The Hamfest Issue - Huntsville Amateur Radio Club

VOX
VOX
September—2013
Monthly Newsletter of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club
The Hamfest Issue
Thank you members of the Huntsville Amateur Club for your time
and effort to make this year’s Hamfest one of the best ever. I honestly think we have the very best, talented and enthusiastic Hamfest
Crew that is currently working any hamfest anywhere. We’re
blessed indeed to have the Worker resources that we have.
Charlie Emerson N4OKL Huntsville Hamfest Director.
Below: Jordan
KI4HBO wrestles
with the decadesold prize ticket
Meeting Minutes
barrel that will see
a welder’s hand
Meeting & Officer Info
before next year.
2
2
Hamfest Photos & Stories
3-6, 8
Club Calendar
7
New Area ARRL Card Checker
8
Club Calendar
7
W1AW to Activate in all States
9
A Letter from W4OZK
10-11
ARES / RACES Meeting Minutes
12
License & Exam Info
13
Program & Project Managers
13
Hamshack of the Month
14
Local Net Schedule
15
For Sale
16
Page 2
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Meeting Minutes
by Bertram Mau AH6ES
Dan W4BRE checks out an Icom radio in their
dealer booth.
Not much happened, except the Hamfest.
Editor: Actually, Bertram’s right. Every August
meeting date was filled with either Hamfest planning, move-in, or talking about the Hamfest.
Well, we did have a program about what future
programs we’d like to see. More next month.
Until then, please enjoy these Hamfest reader contributions.
Weblink of the month
How NOT to bring down a TH-6DXX antenna & tower!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQPxRQo17I
The Huntsville Amateur Radio Club
Club Officers & Info
Paul Paelian
Tim Williams
Bertram Mau
Heath Thorson
Johnny Winter
Jack Hemby
Bill Bathgate
WB4UEE
K4AEE
AH6ES
KC4HRX
KR4F
W5WQQ
KD8IGK
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Officer at-large
Officer at-large
Officer at-large
Meeting location: Red Cross Building, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville, AL 35801
Meeting time: Every Friday, 7:30 PM (except on major holidays)
Mailing address: HARC, PO Box 423, Huntsville, AL 35801
Visitors welcome at all meetings.
Club callsign: K4BFT (http://www.qrz.com/db/K4BFT)
Website: www.harc.net
Mail reflector signup: follow the link below the HARC logo on the home page
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Page 3
Martin Jue K5FLU MFJ CEO & George KJ4UW
Mike K4ADK was kept busy as an ARRL
certified QSL card checker.
Carl AI4PJ and other VE’s had their hands full during the Hamfest weekend test sessions.
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Forums….
Dr David Hathaway, NASA / Marshall Solar Scientist discusses the solar situation.
Fred Lloyd AA7BQ, founder of the
popular QRZ website.
Rob Sherwood NC0B of Sherwood Engineering talks about his independent lab testing of
past & present radios. The good, the bad, and
the ugly.
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Kelly K4VPZ captured this
smart-phone image of the
APRS radioactivity around
the Van Braun Center during
Friday afternoon move-in.
Page 5
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Eric Swartz WA6HHQ of Elecraft and
Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV of Yaesu
share some friendly chat during the Hamfest.
Letters
It was a great Hamfest and I was there from 9
am to 4 pm with a lunch break at my office to
take a load off my feet.
Cactus brought a bunch of gear, most of which
he sold as well as a Heath Sixer and Twoer for
me. Nice to run into so many hams I know,
many photos are here. I am sure I missed a lot
that were there, but it's a big place and you can't
see everyone and everything. I got several new
items, a Kenwood HT triband that will work
144, 220 & 440. I have not been able to work
220 before and I hear the repeater works very
well here in town.
Got a new vertical antenna that I am anxious to
try out. It was not very costly at $99 and should work 40-6 meters. Has a big coil at the bottom and taps you
change. Sort of like a mobile rig, but for base or portable use. I do want to use it portable.
I was interviewed by Ted Randall on his live radio show, which I find out was live on 9930 and 9330 shortwave yesterday and today. You can see details at www.tedrandall.com .
