. I tried to talk him into 70 cm
EME but his interest lies in 23 cm. He has a Yaesu 736R with
the 1296 module. I think he has a 10' or 12' satellite dish.
He is looking for information on feed horns, LNAs and power
amps for 1296.
K7XQ
Jeff is QRV on 432 EME with 2 x 9 WL yagis and 350 W.
He hopes to be soon up to 700 W as he is buying a dual
4CX250B PA from K6PF. Thus far he has QSO'd with DL9KR
without a preamp. In Jan he tried with KL6M, but may have
been in the wrong sequence and had some problems computer
noise right on the sked freq and heard nil. He wants to try
skeds with other well-equipped stations. He also wants to try
1296 with his 10'dish and 30 W.
KL6M
Mike plans to be very active on the
SWs for the next few months -- I'm looking forward to both
DUBUS weekends and I plan to be QRV 23 cm by April. I am also
looking forward to the Italian Contest in May. I am designing
a new positioning system from scratch and it is coming along
very well. I hope to use it, at least for azimuth, this
month. I am also significantly redesigning my feed mount and
plan to publish the designs for both projects on my website.
Thanks to WA6PY (O/M), I am now at initial #111 on 70 cm and
welcome any skeds. The last SW was almost a complete failure
for new ones. Skeds were nil with SP6JLW, OE3JPC, PA3DZL
(canceled), G3HUL, G4ALH, LU7DZ (may have been outside his
window), W2WD (canceled), K7XQ (canceled), JS3ISM, JR1RCH,
JH7PAV, JH1XUJ and JA2KRW. After the SW I had a partial with
K7XQ. I think we can make it next time. I had many very nice
QSOs with some of the regulars: W7CI (449/449), N4GJV
(549/569), K5WXN (559/559), UA3PTW (549/559), RA3LE
(549/559), JA6DZI (O/M), HB9Q (559/539), KU4F (569/569) and
K1FO (569/559). Heard very loud were EA8FF, K2UYH and W5AZU.
N4GJV
Ron reports -- During the Jan SW I
QSO'd WA6PY and KL6M - both had good sigs. I was amazed by
the strength of the sigs from Paul's 8' dish! I am definitely
interested in skeds. I need 45 deg. of elevation to avoid the
trees, not just blockage wise, but physically!
OZ4MM
Steg has not much to report this
month because of bad WX in Jan -- High winds stopped
operation from me during the Jan SW as a huge storm passed
through. I can see no damage to the dish. I had hoped for EME
operation this weekend as winds also kept me off the moon
last month. I am hoping for better luck in Feb. In the
meantime we are again doing some major house rebuilding that
is sucking up all my free time. I am looking forward to
seeing everyone in Prague. It is shaping up to be a very FB
Conference!
PA0PLY
Jan was not QRV in Jan because
of travel -- I was in Asia on a business trip. While there I
joined the "year-end" society party of the CTARL in Keelung,
north of Taipei. Many BV stations joined this meeting. I had
a very good conversation with a university professor. He is
Jelly, BV2OL, and is now working on a AO-14 setup and is very
interested in EME. He is in a position to promote my initial
project of some years ago to promote BV 432 and 1296 EME
operation. I also visited Malaysia for the 1st time, but no
chance to setup an amateur meeting. When I returned on 2 Feb,
I found one section of my 432 array misaligned due to our
stormy WX. I hope to have the array aligned and checked out
for the Feb SW.
RA3LE
Alexi had bad WX - high wind and rain in Jan and
completed none of his skeds. He heard only I5CTE weak and
possibly G3HUL. On random he heard K4EME (539) and QSO'd
K5WXN for initial #162.
SM2CEW
Peter's NL report -- I have spent a
lot of time improving my station. First I installed a new
tracking system that G8MBI developed. This has greatly
improved my tracking and signals are now more stable. I see a
tremendous difference on 23 cm and operating is indeed much
more fun. I have also rebuilt the transverter/switching rack
to get rid of some annoying gain drift and excessive noise in
a post preamp. Furthermore I rebuilt the 23 cm YL1050 cavity
input to give a better input match and more efficient power
transfer. Recent QSOs on 432 were on 30 Dec K1FO, G4ALH,
UA3PTW, K9SLQ for an initial (#) and TA4SAT (#). Does anyone
know anything about this station? I thought it could have
been K4SAT, who was listed as satellite operator but he told
me in an email that he was not on and is not ready for EME.
