Month: February 2022

AA7XA Antenna Raising

News from W7KKE:

In the Otis fire, Frank, AA7XA, lost his home and all his ham radio equipment. Today Daron, N7HQR, Eric, AF7EU, and myself repaired Frank’s damaged HF ground plane which survived the fire but the balun and coax didn’t. So a new balun and coax was installed for that antenna.

Frank bought a 300’ end fed long wire and today Eric shot a line over a cedar tree a few lots away and hoisted up the end of that antenna, a major accomplishment. This antenna should perform very well.

Daron installed a nice through-wall fixture to route the coax inside and pounded in a new ground rod.  While Daron and Eric were busy with their tasks I routed the coax and attached it to the facia.

This evening I messaged Frank asking how his new 300 ft longwire was working and he replied “Like gangbusters!”.  We’re all really happy Frank is back on the air, at least on HF.

Here’s a few photos of today’s festivities:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6lie06os7yt53uj/AAAmsXCqn0OvJgIqtvbT781Wa?dl=0

Friday Forums: Digital Voice

Zoom session each Friday at 10:00 am, featuring discussion on various topics. The 2nd Friday of each month is devoted to digital voice modes. We have active Dstar and Fusion groups that sort into breakout rooms for discussion. Breakout rooms can be opened anytime for other topics or separate discussions.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85393692636

Meeting ID: 853 9369 2636

  • 2nd Friday digital voice modes

New rules for Field Day this year

Some New Rules Going into Effect in 2022 for ARRL Field Day

Starting this year, the maximum PEP output for a transmitter used by anyone submitting a Field Day log will be 100 W. The power multiplier of 2 will remain in place, and the high-power category will be removed from the rules. Until this year, the maximum low-power limit had been 150 W for most ARRL-sponsored operating events. The power multiplier will remain at 5 for QRP participants running a maximum of 5 W or less. As previously announced, 100 W is now the low-power category limit for all ARRL and IARU HF Contests, effective January 1, 2022.

ARRL.org

A couple of changes instituted initially as accommodations for the COVID-19 pandemic will remain. Class D (Home) stations will continue to be able to earn points for contacts with other Class D stations. The club aggregate scoring change initiated in 2020 as a temporary measure will become part of the permanent rules. In the aggregate scoring plan, the scores of individual stations are combined under the score of a single club.

ARRL.org

Wednesday Workshop

Building an SCI-6 sound card interface

This month, Daron built a sound card interface to use multiple software programs over the radio.  This one is a Unified Microsystems SCI-6 and is available for $25.  There are many ways to connect the computer to the radio for sound card modes; this is a very simple interface to use your existing sound card in the computer with your radio.  Next month, we’ll have at least one kit where you build a complete sound card for your computer.  This is a bit more money but may be an easier way to interface.

https://www.unifiedmicro.com/sci6.htm