How is a Norwich, CT school using Amateur Radio to Promote Math and Engineering?

In an article HERE, we learn of a high school amateur radio club encouraging students to pursue engineering vocations by participating in some high level hands-on projects dealing with weather balloons, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

From the Article:


"During the past three years, the small group has enjoyed a resurgence on campus, bringing back a tradition that began in the mid-1940s as a way to give students interested in engineering, computer science and other high-tech fields a way to pursue their interests outside the classroom.

Anthony Girasoli, NFA’s director of information technology and club adviser, said taking on intensive activities such as the weather balloon and robot not only provide students with valuable learning opportunities, but is a good recruiting tool.
“The challenge is, how do you make ham radio interesting to this age group?” Girasoli said."


Here's a video demonstrating one of their projects:

I think this school is on to something.  Why does most high school learning in these subjects  have to be tedious, and without recognizable purpose?  I believe this type learning is the best form of learning.  What are your thoughts?


READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Amateur Radio's Vicious Cycle?

When it comes to the Amateur Radio hobby, I have known contentment.  Yes, I have found myself completely satisfied with the contents of my ham shack (like I am right now) many, many times. Each time, however, the resulting euphoric feeling have been short lived.


To begin with, I desired an Amateur Radio license which I obtained.  Though pleased, I wasn’t completely happy.   I had to have a radio.  


My very first rig ran on 10 meters only, and believe me, once it was up and running, I was completely content.  That is, right up until I met some folks running some of the UHF/VHF bands.  


Suddenly, I wasn’t content anymore.  Suddenly I needed a 2 meter 
and a 70 cm rig and matching antennas!  I could feel my psyche, my self esteem being damaged as I sank into the murky depths of  depression over my new-found operational deficits.


Eventually, I managed to obtain a couple radios, antennas and I was content again; feeling the euphoric sensation of ham radio bliss.  That is, until I found out my friends were running digital modes.


This cycle, this vicious cycle has a way of continually repeating its self, and I sometimes feel powerless to stop it.


Is this process of discovery, desire, depression, acquisition, contentment, and euphoria really a vicious cycle?  


No way!  It isn’t even close to vicious!  It’s fun!


I have actually over-dramatized a wonderful aspect of our great hobby.  We are truly  blessed with a hobby that offers almost limitless possibilities.  


I know first hand that each time I tap into one possibility, I find I desire to participate in another.  This means Amateur Radio will never grow old or outdated.  


How do you feel about this?

The Amateur Radio Stuff-Realm: What’s in Yours?

It’s a funny thing how people can become attached to their stuff. What’s even funnier is how some of us react when we are suddenly separated from whatever it is we cherish.


For example, around the middle of November, I lost my IMAX-2000 antenna. It fell to the ground in the wind with a broken mast, and I haven’t been able, as yet, to put it back up.


I didn’t think this would bother me much. I mean I still have a wire on 20 meters and an 80/40 Dual Band Butternut that work fine. So what if I can’t work 10 or 15 meters, right?


At least, that's what my attitude would be if those bands weren’t as wide open as they’ve been in 10 years!


Let me tell you, since that antenna has been down, I thought about getting my xyl out there holding up an IMAX mast pole while I got my DX fix…. But alas, I knew she wouldn’t ever go for that.


Yes, I was attached to that IMAX-2000. It worked great on 10, 12, 15 and 17 meter bands. The wire I have works better on 20 than the IMAX does. Still, I miss not having the ability to use those other bands.


In this case, I think those bands fall within my stuff realm as much as the antenna.


A local ham friend of mine, KA5JNL, loaned me his ICOM-2100 2 meter radio when I first became a ham. He let me know how special that radio is to him by telling me about the ham (a silent key now) who originally had it.


I suppose the reasons why hams choose to become attached to certain things are as wide ranging as the things themselves. That said, I would never put my stuff ahead of people.


Many area hams (in and around Ouachita parish) have taught me that generosity creates ‘stuff’ of a different sort… in this sense, I’d say friendship falls within the stuff-realm as well.

Meet My Dog Holly

She keeps me company in the ham shack from time to time. In this video, Holly is showing off her smarts, and her new pink sweater.

Antenna hit the Dirt

I knew it would happen sooner or later.  The IMAX-2000 I use for 10 thru 20 meters was only held up by cotton rope and after 3 blazing summers, one of them finally gave way sending the antenna crashing down from a height of about 20 feet.

Fortunately, the antenna was not damaged in the fall.  That said, I have to get it back up. 

In thevideo of the DX contacts I made (2 blog  posts down) I was using that antenna.

