Volume 9, Issue 3/4 March/April 2001

Transcription

1 ARCA News Volume 9, Issue 3/4 March/April & ARCA MOVING FULL SPEED AHEAD! The February 8 th ARCA Meeting featured a full evening of discussion about club business. Bob Adams, W6BEG, reported a treasury balance of $1,578.83, along with a note that dues are past due! A club BBQ was slated for the first of April at John Skeete s... UPDATE: John is currently recovering from recent back surgery, so BBQ location will be changed. Stay tuned for more information!!! Gary, NT6E, reported that a site for the repeater is still being pursued; the Ham Radio PSA is currently running on KHSL-12 and KRCR-7 and a few calls requesting more information have been received; and finally, a request was made for articles for the ARCA News. Special Event Stations will be looked at when the weather warms up according to Mac, W6MAC. Bob Rice, K6KIQ, reported on his investigation into porta-potties for Field Day the range is $135 - $150 for a Friday-to-Monday timeframe, delivered. A reminder was issued that there is NO SMOKING allowed in the VFW Hall a comment came to us after the January when someone detected smoke from the restroom area. Guy Lemke, KD6MTU, inquired about whether or not we had thought any more about the domain name for the website, as well as the streaming audio (1 hour per week) which was offered to us. The audio item needs further discussion and members willing to participate anyone interested??? Richard, WO6P, gave us a rundown on the upcoming EM-COPM 2001, scheduled to be held March 31 st at Bishop Quinn High School from 8 AM to 5 PM. This year s event will include a full day of classes on a variety of emergency communications topics, along with demonstration vans from CDF, OES, Redding Communications, and the Red Cross. Cost of admission is $3.00. Check inside this newsletter for more information. Mac brought a DX Quiz for those interested in trying their DX knowledge skills -- Steve, K6KSS, took home the $5 bill by getting 6 right! Evening guest, Bill, KO6CU, took home $21 from the 50/50 drawing -- $21 also went into the club treasury! And, John Skeete, KR6AR, won a World Radio subscription certificate. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM! At ARCA s March Meeting, again on the 8 th of the month, Club President, Mac, W6MAC, was absent; Vice President, Jim Templeton, KE6POR, chaired the meeting for the evening. Treasurer Bob Adams, W6BEG, informed the group that our balance was $1, after this year s liability insurance was paid. $20 was also added as income from the recent SCARS Swap Meet at the Downtown Mall on March 3 rd. Susie Elsemore, W6SUE, has some bike race events coming up in May and can use some help. If you are interested, contact Susie. This year s MS Walk-A-Thon is slated for April 22 nd. Jim, KE6POR, will again coordinate for ARCA. Contact Jim if you are available. Guest program speaker for the evening, Jim McKeown, WA6IEO, gave an excellent explanation of the progression of repeater, beginning with it s inception in 1975 to the present day. Along the way, he included many of the intricacies that are involved in operating and maintaining the repeater. Jim also explained how Hams can follow the space program. An ex-nasa man himself, Jim follows it with great interest! As a result, he has dedicated some of his gear to allow the rest of us to follow the Space Station and Shuttle along with him. When the STS is actively communicating with ground stations, you can listen in to the uplink on MHz and the downlink on MHz. Jim only turns on the rig on those passes where we can hear them. You might find this interesting since the STS Mission Control is currently in Russia and most of the communications are in Russian, even though the crew is of mixed nationality. Later on this year, NASA will take over as Mission Control and communications will switch to English. You can also check the NASA website (spaceflight@nasa.gov) to find out all kinds of information about the STS and the Shuttle. The site has a map to allow you to follow the orbit of both vehicles, as well as current and future missions, crew status, mission status, and goals. In addition to Jim s link, you can also follow the NASA s Shuttle-Mission Control communications on MHz. Meeting notes courtesy of Paul, K6PTT, & Gary, NT6E

