From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Apr 1 09:01:09 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2019 09:01:09 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FCC Comments on RM-11828 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <67880e5c-7e48-8cf6-76d3-316777305371@bellsouth.net> _*One Ham's opinion from another source:*_ Dear Amateur Radio Friends, Attached are comments I have submitted to the FCC with regard to ARRL's proposed change to give Tech licensees expanded HF privileges, RM-11828. Their real game is HF Digital email and through their actions they seem to believe that will be the secret to attracting new members. As most of you know, I have been very vocal with regard to past FCC comments STRONGLY AGAINST ARRL's push for wideband digital on HF, under the guise of "EmComm". That issue is still very alive at FCC, with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 16-239 ready to be approved at any time. Unfortunately, the comment period is long past on that one, FCC could approve it tomorrow. Sources tell me ARRL leadership believes it will be approved, as do I. If RM-11828 is approved by FCC, 385,000 existing Techs, and whoever else decides to "study on Sunday and pass Tech on Monday", will have immediate freely granted access to greatly expanded HF privileges, without going through any steps on their part to advance in the hobby. Should NPRM 16-239 also be approved, as we think it will, a real recipe for disaster will have been put in place.?Our CW, RTTY and FT-8 bands will be overrun by boaters and preppers that simply wish to have free or off the grid email, without having to pay an ISP. For those of you that are SSB operators, RM-11828 would freely give 55% of the General Class HF phone bands to existing Techs with the stroke of a pen. RM-11828, a major "dumbing down" of amateur radio licensing, removes incentives for advancement, it does not create them. So much for incentive licensing! It's always easier to do nothing and complain after the fact, but here is an opportunity to get involved in the process before a problem is created! I encourage each of you to read my comments and those of others. Consider the importance of this issue. Please consider filing your own comments with FCC. Below is a link that will walk you through the very easy process of an express filing. It will only take a few minutes of your time and the future well being of amateur radio is certainly a worthwhile cause. The filing deadline is April 13, 2019. Please help spread the word to your friends and together let's put a stop to this. 73 & Thanks for your consideration of this important amateur radio issue! Dan W5DNT Instructions for a prepared document upload: http://wireless-girl.com/HowToFile11828STD.html Instructions for an Express filing, to type in brief comments: http://wireless-girl.com/HowToFile11828Express.html From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Apr 1 15:49:02 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2019 15:49:02 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Link to Central Florida SFDXA Members Message-ID: Norm W4QN informed me this week that the UHF Repeater of KA4EPS in Margate is functioning, with links making it possible to communicate with SFDXA Members to the North(and more). I spoke to Norm this afternoon as he was mobile in Jupiter. Repeater is only running 1 Watt at the moment but when the PA is fully functioning, it will run about 100 watts. Note from Norm: "I think we may have a networked UHF link established that you and other members of SFDXA can access.? The UHF repeater is in Margate and I think covers all of? Broward Co. With the matrix up and down the State - This is an UHF system and if you have that capability try the Margate site, as I don't think the Deerfield Beach is operational yet.? frequency is 444.025 +and PL code 107.2.? Our repeater in Jupiter is connected to this network - I am hearing stations from down your way and up to NJ.? If you have UHF, give it a try - KA4EPS is the guy who set this up using ATT cell towers" Signal isn't real strong as of right, now but usable. After 20 years of trying to set up a Link, we can now talk to Norm W4QN, Mikum W4UM and others. Hooray! -Bill W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 10 18:11:57 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:11:57 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Programming details for the Motorola Radio Club repeaters In-Reply-To: <68d56103-590a-3cc6-4326-879693197775@linkscape.net> References: <68d56103-590a-3cc6-4326-879693197775@linkscape.net> Message-ID: Received Today: -Bill W2CQ XXXX, below you will find the programming details for the Motorola Radio Club repeaters in Ft. Lauderdale, we have just transition them to the DMR Plus network. There are two UHF repeaters and one VHF repeater. You can share this with the breakfast club group. This is a quick overview to help you program your units. All three repeaters use color code 1, the Talk Group configuration is the same for all, what changes is the operating frequency.I would suggest if your radio is capable to set up a zone for DMR Plus, to distinguish between channels I have named onerepeater DMR+ and the other DMR+2, VHF just call it DMR+ as we only have one repeater in that band. UHF Time slot????? TG ID?? TG name???????? Freq Use 1????????????????? 8????????? LocalDMR+???? 443.000+ Local 2????????????????? 1????????? WWideDMR+? 443.000+ Worldwide 2????????????????? 3????????? NoAmDMR+??? 443.000+? North America 2????????????????? 13??????? WWideEDMR+ 443.000+ Worldwide English 2????????????????? 9???????? TalkDMR+??????? 443.000+? Talk linked reflector (use after connecting) 2???????????????? 5000???? StatusDMR+??? 443.000+?? Connection status 2???????????????? 4000???? DiscDMR+?????? 443.000+?? Disconnect from reflector 2???????????????? 4XXX??? Connect?????????? 443.000+?? Connect to a reflector, then switch back to Talk 1????????????????? 8????????? LocalDMR+2 ??? 442.425+? Local 2????????????????? 1????????? WWideDMR+2? 442.425+? Worldwide 2????????????????? 3????????? NoAmDMR+2 ?? 442.425+? North America 2????????????????? 13??????? WWideEDMR+2 442.425+ Worldwide English 2????????????????? 9???????? TalkDMR+2 ?????? 442.425+? Talk linked reflector (use after connecting) 2???????????????? 5000???? StatusDMR+2 ?? 442.425+?? Connection status 2???????????????? 4000???? DiscDMR+2 ????? 442.425+?? Disconnect from reflector 2???????????????? 4XXX??? Connect?????????? 442.425+?? Connect to a reflector, then switch back to Talk VHF Time slot????? TG ID?? TG name???????? Freq???????? Use 1????????????????? 8????????? LocalDMR+???? 147.105+? Local 2????????????????? 1????????? WWideDMR+? 147.105+? Worldwide 2????????????????? 3????????? NoAmDMR+??? 147.105+? North America 2????????????????? 13??????? WWideEDMR+ 147.105+ Worldwide English 2????????????????? 9???????? TalkDMR+??????? 147.105+? Talk linked reflector (use after connecting) 2???????????????? 5000???? StatusDMR+??? 147.105+?? Connection status 2???????????????? 4000???? DiscDMR+?????? 147.105+?? Disconnect from reflector 2???????????????? 4XXX??? Connect?????????? 147.105+?? Connect to a reflector, then switch back to Talk Note you can set up a channel selector position to access a reflector for example Time slot TG?????????????????????????????????????????????? TG name 2???????????????? TG 4600 transmit / TG 9 receive ??? FL state Do a quick 1 second key up then switch the channel selectorto TalkDMR+ and you will have FL state enabled for 15 minutes, or until you disconnect it. an alternative way, if you have keypad is to stay on the TalkDMR+ position, go to menu, select contacts, select manual dial,enter the reflector digits, for example 4600 then key up for asecond and then return to TalkDMR+ and you will haveFL state enabled for 15 minutes, or until you disconnect it. The list of available reflectors can be found on Tri-State DMR or in the DMR-MARC, DMR+ section, http://tristatedmr.org/talkgroups.html , http://dmr-marc.net/FAQ/dmrplus-america.html Please share with members of the South East Florida DMR user community. I want to thank Mike AA9VI, Rich K4XF, Bill W4CHT for their support. 73 Fidel WD4CLZ Motorola Amateur Radio Club Officer From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Apr 11 14:23:02 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 14:23:02 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] FQP 2018 Results and other important info!!!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello-Hallo-Hola-Ciao-Ol?-Dzie? dobry FQP Friends - We have some exciting new updates for you regarding the 2019 Florida QSO Party being held *April 27&28.* *First:* *The eagerly awaited 2018 FQP Final Results and Write**Up are now available*. *Dan K1TO and Chris W4WF *have spent many, many (many!) hours ensuring these results are accurate and the write up informative and entertaining. The non-US plaques were shipped April 1st and the US plaques were shipped April 10th.? Certificate generation is coming soon but not yet ready; please QRX.? I must reiterate just how much heavy lifting this work entails - so on behalf of all FQP fans, thank you both! Friends, enjoy the read! *Second:* Our FQP website has added translations of our new 2019 Rules into several languages including *French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.