From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Tue Apr  3 17:10:01 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Tue Apr  3 17:13:47 2007
Subject: [K6BW] HWA Meeting Tonight.. Very simple 2 - tube transceiver with
	regen receiver
Message-ID: <0bc001c77634$757c3600$0303a8c0@hbco>

Even if you don't intend to build one, it's worth a look.  Here is a classic
tube transmitter and regen receiver all in a small package.

http://www.af4k.com/ham/pwxcvr/index.htm

Hope you can make it to the clubhouse tonight!

73 de Bill, ab6mt
hbco2@sbcglobal.net



From K6BBQ at ARRL.NET  Tue Apr  3 22:47:26 2007
From: K6BBQ at ARRL.NET (BBQ)
Date: Tue Apr  3 22:51:06 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Marin QRP Piglets meeting 1130am on Sat,
	April 14 at Best Burger
Message-ID: <461311BE.2010607@ARRL.NET>

Hi Bill and all,

On Saturday April 14 The Marin QRP group will have our first meeting at 
the Best Burger located in the Trader Joes shopping center.  Best Burger 
is two doors down from Trader Joes, towards the big gazebo structure in 
the corner of the shopping center.

I will be there at 1130 and we can eat and talk until whenever.

Anyone interested in QRP talk, building, operating, kits, etc. is welcome.

73


Rem
K 6 B B Q
From lite65 at comcast.net  Wed Apr  4 12:45:12 2007
From: lite65 at comcast.net (lite65@comcast.net)
Date: Wed Apr  4 12:49:00 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Marin QRP Piglets meeting 1130am on Sat,
	April 14 at Best Burger
Message-ID: <040420071645.17618.4613D618000D0040000044D22205889116CAC00A9B0704@comcast.net>

Rem,

Unfortunately, I Think  the 14th is my turn for duty on the Pampinito.
I might be able to pop in for a few minutes on the way downtown---we'll see.

bill

From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Tue Apr 10 20:07:35 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Tue Apr 10 20:11:58 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Hamilton Bldg 549 Open Tonight
Message-ID: <00d601c77bcd$69175f40$0303a8c0@hbco>

Hope you had a very Happy Easter weekend!  The clubhouse will be open this
evening, from about 6:00pm on... bring a project even if it is in the very
formulative stage.  :-)

73 de Bill, ab6mt
hbco@sbcglobal.net

From K6BBQ at ARRL.NET  Sat Apr 14 13:37:06 2007
From: K6BBQ at ARRL.NET (BBQ)
Date: Sat Apr 14 13:41:25 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Reminder- Marin QRP meets today Sat. at 1130am
Message-ID: <46211142.60005@ARRL.NET>

Just a reminder although it is a bit of a last minute one.

Marin QRP Piglets will meet at Best Burger at 1130am today.

Best Burger is next to the Trader Joes (actually Trader Joes, then Super 
Cuts then Best Burger).

All are welcome.  First meeting will be one to two hours, probably 
closer to one.

Please bring any QRP projects -Finished or Unfinished- that you are 
interested in sharing with the group.

Meet your fellow Marin County QRPers while we eat burgers and talk about 
QRP.

I hope to see you there.


Rem
K6BBQ


From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Sun Apr 15 16:32:18 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Sun Apr 15 16:37:20 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Antenna Q
Message-ID: <001701c77f9d$2e7a2ba0$0303a8c0@hbco>

Borrowed from QRP-L newsgroup...  Antenna Q relates to the bandwidth of a
resonant antenna, in general how far you can tune away from the antenna's
resonant point and still work with a reasonably low SWR.

Hue,

The true Q of an antenna is based on the amount of
"stored" (near field) power, divided by the radiated
power (and losses).  The former depends on a parameter
called volumetric "divergence", but to understand at
that level, you need to study the theory of
electromagnetic waves - a hefty undertaking.

At the practical level, one can observe that it
is impossible to get (usually desirable) low Q,
small size and high power-gain all in the same
structure.  This is due to the physics of both the
electrical and mechanical parameters involved.  So
normally if you want a low-Q antenna, you must be
willing to give up some smallness of size to get it.

The Q of a full-length half-wave dipole does depend
on the size of the conductors, because close to the
surface of each conductor there is higher volumetric
divergence for small conductors, and vice versa.  One
practical way to avoid some of the problem is to
employ multiple conductors, as has been done for many
years.  But that, of course, leads to larger size.
(It is very hard to fool Mother Nature :)

Calculating the exact Q for a practical HF antenna
is not easy.  But for practical ham antennas, and the
typical bandwidths needed, you are still best off
using a good-sized wire or tube, or multiple such.

