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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 2021 President, Pete Mahowald (K6TJ): petek6tj at gmail.com
We will resume in-preson meetings
The next meeting will be Tuesday Nov. 2, 2021 at 5:00pm. Please note the new time because of the changed hours of Sports Basement
We have reserved the Summit Room within the Sports Basement store in Sunnyvale for 5pm on the first Tuesday of each month except for December. The meeting will be in the separate community meeting room in the back right corner of the store.
The address of the Sports Basement is:
1177 Kern Ave
Sunnyvale, CA
122GHz update
plan a holiday dinner
EME contesting
Round Table
Summary of the Oct. meeting minutes by Paul and Brian Kline
Paul (AA6PZ) called the meeting to order at 5:08 PM
Announcements:
We will move the 10GHz translater net to the third Sunday of the month at 4pm
Oliver Barrett (KB6BA) gave a presentation on the modifications to the 10 GHz translator/beacon.
Discussion of the September 10 GHz and Up contest results.
122 GHz activity. 122 GHz propagation conditions are improving, as the moisture content in the air drops.
Mike Lavelle (K6ML) is working on a third generation 122 GHz rig based on a Zero Sky chip. This will have higher power (around 5 dBm) than the Silicon Radar chip that people are currently using.
That ended the formal part of the meeting.
This was followed by a round table discussion of attendees’ current activities and projects.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM.
The complete details of testing at the Aug 1 2021 picnic. Tests were conducted at 10GHz, 24GHz, and 122GHz. This was designed and run by Mike, K6ML.
Please click here to view or download.Dues were suspended for 2021
Those members who had paid to Jan 2021 or later have been given an additional year to their paid membership.
If you have changed your address, email, phone, other info, please send a simple email to jpawlan@yahoo.com
If nothing has changed at all, then once a year please send an email saying nothing has changed. Make sure you state whether your email address has been changed or not.
To send a memberform with your updated information or to join, please go to the Membership tab of this website.
If you have not paid your dues for 2020 and earlier, you still must pay dues.
Dues are $10 for a year, $15 for two years. Mail this to the Treasurer:
Oliver Barrett
1111 Pecos Way
Sunnyvale CA 94089
Make your check payable to 50MHz and Up Group of N. Calif Inc
the 10GHz repeater and beacon are off the air while it is being rebuilt. So the on-the-air net will not return until it is operational
Minutes from the June meeting
Pete Mahowald (K6TJ) called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
The 50 MHz and Up Group Tune Up party and Picnic is scheduled for Sunday August 1st, 9 AM to 2 PM at Ed Levin Park, Sandy Wool picnic area.
Brief presentations on the 10 GHz Beacon/ Translator project status were made by Paul Zander AA6PZ and Oliver Barrett, KB6BA.
122 GHz Activity. J9JIM, K6ML, N6KLD, and K6MG held a antenna/receiver performance measuring session at Stevens Creek Reservoir.
50 MHz and Up Group Tune Up party and Picnic planning discussion.
Technical Presentation: Modern Microwave Translator Design presentation by Gary Lauderbach, K6MG.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 PM.
The new 2021 Officers and Board Members
- President: Pete Mahowald (K6TJ)
- Vice President: Paul Zander (AA6PZ)
- Secretary: Brian Kline (WA6QDP)
- Treasurer: Oliver Barrett (KB6BA)
- Board of directors:
- Mike Lavelle (K6ML)
- Gary Lauderbach K6MG
- Jim Moss (N9JIM)
Current Announcements:
122GHz Beacon is working at Stanford
Vaca beacon is working again
The Mt. Leeson 10 and 24 GHz beacons are working.
Mt Allison Beacon must be taken down and repaired
Beacons in Northern and Central Calif
The SBMS and the San Diego Microwave Group are the best resources for Southern Calif.Here is our document about the upgrade and operation of the Mt Allison Beacon
Please click here to view or download
Microwave Beacons in operation The following beacons are known to be operating as of 01-29-2021:
| Name | Grid | Coords | Freq | Call | Power | Ant | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | CM87WJ | 37.403, -122.165 | 122400.000 | K6ML | +2 dBM ERP | 70 degree horn aimed E | CW ID, locked |
| Mt Vaca | CM88wj | 38.415, -122.116 | 10368.325 | W6ASL | +30dBm | 10dBi omni | CW ID |
| Mt Allison | CM97bl | 37.500, -121.872 | working 10369.001 24192.010 47088.000 |
K6MG N6NU/B KF6KVG |
not measured +13dBm +7dBm |
10dBi omni " " 12dBi omni +20 dBi horn 27 deg beamwidth, aimed SW |
CW ID, locked, S-meter output Linear translator: Output is 1KHz-40kHz above beacon Input 600 kHz below desired output CW ID locked CW ID locked |
| 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 being rebuilt | 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 |