W3gms

My Week in Radio

• Other clubs
  • Learned about geochron:
    • old mechanical map with terminator lines
    • new digital one with all sorts of visualizations, including ham radio
  • Presentation on Antennas and feed line at a Ham Lunch in Harrisburg.
• US-1418, POTA:
  • FT8, 10M, mostly 1-2W, but 4W some times.
  • also 1 CW contact
• Built conveniences into software I use for my radio weblog
  • easily link park identifies to the POTA site and callsigns to QRZ profiles.

Others

• KD3BPI, Simon:
  • Listening while mobile
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • setup and plan for WFD
• KC3SCY, Luke:
  • PM/AM net
  • working on CW
  • Bruce Kelley Memorial event coming up in a couple weeks:
    • will operate 1929 TNT and 1929 Hartley
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • Hosted Welfare Net
  • At Joe’s to plan hardline from tower to building
  • worked on cable trays for his shack
• KC3KFT, John:
  • 10M has been open lately
  • Retired Net on 28435kHz or 28333kHz
• K3FF, Rene:
  • operated lots on CQ WW SSB. Lots on 10M.
  • working on Yaesu 991A that wouldn’t power on initially. (lightning?)
  • insure your good equipment
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • 1st General Class
• KD3BWL, Frank:
  • Learned about EchoLink
    • contacted a repeater in VA
  • other repeaters
• KC3MAI, Joe:
  • purchased a CW keyer to start learning
• W3QP, Tim:
  • Headed to Illinois for work:
    • aiming to activate Summits in Illinois and neighboring states
• K3DBD, Bob:
  • First time checking in to this net in a long time, even though being a long-time user.
  • 68 years into ham radio
  • chairman of technical committee in Pottstown Club.
  • preparing for ARRL Frequency Measuring Event on 8 November
  • fixing a broken PC board for an old wurlitzer juke box
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • DXing: Chile, Italy, Canada
  • Mobile listening
  • Excited to hear Ron’s plans for WFD

Questions

• KC3MAI, Joe:
  • Has a keyer and paddles, how should he learn CW?
    • is it bad to start with paddles?
  • WA3KFT, John:
    • taught CW
    • with a staight key, you can practice spacing within a character as well as the timing of dit and dah (3*dit)
    • straight key is easier to control speed and start slower
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • Has gotten Rusty in CW
    • Used to be able to do 18WPM
    • Look at Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing
      • slow down by extending spacing between characters, not by slowing everything.
    • 10-15 minutes a day really helps.
  • W3GMS, Joe:
    • Call Joe and discuss at great length
    • CW instructor in the Military
    • Do not try any sending until you can copy 10 WPM
    • focus on recognizing the sound
    • don’t count dits and dahs
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • use CW software to train
    • ensure you practice at higher speed to avoid counting
    • G4FON software
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • don’t ever look at a chart or page of dots and dashes
    • it’s about sound
    • learn to receive well first
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • https://morsle.fun/ is effective practice and lets you stretch for speed

My Week in Radio

• great ham fest in Harrisburg
  • ARISS presentation was great with a good pass to hear astronauts answering questions at a museum in Indiana
  • bought a cheap power meter for HF and some connectors
• 5 hours of CQ WW DX SSB contest
  • 12 contacts
    • Canary Islands on 5W SSB.
    • heard lots more that could hear my 5W
  • logged in World Radio League website and phone app. It exported a perfect Cabrillo file for the contest.
  • POLO was not going to cut it for contest exchanges. (I later found global “Activities” settings that exposed a “simple contest” mode.)
• blog up-to-date after months being outdated

Others

• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • PM/AM net on 75 meters
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • trying echolink, noticed repeater keys instantaneously, but audio is significantly delayed allstar seems less delayed
  • 10M CW Sked: around 28.180MHz
  • found a DX pile-up a little lower in the band:
    • C5Y from Gambia
    • used RIT
    • managed to work the station
    • 70W
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • net control for simplex net
  • building his station on the bench
  • ron dropped off an HP signal generator
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • made his 1st 10 contacts on 10M
  • getting comfortable
• KC3NZT, Harvey:
  • also got on 10M while it’s open for the contest.
    • 50 countries in 10 minutes
    • also New Mexico on 10M for WAS
• WA3KFT, John:
  • fighting with a Bird Watt Meter 4410.
    • powered by 9V battery
    • has an amplifier that’s required
    • not working
    • may need repair
• KC3MAI, Joe:
  • upgraded to AE
  • signed the private land use bill
  • 4 contacts in contest, including C5Y
  • Father Murgas Reenactment
    • this is an important event
    • Hungarian priest came to wilkes barre
    • into wireless telegraphy
    • first person to do point-to-point over 20mi (Wilkes Barre to Scranton)
    • used a 2-tone system of his own invention instead of CW
    • Joe’s driving and buying lunch. email him.
• AC3NW, Manny:
  • identified a good location for his Hustler 5bpv vertical with radials
    • cleared with XYL

