Ah... how simple a solution can be ;-)

I have a perfect reading now. Now I have to tune it into the band. I adjusted
the trimmer on the big varicon, but I can't trim it down to the CW part of the
band. But I will continue with the manual now on how to adjust the TRX.

Thanks for the quick reply!

73,
Ernest PA3HCM

--
On Sun, Dec 27, 2009 at 10:32:06AM -0000, Steve Drury wrote:
> Hello Ernest,
>
> If all 32 squares are black try adjusting R29 the display bias (contrast)
> control, I'm sure this will sort it.
>
> Regards,
> Steve G6ALU
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ernest Neijenhuis" <ernest@...>
> To: <mkars80@...>
> Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 10:04 AM
> Subject: [mkars80] Display colors black
>
>
> > Goodmorning,
> >
> > It bought this kit in june 2008 to see if this is something to introduce
> > as a project for the local radio club. I was seriously impressed by the
> > quality of the kit, especially the documentation!
> >
> > During the fieldday in 2008 my wife started assembling it. But back home
> > again we had so many other things to do, so it soon ended up on one of the
> > shelfs here in our shack. There it stayed for over a year, collecting dust
> > and so...
> >
> > But finally... this week we found some time again to work on it. Yesterday
> > we finished assembling the PCB, This morning I plugged in the speaker,
> > antenna and power and we immediately received lots of stations. So the
> > receiver seems to be FB!
> >
> > Then we inserted the PIC and put the display on the rear site of the PCB.
> > Unfortunately that display doesn't give any reading, all cells turn black
> > when powered on, nothing else happens. I verified some DC voltages, this
> > seems to be ok. Any suggestions what could be wrong? Maybe the PIC? Is
> > there a way to determine wether the PIC is working or not?
> >
> > 73,
> > Ernest PA3HCM & Wytske PD2W
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>

Hello Ernest,

If all 32 squares are black try adjusting R29 the display bias (contrast)
control, I'm sure this will sort it.

Regards,
Steve G6ALU

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ernest Neijenhuis" <ernest@...>
To: <mkars80@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 10:04 AM
Subject: [mkars80] Display colors black


> Goodmorning,
>
> It bought this kit in june 2008 to see if this is something to introduce
> as a project for the local radio club. I was seriously impressed by the
> quality of the kit, especially the documentation!
>
> During the fieldday in 2008 my wife started assembling it. But back home
> again we had so many other things to do, so it soon ended up on one of the
> shelfs here in our shack. There it stayed for over a year, collecting dust
> and so...
>
> But finally... this week we found some time again to work on it. Yesterday
> we finished assembling the PCB, This morning I plugged in the speaker,
> antenna and power and we immediately received lots of stations. So the
> receiver seems to be FB!
>
> Then we inserted the PIC and put the display on the rear site of the PCB.
> Unfortunately that display doesn't give any reading, all cells turn black
> when powered on, nothing else happens. I verified some DC voltages, this
> seems to be ok. Any suggestions what could be wrong? Maybe the PIC? Is
> there a way to determine wether the PIC is working or not?
>
> 73,
> Ernest PA3HCM & Wytske PD2W
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Goodmorning,

It bought this kit in june 2008 to see if this is something to introduce as a
project for the local radio club. I was seriously impressed by the quality of
the kit, especially the documentation!

During the fieldday in 2008 my wife started assembling it. But back home again
we had so many other things to do, so it soon ended up on one of the shelfs here
in our shack. There it stayed for over a year, collecting dust and so...

But finally... this week we found some time again to work on it. Yesterday we
finished assembling the PCB, This morning I plugged in the speaker, antenna and
power and we immediately received lots of stations. So the receiver seems to be
FB!

Then we inserted the PIC and put the display on the rear site of the PCB.
Unfortunately that display doesn't give any reading, all cells turn black when
powered on, nothing else happens. I verified some DC voltages, this seems to be
ok. Any suggestions what could be wrong? Maybe the PIC? Is there a way to
determine wether the PIC is working or not?

73,
Ernest PA3HCM & Wytske PD2W

Hello Nigel,

Sorry to hear we left some ceramics out - must have been one I packed!
Please let me know if you would like them replaced....

