Monthly Archives: February 2016

National Parks On The Air “Park To Park” QSO

Photo of bridge at Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma. NPS photo.

I had my first “park to park” QSO today in the ARRL National Parks On The Air (NPOTA) event.  On the way to do some grocery shopping, I decided to make a quick stop near the Mississippi River, at a parking lot just south of Summit Avenue on the St. Paul side of the river.  It’s at a fairly good elevation above the water, but it’s within the required 100 feet of the river.

I worked about 35 contacts on 20 meter CW in about a half hour, as shown in the log below.  When the pileup subsided, I decided to try phone.  In a previous “activation” from this location, I had managed to work about 50 contacts, but that was after I was “spotted” on the DX cluster.  Without that help, my 5 watt signal didn’t attract anyone’s attention on the crowded band, and I called CQ for about 10 minutes without any takers.  Before packing up, I decided to tune the band and look for any other strong signals.

After a few minutes, I heard Gary, N5PHT, who I had already worked a few times from home.  He was operating from a campground at the  Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma.  He had a booming signal and easily pulled my weak signal out of the noise.

Gary’s station is described on his website.  The difference in signal is attributable to the fact that he is running 100 watts to a better antenna, with a nice station set up in his motorhome.  Even though he was portable, he had a formidable signal, and has worked about 2000 contacts in about a week from this portable location.

 

npota020716



1936 3-Tube Regenerative Shortwave Receiver

1936FebSWcraftEighty years ago, the SWL shown here was exploring the ether with her three-tube shortwave set, as featured in the February 1936 issue of Shortwave Craft magazine. It featured one stage of RF amplification with a 6L7 tube, a 6J7 serving as regenerative detector, and a 6C5 serving as audio amplifier. The article points out that the “operation of the set is perfectly simple.” The set would tune 14-200 meters (1.5 – 21 MHz) with four plug-in coils.

The schematic and pictorial diagrams of the set are shown below.

1936FebSWcraft2

 



1941: Army Surveys U.S. Hams

1941ArmyQuestionaireSeventy five years ago, the U.S. was clearly gearing up quickly for war, and the War Department turned its attention to the communications manpower that the war would entail. As reported here in the February 1941 issue of QST, the Army was sending out a questionnaire to all of the hams listed in the call book.

The War Department made clear that response to the survey in no way constituted “registration” and did not impose any obligation, the Army believed that the statistical knowledge was of utmost importance.

The questionnaire asked for data on code proficiency, military status, education, occupation, and dependents. For those respondents who were not fit physically for military service, it asked whether they would be interested in participation in an aircraft warning net, or whether they would be available for civilian positions as radio operators, instructors, or technicians.

In addition, the survey asked for a brief description of the station.

The ARRL opined that “this seems a needed study and we are confident that amateurs will cooperate and fill out the forms promptly.”



Radio Scouting, 1926

1926FebRadioAge

Shown here in 1926 is Lyman F. Barry, 2OH, the Scoutmaster of Troop 503, Manhattan. In an article in the February 1926 issue of Radio Age, he describes the radio scouting activities of that troop and the equipment used. He first notes that nationwide, 75% of all scouts had radio receiving sets, and that radio had played a role in scouting from the very start. “Away back in 1914 when radio broadcasting was little known, thousands of scouts were studying the scout handbook and wiring up crystal receiving sets and learning the code.”

His aim was to have every scout in the troop in radio communication with the troop, in a system totally independent of commercial telephones. The troop headquarters was equipped with a CW transmitter capable of reaching every part of the city, and at least half of the members of the troop already had a receiver. The scouts were currently in the process of revamping those sets to tune down to 176 meters (1705 kHz), the wavelength employed by the troop station.

From 2OH, a daily bulletin was sent out at about 8 words per minute, a speed at which even the new scouts could pick out a few letters. At weekly meetings, the messages were handed in, and points were awarded to scouts copying without mistakes. Scoutmaster Barry noted that if any emergency mobilizations could be communicated via these bulletins.

At least one neighboring troop had installed a transmitter and receiver, and intercommunications with that troop was being carried out.

The troop also had a portable station, consisting of a regenerative receiver with a single WD-12 tube. This station was capable of tuning 50-50,000 meters, and would pull in broadcast stations from 15-20 miles, as well as the troop station.

The troop also regularly monitored time and weather broadcasts from NAA in Arlington, Virginia.

Troop 503 is mentioned again in the June 1928 issue of Boys’ Life, where it reported that it was in direct contact with a troop in Buffalo.  At that time, Troop 503 held the call sign 2AAQ for its portable station.



Carol Bruce, NBC Radio and WKRP

 

1941CarolBruce

Shown here from the February 1941 issue of Radio Mirror is actress Carol Bruce.  In addition to her film and theater credits, she appeared on the Ben Bernie broadcast on NBC radio.

One of her most famous roles, however, also involved radio.  She played Lilian Carlson, the owner of WKRP in Cincinnatti and the mother of station manager Arthur Carlson.

She died in California in 2007 at the age of 87.



Radio Scouting 1916

1916WirelessAge

Shown here a hundred years ago are Scouts Bruce Clark and Roland D. Cosgrove, 1ON, of 14 Wright Street, Cambridge, Mass.  The photo appeared in the February 1916 issue of Wireless Age, and the caption reveals only that they “were operating a wireless set at the Boston Boy Scout rally.”



Happy Groundhog Day!

GroundhogThe groundhog shown here appeared in National Geographic magazine, May 1918.  As you can see, the groundhog’s shadow is visible, meaning that winter will last another six weeks (despite the visible flowers).

The article explains the phenomenon:

The prominence of the groundhog as a popular figure in the country lore of the Eastern States is shown by his having been given a place with the Saints on the calendar, February 2 being widely known as “Groundhog Day.” It is claimed that on this date the groundhog wakes from his long winter sleep and appears at the mouth of his burrow to look about and survey the weather. If the sun shines so that he can see his shadow, bad weather is indicated and he retires to resume his sleep for another six weeks. Otherwise, the winter is broken and mild weather is predicted. Even on the outskirts of Washington some of the countrymen still appraise the character of the coming spring by the weather on “Groundhog Day.”

To help you celebrate with an appropriate holiday dinner, here’s a link to some ground hog recipes.



1956 Emergency Crystal Set

Feb56PE

In theory, nothing could go wrong using this simple crystal set from 60 years ago, from the February 1956 issue of Popular Electronics.  As the photo makes obvious, it’s a simple crystal set that uses the house wiring as an antenna.  It has no tuned circuit, so it simply pulls in the strongest local station.

The circuit is isolated from the line by a .01 uF disc capacitor. A disc ceramic rarely fails, but one failure mode is a dead short. The article warns “do not omit the blocking capacitor under any circumstances.” It also points out that all of the internal wiring should be taped over or covered with spaghetti tubing. Only one blade of the plug is used, so presumably, even if the capacitor shorts out, there’s no immediate risk of electrocution.

But just to be on the safe side, the article also warns that you should “observe the same precautions in using this crystal receiver as when using the common a.c./d.c. household table radio. Don’t hold it while standing on damp basement floors, handling water faucets or gas stoves, or when taking a bath.”

Of course, if you’re using this set in an emergency when the power is out, I guess you’re OK.  But you still want to observe all of these precautions, because eventually the power will be back on.