From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Wed Apr 1 04:51:37 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 03:51:37 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Corrected: 5 March 2015 Minutes Message-ID: <824C721AB739410CB3D1D1EA61859F8A@GaryPC> NOTE: Corrected to read April Meeting vs March Meeting for Bob Richie?s tabled motion. HILL COUNTRY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Meeting Minutes 5 March 2015 MEETING COMMENCEMENT The meeting was called to order by President Terry Hipskind (W0HIP) who led us in the Pledge Of Allegiance. There were 30 members in attendance with 2 guests ? Paula Mulford and Steven Fleming (both unlicensed) MEMBER AND GUEST RECOGNITION President Hipskind explained the 50/50 and gave out tickets to the following people for having helped during the past month: Barb and Pete Schuyler (N9NM, N9OF respectively) for providing goodies for the break and to Mort McKenzie (WB2GEU) for sugar free goodies. Gale Heise (KM4DR) was helped with design for an 80 meter antenna by Dale Gaudier (K4DG), Bob Richie (K5YB) and Chuck Brainard (KA1PM). Gale Heise (KM4DR) helped Lew King (W5LEW) and Fred Gilmore (W0LPD) helped Terry Hipskind with SSTV. The February 2015 minutes were posted and approved. The Treasurers report was read and approved COMMITTEE REPORTS Repeater (Harvey K5HV) ?New Yaesu Fusion Repeater purchased for $500 to replace the old analog repeater. VE Testing (Fred W0LPD) ? Next VE session will be in April. Fred will announce the time via the Reflector. Red Cross Liason (Terry W0HIP) ? Our support for the Red Cross now includes SSTV capability. Field Day (Gary Johnson N5BAA) - ARRL Field Day is now 3 1/2 months away. It was suggested that Field Day this year be held at the Tierra Linda VFD area. Bill Tynan (W3XO) and others will be checking the availability and reporting in April. OLD BUSINESS Remember Dale Gaudier (K4DG) indicated he has Tech License Manuals in stock and for sale. NEW BUSINESS Lew King (self identified ?Little Pistol?) gave a report on his operating in a recent contest using his IC-7000, an 88 ft Doublet Antenna with logging using N1MM. His point was that if he can do it so can any of the others who might be ?Little Pistols? too. He said one doesn?t need big antennas, amplifiers and towers to compete. President Hipskind brought up that their has been a question of the possibility of moving the monthly meetings to the second Thursday of each month vs the first Thursday. After some discussion Bob Richie made the motion to move the meeting which was seconded by Bill Tynan. Bill indicated that this would free up first Thursdays for numerous members who attend the Symphony which is in conflict with our meetings. The move would also allow members who desired to attend the Kendall County Radio Club meetings which also meet on the First Thursday of each month. Bob Richie indicated he would like his motion tabled until the APRIL (corrected by bob Richie) meeting to allow members to think about this change. Belton Hamfest ? 17/18 April BREAK FOR REFRESHMENTS FROM Barb, Pete, and Mort. The presentation was by the Kerrville Volunteer Police Association. 50/50 was won by Gale Heise who donated the entire proceeds to the repeater fund. Submitted: Gary Johnson N5BAA HCARC Secretary 2013/14/15 From thipskind at suddenlink.net Wed Apr 1 18:11:34 2015 From: thipskind at suddenlink.net (Terry Hipskind) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 17:11:34 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Club Meeting for April Message-ID: Hill Country Amateur Radio Club member: Please don't forget the Club meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening. - Tech Corner: Making sense of solar measurements by Kerry Sandstrom - Old Business: There is a motion to change the meeting night to the 2nd Thursday of the month. This will be voted on at this meeting. - Program: Hex beam presentation by John Weisinger See you there Terry Hipskind Club President From galeheise at windstream.net Thu Apr 2 17:27:45 2015 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2015 16:27:45 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Kenwood TM-271A 2 Meter Mobile Rig with Mount for Sale Message-ID: <83B6F2490003444C9079A5F9076037DE@GalePC> I?ve just finished checking out the reference rig. I plan to list it tomorrow night on eBay with a starting price of $125 but will sell locally for $125. If interested, let me know prior to tomorrow night. Gale KM4DR From hcarc at mailman.qth.net Wed Apr 1 21:43:54 2015 From: hcarc at mailman.qth.net (John Weisinger via HCARC) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2015 01:43:54 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [HCARC] Used Equipment Available in Oregon Message-ID: <443128710.4090834.1427939034913.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> I have a neighbor whose husband died and she has the following Amateur Radio Equipment Inventory available for sale (pdf attached).I will be at the meeting tomorrow night to do the program and if you are interested in any of the equipment let me know and what you would be willing to pay. Also available is a 40-50 tower that is available here locally.?John Weisinger - W5BGP 541-621-2864 (cell)ysingers at yahoo.com From cw4evr at hctc.net Fri Apr 3 15:09:21 2015 From: cw4evr at hctc.net (Fred) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2015 14:09:21 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] April VE Session. Message-ID: <5B502B8C0CE146FFB22CB8CF5BF4C42E@hamde306cf46dc> THE APRIL 25 VE SESSION HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 23. From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Thu Apr 9 14:19:41 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2015 13:19:41 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] OFF TOPIC - But Valuable None the less Message-ID: <2857317F16E64878A1BAE6DB1C3F6E35@GaryPC> It?s that time again ? Air Conditioning time in Texas. I fired mine off last week only to find that it wouldn?t kick in the compressor. The problem ? as usual - Fire Ants getting their jollies in the starter contactor of the condensing unit. What fire ants see in 220 volt A/C current is beyond me. HMMM ? fried shorted contactor and associated fried and swollen run capacitor. Try to buy the locally ? sure IF you are or are related to an A/C Contractor ? otherwise sorry call the repair guy. I used to have a repair guy who would order these parts for me and I?d just pick them up in his name. He is retired ? I guess he made enough money to be set for life. Well I found a company in Arizona that sells the parts needed on the internet (Ebay too) and who will talk you through the repair on the phone. He will even research his books on your A/C model and tell you the proper part number. I guess A/C guys in Arizona have all the work they can use and then some. Anyway, if you need the electrical parts (up to and including the fan and motor) I can put you in touch with this gentleman. Just send me an email. Gary J N5BAA From galeheise at windstream.net Thu Apr 9 16:09:41 2015 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2015 15:09:41 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Items Sold/ Items for Sale Message-ID: The following items have either been sold or committed to purchase: Kenwood TS-440SAT Transceiver Astron RS-35 35 amp 13.8v power supply Yaesu G-800S Rotator and Controller Kenwood TM-271A 2 Meter Transceiver Additional Items for Sale ICOM IC-290A All Mode 1/10 watt transceiver (No Repeater Tone Access). Lunar Electronics 2M10-80P 2 Meter Amplifier (10 watts in from the IC-290A produces 65 watts out ? maximum input power 18 watts for 80 watts output). National NCL-2000 HF Linear amplifier. See reviews on the following link. