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West Island Amateur Radio Club Bulletin
November 2015 Edition
Upcoming Meeting – November 16th 2015This month’s topic
“ Building a Remotely Operated Station ”Presented by Mark Morin VA2MM
President’s Message and Reportby Malcolm Harper, VE2DDZ ([email protected])
Hi all,
Thank-you very much to Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, for bringing us up-to-date on the state of amateur radio in Canadaand on the current state of Radio Amateurs of Canada. RAC is out of immediate danger of folding and perhaps now is agood time for all of us to re-examine our commitments to RAC.
I know that some of us judge RAC as an investment, deciding whether there will be sufficient personal advantage gainedday-to-day from RAC membership to be judged good value for our ham dollar. Some of us think of the work RAC doesdefending and promoting amateur radio on the national and international scenes and some of us think of our RACmemberships as support for the future of amateur radio. We each need to make our individual decisions on support forRAC. Of course, there are ways of supporting RAC other than by membership dollars. One of the main appeals theoutgoing president makes in the latest TCA is for volunteers. This is perhaps even more important for RAC than dollars atthis stage in their recovery.
A video from the Radio Society of Great Britain has been widely touted around the internet in the past couple of weeks. Ifinally got a chance to look at it last night and it is indeed well worth viewing. In case you haven't seen it yet, here is thelink:http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/amateur-radio-a-hobby-for-the-21st-century/
The SOTAers had a great time on Rigaud, see the brief notes and pictures later in the newsletter.
This month's meeting features a treat. Mark, VA2MM, is going to tell us how he designed and built his remotely operatedstation. I understand it involves an Elecraft K3, as well as multiple Raspberry Pis and Arduinos and a lot of thought andplanning.
November 16, 2015 Meeting Agenda
Tips SIGs Reports
◦ SOTA: Return to Rigaud 2015 Other Business Break (coffee, ragchew, cookies) Building a Remotely Operated Station - Mark VA2MM
See you on the 16th.
73,Malcolm VE2DDZ
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What happenedMinutes of the October 2015 WIARC meeting
by Keith Glashan, VE2MTL ([email protected])
Minutes of the WIARCMeeting October 20, 2015
The meeting began at 19:40.Malcolm VE2DDZ welcomed the 21attendees and started the meeting withusual roll call with call signs. Thedetails of the meeting follow.
1. Tip Time Tips: Gilles VA2EW suggests using a lowpower trap beam for receiving.Eamon VE2EGN recommended acompany named Groupe BBHlocated on Hickmore in VSL. Go inperson to get odd lengths. He got ¼in polypropylene rope 1,300 ft. $40.They have many types in thecatalogue. Try groupebbh.com
2. SOTA Rigaud November 7: Malcolm VE2DDZ reminded andinvited us to participate in an easySOTA event. I believe this will bethe 5th consecutive year the club hasgone there. It is an easy event. First,it is not too far from the West Island(25 mins from Kirkland). It’s an easyclimb, not too steep, and not too high.We will meet in the Fairview parkinglot to pool transportation. There maybe radios available for your operatingpleasure. After, there is lunch at theWillow Inn. Just how easy is that?
3. Field Day Survey: Eamon VE2EGN advised that hissurvey is coming. Be patient.
4. Christmas Party: We have a reservation at L’Academierestaurant for Dec 9th at 6:30PM. It isa “Bring your own wine/beer place”.Keep the date available.
5. Membership List: Further to our membership listdistribution, we have decided topublish names, calls, telephonenumbers, and e-Mail addresses only.A list is being distributed so that
members can opt for or against theirpersonal info being published.
6. AMSAT Up and Working: The latest “bird” is operational.WIARC, being a member of AMSAT,agrees to make a $100 donation.
7. Elsmere Island DX: Marc-Andre VE2EVN mentioned thatIOTA Elsmere Island in Nunavut will beactivated during the CQ WW contest.We should look for call signVE3KTB/VY0 on Oct 24th and 25th.
8. Break Time Cookies: This evening, the break time treats wereprovided by Bob VE2AXO. ThanksBob. According to the volunteer sheet,Ken VE2KLF will provide treats fornext month’s meeting. By the way, thiswill be the second time for Ken thisyear. We will soon be distributing anew sheet for the 2016 year. It wouldnice to see a new bunch of volunteersstep forward.
