Promoting Amateur Radio

The is no magic silver bullet which will engage newcomers to our hobby. There never has been. Ham radio is not a hobby which is easily advertised and marketed. How did all of us become hams? The odds are that you knew someone that was already a ham and followed it up because of your own interest. That is the key to engaging newcomers into our hobby.

Every radio club should have a policy of “welcome”. That doesn’t mean a policy of waiting for them to walk through the front door and saying “welcome” It means that if anyone in your club hears or is aware of anyone interested in ham radio, then contact should be quickly made and the pathway should be made as easy and welcoming as possible. Every club should have a designated “mentor/greeter/information person with a great personality to make the secondary contact and help the newcomer through the initial stages to sitting the exam. The newly licensed ham should continue to be mentored and helped to actually get on the air. That second part of the process is vital to the growth of a new ham. The process should be informal and fun.

There are so many ways that first contacts can be put off forever entering our hobby. Among them are: Don’t care members, boring club meetings, emphasis on the exam requirements and costs etc. Most of these prospects wouldn’t have a clue what a “National Association” is and what it does. There is plenty of time later to get into that. They don’t know what we do and whey we do it. They don’t know our traditions. they don’t know why we love our our hobby and it’s up to us to teach them.

Newcomers and prospects should experience a planned “one step at a time” entrance and every step must be a fun experience as they naturally want to become members of our exclusive club; our brotherhood and our passion.

Our area in Hawke’s Bay has a local ham population of about 175 and we have licensed about 80 new hams in the past 8 years. Most of our new hams have come from individuals that knew someone in our two clubs. Members of both clubs go out of their way to make sure that newcomers are mentored and helped and watched to make sure they don’t drop out of the process before they sit their exam. There is nothing like encouragement and success to keep someone on the right track.

Our new hams are of all ages from 17 to old fellas and have come from all walks of life. Virtually all of them came into the hobby as friends of friends. The importance of mentoring, helping and teaching cannot be under emphasized. If your club is dying or stagnating and you are not getting new members, there’s a reason. If they are not continuing membership in your club, there’s a reason. If they don’t renew their membership in your national association, there’s a reason.

Those of us in the hobby that we love so much must look to ourselves and our club structures if we want the hobby to grow and want new members in our clubs.

73, Lee ZL2AL

Building a Multiband Yagi

When you are a new ham it doesn’t take very long until you realize that DXing on the higher bands is a tough ask if you only have minimal wire antennas. Over the years I have had many commercial antennas including the classic HyGain 204BA and the HyGain TH6DXX. These are very big antennas which require very big towers to hold them up. A few years ago it was time to move to a smaller residence and the TH6DXX had to go. Our new property has a smaller footprint which limited the size of the antennas. I struggled to break the pileups with a small mast and trap dipole and decided to build a 35 foot telescoping mast with a small yagi on top. I decided to build a copy of a very successful commercial antenna which utilized 2 elements each on the 10M, 15M and 20M bands. It also worked on 12M and 17M with unity gain. This particular antenna design has no traps and the 6 elements were interlaced on the 14 foot boom. The 20M driven element is fed and the 10M and 15M elements are closely sleeve coupled to the 20M element which meant that only one feedline is used. The design appealed to me. The write-ups on eHam looked good so I started accumulating used aluminium tubing for the project.

Unexpectedly, a local ham generously offered me a Hex Beam which was smaller, lighter and basically was a two element yagi on each of he HF bands. It had nearly the same specs as the yagi I was about to build. I accepted the offer and with the help of some local hams it was up on top of the new mast. The HexBeam worked very well indeed. My DXCC totals on 12M went from 42 entities to 187 in 18 months. I could work most of the DX that I could hear. Although I wasn’t the first to break the pileups the Hexbeam worked quite well. My amplifier helped of course. Over the 18 months it was up we had several robust wind storms. Nothing of hurricane force hit it but one day I noticed a wire hanging down. I also noticed that 10M didn’t work very well and was tricky to use even with the tuner. Over the past 6 months, more wires separated from the spreaders and are hanging down.

Existing HexBeam with wire elements in disarray

Existing HexBeam with wire elements in disarray

Strangely, the antenna still works on 20M and 15m but the performance is off to say the least. The other problem is that when I feed power into the antenna, the SWR fluctuates and the amplifier protests. I made the decision to carry on building the new yagi. It seems to me that solid aluminium tubing will probably stay up longer with fewer problems. I dislike disconnecting wire dipoles and loops from masts and lowering antennas to change them.

Element construction
I cannot believe how much aluminium tubing is stored under ham’s houses, in their back yards or in garages. Used aluminium tubing works just as well as brand new tubing. It simply has to be cleaned up. As I started this project I sourced much of the tubing that way. In metric countries like New Zealand, new tubing is supplied in metric sizes. Many old antenna designs and old tubing lying around is in Imperial size. The two sizes are generally not compatible for sections to slide into each other. The equivalent size of 1 inch in metric is 25.4 millimetres. And if you wish it to slide into the next size up it will be .4 mm too large and won’t fit. Generally a tapered element consisting of sliding tubing must be all metric or all Imperial size. You may have a metric sized Director and an Imperial sized Reflector.

This particular antenna design uses 25mm (1”) tapering down to 10mm (3/8”) sections in 1.2 metre (4 foot) lengths. That is very convenient as the new lengths come in 4.8 metre (16 foot) lengths from the factory if you choose to buy new and you get 4 sections from each full length. The surface of old aluminium tubing is a bit of a challenge to clean up. A little fine emery cloth (240 grit) or steel wool will do the job quite nicely. Cleaning the inside of the tubes was a big problem until a friend suggest rifle cleaners. The rifle cleaner is 10mm diameter and has about 3 inches of brass bristles along it’s shaft. The shotgun barrel cleaner is about 1 inch diameter for larger tubing. I soldered a 6 inch brass shaft on to the cleaners and used a cordless drill to ream and clean the inside of the old corroded tubing. The result is magic and finished in a few minutes! You can see the result in the photo below.

The element packs and boom made from new and used alloy tubing.

The element packs and boom made from new and used alloy tubing.

