Hi guys, this message is just to inform you about
a new interesting web page.
From 15.03.96 A.R.I. (Italian Amateur Radio Association)
is on web.
Right now only with an istitutional page but, in the near
future with some pretty nice informations.
The A.R.I. ON WEB page address is:
HTTP://milano.pandora.it/ARI
I ask the other ham radio site sysop to insert this address
in your site list.
If you need any other info please contact:
IK2SGC Matt
pcl: IK2SGC@IK2EKY-&
e-mail: Matt@Galactica.it
P.O.BOX 99 20101 Milan Italy
tnx' a lot and 73's de Matt
"one of MCC - Marconi Contest Club -"
>From Charles H. Harpole" <harpole@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Mon Mar 18 01:11:51 1996
From: Charles H. Harpole" <harpole@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Charles H. Harpole)
Subject: ICOM
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960317201132.23254C-100000@Pegasus>
ICOM radios are delicate. de K4VUD
On Fri, 15 Mar 1996, C. Logan Dietz (KE5FI) wrote:
> David L. Thompson wrote:
> >
> > Chuck,
> >
> > I really like ICOM gear, But why do they make it so hard to use anything but
> > an ICOM mic????
> >
> > I used the new BM-10 on the 775 at HRO and you are right it does not work as
> > well as the old 740.
> > Guess I keep looking at the 1000MP.
> >
> > 73, Dave K4JRB
>
> The rig is great...even without the amplification it works fine, but to
> get full compression for contesting, you need a little more
> amplification.... Most hams don't even know they need more amplification
> and are quite happy.
>
> I use an outboard amp on 10 meters and it works great. The problem comes
> in where I have RF in the shack due to SWR or being close to the antennas
> on low bands...
>
>
> Chuck, KE5FI
>
>
>From Pete Smith <n4zr@ix.netcom.com> Mon Mar 18 01:51:33 1996
From: Pete Smith <n4zr@ix.netcom.com> (Pete Smith)
Subject: Rotators for 2 stacked 15/20m yagis / [YAESU COMMENT]
Message-ID: <199603180151.RAA02221@ix15.ix.netcom.com>
At 02:15 PM 3/17/96 -0500, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 96-03-17 13:39:39 EST, you write:
>
>>Back to the clamp, it is a strange set-up but I was very carefull to follow
>>there directions in centering and tightening. Specifically, tightening is
>>just barely past finger tight and I can well imagine that some guys torqued
>>the $@%^%#$ out of the bracket.
>
>Hiya, Victor --
>
> Well, yes and no. My complaint is that they use cast aluminum in the
>first place instead of steel ala Hy-Gain and M2. I did break the ear off the
>mast clamp of the first Yaesu rotator I installed so on the second one I was
>more careful. That one didn't break but it wouldn't hold the mast so had to
>go back and re-tighten it (initial temperature cylcling probably had
>something to do with it.) The wind torque forces on medium and large-sized
>antenna installations can be tremendous and asking anything mechanical to
>hold a round object (mast) with those kind of forces on it is asking a lot.
> "Barely past finger tight" won't cut it in any installation that I'm
>involved in.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I like the clam-shell design; it'll take any sized
>mast but think that the choice of materials was more of a manufacturing cost
>decision. Believe me, as a past National Sales Manager for Amateur Products
>for Hy-Gain by Telex, I am acutely aware of manufacturing costs and their
>impact on amateur products. I would rather Yaesu had either 1) charged more
>for a real live steel clamp or 2) made one available as an optional extra.
>
>73 and thanks for your input, Steve K7LXC
>
>
Hi guys -- when I put up my Yaesu G-1000SDX last fall I agonized over this
issue a lot. The "fix" in later production is to put a fifth bolt through
the mast clamps and have you drill the bottom of the mast in order to get it
through. That being done, the tightness of the mast clamps is well-nigh
irrelevant, but of course there's no "give" at all in the event of really
major stresses. Also, the hole has to be drilled through the mast fairly
precisely, something my local welding shop proved unable to do.