I know this is only a general explanation of what
Q of an antenna is, but it is a complicated issue
to get specific in detail about without a lot of
math.

A good forum for further investigation is the
antenna-discussion group at antennex.com.

73 - Bob, K6KL

From ki6ada at sbcglobal.net  Sun Apr 15 20:30:43 2007
From: ki6ada at sbcglobal.net (Steve Johnson)
Date: Sun Apr 15 20:35:39 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Antenna Q
In-Reply-To: <001701c77f9d$2e7a2ba0$0303a8c0@hbco>
Message-ID: <852476.68049.qm@web83814.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Great food for thought-thanks.


 
   73 KI6ADA
  Steve Johnson

From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Tue Apr 17 20:41:04 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Tue Apr 17 20:46:10 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Meetng Tonight At Hamilton
Message-ID: <00a101c78152$3f93ca20$0303a8c0@hbco>

Regular Monthly Meeting Tonight at Building 549.  Starts at 7:30.

Hope to see you there!

73 de Bill, ab6mt
hbco2@sbcglobal.net

From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Wed Apr 18 17:45:20 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Wed Apr 18 17:50:38 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Computer Noise
Message-ID: <010e01c78202$dfd56c40$0303a8c0@hbco>

At our Hamilton meeting last night, we discussed using RFI chokes to
suppress the radio noise generated from a computer.  As a postscript, I have
just replaced a power supply in one of the computers here.

I had a fancy power supply which failed, and purchased an inexpensive supply
to replace the broken unit while it was away on warranty repair.  The 680
watt inexpensive replacement worked well, but generated a tremendous noise
in every radio (AM and shortwave) in the house.  Have just received the
repaired unit, and pulled out the inexpensive supply.  RF noise is gone.

73 de Bill, ab6mt
hbco2@sbcglobal.net

From ki6ada at sbcglobal.net  Thu Apr 19 01:40:34 2007
From: ki6ada at sbcglobal.net (Steve Johnson)
Date: Thu Apr 19 01:45:50 2007
Subject: [K6BW] submarine weekend 
Message-ID: <39218.49968.qm@web83818.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

 http://w0oog.50megs.com/ 

 
   73 KI6ADA
  Steve Johnson

From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Tue Apr 24 18:06:55 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Tue Apr 24 18:12:47 2007
Subject: [K6BW] HWA Building 549 Open Tonight
Message-ID: <005a01c786bc$e079c9c0$0303a8c0@hbco>

The MARS Net starts at 6:00 pm., if you'd like to hear the net in action,
drop by.  Later on we'll be talking about and snooping around inside radio.

Join us!

73 de Bill, AB6MT
hbco2@sbcglobal.net

From ki6ada at sbcglobal.net  Wed Apr 25 00:48:53 2007
From: ki6ada at sbcglobal.net (Steve Johnson)
Date: Wed Apr 25 00:54:46 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Field Day 2007
Message-ID: <366658.30989.qm@web83826.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Hi Everybody

It's that time of year again to pull out the battery
packs and untangle the dipoles.

I know I have not been down to see most of you since
the winter holidays. Well Spring has thawed out my
bones. 

Last year I brought my famous chili and I think I went
home with an empty pot??

Let's show Marin and REDX that we can have a good time
on our little hill in Novato.

Any ideas would be great,

Steve Ki6ada

By the way I have upgraded and started building my log
book. Bring your friends and GOTA. Try out your
upgrade on Field day just remember the call
sign--K6BW!!

see ya

 
   73 KI6ADA
  Steve Johnson

From hbco2 at sbcglobal.net  Sun Apr 29 00:31:35 2007
From: hbco2 at sbcglobal.net (Bill Smith)
Date: Sun Apr 29 00:37:53 2007
Subject: [K6BW] Re: [QRP-L] Announcing the Elecraft K3 Transceiver: 10/100W,
	160-6m, Assembled or Kit
Message-ID: <001d01c78a17$47384760$0303a8c0@hbco>

Greetings!

This afternoon at the DX Convention in Visalia, CA, we unveiled a new 
top-of-the-line transceiver -- the Elecraft K3. This is the culmination 
of three years of design, test, and refinement, and we believe the K3 
will set a new standard for performance and value in its class. It has 
features and performance comparable to present radios ranging from 
$4000 to $12000.

(We'd like to thank the many surprised convention attendees. What they 
all said boils down to something like "Yes!")

A full K3 web page will be set up by Monday, complete with order form 
and other details. Meanwhile, please take a look at the temporary page:

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3

Among other things, you'll find a very high-resolution front panel 
photo (as well as other photos):

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_big_v2.jpg

And the K3 data sheet:

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_Data%20Sheet_rev06.pdf

There's also an order form that could be printed and mailed, but 
sometime on Monday the on-line order page will be up and running, which 
is the preferred method.

