Re: [BVARC] grounding

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Robert,At my installation the only one I am really concerned about is the ground for the DSL into my house (NOT installed by myself) that is a pipe, not a rod.  I clamped a ground wire to a sanded portion of the pipe, and bonded it to my station ground, but I think the pipe thing is a real bad idea.  Given that it is an AT thing, do you have any suggestions other than what I have done? Ron Sent from Mail for Windows From: Robert Polinski via BVARCSent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 8:29 PMTo: john Parmalee; BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUBCc: Robert PolinskiSubject: Re: [BVARC] grounding John, they do make thread together rods, when I did commercial communications I have used them at comm sites. Here, a 10ft ground rod is fine as are wet gumbo soil makes a pretty good ground. The NEC requires 2 ground rods or a ground rod and a ufer ground, which can be rebar in the slab, metal water line or metal bldg. if in contact with the earth via rebar or poles. I usually install 2 rods. Most 10 ft ground are easy to push in the ground with just your hands. I just a few weeks ago installed additional rods at a hams house in the Heights. I wired a home in Elgin, just outside of Austin. Had to install horizonal ground rods as the ground was solid rock 2 ft down. I always tie to an existing rod but always add an additional rod as you never know if the old ground rod is 10ft or 18” Here in the Houston area, testing is not necessary because of the soil, but as the video shows, it is a neat test. You are correct in your bends in the grounding conductor, they will act as a choke if made sharp, also, you should no run the ground wire in metal conduit for the same reason unless you bond the ground wire to the conduit at both ends.  As far a lightning goes, remember, all the wiring the strike travels thru on the way to the earth has resistance & inductance, so by the time it gets in the circuit the voltage & current are greatly reduced, still high, but since the duration is short, a good grounding system will dissipate quickly.  Robert From: BVARC  On Behalf Of john Parmalee via BVARCSent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 6:31 PMTo: bvarc@bvarc.orgCc: john Parmalee Subject: Re: [BVARC] grounding   From what the great video says, if you are comfortable working with 120V the simplest way to check out a ground rod is to see how much current it will draw and do the math.  Don't attempt this without experience working with a live circuit.  I have been told by licensed electricians that when a new service is turned up if there is the stub of a ground rod sticking out of the ground it is good. No testing required.The thing I don't know is where to get the ground rod to ground rod connections and the ground rods with the blunt ends so they can match the previously driven rod.  Lowes only carries the 8 or it 10-foot rods and the coupling to the flex wire to the service box.  I checked Amazon and found nothing.  I am told the local rental yard will rent a hammer drill and the ground rod driving adapter.   Another comment regarding the ability of a ground to carry a lightning strike.  All bends of the ground wire should have the gentlest bends possible.  A strike of lightning is a very fast rise time having many harmonics.  We know this because we can hear lightning almost to the VHF bands, A bend will look like an inductor and raise the instant ohmic value of a ground rod.  On the other hand, a few turns on a coax or power source lead will increase the ohms to you rig.it will not protect against a direct hit but might fend off some induced current from a nearby strike. In south Florida it is common to tie several knots in your modem phone line.  In Michigan they wrap a phone line around a ¼” bolt , some washers and a nut..  John Parmaleejparma...@aol.com281-380-3811 K5VGM WI2XLJIn a message dated 5/23/2022 7:54:42 PM Central Standard Time, bvarc@bvarc.org writes:  If any one is interested in ground rod resistance, you can watch the link below. One thing I want watchers to note, they have 2 50ft ground rods connected together, they hook the hot side of a 120v ckt to them and it only pulls 13 amps (not enough to trip a breaker), that is why the grounding system must have a bond back to the power co ground always. Note this is not related to the RF grounds used as a counterpoise to an antenna system other than they will be tied together at a point. Robert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6G5VUSsWA  Brazos Valley Amateur Radio ClubBVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  


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Re: [BVARC] Ground rod

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

JP,I use #6 Bare Stranded wire run along the foundation of my house between the station ground (right outside my house next to my station), my mast ground (directly below by 24 foot push up stainless mast), the AT box ground, and the utility ground.  They are all bonded using nuts or clamps.  I also bonded the metal pipes in the house to that ground, as well as an exposed piece of rebar from my foundation.  My equipment is all run with ground strap to a 3 foot long, 2” diameter copper pipe below my station, and that is bonded to the station ground rod.   The goal is a common, low resistance to ground for everything in my house.  I also use Alpha Delta switches for the antennas, so they are also grounded to the station ground, and have a position to ground all the antennas, so when my lightning detector goes off, all the antennas get switched to ground. RonKE4DRF Sent from Mail for Windows From: Robert Polinski via BVARCSent: Monday, May 23, 2022 6:08 PMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUBCc: Robert PolinskiSubject: Re: [BVARC] Ground rod JP you can, use a #6 ga wire or larger. Use a separate clamp on the house ground rod and clean with a wire brush or sand lightly before you add the clamp Robert From: BVARC  On Behalf Of JP Pritchard via BVARCSent: Monday, May 23, 2022 5:53 PMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: JP Pritchard Subject: Re: [BVARC] Ground rod Robert, my shack ground rod is about 15 feet away from the house ground rod. Can I just run a heavy wire between the two as a good fix?  JP, K5JPP On 05/23/2022 5:44 PM Robert Polinski via BVARC  wrote:   My post only relates to if in fact you install a ground rod at your ham station, that it needs and under the NEC is required to be bonded (connected) to your house ground.  Lets assume your house ground rod has a résistance of 22 ohms. You pound a rod at your shack in the earth that has a resistance   10 ohms  Lightning strikes  your power line behind your house. This high voltage pulse is seeking the least resistance path to earth. The house ground not the best, but to the lightning Gods you shack ground looks like a great path, using the 3rd prong of your power supply or the neutral side of the power cord, it seeks that ground, kind of frying any wiring or equipment in its travels. If both ground rods are bonded together, using ohms law, the total resistance is 6.88 ohms, much better ground, lightning has a low resistance path to earth not thru your gear.  Also from a safety aspect (why the NEC requires bonding) if you loose a neutral connection at your power drop to your meter, or in your breaker box and your house ground is missing or poor, any grounded equipment in your house can have up to 120v on its chassis. If you were touching equipment in your shack the was connected to your shack ground and something grounded to your poor or non-existent house ground. You will be a cooking hot dog. Robert From: BVARC  On Behalf Of David Hold via BVARCSent: Monday, May 23, 2022 4:58 PMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: David Hold Subject: Re: [BVARC] Ground rod I will bet …. If you ohm out the negative post and chassis you will find out they are the same. If so just take negative to ground rod or wire under a chassis screw to ground. On Mon, May 23, 2022 at 4:51 PM Mike Knedr via BVARC  wrote:Thank you for the information.I have a semlex sec-1235m power supply.It doesn't seem to have a chassis ground like the radio and the tuner does.  Does it need to be grounded? On Mon, May 23, 2022, 1:53 PM Robert Polinski via BVARC  wrote:Do not preform any electrical work unless you are comfortable as to what you are doing. Do not in any case ground the 3rd prong of an electrical cord to a ground rod that is not bonded to your electrical service. You could cause an electrical potential difference between ground thru your equipment or thru YOU. Remember, an earth ground has resistance. An electrical fault (short to chassis or ground) needs a low resistance path back to its source, a metal conductor, the earth can be a high resistance path. Low resistance will cause the protective device ( Breaker or fuse) to open. Robert KD5YVQ From: BVARC  On Behalf Of Joseph Benoit via BVARCSent: Sunday, May 22, 2022 8:59 AMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: Joseph Benoit Subject: Re: [BVARC] Ground rod Mike.  Not a direct answer to your ground rod issue BUT upon inspection, you will find the wire feeding the outlet boxes probably does contain a ground wire, just that they didn't have three-prong outlets or continue grounds properlyNot sure you want to tackle this BUT it is easy just time-consuming. After you've done a couple, maybe 15 minutes each. Experiment with one outlet to see if you are up to it.Look in your breaker panel and you will see a bunch of ground wires connected to the ground buss 

Re: [BVARC] Stargazing

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

BTW the best night sky in the CONUS is either Steens Mountain Wilderness (South Steens Camp) in Oregon, or Tin Mountain Primitive camp in Death Valley.  The best night sky I ever seen in my life was from the deck of a sub at midnight around 63N 4W, although the night sky at 0N 0W wasn’t too shabby either. Ron KE4DRF Sent from Mail for Windows From: Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPN via BVARCSent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 10:11 AMTo: mark janzer via BVARCCc: Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPNSubject: Re: [BVARC] Stargazing Not nearly as dark.https://www.darkskymap.com/nightSkyBrightnessOn the other hand, it might be dark enough.  If it is a lot closer (for me, Hallettsville is a lot closer than Galveston) then I would suggest checking it out and seeing if it's dark enough.  Try to go in the dark of the moon, or at least when the moon is crescent not gibbous or full.   I mostly wanted to share the night sky brightness map.  I'm pretty confident that you can see the milky way from the green areas.On 4/27/2022 7:34 AM, mark janzer via BVARC wrote:A spot much closer, and maybe as dark would be: Beach Access Point #164245 13 Mile RdGalveston, TX 77554 73MarkK5MGJ  On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 01:45:48 AM CDT, Mark Brantana via BVARC  wrote:   My wife and I would like to do a day trip to look at the Milky Way. One website suggested Hallettsville or Sargent Beach. I would be grateful for any suggestions. The next new moon  will be this Saturday. Mark N5PRD  Sent from my iPhone Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  


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Re: [BVARC] Stargazing

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Best night sky close to Houston is: Sea Rim State Park19335 S. Gulfway Drive Sabine Pass, TX 77655 Best night sky with no one around in Texas is: Hannold Draw Big Bend National ParkNeed permit at1 Panther JunctionBig Bend National Park , TX 79834Take an 11” reflector if you know how to use it, or a Computer driven SG scope if you need the helpAlso have at least one pair of 25X70 LA binocs Best stargazing adventure in TX: McDonald ObservatoryFrank N. Bash Visitors Center3640 Dark Sky DriveMcDonald Observatory, TX  79734(432) 426-3640$25 for the regular star p[artyAnd $100 for the 36” on special viewing nughtMake sure you budget for and do both on two different nightsStay at Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park  RonKE4DRF Sent from Mail for Windows From: mark janzer via BVARCSent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 8:25 AMTo: bvarc@bvarc.org; Mark BrantanaCc: mark janzerSubject: Re: [BVARC] Stargazing Just reading the news, and if beachcombing, bricks of cocaine have been washing up onto the shore the past few days... On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 07:34:59 AM CDT, mark janzer via BVARC  wrote:   A spot much closer, and maybe as dark would be: Beach Access Point #164245 13 Mile RdGalveston, TX 77554 73MarkK5MGJ  On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 01:45:48 AM CDT, Mark Brantana via BVARC  wrote:   My wife and I would like to do a day trip to look at the Milky Way. One website suggested Hallettsville or Sargent Beach. I would be grateful for any suggestions. The next new moon  will be this Saturday. Mark N5PRD  Sent from my iPhone Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/ Brazos Valley Amateur Radio ClubBVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  


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[BVARC] HF SSB Saved Freqs

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Based on a question I got recently, thought I would post my Saved SSB freqs for folks. RonSSB HF Frequencies to Save14.300 MHz  (USB) Always a net going, 24/7/365 Intercon Net mornings, Maritime Net afternoons and evenings, PacSailors Net overnight, Hurricane info if Hurricane Net not operating14.325 MHz (USB) Hurricane Net Daytime when hurricane is declared7.268 MHz (LSB) Hurricane Net Night7.290 MHz (LSB) 7290 Traffic Net 10:00 CT to 12:00 CT M-S, 13:00 CT to 14:00 CT M-F7.285 MHz (LSB) Daytime Texas Traffic Net 08:30 CT to 9:30 CT M-S3.873 MHz (LSB) DTTN Evening Session 18:30 CT – 19:30 CT M-S, Texas ARES Net 19:30 CT Monday3.910 MHz (LSB) Louisiana Traffic Net 18:00 CT Daily, BVARC Ragchew Wed 19:00 CT28.488 MHz (USB) Space Houston on Ten (10-10 Int) Net 20:00 Tuesdays  Sent from Mail for Windows 


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Re: [BVARC] Icom 2730a

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Hope that helps RonKE4DRF Sent from Mail for Windows From: Larry Riendeau via BVARCSent: Monday, March 7, 2022 5:37 PMTo: BVARC@bvarc.orgCc: Larry RiendeauSubject: [BVARC] Icom 2730a Recently picked up this radio but existing programming is not local. Anyone by chance have a program file or at very least a current list of active repeaters? Thanx in advance.  LarryK5LERBrazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  

2M 440 100 miles My House.xlsx
Description: MS-Excel 2007 spreadsheet

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Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Something run through NASA is overengineered, IAM SHOCKED, SHOCKED I say!!   Sent from Mail for Windows From: JP Pritchard via BVARCSent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 8:39 AMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUBCc: JP Pritchard; Jeff Greer; Jeffery MacMillianSubject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear Over-engineered is an understatement.   JP On 02/10/2022 8:16 AM Jeff Greer via BVARC  wrote:   This is a scheduled school contact with the ISS via the ARISS program.  ARISS.org has documentation, including ground station recommendations here:  https://www.ariss.org/uploads/1/9/6/8/19681527/ariss_ground_station.pdf  We were also assigned a technical mentor (a ham who has done this many times before), who must approve our plan before passing it along to ARISS for official approval.  -j    From: BVARC  on behalf of Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 7:53 AMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: Jeffery MacMillian Subject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear  Jeff,  Is there a reference or documentation?  Are you just trying to make a contact, or is there something else going on?   Thanks, Jeff KC5TT    On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 7:25 AM Jeff Greer via BVARC  wrote: We have to build primary and backup stations for contacting the ISS, in accordance with ARISS requirements, which are decidedly over-engineered.    I think they require a minimum 14-el circular polarized cross yagi on a rotator for the primary station, for example, along with automagic satellite tracking...   From: BVARC  on behalf of Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 10:57 PMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: Jeffery MacMillian Subject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear  Jeff,  What exactly are you trying to accomplish??  I am sure we can find some way to accommodate your goal without being out some $5000.00 worth of ham gear...   Have Fun, Jeff KC5TT . . .     On Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 7:23 PM Jeff Greer via BVARC  wrote: All,  We are moving to finalize our equipment plan.  We've consulted with our ARISS technical mentor and believe we are on the right track.  We are seeking some loaner gear (list below).  Charlie wanted me to make sure to let everyone know that we are looking to have gear on hand in the next few weeks, and won't be able to return loaner gear for some time - perhaps as late as December or January.  We understand that many will not be able to be without their gear for that long, so wanted to state it up front.  That said, here's a short list of the stuff we know we'll need:  -Icom IC-9700 -50A power supply, linear preferred -peaked roof mount (tripod or base that can be secured with cinder blocks and/or sandbags) -Mirage B-5018-G preamp, 2M-PA 2M preamp, or similar (for us to play with prior to receiving ARRL gear) -Battery power system in case of power outage -eggbeater and/or 5/8 wave (w/ ground radials/plate) antenna -Cushcraft A14820 or similar cross yagi -Uninterruptable power supplies -SWR/Power Output meter -coax switches -Yaesu G5500 rotator (we have a possible loan in the works with a local ham, and a possible loan from ARRL for this)  If you would be able to help, please let me (and Charlie, copied here) know.  Thanks so much!  More details about how to listen to the contact as I have them.  73!  Jeff W5JEF  Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list BVARC@bvarc.org http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list BVARC@bvarc.org http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club BVARC mailing list BVARC@bvarc.org http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Publicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  
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Re: [BVARC] My first DX antenna : MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas MFJ-2010

