Took a break for awhile, now i'm back at it. Seems band conditions haven't improved much.
Hurricane season is coming up soon, so i'm looking at what i can do as far as ham radio goes with that. Trying to see if i can find/access a traffic net from my apartment. Also looking to see what i can do to hook my IC-7000 into my car. If a major hurricane hits, thats the only thing i'll have access to that has power.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Still Around
I'm still around, just been busy. I'm also going to stop posting daily but instead summarize my experiences a bit more. Got my callsign changed over to KB5IRK also.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Day 19
Well, things went really well. I was dialing around the memories in the IC-7000 and i ended up at random going by a frequency i put in and stopped checking (wasn't selected for memory scan) and there was a QSO going on around 10:00pm.
So i threw out my callsign and got an awnser back! I ended up talking to 3 truckers for hours on this repeater. Also got to test a 70cm repeater. Seems the IC-7000 generates heat much quicker on 70cm, and my setup doesn't seem to be nearly as good for UHF as it is for VHF. Amazing stuff. Also, setting a decent ground and adjusting the antenna placement on the balcony seems to have really helped. A solid 30% improvement at least.
So i threw out my callsign and got an awnser back! I ended up talking to 3 truckers for hours on this repeater. Also got to test a 70cm repeater. Seems the IC-7000 generates heat much quicker on 70cm, and my setup doesn't seem to be nearly as good for UHF as it is for VHF. Amazing stuff. Also, setting a decent ground and adjusting the antenna placement on the balcony seems to have really helped. A solid 30% improvement at least.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Day 18
Well, i sent out a quick e-mail to the NARS message group and got some Really interesting replies.
I was kind of shocked at how much actually, i thought maybe i'd get one or two responses but i ended up getting 10 e-mails.. all with extremely interesting stuff.
One guy invited me to one of the club lunches, but unfortunatly i commute out of the area (live in NW houston, work in SW houston) so i don't think i'll be able to make the lunches (unless its on weekends or they alternate locations down this way)
So, now i've got a list of information to check out now that will be helpful.
Also on a side note, i was able to track down some info on emergency communications and the NTS system for texas.
http://texastrafficnet.org/
So, my list of stuff to look up/do:
1. Someone commented that with my grounding setup the way it is, is a potential hazard and reccomended a maximum output of 5 watts until its fixed. I'll do just that until grounding is setup.
2. Screwdriver Antenna/Apartment Verticals
So apparently there are some definate options here. Its been suggested that i check out a number of different antennas. One is a "Screwdriver Antenna"
http://www.tarheelantennas.com/
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/
http://www.ku4ab.com/
3. QRP-L
Low power operating, how to get the most out of antennas and power output. Seems like this would be pretty useful.
http://www.amqrp.org/
4. HF-pack
Now this is neat, portable HF operation. These guys have a HF station in a backpack basicly (hence the "pack" in HF-pack). Lots of videos on the site they have.
http://www.hfpack.com/
5. CW (Morse)
Its also been suggested that CW would work really well for my situation. And the NTS i've been looking at, there is quite a bit of CW activity. I think i'll definatly make this a project, to learn CW.
I've also been pointed in the direction of the BVARC. I live in NW houston, but work in SW houston so i'm going to send an e-mail to them and see what happens.
I was kind of shocked at how much actually, i thought maybe i'd get one or two responses but i ended up getting 10 e-mails.. all with extremely interesting stuff.
One guy invited me to one of the club lunches, but unfortunatly i commute out of the area (live in NW houston, work in SW houston) so i don't think i'll be able to make the lunches (unless its on weekends or they alternate locations down this way)
So, now i've got a list of information to check out now that will be helpful.
Also on a side note, i was able to track down some info on emergency communications and the NTS system for texas.
http://texastrafficnet.org/
So, my list of stuff to look up/do:
1. Someone commented that with my grounding setup the way it is, is a potential hazard and reccomended a maximum output of 5 watts until its fixed. I'll do just that until grounding is setup.
2. Screwdriver Antenna/Apartment Verticals
So apparently there are some definate options here. Its been suggested that i check out a number of different antennas. One is a "Screwdriver Antenna"
http://www.tarheelantennas.com/
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/
http://www.ku4ab.com/
3. QRP-L
Low power operating, how to get the most out of antennas and power output. Seems like this would be pretty useful.
http://www.amqrp.org/
4. HF-pack
Now this is neat, portable HF operation. These guys have a HF station in a backpack basicly (hence the "pack" in HF-pack). Lots of videos on the site they have.
http://www.hfpack.com/
5. CW (Morse)
Its also been suggested that CW would work really well for my situation. And the NTS i've been looking at, there is quite a bit of CW activity. I think i'll definatly make this a project, to learn CW.
I've also been pointed in the direction of the BVARC. I live in NW houston, but work in SW houston so i'm going to send an e-mail to them and see what happens.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Day 17
Well, still no QSOs... i am getting more familiar with the bands i think and how filters work on my radio.
Still i think that what i need to do is fix the antenna. Until thats done, there isn't going to be much going on. I need to find one that will work in a confined space area, out on a balcony, without being really apparent that its an antenna. I'm thinking maybe 40 meters to start. I'll do some research, but it may be somewhat quiet here for the next little while until i figure something out.
Still i think that what i need to do is fix the antenna. Until thats done, there isn't going to be much going on. I need to find one that will work in a confined space area, out on a balcony, without being really apparent that its an antenna. I'm thinking maybe 40 meters to start. I'll do some research, but it may be somewhat quiet here for the next little while until i figure something out.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Day 16
Well, while i got a few problems solved, still not having any luck contacting anyone.
Zero QSOs again. I'm transmitting PSK31 on 20m, 15m, and 40m... i can hear others but nobody is responding to my CQ. Running about 20 watts. I figure the antenna is the problem. I'll have to see what i can do.
Zero QSOs again. I'm transmitting PSK31 on 20m, 15m, and 40m... i can hear others but nobody is responding to my CQ. Running about 20 watts. I figure the antenna is the problem. I'll have to see what i can do.
Day 15
Well, i went to the meeting. There were not many people around my own age which was interesting, but these people defiantly know what they are talking about.
The lecture that was given was on computer control, which ended up being mostly about digital HF modes. Extremely interesting, and may actually solve some of my problems I've been having with digital modes. The maximum you're supposed to use is something like 25-35 watts. Well, since most of the problems seem to be once i exceed that, one problem solved. He also talked about Olivia, another digital mode called "Ghost Mode" sounds interesting. More later.
The lecture that was given was on computer control, which ended up being mostly about digital HF modes. Extremely interesting, and may actually solve some of my problems I've been having with digital modes. The maximum you're supposed to use is something like 25-35 watts. Well, since most of the problems seem to be once i exceed that, one problem solved. He also talked about Olivia, another digital mode called "Ghost Mode" sounds interesting. More later.
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