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Latest Hamfest Flyer - Minimal!

 

Latest Hamfest Flyer


Upcoming Hamfests Flyer from our friends at?Arizona?Desert?Aire?Waves?(ADAW). Actually, mostly event information.


Use the link below or download the attached file:



Regards, Joe, N2QOJ


HamfestFlyers_November.pdf
HamfestFlyers_November.pdf

Local Ham Club Activities

 

? Local Ham Club Activities ?


Check out the link (or attached file) for the November newsletter from Arizona?Desert?Aire?Waves?for the latest happenings in our local ham community.



Regards, Joe, N2QOJ

November_2020.pdf
November_2020.pdf

Re: Ocotillo Repeater

 

GOOD NEWS!

The repeater is back in tip top shape.

The Samlex power supply failed and I replaced it with a Powerwerx 30 amp switcher. It's not the best but it's what we have on hand.

Hope to hear you all on the net tonight!

Joe, N2QOJ






On Sun, Oct 25, 2020 at 7:24 AM Joe Sammartino <jsammartino@...> wrote:
Folks,

The Ocotillo Repeater is exhibiting a transmitted hum.

Please refrain from using the repeater until further notice.

Thanks,

Joe, N2QOJ
QCECG weekly training net - 10/25/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

QCECG weekly training net - 10/25/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)


Check in and let us know how you are doing.

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

Listen over the Internet at

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ a PM
Ocotillo Repeater

 

Folks,

The Ocotillo Repeater is exhibiting a transmitted hum.

Please refrain from using the repeater until further notice.

Thanks,

Joe, N2QOJ
New ARRL Podcast -The Eclectic Tech - Episode 19

 

New ARRL Podcast -The Eclectic Tech - Episode 19

The ARRL has a new podcast and it is hosted by Steve Ford, WB8IMY.

The Eclectic Tech podcast brings news, interviews, and commentary about technology and science -- all with an amateur radio twist.

This nineteenth episode has the following topics: A celebration of radiosondes, and a discussion with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, about dc power supplies.

Stream:

As always, feedback is welcome.

Regards, Joe, N2QOJ
Central Arizona Youth Net, 10/18/2020 1700 Hours (5PM)

 

Central Arizona Youth Net, 10/18/2020 1700 Hours (5PM)

Ocotillo Repeater (STV Repeater) 449.325 MHz PL 100.0 Hz

Net Control Operator - Landon, N7LTG

This net has been created and organized by Landon, N7LTG..

The purpose is to promote amateur radio to youth, encourage other youth operators to check in especially those that are not that active or are afraid to push that PTT, share ideas with hams young and old, improve on the air etiquette, and to have fun at the same time. The target is youth but ALL licensed operators regardless of skill level and age are invited to check in.

This net meets every Sunday at 5PM Arizona time, 1700 hours. To participate in this net, you may access directly on this repeater or via EchoLink at N2QOJ-R, also known as Node 185734.

For the duration of the net, this repeater's EchoLink node will be connected to the "YACHT" EchoLink Conference - Young Amateur Communications Ham Team, *YACHT" node 9544283.

Young hams are encouraged to participate or listen in. Please pass this announcement on to a young ham.

If you are interesting in just listening in over the Internet, please use the following streaming audio link:

This new net is sponsored by the owners, operators, and trustees of the Ocotillo Repeater: N7DJZ, WB7TUJ, N2QOJ, and KF7RYX.
QCECG weekly training net - 10/18/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

QCECG weekly training net - 10/18/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)


Check in and let us know how you are doing.

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

Listen over the Internet at

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ a PM
Re: QCECG weekly training net - 10/4/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

Heads Up!

We will have a Phonetics exercise this evening during our QCECG net.

I've attached an amateur radio phonetics list in case you need a refresher.

Enjoy,

Joe, N2QOJ
PhoneticAlphabet.jpg





On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 1:02 PM Joe Sammartino <jsammartino@...> wrote:

QCECG weekly training net - 10/4/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)


Check in and let us know how you are doing.

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

Listen over the Internet at

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ a PM

PhoneticAlphabet.jpg

QCECG weekly training net - 10/11/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

QCECG weekly training net - 10/11/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

Tonight - Have Paper and Pencil/Pen Ready!

