Well, I was amazed at the amount of activity for the ARRL 2m sprint!
Nothing great propagation-wise, but lots of quantity for a 4 hour contest.
Band openings were very light with some slight enhancements into New
England right at the end.
The Score: 255 QSO's x 47 grids = 11,985 points
Operated from the South Mountain Contest Team site of K3MQH.
Thanks to Dick, K3MQH for the awesome VHF site and technical support
before the contest. It sure took a lot longer than 4 hours to setup for this
thing!
Look for 220 op. N3KTV next Tuesday evening during the 220 sprint, also
op'ing from the K3MQH site in NW FM19.
73, Tyler KF3P
>From stevem@w8hd.org (Steve Maki) Wed Apr 19 07:52:46 1995
From: stevem@w8hd.org (Steve Maki) (Steve Maki)
Subject: CATV hardline connectors
Message-ID: <199504190652.CAA08458@w8hd2.w8hd.org>
Homebrew CATV connectors:
I've used 2 methods for obtainig a female UHF termination. (Warning: one is too
ugly for words, really)
#1
This one is not total homebrew, but not expensive. You need a PL259 and a UHF
barrel and a standard CATV hardline pin connector (around $6 or $7 wholesale)
which is normally used for connecting hardline to a box.
The pin connector has a plated steel pin (approx. 12 or 14 awg) sticking out
and threads on the barrel which just by chance, match the threads on a PL259.
After installing the pin connector on the coax (a coring tool makes this easy
but it can be done without one) build up the pin diameter by soldering on a
short piece of tube, like the hollow pin on a PL259 which has been cut off.
Then the UHF barrel is jammed on the built up center conductor.
Now to connect the shields. Take the outer barrel of a PL259 and cut it in two
so that all the threads remain on one piece.
Throw the other piece away. Now simply screw your makeshift coupler
completely over the UHF barrel and onto the hardline connector so that about
half the threads are mated with the hardline connector and half are on the UHF
barrel, Hold the coupler with Channelocks and give the UHF barrel a good
twist. Done.
For that final, I want this to last forever touch, you can spot solder the
coupler/hardline connector joint and the coupler/UHF barrel joint.
If you thought that was the ugly method, think again.
#2 (Please, don't read this).
You need a UHF barrel and a hose clamp.
Take a hacksaw and make a couple of one inch cuts on the shield, down from the
end of the coax (you are attempting to create 4 petals which you can bend back
forming a flower like thing, except ugly).
Heat up the end of the cable, just enough, with a propane torch. The heat
allows you to separate the shield from the dielectric. Make a gradual bend in
the petals, the aluminum is thin. Bend back just enough so that you can
perform the following step.
With a sharp knife, cut 1/2" of the dielectric off of the center conductor.
Adjust the size of the center conductor to fit a UHF barrel, either with a
file, or by the aforementioned technique in #1 above.
If you had to file off the copper clad on the center conductor, use some
Penetrox on it before jamming on the UHF barrel.
Put some Penetrox on the UHF barrel threads. Carefully fold the petals back
down over the UHF barrel threads, Clamp with a small
hose clamp.
Tape the hell out of it. That way no one can see what you did.
It seems to work.
73
--
Steve Maki K8LX
stevem@w8hd.org
>From Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> Wed Apr 19 11:12:00 1995
From: Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> (Robert Penneys)
Subject: Help with 4 ports/NA, CT..
Message-ID: <199504191012.GAA21047@brahms.udel.edu>
I got a four serial port card and after much hoopla and swapping a controller
card, got it to talk to a modem on any of the four com ports. The IRQs are
4, 3, 4, and 3, which I believe are "normal" default. When I run NA or CT,
the program does not seem to run whatever device, such as a transceiver
interface or TNC, normally. My goal is to be able ever to leave a mouse on
Com 1 or 2, in case I might find a reason to run Windows, leave the modem
connected, and have the interface and TNCC work on demand. I know that CT, and
maybe NA and TR, have some features such as window management which use a mouse.
This is one of my chronic computer-related frustrations and any help is most
appreciated.
CU at Dayton, perhaps. We'll be at the Hampton Inn in Engelwood with the FRC
contingent, eves at the Miami Room, but also at the ICOM and Yaesu dinner/
presentations to see the new stuff. If you have any questions or comments
as contesters that I may help get in there, let me know here or call me at
work.
Thanks, Bob
Bob Penneys, WN3K Frankford Radio Club N.E.R.D.S.
Internet: penneys@brahms.udel.edu Work: Ham Radio Outlet, Delaware
>From Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> Wed Apr 19 11:14:13 1995
From: Robert Penneys <penneys@brahms.udel.edu> (Robert Penneys)
Subject: Need archived msgs from cq-contest
Message-ID: <199504191014.GAA21080@brahms.udel.edu>
My account shut down for a day or so about April 8. Appartefzr{m sri
Apparently, mail from the reflector bounced and also bounced me off the list.
How would I get the mail I have missed in the last ten days? Any idea?
Tnx Bob
Bob Penneys, WN3K Frankford Radio Club N.E.R.D.S.
Internet: penneys@brahms.udel.edu Work: Ham Radio Outlet, Delaware
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