KH6RH     

              Satellite communications, 6m DXing, magnetic loop antennas, crystal radios.....and of course, VACUUM TUBES !!!!  

KH6RH     GARETH CHANG     POB 662    AIEA, OAHU, HAWAII    96701     BL11aj

        Welcome to my amateur radio webpage. This page started as a learning experience on how to create a webpage and how to upload files to the server. It has since turned into a place where my buddies and I can show the world what we have been using for satellite operation, along with my 6m activity, and other miscellaneous things. And if I'm lucky enough, this page may even help someone to get started in this fascinating  hobby.

        So who is Sparky? He is the little radio guy in all of us that drives us to wake up at ridiculous hours in the morning to catch that 15 minute satellite pass. He is the one responsible for making us climb up and down that ladder a hundred times while we tune for the lowest reflected power on our newly homebrewed yagi (as the neighbors watch in awe, wondering if they should call the psychiatric ward).  I had to do something in return for all that Sparky has done for us. So I named my webpage after him. Thanks, Sparky!

                GETTING  STARTED  IN  SATELLITE

        Like most of us, you've read through the radio handbook and came to the chapter on space communications. After reading through the paragraphs on satellite, you've decided you want to check it out. Sure, the info is all there, but could someone break it down to 1-2-3 ? Well, maybe if I told you how I got started, it may help. I am going to assume at this point that you HAVE read thru the space communications chapter in the radio amateur handbook and you have an idea that you will be transmitting (uplink) on VHF and receiving (downlink) on UHF.  

        1) Tracking Software. First, we need to know what satellites are operational, the frequencies they operate on, and where they are at any given time of the day. For myself, I tried (and am still using) WinOrbit. Once upon a time it was on the AMSAT website, but now has moved here : http://www.sat-net.com/winorbit/. After downloading and installing the program, you should also set up a link for updating keplarian elements or keps. In a nutshell, kep elements is data that tells the tracking software where the satellite is. This data needs to be updated at least weekly if you want to be accurate. Why update ? Because the satellite's orbit always changes in relationship to the earth. You can go here : ftp://alphalma.cnrs-mrs.fr/pub/astro/, right click on "amatuer.tle, and copy to the kep element folder in WinOrbit. The next time you start WinOrbit, it will automatically update the keps you just copied. One more thing to do : after starting WinOrbit, go into the setup menu and change the user's QTH to your own. You can go to QRZ.com, look up your callsign, and under detailed info, get your latitude and longitude numbers. Input those coordinates in and your QTH should now show on the WinOrbit map. Also, make sure the time on your computer is CORRECT. This may all seem like a lot so explore the the program fully and get comfortable with it.

***UPDATE***

    I have been told by WH6BIE that WXtrack is also an excellent tracking software that I should be mentioning. The link is as follows: http://www.david-taylor.myby.co.uk/software/wxtrack.htm. I hope this helps. 

    2) Go to http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php and see what satellites are operational. Choose one that is up and running. Just for grins, try FO-29. As you can see, FO-29 has a beacon on 435.795 mhz. This frequency will vary because of doppler shift, so tune a few khz up or down the center frequency until you hear the cw beacon. Sorry for jumping ahead a bit.

    3) Now the tough part: the transceiver(s). Most satellite operation is in the VHF and UHF bands. So, you will either need two mono band all-mode rigs or a satellite transceiver. I prefer two mono band rigs myself.......I like the flexibility.

    4) The antenna. I started off with a 1/4 wave ground plane UHF antenna made from coat hanger wire and an SO-239 connector. This was just to listen and see if I was "on the right track" of all this satellite stuff. As the software said the satellite was coming around, I listened and fine tuned around 435.795 mhz and eventually heard the cw beacon along with a few transmissions of other hams operating. WOW! What a thrill. But a minute or two of listening soon became too little. That's when I then tried a small yagi and a radio shack tv rotator. Now I was hearing almost the complete pass of the satellite. The bigger the yagi, the more you will hear. I did this for months until I got the technique of finding a satellite pass and listening to it down pretty good. I then made a 4 element VHF yagi for the uplink frequency. When I transmitted, I varied my receiver to see where I was. You could also vary the transmitter and leave the receiver frequency fixed and find your signal. Eventually you will get the hang of it. Just be patient. 