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1311 If interested, email me and I can send a .PDF file of the manual. Gale KM4DR From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Fri Apr 10 12:18:46 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 11:18:46 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" Message-ID: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as for 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those antennas down to a size that is more manageable?? Does height over ground still apply with this breakthrough?? antenna-chip.cfm Gary J N5BAA From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Fri Apr 10 13:10:20 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:10:20 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> References: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> Message-ID: <0BD470D2B55E44ABB54EDA589B9BB925@GaryPC> My bad for the bad link to this article. It should be: http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2015/apr/antenna-chip.cfm Gary J N5BAA -----Original Message----- From: Gary J - N5BAA Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 11:18 AM To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as for 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those antennas down to a size that is more manageable?? Does height over ground still apply with this breakthrough?? antenna-chip.cfm Gary J N5BAA ______________________________________________________________ HCARC mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Fri Apr 10 13:15:13 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:15:13 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> References: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> Message-ID: <55280521.2040202@hughes.net> Hi Gary, I wasn't sure I wanted to get into this discussion but since you want to I will join you. I really can't decide what these guys are talking about. The first thing I think is confusing is when he talks about this may be where electromagnetics and quantum mechanics cross over. Well, the two great physics theories of the 20th century, quantum mechanics and relativity, are consistent with classical physics. You can solve very simple problems with quantum mechanics and relativity. What actually happens is when you are in the world of the ordinary, both quantum theory and relativity reduce to classical physics. Classical physics is a special case of relativity and quantum theory. You can't do anything with classical physics that you can't also do with quantum physics and relativistic physics. The converse is not true. Classical physics is incapable of solving problems involving relativistic and/or quantum considerations. The name of the field that includes electromagnetism and quantum physics is called quantum electrodynamics - and its not for the casual reader! I don't believe any one has an adequate understanding of how electromagnetic waves are created. We have various models which can be used to predict the generation of electromagnetic waves under specific circumstances. I'm sure you remember from school that there are two different descriptions of electromagnetic radiation. One is a particle description using photons. This description is essential to describing adequately things like the photoelectric effect. The second description is the wave description which is essential to describing interference patterns. Usually the wave and particle natures of electromagnetic waves are discussed with visible light but they apply across the entire spectrum from DC to gamma rays and beyond. From this it should be obvious that neither one is a real accurate description of the physics of electromagnetic radiation, each only applies to specific situations. Now when it comes down to the physical size of antennas, antenna theory already allows for infinitesimal antennas. The theory works adequately for very small antennas, but of course there is no way to build a true infinitesimal antenna! While very small antennas work just fine they suffer from poor efficiency and very broad beams. That is why people don't use them except for very special situations. Note that antenna theory has no real concept of how the electromagnetic wave is generated. It just allows you to determine how to control it and use it. Now lets talk about what I think these guys are up to. One of the major problems with computers is how to move data around on chips. When computers had small memories were slow and handled 8 bits at a time, interconnecting conductors were not an issue. Times have changed. Now computer guys want to talk about massively parallel processors and huge parallel access memories. Think about how you might move 1000 bit parallel data around on a chip! Some work is being done using light signals to carry information around the chip. I think the work described in the paper you attached is to look at alternatives to lasers and photodetectors on chips. As far as 160/80/40 m antennas, this has no conceivable application. Just my opinion. Have fun, Kerry On 4/10/2015 11:18 AM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as for 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those antennas down to a size that is more manageable?? Does height over ground still apply with this breakthrough?? > > antenna-chip.cfm > > Gary J > N5BAA > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Fri Apr 10 13:31:42 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:31:42 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <0BD470D2B55E44ABB54EDA589B9BB925@GaryPC> References: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> <0BD470D2B55E44ABB54EDA589B9BB925@GaryPC> Message-ID: <552808FE.3050700@hughes.net> Gary, the text is the same in both links, only the pictures are different. Kerry On 4/10/2015 12:10 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > My bad for the bad link to this article. It should be: > http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2015/apr/antenna-chip.cfm > > Gary J > N5BAA > > -----Original Message----- From: Gary J - N5BAA > Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 11:18 AM > To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" > > How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as > for 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those antennas > down to a size that is more manageable?? Does height over ground > still apply with this breakthrough?? > > antenna-chip.cfm > > Gary J > N5BAA > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > From cw4evr at hctc.net Fri Apr 10 17:23:16 2015 From: cw4evr at hctc.net (Fred) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 16:23:16 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" Message-ID: <5021B56113ED45BA9FDF22BBAE6E8446@hamde306cf46dc> Some years back a friend and I wrote an article for our local club newsletter for the April issue, on a "Futuristic All-band Kinetic Emitter" antenna. This antenna in less than one cubic foot of space would work 1.8 to 30 MC. It used a DC electric motor to quickly rotate the S shaped dipole element and "sling" the RF signal off giving it greater coverage. In the receive mode it turned in the opposite direction thus "sucking" the signals in for better reception. It was built by F.A.K.E. Industries (after the name of the antenna) and we advertised it for only $395 dollars as the startup special when production started. We did receive one order with a check to get on the waiting list, the person ordering it wanted a small 160 meter antenna. There's one born every day . One might take a close look at the B&W dipole which has a 100 watt 50 ohm resistor across the feed point. No wonder it has a good SWR, it just does not radiate very good. From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Fri Apr 10 19:33:34 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:33:34 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <55280521.2040202@hughes.net> References: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> <55280521.2040202@hughes.net> Message-ID: Damn Kerry - just when I thought that something really cool (as if 100 watts talking to Australia is not cool enough - and it is!!) was about to happen and using it I could build a 40/80/160 meter antenna that would fit on a push up pole at 20 feet above the ground, you have to trash all of my dreams and bring it back to earth. OH well, you can't fault me for at least reading and hoping. BTW, Fred - your antenna theory belongs in the April QST which I still don't like nor read. Kerry - are you sure there isn't something out there where no one has added 1+1+1 and come up with 3??? We have to have hope don't we?? Gary J N5BAA -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 12:15 PM To: Gary J - N5BAA ; HCARC Reflector Subject: Re: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" Hi Gary, I wasn't sure I wanted to get into this discussion but since you want to I will join you. I really can't decide what these guys are talking about. The first thing I think is confusing is when he talks about this may be where electromagnetics