Here is a great video explaining the truths about SWR. I found it informative and I hope you do as well!
"What is Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) and how does it impact your amateur radio antenna system? Is there really such a thing as “perfect” SWR and does it really matter? DX Engineering’s Michael Murphy, KI8R, covers the basics of SWR, including reflected power; factors that can influence SWR readings, such as lossy coaxial cables; the importance of measuring SWR at the antenna; and some of the myths and misinformation surrounding this widely used measurement in ham radio. Click on the links below for some great SWR resources, as well as low-loss coax cables from DX Engineering discussed in the video."
We would like to invite you to the next meeting for the Southeast Kansas Amateur Radio Club! It will be Saturday September 28th at 9am and we will meet in the Pittsburg Fire Station#1 at 911 W. 4th in Pittsburg KS.
We will have the usual breakfast casserole, donuts, coffee and bottled water. We will meet and greet for a few minutes, enjoy breakfast then get our meeting underway. We have a lot to discuss as we move towards the end of 2024 and a new year and fresh start in 2025! Let's talk about your ideas for reviving interest and activities in 2025. We can discuss things like maybe having an area wide tail-gater in the spring, The annual Christmas dinner at Barto's, Field Days (Winter and Summer), radio operating outings... and build projects.
We will also be having a special drawing for those in attendance... the club has purchased a $50 gift certificate from HAM CRAZY for some cool HAM accessories for your shack or vehicle. All that attend will get a ticket to win the prize drawing. So mark your calendar, or tell SIRI, or HEY GOOGLE it or write in marker on your hand but we'd love to see a great turnout.
Driving back home from our trip to New Hampshire, Maine and Canada, we were driving towards home, through western Pennsylvania on I-80 a few miles from the western border with Ohio we saw a most impressive antenna farm. I first I saw one tower and I thought it was just a commercial tower I saw over the trees. Then as we got a better view I could see multiple towers and multiple huge beams on most of them. While traveling I did some web research and located the stations call sign. Then after getting home I found several sites for reference and I hope you enjoy these.
CLICK FOR GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO
The control ability and management of this system is incredible. I am posting below some links that go into details and videos that show this station... antennas and the shack itself.
I emailed Tim K3LR about additional information on the towers and this is his reply...
"The two tall towers support antennas at 275 feet and 245 feet. Both amateur radio towers are painted, lit and monitored as per the FAA. The towers have been approved by the FAA and registered with the FCC.
The shorter towers are all under 200 feet. There are 14 towers in all. I am looking forward to reading your article.
The next time you are in the area – let me know and you can stop by and I’ll give you a tour."
Check this out and study this incredible contesting station! Very impressive and I might take him up on the offer next time we head to Maine!
Hello SEKARC ! Well as many of you know... the timing on Field Day this year is very bad for several of our key FD players as many of us will be out of town or unavailable.. So we will not be having a Field Day site at the museum this year....BUT, Tim N5STR has graciously agreed to host a Field Day that all of those interested may help with, operate with, log with and maybe just hang out with!
It will be held at the Barton County EOC center in LAMAR MO with map below... Setup will begin Sat morning at 10am if you would like to help out! It will be odd but this is the first one missed in 10+ years is pretty good for the SEKARC !?
