Unchained Preppers
Communications => Radio => Topic started by: JohnyMac on October 05, 2020, 02:46:41 PM
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I am canceling the net December 22, 2020. With Christmas this week and folks traveling, I figured there would be poor attendance.
I will be holding the ERIN net on Tuesday December, 29, 2020 due to propagation issues 75-meters looks like it will be perfect tonight for all stations from Toronto, CN. to Jax FL.
After the 75-meter net there will be a Fldigi net on 3580 USB Cont 4/250 1000 on the Waterfall if you would like to give it a try. Depending on the phone net at 1900 hrs ET, the FLDIGI net will start at about 1930 hrs ET or a tad bit later.
This net is being put together for you folks to check out your HF communication, communicate with like minded folks, and adjust comms where needed in preparation on what is coming country wide in December 2020. This net will be weekly on Tuesday evenings and depending on need may be expanded to additional days/nights.
The agenda for this net is to check in, get signal reports, get a general idea of the AO of each check-in, report any information if you have any concerning AntiFa or BLM, etc. more like a QSO.
The PACE
1900 Hrs ET Phone
Primary 3.964 Mhz LSB or up if busy. (NEW FREQ)
Alternate 7.238 Mhz LSB
Contingency This email thread
Emergency Text. Do I have your cell number? PM me if you want my cell number.
I am not aware of how busy this frequency or near-by frequencies will be so, I suspect we will be moving up the band to find clean air. Be prepared. Hopefully if we move, I will post the new frequency in real time here.
If you are new to the net please read the rules of engagement below and be prepared to make your report as outlined below too.
1) I will be on frequency 15-minutes before the net starts for pre-check-ins. If there is a lot of splatter or someone is using this frequency, move on up the band till you hear the group. I will try to post the new frequency on this thread.
2) I will call CQ followed by my call and "this is net control for the ERIN Daily Net". It would be great if folks could check in early so not to have a mad rush at the start of the net. If you are late to the net, no worries. I will ask for additional check-ins several times during the net. PLEASE wait till I do this.
3) The net is a "directed net" which means; check-in and do not talk till net control calls your call.
4) Once a station makes their report and you have a question or want to make a comment say "CONTACT". Net control will recognize you and either let you ask your question or make your comment IF there is no other priority traffic waiting. Be patient.
5) After the net is closed people may want to stay on air and use the frequency to ragchew which is great and I will probably join in. With that written, the reason for this net is to share information not ragchew. Save that for after the net.
If you have any questions or wish to make a comment, use this thread.
* It is encouraged that if you hear someone and net control obviously can not, say CONTACT. Once recognized say "I have traffic for insert call sign here this is insert your call sign here". As an example: "I HAVE TRAFFIC FROM KA7FOX THIS IS KC3LRS".
73 & God Bless,
JohnyMac
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I'm going to try my best to participate in the net on Tuesday.
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Cool beans PK. See ya' on the air!
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Two on the 2000 hrs net. 7.238. Lets see who shows up on the 1830 hrs net 3.975. :)
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Didn't hear anything on the 3.975 net
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I didn't hear ERIN of 40 meters but I did hear a bunch of Conversations. Then when I tuned to 80 meters at 8:30, it was a whole different ball game. I had no problem hearing and being heard. Glad I checked in because I picked up on the American Partisan comment and then checked out their Webpage. I'm not sure what I think of it so far but I did save it to my Favorites for future viewing.
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I was in central VA and heard North AL and FL (59), but couldn't hear anything else and no luck getting my signal out I guess. I even climbed up a rusty old silo ladder to try to get the signal out there, maybe an article on how to set up an antenna?
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I was in central VA and heard North AL and FL (59), but couldn't hear anything else and no luck getting my signal out I guess. I even climbed up a rusty old silo ladder to try to get the signal out there, maybe an article on how to set up an antenna?
Johny has written a couple of articles regarding antennas, and I'm sure there are others in the radio subforum.
