Per the FCC Daily Digest dated today (September 12), an electronic
beta test version of the 610-V form is available at the FCC web site
at www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html
This is a beta version. At this time it is not possible to file your
610-V via the internet.
73, Tad, NZ3I
>From w2up@voicenet.com (Barry Kutner) Wed Sep 11 15:11:35 1996
From: w2up@voicenet.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Subject: 2nd station antennas
Message-ID: <199609111417.KAA24595@mail.voicenet.com>
I didn't get much of a response to my query of a week ago regarding
second station antennas. Here's what I got (excuse me if the
formatting is screwy, I just switch ISPs and e-mail prgorams):
i had an r7 here for some time - it performed well @ 25ft off ground
(ie start of bottom of antenna was @ 25 ft and it went up the 30+ft
from there...)
For 40m (cw) and 30-10 reasonable bandwidth, it should be considered
if you want to go the multi-band vertical route. the newer r version
allows 80m to be added, but i have no practical experiance with that
one...
When I put up my beam (ta33) and the same base height as the r7,
sometimes the r7 was equal, but never better (when beam was pointing
in right direction!), but did allow for quick switching to allow me
to hear folks calling off the side (poor f/b ratio on ta33, but f/s
is better...).
________________________________________________________________________
Personally I wouldn't put up a multi-band vertical on a bet -
noisy,
time and money investment and (mostly) negative gain compared to a
dipole. A
low, small tribander would be my first choice; usable perfomance,
high angle
(very handy at times) and a different heading than the stack - all
very
useful. BTW, having a choice of antennas on a band is 'the secret'
to
contest station flexibility and success.
If you don't want to go to a small tower (how about a roof
mounted tower
or TV antenna-type installation?), then I would go for a multiband
dipole of
some sort. W9INN makes some reasonable ones. More performance than
a
vertical and less work and investment on your part.
___________________________________________________________________________
I have use a vertical on my second rig for the last few years and it
works
great on 20 and 40. 15 meters can be a problem during this time of
the
cycle, My recent solution was to mount a TH3 at 20 ft on a seperate
mast
alont hte house. I can easily take the antenna down by myself and
store the
thing in the garage if I get concerned about the neighbors...It was
definately a great investment. Worked VY1JA on 20 meters in the
NAQP. BTW,
the vertical I have been using is a DX 88 by hi gain.
____________________________________________________________________________
Re 2nd station antennas- the very best is the 18HT high tower
vertical;
competitive on all bands including 80 and 160. However, it is a
tower.
If that is out, I have had excellent results from my small station
with
an HF6V (Butternut)- works well, although not a pile-up buster, and
gets
you on all bands easily and effectively.
___________________________________________________________________________
I tried both an R7 and an Hf2V w/160 coil as second antennas w/
minimal success. Took the R7 to K3DI's once to do a Multi-2 also
w/minimal success.
For spotting or S&P they are OK, but not really as good as any wire
antenna
for general use. I tried the R7 ground mounted, at 15 feet and at 80
feet
on the tower, and 15' was the best as indicated by Cush. The HF2V
was
marginal in each configuration, but also best, believe it or not, at
15' with
a couple of tuned radials for each band. They have both been sold. I
also
had a trap-tuned 40/80/160 sloper on my short 65' tower that was
quite
useless as a second antenna.
Now, I use my horizontal loop (525' long @ 65' high) for a second
antenna
on 20/15/10 to spot openings and to track W3LPL for multipliers. I
don't
have a second antenna for 40/80/160 anymore. During SS, I put up
a 3 el wire beam west, but that probably doesn't help you. The loop
is
quiet and has some "gain"/lobes on those bands. I supplement the
loop
with a 880' foot beverage pointed to Europe, and listen on the
second rx on all three low bands.
I would put up a multiband dipole pretty high over a vertical anyday.
Guess
I'll never be a big gun, though, and I like going to 'LPLs where
there are
lots
of antenna options!
____________________________________________________________________________
I've been using GAP since late 1990, first the Challenger and now the
=
Titan. As I had no other antennas, I couldn't do a comparison;
however, =
they seem to do the job for me. I had the Challenger while living in
=
Denver area 1990-1994 (top of the sunspot cycle heading down), and in
=
CQWW SSB with 600W out, worked 5U7 and 7Q7 on my first call to each.
=
The flip side was working the Caribbean was quite difficult. If I
had =
had TA then.... =20
In Denver, the Challenger worked on every band 160-2. The
transmitter =
fooler in the TS940 was all that was needed. I worked quite a few of
=
the surrounding states on 160 so the antenna got out, but I've no
idea =
of its pattern or efficiency. George Henf, who created GAP, didn't
want =
to get into discussions with hams who know not what VSWR represents,
so =
advertised only the bands for which the VSWR was below 2:1.
