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August 2013
Vol. 38, # 8
WACOM President’s Message—2
WACOM General Information—3
WACOM Meeting Minutes - 4
Upcoming Events—5
WACOM DX Corner—6
New FIELD DAY Photos—7
Article: Make Your Own Loading Coils, K0FF —8-9
ARRL News—10-11
Technician Class Flyer—12
WACOM Hamfest Flyer - 13
W. Alexander Fair SES/Labor Day 5K Run—14
WACOM Renewal Form - 15
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Make Your Own Loading Coil More Field Day Photos Technician Class
THE
WACOM
HAM
Washington Amateur Communications Inc.
2
WACOM President’s Message
August 2013
Mo·ti·va·tion
/ moti va SHen/ Noun
- The general desire or willingness of
someone to do something.
Ever feel short on Motivation ? As I have
been trying to get a "Pres Note" together, I
have lacked such motivation. What happened?
We all have our priorities, and sometimes
we have issues even getting those done. WE
have a meeting in three days, and WE have no
program, yet. We have a TECH Class in one
day, still have to get the graphics of different
modulation together, to 'easily' understandably
explain modulation..CW, AM, SSB , FM. And I
still need to cut the grass. Why did the previ-
ous owner decide to mow everything in sight ,
including the hills ??? UGH%^$^%$&%^.
OK now it is your turn... How do we mo-
tivate you to put a 2-meter radio in your vehicle
AND TURN IT ON ???? We actually seem to
have a lot of fun on the 79 repeater these days.
It is almost busy... as it starts out at 3:15
AM with our favorite pair, providing the fa-
mous concrete & mail forum. Followed by the
uber technology crowd at 7-8:30 start time.
While they solve absolutely nothing, they dis-
cover technical nuances affecting us every day.
We all learn something. Then about 9AM... sev-
eral of the 'lurkers' join the computer nut
working the machine ( repeater ) for the bal-
ance of the day. Frequent visitors passing up
from Waynesburg or across from Wheeling
are greeted with a return response, rather that
the previous deadly silence. So also are truckers
and regular travelers greeted to Washington
County Radio. Then there are all those evening
nets, from data , ELMERS, public service
ARES, and the MOST important ...the YL
net. After the sun sets ands nets, the HF guys
get in from the fields 9-10-11 PM, and plot their
assault upon the HF bands working QRP and
or DX. Whatever floats YOUR boat. You
could and should join the fun!
Our relatively new set of 'ears' on Scen-
ery Hill really have enhanced the system cover-
age through and beyond the Mon Valley. Plans
are swiftly moving ahead to provide another
linked repeater in NW Wash Co. by the PIT air-
port. With our current decent coverage into
downtown, A NW site will really tighten up the
WACOM / 79 coverage.
TOP SECRET BULLETIN : RUMORS
OF ANOTHER SITE: I-70 / US-40 within
miles of the WVA border. Finally West coverage
past Cabela's !!!!!! Motivate over and plug in
that 2 meter radio now....
OMs , DON'T EVER FORGET " Happy
Wife, Happy Life"
73, Bill NY9H , OM to N9SOJ
Bill—NY9H
3
WACOM OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
STAFF, REPEATERS, AND NETS!
Membership
- WACOM membership is open to anyone
- Annual Dues:
$20 for individuals
$10 for each additional family member
(send check & completed form to club treasurer)
- Questions? Contact the WACOM club treasurer.