and quantum mechanics cross over. Well, the two great physics theories of the 20th century, quantum mechanics and relativity, are consistent with classical physics. You can solve very simple problems with quantum mechanics and relativity. What actually happens is when you are in the world of the ordinary, both quantum theory and relativity reduce to classical physics. Classical physics is a special case of relativity and quantum theory. You can't do anything with classical physics that you can't also do with quantum physics and relativistic physics. The converse is not true. Classical physics is incapable of solving problems involving relativistic and/or quantum considerations. The name of the field that includes electromagnetism and quantum physics is called quantum electrodynamics - and its not for the casual reader! I don't believe any one has an adequate understanding of how electromagnetic waves are created. We have various models which can be used to predict the generation of electromagnetic waves under specific circumstances. I'm sure you remember from school that there are two different descriptions of electromagnetic radiation. One is a particle description using photons. This description is essential to describing adequately things like the photoelectric effect. The second description is the wave description which is essential to describing interference patterns. Usually the wave and particle natures of electromagnetic waves are discussed with visible light but they apply across the entire spectrum from DC to gamma rays and beyond. From this it should be obvious that neither one is a real accurate description of the physics of electromagnetic radiation, each only applies to specific situations. Now when it comes down to the physical size of antennas, antenna theory already allows for infinitesimal antennas. The theory works adequately for very small antennas, but of course there is no way to build a true infinitesimal antenna! While very small antennas work just fine they suffer from poor efficiency and very broad beams. That is why people don't use them except for very special situations. Note that antenna theory has no real concept of how the electromagnetic wave is generated. It just allows you to determine how to control it and use it. Now lets talk about what I think these guys are up to. One of the major problems with computers is how to move data around on chips. When computers had small memories were slow and handled 8 bits at a time, interconnecting conductors were not an issue. Times have changed. Now computer guys want to talk about massively parallel processors and huge parallel access memories. Think about how you might move 1000 bit parallel data around on a chip! Some work is being done using light signals to carry information around the chip. I think the work described in the paper you attached is to look at alternatives to lasers and photodetectors on chips. As far as 160/80/40 m antennas, this has no conceivable application. Just my opinion. Have fun, Kerry On 4/10/2015 11:18 AM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as for > 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those antennas down to > a size that is more manageable?? Does height over ground still apply with > this breakthrough?? > > antenna-chip.cfm > > Gary J > N5BAA > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Fri Apr 10 19:59:42 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:59:42 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <5021B56113ED45BA9FDF22BBAE6E8446@hamde306cf46dc> References: <5021B56113ED45BA9FDF22BBAE6E8446@hamde306cf46dc> Message-ID: <552863EE.7010003@hughes.net> Fred, The government bought a bunch of those B&W antennas. I'm sure the spec was for broadband SWR. the gain was probably not even specified. It was about -6 dB, probably not much worse than the real gain of other broadband antennas. In my lab days one of our researchers was working on a detector for the vector potential associated with an electromagnetic source. One of the problems is the detector was overwhelmed by any electromagnetic fields. Our challenge was to design and build an "antenna" that wouldn't radiate! Heaven only knows what people made of that work! The academic world is driven by "publish or perish" so a lot of stuff that should never be published is. A lot of researchers/small companies are looking for stuff to patent. Unfortunately our current patent system is broke. A lot of stuff gets patented that should never have been. The companies then try to claim infringement on their patent and the lawyers get rich. The validity of the patent is left up to the courts to decide. Unfortunately a letter or paper in a professional journal has little to do with reality. I am aware (actually, much more than aware) of a series of papers that appeared over a ten year period of time in a peer reviewed technical publication. It turned out that the original premise was bogus! Who knows how much research money was squandered on that premise. Another case is the British medical journal, The Lancet. The Lancet has a section that is unreviewed letters. Often you will see these letters quoted in newspapers, magazines and news shows. In reality, it is unlikely that most of these letters could ever get published if there was a peer review. One of my fondest memories was debating with another co-worker about which one of us was assigned to the dumbest project. He finally became part of my project at which point he turned to me and said, "You win." I don't think our chief ever figured out what we were debating! Just because it is in a technical journal and on the the internet doesn't mean it is real. Kerry On 4/10/2015 4:23 PM, Fred wrote: > Some years back a friend and I wrote an article for our local club newsletter for the April issue, on a "Futuristic All-band Kinetic Emitter" antenna. This antenna in less than one cubic foot of space would work 1.8 to 30 MC. It used a DC electric motor to quickly rotate the S shaped dipole element and "sling" the RF signal off giving it greater coverage. In the receive mode it turned in the opposite direction thus "sucking" the signals in for better reception. It was built by F.A.K.E. Industries (after the name of the antenna) and we advertised it for only $395 dollars as the startup special when production started. We did receive one order with a check to get on the waiting list, the person ordering it wanted a small 160 meter antenna. There's one born every day . One might take a close look at the B&W dipole which has a 100 watt 50 ohm resistor across the feed point. No wonder it has a good SWR, it just does not radiate very good. > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > From galeheise at windstream.net Fri Apr 10 20:16:36 2015 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:16:36 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Fw: Georgia QSO party Message-ID: Anyone interested in working counties in the Georgia QSO Party might be interested in the information in this forwarded email. Gale KM4DR From: Jan Heise Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 5:05 PM To: galeheise at windstream.net Subject: FW: Georgia QSO party Gale, Hope that we get a chance to work you. PCARS Members, This weekend is the Georgia QSO party. It is 2:00PM ? Midnight Saturday and 10:00AM to 8:00PM Sunday. You can get info at this address: http://www.georgiaqsoparty.org Chuck AD4ES has organized a team using his call and we plan to operate in almost 50 counties. The team for GQP consists of Chuck, Erick K9es, Mike KE4YGT and Jan K4QD. This is a checkout of his van that is equipped for a Multi-op, two station operation. One station will operate primarily 20M and mostly CW, and the other will operate 15M, 10M and 40M phone and CW. This is primarily a checkout of the van for the upcoming FQP. We will try to operate within 10KHZ +/- of the suggested frequencies below. When changing bands station 2 will try to return to the same frequencies each time. Rumor is that the team will buy lunch for any club member who works us in every county we operate. Suggested Frequencies: Phone (Look for SSB activity on the hour) 3.810, 7.190, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450 CW 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.045, 28.045, Here is the sequence we plan to operate in the counties in the Southeast part of GA. Saturday Sunday Echols Bibb Lowndes Twiggs Lanier Wilkinson