Since mine was loaded very lightly, I decided to use an undersized bolt
through the slightly misaligned holes and hope for the best. So far, so
good, but I'm not going to be comfortable until I go up this spring and
inspect the state of things.
BTW, the people I talked to at Yaesu USA said they had tried to get the
factory to change the clamp material, but without success - this pin-it
solution was the response.
73, Pete Smith N4ZR
n4zr@ix.netcom.com
>From Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com Sun Mar 17 02:49:07 1996
From: Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com (Fred Hopengarten)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps
Message-ID: <314b7da4.k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com>
In re: Taping cables to a tower leg vs. using tie wraps to
keep cable attached to a tower leg.
As one writer has pointed out, you just cannot use tie wraps
in the dead of winter, as they break when you try wrapping
them around the tower. In addition, unless you get WIDE,
HEAVY DUTY black (uv resistant) ones, they'll deteriorate
quickly. I once asked a tower erector what he uses, and he
offered a very simple solution.
He buys a 500 foot roll of #14 THHN solid copper, black
insulated wire and cuts it into 9-12 inch lengths. Once on
the tower, he just uses these pieces like "twisties" (the
things which you use to close plastic bags), making the last
twist with a pair of pliers. A cheap, uv resistant, water
is no problem, temperature is no problem solution. The
magic is in the THHN insulation. It won't crack after long
uv exposure, and it won't permit the copper wire to touch
the galvanizing of the tower leg, as it is very tough and
resists abrasion.
--
Fred Hopengarten K1VR
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
"Big antennas, high in the sky, are better
than small ones, low."
>From n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) Sat Mar 16 01:21:19 1996
From: n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) (Bill Hider)
Subject: EWE Antennas...
Message-ID: <199603160121.UAA16301@cais.cais.com>
At 05:54 PM 3/14/96 -0500, Steve Sacco KC2X wrote:
>Well, now that we have nearly a whole Winter season under our belts,
>would anyone who built and used one of those EWE antennas be
>good enough to share their observations?
>
>I may be able to borrow some of my neighbors' property for a Beverage
>or two (which will doubtless out-perform the EWE), but I'm still
>looking for a solution for the other directions.
>
>73,
>Steve KC2X
>kc2x@nebula.ispace.com
>
>
Hi Guys! Here's my experience with the EWEs:
Last Summer I put up my first EWE using the 160/80 combo EWE as described in
Feb 95, QST. That design is: 15 ft up, 38 ft across, and 15 ft down. I
terminated it in a 830 OHM resistance and used the K2ZJ box at the
ground-mounted feed point. Both ends utilized 4 foot ground rods into good
ground conductivity clay soil. It was directional to the NE.
The results were superlative. Not only on 80 but 160 as well. I was able
to hear stations that were in the noise on my transmit antennas (see
signature, below) on 80 & 160. I also compared the signal strength to my
transmit antennas. Those EWE signals that were coming in from the direction
of reception of the EWE and the direction of reception of my transmit
antenna (more easily determined on my rotatable 80M antenna) were always
equal to or less than those on the transmit antenna.
But, signal strength is not the reason to put up a EWE. Signal to noise
ratio is.
I also had an 8-slinky Beverage that was aimed NE with which I compared to
the EWE. The slinky was never better than the EWE. Sometimes they were
equal. They both reduced the noise levels on 80 & 160 and improved the
signal/noise ratio.
With these results under my belt, in October 1995, I installed 3 more EWEs,
completing my last one the day of the CQ WW SSB CONTEST. These three were
built using 12 ft sections of aluminum tubing attached to my wooden fence
rails and adding 3 ft of wire to them to attach them to the K2ZJ box and the
terminating resistor. They were installed for reception South, East, and
West. The E and W EWEs are back-to-back on a fence line and about 30 feet
from each other. These two are positioned such that signals from the West
encounter the West EWE before they encounter the East EWE, and vice-versa.
