Thursday Tech Talk Net

Thursday Tech Talk Net occurs Thursday nights at 7:00pm Local on the 145.45 NØBVE Repeater. It is linked to NØBVE's 6m and 440 Repeaters.

Organizer and Chief NCS is Lenny KØSHF. By utilizing a stable of volunteer NCS's, the topics stay diverse and no NCS gets burned out. Contact Lenny if you have good topics for the net at SixtCylHum (at) aol.com .
Hey! Lenny's serious! You NEED to send him net ideas and you NEED to volunteer to be net control and lead a discussion! You don't have to know alot--just lead a discussion.

Upcoming Nets:

May 13th NCS: K0SHF Topic:
May 20th NCS: ? Topic: ?
May 27th NCS: ? Topic: ?

May 6th What have you done lately? Basic Radar--reflection/scattering

Tonights topic is "what have you done lately"?. What have you worked on lately? What have you fixed in your shack? What have you installed? Also, we'll cover basic radar--both weather and aircraft (threat).

Basic Radar Theory   as put out by the National Weather Service.

Rain Scatter   how and why as explained by Tom Williams WA1MBA.

AM Loop   antenna site. Lots of links to other MF/LF loops.

Log:
May 6th NCS: W9FZ Topic: "What have you done lately?" Checkins: 16 Rechecks: 4   Netclosure at: 2150L

Checkins: K0SHF, KC0MSQ, KB0DCO, WA0ZDE, N0YNT, K0LEJ, KC0RKG, KC0LUY, KC0RQH, KC0NIC, AB0PI, KC0SCR, KB0ZKX, KC0IYT, KC0JFY, and KC0IVN.

Rechecks: KC0RKG, KC0MSQ, K0LEJ, KC0RQH.

April 15th Small Circuits You've Built Links

Tonights topic is any small circuits you've built. That includes antennas. Perhaps Code Practice Oscillators, Carrier Operated Relays, small power supplies. Whatever they were, tell us about them tonight. Also share resources that are helpful for you. Relatedly, discuss if you use Dead Bug style, if you've done homebrew Surface Mount, and what PCB techniques you like.

Bill Bowden's   site of small circuits. Looks interesting.

Arron Cake's   site that he is no longer maintaining. Perhaps there is something of use.

FC's Electronic Circuits   Again, more resources.

Lighthouse Electric   small circuits.

Charles Reichert KD9JQ   I've been looking around his site for years.

Techniks Press n Peel Blue   Best stuff I've ever used for PCB fabrication.

Log:
April 15th NCS: W9FZ Topic: Small Circuits You've Built Checkins: 11 Rechecks: 5   Netclosure at: 2050L

Checkins: N0SBU, N0OE, KC0IYT, KC0RKG, N0NQX, KC0QOX, K0LEJ, N0UK, KB0ZKX, WA0ZDE, KA0OWY.

Rechecks: KC0RKG (3), K0LEJ, N0SBU.

April 1st Grounding! Links

Tonights topic is grounding. Lenny will lead our discussion stressing electrical circuit grounds and their impact on safety. Also, RF Grounds will be addressed and their impact on station performance. NEC (National Electrical Code) is changing in 2005. Len has reviewed the new documents and will brief us on what is required to comply with code. Measuring/quantifying the quality of your electrical ground will be discussed. Ground rods, impedance path, and soil conductivity all bear on that. For your contribution to the net bring your questions or bring your descriptions of electrical grounding situations you've grappled with in the past. I will add links that are discussed during the net.

Ron Block KB2UYT   runs a booth at Dayton every year. Makes excellent presentations about practical application of proper methods to ham applications. Also is a distributor of PolyPhaser products. Wrote a three part article for QST in the past year. PDF's of the articles available here: Part 1,   Part 2,   Part 3

Excellent Introduction   with good pictures and graphics.

PolyPhaser Corp   This company makes the stuff the big-boys use. Their single-point grounding entry boxes are the way to go. Also published great book "The Grounds for Lightning and EMP Protection (now out of print)". You can get PolyPhaser products through many ham dealers to include AES. Interesting article

WiFi Speed Spray great product that improves your throughput on your wireless LAN's.

FCC to Deregulate Ham Radio by 2008 news flash!

Eham reviews of Lightning Protection products.

Harger Lightning Protection this company caters to the big boys but directly competes with PolyPhaser with quality products. Has supported CSVHFS with an occasional donation. AES sells Harger products.

N8SA has this short summary.

An Elmer Teaches what you need to know about grounding.

Grounding--the key to good reception

Series of links all about grounding and soil tests.

K2BJ Grounding Concepts and Techniques

Great EHam Posting and Follow-up Electrical Code vs. Good RF Grounding

Log:
April 1st NCS: K0SHF Topic: Grounding Checkins: 17 Rechecks: 17   Netclosure at: 2200L

Checkins: W0EAS, W0NKA, N0SBU, KC0RQH, KC0QCO, KC0GNF, W9FZ, W0GXO, KC0LMS, KB0ZKX, KB0UUN, KB0LYL , N0PC, KC0IYT, K0LEJ, N0WEP, KC0AVS.

Rechecks: W0EAS, KC0GNF (6), KC0RQH (2), KC0QCO(2), W9FZ (2), KB0ZKX (2), N0WEP (2).

March 25th Ham Organizations Links

Tonights topic is Organizations or groups that you are in or have enjoyed during your time in Ham radio. Talk about what the groups specialty is and what types and levels of enjoyment did you get out of your time with the organization. For some examples, this could vary from a group that you multi-op with for contests, or a regular group you do drive-time with on a 2m machine, to local repeater clubs, to ARES/Skywarn groups with which you participate. If the group you are talking about has a web-presence, send along their link and I'll include it here.

N0BVE Homepage   this is the owner of the repeaters that host our TTT net. Includes instructions on how to bring up the IRLP node.

ARRL --American Radio Relay League   this is the main page that will take you to all of their areas.

Northern Lights Radio Society   This regional group focusses on VHF/UHF/SHF weak-signal operations. They offer good conversation and generous technical help (elmering).

Twin Cities Repeater Club interesting group that hosts the 147.21 repeater. Also puts on a fine Field Day.

Magic Repeater 145.17 St Paul and 146.745 Forreston. A friendly bunch that welcomes you.

Forx Amateur Radio Club is an example of a club that is the only club covering a large area (Grand Forks). As a result, the club operates two or three repeaters, has monthly meetings that offer social contact and interesting programs, fosters ARES/Skywarn activities in the area, fosters license classes and testing, puts on a Field Day, hosts an annual hamfest, and an annual social banquet. Once upon a time I helped rewrite the club constitution and bylaws to comply with state law.

Central States VHF Society this friendly regional group really helps share the technical state of the art through conference programs and interesting published Proceedings.

AMSAT the satellite guys. This organization helps put the satellites in the sky and then foster their use.

Regular TTT Net check-in Tom, KB0DCO is in and likes the following organizations:
Anoka Radio Club
Crow River ARC
KB0DCO Homepage from KB0DCO. Tom has pictures of Tim WA0PEP--who will be missed.

Midwinter Madness Hamfest put on by the Robbinsdale group.

SMARTS Southwest Metro group.

3M Radio Club even companies can foster their own club.

REACT CB Public Service group. Some of our net check-ins have been long-time members.

Log:
March 25th NCS: W9FZ Topic: Ham Radio Organizations Checkins: 14 Rechecks: 2   Netclosure at: 2020L

Checkins: N0SBU, KB0DCO, KC0NIB, KC0PMO, K0SHF, KC0LMS, KC0RQH, KC8RBK, KC0QNA, KC0QCO, KC0ESE, KB0DGD, W0NKA, KB0ZKX.

Rechecks: KB0DCO, KC0ESE

March 4th Ham Publications Links

Tonights topic is Ham Radio Publications. Magazines--which are your favorites and why? Which ones do you not care for and why? QST, CQ, QEX, NCJ, CQ-VHF? Any comments on deceased magazines such as 73 or Ham Radio? Books? ARRL books? SAMS Books? Bill Orr Books? Handbook? How often do you get a handbook? Conference Proceedings? (CSVHFS, NEVHF-PackRats, AMSAT, Microwave Update) Favorite Authors like Doug DeMaw, Wes Hayward, Bill Orr, Al Ward, or Kent Britain? Which books are dog-eared with repeated use? Where do you buy your ham radio books new or used? Amazon? Ebay?

ARRL Catalog   where this is the main page that will take you to areas such as Conference Proceedings, RF Design, VHF, Operating, or even RSGB books.

Universal Radio   a dealer's catalog page with the books they sell.

Quality Technical Books interesting online dealer of books. Run by a ham for hams.

CQ Magazine classic magazine that some love.

EHam Reviews of ham radio books.

Army Radio dot Com Amazing British based website about military radio's.

QEX Magazine - Experimenter's Exchange. This ARRL magazine has 6 issues per year and is my personal favorite. It covers the more technical side of ham radio and covers leading edge things like DSP and digital voice.

National Contest Journal - This ARRL magazine has 6 issues per year and is all about contesting and building the ultimate station.

Page of ham radio links that has a whole section of ham radio book links.

CQ-VHF Magazine: This fine quarterly edited by Joe Lynch N6CL has something for everyone.

