40/20 meter QSO/Net for Satguys hams

[raydio]

I do know that there are quite a few hams on this forum and was wondering if there is any interest in a forum QSO/Net? I would organize it but I live in an HOA and my magnetic loop does not quite cut it....

73 Jim K4ECP


Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[KE4EST]

I would be interested in this. I think it should be 10-11 PM EST time so it is not too early for West coast guys.

 

[Titanium]

I am interested. I am one of the net control ops for the Band Hoppers Net on Thursday evenings (01:00 UTC), but am available any other time. 40m is usually open coast to coast 8 - 10pm EST. 20m has been closing or have gone to the greyline by 9pm EST.

We could also try Echolink, AllStarLink or meet in a YSF / FCS reflector/room. Just set up a FCS room today for our Wires-X / Fusion repeater.

 

[raydio]

I am interested. I am one of the net control ops for the Band Hoppers Net on Thursday evenings (01:00 UTC), but am available any other time. 40m is usually open coast to coast 8 - 10pm EST. 20m has been closing or have gone to the greyline by 9pm EST.

We could also try Echolink, AllStarLink or meet in a YSF / FCS reflector/room. Just set up a FCS room today for our Wires-X / Fusion repeater.

Hey Brian,

Is Band Hoppers Net on 40? I did not see a freq or anything on the Nets page of the website -

 

[raydio]

Well that's two who are interested...that's a start. I think it would be fun to get together on the air and rag chew for awhile. I could very likely work Brian in NoCal but not sure about Michael way out East with my loop on 40 that may be pushing it but it's worth a try! The loop certainly works better on 20 as I was able to have QSO's with guy's in VA and MD. However since 20 usually dies by 9pm Michaels time that may not work.

Just need a better stealth antenna and have been thinking of a simple dipole strung along the eves of my two story house. No one would really see it, just a short chunk of coax from the balun to the entry point on the side of the house. Have not used anything like that before and not sure how it would radiate but it would have to be better than a loop that is 6 feet off the ground.

 

[Titanium]

Hey Brian,
Is Band Hoppers Net on 40? I did not see a freq or anything on the Nets page of the website -

The net usually runs around 7.220 +/-10. I pick up several rounds starting around 02:00 UTC. Have several NCS operating from different regions for a few hours. If bands are good, also run on 80m.

 

[terminal.bliss]

New satelliteguys member (got out of FTA sat 2 years ago and now am getting back into it) and General HAM KC3CQZ. I willing to try to check in. Im in central FL and too have a small 20m, 40m loop. Just 100w but it's amazing what can happen if conditions are favorable. I know this thread is a month old so maybe the idea as already died.

 

[raydio]

Hi and thanks for responding. I don't think the idea has died but when I thought of it we were in a normal way of life with everyone working and such. Now with Covid-19, I am home and not working for awhile and I don't know about Michael and Brian. Brian is in NorCal and Michael in SC I believe. Just curious, is your loop an MFJ?

Also I can do DSTAR and probably other modes as my hotspot is rather versatile.

73 Jim K4ECP

 

[terminal.bliss]

Hi and thanks for responding. I don't think the idea has died but when I thought of it we were in a normal way of life with everyone working and such. Now with Covid-19, I am home and not working for awhile and I don't know about Michael and Brian. Brian is in NorCal and Michael in SC I believe. Just curious, is your loop an MFJ?

Also I can do DSTAR and probably other modes as my hotspot is rather versatile.

73 Jim K4ECP

Sorry missed your reply. Yes its the MFJ loop 15 to 40 meters. I too have a DStar and DMR HT's with a hot spot if there is a reflector that would work better that is fair game too. Would love to pick your guys brains on smallish dish with C-band i tried the other weekend and i could get some transponders but not many. I think the trick is pick a small freq range and try to get as much gain as possible then to do a scan. Example i peaked ESPN Radio on 105w then did a H-H scan i saw some but not many transponders with my 3ft dish. I think i'm a victim of physics and just need a bigger dish. Hope you are all holding up well with all this.
73
KC3CQZ

 

[raydio]

Cool...as far a C band on a mini-dish, one of my friends on this forum, comfortably numb, did a lot of experimentation using a 1.2 meter dish last summer. If you PM him and tell him I sent you, he would help you out.

I even screwed around with it on my 76cm and was surprised on what I was able to snag.

 

[fred555]

Hey guys, its been a while. I got my General in February. Going for Extra after the June 20th test change. Got a great deal on a dealer demo IC-718. Getting all my grounds and "ICE" lightning arrestors straight before I string up a few antennas.

It will probably another few weeks before I get on the air. Just doing the local ARES, Winlink and other nets locally on 2m right now.

 

[KE4EST]

Congratulations fred555!!!

 

[fred555]

I got my HF station on the air this weekend.

Put up this G5RV/ZS6BKW antenna about 30+ feet in the air:

BFLEX-100 Buryflex - 100 Feet Length Davis Coax

Bury-FLEX™ is Low-Loss Flexible 50 Ohm coax designed for use from HF through UHF bands. Bury-FLEX™ is flexible enough to be used on rotator loops, yet durable enough to stand up to the harshest of environments and is ideal for direct burial applications. By combining a gas-injected foamed...

www.amateurradiosupplies.com

It seems to be well built and fairly rugged.

Also built an EFHW 80-10m from scratch, here is the 49:1 triple core transformer I made:

This was a fun project and it works pretty good.

 

[Titanium]

I got my HF station on the air this weekend.

What is your call?

 

[fred555]

What is your call?

PM Sent

 

[fred555]

I'm working this drill on Saturday, I have both a mobile and base Winlink station. Both are Kenwood TM-231A 2m radios w/SignaLink. Don't have the IC-718 setup for Winlink yet.

Local/Regional/National ARES-Red Cross Exercise Set for May 30: Locally-organized ARES exercises in 28 states across the country will simulate emergency conditions and commercial power interruptions, while working with their local Red Cross chapters to handle shelter message traffic. The messages will be entered into the Winlink (or fldigi) system in the ARC-213 message format. CDC COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Designated regional or state message hubs across the country will then receive the messages from the local nets and pass them to a simulated Red Cross national authority, via the Winlink email system. As of yesterday, May 19, the number of expected participants was over two hundred, indicating the scale of this exercise.-- Point of contact is Mike Walters, W8ZY, ARRL Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator

ARES E-Letter Issues

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

www.arrl.org

 

[Titanium]

Our county ARES will be participating only via Winlink. I will be messaging from home via Winmor on 40m (Flex 6300) and Winlink on 2m (TNC-X to Yaesu 8900r).

Have a great exercise!

 

[fred555]

Our county ARES will be participating only via Winlink. I will be messaging from home via Winmor on 40m (Flex 6300) and Winlink on 2m (TNC-X to Yaesu 8900r).

Have a great exercise!

I'm looking forward to the exercise, for work I took all the requisite FEMA courses that ARES wanted. Once I got my ticket I was almost set with the requirements.

I need to figure out the differences between Winmor, Ardop and Vara on HF and get that setup soon.

 

[Comptech]

Fred, the offer is till on for the FT 60 for free, let me know when you want it shipped.

 

[fred555]

Fred, the offer is till on for the FT 60 for free, let me know when you want it shipped.

Yea sure, I forgot about that, Thanks. Let me know the shipping costs via email.
PM me here if you don't have it.