The New ARF

[k9act]

Back in the 80's I ran a net called the Amateur Radio Forum on 3950 Thursday night. After about 5 years I got bored and dropped out of it and ham radio.

Last year I got back in but quickly gravitated to AM and started the Noon Time Forum on 3875. We talk about just about anything but politics seems like some sort of third rail so it never goes anywhere.

A number of folks have suggested that I start up ARF again so I did last Thursday and it went about as expected considering conditions and being brand new.

The hooker is that I only do AM these days so I don't have the reach I had but I have more fun.

I don't care what mode folks operate in as long as they understand that it takes AM's a bit of time to tune in SSB.

The current schedule is Thursday, 0200Z, 3715kc.

I set up a blog for those who can't participate on air and to give an idea of what we talk about. I present the topic and my take on it and then proceed down the list for other views.

Blog is at http://k9act.blogspot.com/

I started a discussion on an AM list and pretty much got shouted down just talking about talking about politics.

Jack K9ACT ARF

[kb9xn]

Yawn !!!.....

[n2ize]

Back in the 80's I ran a net called the Amateur Radio Forum on 3950 Thursday night. After about 5 years I got bored and dropped out of it and ham radio.

Last year I got back in but quickly gravitated to AM and started the Noon Time Forum on 3875. We talk about just about anything but politics seems like some sort of third rail so it never goes anywhere.

A number of folks have suggested that I start up ARF again so I did last Thursday and it went about as expected considering conditions and being brand new.

The hooker is that I only do AM these days so I don't have the reach I had but I have more fun.

I don't care what mode folks operate in as long as they understand that it takes AM's a bit of time to tune in SSB.

The current schedule is Thursday, 0200Z, 3715kc.

I set up a blog for those who can't participate on air and to give an idea of what we talk about. I present the topic and my take on it and then proceed down the list for other views.

Blog is at http://k9act.blogspot.com/

I started a discussion on an AM list and pretty much got shouted down just talking about talking about politics.

Jack K9ACT ARF

Good. I'm an AM'er as well. Maybe I'll join you on the air one day.

The AM'ers had a political forum once but apprently it caused too much controversy and detracted from the main topic...namely AM.

I generally run AM on 75 and 40 meters. But every so often I'll swing on up to 20 and 10 meters. I used to do a lot of cross mode operation AT to SSB and vice versa.

What are you running on AM. I generally run older tube gear. My main AM rig is a Johnsion Viking 2, but I also have a Valiant and a Globe King 500.

Remember... there is no HAM without AM.

[k9act]

Good. I'm an AM'er as well. Maybe I'll join you on the air one day.


Great! Be looking for you.

>I generally run AM on 75 and 40 meters.

Me too but finding an AMer on 40 take real committment. I built a CQ robot and dedicated 30 minutes to running it every night around 7290 for several weeks and gave it up for lack of response.

>What are you running on AM.

I am sort of a born-again AMer and spent the past year or so building two Class C plate modulated rigs out of other people's junk.

On 80, I use a pair of 8000's modulated by 813's running legal limit and on 40 or 80, a pair of 811's mod by 811's running about half that.

Both are described at http://schmidling.com/radio.htm

>I generally run older tube gear.

My AM receiver is an S40B souped up with a SoftRock SDR IF and a digital freq display. A bit of old and new.

We forgot to talk about politics. We we get thrown off the list?

Jack K9ACT

[kf6rdn]

Aww, and I thought someone got a new doggie..
:(

[n2ize]

Great! Be looking for you.

>I generally run AM on 75 and 40 meters.

Me too but finding an AMer on 40 take real committment. I built a CQ robot and dedicated 30 minutes to running it every night around 7290 for several weeks and gave it up for lack of response.

There used to be a bunch of guys on or about 7290 almost every morning and afternoon. They would often hang out on that part of the band till the SW broadcasters came rolling in. And if signals were good sometimes we'd even stay on after the broadcasters came in. I am surprised you haven't heard any activity there lately. But it could be lousy band conditions. Once the band clears up you should start hearing plenty of AM around those parts.


>What are you running on AM.

I am sort of a born-again AMer and spent the past year or so building two Class C plate modulated rigs out of other people's junk.

On 80, I use a pair of 8000's modulated by 813's running legal limit and on 40 or 80, a pair of 811's mod by 811's running about half that.

Both are described at http://schmidling.com/radio.htm

>I generally run older tube gear.

My AM receiver is an S40B souped up with a SoftRock SDR IF and a digital freq display. A bit of old and new.

We forgot to talk about politics. We we get thrown off the list?

Jack K9ACT

I haven't been on much at all over the past 2 years. Occaisionally me and George W2AMR and a few other guys hop on 75 meter AM on Sunday mornings (arounf 8:30 or so). Don't know how the propagation out your way will be on 75 at that time of the day. I generally hear the New England and upstate NY stations quite well at that hour as well as Long Island, and the south down as far as Virginia and Maryland. If not maybe we'll catch you on in the evening one of these days. I'd like to hear how those homebrew rigs sound. maybe we can even set up a schedule some time.

[w2amr]

Good. I'm an AM'er as well. Maybe I'll join you on the air one day.

The AM'ers had a political forum once but apprently it caused too much controversy and detracted from the main topic...namely AM.

I generally run AM on 75 and 40 meters. But every so often I'll swing on up to 20 and 10 meters. I used to do a lot of cross mode operation AT to SSB and vice versa.

What are you running on AM. I generally run older tube gear. My main AM rig is a Johnsion Viking 2, but I also have a Valiant and a Globe King 500.

Remember... there is no HAM without AM.

I'm not saying anything, I won't say a word. :D

[n2ize]

I'm not saying anything, I won't say a word. :D

Well, even when you don't hear me on the air I'm with you guys in spirit. I'm merely the silent minority. :D