Radio Contact -- NB9QV -- USS Cobia (SS-245)

Photo: navsource.org

Sunday morning I made single-sideband radio contact with a WW2 submarine.  No I wasn't transmitting through some strange radio time warp but was fortunate enough to meet an operator from the NB9QV, USS Cobia Amateur Radio Club aboard the 69 year old Gato-Class submarine.

Working special event stations on ham radio is one of my favorite activities.  I stumbled upon this event quite by accident as I was well outside of my normal hf haunt at the bottom of the 40 meter band.  I tuned in the strong sideband signal at 7.233 MHz.  After listening awhile and checking the band plan to make sure my General Class license allowed me to transmit at that frequency I decided to give it a go and see if I could get this unique station in my log.  

After digging out a microphone and connecting it to my transceiver I waited for an opportunity to answer the CQ calls from the sub.  The Ops on board were working a steady stream of amateurs but it was not difficult at all to slip my call in and establish contact.  I've already sent out my QSL card in the mail to confirm the contact and request a certificate commemorating the event.  Never in my life did I think I would one day communicate via high frequency radio with a WW2 submarine.  Cool!

    

Photo: Dale C. Haskin

Here is the lowdown on the Cobia from the NB9QV qrz.com page:



NB9QV is the callsign for the USS COBIA Amateur Radio Club aboard the WWII submarine USS COBIA SS-245 docked in the harbor adjacent to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. The Museum is located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin which is about 80 miles north of Milwaukee. Why Manitowoc? Because the shipyard in Manitowoc built 28 submarines during the war or about 10% of the total fleet.

The COBIA was launched on the 28th of November 1943 and was assigned the wartime callsign NBQV by the US Navy. The original wartime radio equipment, which provided all communications for her six war patrols in the Pacific Theater, has been fully restored and is used for various club events.

 

The radio shack has two RAK-6 and two RAL-6 receivers. A TBL-12 transmitter puts out 400W to the topside longwire antennas. The TBL runs on standard ships power which is 250VDC via a motor-generator set. There is also a complete TCS-8 setup. This gear allows the COBIA to transmit and receive on any frequency from 30KHz to 22Mhz. All operating frequencies are set by a LM-18 frequency meter.

 

The COBIA’s Radar system has been restored to full working order. The radar is linked to a mechanical computer which calculates a target’s course. It has a usable range of 40,000 yards(22 miles) and is now the oldest operational radar system in the world.

 

During the COBIA’s six war patrols she sank 13 Japanese vessels to account for a total of over 18,000 tons of Japanese shipping. On July 13,1944 she sank the 9,500 ton NISHU MARU carrying troops and tanks to reinforce Japanese defenders on IWO JIMA. The COBIA experienced her most exciting encounter during her fourth war patrol in 1945 in a running surface gun battle with two Japanese Sea trucks. The COBIA sent both to the bottom, but suffered her only casualty of the war, Ralph Clark Houston a 20mm gun loader. She was also responsible for rescuing 7 downed allied airmen. After the war the COBIA continued to serve in various missions until 1959 and then an additional eleven years as a training vessel for the Naval Reserve. Since her arrival in Manitowoc the COBIA has undergone an almost complete restoration inside and out to bring the submarine to her World War II fighting condition.

 

The “USS COBIA” is open for tour’s year round at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc,Wisconsin. Sleepovers on the sub are also available. Reference website: http://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/index.php  for more information.

Photo: Bill Gonyo

Photos by LeeAnn

I've always had a camera but I credit my wife for inspiring me to always look for the best angle in my photography.  Here are some shots she took this weekend at Mt. Gilead State Park.

My Bike Shop

Road Bike Ride

After three days of nonstop rain I finally ventured out for a ride on the Motobecane road bike.  The temperatures were chilly in the lower fifties but I layered up accordingly had a nice ride.  I rode the B & O rail trail, a spur line that connects Mansfield, Ohio to the north and Butler, Ohio at the southernmost end.  As part of the expansive Baltimore and Ohio network this line once traveled much deeper towards Southern Ohio but the bike path ends at Butler.  Riding the entire length of the trail both directions makes for a solid workout.

I remembered my camera but noticed when I turned it on I had forgot the memory card.  Trust me it was a beautiful day with many of the leaves still remaining in late autumn yellow and browns.  This year the fall colors came on quick and were nearly gone just as fast.

The titanium Motobecane felt super after a couple of weeks of mainly urban cruising and commuting on the general purpose bike.  I did make one small adjustment to my seat.  During my last few rides I felt a bit cramped on the bike and sure enough when I moved the seat back on it's rails about 1/8" I noticed an improvement.  If there is one piece of advice I would give to cyclists its don't be afraid to take advantage of the adjustable parts on your bicycle.  The small tweaks can have a great effect on your comfort going into the second and third hours on the road.  It takes me about 500 miles on a particular bike to get everything dialed in and feeling natural and with this bike I think I'm getting close.

