Featured, General, Newsletter

Keeping VHF Alive

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Staying Connected and Keeping VHF Alive

I enjoyed watching the recent Tech Night Zoom-cast on the topic of “VHF Plus”. I picked up on a lot of things I had not known a lot about, with topics on satellite and understanding propagation shifts for long-distance DXing.

I often refer to 2 meters – and the similar frequency ranges – as the “gateway bands”. This is where most new hams start. They get their Technician License, buy a cheap Chinese HT, and start using the local repeaters or trying ‘simplex’ with some success.

My First HT – 8 Watt Used For Public Service.

However, after time goes by, a lot of hams get their General or Extra ticket and start using only the HF bands – unfortunately,  not realizing all that 6 meters and above has to offer.

Things To Do With Just a Tech License

Even though I got my General and Extra License and started to use HF, I still stay connected to my HT and tune into 146  and 440 all the time. I have an HT in my car, always scanning the Hollis, Derry, and the  Westford Repeaters. I’ve committed myself to make a couple of calls each day, just to keep the repeaters active and doing my part to keep VHF alive.

I also like to use the EchoLink app on my iPhone to make contacts on repeaters from England to California. One Saturday, I spent an hour talking to someone in San Jose, the place I went to high school. Another Saturday, I talked to another ham in Leicester, England – a town I once visited. You never know who is out there on the other end on Echo Link.

Keeping VHF Alive
EchoLink App Running on iPhone

Public Service

As some of you know, I really enjoy doing public service work with my HT. Last year, before all of the COVID-19 problems, I had a chance to work two Boston Marathon events and the Head of the Charles Regatta. During the regatta, I was stationed on a rescue boat, always staying connected to Net Control during our rescue missions. All very worthwhile and showing how important ham operators are to these events

Keeping VHF Alive
Me at the Boston Half Marathon

Meeting Other Hams on 2 Meters

And recently, I got a real kick out of talking to local hams up in York County, Maine while on vacation.   I was working 20 meters up there when I heard a local sounding voice coming on the air, suggesting that I tune to 2 meters and join their local net. What I found was a group of guys who get together each night on VHF simplex just to stay in touch with each other.  I was also impressed by their enthusiasm for the FM bands, stretching them to the limits. One ham is always working simplex up and down the New England coast on an old-modified public service transceiver, putting out over 100 watts.  Another fellow had connected his 2m – 70cm base station to things like EchoLink, WinLink, and other digital modes.

So, after watching Fred’s Zoom-cast on VHF Plus, along with my recent experience in Maine – and more – I feel even more like keeping my HT handy, trying different things with experimenting on VHF and UHF.

Instead of just spending hours and hours on one HF  pile-up after another, I think it is good to keep the VHF and UHF alive and I am finding new things to do here.

Keeping VHF Alive
With my Rescue Boat Crew on the Charles, handling traffic between us and Net Control on VHF

 

Randall, N1KRB

Activities, Featured, General, Newsletter, On The Air

NARS QSO Party September 26-27

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The Nashua Area Radio Society is sponsoring a QSO party on September 26 and 27. The goal is to get people on the air.  We feel this contest has something for everyone. You can earn points using any mode (except repeaters) you like using any bands you like (except the WARC bands). If your new to contesting that’s fine too. I urge you to give it a try. The exchange is easy and this should be an easy and low-stress introduction to contesting.

A note on digital modes. CQ Worldwide RTTY is held the same weekend. If RTTY is your thing or you want to try it out this is a great opportunity!

NARS QSO Party
Mackenzie KE1NZY operating DX SSB

The rules can be found below.

NARS QSO Party

Object: To contact as many amateur radio operators in as many states, provinces and dx entities as possible

Who: You don’t have to be a Nashua Area Radio Society Member. Everyone is invited to participate!

Date: September 26 0000z to 2359z September 27 2020

Categories: Multi-Multi not permitted. Power categories are accounted for in the multiplier section of the rules.

Exchange: W/VE: RST+State/Province
DX: RST+ DX

Valid Contacts: Work each station once per band and mode.

QSO Points: phone QSO=1pt, digital and cw=2pts.

Multipliers: Each US State, Canadian Province, and every Dx Entity is a multiplier.

Power Multiplier: Stations not indicating power level within their log will be scored as operating with greater than 100 watts (>100 watts). Greater than 100 watts (> 100 watts) , total score x 1, 100 or less (<=100), total score x2, 5 watts or less (<=5 watts), total score x3.

Scoring: Final score= total QSO points x power multiplier.

Electronic entries only and should include a complete Cabrillo format log and claimed score. If your software does not provide that option, include a summary file in plain text format. This QSO party was designed for ease of scoring. If you choose Deleware QSO Party in N1MM or your favorite contest software it will compute your score for you. Logs should indicate time in UTC, bands, modes, calls, and complete exchange.

Certificates will be awarded to the top 3 stations and the top score will also receive a 2020 ARRL Handbook. Good Luck I hope to get you in my log!

Jim,  K1BRM

Antennas, Featured, General, Newsletter

EME Station 2.0 Part 7 – Building EME Antennas

The next step in our EME project is to assemble the four M2 Antenna Systems 2MXP28 Yagis. The four EME Antennas in our array will have a total of 112 elements! These antennas are large, cross-polarized yagis. They feature 28 elements each on 34 1/2 foot booms…

Source: EME Station 2.0 Part 7 – Building Antennas

We are building four M2 2MXP28 Antennas to be mounted on an M2 Antennas 2X2 H-Frame. It is important that the four antennas be identical so they operate properly as an array. This includes things like symmetrical mounting and alignment of each antenna’s vertical and horizontal elements and the associated feed points.

The article in the link above covers the steps, tips, and tricks that we are using to assemble four of these large, 2m X-pol Yagi Antennas. The approach, tools, and techniques are applicable to a wide range of VHF and UHF Yagi antennas.

Fred, AB1OC