CQ CQ CQ .. calling all amateur radio operators

[linuxgeek]

Welcome to 2004's hurricane season. Predictions are this will be an active one.

Round and round they go, where they stop, nobody knows.

 

[Lady Christabel]

Don't think it's coinkydink I'm headed to Winnipeg for the first two weeks of the season. It's part of my diabolical plan.

bwaahahahahahahaha

 

[linuxgeek]

A happy&sad day. Happy because now I have a rig which will do 10m to 160m @ 100 Watts. Sad cause it was my Dad's and I have it only because he is gone.

Now I need an antenna tuner and something I can use as an antenna which the apartment managment won't have a cow about. There are times I do wish I had a house--then I remember all the other BS which goes with having a house.

 

[Lady Christabel]

I'm telling ya, tape to the ceiling. What I'd give to wire the roof of this place! wooo hooo!

 

[linuxgeek]

Even if amateur radio doesn't interest you, the fact the guy is doing this is just cool.

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http://www.qrz.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=64038

Mt. McKINLEY CLIMB: (Updated 6/4/4) DENALI is the highest point in North America and higher above the surrounding terrain than Everest. It's height above terrain puts it into the jet stream creating the greatest hazard on the Mountain, severe weather conditions of minus 50 F (-45C ) and 200 mph winds (320 kph) at high camp. My climb will start on June 5 and by June 9 I should be high enough to be on my VHF link to Anchorage and IRLP Reflector 9071. Be paitent when you call as it may take some time to dig the radio out from undermy Parky to respond.

The expidition will last 30 days. I will welcome any call at any time. My VX-7 earbud will be in my ear any time I am awake. I will be on HF in the evenings and mornings. On 20 meters I will be on 14,292 at 8:30 Alaska time (16:30 UTC), On 40 meters I will be on 7.093 at 20:00 Alaska time (04:00 UTC) and on 80 meters 3.933 at 29:00 Alaska time (05:00 UTC).

I will be high enough to give you a live, first hand description of what heaven looks like. But when, not if, the weather turns bad, as it often does, I will be able to give you a first hand description of what Hell looks like when it freezes over.

I will be hauling 230 pounds of gear up the mountain, 40 of which is radio gear, 60 pounds of food as well as the technical gear to extricacte from expacted creavass falls along with all the cold weather camping gear. I will be on skis with climbimbing skins on so I can ski up hill and will haul a sled behind me. On the flat glacier I will have close to 100 pounds in the pack and the rest in the sled. On upper portions I will climb up with smaller loads, 80-100 pounsds, burry it in the snow so the Ravens can't get to it then go back down for the next load.

I have a FT-857 with a jumpered dipole for 20/40/80/160, a loop antena for 6 and several 2 and .7 m antennas. In addition to my VX-7 I will have an Alinco crossband HT to hopefully run between Fairbanks and Anchorage. I have a 12 amp hour gelcell and 16 watts of solar panel to charge the battery with. Solar panels produce more power when cold and more when higher. The two combinred could make it put out 1.3 to 1.5 times the rated energy.

I will also be meeting up with another ham to do maintenace work on the highest land based weather station in the world, I believe. It is maintainted by a Japanese group just above Deanli pass. I also will have a cell phone of 907-xxx-xxxx. Plese let me know you got the number from QRZ if you call.

My Home Location: Kotzebue is an Eskimo village of 3,000, 33 miles North of Arctic circle on West coast of Alaska, 75 miles from Russia on the Arctic Ocean. We are 550 miles from the nearest road.

Interests: Dog Mushing, Snow Machining, IRLP, growing a 3 year old harmonic, Baptist Missions.

N7HER, Bob Douglass

 

[fulie57]

Not an amateur

But I am a radio nut, have shortwave radios all over the house as well as three single sideband CBs.

I have a Grundig right here next to my Mac and a BIG Grundig right next to the bed.

I listen to Radio Netherlands and the BBC just about every night without fail.

I also have a lot of QSL cards from all over the world, including one from HAARP!

Fulie57

 

[linuxgeek]

Cool deal. Haven't done much of anything with CB since I was in my teens. Only getting into the world-wide aspects of amateur radio now because I upgraded to general class in Feburary. I'm trying to figure out what I will be able to get away with using as an antenna in my apartment. While I'm getting away with having a 2m/70cm antenna on a pipe off my balcony, I don't know how they may feel about me stringing a dipole designed for 10m to 160m. If I find a design I like I guess I'll just have to talk to them and see. Otherwise I've come across some interesting designs I could just sit in the living room while I'm using it.

Lady C is looking at upgrading to her general class in the next few months, so at least, whatever I get, I won't be the only one using it.

Guess we'll have to start working on a QSL card design. I'm wondering how much pink she will want to put on it...

 

[fulie57]

Wow, congrats on your upgrade - I'll be listening on my shortwave for you guys - of course I don't know your call - and maybe I'll get me one of those QSL cards!

