VOX June 2012 VOX - HARC Home · 2012-06-09 · de N4BCD June 2012 VOX VOX Monthly Newsletter of...

de N4BCD

June 2012

VOX

VOX Monthly Newsletter of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club

I usually start thinking about this article a few days after you’ve read the last one. Don’t actually write it until the newsletter content for this issue is on the desktop and sets a sort of tone for the page. This might appear a little disjointed and it is. It is my last is-sue as club president (but not as publisher). With our move to a new QTH there are many projects demanding attention and I’ve decided to step aside. Running a club that meets every week is a challenge. Most clubs meet monthly. Never would I have imagined the personal growth I’ve experi-enced leading this fine organiza-tion. Public speaking gets a lot easier after one gets over the

outright panic of doing it the first dozen times. I feel like kicking Dave KN4OK and at the same time shake his hand for nominating me two years ago. Thanks Dave. In the meeting minutes you’ll find the recap of the last few meetings including nominees and election results. I want to congratulate and welcome Paul Paelian WB4UEE as your new President, and Tim Williams K4AEE as your new Vice-President. I’m sure they’ll both make excellent officers and successfully lead this club. And thank you too the other fine officers & directors continuing in their positions. This issue also chronicles a small part of the Dayton Hamvention, whetting your appetite for Huntsville’s own Hamfest in August. It would be difficult to fully capture the entire three day event in a dozen page newsletter so here in these pages are your publisher’s photo highlights. There are other photos at the ARRL website for further browsing. Don’t spend too long dreaming about those new radios yet—Field Day is right around the corner. Be sure to come out and enjoy this year’s event as K4BFT takes to this air starting with tower assembly, trailer hauling, generator hook-up, and more on Friday, June 22 at 1PM to dusk at the Marriott Space & Rocket Center. Then after final preparations on Saturday morning, the radios will come alive at 1PM for a 24hr marathon to get as many calls as possible in the log. Peggy K4EGB is organizing a great picnic around 5PM Saturday. 73, Mark Brown, N4BCD President

Inside this issue:

Meeting Minutes 2-4,6

License / Exam Info 5

Program / Project Mgr’s 5

ARES / RACES Meeting

minutes

6-7

Dayton Hamvention

Photos

8-9,

11, 13

Club Calendar 10

Letters to the Editor 12

Meeting Minutes by Tom Duncan KG4CUY

The Huntsville Amateur Radio Club

VOX

Summary of May 4 meeting by Mark N4BCD with 27 members present. The following announcements were made and discussed:

7O6T – who worked ‘em?

Weekend QSO parties by

• New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachu-setts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

• Indiana

• The 7th call area (Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Ne-vada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Utah)

Cotton Row Run – Monday, May 30, 7AM

The members bid good luck to those taking the Gen-eral exam tomorrow.

Peggy Bell K4EGB reported on the Field Day picnic preparations – bring a chair & covered dish and a $2 donation for grilled burgers & hot dogs.

There was no old or new business discussed.

Tonight’s program: Stan NX3P on Youth in Ham Ra-dio & Rolf K4RGG – “a few words about my distin-guished service award I received Tuesday at the Madi-son County Emergency Planning committee as well about Cotton Row Run.”

__________________________________________

Summary of May 11 meeting by Mark N4BCD with 25 members present. The following announcements were made and discussed.

Cotton Row Run – Monday, May 30, 7AM.

Peggy – FD Picnic

Weekend contests include:

• Nevada QSO Party, 1700Z, May 12 to 1700Z, May 13 (Noon Sat to Noon Sun)

• The Union of Radioamateurs of Russia has the honor to invite all radio amateurs from around the world to par-ticipate in the 56th annual CQ-M ("CQ-Mir", "Peace to the World") International DX Contest – in May, 2012. The primary goals of the CQ-M Contest are to unite peo-ple in peaceful coexistence, foster mutual understanding, and engage in sportsmanship and cooperation through amateur radio. CW & Phone, May 12 1200 UTC to May 13 1159 UTC. (7AM Sat to 7AM Sun)

Mike KD7OQC was named AEC – Training Coordinator at last night’s ARES/RACES meeting.

Old Business:

The membership voted to award a free shirt to the member submitting the winning design.

