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Official Newsletter of the Great

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South Bay Amateur Radio Club
May 2010 Volume 38 Issue 5

Upcoming Club Breaking News: New Antenna

Events Committee has its first outing.
Next General On Saturday May 1st, the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club’s new
Meeting: Antenna Committee had their first service call. Mike, KC2SYF, was contacted
by local amateur Jim, WA2CDK with a request for assistance with his 80 meter
Thursday, May 27th trap vertical. Jim is blind and so unable to make repairs himself. Mike put the
word out and early Saturday morning a group of 6 descended on Jim’s QTH
8 PM at the EOC with carloads of tools and wire. Accompanying Mike were Tom, KA2D, Glenn,
KC2VVQ, Kevin, AB2ZI, Tom, N2MIG and Jeff, N2OEP.
A dirty connection was found in the feedline and repaired. In addition to the
Speaker will be Bob, dirty connector, a series of ground radials were layed out and installed.
K2TV on Field Day Once repairs were complete, Jim fired up his rig on 20 meters and called to a
‘7 station and got an immediate 5-9 report from Washington state.
Logistics Jim thanked the crew for their help and Jim’s wife provided bagels and juice
for refreshments. Jim can now be heard on the club’s 2 meter repeater. A M AT E

Say hi if you hear him.

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May 15&16
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Air Power W2GSB/APM

June 26-27
Field day
Kevin, AB2ZI and Tom, KA2D
make adjustments with Glenn,
July 10-11 KC2VVQ observing.
Custer Institute

August 21-22 Mike, KC2SYF digging

slits for the ground plane.
Fire Island
Lighthouse W2GSB/LH

Now on GSBARC.ORG,
Pay your dues with

Tom, N2MIG and Glenn,

Tom, KA2D, looks on as Jim, WA2CDK, KC2VVQ with KC2SYF in
tunes up his rig for a test QSO... the background

President’s Message
qst qst qst de
w2hcb/w2gsb
I
was wondering what to say in
this month’s message; I had
way too many things to say
so what now? May begins with
excitement at the Air Power Mu-
seum event on May 15th and 16th.
Please try to make some time to
come down to the event whether
it’s to operate or just to support
the club. While you’re there don’t
forget to check out the museum’s
many exhibits.
The Boy Scout Camporee/S.E.T. in April was huge suc-
cess: the scout leadership was very grateful for our partici-
pation. I’d especially like to thank John, K2IZ, for enter-
taining the scouts with a talk about how much fun amateur
radio can be and how they can get into the hobby.
The Radio and TV Days event also went very well thanks
to the crew that attended the event on behalf of the club: Art,
WA2KXE, Bob, K2TV, Jeff, N2OEP, and Don, W2EUL.
The club’s Saturday Open Houses have been very busy
lately with many members and visitors enjoying the all sorts
of different activities and projects such as Sam, K2LDK’s
Pixie 2 CW transceiver kit project. It was good to see so
many club members having fun with the project. There’s
always something going on at Open House so I’d like to
encourage everyone to come on down and see what it’s all
about.
If you were at the April General meeting you got to see
the New York QSO Party (NYQP) certificate the club won.
This contest takes place on the third weekend in October.
The certificate is proudly on display at the EOC on the left
as you walk in.
Field Day is fast approaching! We will be having a Field
Day meeting soon, and in addition this month’s general
meeting will be about getting ready for field day. Bob,
K2TV, will be talking about Field Day logistics. Now more
than ever we need your help for a great Field day. Please
come down to operate. We especially need some night time
operators to help us out. Most of the crew that starts in
the morning needs people to show up and help. The more
people that come to Field Day the easier it will be for ev-
erybody.
June 6th—there is a Hamfest at Briarcliff College: The
club will be there with the trailer and a table. Do you have
a piece of equipment or something you would like to donate
to the club’s table? All money raised will be put towards
the repair fund for our repeaters. The 2 meter and 440 ma-
chines are in need of maintenance and upgrading.
2
Speaking of the repeater maintenance fund: GSBARC
will be holding a raffle to win a Yeasu FT-857D all band,
all mode, HF radio. We hope to have the tickets printed in
time for the next general meeting. Tickets will be $10.00
each and the winning ticket will be selected at the Hope for
the Warriors run on November 14th after the event. The
radio will be shipped direct to the winner and you need not
be present to win.
I hope to see you all at this month’s general meeting. Get
on those bands; they’ve been getting better and better. Hope
A M AT E
to hear you on the air or see you on the waterfall.
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73, John Melfi, W2HCB
TRIPOD ADAPTER
by John, W2JGH
A few years back I purchased
a military fiberglass support
system. The system included
12-4 foot mast sections, support
spreaders and stakes, all in a bag.
The only items needed were a guy
ring and rope.
During Field Day a few years
back, I tried to support the end of
the clubs 10, 15, and 20 meter di-
pole string with this fiberglass mast. Well, to make a long
story short, I ended up breaking 3 of my 12 masts due to
them bending as I unsuccessfully tried to get all the mast
together. Well, since that day lets just say the mast system
hasn’t seen much time out of the garage. It took too much
time and effort to get this thing to work, until now.
While surfing the internet, I came across an aluminum tri-
pod adapter that is designed for these military masts. Obvi-
ously it has three ports for mast sections to make the base
and has a hollow center that allows the mast sections to
stack from the ground up.
What makes this adapter so neat is that if you have one of
these mast systems, you can set it up alone without to much
trouble. With the remaining sections I can set up a vertical
support 28 feet high. If you had all 12 masts you could go
up 36 feet.
On April 24, 2010 I brought the tripod and masts to Town
hall to see how easy, or difficult it would be to set up and
take down. During the assembly, I found that the coupler
Continued on page 4...
In the Classroom with AB2ZI: SIX Meter Band Sporadic E Openings
By Bob Myers, K2TV