9. After the Break: This month, we had the honour ofhaving Glenn MacDonell VE3XRA ofRAC address the group. Glenn has beenPresident of the Ottawa ARC since2011. He is the VP of RAC and isrunning for President in the next coupleof months. Before beginning hispresentation to us, he made apresentation to Gilles VA2EW. Belowis a pic of Glenn presenting Gilles withthe award from CQ for being first inCanada of the CQ 160 Meter Contest2015 for CW Single Operator.
Glenn VE3XRA & Gilles VA2EW
During his presentation to us, Glenntalked about the future of RAC and howit fits into the fabric of the Hamcommunity. He used several slides in hispresentation. He showed how thenumber of hams has grown 3.7% in thelast few years; a value greater than thenational population growth. There arenow about 65,000 hams in Canada, andover 700,000 in the USA. He talkedabout the many interests of amateurs suchas, contesting, DX’ing, rag chewing,experimenting, designing, building,community service, and supporting otherhobbies, such as sailing, hang gliding,etc. He talked on the new digital modes.And of course, there are governmentcutbacks, an aging Ham population, RACmembership, and spectrum pressures.There was over ½ hour of Q&A’s fromthe floor and lots of open discussion.You had to be there! Glenn, come again(as Pres?), there are always things to talkabout. Many thanks.
10. 50/50 Draw: The winner of the 50-50 draw thisevening was Peter VA2PBJ.Congratulations.
11. Door Prizes: Ken VE2KLF brought an audiomicrophone which was sold to benefit theclub. Charles VE2RFI brought somesmall project bumpers which weredistributed. Thanks to you both.
12. A Pun my Word: A rock store eventually closed down;they were taking too much for granite.
The meeting adjourned at 22:18. See youNovember 16th, 2015.
73, & good DX de Keith VE2MTL
By Keith Glashan VE2MTL
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Monthly Meeting tips
Have you worked on a ham radio project lately ? Did you discover a solution to a problem that may be helpful for yourfellow WIARC members ? Then come and share your tips at our monthly meetings.
A short amount of time will be allocated at the beginning of each meeting for members to share tips. Please let the club'sexecutive know ahead of time so we can manage the meeting schedule accordingly, by sending an email [email protected]
Return to Rigaud - 2015 Editionsubmitted by Malcolm, VE2DDZ ([email protected])
On Saturday November 7, nine of us, including eight hams, went on our fifth annual Summits on the Air activation toRigaud (VE2ML-005). As usual we had great weather (for November), this year it was windier, but warmer than last year. Also as usual we had a great time. Dan VA2KEY, Marc-André VA2EI, Bob VE2PDT, and Malcolm VE2DDZ were backagain this year, joined by first-time attendees Samuel VE2LJV, Ron VA3BTD, Noel VE2AWC, Rudy VA2AJR/DU7RJA,and Patrick Uy.
We reached the summit in good time, set up multiple stations, and got on the air right away. At least one of us was on theair at any given time, although others might have been taking breaks for coffee, hot chocolate, or homemade bananabread. One participant had arranged a delivery of donuts to the summit, but they didn't arrive in time to fuel the Cqing.
We worked 15m and 20m SSB and 2m FM and SSB. Thanks very much to the chasers, especially Stan VE2QXP, RayVA2RY, Keith VE2MTL, Harrison VE2HKW, Jean VE2JCW, and Jean-François VE2JFM. We didn't work all the bandsand modes we had planned, so apologies to anyone who was looking for us elsewhere on the bands.
After two hours on the summit we headed down the trail and on to The Willow Inn in Hudson (joined by James VE2KHC)for lunch and conversation that stretched well into the afternoon. I'm confident we'll be back next year.
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Grimeton, a pre-electronic VLF transmitting stationby François Daigneault, VE2AAY ([email protected])
In the 1920’s, Sweden decided to join a worldwide long wavetelegraphic network whose hub lay in Long Island NY. Twosites were selected: a receiving station (call sign “SAK”) inKungsbacka relying on a 13-km 9-m high Beverage antenna anda transmitting station (call sign “SAQ”) in the Grimeton parishof Varberg, Sweden. Some fifty kilometres separate the two sites.The corresponding stations in New York (a.k.a, “Radio Central”)were Riverhead (RX) and Rocky Point (TX, call signs “WQK”and “WSS”), both on Long Island, but 25 km apart.
