On Monday a number of us from DLARC (Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club) took a field trip to the ARRL Headquarters in Newington, CT and also work the W1AW station.

During the 4 hour trip, I worked a number of DX stations on 17 and 20m including Russia and Belgium. Having HF in the car definitely makes the time go quick, but logging becomes the difficult and hazardous part.

Once on-site, our tour guide took us around league headquarters where we visited the Logbook of the world (LoTW) and certificate department as well as Product Test Lab, Marketing & Advertising, and VEC departments. While there Laurie (KB3SIK) was able to find out the status to her recent upgrade, which happened to arrive in the mail that day. In the outgoing QSL card bureau, we found cards destined for NE3F, the local contest station in Reading, PA, which I found rather funny.

We also had a tour of the ARRL employee station, W1HQ which had a decent amount of gear including a SteppIR beam and 6 meter King Conversion amplifier. I’ll be adding W1HQ to my rare DX list.

It was nice to be put faces and names to the ARRL and see what they do from their perspective. They do alot with what they have and make use of every piece of equipment they have; Something quite apparent in the Lab and Art departments.

View at Picasa ARRL, Newington, CT11-Apr-2011 16:17, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa ARRL League Headquarters, Newington, CT.11-Apr-2011 11:13, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa Cubesat11-Apr-2011 11:57, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 87	View at Picasa W1HQ Employee station.11-Apr-2011 12:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 102	View at Picasa W1HQ Employee station.11-Apr-2011 12:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 181	View at Picasa W1HQ Employee station.11-Apr-2011 12:11, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 79
View at Picasa W1HQ Employee station.11-Apr-2011 12:11, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 179	View at Picasa W1HQ Employee station.11-Apr-2011 12:11, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 336	View at Picasa Radio under test11-Apr-2011 12:26, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 420	View at Picasa Radio under test11-Apr-2011 12:14, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa Outgoing QSL Cards11-Apr-2011 12:52, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 115	View at Picasa Outgoing QSL Cards11-Apr-2011 12:52, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 125
View at Picasa APRS Beacon outside W1AW11-Apr-2011 16:15, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa ARRL Benches and memorandum bricks11-Apr-2011 16:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa ARRL Memorandum bricks11-Apr-2011 16:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa ARRL Memorandum bricks11-Apr-2011 16:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 50

After lunch at a local pizza place, we put in some operating time at W1AW, their visitor operator station. W1AW is also the station that provides the on-air ARRL bulletins as well as qualifying Morse code runs. I ended up running their Yaesu FTDX-9000D on 15m for a bit. The station has alot of different gear and operates a number of modes.

Next »

View at Picasa W1AW – Amateur Radio Station11-Apr-2011 16:13, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50	View at Picasa W1AW Beam Antennas11-Apr-2011 16:13, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50	View at Picasa W1AW Beam Antennas11-Apr-2011 16:13, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50	View at Picasa KB3SIK (Laurie) at W1AW11-Apr-2011 11:11, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa W1AW HF Beams11-Apr-2011 11:11, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50	View at Picasa W1AW – Oscar Satellite Antennas11-Apr-2011 11:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50
View at Picasa W1AW – Oscar Satellite antenna11-Apr-2011 11:12, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, ISO 50	View at Picasa N3QO, Jeff and KB3SIK, Laurie11-Apr-2011 16:07, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50	View at Picasa K3GMT (Dave) working 20m and N3OW (Jay) working 15m11-Apr-2011 14:43, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 128	View at Picasa K3GMT (Dave) working 20m and N3OW (Jay) working 15m11-Apr-2011 14:45, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 341	View at Picasa K3GMT (Dave) working 20m and N3OW (Jay) working 15m11-Apr-2011 14:43, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 88	View at Picasa W1AW – ARRL Station11-Apr-2011 15:53, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 163
View at Picasa W1AW Bulletin Service radios – Icom 756 ProIII with PW1 Amplifier.11-Apr-2011 15:50, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa W1AW Bulletin Service radios11-Apr-2011 15:50, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa W1AW Bulletin Service radio11-Apr-2011 15:50, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa W1AW Bulletin Service – Antenna Patches11-Apr-2011 14:54, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa W1AW Bulletin Service radios11-Apr-2011 14:54, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800	View at Picasa KU3X, Barry and W3CE, Al11-Apr-2011 15:50, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 76

« Previous

View at Picasa Vintage station – Viking Valiant11-Apr-2011 14:51, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 126

View at Picasa Vintage Station – National11-Apr-2011 14:51, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, 2.8, 6.34mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 73

The remainder of the photos and video can be found here.

As I’m thinking about what to write about 2011, I’m realizing that 2010 was a pretty kick ass year in the hobby for me and I’m starting to realize I’ve done too much. Here’s a summary.

