Quarter Century Amateur Radio Club
VE6QCR 146.640 Stony Plain--VE6BOX 146.730 Athabasca--VE6PP 146.820 Whitecourt--VE6SS 146.880 Pigeon Lake All have 100Hz tone and offsets are all -600 KHz
Weekly Newsletter and Swap & Shop Listing 3/3/2021 by Paul, VE6UFO
NOTE- NEWSLETTER FORMAT CHANGE
NEW CONTENT APPEARS DIRECTLY BELOW AND ITEMS AFTER THE SWAP & SHOP LISTINGS ARE REPEATS. IF THIS NEWSLETTER IS NEW TO YOU PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THING.IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS OF
INTEREST THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, EMAIL mail@qcarc.net 73, Stay well and
be safe. Have a good week!!
Paul VE6UFO, QCARC Secretary Treasurer and Net Manager
Edmonton Area 5 day WX forecast:
Wednesday 3/3 sunny Low -6 High 6
Thursday 3/4 sunny Low 0 High 4
Friday 3/5 sunny Low 0 High 10
Saturday 3/6 mix of sun and cloud Low -7 High 7
Sunday 3/7 mix of sun and cloud Low -8 High 3
MARCH BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES,
ETC.
If you or an amateur
you know is celebrating something let me know and I will list it here….
Happy Birthday this month to:
VE6UFO
HAM RADIO FUNNY OF THE WEEK
Definition - Db's Loss -- Fortunately, lightning struck the tower and the wasps were totally destroyed.
DID YOU KNOW?
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX, which is run by Leon Musk, maker of Tesla vehicles providing satellite Internet access.The constellation will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit, working in combination with ground transceivers. SpaceX plans to sell some of the satellites for military, scientific, or exploratory purposes. The SpaceX satellite development facility in Redmond, Washington houses the Starlink research, development, manufacturing, and orbit control. The cost of the decade-long project to design, build, and deploy the constellation was estimated by SpaceX in May 2018 to be at least US$10 billion.
Product development began in 2015. Two prototype test-flight satellites were launched in February 2018. Additional test satellites and 60 operational satellites were deployed in May 2019. As of September 2020, SpaceX was launching up to 60 satellites at a time, aiming to deploy 1,440 of the 570 lb spacecraft to provide near-global service by late 2021 or 2022. SpaceX started a private beta service in the Northern United States in August 2020 and a public beta in October 2020, service beginning at high latitudes between 44° and 52° North.
On 15 October 2019, the United States FCC submitted filings to the ITU
on SpaceX's behalf to arrange spectrum for 30,000 additional Starlink
satellites to supplement the 12,000 Starlink satellites already
approved by the FCC During Beta, users can expect to see data speeds
vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms in most
locations over the next several months as they enhance the Starlink
system.
TECH TIP
Mitch,
VE6OH is looking for a good used 4X4 truck preferably diesel with
trailer towing package and an RV around 25 ft. Contact Mitch at
780-446-8958 or email ve6oh@rac.ca
For sale by Egon, VE6EGN ve6egn@gmail.com a Yeasu FT-950 HF/6m rig in good shape with mic and power cord. Brochure: Yaesu FT-950-Brochure | RigReference.com Asking 900.00
Wanted by Blair, VE6AGH an RCAF WWII transmitter model
AT-12. It's Air Force blue, about 18 inches high, 9 inches wide and 14 inches
deep and has handles on the top and front. Blair can be contacted at
403-327-8207 or ve6agh@yahoo.ca
From the VE6GHP estate near Brooks, AB:
64' tower with HF and VHF antennas, Needs to be taken down. Not sure what the
antennas are or what the price is but it may be free for the taking to whoever
takes it down.