In a video I made showing my station setup, I show what I used for a mast, and how it was held up.

I used the doubled-up steel floor joists that came with the garden shed, and when the guy line broke, it folded over like cardboard.

Here's the video:




I figured one day it would fall, and last Saturday was that day.

I've got some new er mast poles to use, I just need a way to secure it to the side of the ham shack.

My Bike Run to the Ouachita River - November 17, 2011

I was bicycle mobile with my ht and Larson antenna.  I actually took some video while talking on the radio,  but  my camera started malfunctioning. I lost quite a few clips because of this.


Enjoy the video:

Me Working DX ***VIDEO***

This little video is of me, ke5utn, working DX.  It is amazing what a barefoot rig can do on 10 and 12 meters during an active solar cycle.  In this video I'm working 10. If you haven't tried it yet, you should.  It is much fun.

ke5utn Trying Out SSTV - Video

I'm very new at using this mode.  Later on this day, I learned alot about the DM780 automatically putting  'their callsign' on the top of the picture, and mine in the bottom part of the picture.


This makes it easier than I initially thought it would be and made it faster for me to respond to stations.


Here's the video:

Where I'm amiss in this Hobby

Every ham that’s been a ham for any amount of time knows there are many aspects of this hobby to choose from.


A few examples of the choices hams can choose from are working (building) with electronic components and experimenting with antennas to operating as an ARES/Skywarn station or getting involved in traffic nets.


These choices and others give us hams an opportunity to exceed our current personal knowledge, learning new things, keeping life interesting.


For me, I find I am never satisfied with the knowledge I possess.


I’ve pretty well mastered calling nets, and I can copy and send traffic with the best of them. I can’t however fix my broken desk microphone because I do not have the knowledge base to do so. Additionally, I don’t want to always have to call someone else when I need to fix something.


I suppose one of the reasons I haven’t begun to learn electronics is because I feel like I need to have conditions met prior to getting started.


I need a soldering gun, I need the tools, I’m legally blind so I need a way to see what I’m working on, and on and on….


I think maybe this is a mistake, but learning would be more fun if I were ’working’ on something rather than reading a book.


So, although there are many aspects of this hobby I have taken part in, I am not yet satisfied.


How about you?

Check out my KE5UTN Station Tour!

This is my latest shack interior show and tell.  I am giving a detailed tour this time... enjoy.

FEMA, NOAA, AND the FCC to Conduct first ever Nationwide Emergency Communications Test

ARRL website is informing its readers that  on November 9th at 2:00pm EST, our government will be performing its first ever test of the national emergency Alert Service (EAS).

Citing a FEMA website, the ARRL says the test will  last only about 3 minutes.  They said it'll take 2 minutes to get the state and local broadcasters online, so the national test will take at least 3 minutes. 


The ARRL went into much more detail here than I'm going to, so if you want to read the rest of entire story, CLICK HERE. 

10 Meters is Back!!!

Thumbs up to 10 Meters

Have you tried 10 Meters lately? I have and I assure you DX has been rolling in like gang-busters!


On 100 watts, I made contacts with Alaska, Christmas Island and even Japan!


My antenna is nothing more than a vertical IMAX-2000.


These contacts were fairy easy to get, despite running into pileups.


Since I became a ham in 2008, I’ve heard stories of 10 meters being a band you can talk around the world on with 10 watts, but I found that hard to believe given that I’ve never tuned in that band and heard much of anything.


All across the frequency spectrum on 10 meters, signals could be heard. Australia, Japan, Belgium, France and Alaska, Africa and South America are a few I’ve heard.


When I come across a frequency, I’ll wait till I hear the call sign, write it down along with name and QTH. After I’ve accumulated this info, I’ll answer his/her cqdx. This way he can get the contact with me and go on to another quickly.


Occasionally I’ll ask a question or two about where the person lives.


I have to be quick though because sometimes I’ll wait to get all the info then standby for his next CQ call only to have him go QRT. So, I’ve been jumping on the DX stations a little quicker. If I don’t get the call sign just right, I’ll read back what I have and wait for the correction. This seems to work pretty well.


Some stations are really loud, and by the time I get out every syllable of my call sign (phonetically), someone else already got the call… and I hear that station when I unkey.


Another thing I do is use different phonetics to speed up how fast I can get my call sign transmitted.


It takes longer to say, “KILO ECHO 5 UNIFORM TANGO NOVEMBER than it does to say, ‘KING EDWARD 5 UNITED TEXAS NORWAY”. So, I’ll go with the second version of my call or just toss in my suffix.


