Rockets, Radios and Friends

I had a good day at the rocket launch Saturday in Samson, Alabama. I like to combine amateur radio with the launch. My rocket had a Byonics Micro Fox on-board which puts out a two meter FM beacon. While I never lost site of the rocket, I was able to practice getting a bearing on it with my KX3 and an Elk antenna.

My 3 inch diameter rocket on an I140 motor. There was a 2 meter fox on-board.

The portable antenna setup this time was a tripod support made of camo poles. I put a two meter slim-jim on top allowed me to access the repeater back in Bay County Florida. The mast also held up a forty meter half wave dipole up at only 20 feet.  This however this was fine to get back to Panama City Florida  about 85 miles away. I worked Bob KK4DIV, Jim K4LIX and Vic K4GXV from there. I also worked Don KK4QAM  in Sweetwater, Alabama. The rig was the Icom 7100.

N4KGL setup using camo poles to deploy a 40 meter dipole and a two meter slim jim on top.

As mentioned Bob KK4DIV and I made contact on 40 meters. Here are some photos of his setup in his yard in Lynn Haven, Florida.

Bob KK4DIV in Lynn Haven

Bob KK4DIV's portable setup

Bob WB8PAF a ham buddy from Panama City attended the launch. Bob is getting into portable ops. He used a G5RV and his FT 817 from the cab of the truck. to make some contacts.

Bob WB8PAF's G5RV

Bob WB8PAF operating the FT 817 from the cab.

At my parent's house,Tom WD0HBR and I started working on the 1931 Philco Model 50 I inherited. We found the chassis was a mouse condo. However there was no evidence of chewing. The on off switch did not work but responded to contact cleaner. Tom checked the type 47 and 80 tubes they were very weak. We brought up some voltage with a variac and the transformer hums pretty bad at 80 volts. The filter caps don't seem to be shorted. So running out of time, we will have to continue this project in the future.

Philco Model 50

Android Adventures with the KX3

I am doing a better job on portable QSO logging with the help of the HamLog App and the Piglet from Pigology. The App runs on any Android device. The Piglet interfaces to the Acc1 plug on the KX3 and makes the serial rig data accessible via WiFi. Initially, I used my Galaxy S4 smartphone. As you can imagine the phone is hard to see and hard to type on. My good luck was to get the Nexus 7 Android tablet for Christmas. The tablet is better in sunlight and easier to type on. Of course there is no ideal sunlight readable phone or tablet to my knowledge but the Nexus 7 beats my smartphone.

The HamLog App works well and the Piglet captures the KX3 frequency and mode for the log. The contacts get logged and after the ops I can hookup the tablet to regular WiFi to upload the contacts. If there is no other WiFi available I can use my Phone as a mobile hotspot.  I am uploading my contacts to three places. First is the HamLog CloudLog, second is EQSL and third is the HRDLog web site. HRDLog lets me show the last ten contacts on this website. Then I erase the log on the phone so I will not be uploading duplicates for the next round of portable ops.

The next App I have tested is the KX3 Companion from IU4APC. You can use an OTG adapter and the Elecraft serial programming cable to hook the app to the KX3. However, a pleasant surprise was the KX3 Companion can use the Piglet to interface to the KX3. Now even more surprising is that the two apps seem to be able to share the KX3 without crashing!

The KX3 Companion takes advantage of the native PSK mode of the KX3. So the Android device does not generate any audio. It just sends a stream of serial commands to the KX3.  Likewise, there is no audio input to the Android device.  The KX3 decodes the PSK-31 and sends the data to the Android device. Note all this works the same for CW and RTTY as well. I find the KX3 Companion to be fairly easy to use. I like its capability to capture a call sign from the incoming text. The macros are well done and I can use them for CW as well as PSK. I did see a minor problem with the time field on the Companion's logging and I will need to check with the developer.  The next step may be a BlueTooth Keyboard for easier PSK31 chatting.

Well it is great to see the efforts of the the smart people at Elecraft, Pigology, and IU4APC all come together. I am glad I can use the Piglet to share the KX3 among apps. It might work the same with the OTG adapter. I am not sure. This all works well for casual portable ops. But for the four hour RaDAR contests the logging might revert back to pen and paper based on weight and time constraints. We will see.

The KX3 is not the most robust digital modes rig due to the PA heating up with the high duty cycle of PSK and some frequency drift with the temperature changes.  However, with my use of PSK31 I am not contesting. I just want to pick up a few contacts. Therefore, the overall duty cycle is low and I can make contacts at 5 watts without reaching any temperature limits. Note, I am looking seriously at the Elecraft heat sink upgrade and the temperature compensation procedure. I don't want to make the KX3 any bigger with a external heat sink. I think those measures may reduce the drift for doing WSPR. Hey the WSPR Beacon is yet another Android App from IU4APC.

N4KGL's 2014 Ham Radio Blessings

Ham Radio is a combination of friends, equipment and events. I had a blessed time with Ham Radio in 2014.

Greg N4KGL doing pedestrian mobile on a fishing bridge 

In regard to friends, it was a pleasure to get to know John W8JER and Michelle better from Michigan. They spent their second winter down here. They attended several rocket launches. John and Michelle got married on the beach on Valentines day 2014. John brought his home brew mag loop and had good sucess with it from the condo and from the rocket launch site. John and Michelle are arriving on January 1st for another Winter. 

Michelle and John Raifsnider W8JER getting married on the beach

I had good times with Tom WD0HBR in Dothan, Alabama. We made many 40 meter CW contacts between Dothan and my portable locations. We meet up for eyeball QSOs usually on Sunday afternoon when I visit my Parents in Dothan. We also meet for the Headland Alabama tailgates in April and October.

Tom WD0HBR assisting on a Portable Ops in Dothan

Locally, I have many friends at the Panama City ARC.  Marv KK4DKT the club president and I attended the Orlando Hamcation together.  Bob KK4DIV and Phil N4STC and I did some fox hunting including vehicle fox hunts. There is a gang of locals that support the RaDAR ops including Bob WB4BLX, Don KK4DWC and Jim K4LIX. I had fun with Jason N4JTC. Jason is a technical wizard. He built a payload for one of my rockets that had a smartphone and a Baofeng HT on board. The payload rocket launch was a success at Samson, AL and some interesting data was collected.

Bob KK4DIV out Fox Hunting

j\Jason N4JTC and the Rocket payload.

On-line there is another category of friends. The RaDAR community is growing on Google+ I can't mention all the buddies there. It is a privilege to collaborate with Eddie ZS6BNE and Marcus NX5MK on organizing RaDAR activities.  Of course, there is Craig NM4T the Huntsville QRP Guy. Craig always cooks up great events for the Monte Sano gathering during the Huntsville hamfest. I did not make Huntsville this year but Craig came down to Panama City. We made a fun outing to St Andrews State park together to operate portable.

Craig NM4T on portable ops in Panama City

In terms of equipment, you know one thing leads to another. I got an Icom 7100 at the first of the year. I had it in mind using it as a Field Day radio and a base rig. Well, I could not resist making it a portable rig in a go box. This led to getting a large 30 amp hour LiFEPo4 battery, a SGC 237 tuner, a 100 watt solar panel and so on. I did get to use the setup at Field Day and a number of outings. You may be surprised the rate of contacts is about the same at 100 watts as 10 watts. How about that! I am using the KX3 as my go to for a portable rig. It is withstanding to the salt spray and some high heat under the Florida Sun. The AlexLoop proved itself the go to antenna for portable ops over and over this year. 

Icom 7100 Go Box

Elecraft KX3

The AlexLoop Magnetic Loop

I read Tom N6BT's book "Array of Light" during the year. His accounts of verticals on the beach peaked my interest in his Bravo 7K off center fed vertical dipole. I really do like it as it is self supporting with the tripod I purchased with it. Indeed, it does very good job near the salt water. As one thing leads to another I got a second Bravo 7K and made the two bravos into a parasitic array. 

N6BT Bravo 7K Verticals as parasitic array

As far as events this year, I had my first SOTA activation at Dowdell Knob near Pine Mountain Georgia. I was blessed with perfect weather. I logged a good number of contacts and I enjoyed the hams that dropped by. 

View from Dowdell's Knob on SOTA Activation

Surprise ham visitors at Dowdell's Knob

With my focus on Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio (RaDAR) I am heading out portable anytime I can. I get out at lunch time often from work. This year I got to visit state parks in St George Island and Port St Joe Florida. Of course, my favorite is St Andrews State Park near Panama City. In fact, I made it to Sandy Point in St Andrews several times as it has a wide azimuth of saltwater. I am constantly preparing for the April and November RaDAR Contests. This year I did well on both making it to three locations by foot in the four hours of each contest. 

Portable ops location at St George Island State park

N4KGL at Saint Andrews State Park for the RaDAR Contest

I mentioned the RaDAR Community. We got some publicity this year as an article I wrote with the help of Eddie and Marcus got published in the October 2014 CQ Magazine. The RaDAR community is well over 600 members now. We have monthly On-The-Air Meetups and now have a RaDAR Rally achievement program.

RaDAR Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio

Well it was such a good year I can't cover it all. You are welcome scan this blog. I am blessed with good friends, great outdoor opportunities for portable ops and mostly good weather. I am looking ahead to more of the same and maybe some surprise opportunities in 2015. I thank all those endure my posts, read my blog and chat with me on the air.

Happy New Year!

Greg N4KGL

N4KGL December 26th Portable Ops in Northwest Florida

Here in Northwest Florida, December has its rainy days and sunny days. Friday, December 26th, was a beautiful sunny day that I had off work. I operated from two locations. The first location was the fishing bridge over the bay between Lynn haven and Southport florida. This is a unique place to operate and is elevated over saltwater. It paid off with two UK contacts on 15 meters SSB using the KX3 at 10 watts and the Alexloop. This is more confirmation that Tom G0SBW's analysis is correct that elevation over saltwater is advantageous for DX with the mag loop.

Location 1 on the fishing bridge

The view from the fishing bridge

The second location was the Under The Oaks Park in Parker, Florida. I setup next to the bay using the KX3 and the Alexloop. I worked several ARRL centennial stations on 15 and 17 meters. My last QSO was a nice ragchew with K4AOA in North Carolina on 20 meters. He was impressed with the loop signal. This op was my first opportunity to use the Nexus 7 Android tablet for logging. I have a piglet which lets me pull the frequency off the KX3 via a WiFi connection. I was pleased that the tablet gave me the adequate display in terms of size and readability in the sunlight. I am using the HamLog App for logging.

Location 2 next to the bay at Under The Oaks Park

The Nexus 7 Android Tablet and the Piglet from Pigology.

I guess a comment about the Alexloop is in order. With the high bands in good shape I am enjoying its performance for portable ops. Why should I do more for an antenna when the loop is snagging five plus contacts per location with good to great reports. I will also mention that on December 24th I had a solid three way QSO on 40 meters with N4STC in Panama City and KK4QAM in Sweet Water Alabama from Columbus Georgia using 10 watts on the Alexloop. That was fun as considering the efficiency of the loop on the 40 meter band would be less than 20 percent. So whether you build or buy a mag loop it seems to be the time to use them while the sunspots are still with us.

Hey I wish the weather was this nice everywhere but I just have to take advantage of it. I do know John W8JER of Sturgis Michigan is going come spend the winter here. He will take in some rocket launches and portable ops while it is snowing in Michigan.  73s and Happy New Year.

Greg N4KGL

The December RaDAR Rally On-The-Air Meetup from Florida

Bob KK4DIV and I located at Leslie Porter Wayside Park EM70EG20. My intended location St Andrews State Park. However that park was consumed with a foot race. Bob and I chose our pedestrian moble setups. Bob used his FT-817 backpack with a coil and whip. I used the KX3 with the Alexloop. The weather was favourable with blue skies and cool but not cold temps.

N4KGL's Alexloop at the bay side.

I was on 20 SSB for the first 40 minutes. I worked Bob KK4DIV (he was 60 over S9), Don KK4DWC in Southport FL, then John W8JER in Sturgis, Michigan. John will be coming to Panama City in January to escape the snow. Next was Scott ND9E who was doing RaDAR at EM48XO97FA followed by Phil N4STC/M in Panama City. I switched to 20 CW to finish the first hour. I worked Shawn W5HMB in Mississippi, Rick ND9DX in Illinois. Then I heard a combination of Pat NQ0N in Missouri and Pat N5VMO in Arkansas.  Both Pats were a little weak and there was QRM to boot.

The second hour I went to 15 SSB and worked John W8JER and his friend Denny N8JGG both in Sturgis. Then I heard Tom G0SBW and got his call right finally.  It was fine business to do a intercontinental \PM to \PM RaDAR QSO.

N4KGL on the bridge over the bay.

At this point Bob and I ventured onto the old bridge over the bay next to the new one. We made it to the peak in the middle. I worked Jack N1HQ in Panama City, FL on 20 meters SSB. Then on 15 meters CW a nice solid copy QSO with John VA3KOT in Ontario. John was a RaDAR Chaser due to the weather up there. We exchanged grids and SKCC numbers. John said I bent his S meter. So the top on the bridge is going to be on my return to list. I also worked Preston WA6OEF in California.

Bob KK4DIV/PM was also on the bridge.

So why not check our more bands. I worked FM/F9IE in Martinique on 12 meters SSB. Then W0ANT in Colorado and KY7M in Arizona on 10 meters SSB contest. I went to 17 meters SSB and posted on the RaDAR Spotter page. I was called by ND9E Scott for second QSO and he was on his third RaDAR location for the day which was EM58AS38XC. I worked two more on 17 meters SSB. They were W0PZD in Arizona and N5RK portable in Texas.

Lots of good reports on the Alexloop. So LOOP plus SALT WATER equals FUN. I was pleased to met several RaDAR folks on the air. Likewise, a nice time with Bob KK4DIV doing RaDAR at the same time and same park. Perhaps we could have walked enough for a second location. We will try for that next time. It was a bit of exercise with the \PM gear.

73s and have fun with RaDAR! N4KGL

Wayside Park in Lynn Haven, Florida.

