ham_bitious
3w ago
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100%
I let my membership expire after they unilaterally cancelled my paper QST. I'm still mad about that, and the steady trickle of other news doesn't make me want to go back.
Three of us (AA6XA, KE6MT, N6RUN) spent a few days peakbagging and playing radio in California's White Mountains. The highlight was climbing White Mountain Peak, a 14er. Here are the videos from the trip Day 1: https://youtu.be/N4vlB0vUXDM Day 2: https://youtu.be/_MrAtT4pRhI Day 3: https://youtu.be/XVUOeInevQY Hope you enjoy!
As you've probably heard, the Quansheng UV-K5 is the hot new HT. And there is a good reason it is so popular. I've been having a lot of fun with mine, and I would highly recommend getting one. 2m FM is fun, and 2m SSB or CW is even funner. And if you choose the same firmware to load as I did (uvk5cec), it will transmit APRS and SSTV. I made a [video going over](https://youtu.be/QyhuiRNyOD8) how mine is setup. Hopefully it helps if you have one. And I'm sure there'll be more videos coming with it in use. The CQ VHF contest is just a week away....
ham_bitious
6mo ago
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100%
Hopefully someone or some other business will buy them. Hate to see them go.
ham_bitious
6mo ago
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100%
For POTA contacts I'd just fix it.
In a contest that would be cheating.
ham_bitious
6mo ago
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100%
Some clubs meet in person and on zoom simultaneously, does your local one? I'd get in contact with them anyway, someone might have a loaner rig you can use to get on the air and see what interests you the most.
Parks on the Air and Summits on the Air are popular an a lot of fun, but you'd need a radio first.
With some basic tools you could build your own radio from a kit.
ham_bitious
7mo ago
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100%
My reading of the state park map is that the park is on the ocean side of route 1, so that'll eliminate going up any real hills. I'm not really familiar with that section of the coast, though.
It also sounds like you want an excuse to expand your antenna collection. Go for it! Antenna experimenting is fun. Set up two, and try some A/B testing, or use WSPR or RBN.
Its an interesting problem you've found. As a frequent SOTA op, its not one I encounter :D
ham_bitious
7mo ago
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100%
To get NVIS just use your regular 40m antenna, but set it up closer to the ground. Depending on your mast height, it might be NVIS already.
What park is it? Maybe there's a spot off the beach you could operate from?
ham_bitious
10mo ago
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100%
I'd get an SSB capable radio unless you're only interested in FSK modes.
I made and tested a couple of capacity hats for my loaded whip antenna to see how they'd do in the real world. Could you use one instead of paying Elecraft for their 40m coil? Maybe. Could you get on 30m and 40m with your KH1 whip? Might be a stretch... https://youtu.be/uYH9yit8jEo
ham_bitious
11mo ago
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100%
A j-pole is a half-wavelength vertical with a quarter-wavelength matching section on the bottom.
It turns out that the 70cm band is about 3x the frequency of the 2m band (150MHz * 3 = 450MHz, close enough to each band). So the 2m the long leg of the j-pole is 3/4 wavelength (1/2 + 1/4 matching section), and on 70cm the long leg is 2.25 wavelength (3/2 + 3/4 matching). Both are an odd number of quarter waves, as we expect. The ham who made that briefing probably discovered in their testing that the matching stub wasn't good for both bands, so they added a second one for 70cm.
This is not a novel design, Arrow Antennas has been selling one like it for years (https://www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-pole.html)
ham_bitious
11mo ago
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100%
I'm excited to see the new digital modes people bring to ham radio, or invent.
ham_bitious
12mo ago
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100%
Every time I go out and play radio, I think of a new reason I really need a KH1.
ham_bitious
12mo ago
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100%
It's pretty easy to create it if you want it. I've made a few communities 🤷♂️
I assume by now everyone's heard about the new Elecraft KH1 handheld transceiver. [Offical Website](https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-transceiver) Wayne N6KR is not a SOTA op, but he seems to know exactly what SOTA ops want. I was able to hold one and play around a little at Pacificon today. Definitely a nice radio. Most of the internal volume is a giant battery. Due to space limitations, he said not to expect any other bands. But 40-15 is the sweet spot for QRP HF. Lightweight, and even with the whip extended doesn't feel heavy. Probably the closest thing the ham community has to an HT for HF, so far. I wouldn't mind having one; N6KR is a great salesman and engineer. I'm sure there are videos out showing it in action by now. We timed him going from packed to ready to transmit, it took him about 22 seconds. Most of that time was unwinding and tossing out the counterpoise wire. The receiver is a superhet, similar to the MTR or KX1. Transmitter puts out 5W. There are two antenna connectors, BNC and the screw for the whip, and you can choose between them. Its not really shown in the manual, but there's a little "catch" to hold the end of the counterpoise wire when it's wrapped around the radio to keep it nice.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
This has been my experience using multiple HTs on the same band.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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66%
Do you really want to run JS8call? JS8Call and the Fundamental Problem with EmComm in Amateur Radio: Why I stopped using JS8 and why I think you should too.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
No rain in NorCal, but people down south were making rain scatter contacts.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
I made some decent contacts. My setup seems a bit deaf, so I'll have to figure out why.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
Yes. Usually one person is on a mountain top, and the other is on a different mountain or the valley. Microwaves are mostly LOS, but can and do go farther. Mt Diablo to Frazier Mountain is a popular path here in CA. Last year I heard people coordinating contracts from Frazier to somewhere near Quartzite.