For information contact Helen 403-378-4988 or geporter@eidnet.org
Wanted by Ric, VE7CUP 2
or 3 position remote antenna switches, working or not. Ric is also in
search of a 3 to 5 element 15m monoband yagi that can be disassembled
for shipping to BC. And/or any aluminum tubing, round or square
1/2" to 3" .If you can help Ric out with any of these items, please
email ricmartin@telus.net
For
Sale by Bill VA6RQ
New in Box AR270B
2M/70cm Ringo Vert Ant 5.5-7.5db for $275 Radio World price - $333
New in Box Hygain VB-64DX 4Elm 6M Beam ant for $195 Radio
World price - $225
New in Boxes (2) Cushcraft A148-10S 2m 10El yagi ants $195
each Radio World price -$259 if
you buy both it comes with a used co-phasing harness
USED CDE CD-45 light duty Rotator (good condition) $100
USED Hygain Ham III med duty rotator well used (new bearings) $100
If you are interested in Bill’s items please email him at va6rq@rac.ca
FOR SALE BY PAUL VE6UFO – THESE ITEMS ARE ALL NEW IN BOXES – IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL AT 780-232-7012 or mail@qcarc.net
(2) LDG 200 watt balun RBA-4:1 RETAIL 42.00 ASKING 30.00 each
Daiwa model CN-460 140/450MHz 15/150 watt cross needle SWR and power meter RETAIL 100.00 ASKING 70.00
Icom DTMF microphone HM-154T FOR IC 7000 OR 7100 RETAIL 98.00 ASKING 60.00
Kenwood multifunction microphone MC-47 RETAIL 80.00 ASKING 50.00
Yaesu MH31 hand mic with 8 pin round cable for FTDX3000 and other rigs Asking 30.00
FOR
SALE BY DAVID VA6DJ - ITEMS CAN BE PICKED UP OR SHIPPED OUT OF
LLOYDMINSTER AT BUYER'S EXPENSE. PHONE/TEXT 306-304-1356 OR
EMAIL djames2000@hotmail.com
Open to reasonable offers.
BELOW IS OLDER CONTENT THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN IF THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME READING THIS NEWSLETTER
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN LOCAL COVID COFFEE RAGCHEWS ON VE6QCR & VE6PP REPEATERS THURSDAYS AT 10 AM AND ON THE FT. SASK CLUB REPEATER 147.270 +600 SATURDAYS AT 9:30 AM
IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER WITH DIGI-KEY AND NOT PAY SHIPPING,
CONTACT KEVIN VE6KJM AND HE CAN DO A COMBINED ORDER FOR YOU ve6kjm@gmail.com
Large ham radio friendly acreage for sale: 74
Acres 50 minutes NE of Edmonton on the North Saskatchewan River.
RF quiet area on a beautiful nature/outdoor lovers paradise adjacent to
Redwater Natural Area. 3 towers incl 110 foot and 2 tilt overs;
48 and 64 feet, 12 Volt Battery Bus system, low loss cable runs, shack
in metal building (RF quiet). Newly renovated Shack in the heated
shop with feed lines and grounds. See listing for details:
https://www.realtor.ca/real-
The Edmonton Area 2M SSB
net is on 144.200 USB Sundays at 10:00am and 8:00 PM
Winlink Wednesday emails can be sent via Winlink to Alex, VA6MCP. Instructions on how to do this are on the website www.wcar.ca
AR100 Hamfest - The celebration of 100 years of amateur radio in Alberta. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AT LEAST 2022. When there is a new date further information will follow.
QCARC ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN QCARC OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP BEFORE MARCH 31 AND TO BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAW FOR OUR EARLY BIRD CASH PRIZE
The form is on our website www.qcarc.net
Membership dues and donations can be e-transferred to QCARC
THANKS
VERY MUCH TO ALL THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SENT IN MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS AND
DONATIONS!! SO FAR, THE RESPONSES TO RENEWAL REQUESTS HAVE BEEN GREAT!!
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RENEWAL REMINDER, THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE ALREADY
PAID UP FOR THE COMING MEMBERSHIP YEAR.
When
needed, QCARC helps amateurs or the famly of silent keys with tower
work and station dispersals. We
can sell your items for you at the flea markets or swap and shop. If
you would rather not be bothered trying to sell items you can donate
them to QCARC. If you need this
type of assistance contact VE6UFO at 780-232-7012 or mail@qcarc.net
Another benefit of being a member
is that you can purchase items at MRO Electronic Supply with your proof of
QCARC membership. There is a 25.00 minimum.
QCARC SELLS DONATED ITEMS AT FLEA MARKETS TO RAISE MONEY TO OPERATE OUR REPEATERS AND KEEP MEMBERSHIP DUES LOW. IF YOU HAVE ITEMS TO DONATE PLEASE ARRANGE PICKUP WITH PAUL VE6UFO AT mail@qcarc.net OR 780-232-7012. THANKS VERY MUCH TO ANYONE WHO HAS RECENTLY DONATED ITEMS TO THE CLUB.
QCARC has 2 ISED accredited examiners:
Ernie VA6EJR va6ejr@gmail.com
Mitch VE6OH ve6oh@rac.ca
QCARC weekly 2 meter net and Swap &
Shop Wednesday 8:30PM on VE6QCR and VE6PP repeaters. If you have any items wanted
or for sale you can list them live on air during the swap & shop or call /
text Paul VE6UFO at 780-232-7012 or email mail@qcarc.net
After the Wednesday night 2m net
stations are encouraged to stick around for a fun round table ragchew QSO
session.
