The AM Forum

What do you guys think about holding forth on a regular PW net?

Power to be limited to 5 watts or less, maybe one or two tall ships to ward off QRM.
Ricebox to homebrew hot cathode emitters would be welcome.
Weekend afternoons seem a prime time on the band, quiet and empty.

I've been doing informally on and off for the last month or so, but if it was a known event it might encourage some addtional activity and even spark some homebrewing of PW rigs.

Steve as a nice link at http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/k1etppw.htm for a simple cakepan TX, but anything, homebrew to ricebox would be welcome.

What say you?

-1UJR

I take it thats a NO?  ;D

           The  ....   UAN Memorial Net  ....

If you have a PW Net, how do you know when anyone checks in ?

Bruce,
         I'm ready to rock any time.

(http://unix-srv.1gflabs.com/ke1gf/New_75M_PW_TX/PW_Front_Complete_Operating.jpg)

-Bill 'GF

Bruce - Count me in.
Joe N3IBX

What works for you guys?

Afternoon or morning?

75 meters?

Weekends?

How about something like 75 meters on Sunday afternoon before the band gets busy, say in the area of 1PM or so?

I am thinking that this might serve as fun project to stimulate the interest in homebrew for newcomers to the hobby, and at the same time encourage some of us old buzzards to break open the parts boxes and build something new. Could be a fun way to experiment with new stuff, solid state and tube.

What say you?

1UJR

What?  Is he still talking?

I have a 6aq5 cakepan tx, build on a handicap parking sign about 70% complete. This is my first homebrew tx. Hope to have it finish by the time the pw net starts. also they are a big group on 3885 hr at around noon to 1:30 on sundays. Matthew KR4WI

Bruce- I think Sunday afternoons at 1PM on 75M would work out fine. I can be PW&Y (PissWeak and Yellowy) or a tall ship. Whatever works best for the group.
Regards,
          Joe N3IBX

I'm in.

 Of course I may get on with my favorite PW homebrew.
A 6V6 modulated by a pair of 6F6s all built on an old AM/FM rcvr chassis. 7 W out with plenty of mod. There is a switch behind the "final" which reduces output to 300MW. Have had  QSOs without the other station knowing it.

Nice Bootown plate meter. The idea was to build it up with all odd parts I had kicking around.

(http://home.comcast.net/~chnord/Homebrew_6F6.jpg)

Carl - Your PW rig is "The Berries"! Good construction job and hope to hear it on the air! I love the homebrewski base you made for the JT30 microphonium. It's not rocket science, and very functional.
I wish we lived closer. You and I could get into some serious trouble and would be the scorn of both of our xyl's - hi!

BTW, is the transmitting inductance a 160M end linked job? Do you have a coil for 75M?
Regards,
           Joe N3IBX

That's a pretty neat rig, Carl. I've never seen it before. It's cool when the parts are out in the open to molest... ;D

Here's my 6AQ5 X 6AQ5 series modulated rig. It features a crystal VXO to pull the xtals around about 3kc. Seven crystals continuosly cover the full 3868-3892 area. It runs 2W or 200mW. Fully self contained - just plug in a mike or line level hi-fi audio and xtal.  All Teflon wire. It will easily do 250% modulation and it's the only rig I can run super audio where no one complains. PW has its advantages.

I've been very busy starting a new business and building up the new rigs, so haven't made an effort to get on the air. But I will make an exception for the PW Net and fire this thing up to join in.

73,
T

Schematic:
http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/series.htm

(http://home.comcast.net/~k1jj/wsb/media/254120/site1095.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~k1jj/wsb/media/254120/site1094.jpg)

Big Picture Views:
http://home.comcast.net/~k1jj/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-2106079.html
http://home.comcast.net/~k1jj/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-2106076.html

I like the Sunday at 1PM thing, maybe just hang a bit below the AM Window.

Carl, I like your suggestion and certainly want you and your gear in the Net.
Do you think that there may be too much competition at 5PM to run the net, early afternoons work seem to have less activity?

Let’s try 1:00PM and then we can shift to later times if it works for the guys, we can experiment and find out what works best.

Same with the freq thing, thinking 3875, but of most of the group are rock bound, we can pick another freq.

So, despite the good WX, I will be on today bellowing out for the AM PW Net at 1:00PM.

See who comes back, and with what gear.

If we are going to do this on a regular basis, can I get a volunteer for a backup or alternative NCS?

It would also be interesting to see what gear everyone is running, so free feel to post to this thread with images and/or descriptions.

-1UJR

Bruce,

Good deal, OM.

A few suggestions:

Through experimentation back in 1995, I found that the best times for a Sunday PW Net in the Spring were around 3-4PM.  This lets the W3's and W1's communicate as well as provide a time slot where many guys were coming back from outside chores, etc.  You want a time that is maybe an hour or two before sunset for best condix.

I won't be around at 1PM today, but will listen in later this afternoon.  BTW, most of the xtal controlled rigs use 3885 xtals or around that area. To hold a net, it's a good idea to try for 3885 + - 5kc if possible...

Later -

T

Tom Vu - It would be great to have you aboard and hear your series modulated rig again. I remember we worked one time a few years ago on 75M and you sounded superb! I believe you were running your usual audio chain at the time. I heard you at 2W and 200MW UPW (ULTRAPissWeak).

Bruce,Carl,Others, let's give it a whirl next Sunday at 1PM EDT on 3885KC. We'll keep it informal. I'll be on something higher powered like a BC-610 or T-368 to ward off the evil slopbucketeering spirits (The frequency is in use OM, thanks for asking) if they interfere, and to "coach" if necessary. I think it'll be fun!