Richland County B & O Trail

Bike:  Motobecane Le Champion

Ride Time:  2:33:00

Distance:  37.3 Miles

Average Speed:  14.5 MPH

Max Speed:  20.2 MPH

Motobecane Odometer:  330 Miles

  

35mm Film and Motorcycles

In a previous post I mentioned my old 35mm film camera.  It was just a simple Kodak point and shoot from the late 1980's with the door in the back to load the film canister.  My mother gave me the camera as gift about the time I graduated from high school and I carried it with me during my military service.  These pictures I took the summer of 1991 on the cliffs overlooking the Spokane Valley in Eastern Washington State.  I've long since lost the negatives but the pictures themselves have stood up fairly well over the last twenty years.  I thought I better get busy digitizing them and add as original content to my blog.

Pictured is my first motorcycle.  I'm not just a fan of human powered cycles. I also like bikes with motors.  Even as a boy I was motorcycle crazy.  I had that plastic box and hand grip on my bicycle that made an engine revving sound when you twisted the grip.  And of course I had the wind up Evel Knievel motorcycle toy, It was the seventies after all.  Later as a teenager I subscribed to motorcycle magazines and grew quite informed in the world of gas powered two-wheelers.  However there was one fly in the ointment.  My mom would not allow me to have a motorcycle while I lived under her roof.  I had some limited experience riding friend's mopeds and three-wheeled all terrain vehicles (remember those?) so the seed was sown and I would just have to bide my time.

1988 Yamaha XV250UC

Once I had established myself at my permanent duty station and saved up enough scratch for a down payment I bought this little cruiser brand new.  I still remember riding it off from the dealer and putting 50 miles on the machine that first day cruising the Eastern Washington countryside.  20 years and 11,000 miles later the bike sits in my garage today looking very much like it does in these pictures with maybe a scratch or two to show for all that time. 

The bike needs a carburetor rebuild and is not currently licenced so I'm not riding it at this time.  The little V-twin doesn't take up much space in the garage and just seeing it in passing brings back a flood of great memories.  I don't know how many times I've heard guys say "I wish I still had my first car" or whatever from back in the day. 

I have a local mechanic whom I've relied on for years for help with more advanced maintenance issues so one day we'll get the bike back on the road.  



Feld Hell Sprint -- Oct 15, 2011 -- A.R.S. W8MDE

I had fun this weekend participating in the Feld Hell Sprint on amateur radio.  Feld Hell or Hellschreiber as it was originally known is my favorite digital mode.  I love the primitive appearance of the type as it scrolls out on the monitor and the peculiar sound of the incoming signals.  I wrote a post about the history of this fascinating mode and it's inventor here.

Actual screen captures would have looked better on the blog but it was easier to just snap quick pictures with the point and shoot as I made contacts during the sprint.  I thought this would make a good illustration of how the Feld Hell Sprint works.  The contest exchange is simple and quick.  Operators transmit a signal report, club member number, State/Country and grid locator.  The goal is to make the most contacts in a 2 hour period.

Randy, K7AGE produced a great video on YouTube explaining Hellschreiber and shows the mode in action. Link here.  Randy's videos inspired me to get into the digital modes on high frequency amateur radio.  I highly recommend checking them out.

K3QIA -  Berwick, PA

K3TXT - Edgewater, MD

W8MDE calling CQ and getting a bite

A nice 5 watt signal from K4RCH/QRP in Culpeper, VA

N8EWX - Hilliard, OH

KJ8O - Troy, MI

N9YDZ/ Mobile in Missouri not quite 599 but perfectly readable.

  

KD8GNC - Columbus, OH

Post Sprint QSO between KJ8O and KD8GNC 

  

Solid copy - TG9AHM Guatemala City

I received excellent copy from Emmanuel, TG9AHM in Guatemala on 15 meters but try as I might I could not reach him.

Fall Hike at Clear Fork

Once in a while I take a picture with my digital camera that reminds me of my old 35mm film camera.

Prehistoric Stone Point Found In Ohio

While I'm out on my bike looking at leaves I'm not always looking up or riding.  As I was walking along inspecting some bare ground my eye instantly recognized a familiar shape.  I reached for the primitive stone weapon and nearly plucked it from it's rain worn perch before I remembered I had my camera.  The next two pictures show the point in it's undisturbed position as I found it.  The first photograph shows the  edge of a small gully formed by rain runoff.  The point rests on the edge atop a pillar of dirt shaped like the point itself.  

An interesting effect of erosion

The second photograph was taken looking straight down.  The lip of the gully is just discernible at about midpoint in the frame.  The bottom of the gully (top of frame) is slightly out of focus.

This awesome find was expertly knapped from flint mined by prehistoric Native Americans in Coshocton County about 70 miles away from where I found the point in Crawford County.  This fact shows the wide distribution of the dark gray flint stone.  Even though the point has suffered some damage over the years it's still a great example of an "Ohio Blue".

Sharpest Tool in the Shed

Titanium General Purpose Bike

"I like my wheel-brows low and frame tubes made of metal."

