From galeheise at windstream.net Mon Aug 8 15:45:10 2016 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2016 14:45:10 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Ham Equipment for Sale Message-ID: To All- I?m trying to help a fellow ham sell equipment that he has available. From what I understand, much of it has little or no operating time. Please contact Ron direct with your interest. Compared to what Items typically sell for on eBay there are good bargains here and no shipping costs: HAM RADIO ITEMS FOR SALE Contact Ron Drumheller, K3NXF k3nxf at yahoo.com (830) 343-7429 ICOM HF/VHF ALL MODE TRANSCEIVER --- $500.00 ICOM IC-706MKII -HF/VHF ALL MODE TRANSCEIVER All HR + 50 MHZ + 144 MHz All Mode Operation ? SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, and FM Detachable Front Panel (price includes separation kit) Voice Synthesizer (UT-102) is included 706 Tune Control by BetterRF Co. (Aides in tuning radio) SignaLink USB by Tigertronics supports all Digital and Voice modes. RTTY, SSTV, CW, PSK31, MT-63, and EchoLink Comet CF-706 Duplexer ? allows HF and VHF on one antenna Comet Mobile Multi-Band Antenna - model L-14 Drake Low Pass Filter ? TV-3300-LP 1000watt below 30 MHz Mobile floor mount -- adjustable I have all plugs for the jacks Like New Condition-- used about 20 hrs max. ICOM AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER------ $100.00 ICOM AH-4 -HF = 50 MHz AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER Covers all amateur bands from 3.5 MHz through 50 MHz with a 7 m (23ft) or longer wire antenna. Mobile Operation is possible with the optional AH-2b Antenna Element. Perfect match to the ICOM 706MKII Radio (press radio TUNER switch) SGC SMARTUNER AUTOMATIC ? SG-230 FOR ALL HF-SSB BANDS & MODES ---- $100.00 1.6 to 30 MHz range ? 3 to 200 Watts Input --Long wire or Vertical Like new condition ? used less than 10 hours Gale KM4DR From ronfol at ktc.com Tue Aug 9 11:28:53 2016 From: ronfol at ktc.com (ron) Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:28:53 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Free Ham Parts-Tubes- Pieces, etc. Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.1.20160809101926.047b18f8@ktc.com> I am continuing to clean out my storage areas and have a lot of stuff. Old parts pieces of various kinds. Antenna parts and a free tower. Several thousand boxed tubes free. Located south of Kerrville off hwy 16. Email or call if you would like to come out and rummage thru stuff. Ron Follmar K5GIT ronfol at ktc.com 830-8968830 830-3776648 From n5baa at hctc.net Tue Aug 9 16:41:40 2016 From: n5baa at hctc.net (Gary Johnson) Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2016 15:41:40 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] 40/80/160 Hexbeam - Thinking Outside The Box Message-ID: I love my Hexbeam Antenna!! That said with the sun going quiet it is frustrating not to have the same performance available for the Top Bands. Thinking out of the box about how to build one without having to resort to compromise measures such as traps, etc my best guess is to use 7 telephone poles set in a perfect hexagon with the 7th pole acting as the center post of a Hexbeam. I also suspect the poles would be set far enough apart when accommodating a 160 Hexbeam that one could also put up a pretty much perfectly circular 160 meter full wave loop. Instead of attaching the Hexbeam wire elements between spreaders you suspend the "corners" from ropes at each point of the Hexagon like doing a loop, with the wires terminating on the center pole with coax running to the base. How do you rotate it you ask. Put up more than one element per band pointing to where you want to talk. Looking at the tests for hexbeams 20 meters and above, the strongest signal covers between 60 and 90 degrees of arc. Looking at an azimuthal projection centered on South Texas, three 60 degree arcs covers most of the inhabited world. What I don't know is how 9 sets of wires (three for each band) would interact - they don't seem to on a 20 and above hexbeam nor how being close to the ground might affect the signal - straight up ? however people make DX contacts with hexbeams sitting in 5 gal buckets!! The other problem would be how to extend telephone poles to get additional height and I haven?t worked that out - yet. Any Ideas??? I?d like to be able to get the top wires of the Hexbeam up around 50-55 feet. I currently have plenty of 30 foot telephone poles that are excess to my needs. Last, to "rotate" between antennas all one would have to put at the base of the center pole is one of those Ameritron remote antenna switches. THINK ABOUT IT - wouldn't the Top Bands be fun with a gain antennas?? 