If using a dynamic microphone it is best to leave the resistor out or
alternatively fit a cpacitor in series - a 1uF should do the trick, positive
end to the rig.

Steve G6ALU

----- Original Message -----
From: "Call sign M0NDE" <nigel.m0nde@...>
To: <mkars80@...>
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 2:02 PM
Subject: [mkars80] My rig is working


> Hi to all on the list
> I completed the construction this morning, all worked first time.
> Now on to the second one for my friend. I had a couple of ceramics
> missing, but otherwise all fine.
> I am using an old cb mike, does this mean I should leave r17 in?
> I have left my r2 fully anticlockwise for now until I have a heatsink on
> q1.
> Next I will probably add cw as an option.
> 73 Nigel M0NDE
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi to all on the list
I completed the construction this morning, all worked first time.
Now on to the second one for my friend. I had a couple of ceramics missing, but
otherwise all fine.
I am using an old cb mike, does this mean I should leave r17 in?
I have left my r2 fully anticlockwise for now until I have a heatsink on q1.
Next I will probably add cw as an option.
73 Nigel M0NDE

May I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy 2010. I will try the net once
more coming Sunday.

Sincerely,

Ron pa0rcl

Best wishes to all the group. Hope to be on Sunday morning.

73 Dave G0BVV




________________________________
From: g4pqp <g4pqp@...>
To: mkars80@...
Sent: Thursday, 24 December, 2009 23:14:39
Subject: [mkars80] Merry Christmas to you all



Hi  , I would just like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new
year .  I look forward to hooking up with you all again on the Sunday nets as
soon as I can replace my antenna which came down in the extremely strong wind
that we had here last week .  My next antenna will be an 80 meter dipole @70 ft.
It will be interesting to compare it with my previous antenna , a G5RV  at the
same height .   73`s and good DX . Phil G4pqp Cromer Norfolk.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mery christmas for all - de OK2JIQ Jirka
>
> __________ Informace od NOD32 4715 (20091224) __________
>
> Tato zprava byla proverena antivirovym systemem NOD32.
> http://www.nod32.cz


--
Tato zpráva byla vytvoøena pøevratným po¹tovním klientem Opery:
http://www.opera.com/mail/

Hi  , I would just like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new
year .  I look forward to hooking up with you all again on the Sunday nets as
soon as I can replace my antenna which came down in the extremely strong wind
that we had here last week .  My next antenna will be an 80 meter dipole @70 ft.
It will be interesting to compare it with my previous antenna , a G5RV  at the
same height .   73`s and good DX . Phil G4pqp Cromer Norfolk.

I've missed the last couple of Sunday nets but hope to be their this week. There
is a "Winters sports" contest starting on Boxing day and going through to new
years day - see the article on the G-QRP club webpage
http://www.gqrp.com/awards.htm . It would be nice to hear a few MKARS80s on the
band!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.....

Steve G6ALU and Val M6FLO

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

well no nigel i do not have an MKARS80 but have been on this 80 net since steve
set it up as i am very interested in the problems various people have
experienced when building  them.  i am using a home brew  4 watt valve
transmitter and a 1937 HRO. sorry to hear about problem neighbours. but i am
using a 2 element wire dipole beam at 18 feet and it gets me into the USA (well
eastern seaboard anyway)  so theres hope yet. anyway best wishes    david  
G3ZPA