The elements are cut to size, measured, double and triple checked for correct measurement and each element is bundled and taped ready for final assembly. Each element section is “pop riveted” into the next section with two 1/8″ pop rivets. I also used conductive grease for each joint. Each element is in 3 sections. The centre section is clamped to the boom and each of the 2 outside pop riveted sections are inserted into each end of the centre section. The outer two multi tubed sections are hose clamped to the centre section to allow for final adjustment. It also allows easy assembly on the day of placing it on the mast or tower.

Element to Boom Clamps
I managed to find a old “U” shaped piece of aluminium that looked like it would be perfect for the right angle clamp side pieces.

angle pieces cut from scrap aluminium

angle pieces cut from scrap aluminium

The material was 3/16” thick and high tensile alloy but was large enough to make five sets of clamps. All I had to do was buy a section of 3/16” x 3” x 10” flat plate and cut sections for the element support plates. All cutting was done with a hand jigsaw fitted with a good quality metal cutting blade.

Cutting the plate

Cutting the plate

The cut leaves the alloy a bit rough but it is easily cleaned up with a small hand grinder with sanding pad or a file may be used. The boom was exactly 2.0” diameter so I set up a length of scrap 2” square steel section, clamped the side angle pieces in place and then clamped them to the top plate. The square section may be seen in the photo along side angles that were just cut. The “G” clamps held the angle pieces and the top plate together while the four 3/16” holes were drilled. The 3/16” pop rivets held the whole clamp together ready to be pop riveted to the boom.

Finished Boom to element Clamp

Finished Boom to element Clamp

This antenna design called for 2 full size elements for each band. The 20M driver element was split in the centre and made a bit differently with a longer support plate. Each element was electrically insulated from the boom with sections of plastic electrical conduit slipped over the element middle. The photo below shows all six finished element clamp assemblies sitting on the boom.

Six elements sitting temporarily on the boom before being moved into place and riveted

Six elements sitting temporarily on the boom before being moved into place and riveted

Making the Driven Element
Feeding a Yagi with power while obtaining a good match for the radio has always been a problem. Over the years Gamma matches, Hairpin loops, Delta matches and other methods have given way to 50 ohm coaxial cable feeding the split driven element through a balun. The split element needs some type of insulating rod at the feed point into the ends of the two tubes. I could have bought a small length of fiberglass tubing, but a local store was selling fibreglass handled hammers cheaply and they would do very nicely.

Cheap Hammer!

Cheap Hammer!

The handle was covered in rubber but with a little work with a small grinder, the fibreglass centre support took shape and fitted into the tube ends.

The Fibreglass Centre Rod emerges

The Fibreglass Centre Rod emerges

Rod inside tubing ends and split PVC spacer in place

Rod inside tubing ends and split PVC spacer in place

A couple of bolts to attach the balun and some weatherproof sealing tape finished it off and it was mounted on it’s clamp plate ready for connection to the balun.

The finished split driven element ready to go into DX battle!

The finished split driven element ready to go into DX battle!

The photographs tell the story. In retrospect, a correctly sized fibreglass tube would have been easier.

Balun Construction
Baluns come in all forms and sizes but sometimes the simple coil of coax cable works very well indeed. Many articles have been written on the diameter and the number of turns but I settled on 6 turns about 5 “ diameter and wound them inside an old plastic tube. The data is from an article written by Ed Gilbert WA2SRQ

The Completed Coaxial Balun Place

The Completed Coaxial Balun Place

I have used this type of Coaxial Balun previously and it works very well. Most articles on balun construction suggests that winding the turns over a short piece of PVC is the way to go. Winding the turns inside the tubing is much easier and the naturally slide into place. And then the turns are secured in place with plastic cable ties. I made up a clamp from thin scrap aluminium which is held in place with 1/8″ pop rivets. The balun is virtually immovable. Connections to the driven element are sealed with amalgamating sealing tape to prevent moisture creeping back down the coaxial cable. This system worked well for me on another similarly constructed 20 metre yagi I built a few years ago and I have used it on other similar antennas.

Mounting the Elements to the boom

Drilling the rivet hole in the boom. Note the F Clamp at the back holding the assembly in place

Drilling the rivet hole in the boom. Note the F Clamp at the back holding the assembly in place

The next stage of mounting the elements is not all that difficult. I clamped the boom in the jaws of a work table ad then marked where the elements would be mounted. I check the measurements again and then again a 3rd time. I placed one of the 20M elements on the boom and clamped it so the bracket wouldn’t rotate as you can see in the photo. It was a simple matter to drill out the 1st 3/16″ rivet hole and fix the rivet.

The 2nd hole was on the other side angle and it was riveted. Now in place, the clamp couldn’t move and the remained holes were drill out with the cordless drill and the clamp was secure.

The photograph below shows the three close spaced driver elements mounted on the boom and their angle plates riveted.

10M, 20M and 15M Clamp Assemblies with insulated elements

10M, 20M and 15M Clamp Assemblies with insulated elements

 

The mast to boom plate was made from an old used piece of alloy “U” section. The section it wide enough on both sides to fix a pair of 2″ “U” bolts in place to hold the mast and boom together. One of the problems with “U” bolts and muffler clamps is that the mast or the boom will, over a period time start to rotate within the clamps. If you tighten the clamps you end up on a never ending spiral of constantly tightening the nuts on the U bolts which will distort the mast or the boom. This can easily be prevented with a single 3″ bolt through mast and plate. Another is placed through the boom and plate. This absolutely prevents rotational movement and the U bolts do not need to be tightened beyond limits. You can see the whole assembly below.

Mast to Boom section plate with long bolts to prevent rotation. The small holes on the boom are there as the boom was previously used in another application.

Mast to Boom section plate with long bolts to prevent rotation. The small holes on the boom are there as the boom was previously used in another application. NOTE: The “Mast” marking on the horizontal tube actually marks the centre of the mast placement. The vertical tube is the mast and horizontal is the boom section.

Time to Finish the Project

During the past week, the mechanical parts of the antenna were finally finished and it was ready to erect. Morrie ZL2AO and Karl ZL1TJ came over to give me a hand (More than a hand actually!) to pull down the old Hexbeam and replacing it with the new Tribander. The mast is a tilt over design that I built a few years and in very short time it was lowered over with a winch . A second winch allows the top section of the mast to be wound down about 20 feet into the lower section which makes life a bit easier. Karl and Morrie wrestled with the old Hexbeam until it was on the ground.

The Old Hex Beam being removed.

The Old Hex Beam being removed.

