THE AMATEUR’S NEWS

The 2016 Kirtland’s Warbler Festival goes worldwide.

A new addition to the 2016 KW Festival will be members of the local Amateur Radio Community (Ham Radio). The Ham radio Operators will be operating a Special Event Radio Station (SES) on the grounds of the festival.

The SES call sign K8W has been assigned to the event through the American Radio Relay League www.arrl.org, amateur radio’s national organization. The operators will be attempting to make USA and worldwide two-way contacts with other Hams on several radio frequencies for the purpose of providing awareness of the festival and the recovery efforts of the Kirtland’s Warbler. We hope to engage operators from the Bahamas to mimic the Warbler’s flight from the islands to Michigan. Distinct “QSL” (confirmation of contact) cards, provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, will be available for exchange by mail with the radio stations “worked” or contacted. Ham Radio operators frequently provide communications assistance to Emergency Management Agencies and utilize events such as the KW Festival to practice remote operations and hone their disaster assistance skills. There will be several “phone” or voice transmitters working as well as a “CW” or Morse code operator at the

festival. Several operators will also work K8W from their home base stations during the following week. Please stop by the K8W station and learn about Amateur Radio. Those seeking additional information about Ham Radio may email [email protected] or visit www.arrl.org

Packet Radio Network (BBS) vs Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)by Russell Hall, N8RSH Packet Radio Network is design with a center point of connection. When you connect to the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) station that you plan on exchanging information with, the system portals have error check with controls to make sure the information is exchanged correctly. With this center connection point and with error control, you know your information is stored waiting for the intend recipient. When the recipient is ready to receive that information, they login to the BBS station and download all the data stored. It takes a long time, sometimes, to exchange traffic over the air with the size of the message and the overhead of controlling the packets. One of the biggest differences on how Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) packets work is

THE AMATEUR’S NEWS March and April 2016 159

TH “EDITION”

WWW.K8OAR.CLUB

EDITOR: CAMERON THURSTON

N8CAM

An ARRL Affiliate

http://www.arrl.org/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.arrl.org/

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THE AMATEUR’S NEWS

149TH EDITION FEBRUARY 2015

that it has no error checking and not knowing who got your message. APRS is a spray and pray way of transmitting packets and you have no idea if made it to your destination. It works very well at transmitting small bits of data fast. GPS beacons for positioning tracking is one of the biggest uses. There are also different forms of data that can be passed which include objects, bulletins and direct messaging capabilities. However, without a center point of storage like Packet Radio Network, if you intend recipient is offline or out of range of you and/or a digipeater in the area, they will not receive that message. Instead of storing the data in one spot, the packets are retransmitted in a timed interval depending on the sensitivity of the information being sent. Both networks have their strengths and weaknesses, and both have their place in the air. Packet Radio Network is data pulled to a center point, and the information is in storage there. It reminds me of email service that we use now. Automatic Packet Reporting System is a data push out to the world, and the information is repeatedly blasted out in the air. APRS reminds me sort of like a text message, but not being stored on a cell tower. Both systems use a form of digipeating to extend the range of coverage area. However, they are not setup the same way and work totally different to accomplishing the same task of repeating packets. It has confused me for some time the difference between the two network systems. When I would talk to anyone about packets, I always thought of APRS. Over the last few years I have been researching tracking high powered model rockets and an APRS tracking system is what I was learning about. It wasn’t till the last few months of learning about Radio Packet Network that I truly understand the difference between the two. I hope this article has helped you as well to understand some of the differences. If you have any questions just find me on the air or email me at n8rsh1 at yahoo dot com. 73 from N8RSH

What is Packet Radio, by Russell Hall N8RSH

Packet Radio Network was started back in March of 1980 by Doug Lockhart, VE7APU out of Canada. He formed the Vancouver Amateur Digital Communications Group (VADCG) and created the “VADCG board”. To learn more about the history of Packet Radio Network visit www.choisser.com/packet/ Here is how the Packet Radio works. There is one center device that everyone will connect into to store messages. Messages can be addressed to ALL, a group, or an individual. It looks and feels like the old school bulletin board systems, you had to dial into a server before the Internet took off. There are software programs out there to make it easier to control the station or you can type all of the commands manually from a terminal prompt. When you connect to the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) station there is error check controls to make sure data exchanges correctly. With this center connection point you know your information is stored and waiting for the intend recipient. When the recipient is ready to receive that information, they login to the BBS station and download the data stored. It can take a long time sometimes to exchange traffic over the air due to the size of the message and the overhead of controlling the packets. There is a way to use one station to relay to another station, with the use of Digipeating. This can be useful if the distance or a terrain obstacle is in the way of your destination station. You can use several station hops to get to the end station. However with more hops on a simplex frequency there will be a lot of RF collisions and it will take a long time to pass a message. One thing that makes the whole experience easier to use is a program that I have been using called Outpost Packet Message Manager. This program works like an