The operator was not using normal EME procedure. He sent a
lot of QSLs, OK OK, etc but it was a good QSO. I am puzzled.
I worked on 2 Jan PA0BAT (#), S52CW and UA3PTW, on 4 Jan
WA6PY with excellent signals., and on Jan 20 during the
ARRL's Jan VHF contest K1FO, S52CW and K5WXN. On 1296 I
worked on 29 Dec ZS6AXT, F6ETI and IK2MMB, on 30 Dec W2UHI,
G4CCH, K2UYH and K5JL, on 20 Jan W7BBM for an initial (#), on
26 Jan HB9Q, ZS6AXT, G4CCH and HB9BCD (#), and 27 Jan F5HRY
(#), DL4MEA, F/G8MBI, DJ5MN, OE9ERC and HB9BBD. Tracking with
my 28' dish is now very accurate and I am considering getting
on 2304. As I have no gear for that band I will have to start
from scratch and possibly I can be QRV later this year.
SK0CC
Sven, SM5LE reports poor
results during the Jan SW -- I did make one QSO on the 27th
with G3LTF with god sigs. I heard some PA/DL stations
fragmentarily on Saturday. I am still some having trouble
with my azimuth indicator, but as the moon was visible I
could find out the correction factor. I am available for
skeds on all days but not nights.
VK3UM
Doug QSO'd on 70 cm on 28 Jan
myself with the moon at 2.5 degs and a little WA6PY -- I
heard nothing from Paul at 1st - (it did not help that at 1st
I called W6PY!) He showed up at 1014. I am simply astounded
at his signal. We exchanged (439/439). I was pretty
conservative in my report suffice to say I have worked many
far weaker stations than him on random. What's he running 10
kW? But he is hearing well too as not once did he not come
back when 'I dropped the key' - amazing!
W1ZX
Willie was on 23 cm during the past 2 SWs. He worked on
29 Dec at 0110 K2UYH (559/559) and (55/55) on SSB, 0137 KA0Y
(569/579) and 0200 VE4MA (449/559) for initial #58, on 26 Jan
at 0030 W7SZ (559/559), 0041 K0YW (569/569), 0049 OZ6OL
(569/569), 0105 NL7F (449/449) #59, and on 27 Jan at 0030
ZS6AXT (469/479) #60 and 0042 K5JL (579/589). Willie has good
echoes most of the time. He will be back on 70 cm in a month
or two. For skeds (70 and 23 cm) e-mail to W1ZX
W2WD
Warren has taken down the EME dish
and stored it for the winter, and sends the following
information on the interference that frustrated his 432 EME
activity -- As usually happens, the interference has dropped
dramatically now that I will not be active until spring.
Although I am not checking the band as often as before, it is
obvious that operating schedules for both the tremendously
strong radar and the strongest spread spectrum (SS) signals
have been reduced greatly. The strong SS signal causing the
most interference was frequency hopping at what appeared to
be a random pattern spread across 420 to 440 MHz. The pulses
were about 2 MHz wide occurring several times a second. On CW
they caused strong popping noise - like popcorn popping.
W2UHI
Frank is still collecting pictures of EME antennas
and they can be found at:
W2UHI
He was only on the
2nd night of the Jan SW and QSO'd on 1296 K5JL, ZS6AXT,
G4CCH, WA1JOF - switched LNAs, HB9BBD and W7SZ. He heard
GM0ONN (T) during their sked.
W7SZ
LArry writes -- For the 1st time in
several months, the wind was down for the SW. I worked on
1296 K0YW, HB9BBD, G4CCH and K5JL - all on SSB. On CW I
contacted OZ6OL, W2UHI, WA1JOF, W1ZX, ZS6AXT, W1QC and a
partial with G3LTF. Conditions on 27 Jan were best that I
have ever experienced. Too bad that WX wasn't better on Euro
side as high dec provided me a much earlier start to Eur
window. It would sure be nice to have this "early" window
during a contest! All my contacts on 23 cm and 3 cm are now
made with the Software Defined DSP-10 transceiver featuring
automatic Doppler correction, integral waterfall and other
EME friendly features.
WA6PY
PAul continues his amazing success
with his 8' dish on 432 EME - see the picture in the last NL
-- During Jan I added KU4F, K2UYH, N4GJV, HB9Q, K5GW and
VK3UM to bring me to initial #11. All were very good signals
and easy QSOs.
ZS6AXT
Ivo sends his greetings -- My
voice is back after my own treatment by electromagnetic
therapy, home made instrument, hi. But my left hand is still
lousy, going for some measurements to the neurologist next
week. Here is my report for Jan. On 1296 I worked on 26 Jan
G4CCH, HB9BBD, HB9Q, SM2CEW, W2UHI, K5JL, IK3COJ, W7BBM,
W4OP, HB9BCD #177 and W1ZX - heard were W1QC and WA1JOF and
CWNR was W7SZ, and on 27 Jan OZ6OL, OE9ERC, DJ5MN, F/G8MBI,
F5HRY, HB9BBD, W2UHI, W1QC, K5JL and W7SZ - CWNR was DL4MEA.
Not much activity, signals were mostly very good. My own
echoes were up to (569) during both days. The WX was also
good so there was no problem with tracking the Moon. I am
looking forward to meeting all my EME friends in Prague.
K2UYH
I had found that the moon window times did not fit
too well this month. I was active on 432 on 26 Jan and
worked at 0030 WA6PY (O/O) for initial #649 without
difficulty, then had to go off for a bit of time. When I
returned I found activity low and only worked at 0216 EA8FF
(559/559) and 0225 W7CI (559/55) before giving up. The
following evening I had a social conflict, and arranged for
Marc, N2OU to operate my 1296 sked at 2200 with GM0ONN. I
was actual present during the sked, but had to leave before
it was over. The moon was very low and in the trees, but we
were still hearing good echoes. Unfortunately nil was copied
from Iain. A number of other stations were heard and
conditions seemed excellent, but Marc could not stay around
to work them and I was already gone. Partially to make up
for the missed activity, I arranged a sked with VK3UM on 432
for the morning, but Doug had WX problems and it was put off
until the next day... 28 Jan turned out to be a problem
night. After returning from an evening out, I thought I would
do a quick switch from 23 cm to 432 and get to bed early. No
way! When I switched to 70 cm, there was no noise from my
preamp. How could this be? I had been on 70 cm little more
than 24 hours ago and all was ok. Up and down the ladder to
the dish feed and finally I pulled the preamp. It was ok! It
turned out to be the 2nd preamp in the shack. Then I had to
make a fix to the supports that guide the chain that drives
the dish. I had not had the dish so far west for some time.
Changes I had made blocked clamps on the chain at 275 degs.
Finally the dish was in place and all was ok. I glanced at
the TV monitor that shows my AZ position. It was dark. The
light was out at my AZ wheel readout. I used a flashlight for
the sked. Anyway VK3UM was on with a big signal from his new
QTH and easily QSO'd.
NETNEWS
by
G4RGK, DAVID DIBLEY
N7AM is assembling the autotrack drive. Next is the feed
system. He hopes to be QRV soon.
WA4YGG in NC is working on 23 cm EME. Steve is looking for
info on water-cooling a 2-tube amp and can be reached at
wa4ygg@dnet.net.
W4AD is presently inactive on 23 cm and is instead
concentrating on 3 cm. He is seeing 0.5 dB of moon noise and
9 dB of sun noise with his dish.
KG6FCB is interested in 23 cm EME. He has a 15' dish and a
7289 PA.
DL9KR says that ZL1KA may be active on 70 cm.
WA8RJF in NE OH has a 23 cm station with a 3.6 m dish and a
2-tube cavity amp.
VE4MA's new 24 GHz TWTA is give 100+ W out.
G4YTL is awaiting many QSL cards.
W7CI worked KL6M and EA8FF, but otherwise found activity low
during the Jan SW on 70 cm.
WE2Y is becoming active on 432 again and heard K1FO, K5AZU,
KL6M and EA8FF during the SW. He should be QRV in Feb.
K5WXN worked KL6M with good signals and 6 Eur stations
during the Jan SW. RA3LE was worked for an initial.
W7MEM is QRV on 70 cm, but heard nil in his sked with
EA3DXU.