Membership Meeting
- 7:30PM, First Thursday of every month
Board of Directors Meeting
- 7PM, Last Thursday of every month
Mailing Address
WACOM
c/o Norma Plants N3YJJ
236 Chambers Ridge Road
West Alexander, Pa 15376-2270
General Club Correspondence; [email protected]
Club Officers
President: Bill Steffey, NY9H; [email protected]
Vice President: Don Smith, KB3YLR; [email protected]
Secretary: John Quigg, N3GHR; [email protected]
Treasurer: Norma Plants, N3YJJ; [email protected]
Board of Directors
Director: Jim Burtoft, KC3HW; [email protected]
Director: Adam Quigg, KB3OMH; [email protected]
Director: Bud Plants, N3TIR; [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Ken Frankenbery, AA3GM; [email protected]
Webmaster
Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [email protected]
VE Liaison
Bob Kinnear, KI4DHB; [email protected]
Repeaters
W3CYO - 145.490 Mhz, 443.300 Mhz
K3PSP - 146.790-147.270 Mhz
EchoLink - WA3COM-R
Digital Net
- Mondays at 8PM on K3PSP Repeater
- Rich, KB3VGW Net Control
2 Meter Public Service Net
- Tuesdays at 8:30PM on K3PSP Repeater
- Dave, N3IDH Net Control
10 Meter Net
- Tuesdays at 9PM on 28.34 Mhz
- Fay, KA3VOM Net Control
YL Net
- Wednesdays at 7:30PM on K3PSP Repeater
- Karen, K3PUP Net Control
Elmer Net
- Wednesdays at 8PM on K3PSP Repeater
- Bud N3TIR, Net Control
Club Elmers
DX Contest - Bill Sheehan, KB3LIX; [email protected]
QSL & DX - Bill Steffey, NY9H; [email protected]
ARES & RACES - Bob Ketzell, KB3IN; [email protected]
CW - Loren McCullough, WA3WZR; [email protected]
VHF - Craig Yoho, KB3RHR; [email protected]
Repeaters - Paul Plants, N3WMV; [email protected]
Websites - Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [email protected]
Elmer Net - Bud Plants, N3TIR; [email protected]
Washington Amateur Communications is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing the principles of Amateur Radio
while making it fun for all who participate. We have been affiliated with the ARRL for over 25 years. Our club call sign is
WA3COM. Because of our activity in promoting Amateur Radio, including conducting classes, public demonstrations, emergency
preparedness and training, studying technical advancements in radio and mentoring of new and soon-to-be hams, WACOM has
earned the designation of Special Service Club from the ARRL.
4
WACOM General Meeting Minutes
11 July 2013, 7:30 PM
Next WACOM meeting 1 August 2013, 7:30 PM!
Subject: What’s the Plan? A Discussion on Future Meeting Subjects and Club Events
Present: Bill S (NY9H), Bud (N3TIR), Norma (N3YJJ), Sam M (W3CYO), Dave D (N3IDH), Paul(W3PLP), Frank (KB3AAG), Jim B (KC3HW), Kevin (KN4AA), Sally (KK4YL), Adam(N3ZS), Patty (N3XAR), Joe (N3XE), Don (KB3YLR), Karen (K3PUP), Ken (AA3GM), Fay(KA3VOM), John (N3GHR), Bob K (KB3IN), Sam G (KB3ZNZ), Robert (KB3ZUS), Tom (KC3AAF) Bill called the meeting to order at 19:35 PM Reports
Minutes – Adam moved to approve minutes as appeared in the newsletter, Rich seconded, motion accepted
Treasurer – Norma gave treasurer’s report; Kevin moved to accept treasurer’s report, Dave seconded, mo-
tion carried
Old Business
Public Service net – Sky Warn was on repeater Wed; whenever there is a weather watch, net will be turned
on – please check in if joining net; question was asked about how to know when the weather net is activated
– can National Weather Service sent out alert to Google group? Only way now is to turn on net when bad
weather in neighborhood
ARES & RACES – Bob K – revamping these programs in the county, needs help, would like meeting on
the subject next Thursday
Classes – starting this week, news releases sent out, will test day after last class; need to get more hams on