* Huge thanks to our translators VA2CZ, DK2OY, I4VEQ, K1CC & SP9KR/VA3KL, CT7AIX and W4LT & KJ3Q+ his wife for their hard work!!! Our sincere appreciation to Pierre, Manfred, Claudio, Rich & Andy, Rui and Lu and Al and Patty - many thanks again. *Third*: *K0RC and NO5W*?have some very cool, useful tools to track county activity for both Fixed and Mobile/Expedition FL stations. If you're in the hunt for a County or Spelling Bee Sweep, be sure to check them out *Fourth:* We have _changed_ our 2019 FQP Spelling Bee word to *BEACH*. Please see the details _below_?including the 1x1 stations you will be chasing. 22nd Anniversary Special Event Award- 2019 FQP Spelling Bee! We will have a total of 5 special 1x1 stations below whose suffixes spell *BEACH. *Contact all 5 of these 1x1 stations to earn this award.? These stations will be on both modes full-time and should be very accessible. QSL these 1x1 calls active in FQP via KU9C direct or via bureau. The callsigns and hosts are: *_CALL HOST?? CTY_* *W4B N4UU??? ALC* *W4E N4OX?? ESC* *W4A WX4G?? SAR* *W4C WO4O? LAK* *W4H N4WW? ORA* *Lastly:* *REMINDER for FL Stations (1x1, Fixed, Mobile, Expedition) - * *Please go to the FQP website an REGISTER your County Activation plans for each day!* We're having a Party and we hope you join us for the fun! Tnx/73/OJ, Chris, NX4N From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Apr 13 10:02:21 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:02:21 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Direction Finding Field Day, 18 May 1947. Message-ID: <41bb14e8-ac8b-eeca-6216-73c31beb66a4@bellsouth.net> https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=D_LHb3wPAfE From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 16 14:08:20 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 14:08:20 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] =?utf-8?q?Valve_QRP_D=E2=80=8Bay?= Message-ID: <3cd036e7-95a8-dfda-545c-431d3c6ef34e@bellsouth.net> *From FLBoatanchors List: *-Bill W2CQ* Valve QRP D**?**ay* Relayed from: g3vtt at aol.com OK Tube CW ops - here you go!! (You can work anyone in any country I think!! - Bry AF4K) Hi all, A quick reminder that next weekend April 20th is the Valve QRP Day, (you can stretch it into the Sunday if you want!) for those of us hankering after the good old days. It's not a contest but an activity period and is on all the bands you have valve/tube equipment for operated at a maximum 5 watts output. Any mode can be used but we tend to use CW. I will be operating as G5LOW again on Saturday morning and evening around 3560/3563, 5262 and 7030 Kc/s and don't forget to tune around as there may be stations calling you off frequency. It should be fun. Please give sensible reports and try to pass some information to the operator at the other end. Reports please and any pictures of the equipment by the end of April please to g3vtt at aol.com, (in Word please), and I will try to include all of the contributions. Any construction tips for obtaining parts or making the old style stuff will be gratefully received plus any restoration ideas. Let's light up the filaments and hear what's out there. 72 Colin G3VTT From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 16 16:46:31 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 16:46:31 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARRL and FCC Sign Memorandum to Implement New Volunteer Monitor Program In-Reply-To: <6c60a5df-7fb3-1cd2-384f-63c1dda306fd@bellsouth.net> References: <6c60a5df-7fb3-1cd2-384f-63c1dda306fd@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <27af5fcf-fb53-bb78-a818-5d038f41470b@bellsouth.net> *ARRL and FCC Sign Memorandum to Implement New Volunteer Monitor Program **04/16/2019* ARRL and the FCC have signed a /Memorandum of Understanding/ (/MOU/) that paves the way to implement the new and enhanced Volunteer Monitor program. The memorandum establishes the Volunteer Monitors as a replacement for the Official Observers (OO) program. Current OOs have been encouraged to participate in the new program. ?We are excited by the opportunity to codify our partnership with the FCC and to work together to achieve our mutual interests of protecting the integrity of our Amateur Radio bands,? said ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. ?This /Memorandum of Understanding/ will serve as the foundation for a new level of partnership on this very important issue.? ARRL has contracted with retired FCC special counsel and former Atlantic Division Vice Director Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, to oversee the ARRL?s role in the development and implementation of the Volunteer Monitor program. Approved by the ARRL Board of Directors at its July 2018 meeting, the new Volunteer Monitor program is a formal agreement between the FCC and ARRL in which volunteers trained and vetted by the ARRL will monitor the airwaves and collect evidence that can be used both to correct misconduct or recognize exemplary on-air operation. Cases of flagrant violations will be referred to the FCC by the ARRL for action in accordance with FCC guidelines. The intent of this program is to re-energize enforcement efforts in the Amateur Radio bands. It was proposed by the FCC in the wake of several FCC regional office closures and a reduction in field staff. ?Under this program, the FCC will give enforcement priority to cases developed by the Volunteer Monitor program, without the delay of ARRL having to refer cases through the FCC online complaint process,? Hollingsworth said. Hollingsworth has identified three phases to the program: Development, Solicitation and Training, and Implementation. * The Development phase will include drafting a mission statement, clearly defining the ARRL?s and FCC?s requirements and needs as part of the program, writing a job description for volunteer monitors, and developing a training manual for volunteers. * The Solicitation and Training phase will involve identifying the geographic locations where volunteer monitors will be most needed, soliciting applications and guidance from Section Managers in reviewing applicants. (Those currently volunteering as Official Observers are invited to apply for appointment as Volunteer Monitors.). * The Implementation phase will involve having the volunteers provide field reports to ARRL, with staff offering guidance to volunteers to ensure that the information collected meets requirements for FCC enforcement action. Hollingsworth has committed to FCC and ARRL officials to ensure the adequacy of training for the new positions, to review the quality and utility of Volunteer Monitor submissions to the FCC for enforcement actions, and to advocate for rapid disposition of cases appropriately submitted to the FCC. ARRL officials estimate that within 6 to 9 months the first Volunteer Monitors will be in place and ready to begin their duties. From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Apr 17 09:50:03 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 09:50:03 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] For A CLEAN SIGNAL! - FT8 Adjusting Sound Card - Bandwidth In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <52b18808-888d-2287-2e82-8a27dc84a397@bellsouth.net> ***FT8 ? Avoiding Harmonics and Audio Settings Updated 12/6/18 * By Mike Black/W9MDB and Eric Spero/WA1SXK The FT8 sound card mode is an MFSK mode with redundancy and error checking.? If you have been hearing about this new mode or have been using it, this article can aid you to set up and operate the FT8 data mode with good clean signals.? FT8 allows you to view and decode dozens of signals at once with the waterfall display.? This means your audio setup and bandpass settings will be of utmost importance while operating the FT8 sound card mode. FT8 is a very popular sound card mode thanks to the WSJT-X team's efforts.? See http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx.html for the software and check out the references for lots of details.? A sound card mode is what you might call a poor-person?s SDR (since the software is free you can be poor to enjoy it).? All the FT8 relevant modulation/demodulation/bit-correction/error- checking is taking place in the WSJT-X software.? During this process your FT8 messages (exchanges) are being encoded with additional information that allows for error detection and bit corruption correction which the receiving side can use to process and validate the received message.? The WSJT-X software sound card modes can be used with any rig, new or old.? FT8 can demodulate dozens of signals (50hz wide each) in up to 5000Hz of bandpass including overlapping signals. As you can see, many hams can operate at the same time in the same bandwidth.? This approach allows new operating paradigms like FT8 Fox&Hound mode