40 METERS TONIGHT 7.290 -+

[W2PFY]

We’re going to do it again tonight. We’ll start at 8:00 PM on 7.290 -+ QRM.

Peter KA3STN is still at the cabin. He had about 10 people working him last week and I guess there were some side QSO's.

Thanks to all who got on last week. The excitement is growing. Peter is going bonkers with anticipation and I had to go to the shrink to get some chill pills. Don't want to blow a gasket before 8:00PM  

Lets make it happen guys & dolls.


73

Terry
  

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I'll have to haul the line for the dipole back up, we lowered it yesterday for painting purposes (the carriage house, not the dipole). Hopefully the front that slammed through here last night has passed and band conditions will be better.

Buddly was working a SSB station cross mode last week on 7.290 or so. The guy said he'd like to run AM, but the slop stations in the south don't like it and wouldn't let him, or something along those lines.

Hope to hear you in there, Terry.

[WA3VJB]

the slop stations in the south don't like it and wouldn't let him,

That's quite a message !!!!

QTF on that, over I bet many people encountered on the airwaves are not completely up-to-date on licensing and operating rules that have changed in recent months. 

This provides an opportunity to push back on any slop buckets who are struggling to share with the AM Community.

If an SSB station dares to tell you they will not allow you to run AM, just tell them in a somber, formal tone that you have the new AM endorsement¹ on your license, making it a premium class² license under the new rules³, and that they are not allowed⁴ to talk to you unless they get one too.

Optionally, express vague concern that they might be doing something illegal, and sound sincere and sympathetic.

Continue with your AM QSO with no further discussion.
^1. The AM Endorsement is part of your registration on AMFone.net

^2. Anyone with HF privileges

^3. Wing this reference. They won't get it anyway.

^4. Because you said so.

[AF9J]

Okee Doke, 

I'll be there. It'll be 7 PM CDT.  At the very least, I'll listen & work on the power supply.

Ellen - AF9J

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

the slop stations in the south don't like it and wouldn't let him,

That's quite a message !!!!

QTF on that, over

Oh, I've heard that from a number of folks already, Paul. I've been warned that when I get to 4 Land, the SSB stations allow AMers only to use 3885 at night, if that. Nothing to do with rules, just attitude. I have saved email, responses to a comment I made on the AMRadio reflector about AMers only getting on for nets, never to be heard from again until the next net. The responses explain the reason why they don't get on.

After talking with others, I was beginning to think it was hype - until hearing this fellow last week talking cross mode with Bud.

If it is true, my hope is that getting K1KBW and myself down there with big signals on the air regularly might bring other AMers out of the woodwork. I've worked Brian WA5AM (ex W5AMI) and a couple of others from 5 Land, virtually no one from 4 Land below the HUZ QTH. I have worked several from TN, KY, and so on.

[k3sqp]

Great sigs on 40.  KA3STN, W2PHY, W9AD, WA2ONK, W1VD,WA3AOQ< K3SQP and
probably many more. At one time or another everyone was s9 plus.. Trouble is it was never at
the same time. At least a strong nite time Am presence was on 40 meters.
Don't just listen...make some noise. Thanks for the reminder Terry..
Frank
K3San Quentin Prison...
hAM radio... where the future is in the past...

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I missed out. Was busy working on the house to get it ready for a showing today, and by the time I remembered, it was after 8 and the 40m dipole was still down for painting of the carriage barn.

Looks like the turnout was good though, and I concur: always good to have a hearty, active AM presence on the air.

[W1RC]

Guess you'll have to fire up the KW-1 and go for it.

73,

MisterMike,
W1RC

I've been warned that when I get to 4 Land, the SSB stations allow AMers only to use 3885 at night, if that. Nothing to do with rules, just attitude.  on.

[W3RSW]

Too bad y'all have to wait till night to run 40.  Ah well, somebody's gotta work and support quasi-retirees the way we've been accustomed.

Actually the band's been pretty good last couple of days.  Already QSO'd with Peter, STN y'day, approx. 11 to noon. Also tail end'd Russ WB3FAU and had a good long discussion of N. Pa.,( fishing and stuff) where I used to live with K3SQP, Frank from Irwin Pa. He's been on AM for a year now and I somehow missed him before.

 Frank had the greatest radio story about a 5V4 crapping out on him in his DX100, going to a radio store up the road, having his choice of GE, RCA, Sylvania pubes and getting back on the air in an hour and a half. Absolutely unheard of in this day and age.  (he took the GE. and didn't mention the name of the store, try as I might, heh, heh.