Again, results were fantastic, and measurable. There is about a 15-20 dB
front to back ratio between the E and W EWE. I have a switching setup where
I can punch a button to switch from EWE to EWE. Likewise with the South
EWE, I'm seeing a 15-20dB difference in signal strength between the NE and S
EWEs on some signals. There are times that I can't hear Southern DX
stations on the E,W, or NE EWE or Slinky that I can hear on the South EWE. I
used the W EWE to receive JAs on 160 this year. They were much louder on
the EWE than on my inverted "V" xmit antenna (which is broadside NW/SE).
I do not have the space in my yard to install a classical Beverage antenna
so, I do not have any comparison to make there.
I found out that, due to a local broadcast station, my NE EWE was having the
K2ZJ microwave oscillation problem (that was discussed on the Top Band
reflector recently). I now use a non-amplified K2ZJ box on that antenna and
the problem went away (as the theory says it would).
I am very happy with my four EWEs. Without them, my 80 and 160 CONTEST
scores would really be suffering.
I should add that I read in someone's response to this thread, that they
considered the 160/80 M EWE design in the FEB 95 QST a "compromise" design.
That is an incorrect classification of this non-resonant type of antenna.
The designer merely used convenient heights and lengths, analysed several,
and came up with a design that produced acceptable results (modelled) on 160
and 80. That's far different from a resonant antenna "compromise" where the
antenna would be electrically shorter (or longer) on the "compromise" band
than on the "original", or, "basic" band.
I will be glad to relate other anecdotes regarding my EWEs, if anyone wishes
to have more info.
73!
Bill, N3RR@CAIS.COM
Bill, N3RR
n3rr@cais.com OR n3rr@cais.cais.com
/ / / / /
/---/-|-/-/-/
/ / |/ / /
| >>>>>>>>> Tower #1 (Heavy-duty AB-105, 134ft):
|
|
| 160M = Inverted "V" @ 134 Ft
| 80M = EF-180A @ 149 Ft (on mast w/mast twister)
| 40M = 40-2CD (W6QHS ++) @ 134 Ft (on ring rotor)
| 20M = 205CA (W6QHS++) @ 100 ft (on ring rotor)
| 15M = 155CA (W6QHS ++) @ 109 Ft (on ring rotor)
| 10M = 105CA @ 141 Ft (on mast w/mast twister)
Tower #2, Hg-52SS, 52 ft crankup:
10M - 40M A-4S w/40M dipole element
Rig: IC-781/IC-4KL
PC: 486 DX2/66 clone
RX Antennas: NE 8-Slinky Beverage
NE, S, E, W EWEs (160/80)
>From Richard.McAllister@Eng.Sun.COM (Rich McAllister) Sat Mar 16 01:58:55 1996
From: Richard.McAllister@Eng.Sun.COM (Rich McAllister) (Rich McAllister)
Subject: USA county information (was Re: Log non-counter QSOs?)
Message-ID: <199603160158.RAA19848@urth.Eng.Sun.COM>
> An humble prayer to USA friends: " Why don't you put your county, printed on
> your card?" A lot of times we can't resolve county and worse, there is not
> any way to do it.
If you have full internet access, including telnet, there *is* an
easy way to do it. Here's an example. Use "help" or "?"
to get more information after you connect.
Rich
$ telnet martini.eecs.umich.edu 3000
Trying 141.213.11.44 ...
connected to martini.eecs.umich.edu
# Geographic Name Server, Copyright 1992 Regents of the University of Michigan.
# Version 8/19/92. Use "help" or "?" for assistance, "info" for hints.
>From Joe Subich" <subich@ramlink.net Sun Mar 17 18:40:28 1996
From: Joe Subich" <subich@ramlink.net (Joe Subich" <subich@ramlink.net)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps
Message-ID: <199603180444.XAA29733@ram.ramlink.net>
In <314b7da4.k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com>, on 03/16/96 at 09:49 PM,
"Fred Hopengarten" <k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com> said:
>He buys a 500 foot roll of #14 THHN solid copper, black
>insulated wire and cuts it into 9-12 inch lengths. Once on
>the tower, he just uses these pieces like "twisties" (the
>things which you use to close plastic bags), making the last twist with a
>pair of pliers. A cheap, uv resistant, water
>is no problem, temperature is no problem solution. The
>magic is in the THHN insulation. It won't crack after long
>uv exposure, and it won't permit the copper wire to touch
>the galvanizing of the tower leg, as it is very tough and
>resists abrasion.
