LINK QRZNews Jan 2013

QRZ NEWS
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF
SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC
PO BOX 1033 - LANCASTER, PA 17608-1033
(Founded June 1960)
AN AFFILIATED SPECIAL SERVICE CLUB OF THE ARRL, INC.
“Public Service through Communication”
Website: WWW. K3IR.org
Email address: k3ir@arrl.net
Repeaters: 145.230 - 449.975 - Packet 145.030 - ATV 923.250, FN10se
Club site 1715 Breneman Road, Rapho Twp. ( Manheim P.O. 17545 no delivery)
January 2013
President’s Message
Well we have added a new event. The second
Saturday of every month is the Club breakfast
at Gus's Restaurant in Mt. Joy.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. I was
expecting someone else to be writing this
column this month but you are stuck with me
for one more term. It has been a humbling
experience to serve as President of what I
consider the best radio club in the area, but then
I am biased! As we look ahead to 2013 I see
nothing but positives.
We are sponsoring our second entry level
licensing class at Moravian Manor in Lititz. If
you know someone who may be interested
please pass the word along. You can find
detailed information elsewhere in this
newsletter.
If SPARC is any indication HAM radio is
definitely growing. We have seen a marked
increase in not only new memberships, but
more importantly, an increase in activity.
We are continuing to work on updating the
club's operating building.
Table of Contents
President’s Message
Secretary’s Report
Coming Events
Editor’s Notes
Six Meter DX Report
ARES/RACES Information
SPARC Officers, Nets, Etc.
Sending and Receiving QSLs
Resources for Hams
SPARC Breakfast at Gus’s Rest.
VK7MO- 10GHz EME Tour
On a regional note, the growth of the Wide
Area Network has brought new interest in
VHF/UHF activity. While SPARC is not a part
of WAN we share 145.23 with a repeater
located in the Poconos that I happen to receive
here quite well. This situation may be a
annoyance to others but I kind of like hearing
what is happening in the rest of the state while I
monitor SPARC. If I didn't want to hear the
WAN repeater I could select tone squelch but
the conversations are often very interesting.
There are several repeaters in the area that are a
part of the system and, as the TV stations say,
you can learn more through the link on our
website – www.k3ir.org.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 4
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 13
Page 14
Page 14
What can you do to help? Well we need more
instructors for the licensing classes. I would
like to add a general class license program but
so far no one has stepped forward to serve as
chief instructor.
But you may ask “what is SPARC doing?”
1
 All of the members who had paid
assessments have responded. Most of you
allowed SPARC to keep those funds. That
generosity has enabled us to move forward
on the tank removal and generator update
project.
 The generator update is well underway. The
contract for the underground storage tank
removal has been signed, and the
contractor expects to start in January. A
buyer has emerged for the diesel generator,
and prices have been obtained for a
replacement propane generator and
propane tanks. We’ll be able to clear out
the generator room in the repeater
building, possibly converting it to a repair
bench.
 SPARC continues to promote a technical
agenda. Harry is starting another round of
New Ham classes early in 2013. Other
members, including Gerry Wagner, are
thinking about upgrading to General and
Extra and have started study groups.
We’ve had a speaker at nearly every
membership meeting and expect to
continue with that pattern in 2013, starting
with a talk from Phil Theis on Software
Defined Radio. Planning has already
begun for Field Day 2013.
 We also want SPARC to be fun. Gerry
Wagner has started what he hopes is a
recurring Second Saturday Ham Breakfast
at Gus’s Diner. Harry has been diligent
about keeping the operating building open
every Tuesday, and we have a goal this
year of making keys more available so the
members can more easily use the site.
 You should have all received your renewal
packages by now. Please return your
application, even if nothing has changed.
It helps keep the roster up to date. It’s also
important to give us your email address
and a backup if you have one, so we can
get the newsletter out to you.
We need more volunteers to offer programs at
our membership meetings. These programs can
be of general interest, not necessarily radio
related.
SPARC exists not just to serve ourselves but to
also serve the community.
We also need volunteers to present technical
programs for area schools. Also, we need
contacts at local schools through whom we can
offer our members expertise in a variety of
areas.
If you or someone you know is involved in a
local community event ask if there is some way
we can help. For example, we participate in the
Columbia Halloween Parade and the MS Walk.
I'm sure there are other programs in the area
where we could be of assistance.
One final presidential proclamation – HAVE A
HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
73,
Harry, WA3FFK
Secretary’s Report
12 January 2013
Since the December meeting date fell on
Christmas Day the meeting was cancelled, so
there are no meeting minutes to publish.
