ORCA DIGITAL NET

ORCA DIGITAL NET 28/Jun/16 check-in/rotation:

Check-ins: 8
Stations:
WA6NBG Don Eureka,CA BULLETIN
W7ZAP Mindy Brookings,OR FLAMP
KB6NN Howard, Eureka,CA
KE6SLS Jaye Eureka,CA
KK6RKY Eric Trinity Center,CA
K6ETA Steve Petaluma,CA
WB6SDR Ralph Folsom,CA
K7KY Doug Brookings,OR NCS 180’doublet@80′,35w

Tonight’s net was small, smooth, and interesting. Some Ops had high background noise, but condx were generally OK, with some static and QSB. Everyone seemed to copy well. Don WA6NBG has resolved issues with FLAMP by reverting fldigi to version 3.23.07.11. Seems odd, but you can’t argue with the outcome; FLAMP didn’t copy and now it does.

Don’t forget we change net frequency next week to 3.581. We can do early check-ins around 1920p and avoid check-in pileups. I wanted to use 3.582 where Jaye KE6SLS holds the Humboldt Emergency Digital Net every Monday evening @ 2005p. I thought it would enable us to find QSOs with members of both nets more easily. But, this won’t work either; 2khz bulletins on 3.5825 still occupy most of my passband at 3.582.   3.581 will work fine, and for QSOs, you can easily see digital activity on 3.582.  Ralph WB6SDR will hang for a few minutes on our old freq next week to catch those who didn’t get the word.

We began our weekly FLAMP practice message a week early and it went very well. The message is short, comprising only 5, 64 byte blocks. It was CONFIRMED by all. No need for fills tonight. We will attempt to fill this regular FLAMP message to every station as we would with formal traffic. It will always be a very short message. It will give us practice for FILL and RELAY, both important features of FLAMP.

We had some interesting stories about FD and Eric KK6RKY gave us the formula he used to calculate his station energy requirement for FD. I’m saving that file. Jaye KE6SLS told us some of FD in Humboldt Co and has some other ideas for the net, like more practice with relays. Good idea; relays are fundamental to nets. He also suggests asking Ralph WB6SDR to relay from his southern location in Folsom,CA. Ralph is usually heard well, even in UT. Ralph agrees to relay for us. We’re finding lots for Ralph to do (-: Jaye also suggests considering starting the net later during summer. I don’t know how this will resonate with net members, but it’s not optimum for me. We have four local nets before ORCA on Tues evening, one of which I’m NCS. They begin at 1830p. Already, ORCA can be active ’till 2130-2200 and we don’t have dinner until ORCA wraps.

Steve K6ETA checked in at the end. He too has numerous nets on Tues evening and can’t always get free in time to catch ORCA. I’m glad he comes when he can. After net Mindy helped him revise his wfID settings so the VIDEO PRINT is horizontal. Horizontal print for your wfID is easier for me to notice and read at once. Vertical presentation may have some characters already gone if I don’t see it immediately. Horizontal presentation floats down the wf with all characters visible until it all vanishes at once.

Remember: CW abbreviations are OK @ ORCA. You’re welcome to spell everything out perfectly, or use abbreviations as you like. CW has numerous abbreviation that are easy to interpret.

I think my typing is improving somewhat. Tonight, not so good, but overall, I’ve been slowing down a bit and needing less correction. Sometimes, I just let it go when I think you’ll interpret it correctly.

Thanks for taking time to work with us tonight. It was fun and instructive. I hope to see you all again next Tuesday evening. Have a great July4^th ! 73 Doug K7KY

———– Net Log ————-

K7KY SIGNAL TEST < K7KY

ORCA DIGITAL NET early check-in < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:26Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

de WA6NBG WA6NBG

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:26Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

< KB6NN

KB6NN WA6NBG RR < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:27Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

< W7ZAP

W7ZAP RR < K7KY

ORCA DIGITAL NET early check-in < K7KY

KE6SLS Jaye we copy you @ 1000wf ur on the log… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:30Z MFSK-32 @ 1505>>

kk6rky>>>kk6rky>>>Erik In Trinity Center

de kk6rky k

KK6RKY RR Eric… < K7KY

06/28/2016 19:31 PDT

Welcome to the ORCA DIGITAL NET – Doug K7KY/NCS

ORCA meets every Tuesday @ 1930p – 3.5825+1500

Software: FLDIGI, FLMSG, FLAMP – MFSK-32

ORCA is a DIRECTED net, dedicated to learning and developing

digital operating skills and practicing digital traffic handling.