Here's two:
http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/radio/building-a-simple-affordable-high-quality-multi-band-antenna/ (http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/radio/building-a-simple-affordable-high-quality-multi-band-antenna/)
http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/radio/home-brew-nvis-antenna/ (http://unchainedpreppers.com/forum/radio/home-brew-nvis-antenna/)
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I was in central VA and heard North AL and FL (59), but couldn't hear anything else and no luck getting my signal out I guess. I even climbed up a rusty old silo ladder to try to get the signal out there, maybe an article on how to set up an antenna?
I'm located in South Central Virginia at 100 foot average terrain. I'm going to suggest something and you are going to think I'm nuts, but here goes. A lot of Hams think that HAMSTICKS are only good for Mobile mounting. It ain't so. I used $20 HAMSTICKS on an SUV and they worked great but then when I took the Radio out of the Vehicle, I put the 80 meter and 10 meter HAMSTICKS on Sidearm mounts about 40 feet up the tower. They work great. Hey, wait a minute, what about polarity? Well, here's the deal with Horizontal and Vertical polarity. For Local Ground wave, antenna polarity is pretty important but for long distance Sky wave it becomes moot because when the signal bounces off the ionosphere it can come back down as Vertical, Horizontal, or something in between. My 80 meter Hamstick kicks butt all the way to England at night. I talk to Johnnymac all the time on it. Get that sucker up as high as possible.
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svsniper;
Another option is the good old dipole. You can rig it with the ends at the same height as the center, or as an inverted 'V'. There are directions for them all over the internet. Besides Johny Mac's article on this forum, I recommend Brushbeater blog.
For what it's worth, I use an inverted V with the center at about 30 feet and usually don't have much trouble reaching Johny Mac in NE PA from the northern part of FL. Last weekend the propagation was not that great, but we made contact.
Mike
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It was a good first night.
Had three on the 2000 hrs net (40-meters) had eight on the 2030 hrs net (80-meters) including NC Scout. As the band changed folks started dropping out.
Good start to the net though.
I will put up a revised PACE later this week for Tuesday 13th.
73 & God Bless
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Thank you for re-starting the ERIN net! I am a new operator and largely got my license in order to have an alternate information source than government or corporate controlled media. I will be tuned in based on this site.
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Awesome gestech! Well the second ERIN net is set for this evening.
If you are south of the Mason Dixon line try 40-meters first. The second one, 80-meters is for folks north of the MD line. Ot better yet, try both to see which band is best for you.
73 Brother
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JohnyMac, thanks for info, I will be monitoring both time slots this evening. I have only a random wire now on my Yesue FT-DX3000, with an external tuner ordered, so will not be able to check in but will be on the net in the back ground. I am south of the line, in the FL panhandle.
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Alrighty...... Its 7:22 PM EDT and I'm going to start listening around 7:45 PM. :popcorn:
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I am monitoring 7.238, hoping for good conditions.
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So far, all I've heard is one person talking to Johnny Mac but I couldn't hear Johnny Mac. I'll try again on 80 meters at 8:30. :popcorn:
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There is a net working 7.240 but it does not sound like ERIN...also checked 3.9760 and found another net that is not ERIN
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Nothing but static here with the occasional voice way in the background, I will try 80 M also at 8:30.
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Another station and I talked to Johny prior to the net. By the time net time rolled around Johny had faded out. I just tried giving him a call with the amp on, and it didn't seem to make a difference.
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Well, 80 meters is positively alive tonight, propagation amazing, but no ERIN.
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Tough copy on 75 meters due to local QRM, and poor propagation. Talked briefly with Johny. How about PSK-31 as a backup?
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Nothing heard on 80M, I'll try again next week.
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I didn't hear squat on 40 or 80 meters. Lots of conversations on both bands but no ERIN. Maybe next time.
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Jackalope, and all interested... How about 3.580 Mhz Fldigi PSK-31 USB at 1,000 on the water fall after the 2030 hrs ET net?
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Dammit..... I've been waiting all week for the net :popcorn: and I forgot all about it until right now. :suicide: I'm only 1 hour and 40 minutes late. :troutSlap:
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Works for me! This will be interesting.
