My Week in Radio
- Allstar node being weird
- saw a great youtube video on APRS bots:
- MPAD being very versatile for: weather, callsign lookup, location report to email
- ISS bot that tells you the next pass
- listened to a couple sweepstakes contacts: to lazy to try to communicate that much exchange QRP SSB
- built a doublet on a portable operation today:
- split 6.25M of speaker wire to be a 12.5M-long, center-fed, non-resonant dipole, like my portable EFRW I usually carry.
- the rest is balanced feed line
- right to the radio
- tuned 20M and barely tuned 40M on my X6100
- 2W FT8 heard in Africa and Europe
- next try it with a 4:1 or 9:1 balun to match better
Others
- W1RC, Mike:
- Elekraft K3S from an estate sale.
- advanced radio
- had a K3 that he never used.
- computer with an RF section
- will sell the K3
- Elekraft K3S from an estate sale.
- KN3I, John:
- Went to the Father Murgas Event in Scranton
- signed up for N3FJP and LotW access
- sweepstakes
- fixing another ICOM radio
- 80 meters
- W8CRW, CR:
- clearnode is working again
- KC3RFG, Jim:
- Got some Aurora photos
- K3FF, Rene:
- windy a couple weeks ago,
found his amp cutting out for high SWR
- antenna was arcing to another antenna at high power
- windy a couple weeks ago,
found his amp cutting out for high SWR
- WA3KFT, John:
- operating 10M net, got TX, NC, NJ, MA without trying
- 28435kHz - retired net, 1pm EST
- KD3BPI, Simon:
- testing airplane radios for work
- NA3CW, Chuck:
- chatting mobile
- PM/AM net: abysmal geomagnetic conditions
- computer work: database and labels for a church food distribution effort
- KC3OOK, Bill:
- relayed for low-power net controllers in simplex net
- KC3SQI, Wayne:
- putting new antennas on the new mast
- shopping other antennas
- KC3MAI, Joe:
- Went to Scranton for 120 Anniversary of Father Murgas event: first overland telegraphy
- started studying CW
- AA3LH, Leon:
- Introduced an ATU to replace a manual tuner
- connected an antenna directly to the radio
- found lower SWR than with the switch, maybe needs replaced
- KB3ZIM, Bob:
- check out the murgas amateur radio club website for that story
- will be busier in radio as it gets colder outside
- wants to get a 160M wire in the air
- AF3Z, Jim:
- went to Scranton for the Father Murgas event.
- met the guy who started HamSCI at U of Scranton: very nice shack for school.
Questions
- WA3VEE, Ron:
- what are the types of solar panel installation,
and which causes the least RFI for HF?
- each panel could have micro inverter
- or they could all run to 1 big inverter
- read a central inverter may be easier to control RFI.
- KC3RFG, Jim:
- neighbor has panels across the street
- 3 years old
- no choice: all micro-invertors
- W8CRW, CR:
- find an installer who will do 1 large inverter
- what are the types of solar panel installation,
and which causes the least RFI for HF?
- KD3BPI, Simon:
- What are the pointers and highlights of studying for General?
- Using another test website to study, something besides hamstudy.
- AF3Z, Jim:
- hasn’t tested since 1979
- WA3VEE, Ron:
- test sites are “ham cramming”
- look for “Gordon West study guide”
- you already know most of it
- FCC wants to make sure you know it at least once
- WA3KFT, John:
- has extra class study guide by gordon west.
- study guide explains why the correct answer is correct.
- KC3RFG, Jim:
- used ham study to pass the test and get started
- focused on what you need to know for the test
- learn more later
- KC3SQI, Wayne:
- learn the theory
- to study and get on quicker, aarl has the question pool.
- go back and get the Gordon West book for reference and learning later
- KD3BPI, Simon:
- will find that Gordon West book
- KC3SQI, Wayne:
- Looking to step up from windom dipole (used for 4 years). on 10M, it has lots of lobes, so hard to predict results. Looking at a hex beam to put on a rotor on the mast. Considering wind loads for antenna, mast, and rotor. Different ways to mount the rotor: unistrut and thrust bearing. Any experience in strengthening a rotor installation?
- WA3KFT, John:
- thrust bearing takes all the vertical weight, so none on the rotor.
- without a brake, it moves easy enough for winds to turn the mast.