The net connects digital Amateur Operators with common interest

in training, information-sharing, and mutual-aid. Visitors welcome.

New to ORCA? See the ‘Quick Start Guide’ @ http://orcadigitalnet.com

FLMSG/FLAMP & KEYBOARD stations check-in with your CALLSIGN

or print it on the waterfall. First time?: Include NAME & QTH.

Monitoring stations may check in&out with: ‘CALLSIGN IN&OUT’.

Monitors are not called during net.

After check-in, stand-by while NCS generates the rotation list.

Next:

NCS transmits test image

NCS transmits Rotation list

NCS transmits Announcements

NCS calls each station in order for traffic or keyboard *

Next, a round of copy reports, observations, and comments

(keyboard or BLANKFORM as you like)

Closing Announcement

* LOCK fldigi @ 1500, enable RxID, TxID.

Enable: CONFIGURE/ID/RsID ‘Retain tx freq lock’

Have FLAMP open. FLAMP traffic is followed with

a round of FLAMP REPORTs and one fill. < K7KY

Already checked in:

WA6NBG Don Eureka,CA bulletin

W7ZAP Mindy Brookings,OR FLAMP

KB6NN Howard, Eureka,CA

KE6SLS Jaye Eureka,CA

KK6RKY Eric Trinity Center,CA

< K7KY

ORCA DIGITAL NET Check-in:

Send your CALLSIGN only or

print it either side of 1500wf.

Monitoring only?: send your

CALLSIGN IN&OUT. First

check-in? Call/Name/QTH < K7KY

Any more checkins? < K7KY

<IMAGE:G, /home/k7ky/Documents/orca/ORCASmallBlack.png>

Sending Pic:144×140; < K7KY<STX>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn 0RCA.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.15

:hdr_fm:20

K7KY 20162906023553

:hdr_ed:20

K7KY 20160703235454

<blankform>

:mg:273 ORCA DIGITAL NET 28/Jun/16 check-in/rotation:

Check-ins:

Stations:

WA6NBG Don Eureka,CA bulletin

W7ZAP Mindy Brookings,OR FLAMP

KB6NN Howard, Eureka,CA

KE6SLS Jaye Eureka,CA

KK6RKY Eric Trinity Center,CA

K7KY Doug Brookings,OR NCS 180’doublet@80′,35w

[WRAP:chksum 8353][WRAP:end]

… end

Announcements 28/Jun/16

Read the Net Report/Log @: http://orcadigitalnet.com/reports/

Net Reports are posted to the website, usually by Wednesday.

If you’re new or just wondering, ‘What’s up with …?’, take a

look at our Quick Start Guide: http://orcadigitalnet.com/quick-start/

If you would like notification when the net-report is posted,

send your email address to: ncs@orcadigitalnet.com

NEW NEXT MONTH, JULY 2016

1) Small change in Net frequency from 3.5825 to 3.581

2) Small change in FLAMP roundtable routine

To make my job easier and keep the nets from running too late,

We’re moving the net down to 3.581. I like to catch earlies around

10min before net and that conflicts with Ken K6IFG’s ARRL bulletin

broadcasts. I’ve been taking earlies at 2200wf, just above K6IFG,

but 2khz modes thwart this strategy.

Next, to make practice FLAMP traffic flow more smoothly, we’re going to

try a couple new wrinkles. First, we’ll have a regular FLAMP practice

msg every week; the first practice traffic after bulletins. Mindy W7ZAP

will transmit a short file in FLAMP and we will treat it like formal

traffic; we will try to fill it to all stations.

And, we’ll limit practice FLAMP traffic to 1 or 2 more. Here, we continue

with our usual FLAMP routine. One REPORT round and FILL; then back to the

next traffic station. We’ll pass additional FLAMP traffic, time permitting.

Please be prepared to defer FLAMP TX until next net and TX in FLMSG. Tell me

at check-in if you want to use FLAMP. If you don’t get to use FLAMP this net,

I’ll try to favor you next net. FLAMP is important and I want to use it as

much as possible w/o making the net too long.

