W6HA Club Meeting Ham Hints and Tricks December 18, 2018

1. W6HA Club MeetingHam Hints and TricksDecember 18, 2018

2. Agenda Welcome guests and new members Announcements Hints and Tricks for Hams One person pole raising N6MDV Solar station K6BRN Coiling coax the right way KM6FP Low cost antenna end insulators KM6FP 6th Area Incoming QSL Bureau WB6MMQ More Others Business meeting – all welcome to attend Upcoming class Upcoming club activities

3. Announcements Technician license class January 12 and 19 Currently 11 registered, getting more about 1 per day Will be in Sunrise room Joslyn Center MB Still need to get instructor commitments and update charts Weekly club net continuing 7:30PM Wednesdays Nominally a dozen check in each week Uses the club repeater and then often simplex 146.550 Did HF 7.222 a couple of times Opportunities to practice as a net control operator January club meeting Joslyn Center EL SEGUNDO 339 Sheldon St, El Segundo, CA 90245

4. Announcement from Bob, KK6WYW WSJT-X 2.0 Full Release Now Available; FT8 Enthusiasts Urged to Upgrade Now  12/10/2018The WSJT-X 2.0 software suite has been released, and developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, is urging FT8 and MSK144 users to upgrade to what will become the new standard, because the FT8 and MSK144 protocols have been enhanced in a way that is not backward compatible with older versions of the program. That includes any version 1.9 releases. Link is here ...  http://www.arrl.org/news/wsjt-x-2-0-full-release-now-available-ft8-enthusiasts-urged-to-upgrade-now

5. How to Raise an Antenna PoleSolo and without hurting someone’s foot Two tent stakes, short rope, clove hitch to hold end of pole

6. Hint: Wrap coax around pole or tape to pole When raising a flexible pole put the weight of the coax along the pole and not at the end of the pole Easier to raise and minimizes pole bend during lift Bending…

7. Hint: Wire Antenna Pole SupportsKeep load in Z direction to avoid pole bending Use pulley or carabiner at top Eliminates X, Y forces on support line z y x isolators Dipole wire balun rope pole Coax

8. Coax CoilingLow Cost Insulators KM6FP

9. K6BRN 12 Volt/400W (nominal) Station Solar Power System (minimal 500 W-hr. storage) Power Generation Power Regulation Power Smoothing & Storage 150V in 12V/30A out MPPT Charge Controller Solar Epic MMPT-30A + MT-50 meter and sensors ($179 w/ ship.) DC/AC Inversion 110VAC 300W PF Tolerant Sine Inverter Samlex SA-300-112 ($160) 12V/100 Amp-Hr. SLA Battery Universal UB121000 ($164 w/ship.) 10Ga. X 3 ft. 12Ga. X 100 ft. 10Ga. X 3 ft. 14.5V Max 14.5V Max 93V Max 30A Max 30A Max 5.7A Max ~345W Max (30A @ 11.5V) ~340W Net (24A @ 14V) ~360W SOLAR ARRAY 4 x 100W in series (360W net) LightCatcher Solar LCS-100M\ ($120 each with shipping) 12V Bus 120VAC Bus HF Transceiver 280W max 50W min 165W avg. – 50% TX duty cycle at max power Computer (40W) Average Load: 100W (inverter) 165W (transceiver) 265W TOTAL Available for Charging: 340W - 265W = 75W (~5A) Reserve Capacity: 40 A-Hr. x 11.5V = 460 Watt-hrs. 460/265 = 1.7 hrs. Operating Time: Max @5.3 hrs. insolation 5.3+1.7 = 7 hours Min @ 3.3 hrs. insolation 3.3+1.7 = 5 hrs. Recharge Time: Load OFF - 1.7 hrs. min. Load ON – 7.7 hrs. min. Total Cost – About $1,500 • Solar Tower • 10ft. x 3 “ galv. steel electrical conduit ($20) • 8ft. X 3” galv. steel fence end post ($15) • 2 x Missouri Wind & Solar 100 Watt 2-panel pole mount (x2) • ($224 ea. w/ship) Watt/SWR Meter (10W) clrDSP(10W) OR VHF/UHF Transceiver 50W avg @ 50% TX duty cycle Light (10W) Rotator (10W) Phone or HT (10W) 11.5-14.5V 30A Max 120VAC 2.5A Max NOTE: Under planned 265W load and strong insolation, the battery will continue charging even during station operation. No down-time is required for “Load OFF” battery charging if station operation is conducted only during strong insolation OR if battery discharge is limited about 15 to 25 Amp-hrs. to allow full recharge during next strong insolation period 4/18/2018

10. K6BRN 12 Volt/400W (nominal) Station “Tower of Power” As-Built Power Generation SOLAR ARRAY 4 x 100W in series (360W net) LightCatcher Solar LCS-100M\ ($120 each with shipping)