Unfortunately, on commercial (FM and TV) the wire ties are not
acceptable. Andrew, Cablewave, and others make cable hangers designed
specifically for mounting feedlines to tower legs and cross braces. The
hangers are usually a "butterfly" (a wide strap with a bolt) which wrapps
around the feedline and clamps it and a stainless worm gear type clamp
wich goes through a pair of slots in the butterfly and clamps it to the
tower leg. If the line must be attached to the tower diagonals or
horizontals (angle members), there are cast brackets with bolt to the
butterfly and clamp to the angle members.
Tie wraps, tape, and twist wires are all strongly discouraged on
commercial towers. However, on amateur towers the twist ties are the
most secure provided the installer is careful with the ends of the ties
(fold the ends back UNDER the cable) as they can be very dangerous when
climbing.
--
73,
... Joe Subich, AD8I
<subich@ramlink.net>
>From n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) Mon Mar 18 05:31:29 1996
From: n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) (Bill Hider)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps
Message-ID: <199603180531.AAA10508@cais.cais.com>
I use the #14 THHN wire on all my "up/down" cables on the 134 ft tower.
Works especially well on hardline. I bought a 500ft spool almost two years
ago, 1/2 of it is still on the spool.
73!
Bill, n3rr@cais.com
At 09:49 PM 3/16/96 EST, Fred Hopengarten wrote:
>In re: Taping cables to a tower leg vs. using tie wraps to
>keep cable attached to a tower leg.
>
>As one writer has pointed out, you just cannot use tie wraps
>in the dead of winter, as they break when you try wrapping
>them around the tower. In addition, unless you get WIDE,
>HEAVY DUTY black (uv resistant) ones, they'll deteriorate
>quickly. I once asked a tower erector what he uses, and he
>offered a very simple solution.
>
>He buys a 500 foot roll of #14 THHN solid copper, black
>insulated wire and cuts it into 9-12 inch lengths. Once on
>the tower, he just uses these pieces like "twisties" (the
>things which you use to close plastic bags), making the last
>twist with a pair of pliers. A cheap, uv resistant, water
>is no problem, temperature is no problem solution. The
>magic is in the THHN insulation. It won't crack after long
>uv exposure, and it won't permit the copper wire to touch
>the galvanizing of the tower leg, as it is very tough and
>resists abrasion.
>--
> Fred Hopengarten K1VR
> Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
> home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
> internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
> "Big antennas, high in the sky, are better
> than small ones, low."
>
>From n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) Mon Mar 18 05:55:30 1996
From: n3rr@cais.cais.com (Bill Hider) (Bill Hider)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps, More
Message-ID: <199603180555.AAA12174@cais.cais.com>
P.S.
I always take two turns of the #14 THHN around the cable then attach it to a
nearby tower hole or diagonal by twisting the two ends together. That way,
the THHN picks up the weight of the cable and holds it next to the tower member.
73!
Bill, N3RR
At 12:31 AM 3/18/96 -0500, Bill Hider wrote:
>I use the #14 THHN wire on all my "up/down" cables on the 134 ft tower.
>Works especially well on hardline. I bought a 500ft spool almost two years
>ago, 1/2 of it is still on the spool.
>
>73!
>
>Bill, n3rr@cais.com
>
>
>
>
>At 09:49 PM 3/16/96 EST, Fred Hopengarten wrote:
>>In re: Taping cables to a tower leg vs. using tie wraps to
>>keep cable attached to a tower leg.
>>
>>As one writer has pointed out, you just cannot use tie wraps
>>in the dead of winter, as they break when you try wrapping
>>them around the tower. In addition, unless you get WIDE,
>>HEAVY DUTY black (uv resistant) ones, they'll deteriorate
>>quickly. I once asked a tower erector what he uses, and he
>>offered a very simple solution.
