HZ1AB AS I REMEMBER IT

by Thomas Carlsson, SM0CXU/AB5CQ
Edited by Mike Manafo, K3UOC/7Z5OO



I was introduced to HZ1AB in 1989 by K4VBM, John DeHart. At that time, N0AE
Brion Gilbert was the president, KG6DQ Herb Klemme was the Secretary and K4RX
(ex-N4KT) was the Treasurer. Club meetings were held the first Monday of each
month and the Friday meetings (being our day off) started with a breakfast
and were frequently attended by most of the members. During this time HZ1AB
was very active.  Terry K4RX, did much of the operating and I participated
often in the major contests. As I'm sure you know, our weekend over here is
Thursday/Friday, so participation in a contest means days off from work. In
some cases this was solved by working contests in the Multi Op. category with
one or more of us working on Saturday and the other(s) on Sunday.
 
Then came the Gulf war in 1991 and that temporary put us off the air. Keeping
us QRT inspired a healthy desire to return to the air in a big way. More than
likely, this planted the seed that grew into a major antenna project. N0AE,
Brion was the driving force that coordinated this project.  He urged the club
members to work long hours during many weekends.  K4RX, Terry did the major
antenna design work. From these work parties I remember the following club
members. I'm sorry if my memory fails and I have left someone out:
 
N0AE            Brion Gilbert
K4RX            Terry Posey
K4VBM           John DeHart, who coordinated the important task of water & soft drink
supply
G4KIB           Jeff Hambleton, our in-house tower climber
K3DTU           Dave Shepard, our current president
WB7TTX          Ron Holtane
W7SE            Walt Marshall
KC5PF           Bill Mills
AA6OB           Merl Service
 
The antenna project eventually resulted in the following:
 
A. An antenna patch panel where any antenna could be connected to either of
the two HF stations
 
B. A 42 meter tower with:
        -  a KT34XA for 14/21/28 MHZ
        -  a 3 el monobander for 18 MHZ
        -  a 4 el monobander for 24 MHZ
        -  a support for a Delta Loop for 160 meters
 
C. The Rhombic:
This incredible piece of work was 270 m long and 105 m wide at 21 m height
and 3 loops of wire. It was terminated at each end with a 600/50 ohm balun
and aimed at the central USA, passing through Europe on its way.  Why a
600/50 Ohm balun?  Because we had a run of coax to each end of the rhombic
and by feeding one end and having a 50 ohm dummy at the other we had a 600
ohm terminated Rhombic that we could aim in two directions: USA short and
long path.
 
D. Beverage:
Two parallel wires, 630 m long, the direction being approximately the same as
the rhombic, and switchable in either direction.
 
E. Log Periodic:
6 - 30 MHZ at 18 m high
 
Of the above, only the log periodic is still operational although it now
needs repair.  The log doesn't work on 7 MHZ any more.  To cover 40 meters, a
temporary vertical has been erected. The rest of the antennas had to come
down because of buildings going up where our antenna field once was. The 1994
CQWW CW Contest was our last effort with the rhombic.  Two months earlier,
the 42 m tower had been dismantled.
 
I myself moved to Riyadh in 1994 so I only occasionally visit HZ1AB nowadays.
Activities there are limited due to the antenna situation.  At last report,
all the linears are out of order and the FT-990 belongs to K3DTU who has it
on loan to the club.  Dave will be leaving for good in August, 1997 and will
take the 990 with him if the club doesn't accept Dave's discounted offer to
buy the rig.  If we will lose the FT-990, then all that remains is a faulty
TS-940S.
 
In other recent news, GW0RHC Ken Dyer has recently re-joined the club.
 Together with some of the other members they are doing digital communication
via satellite.
 
In reviewing old contest logs I find the following ones.  Regretfully, not
all of the ARRL contests are included here:

 
This list is mainly for the operators to remember when we had so much fun.
 Apologies to Terry for not having all the ARRL contest logs on hand.
 
A short note about myself: I have been working for Ericsson in Saudi Arabia
since 1988. I am hoping to be here for more years yet to come so I can
participate in future contest efforts from HZ1AB (rig and antennas
permitting). My family includes my wife, a son and a daughter, as well as two
cats.  Previous calls that I have held include VS6CU, 9M2CX, 9K2EX, HC2IA,
and HC2EX/HC8.  Presently I am SM0CXU and AB5CQ.  In addition to being a
member of HZ1AB, I also operate from 7Z1AB the US Embassy Amateur Radio
Society (USEARS) here in Riyadh.  Unfortunately, access to the 7Z1AB is
severely restricted so there have been no recent contest efforts from there.
 
 
And a final note to Leo, K8PYD: How many times have I sent out your callsign
to give the HZ1AB QSL route?  I appreciate the work that you do for us and I
hope to see you some time.
  
                                                                73,
                                                                Thomas
                                                                SM0CXU