The Hexbeam actually failed because the plastic cable ties which held the hose clamp and wires to the fibreglass rods. I suspect that the failures occurred because of the 2400 hours a year of sunshine we get in this area of New Zealand.

We assembled the rest of the driver elements and stood the 12′ mast up vertically to mount into the antenna rotator.

The 3 Driver elements in Place

The 3 Driver elements in Place

All was going well so we cranked the mast off the ground and placed all the Reflector elements in place, did some final mechanical checks and it was ready to winch up to vertical. We cranked it up at about 25 feet and looked at the SWR and it was excellent on 20M but 500 Khz high on 10M and 200 Khz high on 15M. Various discussions centered around “we should do this with a calculator” and one was soon on the table with much head scratching etc. I made the call to wing it and pulled out the 10M DE by 4″ and the 15m DE by 2″ . Feeding the yagi through an 80 foot length of RG213 good quality cable showed the following results after the element length adjustments. 20 metres came in at 1:1 and 50 ohms at 14,152 Mhz The results were excellent with SWRs of 1.1 at 50 ohms on all 3 bands and just where I wanted it.

17M and 12M are a different story and need to be dealt with at the shack end. A few years ago I built a vacuum variable antenna coupler that will match almost anything. A few minutes winding turns counter dials and both 17M and 12m were able to be matched to the transmitter. NOTE: That does not change the SWR on the line. it simply allows you to use the antenna on those bands with power losses. In fact, 17M and 12M work rather well as a high dipole with unity gain. You couldn’t do the same thing with a typical trap tribander as the traps get rather warm working on bands they are not designed for.SWR Readings When you build an antenna from a patterned design you really cannot predict how it will behave in real life. An antenna analyzer doesn’t give you the whole picture either. You actually have to use it on the air to get a “feel” of how it performs. We cranked up the antenna into position at 35 feet and it was ready to have a listen. I was hearing a few signals on the bands but high noon in ZL is not all that exciting. Looking at the cluster there was a bit of DX around.

In place ready to go!

In place ready to go!

A few spins of the rotator on various sigs showed that the F/B looked good at a couple of S-Units and forward gain was just under an S-unit. It some very steep nulls off the sides. What I was experiencing is about what the design parameters had predicted for this antenna. I had a look at the cluster (around 0100UTC) and 9L1A was on 28,029 about 549 with a very smart op on the other end. With a rush of blood to the head I fired up the Alpha and gave him a call. The second call got my report and he was in the log and a big grin on my gob. Throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening I cruised the bands and made plenty of contacts at will. Even marginal signals were reasonably easy to work. My log is below.

My Logbook for the Afternoon.

My Logbook for the Afternoon.

The antenna’s performance is very satisfactory. It is not a pair of stacked 204BAs. It was never intended to be. It is a light, easy to handle design that offers good performance on 20, 15 and 10M and is basically a high dipole on 17 and 12M.

Finally up in place. Lean, Mean and NO TRAPs!

Finally up in place. Lean, Mean and NO TRAPs!

Nevertheless it works very well and has directivity. The joy of this antenna is that I will never have to worry about traps failing. It will also handle any power from my Alpha amplifier with ease.

The Antenna in Place up 35'

The Antenna in Place up 35′ The pole in the foreground supports my 30M full wave loop and the end of the 80M/40M Trap dipole

Since most of the materials were mostly salvaged from old alloy tubing and angles. Anything that I couldn’t find had to be commercially sourced the final cost was about 15% of a new Force12 C3S imported into New Zealand.

This is the end of the project and I am not sure what will follow next year.

73, Lee ZL2AL

 

DXCC Tracker

There are still some hams that do not use a computer log for tracking their DXCC totals and prefer to keep their QSL records the old fashioned way. This XLS spreadsheet really works well for keeping track of your totals. It was designed by EA6VQ and is shareware.

To use it, simply click on the link below and save the file on your computer Desktop. Open the file and print it off and then enter your cards as you wish along with the new ones you work.

Use this link for DXCC Tracker —-     DXCC Tracker

73, Lee ZL2AL

Things To Come – A Cautionary Tale

By LES MITCHELL, G3BHK* (From: Radcom Magazine 1984)

OUR LITTLE GROUP of local ex-service G3 types often meets for a drink in the snug of the old coaching inn down by the riverside. Discussion ranges far and wide, but as one might expect revolves mainly around our wartime experiences and, of course, amateur radio.

Recently someone pointed out that he had not heard Bill on the bands for some time. Bill had obtained his licence immediately after the war and had spent every available moment chasing dx or chatting to his friends on 3•5MHz. Since he retired a few years ago he had spent even more time on the air, and it was very unusual not to hear him working on some band whenever one listened. When we compared notes we suddenly realized that no-one had heard Bill’s signal for over six months. “You live nearest to him,” said Joe, “why don’t you drop in and see what has happened. Let’s hope he is not a silent key, but I am sure we would have heard something if he had passed on.”

A few days later I knocked at Bill’s door rather worried that I might be faced by a tearful and grieving widow. The door swung open to reveal Bill with a big grin on his face and looking fitter than I had ever seen him. Within a short time I was sitting in an armchair with a full glass in my hand and explaining why I had called.

“Well,” said Bill, “it is a long story. You see just after l retired a relative of mine died and left me a useful sum of money. As you know, all my rigs were getting quite old, so I jumped at the chance to completely renew all my station equipment. “First of all l purchased one of those Sky-Gain automatic aperiodic multi-band beams plus the computer controller. This array works on all bands and the computer turns the array to the maximum signal path without any effort on the part of the operator. I mounted this on my old 100 ft. tower and it was fantastic!

“Then I invested in the very latest transceiver, the Fuji Yama FJ 20,001 which covers all bands l•8MHz. to UHF with full legal power and no tuning whatsoever. To supplement this I also bought two computerized attachments-one which enables you to enter all the call prefixes of the countries you have worked already on each band, and then commands the transceiver to hunt each band in turn and only stops when it hears a new prefix. This unit also allows one to program automatic replies – callsign, signal reports, handle, location and requests to QSL etc. It had an additional program which made automatic calls to any of my friends’ callsigns it heard on 3•5 and 7MHz. l had to keep these replies updated with the latest news: you know the sort of thing-the car has gone wrong again. I have just mown the lawn, the rheumatism is painful, the income tax people have overcharged me again, etc.

