[CAham] Interested in Weak Signal?

[Neil Jessen]

HI guys:

It is sure good to see this CAHAM (California Hams) reflector getting some 
activity.  I am always surprised when I get a message from it, usually 
because I had forgotten that I had signed up for it due to the lack of 
activity.  So let's keep up the postings and spread information about ham 
radio in California.

There have been a few messages recently involving questions about proper 
use of the bands and the band-plans on 2 and 6 meters.  I wanted to take 
this opportunity to let you all know of a great group of hams that enjoy 
operating the weak signal portion of the bands above 50 MHz.  The group is 
known as the Western States Weak Signal Society (W.S.W.S.S.).  The web 
address is http://www.wswss.org.

I know that there are a great many of you out there that are no-code 
Technician class operators.  Many of you have never had to opportunity to 
do more than talk on the local repeaters or local FM simplex.  Yeah, I know 
that IRLP is getting big and some of you are able to talk to other states 
and countries on your local repeaters, which is really neat, but it is all 
done via the Internet.  For the majority of the hams that I know, the 
reason they are so excited by radio, is the simple fact that there signal 
leaves their radio, and without wires, makes it to some distant place to be 
received by another persons antenna/radio.  That has always been the magic 
that's driven ham radio for so many years.  Anyone can talk to other states 
and countries using the Internet or a telephone.  The magic is doing it 
with radio waves!

Let me get to the point of this message.  With the exception of IRLP, 
No-Code Technician class licensees are limited to what they can do.  Many 
of them that I talk to never knew anything about using weak signals on 
VHF/UHF, or the fact that they could bounce their signals off meteors and 
talk thousands of miles away.  Some of them did know about weak signal on 
VHF/UHF and thought it was something that they would like to try, but were 
discouraged because they didn't know how to get started.  That is what the 
W.S.W.S.S. is all about.  It's goal is to educate people in the use of 
these weak signal modes as well as get the word out that there are band 
plans on all the ham radio bands that should be followed.  For example, did 
you know that if you were operating FM on 144.220, you could very well be 
interfering with someone who, via weak signal, is using a meteor shower to 
make a contact with a ham thousands of miles away?

If any of you are interested in learning how to get more use out of your 
No-Code license, please take a look at the website.  And by no means would 
I want to preclude the higher class licensees either.  I am an Advanced 
Class licensee and I love it on VHF/UHF.  We have just as many of the 
higher class licensees as we do No-Codes.  Everyone is welcome.  We have 
members who are active on every band from 6 meters on up to 10 GHz and 
higher.  And don't think that this is out of reach to you because you don't 
know anything about it.  That is the idea of the group.  There are lots of 
people out there who can get you the info you need and maybe even teach 
you, if you live close enough.

The group has several local get togethers as well as one major conference 
each year.  In fact, there is a local gathering tonight (Friday March 29), 
7:00PM in Lancaster, CA at the local Shakey's Pizza at 1324 West Avenue 
I.  We just had an Orange County/Inland Empire meeting in Corona about a 
month ago, and just last weekend, the Central California group met and had 
a swap meet at M2 Antennas in Fresno.  There is also a very large and 
active portion of the WSWSS in the Sacramento area with Larry - W6OMF of 
Vacaville who is spearheading the movement.  He has lots of gatherings and 
activities.

So take a look at the website.  Realize that there is a lot more to do on 
the VHF/UHF and microwave bands than just talking on FM and or 
repeaters.  If you live in the High Desert area, go to the Shakey's tonight 
and meet the local guys in your area.  I guarantee you will enjoy all the 
potential operating and propagation modes we use on VHF/UHF.

73,
Neil - N6VHF