I work a lot of folks using R-5's and R-7's and they're nice and
loud. =
It's a long story, but I won't buy Cushcraft new. I'm quite
satisfied =
with the GAPs. BTW, if you live in a high wind area, get the Titan.
=
It's triple-walled by the mounting point, double walled the next 8';
the =
Challenger bent in Nevada winds (but then I couldn't guy it as I had
in =
Colo.) If you're roof, tower or (high) mast mounting, get the Titan.
=
To be honest, from what I've seen, the R-7 is probably easier to
mount. =
But the GAP's less expensive and gives you 80/75. (I tried the Titan
on =
160 but the VSWR was about 5:1 so I was concerned enough to drop
output =
power to 50W and worked nobody in the contests. May be a soil issue
too =
between Nev and Colo.
____________________________________________________________________________
Anyway, my plans are to have a switching arrangement so that any
antenna can be used on either rig. Using a 2 position relay for each
antenna (I think TopTen Devices just came out with something designed
'specially for this, but I have a bunch of DowKeys I'm probably gonna
use). N4RJ used a system like this (last time I was down there a
couple of years ago, anyway) and it worked fine as far as I know.
Or, you could just use 2-position Daiwa switches like K1EA and a
bunch of others do.
Anyway, that takes care of any band combination as long as you don't
try to simultaneously use some combination of 10/15/20. For that, I
plan on being able to split the stack with one tribander going to
each radio. The interstation interference may kill me, or may
not...I'm gonna find out. Using low power like I normally do may
save me on this. I do have a Dunestar filter and will probably also
build up some coax stubs.
I've used a Butternut HF-6V, and it works OK. For a vertical. Use
plenty of radials. It's not so bad when the bands are hopping, but
while sigs are puny, it's not as much fun!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a) what contest are you interested in - if it is a domestic contest I
might
see you being ok with a vertical.
b)if it is dx contesting, stick a tribander up - definately. Point it
at EU.
Turn it toward W6 for SS, etc.
c) While it is the ability to hear with the second station that is
the silver
of the second radio - a quick in and out of a packet mongo-pileup on
an HB9
might not be possible with a Butternut!
Used tribanders abound, a weekend on and off of the sawhorses to
rebuild and
you will be much happier than the vertical ever would have allowed
you to
feel - the frustrations of pounding your head will outweigh the
delight of
tworadioism.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmm, well I use a butternut Vertical. It works on 80 (slightly) on
40
quite a bit and is OK on 20. It takes power and is easy to mark so
that
you can move freq's (modes) on 80 meters.
Takes some ground wires. But, what I do is have some in the ground
and
then a whole bunch that I put out towards the first part of October
that
lay on top of the grass. I use some military surplus ground wires and
have
made a whole bunch of them out of radio shack 300 ohmm twinlead. The
butternut seems to work OK.
R7's get blown up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, with the answers to your questions and a few on the the meaning
of
life, I could set myself up on a nice mountain top as "Guru For
Hire"...
I'm having the same internal discussion right now... the second tower
is
going up, 260 feet north of the first.... the question is what
antennas shall
bristle forth, spewing their fire onto the heavens in the search for
glory...
( and one more multiplier, not so incidentally)... I did quiz EzNec
on the
question of a multiband vertical on top of the main tower... It shows
a
really ugly pattern with lots of narrow lobes, with equally narrow,
but deep,
nulls.... hmmm, not really what I was hoping for.... OTOH, I have not
tried
it in real life... I think your tower is 80 foot... It might play
better
there....
what about the HyGain Hytower??? with a decent radial system,
preferably
with the base of the tower at 8 feet and elevated radials, it sahould
play
well... I installed an R7 (now 7000) for my mother in Fla. with the
base at
10 feet, and it does work... a bit weak on 40, but still useable....I
think
(know) that it would play better with radials, but she has zoning
restrictions....
Sooooo, the bottom line for your compendium of answers is two R7000,
or
equal, in co-phase, Good Buddy, with elevated bases and radials.... a
bit of
phasing harnesses and voila..... you might even have a couple of sets
of base
sockets so you can optimize the spacing for 40 or 20, depending on
the
contest, by trotting out and moving one vertical.... for 80 (and
other bands)
I recommend a horizontal loop, fed with open wire feeders and a
tuner.... I
put one up for 160 mounted 35 foot (rough average) high using trees
and push
up masts, and use it as a high angle source on 160/80, and a
surprisingly
effective tribander for the second radio.... Reflector loop 3 foot
above the
ground is optional...
