[SJDXA] Fwd: ARRL 160 FRIDAY - SUNDAY Dec. 4 - 6

Mon Nov 30 22:45:11 EST 2015

73. Bob Schenck, N2OO

Sent from my iPhone 

Begin forwarded message:

> From: John Crovelli <w2gd at hotmail.com>
> Date: November 30, 2015 at 21:39:07 EST
> To: "w2cg at yahoo.com" <w2cg at yahoo.com>, "w2nodano at gmail.com" <w2nodano at gmail.com>, "w2rq at embarqmail.com" <w2rq at embarqmail.com>, "k2tw at yahoo.com" <k2tw at yahoo.com>, "ku2c at ymail.com" <ku2c at ymail.com>, N2HM <bob at wyrs.org>, "k2sg at comcast.net" <k2sg at comcast.net>, N2OO <n2oo at comcast.net>, "w1gd at aol.com" <w1gd at aol.com>, Lance Meyers <captlance at comcast.net>
> Cc: "rwmcgwier at gmail.com" <rwmcgwier at gmail.com>, "w5zn at w5zn.org" <w5zn at w5zn.org>, "w2ob at arrl.net" <w2ob at arrl.net>, "n3rd at arrl.net" <n3rd at arrl.net>, Peter Hutter <pdhutter at yahoo.com>
> Subject: ARRL 160 FRIDAY - SUNDAY Dec. 4 - 6
> 
> THIS coming weekend!
> 
> MEET FRIDAY:  10 a.m.  List of items to be worked is in the write-up below.  WHO can attend Friday /Saturday
> 
> Contest starts at 5 p.m. local....effectively ends at sunrise Sunday.
> 
> GD at P40W
> 
> 
> From: w2gd at hotmail.com
> To: w2cg at yahoo.com; w2nodano at gmail.com; w2rq at embarqmail.com; k2tw at yahoo.com; ku2c at ymail.com; bob at wyrs.org; k2sg at comcast.net; n2oo at comcast.net; w1gd at aol.com; captlance at comcast.net
> CC: rwmcgwier at gmail.com; w5zn at w5zn.org; w1km at comcast.net; w2ob at arrl.net; n3rd at arrl.net; pdhutter at yahoo.com
> Subject: Work Party Nov 15 Report - Remaining To Do Items for ARRL 160
> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2015 21:31:29 -0500
> 
> Bob, N2OO summarized our work party accomplishments earlier this evening in a note to SJDXA members:    
> The 160 CW crew came down and set up the transmit array (delta loop and slopers),  cabled up all of the beverages the low dipole RX antennas.  Only things left to do outdoors before the ARRL 160 is to walk/repair the beverages, reinstall the HI-Z Four system, and tune the backup Inverted L TX antenna.  
> Present today were W2GD, W2CG, W2NO, K2TW, KU2C, N2HM, N2OO, and N2OZ. The reconditioned TX system components (thanks W2NO) were tuned and tested.  They handled full power with no problem. Let's hope everything makes it through the coming winter WX until the 160 SSB contest in February next year!  I am expecting another setup day in a couple of weeks. Will advise. 
> 73. Bob Schenck, N2OO
> 
> 
> The weather was near perfect today.....which really helped produce such high productivity....temps around 60, light winds, low tides, and relatively dry conditions in the woods.  
> 
> We divided into teams to get things done expeditiously.  GD and NO cabled up all the beverages while TW, HM, CG and KU2C did the preliminaries getting the loop reflector and slopers + feedlines laid out around the tower.  TW remembered to bring his notes....so we somehow managed to position the loop above/below the correct guys on the very first try!  The lower horizontal leg of the loop is about forty feet high and 5 feet  from the tower, and the bottom ends of the slopers are positioned at the modeled/correct distance in front of the loop on each side.  When both slopers were found resonant right around 1775, removing three feet from the lower half of each brought them to the desired frequency, near 1830.  GD climbed the tower and tied off the sloper feedlines at the 100 foot level.  No one fell in the marsh muck or stepped into a hole....even the water level was very cooperative....since favorable winds had blown out the water the past few days.  Bob Wick's fall mowing of marsh reeds made moving around easy and safe.
> 
> There are several line noise sources along Route 9.  It isn't terrible but it is highly likely the power grid buzzing will impact our operation if left unresolved.   Bob Wick agreed to contact AC Electric this week and report the line noise problems, thus establishing a trouble ticket in their system for reference.
> 
> The list of work items that the TEAM will need to complete before the ARRL 160 is relatively short this year:
> 
> 
> 1.  Install cabling and other components, then test the HI-Z Four RX antenna.
> 
> 2.  Perform SWR and reception tests on all beverage antennas.  Diagnose and repair problems as needed.
> 
> 3.  Test low dipole RX antenna.
> 
> 4.  Tune backup Inverted L TX antenna (using antenna tuner located at base).  FIND two yellow coax chokes and UNUN.
> 
> 5.  Walk all of the beverages and make repairs where needed....there are plenty of new trees down in the woods as always.
> 
