The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

Bulletin

Chuck Swedblom, WA6EXV, will present a program of amateur radio microwave communications. This will include a summary of the microwave ham bands and their band plans, how to get started, where to get hardware and where to find information.Chuck is well qualified on this subject. He has been a licensed Ham for many, many years and even admits to "bootlegging for two or three years in Idaho as a kid." He is an RF engineer specializing in microwave. He has his own ten and twenty foot dishes which he uses for amateur radio earth-moon-earth (EME). He has developed hardware for EME on 2450 MHz using a microwave oven magnetron as the RF source, rectangular rain gutter down spout as wave guide and his twenty foot dish. His ten foot dish is currently in use on ten GHz EME.Chuck is a one man source for anything in the amateur radio microwave realm. Come to ask questions, handle hardware, learn some basic hows and whys and get started in microwave.The San Bernardino Microwave Society recently presented him a Lifetime Achievement Award.“Chuck discovered major problems with widely-accepted Slot Antenna design formulas and software, produced an excellent antenna, and disseminated the results to other microwavers. This is a good example of the thoroughness he exhibits in every project, and in his desire to share his findings with others.”

Radio ClubThe Pasadena March 2011

Chuck SwedblomWA6EXV

March 22nd Speaker

Mapping the Moon with Microwave

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

Last month I indicated that our next step would be to buy and find out how to use an antenna tuner. Before we do that we need to decide whether we want an antenna tuner with a built-in cross needle SWR meter or not. Obviously the ones with no SWR meter will cost less than the ones that include a SWR meter. However, so far we have not purchased a cross needle SWR meter for our “virtual” shack, and we need one. A cross needle version is essential as it is very hard to use the single needle kind (takes many more adjustments). I like the convenience as there is one less piece of equipment on the operating desk and in the antenna feed line, so we will need to get the more expensive model.We will have a 100 watt transceiver, but it has been already decided that we should get a tuner rated for at least 150 watts as antenna tuners are notoriously “over rated” particularly at higher power levels. Arcing in the components can cause damage and limit the power you can use even with a good SWR.Placement of the tuner in our shack is easy. It should be placed between the antenna and the RF emitter using a short coax “jumper”. In our case that would be from the transceiver’s output (“HF ant”) and the end of the coaxial cable that goes to our dipole antenna. Just in case we decide later on to add other common antenna feed line “accessories”, the order from our transceiver out will be: first to the linear amplifier, then to a low pass filter (to decrease interference to household appliances…TVs, phones, radios, etc.) and then a cross needle SWR meter (if not built into the tuner) then to the antenna tuner, through a lightning arrester and on to the coax feed line to our antenna. Ground the tuner, lightning arrester and the chassis of the transceiver. It is also a good idea to have a grounded antenna switch with a connection to a “dummy load” in the antenna system in the shack somewhere, probably between the feed line coax and the tuner.Now how about actually tuning with your tuner? Well each brand and model is a little bit different and, when you buy one there are almost always good instructions included. Read the instructions for your model. There are a lot of details…follow them. Most tuners with built in SWR meters have a few more knobs and settings to contend with. Often there

is a “Tune” and “Bypass” switch or toggle button. Use the “Bypass” position when starting to tune to give you an indication of the degree of mismatch you will need to deal with. Particularly with a poorly tuned antenna, problems can be aggravated because of feed line lengths which are multiples or odd-multiples of a quarter wavelength at the operating frequency of the antenna. The best on-line antenna tuner manual I have seen in general, and specifically for working out “unmatchable” antenna problems is available at www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-962D.pdf . On page 8 it gives a very helpful list of coax lengths to avoid by band. Use the “Tune” position for making the adjustments with hints on how to adjust the “inductance” and two capacitance knobs (usually marked “antenna” and “transmitter”). Tuner manuals often give suggestions where to set them for the different bands. The MFJ manual pdf (URL above) has a Logged Tuning Chart where you can write down the settings for your most used frequencies.Remember to use low power CW mode from your transceiver and the lowest power setting for your SWR meter you can (down to 30 watts or so), at least when you are starting out.Finally, there is sometimes an “Antenna” knob to select the desired antenna connection. Ignore the “balun” and “wire” selections and connections on the back as we are using coax to a dipole. Well I think that covers the antenna system. We have been working on this general subject for a long time, so we will move on to decide on the transceiver we should acquire for our virtual ham shack. Next month we will start out with some general considerations such as the various functions and specifications that we need and those we can do without while staying within a reasonable price range.