Clinch Bleckley Atkinson Dodge Berrien Laurens Cook Wheeler Tift Treutlen Irwin Montgomery Coffee Toombs Jeff Davis Emanuel Telfair Candler Ben Hill Tattnall Wilcox Evans Turner Bullock Crisp Bryan Dooly Liberty Pulaski Long Houston Wayne Peach Appling Bibb Bacon Pierce Ware Brantley Charlton Camden From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Fri Apr 10 21:21:44 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:21:44 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <552863EE.7010003@hughes.net> References: <5021B56113ED45BA9FDF22BBAE6E8446@hamde306cf46dc> <552863EE.7010003@hughes.net> Message-ID: <94E100E40DE04930847F47101D911387@GaryPC> " I am aware (actually, much more than aware) of a series of papers that appeared over a ten year period of time in a peer reviewed technical publication. It turned out that the original premise was bogus! Who knows how much research money was squandered on that premise. " GLOBAL WARMING perhaps?? Gary J N5BAA -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 6:59 PM To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" Fred, The government bought a bunch of those B&W antennas. I'm sure the spec was for broadband SWR. the gain was probably not even specified. It was about -6 dB, probably not much worse than the real gain of other broadband antennas. In my lab days one of our researchers was working on a detector for the vector potential associated with an electromagnetic source. One of the problems is the detector was overwhelmed by any electromagnetic fields. Our challenge was to design and build an "antenna" that wouldn't radiate! Heaven only knows what people made of that work! The academic world is driven by "publish or perish" so a lot of stuff that should never be published is. A lot of researchers/small companies are looking for stuff to patent. Unfortunately our current patent system is broke. A lot of stuff gets patented that should never have been. The companies then try to claim infringement on their patent and the lawyers get rich. The validity of the patent is left up to the courts to decide. Unfortunately a letter or paper in a professional journal has little to do with reality. I am aware (actually, much more than aware) of a series of papers that appeared over a ten year period of time in a peer reviewed technical publication. It turned out that the original premise was bogus! Who knows how much research money was squandered on that premise. Another case is the British medical journal, The Lancet. The Lancet has a section that is unreviewed letters. Often you will see these letters quoted in newspapers, magazines and news shows. In reality, it is unlikely that most of these letters could ever get published if there was a peer review. One of my fondest memories was debating with another co-worker about which one of us was assigned to the dumbest project. He finally became part of my project at which point he turned to me and said, "You win." I don't think our chief ever figured out what we were debating! Just because it is in a technical journal and on the the internet doesn't mean it is real. Kerry On 4/10/2015 4:23 PM, Fred wrote: > Some years back a friend and I wrote an article for our local club > newsletter for the April issue, on a "Futuristic All-band Kinetic Emitter" > antenna. This antenna in less than one cubic foot of space would work 1.8 > to 30 MC. It used a DC electric motor to quickly rotate the S shaped > dipole element and "sling" the RF signal off giving it greater coverage. > In the receive mode it turned in the opposite direction thus "sucking" the > signals in for better reception. It was built by F.A.K.E. Industries > (after the name of the antenna) and we advertised it for only $395 dollars > as the startup special when production started. We did receive one order > with a check to get on the waiting list, the person ordering it wanted a > small 160 meter antenna. There's one born every day . One might take a > close look at the B&W dipole which has a 100 watt 50 ohm resistor across > the feed point. No wonder it has a good SWR, it just does not radiate > very good. > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ HCARC mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Fri Apr 10 21:22:54 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:22:54 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: References: <6526012DB9AE45FAA3B131399139B37F@GaryPC> <55280521.2040202@hughes.net> Message-ID: <5528776E.70809@hughes.net> Gary, I'm an engineer - I don't really care about what is really going on as long as I have equations I can use to predict the things I'm interested in. I don't think anyone really knows why a dipole works, but for an engineer, it doesn't matter. I have a model and the equations I need to design one. Let the physicists and mathematicians argue to their hearts content. Their are a few basic rules which allow you to estimate the performance of an antenna. The rules basically allow you to determine the maximum gain of an antenna given its aperture size in wavelengths, the minimum beamwidth given the aperture size and the aperture energy distribution and the sidelobe levels given the aperture distribution. For EE's and hams you don't need much more! Many many years ago, Ed Tilton, W1HDQ, the ARRL VHF technical guy for decades, said that adding more elements than the guidelines suggested, only made an antenna a better bird roost. Indeed you can cheat a bit and use more elements than required. The result is called a "super gain", actually a better term is a "super directive " antenna. Gain is Directivity multiplied by efficiency. As you know, there is no free lunch so what is the penalty. It seems that once the Gain of the super gain antenna exceeds the normal gain for a given aperture by 1 dB, the gain starts going down. This is because as elements get closer and closer together they begin to interact more with each other. These interactions reduce the antennas bandwidth and reduce its efficiency. In effect the Directivity keeps increasing but the efficiency is dropping faster than the Directivity is increasing so the Gain is headed down. Additionally the antenna becomes increasingly difficult to match over any reasonable bandwidth. There are always people out there trying to do just a little better. For most hams I think if we can just get stuff to work as it is supposed to we would be the big signal on the band. No magic is required, just knowing what we are doing and actually doing it. Have fun, Kerry On 4/10/2015 6:33 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > Damn Kerry - just when I thought that something really cool (as if 100 > watts talking to Australia is not cool enough - and it is!!) was about > to happen and using it I could build a 40/80/160 meter antenna that > would fit on a push up pole at 20 feet above the ground, you have to > trash all of my dreams and bring it back to earth. OH well, you can't > fault me for at least reading and hoping. BTW, Fred - your antenna > theory belongs in the April QST which I still don't like nor read. > Kerry - are you sure there isn't something out there where no one has > added 1+1+1 and come up with 3??? We have to have hope don't we?? > > Gary J > N5BAA > > -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom > Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 12:15 PM > To: Gary J - N5BAA ; HCARC Reflector > Subject: Re: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" > > Hi Gary, > > I wasn't sure I wanted to get into this discussion but since you want to > I will join you. I really can't decide what these guys are talking > about. The first thing I think is confusing is when he talks about this > may be where electromagnetics and quantum mechanics cross over. Well, > the two great physics theories of the 20th century, quantum mechanics > and relativity, are consistent with classical physics. You can solve > very simple problems with quantum mechanics and relativity. What > actually happens is when you are in the world of the ordinary, both > quantum theory and relativity reduce to classical physics. Classical > physics is a special case of relativity and quantum theory. You can't > do anything with classical physics that you can't also do with quantum > physics and relativistic physics. The converse is not true. Classical > physics is incapable of solving problems involving relativistic and/or > quantum considerations. The name of