F E B R U A R Y 1 9 9 9
Articles and information for the Newsletter may be submitted up to the 25th of the month before the next meeting.
Ken Blair, KC0GL, Editor
1711 West 19th Terrace
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: 843-8826 e-mail: kc0gl@aol.com
This Newsletter is published monthly by the Douglas County Amateur Radio Club (DCARC). Reprint permission is granted to other Amateur Radio-oriented publications (except for copyrighted material as noted) provided that credit is given to the author and source. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the club or its officers.
DOUGLAS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 11th and Rhode Island, East Entrance, 7:30 p.m.
Videos of DCARC's Past Field Days with emphasis on Antennas 1999 HAMFESTS
ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO CLASSES
Sponsored by the Douglas County Amateur Radio Club will begin on Monday, February 15th at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 11th and Rhode Island, East Entrance, Room B, 6:30 p.m.
Fee: $10 per person
Book Required, "Now You're Talking"
Interested people can contact Jim Canaday, N6YR, 1224 Pennsylvania, Lawrence, KS 66044, 841-1903, n6yr@idir.net
Vincent Francisco, KC0DLP
Club membership is important to us all. Please share your thoughts about how to make the club better for all involved. Please take a few minutes to call (843-5836) or e-mail (kc0dlp@compuserve.com) me with your thoughts. A club's only as good as the members make it....get involved! I look forward to hearing from you. --Vince.
DCARC Satisfaction Survey
1. What would get more members into the club?
2. What would get more members involved with the club?
3. What new activities would you like the club to offer members?
* Additional license preparation classes
* Group kit building
* Fox hunts
* Field trips
* Other _____________________
4. What do you get out of the club?
5. What would you like to contribute?
* Help out with educational activities
* Provide occasional articles for the newsletter
* Help improve the club's web site
* Start some new club activities
* Help with ideas for club meetings
* Organize a field trip to a point of interest for club members
* Other _____________________ »
Ken Blair, KC0GL
There are so many facets to Amateur Radio it is difficult for me to understand why some feel obliged to criticize particular activities and interests of others.
There are those who criticize contesters, there are those who say that CW is a thing of the past and even our military services have ceased using CW, there are those who say the Traffic Nets should be abandoned since there are so many other forms of communication available.
And all the while we bash ourselves and complain, the commercial interests are ready to pounce on our frequencies the first chance they get.
Read the articles "Operating a Contest and Other Comments," and "Why Handle Traffic" appearing in this issue and think twice before we criticize someone else for their particular interest in amateur radio that does not match our own. »
Jim Wades, WB8SIW
This question is often heard at presentations about NTS and traffic nets. It's often phrased as a loaded question, such as: _Why should I use NTS when the Internet or Telephone is much faster?'' Of course, the individual asking expects to hear the presenter _squirm_ as he tries to compare the NTS to the Internet, Western Union, or the Public Switched Telephone Networks (``MaBell'')!
The simple fact is that NTS was never intended to compete with commercial communications resources. From its inception it has existed for a variety of reasons, some of which are:
* NTS provides a basic, highly survivable, communications network for medium and long-haul communication.
* NTS provides a grass-roots opportunity for local radio amateurs to provide a direct service to their neighbors through the origination and delivery of traffic.
* NTS provides convenient training on net procedures and circuit discipline, in other words, the "art" of public service communications.
It's probably this last point that's most important. Any night of the week, any interested radio amateur can check into an NTS net and obtain valuable training in public service communications, without ever leaving his home! He (or she) will learn the proper use of the ICAO phonetic alphabet, spelling techniques, the correct use of prowords and prosigns (e.g. ``over'', _out'', etc.) and most importantly, net discipline.
The skills learned on NTS nets are useful on any public service operation from a Skywarn net to a local Search and Rescue operation. For this reason alone, NTS and traffic handling should he a part of any Amateur Radio public service program.
Parochialism
How often have YOU heard the following phrases: ``Digital communications is going to make all other modes obsolete.'' ``CW is slow and inaccurate and belongs in the nineteenth century.'' ``Phone operators are a bunch of clowns.''
Any time I hear one of these comments I suspect the individual uttering them of being narrow-minded. There is certainly nothing wrong with having a preference for a particular mode of communications or perhaps choosing to specialize in one type of operating or another. However, the competent public service communicator understands that a diversity of modes and capabilities is the key to a strong and effective emergency communications program.