Questions

• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • Helping a preschool with a computer update. Front of the laptop pushed apart and won’t push back together. Battery is 2x original thickness. Stowed in in the driveway. What do you do with a damaged lithium ion battery?
  • KD3EE, John:
    • drop it at Waste Management in Lancaster: House Hold Chemicals
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • Home Depot took it as long as not actively warm
      • put it in a non-conductive bag
    • His local scrapper would take them too
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • Chester County Recycling said just throw it in the trash(!)
  • W1RC, Mike:
    • in Massachusetts, he’d take it to the Fire Dept.
  • W3KZG, Scott:
    • For NA3CW, Chuck: SECRA doesn’t accept that stuff, but they do pick up a couple times a year. SECRA recommends the retail store.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • local trash collector forbid lithium or lead acid batteries
    • likes the idea of Home Depot
      • may only want tool batteries, though, hand-written sign.
    • not generating any heat
• KD3EE, John: Seeing a 20kHz-wide band of noise in the 30M band. In SSB it sounds like a flatulent tractor anywhere you tune in it. reminds me of maybe over-the-horizon radar. What might this be, and what other mysteries in signals have you seen and solved?
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • 60M is shared with military, but 30M may also have military.
    • radar usually looks like a narrow sweep
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • not a broadcasting band, but
    • DRM signal on 70M: shortwave with very defined edges
  • Aberdeen Proving Ground tests lots of HF radio equipment
• AA3LH, Leon:
  • Does anyone have any model trains they’d like to donate for a church display at Christmas? Call 717-286-7216 to donate.
    • KD3AIS, Tim:
      • He has too much stuff in the attic, including trains from childhood.
      • Will donate.
  • AA3LH, Leon:
    • call the number, thanks.
  • W3KZG, Scott:
    • KB3ZIM, Bob, may have some trains to re-home.

My Week in Radio

• enjoyed getting to the breakfast
  • great to be unemployed this summer
  • time to find a job, though
• 10M open lots for FT8: Azores today with 4W
• headed to ham fest in harrisburg on saturday
• great collection of probes for my multimeters

Others

• W1RC, will:
  • local hamfest flea market
    • great gear
    • ten tec 555 scout, a favorite
      • adjustable bandwidth
• W3CRW, CR:
  • breakfast
• AC3NW, Manny:
  • considering budget and layout for first HF station
• WA3KFT, manny:
  • some nets
• KC3SCY, Luke:
  • working on CW
  • building a rig
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • Perkasie RF Hill hamfest
  • 10M this weekend for HF DX: CQ WW SSB Contest
    • great for technicians
  • acquired a cool cat whisker receiver before it got trashed
    • to restore
  • winter field day work
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • carried QRP gear to the beach, but didn’t use it.
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • usual nets
  • breakfast
  • finished his table and a row of equipment
  • working on a heath kit
  • ordered a speaker for the heath kit
• KC3NZT, Harvey:

Questions

• AC3NW, Manny:
  • Considering antennas for HF in his neighborhood.
    • Trying to remain low-profile.
    • Vertical for HF: Hustler 5BTV
    • trapped vertical
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • used that antenna previously when he was a kid
    • 190 countries
    • 75m resonator
    • WAS on 75M SSB
    • for CW as well
    • solar cycle 20
    • Russia, China, Australia
    • used raised verticals
    • we’ve used that antenna at the field day site
  • K3FS, Renee:
    • an end-fed wire can be pretty invisible
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • that vertical could be sort of conspicuous
    • an 80m dipole with ladder line would be a great multiband
    • has chosen to an EFHW for his home
  • W1RC, Mike:
    • likes his 130-ft EFRW + tuner for agility
  • AC3NW, Manny:
    • end-fed sounds interesting
• K3FS, Renee:
  • has an older amplifier, Clipperton L
  • runs 4 5072 tubes.
  • does not have a tuned front-end
  • used pi network to match impedence to the amplifier
  • there’s a tuning module that can be inserted to give 50-ohm interface for transceiver.
  • doesn’t have that module
  • would an automatic tuner match the amplifier that’s not tuned?
  • WA3KFT, John:
    • uses a 7300 with that Clipperton L for 10 meters
    • has inserted an MFJ tuner between the transceiver and the amp.
    • built-in tuner may not have enough range
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • has no trouble driving the Clipperton L with 7610
    • caution: built a circuit to key it
  • WA3KFT, John:
    • also has a circuit of a transistor driving a relay to key the amplifier
    • DIC relay
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • can share keying circuit to be safe
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • learning about his Clipperton L
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • another word of caution: look at the voltage on the relay.
    • it’s driver at a high voltage, so it runs hot.
    • use an LM317 regulator to bring it down
  • K3FS, Renee:
    • great to see so many Clipperton Ls around.
    • already has some tuners to use
    • thanks for relay advice
    • will use a quiet relay
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • How would one adapt a new speaker impedance to an old radio that uses higher impedance? matching wattage?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • speakers are pretty forgiving
    • the volume may vary a little
    • large speakers could require more current to move the cone
    • try it and see
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • 25W speaker doesn’t need 25W, that’s just the max
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • speakers going into clipping is what damages them.
    • sensitivity is rated in dB at 1W at 1M from the speaker
    • pick a speaker that sounds good to you.
    • Liisong speakers are a great option for radios
    • pay attention to how it sounds. a clipping speaker sounds like garbage.
    • 90dB is the benchmark: quite loud.
    • 200-5000Hz is about what we need for SSB
    • find 8ohms or higher
• KD3EMS, Chris:
  • Church is using FRS Retevis radios, Does anyone have any recommendations for ear pieces for extended use?
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • SAL Notes Zero

My Week in Radio

• practiced copying CW with Morse Maven app while on vacation with no radios.
  • Koch method to build up symbols, and now words.
  • I need to break the habit of repeating in my head, especially for similar letters, like F and L.
• listened to PA QSO party, but didn’t participate
• fixed antennas around home were not performing well
  • confused by a local repeater also experiencing power problem
  • bad connection to YAGI
  • 1 entire antenna broken and fallen out of the tree
  • untangled and reassembled everything

Others

• W8CRW, CR:
  • 985 activities, Red Rose, Salem in NJ
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • breakfast with Pottstown group
  • visited Pottstown repeater site to take photos
  • Pottstown UHF net
  • graphed coverage with “what’s my path” profiler
  • PA QSO parties: 63/67 counties + states, 10k points
    • good test for emergency comms
  • worked other special events
  • RF Hill Hamfest next weekend
  • CQ DX SSB coming up
• W3QP, Tim:
  • picked up LDG tuner at a hamfest
    • started testing it out recently
    • cleaned it up with deoxit to make it work
  • SOTA in vermont: 8 summits
  • summit-to-summit QSO party
  • cleaning up computer stuff around the shack
    • stuff to get rid of: wireless router, ethernet router, PoE, computer
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • avoided the PA QSO party
  • a little CW for random contacts on 10M
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • south control for simplex net: worked 7 counties
  • finished riser for his station
  • finishing touches on tower base at Joe’s.
• KA3GLI, Dave:
  • installed a ground-rod
  • ordered a throw line to launch some wires
  • planning location for his station in the basement
    • power
• W3KZG, Scott:
  • assisted with Joe’s tower swap
  • helped with last-minute things on tower base
  • picked up a nano VNA on amazon prime day.
• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • 985 activities
  • net control for 75M PM/AM net
  • hosted new hams, James and Mike, to setup a test rig for logging in Kenya. USB to DB9 serial.
  • CQ DX WW SSB will be a great opportunity for DX
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • learned some colleagues are hams
• AA3LH, Leon:
  • problem: key up HF radio, and it would turn off.
    • troubleshoot for 2 days
    • 3 radios would work with the PS fine.
    • found a bad connector
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • 80m OCF thrown into a tree.
  • used the existing rope to pull a pulley into the tree, so it’s easier to get the wire up and down.

