Permission to copy is granted provided that credit is given to “W6VIO Calling.”

Contents

Calendar of Events

Meeting Notice

Prez’ Mix

June Club Meetings

DX News

Field Day 2000

Field Day Scrapbook

Calendar of Events

Meeting Notice

By Christopher Carson KE6ABQ

The July General meeting will be held July 12^th at noon in 238-543.  This year’s Field Day operation will be reviewed, including lessons learned, preliminary scores, and finances.

We need a volunteer to take over the off-lab mailing of the printed edition of this fine document each month.  The task involves receiving the extra printed issues from Xerox, and then folding, stapling, stamp application and, most important, mailing the issues in a timely fashion.  Pass the word around and hopefully we can find a club member (or members – many hands, etc.) who can do this each month.

The June JPLARC Board meeting will be held July 26^th in 233-305J.  Everyone is welcome to attend – bring your lunch if you want.   n

Prez’ Mix

By Bob Dengler, NO6B

June was an exceptionally busy month for me.  It started with a long trip to Rochester, NY to visit my brother Tom, N2XCX.  After flying into Newark NJ, we spent the first night in Stroudsburg PA in the Pocono Mountains, where it just so happened that a manufacturer of a newly discovered 2-port repeater controller was found.  It sells for about half of what the typical 2-port controller goes for these days yet has more features. 

We met up with Tom Walsh WN3L, who makes the MP-100 repeater controller kit, to chat for an hour.  Turns out that Jeff DePolo, WN3A, conceived many of the features of his controller.  Jeff is probably the most knowledgeable person in the country with respect to amateur repeaters.  He’s built a system of about two dozen 440 MHz systems in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area, carefully skirting around New York City (as the local coordinating councils also do). 

In using his system, I must say that it’s the first system of multiple linked repeaters I’ve heard that sounds BETTER than Cactus! Judicious use of true FM G.E. radios and broadcast-quality audio processors account for the superior audio quality of the system.  And all the systems are OPEN.  If you’re ever in that area, give it a try; check it out at http://www.offto.com/n3kz.  BTW, the “repeater etiquette” and “usage problems” pages at this web site are certainly worth reading as they really apply to just about all amateur repeaters. 

Driving north through Pennsylvania into New York State, we approached our final destination of Rochester.  Since my brother moved a couple of blocks since my last visit, I wasn’t sure exactly how to get there.  So we arranged to meet on the widest coverage local repeater, the KE2MK Xerox system.  Unfortunately, I didn’t bother to ask my brother to check if it was on the air; it was hit by lightning two weeks earlier. 

Luckily, I was able to get close enough to my brother’s QTH to use “reverse-pair simplex” so I could communicate directly with him while he remained on 145.29 (-).  We arrived in town just in time to attend the A.R.R.L.  Atlantic Division Convention and Rochester Hamfest, only 20 minutes from my brother’s home. 

While the convention portions of the Hamfest (exhibits and talks) were not much to report on, I’d rate the Hamfest as halfway between TRW and Dayton.  On Saturday the Hamfest peaked to about double the size of TRW, but the “quality” was better (more radio stuff, less commercial vendors, computers and “junk”).  There was even the proverbial “stack of Mastr IIs” (commercial UHF mobile radios suitable for repeater use: our club uses them for our 147.15, 445.20 and 447.20 repeaters). 

It was at the Hamfest, however, that it finally hit me as to how dismal the local repeater situation was: I couldn’t find ANY repeater that would provide HT coverage from the Hamfest to my brother’s QTH near Lake Ontario.  With the Xerox repeater down and the local Rochester Radio Repeater Association’s K2RRA repeater in poor condition, there wasn’t much else available that worked. 

So I found some coax and a low-gain base station antenna at the Hamfest and we set up a 2-meter base station at the N2XCX QTH.  Now we could use simplex to talk all the way into downtown Rochester, or use the RRRA repeater to talk a bit further.  It was really frustrating to use the K2RRA repeater, as the only thing wrong with it was that the squelch on their PL-110.9 remote receiver was set too tight.  I tried e-mailing the tech for the system, Bob N2HJD, about the simple problem.  His response was that the squelch was set to accommodate “band conditions”.  What the heck does that mean? The receiver is already PL’ed; there was no reason whatsoever to run a tight carrier squelch except to frustrate users. 

Oh well, at least my brother and his wife, KB2YHD now can talk simplex on their “private” simplex frequency of 147.555.  Well, it was private until field day, when several local stations barged into their Sunday morning QSO forcing them to give them FD points.  I was wondering how W2RDX scored so high in the FD listings year after year... 

