Club station

Welcome to a Tour of the NSARC Radio Station Complex

HF-1 and GOTA OPERATING POSITIONS

Club members operating in a contest at the HF-1 and HF-2 positions as Multi-Operator, Multi-Station. The club encourages members to learn how to operate modern rigs. For many, unable to set up an HF station at home (condos, apartments, or covenant-restricted properties), the club stations can offer a means of operating and learning various skills at the same time from more experienced operators. Favourite operating modes are SSB, RTTY and PSK, all supported with PC’s and various software bundles. All stations are CW-capable as well.

HF-1 PRIMARY HF STATION

HF-1 is the main HF operating position, and is well-equipped with an Icom IC-756 Pro 3. An Icom IC-2KL solid state broadband power amplifier and an AT-500 automatic antenna tuner boost power out to about 400W. SWR / Power meters monitor the power out the rig and out of the PA separately. An antenna switch selects either the antenna or a dummy load.

The main antenna is a 3 element SteppIR Yagi. The Yagi is rotated with a HAM IV rotator. A Heathkit monitor scope is connected in -ine to allow observation of the transmitted RF signal, and an electronic keyer is provided for those wishing to do CW. An Astron (linear) power supply supplies the DC for the station. The PC is a 2.4 GHz P4 and is able to control the rig via a West Mountain RigTalk USB link. Digital modes are enabled using a BuxCom RASCAL for audio interfacing.

HF SDR STATION

The Flex 3000 radio is being replaced with an IC-7300. IN the interim this position has a TS480 installed. The IC-7300 Software Defined Radio, will provide the club and its members an opportunity to experience and become familiar with modern radio technology. The right hand monitor is for all other applications that need to be run at the same time such as logging, RTTY, spots and so on. The radio screen option provides all controls and selections up-front, which makes for easy operation. The station is currently configured for SSB and RTTY, the club’s favourite modes. The RF spectral display – provide an instantaneous view of band and signal conditions. Also visible to the right are the Alinco power supply and a MFJ Power/SWR meter; above those is the Antenna/Dummy Load switch. This simple station offers impressive performance.

Digital station

The digital station supports packet operations from three dedicated radios on the roof as well as HF Digital (PACTOR/WINMOR) via an IC-718 rig powered by an Alinco power supply with an MFJ SWR/Power meter. The antenna switch in the upper right selects the antenna or a dummy load. The station is supported by PC running RMS Express. The rig and PC are interfaced with a West Mountain RigTalk USB link for rig control and a BuxCom Rascal for the audio interface and control. A SGC PTIIex upgraded to PACTOR III is also installed.

VHF/UHF MULTI-MODE STATION

The Multi-Mode station is primarily an all-mode (FM/SSB/CW) VHF/UHF station featuring the IC-7000. Three bands are primary to this position, 6M, 2M and 70cm as can be seen with the three SWR/Power meters on the middle shelf. Above that are the 2M 100W PA and a 70cm 100W PA. Antenna switches at the top connect to the dummy loads or the antennas. Antennas consist of a 6M, 3 element rotatable Yagi, and a rotatable array consisting of a 2M / 5 element Yagi with an 11 element 70cm Yagi which also has elevation rotation. All antennas have SSBE preamps. One Alinco switching power supply furnishes rig power and a second Alinco runs the PA’s. The PC is a 2.4 GHz XP machine and is able to control the rig via West Mountain RigTalk USB link and digital modes are enabled using a BuxCom RASCAL for audio interfacing.

6m YAGI

Three-element Yagi with Ham III Rotator. Note SSBE receive preamp on mast. This antenna is mounted on the building roof approximately 60 feet above street level.

2m/70cm ARRAY

This is the five-element 2m Yagi and eleven element 70cm Yagi array, with KenPro 5400 AZ-EL capable rotor system. Two receive preamps, one for 2m and one for 70cm, are mounted on the mast. Below these is a DC voltage distribution panel. This array is mounted on the building roof approximately 60 feet above street level.

HF Log Periodic

This is the 6 element Log Periodic with Ham IV rotor. The mast is a custom-fabricated 4 inch dia. galvanized pipe with included rotor platform and top lateral bearing to relieve stress on the rotor.

The Log Periodic features continuous resonance for all frequencies between 14 and 30 MHz.

View of roof of the Gerry Brewer building showing various antennas.  On the left is the commercial tower mounting RCMP and other commercial antenna systems.  Note a ladder line feeder to the right; this feeds the 240 ft inverted Vee dipole suspended from the tower top.  This antenna is a multi-band HF dipole utilizing an SGC- 230 Automatic Antenna Tuner to achieve a match from 160m thru 10m.  The three masts to the right of that support a Horizontal Loop antenna also matched with another SGC-230 allowing this antenna to operate over 80m thru 10m.  The fourth support for the loop is the right-most mast that mounts the Log Periodic (previous 3 el yagi shown).  The 6m, 2m and 70cm Yagi’s are hidden but are mounted between the commercial tower and the N4PC masts. 

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