3rd party traffic and contests - solution

[K8DO at aol.com]

In a message dated 96-04-02 21:32:03 EST, you write:

>A simpler thing is to copy the page out of the FCC Rule Book that lists 
>the countries with which we have 3rd-party agreements and post it near 
>the rig. 

In the grand scheme of life, I will worry about this one, when the FCC starts
citing all the big multi's during contests, when it shuts down the maritime
mobile nets, when it shuts down the ministry phone patch nets, etc.   and not
until ....

Denny

>From k0wa at southwind.net (Lee Buller)  Thu Apr  4 14:42:53 1996
From: k0wa at southwind.net (Lee Buller) (Lee Buller)
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 08:42:53 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Linear Amps
Message-ID: <199604041442.IAA03644 at onyx.southwind.net>

Thanks for all the good information on the the amplifiers that I posted 
yesterday.  I would like to know if anyone out there is using
an HF2000 fom QRO Technologies or a Command Technologies Amp.  I
talked with Ray Connin, who owns the QRO business, and he says that
the amp business is a sideline and he has three other business going
in his location other than ham radio.  He assured me that his primary source 
of funds did not come from his QRO business.  He says he wants to be around 
for sometime.

IN the below $2000 range, there are not a lot of choices for amps.  I have 
counted the Ameritron line, Ten Tec, and QRO.  They are all 3-500z amps, but 
some have different features than others.  I am
just curious how all the guys on the net feel about these amps.

I like to contest in CW contest, but enjoy SSB for the rate!  Lets discuss 
the issue here.  Just interested in the discussion.  Remember, below 2000 
bucks.  

Lee k0wa
k0wa at southwind.net


>From Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net>  Thu Apr  4 14:50:57 1996
From: Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net> (Bruce Lallathin)
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 09:50:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: KT8X 96 WPX SSB at AA8U
Message-ID: <199604041450.JAA18772 at vixa.voyager.net>

At 07:56 AM 4/4/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Bruce,
>
>Great job guys!

Hi Jeff,

[[cc:reflector, as you are not the only one that has requested quad antenna
info. Hope you don't mind]]


>From all the KT8X gang at AA8U, Thanks!! We have had a lot of fun and good
success WPX SSB M/S contesting over the years; 2nd place USA in '93 as AA8U,
2nd place USA in '95 as KT8X, and maybe 3rd place USA in '96 all M/S
class....local competition really motivates...hi.

>Question about ur quads.  How do you feed them?

Usually feed them direct with either 50 ohm coax or with a 75 ohm q-section.
It depends on feed point which is result of spacing etc. Designed all of
them on AO modeling software and they all worked the first time up. The 40m
quad has a 2:1 balun at the feedpoint. All quads use Ameritron remote swith
boxes fed with 7/8" copper hardline from the shack bulkhead grounding panel.
I use '213, the anti-uv good stuff, from the switch boxes to the feed
points. Always use the best coax, it is cheapest in the long run. KEEP WATER
OUT! I use the Hy-Que HQ-1 molded SO-239 dipole thingie at most of the feed
points. They work well and last a long time. Use quality connectors on the
coax and do it properly.....

I use diamond configuration on the 20m quad on 55g, square config for the
20m quad on the 45g, the 40m quad is square config. on 55g.  Diamond config
requires more unguyed tower about 8-10' minimum above last guys so better
have a stiff tower, else use square config so you need less unguyed tower
above last set. Also depends on boom length and spacing of center two elements.

Like the diamond config. as the coax is taped to bottom bamboo spreader.
Think it is mechanically a better design where ice is a problem LIKE HERE.
It tends to shed water better?? dunno for sure.

>Are they on 25G or 45G tower? and what brand are they?

Two towers of 55G at 130', one 45G at 95', more comming after we get back
from ZK DXpedition this summer.

>
>Am thinking of putting up a 4 ele quad at 100.  Any tips appriciated

Pay attention to details! Design with AO 6.5 and check against TA 1.0 and NW
software, all available from k6sti. Well worth the price! Get yourself an
MFJ-259 it will save you a lot of climing later.