If you haven’t tried 10 meters, you better get while the getting is good! There’s no telling when the sunspots will die back down leaving 10 Meters sputtering like it was a few weeks ago.

Hey Sharks, when DX-ing why not Give the Small Fish a Break?

Have you ever been a little fish in a small pond full of Great White Sharks? Figuratively speaking, I have. When I come across a pileup competing for a rare DX contact, and I hear other CONUS stations so loud my speaker rattles, I know I’m going to have to be persistent if I want the contact.


I’m probably over reacting, but occasionally I find myself wishing others would follow the golden rule.


Consider this driving situation: Suppose you are trying to turn right out of an alley onto the main drag but lots and lots of nonstop flowing traffic prevents you from getting out.


Isn’t it nice when someone slows enough to let you out?


When folks do this for you, are you more or less inclined to make this same gesture for others?


In my scenario, the 100 watt or qrp station is the car trying to get onto the thoroughfare, and the amplified stations are the cars already on the freeway streaming past.


Sure, they can see (hear) you, but they choose to zoom past keeping you buried in the alley (keeping you from getting the contact; buried in the noisy pileup).


This is where common courtesy comes in. Common courtesy requires that we put ourselves in someone else’s place.


More hams aught to ask themselves, “How would I feel if that were me?” More hams should consider the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.


I’m not going to say that the Amp folksHAVE to yield to barefoot/QRP folks every time they hear one; that would be silly.  I'm simply suggesting that amplifier using stations  keep this in mind and use their better judgement on the matter. 


There’s one thing I’ve learned about courtesy over the years: It is contagious.

When DX-ing: To Amplify or not to Amplify? That is the Question

I’ve only been a ham for around 4 years or so, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard folks say, “Life’s too short for QRP”.  


That said, there is something to be said for stations that can make the contacts while operating barefoot.


Recently I was talking with a buddy, KG4RJU (Brian) who was telling me about the wide open 10 meter conditions of late.  He said he was catching DX from France, as well as East and West Europe on his Kenwood TS-50 18-wheel mobile.  He was making these on 100 watts.

Okay, maybe that (in itself) isn’t ‘lets-break-out-the-bubbly-and-party-impressive‘, but as he pointed out he was competing for contacts, in pile ups,  with stations running .5kw to 1.5kw easy, and he was beating them out!


I’ve experienced this phenomenon myself while  utilizing some strategies that got my call sign  noticed by the DX station.


If there is a pileup, one thing I try is the wait-till-the-pileup-dies- down-trick then give my call sign.  Or, I transmit my state after my call sign.  Another thing I sometimes try is to time when he’s going to unkey; then I ’hotkey’ rapidly transmitting only my suffix. 


I kind of compare this to hunting.  Good hunters don’t ‘need’ (Some like my Dad refuse to use) high powered rifles with precision scopes because they don’t think it’s very sporting to take down a deer from a hiding spot 1000 yards away.  


Hunters like my Dad get more satisfaction from bagging his deer by utilizing tenacity, strategy, wit and experience.


I think this is the mantra of QRP and barefoot operators.  They may not make as many DX contacts as those proud folks running amplifiers, but they do feel gratified when (because of their wit, tenacity and experience) rare DX stations pick them out over the louder stations.


What is your opinion?  Amp or no Amp?

Tea Party Inclusion Cards Respond to Left's Lies

Forgive me, my fellow hams, for going political but I have to do my part in responding to the lies and misinformation that the Tea Party folks are racists: 

Purchase the cards, then leave one behind for 'just-met' persons of color to find following your friendly, amiable conversations.  

The bus, in cafeterias, libraries, schools are some examples of where you might come in contact with minorities, and when you might leave a card.


We've got to respond to the lies being spread by mainstream and let minoriies know we stand for them too.


Click on the card below to purchase a bunch from my store.  I created these so I get a royalty from each sale.

You can also help me by reposting this on your facebook and twitter accounts. Thanks in advance.


Here's the Card:

Tea Party Inclusion Card by Observations
sell your paintings online for free at Zazzle

Old U.S. Army Introduction to Morse Code Training Video

I had to take Morse Code in the Army  back in 1986.  I was at Fort Gordon, Georgia training to be a Radio Teletype Operator with the 'A4' Morse Code  qualified designation tacked onto the end of my  31C MOS.


We didn't watch this video, but our instructor used many of the same lessons.


