Please be advised that the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group
monthly meeting scheduled for April 9th is canceled. There may be a
virtual meeting announced. Stay Tuned!
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QCECG Weekly Training Net
QCECG?Weekly Training?Net
If you haven't checked in to the?Net?in a while - or ever - please join us.
With
the Corona Virus threat, this is a great time to
dust off your HT, charge it up, and join us on the net.
QCECG?weekly training?net?- 3/29/2020 @ 8 PM (2000)
8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - Visitors welcome!
Your Net Control will be Clint, KG7BWD.
If you don't have access to a handheld radio or scanner, you can listen in over the?Internet?at
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International Space Station Visible Tonight
International Space Station Visible Tonight
Folks -?Good news!
Another opportunity to?spot?the International Space?Station?this evening as it passes over our area in Arizona. It should be a good pass and hopefully the clouds will be minimal.
Treat your family and friends to a viewing of the International Space?Station?tonight. I find that even the most non technical family member or friend get a kick out of seeing the?station?as it moves across the sky at 17,150?MPH?- that's 4.76 miles per second - and about 250 miles above us.
If you are an amateur radio operator, take the opportunity to relate how us hams can communicate directly with the ISS or through one of its transponders.
The ISS will be visible for 4 minutes and should be a good viewing and becomes visible directly from the North Northwest and disappears toward East.
Time: Sun Apr 05 7:50 PM
Visible: 4 min
Max Height: 41¡ã
Appears: 10¡ã above NNW (from 338¡ã)Disappears: 28¡ã above E (toward 90¡ã)
I've also attached an illustration that will help you determine how to use this information. You can watch and track the?station?in advance at this link:
And, something new! I've attached a chart of the actual pass.
Remember, these times are based on a viewing site from the?Mesa?area (and within 50 miles). If you would like to generate times from your specific city or town, visit the link and follow the instructions.
If your specific city or town isn¡¯t listed, pick the closest one. The space?station?is visible for at least a 50 mile (80 km) radius around each of the listed locations.
If you are an amateur radio operator, listen in (or work) on these frequencies:
Voice and SSTV Downlink: 145.80 (Worldwide)
Voice Uplink: 144.49 for ITU Regions 2 and 3
VHF Packet Uplink and Downlink: 145.825 (Worldwide) - easiest to hear
UHF Packet Uplink and Downlink: 437.550
UHF/VHF Repeater Uplink: 437.80
UHF/VHF Repeater Downlink: 145.80
Regards, Joe N2QOJ
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Important for Home Depot Shopping
For folks in the Phoenix Valley....
Starting Friday morning at local Home Depots (some already started), there will be areas (corrals) in the front of the store for Pro customers and Do-It-Yourself customers to line up. The store will be counting in-going and out-going customers. They will be limiting the store to 150 customers at a time.
Also, up to (4) parking spaces have been reserved for customers who have placed an order online for pick-up at the store. You drive up, park in one of those spots, and call the number on the sign. An employee will bring out the order to you.
Be safe, only shop for essentials and learn how to use ?or the Home Depot app on your Android or iOS device. It's easy and will give you a better shopping experience now and in the future.
If you have any questions on how to use the online ordering or app, private message me. Stay safe and evolve into a digital shopper!
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? Local Ham Club Activities ?
? Local Ham Club Activities ?
Check out the link (or attached file) for the April newsletter from Arizona?Desert?Aire?Waves?for the latest happenings in our local ham community.
Regards, Joe, N2QOJ
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Re: Important EmComm Information
Hi Folks,
Please disregard my previous email. It was pointed out to me that the message contained a few inaccuracies and it was not approved by the organizations mentioned to share with the community at large.
If you would like information regarding MCDEM and ARES emergency protocols. Please reach out to those organizations directly.
Thank you,
Joe, N2QOJ
IMPORTANT: The following information is provided to our local amateur radio community as a source of real-time information concerning any formal deployment of ARES emergency ham radio operators by the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM). It will be your best source of unfiltered communications between Incident Command and deployed EmComm volunteers. If you are not part of the afore mentioned responding infrastructure, DO NOT ENGAGE. Just listen and be informed.