In February I was introduced to 160m and found a great group located in the PA/NJ/DE/MD area who are on 1900khz every night at 8pm. I would finally get to meet them face to face at the Timonium Hamfest in Maryland which would start an every other Saturday tradition of breakfast in Delaware with the guys.

The hexbeam I built back in the previous October (2009) survived the 2ft of snow we saw in March. I would find myself being invited to operate the ARRL DX contest at NE3F’s, which is always fun but also quite an endurance run. I also started operating HF mobile and ended up working VK7ZE on our way to our club station with 100w in a screwdriver antenna on 20m. He was working the states long-path, some 14k miles.

Early in April, I decided to try a 3 element Mosley TA-33 tribander and ended up selling my Hexbeam to Dave (K3GMT). Also in April, I went QRO with a Dentron Clipperton which would be a requirement for 160m in the summer. 1200watts with a set of 4 572B’s. The transformer makes a menacing growl when it’s cranked on 40m, truely a welcomed addition to the shack.

Early in May, Jon (N3INJ) called to tell me 6m was open, of which I didn’t have an antenna for. Within about 45 minutes, I had a 6m delta loop up in the air and started making first 6m contacts. Later that month Laurie and I made it to Dayton. This was our first and plan to make it a yearly event.

I started off the month of June by rotating the polarity of my 2m cubical quad to horizontal and start working 2m sideband. So far it’s been slow, but my furthest stations I’ve worked was Pittsburgh and Connecticut, but the ARRL VHF contest was a blast!

The 1900 guys and I would end up doing a Field Day Expedition to Assateague Island in Maryland. It took a fair bit of planning, governmental politics and a little bit of cash, but we pulled it off. We also pulled off toasting an Alpha amplifier and an Icom 7000. But we all made it out alive with a new experience under our belts and I experienced a pileup the night before on PSK from the beach.

Early in July, I installed the trapped 40/80/160 antenna and start getting S9+40-50 signal reports on 160m, something no G5RV would do. Later that month I would end up in,out and then back in the hospital for a perforated appendix, which made for good rest time for DX at home, but no HT’s in the hospital. I also missed out on IoTA weekend, bummer.

In August I started playing around with satellites and sold the Icom 746 and purchased a Yaesu 847. Just as quickly as I got into this mode, I was out of it, but I walked away with a QSO with Commander Doug Wheelock aboard the ISS while we were mobile.

September my HF configuration came full circle. I ended swapping out the Mosley for my previously rebuilt hexbeam. Luckily for me, K3GMT’s plans for it didn’t work out, and I have my creation back on the roof and working DX like a mad man. At the same time we relocated the 2 meter antennas to a newly installed guyed mast just behind the garage.

October 1st I would wake to find my shack in the basement flooded due to a large rainfall. A normally quiet sump pump would awaken in the night, but a tripped GFI breaker caused it to stop and leave me with a foot of water. No ham equipment was harmed, but the shack ended up being relocated to the dining room. Luckily for me I have a loving, understanding and licensed (general) YL. Speaking of which She and I worked the PA QSO party, but she has not yet given up my Icom 706. I don’t have the heart to take it back, and not that I need it, but it gives me an excuse to buy another rig.

The last quarter of 2010 has been fairly quiet. I’ve been voted into the board for my radio club, working towards DXCC, working more CW and playing around with APRS.

Laurie and I are both looking forward to a prosperous 2011, with me hopefully working HF mobile once again. Hi Hi.

Back in September as read in the previous post, the Hexbeam went back up, although we had to relocate it. I had Dave (K3GMT), Lyle (KB3SXI) and Jay (N3OW) come out to help move the mast and guy points so we could actually rotate the Hexbeam. After a bit of testing, I had found that transmitting above 14Mhz caused a number of RF issues to occur in the house (eg. resetting TV’s, causing computer keyboards to lock up, etc.). This was due to the antenna being too low and the house being in the radiation pattern.

The idea was to scrap the satellite station project and move the Hexbeam to the roof a few weeks after the initial move. With some help from Harry (K3HVC), we were able to relocate the Hexbeam and retune it a bit. We also made room below the Hex for the home for a future 6m beam. Wiring is already complete, so installation should be cake when that day arrives.

Signal reports have been phenomenal. A week or 2 after the installation there was a 10m opening which I was easily able to work South Africa, barefoot without issue. 10-15+ signal reports working barefoot were welcomed.

Overall, I’ve been very happy with the decision to go back to the Hex. For my particular installation, it seems to be the best choice.

It’s like Christmas in January here at the N3QO station. Dave, K3GMT made a station donation of an Astatic D-104 microphone for Laurie’s Heathkit Rig. After wiring it up and cleaning up the switches, it makes for some nice compressed audio and matches the rig nicely.

