[AK-VHF] AK-VHF NET: Mar 5 - 144.200 USB

Tue Mar 8 20:51:25 EST 2022

Brandon, I'm using the HRD DM 780
Which is ham radio deluxe, digital master 780.
The only other one I've used is Digipan which worked well also. In fact, I
may see if there's a later version of the Digipan and give it a try.
Do you M780 has something they call super sweeper which would allow me to
monitor multiple channels.
It seems like it would be good exercise to have a group event on PS K 31.

On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 2:58 PM Brandon Clark via ak-vhf <
ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> That's a good idea. So far it's just been me and Ed, so it's easy to keep
> track and alternate. With more people on air we might need to adjust.
>
> What are you using for software? So far I've been running Fldigi
> exclusively.
> Brandon
>
> Sent from ProtonMail mobile
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> On Mar 8, 2022, 13:36, David Tremper wrote:
>
> > Does this reply go to the group?
> > Next time we do PSK 31 we should try getting on different audio
> frequencies so that if one person transmit he or she doesn't blank out the
> other persons transmission. One would have to know how to operate their PSK
> 31 software to receive multiple channels.
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 9:33 AM Brandon Clark via ak-vhf <
> ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Ed,
> >>
> >> Those are all good points about antennas, gain, and yagis, and I agree
> with you. My thoughts are just that I think we might get more participation
> by having additional activities where the following are the case:
> >>
> >> - The equipment requirements are more modest, and
> >> - We are offering an activity that is not already available.
> >>
> >> Think about it from the perspective of a new ham: for little effort he
> or she can have a dipole up in the air and work the world. But to get into
> our club's activities they probably need a sturdy mast, rotator, control
> lines, and a fairly long yagi.
> >>
> >> A further drawback is that the benefits received from doing all that
> construction is to participate in a voice net . . . something already
> available seven days a week around South-Central.
> >>
> >> Basically, I think the equipment needs are really high, but the draw is
> really low.
> >>
> >> For comparison, consider a month or two ago when we were testing PSK31
> between Nancy Lake and your station in Nikiski: with just a dipole on my
> side we had full copy. It was a lot of fun, making contact over that
> distance was very gratifying, PSK31 isn't something you can do locally with
> other groups, and all it took for equipment for my side was my portable
> setup.
> >>
> >> I think activities like that could be the "gateway drug" that gets
> local hams interested in VHF/UHF. I certainly wouldn't suggest that the
> dipole I used is a good antenna for the long term, but think about our
> hypothetical new ham again. If he can suddenly work from Nancy Lake to
> Nikiski with a dipole then he gets excited and wants to see if he can work
> diamond ridge road, or Fairbanks, or other places. Then it's time to invest
> in the proper VHF/UHF gear.
> >>
> >> What do you think?
> >>
> >> Brandon Clark, KL7BSC
> >> https://brandonclarklabs.com/
> >>
> >> Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com/) Secure Email.
> >>
> >> ------- Original Message -------
> >>
> >> On Monday, March 7th, 2022 at 14:34, Ed Cole kl7uw at acsalaska.net wrote:
> >>
> >>> Brandon,
> >>>
> >>> I think 6m is a special case. 6m noise is often a problem which just
> >>>
> >>> requires more antenna gain to overcome (or narrow-bandwidth of digital
> >>>
> >>> modes).
> >>>
> >>> A 3 or 4 element 6m yagi is NOT "eme class" on 6m. Typically it takes
> >>>
> >>> 6-elements at minimum (with use of ground gain) to do eme. My two
> >>>
> >>> 7-element yagis have 15.75 dBi gain, which is right at the minimum gain
> >>>
> >>> desired for doing eme on 6m.
> >>>
> >>> on 2m a minimum eme antennas system is 18-20 dBi and on 432 26 dBi.
> >>>
> >>> From years of running the net on 144.200 it appears 10-element yagi
> >>>
> >>> with 50w is about the minimum to regularly make it down to me. 100w is
> >>>
> >>> better.
> >>>
> >>> I am working some Anchorage stations on 432 using my 12 dBi vertical
> and
> >>>
> >>> 100w. A yagi with 15 to 18 dBi gain would be better on 432. I have an
> >>>
> >>> 18-element 432 yagi which i hope to have operational in a week or so.
> >>>
> >>> A lot of having a successful station for working 70+ miles is a
