Conditions were terrible, but I will gladly admit to having had one of my
best contesting adventures ever during this year's CQP. Last July 4th I
stumbled onto a little logging road that went up to a ridgeline at 4811'
right on the county line between Trinity and Shasta counties. From that
ridgeline I could look north to Mt. Shasta, east to Lassen Peak, and west to
the Trinity Alps. This is absolutely some of the most gorgeous scenery I
have seen anywhere in the U.S. I decided that weekend that this was my CQP
site for 1995.
When the sun came up last Wednesday I was out on that ridgeline with my
trusty wrist rocket putting monofilament in the tops of the trees. By Friday
afternoon, I had:
(a) full size 160m dipole up about 70', fed with ladder line;
(b) 2 element wire beam on 40, facing east, up about 50';
(c) simple 40m dipole facing N/S, up about 50' (along the "boom" of the
beam);
(d) Force 12 C3 up 50', on a rotator.
While this does not constitute an awesome contest station, remember that it
was put up by one person, alone, in a couple of days. The beam was about 10'
inside Shasta county and the wires crossed into both counties. There was a
USGS marker up there, so I know exactly where the county line was. Power
came from a Generac 5000w generator, and I could put about 800w out from my
Alpha before the line voltage would drop enough to cause the Alpha to fault
off-line.
Final Results:
CW SSB
160 22 26
80 141 147
40 171 76
20 238 503
15 73 131
10 Zip
Tot: 645 883 x Sweep = 214,658
Thanks to all for the many QSOs. It was a blast. One of these days I've
just got to go see what the setup at NB1B is--he had the loudest signal on
the band, on ALL bands!
One surprising (to me) lesson learned during this experience: 40m dipole at
70' does better than 40m beam at 50', even on the edge of a steep drop-off.
In ways, this is discouraging, since I'm not allowed to go above 30' at my
home QTH. There just is no substitute for height!
The weather was absolutely perfect--in the 40's at night and up to the mid
80's in the day. The only problem I had was that I had trouble sleeping due
of the bright light from the full moon.
I was located right off what I thought was an isolated old logging road, but
it turns out this road was well known to all the local deer hunters. By the
way, this is deer season out here. I got some strange looks from the hunters
going down the road, and one bunch stopped, came over, and demanded to know
what the significance of this here antenna was all about. My beam was
mounted on an old U.S. Army crank-up mast, and I'm sure I looked to them like
a gummit plot of some kind. Ruby Ridge is just a couple of hollers away,
remember. I assured them I had nothing to do with the gummit and they
decided I just might be OK.
Having travelled all around the northern half of California, I am absolutely
convinced that Trinity County has the most spectacular scenery in the state.
You just have to see it to believe it. It was an awesome experience sitting
on that ridgeline doing a contest while gazing out over the Alps.
Bruce, AA6KX
>From richard.frey@Harris.COM (DFREY) Tue Oct 10 13:31:36 1995
From: richard.frey@Harris.COM (DFREY) (DFREY)
Subject: k4xu cqp score
Message-ID: <07a7b5d0@maila.harris.com>
631 (214cw + 417ssb) x 58 mults
Final Score = 85608 points.
My first time in cqp. Good fun. Started 6 hours late so I missed 15M
the first day. 10M skip did not make it to the black hole.
Dick, k4xu Quincy, IL
>From broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) Tue Oct 10 15:11:34 1995
From: broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) (John Brosnahan)
Subject: Rotor (Rotator?) v2.0
Message-ID: <199510101411.IAA00543@lynx.csn.net>
To: Cain, Jim, K1TN"
>It is rotator,
>
>NOT rotor.
>
>JC
Jim,
Thank heaven somebody else agrees with me. I figure that a rotator will
rotate an antenna and that a rotor would just rote it, but since I didn't
know all of the meanings of rote I looked it up. Of course the meanings are
all nouns and, in the use of a rotor that rotes an antenna, it would need to
be a verb, but grammar police aside, in addition to the meanings 1) routine
and by 2) memory it also means 3) "the sound of waves breaking on the
shore". I guess I have had rotators make these noises as the gear teeth
were disintegrating, so maybe rote isn't that far off.
A rotator does include a rotor as the moving part of the motor which resides
inside the stator but the entire machine is a ROTATOR, notwithstanding
manufacturers' corruption of the word. Now maybe I won't have to do an
entire chapter in this dumb book on why it should be called a rotator and
not a rotor.