the air
Radio room – wiring still to do; painting and plumbing done; still some leakage problems to solve; docking
station will give serial port for ham equipment; floor is done; will be putting up antenna
Field Day report – Ken presented summary of Field Day activities; location worked well; fire department
liked the way we cleaned up and will give us the space free next year; tower worked well, should have 6 me-
ter antenna on its own rotor
Picnic – Kevin said picnic didn’t work well with field day, should have field day and picnic on separate days
in future
The group expressed thanks to Ken and the field day committee for a job well done
There being no further business, Sam moved to adjourn, Adam 2nd, meeting adjourned at 20:20
5
2013 WACOM Upcoming Events Calendar Meetings, Contests & Other Significant Club Events (Subject to Change)
____________________________________________________
1 Aug 13, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
3-4 Aug 13, ARRL UHF Contest, http://www.arrl.org
3-4 Aug 13, North American QSO Party—CW, http://www.njcweb.com
17-18 Aug 13, North American QSO Party—SSB, http://www.njcweb.com
25 Aug 13, Skyview RS Hamfest http://www.skyviewradio.net
31 Aug 13, Uniontown ARC Hamfest http://www.w3pie.org/gabfest.htm
2 Sep 13, Washington, PA Labor Day 5K Classic, (Need amateur radio support)
2-7 Sep 13, West Alexander Fair Special Event Station, West Alexander, PA
5 Sep 13, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
8 Sep 13 - Butler Co ARA Swapfest http://www.w3udx.org
14-16 Sep 13, ARRL September VHF Contest, http://www.arrl.org
28-29 Sep 13, CQ WW RTTY Contest, http://www.cqwwrtty.com
3 Oct 13, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
12-13 Oct 13, Pennsylvania QSO Party http://www.nittany-arc.net/PAQSO.html
26-27 Oct 13, CQ WW SSB Contest, http://www.cqwwssb.com
3 Nov 13 - WACOM Hamfest, Washington Co Fairgrounds, http://www.wacomarc.org
_______________________________________________________
6
WACOM HAM DX Corner—August 2013 COURTESY: http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html
2013 Aug01 2013 Aug 06 Dominica J79TW N0TW N0TW
20130726 By N0TW fm NA-101
(FK95ho)
2013 Aug 01 2013 Aug 08 Namibia V5 UT5UY OPDX
20130722
By UX0HX as V5/UX0HX, UZ1HZ and UT5UY likewise; 80-10m;
CW SSB; QSL OK via Buro or direct
2013 Aug 02 2013 Aug 10 Malta 9H3N JJ2NYT OPDX
20130708 By JJ2NYT; 40-10m; CW
SSB
2013 Aug 02 2013 Aug 09 Jersey GJ ON8ZL VA3RJ
20130411
By ON8ZZ ON8ZL ON5NQ as MJ/OT9Z fm La Moye (IN89ve); 160-
6m; SSB CW PSK RTTY; QSL OK via Buro or direct
2013 Aug 02 2013 Aug 20 Tanzania 5H3BB KF8UN Direct
VA3RJ 20130725
By KF8UN; mainly 20m, but 40-15m possible; SSB,
some CW
2013 Aug 03 2013 Aug 04 Reunion TO1PF FR1GZ OPDX
20130211
By FR team fm Piton de la Fournaise (AF-016, DIFO FR-001, WWFF FFF-011, WLOTA 1812) at 2,632 meters; HF; all modes
2013 Aug 03 2013 Aug 23 Hawaii KH6 F0GAZ F4GHS
20130608
By F4GHS as KH6/F4GHS fm OC-019; 80-10m; SSB; G5RV; holi-
day style operation
2013 Aug 04 2013 Aug 08 Greenland OX3LX OZ1PIF OZ1AXG 20130525
By OZ1DJJ fm Kangerlus-suaq (Aug 4-5) and Aasiaat
I (Aug 5-9); HF
2013 Aug 12 2013 Aug 21 Crete SV9 ON6DSL ON6DSL 20130616
By ON6DSL as SV9/ON6DSL/p fm EU-015; 40-15m; SSB; QRP; multiband dipole; holiday style operation; QSL via
Buro preferred
2013 Aug 16 2013 Aug 20 Greenland OX5YL PA5YL DXW.Net 20130211
By JR3MVF HL1KDW LA6RHA WA0WOF
SM6KAT fm Kangerlus-suaq; 160-6m
2013 Aug 21 2013 Aug 26 Malta 9H3 LotW KE1B
20130418
By KE1B as 9H3MMM and W6NN as 9H3NN fm Gozo I; 40-10m; all modes; 100w; Buddipoles; holiday
style operation
7
More WACOM Pictures from Field Day 22-23 June 2013!
