Discussion Topics for February/March Club Meetings

[ne3r]

Discussion Topics for February/March Club Meetings

On February 23, there will be many more hams with operating privileges on the HF bands. It seems like a good idea to have an introduction to HF discussion to discuss things like propagation, antennas, operating procedures, etc. Maybe get into detail about 10 meters, since all technicians, even no code techs will have access to a portion of the 10 meter band beginning Feb 23rd.

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif well, there goes the element of surprise http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[KE5MAK]

i have a question that is probably pretty dumb. #i didn't know that HF was going to be available until i went to take my test a couple weeks ago, i thought it was just the code that was being eliminated. #i know now, but i was just curious what the tie between them is that since code is gone we get HF, why is that?

[ne3r]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,08:14)]i have a question that is probably pretty dumb. i didn't know that HF was going to be available until i went to take my test a couple weeks ago, i thought it was just the code that was being eliminated. i know now, but i was just curious what the tie between them is that since code is gone we get HF, why is that?
Technicians will get the same privileges as tech + on Feb 23. That means SSB on a portion of 10 meters, and CW on portions of 80, 40, & 15 meters!

Conditions on 10 metes aren't great right now, but there is still DX to be found, and sporadic E openings all the time!

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[KE5FRF]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,10:14)]i have a question that is probably pretty dumb. #i didn't know that HF was going to be available until i went to take my test a couple weeks ago, i thought it was just the code that was being eliminated. #i know now, but i was just curious what the tie between them is that since code is gone we get HF, why is that?
If I understand your question, the answer is very simple. Up until 2003, international treaty agreed upon at the ITU world telecommunication conferences dictated that all radio amateurs needed to be proficient at decoding Morse code text. When the requirement was dropped from international law, the FCC and other governement agencies around the world had liberty to change their laws to accomodate.

The old requirement at one time had a regulatory purpose. Transmissions on HF frequencies are able to span the globe at times and can interfere with other communications. When radios were much more broadbanded, and when Morse code was still a primary means of communications especially with military and maritime traffic, it was deemed neccessary that radio amateurs be able to understand commands given to them by PRIMARY users of the HF bands on some of our allocations. Thus, the link between Morse code knowledge and HF privelages.

As recently as the 1990's, there were still agencies and services using the international Morse Code, and some smaller third world countries even more so. So, while still outdated, the powers that be in the ITU had held on to the old laws. As of 2003, it was next to impossible for them to justify legally such a requirement.

OK, I hope I managed to explain it simply enough.

Oh, and one more thing...Technicians don't just now suddenly "get HF" privelages. It still requires a written test to prove some technical and regulatory knowledge to get full HF privelages. As of now, Technicians have limited voice privelages on 10 meters and limited CW Morse code privelages on some of the lower HF bands. The irony is that you still have to learn Morse code to get access to the "real" HF spectrum unless you are ambitious enough to take more tests. I think most hams who want full phone privelages on all the bands will accomodate that desire by taking and passing the General written test, which is not much more difficult than the Technician test...just some more detailed regulatory questions and perhaps some introductory technical concepts.

[KE5MAK]

oh, okay, well my boyfriend just bought us a radio for the house that only goes in the 2 meter range, why he did that i don't know, so i guess i won't get to benefit from the change for a little while. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[WS2L]

Quote[/b] (N3PAQ @ Jan. 26 2007,02:21)]Discussion Topics for February/March Club Meetings

On February 23, there will be many more hams with operating privileges on the HF bands. It seems like a good idea to have an introduction to HF discussion to discuss things like propagation, antennas, operating procedures, etc. Maybe get into detail about 10 meters, since all technicians, even no code techs will have access to a portion of the 10 meter band beginning Feb 23rd.

73
Joe
N3PAQ
If I read this right you are looking for topics for a local club meeting and you need topics of discussion for the members who will be gaining new privileges.

First I would concentrate on rules and regulations and follow that up with good operating practices. Stuff like propagation, antenna's and such can wait for another meeting. I would definitely first stress the rules and regs and proper operating practices, this is something they will need to be familiar with if they are going to survive on the HF bands, especially 20 meters.

When I taught Novice license classes after the implementation of Novice Enhancement we spent one entire session with the group on proper operating practices so that when they got on 10 meters or any of the bands from 6 meters on up they would know what to expect. We covered how to operate on a repeater and how to use the new equipment that they would be using.