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Rick,I put up a 80 M OFCD from my chimney.  I put the Balun on top of a 10 foot fiberglass rod strapped to my chimney top  cover.  That gets it to about 32 feet high at the apex of the inverted vee.  So far no complaints from the HOA Gestapo.  While it is visible from the street, it is vey unobtrusive, and just looks like a 4” X 4” box mounted to my chimney cover.  If the HOA asks I plan to tell them it is an atmospheric monitor to make sure the air quality is good. RonKE4DRFSent from Mail for Windows From: Michael Giannaccio via BVARCSent: Saturday, January 1, 2022 11:52 AMTo: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUBCc: Michael Giannaccio; r...@wannall.netSubject: Re: [BVARC] My first DX antenna : MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas MFJ-2010 Hi Rick, Since I don’t have any personal experience with that particular antenna I can’t comment on the build quality. But I do have an OCF dipole with a 4:1 balun cut for the same bands in an HOA situation. Mine is at 25 feet and I’ve been extremely happy with its performance. My furthest SSB contact has been Bosnia on 20m. It’s no beam but it gets the job done! It’s been up for almost a year now and I’ve managed to avoid the HOAs attention. For mine I’m using black insulated wire with the balun hung from my 2 story chimney on a pulley and each leg of the dipole running to two trees. If you want to go super stealth I’d recommend building or purchasing a 4:1 balun and using some Davis RF poly stealth wire. It has a very high strength to diameter rating. https://www.davisrf.com/antenna-wire/polystealth.php If you feel that the MFJ is going to work for you I’d say go for it based on the reviews. If it ends up not suiting your home QTH, well, now you have a portable antenna!73,Mike GiannaccioW5REZOn Jan 1, 2022, at 11:24 AM, Rick Wannall via BVARC  wrote:I acquired a Kenwood TS2000 through this forum a few months ago, and have been browsing around for a first antenna. There are almost too many resources for discussion and recommendation, a very nice problem to have. Based on a number of comments, including remarks  by Dave Casler in his Youtube channel, I’ve landed on this: MFJ Ultra-Lite Off-Center Fed Dipole Antennas MFJ-2010 I’m not exactly sure yet how I’ll get it 35 feet up, but that’s a problem regardless of which antenna, unless I go with a tower. Living under an HOA in a gated compound, I prefer to see if I can get by with just the wire and make that “inconspicuous”. If anyone has a strong conviction that this is just the wrong thing to start with, I’d love to know why and what you would recommend instead. Keep in mind, this is not the only antenna I will buy that, just the first. Thanks, all. Rick WannallKG5ITH Brazos Valley Amateur Radio ClubBVARC mailing listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.orgPublicly available archives are available here: https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/  


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Re: [BVARC] Antenna Guidance

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Jeff,
That antenna is effectively a 17-foot end fed wire.  You will need a tuner
to make it work well.  That being said, I have transmitted and received
signals to and from all over the world on marine band SSB and SailMail
using that exact setup.  One of the reasons that these are as effective as
they are on sailboats is because the ocean is the best ground plane
possible.  If I were running that on my RV, my first kick at the cat would
be to hard mount an Alpha Delta lightning arrestor to the frame of the RV,
run the feed point of the antenna to it, immediately from the lightning
arrestor to the ATU, and then run the coax and the control for the ATU to
the radio.  It won't be great on 40, 60, and 80, but it will work. The
EntireWeb tells me they sell an upgrade kit for 40m and 80, but I wouldn't
do that, I would simply kitbash a couple of wires off the bottom of the
element at a down angle, and stake them out so that you have a 30-degree
angle off of the vertical on each wire.  I would start them out at 17 feet
apiece, and shorten them for tuning.  Also on 80M, you need to realize that
in an RV park you are going to most likely be heard on every internal sound
system speaker in your neighbour's RV (and yours as well).  A couple of
clip-on toroids on the feed wire to the speakers will fix that, so you
might want to pick up a bunch on eBay in case it becomes an issue.  I would
ground the ATU to the point the Alpha Delta is mounted to the frame.  Also,
not sure if the rig has an internal tuner, but if so, don't forget to turn
it off and leave it off.

My $0.02,

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Sep 28, 2021 at 10:34 AM Jeff Thomas via BVARC 
wrote:

> All,
>
> Looking for some antenna advice.   The antenna is a HF-360 with a 6:1 UNUN
> connected to a Yaesu FT-991A.   The mast is insulated from the RV.
> I also have a FT-40 coming as suggested by Yaesu but not sure if it's
> needed yet.
> For radio purposes do I need to ground the mast/antenna with a ground
> rod?  (I am planning to do this for anyway for lightning protection, just
> looking for some validation)
> Should I ground the coax here as well?
>
> Thanks for the advice!
>
>   Jeff / KI5RPL
>
>
> 
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>
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> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] W5RRR JSCARC HF Net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Roger that, 18:30 L, right before their club net.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 8:02 PM Rick Hiller  wrote:

> Assume CDT/CST versus UTC.Correct?   RH
>
>
> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail_term=icon>
>  Virus-free.
> www.avast.com
> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail_term=link>
> <#m_578282554562557078_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 6:55 PM Ron Bosch via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> The Johnson Space Center club is trying to get an HF net going every
>> Tuesday at 18:30 on 3.810 MHz.  They are welcoming all of us to check in if
>> we can.
>>
>> Ron
>> KE4DRF
>> 
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>>
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>> Publicly available archives are available here:
>> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>>
>
>
> --
> Rick Hiller
> *e-mail: rickhille...@gmail.com *
> *Cell:832-474-3713*
> *Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive*
> *   Houston, TX 77036*
>

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[BVARC] W5RRR JSCARC HF Net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

The Johnson Space Center club is trying to get an HF net going every
Tuesday at 18:30 on 3.810 MHz.  They are welcoming all of us to check in if
we can.

Ron
KE4DRF

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

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Re: [BVARC] lithium chemistry batteries for emergency power

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mike,
The battery has a BMS board, just doesn't have the low temp protection
sensor.  Not sure of your math.  mine says
$400 - 50 Ah LiFePO4 Battery
$130 - MPPT controller
$160 - 2 100W Mono Crystalline Panels (rather than 1 200W for
transportability)
$80 - Grid-tied charger
I already have a good inverter, the cabling I need, the power poles I need,
and the auto switch.  I probably won't even use the inverter, since I have
a 12V charger for my laptop, so why take the RFI of an inverter for a radio
application?  That will get me at least 6 hours of IC-7100 time on a POTA
activation, even if the sun isn't out, and more than enough to last 2 or 3
days w/o sun on an ARES activation.  If there is any emergency power or
decent sun, I am nearly unlimited.

Total $770, the equivalent Solar Generator is at least $1100, $1700 if you
go Battle Born.

Ron
KE4DRF


On Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 5:09 PM Mike Lambert via BVARC 
wrote:

> Hi Ron,
>
> By the time you add a charge controller and BMS to that battery you might
> as well buy a solar generator (then you get an inverter too).
>
> Mike
> KI5MIK
> On 9/4/2021 3:34 PM, Ron Bosch via BVARC wrote:
>
> With thanks to Gus, K5GMB, I recommend Will Prowse's youtube channel to
> inform y'all on solar power, as well as batteries.  You can get a 50Ah
> LiFePO4 (Ampere Time or Eco Worthy) Chinese battery for <$300 on Ebay.
> They review very well for the price, with the caveat that they do not come
> with low temp circuits on the BMS, so you have to have good low temp
> protection on your charge controller to make sure you protect the cells.  I
> also recommend spending less on the batteries and more on the charge
> controller.  I plan on buying a Victron Blue Solar, as all of my cruising
> friends swear by them.
>
> Ron
> KE4DRF
>
> On Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 12:21 PM KJ Anderson via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> I'd be interested in picking up a cheap battery as well.
>>
>> -
>> KJ Anderson
>> 253-380-2636
>> www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: BVARC  On Behalf Of Westley Clavey via
>> BVARC
>> Sent: Saturday, September 4, 2021 10:04 AM
>> To: BVARC 
>> Cc: Westley Clavey 
>> Subject: [BVARC] lithium chemistry batteries for emergency power
>>
>> I subscribe to several listservers, but I believe the listing I saw was
>> here on BVARC about someone putting together a group purchase of batteries
>> that can be used to create emergency or field power supplies. My far too
>> efficient mailbox tool clears out messages after a month, so if it was here
>> I can no longer find the listing. If someone has any information on this,
>> could you send directly to me?  ...no need to blast it all out again.
>> Thanks.
>>
>> wescla...@aol.com
>>
>> --
>> Wes Clavey, W5WMC
>>
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>>
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.bvarc.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fbvarc_bvarc.orgdata=04%7C01%7C%7Ce662324345aa4c18e4f608d96fb53bb8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637663646445284969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=kJT8o7qsF77hjHFmjUcEu%2FdH7quSRWXGfCfQtSpCQXI%3Dreserved=0
>> Publicly available archives are available here:
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fbvarc%40bvarc.org%2Fdata=04%7C01%7C%7Ce662324345aa4c18e4f608d96fb53bb8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637663646445284969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=CrJcu%2FCUgWZkFGc%2BLSHli%2BLdMWp5dILoQn9UHASOaes%3Dreserved=0
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
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>>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing 
> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here: 
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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Re: [BVARC] lithium chemistry batteries for emergency power

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

With thanks to Gus, K5GMB, I recommend Will Prowse's youtube channel to
inform y'all on solar power, as well as batteries.  You can get a 50Ah
LiFePO4 (Ampere Time or Eco Worthy) Chinese battery for <$300 on Ebay.
They review very well for the price, with the caveat that they do not come
with low temp circuits on the BMS, so you have to have good low temp
protection on your charge controller to make sure you protect the cells.  I
also recommend spending less on the batteries and more on the charge
controller.  I plan on buying a Victron Blue Solar, as all of my cruising
friends swear by them.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 12:21 PM KJ Anderson via BVARC 
wrote:

> I'd be interested in picking up a cheap battery as well.
>
> -
> KJ Anderson
> 253-380-2636
> www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd
>
> -Original Message-
> From: BVARC  On Behalf Of Westley Clavey via
> BVARC
> Sent: Saturday, September 4, 2021 10:04 AM
> To: BVARC 
> Cc: Westley Clavey 
> Subject: [BVARC] lithium chemistry batteries for emergency power
>
> I subscribe to several listservers, but I believe the listing I saw was
> here on BVARC about someone putting together a group purchase of batteries
> that can be used to create emergency or field power supplies. My far too
> efficient mailbox tool clears out messages after a month, so if it was here
> I can no longer find the listing. If someone has any information on this,
> could you send directly to me?  ...no need to blast it all out again.
> Thanks.
>
> wescla...@aol.com
>
> --
> Wes Clavey, W5WMC
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
>
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.bvarc.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fbvarc_bvarc.orgdata=04%7C01%7C%7Ce662324345aa4c18e4f608d96fb53bb8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637663646445284969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=kJT8o7qsF77hjHFmjUcEu%2FdH7quSRWXGfCfQtSpCQXI%3Dreserved=0
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fbvarc%40bvarc.org%2Fdata=04%7C01%7C%7Ce662324345aa4c18e4f608d96fb53bb8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637663646445284969%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000sdata=CrJcu%2FCUgWZkFGc%2BLSHli%2BLdMWp5dILoQn9UHASOaes%3Dreserved=0
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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Re: [BVARC] POTA rigs?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

KJ,
I have operated on 100Ah AGM deep cycle (read 50Ah LiFePO4 for the same
energy} using FT8 and Winlink for 4 continuous hours for two days in a row
(8 total hours) before I had to recharge.  Obviously, I did not have it on
50% duty cycle FT8 for all 8 hours, but I don't believe I have ever run 8
hrs of continuous FT8 in two days even if I were contesting.  I have
operated a Winlink station for about 3 hours straight on HF doing both
Winlink and SSB and still had charge left on a 35 Ah AGM deep cycle.  When
these AGM's go I will be moving to LiFePO4. mainly for longevity and
weight.  I also bought a new auto switch (Automatically runs the radios off
the highest voltage source) and MPPT controller so I can run the portable
station off solar and the home installation of the mains until either the
solar panels or the mains drop voltage.  I have not yet acquired the panels
for that system, as I am still using the AGM's at this time.  I have
generator backup at the house, so I never intend to use the solar at the
house, unless gas runs out (I store the legally permissible 20 gallons at
the house., so based on previous experience, I can go 6 days running
essential loads on gennie without refuelling or tapping the other 25 - 50
gallons in the cars.  Assuming I needed to bunker up and had full car
tanks, we could go 20 days before I would need to consider switching to
solar.  That makes the solar mainly useful for deployment and portable ops,
so I am planning on 200W of solar, and 50Ah LiFePO4 and 30 Ah LiFePO4 that
will share duty between the house in backup, and portable/deployment ops.

My $0.02,

Ron
KE4DRF

On Sat, Sep 4, 2021 at 12:25 PM KJ Anderson via BVARC 
wrote:

> I want to put a battery (see other thread) and a solar panel together to
> be able to run my radio POTA/ARES, but while I can math my way into what I
> think I need, I’d like to hear from folks doing it, empirically, to get
> feedback on what’s actually worked/didn’t in the field.  My math says a
> 55AH deep cycle with a 220W solar kit should do really well during the day,
> but I’ll still need to curb power at night, assuming a 25% duty cycle.  If
> I want a 50% duty cycle for FT-8, the numbers (read: costs) aren’t fun to
> think about….
>
>
>
> Who’s doing this, and what can you teach me?
>
>
>
> *-*
>
> *KJ Anderson*
>
> 253-380-2636
>
> www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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Re: [BVARC] New HAM needs assistance tuning a Butternut HV9V Antenna

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mark,
Do you have an antenna analyzer?  I do not think it is realistically
possible to tune that type of antenna without one.  In general, I always
start tuning a multi-band antenna on the lowest frequency, move up, and
then go back down.

Hope that helps,

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Aug 24, 2021 at 10:52 AM JP Pritchard via BVARC 
wrote:

> Have you checked for YouTube videos and perhaps a Butternut user forum?
> You might find guidance there.  Good luck.
>
> 73, JP K5JPP
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 24, 2021, at 4:48 AM, Mark Ram via BVARC  wrote:
>
> 
> Is anyone using a Butternut HV9V antenna, preferably ground mounted with a
> radial plate ?
> I have installed the antenna and would appreciate guidance on tuning it.
>
> 73,
> Mark
> N8YOG
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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>
> 
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>
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>

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Re: [BVARC] have GMRS license?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mike,
I have two GMRS repeater capable HT's.  Just used them on my trip to Oregon.

Ron
KE4DRF
WRJP592

On Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 10:05 PM Mike Lambert via BVARC 
wrote:

> I would like to know how many of us also have a GMRS license.
>
> If you have a GMRS license, please send me your call sign, are you active
> on the repeaters and do you have a GMRS home and/or mobile station.
>
> 73s
> Mike
> KI5MIK
> WRME994
>
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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> Publicly available archives are available here:
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>

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Re: [BVARC] DXCC Application

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Thank you, sir!!

