[Fourlanders] January contest score submitted
Tom McElroy
tommcelroy.mail at gmail.com
Wed Feb 1 21:32:44 EST 2017
In regards to bandpass filters - I have several 2m cans that need some
exercise.
Plenty of semi-rigid N jumpers also.
73
Tom McElroy
W4SDR
On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 9:12 PM, Jim Worsham <w4kxy at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Since I was not at Bob’s place for the contest because of illness I wanted
> to hold off on comments until I had a chance to talk to Sherman. He and I
> had lunch today with Mike Stipick, KC4RI. We have a weekly lunch bunch
> going on Wednesdays 1 PM at the Mad Italian off of I-285 in Chamblee. It
> is a great opportunity for three retired Georgia Tech engineers to get
> together and talk about the rest of you. We haven’t started exchanging
> recipes yet but who knows. Anyway, see below for my comments in red. One
> final thing. Sherman mentioned to me that there was some issue with the 6
> meter antennas and high SWR. After talking about it, it sounded like
> water/moisture in the relay box. We have been using that setup for several
> years so probably time for an overhaul. Maybe try to find some newer
> sealed relays and even do a PCB. Mike Stipick has a way to design and get
> PCBs at a very reasonable price. Sherman also suggested that while we are
> at it we add the capability to reverse the phase on the beams. This raises
> the takeoff angle for short E Skip. Bob built the setup we are using now
> but he has plenty of his own projects so Sherman and I are going to take
> this on with the help of Mike Stipick. Certainly three experienced Georgia
> Tech engineers with nothing else better to do can figure this out! That’s
> all I have for now.
>
> 73
> Jim, W4KXY
>
> *From:* Sherman Banks <w4atl at shermanbanks.net>
> *Sent:* Monday, January 30, 2017 08:10
> *To:* 'John Kludt' <johnnykludt at earthlink.net> ; 'Bob Lear'
> <w4zst at windstream.net> ; 'FourLanders Contest Team'
> <fourlanders at contesting.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Fourlanders] January contest score submitted
>
>
> I experienced the focus problem at least 2 times which affected QSO entry.
> I also hit the power button on the laptop 2 times during the contest due to
> the fact that the power button was next to the escape key. I would prefer
> using the Maestro to fix the focus problem and use an external keyboard to
> avoid hitting the power key on the laptop.
>
>
>
> *From:* Fourlanders [mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] *On
> Behalf Of *John Kludt
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 28, 2017 12:41 PM
> *To:* Bob Lear <w4zst at windstream.net>; FourLanders Contest Team <
> fourlanders at contesting.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Fourlanders] January contest score submitted
>
>
>
> Bob,
>
>
>
> It was quite a weekend. Suggestions follow:
>
> - 6m - As the band captain I need to know if 6m operators would like
> to give the Flex 6500 another go or if they want to use the FT-2000. We
> have both and will bring both as one can back up the other. It is somewhat
> ironic to me the the 6m band captain seldom operates on 6m but so be it.
> We have a number of 6m ops that are more skilled than I and I have gotten
> used to 222.
>
> We are fine with continuing to use the Flex 6500 but as Sherman commented
> we would like to use the Maestro in June to try that out. Lets keep the
> FT-2000 available for now as a backup. As far as the 6 meter band captain
> not being able to operate 6 that reminds me of something that happened
> during my visit to K5QE for the June contest last year. The contest
> started and 6 was open. I asked Marshall about operating on 6 for a
> while. He looked at me and said, “Jim, when 6 is open that don’t let even
> me operate that radio and it is my radio!” So, this is apparently a common
> situation. If you want to work 6 you just need to kick one of us out of
> the chair and do it. You are the band captain after all. Or you can just
> do what I did and operate meteor scatter all night. No one wants to do
> that and the new grids are nice.
>
> - MSK144 - worked well on 6m and I had several requests to go to 2m
> for MSK144. Suggest on both 6m and 2m we need to be prepared to go to
> MSK144 general release V.1.7.0 any time day or night if the bands are
> slow, It does need to be the general release version as some of the beta's
> of 1.7.0 did not have contest mode fully implemented
>
> Yep, apparently MSK441 is the mode now for Meteors. I am going to have to
> get up to speed on that before June.
>
> - For antennas suggest we swap the places for Blackhaxk and Radio
> Flyer. 2m goes on Blackhawk in its new location and 6m goes on Radio Flyer
> down by the generator.
>
> Yep, the 6 meter antenna needs to be as far away from everything else as
> possible. Six gets into everything and we are running some serious power
> on that band. We might also want to consider using a Low Pass Filter. I
> used to use one but then discovered that there is already one built into
> the amplifier. Stopped using it and no one complained.
>
> - If we can haul Scott's old trailer, suggest it goes down the hill in
> the vicinity of Radio Flyer (not quite sure where) as the supply trailer
> and the antenna location for 222. The goal is to try and get some
> increased separation between 222 and 432 and see if that helps with the 432
> interference with 222.
>
> Yep, need to maximize distance between all antennas (isolation) while
> keeping reasonable feed line runs (line loss). A balancing act.
>
> - Suggest if we have bandpass filters we use them. Might help,
>
> Yep, another good idea if we can find the filters. I have band pass
> filters for 2, 222 and 432 as well as a low pass filter for 6.
> Unfortunately they are in a box somewhere in my storage room so that will
> be no help for June. Maybe September.
>
> - As far as FM goes it all depends on the band. 6m no. 1.25m -
> current setup but advertise more aggressively that we will be on the top
> and bottom of each hour for five minutes during "normal business hours" -
> not 2:00AM etc!. - unless there is band opening. 2m same as 222 adding a
> small rear mount vertical Yagi to the 2m stack. 70 cm is a good question
> and I suggest we at least try it on Saturday, same schedule as 222. May
> need to changed to a stacked pair of Yagi's with a rear mount vertical in
> the middle of the stack like 1.25m and 2m to accommodate. The goal of FM
> is more Q's not necessarily more grids. If SSB and Cw can knock off the
> grids and FM Q could be worth 30, 40 50 points. On 1.25 and 70cm they are
> double the value to begin with and we need more 222 and 432 Q's.
>
> Some good ideas here. I definitely agree that FM on 6 isn’t worth the
> trouble.
>
> No major attachment to any of these ideas. Sometimes it is fun to switch
> things around just to see if we can do a little better than the time
> before. And it is something different - keeps us on our toes!
>
> Some good ideas Johnny! Already getting excited about June. Especially
> now that it looks like I will not be traveling out of the country this
> summer to do a DXpedition on 6.
>
>
>
> Johnny K4SQC
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Bob Lear
> >Sent: Jan 28, 2017 11:03 AM
> >To: FourLanders Contest Team
> >Subject: [Fourlanders] January contest score submitted
> >
> >I reviewed the log (which didn't take long) and fixed a busted call and
> >a grid mistake. Only reduced by one Q on 2m.
> >
> >Submitted to 3830 and ARRL. Received ARRL receipt.
> >
> >Final was 12,285 points. Right now 3rd in multi submissions on 3830 but
> >probably won't stay there.
> >
> >In preparation for June, please send me any suggestions about FM
> >strategy or station setup changes that you may have so we can get
> >discussion going. We did not come away with concrete plans from the
> >meeting last weekend.
> >
> >Thanks and 73, Bob W4ZST
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Fourlanders at contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/fourlanders
>
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