>>
>>He buys a 500 foot roll of #14 THHN solid copper, black
>>insulated wire and cuts it into 9-12 inch lengths. Once on
>>the tower, he just uses these pieces like "twisties" (the
>>things which you use to close plastic bags), making the last
>>twist with a pair of pliers. A cheap, uv resistant, water
>>is no problem, temperature is no problem solution. The
>>magic is in the THHN insulation. It won't crack after long
>>uv exposure, and it won't permit the copper wire to touch
>>the galvanizing of the tower leg, as it is very tough and
>>resists abrasion.
>>--
>> Fred Hopengarten K1VR
>> Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
>> home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
>> internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
>> "Big antennas, high in the sky, are better
>> than small ones, low."
>>
>
>
>From Jan-Erik Holm <JEH@on.mobitel.telia.se> Mon Mar 18 07:16:06 1996
From: Jan-Erik Holm <JEH@on.mobitel.telia.se> (Jan-Erik Holm)
Subject: ON4UN and his tubes
Message-ID: <E312IFG1KG7D*/R=A1/R=ROONA/U=JEH/@MHS.stoa.mobitel.telia.se>
>
>Gee the man sure got guts! Advertising for spares to a 2 x 4CX1000 =
amp, wow!
>In any case I can=B4t see how it=B4s an issue for this reflector. P=
lease can we=20
>get a little more serious guys.
>
>73 de Jim SM2EKM jeh@on.mobitel.telia.se
>
>
>
>
>>JIM,
>>
>>WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU MAN ?
nothing much as far as I know, but then again I haven=B4t seen a schr=
ink lately
so what the heck
maybe something is wrong. In any case I feel just fine!
>>I HOPE YOU DO READ AND UNDERSTAND ENGLISH ? I AM NOT ADVERTISING FO=
R TUBES,
>>I AM LOOKING FOR TUBES. BIG DIFFERENCE I THINK. DID YOU UNDERSTAND =
THE FIRST
>>PHRASE IN MY MESSAGE? I KIND OF APOLOGIZED FOR USING THIS REFLECTOR=
FOR THE
>>PURPOSE, BUT COULD NOT THINK OF A BETTER AUDIENCE TO TRY TO GET INF=
ORMATION.
why can=B4t you think? braindamage ?
>>FORTUNATELY I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF INFORMATION, EVEN FORM V=
ERY NICE
>>AND HELPFUL PEOPLE FROM YOUR COUNTRY.
good for you
>>MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THIS REFLECTOR? COULD IT =
BE DUE TO
>>YOUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ? ?=20
=20
O big masa please educate me!!!
>>AS TO YOU COMMENT ABOUT "SERIOUS GUYS", THIS REMARK JUST WHOWS WHO =
Y O U
>>ARE.=20
you are entitled to that opinion
>>WHAT'S WRONG ERIK? WERE YOU DRUNK WHEN YOU WROTE THAT?
it=B4s Jim and no I wasn=B4t drunk
>>JOHN, ON4UN
Jim SM2EKM
Ps: I=B4m sorry to occupy the reflector with this junk, this is my fi=
nal posting.
73 to all but ON4UN
>From Peter Gerba <pgerba@crl.com> Mon Mar 18 06:21:41 1996
From: Peter Gerba <pgerba@crl.com> (Peter Gerba)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960317221807.3843A-100000@crl7.crl.com>
I was involved in some tower work a few weeks back..3,000Ft Mt. top and a
70 Ft tower. One of the hams in our group is with the antenna group at
LMC. He had some stainless steel tie wraps. Way Cool ! They worked well
and are sorta reuseable.
pete
pgerba@crl.com
>From Tom Lindtveit <Tom@utd.com> Sat Mar 16 19:29:44 1996
From: Tom Lindtveit <Tom@utd.com> (Tom Lindtveit)
Subject: CQ Contest Reflector Disclaimer
Message-ID: <01BB1490.82D40600@ulster-port7.mhv.net>
Someone said:
That would be me, N2GQS
>Hi all. First, a disclaimer: I am not a big gun, never expect to be. I =
am
new to >contesting, only 10 years. Please don't jump on me if this is =
not of
interest to you, >just ingore it like a "wrong mode spot".