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email client that you are familiar with. It will control your TNC so you don’t need to learn all of the special commands. After about an hour of using Outpost you will be a professional at it. More information on how to use Outpost and documentation on how to use it is on their website at www.outpostpm.org. I have been using my Kenwood TH-D72a as a radio TNC combo, which is connected by USB. I configured Outpost to connect directly to the serial port. I did use it a few times with AWG PE. It worked ok, but it had a bit of lag to the whole process. This setup works well to connect to a remote BBS station to send and receive messages. If you want to setup your own BBS station for digipeating or message storage a Kantronics KPS-3+ TNC is recommend from what I have heard via the grape vine. The common used 2M frequencies with the Packet Network in the USA are 145.01, 145.03, 145.05, 145.07, 145.09 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, and 144.97 MHz. The local frequency that is being used in our area is 145.090 MHz. After you connect to one of the local stations, you can list out the other stations it can connect to. This will give you a good idea of where the other stations are that you can access via that station. I have been having great time learning and using Packet Radio. If you haven’t tried it, I would recommend giving it a try. You never know what kind of adventure you can find in this hobby. If you have any questions you can email me at n8rsh1 at yahoo dot com. I will do my best to direct you to the correct information. 73 from N8RSH

My Black Friday Purchase, by Russell Hall N8RSH

With Black Friday sales going nuts all over the world, one of my favorite places had a great sale on all Kenwood radios. After explaining to my wife that the TM-D710GA was $160 off retail price,

I got my purchase order approved! It only took Main Trading Company 4 days to get my new Christmas, Birthday, and Father’s Day present to me. After a long wait the new box arrived at my house. It took me about 10 minutes to remove my TM-281A out of the way then unbox and install the new one in my van. I used two sided 3M tape in the past to mount my old radio to my dash, so the removal was very easy. I also used two side 3M tape to mount the new radio unit and radio head in the same place the old one. With putting the radio in the same place, I didn’t have to run new or move the power cables or antenna wire. The two side 3M tape worked for a week before the radio head started to sag down so with a few dry wall screws threw my dashboard and that problem was solved. Now with the unit connected and powered up it was time to program the radio. I had bought the programing cable for the unit. However, I was too lazy to get my laptop out at the time. I figured why not try programing the unit from the radio head. I went to grab the manual to look at the menu settings. However it came on a CD and again I still didn’t want to get my laptop out. So I figured, why not just try to program it. After about 25 minutes, I had 5 repeater channels and all of the APRS settings programmed. Kenwood radio system menus are very easy to field program, which is something you don’t find with most other products. The menu system structure is very easy to adapt between different Kenwood radio models. This is one of the reason I LOVE Kenwood products. Here is a quick set of specifications on the TM-D710GA. It is a 144 Mhz (2m) & 440 Mhz (70cm) frequency band and dual channel radio. It has three different power settings, Low 5W, Medium 25W, High 50W. It also has an AX.25 TNC and GPS receive built in, so no extra parts need to be ordered or added for APRS functionality. The TNC can run in a few modes, APRS mode, Packet12 mode and EchoLink. The APRS mode allows the unit to control all of the APRS RF traffic with in the unit, no need to have a laptop or extra device. The Packet12 mode allows

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you to use a laptop to control the APRS RF traffic. The GPS module inside is very robust and will quickly acquire and keep a satellite lock. In conclusion, I am very happy with my Kenwood TM-D710GA purchase. The biggest feature that it is missing is digital voice encoding. This means I can’t talk on digital mode on the Yaesu Fusion system or Motorola systems. From what I have seen, Kenwood hasn’t really gotten in to the digital mode market for ham radio yet. I do love the huge display with all of the buttons around it. It’s not a touch screen but push buttons, which is a feature I also enjoy. I am in puppy dog love with the TM-D710GA, and it has become my favorite ham radio. 73 from N8RSH

RFI Feed Line Suppression

Written by

Thomas C. Musolf

N8NJY

East Tawas, Michigan 48730

[email protected]