Do
you know of a new ham or a ham getting back into radio after years away
from the hobby that needs equipment and/or help getting a station set
up? We can help!!! mail@qcarc.net
RAC NEWS
Ernest Clintberg VE6EC is the RAC Director for
AB NT NU and Stephen Lee VA6SGL is the Alberta Deputy Director for RAC.
If you are not a RAC member, please consider
joining as RAC helps protect and advance amateur radio in Canada and around the
world. RAC members who are also members of RAC affiliated clubs such as QCARC
get special insurance coverage. Details of this coverage are found at https://www.rac.ca/insurance/
Don VE7DXE in Victoria, BC has
established www.hamshack.ca which is a
great new site with a fully functional buy and sell feature and other new
resources being added all the time. Check it out often!!
The Surrey Amateur Radio Club has a great newsletter and the latest edition can be found at www.ve7sar.net
If
you are trying to learn Morse code or increase your speed, there is a
great YouTube resource. Search for HamradioQRP which will get you to
the site. These videos are a terrific help.
Another good resource
including solar conditions is https://www.wm7d.net
Know someone interested in becoming a radio amateur? Resources for home learning include Hamstudy Basic available through Amazon, and Coax Publications for Basic and Advanced study manuals https://www.coaxpublications.ca/ Further, Cold Lake Amateur Radio Society (CLARS) hosts a training website http://www.clares.ca/va6hal%20training.html for Basic and Advanced. RAC also has an Advanced course available at no cost for members that have a Gold Leaf Membership.
Here is a link to plans for an inexpensive and
easy to build 5 band HF Vertical Antenna N5VEG 5 Band HF Vertical "Wonderstick" Antenna
(hamuniverse.com)
Directional Finding (Bunny Hunting)
Techniques and plans for building a high gain cubical 2 meter quad antenna and
sniffer
http://www.qcarc.net/VE6OB%20Bunny%20Hunting%20Article.pdf
When building a station, it is important to determine
the correct coax to use. Transmission line losses must be kept at a minimum to
achieve optimum performance.
Here is a link to some coax loss charts. https://www.w4rp.com/ref/coax.html
If you are re-using coax make sure there is good continuity and check it with a
wattmeter and dummy load - MOST USED FLEA MARKET COAX IS GOOD FOR THE SELLER,
NOT THE BUYER!!
Here is a link to a handy dipole antenna length calculator and various other
resources:
Dipole Antenna Length Calculator
(everythingrf.com)
Need to find the grid
square for your QTH? Try this: Amateur Radio Ham Radio Maidenhead Grid Square Locator Map
(levinecentral.com)
There is a lot of activity on the 2 meter simplex frequency 146.490 in Edmonton.
Various 40 and 80 meter
ragchew groups take place all morning long from about 7:00AM until 10 or later.
Look around the bands for an opportunity to join in on an interesting QSO.
Saskatchewan weather net
8:00AM Sask time 3.753 MHz
Aurora Net 2300
UTC 7.100 MHz
Saskatchewan Net 0100 UTC
3.735 MHz
Alberta Public Service
Net 0130 UTC 3.700 MHz
BC Net 0130 UTC 3.729 MHz
160 meter ragchews take
place 9:00 PM or later usually on frequencies above 1.890 MHz.
Weekly
Alberta ARES Net Sunday
9:00AM mountain time 3.750 MHz
Edmonton Area 2 meter SSB
net Sunday 10:00AM and 8:00 PM 144.200 MHz USB
Trans Canada Net Sunday 2:00PM
18:00 UTC 14.140 MHz
Sunday
6PM VE6KM B linked to ref001C is the international DSTAR Net
Sunday Evening Aurora Net
9:30PM Central time 7.100 MHz
Monday
8:00PM on VE6KM B linked to reflector REF016B is the Alberta DSTAR Net
Monday Amateur Radio
Information Net 3.729 MHZ right after the BC net about 0230 UTC
NARC weekly 2 meter net
Tuesday 7:30PM on VE6HM repeater 147.060 -600
IRLP Trans Canada net
Wednesday 9:00AM on VE6HM repeater 147.060 -600
Winlink Wednesday please check out www.wcar.ca for information
Friday
7:00PM on VE6KM B linked to ref001C Canadian Dstar Net