Got the base station up and running.
- Thread starter AKRover
- Start date
xtatik
Explorer
Noah,
I'd be willing to work a sked with you. I work during the day, but I'm usually on the air by 2300z til the band (20m) shuts down. I'll check here around that time to see if that will work for you. If not, Friday. BTW, the CQWW SSB contest is this weekend so your BP showed up just in time. The bands will be richtering with activity. If we don't work...just get on that blower and make some calls you'll be surprised...someone, somewhere will answer.
This evening I picked up TX5SPM ? (I'm not going to run and check my log) first call (albeit at 600w), a dxpedition operating from the Marquesas Islands. Japan, Russia, Hawaii will all be very easy for you to log running barefoot with that antenna. Like Gary mentions above...keep it broadside (neither side matters) to your target.
If you had your 857's rf output set to 100w it should peak there depending on your voice mod. Give it a quick whistle and watch the meter. Mic gain can help, just don't over do it as distortion can occur. ALso, make sure the antenna is well tuned....the 857 will throttle back if it senses a wacky SWR.
gary in ohio
Explorer
The ALC = Automatic Level Control and helps to level our your voice when talking into the mic. Since your voice will go up and down the ALC helps to keep the peaks around the same values. ALC and mike gain are used togeather to get both controls set for your radio and voice patters.
For digital modes you want about 50% ALC, for voice about %75 will keep you from being distorted.
For digital modes you want about 50% ALC, for voice about %75 will keep you from being distorted.
So I made a few contacts today on 20m with contesters from Japan so I at least know that they can hear me. I would have made a few more but it took me a long time to figure out what the number following the RST report was. By the time I figured out that they were reporting their zone number the band was starting to close up. I still have a lot to learn about HF, at least I know what zone I'm in now.
I still wouldn't mind working a sked with you though just to get an honest signal report and to get a little more time on the HF bands. So your on the radio at 11 PM CA time?
gary in ohio
Explorer
So I made a few contacts today on 20m with contesters from Japan so I at least know that they can hear me. I would have made a few more but it took me a long time to figure out what the number following the RST report was. By the time I figured out that they were reporting their zone number the band was starting to close up. I still have a lot to learn about HF, at least I know what zone I'm in now.
I still wouldn't mind working a sked with you though just to get an honest signal report and to get a little more time on the HF bands. So your on the radio at 11 PM CA time?
Most contest have a specific exchange that must be transmitted in the contest. CQWW this weekend is signal report and CQ zone. Next month is sweepstakes contest and it uses a sequence number of the contact, starting with 1, type of station,(single,multi,qrp,etc), you callsign and the last 2 digits of the year you were first licensed. Field day uses number of transmitters, power class and state, 3AOH would be 3 transmitters, generator power (A) in Ohio.
You can find ARRL contest info at http://www.arrl.org/contests/calendar.html
For non ARRL contest you need to find the web page for the contest to see the rules. IF your not going to submit logs for the contest the rules really dont matter but the exchange will
Gary, If you want I would love to do a sked some evening or weekend.
I had to read the CQWW rules a few times before I found the single sentence that made it all make sense.
I would say tomorrow would be a good time for a sked but I think the contest is still going on so it may be difficult to find an open frequency. Also Ohio is four hours ahead of me so your evening is my lunch time. If you think it would be possible tomorrow let me know and we can give it a try.
I would say tomorrow would be a good time for a sked but I think the contest is still going on so it may be difficult to find an open frequency. Also Ohio is four hours ahead of me so your evening is my lunch time. If you think it would be possible tomorrow let me know and we can give it a try.
xtatik
Explorer
That's great you were able to make contacts! Here's a suggestion for cheap logging and contesting software. It helps a great deal. DX4Win is popular with the truly dedicated guys. Try ACLog from www.n3fjp.com they write some great software with an easier to use interface. And no, I'm not affiliated. Also, try www.dxatlas.com for a geochron/mapping/zone package. Also try www.contesting.com (it's an eham affiliate site) with schedules and links to the different contest organizations and individual contest rules.So I made a few contacts today on 20m with contesters from Japan so I at least know that they can hear me. I would have made a few more but it took me a long time to figure out what the number following the RST report was. By the time I figured out that they were reporting their zone number the band was starting to close up. I still have a lot to learn about HF, at least I know what zone I'm in now.
I still wouldn't mind working a sked with you though just to get an honest signal report and to get a little more time on the HF bands. So your on the radio at 11 PM CA time?
BTW, 2300z is "zulu", UTC, Greenwich, whichever you favor....not 2300 hours (11pm). The software packages posted above come with clocks that'll help you get a handle on world time and dateline orientation.
I'm usually on for an hour or so between 4 and 8 pm, depending on band condx.
And yes, the big guns in Japan were turned east working the grey line as it advanced toward them in the evening just before the band closed. I think they get a multiplier for the States....not sure. There were a bunch camped around 14165 and another bunched above 14300 each night of the contest. I scored big with them this year. I finally got the IOTA for Borneo added. Also, So. America seemed more active this year than last.
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gary in ohio
Explorer
If your going to do computerized logging you might as well do rig control. I would suggest the Free package Ham radio Delux. http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/ You not only get rig control and logging but digital modes, rotor control (ifyou have one), satellite tracking, greyline. Its a GREAT all in one package.
There is some antenna modeling software and a few other things on the antenna book disk that I would still like to use so I don't think I can get away from windows.
For digital modes I did find cocoamodem which looks like it would work very well if I knew how to hook it to my radio and use it. lol All things will come in time I guess.
smkymtns
Adventurer
MacLogger DX is an excellent piece of software and Don Agro is an extremely helpful and responsive developer. He is constantly working on making MLDX better. There are many ways to connect your radio to your computer but I have been very satisfied with my Microham USB Interface II.