On the two continents, landlines connected the radio equipmentto a third “central” location where operators were stationed.
Inaugurated in 1925, only the Grimeton installation hassurvived and broadcasts ceremonial messages two or three timesa year on 17.2 kHz, a wavelength of 17442 metres.
The Multiple Tuned Antenna ( U.S. Patent No. 1360168 )
The antenna array comprises six 127-m high (416’) steel towers, spaced 380 metres (1247’) apart and spanning nearly 2 km in total. Each tower is topped by a 46-m (151’) wide cross arm originally supporting 12 wires [ reduced to 8 in modern times ]. These serve double duty as capacity hat and feed wires.
Underneath the antenna, two hundred kilometres of copper wire buried 50 cm make-up the ground plane.
Next to each tower, there is a radiating wire tied between the feed wires and a grounded loading coil.
The six parallel paths in the array reduce antenna resistance, thus increasing antenna efficiency which isestimated at about 11%.
In case of icing, the antenna wires could be subjected to high amperage 50 Hz current.
The Alexanderson Alternator ( U.S. Patent No. 1008577 )
Under contract from Reginald A. Fessenden, General Electric tasked Swedish-born Ernst F. W. Alexanderson with designing a high frequency alternator in 1904 [ U.S. Patent filed 1909 ]. These machines grew from 1 kW to 200 kW during ensuing years.
Essentially motor-generator sets, two water-cooled alternators each capable of producing 200 kW in the 12 to 28 kHz range were installed at Grimeton in 1924 [ one was removed around 1960 to make way for shortwave equipment ].
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The heart of this particular alternator is a 1.6 m (5’) steel disc with 488 equally spaced five millimeter slots in its outer perimeter. The slots are filled with brass (non-magnetic). With the disc spinning in the magnetic circuit between a DC-energized field coil and armature pick-up coils, AC can be collected.
In its present configuration, the 500 HP asynchronous motor spins the input of a gearbox at 711.3 rpm. The gearbox provides a 1:2.973 speed increase; the output shaft turns the alternator rotor at 2115 revolutions per minute [ 35.25 revolutions per second ]. Given 488 slots, the output frequency comes out to 17202 hertz.
Sixty-four (64) armature coils around the periphery of the alternator garner approximately 30 amperes at 100 volts each.
To spare the venerable machine, transmissions are now limited to about 80 kW.
Gearing, motor speed and the number of poles on the rotor were all manners in which to effect a frequency change.
The Magnetic Amplifier ( U.S. Patent No. 1328797 )
The Magnetic Amplifier is an inductor whose reactance can be controlled with DC current applied to a control winding on the same core. When no DC current flows in the control winding, the inductor functions normally and offers high impedance. When DC current is used to saturate the core, reactance is inhibited and impedance falls near zero. In between those two states, the inductance is proportional to the DC current in the control winding.
A magnetic amplifier is responsible for the keying at Grimeton (see diagram below). During key-up, DC current through the control winding (A) of the amplifier is such that the inductance (B) results in a series resonance at 17.2 kHz. This resonance effectively places a short-circuit on the third winding of the Antenna Transformer. Upon key-down, DC is removed from the control winding (A), inductance (B) shoots up and removes any loading on the Antenna Transformer; all the generated power is then transferred to the antenna through a variometer.
With this method, some load is present on the alternator regardless of keying, thus aiding frequency stability. Truth be said, the keying circuitry also sends controlled amounts of extra power to the motor during key-down to maintain motor speed.
Epilogue
As Grimeton went in service, transatlantic transmission over shortwave already showed promise [ see the reprint of “The Transatlantic Tests 1921 ~ 1924” in QST May 2014 ]. After serving for telegraphic service, the facility was discreetly put to use forsubmarine communication; a fact which probably helped its survival until it could be made a Swedish national industrial monument in October 1996. The UNESCO made it a World Heritage site in July 2004.
