PVRC NEWSLETTER MARCH 1996
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT KE3Q RICH BOYD
VICE PRES KF3P TYLER STEWART
SECRETARY WA3WJD BRIAN McGINNES
TREASURER N3KTV JIM HORTON
HISTORIAN K3SA STEVE AFFENS
PVRC Charter Members:
W3GRF (SK), W3IKN, W4AAV (SK), W4KFC (SK), W4KFT, N0FFZ, W4LUE, W7YS,
VP2VI (W0DX).
PacketCluster Contest/DX System (MHz):
K3NA Frederick MD 145.630
W3LPL Glenwood MD 145.590 441.250
KE3Q Bowie MD 145.570 445.375
N3RR Rockville MD 145.510 441.325
N4OHE Mt.Weather VA 145.710 440.925
N4SR Woodbridge VA 145.530 *
WR3L Baltimore MD 145.610
K4FJ Mt. Vernon VA 145.770 *
* These nodes are separately operated and funded by the Rappahannock DX
Packetcluster Group. The others listed are sponsored by the Potomac
Valley DX Spotting Network.
PVRC on Internet:
Visit the PVRC Home Page, courtesy of K3SA, at:
http://www.access.digex.net/~k3sa/pvrc.html
Dues are by donation; the mandatory $10 dues have been discontinued. So
please send your donation - hopefully at least $10 - to Jim, N3KTV, 8527
Calypso Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20879-1522. Make checks payable to PVRC.
Thank you.
Newsletter Editor:
Dick Wilder, K3DI, 913 Shore Acres Rd, Arnold, MD 21012-1724. The
communication ports are: (410) 757-6706, FAX/modem 757-6720,
[email protected], and the DXcluster. The deadline for the April issue is
Monday, March 25.
March 11th is the next central meeting.
The meeting will be at the Public Library in Vienna, Virginia on route
123 outside the Beltway. Program: war stories and "teamwork at
multi-multi stations." Take the Beltway to VA Route 123 South (Chain
Bridge Road at this point). Cross over Route 7 and pass Tyson's Corner.
On right will be JKJ Chevrolet. Continue on 123 into Vienna where 123
becomes Maple Avenue. After passing Beulah Road (on right with light),
look for Park Street (about 3 blocks). Park Street has a light. The
Library will be along one block on the left, just before Center Street.
Entrance to the library parking lot is a left off 123 Maple. The lot is
just before the library itself.
Alternatively, if you take I-66 off the beltway, and exit at Nutley
Street toward Vienna, you will run into Maple Ave. A right turn takes
you into town. The library will be on your RIGHT just after Center
Street. Going this way, you will not have to make a left turn into the
parking lot across heavy double lanes traffic.
Some of the PVRCers get together at Chili's on route 7, Tyson's, before
the meeting and a few at the Pizza Hut afterwards. Best to check on the
147.000 repeater to determine the trend for the evening.
The PVRC Exchange by Ed Steeble, K3IXD [email protected]
[Order form last page.]
At the last meeting, KE3Q, Rich, announced that there are five outdoor
meetings planned for this summer. Also there is the upcoming Dayton
Hamvention and there are always local hamfests. Why not show the club's
presence by wearing a PVRC sweatshirt or T-shirt? Last year, K3MQH,
Dick, had both his stateside call and his DX call embroidered on his
shirt. It looked great. An order form appears elsewhere in this
newsletter. Orders must be postmarked by 31 March 1996 in order to have
the items ready to wear at Dayton.
The PVRC mugs have been received and distributed. I appreciated the many
nice compliments about them. W3LPL, Frank, and W3GN, Larry, were helpful
salesmen.
It was a pleasure dealing with the advertising company that did them. I
got the lead on the company from FRC's man, K2DOX, Alex. Maybe we will
do another order of mugs after the FCC issues the new call signs.
Meanwhile, I still have four mugs ($11 each, $15 if shipped). These,
like the others, have the three color logo on both sides, a bronze ring
around the top of the mug, and the mug is white, but without call signs.