When MCDEM needs ham radio operators, it will call out to the local amateur radio community via ARES registered volunteers. An information/resource net will be started on the ARA Metrolink repeater system, and in particular, the Shaw Butte Repeater.
Via Internet Streaming Audio:
The resource/information net is a way to collect ham resources and disseminate information. Dispatching of resources will be done on another net, which will be announced on the resource/information net.
By monitoring the Shaw Butte Repeater during an event, you will keep up to date as any incident develops and will learn of any other frequencies to monitor.
I must stress again, if you are not part of the volunteer call out by MCDEM, DO NOT operate on the frequency. Just listen and be informed.
(If you would like more information regarding the Metrolink Repeater System, send to me a private email. N2QOJ (email address at QRZ dot Com)
As a licensed ham radio operator that can be available during an emergency, observe the following: - Have your HT ready with CHARGED batteries
- Know how to program your radio
- Have a go bag ready in case you can assist
- Credentials - DL License, AR Operator License, EmComm ID if available
- Register with ARES -
This is a message from the "East Valley Amateur Radio" FaceBook Group at
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QCECG Weekly Training Net
QCECG?Weekly Training?Net
Tonight, we bring you a very relevant exercise to demonstrate EmComm communications.
If you haven't checked in to the?Net?in a while - or ever - please join us.
With
the Corona Virus threat - real or imagined - this is a great time to
dust off your HT, charge it up, and join us on the net.
QCECG?weekly training?net?- 3/29/2020 @ 8 PM (2000)
8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - Visitors welcome!
If you don't have access to a handheld radio or scanner, you can listen in over the?Internet?at
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Local Ham Radio Links
This is not meant to be a complete list but a list of known, active stuff. ==================================================
Follow the Queen Creek Amateur Radio Club via Twitter at: And the FB Page: And Website:
Follow the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group via Twitter at: Website:
Join the very popular - and growing - at: . You need to be a local licensed amateur radio operator to join.
Interested in SOTA, Portable Ops, Digital Modes, Contesting, Satellites, etc.? Then join the folks at at:
They also have a support group at: /g/GOTW
Interested in practicing and experimenting with digital modes? Then join our friend Arron, AG7GK, as he hosts the Valley's digital net. More info at: Be sure to sign up for the mailing list on the same page.
Interested in Preparedness, then join the very popular MESA R U Prepared Group at:
My favorite phone nets in the Valley: AEN-MAR - Mondays, 9 PM, Metrolink System - Shaw Butte, 147.240 MHz (+) PL 162.2 Hz
Mesa RU Prepared - Wednesdays, 7 PM, Ocotillo Repeater, 449.325 MHz (-) PL 100.0 Hz New Ham Net - Thursdays, 7 PM, Metrolink System - Shaw Butte, 147.240 MHz (+) PL 162.2 Hz Chandler Ham Radio Club - Thursdays, 8 PM, MARCA South Mountain Repeater, 443.050 (+) PL100.0 Hz
Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group - Sundays, 8 PM, Ocotillo Repeater, 449.325 MHz (-) PL 100.0 Hz
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Important EmComm Information
IMPORTANT: The following information is provided to our local amateur radio community as a source of real-time information concerning any formal deployment of ARES emergency ham radio operators by the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM). It will be your best source of unfiltered communications between Incident Command and deployed EmComm volunteers. If you are not part of the afore mentioned responding infrastructure, DO NOT ENGAGE. Just listen and be informed.
When MCDEM needs ham radio operators, it will call out to the local amateur radio community via ARES registered volunteers. An information/resource net will be started on the ARA Metrolink repeater system, and in particular, the Shaw Butte Repeater.
Via Internet Streaming Audio:
The resource/information net is a way to collect ham resources and disseminate information. Dispatching of resources will be done on another net, which will be announced on the resource/information net.
By monitoring the Shaw Butte Repeater during an event, you will keep up to date as any incident develops and will learn of any other frequencies to monitor.
I must stress again, if you are not part of the volunteer call out by MCDEM, DO NOT operate on the frequency. Just listen and be informed.