2 ARCA News -- Club Information Page CLUB OFFICERS: Mac McCulley, President W6MAC Jim Templeton, Vice President KE6POR Richard Cloyd, Secretary WO6P Bob Adams, Treasurer W6BEG Rick Rigsby, Arms KD5HHT 2001 BOARD MEMBERS: Gisela Graham WA6YRF Phil Graham W6SEH Bob Rice K6KIQ Paul Peterson K6PTT Al Simants N6BJ ARCA MONTHLY MEETING held 2 nd Thursday of each month at the VFW Hall, Anderson. Board 7:00 pm, General 7:30 pm. UPCOMING MEETINGS: April 12 th & May 10 th. ARCA NET is broadcast each Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm on Frequency. ARCA BREAKFAST meets 3 rd Saturday of each 8:00 a.m -- Perko s in Anderson -- April 21 st & May 19 th are upcoming dates. VE Testing is held 2 nd Saturday of every month, 8:30 am. ARCA will VFW Hall in Anderson on April 14 th. Don t forget to bring money for testing fee ($10), and a copy of your license if you are attempting to upgrade. THE LISTS... Art Arnold (KE6RBL) -- 4/7 Steve Lynch (KQ6CS) -- 4/9 Esther Pena (KG6AAU) -- 4/9 Del Ganeff (KF6IBX) -- 4/10 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... Gisela Graham (WA6YRF) -- 5/10 Carl Seguin (KJ6C) -- 5/22 Mac McCulley (W6MAC) -- 5/31 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO... Jim & Tresa Templeton (KE6POR) -- 4/2 Al & BJ Simants (N6BJ) -- 4/14 Gary & Aurora Fryer (NT6E & KF6FSF) -- 4/19 Brian & Debbie Waligorski (N6RZR & KE6VFQ) 5/21 Refreshments (Janet, KF6CCE): April May June July & August September October November December Susie, W6SUE Stephanie, W6STF Al, N6BJ POTLUCKS Bob Rice, K6KIQ Ernie, N6VLH Bob Adams, W6BEG CHRISTMAS PARTY Net Control (Susie, W6SUE): March April May June July August September October November December Bob, W6BEG Gary, NT6E John, KR6AR Al, N6BJ Del, KF6IBX Richard, WO6P Paul, K6PTT

3 ARCA News Page 3 EM-COMM 2001 March 31 st * 8 AM to 5 PM * Bishop Quinn High School Some of the EM-COMM 2001 Program Topics & Highlights: Opening Comments and Welcome ARES / RACES / ACS Update Incident Command System and SEMS Psychological Reactions of Victims and Workers in Disasters and other Emergencies Amateur Radio Communications and other EMCOMM options in Search and Rescue EM-COMM and the American Red Cross Public Information / Public Relations, and Working with the Media. Emergency Communications Antennas for VHF and HF PARKING LOT DISPLAYS AND FLY IN BY CHP HELO-14 BECOME A REGISTERED NWS WEATHER SPOTTER! (NWS Weather Spotter Class and SKYWARN (2 HOURS) FOR THOSE NOT ATTENDING THE NWS WX SPOTTER CLASS: Formal Traffic, RADIOGRAMS, and standard operating procedures Mutual Aid, Mutual Assistance, or... We Got it Covered! Working with clubs, associations, and repeater owners Emergency Power: Sources and Resources Drawing for DOOR PRIZES (must be present to win) UPCOMING EVENTS for 2001 EM-COMM 2001 March 31 st, 8 AM 5 Bishop Quinn MS Walk-A-Thon April 22 nd -- Contact Jim Templeton, KE6POR Shasta Wheelman Race May 5 th -- Shasta College Dee Cloyd, W6DEE Redding Rodeo Parade May 19 th -- Susie Elsemore, W6SUE Nat l Cycling Champ. May 26 th Susie Elsemore, W6SUE *Club Bar-B-Ques* MAY 20 th / First Part of September -- TBA Sea-Pac June 1, 2 & 3 -- Seaside, Oregon Field Day June Potlucks July & August -- Locations TBA

