Handiham Remote Base HF Stations

We have upgraded Skype on the W0ZSW host computer and also have removed the external program access to Skype on both host computers. We believe this program access was causing reliability problems, especially with W0EQO. Microsoft has been notifying users of Skype that the API (application programming interface) will no longer be supported in Skype after December. This means that Skype will still work with the remote bases, but that users will have to initiate the Skype call manually and then hang up the Skype call when they are finished using the stations. The built-in IRB Sound software may be used for receiving on either station instead of Skype, but to transmit on W0EQO you must use Skype for your audio. W0ZSW works fine with either Skype audio or IRB Sound audio, both for transmit and receive. We will make further announcements about the audio and let you know when we have rewritten the support pages.

What is an API? Find out on Wikipedia!

Transmit on the 160 meter band has been added at station W0ZSW following antenna reconstruction. Please allow time for the antenna tuner, an LDG AT-1000 PRO, to tune. The tuner responds when RF is applied, so one could tune in AM mode, identifying your transmission while providing a carrier to allow for the tuning process. Once the LDG memorizes the tuning for a given frequency, it should not be necessary to repeat this process for that frequency. All transmissions MUST be identified – no exceptions! Do not transmit phone in non-phone bands. In those cases, you may identify by CW as appropriate, following all regulations.

We will take down the W0ZSW zepp antenna for tuning on Friday 11 October 2013. The station will be off line for the duration of the procedure, returning to service by early afternoon. W0EQO will be on line and available.

160 meter transmit has been disabled at W0ZSW due to a tuning issue. We will let you know when it is resolved. In the meantime, you may listen on 160 but not transmit.

The antenna at W0ZSW needed work after summer storm damage. It had been replaced in a temporary configuration. It was replaced on Tuesday 24 March 2013 with a 320 foot (98 meter) double extended zepp (W0OXB Special) dipole fed with 450 ohm ladder line and a 4:1 current balun. Work was planned and led by volunteer Dave Glas, W0OXB.

Minor finishing work remains to be completed, but as of now the station is operational. Reports or comments may be directed to wa0tda@arrl.net.

Antenna work will be scheduled within the next week or two at station W0ZSW in the Twin Cities. The current antenna setup, a 200 foot (61 meter) center-fed double extended zepp, now requires additional coaxial cable in the feedline length to tune properly on 160 and 80 meters. We propose to increase the overall length of the antenna to eliminate the need for this additional feedline, which introduces loss. The additional antenna length will be added as 50 foot sections on each end of the existing antenna. If all goes well, this project will reduce noise, allow the LDG AT-200PRO autotuner to match the antenna on 160 and 80 meters without the need for additional feedline, and make the entire installation more efficient.

We have been disappointed with the performance of W0ZSW over the summer months. We think this change to the antenna system will make the station more useful on more frequencies. When work commences, we expect the system to be out of service only a few hours.

Another planned change is the switch out of power supplies from the two Astron linear supplies (which are mismatched) to a single Astron RS-50M, which will have the capacity to power the TS-480HX at the full 200 watt level. The existing Astrons do not have meters and one is a 20 amp unit while the other is a 35.

Please direct comments to wa0tda@arrl.net.

Summer in the Upper Midwestern USA – It means higher absorption on 75 meters and a healthy dose of thunderstorm static as the dew point climbs and storms roll through Minnesota. The 160 m band is all but useless this time of year but you may find some stations on after sunset – provided that there are no lightning crashes wiping out the band! Absorption due to solar radiation is so high during the long daylight hours that the band is virtually dead, with only ground wave contacts possible.

Meanwhile, the PICONET soldiers on, keeping its summer schedule on 3.925 MHz on the 75 m band. Yes, there can be days when the thunderstorms make for a high noise level, but generally the absorption is not as bad on 75 m as on 160 m and some daytime contacts are possible. You will find this friendly net on between 0900 and 1100 CDT every day but Sunday. There is an afternoon session on weekdays from 1600 to 1700 CDT. Most of the net control stations are in northern Minnesota, so W0EQO is your best bet for a solid contact if you are using it as a remote base station. There is information about our remote base stations at http://handiham.org/remotebase.

The 40 m band is generally reliable summer and winter, throughout the solar cycle. The MIDCARS net on 7.258 MHz can be heard most days and provides road and travel reports, especially from mobile stations. It is in the Midwest.

Reports of activity on the 6 m band are still common as good VHF propagation continues into July – a nice surprise! Listen on 50.125 MHz or try some beacon frequencies and see what you can hear. A comprehensive list of 6 m beacons is at the G3USF website:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/50.htm

Will the new versions of the W4MQ software client run on Windows 8? Windows 7? How about the new preview release of Windows 8.1?

Yes, yes, and yes.

And it will run on both 32 and 64 bit versions, too.

Severe storms moved through Minnesota in the early morning hours of June 21, bringing a combination of heavy rain and high winds that proved too much for a once-solid old olive tree that was supporting one end of the double extended zepp antenna at W0ZSW.  The station remains on the air with a temporary fix, but there will be outages later on as maintenance proceeds.  The olive was one of two trees that went down in the vicinity.

We will do our best to keep the station on the air over Field Day weekend, but be prepared for unannounced outages.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

Summer thunderstorm season is underway here in the Upper Midwest, and that means that there will be lots of static crashes on the radio on the days when active weather is moving through Minnesota and surrounding states.  The most affect HF bands are 160 meters, 80/75 meters, and 40 meters.  When the storms are nearby, the bands will also be dominated by noisy crashes caused by lightning.

Sometimes the stations will be taken offline if severe weather is directly in their vicinity.  These service outages can be expected throughout the summer, especially early summer.  The stations will return to service as soon as conditions warrant.

Users who live in areas where thunderstorms are uncommon may not be familiar with how disruptive they can be to HF communications.  However, these storms are a normal part of seasonal variation in the central United States and you may find that some days conditions are just not good enough on one or more HF bands.