DELARANEWS

Club News

Beats selling out of the trunk of your car Especially with the demise of Radio Shack, there is almost nowhere to get those little important bits and pieces we need for building stuff. Greg, NZ8R, has one possible solution: Probably not a new idea. I can see there are quite a few builders in this group. Does DELARA have a resource box for sharing? I hesitate to say junk box, but plastic bins organized by purpose. If we do not, I am willing to start by shedding some of my connectors, serial cables, memory chips, etc that are stored just in case. Not junk, but things for projects, tinkering and building. I am still on the hunt for some copper tubing (1.5”+) to build a mag loop. If anyone runs across any please let me know. Thank you, Greg Being the nerd that I am I raised the question of whether we could start a database as a repository for that information. Personally, I think it would not work- too much change, too many little parts for everyone to dig through. But a club box of stuff has merit! What say you all? Some MESH activity For you MESH fans, Bob, W8ERD, has a new PTZ camera in place at the Dixon Plantation (Accessable via the “Secret back entrance” … just look for the sign) .  says Bob: There is now a video camera pointing out my shack window into my back yard that you can view and control as you wish. You can steer it and zoom it. You may see deer and an occasional fox wandering. around. Or you can be adventurous and turn it around to look into my shack. You might even see me. The camera is attached to the mesh, so you have to be attached to the mesh also to use it. When logged into your node, click on mesh status. Locate w8erd. Click on windowcam. The userid and password are admin. Click on english and pc view. Click on the blob in the upper left of the black screen window. Say yes. The camera image should now appear. Let me know if it works for you. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE ANY CAMERA SETTINGS! Except steer and zoom. This is an example of the neat things you can do on the mesh. I encourage you to get on the mesh. We have loaner equipment and antennas for you. There also other cameras on the mesh.

Deck the Halls … ham radio style

At this special time of year, it's important that we remind ourselves to celebrate! Deck the yard with wires and towers. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Contest season is upon us. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Don we now our favorite headphones. Fa-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la And listen to the contest chorus. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Joe, K8MP Digitize the Halls… I'm so addicted now to hf digital, that I'm up crazy hours. I just stumbled on the 3905 Century Club PSK31 Net on 7.072 Mhz. Having learned just days before about NetLogger, I was able to figure out the protocol and was ready for my turn at bat. I only made 2 'official' contacts (CT and GA). I managed to burn over an hour monitoring the net and making those contacts. I think I was supposed to come out of the basement around 9:00 after Bob's Digital Net, but somehow, I got sucked in. Well, time to go upstairs and face the music with the spouse. If you haven't tried HF Digital, or have only used FT8/FT4, you might consider joining our DELARA Digital Nets on Tue/Thur at 8 pm. It isn't always easy, but it is a blast. - Mike W8MDC …And it works! From Tom, N4HAI: Bob - thanks a lot for putting up the cam! I have a VERY slow connection to the nearest node (N8DCA-Lewis Center), but I can get to your site! I'm using Chrome on a Mac, and I figured out that I had to click on the "broken image" icon, then allow Flash, and now I see your cam! For everyone's benefit - this is my SECOND real use of MESH, and it's a lot of fun. I'm hitting the Lewis Center node (about 1.25 mi away) with an antenna up about 25'. I've complicated matters by adding a router, but I'm still working on that issue. You can do this with a dedicated PC as well. I am working on a presentation that might help others set up a router for MESH networks; I know it's a little geeky.

The November “Boatanchor Night” is CANCELLED

Club meeting on ZOOM only! No in-person this month.

SOLAR! Here is the solar generator project I've been working on for about a week. I still need to get the battery for it, but that seems to be the sticking point. Sealed lead acid (AGM/ or gel) are cheaper and don't produce fumes, but typically don't get more than a few hundred cycles before needing replaced, and can only be run down to 50 to 80 percent (depending on which site your reading) before you do damage to the battery. Then there is the Lithium ion that are quite a bit more expensive, have thousands of cycles, and can be ran down farther. I think, however, I'm going to "experiment" with a cheaper AGM while I'm learning this new technology!! 73 Brian, KE8PIV
DELARANews

Club News

Beats selling out of the trunk of your car Especially with the demise of Radio Shack, there is almost nowhere to get those little important bits and pieces we need for building stuff. Greg, NZ8R, has one possible solution: Probably not a new idea. I can see there are quite a few builders in this group. Does DELARA have a resource box for sharing? I hesitate to say junk box, but plastic bins organized by purpose. If we do not, I am willing to start by shedding some of my connectors, serial cables, memory chips, etc that are stored just in case. Not junk, but things for projects, tinkering and building. I am still on the hunt for some copper tubing (1.5”+) to build a mag loop. If anyone runs across any please let me know. Thank you, Greg Being the nerd that I am I raised the question of whether we could start a database as a repository for that information. Personally, I think it would not work- too much change, too many little parts for everyone to dig through. But a club box of stuff has merit! What say you all? Some MESH activity For you MESH fans, Bob, W8ERD, has a new PTZ camera in place at the Dixon Plantation (Accessable via the “Secret back entrance” … just look for the sign) .  says Bob: There is now a video camera pointing out my shack window into my back yard that you can view and control as you wish. You can steer it and zoom it. You may see deer and an occasional fox wandering. around. Or you can be adventurous and turn it around to look into my shack. You might even see me. The camera is attached to the mesh, so you have to be attached to the mesh also to use it. When logged into your node, click on mesh status. Locate w8erd. Click on windowcam. The userid and password are admin. Click on english and pc view. Click on the blob in the upper left of the black screen window. Say yes. The camera image should now appear. Let me know if it works for you. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE ANY CAMERA SETTINGS! Except steer and zoom. This is an example of the neat things you can do on the mesh. I encourage you to get on the mesh. We have loaner equipment and antennas for you. There also other cameras on the mesh.

Holiday Party 2019

(Click picture for larger view)