I sure had a good time, got all kinds of little adapters I needed and things you can only get reasonably at a
hamfest. Got a monster 3 magnet mobile mount for use on my sedan car on the trunk for temporary use taking
a trip. Hope I can get it off once it sticks.
Enjoy the photos. All have a caption with ID of the person.
73, M.D. WA4DXP
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HARC Calender
1-Sep
2-Sep
3-Sep
4-Sep
5-Sep
9-Sep
10-Sep
11-Sep
DX Club Meeting
15-Sep
16-Sep
7-Sep
Hamfest Workers Pizza
Party N4OKL
Labor Day
8-Sep
6-Sep
17-Sep
18-Sep
12-Sep
13-Sep
ARES / RACES
6PM
Social Night, no program
19-Sep
20-Sep
14-Sep
21-Sep
Stealth Antennas on
Steroids NM4T
22-Sep
23-Sep
24-Sep
25-Sep
26-Sep
27-Sep
28-Sep
Logbook of the World
KR4F
29-Sep
30-Sep
1-Oct
2-Oct
3-Oct
4-Oct
5-Oct
Hosting an Antenna
Party N4BCD
6-Oct
7-Oct
8-Oct
9-Oct
DX Club Meeting
13-Oct
14-Oct
15-Oct
16-Oct
10-Oct
11-Oct
ARES / RACES
6PM
LTSPICE Tom KG4CUY
17-Oct
18-Oct
12-Oct
19-Oct
My First QSO Roundtable - KJ4OKJ
20-Oct
21-Oct
22-Oct
23-Oct
24-Oct
25-Oct
26-Oct
November Sweepstakes Contest N4KH
27-Oct
28-Oct
29-Oct
30-Oct
31-Oct
1-Nov
2-Nov
Digital Modes KD8IGK
3-Nov
4-Nov
5-Nov
6-Nov
7-Nov
8-Nov
Important Radio Parameters KR4F
9-Nov
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Letters (continued)
Forwarded by Craig Behrens NM4T
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:45:26 +0000
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [QRP-L] QRP Gathering: Two Days
in Huntsville
I just returned from TDiH (Two Days in
Huntsville) and I would like to say that it was
a blast again! Craig NM4T did a wonderful
job of organizing two full days of QRP forums at the Huntsville Hamfest and they were
all great and were well attended. Saturday
night everyone went up to the park at Monte
Sano which is a really great place to go if you
are ever in
Huntsville. It is in the woods on top of a
mountain only a few minutes from the hamfest. Craig had rented a 1930's era cabin which
was really cool. There were several rigs set up
with Alex Loops out on the grass. BBQ was
delivered from Ted's BBQ in Huntsville and it
was excellent!
Next was the Buildathon coached by Rex,
W1REX and Joe K0NEB with a lot of other
helpers. The kit was a Tuna Tin Transmitter
from QRPME and there were 12 builders.
Some of us even built outside at the picnic tables using flashlights and then went into the
cabin to solder. All the kits tested good with a
local receiver. All the builders were awarded
prizes and there was a drawing for several
other prizes and all the prizes were really
great! TDiH is permanently on my calendar
because it is one of the most fun QRP gatherings in the country!
Bob Kimbrell W0AO Kansas City, MO
[email protected]
http://kimbrell.freeshell.org/
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://
sdf.lonestar.org
———————————————————
Every year at the Huntsville Hamfest, Bill
KC0ONR makes lots of pictures and puts them
on the web for us to enjoy and download. http://
mcars.us/HuntsvilleHamfest2013/ After your
done, you may want to check out his web site.
http://atnm.mcars.us/ He has pictures of other
hamfest going back to 2007, including Huntsville, on his web site. If you see Bill or hear
him on the air, please thank him for taking the
pictures.
Hope you enjoy,
John K4JCH
Steve Werner AG4W Appointed
ARRL Card Checker
Many hams collect QSL cards with the goal of applying for operating awards such as DXCC - worked
100 countries. Those cards can be mailed to ARRL
League Headquarters or checked locally by an approved card checker.