NU7Z is working on 24 GHz and 47 GHz equip and not QRV on
5.7 GHz at the moment.
W5LUA has been playing with 47 GHz NF measurements. He made
a couple of filters for 47 GHz. Al is now up to his 10th QSO
on 24 GHz.
VE7CLD heard W5LUA on 24 GHz in Jan.
RW3BP has received TWT and will be working on a power supply
for 24 GHz.
K5JL reports good signals on 23 cm during the Jan SW. He had
a 4-way SSB QSO.
WA1JOF worked on 23 cm during the SW G4CCH, K5JL, W2UHI,
HB9BBD and W7SZ. Nil was heard in skeds from DL4MUP and
LX1DB.
LX1DB had problems during his Jan skeds with W1ZX and WA1JOF.
WA1JOF was copies (549) and 5 kHz low, but not complete.
N2IQ is presently not QRV with his 28'dish due to repair
work and the cold WX. It is in need a new drive belt. One is
on the way. Marc notes that in snow he parks his dishes at
about a 20 deg elevation and sideways to the wind. He has
almost finished his new moon tracking system.
W4OP had trouble maintaining constant power from his new PA.
He found that the finger stock around the plate of the 2C39
was not making good contact and had been arcing. He has now
fixed the problem and is getting 270 W out.
CT1DMK was not active on any bands in Jan.
PA3CSG is reported to be working on a 1 kW amp for 10 GHz!
K9SLQ had a nice QSO on 432 with VK4AFL.
WA9FWD is working on a new 23 cm PA using a GS35B.
KA0Y is temporarily QRT while he makes exciter repairs.
AA5C is trying out a new preamp for 10 GHz and is seeing
about 12 dB Sun noise.
F/G8MBI is QRV on 23 cm, but still with low power - only 50
W.
WB0GGM should be on 70 cm for the Feb SW.
OK1DFC has a new e-mail address ok1dfc@tesmail.cz.
N1BUG hopes to be back QRV on 70 cm by the SW. He will take
skeds. He has a single FO22 and 600 W and is up to initial
#19 so far.
VE6TA will be QRV on 70 cm until the 1st leg of the DUBUS
Contest is complete and then will return to 23 cm.
W4ZRZ w4zrz@aol.com is running 16 m2 13 WL yagis (8 V and 8
H) with 1.5 kW.
FOR SALE
W1ZX has available 2 AIL 75 NF meters for Parts, best offer,
a DJ9BV design NF meter build with cabinet and switch for
$US400+shipping (+s), AIL-7514 NF meter $US400+s,
HP-8970A working $US1,975+s,
MFJ-784 Super DSP filter $US80+s, JPS
NRF-7 Noise Remover & audio filter $US35+s,
HP 415E SWR
meter-brown color unit (a later model unit, not gray in
color) $US55+s,
Noise Com Noise diodes NC305, glass package
$US29+s, and AIL Hot-Cold Load generator, Type 70, (needs
some work) $US15+s. Call Willie at 301 645 5584 between 0900-
2300 EST, FAX 301 645 6853, 24 hrs, or email to:
Willie
W6EMD has
for sale a 1296 MHz VE4MA type feed made of
galvanized sheet metal. It is in new condition, never used,
and priced at $US250+s from CA. He will send a photo by e-
mail. Contact Dave at:
Dave
W7MEM is
looking for a CX-600N T-R relay.
KA8ABR has
quite a bit of EME related
equipment (dishes to 16', PAs, etc.) for multiple bands
available. He does not presently have a location where he can
setup a station himself, but is interested in helping others
get started. Mike's tel is (937) 235-1820.
HB9BBD
has some
test equipment for sale. Make your bid at:
HB9BBD test equipment
W7MEM is looking for 50' of LMR-600.
DJ5MN is
looking for 13 cm flexible waveguide as long as 25
m and some short pieces too.
KG6FCB is
looking for 23 cm PA. The ND2X WEB page and KD5FZX
at mgbpcs@swbell.net were suggested as sources on the 20 m
net.
VE6TA is
looking for a 23 cm rcv converter or xvtr.
TOWER SITES FOR SALE
The American Tower Corporation has more
than 600 tower sites nationwide currently for sale? These
include everything from small guyed towers to large former
long haul microwave sites with blast hardened shelters up to
30,000 sq.ft. For the amateur radio enthusiast, these sites
could have a whole range of uses, including repeater
locations, equipment storage, ham club houses, and a host of
others. Click on the link:
Towers for sale
to the American Tower Corporation Sites For Sale web page.