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Kutner, W2UP Internet: w2up@voicenet.com
Newtown, PA FRC alternate: barry@w2up.wells.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From jmagid@tiac.net (Joel M. Magid) Thu Sep 12 17:17:04 1996
From: jmagid@tiac.net (Joel M. Magid) (Joel M. Magid)
Subject: RS-12/13 Need DX Help
Message-ID: <01BBA0A4.6C37D660@jmagid.tiac.net>
With the contest season upon us and the fact that many of us will
be travelling to contest sites outside the US, I need a favor from
all of you.
So far I have managed 43 DXCC countries on the RS-12 Satellite
and I am missing many that could be activated during the contest
season.
In the Carribean: some examples
J3/J6/J7
V2/VP2E/VP2V/VP2M
FM/ZF
In Europe: some examples:
GU/GD/GJ
TF/JX/JW
In Africa: CT3/EA9
In any case the above is just some examples of what is needed.
If anyone can help ..... please e-mail direct so we can set up
some skeds.....
My goal is to eventually have DXCC on RS12 (N4ZC was #1 just
about a year ago.... proving it can be done)
Thanks for the help ...... WU1F
>From HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) Thu Sep 12 18:37:58 1996
From: HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) ( ROBERT REED)
Subject: FCC ELECTRONIC FILING
Message-ID: <199609121637.MAA16786@mime4.prodigy.com>
The following was sent me this morning after discussing the expected
FCC announcement of Electronic Filing for Vanity Callsigns.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Makes the Amateur Station Vanity
Call Sign Request Available for an Electronic Filing Test
An electronic test version of the Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign
Request
form, is available on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.
html,
(click on Interactive Beta Test Server to access the form). Detailed
filing instructions are available by clicking on the item number on
the Internet form.
This Internet electronic filing test will be available for
approximately one week.
In the next few months, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
intends to
allow applicants for all services to submit their application over
the
Internet and encourages all parties that are interested in electronic
filing to participate in this test.
Please submit your written comments and suggestions regarding
electronic filing to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at
webmail@fcc.gov.
A future public notice will be released announcing the availability
and
instructions for accessing the production version of the electronic
Amateur
Station Vanity Call Sign Request form.
For technical assistance, please contact the FCC Technical Support
Group at (202) 414-1250.
For general questions regarding the application, please call the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Consumer Assistance staff
at 800-322-1117.
-FCC-
____
73, Bob Reed, WB2DIN
1991 Route 37 West - Lot 109
Toms River, New Jersey 08757
Internet : hwdx09a@prodigy.com
wb2din@juno.com
Packet : wb2din@wt3v.nj
>From HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) Thu Sep 12 18:50:19 1996
From: HWDX09A@prodigy.com ( ROBERT REED) ( ROBERT REED)
Subject: FCC/Gate 2 Questions
Message-ID: <199609121650.MAA10942@mime4.prodigy.com>
>Laurent WX3W asked:
>>
>> Gate 2 opens on the 23rd. Does this mean that I can send my
application
>> BEFORE the 23rd as long as it doesn't get there before that date
or does
>> it mean that the cancelation on my envelope containing my
application >>has to be dated 23rd or AFTER?
>
>I don't have an answer for the above, but has anyone heard more
about
>being able to file the 610V via Internet as mentioned in the
original
>FCC announcement?
With all the questions regarding the submital date and electronic
filing I posed the questions to Bart, KB9NM, at the ARRL VEC.
A copy of an FCC Press Release on Electronic Filing from Bart has
just been posted to the Reflector by me.
Word from Bart is that as long as your package arrives at the Mellon
Bank or the PO BOX specified AFTER the close of business on September
20, 1996 it will be processed into the next "business day" which is
September 23, 1996. We discussed close of business Friday as
questionable as this is a 24 bank area that will be handcarried to
but certainly Saturday is safe.
Bart is under the impression that all applications will go into
mailbags with no numbering of envelopes or bags. Anything delivered
over the weekend and through the day Monday September 23, 1996 should
all be in mail bags all delivered to the FCC at the same time.
There would appear to be no advantage to hand delivery or Frederal
Express delivery on either Saturday or Monday.
I mention Federal Express as a generally considered more reliable
carrier but Post Office Express Mail and other overnight carriers are
fine.
