HAM II ROTATOR REFURBISHING
ehayes at VNET.IBM.COM
ehayes at VNET.IBM.COM
Tue Feb 6 10:41:24 EST 1996
I recently purchased the subject rotator for light duty use and am
in the process of fixing it up. It works fine and all of the voltages
check out per the Hygain manual. I have some questions I'd like to pose
to the gurus.
1. What kind of grease/oil would you use? The manual only mentions
cold weather grease and does not indicate a manufacturer or any
other specs.
2. The eight position barrier strip on the bottom of the unit would
appear to be a source of reliability problems. What can be done
to improve the cable connection to the rotator?
3. The manual recommends Belden 8448 control cable but does not mention
the type of all weather connector that should be used. Recommendations?
4. What is the best way to keep Mother Natures mighty hand from using
the control cable as a means to enter the shack and create havoc?
I figured that if anybody could help me with these questions, it would
be the contest group. Any and all ideas will be appreciated.
PS. I did find out that one should disassemble one of these jewels upside
down. It took me almost an hour to locate the 48 ball bearings that hit
the floor. Thankfully, the other 48 stayed in place.
Thanks,
Wayne KC5DVT ehayes at vnet.ibm.com
>From David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu Tue Feb 6 16:49:21 1996
From: David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (David C. Patton)
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 10:49:21 -0600 (CST)
Subject: SSB-Sprint--Rumorlist
Message-ID: <199602061649.KAA03366 at ecom4.ecn.bgu.edu>
Collected from 3830 by WX3N
K6LL/7 14,805 315 x 47
VE7NTT 13,662 297 x 46
K4VX/0 13,554 251 x 54 WX3N
AA5RB 12,784 272 x 47
N8SR/6 11,684 254 x 46
W0UA 11,610 258 x 45
K7UP/5 11,438 266 x 43
KW8N 10,604 241 x 44
KJ6HO 10,578 246 x 43
AI7B 10,191 237 x 43
W5ASP 10,105 215 x 47
W9UP 9,786 233 x 42 N0BSH
W5NN 9,576 228 x 42 KB5YVT
K9ZO 9,522 207 x 46
AA5WQ/0 9,416 214 x 44
N9ITX/7 10,829 221 x 42
NM5M 8,979 219 x 41 lp
W9RE 8,897 217 x 41 really loud in KH6 on 40
N6HC 8,862 211 x 42
NC6U 8,400 210 x 40
W6TKF 8,280 207 x 40
VE7IN 8,241 201 x 41
WA7BNM/6 7,760 194 x 40 lp
KB4GID 7,744 176 x 44
KO9Y 7,503 183 x 41 lp
KM0L 7,280 182 x 40 too many pig farmers
KN6DV 6,790 194 x 35
KE3Q 6,660 180 x 37
KU8E 6,435 165 x 39 wires only
KF3P 6,201 159 x 39
WX9E 5,547 129 x 43 lp
KC4ZV 5,291 143 x 37 ice and no carpet
KZ8E/5 5,236 154 x 34
W7ZRC 4,216 136 x 31
KO4EW 3,800 100 x 38 lp
WE9V 3,774 111 x 34 had to quit and wash underwear
KK6XN 2,808 117 x 24 lp
KK5EA/4 2,204 76 x 29
AA7TF 1,656 69 x 24
N4TW 624 39 x 16 lp buried antenna
Miserable condx reported everywhere.
73, Dave Patton, WX3N op at K4VX
mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
>From Pete Soper <psoper at encore.com> Tue Feb 6 17:11:56 1996
From: Pete Soper <psoper at encore.com> (Pete Soper)
Date: Tue, 06 Feb 1996 12:11:56 EST
Subject: Surge suppressors for balanced feeders (summary)
Message-ID: <19767.9602061711 at earl.encore.com>
Most folks pointed me toward ICE. Their model 309 (low-med power, $44) or
309H (high power, $72 in '94) 300-600 ohm balanced line suppressor is
available direct from ICE at 800-423-2666.
It doesn't appear that Polyphaser has anything, but email to one of
their consultants is pending and to see if there is something not listed
in their catalog.
One gentleman suggested the "pair of sparkplugs" setup. All other
considerations aside, I don't trust myself to set the gap properly!
Knife switches are "out there", somewhere :-)
Jerry's comments about what comes in the shack vs stays outside gets to
the heart of some hard thinking I've been doing since building the
ground window "inside". If it weren't for the balanced feeders, this
would all be so much easier. But this is for the next message.