RaDAR Rally on the Weekend

On Saturday, I operated from the SouthEast Alabama Rocketry Society launch in Samson, Alabama.  It was a very foggy morning. I setup a 40 meter dipole and the rig was my Icom 7100 on a 30 amp hour battery. As we know the dipole is a a great performer for portable ops if you can get it up in the air. I got the center up about 30 feet with a Jackite pole. The ends were at little less than 20 feet using the smaller fiberglass poles. I used a 70 foot run of coax to locate the antenna 40 feet behind the flight line. On this coax I did not have the ferrite beads for a choke but hey it worked fine anyway, I actually started out on 15 meters. The SWR was over 2 to 1. The Icom 7100 does not have a tuner so I used a compact MFJ 901b tuner. I recently picked up this tuner at our local club.  The tuner worked fine and I am going to include it in my high power go box.

I had a advertised that I would be on 40 meters among the RaDAR community and local hams. It was a pleasure to make a RaDAR to RaDAR contact with Bob KK4DIV. He was camping with the family at Laurel Hills in Northwest Florida. Bob was using his FT 817 and a random wire in a tree. His signal was solid copy and up to S7 at my location. Note this contact qualifies for a 5 point bonus in the RaDAR Rally. I also worked two Panama City Florida hams Bob WB4BLX and Vic K4GXV on 40 meters SSB.

Bob KK4DIV's setup on his camping trip.

I spent saturday night in Dothan, Alabama with my Parents. On Sunday afternoon. I setup the Alexloop and the KX3 in the backyard, I got five contacts in on 20 and 10 meter CW. The best contacts was with Bert F6HKA. Bert is an outstanding operator and is a Senator member in the Straight Key Century Club.

So I picked up five Rally points, one point per QSO, at each location. I toyed with moving to a second location each day to pick up five more at two points each, But I ran short on time. You can find out more about the Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio (RaDAR) Rally at this link.

My launch of a Warthog rocket on a G motor.

Rallying the Saltwater Effect

Last Sunday, I made yet another outing to St. Andrews State Park near Panama City Florida. My goal was to take advantage of the salt water effect for vertical antennas. On the North side of the park there is a pier over the Grand Lagoon. I got out to the end and setup with the Alexloop. I made my five contacts for the RaDAR Rally rather quickly. These included with my report VE3AXW Ontario 53, SM5AQD Sweden 55, AJ2I New Jersey 57, KF4WMB Virginia 57, K4GXV Florida 59. This is not bad for the Alexloop at 10 watts SSB. Note that SM5AQD called me. So having five contacts at the pier, it was time to move 1 kilometre to Sandy Point.

The Alexloop at the end of the pier.

Sandy Point has many angles over salt water. I actually brought two N6BT Bravo 7K vertical dipoles. and set them up as a parasitic array for 10 meters. They hopefully were pointed to the Northeast. First contact was  EA5NW who was impressed with my signal but I did not get a S value. Followed by G4ZWY 55, NP3RE 59, EA9IB 57, and N1GGG 45. Around noon I redirected the array toward the Northwest. I worked AC7AV Eric in Washington State for about 30 minutes. He gave me a 58. I dropped the reflector and he noted a small drop but not all that noticeable. I also had the the Alexloop on a switch. The Alexloop had a S unit or two drop below the verticals on receive. The loop was quieter than the vertical. Eric had no problem working me on the loop. Getting close to pack up time, I was called by KC1CMF running 10 watts in Massachusetts who gave me a 59. Then  KD0VNQ in Colorado gave me a 44. My last contact was Phil N4STC who was local. He gave me a 59 and did not notice much change when I dropped the reflector. But when I put the reflector between me and Phil the signal went down to 55.

Two N6BT Bravo 7K vertical dipoles. one is a parasitic reflector

It is a bit hard to be scientific but I found that the DX came easy on this outing including stations calling me. I would put the Bravo 7K ahead of the loop but on my test I could still carry on the QSO with the loop. I think the gain of the array is modest and was not that noticable state side. I would like to have a DX contact report with and without the reflector. The front to back on the array is dramatic in any case.

The KX3 on my beach cart that doubles as a table.

As you may know Sandy Point at St Andrews State Park is my favorite portable QTH. Since Sandy Point was my second location on this outing, the first five QSOs counted two points in the RaDAR Rally. I did have a local fisherman Ron  witness the DX contacts. I had a boater pull in and ask what I was doing. I saw a dolphin out in the channel and of course the pelicans. This is hard to beat. I have since learned that there is a shuttle boat to Shell Island across the bay from the park. The shuttle will start running in March. I think that would make a fun excursion for RaDAR to operate from the park and the island on the same outing. You can find out more about the Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio (RaDAR) Rally at this link.

The pier was at the dock area and then I walked to Sandy Point. Shell Island is across the channel to the South-East.