 73 - and all the best. N5MHM - Matthew
I am impressed. You handled the QSO pretty well for a beginner. Keep it up!
Love your video Thomas, I’ve been on a binge watch lately. I’m seriously into SSB QRP but learning code and will be out there CW portable soon. Your videos are a wealth of information for me and I greatly appreciate them. All the best and 73, Walt K4OGO
You won't regret learning and using CW. It's such a wonderful mode. Thank you so much for the kind comment and regarding CW? You've got this! All the best!
Came for the ZM-2, stayed for the dog. Hazel is gorgeous :D
I was happy to hear your. comment about announcing your call sign. I, for now, do SSB. I bought a MTR 4B and plan on starting CW when I do POTA. When doing POTA I sometimes hear people just say QRZ and never give there call sign. I do not want to be rude and ask what there call sign is, but I give up after a while of listening and just ask. It would be easier if they just did it right. Great video as usual. I also have the ZM-2 tuner.
Yes. I, for one, try to announce my call at least every two exchanges if I have a pileup. I feel like it's important to lkeep your call out there for ID purposes. POTA isn't a contest. Thanks for your comment!
Wow, you sent AS and people actually knew what that meant! I had a pileup during a recent activation when a key started acting up. I sent AS three times but they just kept coming. Phew! Early on I was hoping this was the day when you put your paddle in straight key mode and use it as a cootie. 😢
I had an issue some time ago -- maybe skeeters -- and sent AS hoping for a break to get some bug juice applied. Oh well...
I agree 100% with reader mdwicks....spot on!!!! Thanks for these!!!!' 73
You don't have much of a regional accent, either....hard to place.
I enjoy my ZM-2 tuner. I need to gather my tuner collection up some day and see exactly what I have, too many for sure, but they all have a place and use...73 Fred VE3FAL
Love a lot being out in the wild hiking and deploying all sorts of efficient dx antennas for the lower bands operating qrp... I have been following your work for quite some time now...! I do really enjoy your videos and your posts a great deal finding them amusing and educating at the same time...! Keep them coming...! The extreme pleasure making a rare dx contact with only 5 to 10w output power and a resonant homemade vertical antenna on 40m band is something i can hardly describe it here and put it into perspective with my rusty English...! Merry Christmas and a happy New year to you and your family... 73 de sv1obi...
Thank you so much, OM, and here's wishing you a very Happy New Year!
The wire probably had resonance in the 30m band that resulted in an impedance outside the tuner’s range. When that happens add or remove a few feet from the wire to move the resonant frequency.
I own the predecessor MTR-4B, the original production model. Only one problem with it. Setting it to 80 meters and it sounds out "9" instead of "8" on CW. I never complained about it. The rest of it works great on the air! I also own the ZM-2 and am very happy with it. I also have collected other MTRs including the original MR-3B, 3B-LCD, & MTR-5B. LD-5 & LD-11 too. You could say that I am a collector! My excuse? A HAMOP can never own too many amateur rigs. Besides, I don't nearly have the ham radio rig collecting obsession that you have, but I am working on it. 😊 Great video. Thanks. 72 de AE5ZX
It's true! You never can own too many radios. :)
Feels like you can 3D print some parts and make a TR-45L with this tuner and radio hehe
Thomas, I’ve learned how to operate in the cold. First make the spacing of the contacts of the paddle bigger. Also look at the dew point at the weather app, if it’s close to the real temperature (not the feels like) it means the air is saturated with water and will condensate. That’s what you have to avoid.
Yesterday I was at the Jeanne-Mance statue in Montreal doing the arrl 10 cw. I use the chameleon jaw to clamp the antenna behind the bench I sit, the antenna (cha ss 17)doesn’t need counterpoises like this. It was -14 celsius and I was there peacefully doing my qsos when suddenly a lot of police officers on horses show up and a lot of people and reporters. That was the meeting point for a protest…. I stayed there in the middle of the protest doing my qsos haha
I wanted that a reporter came to talk to me and then I would answer “well, I think the propagation is weak. I’ve been getting tons of usa station, but I’m after the dx station which are not coming through “. It would be fun
Holy cow! I can't say that I've ever been POTAing when a protest formed around me! :)
Good notes regarding the paddles. If you ever want to publish a list of tips for cold weather operating, I'd love to put it on QRPer.com. I'm sure many would benefit.