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Dammit..... I've been waiting all week for the net :popcorn: and I forgot all about it until right now. :suicide: I'm only 1 hour and 40 minutes late. :troutSlap:
Ummmmm.... PK today is the 19th, you're a bit early for the net on the 20th.
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Dammit..... I've been waiting all week for the net :popcorn: and I forgot all about it until right now. :suicide: I'm only 1 hour and 40 minutes late. :troutSlap:
Ummmmm.... PK today is the 19th, you're a bit early for the net on the 20th.
Oh. As Rosanna Rosanna Danna used to say. Never mind. :lmfao:
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OK, its 6:33PM and I plan to be tuning in to the net at 8:00PM unless I get stupid again.
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I'm not hearing anyone at 7.238. Earlier, I heard some 0 and 9 stations, but right now it's very quiet.
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I ain't hearing nada. Sorry guys and gals. At 2035, I am going to try FLdigi on 3.580 PK 31 1000 on the waterfall. Any body game?
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I'm on 3.5800
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The best laid plans of mice and men. I just fired up my lap top. And it crashed. I will be 100% 2045 hrs et. :D
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I'm on 3.580. I did hear a little bit on 3.975, but it was marginal.
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I will hang out till then.
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Ok, why does everything happen in the midst of things. LOL. My laptop is comimg up and going through its girations. Give me a few. ;)
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Okay, almost there. 3.580 USB, PSK 31, 1000 on the waterfall. Its working I will send out a CQ and then sent a email. Man O'man stand by
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I've been calling on the frequency.
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Nothing received on my end, I will send a CQ
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on frequency 3.580 USB Psk 31 100 on the waterfall
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Looks like a no go for me anyway tonight, you gents have a good evening.
Yepper, PSK31, 1000 WF, 3.580 LSB
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Getting you on USB!
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Yeah! by the way 1000 on waterfall.
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I saw Johny working the KD2 station, but I guess I wasn't getting out.
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OK, got a bunch of folks on 3.580 Mhz, Oliva 8/250 1000 waterfall
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??????? I got nothing, nowhere. I started at 7.238 and then at 8:30 I went to 3.970+- and heard stuff but never heard anyone mention ERIN. Oh, well, I tried.
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I was able to check in early, and Johny and I spoke a couple of times. Then the noise level went way up and I lost him. The same thing happened last week. Maybe when we turn the clocks back it will get better.
I haven't tried the 80M net (2030 is close to my bedtime).
Mike
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It'll be interesting to see if the time difference effects propagation. Time change this weekend, I believe.
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OK, its 6:37 PM and I'm getting ready to see If I can find the ERIN net. I'm going to guess that the frequencies will be 4.238 and 3.870 or thereabouts.
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You mean 7.238 right? Not 4.238.
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Remember 75 meter is at 1930 LSB 3.975 mhz. There is a net close to there so we may have to move up to 3.977 Mhz LSB. Noise level at my AO is S7
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Yeah lets move to 3.975 Mhz LSB. I will start calling.
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whoops, I mean 3.977 Mhz. Old timers moment.
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Nothing on audio here :(
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nothing here, standing by on 3580 for digital
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Also standing by for digital.
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there are about 4 stations standing by for digital
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OK, I made it into the Voice net this time. I also went to the digital version and copied everything just fine. I tried to transmit and that went to crap real quick. Anyway, it was fun.
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You mean 7.238 right? Not 4.238.
Ooops, yep. I meant 7 not 4.
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So will there be a net on election evening?
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There was some mention of Wednesday night but I didn't hear it all. JohnnyMac can better answer that.
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I'd be ready to participate in the digital portion of the net. Haven't had any luck with hearing the voice nets.
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If digital is going to be weekly a specified time would be nice, just a thought.
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Digital follows phone net at about 1940-1945 on 75/80-meters. 3580 usb to be specific. Mode Cont 4/250 1000 on the waterfall.
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We had zero checkins for 40-meters and one for 75-meters phone. We had no checkins for digital.
What I am about to write is not whining. If people are not going to play no worries I will stop putting these together. I plan my life around these nets. No interest = Cool beans. ;) Just let me know.
NC Scout thanks for checking in on 75/80-meters. You were coming in ~ 5/6, 5/7 then you fell into the weeds.
