Ham Radio . me
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Ham Radio . Magnum Experimentum – Experiments, engineering and other articles of interest to radio folks.

1. Extreme      NMO – Subaru, Silver and the Sixty Inch Whip – 2012-03-11 20:28:59-04
   A reinforced Subaru through-hole NMO installation using silver epoxy and      metal plate to accommodate the 62 inch Diamond SG7900A dual-band mobile      antenna.
2. LNR      Precision EF-10/20/40MKII Examination – 2012-04-14 21:50:16-04
   We examine the LNR (Par Electronics) EF-10/20/40 end fed half-wave      multi-band antenna. Come see what’s inside the mysterious “black      box.”
3. LNR      Precision EF-10/20/40MKII Test Data – 2012-04-16 01:00:27-04
   Basic tests of an LNR Precision EF-10/20/40 including S11, SWR and a      bandwidth check of the match box.
4. Field      Day Logging Computer Networking Tips – 2012-06-15 13:41:12-04
   Learn from our six successful years rolling out a computer network for the      ARRL Field Day. Tips, techniques, dos and don’ts are among the highlights.
5. Geographic      Coordinate Transmission Efficiency – 2012-07-04 00:07:46-04
   What’s the best format to send your geographic coordinates using Morse      Code? Degrees, Degrees-Minutes, Degrees-Minutes-Seconds, Grid Squares? We      take a look at the various formats and use a stopwatch to measure the send      time.

John@hamradio.me

I am selling some HF antenna equipment and coax, and I thought some of you would be interested.  I am moving to Hawaii, and will not have the ability to use my HF antennas at my new shack, so I’m looking for a new home for them. Here’s what I have:

• S9 Antenna Package (just over one year old, installed in March 2011)
• 31″ S9 Vertical Antenna
• Portable Pipe Mount
• Radial Plate
• 80 meter coil for S9 Antenna
• 4:1 Unun for S9 Antenna (300 watt version, or the 5k version for $20 more) Original cost was $260, and I’m asking half: $130 (or $150 for the package with the 5K unun)

S9 antenna package has worked great for me.  I was able to put it up in the back yard with little effort (though laying down radials is another story!).  It’s a great way to work HF if you are limited on space.  The only issue I ever had with this antenna was the bottom section would slip occasionally (sections are held together with clamps), rubbing the casing off a 6 inch section of the interior wire.  I repaired the wire with electrical tape and used tape and a heavier clamp to hold the bottom section.  Worked great ever since.

Also have a 50 foot run of LMR 400 coax with PL-259 connectors, spent a year outside with the S9 antenna, for $40.

Lastly, a used Alpha Delta DX-B single sloper 160-80-40-30 m antenna in good shape.  Retails for $109 new, I paid $65 and am asking $40.

All equipment is in good shape.  I live in NW SA near Sea World and would be happy to meet the buyer.  I am disassembling the equipment this afternoon.

Shoot me an email with your contact info if interested.  Anything I don’t sell by Sunday I’ll put up on eBay.  Thanks!

Wade Martyn WB5C
wmartyn@gmail.com

I need some help getting my quad on the tower. It’s built, but I can’t be on the ground and on it at the same time. Getting a bit old to climb, so I really need someone who can stand on top of the crankup at the 20 foot level and do some bolting of the spiders to the boom and then orient the boom to the rotor control box. Would only be working at 20 feet or so and I have a new belt. Know anyone who could help?

I’m in the Pipe Creek area and would gladly pay for gas for some help.  Probably only take a couple of hours or so.

Mike Goins, K5WMG
wmgoins@gmail.com

June 16, 2012 Tech Class

The weather was good, there was plenty of parking, and the 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. schedule went even better than planned. That was the experience the Saturday before Father’s Day as volunteers from the Alamo Area Radio Organization and the Southwest Research Center Amateur Radio Club co-hosted their eleventh crash class for entry into ham radio, the one day Technician License Review Course.  Location was in Fair Oaks Ranch, near Boerne.

Eight of the eleven participants passed the exam and at least two are already preparing for the General License exam. Several were interested in visiting Field Day sites the next weekend. One student was a first responder for a statewide health agency, one was a geologist, and one was a retired police detective.

A very big thank you to the guest instructors: David W5QS, Teri KC5BJI, Johnny K5POP, Jeremy N5HIM, David AD5TE, Erik KD5YZU, and Don W5DK. Super thanks to Andy for the splendid AV service and to Teri for providing so much event preparation, coordinating the lunch, the treats and the beverages.