Walking the Dark Side

Don't tell anybody, but....
since the second week in November...
I've been operating QRO. Not always, but most of the time.
Seriously, the QRPrat has been QRO, 100 watts even.
Mostly on 40m.
So here's the full story: I had been saving some money for a KX3 when I realized that I will probably not be able to just up and save the dough to get one. All of a sudden, on QRP-L, there came listed for sale a Swan 100MX for the right price. I was still a little short, but no worries, the owner hadn't had any interest in the radio, so he would let me put a down payment on the radio to hold it, and pay the rest when I had it.
Awesome! I love this hobby!
In the middle of August, my new old radio came to me, I opened a somewhat damaged box to reveal a damaged radio.  Thank you post office! Specifically, the rear part was dinged, in a manner that looked like radio death. I read the manual and hooked it up to the powersupply without turning it on. No smoke, smells, flashes, or explosions. So far, so good, I hooked the radio up to the antenna tuner, and the antenna tuner up to the 40m dipole I have deployed in the trees. Plugging in the Mic, I turned the knob to click it on, and Behold! There was noise. Sweet glorious noise. The receiver receives.
Peaking the Preselector for max racket on 40m, and making sure the tuner was also at max racket and in power measurement mode, I found a clear frequency, turned the radio to CW Vox (thats how you operate semi-breakin on a Swan 100MX), and made sure the mic gain was set all the way down. I wanted to gently break the news to my tuner that there was going to be some "real RF" coming down the pipe, and not "The Killer Watt" it was used to seeing. I pushed the mic key to produce a sidetone. Tone present, no power out! Just what I was hoping for. If I had power out right now, there would have been problems with the mic gain knob. Hey, this is a QRO rig, but it can be QRP when I want it to be. I began increasing mic gain, hoping to see the power needle move on my tuner...

No Dice.
No transmit.
No cookie, no joy in Mudville.
No DX chasing, no nuthin'...
NO POWER OUT
I was heart broken. I had saved so much, said no to a lot of things I wanted to get just so that I could save for this radio. When I saw the picture of what they looked like, I knew I wanted this rig. There's a guy on the west coast who keeps these things running, and according to him, I'd probably be looking at paying what I paid for the radio to get it fixed (side benefit being a complete alignment from a guy who's job was aligning these things when they were built!), so that option was out of the question for the moment.
Fortunately, the Swan 100MX is a real radio.
Let me 'splain what I mean.
Most people own appliances, not real radios. An appliance is something you use without knowing what's going on inside it. Appliances come with a lot of bells, whistles, capability and performance.
Real radios can have some of this, but most don't. Real radios are about the operator, and what the operator can do both with and too the radio. I'm not downing appliances here, my 2m and up gear is just about garaunteed to always be an appliance.  It's hard to build that stuff well without a precision oriented set up. It's done all the time, but not by me. Appliances tend to be most useful when it's vitally important to transmit information, but when I'm wanting to play radio, I want a real radio.
Popping the top on the rig was a breeze, and I was confronted with a beautiful example of what happens when someone designs a piece of electronic equipment with the expectation that the user will be poking around a bit under the hood. That's another hallmark of a real radio, you can use the radio while poking around in it. Here's a picture of my radio:



The Swan

  Notice the simple layout of the radio, Everything does what you think, no menu settings about it. 
Simplicity is beautiful, but meaningless if the radio doesn't transmit. I don't have a license so I can listen, I have one so I can talk back! Fortunately, the radio came with a full set of service schematics as well as the owner's manual. each section has its own board, and servicing the radio is as simple as popping open the hood,  finding out where the board you want to work on is, and "fiddlin' until fixed".
Did I say that was simple? heh.
Once I understood the layout of the radio, it became simple, first clear and obvious problem was the large ding on the back of the radio, so I began looking for problems on boards that were somehow attached to the back side of the radio, and I needed to somehow restraighten the chassis a bit. I figured the main problem was that whatever board was attached to the rear chassis had cracked a circuit trace, or shorted a part. I was nervous though because the ding was next to a large heat sink, and large heat sinks usually mean "Final Amplifier Section." sure enough, when I got the covers off, I could see that the finals board was mashed conspicuously against the filtering section. Yikes! Not good. The final amp transistors in this radio are no longer in production, if something has gone wrong with them, I'm beat!
The first thing I decided to do was replace the antenna connector. It has the standard SO-239 on the back, and replacing it was not all that much of a challenge. Replacing it also didn't affect the powerout at all.
GRRRRRRRR.
It was time to take rear off the chassis, and get to the bottom of the finals board.
Getting it all apart was no small feat, I had wires to bend (and break, and then reattach), screws to keep track of (hehe, babyfood jars to the rescue!), and then a schematic to puzzle over.
Things looked a little hinky right where rf entered the finals board. There was a driver and buffer amplifier there that looked all twited up, I'm pretty sure those transistor legs shouldn't be like that....
I poked and prodded with an orange peeler I've modified for use on radios. It's nonconductive, and once upon a time I needed something that could turn shielded inductor slugs, so, I wound up with this thing!
After making sure everything was bent back into place as well as I could get it, and that nothing was shorting anything out that wasn't supposed to be, I applied power to the rig, with the rig wide open. No spoke, no smells, no worries!
Time to see if I can transmit, and......
IT WORKED!
weeeeee!
Having too much fun, I did a little dance!
Now I have a QRO radio in the mix. I wish I had a true power meter, that way I could tell when I am QRP and when I am QRO with the swan!
Time to have fun...

HTMF!

Picket, AD4S, and the other band of NoGANauts can often be heard at NoGA meetings and on the NoGA net saying "I'm HTMF!" Having Too Much Fun! :D

A lot happened in November, and I'm writing a longer article about it. until I finish it, here's a sample of what's happened:
1. I fixed a radio.
2. I completed a radio.
3. New Antenna up! (tonite it was a source of HTMF)
4. DX is HOPPIN' on 40m, sample of calls I've worked,
DK8IT
HA8RM
ES5GP
ZS3Y (on 20m AT NIGHT! w my "newest" antenna.)
Just a sample folks, just a tiny sample of what's been going on.
There will be pics!

To Your Health!

Recently several things have converged in my thinking on life, society, The Way Things Are, and the Way Things Should Be.
1.  Through the efforts of my beautiful, loving, caring, sensitive, knowing, wise, and hott wife, I am discovering something I've known for a long time.  The "food" I have been eating is killing me.  This includes Doritos and ice cream.
2.  I have been watching the economy lately, here and abroad.  Several things are converging which lead me to believe that we live in interesting times.  I think primarily, it's an issue of democracy.  We live in an era of democritized media, democritized entertainment, and democritized government. People everywhere are showing a lack of discernment.  If people lack discernment, they will give their power to one who will sieze by force whatever the selfish want.  Caesar is not dead. He waits.
3.  My kids are growing.  I want them to be useful.  I want them to know how to make things, to be unafraid in making them, and to know that what they do is for the good of a Kingdom, and not for just themselves.
4.  I am meant to be stronger than I am.

I've talked before about inertia being my enemy.  I've made bracelets to fight inertia, read books, expanded my mind, exercized logic, and now it is time to exercize my body.
I'm changing my regular diet.
I'm reading more of my Bible, and watching less entertainment, and more informational TV (If TV can properly convey information, whole nother subject for a whole nother time.
But most importantly I'm exercizing my body.
A little at a time.
A little more some days, a little less others.

It's slow.
Mainly, right now, I am working on a solution to the problem, not a solution to the symptoms.
Make sense?
Lassiez les bon temps roulez!

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!

I palindrome myself. I desire to be a palindrome at least, the same forwards and back. 

I'm coming up on the end of the week, my youngest child's birthday is today, my parents and Grandmother are coming to town, and I am in the middle of taking a thorough inventory of my diet choices.

There's a lot of stress here.
Fortunately, I can see the synergy of all that I have going on right now.  I view my children aging as a milestone to be celebrated both for them, and a gut check for me, I always ask myself  "How is my child better prepared for handling the world, and their roll in it now versus a year ago?"
My parents will be here.  I don't get to see them as much as I like.  I'm glad they like looking at my kids :)
My Grandmother has had an interesting life.  This will be the first time she's been to my place, and I'm glad to see her.  I really wanted to be in Louisiana this year for the 4th of July family reunion my family hosts at Possum Hollow (pronounced, poss'm holla) every year.  Next year, I will make it a point to be there.

My diet stinks.  It is improving.
nuff said about that.

Back to the youngun'.
She's a great kid.  All my kids are great in their own way.  The Youngest is great because of the smile she wears.  It's almost always there.  She's a real people lover too.  I hope I can help develop that in her. I want to help her be someone who can reach out and heal. One day she'll do great things with her smile and winsomeness.
God Bless you Today Grace!
Be a Palindrome. The same forwards and back.

Modeling Antennas Using XNEC2C

So, being a linux guy, I get a little sad when people talk about how great EZ-NEC is.  It's not ported to run in a *NIX environment, and there's been mixed results using wine or virtual box.  I seriously do my best to not run non-native binaries on my computers, it's not natural, it just feels like a chimera. When W7EL releases a linux version, I'll try it out.  As a result I've been playing around with XNEC2C.

I have no idea what I'm doing.

It's ok, though, I'm learning, and so far, the learning is fun.  I picked up XNEC2C a few years ago, and thought I had it figured out.  Turns out the only thing I was doing right was drawing the pictures :) I still have to figure out how to properly model feedlines, feedpoints, and ground.  I also have to decide how particularly involved I want to get the modeling.  I usually use trees for my antennna supports.  Can the NEC2 Code handle trees? Can they be modeled? What about my neighbors metal roof?  I'm pretty sure it's doing something strange with my radiation pattern.
I can see myself getting obsessed about modeling my QTH.  How do I represent the patio, or the swingset?
It could easily get crazy, quick.
Of course I could just set everything up ideally...
"Oh what's that honey?"
"It's a model of a kite I want to fly at the beach."
"Sounds like fun!"
"Yeah, I think the kids would enjoy it"
In the meantime, I now have a reason to build a 9' tall Scott Sled!

That would sooooooo work!

Here are some pics of what I've learned so far

 W3EDP, series of pics:

W3EDP from the top, antenna running left to right

W3EDP from the side, antenna running left to right.

W3EDP from the edge, feed point is on the far end.

I tried to model the antenna like I would deploy it.  Imagine the antenna going up, as high as the end of the 'counterpoise' and then out over a branch, and slanted back toward the ground.  The section made from the 450 ohm ladder line could be supported by a collapsible fishing pole or something like that.


Click here to get the nec file, and check my data.  Copy the text, and save the file as W3EDP.nec Then you should be able to use some antenna modelling program to view it.
Let me know how it works!

Telos - The End

I have had what I would consider an interesting life.  Born into a Navy family full of travellers, I've had many opportunities to meet different people, experience different parts of the country and see different parts of the world.  One of my biggest desires in life is to share the connections I see between seemingly disconnected pieces of the puzzle known as "Earth" and "Life".  I believe in a God who has done, will do, and is doing strange things in an effort to help us see these connections too.  We all play a small part in something I've known as "Telos" or "The End" end meaning not a stopping point, but a purpose.  For a while I've seen myself in a role that has made me the proclaimer of "The Telos", a herald of the way, something most people refer to as 'preacher' or 'evangelist'.  I've spent hours preparing material that basically says the same thing over and over again:
0.  The Universe is apart from God, contrary to His Telos because humanity has made a Telos for itself despite the fact our knowledge of the implication of our self made Telos is limited, incomplete, and contrary to what has already been proclaimed.
1.  God Himself has made a Way of reconciliation and restoration to Him.
2.  Without that Way, you will not see His Telos in this 'Earth'
3.  This Way is through and along side of His Son Jesus, whom He sent as Himself in the flesh
4.  Your role in "The Telos" can only be realized as you walk the Way God has/will/is providing.


As I see it, ever sermon you hear will be about one of those five points. 
I could be wrong, but that's what I see.  Usually, when I preach, I try to combine points 1, 2, 3. I want to leave you walking along the Way. Point 4 takes the longest to workout, and accept because you will constantly be realizing your role in the Telos until the Telos is realized. Point 0 is obvious when observing the 'evil in the world', and overarches, influences, sometimes contradicts, sometimes reinforces each of the other points.

I want to help you understand that God's purpose for you is for Him and you to mold your self-made Telos into His Telos, to follow that Telos to it's finality, and to rejoice in the acceptance of its rewards.  


EDIT: I've seen Telos spelled Telos, Telios, and Teleos. I don't understand there to be any differences between them all, just  understand I am refering to The End of the Process in it's most generic consideration.

Amateur Radio and Irene

Irene is a big wet cold monster bearing down on the Carolinas, right now the storm is still on the way, and almost upon them.
If you are a shortwave listener and your radio can do upper or lower sideband, you should checkout the following frequencies:

Hurricane Frequency Listings

   (Unless otherwise noted, times are UTC, freq in kHz)


   Government, NGO & Military frequencies

   02670.0 USB USCG wx Cape Hatteras NC (0133 1303)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Fort Macon NC (0103 1233)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Eastern Shore VA (0233 1403)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Hampton Roads VA (0203 1333)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx San Francisco (0203 1403)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Los Angeles/Long Beach CA (1303 2103)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Honolulu (0903 2103)
   02670.0 USB USCG wx Marianas Section Guam (0705 2205)
   02802.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-91)
   03171.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-92)
   04426.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0330 0500 0930)
   04426.0 USB USCG wx NMC San Francisco (0430 1030)
   04724.0 USB GHFS
   05136.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-93)
   05141.4 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-94)
   05211.0 USB FEMA
   05236.0 USB SHARES Coordination Network (nationwide HF voice
   coordination)
   06501.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0330 0500 0930 1130 1600
   2200 2330)
   06501.0 USB USCG wx NMO Honolulu (0600 1200)
   06501.0 USB USCG wx Marianas Section Guam (0930 1530)
   06712.0 USB USAF GHFS SAR
   06739.0 USB GHFS
   06859.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-95)
   07507.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (pri)
   07508.5 USB FAA Caribbean hurricane net
   07550.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-96 - primary)
   07698.5 USB American Red Cross Disaster (F-97)
   08764.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0330 0500 0930 1130 1600
   1730 2200 2330)
   08764.0 USB USCG wx NMC San Francisco (0430 1030 1630 2230)
   08764.0 USB USCG wx NMO Honolulu (0000 0600 1200 1800)
   08992.0 USB GHFS
   09380.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (sec)
   10493.0 USB FEMA
   11175.0 USB GHFS
   13089.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (1130 1600 1730 2200 2330)
   13089.0 USB USCG wx NMC San Francisco (0430 1030 1630 2230)
   13089.0 USB USCG wx NMO Honolulu (0000 1800)
   13089.0 USB USCG wx Marianas Section Guam (0300 2130)
   13200.0 USB GHFS
   13510.0 USB Pictures from CFH Halifax (1000-2200)
   14396.5 USB SHARES Coordination Network (nationwide HF voice
   coordination)
   15016.0 USB GHFS
   17314.0 USB USCG wx from NMN Portsmouth (1730)
   17314.0 USB USCG wx from NMC San Francisco (1630 2230)



   Amateur Radio HF Emergency Hurricane Nets

   01984.0 LSB Virgin Islands (VI, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles)
   03710.0 LSB Puerto Rico
   03808.0 LSB Caribbean Wx (1030)
   03815.0 LSB Antigua/Antilles Emergency and Weather
   03815.0 LSB Inter-island (continuous watch)
   03818.0 LSB Antigua/Antilles
   03845.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
   03862.5 LSB Mississippi Section Traffic
   03865.0 LSB West Virginia Emergency
   03873.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   03873.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (night)
   03873.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (night)
   03873.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
   03905.0 LSB Pacific ARES (Hawaii)
   03905.0 LSB Delaware Emergency
   03907.0 LSB Carolina Coast Emergency
   03910.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
   03910.0 LSB Louisiana Traffic
   03910.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Alpha (ARES/RACES)
   03913.0 LSB New York State Emergency
   03915.0 LSB South Carolina SSB NTS
   03915.0 LSB Massachusetts/Rhode Island Emergency
   03917.0 LSB Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency
   03920.0 LSB Maryland Emergency
   03923.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
   03923.0 LSB North Carolina ARES Emergency (Tar Heel)
   03925.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   03925.0 LSB New York State Emergency
   03925.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
   03927.0 LSB North Carolina ARES (health & welfare)
   03925.0 LSB Southwest Traffic (altn)
   03935.0 LSB Belize
   03935.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   03935.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health & welfare)
   03935.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
   03935.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)
   03935.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
   03937.0 LSB Western Massachusetts ARES
   03940.0 LSB Southern Florida Emergency
   03947.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Bravo (health & welfare)
   03950.0 LSB Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-National Hurricane
   Center) (altn)
   03950.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
   03955.0 LSB South Texas Emergency
   03960.0 LSB Northeast Coast Hurricane
   03965.0 LSB Alabama Emergency (altn)
   03965.0 LSB Connecticut Emergency
   03967.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing traffic)
   03970.0 LSB New Jersey ARES
   03975.0 LSB Georgia ARES
   03975.0 LSB Texas RACES
   03980.0 LSB Southeast Virginia ARES
   03987.5 LSB Mexican National
   03990.5 LSB New Jersey RACES
   03993.0 LSB New York State RACES
   03993.5 LSB Gulf Coast (health & welfare)
   03993.5 LSB South Carolina ARES/RACES Emergency
   03995.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
   03995.0 LSB Western New York State Coordination
   07055.0 LSB El Grupo Seguimiento de Huracanes (Spanish)
   07060.0 LSB Mexican (emergency and health & welfare) (Spanish)
   07070.0 LSB Manana (Baja California)
   07090.0 LSB Central America Emergency
   07145.0 LSB Bermuda
   07165.0 LSB Antigua/Antilles Emergency and Weather
   07165.0 LSB Inter-island 40-meter (continuous watch)
   07225.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   07230.0 LSB New York State Emergency
   07230.0 LSB Southwest Traffic
   07232.0 LSB North Carolina ARES Emergency (Tar Heel) (altn)
   07235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
   07235.0 LSB Baja California
   07235.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   07235.0 LSB West Virginia
   07235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
   07240.0 LSB American Red Cross US Gulf Coast Disaster
   07240.0 LSB Texas Emergency
   07240.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Bravo (health & welfare)
   (altn)
   07242.0 LSB Southern Florida ARES Emergency (altn)
   07243.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
   07243.0 LSB South Carolina Emergency
   07245.0 LSB Southern Louisiana
   07245.0 LSB New York State RACES
   07247.5 LSB Northern Florida ARES Emergency (altn)
   07248.0 LSB Texas RACES
   07250.0 LSB Belize
   07250.0 LSB Texas Emergency
   07254.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
   07260.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
   07260.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Alpha (ARES/RACES) (altn)
   07264.0 LSB Gulf Coast (health & welfare)
   07265.0 LSB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN)
   07268.0 LSB Bermuda
   07268.0 LSB Waterway
   07273.0 LSB Texas ARES (altn)
   07275.0 LSB Georgia ARES
   07280.0 LSB NTS Region 5
   07280.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
   07283.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing only)
   07285.0 LSB Louisiana ARES Emergency (day)
   07285.0 LSB Mississippi ARES Emergency
   07285.0 LSB Texas ARES Emergency (day)
   07290.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
   07290.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
   07290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
   07290.0 LSB Louisiana ARES (health & welfare) (day)
   07290.0 LSB Texas ARES (health & welfare)
   07290.0 LSB Mississippi ARES (health & welfare)
   07290.0 LSB Hawaii Emergency
   07290.0 LSB Traffic
   14185.0 USB Caribbean Emergency
   14200.0 USB (Please advise)
   14215.0 USB Pacific Inter-island
   14222.0 USB Health & Welfare
   14245.0 USB Health & Welfare
   14265.0 USB Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio (SATERN)
   14268.0 USB Amateur Radio Readiness Group
   14275.0 USB Bermuda
   14275.0 USB International Amateur Radio
   14283.0 USB Caribus (health & welfare)
   14300.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic
   14300.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service
   14303.0 USB International Assistance & Traffic
   14313.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic (altn)
   14313.0 USB Maritime Mobile Service (altn)
   14316.0 USB Health & Welfare
   14320.0 USB Health & Welfare
   14325.0 USB Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-National Hurricane
   Center)
   14340.0 USB Louisiana (1900)
   14340.0 USB Manana (1900)
   14340.0 USB California-Hawaii
   21310.0 USB Health & Welfare (Spanish)
   21390.0 USB Inter-Americas (health & welfare)
   21400.0 USB Transatlantic Maritime
   28410.0 USB New Jersey ARES
   28450.0 USB Health & Welfare (Spanish)

   Hurricane Watch Net

   Whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of land in the Northern Western
   Hemisphere, the Hurricane Watch Net is operational on 14325 kHz. The
   Hurricane Watch Net provides communication between the amateur radio
station
   W4EHW located at the National Hurricane Center, and the affected areas.

   American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

   During a communications emergency, W1AW transmits special bulletins
   hourly by voice, teleprinter and CW (Morse) according to the following
   schedule:
   Please note that these frequencies are in Mhz

   Voice (hh:00) 01855.0 03990.0 07290.0 14290.0 18160.0
   21390.0 28590.0

   Teleprinter (hh:15) 03625.0 07095.0 14095.0 18102.5 21095.0
   28095.0

   CW (hh:30) 01818.0 03581.5 07047.5 14047.5 18097.5 21067.5
   28067.5

Check out the action live on the air people!

Remember to keep the QRM (Man made interference) down!