On Tuesday evening, July 15, 2014, EARS members David Ross and Jody Huneycutt attended the July meeting of the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL) at the invitation of Tom Koch, who is a member of both organizations. The program was Fox Hunting and NFARL members possessing radio location antennas brought them in anticipation of a Fox Hunt on the grounds of the North Fulton Park where the meetings are held.
The hunters were divided into four groups, each with a group leader (anyone who brought an antenna). Since only three NFARL members brought antennas, the leader of the 4th group was EARS member Jody Huneycutt, who brought his tape measure Yagi-type antenna to the meeting.
One of the other three groups was led by Tom Koch's neighbor, who brought his Ed Fitzpatrick design antenna (made from one of the two antenna kits Tom bought at June's EARS meeting).
As to the results of the hunt, none of the groups with the specific fox hunting antennas found the fox in the five minutes allotted to each group. The signals were too strong and all the antennas indicated the same signal strength in every direction. None of the antennas had any provision for attenuating the signal.
The only person actually finding the fox (a transmitter identical to the one featured in the video shown at our January meeting, wherein the hunt was for a missing Easter bunny) was an NFARL member who used his HT with the small rubber duck antenna, and who shielded the antenna using his body and a sheet of aluminum foil wrapped 3/4 of the way around the radio. When he got a nulled signal in this manner, he knew the transmitter was in the direct opposite direction from which he was facing.
The hunt and the presentation were enlightening. The presenter had won a wall plaque trophy in a fox hunt held in Texas in the late 70's. The slide show can be accessed via the NFARL website at www.nfarl.org/, and is well worth watching.
It appears that when we have our fox hunt later this year, we should make some provision for acquiring variable strength attenuators for our antennas. Trying tuning slightly off-frequency or using the 3rd harmonic of the transmitted frequency did not work to attenuate the signal. It was either absent completely, or overwhelmingly strong.
Please think about these two, or any other alternatives you might think of before next months meeting.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Field Day Update
I've gotten some feedback from others regarding Field Day 2014 that I want to share.
Ron Pace says, "PSK was one of the first "digital" modes, and most of the contacts with my station were digital using PSK31. Our first contact was with Hungary (Europe), and we had a number of Canadian contacts.
We also worked about 25 stations using CW."
Great info, Ron. Thanks for the explanation and correction.
Sharon Huneycutt says, "Jody, when you suggest they check out the web site, put the URL in your email next time so all they have to do is click on it."
Sharon, you are so right. I should have done that. Guess I thought since I had the EARS website bookmarked, I thought everyone did.
Dallas Miller sent in the following photos. Thank you, Dallas.
Ron Pace's antenna - middle section
Ron Pace's antenna - upper section
Ron Pace's antenna - bottom section
Winn Hall's Buddipole antenna
L-R: David Ross, Jody Huneycutt, Winn Hall & Paul Craft
Dave Meadows said, "It was good to be out there and see everyone. Wish I could have stayed longer."
Dave, we wish you could have also. Best wishes that your recovery continues.
After talking with Jim Hadder, who headed up the technical part of Field Day this year, I have a correction on the number of contacts. The digital station run by David Ross, Winn Hall and Paul Craft made 20 contacts. If Ron's 25 CW contacts are included in the 167 reported, that gives us a total of 401 contacts; if not, then it's 426. Not too shabby either way.
Ron Pace says, "PSK was one of the first "digital" modes, and most of the contacts with my station were digital using PSK31. Our first contact was with Hungary (Europe), and we had a number of Canadian contacts.
We also worked about 25 stations using CW."
Great info, Ron. Thanks for the explanation and correction.
Sharon Huneycutt says, "Jody, when you suggest they check out the web site, put the URL in your email next time so all they have to do is click on it."
Sharon, you are so right. I should have done that. Guess I thought since I had the EARS website bookmarked, I thought everyone did.
Dallas Miller sent in the following photos. Thank you, Dallas.
