main@nmvhf.groups.io

New Mexico TechFest -- Online registration is open!

Brian Mileshosky

Greetings —

This note is to announce that the presentation lineup for this year’s New Mexico TechFest has been released. In addition, online registration for the event is now open!

Please visit https://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest to view the lineup, read the abstracts, learn about this year's speakers, and register to attend TechFest.

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio - New Mexico (RMHAM-NM) is pleased to announce its ninth annual New Mexico TechFest, an ARRL-sanctioned operating specialty event, on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

TechFest features a day of quality presentations, posterboards and demonstrations provided by some of New Mexico and Colorado’s (and beyond!) leading technical hams on a variety of emerging and relevant topics within amateur radio. Its purpose is to facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge and collaboration within the amateur radio community, and to encourage the discussion of new ideas with one another.

This year’s New Mexico TechFest will be a hybrid event: Both in-person and, for those unable to attend physically, online via Zoom. We are excited to announce our new venue: UNM Continuing Education Conference Center (1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102)

TechFest is open to all interested hams. Admission is $15 (proceeds will offset expenses detailed on the event website). Additional details about the New Mexico TechFest can be found at http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest

We hope to see you at TechFest 2023.

73,
Brian N5ZGT (President, Rocky Mountain Ham Radio — New Mexico)

New Mexico TechFest -- Presentation call reminder

Brian Mileshosky

#1263

Greetings —

If you are interested in providing a presentation, posterboard, or demonstration at the 2023 New Mexico TechFest, this is a kind reminder to submit your summary/abstract before this coming Sunday, January 29...just shy of a week from now.

CALL FOR TECHFEST PRESENTATIONS, POSTERBOARDS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS: The New Mexico TechFest is seeking presentations, posterboards and demos on emerging and relevant amateur radio technical topics, techniques, and applications. If you’ve been working on a special project, are researching a technical topic, or have discovered or adopted a technology or technique that you’re applying within amateur radio, TechFest is a great venue to share your knowledge with the amateur radio community in a casual and friendly environment. Presentations will generally be 50 minutes in total length. Hams interested in providing a presentation or demonstration are asked to submit a summary/abstract of their proposed topic for consideration by January 29, 2023. Visit the New Mexico TechFest website for submission details and key dates.

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio - New Mexico (RMHAM) is pleased to announce its ninth annual New Mexico TechFest, an ARRL-sanctioned operating specialty event, on Saturday, March 18, 2023. TechFest features a day of quality presentations, posterboards and demonstrations provided by some of New Mexico and Colorado’s (and beyond!) leading technical hams on a variety of emerging and relevant topics within amateur radio. Its purpose is to facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge and collaboration within the amateur radio community, and to encourage the discussion of new ideas with one another.

This year’s New Mexico TechFest will be a hybrid event: Both in-person and, for those unable to attend physically, online via Zoom. We are excited to announce our new venue: UNM Continuing Education Conference Center (1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102)

TechFest is open to all interested hams. Admission is $15 (proceeds will offset event related expenses detailed on the event website). Online registration will open on February 5 when the event’s lineup of presentations, posterboards and demonstrations is announced. Presentation-related prizes will be drawn throughout the event. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be available for in-person attendees. An optional, catered lunch will be provided to in-person attendees who purchase one.

Additional details about the New Mexico TechFest, for both attendees and potential presenters, can be found at http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest

We hope to see you at TechFest 2023.

73,
Brian N5ZGT (President, Rocky Mountain Ham Radio — New Mexico)

KK6MC/r route

James Duffey

#1262

I will be roving in AZ for the January contest. Here is my route. As with most rover efforts, times are subject to change, but I will try to stick to this itinerary as much as possible.

Grid	Time in (UTC)	Time out (UTC)	Notes
Saturday January 21, 2023
DM41tx	1900	2030	W of Benson
DM51aq	2115	2300	E of Tombstone Airport
January 22, 2023
DM52ba	0000	0130	191 and I-10 then on to Phoenix
DM42ax	1530	1700	Maricopa convergence
DM32xx	1715	1845
DM33xa	1900	2030
DM43aa	2045	2215
DM34we	2345	0115	Sunset Point Rest area
Then back to Phoenix & a hotel, and, if not too beat and there is activity, DM43ah in the parking lot

I will have 50MHz to 1296MHz with Yagis on all bands; well a Moxon on 6M. 100 W on 6M & 2M, 30W on 222MHz and 902MHz, 50W on 432MHz, and 10W on 1296MHz. SSB/CW/FM for analog modes and I will try to have WSJT-X up running. I try to work everyone, so call. If you work me on 50MHz FT8, I will QSY to 2M and then 432. Other bands if you have them are possible, we can arrange. I try to move station up the bands, so feel free to follow even if we didn’t contact on the original frequency. I will use the calling frequencies, unless they are busy, then look for me 20kHz up from the calling frequency.