If you never tried Morse Code (CW), but think you might be interested in being exposed to it, this video is a good introduction.
Part 1


part 2

This Week's Ham Operator Highlight: KD5JZC - Hoppy

I know Hoppy, KD5JZC from his frequent check-ins on the 5th region traffic net, the Louisiana traffic net, and from a number of pleasant HF conversations. 


Hoppy frequently has the loudest signal on the nets.  And,  despite his serious health problems, he is one of the friendliest-most-well-natured hams I have the pleasure of communicating with.  This is the reason why I chose Hoppy, KD5JZC, to highlight:


-Hoppy, KD5JZC-


1. Where is your QTH? 
I am located in Marksville, Louisiana within Avoyelles Parish (about 30 miles south of Alexandria, LA.).   I live with my Wife who has allowed me to put up towers and antennas and take over the Laundry room for my Ham Radio equipment and Weather Station. 


2. When did you become a ham? 
I became a HAM at the age of 60 back in 1996. The same year I retired and traveled full time in my Motor Home.  While on the road I studied for the Technician license and passed the test at a Family Motor Coach Association Rally in Pomona California. 


3. What or who inspired you to get involved in the hobby? 
My Dad took me to a friend he worked with who was a HAM back in 1949. I spent a whole day with him and talked to people all over the world. I made up my mind that some day I was going to become a Ham. I would have done it then but, in 1949 I also discovered girls.  So I never went back to my Dad's friend and did not become a Ham until many, many years later. 




4. Did you have an Elmer? If so, who was he and what do you remember most about him? 
Never had an ELMER but had some folks who encouraged me to become a Ham and had other Hams encourage me to upgrade to General and then on to Extra. 


5. What equipment do you run? 
I started with a Yaesu FT-7800R (vhf/uhf) in my Motor Home learning about repeaters and finding more Hams out on the road. I then bought a Kenwood TS-870 off of eBay. Screwdriver Antenna to mount in the tow bar receiver on the Motor Home so I could listen to DX etc while parked. That got me inspired to get my General and enjoyed talking. With the screw driver antenna I could just about talk to anybody that could hear me. That lasted until I could no longer live full time in my Motor Home (years of smoking got me and now I am on Oxygen 24/7) and in 2005 I settled down in Marksville. Giving up the living on the road. 


My oldest Son took over the Motor Home and I was able to put up a tower and a Butternut vertical antenna. 

I also started studying for the Extra license. My Youngest Son showed some interest in Ham Radio, so I told him if he studies and gets his license I would give him the Kenwood 870 (great Radio!). Well then came a Hurricane and took my little Rhone 25 tower with the Butternut and a longwire antenna to the ground. I set the Radio and tower and antennas on the side and proceeded to research towers. While I was doing that my Son Scott (KE5TJS) got his Ham license. So I gave him the Radio, antennas and the remains of the tower (5 good sections). He just needed to add a base to the tower and repair the bent up Butternut antenna. 

I also got me a new car and wanted the Kenwood TM-D710A mobile for the new car, so I gave my Son Scott the Yaesu FT-7800R. 


That gave him a mobile and HF radio with antennas and the encouragement to get his General.  I replaced the tower with a Self Supporting crank up/tilt over Aluminum tower from Heights Tower Co. located in Pensacola, Florida. Which happened to be where my two daughter live, and I had visited there often. 


I also bought a 4 El. (6 thru 40m) SteppIR antenna and a Yaesu G-2800XA Rotor as well as an Alpha Delta long wire for 80 and 160 meters. To replace the TS-870 and FT-7800R I purchased a Kenwood TS-2000. I soon realized I wanted better receiver and more power. 


I saved up and bought a Yaesu FT-2000, Yeasu DMU-2000 Data Management Unit, and a Yaesu Quadra VL-1000 Amplifier System. I have done some digital and have a Kantronics KAM XL and a Signalink USB wired up for the Kenwood TS-2000.   Works great for low power digital fun and pretty handy in time of emergency also. 


Because I need Oxygen 24/7 I have a machine here at home to supply the oxygen. We have a Natural Gas Generator for the whole house so I can operate while power is down and still use my Oxygen Machine and operate my Ham stations. 


6. What is your proudest amateur radio related accomplishment, if any? 
One of my proudest moments was when I got the Technician license at 60 years old. Another proud moment was when my youngest son got his General this year.  One other proud moment I hope to have in this life time will be to operate CW. Starting all over again learning the code.

My Newest Mode: SSTV - Does the 'V' Stand for Victim?

I decided to get more serious with getting Slow Scan TV (SSTV) to work.  I mean, how hard can it be?


I already had HRD, with the DM780 suite of sweet modes; one of which is SSTV.


