W6IFE Newsletter

President: Doug Millar,
K6JEY 2791 Cedar Ave Long Beach, CA 90806 562-424-3737
[email-masked]

Vice President: Dick
Bremer, WB6DNX 1664 Holly St. Brea, CA 92621 714-529-2800
[email-masked]

Recording Sec:Mel Swanberg, WA6JBD 231 E
Alessandro Blvd Riverside, CA 92508 909-369-6515 [email-masked]

Corresponding Sec: Kurt
Geitner, K6RRA 213 Main St. #5 Seal Beach, CA 90740 310-718-4910
[email-masked]

Treasurer: Dick Kolbly,
K6HIJ 26335 Community Barstow, CA 92311 760-253-2477
[email-masked]

Editor: Bill Burns, WA6QYR 247 Rebel Rd
Ridgecrest, CA 93555 760-375-8566 [email-masked]

Webmaster Chip Angle, N6CA

ARRL Interface Frank Kelly, WB6CWN 1111 Rancho Conejo Blvd. #501 Newbury
Park, CA 91320

805-499-8047 [email-masked]

FCC Interface Dave Laag, K6OW 11614 Indian St. Moreno Valley, CA 92557
909-924-1517

W6IFE License Trustee Ed Munn, W6OYJ 6255 Radcliffe Dr. San Diego, CA 92122
619-453-4563

[email-masked]

The 6 September 2001 meeting of the SBMS
will be 1) a Reconnoiter for the second half of the 10 GHz and Up Contest; 2)
Notes from Ken, WB6DTA on operating from Glamis; and 3) New equipment review by
Dave, WA6CGR on the new Garmin E-Teck Vista do all-be all hand held GPS, compass
and barometric altimeter. The SBMS meets at the American Legion Hall 1024 Main
Street (south of the 91 freeway) in Corona, CA at 1900 hours local time on the
first Thursday of each month. Check out the SBMS web site at
http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/.

Last meeting Robin, WA6CDR lead the planning work on the first weekend
assault of the 10 GHz and Up contest planning.

The Prez Sez--Hope everyone had a good time on the first weekend of the 10
GHz and Up contest and is getting set for the second half. We had a lot of new
stations active and several in the wings almost ready to go. That's very
exciting. Thanks to all those who did the planning and made special efforts to
make it a success. I know a lot of us like to just go out and do our own thing
and I appreciate people changing their plans to support the club effort.

This month, of course, is the Microwave Update in Santa Clara. I hope as many
go as can. Besides hearing good talks, you get a chance to talk with and meet
people you have heard about and read about. It is also a chance to network with
others who are doing things you might want to do. Active amateurs in microwaves
is a very small group and the chance to mix with other hams that have the same
interest from all over the world is a rare thing. So, if you can, go.

See you there. Doug, K6JEY

Scheduling

8 September ARRL September VHF Contest

15-16 September ARRL 10 GHz and Up Cumulative contest 2nd half

27-30 September Microwave Update check www.microwaveupdate.org for info.

4 October Review of the Microwave Update Convention with pictures.

1 November Frank Kelly on "PLL Local Oscillator Design Notes"

6 December Tentative: Practical Radio Astronomy at Microwave Frequencies.

3 January Chip N6CA: Dish Evaluation with a Laser Pointer

February-- 24 GHz status review. Presentation by various members on the
status of their 24 GHz stations. Frequency and power measurement test set-ups
will be available for member's radios.

Banquet at the Guasti Cafe. With white elephant exchange and door prizes!
(And good food)

March-- Noise Figure seminar- review of techniques with testing available
through 24 GHz.

Wants and Gots for Sale

For Sale: 1. Icom IC-746. $1050. Used once on 10 meters. Full output, all the
original stuff that it came with. 2. Radio Shack HTX 10 for $85 a small 10 meter
only transcever. Great for portable Microwave gear. Same as used by WA6CGR in
his 10 Gig rig. Never used. Changed my mind on that project Bob Robert Gardner
[email-masked] .

For Sale: Un-modified MA/COM units; 10 mtr HTS 100; 2-mtr DEM transverter,
MA/COM dish, tripod Ed K6ODV 909-689-1339

Want sensor head for thermistor head for HP 432 Mel, WA6JBD 909-369-6515.

Want service manual for Systron Donner 1502 Signal Generator Sam K6VLM.

Want HP 1 MHz/ 10 MHz 101A manual or circuit, Dick WB6DNX 714-529-2800.

Email stuff of interest-

Hello Microwavers, The results of the MDS/ERP Workshop at the July 28, 2001
SBMS/SDMG

Picnic are now posted on the SBMS Web pages, along with the results of the
July 2000 Picnic Workshop and the 2001 and 2000 Workshops at N6IZW's QTH in La
Mesa, CA (San Diego area). These results are in spreadsheet form, and are in
Adobe Acrobat format. You will need an Adobe Acrobat Reader program to view or
print them out. To see the results go tohttp://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/ and then
drop down to the Technical Information/Papers section, and then to the
"Technical Papers from the San Diego Microwave Group". They are under the
heading "MDS/ERP Event Results. 73s from Ed Munn, W6OYJ (858) 453-4563

My Fellow Microwavers, for those who have Palm Handhelds, I have written a
new distance/bearing calculator program that runs on the Palm. I call it Grid
Locator or GL. I know that W1GHZ has a BD for the Palm. I think GL is more
flexible. (Paul, if you are reading, this version has one minor fix from the one
you saw.) I wrote it mainly for use in the ARRL 10 GHz contest. My program, GL,
has many features. You can enter locations either as a Maidenhead grid or
lat/long. The location entry can be done in many formats. It calculates the
distance both from lat/long endpoints and from Maidenhead grid square centers.
Lists of locations can be saved as Memo Pad memos in a format that the program
understands. A location can also be saved from the program into one memo. It has
some built-in help. I think the program will run on any device that used the
Palm OS, 2.0 or higher. I'm making it available for free. You can read more, and
download it at: http://www.dnai.com/ ~rexa/Projects/gl_dist.html. Send me email
with any comments, suggestions, or problems. I am also seeking any corrections
or additions to the location list entries. I'll track the info and make any new
lists available on my page. You can send me the information in any format that
works for you. -Rex Allers, KK6MK Microwave mailing list [email-masked].

I enjoyed reading the article on the SBMS re-printed from the San Bernardino
Sun, and would like to forward it for re-printing with the Anchorage ARC
Newsletter [largest club in Alaska with a big readership; I'm a life member].
Proper credit can be given to both the "Sun" and SBMS. Ed, al7eb

Hi, I just received my newsletter for July and realized I have not written in
awhile. I have been absorbed in building my AO-40 station thru the spring and
early summer. I am now operational on mode-US {435-up/2401-dn}. I have a DEMI
144/1268 TX conv that remains to be tested and installed for mode-LS. So anyone
in SBMS that is equipped for satellite on AO-40, I would look forward to a
QSO.

On my attempt to receive the Kodiak Island 10.260G beacon, I tried listening
in mid-June from an excellent 800-foot viewpoint looking over the water [Homer
to Kodiak, AK: 133 miles] using a 0.8 dB NF preamp, N1BWT mixer, and gunn
oscillator. I used the wbfm 76-108 MHz band in my FT-817 for the IF but merely
found all the local FM broadcast stations [above 88 MHz]. Curt Law, AL7LQ, owner
of the beacon isn't sure of his frequency so I have a +/- 10 MHz search
bandwidth which makes it very difficult. Well

my first attempt was casual using only the M/A 17 dB horn. I should get back
down to Homer this month and take an 18-inch DSS dish this time. Maybe look with
narrow bw for the carrier.

I've been traveling this month: SARA conference at NRAO Greenbank, WV and
CSVHFS in Dallas. Got some parts from Jeff Kruth, WA3ZKR, at Greenbank, and saw
Chip, N6CA in Dallas but didn't get the opportunity to speak with him. I did get
a chance for parking lot 10G QSO's with NE8I and WD4MUO

using my portable station [FT-817, DEMI xvtr]. Also acquired some "stuff" in
the surplus tour and flea market: DEMI 10G preamp kit, 3456-xvtr kit, and a
second 24G up/dn harmonic conv. The 3456 xvtr is for the first IF on 24G. Also
picked up some odds and ends, as well.

Speaking of equipment, Kerry graciously sent me 10 MHz TCXO's, xcvr boards,
1w PA, and Alford slot antenna for a 10G beacon in June. Waiting for info from
Kerry on converting the boards. Hope I can somehow complete the beacon and
install it at work on the 120-foot comm tower before winter. It is LOS to the
hillside [2000-foot] above Anchorage 60 miles to the north. There is KL7FZ north
of Anchorage, AL7LQ in Kodiak both with gunnplexers, and a local friend, WL7BQM,
[30 miles from me] who is looking into getting the DEMI 10G xvtr and 2w PA.

I have my airline and hotel reservations made for MW Update. I still need to
find a cheap hotel for Wed night 9/26 [arriving at San Jose Airport at 7 pm]. I
will rent a car or SUV for the week driving down to southern Cal with hopes to
visit in Ridgecrest and Barstow before coming to the SBMS meeting on 10/4. I
will have my portable 10G station with me and would like to try making some
contacts. I should have the 1w PA installed and maybe the new preamp. It will be
a miracle, but perhaps the 24G xcvr will be done, too. It uses the 10.368G xvtr
as LO.

If possible, I would like to squeeze in a visit to Goldstone. I wonder if
Dick Kolbly is reading this and would know? This will be my first visit to
California since leaving for Alaska in 1979...22 years! Looking forward to
reunion of old friends and acquaintances!

Well, that's the news from up north. Ed AL7EB, ex-K8MWA

There is available waveguide dish feeds for 4 foot and 6 foot dishes of the
splash feed nature commercially made for the 5.9 to 7.2 GHz range, and the 10.6
to 13.3 GHz range in both finished and nearly finished variety. The feeds are
made by Terra Comm and are aluminum construction for lightweight construction.
Feeds could be cut back to smaller dishes dimensions and a transition made in
the WG is long enough. Additionally I have available several TWT's for the 5.6
GHz range at 10 watts or better by cranking up on the "beam" current as there is
lots of life in these tubes. Both Siemans RW-1125D with power supply, and
Thompson TH3545C with power supply types are available. These are located in San
Diego, Contact Chuck Houghton WB6IGP by e-mail or LL 619-460-7266 for further
info/details.

Hello Microwavers, A new Qualcomm modification article has been posted on the
SBMS web pages. The article by Chuck Houghton, WB6IGP, describes how to modify
the small Qualcomm Multiplier pcb (1 5/8 by 2 3/4 inches) so that it will
multiply the 2.5XX GHz output of a synthesizer, X4 to the 10.224 to 10.368 GHz
range. Output of +7 to +10 dBm can be achieved. The modification involves
extending the length of three stripline filter elements to cover the 10 GHz
output range. The board originally multiplied 2.6 GHz X5 to about 13 GHz. The
article can be accessed by going to the SBMS web home page at
http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/ and then scroll down to the "Technical
Information/ Papers..." section and then to the "Technical Papers from the San
Diego Microwave Group". 73s from Ed Munn, W6OYJ

San Diego 10 GHz Beacons Reactivated-- The 10 GHz cw beacon has been repaired
and is now operating on Mt. San Miguel, southeast of San Diego in Grid Square
DM12MQ. The Lat/Lon is 32 deg 41.80 min North and 116 deg 56.09 min West.
Frequency is 10,368,070 MHz +/- 10 KHz and call sign is WB6IGP/B.

A second beacon also emits from this site using wbfm cw on a frequency of
10,250 MHz with call sign N6IZW/B. 73s from Ed Munn, W6OYJ (858) 453-4563

Hello Microwavers, Several have asked for more details about the San Diego
Beacons on Mt San Miguel (Grid DM12MQ). Both beacons have +14 dBm output to a
waveguide slot antenna with 16 total slots, estimated gain of 10 dBi. The
waveguide has no wings so the omni directional horizontal pattern has dips and
peaks. Polarization is horizontal. The location altitude is approximately 2565
ft. The source for the narrowband beacon on 10,368.070 MHz, +/- 10 KHz, is a
"brick" oscillator phase locked to an internal approx 100 MHz crystal
oscillator. The crystal is heated but we have experienced daily frequency
variation due to external temperatures as indicated by the +/- range stated
above. We also expect a gradual downward drift due to crystal ageing based on
past experience. This beacon has cwid call sign WB6IGP/B. The source for the
wideband MCW fm beacon on approximately 10,250 MHz is a Gunn Oscillator and may
move around +/- a few MHz with temperature changes. Its MCW call sign is
N6IZW/B. We have plans for a more advanced beacon system in the future, but felt
it was more important to get these beacons back on the air in time for the 2001
microwave contest weekends. 73s from Ed Munn, W6OYJ

From the first weekend of the 10 GHz and Up contest--

On Saturday I set up on Pinal Pk, AR at dawn and found the path to anything
north of about Toro was badly shadowed by an adjacent ridge. I worked the folks
on Mt Laguna, CA and Borrego, and then tore down and moved the forklift-based
radio over to the adjacent hill - known as Signal Pk. Trees are a MAJOR problem.
We found a semi OK spot where we could see in between the trees. It worked OK,
but the RX could see too much ground noise, so I suspect I was still a bit
shadowed. I made 21 QSOS Saturday, with an AVERAGE distance of 445 KM! Longest
to Frazier, 764 KM - a Boeing based path. REALLY pleased with the turnout on
east looking sites - 5 San Diego folks on Laguna, Onyx - 3, Borrego and Hwy 74,
etc.as well as the rover folks along I 10 - tuff in the heat!