that DXCC teams are now using where they can process multiple QSOs simultaneously (see http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT8_DXpedition_Mode.pdf). One of the areas that seems to be misunderstood while operating FT8 is the how the radio?s bandpass settings affect the operations of this mode. Many of the hams who operate some of the other modes like SSB and CW, use the default bandpass settings in their rig which are frequently too narrow for FT8. Note that most rigs can set the overall bandpass and not separate the Rx/Tx bandpass.? Your rig?s bandpass is hopefully at least 200Hz-2400Hz and preferably 200Hz-3000Hz since there are quite a few operators who transmit above 2500 (see Figure 1 with 200Hz-3000Hz).?? You can view your bandpass in the WSJT-X waterfall by turning off ?Flatten?, below that change the pulldown to ?Current? and set ?N Avg? to 3 or less and ?Start 0 Hz? so we can see the changes more easily.? What you should see is something like Figure 3, where you have a noise level signal rolling-off at lower and upper ends of the bandpass. You should adjust the Bins/Pixel and window width, so you can see your entire FT8 signal bandwidth.? Then you need to learn your bandwidth controls in your rig, so you can maximize both the low end and high end cutoff points.? Once you have your bandwidth set in your rig as wide as you can make it you can change the ?Start 0 Hz? to ?Start 200 Hz?.??? Then adjust the right side of graph until it is inside your upper bandwidth limit.? Then turn on ?Flatten?.? Note that Flatten does not like having the edges of your bandpass in the waterfall and will not behave as well if you adjust this incorrectly.? The signal bandpass area between the lower and upper limits of the waterfall window is where the FT8 signals will be displayed and decoded in the software.? The frequency limits of the waterfall determine what gets decoded. Remember your goal for FT8 is to adjust your rig for as much TX/RX bandwidth as possible?you can run it up to 5kHz for WSJT-X (as much as WSJT-X can do right now).? Most rigs should do at least 2002400Hz.? Many rigs have bandwidth settings called NAR/MID/WID filters and the WID settings should always be used and it can usually be adjusted for the largest bandwidth.? If you can?t find your rig?s bandwidth settings after consulting with your manual feel free to contact one of the authors. Once you have your bandwidth set correctly you are now ready to set up your receive signals path: #1 Open the sound control panel on your computer, right-click your rig sound device, select Properties, and set the Level of your sound card Playback device (and Recording device) to 0dB. You can get to the sound control panel in Windows 10 by right-clicking the speaker icon and select ?Open Sound Settings? and find the ?Sound Control Panel? entry and your audio is probably called ?USB Audio CODEC?.? Rightclick the device for your rig and select ?Properties?.? Select the Level tab and right-click in the level slider to set the scale to dB instead of the default percentage. #2 In the Advanced tab set your sample rate to 48kHz 16-bit. Also, ensure all enhancements or spatial sound effects are turned OFF. #3 You are now ready to adjust the level in the WSJT-X meter to minimum 30dB and not more than 40dB when you have your rigs VFO tuned on a quiet spot.? You can adjust your external sound card knobs if you are using one, and your rigs output level to achieve this.? Do NOT make this adjustment using sound controls on the computer?in most cases that is not necessary.?? The meter in WSJT-X should look something like Figure 4.? Again, note this is on a quiet spot on the band with no signals present. Now let?s talk about your transmit signal path: ? A rig that has too much input audio will create a dirty tx signal with very significant harmonics that can disrupt a QSO and everybody can see on the waterfall?. but?here is the problem?you won?t know about it unless you can monitor your own transmitted signal.? Any harmonics will show up at multiples of your Tx offset setting in the WSJT-X waterfall of everybody that receives your signal.? For example, you can clearly see the noise bars at around 2480 in Figure 1 which is the 3rd harmonic of the signal at 829.? In Figure 2 you can see an extreme example with multiple harmonics.? Running WSJT-X?s optional rig split mode or fake it mode will prevent harmonics from showing up in your transmitted signal since harmonics will show up above 3000Hz which is normally outside your transmit passband.? But it?s