4 ARCA News Page 4 FCC Takes Action to Reduce QRM Washington D.C. The FCC today took what they described as an important new step to reduce QRM on amateur frequencies and set standards for voice speeds. The docket had been discussed earlier as NPRM (notice of proposed rule making) but will become an official part of the amateur regulations on June 30, Citing frequent complaints about long boring conversations on the ham bands, especially 75 and 160 meters, the commission moved to impose a new standard on voice operations, requiring all conversations to be at a speed of at least 200 spoken words per minute. The commission, in its ruling, was especially critical of what they called long winded, often endless conversations by old men talking about their prostate problems and other needs to get up and go to the bathroom several times during the night. FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH said that he has personally heard conversations about nothing that went on for hours and tied up frequencies that could be better utilized by faster talkers. The ARRL is expected to issue instructions to OO (Official Observer) stations, who are volunteer monitors for possible violations, to listen to suspect conversations and count the number of words spoken per minute. Those QSO s which fail to meet the minimum speed requirements will be noted and the operators involved will receive NAV (Notice of Apparent Violation) cards encouraging them to follow the rules or risk receiving FCC citations. David Sumner K1ZZ said that the ARRL is also concerned about two-meter conversations where little is discussed except full quieting. The League statement said that sort of thing is boring and is usually spoken very slowly as well, far below the 200 words per minute minimum. The League suggested conversations on how to raise more money for League activities would be especially welcomed and will be encouraged. Future issues of QST will contain special pull-out sections containing topics for discussion to brighten up QSO s, including: How the ARRL helped me to enjoy ham radio, why I owe my ham activities to the League, how can we help the League with its fund-raising activities, and is bad and destroying packet operations. Some hams in Southern states have complained that the new regulations impose a burden on them because they naturally talk more slowly than those up north and they are suggesting that frequencies be set aside for drawling and talking about hunting and fishing. The FCC says that it may consider that in future rule making. Thank You, Steve, K6KSS, for finding & submitting the article!!! HELP WANTED! Two local cycling events will be happening soon and communications help will be needed. MAY 5 TH -- The Shasta Wheelman s annual race from Shasta College. Approximately 8 people will be needed at various locations on the race route. Contact - Dee Cloyd, W6DEE, for more information and/or to sign up! MAY 26 TH -- National Cycling Championship Race starting on California Street, out to Igo & back. NEED: 4 people for 8 AM to 1:30 PM & 4 people for 1:30 to 6:30 PM. Contact - Sue Elsemore, W6SUE, for more information and to sign up if you can help. M.S. WALK-A-THON Sunday, April 22 nd Jim Templeton, KE6POR, will again be coordinating communications help for this year s MS Walk on the River Trail/Caldwell Park in Redding. Usual crew is about 8 helpers, and the timeframe is about 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM. If you are available and would like to help, please contact Jim.

5 ARCA News Page 5 IT S BAR-B-QUE TIME!!! The first BBQ of the year is set for Sunday, May 20 th, at the home of Del & Florence Ganeff in Cottonwood. Stay tuned for updates... details and map to follow. REDDING RODEO PARADE Saturday, May 19 th Hams are again needed for parade-route communications for the Annual Redding Rodeo Parade, which is set for Saturday, May 19 th. Usually, 8-10 people are needed at different spots along the parade route, which runs through downtown Redding, beginning at the north end of California Street, south then looping back north up Pine Street, and eventually ending up at the Rodeo Grounds. Helpers will be assigned to parade announcers at different spots, generally having to be in place by 9:00 AM. The parade is generally complete around 1:00 to 1:30 PM. If you are interested in participating, contact Sue Elsemore, W6SUE. So, You Call Yourself a Ham... For nearly a year-and-a-half now, Budd Drummond, W3FF. has been working people all over the world with nothing but a 12 amp/hr battery, his TS50, and a 10-meter wire strung up with collapsible fishing poles! Remember Budd s Pedestrian Mobile presentation at an ARCA meeting last year. At that meeting, he recollected his European trip and, in his own humorous way, demonstrated his wares. It seems he may have started a whole new craze in amateur radio! As with any sport or hobby, competition recordkeeping becomes part of the mix. It s no wonder that pedestrian mobile distance records were a natural. A couple of weeks ago during one of our club nets, Newsline reported a new distance record had been set. Fittingly, before the record was aired on Newsline, Budd had already broken it! Budd is an excellent example for all of us. He has had fun with radio for nearly 50 years, and he isn t about to quit!... Gary, NT6E WEB LINKS... Check These Out! ARRL Pacific Division ARRL Letter, published each ARCA s SCARS FIELD DAY 2001 JUNE Save the Date Now... more Info to Follow