New Business:

Per the constitution, a nominating committee consisting of

Paul Paelian WB4UEE President [email protected]

Tim Williams K4AEE Vice President [email protected]

Tom Duncan KG4CUY Secretary [email protected]

Heath Thorson KC4HRX Treasurer [email protected]

Johnny Winter KR4F Officer at-large [email protected]

Jack Hemby W5WQQ Officer at-large [email protected]

Bill Bathgate KD8IGK Officer at-large [email protected]

Visitors welcome at all meetings.

Club callsign: K4BFT (http://www.qrz.com/db/K4BFT)

Website: www.harc.net

Mail reflector signup: follow the link below the HARC logo on the home page

Club Officers & Info

Meeting location: Red Cross Building, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville, AL 35801

Meeting time: Every Friday, 7:30 PM (except on major holidays)

Mailing address: HARC, PO Box 423, Huntsville, AL 35801

VOX

Gerald KJ4SVL &Woodie K8GNM was named for the upcoming election. An audit committee consisting of Bill KD8IGK & David KJ4OKJ was also named.

Tonight’s program: Hand’s On with N1MM Logger

___________________________________________

The May 18 meeting was conducted by Bill KD8IGK due to officers being absent due to Dayton Hamvention, work travel, etc. There were 20 members present.

The upcoming Cotton Row Run was discussed along with the need for communications support for a Multiple Sclero-sis bike ride in Limestone County on June 9.

The program this evening was news about the Alabama QSO Party by Tim Wininger KY5R, President of the Ala-bama Contest Group.

-------------------------------------------------------

The May 25th, 2012 meeting of HARC was called to order at 7:34 pm by President Mark Brown, N4BCD, with 27 in

Meeting Minutes (continued)

attendance.

Announcements:

Mark reported having run into over a dozen HARC members at Dayton, including: N4OKL, KR4F, N4HIX, AG4W, NX3P, KS3P, K8KI, KJ4RAQ, KJ4ZAL, KJ4IZU, KL0ET, KK5H, AI4QR, and N4BCD.

Kenwood showed their TS-990, Flex had the 6K, and Yaesu the FTDX3000.

The Cotton Row Run will be held Monday, 5/30. Rolf Goedhart, K4RGG will be handing the HARC volunteer effort for his last time. Volunteer please meet at the Clinton St. post office at 5:55 am before heading for your posts.

Note that male runners will have bibb numbers 1-2499 with black letters on white, and female will be 2500 and up, with red letters on white.

Tim Williams, K4AEE says he needs field day station managers for 80/20 and 40/15 phone.

Mark will be out of town next week, so Tom Duncan, KG4CUY will handle the meeting.

Old Business:

The nominating committee con-sisting of Gerald Moore, KJ4SVL and Woodie Ziegler, K8GNM re-ported the following slate of offi-cers for 2012/2013:

President Paul Paelian, WB4UEE

Vice President Tim Williams, K4AEE

Hamfest President Charlie Emerson N4OKL was in Dayton inviting

select vendors including Mastrant—a new Czech antenna hardware

supplier to attend Huntsville in August. (www.mastrant.com/en)

Secretary Tom Duncan, KG4CUY

Treasurer Heath Thorson, KC4HRX

Director Johnny Winter, KR4F

Director Jack Hemby, W5WQQ

Director Bill Bathgate, KD8IGK

Elections will be held next week, and which time nominations may be received from the floor.

There was no new business discussed.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm. While a program on a club shirt design had been planned, it was de-cided to postpone this until later.

__________________________________________

The June 1st HARC meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by secretary Tom Duncan, KG4CUY with 33 in attendance. One member was Charlie Tedder, W1CST, whom all were glad to see.

Announcements:

This is Alabama QSO Party weekend. The contest runs from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm CDT tomorrow, Saturday June 2nd.

It’s also Museum Ships weekend. Several of our members are now in Mobilie manning stations W6Z. Google “museum ships” and check out the web site for suggested frequencies, and get in the log.

Next week we will install our 2012/2013 HARC offi-cers based on the results of the election to be held tonight.

Old Business:

The Cotton Row Run was held last weekend. Rolf Goedhart, K4RGG was present to report on it. The club volunteer effort was a success, and so was Rolf’s 10k. We wish Rolf the best as he moves to

VOX


Florida.