the field that includes > electromagnetism and quantum physics is called quantum electrodynamics - > and its not for the casual reader! > > I don't believe any one has an adequate understanding of how > electromagnetic waves are created. We have various models which can be > used to predict the generation of electromagnetic waves under specific > circumstances. I'm sure you remember from school that there are two > different descriptions of electromagnetic radiation. One is a particle > description using photons. This description is essential to describing > adequately things like the photoelectric effect. The second description > is the wave description which is essential to describing interference > patterns. Usually the wave and particle natures of electromagnetic > waves are discussed with visible light but they apply across the entire > spectrum from DC to gamma rays and beyond. From this it should be > obvious that neither one is a real accurate description of the physics > of electromagnetic radiation, each only applies to specific situations. > > Now when it comes down to the physical size of antennas, antenna theory > already allows for infinitesimal antennas. The theory works adequately > for very small antennas, but of course there is no way to build a true > infinitesimal antenna! While very small antennas work just fine they > suffer from poor efficiency and very broad beams. That is why people > don't use them except for very special situations. Note that antenna > theory has no real concept of how the electromagnetic wave is > generated. It just allows you to determine how to control it and use it. > > Now lets talk about what I think these guys are up to. One of the major > problems with computers is how to move data around on chips. When > computers had small memories were slow and handled 8 bits at a time, > interconnecting conductors were not an issue. Times have changed. Now > computer guys want to talk about massively parallel processors and huge > parallel access memories. Think about how you might move 1000 bit > parallel data around on a chip! Some work is being done using light > signals to carry information around the chip. I think the work > described in the paper you attached is to look at alternatives to lasers > and photodetectors on chips. > > As far as 160/80/40 m antennas, this has no conceivable application. > Just my opinion. > > Have fun, > > Kerry > > On 4/10/2015 11:18 AM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: >> How might this breakthrough affect lower frequency antennas such as >> for 40/80/160 meters?? Might we finally be able to get those >> antennas down to a size that is more manageable?? Does height over >> ground still apply with this breakthrough?? >> >> antenna-chip.cfm >> >> Gary J >> N5BAA >> ______________________________________________________________ >> HCARC mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 > From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Sat Apr 11 10:10:08 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 09:10:08 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Expected Solar Activity Message-ID: <55292B40.60904@hughes.net> A large and complex appearing sunspot group has just come around the limb. I believe it will provide some interesting propagation over the next 1 - 2 weeks. Be sure to check the higher bands from time to time in the next week or so. Kerry From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Sat Apr 11 10:50:22 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 09:50:22 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" In-Reply-To: <94E100E40DE04930847F47101D911387@GaryPC> References: <5021B56113ED45BA9FDF22BBAE6E8446@hamde306cf46dc> <552863EE.7010003@hughes.net> <94E100E40DE04930847F47101D911387@GaryPC> Message-ID: <552934AE.1080908@hughes.net> Gary, You guessed wrong, it isn't Global Warming. Global Warming is an example of another problem - it is an example of a scientific debate that was hijacked by a bunch of idiot politicians from both sides who had no knowledge of what they were talking about. As always, just my opinion! The articles I'm talking about appeared in the "IEEE Transactions on EMC" in the 70's, 80's and 90's. They were written by Prof. Henning Harmuth of The Catholic University and his graduate students and all dealt with nonsinusoidal signals. These were of interest because there were numerous Ultra Wideband (UWB) systems being proposed for radar, communications, etc. A large number of industry and government people seemed to believe UWB was "magic" and could be used to solve many difficult problems such as detecting stealth objects and penetrating shielded areas. Harmuth's papers basically claimed that UWB or nonsinusoidal signals didn't obey Maxwell's equations. As you might imagine, this was a controversial claim! No one really wanted to touch these papers except for an editor of the EMC Transactions who was a friend of Harmuth's and found a "friendly" group of reviewers so the papers were published. After years of battles I believe the premise that Maxwell's equations don't apply to nonsinusoidal signals has been shown to be false. I was working in that field for most of that period. That's the story. Kerry On 4/10/2015 8:21 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > " I am aware (actually, much more > than aware) of a series of papers that appeared over a ten year period > of time in a peer reviewed technical publication. It turned out that > the original premise was bogus! Who knows how much research money was > squandered on that premise. " > > GLOBAL WARMING perhaps?? > > Gary J > N5BAA > > -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom > Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 6:59 PM > To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [HCARC] "Antennas on A Chip" > > Fred, > > The government bought a bunch of those B&W antennas. I'm sure the spec > was for broadband SWR. the gain was probably not even specified. It > was about -6 dB, probably not much worse than the real gain of other > broadband antennas. > > In my lab days one of our researchers was working on a detector for the > vector potential associated with an electromagnetic source. One of the > problems is the detector was overwhelmed by any electromagnetic fields. > Our challenge was to design and build an "antenna" that wouldn't > radiate! Heaven only knows what people made of that work! > > The academic world is driven by "publish or perish" so a lot of stuff > that should never be published is. A lot of researchers/small companies > are looking for stuff to patent. Unfortunately our current patent > system is broke. A lot of stuff gets patented that should never have > been. The companies then try to claim infringement on their patent and > the lawyers get rich. The validity of the patent is left up to the > courts to decide. Unfortunately a letter or paper in a professional > journal has little to do with reality. I am aware (actually, much more > than aware) of a series of papers that appeared over a ten year period > of time in a peer reviewed technical publication. It turned out that > the original premise was bogus! Who knows how much research money was > squandered on that premise. Another case is the British medical > journal, The Lancet. The Lancet has a section that is unreviewed > letters. Often you will see these letters quoted in newspapers, > magazines and news shows. In reality, it is unlikely that most of these > letters could ever get published if there was a peer review. > > One of my fondest memories was debating with another co-worker about > which one of us was assigned to the dumbest project. He finally became > part of my project at which point he turned to me and said, "You win." > I don't think our chief ever figured out what we were debating! > > Just because it is in a technical journal and on the the internet > doesn't mean it is real. > > Kerry > > > > On 4/10/2015 4:23 PM, Fred wrote: >> Some years back a friend and I wrote an article for our local club >> newsletter for the April issue, on a "Futuristic All-band Kinetic >> Emitter" antenna. This antenna in less than one cubic foot of space >> would work 1.8 to 30 MC. It used a DC electric motor to quickly >> rotate the S shaped dipole element and "sling" the RF signal off >> giving it greater coverage. In the receive mode it turned in the >> opposite direction thus "sucking" the signals