For those of you wanting to take a closer look at the detailed information in the presentation made by Bill Willcox-KF6JQO at the last club meeting, you can view them here. Also be sure to download his handy interference-busting checklist.
My First POTA Activation
by Craig Grimm-KD6NFD
Like many others I have spent the last year hunkered down amid the pandemic with little opportunity to travel or be outside. As the world has begun to re-open, I have looked for ways to spend more time outdoors. I stumbled upon a way to combine being outside with my love of amateur radio with Parks on the Air (POTA).
Continue reading “My First POTA Activation”A Cost-Effective Way to Add Another Band to Your Bag of Tricks
By Pete Heins-N6ZE
A cost-effective way to increase the number of bands a ham can access is to use a transverter. Imagine adding the capability of using FM, SSB, Packet, and FT-8, at a power level of 10 watts, on a frequency band which you have never had before – for just $70!
Continue reading “A Cost-Effective Way to Add Another Band to Your Bag of Tricks”Understanding HF Propagation
The Solar Cycle and HF Radio Communications
Members have been asking to take a closer look at the presentation made at the last meeting by Ken Larson-KJ6RZ on the solar cycle and its impact on HF radio communications. You can view his presentation by clicking here or you can find it anytime by clicking “Links” and then selecting the “Technical Articles” drop-down.
The Monstrosity Solar Generator
Written by Bill Willcox-KF6JQO
The Monstrosity Solar Generator is an ongoing project to provide a semi-portable, high-capacity, 12 VDC power supply for amateur radio and limited power for household appliances.
I’ve coined the name because it consists of bits and pieces spliced together like Frankenstein’s monster.
Continue reading “The Monstrosity Solar Generator”A High Altitude Balloon Project
by Stephen Terry- KM6ZXQ
Just before Christmas of 2018, my son told me he wanted a drone for Christmas so that he could send a camera into space and take pictures of Earth. After explaining to him that perhaps there are more suitable vehicles to achieve this task and admiring how simple getting a camera to space was in his mind, I wondered myself if we could do it. I mean, how hard could it be? I knew then that it wouldn’t be as simple as it was to him, and after digging into it I realized it would be a much larger challenge than I anticipated. This was my welcoming to amateur radio.
Continue reading “A High Altitude Balloon Project”RF Bonding and Ground Planes
Every cable connecting the components in an Amateur Radio Station can act as an antenna. Differential and common mode voltages and currents in these cables can result in interference and even an RF shock. Stations with more than a few components can benefit from RF bonding and ground planes.
Simply stated, RF Bonding is the interconnection of all the station component chasses with a low RF impedance bonding strap. If the bonding strap is also connected to a ground plane under the station and both the bonding strap and ground plane connect to a ground rod the possibilities of RF shock and RF interference are virtually eliminated.
Continue reading “RF Bonding and Ground Planes”Eric Oberg’s Arduino Antenna Analyzer
If you enjoyed Eric’s presentation and would like to build your own Arduino Antenna Analyzer, the presentation and related information can be found with the Technical Articles under the Links tab, or follow the links in this post.
6 Meter Halo Antenna Project
An easy to build, 6m halo antenna. By Adrian Jarrett-K6KY
The Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club was looking for project ideas for the members. Early in 2017 the Radio Society of Great Britain published a 2-meter band halo design, which looked easy and fun to build. This was chosen as one of the club’s projects. However, the Conejo Valley is surrounded by hills, and so long haul 2m may be a bit problematical. That, and after having a great time in summer 2017 on 6m sporadic E, first with JT65 in the June ARRL VHF contest, and then with FT8, a 6m halo seemed like a worthy project. The Continue reading “6 Meter Halo Antenna Project”