On Tue, Jul 27, 2021 at 7:36 PM Bruce via BVARC  wrote:

> Yes,
>
> Go to this page at the ARRL
> http://www.arrl.org/online-dxcc-application
>
> Complete your online application for the DXCC cards you have.
> Then take the form with the cards to a DXCC card checker
> They will check your cards, return the cards to you and send the paper
> sheet to the ARRL.
> The ARRL will add those DXCC entities to your LoTW account
>
> 73...bruce
>
> On 7/27/2021 7:31 PM, Ron Bosch via BVARC wrote:
>
> Can anyone help me figure out the Byzantine process for applying for my
> DXCC.  I currently have 94 confirmed QSO's credited on my LOTW account and
> 6 QSL cards from separate DXCC entities who do not confirm on LOTW.  Is
> there any way for me to combine the two to get my DXCC?  Everything I find
> seems to indicate it is an either/or proposition, but not both.
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Ron
> KE4DRF
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing 
> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here: 
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Paige, KK5DO
>
> AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
> AMSAT Board Member 2016-2022
>
> ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE
>
> Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT*
> Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com
> Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes
>
> Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News   http://www.arrl.org
>
> AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat
>
> 
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>
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[BVARC] DXCC Application

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

 Can anyone help me figure out the Byzantine process for applying for my
DXCC.  I currently have 94 confirmed QSO's credited on my LOTW account and
6 QSL cards from separate DXCC entities who do not confirm on LOTW.  Is
there any way for me to combine the two to get my DXCC?  Everything I find
seems to indicate it is an either/or proposition, but not both.

Thanks and 73,
Ron
KE4DRF

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Re: [BVARC] Traffic handling

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

I can do that.

Ron
KE4DRF
ARRL STX STM

On Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 1:12 PM Martin Blaise via BVARC 
wrote:

> This topic was suggested as a possible club presentation. Does anyone know
> someone that may have given a presentation? Thanks
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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>

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Re: [BVARC] N5XZ Lightning Strike - Seeking guidance

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Terry,
A ground loop exists if there is a large amount of wire hanging in the air
acting as an antenna to which the ground is the counterpoise.  You should
run #8 Stranded Bare Copper Wire (75' is about $30 at Wirenco) either in
the ground or buried about 2 inches below the grass (like you can do with a
radial, except not bare wire for the radial).  You should bond all of your
ground rods together this way so that all grounds are a common potential.
Ground all of your equipment to a single point inside the shack, and run
the shortest piece of wire from that common point to a ground rod as close
to the house and shack as possible.  This will limit the potential of
ground loops.  I use #8 rubber-coated automobile audio ground cable to make
that run.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Jul 6, 2021 at 5:09 PM terry leatherland via BVARC 
wrote:

> Robert.
> HI. I was going to ask this very question. I recently rerouted all of my
> coax and antenna runs thru a different path into my 2nd floor shack. Below
> the shack I put in a 8' copper ground rod. I have all 4 coax lines going
> thru dx engineering lightning arrestors into that ground rod.
> It is about 40' away on the same house side from my main house AC ground..
> Should I just run a 10Gauge wire leg from that new rod to the AC rod,
> thereby making all of them the same ground structure?
>
> Isnt that called a ground loop? or am i reversed in this thinking.
>
> Terry Leatherland, K5PGF
> 281-455-8090
> Sugar Land, Tx
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 04:29:04 PM CDT, Robert Polinski via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>
> Allen, you need to bond your ham ground with your AC ground. Robert
>
>
>
> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Mark Brantana via
> BVARC
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 06, 2021 3:47 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ; TDXS Reflector <
> tdxs-l...@tdxs.net>; CTDXCC 
> *Cc:* Mark Brantana ; Allen Brier N5XZ <
> n...@earthlink.net>; Allen Brier 
> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] N5XZ Lightning Strike - Seeking guidance
>
>
>
> I have a new 650 watt computer power supply you can have if you want it.
>
> Mark
>
> N5PRD
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
> 
>
> On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 3:42 PM, Allen Brier N5XZ via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
> As many of you know, I have suffered a direct lightning strike here at my
> station on Monday, June 28th about 6:30 am. It was essentially catastrophic
> for most of my equipment inside the shack and I am still assessing the
> damage. I even have some damage to audio gear in another room. Many other
> homes in the neighborhood also suffered damage, one of them so bad that
> EVERY piece of electronic equipment in the house was fried. I am still
> waiting for a power supply to get my computer back up and running, but
> thanks to Orville K5VWW, we have determined that the hard drive is intact.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am seeking guidance from anyone who has suffered a similar fate. I need
> to know:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> - How did you deal with the insurance company?
>
>
>
> - How did you test equipment to determine the extent of damage?
>
>
>
> - Did you employ an electrical engineer to provide statement(s) to the
> insurance company to validate damage?  (was is require to?) (Any EE's out
> there available for this?)
>
>
>
> - What was claimed? i.e. did you claim all feedlines, cables, adapters,
> switches, etc. in addition to radios even if there is no damage visible?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Any other information which may benefit me in my claim would be
> appreciated. It may be a while before I am back on the air again from my
> QTH.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Allen Brier N5XZ
>
>
>
> 
>
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
>
>
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>
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>
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>
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> 
>
> 
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> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] 5.17 repeater

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

One of the KA5QDG repeaters, the 145.17 (-) (PL 123.0) repeater hosts the
Monthly HCARES hospital EmComm net the last Sunday of the month at 18:30,
as well as SW Unit ARES net on the third Wednesday of the month.  I
believe it also hosts the Oak Forest ARC nets.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 9:25 PM Mike Lambert via BVARC 
wrote:

> This evening on the nets I heard about a "5.17 repeater".
>
> Can someone tell me the purpose, freq and PL?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
> KI5MIK
>
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] SSTV setup

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

John,
I have run MMSSTV through my HRD setup to DL SSTV FM from the ISS using my
IC-7100 (internal Sound Card).  I don't see any reason that would not work
with an HT and a Signalink if you had the Signalink cable for your HT.  I
am not certain you could do it through your computers sound card

Ron
KE4DRF

On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 9:21 PM John D via BVARC  wrote:

> Is it possible to use an HT for SSTV?
>
> I downloaded the MMSSTV software, the laptop has a sound card. Just not
> too sure what cable to use to connect radio to sound card.
>
> John D
> W5RDY
>
> > On Jun 17, 2021, at 12:00 PM, bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org wrote:
> >
> > Send BVARC mailing list submissions to
> >bvarc@bvarc.org
> >
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> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> >bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> >bvarc-ow...@bvarc.org
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of BVARC digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >   1. BVARC Field Day Meeting - Thursday at 7 p.m. (Jeff Greer)
> >   2. BVARC Field Day Meeting (via Zoom) (Jeff Greer)
> >   3. Re: ELMER NEEDED (Mike Lambert)
> >   4. update your new call signs (Eddie Runner)
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2021 23:25:08 +
> > From: Jeff Greer 
> > To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> > Subject: [BVARC] BVARC Field Day Meeting - Thursday at 7 p.m.
> > Message-ID:
> ><
> sn6pr16mb25582b6b8d006b7a5c27f01eb5...@sn6pr16mb2558.namprd16.prod.outlook.com
> >
> >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >
> > Jeff Greer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
> >
> > Topic: BVARC Field Day
> > Time: Jun 17, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
> >
> > Join Zoom Meeting
> >
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85256904628?pwd=aXFpYS83RVBoUTNlcktINllFQ0EwUT09
> > Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting<
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> Zoom is a publicly traded company headquartered in San Jose, CA.
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> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2021 23:26:29 +
> > From: Jeff Greer 
> > To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB , BRAZOS VALLEY
> >AMATEURRADIO CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
> > Subject: [BVARC] BVARC Field Day Meeting (via Zoom)
> > Message-ID:
> ><
> sn6pr16mb255807b6814cdc90a47a22b1b5...@sn6pr16mb2558.namprd16.prod.outlook.com
> >
> >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >
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> >
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> > Time: Jun 17, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
> >
> > Join Zoom Meeting
> >
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85256904628?pwd=aXFpYS83RVBoUTNlcktINllFQ0EwUT09
> >
> > Meeting ID: 852 5690 4628
> > Passcode: 078452
> > One tap mobile
> > +13462487799,,85256904628# US (Houston)
> > +16699006833,,85256904628# US (San Jose)
> >
> > Dial by your location
> >+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
> >+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
> >+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
> >+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
> >+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
> >+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
> >+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
> > Meeting ID: 852 5690 4628
> > Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd1IpjIDJ
> >
> >
> > -- next part --
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> 

Re: [BVARC] Lightning Strike Prevention

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Keith,
Did you also lose your TV's and other electronics?  Did you lose any
transceivers not connected to your mains?  The fact is that a lightning
strike on or very near your house is going to impress current on any
antenna system, or analogue thereof, in the near field, and the amount of
energy carried by that antenna system is directly proportional to wire
length to that antenna or antenna analogue.  The largest antenna analogue
in our houses is the wiring system of the house itself, and a residential
ground, while being a good short path, is not usually very efficient
compared to the ground system of a commercial building or a broadcast
tower.  That being said, the odds of taking such a hit are small by ground
area and reduced exponentially by the relative heights of the
surroundings.  The object lesson being that if you have the highest thing
in large square footage connected electrically to your equipment, you are
increasing your odds of a strike significantly.  Unfortunately, the best
thing for getting a great signal on radio is the worst thing to do for
protecting yourself from lightning strikes, which makes perfect sense if
you realize that we are in the hobby of taking a small powered sine wave
electrical signal from the atmosphere and responding to it using a slightly
higher powered electrical sine wave :-)  The folks of us that do that most
efficiently are the most likely to be the victims of the fact that the
system is, by definition, very good at attracting a tens billion times
higher potential static DC capacitive discharge.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Wed, May 26, 2021 at 7:16 PM Keith Dutson via BVARC 
wrote:

> Some useful info in this post, but shows lack of facts.  For example, it
> is well known and documented that lightning can strike from cloud to ground
> and vice versa.
>
> My station has been damaged by lightning several times.  The worst damage
> was in May, 2019, when a large bolt struck my 150 foot tower.  This was
> witnessed by my daughter and her husband who were outside at the time.  The
> station furniture in the shack was being moved at that time and there were
> no antennas connected.  However, all units were plugged into power and
> connected to computers.  ALL computers and transceivers were destroyed, and
> the linear amplifiers were damaged in the power supply section.  There were
> several signs of lightning flashover at signal and power connections.  I
> was standing in the shack at the time of the strike, and there was no
> sound, but it felt like the time in military basic combat training where
> I felt the concussion of dynamite blasts.
>
> Now I have relay controlled disconnect of power and antennas for all
> stations.  The disconnect grounds antennas and rigs.
>
> I did collect insurance.  The claim was for about $25,000, and I got about
> $22,000 after deductible.
>
> 73, Keith NM5G
>
> On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, 09:40:06 AM CDT, Will Gray via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>
> There are lots of books on the subject and plenty of examples
> visible around major electrical installations of how to prevent damage by
> lightning.  Lightning occurs when there is a large charge difference
> present, normally caused by rain carrying electrons from clouds to ground.
> If there is no path to deplete the charge and when the charge is great
> enough, the electrons go back to the more positively charged area of the
> clouds above.  The strike is from ground to cloud.  The use of several
> ground rods tied together and connected to power grounds, water pipes, gas
> pipes, and the antenna system tends to deplete the charge to the earth,
> preventing the strike.  Unplug, disconnect and ground your equipment.
> During an electrical storm stay away from doors, windows and chimneys.  Get
> in your vehicle and close the doors.
>
> Safety!
> Will Gray, KB7QL
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here: 
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] Museum Ships Coordination meeting - was tonight (postponed)

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Count me in

On Tue, May 11, 2021 at 5:20 PM Theresa via BVARC  wrote:

> YAY MSW!!!
>
> Theresa Williams KE5MUX
>
>
> On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 5:17:30 PM CDT, Chris Luppens via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>
> I have date saved, would very much like to get involved.
>
> Typos Compliments of iPhone
> Chris Luppens KG5BBF
>
>
> On May 11, 2021, at 5:12 PM, mark janzer via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> 
> Due to a variety of things, we'll have to slip the coordination meeting
> along to a later date/time.
> If you are interested in participating in MSWE (June 4-6) let me know.
>
> 73
> Mark
> K5MGJ
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here: 
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] HF Antenna Advice

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

David,
1.  Make sure you have a bit of standoff for the 4:1 Current Balun from the
actual chimney to prevent coupling RF to the brick (they are red for a
reason).
2   Make sure you provide strain relief for the ends of the wire where they
attach to the post above your fence.  I use surgical tubing, but you can
just as easily use a bungee cord.  This prevents differential movement of
the post and the chimney for transferring strain on the wire to the
chimney, which is only designed for wind loading, not lateral stress.
3.  If the wire of the antenna is reachable by ANYONE EVER, make sure it is
insulated wire.  If someone touches the bare  wire while you are
transmitting they WILL get a serious RF burn.
4.  Don't buy a dipole, make it.  It is good practice, it allows you to
select the wire you want to use (i.e thin and the right color insulation to
not be seen, the right tensile strength to not sag, etc), and it allows you
to understand cut long and trim.  Buying a dipole doesn't gain you
anything, because it still needs to be trimmed.  If you need to borrow a
solder gun, some flux paste, and 60/40 to solder the wires to the Balun,
let me know.  I will also let you borrow my Rig Expert Stick when you need
to trim the antenna, which you will need no matter if you make or buy.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 4:41 PM David Mehl via BVARC  wrote:

> Jeffrey
>
>
>
> The Internet has multiple pages that warn that antennas can overload and
> pull down a brick chimney.  Other pages say small antennas are okay, but
> don’t mount anything big or needing a rotor. Then again, other pages are
> ‘anything goes’ on a chimney.
>
>
>
> So there is no consistent advice. Sort of like do you need to run ground
> rods and wires all the way around your house.
>
>
>
>
>
> David
>
>
>
> David Mehl
>
> Houston TX USA
>
>
>
> *From:* Jeffrey Carson 
> *Sent:* 7 May, 2021 3:16 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* MIKE BRANNAN ; Karl Bernard <
> karl.bern...@gmail.com>; David Mehl 
> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] HF Antenna Advice
>
>
>
> What "warnings" did you read about using a chimney for a mount. Never
> actually heard of any myself. Is it about it not being sturdy or something
> else?
>
>
>
> On Friday, May 7, 2021, 03:12:02 PM CDT, MIKE BRANNAN via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Years ago I used steel strapping around my chimney to hold a heavy dipole
> with large traps. Worked fine. Even went though several high wind events.
> One removed a large portion of the roof.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> On May 7, 2021, at 1:14 PM, Karl Bernard via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> 
>
> David,
>
>
>
> I wouldn't think that a dipole of any kind would put too much of a strain
> on your chimney. Even with the balun, that one only weighs 1.2lb (per DX
> Engineering - https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mfj-2010
> 
> ).
>
>
>
> Since whatever you use as a mount will weigh more than the antenna, just
> be sure to use a lightweight mount.
>
>
>
> Disclaimer - this only my opinion. I've never mounted an antenna on a
> chimney before.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Karl
>
> W5KMB
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 12:43 PM David Mehl via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> BVARC Club
>
>
>
> I am a new ham and a club member since I passed my Tech last August at the
> BVAC testing. I have also passed both my General and Extra exam about a
> month ago. I am working on setting up a HF radio for home. I have a
> ‘backordered’ IC-7300 which may show up one day. In the mean time, I am
> trying to plan for my HF antenna that will fit on my small lot.   I think I
> can run an 40-20-10-6 OCFD (*MFJ-2010) in a slope from a tree in my front
> yard, with the feed point hung off a mounted on chimney, and then on to a
> post above my fence in my backyard. I don’t have any trees in my backyard.
> Instead I have power lines across the back of the lot that I have to avoid.
>
>
>
> I keep reading various comments and warnings about using a chimney for a
> mount. My chimney is in good repair, having been inspected and repaired
> during my home rebuilt after being flooded during Harvey.
>
>
>
> Is the center of the OCFD a light enough load to consider using my chimney
> as a center mount? Is there a right way to do that? Or should I ‘bite the
> bullet’ and setup a pole beside the chimney?
>
>
>
> Any other antenna advice for a novice?
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> AI5DK
>
> David
>
> David Mehl / Houston Texas USA / dcm...@live.com
>
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] A Thank You to John Stratton, ARRL West Gulf Division Director

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

I want one!!  What's more, I used to be qualified to run one, wonder if
they would let me have one!!!

