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 | AHAB · Total News: 0
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Articles:
   Local Youth To Demo Robot At Montgomery Hamfest: Local Youth To Demo Robot At Montgomery Hamfest (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
Local Youth To Demo Robot At Montgomery Hamfest
by: kg4pnl
2006-11-09 11:53:38
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club is proud to have
young members that are excited about electronics.
You will have the opportunity to meet some of them
at this years hamfest as they demonstrate a Robot
they have constructed as part of the
BEST program.
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization
whose mission is to inspire students to pursue
careers in engineering, science, and technology
through participation in a sports-like, science
and engineering-based robotics competition.
Arriving around 10:00am, we have asked the
students to attend the ARRL Youth Forum. Their demo will take place soon thereafter.
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Articles:
Digital Satellite?: Digital Satellite? (kg4pnl)
Digital Voice on HF: Digital Voice on HF (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
Digital Satellite?
by: kg4pnl
2007-07-05 09:06:19
Since Icom introduced D-Star to the US market, (or at lease since I heard about it) I have been intrigued. In the beginning I wanted to know more about it, I wanted to know why I would want to pay more for a radio that just converted my voice to 1's and 0's. This conversation has has occurred many times on this site so I won't continue to tell what all I found out and why I purchased my D-Star radios.
During my research I read EVERYWHERE that D-Star, due to it's digitally modulated signal, could not be propagated through a standard analog repeater. Meaning, i couldn't use our 146.920 repeater to extend my digital communications. However a couple of days ago I read an article on the AO-27 website (http://www.ao27.org/AO27/index.shtml) where Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC made a contact over this satellite using two D-Star radios in Digital Voice Mode.
HMM, if standard, modern analog repeaters cannot pass the required information, how does this bird (launched in September of 1993) do it? I was surprised to find out that the radios on-board the satellite where designed to pass 1200-19200 baud GMSK data. Wow, GMSK, yeah that is what D-Star uses. That explains it now LOL.
Michael, N3UC who wrote the article explains a little deeper but reminds others who wish to make D-Star contacts via satellite to check with the control operators of the satellite before doing so. Good idea since only these digital radios can decode the signals and D-Star sounds like a harsh digital signal to the analog users operating that bird.
Digital Voice is being used in the HF Bands, as well as the world above 50MHz. Since this contact on July 1st we now know it can be used for working satellites too.
Chalk up another way to use Digital Voice!
Rick - KG4PNL
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 | Fox Hunts · Total News: 18
· Total Reads: 18736
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Articles:
To Be Commended: To Be Commended (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
To Be Commended
by: kg4pnl
2006-04-11 11:05:16
The progression of our hobby is dependant on new blood, as well as continued
interest in the different aspects of amateur radio. I consider myself
lucky to be surrounded by amateurs who not only see the importance of this, but step up to the plate to do something about it.
You see it in the meetings where different modes are demonstrated to introduce
those of us who may not have known about them. It is evident at Field day
when amateurs come out of the wood work to help setup, operate and break
down. Last years rash of devastating hurricanes brought amateurs from
coast to coast to assist those in need while the members of the Montgomery
Amateur Radio Club provided local support and coordination.
Though everyone seems to pitch in and help out, I would like to commend two
individuals for their most recent efforts in not only bringing new amateurs to
the hobby, but for helping others progress in their licensure. WB5NMZ and W4SPA
enthusiastically began instruction of the General Class theory and Morse Code
tutoring on the 2nd of March. The interest in the class was far more than
I expected, nearly filling the classroom with students and even some amateurs
already possessing the privileges wanting to audit the class and refresh their
memory of the rules, theories, and best practices.
I (KG4PNL) took the class mainly to be able to assist during
disaster relief efforts. HF honestly didn't interest me, with so much
unexplored in the Technician band plan, the only lure was the ability handle
much needed traffic during times of a disaster. During the class, I began to see
facets of HF I had not considered. Scott and Mark were not only able to
give us the tools to pass the exam, they brought a perspective of the
General class privileges that excited me.
Beginning Thursday April 13th, these same two Elmers begin instructing a
Technician Class License Course and have managed to nearly fill the classroom
with students that will be new to the hobby. There is a number of young
students which is very promising.