The mugs are microwaveable and dishwasher safe.
For the new members, PVRC name badges can be ordered at anytime. To order
a badge provide your call sign, your name as it is to appear on the
badge, and $5 (or $6 if you want it mailed to you instead of picking it
up at a club meeting). Mail a check (payable to Brian) to WA3WJD, Brian
McGuinness, 4618 DeRussey Pkwy, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.
AA3HM, Craig, has distributed most of the QSL cards from the last order.
He plans to take another order in the fall of 1996. If you run out
before you consider ordering just enough cards to tide you over.
The club gets a discount by buying in "quantity," if you consider a
minimum of 20 shirts, 20,000 QSL cards, 72 mugs a "quantity." We can't
afford to stock items, nor can we or you afford a one-unit, one-time
order. Therefore we must take orders periodically (usually once a year).
The club makes a dollar or two on each item sold. These profits help
fund the club. Lets make the experiment of not collecting dues work. Of
course our treasurer, N3KTV, will still accept contributions.
Minutes, February 12, 1996, by Rich Boyd, KE3Q
The informal part, 20 or so guys at Topolino's Italian restaurant, Temple
Hills, MD at 6 PM or so. Good discussions.
The regular meeting, 7:30, Episcopal Church (courtesy WA3TAI and W3AZ) on
Manchester Drive, just outside the DC Beltway. Meeting ended 9:15 with
informal discussions until 10:15 and 147.0 repeater all the way home.
Thirty-one in attendance: KO7V, WV3B, WK3H, W3HVQ, AA6DC, W4JVN, KO4FM,
K3YDX, AA3KX, AK2P, K3ZO, WD3Q, N3AHA, WW3V, KF3P, W3LPL, N5OKR,
9K2SH,
WB3ECU, WR3L, N3KTV, WR3Z, W3FG, KE3KL, W2EOS, AA3HM, K3IXD, ND3F,
W3AZ,
W3ZZ, KE3Q.
The PVRC mugs are in. Very nice. Feeding frenzy as we located our own.
[See article at left. -ed] PVRC QSLs for those who ordered.
N5OKR brought his busted rotator along for everyone to see -- bunch of
greasy busted parts in a box -- with brief commentary.
KF3P reported on the WPX RTTY test and VHF test. ND3F/R spoke a bit
about roving. KE3Q spoke about sprint and the two kinds of CW exchanges,
with comments from KF3P, W3LPL, and others.
We watched the K2GL/N2AA classic multi-multi video done by Bill Leonard
some 12 years or more ago. No computers, radios were Drake TR7s,
KWM-380s, Alpha 77s, and at least one 75A-4. 10 towers on a big hill in
Tuxedo, NY, home formerly owned by W. Averell Harriman.
W3LPL and K3ZO made some comments about the upcoming ARRL DX test. When
a really weak DX station answers your CQ and you can't pull him through,
don't waste too much time trying.
KO4FM told us a little about a bunch of northern Virginia PVRCers going
down to W4MYA to help the M/M there this weekend (ARRL DX CW).
9K2SH told us a little about his operating during the Iraqi occupation of
Kuwait, and after the liberation (40,000 phone patches).
W3LPL agreed to host us for a summer meeting again this year, which
changes his every-other-year open house to every year -- at least this
will be the second in a row. We already have invites for summer meetings
from KT3Y, N3RR, W3YOZ (August Fowlfest) and the joint FRC/PVRC meeting,
which will be in PA/NJ/northern DE this year -- no details given to us
yet. No dates for any of our summer events yet, but it looks like we'll
have 5 summer events.
PVRC is growing fast and it should be interesting to watch our club
scores get more competitive versus the big unlimited clubs. We encourage
you to get on for the club competition contests, especially the biggest 2
of the winter and spring season, the ARRL DX CW and ARRL DX phone. Even
smaller scores add up! Consider working a bunch of the common ones in
addition to working on band countries -- run up a few hundred QSOs if you
can. And, be sure to send in your log and mark PVRC as your club
affiliation.
Almost 40 guys have given PVRC donations this year so far. Remember, we
went over to a donation system from dues to try to open the club up more
to the casual operators. So, when you can, send in what you can to
support the club. Treasurer is N3KTV, Jim Horton, CBA or SH/STA N3KTV on
packetcluster. We've had guys send in from $10 to $50 each, with the
typical one being about $15. Don't let that deter you; if you can send
$3 or $5, please do.
We did vote some guys into membership. [See list of new members. -ed]
(for WA3WJD, Sec).
NW Regional Meeting, February 20th, by Tyler Stewart, KF3P
The meeting was called to order about 8PM at Legends Restaurant in
Frederick, MD. In attendance were members: KF3P, N3RR, W3LPL, W3GHR,
K3IXD, K3MQH, K3ZNV, W3ZZ, N5OKR, K3SKE, W8BOZ, and guest Pat Chiles,
AA8NY of Charles Town WV.
With the absence of a "program", lengthy introductions were made around
the table, highlighting recent contest experiences in January VHF SS and
ARRL DX CW. KF3P expounded on the trials and tribulations that resulted
in a KF3P@KF3P using KE3Q entry in the recent IDRA RTTY WPX contest!
K3IXD brought along a few PVRC mugs for sale and distribution. He also
mentioned trolling for interest in another PVRC T shirt order... possibly
grey this time. If you are interested, please contact Ed.
On show and tell, N5OKR brought his now famous exploding Yaesu
rotator...it is indeed a mess! Apparently due only to wind stress, the
whole rotator practically self destructed including putting a hole in the
outer casing. KF3P brought along his recently acquired Yaesu FT1000MP
for scrutiny.
I don't remember who motioned to adjourn, but N5OKR seconded, and
everyone was in favor!
The next NW regional meeting will be held on March 19th (third Tuesday)
at Legends Restaurant the Hampton Inn located at the corner of I-270 and
Route 85 in south Frederick. Usually we have dinner at 6 pm with the
meeting at 8 pm. Talk-in on 147.000 repeater.
Historic Electronics Museum ARC
by Rich Boyd, KE3Q
The Historic Electronics Museum ARC, invited us to speak about the
packetcluster at their meeting on the evening of February 21st. I say
"us" because WR3L was originally scheduled, then couldn't make it, and I
filled in.
K3RA provided a "boxlite" that, combined with an overhead projector,
projects your computer monitor screen onto a big screen so everyone can
see it. We had a good connection to the cluster from HEMARC, which is
located near Westinghouse and BWI.
Many of the HEMARC members were very interested and the talk went well.
Some had tried packetcluster and had become confused and this talk helped
explain things. Others hadn't ever tried it but want to now. I demo-ed
many of the popular features, how to connect, how to disconnect, how to
send mail, and how to send spots.
Laurel Amateur Radio Club Visit, KE3Q
The Laurel ARC has invited PVRC to make a presentation at their meeting
next Wednesday night [28 Feb - Ed] in Laurel. I will be going to tell
them who we are, what contesting is all about, what we are doing to build
PVRC, and that we welcome their participation, etc. I invite any PVRCers
who are interested to join me there to meet the LARC guys and introduce
PVRC. For more details on time and place, contact me or W3DQI, who is
active on the KE3Q node and is responsible for this invitation.
LARC is the club well known for conducting the testing sessions at
Maryland Radio Center. Of course they are not a contest club as such
(PVRC is the only contest club I know of in the MD-DC-VA region -- and
throw in the parts of nearby states that we encompass -- S. DE, E. NC, S.
central PA, E. WV) but do have a core of members who do get into FD, SS,
and DX tests. PVRC wants to wholeheartedly make them welcome in PVRC so
that we can contest together in the most effective way possible. And...I
think our contesting experience in the region is enhanced when the active
contesters, whether casual or all-out, get to know each other. I
personally enjoy being in a pileup and recognizing a lot of the calls in
there.
We welcome these new PVRC members.
KG4O, Al Bianchi, Chesapeake, VA, lic. since '67, formerly WA2BCN.
Operated casually in ARRL 10M, FD, CQWW CW and 160M tests in '95, up to
100 QSOs. Has 5BDXCC, DXCC, WAS all CW. Ten Tec Omni C, tribander, Ten
Tec Hercules II amp, zepp 160-10, 80-10 vert. Likes DX chasing.
KO4MR, advanced, Richard Eckman, Hampton, VA, NASA Langley Research
Center, lic. '91, x-KD4AUS. Has been on the multi-op team at W4PRO since
'91, has made over a thousand QSOs in some contests. Has DXCC (227).
Also in a couple local clubs down there, including VP of one. TS850,
FL-7000 amp, R5 vert. Interested in ionospheric radio propagation.
WD4GOY, extra, Ed Robinson, Virginia Beach, lic. '61, x-KN4CLJ.
WB4DNL, extra, Gary Chittum, Virginia Beach, lic.'65, formerly WN4ZBE.
One of the ops at W4PRO, "frequent single op entrant in ARRL DX and 10M
contests, CW," and operated ARRL 160M test in '95 single op. DXCC, 40M
DXCC, FT-990, FT-757GXII, indoor dipoles/wires in attic due to covenants
and restrictions. Also interested in 6/2/70cm CW/SSB though not active,
computers, and a NASCAR fan.
W4HM, extra, Walter Honea, Virginia Beach. Appears to be a PVRC member
sponsored by W4KFC in '61. First lic. in '36, previously W4YGY, W5MCT,
and W9YRS. Was VA section winner 40M single band in CQWW CW last year,
4th call area 20M champ in '66 and '65, SS section winner in LA in '52
and '55 and NTX winner in '57, '58, '59, and '60. Has DXCC and other
awards. A member of yet another local club down there so can recruit
more for us. Omni-VI, 85' crankup, 80M windom. Also likes tree farming.
W1WTG, extra, Charles Chapman, Virginia Beach. Lic. '52. In the last
year he was in the Bermuda Contest, ARRL DX, FD, and CQWW. Has DXCC,
WAZ, and others. In several local clubs. TS-130, 430, 440, Yaesu 2100B,
TET 3-el. "I operate in Maine in the summer, Florida in the winter, and
Virginia in between."
W4PRO, extra, Jim Wise, Hampton, VA, retired NASA and Lockheed engineer.
first lic. '46. Formerly W8YHV, VP2MDX, FG0CXV/FS7, VP5VEC, CE0/W4PRO,
SV5/W4PRO. QSO totals in several contests in last few years ranging from
450 to 2,200. First place M/S S.AM in '81 WW phone from CE0. Local club
member (SPARK). FT-1000, 940, Alpha 86, 87A, TH7/TH6 100/55', 6/6 15M at
100/50', 6/6 10 at 80/40', 2-el 40 95', 4-el wire beam on 80, 2-el wire
beam on 160, 160M full wave loop, EWEs.
NW3K, extra, Charles Harding, Virginia Beach. first lic '82, formerly
KA6VEL, N4IBY, KK4FV. Regular SS participant, FD, CQWW, ARRL DX. Has
DXCC. VBARC member. Yaesu FT-757, Ameritron AL80. Cushcraft A3,
vertical, windom.
K4IX, extra, Elias Etheridge, Jr., first lic '37, formerly W3HAE, W4KYD,
W9RGN, opped from Japan after WWII as W3HAE/J. "I work Field Day every
year -- have my own group, 1A going under name of Buster's Beach Bums --
operate CW with small elite group extra class hi-speed CW guys. Have my
own 5 kW gen. Usually work SS CW test as multi-op 100W station, 1993 and
1994 operated from Delaware section. In DX tests I am a CW operator at
super-station W4PRO." Has DXCC. Copies 50 WPM in his head. Works CW 2
hours every morning. Was assistant section manager for Virginia under
W4KFC, then SCM of VA. Director and 1st VP of "Virginia Air & Space
Amateur Radio Group, Inc." Other positions of responsibility in ham
organizations listed. OMNI-V, 80M full wave delta loop, and some backup
gear. "Was traffic net op prior to WW II and with W4KFC and Ev Battey,
W4IA. I was one of the founders and charter member (1947) of Virginia
Net (7 PM 3680 kc then and still going strong - same time & freq).
Collects antique radio gear. Headed up collection of antique radio gear
for display in the Air & Space Center in Hampton VA last year.
W4IF, extra, H.G. Gwaltney, Porsmouth, VA. First licensed in '29. 223
QSOs in ARRL DX CW last year, 107 QSOs in CQWW CW in '94. DXCC 368
mixed. FOC member. TS940, 2-500Z amp, uses CT on a 486, TH7 @ 40-60 ft,
vertical, wire dipoles. Also likes DX and contests with RTTY.
W4ZYT, Donald F. Lynch, Jr., extra, Virginia Beach. Urologist by
profession. First lic. '59 as KR6ZK and had calls WA2FBS, KG6JCT, and
EI4VTJ/p. Opped JARL DX test from KH2 in '93, first place 15M, several
other small tests like HA, RSGB, EI. ARRL DX CW and SS CW in the last
few years. First in Virginia high power in '93, 3d in NC in '94 as a
M/S. Also on M/S from NC in '95. Various (many) DXCCs. In local club
Danville ARS (VA), others, and the interesting sounding "Irish Radio
Transmitters Society." FT-1000D, FT-890, Heath SB-1400, Alpha 87,
SB-1000, Sommer XP 807 @ 60', Butternut vertical, 80M inv vee. Other
interests: "Some CW traffic work, writing (medical and ham radio), FD
and the Norwegian Lady Special Event, speaking on ham radio to clubs and
other groups. A DXCC Field Rep and a checkpoint for WAZ, CQDX, WPX."
N4AIG, extra, O.B. Corning, Virginia Beach. First licensed in '76.
Formerly WB4YIU/VO1. Clean sweep in '95 CW SS at W4ZYT. "Operate all
Sweepstakes and DX contests to some degree trying to complete my 5BDXCC.
Operate FD and at least one special event each year, all CW." DXCC
235/225. President, Tidewater Morse Code Society, other clubs. TS-530,
Clipperton-L, windom @ 30 ft.
N3AHA - Ace Jansen, Extra, Ashburn, VA was first licensed 1978. Old
callsign WB3LLX. DXCC(300), WAS, WAZ, IOTA(200), US-CA (ALL) #506, HF
mobile, FT900, writes county hunter column for Worldradio.
AA3KX - Jack Ference, extra, Columbia MD first licensed 1964, old call
WA3BEX, Anne Arundel Radio Club, TS-450, 10m and 20m dipoles. Jack and
his wife Diane, N3VBL, joined the KA4RRU/W4IY multiop in CQWW, and now
Jack has been helping the W3GG contest team.
