Amateur Radio
I have gotten the new cards now. So if you have sent a card and have not gotten a reply from me
they should be coming soon. I'm writing this as of Feb. 23rd., 2002 This also includes any
report replys for the KD4MZM/b beacons. Thanks...
Welcome to my little place on the net. I'm Eric KD4MZM. I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Just in case, this page and writing may lead in all directions. I don't claim to be a good
writer. I just type it like I would say it if we was eyeball to eyeball, hihi.
I'm setting up this page in hopes of helping others do the things I've done or still doing
with amateur radio. I enjoy all modes and bands, but enjoy 50mhz. and up weak signal
modes. I've been into the SSB side of it to moon bounce to the hot new modes of
"High Speed Meteor Scatter", HSMS, PSK31
I can be found most of the time sitting on 50.125, 144.200, and 432.100. I have a rig for
each band. This allows me to catch that rare dx when the band opens. Just in case the band
does open, I'm here in Sarasota, Florida, USA, or grid Sq. EL-87rg.
THE KD4MZM BEACON STATIONS
vvv de kd4mzm/b el87rg
I enjoy putting back into the hobby the stuff I've gotten from it.
So with that in mind I set out to build a multi band, multi mode beacon
system. I plan on having many beacons up and running 24/7. I will list them here.
10 Meter Beacon
The 10 meter beacon is a converted Cobra 148gtl cb radio. I have it setup
to run at 1 watt on 28.275 usb, zero beat. This beacon has been running
since April 2000. The radio feeds a Antron A-99 vertical at 15 feet to the base.
I run 75 feet of rg-8x feedline to the antenna. Even with 1 watt and the
low antenna, I've gotten reports from around the world. This just shows that
a QRP station can work the world if the band is open.
For more information on the 10 meter beacon go to http://qsl.net/kd4mzm/beacon.htm
or you can just click here KD4MZM 10 Meter Beacon Info
2 Meter Beacons
This proved to be little tricky, as I want 2 beacons on this band. I want
to put a CW beacon and a FM beacon on the air. With the CW beacon the weak
signal guys could use it. The FM beacon I wanted to put up so the local guys
or the stations without a multimode rig could use it. I have found that the
FM beacon is very usefull on the local level. Stations report that they would use
it to compair antennas, radios and such. The CW beacon is a older Yaesu FT-221r
multimode rig running at 3 watts into a horazontal loop at 15 feet. The FM
beacon is a Icom IC-02AT running a 1/2 watt into a small amp to bring the total
output up to 5 watts into a Cushcraft ARX-2 vertical up 20 feet.
As of this writing, both rigs are in the testing mode. As soon as they pass
the break-in test I will put both on the air. Keep watching, as I will
post the freqs and date they go live on the air.
6 Meter Beacon
This is the band of choice right now. With the current solor cycle on a uphill
rise, things should get good here. The rig for this band is a older Yaesu FT-620b.
It is running about 2-3 watts out. This is feed into a 6 meter diopole with a
north-south pattern. The antenna is up about 18 feet. I'm sorry to say that this
is my only beacon that don't run 24/7. The rig gets to hot, even with a fan. I'm
looking into getting a older Hygain chassis type cb radio that can be redone to
6 meters. A few years ago, QST and 73 both had storys about guys using this type
of setup to get on 6 with. So I've been looking at the swap meets and flea markets
hoping to find one or two. I'd like to find two so I could do the same thing on
6 as I've done on 2 meters.
432 Mhz. Beacon
The 432 beacon is still in the building phase. I have gotten a Hamtronices
transverter for this band. I will use a Uniden HR-2600 for the input, and the
transverter will put the signal back out on 432. I'm hoping to have this
one up and running soon. The paperwork says I should see about 1 watt out, so
I'm planning to add a small amp here also to bring the output up to about
5 watts or so.
