Care to try a Net Again?

windward54 · Jan 17, 2009

They are something of a compromise, but house lots around here are small. I'm even having trouble working out a radial system here as there is not that much of a yard either. Having a small yard is good for low maintenance though, as I would rather be on the boat.

Brian D · Jan 17, 2009

Just put the vertical back up, but without a ground plane or ground rod. Might jump to HD and get some copper tubing and pound that in. Had a short QSO to Oklahoma, so I am getting out. If I'm not sailing tomorrow, I listen in.

Just to confirm... 1700UTC (0900PST) or 1700PST (0100UTC)?

kb5rex · Jan 18, 2009

Brian, my understanding 1700UTC (0900 PST). Hope to hear you. If you worked OK yesterday then hopefully you can work me in OK today. 73's

Brian D · Jan 18, 2009

I'm there... well in about 3hr 6 mins. LOL But I think there is a contest still going on.

kb5rex · Jan 18, 2009

Net results

We managed to have four checkins to the "net" today: W1AN Ran, KB5REX Bob, K7AUX Chuck, and KF6BL Brian. We ended up on 14265 at 1700Z.

Chuck suggested we might try different times to see what works best starting maybe at 1700Z like today and then a couple hours later at 1900Z, etc. Any other ideas?

Being in the middle of the country I was able to hear everyone but I did have to point the beam to the west to work Chuck and I could hear Brian but he couldn't hear me although he and Ran could hear each other.

For those who couldn't make it this time maybe next week will be better conditions.

cscott · Jan 18, 2009

Good Morning,
Better success this morning. Got to talk to Bob, KB5REX, and Ran, W1IN. Bob was the strongest at about S7, and Ran came in next after he changed hi antenna at about S5. Brian, KF6BL checked in and both Bob and Ran were able to hear him. Just to close for us to hear each other.

Glad we made contact and maybe we can try it again next wee. Did anyone else try to check in, and if so what was your results?

73 Chuck K7AUX

Don S/V ILLusion · Jan 18, 2009

Sorry I missed it. Sounds like the band was open but unfortunately my driveway was full of snow which took precedence as company was expected.
73, Don - K1vsk

windward54 · Jan 18, 2009

Funny as I heard nothing where I was. I went up 5 and down 5, but did not get anything. Guess next time I need to get away from the dock.

windward54 · Jan 19, 2009

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I got squat and today I'm talking to Texas with a 5-9+ signal on 20 meters. The bands were a lot better for me today!

Brian D · Jan 20, 2009

Ran, that is what Satellites are for. LOL

windward54 · Jan 20, 2009

Where is the fun in that! Hey Brian, we'll have to give 60 meters a shot. You should be far enough away to get it yet close enough to hear.

Brian D · Jan 20, 2009

My antenna won't tune 60, but my tuner might. I'll play with it and see what happens. If my radio blows up, you'll have to give me your H40.5 in lieu of... LOL

windward54 · Jan 20, 2009

Brian, you'll have to come over and fnd me!

Brian D · Jan 20, 2009

I tuned to 60 meters but don't understand the band plan. Have to do some more investigating. The band was very noisy and there were only two digital signals on there.

windward54 · Jan 21, 2009

Brian, it is five channels, defined by a center frequency. But because you are required to have your signal centered on that frequency, the tuning frequency is different. Also there is a 50 watt maximum, all upper side band only. You have to log your use to show that you offset for any gain on your antenna. Only other item is that ham operators are secondary users; the government is primary. So if someone asks you to leave the frequency, you have to move. The five channels are:

Center Freq......Tuning Freq
5.332..............5.330.5
5.348..............5.346.5
5.368..............5.366.5
5.373..............5.371.5
5.405..............5.403.5

The reason I asked, is because friends I know who have used it say it is really great for short and medium range communications right now.

Brian D · Jan 21, 2009

Ah... got it. I've seen the 60m band plan and saw the tuning frequency but did not know one had to use that channel. The chart I have looks like all the space in between those channels are also usable.

windward54 · Jan 21, 2009

WHoops, made a typo on the first frequency it should have been 5332. I'll go back and edit it. And make sure you are centered on 5332, you have to tune your radio to 5330.5 though. Confused??? The way it was explained to me was that the centering had to take in consideration of the modulation. Because the tight width allowed, one had to tune to the tuning frequency to make sure you stay within legal limits.

Brian D · Jan 21, 2009

No, not confused. Just not understanding based on the chart I have. But I do understand it now. Cf is the center of the channel. Cf-1.5 is to offset for USB operation. Had it been LSB it would have been Cf+1.5.

Want to give it a try tonight? Say around 20:00 PST? Start on Channel 1 and work up ever 2 minutes if nothing heard?

Care to try a Net Again?

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