A huge Thank You goes out to Mark and Scott for doing such a great
job!
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Articles:
SOB V Balloon Launch - Saturday, Sept 6 - 7:00AM (w4spa)
| Most recent article:
SOB V Balloon Launch - Saturday, Sept 6 - 7:00AM
by: w4spa
2008-09-02 11:54:16
What the heck is SOB V? It's a large, heluim filled, weather balloon carrying an amateur radio payload up to 100,000 ft while taking picutres. It has a parachute to bring it back down gently. We will need help tracking and locating it after if lands. Sound interesting? read on...
Here's the flight details:
Mission designator: SOB V (so-bee five)
Launch date: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Launch time: 7:00 AM (CDT) plus or minus a few minutes depending on how long inflation takes
Launch location: Home QHT of KV4AC
Mission profile: free flight to burst altitude (approx 100,000 ft) return to Earth on parachute
Typical flight profile: ascent rate approx 1,000 ft/min - 90 - 100 minutes up, 30 or so minutes down
Payload details: (primary payload) styrofoam box containing 16V Li-Ion battery pack, motorola GPS, Mim module (TNC), and Yaesu VX-R1 radio (VHF)
Payload details: (backup beacon) styrofoam box containing 9V lithium battery, Mim module (CW encoder), and Alinco credit card radio (UHF)
Frequencies: (VHF APRS) 146.475 Mhz - APRS packet every 30 seconds, Telemetery packet with battery voltage data every 60 seconds.
Frequencies: (UHF CW Beacon) 446.375 Mhz - CW ID - "W4SPA BEACON" - every 60 seconds - there may also be a simplex repeater operating on this frequency - I'd like to request exclusive use for communications between the launch team and the down-range tracking teams. If time permits, I may ask for general check-in's here during the flight.
Frequencies: (HF Comm) 3.965 Mhz - LSB plus or minus depending on traffic
What we need: trackers, trackers, trackers... fixed, mobile, portable, whatever. The more ears we have listening for it, the better chance we'll have of finding it after it lands. The ideal mobile tracker setup would be able to track APRS and have mobile HF capability but I don't want to discourage anyone... everyone's welcome to assist. We will run some flight path prediction software that will predict the flight path and the landing location based on national weather service winds aloft data on Friday evening, Sep 5. I will forward this information to you Friday evening and hopefully you'll be able to dissemenate it to the interested folks in your group. Based on this data, we'll determine the best locations for the down-range tracking teams (this information will also be included in the Friday evening e-mail. Hopefully, we'll get a fairly accurate GPS/APRS fix on the payload as it descends but if not, we may need to resort to radio direction finding using either the 2 meter APRS packets or the 70cm CW beacon signal.
On behalf of the entire SOB team, our sincere thanks for anyone who wants to help out.
Want to help? Contact Scott at: W4SPA at ARRL dot net
73,
Scott Poole, W4SPA
Montgomery, AL
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Articles:
2006 JOTA / JOTI: 2006 JOTA / JOTI (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
2006 JOTA / JOTI
by: kg4pnl
2006-08-07 09:49:31
School is back for 2006 and this means that JOTA / JOTI is not too far around the corner. "When?" might you ask, well I am glad you asked!
Mark your calendar for October 22, 2006. We are working with the scouts on the location and we will let you know as soon as one has been established.
If you particpated last year, Several troops/packs came out and made their first amateur radio contacts. They talked to scouts both in the USA and some in other countries. M.A.R.C. members were on hand to help out and we were able to stretch the wings of our Emergency Communications trailer.
What is the Jamboree-On-The-Air?
The JOTA is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all over the world make contacts with
each other by means of amateur radio. Short-wave radio signals carry their voices to virtually any corner of the
world. It's the shear excitement of having a live conversation with a fellow Scout or Guide at some other place
in the world that attracts so many youngsters to this event. JOTA is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences
are exchanged and ideas are shared. It’s a unique opportunity for each individual Scout to get the
real feeling of belonging to a world-wide movement.
What is the Jamboree-On-The-Internet?