Questions

• KA3GLI, Dave:
  • Didn’t care for “Coax Shield” to seal connectors. Is there something better?
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • There’s a silicone tape, coax seal, that sticks to itself, and stays in place really well: 9 years.
    • Maybe you had a bad batch of that “Coax Shield” stuff.
    • try a different brand.
    • make sure the coax is clean.
  • W3KZG, Scott:
    • Coax wrap can be an absolute mess to remove.
    • Has found some recently that doesn’t stick.
    • likes adhesive-lined heat shrink for coax and other electrical applications.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • coax seal was fine in the past
    • squish it in like clay
    • try self-fusing tape: silicone, sticks to itself.
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • coax wrap silicon tape
    • doesn’t stick to itself. friction, then electrical tape.
    • cut it off
  • KC3RFG, Jim:
    • does a wrap of scotch electrical tape, then the silicone coax wrap, so it’s easy to remove
  • AA3LH, Leon:
    • has used a non-conductive grease from HRO on connectors
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • stretch and seal silicone tape from home depot.
      • not radio specific.
    • also grease. used on boat as well.
  • KA3GLI, Dave:
    • forgot about adhesive-lined heat shrink
    • lots of good ideas
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • Are there big factors unexplored in causes of intermod that effects a handful of nets?
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • interaction between 2 radio signals acting upon some non-linear element.
      • transistors in the amplifier
      • rusty bolt joint
      • crossed wires
      • power line
      • something that creates a mixing element, and causes a 3rd signal
      • adjacent towers
    • we have control of 1 signal, but not the other
    • could be the nearby cell tower
    • nothing has worked yet
      • lots of solid technical efforts
    • trying to solve it with coexistance
      • digital
      • auxiliary site at Joe’s house
        • different PL tone
  • W3KZG, Dave:
    • do other sites have intermod problems?
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • it is common
    • troubleshooting the second signal is often the problem
    • can also be a problem with field equipment
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • slipping connectors can cause it
    • commercial sites require a certain connector to avoid it
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • it can be a problem in non-RF equipment: medical, etc

Week in Radio

• Welcome Manny!
• Attended the 3D Printing show in Belair on Saturday
• activated a new-to-me park in MD
• WW RTTY contest
  • 66 contacts, QRP, Rookie
• leaving on a cruise on saturday:
  • no ham radios
  • will miss Red Rose Hamfest

Others

• W3JAM, Jeff:
  • Skywarn in Dauphin county
  • Simplex Net
  • OCF antenna finally installed
  • 2m antenna mounted higher
  • received a 16 element yagi to refurbish
• AC3NW, Manny:
  • new extra license in January
  • building a shack
  • running coax outside
  • working on getting operational in general: VHF and HF
  • looking to install a vertical for VHF and dipole for HF
  • budget
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • getting ready for Red Rose Hamfest
    • testing some scopes and power supplies
  • setting up his military station
• KC3RFG, Jim:
  • fixing up an antenna and its connections, so radio will tune better
    • replaced a lightning arrester
• WA3KFT, John:
  • hearing some other traffic in his location on 985
  • advice: always have an SWR meter in the coax line to keep an eye on things.
  • reading high SWR on current 2M rig
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • hosted welfare net on sunday
  • working at joe’s on tower
    • final install this weekend
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • working on his feed lines on tower
  • attempted to check-in to the old forks net on Saturday
    • but found Puerto Rico and Scotland instead, so made those contacts
  • hula hoop antenna on top of tower
  • evaluating performance and noise of different antennas he has up
  • noise from air conditioner unit
  • one more antenna to move, and then they’re all on the same mast
• AB3AP, Mike:
  • CW and POTA contacts
  • playing with PLL to track broadcast AM modulation
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • found the rtty contest
  • 7030kHz, found the FOC CW party there
    • worked some of them
    • 2 UK, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, US
    • exchange: signal report and name + FOC number
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • another week waiting for an antenna bracket for the 2024 Tundra
    • keep getting the wrong bracket
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • more 10M activity
  • worked a 6m repeater in Honey Brook: K3CX?
    • linked to other repeaters
    • enjoying morsle.fun: very helpful, 40wpm
• AA3LH, Leon:
  • playing with a receiver on the long wire again: China, Russia