Steve was recently appointed to the position and is
qualified to check 160M cards due to his attainment
of DXCC on that band. Special thanks go to Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt W4OZK for
using his one-nomination privilege per division to
select a local candidate.
For more info on the program, see: http://
www.arrl.org/dxcc-field-checking
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W1AW to Activate in All States
As you all know, the ARRL is planning a big celebration next year to commemorate the ARRL centennial.
The League will be sponsoring a year-long operating event, which includes activating W1AW in all states and
inhabited territories. The goal is, for each state and territory, to activate W1AW on as many bands as possible
and to give QSO's on CW, Phone and digital modes. The League will be issuing operating awards, including
a Worked All States award for those who work W1AW/n from all 50 states. Each state and territory is going
to be given two (2) one-week periods in which to activate W1AW from that entity. I was contacted by Dave,
NN1N, about coordinating the W1AW/4 activities in Alabama. Obviously, it was a "no brainer" to accept that
invitation. Now, let me share with you my thoughts on how this should play out...
Most of us would dearly love to get at least a small
chance to operate under such a storied call sign as
W1AW. So I figured the best way to handle this was
to turn it into a state-wide operating event. I would
like for clubs (especially ARRL affiliated clubs) to
volunteer for operating slots during our two (2) oneweek operating periods. My hope is that each club
will strive for maximum participation from its members thereby giving as many Alabama hams as possible an opportunity to operate under this historic call
sign. I figure we can fill any holes in the schedule
with individual Alabama contributors to ensure as
little "down time" as possible. Our two (2) one-week periods are the week of the Alabama QSO party and the
week of October 15 (the operating periods run from 00:00Z on WED to 23:59Z the following TUES). I spoke
with Jim, KC4HW, about the possible impacts to the AQP. We discussed possible solutions, which, since he
is the manager of that event, I will leave to him to describe. It is possible for separate groups/individuals to
activate W1AW/4 from AL on different bands and/or modes at the same time, so don't feel constrained if your
club or station can't support all bands and/or modes...just jump in. I thought the best way to proceed was to
get a team together to coordinate the scheduling by mode. To that end, KT4TX agreed to coordinate SSB,
KC4HW agreed to coordinate digital, and KY4F (and I) will coordinate CW. I anticipate that we will put up
an online calendar to facilitate an easy, rational method for scheduling operating slots. This approach is not
intended to constrain interested parties into having to select only one mode, it's just that it appeared we needed
to be sensitive to the fact that our Alabama hams may have a preference as to mode, and we want to make it
easy for everyone to get into the queue and to have a "go to" person to help them get on the roster. My metric
for success is to allow as many Alabama hams as possible to participate. Of course, I'd love it if we turned
more QSO's than our brethren from TN, GA or FL, but that's not an overriding goal...maximum participation
is the order of the day here. I plan to communicate with the ARRL Section Manager to ensure the widest possible dissemination of this information to ARC's state-wide, but I thought I'd start here first. If you have any
other suggestions, I'm all ears...
I've already been contacted by Cheryl, AA4YL, on behalf of the Heart of Dixie ARC, W4HOD, with an expression of interest. I'm hoping that other clubs will also take note and want to get on board in this. I think
this will be fun, and give each of us interested hams an opportunity of a lifetime to get on the air as W1AW/4.
We hope to hear from you in this regard.
73,
Rick K4TD
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A Letter from ARRL Southeastern Division Director
Greg Sarratt—W4OZK
Dear American Radio Relay League Member:
It’s hard to believe that my second three-year term as ARRL Director is almost over. I want to thank you for your
continued support and confidence. I greatly enjoy my tenure as Director and again ask for your vote to continue
my ARRL service.
The ARRL will send you election balloting information around October 1st and I ask for you to vote for Greg Sarratt, W4OZK and Jim Millsap, WB4NWS as your ARRL Southeastern Division Representatives. We are your only
choice with ARRL experience, which is a critical requirement for these positions in the ARRL Corporation.
Serving as Director of the ARRL’s largest Division has been an invaluable experience and important responsibility
for me. My travel around the Division and work on several ARRL committees has been a great opportunity for me
to help advance amateur radio. I enjoy meeting many fine amateurs all across the Division and learning about your
activities, ideas and concerns, which has helped to shape my successful member-driven thinking.
