Slow Speed CW "Contest" (SST)
I heard some people calling CQ SST on CW today, and wasn't sure
what the SST was about, so I Googled it.
If you also aren't familiar with this, it's a twice weekly event,
an hour on Friday afternoons, and an hour on Sunday evenings.??
The official exchange is only name and state, though they
encourage brief greetings, etc.? A good way to get some practice
at with simple QSOs at a slower pace.? There were a bunch of
stations on 20 meters today participating.?? An alternative to the
high speed CWOPS sprints. ? Here is a description from the web
page:
Members
of the K1USN Radio Club, who are also members of the?, run a?one-hour?slow speed?CW
“contest,” called the SST.
For those who prefer a more leisurely CW pace or are new CW
operators or contesters, this just might be what you're
looking for!??
***Nov. 6th, 2022, US Daylight Savings Time ended***
?SST UTC times do not change
Fridays 20:00-21:00 UTC:?3-4pm?EST
Mondays
00:00-01:00 UTC:?7-8pm?EST?Sunday
Here is the web page address with all the
details:
I haven't delved into the contest aspect, I just
made a few QSOs today.? Maybe I'll look into it a bit more.
|
Reminder I will not be able to make the meeting tonight. Regards, Harry Ramos
On Thu, Nov 10, 2022, 12:43 PM Brian Donovan < k2as@...> wrote:
7PM, Webster Rec Center.? No Zoom connection for this one.
-- Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
7PM, Webster Rec Center.? No Zoom connection for this one.
-- Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
k2as@...
|
ZOOM -- Radio Lunch (without Ned) 12:00 PM, Thursday, 3 Nov 2022
Greetings:
I will not be able to join the lunch today; please
continue without me...
By popular demand, we will continue to meet via Zoom.
We will continue to avoid restaurants until the "covid" chatter
subsides...Lynn continues to set up our meetings...
==================================
Here is the connection information:
Lynn Bisha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Lynn Bisha <lbisha@...>
Thursday, November 3, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 723 118 1077
Passcode: RADIO
Please contact me if you have any questions...
Regards,
Ned, W2NED@...
585 734-1984
_._,_._,_
|
Re: XARC 2M Repeater Issue
FYI ...saw this today. might be of interest
_/) ? _/) ? ? ? _/) ?_/) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Wright62 Grand View Dr. Fairport NY 14450
3 Santa Maria Court Port St. Lucie FL 34952 585 771-0509 (cell text ok)
On Tue, Oct 25, 2022 at 1:34 PM Brian Donovan < k2as@...> wrote:
Thanks for all the comments.? So far,
it has not come back.? Hopefully it just was some unusual
propagation and a very very weak signal on or near the input with
a 110.9 Hz tone.? If it stays a rare occurrence, it shouldn't be
much of a concern.
Brian
On 10/21/2022 2:10 PM, Rink, Mike
wrote:
Hello gentleman,
I have read the threads on this issue. It
perhaps may be an enhancement on the Band.
Its possible that a repeater user is 15KC
spaced and glitching the repeater?
Keep a watchful eye on time of the day and
check the adjacent repeater frequencies while the interference
is occurring.
I have a spectrum analyzer and we can go
through the system.
Remember you just had a large temperature
change which will sometimes make squelch circuits do crazy
things.
?
Keep me posted on further developments?
?
Michael
Rink
Electrical
Project Manager
Utilities
and Energy Management
University
of Rochester
Cell
585-613-6241
jrink@...
?
?
?
?
Brian,
I am surprised that the squelch is
staying open. There has to be a tone present for that to
happen unless something is glitching somewhere internally.
Regarding the DCS, that also fails too. We recently lost a
repeater at RIT on the commercial side because the squelch
was being falsed by a bad preamp and the transmitter burned
up.? The DCS might be less susceptible to other ham
co-channel interference but I’m not sure that’s really
happening here.
If it’s not from QRN it could be from
QRM, as we’ve had an active jammer from time to time out
there.? At many of our repeater sites we are able to monitor
the input directly via our IP links and can shut off the
transmitter to see if the noise is still present.? I would
encourage an IP link at the Canadice site for enhanced
connectivity and linking directly on Echolink via Allstar,
for about $120 for an entire year. The server hardware for
that is a raspberry pi and a URI (universal radio interface)
with an LTE modem. ? We could possibly share the initial
cost for that with you, as long as your club carries the
$120 a year connectivity (which is pretty cheap these days).
?Just some initial ideas and you could then possibly even do
a C4FM link at that point directly to the repeater.
W2COP
?
On Oct
20, 2022, at 9:30 PM, Brian Donovan <k2as@...>
wrote:
?