> 6.  Set up the three operating positions, integrate the 2S1 switching system between the run and mult transceivers and the amplifier, and confirm proper networking of computers.  Load current country and Super Check Partial files on Win-Test.   Establish telnet sessions with the K3WW and K3LR clusters with appropriate filtering active (e.g. only skimmers east of Mississippi, plus PJ2 and TF skimmers).
> 
> 7.  Print out rate sheets from last two or more years of ARRL contests for comparison purposes during the event.
> 
> 8.  During the ARRL 160 weekend, scout out several potential sites to install the Eight Circle RX array later in December, ideally completing the project before the Stew Perry TBDC that will take place on Saturday/Sunday, December 26/27.  We are in the process of procuring materials to assemble and install verticals and to wire up the system.  We have sufficient RG6 cable still on the the big reel in the shed for feedline, and plenty of CAT5 cable for control line purposes. 
> 
> THANKS EVERYONE for all your hard work.....unlike many years we are already very well prepared for the ARRL160 this time.   Have a great Thanksgiving, and hope you find time to operate the CQWW CW the weekend following turkey day (P40W will appreciate your calls).
> 
> 73,
> 
> John W2GD
> 
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> From: w2gd at hotmail.com
> To: w2cg at yahoo.com; w2nodano at gmail.com; w2rq at embarqmail.com; k2tw at yahoo.com; ku2c at ymail.com; bob at wyrs.org; k2sg at comcast.net; n2oo at comcast.net; w1gd at aol.com; captlance at comcast.net
> Subject: RE: 2015-16 160M Season - Work Party Nov 15, 21 or 22
> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2015 02:16:48 -0500
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Team....
> 
> Its that time again.....to become one with the marsh and install the 160M TX antenna....run out the cables for the beverages, reinstall the HI-Z 4 sq RX antenna, RX dipole, and a few other projects.
> 
> PROPOSED DATES:  SUNDAY  NOV. 15, and/or  SAT/SUN Nov. 21/22  at 9 a.m.  
> 
> PLEASE RESPOND YOUR WORK DATE PREFERENCES TO THE LIST  ASAP so we can designate which date.
> 
> 
> Primary Tasks for First Work Party:
> 
> 1.  HIGHEST PRIORITY: Install TX sloper and loop antenna elements.   The status of the two sloping dipoles needs to be evaluated in light of the changing SWR problems experienced last year during CQ160 CW. At a minimum we could consider replacement of the ALPHA DELTA center insulators and do continuity and loss evaluations of RG8X feedlines (two new 200 foot 8X cables were assembled and installed last season).  
> 
> 2.  Install  Beverage Transformers and  Coax Cables - stored in shed, marked per antenna.
> 
> 3.  Install Hi-Z 4 square RX antenna and cabling
> 
> 4.  Walk Beverages and Repair as needed.
> 
> 5.  Install 160m RX diople @ 20 feet above driveway.  
> 
> 6.  Install screw in anchor on SW side of tower for securing pull rope.
> 
> 7.  Tune backup Inverted L if time permits.
> 
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> GD
> 
> 
> 
> P.S. - FUTURE DECEMBER PROJECT
> 
> After the ARRL 160 contest and before the Stew Perry, we have another project: Install the long and much discussed W5ZN/N4HY 8 circle RX array.   This is a major construction project.  The most expensive single component, the 8 circle controller ($629) has been gifted to us by N4HY ( I have it).  See the following for description of the controller components from DXE:  http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-rca8b-sys-2p, and http://www.dxengineering.com/search/product-line/dx-engineering-receive-eight-circle-controller-and-switch-packages?
> 
> tw=eight%20circle&sw=DX%20Engineering%20Receive%20Eight%20Circle%20Controller%20and%20Switch%20Packages
> 
> The 8 circle RX array design and construction is fully described in this W5ZN/N4HY document:  http://www.w5zn.org/files/Design%20Construction%20&%20Evaluation%20of%20the%208%20Circle%20Vertical%20Array%20for%20Low%20Band%20Receiving%20Rev%203A%2002-25-2011.pdf
> 
> We will soon order the materials need to assemble and install 8 twenty five foot vertical elements, vertical supports, tuning components, RG6 phasing lines, feedline and control lines from controller to shack, ground systems, and elevated top hat assemblies.  The .pdf document describes all material needs, construction steps, and tuning procedures for this antenna in significant detail.  NOTE:  This antenna is currently installed at W3LPL and has proven to outperform his beverages.  Frank no longer deploys the beverages.  
> 
> 
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