Thanks to:
Patrick WB9IQI
Ken WM2C/6
Wade W0EJ
Gene K7DBV
Pete N4ZR
Waldek, DL7ANQ SO6ANQ
Jerry W4UKU
Regards,
Pete
KS4XG
>From bhorn at netcom.com (Bruce Horn) Tue Feb 6 17:22:06 1996
From: bhorn at netcom.com (Bruce Horn) (Bruce Horn)
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 09:22:06 -0800
Subject: Contest Calendar 96.2
Message-ID: <199602061722.JAA02566 at netcom19.netcom.com>
CONTEST CALENDAR
Feb 7, 1996 Edition (96.2)
Please send corrections and additions directly to me. I will
post an updated calendar on a monthly basis.
Please e-mail me if you can confirm (or correct) the 1996 dates of
the Ibero-Americano Contest (0Z, Oct 5 - 24Z, Oct 6?). Thanks.
73 de Bruce, WA7BNM (bhorn at netcom.com)
Log Submittal Deadlines:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please consult the individual contest rules to determine what log
documentation must be submitted (i.e. summary sheet, dupe sheets, etc.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL RTTY Roundup February 7, 1996
E-mail: contest at arrl.org
Mail: ARRL RTTY Roundup
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111, USA
Midwinter Contest, CW & Phone February 11, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: Midwinter Contest
POB 262
3770 AG Barneveld, Netherlands
Michigan QRP Club CW Contest (unknown)
E-mail: (none)
Mail: L.T. Switzer, N8CQA
654 Georgia Avenue
Marysville, MI 48040-1243
North Amer. QSO Party, CW February 13, 1996
E-mail: w9nq at ccis.com
Mail: Bob Selbrede, W9NQ
6200 Natoma Ave.
Mojave, CA 93501, USA
Kentucky QSO Party February 14, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: Kentucky QSO Party
c/o Paul Smith, AE4AP
305 Carson Way
Paducah, KY 42003-1244
Lions in the Air Contest February 15, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: Contest Committee
Lions Club Flen
Box 106
642 23 Flen, Sweden
Hungarian DX Contest, CW (unknown)
E-mail: (none)
Mail: HADXC
POB 79
H-7031 Paks, Hungary
QRP ARCI Wint Fire SSB Sprint February 19
E-mail: CamQRP at aol.com
Mail: Cam Hartford, N6GA
1959 Bridgeport Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
North Amer. QSO Party, Phone February 20, 1996
E-mail: merchant at crl.com
Mail: Steve Merchant, N4TQO
1795 Cravens Lane
Carpenteria, CA 93013, USA
ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes February 22, 1996
E-mail: contest at arrl.org
Mail: ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111, USA
UBA Contest, Phone February 27, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: UBA HF Manager
Carine Ramon, ON7LX
Bruggesteenweg 77
B-8755 Ruiselede
Belgium
RGSB 1.8 MHz Contest, CW February 27, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: RGSB HF Contest Committee
c/o S V Knowles, G3UFY
77 Bensham Manor Rd, Thornton Heath
Surrey CR7 7AF, England
CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW February 28, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: 160-Meter Contest Director
David L. Thompson, K4JRB
4166 Mill Stone Court
Norcross, GA 30092, USA
Japan Int DX Contest, 160-40m February 28, 1996
E-mail: jidx-log at dumpty.nal.go.jp
Mail: JIDX LFCW Contest
c/o Five-Nine Magazine
P.O. Box 59
Kamata, Tokyo, 144 Japan
NW QRP Club Winter Sprint February 29, 1996
E-mail: (none)
Mail: Stan Yarema, KG7ME
3457 12th W.
Seattle, WA 98119
North American Sprint, Phone March 5, 1996
E-mail: aoniswan at ecuvm.cis.ecu.edu
Mail: Rick Niswander
P.O. Box 3778
Greenville, NC 27836
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note that you may not be able to operate during all of the total
hours of the contests listed below. Total operating time may also vary
by entry category. See individual contest rules for allowed operating
hours.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
February, 1996
IDRA WW Dig WPX Contest, RTTY 0000Z, Feb 10 to 2400Z, Feb 11
Dutch PACC Contest 1200Z, Feb 10 to 1200Z, Feb 11
YL-OM Contest, Phone 1400Z, Feb 10 to 0200Z, Feb 12
RGSB 1.8 MHz Contest, CW 2100Z, Feb 10 to 0100Z, Feb 11