I've gotta attend a picnic/kids swim meet this eve. (tought duty) but sure would be delighted to check in around 9:00pmDST or so if everyone's still in QSO.  Oh, love those Q' sigs. ne est c'pas? Darned if I'm going to quit using colorful language.....  what separates us from the hoi poi....    Some of the best language and faux pas come from old yellowie local club news letters.  Love em.

[Ed-VA3ES]

     Couldn't hear anyone. Had a 30 over nine QRN and noise level that covereed  everyone up. Will try again tonight. 

[AF9J]

I listened to you guys for a while around 7-8 PM CDT.  We had a lot of noise here in the Midwest from storms off to the west.  I heard most people at one time or another.  The best sig was out of WA3AOQ, with his Globe Champ 300.  That rig sounded nice and punchy, without sounding tinny.  I e-mailed Rodger, WQ9E (also an AM Forum member), to tell him about how AOQ's rig sounded good on the air, and that the Globe Champion he picked up at a hamfest a few weeks ago was going to be a fine phone rig.  Yep, the roundtable made for nice listening, while I worked on the HP-23A supply.

73,
Ellen - AF9J

P.S. - I briefly tried breaking in, but couldn't pull it off.

Great sigs on 40.  KA3STN, W2PHY, W9AD, WA2ONK, W1VD,WA3AOQ< K3SQP and
probably many more. At one time or another everyone was s9 plus.. Trouble is it was never at
the same time. At least a strong nite time Am presence was on 40 meters.
Don't just listen...make some noise. Thanks for the reminder Terry..
Frank
K3San Quentin Prison...
hAM radio... where the future is in the past...

[W2PFY]

Too bad y'all have to wait till night to run 40.  Ah well, somebody's gotta work and support quasi-retirees the way we've been accustomed

Thanks to all that showed up. It was fun. Yes, there are too few people on in the morning. Wasn't like that a few years back? It seemed when 75 would fade away we locals in eastern NY and NE would go to 40 and signal were great. The band always seems long now so perhaps that is why not much activity is taking place in the mornings. Sill too much QRM at night and looks like the best time is after 4:00 AM till about 7:30 eastern. After 7:30 SSB signals from Texas and other parts are heard.

[Mike/W8BAC]

Hi All,

I was on between 7 and 9 PM this evening (Thursday, 6/21/07) at 7.290 early and 7.295. I worked AB8FJ, Ted in Loveland, OH (QRP, 0ne watt AM) and K9LZJ, Hank in Greenfield, IN from here in Detroit. Hank was running a Flex Radio, SDR-1000 and an Alpha 76-A.

Hank had a hum issue but sounded good. I listened but didn't hear anyone else? Told them both about the AM Fone group. Conditions?

Mike

[AF9J]

Hi Mike,

I heard you and Hank on 7295 trying to work out his Alpha 76-A issues.  Did you move up from 7290,  because some SSBers asked you to QSY (saying the freq. was in use)?, because I thought I heard them tell you and Hank to move.  I also heard a K4 station later, on 7290, who was told by the same SSBers to move because the freq. was in use.  BTW, what was Ted, AB8FJ using for a rig?

73,
Ellen - AF9J
Still working on the power supply

P.S. - I tried to break in to your QSO with Hank, but no luck.

[Mike/W8BAC]

Hi Ellen,

Nice to meet you. The two lids on 7290 just kept covering up a weak carrier. Had they not been so inconsiderate I might have pulled that one out. I told the two the frequency was active but they ignored me. When the band improved I was on 7.295. I think 7.290 got too crowded for them and they tried to mussel in on 7.293. NO more Mr nice guy. I cranked it up and made it plain "This frequency IS in use". They moved on.

I didn't catch Ted's rig. With conditions and his one watt I was lucky to get his hole call, name and location.

Make a bunch of noise next time please. I thought I heard a carrier. I always make room.
73

Mike

[AF9J]

Oops!  Didin't know you might have heard me Mike.  I'll try a bit more next time.  I was also busy with the Power Supply From Hell - aka HP-23A I won on eBay a few weeks ago.  So, I got caught up in working in it.  The caps were shot, and as I found out last night, at least two of the 100k resistors in the voltage doubler circuit for the the high voltage part of things, were also shot.  It wasn't just soldered, it was smothered in solder.  I had to use desoldering braid most of the time because I couldn't get things hot enough (even with a 100W solder gun) to get enough flow for my solder vacuum to do its job.  Most of the time I just said to myself, "forget it!", and cut off components.  Soldering on the replacement caps has been easy, it's the desoldering and removal that's been such a pain.  I've never had a desoldering job in my 29 years as a ham, that's been such a hassle.