 

[Lady Christabel]

Guess we'll have to start working on a QSL card design. I'm wondering how much pink she will want to put on it...

Already done mine and have 4 designs for yours. Mine are single tone and yes, they're a shade of pink. I figured to do yours in grey/black tones, but I can do them in any colour.

 

[Lady Christabel]

Wow, congrats on your upgrade - I'll be listening on my shortwave for you guys - of course I don't know your call - and maybe I'll get me one of those QSL cards!

Check your PMs, dear heart.

 

[fulie57]

Check your PMs, dear heart.

Thanks for the kind PM. Good DX -

Fulie

 

[Xelebes]

At one time I was going to get my HAM license but then I got into the pro side of it instead. I got my general license, but I never really had a job that required it, although I did work with 1KW transcievers for several years. Great big huge LP antennas. Mostly in the 30-70 mHz range.

You would probably never guess what the mode was or the medium we used. *evil grin* I'll give you a clue though; it was a WAN with a range of 1000 miles between nodes.

The internet is what most people are interested in now.

LP Antennae refers to a low-pass antennae? If so, man does that piece must have a good resistance to slewing.

Sorry, not a radio operator but I do dabble in making my own sound equipment and stuff.

 

[rjohns86us]

Sorry for being a little late responding to this one...a suggestion on antenna for apartment if they won't go for the loop or dipole strung from the trees....try asking about a multiband vertical, maybe the Hustler...looks like a straight piece of pipe...not verey visibible...can be ground mounted....out amongst the trees...or even a random wire stapled up under overhang of the roof...or in the attic..

For field day, we will be running mainly single band dipoles strung off the training tower....and the one hf vertical...I will be running my old rig instead of the FT-847....the old TS 520 Kenwood..an older radio...but an old work horse.....and it has the CW filters....

For HF mobile, I run the Alinco DX70 with the detachable face plate...runs 160-6 meters...I tried the 706, and actually like the Alinco better....along with the Alinco automatic antenna tuner...stcked in a mount with an Icom 207h dual band...

Looking forward to hearing you on field day....

Listen on 20 and 40 meters for W4E...and

Sweet. From what I've seen, the ARES group here does their EOC HF via dipoles. Part of the work we did a couple of weekends ago was to replace a HF veritical with a 60 foot pushup tower and set it up to have rigging for 2 dipoles plus a 2m/70m vertical on the top. They strung one and tested it that day. The other HF equipment is on the 'war wagon'. I haven't had a chance to see inside it yet.

Radiowise, I have a FT-8900R in the vehicle with a Comet UHV-4. Being a new general class myself and having only worked on 2m & 70cm previously, I'm starting to wonder how much I will actually be able to do in the 8900R on 6m & 10m. It only does FM & AM; no SSB.

I'm starting to lust after the Icom 706 and equivilent other models. I've does a bit of poking at the tech specs, but not nearly enough to have a good idea which I want. At $800 + antennas, I've got a while to figure it out. I'm figuring the mobile I find with the automatic antenna tuner will have the suitespot in my heart.

I'm going to go and visit my mom some time in the next month so I can eyeball the rig my Dad had. May see if I can convince the mangement of the apt complex I'm at to allow me to string a loop in the trees behind the building I'm in. When we were signing the lease, they seemed interested in what amateur radio is, so I figure I have a chance. Already have a 2m/70cm vertical standing off from my balcony.


Ended up not getting done with my server upgrades until 2:30 last night. Spent a bit building the response to the CB question and then crashed. If I can get motivated, I want to hit to top of one the parking garages and see if I can hear WX4NHC on 10m during their test today. If not, I'll probalby just come home and check in with them via Echolink.

 

[linuxgeek]

I'm thinking this company's antennas may server well: http://www.rayfield.net/isotron/pricspec.htm

I have to get ahold of the ARRL antenna book again because I want to say I saw instructions for building a similar format of antenna.

 

[linuxgeek]

http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/9246-lrg.gif

 

[linuxgeek]

Field Day, the PSA

If not obvious from my sig line & this thread, I'm involved with Amateur Radio. June 26 & 27 will be an event called Field Day. The purpose of the event is to simulate operations under emergency conditions. Conditions which would be found in Florida after/during a hurricane, tornadoes, wildfires, etc.

A number of Amateur Radio clubs & organizations throughout North, Central, & South America participate in Field Day contacting stations in the Americas as well as around the world.

Field Day starts Saturday, June 26 @ 2pm EST and runs for 24 hours. For those visiting or living in central Florida, Orange County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) will hold an open house of their operations on Saturday from 3pm to 6pm EST at the OC Emergency Operations Center. Anyone who wishes to view the event is invited to attend during this open house time period. There will be a station available for anyone who wishes to talk on the radio and make contact with other stations around the world.

Orange County EOC is located on Forsyth Road and Amory Court. Approximately, 1000ft south of University Boulvard.

 

[Lady Christabel]

Re: Field Day, the PSA

Yeah, what he said!