FYI,
Tried to run
the net tonite, and whenever the incoming signal
dropped, there was some noise audible on the
repeater that was keeping the squelch open,
sometimes for several minutes.? It might also be
heard when someone is transmitting, but I didn't
get around to finding out as after the first
check-in, the repeater stayed on and I didn't try
to continue.
I am now able
to reliably and easily shut down the repeater
remotely, which I did.
I switched
the repeater back on in C4FM only mode, and I
don't hear an issue, but I have not fully tested
during a QSO.
It could be
caused by many things I suppose, but could be
something in the antenna system (poor connections
over time creating a diode effect).? Very hard to
troubleshoot, I have read.? There is a nearby
tower with some Ontario County equipment, not sure
what frequencies.?? I checked Mike's 440 machine,
initially I heard someone on it, but when they
stopped the interference was still present.??
Probably no other RF sources close by.
Possible
solutions/workarounds:
-
Goes away on its
own.? We had similar issue once a few years ago
that bothered the net, didn't hear again.
-
Check connections
(on the ground).
-
Change the RX and
TX Tone squelch to different frequencies.??
Maybe be the repeater TX tone being the same as
RX is enough to combine with noise to keep
squelch open?? The current DR2-X repeater allows
different frequencies for TSQ
-
Change Tone Squelch
to DCS (Digital Coded Squelch).? This might
effect old radios (maybe older than 20-25
years).? Based on the users I hear using the
repeater, not likely a problem other than
modifying a memory channel.? DCS has some
advantages, and has been around for a long time,
but not adopted much in ham radio.? The radio
sends a "close squelch" signal to the repeater.?
I think we'd lose the squelch tail, but not
sure.?
-
Visit the site with
a good spectrum analyzer.? See if anything can
be learned from that.? I don't have one handy.?
See what troubleshooting can be done.
For the
moment, I will monitor.? If the problem is
present, and only on FM, I will have the repeater
in C4FM digital mode only.
If it
continues to be a problem, I will go down to the
site, and try steps 2,3 and/or 4.? Hopefully we
don't need step 5.
?
?
Brian K2AS
?
--
Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
ZOOM -- Radio Lunch 12:00 PM, Thursday, 3 Nov 2022
Greetings:?
By popular demand, we will continue to meet via Zoom.
We will continue to avoid restaurants until the "covid" chatter
subsides...Lynn continues to set up our meetings...
==================================
Here is the connection information:
Lynn Bisha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Lynn Bisha <lbisha@...>
Thursday, November 3, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 723 118 1077
Passcode: RADIO
Please contact me if you have any questions...
Regards,
Ned, W2NED@...
585 734-1984
_._,_._,_
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
John, I was not able to get a good reading but from my home the
signal seemed to have bearing of about 280 deg.?
On 11/1/2022 12:11 AM, Jon Dickason via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
thanks for all your info.
Even not hearing it does help. I will be meeting with the
bridge crews to compare notes.
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
thanks for all your info. Even not hearing it does help. I will be meeting with the bridge crews to compare notes.
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
For the 10:30 net checkin on the 145.11 repeater the jammer was barely audible above the noise from my location on the input but when bridges 11-14 checked it the signal (tones) was S9 on the vertical antenna.
Sorry I was not more help in catching this person.?? If it was not dark out I would have switched from the 3 element to the 7 element to get a bearing.
steve/ka1cnf
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
I can hear the jammer from my location in West Walworth.
Signal was S1-2 at 9:30 but increased to S4-6 at 10 PM.
Sorry the beam I have connected is not narrow enough to get a precise direction.
More than 1 jammer?? Tones were coming in clear on input but person sounding? like he was disguising his voice and the music could not be heard on input here.
Lots of "flutter" as if mobile.
steve/ka1cnf
On Monday, October 31, 2022 at 07:33:52 PM EDT, Paul Kurrasch via groups.io <pek7826@...> wrote:
Little bit of jamming. ? ?I don’t have anything on the input in Webster for what it’s worth.
Paul, KC2GTO?
On Oct 31, 2022, at 6:48 PM, Peter W2SKY <pfournia@...> wrote:
? I'll take some directions if there is interference. Will hit the road if necessary?with my arrow antenna. I'll send addresses if someone wants to plot directions.
Peter f.
Peter F On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 1:03 PM W2NED < W2NED@...> wrote:
I set up to monitor 144.51 I will get a bearing if I hear it this
evening...
...Ned
On 10/30/2022 11:33 PM, Jon Dickason
via wrote:
there was a serious jammer on
the pumpkin patrol net tonight. The PP is on again Monday
night from 9 to 11 on 145.11. The input is 144.51 and the
jammer was heard mostly southwest monroe county, but could be
mobile. He was playing tones and music and strongly
interfering with the bridge reports. I'll be listening monday
night. please text me at 5852040413 if you hear the jammer.
