REAL Multi-single (ARRL DX)

Thu Aug 15 08:26:13 EDT 1996

On Aug 14, 11:28pm, K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 96-08-14 19:48:02 EDT, you write:

>
>      I agree!!!   As someone said recently, I'm in favor of anything that'll
> make it more fun.  Being able to slither around the bands, breaking pileups
> and working mults unimpeded by a ten minute would be great!  And more fun.
>
> 73,  Steve   K7LXC
>
>
>
>-- End of excerpt from K7LXC at aol.com

I might point out that changing the rules to make it more fun for a M/S could
make it less fun for single-op stations.  Under the current 10-minute rule, a
M/S station must abandon their RUN frequency to work a multiplier on a
different band.  As a frequent single-op participant from the black hole, I
LOVE the idea of finding 14.195 vacant at 1500Z, when an east-coast M/S station
has gone to 10 meters to work a ZS !  Changing to a band-changes-per-hour rule
means that the M/S station will never have to give up their RUN frequency.

I fine example of the law of unintended consequences.

I would like to hear what other single-op stations think of a change to the M/S
rules.

Steve London, N2IC/0
Rocky Mountain Division CAC Representative
smlondon at lucent.com

>From duerbusc at MO.NET (Joseph J. Duerbusch)  Thu Aug 15 14:45:46 1996
From: duerbusc at MO.NET (Joseph J. Duerbusch) (Joseph J. Duerbusch)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 08:45:46 -0500
Subject: world's ugliest headset
References: <19960814.232314.4951.0.k6ll at juno.com>
Message-ID: <32132A0A.328 at mo.net>

Dave I also have the world's ugliest headset, but think that your maybe
uglier,

There was an article in Jan QST 199? that showed how to do this with a
Radio Shack Mike element, piece of copper tubing and a clip for the
headset.

I use it with my Kenwood HS-5 headset.  The $1.79 mike element sounds
and works as good as my Heil.  On a good day, with the amp on, I can get
600 watts output just on the noise of the washing machine!

-- 
Joe Duerbusch K0BX St. Louis MO
jduerbusch at mdc.com at work
duerbusc at mo.net at home

http://www.qrz.com/cgi-bin/qrz_gifs?k0bx.gif

>From k5na at bga.com (Richard L. King)  Thu Aug 15 14:58:54 1996
From: k5na at bga.com (Richard L. King) (Richard L. King)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 08:58:54 -0500
Subject: Summary: Tower Help (long)
Message-ID: <199608151358.IAA01539 at zoom.bga.com>

>PETER GRILLO wrote:
>> 
>> At 02:33 AM 8/12/96 -0400, you wrote:
>> 
>> >In terms of concrete it looks like I will be taking the easy way out - pay
>> >the man and have it delivered. Cost including setup should be $100 - $150.
>> 
>
>Actually, you should always check out the price. I have found that in
>every case where a redi-mix type of operation is availabel, it is as
>cheap to have it delivered as it is to mix it yourself. And - they
>can do a much better job of determining the strength of the mix.
>Beats hell outa "was that six shovels, or seven?" 
>de KL7HF
>
>
Susan and I found out years ago that it is better to order concrete from the
pros then to try and mix it ourself. Two weeks ago we poured concrete for our 
first Texas tower (will be an 80 footer with a tribander). The concrete
company had a 6 yard minimum for delivery at the rate of $65/yard. We
ordered 8 yards for $520 and the delivery driver even helped with the smoothing.

Now if I had bought sackcrete it would have been (prices estimated, I
haven't priced it in years) 8 yards @ 27 cu/ft per yard = 216 cu/ft. If a
bag of sackcrete is about 0.8 cu/ft (from memory), then we need 270 bags of
sackcrete. Now if the sackcrete is $2.50/bag then our final cost would be
$625. That's a savings of $105 and I didn't have to mix it myself. My
numbers are approximate and from memory, so don't call me to task unless I
am way off.