Ron
KE4DRF

On Mon, Apr 5, 2021 at 10:42 AM Mike Hardwick via BVARC 
wrote:

> All of this gasoline stuff and sizing problems are nothing but a headache
> when dealing with any generator. Get one of these and it will take care of
> all of those issues (you can also power the most of your street at well)!
>
> https://www.wired.com/2007/12/toshibas-home-n/
>
> You will have plenty of power for that Alpha amp now!
>
> Mike
> N5VCX
>
>
>
> On Monday, April 5, 2021, 09:13:50 AM CDT, JP Pritchard via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>
> I agree with you Ron about the hassle of a DIY solution, but for those who
> might feel confident about meeting that challenge, but hesitant to take on
> a 10 to 20 thousand dollar investment in a "whole house" generator, here's
> a less expensive plan: Install a single room heat pump style air
> conditioner, and add a small fridge and microwave. Then power it with a
> small moveable generator. That set up would keep you warm or cool, keep the
> lights in your one room going and power for your fridge, microwave and TV.
> There would be a cost, but not nearly what you'd face with the Generac
> solution.
>
> JP (Richard) K5JPP
>
> On 04/05/2021 8:56 AM k5hm.ron--- via BVARC  wrote:
>
>
>
> Yes, the solution N5PRD describes  was possible. We had a portable
> generator before we purchased the Generac solution.
>
>
>
> At our age which I am guessing is more advanced, the job of pulling out
> the generator from the garage, hooking it up, testing it periodically,
> having some type of feed through connection from the generator to the fan
> and other things you want to power like the refrigerator and the upright
> freezer, storing and hunting around for fuel, going outside to refuel the
> generator in the cold dark night were also considerations
>
>
>
> So I opted for the more automated solution. It is permanently installed by
> licensed plumbers and electricians, self-testing, automatically switches on
> whenever the utility power goes out. I have a seven year warranty on it and
> the maintenance plan too.
>
>
>
> And I also have the satisfaction of knowing that my wife and family are
> also protected from electrical failures after I pass on.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Ron, K5HM
>
> k5hm@gmail.com
>
> www.qrz.com/db/k5hm
>
> [image: ARRL Logo][image: logo (2)][image: smaller Prize]
>
> *Excelsior!*
>
>
>
> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Mark Brantana via
> BVARC
> *Sent:* Sunday, April 4, 2021 11:35 PM
> *To:* kk...@arrl.net; BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* Mark Brantana 
> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] A Thank You to John Stratton, ARRL West Gulf
> Division Director
>
>
>
> I just have to wonder, how Generac can justify the cost of their
> generator. That is what does not add up for me.
>
> 4kW = $250 at Home Depot
>
> 17kW=$10,000 from Generac
>
>
>
> Looking at the chart below; from Hiller, if you want A/C included, it is
> going to take that much power.
>
>
>
> If this is not critical, there another option could be considered:
>
>
>
> A whole-house unit would be nice to have, but a Generac would cost about
> $120+/mo for four years. The small 4kW portable generator I bought would be
> paid for in about 2 months at that rate.
>
>
>
> If you have gas heat, you can run the fan with the smaller unit. In this
> option you can buy all the emergency generating power you need for the cost
> of the 4kW generator I bought at Home Depot for around $250.  Add a SPDT
> switch to the fan and wiring for around $100 and the total cost is about
> $350.
>
>
>
> It does not have to be Generac or nothing. Even if I had the cash, I don’t
> know if I could justify the very high $/kW. I would prefer a few more
> vacations.
>
>
>
> I would have been very comfortable if I had just been able to run the
> heater fan.
>
>
>
> Mark
>
> N5PRD
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 4, 2021, at 8:11 PM, Bruce via BVARC  wrote:
>
>
>
> We had our Generac whole house generator installed in August, 2020. Our
> house is all electric. Shortly after, someone cut down a tree about a 1/2
> mile from us, it fell on a utility pole knocking out power to our entire
> street for 8 hours. The generator was great during that summer heat. Then
> came the cold of February and it worked great for 4 days. The neighbors on
> both sides of me and behind me all have generators. The $10,000 investment
> will never be recovered however, having power is wonderful. In fact, it
> cost me about $1.25 an hour in natural gas to run the generator. Could not
> be more pleased.
>
> For those getting a generator, if you go after a Generac, be sure to watch
> their website for warranty specials. I have a 10-year warranty plus the
> first year onsite service. Paid my dealer for 5 years of onsite above that.
> Changing the oil is a piece of cake as I had to do it during the cold.
> Every 25 hours of run time. I bought 6 filters and a bunch of 5W30
> synthetic 

Re: [BVARC] USB Cables for Rig Control?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

I run one 3 foot USB A to B cable to my IC-7100 for both rig control and
digital modes.  I run HRD for rig control, and the associated DM760 for HF
Digi, and WSJT-X for the weak signal digi.  I am in the process of setting
up a PTC IIIusb modem, which will run a second USB to Accessory cable (I
hope that and the Airmail program is all I need to get on the DTN backbone).

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Mar 16, 2021 at 12:25 AM Karl Bernard via BVARC 
wrote:

> What USB cables are you using for rig control? I plan to work digital
> modes and do rig control on my IC-7100 and possibly keep the power-supply
> and the radio itself away from my desk and I was planning to get a 6-10ft
> USB A to USB mini-B cable. I'd think it should be a shielded cable. I
> should also get a shielded micro-USB cable for my web-cam - it goes offline
> every time I key my 2M rig, lol (indoor antenna...).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Karl
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] Red Cross ham antenna?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

See https://harriscountyares.org/agency/

On Sun, Feb 21, 2021 at 3:54 PM Bill Holden via BVARC 
wrote:

> Hey all,
> I just drove by the American Red Cross building and I noticed a couple
> antennas on top that looked like some large HF antennas. Anyone know the
> story there?
> Thanks,
> Bill
> W5JAZ
> --
> Bill Holden
> (860) 874-7423
> behold...@gmail.com
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
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> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> Publicly available archives are available here:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/bvarc@bvarc.org/
>

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Re: [BVARC] Gin Pole

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Now, for the rest of my life, when someone says gin pole, I am going to
picture a 10 foot tall bottle of Gordons with 3 ropes and a block and
tackle for a cap :-)

On Wed, Feb 3, 2021 at 8:51 PM Gus Bernard via BVARC 
wrote:

> That's the reason most of us home-brew.
>
> On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 2:33 AM Ron Litt via BVARC  wrote:
>
>> That's pretty expensive gin.
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 3, 2021, 19:47 R.S.Hradilek via BVARC 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I have one for sale with about 200' of rope.
>>>
>>> It's the Rohn version, for 25/45G - model # EF2545.
>>> Retail is approx $1000 at best, and without the rope.
>>>
>>> $600 firm
>>>
>>> Roy -- AD5Q
>>>
>>> 
>>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>>
>>> BVARC mailing list
>>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
> 
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>
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> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] BVARC Digest, Vol 132, Issue 1

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Can also be the power supply in a desktop as well.  They are notorious for
being broad-spectrum noise sources.

On Mon, Feb 1, 2021 at 2:16 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> I’ll check that out. Thank you.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 1, 2021, at 1:00 PM, Kirk KK2Z via BVARC  wrote:
>
> 
> Mark,
> I had a bad laptop switching supply that caused the same broad spectrum
> white noise you are describing. It was plugged into the same outlet as the
> radio. My assumption was that it was a radio problem initially. Wiped out
> radio receive to S9+20 white noise.
>
> I found it when I used a sw receiver and walked around looking for RFI
> sources. Turned out to be 6" from radio.
> 73,
> Kirk KK2Z
>
>
>> --
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2021 19:33:20 -0600
>> From: Mark Brantana 
>> To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
>> Subject: [BVARC] QRM in new radio setup
>> Message-ID: <98524b1a-5206-4168-bb2f-ebe93a54b...@gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> I am reaching out for ideas on a radio issue. I have installed an IC-745
>> Icom with an MFJ-2010 offset fed dipole. The power supply is a 20A MegaWatt
>> switching power supply, which is located right next to the radio. The
>> antenna is under some high power-lines with the long leg 90 degrees to the
>> power-lines. I used my nanoVNA to study the band SWR response, and
>> everything looks reasonable, though some small adjustments may need to be
>> made. Nothing is grounded as yet.
>>
>> Here?s my problem. I am only attempting to receive at this time and I get
>> consistent QRM white noise across all bands to the point where I can barely
>> pick out some voices, etc.
>>
>> I am confident that the antenna is properly connected due to my antenna
>> study.
>> I don?t believe the power lines are an issue, since the problem would
>> likely be more isolated show up as birdies at certain frequencies.
>> The radio settings seem to all be correct according to the manual.
>> Lack of grounding, but again the white noise is generally consistant
>> across the spectrum. Still, this could be the problem.
>> I have turned off my computer, so there no QRM from its power supply.
>> It does not help to have the switching power supply right next to the
>> radio, but other users give good reports on this model and no QRM issues
>> are mentioned.
>> I tried the radio at different times of the day on 20-m voice band, with
>> the same noisy result.
>> It could be the net result of a large number of small device
>> transformers, but I doubt it.
>> I turned off the wifi, and still no change.
>>
>> Hmm? I am a little stumped. Any thoughts or ideas? Personal experiences?
>>
>> Mark
>> N5PRD
>>
>> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
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>
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> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Palomar Engineering End Fed and DIY Delta Loop

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mike,
I do not believe, and my experience backed up, the counterpoise (I run 2
35' wires as counterpoise) prevented the feed line from radiating.  I do
believe the direct ground I ran in addition to the counterpoise reduced the
common mode current, as well as the many chokes I run, and the lightning
arrestor I run close to my shack.  I also saw a marked difference by
bonding the station ground rods (I run 2 4 foot ground rods about 6 feet
apart just off of and below my station at the closest place I can get them
in the ground), I run large gauge, pvc coated, grounding wire the 40 feet
or so to my utility ground.  I also have an 8' ground sunk at the base of
my mast system, and that is also bonded to the utility ground about another
30 feet from the utility ground.  That ground is where I run the UnUn, as
well as the ground bonded to the mast.  I expect the coax still radiates
some, but it is reduced since the current on braid of the coax is
interrupted by the lightning arrestor before it gets to my shack, and any
that does make it back to the radio is bled to the station ground.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Thu, Jan 28, 2021 at 1:14 PM Gary Sitton via BVARC 
wrote:

> Mike, I have just started using it and have no idea
> what the pattern looks like.  It's probably a mix of
> horizontal and vertical polarization with a medium
> angle of radiation.  I also suspect that the highest
> power is broadside to the wire as most are.  The
> noise level is not bad and the signal levels seem
> to be fairly good also.  I just wanted an antenna
> with 40 meter capability for shorter skip QSOs.
>
> 73, Gary
>
> On 1/28/2021 12:47 PM, Michael Giannaccio via BVARC wrote:
>
> Thanks Gary!
>
> I had that antenna on my list as well. I'd love to know what kind of
> radiation pattern you think you might have.
>
>
>
> --
> 73,
>
> Mike Giannaccio
> KI5LFZ
>
>
> On Thursday, January 28, 2021, 11:23:39 AM CST, Gary Sitton via BVARC
>   wrote:
>
>
> Mike:
>
> I just installed a MyAntenna EFHW 40-10-2K wire antenna.  I chose
> the 40 to 10 model as I do not use 160 or 80 meters.  It is hung in an
> inverted V configuration: the center at 30' and ends at about 10' from
> the ground.  The total length was about 63' and the final SWR was less
> than 1.5:1 on the the phone bands except for 10 meters where it was
> 2:1.  The modeI got was designed for 1.5 KW peak and seems to be
> of excellent construction.  There is a 7:1 UNUN included in the package
> but I did not examined it.  I would be glad to discuss any other details.
>
> 73, Gary K5AMH
> (713) 305-6765
>
> 1/28/2021 9:45 AM, Michael Giannaccio via BVARC wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this product:
> https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-application-experts-2/Bullet-End-Fed-500-1500-Watt-Antenna-1-8-61-MHz-55-203-FT-p74356626
>
> Or this product:
> https://www.hyendcompany.nl/antenna/multiband_40201510_m/product/detail/2/HyEndFed_4_Band_Black_Clamp_MK3#prod
>
>
> An end fed antenna is the best fit for my property. I can easily run the
> 71 foot model as either an inverted L sloper or as a regular sloper. The
> highest point will be 18-20 feet and the low point will be around 6-7 feet.
>
> I have a few questions about this antenna as well making a DIY 20 meter
> delta loop. If anyone is willing to give me a few minutes of your time to
> pick your brain off this thread that would be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> --
> 73,
>
> Mike Giannaccio
> KI5LFZ
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing 
> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
>
> --
> Gary Sitton, K5AMH
> gasit...@comcast.net
> SDR/DSP Consultant,
> "Have FFTs, Will Travel."
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing 
> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
>
> --
> Gary Sitton, K5AMH
> gasit...@comcast.net
> SDR/DSP Consultant,
> "Have FFTs, Will Travel."
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Palomar Engineering End Fed and DIY Delta Loop

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mike,
I run the UnUn from Palomar for my EF Random.  I started with one I built,
but it was not very good, and got worse with weathering.  I changed to the
Palomar one, and have had no problems.  I ran common wire instead of the
wire from Palomar and regret it.  I have since acquired the same wire as
listed in your example from Palomar, and it is on my list to replace the
wire I have up now.  Some things I have found to be very important to
running an end fed antenna:
1.  Station ground is critical, it NEEDS to be as close to the transmitter
as possible, and works better if you bond that ground rod to your utility
ground as well.
2.  I tried 2 counterpoises, direct ground from the UnUn, and both.  The
best results are with both.
3.  You will need a tuner to get the most band coverage possible.  I have
used both an autotuner and a manual tuner.  The autotuner will get you a
match, the manual gets you an almost perfect match.
4.  The NVIS performance of my antenna is nowhere near as good as modelling
suggests, and the DX is much better than the modelling suggests for the
height of my antenna.  The combination of 1, 2, and 3 suggest strongly that
the dirt under my house is a very poor ground. Your results may vary.


