CLUB MEETINGS
Regular membership meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month beginning at 12 noon in bldg. 238 room 543. The meetings are open to all interested parties.
The Board of Directors meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 12 noon in bldg. 198 room 211. The meetings are open to all club members.
During the August Board meeting, Jay Bastow (WB6NFN) was appointed Director. Normally, this position would be filled by President Past; however, the President Past is no longer employed by CIT and is ineligible. The vote for Jay was unanimous.
The regular September meeting was honored by a half-hour superfine presentation on the "Flying Samaritans" by Nash Williams. Nash has devoted a lot of effort and hard work into the Samaritans and deserves applause and admiration for a job very well done.
Farewell
Ken Newcomer, WA6NQD, has accepted a position with Hewlett-Packard in Cupertino, Ca. Sorry to see you leave Ken. Vy 73, lots of DX and good health Ken.
The Team Personnel
By Merv W6IUV.
George H. S. Williamson, K6YGN, QRP DXer extraordinaire at W6VIO, became JPL's NASA Emergency Radio Network Team Chief effective Sept 7, 1973. George has been a member of the team nearly since it was formed and brings to the job experience in the military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). He replaces Merv MacMedan, who has been Team Chief since its formation and who will continue in his other positions with the club as Emergency Communications Manager and Director.
The NASA Radio Team also welcomes aboard H.R. Mecke, W6ZGC. Mickey was the Goldstone Team Chief until he was transferred to JPL. While his new office is at Foothill-D, he expects to be able to make most of the monthly exercises at the Lab.
These personnel changes are reflected in a revised page 3 of your JPL Amateur Radio Club Emergency Communications Capabilities brochure. That page is attached [below] to this Newsletter.
5. Operator Roster
The JPL Amateur Radio Club has been delegated the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the NASA Emergency Radio Station by Laboratory Management. The members of the NASA Emergency Radio Team are listed in table 1.
Table 1, ROSTER OF JPL NASA EMERGENCY RADIO TEAM OPERATORS
JPL HOME NAME CALL EXT. ADDRESS PHONE Jay Bastow WB6NFN 233-201 2500 3536 Angeles Ave., Glendale 249-0291 Bill Harris K6KZQ 161-228 2123 10661 E. Roseglen, Temple City 444-4712 Jim Lumsden WA6MYJ 125-224 2083 2616 Harmony Pl., La Cresenta 249-9367 Merv MacMedan W6IUV 233-307 2112 217 S. Altura Rd., Arcadia 445-3628 H. R. Mecke W6ZGC Fthl-D430 4255 4955 N. Stewart, Baldwin Park 331-3727 Nash Williams W6HCD 169-414 2047 910 Chehalem Rd. La Canada 790-4387 George Williamson* K6YGN 190-236 2056 2535 Norm Pl., Anaheim (714)535-7667
*Team ChiefNote: All JPL Phones Area 213-354 + Ext.
All Area Codes are 213 unless otherwise noted.WILSON AMATEUR RADIO PROJECT (WARP)
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Wilson Amateur Radio Project is to provide efficient and reliable two-way radio communications between major JPL/Caltech facilities in Southern California. This net will permit administrative and managerial functions to continue when normal telephone service is unavailable or inadequate. An adjunct of this basic capability is improved communication with the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Amateur Radio Emergency Corps (AREC) activities through utilization of a superior transmitting and receiving location on Mount Wilson.
OSCAR 7 AA3 Information Received from Jay Holladay W6EJJ
The final planning meeting for the shakedown flight is to take place on Sept 19th. Attached is AA-3 Bulletin Ho. 3, dated Sept 15th to Interested Radio Amateurs from W6EJJ. The referenced PROJECT PLAN is too lengthy to incorporate with this Newsletter. No doubt Jay will provide any information that interested Radio Amateurs may desire. Two specific dates of activity are a part of the PROJECT PLAN, as follows:
Shakedown Flight. Sept 22, 1973. Flight duration 4:20. intended flight track from Van Nuys to Newport/Corona, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Los Banos, Fresno and to Van Nuys.
Test Flight. Oct. 6, 1973. Flight duration 7:00. Intended flight track from Van Nuys to San Diego, LAX, Santa Barbara and land Palo Alto for fuel and lunch. Then to Sacramento, Fresno and Van Nuys.
Both flight departures at 0900 PDT. QAH 12000. Communication range >125 miles for zero horizon angle.
AA-3 Bulletin No. 3 September 15, 1973
TO: Interested Radio Amateurs
FROM: Jay Holladay, W6EJJ
SUBJECT: AMSAT/OSCAR West Coast Test Flight AA-3
Enclosed is the Project Plan for the upcoming test flights. Please pass the word on the flights, as we would like to encourage maximum participation in this test. Both two-way QSO's via the translator and signals from the translator and beacons should be reported. Listening reports are encouraged from anyone having two-meter receive capability.
The 432 MHz to 145 MHz translator has arrived from Germany and has been checked out on the bench, with checkout and installation in the aircraft to take place next. We expect to receive the 2304 MHz beacon momentarily and to have it in operation for the shakedown flight.