So I tuned up 14.230MHZ, plugged in my sound card interface, connected my computer to the external speaker  port on the back of my radio, and I was ready to receive.


As I studied the layout of the SSTV page, I began wondering who in the world Martin and Scottie are because their names are on the window and have something to do (I discovered) with whether or not I  get a picture.


So I guessed and picked Martin..  Eventually, I heard the wiss-whir-sh-sh...wiss-wer sounds and a picture slowly appeared.  


It looked like a Roswell Alien! 


So, I frantically tried to figure out how to send an image back to the station.  I stumbled upon the method of 'Selecting Background' and chose a picture of my dog, Holly.

It was funny to me that even though I wanted to send a picture that would fill the foreground as well as the background that  the menu label read "select background".


So, I had an image to send.  I pressed F1: nothing!  That's what I used to transmit PSK-31, so  I tried F2: Again, nothing!


So, I scanned the entire SSTV window looking for a TX button: nothing! 


 About 30 minutes later, I thought it can't be so simple as to right click on the image I I plan on sending;.. And there it was:  a TX option!


So, I sent my dog, Holly, to God knows who... I hoped.


But, I didn't. I happened tohear a friend of mine, K5JRW on the same frequency talking.


I asked him to meet me on the local repeater; which he did.  We coordinated on different bands trying to get my  SSTV system working.  I could receive his signals, but he was getting nothing from me.


He suggested I try a different SSTV Program.  I downloaded it, installed it and discovered I had the old version of that software.  So, I removed it and downloaded the new version.


It was past lunch by this point so I suggested we give it a rest for the time being.  He agreed.


Later tonight I decided to try  out the DM780 again.


While I was transmitting CQ, I looked at my radio output meter. It was showing no output power.


For kicks, I decided to flip one of the switches on my Rig Blaster and WHAM it started working.


I am visually impaired.  I can't read anything without an aid of some sort, so I get lazy not wanting to take my magnifier to look at every little thing most people can see at a glance.
Ultimately, The 'V' may have stood for victim (if I chose to give up).  Instead, however, it stands for victorious!

FCC Upholds $17,000 Forfeiture Order

The ARRL has reported that David Edward Perka, KA3PRB, of Lewisburg, Tennessee can't get out of paying he $17,000 FCC Liability for Forfeiture (fine) levied againsst him in 2009.



According to the ARRL, Mr. Perka admitted to the FCC that he  “willfully and repeatedly violat[ed] section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, by operating without a license in the Maritime Radio Service and willfully violat[ed] Section 333 of the Act by maliciously interfering with the United States Coast Guard on the International Distress, Safety and Calling Channel in Annapolis, Maryland.”


The fine was under review for a reduction because Mr. Perka claimed he was unable to pay that amount.  The FCC decided to keep the forfeiture at $17,000.


Link to ARRL Story


My Comment:
The FCC made an example out of this guy.  There are many FCC rule violators (malicious interferers)  out there that I wish would meet this kind of judgment.


On 75 meters for instance, around October when the band seems to go longer, there are some people in there who interfere with our Louisiana Traffic Net.  They use profanity, transmit recorded sounds, and never identify their stations.


People engaging in this type of behavior SHOULD PAY.


Also, again on 75 meters, while trying to enjoy a round table net, there is someone out there who (from tome to time) maliciously interferes with electronic sounds, whistles, or recordings.


I think there should be a special jail for folks who get caught engaging in this kind of behavior.  The cell should have 5 huge speakers on the walls that blast the same kind of nonsense they subjected others to over the air.

One of my Other Hobbies

I'm an amateur martial artist also.  I've been practicing with the staff in various forms since I was 14 years old.


By forms I mean sticks, canes, broom handles, shovel handles, ax handles, chucks and more.

Here Is Another video I made of Me doing this stuff.

Thumbs up to This Week's Ham Operator Highlight: Mickey Cox - K5MC

As much as Mickey, K5MC, contributes to the Amateur Radio Hobby, It's a no-brainer to include him in my Ham Operator Highlight.

He is the current ARRL Delta Division Director, and is currently campaigning for reelection.   

For the past 3 years, K5MC  has served  the division admirably, and should remain at his post.  

Of the two candidates running, Mickey has the character, drive, and personality making him the better choice.  Visit http://k5mc.com for more info.

I know Mickey from club meetings and seeing him operate CW on Field Day.  He's a friendly guy who really enjoys this fine hobby.