Following are some highlights of what’s
happened over the past several weeks:
 We’ve elected a new slate of officers. Harry
and Dave were re-elected as President and
Secretary. Kevin Lampo and Mike Hess
are replacing George Gadbois and Mike
Warner as Vice President and Treasurer.
Along with the outgoing and incoming
treasurers, Gerry Wagner led an audit of
the books for 2012. No problems were
found.
2
If my calendar calculations are correct it
should end the Friday before the testing
session at Heisy's Diner. I'm thinking of
car pooling from the Manor for that.
We are all looking forward to another fun and
productive year. If you have any ideas for
technical programs or club events please
contact one of the officers, or even better, just
step up and start planning.
73,
Harry Bauder, WA3FFK
Respectfully submitted,
Dave Sarraf, N3NDJ
SPARC Secretary
Other Events
Coming Events
Saturday, Sunday 19, 21 January 2013
The ARRL January VHF Contest Begins
1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0359 UTC Monday
(January 19-21, 2013) All bands and modes
above 50MHz are included. Repeater contacts
don’t count. You should avoid 146.520 FM
simplex because this is a national calling
frequency and very busy. Contest stations will
be looking for VHF/UHF FM simplex contacts
during the contest. Check 146.550MHz,
223.500MHz, and 446.000MHz especially at
noon to 1PM Sunday.
SPARC programs for 2013
Tuesday 22 January 2013, 7:00PM
SPARC membership meeting at the Rapho
Twp. Municipal Bldg., 971 N. Colebrook Rd,
Rapho Twp. (Manheim P.O. 17545).
Phil Theis, K3TUF, will give a presentation on
"Introduction and advances in Software
Defined Radios". This will be essentially the
same presentation he gave at the Mid Atlantic
VHF Conference. We can hope FlexRadio
Systems will catch up and deliver an SDR 6000
in time for our meeting.
Contesters have a tendency to turn the volume
down on the FM rig when the traffic on
SSB/CW is high. The Packrats have
designated the Sunday noon period as a time to
emphasize FM simplex.
We need programs for February 2013 and later.
A CPR demo has been suggested. We need to
find a presentation sponsor with a CPR
mannequin.
Exchange callsigns and grid square
information. The four digit grid is sufficient,
but a six digit grid is preferred especially on the
higher bands. You can look up your grid
information on QRZ.com. Note that QRZ.com
allows hams to change the latitude and
longitude of their stations because they don’t
want to be found.
Technician License Class
SPARC is sponsoring an entry level licensing
class. It is scheduled to begin on Friday,
February 1 and run for 7 weeks. Time will
be the same as last time - 6 to 8 PM at
Moravian Manor. There will be no testing
session at Moravian Manor for this class.
By default, club stations will display the
trustee’s location. This may be from a long ago
trustee because there is no automatic updating
by QRZ.com.
3
Most GPS units can be set up to display your
present location in grid square format. For
more details on grid squares, see
http://www.arrl.org/grid-squares.
openings to various areas of the country. Peter,
W4IMD in Dacula, Georgia must have a
pipeline to Lancaster County. Florida and
other Gulf coast states are heard often. Get on
6m SSB and you may be surprised and what
you can work. Horizontal polarization is the
standard for VHF/UHF over the horizon
operation.
VHF contests provide periods when there are a
lot of stations on the air both at home and
roving to provide contacts. Find out how
effective your station is without the help of
repeaters. You don’t have to submit a log to
participate, but if you do, make sure it is
accurate. The ARRL cross checks submitted
logs.
Six meters is technically a VHF band, but it is a
transition band from HF to VHF and has
propagation characteristics of both. That is
why it is often called the Magic Band.
Two meter SSB activity is found at
144.205MHz especially in the morning.
KA1ZE/3 has a remote station in FN01xt that
provides a central operating point. See
http://ka1ze.com/ for more information.
If you plan to submit a contest log to the
ARRL, consider using a VHF contest logging
program. See http://www.qsl.net/w3km/ for a
free contest logging program. This program
tells you where to point your antenna based on
grid square information.
The national SSB calling frequency on two
meters is 144.200MHz. Make contact there
and then move off the channel if you want to
chat. The activity on 144.205MHz can go on
for hours. Those on 144.205MHz who want to
chat usually QSY to 144.210MHz.
FEB 12, 13, 14, 2013 6 - 10 PM
Amateur Radio Technician license class
sponsored by Lancaster County-Wide
Communications.
The course will be taught by Ron Small,
WB2OOB. Preregistration is required.
Contacts : Ron Small WB2OOB
wb2oob@arrl.net 717-481-8589 OR Ralph
Brandt K3HQI ralph.brandt@comcast.net 717443-9546. If you take the license examination,
there will be an administrative fee.