73, Gary J N5BAA From n5baa at hctc.net Thu Aug 11 11:56:35 2016 From: n5baa at hctc.net (Gary Johnson) Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2016 10:56:35 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Rain In Forecast and Heat Breaking Message-ID: <830FD599381D4EC8B349F68B740844E7@GaryPC> Accuweather.com has Rain In Forecast and Heat Breaking starting Saturday pm with the heaviest thunderstorms predicted for Monday evening. Probably a good time to get our handheld radios charged so we can respond if Skywarn is set. Gary J N5BAA From galeheise at windstream.net Thu Aug 11 22:09:33 2016 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2016 21:09:33 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Ham Equipment for Sale In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3E5D521D61EA4363A5677DBCC1AC184C@GalePC> To All: FYI - Ron did not receive any response to purchase his equipment. As a result, I bought it. Gale KM4DR From: galeheise at windstream.net Sent: Monday, August 08, 2016 2:45 PM To: HCARC Reflector Subject: [HCARC] Ham Equipment for Sale To All- I?m trying to help a fellow ham sell equipment that he has available. From what I understand, much of it has little or no operating time. Please contact Ron direct with your interest. Compared to what Items typically sell for on eBay there are good bargains here and no shipping costs: HAM RADIO ITEMS FOR SALE Contact Ron Drumheller, K3NXF k3nxf at yahoo.com (830) 343-7429 ICOM HF/VHF ALL MODE TRANSCEIVER --- $500.00 ICOM IC-706MKII -HF/VHF ALL MODE TRANSCEIVER All HR + 50 MHZ + 144 MHz All Mode Operation ? SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, and FM Detachable Front Panel (price includes separation kit) Voice Synthesizer (UT-102) is included 706 Tune Control by BetterRF Co. (Aides in tuning radio) SignaLink USB by Tigertronics supports all Digital and Voice modes. RTTY, SSTV, CW, PSK31, MT-63, and EchoLink Comet CF-706 Duplexer ? allows HF and VHF on one antenna Comet Mobile Multi-Band Antenna - model L-14 Drake Low Pass Filter ? TV-3300-LP 1000watt below 30 MHz Mobile floor mount -- adjustable I have all plugs for the jacks Like New Condition-- used about 20 hrs max. ICOM AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER------ $100.00 ICOM AH-4 -HF = 50 MHz AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER Covers all amateur bands from 3.5 MHz through 50 MHz with a 7 m (23ft) or longer wire antenna. Mobile Operation is possible with the optional AH-2b Antenna Element. Perfect match to the ICOM 706MKII Radio (press radio TUNER switch) SGC SMARTUNER AUTOMATIC ? SG-230 FOR ALL HF-SSB BANDS & MODES ---- $100.00 1.6 to 30 MHz range ? 3 to 200 Watts Input --Long wire or Vertical Like new condition ? used less than 10 hours Gale KM4DR ______________________________________________________________ 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 Mon Aug 15 14:56:29 2016 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:56:29 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] NOS Cushcraft 124WB 2 Meter Beam For Sale - Assembled Message-ID: <78E1D4692D03441B80EC4F354AEB478B@GalePC> To All- I have the referenced antenna with specs found in the following link http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamants/2905.html This antenna is New Old Stock (New Condition Never Previously Assembled but bought years ago). I assembled it recently to track satellites. If you?re interested I?m selling it for less than 1/2 the price of a new one at $40. Give me a call if interested at 830-896-9593. Gale KM4DR From galeheise at windstream.net Tue Aug 16 11:25:59 2016 From: galeheise at windstream.net (galeheise at windstream.net) Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2016 10:25:59 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] AR-40 VHF/UHF Rotator for Sale Message-ID: To All- If anyone needs the referenced rotator let me know. It?s designed for TV antennas