“The second computer unit was the printout attachment which automatically printed the log entries and produced fully-completed QSL cards. So you see l could just leave the rig on 24h/day and it would work the rare dx and also chat to my mates on 3•5MHz without me going near it except to add more printout paper and blank QSL cards. Apart from a trip to the post office every day to post the QSLs, it left me time for decorating, car cleaning, gardening and after-meal naps. After it had been on the air continuously for about a month I discovered I had worked every dx station which existed, and even my friends on 3•5MHz were not replying to my calls-I expect they did not like the impersonal touch.

Then I suddenly realized that this new rig had utterly and completely destroyed my interest in amateur radio. Even the walk to the post office was boring me, and the parcel post costs were also becoming a strain. So l then made the decision that after nearly 40 years on the air it was time to give up my hobby, I sold the rig, and with the money bought the XYL all the labour saving gadgets I could find – a washing machine, a microwave oven, a food processor, a dishwasher etc. Now she has as much spare time as me so we have taken up golf. It’s very relaxing and gets us out in the fresh air. In fact we are spending more time together than we have done since we were courting!”

Bill and his XYL and l smiled at each other as she refilled the glasses. When I related this story to the others later there were sad faces all around. “But,” I added, “Bill did tell me that he intends to renew his licence every year, so perhaps at some time in the future we shall hear him on again.” But remembering just how those two smiled at each other I have my doubts.

Sign of things to come?

73, Lee ZL2AL (Reprinted from Radcom 1984)

Is it Just Me or the Jargon?

Is it Just Me or the Jargon?

Ham radio has a long tradition of “jargon” and operating procedures which probably grew out of the early CW operating practices. Indeed the English language that we use is constantly changing. Fifty years ago “bugger” was a word that was never used except in courtrooms or visiting sailor’s dockside watering holes. It is an “accepted” word now for daily use by the media. The jargon and procedures that we use on the air seems to be rapidly changing as newcomers from the Citizens bands and other services enter our hobby. Is it just me, or is the language and procedures we use truly changing and becoming more like the Citizens Radio Service every day? Does it bother anyone but me?

A couple of days ago I heard a call sign break the squelch on our local repeater. I called and had a nice enough conversation with a fellow as he was driving down the highway. He offered that his “personal” was [insert name here]. Every time he ended his transmission and turned it over to me he would say “Back to you” and then reverse the signing of the call letters by saying “ZL2xxx to ZL2AL” and often the “to” wasn’t used. In effect he was signing my call. He said he was planning to put up a “base station” soon, and then closed by saying he’d “catch [me] again some time.” Now, to be sure, this was a nice enough guy, and I enjoyed our conversation. But I was left wondering what—if anything—to do. Should I ignore it as making mention of the CB lingo would be rude? Should I have presumptuously suggested that’s not how “we” talk on ham radio? Or maybe I should just “get over it” and accept that our lexicon is changing. I ended up by saying nothing.

Don’t get me wrong here. I am delighted that the code requirement has been dropped as a licensing trigger in ZL and very happy that more are being licensed and joining us on ham radio. I think bringing in CB operators is a good thing. But I’ll admit I worry about us becoming more like “them.” I don’t want my radio service becoming just another “radio service” which could degenerate into a mish mash of pseudo amateur/CB operators. Oddly enough, I think a lot of CB radio ops joined the ranks of amateur radio to escape some of the extremes prevalent on the CB bands.

This brings me back to the “jargon” used. Amateur radio jargon evolved and has been used the same way for eons. Is the changing “lingo” the first step on the way to a new kind of amateur/CB combined service? If one listens to the Police channels or monitors the aircraft or fire frequencies they all have a jargon of their own. Should we as amateurs take more of an active roll in teaching our newcomer colleagues to the amateur service correct operating procedures? All of the newcomers to our hobby are desperately trying to fit in. Is their any training available to help them? What are “correct” operating procedures? Should I worry about it or is it just me?

Lee ZL2AL

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DXCC With QSL Cards

How to Apply for DXCC Via the NZ DXCC Card Checker – September 2012

DXCC is the most prestigious of all Amateur Radio awards. Its rules for membership are clear and when you make your application, accuracy and attention to detail is most important. The guidelines below will help you complete your application to your Card Checker easily and with a minimum of problems.

The Responsibility of the Card Checker
The Card Checker may check cards for the following awards:
All DXCC awards and endorsements including the following:

  • Mixed
  • Phone
  • CW
  • RTTY
  • Satellite
  • 80 Meters
  • 40 Meters
  • 30 Meters
  • 20 Meters
  • 17 Meters
  • 15 Meters
  • 10 Meters
  • 6 Meters
  • 2 Meters
  • 5BDXCC ( 5 Band DXCC)
  • DXCC Challenge
  • WAS (Worked All States)
  • VUCC (VHF/UHF Century Club

Granting entity credits for all DXCC applications is done only at ARRL. The Card Checker’s job is ONLY to verify that the information on the paper application is the same as what is on the card(s) submitted. The Card Checker only checks the cards and does not award credits.

The Card Checker CANNOT check the following cards:
Any 160 M contacts (I do not hold a 160M DXCC)
Ineligible or Altered Cards

NOTE: A RECENT RULE CHANGE ALLOWS ME TO CHECK “DELETED” ENTITES

The Rules
Only eligible cards can be checked by DXCC Card Checkers. An application for a new award shall contain a minimum of 100 QSL confirmations from the list and shall not contain any QSLs that are not eligible for this program. The first-ever application must contain a minimum of 100 separate DXCC entities. First- time ever applications with less than 100 cannot be processed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to get cards to and from the DXCC Card Checker.

Applicants are responsible, up front, for all costs, including postage. It is strongly recommended that you keep a copy of all registered mail or other mail receipts. The ARRL is not responsible for cards handled by DXCC card checkers and will not honour any claims. The applicant and DXCC card checker must sign the application form. The applicant shall provide sufficient postage to the card checker to cover mailing of application and paperwork to ARRL HQ and return of cards within NZ. Direct Credit bank deposit may be required for the Card Checker’s postage costs in New Zealand if you don’t supply postage paid return envelopes.

The applicant shall also provide the applicable fees. Credit card number and expiration date is acceptable for the ARRL DXCC costs).

