"COLUMBIA, COLUMBIA, THIS IS HOUSTON" - A wild idea proved to be the spark that ignited an RF explosion during the recent historic return of the Space Shuttle Columbia to orbit. (NASA Photograph)
Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ, determined that access could be obtained for the Shuttle Mission Air-to-Ground Communications Audio Net which is distributed to NASA Centers, and that the audio was "Released". Jim figured that it would be neat to make the audio available for JPL Radio Club Members to call up and listen to on the Club's Open Repeater, W6VIO/R (224.04 MHz). Walt, WA6PEA, modified the repeater to couple in the audio and to permit "user Touch-Tone control". What followed is probably the largest spontaneous, most disciplined amateur radio happening ever!
The Club's Open Repeater, W6VIO/R. was selected for the audio because it was felt that a few other hams on 220 MHz in the Los Angeles area would probably appreciate being able to call up the Air-Ground Mission Net whenever they wanted. The idea was germinated only a few days prior to launch, so no advanced publicity was undertaken, partly because it was not known if the Repeater mods would work, and partly because of the short time available. That made absolutely no difference! Within hours after launch, an unbelievable number of other Repeater and Remote Base Systems were picking up the audio and relaying it throughout their own systems.
Wide-area Systems such as the CACTUS and DARN Nets, with coverage over the entire Western and Southwestern United States, were among the many systems known to have picked up the audio from W6VIO/R. Many 2-Meter and 220 MHz Repeaters simultaneously had the audio. Merv, N6NO, reports hearing the W6VIO/R CW identifier wafting through the environs of Dow Radio in Pasadena. A quick reconnaissance revealed not one, but three sources: two persons with handy-talkies, and one shelf mounted rig at the Ham Counter all sounding out with the intriguing audio! The stereo effect was "mind-boggling"!
We expected that perhaps one relay to 2 Meters would happen, but the full extent may never be realized. The known record relay for now must go to the report of Australia picking the audio up on.... 10 meters (28.700)! The audio went from W6VIO/R on 220 MHz to 2 Meters, then on to 10 Meters, through a quickly devised Patch Circuit.
Art, WA6SAL, included a brief audio excerpt on a KIEV, Glendale, News Spot. The major content of the excerpt was a brief break in the Mission Audio while Columbia was out of range, during which local hams said "thank you" to the JPL Radio Club. It is rumored that other radio stations had similar coverage.
As the flight progressed, and the Ham audience exploded in size and geographic area, the Amateur Community showed excellent discipline. Repeater QSO's (mostly necessary) were kept brief. Most stations identified with their call, even for very brief transmissions. Both of us (Walt and Jim) were impressed (and relieved) at the impressive maturity and courtesy shown to the Club and the Operation. The only sign of indignance came during a couple of brief times the audio was commanded down, usually by someone trying to assure himself that the audio really could be "user controlled". Before the experimenter could function it back up, someone else already had done it! Fortunately, the Repeater and audio link itself held together: That was really continuous duty!
Obviously, others were involved in getting equipment on line for the event. Stan, N6MP, and Warren, K6GPK, are to be thanked for late night support, usually the night before launch.
Both of us (Walt & Jim) extend our thanks to the Club members who supported the operation (Astronaut wakeup to Astronaut sleep; Launch to Touchdown!). We also extend our thanks, on behalf of the JPL Amateur Radio Club, to the entire HAM Fraternity whose cooperation was so vitally important, and noticed.
TV and Radio coverage of major events such as the long duration manned space flights, has always been frustrating because of the news commentators' inevitable propensity for jabbering away while much more meaningful audio is available. The flavor and the feeling of the event become lost entirely. Many Hams reported over the air that they turned the TV volume down and set their handy-talkie on top of the TV set to get the best of both worlds. There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that the reason for the wide acceptance and popularity of this activity can be summed up in a comment by Jay W6EJJ, "I have been in the space business for over 20 years, but I have never felt so close to an operation as I did this one!"