Zener Diodes
T
he Six meter sporadic E
season is just starting.
During the months be-

Z
ener diodes are a special
tween the months of April until
kind of diode most often
end of July is when we get the
seen being used in power
majority of sporadic E openings
supplies for voltage regulation.
on both ten and six meters. Of
course openings on these bands
Unlike “regular” diodes which
can occur at any time of the year.
are designed to only conduct in
Sporadic E openings generally
one direction, Zener diodes are
appear on Ten meters first and if
designed to operate in the re-
you find ten open it is wise to check Six.
verse direction without sustain-
ing damage. As reverse bias voltage is applied to a Zener
The majority of six meter SSB contacts on six are be-
diode there is a small amount of leakage current at first. As
tween 50.100 and 50.250 MHz. Monitor the SSB calling
voltage rises there is only a small amount of current change
frequency 50.125 MHz for activity and if you make contact
until a breakdown point is reached and reverse current rises
there move up in the band for more contacts. Staying on
significantly in an effect known as the avalanche point. At
the calling frequency while the band is open is considered
this point current increases very quickly with small increas-
rude to say the least. Between 50.100 and 50.125 is the DX
es in voltage. The amount of voltage needed to induce ava-
portion of the band and is reserved for DX contacts only.
lanch current is called the Zener voltage. A normal junc-
US stations should not call CQ in that area, only answering
tion diode operated in this region would be destroyed.
DX stations there is considered proper. The DX calling
frequency is 50.110 MHz.

