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The 50 MHz and Up Group is an educational and public service amateur radio organization centered in the San Francisco Bay area. The group is interested in developing and utilizing communications on frequencies from 50MHz up through light-waves. The group is open to any related topics that might be of interest to members, such as: technology, design, construction, operation, public service, contesting and antennas. Learn more . . .
Contact
For questions about this group or about programs and activities, please contact the 2018 President, Steve Shyvers (N6KLD): steve.shyvers (at) gmail [dot] com
2018 dues and member information must be updated
If you do not have any changes at all in your contact information, then simply send an email with a sentance to Jeffrey Pawlan satating that nothing has changed. Please use jpawlan@yahoo.com
To send a memberform with your updated information or to join, please go to the Membership tab of this website.
Dues are $10 for a year, $15 for two years. This can be brought to a meeting or sent to the new Treasurer:
Oliver Barrett
1111 Pecos Way
Sunnyvale CA 94089
Make your check payable to 50MHz and Up Group of N. Calif Inc
March 2018 Meeting Announcement
Our meeting location has changed
We no longer have access to the TI meeting facilities for our 50MHz and Up Group.
Our next meeting of the 50MHz and Up Group of N. Calif will be on Thursday, Apr. 5 beginning at 7:00pm. Note that this meeting will be in back private room of the IHOP restaurant located in the Avatar Hotel at 4200 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. In order to obtain the use of this room, we should all come early and order food. We will begin the dinner at 5:30pm but you can come anytime before the meeting which will begin a 7pm.
The agenda includes a technical presentation by Larry Zuckerman, K3LZ, and a roundtable discussion in addition to any announcements.
Minutes of the March 2018 meeting
Steve Shyvers (N6KLD) called the meeting to order at 7:15pm.
The meeting started with introductions, since there were a number of new attendees and guests.
Announcements:
The first De Anza Swap meet of the year is coming up March 10th. The swap meet may be moving to a new location in the coming months, so check the swap meet web page for the new location. http://www.electronicsfleamarket.com
The Central States VHF and Up Sprints is coming up, Monday April 9th for 144 MHz, April 17th for 222 MHz, April 25th for 432 MHz, May 5th for 1296 MHz and above, and May 12th for 50 MHz. For more information see https://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/home/2018-information
MUD 2018 will be in Dayton, Ohio, October 11-14. For more information see http://www.microwaveupdate.org/
The East Bay Amateur Radio Club is looking for speakers. If interested, contact Martin Rothfield, W6MRR. The clubs web site is at www.ebarc.org
The GNU Radio Conference will be September 17-21 in Henderson, Nevada. For more information see https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon-2018/
Steve also announced that Oliver Barrett had purchased a new computer projector for the group and it was in use at the meeting.
The announcements were followed by an update and discussion about possible long term meeting locations to replace the TI conference Center.
Meeting Location Notes:
Paul Zanders identified another possible location, Holders County Inn, on South De Anza, Cupertino. They have a separate meeting room. One problem, it is a popular location, making it difficult to schedule. They also have a location on Saratoga Avenue.
The “Sports Basement” off of Lawrence Expressway has a meeting room. More information is needed. (Oliver Barrett)
Houge Park in San Jose has a meeting room. The rental rate is the same as other San Jose facilities. (Steve Shyvers, and others)
City of Sunnyvale has rooms, but they do not seem practical for us due to cost and other restrictions. (Art Lange)
Harry’s Haufbrau on Saratoga Ave. has a meeting room. (Art Lange)
The IHOP on Miller Avenue, Cupertino accepts groups, but does not have a separate room. Only a few IHOPS have a separate room. (Steve Shyvers)
No decision was made, further research is required on a new meeting location.
Larry Zuckerman presented his proposal on how to handle the sale of the equipment donated to the group by the TI Amateur Radio Club. This proposal has previously been distributed via email on the email reflector.
There was discussion about the proposal and the following changes were proposed, seconded, and approved by a show of hands. Initially it was proposed that tie bids be broken by the flip of a coin. This was seconded and approved. Later it was decided that the auction should be held by email, to allow more people to participate. Tie bids would be resolved by the earliest email reception date. Bids will be sent to the MUD2017.payments@gmail.com email account. The auction should be held in two weeks. Mike Lavelle moved that we accept these changes, and Jim Moss seconded it. The motion passed with one opposed. The revised plan will be posted on the email reflector.
Brian Kline moved that the formal part of the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM. The formal part of the meeting was followed by a round table discussion of the current projects and activity.
The 2018 Officers and Board Members
- President: Steve Shyvers (N6KLD)
- Vice President: Chris Veargason (N6JET)
- Secretary: Brian Kline (WA6QDP)
- Treasurer: Oliver Barrett (KB6BA)
- Board of directors:
- Art Lange (W6RXQ)
- Larry Zuckerman (K3LZ)
- Lars Karlsson (AA6IW)
Here is the presentation by Jeffrey Pawlan, WA6KBL on the history of circular waveguide, the use of low loss circular waveguide, transitions to rectangular waveguide, and expremely high performance dual mode feedhorns for 10GHz and 24GHz with builtin adapters to standard rectangular waveguide.
Please click here to view or download.Circular waveguide and horn antenna talk. This is a Powerpoint.
Beacons
Microwave Beacons in operation The following beacons are known to be operating as of 04-16-2016:
| Name | Grid | Coords | Freq | Call | Power | Ant | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Vaca | CM88wj | 38.415, -122.116 | 10368.325 | W6ASL | +30dBm | 10dBi omni | CW ID |
| Mt Allison | CM97bl | 37.500, -121.872 | 10369.192 10369.225 10368.625 24192.010 47061.017 |
AD6FP/R W6QI/B WA6QDP |
+17dBm +30dBm total out +17dBm +12dBm |
10dBi omni 12dBi omni open WG |
CW ID, drifts ~10 kHz Linear translator: Output is 11-55 kHz above beacon Input 600 kHz below desired output CW ID FM ID, aimed to Los Gatos |
| Mt Leeson | CM97ae | 37.167, -121.924 | 10367.990 24191.975 47087.99 79919.92 |
KF6KVG | +20dBm +20dBm +5dBm -5dBm |
2.5" horn 1.5" horn 1.25" horn 0.6" horn |
FM ID, locked, aimed NW FM ID, locked, aimed NW FM ID, unlocked, aimed NW no ID, locked, aimed NW |
| Bear Mtn. | DM06ir | 37.747, -119.281 | 24191.990 | W6BY/B | +27dBm | 20 slot omni | locked, IDs as DM07IC, will fix |
| Mt Frazier | DM04ms | 34.775, -118.969 | 10368.310 | N6CA/B | +31dBm | 14dBi omni | CW ID, locked |
| Heaps Peak | DM14kf | 34.235, -117.141 | 10368.370 | ? | +?? dBm | ??dBi omni | CW ID |
| Palos Verdes | DM03ts | 33.747, -118.336 | 10368.300 | N6CA/B | +32dBm | 14dBi omni | CW ID, locked |
| Santiago | DM13fr | 33.712, -117.534 | 10368.330 | KE6JUV | +27dBm | 10dBi omni | CW ID, locked |
| San Miguel | DM12mq | 32.697, -116.935 | 5760.000 10368.360 24192.050 |
K6QPV/B N6IZW/B K6QPV/B |
+34dBm +27dBm +34dBm EIRP |
10dBi omni 12dBi omni horn |
- CW ID, locked CW ID, locked, aimed to LA |