NNNN





> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:39:58 +0000
> From: nigel@...
> To: mkars80@...
> CC: davidwhite400@...
> Subject: Re: [mkars80] Merry Christmas from the other side...
>
> Hi David
>
> Didn't know you had an MKARS80.
>
> An amplifier wouldn't be much use. I need to get rid of this neighbour who
complaind to the council every time I move
> and get a working antenna up.
> Unfortunately, I'm limited to a maximum of 30 feet for a tower and 38ft total
antenna height.
> That's not really enough for HF.
>
> On 24-Dec-09 19:30, David White wrote:
> >
> > ok nigel, hope you get a 1 kilowatt amp from cynda hehehehe best wishes de
G3ZPA
> >
> >
> >
> > NNNN
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To: mkars80@...
> > From: nigel@...
> > Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:24:23 +0000
> > Subject: Re: [mkars80] Merry Christmas from the other side...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > And a Happy New Merry from this other side too.
> >
> > On 24-Dec-09 19:20, UR0ET wrote:
> >> Merry Christmas to all!
> >>
> >> And Happy New Year!
> >>
> >> Be happy!
> >>
> >> 73!
> >>
> >> Vlad - UR0ET -
> >> Ukraine
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.119/2585 - Release Date: 12/24/09
08:11:00
> >
>
> --
> Nigel A. Gunn, 1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA. tel +1 937 825
5032
> Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF (was KC8NHF), e-mail nigel@... www
http://www.ngunn.net
> Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, Flying Pigs QRP Club
International #385,
> Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, AMSAT-UK 0182, MKARS, ALC, GCARES, XWARN.
>

_________________________________________________________________
Use Hotmail to send and receive mail from your different email accounts
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/186394592/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi David

Didn't know you had an MKARS80.

An amplifier wouldn't be much use. I need to get rid of this neighbour who
complaind to the council every time I move
and get a working antenna up.
Unfortunately, I'm limited to a maximum of 30 feet for a tower and 38ft total
antenna height.
That's not really enough for HF.

On 24-Dec-09 19:30, David White wrote:
>
> ok nigel, hope you get a 1 kilowatt amp from cynda  hehehehe    best wishes  
de G3ZPA
>
>
>
> NNNN
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: mkars80@...
> From: nigel@...
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:24:23 +0000
> Subject: Re: [mkars80] Merry Christmas from the other side...
>
>
>
>
>
> And a Happy New Merry from this other side too.
>
> On 24-Dec-09 19:20, UR0ET wrote:
>> Merry Christmas to all!
>>
>> And Happy New Year!
>>
>> Be happy!
>>
>> 73!
>>
>> Vlad - UR0ET -
>> Ukraine
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.119/2585 - Release Date: 12/24/09
08:11:00
>

--
Nigel A. Gunn,  1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA.  tel +1 937 825
5032
Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF (was KC8NHF),  e-mail nigel@...       www 
http://www.ngunn.net
Member of  ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548,  Flying Pigs QRP Club
International #385,
             Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691,  AMSAT-UK 0182, MKARS,  ALC,
GCARES, XWARN.

ok nigel, hope you get a 1 kilowatt amp from cynda  hehehehe    best wishes   de
G3ZPA



NNNN







To: mkars80@...
From: nigel@...
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:24:23 +0000
Subject: Re: [mkars80] Merry Christmas from the other side...





And a Happy New Merry from this other side too.

On 24-Dec-09 19:20, UR0ET wrote:
> Merry Christmas to all!
>
> And Happy New Year!
>
> Be happy!
>
> 73!
>
> Vlad - UR0ET -
> Ukraine

--
Nigel A. Gunn, 1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA. tel +1 937 825
5032
Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF (was KC8NHF), e-mail nigel@... www
http://www.ngunn.net
Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, Flying Pigs QRP Club
International #385,
Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, AMSAT-UK 0182, MKARS, ALC, GCARES, XWARN.





_________________________________________________________________
Have more than one Hotmail account? Link them together to easily access both
  http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/186394591/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

And a Happy New Merry from this other side too.

On 24-Dec-09 19:20, UR0ET wrote:
> Merry Christmas to all!
>
> And Happy New Year!
>
> Be happy!
>
> 73!
>
> Vlad - UR0ET -
> Ukraine


--
Nigel A. Gunn,  1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA.  tel +1 937 825
5032
Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF (was KC8NHF),  e-mail nigel@...       www 
http://www.ngunn.net
Member of  ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548,  Flying Pigs QRP Club
International #385,
             Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691,  AMSAT-UK 0182, MKARS,  ALC,
GCARES, XWARN.

Merry Christmas to all!

And Happy New Year!

Be happy!

73!

Vlad - UR0ET -
Ukraine




--
Ñ óâàæåíèåì,
  UR0ET                          mailto:ur0et@...

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and may 2010 bring you many MKARS80
dx contacts.

I finally start building mine over the holiday break, but you won't
hear me until I pass my intermediate exam next year.

Steve M6SGB

Steve

Received the package this am, many thanks.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Darren M0PRV

Oh and Merry Christmas to the group

--- On Sun, 20/12/09, Steve Drury <g6alu@...> wrote:

From: Steve Drury <g6alu@...>
Subject: Re: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX
To: mkars80@...
Date: Sunday, 20 December, 2009, 15:27







 









       Sorry Maplins don't sell them, we have to import them from the USA.



Please double check there isn't a short on the PCB then send me your address

by personal email - I will post you a couple tomorrow. I haven't had any

fail but have had shorts on the PCB.



Steve G6ALU



----- Original Message -----

From: "Darren Parvin" <darren_parvin@ yahoo.co. uk>

To: <mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk>

Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 3:16 PM

Subject: Re: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX



Steve



I don't have a spare but have a local maplins and that was going to be

my first stop. If they don't have any I'll take you up on your offer.



Darren M0PRV



--- On Sun, 20/12/09, Steve Drury <g6alu@tiscali. co.uk> wrote:



From: Steve Drury <g6alu@tiscali. co.uk>

Subject: Re: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX

To: mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk

Date: Sunday, 20 December, 2009, 14:53



Just a reminder that Q9 should be a MPSH10 - do you have a spare or do

you



want me to send you one?



Steve G6ALU



----- Original Message -----



From: "Darren Parvin" <darren_parvin@ yahoo.co. uk>



To: <mkars80@yahoogroup s .co.uk>



Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 2:48 PM



Subject: Re: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX



Yes, the R32/T3 junction is also +6v and Q9 is correct orientation.



I'll change Q9 and see where that takes me.



Thanks



Darren M0PRV



--- On Sun, 20/12/09, panzerbeeb <mike_mobbs@ zen. co.uk> wrote:



From: panzerbeeb <mike_mobbs@ zen. co.uk>



Subject: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX



To: mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk



Date: Sunday, 20 December, 2009, 14:38



OK Darren,



If the base volts reads +6 and the emitter reads +2 with no mod, then either



Q9 is suspect e-b o/c, or in backwards? I assume the volts reading on R32 /



T3  junction is +6 also?



Mike G8EEY



--- In mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk, Darren Parvin <darren_parvin@ ...> wrote:



>



> Mike



>



> Thanks for the feedback, but this checks out OK.



>



> Darren M0PRV



>



> --- On Sun, 20/12/09, panzerbeeb <mike_mobbs@ ...> wrote:



>



> From: panzerbeeb <mike_mobbs@ ...>



> Subject: [mkars80] Re: Help, no TX



> To: mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk



> Date: Sunday, 20 December, 2009, 13:39



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



> Â



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>       Hi Darren,



>



> Check the continuity between junction R32 / T3, and junction R37 / T3 /



> collector Q9. If not low ohms, check soldering of T3.



>



>



>



> Mike G8EEY



>



>



>



> --- In mkars80@yahoogroups .co.uk, "Darren" <darren_parvin@ ...> wrote:



>



> >



>



> > Hi all



>



> >



>



> > Finally got around to having a look into the issues I have after an



> > initial test a couple of weeks ago.



>



> >



>



> > The RX side of the radio is fine, however I have no output.  The



> > modulation led lights and the relay clicks on when I press the ptt but I



> > have no output.  I'm using a proven mic so that is eliminated.



>



> >



>



> > I've checked over for bad joints etc and have measured all the



> > ic/transistor voltages.  All are OK except Q9 which is reading 2v on



> > emitter but 6v on both base and collector which is different to the



> > troubleshooting section of the manual.  I'll change this but any other



> > suggestions?



>



> >



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



>



> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------ --------- --------- ------



Yahoo! Groups Links



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------ --------- --------- ------



Yahoo! Groups Links

























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

With an hour and 15 minutes to go, I'd like to wish everyone an enjoyable
Christmas and a Happy New Year.

All the best and good DX from Sydney, Australia ;-)

Jon Point VK2JDP

Merry christmas and Happy New Year to all es gud DX Graham G3UD




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Iv'e got 3 young children, so I may win the race.

