[HCRA] Help with 10m Antenna

Tue Oct 13 00:15:34 EDT 2009

Jon,

I agree with both Rick and George's comments and I'll add:

1. On 10 meters

The band has been very dead lately. With that antenna it wouldn't surprise
me not to hear any beacons with the present band conditions.

I don't know if you tried to get into the HCRA net this evening but if you
did I didn't hear you (nor did Tom, N1MUV - the net control station. I think
you're in NoHo or Florence? It is very possible we wouldn't hear you in the
Springfield Area if you're just using the Hamstick.

2. On 2 meters (and maybe 440 as well.

Two very important things you didn't mention in your email.

Don't forget you need to set the radio for the correct 'split'. When set
properly you will transmit either plus or minus 600 KHz in the 2 meter band.
Your example of the K1ZJH repeater on 146.715 would require you to be
transmitting on 146.115. I think the TS2000 display displays the transmit
frequency when transmitting. I'm not familiar with the radio but you may
need to make some menu settings for the transmit 'offset' to be activated.

Many 2 meter repeaters, including the K1ZJH repeater you tried to access,
require a sub-audible tone to be broadcast concurrently when you transmit.
This certainly is a menu setting and needs to be set for each repeater you
want to access. Ordinarily an operator will put frequently used repeaters
into a memory channel. The memory channels will 'remember' both offset
(split) and the sub-audible tone. The best way to do this (including reading
the manual :>) is to dial up the correct repeater receiver frequency, make
sure the repeater offset is correct, set the sub-audible tone frequency and
turn it on. Once it is tested and working correctly then put that setting
into one of the radio's memory channels. The next time you want to work that
repeater go to memory mode, select the correct memory and away you go.

The sub-audible tone is usually a two step process. First you need to know
the frequency of the tone. If you listen to the repeater identification it
will tell you the correct frequency of tone to use. For the K1ZJH repeater
it is 100 Hz. Set that tone frequency in the radio. After you set the
frequency you will also need to turn it on so that it is broadcast when you
key the microphone.

Hope this helps, maybe someone with your radio can offer some additional
suggestions or operating tips.

If you're still having problems and you have time this Saturday why not stop
by the class that is going on all day at the Moose Family Center on Fuller
Road in Chicopee, MA. I'm positive you'll find a ham or two that is teaching
the class that would be able to get things working for you, at least on the
repeaters. Don't forget to bring the radio manual along too, just in case.

Hang in there, you're doing great so far. There's a lot to learn all at once
and these new radios are pretty complex. Take it one step at a time, get
some help when you can (like using this list) and you'll do just fine.

Good luck,

Jim, KK1W

> -----Original Message-----
> From: hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Rick Lindquist, WW3DE
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 3:09 PM
> To: 'Jon Frost'; hcra at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [HCRA] Help with 10m Antenna
> 
> ______________________________________________
> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> ______________________________________________
> Hi, Jon
> 
> Are you operating mobile or fixed with that Ham Stick? Keep in mind that
> it's essentially a quarter-wave vertical and needs to "work against"
> something - such as the body of your vehicle (with the coax bonded to the
> vehicle body at or very near the base of the antenna) or a good set of
> radials. For fixed locations, a horizontal dipole is a far better choice
> for
> 10 meter SSB/CW work. Ten meters has not been open very much lately, but
> the
> local HCRA net should give you a good idea if it's working at all.
> Remember:
> A good SWR does not necessarily mean you're getting out.
> 
> The Arrow is a cross-polarized antenna (horizontal on one band, vertical
> on
> the other or something in between depending upon how you orient the
> elements). It's designed primarily for satellite work.
> 
> For 2 meter FM repeater work, the 2 meter (longer) elements should be
> vertical for best results. For 2 meter SSB/CW work, the 2 meter elements
> should be horizontal for best results. Same for 440 FM vs SSB/CW (assuming
> the antenna has a sufficiently broad bandwidth). Incorrect polarization
> could account for the experience you've described - being able to hear
> signals okay without their hearing you.
> 
> 73, Rick, WW3DE (ex-N1RL from my time in Connecticut and Massachusetts and
> ex-K1YHK from my years in Maine)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On
> Behalf Of Jon Frost
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 11:35 AM
> To: hcra at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [HCRA] Help with 10m Antenna
> 
> ______________________________________________
> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> ______________________________________________
> I finally got all the parts and pieces to connect a 10m Hamstick; an
> Arrow Dual Band and a 1.2Ghz antenna from Directive Systems in
> Lebanon,ME...
> 
> This morning I hooked up all the antennas to their respective
> connectors on the back of my Kenwood TS-2000X and you know what... I
> don't hear a thing on 10m; apparently my 2m and 440 signals aren't
> getting very far since I can hear guys talking clear as a bell on
> 146.715... but they never reply to my 'listening' call.
> 
> It seems strange that I can't even pickup the beacons on the various
> bands... Can anyone out there provide some guidance and perhaps setup
> a time to check 10m.... I will try the net this evening on 28.375....
> 
> I did get to make some nice contacts while in Deer Isle, ME last
> weekend including one on 2m that was 80+ miles away... I was on a boat
> out in the Atlantic at the time!
> 
> Namaste & 73s,,
> 
> --
> Jon Frost
> Meow Mix Media.Net
> 116 Pleasant St Suite 011
> Easthampton, MA 01027
> 413-348-0591
> meowmix48 at gmail.com
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