REPOST: The Carrot Dangle – Encouraging Young Amateurs 22 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, HamCram Note, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled.Tags: Hamcram, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled
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What is the “First Step” in insuring the future of Amateur Radio? That is simple, it is getting youth involved!
Education about Amateur Radio is task #1 for attracting youth. From simply making amateur radio known to the youth, to maing sure training & informational materials are out in the community, to running classes – whether HamCram or long-format, to simply Elmering the interested, Education is #1 for Encouraging Young Amateurs.
Youth can even download Technician Licensing Podcasts from HandiHams’ “Ham Radio Study”, or Ham Radio Class, among others (do a Google or search from iTunes).
Amateur Radio License Testing is a common fear, and common excuse amoung interested youth. If you hearken back to when you learned to drive, for many of us our driving instructor took us out on “Mock Road Tests” so we could perfect our technique. Mock Licensing Tests abound on the web, with a favorites being the tests at QRZ.com 
and tests at eHam.net 
.
The Reward of being Licensed – use the Carrot!!
Of course becoming licensed is a reward in itself, but certainly we can add to the experience!
Our local club Mancorad W9DK 
gives each newly licensed amateur a year membership as a gift from the club. Other than students who move away for college, where they hopefully join their college club – specially as we tip off their college club to search them out – all the new gift membership members have renewed & stayed active in the club.
On a personal level I dangle a new Handitalkie for each of our children who gets their Technician License (I’ve had to ante-up twice for with new HT’s) and a new Entry Level High Frequency Rig if they go on to General or better (still hoping to have to make good on this!). I would have found them radios when the licensed, but somehow adding the “Carrot” made it a real motivator and a lot more fun!
The next steps for each of us it to see how we can become a “dangler of carrots” in encouraging youth to take up amateur radio. We each have various resources to draw from, with time, talent and money each playing a role.
Put to good use a carrot dangled can bring up the interest level, provide encouragement, get the young amateur involved and on the air!
Have at it team! Carrots Up & Dangling!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Happy Holidays! 19 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled
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A very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all!
With family, holidays, using some vacation days and hopefully some Ice Fishing, I’m taking a laize faire approach to the internet during the Holiday period.
Basically you’ll be more likely to catch me on-the-air rather than on-the-net until after Boxing Day (day after Christmas Day) and over the New Years long-weekend the next week.
If the ice is good and the fish are biting well enough to get a bit more serious on the Ice Fishing I’m hoping to drag my portable HF setup out while fishing.
Again our best holiday wishes and a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all!
73
Steve
K9ZW
REPOST: Yellow Box – Through the Looking Glass 16 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Recommends, K9ZW Uses.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Shack, TDR, Time Domain Reflectometry
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Looking for the best way to check actual velocity factors, continuity and coax conditions I’ve turned to Time Domain Reflectometry. With the advise of Steve Uhrig, WA3SWS (SK) I narrowed my search down to one of the RiserBond “Yellow Box” TDRs and was able to purchase a surplused unit from an Arizona Contractor who was upgrading to fully computerized versions.
A TDR is sort of like a Sonar Unit for wire. There are several great on-line write-ups so I’ll simply link to the The Free Dictionary Wiki for your reference.
In use a TDR is simply electrically hooked to the cable, terminated or unterminated, set-up with velocity factors & cable type if known, configured for a couple other adjustements, and then the user interprets the screen.
Actual velocity factor can be worked out by testing from each end using a set procedure.
Interpreting the Screen seems to be the biggest trick. An excellent on-line teaching reference can was found at the RiserBond on-line Training website. PDF Versions of some are now at: http://www.radiodetection.com/search.aspx?search=tdr
In use you can see connectors/splices, faults, cable changes and even what is electrically going on at the antenna.
At the W9EVT Washington Island QTH we’ve used the TDR to check dozens of cables burried in conduits.