in for better >> reception. It was built by F.A.K.E. Industries (after the name of the >> antenna) and we advertised it for only $395 dollars as the startup >> special when production started. We did receive one order with a >> check to get on the waiting list, the person ordering it wanted a >> small 160 meter antenna. There's one born every day . One might take >> a close look at the B&W dipole which has a 100 watt 50 ohm resistor >> across the feed point. No wonder it has a good SWR, it just does not >> radiate very good. >> ______________________________________________________________ >> HCARC mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > > > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 > From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Sat Apr 11 21:34:06 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:34:06 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Expected Solar Activity In-Reply-To: <55292B40.60904@hughes.net> References: <55292B40.60904@hughes.net> Message-ID: <67E83388FCF24896832F5F11CC8C8FA0@GaryPC> Thank you Kerry. I guess I need to get my new HexBeam antenna up and take advantage of it. DW has been keeping me ultra busy in the yard doing the things that she isn't capable of landscaping wise. My OCFD is coming down and going to one of our Techs who will be passing (confidence!!) his General test in May. We put up a G5RV for him the other day, but it's from MFJ and they weren't exactly truthful with their advertisements that it is a "Magic Antenna". Ain't no magic, not here, nowhere. MFJ said that 20 meters was the primary band that their G5RV was designed for. Best at about 35 feet we could get was an SWR of 3:1. Called MFJ and they said what were we complaining about - they said that the best most people get is 4:1 unless it's at about 60-80 feet up. Yeah, like anyone can get or would put a G5RV up that high in Texas (ain't no trees that high). Much easier to make one of Dale's OCFD antennas that are resonant at 30 feet up. Gary J N5BAA -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 9:10 AM To: HCARC Reflector Subject: [HCARC] Expected Solar Activity A large and complex appearing sunspot group has just come around the limb. I believe it will provide some interesting propagation over the next 1 - 2 weeks. Be sure to check the higher bands from time to time in the next week or so. Kerry ______________________________________________________________ HCARC mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Sat Apr 11 22:22:28 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:22:28 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Expected Solar Activity In-Reply-To: <67E83388FCF24896832F5F11CC8C8FA0@GaryPC> References: <55292B40.60904@hughes.net> <67E83388FCF24896832F5F11CC8C8FA0@GaryPC> Message-ID: <5529D6E4.5070106@hughes.net> Gary, Today didn't seem very good. I looked at the Austin ionosonde a few times today and it appeared to be having a problem getting any signal reflected backCfrom the ionosphere. The newly visible sunspot group has been pretty active with several C-class flares. The x-ray background level is almost up to the C0 level so absorption has been up. No antenna is "magic" and don't ever forget that. A lot of manufacturers will claim their antenna is magic and provide testimonials galore, but its not true. As I've said before, for a new guy the best antenna is the longest dipole he can put up, as high as he can get it and a good antenna tuner. Trap dipoles, Carolina Windoms, G5RV OCF dipoles, etc will never perform as well as you expect. Remember that all those antennas date from the days when transmitters had Pi-net outputs that could match anything from 25 - 600 Ohm impedance. Anyway, good luck to you and the probable new general. Kerry On 4/11/2015 8:34 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote: > Thank you Kerry. I guess I need to get my new HexBeam antenna up and > take advantage of it. DW has been keeping me ultra busy in the yard > doing the things that she isn't capable of landscaping wise. My OCFD > is coming down and going to one of our Techs who will be passing > (confidence!!) his General test in May. We put up a G5RV for him the > other day, but it's from MFJ and they weren't exactly truthful with > their advertisements that it is a "Magic Antenna". Ain't no magic, > not here, nowhere. MFJ said that 20 meters was the primary band that > their G5RV was designed for. Best at about 35 feet we could get was > an SWR of 3:1. Called MFJ and they said what were we complaining about > - they said that the best most people get is 4:1 unless it's at about > 60-80 feet up. Yeah, like anyone can get or would put a G5RV up that > high in Texas (ain't no trees that high). Much easier to make one of > Dale's OCFD antennas that are resonant at 30 feet up. > > Gary J > N5BAA > > -----Original Message----- From: Kerry Sandstrom > Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 9:10 AM > To: HCARC Reflector > Subject: [HCARC] Expected Solar Activity > > A large and complex appearing sunspot group has just come around the > limb. I believe it will provide some interesting propagation over the > next 1 - 2 weeks. Be sure to check the higher bands from time to time > in the next week or so. > > Kerry > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4328/9504 - Release Date: 04/10/15 > From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Sun Apr 12 20:47:51 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2015 19:47:51 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update Message-ID: <552B1237.1010602@hughes.net> The solar flux was 134 today . I expect it will go a lot higher as the big sunspot group moves across the sun over the next ten days or so. It looks to me like thereis a nother active group coming right after the current big one as there seems to a quite a bit of activity beyond the sun's limb. There have been quite a few flares in the last couple days so that makes life a little more difficult but more exciting! Have fun, Kerry From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Mon Apr 13 13:18:37 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 12:18:37 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 2 Message-ID: <552BFA6D.20604@hughes.net> The next large sunspot group appeared today. It is at the same latitude as the previous large group. It looks quite promising. There is still another group near the equator that hasn't appeared yet but should show up in the next day or two. The background X-ray level continues at near the C0 level so absorption remains a factor. Have fun, Kerry From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Wed Apr 15 09:54:51 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 08:54:51 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 3 Message-ID: <552E6DAB.1080609@hughes.net> This morning there is another active sunspot group coming around the limb. This one is in the sun's southern hemisphere. Yesterdays solar flux was 147. I believe it will continue to rise for a while longer. Have fun, Kerry From billandmattie at windstream.net Wed Apr 15 12:36:34 2015 From: billandmattie at windstream.net (Bill Tynan) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:36:34 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 3 In-Reply-To: <552E6DAB.1080609@hughes.net> References: <552E6DAB.1080609@hughes.net> Message-ID: <003001d0779a$564955e0$02dc01a0$@windstream.net> Last evening, about 8:00 PM (01:00 UT) as I was preparing to get on the regular Tuesday evening 222 MHz get-together and was across the room, I heard the white noise slowly increase. It had been about -138 to -140 dBm. When I looked at the meter, it read about -128 dBm. I was aimed east at the time, away from the setting sun, but I believe that the noise increase was caused by a marked increase in solar noise. I turned the beam west and noted some increase in noise as the noise level was receding. I have noted this phenomenon on numerous occasions in the past, with the noise level increasing on both 6 and 2 meters. So,, yes, the old Sun is acting up. 73, Bill, W3XO/5 -----Original Message----- From: HCARC [mailto:hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Kerry Sandstrom Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 8:55 AM To: HCARC Reflector Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 3 This morning there is another active sunspot group coming around the limb. This one is