    5) Summary. Folks, I'm no expert at this. This is just a brief and rough explanation of how to get started  on satellite. There is much more info on the AMSAT website for beginners. Do as much reading and listening as you can. And have fun. 

                        My AO-40 Log

                          My AO-10 Log

                        6 Meters (50 Mhz)

      For 6m operation, I switch between my FT-736 and my TS-600. Both have 10 watts output. For an  antenna, I have an aluminum tubing dipole in my attic crawl space. I did have a single Delta loop out in a nearby tree, but after the association trimmed the tree, it was too visible, and I took it down. I have plans to try a vertical aluminum tubing dipole to see how that works since the VHF/UHF satellite antennas are coming down. Maybe even try a horizontal loop. I will post my results. 

                            My 6m log

      The band opened up for about 3 hours on Saturday, November 24, 2001. Here's my results:

                My Friends and their stations

                   WH6BIE Kyle Ebisutani

         Below are some photos of my ham buddies' antennas. First off is WH6BIE Kyle. He is located on the northern side of Oahu. Kyle started off working UO-14, AO-27, FO-20, and FO-29. Eventually he tried AO-10 when operating techniques got better. Then with AO-40 active, along with me hounding him all the time, he migrated to 2.4 Ghz operation. Kyle also runs a Drake 2880 with the G0MRF mods. His first antenna for the downlink was a BBQ grill style dish covered with window screen and a helix feed. He didn't like it. Downlink reception was so-so. I then gave him my DishNetwork offset fed dish, and after retrofitting the Drake on it with a patch feed, he is satisfied. Copy is "armchair" quality. With all the bugs worked out, the dish/drake went up the tower between his crossed UHF yagi and 4 element VHF yagi. The VHF side of things is very interesting. Kyle owns a very nice crossed yagi for 2m. But it gets into the neighbor's TV very nicely (too much gain???). So down it came from the tower and my old 4 element homebrewed beam went up. Kyle says it works just fine, being able to get into FO-20 FB and not the neighbor's TV. In fact Kyle has worked JA on FO-20, quite an accomplishment.    

                        KA6PUW  Mark Sato

          "Hi Everyone, nice to have some friends in KH6 to make it just a little bit easier to get WAS satellite. I hope to work Kyle and Sparky on 144 and 440 SSB one day. My main interest is 10 meter DXCC. I was very happy to grow an antenna farm after I bought my house. I started working satellites (AO21) from the second story balcony of my apartment. I could only work the bird on a N-S or S-N east facing pass. I got hooked right away. I have packet QSL cards from STS 58, 59, 60, 65, 67 and DO-17. I've worked the MIR BBS and hope to get a voice contact from the ISS one day. The picture on the left is me in the ARRL 10 GHZ microwave contest.  73 GD DX !" Mark.

           Mark has a great webpage too. It can be found at:  http://geocities.com/makudayo@sbcglobal.net/ 

                     Magnetic Loop Antennas

   I have built a couple of magnetic loop antennas for HF receiving, and for a small package, they work rather well. Plans can found on the internet. Basically, making the loop circumference about 85-90 % of the actual 1/4 wavelength of the target frequency seems to be the best length. The pick-up loop should be a faraday shield with a diameter 1/5 of the main loop diameter. Below is some pics of my portable hf receiving combo. On saturdays, my wife totes me along with her to the flea market where she advertises for her printing business. I basically set up and break down the tent for her. In between, I have a bunch of hours to kill so I take this along with me to do a little 10/15/20m listening. You believe I heard a ZS1 on this setup? It's true. Since then, I'm sold on loops. 

                       Crystal Radio Sets

    I'm still not quite sure what hit me, but one day at my radio bench, I pulled out my old Science Fair crystal radio that I bought at Radio Shack some 25 plus years ago. Plugged in the earphone, attached the antenna and ground, and proceeded back in time to the 6th or 7th grade. The trip was good, but the set needed something. After doing a search on the internet, I was amazed to find several websites that had excellent information. The crystal set has come a long way, and modern designs will blow the earphone off your ear! I was rather bummed to learn (the hard way) that my townhouse would not support an EME array. Well, I needed a challenge in weak signal operation, and I found it in an unexpected place........the crystal radio set. It has almost become an obsession. And, if push-button QSO's with digital ham rigs costing $$$ has taken some of the charisma out of hamming for you as it did to me, you gotta build a crystal set. It will take you back. Those of you who have built one (hah, try several) know what I speak of. I have built 7 so far. There is one design called the Mystery Crystal set. If you do build just ONE, this is the one to build. Again, to save bandwidth, I do not post the plans here. Doing a search on the internet will yield you directions readily. Warning: the fun achieved is very habit forming. 

