S M A R C a l l i n g -- December 1997
Southwest Missouri Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 11363, Springfield, MO 65808
Information Phone: 889-5008 -- E-mail: n0zgg@juno.com
Editor: Max Bodenhausen, W0ZZQ, phone 443-3690, e-mail:
maxbo@compuserve.com
Incoming Editor: Jim Thorpe, KG0IV, phone 889-5008, e-mail:
kg0iv-1@juno.com
Circulation Manager: Fred Drake, KI0ET, phone 882-5568, e-mail:
fdrake@mail.orion.org
********
DINNER/PARTY/ELECTION - Monday, December 15, 6:30 P.M. - GOLDEN CORRAL
Next VE Test - Saturday, December 13, 8:30 a.m., Evangel College Library
********
The Prez Sez. . .
Dear Members:
The Holidays are upon us -- the year is closing fast. Hope everyone will
plan to attend the Christmas party, it is shaping up to be a great one
again. Don't forget to notify Dan or myself of the youngsters that will
attend, so that we in turn may tell Santa and his helpers. Look forward to
a little "twist" in the festivities this year. I won't reveal how; you
will be pleasantly surprised!!
Fred reports that the class and subsequent testing were successful.
Congratulations to all of those who participated as students and
instructors. Look to the Spring for another session to be held.
The good news at the last meeting was the discovery of our club's
status with the Secretary of State. We are a nonprofit corporation and
have been since 1956. This status opens up some much needed doors of
opportunity for us, which several folks are helping us investigate.
Anyone interested in helping with "Operation Santa Claus" on
Christmas Eve should contact Bruce Braithwaite, N9TTN. (See story near
end of newsletter.)
Work continues to get the 146.91 machine back on the air. The
feedline has been changed and the antenna is turned once again towards
Springfield. We are currently waiting for repair of the controller itself
in California. Turnaround was to be 7 days. But, you know how that goes,
so we will take a wait and see attitude. Not that we have any other
choice!
Remember that the December meeting is our Annual meeting, elections
for next year's officers and the Christmas party. If you are interested in
serving the club as an officer, nominations from the floor will be held
before the election. Thanks to the nominating committee for their work in
lining up the roster we announced at the last meeting. Hope you will be at
the party!
We also agreed to adopt a family for Christmas. (See the article
below describing their situation and needs.) I know we can do a great job
helping a less fortunate family have a nice Holiday. Please bring your
donations of food and gifts to the Christmas party.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Holiday season!!!
73, Karen, N0TDW
********
SMARC adopts a family
We are participating in the Springfield Victory Mission's Adopt-A-Family
program this year. The Mission coordinates with other agencies to avoid
duplication of services. Rest assured that your donation will go to the
described family, and is in fact, needed. Victory Mission requests that we
supply at least as much as it would give this family if we had not adopted
them. The following guidelines have been offered.
FOOD GUIDELINES: A food basket to provide a day's worth of food
including: cereal, sweet rolls, milk, turkey, potatoes, vegetables,
fruits, bread, rolls, soup and crackers.
GIFT GUIDELINES: Five new items per child plus stocking stuffers.
We agreed to bring non-perishable items to the Christmas party. We also
agreed to buy a turkey or provide $20.00. We could take up a collection to
purchase the perishable items just prior to delivery of everything. At any
rate, please try to think of items to bring that fall within these
guidelines.
The parents in our family both work, but are struggling to make
ends meet. They have two children. Misty is age 10, and she would like a
Barbie. Her shirt size is 12-14, pants 14-16. Ryan is age 8, and would
like some Ninja Turtle Wrestlers. His shirt size is 6, pants 6-8. The
whole family needs shoes. We will take up a collection at the party for
shoes, suggesting $3.00 donation per member attending.
I am sure that we can all pull together to make this a wonderful
Christmas for this family. I recommend gifts that you know this age level
will like as well as what has been suggested. If you have any questions
just give me a call.
-- 73, Karen, N0TDW, 889-6775
********
It's a party!!!
The annual SMARC Christmas Party and Officer Elections will be held Monday
Dec. 15 at the Golden Corral located at 2025 E. Primrose. We will eat
starting at 6:30 PM with the meeting starting around 7:00. Santa will
visit, so If you are going to bring any kids 12 years and under please let
Dan Copeland or Karen Thorpe know so that Santa will have the proper gift
for him or her. We will also be giving out door prizes again this year, so
be sure to get a ticket when you arrive. Last year was a big hit and we
hope to have a huge turnout again this year.
