Other Projects

Portable ops, facilities, workbench, & administrative improvements.

Status Updated 10-31-21

---HIGHEST PRIORITY---

2m FM Stations (5 each / loaners for students) ARDC provided a grant to fund five each FM stations, including FM transceivers, power supplies, and audio interface boxes. Assemble these into kits, including connecting cables, Bill of Material, Packing Instructions and Wiring Diagram. These will be available for distribution to students. Status 10/31/21 - kits complete; awaiting wiring diagram from W7III.

Membership This club does not have one individual identified whose owns the regular communication, outreach, advertising and mentoring of new members. With only a handful of students, our club is operating far below its potential.

---MEDIUM PRIORITY---

QRP PORTABLE SYSTEM Put together a system of equipment capable of operating QRP portable.

a) Battery -- use 7 amp-hr SLAB already owned by K7UAZ. Possibly purchase a slightly smaller SLAB. 3 amp-hr would suffice. While less weight, hesitant to invest in Li battery technology due to much higher cost and anticipate infrequent use by students.

b) uBitx transceiver -- this was donated to the club Spring 2020. Need to add a mic jack / mic. Need to have operation checked. Fabricate PowerPole jumper for 12 VDC power. Consider swapping out SO-239 for BNC female connector.

c) Need microphone -- we have some handheld mic's which should suffice.

d) SignaLink could go into the package, so digital modes would be possible, too.

d) Transmission line -- dedicated 25 ft RG-58u in the kit would be a nice-to-have addition. BNC-BNC would work.

https://www.buddipole.com/coaxialcables.html

e) Antenna --

QRP Guys Tri Band Vertical $20

https://qrpguys.com/qrpguys-tri-band-portable-vertical-antenna

Wire for vertical and ground plane 60 ft $25 (includes shipping)

https://thewireman.com/product/antenna-wire-26-awg-copper-clad-steel-stranded-jacketed/

Wire line winders -- to neatly store the ground radials

https://www.buddipole.com/wirelinewinder.html

has a nice 40/30/20 antenna $20. Need to purchase 24 ga Silky wire from the Wireman

f) Mast -- we had a 16.5 ft Wonderpole mast donated to the club which would work nicely

g) Mast Support -- 3+1 stakes / guy ropes / twist ties

SELL UNNEEDED VINTAGE HF TRANSCEIVERS Jan 2020 We have three fairly small and vintage HF transceivers: TS-430s, TS-430s, IC-735. Collectively the net value is about $850. We have decided to sell at least the IC-735. There is little demand from students for home transceivers, and we would choose to use the IC-7200's for portable ops (e.g. Field Day), so keeping the TS-430s radios is questionable.

12-1-20 Troubleshooting TS-430S in progress (Mark Carter)

12-1-20 Troubleshooting IC-735 in progress (Mark Carter)

5-21-20 TS-130se - SOLD May 2020 $280 shipped (net $200).

NAME TAGS Re-establish relationship with vendor and format nametags so they follow UA guidelines. (K7CHM)

3-10-2020: Several nametags purchased, awaiting purchasing of all remaining nametags.

---low priority ---

Troubleshoot and repair 12 VDC power supply (Wescomm) - 12-1-19 Initial evaluation: heat sinks hot; no voltage output, suspect the voltage control IC is damaged. Next step recommended: remove / replace voltage controller IC. (K7ZOO)

Assemble transverter and LO for a microwave band 10GHz (3cm) (KG6T)

---to be prioritized / assigned / deferred ---

1 Add PowerPole connectors to all the spare 12 VDC power supplies on the storage shelf. (person TBD)

2 Construct WSPR transmitter QRP Labs (person TBD)

5 Mesh node project - install 1 GHz antennas (person TBD)

--- completed tasks ---

OCF Antenna Testing / Tuning (a) Purchased and received 3-15-2020. (b) Antenna testing at local park. Erected in inverted V configuration. Measured SWR at each band from 3-54 MHz. Usable bands determined and mailed out to listserv. Plot of VSWR vs. Frequency to be posted on website. Antenna works as advertised and is ready for portable use! 6-19-20 (K7ZOO & KG6T)

Sell remainder of W7RJ estate 10-18-19 COMPLETE! Last item (tube tester) shipped 10-18-19. (K7ZOO)

ASUA Grant / hand tools for shack 10-18-19 COMPLETE! $500 grant; tools procured and stored in toolchest. (thanks to many!)

Install vise on workbench 10-18-19 COMPLETE! (K7ZOO)

Bad Monitors 10-22-10 COMPLETE! Dispose of two monitors that are not fully functional. (WA1BZQ)

QRZ page 12-1-19 COMPLETE! Ownership transferred from previous owner to WA1BZQ. Outdated information deleted. Bruce will continue to update this site. (WA1BZQ)

Antenna Equipment, ARCA grant 12-7-19 COMPLETE! ARCA donation received in the amount of $1000. Thank you! Funds will be used to purchase 600 MHz antenna analyzer, Buddipole Antenna equipment. (multiple contributors)

Procure Icom IC-7200's (2 ea) for portable use 12-20-19 COMPLETE! Two identified and purchased (K7ZOO)

Rig Expert 600 MHz Antenna Analyer 1-6-20 COMPLETE! Configure Nanuk protective case to house this high-value instrument. (K7ZOO)

Input Mailbox 1-8-20 COMPLETE! Install 5 shelves to sort in mail: (1) financial stuff for Treasurer (2) QSL cards that need to be answered (3) other mail (K7ZOO)

Spray paint metal chairs 2-15-20 CANCELLED. Metal chairs donated to Engineering building.

Fiberglass mast, ASUA grant 2-22-20 COMPLETE! Write and submit a grant proposal to obtain an antenna mast system. This system would include 28.5 ft Max Gain Systems mast; guy rope & guy rings. This mast system would be used for portable operations such as Field Day, QSO Parties, etc. Value of this grant is $260. Assemble mast and store in shack. (KJ7CQC & K7ZOO)

LOTW reboot 2-22-20 COMPLETE! Recover LoTW password and TQSL file. Set up WAS account. Assign responsibility for uploading ADIF files and maintaining ARRL LoTW awards to Secretary. (K7ZOO & K7CHM)

Icom IC-7200 protective cases 3-4-20 COMPLETE! Outfit two Pelican 1550 cases with foam to house both transceivers, mics, power & USB cables. (K7ZOO)

Replace black filing cabinet with open wire shelving 3-15-20 COMPLETE! The black filing cabinet is used to store material. This is not desirable, as the material is not readily visible. Students concurred with purchasing shelving for approximately $160. Shelving purchased, actual cost $180 (sub'd in one solid shelf in lieu of a wire shelf). (K7ZOO)

DISPOSITION DONATION FROM KB4DXV / WB7FCF 12-28-20 COMPLETE! (K7ZOO)

Clean off top shelf of workbench Fall 2020 - COMPLETE! (K7ZOO)