Bio for Brian Quick W1XMM: to understand how I got into HAM Radio, you first need to know when and why. I’d been an Amherst Fire Fighter and an Ambulance EMT for about 20 years. The Radios in the fire trucks were, in fact, HF (33MHz). We had a lot of interference from other statewide Fire Services. We did not have cell phones, or at least they were not popular yet. So, I wanted a backup communications method. I was first licensed in 2003 as a technician (no code) as N1PHO. I thought this would be an excellent way to communicate or at least be a good backup. I’d hoped that my wife would get her license, but that didn’t happen. Then, cell phones became a BIG thing, and the HAM radio gathered dust. I attended 2 Nashua Area Field Days in 2014/2015, mostly to help set up. During the 2015 field day a member told me that the radio does not make the station, the antenna does. You should spend three times more on the antenna than the radio. He told me to save up and buy a SteppIR when I could afford it. I became more interested and wanted to play in the big times, “HF.” So, I studied hard, and at the 2003 North East Boxborough EXPO, I went down to take my test and Passed. I attended Field Day 2016 but was too uncomfortable to man a station. But I found some nerve at my shack and got on the radio. My first antenna was a 4-band vertical, and my first radio was the same radio I have today, an Elecraft K3S. I’d spent three times more on the radio than the antenna, but I was saving up for that SteppIR. After a couple of OOPS transmissions on the extra band segments, I decided to get my Extra license. So, eight months after getting my General License, I passed my extra license with a little help from the club and their classes. I did get a SteppIR Vertical, and what a difference it made. Next was a used Mosely 3-band beam. That was awesome. And then, finally, a SteppIR DB18 Beam. What a HUGE difference! So much for the HAM in me.
Now the BIO, I’m a Systems Engineer. Thirty-nine years with what is now BAE SYSTEMS. Prior to that, I was an Army ASA Intercept Radio Repairman (33C20). So, in a nutshell, I have a career in a field that listened to HF/VHF/UHF radio waves (Signal Intelligence), did the direction finding of that signal, and then JAM ’ed (prosecute) the intended receiver of that radio communications. Also known as Electronic Warfare. I “worked” on the hardware and did software integration and testing, but not as the operator. Of course, in order to do software integration, you need to know how to operate the system. There is a big difference between operating and knowing how to push buttons and testing that the system did what it was supposed to do. This is what really helped me make my superb station (yeah, maybe a little bias and/or pride). Understanding VSWR, signal loss due to cables, and a properly tuned antenna. I learned to use test equipment to test signal loss, VSWR, and power meters. It is so easy to over-drive an amplifier and not know it. This causes your signal to be distorted and/or creates clipping, and you, the operator, don’t know it because you don’t hear the transmitted signal.
What got me out of my stage fright was joining a NET. I found OMISS by accident and learned the communication skills needed to then work DX and finally contesting. I’m still not keen on the contesting because there are just too many rude people on HAM radio (maybe everywhere). OMISS Nets are structured; you can receive a call at any time and then call anyone on the NET when it is your turn. They use a free program (Netlogger) to see others on the NET and to see when it is your turn. It also has a feature allowing you to talk with the NET via text. They call it “Almost Instant Message” (AIM). It takes about 20 seconds to get broadcast to the whole NET. If you don’t understand something, ask via a text message. I now have Worked All States (WAS) on five different bands because of OMISS. They have NETs on eight different bands. 3 NETs every day: 20M, 40M, and 80M. Then, on the weekends, that’s when they have 10 NETs on those eight bands. 10M, 12M, 15M, 17M, 20M, 40M, 80M, and 160M, then a late 40M and late 80M. Many times, there are multiple DX stations with regulars from Hawaii and Alaska that join the NETs. OMISS is definitely a family of HAMs. Best of all, it’s only $10 for a lifetime membership. Yes, that was a sales pitch cause I’m a NET Control Station Operator.
I’m now retired and have that Elecraft K3S with a 500W amplifier connected up to a vertical SteppIR for when I work WSJT-X and the SteppIR DB-18 horizontal on a 40’ aluminum tower to work voice. I’ve moved to Antrim on top of a hill where I can see mountains in Massachusetts. What a view. Being away from the city and all of its electrical interference has made a huge difference. I picked a location where there were no power lines nearby, away from any automobile mechanics (their arc welding is a prime source of electrical noise), and on a hill.
Why a SteppIR antenna? The primary reason is that it always resonates at the frequency you are working. You see, a metal tape runs up and down the vertical hollow tube. The controller tells the stepping motor to reel out to 0.1-inch accuracy, which is the right amount of metal tape for the frequency at which you are working. You’ll never need a tuner with this setup. Is there a downside, yes. You can only work that frequency, unlike a tri-band antenna where, with some filters, you can work all three bands at the same time (like at our Field Day events). For the horizontal SteppIR that I have, there are 3 Stepping Motors that adjust two metal tapes at the same time but in opposite directions. Why 3, one for the director, one for the driven element, and one for the reflector. Now if you think about it, you can just as easily change the direction of the antenna by changing the director and the reflector antenna length. In fact, that is as easy as pushing a button on the controller “180˚ “. Now you’re talking to someone in Maine instead of the whole of the US. No waiting on a rotor to turn the beam around. In fact, they have a mode that makes your antenna bi-directional (no reflector).
I’m now trying very hard to learn CW. Our club has a severe lack of CW operators. It’s now February 2024, and I want to know the basics of CW by Field Day in June. It will be a huge commitment on my part to achieve this. In the Army, they give you eight weeks to learn it. I’ll be 70 this year and need the extra time. I started by using flash cards to learn the dits and dahs. DON’T DO THIS. CW needs to be learned by sound. I’ve joined “Long Island CW Clue” to help me learn CW. They have carousel classes (like steps), but you can join the class at any time and then move on to the next carousel. They start you at 15WPM. It allows you to learn the sound at a high speed, making it easier to move up in speed later. By learning the code via flashcards, my brain must translate the sound of dits and dahs to recognize the letter rather than the sound as a letter.
Nashua Area Radio Society activities.
· In 2016, I helped set up the towers
· In 2022, I was the Field Day Tower Lead guru.
· In 2023, I was the Field Day Leader.
· It’s now 2024, and I have been elected (I volunteered) to the position of Vice President. It’s a 2-year position.
Other fun stuff I like to do is woodworking and DYI. I use a laser cutter to make wood inlays, Christmas Ornaments, Christmas lanterns, and other interesting things.
Thanks and 73
Brian
W1XMM
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