Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
September 2015
Vol. 40, #9
WACOM President’s Message—2
WACOM General Information—3
WACOM Meeting Non-Minutes - 4
Upcoming Events—5
WACOM DX Corner—6-7
W3S Special Event Station—8
ARRL—North Korea DX Talks –9
ARRL—Man Awarded 90 Years as a Ham! -10
ARRL—Name on Mars/AO-29 QSO—11
WACOM Hamfest Flyer—13
WACOM 2016 Renewal Form - 13
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Washington Amateur Communications Inc.
THE WACOM HAM
Bob—KB3IN Teaches the Technician Class
at the WACOM Clubhouse
90 Years as a Ham!
P. 10
W3S Special Event Station
P.8
View of the September meeting
P. 4.
WACOM President’s Message
September 2015 Bill—NY9H
2
AND THAT IS JUST WHAT JOE SAID !
Last night at the September WACOM meeting our guest speaker was Joe Shupienis W3BC,.
who was appointed by 'local' DX superstation owner and our ARRL WPA guy, Tim Duffy K3LR. Joe
has obviously taken his 'Affiliated Club Coordinator' position seriously, as he shared many great ideas
and concepts with our group.
He suggested ( in my words), many hams look to "get" something from their club, without
themselves "putting something in". He continued that those that get the most ...are those that give
the most! Involvement in the many club activities, special events, and public service efforts provide
the venue to get something out of their hobby/service/sport. Whether it's a Special Event Station
such as W3Meadowcroft, W3Rebellion or enhancements at the RadioRoom, working together pro-
vides growth in both friendships, technical skills as well as shared knowledge from the OMs.
As Joe pointed out , everyone in the club has unique qualities and background which enable a
different contribution to the club. As we grow the group, we need those contributions. While in many
ways, we feel like we do some things well, we know we can do better. So we do need your skills.
At last night's meeting we had three NEW hams, and two returning to the service hams. Great
to have the opportunity to work with both newbies as well as seasoned, but long time absent ama-
teurs! The returning hams and all of the new hams have already joined us on WACOM nets.
Again referring to last night, Joe reminded us that ALL of these weekly nets provide great
practice should and when something really bad happens. It builds our stable of knowledgeable opera-
tors capable of reacting immediately and providing communications.... yep ...when all else fails !
Pittsburgh International Airport held a "FULLSCALE EMERGENCY DRILL" on August
20th. At some point just before the exercise began, WACOM's Public Service Guru Bob Ketzell
KB3IN and WACOM technical Director Dennis Presky K3PSP 'ordered up" a WACOM response to
support the drill. The random call up support included over 20 participants and check-ins, VHF- HF
and data mobilization of Washington County's 911 Van. An adjacent county west across the stateline
with voice & data capability was in standby mode, to assist if needed. WACOM established and main-
tained voice and data communications directly to the airport's tarmac from 28 miles away, as well as
through the repeater system. All these support efforts were based in Washington County.
Again the nets have provided a training ground, so that when called upon for something real
we are much better prepared to serve.
We have a large upcoming opportunity, again a major exercise annual Nuclear Plant Incident.
Check in on the nets, and get ready to give and get.... it's even fun
C U ON THE RADIO
Bill ny9h
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 (1930 hrs), First Thursday of every month
Board of Directors Meeting
- 7PM (1900 hrs), 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: Karen Smith, K3PUP; [email protected]
Treasurer: Norma Plants, N3YJJ; [email protected]
Board of Directors
Director: Jim Burtoft, KC3HW; [email protected]
Director: Dennis Presky, K3PSP; [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
K3PSP - 146.790+ MHz, EchoLink node - WA3COM-R
147.285+ MHz (Scenery Hill, PA)
145.250 - MHz (West Alexander)
147.390+ MHz (Smith Township)
147.315+ MHz (Greene County)
W3CYO - 145.490 MHz, 224.4 MHz, 443.300 MH z
Digital Net
- Mondays at 8PM (2000 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater
- Rich, KC3AJM Net Control
2 Meter Public Service Net
- Tuesdays at 8:30PM (2030 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater
- Dave, N3IDH Net Control
10 Meter Net
- Tuesdays at 9PM (2100 hrs), on 28.340 MHz
- Bud, N3TIR Net Control
YL Net
- Wednesdays at 7:30PM (1930 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater
- Karen, K3PUP Net Control
Elmer Net
- Wednesdays at 8PM (2000 hrs), 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 - Dennis Presky, K3PSP; [email protected]
Websites - Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [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.
