+++
title = "An (other) attempt to operate portable"
summary = """A short story of another failed attempt on a portable operation
    from January 2023."""
date = "2023-02-17T21:27:11+0100"
categories = ["amateur radio"]
tags = ["portable", "tx500"]

+++

This is me with the usual luck that I have (which is not limited to amateur
radio).

## The plan

I actually wanted to go way higher, but I did not felt like it so I decided
on my way to stop at a nice place and setup my 20m dipole at a clearing.

There is a nice view over Längenfeld (looking south, south-west).

![view to S/SW over Längenfeld](00_waytogo.jpg)

## The setup

After a few minutes of just sitting there and relaxing, enjoying the view
and nature, as is, I setup the antenna. I had to re-adjust the length a bit
to get it down to somewhat 1.1-1.3:1a. I usually just put a leg on the mast
and put the other one on the ground, which works ok most of the time.

![my actual setup and view](01_setup.jpg)

## Listen, listen, listen (and listen if you can't transmit)

I usually listen for a while before I start calling CQ and most of the time
I first answer others people calls---but when I tried to call a station from
EA I wasn't very successful. Yeah, move on, my setup is just crap and he won't
hear me. Tried another station but my call was interrupted by the other station
whilst I was still talking, that made me a bit suspicious. Another try and this
time I looked at the power meter of the TX-500: 0W. On a second view I saw the
transceiver was not switching to TX. Tried a few times more, power off, power on
but nothing really happened.

I finally gave up and spent probably half an hour with SWL :)

## Back at home

Back home, I already thought it might be the mice (it actually doesn't look very
sturdy) so I went into my all-purpose-room and cut off the plug, opened it and
I quickly saw the faulty white wire.

That white wire belongs to the pin in the middle, so I decided to remove all the
other pins too to get better access to that pin.

![detail view of the plug, cord already cut off](02_plugdetail.jpg)

The plug is small and I already wanted to throw everything away but somehow I
got all the wires soldered to the plug and it worked.

Finished with some shrink tubing (which I usually have mixed feelings about
using them) and it is now able to TX again.

![view of the finished plug](03_plugfinished.jpg)

## Fin

The mic works again, but meanwhile (it is now mid of February already) I got
another nice replacement for the mic: I ordered a clip-on microphone that I can
use with the adapter set made by [W2ENY](https://w2eny.com/tx500/).

I can just recommend the adapters made by Robert, W2ENY.

I think the original PTT adapter only works mono, Roberts delivers stereo sound.