KC4DY - Gordon Garrett, Extra, Elliston, VA is the first of our new SW
Virginia members. He has FT1000, Alpha 87, TH7 and 2-el 40m yagi
1995 ARRL Eligibles
by Brian McGinness, WA3WJD
The following list was sent to the League as meeting their 2-meeting
requirement. It is based on meeting attendance records submitted to me
by February 25th. AA3HA AA3HM AA4I AA4KD AA4XU AA6DC AK2P K1HTV K3DI
K3IXD K3LYW K3MQH K3NA K3RA K3SA K3SKE K3SME K3SO K3TLX K3WX
K3YDX K3ZJ
K3ZNV K3ZO K6IR K7SV K8OQL KA3TGY KC3AG KC3EK KC3RN KD4BK KE3KL
KE3Q KE9A
KF3P KJ4VG KN4ZT KO0U KO4FM KO7V KT3Y KU3M KW4T N1KCE N3GB N3II
N3JT
N3KTV N3ORY N3RR N3UN N4MM N4MO N4QQ N4RA N4ZR N5OKR ND3A ND3F
W2EOS
W3ABC W3AZ W3AZD W3CPB W3EKT W3GHR W3GN W3GNQ W3HVQ W3LPL
W3UJ W3XE W3YOZ
W3ZZ W4DM W4JVN W4RW W4VC W6AXX W9LT W9VL WA3TAI WA3WJD
WA6GVC WB2BZR
WB3ANE WB3ARZ WB6VGI WD3A WD3Q WF3J WK3H WR3E WR3L WR3Z WV3B
WW3V.
PVRC News Briefs
There has been much on the Internet DX-reflector about obscure QSL
policies and folks discarding DXpedition logs. It was refreshing to hear
from Carl, K4OD. He sports the PVRC card and he will QSL any of his old
calls: OA4DX, 9D5B, EP2OD, EQ2ITU, HP1XOD, PY1ZAL, KY4ITU, AD4OD, W4TKN,
and W2IWP. His QTH is POB 1340, Front Royal, VA 22630-1340.
Bernie, WR3E, is trying to work and QSL everyone that uses PVRC cards.
He is looking for AA4KD, KE3KL, KH2T, K3SKE/KP2, KT4W, W4JVN, and WA3TAI.
Product Review:
Force12 EF-320, 3-Element 20 Meter Monoband Yagi Antenna
By David Klimaj, W4JVN
Background. For many years, I have desired to build a contest station
outside of the Washington, DC area to take advantage of a location
suitable for both radio and retirement. Such a site was found 100 miles
South of DC on an island in the Chesapeake Bay.
My antenna purchasing decision was a function of performance, capability,
size, wind load, weight, and price. With performance in mind, I recalled
my first beam in the early 1960's. It was a $15 Gonset 10 meter
3-element monobander purchased at the original Radio Shack in downtown
Boston. The lesson learned was that monobanders work well and that they
have no traps. Through the years home lot size limited me to various
triband antennas. Now after 36 years, I can up-grade to a greatly
improved antenna situation and take advantage of being on 20 acres
surrounded by water.
We are all familiar with the antenna ads from manufacturers such as
Cushcraft, Hygain, KLM, Mosley. Over the years, I have purchased their
products. However, recent ads by Force12 have raised considerable new
antenna interest in the amateur community.
I obtained and studied the Force12 product catalog which outlined new
approaches to antenna construction. I liked what I read. The strong
lightweight monobanders got my attention. Finally, I decided that I
wanted monobander performance like I first had in the early 1960's. At
this stage of the sun spot cycle, I decided that a 20m monobander would
best suit my needs. The weight, size, wind load of the EF-320 seemed
ideal for the windy Chesapeake Bay. To learn more about the EF-320, I
called Tom Schiller, N6BT, at Force12. He informed me of his antenna
design and construction; and answered my specific EF-320 questions. Tom
was very helpful. We had a long discussion on gain. I won't try to
analyze that subject here. However, I believe that a full size
monobander gain has to be better than the gain of a smaller trap
tribander when one considers the physics of the antennas. There is no
free lunch in antennas.
As I stored all this data into my purchasing decision process, only one
thing bothered me. Who owns one? I wanted to find the consumer ahead of
me. I put out notices on the Packetcluster, but no one had a
monobander. In fact, no one said they had a Force12 product. Yet,
several comments I received said, "If you buy one, let me know". Final
comparison of the EF-320 specifications (weight & wind load) to the other
major monobanders lead to my decision to order the EF-320.
