May, 2008

Our regular meeting is Tuesday, May 6, at 7:00PM in the EOC Training Room. We have 2 new member applications to process and other interesting information. A presentation by Paul, KC9BKZ, will focus upon the basics of a web site and how our Club web site was developed. If you are curious as to what goes into a web site and how to keep it going set in on this discussion.

Another reminder that Dave, KE9XF, is collecting donations of money or items to send to soldiers deployed to Iraq. David Silva, KC9DAC, is over there now, and Dave has just sent the first “Care Package” to him. He’ll continue to send things that the troops are needing as he gets money or other items. See Dave for an idea of what is needed or to contribute.

If your e-mail address has changed as a result of the Insight to Comcast change, please notify me so that I can update your address. We are fortunate that most of our membership has e-mail, so I’m able to distribute the Newsletter without cost. There are a few to send by regular mail, but the cost is minimal. This has been a tremendous reduction in expense to the Club. I’ve gone from mailing 40 or more letters to about 4 every other month. That saves us about $90 per year.

Our Web site address received this message on April 12. If you have time you might shoot off a message to our former member Bob, WA9SCN, or Rusty, KG4OYT.

Hi KB9VE...

My call is WA9WCN...formally of Lapel, Indiana...I was a member for many years until retiring and moving to Henderson, NV during the Summer of 1998....I was interested in your list of members. I knew several members such as W9EEL, K9IND, WA9CWE, Miller can't remember his call....

Due to living in a condo and the restrictions we have for antenna's I haven't been active since moving out here... But, of course there is plenty of other activities in the Las Vegas area...The hams out here are alive and well with several repeaters around the valley that are connected to various systems that reach up and down the West Coast....

I would like to hear from some of my former friends if they have the time to email.... My email address is badams49@cox.net

Bob Adams WA9WCN....My address is in the callbook...

I replied to Bob and also copied Rusty. I Got this reply from Rusty:

Steve
Thank you for forwarding the email to BOB. I sent him an email and told him where and when he is likely to catch me on the air.

A little follow up on myself. I am a certifited FRA engineer at the railroad. My radio and electronics came in handy lately when we mounted mobile radios in our main and backup excurson locomotives. For those that dont know most diesel locomotives are 64vdc battery source(Usually 8 8v batterys). It took awhile but I finnally tracked down 24v to 12v converters.

Have a nice day and thanks for the email.
Rusty
KG4OYT

All of our repeaters have been working very well this spring. You have probably noticed that band conditions have improved of a morning, but that is expected, and the result is an increase of noisy signals as stations outside our usual coverage area key up the .82 repeater. It won’t be as much of a problem on .09 since it’s PL’ed full time. We can expect this condition to continue throughout the spring, so take advantage of the good conditions if you want to expand your operating range. The other VHF and UHF bands have this same issue, but since there are fewer repeaters on 443.350 for example, it is unusual to hear it key up. I have heard stations from Michigan and eastern Ohio on 3.35, but it’s really unusual.

Remember too the Dayton Hamvention on May 16 to 18. If you have been there before you know what it’s all about. If you haven’t been there you need to go at least once to experience a true hamfest.

There are a number of activities upcoming and you are encouraged to participate:
Saturday May 3 - Indiana QSO Party. MCARC participating from the Club Room. 12-12
Monday May 5 – MCARC Meeting 7PM at EOC
Tuesday May 6 – ARC Meeting 7PM at EOC
Friday May 16 – County Pandemic Flu Exercise at Pendleton HS. Mobile Communications Unit activated and all communications units asked to respond.
Friday/Sunday May 16-18 – Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH
Monday June 2 – MCARC Meeting 7PM at EOC
Tuesday June 3 – Communications Division Meeting, 7PM at EOC
Saturday June 7 – Alexandria Strawberry Festival/Car show. All EMA rolling stock there. 11-4 in downtown Alexandria.
Tuesday, June 17 – County Exercise. Information forthcoming.
Saturday/Sunday June 28-29 – Field Day. MCARC operating from Club Room at EOC.
Tuesday July 1 – ARC Meeting, 7PM at EOC

Friday July 4 – Chesterfield Day Parade. MCU participating. Anyone that wants to ride along is welcome. Monday July 7 – MCARC Meeting, 7PM at EOC
Tuesday, July 22 – District 6 Comm. response at Hagerstown all day.

Seems like all Clubs are struggling now days regardless of what the interest area is. The young people find video games and text messaging to be more interesting than amateur radio or the Optimist Club or the local Conservation Club. We need to encourage young people to learn about amateur radio and what it has to offer. Since regular old “communications” doesn’t have the fascination that it once did we need to emphasize something else. Public service and emergency preparedness is one potential draw. Be sure you talk it up at every opportunity. And take advantage of each event to favorably present our hobby. Thanks for your help.

As has been noted the “Extra Class” pool of questions will be updated starting mid-year. If you want to be tested based upon the current pool the Chief Anderson Club will be testing on May 28 and June 18. Remember that this license class is now based upon technical expertise only…proof of morse code proficiency is no longer required. You can also find the dates on the CALENDAR posted on the Club Web Site (thanks, Paul).

See you at the meeting on the 6th.

73,
Steve