Hard to believe it is meeting time again, but we will get together at 7:00 PM at KVH 75 Enterprise Drive, Middletown RI.
NCRC, since last Fall, has been running a HF Net on 3.900 MHz on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM local time. Conditions have been excellent since the change to Daylight Saving Time, and its been fun hearing the participation increase each week. Tonight, for example, we had 15 stations from RI, NH, MA and CT check in, almost all with excellent armchair signals. Rich, KC1ARO checked in portable from his location in the White Mountains of NH using a 80 meter “Hamstick” on his car.
The other thing that is interesting is it is an opportunity to dust off some of the wonderful tube radios that we all have. It is wonderful to hear a rig like the Drake TR4 or Swan 500 on the air with their sweet sounding audio.
So don’t forget, Wednesday nights, 3.900 MHz at 7:30 PM local time. Hope to hear you soon!
PS: check-ins for May 3 included the following: KC1ARO, K1YBE, N1PSX, K1ECU, W1LY, WA1ABI, KC1HEP, WX1X, WB1CTP, W1DEC, AA1XQ, N1ENG, W1VAK, K1GHC, WB4SON
The W1SYE repeater is back on the air in a reduced capacity experimental mode. It is in a temporary location and is using separate transmit and receive antennas (no duplexer.) The transmit power output is intentionally quite low (670 milliWatts) to avoid clobbering the repeater receiver with RF from the too closely spaced transmit antenna. The transmit antenna is higher than the receive antenna, which is opposite to the conventional way of running separate antennas for a repeater. But it works, and we will keep it on the air in this configuration until it can be returned to service in its regular location later this spring.
Please try out the Mini-Me W1SYE if you have a chance. Don’t expect normal performance, but you might be surprised at how well you can hear a very low power signal from a modest antenna. The receive antenna is quite low, so don’t be too disappointed if the repeater can’t hear you.
<Editor Comment: The audio quality of this new repeater is unbelievably good and it is quite amazing how well 0.7 watts gets out as it is a full S9+ across the bay.>
Last night, NCRC wrapped up a three meeting long Club Build Project of a 40-meter QRP Transceiver “Pixie” kit.
We packaged the inexpensive Chinese QRP kit with sockets for the crystal and final transistor, plus two additional crystals (7.030 and 7.040) to go along with the stock Extra Class-only 7.023 crystal. About two dozen of them were purchased by members.
Over the past three meetings, we set up multiple assembly and test/rework stations. All but four kits worked immediately after assembly. Two had cold solder joints. One had a solder bridge. The only “mystery” turned out to be a LM386 that was on the high-side of its maximum current spec, which caused its power source to collapse. Everyone managed to get the right components into the right locations and there were no missing parts. All of the kits produced from 300 to 400 milliwatts of output power.
Willy, W1LY, and Bob, WB4SON, have been messing around with improvements for the Pixie kit for several months. Most of them have been documented on Bob’s website; you can see them here.
The Club wishes to thank our gracious host, KVH, for assisting us with assembly stations and space for the project, along with all the club mentors that were involved.
What might our next Club Build project be? Something Arduino-ish, perhaps?
In addition to a short business meeting 7 PM Monday April 10 at KVH Manufacturing (75 Enterprise Drive Middletown RI), we will have our final Pixie build/test night. Four assembly stations will be available with mentors to help you complete your Pixie kit. Then we will have at least two test stations that can verify transmit and receive function or help debug your assembled kit.
We hope everyone has enjoyed this project and appreciate KVH for giving us so much support the past three months. Many folks have embarked on more ambitious QRP projects as well.
See you tomorrow!