My 2 cents

[KE5MAK]

KE5FRF,

I do see now, thank you! i am currently studying to get my general, it is hard for me, i'm looking at the questions and drawing a complete blank! but i'm going to do it still and i'm gonna learn morse code too, my boyfriend knows some since he had to take the code test when he got his lisence, but he has forgotten some of it i think and is going to learn it all over again to help me.

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,08:33)]oh, okay, well my boyfriend just bought us a radio for the house that only goes in the 2 meter range, why he did that i don't know, so i guess i won't get to benefit from the change for a little while. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Sheryl,

Spare rigs always come in handy - when you folks pick up a multimode/multiband rig, keep the 2M unit around and dedicated to simplex/repeater/packet usage.

Good luck with your studies for General. My XYL is in the process of doing same, and - like you - is a little nervous about making contacts. She's been getting her feet wet with the 'locals', many of whom are friends of ours. Having something in common to talk about on the air with folks (in her case, motorcycling and shooting) helps a lot.

[KE5MAK]

yeh, i haven't got to talk at all yet! we haven't got the new radio yet, we should be getting it today or monday, and the only one we have is in his truck and of course i haven't ridden in the truck since i got my lisence. there are some locals that he talks to every once in a while so i've heard them. and i've only heard one female, but she is excited that i will be on there too. i am very excited! this is all completely new to me so i still have so much to learn and could use all the advice and tips i can get, thank you! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kn4ds]

I do love the excitement the new hams have, it's great to see. That's one of the reasons I'll be going to Extra and getting my VE credentials... then I'll help out at VE sessions as requested.

KE5MAK, congrats on the shiny new license, and you'll enjoy the 2 meter rig. You'll find there are lots of different things you can do, like digital modes, slow-scan or even fast-scan television.

[KE5MAK]

yeh, i really want to do the digital mode, i'm on my computer non-stop anyways, might as well add it in! thank you for the congrats, i am very excited. so is my boyfriend, this was the last thing on earth he expected me to do for him, he was surprised and thought i was joking when i told him i was gonna get my license. but i showed him! lol http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,10:38)]so is my boyfriend, this was the last thing on earth he expected me to do for him, he was surprised and thought i was joking when i told him i was gonna get my license. but i showed him!
Similar thoughts were expressed by my wife when we first met.

In her case, the 'lever' was the fact that it's almost impossible to use CB radio to communicate with each other at one of the big summertime motorcycle rallies. There are just too many other folks on the air during said events.

A new Tech ticket and a VX7R later, the problem is solved.

Though it didn't stop with just an HT. My 'YF' now has her very own HF/VHF/UHF all-mode fixed-station rig and I recently began putting together a multiband FM setup for her car.

[KE5MAK]

that's awesome! i plan on getting one for my car too, but for now its the house, i think thats good though since i'm just starting out, if i need to refer to anything i won't run myself off the road trying to do it. hopefully i'll be able to talk tonight since i think we are going to a friends house, and of course he has to drive, lol. i am nervous to talk, i just know i am going to freeze up.

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,12:55)]that's awesome! i plan on getting one for my car too, but for now its the house, i think thats good though since i'm just starting out, if i need to refer to anything i won't run myself off the road trying to do it. hopefully i'll be able to talk tonight since i think we are going to a friends house, and of course he has to drive, lol. i am nervous to talk, i just know i am going to freeze up.
Aww, don't freeze up... tell ya what, tell us a time, and get on the 147.210 repeater (AD5JN), and we'll all get on Echolink and talk to you, if there's not much 2 meter activity going on in OKC (don't hear much on the Echolink linked repeaters out there)...

[KE5MAK]

haha, okay, it probably won't be til around 9 or 10, its hard for me to say since my boyfriend has no sense of time,lol, maybe i'll post just before we leave, so you can check back! thank you so much for being so supportive! i wrote down the repeater and your name and callsign so hopefully i can talk to you tonight, haha, won't my b/f be surprised when i get on there and know people already! lol http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 26 2007,12:30)]KE5MAK, congrats on the shiny new license, and you'll enjoy the 2 meter rig. You'll find there are lots of different things you can do, like digital modes, slow-scan or even fast-scan television.
I was wondering how long it would take before someone asked a new female ham about SSTV. *snicker*


http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kn4ds]

Get your mind outta the gutter, OM http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Phone, CW, digital modes, SSTV and ATV pretty much cover the gamut of what's out there to do...