The Vice-Director and I attend many hamfests and club meetings and have represented amateur radio at emergency
communications events such as, the National Hurricane Conference, ARES meetings, International Association of
Emergency Managers Conference and other events.
I have served on the ARRL Administrative and Finance Committee, Programs and Services Committee, served as
chairman of the Ethics and Elections Committee and Narrowband Committee and served as liaison to the VHF/
UHF Advisory Committee and Emergency Communications Advisory Committee. I am currently a member of the
ARRL Programs and Services Committee and liaison to the Emergency Communications Advisory Committee.
My service as ARRL Alabama Section Manager for four years and service as Technical Coordinator and Technical
Specialist was fulfilling and my work as ARRL Southeastern Division Director has been even more rewarding.
This combined service has given me the opportunity to build expertise in many areas; establishing relationships,
gain valuable experience working with ARRL headquarters, other ARRL Directors, DX enthusiast, VHF/UHF, disaster relief, public service, education, contesters, hamfests, clubs, operating events, youth members and digital operations.
I am an ARRL life member, a second-generation ham and have been active in many areas of amateur radio for over
25 years and pride myself on being an avid emergency communications leader, new technology promoter, competitive contest participant and I encourage a new generation of hams to join our hobby by establishing youth programs
and working to ensure their success.
Jim Millsap was first licensed as WB4GFA in July of 1967 and started out on six meter AM. Jim enjoys DX and
served two terms as President of Cherokee Amateur Radio Society and Public Information Officer since 2002. Jim
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Page 11
ARRL Letter (continued)
served as AEC and EC for Cherokee County ARES, and currently serves as
DEC for Metro Atlanta District and he is an ARRL Volunteer Examiner and mentor/instructor. As Vice Director,
Jim attended many ham club meetings to promote ARRL membership and speak. Jim implemented and served as
Net Manager for the PSK31 Georgia ARES net. Jim also established relationships with Georgia National Guard
and Civil Support Team (CST) and supported their joint exercises with Amateur Radio. In addition, Jim serves as
an Amateur Radio liaison to the Atlanta Integrated Warning Team (IWT) to provide support to News media and
National Weather Service, member of the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) for Disaster Communications and is a Certified AuxComm and COMT instructor.
Jim’s qualifications as an ARRL member, experience as ARRL Vice-Director, experience ARRL EC, AEC and
DEC, a proven leader in supporting emergency communications, liaison to clubs, DX enthusiasts, and building
quality relationships between ARRL staff, served agencies and hams, provide him with the type of quality representation each of you deserve.
Because of our vast experience, we represent you on the ARRL Board, and at many ARRL and amateur radio functions. Jim and I are your only choices with ARRL experience and with your continued support during the election
and next term as ARRL Southeastern Division Representatives; we plan to continue to represent the entire Southeastern Division through our proven success, performance, integrity, leadership, contributions and experience. We
will continue to promote all facets of our great hobby!
You ARE amateur radio. Your voice counts. Your vote counts.
We are asking for your personal endorsement, support and votes from your clubs and groups.
Please call your friends in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ask them to
Re-Elect Greg Sarratt, W4OZK and Jim Millsap, WB4NWS as your ARRL Southeastern Division Representatives!
Together we can continue make a positive impact for amateur radio! I would appreciate your vote and support in re
-electing us. For more information regarding our candidacy for ARRL Southeastern Division Director and ViceDirector visit our websites at, www.w4ozk.com and https://sites.google.com/site/wb4nws/ .
Thank you & 73,
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
ARRL Southeastern Division Director
Jim Millsap, WB4NWS
ARRL Southeastern Division Vice-Director
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Madison County, Alabama ARES Monthly Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2013 - Steve Smith KM4CJ
Madison County, Alabama ARES Monthly Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2013
The meeting was conducted in the Huntsville-Madison County EMA’s EOC.
The meeting started with the consumption of pizza.
The sign-in log indicates 23 in attendance.
Business meeting started at 18:00 central time.
Tim – KK5H opened the meeting by welcoming everybody.
