|
|
| Monthly Newsletter Dedicated to the Advancement of Amateur Radio November, 2000 |
 |
THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER
I would like to thank Erik Buehler for his demonstration of HF predicting software. I was surprised to see how the software worked as well as to hear how long ago some of the data used for the predictions was gathered. It's hard to believe that it has been almost a year since I was asked to run for president of MAARS. I'd like to say that I have truly had a good time over the last year and have enjoyed being an officer in the club. The November meeting will be November 10, 2000 at 7:30 P.M. and will be the annual elections. I hope a great number of you turn out in order to cast your vote for the person you want in each office. Nominations will be made by the nominating committee but are also welcome from the floor. Francis Sable (WØEVJ), has made the needed repairs on the antenna donated to the club by the Soldans. While it isn't up at the time of my writing this, I hope we will have made some progress before the actual meeting. If you hear some of us on the air talking about it or making plans to work on it, feel free to join in, we can always use more help and suggestions. We should also consider QSL cards for the club station. This is a topic that has come up in the past and we seemed to have dropped it, however if we are going to have an HF radio in operation at the station I'm sure we will have requests for cards. (We already have. Ed.) Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated. The club would also like to find a person or persons interested in publishing our newsletter. We have had Charles Carter (AAØRI) in this position for several years but due to his schedule he will not be able to continue working up the newsletter. We appreciate the time and effort you have put into the newsletter Chuck. As usual everyone is welcome to join the club for dinner at the Sirloin Stockade in Manhattan between 5:00 and 5:30 for dinner. The club meeting will start at 7:30P.M. November 10 at the Red Cross building at 2601 Anderson, Manhattan, KS. Hope to see you there.
73,
|
|
|
SECRETARY'S MINUTES
The October 13, 2000 meeting was opened by Brian, KCØDWX, at 7:30 P.M. and he introduced the guest speaker, Erik Buehler, who works for Rockwell-Collins, and is presently at KSU. Erik gave a demonstration of the HF propagation software he has developed. His HF propagation software is called "Propman". Some actual examples of radio propagation possibilities between specified locations at specified times was demonstrated. It is expected that this will be available for purchase soon. Steve, K1TNT, is present and offers a desk type microphone for sale to MAARS for $50 for use with the TS-830S HF transceiver. After discussion, it is voted to try the microphone in operation on the TS-830 and to purchase it on the condition that it operates OK. Fred, KØTCS, agrees to test it on the TS-830 radio and Nadine, KØUHF, will send payment to Steve if operation is satisfactory. There is discussion about the Cushcraft R-6000 HF antenna that was donated by David Soldan, NØIN, and repaired by Francis, WØEVJ. It is mentioned that some items may have to be purchased for mounting the antenna on the Red Cross Building. These items include guyline, a 1 1/2" diameter mast, and coax cable. Nadine mentions that there is in effect $20 remaining from the purchase of the TS-830 transceiver which cost MAARS $180 rather than $200 that was voted for it. Brian announces the need to form a nominating committee who shall prepare and submit in the newsletter a list of one or more nominations for each office preceding the annual election of officers meeting which will be on Friday, November 10 this year. Norm, NØJCC, and Chad, NØZMG, are selected to serve as the nominating committee. The annual Christmas party is brought up by Brian and the date is decided to be on December 9th. Further details will be decided at the November meeting. There is discussion about the purchase of a motor-generator by Kermit, KBØEEF, and others present. Nadine announces a case of unauthorized radio operation on the ten meter amateur band in the Garden City Area. The unauthorized call sign being used was K5WMC and the name "Charley". He is believed to be operating at various truck stops and so may be operating in different locations. Nadine also announces a special sale of ARRL Antenna Handbooks at reduced prices. Jon, NØRYQ, announces an upcoming lecture to be presented in Pasley Hall on October 17 about attempts to locate the Amelia Earhart crash location that occured in 1937 somewhere in the Pacific ocean, by analizing various radio reports that took place during the flight. MAARS Members are reminded that the annual election of officiers will be at the next meeting on Friday, November 10, 2000.