Similarly to the JOTA, the Jamboree On The Internet connects Scouts using Internet techniques. The JOTI is a
separate event, but held on the same weekend as the Jamboree-On-the-Air. Units can choose to take part in either
one event or both.
World-wide
The JOTA and JOTI are world-wide events. During the weekend, units may participate for 48 hours or any part
thereof, from Saturday 00.00 h until Sunday 24.00 h local time.
Both JOTA and JOTI are WOSM events to which members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts (WAGGGS) are kindly invited to take part and enjoy the international atmosphere together with the
Scouts.
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Articles:
MARC June Meeting - Field Day Information (w4spa)
AL QSO Party (w4spa)
MARC 2009 Field Day T-Shirts ON SALE NOW (w4spa)
| Most recent article:
MARC June Meeting - Field Day Information
by: w4spa
2009-06-14 17:37:44
If you're planning to come out and help with the MARC Field Day effort this year, I hope you'll consider attending the June meeting. Our meeting will be tomorrow evening, June 15, 2009 - 7:00 PM at the Montgomery Red Cross facility, 5015 Woods Crossing Drive, just off Carmichael Rd. After a brief business meeting, it's all about Field Day!
Activities include:
MARC 2009 Field Day T-Shirt pick-up - Paypal orders are pre-paid, all others bring your cash for Chris - all shirts must be paid for at time of pickup
MARC Field Day antennas presentation- how to assemble and operate
Kenwood TS-440 Operation presentation
N3FJP Field Day Logging Software Operation presentation
KV4AC Field Day site briefing
I hope to see everyone tomorrow evening and at Field Day on the 26, 27,and 28 of June!
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Articles:
You are invited to the MARC 2007 Spring Picnic!: You are invited to the MARC 2007 Spring Picnic! (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
You are invited to the MARC 2007 Spring Picnic!
by: kg4pnl
2007-03-19 10:28:23
What: 2007 MARC 2007 Spring Picnic
When: Saturday, April 21, 2007 11:00AM
Where:Ida Belle Young Park, 5400 Vaughn Road
What to bring: Covered Dish and a blanket or
lawn chairs
 Cook up a batch of beans, toss a salad, or bring a gallon of tea along with your blanket or chairs, the club is footing the bill for the meats. We expect a great turnout and have a lot for everyone to do.
If you would care to try your hand at foxhunting, we are ready for you. Care to make an HF contact or two? We will have an HF Rig available for you to practice for Field Day. We will have D-Star on hand and there will be a playground nearby for the young ones to play on. Great fun for the whole family.
Our menu includes Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. M.A.R.C. is providing the meat, buns and condiments, you bring the rest.
 We hope you will join us for this all around fun event as we celebrate three of our favorite things, Amateur Radio, being with our family and friends, and FOOD!
See You There!
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 | Meetings · Total News: 4
· Total Reads: 2949
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Articles:
MONTGOMERY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (w4spa)
Hamfest This Weekend!: Hamfest This Weekend! (kg4pnl)
2006 Hamfest - Great Fun For All!: 2006 Hamfest - Great Fun For All! (kg4pnl)
2006 MARC Hamfest
November 11: 2006 MARC Hamfest
November 11 (kg4pnl)
: (kg4pnl)
2005 M.A.R.C. Hamfest: 2005 M.A.R.C. Hamfest (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
MONTGOMERY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
by: w4spa
2009-11-08 21:22:45
2009 Montgomery Hamfest, R/C Swapmeet & Computer Show.
Host for the "2009 ARRL Alabama Section Convention".
NOVEMBER 14, 2009
Sponsored by:
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 3141
Montgomery, AL 36109
http://www.w4ap.org
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Location: Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive, just West of Coliseum Blvd. in North Montgomery
Time: 9:00 A.M. Until 3:00 P.M.
Repeaters:Hamfest Talk-In: 146.84 MHz (-) call W4AP
RagChew: 147.18 MHz (+) (123.0Hz tone)
444.50 MHZ (+) (100Hz tone)
146.920 MHZ (-) (W4AP C) (D-STAR)
VE Testing: 8:00A.M. (bring any original and copy of CSCEs, copy of current Amateur Radio License, and copies of and original photo ID or two forms of ID without photo )
Forums - 2009
ROOM 1(BY KITCHEN)
10:00-11:00 Alabama Section Emergency Communications, ARES. Hosted by: Jay Isbel (KA4KUN).
