General Discussion Highlights

• Propagation and Contacts:
  • John (KC3WWC) applied for a vanity call and did some POTA.
  • Leon (AA3LH) shared insights from operating in Colorado, noting poor gray line conditions in July.
  • Travis (N3ILS) activated parks in British Columbia during travel.
  • Jim (KC3RFG) worked Venezuela on 10m, which remains open with good conditions.
  • Tim (W3QP) completed two SOTA summits in Virginia.
  • Multiple stations confirmed strong 10m openings.
• Equipment and Projects:
  • Ron (WA3VEE) is transferring gear to a newer Sienna van.
  • Bill (KC3OOK) finished a lab table base in his shop.
  • Wayne (KC3SQI) is moving antennas to a new mast.
  • Dave (KI6OM) linked his 220 repeater to a network and received new Pennsylvania 250th anniversary call sign plates.
  • Discussion on grounding systems and temporary power fixes following Jim’s (AF3Z) experience with a failed neutral line.
• Other Notes:
  • Pileated woodpeckers, wildlife encounters, and personal anecdotes added a friendly touch to the evening.
  • Several stations reported summer yard work and heat-related operating limitations.

Technical Questions & Answers

1. Battery Size for Xiegu G90 (W3MFB)

• Question: What size LiFePO₄ battery is optimal for portable use with the G90, which draws ~6A on transmit?
• Key Points:
  • Ron (WA3VEE): 15Ah suggested; size depends on transmit time and discharge specs.
  • Jim (KC3RFG): Uses a 10Ah Dakota Lithium successfully for all-day use; G90 tolerates lower voltages.
  • Tim (W3QP): At least 6Ah to meet current demands; 10–15Ah ideal. Spreadsheets exist to calculate exact needs.
  • Consensus: A 10–15Ah LiFePO₄ is a good balance of portability and runtime.

2. Mounting Antenna Switch Box (KC3SQI)

• Question: Should a plastic weather-protected switch box be ground-mounted or placed on the mast?
• Advice:
  • Ron (WA3VEE): Mount on the mast for protection from lawn crews and ease of maintenance.
  • CR (W8CRW): Uses a raised Pelican-type case behind protective barriers.
  • Chuck (NA3CW): Suggests painting the box for UV protection and using protective conduit for cables.
• Consensus: Mount on the mast or a stabilizing leg, with protective measures.

3. FT8 Timing & Local Interference (KI6OM)

• Question: Should FT8 transmissions on 6m sync with nearby stations to avoid receiver desense?
• Discussion:
  • Tim (W3QP): Unsure it’s critical; use a clear frequency and hold transmit frequency.
  • Vic (KC3TYX): Always uses “Hold TX Freq” to avoid overlap.
  • General Consensus: Good practice to avoid overlapping frequencies, but syncing odd/even cycles with others is unnecessary unless dealing with very strong nearby stations.

Additional Notes

• Grounding Concerns: Following AF3Z’s neutral line issue, KC3RFG recommended a Megger test on ground rods to evaluate grounding effectiveness.
• Pelican Cases: Recommended for outdoor electronics due to durability.
• Wildlife & Safety: Beekeeping and wildlife around homes were discussed, including safety considerations for allergic reactions.