For Sale a good 9+ condition Kenwood TS-440/sat. This includes stock internal antenna tuner, manual, power cord and Kenwood stock hand microphone. Also included is a soldered-in Kenwood YK-88c CW filter. Radio has never been mobile. Has been used as a backup station. Was serviced by Kenwood to eliminate the dot problem common for this radio (have invoice). Good starter radio. Asking $350 FIRM that is a good price just for PRC members. Harry, K7IB, <k7ib at arrl dot net>

Crown City HFTom Berne, W6TAG

Antenna Tuners #3

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Kenwood TS-440/sat HF Transceiver

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

Last month I posed the question - is Amateur Radio old fashioned? Well of course not! And the fact that Hams have been flying communication satellites in earth orbit for decades should be proof enough to anyone. But sometimes things don't go quite right on launch day as we found out a few weeks ago. Hams were attempting to put three small satellites into orbit in early March when... The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:09:45 UT Friday, March 4 on an Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket. The launch of the Amateur Radio satellites ended in failure.The rocket's fairing, the part of the rocket which covers the satellite on top of the launcher, did not separate properly, so the Taurus XL did not have enough velocity to enter orbit.

The rocket is believed to have crashed near the Antarctic; the Amateur Radio satellites Explorer-1, KySat-1 and Hermes were all lost.73 Bruce N1BN

The satellites, called CubeSats because of their shape, came from Montana State University, the University of Colorado and Kentucky Space, a consortium of state universities.CubeSats are in a class of small research spacecraft called picosatellites. They have a size of approximately four inches, a volume of about one quart and weigh no more than 2.2 pounds.To place these satellites into orbit by an agency expendable launch vehicle, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is adapting the Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer, or PPOD. This deployment system, designed and manufactured by the California Polytechnic State University in partnership with Stanford University, has flown previously on Department of Defense and commercial launch vehicles.

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Sub-audibleTomesBruce Nolte, N1BN

Three Amateur Radio Satellites Lost

More about “CubeSats”

- Adapted from an article by NASA KSC

Explorer-1, Montana State

Hermes, U of Colo

KySat-1, Kentucky Space

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

On February 10, Representative Peter King, a republican from New York and Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced H.R.607, the “Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011”. This bill, like many others, would provide for the construction and maintenance of a national Public Safety broadband network. Unlike similar bills now pending in the House and Senate, the cost of construction for this Act would be offsite by the FCC auctioning off, for commercial use, portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including the 420-440MHz frequencies. This would occur no later than 10 years after enactment of the Act.Members are encouraged to “Google”, H.R. 607 or visit the ARRL web site to gain additional information concerning this bill. The ARRL site suggests taking action now to encourage our representatives to not support H.R. 607 in its current form. The ARRL provides a sample letter, which provides a framework for customizing your own letter, addresses, fax numbers and other methods for communicating with your representative.The ARRL asks that when sending a letter which supports the ARRL’S position on legislation that you send it to our Washington lobbying firm, Chwat & Co. This alleviates the lengthy screening and security delays for regular US mail being delivered to congressional offices and provides Chwat & Co opportunity to deliver a package of letters to, and potential contact with, our representatives. After dating and signing my letter, I faxed it to Chwat & Co, located in Alexandra, VA, at fax number 703-684-7594. You can also email your letter to them at arrl@chwatco.com.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) -- a federation of more than a dozen public safety communications organizations -- has gone on record as sharing the ARRL’s concerns regarding HR 607, the Broadband for First Responders’ Act of 2011. The ARRL is actively opposing the legislation in its current form because Section 207(d) of the bill -- introduced in the US House of Representatives by Representative Peter King (R-NY-3) -- calls for the reallocation of 420-440 MHz for commercial auction. The ARRL, which is a member of the NPSTC Governing Board, has assured NPSTC members that its opposition is limited to Section 207(d) and that it supports the underlying objective of the legislation, which is to provide spectrum near 700 MHz for a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.Writing to ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, on March 8, NPSTC Chair Ralph Haller said: “We want to let you know that NPSTC’s Governing Board understands your serious concerns about Section 207 of this Act, and we share those concerns.” While reiterating NPSTC’s support for the remainder of the Act, Haller said: “NPSTC is very concerned about Section 207(d) of the Act and believes that the section needs to be amended to address the concerns of public safety and the Amateur Radio users.” See a copy of the letter below.Commenting on Haller’s letter, Sumner said that “it is gratifying to have the support of the NPSTC Governing Board in our effort to remove this provision from Rep King’s bill. Once our concerns have been satisfied, we hope Congress will proceed quickly to complete work on providing our First Responders with this important facility.”