Note the report summary on VK7MO’s EME
grid square tour of Australia at the end of this
newsletter. As the frequency increases, the
minimum required antenna size and power for
EME goes down. The higher frequency
allows one to focus more of the available
energy on the moon instead of sending
messages to the stars.
Editor’s Notes
73, George, W3FEY FN10ub
During the summer and winter Es seasons, I
usually monitor 50.125MHz for activity. This
is the domestic SSB calling frequency. The big
picture of six meter propagation can be found
in Chris Patterson’s Six Meter DX Report
below. On the strictly local scale, I can report
an increasing number of Lancaster County
hams on 6m SSB. I have not recorded calls
heard. There have been a lot of short Es
Six Meter DX Report
5 January 2013
Opening Remarks
4
into the eastern U.S. via an evening north-south
TEP path that precedes the Pacific openings.
Finally, the most impressive contact of this
winter season to date occurred on 1st January
2013 UTC, when Bobby N3LL and John
VK5PO worked over a 16,000 km path. As
Bobby mentions in his report, it was a nice way
to start the New Year.
In this issue there is a lot of material to
“digest”, especially with the announcements of
the G3WOS and K5AND/W6JKV BBQs. We
also have many activity reports from around the
world, an update from W7GJ on the upcoming
Clipperton DXpedition, three DXpedition
chronicles, Jim Kennedy’s take on solar
activity and Cycle 24, and more solid state
amplifier information. Enjoy!
Hello again and welcome to the first column of
2013. I hope everyone had a great Christmas
and good start to the New Year.
Despite the generally low sunspot numbers
and lack of F2 propagation, from early
December to today, 5th January, 2013, there has
been some outstanding propagation from the
South Pacific to the U.S., Mexico, and Central
America. Bob ZL1RS has played Santa Claus
for many; he has taken full advantage of TEFE
(Transequitorial E to F to E) propagation 1 and
on at least six or seven occasions has worked
stations from Maine to Mexico.
Bob’s first opening occurred on 10th
December, and included eastern Pennsylvania
in its coverage. As usual I turned on the radio
just in time to miss it. After completing a draft
of my HH4/W3CMP DXpediton article. I
wandered into the shack and turned on the
radio and ON4KST. The DX map again
displayed the dreaded red lines; this time they
originated from ZL. I tuned to Bob’s frequency
and heard his weak CQ. I quickly replied but
the signal faded into the noise; I couldn’t tell if
Bob had come back to me or another station so
I went back to listening and waited for another
peak. It never came - another white knuckle
near miss. Adding to my pain, Bob later
mentioned that he heard me calling. Dave
NZ3M had worked Bob about a half hour
earlier and called me on my cell phone to give
me a heads up, but it was turned it off.
Local DX Reports
K2ZD (Mario reports from FN21NR)
Hi Chris,
The only QSO to report is with ZL1RS on
th
9 December at 00.47z. Ron was into FN21NR
for about 20 minutes and peaked at 559. We
had an E opening to the W5 area at the time so
I suspect that was our link into the TEP path to
ZL. No other ZL stations were heard but the
45.240MHz video in during the time that Rod
was heard and worked into FN21 and the
surrounding area.
73,
Mario K2ZD
Bob’s compatriot, Rod ZL3NW, took the
lead on the 26th December and worked stations
in the Midwest and as far east as West Virgina.
The next day Rod worked Terry K4RX in
Florida.
More recently Rolf PY1RO, Leo PP1CZ,
and other Brazilian stations have been working
N3DB (Dave reports from FM18SU)
Hi Chris:
Hope those Amish keeping you busy and
pockets full. My presence / absence on the
[ON4KST] page reflect the propagation
probabilities and the actual time I have to play.
I see Dave [NZ3M] bagged South Cook-good
for him…. I can’t sit for long anymore with an
almost two year old, five and almost nine year
old.
If I can eyedropper out a few minutes I
hope to get the Sri Lanka beacon thing done.
1 Jim Kennedy and Gene Zimmerman, 2011, “Extreme Range
50 MHz Es: Part 2 TEFE”, Proc. 45th Conference of the Central
StatesVHF Society, pp. 94-105, ARRL. With further revisions
July 2011.
5
Well, I think those four leaf clovers that I found
with my son over the summer are paying off. I
caught another piece of six metre magic.
On the evening of 9th December, I noticed
Tim NW0W spotted hearing ZL video in
Missouri so I logged on to ON4KST chat to
investigate and watch the chat posts. Lefty
K1TOL in Maine posted hearing ZL video too.
