LU5FC, 2031, 28.430 USB, 59, Jesus in Rosario, Argentina
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
16 October 2008
Boy Scouts Jamboree on the Air "JOTA" on October 18, 2008
This Saturday, Savannah area amateur radio operators will be at the Boy Scouts Camporee at Oglethorpe Speedway providing amateur radio stations and other radio related activities to support the Boy Scouts JOTA, or Jamboree on the Air. Some of us will be there Friday afternoon to help set up the stations and other equipment while other will join us on Saturday morning (18 October 2008) to get on the air.
We'll be using the special event callsign K4S, so listen out for us on the HF bands as well as 2-Meters. 2-Meter communications out from the JOTA will be on the 146.970 repeater, on site 2-Meter communications will be on 146.520. HF frequencies have not been predetermined, so look for us throughout the bands. In addition to getting the scouts on the air and helping them make contacts for their radio badges, we'll also be doing radio direction finding and educating them on the RF spectrum.
Personally, I'll be on the air sometime Sunday with my nephew Kaleb. He's a new Cub Scout and I'll be trying to get him some JOTA contacts from the home station, so please listen out for KF4LMT on Sunday.
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
14 October 2008
Misadventures in Amateur Radio
For the last few days I'd been receiving poor signal reports on HF after initially getting good signal reports after I started operating on HF back on 4 October 2008. I was beginning to wonder if there was a problem with the radio or the antenna. What really topped things off was when I said hello to Heyward, KT4RW on 40 meters this afternoon. Heyward lives over around 307 and I-16 and told me he couldn't hear me very well.
This evening I finally found out why I was getting the poor reports like the 22 I got from W4TDC on 17 meters. Back on 11 October, my father, AF4KL was using the 897 to try to make a QRP contact on 10 meters. To operate QRP, of course, he dialed the power back to 5 watts. I forgot to dial it back up, so I've been working on 5 watts for the better part of a week!
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
This evening I finally found out why I was getting the poor reports like the 22 I got from W4TDC on 17 meters. Back on 11 October, my father, AF4KL was using the 897 to try to make a QRP contact on 10 meters. To operate QRP, of course, he dialed the power back to 5 watts. I forgot to dial it back up, so I've been working on 5 watts for the better part of a week!
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Savannah Fire and Emergency Services Truck 16
A couple of days ago, I posted about my father hearing an ENGINE 16 on Savannah Fire talkgroups. I must admit that I got that wrong, he told me TRUCK 16, not ENGINE 16 and I just didn't remember the conversation correctly once I got around to blogging about it.
This evening, I got an email from the Savannah Fire and Emergency Service Public Information Officer, Captain Matthew Stanley. Capt. Stanley said that TRUCK 16 is currently operating out of Station 6, which is at Liberty Parkway and Ogeechee Rd. They have put TRUCK 16 in service to better protect the new growth in the areas of Ogeechee Rd. and Chatham Parkway. Eventually they will locate it at a new station on Chatham Parkway for which they are currently searching for a location.
Thanks to Captain Stanley for the information!
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
This evening, I got an email from the Savannah Fire and Emergency Service Public Information Officer, Captain Matthew Stanley. Capt. Stanley said that TRUCK 16 is currently operating out of Station 6, which is at Liberty Parkway and Ogeechee Rd. They have put TRUCK 16 in service to better protect the new growth in the areas of Ogeechee Rd. and Chatham Parkway. Eventually they will locate it at a new station on Chatham Parkway for which they are currently searching for a location.
Thanks to Captain Stanley for the information!
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
13 October 2008
Recently Modified Shack Layout
I recently made some changes to my monitoring/amateur radio shack. I had several goals in mind: 1) reduce RFI and heat from the old CRT monitor, 2) facilitate dual monitoring/use of the 2 Meters and HF amateur bands, and 3) make use of the radio controls more convenient. All three of the goals were accomplished with minimal effort.
The photo above shows the full station layout. To the left is a new 15" Acer LCD monitor for the computer. The LCD takes up less space, generates far less heat, and is much lighter than the old CRT. It has taken stress off of the desk, reduced the temperature around the radios, and has allowed me to move the radios closer to my seating position. I've angled the radios toward me to allow for easier viewing. The first bank of scanners next to the LCD are (top to bottom) 2 Uniden BC780XLTs and a Uniden BC796D. The second bank of scanners are a Radio Shack Pro-2050, a Radio Shack Pro-2052, and a Radio Shack Pro-2005. On the far right end of the desk is a Yaesu FT-897D with an LDG AT-897 tuner and a Yaesu FT-2800 (the speaker goes to the 897, I'm using the internal speaker for the 2800).
