Tag Archives: HF

August 2021 HF Net Report

At 9:00 AM PDT on Aug 4, 2021 we had our August HF Emergency Communications Net. Attendees were:

  • Kirk Crawford, KK6KC for W6AGO in El Segundo at the D8 Shack
  • Jeffrey Wong, W0NGJ for AE0RO in Colorado Springs
  • Rich Gerardi, AA6VX in Vandenberg (Santa Maria, CA)

We had successful two way communications between El Segundo and Colorado Springs on 20 meters and 17 meters. We had one way communication from Vandenberg to Colorado Springs on 20 meters. We also tried 40M but had no luck with that.

Here are some recordings of the communications.

20M Vandenburg to COS
20M El Segundo and COS
17M El Segundo and COS

September HF Net Report

This morning, we had our monthly HF Net.  I can report that it was a success.  We  had successful voice contact between W6AGO (El Segundo), AE0RO (Colorado Springs) and KK4GEG (Chantilly).  The band was busy on 14.275 MHz, so we moved up to 14.287 MHz.  At AGO, COS signal was between S7 and S8.  Chantilly signal was around S6.   It is noted that Chantilly does not have an amplifier and was only putting out 100 watts.

After the main net, W6AGO and Chantilly tried PSK31 digital communications on 14.075 MHz.  Chantilly was able to easily read W6AGO at 50 watts, but W6AGO was NOT able to read anything from Chantilly.   We will work on this new mode for next month.

73,

Kirk Crawford
President AEA Amateur Radio Club (W6AGO)
KK6KC

 

A3 Antenna Report

On Tuesday August 30, 11:30 AM, Kirk Crawford (KK6KC), Thomas Essenpreis (KB9ENS), and Bob Lanahan (KK6YWY) investigated the antenna situation for the A3 Shack.  We disconnected All the antenna cables in the room and then Bob and I (KK6KC) went to the roof while Tom stayed in the shack to test.  We found that the HF Antenna is broken.  It had been obviously cut off.  This most likely happened when the roof was recoated.  The other antennas all seem to be present.  They are all monoband-verticals. See the picture below for a diagram:

A3 Roof Antennas
A3 Roof Antennas

We used a shorted SO239 connector to figure out which antenna is which and analyzed the antennas that we could.

The Antenna Cables that go to the shack are:

  1.  #38 70cm (440MHz)
  2. ATV
  3. #45 23cm (1.2 GHz)
  4. #43 2m (144 MHz) SWR=1.25 @ 144 MHz
  5. #39 1.25m (220 MHz) SWR  = 1.04 @ 219 MHz
  6. #41 HF (Antenna is broken)
  7. 23cm (1.2 GHz)
  8. #42 2m (144 MHz) SWR = 1.04 @ 145 Mhz

We connected antenna 8 to the 2m radio used for the morning nets, and the other 2m to the packet setup.

Conclusions:

We need a new HF antenna on A3 to replace the missing one. I recommend a multi-band vertical type due to the limited space on the penthouse.   Your recommendations are welcome.

The club should also invest in a multi frequency antenna tester that can cover all the antennas we have. The AA-1400 Antenna Analyzer by RigExpert was recommended by Tom. It is capable of measuring from .1-1400 MHz and costs about $1079 (on Amazon).

73,

Kirk Crawford

EDIT:

Some Pictures of the HF Antenna Mounting point:

HF Mount Viewed from below
HF Mount Viewed from below

HF Antenna Mount
HF Antenna Mount

 

May 26, 2016 Meeting Notes

Audio of the meeting:

Audio Player

Members in attendance:

  • Ryan Noguchi AI6DO
  • Kirk Crawford KK6KC
  • Don Hall KK6DCX
  • Teresa Moore AG6OD
  • Joe Barger N6KK


We had some discussion about the upcoming Field Day. We considered what we could do for a 20 or 40 meter wire beam antenna on top of the parking structure and how we would keep the driven element and the reflector parallel to each other. However, given that we expect very few people to be available to do Field Day with the club, we decided to just stick with the antennas we already have: the CrankIR and Buddipole for HF and the verticals attached to the fiberglass masts for UHF/VHF. We will probably run a 20 m station and either 40 or 15, depending on conditions that day.

On the Wednesday before Field Day, we will put up signs advising people to not park in the travel parking on the 4th floor and the North-East section of the 3rd floor. Cones and tape will be put out Thursday afternoon to block off parking spaces, and tables and chairs will be delivered to the 3rd floor Friday afternoon. All equipment will be moved Saturday morning. Kirk will bring 5 gallons of gas for the generator. We won’t invite any external visitors (like city council, press, etc.)

For general emergency use, we discussed having a 30 m APRS system that can send an email out in case of emergency. Ryan will spec out a system and report back. We will also want to be able to communicate with COS/Chantilly on voice, which can be set up over email via APRS.

Kirk brought up the point that during the A6 evacuation a couple months back, the security radios caused a lot of interference on our standard go-to 2 meter simplex frequency (147.51 MHz). He suggested trying a 440 simplex frequency. We would have to test to see how far we can get with 440 simplex. If there is someone with access to a real antenna, we might be able to relay messages.

It was recommended that we purchase the Yamaha CM500 headsets for the rigs in the trailer and for Field Day use.

Kirk reported that he had asked about putting an A6 shack in an electrical room on the second floor of A6. Maintenance people got upset about us using the electrical rooms in general. We will be cleaning to be sure that we are not blocking any electrical panels in any of our shacks in electrical rooms, especially in A2. Kirk is waiting for approval on the A6 shack but will put together a preliminary list including costs for budgeting purposes.

Joe wants to buy a good Software Defined Radio for the D8 shack.

Budgets are due in July so we should allocate/spend money now.

June 25, 2015 Meeting Minutes

See attached audio file for a recording of the meeting.

In attendance were:

  • Archie Buchanan KD6OLH
  • Ryan Noguchi AI6DO
  • Don Hall KK6DCX
  • Kirk Crawford KG6MTE


We discussed many aspects of the field day preparations.  It is this Saturday!  Come join us.  We are setting up at 8:00 AM at Visitor Center 1 (on El Segundo Blvd)

Listen to the audio for more information about the meeting.  We are planning to make do with what we have for field day.  Pull stuff from the A3 shack on Saturday morning.   Ill bring some fuel for the generator and Ill check with Jason on the movement of the trailer.

 

73,

 

Kirk Crawford

Audio Player

05/16/2015 | Pikes Peak Boy Scout Merit Badge Day

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!

HF Radio Test

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