Tim Williams, K4UEE reported on Field Day. In particu-lar, the station managers are

20/80 CW Johnny Winter

20/80 SSB John Lewis

40/15 CW Jim Spikes

40/15 SSB Chris Reed

The Multiple Sclerosis bike ride will be held next Satur-day, June 9th. Chris Reno, K6CAR is looking for volun-teers, from roughly 7:00 am to 3:00 pm at various loca-tions. Contact Chris at [email protected] if you’re able to help.

Peggy Bell, K4EGB made a plea for covered dishes and donations for the Field Day picnic.

New Business:

Election of officers. Woody Ziegler, K8GNM officiated for the election. The slate announced last week by the nominating committee was:








A nomination for Jim Spikes, N4KH as president was re-ceived from Tom, KG4CUY, and a nomination for Warren Alford, KJ4RAQ as a director was received from John Lewis, WB4PRC.

License & Exam Info by Rick Earl AA4II

Madison County Emergency Coordinator

Rolf Goedhart,, K4RGG

Field Day Chairman

Tim Williams, K4AEE

Public Information Officer

Warren Alford, KJ4RAQ

Fundraising Coordinator

Tim Williams, K4AEE

K4BFT Club Station Trustee

Tom Duncan, KG4CUY

Picnic/Food Coordinator

Peggy Bell, K4EGB

Training/Education Coordinator

Jack Hemby, W5WQQ

VOX Publisher

Mark Brown, N4BCD

Website Designer

Jason Henriksen, KE4ROR

Program and

Project Managers Area Weekly Nets Northeast Alabama 6m Net (ragchewing)

Weeknights 9:00 pm 50.150

MTEARS

Monday 8:00 pm 443.625

Lincoln, TN County Emergency Training

Monday 6:30 pm 147.03

Madison County Emergency Training

Thursday 7:30 pm 146.94

Morgan County Training Net (new listing)

Tuesday 8:00 PM 147.000 (no PL)

Lauderdale County Emergency Training

146.68 pl 100

unknown

Lawrence County Emergency Training

145.27 pl 107.2

Thursday 7:45 pm

Limestone County Emergency Training


North AL/Southern Middle TN Training


VOX

If you’re interested in becoming a licensed amateur radio operator, study guides are available online or in

bookstores. You’re welcome to come to any Friday club meeting to ask questions. You don’t need to know

Morse Code to attain a license!

License exams are at 9AM the first Saturday of every month at the Red Cross Building,

1101 Washington St, Huntsville, AL 35802. The fee is $15 (cash) and you must bring some

form of picture ID.

73 Rick DE AA4II

Voting was by paper ballot, with 33 voting members submitting ballots. These were tabulated by Woody with the following result:








These officers will be installed at next week’s meeting.

An application for membership was received from Steve Duncheskie, KK4IBB. Steve is from Huntsville, and has been a ham for about a month. Members in attendance voted by acclamation to receive Steve into membership. Welcome, Steve!

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.


VOX

The May 10, 2012 meeting was conducted in the Hunts-

ville-Madison County EMA’s EOC.

The sign-in log indicated 24 in attendance, with this count

was carried to the weekly training net. The meeting

started with consumption of pizza, and a round of self-

introduction.

Rolf- K4RGG is leaving 1 June, this is his last meeting :

• Completed the Nashville Marathon (26.2 miles =

6hr:44min:01sec) !!

• Has a buyer for house, and has picked out one in Flor-

ida (we can all come visit)

• Received an award from Madison County Emergency

Planning Committee

• Acknowledged Ken Magnet's decades of service.

• Charlie is here tonite…..!.... and is looking good. Glad

to have him here.

• Official hand off to Tim - KK5H as the new Emergency

Coordinator.

Chuck - N4NM

• Says no VOAD update until the next meeting, next

month.

• Huntsville Hamfest will bid to host 2014 ARRL Centen-

nial.

Scott - K4SWW

• Says EOC renovation budget (including radio room)

• Will come after tornado siren update.

• They are still planning the upgrades for the 147.22

repeater system.

• Reminds us of the offer for portable repeater pros-

pect, but we need to act.

• Brief discussion of utilizing the HARC tower/trailer for

emergency deployment for such a portable repeater

if/when necessary

• CERT has graduated 638 volunteers. 36th class is in

progress, more in planning.

• Teaching new teachers in Madison City, so they can

offer CERT classes.

Chris - KF4MMF

• Commends Doug -N4CZ for his work on the W4HMC

Winlink system.