better not to generate them in the first place as your signal also gets affect by the clipping.? ALC (Automatic Level Control) is one indicator of clipping and is an easy, roundabout way to know if you are clipping your signal.? Another way is to ensure that dB level controls in WSJT-X and your soundcard behave as they should. To set your transmit levels use the procedure below.? This procedure is designed to ensure your signal is just enough to drive the rig without any ALC taking place.? You MUST understand what your ALC meter is telling you. Things you need to know to do this procedure: ? How much power your rig can transmit for FT8.? Many rigs cannot use full power for this type of mode and some rigs can?t even do their rated power on a constant envelope signal without hitting the ALC.?? ? How to read and understand your rig?s ALC meter.? Anything above 0dB ALC is bad for FT8/digital modes. The question is, how does your rig show 0dB ALC?? For most older rigs 0dB is the left-hand side of the meter or just a red-light indicator when ALC is in effect.? On newer SDR rigs you do want to see some ALC action as 0dB is not the left-hand side of the meter...read your manual.? The procedure below will help you confirm how your meter behaves. ? How to set the rig output power level ? How to set rig audio input level (RAIL) ? this is the audio level that the rig sees from the computer or the external sound card.? We will also be adjusting any external sound card like a SoundBlaster or SignaLink (if you have one) and the RAIL together. #1 Set your rig power level to the maximum it can do for CW mode (look at the rig specs ? could be anywhere from 30-100% of full power).? We just need to ensure we have enough ?room? in the rig setting so that we can feed a signal and not be any more than 50% of the rig?s power setting. #2 Set WSJT-X to full power on the Pwr slider #3 Confirm your sound card playback device is 0dB and 48kHz sample rate. Recording should be the same 0dB, 48kHz. Also ensure your sound card audio playback is NOT the default device.? If you make it the default than all your windows sounds (beeps, YouTube, etc.) will playback through your rig. #4 Set your RAIL to minimum and your playback/outgoing/transmit sound card to minimum.? #5 Set the TX offset to 1500 ? we want to ensure the tone we generate is in this ?sweet spot?. #6 Press "Tune" on WSJT-X -- at this point you should have no power being transmitted.? If you see power go check your settings again. #7 Increase RAIL and external audio device level SLOWLY until you get about 20W (assuming your rig is set at 100W or use 20-50% of whatever your rig power setting is).? Whatever your ALC meter says at that point is probably what you want and is below 0dB. On most rigs the ALC meter won't even move or barely move.? If your ALC is more than minimal at this setting, then you probably have an Elecraft K3 which wants 4 bars + tickling the 5th bar to operate at capacity.? It?s important you understand what your ALC meter is telling you.? You do not want any ALC on an FT8 signal (or any other digital signal). #7 Bring up RAIL until ALC starts increasing, then decrease gain back to where it was.? For the K3 and such you should be able to put out max power without exceeding the K3?s 4bars+5th.?? #9 Sanity check ? the Pwr slider on WSJT-X should show 50% power loss for every 3dB down.? So if you are 100W at full scale (0dB on the Pwr slider) then -3db should be 50W and -6dB should be 25W.? If your power does not decrease then your audio is still wrong.? You could be overdriving the A/D in your rig which may also clip your signal.? An example is the FT-450D which has a 60mV input with a SignaLink that provides up to 100mV.? If you put over 60mV into the FT-450D your signal will clip.? The Pwr slider in WSJT-X is an indicator when this is occurring since dropping from 100mV to 80mV won?t matter to the rig and the -3dB Pwr slider setting will still show 100W. #8 Repeat #9 for the lower and upper limits of what you believe is your bandpass.? You should see the same power level behavior for your entire bandpass.? If you see the maximum power level reduce at any point then your bandpass or notch filters may be the reason?double check them.? If you run WSJT-X in either ?Rig Split? or ?Fake It? (in Settings/Radio) than your audio will always be 1500-2000Hz and actually allow you to work signals beyond your bandwidth (i.e. if you can decode them you can work them). You should now be seeing maybe 80-100% of your rig's power level (depending on rig) with no ALC