Here is his Highlight:

Mickey cox, K5MC

1. What is your QTH  & when did you become a ham?

I live in West Monroe, LA.  I became a ham in 1968 when I was 13 years old.

2. What or who inspired you to get involved in the hobby?

My school library had a book about ham radio that made the hobby sound interesting and it also included some neat radio photographs.  My dad encouraged me once I showed an interest.

3. Did you have an Elmer? If so, who was he and what do you remember most about him?

My dad was my main Elmer.  Although he never got a ham license himself, he knew a lot about radio electronics because of his job and own personal interest.  When I showed an interest in ham radio, my dad did everything he could to promote that interest.  My dad’s formal education stopped at high school, but he was probably the most accomplished man I’ve ever known.

4. What equipment do you run?

My main rig now is a Ten-Tec Orion II.  I also have several Kenwood rigs (940 and 2000) and a couple of older Ten-Tec rigs. 

5. What part(s) of the hobby gives you the most satisfaction?

My main operating interests are chasing DX and handling messages on a variety of National Traffic System nets.

6. What is your proudest amateur radio related accomplishment, if any?

Serving as Delta Division Director on the ARRL Board of Directors for the past three years has got to be my proudest accomplishment

----------

 I'd like to thank Mickey for Participating in this Highlight.  Best of luck to you on your reelection.  

Increase in Solar Activity Could Spell Trouble here on Earth

The San Jose Mercury is reporting that the sun has moved into an active cycle in which  solar ejections of charged particles capable of reaching Earth will increase the chances of communications disruptions.

Referring to the increased solar activity, Ben Burress, an astronomer with the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland said, "We're seeing so much more now, compared with the last few years, and when you have them happening five times a day, there's a greater chance of one actually hitting us."

Joseph Kunches, a space scientist at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado describes the solar ejections as a "...cloud of plasma  thrown off the sun like a bowling ball, and sometimes we're at the other end of the bowling alley..."

The San Jose  Mercury  article gives a laundry list of  past disruptions caused due to these solar  Coronal Mass Ejections.  From electrical power grids going down, to air flight diversions, these solar storms can wreak havoc here on Earth.

Oh yeah, they can also effect radio propagation and increase noise on the hf amateur radio bands. 

Click Here to read the full Mercury Article.

“When All Else Fails” - Put to Task this Week

“When All Else Fails”


That’s quite a statement., isn’t it?


Yet, it is true. Hams are eager… yes, eager to step in and fill communication voids when needed.


In addition to helping in disaster situations communicating food and supply needs, we also engage pass along health and welfare information into and out of affected areas.


We hams are stationed all over the nation. When hurricane Irene moved up the eastern seaboard, I was monitoring 14.325mhz listening to the hurricane service net which was relaying weather information from the affected areas to the national weather service hurricane prediction center in Miami, Florida.


Many, many hams were transmitting form the affected area. And, when their power went out, they switched to emergency power and kept supplying information.

If needed, hundreds of hams were monitoring that frequency to help with relays and take any emergency communications that may have surfaced.


We hams want to help. We don’t get paid, we don’t get special favors, but a little recognition never hurt. We use our personal equipment, our time and energy, and we do our best to be available for ’when all else fails’.

How Long till the Next Hurricane?

As of Sunday August 28, 2011 these are the predictions from the National Hurricane Prediction Center:  <--Link to Detailed Information on their website.

Ham - Amateur Radio - Frequencies can be used for Hurricane Situation Emergency

Hurricane Frequencies


On frequency 14.325 is The Hurricane Watch net.  It is now Saturday morning and I'm streaming this net live over the internet.  Visit my 'Live ke5utn channel' link located (in the links section) on the sidebar of this page. 

On the frequency of 14.280 there will be nets at 12 noon, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm for folks trying to get in contact with others form around the hurricane affected area. I think these will be eastern times.


I’m not sure how effective these nets will be, but I picked this info up on the maritime mobile net this afternoon.


For mobile stations needing to get health and welfare, emergency or priority traffic passed along, you can try 14.300 USB - the MMN (maritime mobile net) from about 8:00 am to about 10:00pm Eastern time.


There are formal traffic nets that will be glad to take your traffic. Two I know of are Monday through Saturday at 10:30am Central time and 1:30Pm on Sunday- central time - on 7.280 MHZ


Also, on 7.243 every day. At 3:30 pm.


Usually, there will be a SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Net) on multiple bands. You can try 7.265 14.265 and in the evenings try 3.977.7.


There are nets on 3.925 at 6:30pm daily central time, and I think I heard of a hurricane net on 3.935 at 8:00pm. Central (not sure about the purpose of this one.)


