Current Activities - KL7UW

   My ham radio activity revived greatly in 1996 due largely to the invitation by the Jet Propulsion Lab
   for hams to try receiving the Mars Surveyor Spacecraft's UHF beacon that was launched in  November of that year.

   That project was the topic of an article in QST and brought a large response.  The effort required
   state-of-the-art receiving methods and eme-scale antennas.  The signal was 1-watt EIRP at a range
   of 10-million miles from earth, requiring a receiving system sensitivity of -180 dBm.  Fortunately, 
   an audio FFT DSP program had been recently developed that improved signal detection thru
   2-Hz bandwidths and averaging techniques.

   My participation in that project resurrected my satellite interests with attendance at the 1997 Amsat 
   Symposium in Tucson, AZ that fall.  More about that in the satellite webpage.

   Another reason my ham activity could increase was starting my current job in Nikiski in 1994 and
   purchase of my home on 5-acres the next year.  This provided more discretionary funds for ham
   radio and room for antennas.  In 1998 I landed a moderate contract for my home electronic design
   business that netted a substantial amount of profit by which I expanded my station into eme
   and satellites.

   I have been a member of a couple local ham clubs since moving to Alaska in 1979.  I am a life-
   member of the Anchorage ARC which supports many area repeaters, emergency response, and 
   many civic events.  Follow the link under my memberships on the "about AL7EB" webpage.

   I am also a member of the local ham club for Kenai-Soldotna, Alaska; The Moosehorn ARC.  It is a
   smaller club that gets area hams together for monthly meetings held in Kenai at the Challenger 
   Learning Center on the first thursday of the month at 7pm.  It sponsors a repeater "AL7LE" on 
   146.88 (-0.6 split with 141.3 Hz tone access).  The club also supports the T-200 Sled Dog Race 
   every January and Field Day in June.  I am a past treasurer and president of the club.


   Here are some photos with the local club (Field Day 2004):




















    Operating APRS on 2m and PSK-31 on 20m                              "CQ FD, CQ FD de AL7LE"





















     "Tail-Gate Ham Radio"                                                                    "Solar Power"



    Tool box, Laptop with CD drive, FT-847, KPC-3, and
     MFJ dual-clock.  Bird meter, GPS, solar power
     regulator, power strip not visible.