RoIP and Digital Modes

I recently helped a couple of the local repeater elders set up a DMR repeater.  DMR, Digital Mobile Radio, is Yet Another Digital Mode That Has A Network Component.  Yes, just like D-STAR.  And System Fusion (YSF).  In fact, the one thing that I missed early on is that the network parts of D-STAR, DMR, and YSF are no different than IRLP, EchoLink or Allstar Link.  Once I realized that, it became obvious that they were all basically the same, with the only real differentiation being that D-STAR, DMR, and YSF are all digital modes over the air, while the others connect analog radios.  Other than that, the two groups are very similar.  You an connect to another station, another repeater station, or another virtual repeater ("reflector").

Anyway, I've been doing a lot of research on this primarily because the fact that, as the man says, "these systems are 95% the same and 100% incompatible."  I think that's silly in amateur radio, so I need to educate myself on each of these.

I need to keep up - Dipole back in air

Seriously ... over 2 years?  I do need to move this over to WordPress but even so .. two?  Maybe it will be better after graduation. 

Anyway, a year ago, the local utility was replacing poles on the property and inadvertently snagged the Spi-Ro D-52 40-80 trap dipole. So for the last year, I've been relegated to 10/12/17/30 m.  With the help of spouse, I've fixed the two breaks and hauled it back into the air.  Just in time for the ARRL November Sweepstakes.  And, I've even made a few QSOs.  Dips in the SWR are not as they were before (I need to find the old ones), but looks to be usable at the low end on 40 and 20 at least.

I see that my country totals are way off, too.  191/177?  More like 201/187.  Guess I should be sending out some cards, too, to get that 200 sticker.

Where was I?

Boy, I've sure let this go!  Let's see, since my last update I did complete 50-MHz VUCC with all credits via Logbook of the World.  And I did receive my 150 sticker for Mixed and my RTTY (not Data!) and 20-m DXCC certificates.  Been in something of a lull since then, though.  I'm qualified for 40-m WAS, but I'm going to wait until I have all I need for 5BWAS.  I'm only 15 states short of Triple Play, too, all on CW of course. 

How long before the next update? 

More on the paper chase

Here it is, six months later.  I've decided that my DXCC cycle will be to submit "sometime after Field Day" each year, meaning July.  That avoids the rush at HQ that happens at the end of the calendar year when everyone is trying to get the highest number possible for their listing in the DXCC Yearbook.

So, for me, none of that this year.  I'm up to 164 Mixed (so I'll get the 150 sticker) and I've also got more than enough for the 20-m DXCC and the RTTY DXCC.  Looks like I'll need to come up with two more frames that will fit 11.5 x 14 certificates. 

I've also got enough grids confirmed on 6m for VUCC, though only 96 of them are via LOTW.  I may do the separate applications thing (no hybrids for VUCC) since I do have the cards and need to visit the card checker for my DXCC application anyway (he's also a VHF Awards Manager).  Or I may wait to see if 4 more come in via LOTW.

Decision made

Didn't submit. I was waiting to see if I would get a few more confirmations before the year-end so I'd have some real reason to submit a DXCC application and get into the Yearbook.

Well, come New Year's Eve, I was only at 148 so I elected to put off the application. Soon enough, I'll have 150 (or more) confirmations and I'll also have qualified for 20-m and RTTY DXCC (I've got over 90 confirmed for both) so I'll save my money and submit later.

At least I managed to work a few New Ones, H40 and V5, the latter one already confirmed (giving me 149).

Pins, Needles

Well, maybe not that bad. I am sitting at 146 countries confirmed. At 150 confirmed, I can get an endorsement sticker for my Mixed DXCC award. Whee! :-)

So why pins and needles? Well, to be listed in next year's DXCC Yearbook, you have to make your DXCC application before the end of the current year. If you look at the calendar, you can see that I have about 15 days to do that.

Last year, I waited until the last minute and did a "hybrid" application. That's where you do the application online, submit Logbook of the World credits, then print some stuff and take it, with the cards you have, to your local DXCC Card Checker (dorky name - used to be "DXCC Field Representative"). It's actually easier than the paper application and lets you wait all the way to the last minute (paper-only applications have to be in Newington by 12/31, AFAIK).

Anyway, this year, I'm four cards short. The question is, do I wait until after the new year so I can get to 150 or do I wait to see if I get the 150 before the 31st (practically speaking, the 29th or 30th) so that I can get into the Yearbook?

You might say, "well, do one now, then do another later!" Here's the thing. Your first DXCC application in a calendar year is $12 but the second one is $22. So it would be an extra $10 to get in the Yearbook and not have to wait until next year for my sticker.

Decisions, decisions.

Right now, I'm just waiting. I sent a donation to the ZL8X folks by PayPal, so I expect that credit to show up any day, and I expect a bunch more via the BURO, which a little birdy told me will do another mailing to my sorter this week.

One thing is certain - I won't get to 100 on either RTTY or 20m. I'm in the 90s on both but won't make it to 100 by the end of the year.

Sigh.

Staycation, Part II

Back to the 9913. Once it was down, I put the multimeter to it and found that it was shorted. That's a problem obviously. I put I cut off the connector in preparation for putting on a new one, thinking that was the issue. I used my DXEngineering prep tool and discovered that the center conductor was an odd shade of black. OK, so this *is* a water incursion problem. I wonder? I cut off 6" and blew into the end. Lo and behold, a drop of water.

That makes this section of feedline toast, but what about the section connected to the D-56?

I put the multimeter and analyzer on that section - no short, but some resistance and SWR to dummy load was 3:1 instead of 1:1. Looks like I need *two* new sections of coax.

Fortunately for me, I had acquired a spool of LMR400 from a previous employer (yes, I did get permission!) so I cut new lengths for both antennas. While I was at it, I cut a slightly longer piece for the 10-m dipole.

Once up on the roof, I found out that the piece attached to the D-56 had good reason to have high SWR - in several places, the cable was chafed down into the dielectric! The way the cable runs, it comes down straight to the roof ... where the asphalt shingles abrade it as it moves with the wind. I have yet to solve this issue. The 40/80 could also potentially suffer from the same issue, but we solved it by moving the antenna closer to the NE end which allowed the cable to hang away from the roof.

With new cable in place on both antennas, SWR was now where it was supposed to be!

Wires were now down so it was on to the mast. The new anchors had set so it was time to prep the antennas. Got the cables secured and made sure that the wouldn't bind when rotated 360 degrees. Pushed the first section up and attached the 6-m loop. Got the whole thing up in the
air and attached the new guys.

Sounds simple, but took place over a couple of days. Temps were in the 90s and being on the asphalt roof did not help!

Even got the 6-m loop connected to the switch so that all four ports are now in use. This came in handy the following week during a 6 meter opening where I was able to switch between the loop and the 40-80 dipole, which is, oddly, resonant on 6 as well.