                                        Vacuum Tube Guitar Amplifiers

        Ok, it may not be satellite related, but it does have vacuum tubes............

        Years ago, and I mean many years, a good friend I knew since high school had always preached tube audio to me and how I should get involved.  Now, I know tube audio is good, and my collection of Collins receivers can prove this. But that's where I left it. Communications receiver audio. Good. OK. Was I ever in for a surprise. While surfing the web one night, I came across a page called the AX84 project. Basically, it seems a bunch of non-technician guitar players wanted to try and build a simple two tube amplifier for their electric guitars, and do it in such a way where results were repeatable, and simple directions on how others with no or little electronic experience could get in on it. And of course, parts that were easily obtainable. OK, a 12AX7 providing two stages of preamp and a 6V6 or 6L6 for a single-ended power output. I had the parts in my junkbox, so I built it that evening. WOW! I was stunned! I never heard my electric guitar sound so warm with fat round tones and chimey highs. I was hooked! I just could not believe the tone that this little two valve amp put out. There is nothing more that I can say except you need to hear one if you haven't already. 

    Again, I'm not quite sure what hit me, but a month passed, and there are now four, yes four, guitar amps I have built. All different from each other (as if that justifies building four). My favorite being my latest build based on a Fender Bassman circuit. With tremolo (I can't imagine an amp without it). Doing a search on the web will yield you more than enough links to get started. Now go have some fun................

        A word of advice: be careful of who you inform that you can repair vacuum tube equipment............I opened my mouth at a local guitar store and have been coping with a second job of repairing vintage amplifiers for many years now. Don't get me wrong........I love it, I'm also one lazy person who gets very busy doing nothing so you can see the conflict............

          This webpage would not be complete without a picture of the best guitarist I knew since high school, a gentleman who exposed me to the world of tone and who has influenced and changed my life forever.......Brian Chock (above left). Yes, that's me, Gman, on the right. As for Brian, he presently plays guitar with Hendrix and all the other guitar giants like himself far up above in the heavens. We all miss you, brother, and will NEVER forget you! 

                                        **********Brian Chock 1965-2004**********

More    Guitar    Giants    From    The    Tone    Lounge

                             Bobby Rogers (The Master)                                                                     Sterling Yee (4 Tube Man)

                         Robin Matsunaga (Tone Meister)                                                                         Keith Monzen (Metal Master)

                              Clarence "The Dentist" Lee                                                                          Jazz Tone Crew :  Vidal, Gman, Mike

                              Bo Evans & his vintage Gretsch                                                                          **** JAMM ****

             A God Gifted Guitar Great

          Rocky Green

  Rhodes Mark I Piano

   Above is my latest acquisition: a late '70's Rhodes Mark I stage piano. 

 Plugged into a brown tolex era princeton amp with bias modulated vibrato,

  the signature Rhodes bell-like tone is to die for. A HUGE thank you to

         Vidal & Mike on finding one for me.     

Tone Child

Last but not least, my tone child. Elizabeth. She may not know it, but there IS tone in her DNA.

                                                        Relay Your Message

        KH6RH   Gareth   mailto:gman003@hawaii.rr.com    

          WH6BIE  Kyle   mailto:wh6bie@aol.com

          KA6PUW  Mark  mailto:KA6PUW@arrl.net

THANKS     FOR     STOPPING     BY !     WILL     BE    LISTENING    FOR    YOU    ON    50.110 MHZ    AND     28.400 MHZ !     ALOHA  !

                                     Left Field

          Page update July 30, 2008

          My other hobby, a 1985 Buick Regal T-Type V6 Turbo. **UPDATE** It's been sold. (sniff).

                           A few shots of me at work up Palehua ridge overlooking Oahu. 

                                              Somewhere in the past I was given the nickname "The G-man".

                                              How it got on this vehicle I will never know............

                                              And yes my vehicle does lean after a good plate lunch !

                       
                  ****In Loving Memory****

                                           Our pal Spiffy has passed on...

                        We'll always remember you !

                                    ????-2006