11. Potential 24 Volt/600W (nominal) Station Solar Power System (1 KW-hr. storage) Power Generation Power Regulation Power Smoothing & Storage DC/AC Inversion 150V in 24V/40A out MPPT Charge Controller 24VDC to 120VAC 600W Sine Inverter 10Ga. X 3 ft. 10Ga. X 3 ft. 14.5V Max 12Ga. X 100 ft. 29.0V Max 12V/100 Amp-Hr. SLA Battery 12V/100 Amp-Hr. SLA Battery 40A Max 30A Max 139.5V Max 5.7A Max ~670W Max (30A @ 23V) ~510W Net (24A @ 24V) ~540W 24VDC in 12VDC/30A out Converter Solar Array 6 x 100W in series (540W net) Average Load: 100W (inverter) 185W (transceiver + DC/DC conv.) 285W TOTAL Available for Charging: 510W – 285W = 215W (~7.4A) Reserve Capacity: 40 A-Hr. x 23V = 920 Watt-hrs. 920/285 = 3.2 hrs. Operating Time: Max @5.3 hrs. insolation 5.3+3.2 = 8.5 hours Min @ 3.3 hrs. insolation 3.3+3.2 = 6.5 hrs. Recharge Time: Load OFF – 2.3 hrs. min. Load ON – 5.4 hrs. min. 12V Bus 120VAC Bus HF Transceiver 280W max 50W min 165W avg. – 50% TX duty cycle at max power Computer (40W) Watt/SWR Meter (10W) clrDSP(10W) OR NOTE: Under planned 265W load and strong insolation, the battery will continue charging even during station operation. No down-time is required for “Load OFF” battery charging if station operation is conducted only during strong insolation OR if battery discharge is limited about 22 to 37 Amp-hrs. to allow full recharge during next strong insolation period VHF/UHF Transceiver 50W avg @ 50% TX duty cycle Light (10W) Rotator (10W) Phone or HT (10W) 11.5-14.5V 30A Max 120VAC 5A Max 4/12/2018

12. Solar Panel Grading REF: http://sinovoltaics.com/quality-control/grading-of-solar-cells-a-b-c-d/ A solar panel is usually graded by the class of solar cell it incorporates: • Grade A • Meets or exceeds electrical specifications (panel example: 100W +5%/-0%) • Zero visible defects, with the following provisions: • Cell bends of <= 2.0mm are acceptable • Minimal to no color deviation • Grade B • Meets electrical specifications within a specified low-side tolerance (panel example: 100W +0%/-5%) • Cell bends of 2.0mm – 2.5mm are acceptable • Some color deviation acceptable, but no more than 1/4 of total area • Less than 0.5mm of missing prints • Missing front Buss-bar area less than or equal to 0.5mm (W) × 5mm (L) • Paste leakage for a single area: from 0.3 to less than/equal to 2.0 square mm • Scratch lengths from 15 to 50mm • Water marks less than 15mm in length and 2mm wide • Grade C • Readily visible defects and/or does not meet nominal electrical specifications – may vary widely • May be made from physically broken cells that are cut into smaller (unbroken) cells • Most solar cells with defects worse than Grade B are classified as Grade C • Grade D • Broken so badly it is usually considered scrap

13. 6th Area Incoming QSL Bureau Dale WB6MMQ

14. EA8DAO – Islas Canaries

16. KH2L - Guam

17. VE3DC – Ontario CanadaHamilton ARC

19. UA3KW – European Russia

20. DH5FA – Langenberg, Germany

21. Hmm – SWL report

22. VE3XN – Listowel, Ontario, Canada Dreaming of DX

24. Envelope sent to 6th area QSL Bureau Looks like the Ham that sorts ‘M’ is from Santa Ana, Ca from Santa Ana, Ca

25. WB6MMQ’s Account Status : Lots of Envelopes, $4.23 Extra Postage

26. What to do to get your cards ! Their Preference: Let them buy the Envelopes and Postage You send Them a Self-Sticking Label with: • Your Call, Name and Address • $1.00 per Envelopes with postage: Check, Money order • Minimum: $4 (4 Envelopes), Max $10 (10 Envelopes • Lots of Cards – Send extra money for added postage OR: You buy Envelopes and Stamps • Envelopes must be 5” x 7 ½ “ aka #35 Envelopes • Add ONLY one 1st class stamp in upper right corner • Your Name & address Horizontally • In the upper left corner: Your Call ONLY Send To: ARRL 6th District Incomming QSL Bureau PO Box 970, Fairfax, CA 94978-0970

27. All the Details ARRL Sixth District Incoming QSL Bureau PO Box 970, Fairfax, CA 94978-0970 Welcome to the ARRL Sixth District Incoming QSL Bureau. You do not have to be a member of the ARRL to use the Incoming QSL Bureau. The Sixth District Incoming QSL Bureau is staffed by over two dozen dedicated California radio amateurs who volunteer their time to distribute DX QSL cards to you. Many have donated their time for more than a decade! We handle DX to USA 6th District QSLs only. We do not accept outgoing cards from stateside hams. If you have any questions about what cards we handle, please email us. Outgoing cards to DX from USA hams should go via ARRL's Outgoing QSL Bureau in Newington, CT. A few things specific to the Sixth District Bureau are: • The W6 QSL Bureau prefers to supply envelopes for you. Each envelope, including one first class stamp, is 80 cents each. This is increasing to $1.00 each effect January 1, 2019. You must send a self-sticking label with your call sign, name and address for each envelope ordered. The Bureau suggests you order a minimum of four (4) envelopes and no more than ten (10) at one time. • If you normally receive many DX QSLs, please send additional funds to purchase stamps for additional postage. • You may send your own envelopes but they must be 5" x 7 1/2", #35. No 6" x 9" or legal size envelopes will be accepted.DX QSLs do not fit in smaller envelopes and larger envelopes do not fit in our files. PLEASE! No greeting card envelopes! They aren't sturdy enough to safely mail your valuable QSLs!

28. If you decide to use your own 5" x 7 1/2" envelopes, you must: --Address the envelope horizontally with your name clearly printed or typed. Good rubber stamp impressions or self-sticking labels may be used but should be large enough to be readable. • --Print your call sign in letters 1/4" to 1/2" high clearly in the upper left-hand corner. Do not print a name or return address under the call sign. • --Place one first class stamp (for one ounce) in the upper right hand corner. • You may send stamps for extra postage, but a cash deposit is preferred. You may send a check or money order payable to "6th District QSL Bureau". An individual account will be kept for you and when more envelopes or postage are required, you will be advised. • Your account is maintained by, and cards shipped from, an individual letter sorter as determined by the first letter following the "6" in your callsign. The individual sorters are literally spread throughout California. When you send envelopes, monies or an inquiry, it may be several weeks before your individual letter sorter receives them. We distribute sorted cards and envelopes to the individual sorters every 3-4 months as volume warrants. If your mail arrives at the Post Office just after a pickup, it is very likely that it will be 12-16 weeks before your sorter receives it. If he or she sends you a shipment of cards in the meantime, your account status would not show your latest submission. It should appear on the next shipment however. General information which applies to all the ARRL-supported U.S. Incoming QSL Bureaus is available from the ARRL Web pages. Although the Incoming Bureau system operates under the guidance of ARRL, you are not required to be an ARRL member to use it. NOTE: • We encourage you to keep your current email address up to date at www.QRZ.com. Many of our Sorters use that web site to email you if needed.

29. BACKGROUND • The ARRL Sixth District QSL Bureau is for incoming QSL cards only. The bureau consists of volunteers who provide this valuable service to their fellow hams. Many of our volunteers have been working for the bureau for more than 15 years! Cards arrive at our P.O. Box from various sources, such as other DX bureaus around the world and the ARRL Incoming Bureau. Upon arrival, the cards are presorted by grouping the cards alphabetically by the first letter of the call suffix (I.E. W6AM, K6AFT, N6AA and WB6AQL would all go in the same "A" stack). Each letter of the alphabet (aka "segment") has a sorter assigned to handle the actual mailing of QSLs as well as notices when a ham has cards on file but no envelopes or postage. Every 3-4 months (depending on volume), the cards accumulated for each segment are mailed from the 6th District Bureau to the sorters. Each letter sorter is then responsible for matching up those cards with envelopes provided by you, the 6th District hams, and mailing when one ounce or more of cards are accumulated for each call with envelopes on file. They also notify any ham who has cards on file but no envelopes. Each sorter puts in many hours each month handling the many hundreds or even thousands of cards for his or her segment, all for no pay as a bureau volunteer. If you get a chance, send a note to your segment sorter letting him or her know how they are doing. They will appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about our operation or your account, please contact us. • Follow us on Twitter. We're at @ARRL_6_Bureau. • Above is from: http://www.qslbureau.org/ AND: http://www.arrl.org/incoming-qsl-service • ARRL Sixth (6th) District DX QSL BureauP.O. Box 970Fairfax, CA., 94978-0970

30. Quick Antenna Support Car Bracket Use pipe flange mounted to board Put piece of metal on back side for reinforcement Choose pipe diameter smaller than that of your fishing pole Place tape around top of pipe to protect pole and to increase diameter to fit pole securely to avoid shaking Get 20 foot telescoping fishing pole – attach vertical antenna wire Example South Bend Sunny Day Pole Place hollow end of pole over vertical pipe Place bracket under tire of car

31. Short Antenna Math W6RFI

32. Field Strength KitKI6GUY http://www.qrpkits.com/ezseries.html#ezfsi