The DXCC Card Checker will forward completed applications and appropriate fee(s) to ARRL HQ. ARRL HQ staff will receive field-checked applications, enter application data into DXCC records and issue DXCC credits and awards as appropriate.

The applicant and the DXCC Card Checker will be advised of any errors or discrepancies encountered by ARRL staff. Applicants and DXCC members may send cards to ARRL Headquarters at any time for review or recheck if the individual feels that an incorrect determination has been made. Cards not eligible for field checking must be sent to ARRL and cannot be sent along with an application checked by the checker.

The applicant can opt to send the entire submission to ARRL if they wish. Ineligible cards, if sent to ARRL, are NOT considered part of the field checked application. They are considered a separate submission and subject to higher fees. Any ineligible cards sent with an application will be returned unprocessed.

To Submit an Application To The Card Checker

  • The applicant should look through all the cards and check for the following:
  • Your Main Application sheet must be the latest issue.
  • Your callsign and the callsign of the station worked is on each card.
  • The CALLSIGN,  QSO DATE,  BAND,  MODE and ENTITY is on each card
  • That the Entity Callsign and the Entity name match on each card
  • The card has not been altered in any way.
  • That you have at least 100 cards if you are making your Initial or First application.
  • There are NO 160M cards.

The applicant should sort the cards in order – first by band, then by mode. Cards with multiple QSO’s must be together in a group of their own, at the end. Cards must NOT be sorted alphabetically. The Sort Order of the cards MUST MATCH EXACTLY the order of which the cards appear on DXCC application Form (Part 2 The listings)

Initial New DXCC Application Form Part 1

The information on Part 1 tells DXCC what you are requesting and it also tells them your current mailing address so that all returns can be sent to the proper address. There is also the applicant’s affirmation section. Check which award you are applying for eg: NEW, ENDORSEMENT, MIXED or PHONE or CW etc. Then list the Number of cards and the Number of QSOs

Complete the right hand side of the form with your name, callsign and all other details.

DXCC Fees for NZ are shown in DXCC Rules on this Website  DXCC Fees Schedule

Endorsement Applications: 

This is ONLY for building totals on Existing awards. Often people check off endorsements when they do not have an award but are only building totals for a future award. Once you have a DXCC you can build your number as you wish. There are no restrictions. When you finally reach 100 then you can check off NEW. Then, in future submissions you can endorse them. Your name and address is required as this affects where your paperwork will be sent AND where the yearbook will be sent. The yearbook is not sent to the QST address unless the DXCC address is the same as the QST address. You must sign and date it and place the month and year of your membership expiration if you are an ARRL member.

Applications have been placed on hold if the signature is missing.

Part 2: The Record Sheet:

This is the second part of the application where you list the QSO’s you intend to claim credit for with the submission. The importance of accuracy and legibility here cannot be emphasized enough. Cards may be rejected if complete information is not on the record sheet. The applicant’s callsign shown on the card must match exactly. If it is different in any way it must be rejected. (eg: ZL1ABC is not the same as ZL1BCA etc).

Sending Your Cards
Package up your cards and SIGNED Application form securely and send them to the NZ DXCC Card Checker:

Lee Jennings, ZL2AL
87 Auckland Road
Greenmeadows
NAPIER 4112

Mailing Suggestions
You may wish to use NZ Post Track and Trace services. You should purchase TWO Track n Trace envelopes from NZ Post or NZ Post Shops do a “Letter pack” for $5.50

1. Label the first envelope or Pack to me with the address above and your return address on the back.

2. Label the second envelope or pack to your home address with the address above on the back. I will return your cards in the same envelope.

3. Enclose a third business sized envelope (with a $2.40 NZ Post Stamp on it) addressed to:

DXCC Desk, ARRL HQ
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111
USA

The third envelope will be posted by the card checker to the DXCC Desk with your application form inside.

Payment

The ARRL DXCC requires payment for all awards and endorsements. You can do that by simply filling in your Credit Card details on the right hand column of Application Form A. ARRL will then charge EXACTLY the amount required to your Credit Card in US Dollars converted to New Zealand Dollars.  DXCC Schedule of Fees

Basic Do’s and Don’ts for DXCC Applicants

Do’s
Be careful, check closely every card carefully BEFORE submission.
Make sure applications are complete and information is legible
Make sure ALL data is recorded properly
Make sure entity name and callsigns match (this is a frequent problem)
If the record sheet is not in proper order, the applicant must re-do the application in the proper format.

Don’ts
Don’t leave fields that are blank on the record sheet, all fields are required
I strongly suggest that you look at the ARRL DXCC web site
It will give you insight into what the rules are all about.

If you have any problems with your application you can call me any time

06 844 1226 or 021 050 8164

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DXCC Online

Welcome to ARRL’s Online DXCC


Submitting Your DXCC Application Online — Step by Step

  1. Now that you have logged in, you may go to the Enter QSLs tab and begin entering information from your QSL cards. All your entries are saved and you may leave the Enter QSLs tab at any time while entering QSLs, and return to it later.
    1. You must enter all of the required data for each card. If you want to submit more than one QSO from a single card, then enter the information about those QSOs together — one right after another — on theEnter QSLs tab.
    2. If — once both the Call SignandQSO Date are entered — the DXCC entity you want to select does not appear among the choices in the pulldown list, select the Show All choice from the pulldown list to select from the complete DXCC List.
    3. You may enter your QSL cards in any order; when you submit your cards for checking, they must be placed in the same order that you entered them. During the submission process Online DXCC will produce a DXCC Record Sheet for you that shows this order.
  2. If you use a logging program, you will find it faster and more accurate to prepare an ADIF file containing the QSO information for the QSLs that you want to submit with your application rather than manually entering the information from each card. Use the Import ADIF tab to import your ADIF file.
  3. When you have finished entering data for the QSLs you want to submit, you may begin the application process by clicking on the Submit Application tab and proceed sequentially through the ApplicationSelect QSLs,PaymentPreview Application and Preview QSL List steps.
  4. The Preview QSL List step of the Submit Application tab provides a Submit Application button. Clicking this button completes the application process and saves your application. You may leave and return to the Application History tab at any time to view and print your completed application.
  5. Verify that your QSL cards are in the same order as shown on your DXCC Record Sheet. Then:
    1. Take a printed copy of your completed DXCC Award Application and all pages of your DXCC Record Sheet along with your QSL cards to a DXCC Card Checker. You will need to provide the DXCC Card Checker with an SASE or sufficient postage to cover mailing your paperwork to ARRL HQ.
    2. If there is not a DXCC Card Checker in your area, you may send your QSL cards directly to ARRL HQ; include a copy of your DXCC Award Application.
  6. Once you have submitted an application by clicking the Submit Application button, you cannot make further changes or add QSLs to this submission. You cannot start a new application in the Online DXCC system until your pending application has been processed by ARRL HQ. You may continue to use the Enter QSLs tab to enter new QSLs and to edit or delete QSLs that are not contained in a pending submission.