Cranking up the tower—22 June 13 Bill, Kevin & Joe get ready to start
Crankin’ out the Q’s! Bill working the solar powered station
Full view of the tower & tent Ken, AA3GM talks to World War II
veteran Bob Jordan, NY3I
8
Fig 2 - Next Wrap the form (whatever size you need) in wax paper and temporarily tape the
plastic strips on there:
Subject: Make Your Own Loading Coils DE KØFF
OR: "If they look like DUX and walk like DUX and quack like DUX, maybe they
ARE DUX" (then again maybe not) By George W. Dowell—K0FF (Courtesy e-ham.net)
"Air Dux" inductors were once plentiful and inexpensive. Not so today. Even if they were, HAMs like to
make their own apparatus when possible. Here is one method that I have long used to make evenly
spaced, nice looking coils of all sizes.
Make your own loading coils for antenna projects using Caterpillar Grommet strips. Also called flexible
grommets, flexible bushings etc. These are used by installers to form protective bushings around the
edges of holes cut into sheet metal, and come in strips that are cut to desired length then snapped into the
hole to cover the raw edge. We used to use them when installing 2-way radios to line the holes we made
in the firewall to pass the heavy 12V wires. The evenly spaced notches make an ideal form and support
for AIR DUX knockoffs. Use Duco or Testors model cement to secure the wires in the strips before re-
moving from the temporary forms. Nylon Grommet strips can be purchased at McMasters, as well as
many other supply houses.
Fig 1 is the caterpillar grommet material as purchased from the supplier:
9
Fig. 4 - When the glue is dry, slip the assembly off the form and trim the strips to correct
length:
Fig 3 -Wind the coil using the notches as a guide. Seat the wire all the way down into the
notch and wrap the coil tightly. Spread plastic cement down the strips when the coil is
wound:
Fig 5 - Any size diameter or length can be wound, just use bigger forms and more strips:
10
ARRL NEWS Courtesy: www.arrl.org
Boy Scout Jamboree Hosts Space Station Ham Radio Contact
Low Band Operations Will be Focus for Mozambique DXpedition
07/24/2013 European Space Agency Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP, aboard the International Space Station spoke July 20 via ham radio with Scouts attending the 2013 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree, July 15-24, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia. The Amateur Radio on the Interna-tional Space Station (ARISS) program arranged the 2 meter contact between the Scouts’ K2BSA and NA1SS.
“What really matters is to be good at what you do,” Parmitano told
the Scouts, “so, pick something you like, love it and be really good
at it.” Parmitano also said that the stars look different — more
natural — from the ISS but appear the same size as on Earth.
Ditto for planets. ARISS Technical Mentor Bob Greenberg,
W2CYK, coordinated the contact with the Jamboree. Some 40,000
attendees were anticipated at the National Jamboree over its 10 day
run. Amateur radio has been a part of the Jamboree experience
since 1953, when K6BSA was on the air from Irvine Ranch in Cali-
fornia. An ARISS direct contact with Space Station Commander
Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, was a highlight of K2BSA’s activities
during the BSA’s centennial National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill,
Virginia, in 2010.
On July 22, students at Colegio Uruguá, in El Pinar, Uru-
guay, spoke with the ISS crew via LU8YY. An ARISS contact also
was scheduled this with students at the Scuola Italiana di Montevi-
deo in Uruguay. Visitors to the European Space Agency’s Space
Camp 2013 in Radstadt, Austria, spoke July 24 with the ISS crew
via a telebridge between IRØISS and VK4KHZ in South Australia.