For publication in the K8OAR Newsletter

Perhaps most of us at one time or another keyed up our transmitter and immediately heard disconcerting words shouted loudly from another room. The following are a few very expensive case histories that have caused internal strife at the press of the microphone button. Stray RF or uncontrolled RF has damaged DSL modems, turned lights on or off and even brightened or dimmed lighting in adjacent condo's and rendered a string of satellite TV modems inoperative. Yet another paid $789 to replace a control board in a new refrigerator/freezer after complaints from the kitchen about refrigerator/freezer alarms going off and no longer

functional refrigerator controls and water continuously running out of the ice maker onto the floor. RFI or radio frequency interference has been around since the "Hamm Brothers" started messing around with Spark Gap transmitters and then the complaints poured in...Years past, many blamed this noise on atmospherics' and then others got a bit smarter and they said it's those "Damn Hamm Brothers" zaping electricity again wiping out TV

and Radio shows...And now Hamm's are Hams...as we know it today. Radio Frequency Interference can be somewhat mysterious and more difficult to resolve in special installations if the issue in not well defined. However, there are many simple explanations and

methods to reduce/eliminate radiation of unwanted energy. We cannot review all of them in this brief article but I do want to touch on a most often overlooked feed line issue. Many believe that coax is the best method to transmit or move RF energy to a radiator or antenna. It's a simple method but perhaps not the ONLY best.

One must remember that COAX is an unbalanced transmission line and that RF Current flows and can radiates from the outer shield. Moreover, a less desirable nature of

RF or radio frequency is such that RF travels on the outside of the coax center conductor diameter and on the outside of the braided conductor as well. When you hear unbalanced that should also raise some questions too, A way to limit or control feed line radiation is to balance the currents flowing on the coax conductors by insertion of a current balancing circuit called a LINE ISOLATOR in series with the coax. There is a lot of theory and assembly techniques used to balance common mode and opposed current flows. I can tell you about that but separate from this article. Isolators are not a new product but their features and use should be mentioned again. Isolators are installed at the output of the Radio, and/or if you are using a Linear

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Amplifier, it should be placed at the output of the amplifier. Line isolators are functional with folded dipoles, OCF dipoles, verticals and different forms of wire antennas and were also used at "field day" activities on Tri-Banders, each with desirable results. A Line Isolator is exactly what it says: .....It provides isolation through control of distributed RF currents, the isolator inhibits undesired RFI by preventing feed line currents and radiation of your signal before it gets to the antenna. In turn, the isolator forces all the RF energy from the transceiver, tuner, or amplifier, into the antenna. Simply stated, it isolates the Coax transmission line from the Radio by preventing spurious radiations...the ones you get complaints' about and also dramatically attenuates induced RF signals from nearby broadcast stations that messes with clean reception by random lengths of the transmission line.

The following should be done at each transmitter site

The station and its accessories must be grounded properly. Not just as a electrical safety ground but also as a good RF ground.

Get the RF signal outside the home at its shortest distance to the antenna.

Do not have long runs of Coax coiled up inside the home or strung up through the lower level ceiling.

Cut coax to proper installation length and properly install connectors.

Install an 6-8 foot copper ground rod outside the home at the closest point to the transmitter and bring heavy gauge #10 or equivalent wire from the ground point to the ground lug on the transceiver/amplifier.

Use 3/4" to 1" inch SS braid for best RF grounding.

If the line isolation device has a ground and they should, attach to a good ground at a suitable location.

Lightning protection should also be installed and protected from the weather at a point where the feed line enters the home. Attach the arrestor ground to the ground rod.

The following should be avoided.

Do not use "in home piping" as a ground, especially a gas line.

Avoid long coax runs through the house just because it seems more convenient to get to the antenna. Do the right thing and make a good installation.

Do not attach equipment grounds to metal building I-Beams as these may or may not be a good ground. Most are not and were never intended to be used as a ground, let along as a RF ground.

In the past, cold water pipes were used but no longer should be used or even considered as a ground. Threaded connections can become loose or corroded and repairs with plastic fittings creates an OPEN ground.