Questions

• AF3Z, Jim:
  • With surface mount, integrated circuits, chips in modern rigs, how repairable do we think they’ll be?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • surface mount requires specialized equipment for soldering
    • swap whole boards
    • send it for repair
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • shipped a radio back for repair
    • parts sometimes aren’t available for repair
    • obsolete
  • KD3EE, John:
    • Xiegu radios: my X6100 or G90
      • cheap, chinese
      • Radioddity sells a “refresh kit” with common parts
      • I have internal battery to swap in some day
    • updatable software means new features and optimizations in the future
    • is it like cars, where they don’t need repair as much?
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • like TVs, some high power componests with heat sinks will still be replaceable
    • update-able firmware can extend the life
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • for icom rigs with burn-in problem, like ic-7610, repair turn-around is expected to be slow, but it got repaired quickly: 18 days turn-around.
    • updated firmware, totally refreshed, settings restored, replaced clock battery
    • great service from shop in MN
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • late 80s kenwood, never had anything wrong with it.
    • can deal with some surface mount
    • flashing may or may not be possible for replaced chips
    • never missed old car tech: more complex but less likely to fail
    • modifications to yaesu for external audio
      • days of work to make mods, so not accessible to most people
    • keeping rigs as long as possible
    • repairable: connectors, finals, power supplies
    • done with boat anchors
  • AB3AP, Mike:
    • old C64 computer had such a following there’s an FPGA reproduction of it.
    • favorite old radios may be cloned, emulated, or new chips fabricated.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • both his rigs have the original Motorola transistors that have been discontinued
    • ebay supposedly has equivalents (or fakes?)
    • other companies stepped up to make replacements
    • if there’s demand there will be supply made available
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • ARRL had insurance for ham radio gear: preparation
    • amazed at longevity of solid-state gear: Triton IV since the 70s
    • computers with high clock speeds
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • labor is getting expensive: $1000 labor to install $7 part
    • SDR radios, like 7300 is 10 years old, and working well
    • 10 years is probably a good lifespan
    • with labor price, budgeting to buy replacement might be best
    • doesn’t miss old car systems
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • they seldom commit suicide, but they sometimes get murdered
    • some new radios promise updates, but never deliver

My Week in Radio

• replaced my RG-58 cable with KMR-400
  • $90 for 100ft, terminated
  • tested individual cables and combinations
  • nanoVNA “through measurement”
  • Wayne suggested
  • improved my 6.5dB loss to 3dB loss total
  • doubled power!
• Radtel RT-880G HT got a firmware upgrade
  • APRS beacons “just work” now.
  • still likes to show scrambled chinese for packets it doesn’t read well
  • might next look into using it for a personal digipeating APRS.
• this weekend
  • 3D printing show in Belair MD
  • WW RTTY contest - lots of fun previous years

Others

• W1RC, Mike:
  • learning a new radio and its menus with the manual
• W8CRW, CR:
  • 985 and local nets
  • flying drone to hang some ropes for another ham
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • attended Antique Radio Show in Kutztown: vintage broadcast radio and audio
  • Joe emailed photos
  • get on Joe’s email list
• WA3KFT, John:
  • running 6m and 2m nets
  • 700+ QSOs so far this year
• AB3AP, Mike:
  • attended breakfast
  • expecting to be at WFD doing 20-25wpm
• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • PMAM net sunday night, good conditions.
  • working on a transciever for James, a new member
    • replacing a memory battery
  • tower at Joe’s is basically finished.
• KB3ILS, Keith:
  • picked up a nice small Elekraft radio
  • 5w, EF wire, 50 QSOs on CW
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • W3GMS website can send event reminders too, in addition to Joe’s emails.
    • good reminder for hosts of nets
  • some CW
  • Saturday, tried working some other people besides his normal sked.
  • finally finished up photos for Longs Park festivals
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • 985 nets, Simplex Net on Saturday, Welfare Net on Sunday
  • Joe’s tower
  • vhf.dxview.com said VHF was open to Canada and east coast
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • progress on radio in the truck
  • had the wrong mounting bracket
  • help from KC3NZT, Harvey
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • operating in a house without power