-- 73, Dan, KF0OV, 889-2471
********
Positively CW By Nancy Kott, WZ8C
Thanks to World Radio, Nov. 1997 and to Jerry, W2RRX, for suggesting we
publish this article.
Inside every ham is a CW operator just waiting to get out. I know this
from personal experience. Let me tell you a bit about my history. My
father, W8ROG, has been a ham since the 1930's, so I always knew Amateur
Radio existed, but learning the code never appealed to me. I took
electronics in college and worked in an engineering laboratory as an
electronic tech, so the technical part of the exams didn't bother me. I
simply didn't want to get a ham license enough to warrant learning the
code.
In 1985, I moved about 60 miles from the Detroit area where I had
grown up. The phone bill from talking to my parents was enormous. My
father pointed out that if my mother and I got ham tickets, we could save a
fortune on phone calls by talking on two meters. This made sense to us,
and we set about getting our tickets. My mother, WO8E, had to learn all
the theory AND the code from scratch -- at least I had the advantage on the
theory from taking it in school. She got her ticket before I did! I
simply hated Morse code and resented having to learn it. After all, I
wasn't ever going to use it, I just wanted to chat on two meters using a
repeater and a handi-talkie! Why should I have to learn the code? I
fought it every step of the way, and consequently it took two years to pass
my 5 wpm. If there had been a no-code license in 1988, I would have been
the first in line to sign up. In retrospect, I'm very grateful that I
didn't have that option.
My mother and I soon discovered that chatting on two meters wasn't
all it was cracked up to be. We began to get intrigued with the the low
band activity my father would casually mention in conversation. Not
wanting to invest much money, we built HW-99's, Heathkit 50-watt CW only
rigs. After all, we thought, how much fun could it be to communicate using
something as slow and boring as Morse code? I quickly found out that using
Morse code on the air opens up a whole new world. There is something
magical about sending a CQ into the air waves and the possibility of
someone from anywhere in the world answering your call. The adrenaline
your feel when you hear your callsign come back to you in code is just
incredible. I was hooked. I never would have believed it if it hadn't
happened to me.
The first contacts using any mode are memorable landmarks in your
ham career, but I don't think any come close to the memories created by
your first Morse code chats. However, the adrenaline that makes it so
exciting can also make it the most nerve-wracking of your ham experiences.
I doubt if there is a CW operator in the world who didn't sweat bullets
during his or her first CW chat! Some of the most experienced SSB
operators get butterflies or freeze up when they think of answering a CQ
using Morse, so this phenomenon isn't unique to new hams. Unfortunately,
this fear keeps many hams from upgrading, because one of the best ways to
increase your code speed is get on the air and use CW.
Luckily, there are thousands of experienced operators who get a
kick out of helping hams through their first CW contacts. Many times, when
you cruise the Novice sub-bands you will hear more non-Novice callsigns
calling CQ than Novices!
Before getting on the air, have a band plan in front of you so you
can be sure your are in a subband where you are legally licensed to
operate. Another thing you might find helpful is a "cheat sheet" of a
typical QSO format. Basic QSOs consist of the signal report (RST), name,
location (QTH), type of rig and antenna and the sign off. Write it out,
word for word. For example: tnx for call, ur rst 599 599. name nancy
nancy. qth hadley, mi. rig is knwd, ant dipole up 40 ft. tnx fer chat pse
qsl 73 de wz8c. Of course you wouldn't send all this information during
one transmission. Turn the conversation over to the other ham after the
RST, name and QTH and again after telling about your station setup. If
it's going well and you want to ad lib, that's great! But it helps to have
the cheat sheet to fall back on if you need it. I had such a piece of
paper taped to my desk, which may sound silly, but it was a life saver when
I got flustered!