For K9EME’s (was KB9EME) REACT efforts lots of spools of coax and hardline were checked & measured using the TDR. In theory checking spooled cable could require a correction factor, but we found the difference between coiled and uncoiled length readings to be small enough (inch or two over 100-200 ft) to ignore.
At field day with W9DK Mancorad the TDR was used in tandom with antenna analysers to check out and debug the field day antenna arrays.
Not limited to coax, the TDR can be used to check for problems with paired wiring as well.
A TDR is an occassional use item that is expensive enough that perhaps a club or group might chose to buy one rather an individual amateur. I’m told there are some Amateurs who rent out their TDRs to local contractors and other Amateurs, which would partially recover the investment over time.
Much like Alice’s Looking Glass, looking at cable performance and the inspection of inaccessably wires & coax with a TDR is simply magic!
73
Steve
K9ZW
GUEST POST – Paul AE5JU’s Radio Adventures – Part 3 PSK31 13 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW.Tags: AE5JU, K9ZW, Paul AE5JU's Radio Adventures
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Here is my good friend Paul Coats follow up article – Paul AE5JU’s Radio Adventures – Part 3 PSK31
Enjoy!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Part 3
I went back to Larry’s home. He could not get his radios to transmit. A few weeks ago he had made a QSO on his first transmission received a QSL card in the mail. We had it working then, but can’t get it to work now.
Digital Master 780 works, puts out an audio signal, but we can’t get either his Kenwood TS-140 or his Icom 718 to kick into transmit mode. PTT is not working.
What I think has happened is that either his webcam or a camera program has taken over the Comport and will not release it. He had also had a new DVD drive installed and had problems with that. He said the computer tech swapped cables between the CD-ROM drive and the new DVD drive and now has both of those working.
Previously Ham Radio Deluxe would at least connect with the Icom 718 (though not with his Kenwood), but HRD and DM780 would not communicate. At that time we were able to make both radios transmit by using DM780 only, not opening HRD.
Larry has a laptop at his other home which he will bring down and we will try that.
And now on to another subject.
Most laptop computers don’t have Line In / Line Out sound card connections, only mic and earphone. In the past I have used an external USB soundcard, the iMic by Griffin Technology. The iMic is one of the few USB soundcards that has Line In / Line Out. Most external sound cards have Mic In only, and the mismatch in levels is quite a problem.
I have just received the Behringer UCA202, which has Line level inputs and outputs via RCA phono jacks. The UCA202 is about the size of the Rigblaster Plug & Play.
Cost was $30.00 USD purchased from JR Electronics, www.jr.com.
http://www.jr.com/ucontrol-usb-interface/pe/BEH_UCA202/#productTabDetails
The UCA202 has RCA Phono jacks, a pair for Left and Right channel inputs, and another pair for Left and Right channel outputs. To connect to the Rigblaster’s 1/8″ audio plugs I used two Radio Shack Model 274-871 adapters. These have 1/8″ mono jacks on one end, and RCA Phono plugs on the other. Though the Rigblaster’s (and other interfaces) audio connections use 1/8″ stereo plugs, only the left channel is actually used (the “tip” of the plug). This 274-871 adapter’s 1/8″ mono jack works just fine for both input and output with the Behringer’s RCA Phono jacks. The Rigblaster’s input and output cables must be plugged into the UCA202’s left channel input and output jacks.
The UCA202 has a separate 1/8″ stereo jack and volume control for monitoring with headphones.
This soundcard is “Plug & Play” so it does not require installation of drivers, at least with my HP laptop with Vista Home 32-bit.
After connecting the radio with the Rigblaster Plug & Play and Berhinger UCA202 soundcard I had soon made five contacts with no more than a minute between each one.
Paul
AE5JU
The ARRL Special Service Club Program 8 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled.Tags: ARRL, K9ZW, Mancorad, Special Service Club, W9DK
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ARRL Special Service Club – What is it?
Several people have asked if this is an Emcomm thing?
Actually it is a program designed to encourage a “Big Tent” approach to Amateur Radio Clubs where Emcomm plays one of the roles as part of a series of community orientated activities.