Check into the Flight Planning Net to obtain the latest word on test flight status. This net meets on 3910 kHz at 8: 30 P.M. PDT on Wednesday nights, We hope to hear your signals via the translator!
Public Service
Apparently, United Calbank Recreational Association is interested in soliciting licensed hams for formation of communications society and emergency assistance. For information and/or application, contact Al Chapman W6MEO.
FOR SALE
Standard 826 2 meter transceiver $225. Heathkit Shaunee 6 meter transceiver $75. Dave Tustin X-4810 or home 446-4706
STOP THE PRESS
Oscar 7 AA3 FLIGHT COORDINATION NET will be in operation to provide real time flight status. The frequency is 7230 kHz. The net control station (staffed by JPL operators) is WA6VRT in Van Nuys. Operation to commence at 0845 PDT on Oct 6th and continue until end of flight.
Attached is a copy posted to the FCC on Sept 19th from the JPL Amateur Radio Club in the matter of proposed rulemaking pertaining to a portion of the 220 MHz ham band.
Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of
Proposed Rulemaking:
Class E Citizens Radio
Service in the frequency
band 224-225 MHz
Docket # 19759.The undersigned members of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Amateur Radio Club, Pasadena, California, urge the Federal Communications Commission to defer action on the above-identified proposal to establish a Class E Citizens Radio Service in the frequency band 224-225 MHz which is currently allocated for shared use by stations in the Amateur Radio Service and Government Radiolocation Service.
1. International Relations
International relations between the U. S. A. and neighboring states, such as Canada, Mexico, and possibly nearby foreign islands, could be jeopardized by use of the 220-225 MHz band in a manner not in accord with the ITU table of frequency allocations. The Commission's proposal to prohibit Citizens Radio use of the band 224-225 MHz near the borders would be a workable solution wholly dependent on how well such rules are adhered to. It would be extremely difficult to enforce such rules effectively if the operators of the proposed service did not morally agree to cooperate. This is particularly true since the contemplated use is largely mobile, where locations may be difficult to establish at any given moment. If the Commission fails to effectively police such operation, the affected border states will certainly be less inclined to cooperate with the U. S. in radio matters at future World Administrative Radio Conferences.
2. Reward for Scofflaws
It has been abundantly documented in the FCC Annual Reports that the Citizens Radio Service has been plagued with uncontrollable rule violations for 15 years. It appears to many observers that the FCC is doing an injustice to the amateur (who has practiced a noteworthy policy of self-policing for 40 years) by taking spectrum away from him (penalizing) and giving it to the Citizens Radio Service (rewarding). The example so set can only serve to encourage disrespect for the Commission, its Rules and the Law, and possibly to promote rule violations in other services.
3. Development of Amateur Space Communications
Amateurs are now beginning to become heavily involved in space satellite communications. This has been greatly stimulated by the first long-term operational amateur satellite, OSCAR-6. Many future OSCARs are planned. The satellite has encouraged much serious and worthwhile experimentation by amateurs in space communication and tracking on 144 and 420 MHz. While the 220 MHz band was not allocated for Space Communications at the 1971 WARC-ST, it may be so allocated in the near future. The major objection in 1971 was from radiolocation services in other parts of the world who share this band; these services already operate subject to terrestrial amateur interference. However, the objecting administrations may be convinced to permit space use of this shared band if it can be demonstrated that reliable control of the satellite transmitter can be exercised to promptly shut it down in case of harmful interference. Successful experience in space communication on the two adjacent bands, 144 and 420 MHz, suggests that the 220 MHz band would offer excellent opportunities for space communication, and indeed will be needed to relieve the congestion now observed for local communications on 144 and 420 MHz. More spectrum space will be needed to provide long distance communications via satellite, since each VHF signal relayed by a satellite may be heard all across the country at one time in contrast to conventional, limited range, terrestrial VHF communications. It is believed that loss of any part of the 220 MHz band from the amateur service will put a severe limitation on the future development of amateur space communications .
4. A Compromise Solution
The undersigned view with apprehension the establishment of a Citizens Radio band in such close frequency proximity to the amateur band that Citizens operators merely need to plug-in a different crystal to allow their equipment to be used illegally on the amateur band below 224 MHz. While the Commission does not intend to allow the establishment of the Class E service unless discipline can be maintained, we do not believe such discipline can be achieved under this proposal. We believe that, as an absolute minimum, the Commission would have to require an operator examination wherein the prospective user demonstrates his knowledge and understanding of the Commission's Rules, and accepted operating practices.
Furthermore, as long as this expansion is a part of the Citizens Radio Service, those organizations of Citizens Radio Service operators who have promoted rule violations among their members will undoubtedly do the same in the new service, making enforcement an impossible task. We believe the 220 MHz band would be better developed by establishing a "Communicator Class" amateur license tailored to VHF practices, no code, yet still providing a substantial equipment market. Such a proposal, from the Edgewood Amateur Radio Society, is pending with the Commission as RM-1980.
We petition the Commission to refrain from allocating the band 224-225 MHz for use in the proposed Class E Citizens Radio Service. If this spectrum should nevertheless be reallocated, we strongly urge the Commission to create for it a "Communicator Class" category within the Amateur Radio Service.
Respectfully submitted to the Federal Communications Commission, September 18, 1973
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