in the sun's southern hemisphere. Yesterdays solar flux was 147. I believe it will continue to rise for a while longer. Have fun, Kerry ______________________________________________________________ HCARC mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Wed Apr 15 15:22:40 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 14:22:40 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 3 In-Reply-To: <003001d0779a$564955e0$02dc01a0$@windstream.net> References: <552E6DAB.1080609@hughes.net> <003001d0779a$564955e0$02dc01a0$@windstream.net> Message-ID: <552EBA80.1010303@hughes.net> Bill I wasn't able to find anything noteworthy around 01 UT ( 8 PM local). Earlier yesterday, ~16 -17 UT there were some pretty impressive loops on the sun's limb where the next spot group showed up today. There haven't been any big flares recently but several C-class flares and the X-ray background is running about C0. It does look like a pretty active period for the sun. There are now 4 pretty impressive groups on the rising part of the sun. The biggest of the groups is under some debate on whether it is 1 group or 2 or 3 groups in close proximity. In any event it looks pretty magnetically complex. Back in the 70's I remember one big noise burst. I "saw" it on TV Channel 2. I was living in San Antonio at the time and often had the TV on with the antenna pointed east towards Houston checking on tropo. Usually could see the Houston Channel 2. On this particular morning the picture quickly became solid white and then faded back slowly and the tropo signal gradually rose out of the noise. Many times I heard the noise bursts on 6 and 10 m but only once did I see it on TV. When the bursts were associated with an X-flare, the noise would quickly rise to cover all the signals, including the S9 signals. When the noise faded down there was not a signal to be heard. It is important to remember that after a flare the bands open from the highest frequency down as the absorption gradually subsides. Its amazing how powerful the sun is. Kerry On 4/15/2015 11:36 AM, Bill Tynan wrote: > Last evening, about 8:00 PM (01:00 UT) as I was preparing to get on the > regular Tuesday evening 222 MHz get-together and was across the room, I > heard the white noise slowly increase. It had been about -138 to -140 dBm. > When I looked at the meter, it read about -128 dBm. I was aimed east at the > time, away from the setting sun, but I believe that the noise increase was > caused by a marked increase in solar noise. I turned the beam west and noted > some increase in noise as the noise level was receding. > > I have noted this phenomenon on numerous occasions in the past, with the > noise level increasing on both 6 and 2 meters. > > So,, yes, the old Sun is acting up. > > 73, > > Bill, W3XO/5 > > -----Original Message----- > From: HCARC [mailto:hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Kerry > Sandstrom > Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 8:55 AM > To: HCARC Reflector > Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity Update 3 > > This morning there is another active sunspot group coming around the limb. > This one is in the sun's southern hemisphere. Yesterdays solar flux was > 147. I believe it will continue to rise for a while longer. > > Have fun, > > Kerry > ______________________________________________________________ > HCARC mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Thu Apr 16 22:04:30 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:04:30 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Ohio NVIS Antenna Day Message-ID: <0FC0B893396444C9BCBB80E55B459BAD@GaryPC> Interesting!! ?Ohio ARES to Sponsor "NVIS Antenna Day" Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) will sponsor "NVIS Antenna Day" on Saturday, April 25. The idea, said Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL, is to determine if the sometimes-vaunted near-vertical incidence skywave -- or NVIS -- concept really works as an antenna for emergency communication on HF. NVIS is a technique for using HF for highly reliable short-range communication. Typical elevation plane pattern for half-wavelength antennas one-eighth wavelength or less above ground. [From the presentation "Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS)."] "We are encouraging groups in every Ohio county to devise several portable NVIS antennas that they think will perform, and then actually test them on the air," Broadway said. The program grew out of an annual antenna party in Ashtabula County that has been both operating event and early spring picnic, he explained. Participants "found a vast difference in actual antenna performance, and have been able to narrow down their choices for a real emergency setup," he explained. Ashtabula County Amateur Radio Club-ARES is sponsoring NVIS Antenna Day. Ohio ARES NVIS Antenna Day will begin at 1400 UTC with operation on both 40 and 80 meters at 100 W, "as you might during a real emergency," Broadway said. "While a typical session might go through the afternoon, there is no official closing time." He pointed out that while those taking part in NVIS Antenna Day don't have to set up a completely portable or remote station, the location should offer sufficient space for several antennas and be in a fairly quiet RF environment. Suggested frequencies are 7240, 7244, 7248, and 7250 kHz, and 3850, 3870, and 3930 kHz on SSB and 3585 and 7072 for digital modes, all plus or minus existing activity. Broadway stressed that the event is not a contest but is aimed specifically at determining the best of several NVIS antenna designs through signal reports and coverage area. "A group could very well make several contacts with the same station as they try different antennas," he said. "Stations at key locations, such as the Ohio EOC, will be on the air." Assistant Ashtabula (Ohio) Emergency Coordinator Don Kocina, KD8OSZ (left), and Assistant District 10 Emergency Coordinator Tim Price, K8WFL, assemble an antenna in the field. [Bob Woodworth, WD8PVB, photo] Broadway asked participating groups to list their top three antennas with descriptions and photos. "Ohio ARES will see if any particular antenna design bubbles up as the top performer across the entire state," he said. "Antenna experimentation is an integral part of the hobby, and the outcome will benefit each ARES group or club by helping to create an arsenal that can be deployed during a real emergency." As an added benefit, he noted, the event could also be a terrific opportunity to test potential Field Day antennas. NVIS Antenna Day is open to all hams, and Broadway hopes they will become interested in joining their local ARES organizations. A poster/report form is available. For more information, contact Ashtabula ARC-ARES. -- Thanks to Ohio SEC Stan Broadway, N8BHL? Gary J N5BAA From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Thu Apr 16 22:54:45 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:54:45 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Field Day 2015 Message-ID: <0B04D1E519A74AE299DF05DD61A40826@GaryPC> I received a return phone call from Coach Chris Ramirez of Our Lady Of The Hills Catholic School approving our request to use their Basketball Court facilities for Field Day. Cost is the same as two years ago ? $200.00 and we have access and use Friday, Sat, and Sunday, 26-28 June. $300.00 was approved for Field Day so funds wise we are good. Please be thinking about types of antennas you would like to see us use. I will be happy to provide my new HexBeam, Tony Moore will bring his OCFD Dipole made from Dale Gaudier?s plans. There is a Butternut Butterfly beam antenna available also. If you drive by the pavilion on Hwy 27 you will notice that the pavilion is right next to their football field which has 4 light towers that are approximately 50 feet high. I need to measure, but I think it would be possible to put up a Loop Skywire ( http://n1su.com/loop.html ) that should be able to be sized to do 10-160 meters. If not a loop then maybe an inverted L or two for 40/80. Two years ago we attached masts to their goal posts and they provided a good secure mount for the weekend. We are in much better shape mast wise this year than two years ago. In addition to the club tower trailer there are at least two and maybe 3 portable 32-36 foot crank up masts, and several 28-32 foot push up masts. In addition, numerous club members have multiple sets of the Military Surplus 4 