One change certainly needed is for the event to be planned out in detail farther in advance. Another ingredient for success is to provide for greater KARC member participation in planning and putting the event on. A third improvement needed is to build up the paid attendance to at least 150 or more, preferably shooting for 200 (there are almost 2,000 licensed amateurs ON OAHU ALONE !!!). If these three things can be accomplished, I see a REALLY fine ham fest happening.
What needs to be done specifically at this time ? At the March KARC meeting, there will be a general discussion of the ham fest issue, and basic decisions need to be made. All members are urged to be present to voice their opinions, and all members are urged to consider signing up for the various tasks that need to be handled. Attached is a sign-up sheet which can be completed and turned over to any KARC officer or director. Please include your telephone or e-mail so you can be reached later.
I personally am looking forward to a bigger and better "HamFest 2000".
Name ____________________________ Tel/e-mail ______________________ I will work on (check one or more): Chairperson ___ Planning committee ___ Site committee ___ Publicity committee ___ Program committee ___ Refreshment committee ___ Clean-up committee ___ Other (specify) ___ Please turn in form to any KARC officer or Board member, or contact them via e-mail, or phone. Thank you!
Reading/Recaping of January meeting minutes: Howard Andrus (WH6CLZ) recap last month's meeting/field day. Howard reported that KARC gathered 1900 points and won first place in it's class. Howard also reported that the company which does our newsletter printing and mailing will be out of business after the distribution or our March newsletter. Howard will to take care of the April newsletter. However, we need to find a company for the May's issue. It was mentioned that several club members will check into the Kailua Instant Printing for price quotes and will report at the March meeting.
Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Len (KH6NFN) reported a balance of $486.45. We have mony in the treasury! Thanks to Al Kaopuiki (AH6PT) for his monthly coffee/pastries donations and the donations collected help to keep our treasury in cash!
Old Business: Warren Munro (KH6WM) recap the 1999 Ham Radio Get-Together and Swap Meet to set the stage for Ham Fest 2000 in new business. Bottom line, last year Meet was very successful even though we came out in the red. Problably need to charge a higher entrance fee. Attendees were reported willing to attend another Meet for year 2000. More help will be needed if we are to do another Meet.
KARC's ARRL status and insurance report was postponed for the March meeting. Sid Sneidar (AH6HH) reported that Greg Greenwood (WB6FZH) was selling a 4 color T-shirts, mugs(w/call and name) and mousepads with an 807 tube on the front. If anyone is interested to contact Greg at his e-mail address at wb6fzh@arrl.net or view the items at http://members.aol.com/tcsopr/pttp.htm.Editor- I have one, they look great!...OK could not resist..(Thanks Sid!)
New Business: Hamfest 2000 was presented by Warren Munro. Discussion indicate that club members were interested in hosting another Meet. Success breeds success and it was felt that more people can be attracted if a more centrally location. More help will be needed. Warren recommended that his willing to again help get the Meet going. It was mentioned that Warren, Walt Niemczura (AH6OZ), and Mike Burger (AH7R) are willing to be on the a steering committee to get Ham Fest 2000 going. Warren will e-mail the various committees sign up sheet and hope members will volunteer for the various committees. Warren also suggested that the KARC Newsletter mention that the March meeting will be the meeting where the members can discuss in more detail and come to a decision on the Ham Fest 2000.
Clem Jung (KH7HO) mentioned that Honolulu Electronics will have a clearance sale on Saturday, February 26, in a tent in the parking lot.
Sid Sneidar, AH6HH, W5YI VE recapd briefly the new FCC restructuring program for Amateur Radio Licensing.
Other New Business: Ho'omaluhia need help with parking and traffic on February 26, 2000, from 8am-11:30am. Warren (KH6WM), Len (AH6NFN), Pete Scheller (NH6VB), and Clem Jung volunteered to help. Clem mentioned the Windward Neighborhood Security Watch 4th Annual Fair to be held at Windward Mall. Clem asked if the club would like to again participated though it may be difficult to run HF. No one volunteered to help set up a booth.
Show and Tell: Clem and Pete show and discussed their respective Arrow Antennas. Pete was to attempt to make contact with AO-27 but the orbit would not allow it.
Lucky Number: Wayne Alexander (KH6FT) won a year's subscription to World Radio.
New Member: Rothwell "Rock" Ahulau was voted into the Club. Welcome "Rock!"
No further business was discussed, it was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Meeting concluded at 11:00am.
Four KARC members, Warren Munro (KH6WM), Len Young (KH6NFN), Pete Scheller (NH6VB), and Clem Jung (KH7HO) volunteered their valuable time to assisted Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden for traffic and parking control for their Friends of Ho'omaluhia plant sale. They reported in at 8am on Saturday morning, February 26, 2000. H/T were used but traffic was not heavy. We all were able to leave by 11:30 am. The "BIG" plant sale will be on September 23, 2000, a Saturday. This is open to the public and past sales have been very, very busy with a lot of vehicle traffic. We hope we get many KARC volunteers for this event.
Solutions will be given at the KARC meeting following the issue.
Here goes with Q-Q #1: A ham installs a 99 conductor control cable across a huge ravine which separates his shack and his transmitting/antenna equipment. He then realizes that the conductors are not marked on either end, so he cannot hook anything up correctly.
Question: with only an ohmmeter (or a battery and buzzer) and a wire stripper for test equipment, how many trips across the gulch are required to identify each lead on both ends ? Editor- I'm tired just thinking about it...
What I'd like to promote in this small offering, is a greater use for 6M and the crazy, frustrating, fun you can have on this band.
