Is there a tower and antenna in your future? Applying for a Permit? On November 19 the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) speaker will be Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, telecommunications lawyer. Fred is author of the definitive book, Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur. Fred has represented many amateurs in conflicts with local zoning authorities about antennas and towers, including right here in Franklin County. His book is published in cooperation with the ARRL and he will probably have a few copies on hand.
This is a not-to-be-missed meeting !
The meeting will be at the usual time and place, Greenfield High School, Lenox Ave (off Silver St.) at 7:15 p.m. (coffee at 7:00).
Directions to Greenfield High School: From the center of Greenfield go north on Federal St. (Rtes 5 and 10) about 1.5 miles, at Silver St. (stop light) turn left. From North or South on I-91, take Exit 27, Route 2 East, then the first exit, Bernardston Rd (Routes 5 and 10 South). The Silver St. intersection is about 0.3 mile south of Rte 2, turn right at the stop light. On Silver St. look for a sign for the High School on the left, about 0.3 mile from Federal St. (Click here for a Google map.)
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!
CQ WW RTTY Director, Ed WØYK, shares the log submission issues experienced by all contest sponsors. “It is apparent that many people do not read the robot email reply they receive. At the bottom of that email, the robot lists the format errors in the log. If you don’t understand what the robot is telling you, then simply compare that specific QSO line with the format specified on the Logs web page. The problem should be obvious.
“Major logging programs like Win-Test, N1MM Logger and WriteLog all create compliant Cabrillo files … IF you enter your data correctly. For example, if you enter your sent exchange as ‘CA 03’ in N1MM Logger (which is backwards from the required order for CQ WW RTTY), it will come out in that (incorrect) order in the Cabrillo file.
“You can easily edit your Cabrillo file with a text editor. Since is it common to add, change or move the same parameter field in every QSO line, a column editor is invaluable. I recommend the freeware Crimson Editor.”
So read that robot message! If it tells you there is something wrong with your log – do something about it and resubmit it. Double- and triple-check your operating category and all of the information for your station. Once you have a happy robot and you are a happy log submitter – save the confirming message in an easy-to-find location. My email software has a folder named “Contest Log Submissions” for all of my log submission confirmation messages. It’s easy and helps avoid the dreaded “forgot to send in my log” disease.
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!
Friday’s HCRA meeting will feature a presentation on portable operating, with an emphasis on SOTA (Summits on the Air) activations. Nick, K1MAZ, will talk about all the fun that he and Jimmy (KB1PRA), and John (Kx1x) and others had on Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire on October 20th. Nick is a recent member of the SOTA Jerks, and is also venturing out on his own to operate from many nearby summits. We’ll discuss what SOTA entails, and how you can get started from home and from a peak. New portable rigs, new antennas, and new battery technology will be shown. Join us for a fun-filled and informative meeting! Other likely participants: Ed, KB1NWH; Dave, WN1E; Matt, W1MSW; Jim, KK1W. – Frandy, N1FJ@arrl.net
Nick (K1MAZ), Jimmy (KB1PRA), and John (Kx1x) activated Mt. Monadnock (W1/HA009) on October 20th. Here, Jimmy is holding the 2m tape-measure beam while Nick operates. I’m probably looking for lunch. More on this SOTA activation and the Summits on the Air program at the next HCRA meeting, November 2nd.
This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, W3UR, QRZ DX, The Weekly DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
ZAMBIA, 9J. Gert, ZS6AYU is QRV as 9J2GR from the Mama Out of Africa lodge at the Zambezi river near Livingstone until October 22.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW. (more…)
Last week, a lone Jerk set off for Florida for a second attempt at a SOTA activation. Now, you must be thinking, “There are no mountains in Florida.” Well, you’re wrong. Florida is actually a town in the good ol’ Commonwealth of Massachusetts just east of North Adams. Having learned from my mistake of attempting to bushwhack through the wet, rainy woods to the trail, I instead drove to the trailhead and began the roughly 2.5 mile hike to the summit. The Hoosac Range trail is well-maintained and I had no problem following it. I did, however, have issues with GPS and cell coverage. Luckily, my GPS locked on right as I was approaching the summit. I was able to bushwhack my way the last couple hundred feet to the summit of Big Spruce Hill where I was greeted with the remnants of the alignment tower used in the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel. In addition, there were abandoned sheds, old tower, guywires, and a whole bunch of junk littering the peak. Some of it did come in handy, however. I borrowed a couple of cinder blocks and set up my operating position as in the pictures. After an hour and 19 contacts, I couldn’t stand the wind and 40 degree weather anymore, so I packed up my gear, tossed the cinder blocks back in the pile, and headed back down the mountain and trail. On the way back down and almost near my car, I looked up from watching the trail and found myself eye to eye with a Great Dane. After a few moments, his owner came around the corner and I explained how I was still recovering from the shock of meeting his dog, who actually happened to be quite friendly. Overall, the activation went well and the Hoosac Range trail is an excellent hike, even for those non-SOTA-minded individuals.
This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, W3UR, QRZ DX, The Weekly DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
RODRIGUES ISLAND, 3B9. A group of operators will be QRV as 3B9SP from October 16 to 23. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK with three stations active. QSL via HB9ACA.
NIGER, 5U. Stations 5U5U, 5U6E and 5U8NK are QRV (more…)