73 Gents.
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Sorry about last night. I was on at 1900, but couldn't hear anyone. Band conditions, Eta, who knows :what:.
I think I'll have to try the 80M net.
Mike
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I've been listening but haven't heard anything. I'm not giving up. I'll keep listening on Tuesdays.
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Cooter, NC Scout could not hear me on 40 but did on 75 so who knows. It's all voodoo. ;)
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I've always said that radio communications is an art and a science.
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It's all voodoo. ;)
Ain't that the truth.
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Looking forward to the net tonight at 19:00 ET.
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I'll do my best to be there on both 40 and 80 meters. :popcorn:
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I'm not hearing anyone on 7.238
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I can just hear you Johnymac, fades in and out
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I'm listening and can just barely hear voices. Hmmmmm.... Maybe I'll do better on 80 meters in a few minutes.
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I heard very weak voices at 7.236 Mhz. Ooops... I had to edit that post.
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OK, I'm listening at 3.970. Is that where the Net is supposed to be?
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I'm on 3.975 LSB right now, the Bravo net, it officially starts at 1930 (7:30pm), not hearing anything but static
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On digital, 3.580 USB, standing by
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OKie Dokie.... I copied the Contestia 4/250 stuff just fine. The CW guy up the band drove me nuts though. I turned my Auto Notch Filter on and turned the beeps into clicks.
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I was getting bits and pieces.
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I called out 3 times on the digital net in response to JM's CQ call. I think the first two times I wasn't heard. Also when I did get a response it was only a partial copy. There were 2 other stations that I heard, one being Way up North the other a station in NJ. I thought I would also point out that the 80 meter band has been going long around 6:30pm L. Before your net I was on Winlink P2P with another NY station on 80 meters at 6pm L. Very good copy until 6:30 then the bottom dropped out and we could not connect. Also have noticed on the Amrron NY net that around 7pm when we have the net, lately we have good copy on stations in the south and midwest but cannot pick up other NY, PA or NH stations. If this continues you might want to consider having the digital net earlier, say 6pm.
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I was monitoring the Digital Net and I heard FWU, IOZ, and IOU. All 3 came up clean on my display.
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With all the CONTESTERS screwing up Ham Radio with their $10,000 radios and "How many useless contacts can I make while ruining it for everyone else", I'm almost looking forward to the collapse so they will all go away and real communications can start to take place.
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Yeah PK, contesters do foul up large portions of the bands during many weekends. It does add an additional level of frustration when you can't find a clear spot to have a simple conversation. It would be nice if the contest organizers would limit operation to a tighter bandwidth, but I doubt that's going to happen. Still waiting for propagation to significantly improve...
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Contesters remind me of the wild Geese that walk single file all around Mall areas. Yep, they're allowed to block traffic and piss everybody off and the drivers are not allowed to run over them. Its just another one of life's painful moments that we all must endure.
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Listening on 7.238 MHz, not hearing much yet.
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Listening
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Well, I've been calling on 7.238, but no contacts. Hopefully, 75 meters will be more productive.
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Nothing on voice, standing by on digital 3.580 USB, Cont 4/250 1000 WF
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Dammit, dammit, dammit. I forgot all about the net tonight. :facepalm:
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OK PK, set your timer now so you do not miss this evenings net. LOL :lmfao:
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Hah! 5 minutes ago I was just telling the wife that I was going to try to catch the ERIN net tonight at 7. What frequency? +- 7.238 or +- 3.870.
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3.975 Mhz LSB Be there or be square.
There is a net on that Freq now but they are generally off by 1900 hrs. local
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on 3.976 Mhz
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My computer shut down and now I am restarting it. Patience grass hopper.
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Well, I was glad that I got through on the voice net. I fired up the Computer for Digital and saw FWU trying to contact IGF. Voice net was fading a lot and Digital just plain sucked.
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I was on, but couldn't hear anything clearly. I thought I might have heard JohnyMac calling CQ one time, but maybe it was my imagination.
Mike
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We had a total of three folks for voice and one for digital.