•
•
•
Tim reminded everyone that the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is the 1st Saturday in October. Tim encouraged everyone to get ready and plan to participate.
At our September meeting, some of our served agencies will be in attendance. This will be a good time to
get to know some of them and for them to be acquainted with us.
Reminded folks to sign up for the ARES/RACES table at the Huntsville Hamfest. Contact Mike –
KG4OZK at [email protected] if you can help work the table.
Reports:
CERT – Tom – KI4VFV
th
• Pancake breakfast fundraiser is planned for Oct 26 at Applebees
Special Needs Coordinator – Mike – KF4BOG
• Reported the “Weathering the Storm” program held at the Madison County Library was well received.
EMA – Scott – W4SSW
• Announced the new siren warning system has been installed that allows the EMA to sound sirens within a
polygon. They have been busy activating and verifying the backbone is operational.
New Business:
Tim – KK5H
• Get ready for the SET and be thinking of the area or served agency you would be interested in supporting.
Program:
Tim Cunningham – N8DEU
Presented an informative program on Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS).
•
Meeting Adjourned at 20:00.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steve – KM4CJ
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Page 13
License & Exam Info by Joe Henderson N4CB
If you’re interested in becoming a licensed amateur radio operator, study
guides are available online or in bookstores. You’re welcome to come to any
Friday club meeting to ask questions.
You don’t need to know Morse Code to
attain a license!
License exams are at 9AM the
first Saturday of every month at
the Red Cross Building, 1101
Washington St, Huntsville, AL
35802. The fee is $15 (cash) and
you must bring some form of picture ID.
Additional session on the 3rd Saturday
of the month at Athens EOC at 1PM.
Hamfest Exam Stats:
I don't have the exact number of total testers but here are the
results from the Hamfest. It was in the neighborhood of 74
testers.
We had 40 successful testers. The breakout is as follows:
Extra = 11. 10 upgraded to Extra and 1 person went from
nothing to extra in one sitting. Big congrats to him..!!
General = 15. We had 14 upgrade and the one person went
from nothing to General. Another big congrats.
Technician = 12. 12 happy people went off to buy new
UHF/VHF radios...!
Address change = 1.
Renewal = 1.
73, Joe Henderson N4CB
73, Joe Henderson N4CB
Club Program & Project Managers
Madison County Emergency Coordinator
Tim Holland, KK5H
Field Day Chairman
Tim Williams, K4AEE
Public Information Officer
David Stephenson, KJ4OKJ
Fundraising Coordinator
Tim Williams, K4AEE
K4BFT Club Station Trustee
Tom Duncan, KG4CUY
Picnic/Food Coordinator
Peggy Bell, K4EGB
Training/Education Coordinator
Jack Hemby, W5WQQ
VOX Publisher
Mark Brown, N4BCD
Website Designer
Jason Henriksen, KE4ROR
Page 14
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Hamshack of the Month—Steve Smith KM4CJ
Several issues back we
showed you Steve’s shack.
Here’s what’s on the other
ends of some of those
feedlines—an attic of VHF
& UHF antennas on AZ/EL
rotators.
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Page 15
Local Net Schedule
Day
Sun
Sun
Sun
Mon
Mon
Time
8:30AM
8PM
9PM
6:30PM
7:30PM
Name
Alabama Traffic Net Mike
AL Simplex Net
NE AL 6m Net
Lincoln Co ARES Training
AL Emergency Net Z
Freq
3.965
146.580
50.150
147.030
147.270
Mon
8PM
AL Emergency Net Whiskey
147.090
Mon
8PM
MTEARS
443.625
?