|
|
|
CALHOUN'S CORNER
During last month's MAARS meeting there was some discussion about how Riley County's Emergency Management department gave MAARS a two KW generator ("the Orange Generator") because (as I remember the statement) "it was in such bad shape that Riley County didn't want it!" I'd like to make two clarifications: 1) Emergency Management did NOT **GIVE** the Orange Generator to MAARS, for properly-run government departments can not **GIVE** stuff purchased with tax dollars to every Tom, Dick, or Mary who asks for something. Instead, because the County had recently acquired TWO really-nice BRAND-NEW FIVE KW generators and COMPLETE SPARE-PART KITS, the Orange Generator was placed into our care and keeping for emergency-preparedness uses for the indefinite future. But, technically, it still belongs to Riley County, and if/when we ever decide we don't want it, we should (at least offer) to return it to them. 2) Instead of "giving away junk", Riley County spent $42.55 to put it in good working condition and to equip it for use at the Red Cross building (where we thought we'd be able to store it until we learned otherwise) before "giving" it to us. In particular, they purchased and Henry Bachman (KAØSWM) and I installed some engine parts, bolts, exhaust gaskets, new fuel hose and shut-off valve, a special "I'm generating" light bulb, and heavy-duty casters so even wimps like me could move it around. It is unfortunate that we cannot store "our" generator at the Red Cross building, so we could crank and run it at least once a month. I recently purchased a brand-new little commercial generator to replace a home-brew one whose 30-year-old engine was becoming "difficult" --to say the least-- to start. Its instructions say I should crank it at least once a week and let it run for a while. Needless to say, I don't remember to start it that often, and sometimes I have to pull its starter cord many times to get it going.
|
|
|
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The nominating committee has visited with prospective candidates for the four elected offices for MAARS. All four present officers have agreed to run again. We appreciate the great job they've been doing and are happy that they are willing to continue. Nominations for additional candidates will be open until just before the elections at the November 10 meeting. If you have suggestions or questions for the nominating committee contact Chad Carter, NØZMG or Norm Dillman, NØJCC.
Nominees:
|
|
|
SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST
A simulated emergency communications test was carried out on Wednesday Oct. 25, 2000, in Pottawatomie and some nearby counties, starting at about 7:30 P.M. The primary Net Control station was at the Emergency Control Office in Westmoreland with Paul Schliffke, NØUZN, as Net Control. Acting as assistant control and relay stations in Pott. County were Beverly, NØRKO, Kenny Grant, KBØRPV, and Francis, WØEVJ. The test was initiated and planned by Kenny, ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Pottawatomie and Jackson Counties. The simulated emergency for the exercise was a severe winter ice storm with heavy ice accumulations on highways and roads and electric power and telephone outages due to downed lines. The frequencies used were 444.325 MHz on the PAWS repeater, 146.715 MHz on the Seneca repeater, 146.775 MHz on the Holton repeater and 146.55 MHz simplex. Beverly, NØRKO, acted as a relay station between the PAWS repeater and the Seneca repeater in Nemaha County and the Holton repeater in Jackson County. Daryl, KCØEYU, and Carrol, KCØHFE, Iowa Point, KS from Doniphan County. Brown County was represented by Wayne, KBØAMY, from Horton. Also checking in was Bill, WØERT, Eldon, NØVXS, Seneca. Checking in on the Holton repeater were Bruce, KCØEWG, at Meriden in Jefferson County, Jim, KØYLB, Daryl, KCØATQ, and Christie, KCØHPH, located near Mayetta in Jackson County. Daryl, KCØATQ, also checked in on 146.55 simplex to Francis, WØEVJ, in Pott. County. Checking in from Riley county was Brian, KCØDWX, at Manhattan. Those operating in Pott. county were Paul, NØUZN, Beverly, NØRKO, Kenny, KBØRPV, Nina, KCØBBH, Kermit, KBØEEF, Marcella, KBØOHB, Charley, NØWIG, and Francis, WØEVJ. During the exercise we had communications links to 7 counties in Kansas and to Tecumseh, Nebraska by relaying through several repeaters and simplex stations. Some stations operated on battery or motor-generator power for this exercise. Kenny Grant, E.C., and Paul Schliffke, Net Control, were pleased with the operation and thanked all who participated.
|
|
|
TREASURER'S REPORT
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
If you would like to become a member of or renew your membership in the American Radio Relay League and receive the monthly issue of QST, your treasurer has a form you may use to apply. If renewing, just bring along your notice of renewal to the club meeting. The club is allowed to retain $5 of each new member's dues and $2 of each full member who is renewing. Since the club retains the dues, it is necessary for you to write your check to MAARS, and then the treasurer writes a check to ARRL for the amount minus the $5 or $2.
Dues will be due by Oct. 31 and are: regular membership $20, full-time student $10, family $30. Please complete the following when renewing your membership, even if you did so last year. Return to the Treasurer, at a meeting or to MAARS, P. O. Box 613, Manhattan, KS 66505-0613. NAME _______________________________________ CALLSIGN ____________ MAILING ADDRESS____________________________________ DATE _____________ CITY _______________________________ STATE _____ ZIP CODE _____________ TELEPHONE # (____)_______________ E-MAIL ADDRESS _______________________ FOR FAMILY MEMBERSHIP: NAME _______________________________________ CALLSIGN ____________ NAME _______________________________________ CALLSIGN ____________ CHECK THE FOLLOWING WHICH APPLY: ____ ARRL member ____ It is alright to list my e-mail address on the homepage. It is alright to list my address and telephone number for distribution only to our members. ____ How do you prefer to receive your newsletter?
____ e-mail ____ U.S. mail ____ both
|