The two BC780XLTs scan military aviation. One is programmed with unit frequencies, the other is programmed with operating area, range, and aerial refueling frequencies. The BC796D is programmed with the Chatham-Effingham TRS, the Fort Stewart-Hunter AAF TRS, and various conventional VHF/UHF frequencies. The Pro-2050 is more or less a reserve radio that gets pressed into occaisonal use for finding new analog TGs or scanning VHF/UHF public safety conventional frequencies. The Pro-2052 is used to scan military low band frequencies and some UHF military airband frequencies.
The Yaesu FT-897D is fed from a G5RV inverted vee for HF. It shares a Jetstream JTB4 triband vertical with the FT-2800 for the 6 Meter, 2 Meter, and 70cm bands. Under normal operating conditions, the triband vertical stays connected to the FT-2800. I use the FT-897D for both amateur radio operations and utility monitoring. The FT-2800 also has marine VHF frequencies programmed in for monitoring the Coast Guard. Despite being at the far end of the desk, my long arms are able to work all of the controls on both radios. Many of the FT-897s functions can also be controlled by the computer with Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD). I usually have HRD running, but I generally use it only for logging purposes; there is still something fun about touching the radio and spinning the dial.
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
The photo above shows the full station layout. To the left is a new 15" Acer LCD monitor for the computer. The LCD takes up less space, generates far less heat, and is much lighter than the old CRT. It has taken stress off of the desk, reduced the temperature around the radios, and has allowed me to move the radios closer to my seating position. I've angled the radios toward me to allow for easier viewing. The first bank of scanners next to the LCD are (top to bottom) 2 Uniden BC780XLTs and a Uniden BC796D. The second bank of scanners are a Radio Shack Pro-2050, a Radio Shack Pro-2052, and a Radio Shack Pro-2005. On the far right end of the desk is a Yaesu FT-897D with an LDG AT-897 tuner and a Yaesu FT-2800 (the speaker goes to the 897, I'm using the internal speaker for the 2800).
The two BC780XLTs scan military aviation. One is programmed with unit frequencies, the other is programmed with operating area, range, and aerial refueling frequencies. The BC796D is programmed with the Chatham-Effingham TRS, the Fort Stewart-Hunter AAF TRS, and various conventional VHF/UHF frequencies. The Pro-2050 is more or less a reserve radio that gets pressed into occaisonal use for finding new analog TGs or scanning VHF/UHF public safety conventional frequencies. The Pro-2052 is used to scan military low band frequencies and some UHF military airband frequencies. The Yaesu FT-897D is fed from a G5RV inverted vee for HF. It shares a Jetstream JTB4 triband vertical with the FT-2800 for the 6 Meter, 2 Meter, and 70cm bands. Under normal operating conditions, the triband vertical stays connected to the FT-2800. I use the FT-897D for both amateur radio operations and utility monitoring. The FT-2800 also has marine VHF frequencies programmed in for monitoring the Coast Guard. Despite being at the far end of the desk, my long arms are able to work all of the controls on both radios. Many of the FT-897s functions can also be controlled by the computer with Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD). I usually have HRD running, but I generally use it only for logging purposes; there is still something fun about touching the radio and spinning the dial.Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Skywarn Spotter Class - 13 November 2008
A Skywarn Weather Spotters Class is being offered on 13 November 2008 by the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service in Charleston. Chatham County ARES is trying to get a group of amateur radio operators together to take the course; if you are interested, contact the Chatham County Emergency Coordinator, Guy McDonald at guy@guymcdonald.net to get on the list.
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
12 October 2008
Savannah Fire and Emergency Services Engine 16?
On Friday, my father reported hearing Savannah Fire and Emergency Services operating an ENGINE 16. From what he heard it could possibly be operating on the westside of the city limits.
Has anyone else heard ENGINE 16 or does anyone have any information on where it may be operating out of?
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Has anyone else heard ENGINE 16 or does anyone have any information on where it may be operating out of?
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