I can honestly say I've never seen SSTV on 2m. For that matter, a little CW practice here and there, the packet stuff and FM phone is all I've ever heard on 2m... but then, I don't have an all-mode rig or I'm sure I'd have heard some SSB and AM along the way.

[KE5MAK]

i still don't quite understand what sstv and fast scan tv is. how does it work?:rock:

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,12:54)]i still don't quite understand what sstv and fast scan tv is. how does it work?:rock:
SSTV = Slow Scan Television. Requires ~3khz BW; sends a 'static' B/W image once every 8 seconds - or a complete color image once every 25 seconds.

FSTV = Fast Scan Television. Requires ~4.5 MHz BW (for an NTSC analog picture); sends 30 frames per second - just like your 'regular' analog TV stations do.

FSTV is only permitted on 70cm and up, whereas one can run SSTV on the HF/VHF bands within designated segments.

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,14:54)]i still don't quite understand what sstv and fast scan tv is. how does it work?:rock:
Slow scan TV involves taking a series of pictures and sending them one at a time over the air. Receiving stations then view the pictures... I'm not really up on it, having never seen it in action.

Fast scan TV is exactly the same as the TV in your living room... you connect a video camera or other video source to an amateur TV transmitter, which operate on various UHF bands, and folks can watch what you send... in fact, if you transmit on the 70cm band, anyone with a cable-ready set can view it... I wanna say cable channels 57-60.

Rules pertaining to content are the same as any other mode... no music, have to ID every 10 minutes and at the end, etc.

Someone could perhaps start a thread on the amateur TV modes...

[KE5MAK]

so you just view them on your tv? do you have to hook your radio up to the tv? i would have to see it done to understand fully i think lol.

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (KE5MAK @ Jan. 26 2007,15:07)]so you just view them on your tv? do you have to hook your radio up to the tv? i would have to see it done to understand fully i think lol.
For slow-scan, you would use your computer to send and receive... the computer would be connected to the radio.

For fast-scan, you'd need a special TV transmitter, and in general, the ones you can buy are very low output, but you can certainly put an amplifier on them...

In fast-scan, hams generally transmit their video to an Amateur TV repeater, which is like 2 meter FM repeaters, in that it retransmits the signal back out over a wider area, due to the higher antenna location, and usually more power, too.

I can't speak to whether there's much (or any) activity on VHF/UHF in your area... I know here there's not. There's a bit of SSTV on HF, so when you get an HF rig, you'll be able to receive those... and send SSTV, too, once you upgrade.

[KE5MAK]

well thats cool, i want to get echolink for my computer, my boyfriend i don't think has ever used any other kind of mode other than just talking, so maybe soon i'll be able to teach him a thing or two. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[n5iln]

Most cable-ready TVs can directly receive FSTV/ATV transmissions...IIRC it's channel 58 or 59.

Keep in mind that ATV transmissions MUST be directed to at least one other amateur operator to be legal...the FCC takes a very dim view of broadcasting.

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (n5iln @ Jan. 26 2007,21:19)]Keep in mind that ATV transmissions MUST be directed to at least one other amateur operator to be legal...the FCC takes a very dim view of broadcasting.
Which is the primary reason I've never gotten into it... I've never been in an area where there was another amateur who wanted to watch it.

[n5iln]

Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Jan. 26 2007,19:24)]Quote[/b] (n5iln @ Jan. 26 2007,21:19)]Keep in mind that ATV transmissions MUST be directed to at least one other amateur operator to be legal...the FCC takes a very dim view of broadcasting.
Which is the primary reason I've never gotten into it... I've never been in an area where there was another amateur who wanted to watch it.
I've seen it used in Oklahoma for weather-spotting...a couple of field spotters had cameras and ATV transmitters in their cars, they'd send live images through the local ATV repeater for reception by the NWS net controller and the meteorologists could look at the same thing the spotter was seeing.

It was a sort of neat experiment, but I don't think it ever really took off.

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (n5iln @ Jan. 26 2007,21:29)]I've seen it used in Oklahoma for weather-spotting...a couple of field spotters had cameras and ATV transmitters in their cars, they'd send live images through the local ATV repeater for reception by the NWS net controller and the meteorologists could look at the same thing the spotter was seeing.

It was a sort of neat experiment, but I don't think it ever really took off.
I can see using it for spotting, but man, the power levels at 70cm and above that'd be needed to hit a repeater... and if there's no nearby repeater...

I'm originally from Ada, OK, living in GA now, but I do know there are vast stretches of OK where there's not only no ATV repeater, there aren't even any people http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif