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Hello Joe,
Did you find the info? The latest package is here https://www.n1fd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Field-Day-2018-Meeting-Final.pdf
The signs only have “ARRL Field Day” with no date etc. I will be putting them along the roads leading to HMS.
Hamilton
Just thought. Wire antennas can be very sensitive to height. Is there a chance your antenna is being weighed down cause it to be lower. That would raise SWR. Connect your analyzer and pull down a bit on the feed and see what happens.
We are also assuming by coiling the inside diameter of the coil is 8″ minimum and preferrably 12″ min. Wound too tight SWR will change.
Last, the old cable may have had a problem and the antenna was tuned around it.
Loosely coiling coax should not change the match unless it is part of the antenna design, or damage to it or the connectors. Is there a balun or current choke at the antenna?
Hello Jake,
NEARFEST in Deerfield, NH is coming up in a couple of weeks. The club has a major display both days and many of us will be there if you would like help shopping the used gear. You could also help man a table for a hour or two or get on the air with the GOTA HF station.
I got my new FT60 at HRO at NEARFEST for $130, they often have a Fest discount. If you still have the broken FT-60 you could bring it to my QTH and it is likely we can repair it provided it isn’t completely crushed. I’ve replaced boards, displays, and a case on several of these. The parts were all under $40 from Yaesu.
I’m baised and think the fun is HF. VHF/UHF can be fun with high gain antennas, hill tops, and satellite tracking stations. I like the idea of EME. But I find hitting the local repeater with a HT is just not as exciting as HF.
I would suggest getting a HF rig as a way to become familar with it to prepare for the General, and maybe a baofeng for VHF/UHF to hit the local repeater. Something like a Yaesu FT-450D or similar.
Untill then check out websdr.org You can use some really nice stations to scan the HF amd SWL bands for free with just a wifi connection and smart phone.
I hope you can make it to NEARFEST..
73
Hamilton K1HMS
Hello Aron,
You have listed a lot of great resources.
Another resource are HF nets. My first contacts were on 40m nets, they are great for the “mic shy” first timer. Often it is just your Call, name, and QTH at check-in. Most have a on-line list that you are added to. When it is your turn you basically exchange the same information again with the net corrdinator and say no traffic. On a few nets you can select one or two stations for a short QSO. It is a great way to add states for a WAS.
Today many nets are using the app NetLogger available at NetLogger.org. There is a 4 part youtube video at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p0tUug187MU
On NetLogger you can see the list of active nets. Once you select a net you are added to the list and wait your turn as the progress bar progresses down the computer screen. Do not hesitate to join the YL, XYL, Navy or other nets. They like and need the traffic and especially like new hams.
When I still needed WA, OR, and UT I found nets covering these areas on NetLogger.
Even if you don’t transmit nets are useful to evaluate propagtion and antennas. As you watch the progress bar move down the net list you “know” who is transmitting. For example if the net is the So. California net and as the bar progresses through OMs in various states you only hear the NH, NY and PA stations and they are getting 59s, it probably time to tweak your antenna. By the same token if the Net Control is in NJ and you are hearing both sides of his QSOs with OMs in 6 other states loud and clear while others around you are leaving the net due to poor condition it say your antenna is doing its job.
Tony,
Careful, Mastrand has two products at 4mm, the poly MP04100 (880 lb) is $36 for 330′ and MM04100 4mm Dyneema (1,984 lb) at $136 for 330′.
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/msg-mp04100
I’ve got MP04100 and the HRO rope up in trees. The MP04100 is easier to work with at close to the same price.
PS I have a unopened 330′ spool of 880 lbs test 4mm that you can pick up and order me a replacement via ground shipping since I do not need it soon.
I also have a compressed air spud gun. It will clear the house, the back yard, and then a 110′ pine up the hill. It is easy to aim.
Mastrand from DX Engineering will not break. 330′ of 2mm is $29 and has a test strenght of 529 lbs. It is very UV resistant. The 3mm is 880 lbs. I use a mixture of both. I find I can pull it out of trees after it has been up for a couple of years.
The 1/8 home depot para cord has a test strenght of 140 lbs, is shot after a year, and the sap gets in it making it impossible to pull out of trees, especially pines. The HRO cord is much better. Mastrand is the best.
I wouldn’t use wire. It is hard to model the impact to your antenna performance and it may be a source of additional noise.
I used a WinKeyer all week during Thirteen Colonies without a single fault. The battery was removed and the PC’s internal USB hubs were set to not power down when inactive.
The PC was shut down every day.