March 2013, Issue 3, Volume 61
From the Editors Desk Benjamin Straw, KC9UNS
Hi everyone, I hope you all have had a good month of DX and UPCOMING EVENTS Propagation. Meeting This last months been full of learning new things and exploring the Lake Co ARC amazing facets of amateur radio, one of those factoids is the LC Dept Homeland Sec Bld frequency range of RF connectors. The chart is by Amphenol RF March 8th @ 7:30pm and shows the RF range of the different connectors one would use Presentation: Video DIY 7 Band Portable Dipole in connecting peripherals to ones equipment. Another is who to have clean audio for digital modes. Anyway back to club things, We Hamfest think we have the date for INPOTA, 2011 and 201 2 where on the Terre Haute Hamfest and second Saturday of September and so was the OPOTA (Ohio), this Computer Expo is only guess but not official until the call sign, N9D gets reserved. Dede Activity Center Indiana State University Planning for other events are under way including the Indiana QSO March 9th @ 7:00am Party in May. The March Presentation is planning on being a video by Bob Rice, Contests VE3HKY on Indiana QSO Party May 4th 11 -5pm building the every aspect of a Net 7 Band Portable LCARC Weekly Information Net Dipole Antenna, Club's VHF & UHF Repeaters Every Thursday @ 8pm for $35. Anyway I hope you enjoy this issue of Short Skip as much as I did putting it together enjoy.
In this Issue of Short Skip
2. LCARC Meeting Minutes 3. QCWA Meeting Info 4. New in China 5. HamReviews.com, Like an Oasis 6. Antenna modeling for Beginners, 201 3 Field Day Packet Now Available 7. Solar Maximum?, QRP Rig out of China, Crazy DIY Ham 8. Numbers Station, New DXCCC Entry, Silent Key, R&L Radio Giveaway 9. Hamfest flyer
Short Skip Needs Your Help We want to bring you a full and jammed packed issue of Short Skip every month, but we need help! We are looking for: Computer and Ham radio related Reviews, Tips, Rants and Raves. Email them to KC9UNS@Gmail.com
Richard WB9VRG If we miss your birthday or get it wrong, please let us know
LCARC February Meeting Minutes Benjamin Straw, KC9UNS
2013 Officers
President: .............. WD9EZB
Meeting called to order at 7:35 PM Attendance:
Bob Wiberg
Vice President: ....... KB9HO
1 0 members 1 Guests.
Russ McComb
Reading of Minutes:
The minutes of the previous meeting (Jan 11 , 201 3) was approved as read.
Secretary: ............. KC9UNS
Treasure Report
Treasurer: ................ KF9EX
• Treasurer Report read by Jim KF9EX. • Jim reported the clubs insurance has been paid at the cost of $250, he also reported that the audit committee found record no errors.
Committee reports • Races: Jim KF9EX Reported that there was some discussion
that the new Lake County E911 center may go in the EMA building, talks are about using the 5th and 6th floors. The building was found to be able to withstand a F4 tornado minus the windows which would have to be replaced, this would save the county money on building a new e911 center or refurbished a lesser building. Some of those talks were about opening up a part of the 6th floor and having the offices able to look down onto the 911 floor. EMA would also be moved to its own part within the 6th floor, having better offices and a bigger conference room. Jim also reported on the statewide RACES drill, Our county was a Dark Country (Only Amateur Radio) and had to communicate with other counties if something had to be sent. they found a slight problem on an HF antenna and thinks it should be an easy fix. Jim asked if anyone had a small VHF/UHF antenna that one could be donated to the EMA, its needed to communicate with the repeater on the roof. • Repeater: Marv WV9O advised that some work had been done to the repeater • Net: Ben KC9UNS reported that we had a Brand new ham checkin on Jan 1 7th and had an average checkin base of 1 0-1 2 each Thursday night. • Contest: Ben reported he has been promoting the contests the club would like to participate in If interested contact Bob WD9EZB or Ben KC9UNS • DX: Nick W9UM Reported that the bands were open and brought some rare QSO cards to show
Old Business
• Ed K9TXT sent in a picture of the clubs coffee pot • Bob also reported there is going to be a meeting on the 1 3th about the ARISS contact
New Business • NONE Program
Jim KF9EX Presented on Genealogy Meeting adjourned at 9:1 0 PM Local.
Benjamin Straw
Jim Harney
Trustee: ..................... WV9O
Marv Boetcher
Directors
Bill Young .................. N9QLS Ken Brown ................ KE9TC Bob Nelms ............. WD9FNY
Mark Skowronski ............ K9MQ John Gianotti ................. W9WY
Editorial Staff
Editor ....................... KC9UNS Benjamin Straw
(kc9uns@gmail.com)
Club Resources
W9LJ/R ....................... 1 47.000 + PL 1 31 .8 W9LJ/R (St. John) ...... 1 47.240 + PL 1 31 .8 W9LJ/R ....................... 442.075 + PL 1 31 .8
Repeater Nets
Thursday Night @ 8 pm: LCARC Weekly Infomation Net
Meetings
March 8, 201 3
BOARD MEETING LCEMA OFFICE, 2900 93rd Ave Crown Point (Across from Gov. Ctr.) 6:30 p.m.
March 8, 201 3
CLUB MEETING 2900 93rd Ave Crown Point (Across from Gov. Ctr.) 7:30 p.m.
It's once again that time of year to renew your membership to the Lake County Amateur Radio Club. If you have not already renewed or are looking to become a member, please fill out and send in the membership form at the end of this newsletter and/or see Jim KF9EX at the next club meeting. Vol. 61 No. 3
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QCWA Chapter 36 Meeting Information Stan Vandiver, W4SV
Details of our upcoming meetings, and highlights of past meetings, can always be found at http://www.chapter36.org/meetings.html. It is not necessary to be a QCWA member to attend breakfast and dinner meetings. All are welcome. Use this link to check on future dates: (http://www.chapter36.org/meetings.html). 73, Stan W4SV I think the threat of freezing rain may have kept some folks away, but we still had an excellent turnout of 26 people who made it for a delicious meal at Ryan's Buffet. Although the rain kept coming down lightly, it didn't freeze after all (or not until much later, maybe with a light snow). The worst of this weather blew north of us and then hammered New England with a severe blizzard. It is quite a reminder that it was just four years ago when our chapter reorganized in a February blizzard in Chesterton. We had a some great items for show and tell this month. Bruce W9OTN read a very funny account of the History of Dot Com. It is rather too long to print on this page, but click here to read it as a text file. John KA9PGC brought in a couple of beautifully built home-brew items, an AM broadcast and shortwave receiver that he built himself some years back, and a mock up of a Yaesu FT-1 01 E that was built by former Porter County ARC member Mike Hrapek, K3MIC (now SK). See photos of these items below. Our 201 3 Award winners were not present at this meeting, so we will catch up with them again soon, hopefully next month. Jim KF9EX is due his 55-Year Award, and John W9ZG will be getting his 60-Year Award. Thanks to Carl W9CJH and Lila N9ESS for these photos.
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Stay up to date with the current happenings of the Lake County Amateur Radio Club on Facebook. To find us type LCARC in the Facebook search box or http://www.facebook.com/LCARC
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New from China
Benjamin Straw, KC9UNS As most of you know I keep an eye out on radios coming out of china, and there have been some as of late. Most are HT's we are starting to see more mobile radios hit the market. BTW dont mind the mouse/bear/what ever looking radios (Oh how cute!). From Left to Right: Beofang UV-B5, Beofang UV-B6, KYD IP-VU1 A, TDXOne TDX-Q1 0, Quansheng TG-R20(Multi Colors), and Shanghai Motorola Telecom(SMP) SMP698 Dual Band Mobile.
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HamReviews.com
Mark Skowronski, K9MQ Hamreviews.com is a interesting website that uses the popular eham.net equipment reviews and graphically displays the ratings. Using this graphical display, not only can you see what equipment ranks the highest, you can also easily see which equipment has the highest number of reviews.
Like an Oasis
Jeff Davis KE9V This last weekend was a major DX contest and I managed to stay away from the HF radio for all of it. At least until the waning minutes of the contest. The waters had been mightily churned and it seemed one cacophonous mess to the casual listener.
And then, almost magically, as the clock rolled over to 0000 of the next day, the silence was suddenly deafening. I can just imagine there were quite a few exhausted operators and it’s likely many of them had to be grinning over putting a few news ones in the log. I’ve played in these waters before and know the feeling. But somewhere along the road to becoming a grumpy old man, I got turned off by the high-speed exchanges of button pushing keyboard jockeys staring into the glow of LCD monitors while their computers and radio equipment ran the show. Anyway, after the contest I had the rig on and was monitoring familiar territory on 40 meters. It was just getting late enough that the band was beginning to go long. I suppose that means different things depending on your location. Here in the Hoosier Heartland 40 meters is good for 250-750 miles, give or take, while the Sun shines. Things can be a bit spooky and unpredictable right around the gray line, but as the hours pass after sunset, the workable area for me on 40 meters grows dramatically. By 0200 it’s not strange to begin working the West coast. And as the night continues we often see a path to Hawaii and the rest of the Pacific. By 0800 signals from the VK’s and ZL’s waft over Central Indiana just begging to be snagged by anyone awake at that ungodly hour. So last night at around 0300 I was listening to the quiet while putting together a few things for an early next-morning conference call when I heard a seven calling CQ. And what welcome relief his signal provided, like an oasis. Good old-fashioned CW, sent by hand, the way God and Hiram meant it to be, flowing from the desert to my front door. My new friend was in Lake Havasu City, some 1 600 miles southwest of here. After the usual opening platitudes that CW enthusiasts suffer in hopes of what might come next, conversation ensued. Real conversation. He told me about a boating trip he had planned for today and we spoke of other things besides radio and the ailments of age. It was probably the longest CW conversation I’ve enjoyed in 201 3 and I would have been pleased had it gone on even longer. But through the burps in the QSK I could hear other signals floating into the bandpass. No doubt other parched patrons of the dits and dahs anxious to get their turn in the aether now that the contest was over and the band had purified itself from its former abuse. We signed off in the customary manner of the mode with 73 and many hopes to meet again. After the logging, I closed station for the night. Now sleep was the one calling CQ and I was slipping into the abyss. But just before passing to the other side of consciousness, I couldn’t help but think that when radio is good, it’s very good. Smoke Curls is written by Jeff Davis, KE9V. www.KE9V.net
Vol. 61 No. 3
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Review: “Antenna Modeling For Beginners” John AE5X
I’ve had two weeks now to flex my new-found antenna modeling skills, courtesy of Antenna Modeling For Beginners by Ward Silver N0AX. Long story, short – I like the book and consider it money well spent (although I spent significantly less then the cover price by buying from Amazon before they raised it). For others who may be considering the purchase of Antenna Modeling For Beginners, there are a few things you ought to know. While this book is a how-to on antenna modeling, it is more specifically a book on the free version of W7EL’s EZNEC antenna modeling program. I mention this because the book and the software go hand in hand – and the free version of EZNEC has serious limitations. That’s not as bad as it may seem – the techniques described in the book translate to more advanced versions of EZNEC – just know that to accurately model antennas more complex than dipoles, loops and verticals that you’ll have to pay for software that will allow it. The primary difference between various versions of EZNEC are in the number of “segments” you’re allowed to use to define antenna element portions. The more segments, the better the acuracy. But it is a book for beginners, as the title clearly states. Also, there are corrections to various typos as well as other pertinent info regarding the book online here - be sure to check that out if you buy the book. So on to the book itself: The limitations and capabilities of of antenna models vs. real-world antennas are discussed, as are the factors contributing to those differences. Tables, charts, plots and traces are all described and made use of via exercises. In Chapter 4, you build your first antenna – a dipole. Simple, right? Once built, you then learn to rotate the elements into an inverted V configuration. The method of the book is this: describe the how and why of a given topic, then perform a related exercise in the program, then use the program to analyze the results. The way the book is laid out is a perfect blend of description and hands-on with the software, with each activity enforcing the other. A lot of learning takes place in these early exercises – how to connect wires (elements), the effect on input impedance as the dipole becomes an inverted V, the effect on bandwidth as aluminum elements are used rather than copper wire, etc.
Later, an antenna model’s height is increased and the ground type is changed. Any ham worth their ticket already knows the basic results of these changes without having to model them but the point of these particular exercises is twofold: • to learn how to manipulate the software to correspond to your intended design, and • to demonstrate that a given change in the design will result in a valid change in antenna characteristics Now that the software has earned your trust, the book contains other exercises that will be needed to design more realistic models. You learn to add taper to aluminum elements in one exercise and add an inductive load in another. Step by step. It didn’t take long for me to discover that the real value of antenna modeling (for me anyway) is not in designing new antennas from scratch but rather to manipulate existing designs in order to predict new results. To do this, I had to spring for the full version of EZNEC ($89) and was happy to do so knowing that I could use it to its almost-full potential. Some examples of what I mean in my particular case: • A model of my Yagi, a Force 1 2 C3, already exists and is included on the CD in the ARRL’s Antenna Handbook. With EZNEC and the knowledge to manipulate it, I could now add the optional 1 0m reflector and analyze results on 1 0m and other bands. Is the additional gain and F/B worth the $99 price of this option? • Force 1 2 also offers a 40m aluminum dipole that can be added to the C3′s boom. I added this to the model to see what it might offer me over my fixed wire dipole for that band. And how it might interact with the C3′s performance on other bands (negligible). • If I add the 40m element, how will it perform at the antenna’s current height vs. 20 feet higher in terms of take-off angle, etc? One thing missing from the book but contained (even in the free version) in EZNEC is the topic of adding and defining transmission lines used to feed the modeled antennas. As it is, the feed source for all models is placed directly at the feedpoint. This is probably a minor point for most antennas that I would design/manipulate – at least for now. Perhaps Ward’s next book, Advanced Antenna Modeling, will address that issue! As I mentioned at the beginning, I consider this a very useful and well-written book. It’s one thing to know how to do something; knowing how to teach someone else to do that something is an entirely different skill and Ward Silver has it. Visit John's Blog at AE5X.com
201 3 Field Day Packet Now Available Arrl Letter
It's that time of year again -- time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 22-23, 201 3! ARRL's flagship operating event -- always held the fourth full weekend in June -- brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download http://www.arrl.org/fieldday and include the complete rules, as well as other reference items such as forms, ARRL Section abbreviation list, entry submission instructions, a Frequently Asked Questions section, guidelines for getting bonus points, instructions for get-on-the-air stations and a kit for publicizing your event with the local press. New for 201 3: Stations operating as Class A or B may begin setting up at 0000 UTC on Friday (which will be Thursday 8 PM EDT, 7 PM CDT, 6 PM MDT and 5 PM PDT). The groups may start and stop their set-up, resuming the set-up later, but may spend only a maximum of 24 hours cumulative time for setting up their sites. An informational flier with basic "What Is Field Day?" has also been included in this year's Field Day packet. Amateur Radio clubs and individuals are encouraged to reproduce this flyer as a handout. Find it and more on the ARRL's Field Day web page http://www.arrl.org/fieldday.
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Solar maximum? Oh, you just missed it NewScientist.com
WAITING for solar fireworks to reach a grand finale next year? Um, sorry, looks like you already missed them. Structures in the sun's corona indicate that the peak in our star's latest cycle of activity has been and gone, at least in its northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere, meanwhile, is on a sluggish rise to solar maximum and may not hit its peak until 201 4. This bizarre asymmetry strengthens a theory that has been bubbling among sun watchers for the past few years: our star is headed for hibernation. Having the sun's outbursts turned off for a while would provide a better baseline for studying how they influence Earth's climate. Observations of magnetic footprints called sunspots revealed in the 1 800s that the sun moves through a roughly 11 -year cycle of activity. Around a solar maximum, the star ramps up production of sunspots, flares and ejections of plasma. During a solar minimum, things quieten down. Following an unexpectedly deep minimum from 2008 to 201 0, solar physicists predicted a weak maximum for 201 3. These days, though, sunspots aren't the only tools for charting the solar cycle. Richard Altrock of the US Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico has been studying coronal structures called polar crown prominences, which stem from magnetic rumblings on the sun's surface. These gaseous filaments form at mid-latitudes at the beginning of a solar cycle. As it progresses they drift polewards, and when they reach 76 degrees latitude, a solar maximum has arrived. Soon afterwards the prominences disappear, only to form again during the next cycle.
Based on the movements of this cycle's prominences, Altrock says that an especially weak solar maximum took place in the sun's northern hemisphere around July last year (arxiv.org/abs/1 209.2969). Bernhard Fleck, project scientist for NASA's and the European Space Agency's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, calls the paper solid work, but adds that even if we missed the northern maximum, the southern hemisphere is still expected to put on a show. According to Altrock, the southern prominences are still on the move, but slowly. If they continue at the current rate, he says, the south will not reach its maximum until February 201 4. Such a large asymmetry between hemispheres could be a sign of big changes ahead, says Steven Tobias, a mathematician at the University of Leeds, UK, who models what drives the sun's magnetic field. According to his models, such a situation precedes an extended quiet phase called a grand minimum. "Changes in symmetry are more indicative of going into a grand minimum than the strength of the cycle," he says. Grand minima can last for decades. The previous one took place between 1 645 and 1 71 5, and has been linked to the little ice age in Europe. A new one might also cause localised cold periods, but many climate scientists see a silver lining to such a turn of events: a grand minimum offers ideal conditions for testing the effects of solar variability on Earth's climate (see "Our star's subtle influence"). But Michael Proctor, a solar physicist at the University of Cambridge, is not convinced that this will happen. "This present cycle is similar to the weak one that ended in 1 91 3, and that was followed by a strong cycle," he says. Only time will tell.