North American Sprint, CW 0000Z-0359Z, Feb 11
NW QRP Club Winter Sprint 1800Z-2300Z, Feb 11
ARRL School Roundup 1300Z-0100Z each day, Feb 12 to Feb 16
ARRL Inter. DX Contest, CW 0000Z, Feb 17 to 2400Z, Feb 18
CQ 160-Meter Contest, Phone 2200Z, Feb 23 to 1600Z, Feb 25
North Carolina QSO Party 0000Z, Feb 24 to 2400Z, Feb 25
REF Contest, SSB 0600Z, Feb 24 to 1800Z, Feb 25
UBA Contest, CW 1300Z, Feb 24 to 1300Z, Feb 25
YL-OM Contest, CW 1400Z, Feb 24 to 0200Z, Feb 26
RGSB 7 MHz DX Contest, CW 1500Z, Feb 24 to 0900Z, Feb 25
CZEBRIT QRP Contest 1600Z, Feb 24 to 2400Z, Feb 26
FISTS Novice Roundup 1600Z, Feb 24 to 2400Z, Mar 3
Winter QRP QSO Party 2200Z, Feb 25 to 0400Z, Feb 26
March, 1996
ARRL Inter. DX Contest, Phone 0000Z, Mar 2 to 2400Z, Mar 3
RGSB Commonwealth Contest, CW 1200Z, Mar 9 to 1200Z, Mar 10
Bermuda Contest 0001Z, Mar 16 to 2400Z, Mar 17
BARTG WW RTTY Contest 0200Z, Mar 16 to 0200Z, Mar 18
Russian DX Contest 1200Z, Mar 16 to 1200Z, Mar 17
CQWW WPX Contest, Phone 0000Z, Mar 30 to 2400Z, Mar 31
April, 1996
EA WW RTTY Contest 1600Z, Apr 6 to 1600Z, Apr 7
Japan Int.DX Contest, 20-10m 2300Z, Apr 12 to 2300Z, Apr 14
Int. HF GridLoc Contest 1200Z, Apr 13 to 1200Z, Apr 14
ARRL 144 MHz Spring Sprint 1900-2300 local time, Apr 15
EU Spring Sprint, SSB 1500Z-1859Z, Apr 20
SP DX RTTY Contest 1200Z, Apr 20 to 2400Z, Apr 21
ARRL 222 MHz Spring Sprint 1900-2300 local time, Apr 23
May, 1996
ARRL 432 MHz Spring Sprint 1900-2300 local time, May 1
Massachusetts QSO Party 1800Z, May 4 to 0400Z, May 5 & 1100Z-2100Z, May 5
Texas QSO Party May 4 to May 5
ARRL 902 MHz Spring Sprint 0600-1300 local time, May 11
ARRL 1296 MHz Spring Sprint 0600-1300 local time, May 11
ARRL 2304 MHz Spring Sprint 0600-1300 local time, May 11
Volta WW RTTY Contest 1200Z, May 11 to 1200Z, May 12
EU Spring Sprint, CW 1500Z-1859Z, May 18
ARRL 50 MHz Spring Sprint 2300Z May 18 to 0300Z, May 19
CQWW WPX Contest, CW 0000Z, May 25 to 2400Z, May 26
June, 1996
RGSB National Field Day, CW 1500Z, Jun 1 to 1500Z, Jun 2
ANARTS WW RTTY Test 0000Z, Jun 8 to 2400Z, Jun 9
TOEC WW Grid Contest, Phone 1200Z, Jun 8 to 1200Z, Jun 9
ARRL June VHF QSO Party 1800Z, Jun 8 to 0300Z, Jun 10
ARRL Field Day 1800Z, Jun 22 to 2100Z, Jun 23
RGSB 1.8 MHz Contest, CW 2100Z, Jun 22 to 0100Z, Jun 23
July, 1996
RAC Canada Day Contest 0000Z-2400Z, Jul 1
World Radiosport Team Champ. 1200Z, Jul 13 to 0600Z, Jul 14
IARU HF World Championship 1200Z, Jul 13 to 1200Z, Jul 14
RGSB Low Power Field Day, CW 0900Z-1200Z and 1300Z-1600Z, Jul 14
RGSB IOTA Contest 1200Z, Jul 27 to 1200Z, Jul 28
August, 1996
ARRL UHF Contest 1800Z, Aug 3 to 1800Z, Aug 4
North Amer. QSO Party, CW 1800Z, Aug 3 to 0600Z, Aug 4
SARTG WW RTTY Contest 0000Z, Aug 17 to 1600Z, Aug 18
ARRL 10 GHz Cumul. Contest 0800-2000 local time, Aug 17 and Aug 18
North Amer. QSO Party, Phone 1800Z, Aug 17 to 0600Z, Aug 18
TOEC WW Grid Contest, CW 1200Z, Aug 24 to 1200Z, Aug 25
September, 1996
RGSB Field Day IARU Reg 1,SSB 1500Z, Sep 7 to 1500Z, Sep 8
North American Sprint, CW 0000Z-0359Z, Sep 8
ARRL September VHF QSO Party 1800Z, Sep 14 to 0300Z, Sep 16
North American Sprint, Phone 0000Z-0359Z, Sep 15
ARRL 10 GHz Cumul. Contest 0800-2000 local time, Sep 21 and Sep 22
Scandinavian Act. Contest, CW 1500Z, Sep 21 to 1800Z, Sep 22
CQ Worldwide Contest, RTTY 0000Z, Sep 28 to 2400Z, Sep 29
Scandinavian Act. Contest, SSB 1500Z, Sep 28 to 1800Z, Sep 29
October, 1996
VK/ZL Contest, Phone 1000Z, Oct 5 to 1000Z, Oct 6
EU Autumn Sprint, SSB 1500Z-1859Z, Oct 5
RGSB 21/28 MHz Contest, SSB 0700Z-1900Z, Oct 6
VK/ZL Contest, CW 1000Z, Oct 12 to 1000Z, Oct 13
EU Autumn Sprint, CW 1500Z-1859Z, Oct 12
JARTS WW RTTY Contest 0000Z, Oct 19 to 2400Z, Oct 20
RGSB 21/28 MHz Contest, CW 0700Z-1900Z, Oct 20
CQ Worldwide Contest, Phone 0000Z, Oct 26 to 2400Z, Oct 27
November, 1996 (U.S hams should note that CQWW is before Thanksgiving)
ARRL Sweepstakes, CW 2100Z, Nov 2 to 0300Z, Nov 4
Japan Int.DX Contest, Phone 2300Z, Nov 8 to 2300Z, Nov 10
WAE RTTY Contest 1200Z, Nov 9 to 2400Z, Nov 10