> function
> >>>
> >>> of terrain, local noise, height of your antenna. Being on the hillside
> >>>
> >>> in Anchorage is a huge plus, of course. Just atmospheric conditions
> >>>
> >>> vary signal levels a couple s-units.
> >>>
> >>> In the past I had the advantage of using my 21-dBi four-yagi 2m eme
> >>>
> >>> array which helps both ways. At present, I only have one 11-element
> >>>
> >>> yagi (13-dBi) on 2m at 45-feet. I run 100w on SSB and 120w on FM, so
> >>>
> >>> that makes my signal marginal into parts of Anchorage.
> >>>
> >>> I recently gave thought to run my high power amp at 250w or so (which
> >>>
> >>> the KLM-11 yagi should handle OK). I have to install a TR relay to
> >>>
> >>> connect my 2m receiver to the antenna as the High power 2m amp has no
> >>>
> >>> bypass in Rx.
> >>>
> >>> When I have the 2m-eme array back in the air I can run 900w which ought
> >>>
> >>> to "light up" a lot of stations in Anch/Valley.
> >>>
> >>> I have a 1200w HF/6m amp to build. If I run it at 500-600w my signal
> >>>
> >>> would be much easier to hear than 70w.
> >>>
> >>> Certainly use of digital modes improves signal quality due to running
> >>>
> >>> significantly narrower bandwidth. Psk-31 and RTTY are conversational
> >>>
> >>> (text messaging), whereas FT8 has superior weak-signal ability for
> >>>
> >>> longer distances (and lower powers). But only call signs and signal
> >>>
> >>> reports are exchangeable with FT8.
> >>>
> >>> BTW I worked KL7EDK in Fairbanks on 2m-SSB with only 150w. Conditions
> >>>
> >>> were enhanced as several single yagi stations in Anchorage also made
> >>>
> >>> contact (314 miles direct to Fairbanks).
> >>>
> >>> One of the biggest problems working stations on VHF+ is getting people
> >>>
> >>> to turn-on their radio and push the PTT button. If no one gets on and
> >>>
> >>> makes calls then nothing is heard. This is the main reason for having
> >>>
> >>> nets on VHF.
> >>>
> >>> OK that's my "two cents" on the topic.
> >>>
> >>> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> >>>
> >>> On 3/7/2022 11:55 AM, Brandon Clark via ak-vhf wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Signals were good last night. Usually I can't pick up Ed on SSB, but
> I think all the fresh snow was suppressing noise sources. noise floor here
> was about S1, with your signal peaking to S3.
> >>>>
> >>>> PSK31 was clearly better though. I could pick up both you and KL7ZK
> very strongly on that mode.
> >>>>
> >>>> Something to think about is that using digital modes regularly might
> help expand the club's reach. Right now participation is largely limited to
> northern Kenai and Anchorage hillside ststions. I have small yagis two
> stories up in the air, and even that isn't enough to regularly get in on
> voice.
> >>>>
> >>>> It's a lot to ask stations to put up EME class stations just to
> participate in voice nets and an occasional contest. Having more digital
> activity could help with that though - the software and CAT requirements
> wouldn't be a bar for the kinds of operators the club caters to. And more
> efficient modes would allow stations with limited antennas to join in.
> Something to think about.
> >>>>
> >>>> Brandon
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from ProtonMail mobile
> >>>>
> >>>> -------- Original Message --------
> >>>>
> >>>> On Mar 6, 2022, 20:47, Ed Cole wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Sunday 6m Net:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> KL7ZK - S9 (with his 20m yagi)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> KL7BSC - S6
> >>>>>
> >>>>> psk- 31 good three-way qso by all!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 73, ED - KL7UW
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 3/6/2022 7:46 PM, Ed Cole wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> NET starts in 15-minutes!!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> The Sunday Night 6m SSB Net will be held on 50.125 at 8:00pm.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I will switch to psk31 at 8:30 on 50.250. If you are
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> interested in trying psk31, FL-digi contains psk31 along'
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> with many other digital modes, like RTTY. It even has keyboard
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> CW for those having difficulty using keyers. It does not
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> decode CW.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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