Sometimes it is cost effective if you have the minimum load delivered and
you dump what you don't need. First you should put a  dollar value on the
hard work of mixing and decide if you are willing to mix it yourself for the
additional dollars spent. Susan and I have made forms for any extra concrete
and added to our patio, made stepping stones, and even filled in a low place
by the driveway once (that was after the truck got stuck in the NY woods and
it got too dark to continue pouring).

BTW, a sacrifice to GORF (Gods of RF) was made and placed in the tower base
just before the pouring. I looked, and looked, and finally chose a card that:

     I will really miss having in my QSL collection, 
     is from rare DX station, 
     is from a great contest operator, 
     and is from a person I respect very much.

What card did I chose. It was HS1ABD.

73, Richard
K5NA at BGA.COM
http://www.realtime.net/~k5na

>From sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com (sawyers)  Thu Aug 15 16:09:44 1996
From: sawyers at cacd.rockwell.com (sawyers) (sawyers)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 96 09:09:44 cst
Subject: Re[2]: Everything you thought you knew about Rohn 45G wind l
Message-ID: <9607158401.AA840118360 at ccmgw1.cacd.rockwell.com>

>Also note that the EIA standard was recently updated to RS-222E. 

Actually it has gone to Rev F effective June 1, 1996. 

I am still researching the changes. Initially doesn't look like much but 
need to do a page by page line by line comparision.

Re: Initial guy tensions. Normal range is 8-15% of tensile strength. The 
low end is about as much sag as you want because the tower moves around in 
the wind, and the high end is about as much as you want or the guys will 
'sing' in the wind. IE the higher the tension the higher the resonant 
frequency. Normally the tower has a very high resonant frequency - 2000 
hertz or better with normal guy cluster spacing - and the guy wires are 
lower. You don't want them having the same resonant freqency or you get 
mutual oscillation and things get very interesting. Also extra high guy 
tensions uses up the compressive load capabilities of your tower. Too high 
a tension and you really could limit the wind load capability.

Also - never set or check guy tensions in anything over a 5 MPH breeze - if 
you can feel it, then it is too windy. The most important thing is to keep 
the tower plumb and not have any twist it. Equal tensions at a given guy 
level are nice, but they don't have to be exact and different clusters can 
have different initial tensions. If you are into long booms, then look at a 
'star mount' or spreader to have six guys at a given level. Two guys leave 
a common anchor point and attach to the tower in a spread connection point. 
This compensates for any torsional loads - ie side mounted dishes in 
commercial applications. Just drive around and look at tower installations 
and you can learn a lot.

As you have discovered there is extra capacity in most towers if the wind 
load is addded close to the lower guy clusters in the typical amateur 
installation. IE put a ring rotor at the first guy set down from the top 
guy set. Just make sure that whatever you put there is fairly well balanced 
( a twenty foot side arm out one side is a no-no) and you should have some 
additional oportunities.

There are a million ways to load a tower and guy it to take care of the 
loads. I generally tend to keep my guy clusters about 80% of the vertical 
spacing that Rohn uses and recommend the next size heavier cable when I am 
really loading up a tower. Your milage will vary. Just use common sense and 
get it checked by local engineer.

de n0yvy steve

>From rattmann at cts.com (Rattmann)  Thu Aug 15 15:43:34 1996
From: rattmann at cts.com (Rattmann) (Rattmann)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 07:43:34 -0700
Subject: concrete and mint juleps
Message-ID: <199608151443.HAA03648 at burnout.cts.com>

 it is as
>cheap to have it delivered as it is to mix it yourself. And - they
>can do a much better job of determining the strength of the mix.
>Beats hell outa "was that six shovels, or seven?" 
>de KL7HF
>
Del,
I recommend going one step further by arranging a pumper, too.  Then he and
the driver DO ALL THE WORK while you enjoy a mint julep on the back patio.
A bonus is that the pumper hose goes right to the bottom of the hole (unlike
the truck trough, which throws too much, too fast). Its operator controls
the flow more precisely, which means the tower base isn't disturbed.  You
might have to put your mint julep down once or twice to check plumb, and
that's about it.

Glenn K6NA

>From george at epix.net (AA3JU)  Thu Aug 15 16:33:32 1996
From: george at epix.net (AA3JU) (AA3JU)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 11:33:32 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Calling all Boobs!
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19960815113739.310f9e02 at epix.net>

 Join the Trexlertown International Transmitting Society (TITS) for the NAQP/SSB

We need several warm bodies to fill out this team.

So don't be a boob be a TIT!

Contact me or N3ADL for details!

George
*********************************************
*George Cook.....AA3JU.....AKA "The Ratman" *
*george at epix.net.....AA3JU@W3PYF            *
*http://www.epix.net/~george                *
*                                           *
*Proudly Frankford Radio Club.........      *
*.......Proficiency Through Competiton.     *
*"Not just words but a way of life"         *
*********************************************

>From jdowning at intelenet.net (John Downing)  Thu Aug 15 16:45:33 1996
From: jdowning at intelenet.net (John Downing) (John Downing)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 08:45:33 -0700
Subject: REAL Multi-single (ARRL DX)
Message-ID: <01BB8A86.233A61A0 at downing-1.intelenet.net>

Hi Steve,

What you're really concerned about is getting the guys with big signals
to move from their "run" frequency.  Whether they are M/S, Single Op, M/2,
or M/M makes no difference - if they're loud they take up some of the 
spectrum that you would like in the black hole.  It's just that the M/S must
stay away for 10 minutes.  Perhaps as a member of the CAC you should
consider lifting the 10 minute rule for M/S entrants and imposing it on ALL single
op stations with an ERP of, say 2 KW.  That change would overcome your
objection but I think it would make the contest less fun for everyone.

Those of us that travel offshore for these contests typically for M/S operations
would like to see the rules encourage station in a suitcase operations.  We think
it would encourage more to do the same and it makes our participation (in giving
out needed multipliers) much easier.

cheers,

John Downing

N6YRU / V31DX

The Cuba Libre Contest Club
(over 50,000 ARRL DX M/S contest QSOs this decade!)

>From hwardsil at wolfenet.com (Ward Silver)  Thu Aug 15 16:47:02 1996
From: hwardsil at wolfenet.com (Ward Silver) (Ward Silver)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 08:47:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Concrete
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95.960815084216.11084B-100000 at gonzo.wolfenet.com>

On Thu, 15 Aug 1996, Richard L. King wrote:

> 
> BTW, a sacrifice to GORF (Gods of RF) was made and placed in the tower base
> just before the pouring. I looked, and looked, and finally chose a card that:
> 

I put one in from each of the continents.  My tower base has the
continents and major countries inscribed in the concrete, just in case the
antenna "forgets" where the RF is supposed to be going...it can just look
down and see!

By the way, if you have the time available, sometimes you can have the
Redi-Mix place put you on an "load end" or "short delivery" status,
getting the mix that they had left over from another job.  They'd have to
dump it otherwise, so you might even get a slight discount.  You'll have
to talk nice to them, though ;-)

When the man said, "Life is nasty, brutish, and short," he must have been
referring to mixing your own concrete.  The big truck with the chute is
definitely the way to go.

73, Ward N0AX

>From seay at alaska.net (Del Seay)  Thu Aug 15 16:24:04 1996
From: seay at alaska.net (Del Seay) (Del Seay)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 08:24:04 -0700
Subject: Concrete
References: <Pine.OSF.3.95.960815084216.11084B-100000 at gonzo.wolfenet.com>
Message-ID: <32134114.1B6B at alaska.net>

Ward Silver wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 15 Aug 1996, Richard L. King wrote:
> 

> By the way, if you have the time available, sometimes you can have the
> Redi-Mix place put you on an "load end" or "short delivery" status,
> getting the mix that they had left over from another job.  They'd have to
> dump it otherwise, so you might even get a slight discount.  You'll have
> to talk nice to them, though ;-)
> 