foot aluminum/fiberglass antenna mast sections. Robert Russell has an ingenious mast support system that is truly portable. We will need to find a generator. I just received 500 feet of LMR-240 coax that is available for use. Gary J N5BAA From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Tue Apr 21 20:15:41 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:15:41 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Us Islands Awards Program or What It Feels LIke On The Other Side Of A Pile Up Message-ID: <12A9233A74EB46D097A21DC1952AF2F4@GaryPC> Great article in the May QST on the US Islands Awards Program. Unlike IOTA, the US version found at www.usislands.org allows islands in Fresh Water. Of an estimated 18,000 islands in the US approx 2800 have been activated. What constitutes an Island you ask ? First is a recognized name, second the island must be at least 100 feet long, and last must be at least 50 feet from shore on all sides. You can propose your island to www.usislands.org and if accepted then you (or someone else) needs to activate it by making 25 contacts with at least 2 being DXCC entities. There are no activated islands within Kerr County. I know of 3-4 without thinking hard about it including Pecan Island which is in the 14 acre private lake in my neighborhood of Pecan Valley Game Preserve. The named spoil Islands down at Corpus are ripe for the picking ? fishing and Ham Radio ? how good is that?? Anyone interested in being on the ?Other Side Of A Pile Up??? The weekend of May 9 is the 2015 date for the US Islands Special Event. Next year it changes to September for the Special Event. Gary J N5BAA From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Tue Apr 21 20:17:02 2015 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:17:02 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Solar Activity 21 Apr 15 Message-ID: <5536E87E.3090606@hughes.net> There were 7 M-class X-ray flares today. One of them was just over the east (rising) limb and the remainder were near/on the West (setting) limb. The new sunspot group that I expect hasn't made it over the limb yet. In the meantime, one of the old groups has gotten active just before it disappears over the west limb. Solar flux is still 150 or over and the sunspot number has been running over 100. Absorption has been fairly high today due to number of M-class flares. Kerry From billandmattie at windstream.net Sat Apr 25 13:07:16 2015 From: billandmattie at windstream.net (Bill Tynan) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 12:07:16 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Amateur Geostationary Satellite Message-ID: <002301d07f7a$485a9ce0$d90fd6a0$@windstream.net> Hi All: Here's some news just released by AMSAT that many of us have been waiting years for. 73, Bill, W3XO AMSAT is excited to announce that we have accepted an opportunity to participate in a potential rideshare as a hosted payload on a geostationary satellite planned for launch in 2017. An amateur radio payload, operating in the Amateur Satellite Service, will fly on a spacecraft which Millennium Space Systems (MSS) of El Segundo, CA is contracted to design, launch, and operate for the US government based on their Aquila M8 Series Satellite Structure. A meeting to discuss this potential rideshare took place on April 13 at Millennium Space Systems that included Dr. Bob McGwier, N4HY; Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, co-founder of Qualcomm; Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President of Engineering and member of the board for AMSAT-NA; Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Director and President Emeritus of AMSAT-NA; Phil Karn, KA9Q; and Michelle Thompson, W5NYV. Hosting the meeting for MSS were Stan Dubyn as founder and chairman of MSS, Vince Deno as president of MSS, Jeff Ward, K8KA, of MSS as VP for Product Development, formerly with SSTL and University of Surrey Space Center, and Ryan Lawrence of MSS as Project Manager on the spacecraft mission. Attending by telephone were Dr. Jonathan Black, Associate Research Director of Hume Center for Aerospace Systems and Associate Professor of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and Dr. Michael Parker, KT7D, founder of RINCON Research Corp. Following the meeting, Dr. Bob McGwier, N4HY, Director of Research at the Hume Center for National Security and Technology of Virginia Tech, and former director and former VP Engineering of AMSAT, described this as an opportunity to go forward with "AMSAT-Eagle" which, in the 2006-2008 timeframe, evolved into a microwave payload to be flown to geostationary orbit as a hosted payload. It would have provided digital communications to small terminals on the ground and a linear bent pipe transponder had it flown. This failed to go forward in part due to lack of an affordable flight opportunity. McGwier outlined the next steps toward developing this mission: 1) To organize an effort at Virginia Tech to make a firm proposal to MSS and its US government sponsor, and organize an effort to raise sufficient funds to pay for development of the mission. 2) Enable Dr. Jonathan Black to lead the construction project at Virginia Tech in the Space at VT Center. Sonya Rowe, KK4NLO, Project Manager at the Hume Center will be the project manager. 3) Work for development of a low-cost microwave ground station for amateur radio still needs to be determined. 4) Dr. Michael Parker, KT7D, will solicit the cooperation of the Rincon Research Corp. for development of the software radio technology for this payload. The AMSAT Board of Directors has accepted the invitation to participate in this potential rideshare payload opportunity. AMSAT expects to be involved in the development of the ground station and the payload RF development, and will serve as the amateur radio (hosted) payload operator once the satellite has been launched. NcGwier summarized, "The launch is currently scheduled for 2017 and the payload must be delivered for testing and integration by Spring of 2016. It is an ambitious schedule and all involved will have to gain and maintain a serious level of commitment to that which they agree to undertake." AMSAT President, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, said, "The AMSAT leadership is excited to fly a Phase-IV geostationary amateur satellite payload. This is an evolving development as we collaborate with the VT Hume Center with a project that provides technical challenges to create a new amateur radio capability in space that will provide a variety of benefits not only for amateurs but also for emergency communications and STEM educational outreach." The transponder is expected to support a wide range of voice, digital, and experimental advanced technologies. A decision is expected soon specifying the microwave uplink and downlink bands. From qltfnish at omniglobal.net Sat Apr 25 22:40:33 2015 From: qltfnish at omniglobal.net (Gary J - N5BAA) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2015 21:40:33 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Field Day Shirts, Hats ETC Message-ID: <9A7DBEF5A38540429DE69E6EB97E9706@GaryPC> Is anyone interested in doing a bulk order of Field Day shirts, Hats etc?? If we order 4 or more shirts the shipping cost will be a flat $12.50 (50 cents per shirt if 25 were ordered, $1.05 if only 12). The shirts come in Cardinal Red or Ice Gray. Sizes Small through 5XL. I can front the cost for the first 20-25 shirts and you can pay me for the shirt at the May meeting. I will need color and size if you decide you want to order. We can make a second order after the meeting if desired assuming ARRL has enough to meet the demand. I will check with ARRL on Monday if other things like patches, pins, hats etc can be included under the single price shipping cost. Gary J N5BAA From w5lew at reagan.com Wed Apr 29 22:25:07 2015 From: w5lew at reagan.com (Lew King) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 21:25:07 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Ham radio moves to fill communication gaps in Nepal rescue effort Message-ID: <00e201d082ec$e057fd60$a107f820$@com> Good article in Computerworld magazine about hams making a difference in the Nepal earthquake. "When all else fails: HAM RADIO!" http://www.computerworld.com/article/2916213/internet/ham-radio-moves-to-fil l-communication-gaps-in-nepal-rescue-effort.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00224.txt URL: