Dave's Hamfest!

Like many of you, I tend to collect things that I don't use. Being a builder, I also seem to collect lost of gear and parts that I never use. I've recently gotten the itch for a Flex radio, so I decided the best way to do this painlessly was to 'thin out' some of my excess radio goodies.

So, I've been cleaning out the workshop, utility room, garage, & attic a bit, and selling off the excess radio stuff to build my 'Flex Fund'. There's way too much to list here, but I put it on my website so I could easily update it as it clears out. Check out my load of hamfest stuff on my Dave's Hamfest Page at http://207.126.49.184/hockaday/ .




Dave WB4IUY
www.WB4IUY.net

eQSL Saved My Log!

eQSL saved me tonight. My logbook crashed (my fault) and I was able to download a current copy of my log from eQSL for recovery. I upload to eQSL every time I make a log entry, so it was current, right up to my last contact. There's a button for this in AC Log, and the eQSL upload is almost instantaneous. The other online logs I use aren't quite as quick to upload to, or aren't offered as a quick upload feature in my log, so I only upload to LOTW, QRZ, CQFriends, Clublog, QRZCQ, and SK6AW every week or two.

When my logbook crashed I initially panicked because I had not made a backup of my log recently. After a few minutes of pondering the situation, I remembered that my eQSL upload should be up to date and contain all the info I needed. I downloaded the .adif file, imported it into my logbook, and all was recovered. Thank you eQSL!

HD-73 rotor or motor needed...

On the morning of 8/24/13, the motor in my Alliance HD-73 antenna rotator failed. A few tests found the motor windings to be shorted to the housing. It's been a great antenna rotor, providing 20 years of service though hurricanes, ice, rain, etc. It even survived a lightning strike back in '98! Since my rotor mount base plate is drilled for this unit, my thrust bearing is pinned for the height of the housing, etc, I'd rather repair this unit than have to refit everything for a rotor of a different manufacture or model.

If anyone has a junked HD-73 rotor with bad gears, bad feedback pot, cracked housing, etc, I'd love to buy this from you. I'm only looking for a motor. Otherwise, if you have a complete HD-73 rotator unit for sale, I'd like to speak with you as well. Please email me at wb4iuy@eastrc.org with your info. Thanks!

Dave WB4IUY
www.WB4IUY.net
wb4iuy@eastrc.org

Random bits from WB4IUY

Been pretty busy since Field Day, but here's a few highlights from the station at WB4IUY:

- 4 July: Managed to make contact with OJ0V on Market reef before having to pull the plug and head to work. Big pileup!

- 7 July: Just worked K0KP in EN36 (near Deluth Mn) on 50.125 6 meters. He's banging in 59++ . He's now on 50.150.

- 19 july: Openings on 6m this morning from 6-6:30am in FM05. Heard CT1HZE in Portugal IM57 for a short period.

- 23 July: Worked EA9KB in Ceuta & Melilla on 20m w/100W.

- 3 Aug: 6m in great shape in FM05, strong sigs coming in from FN54 (Maine) on 50.125. DX 50.125 VE9WGD FN57 <-> FM05 Big signal in NC! DX 50078.1 WA4FC/B FM17 -> FM05 5/5 at my QTH DX de WB4IUY: 50125.0 VE1CHU FN85 <-> FM05

- 4  Aug: I'm listening on 446.0 and 223.5 FM simplex when in the shack and glad to make a contact if you need FM05 in the ARRL UHF test de WB4IUY. Repaired the wind speed & direction indicator for my weather station. Streaming to the net at: http://207.126.49.184/wb4iuy/radio/wb4iuy5b.htm

- 10 Aug: Just uploaded 165 QSL cards to my website viewer a: http://207.126.49.184/wb4iuy/radio/wb4iuy3a.htm


 

Field Day ops from WB4IUY

Oh well, another ARRL Field Day event has come and gone. I didn't get to work much of it due to a flood that damaged our business and we've been working to repair it since June 9th. Just the same, I enjoyed making a few contacts for other groups who were very active on 6 & 2 meters SSB, and even a few on 2m FM. I used to really enjoy working the whole field day weekend, but alas, life seems to get in the way these days. I look forward to the time when I can again work a full field day weekend with a group. I hope those of you out there who got to participate, had a great time, and I hope to see more of Field Day next year!

ARRL VHF Contest Needs Ops!!

The ARRL VHF Contest runs from June 8th @ 18:00z (2pm est) until June 10th @ 2:59z (11pm est) on all bands, 6m and up. I plan to be on 6m ssb, 2m ssb, 146.52 fm simplex, 223.5 fm simplex, and 446.0 fm simplex. The last few VHF contests I've worked have been pretty sad, between poor propagation and not nearly as many folks working the event as in previous years.



If you don't have SSB or a home station, get on from your mobile or HT on fm simplex and call CQ. Even if you're not really working the contest, others who are can surely use your contacts! If you have a home FM station, do the same, you'll be surprised what you might hear or work. The ham radio club I'm in, TEARA, did this back in 1994 and took first place in the Roanoke division working mostly FM simplex!! I'll be scanning 146.52 as primary, and then 146.43, 146.46, 146.49, 146.55, and 146.58 on 2m fm. I'll be listening to 223.50 simplex on 1.25m, and 446.0 on 70cm.

If you're able to work mobile, contesters love picking up those ROVER stations. You can do this easily from your mobile, and if you're going to be covering a large area, you'll be able to work people from multiple grid squares.

All of the info can be found on the ARRL website at this link: http://www.arrl.org/june-vhf

73 & I hope to hear you on the bands!
Dave WB4IUY FM05
www.WB4IUY.net