The HODARS VE team is having a ARRL VEC testing session on September 13, 2010. The location is the Goodwill Industries Career Center in Midway Plaza Shopping Center on Pepperell Parkway in Opelika, AL. All three license class exams will be offered, depending on prior registration of applicants for General and Extra class tests. View Location Map The session begins at 6:15 PM CT and […]

After visiting several different locations for our monthly meetings, HODARS has decided on a permanent meeting place. We now meet at the Health Resource Center, across from East Alabama Medical Center on Pepperell Parkway in Opelika. The Health Resource Center has been very accommodating to us and the meeting room is very comfortable and has […]

Well, the 2010 Huntsville Hamfest is history and it was fun. The Alabama Contest Group had some good forums as well as the annual ACG meeting. Tim, KY5R has done a great job this year leading the ACG and we appreciate it. The ACG dinner was held at Beauregard’s in Huntsville. Very good turnout and admin […]

HODARS had a very good meeting and program in August. Dick, K4IQJ demonstrated a two port  Vector Network Analyzer from  Array Solutions (VNA-2180). It can be used as a single-connector device to measure antenna impedances in a manner similar to the MFJ-259 but with a lot more informaion, or as a two-port device to characterize amplifiers, filters where […]

Great meeting tonight. After supper at Logan’s, we met at the BanccorpSouth buidling on Pepperell Parkway. We discussed the AQP operation and made plans for Field Day later this month. We have been offered a very good deal on a Moseley TA-33 beam, rotor, tower and a 2-meter beam. A local ham has decided to […]

AQP setup went very well on Friday. K9MUG, KI4TWB, KA4PKB, K4IQJ, KI4KUT, KI4EEY and AA4YL gathered at the site and worked in the sun and humidity putting up CW and SSB antennae. K9MUG and K4IQJ will use a 20/40 meter delta loop as the main antenna, but also have a vertical for 15 meters and possibly […]

Tweaking continues on the W4HOD version of the W4SSY spud gun. An air leak appeared at the base of the air chamber. After repairing it, the gun is successfully holding a 50 psi load. There appears to be a very minute leak around the pressure gauge, and we will decide if it warrants repairing. Monday […]

While traveling to South Dakota, Iowa and other points in the midwest, Admin has long admired a radio tower on I-65 North near Nashville. It is diamond shape and quite impressive. It has always reminded me of a work of art. A friend said that it probably was the antenna for WSM-650. Well, the friend […]

Monday evening was one of the more interesting evenings this Admin has spent in quite a while. I witnessed the construction of a spud gun, based on the QST article in the March 2009 issue. It was a team effort, mostly led by Bob, KA4PKB. Mike, KI4TWB and Cheryl, AA4YL chipped in parts and the […]

Thursday night happy hour was great fun. Darrell-K9MUG, Bob-KA4PKB, Gene-KI4EEY, Mike-KI4TWB and Cheryl-AA4YL gathered at Locos in Auburn for food and drink. Antennae for the Alabama QSO Party and Field Day, the newly crafted Spud Gun, the extensive beer list at Locos, and politics were a few of the topics covered, along with lots of […]

The DRCG Long Distance Contest (DLDC) is June 12-13, 2010.  The rules are here. The BARTG Sprint 75 will occur on June 12, 2010 during one of the DLDC off-times.  Rules here. This is a pilot contest to see if there is sufficient interest in 75 baud RTTY contesting.

The May meeting of HODARS featured a program on software controlled radios, presented by member, Dick Jaeger, K4IQJ.Thanks Dick for sharing with us. Nathan, KD4OWY, was a guest at the meeting and it was great seeing him at our meetings again. http://gnuradio.org/redmine/wiki/gnuradio

The first weekend of June means it’s time for the Alabama QSO Party. This year it’s on June 5 and 6 UTC. Heart of Dixie ARS will be operating the AQP from Notasulga in Macon County, Alabama. We have access to a sturdy building with two adjoining lots with lots of trees for antennas. We […]

Several members of HODARS went to the BirmingHAMfest on Saturday. Those seen by AA4YL were KI4KUT, K9MUG, and KA4PKB. Also seen were KE4KWE and wife Reta, KJ4TD and WB4BYQ, from EAARC and KC4HW, WA4WLI, K4ZGB, and others from the Alabama Contest Group. KA4PKB and AA4YL helped man the ACG booth so Tom and Jim could […]