I will have APRS, will try to monitor SLACK, and you can text or call me at (505) 228-5491. Text preferred. It does get busy at times, though, so if I don’t reply right away, keep trying.

Listen for the weak ones - Duffey KK6MC

KK6MC

James Duffey

Cedar Crest NM

jamesduffey@...

January VHF Contest Plans N7GP/R

Tom N7GP

#1261

					To All...
For JAN VHF contest this weekend ...
I will be starting in DM35 At 1900 UTC,,

Then I will move to DM44, and DM34 until 0300 UTC,,

PLEASE NOTE, this will depend on Accessibility due to snow in High country. I will keep everyone posted

I will returning to DM42 late night Sat.  and will be running MSK 50.260 over night from DM42, and DM32..

Sunday morning I will start at 1500 in DM31, then move to DM43, DM42, DM33, and DM32, By 1900 UTC,( Noon Arizona time) and will circle those grids spending 2 hours in each until and circling until end of contest.

I will have all bands 6 meters thru 10 GHz ,,

Cw, SSB and FM on ALL bands,,
PLUS digital on 6 , 2 and 432
I will be on Rover Slack and this email
And cell# is 419-370-8802....so please get with me for ANY skeds or if you want to try a contact..
Good luck to everyone..
Hope to work MANY of you ,,
Tom
N7GP/R
ex WA8WZG
6 meter Beacon 50.070 DM42dw
and others see WWW.AZVHF.ORG for details
				

2023 New Mexico TechFest -- Call for Presentations, Posters and Demos

Brian Mileshosky

#1260

Greetings —

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio - New Mexico (RMHAM) is pleased to announce its ninth annual New Mexico TechFest, an ARRL-sanctioned operating specialty event, on Saturday, March 18, 2023. TechFest features a day of quality presentations, posterboards and demonstrations provided by some of New Mexico and Colorado’s (and beyond!) leading technical hams on a variety of emerging and relevant topics within amateur radio. Its purpose is to facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge and collaboration within the amateur radio community, and to encourage the discussion of new ideas with one another.

This year’s New Mexico TechFest will be a hybrid event: Both in-person and, for those unable to attend physically, online via Zoom. We are excited to announce our new venue: UNM Continuing Education Conference Center (1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102)

TechFest is open to all interested hams. Admission is $15 (proceeds will offset event related expenses detailed on the event website). Online registration will open on February 5 when the event’s lineup of presentations, posterboards and demonstrations is announced. Presentation-related prizes will be drawn throughout the event. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be available for in-person attendees. An optional, catered lunch will be provided to in-person attendees who purchase one.

CALL FOR TECHFEST PRESENTATIONS, POSTERBOARDS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS: The New Mexico TechFest is seeking presentations, posterboards and demos on emerging and relevant amateur radio technical topics, techniques, and applications. If you’ve been working on a special project, are researching a technical topic, or have discovered or adopted a technology or technique that you’re applying within amateur radio, TechFest is a great venue to share your knowledge with the amateur radio community in a casual and friendly environment. Presentations will generally be 50 minutes in total length. Hams interested in providing a presentation or demonstration are asked to submit a summary/abstract of their proposed topic for consideration by January 29, 2023. Visit the New Mexico TechFest website for submission details and key dates.

Additional details about the New Mexico TechFest, for both attendees and potential presenters, can be found at http://www.rmham.org/wordpress/new-mexico-techfest A printable event flyer for posting on ham listserves, your club’s website, or your club’s newsletter is attached.

We hope to see you at TechFest 2023.

73,
Brian N5ZGT (President, Rocky Mountain Ham Radio — New Mexico)

PDF

TechFest Flyer_09jan23.pdf

Re: AA5B

Ed

#1259

His memorial service was last Friday.