< K7KY

Any more Check ins? < K7KY

ALL ORCA Any questions or comments about the announcements FLAMP & net freq ? < K7KY

ALL ORCA Great… I hope it works OK thanks for being willing to experiment… We begin traffic round as usual with the

Humboldt bulletin from Don WA6NBG over to Don… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:41Z MFSK-32 @ 1487>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn WA6NBG-25.213]<flmsg>2.0.17

:hdr_fm:22

WA6NBG 20162906024137

:hdr_ed:22

WA6NBG 20162906022755

<ics213>

:to:31 Eureka Emergency VHF Net & ORCA

:fm:10 Don WA6Nos0oa f a(

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:42Z MFSK-32 @ 1505>>

utk-tDêRavNe5es

ORCA DIGIucosx te 27th, 2016

:s1:23 Donald O. Nelson WA6NBG

:mg:443 At Sunday’s Radio exam: One new technician and one upgrade to General. Congratulations.

Thanks to all that helped at Field Day. Special thanks to Don and Marci for the great breakfast.

Humboldt Amateur Radio Club monthly meeting Tuesday, July 5th, 1900L at the Eureka downtown fire station training room.

Send any bulletins or announcements for the Eureka Emergency VHF Net to wa6nbg@yahoo.com.

This ends the digital message for June 27th.

[WRAP:chksum 6AD0][WRAP:end]

… end

WA6NBG TU Don.. BREAK any questions for Don? come now.. < K7KY

ALL ORCA Next will become a regular event. Mindy W7ZAP will send a very short msg in FLAMP and we’ll treat it like formal

traffic in that we’ll try to fill it to efveryone on hte net… BREAK over to you, Mindy… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:45Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

ORCA DIGITAL NET DE W7ZAP

<PROG 18 9A1C>{E96E}FLAMP 2.2.03

<FILE 33 029E>{E96E}20160628195838:FLAMPmsg.txt

<ID 26 11AA>{E96E}W7ZAP Brookings, OR

<SIZE 14 94AD>{E96E}234 5 48

<DATA 56 351D>{E96E:1}ORCA DIGITAL NET, routine FLAMP practice message

<DATA 56 1648>{E96E:2}. We will attempt to fill this message to all s

<DATA 56 0421>{E96E:3}tations. It may provide an opportunity to send

<DATA 56 E31A>{E96E:4}the fills by RELAY. If you CONFIRM the message,

<DATA 50 0480>{E96E:5}NCS may ask you to RELAY the fill blocks.

<CNTL 10 2D98>{E96E:EOF}

<CNTL 10 8D94>{E96E:EOT}

DE W7ZAP K

Now we’ll do our usual FLAMP report round.. beginning with KB6NN

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:46Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

DE KB6NN

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE KB6NN K

KE6SLS

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:47Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

no cp but that must be me u asked.

DE ke6sls

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE ke6sls K

KK6RKY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:47Z MFSK-32 @ 1489>>

DE kk6rky

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE kk6rky K

DE K7KY

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE K7KY K

WA6NBG

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:48Z MFSK-32 @ 1507>>

DE WA6NBG

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE WA6NBG K

Wow! it worked perfectly.. and Don WA6NBG has sorted FLAMP out, it seems… I’m really pleased with this outcome…

let’s hope it also works well when the band is down and the net is large… BREAK over to Howard KB6NN for traffic… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:50Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

wait < KB6NN

KB6NN Howard. pse stand by a moment… late check in? come now pse. < K7KY

WB6SDR

WB6SDR GE Ralph…. we’re running traffic round right now and I’m adding you in after KK6RKY Eric…. BREAK Ok Howard.. go with ur traffic < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:53Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

Still running about 4 to 5 watts into horizontal dipole up 10 feet. Noise

level here is S8. Band condx favorable tonight. Can even hear Eric in

Trinity Center although not well. KW6JIM says he will miss rotation tonight

as he is at dinner. Congratulations to WA6NBG on getting FLAMP to work! < KB6NN

KB6NN FB Howard… good signal with 4w tnx for the info on KW6JIM BREAK KE6SLS over to Jaye KE6SLS < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T02:54Z MFSK-32 @ 1501>>

ORCA de ke6sls

TU Doug.