I turned the antenna and tuned to 45MHz and
there it was, 45.250MHz singing away nicely.
45.260MHz video was in as well but not as
strong. So here we all were hearing TV
carriers and nobody on from ZL yet. There
were several posts on the chat asking where the
ZL's were! Eventually, Bob ZL1RS came onto
the chat. He pointed out that the indicators
were not good for NA and he wasn't hearing his
usual first hop. Luckily he began calling and
immediately worked a W5. Hoping to hear
some cw, I parked on his frequency
50.096MHz and waited. It wasn't long before I
heard Bob's call way down in the noise. It was
approximately 00.30z on the 10th, and he was
calling CQ. I waited patiently for a peak on his
signal and threw my call out there a couple
times. Thinking I was “N7” he came back to
me right away. I replied and gave him a report
with my call several times and he replied with
my call.
Bob never was real strong here, but he was
very steady for what seemed like 30 minutes or
so. I heard him work several stations here in
the east and a bunch of W5s, so I think he had a
good day too. The odd thing is that I never once
heard the W5s he was working. If there was a
first hop E cloud for me, it was landing where
there were no stations. The only callers I heard
other than ZL1RS were locals.
Other than that, I worked a few stations
during the Geminids meteor shower. The best
was around 15th-16th December after dark and
early am. The morning of 16th December was
very good for viewing the shower. I was
seeing several per minute piercing the sky
before I headed off to work.
OK, back to running noses, coughing and nasty
diapers.
28th December UT1FG/mm FL79 21.03z.
Amplifier tube soft, changed it 0 dark 30 when
rug rats and SWMBO were counting sheep.
29th December UT1FG/mm FL58 12.20z.
Yuri woke me out of a sound sleep on my
“morning off”; because I had mic in my hand
and was calling him before I realized I was
awake…good reflexes. Worked him barefoot;
the NOS gassy tube obviously flashed over the
night before and took most of B+ line with it. I
fixed it after the QSO. At 16.38z I worked
Yuri in FL48. I put some RF on tube but not a
lot.
30th December UT1FG/mm FL16 22.47z;
PY4RGS GH80 23.21z. I gave the amp full
drive- it’s a Russian tube, right? Contacted
PY1RO at 23.29z. Rolf was in for a couple
hours. I called after he had long dry spell but
was over S9 here. Also worked PY4HL 5/5
GG79AM at 23.38z. He was beaming
somewhere else, and was surprised that I was
indeed in the US of A. last QSO was PY2LED
5/5 x 2 at 23.50z. I heard a dozen or more
other stations but I was just trying for new grids
or guys I haven’t worked in a decade.
31st December PY2AU 599 x 2 00.10z;
ZL1RS/ZL2DX heard up to S3 01.42 to 01.50z
calling “NP3CW NP3CW de ZL1RS/ZL2DX
ZL1RS/ZL2DX” most of that time. Not sure
why he didn’t hear me. I heard no competition.
I called him a couple times with not even an
inkling of a response. W4TJ reports working
him right after he disappears here, never heard
him call. Where’s Waldo? I wasn’t watching
the [ON4KST] page much; kids and XYL
making it very difficult to even call. No
worries; I have ZL already. Listened for VK
instead, no luck.
Dave
NZ3M (Dave reports from FN10PD)
Hi Chris,
You might remember the memorable
contact with E51USA back in September.
73 es GL
Dave NZ3M
6
More Solid State Amplifiers
Tokyo Hy-Power
Recently I learned that Tokyo Hy-Power had
discontinued its HL-206V 200 watt brick
amplifier. This amp, which I reviewed several
years ago in SN 93, was a real performer. It
accompanied me on three trips to HH, and
served as a backup at 8R.
I emailed Tokyo Hy-Power about a
replacement ant received the following reply
from Nobuki JA1DJW:
“Chris,
Currently we have been busy with design of
new 2m, 70cm models.
6m one is not firm on our R/D program, but if
we were to develop new one
it would be at least, toward 4Q/2013.
Very 73, Nobuki Wakabayashi, JA1DJW
----------------------------------------TOKYO HY-POWER LABS., INC.
1-1 Hatanaka 3chome, Niiza Saitama 3520012
JAPAN
Phone: 048-481-1211 FAX: 048-479-6949
e-mail : info@thp.co.jp
Web : http://www.thp.co.jp”
OM Power OM1006 six metre amplifier.
Interior view of OM1006 amplifier showing
amplifier board, input/output relay and
protection circuits on circuit board behind
relay.
Claimed specifications are:
Frequency Coverage 50 – 54MHz Amateur
Band
Power Output 1000W in CW, 800W SSB
(linearity), RTTY, AM, FM and digital, 50%
duty cycle.