being tickled (or the 4bars+ as explained above).? That's how you want to operate FT8 to ensure a clean signal. You can leave your rig power level at the maximum and adjust your transmitted power from WSJT-X (except for the K3 where you should adjust on the rig only due to the K3?s power hunting feature) and your signal will always be clean.? Changing rig power on the rig or audio levels in the rig or sound card that you have already set may end up triggering the ALC again so be vigilant that the ALC is always where it should be. Hope to see you on the bands with a clean FT8 signal! https://www.dropbox.com/s/mcj4hklxxgwswsy/FT8Noise5.pdf?dl=1 * * From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Apr 22 12:49:34 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:49:34 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Final Announcement: Florida QSO Party is THIS weekend April 27-28 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6337ae34-6265-9946-5fea-0b33b223c273@bellsouth.net> Hello Friends, The 2019?Florida QSO Party is**this weekend**; we sure hope you'll join us.? All 67 counties will be active. Please check out the 2018 FQP results, Revised 2019 Rules and much more at our *Web Site:*http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/ *Extra! Extra!* *2019 FQP Rules Changes-* *- New Expedition Category added; perfect for portable multi-county adventurers/campers* *- Lowering the Low Power limit from 150W to 100W output* *- Suggested frequency ranges are established*** *The Florida QSO Party* Object: Everyone works Florida, Florida works Everyone Activate and work ALL Florida counties Have as much FUN as possible! When: *April 27 & 28, 2019* Two ten hour operating periods, with a ten hour break: Saturday, April 27 1600Z (Noon EDT) - 0159Z (9:59 PM EDT) Sunday, April 28 1200Z (8 AM EDT) - 2159Z (5:59 PM EDT) 20 Hours total Exchange: RST and County (Florida stations) RST and QTH (State, Province or Country for non-FL) Where: 10, 15, 20 and 40 Meters *SUGGESTED OPERATING FREQUENCIES: * CW: ?????7.020-7.045, 14.025-14.055, 21.030-21.050, 28.030-28.050 MHz Phone: 7.185-7.245, 14.240-14.295, 21.320-21.350, and 28.450-28.480 MHz Contacts outside these frequency ranges are still valid; see rules for details. *MOBILE WINDOW: *We expect at least 15 Mobile stations will be on and most can be found here: *CW: 7.025-7.035, 14.040-14.050, 21.040-21.050, 28.040-28.050 MHz** **SSB:?7.230-7.240, 14.265-14.275? MHz **/If you are not mobile, *please* refrain from calling CQ in these windows./**/ /* Categories: Single Op, Multi Op, Multi-Multi, Mobile, Expedition, Technician and School. Three power levels: QRP, Low, and High Power. Use CW, SSB or both. 22nd Anniversary Special Event Award- 2019 FQP Spelling Bee! We will have a total of 5 special 1x1 stations below whose suffixes spell *BEACH. *Contact all 5 of these 1x1 stations to earn this award.? These stations will be on both modes full-time and should be very accessible. QSL these 1x1 calls active in FQP via KU9C direct or via bureau. The callsigns and hosts are: *_CALL HOST?? CTY_* *W4B N4UU??? ALC* *W4E N4OX?? ESC* *W4A WX4G?? SAR* *W4C WO4O? LAK* *W4H N4WW? ORA* Prizes: Beautiful color Certificates for top participants Plaques for top finishing entrants. *Web Site:*http://www.floridaqsoparty.org/ Detailed rules, mobile routes, past results, plaques, county maps and much more! *//* *//* */ACTION REQUIRED!!!/* *_Florida Stations of all types_*?? /please go to the FQP website and register your fixed, mobile, expedition and 1x1 Spelling Bee operations; just click on the ?Counties" link and then the _Activation Forms_ to get started ? thanks!/ Logs to logs at floridaqsoparty.org ?or via US mail to: Florida QSO Party, c/o Ron Harps, K8NZ, 1997 Willow Glen Ln Columbus, OH 43229-1550. Any questions or feedback? Please feel free to reply to my e-mail: cqdenx4n at gmail.com *_We highly encourage_* you to sign up to the new FQP email Group fqp at groups.io . Anyone wishing to subscribe to the FQP email reflector may send an email request to George, K5KG at k5kg at k5kg.com . Upon receiving your request to join, George will send you an invitation to subscribe to the reflector.? When you receive the invitation, simply follow the instructions, and sign yourself up. THANK YOU in advance for making the 2019 FQP another terrific event! 