CCARC net tonight and meeting

#103

CCARC members,

Just a quick reminder about the weekly net which will happen at 7pm tonight on the 147.255 repeater.   Rich N3RBJ will be our net control station tonight.    Hope to hear everyone on the air.

And also this Thursday at 7pm we will have our February Club meeting.   The location is the usual Clearfield County EMA building, 911 Leonard St. In Clearfield.  We have several projects in the works so there will be lots to talk about.   

Thank you,

John N3SPW 
814-553-5649

Re: February CCARC Newsletter

#102

John, I was at the January meeting.

Harvey N3RTK

On Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 08:40:01 PM EST, John Szwarc via groups.io <johnszwarc@...> wrote:

Everyone,

The February CCARC Newsletter is now ready for your?review.? Here's the link:

And if you'd like to see the complete collection of newsletters, here's a link to the index:

Thank you.

JOhn N3SPW

--

John Szwarc

Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

Re: D-STAR repeater antenna

#101

Ok with me.

John

NA2BA

Show quoted text

On Sun, Feb 23, 2025 at 1:51?PM Tim Leet via <teleet=[email protected]> wrote:

Sounds good to me
> On Feb 22, 2025, at 10:15?PM, John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?
> Everyone,
>
> Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.? The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince? done in the near future.? ?They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.? ?So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.
>
> I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.? He built the DMR one for us.? ?He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.? ?It’s new old stock.? ?He bought it for a project that fell through.? So never installed.? ?The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.? ?So this is a real deal for us.?
>
> He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.? ?What are your thoughts on this?? ?
>
> We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.? ?He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.?
>
> So what does everyone think??
>
> John N3SPW
> 814-553-5649
>
>
>
>
>

Re: D-STAR repeater antenna

#100

Sounds good to me

Show quoted text

On Feb 22, 2025, at 10:15?PM, John Szwarc via groups.io <johnszwarc@...> wrote:

?
Everyone,

Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.  The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince  done in the near future.   They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.   So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.

I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.  He built the DMR one for us.   He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.   It’s new old stock.   He bought it for a project that fell through.  So never installed.   The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.   So this is a real deal for us.  

He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.   What are your thoughts on this?   

We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.   He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.  

So what does everyone think?  

John N3SPW
814-553-5649

Re: EMA Center HF Antenna Update

#99

I would like to suggest, for consideration, a slightly different approach to Emergency Communications HF Antennas at the 911 Center.

One of the major problems, in my opinion, with hanging an antenna on a tower is that it is constantly exposed to the elements, degrades from the day it is installed, and requires nearly heroic efforts (both climbing and scheduling) to troubleshoot and repair when needed.? And Murphy makes sure it isn't a pleasant sunny day when the need arises.

Given that Em Com Events are, thankfully few and far between, uncertainty about the status of an antenna can be a problem, particularly if the antenna is not routinely operated as a check out.? And that will happen.

When I designed our personal portable HF stations, I used several different free standing, self supporting, multi-band antennas with excellent results while making 400-500 Parks On The Air (POTA) activations over the last few years. POTA is an excellent activity for field testing and improving our stations' capabilities and procedures.

My suggestion would be to consider deploying antennas like or similar to the ones shown in the two videos below.

The way it could work is to prepare the building so that an antenna like those reviewed, could be set up outside on the ground with the feed line entering the building, which would be permanently wired to carry the feed line into the shack.? So the antennas would be stored until needed for practice or actual Em Com, set up outside and plugged into the building Feed Line entry point, then we can get on the air..

???

And it may be surprising, but you can effectively work the county, state, region, lower 48 states and into Europe with an HF antenna sitting 5 feet off the ground and Judy KC3JAS has the QSOs to prove it.? Check out her QRZ page.

If anyone wants to try these antennas at the 911 building, let me know.?

Like Paladin in the old TV Cowboy show, I? "Have Antennas???? Will Travel".

A note on my videos: Due to my Hoosier Drawl, you can change the video speed to 1.5x and I almost sound normal, which will shorten the run times.

First video compares two antennas, a dipole and a vertical, both mounted on a five foot tripod.

Second video evaluates what you get by elevating a dipole 20 feet.

Other KC3TL videos can be found here, several on antennas:

On Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 01:09:40 PM EST, Lasse kb3wbt via groups.io <kvantlars@...> wrote:

So, in essence no hf antenna what so ever....
How about a couple of fan dipole's?
Say 80m, 40m, 30m on one, and 20m to 6m on one.
Inverted V configuration.
Kb3wbt

Show quoted text

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 12:58 John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:

Everyone,

This morning Allen K3HOC and myself spent some time at the Clearfield County EMA building trying to sort out the mess of coax antenna wires to come into the amateur radio station area.??