Mon
8PM
Old Codger's Net
146.910
none
Mon
Tue
9PM
8PM
NE AL 6m Net
Eva ARES Training, Morgan Co
50.150
147.000
Tue
8PM
Info Net
146.910
none Ragchew
none & 444.435
W4YXA SHORT MOUNTAIN REnone
PEATER CLUB
Tue
9PM
NE AL 6m Net
Tue
9PM
Multi-County Ham Jam (ragchew)
Wed
Thur
9PM
7PM
NE AL 6m Net
Limestone Co Training
50.150
145.150
Thur
7PM
Digital Net (Madison Co)
443.500
Thur
Thur
7:30PM
7:45PM
146.940
145.270
Thur
8PM
Madison Co ARES Training
Lawrence Co Training
North AL, S Mid-TN Skywarn
Training
Thur
8PM
Trader's Net
Thur
9PM
NE AL 6m Net
Thur
9PM
Drake State Technical College Net
Fri
Sat
9PM
9PM
NE AL 6m Net
NE AL 6m Net
Sat
9PM
Drake State Technical College Net
10AM
6:30PM
6:30PM
6:00PM
5PM
HF Nets
Alabama Day Net
Alabama Traffic Net Mike
Tennessee Phone Net
Mississippi Phone Net
Georgia Phone Net
weekdays
weekdays
weekdays
weekdays
weekdays
50.150
146.7
(minus)
PL Notes:
alternate 7.243
none
none Ragchew
114.8
100 Dekalb Co
WB4GNA Calhoun County Amateur
131.8
Radio Assoc.
none Ragchew
114.8 Shelbyville
none Ragchew
none
Modes: MT63 w/2Khz BW and EZ110.9
PAL for pics.
100
107.2
linked w/ Moulton 146.96 & Section
147.36
147.240
146.910
50.150
444.575
50.150
50.150
444.575
3.965
3.965
3.980
3.862
3.975
W4YXA SHORT MOUNTAIN REPEATER CLUB
none
W4YXA SHORT MOUNTAIN REPEATER CLUB
none Ragchew
100 Simplex link @ 146.58
none Ragchew
none Ragchew
100 Simplex link @ 146.58
alternate 7.243
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Page 16
For Sale
RADIOS FOR SALE
COLLINS 75S1 Classic Receiver
Filters include 2.1 KHz SSB and 500 Hz CW
Asking $450
ICOM 746 PRO HF+6M+2M Solid State Transceiver
Programmable DSP IF Filtering with 3 memories
Includes CW, SSB, AM, FM, RTTY
Very Good mid-line radio that covers most popular modes
Product Review QST May 2002 and ARRL.org
Asking $1000
KENWOOD TS-180 Solid State HF Transceiver for CW and SSB
Includes Cascaded 2.4 KHz SSB Filters and 500 Hz CW Filter
VFO-180 Remote VFO
PS-30 Power Supply
Product Review QST May 1980 and ARRL.org
Asking $600 for all 3 units plus optional filters
KENWOOD TS-940-SAT
HF Transceiver for CW and SSB with Antenna Tuner
Includes cascaded 2.4 KHz SSB and 500 Hz CW Filters
Product Review QST Feb 1986 and ARRL.org
Asking $900 for this classic radio including optional filters & tuner
YAESU FT-990 HF Transceiver CW and SSB with Antenna Tuner
Includes cascaded SSB Filters and one 500 Hz CW Filter
Product Review QST Feb 1986 and ARRL.org
Asking $800 for this very good HF Radio including above options
Tom [email protected]
Home 256.233.1402
Cell 256.683.8345
Didn’t sell it at the Hamfest?
Didn’t find it at the Hamfest?
Not happy with what you bought at Hamfest?
Post it here next month. Send your listing to mark.n4bcd (at) yahoo.com
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Editor: Every day the Gigaparts website features a new question as part of a radio raffle.
Below are some sample questions. It’s a great (and addictive) diversion. Give it a try!
Why should an HF mobile antenna loading coil have
a high ratio of reactance to resistance?
To swamp out harmonics
To maximize losses
To minimize losses
To minimize the Q
What is meant by a "silent key"?
A key that is malfunctioning
A deceased radio operator
An encrypted code
Richard Nixon
What is the call sign range of Trinidad and Tobago?
9YA-9ZZ
A3A-A3Z
APA-ASZ
ATA-AWZ
Who is the Volt (unit of electromotive force)
named after?
Voltaire
Alessandro Volta
John Volts
Megavolt
In the television show "The Munsters", which of
the Munsters sometimes operated a ham radio?
Lily
Herman
Grandpa
Eddie