Yeah, the guys you told to vamoose, might have been the same clowns telling the K4 station to QSY, when he was calling CQ on 7290.  They were at least 2-3 kHz below him.  If they had used filters,it would have been a non-issue.  Oh I forgot, that's too much to ask of them.  Part of the problem, could also be the fact that until recently, there hasn't been much AM activity on 7290.  So the SSBers have started to think it's extinct on 40m, and doesn't belong there anymore.  That's a stupid mentality.  Besides, what's their complaint?  They usually have no problem with the operators who use ESSB, in spite of the fact that for "good audio" its bandwidth can often be wider than an AM signal.  Go figure.

73,
Ellen - AF9J
Still trying to decide if she's going to do Field Day this year 

[k3sqp]

Hey Ellen,
I'll let AOQ know that his Globe Champ sounded great at your QTH.  (i hope it doesn't go to his head)
I listen to 40 m  most of the time that I'm in the shack.... Make some noise. No one can hear you
listening.
 Hey Terry,
I got the call correct w2PFY  PFY PFY. Thats ought to stick. Also cI checked out the Pix, good stuff...
Thanks
73
Frank
K3 San Quentin Prison
hAM radio, where the future is in the past...

[k4kyv]

I've been warned that when I get to 4 Land, the SSB stations allow AMers only to use 3885 at night, if that. Nothing to do with rules, just attitude. I have saved email, responses to a comment I made on the AMRadio reflector about AMers only getting on for nets, never to be heard from again until the next net. The responses explain the reason why they don't get on.

B.S.!!! They don't get on because they are too scrote-less. 

Put up a decent antenna and turn up the wick, and you'll have no trouble. To paraphrase Ashtabula Bill,  slopbuckets have never kept me from operating anywhere I wished in that part of the band.  I don't plop down on top of an ongoing QSO if the frequency is in use, but if there is a clear spot anywhere in the 3870-90 region (AM Ghetto), I don't hesitate to come on and call CQ or respond to another station.  I still have more fun below 3800 when there is some activity, simply because of less QRM and fewer of the usual "breakers" that tend to expand a one-on-one QSO into a huge roundtable within a matter of minutes.  But I do like to maintain some presence in the Ghetto as well.

You will never work 75m AM at night with a 25 ft. high G5RV, running 50 watts of carrier.

I don't do enough daytime ham radio to make a regular presence on 40m.  During the daytime, the No-Traffic net in 5-land thinks they own 7290, and come right up on top of an ongoing AM QSO and then proceed to complain about the QRM and threaten to call Papa FCC for help.  After about 0500 GMT in the evening (in N America), the region of 7150 opens up as the broadcasters shut down.  I have heard some good trans-atlantic QSO's at that time and frequency.  AM contacts with Europe should be easy at that time.

[flintstone mop]

I have to agree with Don. Some our problems are, of course, inconsiderate operators SSB and some AM too (1-2 kc away). And folks that try to make a contact with a few watts and the G5RV 25 feet off the ground. It's either a great vertical antenna and radials, or a resonant dipole OR my favorite untuned dipole about 60 feet in the air and open ladder and ALWAYS LEGAL LIMIT and lots of audio.
For the folks just getting their feet wet in AM, and do not have the above station equipment/antenna, then, they should use the "highway" when it's not so busy and full of competition
We have to dominate the ether with a nice quieting carrier despite ole Sol, who is a little petered out right now.
Fred

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

B.S.!!! They don't get on because they are too scrote-less. 

Oh, I don't disagree with that at all Don. In fact, if you listen to the AMI or Collins AM nets, you'll hear plenty of stations on with good signals, good audio, and interesting gear. Once the net ends, you won't hear them again for a week or month, whenever the next net takes place.

My concern lies more with the SSB stations who intentionally seek out and target AMers because they hate the mode. It doesn't bother me now because I can work plenty of strapping signals from the northeast, midwest, and into the south. Hopefully when I get moved and settled in Florida, I'll hear you, Brian, and some of the other tall ships down that way regularly. Doesn't sound like I can expect much help from the 'locals'. Maybe if they hear some regular activity?

You will never work 75m AM at night with a 25 ft. high G5RV, running 50 watts of carrier.

I'd even go so far as to say 100 watts is questionable on the average noisy night. I recall running the 32V-2 some 15+ years ago and being considered 'pissweak' by many when the band was rough (most nights). Things were a lot worse back then, but noise is noise and signal strength modulated with stout audio does make a difference.

I'll have to get the 40m ant pulled back up when I get home and see how the band sounds tonight. It was untied and then pulled loose from up on the ladder to start priming the carriage house, now I need to pull it down from the upstairs window since it's laying in the trees but too high to reach. 