More than any other band, trying to figure out what makes 6 work is the key... Sometimes it seems like the solar flux is the driving force, then it seems like a high or dropping A index is it! Planetary alignments are probably not a factor, but the relationship of the sun and earth does seem to be important. In Hawaii, the best times for 6M DX seem to be near the Fall and Spring equinox. Between September and early December, and February through April-May, we have the best chance of DX on 6M. This means, we are about to enter a prime 6M DX season!!
So.........What does it take to work 6M DX?
1> a radio capable of operating on 6M connected to an antenna (any antenna in a pinch!). While most of the DX fanatics on 6 are on SSB, FM is a possibility when we get a good opening.
2> Patience!
3> More patience!!
Those of us who are fanatical, always have a 6M radio turned on when we are in the vicinity of the ham shack. You will get used to the gentle hiss of white noise coming out of your speaker. You will become sensitized to the subtle changes in the quality of the noise coming out of the speaker, and every once and awhile, you will be blown away by a 59+20 signal from thousands of miles away when the band opens. DON'T use the squelch!!! you'll miss out the weak stations.
The REAL fanatics put a "baby monitor" next to the 6M radio and carry the link with them as they work around the house! They can then run to the radio for the opening! (REAL REAL fanatics also listen for "indicators" but that's another story)
Where to listen.......On 6M we have established "calling frequencies", the purpose is to listen there, and solicit contacts! This is the place, on a quiet band, to call CQ in SSB or CW in the hopes of drumming up some business. If the opening seems to be big, move people off the calling frequency and work them.
eg. Most of the people in Hawaii and the Pacific listen on 50.110 USB/CW, occasionally calling CQ. Once things get hot, announce that you are going to another frequency, and people will follow. If things are really hot, just go to a clear frequency and start calling CQ, they will find you.
For instance.......a couple months ago, I was teaching, and started hearing strange noises coming out of my office. Sounded like 6 was open! As soon as the class was over, I ran back, listened on 50.110 and sure enough we had an opening in progress to the mainland. I had a quick listen on 50.105 to see if it was clear, then announced on 50.110 that I'd be operating on 105. I called CQ and then had a bunch of people calling! (including WV, OH, IN - pretty good for VHF!) Hawaii stations were spread out, 105, 110 (to call and move), 115, 120, 130 and the like. (50.125 is the Mainland calling frequency, so it is good to avoid that!)
For FM users, the calling frequency is 52.525, though it might be a good idea to program in a few California repeater frequencies to scan through!
When to listen.......There seems to be a pattern (another 6M challenge! figure out the pattern). Morning time to North America, Mid-afternoon to South America, Late afternoon to Australia and Japan, Evening to the Pacific. However, you have to be ready for anything, because, it is just odd enough to surprise you! If you think you hear signals, swing the beam, and call CQ!
Yes, it will be quiet most of the time.... but you just might be surprised, more than once I've walked by the radio, picked up the mic and called CQ and had someone from far away say hello!
Finally........, there are so many "HF" radios coming out with 6M and above, that there is NO excuse for not operating on 6!!!! If there is a separate plug for a 6M antenna, put up a dipole, homebrew a J-pole (I've got one made out of ladder line!), plug in your 40M dipole, cram a piece of wire in the connector!!! (OK, you might not want to transmit on that piece of wire...) If it is the same connector, switch it to your HF dipole! I've worked a number of stations who were plugged into their 40M dipole!
The IC706, FT100, Alinco DX70 and more are 6M enabled. High power, low power, QRP - it works! I've worked Tasmania on 2 watts and a 10M dipole! South America on 10W and a Squalo, the Marianas on 10W and the homebrew ladder line J-pole hand held dangling off the Lanai!
As the commercial says - Just Do It!!!! Want more info, e-mail:nh6yk@arrl.net See you on 6
Doppler readouts usually feature a ring of at least 16 LEDs, and may also include a three-digit display in degrees relative to the vehicle. In the clear, a well-installed doppler has about +/-5 degree bearing accuracy. Accuracy is degraded by multipath, just like it is with the homing RDF, but "eyeball averaging" while the vehicle is moving helps counteract this problem.
While popular in some cities such as Phoenix, doppler RDF installations have not caught on among southern California competitive T-hunters due to their lower sensitivity compared to beam setups. Furthermore, vertically polarized doppler antennas are at an extreme disadvantage if the hider transmits horizontal polarization.
On the other hand, dopplers are a popular choice of jammer hunters, who are usually tracking strong vertically polarized signals. They like the rapid indication update rate and the ability to quickly get bearings on short-duration signals. Occasionally, you may see hunters using both a beam and a doppler set on the same vehicle.
For equipment information, installation ideas, and hunting techniques, read TRANSMITTER HUNTING---Radio Direction Finding Simplified by KØOV and WB6UZZ, published by Tab Books (#2701). This book is available at many electronics and ham radio stores. It is also available by mail from bookstores of ARRL and 73 Amateur Radio Today Magazine and from the authors. For the latest T-hunting news, read the Homing In column monthly in 73 Amateur Radio Today Magazine.
For a new ham radio adventure, try going out on a hidden transmitter hunt. Be prepared for some pleasant surprises. Remember, every time you set out on a hunt, you never know where you'll end up, and you never know what you will find.
Above article Copyright ©1992 by Joseph D. Moell. It may be reproduced in club newsletters and other non-commercial publications, provided that it is printed in its entirety (either with or without illustrations) and readers are encouraged to visit the Homing In Web site http://members.aol.com/homingin/
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN- Jerry Mulherin, WH6BKQ, 235-3042,
email:jerham@aloha.net
MAILING ADDRESS- KARC c/o J.Mulherin, 45-145 Mikihilina St., Kaneohe, HI 96744
KARC WEBSITE & INTERNET INFORMATION