Also, the GOTA station (Get On The Air) runs during open house from 1500-1800hrs, doesn't require a license and is open to all ages.



And you misspelled "boulevard" but anyhoo.

 

[Guest]

I play around in the Radio frequency spectrums, finally got my Advanced Tech. license after years of playing in the pirate field.

Sad about the companys going out of business when I used to build my own Transceivers or amplifiers but I still build various antennas..........got to love designing the antenna for the wavelengths and polarizations to be used.

I even had slow scan TV running at one time.

Seems like everyone is going with low power and station repeators anymore.

Where have all the Marconi's of the world gone.

 

[linuxgeek]

Unfortunately, from what I've seen, single-mindedly entranced by the internet and having little if any foresight to what would need to be done if the internet disappeared for a while.

 

[crysede]

Unfortunately, from what I've seen, single-mindedly entranced by the internet and having little if any foresight to what would need to be done if the internet disappeared for a while.

I have plenty of insight into what would need to be done . . . we’d need to get the internet back up, that’s what!

PS. Sulphuric acid worked a treat on the ants; neighbours were slightly ticked about the big dead patch in the lawn, but I told them they should just be grateful that I didn’t set fire to anything (this time) and they couldn’t really argue with that

 

[linuxgeek]

I have plenty of insight into what would need to be done . . . we’d need to get the internet back up, that’s what!

PS. Sulphuric acid worked a treat on the ants; neighbours were slightly ticked about the big dead patch in the lawn, but I told them they should just be grateful that I didn’t set fire to anything (this time) and they couldn’t really argue with that

Yes, getting it back up would be a priortiy these days if only considering the comerce which happens via the internet. But what if it was out for days for an area? Like I suspect it was for much of the N.E. US last August during the blackout. Batteries on Cellular phones only last so long as well as the fuel for the generators on some of the cell towers.

LOL, acid is fun to play with. Oh, did I say that out loud? Just have to remember to dilute when done.

 

[crysede]

Yes, getting it back up would be a priortiy these days if only considering the comerce which happens via the internet. But what if it was out for days for an area? Like I suspect it was for much of the N.E. US last August during the blackout. Batteries on Cellular phones only last so long as well as the fuel for the generators on some of the cell towers.

LOL, acid is fun to play with. Oh, did I say that out loud? Just have to remember to dilute when done.

It was out for a week here last fall - actually, everything was out for a week. Was fabu - really made me appreciate the largely negative impact electricity has on my quality of life. ‘Sucks that we don’t get many category 2 hurricanes in Atlantic Canada

I know, I know, I can always go camping to escape from all these modern inconveniences - but there’s just something so intensely satisfying about a city plunged into total darkness for days on end . . . Makes a girl want to go smash weaving frames n’stuff

Sorry, I’ve said too much haven’t I. Didn’t mean to traumatize you or anything - my brother’s a geek, I know how much the grid means to you guys

 

[linuxgeek]

It was out for a week here last fall - actually, everything was out for a week. Was fabu - really made me appreciate the largely negative impact electricity has on my quality of life. ‘Sucks that we don’t get many category 2 hurricanes in Atlantic Canada

I know, I know, I can always go camping to escape from all these modern inconveniences - but there’s just something so intensely satisfying about a city plunged into total darkness for days on end . . . Makes a girl want to go smash weaving frames n’stuff

Sorry, I’ve said too much haven’t I. Didn’t mean to traumatize you or anything - my brother’s a geek, I know how much the grid means to you guys

Part of my interest and activity in Amateur Radio is planning for and keeping communication traffic flowing in those times where the grid goes away--whether due to nature or human activity. Being raised on the edge of the Ocala National Forest also helps me feel comfortable if my part of the world goes dark. Hell, where my parents are, they still don't have cable TV service.

 

[crysede]

Part of my interest and activity in Amateur Radio is planning for and keeping communication traffic flowing in those times where the grid goes away--whether due to nature or human activity. Being raised on the edge of the Ocala National Forest also helps me feel comfortable if my part of the world goes dark. Hell, where my parents are, they still don't have cable TV service.

My interests generally tend more towards evading the flow of communication traffic

But I actually like radio - way cooler than phones, you get to use neato jargon, no answering machine, what’s not to love?

I grew up in an area that still doesn’t have cable - the place used to look like a freakin’ space observatory, just bristling with those big-assed satellite dishes lol. Ah, the joys of simple country life: living at one with nature, just you and your RV sized dish standing proudly on a concrete pedestal in the front yard . . .

 

[linuxgeek]

My interests generally tend more towards evading the flow of communication traffic

But I actually like radio - way cooler than phones, you get to use neato jargon, no answering machine, what’s not to love?

I grew up in an area that still doesn’t have cable - the place used to look like a freakin’ space observatory, just bristling with those big-assed satellite dishes lol. Ah, the joys of simple country life: living at one with nature, just you and your RV sized dish standing proudly on a concrete pedestal in the front yard . . .

Also like that I can do my natural lurking only adding in my 2 cents when I feel like it.