____
73, Bob Reed, WB2DIN
1991 Route 37 West - Lot 109
Toms River, New Jersey 08757
Internet : hwdx09a@prodigy.com
wb2din@juno.com
Packet : wb2din@wt3v.nj
>From 71111.260@CompuServe.COM (Hans Brakob) Thu Sep 12 19:56:43 1996
From: 71111.260@CompuServe.COM (Hans Brakob) (Hans Brakob)
Subject: Vanity on the Web
Message-ID: <960912185642_71111.260_EHM64-1@CompuServe.COM>
There have been a few comments and queries here about the possibility
of WWW submittal of vanity applications at Gate 2. That possibility
seems slim at best.
There is, in fact, a Beta test of a Form 610V which appeared on the
web yesterday at:
"http://gullfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/vanity/amfvan01.hts";
An FCC press release states this is a trial page which will be open
for about a week, and the page has a lead-in caveat which states:
"These forms are ONLY for test and comment. No administrative or
licensing action will occur as a result of using any of these
forms."
There is no evidence, either in the press release or on the test
page, that it will go to "live traffic" for the opening of Gate 2.
73, de Hans, K0HB
- - - -
"
PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Makes the Amateur Station Vanity Call
Sign Request Available for an Electronic Filing Test
An electronic test version of the Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign
Request form, is available on the Internet at
http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html, (click on Interactive
Beta Test Server to access the form). Detailed filing instructions
are available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form.
This Internet electronic filing test will be available for
approximately one week. In the next few months, the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau intends to allow applicants for
all services to submit their application over the Internet
and encourages all parties that are interested in electronic
filing to participate in this test. Please submit your written
comments and suggestions regarding electronic filing to the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at webmail@fcc.gov.
A future public notice will be released announcing the
availability and instructions for accessing the production
version of the electronic Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign
Request form."
--- SNIP ---
>From bigdon@eskimo.com (Big Don) Thu Sep 12 20:01:09 1996
From: bigdon@eskimo.com (Big Don) (Big Don)
Subject: FCC/Gate 2 Questions
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.95.960912115434.17138B-100000@eskimo.com>
On Thu, 12 Sep 1996, Steve Lund wrote:
> Laurent WX3W asked:
> >
> > Gate 2 opens on the 23rd. Does this mean that I can send my application
> > BEFORE the 23rd as long as it doesn't get there before that date or does
> > it mean that the cancelation on my envelope containing my application has
> > to be dated 23rd or AFTER?
> I don't have an answer for the above, but has anyone heard more about
> being able to file the 610V via Internet as mentioned in the original
> FCC announcement?
It's going to be real interesting to hear the cyberscreams of anguish,
and accusations of FCC incompetence, after all the games that were played
to get Gate_2 610Vs to the front of the queue, and folks end up with the
37th call on their lists...
Big Don
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~garya/uncle.html
>From n1ist@netcom.com (Michael L. Ardai) Thu Sep 12 20:31:10 1996
From: n1ist@netcom.com (Michael L. Ardai) (Michael L. Ardai)
Subject: More on gate 2
Message-ID: <199609121931.MAA00432@netcom5.netcom.com>
I just got off the phone with the FCC, and they gave me the following info:
Any requests received *Sat 9/21m Sun 9/22, and Mon 9/23* will all be
stamped "received 9/23 14:00" and will be handled as a lottery (not
first come, first served).
Fed Ex/UPS should be sent to:
Federal Communications Commission
C/O Mellon Bank
525 William Penn Way
27th Floor Room 113-2713
Pittsburgh PA 15259
Attn: Wholesale Lockbox Shift Supervisor
Inside, put another envelope addressed to the regular USPS address.
For USPS (or inside the above):
Federal Communications Commission Vanity Callsign Request
PO box 358924
Pittsburgh PA 15251-5924
/mike
>From jmagid@tiac.net (Joel M. Magid) Thu Sep 12 20:38:16 1996
From: jmagid@tiac.net (Joel M. Magid) (Joel M. Magid)
Subject: Mode K RS12 Operation
Message-ID: <01BBA0C0.8EA40720@jmagid.tiac.net>
In my last note asking for sked on RS12 a number of people
have offered to help but have asked what is needed to operate
RS12.
Its easy:
I use my TS-850 and a Cushcraft R5 Vertical
The xmit freq is 15 meters (uplink) and the rcv freq is 10 meters
(downlink) and any rig that can operate split can work RS12 mode
K.
If you need pass time I can run them for you all I need is your grid
square from which you will operate .... also AMSAT has a few
programs that generate the pass info .... www.amsat.org on the
WEB.
If you need info about the actual operation .... send me a fax
number and I'll send you the the info ....
Joel WU1F ..... again .....with all the responses DXCC should be
no problem ....Hi hi
|