NETNEWS

by WB6IXN

5/06/2009 10m Phone Net – W6ZE/HHC was NC wid AF6C feeling a bit ‘under-the-WX’!  HHC checked in  YHX, CF, WB9YCJ, and IXN.  OPs enjoyed a wedding picture of CF and his just married daughter…But not to be outdone, Nicolas’ other daughter gave him a new grandson last week!...Congrats, el Presidente!  YCJ will soon visit relatives in Indiana, and attend the Dayton Hamvention in Ohio while back East.  YHX and HHC discussed a sushi recipe which just might turn up sometime during Field Day!  It was 80 deg. F. in IXN’s shack tonite, and HHC said that at least 20 homes had already burned in the Santa Barbara Fire! 

5/06/2909 2m Phone Net – W6ZE/IXN checked in YHX, VDP, CF, RWU, HHC, and N1AB. Wid AF6C ‘under the WX’ no ARRL Audio News was aired…Bob may have eaten something that didn’t agree with him.  YHX hasn’t constructed his seismic antenna yet, and Cory has a carrier on 144.480 tonite.  VDP needs to replace a memory battery in the 2m/440 rig, and Larry is also experiencing a carrier sig at 144MHz even. VDP will attend the TRW Swapmeet at month’s end.  IXN has an article on SAPD participation in Baker-to-Vegas for HHC.  CF & IXN can’t hear each other on 10m since IXN got his new antenna.   CF told OPs that the Club might schedule an astronomy program for July.  IBH loaned RWU a Hygain antenna to help solve David’s communication difficulties (simplex) between the QTH and Calstate Fullerton…CF will loan David a beam antenna to try next.  SCE finally fixed HHC’s errant street light, and Ken just finished an article on Digital TV for ‘RF’.  AB, wid Field Day preparations mostly done, enjoys some quiet time.

5/13/2009 10m Phone Net – W6ZE/AF6C checked in RWU, IXN, YHX, HHC, CF, HC, and WA6RRJ(Dick).   HHC is resding a book on Egyptology, and Ken has no copy on RWU who ‘flew in and flew out’…David had a TS-120 rig problem.   AF6C, under the WX last week, has recuperated and is awaiting parts for his errant switching power supply.  RWU upgraded to General Class last week!...Congrats, David!  YHX now has the parts to construct his beam ant. to monitor San Servaine Seismometer…And Corey made a CW contact on 40m in Portland, OR.  CF & OPs had questions on E-QSLs, which HC answered with a detailed follow-up…Tnx, Arnie!...Try www.eqssl.cc for more info.  AF6C will air ARRL Audio News on the 2m Net.

5/13/2009 2m Phone Net – W6ZE/IXN checked in CF, YHX, AF6C, RWU, HHC, DOA, and IBH.  HHC says YHX can make a coax 4:1 balun vy easily, and Corey has a 10m vert. ant.  AF6C tells IXN how to use his computer to send pictures by email…and Bob/AF6C has May 8 ARRL Audio News ready to air.  IXN is looking forward to Fri. Club meeting wid a presentation on CW apparatus used over the years.  And CF told AF6C that his 1^st beam heading was much better than when Bob turned the beam toward Nicolas’ QTH on 10m!  DOA & AF6C will be off to repair talking books for the Braille Institute tomorrow.  And IXN thanked IBH for loaning a 2m beam to an OP in need.  AF6C then aired May 8 ARRL Audio News at 21:00 hrs PDT…Legislation before Congress, Bill HR2160, deals with an Enhancement Act that would extend PRB-1 to include legislation to restrict CC&Rs from prohibiting amateur radio antennas, etc., where used for emergency communications, and for CC&Rs to be included under PRB-1 legislation…FCC released its study of BPL Communications last week, omitting any reference to BPL interference being wide spread because it isn’t a point source of radiation…No ARRL Audio News May 15 due to the Dayton Hamvention…Tnx, Bob!  ARRL Audio News concluded at 21:28 hrs PDT.

