OAUSA HF Net 75m

[Fetus]

Xtakik,

Sounds like a great idea. When I did my trip to Area 51, I used 40m to keep in touch with my father in the San Francisco Bay Area. We had QSO and check in times already pre-scheduled so he knew when to be on the air. It was great piece of mind when I was truly in the middle of nowhere.

Before I obtained my ham license, my dad and I did a 4 day trip into Death Valley. Each night he would break out his HF rig and roll out some military HF antenna that lied flat on the ground. He would make his contacts to his friends in Southern and Northern California.

It would be a great way for people to pass on email messages or phone messages letting family back home know statuses.

[xtatik]

Hey Fetus,
What you mention is closely akin to how my Dad (W6HTW) and I would keep tabs. He's more the motor home type, but spends a great deal of time on the road. We trade anchoring one another while we're out and about.
You're trip to Area 51 is precisely the type of trips where someone could benefit. The local Xterra club makes an annual trip out there and all are fully equipped with foil hats to ward off the alien telepathy techniques...they have a great time on this run. I can remember trying to hit the Potosi repeater from there with no luck. Occasionally could make the Pahrump repeater but sporadic at best....made no sense as Potosi was a shorter, straighter and higher path?????
Here are some issues I'm sure we'll run into or need to address. For one, participation. Most hams here would be classified as "appliance" users by the greater amateur community. In other words, the reasons for licensing and having a radio in the truck are either aesthetic (another cool looking doodad in the cab) or prophylactic (just in case sumpin' happens) kinda' hams. And, not necessarily interested in "radio" per se. So few of them advance beyond Tech. It's no different in the sailing community. The skippers that really venture out will upgrade while the local island hoppers won't. So, I think providing a practical purpose for the net is key to getting participation/success. I think letting some of the other froad sites know of this idea could help, but I'm not the guy for that job as I'm not aware of many other than this and the "blue site" (I think that's what they call it here). The other issue is the simple fact that fewer people are getting out these days. I wouldn't mind a slow ramp-up to this thing. Even if it only amounted to a small group willing to anchor one another, it would be a success in my mind. If we can put together four or five people to occupy a spot on the spectrum for a half hour a week, so be it.

[DaveK]

Hey Randy:

Its great to see you here.

The Scorpion's motor lead problem (which I had at The Bass Pro shops,) was solved when I replaced all the wiring.

My current situation involves getting the correct shunt coil adjustment so that I can automatically tune to all of the HF bands. With a little luck and a lot of help from Alan Applegate, I have been slowly adding bands to my "it works now" list. 75/80 are now on the list as are all of the other bands (except one). I am having a roof rack mount added as soon as I can get down to the fabrication shop and this should make everything work better.

So......bottom line, let me know when you-all want to do this and I will be there. +

[xtatik]

Hey Dave
I'm familiar with the problem. My dad went through this with his 6160. He had to continuously move his between two different mounts due to where his 5th wheel mounted. His was an exposed coil, and a simple bump to it meant having to re-match the coil. He ended up finding one that fits inside a PVC pipe fittng enclosure. I think Alan is aware of this fix. In any case, you're getting the best help available.

[Fetus]

I haven't been getting out as much as I'd like to either. With gas prices in their current state and other work/family commitments, it's difficult to break away for 3-4 days.

I think if even a group got together every weekend on the air, whether in the "field" or not, it would be a success. My father and his friends have a weekly QSO on 40m on Saturday and Sunday. And there are often guests that jump in. Not a formal net. But just a roundtable. When I was broadcasting from outside Area 51, there were several people that jumped in on the QSO and were asking questions. So I think if other people hear about it or hear the subject being discussed and jump in, it's a success.

I'm still trying to get HF mobile going in my vehicles. At the moment I'm just running a portable station with an Yaesu 897 and a Buddipole.

[DaveK]

Hey Dave
I'm familiar with the problem. My dad went through this with his 6160. He had to continuously move his between two different mounts due to where his 5th wheel mounted. His was an exposed coil, and a simple bump to it meant having to re-match the coil. He ended up finding one that fits inside a PVC pipe fittng enclosure. I think Alan is aware of this fix. In any case, you're getting the best help available.

I'm almost 100% with the adjustment. I feel like I want to keep the coil in a safe so it won't change. I have the PVC coil but it doesn't allow for any real adjustment. The need to make precise adjustments though may all change with the roof mount - we'll see.

[xtatik]

Ok, so we are three. Next Saturday @ 0230z, 7190, + or - 10 khz for QRM...the first "Coyote Calls" go out. Looking forward.

[DaveK]

Confirm, please.

Date: Saturday November 7, 2009.
Time: 0230 (2:30AM?????)

[OLLIE]

Confirm, please.

Date: Saturday November 7, 2009.
Time: 0230 (2:30AM?????)

Dave,

0230 Zulu would be 18:30 PST (6:30 pm PST).

[DaveK]

Ahhhhh yes......... Zulu time. Of course.




What's Zulu time???