Here you can see the track of my friend’s mylar party balloon he launched from Torrance on Sunday evening. It is heading out over the atlantic!
The balloon has a solar-powered radio and GPS tracker that report’s it’s position to the HAM Radio APRS network.
Here is a link to the live track.
Kirk – KK6KC
I wanted to let you all know that the ARRL Kid’s Day event is this Saturday.
It isn’t really a contest, but a good time to get the kids into the shack and on the radio. I plan to try to get my kids on the radio. Email me directly if you want to schedule a QSO.
You can go here to see more about the event.
Members in attendance:
A2 shack: a Hy-Gain model 18AVQII 5-band vertical was found in the A2 shack. It covers 10, 15, 20, 40, and 80 meters. It will need a radial kit and a mast and guys, some of which may or may not be in the shack. If not, we need to purchase them. Bob is in charge of this project. At some point in the future we may have a lunchtime antenna raising project.
A3 shack: needs an HF antenna, which must be purchased by security on our recommendation. Our starting recommendation is a rooftop tower and beam as the most useful in an emergency situation if we want to reach Colorado or Chantilly. Club members should research tower/beam options and make recommendations for our next meeting. May want to go with the STEP-IR antenna.
Christmas Party: Don gave a report on the Christmas party preparations. The Proud Bird is undergoing renovations so we will have the Aerospace cafeteria cater the party. The party will be December 8 in A1/1029 A/B. RSVP by Dec 4 so we can order the right amount of food. We use the same rules for the raffle as last year.
Club member reports: Various members reported on what they have been doing in the hobby. Ryan just installed a new security system in his house and now has to deal with RFI issues. Tom has been making a lot of packet contacts and will be taking his Extra exam on Saturday. Joe just put up a Step-IR vertical at home and now has to install radials. Kirk was recently in Hawaii and made a lot of JT65 contacts, getting 18 countries as far as Namibia and Sri Lanka.
D8 shack: 80 m vertical antenna was damaged in the windstorms last year. Joe wondered if we should fix it or take it down. Given that it is our only 80 m capability at the moment, Kirk suggested that we fix it.
Tom is the W6AGO custodian for Logbook of the World, so let him know if there are any contacts he should log.
Raffle: Kirk won a flashlight, Don got a multimeter, Ryan got a tape measure, and Teresa got a 4-in-1 screwdriver. Kirk ordered a secret set of super-special prizes for the January meeting so be sure to come to the January meeting to be eligible to win.
The International DX Convention is coming up in Visalia on April 15-17.
Is anyone in the club going to attend? Want to give us a report afterward?
I got this from Roger Hunt Director of the Yuma Hamfest:
The Yuma Hamfest is just three months away on February 19-20, and we request the assistance of you, your club or group in spreading the word about our event. Yuma has become the site of one of the largest hamfests in the southwestern U.S. and will be the ARRL SW Division Convention for 2016.
We feature commercial vendors, tailgating, grand prizes worth over $18,000, on-site RV camping, free parking, seminars held in parallel tracks, $5.00 amateur license testing, DXCC card checking, an antenna clinic & transmitter hunt, our famous “Buzzard BBQ” dinner, a near-space balloon launch, great hourly door prizes, a hospitality area, the “Country Store” consignment sales area, and much more.
Admission is only $5, tailgating spots are $10 for the weekend, and we offer a food concession run by a professional chef. Our now-famous “Buzzard BBQ” dinner is only $10. We hope you and members of your club mark February 19-20 on your calendars and plan on attending the SW Division Convention in Yuma.
Please check our website at www.yumahamfest.org for more information.
If you have questions, contact us at info@yumahamfest.org or by phone at 928-305-1034.
Flyer for the 2016 Yuma Hamfest.
Roger Hunt, K7MEX
Director, Yuma Hamfest
(22 June 2015)
Is the frequency/repeater in use?
QST QST QST
This is the W6AGO Emergency Communications Team daily 2 meter/repeater net by way of the WB6VMV repeater.
(call sign) is at net control. When calling, please give your full call sign and location.
(announcements)
With that out of the way, anyone wishing to check in, please come now.
(record call signs/locations)
Any other check-ins?
Not hearing anyone else, we’ll conclude this morning’s 2 meter/repeater check-in for the W6AGO Emergency Communications Team. Thanks to all stations that participated. 73 to all.
This frequency/The WB6VMV repeater is now back to regular service.
W6AGO will now change frequency to the repeater/This is W6AGO clear.
We made contact!
The antenna test #2 yesterday from the Emergency Communications Trailer was a success! We made full contact with KB5HA a station in Albeuquerque NM on 20 meters with the Crank IR antenna and our Kenwood radio.
We also sort of made contact with a station in Pierre, South Dakota, KE0MPH. We could hear him just fine, but he could only tell that we were transmitting, not understand us. Our ground plane on the Crank IR was not pointing in the optimal direction for him.
We also made contact with our own station in D8 on both the Kenwood with the Crank IR and the KX3 with the Buddipole. We didn’t have the Amp or the Microphone for the KX3 so we didn’t try for further distance with that setup. The D8 contact was made with CW on the KX3.
Best Regards,
Kirk Crawford – KG6MTE- AEA Amateur Radio Club President
May 16, 1500Z-2200Z, W0W, Colorado Springs, CO. Aerospace Employees Amateur Radio Organization – Colorado Springs. 21.305 14.305 7.305. Certificate. AERO-COS, 7250 Getting Heights, MS: 1000, Colorado Springs, CO 80916. The AERO-COS amateur radio club will be hosting over twenty Boy Scouts to earn their amateur radio merit badge. In addition to local VHF contacts, the club will be looking for HF contacts throughout the day to allow the boys to experience long range radio contacts. Only one HF radio will be in use so contact will be on 20, 40, or 15 meters, depending on conditions. Operations will be on and off through the day as they take turns on the radio. Get on the air to help these young men experience the magic of radio!
Last week, we had an HF Radio test of the newly refurbished HF Radio in the Emergency Communications Trailer. We used the whip antenna that is attached to the trailer. We were not able to get the whip straight up and down and it was inside the fabric tent. We were able to hear stations as far away as Texas on 20 meters, but we were not able to make contact with anyone.
We are planning another Test of the HF rig on Wednesday the 22nd of April at 11:30 AM. If you want to help out please join us at the trailer. (West of A6.) We will test it with the buddipole and Crack IR antennas to see if they help out.
-Kirk
I am changing the website to a wordpress blog. I will be adding content from the old website over the next few weeks. If you are an AEA Amateur Radio Club member, send me an email and I can set up an account for you so you can comment on the various posts here.
Best Regards,
Kirk Crawford
KG6MTE
AEA Amateur Radio Club President