3
WACOM General Meeting Minutes
3 September 2015, 7:30 PM
Next WACOM meeting - 1 October 2015, 7:30 PM!
___________________________________________________________
The minutes for the September meeting were
not submitted to the editor before press-time.
However, here is a nice view of those who were present for the meeting!
4
2015 WACOM Upcoming Events Calendar Meetings, Contests & Other Significant Club Events (Subject to Change)
____________________________________________________
3 September 2015, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
5 September 2015, BCARA Swapfest 2015, http://www.w3udx.org/Hamfest.htm
12-14 September 2015, ARRL September VHF Contest, http://www.arrl.org
1 October 2015, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
11-13 Oct 15, Pennsylvania QSO Party, http:///www.nittany-arc.net/PAQSO.htlm
1 November 2015, WACOM Hamfest!, http://www.wacomarc.org
5 November 2015, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
7-9 November 2015—ARRL Sweepstakes-CW, http://www.arrl.org
21-23 November 2015—ARRL Sweepstakes-SSB, http://www.arrl.org
28-29 November 2015—CQ WW DX Contest-CW, http://www.cqww.com
3 December 2015, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building
4-6 Dec 15—ARRL 160-meter Contest, http://www.arrl.org
12-13 Dec 15—ARRL 10-meter Contest, http://www.arrl.org
5
WACOM HAM DX Corner—september 2015 COURTESY: http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html
6
2015 Sep04 2015 Sep28 Tanzania 5H3DX
LotW OPDX
20150803 By NK8O fm Zinga; 20-6m; 100w; QSL also OK via EA7FTR and eQSL; spare
2015 Sep05 2015 Oct01 French
Polynesia FO
DF1YP Buro
DF1YP 20150617
By DF1YP fm Moorea (OC-046, ARLHS FRP 004; WLOTA 0465,
2015 Sep11 2015 Sep25 Cape Verde D44
DL2MDU
DL2MDU 20150904
By DL2MDU as D44TUK and DL3HD as D44TUQ fm Boa Vista I (AF-086);
2015 Sep13 2015 Oct18 Tanzania 5H3MB
LotW DXNews 20150807
By IK2GZU; HF; QSL also OK via IK2GZU, Buro or direct, and eQSL
2015 Sep13 2015 Sep24 Ethiopia ET3AA
PA2P DXMB
20150916 By PA2P; spare time operation; QSL route for this operation only
2015 Sep13 2015 Oct15 Belize V31DL
LotW DXNews 20150922
By DL1AS; 160-6m; QSL also OK via DL1AS or eQSL
2015 Sep14 2015 Sep30 Grenada J3 DH5FS DXNews By DH5FS as J3/DH5FS fm Bathyway
2015 Sep15 2015 Sep29 Niue E6GG
LotW G3BJ
20150302
By G3BJ G3SVL G3TXF G3WGN G3WPH G4JKS G4TSH fm OC-040; HF; CW SSB RTTY; 4 stations (at least 3 24/7); QSL also OK via Club Log
2015 Sep18 2015 Sep30 Zimbabwe Z21MG
LotW
OPDX 20150525
By OK1FCJ OK1FPS OK6DJ; 160-10m; CW SSB + digital; QRV for CQWW DX RTTY; QSL also OK via OK6DJ, Buro or direct as well as Club
2015 Sep19 2015 Sep25 Cocos
Keeling VK9C
JA0JHQ
DXW.Net 20150630
By JA0JHQ as JA0JHQ/VK9C; 80-6m; CW SSB; QSL OK via Buro or direct
2015 Sep19 2015 Sep27 Haiti HH2AA
NR6M DXNews By Radio Club d'Haiti; HF
2015 Sep19 2015 Sep27 Svalbard JW SQ5BPF Buro DXW.Net By SQ5BPF as JW/SQ5BPF; HF; spare
2015 Sep19 2015 Sep28 Market Reef OJ0DX
DL3DXX DL3DXX 20150911
By DL3DXX DL5LYM SP5XVY US5WDX; exact begin and end dates
2015 Sep19 2015 Oct31 French Poly- TX7A
JA1GZV DXW.Net By JA1GZV fm Moorea I (OC-046); 40-
2015 Sep21 2015 Oct03 South Cook E51DLD
W6HB DXW.Net By W6HB fm Rarotonga I; 160-10m fm
2015 Sep22 2015 Sep29 Lord Howe I VK9LN
LotW DXW.Net 20150830
By NI1L; 40-10m; mainly CW; low pow-er; QSL also OK via NI1L, Buro or di-rect
2015 Sep22 2015 Oct04 American
Samoa KH8
LotW
DXNews 20150922
By WS5K as KH8/WS5K; HF; QSL also OK via M0URX
2015 Sep23 2015 Sep28 Fiji 3D2YA
LotW JA1NLX 20150409
By JA1NLX fm Yangeta I (OC-156); 40-10m; CW RTTY SSB; 100w; vertical and vertical dipole; QSL also OK via Club
WACOM HAM DX Corner—September 2015 COURTESY: http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html
7
2015 Sep23
2015 Sep28 Fiji 3D2YJ
JA8ECS DXW.Net 20150914
By JA8ECS fm Suva, Viti Levu I; HF; mainly SSB, some CW
2015 Sep24
2015 Sep28 Guam KH2
JR1EFG Direct
DXNews 20150824
By JR1EFG as KH2/KU0Q fm OC-026; 40-10m; CW SSB; QSL: Takashi Matsuza-wa, JR1EFG, 5-5-17 Ojidai, Sakura, 285-0837, Japan
2015 Sep24
2015 Sep28 Marshall
Is V73
Home Call
DXW.Net 20150629
By JH3QFL as V73A, JH3AZC as V7EME, JR3GWZ as V73GW, JP3AYQ as V73YL, JJ3CIG as V73H fm Majuro I (OC-029); HF; 500w; holiday style opera-tion
2015 2015 Sep30 Vietnam XV2VTC
VK6LC DXNews By VK6LC fm Vung Tau; 20 17 15m;
2015 2015 Oct03 St Kitts & V4 W6HGF W6HGF By W6HGF as V4/W6HGF fm St Kitts;
2015 Sep24
2015 Oct06 Tuvalu T2GC
LotW DXW.Net 20150507
By LZ1GC OM5ZW KK7L fm Funafuti; 160-6m; CW SSB RTTY; 2 stations; QSL also OK via Club Log (see Web page for more options)
2015 Sep26
2015 Oct03 Luxem-bourg
LX PE2J Buro 425DXN 20150829
By PE1RZU PE2J PG3VA PH1JB as LX/PE2J fm Greisch; 40 20 15 10m, perhaps 6m; SSB
2015 Sep26
2015 Oct11 Bonaire PJ4M LotW DXW.Net 20150904
By PH2M; 80-10m; SSB; QSL also OK via PH2M, Buro or direct
2015 Sep27
2015 Oct29 North
Cook Is E51MQT LotW
DXW.Net 20150606
By N7QT N7BX fm Manihiki I (OC-014); 80-10m, perhaps 160m; SSB CW RTTY; beach CrankIR vertical; QSL also OK via N7QT, Buro or direct (w/ SASE or SAE and IRC/$2 for interna-tional)
2015 Sep28
2015 Oct04 Microne-
sia V63WJ JS3LSQ
DXW.Net 20150817
By JS3LSQ fm Pohnpei I; mainly 15 10; mainly RTTY; QSL OK via JARL Buro or direct
2015 Sep29
2015 Oct13 North
Cook Is E51MKW LotW
DXNews 20150804
By KZ1W mf Manihiki I (OC-014); 80-10m; SSB, perhaps RTTY
2015 Sep30
2015 Oct16 Mariana
Is NH0 DL2AH
DL2AH 20150706
By DL2AH as NH0/DL2AH; 40-10m; mainly SSB; 100w
8
The shack where WACOM operated
W3S Special Event Station at Meadowcroft Village,
Washington County, Pennsylvania
Another View
Special Event Station at Meadowcroft Village 8
9
ARRL NEWS
. Talk of Pending P5 Operations So Far Remains Just Talks
8/20/2015
Persistent optimism continues to prop up the hopes of several individual
radio amateurs and groups to mount a DXpedition to the most-wanted
and elusive DXCC entity on the globe — the Democratic People’s Repub-
lic of North Korea (P5). To date, no recent efforts have succeeded. The
latest to announce that plans for a P5 operation are on the verge of success are Antonio Gonzalez,
EA5RM, and Manuel German, EA7AJR, both DXpedition veterans. On their fourth trip to North Ko-
rea since 2013, Gonzalez and German met on August 17 with what they described as “high-level offi-
cials” in North Korea’s telecommunications ministry. In an August 17 news release, Gonzalez and Ger-
man said that the officials in Pyongyang — North Korea’s capital — “were very kind, receptive, and co-
operative. They knew everything about ham radio, so it was really easy to talk with them about our ham
radio operation project.” The pair began efforts to secure permission for a North Korea operation more
than 2 years ago.
“If everything goes as it is going up [until] today, I can tell that we are very close to get[ting] permis-
sion,” the news release concluded.
Gonzalez and German are not alone in attempting to be the next to activate North Korea since Ed
Giorgadze of the Republic of Georgia operated as P5/4L4FN in 2001 and 2002, making more than
16,000 contacts before being asked abruptly to cease transmitting and pack up his gear. The ARRL sub-
sequently accredited his SSB and RTTY operation for DXCC. Giorgadze, who was working for the UN
World Food Program in Pyongyang at the time, had tried for more than 2 years before obtaining oral
permission from North Korean authorities to operate.
Earlier this year, Polish radio amateur Dom Grzyb, 3Z9DX, announced that he had secured written per-
mission to operate from North Korea in January or February 2016. He has said he is supposed to go to
Pyongyang for a final meeting to discuss guidelines for the operation, which would be for 5 days, SSB
only, on 20, 15, and 10 meters from a secured location with 24/7 government supervision.
Paul Ewing, N6PSE, and David Flack, AH6HY, of the Intrepid DX Group have visited North Korea
several times since announcing intentions in 2013 to operate from P5 for 2 weeks with two groups of 12
operators. In an August 10 blog post that he has since removed from the web “in solidarity with other
efforts to activate P5,” Ewing seemed pessimistic that anyone would be allowed to operate from the se-
cretive communist enclave anytime soon. For now, though, he’s extending “best of luck to all efforts to
activate the DPRK.”
In addition to the 2001-2002 P5/4L4FN operation, the only other approved operations occurred in
1995, when Martti Laine, OH2BH, and two other Finnish radio amateurs demonstrated ham radio by
making 20 contacts as P5/OH2AM. In 1999, Laine operated briefly as P51BH, making just 263 con-
tacts. In 2005, David Borenstein, KA2HTV, a physician, received advance permission from a cultural
affairs official to operate while in Pyongyang, but he apparently did not have clearance from the Minis-
try of Telecommunications and Posts, and he was never allowed to get on the air once he arrived.
— Thanks to The Daily DX, DxCoffee, North Korea Tech, and the Intrepid DX Group
10
ARRL NEWS
QCWA Recognizes 105-Year-Old Radio Amateur’s 90 Years of Hamming
09/02/2015
The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) has honored 105-year-
old Charlie Hellman, W2RP, of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, for his 90
years in Amateur Radio. The QCWA’s announcement also served to flush
out another active ham who, while 1 year older than Hellman, has not been
licensed quite as long. On August 31 the QCWA presented a “90 Year Con-
tinuous Licensed Certificate Award” (No 1) to Hellman, whom the organi-
zation at the time called “the oldest living Amateur Radio operator in the
United States and possibly the world.” Hellman got his ham ticket in 1925,
when he was 15 years old. He joined QCWA in 1975 and is a member of
QCWA Chapter 181 in New York’s Hudson Valley. He gets on the air regu-
larly.