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DXCC Rules


DXCC Rules

  • DXCC Rules Download+
  • Introduction+
  • Section I. Basic Rules-

    1. The DX Century Club Award, with certificate and lapel pin is available to Amateur Radio operators throughout the world (see the DXCC Award Fee Schedule).

    ARRL membership is required for DXCC applicants in the US, its possessions, and Puerto Rico. ARRL membership is not required for foreign applicants. All DXCC awards can be endorsed with country totals (see Rule 5).

    There are 19 separate DXCC award certificates available, plus the DXCC Honor Roll:

    a) Mixed (general type): Contacts may be made using any mode since November 15, 1945.

    b) Phone: Contacts must be made using radiotelephone since November 15, 1945. Confirmations for cross-mode contacts for this award must be dated September 30, 1981, or earlier.

    c) CW: Contacts must be made using CW since January 1, 1975. Confirmations for cross-mode contacts for this award must be dated September 30, 1981, or earlier.  CW contacts dated December 31, 1974, or before, are credited as Mixed mode.

    d) Digital: Contacts can include QSOs using any/all digital modes, in any combination (except CW) since November 15, 1945.   Digital modes include RTTY, PSK-31, JT65, etc. and any modes that are only machine-readable, and any that use computer sound card technology, with the exception of digital voice, which counts for Phone.

    e) 160 Meter: Contacts must be made on 160 meters since November 15, 1945.

    f) 80 Meter: Contacts must be made on 80 meters since November 15, 1945.

    g) 40 Meter: Contacts must be made on 40 meters since November 15, 1945.

    h) 30 Meter: Contacts must be made on 30 meters since November 15, 1945.

    i) 20 Meter: Contacts must be made on 20 meters since November 15, 1945.

    j) 17 Meter: Contacts must be made on 17 meters since November 15, 1945.

    k) 15 Meter: Contacts must be made on 15 meters since November 15, 1945.

    l) 12 Meter: Contacts must be made on 12 meters since November 15, 1945.

    m) 10 Meter: Contacts must be made on 10 meters since November 15, 1945.

    n) 6 Meter: Contacts must be made on 6 meters since November 15, 1945.

    o) 2 Meter: Contacts must be made on 2 meters since November 15, 1945.

    p) 70 cm contacts must be made on 70 cm since November 15, 1945.
    q) Satellite: Contacts must be made using satellites since March 1, 1965. Confirmations must indicate satellite QSO. Satellite contacts do not count toward any awards noted in a) through p) above.

    r) Five-Band DXCC (5BDXCC): The 5BDXCC certificate is available for working and confirming 100 current DXCC entities (deleted entities don’t count for this award) on each of the following five bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 Meters. Contacts are valid from November 15, 1945.

    5bdxcccert.jpg

     

    The 5BDXCC is endorsable for these additional bands: 160, 30, 17, 12, 6 and 2 Meters. 5BDXCC qualifiers are eligible for an individually engraved plaque.

     

    5BDXCC__2_.JPG





    s) The DXCC Challenge Award is available for working and confirming at least
    Challenge__2_.JPG1,000 DXCC band-entities on any Amateur bands, 160 through 6 meters (except 60 meters). Plaques can be endorsed in increments of 500 entities for each band are totaled to give the Challenge standing. Deleted entities do not count for this award. All contacts must be made after November 15, 1945. QSOs for the 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meter bands qualify for this award. Confirmations on bands with less than 100 entities are acceptable for credit for this award. Certificates are not available for this award.

    DeSoto_Trophy2.jpg

    t) The DeSoto Cup is presented to the DXCC Challenge leader as of the 31st of December each year. The DeSoto Cup is named for Clinton B. DeSoto, whose definitive article in October 1935 QST – How to Count Countries Worked A New DX Scoring System, shapes the DXCC award program. Only one cup will be awarded to any single individual. A medal will be presented to a repeat winner in subsequent years. Medals will also be awarded to the second and third place winners each year.

    dxcchr.jpg

    u) Honor Roll: Attaining the DXCC Honor Roll represents the pinnacle of DX achievement:

    i) Mixed: To qualify, you must have a total confirmed entity count that places you among the numerical top ten DXCC entities total on the current DXCC List (example: if there are 340 current DXCC entities, you must have at least 331 entities confirmed). Deleted entities do not count towards Honor Roll.

    ii) Phone — same as Mixed.

    iii) CW — same as Mixed.

    iv) Digital — same as Mixed.

    To establish the number of DXCC entity credits needed to qualify for the Honor Roll, the maximum possible number of current entities available for credit is published daily onthe ARRL DXCC standings web page. First-time Honor Roll members are recognized daily also on the ARRL DXCC standings web page. Complete Honor Roll standings are published annually in QST. Once recognized on this list, or in a subsequent daily update of new members, you retain your Honor Roll standing until the next standings list is published. In addition, Honor Roll members who have been listed in the previous Honor Roll Listings, or have gained Honor Roll status in a subsequent daily listing, are recognized in the DXCC Annual List. Honor Roll qualifiers receive an Honor Roll endorsement sticker for their DXCC certificate and are eligible for an Honor Roll lapel pin and an Honor Roll plaque. Contact the DXCC Desk for details or check out the Century Club Item Order Form.

    tohrpix.JPG

    v) #1 Honor Roll: To qualify for a Mixed, Phone, CW or Digital, you must have worked every entity on the current DXCC List. There are 340 current entities onThe ARRL DXCC List. Contact the DXCC Desk for details. #1 Honor Roll qualifiers receive a #1 Honor Roll endorsement sticker for their DXCC certificate and are eligible for a #1 Honor Roll plaque and a #1 Honor Roll lapel pin.