Typically, A line Isolator is not used at the Antenna feed point. However, there are exceptions to this rule if you are experiencing RF interference induced from outside sources, then a line isolator at the antenna feed point may be tried for effect. These devices are a weather sealed ferrite device that does not require tuning. Most all isolators can handle 3 Kw. Each of the isolators are

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fitted with SO-239 connectors for quick and simple installation. Read and follow the specification supplied with the Isolator. Hope all of this works well to enhance the capability of your station. With essentially Zero insertion loss, these devices can be left in line as a permanent part of your antenna system. For troublesome RFI problems, an isolator can be placed at both ends of the transmission line. I don't endorse any particular line isolator but I have years of experience and use with these devices manufactured by Radio Works and Buxcomm. They are part of each of my antennas without any measureable RF leakage or RFI problems in my home.

Tom Musolf de N8NJY Member: K8OAR Radio Club

Running the Talk Net as Net Controller, by Russell Hall N8RSH

The Monday night Talk Net is to promote Amateur Radio activities in the area. The only way the Talk Net can function in an organized manner, is with one station being the net controller. It is that person’s responsibilities, as net controller, to direct stations when it’s their turn to transmit. All traffic on the net is directed to net control. It’s also a great way for a ham operator to stay in practice as a competent net controller for an event of emergency/disaster net. When I am the net control, here are a few things I will do to get ready before the Talk Net starts. I will read the preamble off the club web site a few times. This helps get the word verbiage in my head. During the net I will use paper and a pen to write down the check in as they come in. I also use that list to keep track of who is next up, calling the next person. To help me find call signs for check in, I print out a list of club members with their call signs. The hardest part of running the Talk Net that I have is keeping up with people’s call signs. I have everyone check in slow with their call sign. In fact, I emphasize the slowly part. I really

need to work some more QSO parties to work on my call sign hunting skills. A few things to keep in mind as you run the Talk Net. You are in control of the net. If you can’t understand a call sign coming in, have them repeat it. If you can’t hear a weak station, let them know that as well. Don’t worry about making a mistake. You make it how you want it to be, so you can’t make a mistake. Don’t be nervous about it and have fun with it. You will want to try starting the Talk Net on time. Everyone will be waiting for you to start at the top of the hour. So, don’t try stopping at Mc Ds drive through 15 minutes before hand, you will be late. Even if you plan on starting the net from your mobile rig, you can’t get signal from the 94 machine in the drive through window in Rose City. Trust me; I have learned this one the hard way. Also, on the list of things lessons learned from other people. Don’t sit down in your lazy boy chair 20mins before the net. You may fall asleep and Joe will have to run the net for you. This didn’t happen to me, I have to use my mobile rig to the run the net. I enjoy using the mobile. It gets me out of my house, so I can focus on the net. I really enjoy running the Talk Net as a Net Control operator. If you haven’t tried it yet, first start small. Listen into the Talk Net so you can get familiar with the follow on the net. The next step would be to check in to the Talk Net a few times. After that you should have no problem running the Talk Net. So at the next club meeting just raise your hand and say ‘I will be a net controller’. 73 from N8RSH

Ten-Tec: Sold Again

For more than forty years, Ten Tec has been a focal

point in my Military and amateur radio career. Little

know to others, Ten Tec manufactured military

equipment, specifically receivers that was state of

the art, ruggedized and totally trouble free. All of

which took the heavy abuse in field mobil

transmitter and receiver sites used around the world.

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I repaired other military equipment but the Ten-Tec

receivers lived on reliably and became a trusted

standard.

I am happy to see the continuation of production

recently announced in January of 2016.

To keep you up to date, I am forwarding a note of

"General Interest" assembled by K8MSH for

publication in our newsletter that will bring you up

to date with the latest information currently released.

By the time this is published in the K8OAR, more

information will be released. Stay tuned for later

updates. The new owner is Mike, N8WFF

President,Ten Tec, a Dishtronix Company,

Dishtronix, Inc.

Thanks

Tom Musolf N8NJY

==================

Now there’s another chapter in the Ten-Tec saga.

First they were purchased by the Alpha Amplifier

folks, then by RKR Designs, and now by an

unnamed mystery owner–all within the span of

about two years. So what’s in store for Ten-Tec’s

future?

Former Ten-Tec chief engineer John Henry made a

recent post on http://lists.contesting.com/_tentec/

(AKA, the Ten-Tec Reflector) regarding future

plans for the company. I’m going to highlight only a

few points from the email, since it’s rather lengthy.

If you’re a Ten-Tec owner or fan, take time to read

the entire email to get the big picture as it exists now

http://lists.contesting.com/_tentec/2015-

12/msg00013.html.

