A few months back (October, in fact) the program was a panel of experts who answered questions posed by club members. For those of you who missed the question and answer session here’s the list of posers: Beware, some of the answers lack a certain veracity. Caveat Emptor…
A: This particular antenna is made using “zep” cord. It has to be folded because of today’s shorter zeppelins. Attach it using the “handy man’s secret weapon, duct tape”. See the http://www.ac6v.com ham radio resource web site for antenna software and other ham related information. All bets are off if you’re mounting the antenna on a “lead zeppelin”.
A: “No where near enough...” It’s a part 15 regulated device so aren’t allowed to put out very much. Being powered by a single 9V battery limits the amount of power they can radiate.
A: In this situation you have considerable flexibility, generally if you don’t exceed your license limits or the limits of the other individual’s license, this can be considered a family station. Just log on and off with the same call you started with... “Control operator” isn’t an issue because you both have licenses.
A: It’s too soon to determine the correct answer to this question because the Notice of Proposed Rule Making has many conflicting statements. We’ll have to wait and see.
A: The rules require you to identify your station not identify so someone else hears you. In the spirit of things, just identify under the same conditions as you were using. For example, don’t drastically change your transmitter power downward just to identify. As for a dead battery, can anyone reasonably expect you to identify?
A: Yes! Making the antenna conductor “thicker” will always increase the bandwidth of the antenna. This is possible, because the “Q” of the antenna is decreased, hence the bandwidth is broadened.
A: The jury is still out on this one. There’s considerable interaction among the different combinations of dipoles. If you rotate the dipoles and try to orient them as close to perpendicular as possible, you’ll have less interaction. Antennas that are resonant on several bands will radiate harmonics. This radiation is usually not desired. This is another reason the club uses monoband antennas for Field Day.
A: Yes, it would be a good radiator. MFJ markets a ground wire tuner. They have been reported to work adequately. Grounding is a safety issue. Connecting all equipment chassis together and then connecting that common ground to your home ground will keep all equipment at the same DC potential. Run your ground wires directly to your ground rod(s). Don’t use sharp turns in your ground wires. Make lazy turns, but go directly to the rods. However, use sharp bends, knots, and conduit for your coax, phone lines, and other sacrificial wiring. But don’t sacrifice your safety. Solder should NOT be used for ground wire connections. If you get a direct hit, the solder will be instantaneously heated to a molten state and be thrown from the connection. Use clamps or welded connections instead. The bottom line is ground your station for safety and hope your trees get the direct hits.
A: Check out AC6V’s web site. Older ARRL Antenna Books have the equations and/or references to them.
A: Many stories abound. There seems to be no “official” definition.
A: Rich Royer. Vermont. W1HZN. “Tool Shed”.
A: Change the firmware...
A: Use separate feed lines. This has been done successfully.
A: At temperatures below 80 degrees F, use a soft foam or rubber sole. For safety, tie a rope around your waist, but don’t attach the other end to the bumper of the family car unless you have all of the car keys in your pocket.