    2. Written Proof: Except in cases where the rules of Section IV apply, proof of two-way communication (contacts) must be submitted directly to ARRL HQ for all DXCC credits claimed. Photocopies and electronically transmitted confirmations (including, but not limited to fax and e-mail) are not currently acceptable for DXCC purposes. Exception: Confirmations created and delivered by ARRL’s Logbook of the World program are acceptable for DXCC credit.

    The use of a current official DXCC application form or an approved facsimile (for example, exactly reproduced by a computer program) is required. Such forms must include provision for listing call signs, dates, bands, modes and DXCC entity names. Complete application materials are available from ARRL HQ. Confirmations for a total of 100 or more different DXCC credits must be included with your first application. Cards contained in the original received envelopes or in albums will be returned at applicant’s expense without processing.

    3. The ARRL DXCC List is based on the DXCC List Criteria.

    4. Confirmation data for two-way communications must include the call signs of both stations, the entity name as shown in the DXCC List, mode, date, time and band. Except as permitted in Rule 1, cross-mode contacts are not permitted for DXCC credits. Confirmations not containing all required information may be rejected.

    5. Endorsement stickers for affixing to certificates or pins will be awarded as additional DXCC credits are granted. For the Mixed, Phone, CW, Digital, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10-Meter DXCC, stickers are provided in exact multiples of 50 (i.e. 150, 200) etc. between 100 and 250 DXCC credits, in multiples of 25 between 250 and 300, and in multiples of 5 above 300 DXCC credits.

    For 160-Meter, 80-Meter, 6-Meter, 2-Meter and Satellite DXCC, the stickers are issued in exact multiples of 25 starting at 125 and in multiples of 10 above 200, and in multiples of 5 between 250 and 300. Confirmations for DXCC credit may be submitted in any increment, but stickers and listings are provided only after a new level has been attained.

    6. All contacts must be made with amateur stations working in the authorized amateur bands or with other stations licensed or authorized to work amateurs. Contacts made through “repeater” devices or any other power relay methods (other than satellites for Satellite DXCC) are not valid for DXCC credit.

    7. Any Amateur Radio operation should take place only with the complete approval and understanding of appropriate administration officials. In countries where amateurs are licensed in the normal manner, credit may be claimed only for stations using regular government-assigned call signs or portable call signs, where reciprocal agreements exist or the host government has so authorized portable operation. Without documentation supporting the operation of an amateur station, credit will not be allowed for contacts with such stations in any country that has temporarily or permanently closed down Amateur Radio operations by special government edict or policy where amateur licenses were formerly issued in the normal manner. In any case, credit will be given for contacts where adequate evidence of authorization by appropriate authorities exists, notwithstanding any such previous or subsequent edict or policy.

    8. All stations contacted must be “land stations.” Contacts with ships and boats, anchored or underway, and airborne aircraft, cannot be counted. For the purposes of this award, remote control operating points must also be land based. Exception: Permanently docked exhibition ships, such as the Queen Mary and other historic ships will be considered land based.

    9. All stations must be contacted from the same DXCC entity. The location of any station shall be defined as the location of the transmitter. For the purposes of this award, remote operating points must be located within the same DXCC entity as the transmitter and receiver.

    10. All contacts must be made using call signs issued to the same station licensee. Contacts made by an operator other than the licensee must be made from a station owned and usually operated by the licensee, and must be made in accordance with the regulations governing the license grant. Contacts may be made from other stations provided they are personally made by the licensee. The intent of this rule is to prohibit credit for contacts made for you by another operator from another location. You may combine confirmations from several call signs held for credit to one DXCC award, as long as the provisions of Rule 9 are met. Contacts made from club stations using a club call sign may not be used for credit to an individual’s DXCC.

    11. All confirmations must be submitted exactly as received by the applicant. The submission of altered, forged, or otherwise invalid confirmations for DXCC credit may result in disqualification of the applicant and forfeiture of any right to DXCC membership. Determinations by the ARRL Awards Committee concerning submissions or disqualification shall be final. The ARRL Awards Committee shall also determine the future eligibility of any DXCC applicant who has ever been barred from DXCC.

    12) DXCC Audit Process: In order to maintain continuing program integrity and for quality control purposes, DXCC routinely conducts audits of credits claimed for DXCC awards. To verify the authenticity of the QSOs claimed, audits may be conducted on claims for QSO credits for current applications, or credits already in a DXCC award account. Audits may include, but are not limited to:

    • Checking online logs (preliminary check);
    • Contacting DX stations for log extracts;
    • Contacting QSL managers for log extracts; and
    • Verifying credits submitted via Logbook of the World (LoTW)

    Audits are generally conducted on a random basis. Response to audit requests to DXCC applicants are required. Failure, or refusal, to respond to these requests may result in removal of the credits requested by DXCC and/or removal of the awards pertaining to the audit.  Events may also lead to disqualification from the DXCC program. Costs for postage, by a secure and traceable method to, and from, DXCC will be covered by the ARRL Desk. Audits that reveal discrepancies may lead to an investigation by the Awards Committee.

    13. Conduct: Exemplary conduct is expected of all amateur radio operators participating in the DXCC program. Evidence of intentionally disruptive operating practices or inappropriate ethical conduct in any aspect of DXCC participation may lead to disqualification from all participation in the program by action of the ARRL Awards Committee.

    Actions that may lead to disqualification include, but are not limited to:

    a) The submission of forged or altered confirmations.
    b) The presentation of forged or altered documents in support of an operation.
    c) Participation in activities that create an unfavorable impression of amateur radio with government authorities. Such activities include malicious attempts to cause disruption or negatively affect the accreditation of an operation.
    d) Blatant inequities in confirmation (QSL) procedures. Continued refusal to issue QSLs under certain circumstances may lead to disqualification. Complaints relating to monetary issues involved in QSLing will generally not be considered.

    14. Each DXCC applicant, by applying, or submitting documentation, stipulates to:

    a) Observing all pertinent governmental regulations for Amateur Radio in the country or countries concerned.
    b) Observing all DXCC rules.
    c) Being bound by the DXCC rules.
    d) Being bound by the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee.