Ed N5jeh

Sent from Mail for Windows

Show quoted text

From: Tom Ellis
Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 12:16 PM
To: NM VHF
Subject: [nmvhf] AA5B

Hey all,

I just saw this on ARRL's web site:

Bruce Draper, AA5B, Silent Key

11/09/2022

Bruce Draper, AA5B, died on October 25, 2022. He was 68. Bruce was a past editor of NCJ, published by ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, as well as a past contributing editor for ARRL’s membership journal, QST.

Avid amateur radio DXer and contester Ray Sokola, K9RS, noted, “Bruce was a great friend of mine for over 50 years. We met in high school in Delaware and then were both Electrical Engineering majors at the University of Delaware. He and his wife Dorothy (Ferenc) moved to Albuquerque after [he completed] an MSEE from Princeton, and Bruce had a long career at Sandia Labs. The move to New Mexico resulted in the ‘AA5 Banana’ call sign, which became quite active and started to appear in many contest logs. Over the years Bruce distinguished himself as both a single operator and multi-op contester. I was privileged to be part of many multi-op teams with him and appreciate all of those memories. He was a great teammate and I will miss him.”

According to his obituary, “Bruce is survived by his mother, Jeanette; sister Barbara and her husband, Steve Sylvester; wife of 46 years, Dorothy; three daughters, Alison and husband John Cummings; Bryn and husband Craig Hauquitz, and Catie and husband Ken Kraper, and 13 grandchildren, whom he dearly loved.”

Tom

K5TEE

AA5B

Tom Ellis

#1258

Hey all,

I just saw this on ARRL's web site:

Bruce Draper, AA5B, Silent Key
11/09/2022
Bruce Draper, AA5B, died on October 25, 2022. He was 68. Bruce was a past editor of NCJ, published by ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, as well as a past contributing editor for ARRL’s membership journal, QST.

Avid amateur radio DXer and contester Ray Sokola, K9RS, noted, “Bruce was a great friend of mine for over 50 years. We met in high school in Delaware and then were both Electrical Engineering majors at the University of Delaware. He and his wife Dorothy (Ferenc) moved to Albuquerque after [he completed] an MSEE from Princeton, and Bruce had a long career at Sandia Labs. The move to New Mexico resulted in the ‘AA5 Banana’ call sign, which became quite active and started to appear in many contest logs. Over the years Bruce distinguished himself as both a single operator and multi-op contester. I was privileged to be part of many multi-op teams with him and appreciate all of those memories. He was a great teammate and I will miss him.”

According to his obituary, “Bruce is survived by his mother, Jeanette; sister Barbara and her husband, Steve Sylvester; wife of 46 years, Dorothy; three daughters, Alison and husband John Cummings; Bryn and husband Craig Hauquitz, and Catie and husband Ken Kraper, and 13 grandchildren, whom he dearly loved.”

Tom

K5TEE

AA5PR/R contest notes

John Klem

#1257

Thanks to Arne, N7KA, and Ed, N5JEH, for QSOs while I was in DM75, after having to throw out my original roving plan. DM74 was a complete bust because I arrived just in time for a long thunderstorm. Although I can tolerate a certain amount of wet, I have come to appreciate that raising antennas in the middle of an electrical storm is not a recipe for success. Although I eventually got on the air, it wasn't in time to add any points.

So, back in my driveway in DM65 on Sunday, I was able to score a few QSOs using meteor scatter and FT8 on 6 m, making it a legit rover operation and breaking into the 3-digit score realm.

When I am in low-noise environments, even when 6 m is not open, I commonly see weak, unworkable signals from scatter of one sort or another, but I saw almost none of that this time around. I don't know if that's an indication of low participation or particularly low MUF, or maybe both. But this was definitely a tough one.

73,
John, AA5PR/R

W3DHJ/R -- After Action Report

Jonesy W3DHJ

#1256

					Long story short: There was damn little "action".

Saturday:
It was low, heavy clouds  --  all day.
It was mist and rain -- all day.
On and off fog -- all day.
It hovered around 51-52 degrees all day.
Wretched propagation -- all day.

I came this >< close to not classifying as a rover.

Sunday
WX started out as was on Saturday.
Sky finally opened to broken clouds by 10 A.M.
It went to clear, blue sky by 11 A.M.
But, the wretched propagation persisted.