View at Picasa

I finally got the field day photos up on flickr.
[flickrset id="72157622018569465" thumbnail="square" overlay="true" size="medium"]

This last weekend was a ham radio packed weekend. On Saturday morning I arrived at the club station (aka The Milk House) with 746 in hand and setup for the IARU HF World Championship. Dave, K3GMT; Howard, KB3RTB; and Ben, KB3CTX would also setup to join in the competition. Collectively as operators we knew we were far from any award winning experience, just the fun of competing.

By 9:30AM some of us were on the air, myself on 15 meter where activity was starting to build as the band was opening. Throughout the day I would eventually end up on 20 meter where I would find the DX chaos. Approximately 12 hours into the competition a large thunderstorm began to role in causing us all to take an unintended break. This would be the end of the competition for me with 102 QSO’s logged with approximately 7300 points.

On Sunday Laurie and I went up to Sussex county NJ to a hamfest where we put on a D-Star TV demo with DLARC member, Howard (KB3RTB) and a number of NJDSTAR members. A lot of attention was drawn around the booth as the first pictures were transferred. While there I purchased the parts to build a D-Star hotspot and picked up a Heathkit SWR/Wattmeter for Laurie’s rig.

Photos to come.

This last weekend (July, 4) was the start of hamfest weekend here in Eastern PA. On Saturday we traveled to the Harrisburg area to visit the Firecracker Harrisburg Hamfest and Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) Section Convention. This was one of the better hamfests in the area. Tailgating was out in a field and there were very few garbage vendors. While there we picked up a Heathkit speaker for Laurie’s (KB3SIK) vintage rig and I picked up a 2meter mobile antenna and thru-the-roof NMO mounts. Of which I broke on during install. 3/8″ of brass isn’t very strong.

On Sunday with a heads up from K3GMT, we drove up to Wilkes-Barre, PA to the Murgas ARC Hamfest & Computerfest. This one was less than stellar. While I appreciate the attempt, having vendors selling their completely unrelated, miscellaneous junk is always a disappointment. If I remember I saw someone trying to sell a guitar and amplifier and someone else trying to sell a Laurel and Hardie doll. WTF!? On a positive note I was able to find the Sauder’s Electronics table and purchase some 3/4″ NMO mounts. Much beefier and look forward to drilling the holes in my roof later this week.

Next Sunday (July 12) is the Sussex County Amatuer Radio Club Hamfest. I hear this is the one to visit. I’ll have to make time since I plan on participating in the IARU HF contest.

…and when I say bug, I don’t mean a software or design flaw.

On Thursday night my Icom IC-91AD arrived from Ham Radio Outlet in Delaware. After speaking with a few local hams, Dave, K3GMT and Ken, N3IYX I decided to go the D-Star route. Just in the last 3 weeks at least 3 club members started playing around on the local D-Star repeater, W3OI. I decided to go with the 91AD over the 92 for a few different reasons.

1) The price. $200 more for an HT is a bit much.

2) GPS speaker mic. I don’t really see myself needing a $300 microphone for an HT. I’m guessing there is a cheaper version without the GPS functionality.

3) Submersibility. Is that a word? I don’t think I’m worried about dropping it in a lake and if I am, the probability of using D-Star where such lake would exist will most likely be remote. 

The one thing I do like about the 92 is the power output flexibility. Although the 91 does make it simple. Low is .5 watts and high is 5 watts. This leaves another brain cycle to concentrate on D-Star signal routing.

After 2 days with the new mode, I’m finding it both fun and frustrating at the same time. Our local region currently has only 1 repeater, which is more than most places have. Philadelphia has 2 on the outside of town, which I was unable to get into either one today. Our repeater in Allentown is at the tail end of the “testing” phase, with the current antenna only being 30 feet off the ground running at minimal capabilities. Once the antenna and pre-amps get in place, coverage is going to be phenomenal and more worthwhile to the D-Star HT owners. The mobiles seem to be doing ok and those of us with HT’s at home tend to hook up to our rooftop antennas.

Today we made a road trip down to the Newcastle, DE to HRO to pick up a few odds and ends. BTW, don’t bother buying the Icom folding headset (can’t remember the model number). First off the headset band is too big all the way at it’s smallest adjustment, and the ear phone hangs off of the headset like an iPod ear bud. Highly uncomfortable and hardly worth the $60 asking price. After 5 minutes in the parking lot I promptly returned it for an Icom speaker mic, which doesn’t have quite the audio output I would’ve expected but was $20 cheaper. I also picked up a Diamond SRH77CA antenna for the 91AD, looking for a little edge over the stock antenna. It measures double the length of the stock rubberduck, but I haven’t really completed a comparison.

After arriving home this afternoon I happened to hear a JA station (Japan) call CQ through the gateway. His audio was flawless and full quieting, unlike me who was having a hard time making the repeater on a rubberduck antenna.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with it. I think it’s a much needed boost that the local bands need. And if you’re a D-Star user, try giving me a shout, I’m usually on W3OI-C.

73

-jeff  N3QO (still getting used to that one).