Still waiting to renew your membership in PRC? This could be your last Bulletin if you wait any longer. The deadline has arrived for cutting off the mailings to lapsed members. Take a minute to write that check (for only $20) to support your club again. We don’t want to lose you!

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Arnie Welch, AF6PN

H.R. 607 Threatens 70cm, 420 - 440 MHz, Amateur Service Frequencies

NPSTC Says HR 607 “Needs to Be Amended”

- From the ARRL website, 3/10/2011

Time Has Run Out!

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011 page 5

March 8, 2011In attendance: Bruce Nolte, Peter Fogg, Richard Parker, Christopher Galante, Fred Lopez, Braddock Gaskill, Mark Seigel, Paul Gordon, Danny Schurr Meeting starts at 7:16 pmNo quorum - meeting will go on anywayTreasurer report: paid several bills and made a donation to Amateur Radio Newsline. 119 paid members and a Bulletin mailing of 96. Balance of club funds is $4,736.74. The insurance rider is on the way for Field Day. A discussion ensued about how the treasurer handles money for refreshments and the like. We may need to create a written policy on money for refreshments and reimbursement for speakers dinners. Maybe a yearly budget for the speakers dinners would work - with a limit of $20 or $25 for the speaker. VP report: speaker for March is Chuck Swedblom, WA6EXV speaking on microwave operation. No speaker is set for April and Kate Hutton K6HTN will speak in May. Education Chair: 11 Technician and 5 Generals and 3 Extras from the most recent class and exam. Great work Mark and congratulations to all of the students and upgrades. Field Day report: ask members at the next meeting to bring tables and E-Z Ups to Field Day. And plans for the June Field Day are moving along. A discussion ensued about the use or non-use of the Kaiser radio room for contests. Apparently the radio room issue is not going to be related to the long term use of Kaiser for club meetings. A discussion as to an alternate contest location ensued. Mike Dinko has offered his QTH and Danny Schurr has offered his. Discussion about the possible loss of part of the 440 band ensued. And a discussion about Clearwires 4G system about interference to GPS devices took place. Meeting ended at 8:45 pmMinutes taken and Submitted by Bruce Nolte N1BN

The PL-259 to BNC connector was the cause of my Packet station failure, on Sunday, when I was trying to connect to MIRDOR. An SWR bridge showed that nothing was getting to the antenna. Bada-boom bada-bing!73, Allen

President W6MES Mark Seigel w6mes at arrl dot net

Vice President KG6GTL Fred Lopez fred at x2y1 dot com Secretary KJ6HWL Jutti Marsh kj6hwl at arrl dot net Treasurer K7RWP Richard Parker rwp42 at me dot com Members At Large Chris Galante K6YZH Alan Denney KI6ZYW Danny Schurr W6XXB

Past Officers Fred Lopez KG6GTL Phil Barnes-Roberts WA6DZS Mary Bothwell AG6MB Tom Mikkelsen WA0POD Education Chair W6MES Mark Seigel w6mes at arrl dot net 818-430-5244

VE Team Liaison AB6LR Merrie Suydam ab6lr at arrl dot net 626-969-4409

Club Net KF6FEM Mike Dinko 626-797-8082 Bulletin Editor AC6VV John Minger ac6vv at arrl dot net 323-256-0046

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

KC7O asks, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Made on a Mac

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011page 6

Since last week’s 8.9 earthquake and tsunami, Japan faces widespread destruction, including power, fuel and water shortages. The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) HQ station JA1RL, along with other amateurs throughout the island nation, is maintaining the effort to support the disaster relief operation, according to IARU Region 3 Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP. “In less damaged areas, the electric power supply is being restored gradually and local amateurs have started to establish stations at shelters,” he said. The quake, whose epicenter was located off the coast of Sendai -- a city of 1 million people -- triggered tsunamis as high as 20 feet.Yamamoto said that JA1RL continues to operate as an emergency traffic center on 7.030 MHz, as well as 2 meters and 70 cm. It is receiving and reporting news from Japanese amateurs who are in the affected area. Using battery power or small generators, Japanese stations are active and are using various frequencies to exchange rescue and disaster relief operation information with JA1RL and others.“While 3.525, 7.030, 7.043 and 7.075 MHz have been mentioned as in use, it’s wise to keep those -- and all of the Center of Emergency frequencies -- clear of normal and non-urgent traffic,” said IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman Jim Linton, VK3PC, who added that there is no call for additional foreign radio amateurs in Japan.Yamamoto said that information is being coordinated as part of an organized rescue and relief effort and seems likely to continue for weeks and months to come. Quoting local news sources, Yamamoto said that the situation in Japan is getting worse. On March 15, police announced that 2414 people have been killed -- up from 1627 reported just 24 hours earlier -- and 3118 are reported missing. Some 55,380 houses and buildings were damaged by the earthquake and 3000 houses washed away by the tsunami.Rescue teams -- from Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, China, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Russia -- have arrived in Japan and have started their activities in the affected areas. In all, Yamamoto said that the Japanese government has received help from 91 nations and territories, as well as nine international organizations.

Yamamoto said that another worry in Japan is leakage of radioactive gasses at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

In October 2010, an agent from the FCC’s Enforcement Office visited Monroe, Michigan-based Doctor Radio’s CB Shop to find that the store was selling, among other items, a radio that was described as “an Amateur Radio that could operate on CB frequencies” that was modified to operate above the approved power limits. As such, the FCC issued a Citation to the store on January 4 for marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States in violation of Section 302(b) of the Communications Act and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commission’s rules.The equipment in question includes a Cobra 150 GTL DX. A store employee explained to an FCC agent that the transceiver had been modified to generate 170 W of power. The store employee further explained that the Cobra 150 GTL DX was an Amateur Radio transceiver that could operate on CB frequencies. If legally operated, the 150 GTL DX operates from 28-29.7 MHz; the CB frequencies are 26.965-27.405 MHz. Section 95.655(a) of the FCC rules prohibit radios that can transmit on both the amateur and CB bands. According to the Citation, the Cobra 150 GTL DX “offered for sale at Doctor Radio had both CB and Amateur Radio capability and therefore cannot be sold in the United States.”The FCC advised Doctor Radio’s CB Shop that if after receipt of the Citation, it violates the Communications Act or the Rules by continuing these sorts of sales, the FCC may impose monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation, and up to $112,500 for any single act or failure to act. In addition, violations of the Communications Act or the Rules can result in seizure of equipment through in rem forfeiture actions as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment.Doctor Radio’s CB Shop has until February 4 to respond to the Citation, either through a personal interview at the FCC’s Farmington Hills, Michigan office, or via a written statement.

Radio Amateurs in Japan Provide Communications Support after Earthquake - From the ARRL website, 3/15/2011

FCC Cites Retailer for Marketing Amateur Radios as CB Radios

- From the ARRL website, 1/6/2011

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

The Pasadena Radio Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Kaiser Permanente Walnut Center, located at 393 East Walnut Street, at the corner of Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena. Enter the parking structure at the Los Robles Avenue entrance and mention “Pasadena Radio Club”. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please sign in at the front desk and security will direct you to the meeting room.

Membership in the Pasadena Radio Club is open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio. Dues are $20 per year, $10 for students. Request a membership application at the club’s mailing address, on the club website, www.qsl.net/w6ka, or in person at the monthly meeting.

The Pasadena Radio Club, W6KA, conducts a weekly net every Tuesday night, except on meeting nights, at 7:00 p.m. The frequency is 145.180 MHz (-) PL 156.7. All licensed amateurs are invited to participate.

The club has a packet station on 145.630 and on 223.600 (cross-band capable) with a PBBS of W6KA-10 and a node name of MIRDOR.

There is also a Yahoo Group for club members at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRC-Club/. All members are invited to join as this allows for rapid dissemination of information to members via e-mail.

Bulletin Submissions: please submit any articles, photos, or ideas for future articles via e-mail to AC6VV at arrl dot net, please include “PRC” in the Subject line. Other modes of submission may be arranged in advance on an individual basis. Submissions are due by the Friday after the board meeting.

Permission is granted to use articles in this issue as long as “Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin” is credited.

Please submit any address or e-mail changes to the Treasurer.

Better Banking for Southern California123 S Marengo Ave., Pasadena

http://www.wescom.org/

page 7

Thank You

for your support of The Pasadena Radio Club, and amateur radio hospital

emergency communications

Download the Bulletin:http://www.qsl.net/w6ka/

The Berne Familywill Host March 22nd

Refreshments

www.cmprintmail.com

Coming up in April:

Using Your National Traffic System

Kate Hutton, K6HTN

The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - March 2011

P.O. Box 282, Altadena, CA 91003-0282www.qsl.net/w6ka/

In This IssuePage 1 Monthly SpeakerPage 2 Crown City HFPage 3 Sub-Audible Tomes, CubeSatsPage 4 HR 607Page 5 Meeting Minutes, Board RosterPage 6 Japan Hams, FCC Cites RetailerPage 7 Ads, Club InformationPage 8 Club Calendar

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This Month:

Mapping the Moon with Microwave

Chuck Swedblom,WA6EXV

Pasadena Radio Club, W6KA

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

PRC Net 7:00 pmPRC BOARD 7:10 pm

PRC Net 7:00 pm

PRC Net 7:00 pm145.180 - PL 156.7

PRC Net 7:00 pm145.180 - PL 156.7

PRC Club Meeting7:00 PM TRW Swap Meet

Chino Swap Meet

TRW Swap MeetPRC Club Meeting7:00 PM

Mar 20 Mar 22 Mar 25Mar 23 Mar 24Mar 21 Mar 26

Mar 27 Mar 29 Apr 1Mar 30 Mar 31Mar 28 Apr 2

NE ARES Meeting

Apr 3 Apr 5 Apr 8Apr 6 Apr 7Apr 4 Apr 9

Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 15Apr 13 Apr 14Apr 11 Apr 16

Apr 17 Apr 19 Apr 22Apr 20 Apr 21Apr 18 Apr 23

Apr 24 Apr 26 Apr 29Apr 27 Apr 28Apr 25 Apr 30

Slow Speed CW Net

Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm

Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm

Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm

Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm

Slow Speed CW Net

CQ WPX SSB Contest

CQ WPX SSB,

CQ WPX SSB,

Income Tax Deadline

Property Tax Deadline

AC100 Meeting

DX Convention,Baker to Vegas,

Easter

PassoverGood Friday