Okay, this station is taking notes and namin’ names!

1. qsl on the net freq qsy to 3581 next net.

2. how about thinking about later net? summer net hours etc.

3. We will not be here next week :( major bummage. HARC meeting Tuesuday next. So I will miss u guys on the ORCA net!

4. qsl’s. I found about 30 qsl cards hiding under my hf rig last week. I filled out about 30 qsl replies! Some dating back to

2010! yikes. I am bad bad bad. but I DID qsl everyone! hihihi

5. How about a south relay station? I just heard wb6sdr down near Sac town. He is loud. Could he work as a relay to Utah

and S.CA? I think for traffic, we need relay stations.

6. wa6nbg fixed FLamp???!? How. Really, how? we needs to knows the clues. :)

7 wb6sdr great sig here in Humboldt. TU om.

okay that is all from this very organized and clutter free zone at ke6sls! :)

btu NCS de ke6sls k

KE6SLS FB Jaye… lot’s of good ideas here… abt relay.. Ralph could do a good job it seems… I like the idea to practice relay

we need to be mindful of the time it takes for relays… I’ve not used relays to find more check ins because it slows the net so

much to work the relayed station… we do need this practice and we’re headed this way with FLAMP RELAY when we do

relays it would be good to do it on nights like this when the net is small… BREAK over to Eric KK6RKY < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:01Z MFSK-32 @ 1485>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn kk6rky-20160629-023047Z-4BatteryLoad.p2s]<flmsg>2.0.15

:hdr_fm:22

kk6rky 20162906030149

:hdr_ed:22

kk6rky 20162906023108

<plaintext>

:tt:29 Load and Battery use estimate

:to:16 ORCA digital Net

:fm:6 KK6RKY

:dt:10 06/28/2016

:tm:5 1759L

:sb:37 Station load and battery use estimate

:mg:456 With field day and summer power outages in mind, I calculated my station load and battery use.

Icom 7100

Receive = 1A

Xmitt (digital 50W) = 15A

Xmitt (SSB 100W) = 23A

Laptop computer

Charging (65W) = 5A

Fully charged <=3A

30% Xmitt digital = (15+3)*.3 + (1+3)*.7 =8.2A

30%Xmitt(SSB) = (23)*.3 + (1)*.7 = 7.6A computer off

30%Xmitt(SSB) = (23+3)*.3 + (1+3)*.7 = 10.6A computer on

Therefore I can expect 5 to 6 hours using 50% of 100AmpHour battery.

[WRAPmßum 740B][WRAP:end]

… end

KK6RKY TU Eric… very interesting and useful file… I’m glad you used a form so I can read it later and save it…

BREAK over to WB6SDR Ralph,… < K7KY

Thanks for letting me check in out of sync. I was trying to get an ID working on the waterfall but had an Opr. ERROR. I had to select PKTUSB as a rx mode so as not to get garabage. on RX…

Anyhow, I would be happy to work as a relay if needed in the future… Thanks for the idea .. And I guess the Antenna work I did today helped. I have a FLAMP report but don’t know If I should send it late?

BTU Doug ?

WB6SDR FB Ralph… I think you did well on the ant as ur signal is 10 over here & s/n 9…. We will ask you to relay in the future.. thanks and the WFID is described well on the website I think you were using the MODE ID before you checked

in BREAK any more late check-ins? come now… < K7KY

OK I have no traffic, but a little image to send ORCA DIGITAL NET, URL

<IMAGE:G, /home/k7ky/Documents/orca/ORCAqrcode.png>

Sending Pic:100×100;

< K7KY

That concludes the traffic portion of the net… next is comments… I’m hoping to hear some FD stories tonight… I’ve been

listening to some great FD stories on the FRN CW net since FD if you have any FD experiences you’d like to share, this wouild be a good time and of course our regular reception reports and what else is on your mind… OK we begin comments at the top with Don WA6NBG < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:12Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn WA6NBG-26.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.17

:hdr_fm:22

WA6NBG 20162906031148

:hdr_ed:22

WA6NBG 20162906030928

<blankform>

:mg:584 Signal Reports & Comments for ORCA net from WA6NBG: Running 25 Watts into 180 foot endfed antenna up 25 feet.

