Many Hams (including this one) have problems with RF Interference (RFI) at their stations. Many RFI sources typically come from inside our own homes. One test we did was to shut down much of the ethernet network and associated devices here at our QTH. To our surprise, this lowered our noise floor on 2m some 6 dB, and eliminated many birdies in the EME section of the 2m Band! We decided to upgrade our network to fiber optics to eliminate the RFI and noise from…
We recently built an improved EME station for the 2m Band. We noticed a higher than ideal noise floor when operating 2m EME during initial testing of the new station. We decided to do some additional testing to see if we could isolate the source of the noise levels. One test we did was to shut down much of the ethernet network and associated devices here at our QTH.
Fiber Optic Wall Outlet
We decided to upgrade the network at our QTH to use Fiber Optics and add a Management System to enable us to shut down some of the more problematic noise sources at our QTH. The resulting improvements were pretty dramatic – reducing RFI-related noise by some 6 dB on the 2m Band!
You can read all about our Fiber Optic Network Project via the link above.
We’ve been busy getting ready for Summer Field Day 2021 at the Nashua Area Radio Society. Our plans include putting up a Tower, a Computer-Controlled Satellite Station, and an upgraded 6m Field Day Station.
6m LFA Yagi
Our 6m Field Day station will be a portable setup and features a new antenna – a 3-Element Loop Fed Array (LFA) Yagi from InnoVAntennas. There are some advantages to LFA Yagi’s for the 6m band and above. In particular, Yagis using an LFA design are less susceptible to noise and interference which is a big advantage for weak-signal work on the 6m Band.
6m LFA Yagi on Mast
Our Yagi is lightweight which makes it ideal for portable applications like Field Day and Mount Topping. Aron, W1AKI, and Jamey, AC1DC helped me to assemble the antenna and put it up on a 25 ft fiberglass mast here at our QTH for testing. The antenna is fed with LMR-400uF coax and rigged with a rotator loop near the top of the mast so that the antenna can be pointed by rotating the mast at the base. The setup is easy to put up – it takes about an hour to do it.
6m Field Day Station
We also use the 6m LFA antenna project as an opportunity to assemble and test our 6m Station for Field Day. The station is an all-mode setup that can do SSB Phone, CW, and WSJT-X Digital (FT8/FT4, Q65, MSK144, etc.). The station will be generator powered at Field Day but it can also be run using a solar/battery setup when Mountain Topping.
The station features an IC-7300 Transceiver (100w), a Winkeyer and Paddles for CW, and a Windows laptop computer running the N1MM+ logger and WSJT-X. The station will also sport a second monitor for Field Day.
N1MM+ Logger on 6m
The N1MM+ Logger works great with the IC-7300 and WSJT-X digital. It supports the all-mode station configuration nicely and it is well integrated with WSJT-X making the logging of FT-8 and other Digital Mode contacts simple. N1MM+ also supports voice recording and keying of the IC-7300 which is a great aid during longer operating events like Field Day.
PSKReporter Test of Portable 6m Station
So how does the upgraded setup play on 6m? Very well! The image above is a snapshot from PSKReporter during our testing session. As you can see, we were using FT8 to test the station and we were heard up and down the eastern U.S. states.
WSJT-X FT8 Decode using 6m Portable Station
Signals were strong in WSJT-X FT8 mode and it was easy to make contacts. We made about 50 contacts during our testing of the 6m Feild Day Station.
The LFA Yagi hears really well making for reliable decodes of signals in the -18 range and often weaker.
6m Meteor Scatter Pings
For fun, I decided to try some 6m Meteor Scatter contacts using the MSK144 mode. This is a challenge with a 100W station as Meteor Scatter general needs a bit of power to work well. As you can see from the image above, we had no problems decoding meteor pings from stations in the midwestern US. I even managed to complete a couple of contacts using Meteor Scatter on the 6m Band.
All in all, we are very pleased with the performance of our upgraded 6m Field Day Station. If we can get a similar Es opening to what we have been seeing here during the last two days, we should have a lot of fun on the Magic Band at Field Day!