Bikes are made for warm fall days.  

Antenna Testing At W8MDE

This weekend I decided to set up the KD8JHJ 40 Meter Vertical Antenna in the back yard and perform some testing.  Because I built this antenna during the past two years while I held my original call sign I've decided to refer to it by this name even though I now have a new amateur radio call sign.  

During my last testing sessions earlier this year I was unable to attain a good match anywhere near the 40 Meter band (7 MHz).  During this deployment I did one thing different and discovered why my initial efforts to establish resonance at 7 MHz failed.  Because space is limited in my backyard I used some 16' 6" radial wires I had made up for another project.  These radial wires I constructed with ring terminals at each end not only facilitating easy connection to the radial plate below the match box but also allowing me to anchor the other end of the radial wire to earth using a 8" steel spike.  Using this method I effectively connected the coax shield to ground thus completing the antenna circuit allowing the antenna to resonate in the 40 Meter band.

In past testing I secured the ends of the radials to plastic stakes using short lengths of poly antenna cord thinking that because the radials were elevated they did not need to make positive electrical contact with Earth.  Obviously a vertical antenna needs to work against ground.

   

I had the vertical up and down probably twenty times this weekend as I optimized the coil observing the SWR on my antenna analyzer as I added or removed turns from the loading coil.  Once I achieved the best looking curve I placed a length of heat shrink tube over the coil and sealed the upper end with black electrical tape.  I left the bottom end open so in case moisture does enter the coil area it can dry.

Match box and radial plate

Parallel shunt inductance coil to match the antenna to a 50 Ohm transmission line

I connected the other end of the feed line to my antenna switch and with my transmitter set to the CW mode I sent out CQ CQ CQ de W8MDE using Morse code.  For this initial transmitting test I set my power at 25 watts.  I was pleased to hear K9VON answering my call.  Ross, located in Peach Tree City, Georgia 517 miles away was copying my signal and reported a 359 RST.  Before my next transmission I increased power to 50 watts and Ross then reported 579 reception.  

Later at 7.032 MHz I heard the CQ calls of WA1HFF.  I answered this call and promptly received a 599 report from Steve in Springfield, Mass. 538 miles away.  I am very happy with these first two contacts using an antenna I made with my own two hands.  To learn Morse code and use it in radio communications is an achievement in it's own right but to do it with my homebrew antenna is icing on the proverbial cake.

For reception testing I tuned around the band and using the antenna switch I could easily compare signals heard between the 66 foot end fed wire and the vertical.  Most signals seemed to be about an S-unit less on the vertical versus the horizontal wire.  Not a big deal as I could easily copy all signals on either antenna.  Overall I am very pleased with the results of my first attempt at a high frequency radio antenna.

I don't have fancy antenna modeling software but using the MFJ-259B analyzer I can provide these figures which illustrate SWR curve.

7.180 MHz     1.2 SWR     7.292 MHz

7.129      1.3 SWR     7.308

7.090      1.4 SWR     7.353 

7.031      1.5 SWR     7.370 

6.889      2.0 SWR     7.485 

For additional information click on the "40 Meter Vertical" label below.

Brandi Carlile -- The Kent Stage -- Oct 1, 2011

For my wife's birthday we took a drive up to Kent, Ohio for dinner and a show.  As I have noted before in these blog pages we are music fans and enjoy hearing our favorite artists play live.  The Kent Stage is a small theater built in 1927. Operated as a movie theater for more than 80 years the Kent Stage is now operated by the Western Reserve Folk Arts Association whose purpose is to preserve and support traditional music and arts through, education, concerts, festivals and workshops.

This venue provides my favorite setting for live music.  Because the place is smaller the amps don't need to be turned up to eleven and we were lucky enough to score second row seats.  As my wife pointed out we listen to our favorite act's recorded music all the time.  Its nice to come to a show and see their faces.  I couldn't agree more.

Mountain Bike Ride -- Alley Scramble

Yeti F.R.O. (chromoly steel) Single Speed

Has it been raining a lot or is it just me?  Saturday afternoon the rain tapered off and I stole away for a little fat tired cruise.  I have not been out on the Yeti in quite some time and even though I didn't ride any single track it was still nice to feel the buzz of the knobbies.  I call this ride an "Alley Scramble" because it avoids pavement for the most part navigating around my town using the network of alley ways and rail road double track as shown in the picture.  The ride also typically involves a lap or two around the up ground reservoir which contains my towns fresh water supply. 

For this type of riding I run 40 psi in the front and rear tires and set the air chambers of my Rock Shox Sid to the prescribed recommendation for a 160 lb rider.  My customary 32/20 single speed gearing is much to low for flat land cruising so I change out the 20 tooth cog for a 15.  I have no computer on this bike but I imagine I top out around 10 or 12 mph with the 15 tooth cog installed.

Unfortunately a trip to the hills and woods to ride on real mountain bike trails involves loading up the car and driving.  If I've got just a little time to spare and that knobby tired itch to scratch the Alley Scramble usually does the job.