Image P3

W7ZAP 100% s/n +4 to +11 plus FLAMP – YYYEEEAAA

KB6NN 100% s/n -2 to +1

KE6SLS 70% s/n -6 to -2

KK6RKY 50% s/n -4 to +3 no FLMSG

WB6SDR 70% s/n -10 to +6 deep QSB

K7KY 100% & FLMSG. s/n +1 to +12 Second image – P4.

Using older version of FLDIGI (ver. 3.23.07.11 Windows 7) to see if FLAMP (ver. 2.2.03) will work. It did. KE6SLS not so strong

tonight. Club meeting next week. Sorry, no Field Day stories. To all, a happy 4th of July. 73 from WA6NBG.

[WRAP:chksum E307][WRAP:end]

… end

W7ZAP OK MIndy,. ur up for comments… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:14Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn W7ZAP_report.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.16.01

:hdr_fm:17

c 20162906031359

:hdr_ed:17

c 20162906024149

<blankform>

:mg:645

W7ZAP copied the following stations:

WA6NBG 100% copy KBD, FLMSG (S9 s/n=11dB) checksum failed

KB6NN 100% copy KBD (S9 s/n=4dB)

KE6SLS 100% copy KBD (S9 +15 s/n=12dB) great ideas

KK6RKY 100% copy KBD, FLMSG (S8 s/n=5dB) cool battery info

WB6SDR 100% copy KBD (S9 +15 s/n=10dB)

K7KY 100% copy KBD, FLMSG, image

Had a fun Field Day, although not so much TXing on the radio. I did some PSK31, but was too chicken to do CW! Haven’t been practicing enough. Doug and I finally used our cargo trailer on our hilltop which was fun and and our station (read:antenna) was way more successful than our previous Field Day setups.

73,

Mindy W7ZAP sk

[WRAP:chksum A03F][WRAP:end]

… end

W7ZAP TU Mindy BREAK over to Howard KB6NN… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:16Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:crlf][WRAP:fn KB6NN-23b.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.10

:hdr_fm:21

KB6NN 20162906031557

:hdr_ed:21

KcovNN 20162906031433

<blankform>

:mg:779 KB6NN ORCA Reception Report June 28, 2016 local time (running 4 watts into

horizontal dipole up ten feet):

WA6NBG gwS9 s/n +2 to +7 good copy 100% FLMSG

W7ZAP Mindy S9+ s/n +10 to +17 good copy 100% FLAMP

KB6NN Howard FD was FB anRw mobile also club station

KE6SLS Jaye S9+ s/n +8 to +13 good copy

KKÖ#o ahke(at noise floor) s/n -13 poor copy early yonu P2 to 0 later for better copy but QSB fading out middle of FLMSG

will appreciate reading it on the web report on Wednesday

or getting a re-send from Doug after net

WB6SDR Ralph S9 s/n +3 to +5 better after 8PM local good copy

K7KY Doug S9 s/n +2 to +6 good copy 100% OLM (rotation order)

95% ORCA logo pic, about 75% copy on the QR code pic

Thanks t,d

[WRAP:chksum 09F8][WRAP:end]

… end

KE6SLS OK Jaye… any more ideas? < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:18Z MFSK-32 @ 1505>>

k7ky s7, qsb, -2 to 8db, 100% flmsg/kb cp, p5 pic

wa6nbg s8, 1 to 9db, 100% flmsg

w7zap s6, 1-11db, 100% flamp/flmsg

kb6nn s7 0 to 9db, 100% kb/flmsg cp

kk6rky -13 to -6db, 100%kb, 70% flmsg, rougher than normal cp tonight.

wb6sdr s9, 9 to 14db, 100% kb,

ARS KE6SLS

100% solar powered, no power supplies in shack.

Kenwood ts570 running 40 watts tonight

short inverted vee dipole up about 18′ fed with balance feeder.

All Linux shack using fldigi and supporting apps.

New batteries installed last week: 208AH starting NOW!

————–next—————-

FD 2016 NU6O

NU6O brought a homebrew vertical with massive auto-match gang box

mounted below the antenna. Can work 160-40m with 93% effeciency.

