DX RX

The Doctor of DX prescribes the
answers to your problems, low and
high, near and far.

A how to of what for, by Mike(aka Billy)Graham, NE1V

NE1V DREAM STATION

Well, I’m blurry-eyed and tired from chasing the Heard Island group. By the time you read this, even the guys with crystal sets will have worked them, at least on one band. Talk about loud! Even K2TE worked them three times so far (as of 1/16), HI. Just kidding, Ed. It is at times like these though, and in the dead of winter, when an avid DX'ers thoughts turn into dreams of the “perfect” station. I have been having serious attacks of dreaming lately. Over the past several years, I have accumulated a considerable arsenal of hardware and have also cleared my acre parcel to at least put up an optimal DX and contesting station, if not THE perfect one.

While I do not wish to “gross out” my neighbors and begin receiving bogus complaints of TVI, BCI, TI (Toaster Interference), etc., I have been striving to design the “visible” portion of my dream station to make it both fun and competitive. Long way to go yet. I have acquired a KT- 34 (I’m adding the extension), a 20-meter 4- element monobander, an older 3-element tribander, 120’ feet of tower (so far), WS1E’s 2-element vertical 80 meter array, dipoles, verticals, etc. Inside the shack I now have two linears, 2 FT-1000MP’s, enough terminal equipment for two complete RTTY stations, and two PC’s (a ‘386 and a ‘486 which I’m networking).

Photo - NE1V's Station
Looking at the photo, you can see the present station, minus a bit of terminal equipment. The present operation consists of an FT-1000MP, Dentron MLA-2500 linear (with new bottles), MFJ-986 3 KW tuner (now, I only run QRP but you can never tell when I might need additional oomph!), Packard Bell ‘486 (2 parallel/4 serial ports running Windows for Workgroups 3.11, 16 MB RAM, 500 MB H/D, CD-ROM, etc.), KAM Plus TNC for HF/VHF, remote coax switch and assorted other Classie Junque. On the exterior… now that is where the real challenge begins!! My “antenna farm” consists of a 3-element tribander mounted 10 feet above the rooftop (up about 30 feet) rotated with an Archer TV rotor (GADZOOKS!!), an all-band Cushcraft vertical (works like a champ), 80 and 40m dipoles. Except for a couple 2 meter antennas to connect to KA1GOZ BBS and the DX Cluster, “That’s all, folks”. I’ve had essentially the same setup since I got active again in ’85 and I have now worked 287 countries. Not bad for an old fogey, eh?

My plan is to build a second operating position to the left of the present one, which will be equipped with an FT-1000MP, KAM Plus and similar PC networked to the ‘486. The position will also sport my “NEW” Henry 2K-4 linear (small potatoes, Ma, honest). It’s the antenna farm which will be challenging. Two towers are going up this summer…..a 60-footer against the house, and a 100-footer out in the lower 40. The high tower will sport the KT-34, 2-element 40 meter Cushcraft and a small WARC- bander rotatable at the top, fixed 4-element 20 meter monobanders lower down (one for EU and one for AS/VK/ZL) phased with the N6BV “brute force” phasing harness… (snicker). The short tower will sport the 3- element tri-bander at the top and a couple of fixed 15 meter yagis further down (one for EU and one for VK/ZL/AS). I’ll put the phased vertical 80 meter array on the high tower and also use it for the support for a 160 meter inverted “L”. I’ll build a switching array similar to the one which Jim WW1Y displayed at Project Night in January and controls for it between the two operating positions. I’m going to keep the vertical out there somewhere, as well as the dipoles. Gads, the more wire the better!

Having been a ham since 1958 and never having owned a tower, I think it’s about time to get serious with this stuff. My hope is that club members will be able to participate with me in some of the contests and have a bit of fun at the same time. I’ll report again next year at this time on my progress.

Next month I’ll profile K2TE. Ed, as you all know, is a serious DX’er and contester. I had hoped to feature his station this month, but I’ve had too many fires to put out to get over there and get some photos and data from Ed. Procrastination is my middle name. In the coming months, I also plan to feature the stations of John, WS1E, and anyone else who would like to have a photo of their station posted.

HEARD…….BIG TIME!!

If you don’t already know it, Heard Island is fully active and LOUD. I don’t remember right off the bat how long they will be staying, but I believe that will be there for several more weeks and hopefully, in time for you to read this and work them, if you have not already. I’d appreciate hearing from you about your experiences with them, especially if you are like so many of us, and operate with average or minimal stations. Drop me an E-Mail to: ne1v@worldnet.att.net and I’ll print your remarks in the next issue.

TECHNICAL RESOURCES

During the past month I was appointed as the Chairman of a new standing committee, The Technical Resources Committee. In next month’s newsletter, I’ll include an article on the purpose and plans for this group. It is hoped that this committee will become, for each of you, a resource which will assist you, or provide the outside expertise, to address matters of a technical nature for which you might not otherwise have access. For example, you may be experiencing TVI problems, or may require assistance in your area with restrictive zoning ordinances regarding antenna structures. Between the wealth of knowledge available within our own club and the expertise and assistance available through the ARRL and other organizations, it is our hope to provide you with topnotch assistance. I ask that if you feel you have special technical and/or legal skills and would be interested in acting as a resource or as a member of the committee, please forward a copy of your professional resume to me. Likewise, if you are experiencing a technical problem and would like assistance, please do not hesitate to call me at home (424-6987) or via E-Mail. When forwarding a request by E-Mail, please include name, phone number, call sign, a detailed explanation of the problem, action taken to date and any pending actions. Starting next month, a technical assistance request form will also be available at club meetings.

All the best for this month, and don’t forget our Saturday morning breakfasts at Sheridan’s on Route 111 in Hollis. There’s guaranteed to be good food and lots of entertaining (yes, Jack, entertaining) conversation.

73 de NE1V

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