Contesting 101: Building a Workbench & Basic Ham Radio Troubleshooting Techniques

Editor’s Note: OnAllBands is pleased to post a series of articles written by accomplished amateur radio contester and DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist Kirk Pickering, K4RO. The articles, originally published in the National Contest Journal from 2008-11 and updated with current information, offer valuable insights for both contesters new and old.

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I’ve been off the air again lately, this time due to a lightning strike. The last few months have been all about troubleshooting and rebuilding the station for the next wave of contests. Some of the work got me to thinking about the importance of basic technical skills to the successful contester.

Who You Gonna Call?

The technical skill set of amateurs has certainly changed over time, and the contesting sub-hobby is no different. Today’s contester probably spends more time solving computer-related problems than he or she does repairing radios, amplifiers, and antennas.

Computer care and maintenance for the contest station is probably a large enough topic for a separate article. However, the need for some basic fundamental technical skills has not gone away. This is particularly true for the traveling contester, who may not have any option but to perform field repairs himself when something goes wrong. We’re not talking about designing your own transceiver now, but about basic troubleshooting and technical skills which are valuable to contesters at every level of the game.

Learning “which end of the soldering iron to grab” is time well spent. Not only will you be able to make your own repairs when necessary, it can also save you a lot of money. Even if you prefer to use “plug and play” components in your station, you can save a bundle (pun intended) by making your own cables.

Most importantly, you will have a better chance of recovering if something breaks down during a contest.

The Bench

Start off right by building a workbench where you can store and manage tools, parts, and test equipment. Don’t make the mistake that I did for years—working on the floor. I used to just grab whatever was broken, place it on the floor, and start tearing into the project. Before long, I had parts and tools scattered all over the place, and it was also very painful on the lower back. Buy or build a table dedicated to electronics work. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I use a standard 6′ x 3′ office table. I’ve covered a section of it with an anti-static mat. Some kind of anti-static mat is a requirement these days, as many components have devices which are sensitive to static discharge.

Convenient access to electrical power is also a must for powering test equipment and other devices. Don’t forget a good bright light overhead. A magnifying lamp is also very helpful. I need a bright light and magnifier more every year, as my eyesight continues to deteriorate with age.

Another item to consider is storage for parts and cables. The small multi-drawer parts bins are handy for small components, and I like hooks on the wall for cable management.

Some space for test equipment documentation and other manuals is also necessary. Consider an L-shaped arrangement, with one space for test equipment and gear, and the other for schematic diagrams and other documentation. All areas must be well lit. Many test benches today include a computer and monitor arrangement for looking up parts and zooming in on schematic diagrams.

The Soldering Station

Those of us who started ham radio during the Heathkit era have a leg up on today’s amateur when it comes to soldering skills. My first radios were an HW-7, then an HW-101, both of which I built as a young teenager. I made hundreds of poor solder connections using a brass wood burner as a soldering iron. It was amazing that the equipment worked at all.

Years later, I met people who were technicians by trade, and they showed me the right way to solder and work with electronics equipment. Try to find someone who can show you the basics of soldering, and who can help you learn the right way to solder. There are some soldering tutorial videos on the internet which can also be helpful. I recommend investing in a decent temperature-controlled soldering station, as opposed to a Weller “gun” type or simple pencil iron. The right size tip and proper amount of heat make a lot of difference in successful soldering outcomes.