CLUB-SPONSORED TOUR OF JPL
SUCCESSFUL
Over 100 invited guests from neighboring
radio clubs were treated to a tour of JPL's facilities dealing
with "Space Communication" on April 14. After the showing
of a movie in Von Karman Auditorium, the visitors were split
into various groups and sent on different routes to cover the
Spacecraft Assembly Facility, Space Flight Operations Facility,
the Environmental Test Lab, the Image Processing Lab, and, finally
the JPLARC trailer made famous by N6V.
A highlight of the tour, which
was organized by Gordon Crawford, WB6DRH, was the communications
liaison provided by many dedicated club members on 2 meter FM.
Communicators were located at each stopping point, with each
group, on the tour bus, and at a central coordinating point.
Lab management especially complimented the club and members who
made it all happen within seconds of the scheduled times, since
they had tried to do exactly the same routine with other groups
and, without the communications, had experienced all sorts of
difficulties.
Audience reaction was very favorable,
since each of the lecturers at the stops were club members who
could explain things in terms hams would understand.
Gordon sends his heartiest of
thanks to all that helped implement the tour, and believes it
would be impossible to assemble a better group to put on this
extensive and informative a function. Participation from the
following persons is acknowledged with thanks:
- ESCORTS
INSTRUCTORS
- Booth Hartley, K6KVC Vince
Wirth, WA6BZB
- Ralph West, WB6YMF Waldo
Brown, W6QJO
- Bernie O'Brian Jerry
Hawkes, W6WXL
- Jay Holladay, W6EJJ Glenn
Berry, K6GHJ
- Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ Dick
Piety, K6SVP
Jack
Patzold, WB6TXG
- COMMUNICATORS Stan
Brokl, K6YYQ
- Walt Diem, WA6PEA
- Sam Weaver, WB6EMO PUBLIC
EDUCATION OFFICE
- Warren Apel, K6GPK Dr.
Louis Serrano
- Gil Schuler, WA6ULA Mike
Garcia
- Irv Wiebe, K6JUB
- Earl Pittman, W6VHU PHOTOGRAPHER
- Dick La Belle, W6FXN Dr.
Norm Chalfin, K6PGX
- Dick Nuzum, WA6RTK
- PROJECTIONIST
- Bill Carpenter, WA6QZY [Tnx
WB6DRH]
Jerry Hawkes
explains ETL Equipment to visitors. [K6PGX]
CLUB MEETING MAY 11 ON ORANGE
COUNTY EMERGENCY GROUP
Never let it be said that the
Los Angeles Section couldn't learn anything from another section,
especially involving emergency communications. Our speaker for
the May 11th meeting will be Fred Pfadt, K6KNC, Assistant SCM
for Orange County and Emergency Coordinator for VHF in Orange
County. He will speak on the structure of the Orange County ARES
(Amateur Radio Emergency Service, an arm of ARRL that used to
be called the AREC), Red Cross Disaster Responsibilities, and
how Orange County Section has achieved such a high degree of
success with their ARES organization. He will describe three
specific disasters and how his group served them. See you there!
[Tnx W6HCD]
WHO'S WHO IN THE CALL LETTERS
GAME
For some time, Chas. Weir, W6UM,
and Jay Bastow, K6CV, have held the distinction of being the
only current club members with 2-letter calls. In the past month,
the FCC must have dumped their computers and several, more members
received calls. For your reference, here are the new ones:
- Name
Old
Call New Call
- Booth Hartley K6KVC
N6BH
- Morris Jones (Mojo) WB6DJP
N6DE
- Bob Polansky W6JKR
N6ET
- Stan Sander WB6MPM
N6MP
- Rich Ward WA6VOG
N6BF
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
As of this writing, we're 97 strong.
If you're left out, send your $2 dues to Ron Ploszaj, 233-307.
Tnx.
BROKL ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR
LOS ANGELES SCM
A valid nomination petition for
SCM, Los Angeles Section, was turned in by former JPLARC President
Stan Brokl, K6YYQ. Stan will be running for the position of Section
Communications Manager, which is part of the Communications Department
of ARRL and is the interface between the League and the active
operating amateurs of Los Angeles. Elections will be held in
the fall for the two-year office. Stan hopes to continue being
active, so he can have a better feel for the local problems we
have. To this end, his XYL presented him with a brand-new Yaesu
FT-101E! With that kind of luck (or salesmanship if you prefer)
how can he lose? [Tnx K6YYQ]
ARRL NOTES (de W6EJJ)
Three dockets are pending before
FCC which could have a major impact on amateur radio as it exists
today:
Docket 21135 proposes "simplification of the licensing
and call sign assignment systems for ... the Amateur Radio Service."
