DX QSL requests to VU3KPL

One of the important aspect of calling CQ and having fun on the band is responding to QSL requests. I enjoy short QSOs almost on daily basis when i am around the shack. And this generates some QSL requests.

There are multiple ways of QSLing, LOTW of ARRL being most popular and my preferred way. This method is paperless and efficient. There are many hams who collect paper QSLs and seek that channel nevertheless.

In my short experience over last couple of years, i found that there are some problems with paper QSLing. As a return postage for direct requests we usually appreciate either one of the following methods:

1. SAE + IRC :

Self Addressed Envelope (SAE) with IRC (International Reply Coupon) used to be mostly accepted way. However many countries including India have stopped exchanging IRC for stamps. I am still OK with these, as I usually send the IRC back to some other DX for requesting needed QSL from that DXCC.

2. SAE + green stamps (usually 2) :

It is most popular way of compensating for QSL charges. The problem is that we are talking about cash in mail. Any place enroute from DX to VU post can be tampered. And normally if a pattern is known to few smart workers, they wait for QSLs cards more than destination hams. Unfortunately, the cards do not even reach destination. Even if it is tamper proof, they will cut it open to check and throw in garbage bins!

3. SAE + used postal stamps  for collection: 

Few rare used stamps to my collection make me happy along with DX QSL. It is two good hobbies in one go! Mostly if you follow ground rules of making envelope visually not attracting enough, this method gets through well.

4. OQRS : 
I recently turned to Club log with paypal way to compensation called OQRS. I think this would be the 2nd best way to collect QSL other than LOTW.  I am seeing a potential to avoid many risks of losing two way mails.

If you are NOT OK with LOTW or OQRS, Here are are the IMPORTANT TIPS to reduce chance of your card losing in postal transit:


1. DO NOT give any visible hints on the envelope:
Some hams write on the cover : "No money enclosed" or "Ham Radio card" or "callsign" .
DO NOT write anything other than name and address.

Envelope should be as usual as possible. Should not attract any attention on transit.

2. Try not to fold SAE and green stamps in your request envelope:
When requesting if you have option use slightly bigger size envelope for your post and place SAE without folding with your card, postage inside that envelope(SAE).

Couple of things will happen: 
a. Reduces thickness of your post - no one should get any sense when they touch envelope for sorting and stamping.
b. Reduces transparency of the mail- workers should not see what is inside if they hold envelope against light

3. DO tamper proof your envelopes: 
This will reduce some people peeling small section of the envelope out of curiosity. If they see $ inside, remove it and throw the rest to garbage!


So wise is to go for LOTW or OQRS.

If you are CQer also be ready to receive and respond to lot of Bureau card requests once or twice a year. Whatever mechanism may it be, Golden Rule of operating is to show a graceful presence on air and even better QSLing practice.

See you on air
Kiran
VU3KPL

Antenna or Amp? for restricted to general VU license upgrade

I got licensed in 1995 just after my college. With no elmer, it was really a struggle to get CW. Although by the time i was ready for 12WPM +, Since I had sent application for 5WPM and passed the test, i got restricted license and VU3KPL as my call sign. It took some hard time to get on air and then go offline. My restricted grade only allowed 50W transmission and general grade allowed 400W.

As I get past my beginner mode into mainstream DXing and contesting, several things are pausing me for upgrading the license.
1. 400W capability
2. Digital capability
3. a new Call Sign ;)

Already i used Hexbeam for last couple of years and have utilized it to the max extent. Now assuming i get license upgrade done soon, what is that i want to gain with station was my question. I did a small analysis of these facts.

Antenna	Hex Beam	Spider Beam
Gain on 20m	5.5 dbi	6.7dbi
TX power (w)	ERP (w)
50	177	233
400	1419	1870
Type of upgrade	ERP Gain (W)	ERP Gain (Db)	Inverstment (Rs.)	Rs/W
hex to spider	56	1.7	45000	804
hex and amp	1242	3.1	150000	121
spider and amp	1637	3.2	195000	119

As you can see, i am doing analysis of upgrading to Spiderbeam (3 elements on bands) and 400W amp (considering best in class new amp models).

