[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Radio Club -- Meeting Announcement and News Letter for March 18, 2016

[Rick Bunn]

ARC-SHORTS

March 2016

 

Club Repeaters: 147.315 (PL 107.2), 444.6 (PL107.2), 224.82 (PL107.2), 53.13
(PL107.2) 927.6 (-25Mhz, PL107.2), and 1282.600 (PL 107.2), DSTAR 145.38Mhz,
442.060, and 1284.600 ALL AR UP AND RUNNING – HAM IT UP! Get on the air!

 

NEXT CLUB MEETING

 

Our next meeting is MARCH 18.  This month’s program is an update of
Maryland’s MESHnet system.  MESHNet adapts old CISSCO WiFi routers to work
as an ad hoc IP network using frequencies that we share with the other
services, but are open to the amateur operators.  The advantage is that any
router connected to an internet provider can pass files, pictures and about
anything you could send by an internet interface.  So,  The only radio you
need is the one in your laptop or IP phone or other WIFI enabled 

 

 

President’s Corner

 

I just got back from a cabin at Lake Anna State Park over the past weekend.
I was operating in the ARRL DX contest, SSB (voice) version. I managed 340
contacts in under 18 hours (out of a possible 48) of operation with just the
search and pounce method from my multi band antenna and 100 watts out of my
IC-7100. Of course, DXing is only one part of the hobby that is amateur
radio. We also have the Virginia QSO Party coming up the weekend of the 19th
and 20th. You can participate even if all you have is a 2 meter handheld
unit. However, it is much more fun and fruitful if you have a mobile or base
setup and can operate in one of the harder to find locations (like Falls
Church City and Fairfax City). 

 

If you have any ideas or suggestions for club activities, just let either
myself or one of the club officers know. You can reach me at ki4bxu at mac.com.

 

73 DE KI4BXU (Erik Misavage)

 

FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES.

 

Our February meetings program was a SKYPE presentation on J-Pole antenna
design by Dr. Ed Fong.  This was put together by Don, KI4D and was a great
program.  Dr. Fong has designed variations of the J-pole antenna so they
truly work with gain on more than one band.  He has college students working
to make these antennas for sale at very reasonable prices and our club did
put in a group order.  Ed was kind enough to donate one of his dual band
role up J-poles to the club which we auctioned off.   The Skype connection
worked so well that we may do this again.

Many of our members got in on the group buy and this should help some of our
new operators who need a better antenna then a rubber ducky to get into the
repeater.

Another item of business was the discussion of putting a small HF radio into
the trailer which was voted on and passed.  We have a line on an ICOM 706Mk
IIG from one of our club members.  Expect to purchase the radio and install
it when the weather gets better.  We are also working on a 900Mhz radio for
the trailer.  The 900Mhz antenna has been donated and will be installed.

The hamfest at the Northern Va. Community College is coming up and Harry has
arranged for some tables for the club.  If you have items you want to sell,
this is a good time.

ARES

In order to make sure our volunteer database is current,  I asked all at the
last meeting to fill out the ARES volunteer form. We now have 15 volunteers
with a few others pending paperwork.  I have a prototype ID card using the
pictures taken for the club directory.  I hope to get all those who
volunteered photographed and pictures added to the ID cards.

Field Day is an ARES activity as well as a club activity.  Ian, N8IK and
Rich, KA4GFY are running Field Day this year and Ian has already reserved
the Hensley Park (same as the last two year) for the event on June 25 -26th.
The event goes for 24 hours of operation as well as about 3 hours of set up
and a few hours to close down.  Last year about 30 members showed up at the
beginning, but many left after lunch.  Please plan to come back during the
24 hours of operation and operate.  

Ian and Rich will be setting up the rules.

Introduction to HF radio

Many of our members are new to the hobby and have taken our Technician
Class.  The first step is usually a 2 Meter or dual band ( 2 meter and 70
Centimeter) radio.  Standard operation is via repeaters on preset
frequencies.   If you go the D-Star route you can talk via the various
reflectors all over the world, same with ECHOLINK, but these modes are
internet enabled and not really long distance contacts.

The NEXT step is to move up to the GENERAL class license and try HIGH
FREQUENCY or HF (3 MHz to 30 MHz ).  The modes are now Single Sideband and
CW (Morse Code).  There is some FM on the high end of 10 meters, but not
much goes on there.

First new HF radios are just incredible, more computer then traditional
radio, with Digital Signal Processing (DSP).   But the price on these new
radios can go from $1000 to higher.  Don’t despair!  There are many great HF
radios for sale used that can be had for $300 to $500 range that are GREAT
radios.  Most of these radios  are synthesized with digital readouts,
filters,  computer interfaces and run on 12 Volts DC.

The limiting factor is not generally the radio, but the need for a decent
antenna.  On VHF a quarter wavelength antenna is 19” for 2 meters.  On 20
meters (the most consistent band for DX) the quarter wave length is about 16
feet!  So a simple dipole is 32 feet end to end.  The 75 meter band quarter
wavelength is 64 feet for a 128 foot long (end to end) dipole.  There are
various stealth antenna designs.  One is to use a LONG WIRE.  Buy a roll of
thin magnet wire or hookup wire and string as much as you can between the
feed point (near your radio) and to the furthest tree or support.  Make sure
the wire is NOT connected to ground.  You will need an antenna tuner to
match the random wire to the radio.  Many folks have done real well with
mobile HF antennas like “Ham sticks” they are inexpensive and can be made
into a physically short dipole.  

If I’ve not scared you off with the antennas and the cost of an HF radio,
the next question is: “What can I do with HF?”  First you can experience
contacts with other hams all over the world.  Most contacts are very short,
exchanges of names, and signal reports.  Many amateurs follow up with a QSL
card exchange with these stations.  There are awards for working 100 DX (non
continental US contacts).  There are various traffic nets and nets for those
with common interests.  If your into Collins, Drake, Swan, Ten-Tec, or other
make of radio, there are nets to exchange information on those radios.
There is a NAVY net on 40 meters for those who were in the Navy.  There are
mobile traffic nets to keep in touch with those running HF in their
vehicles.  There are DX and Work All States nets.  Lots of people and lots
of topics.

Unlike VHF/UHF where conditions don’t change, HF is very dependent on time
of day and sun spots.  One day there is nothing on a given band and the next
you can work Japan on 10 watts!

If you’re going to jump into HF, the first recommendation is to do your
homework.  Plan ahead!  What do you need.  START with your antenna as this
is the most important part of your station.  Then start shopping for a
radio.  I STRONGLY recommend you find someone in the club to come with you
if you go shopping at the next hamfest.  

Another “try before you buy” is to have one of our more experienced members
invite you over to use their station.  In this way you can experience HF
before you invest.

73 Rick

N4ASX

 

Hamfests –

The Vienna Wireless Society’s Winterfest comes up March 20 at the Annandale
campus of Northern Virginia Community College.  We have table space reserved
so club members can sell items that need a new home.  Bring those unused
items that are taking up space in the shack.

 

The Culpeper Amateur Radio Association’s Swapfest will be held April 9 at
Agricultural Enterprise, which is on Route 29 in Culpeper.  Features outdoor
tailgating and some inside tables.

 

Its not too early to start thinking about the Dayton Hamvention.  Its always
the third full weekend in May, so that means May 20 through 22.  Thursday is
the travel day, so we have a full day at the Hamvention before the really
big crowd arrives on Saturday.  

I have 4 rooms at the Fairfield Inn Fairborn and 1 is already spoken for.
There are several other hotels in the immediate area, but they are sold out
and your only alternative is to stay in the hinterlands.  Other club members
may have a room or two available nearby. Gas may remain cheap for the
foreseeable future, so plan on making the trip.  The breakdown is usually
$60 to $80 for gas, plan on $350 for hotel, $28 for the Hamvention ticket
and bus fare, along with your meals and purchases.     

I will need to know by the April club meeting so I can order tickets.   

 

Training - 

 

As I write this, we have 15 students signed up through our website and a few
more that have indicated they are enrolling.  It’s not too late to sign up
if you missed the start.  If you know of somebody who has wanted to get into
ham radio, now is their chance.   Signing up for the class is easy through
our website.  The $50 tuition covers the book, test fee and class materials.