After the Hamfest, we spent 3 days at Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.  This marked my first ham operation outside the U.S.  I was sure glad we took the radios along during this trip as I was given the task of finding groceries one evening while my wife and daughter relaxed at the hotel. 

We used a local 2-meter repeater in the town of Thorold: VE3RAF on 145.19, PL-107.2.  While my wife was reading off the list of things to get and I was frantically searching for any kind of store, a local ham broke in and told me exactly where to find all the major grocery stores.  Try THAT with a cell phone!

By the way, the only repeater I found that was located right at the falls was VE3RNR on 443.175 (+), also PL-107.2.  It’s amazing how many systems have now gone to CTCSS access across the country. 

Speaking of Field Day, it was great seeing all of you up on Mt. Gleason this year.  It was especially good to see the return of Chefs Manny and Richard, KC6ZSY and KE6BKE, and Bill, W6FXJ (whose multitude of pictures adorn this issue). 

Thanks to the group from the JPL Space Exploration Post 509 who manned the satellite station, Sunday’s station breakdown and pack up was the fastest ever, making Field Day so much more enjoyable for everyone.  I’m not sure whose idea it was to invite them up for the weekend, but it turned out to be just as brilliant as collaborating with the Caltech ARC. 

I think this year’s FD was the BEST ever! Thanks again to everyone for making it so.  This month (actually July 2^nd) closed with a “bang” on 6 meters, when a strong opening to Oregon and Washington lasted for over an hour, resulting in full quieting signals on 52.525 FM simplex. 

If you have a 6-meter mobile or base or even just one of the VX-5 HT’s, you might just try leaving it on 52.525 in the late afternoon or evening.  My first contact with N7JKQ in Medford was made with only 10 watts on a ½ wave.   ¾

June Club Meetings

By Jonathan M. Cameron (KF6RTA)

General Meeting, June 14

The meeting was opened at 12:05 by Chris Carson.  A quorum was achieved.  Those present included Manuel Caldera (KC62SY), Jonathan Cameron (KF6RTA), Chris Carson (KE6ABQ), Warren Dowler (KE6LEA), Robert Francis (KD6AMI), Randy Hammock (KC6HUR), Jim Harris, Jay Holladay (W6EJJ), Rick McKinney (KA6DAN), Walt Mushagian (K6DNS), Bob Polansky (N6ET), John Repar (WA6LWD), Phil Smith (WA6LQP), Michael Tope (W4EF), Gary Warnick (KE6JZS), and Bill Wood (W6FXJ).

Gary Warnick and Jim Harris were visiting from Goldstone and were welcomed by the club.

Bob Polansky gave a detailed update on the plans for field day.  He reviewed expected attendance, site layout plans, and the check-off list.  Although some help was needed in a few areas, plans seemed to be going quite well.

Jay Holladay announced that he planned to give a couple of sessions of training for the logging program, CT.

Board of Directors Meeting, June 28

Those present included Chris Carson (KE6ABQ), Bob Dengler (NO6B), Randy Hammock (KC6HUR), Jay Holladay (W6EJJ), Walt Mushagian (K6DNS), Bob Polansky (N6ET), Chuck Sarture (KG6NF), Bill Wood (W6FXJ, via telephone), and Jonathan Cameron (KF6RTA).  A quorum was present.

There was a general discussion of the field day exercise.  Most thought it went well.  However, we didn’t score as highly as expected for various reasons, including moderate band conditions.  We basically broke even on food expenses.

We discussed some improper contacts made by field day operators on 146.52 MHz.  Some follow-up options were discussed.

We talked about the possibility of operating PSK31 or QRP modes at the next field day.  Next year we will have to get more help get the trucks loaded up (on both ends).  

Bob Dengler has made contact with a 440 MHz repeater operator that should give continuous coverage from JPL all the way to mount Gleason.  We have permission to use the frequency next field day.    ¾

DX News

By Bob Polansky, N6ET

This month, the emphasis has been totally on Field Day; therefore, I am relying totally on The 59(9) DX Report and the QRZ DX Report for my DX news.  Sunspot activity has been good with a minimum of interruptions due to unruly solar flares and the like.  Lots of 50 MHz reports have been showing up, but primarily in the European and African areas.  Guess 50 MHz hasn’t yet developed the active following that seems to exist on the other side of the pond.  Non-the-less, 10 through 40-meter DX activity have been substantial.  Now for a few specifics:

BANGLADESH - S21ZW or perhaps S21/AH8DX will be active from 5 through 7 July.  No modes or bands were specified on this one.