11:00-12:00 S.E. Div/AL. Section, ARRL Forum. Hosted by Greg Saratt (W4OZK) and Jay Isbell (KA4KUN).
1:00 -2:00pm: Alabama D-Star and hospital users. . Hosted by: Greg Sarratt (W4OZK).
ROOM 2.(Adjacent to Rm. 1)
10:00-11:00 Alabama Section Youth Forum. Hosted by: Kaitlyn Cole (KS3P)
11:00-12:00 Alabama Repeater Council: Hosted by David Drummond (W4MD)
12:00-1:00pm D-Star Gateway Administrators meeting. Hosted by : Ken Adkinson (WB4FAY).
ROOM 3, (Testing Room).
10:00-12:00pm MARS forum. Hosted by Army MARS, Larry Vine.
12:00-1:00pm: Stratosphere or Bust (SOB) Gas filled balloon adventures. Hosted by SOB Group.
Vendors:
C.T. Morgan
Ham World, INC
VIS
Cedar City Sales
The Sign Man
Vendors of special note:
The Wireman (Press Jones)
N.L. Williams, author of 'A Matter of Destiny', a ham radio sci-fi thriller.
Hamfest Chairman:
Rik Doll, KU4PY
Phone: 334-277-0864
E-Mail: KU4PY@ARRL.net
Security: Security on duty overnight
Vendor Support: Drive-in for setup and tear down. Pre-show breakfast served for vendors.
Setup times: Friday, Nov 13th: 3:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.
Saturday, Nov 14th 7:00 A.M. until 8:50 A.M.
Table prices: In Advance: first table $15 ($10 ea. additional table)
At the door: $15 Ea.
Table Rentals:
Phil Salley, K4PO
Phone: 334-272-7980 after 5:00 P.M.
E-Mail: hamfest@w4ap.org
Reserve Your Table Today
Tailgate: $5.00 in a great NEW area!
Admission: $6.00, ages 15 and under FREE!
Parking: FREE Parking!
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Articles:
Amateur Radio, a Dieing Hobby? Think Again...: Amateur Radio, a Dieing Hobby? Think Again... (kg4pnl)
VE's Prepare for larger than usual testing session on Feb 24: VE's Prepare for larger than usual testing session on Feb 24 (kg4pnl)
Morse Code Preceding Expected to Release Today: Morse Code Preceding Expected to Release Today (kg4pnl)
R&O Q&A: R&O Q&A (kg4pnl)
Report and Order Released: Report and Order Released (kg4pnl)
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES: FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES (kg4pnl)
Questions Dropped from Pools: Questions Dropped from Pools (kg4pnl)
FCC ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio R&O Published in Federal Register: FCC ''Omnibus'' Amateur Radio R&O Published in Federal Register (kg4pnl)
Antenna Structures / Restrictive Covenants: Antenna Structures / Restrictive Covenants (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
Amateur Radio, a Dieing Hobby? Think Again...
by: kg4pnl
2007-08-16 16:10:24
We have heard many times that Amateur Radio could be a dieing hobby. Falling second to Cell Phones and other technology is always a concern, we MUST keep on top of new technologies if we are to keep/gain interest with the younger crowd. However the numbers show a favorable rise in licensees.
If you look at a snap shot of January 1st through July 31st of this year and compare the same from last year, we are seeing GREAT things!
| | 2006
Jan 1 –Jul 31 | 2007
Jan 1 –Jul 31 |
|---|
| New Technicians | 12,268 | 15,549 |
| New/Upgrade Generals | 2,384 | 15,730 |
| New/Upgrade Extras | 1,909 | 4,284 |
Undoubtedly the abolition of the Code Requirement has effected the numbers, but I also attribute the rise in licenses/upgrades with new technologies such as D-Star and the important role amateur radio has played during recent natural disasters.
We have gotten a ton of great press over what we did during Hurricane Katrina, I see more schools getting involved around the country exposing the students to the science and fun the hobby brings.
Help keep the great momentum going, talk to your friends, schools, and co-workers. Let's let everyone know what a great hobby we have.