• Report from the Madison County Emergency Planning

Committee: major agenda to recognize service by re-

tiring members

ARES/RACES Meeting Minutes

- Alan Sieg WB5RMG

VOX

Mike - KF4BOG

• Arranged for ARRL to donate 3 License Manuals to the Public Library

Tim - KK5H

• Will not be here for his first official meeting, Doug - N4CZ will conduct June mtg.

• Tim & Rolf tapped KD7OQC as a new Asst EC. Focus on training.

Mike - KD7OQC

• Reviewed his training and organization effort at his church in Harvest.

• Took 16 folk to a ham-cram in Birmingham, 12 passed the test.

• They now have a well-connected support group, with emergency plans

• Developed a contact tree, to more easily check on the other families

• Looking forward to helping as an AEC.

Alan - WB5RMG

• Offered a quick training review, comparing the ARES and RACES programs.

ARES/RACES Meeting Minutes (continued)

Madison Co EC Tim Holland KK5H

checking out the Yaesu booth.

Yaesu’s new FTdx3000 down conversion Tranceiver

promises a banscope, USB interface, and RX

performance on par with their flagship FTdx5000 ,

albeit with only one receiver.

Dayton Hamvention Photos—by Mark N4BCD

VOX

Here’s Warren KJ4RAQ with ARRL

President Kay Craigie, N3KN. Bob Allison, WB1GCM. Product Review

Engineer on hand to answer technical questions

What really goes on in the ARRL Youth

Lounge—pump the kids full of sugary

snacks and let them attack the caretaker.

Like Yaesu & FlexRadio, Kenwood’s new TS-

990 was displayed under Plexiglass. The rear

panel was obscured by a mask, giving no hint

at I/O capabilities. (left:) Yes, that’s Eric

Schwartz of Elecraft in the Kenwood booth.

HARC Member

John N5DF asks the

question, “When

does a rubber duck

antenna become

rubber goose?”

VOX


Alpha amplifiers are referred to as pile-up

busters. In Dayton first looks at their new legal

limit autotuner was generating pile-ups. Shown

above: one of the utility screens

Roy Lewallen, author of the popular EZNEC

antenna modeling software. Roy had several

versions available for sales & consultations. HARC Member Marvin KL0ET enjoying the show.

Hamvention visitors needing assistance getting to or

from parking areas were shuttled on golf carts driven

by volunteers.

VOX

HARC Calender

27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun

CQ WW WPX

Contest, CW

Memorial Day &

Cotton Row Run Officer Elections

Alabama QSO

Party 11AM to

11PM

3-Jun 4-Jun 5-Jun 6-Jun 7-Jun 8-Jun 9-Jun

New Officer

Installation


DX Club Meeting ARES / RACES

Meeting 6PM


Field Day Setup Field Day


Field Day Auction Night

1-Jul 2-Jul 3-Jul 4-Jul 5-Jul 6-Jul 7-Jul


DX Club Meeting ARES / RACES

Meeting 6PM




HARC Member Steve AI4QR,

part of the Flex-6000 software

development team was in

Dayton to answer customer

questions.

Top & Bottom photos of what many are calling a game changer—FlexRadio’s Flex-6000. The Direct Digital

Conversion Tranceiver has 8 concurrent independent spectrum receivers.

Instead of monitoring a frequency, imagine monitoring 8 entire BANDS.

VOX

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 11:43 AM

FROM: [email protected]

TO: [email protected]

Hello! I have an unusual request. Many years ago (over 45 years) my family would come to Huntsville to visit my grandparents who

lived at Randalph and Mccurg. (spelling)

Anyway, during visits I befreinded a boy named Hornsby who lived up the road. He had walkie talkies!!! He knew of my interest in radio and brought me to a house not very far from my g-parents. Going downstairs he proceeded to finish a "short wave reciever', home brew of course, for me to take home with me. I recall it was simple, wood chassis with a sheet metal front. Had a main and bandspread dial and a toggle switch, on/ff. It was powered by a single 3A4 tube, 671/2 v and 3volt drycell. After getting back home to

Elgin, IL I saved my paper route money and got the needed batteries.

Hung a wire outside and hooked up headphones...but alas the rig didn't work. :( I thought it was a bad tube, searched months for one but nobody had one. Not having any technical skills at the time I couldn't trouble shoot. I think I had a schematic..can't quite remem-

ber.

