Here’s some links that will give you additional information discussed at our November 2nd meeting (SOTA and portable operation). Thanks everyone for attending, I hope you enjoyed the meeting and the refreshments. Don’t forget to purchase your Holiday Party ticket!
The photo on the left is from this summer’s activation of Mt. Mansfield by Frandy and me. You couldn’t ask for a more spectacular day. Don’t you wish you were with us? You can be, just ask! We’re always willing to help out with advice, equipment loans or if you want to tag along on our next activation – it’s more fun when you get to share!
SOTA – Main website and SOTA information SOTAwatch – See current and upcoming activations. HobbyKing – Good source for Lipo batteries and chargers. Great prices, I’ve had good results with them so far. They have a USA warehouse, be sure to look there first (faster) Batteryspace – Source for LiFePO4 batteries and chargers. Elecraft – USA manufacturer of fine transceivers, including the KX3 Jackite – Good quality kite poles for antenna supports
Yep, November is our last meeting this year. December brings the joint HCRA/MTARA Holiday Party, which replaces the regular meeting. We have an interesting presentation for you this month, a presentation focusing on portable operations, including SOTA, battery technology, field deployable antenna ideas for HF, and an opportunity to see a KX3 setup and operating. A little something for everyone that will leave you with some ideas you can employ in the future.
HF Bands on FIRE lately!
Cycle 24 has been exciting the last few weeks. Ten meters has been open worldwide, sometimes just after daybreak. Combined with the start of the new contest season and you’ve got a recipe for fun! Not interested in contesting? That’s OK, the bands still work for ragchewing, DX, digital and more. Don’t be one of those folks that is ‘negative on everything’ except what they like. Every facet of amateur radio encompasses all aspects of the hobby. You can’t do well in contest, work DX or chat with your buddies on 75m if you don’t have a good antenna, can’t set up an emergency operation without portable power – you get the idea. As soon as you close your mind to a mode of operation, types of antennas, contesting, etc. you lose the opportunity to learn more about our hobby. Stay open minded and embrace the activities of others instead of coloring them with your own preferences.
Cycle 24 peak revised!
Although our current solar cycle is not one for the record books NASA has revised the predicted peak to May 2013. Earlier predictions had the peak occurring in either 2011 or 2012. This is certainly good news for amateur operators everywhere. Read more about NASA’s forecasts here.
Notes from the cluster:
Tickets for the HCRA/MTARA joint Holiday Party are selling fast. Pick up yours at November’s MTARA or HCRA meetings or by mail to either club. December 10th is your date for fun at the Steaming Tender in Palmer, MA.
Our annual November auction has been cancelled this year. If you hear someone mentioning attending please inform them of the change.
ARRL 10 Meter contest this December. This year should be an exciting one, especially based on recent 10 meter band openings. Look for more information from W1MSW about this fun event elsewhere in this edition of Zero Beat.
KX3 Raffle prize is in our hands! When we hold this year’s drawing we will have the radio ready and waiting for you. Ed will have this excellent prize on display and we plan on having a KX3 on display and operating at tonight’s meeting!
We’re talking about the EXACT Elecraft KX3 in the photograph, serial # 2261. It arrived safely and is in our hands. So how do you get it? Easy, purchase a KX3 raffle ticket at the next HCRA meeting, that’s how!
For a mere $10 donation to HCRA you get a chance to win this exciting new HF transceiver valued at $1000. Just recently it topped Sherwood’s list for best receiver performance but now has slipped to second place behind a $20,000 rig. Twelve watts, all HF bands and runs on 8 AA batteries – how cool is that? Only 250 tickets will be sold and the drawing will be held March 1st, 2013 (or earlier if we sell all the tickets). Tickets are selling quickly – don’t miss out on a golden opportunity to own a world class, ultra portable, HF transceiver..
A few of our members own a KX3 and they are indeed a nice toy. Rumor has it there will be one set up and operating at our November 2nd meeting. Of course #2261 will be on display (if you can get it out of Ed’s hands) at the raffle table. Can’t make it to the meeting, then drop me an email and I’ll be sure you get your ticket(s).
Thanks as always for your support of HCRA, our raffles and our events!
As promised, the Silent Auction is returning and will be at the October 5th meeting. We’ve got a few items all set to go and a few ‘possibles’ in the wings. Here’s what we have for sure:
1. Bencher BY-2 Chrome Iambic Paddles – like new condition – starting bid = $20.00
2. Box of new and used parts – starting bid = $1.00
3. Box of wire, coax, speaker, etc. – starting bid = $1.00
See something you want/need? Visit the auction table at the side of the room and enter your bid. The high bidder will be chosen at the end of the meeting. You MUST be on hand to pay for and take home your new toy.
We’re constantly looking for more donations and or consignments for the Silent Auction. Looking to sell something, we can provide you with a space on the table. Club commission is 10% of the selling price, $1.00 minimum (this is if you bring the item to the meeting. If you want HCRA to pick up and sell the item for you the fee is 25% of the selling price). You may set a minimum selling price. See Jim, KK1W at the meeting for more details.
This Friday, October 5th! Club meeting featuring Tom Homewood/W1TO, silent auction, KX3 raffle and more.
Read all about the meeting, upcoming raffles and more in the October issue of Zero Beat. Once again Frandy has put together an interesting issue of HCRA and local interest. Enjoy!
If you’re tuning around the bands and come across some signals that sound like “beedley, beedley, beedley” you may have stumbled across a radio teletype transmission. Not exactly sure what that “beedley” sound is? Here’s what it sounds like – rtty (hint, click rtty)
Usually abbreviated RTTY, it is one of many digital modes that include PSK31, WSPR and others. RTTY has been around for many years and has seen an uptick in activity lately. No longer do you have to drag home a 100 pound teletype machine, listen to the clatter of the type or smell the warm machine oil (although you still can if you want to). Modern amateur operators use a computer to do all the heavy lifting nowadays.
Sound interesting? Want to learn more? Then come to our October meeting and guess what, you will! Our guest speaker is Tom/W1TO and he will be talking to us about RTTY and RTTY contesting. You will learn what is necessary to setup and operate RTTY (hint – not much!) and how to play in your first RTTY contest (another hint, it is fun and additcive!) Best of all you’re guaranteed to leave the meeting more informed than when you arrived!
Want to see RTTY in action, here’s a short sample video to whet your appetite to try something new:
Have you subscribed to our new website yet?
HCRA’s new website is getting better everyday. New content, new links, new events – it’s the place to go to feel amateur radio’s pulse in the Pioneer Valley. Wouldn’t it be nice to know about new content or events on the website without having to constantly check the website (although that’s OK if you want to). Well you can do that, just by subscribing.
The next time you’re on the site, scroll to the bottom of the main (home) page. In the center of the page is a, you guessed it, a ‘Subscribe’ button. Simply enter your email address, press the button and you’re done. You’ll receive a confirmation email and you’re all set. Now the website will let YOU know when a new article or event is added. Stay up to date without having to work at it – how cool is that?
HCRAs website is secure, your email is never revealed or used for any other purpose. It is not necessary to subscribe to view the site or leave comments – the only purpose is to keep YOU informed of all our activities. We have over 100 subscribers on our facebook page, wouldn’t it be nice to exceed that on our webpage?
KX3 Raffle – Have you purchased your Ticket Yet?
Tickets are selling fast, don’t miss your chance to win a fantastic HF transceiver for a tiny donation of $10. Only 250 tickets will be sold, so chances are high, even if you only purchase one ticket! The faster they sell, the sooner we can hold the drawing. We’ve pre-ordered the rig from Elecraft. The wait period is pretty short with Elecraft and I’m sure we will have the rig in time for the drawing.
Why would you want to win this beautiful radio? After all, it’s only QRP, right? All I can say is, after owning one for a few months now, is it really does everything a large radio will, but at less than two pounds! All band/mode, DSP, great filtering, dual VFO’s, auto-notch, CW decode, built in PSK and RTTY and more – who wouldn’t want one?
Tickets will be on sale at the October meeting, purchase one or two and good luck. If you don’t win remember your donation has gone to a good cause! Read more about the raffle here.