On CW most stations are found between 50.080 and

50.100 MHz. There is no calling frequency on CW but
choosing a frequency near 50.095 and calling CQ is not a
bad idea. There are many CW beacons below 50.080 MHz
and they identify with their grid squares, so it is easy to see
when and where the band is open.
If you only have an FM rig on six, monitor the FM call-
ing frequency on 52.525 MHZ simplex. There are usually
many stations there and the trick is to have very quick ex-
changes with report and grid squares to avoid any one sta-
tion hogging the frequency.
Most people exchange grid squares and signal reports
during the contacts on six and any rag chewing is option-
al. Don’t be offended if the other station keeps the contact
By allowing large changes in current over a wide range
short, they are just trying to make to most contacts they can
of applied voltages, the diode acts like a relief valve and
during the opening which can be as short as a few minutes
so voltage across the Zener diode remains practically con-
to several hours.
stant. Zener diodes are rated based on their avalanche volt-
age and can be stacked in series to produce voltage divider
There seems to be some confusion about antenna polar-
networks. The graph above shows current (I) through the
ization on six. Normally for SSB and CW ground wave
Zener diode plotted against applied voltage (V). The point
contacts horizontal polarization is used, but once the band
VZ is the Zener voltage point where avalanch occurs.
is open for skip contacts it doesn’t matter. This is because
the polarization becomes random and skewed after hitting
Zener diodes are rated by Zener voltage and power dis-
the sporadic E cloud or F layer. So if all you have avail-
sipation and are available in ranges from 1.8 to 200 V with
able is a vertical antenna, don’t hesitate to use it. In fact
power ratings from 250 mW to 50 W.
I’ve seen many different antennas used successfully on six
For more reading on Zener diodes see chapter 5 of the
meters, even TA33 trap yagi antennas seem to work. Some
Extra Class License manual, or the chapter on Electrical
5/8ths wavelength 2 meter vertical antennas will work.
Signals and Components in any ARRL Handbook for Ra- A M AT E

Give it a try and have some fun on six.

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dio Communications. 73 and keep studying!

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...Continued from page 2 Pixie2 Transceiver
portion of the mast did not fit through by John, K2IZ
the center opening only the mast. One
of the masts had a broken coupler. I

T
he Great South Bay ARC was fortunate to be con-
was able to remove it and use it as the tacted by Sam, K2LDK, his question was “does any-
bottom of the mast. one want to build a QRP Transceiver for $10.00”?
What he had in mind was the “Pixie2” Transceiver, he had
With the base set up, I connected the gotten a bunch of these kits and he was looking for anyone
remaining 6 mast sections together on that wanted to build them.
the ground, picked them up and placed
them on the mast in the center of the Sam has told us that he has been building “QRP” equip-
tripod. Only thing missing is some ment for a number of years and he wanted to share his
guy lines for stability. experiences with other hams in the area.
To say there was an interest from GSBARC is to say the least, for the past
few Saturdays at open house, the smell of melting solder has filled the air, it has
been quite interesting to see several hams working at different tables building
the Pixie2.

The club had been discussing having a seminar on soldering, well; building
this kit has given a few people a lesson in the proper technique of soldering on
a small circuit board, along with how to properly install the parts on the board,
avoid “solder bridges” things like that.

The schematic was taken from AL7FS web page; it shows a crystal controlled
Close up of base – Photo by AB2ZI Colpitts oscillator. The radio is simple enough that modifications can be made

at a later date, one of them is shown for Receiver Incremental Tuning (RIT),
there is also addition of a CW keyer, and then the project is called a “Tixie”.

Support fully assembled – Photo by AB2ZI

Taking the mast down was a little

more difficult. I wasn’t able to sepa-
rate the mast from the coupling by lift-
ing the mast above the tripod. I ended
up lifting the entire mast and base.
With the help of N2OEP holding the
base I was able to separate the mast at
a coupler and pack it away until need-
ed. Overall I am very pleased with
this adapter. In the next few weeks
I will assemble a guy line kit, I will A M AT E

need it for Field Day.