Now that you're ready to get on the air, the easiest way to get
your feet wet is to answer a CQ. Slowly scan the frequencies in the
subbands of your license class, listening for a station calling CQ at speed
you can comfortably copy. Carefully tune your radio to the calling
station's frequency. Watch the S meter on your receiver and tune around
the signal until the S meter is at the highest point. This is here you
have the best chance of being heard. When they finish their CQ --
generally it will sound like CQ CQ CQ de callsign callsign callsign
-immediately send their callsign de your call sign three times. If they
can't copy you well, they may send "QRZ?" which means "who is calling me?"
Send your call sign again two or three times. Don't let this throw you,
and don't take it as an insult if the other station doesn't copy you the
first time.
After you've exchanged your basic information, don't forget to tell
the other station that it is one of your first CW QSOs. Trust me, it will
make their day!.
Don't make the mistake I did of hating CW just because it's a
requirement. It's been around for decades because it's functional and fun.
If you give it half a chance, you might just discover the CW operator who
is hiding inside you, too!
********
CQ DX. . .
As the days grow short and the air turns cold, DXers everywhere tune the
bands in quiet anticipation. This is the time of year when DXing is at its
best. The winter solstice brings quiet bands, more hours of darkness, and
hopefully more time to pursue this great hobby. The allure and power of DX
that allows us to communicate with people anywhere with modest equipment is
still alive and well. Computer networks will never replace the magic of a
night tuning the bands.
DXing today is many things to many people. We each have our own
motivations for pursuing it, and we must keep these clearly defined if we
are to thrive. DXers have better tools now than ever before. How are you
using them to promote amateur radio and the goodwill it inspires? If DXing
is to survive it must remain more than an award hanging on your wall, and
QSL cards arranged in shoe boxes in the closet.
When was the last time you invited the neighbors over to talk to
someone in a foreign land? What about your own children or spouse? What
about a club project to promote amateur radio in the schools. This happens
often with satellite communications but rarely with terrestrial
communications. We have the power to shape the future of amateur radio.
What will your legacy be?
This will be my last DX article for SMARCalling. I have said what I
think needs to be said and I thank you for your indulgence. DXing is
important to me and I hope I've given you a few things to think about.
During this holiday season, find time to share your gifts, talents, and
stations with others. You never know who you might reach! I look forward to
meeting you on the air and in the pile-ups!
Upcoming DX Operations:
JG8NQJ/JD1, MINAMI TORISHIMA, from Marcus Island, starting November
25th, and lasting until February 20, 1998. He will be working at the
meteorological station on the island. QSL via JA8CJY.
J8, ST. VINCENT, Dec. 20 - Jan 20, 1998. No callsign was mentioned,
but the "DX News Sheet" reports that their activity will included
operations on 160 meters and RTTY.
HF0POL, SOUTH SHETLAND IS, Jan 1 - Dec 31, 1998. Mainly RTTY & CW.
QSL via SP3SUN (Direct or Buro)
9M0C, EAST MALAYSIA, Feb 12-23, 1998. SSB CW RTTY; HF + 6 M. QSL
via G3SWH
73, and Good DX! Allin, KF0DZ
********
Meeting Minutes - November 17, 1997
The meeting convened at the Red Cross at 7:00 PM. Minutes for the October
meeting were approved. The annual meeting of the club will be held on
December 15th at the Golden Corral Restaurant on S. Glenstone, starting at
6:30 PM. Elections will be held for all club officers. Nominations for
officers are: President, Mike Blake, N0NQW; Vice President, Karen Thorpe,
N0TDW; Secretary, Fred Drake, KI0ET; Treasurer, Jude Griesemer, KE0YZ; PR
Director, Ern DeCamp, KD0UD; Director, Bruce Braithwaite, N9TTN; and
Director, Richard Wood, KB0MPO. Santa will make an appearance. Also, the
club has adopted a family to help during the holiday season. Please bring
a donation of food to annual meeting.
The repairs to the .91 repeater system continue. All of the
antenna and feedline work has been completed, but the radio was returned to
the factory for repairs. Information was shared that a 440 machine may be
placed on the .91 tower and used in "simulcast" mode during storms. John
Rayfield, WB0MZM, has offered to help construct an Aurora link for area
repeaters.
A motion was passed to donate $100 to KWFC fund to express
appreciation to their organization for their donation of tower space to us.