Input Power 8 to 10W for full output power
1000W
Input Impedance 50 Ohm, VSWR <1.3:1
Power Gain Typically 23 dB
Output impedance 50 Ohm unbalanced
Maximum output SWR 1.9:1 for full output
power 1000W
SWR protection: Automatic switching to
STBY, when reflected power is 100W or
higher
Intermodulation distortion - 32dBc
Suppression of harmonics < -60dBc
MOSFET MRFE6VP61K25HR6
OM Power
OM Power, a company based in Slovakia,
has introduced the OM1006, another solid state
amplifier utilizing the Freescale
MRFE6VP61K25HR6 LDMOS transistor. The
company describes the OM1006 as a single
band, solid state amplifier, designed for duty
operation on the six metre amateur band with
all modes and no time limit. The amplifier has
a compact size and relatively low weight. The
amplifier has several protective circuits and an
integral power supply and supplies 12V DC for
an external preamp. The 26 page instruction
manual can be downloaded from the OM
Power site. Prices are not listed on the site.
I have contacted OM power to get more
information about the amplifier, but I have not
received any response to date.
7
Cooler 3 axial fans + 2 axial fans (power
supply)
Supplying 100 – 250VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
Power Supplies inside 50V DC switch mode
PS, 12V DC for logic and protection circuits
Size 270 mm x 200 mm x 345 mm [10.6” x
7.9” x 13.6”] (Width x height x depth)
Weight 12 kg (26.5 lb.)
LARCAN Amplifier Deck Sources
In SN-111 I described the Larcan kilowatt
solid state amplifier decks that had become
available when TV stations switched from
analog to digital transmissions. Recently I
noticed that Warren VO1KS listed more than
one of the kilowatt amplifier decks for sale on
QTH.com. Warren’s web site,
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/LarcanAmp
s.html, has a lot of information about
conversion of the units. I emailed Warren to
ask about the amplifiers; here is his response:
VO1KS Larcan 2kW amplifier showing
amplifier slide out shelf.
Unless and until I get further amplifier
modules there may not be much to post on the
column. There will be other equipment
decommissioned in the upcoming months that I
hope to scavenge parts from. However it's a
long way off and absolutely no guarantees.
Warren
Hi Chris:
The modules sold very quickly. For now all
the 1kW units are paid or spoken for and I have
a short waiting list in the event others come
available. I don't have any 1.5kW lo/lo
modules. The pair of high band 1.5kW
modules have been sold. There may be one or
two lo/lo drivers remaining. I need to clear up
a backlog and get things shipped, and then
reassess what remains.
The 2kW unit will be built with a pair of
1kW modules in original Larcan slide in
drawers and mounted in a Larcan equipment
rack. (1.5kW modules could be inserted - if
you had them) I have 3dB couplers that were
used on channel 2. They sweep very well at
50-54MHz and would easily handle the
power. This is a one-of amplifier and there are
a couple of people interested. Here are pictures
of the starting point to give an idea where it is
going.
Another individual who has some of the
decks is Henry Kaul KH6HAK. On 25th
December, in response to my query, Henry
wrote:
Hi Chris,
I still have 10 or so of the 1.5kW Larcan PA
modules available... before my boss decides to
finally scrap the old transmitter. I will pack
and ship USPS Priority mail to US sales
addresses only for $275 each. I tried listing
them on eBay and there was not much demand,
and then I had a dispute with eBay over false
allegations of me selling CB amplifiers...
sheesh! So no more eBay sales.
I'm working on the one shown on my
website at: http://kh6hak.tripod.com, but I am
not prepared to work up and sell modified
units. There are a couple hams out east, Bart
W9JJ and Brian WA1ZMS/4, who have
modified a Lo-band 1 kW module and put them
on 144MHz. They are also about to try the
conversion with the larger 1.5kW module.
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/larcan12a.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/larcan13a.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/larcan14a.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/larcan16a.jpg
8
maintained as available for linking with other area
repeaters.
I have a couple of the PA Driver modules
with only two devices onboard, rated about 250
watts. These modules all come from a LoBand Channel 4 transmitter, and are the Larcan
Lo-Lo band modules, which will work directly
on 50MHz.
73 and Aloha from Hawaii!
Hank KH6HAK
Lancaster County RACES VHF Net is held on the first
Tuesday of the month at 2030 hours local time on the
145.310 MHz repeater in Rawlinsville.
The Lancaster County primary ARES/RACES repeater
is on 145.310 MHz with minus offset and 118.8 PL.