Ron
KE4DRF

On Thu, Jan 28, 2021 at 11:23 AM Gary Sitton via BVARC 
wrote:

> Mike:
>
> I just installed a MyAntenna EFHW 40-10-2K wire antenna.  I chose
> the 40 to 10 model as I do not use 160 or 80 meters.  It is hung in an
> inverted V configuration: the center at 30' and ends at about 10' from
> the ground.  The total length was about 63' and the final SWR was less
> than 1.5:1 on the the phone bands except for 10 meters where it was
> 2:1.  The modeI got was designed for 1.5 KW peak and seems to be
> of excellent construction.  There is a 7:1 UNUN included in the package
> but I did not examined it.  I would be glad to discuss any other details.
>
> 73, Gary K5AMH
> (713) 305-6765
>
> 1/28/2021 9:45 AM, Michael Giannaccio via BVARC wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this product:
> https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-application-experts-2/Bullet-End-Fed-500-1500-Watt-Antenna-1-8-61-MHz-55-203-FT-p74356626
>
> Or this product:
> https://www.hyendcompany.nl/antenna/multiband_40201510_m/product/detail/2/HyEndFed_4_Band_Black_Clamp_MK3#prod
>
>
> An end fed antenna is the best fit for my property. I can easily run the
> 71 foot model as either an inverted L sloper or as a regular sloper. The
> highest point will be 18-20 feet and the low point will be around 6-7 feet.
>
> I have a few questions about this antenna as well making a DIY 20 meter
> delta loop. If anyone is willing to give me a few minutes of your time to
> pick your brain off this thread that would be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> --
> 73,
>
> Mike Giannaccio
> KI5LFZ
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing 
> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
>
> --
> Gary Sitton, K5AMH
> gasit...@comcast.net
> SDR/DSP Consultant,
> "Have FFTs, Will Travel."
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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[BVARC] NTS Materials and Net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

 All,
This is a reminder that we have a local area NTS net.  The Houston Local
Traffic Net (HLTN) occurs every Monday night on the 146.94 (PL 167.9)
repeater.  Some materials to help you get started are noted below.  Please
join us for the net and learn and practice formal NTS traffic handling.

The NTS Manual is at:
http://www.arrl.org/nts-manual

The Methods and Practices Manual is at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/NTS_MPG2014.pdf

The printable Radiogram form is at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf

The Numbered Radiogram Guidelines are at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/FSD_3.pdf

The Pink Card is at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%2520Service/fsd218.pdf

Ron Bosch
KE4DRF
ARRL STX STM

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

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Re: [BVARC] Antenna Question

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Rick,
First detail is that I said AL and meant Galvanized.  Sorry to get
everybody excited.  In case you needed other details, and a bit of
explanations for my mistake, is the tale called "The Mast Travails of
Ron".

So, it all starts with figuring out how I wanted to get my HF antennas up
in May.  What I first tried doing was mounting 2 U bolts through a very
large and well cemented-in fence post on the corner of a fence that
surrounds the deck off of the bedroom on the SW corner of my house. I used
5 sections of 4 foot fiberglass jointed tubing.  This lasted about a month
before crash due to the lower sections splitting at seams, but proved the
mounts were much stronger than the mast.  The next iteration was aluminum
nested mast sections. These lasted about 3 months before failing in the
center joint by developing a pronounced 35 degree bend (at least no
crash).  The main lessons learned from these train wrecks were:

1.  Fiberglass doesn't stand up to continuous use, it cracks.
2.  Jointed poles are not good for long term use, the stress handling
capability at the joint is much lower than than the calculated value of the
material used.
3,  Your adult son's will significantly reduce the amount of time they
spend at your house if you continually have them spend long periods of time
on ladders and roofs trying to keep sections of jointed masts holding
antennas straight enough to join, because you want to mess with the
antennas mounted on them, although they will still come help repair your
house and such when the darned thing crashes down, and it's corollary,
never mount any part of a guying system to any part of your house.
4.  Guy wires that you can fit in small back yards do not work very well.
5.  One of the wisest decisions I have ever made was the decision to only
have a mast that is shorter than the distance from its base to the power
pole in the back of my yard, such that if it fell it was not long enough to
reach the lines.

The current iteration is the aforementioned galvanized nested telescoping
pole, specifically Channel Master Telescoping TV Antenna Mast Galvanized
Steel Pole 25 FT - CM-1830.  So far this has lasted the longest, and it is
much easier to lower such that I can mess with antennas, thus resulting in
my son's willingness to continue to visit their mother.

The other thing I just realized is after our conversation yesterday, I
think we just diagnosed the issue with my OFCD.  Unfortunately, I have no
idea how to fix it?  The only option I see is to mount the balun to the
aforementioned fence at 10' high, which seems destined to fail.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Wed, Dec 30, 2020 at 1:01 AM Rick Hiller via BVARC 
wrote:

> Ron, details on your AL mast please.
>
> Rick. RH
>
> Sent from my i-Thingamajig
>
> On Dec 30, 2020, at 12:20 AM, Ron Bosch via BVARC  wrote:
>
> I currently have 5 up;
> 1. VHF/UHF Vertical @ 24' topping an aluminium telescoping mast
> 2. VHF Halo 3 feet below the vertical
> 3. OTA TV antenna 3 feet below the Halo
> 4. The balun for an inverted V OCFD 96' on the long end 36' on the short
> end directly below the TV antenna with ends run to 10' privacy fence
> 5. The Balun for a 135' end-fed random at 10' run to fence and along the
> top of the fence all the way around the yard
>
> So far no issues from the HOA.
>
> Ron
> KE4DRF
>
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 12:01 PM John D via BVARC  wrote:
>
>> Planning on adding antenna for VHF/UHF and NViS. That would mean having 3
>> antennas in the backyard.
>>
>> Is this normal for hams to have this many antennas?
>>
>> W5RDY—John D
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Dec 28, 2020, at 12:00 PM, bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org wrote:
>> >
>> > Send BVARC mailing list submissions to
>> >bvarc@bvarc.org
>> >
>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> >http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> >bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org
>> >
>> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>> >bvarc-ow...@bvarc.org
>> >
>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> > than "Re: Contents of BVARC digest..."
>> >
>> >
>> > Today's Topics:
>> >
>> >   1. QRP-Labs QCX-mini (Glen Jenkins)
>> >   2. Re: QRP-Labs QCX-mini (Mark Brantana)
>> >   3. Could somebody tell me (DAVID M GRAY JR)
>> >   4. Fwd: Could somebody tell me (DAVID M GRAY JR)
>> >   5. Re: Fwd: Could somebody tell me (Doug Seyler)
>> >   6. Re: Could somebody tell me (Will Gray)
>> >   7. Re: Could somebody tell me (Roy Storey)
>> >   8. BVARC NEWS BLAST #42 201228 (Rick 

Re: [BVARC] Antenna Question

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

I currently have 5 up;
1. VHF/UHF Vertical @ 24' topping an aluminium telescoping mast
2. VHF Halo 3 feet below the vertical
3. OTA TV antenna 3 feet below the Halo
4. The balun for an inverted V OCFD 96' on the long end 36' on the short
end directly below the TV antenna with ends run to 10' privacy fence
5. The Balun for a 135' end-fed random at 10' run to fence and along the
top of the fence all the way around the yard

So far no issues from the HOA.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 12:01 PM John D via BVARC  wrote:

> Planning on adding antenna for VHF/UHF and NViS. That would mean having 3
> antennas in the backyard.
>
> Is this normal for hams to have this many antennas?
>
> W5RDY—John D
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Dec 28, 2020, at 12:00 PM, bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org wrote:
> >
> > Send BVARC mailing list submissions to
> >bvarc@bvarc.org
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> >http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> >bvarc-requ...@bvarc.org
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> >bvarc-ow...@bvarc.org
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of BVARC digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >   1. QRP-Labs QCX-mini (Glen Jenkins)
> >   2. Re: QRP-Labs QCX-mini (Mark Brantana)
> >   3. Could somebody tell me (DAVID M GRAY JR)
> >   4. Fwd: Could somebody tell me (DAVID M GRAY JR)
> >   5. Re: Fwd: Could somebody tell me (Doug Seyler)
> >   6. Re: Could somebody tell me (Will Gray)
> >   7. Re: Could somebody tell me (Roy Storey)
> >   8. BVARC NEWS BLAST #42 201228 (Rick Hiller)
> >   9. HL1KKC YouTube Channel (Glenn Anderson)
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2020 12:58:45 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
> > From: Glen Jenkins 
> > To: BVARC 
> > Subject: [BVARC] QRP-Labs QCX-mini
> > Message-ID:
> ><931578767.1198.1609095528...@wamui-tucker.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <
> http://mail.bvarc.org/pipermail/bvarc_bvarc.org/attachments/20201227/daefd8b9/attachment.html
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2020 13:47:11 -0600
> > From: Mark Brantana 
> > To: Glen Jenkins ,BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO
> >CLUB 
> > Subject: Re: [BVARC] QRP-Labs QCX-mini
> > Message-ID: <972bebbf-0fda-45a4-8d8c-ae1f7b852...@gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Glen
> > Whew! I know you will be a good resource. I am a little nervous about
> the number of components to solder. Thank you for the note. Time for me to
> get this thing ordered.
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Dec 27, 2020, at 12:58 PM, Glen Jenkins via BVARC 
> wrote:
> >>
> >> ?
> >> Hi,
> >> I received my QCX-mini for 20meters on Thursday Dec 24 and have yet to
> start building it.
> >> I strongly suggest that anyone starting this kit subscribe to the
> qrp-labs groups.io site for hourly (almost) updates on the in & outs of
> building and troubleshooting it.
> >> qrpl...@groups.io group at Groups.io
> >> There is one important add to the kit to install a new 10uf 25V
> capacitor in parallel to C4
> >> Glen
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> >> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
> >>
> >> BVARC mailing list
> >> BVARC@bvarc.org
> >> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
> > -- next part --
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <
> http://mail.bvarc.org/pipermail/bvarc_bvarc.org/attachments/20201227/06fe966a/attachment.html
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2020 14:32:23 -0600
> > From: DAVID M GRAY JR 
> > To: bvarc@bvarc.org
> > Subject: [BVARC] Could somebody tell me
> > Message-ID: 
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > ... what these signals are!??   Around 14074 MHz  Go on and off at the
> same time
> >
> > -- next part --
> > A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
> > Name: IMG_9136.JPG
> > Type: image/jpeg
> > Size: 808390 bytes
> > Desc: not available
> > URL: <
> http://mail.bvarc.org/pipermail/bvarc_bvarc.org/attachments/20201227/ae54a5fe/attachment.jpe
> >
> > -- next part --
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 4
> > Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2020 14:34:42 -0600
> > From: DAVID M GRAY JR 
> > To: bvarc@bvarc.org
> > Subject: [BVARC] Fwd: Could somebody tell me
> > Message-ID: <58866f26-1656-40be-b448-6198bb563...@mac.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Maybe Hell?
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >> From: DAVID M GRAY JR 
> >> Date: December 27, 2020 at 

Re: [BVARC] To QRP or not to QRP

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

And so everyone knows why I am up so darned late, I am waiting for the
02:22 ISS pass to download a stinking picture since I only have 2 more
realistic shots at doing so :-)

On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 1:43 AM Ron Bosch  wrote:

> Mark,
> A few points that I couldn't make on the net, because of time.
> 1.  I wasn't saying don't do it, just don't expect a bunch of QSO's.  You
> will be limited to when the band is really open, and the noise floor is low
> at the receiving antenna.  That will reduce the number of potential
> contacts by at least an order of magnitude.  That being said, operating
> anything is better than operating nothing.
> 2.  IMHO, and end fed antenna is not a good choice unless you also build a
> matching bridge.  You can't expect to maintain an exact 50-ohm load from an
> end-fed with just a toroid, you also need some shunt resistors, and
> variable caps, and such, and you will need to tune it depending on
> conditions due to reactance unless you built-in a big enough reactance in
> the circuit, and cut the end-fed to exactly 1/2 wave where you want to
> operate, and the toroid with that much permeability probably ain't cheap.
> A better approach to me would be a 20M 1/2 wave dipole trimmed at operating
> height with an antenna analyzer.
> 3.  Doing this in the city, with the amount of interference, and the
> antenna compromises we have to make seems to add a whole other set of
> issues to making contacts.  If I were to do it, I might plan to take the
> rig out of the city to operate it, and get the advantage of using trees and
> such to get my dipole at 33 feet up, with a low noise floor to increase my
> chances of contacts.
> 4.  In any event, I suspect you are really going to need at least a Nano
> VNA to make sure you don't smoke the finals, since I doubt seriously that a
> QRP kit includes protection circuitry.  That will add a minimum of $50 to
> your build, although you would save a bunch on the antenna if you built a
> 1/2 wave dipole instead.  Heck, I have an extra 1:1 current balun I can
> part with for the rock bottom price of $0.02, and since I am including my
> $0.02 in this email, net due is $0.00 :-)
>
> Ron
> KE4DRF
>
> On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 11:44 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> I thought I had things all figured out. I originally wanted to get back
>> on HF, and found I could get some great used equipment for about $400, not
>> including antenna. Add a 10-80 m antenna from MyAntenna for around $165. I
>> already have coax installed. Grand total: $565
>>
>> Normally, this cost would not be an issue, but like so many others I am
>> short on funds due to CV-19, so it is a bad time for this expenditure. I
>> find I can buy a 20-m QRP Labs CW mini with case for about $90, and build
>> an EFHW antenna for another $20 (including the matching toroid). Grand
>> Total: $110
>>
>> Everything has its advantages though. A ham since ’78, that’s 1987, I
>> feel that
>> 1. this would force me to improve my almost forgotten code without the
>> inevitable distraction of voice alternatives,
>> 2. this would give me a chance to build a full small project and antenna.
>>
>> Today, though, some felt that this setup would lead to disappointment on
>> my part. I am fully aware there will be some limitations to QRP, but the
>> generally negative comments form our net were as follows:
>> 1. The band is poor at this time.
>> 2. The 4-5 Watt QRP would not get in, and even a 100 Watt unit would not
>> suffice, but needs to be about 500 Watts. This would lead me to need back
>> to spending at least $565, and more for an amplifier. (So we are now saying
>> that even a typical 100 Watt radio is insufficient?) (I would also note
>> that QRP sells a 50 W amplifier for this radio as an add on.
>>
>> Experience counts. So, I am looking for my fellow hams with QRP
>> experience to share their thoughts. I thought I had this all figured out,
>> but if I am going down a wrong road, I need to know. What has been your
>> experience with 20-m QRP?
>>
>> Mark
>> N5PRD
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] To QRP or not to QRP

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mark,
A few points that I couldn't make on the net, because of time.
1.  I wasn't saying don't do it, just don't expect a bunch of QSO's.  You
will be limited to when the band is really open, and the noise floor is low
at the receiving antenna.  That will reduce the number of potential
contacts by at least an order of magnitude.  That being said, operating
anything is better than operating nothing.
2.  IMHO, and end fed antenna is not a good choice unless you also build a
matching bridge.  You can't expect to maintain an exact 50-ohm load from an
end-fed with just a toroid, you also need some shunt resistors, and
variable caps, and such, and you will need to tune it depending on
conditions due to reactance unless you built-in a big enough reactance in
the circuit, and cut the end-fed to exactly 1/2 wave where you want to
operate, and the toroid with that much permeability probably ain't cheap.
A better approach to me would be a 20M 1/2 wave dipole trimmed at operating
height with an antenna analyzer.
3.  Doing this in the city, with the amount of interference, and the
antenna compromises we have to make seems to add a whole other set of
issues to making contacts.  If I were to do it, I might plan to take the
rig out of the city to operate it, and get the advantage of using trees and
such to get my dipole at 33 feet up, with a low noise floor to increase my
chances of contacts.
4.  In any event, I suspect you are really going to need at least a Nano
VNA to make sure you don't smoke the finals, since I doubt seriously that a
QRP kit includes protection circuitry.  That will add a minimum of $50 to
your build, although you would save a bunch on the antenna if you built a
1/2 wave dipole instead.  Heck, I have an extra 1:1 current balun I can
part with for the rock bottom price of $0.02, and since I am including my
$0.02 in this email, net due is $0.00 :-)