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

Listen over the Internet at

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ a PM
For Arizona QSO Party Beginning Today

 

For Arizona QSO Party Beginning Today:


AG7GK will be transmitting SSTV images, just his personal Arizona themed QSL cards, there are a lucky 13 of them.

So, if anyone¡¯s into SSTV, he'll be transmitting between 11 AM and noon 10/10 on the following frequencies:

2 meters: 145.500 FM

20 meters: 14.230 USB (likely difficult to pick up due to long skip during the day on 20)
New ARRL Podcast -The Eclectic Tech - Episode 18

 

New ARRL Podcast -The Eclectic Tech - Episode 18

The ARRL has a new podcast and it is hosted by Steve Ford, WB8IMY.

The Eclectic Tech podcast brings news, interviews, and commentary about technology and science -- all with an amateur radio twist.

This eighteenth episode has the following topics: A new approach to electromagnetic shielding; a digital archive for the next 1000 years; a chat with Al Rabassa, NW2M, about keeping cool.

Stream:

As always, feedback is welcome.

Regards, Joe, N2QOJ
AZ QSO Party Coming up!

 

AZ QSO Party Coming up!

October 10 1500z to October 11 0500z

azqsoparty.pdf
azqsoparty.pdf

QCECG weekly training net - 10/4/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

QCECG weekly training net - 10/4/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)


Check in and let us know how you are doing.

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

Listen over the Internet at

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ a PM
Latest Hamfests Flyer

 

?? Latest Hamfest Flyer??


Upcoming Hamfests Flyer from our friends at?Arizona?Desert?Aire?Waves?(ADAW).


Use the link below or download the attached file:



Regards, Joe, N2QOJ

HamfestFlyers_October.pdf
HamfestFlyers_October.pdf

Local Ham Club Activities

 

? Local Ham Club Activities ?


Check out the link (or attached file) for the October newsletter from Arizona?Desert?Aire?Waves?for the latest happenings in our local ham community.



Regards, Joe, N2QOJ




October_2020.pdf
October_2020.pdf

Electronicfest Update: Next event will be Oct 18th

 

Electronicfest is Back!

It will be held near the area of the old 5 and Diner beginning at 5:30 AM.

We have a long tradition of providing a positive impact with our monthly electornicfest event. For many years, we have been able to serve both our community, as well as, our developing scouts while helping the environment. We are committed to continuing to host electronicfest and growing it stronger than ever in a post-COVID environment. However, at this point, we cannot host our event with the potential exposure threat to our scouts, their families. Thus, we have made the difficult decision that electronicfest will be canceled in June, July, August and Sept. We are targeting reopening in the month of October with new safety procedures in place.


Our current plans are to hold our next electronicfest event on Sunday, October 18th.


Please circle the dates on your calendars and let¡¯s plan to come back as a community stronger than ever. As you can imagine, our plans are evolving and we¡¯ll continue to monitor current events. We will continue to send out communications as updates become available.


Thank you for your continued patronage, understanding and for bearing with us during these difficult times. We appreciate your support over the many years. We look forward to moving beyond this crisis and come together so we can continue to enjoy our monthly event.
QCECG weekly training net - 9/27/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

 

QCECG?weekly training net - 9/27/2020 @ 8 PM (20:00)

This message is directed to the casual ham radio operators out there.

If you haven't checked in to this net recently, please do so. It takes little effort to fire up your handheld, mobile, or base radio and spend a few minutes exercising your radio skills.

It's not a lot of time and effort to ensure that you and your radio station are capable when necessary.

If you can't spend a lot of time on the net, just check-in as a "Short Time" station. We will check you in and out and you can go about your Sunday evening.

Thanks in advance!

8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - All welcome!

If you don't have your radio or scanner handy, then you can still listen over the Internet at?

Check in via EchoLink Node 185734, N2QOJ-R. If you need access, send N2QOJ an email at jsammartino (at) gmail (dot) com.
Today''s Test Results

 

Results from Today's Test Session by Chuck, W7CBR and Sue, W7SKH:

15 folks tested, 15 passed - including an 8 year old YL!

The next social distancing session will be October 17th.

Contact Chuck or Sue directly for more information and to register.