(If you would like more information regarding the Metrolink Repeater System, send to me a private email. N2QOJ (email address at QRZ dot Com)
As a licensed ham radio operator that can be available during an emergency, observe the following: - Have your HT ready with CHARGED batteries
- Know how to program your radio
- Have a go bag ready in case you can assist
- Credentials - DL License, AR Operator License, EmComm ID if available
- Register with ARES -
This is a message from the "East Valley Amateur Radio" FaceBook Group at
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East Valley VE Testing Session Canceled
East Valley VE Testing Session Canceled
From Fred, AB7JF, our Session Manager at East Valley VE Testing:
"Because of the virus going around we will not be having a test session
on 4-13 -2020."
- AB7JF
(If you manage or administer a ham radio related forum, on-line Group, or Club, please pass this information along.Thanks - Joe, N2QOJ)
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Re: Probably a dumb question
I don't have an swr meter or antenna tuner, so I will be going in blind. Ron
On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 11:31 AM Thomas Miller via Groups.Io <k8pnw= [email protected]> wrote:
I have used smaller gauge wire for this type of installation even 18 will work.? It actually is important to find something in this range you already have.? For outdoor installations the gauge is set to withstand the weather, the power may be less important.? I am using 14 here because I had a bunch of it.? Turning the ends too fit the space is no problem I have a 40M indoor in the attic and 5ft of each end is bent 90 degrees. ?40m antennas can be made to work 40, 15 and 6.? Ive worked dx on 6 with my 40m antenna.? The direction on 15 and 6 is off the ends instead on the broad side.? Besure to sweep each band after installation, plot the data on graph paper frequency vs SWR for the whole band.? The bottom of the "U" is the frequency of the antenna thinks it is cut for after the effects of the ?garbage in the attic.? If it is seriously off, readjust the antenna the amount to get back to your design. ?
if you need my help call 248-620-8988
On Monday, March 23, 2020, 07:06:58 AM MST, E < erik@...> wrote:
Ron,
There are no dumb questions. This is how we all learn, together.
There are a lot of dipoles in attics out there, the big limiting factor here is the size of your attic. If you need more room consider zig zaging your wire, just keep your turns at 90 degrees or more. Also commercial multiband or shortened dipoles work well. Again run your dipole as far away from metal as possible. Try not to have your rig right below your antenna to reduce any potential RF problems.? Feed line:? A little care is needed here, be careful of running parallel to electrical lines or ductwork if using balanced lines. Use the best coax or twin lead you can but if you CAN use 300 ohm TV lead with some loss for easy routing.??
?
As for wire size, the? NEC specifies 14 AWG. for antennas. Most applications use 14 AWG (or larger, such as 12 AWG) stranded copper wire, which will have the added strength of steel wire, as well as the conductivity of copper due to skin effect.
There will be little (or noticeable) difference in bandwidth of solid vs stranded wire of the same AWG.
73 de Erik Morse
N9OJR
?
-- Ron Watkins, KJ7MSB
602.743.5272
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Re: Probably a dumb question
I have used smaller gauge wire for this type of installation even 18 will work. ?It actually is important to find something in this range you already have. ?For outdoor installations the gauge is set to withstand the weather, the power may be less important. ?I am using 14 here because I had a bunch of it. ?Turning the ends too fit the space is no problem I have a 40M indoor in the attic and 5ft of each end is bent 90 degrees. ?40m antennas can be made to work 40, 15 and 6. ?Ive worked dx on 6 with my 40m antenna. ?The direction on 15 and 6 is off the ends instead on the broad side. ?Besure to sweep each band after installation, plot the data on graph paper frequency vs SWR for the whole band. ?The bottom of the "U" is the frequency of the antenna thinks it is cut for after the effects of the ?garbage in the attic. ?If it is seriously off, readjust the antenna the amount to get back to your design. ?
if you need my help call 248-620-8988
On Monday, March 23, 2020, 07:06:58 AM MST, E <erik@...> wrote:
Ron,
There are no dumb questions. This is how we all learn, together.
There are a lot of dipoles in attics out there, the big limiting factor here is the size of your attic. If you need more room consider zig zaging your wire, just keep your turns at 90 degrees or more. Also commercial multiband or shortened dipoles work well. Again run your dipole as far away from metal as possible. Try not to have your rig right below your antenna to reduce any potential RF problems.? Feed line:? A little care is needed here, be careful of running parallel to electrical lines or ductwork if using balanced lines. Use the best coax or twin lead you can but if you CAN use 300 ohm TV lead with some loss for easy routing.??