If you know of other frequencies, please leave the info in a comment. Thanks.

Thoughts on Ham Radio Nets

Nets are fun aren’t they?


Where else can you find so many folks eager to be counted?


Its kind of funny that some people spend thousands of dollars for radios and antennas only to check in on nets saying, “I’m just in for the numbers.


On nightly round table nets, its kind of funny that some hams say the exact same thing, night after night, without fail.


I’m not complaining, mind you, but after a while those folks could come on saying, “remember what I said last night? … then we’re good, 73’s”.


On traffic nets, it is amusing to hear inexperienced hams trying their hand at the net control position. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud anyone who gives this important function a try but it’s sometimes painful to hear new net controls as they get hammered with an unusually high number of check-ins, comming at once. I’ve been in this position before and let me tell you, even though my chair is directly in front of the air-conditioned vent, I was perspiring profusely (sweating).


Nets are fun because of all the different personalities that check in.
Personalities range from reserved and friendly or funny to loud and obnoxious. That said, I wouldn’t have it any other way.


It’s interesting that some people in nets have an uncanny knack of doubling. Well meaning hams often advise these doublers on how to avoid the situation, and only serve to increase its manifestation.


I scratched my head when I heard one ‘net preamble’ suggestions to avoid doubling: it instructed stations to “wait before transmitting to try to avoid doubling”. I thought, If everyone waits, then transmits, won’t there still be a lot of doubling?


Ham radio wouldn’t be as fun for me if there weren’t any nets to participate in. Until my next post, 73s.

This Week's Ham Operator Highlight: Herman, KN5GRK

This week's Ham Highlight is for KN5GRK, Herman.  He's a ham who does a fine job as net control for the Louisiana Traffic Net and the Gulf Coast Single Sideband net.  I look up to him because of his ability to handle the nets, and he always conducts himself with dignity and respect on the air.  My hat is off to KN5GRK.

Here is his interview:

1. What is your qth & when did you become a ham?My QTH is Lafayette, Louisiana and was first licensed in 1956 as a Novice.

 

2. What or who inspired you to get involved in the hobby?I became interested in electronics while in junior high school, then when I went to high school, joined their ham radio club which was W5RFS in Little Rock, AR.

 

3. Did you have an Elmer? If so, who was he and what do you remember most about him?My major Elmer was Weldon Bryant W5FCM who lived down the street from me in Little Rock.  Weldon had his radio shack in his
Ford station wagon.  He did TV work during the day and in the evenings, he would hook up his dipole to his mobile station and work
until the wee hours in the morning.  He played the harmonica and was very, very, good - so good he had auditioned for Jerry Adler.

 

4. What equipment do you run?Transceiver is a Icom 706 MKIIG, Yaesu FL 2100B Amp,  MFJ 989C Versa Tuner II for HF and a Icom 2100H for 2 meters.  Antennas are 75 meter inverted "V" at 30 feet.  Hi-Gain TH3 tri-bander at 30 feet on Rhon 25 tower with Hazer and Ham IV rotator.  Ringo Ranger for 2 meter.   More information can be found on qrz.com.

 

5. What part(s) of the hobby gives you the most satisfaction?Just meeting people on the air.  Contacting Special Event stations.  Doing some Public Information via my e-mail reflector.

 

6. What is your proudest amateur radio related accomplishment, if any?
Being the "LA Section Ham Radio Operator of the Year for 2010" is my greatest accomplishment, working all states on phone and digital are a couple of other feats I am proud of doing.

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Do you have any suggestions for a ham highlight?  If so,  leave a comment or sign my guestbook.  Indicate who you want to highlight and why. 

You can either give me the person's e-mail address, or send these questions to the person yourself.  After they are answered, e-mail them to me at ke5utn@yahoo.com. 

KE5UTN - Station Update (Home Video)

Here's my latest video.  I talk about what I hope to accomplish and some equipment additions in my shack.

MFJ Delux Versa Tuner II Giving me Fits

Well, I’ve been trying to use a new antenna tuner. No, its not ‘actually’ new, but it is new to me.


It’s a MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner II and it has the 2 crisscrossing needles. One is transmitter power, the other is SWR.


I traded out a Dentron Jr. tuner for the MFJ, and the jury is still out on my opinion.


I have not been able to quickly determine upon which letter the inductor should be placed for a given band. The directions say not to select inductor settings while being keyed up, so I can’t watch my radio power meter now the way I could with my dentron.


The result is much longeer tune-up times… If I can get it tuned up at all.


