[VHFcontesting] Remote building heat RE: [NEWSVHF] 222 MHz Aurora Report

[Steve Simons]

Dave,
GM - one of the out-building heating methods I am looking into is an evacuated tube solar collector.
This looks like a promising way to keep the temperature up during sunny days.
I will start some trials this summer.
My hope is to add heat to the domestic HW system and then switch over to augmenting the baseboard room heating.

73,
Steve W1SMS

-----Original Message-----
From: newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net <newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of David Olean
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2023 11:02 AM
To: NEWSVHF at mailman.qth.net; vhfcontesting at contesting.com; 222 >> 222Activity at groups.io <222Activity at groups.io>
Subject: [NEWSVHF] 222 MHz Aurora Report

Hello VHF ops,

I was watching the solar indices in hopes that we might get a dump of Solar particles down on the poles to spark off a real bonafide aurora. 
After dinner, I trudged up the hill and turned on the generator to get stuff running. I started calling CQ on 222.100 and also monitored the ON4KST page. There was some concerted activity on six and two meters. I was  atad disappointed that more folks didn't make the move to the higher band as conditions warranted.  Still, ther was activity on the
222 MHz band.  My first AU contact was good old VA3ELE running just 25 watts! Peter had a great signal via aurora. Next station worked was VE3DS who was really pounding in. I found that my "sweet spot" seemed to be between 295 and about 305 degrees. As time went along I found that
295 degrees was the best heading later on.   I heard N4PZ near Chicago with a great 55A signal several times, but Steve did not answer my calls. Both VE3DS in Toronto, and Steve N4PZ peaked at about the same heading. That N4PZ contact would have been a great QSO and I suspect RX problems were the fly in the ointment.  I also heard and worked WX3K in PA. Stephanie lives near the Delaware Water Gap in FN20.  She announced that this was her first 222 MHz aurora QSO! Congratulations are in order for that.  WX3K had a good 55A signal as well. Totals for me were three
222 MHz AU QSOs and four stations heard.

I have been thinking about the best way to utilize the hilltop shack. 
Not having remote capabilities is a big problem as getting up there can be a problem. It does not get any better when you factor in the age of the poor slob who has to do the walking.  It is like walking to school back in the old days. It was all uphill both ways!!  I just bit the bullet and am starting on a hilltop power project to allow permanent power up there. I am enlarging my solar installation. I have ordered a new big Lithium battery along with some killer solar panels to generate
1 KW of DC power. The new batteries have internal heaters. They can be powered by the Solar panels directly. This will allow charging in the winter months.  Now I have to remove the original 150 AH  lithium battery or keep the shack heated all winter with a propane furnace. ($$) I am hoping that with a bigger system, it will be possible to keep things running continuously. I will need power for the 5 GHz internet link, a dedicated computer, and the K3 radio. All of this will have to run off a sine wave inverter that must also be powered up continuously. I figure about a 15-20 amp continuous draw at 12 VDC. I'll probably have to add a second lithium battery to achieve my goal, but I'll start with just one 300 AH battery. They are not cheap.  If you figure 20 amps per hour of use, a 12 hour period of no Sun will amount to 240 AH of battery drain! Yikes. I suspect the correct battery capacity is three batteries for a 900 AH capacity. That is only $5000. (a mere drop in the bucket) I might be getting into trouble here!  Walking up the hill is sounding better and better!

73

Dave K1WHS


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