Ron
KE4DRF

On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 11:44 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> I thought I had things all figured out. I originally wanted to get back on
> HF, and found I could get some great used equipment for about $400, not
> including antenna. Add a 10-80 m antenna from MyAntenna for around $165. I
> already have coax installed. Grand total: $565
>
> Normally, this cost would not be an issue, but like so many others I am
> short on funds due to CV-19, so it is a bad time for this expenditure. I
> find I can buy a 20-m QRP Labs CW mini with case for about $90, and build
> an EFHW antenna for another $20 (including the matching toroid). Grand
> Total: $110
>
> Everything has its advantages though. A ham since ’78, that’s 1987, I feel
> that
> 1. this would force me to improve my almost forgotten code without the
> inevitable distraction of voice alternatives,
> 2. this would give me a chance to build a full small project and antenna.
>
> Today, though, some felt that this setup would lead to disappointment on
> my part. I am fully aware there will be some limitations to QRP, but the
> generally negative comments form our net were as follows:
> 1. The band is poor at this time.
> 2. The 4-5 Watt QRP would not get in, and even a 100 Watt unit would not
> suffice, but needs to be about 500 Watts. This would lead me to need back
> to spending at least $565, and more for an amplifier. (So we are now saying
> that even a typical 100 Watt radio is insufficient?) (I would also note
> that QRP sells a 50 W amplifier for this radio as an add on.
>
> Experience counts. So, I am looking for my fellow hams with QRP experience
> to share their thoughts. I thought I had this all figured out, but if I am
> going down a wrong road, I need to know. What has been your experience with
> 20-m QRP?
>
> Mark
> N5PRD
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] Light Bulb QSO PArty

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Does using a 200W floodlight qualify as a gain antenna?  I keep saying my
MFJ-939 will tune a fencepost, will it tune a lightbulb?  Where does one
find a PL-259 to Light Bulb Socket adaptor?  Sooo many questions to
answer!!

On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 8:36 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> Rick,
>
>
>
> This is my ticket to the club. Thank you for sending this. I guess you
> could use Christmas lights in a Freestyle mode. Too bad this is in August.
> They should do this in December. I was wondering, thought, how much
> transmitting power you could really be emitting if your radio is limited to
> 5 W.
>
>
>
> I got your previous email and need to respond tomorrow with some photos of
> my setup and space. Advice is solicited since I live in an HOA area. Thank
> you for the help.
>
>
>
> Mark
>
> N5PRD
>
>
>
> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Rick Hiller via
> BVARC
> *Sent:* Monday, December 21, 2020 8:19 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* Rick Hiller 
> *Subject:* [BVARC] Light Bulb QSO PArty
>
>
>
>
> BTW, there is a Light Bulb QSO Party Contest in August time frame.  Mostly
> inhabited by QRP'ers but a fun one to do and see just what is up with light
> bulbs as your load.
>
>
>
> https://hamsignal.com/blog/lightbulb-qso-party-2020
>
>
>
> RH
>
> --
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] Antenna wire?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Rick,
Now that is a nice idea, I have done the same with 10 AWG Solid Copper Wire
by looping the end and spinning it with a drill to make 2M antenna elements
that stand straight, nice idea with the strung wire as well!

Ron
KE4DRF

On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 9:57 PM Rick Hiller via BVARC 
wrote:

> Ron,
>
> One way that I found to pre-stretch wire before putting it up is to anneal
> it.  Cut it to length or a bit longer.  Tie one end to a fixed point and
> then at the other end wrap it around a hammer handle a few times then walk
> backward till the wire is tight.  Then holding the hammer to your chest,
> lean backward to stretch the wire...not enough to break it but enough to
> stretch it and make it stay at this final length.   I built delta loops for
> many years out of solid copper wire that I got surplus and did this with
> all of the installations and they remained one size for a long time.
>
> GLrick  W5RH
>
> On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 3:02 PM Ron Bosch via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> Mark,
>> Assuming copper clad or copper wire, anything above 21 AWG is fine for
>> any freq greater than 160M from a skin effect standpoint.  After that it is
>> all about tensile strength vs ductility.  Too ductile and it will sag. too
>> brittle and it will part.  The first three HF antennas, including my 135'
>> random, I built were made from some 16 G PVC coated copper power wire I had
>> 500' of from an outdoor power run for security cameras.  They all worked,
>> but the wire stretches under strain, so about every month I have to pull it
>> tight.  Eventually this will make it part.  I bought 500' of #14 stranded
>> PVC coated wire from Palomar Engineers because I fell in love with it after
>> using 50' of it on an end-fed coil loaded EmComm antenna I built.  Once the
>> outdoor sprinkler power wire parts, I will rebuild the antennas with the PE
>> wire.
>>
>> Ron
>> KE4DRF
>>
>> On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 2:33 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Is there some correlation for transmission power and frequency vs wire
>>> gage required? Or is it essentially all about structural stability?
>>> Mark
>>> N5PRD
>>>
>>> On Dec 15, 2020, at 12:11 PM, john Parmalee via BVARC 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Consider #17 electric fence wire.  Take two  or three strands and twist
>>> them together with one end clampied in a vice or something and the other
>>> end in the chuck of a hand drill.  it will shrink so oversize.
>>>   It is chap,Find it at Tractor Supply or on line.
>>>
>>> John Parmalee
>>> jparma...@aol.com
>>> 281-380-3811
>>> K5VGM WI2XLJ
>>> In a message dated 12/14/2020 8:37:10 PM Central Standard Time,
>>> bvarc@bvarc.org writes:
>>>
>>>
>>> This is link to wire I got and I am VERY impressed with these guys for
>>> help. It is stranded and insulated.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> https://palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/ferrite-tutorials/search?keyword=antenna%20wire
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Rick Hiller via
>>> BVARC
>>> *Sent:* Monday, December 14, 2020 8:13 PM
>>> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
>>> *Cc:* Rick Hiller ; Mark Janzer ;
>>> KJ Anderson 
>>> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] Antenna wire?
>>>
>>>
>>> I’d lean toward insulated.  Keeps inter-strand noise at a minimum.  135
>>> feet—- 14 awg stranded at min.   Alpha Delta uses 14 solid for their fan
>>> dipoles.  So either way works, depending on how it is deployed.
>>>
>>> Wireman, DX Eng and others.
>>>
>>> GL.  Rick. RH
>>>
>>> Sent from my i-Thingamajig
>>>
>>>
>>> On Dec 14, 2020, at 7:31 PM, Mark Janzer via BVARC 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Check out:
>>>
>>>
>>> https://thewireman.com/product-category/antenna-materials/antenna-wire/
>>>
>>>
>>> Flex weave is nice.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Dec 14, 2020, at 4:31 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I need input.  I want to build an additional 40M EFHW, I’m wondering if
>>> the group has input or guidance on the best kind of wire to use for the
>>> long wire?  It appears that the antenna manufacturers are happy to sell me
>>> “high-grade antenna wire” that is nothing more than regular 14AWG wire I
>>> could get literally anywhere for much less; my quest

Re: [BVARC] Antenna wire?

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Mark,
Assuming copper clad or copper wire, anything above 21 AWG is fine for any
freq greater than 160M from a skin effect standpoint.  After that it is all
about tensile strength vs ductility.  Too ductile and it will sag. too
brittle and it will part.  The first three HF antennas, including my 135'
random, I built were made from some 16 G PVC coated copper power wire I had
500' of from an outdoor power run for security cameras.  They all worked,
but the wire stretches under strain, so about every month I have to pull it
tight.  Eventually this will make it part.  I bought 500' of #14 stranded
PVC coated wire from Palomar Engineers because I fell in love with it after
using 50' of it on an end-fed coil loaded EmComm antenna I built.  Once the
outdoor sprinkler power wire parts, I will rebuild the antennas with the PE
wire.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 2:33 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> Is there some correlation for transmission power and frequency vs wire
> gage required? Or is it essentially all about structural stability?
> Mark
> N5PRD
>
> On Dec 15, 2020, at 12:11 PM, john Parmalee via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> Consider #17 electric fence wire.  Take two  or three strands and twist
> them together with one end clampied in a vice or something and the other
> end in the chuck of a hand drill.  it will shrink so oversize.
>   It is chap,Find it at Tractor Supply or on line.
>
> John Parmalee
> jparma...@aol.com
> 281-380-3811
> K5VGM WI2XLJ
> In a message dated 12/14/2020 8:37:10 PM Central Standard Time,
> bvarc@bvarc.org writes:
>
>
> This is link to wire I got and I am VERY impressed with these guys for
> help. It is stranded and insulated.
>
>
>
> https://palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/ferrite-tutorials/search?keyword=antenna%20wire
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Rick Hiller via
> BVARC
> *Sent:* Monday, December 14, 2020 8:13 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* Rick Hiller ; Mark Janzer ;
> KJ Anderson 
> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] Antenna wire?
>
>
> I’d lean toward insulated.  Keeps inter-strand noise at a minimum.  135
> feet—- 14 awg stranded at min.   Alpha Delta uses 14 solid for their fan
> dipoles.  So either way works, depending on how it is deployed.
>
> Wireman, DX Eng and others.
>
> GL.  Rick. RH
>
> Sent from my i-Thingamajig
>
>
> On Dec 14, 2020, at 7:31 PM, Mark Janzer via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> Check out:
>
>
> https://thewireman.com/product-category/antenna-materials/antenna-wire/
>
>
> Flex weave is nice.
>
>
>
> On Dec 14, 2020, at 4:31 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>
>
> I need input.  I want to build an additional 40M EFHW, I’m wondering if
> the group has input or guidance on the best kind of wire to use for the
> long wire?  It appears that the antenna manufacturers are happy to sell me
> “high-grade antenna wire” that is nothing more than regular 14AWG wire I
> could get literally anywhere for much less; my question is- has anyone
> tried anything more exotic?  Is there a flavor of wire that works
> better/worse for antennas?
>
>
> I appreciate you all.
>
>
> ~~
>
> 73 de KJ5EMP
>
> kj5...@arrl.net
>
> KJ in Cypress
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] Stir Crazy Net 2020-12-14: Winlink

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Ravi,
Sorry about my griping :-), it wasn't directed at you particularly, but at
the general sentiment I see on the boards, that seems to permeate the
discussion.  Not intending to dissuade anybody from trying any way to
operate, but more to say that way you choose to operate is better than not
using any particular way.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 10:05 AM Ravi Ratnala  wrote:

> Hey Ron,
>
> Thanks for the reply, although your second paragraph seemed to come from
> from out of left field.  I didn’t “gripe” about paying for software, and
> I certainly didn’t (and wouldn’t) “deride” any individual for asking to be
> compensated for his/her work.  I was simply trying to make an informed
> decision.  Perhaps you were just opining rhetorically . . . .
>
>
> The remainder of your response was actually helpful, so thanks for that.  Just
> learning that VARA FM/HF is a one-time $70 - as opposed to a recurring
> annual fee as I thought - increases its value to me, tenfold.  And from
> your tests, it sounds like Ardop isn’t quite the competitor I’ve read it to
> be.
>
>
> I was hoping to hear from KJ as well, regarding my question about the
> prevalence of deployment of VARA on our local RMSs.  I suppose I should
> just install the latest Winlink and spend some time poking around under the
> hood.
>
>
> When I get it up and running, I trust that I can spam you guys with test
> messages, without reproach.  :)
>
>
> Thanks again,
>
> 73 de N5OL
>
>
> On Dec 14, 2020, at 5:47 PM, Ron Bosch  wrote:
>
> 
> Ravi,
> Sorry I missed the net today as well, I would have loved to put my $0.02
> in.  From my perspective, I run most of my digital ARES check ins, and all
> of my digital traffic handling, via Vara FM and HF.  ARDOP in PERFECT band
> conditions is as fast as Vara HF, but when band conditions are crap, Vara
> HF is consistently more reliable, and about twice as fast.  The ONLY reason
> I use ARDOP or Packet for anything to do with Winlink is to fill out the
> capability.  I have repeatedly run tests on multiple bands by hitting the
> farthest gateway I can using Vara HF and then working backwards to see
> where I can make an ARDOP message go, and on average ARDOP is reliable on
> gateways at about 1/2 the distance of Vara HF.  On VHF/UHF, the only value
> of Packet was digipeating, and the latest Vara FM upgrade gave us a
> digipeater capability.  The only two advantages I can see that are left for
> Packet and ARDOP are:
> 1.  They are open source, so support is distributed
> 2.  They are free
>
> That being said, it constantly amazes me the folks who will spend $3K on a
> radio gripe about $70 for software, and that no one seems to have much
> problem with a company that will sell you an admittedly far superior
> proprietary modem for $1500, but deride a pretty amazing programmer for
> asking $70.  Like someone once said; "The workman is worth the value of his
> work".
>
> To answer your question, you only ever have to pay the $70 one time for
> both FM and HF.
>
> Ron
> KE4DRF
>
> On Mon, Dec 14, 2020 at 5:23 PM Ravi Patrick Ratnala via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>> Well, sounds like I missed a good one today.  I'm an old Winlink (well,
>> RMS Express) user; been out of the game for a while, and I've missed a
>> bunch of ARES drills / nets this year because they keep coinciding with
>> family stuff.
>>
>> So yeah, I do have a question - I've been seeing a lot lately about the
>> "new" VARA integration (particularly VARA HF), and it seems like a great
>> way to streamline / normalize things between different rigs, aside from the
>> purported performance increases.
>>
>> My question is, does the local ham community see VARA as the future?
>> Meaning, is it well-supported by the RMSs in our area, and likely to remain
>> so?  FWIW, I intend to use this solution on both FM (VHF) and HF.
>>
>> I guess a second / corollary question is, how does VARA compare to
>> Ardop?  My understanding is that VARA requires a $69/year license to unlock
>> the severely choked bandwidth in the demo version, while Ardop performs
>> just as well as full-version VARA, but is free.
>>
>> And - does the $69 license cover *both* the VARA FM and the VARA HF
>> licenses, or do I need to pay twice?
>>
>> In case you haven't guessed, I'm trying to decide if I really need to
>> drop $69 (or $138) to play this particular game.
>>
>> Thanks, and 73,
>> Ravi, N5OL
>>
>>
>> On 12/14/2020 1:00 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC wrote:
>>
>> Today’s topic is on Winlink.  The following is all provided by KJ5EMP, I
>> had to leave the net early for a meeting.  Please feel free to reach out to
>> me, I’m happy to help.  
>>
>>- https://winlink.org/
>>   - Download Winlink Express Here:
>>   
>> https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-33-0.zip
>>   - *If using Winlink Express,* with an internet connection fill out
>>   the form presented on first startup after installation. See the help
>>

Re: [BVARC] Stir Crazy Net 2020-12-14: Winlink

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Ravi,
Sorry I missed the net today as well, I would have loved to put my $0.02
in.  From my perspective, I run most of my digital ARES check ins, and all
of my digital traffic handling, via Vara FM and HF.  ARDOP in PERFECT band
conditions is as fast as Vara HF, but when band conditions are crap, Vara
HF is consistently more reliable, and about twice as fast.  The ONLY reason
I use ARDOP or Packet for anything to do with Winlink is to fill out the
capability.  I have repeatedly run tests on multiple bands by hitting the
farthest gateway I can using Vara HF and then working backwards to see
where I can make an ARDOP message go, and on average ARDOP is reliable on
gateways at about 1/2 the distance of Vara HF.  On VHF/UHF, the only value
of Packet was digipeating, and the latest Vara FM upgrade gave us a
digipeater capability.  The only two advantages I can see that are left for
Packet and ARDOP are:
1.  They are open source, so support is distributed
2.  They are free

That being said, it constantly amazes me the folks who will spend $3K on a
radio gripe about $70 for software, and that no one seems to have much
problem with a company that will sell you an admittedly far superior
proprietary modem for $1500, but deride a pretty amazing programmer for
asking $70.  Like someone once said; "The workman is worth the value of his
work".