During a recent Michigan State Police emergency exercise, Amateur Radio operators were charged with the responsibility of establishing a point-to-point circuit between the `disaster' location at Traverse City, Michigan, and the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Lansing. First, communications was attempted on a VHF linked repeater system. It failed, Next, communications was attempted on 75 meter SSB. This also failed. Finally, communications was attempted on 40
meter SSB. This failed as well due to malicious interference and computer noise at the EOC. Fortunately, one of the individuals at the EOC was a regular participant on the Michigan Section CW Net, QMN. By switching to CW, the traffic was cleared quickly and efficiently with no fills.
The example above is not intended to suggest that CW is better than other modes. However, it is intended to suggest that had this valuable skill not been available, this portion of the exercise might have failed! The next time someone tells you CW is obsolete, quietly smile and remember this story! Please also remember that the key to an effective emergency communications' program is a diversity of skills and modes!
Founder's Disease
In a recent issue of Sing Out magazine, well known folk singer Pete Seeger writes ``The term Founder's Disease comes from the corporate world, but deserves to be better known. I came across it while singing for the Audubon Society. They used it for a recurring problem: People start a local chapter but 15 or 25 years later it goes belly up. The founders grow old and haven't taken in enough new young members to keep it going. ``All around the country I see lots of good small organizations. But increasingly 1 see their numbers growing a year older every year. I tell them if they don't reach out, bring in a wide assortment of young folks, they're headed for trouble. Watch out for Founder's disease.'' It's not news that Amateur Radio operators in general and traffic handlers in particular are not getting any younger. As we take time to consider the current changes in Amateur Radio and perhaps the future of traffic handling, perhaps we should consider carefully the advice Pete Seeger has to offer! --- from Worldradio, Feb. 1999 »
Armond Noble, N6WR
It's all a matter of attitude. In a club bulletin we saw an account of their Field Day. Some of the members said they would help set up the station and antennas but wouldn't operate because it was too much like a contest.
After watching their fellow club members, it appeared the operators were enjoying themselves. So, the reluctant ones asked if they could operate. After awhile they said, ``This is fun!''
There are many Amateur Radio operators who just loathe contests and contesters. ``What's the big deal about giving out numbers?'' Heard on 20 Meters during the California QSO Party was one indignant Ham calling it the ``California QRM Party''.
But let's look at the other side of the coin. Along with results, CQ magazine prints comments from the participants:
* * * * * *
Odd, so many say Amateur Radio is dying or withering away. Well, it certainly is NOT fading away for the avid contester, DXer, QRPer, hilltop microwaver, maritime mobile netter, etc., It is not dying for those who enjoy RADIO. I heard someone (a licensed amateur) say, ``With cell phones and the Internet who needs Ham Radio? The answer is an easy one. Those who like RADIO! We aren't depending on someone else's wires to get us to wherever we are going.
At work we can fax or email to anywhere in the world. But the thrill of that foreign country only comes when you hear him an the Ham bands. My longtime friend Gary Stilwell, K16T, just went to the Bahamas for the CQ WW DX Contest. Excitement! That sure beats the Internet. But then, one must bring to the table the ability to be excited about something.ÅWorldradio, Feb. 1999 »
Newsline, #1115, 25 December 1998
As we end 1998 and begin 1999, maybe its time to pause and reflect on what ham radio really means to each of us on a personal level. Everyone becomes a ham for a different reason.
And as individuals, we each seek something different from it. But as Charlie Cotterman, KA8OQF says, its not what a person gets out of Amateur Radio that is as important as what he or she puts back in.
Our hobby has value of more than one kind. There is the monetary value, of course, equipment, spectrum sale. But there is what each of us think the hobby is worth to us personally. There is no dollar value that can be placed on personal satisfaction.
What Amateur Radio means to each of us deep inside has much to do with what we have invested in ourselves. Someone who stands idly by on the sidelines can shrug their shoulders when things get tough, because what is happening doesn't mean that much to them.
The ones in the trenches who sweat blood to bring a project to completion feel much more deeply, because of the personal commitment.
When someone talks about what this hobby is worth just remember, it is only worth what you put in it.
For Amateur News Weekly, this is Charlie Cotterman, KA8OQF.
Some words if wisdom that we all might want to take to heart. »
Feb 6..........................Mine Creek ARC, Mound City, KS
March 5-7.........Nebraska State Convention, Norfolk, NE
March 13..........Ararat Shrine Hamfest, Kansas City, MO
April 17.....................................Joplin ARC, Joplin, MO
April 23.......................Des Moines ARC, Des Moines, IA
Minutes of November 11, 1998 Meeting.