The Antenna. Four weeks after placing the order, the EF-320 came in a 7
foot x 8 inch x 10 inch box via UPS. The 18 foot boom came in three
pieces made out of 2 inch 6061-T1 aluminum. The 3 elements were each
taped in separate bundles. The element material varied in diameters from
1.000 down to 0.375 inches. Element component lengths varied between two
to six feet. Also included were the Easy-On mount, hairpin match,
optional Force12 balun, stainless hardware, and instructions. Upon
examining the parts to make sure I had everything, one thing stood out.
There were no hose clamps to mess with. The elements are assembled with
pop rivets. This different approach provides strength and reduced
weight. I also noticed that the element-to-boom brackets were riveted to
the boom sections at the factory, which pre-aligns all three elements
parallel. One less problem to worry about.
I started the assembly with one element section at a time. The sections
were clearly marked. It was impossible to put it together wrong as each
piece of aluminum was marked and pre-drilled for 3 rivets. If the rivet
holes did not align, then you picked up the wrong part. All the tapered
element sections fit well and assembly was only limited to the speed you
could pop in the rivets. After I built the 3 elements, I placed them on
wooden horses and sprayed them with clear plastic spray to protect them
from the salt air. "U" bolts were later used to bolt the elements to the
boom brackets. The Force12 Easy-On mount was another nice surprise. The
mount consists of two plates mounted at 90 degree angles; one to the boom
and one to the mast. When these are aligned and bolted together, the
beam sits on the mast parallel to the ground. It took about 2 hours to
assemble the antenna, as I was careful to read the directions and check
the measurement of each piece of element tubing. I believe I could put
another one together in one hour. Final assembly includes attaching the
hairpin match, balun, and coax. For my station I placed the EF-320 on a
fold-over tower at 52 feet. Seven feet above the EF-320 I placed an old
10 meter 3 element monobander, which was a gift from WB4UUE, to give me
10m capability. This was completed 2 weeks before the 1995 CQWW SSB Contest.
Operation. Initial VSWR check at the shack shown the following:
14.000 1.1
14.150 1.3
14.200 1.4
14.300 1.6
14.350 1.7
While I made a few QSOs, the real test was the CQWW SSB. In the crowded
20m band the antenna performed very well. I made over 500 Q's and took
time out to work XZ1A on CW with ease. All this done concurrently with
building a house.
When I compare the EF-320 to the old Mosley tribander that I had on the
tower, I noticed that the 20m beam just floats in the strong Bay winds;
while the Mosley flapped in the wind and so would the SWR. My early
morning openings to Europe brought good size pileups in the months that
followed. Long path openings to Asia were easy to work. This was
getting to be fun.
Then the bad news! The January '96 Blizzard also delivered a severe ice
storm. AC4HB told me that the ice damaged his 3 element 40m KLM beam.
Now I was worried. I was not able to check on my antennas until 2 weeks
later. As I approached my property, I saw many pine trees snapped by the
ice. When I reached the house, my dipoles were on the ground. A large
12" pine tree broke and landed 4 feet from a tower guy. Looking up, I
saw the 10m beam with its elements bent down; but to my surprise, the
EF-320 stood without damage! Clearly, the Force12 passed a major test.
I should add that a December NorthEast storm brought 70+ mph winds and no
antenna damage either.
Conclusion. I feel that the selection of a Force12 antenna was a good
one for the severe Bay environment. I am pleased with its performance.
Future plans call for another tower to hold a 4 element 15m beam and a
replacement 10m beam. These will be Force12 beams. I am also building a
160m vertical. If that works, I'll tell you about it.