73 John W0UN
John Brosnahan W0UN
La Salle Research Corp 24115 WCR 40 La Salle, CO 80645 USA
voice 970-284-6602 fax 970-284-0979 email broz@csn.net
>From broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) Tue Oct 10 15:11:37 1995
From: broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) (John Brosnahan)
Subject: Beam Interaction - FYI
Message-ID: <199510101411.IAA00547@lynx.csn.net>
>On Mon, 09 Oct 1995 17:53:00 CET, pph@dc.dk wrote:
>> Has anyone programs for calculating a stack feed out
>of phase? TA by K6STI and YTAD does not handle this. Well, I
>am building a BIP/BOP switch even without computer
>modelling.
I asked Dean, N6BV, about incorporating the phase flip of Yagis in YTAD,
suggesting that just by indicating a negative height one could denote an
out-of-phase antenna, but Dean said that the change would require
fundamental rewriting of the program. But at least YTAD will handle
4-stacks, even if TA won't, but I keep using YagiMax to handle the BOP and
4OP cases.
I will check with K4VX to find the best way to obtain a copy of YagiMax--I
believe it is $25 directly from him, but may be available from an ftp site
(oak.oakland.edu has a very old version from about 1990--so don't bother).
73, John W0UN
John Brosnahan W0UN
La Salle Research Corp 24115 WCR 40 La Salle, CO 80645 USA
voice 970-284-6602 fax 970-284-0979 email broz@csn.net
>From broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) Tue Oct 10 15:11:40 1995
From: broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) (John Brosnahan)
Subject: Guy-grip additional info
Message-ID: <199510101411.IAA00551@lynx.csn.net>
I received some private email that indicated that there was still some
confusion on what was actually being described by the names being used.
Here is the additional information (with a bit of editing) that should
clarify things a bit more.
----------------
The Preformed Line Products Guy-Grips is a Registered Trademark of Preformed
Line Products and they are the general purpose, hairpin-style dead-ends used
by the utilities for guy terminating. Preforms is not a generic term for
only guy wire terminations, although the word is often used this way, since
it refers to a whole family of preform products that includes dead ends,
strand splices, cross-tie connectors, L-connectors, T-connectors, and other
special preformed spacers.
PLP Guy-grips are rated to be stronger than the published rated breaking
strength of even EHS strand. Strandvices may be stronger but how can you
tell? Guy-Grips are already stronger than the cable, as are Strandvices, so
it becomes a moot point, since if the cable breaks first on both, then
you'll never know. Although Strandvices are easier to install initially (10
seconds as oppossed to 30 seconds) they are more difficult to reinstall if a
change in position (less tension) is required, since the cable only passes
easily in one direction. Whereas guy-grips can be easily removed and
reinstalled at whatever position is desired.
You mention that guy-grips are just a tool, but the term guy-grip is a
registered trademark for the Preformed Line Product deadend. The normal
tool used to install guy cable and other types of wire and cable is called a
Klein Grip. Perhaps this is what you are getting confused by, since it is
often referred to as a guy grip. It has parallel jaws and a spring
pre-load. When pulling on the clevis end the jaws grip the strand even
tighter. You push these open by hand and they can be locked open by turning
the clevis 90 degrees to the direction of pull. When the clevis is returned
to the normal position they spring closed on the desired cable (or the
undesired finger). Even these are available in a number of different sizes,
with a number of different jaw contours and serrations for gripping a number
of different kinds of strands and materials, so you need to be careful to
select the proper ones when installing cables.
I hope this clears up the last bit of confusion.
73 John (The guys in the field may call things by certain names, but if
the names are registered trade marks then calling something by the wrong
name doesn't make it so.)
John Brosnahan W0UN
La Salle Research Corp 24115 WCR 40 La Salle, CO 80645 USA
voice 970-284-6602 fax 970-284-0979 email broz@csn.net
>From km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher, KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.) Tue Oct 10
>15:24:40 1995
From: km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher, KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.) (Bill Fisher,
KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.)
Subject: Signal Strength Reports Here (Good idea?)
Message-ID: <199510101424.KAA15873@mail1.is.net>
One of the most interesting things I have read on this reflector was from
Willy regarding signals heard from the USA on the low bands.
Why don't we expand on this? I was hacking around in the CQP this weekend
and made some notes about stations and their signals. I had planned to post
it here but I lost power when my 18mos old son turned off the computer!
Would there be any interest in seeing notes like this? I know as someone
building a station, I would be interested.
So if your just handing out some points... make some notes and post it here!
It's very interesting information IMO.
Example:
Time 2100-2115z
Band: 15m SSB
Callsign Signal peak
AB6FO S7
W6QHS S8/S9
73
Bill
---
Bill Fisher, KM9P - Concentric Systems, Inc.