As explained on the order form, you can reserve a K3 now for initial 
shipments in July. A 50% deposit is requested if you'd like to secure 
one of the first 200 production units (serial numbers 20-220, 
probably).

Here's a quick summary of the K3's specs:

   - K3/100 and K3/10 models (the K3/10 can be upgraded very easily, 
internally, to a K3/100)

   - Basic K3 price ranges from $1399 to $1989 depending on whether you 
start with the
     10-watt or 100-watt model, and whether you choose factory assembled 
or
     modular, no-soldering, kit (this is the subject of the next email).

   - Desktop/portable size:  4"H x 10"W x 10"D (10 x 25 x 25 cm) -- 
optimized for both
     home and travel use

   - All modes (SSB, CW, DATA, AM, FM, plus AM-sync receive, and 
built-in PSK31/TTY decoder)

   - High-dynamic range, down-conversion architecture, plus 32-bit I.F. 
DSP
     for software-defined capabilities (and lots of room for future 
expansion)

   - Optional subreceiver with *identical* performance to the main 
receiver,
     including a fully independent front end, its own set of roofing 
filters,
     its own DSP, and low-noise synthesizer; binaural or combined 
receiver audio

   - Up to five crystal roofing filters *per receiver*, with bandwidths 
as narrow as 200 Hz

   - Narrow ham-band filtering, plus optional general-coverage receive 
filters
     (can be added to either or both receivers)

   - Internal 100-W ATU option with two antenna jacks

   - 100 W PA module includes two large fans, circuit breaker, full 
parameter monitoring

   - All signal sources phase-locked to common 49.380 MHz reference 
oscillator;
     1 PPM TCXO option, firmware-correctable to better than 0.5 PPM

   - Built-in PSK31, RTTY, and CW decoding and display allows use of
     digital modes with or *without* a computer; use CW keyer paddle or
     attached computer for casual, two-way data QSOs

   - Advanced noise reduction; auto- and manual notch. Noise blanker 
included (both
     I.F. hardware pulse blanker and DSP noise blanking)

   - Easy-to-use DSP shift/width and locut/hicut controls with automatic 
crystal filter
     selection based on selected passband width (in real-time -- no 
filter calculation delays)

   - Dedicated CW/voice message buttons; optional digital voice recorder

   - 100 general frequency memories with alphanumeric text labeling, 
plus 4 scratchpad memories per band

   - Full-custom, optimized, segmented LCD with two VFO displays, 
alphanumeric text, and
     dedicated filter passband graphic

   - Rich I/O set: stereo speaker outputs, fully isolated soundcard 
interface, dedicated RS-232
     I/O (and optional USB adapter), receive antenna in/out jacks (for 
patching in RX filters, etc.),
     and both front- and rear-panel mic and headphone jacks

   - One-click PC firmware download program checks for updates 
automatically and quickly
     updates microcontroller and DSP firmware

If you have any questions on specifications, performance, etc., that 
are not answered by the data sheet, feel free to email 
wayne@elecraft.com.

Sales questions should go to Lisa:

   sales@elecraft.com

We'd like to acknowledge the hard work of the following colleagues:

   Lyle Johnson, KK7P (DSP, digital I/O, audio I/O, many of the PC 
boards, and countless critical tasks)
   Bob Friess, N6CM (RF deck, ATU, high-performance 1st mixer, noise 
blanker, other receiver design)
   John Grebenkemper, KI6WX (synthesizer, general receiver architecture)
   Brian Broggie, W6FVI (manufacturing engineering -- say hi to him at 
Visalia tomorrow)
   Paul Russell (purchasing)
   Lisa Jones (who somehow held down the fort during the entire process)

Eric (WA6HHQ), as usual, applied pressure in all the right places to 
ensure that this would be the best radio we could make: he's Mr. 
Performance and Features. Wayne (N6KR -- yours truly) was the principle 
designer, and also got to do all the fun parts (packaging, firmware, 
and Owner's manual). And that's why he gets to answer your questions  
:)

We'd also like to express our thanks to our very patient 15-member 
focus group. Over a period of about a year, they endured a never-ending 
series of concept drawings, refinements, and feature discussions. 
They're a distinguished bunch! I'm sure you'll hear from some of them 
as the K3 is discussed at length.

Finally: thanks to all of you who have generously contributed ideas for 
a hypothetical K3 during our many on-line "fishing expeditions." You 
had wonderful input, and I hope we've created the radio you've always 
wanted.

73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ


---

http://www.elecraft.com

______________________________________________________________