We have been working with the students and faculty at Bishop Guertin H.S. (BGHS) here in Nashua, New Hampshire for several years now. This is the story of their planned contact with the International Space Station (ISS).
Amateur Radio STEM Learning Projects
The STEM Club at BGHS has done quite a few Amateur Radio-related project with us.
BGHS students and their Teacher Ready to Launch the HAB
All of this has led to several students and their teacher becoming licensed Amateur Radio operators.
A Contact with the ISS
Karen KC1KBW – BGHS Teacher Building a Kit
We owe a lot of thanks to Karen Crivac, KC1KBW who is a teacher at BGHS. Karen has been providing tremendous support and encouragement for our work to bring Amateur Radio to the students at BGHS. Karen holds a General Class Amateur Radio license.
The process of securing an ISS contact experience involved a lot of work to create a quality STEM-learning program leading up to and after a Contact with the ISS. Karen and the faculty at BGHS did a great job with this and were awarded a Contact late last year.
John, AC1EV Helps a Student Get On The Air
Contacts with the ISS are arranged by ARISS. I serve as both a Mentor and a Ground Staton as part of the ARISS program. I have had the pleasure of serving as the ARISS Mentor for the Bishop Guertin contact. The Nashua Area Radio Society is also BGHS’s partner Amateur Radio club. Jon Turner, AC1EV has been working closely with Bishop Guertin to help them to prepare for their contact.
BGHS Calling NA1SS, Do You Copy?
The students at BGHS have been working on creating questions to ask their Astronaut during their upcoming contact. Many BG students submitted candidate questions.
There is only time for about 20 questions to be asked during the actual contact so the students in STEM Club create the video above to answer some of the questions that did not make the final list for their contact. You can click on the video above to hear the questions and the answers from the STEM Club team.
Here are the questions that the students at BGHS are planning to ask their Astronaut:
Aya, KC1JEB – What landmark on Earth looks the most amazing from space?
Shea – What day to day task is most challenging in space?
Brandon – What inspired you to become an astronaut?
Ian, KC1ONS – What experiments are you currently working on?
Christopher, KC1KBY – Can you share with us what you like best about being in space?
Ella – What does a typical day look like for you?
Connor- What is something new you learned in space?
Ethan – What did you bring from Earth to remind you of home?
Lindsay – What part of space travel is most exciting for you?
Connor – Does being in zero gravity feel like floating in the water?
Aya, KC1JEB – What are some recent discoveries the ISS has made from the experiments conducted in space?
Shea – Upon returning to Earth, how do you plan to re-adjust to gravity?
Brandon – What are your thoughts as you prepare for lift-off?
Ian, KC1ONS – As an experienced astronaut, what advice would you give to a new astronaut heading to the ISS?
Christopher, KC1KBY – How do you treat injuries or illnesses in space?
Ella – Do you have a favorite space food?
Connor – What is the most unusual thing you have seen in space?
Ethan – What part of your training was most challenging?
Lindsay – What happens to your tears in space?
Connor – How do the sun and stars look different in space than on Earth?
T = 0 for Calling the ISS from Bishop Guertin H.S.
Astronaut Shannon Walker, KD5DXB
The pre-contact program for Bishop Guertin’s Contact will begin on Friday, February 18th, 2021 at 12:20 pm eastern time (17:20 UTC). The students at BGHS will be talking with astronaut Shannon Walker, KD5DXB who is onboard the ISS. The ISS will come over the horizon here in New Hampshire, USA at about 12:56 pm eastern time and will plan to make initial contact with Shannon then.
You can view the contact by clicking on the video above.
The Ground Station
AB1OC ARISS Ground Station
I also have the honor of serving as the ARISS Ground Station for BGHS’s contact. It will be my job to establish and maintain the radio link between the students at BGHS and the Shannon on the ISS while the students ask their questions.
The students have been learning much about space and radio technology in preparation for their contact with the ISS. The faculty and administrators at Bishop Guertin have also poured a great deal of time and energy into their contact. I hope that you’ll join us via the live stream and watch the students at BGHS make history!
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