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Articles:
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Take Action: National Hurricane Awareness Week - Take Action (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Be Prepared: National Hurricane Awareness Week - Be Prepared (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Forcast Process: National Hurricane Awareness Week - Forcast Process (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Inland Flooding: National Hurricane Awareness Week - Inland Flooding (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - High Winds: National Hurricane Awareness Week - High Winds (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Storm Surge: National Hurricane Awareness Week - Storm Surge (kg4pnl)
National Hurricane Awareness Week - History: National Hurricane Awareness Week - History (kg4pnl)
Hurricane Awareness Week: Hurricane Awareness Week (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
National Hurricane Awareness Week - Take Action
by: kg4pnl
2006-05-25 13:21:47
If you are HURRICANE
AWARE you will be able to answer these three questions:
1. What are the Hurricane
Hazards?
Storm Surge,
Marine Hazards,
Tornadoes,
High Winds, and
Inland Flooding
2. What does it mean to
you?
Do you live in a Surge Zone? On a Barrier Island? In an area prone to flooding?
In a strong sturdy home?
3. What actions should
you take to be prepared?
Family
Disaster Plan,
Disaster Supply Kit,
Secure your home,
Have a place to go, and Stay Aware
Be sure to ask other
family memebers, friends and neighbors if they are HURRICANE AWARE too.
| TAKING
ACTION is as easy as 1-2-3:
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Before Hurricane Season
Starts YOU SHOULD:
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Assemble
your Disaster
Supply Kit.
These
items are often scattered around your home and simply need to be brought
together into one location. |
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Write
out your Family
Disaster Plan.
Discuss
the possible hazards with your family. Determine if you are in an evacuation
area. Identify an out-of-town family contact. |
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When a Hurricane Watch
is issued YOU SHOULD:
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Check
your Disaster
Supply Kit.
Make sure
nothing is missing. Determine if there is anything you need to supplement your
kit. Replenish your water. |
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Activate
your Family Disaster Plan.
Protective
measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time
(for example, securing a boat or leaving a barrier island). |
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When a
Hurricane Warning is issued YOU SHOULD:
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Ready
your Disaster Supply Kit for use.
If you need to
evacuate, you should bring your Supply Kit with you. |
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Use
your Family Disaster Plan.
Your
family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding
the safest location to be during the storm. |
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Articles:
...There aren't any news yet for this topic... | |
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 | News · Total News: 27
· Total Reads: 23255
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 | Projects · Total News: 0
· Total Reads: 0
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Articles:
...There aren't any news yet for this topic... | |
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Articles:
Pete Sides, W4AUP, SK: Pete Sides, W4AUP, SK (ke5gdk)
Memorial services for Sandy Donahue, W4RU (KE5GDK)
KD4UPU - Silent Key: KD4UPU - Silent Key (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
Pete Sides, W4AUP, SK
by: ke5gdk
2009-12-11 19:13:48
SIDES, William Peyton "Pete", 101 a resident of Montgomery, AL died Thursday, December 10, 2009. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 12, 2009 from Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, AL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Sides and a son, Peyton Andrew Sides. Mr. Sides retired after 41 years with Alabama Power Company and was an amateur radio operator for 80 years. Leak-Memory Chapel Directing www.leak-mc.com
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Articles:
Amateur Radio Commemorates the Attack on Pearl Harbor: Amateur Radio Commemorates the Attack on Pearl Harbor (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
Amateur Radio Commemorates the Attack on Pearl Harbor
by: kg4pnl
2006-12-06 11:15:17
December 7th marks 65 years since the Japanese surprise attack
on the US Naval base in Hawaii. The Governor of Alabama
has ordered the flags to half staff to commemorate this
sad historical event. The amateur radio community will
honor this day as we have so many times before, with
Special Event Stations.
Working these stations is not only good for the log book,
it helps us remember the importance of being prepared.