and works fine for VHF and UHF antennas. Here?s a link to the present day manual which is similar to this older version: http://www.hy-gain.com/support.php?productid=AR-40 Also includes 50+ feet of cable for a total cost of $75. Phone 830-896-9593 ? Come for a demo if you like. Gale KM4DR From n5baa at hctc.net Tue Aug 23 11:33:07 2016 From: n5baa at hctc.net (Gary Johnson) Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:33:07 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Interesting Use of Satellites Message-ID: <0C62DCE6BAC94E60B0FA2581E66E3574@GaryPC> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3753417/The-Air-Force-reveals-radical-plan-bomb-sky-improve-radio-reception.html Gary J N5BAA From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Tue Aug 23 22:40:35 2016 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:40:35 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Interesting Use of Satellites In-Reply-To: <0C62DCE6BAC94E60B0FA2581E66E3574@GaryPC> References: <0C62DCE6BAC94E60B0FA2581E66E3574@GaryPC> Message-ID: <57BD0923.8000506@hughes.net> Gary, The US has been messing with the ionosphere for many many years. Some of the past "experiments" included ARGUS, which involved the Navy. A Navy task force sailed out into the South Atlantic 1100 km SW of Capetown, South Africa and launched 3 missiles with nuclear devices on them. They were launched from the USS Norton Sound. They were detonated high in the ionosphere, between 100 and 500 miles altitude. Lawrence radiation Lab and one of their scientists wanted to show that artificial Van Allen belts could be created. It worked and a couple satellites were fried in the process. Devices used are supposed to have been warheads from the Genie air-to-air missile(~2 kT). (1958) The Fishbowl test series included Starfish (1 Mt+ at 248 miles near Johnston Atoll, Checkmate (~60kt at 483,000 ft), Bluegill (~1 Mt at 160,000 ft), Kingfish (~1Mt at 160,000 ft). Starfish, in particular, had big ionospheric effects and that was part of its intent.(1962) About 1960 AF Cambridge Research Lab and MIT Lincoln Lab launched a bunch of X-band dipoles into low earth orbit. When i say a bunch, i think there were millions of these little wire dipoles cut for X-band. The astronomers had a fit, but the dipoles didn't separate very well and didn't form the desired chain around the earth to reflect X-band signals. In the early 70's, whatever NOAA was at the time had a large antenna field and a multi-MW MF/HF transmtter in Colorado. The antennas were pointed straight up and the goal was to modify the ionosphere by creating an artificial (but sub-visible) aurora over the transmitter site at Platteville, Co. When i was in San Antonio, I made several 6 meter contacts with Az using this artificail aurora. The transmitter was periodically turned off and the artificial aurora would disappear and it was run during times of the year when aurora and E-skip were unlikely so there waqs no doubt about the propagation mode. More recently I believe the Space Shuttle carried a plasma producer to create a plasma antenna. Since I haven't heard of it in years, it seems it wasn't very successful. There were also several rocket launches from Eglin AFB, Fl that released a gas cloud which the sun ionized and was used to trace the magnetic field lines in the lower ionosphere. Besides the US, the Soviet Union also played around with the ionosphere. I'm not as familiar with their experiments. As you can see we've been messing around in the ionosphere for 60+ years. Fortunately the early experiments didn't have an EPA to contend with so there were no environmental impact statements required. This latest experiment is not so lucky. I doubt it will ever happen. Anyway, have fun. Kerry On 8/23/2016 10:33 AM, Gary Johnson wrote: > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3753417/The-Air-Force-reveals-radical-plan-bomb-sky-improve-radio-reception.html > > 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 n5baa at hctc.net Fri Aug 26 11:38:37 2016 From: n5baa at hctc.net (Gary Johnson) Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 10:38:37 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Total Electron Count (TEC) of The Ionosphere Message-ID: <3A96F34EB46D4047A6AE49386057395F@GaryPC> NOAA released an interesting bulletin regarding a new site for watching Total Electron Content (TEC) of the ionosphere. TEC is the total number of electrons present along a path between a radio transmitter and a receiver. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has deployed an updated and expanded version of its US Total Electron Content (US-TEC) model. Interesting. Gary J N5BAA From kerryk5ks at hughes.net Fri Aug 26 20:55:13 2016 From: kerryk5ks at hughes.net (Kerry Sandstrom) Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 19:55:13 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Total Electron Count (TEC) of The Ionosphere In-Reply-To: <3A96F34EB46D4047A6AE49386057395F@GaryPC> References: <3A96F34EB46D4047A6AE49386057395F@GaryPC> Message-ID: <57C0E4F1.1080908@hughes.net> Gary, Yes, very interesting. The TEC delays electromagnetic waves depending on frequency. The ionosphere made up of charged particles is a plasma and this frequency dispersion is characteristic of a plasma. One of the big differences between civil GPS and Military GPS was the military used 2 frequencies which allowed the calculation of TEC and then the removal of the excess delay due to TEC from the position measurements. It looks like this data is based on the GPS measurements. Another effect of the TEC is its distribution - its not a constant value from ground to space. It has small irregular volumes of higher electron density. Certain areas of the ionosphere have a lot of small volumes which disrupt the signal. Instead of a clean signal the patches break up the wave front and different parts of the wave arrive at the receiver at different times. This is a bad multipath problem and limits the total bandwidth that can be used. It also causes some slow deep fading, sometimes several seconds between peaks. High rate digital signals, 1 Mb/s and up require extensive error correction coding and large amounts of memory to continue operating. On 6 meter TE scatter paths we see this multipath problem. Often it is difficult to use SSB because the bandwidth of the propagation path is so low only CW is really useful. Kerry On 8/26/2016 10:38 AM, Gary Johnson wrote: > NOAA released an interesting bulletin regarding a new site for watching Total Electron Content (TEC) of the ionosphere. TEC is the total number of electrons present along a path between a radio transmitter and a receiver. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has deployed an updated and expanded version of its US Total Electron Content (US-TEC) model. > > Interesting. > > 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 cw4evr at hctc.net Fri Aug 26 12:27:20 2016 From: cw4evr at hctc.net (Fred Gilmore) Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:27:20 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Kerrville IRLP Message-ID: <939aebf4-00c1-a3ed-8872-d2f7833826f7@hctc.net> Kerrville IRLP node 7779 is back on the air 24/7 as of today. Frequency is 147.57 with a 162.2 tone instead of the DCS 073 code. I did this in case we ever have a case where we need to connect it to the repeater due to some emergency. That way no reprogramming would be necessary, all that would have to be done is change the channel here in the shack. Feel free to use it anytime if you can reach my location on simplex. There are several IRLP nets you can join if you want. See http://irlp.net and go to the net info for more details. Just touch tone in the node number you want to bring up, and when your done touch tone 73 to take it down. For the time being I have disabled the time out, so when you connect to a node, it will stay until either disconnected from the far end, or some one takes it down here. IRLP differs from echolink in that it is radio in and radio out. The other node (7788) has been transferred to another location, and should be back on the air in the next few weeks or so. I do not know the frequency or tone access code at this time. Spread the word and have fun with IRLP Ham Radio. From n5baa at hctc.net Wed Aug 31 19:20:09 2016 From: n5baa at hctc.net (Gary Johnson) Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2016 18:20:09 -0500 Subject: [HCARC] Alcohol Free Gasoline Now Available Message-ID: <1FDBF0EAE9E44A499DDFA98B21D56C87@GaryPC> The Boerne Wallmart?s gas station is now selling alcohol free gas for $2.35 per gallon. Gary J N5BAA