Archive for the 'Ham Radio' Category

QSO Logging and Loose Ends

Sunday, August 24th, 2008

Hello all, it’s been a bit since the last post, but since then, I’ve put up a real-time ham radio contact log, on the Ham Radio tab, that shows my contacts as I put them into the log. I’m using DJ1YFK’s YFKlog and some PHP of mine to do it, which is executed within the Wordpress page using the Exec-PHP plugin. Fun!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I purchased a new antenna, a Diamond RH77CA, for the dual-band HT, which has great reviews on eHam.net, and from what people claim there, has fairly good off-ham-band performance as well, allowing me to use my HT on FRS and MURS. I haven’t yet received the antenna, I just purchased it last night, but maybe I’ll do a review when I get it :)

And, for those that don’t know, back in mid-July, I purchased a Kenwood HF transceiver, the TS-450S, used off Craigslist, along with an Astron RS-35A power supply and a Mirage UHF amplifier… a stellar buy of $375 for the lot. Here’s the transceiver, with MFJ tuner, in all its glory…

TS-450S and MFJ 949E

I also made a custom wallplate with SO239 passthroughs for the antenna connections coming into the house. My mom was grateful for this, and not having a hole in the wall with wires coming through.. she would hate that.

Antenna Wallplate

I’m pretty sure I was going to mention something else, but when I left to take the pictures of the equipment, I forgot it.. Oh well! Enjoy!

July 13 WA2MYG Newbie Net

Sunday, July 13th, 2008
This week’s Newbie Net was hosted by K2FX, we talked about amateur radio satellites, and how they can be worked with relatively simple transceivers and antennas. Linear transponder sats have a specific range of frequencies, and convert them to a range on a different band, can carry multiple signals at once. FM Repeater sats can only carry one QSO at a time, listening on one band, and retransmitting on another. For transponder sats, SSB/CW is needed, for FM repeater, a crossband FM transceiver or seperate 2m/70cm transceivers. HF is also sometimes used in uplink/downlink. VHF/UHF verticals work in a pinch, but a beam (handheld, even) is much better. A computer and satellite tracking software is also recommended, to know when and where to do it! For more info, visit AMSat.org. July 19 Batavia Hamfest, Alexander NY, 1078 RT 98, good fun to be had, 7am-2pm, 147.285 (+ Duplex), breakfast at 7, chicken BBQ at 11. Fall CW Practice starting on 88 repeater sometime in September. Fall WLGZ 102.7 and WRCI 990 AM radio station tours, interested, email usafpilot@rochester.rr.com. K2RRA Repeater System is going through changes, Cobbs Hill System is down, a new controller will be interfaced, should be back up next week.

Check-ins: KC2SPY, AF2K, N2AWA, KC2QLJ, KC2KPI, WB2VMR, KC2LLO, K2DMG, W2JAA, K2MTH, KC2QZR, KC2PCD, W3OAB, KC2SWZ, WG2B, WB2PAY, AC0HF, NC8ED, N2QDK, NY2U, KB2KFV, KC2QKA, W2PTR, KA2JRD, KD8HDO, KB2CHY.

Click to Download (30mb MP3)

July 13 Monroe County FM Net

Sunday, July 13th, 2008
This week’s FM net was hosted by N2AWA.
Check-ins: KC2SPY, AF2K, KC2KPI, K2RNY, AE2M, KC2QLJ, N2ZIC, KB2ZFJ, KC2LLO, N2IZY, N2JAC, W2PHK, WB2SXY, N2CJR, K2SI, W3OAB, K2DMG, K2MTH, WB2PAY, KC2QZR, AB2OY, KA2EER, WB2VMR, WA2NFY, W2JAA, NC8ED.

Traffic: N2AWA: Saturday Batavia Hamfest, Alexander Fairground, $7 at gate, chicken bar-b-que, breakfast at 7, talk-in 147.285 (+ duplex).
K2DMG: 42-50Mhz Motorola Maxtrack looking for one, 585-200-0657, k2dmg@yahoo.com.

Click to Download (5mb MP3)

June 29 WA2MYG Newbie Net

Sunday, June 29th, 2008
This week’s Newbie Net was hosted by K2FX, we talked about This Week in Amateur Radio. The first 20 minutes are dedicated to current amateur news, and the rest of the 60 minutes are comprised of various topics of amateur interest. TWIAR International is very similar to the normal version, except for the airing of music and various other things unallowable on ham radio. 7.415mhz on WBCQ at 4pm EST. 5.110, 7.415, 9.330, 15.420 are various other frequencies of WBCQ. Miss this week’s segment? www.twiar.org can help you with archived shows! Info on WBCQ can be found at WBCQ.com. July 19 Batavia Hamfest in Alexander NY, Ham ticket tests will be administered, chicken BBQ. Monday Night SSB Net, 144.260, N2MLH net control. Fall CW Training Sessions will be offered here, on the 88 repeater, not sure when during the week. Fall commercial radio station tour, 102.7 WLGZ, station and hopefully transmitter tour, interested, email (usafpilot at rochester dot rr dot com).

Check-ins: KC2SPY, W2JAA, W2BSN, KC2QLJ, K2DMG, KC2SCZ, AF2K, KC2TND, KC2QZR, KC2KPI, KC2PCD, K2SI, N2KFE, N2AWA, N2MLH, WB2VMR, WG2B, W3OAB, K2MTH, AC0HF, NC8ED, WW2E, N2QDK, KB2KFV, KA2JRD, KC2SWZ.

Click to Download (30mb MP3) (Sorry this was previously broken, had linked the wrong item)

June 29 Monroe County FM Net

Sunday, June 29th, 2008
This week’s FM net was hosted by WB2SXY.
Check-ins: WA2NSY, N2VX, KC2SPY, AF2K, N2ZIC, KC2KPI, KC2TND, KC2SCZ, AC0HF, W2JAA, KC2QZR, KC2QLJ, K2MTH, K2DMG, W3OAB, N2CJR, K2SI, N2KFE, W2PHK, WB2VMR, W2DEW, N2MLH, KC2SUE, N2AWA, KB2CHY, KA2JRD, AB2OY, WG2B.

Traffic: KC2KPI: Words with AF2K? And thanks for participating in Field Day.
K2SI: ITU Panamerica Cup July 12, in Geneva, need hams, partial day event, 11am-4pm. July 13 Muscleman Triathalon, needs some hams. RochesterHam.org website has info. ( k2si at arrl dot net ) for reply.
KB2CHY: KC2QLJ, NQ2O, K2DMG, N2UIO, WB2PAY, N2AWA, many others attended the W1A field day at Leroy Campgrounds, thanks to all that attended. Many great contacts were made!

Click to Download (5mb MP3)

June 22 WA2MYG Newbie Net

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
This week’s Newbie Net was hosted by K2FX, we talked about ARRL Field Day, 4th full weekend in June, using radio equipment outdoors using unconventional power sources, to practice emergency preparedness and recruiting and training new operators, and highlighting to the public the use and virtues of ham radio. Email Paul, usafpilot@rochester.rr.com. TARA Field Day in Troy, NY this weekend, http://n2ty.org for info. June 28-29 2pm Saturday - 2pm Sunday, off Lake Rd. in Webster, Webster Park Campground, Newbie Net signin sheet. July 19th, Batavia Hamfest in Alexander, NY, exams administered, fantastic chicken bar-b-que! Monday Night SSB Net 9pm 144.260, N2MLH net control, many vertical-polarized! Fall commercial radio station tour, WLGZ in Penfield, possible transmitter tour. Educational Field Day effort at Timberland Campgrounds, in Leroy NY, already tested rig, everyone invited, 3 or 4 stations, kb2chy@frontiernet.net.

Check-ins: KC2SPY, KC2MCB, K2MTH, AF2K, WB2VMR, AE2EE, KC2PCD, K2LKK, K2DMG, W2JAA, N2MLH, N2YRJ, N2AWA, N2KFE, KC2SCZ, KC2QZR, N2MSG, KC2QLJ, K2SI, KC2PKO, KC2SWZ, W2BSN, W2RVS, W2XBS, N2QDK/P, WB2KAO, WW2E, W0DAB, KC2NRU, KA2JRD, VE3PFM, KB2KFV, KB2VQT, K2SHN, W2PTR, NY2U, KC2SDR. (37 Check-Ins)

Click to Download (24mb MP3)

June 22 Monroe County FM Net

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
This week’s FM net was hosted by K2RNY.
Check-ins: KC2SPY, N2ZIC, KC2MCB, AF2K, W2BSN, N2YRJ, AE2M, K2NAX, KB2ZFJ, N2KFE, N2MXD, N2CJR, K2SI, WB2KAO, KC2QZR, W2JTR, W2RVS, N2AWA, WB2VMR, W2JAA, K2MTH, K2LKK, KB2CHY, N2QDK, KC2QLJ, AE2EE.

Traffic: WB2KAO: ARRL Field Day this weekend, Webster Park Campgrounds. W2IM looking for SB220 or TL922 amps, 585-749-1880.
KB2CHY: Educational Field Day effort at Timberland Campgrounds, in Leroy NY, already tested rig, everyone invited, 3 or 4 stations, kb2chy@frontiernet.net.

Click to Download (5mb MP3)

June 15 WA2MYG Newbie Net

Sunday, June 15th, 2008
This week’s Newbie Net was hosted by K2FX, we talked about the June VHF QSO Party began 1800 UTC Saturday, ends 0000 UTC Monday. Categories: Single Operator (High Power, Low Power, Portable), Rover (Limited, Unlimited), Multi-Op (Unlimited, Limited). JuneVHF@arrl.org (Cabrillo format logs), Paper Logs and discs to ARRL 25 Main Newington, Connecticut. Awards for top of each category.

RARA Picnic June 21 Creekside Lodge Ellison Park @ 12:00pm, all local clubs welcome, RSVP wb2sxy at arrl dot net. RDXA/ARRL Field Day June 28-29 Webster Park Campgrounds: Everyone welcome! Fall radio station tour.. interest to usafpilot@rochester.rr.com, commercial radio station and transmitter(?) tour. W2A Field Day at Timberline Campground in Leroy, help with satellite demonstration.. KB2CHY is running it.

Check-ins: KB2CHY, KC2SPY, WB2VMR, AF2K, W2JAA, KC2QLJ, WG2B, KC2PCD, KC2QZR, W2BSN, N2AWA, K2DMG, W3OAB, K2LKK, N2YRJ, N2MLH, KC2TNF, K2NAX, NC8ED, K2MTH, NQ2O, W2XBS, N2LKM, WW2E.

Click to Download (30mb MP3)

Oooops, broke it this week.. sorry.

June 15 Monroe County FM Net

Sunday, June 15th, 2008
This week’s FM net was hosted by K2LKK.
Check-ins: KA2JRD, KC2SPY, AF2K, N2YRJ, N2ZIC, AE2M, N2KFE, N2CJR, K2DMG, N2OYG, W3OAB, KA2EER, W2JAA, WB2VMR, N2AWA, KC2QZR, N2OPS, WB2KAO, WG2B, W2JTR, AB2OY, KE2LW, N2IZX, KC2QLJ, W1YX, KC2PCD.

Traffic: WB2KAO: Want SB220 or TL922 for friend, 585-749-1880. RDXA Final Meeting Tuesday 7:30 Gander Mtn.
AF2K: RARA Picnic 21st, all local clubs invited, Creekside Lodge Ellison Park, RSVP wb2sxy@arrl.net.

Click to Download (30mb MP3)

(Ooops, recording broke today. Sorry!

June 8 WA2MYG Newbie Net

Sunday, June 8th, 2008
This week’s Newbie Net was hosted by K2FX, we talked about digital voice, especially on the HF bands. Dreams of noise-free HF audio can be fulfilled with the necessary cables, DV modem, and microphone/headphones. Can be used on any band (besides 60m) and any mode (and ATV/SSTV!) Modem: AOR ARD9800 fast radio modem $529.99 ($360 voice-only). RARA Picnic June 21, Creekside Lodge Ellison Park, Members of any club RSVP to wb2sxy@rochester.rr.com. June 28-29 ARRL/RDXA Field Day Webster Park, one of the biggest field day groups in US; Camping possible and allowed. July 19 Batavia Hamfest, Alexander, NY. Monday Night SSB Net 9:00pm 144.260 USB, N2MLH net control. KB2CHY Field Day, Timberland Campground in Leroy, June 28-29.. Kenwood transciever and BIG 160-10M G5RV; Extra 10m or 6m antennas, let us know, kb2chy@frontiernet.net. Fall commercial radio station tour, email usafpilot@rochester.rr.com if interested.

Check-ins: KA2JRD, KC2SPY, KC2KPI, AF2K, KC2LLO, W2BSN, KC2MCB, KC2TJV, KC2NRU, KC2TND, W3OAB, W2JAA, K2MTH, N2YRJ, KC2PCD, K2SI, KC2QZR, K2DMG, WG2B, N2OYG, N2KFE, N2MLH, W2NWT, KC2TND, KC2SWZ, N2ZN, KB2CHY. (26 checkins)

Click to Download (30mb MP3)