Seven QSOs on 432.1 -- and one on 446 FM.
Four QSOs on 2M -- 2 SSB and 2 CW.
ABSOLUTELY NO QSOs on 6M.
I never even heard any &$#%&* digital noise on 50.313

Did I mention that the propagation was wretched?

I could've written my log onto the palm of my hand.
If I was a much younger man, I would've kept it in my head.

All the QSOs - except one - were with the same three
gentlemen: Dave, KB0KQI; Bryan, KL7YY; and Duncun, WE7L.
The one other was a lucky snag of George, AB0YM/R on 432.
AB0YM was rovering in northern Colo., whilst I staggered
around in southern Colo.

If you didn't catch it, I said the propagation was WRETCHED.
I blame it mostly on the fire smoke from the California, Oregon,
and Idaho conflagrations.  All that smoke is mostly carbon
particulates.  And they make dummy loads with carbon elements,
don't they?  Just saying.

Unless the upcoming solar peaking delivers 6M Es (and 2M Es) this
late into the Summer, this'll probably be my last ARRL SEP VHF.

73
Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK
				

Re: W3DHJ/R

Arne N7KA

#1255

					W3DHJ/r Jonesy   Did not hear you this weekend.   Typed the info below then noticed the 73  SK, emphasis read into SK
KC0FLQ  Kyle     Did hear you very weakly, took several tries to get your call.  I called but no response.
AA5PR/r John     Worked on 144/432 SSB from DM75. Was waiting for move to DM74 but nothing heard so I ventured off to other distractions.

Sept is a hit or miss thing, mostly miss, IMHO.
Arne N7KA
				

Show quoted text

							On 09/10/2022 6:59 PM Jonesy W3DHJ via groups.io <mailserver@...> wrote:

If any of you ever see me posting planned Rover activities
for the ARRL SEP VHF contest in the future, please call my wife
and tell her to let the air out of all 4 of my vehicle's tires.

73
Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK

Re: W3DHJ/R

Kyle Best, KC0LFQ

#1254

It was pretty poor down south too. The weather sounds like it was better than for Jonesy, as it was sunny to start, but the storms started building by 2pm. I went up on the hills above Socorro (DM63), and only talked to Jim down in Socorro (DM64). I heard a fleeting signal from Albuquerque, but 2 hours of calling netted nothing; so the thunderstorm and lack of signals chased me home early. Maybe next June will be better. Thinking of driving to Phoenix for January VHF.

Kyle
KC0LFQ

Re: W3DHJ/R

Jonesy W3DHJ

#1253

					On Sat, 10 Sep 2022, John Klem wrote:

Likely it was no better here today.  A change of plans, a very late start, and
having to wait out a thunderstorm in DM74 did not help.  I am hoping for a QSO
from my driveway Sunday, which I might actually need to qualify as a rover in
this contest.

John, AA5PR/RIt was low, heavy clouds  --  all day.
It was mist and rain -- all day.
On and off fog -- all day.
Wretched propagation -- all day.

I, too, came this >< close to not classifying as a rover.

I could've written down the log in the palm of my hand.
Five QSOs on 432 -- one on 2M CW.

Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK
				

Re: W3DHJ/R

John Klem

#1252

					Likely it was no better here today.  A change of plans, a very late start, and having to wait out a thunderstorm in DM74 did not help.  I am hoping for a QSO from my driveway Sunday, which I might actually need to qualify as a rover in this contest.

John, AA5PR/R

Show quoted text

							On 9/10/2022 6:59 PM, Jonesy W3DHJ via groups.io wrote:
If any of you ever see me posting planned Rover activities
for the ARRL SEP VHF contest in the future, please call my wife
and tell her to let the air out of all 4 of my vehicle's tires.

73
Jonesy
						

Re: W3DHJ/R

David Jarmuth

#1251

					Jonesy,

If you don't go roving, who am I going to have to talk to???

73,
David
KB0KQI
				

Show quoted text

							----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonesy W3DHJ via groups.io" <mailserver@...>
To: "RMVHF+" <rmvhf@...>, "NM VHF" <nmvhf@groups.io>, "Front Range 6M" <FrontRange6Meter@groups.io>
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2022 6:59:30 PM
Subject: [nmvhf] W3DHJ/R

If any of you ever see me posting planned Rover activities
for the ARRL SEP VHF contest in the future, please call my wife
and tell her to let the air out of all 4 of my vehicle's tires.