The KD4MZM Packet BBS System
Thanks to Eddie, KI4ZJ for getting me started with this great mode. I also run a full service multi port, multi band Packet BBS. I enjoy this mode alot. I've had the BBS running since July of 1992. Knock on wood I've been able to keep it running. I've had three lightning hits to it. And my luck would have it, they all happened in the same year!. The BBS does run 24/7 no matter what the weather is doing outside. I was hit 2 of the three times when I took the time to unplug the stuff and still lost things. So with that in mind I just let it run. I figure if I'm going to get hit, I'll get hit. As of this writing I currently have ports running at 145.010, 145.030, 145.050, and 28.185 usb.. All these ports run at 1200 baud. I run three 2 meter ports as I lost my 440 radio with the last lightning hit. On my main packet port of 145.050, I've put a Alinco DR-1200 on line, and a 150 watt amp. The amp is never on, unless there is a problem that calls for it. I have told all the local groups that I would switch freqs and turn the amp on if they needed to use the system or needed it as a digi. That was the main reason for putting the amp on that port. The 10 meter port runs a RCI-2970 at 125 watts out. This port can be very busy at times.
The KD4MZM Repeaters
As of this writing, I've finally have gotten my approval from the Florida Repeater Councel.
I am now working on building the 440 repeater. If all goes well with it should be on
the air this summer. My goal is to link it to 6 meters and 10 meters. I have a 10 meter
repeater up and ready, or at least I thought it was. Being here in Florida we get our
summertime lightning, and I took a hit. I'm working hard at getting this system back
on the air.
The KD4MZM Station Pics
I am currently working on taking a few pics of the radio setup here, along with the BBS setup and Beacons. I hope to have them here shortly. I'm also taking a few pics of the massive antenna farm here also. Please check back for them. Thanks
The KD4MZM Antenna Farm
As you can tell from the above, to be able to do so much you would need a antenna farm. Well I do have one. It's a site to see. The tricky thing is getting all the antennas to work with each other and not impose a problem with one another. People next to me think I'm a little nuts for wanting so many. But when you enjoy the hobby as much as I do you go for it. They may not like them to a point, but it's funny how they are first to knock on the door when the DO-DO hits the fan from a storm. This is when the hobby can really shine. I'm always ready to let them know whats going on, if I know. I've even brought some into the shack to let them hear first hand what we hams can do when called into duty. I've even let some use the radio to talk with other hams. This all boils down to good P.R. work. One other thing that I've done is give my phone number to everyone on all sides of me. I tell them if I'm on the air and they hear me to call right then and there. This can be your biggest helping hand to them. I have found that if I do bother them I can make adjustments right then or stop talking untill the problem is fixed. This keeps all partys happy, and shows that hams do have pride in the way we run our stations.
USA County Hunting
I've been into county hunting, but not on a full time thing. I'd rather give out a county than work a new one, to a point. I'm here in Sarasota County, Florida. Everyday for the drive to work I can be in Manatee County, Florida if someone needs that one. I mostly stay on 10 meters at 28.825 or 28.345. If you need ether of these countys on another band ether mobile or base just let me know. I'd be happy to set a time and confirm them for you.
IOTA
I've just lately been getting into the IOTA, Islands on the Air contest thing. If you look around where I'm at here in Sarasota, Florida you will see that I'm right next to many islands here. Again the same with this as with the countys, if you need one of them and I can help let me know. I have read that July is IOTA month, I'm planning on being active on some of the islands around here. Maybe we can work each other.
The Thanks
It wouldn't be right to at least not talk about who has made this all really happen.
First would have to be MOM & DAD, for giving me the space to
be able to put up the massive antenna farm here. Also to them for allowing me to
place 2 towers at thier house for the remote links for the 10 meter repeater.
Also I would have to "Thank" my two brothers one which is a ham, Jason KD4UBZ and the
other one Alan who is studying for his test. They both have helped place and climb the
towers here many times. Also, "Thanks" to the XYL here, Allison KE4OLL for allowing me
the time to enjoy the hobby.
"THANKS"
Member of ARRL
10-10 Member #63219
You can email me at Eric KD4MZM