KJ6ICA brought his Magnetic Loop with automatch using homebrew

CPU!

We worked 3a with a GOTA. Don’t think we had a single GOTA ops though!

We had fun. KE6HEC and KE6IAU brought breakfast Sunday morning. Just

what the DR ordered! We also did pot luck Saturday Evening. There

were many dead chickens involved in this feast!

Had great help from local hams. We put up the masts and antennas, and

then pulled them down again. Stowed the gear and this op was home by

3pm Sunday evening.

That’s all from Lake Whutchamacallit. TU NCS.

De ke6sls k

KE6SLS TU Jaye… nice report.. I was going to ask you to hang at the old freq next week to catch those who don’t know we’ve moved, but I forgot abt Humboldt ARC meetings… I always miss the Eureka gang at the first of every month… BREAK over to KK6RKY Eric… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:22Z MFSK-32 @ 1481>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn kk6rky-20160629-032212Z-4.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.15

:hdr_fm:22

kk6rky 20162906032214

:hdr_ed:22

kk6rky 20162906032214

<blankform>

:mg:469 KK6RKY ORCA net notes

June 28, 2016

Icom 7100 50 W OCF dipole

Image Very clean!

Announcement 99%

WA6NBG Don Eureka,CA bulletin

5 dB Flmsg 99% copy but checksum error

W7ZAP Mindy Brookings,OR FLAMP

9 dB Flamp full copy no missing blocks

KB6NN Howard, Eureka,CA

8 dB 100ye Eureka,CA

12 dB 100% copy

KK6RKY Eric Trinity Center,CA

Battery estimate Flms©W6SDR Ralph

12 dB 100% copy

K7KY Doug Brookings,OR

11 dB 100% Image very clean

[WRAP:chksum 11B1][WRAP:end]

… end

KK6RKY TU Eric… Next to Ralph WB6SDR & Ralph, I forgot your request to send FLAMP I’d like to finish the

comment round and close, but would like to get your FLAMP traffic after the net if you can stay around a few minutes.. other may also want to copy over to you for comments… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:25Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

Ok I have a S9 noise level but I thought I would comment on my antenna work.

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:25Z MFSK-32 @ 1513>>

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn InvertedV_1st-6.b2s]<flmsg>2.0.15

:hdr_fm:22

WB6SDR 20162906032542

:hdr_ed:22

WB6SDR 20162906014028

<blankform>

:mg:1928 While I was out of town trying my luck at fly fishing South of Mt. Shasta I considered what I could do to imporove my

signal stringth. Since my fishing got better as I kept with it I decided to keep plugging away at my antenna issue expecting to

see some improvement.

First, decided to raise the apex of my 80 meter iinverted V to the full 50 ft. elevation. My mast consists of a TV mast secured

to my brick chimney at about the 10 ft. elevation above the roof. The 40 ft. TV mast is secrued to the chimney with stainless

steel U-bolts spaced vertically about 4 ft. vertically apart. Each U-bolt is secured to a 4 ft. piece of angle iron that is pressed

against the chimney using threaded stock with a piece of discarded floor mat cut and fit between the chimney and the four

pieces of angle iron. The four pieces of angle iron are secured tight enough to the chimney to support my weight without

slippage or movement.

The center insulator and feed point part IL-4/GRA-4 is part of a military GRA-4 HF antenna system. Each leg of the dipole is

secured with a wing-nut to the IL-4 feed. The coax is reduced to a BNC fitting at the feed. The center insulator is probably

good for at least 100 Watts but the BNC fitting is probably the weakest point. The Army Data sheet specifies the antenna to be

capable of up to 100 watts from 1.5 to 18 MHz.

Second, I was faced with re-routing one of the legs through one of the 40 ft. Valley Oaks. I used an adjustable wrench tied to a

Nylon line and I cast the tool up and over branches as needed to route my antenna through the oak. This turned out to be a

frustrating job since the wrench got stuck on major limbs due to the new growth. After using my 10 ft. step ladder and punning

saw on a fibreglass adjustable pole I was able to cut my wrench free and eventually re-routed my antenna leg through the oak

while only touching one branch.