________________________________________
ARRL VHF SS Contest Claimed Scores
for PVRC by Tyler Stewart, KF3P
Call Class QSO's Grids Score
ND3F/R Rover 556 115 126,155
WA3WJD/R Rover 202 49 11,270
N3KKM/R Rover 301 32 9,632
ND3A/R Rover 180 34 8,920
WB3ARZ SO 450 83 48,223
K3ZO SO 315 54 17,010
WB4NFS SO 178 55 12,870
WB2BZR SO 65 16 1,440
N3UN SO 71 9 738
KA3TGY SO 72 9 648
N3II SO(FM) 68 6 408
W3GN SO(CW) 31 10 310
W3FG SO 276
K3MQH LM 1710 220 487,960
Ops: K3MQH K3RA KF3P N3KTV K3IXD N3EYB W3GHR WF3T W2EOS
K1RZ UM 1226 246 469,368
Ops: K1RZ WR3E W3ZZ WA6GVC WD8ISK
Total Score Claimed for PVRC: 1,195,228 (from those listed here)
Note: These are only the scores I was able to collect from packet. If
your score is not here and it should be, please get it to me anyway
possible: packet, email [email protected], or 301-414-5444.
This very well could be the top club score for this contest! Last year's
winner, Rochester VHF Club had approximately 1.2 million, but this year's
scores were down by most accounts, so a PVRC win is quite probable!
Thanks to all PVRC members who got on to give out some points!
_________________________________________
ARRL DX CW Contest Claimed Scores for PVRC - collected by Tyler Stewart, KF3P
Call Hrs Class QSO's Mults Score
ZF2OP(K3DI) QRP 983 161 * 474,789
[* Doesn't count in PVRC total. -ed]
N4ZR 36 SOLP 960 199 573,120
W3UJ SOLP 541 181 293,763
N3II SOLP 480 187 269,280
KI4RO SOLP 241 126 91,098
K3ZO 44 SOHP 2412 315 2,278,395
KT3Y SOHP 2390 291 2,086,470
W3HVQ SOHP 866 219 568,962
W3AZ SOHP 482 184 266,064
W3GN SOHP 432 165 213,840
WK3H SOHP 350 136 142,800
NY3C SOHP 218 122 79,788
W4JVN SOHP 106 70 22,260
W3TMZ 40M-HP 173 57 29,583
N3RR 30 SOA 1070 306 981,342
K3SA 23 SOA 1031 211 650,724
AA6DC SOA 582 245 425,565
N3AM 8.5 SOA 537 155 249,705
WR3L SOA-LP 409 141 173,007
KN4ZT SOA-LP 345 161 165,186
W3FG SOA-LP 307 150 138,150
K1HTV 7 SOA-LP 305 124 113,460
K3DI(WD4IEH) SOA 221 91 60,333
W3GG(+AA3KX) MS 1331 299 1,191,216
ND3A@KF3P M2 1539 339 1,564,146
(+WR3Z)
W3LPL #1USA MM 4195 476 5,956,120
(+WA3WJD AI3M ND3F WR3E WB2Q KE3Q KO7V KF3P K3RA K3RV)
W4MYA MM 2831 400 3,397,200
(+WA4QDM KA4RRU K7SV KO4FM WB4NFS K3TLX NJ4F)
Scores that didn't list power were assumed to be high. Please send me any
corrections for the final tally.
I know I am missing a lot of scores at this time. If I don't have yours,
please get it to me via Packetcluster, [email protected], 301-414-5444, or
the next PVRC meeting. I will also be collecting ARRL DX SSB scores for
the next newsletter.
Congratulations for a lot of FB efforts under what were, at times, very
tough conditions!
You can stop by my house and pick up your items; or get them at a central
or NW regional PVRC meeting; or have them "UPSed" to you. The S&H fee is
$4 for one item or $8 for two or more items.
Shipping and handling fees enclosed = $____
Your name and call:
Street Address:
City, State, ZIP:
Total $________
Questions? Contact Ed Steeble, K3IXD at (410) 489-7616 7:30pm to 10:00pm
daily, PacketCluster K3IXD > W3LPL, or email [email protected]. Make
checks payable to Ed Steeble, not PVRC. Mail orders to Ed Steeble,
K3IXD, 14020 Celbridge Ct, Glenwood, MD 21738. Orders must be post marked
by 31 March 1996 so that items will be ready for Dayton and the other
upcoming PVRC activities.
PVRC Order Form Order Form