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 All the parts are included in the kit;
in addition you will need a low watt-
Club Name Badges
age soldering iron with a “fine” tip,
For those of you who don’t know
the very fine type of solder, a small
yet, Arthur, WA2KXE, has arranged
pair of wire cutters, a small pair of
for club badges to be produced by The
needle nose pliers and, most important
Sign Man (www.thesignman.com)
of all, a “soldering aid”, or whatever
of Baton Rouge, LA. Art graciously
they call it, 2 small alligator clips and
donated the fee for the initial design
a small magnifying glass on a stand,
of the badges which are 1-3/4 in. x
used to hold the board and be able to A makeshift travois is used to 3 in. (see the scan of mine below for
see what you are soldering, that and a transport a “victim”. details). We’ve already placed one
large magnifying glass, the parts are
order through Art so as to save on
very small and for a lot of us our eye-
shipping costs. If you visit The Sign
sight is not what it was in our younger
Man’s webpage you can order the
days!
badges by using a drop down selection
on the orders page and clicking on
The radio can be put in an “Altoids” AY
A M AT E
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“Great South Bay ARC - NY”

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box, it is powered by a 9v battery, and
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it will work into a simple end fed quar-

ter wave wire antenna, worked against
a good ground
Pete, WB2OQQ, relays vital
The output is anywhere from 200- information to net control...
300mw, it does get out, now that a lot
of the club members have built one of
the Pixie2’s perhaps we can now look
to getting antennas set up and use them
at field day? Have a contest between Mug Shots...
club members to see who can make the
George, K2KVI (manager of the
A M AT E

most contacts with the radios?

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GSBARC.ORG website) is selling

“The Great South Bay etched mug”.
GSBARC Trailer These mugs are etched with the Great
Deployed for S. E. T. John, K2IZ, schools the Boy Scouts South Bay logo and your call sign and
in emergency radio procedures. are only $15. To order a mug with
On April 17th the Town of Babylon your call on it give George a call, or
held a Simulated Emergency Test at send him an email at Valhalla Cre-
B
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Cedar Beach in conjunction with the

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Boy Scout Camporee. Town of Baby-

lon ARES was on hand and the club’s
communications trailer was too.
During the S.E.T. a drill was held
simulating a downed aircraft on the
beach with various bodies strewn
A M AT E

about.
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Emergency reponse personnel

coordinate activities on the beach.

Rich, K2BBQ and Justin, KC2OYH

prepare the trailer for action.
5
 Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club
Board Meetings: April 1st, 2010
Board Members Present
W2JGH N2MIG N2PIK KC2OYH AB2ZI W2HCB
K2TV
New Business
Discussion of proposed Constitution changes. A re-
view of procedure does not require Board approval.
A vote on proposed changes will be held on May
27, 2010 at the May General Meeting. The vote will
have two parts:

1-To amend the family membership to allow them to

Board Members Not Present
vote.
2-To raise the family membership fee to $10.00 per
W2ANQ
family member.
Club Members Present Club to raffle off a Yaesu 857D on November 14,
2010.
K2TZY W2AEM K2LI N2MZK KA2D K2IZ K2KVI
WA2KXE KC2MOX Guest speaker for May, K2TV on Dup-Sheet logging.
Secretary’s Report – W2JGH Motion to close by N2MIG
Second by N2PIK
At the April general meeting a written request of pro-
posed changes the constitution was submitted. The Minutes taken and typed by John W2JGH. Close
changes included allowing family members to vote meeting at 9:00 PM.
and that the dues rate for family members be in-
creases to $10.00 per family member.

Motion to accepted by W2JGH, 2nd by N2MIG

Treasures Report – N2MIG

Treasurer’s report was read. Report included trans-

actions and balance.
Club membership at 101

Motion to accept report by W2JGH, 2ND by AB2ZI.

Approved by Board.

