Category — Clubs

In this series on Club Program ideas, I’m providing possible programs for clubs to use in their meetings. You can find a full explanation of the approach in Club Programs – The Series.

Today’s program idea: Building Practical Wire Beams.

Sometimes we can’t have towers. Sometimes we don’t want towers. But, we have trees or other supports. This program shows members how to build practical wire beams for HF.

Possible format for the program:

• The case for wire beams
• Practical support considerations
• Building methodology
• Performance compared to Yagi’s

Wire beams can be a great addition to the ham radio arsenal. This program helps explain the how and why.

Scot, K9JY

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In this series on Club Program ideas, I’m providing possible programs for clubs to use in their meetings. You can find a full explanation of the approach in Club Programs – The Series.

Today’s program idea: 1.2 GHz — the little antenna with the big punch.

1.2 GHz uses the littlest of antennas. A 20-element beam isn’t even three feet long.

Yet, 1.2 GHz offers some great ham applications, ones that we know little about.

This program would explore all things 1.2 GHz:

• equipment
• antennas
• practical applications

Scot, K9JY

In this series on Club Program ideas, I’m providing possible programs for clubs to use in their meetings. You can find a full explanation of the approach in Club Programs – The Series.

Today’s program idea: Greyline DXing.

The Greyline is where the sun starts to set and twilight begins. It is magic time for DXing, especially on the low bands. Especially on 160-meters.

This program explains greyline DXing.

Possible format:

• Defining greyline
• What makes greyline DXing so interesting
• Why crooked path works for greyline DXing
• Software programs for seeing the greyline

This form of propagation is eternally interesting. Sunrise and sunset DXing is magic. This program explains why that happens.

Scot, K9JY

In this series on Club Program ideas, I’m providing possible programs for clubs to use in their meetings. You can find a full explanation of the approach in Club Programs – The Series.

Today’s program idea: Sunspots and Propagation.

We’re in a new 11-year sunspot cycle and that’s exciting for a huge group of hams. But some in the club won’t understand the significance of the change in the sun and how it relates to the bands. Many people can’t remember what 10-meters was all about. And what do the numbers mean for opening a band?

Propagation gets lost in translation. A good club program on sunspots and effect on propagation is a solid idea.

Possible format:

• Definition of the sunspot number
• Definition of solar flux and relationship to the sunspot number
• Definition of the A and K index
• Equating solar flux to opening of a band. For example, a solar flux of 100 or more means 10-meters should open.
• What happens to propagation when the A and K index goes too high

Bonus idea: software programs that use these numbers to predict propagation to different parts of the world.

Sunspots are our friend. Time to get to know them a little better.

Scot, K9JY

In this series on Club Program ideas, I’m providing possible programs for clubs to use in their meetings. You can find a full explanation of the approach in Club Programs – The Series.

Today’s program idea: Six Meters and the Magic Band.

When I was with the Cinco Nueve Contest Club at TI5N, we were privileged to hear a lot about six meters from Costa Rica from Kiko, TI5KD. A passionate proponent of six meters, I learned a great deal about six meters and the magic band.

With the ARRL VHF Contest just completed, a program on six meters would be a great addition to the club schedule.

Possible subjects could include:

• Six meter propagation
• Six meter antennas
• Six meter equipment
• Best times to listen (and why listening all the time helps)
• Getting DXCC on six meters(!)

I have not been on six meters in my ham career. But there are people with passion for the band and that passion can translate into a great program for your members.

Scot, K9JY

Photo Credit: Diamond A502HB Base Station Yagi Beam

The ARRL has put up another blog site using the same software (but different hosting) as used here at K9JY.com. The site, called We Do that — Radio looks to provide news-type articles about the different aspects of Amateur Radio.

Since there are many aspects to the hobby, their ability to put out content should be pretty good.

One of the articles I found fascinating was the D-Star radio standard. I have seen D-Star mentioned, but I have not learned anything about it. The article gives a brief history, tells us about the standard, and shows us how it is being used at W1AW.

Also included is an interview with local Washington State hams (where I live) about the technology.

The site doesn’t allow comments, but offers good one-way information about the hobby. You can regularly visit the site or subscribe via an RSS Feed like you can here on K9JY.com.

Scot, K9JY