[k4kyv]

My concern lies more with the SSB stations who intentionally seek out and target AMers because they hate the mode.

My response to those jerks?

Bring it on!

Let them get used to the AM Fact.


BTW, the carriage house looks a lot like my shack, which used to be a one-room school house.  Except for the windows it looks about the same size, shape and design.  Mine is 24' wide, 32' deep with 12' ceiling and unfinished loft.

And that's one of my summer projects.  Strip the thing, replace some rotten siding, prime and paint.

[W1GFH]

I'd even go so far as to say 100 watts is questionable on the average noisy night. I recall running the 32V-2 some 15+ years ago and being considered 'pissweak' by many when the band was rough (most nights). Things were a lot worse back then, but noise is noise and signal strength modulated with stout audio does make a difference.

Depends on where in the sunspot cycle you are. Around 2000-2003, I recall lotsa 100-watt AM sigs on 75M nightime being damn near full quieting. Valiants and Dixie 100s did well in stock mode, and it was fun to hear OT's dust off their ancient BA's and dip their foot in the AM waters. Hope those condx return soon...

[K1MVP]

Depends on where in the sunspot cycle you are. Around 2000-2003, I recall lotsa 100-watt AM sigs on 75M nightime being damn near full quieting. Valiants and Dixie 100s did well in stock mode, and it was fun to hear OT's dust off their ancient BA's and dip their foot in the AM waters. Hope those condx return soon...

Agree with GFH, when the sunspot cycle is halfway decent, 100 watts with a good antenna can and will
be heard, that is assuming one has good audio,-- preferably plate modulation.

A DX-100 or Viking 1 or 2 can "kick butt" with decent conditions,-- provided the band is not overly
congested(and not too many j--ks are on).

If conditions are "lousy" even running "legal limit" can be a waste of time and effort.

                                                      73, K1MVP

P.S., anyone who has ever done "Broadcast Band Dxing" can tell you that some days even clear
        channel megawatt stations can be real "iffy" some evenings if conditions are lousy.   

[Mike/W8BAC]

Hay Ellen.

I checked a seldom used email address yesterday and found something from Ted.


Hi Mike!

Thanks for the valiant effort to work my QRP AM signal from my new Ten-Tec
Argonaut V. That was my first 40 AM QSO with the rig and that was a lot of fun.
I have worked a few QSOs on 75 AM with the rig. The output is 5W carrier for
about 20W PEP.

I saw the posting on the AM board and will hang around a bit this evening to see
if I can join the fun with the QRP rig.

Your FT1000 sounds fantastic down here near Cincinnati.

73 de Ted, AB8FJ
 
I wrote Ted back and noted the correction to his output power (5 watts) and told him I was running an SDR-1000 and not an FT-1000. His reply below.


Hi Mike,

Was just reading the mail over on the AM list. Sorry on the mistake. I
heard the rig description but by the time I got upstairs to email I made
it into a FT1000. I was beaming after that QSO. Your signal sounded
great! W9AD always sounds fantastic down here on his SDR1K and amp. I
also had my solid-state regen receiver on frequency and you sounded
great on that little box too. Regens are great for AM receive, plenty of
audio bandwidth.

I'm going to operate this weekend so hopefully I'll run into you again.
After our QSO I tried 10 meter AM. No joy there so I went up to 29.6 FM
and made a QSO there with K4RRF in Orlando, FL. He was running an Omni
VI+ at 90W FM. What a fun evening! I'm heading down to the basement
shack in a while to try again.

I see Ellen, AF9J, wants to know the rig I was using. Please feel free
to update the post with the info if you wish.

Thanks again, it was a blast!

73 de Ted, AB8FJ

It's always nice to hear some feedback. Sounds like Ted will be listening, and looking for a contact or two this weekend so leave a little room and listen. 73

Mike

[AF9J]

Thanks for the info Mike,

I've been thinking of getting an Argonaut V for other non-AM stuff.  I've been trying to also do 10m & 6m AM, but like Mark, K3MSB, have had a hard time scaring up QSOs on those two bands, even when calling CQ, in spite of the fact that signals have been booming in.  I'm charging up the internal NiMH pack I have in my FT-897D, in case I get bored, and decide to either go out in the field to do Field Day, or got to one of two Field Day sites in the area, and use the 897D, to do something different (like AM, or VHF/UHF SSB & CW).  I'll keep an ear open for Ted ( I wish I knew what bands he's going to be on), but as much as I like to contest (WHEN it's done in a courteous manner [as in NOT barging in on a freq. to call CQ non-stop, ruining somebody else's QSO in the process]), Field Day's even more of a nuthouse, than your typical contest.

73,
Ellen - AF9J