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The group provides a forum and focus within NSARC for those wishing to participate in HF radio activities. HF radio has a lot to offer - technical development, operating skills and emergency preparedness. For those with Basic Licences wanting to enjoy the full scope of opportunities offered in Ham Radio, and those who already have HF privileges but are looking for advice and mentoring in HF, this is the place to be.
We have projects planned and regular meetings scheduled with a view to involve interested members in theory and hands-on activities. These projects promise to be informative, practical and interesting.
All members of NSARC are invited to drop in or become involved.
Currently NSARC has 2 HF operating positions, consisting of an Icom IC-756Pro III and a Flex -3000 SDR. These are both fully capable HF transceivers.
We have three antenna systems, a 160m inverted-V and an N4PC loop, both with SGC automatic couplers at each antenna feed point so that they can be used on all HF bands, and a rotatable SteppIR auto-tuned Yagi. A patch panel allows any rig to access any antenna. Patchable band isolation filters allow simultaneous operation of stations. Even our VHF/UHF station, with it’s Icom IC-7000, having HF capability, can be patched through the panel to these antennas.
The IC-756Pro III and SDR positions have PC control for logging as well as providing for digital mode operation. The PC’s have sound cards, and the radios have sound card interfaces. The two positions are also equipped with antenna tuners, SWR/power meters, low pass filters, and dummy loads. An IC-2KL 500W amplifier is dedicated to the SteppIR Yagi.
The station is open to all members who might want to operate HF. Remember you can only operate to your licensed qualifications unless there is a control operator present with a higher qualification. (If you hold the Basic qualification without Morse Code, and do not qualify for HF operating privileges, a control operator with a higher qualification must be present.)
At this time, May 2011, a new project is in the planning stage that will see our Icom IC-718 GOTA station returned to the air at a new operating position. The GOTA position was retired to make way for the SDR but the 718 radio figures prominently in the plan to build a consolidated Voice and Digital text station. A Pactor III modem will be trialed as part of the 718 configuration which we be to provide HF texting capability using WinLink / Airmail software. A separate and existing VHF/UHF packet radio system with its PC and radios, will be integrated in this position such that the PC can be shared with the IC-718 rig while continuing to handle Packet traffic from our Grab and Go kits. Consideration is also being given to integrating this position with a proposed BCWARN terminal that would provide access to the high speed digital communications network being installed in the lower mainland, Vancouver Island and Valley regions.
Stay Tuned.
| 2012 (start time 7:30 pm.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | DXLab in Detail | VA7AM, VA7OJ | |
| Feb 23 | Ground Plane Verticals, Tuned Radials | Don VE7DS | |
| Mar 22 | To be determined | Nick VA7NRM | |
| Apr 26 | Open | ||
| May 24 | Open | ||
| Jun 26 | Field Day Planning | FD Manager | |
| Jul-Aug | Summer Recess | ||
| Note: All Minutes and Presentations are in PDF format. | |||
| All materials copyright © 2004-2012 North Shore Amateur Radio Club. | |||
For operators who would like to experience or operate an HF station, a number of club members would be happy to have guest operators work out of their home stations. This opportunity offers a "one-on-one" mentoring environment to become familiar with HF station equipment and operating procedures. This can be rag chews, nets, contests, DX'ing, digital modes, or just HF discussions, and so on.
Please arrange visits individually with the members listed below.
| Name | Callsign | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| John White | VA7JW | Port Moody | va7jw at shaw dot ca |
| Adam Farson | VA7OJ | North Vancouver | farson at shaw dot ca |
| Gordon Passmore | VA7GAP | North Vancouver | va7gap at shaw dot ca |
| David Shipman | VA7AM | West Vancouver | davidshipman at shaw dot ca |
Other members are welcome to post their stations for visits.
Speech compression in SSB radio systems
Articles on solid-state and tube amplifiers
Blank form for VSWR graphs (PDF)
IC-756Pro3 vs. IC-756Pro2, by VA7OJ (PDF)
Digital Modulation & Wireless Networks, by VA7NRM (PDF)
Of Penguins and Wildebeest - Linux for Hams, by VA7IRL (PDF)
Slide show of new HF tower raising, May 20, 2007
Slide show of new 2m/70cm Yagi raising, September 22, 2007
Rig Power Supplies, by VA7JW (PDF)
All materials copyright © 2004-2009 North Shore Amateur Radio Club. This page last updated: 2012-01-11.