Renewal Time is here!
Rich/N1KXR is asking for your help. He’s in charge of increasing HCRA’s membership, and the only way that can happen is if everyone that was a member last year renews their membership AND we add new members. New members are coming is so it is up to you, our former members, to fill out your application and bring it to the October meeting. Can’t make the meeting? Use our handy application form and mail it in to the PO box. We have worked hard over the past ten years to control our costs, provide quality events for our members and NOT raise dues. By becoming a member you will help keep dues low and fun high! Bring your completed application to the October meeting and see Rich/N1KXR or Dave/N1MFL so we can get you ‘back in the fold’.
Still not convinced? OK, here’s some incentive. If you join or renew your HCRA membership by the close of the October 5th meeting you could be the winner of a TYT TH-F5 dual band HT with rechargeable batteries, desk and mobile charger. Getting the bulk of our memberships early in the season allows us plan the year ahead. Help us out by renewing early and we might help you out with a new HT. Fair enough?
HCRA/MTARA Holiday Party – December 10th, 2012
Last year’s party was an unbridled success and we wondered, “what can we do to make it even better in 2012?). It is hard to improve on the location or the food, hmmmm. What if BOTH of the amateur radio clubs in the valley joined forces and held the party together? Wouldn’t that be fun? That’s exactly what we’re doing! Both clubs sat down and worked together to create a super get together for 2012.
Same great location! Same scrumptious buffet! Bigger and better raffle/door prizes! Same $15 price tag! MORE friends to eat, drink and be merry with!
Tickets go on sale at both clubs starting in October. See Rich/N1KXR at any HCRA meeting or Diane/KB1KST at any MTARA meeting and by mail to either club’s PO box.
Another example of both clubs, working together, to the benefit of all area amateurs.
Notes from the cluster:
The HCRA October meeting featuring Tom Homewood/W1TO will also be a Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) regional meeting. If you’re interested in contesting you can join YCCC at the HCRA meeting. It’s fun, painless and not too expensive. Learn more about it by clicking YCCC!
The Silent Auction returns at our October meeting. We will have a beautiful set of chrome Bencher paddles available and a few other items. Items for the auction will be displayed on a table along with a ‘bid sheet’. Enter your bid and if you’re the highest bidder at the end of the night pay Dave/AA1YW and go home with your new toy!
Don’t forget we’re meeting at our new location! Starting September 2012 meetings will be at the Auxiliary Conference Center at the Holyoke Medical Center. Many of you have been here before, it’s where the Western Mass VE Team has given examinations for close to a decade. We have all the details of the hall and how to get there on our website. Simply click this link!
Saturday, September 22nd Frandy/N1FJ, Nick/K1MAZ and I will be heading the the Monadnocks in southern New Hampshire to activate two, maybe three summits. Look for us masquerading behind the calls of NE1SJ and WA1J starting around noon local time.
The plan is still liquid and the final determination of which peak is first, do we split into two (or even three) teams won’t be finalized until we’re at the first summit. To tell the truth we’re not 100% sure of even the first summit but we do have a plan.
The first summit to be activated will be Pack Monadnock, W1/HA-041 at noon (1600z). All three of us should be operating under both calls. CW on 40 and 20 meters, SSB on 20 and perhaps FM on 2 meters.Following our plan we will split the team up at the peak. Frandy and I will hike south to Holt Peak, W1/HA-181 and Nick will hike north to North Pack Monadnack, W1/HA-203. After activating SOTA Pops and I will hike back down to the car, Nick continue north to a road north of North Pack and will be hoping we get there about the same time with the car to pick him up.
Let’s be honest, this is a pretty complex plan for a bunch of Jerks but we’re going to try to pull it off. Look for Frandy and Jim on Holt about 2:30 PM (1830z) on 40 CW and 20 phone and CW. Nick will be QRV on North Pack about the same time, on 20 SSB and 2 meter FM. Equipment will consist of KX3’s, FT-100 transceivers, dipoles and EFW (end fed wire) antennas At least one 2M HT running APRS rounds out the pack..
Keep an eye on SOTAwatch2 for our spots and check the 1830 alerts for any changes. You can follow our progress on APRS! Click here and enter either KK1W-7 or K1MAZ-5 in the search box. If we’re up and squawking our position you will see us displayed on the map. Too lazy to find out where to point your beam? From the Springfield, MA area north east should put you in the ballpark. We’ll be looking for you to fill up our logs. Watch the website for updates on our trip.
There’s a new kid on the block, Z60K. They went QRV a few days ago and have been very active on the bands. Although not ‘yet’ accepted by ARRL as a DXCC entity the scuttlebutt is they will most likely be approved once the IARU issues a prefix.
So what to do until then – work ’em! The worst that can happen is they don’t get approved but if they do you’ll have a new entity in your log. They are uploading their QSO’s to ClubLog so you can check and see how other HCRA members are doing in the hunt.
Read more about it here and a lot of other places on the internet. There are lots of arguments and opinions too. Ignore them, work Z60K and when they’re approved you will be ahead of the game! If you’re using computer logging you may want to see what is necessary to create an ‘override’ so you can get it into the log.
For me, I just grabbed them on 40 CW, the pile up wasn’t bad, nothing like NH8S a few weeks back.
Frandy/N1FJ and I will be heading to the high peaks of the Adirondacks to activate a few mountains for SOTA. We will activate Whiteface Mountain Monday afternoon then meet up with Dennis/WA2USA Monday evening. The three of us will attempt summits on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning before returning to our respective homes.
Dennis, one of the US’s top chasers, is also an activator and very knowledgeable of the area, We’re looking forward to him lending expertise to the ‘Jerks’ and keep us from becoming an item on the 11 PM news! It will be a pleasure to meet Dennis in person for an eyeball QSO after all the contacts we’ve made over the air.
Tomorrow, Monday the 10th Dennis will be activating Cascade Mountain, W2/GA-010 and Frandy and I will be activating Whiteface Mountian, W2/GA-003. Check SOTAwatch for the specific times/frequencies.
We’ll be taking some pictures and will get them up on the website soon. Most likely when we return. Internet connectivity is pretty spotty in the ‘dacks!
So, if you have a moment check the spots and give us a shout if you’re by a rig.
Now that I have your attention let me tell you what this post does NOTsay!
This isn’t a technical comparison between the two radios. Nor is it meant to infer one radio is better or worse than the other. You have to look at all the features/benefits and figure out what works best for you. And, unfortunately, it points out my amateur video capabilities 🙁
Background
Here’s a little background to help fill in the blanks. Both radios are (or more accurately were) owned by me. The FT-817 was purchased new around 2003, the KX3 was received in August 2012. The RX comparison came about from a 75m conversation with Ken/KF7IYQ. I mentioned I would like to do an A/B comparison between the two radios and he asked if I could shoot a video of the test.
Test conditions
The video was shot in my shack on a typical Monday evening. The antenna used is a 3 element SteppIR at 50′, aimed west for the test. Both radios were powered from the same source, a 6.6 Ah LiFe battery and the antenna switched between the two with a Daiwa two position switch. I attempted to find a very weak station with one radio, then switch to the other to see what it sounded like on that rig.
The KX3 has far more features than the FT-817. The only option in the Yaesu is a 400 Hz Collins IF filter for CW. The CW filter was selected for the tests. On the KX3 noise reduction (NR) was off and the CW bandwidth was set at 400 Hz to match up with the Yaesu. 20 meters was quiet and both radios had their preamps on (IPO off on the Yaesu).
Conclusions
There aren’t any! The videos show what the typical operator would hear when they come home from work on a Monday evening and get on 20 meter CW. It’s up to you to decide which rig, if either, has a leg up on the other.
Full disclosure. Just hours after this test the Yaesu was packed up and sent to its new owner. As much as I like both radios the KX3 offers many features beyond the FT-817’s. I simply didn’t envision the Yaesu getting much air time in the future. That being said I’ll still miss the little 817, it really offers a lot in a small package.
Here’s the videos. Try not to doze off while they’re playing 🙂