Dave Meadows said, "It was good to be out there and see everyone. Wish I could have stayed longer."
Dave, we wish you could have also. Best wishes that your recovery continues.
After talking with Jim Hadder, who headed up the technical part of Field Day this year, I have a correction on the number of contacts. The digital station run by David Ross, Winn Hall and Paul Craft made 20 contacts. If Ron's 25 CW contacts are included in the 167 reported, that gives us a total of 401 contacts; if not, then it's 426. Not too shabby either way.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Field Day 2014
On Friday, June 27, David Ross, David Reece, Ron Pace, Sam McInturff, Kirk Kirckgasler, Ray Hughes, Jody Huneycutt, Jimmy Hitt, Jim Hadder, Ed Fitzpatrick, Paul Craft and David Barlitt met at 4:00 p.m. at the Lions Club Fairgrounds and installed the antennas needed for the Saturday/Sunday Field Day operations. The usual pizza supper was omitted because a pouring, driving thunderstorm started just about the time all the antenna installations were completed.
On Saturday, the same group, plus Winn Hall and Marsha Greenwood were on hand to operate one or more of the 3 stations that EARS and Gilmer County ARES had on the air. Dallas Miller, EARS member and Gilmer County Commissioner, came by for a visit to all the stations.
At 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Ed Fitzpatrick provided the technical expertise to guide several of our club members during a Fox Hunt Antenna build workshop. Geron Crawford, David Barlitt, Jody & Sharon Huneycutt, Charlie Stemman, Rose Denehy and her grandson, Brandon Carney, Ray Hughes and Kirk Kirchgasler worked on constructing these antennas. Later this year, the club will sponsor a fox hunt, where these antennas can be used. The antenna design, circuit design, circuitboards and kit assembly was done by Ed 'Fitz' Fitzsimmons, who also brought equipment to test the final completed antennas.
A cookout was held in conjunction with Field Day. 22 members and their guests participated. The Club provided plates, tableware, iced tea, and cooking was by Winn Hall. The burgers, which were excellent, were provided by Darlene Hitt, Jimmy's Mom. Chicken/apple sausage was provided by Jim and Sherry Hadder. The side dishes were brought by all participants - and all of them were good.
Several members stayed through the night, making contacts with other hams all over the country. We didn't contact all states, but we were close. Even Alaska and Washington were contacted. One contact we could hear, but weren't able to speak with, was E51AND, transmitting from Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, between Fiji and Tahiti. The pile-up was too big, we were too far away to break through it, and the ham on Rarotongo, Andy Duncan, got tired and quit before the pile-up thinned out. (Check out Andy's page on QRZ.com- very interesting)
All-in-all, though, at last count, we had 214 SSB contacts and 167 PSK contacts. Digital contacts, unfortunately, were few because of technical problems with feed lines and computers. Those working digital, however, deserve just as much recognition for their efforts as those doing SSB or PSK. They worked even harder, trying to find out the source of their difficulties. Much of it appeared to be due to a damaged coax.
Check out the attached photos to see how much fun we all had at Field Day 2014.
Antenna build on Friday afternoon
Rose & her grandson, Brandon Carney, with their completed antenna
David Barlitt operating SSB while Jimmy Hitt logs in the contacts
David Ross, Winn Hall and Doug Barker try working the digital station
Sharon Huneycutt - circuit board building - Fox Hunt antenna
Jim Hadder operating SSB
Digital station on the left; Antenna workshop in the center; PSK station on the right
Marsha Greenwood and Paul Craft at the digital station
Paul Craft -logging contacts; Jim Hadder - operating SSB; Ray Hughes - in background
Ron Pace - operating PSK
Winn Hall and Ron Pace - Operating PSK
Ron Pace setting up his PSK station
Ron's power source for his station - true emergency operations
Sharon Huneycutt & Brandon Carney solder components on their circuit boards
Geron Crawford inserts antenna wire in the PVC antenna enclosure
Note: Please excuse caption placement. The software is not cooperating on this placement.JEH
On Saturday, the same group, plus Winn Hall and Marsha Greenwood were on hand to operate one or more of the 3 stations that EARS and Gilmer County ARES had on the air. Dallas Miller, EARS member and Gilmer County Commissioner, came by for a visit to all the stations.