The theme of this year’s camp is “Space Exploration.” Early next
month the ISS crew will speak with Scouts attending the 2013
Space Jam 7 at Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul,
Illinois. Some 2000 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and their leaders from
20 states are expected to be on hand for Space Jam 7. Also in early
August the ISS crew will speak via ham radio with students attend-
ing the 2013 AirVenture Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin. Some
500,000 visitors attend the air show each year.
The organization has a student membership of more than
20,000. On the day of the contact 125 young women and their
mentors involved in the aerospace industry in some way with the
EAA’s Women Soar program are expected, in addition to groups
from aviation high schools from Florida and California. The ISS
crew has been using a 5 W Ericsson hand-held transceiver for con-
tacts in recent months, because of problems with the higher-power
Kenwood radio on board. This can make terrestrial copy difficult,
and ARISS volunteers have had to beef up ground-station receiv-
ing capabilities to ensure a successful contact. ARISS has recorded
more than 800 ISS school contacts since the program began in late
2000. ARISS is an international educational outreach with partici-
pation from ARRL, NASA, ESA, the Russian Space Agency
(ROSCOSMOS), CNES, JAXA, CSA and AMSAT. — ARISS
07/24/2013 With less than 3 months to go until it’s on the air in October, the C82DX Mozambique DXpedition team is continuing its preparations. Heading up the DXpedition are Don Greenbaum, N1DG, and Tom Harrell, N4XP. “We now have secured the vehicles and trailers that will take us overland from Pretoria to Xai Xai (KG64), Mozambique,” the team reports. “Low Band operations remain the primary objective, and we have secured both Titanex and Battle Creek
Special verticals.” The C82DX team says its South African members, ZS6P and ZS6RI, have traveled to Xai Xai, Mo-zambique, to map the operating site — directly on the ocean in the southern part of Mozambique — and to make rental arrangements. In addition to the team license, team members have all received personalized C92 call signs. During the day, C82DX will operate all HF bands plus 6 meters. The DXpe-dition has posted an operating plan on its website. The group
07/21/2013 The dates for the next H4ØFN DXpedition to Temotu by Siegfried Hari, DK9FN, are set. The single-op DXpedition will take place from December 21, 2013, until January 10, 2014. Hari has his airline ticket, and the license, good until 2014, is in hand. Hari says he plans to stay a week longer than usual, since he’s unsure about making it back for another in 2014 (he operated as H4ØFN in 2010, 2011 and 2012), and there is some work to do on the island to support poor people and the hospital in Temotu. This visit will be to a different island that has a new airfield, Lom Lom (OC-065),
60 miles away from his previous location. The last three visits were to the main island, Nendo (OC-100). CW is his favorite mode, but he admonishes, “Keep your CW at a moderate speed.” He will try to do more SSB on this next visit. QSL H4ØFN via DK9FN, direct or bureau. DK9FN asks stations working H4ØFN to give him a “real and true” signal report, and he has posted additional advisories and caveats for those hoping to put H4ØFN in the log. — Thanks to The Daily DX
Temotu DXpedition Dates Set
11
Operations Approved for DXCC Credit
Hams Aid Crew of Foundering Vessel
07/29/2013—The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved these operations for DXCC credit: 4S7NZG — Sri Lanka (renewal), 2013 operation; XW4XR — Laos, cur-rent operation; Z8ØID — South Sudan, special Jul 9, 2013, operation for Independence Day celebration; 9M4SLL — Spratly Islands, 2012-2013 operations; 9Q6CC — Democratic People’s Republic of the Congo, 2010-2011 operation; XWØYJY — Laos, 2013 opera-tion; 9XØEME — Rwanda, 2013 operation; 6OØLA —
Somalia, 2013 operation, and T6JM — Afghanistan, 2012 operation. If a request for DXCC credit for any of these operations has been rejected in a prior application, con-tact ARRL Awards Branch Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, to be placed on the list for an update to your record. Please note the submission date and/or reference num-ber of your application in order to expedite the search for any rejected contacts. — ARRL Awards Branch Man-ager Bill Moore, NC1L
