Waiting for Midnight.....

Happy New Year to you all!

While researching an Internet Radio using the Raspberry Pi, I found this:-

http://oldradios.co.za/ 

Well worth a look. A 'local' site with some insights into restoring 'veteran radios'. So we don't call them 'old'...

Also if you need some general info on the Barlow Wadley check here. 

Club Server

I found that power supply has a 'slow' fan. It needs oiling or replacing. I shall get to this in the next few days.

Club PC Sound Card

I have found the chassis sockets (3.5 mm) and a plate for mounting them on. Also getting to them in the next few days.

73

John ZS6WL 

Helical Aerials for H.F. - ongoing development

A long time ago I made an 11 metre CB aerial. It blew the locals away and I received complaints of 'bleeding'. When measured with a field strength meter it showed a strong field at 10 wavelengths away.

Now I have a beautiful H.F. rig, I need an aerial system. The receiving wire just does not cut it. I don't have lot of room for a full size 40 metre dipole. So I have looked into helical aerials again.

While I was shut down, yesterday afternoon, I got around to making my helical aerial for 10 metres. The storm passed and did not look like there was another in the line from the South West.

Not too pretty - yet. But it will be neater when finished. 

The 'source' document for this aerial is the 1978 Radio Amateur's Handbook from the ARRL. When I checked this section, it had not changed in the 1992 edition. So maybe there has not been much work done on it since...

73
John ZS6WL
 

 

2013 SARL Field Day

At about 10H00  on the 15th November 2013 we met at the Club House to collect all the equipment that was needed for the field day. We left the Club at about 11H00 and made our way to our destination for the weekend - Krugersdorp Game Reserve.

We arrived just before 12H00 and after setting up the tent we started assembling the antennas. This was the first time in anger that Noel ZR6DX erected his home made tower which is fitted to the front of his Land Rover. I must say it went up without a hitch and the TH-6 looked elegant up about 10 m. What a brilliant piece of engineering - well done Noel you can be proud of your effort.

The other antennas were a G5RV, hex beam and a loop skywire. We finally finished erecting the antennas at about 18H00. On Saturday night the natural elements turned against us and we were ill-treated by a massive thunder storm, howling wind and of course rain. At one stage we thought the big tent might be blown away. After a couple of hours the storm abated and we could continue operating again.

An enjoyable weekend was had by all who took the trouble to spend the weekend there. When the results came out we did not do as well as we had hoped, but still managed 3rd place. Please follow the link below to see the pictures taken during the weekend.


http://www.zs6wr.co.za/live/photo-gallery/fd-nov-2013

Geoff Levey  ZS6GRL