ARRL Sweepstakes, Phone 2100Z, Nov 16 to 0300Z, Nov 18
RGSB 1.8 MHz Contest, CW 2100Z, Nov 16 to 0100Z, Nov 17
CQ Worldwide Contest, CW 0000Z, Nov 23 to 2400Z, Nov 24
December, 1996
ARRL 160-Meter Contest 2200Z,.Dec 6 to 1600Z, Dec 8
ARRL 10-Meter Contest 0000Z, Dec 14 to 2400Z, Dec 15
TARA RTTY Sprint 2100Z, Dec 14 to 0100Z, Dec 15
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR) Tue Feb 6 16:40:22 1996
From: aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR) (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 12:40:22 -0400
Subject: The "Good Old Boys on 75M"
Message-ID: <v01530507ad3d27f4e2a5@[206.28.194.40]>
> If rule changes are considered on the basis of bully -boy tactics by
>sociopathic individuals who obtain their kicks by interfering with
>contesters, then I would go out of my way NOT to change any aspect of the
>contest.
Agreed.
> I have every right to a clear frequency... especially during a
>contest...
Disagree completely. I think this is the problem from the good old boys on
down.
NO ONE has ANY RIGHTS to ANY Frequency. Everyone must tolerate QRM. A
contester should know best that contests are times of intense QRM.
These Good Old Boys that sit on the same frequency every night or every
week or whatever have come to expect a clear dedicated channel. That's the
problem. If everyone expects a clear frequency, asserting it as their
"right", tempers are going to flare an unpleasant things will happen over
the air.
We contesters should set an example by accepting QRM. We should hone our
skills to avoid it, to work through it, or to move on when we cannot.
>and will use every method I know of to use that frequency...
>especially when being the object of flak from the deviants. I have in the
>past and will continue as long as I seriously contest.
I have found that igoring QRM works. When asked politely to move, I will
move 500 kHz without blinking. 99% of the time, that's enough.
> In other words, Don't let the b**tards get you! Which is what I'm
>getting at here.... Don't make any changes to any test due to jerky
>behavior that you have no control over! I may turn the other cheek in a
>fight, but I won't leave the ring. I think radio contesting should
>operate the same way.
Amen.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "Man will never fly in a thousand years!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1902
>From David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu Tue Feb 6 17:45:41 1996
From: David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (David C. Patton)
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 11:45:41 -0600 (CST)
Subject: SSb Sprint problems
Message-ID: <199602061745.LAA12277 at ecom4.ecn.bgu.edu>
I agree with KM9P and KF3P and KM0L and everybody else lamenting the
difficulties of 80M during the SSB Sprints. However, as N7AVK says
we shouldn't give up our ground to miscreants.
I think the nature of the SSb Sprint is dealing with 80 Meters. To
me, it is much the same as battling for space on 20 SSB. Very
difficult. Actually, I will take 80 M SSB in the sprint over 20 SSB
in CQWW any day.
However, I would certainly support Ty's idea of a 15, 20 and 40 meter
contest that used the times from 2000-2359Z. This is pretty good
timing for all concerned, especially the west coast, avoids 80 meters
and presents the same type of propagation difficulties we experience
already--such as long propagation on 20 and 40. Except 15 takes over
for 20 and 40 for 80. In the midwest we can't work much other than
the coasts anyway. At least we would have a shot at working some of
our locals during these times. This year I couldn't hear any locals
on any band.
Another suggestion for the present maladies is to spread out across
the band a little more. Both 40 and 80 we presently seem to use only
about 25 KHz of the band.
73, Dave Patton, WX3N
mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
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