PSK31 was exciting at
Mentone   

   --By Keith Wilson, K5IRL

The Mentone Expedition was fun.  Thank you Ken and the others for putting it together.  When I first heard about the idea of the expedition, I thought about using PSK31.  PSK31 is a digital mode of communication from keyboard to keyboard using a radio and a computer.  The PSK stands for "Phase Shift Keying" and the 31 is how wide the signal is in Hertz.  The mode will handle 50 words per minute.  A CW signal occupies more band at 15 words per minute.  The mode is very efficient.
   The Mentone trip gave me a chance to take my station some place else and operate.  I took apart the kid's computer (Hanger queen, 166 MHz with sound card) and the Digipan software,  homebuilt Small Wonders Lab PSK20 transceiver, cables and my "killer" antenna (coax connector with the right length of 20 gauge wire fashioned as a dipole, resonant at 14.069, i.e. frequency of choice).  We ran the dipole up a flag pole some 25 feet, hooked up the computer and the radio and got on the air.
   The PSK20 transceiver is simplicity at its finest.  I built it from a kit in three days and after a little adjusting it worked like a champ. I enjoyed using it to show everyone present how the mode worked.  The waterfall display showing the received signals is fascinating to watch and the PSK31 signals just sing at you and are pleasant to listen to. Everyone who wanted to got a chance to tune the radio using the computer and everyone commented on how easy of a mode it is to use.  A couple of guys refused to look stating that they knew they would be snared for good if they tried it!  Oh well, I tried!
   Notable Contacts:  Austin, TX with a station running 9 watts.  Two

students in Oklahoma City at W5PAA, who chatted for about 30 minutes.  A special event station in New York.   States we worked included Louisiana, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Idaho, New York, Wyoming, New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma.
   A First QSO:  Jared Wilson, KD5KZR, under the watchful eye of a General Class Control Operator made his first HF QSO under the mode.  He was excited!  He started calling other stations and when they responded he would jump up and insist on someone else working the station!  Lots of fun!
   A weather man on HF:  Robert Boyd, KC5ZJO, talked to a station near Castle Rock, Washington for about 30 minutes.  They talked about Linux, Computers, Radios, etc while Jared helped with software navigation and radio operation.  Robert says that he will put together his own PSK31 station, when the weather settles down!
   One of the QSL cards we got back indicated that the operator had received his WAS and DXCC certificates using the PSK31 mode.  Warren, AA2LQ lives in a town house in New York with a "no antenna" restriction.  Warren made all of his contacts with a dipole mounted in his attic.
   Most amazing thing:  We had all of this fun while only running 1.5 watts!

Hamfest page posted

73, Robert Boyd, KC5ZJO

Monitoring for Texas prison escapees

Published by permission of The ARRL Letter, Vol. 20, No. 2, January 12, 2001

   We recently reported that Amateur Radio operators were being asked to monitor 2-meter, Family Radio Service, and Business Radio Service frequencies for possible communications among the seven Texas prison escapees. These fugitives are believed to have shot and killed Irving, Texas, police officer Aubrey Hawkins, KC5USI, during a robbery on Christmas Eve. They also are alleged to have stolen several portable transceivers. An official of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has requested that hams not publicize their monitoring activities to the general media, in order to avoid alerting the fugitives that their radio communications may be overheard. Amateurs contacted by the media should refer inquiries to the Texas DCJ. Monitors should report any suspicious radio communications immediately to their local authorities or to the Texas DCJ command center, 936-437-6735.