The long answer:
There are six coax leads coming into our amateur operations area.? We determined there were cables for the 6m band antenna, three Comet GP-9 UHF/VHF antennas, and one UHF beam antenna.? The sixth cable has nothing attached?to it.? We presume this was intended for the HF antenna.

Allen spent some time investigating?cables coming down the tower that potentially could be for our HF dipole antenna.? None appeared to be from the HF antenna.? So either the cable has become completely disconnected at the?feed point on the tower, the coax cable may have?failed, or the antenna itself is just toasted.? We won't know the answer to that until someone climbs the tower to?investigate and test things.??

The short answer:
We could not locate a cable that appeared to?be the HF antenna.? Allen is going to consult with the county officials and come up with a plan to move forward.??

It appears this is going to take a while.? But we will eventually get it fixed.

Thank you and 73.

John N3SPW

--
John Szwarc
Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

Re: D-STAR repeater antenna

#98

开云体育

Sounds great to me. The progress and growth the club is going through says this is the time to make those investments. I can't believe we have 29 members in the club and it is still growing. Great jobs guys. Keep up the great work!

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

Show quoted text

-------- Original message --------

From: "John Szwarc via groups.io" <johnszwarc@...>

Date: 2/22/25 10:15 PM (GMT-05:00)

To: [email protected]

Subject: [W3CPA] D-STAR repeater antenna

Everyone,

Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.? The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince? done in the near future.?? They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.?? So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.

I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.? He built the DMR one for us.?? He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.?? It’s new old stock.?? He bought it for a project that fell through.? So never installed.?? The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.?? So this is a real deal for us.?

He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.?? What are your thoughts on this???

We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.?? He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.?

So what does everyone think??

John N3SPW
814-553-5649

Re: D-STAR repeater antenna

#97

Works for me...

Show quoted text

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 10:15?PM John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:

Everyone,

Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.? The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince? done in the near future.? ?They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.? ?So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.

I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.? He built the DMR one for us.? ?He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.? ?It’s new old stock.? ?He bought it for a project that fell through.? So never installed.? ?The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.? ?So this is a real deal for us.?

He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.? ?What are your thoughts on this?? ?

We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.? ?He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.?

So what does everyone think??

John N3SPW
814-553-5649

Re: D-STAR repeater antenna

#96

Seems like an opportunity? to save the club the expense of installation and a fair price on the antenna.

Show quoted text

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 10:15?PM John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:

Everyone,

Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.? The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince? done in the near future.? ?They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.? ?So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.

I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.? He built the DMR one for us.? ?He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.? ?It’s new old stock.? ?He bought it for a project that fell through.? So never installed.? ?The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.? ?So this is a real deal for us.?

He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.? ?What are your thoughts on this?? ?

We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.? ?He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.?

So what does everyone think??

John N3SPW
814-553-5649

D-STAR repeater antenna

#95

Everyone,

Our planned DSTAR repeater is progressing.  The tower we had asked for permission to use is going to have some maintaince  done in the near future.   They will be climbing the tower and this is our opportunity to install an antenna for the DSTAR repeater without incurring additional cost.   So the need for an antenna becomes immediate if we’re to take advantage of this.

I called Scott N3XCC who builds repeaters.  He built the DMR one for us.   He has a suitable antenna he would sell for $600.   It’s new old stock.   He bought it for a project that fell through.  So never installed.   The retail on this antenna is over $1,000.   So this is a real deal for us.  

He’s willing to take payments but I don’t want to commit the club to this expense without consulting others.   What are your thoughts on this?   

We also need duplexers and I had previously discussed with Scott and he has a set for us.   He said we could borrow them for a while and purchase later if we’d like.  

So what does everyone think?  

John N3SPW 
814-553-5649

February CCARC Newsletter

#94

Everyone,

The February CCARC Newsletter is now ready for your?review.? Here's the link:

And if you'd like to see the complete collection of newsletters, here's a link to the index:

Thank you.

JOhn N3SPW

--

John Szwarc

Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

Re: EMA Center HF Antenna Update

#93

Yes, no HF antenna at all until this is sorted out.? I did suggest to Allen that possibly?we could temporarily?install a long wire or something until the antenna on the tower is either fixed or replaced.? That is part of the conversation?he is going to have with the county officials to see if they will allow something?to be temporarily?installed.??