I tore down Saturday night and moved to Mt Lemmon, AR and arrived there at
dawn also (What is Sleep??). Thanks to the arrangements made by (I HOPE this is
right) Steve, Mike, Dave and Chuck, I had permission to go on the observatory
grounds... otherwise, Lemmon is not a useful microwave site-

way too many trees - We found ONE spot with about a 20 degree opening in the
trees looking in the right direction. I made 26 QSOs, including several with
local folks. We sent Dave, W7GZ out with WA6CGRs loaner radio - and he had some
fun making contacts locally, as well as working Dave and Mel using rain scatter
off a thunderstorm. I think the bug bit. Later worked Dave, Mel, and Pete in
several rover stops in the Parker to Blouse to I-10 region. Average distance
Sunday, 294 KM (a fair number of short QSOs), BUT. Longest again to Frazier, 772
Km (498 Miles), Again courtesy of Boeing. Thanks Robin, WA6CDR

Robin, WA6CDR had a
"portable" station consisting of a large tripod, 6 ft dish, rack mounted
transverter and TWT, Kenwood multimode transceiver and a minivan to contain it.
Robin made 3 mountain peaks in Arizona during the first weekend of the 2001 ARRL
10 GHz and Up Cumulative Contest. WA6CDR photo.

From the DM14PE site on
Onyx Peak, CA, Chuck's WA6EXV station could be seen. Chuck has a 4 ft dish, 40 W
TWT and a Noise Figure of about 1 dB. Photo thanks to WA6EXV.

A station on Onyx for the
first half of Saturday 18 August was rover Glenn, KE6HPZ with his 27-inch dish
mounted on a tripod. His equipment was very portable. His power source was a
battery along with a solar panel. Glenn's rig put out a strong signal across the
desert from Onyx. He also went roving on the desert floor in the triple digit
temperatures. His travels took him east of Onyx into Arizona. WA6EVX photo.

Another station on Onyx
was Bill, WA6QYR with his trailer mounted 4 ft dish, newly constructed Qualcomm
10 GHz transverter, and TS-700A two-meter multimode transceiver. The Qualcomm
has about 6 dB NF and something under a watt output. Bill was battery powered.
He had 24 GHz wide band gear, but it wasn't used since the rovers and stations
to the east only seemed to have 10 GHz equipment. WA6EXV photo.

One of the problems noted
by several mountain topers is the window between trees on some sites. Onyx some
15 years ago had a wonderful view to the east, but now has a number of large
attenuators growing around the area. Choices, choices. There was a site a little
further south that had a larger view south and east, but didn't see to the area
where WA6CDR was to operate. This site could see about 30-degree window into
Arizona where Robin and others were to be. To work the rovers we had to look
through the trees to the right. Behind us was another group of trees blocking
the view of Mt San Gorgonio over which we might view the LA area. We could see
northwest to Mt Frazier and Big Bear Lake.

As indicated earlier, the
view to the south from the chosen site looked into trees and the County
communications site on Onyx. At 9115 ft the view could be great in some
directions. It was nice and cool relative to those operating on the desert floor
that weekend when the temperatures were 105 and better. Even with a good site,
you run into the problems of several stations blocking each other in some
direction when trying to make contacts with stations operating from areas 360
degrees from the site. Any way we had fun and made lots of points for the
distant operators, but maybe not as many as those who stayed in the larger
populated areas.

I operated 10
GHz on Saturday only from Frazier "hill", DM04ms, to make 20 contacts with 17
call signs. Best DX was an aircraft scatter contact with WA6CDR on Pinal "mound"
DM43og at 480 mi to the east (that's 772 km for the east coasters). The Southern
California X band activity level was as high as I've seen it.

The picture shows the whole Frazier group from Saturday. From left to right,
Gary AD6FP, Frank WB6CWN, Miguel W6YLZ and Frank W6PI.

Frank WB6CWN

I've put a few photos from the contest up on a web site.
http://www.pe.net/~swanberg/10ghz.htm. Mel WA6JBD

Hi Bill,

How did the contest go?? I went roving with 10 GHz and 24 GHz ssb and had a
good time. Only 2 other stations on 24 GHz so there were limited opportunities
there. I have a project, which requires a Macomm (the old 10 GHz unit in the
tub) Do you still have yours and would you be willing to sell it. (I am actually
looking for 2 units, so if you know of anyone else who would sell their unit let
me know). If you will sell, what price do you want$$$??? 73 Phil, W6HCC

73's Bill

The San Bernardino Microwave Society is a technical amateur radio club
affiliated with the ARRL having a membership of over 90 amateurs from Hawaii and
Alaska to the east coast. Dues are $15 per year which includes a badge and
monthly newsletter. Your mail label indicates your call followed by when your
dues are due. Dues can be sent to the treasurer as listed under the banner on
the front page. If you have material you would like in the newsletter please
send it to Bill WA6QYR at 247 Rebel Road Ridgecrest, CA 93555,
[email-masked], or phone 760-375-8566. The newsletter is generated
about the 15th of the month and put into the mail at least the week prior to the
meeting. This is your newsletter. SBMS Newsletter material can be copied as long
as SBMS is identified as source.

San Bernardino Microwave Society newsletter

247 Rebel Road

Ridgecrest, CA

93555

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