To be continued next week …

[WRAP:chksum 9379][WRAP:end]

… end

WB6SDR Great antenna story, Ralph… or at least the beginning of the story… good to hear you recovered the wrench…

All Amateurs love antenna stories… Well it’s down to me and I want to add a few comments to Mindy’s FD report… We

had a great time pulling the cargo trailer to the top of our property… it’s working out very well. I thought it might get too hot on

a sunny day, but not with the man door open and the back ramp down… much better than our old routine of sending CW from

a wobbly old bench while sitting in lawn chairs…. OK any more comments or questions be for we close the net? Remember,

Ralph will send his FLAMP traffic following the net… < K7KY

ALL ORCA Thanks for working with us tonight… I really enjoy working with all of you. This net gets to be more and more fun for me… We’ll close it now and turn the frequency over to Ralph WB6SDR GE 73 Doug K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:34Z MFSK-32 @ 1499>>

DE WB6SDR

File : FLAMt>z u,en

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:34Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

DE WB6SDR

File : FLAMPmsg.txt

<MISSING 15 9752>{E96E}CONFIRMED

DE WB6SDR K

WB6SDR Ralph… when you send the FLAMP message, do you want me to run around the group for REPORTS ?? < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:35Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

I will catch up next week on the FLamp reports… I copied ok but just got in late because of the PKTUSB switch issue. Thanks

anyway Doug and see you next week with the rest of the Antenna Story DE WB6sdr.

WB6SDR FB Ralph… I hope I didn’t confuse you at the end there… We’ll be waiting for the conclusion to the ant story….

cu 73 Doug K7KY sk

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:38Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

dit dit

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:38Z MFSK-32 @ 1502>>

t

I would like to receive a copy of KK6RKY Eric’s FLMSG from about 8PM tonight (first message) from someone tonight? < KB6NN

KB6NN Howard… stand by one… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:39Z MFSK-32 @ 1506>>

< KB6NN

… start

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn badfile]<flmsg>2.0.15

:hdr_fm:42

kk6rky 20162906030149

K7KY 20162906033938

:hdr_ed:22

kk6rky 20162906023108

<plaintext>

:tt:29 Load and Battery use estimate

:to:16 ORCA digital Net

:fm:6 KK6RKY

:dt:10 06/28/2016

:tm:5 1759L

:sb:37 Station load and battery use estimate

:mg:456 With field day and summer power outages in mind, I calculated my station load and battery use.

Icom 7100

Receive = 1A

Xmitt (digital 50W) = 15A

Xmitt (SSB 100W) = 23A

Laptop computer

Charging (65W) = 5A

Fully charged <=3A

30% Xmitt digital = (15+3)*.3 + (1+3)*.7 =8.2A

30%Xmitt(SSB) = (23)*.3 + (1)*.7 = 7.6A computer off

30%Xmitt(SSB) = (23+3)*.3 + (1+3)*.7 = 10.6A computer on

Therefore I can expect 5 to 6 hours using 50% of 100AmpHour battery.

[WRAP:chksum B5C5][WRAP:end]

… end

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:41Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

Perfect! Thanks Doug. < KB6NN

KB6NN OK Howard… cu next tues , no I guess not easy to forget the ARC meetings even tho Jaye just told me (-{ < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:42Z MFSK-32 @ 1498>>

a well, I have to mark them on my calendar! < KB6NN

KB6NN Howard… us still planning a trip thru Brookings ? Maybe we can catch a coffee and sandwich or something… < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:43Z MFSK-32 @ 1508>>

I was just thinking about that. We are going a different route. Maybe another time. < KB6NN

Shucks! I was hoping for an opportunity to say hello and possible eat some Chinese food.. I love chinese food… btu < K7KY

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:44Z MFSK-32 @ 1500>>

Well, if you and Mindy ever get down this way,…. I’m just sayin’ < KB6NN

KB6NN Tnx Howard… I do very little automoble or any other mode travel any more… Long trips are tough on my back… I really would have enjoyed visiting you guys for FD sounds like you all do a great job… cu the week after.. 73 Doug

K7KY sk

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:46Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

but you travel all the time…. over the airwaves! Yes, some day, it will come to pass.

Before RSID: <<2016-06-29T03:46Z MFSK-32 @ 1503>>

K7KY K7KY de K6ETA K6ETA K6ETA kn

——— snip —————