APRIL MEETING
The April meeting featured Capt. Tom Pollack, USN (Ret.), WB6ZYE, speaking about one of amateur radio's hottest things going, beside 2M FM, slow scan TV. Capt. Pollack brought along and set up some of his equipment to demonstrate what the latest state of the art happens to be. A lot was learned by those who attended the meeting, and no doubt there were a few converts made at that time. Our thanks to the good Captain for his time and effort for our Club.
SOMEBODY WAS LISTENING!!
Editor, W6VIO Calling:
I beg to take issue with part of your editorial in the March issue of 'VIO Calling. While complaining about the lack of interest among Club members, you cite as an example the fact that the Club does not know which radio- equipped cars could talk to each other if an emergency required the deployment of a mobile capability for a Lab emergency.
The fact is that a team of mobile-equipped members has been organized under Walt Ross, W6VPN, called the "JPL Mobile Group." The purpose and function of this group was outlined in the rough draft of the Club's Emergency Communications Manual, which I am preparing. This draft was distributed two months ago at the Club's Board of Directors meeting for comment. In addition , it lists all the current Club capabilities the JPL Management could call upon in time of emergency.
As part of this effort, a list of the HF bands and/or VHF channels that each member can use is being put together and it is expected that the entire manual will be published in a month.
There are probably many similar Club activities that are going on quietly, and therefore not recognized in your Newsletter. Why don't you give a good look around for signs of positive activity before condemning us all for our apathy? You might just find out the Club has never been healthier!
Merv MacMedan, W6IUV
Emergency Communications ManagerEd. Note: Merv, you rate recognition for this dedication. See the Masthead, above!
SHORT TERM PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS
A new service has been initiated that will be of interest to DX'ers, HF contest operators, and those that keep long distance schedules. A recorded announcement of short-term (1 week) HF propagation predictions is available if you call (516) 883-6223 (New York). These reports are prepared by George Jacobs, W3ASK, who is the propagation editor of CQ. The recording is changed around Noon every Monday.
Courtesy Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, GSFC.SPIN AT WILL, GRIDLEY!!
By arrangement with the JPL Flight Operations Office, the Club no longer has to coordinate rotating the beam atop Bldg. 171 before actually swinging it around. Experience has demonstrated that there is no danger involved when the JPL chopper takes off from the top of the pad, nor does our beam in motion endanger the chopper.
WADDA WE DO NOW, COACH??
A co-worker walked into this editor's office with a broad smile on his face and asked, "How do I join the JPL Amateur Radio Club? I just bought a rig."
"Easy. All you have to do is give me two bucks, and you're in. For the record, what's your call sign?"
The smile broadened even more: "Buzzard!! And I can operate on all 23 channels."
Which brings up several interesting questions: How many CB'ers are here on Lab, and can they be organized? Suppose he did hand over the two dollars -- what would we do? Also, is this little dig at us representative of the general opinion of our Club?
QSL'ing TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES VIA JPL MAILS
George Williamson, K6YGN, reports that JPL SRI'S indicate that any mail dispatched to foreign countries through our Mail Room must be accompanied by an approved Form JPL 0281-S (Rev 3-70), signed off by the Security Supervisor. This would apply to any QSL cards routed through our malls from W6VIO to any foreign country. Therefore, if you want our QSL's to look official, you'll have to put them through our system in the official manner.
In spite of suffering from chronic vernal hyperpyrexia, George has managed to remain quite active on 'VIO and recently confirmed a QRP QSO with GI5BBR, on April 6th, on 21.398 mHz.
DX OPERATING NOTES
Reciprocal Operating
United States reciprocal operating agreements exist only with: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France*, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands*, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom*, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Several other countries grant FCC licensees amateur radio operating privileges on a courtesy basis; write ARRL Headquarters for details.
Third-Party Restrictions
Messages and other communications -- and then only if not important enough to justify use of the regular international communications facilities -- may be handled by U.S. radio amateurs on behalf of third parties only with amateurs in the following countries". Argentina, Barbados (only U.S. Stations /8P), Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greenland (XP calls only), Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Permissible prefixes: CE CM CO CP CX EL HC HH HI HK HP HR LU OA PY TI VE VO W or K/8P XE XP YN YS YV ZP 4X 4Z and 9Y4.
*Agreement includes overseas entities.
**By special agreements, third-party traffic is also permissible with Australian amateurs for traffic regarding amateur satellites, and with 4U1ITUFIELD DAY PLANS LAID
The time has come for the Club members to make a decision for or against Field Day operations. The Mt. Wilson site has again been secured, and the generators committed. What we need now is a commitment of operators, transceivers, and antennas for the various bands. The date is 23-24 June, from 9 a.m. Saturday to 12 Noon Sunday. Come and have some operating fun above the smog.
Call me anything -- but call me, at X2034, 2028 or 2708.
de Jerry Hawkes W6WXL* * * * * * * *
Old people give up sex for the same reason they give up bicycling: It looks silly, arthritis makes it painful, or one has no bicycle!!
Natural History Magazine
* * * * * * * *NOTE FROM ABROAD
Hans Weber WA6QJU, formerly our QSL Manager, recently returned to his native Germany with his family to start anew, after leaving JPL. Sam Weaver reports that he received a card from Hans about a month ago, telling that he is currently living in his mother's apartment with his entire family (should be pretty cozy). Hans hasn't settled in yet, but plans to try and get back his old call sign (DJ2IE) and set up operations as quickly as possible. Part of his baggage included several solid state rigs, both for 2M FM and the lower bands, so he might just be showing up on the bands one of these days. Watch for him.
FOR SALE
Motorola T53GAD 2M FM Transceiver; set up for ham band; 60w RF output;three-frequency, independently-controlled xmtr & rcvr. Includes control head, microphone, cables, 3 xmt xtals: 146.22, 146.82, 146.94 MHz. Price: $70.00.
Ron Ploszaj WA6TPW
X4429 or 248-2876Parts for linear amplifiers, e.g., capacitors, transformers, etc.
W6FXZ (714) 633-1254WANTED
811A Tubes (4 needed) for Gonset KW final; to replace shipment destroyed in mail; new or used. Help keep CalTech's phone patch station on the air!!
Bob Palitz
CalTech Radio Club W6UE
161-216040-meter mobile antenna; call Everett Allen, X2034, 2028 or 936-6591
"Some little green men got out of a space
ship and shot me with a tranquilizing dart,
put a radio collar and a leg band on
me, then released me, unharmed!"K4OCE MINIRIG
Club member George Williamson is an avid QRP fan, and submitted this little schematic for a 5w rig. A layout for the PC board is also available contact your friendly editor for a copy. This rig was first designed and used by K4OCE and, as of 12/72, had worked and confirmed 148 countries, using 5w input.
RFC Miller #4624, or equiv. L1, L2 - 2t #18 plastic Insulated, wound on cold end of coils.
XTAL - 14 MHz fundamentalNOTES:
1. Heat sink final transistor.
2. Built on Minibox, 3-1/4 x 2 x 1-1/2
3. Input can be pushed to 20w, but usually Is 5w.
From QRPP Milliwatt Magazine October 1972
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Amateur Radio Club
Attn: Bill Wood, Editor, Mail Stop DSCC-33
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
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