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Written by Gary
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2008-08-03 07:00:00 |
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Upon returning from Show Low, AZ, to visit family, we became worried when we saw damage from a monsoon storm that had just blown through. Rain permeated the streets, and the large 55 gal garbage cans were blown over on their sides. As we neared home, I feared for my "portable" HF antenna set up in the back yard "temporarily". Sure enough, when we returned home, the fiberglass pole used as a mast was in 3 pieces, with the antenna on the ground. It looks like it will be fairly easy to raise it up again, assuming the fiberglass pieces still fit without too much mod, but other priorities lead me to leave this effort for another time. Until then, 73! |
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Last Updated ( 0000-00-00 00:00:00 )
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2008 California QSO Party |
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Written by Gary
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2008-07-22 13:19:00 |
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The largest of the State QSO Parties will be held October 4-5 this year. I've got my special callsign approved for the contest and plan to operate portable as a "County Expedition" from the Tulare/Fresno County Line, in Kings Canyon National Park. | K6G : 2008 California QSO Party | | Start Date: | October 3, 2008 | | End Date: | October 5, 2008 | | Coordinator: | ARRL | | Record ID: | 5502 | | Requisitioned by: | Gary Keck | | Call Sign: | KE7DX | | Address: | Tucson, AZ
85749 | | Email: | ke7dx @ marketemporium.com |
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Last Updated ( 2008-07-22 13:32:46 )
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Written by Gary
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2008-06-29 23:55:09 |
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Post-Field Day Analysis: I still need 7 states to complete my Worked All States (WAS) Award. They are, going E to W and N to S, ME, CT, DE, PA, SC, ID, and NM. I can't believe the state next door is still needed. Anybody want to set up a sked? |
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Last Updated ( 2008-07-02 01:04:35 )
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Written by Gary
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2008-06-22 18:53:38 |
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Last Updated ( 2008-07-19 04:17:31 )
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KE7DX 2008 Field Day Plans |
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Written by Gary
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2008-06-18 17:15:37 |
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Marine Deep Cycle Battery charged up fine to about 13.32VDC. Not quite the 13.8VDC the TS-520 manual specifies, but I figure it will work. The radio has been tried with the battery on both receive and transmit and there is some degradation in voltage after a period of time, even while on the charger, but I do believe it will be adequate. The CW sidetone sounds warbly, but CW stations I've contacted seem to think it's got a good tone, so I'm ready! Found a Marine Deep Cycle Battery in the ham shack. It was bone dry of water (this IS Tucson, after all!). I filled it up with water and hope that it will hold a charge, but I'm not going to count on it. It is in testing as I write. My backup will be the car battery. After attending the June CRC meeting, I am revising my plans based on the following. It was stated at the meeting that FD starts at 11am MST, and runs 24 hrs. While it is actually a 27 hr contest, only those that don't start setting up until Sat 11am MST Field Day Start will get to operate the full 27 hrs (minus the time it takes to set up). I think that many other ops will set up Friday, and of course everyone will want to start ASAP at 11am MST Saturday! So, I reason, there probably won't be a lot of activity after 11am Sunday. I am revising my plans to help set up FD in the field, but I will not be joining the clubs on Sat because I will start operating at 11am like everyone else. I am pursuing the "Worked All States " (WAS) Award, and I see Field Day as a ripe opportunity to contact a lot of states that I need. In my wildest dreams, I could even work all states during the FD operation itself! So ... I will be operating from home this year, the first year I have operated FD from this home. KE7DX tentative plans: Prior to Friday, 6/27, set up emergency power at home: - Cabling from 2005 Scion xB (outside) battery to Kenwood TS-520 in the ham shack not needed. The deep cycle marine battery that I found in the ham shack charged up fine and will be utilized.
 Ensure car battery charger is available, if necessary.
- (Optional) Test length of time that car battery can be used for ham activities and still start. Not needed. The deep cycle marine battery that I found in the ham shack charged up fine and will be utilized.
| Fri, 6/27 | 11am MST
| Due to back injury, did not visit Catalina Radio Club (CRC) Field Day (FD) site, nor help set up
| | | | Due to back injury, did not visit Radio Society of Tucson (RST) Field Day site
| | | 5pm MST
| Copied W1AW FD Bulletin, CW: 14.0475MHz | | | 6:45pm MST
| Unable to copy W1AW FD Bulletin, SSB: 14.290MHz | | | 8pm MST
| Verified W1AW FD Bulletin, CW: 14.0475MHz | Sat, 6/28
| 11am MST
| Field Day Official Start
KE7DX Homestead Field Day Start (24hr operating time) -- have fun!
| | Sun, 6/29 | 11am MST
| KE7DX Homestead Field Day Operation ends -- let the paperwork begin! | | | 2pm MST
| Field Day Official End
| NLT
Sun, 7/6
| | Evaluate contacts (QSOs) for WAS potential.
Send out QSL cards with SASEs in hopes of great returns! |
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Last Updated ( 2008-12-10 13:24:52 )
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KE7DX