Well, not a good idea, Ward. Usually the original load will be something
less than what you want for tower base mix. For example, if it is a
house footing, it will probably be 3,000 psi concrete, but if it is
someones driveway or sidewalk, it might be a 2,500 psi mix. I would
not settle for less than 4,000 psi mix for a tower base. Unless of
course, it's 50 feet of Rohn 25G.
de KL7HF

>From ac1o at gate.net (Walter Deemer)  Thu Aug 15 19:57:31 1996
From: ac1o at gate.net (Walter Deemer) (Walter Deemer)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 13:57:31 -0500
Subject: Concrete
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19960815185731.00767ee8 at pop.gate.net>

At 08:47 AM 8/15/96 -0700, Ward Silver wrote:
>On Thu, 15 Aug 1996, Richard L. King wrote:
>
>> 
>> BTW, a sacrifice to GORF (Gods of RF) was made and placed in the tower base
>> just before the pouring. I looked, and looked, and finally chose a card that:
>> 
>
>I put one in from each of the continents.  My tower base has the
>continents and major countries inscribed in the concrete, just in case the
>antenna "forgets" where the RF is supposed to be going...it can just look
>down and see!

Well *I* etched EACH DXCC country (not just the "major" ones; they're ALL
mults) -- AND its compass heading -- into MY tower!

(Unfortunately, this appear to have weakened it structurally, and it fell
over in a recent storm.)

Next topic?

73, Walt, AC1O
--------------
WWW: http://www.4w.com/deemer; amateur radio, news, weather & financial info. 

>From jfeustle at UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU (Joseph A. Feustle, Jr.)  Wed Aug 14 18:53:37 1996
From: jfeustle at UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU (Joseph A. Feustle, Jr.) (Joseph A. Feustle, Jr.)
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 13:53:37 -0400
Subject: Concrete
Message-ID: <v01510100ae37c27395ac@[131.183.100.88]>

Well, now that people are coming forward and revealing what they put into
their tower bases besides the concrete, did any of you happen to see Jimmy
Hoffa?

73,
N8AAT

>From apmeyer at ix.netcom.com (ALEX A.P. MEYER)  Thu Aug 15 20:11:59 1996
From: apmeyer at ix.netcom.com (ALEX A.P. MEYER) (ALEX A.P. MEYER)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 12:11:59 -0700
Subject: GARAGEDOOR/HF MOBILE-ANTENNES.
Message-ID: <199608151911.MAA21237 at dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com>

EVER DROVE YOUR CAR INTO THE GARAGE WITH THE HF MOBILE ANTENNE ON THE 
BACK OF THE CAR AND WERCKED THE ANTENNE?

I MUST NOT BE THE FIRST ONE THAT DID THIS. AND THEY ARE NOT CHEAP 
NOWADAYS.

HAVE ROLL UP DOOR WITH REMOTE CONTROLL UNIT.

CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO THIS REMOTE ANTENNE,SO IT  WILL DISABLE THIS 
REMOTE CNTROLL UNIT, WHEN THE HF MOBILE IS ON THE BACK OF THE CAR?

OR DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSIBLE SUGGESTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

'73 ES DX............ALEX.......................

>From jholly at hposl62.cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback)  Thu Aug 15 20:25:34 1996
From: jholly at hposl62.cup.hp.com (Jim Hollenback) (Jim Hollenback)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 12:25:34 -0700
Subject: Concrete shoes
References: <v01510100ae37c27395ac@[131.183.100.88]>
Message-ID: <9608151225.ZM18419 at hpwsmjh1.cup.hp.com>

On Aug 14,  1:53pm, Joseph A. Feustle, Jr. wrote:
> Subject: Concrete
> Well, now that people are coming forward and revealing what they put into
> their tower bases besides the concrete, did any of you happen to see Jimmy
> Hoffa?
>
> 73,
> N8AAT
>

Yes, years ago in an airport. Bunch of big mean looking guys around him.
Decided not to ask for an autograph. He was wearing wing tips at the time.

73, Jim, WA6SDM
jholly at cup.hp.com