Combined York County Amateur and ARES/RACES
NET convenes at 8:30 PM (2030) Mondays on 146.97.
Pennsylvania RACES HF Nets are held at 3993.5 kHz
LSB on all Sundays except holidays.
The statewide net is on the first Sunday of the month at
0800 hours local time.
The Central Area (including Lancaster County) net is
at 08:30 local time.
EPA NBEMS Net, Tuesday, 7:30pm local
EST,
3.5920mhz Mode: Olivia 8/500 1khz,
Net Mgr: WA3WSJ@arrl.net
Larcan amplifier under test at KH6HAK
If you are interested in one of the amp
decks, or Warren’s 2kW unit, you can contact
Warren at warrens@ns.sympatico.ca, or Henry
at KH6HAK@arrl.net.
SPARC Nets
SPARC holds nets every Tuesday at 2100 local time
on 145.230 MHz minus offset and a PL of 118.8. The
449.975MHz repeater is linked to the 2m repeater for the
net.
73,
Chris Patterson, W3CMP
Ed. Note: The preceding report is an excerpt
fromChris column in the Jan. 2013 UK Six
Metre Group newsletter. For more
information, see the UKSMG web site at
http://uksmg.org/news.php
Club Officers
President Harry Bauder – WA3FFK
Vice-President–Kevin Lampo – K3LLC
Secretary - Dave Sarraf. – N3NDJ
Treasurer - Mike Hess– KB3YWG
Repeater Trustee - Dave Payne - N3LOM
ARES/RACES
Application for SPARC Membership
As part of the SPARC commitment to emergency
communications, the SPARC repeater system is
Southern Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Club,
Inc.
9
Membership Application forms in four
flavors.
http://www.k3ir.org/SPARC_Application.html
http://www.k3ir.org/SPARC_Application.pdf
http://www.k3ir.org/SPARC_Application.doc
http://www.k3ir.org/SPARC_Application.txt
Request more information about SPARC
membership and/or requirements:
K3IR@ARRL.NET <> www.K3IR.org
Net control: Bob Howard, KB3QAQ
For more information visit
http://www.n3tuq.com/repeater.aspx
PACKRAT MONDAY NIGHT NETS
Visit the Mt Airy VHF Radio Club at:
http://packratvhf.com/airtimes.htm for the latest
information on VHF/UHF nets.
Nearby Nets of Local Interest
Monday EARS Net
9:00 PM on 145.450MHz
Tuesday Digital Net
8:00 PM on the York 146.97 Repeater -This is a busy digital data training net for
beginners and advanced users. The primary
mode used is MT63-2k. Other experimental
modes are also used.
Two EPA Nets Now Accessible via Echolink
Posted By: egroups_n3sw egroups_n3sw
Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:40 pm |
<>The EPA AA3RG and Echolink Traffic
Net (EAETN) has been accessible since its
inception via Echolink at node AA3RG-R
(#149493). See the group Calendar for more
information. [Thursday 8:00PM]
<>Now the Capital Area Traffic Net (CATN)
is also accessible via Echolink at node
N3TWT-R (#743026). See the group
Calendar for more information. All (licensed
hams) are welcome to join in on these nets.
73 -Scott N3SW EPA STM-
Wednesday RRRA Net
9:00 PM on 147.015MHz
Thursday LRTS Net
9:00 PM on 145.390MHz
Friday Digital Net
8 PM on the 146.610 (PL:131.8 Hz) EARS
repeater on Ephrata Mountain.
This is an excellent Digital net called by Bob,
AB3GF. Check in is by digital or voice.
The standard digital mode is MT63-2K, other
modes by request. It is an informal, well run
net with plenty of Digital transmissions along
with discussion by voice.
<>AA3C note: To visit our group on the
web, go to NTS-EPA Group web site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nts-epa/
Both nets will utilize the 146.640(tx-) MHz.
Transmit access tone: 82.5 Hz.
AA3RG Repeater. http://www.aa3rg.org/
Sunday Info Net
On the N3TUQ 900MHz repeater: 8:30PM
Output: 927.5875MHz Input: 902.5875MHz
(-25MHz) PL 114.8Hz.
The N3TUQ 900MHz repeater is located on the
LVSRA tower on Cornwall Mountain.