73
Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK
						

W3DHJ/R

Jonesy W3DHJ

#1250

					If any of you ever see me posting planned Rover activities
for the ARRL SEP VHF contest in the future, please call my wife
and tell her to let the air out of all 4 of my vehicle's tires.

73
Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK
				

AA5PR rove cancelled today

John Klem

#1249

rove to dm54/53 cancelled today due to a minor family emergency

John AA5PR

W3DHJ/R ARRL SEP VHF DM77, DM78, DM87, DM88

Jonesy W3DHJ

#1248

					I will be active as Rover in the 2022 ARRL SEP VHF Contest
 -- basically solo grid circling around 38 N and 104 W all weekend.

It's not my favorite VHF contest -- last time was during the worst
of the 2020 pandemic and I _really_ wanted to get out of the house.

I am hoping for fantastic propagation and great regional participation.
As always, the triumph of hope over experience.

6M  - 100W w/halo
2M  - 120W w/stacked halos
432 - 75W and 8 elements
SSB and cwCW (cringe worthy CW)

Saturday in sequence:
DM88 - 1800z -- 2000z
DM87 - 2000z -- 2200z
DM77 - 2200z -- 2400z
DM78 - 0000z -> local sunset (0017z), at least.

Sunday in sequence:
DM78 - 1300z -- 1600z
DM77 - 1600z -- 1900z
DM87 - 1900z -- 2200z
DM88 - 2200z -> local sunset (0017z), at least.

Obviously I do not move from location to location instantaneously.
Pus or minus 15 minutes around each transition, I'll be mobile in
one or the other grid -- on 2M most often.

73
Jonesy
-- 
  Marvin L Jones     | W3DHJ      | W3DHJ  | https://W3DHJ.net/
   Pueblo, Colorado  |  @         | Jonesy |     __ linux FreeBSD
    38.238N 104.547W |   jonz.net | DM78rf | 73  SK
				

AA5PR/R in contest this weekend

John Klem

#1247

Here's my plan:
Saturday
1800-2000 Z: DM54xa
2030-0200Z or so: DM53ww
Sunday:
Probably get a late start, at best, and try to pick up a few either from DM65 or DM74.

I'll have 6 (100 W), 2 (100 W), 432 (50 W) and if anyone shows interest I'll have 1296 (10 W), with yagis on all bands. FT8 on 50.313, 144.174, 432.174...1296.174 (?), and if I work you on one of those I'll then move up to the next higher band and try again. SSB and CW in the usual places. Q65 30A on 50.275 when nothing else is happening.
I should have cell service and be on Slack (message me either on VHF-Chat or New Mexico VHF Society) when in DM54, but I'm not counting on it in DM53.

Good luck,
John, AA5PR/R

Re: Pi Network for UHF Colinear

Bill Mader, K8TE

#1246

Thanks John. Yes, he's looking for fixed values mounted on and/or part of a PCB for this application. I'll pass your suggestion on to him.

73, Bill Mader, K8TE

ARRL New Mexico Section Manager

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™

Secretary/Treasurer and Past President, Albuquerque DX Association

W6H NM Coordinator, Route 66 On-the-Air 10-18 Sep 2022

New Mexico QSO Party 8 Apr 2023

Duke City Hamfest Chairman www.dukecityhamfest.org 15-17 Sep 2023

Show quoted text

On Tue, Sep 6, 2022 at 8:06 PM John Klem <klemjf@...> wrote:

Bill - I'm not sure I understand what your friend needs, but if he's
just trying to design a lumped-element pi network he could try "PI-EL."
As the name implies, it's a program for designing pi and pi-L networks.
I don't have it installed anymore, but from the Web description it looks
like it allows you to specify input and output impedances, although it's
not clear if they can be reactive.

http://tonnesoftware.com/piel.html

73,

John, AA5PR

Re: Pi Network for UHF Colinear

John Klem

#1245

					Bill - I'm not sure I understand what your friend needs, but if he's just trying to design a lumped-element pi network he could try "PI-EL." As the name implies, it's a program for designing pi and pi-L networks.  I don't have it installed anymore, but from the Web description it looks like it allows you to specify input and output impedances, although it's not clear if they can be reactive.

http://tonnesoftware.com/piel.html

73,

John, AA5PR