>From mwdink@eskimo.com (Michael Dinkelman) Tue Oct 10 15:27:38 1995
From: mwdink@eskimo.com (Michael Dinkelman) (Michael Dinkelman)
Subject: Trap vertical over seawater
Message-ID: <199510101427.HAA20861@mail.eskimo.com>
The Mike & Key ARC has been running Field Day with low band verticals
on the beach and I agree they are effective. The big problem has been
keeping them up - especially in heavy surf on a flat beach (i.e. no permanent
mountings).
We managed to come up with the following. Use an old roof type tripod
attached to very heavy pier blocks. Running the radials out is still hit and
miss as they tend to catch the kelp and get dragged in with the surf.(Heavy
rocks help but the beach is deficient in them). Then there are the
occasional fisherman. Ever see some one try to bring in a salmon around your
vertical with
hanging wires? We did and he was successful too.
Ah Field Day.... nice warm days, sunny skies, operating on the
beach. Only 9 months to go! Rock n Roll
Michael Dinkelman
WA7UVJ
Kent, WA
mwdink@eskimo.com
mdinkelm@physio-control.com
>From jkl@nmoy.nmp.nokia.com (JUKKA KLEMOLA, NMP, R&D, SALO, 010-505-4472) Tue
>Oct 10 15:37:59 1995
From: jkl@nmoy.nmp.nokia.com (JUKKA KLEMOLA, NMP, R&D, SALO, 010-505-4472)
(JUKKA KLEMOLA, NMP, R&D, SALO, 010-505-4472)
Subject: SV9/OH6LI in CQWW SSB
Message-ID: <95101014375952@nmoy.nmp.nokia.com>
Hello all,
I will be in SV9 land and I'm about to activate SV9/OH6LI in the contest.
Sadly my return flight is scheduled for Sunday, October 29th, so I will
be on the air only for the first 30-35 hours of the contest.
73,
Jukka (OH1JJS aka OH6LI)
>From Jim Hollenback" <jholly@hposl62.cup.hp.com Tue Oct 10 16:37:14 1995
From: Jim Hollenback" <jholly@hposl62.cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback)
Subject: Omni VI, almost perfect
References: <30951010025903/0006492564PK2EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Message-ID: <9510100837.ZM12182@hpwsmjh1.cup.hp.com>
On Oct 9, 9:59pm, James White wrote:
>
> I have included all the e-mail I accumulated on this subject, but you will
> see RIT enhancement is the former agenda we feel Ten-Tec should address. The
> VFO lock button would be more useful if it only locked the VFO that was in
> use when it was pressed...frequently one likes to have one frequency frozen
> while still being able to tune around on the other VFO, this is especially
> helpful when chasing DXpeditions and you are trying to find their receive
> frequency by looking for the guy they are currently working. Another
> manufacturer has a momentary button which gives you a quick listen to the
> frequency the transmit VFO (the other VFO) is set to, this is for that same
> situation with DXpeditions where you want to transmit on the same frequency
> that the successful "last guy" was on. If independent freezing of the VFOs
> is possible it would be possible to run contacts by transmitting on fixed
> VFO "A", and tuning for the received signals on VFO "B"...even using the
> remote knob! The addition of dual receive so that you can not only monitor
> the DX station but tune into the correct frequency he is listening to
> without loosing track of the DX stations transmissions is also a popular
> request.
>
I seem to recall that I can go split, lock VFO A and VFO B will still be
free. As I switch back and forth with the A/B switch, the lock led goes
on and off. Also when in split and the "recieve" on the DX, I can hit the
spot (whatever the top buttton is on the column where the split button is)
and I can now hear the "transmit". Putting this functionality on a remote
knob would be dyno-mite! Actually, it is more than a recollection, that is
what I do.
> I personally would like to see two DB25 connectors on the back of the rig
> instead of one, since I use the remote knob it was necessary to fabricate a
> y-connector when I wanted to use computer control as well as the remote knob
> simultaneously.
Amen. Or at least a DB-9 for the knob. That's an idea. I guess it you
don't mind hacking your OMNI, you could put a separate connector on the
back and change the mating connector on the knob. From fuzzy memory, I think
the knob only uses two wires.
Another comment on the "dead" panel during xmit. The RIT knob is not dead
during xmit ... but the buttons are. When doing RTTY contesting, I zero
the RIT during xmit. But the speed is still to fast. Having the filter buttons
dead is a drag, but that is easier to live with.
I do believe they are working on the new ROM. Not exactly sure how they
finally got the message, but I have a suspicion.
Good letter. Really explains the perspective.
73, Jim, WA6SDM
jholly@cup.hp.com
>From Richard Riley #7122" <RRILEY%ESA.BITNET@vm.gmd.de Tue Oct 10 23:06:24
>1995
From: Richard Riley #7122" <RRILEY%ESA.BITNET@vm.gmd.de (Richard Riley #7122)
Subject: Signal Strengths Reports Here...good idea
Yes..good point Bill
I made the mistake last year of requesting signal strength comparisons
AFTER the ARRL DX contest!