?
As for wire size, the? NEC specifies 14 AWG. for antennas. Most applications use 14 AWG (or larger, such as 12 AWG) stranded copper wire, which will have the added strength of steel wire, as well as the conductivity of copper due to skin effect.
There will be little (or noticeable) difference in bandwidth of solid vs stranded wire of the same AWG.
73 de Erik Morse
N9OJR
?
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Re: Probably a dumb question
Ron,
There are no dumb questions. This is how we all learn, together.
There are a lot of dipoles in attics out there, the big limiting factor here is the size of your attic. If you need more room consider zig zaging your wire, just keep your turns at 90 degrees or more. Also commercial multiband or shortened dipoles work well. Again run your dipole as far away from metal as possible. Try not to have your rig right below your antenna to reduce any potential RF problems.? Feed line:? A little care is needed here, be careful of running parallel to electrical lines or ductwork if using balanced lines. Use the best coax or twin lead you can but if you CAN use 300 ohm TV lead with some loss for easy routing.??
?
As for wire size, the? NEC specifies 14 AWG. for antennas. Most applications use 14 AWG (or larger, such as 12 AWG) stranded copper wire, which will have the added strength of steel wire, as well as the conductivity of copper due to skin effect.
There will be little (or noticeable) difference in bandwidth of solid vs stranded wire of the same AWG.
73 de Erik Morse
N9OJR
?
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QCECG Weekly Training Net
QCECG?Weekly Training?Net
If you haven't checked in to the?Net?in a while - or ever - please join us.
With the Corona Virus threat - real or imagined - this is a great time to dust off your HT, charge it up, and join us on the net.
It takes only a few minutes a week to exercise both your HT and your skills.
QCECG?weekly training?net?- 3/22/2020 @ 8 PM (2000)
8 pm at 449.325 Mhz PL 100.0 Hz. - Visitors welcome!
If you don't have access to a handheld radio or scanner, you can listen in over the?Internet?at ?
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Still a newbie, so please don't rag on me too much... Wanting to build a fan dipole for 20 through 6 meters for installation in the rafters of my garage. The height is well below desired height (at approx 15ft), but really can't do too much about that. Wondering what guage?or bare copper wire is needed for a 100W transmitter?
-- Ron Watkins
KJ7MSB
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Re: Where there's a will, there's a way...
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Ron makes a good point.
We need eye witness confirmation.
Kieth, videographer? Can either of you vouch for Doug?
On Sun, Mar 22, 2020 at 11:58 AM Ron Earl < ronearl2@...> wrote: No Chick fila. Are you sure that¡¯s Doug and not Photoshop? ? ? Doug, WB7TUJ, and Kieth, KI7KDD, got creative and carried on the tradition of "Lunch with Hams" in the Fuddruckers parking lot. Good job!
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Re: Where there's a will, there's a way...
Ron makes a good point.
We need eye witness confirmation.
Kieth, videographer? Can either of you vouch for Doug?
On Sun, Mar 22, 2020 at 11:58 AM Ron Earl < ronearl2@...> wrote: No Chick fila. Are you sure that¡¯s Doug and not Photoshop? ? ? Doug, WB7TUJ, and Kieth, KI7KDD, got creative and carried on the tradition of "Lunch with Hams" in the Fuddruckers parking lot. Good job!
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Re: Where there's a will, there's a way...
No Chick fila. Are you sure that¡¯s Doug and not Photoshop? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joe Sammartino
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2020 10:13 AM
To: [email protected]; Queen Creek Hams
Subject: [QueenCreekHams] Where there's a will, there's a way...? Doug, WB7TUJ, and Kieth, KI7KDD, got creative and carried on the tradition of "Lunch with Hams" in the Fuddruckers parking lot. Good job!
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Where there's a will, there's a way...
Doug, WB7TUJ, and Kieth, KI7KDD, got creative and carried on the tradition of "Lunch with Hams" in the Fuddruckers parking lot. Good job!
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I was off from work this past Thursday and decided to check up on some relatives in Germany, Italy, and Australia.