Why does everyone on here seem to think they need to 'disclaim' =
themselves prior to asking questions or stating an opinion?
I'm gald you asked. In my opinion there are 2 reasons: 1) Some of us =
realize that what we have to say or ask is not of interest to everyone, =
so we beg their indulgence (my momma said it was good manners), and B) =
Some of us really don't care to handle the flames that seem to be =
generated by even the most mundane of questions or opinions (see a =
recent polite request for some rather large amp tubes).
It it my imagination or did I just get flamed for trying to avoid =
getting flamed? This is indeed a complex group. Perhaps I should just go =
back to sandbagging.
73 es best DX de Tom, N2GQS Tom@utd.com
>From Keskinen Petri <oh3mep@proffa.cc.tut.fi> Mon Mar 18 11:50:56 1996
From: Keskinen Petri <oh3mep@proffa.cc.tut.fi> (Keskinen Petri)
Subject: FT1000 AND THE NUMERICAL KEY PAD ON CW
Message-ID: <199603181150.NAA29681@proffa.cc.tut.fi>
> I have found the information on how to program and use the external
> numerical key pad in the operating manual totally incorrect. After quite a
> bit of searching and testing, I think I have it all right. Here comes my
> home brew instruction set. I hope this will be helpful to some.=20
>
> Please let me know if you have any comments.
>
> 73
>
> John, ON4UN
Slightly out of subject, but I'm also willing to announce some oddities
of ft-1000mp. Actually the rig itself seems to really be such a great
performer as John (and others) has earlier announced. I do have just a
short experiences with a friends rig, but that sure sounds and feels great!
( No I don't have anything to do with Yeasu, and unfortunately there seems
to be no changes to get one free even if I advertise it as much as possible :-)
.)
The oddities
I just wonder does the guys who wrote the manual have nothing to do with the
rig. There seems to be some other technical mistakes also. At least I was
suprised to notice that the socket for external packet/afsk-modem at the
back had strange pin numbering. It has common DIN5 -socket (at 180 degrees)
but the numbering was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I've been used to see the numbering
like: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3. (Both looking the socket from frontside). Glad I looked
the manual myself and just didn't ask a friend to tell me which numbers
equal to which signal like I usually do.
Well, after soldering the wire according to that advise in ft-1000mp manual
i noticed that pk-232 is well receiving but does not switch the TX on.
I re-checked the wire couple times with no luck. After a while I noticed
some wiring diagrams for common rigs at the end of PK-232 manual and
noticed that there were only 2 wires difference (ptt and ground) at old
ft-1000/ft-990 connection. I changed the wire to equal to that ft-990-model
and ta-daa.... system was working!
There should have been no troubles if the signals at the rig's connector
would have been the same as on the pictures of the manual!
I sure would liked to use FSK instead of AFSK because both the rig
and pk-232 are supposed to be FSK-capable, but I just didn't get that
running. Perhaps there is some other mistake/error on the manual also
or perhaps some info is just missing from the manual?
I sure would appreciate any help! Mail me, leave the reflector intact.
I'd like to hear any other oddities also. I'll make a summary to list
if there will be anything to announce.
Pete
oh3mep/oh0mep
oh3mep@cc.tut.fi
P.S. Before anyone asks what this has to do with CQ-contest, I'd like
to remind you that there is a CQWW RTTY -contest at the fall. Perhaps
I'll get the good FSK-wiring info before that so we'll be using it then
at our M/M entry :-).
>From jamesm@defcen.gov.au (Jim Muller VK1FF/WB2FFY) Mon Mar 18 12:51:45 1996
From: jamesm@defcen.gov.au (Jim Muller VK1FF/WB2FFY) (Jim Muller VK1FF/WB2FFY)
Subject: VK John Moyle FD Contest
Message-ID: <9603181251.AA16827@csc.canberra.edu.au>
Many thanks to all (particularly the US stations on 40m CW) who worked
us (VK1ACA/p) operating from a "Dairy Farmers" hill overlooking
the city of Canberra during the VK/ZL/P2 John Moyle Field Day contest
this past weekend. The nearly two hours of contacts on 40m CW was by
far the most fun period during the contest and certainly helped the score.