Questions

• AB3AP, Mike:
  • Winter Field Day sounds like it is 20-25WPM, and that’ll be comfortable. Faster requires lots of extra listens. What are others’ comfortable speeds?
  • W3DIB: 0
  • AF3Z:
    • keyers set to 35wpm, spacing is usually wider.
    • 20-25wpm is more comfortable
    • try to get contact info before the call
  • W3DIB, Greg: N2HM, Bob is amazing to watch
  • KB3ILS, Keith:
    • don’t worry about speed on WFD. people will slow if you need.
    • just skip people who go too fast.
    • working closer to 20wpm will get you more contacts
    • managed first straight key contact at about 6wpm at last field day
    • “we’ll help you copy, just try”
  • WA3KFT, John:
    • passed test with 13wpm for advanced
    • no longer that fast, out of practice
    • taught code in classes
    • first learned it in boy scouts
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • slower, took 2 attempts to pass 13wpm
    • 15-18 today
  • KD3EE, John:
    • morsle.fun: 25-30wpm if i can hear it multiple times
    • keyer at 20wpm, but leaving some space
    • I’ll hope to get help copying at field day
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • flags in boy scouts
    • passed 13wpm in 1967
    • barely passed 20wpm in 1979
    • practicing with a sked qso
    • 35wpm seems impossible, but he’s getting there
    • being retired gives him time to practice
  • W3DIB, Greg:
    • https://lcwo.net/
  • KB3ILS, Keith:
    • use computer programs
    • also just listen to others’ QSOs on 40m
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • use a websdr to listen
  • KD3EE, John:
    • ARRL code practice files and podcast
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • hearing signals from south pacific right now on HF
    • practiced and learned at 59 years
    • always intended to use it
    • bought the CW paddle before a transceiver
    • doesn’t want to inconvenience others
    • prosigns are baffling
    • practice sites don’t necessarily demonstrate prosigns
    • seeing dots and dashes slowed us all down
  • KD3EE, John:
    • chase POTA to practice CW
  • KB3ILS, Keith:
    • relayed my message, and recommended spotting from pota.app.
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • SKCC hangs out on +50khz and events, so good to listen there
    • simple exchanges
    • don’t do CW if you don’t like it.
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • Seeing some repeaters offering “auto-patch”. How’s that work, and how’s it sound?
  • W3DIB, Greg:
    • Univ Del had an autopatch.
    • you’d need to get permission and get the code to be able to use it.
    • it would place the phone call.
    • it would leave the TX up the whole time the phone was on.
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • it’s been years.
    • other person would need to know to say “over” since the carrier stayed up even when remote is transmitting, and on one would otherwise know when the other person stops
    • got to use it once in the 70s to call for road help
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • needed to remind the phone side that the communication is being transmitted
    • don’t do business.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • you just can’t use the radio for your boss, “under ordrers”.
    • running a business vs doing a transaction.
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • Is autopatch still used and offered?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • repeater book lists autopatch as a service on some repeaters
  • W3DIB, Greg:
    • it’s probably easy in the time of VOIP.

I’ve been thinking of ways to get more power to W3GMS, and coax might be the weakest link. I have about 75ft of RG-58 outside and maybe 8 ft of RG-174 inside. I took down the flag pole Yagi to replace the coax.

I learned how to measure loss with a “through measurement” on the nanoVNA watching Youtube:

• The old coax run measured at least -6.5dB loss total
  • -4.5dB for the RG-58 by itself
  • -2.0dB for the RG-174 by itself
• The new coax, 100ft of KMR-400, by itself measured -1.5dB, and -3.3dB with the patch of RG-174
• SWR sweep of antenna on old coax showed lots of wiggles and hung generally low, because of all the loss.
• SWR sweep of the antenna with the new coax runs much higher on the 100MHz side, and takes a nice dip at the resonant frequency.
• Incoming signals look good and strong by the S-meter on the TYT-9800

My Week in Radio

• seeing more “alternate” FT8 traffic on the waterfall: dxpeditions and contests!
• tempted to replace my old cheap coax with something lower-loss for my 50W VHF to compare.
  • bust out the attenuators and the tinySA or maybe just the little digital power meter I have to measure at the antenna feed point.
• bring a wire and a whip to demo the Nano VNA before or after breakfast.