No worries, we will try again next Tuesday. Be there or be square.
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Okay folks. This coming Tuesday another try at connecting on the ERIN net. Please notice the freq change. There always seems to be a lot of splatter around the freq we use.
Cooter, 75/80-meters will probably not work for you however, if you are game I would be willing to try 40-meters at 1845 hrs ET if you would like to try. Just let me know.
Immediately following the 75-meter net we will try FLDIGI again. We had two folks on that net this past Tuesday.
Ciao
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Sure, I'll take a try on 40M at 1845hrs. I'll stick around for the 75M and try that too. Thanks.
Mike
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Don't forget, the 75 meter net starts in about an hour. 3.977MHz, digital afterwards, see Johny's post.
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Nothing but static on voice, standing by for digital.
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The band dropped on voice, after I worked the NCS, not seeing/hearing anyone on digital.
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Nothing here on digital either, last night I was on 3.588 with AMRRON and was getting guys from all over the east.
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way up north.
Name a time, freq and config for digital again. I just spent 20-minutes on digital 3580 cont 4/250 nada.
Closing down for now. Ciao.
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Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit... I was busy doing something and forgot it was Tuesday. Well, maybe next time.
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:lmfao: :cheers: No worries PK.
We had three folks plus myself on the phone portion of the net. Then about 1905 hrs ET the band collapsed and everyone disappeared. Oh well.
I also spoke with Cooter on 40-meters from Florida. He made it to 75-meters too. Faintly but he was fully readable.
At 1925 hrs ET, I called CQ on 3.580 Mhz, Cont 4/250, 1000 on the waterfall till 1955 hrs ET then threw in the towel shut things down and turned on Tucker.
Next Tuesday I will not be available for the 1900 hr ET net. I will be doing the Zoom amateur radio class to up grade to the EXTRA class that I reported on earlier in another post here. So, I need a net control volunteer. :DrillSgt:
Let the group know here is you volunteer.
Take care folks.
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Mrs. wayupnorth just pointed out to me that there was a geomagnetic storm (CME) on December 7th which was supposed to hit earth from December 9-11.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/update-downgrade-cme-peak-activity-forecast (https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/update-downgrade-cme-peak-activity-forecast)
I wonder if that had anything to do with the terrible conditions Tuesday night?
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Maybe wayupnorth. One second people were there and then boom there was nothing but static.
Any volunteers to be net control next Tuesday?
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Sure, I volunteer for Tuesday night, December 15th, at 19:00 Eastern. Frequency will be 3.977 MHz, same as last week. And I'll plan on starting the digital portion of the net at 19:30 Eastern, 3.580 MHz, Cont 4/250, 1000 on the waterfall. I didn't see/hear anyone on the digital portion of the net last week, but this is a new week with hopefully improved propagation.
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Thank you Jackalope for stepping up (I'm not there yet) and thanks JohnyMac for all you do.
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Don't forget the net this evening at 19:00 ET, 3.977 MHz. Digital net to follow.
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Thank you Jackalope for stepping up to be net control this evening while I take my class. :cheers:
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It's a pleasure, Johny. Good luck on getting the Extra upgrade!
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Calling now, looking for check-ins!
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I'm listening on 3.977 LSB
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Me too but I just got back with a Pizza and its 7:15
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Sorry guys but nothing heard on my end, standing by on 3.580 USB for digital.
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Phone didn't work too well. The band was wide open prior to the net, and then the band shut down, just like a switch. Going to try digital now.
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Jackalope, did you start calling voice net at 4:57pm? 1900 hrs is 7pm as I'm sure you know. I tuned in at 7pm and didn't hear anyone.
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Gorlo, it was 6:57, you may have to go into the forum settings and adjust your time zone, I had to.
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I started at about 18:55 ET, 17:55 CT. No joy on digital either. Sooner or later propagation will improve. Johny might have better luck, since I'm about 700 miles or so south of Johny in central TN. I definitely could hear more folks at my old QTH in the Adirondacks.
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I'm in the ADK's and have been getting lots of gobbly gook on digital and nothing coming thru voice, last spring I could hear Johnny and some of you, maybe its the time of year? Oddly on Mondays AMRRON net I'm picking folks up.