Jon N2JAC
?
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
Little bit of jamming. ? ?I don’t have anything on the input in Webster for what it’s worth.
Paul, KC2GTO?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Oct 31, 2022, at 6:48 PM, Peter W2SKY <pfournia@...> wrote:
? I'll take some directions if there is interference. Will hit the road if necessary?with my arrow antenna. I'll send addresses if someone wants to plot directions.
Peter f.
Peter F On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 1:03 PM W2NED < W2NED@...> wrote:
I set up to monitor 144.51 I will get a bearing if I hear it this
evening...
...Ned
On 10/30/2022 11:33 PM, Jon Dickason
via wrote:
there was a serious jammer on
the pumpkin patrol net tonight. The PP is on again Monday
night from 9 to 11 on 145.11. The input is 144.51 and the
jammer was heard mostly southwest monroe county, but could be
mobile. He was playing tones and music and strongly
interfering with the bridge reports. I'll be listening monday
night. please text me at 5852040413 if you hear the jammer.
Jon N2JAC
?
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
I'll take some directions if there is interference. Will hit the road if necessary?with my arrow antenna. I'll send addresses if someone wants to plot directions.
Peter f.
Peter F
On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 1:03 PM W2NED < W2NED@...> wrote:
I set up to monitor 144.51 I will get a bearing if I hear it this
evening...
...Ned
On 10/30/2022 11:33 PM, Jon Dickason
via wrote:
there was a serious jammer on
the pumpkin patrol net tonight. The PP is on again Monday
night from 9 to 11 on 145.11. The input is 144.51 and the
jammer was heard mostly southwest monroe county, but could be
mobile. He was playing tones and music and strongly
interfering with the bridge reports. I'll be listening monday
night. please text me at 5852040413 if you hear the jammer.
Jon N2JAC
?
|
Due to general lack of participation and net control operators, the Thursday night XARC 2m Net is cancelled indefinitely.
There may be a local net starting soon using C4FM Fusion, but no definite day or time known yet.
For the near future. I am again connecting the repeater to the Southern Tier Fusion Net Sunday nights at 8PM, which allows check-ins, and also the MNWIS Fusion Technical Net on Mondays at 8:30 PM.? The MNWIS Net only has check-ins with questions or comments.?
Please listen to the net format and procedures before chiming in. I will likely be putting the repeater in digital only mode for these nets.
-- Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
k2as@...
|
Re: foxhunt opportunity monday night
I set up to monitor 144.51 I will get a bearing if I hear it this
evening...
...Ned
On 10/30/2022 11:33 PM, Jon Dickason
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
there was a serious jammer on
the pumpkin patrol net tonight. The PP is on again Monday
night from 9 to 11 on 145.11. The input is 144.51 and the
jammer was heard mostly southwest monroe county, but could be
mobile. He was playing tones and music and strongly
interfering with the bridge reports. I'll be listening monday
night. please text me at 5852040413 if you hear the jammer.
Jon N2JAC
?
|
foxhunt opportunity monday night
there was a serious jammer on the pumpkin patrol net tonight. The PP is on again Monday night from 9 to 11 on 145.11. The input is 144.51 and the jammer was heard mostly southwest monroe county, but could be mobile. He was playing tones and music and strongly interfering with the bridge reports. I'll be listening monday night. please text me at 5852040413 if you hear the jammer.
Jon N2JAC ?
|
Reminder: XARC 2 Meter Net
When:
10/27/2022
8:00pm to 9:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York
Where:
W2XRX Repeater 145.29 Mhz, Echolink KA1CNF-R Node 631707
Organizer: XARC
k2as@...
View Event
Description:
The XARC 2 Meter net is every Thursday at 8PM (except meeting nights - 2nd Thursday of month).? 145.29 Mhz W2XRX repeater and Echolink KA1CNF-R Node 631707.
|
ZOOM -- Radio Lunch 12:00 PM, Thursday, 27 Oct 2022
Greetings:?
By popular demand, we will continue to meet via Zoom.
We will continue to avoid restaurants until the "covid" chatter
subsides...Lynn continues to set up our meetings...
==================================
Here is the connection information:
Lynn Bisha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Lynn Bisha <lbisha@...>
Thursday, October 27, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 723 118 1077
Passcode: RADIO
Please contact me if you have any questions...
Regards,
Ned, W2NED@...
585 734-1984
_._,_._,_
|
We are looking for someone to serve as club Vice President for the upcoming year.? Let me know if anyone is interested.
Brian
-- Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
k2as@...
|
Re: XARC 2M Repeater Issue
Thanks for all the comments.? So far,
it has not come back.? Hopefully it just was some unusual
propagation and a very very weak signal on or near the input with
a 110.9 Hz tone.? If it stays a rare occurrence, it shouldn't be
much of a concern.
