September 2021 Erin Net SOI

[JohnyMac]

I have received several requests to return back to 75/80-meters from 40-meters. I have looked at propagation predictors and while 40-meters is still optimal from mid-Florida to Toronto, Canada (95%) 75/80-meters is moving to 88/90%. I have written the SOI to reflect that information in both digital and phone below.

If 75/80-meters doesn't workout at this time, we will switch back to 40-meters for the remainder of September.

Here is the SOI for this coming Tuesday's net.

The next ERIN net will be Tuesday September 28, 2021, starting at 1900 hrs. eastern with the digital ERIN net. The PACE for that net is as follows,

1) At 1900 hrs. eastern the digital net will commence.

Primary         3.588 Mhz USB Contestia 4/250 1000 on the Waterfall
Alternate       7.110 Mhz USB Contestia 4/250 1000 on the Waterfall
Contingency  This email thread
Emergency    Text. Do I have your cell phone number?

When the Net Control Station (NCS) calls for check-in's this is the reporting format,

de your call/name/location/emergency traffic/ de your call

Once the NCS has gathered check-in's he/she will post the check-in's for corrections or additional check-in's.

The NCS will then start the reports portion of the digital net. Report format will be,

de your call/name/location/traffic if any/your report for around your AO, Covid, unrest, military movement, etc/weather/de your call

2) At 2000 hrs the voice net will commence.

Primary         3.968 LSB or higher till clear air
Alternate       7.238 Mhz LSB or higher till clean air
Contingency  This email thread
Emergency    Text. Do I have your cell phone number?

The above SOI will be used at first, if the interwize is taken down through Executive Order -- Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions. Then we will develop and share a revised SOI.

73 & God Bless,
Johnymac

[pkveazey]

I cut grass until 7PM and ran into the house and fired up the radio and computer. I caught most all of the digital net. Now I'm all tuned up at 3.968 for the voice net.

[JohnyMac]

You rock! I don't care what Mrs. PKv tells me. 

I am on frequency. I will start early check-in's at 1950 ish eastern.

[FeedingFreedom]

I tuned in for the digital net, I could hear signals but I need to go through my software settings and make sure I have it all right, was not copying any text.

Heard everyone fairly well on the voice net, everything was readable. JohnyMac, shoot me an e-mail, I have a great source for whatever kind of rice you want.

[pkveazey]

Johnny, I missed the boat. As soon as the 80 meter phone net was over, I tuned up the 160 meter antenna and scanned through and there were some seriously strong signals on 160. I should have gotten you to fire up on 160 to see how we could connect. I believe that when the SHTF the 160 band will become very useful because the other higher bands might just get too crowded.

[pkveazey]

I tuned in for the digital net, I could hear signals but I need to go through my software settings and make sure I have it all right, was not copying any text.

Heard everyone fairly well on the voice net, everything was readable. JohnyMac, shoot me an e-mail, I have a great source for whatever kind of rice you want.

I hope you didn't make the mistake I often make. I sometimes forget to set SSB to USB because my radio defaults to LSB on the lower bands.

[FeedingFreedom]

pk, I got that part right at least. Pretty sure I don't have the software set up correctly, been a while since I've done any digital. I've found some good info to go through step-by-step, should have it by next week. I'm sure I'll need more tips though!

Edit: I found an xml file for my radio, and went through the recommended settings in the menus. Seems to be receiving fine, hopefully I can work the bugs out.

[cooter]

I was on 3.968 at 2000.  I heard Net Control at about S 3 and responded, but no luck. C'est le vie (with Gallic shrug).
Mike

[JohnyMac]

First, it was a good net with four folks (OH. NC. MA. PA.) checking in on digital and five folks (VA. 2-PA. NC. MA.) for phone. Using 75/80-meters, I was able to RX/TX on both modes folks I have not heard before. By the way FF, you sounded like you were sitting next to me. Great job!

@cooter, I heard someone trying to check in at the beginning of the phone net. They were just below the weeds. We had folks from NC. I am surprised that they did not hear ya' and then do a relay. When on this band, you usually come in strong. Again, propagation charts shows 75/80-meters only at 90% however, it will improve.
@PKv, we learn something new about our system every week. 160-meters is such a nice band. It is a bummer that folks do not have the space to get a wire up. This fall, once the leaves leave the trees, I am going to put up 530-feet of insulated wire with ladder line to my shack. The projects never end. 
@FF, Digital is so tricky and at times frustration. My issue was simple - Lower mic and speaker levels. I keep my mic at around 25% while my speakers are set at 14%. It took me awhile to get it right. 