10
computer generated document is my definition
of QSL-ing. Above is an image of my computer
generated home brewed I-QSL card. I have sent
out many of these I-QSL's (Internet-QSL's) for
contacts over radio links on the Echo Link
System. Computer to computer QSO's do not
count for QSLing, there must be a ham radio
connection somewhere in the Echo Link
contact. The meaning of QSL still has the
official 1912 definition adopted by
international agreement in London despite the
changed informal usages it is subjected to in
amateur parlance. "QSL card -- A postcard
that serves as a confirmation of communication
between two ham radio operators." However,
here in the 21st century the term “e-QSL” may
refer to the QSL-ing system at
http://www.esql.cc/qslcard/Index.cfm
QRZ News Publication
QRZ News is published monthly. The deadline for
submission of items for publication is 10 days before the
regular membership meeting on the fourth Tuesday of
each month. If a large amount of editing is required,
earlier submission is required.
We operate on an exchange basis with other noncommercial publications. Articles printed in QRZ News
may be reprinted in a not for profit publication provided
proper credit is given
QRZ News is archived at
http://www.k3ir.org/QRZ_News.html.
Documents are in PDF format.
SENDING &
RECEIVING
HAM RADIO CONTACT
QSL's
I send I-QSL's as email attachments or textbox
insetion which may be printed on heavy paper.
By James L. Ibaugh, AA3C
OK, how do I start QSL'ing?
Incoming QSL Bureau: TheARRL DX QSL
Bureau System is made up of numerous callarea bureaus. They act as central clearing
houses for QSL cards arriving from foreign
countries. Volunteers staff these "incoming"
bureaus. The Incoming QSL Bureau service
is free and ARRL membership is not
required. I, AA3C, must use the third call area
bureau which covers the states of PA-MD-DEWDC.
Third Call Area Service- All third-area call
signs: National Capitol DX Association;
NCDXA, PO Box 1149;Clinton, MD 207355149. Comments or questions on this bureau's
operation may be directed to NC3DX@arrl.net
W3 Incoming QSL Bureau Web Page.
Sending and receiving confirmation of a two
way radio contact via a post card or electronic
11
- "QSL VIA BURO" through the ARRL
Outgoing QSL Service! Using the ARRL
Outgoing QSL Service to conveniently send
your QSL cards overseas is one of the greatest
bargains of ARRL membership.
You only need to provide proof of ARRL
membership and pay the fee according to the
schedule below. You can send 10 cards or less
for just $2.00. The potential savings over the
substantial cost of mailing individual QSL
cards overseas is equal to many times the price
of your annual dues. Cards sent via the Bureau
are sorted by the Outgoing QSL Service staff
who handle approximately one million cards
each year. Cards are usually all shipped within
one month of receipt. The ARRL QSL Service
cannot be used to exchange QSL cards within
the 48 contiguous states (US to US).
Fred Laun, K3ZO, Manager, ARRL's Incoming QSL Bureau, Third Call Area
W3 Incoming QSL Bureau Web Page.
Claiming Your 3rd Area Incoming QSLs“Send a 5 x 7-1/2 or 6 x 9 inch self-addressed,
stamped envelope (SASE), use forever stamps
so it doesn't matter how long your envelope sits
around before use. This is especially true for
incoming QSL bureau. Or money credit where
applicable to the bureau serving your call-sign
district.
Neatly print your call-sign in the upper left
corner of the envelope. Place your mailing
address on the front of the envelope.
A suggested way to send envelopes is to affix
a first class forever stamp and clip extra
postage to the envelope. Then, if you receive
more than 1 ounce of cards, they can be sent in
a single package.”
(ED Note: You can send QSLs to all states and
U.S. possessions for the standard first class
postage rates. See https://www.usps.com/)
How To Use The Outgoing QSL
Service
As specified & written by the ARRL.
“<1>. Presort your DX QSLs alphabetically by
parent callsign prefix (AP, CE, DL, ES, EZ, F,
G, JA, LY, PY, UN, YL, 5N, 9Y and so on).
Canadian and Australian cards should be sorted
by numerical callsign (VE1, VE2, VE3 & VK1,
VK2, VK3 etc). Note: Some countries have a
parent prefix and use additional prefixes, i.e. G
(parent prefix) = M, 2E, 2I, 2M, 2W... When
sorting countries that have multiple prefixes,
keep that country's prefixes grouped with the
parent prefix in your alphabetical stack.
Addresses are not required.
Here is a list of Incoming ARRL QSL Bureaus
All Call Areas.
Plus these special areas:
Hawaii+
US Virgin Islands+
Alaska+
Guam+
Puerto Rico+
All US SWL calls+
THE ARRL OUTGOING QSL
SERVICE
<2>. Do not separate the country prefixes by
use of paper clips, rubber bands, slips of paper
or envelopes.
ARRL membership required for outgoing
QSLs.
<3>. Please enclose proof of your current
ARRL membership. This can be in the form
of a photocopy or cutout of the address area
12
No, the program issues a QSL confirmation
credit when a QSO record is confirmed. This
credit will apply to associated QRZ Awards
when such are instituted.
from your current copy of QST. You can also
write the information from the label on a slip of
paper and use that as proof of membership. A
copy of your current membership card is also
acceptable.
<> Is confirmation achieved automatically or is
manual intervention required?
Confirmations can only be achieved manually.
When the reviewer of a QSO record is satisfied
with its content, he/she may manually confirm
it.
I still like QSL cards or I-QSL's for wall
decos.
<4>. Members, including foreign, QSL
Managers or managers for DXpeditions, should
enclose payment as follows. For those who
prefer to send an envelope with small numbers
of cards:
 $2 for 10 or fewer cards in one envelope,
 $3 for 11-20 cards in one envelope, or
For packages with larger numbers of cards:
 75 cents perounce, for packages with 21 or
more cards. For example, a package containing
1.5 pounds of cards -- 24 ounces, or about 225
cards -- will cost $18. The minimum charge is
$3.00. You should use an accurate scale to
weigh them. Most post offices have scales that
you may use.
ARRL does not accept eQSL's or I-QSL's for
awards. Use LOTW or have the actual QSL cards
for ARRL sponsored awards. Several area clubs
have people approved to check cards for ARRL
awards.
Look at
http://forums.qrz.com/forumdisplay.php?71
-QRZ-Logging-and-Contesting
<5>. Please pay by check (or money order) and
write your callsign on the check. Send cash at
your own risk. DO NOT send postage stamps
or IRCs. Please make checks payable to: “The
ARRL Outgoing QSL Service.” If you would
like to know that your cards were received at
the ARRL QSL Bureau, enclose an SASE in
with your cards and we will return that to you
as receipt.
http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/Index.cfm
You need to register via a twostep registering
with email registration code; it took me only
two hours from step 1 to finish of step 2.
Mostly waiting for Email regcode. Visit mine:
www.eQSL.cc/Member.cfm?AA3C
Good DX hunting & QSL collecting.
<6>. DXCC credits cannot be used towards the
QSL Service fee.”
THERE ARE OTHER QSL METHODS
If both parties to the DX contact have
access to the Internet, e-QSLing works well, I
still use it when I have luck enough to work
some good DX. Try the QRZ.COM of
Logbook QSL'ing.
QRZ.COM LOGBOOK USER GUIDE
As I look at the user guide I see the “QSL
to” field slot near the bottom of the log input
page..
Resources for Hams
With the solar cycle peaking out, this a good
time to think about a new challenge such as
EME. Those will long experience sometimes
say it is easy, but that just a comparison to
when they started many years ago. EME is not
<>Does the Logbook Program issue QSL
cards?
13
easy or inexpensive. Why not rise to the
challenge?
Al Katz is a professor at DEPT. of
ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER ENGINEERING,
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY,
A good source of information is the 432MHz
and Above EME Newsletter by Al Katz,
K2UYH. See
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html
73, George, W3FEY
SPARC Breakfast at Gus’s Restaurant, Mount Joy 12 Jan 2013
KB3SSZ photo
L>R Mike, WB3CUC; Gerry, KB3SSZ; George, K2HRS; Kevin, K3LLC; Matt, KB3ZGC; Jon,
K3QF; Harry, WA3FFK; Jim, KW3E; George, W3FEY; Walter, N2BTK
Mike, KB3YWG arrived after this photo was taken.
VK7MO – 10 GHz EME Grid Square Tour across Australia
From mid November to mid December VK7MO took his portable 10 GHz system (Fig 1 and Fig 2)
across Australia and activated some 25 grid squares (Fig 3) on EME while travelling 16000 km from
his home QTH in Tasmania. OK1KIR, W5LUA, VK3NX and VK3XPD participated, with OK1KIR
completing QSO’s at 22 grid squares. This success was achieved through using JT65c and GPS
locking with automatic Doppler correction for both TX and RX so that the home stations only had to
tune to a fixed frequency of 10368.225 MHz. The portable station uses a 77 cm dish and a DB6NT PA
with around 45 watts to the feed. One surprise is that despite JT65c having only 10.8 Hz tone spacing
it worked reliably with up to 170 Hz of spreading – presumably because the spread signal still has a
peak and JT65c picks the peak for decoding.
14
Figure 1: Portable 77 cm dish
15
Figure 2: IC-910 and computer set up in the back of car – the small dish is for 24 GHz but was
not used (may-be next trip).
This is a summary of a report from VK7MO . To see the whole report go to
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html and select the January 2013 EME
newsletter. Thanks to John, W3HMS for the tip.
16