To answer your question, you only ever have to pay the $70 one time for
both FM and HF.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Mon, Dec 14, 2020 at 5:23 PM Ravi Patrick Ratnala via BVARC <
bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:

> Well, sounds like I missed a good one today.  I'm an old Winlink (well,
> RMS Express) user; been out of the game for a while, and I've missed a
> bunch of ARES drills / nets this year because they keep coinciding with
> family stuff.
>
> So yeah, I do have a question - I've been seeing a lot lately about the
> "new" VARA integration (particularly VARA HF), and it seems like a great
> way to streamline / normalize things between different rigs, aside from the
> purported performance increases.
>
> My question is, does the local ham community see VARA as the future?
> Meaning, is it well-supported by the RMSs in our area, and likely to remain
> so?  FWIW, I intend to use this solution on both FM (VHF) and HF.
>
> I guess a second / corollary question is, how does VARA compare to Ardop?
> My understanding is that VARA requires a $69/year license to unlock the
> severely choked bandwidth in the demo version, while Ardop performs just as
> well as full-version VARA, but is free.
>
> And - does the $69 license cover *both* the VARA FM and the VARA HF
> licenses, or do I need to pay twice?
>
> In case you haven't guessed, I'm trying to decide if I really need to drop
> $69 (or $138) to play this particular game.
>
> Thanks, and 73,
> Ravi, N5OL
>
>
> On 12/14/2020 1:00 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC wrote:
>
> Today’s topic is on Winlink.  The following is all provided by KJ5EMP, I
> had to leave the net early for a meeting.  Please feel free to reach out to
> me, I’m happy to help.  
>
>- https://winlink.org/
>   - Download Winlink Express Here:
>   
> https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-33-0.zip
>   - *If using Winlink Express,* with an internet connection fill out
>   the form presented on first startup after installation. See the help
>   article "Basic Configuration" for guidance. Be sure to include a 
> password
>   and password recovery address. Click 'Update'. Winlink Express makes the
>   process easy. Your account is created!
>   - *Make sure you update your grid square info*
>   - *KJ5EMP Strongly recommends paying the fee for the license key,
>   it’s good for all your installs on all computers*
>   - *Top center of the software, select “Telnet Winlink” and you can
>   immediately send/receive emails without a radio connection (obviously 
> won’t
>   work without active internet)*
>   - *To see the relay stations near you:*
>  - *Top center of the software, select “Packet Winlink” and open
>  a session*
>  - *A new window will open, in the top center of this connection
>  window select “Channel Selection”*
>  - *Top center of the Channel Selection window, click on “Update
>  Table Via Internet” and you’ll see all the repeaters with RMS drains 
> to the
>  servers around you.  There will be many.*
>  - *Tune your radio to the top station near you and listen, it
>  will sound a lot like APRS traffic (simplex, no tones)*
>   - Email servers around the world that are all connected
>- Can be used for many things other than email, including local
>weather reports and position reports
>- Also used for emergency communication and the transmission of ICS
>forms/radiograms
>- Relay (RMS) stations located in volunteers’ homes or at repeater
>sites can upload/download to the servers or to each other
>

Re: [BVARC] VHF/UHF Analyzer

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Keith,
How much do you want for it?  It is a fairly expensive piece of kit if it's
what I think it is.

Ron
KE4DRF

On Sat, Dec 12, 2020 at 1:05 PM Keith NM5G via BVARC 
wrote:

> During inventory of the shack I found an AEA VHF/UHF Analyzer.  As far as
> I know, it works fine.  I purchased it many years ago at Ham-Com in
> Arlington.  I planned to use it for repeater operation.  I no longer have
> a repeater.
>
> Model 5002-1000, Serial Number 01458.
>
> Let me know if you would like to have it.
>
> 73, Keith NM6G
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
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[BVARC] CW Practice Opportunity

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

 Several folks in the club have expressed interest in increasing their code
speed.  A useful and interesting way to so so is to check into the Texas
Slow Net.

The Texas Slow Net meets daily at 7:45 PM local time, on 3570 KHz +/- QRM.
TSN is a traffic handling training net.  All stations licensed for the
frequency are welcome to participate.

TSN is well suited for operators who are interested in building proficiency
in the International Morse Code and learning about handling procedures in
CW traffic nets. During each session, a traffic handling lesson in the form
of a radiogram is sent to all participants.

The net has had limited participation recently, so if you do not hear them
on a particular night, please try again.The Website is:
http://www.atcweb.com/tsn/Texas_Slow_Net.htm

Ron
KE4DRF
ARRL STX Section Traffic Manager

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

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Re: [BVARC] Interesting Article about Cycle 25 and the Sun's diminishing Magnetic Fields

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Not so sure about the Ham friendlier star idea, given that the article
seems to correlate lower climate temperatures to extended solar minimums,
and given the current number of named storms per year, I might trade bad
propagation for lower temps :-)

On Mon, Nov 16, 2020 at 4:09 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> Yes. Interesting article.
> Mark
> N5PRD
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 16, 2020, at 4:00 PM, Donald Brown via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> I have an idea ... let’s all chip in and buy us a better (ham-friendlier)
> star.
>
> Db
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 16, 2020, at 15:59, JP Pritchard via BVARC  wrote:
>
> 
>
> What a ridiculously horrible time to become a ham, hearing all the glory
> days stories from veteran hams just as propagation fades to near black.  Oh
> well…
>
>
>
> JP
>
>
>
> *From:* BVARC  *On Behalf Of *Rick Hiller via
> BVARC
> *Sent:* Sunday, November 15, 2020 6:47 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* Rick Hiller 
> *Subject:* [BVARC] Interesting Article about Cycle 25 and the Sun's
> diminishing Magnetic Fields
>
>
>
>
> https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/solar-magnetic-field-sunspots-solar-cycle-25-maunder-minimum/
>
>
>
> Cycle 25 just might be the last cycle for some time with any sun spots at
> all.  Going to be a fun 11 years, starting now!
>
> --
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> Virus-free. www.avast.com
> 
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Newbie questions

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Shannon,
RG-6 coax has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms, your radio is designed
to feed an output at 50 ohms.  So from your radio's perspective, it sees a
1.5:1 SWR if the antenna is perfect.  The practical result of this is that
unless you are feeding a tuned dipole or another resonant antenna at the
resonance frequency, it may work, but will not be very efficient.  There
are some advantages of feeding a tuned dipole with 75-ohm coax. but they
only apply to a resonant antenna, and the price you pay for those
advantages is a higher Q (think of Q as the shape of the SWR graph, high Q
means a sharper V, low Q means a flatter U shape), since the 75-ohm
feedline is effectively a loading coil to the antenna.  There is one caveat
to the above, if your 75 ohm coax is exactly 1/2 wavelength long, the
mismatch of the reactive and resistive components of the current will
present 50 ohms at each end.  The other issue with CATV coax is that the
standard SO-239 PL-259 connectors won't attach to the cable without
modification.

Ron

On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 7:53 PM Shannon Tassin via BVARC 
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Working to get my first radio setup and would appreciate some advice.
>
> I have some existing RG-6 coax in the house that I ran when I built it
> from the attic to rooms that has never been terminated or used.  I just
> bought the TBJ-1 antenna from Ed Fong that someone here recommended
> recently. It has an SO-239 connector on it.
>
> Is there a specific cable spec I need to buy to connect to the antenna? Is
> there a certain resistance level?
>
> Can I then connect that cable to my existing RG-6 coax and leverage that
> existing RG-6 in the wall to the room where the radio is?
>
> Do I need anything besides the right cable and adapters between my antenna
> and radio (have a Yaesu 991A with built in antenna tuner on the way)?
>
> Could I then use that setup to connect the antenna to either my 991A or my
> FT3D HT (assuming the right adapters)?
>
> Thanks much to all who have time to respond!
>
> Take care,
> Shannon K4SCT (previously KI5KTF)
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] 2020-10-19 SCN

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Hey, The Princess Bride is a love story "Wuv, Twoo Wuv!!"

On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 1:17 PM Ron Litt via BVARC  wrote:

> Wow! No love stories like Dr. Zhivago or Gone with the wind.
>
> On Tue, Oct 20, 2020, 13:03 Ravi Patrick Ratnala via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org> wrote:
>
>> Hey KJ,
>>
>> Just want to say I'm enjoying your synopses of the SCN, especially since
>> I can't take part every day.
>>
>> WRT the favorite movies theme, I'm glad to say that you guys covered most
>> of my all-time favorites.  Some notables that I'd add are some of my
>> favorite John Wayne flicks (North to Alaska, The Quiet Man, and El Dorado),
>> The Dirty Dozen, and October Sky.
>>
>> Thanks, KJ.  And thanks John for calling a great net every day!
>>
>> 73 de Ravi, N5OL
>>
>>
>> On 10/19/2020 12:53 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC wrote:
>>
>> Announcements:
>>
>>- New Traffic Net Monday nights at 6:30 on the KG5EEO repeater, join
>>us to learn how to pass official traffic and be part of a greater
>>communications team.
>>- Join BVARC at http://bvarc.org
>>- Wednesday night net on 3910KHz
>>
>>
>>
>> Question of the day: What are your favorite movies that everyone should
>> know about?
>>
>>- Time Bandits
>>- Men in Black
>>- Casablanca
>>- Groundhog Day
>>- Star Trek
>>- The Princess Bride
>>- Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail
>>- Lord of the Rings Trilogy
>>- EVERY JAMES BOND MOVIE
>>- Big Jake (John Wayne)
>>- The Shootist
>>- 13 Hours Over Benghazi
>>- Patton
>>- Midway (Charlton Heston)
>>- In Harm’s way
>>- The Alamo
>>- Rio Bravo
>>- The Sting (Robert Redford)
>>- Saving Private Ryan
>>- Vanishing Point (1971)
>>- Bullitt (1968)
>>- The Great Escape (Steve McQueen)
>>- The Hunt for Red October
>>- Ben Hur
>>- True Grit (John Wayne)
>>- Big Country (Gregory Peck)
>>- Gladiator
>>- Idiocracy
>>- Enemy of the State
>>- Right at Your Door
>>- Boondock Saints
>>- Serenity (2005)
>>- The Civil War Series ()PBS
>>- Band of Brothers
>>- Blade Runner (from the 80’s)
>>- Twelve O’Clock High
>>- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
>>- Blazing Saddles
>>- Look into novels by Phillip K. Dick
>>- Baseball
>>- 2001: A Space Odyssey
>>- Top Gun
>>- The Matrix
>>- The West Wing (TV Series)
>>- Thirteen Days (Cuban Missile Crisis)
>>- Wag the Dog
>>- The day the Earth Stood Still
>>- Dr Strangelove
>>- The Andromeda Strain
>>- Lawrence of Arabia
>>- Labyrinth
>>- Lord of the Flies
>>- The Forbidden Planet
>>- Hell Fighters (John Wayne)
>>- 12 Angry Men
>>- Atlas Shrugged (books are way better)
>>
>>
>>
>> *-*
>>
>> *KJ Anderson*
>>
>> 253-380-2636
>>
>> www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing 
>> listBVARC@bvarc.orghttp://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>>  Virus-free.
>> www.avast.com
>> 
>> <#m_-3075874430182671227_m_-4879146590495129147_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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BVARC mailing list
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Re: [BVARC] (no subject)

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Folks,
Some resources for folks to check out are below.

ARRL Radiogram
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARRL_Radiogram

NTS
http://www.arrl.org/nts
http://www.arrl.org/chapter-one-national-traffic-system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Traffic_System

Ron Bosch
KE4DRF
ARRL STX STM

On Sun, Oct 11, 2020 at 6:54 PM gmuller885 via BVARC 
wrote:

> Where do you get the Form  and how does one pass the traffic.
>
>
>
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S8+, an AT 5G Evolution capable smartphone
>
>
>  Original message 
> From: Robert Polinski via BVARC 
> Date: 10/11/20 6:42 PM (GMT-06:00)
> To: 'BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB' 
> Cc: Robert Polinski 
> Subject: [BVARC] (no subject)
>
> To all BVARC members, be aware of a new net coming October 19 on the
> 146.940 repeater. Please clear the frequency during this time to allow the
> net to take place. You are welcome to participate in this net.
>
> Robert Trustee 146.940 KE5EEO repeater
>
>
> *To:* kd5...@arrl.net
> *Subject:* TRAFFIC NET ON 146.94 REPEATER
>
>
>
> As discussed, I would like to run a weekly NTS traffic net on the
>
> 146.94 repeater.   The planned net times are every Monday at 6:30pm-7:30pm
> and this  should not interfere with any other nets.  The purpose of the net
> is to pass NTS radiogram traffic into and out of the Houston area.  This
> will provide a valuable public service for local hams interested in traffic
> handling as well as supporting ARES.  The wide coverage of the 94 machine
> is ideal for this purpose.
>
>
>
> I will plan the first Traffic Net on the 94 repeater for Monday October 19
> at 6:30pm and then continuing each Monday thereafter.
>
>
>
> Thank you for all your support
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Bill Novak
>
> KA9IKK
>
> ka9...@hotmail.com
>
> 630-487-9677
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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BVARC mailing list
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Re: [BVARC] Rag chew net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

I haven't had CoVID 19 yet, but I have had CRS disease for a real long time
:-)

On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 2:57 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC 
wrote:

> It’s the pandemic. I have to keep reminding myself what day it is.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 14, 2020, at 8:07 AM, Larry Riendeau via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> I think that’s now listed as a symptom of Covid-19 
>
> k5ler
> Larry Riendeau
>
> On Aug 13, 2020, at 21:56, Terry Leatherland via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> I think I did that last year ☹️
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 13, 2020, at 8:18 PM, Travis Burgess via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
> 
> "Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair"
>
> --
> *From:* BVARC  on behalf of Ron Bosch via BVARC <
> bvarc@bvarc.org>
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 13, 2020 7:23 PM
> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
> *Cc:* Ron Bosch 
> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] Rag chew net
>
> Rick,
> Wouldn't that also be a PEBRAC error?
>
> Ron
>
> On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 7:12 PM Rick Hiller via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>
> 5 mins agoHave been waiting for the Rag Chew net to start.   Even
> called out to see who was there.  No answers.   Then I realized it was
> Thursday.   Hi.
> A class 1   “ ID 10 T “ error.
> C y’all next Wednesday
> W5RH
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Rag chew net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Nizar makes a good point, as I can likely be described as the source code
for PEBRAC errors!!

Ron

On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 9:42 AM Nizar Mullani via BVARC 
wrote:

> Rick,
>
> I thought about making some smartalec comment about your mistake, but I
> realized that I am much older than you and probably susceptible to more of
> these mistakes than you. So, I put myself on MUTE!
>
> Nizar
>
> On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 8:07 AM Larry Riendeau via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> I think that’s now listed as a symptom of Covid-19 
>>
>> k5ler
>> Larry Riendeau
>>
>> On Aug 13, 2020, at 21:56, Terry Leatherland via BVARC 
>> wrote:
>>
>> I think I did that last year ☹️
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Aug 13, 2020, at 8:18 PM, Travis Burgess via BVARC 
>> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> "Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair"
>>
>> --
>> *From:* BVARC  on behalf of Ron Bosch via BVARC
>> 
>> *Sent:* Thursday, August 13, 2020 7:23 PM
>> *To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 
>> *Cc:* Ron Bosch 
>> *Subject:* Re: [BVARC] Rag chew net
>>
>> Rick,
>> Wouldn't that also be a PEBRAC error?
>>
>> Ron
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 7:12 PM Rick Hiller via BVARC 
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> 5 mins agoHave been waiting for the Rag Chew net to start.   Even
>> called out to see who was there.  No answers.   Then I realized it was
>> Thursday.   Hi.
>> A class 1   “ ID 10 T “ error.
>> C y’all next Wednesday
>> W5RH
>>
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
>> 
>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>>
>> BVARC mailing list
>> BVARC@bvarc.org
>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Rag chew net

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Rick,
Wouldn't that also be a PEBRAC error?

Ron

On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 7:12 PM Rick Hiller via BVARC 
wrote:

>
> 5 mins agoHave been waiting for the Rag Chew net to start.   Even
> called out to see who was there.  No answers.   Then I realized it was
> Thursday.   Hi.
> A class 1   “ ID 10 T “ error.
> C y’all next Wednesday
> W5RH
>
>
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

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Re: [BVARC] Need advice

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

By RV batteries, I assume you mean deep cycle. but do you mean AGM, ie.
sealed Lead Acid, or do you mean regular lead acid deep cycle marine
batteries?  One of those can be charged inside, the other can't.  As far as
RV and Marine Deep Cycle,  West Mountain Radio has a Group 24 Battery box
rated at 40 amps total, with power pole connectors, but you would have to
homebrew the charging set up for it.  the manual is at
http://www.westmountainradio.com/pdf/RRmanual.pdf.  .


Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.
Ron Bosch

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."
John F. Kennedy

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.
But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.
Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"
Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."
Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."
Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
Frederick Douglass






On Thu, Apr 23, 2020 at 7:33 PM Rob KC5RET via BVARC 
wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I have an issue and I thought, hey, I'm a member now, I'll go to the brain
> trust that is BVARC.
>
> I want a UPS for my home office.  I don't want to pay for a APC UPS.  I
> have a couple of gently used RV batteries that I've keeping on a NOCO
> Genius battery charger in maint mode.
>
> is there a gadget I can buy, that will allow me to plug it into house
> power for power outage detection purposes, but let me use my own batteries
> for backup when the power goes out.
>
> I'm sure MFJ has something like this, but I was thinking something of
> higher quality.
>
> I am still working and do not have the soldering skills to make my own, so
> I would like to purchase something turnkey that is less than
> comparatively sized APC system.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> 73, Rob, KC5RET
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] 70 cm j-pole

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Ralph,
Do the choke first.  A J-pole is basically a matched end fed 1/2 wave, i.e
a vertical Zepp.  If not choked the coax will radiate, and make the
resonance unmatched.  That will also lose you any sorta gain you would get
from the pattern, although that is waay overstated in most folks sales
brochures, because those radiation patterns are free space patterns, and
you roof is about the farthest thing from free space that exists, at least
if it's anything like mine. :-)

Ron

Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.
Ron Bosch

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."
John F. Kennedy

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.
But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.
Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"
Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."
Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."
Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
Frederick Douglass






On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 12:44 PM ralph phillips via BVARC 
wrote:

> Many Thanks!!
> Several people responded and all with helpful information/advice
>
> Going through the comments I see I need to check feed locations again, add
> a choke, and play with the distance between elements.
> I had already checked all dimenaions and which leg got braid.
>
> My antenna analyzer only goes to 2m so no user here BUT analyzer gives
> same reading as cross needle vhf/uhf watt/SWR meter across 2m band.
>
> I will let you know how this plays out!!
>
> Ralph.   KE5HDF
>
> Get Outlook for Android 
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] Need antenna build advice

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Ralph,
First, check you dimensions.  The calculated dimensions are:

Radiator (Long)  = 19.44 inches (I would cut to 19.75 and trim down to
bring the resonance up
Stub (short) = 6.48 inches (I would cut 6.5 ")
Feed point  = A touch less than 5/8 inch FROM THE TOP ( not the middle) of
the bridge on the bottom of the radiator and stub
Bridge length = a touch less than 5/8 in between the inside edges (not the
middle, or outside) of the radiator and the stub

J-poles need to be choked, and I usually do this by taking 5 loops of the
coax about 5 inches in diameter, and zip tying the loops with three or 4
zip ties.  That choke needs start immediately below your lightning
arrestor, directly before the feed point. Finally the braid of the coax
needs to be connected to the stub, and the center connector to the radiator.

If all of your dimensions are correct, adjust SWR by moving the feed point
up and down.  I usually make this part easier by using 12 guage ground wire
from the SO-239 chassis to the stub, and from the SO-239 center conductor
to the radiator, and taking one loop around each.  Once I have SWR right, I
clamp and solder the ground wire.  On a 440 J-pole a tiny bit deviation in
the feed point length goes a long way, and the distance from the bridge HAS
to be exactly the same on both the radiator and the stub. Once you have a
reasonable SWR you can trim a little off the radiator to get you center
freq where you want it.

Unless you missed the measurements when you cut the thing, or you did not
choke the feed, I will lay dollars to donuts your problem is that the feed
point is not the same distance from the bridge on the radiator and the
stub.  On a longer J-Pole (i.e. a lower freq) this difference doesn't
matter much, when your wavelength is <28 inches, small differences get big
results.

Ron


Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.
Ron Bosch

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."
John F. Kennedy

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.
But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.
Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"
Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."
Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."
Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
Frederick Douglass






On Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 2:52 PM ralph phillips via BVARC 
wrote:

> Having problems with my home brew 440 mhm jpole...will not tune better
> than a SWR 1.9.  Books and articles no help.  Will velocity factor or
> resistance change dimensions for steel vs aluminum??
>
> Get Outlook for Android 
> 
> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club
>
> BVARC mailing list
> BVARC@bvarc.org
> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
>

Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club

BVARC mailing list
BVARC@bvarc.org
http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org

Re: [BVARC] Antenna Mounting Options

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Will,
Well met sir, even if you are a brown shoe :-)  Never knew anybody off the
Coral Sea, but I knew an ABM off the Midway.  he taught me two very
important things I use to this day:

1.  "There's the right way, the wrong way, and the Midway".  I often quote
that to new folks who can't quite figure out why the companies I have
worked for since getting out do the things they do.
2.  What the flight deck hand signal means that is a cupped hand over your
fist, and then pull your fist down.  I used to use that one quite often
when I was working with new guys on oil platforms and drill ships right
after I got out.  Still use it sometimes in Management meetings, but I
don't explain to them what it means.

Good to hear about your Daughter, sounds like she wants to be at the tip of
the spear.  Tell her I said to remember that there are only two kinds of
vessels, submarines and targets!!

Ron


Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.
Ron Bosch

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.

But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.

Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"

Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."

Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.

Frederick Douglass

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."

John F. Kennedy




On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 6:29 PM Will Gray via BVARC  wrote:

> Ron,  I quit college early joined the Navy via the Aviation Cadet program
> (NAVCAD).  Spent my at sea life in USS CORAL SEA as an RF8G photo pilot in
> over Vietnam beginning at the ripe old age of 22.  Then a cruise in the MED
> in USS SHANGRILA.  A tour with the USAF in T-38s teaching instructors
> (haver having been an instructor myself) then back to USS MIDWAY  in the
> RF8G for its last combat cruise of the war.  Following that I moved to the
> EA6B Prowler community for several cruises ending as CO of VAQ-133.  Off to
> USS ENTERPRISE as Mini/Air Boss for two years.  Pentagon, Naval War
> College, Pakistan as Naval Attache and finishing up the 30 years as a
> Captain as Defense Attache in Athens, GR.  I was very fortunate every step
> of the way.  Didn't get shot, never crashed in my 860 carrier landings and
> 117 combat missions in Vietnam.  I was able to hang on to my great woman
> for the whole ride (53 years this April 5th).  Two great kids and Six
> Grandkids.  The eldest granddaughter is is at MIT and NROTC looking for
> Nuclear power and SUBS.   More than you wanted I bet.  The Naval Service
> was very good to me...  Will  KB7QL
>
> On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 6:15 PM Ron Bosch via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> Will,
>> I wrote that story to a group on a Compuserv BBS back in mid '84, and
>> then got asked in early '85 about a similar story that appeared in a book,
>> except in the book it was the guy supposedly getting lowered onto the
>> boat..  While I would like to say the two were connected, I don't believe
>> they were, because the book came out in late '84, and it would have been
>> written long before that, but it was a pretty cool coincidence.  Also,
>> having actually done a couple of transfers off the boat that way, I am
>> pretty sure you could not actually do it the other way around, even in good
>> weather without turn

Re: [BVARC] Antenna Mounting Options

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Will,
I wrote that story to a group on a Compuserv BBS back in mid '84, and then
got asked in early '85 about a similar story that appeared in a book,
except in the book it was the guy supposedly getting lowered onto the
boat..  While I would like to say the two were connected, I don't believe
they were, because the book came out in late '84, and it would have been
written long before that, but it was a pretty cool coincidence.  Also,
having actually done a couple of transfers off the boat that way, I am
pretty sure you could not actually do it the other way around, even in good
weather without turning the transferee into a squishy pinata.  But the book
did get the part about the static discharge between the Helo and a large
HY80 floating grounding rod pretty right.  Might I ask where you served in
Uncle Sam's Canoe Club?  I crewed the USS Finback, and the USS James K.
Polk, with a shore duty at NACU Norfolk in between.

Will, Rob, and Orin,

Thank you for the advise, the part about the spikes on the roof may be
true, but I am certain the heads of the board of my HOA would explode were
I to do that.  I will get #6 solid ASAP, as well as order the arrestors for
feed into the antennas.  I have one on the feed line into the ID-4100 now,
but it is an Archer #20-021 that i had from back in the day, and tied into
the 12 GA wire I have running for the ground.  I do not have the Jpole for
the winlink station that I intend to run through my grand old DR-570 up
yet, and the 7100 doesn't get here until this coming weekend soonest.

Again,

Thanks

Ron
KE4DRF

Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.
Ron Bosch

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.

But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.

Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"

Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."

Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.

Frederick Douglass

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."

John F. Kennedy




On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 3:50 PM Will Gray via BVARC  wrote:

> Submarine, North Sea, big helo , rain storm: nasty setup, the kind of
> event that generate great sea stories (they are all true, though change a
> bit when told over the years).   Likely the static charge from the helo
> rotes caused the strike.   I would go for #4 or #6 solid copper wire for
> the ground circuit.  Tie your ground to the utility inlet ground, water
> pipes and gas pipes.  depending on the setup, might want to add a couple
> more of those 8' ground rods. Still there is no guarantee but it improves
> the odds.
>
> Will, KB7QL
>
> On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 3:36 PM Ron Bosch via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> Will, et al,
>> To agree with you in a backhand kind of way, I have, in fact, seen
>> lightning hit a submarine while at sea in a rain storm in the North
>> Atlantic, although the lightning in question came off of a line hanging
>> from a Sea Stallion, and was VERY Impressive to a 20 year old ELT whose job
>> it was to make sure the deck was radiologically clear prior to a med evac.
>> To bring it back to topic, though... Having just gotten back into HAM radio
>> after a 10 year absence, I have recently acquired some new and expensive
>> toys.  The "current" grounding set up is a 12 GA wire 

Re: [BVARC] Antenna Mounting Options

[Ron Bosch via BVARC]

Will, et al,
To agree with you in a backhand kind of way, I have, in fact, seen
lightning hit a submarine while at sea in a rain storm in the North
Atlantic, although the lightning in question came off of a line hanging
from a Sea Stallion, and was VERY Impressive to a 20 year old ELT whose job
it was to make sure the deck was radiologically clear prior to a med evac.
To bring it back to topic, though... Having just gotten back into HAM radio
after a 10 year absence, I have recently acquired some new and expensive
toys.  The "current" grounding set up is a 12 GA wire run from my station
to the ground rod put in as part of the repaneling of my electrical into
the house. The ground rod in question is an ~8 foot copper rod driven into
the ground with about 6 inches showing above ground level.  I bonded the 12
GA wire to the rod with a hose clamp.  Do you all think that sufficient to
protect my brand new ID-4100 and IC-7100?

Ron
KE4DRF

Judging by personal experience, the next public health crisis after COVID
19 is likely to be cirrhosis.

Ron Bosch

"..any man who may be asked what he did .. to make his life worthwhile, I
think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction" 'I served in
the United States Navy."

John F. Kennedy

When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
‘Come out, you dogs, and fight!’ said I,
And wept there was but once to die.

But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.

Dorothy Parker

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate
intensity"

Wm Butler Yeats

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man
and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his
worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and
not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof", thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

Thomas Jefferson


 "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every
opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if
there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of
blindfolded fear."

Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr


A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all
men; claiming no higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws,
than nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people;
steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any
religious creed or family, is a standing offense to most of the Governments
of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.

Frederick Douglass






On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 11:53 AM Will Gray via BVARC  wrote:

> Lightning is interesting.  The strike begins when the electrons that have
> been scrubbed from the air  by rain or snow are deposited on the ground
> (generally).  A negative charge builds where the earth acts like the plate
> of a capacitor.  With no other path the charge gets great enough to find
> the path of least resistance back to the atmosphere overhead or nearby from
> where the electrons were scrubbed by failing rain.  If the area is well
> grounded, the electrons are dissipated in the the earth, if insulated (why
> lightning strikes concrete runways) the charge builds.  If your house,
> ground, trees, or anything is insulated allowing the charge to build, the
> strike will occur when the charge is great enough.  In my years at sea in
> he Navy, I never saw a lightning strike hit the surface of the water or the
> ship, no matter how heavy the rain.  The salt water as a conductor
> dissipated the charge.  Aircraft flying in rain build up a charge and may
> be struck, damaging them with burn marks and even scoring bearings in the
> engines.  Aircraft have static wicks to bleed off the charge just as trucks
> have straps to bleed off the charge so the 7,000 gallons of gasoline in a
> tanker truck doesn't  go up in flames from a lightning strike or lesser
> static discharge.
>
> Will Gray, KB
>
> On Wed, Apr 8, 2020 at 11:38 AM Robert Polinski via BVARC 
> wrote:
>
>> Much what is said is true, but I will add a few points. Forty some years
>> ago I worked for a 2 way radio co. We had the Yellow Cab contract. I was at
>> Yellow Cab on Hays street in north Houston. I was replacing 2 radios in the
>> radio shack at the base of the 450ft tower that had been removed and taken
>> to the shop for repair. As I got setup to replace the radios in the rack,
>> there were 4 radios & 4 standby radios in the rack. They used 4 VHF
>> channels at that time. There was a thunderstorm approaching outside. The
>> radio shack was just a small 8x 12 building a the tower base. The