Brian
On 10/21/2022 2:10 PM, Rink, Mike
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello gentleman,
I have read the threads on this issue. It
perhaps may be an enhancement on the Band.
Its possible that a repeater user is 15KC
spaced and glitching the repeater?
Keep a watchful eye on time of the day and
check the adjacent repeater frequencies while the interference
is occurring.
I have a spectrum analyzer and we can go
through the system.
Remember you just had a large temperature
change which will sometimes make squelch circuits do crazy
things.
?
Keep me posted on further developments?
?
Michael
Rink
Electrical
Project Manager
Utilities
and Energy Management
University
of Rochester
Cell
585-613-6241
jrink@...
?
?
?
?
Brian,
I am surprised that the squelch is
staying open. There has to be a tone present for that to
happen unless something is glitching somewhere internally.
Regarding the DCS, that also fails too. We recently lost a
repeater at RIT on the commercial side because the squelch
was being falsed by a bad preamp and the transmitter burned
up. ?The DCS might be less susceptible to other ham
co-channel interference but I’m not sure that’s really
happening here.
If it’s not from QRN it could be from
QRM, as we’ve had an active jammer from time to time out
there. ?At many of our repeater sites we are able to monitor
the input directly via our IP links and can shut off the
transmitter to see if the noise is still present. ?I would
encourage an IP link at the Canadice site for enhanced
connectivity and linking directly on Echolink via Allstar,
for about $120 for an entire year. The server hardware for
that is a raspberry pi and a URI (universal radio interface)
with an LTE modem. ? We could possibly share the initial
cost for that with you, as long as your club carries the
$120 a year connectivity (which is pretty cheap these days).
?Just some initial ideas and you could then possibly even do
a C4FM link at that point directly to the repeater.
W2COP
?
On Oct
20, 2022, at 9:30 PM, Brian Donovan <k2as@...>
wrote:
?
FYI,
Tried to run
the net tonite, and whenever the incoming signal
dropped, there was some noise audible on the
repeater that was keeping the squelch open,
sometimes for several minutes.? It might also be
heard when someone is transmitting, but I didn't
get around to finding out as after the first
check-in, the repeater stayed on and I didn't try
to continue.
I am now able
to reliably and easily shut down the repeater
remotely, which I did.
I switched
the repeater back on in C4FM only mode, and I
don't hear an issue, but I have not fully tested
during a QSO.
It could be
caused by many things I suppose, but could be
something in the antenna system (poor connections
over time creating a diode effect).? Very hard to
troubleshoot, I have read.? There is a nearby
tower with some Ontario County equipment, not sure
what frequencies.?? I checked Mike's 440 machine,
initially I heard someone on it, but when they
stopped the interference was still present.??
Probably no other RF sources close by.
Possible
solutions/workarounds:
-
Goes away on its
own.? We had similar issue once a few years ago
that bothered the net, didn't hear again.
-
Check connections
(on the ground).
-
Change the RX and
TX Tone squelch to different frequencies.??
Maybe be the repeater TX tone being the same as
RX is enough to combine with noise to keep
squelch open?? The current DR2-X repeater allows
different frequencies for TSQ
-
Change Tone Squelch
to DCS (Digital Coded Squelch).? This might
effect old radios (maybe older than 20-25
years).? Based on the users I hear using the
repeater, not likely a problem other than
modifying a memory channel.? DCS has some
advantages, and has been around for a long time,
but not adopted much in ham radio.? The radio
sends a "close squelch" signal to the repeater.?
I think we'd lose the squelch tail, but not
sure.?
-
Visit the site with
a good spectrum analyzer.? See if anything can
be learned from that.? I don't have one handy.?
See what troubleshooting can be done.
For the
moment, I will monitor.? If the problem is
present, and only on FM, I will have the repeater
in C4FM digital mode only.
If it
continues to be a problem, I will go down to the
site, and try steps 2,3 and/or 4.? Hopefully we
don't need step 5.
?
?
Brian K2AS
?
--
Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Sorry to hear it was such a dismal turnout. Unfortunately?as much as I wanted to attend, I was out of town for the weekend, with the Mrs.? Regards, Harry Ramos
On Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 6:24 PM Brian Donovan < k2as@...> wrote:
A disappointing turnout yesterday for the Fox Hunt.? ? Just myself. Bob K2OID and Ross KC2LOC, all participating solo.? Thanks to Ned W2NED and Vince W2VAB for all their efforts and putting on a great hunt.? ?Sorry I couldn't stay for lunch afterward. But I
had fun, and drove by this:
-- Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Jon Dickason
Peter W2SKY