iCard Series – No. 16 27 - June - 2007
Posted by k9zw in The iCards Series.add a comment
73
Steve
K9ZW
With Varying Frequency’s 300th Article Milestone! 26 - June - 2007
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW Just Rambled.2 comments
With Varying Frequency’s 300th Article Milestone apparently slipped by Unnoticed by myself!
If fact the counter says I’m past 400, but I know I have at least 50 articles and posts written ahead.
That is the only way to keep from triple & double posting daily as a matter of course.
Looking forward to the next 300-400 articles!
73
Steve
K9ZW
At the Masquerade Ball – Unmoderated Forums 25 - June - 2007
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW Just Rambled.1 comment so far
At the Masquerade Ball – Unmoderated Forums
We all know the common Unmoderated & Semi-Moderated Internet Forums covering Amateur Radio – Usenet, eHam, QRZ, Yahoo! Groups, Delphi Forums, Google Groups and so on…. and the common contributor edited references – Wiki’s….
All share an interesting common feature – the quality of the post is unsure, as a glistening nugget of what appears to be knowledge could either he that golden gem, or it may be Fools Gold and worthless.
They also share varying levels of uncertainty as to who is actually making the posts. Some openly encourage anonymity under the premise that cloaked identities lead to openness.
Many seem to have self appointed guardians, people who always have an opinion and usually chide anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
An economics professor friend suggested that until Forum posts cost the poster something, they would remain suspect. He suggested not only having real identities but charging posters a fee-per-post.
Of course I’ve pointed out his blog is open to cloaked identities and is fee free!
Kidding aside, we need to remember that Unmoderated Forums are like digging for gold in the mud – in your quest for the gold you simply will get covered in muck!
73
Steve
K9ZW
That’s a Big Bird Cage – Full Sized Six Element 40 meter Quad 24 - June - 2007
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At W9EVT/WI9DX Washington Island, WI -001L a very large scale 6 element on 40 m Quad has been in the works.
It is up an running and the inital reports are that it pounds.
The monster is up at 135 ft and is over 100 ft in boom length. Each element looks like a frame marking out the plot for a house, albeit tipped up on it’s side.
Pictures & more of a Story of the Background behind this monster will follow after my July visit to the Island.
73
Steve
K9ZW
Field Day 2007 – Media Reports! 23 - June - 2007
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio.Tags: Field Day
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Link to a PDF version of the HTR Front Page
Ham radio operators share their passion
Annual Field Day dials in hobby’s local enthusiasts
By Cindy Hodgson
Herald Times Reporter June 24, 2007
MANITOWOC — Rich Weyer took a “Ham Cram” course offered by the ManCoRad Radio Club in April. After the intensive one-day course and an exam, he became a licensed amateur radio operator.
On Saturday, Weyer was at Silver Creek Park participating in Field Day, an annual public demonstration of amateur radio, also called ham radio.
“This is my first Field Day,” said Weyer, who is from Sheboygan Falls. “I’ve been asking a lot of questions and learning a lot.”
Weyer said he’d always wanted to get into ham radio, and finally this spring he did.
“There’s just so much you can do with amateur radio that it just kind of boggles the mind,” he said.
Weyer and the others who gathered for the local Field Day, part of Amateur Radio Week, were among an estimated 30,000 people participating across the country, according to Steve Weinert, education coordinator for the ManCoRad Radio Club.
ManCoRad stands for Manitowoc County Radio, and most of the 80-plus members of the club are from Manitowoc County, Weinert said.
There are multiple objectives behind Field Day, which actually is held during two days, ending at noon today, according to Weinert.
It is a time for ham radio operators to set up their equipment and ensure it’s working in case it is needed in an emergency.
“This is a fun way of doing a preparedness drill,” Weinert said.
The event also is a chance for club members and their families to operate the club’s equipment. Finally, it’s a way to educate the public about amateur radio clubs.
Weinert said more than 100 people typically stop by during the weekend. Some are people who notice the crane hoisting antennas more than 100 feet high, and even people playing disc golf at the park may come over to see what’s happening, he said.
Those who stop by can talk with the ham radio operators and watch demonstrations of traditional Morse code, voice communications, digital (typed) communications, and an advanced type of digital communications that connects with the Internet, making e-mail possible even if local Internet service is unavailable.
“It would be like the Internet never went down,” said John Meyer of Menchalville, a member of the ManCoRad Radio Club for 20 years.
The ability to help in an emergency by providing backup communications is one aspect of the hobby that appeals to ham radio operators.
“We’re serving the community,” said Mary Langer, who was there with her husband, Ken. The Langers are from Norman, which is in Kewaunee County.
ManCoRad members have assisted with communication during weather emergencies, according to Weinert, including riding in squad cars after lightning damaged police communications equipment.
Another appeal of ham radio is the opportunity to talk with people around the world.
“From my little home station, I’ve talked to over 200 radio countries around the world,” Weinert said. He specified “radio countries” because each radio entity is not necessarily one country.
Communication can be as simple as making contact or it can become a whole conversation, according to Weinert. For example, he spent about 45 minutes talking with someone from New Zealand.
“You meet friends all over the world,” Meyer said.
He became friends with a man from Sri Lanka. The two visited each other’s countries, and now the friend’s son is attending the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay — all because Meyer is a “ham.”
One objective of Field Day is to see how many contacts can be made. Last year, the local club contacted nearly every part of the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Africa, according to an e-mail from Weinert.
He said people participating in Field Day would try to make contact with the space station Saturday night. He thought they would be able to hear people on the space station but probably wouldn’t be able to talk to anyone there.
People interested in learning more about the ManCoRad Radio Club can call 920-686-8281, send e-mail to info@w9dk.com or visit the Web at http://www.w9dk.com.
Meyer said Ham Cram, the one-day licensing class, will be held again at the end of September.
—-
Thank you to the HTR for covering field day 2007!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Howling at the Moon – High Winds, Thunder and Rain 23 - June - 2007
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Shack.Tags: Field Day
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Twice this week a plaintive mournful howling turned out of be high winds whistling through the Log Periodic Antennas.
Then loud “pinging” as bits of tree branches and perhaps a chunk of hail or ice hit the antennas chimed in as well.
The wind gusts recorded around the 50 mph (80 kph) range, so there really was no real danger.
In stock form my set-up is engineered for 110 mph (180 kph) wind with three times the antenna loading, and with everything carrying 1 inch of ice! That doesn’t mean that smaller parts wouldn’t separate or be damaged, just that the big stuff is engineered to stay up there.
Joining in to the howl and pings were two more loud noises. The rush of rain as heavy as a firehose’s spray arrived, followed with thunder as loud as artillery simulators!
Impressive lightening strikes six to eight miles away still lit the sky like daylight!
Nothing like summer weather where the plains & Great Lakes meet!
The forecasts look reasonable that Field Day should be dry and safe, but in case of weather moving in the crane comes down in only two or three minutes.
73
Steve
K9ZW