Try to design and construct to keep weight and windload balanced. An off
balance 4 element monster quad is hard on your rotor, mast, and is dangerous
to work with. Better have a good rotor. I use Create RC-5B with presets.

If you use bamboo (bamboo spear-fishing-poles are heavy duty and long
enough), cover it with Scotch 33 tape and seal with Scotch Kote. I have had
a 4 element bamboo quad up for six years and seven winters so far. The will
last a long time if you do it right......
 
Don't drill holes. Run wire through thick wall flexible 5/16" clear gas line
tubing about six or eight inches, ty-wrap and tape wire to corners, lots of
tape. Seal tape with Scotch Kote to keep it from unwinding and tape another
layer over that before the coating dries completely. 

Use "flex-weave" copper wire. 7x22 copper will work ok, but be careful not
to kink it!. The flex weave is much more forgiving. Small dia. single strand
copper is a better performer electrically, but it won't last as long. It
seems everyone has their own favorite wire for quads...you will likely get a
lot of conflicting advice.

I prefer  fiberglass spreaders, check with Lightning Bolt Antennas for
quality stuff. My 40M quad uses their hardware. (many told me I would be
picking it up out of my yard,,,several years ago. HI HI) 

Don't skimp on boom material get the good stuff! Use a 40' boom for 20M if
possible, the bandwidth will be best. 30' is a bit short for 20m. Star
mounts, get the best. If you homebrew, make sure you don't skimp or you will
be doing it over.

>Have used a 2 ele quad by Lighting bolt at KO4EW and been impressed with it.
>
>73 Jeff KQ4HC
>jnyeager at southern.edu
>
I have been using Quads and Delta loops since the early sixties! Most of
what I have advised I have learned by experience since then, a lot the hard
way. I know how to do it almost all the possible wrong ways. HI HI.... Hope
this helps.

Above all.......do it SAFE, or don't do it!!!

73 and good luck,
Bruce AA8Ugly


>From Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net>  Thu Apr  4 15:05:29 1996
From: Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net> (Bruce Lallathin)
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 10:05:29 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Run? Mult?
Message-ID: <199604041505.KAA20162 at vixa.voyager.net>

At 07:52 AM 4/4/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I've seen several scores listed here in the last few days which list
>many, many radios for multi-single WPX entries. Specificly, the KT8X
>listing shows a Run radio, a Mult radio, and a Spotting Radio.
>
>The way I read the rules, there is NO MULT radio in WPX. The rules
>specificly state you can't work two bands at once, and you can't
>break the 10 minute rule even for a new mult.
>
>Am I missing something here? What's the difference between a Mult
>radio and a Spotting radio, if you can't work mults on a different
>band?
>
>We did multi single from K1KP, and it was definitely more boring
>than other contests where the mult radio can work guys. Heck,
>we didn't even set up the second station because mults are so
>common and the 10 minute rule is a pain.
>
>Am I missing something? Or are other stations misinterpreting the rules?
>
>-Tony, K1KP, fisher at hp-and2.an.hp.com
>

Hi Tony,

We use station 1 and 2 at times on the same band with cross muting to do
S&P. At other times sta 2 will go check the next band for mults and enter
them into the band map so when we change bands they are lined up and ready.
We NEVER tx on two bands or two freqs at once. I use the third positon for
spotting yet a third band, like to keep track of 10M to see if it might
open,when sta1 is running 20 and station 2 is loading the band map for an
upcomming band change.
The station uses ICE bandpass filters, these are a necessity.

 The 10 minute rule is just another rule and it isn't a pain if you don't
let it be....We don't bend the rules either! Only legal power is used. We
run almost every major contest and these $5K+ Alpha amps cost too damn much
to abuse just to possibly get one more Q. 

Hope this gives you some ideas......
I copied this to the reflector because you raise some good questions and
others are likely going to further enlighten you. Above all, have fun!