The principal effects of this proposal would be to:
a. Eliminate all types of amateur
licenses except the primary station license (e.g., club station,
special event station, secondary station, and repeater, auxiliary
link and control stations.) Existing licenses of these other
types would remain valid but would not be renewed.
b. Discontinue issuance of 1x2
call signs of applicants' choice for Extra Class licensees. 1x2's
would be systematically assigned by FCC to those eligible.
c. Discontinue issuance of preferred
call signs (1x3's, etc.) to former holders of this type of call.
d. Discontinue issuance of specific
call signs for former holders of same.
May QST has a full description
of the proposed changes. Comments are due to FCC by June 2.
In Docket 21116 the FCC
proposes to solve the problem of CB linears by banning the manufacture
and sale of all external power amplifiers capable of operating
on any frequency between 24 and 35 MHz. This would apply to future
manufacture. Use of existing amplifiers by amateurs, or future
homebrew of an amplifier for 10 meters would be permitted.
Docket 21117 proposes to institute type approval of all
commercially manufactured transmitters and external amplifiers
under the FCC type acceptance program. Homebrew or modification
of equipment by an individual amateur would be permitted.
April QST carries a full description
of the changes proposed in Dockets 21116 and 21117. Comments
on both are due to FCC by May 25.
All three of the above dockets
involve significant changes to the amateur radio service. Please
let your views be known to your ARRL Director/Vice Director so
we can better represent you. And, if you feel strongly on any
of these subjects, file your own comments with FCC. I can supply
a copy of any of the Dockets as well as a suggested format for
filing comments with FCC. How would you like to see amateur radio
develop?? ... W6EJJ, Jay Holladay, Vice Director, JPL Ext. 4443.
TWO NEW ARRL PUBLICATIONS
ARRL has just come out with two
new publications, which we felt are worthy of a review for our
readers. The first is not strictly "new;" it is the
76th edition of our old standby, The Radio Amateur's License
Manual. But it has been given a complete overhaul, including
a new approach to presenting the basic material for each license
class, Novice through Extra, and a new, larger size consistent
with the enlarged WT.
Instead of covering the material
in the traditional Question-and-Answer format, the basic knowledge
needed to understand and answer the questions is given. Test
questions follow each grouping of material, and at the end of
each chapter for each class of license is a glossary and complete
multiple choice sample test. These tests are in FCC format, and
answers are included in the back of the book for self-checking.
Applicable International Rules,
as well as the complete FCC rules and Regs governing the Amateur
Radio Service, are presented as separate chapters. In fact, the
FCC rules presentation is far more legible than the "original"
put out by the Government Printing Office! Cost for the 76th
edition is $3.00.
This reviewer is pleased to see
this 166 page book finally available, and recommends it as a
must for anyone studying for Technician or higher class license.
It would also do as a refresher for someone trying for Novice
that has considerable familiarity with the subject; but for someone
starting cold with little or no amateur knowledge, we recommend
instead ARRL's Tune In the World With Ham Radio (Book and Code
Instruction Cassette, $7.)
The second new publication is
really all new. It is a joint effort of Tektronix' Wes Hayward,
W7ZOI, and QST's Technical Editor, Doug DeMaw, W1FB. Titled Solid
State Design for the Radio Amateur, it covers theory as well
as practice in the areas of solid state Transmitters, Amplifiers,
Matching Networks, Receivers, Test Equipment and Modulation Methods.
Many very interesting new techniques using solid state devices
heretofore missing from ham literature are presented. There are
several appendices, covering material such as Phasing SSB, Bandpass
Filter Design, Distortion Properties of Amplifiers and Receivers,
Transistor Models and Amplifier Analysis. Many projects are described
that illustrate applications of the principles. Highly recommended
for the experimentally inclined, serious amateur. 250 pages in
the new large QST format, $7.00. [W6IUV]
JPL VOYAGERS VOYAGE TO CAPE
Several club members have been
called to duty at the Kennedy Space Center in support of the
upcoming launches of Voyager (formerly the MJS'77 spacecraft.)
We hope to keep in touch either through their own personal stations,
or when they operate the KSC Club Station, WB4ICJ. Those who
will be enjoying the warm Florida summer weather during the next
few months are:
DE WR6APQ PASADENA ...
So says the CW IDer of our 220
MHz repeater as it meters out perfect code at 20 wpm every few
minutes. We thought it could also serve as the title of a regular
column on repeater-related VHF activities of our members.
To start with, here is a complete
list of repeater users thus far. If we left anyone out, please
let us know:
- W6BFA - Bill W6LPJ
- Archie
- N6BH - Booth WB6MJK
- Steve
- WA6BMA - Joe WA6MYJ
- Jim
- HK4CVV - Elvia WA6PEA
- Walt
- K6CYY - Bob K6PGX
- Norm
- W6EJJ - Jay WB6QWC
- Bob
- WB6FXJ - Bill
WA6SLB - Dick
- W6FXN - Dick WA6SQF
- Don
- WA6HHU - Len WB6TEB
- Mike
- W6IUV - Merv WA6TPW
- Ron
- WA6JBZ - Dick WA6ULA
- Gil
- K6JUB - Erv WB6WXK
- Pete
- K6KVC - See N6BH W6ZH - Pete
While it's not news now to those
operating on the repeater, we feel the need to chronicle some
of the giant steps the repeater has made in the past few weeks.