At 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Ed Fitzpatrick provided the technical expertise to guide several of our club members during a Fox Hunt Antenna build workshop. Geron Crawford, David Barlitt, Jody & Sharon Huneycutt, Charlie Stemman, Rose Denehy and her grandson, Brandon Carney, Ray Hughes and Kirk Kirchgasler worked on constructing these antennas. Later this year, the club will sponsor a fox hunt, where these antennas can be used. The antenna design, circuit design, circuitboards and kit assembly was done by Ed 'Fitz' Fitzsimmons, who also brought equipment to test the final completed antennas.
A cookout was held in conjunction with Field Day. 22 members and their guests participated. The Club provided plates, tableware, iced tea, and cooking was by Winn Hall. The burgers, which were excellent, were provided by Darlene Hitt, Jimmy's Mom. Chicken/apple sausage was provided by Jim and Sherry Hadder. The side dishes were brought by all participants - and all of them were good.
Several members stayed through the night, making contacts with other hams all over the country. We didn't contact all states, but we were close. Even Alaska and Washington were contacted. One contact we could hear, but weren't able to speak with, was E51AND, transmitting from Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, between Fiji and Tahiti. The pile-up was too big, we were too far away to break through it, and the ham on Rarotongo, Andy Duncan, got tired and quit before the pile-up thinned out. (Check out Andy's page on QRZ.com- very interesting)
All-in-all, though, at last count, we had 214 SSB contacts and 167 PSK contacts. Digital contacts, unfortunately, were few because of technical problems with feed lines and computers. Those working digital, however, deserve just as much recognition for their efforts as those doing SSB or PSK. They worked even harder, trying to find out the source of their difficulties. Much of it appeared to be due to a damaged coax.
Check out the attached photos to see how much fun we all had at Field Day 2014.
Geron Crawford putting together his Fox Hunt Antenna
Note: Please excuse caption placement. The software is not cooperating on this placement.JEH
Monday, June 9, 2014
Tom Tanner, W4WOK, Silent Key
On the morning of June 9, 2014, W4WOK, Tom Tanner, passed away at home from a heart attack. While Tom had been feeling bad recently, he had no history of heart problems. He is survived by his wife Lisa, KI4WSU and their daughter, Gail. No services have been scheduled at this time, as per the family's wishes. Please keep Lisa and Gail in your prayers. Tom will be sorely missed by family, friends and fellow hams. He had recently been very active in both the EARS Monday night net and in the Gilmer County ARES Monday night net.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
EARS Members Provide Emergency Radio Availability for 3rd SORBA Bike Race
March 2, 2014
As they have done for the first two of the three SORBA Bike Races this Winter, EARS members provided emergency radio availability for the 3rd and last SORBA Mountain Bike Race, Saturday, March 1st. David Ross, Kirk Kirchgasler, Jimmy Hitt and Jody Huneycutt worked the 400+ participant race along with Hams from several other northwest Georgia counties. All are also members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), an ARRL affiliated group that works with local government and Emergency Management agencies in case of local or regional disasters where normal modes of communication are unavailable either because of direct damage or lack of electrical power.
The EARS members were deployed to an Aid Station location at the end of the Forest Service Road off Stover Creek Road near the community of Carbondale, southwest of Dalton, GA. The Aid Station location is on top of the ridge of Middle Mountain where the Pinhoti Trail runs up to the ridge crest on it's way back north for the approximately 8.5 mile leg to the Trade Center at Dalton, where the finish line is located. The two races run simultaneously are a 17 mile race, starting at Snake Creek Gap on GA Hwy 136 and a 34 miles race starting at a parking area on East Armuchee Road in south Walker County, south of the community of Villanow. Both races end at the Trade Center west of I-75 at the Walnut Street exit.
As they have done for the first two of the three SORBA Bike Races this Winter, EARS members provided emergency radio availability for the 3rd and last SORBA Mountain Bike Race, Saturday, March 1st. David Ross, Kirk Kirchgasler, Jimmy Hitt and Jody Huneycutt worked the 400+ participant race along with Hams from several other northwest Georgia counties. All are also members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), an ARRL affiliated group that works with local government and Emergency Management agencies in case of local or regional disasters where normal modes of communication are unavailable either because of direct damage or lack of electrical power.
The EARS members were deployed to an Aid Station location at the end of the Forest Service Road off Stover Creek Road near the community of Carbondale, southwest of Dalton, GA. The Aid Station location is on top of the ridge of Middle Mountain where the Pinhoti Trail runs up to the ridge crest on it's way back north for the approximately 8.5 mile leg to the Trade Center at Dalton, where the finish line is located. The two races run simultaneously are a 17 mile race, starting at Snake Creek Gap on GA Hwy 136 and a 34 miles race starting at a parking area on East Armuchee Road in south Walker County, south of the community of Villanow. Both races end at the Trade Center west of I-75 at the Walnut Street exit.
Monday, February 24, 2014
February Activities
The February, 2014 meeting of EARS was held on Wednesday, the 19th, 6 days later than usual, due to a snow & ice storm and dangerous road conditions on the normal meeting day of Feb 13. Approximately 25 members attended. A new member was voted in - Rose Denehy- and she accepted the position of Club Secretary. A motion to hold a HamFest on Saturday March 15 was approved.
Several members attended the Dalton Hamfest on Feb 22. Among them were Paul Craft, David Ross, Tom Koch, Jim Hadder and Jody Huneycutt. Tom Mullinix was there, promoting our up-coming HamFest.
Several members attended the Dalton Hamfest on Feb 22. Among them were Paul Craft, David Ross, Tom Koch, Jim Hadder and Jody Huneycutt. Tom Mullinix was there, promoting our up-coming HamFest.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
EARS Members Participate in Emergency Radio Stations for SORBA Mountain Bike Race
SORBA Mountain Bike Race #2 of 3
On February 1, four EARS members, Kirk Kirchgasler, KK5USA; David Ross, KK4NTC; Sharon Huneycutt, KK4NTD and Jody Huneycutt, K4EPH, participated in providing emergency radio communications for the SORBA Mountain Bike Race, held on the Pinhoti Trail in Walker and Whitfield Counties. This was the 2nd of a series of 3 races held on the first Saturdays of January, February and March, this year. 401 Bikers raced in two events, taking place simultaneously - a 17 mile race and a 34 mile race - both ending at the Trade Center in Dalton, GA. Our members manned the Stover Creek Aid Station, situated on the ridge of Middle Mountain, about 4 miles west of the Carbondale Road Exit on I-75.
A few photos, typical of the day, are shown below.
On February 1, four EARS members, Kirk Kirchgasler, KK5USA; David Ross, KK4NTC; Sharon Huneycutt, KK4NTD and Jody Huneycutt, K4EPH, participated in providing emergency radio communications for the SORBA Mountain Bike Race, held on the Pinhoti Trail in Walker and Whitfield Counties. This was the 2nd of a series of 3 races held on the first Saturdays of January, February and March, this year. 401 Bikers raced in two events, taking place simultaneously - a 17 mile race and a 34 mile race - both ending at the Trade Center in Dalton, GA. Our members manned the Stover Creek Aid Station, situated on the ridge of Middle Mountain, about 4 miles west of the Carbondale Road Exit on I-75.
A few photos, typical of the day, are shown below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