Others

• WA3CRW, CR:
  • working with W1RC to do some WIRES-X
• W3JAM, Jeff:
  • Simplex Net
  • Central PA Skywarn Net
  • Heathkit 102 on the workbench for refurbishment
  • amplifier and odds and ends to fix and sell
  • looking at antennas to mount on the barn
  • rebuilding a 16 element yagi for more convenient deployment/tuning
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • won’t be at breakfast, but Antique Radio Show instead in Kutztown
  • Red Rose Repeater Hamfest coming up on Oct 4.
  • has some gear from some other people to unload
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • wondering about 160m antennas:
    • been meaning to launch an antenna every year this time of year.
    • maybe inverted L.
  • IC-7100: radio in 2 pieces, so you don’t need so much at the control head.
    • using a 75-foot cat8 cable for a really long run between TCVR and head.
    • run to the gazebo to operate outside but high power if he wants.
    • lots of fun chasing on all bands.
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • building a go-box
• WA3KFT, John:
  • 6m SSB nets
  • antique wireless net on sunday
• W3MFB, Mike:
  • VHF contest. spoke to someone randomly.
  • working some special events and pota stations
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • working at Joe’s on antenna
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • moving antennas to the new mast
    • 2m operational
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • collecting equipment to put radio in truck
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • coming in on an HT
• AA3LH, Leon:
  • feeling better today
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • normal CW sked

Questions

• KD3EE, John:
  • I have my 50W mobile radio, home-built YAGI, 75ft cheap coax in a couple connected sections. How should I evaluate this system?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • check that the antenna is matched with the nanoVNA: SWR
    • have people on the repeater talk, so I can point for maximum signal
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • with nanoVNA, calibrate at the nanoVNA, then move calibration load to end and use a through-measurement to see loss in coax.
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • bury-flex is a good deal
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • if you’re going to an LMR type cable, should good with bury-flex, since the outside doesn’t allow moisture. they use glue between outside braid and the seal. bury-flex will need heated a little to force the crimp end underneath the braid
    • buryflex is available at ham radio outlet.
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • What are some 160m antenna options?
  • height and length is a challenge.
  • aiming for an inverted L, but the radials will be a challenge.
  • W3GMS, Joe:
    • 240-foot wire, 60ft in the air, fed by open wire line
    • 3/8-wave would need less radials
      • could be end-fed or inverted L
      • not balanced, so noisy
      • will need a tuner to match
    • 1/4 wave would need extensive radials
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • $150 automatic tuner outside. tunes anything.

My Week in Radio

• I tried to get in with RF, but couldn’t make it, so on AllStar
• packet radio for Winlink and BBSes
  • like my old modem BBS days
  • phone + btech HT
• POTA, FT8 + CW
• learning value of chokes in the right places: computer interference from RF
• chasing CW POTA from home
• saw more FT8 this afternoon on 10M after a summer of quiet
• not ready to consider Winter Field Day and cold temps

Others

• KC3SCY, Luke:
  • hamfests
  • check out Kutztown Hamfest coming up
  • 1929 hardware
  • practicing with CW on vinyl
• W1RC, Mike:
  • hamfest in the rain is good for deals
  • Nearfest is coming up in MA
• W8CRW, CR:
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • acquired some rare Dimac gear, which preceded HP
  • clearing out more stuff.
  • breakfast coming up
• KC3RFG, Jim:
  • antenna maintenance
• KB3ZIM, Bob:
  • talked to W3GMS mobile a bit
• KB3ILS, Keith:
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest in the rain
  • planning for Winter Field Day
  • got some parts for the parts box
    • power supply boards with heatsinks
    • some air variable capacitors
• AB3AP, Mike:
  • looking forward to Winter Field Day
  • traveling with army spouse: Orlando, Hawaii
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • antenna mast work, but not much
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • net control for Simplex Net on Saturday and Welfare Net on Sunday
  • got an HP spectrum analyzer from Ron
  • tower work coming up at Joe’s