Five antenna work parties were organized by Walt, WA6PEA. These
involved antenna assembly, hardline installation and pressurizing,
antenna tuning, and antenna and repeater installation on the
hill.
Glenn Berry
and Bob Biswell, of BOB Aerial Artists, adjust antenna element
with aid of very useful Cherry Picker.
CONGRATULATIONS ...
... To members Ron Ploszaj, WA6TPW,
and Pete Lyman, WB6WXK, upon receiving their Outstanding Leadership
Medals at the NASA Special Awards Ceremony on April 25, in recognition
of outstanding contributions to the Viking Project. (Now that
Viking activities will be tapering off, we hope to see more of
both of you in the club! ... Ed.)
WA6PEA wrestles
with cavity tuning at WRAPS.
[Both photos
this page by K6PGX.]
On April 18, the 4-dipole Cushcraft
antenna was installed on the antenna mesa, and on April 19 the
repeater itself was moved into a temporary portable building
while a search goes on for our own weatherproof enclosure. Even
though the building is only 50 feet from the pole, hardline was
used to minimize losses. The SWR still has to be lowered by tuning
the gamma matches on the dipoles, but the improvement in performance
over what we had in the JPL building is remarkable. We now cover
most of the San Gabriel Valley well, and most of the San Fernando
Valley with the exception of some bad spots in Sunland and Burbank.
Surprisingly, we have coverage to nearly all the coastal areas
including LAX and down through Orange County.
Special thanks go to the following
persons who helped bring all these parties off: Steve Bednarczyk,
Glenn Berry, Bob Biswell, Norm Chalfin, Walt Diem, Booth Hartley,
Jay Holladay, Jim Lumsden, Merv MacMedan, Jack Patzold and Dick
Wetzel. And, an extra round of applause and thanks is extended
to Bill Pickett who works at the antenna range and stayed past
his regular hours several times to help check out our aerial
acrobats on his Cherry Picker. Without that, Bill, none of this
would have come to pass!
Three GROUP PURCHASES are
in the works. The first is for Clegg Model FM-DX, a 40-watt synthesized
2-meter FM transceiver having complete coverage, 143.5148.5 MHz
in 5 MHz steps. List, $599; substantial discount will be obtained
depending on quantity of the group. Cutoff date: June 15. See
Nash Williams, W6HCD, X2047
The second group is for Larsen
Kulrod antennas - 1/4 and 5/8 wave on 2m and 220, and collinears
for 450 MHz. Wide selection of mounts. Cutoff date: May 13. See
Walt Diem, WA6PEA, X 3186.
The third group is for Handitalkies,
HF beams, tubular crankup towers, rotators -all of Wilson manufacture,
including the new WE-80O portable synthesized 2m rig. Cutoff
date: May 6, sharp! See Walt Diem, X 3186.
AND MORE CONGRATULATIONS ...
... To member Cliff Moore, K6KII,
who inches up another notch in the DXCC Honor Roll with a total
confirmed countries count of 343.
... To member Merv MacMedan, W6IUV,
who, in spite of this newsletter, managed to reach the 200-country
mark.
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Here are your editor's notes from
the April Board Meeting. Remember, these haven't been approved,
so consider them (as a JPL rubber stamp I once saw said, "Information
Only - Do Not Use."
The April 27, 1977 Board was called
to order by Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ. The following were in attendance:
- Stan Brokl, K6YYQ Merv
MacMedan, W6IUV
- Merrill Burnett, K6BER Dick Piety,
K6SVP
- Walt Diem, WA6PEA Ron
Ploszaj, WA6TPW
- Jay Holladay, W6EJJ Rich
Ward, N6BF
- Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ Nash
Williams, W6HCD
- Gil Yanow K6TOS
Jim announced that the club was
going to try to get N6V resurrected in spite of the current special
event moratorium by the FCC. Rich Ward presented a plan for a
commemorative activity for the Voyager launch assuming we would
have to use our regular call (W6 Voyager In Outerspace.) It would
seem that CW would be impractical, though, and most activity
would have to be carried on SSB, SSTV, and FM unless we could
get a special call.
Ron Ploszaj announced that we
now have 97 paid members for 1977. He presented the application
of George Riggins, WA6DZR, for renewal as an off-lab member,
which has to have Board approval. The Board unanimously approved
his membership.
