January
2003 Newsletter
Many
thanks to Dempsey, KB4MCP, who often monitors the repeater, and was able
to assist me in contacting 911 to report a traffic accident recently.I
was returning from Christmas shopping on a Saturday evening and I passed
by the scene of a traffic accident that had just occurred near Arcadia
High School.I gave a call on the
repeater for a station who could call 911 on the landline and Dempsey answered
and was able to assist.It turned
out that someone had already called, but it could have turned out differently.
I
encourage everyone to install and use mobile rigs and monitor the repeater,
both in your vehicle and at home, as much as possible.That
continuous effort on your part will ensure that you’ll have the operable
equipment, communication skills, andmentality
to be of real use during a disaster.Besides,
you’ll have fun talking with the other hams on the repeater.
I
really enjoy talking on repeaters as I travel.I’ve
got a copy of the ARRL Repeater Directory and I try to hit repeaters everywhere
I go.
Don’t
forget the ESHARC Club Meeting this month on January 12 at 1400 at the
Nelsonia Moose Lodge.
Hope
to hear you on-the-air!
73,
Steve, KV4AN
Technical
Article
Mobile
Radio Selection and Installation
By
Steve, KV4AN
Hopefully,
many readers will have received mobile radios for Christmas that now need
to be installed.Mobile operating
has always been one of my favorite aspects of the hobby--it’s also one
of the most important from a public service perspective.This
article will discuss selection and installation of VHF/UHF mobile radios,
antennas, and accessories in vehicles.
The
first decision you must make is whether to purchase a single-band, dual-band,
or multi-band mobile transceiver.In
a rural area like the Eastern Shore, a high-power, single-band, two meter
FM transceiver is a good choice because of the limited number and shorter
range of UHF repeaters.Almost all
brands have 50 Watt two meter FM transceivers for less than $150.
One
band at a time dual-band radios are going for around $250, simultaneous
receive dual-band FM rigs start at around $300, and one manufacturer makes
a quad-bander(10 m, 6 m, 2 m, and
70 cm) for a little over $400.
Most
of the new mobile rigs are either very small or have detachable faceplates.Both
help when trying to mount a radio in late-model vehicles.Mobile
transceivers with detachable faceplate give you the flexibility to mount
the faceplate on the dash or console, where it is easy to see the display
and reach the controls while driving, and mount the bulk of the radio under
the seat, in the trunk, or some other out of the way location.
Depending
upon the dash space and size of your new rig, you can either mount the
radio under the dash, on the console between the seats, directly to the
transmission hump, or if the rig has a detachable faceplate, under the
seat or in the back.The display
must be visible and the controls easy to reach from the driver’s seat.In
Starr’s Dodge Caravan, she has her rig, which is a large single-bander,
mounted upright on the side of an after-market console between the seats.I
have my small single-band radio mounted to the lower front of the dash
of my Ford F-150.
You
can connect the 12 Volt DC power cable to the cigarette lighter or power
point, but I recommend you run a cable directly to the vehicle battery.Connecting
your rig directly to the vehicle battery will make sure your transmitter
has plenty of power and will reduce received engine noise.The
best way to run the power cable is through a rubber grommet in an existing
hole in the firewall.If you have
to drill a new hole, be sure you know what’s on the other side before you
drill.In my truck, there was a rubber
boot where the AM/FM radio antenna cable passed through behind the passenger
kick panel.I was able to snake
the power cable through the rubber boot and along the inside of the fender
to the engine compartment right by the battery.Starr’s
van was much easier because it had a rubber boot with a large cable assembly
through the firewall near the steering column.I
carefully enlarged the hole in the boot with a slit using a razor knife
and ran the cable into the engine compartment.Be
sure to secure the cable with plenty of cable ties.I
put crimp-on terminal lugs on the end of the cable and connected it to
the vehicle battery cable terminal bolts.
There
are many choices available for mobile VHF/UHF antennas, depending upon
the bands your radio operates.Typical
designs are 1/4, 1/2, 5/8 wavelengths.A
5/8 wave has the highest gain and lowest angle of radiation (longest range),
but is also the tallest.It’s best
to get the highest gain antenna that is a height you can live with considering
trees, garages, etc.
There
are also many mounting options, the ones appropriate for VHF/UHF antennas
are: magnetic mount, through glass, trunk lip, liftgate or door edge, mirror
or luggage rack, and through the roof.Drilling
a hole through the roof is best, but not every ham wants to do that.If
you use a mirror or luggage rack mount, you need to be sure you have a
good ground.Both Starr and I use
5/8 wave magnetic mount antennas, though some worry about marring or discoloration
of the roof painted surface.
After
mounting the antenna you need to run the cable.In
a vehicle with a trunk, you can reach between the back seat bottom and
back to grab the cable from the trunk.Most
other vehicles you will have to run the cable above the headliner and then
behind the plastic column moldings down to the floor. Plastic kick panels
and carpet edge strips can be removed permitting you to finish running
the cable under the carpet to the back of your rig.In
my truck, there was a louvered panel between the bed and the back of the
cab for cables and once inside the cab, I ran the cable under the seat
and then under the rubber flooring to the radio.
Most
installation will require an external speaker due to noise in the vehicle
or because the speaker is blocked by the mounting location. An external
speaker, which costs around $15, will enable you to hear your radio much
better.
I
highly recommend a permanent mobile rig installation, which will increase
the performance, ease of use, safety, and enjoyment of mobile communicating.
Accomac
and Eastville Repeaters
Use
the club repeaters often!Make it
a habit to take your handi-talkie with you, turn your mobile rig on when
you’re driving and monitor at home.Since
9/11, I don’t go out the door without my handi-talkie.
Accomac
Repeater:
147.255 MHz, TX Offset +600 KHz, CTCSS “PL” Tone 156.7 Hz
Mappsville
Remote Receiver:
PL 162.2 Hz
Cradockville
Remote Receiver:
PL 151.4 Hz
Eastville
Repeater:
147.345 MHz, TX Offset +600 KHz, PL 156.7 Hz
Accomac
440 Repeater:
444.3 MHz, TX Offset +5.0 MHz, PL 156.7 Hz
XYL’s
Recipe of the Month
Maryland
Dried Beef Cheese Ball
3
Lg. Packages Cream Cheese (softened)
6
Green Onions (chopped fine)
3
Jars of Dried Beef (chopped fine)
Dash
of Garlic Powder
1
1/2 tsp. A-1 Sauce
1
tsp. Celery Seed
Mix
all ingredients together, saving 1/3 of the dried beef to cover the cheese
ball.Form the ball and place on
serving tray.Cover the cheese ball
with the remaining dried beef.Serve
with a variety of crackers.Perfect
for Club Meetings.
Virginia
National Traffic System Nets
The
Virginia National Traffic System (NTS) Nets are a great way to get training
and experience in net operation, traffic handling, and making on-the-air
friends.Hope to hear you check-in
or “QNI”.
Eastern
Shore Emergency Services Net
Monday
2030 EST 147.255 MHz FM Repeater
Virginia
Traffic Net (VTN)
Daily
1300 EST 7262 KHz LSB
Virginia
Side Band Net (VSBN)
Daily
1800 EST 3947 KHz LSB
Virginia
Net Early (VNE)
Daily
1900 EST 3680 KHz CW
Virginia
Slow Net (VSN)
Tuesday
1900 EST 3680 KHz CW
Virginia
Net Late (VNL)
Daily
2200 EST 3680 KHz CW
Virginia
Late Net (VLN)
Daily
2215 EST 3947 KHz LSB
Maryland
Slow Net (MSN) – On-Air Traffic Handling Training Course (contact Andrew,
KG4OTL, for more information)
Daily
1930 EST 3717 KHz CW
Club
Calendar
January
1
New Years
12
Club Meeting (1400, Moose Lodge, Nelsonia)
Presentation:
18
Club Breakfast (0800, Cove Restaurant, Melfa)
February
15
Club Breakfast (0800, Cove Restaurant, Melfa)
March
15
Club Breakfast (0800, Cove Restaurant, Melfa)
Club
Banquet and Election of Officer (date, time, and place to be determined)
Humor
[sic]
A
local ham had been noticeably absent from some of the traffic nets he frequented.The
net control station was concerned and the next time he checked in, he asked
him why he been absent so often.The
ham explained to him that he had started a new hobby putting together jigsaw
puzzles.He had been working on his
current puzzle for a little over four months and was almost finished.He
added that he was proud of his accomplishment since the box said 3-5 years.
One
of the most successful inventors of all time was the man who invented the
hay-bailing machine. Needless to say, he made a bundle.
It’s
as easy as 3.14159!
Club
Public Service Attire
Reasonably
priced public service attire, in yellow with the ESHARC club logo, are
now available from R.A.G.S.Hats
are $3.75; T-Shirts, $5.00; Polo Shirts, $15.00; andJackets,
with your callsign and “handle”, are $23.50 for unlined and$25.50
for lined. Order from: R.A.G.S., Lois Hawk,
PO
Box 543, Onley VA 23418, (757) 787-2216.
Monthly
Club Newsletter Submissions:
Members
wishing to submit articles, calendar events and information of interest
to other club members for the monthly club newsletter.Send
your submissions (MS Works or text format) to Steve, KV4AN, at kv4an@arrl.net
or call me on the repeater.Deadline
is the Club Breakfast.
Many thanks to Ben, KD4NVK, for printing the newsletter each month.Eastern Shore Printers in Onancock can print 250 quality QSL cards for your station for $40.Contact Donna at 787-4646, ask for the “Standard QSL” and give her your callsign, name, address and choice of cardstock color.