Chuck - Rogers_Charles@...
Sue - Happyham7777@...

Thanks Chuck and Sue for providing this test service to our community!

And thanks to your volunteers!
Article - How to Choose the Best Coax For Your Station

 

Let's start with a simple definition of coaxial cable - A feedline that transports radio frequency energy from your radio to your antenna and from your antenna back to your radio.

A Simple Truth: The coaxial feedline is one of the most critical components of your radio station and, as such, deserves careful consideration.

Factors to Consider and Other Considerations

Length - How much cable do you need? Or, stated another way, how long does your feedline need to be?

Why do we need to consider the length of cable? All feedlines have loss and the longer the feedline, the higher the loss.

Frequency - What frequencies do you intend to use?? Loss also increases with increases in frequency. Loss in cable is rated in decibels usually expressed as Db loss per 100 ft of cable.

You should be looking for lowest loss in Db per 100 ft for the highest frequency you plan to operate.

Let's stop here for a real world example using RG58 Coax.

At 75-80 meters, a 100 ft run of RG58 coax is going to exhibit a loss of about 1/2 dB. We are also going to assume that VSWR is low and by that I mean 2:1 or less. That equals about 14 watts of loss from a 100 watt transmitter. The received energy is diminished slightly but modern radios more than make up for that loss.That all sounds very much acceptable to me.

Lets run the same length of RG58 cable to an antenna at 70 cm (440 MHz). This is a huge increase in frequency and the loss now reaches over 9 dB, and this result is with a good VSWR match. That now translates to a loss of 80% of your transmitted power! That is terrible and should not be acceptable to any sane operator!

The solution is to use a cable type that has much less loss for that operating frequency.

Quick snapshot:
LMR400 Coax by Times Microwave - 3 dB loss at 100 ft, that's still 50% of power loss!? LMR600 Coax - 1.7 dB loss at 100 ft, much better but keep an eye on the cost. It can add up very quickly.

Note: if your cable length need is very short, such as a mobile setup or maybe even a portable setup where all you need is 10 or 15 feet, higher loss coax (less expensive) may be used because the resulting loss at short distances is much less than at 100 ft.

Another Note: Think about the future. You need to consider the frequencies that you may want to operate in the future when choosing a cable or multiple cable runs.

This is a great time to review your understanding of VSWR and antenna tuners. I recommend these articles/videos:

Videos:

SWR - W6LG -

Using an Antenna Analyzer - K7AGE -

Tuners - HamRadioConcepts -

Audio:

Selecting Coaxial Cable - ARRL -

SWR Simplified - ARRL -

Antenna Analyzers - ARRL -


Back to factors and other considerations

So, if the solution is to use a cable type that has much less loss for that operating frequency, how do we do that?

RESEARCH!! ( A good ham uses all the tools at his/her disposal to research solutions. An unwitting ham asks their question on social media and gets 100 different opinions from 100 people. The good answers are not easily weeded about by a new ham. Join a club, find an Elmer there or through the ARRL. But I digress.)

To assist you in your selection of the proper coax, use Google search to look up cable losses and cable loss calculators:

Here is a typical cable loss table from W4RP's website:

image.png

Results are shown in dB per 100 foot and (dB per 100 meters).

A very good cable loss calculator can be found here at KV5R's website:



image.png

This calculator is very comprehensive. The drop down menu for Line Type has all the cable types you will ever need? to consider. The above link is worthy of "Bookmark" status.

Your last consideration is one of economics. Only you can determine the best bang-for-the-buck for your particular situation.


In Summary:

1. Measure the distance between your radio and your intended antenna feedpoint.

2. Determine the highest frequency you will operate now and in the future.

3. Use Google to find an online coax loss calculator. I like .

4. Use the calculator to determine the cable that gives you the lowest loss for the frequency and length you will operate. PICK A FEW OPTIONS!. Cost of cable will vary a great deal so prepare a few options to review against your budget constraints. This is a hobby, folks. Feeding your family is a higher priority than feeding your antenna. :-)? Be Practical!

I hope you or someone you know can benefit from this article. As always, please provide any feedback you wish.

Best regards,

Joe, N2QOJ

Joe Sammartino
24/7: ?480.270.4563
Mobile: ?480.381.2993
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