@@ThomasK4SWL Sure, I’ll test more this stuff I learned during the winter and then send you an article about it. When I do so I’ll remind you about putting a big warning in the page because most, if not all, the radio makers put in their manuals that the minimum temperature of operation is -10f (14f). The Xiegu x5105 has been out many times on -25c and it still works perfectly, maybe it’s not the case for all the rigs out there. Thus a warning is important… but I’ll put this when I send you the text =)
73s
Looking at this video and seeing the MTR-4B, I just canot see getting one since I have a KX2. I will say the ZM-2 is a good one for matching, and I have used one with my FT-817. Thank you for another very good video.
With a KX2? Honestly, there's really no need for any other field radio. It does it all and does it well.
Could you use an antenna analyzer like a RigExpert Stick 500 with the ZM-2 to tune on an EFRW with a 9:1 UNUN? I presume that using such a device would allow you to see the SWR profile based on the range setup on the antenna analyzer?
Sure you could. In truth, though, with the ZM-2, there'd be no reason to use the analyzer. You could simply use the ZM-2 to find a good match on its own. But scanning it first would definitely give you an idea where the low impedance points are.
As a Floridian this at first made me have a slight panic that i somehow missed the news then i realized this video was probably shot when Nicole ran through
Thomas, I hope your Long Island CW Club talk will show up here...
I'm not sure if they publish them elsewhere outside of the club. I'm almost positive they record them, though, for viewing later.
I love my ZM-2. I use it with a HB1B. Great little tuner!
Hazel is so docile compared to my Anatolian/Pyrenees 120 pound girl, she also gets hair everywhere in my truck because she's constantly shedding when I take her out. I love her though, she's awesome. I love that Z-Match tuner, it's like the one on the TR-45L. 72/73 de AI5DD
Hazel is a pretty docile dog and very much in tune with what I'm doing. It's true, however, that she's been known to forget about everything else in the world when a squirrel appears! :)
@@ThomasK4SWL hahaha nice, mine has caught one once at our old house. It wasn't pretty :~(
Have you tried tuning an Elecraft AX1 plugged directly into the ZM-2?
I have not yet. Thank you for the idea!
Hi i just picked up a ZM-2 so appreciate this - what # is the small coax that u are using to the ZM-2 - thanks 73
That is RG-316.
@@ThomasK4SWL much obliged Sir 73
Quick question about the ZM-2. I just bought one and was wondering something. If I want to respond to someone calling CQ and I need to tune on their frequency because of how narrow the tuner is, what would be the best way to do that? My initial thought is tune for max signal then put out my call sign and tweak for the led to go out. I don't want to interfere with the operator calling cq but if they hear me then I can proceed to adjust and make the contact. Or does the tuning network provide so much resistance that I'm not really transmitting the 5w the radio is putting out? Thanks for any input. 72.
So it's best to tune maybe 1 kHz away from the target signal (in CW). Frankly, if you tune to peak the audio on a band you know the ZM-2 can match with the antenna you're using, a quick low-power contact is probably fine even if the proper SWR is 3:1 or so. There are some exceptions like the MTR-3B--not sure I'd push the SWR there. With any of my Elecraft rigs, Icom, or Yaesu, I wouldn't think a thing about that for a quick contact. :)
Great video as always. What are those notches in the picnic bench? Is that from a bear?
You know? I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps something hot that contacted the edge of the table? Next time I'm back out there, I'll take a closer look.
I wonder if there is a pot inside the radio to reduce the sidetone volume? G7VFY
Yes there is. In fact, this is what I mention and show at 0:04:30. There's a little hole in the back of the unit to adjust the pot, but you need a dielectric screwdriver. Otherwise, you simply open the chassis.
@@ThomasK4SWL Splinter of wood, maybe. Good to know.
I have the Lab599 with an MFJ-9201 just in case I need it. Would using a 9 volt battery be advisable when dealing with 4:1 or higher swr? I was under the impression that the manual tuner would protect the radio from the high swr and the reflected energy would stay on the tuner and antenna side. I am fairly new to amateur radio and learning little bits here and there. Thank you.
Using a 9v instead of 12v shouldn’t help with swr but turning the transmit power down will less reflected loss. A tuner in general will protect the radio from a higher swr because it will take the loss and deal with the heat but it will need to be tuned correctly for it to do that.
Привіт з України 73
Well this was another one I missed you on Tom but enjoyed seeing the video as always , as for tuners I build a lot of my own. mostly little PI networks and they seem to do the job. tnd fer sharing and hopeufully we'll CUSTL OM! 72 de Ellis WA1RKS
Yes, we'll log each other soon, I'm sure! Thank you, OM!