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All three patents cited above are part of the 345 credited to Ernst Frederick Werner Alexanderson, the man Grimeton honours every year on Alexanderson Day with a wireless telegraphy broadcast around July 2nd.
P.-S. See the video of SAQ’s call sign being copied in the rain near Granby QC this past June on Heros Technology Ltd’s web site http://herostechnology.co.uk/pages/VLF_LF_Converter.html
Webography
Listening to Grimeton http://www.grimeton.info/pdf/Listening%20to%20Grimeton.pdf
The Radio Station SAQ Grimeton http://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/?lang=en
Lars Kålland http://www.radiomuseet.se/medlem/audionen2/nr4_2005/kung.html
The Book of Radio http://earlyradiohistory.us/1922RCA.htm
Schematic http://www.wesselhoeft.net/Funk/Images/SAQcktdia2.gif
Swedish National Heritage Board, Sök med fritext [ Search with free text ] “Grimeton” http://kmb.raa.se/cocoon/bild/public_search.html
$$$ Swap Shop $$$
Autek QF-1A audio filter …. Asking $ 50.00, Hallicrafters SX 99 General Coverage Receiver…..Asking $75.00 Large matchingHallicrafters speaker ………Asking $50.00, Realistic DX 150A general coverage receiver asking $50. Yaesu Ft 227R Memorizerasking $ 50 and a NYE CW paddle for a keyer at $ 50
Larry VE2DO 514 695 3528
We want to hear from youby Bram Paterson, VE2XCS ([email protected])
Do you have an idea or story that you want to share with your fellows WIARC members. We want to hear from you.Please send your article to the newsletter editor at the beginning of the month to the following email address:
+++ Free Flea Market Tables +++Flea-market tables available free to members. Members
are reminded that there are always tables available atthe regular monthly meetings.
So, if you wish to sell something, or clean out yourbasement, or do your spring cleaning early, you don't
have to wait for the next Hamfest. Just bring those junkboxes, antenna parts, and old rigs to the next WIARC
meeting and set up your table at the back of the hall. It'sfree. It's fun. It's win-win.
$$$ Swap Shop $$$To advertise items for sale, send details to Bram
VE2XCS, the newsletter editor at [email protected].
He will gladly include them in the next bulletin. Pleaseremember to include all pertinent information relating to
the item you wish to sell.
Page 6 of 7
Footnotes About Us
The West Island Amateur Radio Club was founded in 1972Mailing Address - P.O. Box 884 Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9R 4Z6 E-mail: [email protected]
Executives:
President : Malcolm Harper, VE2DDZ
Vice-president : Charles Robitaille, VE2RFI
Treasurer : Bram Paterson, VE2XCS
Secretary : Keith Glashan, VE2MTL
Accredited Examiner:Larry Dobby, VE2DO [email protected] Morin, VA2MM [email protected]
Directors:
Editor : Bram Paterson, VE2XCS
QSL Manager : Bob Loranger, VE2AXO
Webmaster : Wayne Hodgins, VE2WRH Immediate Past : Ken Fraser, VE2KLF
President
News and comments are always welcomed; please submit them to the following address, [email protected]
Website: http://www.wiarc.ca
Repeaters: VE2RWI VHF - 146.910 MHz (-) and VE2RWI UHF - 443.050 MHz (+) (88.5 Hz CTCSS tone both transmitted and received on the VHF repeater
and a 141.3 Hz CTCSS tone only transmitted on the UHF repeater).
Monthly MeetingsHeld the 3rd Monday of every month, except July & August at: Lakeside Heights Baptist Church,
275 Braebrook, Pointe-Claire (West Island part of Montreal). Visitors are always welcomed.
WIARC NETS on the 146.91 VE2RWI RepeaterInformation Net each Sunday evening at 8PM running for approximately an hour.
All are welcome to participate.
Page 7 of 7
![Kent Academic Repository Antenna with Wideband... · ... slot antenna [5] and magneto-electric dipole [6] ... the AR beamwidths are wider than the half power ... travelling paths](https://img.dokumen.tips/doc/110x75/5afdfc5a7f8b9a444f8e4277/kent-academic-repository-antenna-with-wideband-slot-antenna-5-and-magneto-electric.jpg)
