225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution

Today we celebrate the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.  The Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Have you read this inspired document lately?  Have your government representatives read it?





Considerations For A New Antenna - Part 1

Our shack was disassembled, packed up in boxes, and out-of-use for several months due to relocation.  We recently hit our tolerance threshold for being off-the-air and decided to take action and reassemble a station.

Nothing like a huge maple to hoist up the center of a fan-dipole.  Unfortunately, our new QTH doesn't have large trees to support our excellent Alpha-Delta antenna.  This has led us to spending some quality time reading our 21st Edition of the ARRL Antenna Book to gather up different ideas.

Our design criteria:

• No tower
• Multi-band (as many as possible)
• Effective for DX'ing including all 50 States
• Durable in a permanent all-weather installation (e.g. rain, wind, snow, ice, ...)

Considerations:

• No trees suitable for hanging an antenna
• Large hill rising to the North and falling to the South
• Tall chimney on house
• 150 feet of back yard

 In part 2 of this article series, we will select and install our first antenna in the new location.

David Packard (9DRV) - Birthday September 7, 1912

Today we remember David Packard (9DRV) on his birthday (born September 7, 1912, in Pueblo, Colorado). Packard was the co-founder and a longtime executive officer of Hewlett-Packard Company. Packard was a gifted electrical engineer.  He built his first radio while still in elementary school and earned his amateur radio ticket while in high school.

David Packard

Hiram Percy Maxim's Birthday September 2, 1869

Hiram Percy Maxim was born this day on September 2, 1869.

Lee De Forest Birthday August 26, 1873

Lee De Forest was born on this day August 26, 1873.  De Forest was an electrical engineer and inventor of the Audion tube with three electrodes instead of two in 1907.  The tube became known as the De Forest valve or triode.  His innovation made electronic amplification and switching possible.  The Audion Tube was a huge commercial success

FCC View of CC&R Preemption - Score One For HOA's

In a report released August 20, 2012, the FCC has recommended taking no action regarding expanding preemption rules to cover to private land use restrictions contained in covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) in home ownership deeds and condominium bylaws regarding amateur radio antennas.

Amateur radio operators across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to pursue their interest in amateur radio due to these restrictive covenants.  As the saying goes, sometimes it has to get worse before it can be made better.  For this round, score one for the HOA's and zero for amateur radio....

Excerpt from the report:

Recommendations
Private land use restrictions. Some commenters recommend that CC&Rs be preempted if they prohibit antennas that are within certain limits.  Others suggest that private land use restrictions on amateur antennas should be permitted only for safety considerations, and not for aesthetic reasons.

As noted above, however, other commenters believe that it is not necessary to preempt private land use restrictions in order to promote amateur emergency communications, given the ways that even amateurs subject to CC&Rs can communicate effectively and the nature of amateur emergency communications.
Moreover, while commenters suggest that private land use restrictions have become more common our review of the record does not indicate that amateur operators are unable to find homes that are not subject to such restrictions. Therefore, at this time, we do not see a compelling reason for the Commission to revisit its previous determinations that preemption should not be expanded to CC&Rs.

Kenwood TH-22AT

We picked up a pair of Kenwood TH-22AT 2m handi-talkies at a yard sale for a good price.  The pair came with drop-in charger and spare battery pack.  Very durable feeling to the radio.

Kenwood TH-22AT 2m HT

Kenwood put a lot of great features into this radio for its vintage.  Having been a TH-F6A owner for several years, the TH-22AT seems surprisingly rather familiar.  The TH-22AT includes 40 memories which is a must on a VHF HT.  The programming is bit clunky though manageable.  It only took a minute to figure out the 10 steps to enter a repeater into memory.  Here are the actual steps we took to program a repeater (145.25 MHz) with a tone frequency of 131.8 into memory number 33.

1) Press VFO
2) Enter the frequency by turning the dial until the screen displayed 145.25
3) Press T/CT
4) Press and hold F for more than 1 second
5) Press T/CT
6) Select the tone frequency by turning the dial until the screen displays 131.8
7) Press T/CT
8) Press and hold F for more than 1 second
9) Select the memory number (0 to 39) using the dial until the screen displays 33
10) Press MR

Violà!

The TH-22AT has the same standard Kenwood headphone / speaker jack configuration as our TH-F6A.  This means we will be able to use the TH-22AT with our APRS TNC plug-and-play.

Looking forward to using this radio as a spare, as a APRS tracker, and radio fox-hunting transmitter.


© Michael W. Maher and NJ2X.COM, 2012

Battery Power

Here are several very useful and interesting links on the topic of battery power:

W1PNS / WAØITP / AB8XA Battery Life Estimator

Batteries and Charging Systems for QRP

ARRL Lab Notes - Emergency Power

Duracell 9v Battery

Its Meteor Time!

The night sky will be lit in a spectacular display of light streaks in late July through mid-August, 2012 as the Delta Aquarid and Perseid meteor showers combine to create one of the very best meteor displays in Northern Hemisphere.

There are few things as wonderful than camping under the open clear sky far from population centers (and light polution) and taking in a blazing meteor shower.  It is one of those activities that kids, teens, partents, and grandparents all equally enjoy and can share and experience together.  The cost is right too - free.  No equipment is needed to view meteor showers.  Location does however make a difference as cloudy skies, haze, and light polution can all interfere.

So get the family together and head outdoors between July 28 and August 13, 2012 to view and enjoy one of the greatest shows on earth.

NASA photo of a meteor falling earthwards

Good viewing, 73
NJ2X

New Jersey QSO Party 2012 - July 28/29, 2012

The New Jersey QSO Party will be back on the air July 28 and 29, 2012.  This is great news for New Jersey hams since it a great event.  2011 sadly marked the first time that anyone can remember that there was no New Jersey QSO Party event. 

Thanks to the Burlington County Radio Club for sponsoring the NJ QSO Party and bringing the event back.

The objectives for the New Jersey QSO Party are:

• Contact as many NJ amateurs in as many NJ counties as possible. 
• NJ stations contact as many Amateurs in the US, Canada and the world as possible.

For more information be sure to consult with the New Jersey QSO Party Rules.  Please spread the word about this wonderful event.

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US Army Signal Corp SCR-536 / BC-611 Handi-Talkie

The SCR-536/BC-611 was manufactured by Galvin starting in 1942 and was a breakthrough device - the first "handi-talkie".  This single-channel, crystal-controlled, AM transceiver was capable of operation on 3.5 Mhz to 6 Mhz.  Having 5 tubes and 3 batteries, it produced 36 miliwatts of power that was good for communication within a 1 mile radius.  The hand-held self-contained package made this squad radio a pretty impressive piece of gear in 1942.



US Army Signal Corp SCR-536

 

US Army Signal Corp’s SCR-536

 This is a short (32 seconds) and interesting demonstration of the BC-611 communicating with a TBX-4.

Lightning Strikes The Eiffel Tower

This is an amazing shot of a lightning striking the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower Lighting

Summer tis the season of the ham's nemesis - lightning.  Is your station grounding and lightning protection up to task?

Good DX and 73, NJ2X


Be sure to check out our other lightning related articles on NJ2X.com.

Sussex County Amateur Radio Club (SCARC) Hamfest July 15, 2012

For New Jersey area hams, the Sussex County Amateur Radio Club (SCARC) Hamfest is tomorrow - July 15, 2012.  We make a point of attending this hamfest ever year.  It is a really wonderful event. 

Hope to see you all there.

73, NJ2X