CRETE - SV9/K7BV plans to be on the air from 27 June through 3 July.  He hasn’t been heard yet on the 29^th of June.  Keep your fingers crossed.

MONTSERRAT - Look for VP2MHX and VP2MHS from this volcanic entity from 18 through 24 July.  Operation is planned on both SSB and RTTY.

MOZAMBIQUE - C91DC in active through the end of September.  Look for him from 0500-0530Z on 28490-28495 kHz and from 1400-1500Z on 14245 kHz.

SAINT PAUL ISLAND - AI5P, KE1AC, WA4RX, and WV2B, all /CY9 will put this QTH on the air from 6 through 10 July.  They will be on 40 through 6 meters.  For specific frequencies, look at the June 9^th issue of the 59(9) DX Report in the W6VIO shack.

SUDAN - ST0P (not STOP) is currently active from this rare location.  He will be there until August.  He operates 40, 20,15, and 10 meters.  Look for him from 1500-1800Z and from 0100-0400Z.  Suggested frequencies are 14180 and 21180 kHz.  Good luck on this one.

IARU CHAMPIONSHIP - If you’re interested in some excellent DX competition, tune in to the fun on 8 through 9 July (starting at 1200Z and running for 24 hours).  53 stations in Slovenia will be active, each with different international teams operating.  It should be exciting.

Enough for this month.  Gotta get some sleep to recover from Field Day!    ¾

Field Day 2000

By Jay Holladay, W6EJJ

Many things came together for Field Day 2000 to make it one of the most enjoyable events in our years of operating at Mt. Gleason.  The weather was comfortable, the food was excellent, and for the first time in recent years we had sufficient help for both setup and teardown as well as during the 24 hours of on-air operation.  In the words of FD Co-Chair Bob Polansky, N6ET, we had we had the “most spirited, helpful Field Day group ever assembled by the JPL and Caltech clubs”.   

Having plenty of help meant that we were able to raise both tower trailers and install the beams on Friday.  By that night all HF antennas for W6VIO were installed, some stations were set up, and we were able to have a few checkout QSO’s before getting some sleep.  All antennas and stations were operational by 11:00 AM Pacific Time on Saturday, when the 24-hour operation began.

By the end of the contest on Sunday morning we had racked up 3639 contacts, 1492 on CW and 2147 on phone.  Since we were competing in Class 3A this year, these numbers can’t be compared directly with last year’s, but our projected point score (11,300 plus) would have been good for 10^th place nationally in 3A last year.  All of these numbers are approximate, since there are still a few manual log sheets to be entered into the computer and dupe checks to be completed. 

The Explorers from JPL Post 509 added a new note of enthusiasm and excitement on the mountain.  By setting up and operating the satellite station they also contributed 5 satellite QSO’s and a bonus of 100 points to our efforts.  Their willingness to help with Sunday afternoon teardown of our setup was greatly appreciated. 

Special thanks to Tigran Karsian, KF6PVG, and the adult leaders and members of Post 509 who contributed to this effort.  Kudos also to Mike Tope, W4EF, for arranging for participation by the Explorers, mentoring them on amateur satellite operation, and collecting the station equipment.

Some of the newer hams and would-be hams got to try contest-style operation while being mentored by the experienced types, and this worked out well for all concerned.  With ten meters being hot all day and into the evening, our Novice/Tech Plus station garnered about 160 QSO’s.  Now, will some Tech Plus volunteer to try a few CW contacts next year? You will have plenty of “Elmers” to help you build your CW skills before next June! 

Our booth for explaining amateur radio to visitors was done very professionally by Bill Wood, W6FXJ.  Our idea of having everyone on site post their QSL card as part of this display was a last-minute effort, and we could have used more cards.  Please remember to bring a QSL next year!

The people comforts were also first class.  We were again fortunate to have Manny Caldera, KC6ZSY, as our chef du Field Day, ably assisted by Richard Schick, KE6BKE.  Plenty of food and drink kept the operating staff happy, and having “almost enough” operators meant that some people actually got some sleep on Saturday night.

All in all it was a great effort.  Our setup of antennas and tents worked out quite well and we will build on it for next year.  We would like to find a way to simultaneously operate phone and CW (or digital) on the same frequency band next year.  We really should get someone to bring a PSK31 setup and try running up some contacts in the digital mode.  And, we want to network the computers to avoid logging problems if we have contacts on the same band/mode from more than one tent.  We solicit more ideas on how we could improve our setup for next year.

A complete listing of our contact totals and score will be provided in the Field Day wrap-up in next month’s W6VIO Calling.  

Field Day Scrapbook

Photos by Bill Wood, W6FXJ

Posted July 6, 2000