We did miss several folks from FL., MS., and TN. though. The question is, do we stay with 75/80-meters for next week? Thoughts?

[pkveazey]

I'm an 80 meter freak, so I'm good with doing 80 meters next week.

[cooter]

I will see if I can get my antenna a little higher.

[JohnyMac]

cooter,
The perfect height would be 1/4 wave of 80-meters or ~65-feet. I know that is difficult especially if your running the antenna at a east/west bent (dipole type). A East/west run of the wire will focus RX and TX north and south.

May I suggest before you move your antenna, check all fitting's to make sure no moisture has gotten in. A good way to check your connections is just using a simple antenna analyzer first. If you can't get close to a swr of 1:1 around 3.968 than the antenna needs some attention.

I am sure you know all of this stuff. 

[JohnyMac]

Good nets tonight.

Digital
We had six checkins. Great job FeedingFreedom!

Phone
We had six checkins. Jackalope, I heard ya' in the beginning but then you crashed. All of the checkins where north of the MD line and PKv who usually checkins from VA. was on a date night  this evening so missed both nets.

I am worried that we are missing the south of the MD line folks being on 75/80-meters. Should we go back to 40-meters? If not, who would be willing south of the MD-line to be a NCS at 2000 hrs eastern net on 40-meters till propagation improves?

Thank you all that participated this evening.

73 & God Bless
JMc   

[FeedingFreedom]

Thanks, JM, I found a site that gave a good tune-up procedure, was still worried that my levels would be off. Contestia is a neat mode that I've not done before. I was hearing our QRP station at about 57 most of the time, only dropped out for a couple words.

Funny that you mentioned bass in my signal. I'm using my Heil headset, with Bob's recommended settings on the FT-991's equalizer, which Bob had a big hand in designing, which according to him should be very crisp audio with very little bass. I do like the microphone in this headset, the previous one was a little hot and sharp for my taste. I do have a Rode mic to use with the radio, but to switch back and forth I'd have to either find settings that work for both mics, or go in and change all the mic eq settings in the radio every time. First World problems I guess.

Anyway, it was a good net, followed by a smoked pork tenderloin sandwich with a cold Marzen, and then running outside with my space-nerd wife to watch an ISS pass for our anniversary.

//Pete

[Maypop52]

Johnny is the ERIN phone net on 80 meters tonite.  I don't have the 80 meter antenna up yet so if it is I will be listening.  I tried to tune up on 80 on the 40 meter antenna last week, but nobody heard me so I assume it was not too effective.
 Maypop52

[FeedingFreedom]

My digital signal must have been shooting right over JohnyMac. I tried checking in 3 times when you called, hope the phone net goes better for me. 

[JohnyMac]

Yes Maypop, it was on 75/80-meters.

I am thinking on doing a 2030 hrs 40-meters net as we are missing some usual folks. Anybody interested?

[Maypop52]

It would be easier for me to get in for now, however I have the parts to get the 75 meter dipole up and plan to get that going.  Hopefully reception will be better with an antenna cut for the right frequency.  By the way I tried to check into the net by tuning the 40 meter but was too much in the weeds.  Maybe I can get in next week.  If you decide to do the 2030 net I am game for that.

[FeedingFreedom]

Yes Maypop, it was on 75/80-meters.

I am thinking on doing a 2030 hrs 40-meters net as we are missing some usual folks. Anybody interested?

I'm game if anyone else wants to, usually just sitting here at the radio in between nets anyway. 

[JohnyMac]

Okay,

1900 hrs digital on 80-metrs
2000 hrs 75/80-meters (see PACE above)
2030 hrs 40-meters (7.238 Mhz LSB)

See ya' tonight.

[JohnyMac]

Do to a station above us we are moving to 3.965 Mhz

[pkveazey]

80 meter reception sucked tonight. I'll be tuning in for the 40 meter net. I hear some activity at 7.238 at the moment and its pretty clean reception wise. We might have to move up a bit.

[FeedingFreedom]

Been listening around, 7.252 seems clear of traffic at this point.

[JohnyMac]

great 7.252 it is. see ya' there

[Maypop52]

JohnnyMac, it sounds like there is a net active on 7238 at the moment.