07/26/2013—According to news reports, hams in Ha-waii and California played a role July 23 in efforts to rescue the two-person crew of a sailboat stranded on a reef more than 3500 miles away in Micronesia. The US Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation. The vessel C’est la Vie, a 53-foot sailboat reported running aground on a reef in western Chuuk Lagoon. When the situation developed, Big Island Amateur Radio Club member Richard Darling, AH7G, was in contact with John Bush, KH6DLK/V63JB, and friends in the Fed-erated States of Micronesia. Bush won the 2012 ARRL International Humanitarian Award for promoting the development and welfare of the population of the Is-land of Federai in the Ulithi Atoll, FSM, in part through establishing communication infrastructure and promot-ing ham radio. On July 23 he was in Northern Califor-
nia testing a new antenna to help him keep in better touch with his contacts within the FSM. During the contact, Darling and his wife Barbara, NH7FY, heard the distress call, in which the crew reported the vessel was taking on water. The Darlings were able to hear the signal well and pass along important information about the sailboat’s location and the severity of the crew’s situation, which the Darlings relayed to the Coast Guard. The crew had told the Coast Guard they thought they could walk ashore on the reef and had a life raft and safety gear. On July 24, the Coast Guard said the vessel’s radio had gone silent, and Bush and the Darlings “were mostly playing a waiting game,” the Ha-waii Tribune-Herald reported July 25. The paper ran an article about Bush’s ARRL award in May.
ARRL News
Bill, NY9H teaches
the Summer 2013
Technician License
Class in the new
WACOM Clubhouse
and Training Center,
South Strabane Fire
Hall, Washington, PA
12
13
14
WACOM GOES TO THE FAIR SPECIAL EVENT 6TH YEAR
WEST ALEXANDER FAIR
September 2nd thru the 7th 6:pm to 10:00pm
You can post some pictures from other years
Talk in on the 79-machine
MUST SHOW CLUB ID FOR Admission . AT MAIN GATE.
METAL BUILDING NEXT TO FOOD COURT
73 BUD N3TIR
Info 724-350-6745
www.westalexfair.com
WASHINGTON, PA LABOR DAY 5K CLASSIC
Start: Monday, September 2, 2012 @ 9:00 AM
Starts from the Park at 9AM. Once again Hams will provide communications for this
event, so stations must be in place by 8:30AM to be available for communication be-
fore the event begins. This is a fun event and we can help provide communication for
the runner's safety. We need at least 6 stations so please sign up. The walk will be
over by 12PM. If you are new to this type of event, this is a good place to learn. If you
are new you will work with someone who is experienced. If you don't have a hand-
held radio, there are loaners available for you to use. No worries, no excuses. As you
come in to Washington that morning, check in on the 146.790 repeater for your as-
signment along the route. After the Walk is over, everyone will meet at the finish line.
We have been invited to stay for food & refreshments. The Labor Day Run and walk
benefits The Washington Christian Outreach. They provide food and clothing for low
income and underprivileged families. It is a completely volunteer organization with no
paid staff. Sign-up: Contact Dave DeMotte, [email protected]
Info: http://www.laborday5kclassic.com
15
Name: ___________________________________ Address:________________________________________
City: _________________________ State: ____ Zip:_________
Home Phone: ______________________________ Business Phone: ____________________________
Other Phone: E•Mail: _____________________________
Amateur Call: ________________________ License Class : _________________________
Spouse: _____________________________ Spouse Call: __________________________
Spouse License Class: ________________________
In case of emergency, for what bands do you have equipment?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
What are your favorite amateur activities?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
What activities would you like to see WACOM sponsor?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
ARRL Member? Y N
Please return completed form and dues to:
WACOM c/o Norma Plants 236 chambers Ridge Road, West Alexander PA 15376
E- mail [email protected]
Dues: Individual $20 per year, Additional Family Members $10 each
2013
MEMBER INFORMATION AND DUES RENEWAL FORM