After QCWA posted its announcement on the QRZ.com news forum, how-
ever, Marcel Stieber, AI6MS, chimed in to point out that Hellman is not the
oldest known ham. He said that Harry Wolf, W6NKT, of Morro Bay, Cali-
fornia, is 106, although licensed but since 1936.
QCWA Webmaster Bob Roske, N0UF, stepped forward to renew Wolf’s
lapsed QCWA membership and noted that since Wolf had been licensed for
more than 75 years, QCWA would issue him a life membership. And now it
might also recognize his longevity as well.
First licensed as W2AMK, Hellman was an educator. After working his way through the City College of New
York, he taught physics on the secondary level. During World War II, Hellman was tapped by the Department of
War to write a textbook for training radio operators, Elements of Radio.
Two of Hellman's siblings also held ham tickets. His brother Robert, now deceased, was W2JAN. His brother
Benjamin, 96, is W2VB.
Also an educator, Wolf indicated on his QRZ.com profile that he once taught electronics at the college level and,
after retiring in 1973, went to live in Hong Kong where he operated as VS6GF for 4 years before returning to
California. He said he’s on the air every day, mostly on 40 meter CW.
Hellman’s certificate reads, “The Quarter Century Wireless Association presents this 90th Anniversary Award to
its Distinguished Member Charles “Charlie” Hellman, W2RP, to commemorate Ninety Years of Service as a li-
censed Radio Amateur.”
Hellman also received a congratulatory letter from QCWA President Ken Oelke, VE6AFO. “I would also like to
say how proud I am that you have kept active for these many years, and to proudly celebrate what many will not
be able to achieve in their entire lifetime,” Oelke said, in part. “Congratulations to you on 90 years as a licensed
radio amateur, and may you enjoy many more in Amateur Radio!”
QCWA came upon the information pertaining to Hellman when Roske was updating member files and
discovered that Charlie was still living in New York and appeared to be the oldest living QCWA mem-
ber. In recognition, the QCWA Board of Directors promptly voted to award Hellman the 90 year certifi-
cate, a first for the organization. Now it may have the opportunity for a second. — Thanks to QCWA,
Pete Varounis, NL7XM, and Charles Tropp, N2SO
Hellman in 1949
11
FO-29 Satellite Contact Claims Distance Record
09/03/2015
Dave Swanson, KG5CCI, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Christophe Lucas, F4CQA, in Trouy, France, appear to have set a new contact distance record on the FO-29 satellite. The contact occurred on August 27 at 1732 UTC.
“This was not a scheduled contact,” Swanson explained. “I simply answered Christophe’s CQ. I knew it was a good contact at the time, but as I was portable up on Arkansas’ Shinall Mountain, I did not have the resources available to calculate distances.”
Later he realized that the estimated distance between his location in EM34 and Lucas’s in JN17 exceeded 7500 km (4650 miles). “About the same time, my e-mail chirped with a message from Christophe, who had come to the same conclusion,” Swanson said. After some quick exchanges, and verifying 10-digit locators, the two operators settled on an “official” distance of 7599.959 km (4712 miles).
“To the best of our knowledge, referencing data found on AMSAT-UK’s website, this breaks the previ-ous distance records of 7537.799 km between W5CBF and G4DOL, and 7538.685 km between K4FEG and DK1TB,” he said.
Swanson recorded the contact and posted it to YouTube. — Thanks to AMSAT News Service
ARRL NEWS
Send Your Name (and Call Sign) to Mars!
08/26/2015
Mars enthusiasts can participate in NASA’s next journey to Mars by
adding their names — and call signs — to a silicon microchip head-
ed to the Red Planet aboard NASA’s InSight Mars lander, scheduled
to launch next year.
“Our next step in the journey to Mars is another fantastic mission to
the surface,” said Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. “By participating in this opportunity to send your name aboard
InSight to the Red Planet, you’re showing that you’re part of that journey and the future of
space exploration.”
NASA issued a similar invitation in 2014 for its Orion test flight. So far nearly 365,000
“boarding passes” have been registered with the InSight mission. NASA will accept submis-
sions until September 8.
Visit the Mars InSight “Revealing the Heart of Mars” website to get onboard. — Thanks to
NASA
12
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
2016
MEMBER INFORMATION AND DUES RENEWAL FORM
13