This weekend might provide a lot of rain scatter opportunities for the SoCal hams.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
Yes, it is ham radio. I think some people were planning to go up Potosi, but changed their plans with the incoming hurricane. That's too far and too many mountains for NorCal, so I haven't been watching their plans closely.
Theoretically you could listen in, but you'd need to be somewhere in the beam of the stations. At 10GHz an 18" dish had a beamwidth of only a few degrees, so if you're even a little off you'll hear nothing.
I believe there are LNBs people have used to get on the band. Those are probably the cheapest. SBMS is probably the closest microwave club, is check out their website.
I have a video on YouTube of last year's contest: https://youtu.be/Ch_j_zfCYgI
The first weekend of the ARRL 10GHz and Up Contest starts tomorrow (August 19) at 0600 local. https://contests.arrl.org/10g/ There will be plenty of activity in California, and probably other regions. It's a fun contest, and everyone should get on the band! I'll be on a SOTA summit (W6/NC-151) on Saturday, not sure if I'll be able to get out on Sunday.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
Had fun for the two hours or so I was on a summit. My 902 and 1296 transverters got a bit warm and stopped working, but otherwise a success!
The ARRL 222MHz and up contest is this weekend: http://www.arrl.org/222-mhz-and-up-distance-contest I'm planning to get on from a summit with the lower four bands. Probably won't be as much activity as the regular VHF contest, but should be fun
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
My gear load really depends on the hike.
Short easy hike? I'll bring the KX3 and amplifier. Long hike? Just the MTR3B and lightweight antenna. Crowded or densely wooded summit? I'll bring an antenna with a small footprint. Having options is nice.
And of course all the jackets, water, food, and other stuff one needs to be safe in the woods.
ham_bitious
1y ago
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100%
The Pacific Northwest and SoCal groups also have events this weekend. Should be lots of SOTA action!
The KPH coastal station near San Francisco sent a special message this weekend. It was encrypted with an Enigma machine and sent for everyone to try and decode. If you missed it, and want to try I posted a video of it: https://youtu.be/IgbggcpxrC0 Have fun!
In case you missed it: (stolen from the ARRL weekly letter) Summits on the Air (SOTA) in North America has three events scheduled between August 4 - 7, 2023. The Colorado 14er annual event will run from August 4 - 7, the SoCal SOTAFest in Southern California will run from August 4 - 6, and the Pacific Northwest Not-Quite-Fourteener event will run from August 5 - 6, and includes climbers in Washington and Oregon. Many different frequencies and modes will be used during the August events, but the recommended 2-meter FM frequencies have been changed to 146.58, 146.55, and 146.49 MHz to align with the use of the North America Adventure Frequency for SOTA (146.58 MHz). Operation is also permitted on select HF frequencies. The National Simplex Frequency (146.52 MHz) may also be used. Each event website provides a list of operating frequencies. All amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners are invited to participate.
The CQ VHF contest starts soon. Sadly, I'm not able to get on the air, but if you have 6&2 meters you should give it a try. https://cqww-vhf.com/
Anyone know a reliable way to have RBN spot you during an activation? My activations are almost always CW. Most of the POTA I do is during SOTA activationd, and there is not always cell service. And trying while camping in parks is even worse. SOTAwatch has RBNHole which is very reliable if you've put up an alert beforehand. I've been told there is something similar for POTA/WWFF, but it's never worked for me.
Diz W8DIZ has retired from running kitsandparts.com, and KU4QO had taken over. Good news if you need toroids and other small parts. And the 5watter is a great radio if you need a kit.
Finished cutting together some clips from my 10MHz reference box construction: https://youtu.be/aVKIIHGPXMA
I was inspired to copy W1GHZ's power meter from April QST (pg 52). Seemed like it would be nice to know if my 10GHz rig (or any of them!) was putting out power. Got some bargraph boards from him, the rest of the parts from the internet, and finally built it today.  I had a bit of trouble cutting a square hole with only a hand drill, but I can see the bars. (If anyone likes designing and printing cases, let me know!)  Turns out I don't have any 9v batteries, so testing will have to wait until I go to the store. I don't expect to have any problems though, since the bargraph circuit is pretty simple, and the AD8317 board had everyone on it already.
How are you learning CW? Self study? CW Ops class?
Finally mounted the 10MHz OCXO in a box. Now when I go do microwaves, I should be on frequency. 🥳 Now I have to set up the 10GHz system and look for the local beacons to see how it works. 
Anyone working on anything fun or interesting?
What's your best VHF DX? For me, I've gotten QSOs 280km on both 2m FM and 1296 SSB. On 10GHz my best so far is 213km, SSB. All those contacts were from mountain tops, mostly to people on other mountains or ridges.
For some reason (probably price!) the pixie is considered a good beginners kit. I would disagree. It is small and simple to the point of being practically useless. Get a Forty 9er instead. For a few bucks more you will have a decent radio when you're done. But since it is popular, I made a few videos trying to explain how it works: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxpKweJs4V-1uTGK2TqhsQXCAd6eJtPhp I think the way the designer was able to use a single transistor as both a mixer and power amplifier is pretty clever. Maybe some day I'll think of something that neat :D
The June VHF contest was this weekend. How'd you do? I hooked up to a SOTA peak and brought 6 bands. Stayed on for about 6 hours, made 89 contacts. 6m was open for a while, and worked AZ and CO from northern California. Overall, a great day! (the sun did come out later)
Are users allowed to create communities on this instance?