5/20/2009 10m Phone Net – W6ZE/AF6C checked in CF, HHC, YHX, and IXN.  CF said one of the FD towers might have to have a minor repair, and, street light RF interference was again a topic of discussion.  HHC said one section of the tower might have a broken brace, and HHC has a defective window mechanism in the auto.  YHX listened to DX on a new 20m dipole, and Corey investigates PSK-31 software…AF6C will send Corey name of a PSK-31 software programmer.  IXN advertently switched on the RIT and paid the price of unwanted split operation for a few minutes! …Bob also has an ant problem in the shack.  ARRL does not have an ARRL Audio News for this week.

5/20/09 2m Phone Net – W6ZE/IXN checked in HHC, YHX, RWU, CF, and AF6C.  Other OPs must have been watching the Dance Finals on TV!  CF had a short burst of RF noise on 10m tonite from an errant street light as it came on, and Nicolas said a tower used at FD may need a minor repair.   And a window in HHC’s auto may have jumped out of track, or a loose cable, and will take Ken to the auto repair shop tomorrow.   AF6C & PFA will be off to repair talking books at the Braille Institute tomorrow.  HHC heard DX on 20m PSK-31: a UA3 in Moscow, a ZL1 in New Zealand, and a KM9 talking to Canada!   HHC also helped RWU wid a power supply problem on the TS120S rig, and RWU has lots of projects going on including ATV, extends ant height up 9 ft, and puts a ¼ wave ant on the HT improving reception, to name a few!   YHX spent the whole day improving his skills on PSK-31.  And CF said the Club needs a place to store Field Day equipment!  And AF6C mentioned COCOAMODEM PSK-31 software for Corey’s investigation.

5/27/2009 10m Phone Net – W6ZE/AF6C checked in W6HHC Ken, AF6CF  Nicholas, N6HC  Arnie, KE6YHX Corey.  Ken talked about digital ATV and the response to his article in RF. Nicholas offered to get AF6C's switching power supply checked out. Arnie updated us on an upcoming DXpedition to Midway Island. Corey is trying out PSK-31 using his MAC. AF6C recommended a program for the Mac called CocoaModem that is free and does numerous communications modes. It was written by a former Apple employee and includes PSK-31.  On two meters AF6C ran the ARRL Audio News for May 22nd from 0416Z to 0435Z.           de AF6C (tnx Bob)

5/27/2009 2m Phone Net – W6ZE/AF6CF checked in WB9YCJ, HHC, N1AB, AF6C, FKX, and RWU.  We thank CF for assuming NC duties while IXN & brother, Lee, were visiting niece & husband in the San Jacinto Mts.  YCJ, at the Angel game, had Q5, S9 sigs from the Stadium wid 5 watts using a Kenwood Tribander. Ken-YCJ also attended the Dayton Hamvention and said that attendance was down at the Flea Market this year.  HHC had a great time visiting wid family and grandkids. Ken-HHC said that ATV gear is going digital, making equipment more expensive and complicated to use!  See Ken's DATV articles in club newsletter. N1AB will give a copy of his license to Club meeting and AF6C will laminate it for Steve for a donation of $1.00 to the Club.  AF6C has correct voltages from the errant computer power supply, but the computer will not power up!...AF6CF commented that these cases are not uncommon!  FKX went to the NRA Convention in Phoenix and watched an excellent presentation on ‘The Battle of the Bulge’, visited with family, including his 100 yr old grandmother, and, with classes over, Doug is looking forward to Field Day.  RWU is looking for a stable support for his experimental antennas, and HHC promised David and CF to come up wid a 10m antenna design for small spaces.  AF6C then aired ARRL Audio News which concluded at 9:35 hrs local time (TNX, Bob), and CF then closed the Net.  We thank Nicholas, AF6CF, for assuming NC duties and these excellent notes that you have just read!