Tune up your antennas and seek out some of these rare
contacts. Here are a couple of interest:
Commemoration of Pearl Harbor
The Historical Electronics Museum ARC will sponsor the
Commemoration of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor 02-10 Dec. Special Event call sign W2W can be
found on 7.241, 14.241; 7.041; and/or 14.041MHz. Other
modes and bands may be used, as conditions permit. Send
large SASE with enough postage for 1.5-2 oz for specially
designed certificate; regular SASE for QSL to Nick Yokanovich,
HEMARC, P.O. Box 1693, MS 4015, Baltimore MD 21203
Pearl Harbor Day
The USS Kidd Amateur Radio Club, W5KID, an adjunct of the Baton
Rouge Amateur Radio Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana will sponsor
Special Event station W5KID 07 Dec. Operating frequencies will
be inside the General Class bands. Most likely band activity
will be 20 Meters around 14.250 to 14.320. Other bands are possible.
CW activity will be near the QRP calling frequencies, 7.040; 10.106;
14.060; 21.060; 28.060, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., CST/CDT. QSL
requests must be made with SASE, #10 envelope or larger and sent to
W5KID c/o USS Kidd Museum, 305 South River Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
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Articles:
SOB V Launch a Big Success! (w4spa)
My first CW contact!: My first CW contact! (K4GDW)
Amateur Radio - Back To School!: Amateur Radio - Back To School! (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
SOB V Launch a Big Success!
by: w4spa
2008-09-09 11:01:35
The launch and recovery of SOB V was a hugh success! Many thanks to everyone that helped out in any way. We couldn't have done it without all the assistance. Launch occured at 7:05 AM local time from KV4AC's QTH. The balloon rose slowly and silently into the morning sky. About 2 minutes after launch Tom, WB8COX, called on the radio to confirm he had the balloon icon on his laptop screen. This meant he was receiving and decoding the APRS signal from the balloon while in his truck in Tallassee. At that point, I felt like there was a real chance we were going to be successful... but only if the electronics on-board kept working. Around 7:30 AM Lamar, KC4LZO, called to report the predicted landing site. He had taken data from the NWS and run it through a software program that models balloon flights to arrive at a likely landing site. The prediction was for a landing near Tallassee... GREAT, I thought, we've already got chase teams in that area. For the next hour or so, we continued to watch the balloon icon on the computer screen move slowly East-north-eastward across 231, across I-85 all the time getting higher and higher... through 30,000 ft... 50,000 ft finally reaching 68,684 ft at burst. At this point it began falling and falling rapidly. At over 3,000 ft per minute my precious little box was plumetting back toward the Earth. Throughout the entire flight Bobby, N4AU, and Rik, KU4PY called out current location and ground track data to the chase teams. The 84 repeater was buzzing with activity as the chase teams coordinated their locations and directions of travel with one another. At this point, I could do nothing but wait and watch the telemetry numbers as they streamed across my computer screen. Where was it going to land was the big question.. and how hard was it going to hit the ground! Had the parachute gotten tangled and not opened? As the balloon got lower and into denser air, the parachute started to slow it's descent, what a releif! The chase teams began to close in on the likely landing site somewhere near Friendship. I could hear El, K4DJL, Mike, KB0OLA, Tom, WB8COX and Daniel, KE5GDK, Rodney, KJ4FPZ, and Dave, K5STL all talking about which turn to take to head toward the landing site. As the balloon made it's final descent to moved slightly more toward Rt 229 in Tallassee and finally came to rest in a small pine tree about 100 yards North of Ben Atkinson Motors... thank goodness it didn't hit a brand new car! All the flight hardware was completely intact and everything was still working. What a great flight! If you'd like to see the pictures taken from the payload, follow this link:
SOB-V Images
Thanks again to all that helped or listened. Stay tuned for details about SOB VI!
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Articles:
SOB IX - ARHAB third place altitude record holder! (w4spa)
Next SoB launch - Feb 7, 2009 9:00AM (ke5gdk)
| Most recent article:
SOB IX - ARHAB third place altitude record holder!
by: w4spa
2009-08-01 22:16:09
The SOB IX flight was sponsored by the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club. The MARC purchased the expensive 3000 gram sounding balloon for the flight. In spite of having lost contact with the payload at an altitude of 122,457 ft, we did get APRS telemetry data back from it long enough to put us in third place on the altitude list!