73, Chris, NX4N, on behalf of: Chris, W4WF and Dan, K1TO ? President and Past President Florida Contest Group, proud sponsors of the FQP since?1998 From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 23 13:04:43 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:04:43 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] John Attaway K4IIF SK In-Reply-To: <1161219588.4464262.1556030251719@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1161219588.4464262.1556030251719@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <504f489e-83c2-d515-c1bc-772ebc415ca2@bellsouth.net> Hi Bill: This is to let you know that John Attaway-K4IIF is a SILENT KEY. 73, Phil Camino-KC4C Haines City, FL Oak Ridge Funeral Care Oak Ridge Funeral Care Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Serving Winter Haven, FL - Auburndale, FL - Haines City, FL From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Apr 23 13:18:55 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:18:55 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] John Attaway K4IIF SK - More Message-ID: <2847ac25-a003-0423-e4e7-f524eed614d8@bellsouth.net> John? Attaway,? K4IIF,? then? the? DX? Editor? of? CQ Magazine,? came? up? with? the? DX? Hall? of? Fame proposal some thirty years back. John then thought there were some really outstanding Dxers out there who should be recognized. This thinking led to the Hall of Fame Award, possibly the most rare of all the DX awards and through rare, it is still with us today and still recognizes outstanding Dxers Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theledger/obituary.aspx?n=john-a-attaway&pid=192626668&fhid=6779 I'll post more as I find it. Bill W2CQ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Apr 26 16:36:20 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2019 16:36:20 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] International Marconi Day 2019 is April 27 (UTC) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <392dbd68-31bb-afbc-f617-842f9b34cf9f@bellsouth.net> International Marconi Day 2019 is April 27 (UTC) 04/24/2019 image.png Some 70 stations have registered to take part in the 2019 International Marconi Day (*IMD* ) observance on Saturday, April 27 (UTC). *Registered stations* will operate at sites with a personal connection to wireless pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, including sites at which he set up transmitting and receiving stations. The 24-hour Amateur Radio event celebrates the birth of Marconi on April 25, 1874, and is typically held on the Saturday closest to Marconi?s birthday. During IMD 2019, radio amateurs around the world will make contact with historic Marconi sites. The event is sponsored by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, which will operate as GB4IMD. While April 27 is the day of the official celebration, some IMD special events will take place outside of that time frame, although only contacts made on April 27 count for IMD awards. For example, in Austria, OE19M will be on the air from April 26 until April 28 as an official IMD. Numerous IMD stations will be on the air from various locations in Marconi?s native Italy. Stations in Ireland will include EI0MAR, which will operate from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth. The Marconi Company conducted telegraph testing at Dublin?s Martello Tower in 1905. Also participating from Ireland will be EI5IMD from the Cork Radio Club; EI0CAR from the Carndonagh ARC, and EI0YXQ from the Marconi Radio Site in Kerry. Several US stations have registered as official IMD stations, including two on Cape Cod, where Marconi had established stations in Wellfleet and Chatham. In 1903, Marconi successfully transmitted messages between US President Teddy Roosevelt and King Edward VII of England. With rapid advances in technology, the station became outdated in a matter of a few years, and was replaced by a newer station in Chatham, Massachusetts. Others include special event K3S in Baltimore, sponsored by the Nuclear Ship Savannah Amateur Radio Club (K3SAV). VO1MD will be on the air from Signal Hill near St. John?s, Newfoundland, where Marconi first received a signal from across the Atlantic in 1901. http://www.arrl.org/news/international-marconi-day-2019-is-april-27-utc From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Apr 27 17:15:02 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2019 17:15:02 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Happy Birthday Samuel Message-ID: Inventor Samuel Morse is born, April 27, 1791 https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4439297/Inventor-Samuel-Morse-is-born--April-27--1791?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=ad&utm_medium=EDNFunFriday-20190426