Questions

• KB3ILS, Keith:
  • Comment: POTA is great practice for CW, and KD3EE sounds easier to send than KB3ILS.
  • How do you clean up and make variable capacitors turn easily?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • there’s an electronics-friendly lube from the same people who make deoxit
    • oxidation may not have any effect on capacitance.
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • He has a new vehicle with blanks in the dash. Can he add switches to the dash to switch on the radio? Should he use a relay instead of plain switch? What’s the difference?
  • KB3ZIM, Bob:
    • some equipment demands more current than a switch (and wiring to it) will allow, so then you need a relay.
    • avoid heating of the switch, too.
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • relay for higher-current hardware.
    • maybe avoid connecting the radio to the vehicle power considering warranty.
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • check with Harvey
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • consider using a dedicated battery to avoid noise from the car electrical system
    • also keeps it from draining the car battery
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • second the idea of a small dedicated battery
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • 4 radios in the van, and none of them are connected to vehicle power system.
• KC3NZT, Harvey:
  • a relay is popular, because the connections on the back of a switch are often too small to handle the current without heat.
  • use low current to control high current
  • low current to the switch also makes it safe to pick anything handy as a ground, so you only need to run one wire.
• KC3YSM, Steve:
  • Dabbling in HF, and feeling like he may no longer be getting out like he had been. How should he evaluate his antenna? He doesn’t have an antenna analyzer yet.
  • Can we do an antenna day at the field day site?
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • excellent idea.
    • remember it could be the bands.
      • check solar weather
    • come to the Thursday roundtable to discuss.
    • dxmaps, dxheat, dxsummit
    • hf propagation maps on google
    • watch SWR on the 991.
    • analyzers: rigexpert, mfj, bird, etc
  • KD3EE, John:
    • let’s play at the next breakfast.
    • watch for solar storms
    • check that colorful chart on QRZ

My Week in Radio

• POTA over the weekend
  • in addition to digital, practiced some CW
  • enjoying new Gabil whip with sliding coil
    • got some other CW contacts from the camp site

Others

• N3CGA, Keith:
  • studying for extra
  • hiking around Pine Grove Furnace and Appalachian Trail
  • operating VHF repeaters
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • installing radios in the new van
  • Mullica Hill Hamfest coming up
• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • usual 985 nets and PMAM net/pre-net
  • working at Joe’s on tower project
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • working up the tower at Joe’s, aligning mechanical things
  • south control for Simplex Net
• KC3SQI, Wayne
  • working on his own tower
  • home-run coax cables are buried
  • moving 2M off the garage to get it to the tower.
• KD3APR, Paxton:
  • just broke 2 HTs by dropping
  • diagnosing some ribbon cables
  • learning about DMR
  • battery life is surprisingly good on these cheap HTs

Questions

• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • Looking for an effective disconnect for some accessible powered fishing reels. He has anyone used barrel connectors for this application. It’s just a 3A motor. The 5525 plug is not waterproof.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • should handle 3A, depending if it’s tight enough.
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • assuming wire’s good gauge, it should be fine.
    • mismatches in the pin size could be a problem
    • they sometimes get weak.
    • GM-style blade connectors are common, waterproof, and cheap.
    • in marine, bullet connectors can be fine, but not waterproof. can be quick-release for safety.
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • still early prototype, so this is good info.
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • He has an Astron linear VS-50M with an LM723 chip in it (regulator?), and an SCR and capacitors across output. When it’s been off for a while, upon powering on, the voltmeter needle will stay low then pop up. He uses an extra breaker/switch to turn on the radio after the voltage has stabilized. Initial load on the supply causes it to take very long to come up to ready. What’s its problem? https://www.ameradio.com/product/420223/description.html
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • sounds like a capacitor issue.
    • SCR can be there for over-voltage.
    • maybe a resistive connection on the capacitor itself?
    • make sure caps are connected well.
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • is it a soft-start mode that limits current?
    • seems like a problem, though.
  • AF3Z, Jim:
    • built-in ammeter barely registers anything
  • W3GMS, Joe:
    • separate supplies for 723 and the path transistors, since they want different voltages.
    • secondary winding on transformer vs “tertiary” windings.
    • it’s not a slow-start control.
    • SCR has current limit pins looking for 0.7V differential.
    • if you don’t see the right voltage, it’ll rob base current and cause output to go to 0V.
    • best to check it with a scope and float the ground during the test.
    • analog meter might be ok, but digital might have too latency.
    • look at CL and CS for voltage.
• KC3NZT, Harvey:
  • He has a receiver that shows a fault that the antenna is shorted to ground. It’s a bad module, but as a receiver, do receivers generally use discrete components, say in the matching network, that could fail?
  • KC3SQI, Wayne:
    • some will have a diode in the module to bleed off residual voltage from the antenna going through the wind
    • could use RC network to do the same thing
  • NA3CW, Chuck:
    • is the input of the receiver a built-in antenna or external?
    • it could have a bias voltage that it could monitor and know there’s a problem.
    • if there’s a coupling capacitor that’s failed, it may know that.
    • it could be monitoring and expecting a certain level of background noise
  • KC3NZT, Harvey:
    • it’s an external, passive antenna on 15ft of coax.