Our field day operation went pretty well all things considered. In fact, we
almost didn't set up this year when we heard the wx forecast
for rain and gale winds. It was sprinkling when we arrived on site, but
no wind. We waited in our vehicles for about a half hour and then the
rain stopped. After debating for a few minutes about whether to turn back
or stay, we finally decided to set up and see how things went. We spent
the next couple hours dealing with on/off rain while setting up the station
and the wind gradually starting to pick up. It certainly looked like the wx
prediction was going to be on the mark for a change.
We put the finishing touches on the station just as the contest started
and away we went. Things went pretty smoothly until just after dark when
the wind got really strong. So strong in fact that ground stakes on one
side of the 80m/15m operating tent had pulled up and the side of the tent
was leaning against one of the operating tables. We quickly moved the
gear to the other operating tent which was secured to a camping trailer.
That was some better, but the wind gusting against the trailer/tent
at times made so much noise that we couldn't hear the audio from
the radio. The poor weather also made it unseasonably cold which
some of us weren't prepared for (I warmed my fingers next to a 100w light
bulb). Sometime around 5am the wind died down and by 7am it was a
beautiful morning. We were all glad to see the morning come.
It certainly was an interesting experience. A few lessons were
learned about portable operation, we gained some operational
experience, and despite the poor weather we had a good time.
If anyone is interested in a QSL should send their card to my address
below or via the VK1 bureau. No SASE/IRC/Money needed!
Jim Muller, VK1FF/WB2FFY
US Embassy Canberra
PSC 277 Box 152
APO AP 96549
Thanks again for the contact during our FD and see you in the contests.
73, Jim Muller Packet: VK1FF@VK1KCM.ACT.AUS.AUNZ
VK1FF/WB2FFY Internet: jamesm@defcen.gov.au
>From AA1K Jon Zaimes <jon.zaimes@dol.net> Mon Mar 18 16:36:44 1996
From: AA1K Jon Zaimes <jon.zaimes@dol.net> (AA1K Jon Zaimes)
Subject: Tape v. Tie Wraps
>Unfortunately, on commercial (FM and TV) the wire ties are not
>acceptable. Andrew, Cablewave, and others make cable hangers designed
>specifically for mounting feedlines to tower legs and cross braces. The
>hangers are usually a "butterfly" (a wide strap with a bolt) which wrapps
>around the feedline and clamps it and a stainless worm gear type clamp
I have half a dozen runs of hardline going up my 120-foot tower, and I use
all-stainless steel hose clamps at several spots to clamp the cable to the
(inside) of a tower leg. This takes most of the load off it; haven't noticed
any deterioration when I've removed them. Use (cheap) black cable ties
and/or (cheap) tape in between the clamps every few feet for additional
clamping.
73/Jon AA1K jon.zaimes@dol.net
"It's just a hobby"
>From Jay Pryor <JPRYOR@uga.cc.uga.edu> Mon Mar 18 13:06:20 1996
From: Jay Pryor <JPRYOR@uga.cc.uga.edu> (Jay Pryor)
Subject: Lightning Strike
Message-ID: <960318.082922.EST.JPRYOR@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
Last Friday one of the season's first thunderstorms swept through
Atlanta. A tall pine tree which supported one end of a DXCC antenna, and
which is approximately 40 feet from the back of the house, was hit by
lightning. The strike left a cut in the tree that begins at 50 feet up
and goes down for app. 20 feet, circling the tree. The surge burned the
insulator, shorted both connections of the coil on that side, and fried
the 213 inside the PL-259. I consider myself lucky -- it did not follow
the 213 into the shack. I lost my contest logging computer, TV, VCR,
stereo tuner, cordless phone and answering machine from surges in the
electrical system and phone line. My computer was unplugged -- the surge
got in through the phone line which incidentally went through a phone line
surge supressor! The bottom line is, we are entering the thunderstorm
season -- make sure you think about your lightning protection. A complete
disconnect is your best insurance.
- Jay/K4OGG
73 and Good Luck,
- Jay/K4OGG
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