This year, for CQWW, I will ask YOU GUYS and GIRLS to compare signals
out of France on all bands.
F6CTT (aka TM1C) sits proudly on the title "French (or even European??)
Signal Champ".....and hasn't upgraded his antenna farm in 15 years!
In the meantime...and particularly throughout this summer...a serious amount
(by European standards!....and considering European prices!)...of metal has
been put in the sky at the country home of F6BEE....
The TOP 2 go head-to-head in a multi-single fight out....
CQWW Phone 1995...DON'T MISS IT!
Any comparisons (signal strength/audio quality etc) appreciated...
Station 1:
TM2Y @ F6BEE
Ops:
6BEE,ARC,FGZ,5SNJ,9IE,G0JFX
Station 2:
TM1C @ F6CTT
Ops:
6CTT,EPY?,5MZN,HRY...
In fact...most Multi op stations should have enough "men" to compare signals..
..I shouldn't forget the other serious entries from over here...
IQ4A....OT5T...LZ9A...and people say that the DLs will return to TK with
more than just tribanders this year.....
oh dear...M/S out of Europe aint gonna be easy!
Great point Bill...you've got my vote!
73
Richard Riley
G0JFX/F5VCO
...................................
email: rriley%esa.bitnet@vm.gmd.de
packet: G0JFX@F6KBF
>From junger@mtn.er.usgs.gov (John Unger) Tue Oct 10 17:54:27 1995
From: junger@mtn.er.usgs.gov (John Unger) (John Unger)
Subject: Azimuthal charts
Message-ID: <9510101654.AA02536@mtn.er.usgs.gov.er.usgs.gov>
On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, Jose (CT1BOH) wrote:
> Hi there
> I wonder if annyone knows of a program that draws an azimutal chart center
> on a chosen QTH?
> And if theres one on an FTP site?
Jose,
There is a unix-based program call gmt (generic mapping tools) that is
freeware. The email addresses for getting the source code is:
kiawe.soest.hawaii.edu
ibis.grdl.noaa.gov
ftp.geologi.uio.no
gmt is a very large (and very useful) collection of mapping tools; if you
need just one azimuthal map made, let me know. gmt's output is a
postscript file.
73 - John, W3GOI
>From Keith Morehouse-WB9TIY <blckhole@ripco.com> Tue Oct 10 16:19:55 1995
From: Keith Morehouse-WB9TIY <blckhole@ripco.com> (Keith Morehouse-WB9TIY)
Subject: Meter pot in TIC ring-rotors
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.91.951010101227.12515A-100000@foley.ripco.com>
On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, James White wrote:
> I haven't suffered this with our ringrotor yet - once you find the pot and
> find out how much damage it is please lemme know for my "TIC Rotor related"
> e-mail file
>
Jim:
I just ordered two exact replacements from Digi-Key Corp in Thief River
Falls, MN (Hmmmmm - same location as TIC).
My ring (the smaller of the two) was made about a year ago and used a 500
ohm Clarostat 2W wirewound 10 turn pot, PN 73JB500. Digi-Key sells THIS
unit for $11.03 each.
I'm still trying to figure out HOW this happened. Unless one runs the
motor without the wires (or a wire) attached to the pot in the motor
housing, I think the circuit is pretty much fail safe. My BEST guess,
right now, is that MAYBE the gear on the pot shaft slipped. It's held on
with a set screw and the shaft is plastic. I will lock the set screw
with Loctite before it goes up, as insurance.
---------------------------###-----------------------------
PROBE ELECTRONICS 100 Higgins Road, Park Ridge IL 60068 USA
Keith J. Morehouse / WB9TIY / Society of Midwest Contesters
708-696-2828 FAX: 708-698-2045 e-mail: blckhole@ripco.com
---------------------------###-----------------------------
>From broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) Tue Oct 10 18:37:10 1995
From: broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) (John Brosnahan)
Subject: Propagation Black Hole--modest proposal
Message-ID: <199510101737.LAA07378@lynx.csn.net>
We are at such a disadvantage in this propagational black hole called the
0-district that I often get multiple answers to my messages on the reflector
even before I get my copy of the original posting. I think that some sort
of handicap scoring should be implemented on the reflector or that at least
the reflector should go by call districts--remembering that 0 comes (well)
before 1. Maybe if I get a 2-holer modem I can overcome the east coast wall.
73 John W0UN
John Brosnahan W0UN
La Salle Research Corp 24115 WCR 40 La Salle, CO 80645 USA
voice 970-284-6602 fax 970-284-0979 email broz@csn.net
|