The launch of SOB IX was right on schedule at 6:30 AM CDT on Saturday, August 1, 2009. We filled the balloon with hydrogen gas until it was pulling upward about 4 1/2 pounds. Then we attached the 35 oz payload to it and released it. It disappeared into some low clouds just a couple of minutes after launch. We continued to track the payload via APRS signals by using truck mounted decoding equipment and computers. The balloon drifted Eastward at around 15 mph until it reached an altitude of about 55,000 ft. Then, just South of Shorter, it made a "U" turn and traveled back to the West. It passed directly over the city of Montgomery still moving West. When it passed over the I65/I85 intersection, it was over 103,000 ft high and was beginning to pick up speed. While still continuing to ascend and increase in speed, it moved to the West of Montgomery, roughly paralleling Hwy 80. The speed continued to steadily increase, reaching a maximum of over 70 mph. After the balloon reached about 120,000 ft, the ascent rate really started to decrease. It was still going up, but getting slower and slower. We continued to wacth the telemetry data come into our our computers and cheered with each higher altitude report. Then without warning, at approximately 8:52 AM and an altitude of 122, 457 ft, it suddenly stopped transmitting. We continued to monitor the frequency, calling N4AU, KU4PY and W4FDD, who were recording the data at their respective home stations but they didn't hear it either. We called N4UZZ, KI4CSQ, K4DJL and KE5GDK who were downrange; but nothing from there either. Minutes went by without any additional transmissions. What had happened? Who knows. The payload is bright white and it's labeled with a weatherproof placard so hopefully someone will find it and send it home.
The SOB project will go on. We're already discussing the new payload. Stay tuned.. there's more to come.
On behalf of the entire SOB team, thanks for your continued interest in and support of our adventures!!
73,
--Scott
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Articles:
RST Cheat Sheet: RST Cheat Sheet (kg4pnl)
| Most recent article:
RST Cheat Sheet
by: kg4pnl
2006-04-19 13:35:45
I have trouble remembering the format, so I thought I would post this here for all our amateurs with a newly aquired Element 1 CSCE.
| Amateur Radio RST Signal Reporting System for CW Operation
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Readability - Strength - Tone: RST Signal Reports |
R-S-T
Characteristics |
Readability
R |
Strength
S |
Tone
T (cw) |
| 1 |
Unreadable |
Faint signals, barely perceptible |
Sixty cycle a.c or less, very rough and broad |
| 2 |
Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable |
Very weak signals |
Very rough a.c., very harsh and broad |
| 3 |
Readable with considerable difficulty |
Weak signals |
Rough a.c. tone, rectified but not filtered |
| 4 |
Readable with practically no difficulty |
Fair signals |
Rough note, some trace of filtering |
| 5 |
Perfectly readable |
Fairly good signals |
Filtered rectified a.c. but strongly ripple-modulated |
| 6 |
N/A |
Good signals |
Filtered tone, definite trace of ripple modulation |
| 7 |
N/A |
Moderately strong signals |
Near pure tone, trace of ripple modulation |
| 8 |
N/A |
Strong signals |
Near perfect tone, slight trace of modulation |
| 9 |
N/A |
Extremely strong signals |
Perfect tone, no trace of ripple or modulation of any kind |
Notes
Select the signal's most prominent characteristic from each of the R, S, and T
columns in the chart. Select the number from the R-S-T Numeral (left) column
which corresponds to each characteristic chosen. This R-S-T sequence of numbers
becomes the RST signal report.
If the signal has the characteristic stability of crystal control, the letter X
may be added to the end of the RST report. Use the the letter C to indicate a
chirp on the signal and the letter K for key clicks.
"RST is 599" - means that the morse code cw signal being assessed is Readability
5 (perfectly readable), Strength 9 (extremely strong signal), Tone
9 (perfect tone). This is the ultimate cw signal.
This reporting system may also be used for phone operation by leaving out the
Tone (T) portion of the report. For example, a signal of "5 9" means that the
phone signal is Readability 5, and Strength 9; a perfectly
readable and extremely strong signal. The term "S-9" is also used to report a Strength
9 for an extremely strong signal. If an S-Meter is being used as a basis of the
signal report, an S-9 is the numeric level of 9 (S-Units) on the meter.
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