73,
Bruce


>From Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net>  Thu Apr  4 15:21:11 1996
From: Bruce Lallathin <aa8u at voyager.net> (Bruce Lallathin)
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 10:21:11 -0500 (EST)
Subject: KT8X Antennas at AA8U
Message-ID: <199604041521.KAA21816 at vixa.voyager.net>

Hi Pat,

Your are not the only one sending me requests for info so I am CC: the
reflector so others that are intrested can benefit. You may find others
forwarding additional usefull info to you. Hope you don't mind the "CC:".


At 09:15 AM 4/4/96 EST, you wrote:
>
>Dear Bruce,
>
>Lookinf to install a 4sq here as well.  Any chance you'd add some details to
>your system for those still striving to get there?  Using wire or
>monopole/tower - shunt or ?, homebrew phaseshift box, near field siblings
>(any of antennas close causing hassles), etc.  

The 4sq is suspended on 3/16 dacron from the full size 160 vert which is 25g
The feed points are 6-7' above gnd. Current baluns at each feedpoint.
Designed for 75 Ohm phasing. See ON4UN Low Band DX-ing. It is easy to
homebrew the phasing box. The 4sq elements are #14 stranded copper,
insulated...'cause I had some at the time that wasn't already on the ground
as radials for 160. HI
The 4sq and 160 vert are at the back of the 10 acres, about 600' from the
shack. both feed with 7/8" hardline. A couple beverages come within 150' of
the 160vert and somewhat closer to the 4sq, but any degredation I have to
accept due to space limitations.

>
>I've been considering four self supporting towers, quarter wave spacing on
>80, since grounded by base anchors will require shunt feeding, etc.  Then, I
>read about the success some are having with simple vertical dipoles
>'maypoled' about a tower thats holdig up their yagi's and wonder if I'm
>working at it too hard!  

Make sure you towers are detuned and suspend the 4sq on one of them. You
will find shunt fed phased towers almost impossible to make work properly.
(this is the reason I put the two 55g 130' towers 130' apart on 45deg
azimuth.....then I found out about the shunt fed phasing problem. Shunt fed
one with good success, and detuned the other by putting non-insulated guy
wires on it.
Too bad your towers don't have insulated bases, that would be good for 160,
but would likely cause lots of other problems.
>
>BTW, I'm stringing up a half square for 160 between two 100+ foot towers,
>but if it don't meet expectations will convert it to pair of phased inverted
>L's. 
>
Dave, K8CC has used half squares on the low bands with good success, I
suggest you contact him for additional info. He also uses a ground mounted
4sq about one of his four monster towers.......you should see 'em!  NEAT

>Any inputs welcome, as I'm sure I'm not inventing a wheel - most of the
>things have been done well by others like yourself long before my meger
>attempts.
>
>GL in the contests,
>
>Patrick  WB9IQI
>
>
>>>About 75% of the time, the delta loops will have about a 2dB advantage rx
>>and tx into the heart of Europe (DL,G,F,I) etc. Any other direction the
>>4-sq. wins no question. To ZS by about 40 dB! The farther the dx is, the
>>better the 4-sq. does.
>>>
>>>I used to switch the delta loop to cw by adding wire to the loops. Now that
>>I have the 4-sq. up I don't bother. I just add a couple feet of phasing line
>>to each vertical element in the 4-sq. and lengthen the radiators as well. It
>>probably isn't necessary, but I feel better about it that way. It is really
>>broad. I'm told one measure of the 4 sq. performance is how little power
>>goes to the dummy load. At 3775 with 1200W to the phasing box, I get about
>>10W to the dummy load. Guess that is good. At 3512 or so the dummy load gets
>>about 300W, not enough to damage it, but that 300W isn't being heard
>>anywhere. HI
>>>
>>>The 4-sq. is somewhat noisy compared to the delta loops, especially if it
>>snowing or raining. The delta loops and quads are used here because they are
>>efficient and quiet.
>>>
>>>Hope this info is what you were expecting.
>>>
>>>73,
>>>Bruce
>>
>
>
>