I used Facebook Messenger since they are all active - usually - on Facebook and FB Messenger. My Uncle Tony (in his 80s) in Australia responded within a few minutes and then promptly contacted me via Facebook Messenger Video Chat. We had a great face-to-face talk for about 10 minutes.? I had forgotten about FB's video chat capability was happily reminded
by Uncle Tony. It was easy and the video quality was more than
acceptable on my Samsung tablet. I shared that story with a few folks at work and thought, I wonder how many people know how easy it is to video chat these days. I know a lot of folks use Facetime because I see them at work showing toilets to their house-bound relative over their iOS smartphone! It can be funny to watch them take remote direction on how to frame their video. I found this article this morning and thought I would share it with you. Its very helpful and presents video chat solutions for many different kinds of devices/OS platforms. Enjoy, Joe ============================================
Updated March 20, 2020, 5:41pm EDT
If you live far away from the people you care about, video chatting
is the best way to feel more like you¡¯re there with them in person. But
there are so many video chat apps out there, many of which only work on
certain platforms. How do you know which one to use?
If you¡¯ve tried to set up an initial video chat with someone, you
know the problem here. My parents are both iPhone users, but I¡¯m an
Android guy. All they know is FaceTime, but I don¡¯t have access to that.
Trying to get them to understand what they need to do to chat with me
can be¡less than fun.
(But seriously, how about cross-platform FaceTime, Apple? We¡¯d all use it.)
Thankfully, we¡¯re here to help. We tested a number of apps on
Android, iPhone, Windows, and macOS to find the best one for any given
situation. Let¡¯s do this thing.
Our Real Recommendation: Just Use Facebook Messenger
Look, I¡¯ll cut the chase here: Facebook Messenger is a great way to
video chat with pretty much everyone you know. You might not have
realized Facebook has video chat, but it does¡ªand it¡¯s surprisingly
good.
And, since nearly everyone is on Facebook, they probably already have the requisite app, which is available pretty much any platform¡ª and have dedicated mobile apps for Messenger, and computer users can just leverage .
If you and the person you want to chat with both have Facebook, it¡¯s really a no brainer. Skip the headache and just use that.
If you don¡¯t have Facebook (or are trying to chat with someone who
doesn¡¯t), no worries! Continue on for the various platform-based tools.
Windows to Windows:
If you¡¯re a Windows user,
is the obvious choice here: it comes bundled with Windows now that
Microsoft owns it, and it¡¯s become synonomous enough with video chat
that basically everyone has a Skype account. Even if you don¡¯t, you can
sign in with Facebook if you want¡but if you have Facebook, please just
refer back to the previous section of this guide.
Chats Between Two Apple Products (Mac, iPhone, and iPad):
Apple users!
is where it¡¯s at for you guys, but I¡¯ll be honest: I didn¡¯t have to
tell you that. You¡¯re probably already on the FaceTime train. If not,
aboard.?Toot toot!
Seriously, though, it comes on all Macs, iPhones, and iPads, it works
great, and everyone knows about it. Why would you use anything else?
Android to Android:
Android is a bit more of a convoluted mess than iOS or Mac, because there are a?ton
of different apps. Skype is available on Android, Facebook Messenger is
available on Android, and Google¡¯s older video chat offering,?,
is still quite good on Android. However, when it comes to
Android-to-Android chats, there¡¯s a new choice that¡¯s better than all
the rest: .
This has, at least in theory, become the de facto standard for video
chats on Android. It¡¯s honestly the best video chat platform I¡¯ve
personally used on Android, as it just seem to?work.?As much as I hate to admit it, that¡¯s something Android could use more of.
Across Other Platforms: Skype or Hangouts, Probably
Okay, so now for the real head scratcher: video chatting people who
don¡¯t have Facebook and use a different platform than you. Ugh.
The obvious choices here are going to be Skype and Hangouts. They¡¯re
both available for pretty much every major platform out there¡ªSkype is
on , , , and ; while Hangouts is available on , , and . You¡¯ll only need an applicable account to use either of them.
It¡¯s also worth mentioning that if you¡¯re trying to chat to ,
Google Duo is available on both platforms as well. That would be my
recommendation in that situation, though the other options mentioned
here would also work.
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Joe Sammartino
Erik
Sue W7SKH
