Tech Net Notes January 30, 2009

The topic for January 30th's Tech Net was Echolink. Questions regarding Echolink were invited.

ke5okt - Jim - has had an echolink node set up for about one year. He offered his advise to anyone who might have a question.

wa5psa - Brad- checked in and mentioned his interest in QRP contacts.

ke5ysh - Justin - regarding LK500 amplifiers, asked if anyone had any experience and advise on new tube burn-ins.

ke5wga - Ray - Remarked that he found Echolink nodes very useful while driving a truck in communicating between the Preston and Durant nodes.

kd5njr - Scott - had two questions
1. Does ke5okt, Jim, know of any good conference servers? ke5okt, Jim's answer was that he did not have an occasion to use conference servers.
2. Addressed to wa5psa, Brad, regarding QRP contacts, is that with code and what kind of antenna do you use. wa5psa, Brad answered that he uses an 80 meter dipole running through his attic, with each end running through a peak at the side of the house and then down to fences on each side of the house. He added that he usually runs 5 watts using CW.

ke5ehm - Paul - checked in

kd5cny - Tom - checked in and said he may have more later.

ke5lnn - Dave - checked in

k16und - James - checked in, visiting Tahlequah from San Diego.

w5ggw - Greg - checked in and advised that he was going to try to link up the 147.045 machine, and advised that it had been successfully linked.

ke5iig - Mike - checked in

kd5cny - Tom - asked "Can a switch box be built for two different microphones to be connected on the same radio? Has anyone done that?"

Another ham - said he didn't see why not, that it would be the reverse of one mike for two radios, but that worked with only compatible radios.

ae5ft - Gene - mentioned that he believed he had seen a QST article regarding the building of such a box.

ke5ncp - Tom - checked in.

ke5urg - Steve - checked in.

k5bbm - Brian - checked in and said he had tuned into 147.045 and heard the net. (confirming the linking of the VHF repeater to the UHF system.)

kf5rd - Pete - referenced a September 1988 QST article, page 18 that addresses building a switch-box for two microphones going to the same radio.

ki6und - James - said that one can be found at "tinyurl.com/coxde5", made from an old style computer switch.

wa5psa - mentioned that all QST articles are now available on-lin. He also said he found one made by MFJ model# 1262 at Ne Communications Solutions for $300, nscradio.com.

w5ggw - Greg - added that you should be able to us a 25 pin parallel switch, and that it's just a matter of figuring out the wiring. One PTT wire, two audio wires, and whatever else there is.

ki6und - James - said that what Greg mentioned is like the one he found at "tinyurl.com". He added that the cost was $90, but that you could buy the parallel switch by itself for $7, and then it's just a matter of matching what goes to what.

No other traffic or check-ins past this point.



If you notice corrections or additions that need to be made to this, feel free to leave that info as a comment below.

Don
ke5omv

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Tech Net Notes January 21, 2009

THE BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE TECH NET. IT IS NOT COMPLETE, BUT IT COVERS MOST OF THE POINTS DISCUSSED.

1. ke5omv, Don asks, " When can you use ladder line as a feed line for your HF antenna? In other words, how careful should you be on where you run your ladder line? or, what are the parameters that exists in the running of ladder line?

kc5uoq, Larry, asks a trivia question, "How many counties in Oklahoma voted for McCain?" The answer is...all of them; Oklahoma was the only state that carried MCCain in all of the state's counties.

kc5uoq, Larry added, "My scanning antenna works good with ladder line. No experience with transmitting through ladder feed line."

ke5wga, Ray, had no experience with ladder line or HF gear at this point.

ke5otq, Dennis, also uses ladder line for listening only.

n5fem, Steve says that in his experience, ladder line is too difficult to use. If you use it, it is best to keep the ladder line in the open. Rather than using it he would rather use a balun with coax back to the radio.

kd5cny, Tom, "No experience with ladder line."

kd5jkh, Martin, "The advantage of ladder line is low loss."

wa5psa, Brad says about ladder line, " I run 80-6 meters on one dipole. It is low loss. The SWR on ladder line on the antenna side of the antenna tuner does not create the loss as it would on coax. I use it for that reason. Cross metal objects at a 90 degree angle. Mine runs loosely behind my desk into a closet, up to the attic, runs along some coax and rotor wire, and on to the attic antenna. Each end of the dipole goes through an eve of the house and then angles down to a fence. It works good.

2. ke5uiu, Chris questions - Why can you not use larger than 12 gauge wire on a dipole antenna?

ke5yoo, Mike, "I believe it doesn't really matter what size wire you use, most programs don't address larger than 12 gauge. The size may change the capacitive characteristics of the antenna.

n5fem, Steve, "Over 12 gauge you may be getting into solid wire. I normally use 14 gauge wire.

kd5cny, Tom, " My opinion is that stranded vs. solid signal travels on the outside of the wire, on a solid core the signal travels smoothly...if there is a kink or a bend it can affect the signal. Solid core should (normally) be better. The bigger diameter of your driven element, the broader the bandwidth. 8 gauge wire weighs more and will be harder to support.

wa5psa, Brad, says, "My gues is that the calculations shut off past 12 gauge due to structural considerations.




Note: If you have an opinion, feel free to leave it as a comment. And of course, if you have a question for a future net topic, leave it in the comment area as well.