Show quoted text

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 1:09?PM Lasse kb3wbt via <kvantlars=[email protected]> wrote:

So, in essence no hf antenna what so ever....
How about a couple of fan dipole's?
Say 80m, 40m, 30m on one, and 20m to 6m on one.
Inverted V configuration.
Kb3wbt

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 12:58 John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:
Everyone,

This morning Allen K3HOC and myself spent some time at the Clearfield County EMA building trying to sort out the mess of coax antenna wires to come into the amateur radio station area.??

The long answer:
There are six coax leads coming into our amateur operations area.? We determined there were cables for the 6m band antenna, three Comet GP-9 UHF/VHF antennas, and one UHF beam antenna.? The sixth cable has nothing attached?to it.? We presume this was intended for the HF antenna.

Allen spent some time investigating?cables coming down the tower that potentially could be for our HF dipole antenna.? None appeared to be from the HF antenna.? So either the cable has become completely disconnected at the?feed point on the tower, the coax cable may have?failed, or the antenna itself is just toasted.? We won't know the answer to that until someone climbs the tower to?investigate and test things.??

The short answer:
We could not locate a cable that appeared to?be the HF antenna.? Allen is going to consult with the county officials and come up with a plan to move forward.??

It appears this is going to take a while.? But we will eventually get it fixed.

Thank you and 73.

John N3SPW

--
John Szwarc
Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

--

John Szwarc

Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

Re: EMA Center HF Antenna Update

#92

So, in essence no hf antenna what so ever....
How about a couple of fan dipole's?
Say 80m, 40m, 30m on one, and 20m to 6m on one.
Inverted V configuration.
Kb3wbt

Show quoted text

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 12:58 John Szwarc via <johnszwarc=[email protected]> wrote:

Everyone,

This morning Allen K3HOC and myself spent some time at the Clearfield County EMA building trying to sort out the mess of coax antenna wires to come into the amateur radio station area.??

The long answer:
There are six coax leads coming into our amateur operations area.? We determined there were cables for the 6m band antenna, three Comet GP-9 UHF/VHF antennas, and one UHF beam antenna.? The sixth cable has nothing attached?to it.? We presume this was intended for the HF antenna.

Allen spent some time investigating?cables coming down the tower that potentially could be for our HF dipole antenna.? None appeared to be from the HF antenna.? So either the cable has become completely disconnected at the?feed point on the tower, the coax cable may have?failed, or the antenna itself is just toasted.? We won't know the answer to that until someone climbs the tower to?investigate and test things.??

The short answer:
We could not locate a cable that appeared to?be the HF antenna.? Allen is going to consult with the county officials and come up with a plan to move forward.??

It appears this is going to take a while.? But we will eventually get it fixed.

Thank you and 73.

John N3SPW

--
John Szwarc
Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

EMA Center HF Antenna Update

#91

Everyone,

This morning Allen K3HOC and myself spent some time at the Clearfield County EMA building trying to sort out the mess of coax antenna wires to come into the amateur radio station area.??

The long answer:

There are six coax leads coming into our amateur operations area.? We determined there were cables for the 6m band antenna, three Comet GP-9 UHF/VHF antennas, and one UHF beam antenna.? The sixth cable has nothing attached?to it.? We presume this was intended for the HF antenna.

Allen spent some time investigating?cables coming down the tower that potentially could be for our HF dipole antenna.? None appeared to be from the HF antenna.? So either the cable has become completely disconnected at the?feed point on the tower, the coax cable may have?failed, or the antenna itself is just toasted.? We won't know the answer to that until someone climbs the tower to?investigate and test things.??

The short answer:

We could not locate a cable that appeared to?be the HF antenna.? Allen is going to consult with the county officials and come up with a plan to move forward.??

It appears this is going to take a while.? But we will eventually get it fixed.

Thank you and 73.

John N3SPW

--

John Szwarc

Cell Phone: (814) 553-5649

Rig Expert

#90

开云体育

Maybe you’ve already heard about this. ? But the Rig Expert administration building in Kyiv Ukraine was destroyed by a 500 KG ballistic missile on February 12 th. ??

?

If you’re not familiar with Rig Expert, they are a leading developer and manufacturer of antenna analyzers, transceiver interfaces, and amateur radio software.?

Their website states all employees are safe and production will not be interrupted. Here’s a link to the website. Article about the incident: