May 22nd, 2009
OK, time to catch up on the blog. The shack is fully operational. I have successfully had conversations with amateur radio operators in many foreign countries and many states using my radio. The shack consists of Kenwood TS-2000, SGC 237 smart antenna tuner, Astron RS-35M power supply, Kenwood SP-430 speaker, Heil HM-10 microphone with PTT base, Ham Radio Deluxe Computer Control, DM780 Digital Control Software, and Gateway GT-6545E Computer running Vista. The antenna is the 24 foot Force 12 flagpole antenna.
The first time I fired up all the components, I was able to have a 59-59 conversation with an operator doing a DX-pedition in Costa Rica. What a christening after laying down only 4 radials in the grass. I now have 8 radials and will install 4 more this weekend. The logbook is getting populated now with many European, Canadian, Mexican, Central and South American QSO’s. I have also dabbled in PSK-31 and got some good contacts there. Reaching California from South Carolina with PSK-31 is rewarding and validation I have made a good choice for my stealth antenna. I can’t wait to see the results of putting down four more radials.
This is way too much fun!
Tags: antenna, DX, ham shack
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January 29th, 2009
when I first heard the terminology of the “HAM SHACK” I envisioned these ham radio operators out in some shack where they do their radio craft. OK, I get it. It could be an office in the basement, a desk area in the bedroom, a shed in the back yard, even on the kitchen table. Whatever configuration we setup our communications center, I still don’t have what I could call even close to a shack.
When I bought the house, I wasn’t a Ham. I had no idea I would someday need a space for antenna’s in the yard (I am in a highly covenanted neighborhood) or some some space to hang maps and setup computers, transceivers, power supplies, antenna tuners, amplifiers etc etc. You just can’t setup anywhere especially if the better half has her ideas of decorating. The other thing to consider is where are you going to put your cables, grounding, and holes in the floor/ceiling/wall to get your equipment to the proper antenna that propagates your signal to the Ukraine.
I did operate for awhile in the garage. In the spring and fall that was fine but my garage is uninsulated. The winters and summers are too extreme to comfortably operate without heat or air conditioning.
I also don’t have a window that faces the backyard, only french doors windows to the deck from the dining area. I have been cultivating some bushes on the side of the house and have purchased a feed through panel. My computer system is in an armoire in the kitchen, necessitated by my moving out of my office to accommodate my son that moved back in with us. Hopefully the evergreen bushes will cover the mess of wires coming out to various temporary antenna’s I may setup. (Remember the covenanted neighborhood. Thank heaven for flag poles! And now you know the rest of the story.)
Tags: antenna, feedthru, ham shack
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January 25th, 2009
Ken Tedder gave an excellent presentation at YCARS on performing the function of Hamfest “talk-in”. I expected this to be a short, to the point presentation, but he carefully presented ideas that made the topic interesting. He described the importance of putting yourself in the place of the lost person and 1st to gain their confidence in you. Then to have the foreknowledge of landmarks and knowing the key entrances to the city. You need to ask the right questions and direct with their minds’ eye for left and right directions. He used a lot of personal experience and humor that made the evening enjoyable. (I don’t remember the last time someone actually used view cells on an overhead projector). I am glad I attended and will pay respect to the folks performing this vital hamfest function.
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January 12th, 2009
I hate Vista operating system with a passion. My son hates it. I hate it. My wife, who I think was the target audience, has no reaction to it. I recently replaced my wife’s dead computer with the latest and greatest from Dell. They shipped it with Vista x64. Now our printers don’t work anymore. They just don’t have drivers for 64 bit for Minota PagePro 1350W laser printers. In order to print now, I am lugging out one of my ancient Pentium III computers and will set it up as a file and print server. All the computers in the house will go through the Pentium III for printing services using Windows XP OS.
My computer has Vista x32 but I have no room in the amoire for the laserjet. My computer, a Gateway with maximum allowed 2GB RAM, has a copy of Internet Explorer 7 that freezes up after 5 minutes of use every time. I have uninstalled and reinstalled it, patched it, goosed it and it still freezes after 5 minutes. GMAIL seems to kill it immediately. Yes, I have backed every thing up and will be blowing it away and putting XP SP3 on it. I hate the Control panel on Vista. It took me several clicks to find “add/remove programs. I guess they tried to idiot proof the system but didn’t keep in mind the users that started with DOS 1.2. After 10 years, why did they change basic menus functionality so drastically. To print documents, it takes multiple clicks. To navigate on Windows Explorer is painful. My son has blown his Vista away on his Dell XPS and has gone back to a dual boot XP and Linux. His goal is to learn Linux so he can do away with Windows OS in the future. His brother is 100% on Linux. I bought him a laptop and before I had left New Hampshire, my son had blown away the Vista and installed Ubunta.
I haven’t interfaced or used any of the remote control apps for my radios yet. I wonder what Vista does with them. I won’t know because I will still be on Win 2000 and XP for the next decade… (At work I will be testing Windows 7)
Now this looks interesting… Apple Keyboard-Less Laptop
Tags: Windows Vista Linux IHV
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December 17th, 2008
Well, I finished putting together an emergency preparedness communications plan for our church congregration. Our church is pretty territorial in where member attend church. It was easy to organize sub-units with a designated team captain and assistants that would be responsible for members in a specific area. The goal here is to provide the flock leaders with information about his sheep in the event of a disaster so he can react with aid as needed. This information can also be forwarded to his superiors as well as emergency response organizations. Because of the diverse area between North Rock Hill, SC, Fort Mill, SC and Southwest Charlotte, NC, we are actually providing a great public service to these members neighborhoods by providing an emergency response team to bring fire, police, and medical aid to the residents. I hope the members embrace this and we can implement this plan. It could be a model for other nearby congregations.
Tags: disaster, emergency, preparedness
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December 4th, 2008
A major aspect of amateur radio I enjoy is the many opportunities it affords to serve the community. There are not many hobbies where the primary function is to aid your fellowman.
One service amateur radio provides to the community is providing radio communications during events. I will have to opportunity of serving in such a capacity this weekend during the Gastonia, NC Christmas Parade under the coordination of the Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Society. In the past I have provided radio support during long bike races, being a checkpoint at a distant location. While we enjoy talking with people all around the world using our own amateur radio equipment, the underlining reason we do this is to use our skills and equipment to aid our neighbors, community and nation.
Tags: service
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December 2nd, 2008
Living here in the Carolina’s, I have always only worried about the standard disaster: Tornado’s and Hurricanes. Now the Mecklenburg ARES brought to my attention another disaster to prepare for. A tsumami!
THIS IS A DRILL MESSAGE THIS IS A DRILL MESSAGE THIS IS A DRILL MESSAGE
AT 2345Z 1 DECEMBER2008, A LATERAL COLLAPSE OF THE CUMBRE VIEJA VOLCANO LOCATED IN LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS OCCURRED. THIS COLLAPSE HAS TRIGGERED A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT IS SPREADING TOWARD THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. IN APPROXIMATELY 9 HOURS, AN ESTIMATED WAVE OF 10-25 METERS COULD REACH THE COAST OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.
AT THIS TIME, ALL ARRL SECTIONS THAT BORDER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE AT THE HIGHEST ALERT STATUS AND TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS.
THIS IS A DRILL
Wow, a tsunami reaching all the way to Charlotte?
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December 1st, 2008
My other FCC license is for GMRS. WQFX800. (I had to write it here or I would forget it).
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December 1st, 2008
Aim Highest! Wow, I was amazed when I searched for a website, this one was available. It is really an awesome nomenclature for someones desire to be the best they can be. When doing anything, aim highest! Do your best, choose the right, be prepared. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
OK, back to reality, earthlings. Yes, I make mistakes. Yes I do my share of procrastination. I am human. Still we are responsible for overcoming the natural man. We still need to strive to overcome ourselves and try to be like the one who lived 2000 plus years ago and set the ultimate example.
Let’s get down to business!
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