After the members introduced themselves, the minutes of the September and October meetings were approved as appearing in the November newsletter. The President, Truman Waugh N0APJ, then reported on various upcoming activities including the voice sweepstakes on November 21-23 and straight key night December 31/January 1. There was also a special bulletin from ARRL concerning the hurricane in Honduras asking avoidance of 14.365 MHz.
The Vice-President and the Secretary had nothing to report. The Treasurer, Bill Pendleton N0KRI, reported $201.13 in the General Fund and $239.40 in the Repeater Fund for a total of $440.53. He also reported bills of $34.59 for the November newsletter and $6.83 for Nowhere Certificates. The Treasurers report was accepted by unanimous vote.
The Emergency Coordinator, Will Shockley KB0WDW, had nothing to report other than the Honduran situation. There was no report on Activities, Training or Information. The Newsletter Editor, Ken Blair KC0GL, reported that the next newsletter would be in January. Both the 146.76 Repeater and the 147.03 Repeater were reported to be working well. The manager's reports were accepted unanimously.
There was good news under old business. Vincent Francisco KC0DLP had expressed his willingness to be our President for 1999. This offer was accepted with enthusiasm and he was elected unanimously.
Under new business Dan Gravatt N2PRC reported on an article in the November issue of Scientific American on floating transmitters to chart ocean currents. The U.S. Geological Survey is sponsoring this program. The Lawrence Cablevision problem was also discussed in some detail since their franchise had been up for renewal and the President had written a letter to the City Council concerning the situation.
The Treasurer was authorized to pay the bills mentioned above in his report.
The meeting in December will be the annual Christmas Dinner to be held at FiFi's in North Lawrence--$14.95 plus cash bar.
----Respectfully submitted by Earl Schweppe N0KYS, Secretary
Minutes of December 9, 1998 Meeting.
Following the annual Christmas Dinner at FiFi's in north Lawrence, the President, Truman Waugh N0APJ , conducted a brief business meeting. The old officers were thanked for their service and the new officers were introduced. There were no minutes available for approval. The Treasurer, Bill Pendleton N0KRI, reported that there was a total of $384.94 on hand. His report was received unanimously.
The Emergency Coordinator, Will Shockley KB0WDW, warned everyone to watch for deer. The Training Manager, Bob Drake N0TFU, announced that the Spring License Class would begin in February. Both the 146.76 Repeater and the 147.03 Repeater were reported to be working well.
There were no other reports to be given. The manager's reports were accepted unanimously.
The President then read a current legalize-based revision of A Christmas Carol.
----Respectfully submitted by Earl Schweppe, N0KYS, Secretary
Minutes of January 13, 1999 Meeting.
After the members introduced themselves, the Club watched the second half of the video by Frank Rutter about antennas. Since the President was out-of-town on business, the Vice-President, Jerry Vogel WA0OWH, called the business meeting to order at 8:40. The Secretary, Earl Schweppe N0KYS, had passed out copies of the minutes of the November meeting. They were approved without change.
The Vice-President read a report from the President that had appeared in the newsletter. The Vice-President and the Secretary had nothing to report. The Treasurer, Bill Pendleton N0KRI, reported $398.28 in the General Fund and $268.40 in the Repeater Fund for a total of $666.68.
The Emergency Coordinator, Will Shockley KB0WDW, had nothing to report. In the absence of the Program Manager, Jim Canaday N6YR, Bob Drake N0TFU reported that Jim was working on one of two technical presentations for the February meeting. Watch the newsletter for the outcome. The Newsletter Editor, Ken Blair KCOGL, reported that the textual content of the newsletter would now be posted on the Club Web Site.
The Training Manager, Bob Drake N0TFU, reported that the Spring License class would begin on February 15 at 6:30 in Meeting Room B and run for ten weeks. Although the 147.03 Repeater was reported to be working well, the 146.76 Repeater has problems. The controller is obsolete and nonfunctional so the receiver and transmitter have been directly coupled to bypass the controller. The purchase of a new controller was discussed and a study of replacements will be made for next meeting.
There was no report by the Activities Managers. All the manager's reports and the Treasurer's Report were accepted unanimously.
Under new business, there was a discussion of the new Web Site and E-mail reflector that has been set up by the President, Vincent Francisco KC0DLP. Details on the site are to be found in the January newsletter. The President had also suggested that the Club acquire two or more banners to use at Club events. It was agreed that this would be useful subject to cost.
The upcoming hamfests that are listed in the January newsletter were announced and discussed. The availability of the SAME storm warning radios only at Radio Shack was mentioned.
----Respectfully submitted by Earl Schweppe, N0KYS, Secretary
ARRL Letter, Vol. 18, No. 3, 18 January 1999
ARRL members soon will be able to announce their ARRL membership through their e-mail addresses! Starting February 1, 1999, a new membership service will be available for those wishing to have an ARRL e-mail address, and you won't have to switch e-mail services to do it. Not only that, but it will be free-of-charge to League members!
The new, personalized League e-mail addresses will consist of the member's call sign @arrl.net. Electronic mail sent to the address automatically will be forwarded to any e-mail account you choose.
As long as you remain an ARRL member, you'll never have to notify people of an address change--even if you change Internet service providers.
As soon as the service becomes available, members will be able to sign up quickly and easily through the ARRL Members Only Web Site. If you are not already registered for the Members Only Web Site, you can do so at: http://www.arrl.org/members/.
Have your ARRL membership number handy which appears on the mailing label of QST. »
Will this be your last issue of the Newsletter? According to the Bylaws, if dues are not paid by March 1, you will no longer be a current member, and the Newsletter will not be sent. This is necessary due to the printing and postage costs which have both recently increased.
Please support your Club and continue to receive the Newsletter by sending your dues to the Treasurer if you have not already done so. See the following for dues information.
Support your Club by paying your 1999 dues promptly. This will allow the planning of a budget and also assure you of continuing to receive the Club Newsletter.
Regular Membership $20
Family Membership $25
Senior Membership (65+) $15
Student Membership $15
Newsletter Only $10
Send dues to:
Bill Pendleton, N0KRI, Treasurer
1153 East 1300 Road
Lawrence, KS 66046 »
N0APJ Bud Waugh wawa@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
WB0AUQ Bob Rainbolt brainbol@lawrence.ks.us
NEW KC0BD JD Linn dorlin@idir.net
KC0DLL Jeff Langley jefflang@kanza.net
KC0DLN Mike Linhart mlinhart@sunflower.com
KC0DLP Vince Francisco kc0dlp@compuserve.com
WB0EVE Dale Heiserman dheiserman@aol.com
KC0GL Ken Blair kc0gl@aol.com
N0GRG Don Rixon tsgt.rixon@juno.com
W0GYS Richard Moore rmoore@lawrence.ks.us
KE0H Wes Unruh unruh@kuphsx.phsx.ukans.edu
KA0JMO John Halladay 7500541@mcimail.com
WB5L Jerry Shirar jshirar@aol.com
AA0MS Doug Heacock heacock@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
KB9ODS Mike Medintz medintz@idir.net
WA0OWH Jerry Vogel jmvogel@juno.com
N2PRC Daniel Gravatt dgravatt@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
KB0SEM Mike Sowter kb0sem4@juno.com
N0TFU Bob Drake bobd@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
N0TGN William Augustus augustus@idir.net
K0TLQ Ken Olson k0tlq@ukans.edu
KA0TTO Jim Rueschhoff jruesch@rueschhoff.com
KA0TXJ Klissa Rueschhoff kruesch@rueschhoff.com
N0ULD Ruth Hull hull@idir.net
W0VPL V. Parker Lessig plessig@school.wpo.ukans.edu
KB0WDW Will Shockley kb0wdw@juno.com
W0XI Phil Anderson panderson@kantronics.com
N6YR Jim Canaday n6yr@idir.net
KK0ZZ Gordon Fitch gfitch@bschool.wpo.ukans.edu
Send request to be added to this list to: Ken Blair <kc0gl@aol.com>
FOR SALE: Hewlett Packard computer printer, Model Deskjet 400. In perfect working condition with driver disk and power supply. $125.00. Dale Heiserman, WB0EVE, 842-4404, or dheiserman@aol.com »
When? 3rd Saturday of each month
Where? Johnson County Community College, ITC Building, Room 185.
NO pre-registration required. For more information call Jim Lee, N0KCB
913-685-2904 or Jim Hundley, KC0GKL, 913-491-6689
e-mail <jvhundley@juno.com>
Commercial Radio Tests also available.
----From Feedback, Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club, Inc, Bill Epperson, WB0CEF, Editor
Submit items for the March DCARC Newsletter to the Editor by FEBRUARY 25.