[GreenKeys] Wednesday, May19th Update on Hoff Net

[Roy Norris]

I was not as active yesterday (Tuesday) due to other pressing business
but I did get off a half dozen net calls and had a brief QSO with Bill,
K7TTY on 10.137300 (Mark), our chosen frequency.  I had some trouble
with pactor interference due to the fact that the ICOM M-700Pro
transceiver that I am using is locked into a 2.3 Khz bandwidth as I am
using it on LSB and there are no provisions for varying the selectivity.
I cannot use it on FSK at present where the bandwidth is set at a much
more satisfactory 500 HZ because I would loose the ability to adjust
frequency by simply varying the frequency of my tones using the Hal
ST-8000's front panel controls.  I am working on how to change that.

I will be active today, transmitting Netcalls and bulletins on the hour
so please listen for me and provide signal reports if you please.

I am using something other than our agreed upon WRU sequence because I
can't get the Hal DS-3100 to react to the standard "4eeg(FIGS)H"  WRU
activation call.  Hence, until I get that worked out, if you want to try
and trigger the WRU answerback, use "(SPACE)(SPACE)K4EEGZW".  I am not
proposing that we switch to this on a permanent basis but until I figure
out a way to get the HAL DS-3100 ASR WRU to work with our proposed
standard.  We might just have to wait until the TTY-Connect boards from
Gil are available as I believe he implements the standard sequence in
the microcontroller.

I have has some really good conversations with Eric, K3NA on antennas.
He has had a gareat deal of experience with antenna modeling and with
its practical application in numerous DX-peditions.  He has pointed out
that the vertical dipole is ideal for 30 Meters because it has a low
angle of radiation, that is perfect for USA wide communications on 30
meters.  In my version, II have the vertical dipole mounted with its
base some 25 feet or so off the ground, which I have learned is NOT the
way to use a vertical dipole.  Raising the base above the ground simply
introduces high angle radiation lobes at the expense of low angle
radiation.  So I am going to drop my vertical dipole down so that the
lower end is just a few feet above the ground later today and I would
appreciate any signal reports as to if the signal is stronger or weaker
than what you have heard over the last week from me.

Longer term, Eric, K3NA, has suggested that a pair of vertical dipoles
suitably phased would give about 6 dbi gain and still have a wide enough
beam width for me to cover the US.  So I am looking into that
configuration to see if I can improve my signal strength even further.  

For those of you that are contemplating what antenna to use for 30
meters, I suggest you look at a vertical dipole or a pair of them.
Force 12 markets a free standing vertical dipole for 40 meters that I
think can be modified for 30 meters.  It is only 26 feet tall and uses
"hats" on both ends to resonate despit the shortened length.  That would
make it a very easy and compact installation.  Since it is a dipole, it
requires no radial system and has good radiation efficiency.  You can
read more about them on their web site:
http://force12inc.com/sigmainfo-003.htm


Lets get some more activity going on 30 meters.  We can communicate just
fine and  word is getting around and generating a lot of interest in
this frequency and our autostart net program.  But we need more
participants !!

Best regards -- Roy Norris, K4EEG