CARS MEMBER KB6USJ ACHIEVES THE “HOLY GRAIL”

Posted on by August 19, 2019
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\”Here is W1AW, QRL? QRL?”
Mike, KB6USJ, looking mighty happy!

    For the past several decades I have been an avid reader of QST and seen photos of W1AW, casually thinking someday I would visit the league. Because of the distance needed to travel , again the notion was at the bottom of my bucket list.

    An invitation from a relative for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration plus my eldest son’s career being a pilot at Southwest Airlines, I found myself in Providence Rhode Island a mere 90 miles from Newington CT. I set my sights on a visit to HQ.

    The staff at the league was gracious and accommodating as I proceeded to take a tour of several departments of ARRL. I viewed areas where the staff works to produce the monthly magazine plus meeting technicians in the radio lab where products are tested.

    The finale was a short walk over to W1AW.  I viewed banks of radios positioned in cabinets with the job of sending daily bulletins broadcasting from HQ. The staff asked for my radio license and then positioned me in front of a Yaesu-5000 rig and rotated the 20 meter 5 element mono band beam. With the Yaesu amp set at 800 watts my cue for my phone transmission was set.

    If you would ask me “Mike, did you pinch yourself”? Yes, I was at awe I had operated W1AW. I worked a pile up of stations on 20 meters from North to Southern United States. A notable QSO was with a 97 year old ham from west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, his first QSO with W1AW.  We both completed a check mark on the old bucket list. Thank You again to the whole staff of the American Radio Relay League for a very memorable day.

                                           Mike G kb6usj

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    SOLAR CYCLE 25

    Posted on by July 25, 2019
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    Coronal Mass Ejection

    Here are two articles concerning the Sun’s cycles. Although not very encouraging for ham radio at least insightful about the nature of the beast.

    New study corroborates the influence of planetary tidal forces on solar activity

    https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=58444&pNid=0

    Solar experts predict the Sun’s activity in Solar Cycle 25 to be below average, similar to Solar Cycle 24

    https://www.weather.gov/news/190504-sun-activity-in-solar-cycle

    Remember: HAVE RADIO, WILL TRANSMIT.

    73

    Mark, n6iv

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    Field Day, Monitor Pass, 8,314 ft

    Posted on by June 24, 2019
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    View of Leviathan Peak to the north from campsite.
    Lousey photo of me at my typical Field Day setup.

    The club did not sponsor a Field Day this year so I thought I would share my personal experience this weekend with you. (Please send in your reports to share with the club)

    Weekend began Friday morning with the 2.5 hr drive up through Markleeville to the campsite at Monitor Pass off highway 89, just south of Leviathan peak. Full blown aspen forest. I’ve wanted to camp here for 19 years. Sent my wife to visit a friend in Lemoore, Ca. with the dog, and I took off.
    Arrived Fri at 11:30am, set up camp, tent, antenna( cf zepp), radio station, etc. A few casual qsos were made on cw fri pm to check equipment. Wow, really high qrn on 40m.. must be band condx.

    Next morning 27degF… burr. FD start time 1800z. Wow, really high qrn, S7- S9. Fiddled with my Ft 857 for an hour, checking generator, antenna, equipment, etc. No go!. Pulled out my trusty 25yo. Ts570 and problem solved. Great band conditions. Weird. (Either the ft857 is not good for crowded bands or I am not fully adept at working that machine). Worked as 1B SV on 15, 20, and 40m casually hunting and pouncing all day into early evening. Nice. Made my 100 contacts.

    Sunday morning, 30F,  but warmed to 73F later. During 6:30 am breakfast I heard strange noise to my southeast. With coffee cup in hand went to investigate. BIG black bear raised it’s head over the brush looking at ME. Having read bear protocol I shouted and waved my arms.  After the second time the bear did a 180, crashing through the forest and did not return :). Ate breakfast and FD continued. Made another 25 qsos and packed it up by 12pm. Home in one piece at 2pm. Overall, best FD ever!!. 

    Yes,  lots of work and planning but this year I did not cook in Calaveras county. ( Alas, missed Fred, WB6QVI, my FD partner for many, many years who did not accompany me this time)

    Will submit my score to ARRL. Hope not alot of dupes.
    73
    Mark, N6IV

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    VHF Contest nr Blue Mtn

    Posted on by June 14, 2019
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    CARS members Mike, WA6ZTA, and Mark, N6IV, attend the VHF contest with Harry, K6HS, near Blue Mtn on June 8-9. After leaving Arnold about 12pm we ascended the road from Hades (IMO) to a summit just N.E. of the Blue Mtn. lookout at about 6,000 ft on a rocky ridge. Here is Mike’s VHF refuge which requires 4 wheeled drive and a chain saw. After setting up camp, our station canopy, numerous antennas, transceivers, cables, power supply, etc, etc, we were ready to transmit at 11 am on Sat morning.

    K6HS very serious at making first contact.

    I , N6IV, am behind camera in charge of 432 usb, 927 usb, 223 fm, and 440 fm. To say I was confused was and understatement. HaHa

    Mike, explaining that we are very high.
    Yes, canopy is very low to block brilliant sunshine and reduce wind drag.
    QTH included a cinder block bunker (background) and a solar powered weather station.
    Despite the picturesque views there were 30mph winds at night which prevented me from sleeping for 2 nights 🙁

    We contacted lots of stations on many bands over the weekend. Some were fixed locations, others were moving around in mobile units with antennas called “rovers”. The rovers would travel between grid squares giving everyone additional points. Mike says we did well in the event and I learned serious VHF contesting from a couple of seasoned hams. Thank you Mike and Harry .

    Ready for Field Day.

    Mark Godbout, N6IV

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    Visit to Mt. Oso

    Posted on by June 6, 2019
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    Last Monday during NET Ken, AE6LA, discussed a visit he and Mike, WA6ZTY, had to Mt. Oso where Mike had an antenna repair. Mt. Oso is a prominent location along the eastern Highway 5 corridor just east of Patterson. Many repeaters are located here due to the nice view it has of the San Joaquin Valley. Here are some pics that Ken sent along. Enjoy.

    Here is a link to ALL of Ken’s great shots:

    https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Kh1nKB2oB_IrrVy2NRxJuRgQ

    Thanks for sharing Ken.

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