Carl - WA1KPD - Do you have/need a 75M coil? I can give you one whilst you're here and we could operate together. What say?

Paul - K2ORC
Slab Bacon - KB3AHE
Chris KD2XA
Timmy WA1HLR
Bill - KE1GF

etc etc get your Pissweak rigs online if you can.

Best Regards,
                  Joe N3IBX

Hello All,
          Unfortunately I won't be able to make the 1PM net on Sunday since a family issue came up. Hope to be able to make the next one.
Joe N3IBX

I cannot make this one either.

Joe- Looks like Sunday is going to be a non- starter doe to other family issues. We will try again next time I am in the area.
73

Next week then?

(http://www.brucehowes.com/images/W1UJR_NewCard.jpg)

Bruce - Even though it'll be Easter Sunday, count me in!

How about Sunday 4/16 at 12:30AM on 3885KC? I'll be able to stay for at least one hour possibly two.

Joe N3IBX

I'll try to be there, but doubt that anyone will hear me :)
Al

Have Easter dinner this weekend at 1 at the inlaws. may try earlier say around 11 to see if anyone is on

Carl - I'll try to get on 3885KC at 11AM. Hope to work you and others then. In the meanwhile have a Happy Easter!
         Joe Cro N3IBX
 

Hope to see everyone today, Easter Sunday at about 11AM on 3885KC.

Give me your Pissweak and hyellowy!
                                                  Joe Cro N3IBX

Be there or be QRO

Carl - I'll be QRO (325W) on the Hallicrafters HT4-H. I plan on turning it on about 10AM to get some stability from it's tooning unit. I'd LOVE to hear your new HB transmitter. It's the "Berries"!
                   Joe Cro N3IBX

Hello All,
          I would like to thank everyone who made the "Pissweak and Hyellowy" net today at 11AM. Please find the following check-ins, their equipment,power levels and signals into Washington Crossing,Pa.:

WA1KPD Carl, Killingworth,Ct. HB 6V6 X6F6's 7W output    S1-2

KD2XA Chris Mamoroneck,NY  Drake T4XB 10W                 S5

WB2CAU Eric L.I.NY. FT-101B/R-2000 18W                      S3-6

KE2IL Sal FT-1000 MKV        L.I. NY.   115W                    S9

W2DTC Ken Middletown,NJ   6.5W Viking II on variac         S2

W2GEZ Mike Princeton,NJ   Yaesu FT-101  25W                S1-3

KC2IFR Bill,Upstate NY. Viking 500/R-390A  300W              S9+15

KA3TGV Doug Lewistown,Pa  FT-920 w AL811 75W         S9
                                          FT-920 w/o amp 6W          S2-3

Conditions weren't all that terrific so I'd guess signals will be hopefully better the next time around. I was on a Valiant II at about 125W output from SE Pa, near Philly.

Best Regards and a very happy holiday.
                                                     Joe Cro N3IBX                 

Good time Joe, but the sigs were weak. Maybe the wrong time of day. i will be on 1945 tonight with K1VYU and both of us will be PW. If that does not work , I will turn on the amp, a pair of 807s.
Thanks to W1UX
(http://home.comcast.net/~chnord/IMG_3969.JPG)

   Thanks for getting the "net" off the ground Joe. i know we talked about doing this a few years ago but never got it going. nice to see it work and actually get some participation. by the way i need to correct you on my station: i was running 10 watts out of the screen modulated (modified) T4XB, not 20. 20 wattts is QRO, HA! and i bet you never thought you'd hear me on at 11AM either, eh? next week i'll be back but on my old novice 6L6 xtal oscillator rig, modded by a pair of 6L6's. can i put in a vote for a better time to do this? how about late afternoon, say 4 or 5 PM? 11AM is a bad time to be PW+H on 75.

Hey Joe, thanks for taking the lead!

I spaced on that entire day, wow, missed out on some good fun.
Next weekend for sure OM.

Perhaps I'll catch you on 160 this week, hope to get on in the evenings, QRN permitting.

73 Bruce W1UJR

Chris,Others,
                 I'd like your comments about 75M propogation at 3-4PM or so. To my knowledge of medium wave that would be the "critical hours" in which propogation isn't at it's finest. I know 3.9MHZ isn't medium wave, but from my own experiences I think we'd stand a better chance running PW&H earier in the day by reception reports coming from the windchime and "quirm" beacon generator located in Liberty Corner, NJ - hi!

Phil, K2PG: Any comments about this? Ditto for anyone else. Your inpoot will be most appreciated by all.

I fired up my "Beastly 610" and had massive arcing from the plate control relay as well as other places and will try to get that situation rectified by next Sunday. The BC-610 will do 325 output on 'fone, which will make it easier to hear. Also, I have a nifty "Ameco" GasFET preamp I can run with the SX-17 or other receiver that would help me to hear the more pissweak and hyellowy among us.

If it weren't for the BC-610 crapout and quick switch over to the Valiant II, I would have had a decent "preamble" to introduce the net. I didn't want to keep others waiting "in the bucket" as my oldbuzzard buddy Jack, W1EUI says, so I just broke into the net to get it moving along.

I think the ideal situation would be to have a "tall ship" located at points North,South,East, and West to hear as many stations as possible and then report each one in to the net control station.

Let's discuss strategies, pw operating practices, etc., whatever, that you feel would make the PW&H net more fun and enjoyable for everyone.

Give us your hyellowy and Pissweak transmitters, your modulated oscillators and triode connected 6L6's yearning to transmit QRM free!

Best Regards,
                  Joe Cro N3IBX