From the ARRL Website:
For Special Service Clubs
This section is presented to assist Special Service Clubs in maintaining their SSC status. SSCs have gone through a process above and beyond the requirements for other affiliated clubs. These clubs have demonstrated proficiency in the following areas:
a. Training and supporting local Amateur Radio efforts in licensing, upgrading and continuing education or elmering.
b. Public Relations and improving the visibility of Amateur Radio, promoting it as a positive force within the community.
c. A willingness to become involved in any local emergency or drill.
d. Technical Advancement and encouraging members to become more familiar and knowledgeable in technical Amateur Radio aspects in the community.
e. Operating Activities in which a substantial program is conducted in an area of particular interest of the club; and,
f. Miscellaneous Activities in which ongoing programs or activities are in additional established areas (or suitable substitutes).
What is the Special Service Club Program?
Your ARRL Board of Directors, recognizing that local problems are best solved at the local level. The local club is the best representative of Amateur Radio’s interests at the local level, created the Special Service Club Program. To participate, a club must commit itself to establish a more effective local presence for Amateur Radio for a period of twelve months. In particular, it will establish meaningful programs in a number of areas as specified in the program guidelines. A truly effective SSC will also go beyond the basic requirements and seek to broaden the Amateur Radio experience and capabilities of its members; it will also encourage a spirit of beneficence and camaraderie among its members. In return, ARRL HQ will provide additional support and guidance to those clubs who commit themselves to a high level of performance.
What is the Goal of the SSC Program?
The goal of the SSC Program is to establish a more aggressive, more effective presence for Amateur Radio and the ARRL locally. The goal is also to ensure that necessary skills exist and local resources are organized for an effective response to any local situation where Amateur Radio can contribute as a public service, or can benefit from positive exposure. Encourage affiliated clubs in the section to become more active and, if the club is already healthy and effective, to apply as a Special Service Club (SSC).
Clubs can apply online http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd7/app.html Work with other section leadership officials (Section Emergency Coordinator, Public Information Coordinator, Technical Coordinator, State Government Liaison. etc.) to ensure that clubs are involved in the mainstream of ARRL Field Organization activities. Encourage new clubs to become ARRL affiliated. Ensure that annual progress reports (updated officers. liaison mailing addresses etc.) are forthcoming from all affiliated clubs. Work on establishing an ongoing relationship with your ACC. Get involved, get active, and your commitment to growth will benefit your club, your community, and the Amateur Radio Service as a whole. Remember, however, that Affiliated Club Coordinators are volunteers. You can make your ACC’s job easier by following a few easy steps: (1) Ensure that your club’s SSC Renewal Form is completed and sent to ARRL HQ, who will then forward it to your ACC for approval. (2) If a problem occurs within the club, notify your ACC immediately; (3) Send a copy of your club’s newsletter to your ACC. He or she would probably enjoy keeping up on your latest club news; (4) lnform HQ and your ACC of any change in club officers. Headquarters requests that courtesy so we can keep our data base of clubs as up to date as possible. Your ACC will appreciate the same courtesy. Take advantage of this important field resource at your fingertips: The Affiliated Club Coordinator. Tapping this important resource is well worth the time!
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/cpw/cpw.html#special
A great program that our local radio club, Mancorad W9DK, has participated in for some years.
73
Steve
K9ZW
KB9MWR Speaks on “ARES/RACES is a Waste” 6 - December - 2009
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, Emcomm, Freecom, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled.Tags: ARES/RACES, Emcomm, Freecom, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled
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Steve KB9MWR makes some very valid observations on the ARES/RACES situation:
Everyone’s opinion on ARES/RACES will differ, but Steve KB9MWR has captured many of the issues with ARES/RACES and “Paraprofessional Emcomm” accurately in his presentation.
His points are 100% a fit with why I have been advocating the self-preparation plan Freecom as a replacement for Emcomm.
73
Steve
K9ZW