Sulpher Springs Steam Models which has no-kidding original english hardware sizes.

Pavek Museum of Broadcasting: This fine museum is in St Louis Park and would be interesting to all hams.

George N0SBU's Boatanchor page. George is a frequent check-in on the net and has this interesting site about boatanchors.

Log:
March 4th NCS: W9FZ Topic: Ham Radio Publications Checkins: 20 Rechecks: 8   Netclosure at: 2220L

Checkins: KC0IYT, N0GDY, KB0DCO, KC0ROF, W0KF, N0UK, KB0JOY, KC0RKG, N0RO, N0MGY,N0SUO,KC0JFY,N0ZF, N0KP, KH2TG, KA0NAN, KC0KZV, N0YR, KC0PNF, N0SBU

Rechecks: N0UK (2), W0KF(3), KC0ROF(3),

February 19th Antennas Topic Links

Tonights topic is Antennas. What do you use? How well does it work? What are you interested in putting up eventually? What intrigues you about antennas? VHF? HF?

WA5VJB Cheap and Easy YAGI   classic and easy antenna to put together. Uses a J feed for driven element and the matching depends on the two elements that load it on either side of it.Alternate WA5VJB Cheap and Easy YAGI

Interesting Antenna Links   various topics.

Interesting commercial grade antenna if you are rich :-).

Interesting Homebrew Omni uses PVC and looks easy to assemble.

Antenna Modeling by Cebik this means L.B. Cebik W4RNL who writes articles for QST, QEX, and AntennaX.
PVC in Antennas by Cebik
Cebik's home site with interesting stuff

The Truth about horizontally polarized antennas interesting introduction and compare and contrast.

Antennas 101: This is from the 2.4 wireless world but looks interesting.

Log:
February 19th NCS: W0KF Topic: Antennas Checkins: 15 Rechecks: 4   Netclosure at: 2050L

Checkins: W0EAS, KC0LMS, K0SHF, N0RO, KC0RQH, KC0RET, KC0KZV, KC0MSQ, KC0JFY, W9FZ, KC0IYT, KB0LYL, K0LEJ, N0KP,K0SDU(Your call here.)

Rechecks: W0EAS (2), KC0MSQ, K0SHF(Your call here.)

 

February 5th ARRL Proposal Topic Links

Tonights topic is the recent proposal by the ARRL that simplifies license classes while at the same time deleting Morse Code testing requirement for two of the classes.

ARRL Website Announcement   that is the basic announcement.

ARRL Alternate Announcement   that tells basically the same story in a different way.

ARRL FAQ that helps explain the scope of what they meant.

Interesting Message Thread on QRZ.Com about one hams proposal for bandplan restructuring with the three new classes.

EHam Announcement that starts with the same announcement but then has lots of commentary following.

Minnesota QSO Party: a fun activity for this Saturday 8am to 6pm. Get on 146.52, .55, .58 and give out your county.

Log:
February 5th NCS: KC0LMS Topic: ARRL Major Restructuring Proposal Checkins: xx Rechecks: xx   Netclosure at: 2120L

Checkins: (Your call here.)

Rechecks: (Your call here.)

January 15th Station Layout/Organization Topic Links

Tonights topic is tips, techniques, and ideas for station layout and organization. If you have some ideas of which you are particularly proud, share them with the net. For instance, shelving, key storage, routing of cables, grounding bus bars, or whatever.

National Contest Journal Each issue has a Tips and Techniques column that sometimes has germane ideas about station layout and organization.

KM0T's Homepage Mike is a fine operator who, as an engineer, sure is organized!

OZ2M's Homepage This site has some ideas about computer integration and networking. This is good for DX'ers and contesters.

ARRL article about Anderson Power Pole Connectors for ham radio.

W7ECA's article about Anderson Power Pole Connectors for ham radio.

Powerwerx --My favorite dealer of Anderson Powerpole connectors for ham radio.

Log:
January 15th NCS: W9FZ Topic: Station Layout/Organization Checkins: 31 Rechecks: 11   Netclosure at: 2140L

Checkins: K0SHF, W0EAS, KB0DCO, KC0IYT, KC0RKG, KC0QCO, WZ0R, KC0PVC, KB0LYL, N0SGA, KC0OKF, KA0GX, W0WAK, N0UMD, KA0OWY, KC0JFY, N0DSH, N0KP, W0KF, KB7QJS, N0TYE, KC0RJR, K0UWC, N0NCW, K0JJO, WB0VHF, N0AOD, N0BVE, KB0WOY, KE0ES, N0SNE.

Rechecks: W0EAS(2), KC0IYT, KB0DCO, KA0GX, KA0OWY, W0KF(2), WB0VHF(2), KB0WOY.

January 8th Coax Cable Topic Links