Anyway, I don't remember what became of that radio. My request is : Does anyone in the club remember the guy or the radio? I think he was either a church or scout leader. (not hornsby). I never met the guy but he may have been a ham I might remember a tower at this house. I certainly would like to build another one and this time hear the sound from the headphones. I would even be prepared to

buy one of those rigs if someone has one.

Since those days I became an extra class op (love CW) and a repair tech for electronics. That little "first radio" has always been on the back of my

mind.

Thanks in advance and 73,

de WI9S Rick dit dit

——————————————————–————-

Sunday, May 20, 2012 7:47 PM

FROM: Stanley Cole III

TO: Mark Brown

Kaitlyn was one of 10 speakers at the 2012 Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum. Her presentation was titled; "Youth and YL's, No Lim-its". Kaitlyn's presentation demonstrated that youth in Amateur Radio can achieve things in Amateur Radio that would surprise many adults. Her presentation included areas where Amateur Radio can help with skills that have been proven to be weak topics for Ameri-can students, such as mathematics, science, and geography. She also showed that there are many opportunities for youth hams to take advantage of. This forum was the 25th that Carole Perry WB2MGP has arranged and has proven to be very popular at the Hamven-

tion. All of the youth presenters were given prizes from ICOM, MFJ, as well as a monetary award from the Radio Club of America.

73 Stan NX3P

VOX


Closing comments:

Dayton is a unique hamvention. While not the prettiest of venues it is still the biggest. The networking opportunities

are incredible and there’s nothing like putting your hands on the hardware from competing vendors all in one place.

At the DX Banquet I was seated by chance at a table with 3 other Americans, SM0T & SM0W (shown in the above

photo) another SM0, a VK, and a JL for some very lively dinner conversation.

It was noted by several that vendors did not bring as much inventory as in years past. Digging deeper for hard to find

items, 300 ohm ladderline for example, reveal that vendors are holding the line on their carrying costs. Back-order

was the refrain from many.

Radio organizations form around the world attend Dayton—shown above the Radio Societies of Great Britain,

Germany, Qatar, & Japan.

Seen in the Flea market but not for sale: home brew amplifier built with two 3CX5000’s !!! 14kw out.

VOX

Huntsville Hamfest

Aug 18 & 19, 2012

Huntsville Hamfest Activities/Details

Admission: is $7, under 12 free.

Hamfest Hours:

The hamfest will be open to the public Sat, 9:00–4:30 PM and Sun, 9:00–3:00 PM.

Grand prize drawing will be Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Move-in hours for dealers and flea market are Fri, 10:00 AM–9:00 PM and Sat, 7:00–9:00 AM.

DX Card Checking: Representatives will be available to field check your DX cards for DXCC credit.

Visit the NADXC booth for information.

Hospitality Suites: Huntsville Hamfest will host Hospitality Rooms at the Holiday Inn across the

street from the VBC on Friday and Saturday nights. Come by and talk to the great, the near great, and

those who just think they are great!

Contest Hospitality Suite: The SECC and ACG will host the "Sunny South Contest Hospitality Suite"

on Friday from 7 to 11PM at the Holiday Inn (Milltown Room), across the street from the VBC. Come on

by for Pileup Competitions (8-9 PM), prizes and demonstrations.

License Exams: Exams will begin at 10:00 sharp Saturday and Sunday in the curtained area outside

the South Hall. Bring your original license, copy of same, any CSCE's you want to present, some means of

personal identification and the $15 test fee.

Talk-in station: Our always welcoming and always helpful (they've never lost a visitor yet) talk-in

crew will be operating as K4BFT on the 146.94 repeater for complete talk-in information. Back-up

frequency is 147.30. No PL required during the hamfest weekend.

HAYLARC YL Breakfast: The Huntsville Area Young Ladies Amateur Radio Club (HAYLARC) invites

all YLs attending the Huntsville Hamfest to join them for a Dutch breakfast Sunday, 7:00 AM at Shoney's.

Parking: The parking garage across the street from the VBC will be open with a parking fee of $5. The

South Hall where the Hamfest is located has a 500 space ground level garage with a parking fee of $5.

Elevators carry you up to the hamfest.

For more Info, visit www.hamfest.org

VOX June 2012 VOX - HARC Home · 2012-06-09 · de N4BCD June 2012 VOX VOX Monthly Newsletter of...

Documents

Transcript of VOX June 2012 VOX - HARC Home · 2012-06-09 · de N4BCD June 2012 VOX VOX Monthly Newsletter of...