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Things are very confusing. Are we going to start at 7PM with 40 meters and follow up with 75 meters or are we going to only do 3.977 voice followed by 3.580 digital? At the moment, I'm tuned up and ready for voice at 3.877 and its almost 6:45 PM. I'll be listening for anything. :popcorn:
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At the moment, somebody is having a conversation on 3.975 so 3.978 looks like a better option unless you like bleedover.
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Crap.... Now there is a group checking in at 3.980. :suicide:
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Johny posted that there wouldn't be a net this evening. Try again next week!
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Johny posted that there wouldn't be a net this evening. Try again next week!
OK, thanks. I'm off to watch Oak Island.
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LOL PK. Sorry but as Jackalope reported, there was no net last night. I posted it Sunday I think. There will be one on Tuesday December 29th though.
Sorry for any confusion and Merry Christmas.
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NEW Frequency Tuesday night. Check out revised PACE at the beginning of this thread. :cheers:
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OK, the best I can figure out is 3.977 Mhz. LSB. That's where I'll starting to look up and down the band.
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PK, start out at 3.964Mhz.
Thx Brother
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OK, its 1840 and I'm listening for whatever happens. So far There are conversations just above and just below 3.964. I hope they clear out before 1900. :popcorn:
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I'm on
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There's a net at 3.963 and 3.965. The only clear space I see is around 3.968 and above.
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I am on 3.968. Mhz
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Johnny found a clear spot at 3.968. Come one, come all.
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I can hear the gentleman giving a weather report, thats all so far, if I heard the call sign correctly he is from tx
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I called out, sounds like someone was trying to relay me
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Thx for checking in Wayupnorth. Got you on relay.
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Awesome! standing by on digital.
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I tried three different antennas tonight. Did I hear correctly that there's no digital net tonight?
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CORRECT! No digital tonight. Sorry folks, my digital radio is in AL. being modified. Hopefully i will be back next week.
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Ok, thanks for the update JohnyMac, thanks Jackalope.
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Didn't want anyone hanging out on the frequency searching for the net. I could actually hear everyone tonight. The W5 station had a very nice signal. I think next week I'll fire up the amp, to see if that makes any difference.
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If anybody is interested there is an AMRRON digital net on 3.588 at 8PM, Cont 4/250
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Didn't want anyone hanging out on the frequency searching for the net. I could actually hear everyone tonight. The W5 station had a very nice signal. I think next week I'll fire up the amp, to see if that makes any difference.
I gotta know.... What are you using for an antenna?
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I was mostly using an 80 meter horse fence dipole. Also tried a multi-band trap dipole, and a vertical antenna too. The horse fence antenna receives very well, and it's very wide banded, so the SWR is flat across 75-80 meters, but it's only up about 30 feet. The vertical is an Eagle One 31' multi band antenna.
I could hear everyone well. The WA2 was weak, but copyable, as was the KN4 station. The 5 land station was the strongest, followed by you, and Johny was in the middle. The signal strength here proportionally corresponded with station distance, I think. I believe the 5 station is closest, followed by PK, though the KN4 station is probably closer to me than Johny.
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Jackalope,
I could make out part of your call but for the rest of the QSO I knew you were there but just a whisper. I might have been able to drag you in if I had my Kenwood 590S but not with the old Icom 735. Yeah, maybe uping the wattage if you have a linear amp.
As most of you know, my 590S is at GiGiParts have the MARS Modification done. I can not do FLDIGI until it is returned. Hopefully, I will get it back before next Tuesdays net.
The MS station was a 5/6-5/7 and Cooter was 4/9 with 90% reception.
PK was 5/8-5/9 in VA as usual.
Wayupnorth, nada! Can't understand why as I talk to folks in the Adirondacks region and Toronto all the time. Where you able to make me out WUN?
Thank you all for participating.
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The only person I could hear is whoever relaid me in and that was marginal, last spring I was hearing you good but not now.
Just thinking... back then I was using my 706 and now I'm running a 746, next week I will use the 706 and see if it makes a difference.