    15. All DXCC applications (for both new awards and endorsements) must include sufficient funds to cover the cost of returning all confirmations (QSL cards) via the method selected. Funds must be in US currency, check or money order payable to the ARRL, or a credit card number with a valid expiration date. Address all correspondence and inquiries relating to DXCC awards and all applications to:

    ARRL Headquarters
    DXCC Desk
    225 Main St.
    Newington, CT06111
    USA

    E-mail to [email protected]

    16. Fees: Find the most up-to-date fee schedule.

    17. The ARRL DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) requests your comments and suggestions for improving DXCC. Address correspondence to:

    ARRL HQ 
    DXAC 
    225 Main St. 
    Newington, CT06111, USA 

    The DXAC may be contacted directly by e-mail at this linkhttp://www.arrl.org/dxac. Correspondence on routine DXCC matters should be addressed to the DXCC Desk, or by e-mail to [email protected]

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Flying

When I was a kid I was always mad keen on anything that flew. My Dad owned a bicycle and sporting goods shop near Yorkville in Toronto and sold model aircraft kits and supplies. model aircraft were alsways under construction in my workshop room in the basement of the shop. We lived in the flat behind the shop. Free flight and control line were the two methods of controlling model aircraft at that time. Both were unsatisfactory until radio control came along in the late 1950s. The equipment was expensive, mostly home built and unreliable. By that time I was about to realize my dream of actually flying a real aircraft.

The Aeronca 7ECA Champion
I learned to fly in one of these old tail draggers. It was a great way to learn “seat of the pants” flying. There was a flying school at Markham Airport just outside of Toronto with 3 Aeronca Champs. Learning to fly was easy in 1961 as the cost was $8.00 per hour dual and $5.00 per hour solo instruction. The Chief flying instructor was a huge Polish WW11 flying ace who flew as one of the Polish squadron in England during the Battle of Britain. Janas was an intimidating man over 6 feet tall. One day I saw him walking out to take a young lady for her first flying lesson. He obviously didn’t think much of her when he said in a loud voice with a thick Polish accent “Woman are meant to stay home and have babies – not fly! She was reduced to tears and ran back to the flight office and never returned.

Jan was a highly skilled pilot and a stickler for safety and was constantly making me scan for suitable landing spots if anything went wrong. I went solo after 9 hours. There is nothing as exciting as having your instructor get out of the aircraft at the end of the runway unexpectedly and say “You go solo now. One circuit only and land” The adrenalin was flowing but what an exhilarating feeling sitting on the end of a 3000 foot runway and opening the throttle! I built up my time over the next few months until I sat my final exam and did the flight test. I was finally a pilot. You never realize how inexperienced you are with only 35 hours though!


My Piper J3 Cub CF-NGX
It wasn’t long before I had a chance to buy my own aircraft when a Piper J3 two place tandem aircraft came up for sale. A farmer at Lake Simcoe about 60 miles north of Toronto advertised one for sale for $2,400.00 on a piece of paper on the wall in the flight office. I rang him and agreed to buy it and would have someone drive me to his farm. The plan was to fly it home the following Saturday. The weather was OK when we left Toronto but by the time we got there, had a test flight and was ready to depart, the rain and a line squall with high winds was between me and the airport back at Toronto. I made the foolish decision to go hoping somehow I would fly through the rain and find Markham airfield. I took off and scared the living daylights out of myself on that flight. Visibility was poor and the southerlies were slowing my 80 knots to about 40 knots ground speed. My dead reckoning IFR (I follow railways) got me so lost that I was heading far to the east of Markham. When you are young you are bulletproof and that was the best lesson ever for the hundreds of flying hours that followed. I never wanted to go through that again!

The J3 was a joy to fly. Mine was first registered in the USA with a 65 HP engine by the US Border Patrol until it was crashed sometime in the early 1940s. It went through a number of owners and rebuilds until I bought it with a 75 HP engine installed. It would get off the ground in about 300 feet and land in not much more. One of the joys of flying a Cub is that it has no flaps whatsoever and you have to learn to “sideslip” on to the runway to bleed of speed. Left rudder combined with right ailerons and the aircraft crabs to the left on its way down with a lot of drag. Of course you straighten up the aircraft just before you stall it out onto the runway. Another joy is the side clamshell door. The top half clipped up to the wing and the bottom half folded down vertically so that the whole side was open as you flew around souther Ontario skies in the balmy summer evenings.. It really was grass roots flying at it’s best. It came with a pair of skis for operating from snow covered fields. Thet changed the whole nature of the aircraft as the skis added weight and drag. That, combined with the drag of snow resulted in take-off runs of 1000 feet to get airborne and a slow climbout. Nevertheless, flying during the winter was interesting and a lot of fun. It was also extremely cold as there was no heater!


My Piper J4
I had a great offer for the J3 about a year later and saw a Piper J4 for sale. The only difference was that it was two place side by side and I decided to buy it after a test flight. Bad decision! It had the 65HP engine and because the body was wider, had more drag. In fact it was a pig and I have regretted selling the J3 to this day. I managed to quit the J4 within a few months at the same price. At this point I discovered the Champion Citabria and aerobatics.


Flying the Citabria (Aerobatic spelled backwards)
The Citabria was whole different world of flying. I was OK with loops and ponderous rolls in the J3 Cub which was exhilarating but the Citabria was actually designed for aerobatics. It had a 150HP engine and a shorter wing span along with being able to withstand both positive and negative G-force. Consequently, you could do snap rolls which would almost take your head off as the roll rate was brilliant. Nothing like a Pitts Special but nevertheless a world away from a J3. I just loved the Citabria. Going up for an hour of throwing the aircraft around in the evening southern Ontario skies really put the day to day worries of everything in your life out of your mind. Up at 5,000 feet you really couldn’t get into trouble as letting go of the controls would let the aircraft recover on it’s own and the that’s a good thing as stalling out on the top of a loop resulting in an inverted spin is frightening the first time you do it without an instructor.


Flying the Chipmunk
The Chipmunk was designed by the Canadian de Havilland company for use as a primary trainer in both Canada and the United Kingdom. Slightly over 200 machines were produced in Canada, but over 1,000 were manufactured in Britain. A further 60 Chipmunks were produced in the late 1950s under license in Portugal. Few of these airplanes have made their way into the United States, but of those that have, most have been extensively modified for acrobatic and airshow work. Seating is tandem fashion under a sliding bubble canopy. A 145 hp Gipsy Major four-cylinder engine turns either a fixed-pitch wood propeller or a metal Fairey-Reed airscrew. The fuselage and wings are of all metal construction, but the ailerons, elevators, and rudder are fabric covered.