 

 

Contests -

 

March 12 and 13 – Idaho QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

 

March 12 and 13 – Oklahoma QSO Party.  Exchange is signal report and state.

 

March 13 and 14 – Wisconsin QSO Party.  Exchange is your state.

 

March 19 and 20 – Virginia QSO Party.  Exchange is serial number and county
(or city).

 

March 19 and 20 – Louisiana QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

March 26 and 27 – CQ Worldwide WPA Contest, SSB.  Exchange is RST and serial
number.

 

April 2 and 3 – Mississippi QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

 

April 2 and 3 – Missouri QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

 

April 9 and 10 – New Mexico QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

 

April 9 and 10 – Georgia QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.  

 

Club Repeaters - 

 

The Alexandria Radio Club owns more repeaters than other club in the area.
We have repeaters on every ham radio band between 6 meters and 23 cm.  Here
is a great opportunity to try a new band.  With the exception of the 23 cm
repeater, all our analog repeaters are commercial grade equipment which
should run for many years with minimal work.  

 

As the 2 meter band started filling up with repeaters, hams turned to the 70
cm band as an alternative.  We share this band with the DoD.  There are
parts of the US where there are few or no 70 cm repeaters to protect the DoD
activities. In addition to repeaters, the 70 cm band is also home to amateur
satellite communications, amateur television, controlling and linking
repeaters, as well as CW and sideband.  

 

Like many clubs, we do have a 70 cm repeater.  Our 70 cm repeater is a
General Electric (GE) MASTR II repeater station built for commercial
service.  The MASTR II line was the GE competitor to the Motorola Micor.
Like the Motorola Micor, it’s pretty much bulletproof and should last many
years.  

 

Propagation on 70 cm is different than 2 meters.  Being more line of sight
than 2 meters, the range on 70 cm is not quite as good.  But, 70 cm will
penetrate buildings far better than 2 meters.  This is probably why the 450
MHz band was popular with many urban public safety agencies until the mass
jump to 800 MHz.  Another advantage is the size of the antennas.  On a
typical 2 meter single band handheld radio, the antenna is a helically wound
¼ wave whip.  On a 70 cm handheld, the antenna length happens to be about 6
inches, or the height of the rubber duck on the handheld.  This makes it far
more efficient, (or as efficient as a rubber duck antenna can be).    

 

Base and mobile antennas are smaller too.  You will get a higher gain
antenna in the same footprint as a two meter antenna.  At UHF frequencies,
higher gain is a big deal.  A ¼ wave mobile antenna at UHF is 6 inches,
which will fit in many parking garages.

 

Below our 70 cm band, the Federal government occupies a lot of the spectrum
and above is mix of business, public safety, industrial, transportation,
broadcast, you name it.  We once had a broadcast remote transmitter just
above 450 MHz that was continually transmitting a signal (with the right PL
tone) that locked up the repeater.  We found it and alerted the owners.
They were very apologetic.

    

Our repeater has very good coverage around Alexandra and fairly good
coverage outside the immediate area.  Overall, the 70 cm band is a great
local coverage band.

 

As always, ham it up and get on the air.

73, 

Rich, KA4GFY

- 

Future Programs

 

March – Update on MESHNet 

April – Gary Sessums – Katrina Response 

May – Field Day planning part I and D-Star for beginners

June - D-Star Ops and programming 

July – VHF Contesting (tent.)

August – DX Contesting (tent.)

September - HF Portable Operations (tent.)

October – ARES ops and City interface

November - Club Elections

December – Club Party

 

Let me know what you want to hear about.  HELP !!!!  If you have an idea for
a program, please let Rick know and he will try to find someone to provide
the program.

Social Events

 

Monday Night Burgers – There is a group that gets together at 6:15 PM on
Mondays at a local burger joint.   Mark up on the 147.315 repeater and join
them for the fun.  At this time the group meets at SMASH BURGER At Van Dorn
and Pickett St.

 

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