I do manage to get it tuned quickly on 20 meters, but none of the rest of the bands; 10, 12, 15 or 17 seem to want to cooperate.


I guess there’s a learning curve on this new-to-me tuner, so I’ll exercise more patients and record my successful inductor letters/band settings.


Have you ever had this problem?

Ameritron's New Amp: The ALS-1300 Info

In the market for a fine little Amplifier?  The ALS-1300 may be right for you.

Ameritron 1200W Output Solid State Amplifier 1200 Watts PEP Output, Instant bandswitching, no tuning, no warm-up, SWR protected, 1.5-22 MHz . . . Quiet Variable-Speed Cooling System . . . PEP Forward/Reflected Metering . . . PA Balance /ALC Metering and LED Indicator . . . Front Panel Band and Error LEDs . . .


AMERITRON ALS-1200 is a solid state near legal limitTM FET no-tune Amplifier. Get instant bandswitching, no tuning, no warm-up, no tubes to baby and no fuss!


Reliability of the ALS-1300 is insured by using eight rugged MRF-150 power FETs. Ameritron’s eight FETs are mounted on the dual heavy duty heat sink. They are properly arranged to spread out the heat over a large surface, something that other amplifiers using a single power device cannot do. Some FETs actually are a package of several transistors in one large case. This concentrates all of the heat in one small package. They not only are more difficult to cool, if one transistor fails they all have to be replaced.

The ALS-1300 RF deck operates from 50 Volts for efficient, low distortion linear RF power service. It’s cooled by a whisper quiet cooling fan. Fan speed is regulated by temperature sensors, assuring minimum noise for adequate cooling.


This sounds like the Amplifier that would be on any ham’s wish list. 1200 Watts is nothing to sneeze at. I’d be happy to know I was putting out 500 Watts, but if I had a choice? 1200 would win out.

Click here to go to Ameritron's website to get pricing information.

This Week's Ham Operator Highlight - Mack, KA5JNL

-This is a profile of a Fine ham-

I met Mack in 2008. He was one of the VE testers at my exam. Not only was he there to test me, after I passed,  he was there with  equipment that I needed to get on the air.


He is always encouraging and complementing my progress as a ham, and if it weren't for his generosity, I probably wouldn't be writing this post right now. 

When I was extreemely sick, he even came to visit me in the a hospital 2 hours away.  I respect and admire this man whose heart is as big as they come.

Here are  his questions & answers:

1. What is your qth & when did you become a ham?
Rocky Branch, Louisiana....30 plus years ago.
2. What or who inspired you to get involved in the hobby?
During a drive put on by the city of Monroe to pick up kids to get the
new polio shot who were not able to get there, I watched Mr. Zimmerman call hams on his radio and told them where to go to pick up individual kids...  This was in the mid-fifties...

3. Did you have an Elmer? If so, who was he and what do you remember most about him?
Goerge Zimmerman in 1954....Darn nice guy and fascinating to liten to...

4. What equipment do you run?
Mostly an Icom 756 Pro 3 for HF and an Icom 208H for VHF'UHF...

 5. What part(s) of the hobby gives you the most satisfaction?
EASY: Emergency Communication and Traffic Handling...


6. What is your proudest amateur radio related accomplishment, if any?
When I gave a General Class Test to my surrogate Dad in Farmerville, La. He was 85 years old...Been a "boot legger" for probably 40 years before he got his Tech...Set him up and he could get on HF other than just 10 meters... He's a SK now...

CRACKLE

Thumbs up to my Score in the IARU HF Championship 2010: 1st Place Award came in Today

I participated in the IARU HF Worldwide Championship last year, and finally received an award today.


This is great because I wasn’t expecting to win any thing.


The certificate I received was first place in the Low power, single operator, phone only - classification for Louisiana Section, zone 7.


I thought I was something special as I bragged on myself at this evening’s club meeting, so you can imagine how I felt when two other guys at our club meeting had similar awards.


K5ER, Received first place, Louisiana section, zone 7 for medium power mixed mode (If I remember right), and another Ham got the award for Louisiana, high power either phone or mixed mode. I can’t remember those details either.


I’m just kidding about thinking I was special, but I was really happy that I could claim an award alongside those fine hams… and in the same contest.


This is the first contest I ever participated in that I actually submitted the log.


Will I compete again? Yes. I really did have a lot of fun on this contest. Maybe too much.


Getting involved in this contest was like reading a good book… I didn’t want it to end, and my XYL couldn’t drag me away from it.


If you never participated in a contest, I suggest you give it a try before you pass judgment on contesters.