Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
Bulletin
It may or may not have started when Hiram Percy Maxim wanted to buy a vacuum tube, but could not raise the seller on the radio. He asked another ham to relay a message. It may or may not have been a good way to get around the high cost of long-distance telephone calls. However it may have started, it gave the American Radio Relay League its name, and evolved into a system of nation-wide traffic nets that was very active even into the 1980’s
and provided “basic training” for many an operator.
The National Traffic System still exists in today’s world of cell phones and text messaging, more or less for three reasons: 1) it may be useful
“when else fails”, 2) it can still provide solid
training for new hams, especially for those who expect
to accurately pass messages in emergency situations, and 3) because hams enjoy it. The NTS is the only amateur organization that trains for emergencies every day, day in and day out.In her April 26 talk, Kate Hutton K6HTN will explain how the NTS works, how it might operate in a disaster situation, how it has made its way into the modern era, and especially how you might want to
use it to train for disaster operations, hone basic operating skills (phone, CW, and digital) and knowledge of propagation, pitch your club to new hams, play trivia games, earn extra points on Field Day, make some new friends, and even send some charming, retro greetings to your friends and relatives.Kate Hutton was rather late to succumb to the call of amateur radio, but she is making up for lost time. She passed her Technician license exam in March 2009, her General in June 2009, and her Extra in 2010. She is the Section Traffic Manager of Los Angeles Section, net control on the Los Angeles Net LAN (FM voice) and the Southern California Net SCN (slow speed CW), and liaison to SCN/V (FM voice net covering Orange and San Diego Sections) and to the Sixth Region Net RN6, Cycle 4 (CW). She teaches a “traffic school” class in message handling to ARES members and other emergency communicators. She is also a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology’s Seismological Laboratory.“Learn, make friends and help prepare for disasters, all at the same time!”
Radio ClubThe Pasadena April 2011
Kate Hutton, K6HTNApril Speaker
April 26th Program:
Using Your National Traffic System
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
Please volunteer to fill one of the empty (or ?) slots, or to help one of the leaders.We especially need pop-up shelters and folding tables. Call N6LL if you can help.If you would share your electric skillet for a pancake breakfast, please call Paul Gordon, N6LL.
HF Station #1 40 SSB W6TAG HF Station #2 20-10 SSB KJ6NO HF Station #3 CW K6HTN HF Station #4 Digital KE6JI (PSK-31) (may be used on other modes, too) VHF Station ? (N1BN has volunteered a 2 meter FM station)Tower Crew headed by AC6VVYagi refurb project headed by WA6DZSSite Layout K6YZH100% Emergency Power AC6VV, KJ6NO, KJ6HWL, K6HTN, K6HJMMedia Publicity KJ6HWLPublic Location N1BNMessage to ARRL SM K6HTNMessage Handling K6HTNSatellite QSO ?Alternate Power K6HTN & KJ6HWL (solar)W1AW Bulletin ?Educational Activity WA6DZS & KE6JI (separate projects)Visit, government KJ6HWLVisit, served agencyGOTA none - beginners are welcome at all of our stationsWeb based score reporting KJ6NO/N6LLYouth Participation (<19) ?LunchDinnermidnight nibblesBreakfast pancakes?snacks
page 2
Pasadena Radio Club Field Day Plans
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
Over the years I have relied on a system to power my emergency and Field Day radios via simple cascaded power system.Counting on a generator to power a radio 120 volt power supply is asking for disappointment and potential problems due to unreliability and spikes.A really simple approach is to power your radio from a deep cycle 12 volt battery. That battery in turn is constantly charged by an old fashioned transformer battery charger (not a switcher – no RF noise). The battery charger is then powered by the Field Day or emergency generator.This system will keep the radio on the air continuously even while the generator is down for refueling or (should it happen) failure. It also protects the radio from any generator induced voltage spikes due to the enormous capacitor effect of the battery eliminating any spikes getting through.See the attached diagram.73,Allen – KC7O
This year the CQ WPX SSB contest with a unique affair with new gear and a new
location. Many of us helped to set up the station and on Sunday afternoon helped to take it down. Many thanks to Mike KF6FEM for hosting the contest at his QTH. I worked the 2 PM to 5 PM with Peter KA6RJF and while we made few contacts we gained personal experience from tweaking and adjusting the station and were finally able to find some DX signals. Many of the stations we called did not hear us but finally I had a blast making a QSO with 8P3A in Barbados. An island off the north coast of South America. A big thanks also goes to Tom W6TAG for putting together the team to make this contest work.73 Bruce
page 3
Sub-audibleTomes
Bruce Nolte, N1BN
Fun at the 2011 CQ WPX SSB Contest
Mike KF6FEM and Peter KA6RJF work station W6KA
Station 8P3A in Barbados
Field Day Radio PowerAllen Wolff, KC7O
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011page 4
Bill Fletcher, a relatively new member of our club, unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on March 19th. In the short time he was a member, he regularly participated in our meetings, field days and our DX contests. His wife Judy, my second cousin, often attended these events with him. Bill presented the November 2009 PRC meeting talk on “22,000 Miles on the Water with Ham Radio”. There is a nice write-up on him in the Bulletin that month. He was an active participant in national level Seniors Badminton, having won several medals in a recent tournament in Arizona. Bill was special to me because he was my first “Elmer”. Back in 1952 (before the days of published FCC questions) I had been having trouble passing my general class written exam, but Bill spent many hours with me going over the ARRL study guide until I passed it. I have always remembered that kindness fondly! Tom Berne, W6TAG
If you ask Google to define the noun “rig” you will eventually find the one appropriate to our hobby: “an amateur radio operator's transmitting and receiving set”. So the next several articles in this series will focus on how we will select the “rig” for our virtual HF shack. While researching this matter I discovered that I rather liked another, less specific”, definition of a “rig” This one covers oil drilling, fishing, horse carts, etc. It is: “the gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise”. I like it because it focuses us on the question of what is the particular enterprise our shack has in mind for its equipment.There are many kinds of HF rigs available. We can choose from basic configurations, power levels, features, performance, brands, purchasing sources, and of course price. But to know what we need we have to first discuss and decide on what we want to do in our virtual shack.Those of you who have followed the series know that some of these decisions have already been made and others can be made now. For cost reasons we already decided we would be using a 100 watt output transceiver. This does not limit us much as the vast majority of the rigs available are in this range. Also, because of the target users group (Technicians using their largely CW privileges and new Generals getting started using the HF bands) we can decide on some things we probably do not want. We should get only those features only those features which are necessary to work worldwide DX when there is good propagation and compete effectively in modestly competitive contests. Also we should avoid particularly expensive or technically difficult features which are not essential to that mission. To some degree this work is already done for us as the manufactures of amateur radio equipment. They sell ham transceivers the way car companies sell cars. They “package” them by increasing complexity and therefore cost. I will lump them into the following general categories: QRP, mobile/portable, table top basic, and table top “serious”. Of course there are some rigs that are in the grey zone between these arbitrary categories. However my ratings will become clearer as we get into specifics. For instance “QRP
Bill Fletcher, AA1OU, SK
Bill Fletcher, AA1OU, receiving an appreciation Plaque from President Tom Berne, W6TAG, following his November 2009 presentation, “22,000 Miles on the Water with Ham Radio”
Crown City HFTom Berne, W6TAG
Choosing Our Rig, #1
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
rigs” are low power (generally >5 watts). Do we want one? Well it is amazing what they can work when the propagation is good, you have the right supporting equipment and you have a skilled operator or a bit of luck. Usually they are popular with hams who have first gained operating skills with more power and then move to lower power as a “challenge”. But for now our station we can do without too many challenges.Mobile/portable radios are usually “basic” in regard to removable heads internal batteries, small size and weigh. However they mostly offer the same features (filtering, digital options, etc.) and quality as the “basic” transceivers do. However, with removable (remote)heads (the dial and controls) these radios are a bit more pricy at around $800-900, and with VHF/UHF add $100-200. We will skip the “table top basic” rigs and come back to focus on them in next month’s article. The table top “serious radios” add features like more digital filtering, built in electronic keying, automatic antenna tuning, much higher frequency stability, VHF/UHF, multiple antenna ports, bigger memories, 200 watt options, voice recorders, spectrum scopes, and even more complex multi-colored panels. These babies range from a little over $1000 to the mid $6000s. Not that they are not worth it to some hams (avid contesters, award chasers, etc.)!However, following the “economical but very functional” policy for our station (see below) we will be going for a rig from the “table top basic” group in some depth next.
*Since Crown City HF #12 (3/09) we have been putting together a “virtual HF shack” designed to be economical but very functional. These discussions are aimed at Technician Class hams who are working for their General Class licenses and Technicians and new Generals who are getting started using the HF bands. The intent is to present only that technical material needed to understand why various equipment choices are made.
April 12, 2011Those present were:Mark Seigel W6MES, Chris Galante K6YZH, Paul Gordon N6LL, Alan Denny KI6ZYW, John Minger AC6VV, Fred Lopez N6PBJ, Jutti Marsh KJ6HWLWhat needs to be done to the Club’s antenna?
Coils need work. Insulators need replacing. Check traps. Check for resonance by setting it up on one section of the tower.Motion to spend the money it takes to refurb the ant and bring it up to spec for field day: Approx $60 – $100. Motion seconded and passedReimburse Phil for his expenses so far on the antennaFunding for stainless steel hardwareCoax: will check it to see if it needs replacing. Paul will check on price.Chair for antenna project: Phil – Paul will assist with this.Get a plaque for Mike – Bruce via Fred$20 for transport driver –motion, seconded, passedPaint tower – part of maintenance fundThank You for Mike – motion spend $40 for book, seconded, passedField Day:More shade canopies neededSomeone to take charge of foodNeed more operators – make an operator signup sheet similar to contest signup sheetTeams: experienced operators with newer hamsBanners and signs – can get banners through print shop ARRL Convention is September 9, 10, 11Need to promote:Get bios and statements from speakersCQ WW DX Content – OctoberStart looking for a spot for October contest station (start thinking about locations – action tabled for July)Speakers - FredApril: Kate HuttonMay: Clint Bradford possible speaker to talk on working the satellites Possible speakers if Clint isn’t available: Public Service: Group of speakers give short presentations on opportunities to use Amateur Radio for public service for events and emergencies.A preliminary discussion also took place about how the club should deal with visitors or club members who become disruptive at club activities, especially if on private property such as the Kaiser facility.
page 5
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011page 6
The Pasadena Radio Club has been asked to assist with communications for the 3rd Annual Pasadena Marathon. The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 15th, 2011.This is an important opportunity for the Club to raise public awareness of who we are and the importance of ham radio to the community by supporting this Pasadena community event. In addition, it is an excellent opportunity for us to practice using our radio equipment and radio skills in a realistic emergency communications environment.We will be providing communications personnel for numerous water stations, medical facilities, several entertainment centers and our own Net Control. The communications plan for this year has been improved from last year and, as a result, our value to the event will be increased.
Most of the assignments will require the use of an HT radio on the 2m and/or 440 bands. A mobile radio on these bands will be used for a few of the assignments. We will conduct one "tune up" run-through(s) prior to the event so that volunteers can brush up on our communication procedure skills, to program the event frequencies into our radios and to review the equipment that you will to take with you on the day of the event. An announcement will be made at the Pasadena Radio Club meeting on Tuesday, April 26.I would greatly appreciate it if you would contact me as soon possible as to your interest and availability to participate. Contact me, Peter, KA6RJF, at 626-797-9125 or <Peter dot Fogg at sbcglobal.net>. Our effort was certainly appreciated last year and I hope that last year's volunteers can join us again this year.P.S.: Spread the word to your Ham friends
President W6MES Mark Seigel w6mes at arrl dot net
Vice President N6PBJ Fred Lopez fred at x2y1 dot com Secretary KJ6HWL Jutti Marsh kj6hwl at arrl dot net Treasurer K7RWP Richard Parker rwp42 at me dot com Members At Large Chris Galante K6YZH Alan Denney KI6ZYW Danny Schurr W6XXB
Past Officers Fred Lopez N6PBJ Phil Barnes-Roberts WA6DZS Mary Bothwell AG6MB Tom Mikkelsen WA0POD Education Chair W6MES Mark Seigel w6mes at arrl dot net 818-430-5244
VE Team Liaison AB6LR Merrie Suydam ab6lr at arrl dot net 626-969-4409
Club Net KF6FEM Mike Dinko 626-797-8082 Bulletin Editor AC6VV John Minger ac6vv at arrl dot net 323-397-3990
Late Breaking News:Pasadena Marathon
K6PZG and K6HTN - CQ WPX SSB Contest
WA6DZS - Contesting
Made on a Mac
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
The Pasadena Radio Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Kaiser Permanente Walnut Center, located at 393 East Walnut Street, at the corner of Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena. Everyone is welcome to attend. Parking is validated. Enter the parking structure at the southern Los Robles Avenue entrance. Please sign in at the front desk and security will direct you to the meeting room.Membership in the Pasadena Radio Club is open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio. Dues are $20 per year, $10 for students. Request a membership application at the club’s mailing address, or the club website, www.qsl.net/w6ka, or at a monthly meeting.The Pasadena Radio Club, W6KA, conducts a weekly net every Tuesday night, except on meeting nights, at 7:00 p.m. The frequency is 145.180 MHz (-) PL 156.7. All licensed amateurs are invited to participate. The club has a packet station on 145.630 and on 223.600 (cross-band capable) with a PBBS of W6KA-10 and a node name of MIRDOR. There is also a Yahoo Group for club members at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PRC-Club/. All members are invited to join as this allows for rapid dissemination of information to members via e-mail. Click on “Join This Group”. Members are able to update their own e-mails via the Yahoo website.The Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:15 PM at the Kaiser Permanente location. Meetings are open to all members.Bulletin Submissions: please submit any articles, photos, or ideas for future articles via e-mail to <AC6VV at arrl dot net>, please include “PRC” in the Subject line. Other modes of submission may be arranged in advance on an individual basis. Submissions are due by the Friday after the board meeting.Permission is hereby granted to use articles in this issue as long as “Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin” is credited.Submit address or e-mail changes to the Treasurer.
Better Banking for Southern California123 S Marengo Ave., Pasadena
http://www.wescom.org/
page 7
Thank You
for your support of The Pasadena Radio Club, and amateur radio hospital
emergency communications
Download the Bulletin:http://www.qsl.net/w6ka/
Pamela Royce W6PNWwill Host April 26thRefreshments
www.cmprintmail.com
ICOM 718 Transceiver - $479.00 HF transceiver – excellent condition, minimal use. ICOM 751 HF Transceiver with built-in power supply $459.00 – at home or in the field this is a versatile and rugged unit. Both radios with microphones. Compare Ebay. Contact Hal Frank, KF6RRR, <halreads at gmail dot com> All proceeds are for the benefit of The Boy Scouts of America.
The Pasadena Radio Club Bulletin - April 2011
P.O. Box 282, Altadena, CA 91003-0282
May 22 May 24 May 27May 25 May 26May 23 May 28
http://www.qsl.net/w6ka/
In This IssuePage 1 Speaker: K6HTN - Using Your NTSPage 2 Field Day PlansPage 3 F D Power, Sub-Audible TomesPage 4 AA1OU SK, Crown City HFPage 5 Meeting MinutesPage 6 Pasadena Marathon, Board RosterPage 7 Ads, Club InformationPage 8 Club Calendar
page 8
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
PRC Net 7:00 pmPRC BOARD 7:15 pm
PRC Net 7:00 pm145.180 - PL 156.7
PRC Net 7:00 pm145.180 - PL 156.7
This Month: Using Your National Traffic System
Kate Hutton, K6HTN
PRC Club Meeting7:00 PM TRW Swap Meet
Chino Swap Meet
TRW Swap MeetPRC Club Meeting7:00 PM
May 1 May 3 May 6May 4 May 5May 2 May 7
NE ARES Meeting
May 8 May 10 May 13May 11 May 12May 9 May 14
May 15 May 17 May 20May 18 May 19May 16 May 21
Apr 24 Apr 26 Apr 29Apr 27 Apr 28Apr 25 Apr 30
Slow Speed CW Net
Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm
Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm
Slow Speed CW Net28130 KHz 8:00 pm
Slow Speed CW Net
AC100 Meeting
Pasadena Radio Club, W6KA
Easter
May 29 May 31 June 3June 1 June 2May 30 June 4
PRC Net 7:00 pm145.180 - PL 156.7
Dayton Hamvention
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day
CQWW WPX/CW
Slow Speed CW NetPasadena Marathon
Congratulations, Fred Lopez, on your yummy new callsign,
N6PBJ