Dan, KF0OV, discovered that the club was incorporated on June 22,
1956 as a not for profit benevolent organization. A copy of the original
agreement has been obtained. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to
hire an agent, attorney Jason Schaeffer, for the club. He will submit the
necessary papers to the state to update our incorporated status. The
motion authorized one hour of time at $85 per hour to complete this task.
A motion to pay Mr. Schaeffer $35 for a letter written on the club's behalf
was also approved.
It was announced that Jim Thorpe, KG0IV, will take over the club
newsletter in January. Special thanks is extended to Max Bodenhausen for
his outstanding efforts as the current editor. Bill Harris, KA0DGK,
volunteered to investigate using bulk mail for the newsletter. This may be
a major cost savings for the club.
Special thanks was offered to Charles Doty, W0MNE, for his donation
of time at the hamfest in testing equipment, and his donation of packet
equipment to the club.
Operation Santa will be held on Christmas Eve. Anyone wishing to
help Santa talk by radio to people who are in the hospital should contact
Bruce Braithwaite or Louise Burk.
New members voted into the club as regular members include Patrick
Boyle, KC0CGX, Dean McClanahan, AA0VC, and Brian Nurse, KC0BFE. Don Morgan
was voted in as an associate member (not yet licensed).
Anthony Young, KB0ZSH, won a drawing for an ARRL Handbook. The
meeting adjourned at 8:15.
Submitted by, Fred Drake, KI0ET, Club
Secretary
********
-- FOR SALE --
60 ft. Rohn tower (includes top section) including mast pipe....$175, take
down.
HD-73 rotor and control....$40
Ameritron RCS-8V remote 5 position coax switch...$60
CC 4218XL 2M SSB beam....$40
CC 215WB 2M FM beam.....$30
CC 424B 432Mhz. SSB beam...$40
Includes all guy wire and turnbuckles, $300 if taken all at once.
MFJ--989B 3K antenna tuner, roller inductor, hi/low switch, back-lit meter
and simultaneous swr/pwr meter, excellent condition....$175.
MFJ-492X Menu driven memory keyer, works great for FD or contests, $80.
MFJ-432 Voice keyer, great for contesters, $80.
Ameritron 811H HF amplifier, 800W+ output, mint condition, $550.
Contact: Halfwave@aol.com or call 862-3555 days or 732-1801 evenings
before 9:00PM.
Kenwood HT 28A with extra battery, quick charger, $275.00
Contact Jim, KG0IV at 889-6775
********
Operation Santa Claus
Christmas Eve is a very special time. For some, however, it is less than
joyous. Just think what you would feel like if you were a little kid and
had to spend Christmas in the hospital. Not too great. So...Operation
Santa Claus to the rescue.
This year SMARC will have two teams visiting kids (and some kids at
heart) who are not able to leave Cox hospital or St. John's hospital to go
home for the holidays. The plan is to set up a base station for Santa and
the 2 teams will visit both hospitals bringing a Santa visit via 2-meter
HT.
Christmas eve is a busy time so the visits will be happy but brief.
We'll start at 3:30 PM and finish by 6:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to
get home.
If you'd like to help spread a little Christmas cheer, call Bruce,
N9TTN at 889-5156 (or Email to BBraithwaite@XC.Org). -- 73, Santa
********
NOTE:
Starting in January, we must use a new form 610 for all applications and
renewals. The new form contains a statement certifying the applicant has
read and understands the new RF Safety Guidelines.
*******
Editor's comments:
This issue marks the end of my three-year tenure as your editor. A big
thank you for the articles, columns, and other input and help given me by
so many of you. I've enjoyed it and now I wish Jim, KG0IV, the best as he
carries on. -- 73, Max, W0ZZQ
********
FROM THE NEW EDITOR-
Any articles, ads, information for the newsletter should be sent by the end
of the previous month for publishing the following month (e.g., Dec 31 for
Jan edition) to Jim, KG0IV at: kg0iv-1@juno.com or phone 889-5008, or POB
4853 Springfield, Mo 65808 .
********
End SMARCalling, December 1997
******************************************************************************
Fred Drake Amateur Radio Call Sign: KI0ET
2051 E. Cardinal St.
Springfield, MO 65804
e-mail : fdrake@mail.orion.org
home phone: (417) 882-5568
work phone: (417) 895-2185 Hickory Hills Middle School
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Newsletter "SMARCalling" Decenber 1997