You can search the list there, or download it in Adobe or
Excel format. If you are interested in any individual or
group of sites, or would just like to make a general inquiry,
please contact me right away at Jim Innes,
jim.innes@americantower.com, 215-482-2600x105 (voice), 215-
482-5481 (fax) and, 267-254-1555 (cell).
TECHNICAL
K5JL has had several requests for info about the
432 MHz GS23B/4CX1600U tube cavity amplifier used by K5GW.
Jay says several pictures can be seen at:
K5GW HPA
These pictures can be enlarged
by clicking on the small image displayed. If you have
questions please e-mail K5GW at:
K5GW'e email
FROM THE WEB BY RICK, NU7Z -
-- What we hope to do is to capture a greater percentage of
the happenings locally and from around the world. If we have
them we will publish the web address information so that you
can research anything that might be of interest. And if you
see something that you think might be worthy of this column,
please pass it along. Since the January Newsletter there has
been many items on the WEB.
- WA6BKL posted an article on how to machine your own
waveguide to coax transitions. See it at:
50 MHz and Up
- A satellite transmitting FSK Morse on 144.1 is MAROC-
TUBSAT, a Moroccan spacecraft was launched Jan. 10, 2002.
AMSAT is concerned, and considers this to be an intruder as
its frequencies were not coordinated with IARU. Amateurs
experiencing harmful interference are encouraged to report
it to the IARU Monitoring System coordinator. - CALL FOR
PAPERS, Central States VHF Society's 36th Annual Conference,
will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you are interested in
writing and/or presenting a paper please contact Mark
Holdwick at: Mark Holdwick
- An unconfirmed report from Europe tells us that F6BVA and
F6DER/F5OKM have completed a contact over a 54Km path on
145Ghz. But no details were provided.
- For those interested in the DSP-aided modes, there is new
information on an EME contact between W7LHL and W7SZ at 10
GHz: (follow the link to the 'weak signal page' under the
title '10 GHz PUA-43 Mode EME QSO')
- There has been much discussion about offset dishes. Follow
this link for more information, as provided by NRAO.
Offset Dishes
- NW1B has acquired quite a few reflectors that could be
very serviceable for home brew antennas up to 40 GHz. Most
are 24" with an 8" shroud. F/D is ~0.3. Originally built to
hold end fed feed structures therefore there is a 3" hole at
the vertex. Some still have feeds in them. You can pick out
what you want, local pick up only (N. Billerica MA). $10.00
each. For more information please E-mail: NW1B
- Relays available from NW1B, SPDT and 4 pole relays. SMA
connectors, some 12 VDC, 24 VDC and 28 VDC he also has
various WG flanges and waveguide pieces and antenna parts.
Contact Troy via E-mail: NW1B
- David Wrigley, G6GXK passed along the link for a website
for amplifier ideas. Amplifier Tubes
Thanks - Rick, NU7Z nu7z@aol.com.
FINAL
The planned changes in the NL are starting to be come
reality. This month we have the standings back after several
years of absence. The top 10 or so listing for 70 and 23 cm
are shown. The full list can be found at
www.hb9q.ch/database/search.htm. You can update and add
information online on the site. We also have the first
submission from NU7Z of the WEB/Reflector news he has
gathered of interest to 432 and above NL readers.
I want to keep beating the drum for the Prague EME Conference
this summer. You need to sign up, if you have not done so
already at the WEB site at:
Prague EME Conference
I mentioned the SETI Conference last month. Here is the
official announcement: SETICon02: The SETI League's second
annual Technical Symposium has been scheduled for the weekend
of 26 - 28 April 2002, at The College of New Jersey near
Trenton, NJ. Papers on a variety of VHF, UHF and microwave
topics are anticipated. There will also be an awards
banquet, door prizes, hospitality suites, exhibits,
Conference Proceedings, and more. For further information,
see:
SETI Technical Conference
VE7BQH came out with a last minute request for comments on
the dates for the 2002 ARRL EME Contest. Unfortunately the
lead-time was too short for a respond from announcement in
this NL. It does look like the dates will be the same this
year as the announced Oct and Nov SWs.
Hopefully the WX will be better WW for the Feb SW as I am I
looking forward to the SSB Contest. I hope to hear your SSB
off the moon in Feb.
73 Al - K2UYH
FEB SKEDS
22 FEB
Time 432.040
0730z JS3ISM-KL6M
0800z JR1RCH-KL6M
0830z JH7PAV-KL6M
0900z JH1XUJ-KL6M
0930z JA2KRW-KL6M
2330z OE3JPC-KL6M
23 FEB
Time 432.040 432.045 432.070
0000z I5CTE -KL6M
0030z IK0EQJ-KL6M
0100z IK5WJD-KL6M
0130z IK6EIW-KL6M
0500z K7XQ -KL6M
1230z RA3LE -JA6DZI
1300z RW3PF -KL6M RA3LE -JJ1NNJ
1330z UA4NM -KL6M RA3LE -JR9NWC
1400z UA6LGH-KL6M RA3LE -JA2KRW
1430z I5CTE -RA3LE
1500z IK0EQJ-RA3LE
1530z IK5WJD-RA3LE
1600z IK6EIW-RA3LE
1630z G3HUL -RA3LE
1700z PA4FP -RA3LE
2030z W4ZRZ -SM2CEW WB5APD-DK3WG
2100z K9SLQ -RA3LE W4ZRZ -DK3WG
2130z K4EME -RA3LE LU7DZ -DK3WG
2200z KO7N -DK3WG
2230z LU7DZ -RA3LE VE6TA -UT3LL
2300z VE6TA -SK0CC
2330z VE6TA -K4EME
24 FEB
Time 432.040 432.045
0000z WB0GGM-YO2IS PA3DZL-KL6M
0100z K5WXN -N1BUG
0130z SP6JLW-KL6M
0200z LU7DZ -KL6M K5WXN -W7MEM
0230z IN3AGI-KL6M
0300z G4ALH -KL6M
0330z WB0GGM-K9SLQ G3HUL -KL6M
0400z W7MEM -WB0GGM
22 FEB
Time 1296.050
2330z W5LUA -F/G8MB
23 FEB
Time 1296.050 1296.080
0000z W5LUA -F5FEN
2200z W2UHI -GM0ONN
2230z W2UHI -F/G8MB K5JL -GM0ONN
2300z WA1JOF-LX1DB W1ZX -GM0ONN
2330z W1ZX -LX1DB K0YW -GM0ONN
25 FEB
Time 1296.080
0000z W5LUA -GM0ONN
FEB TOP STANDINGS 70 CM
Pos. Callsign Equipment Band Initials Updated
1 DL9KR 432 768 01.02.02
2 K2UYH 28" Dish 8938 PA 432 648 13.01.02
3 DK3WG 16x27el LY, kW 432 385 14.12.01
4 SM3AKW 432 357 22.01.02
5 G3LTF 432 353 13.01.02
6 K0RZ 432 301 28.11.01
7 JA4BLC 20'dish 2-3CX800A7s,.4dBNF432 261 01.06.30
8 VK3UM 432 236 30.10.01
9 HB9Q 15mdish 2x8874(450W).3dB NF 432 175 02.02.02
10 G4ERG 16x10polrot2x3CX800 4dB NF 432 166 09.12.00
FEB TOP STANDINGS 23 CM
Pos. Callsign Equipment Band Initials Updated
1 OE9XXI 10 m dish 1296 276 12.12.01
2 K2UYH 28" Dish 1296 197 21.01.02
3 G3LTF 1296 187 13.01.02
4 HB9BBD 10m Pb 1296 175 01.02.02
5 WD5AGO 1296 170 15.12.01
6 SM3AKW 1296 170 22.01.02
7 G4CCH 5.4m dish, W2IMU feed, 500W, 0.31NF1296 164 16.12.01
8 ZS6AXT 1296 163 09.12.00
9 EA6/DF5JJ 5.5m dish, 900W, 0.23dB NF, QRT 1296 148 23.12.01
10 HB9Q 15m dish, TH340 (500W), 0.3dB NF 1296 110 02.02.02
11 ON5RR 1296 100 26.12.01
12 JA4BLC 20ft dish, YD1336, 0.5dB NF 1296 94 01.06.30
Netnotes by K1RQG
This information was obtained from:Scott, KD4LT
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Rein, W6/PA0ZN
19990615