Rob



To: mkars80@...
From: pfraser@...
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:45:39 +1100
Subject: Re: [mkars80] xmas





Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all and I also can't wait to unwrap my
MKARS80 in the morning.

And I will be 11 hours ahead of John.

Peter VK3ZPF

----- Original Message -----
From: m1evc
To: mkars80@...
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 7:15 PM
Subject: [mkars80] xmas

Merry xmas to all and a Happy New Year to all members...Cant wait to unwrap my
mkars80 kit in the morning!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





_________________________________________________________________
View your other email accounts from your Hotmail inbox. Add them now.
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/186394592/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all and I also can't wait to unwrap my
MKARS80 in the morning.

And I will be 11 hours ahead of John.

Peter VK3ZPF

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: m1evc
   To: mkars80@...
   Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 7:15 PM
   Subject: [mkars80] xmas



   Merry xmas to all and a Happy New Year to all members...Cant wait to unwrap my
mkars80 kit in the morning!




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Merry xmas to all and a Happy New Year to all members...Cant wait to unwrap my
mkars80 kit in the morning!

I wish a merry Christmas and happy new year for all the group members.
Mete TA3EP


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A merry Christmas and good DX in the new year.

Hello Mattias and the group !
My antenna is a Windom FD4 from Fritzel mounted in north to south
direction.Yes the output was with No PA , so it was ab. 5 watt.At
last i will whish all the member of the group a happy Christmas
and a fine new year !
  best 73 de sm6mpa/hasse

--- In mkars80@..., "sm0yyq" <sm0yyq@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Hasse.
>
> As i sad to u before in E-Mail, congratz for the nice QSO.. did u have 5 Watt
output ?, and what type of antenna did u use?
>
> --- In mkars80@..., "Hasse" <sm6mpa@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all !
> > This night i had my first contact with USA with my MKARS80 rig.
> > At 01.45 i worked K1JJ/ Tom in FN31SQ- grid (ab.5917 km)I got 46 and
> > my report for Tom was 57.
> >         best 73 de sm6mpa/hans-göran
> >
>

GR8! U wkd gd DX wid MKARS80 OM es FB 2 x SSB QSO!

73's de Duncan G4DFV



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Hasse.

As i sad to u before in E-Mail, congratz for the nice QSO.. did u have 5 Watt
output ?, and what type of antenna did u use?

--- In mkars80@..., "Hasse" <sm6mpa@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all !
> This night i had my first contact with USA with my MKARS80 rig.
> At 01.45 i worked K1JJ/ Tom in FN31SQ- grid (ab.5917 km)I got 46 and
> my report for Tom was 57.
>         best 73 de sm6mpa/hans-göran
>

Merry Christmas,and all the best for 2010.
73
Rob M0TFO

Hans-Göran,

Nice work, congratulations!

Regards,
Jon

--- In mkars80@..., "Hasse" <sm6mpa@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all !
> This night i had my first contact with USA with my MKARS80 rig.
> At 01.45 i worked K1JJ/ Tom in FN31SQ- grid (ab.5917 km)I got 46 and
> my report for Tom was 57.
>         best 73 de sm6mpa/hans-göran
>

Q9 base should be ~0.7V above the emitter. I assume that you are checking from
the PCB copper, not the actual transistor legs. I'd check soldering for Q9 - an
NPN's base cannot be 4V above the emitter! If you can get in there, check the
voltage at the transistor legs.

Also, check the soldering on T1 & T3.

Did you set the bias yet? You may get little or no output without bias.

Best of luck, keep us posted ;-)

Regards,
Jon

--- In mkars80@..., "Darren" <darren_parvin@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> Finally got around to having a look into the issues I have after an initial
test a couple of weeks ago.
>
> The RX side of the radio is fine, however I have no output.  The modulation
led lights and the relay clicks on when I press the ptt but I have no output. 
I'm using a proven mic so that is eliminated.
>
> I've checked over for bad joints etc and have measured all the ic/transistor
voltages.  All are OK except Q9 which is reading 2v on emitter but 6v on both
base and collector which is different to the troubleshooting section of the
manual.  I'll change this but any other suggestions?
>