Jim Lumsden announced that a composite
videotape had been made of all the publicity or TV that N6V got,
and was being shipped to Robot in San Diego for their use at
the Dayton Hamvention. Upon its return to us, it will be shown
at the Fresno Hamfest also.
Stan Brokl reported that there
was lots of interest in Field Day, as judged by the returned
slips. We will organize into teams for CW, SSB, and VHF-UHF.
We have 2 beams, inverted vees, and are even looking into 6 meters,
a band that we couldn't use from the old Mt. Wilson site. Ralph
West, WB6YMF, will be organizing the Cook-out.
Jim announced that ERC is counting
on us to help their JPL Picnic by selling hot dogs as usual this
July. Dr. Serrano was extremely pleased with the Tour of JPL
that was organized and run by the club, and will be looking forward
to more in the future.
Walt Diem gave a status report
on the repeater, and we have included most of that or page 3.
He also announced that he had been appointed to the SCRA Technical
Committee for coordination of 2 meter and 220 MHz frequencies.
Congratulations, Walt!
Gil Yanow, K6TOS, announced that
the next Energy Fair would be held in November at the Anaheim
Convention Center. He proposed that a ham radio station, showing
what can be achieved operating from Solar panels, be set up and
operated by us. It would run four days.
Finally, Jay Holladay presented
Jim Lumsden with the framed certificate of merit that was announced
at the last regular club meeting - for his contribution as N6V
team leader in increasing the awareness of amateur radio among
the public. Well done, Jim.
The meeting ended at 1:05. [W6IUV]
FIELD DAY MEETING
I expect to have a meeting on
May 16 of all the Field Day participants, for planning our assault
on Table Mountain. The signup slips received so far show excitement
and interest not seen before. If anyone missed the April 29 deadline,
please get me your Field Day Slip (from last month's newsletter)
before May 13. It is absolutely needed for budgeting the dinner.
A notice will be mailed to those who have signed up concerning
the meeting.
73 -Stan, K6YYQ Field
Day Chairman
SERIOUS CIRCUITS
The other day Nash Williams, W6HCD,
was in my office when he noticed a funny looking plastic box
on my desk and asked what it was. Obviously made of components
from the local hardware store, I told him it was a training aid
used to demonstrate a series circuit to students.
The box has a 60 Hz plug and wire
connected to two switches and two light bulb sockets. A red bulb
is in one socket, a green bulb in the other. One switch has a
red splotch of paint on it; the other switch is painted green.
The components are mounted in a clear plastic box so all circuitry
is clearly visible. Nash looked at the box and agreed it was
indeed a simple series circuit.
I plugged the box into a wall
outlet and demonstrated how the box worked. Both switches were
on, so, of course, both lights were on, burning at less than
full intensity. When either bulb was unscrewed, both lights went
out. When both switches were turned off, again, both lights went
off. The next step was to turn off the red switch. Of course,
only the red light went off. The green switch controlled the
green light, and the red switch controlled the red light. Nash
didn't seem too happy with the fact that each switch controlled
one bulb, but I assured him it was consistent with this series
circuit.
As I unscrewed the bulbs and interchanged
them in the sockets, I explained another basic principle of electricity.
Every 60 Hz plug is pretty much the same as any other: if I were
to plug a radio in this room or one across town, one would expect
the same effects. By the same token, one would expect the red
and green lights to act the same regardless of which socket they
were in, right? Indeed, after switching the bulbs around, the
red switch still controlled the red light and the green switch
still controlled the green light. Nash looked quite puzzled.
I was surprised that such an experienced amateur would know so
little about a simple series circuit.
About two days later I found a
schematic in my mail, from Nash. He had discovered the secret
of this "series" circuit. Can you? If you want an in-person
demo, Nash still has the box. His solution will be in next month's
W6VIO CALLING. [Tnx Paul Lecoq, K6KNA]
SOLD OUT
The Banquet at the Fresno Hamfest
has been sold out. According to Dave Philips, WA6WLT, Fresno
Hamfest Chairman, this is the largest turnout they ever had.
Interest has been undoubtedly spurred by the Tech Talks Radio
and Radar Astronomy by K6YYQ, N6V Commemorative Station by WA6MYJ,
Oscar Activities and Viking Results by K6PGX, and Oven-to-Oven
QSO's at S-Band by K6HIJ, all of whom are JPLARC members, and
Contesting by W60AT.) In addition, K6YYQ is the Banquet speaker,
and he will speak on "Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence"
(SETI) describing JPL's SETI program - a real room-packer! The
Fresno Hamfest is May 6-8 at Fresno's Holiday Inn Airport. Contact
Dave Philips for reservations at 209-224-2333. Stan will also
give the SETI talk at the Los Angeles Amateur Radio Convention
in Burbank at LeRC, May 21-22. Contact Stan for info - X2715.
Go back to the W6VIO
Calling Index.