Spinning and Grinning

Looks like DX packet clusters are not as popular as they used to be. In Hampton Roads…. you can’t get there from here. Here’s what I found in VA:

From the PVRC:
http://pvrc.org/refe.htm
PVDXSN PacketCluster Contest/DX System, MHz:

Yearly Dues: $35.00 Suggested Donation
Please Make Checks Payable to “PVDXSN” and mail to:

Mr. George J. Freed, KN3P
1785 Grovespring Street
Las Vegas, NV 89135-1084

W3LPL Glenwood MD 145.590 441.250
W3IP CrownsvilleMD 145.570
WR3L Baltimore MD 145.610 440.950
N3RR Rockville MD 145.510 441.325
K3SKE Frederick MD 144.930 441.125
W3YOZ West River MD 144.910
W3TOM Accokeek MD 145.770
N1WR Lusby MD 145.690
N4OHE Mt.Weather VA 145.710 446.025
NE3H Harrisburg PA 144.970 *
W3BD S Mountain PA 145.630
N4SR Woodbridge VA 145.630 *
W4XP Bull Run Mt ” 144.990

This system is sponsored by the Potomac Valley DX Spotting
Network except “*” are independently funded by each SYSOP.

CVCC:
http://c-v-c-c.us/
We maintain a DX Packet Cluster system serving the Central Virginia area. Frequencies are:

* 145.09 – C W4ML (Richmond)
* 144.93 – C W4FEG-6, then DXC (W4FEG,Goochland) Need to logout of both W4FEG-6 and DXC.
* 145.67 – C N2QT (N2QT,Lynchburg)
* 145.59 – C DXJACK (N2QT, Jack Mountain)
* Telnet to dxc.w4ml.net or 24.125.165.237

THANKS to N4DEN for keeping our cluster in top shape!!!!!!!

So – I think Richmond is my closest spot. To make this doable, I think I’d need a yagi here at the house and then set up a packet station here to use as a relay.

Founds a wonderful book at Barnes & Noble a few weeks back that does a pretty good job covering the history of lighthouses, lightships, and lifesaving stations here on the Cheasepeake and Atlantic coast of Virginia. It is amazing to see pictures of some of the old structures… especially the screwpile type lighthouses.

I’d like to use the book to go explore different locations around here and find old lighthouses as well as locations where lighthouses used to be but time or man has removed them.

=====================================================================
==>NEW MORSE “@” CHARACTER BECOMES OFFICIAL MAY 3

The International Morse code officially gains a new character on May
3. That’s when the now-familiar “@” symbol joins the Morse lexicon
as the letters “AC” run together (.–.-.). Known as the “commercial
at” or “commat,” the @ symbol never rose to the level of usage that
demanded a unique Morse character until it gained currency as a
critical component of e-mail addresses during the past decade or so.

Last December, the International Telecommunication Union
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Study Group 8 agreed on the
wording of a Draft New Recommendation ITU-R M.[MORSE] that specified
the international Morse code character set and transmission
procedures and included the new Morse code character.

The pending change has attracted some attention in the media,
including mentions on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered
and in The New York Times.
=====================================================================

Just got an email that my Fort Monroe special event 1×1 callsign has been approved: W4M!

I finished the modifications to the vertical dipole and it’s good to go on 20M and 40M! I ended up attaching the SO-239 directly to the base of the antenna, improving the connection by drilling a small hole for the center pin to fit into and then securing it with solder. To the ground ring of the SO-239, I attached a banana plug to make it easier to remove the wire portion of the antenna. I then attached an additional 4′ section to the antenna. I used a 6″ piece of 3/4″ copper to join the additional length. Then it was test time. I spooled the wire out to 32′ and moved the tap to the top of the coil. Good to go with a 1:1.2 SWR at 7072 kHz. I had a nice PSK31 QSO with Rick, K8CAV, near Cleavland, Ohio. I then rolled the wire up to 16′ and set the tap down to the bottom of the coil. Again, a nice low SWR and I had a quick QSO with CT2ILI in Portugal. I think the antenna is ready for primetime. The last piece is to figure out how to secure the antenna to a long painter’s pole to give it about 25′ of height and then how to secure the painter’s pole in a vertical position.

Center-loaded telescoping whip antenna, specifically designed for handheld scanners and amateur radio transceivers with 9 telescopic sections.

I purchased this a few years back and thought I might use it with my Bearcat scanner this weekend to monitor the local airshow. I had to download the instructions to remember how to set the telescopic sections based on the band being moinitored.

May 7, 1530Z-2230Z, Fort Knox, KY. Owensboro Amateur Radio Club, W2P. VE Day, General George Patton, 3rd Army and 8th Armored Division. 14.248 14.048 7.248 7.048. QSL. Schley Cox, W4AMW, 1860 Antler Ave, Owensboro, KY 42303-1873. www.k4hy.net.

From the OARC: We are going to set up two stations — one on 40,
the other on 20 — and alternate working CW and SSB on each band an
hour at a time. We think we have enough CW and SSB ops to provide that
kind of operation.

General Patton never visited Ft. Knox, but the Patton Museum is there
since the fort was the home of armor school for so many years. That is
why Ft. Knox is so identified with General Patton. The 8th Armored
Division originated at Ft. Knox in 1942.

4 June
Ole Virginia Hams ARC
http://www.w4ovh.com/
Talk-In: 146.970
Contact: Arthur Whittum, W1CRO
12212 Woodlark Court
Manassas, VA 20112
Phone: 703-791-4330
Email: opsboss721@earthlink.net

Manassas, VA
Prince William County Fairgrounds
10624 Dumfries Road
Div: Roanoke
Sect: Virginia