Special Events

Air Power Museum Coordinator WA2QAV & K2TV

May 15, 16 10 AM to 4 PM

Field Day June 26, 27

Event Reports

Radio Days – Coordinators K2TV & KA2KXE

The staff of Radio Days bent over backward

MS Walk was a success

Club Equipment
On his recent trip down to Virginia to visit his son
Tower sections need to be marked and paired. and grandkids, Bob, K2TV, made his regular stop at
Ham Radio Outlet. While there he took the opportunity
Old Business - None to snap some pictures of Jim Nuytens, KJ3N’s, famous
(infamous?) “antenna with a car mounted to it”.
6
Photos of Art, WA2KXE and Jeff, N2OEP at LI Radio & TV Day in the Tilles
Center at CW Post College April 17th.

Meanwhile...work continues to progress on the customization of the Club’s

portable Communications Trailer.

QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...QST...

As mentioned at the last general meeting and in this month’s President’s Mes-
sage, the club will be holding a raffle for a Yaesu FT-857D, all band, all mode
radio to help raise funds for repairs to the repeaters and their antennas. Tick-
ets will be $10 each with a maximum of 500 of tickets sold. The winner will
be selected November 14th at the end of the Hope for the Warriors Run. The
winner need not be present. The radio will be shipped directly to the winner.
7
 postage
mail without
not deliver
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Post office will
here West Babylon, NY 11704-0356 GR

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Place Postage P.O. BOX 1356 E

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Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club

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ARES/RACES Information 2010 VE Session Dates: Inside this issue of

Div. 1—Town of Babylon ARES/RACES
Net: 146.685/R, Mondays 8:15 PM
EC: Tom Favilla, N2MIG, 631-957-5985 • May 22rd
The Compass...
Div. 2—Town of Huntington ARES/RACES
Net: 147.210 MHz +600/ PL 136.5, • June 19th • Antenna Committee
Mondays 8:30 PM
EC/RO John Allocca, WB2LUA, (631) 261-3726 • July 10th, 12 noon, at Goes to Work
Div. 3—Town of Islip ARES/RACES
Custer Institute during
EC/RO: John J Blowsky, KB2SCS, 631-467-2410
Div. 4—Town of Smithtown ARES/RACES
the special event!
• Pixie 2 QRP Kits
Net: 145.430 MHz, PL136.5, Mondays 8:30 PM
EC/RO: Joe Albertus , KB2JOE, 631-664-6709
• July 24th • Tripod Adapter for
Div. 5—Town of Brookhaven ARES/RACES
EC/RO: Joe Werner, KC2BPS, 631-730-8694 • August 28th Vertical Antenna
Div. 6—Riverhead ARES/RACES
EC/RO: Don Rollock, W2EUL, 631-929-0705 • September 25th Mounting
Div. 7—Southampton ARES/RACES
EC/RO: Dennis O’Rourke, KB2ZWW, 631-728-5424
Div. 8—Southold ARES/RACES
• October 23rd • 6 Meters Shows
EC: Charles Burnham, K2GLP, 516-779-4983
RO: Don Fisher, N2QHV, 631-765-2757
• November 27th, and, Signs of life...
Div. 9—East Hampton ARES/RACES
EC/RO: Nat Raynor, N2NEI, 631-324-3738
• December 18th. May Birthdays
Div. 10—Shelter Island ARES/RACES
EC/RO: Neal Raymond, N2QZA, 631-749-9330 All sessions are at the Town Art, WA2KXE
of Babylon EOC, located in the Frank, K2LI
Suffolk County basement in the rear of town hall.
ARES/RACES Net: David, KB2NYS
Please bring photo ID, copies of your
Mondays 2100 Local - 145.330/R (136. 5PL) amateur radio license (if you have Justin, KC2OYH
Alternate Frequency - 145.370 (136.5 PL) Glen, KC2QIQ
one), and any CSCE’s you may have.
New York State Non programmable calculators are Adam, W2AEM
RACES Net (HF) allowed. Fees for 2010 are $15 Ed, KC2UCC
Sundays 0900 Local, 3993.5 KHz LSB payable by check or cash. Eugene, N1WTC
8