No, Henry is not the new owner, but he says he’s

going to do whatever he can to get the business back

on track. “I want to see it be a success, and maintain

what can be maintained of the people, and improve

its image/products/etc. back to where they were

years ago. The owner is quite insistent that I remain

intimately involved with TEN-TEC even if it is on a

part time basis. It is my choice of how much or little

I spend on TEN-TEC and the door is assuredly left

open for me to come and go as I please. He wants

me to be the VP of Engineering, but, well, time will

tell how all of this plays out.”

According to Henry, the new owner “is planning the

rigs and amplifiers and other accessory products to

engineer and to manufacture for the coming year to

cover the purchase and

expenses for the year, working on the details of the

various plans for service, sales, and marketing, etc.”

The current incarnation of OMNI VII is scheduled

to be back in production in 1st quarter 2016, hoping

to ship in 2nd quarter 2016. The Eagle will go back

into production some time after the 1st OMNI-VII

run.

In addition, the new owner plans to either bring back

the Orion II or have an Orion III, time frame to be

determined–which could be as early as end of 2016

or Dayton 2017.

According to Henry, prices will return to the

original pre liquidation sale prices when the new

website is up so that each will be at a price point that

will make enough profit to make the company

viable. Other features will be added where possible.

Henry also states, “There might be

improvements/changes to certain rigs, e.g. maybe

there will be an OMNI VII+ maybe an OMNI-VIII

in a year.” Since the Omni VII dates back to 2006,

I’d think it’s almost imperative they’d come up with

at least a plus version quickly. Ditto for the Orion II,

which was a 2005 revision of the original Orion.

There is no mention of whether the new owner has

deep pockets, has any backers at this point, or will

rely on income from Ten Tec’s other operations. If

you weren’t aware, a substantial portion of Ten-

Tec’s income previously came from manufacturing

enclosures and specialty radios for commercial and

government customers–the RX331/RX340 receivers

for example. In the past, this income stream helped

support the amateur radio line.

Henry hints at a possible need to raise capital, such

as a possible Gofundme funding campaign, where

amateur customers can help donate to purchase the

parts, and then part of, or all of, or x times the

amount of the donation is taken off of their next

order of a “major” Ten-Tec product, such as a

transceiver, amp, etc. “To do this first class, we need

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a 200K capital infusion for a new factory building

and some new equipment to replace what was

liquidated if anyone cares to step up and accelerate

our success. 400K would give us the facility

building and some new equipment to replace what

was liquidated if anyone cares to step up and

accelerate our success. 400K would give us the

facility, equipment and capital to put everything

back in production to a stocking basis and allow us

to complete the Orion III. If 400 people will give us

1K each, we will commit to the Orion III of your

dreams in 18-24 months and give you 2K off the

target price of 5K as well as engrave your name and

call on a plaque on the new building that says you

helped build it and save Ten-Tec.”

I’m sure there are some die-hard Ten-Tec supporters

out there who would help provide capital to get

things rolling. However, this proposed arrangement

makes me a bit uneasy. I’m not sure I’m ready to

pay up front for the R&D or production of a future

radio or guarantee support for my legacy rigs with

the only return on investment being a discount on a

radio I may or may not decide to purchase. Full

disclosure–I own three Ten-Tec transceivers and

have been a customer for a number of years. I

recently paid several hundred dollars to their repair

facility to get my Orion II back in shape.

One encouraging piece of information is that the

new owner plans (for now, anyway) to stay in this

for the long run. “The owner has emphatically stated

to me that this the last time Ten-Tec will change

hands for the next 15-20 years or so as he is my age

and plans for us both to operate it until we are in our

70s or physically unable to continue, so Ten-Tec

could not be in the hands of anyone more

SERIOUSLY long term goal oriented. He has

wanted Ten-Tec for a long time for the excellent

DSP AGC technology built in to our transceivers so

I think it is safe to say that there will be future

generations of the Omni, and Orion style units as

finances permit.” It would be nice to see Ten-Tec

make a big comeback with new and updated radios.

Time will tell.

I wish them the best, and I will be one of the many

who monitors the reflector for more news. Perhaps

by the time you read this, the identity of the mystery

owner will be revealed.

Mark, K8MSH

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COUNTDOWN TO HAMVENTION 2016

AS OF MARCH 22ND THERE ARE 58 DAYS AND 14 HOURS

CLUB MEETING 4/6/2016! TRY TO BE THERE AND SUPPORT YOUR CLUB!

That’s this edition of The Amateur’s News!

73, DE N8CAM

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