[KL7AA] MARA is having an "Antenna Party" Friday August 27th

[Dan O'Barr]

The President’s Corner August 2004
By Dan O’Barr, KL7DR
http://www.kl7jfu.com 

First let me extend a warm thank you to Ted, KL1HY for arranging our August
program.  He did this in spite of just loosing a son, who has had a long battle
with cancer.  Thank you Ted, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your
family.

You are cordially invited to an “Antenna Party” in Wasilla at Fire Station 61,
Friday August 27th, at 5:30 in the afternoon.  We will build, test, show and
tell, and share information about antennas.  Let’s keep it fun and have respect
for each other (Please, NO arguing, belittling, or coax VS twin-lead type
sparring).  There will be parts to build 2-meter twin-lead J-poles and portable
435 MHz yagi satellite downlink antennas.  All you need to do is bring you own
coax and connector to fit your radio, preferably already connected together.   
  

The “Antenna” is where your signal meets the air.  Often overlooked, the lowly
“Antenna” can make the difference between being heard or not.  As one of the
most important components of a radio transmitting system, it’s important to
know that yours is working properly.  Some of the most fun and interesting
aspects of the Ham radio hobby are building and testing antennas.  

KL7JM, Jim Movius is coming all the way down from Fairbanks to be our guest
speaker (He’s nothing like KL7AM, so females will be safe here :).  Jim will be
bringing his truck with his “World Famous mobile loop antenna.”  You have to
see it to believe it.  Check it out at: http://gahleos.obarr.net 

Here is the E-mail I received from Jim: 

“I am planning to attend the Aug. 27 MARA meeting.  As discussed with Ted,
KL1HY, it is a program similar to one I presented to the Arctic Amateur Radio
Club in May.  We started an hour before meeting time with a hands-on workshop
to build 2-meter J-Poles using 300-Ohm twin lead.  For the program I presented
EZNEC modeling of the J-Pole compared to a "duck" antenna, then discussed the
80m full wave loop and the G5RV antenna with EZNEC models, then presented
modeling comparing a horizontal dipole with a vertical operating on 40 meters
over ground typical in Alaska (away from salt water).  I plan to bring that
presentation, plus some modeling of my HF mobile loop and will compare it with
one of the popular high quality commercial mobile HF verticals.

I will be driving to Wasilla on the 27th with the mobile loop on my pickup.

Next weekend, August 21 and 22 (UTC), my brother Dave, W7KZO and I will
activate the North Head Lighthouse for the first time in its 100+ year history
for the International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend.  We will be using wire
"V" beams.  North Head is 2 miles north of the mouth of the Columbia River,
near Ilwaco, WA.  I will have some comments about that effort and will bring
along some modeling of the "V" beams.

Will need only an overhead projector to show transparencies.

You may well have the J-Pole building situation well in hand, but if you would
like to have a J-Pole party we can do it--we have had 4 of them here and I am
amazed that they continue to be in demand--all your members would need to bring
is a length of 50 Ohm coax with a fitting that fits their HT and I will bring
everything else--tools, 300 Ohm twin lead, a MFJ analyzer, etc.  An easy way to
get the coax is to buy a 10' or so length of RG58 with BNC or whatever
connectors on both ends, then cut it in two to get 2 lengths ready to attach to
the twin lead.

Ted and I discussed visiting the fair for show and tell.  I'm game for that. 

I will attempt to send a picture of my mobile loop as a separate email.

Best wishes,
Jim, KL7JM"

ajmovius at gci.net 

********************************************************

The Alaska State Fair will start in Palmer the evening of August 26.  The
Anchorage Amateur Radio Club, AARC http://www.kl7aa.org/ will have a booth
there for show and tell of Amateur Radio.  George, KL1JJ gdwilkinson2 at yahoo.com
and Judi, WL7DX damage at gci.net are the people in charge.

******************************************************* 

Mark your calendar for September 10th 5:30pm.  We have a very unique
opportunity to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with The Light The Night®
Walk http://www.lightthenight.org.  They need help with traffic control and
communication.  I’ll be working out the details with the Wasilla PD.  So come
have some fun for a very good cause. 

******************************************************

Those of you who have not tried the new IRLP node http://www.irlp.net that
Miles, KL1IN put on the air here 3 weeks ago, are missing a real treat.  It is
on 146.58 simplex, and uses a 100.0 Hz tone.  He normally leaves it connected
to the “Western Reflector” in Las Vegas, NV node number 9250.  To talk anywhere
in the world, all you have to do is transmit, on that frequency and tone, when
no one is talking, ID and announce that you are controlling and then hit the 7
then the 3 buttons on your keypad to disconnect.  Then key in the 4-digit
number of the node you want to hook up to (found on the link above) and make a
call.  When you are done, transmit and hit the 7 & 3 buttons to disconnect and
then, please transmit 9250 to reconnect it back up to Las Vegas, NV.  Also it's
important to remember to wait 2 seconds after the other station stops
transmitting before you transmit, and then wait another two seconds before you
start talking and you will do just fine.

******************************************************

Take care & 73,
Dan O'Barr, KL7DR
President of MARA Inc. 
http://www.KL7JFU.com
Phone: (907) 373-2569
dan at obarr.net
KL7DR at ARRL.net
KL7DR at AMSAT.org
http://gahleos.obarr.net

Remember: Make no promises when seized by joy; 
Write no letters (or E-mails) when seized by anger.

PS. Word is that The GAHLEOS will be having one of their famous LEO Luncheons
soon.  Join them weekday mornings on 146.97 or 147.27 at 9:00am to find out
more.