Now check the gain increase factor, investment i need to do and also return on investment. 

It does not make any sense to go from hex to spider only with out amp. Big plus would be if i invest in amp, a 3.1DB gain and Rs. 121 /Watt. 

So natural progression would be dipole/inverted vee to a beam to an amp. And obviously one could get to the final state with tickets and $ in hand in first place itself ;))

So do your math and be on air. Its fun!

VU3KPL

Solar Wind Speed and HF tunneling

Checkout my 3830 article on some interesting observations during CQWPX SSB contest 2013

http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/3830/2013-04/msg00163.html

Enjoy!

Kiran VU3KPL

DXing from QTH near high tension voltage line

With TX5K gone QRT this morning, it was bit of disappointing for me. I was trying to follow them all over bands from 20m to 10m on SSB and CW but no sign for me other than noise.

 Just when VU3DMP was working them on Long path (around 7:30AM IST i.e 2:00 UTC), i was having 54 noise and just nothing. Obviously VU3DMP, including 2PAI, 2NKS all live on coastal area with highly conductive ground and have atleast 3 element Yagi antennas. 2PTT lives in Bangalore though. It was puzzling for me when i saw their multi band QSOs. It was not just about patience, grey line timing or power output i thought!. It is also the place you live in I concluded.

My current QTH a rented apartment 5 floors above with dense surrounding population. There is high tension overhead line going from SW to SE of my apartment at 100 ft and a cell phone tower at 200 ft in the same direction. I was observing very quite conditions when turning my 2 element Hexx beam to the south and exactly to the north( instead of higher noise levels). I had worked only handful JA stations and even less VK/ZL and ZS. Most of the stations i worked in these directions were relatively short distance like HS0, YB etc. And almost all these stations are high power one. I am starting to conclude that these are normally resultant of high angle radiation and I never caught low angle from south west, south or south east on Long path propagation.

TX5K was coming strong on long path during morning grey line as reported by some. But for me there was a suction effect for signals coming from south. Experts and grand fathers in this area of electromagnetism can clarify this better, but i recollect a theory from my college days. I remember right-hand rule for electromagnetism which says, if current is traveling in a line in the direction of your thumb, the magnetic field direction would then be in the circular direction of following your other fingers. reference link 

If i consider this principle, high tension lines are right in between low angle radiation waves from south and my antenna. This may be acting like a RF sponge limiting my ability to listen to those weak signals. By the way i have tried other techniques of small magnetic listening loops, noise cancelling devices and large delta loops for improving reception earlier. But now I am sure that all those helped in reducing some specific noise problems, but solution to this RF sponging is no other than QSYing the QTH only. Fortunately for me i am going to QSY to another location in next couple of months.

So definitely another operation from Clipperton may or may not happen in near future, my learning from this chase has made me more knowledgeable on my favorite subjects of DXing and Propagation. 

The day i work < 100watter stations from NA or SA from Bangalore, I can assume either we are at the top of propagation or all my local QRM and sponging problems are gone - which is still a dream!

Kiran VU3KPL 

Why TX5K was important for me? -  
Yeah definitely it was one most sought after DX entity for hams. More importantly, it is almost an antipodal point for India with distance on Long being 4000KM larger than Short path. This location offers an interesting observational benefit when it comes to propagation. As noted VU QSOs took place during morning greyline long path over south pole. Indicating that RF waves traveled over darker edge of the planet earth for longer distance and with enough energy to reach other side!.

ARSI VHF HillTop Communication contest 2013 station locations

We will operate as VU2GRM from Devarayana Durga, Tumkur, Karnataka at height of around 4000ft ASL
Our objective of this exericse would be to study line of sight communication from various parts of India. This will help in future emergency preparedness for Hams.
Following is the permissions from DIG Karnataka Police Wireless for this exercise.

View ARSI VHF Hilltop Contest 2013 in a larger map Checkout Ham concentration in South India! Hope to create big buzz this time... VU3KPL

Diamond DXCC 2012

Just received DDXCC certificate confirming contacts with 100 DX entities from 1932 DXCC list.

What a joy chasing the rare ones with some historical significance that too with mere 50W from a urban jungle full of RFI! .

Setup:
5 band completely homebrewed Hexxabeam : This one is real winner which got my country total for 2012 to 130+.(from March to Sept). Looking for CQWW for sweeping some more DX from Africa and Caribbean.

Yaesu 857 trx with modified Creative headset and foot switch interface box.

See you on air
73s Kiran

Optimizing Amateur Radio's effecitve radiating power

I hold restricted grade Amateur Radio license with voice mode endorsement. It allows me to transmit only of 50W on HF. When I wanted to set my station at Bangalore, I wanted it to optimally use all the allowed power and get on the air. Referring to many internet information available on various subjects, i found that most of the hams(including me!) never optimize their station and take advantage of power. Although power shows up as 50W or 100W going out of their rig, how much is actually transmitted out their antenna in a desired direction is very important.

Lets look at some of the aspects which i considered (the way in which i understand them):
Antenna:
This metal structure everyone knows is very important for transmission/reception.There are couple of important aspects in the antennas 1. resonance at desired frequency 2. line impedance match 3. gain in desired direction
1. Resonance: when the RF wave finds matching length of conductor we call it as antenna is resonating at that frequency. Ideally only resonant frequency should be available to listen or transmit efficiently. However antenna tends to have behavior of acceptable bandwidths. That is the range of frequencies for which efficiency becomes acceptable. For small space antennas like magnetic loops, loaded antennas etc this range is very narrow. When length of conductor is longer(2-3 times) than wavelength of maximum desired frequency wavelength, it can resonate at various frequencies below it. So a tuner can make sure that conductor accepts or transmits desired frequency.  

Tips: 

• Have your antenna elements cut as per designed frequencies
• Use high quality conductors (thicker diameter the better)

2. Line impedence (Z): This is collective measurement of transmission system i.e transceiver i/o, line and antenna feed point itself. Normally amateur radio rigs have 50 ohms line connectors and coaxes are 50 ohms rated. Antennas should also will have to have that 50 ohms rating. Else reflection of waves back to rig from antenna will occur which is called SWR (Standing Wave Ratio).  Getting SWR to within 1:1.1 yields in best results.
Tips:

• Reduce SWR with proper line balancers like BalUns
• Reduce surface currents using RF chokes

3. Gain in desired direction (DBd gain in decibels measured with a dipole reference point) Do we require to transmit in a direction which is not intended to be?. Like a 50 W light bub hanging over head without its reflector, antenna would have no focus. Put a reflector all light now with same 50W bulb seems to be with more brightness for the person infront of it. Put a lens in-front of the bulb, light rays gets sharper and intense in-front of it. Similarly in RF, using a single element vs using two or more element has its advantages. All this gain comes with its mechanical and spacial overheads too. Work on a space optimized and gain optimized antenna at a clear height of around 30ft from ground or above.Check nearby obstacles like highrise buildings, mountains etc. these will have adverse impact on signals in their direction.

Cable:
Chose best available cables for your needs. Onetime investment of few hundred Rupee more will take you through seven sees for years. Chose bare copper over tinned copper braids.
Typically Indian station antennas are just above the roof level and coax lengths are around 50ft.

Cable loss : refer to http://www.timesmicrowave.com/cgi-bin/calculate.pl

There are other cables which also can be used per availability and technical requirements.
Do not compromise on connector soldering joints. Poor joints yields in RF loss as well. If you are using antenna switches, make sure you maintain them for best contacts. Remove unwanted coax hops between trx and antenna like keeping a unwanted coax plug joint or a antenna switch which you rarely use etc.

Ground: 
You may see lots of informative articles on arrl.org or elsewhere on grounding. A good ground for antenna tower reduces lightening risk. A good ground in your RF channel like TRX body and Cable jacket reduces return currents and RFI. A good ground for the DC/AC power reduces probability of electric shock.

Over all keep your system clean, even if you are running QRP levels, you will make most out of your available power.
All the best, hope to have a QSO with you soon

73
DE VU3KPL Kiran