Chinese X1 M is portable QRP dual-mode (ssb / cw) HF transceiver . Features: Transceiver: X1 M [v2.01 ] Frequency range: 0.1 ~ 30mhz transceiver; Modes: ssb / cw (AM as optional); Power output: 5 Watts (max); Operating voltage: minimum 9.6v (dc), the highest 1 4.5v (dc); Operating current: 0.35a (min), 1 .2a (max); Preamplifier; Memory 1 00 channels ; RIT function; Automatic internal CW key Back-light to turn off Keyboard can be locked; Dimensions: 97 * 40 * 1 55 (mm) Weight: 0.65Kg Price: TBD Contact Info
Most people know that Florda is full of Nuts and Loons, Ritchie Williams N4DPP of Palm Bay, FL got bit with a crazy DIY bug, big time. Ritchie wasnt satisfied with the display color of his Yaesu FT-7900R, he said it didnt match the dashboard of his new Chevy Cruze. So what did he do? Change out the LED's & Resistors in the radio. Congrats Ritchie on making this months "Crazy DIY Project Award". It will be mailed out to you on February 30th.
Old Display
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The Numbers station (Official Trailer) A former black ops agent and the young woman he’s assigned to protect fight for survival after a surprise attack. No one has ever truly confirmed the full intent of the numbers Station. For decades — since WWII, some say since WWI — shortwave broadcasts around the world have repeated strings of numbers for unknown recipients. The voices are male and female, some children, some synthesized. Supposedly the stations are government-maintained, the numbers strings of onetime pad code. None have ever been acknowledged in an official capacity. Some still
broadcast.
The stations have invaded popular consciousness in small ways: a huge collection of recordings was released as The Conet Project; one of those recordings found its way into Wilco’s song ‘Poor Places;’ another is used in ‘Gyroscope‘ by Boards of Canada. The show Lost famously used the idea of the stations as part of its incorporation of a string of powerful numbers into the main storyline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFZS3spi0Xw The Numbers Station is scheduled for release in the US on April 26.
MICHIGAN MAN DECLARES HIMSELF NEW DXCC ENTITY WB0RUR, on the scene
YPSILANTI, Mich.; February 1 2, 201 3 -- In what's being hailed as a shrewd yet
questionable move prior to Spring DX contest season, a Ypsilanti ham has declared his home QTH as a new DXCC entity. Gunter Geisel of Upper Flogdon County says he will operate from "Gunterlandia" using call sign of GNN0LA. Gunterlandia includes Mr. Geisel's front and back yard (but not his side yard, which is currently used to store his brother-in-law’s Winnebago). He says he's confident no other DXpedition has activated the region before. "Yes, I'm sure of it. Without question. There have been no previous DX-peditions to my property," says the 56-year-old fishing guide. "It makes me the most wanted DXCC entity in the world." President of the Tall Pines Amateur Radio Club, Johnson Rhys-Smith, is doubtful that the new designation will be approved by official radio organizations. "Can you just do that? I don’t think so. Why hasn’t anyone done that before? I don’t think you can do that. Has anyone called the League?" Mr. Geisel says he got the idea after reading all the Internet comments about DXCC entities like North Korea. "Why can't we Americans have the most desired DXCC entity?" he questions, adding, "It's time to stop sending DX entities overseas!" He will activate GNN0LA on multiple bands and modes during the upcoming DX contests. ### www.noiseblankers.com/hijinks
Silent Key
Hans Van Rijsse, PD0AC - hamgear.wordpress.com
I have a problem. Actually car owners in my neighborhood have a problem. While doing some tests with an Echolink node on 70cm, one of the neighbors came by and asked if I could have a look at his car key. He owns one of those fancy new cars which don’t use old fashioned keys anymore, and he wasn’t able to open his car. Nothing new, I wrote about this before. It seems that these state-of-the-art systems rely on 433 MHz too. My 5 Watt signal transmits at least 2 MHz below that frequency, but this incident makes it clear that the receivers in these cars aren’t very picky. Technically it is not my problem – the band’s primary use is ham radio, any other use is at someones own risk. I prefer not to think in black & white though, but I have no idea how to fix this.
R&L Electronics Giveaways I was browsing some of my ham blogs and this popped up on my radar. Starting March 4th R&L Electronics will be giving away 1 (One) radio a week for 1 2 (Twelve) weeks. 4 Yaesu FT-60R's, 4 Kenwood TM281 A's, 4 Alinco DJC7T's will be given away, all would be a great to own... except the under powered Alinco HT but that's just my opinion. Anyway check out http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/radioweekprev.php for more details
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Visit the Lake County ARC on the web at http://www.w9lj.org