Everyone listening in heard it all, and everyone was up there in heart and spirit.
WE DID IT FOR OURSELVES, BUT THE WORLD LISTENED IN. (Walt - WA6PEA & Jim - WA6MYJ)
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
To say that I've got a hard act to follow would be the understatement of the year. All the past editors have set a standard of excellence not to be surpassed. To keep up with this standard will be a full time challenge.
As with all new editors I've got plans to set the journalism world on fire. I want W6VIO Calling to continue being the best that it can be. The problem lies with the fact that I don't possess the technical prowess of my predecessors. It's going to be a really uphill job for me.
If they had started me out last year with a column to write on radio recipes, it would have been a piece of cake. I'm a whiz in the kitchen with onion breadboard and deep fried resistors, or, they could have assigned a story on how to tune-up a 509 over the air. I'm an expert on tweaking the trim capacitors as long as Walt (PEA) or Jim (KPW) talks me through it. Now a story like that I could have mastered. But instead you're stuck with an editor who when told to put a crowbar on her radio for over-voltage went out to the garage and GOT A CROWBAR. When asked to go on a radio club fox hunt wondered how they fastened the transmitter to the little beast's neck (did they use a collar I stupidly asked). Oh gang - we're in trouble. VIO's future depends on you.
It's depending on you to submit terrific stories. I need help (we've known that for years) but now I need help with VIO Calling. Any article that you can find time to write will find this editor blessing you forever. Are you going to let them get away with appointing a non-competent to this important post? Of course you're not - your revenge will be to write a short article on any phase of amateur radio and submit it to this incapable person. Already I've heard mumbling of the first "recall" ever of an editor. When assigned the job the words of encouragement I act were "Do it right or you're through". Now I ask you does that inspire confidence. Letters to the Editor have sounded like death threats. Now I ask you how can you bludgeon someone to death with a handy-talkie? The writing on that one was vaguely familiar. One came in the form of an invitation (to quit). No - I won't quit. I'll work twice as hard as anyone else out of necessity. I'll become technical. I'll learn all the right words. This is my goal. This is my promise. But right now I can see an angry mob forming in the JPL parking lot waving signs "We Want Jim Back" and thanks to the group buy they ALL have HANDIE TALKIES in their hands - gotta RUN. Hope to see you next month. Eileen - KA6DGV
DX NEWS
This article is the first of a series designed to advise the Club membership of what's upcoming in the realm of DX. A number of bulletins such as "The DX Bulletin", "The Long Island DX Bulletin", and "Ham Radio Report" will be used as sources for the information contained. The following information is provided for your listening pleasure. Good Luck and I'll see you in the pile-ups!
Bouvet - The call signs 3Y0A and 3Y0B have been issued to a German team that plans on operating from this rare island in January if the financial arrangements can be successfully made.
So. Yeman - J28AZ is hopeful in putting 701AB on the air in December.
Crozet - FB8WG is available primarily through list operations conducted by W7PHO (14225 kHz at about 1500Z).
Albania - An Albanian operation ZA2HAM is being rumored to run from 4 December to 14 December. (Bob - N6ET)
WHAT IS THE 220 SMA?
The 220 Spectrum Management Association of Southern California is an organization devoted entirely to provide coherent operation in the 1.3 meter band as well as to protect the rights of all the users of that band. The coherent operation is accomplished through the Technical Coordination Board, whose 8 members, elected from within the membership, have the ungrateful task to accommodate and coordinate all the requests for frequency allocation in the limited 5 MHz spectrum. To that effect the 220 SMA has prepared a band plan that provides each amateur operator with sufficient spectrum where he/she can operate in his/ her preferred mode. To date the board has successfully coordinated 90 repeater pairs, 71 auxiliary links, 28 radio remote controls, 27 remote base stations and has reserved space for 20 simplex channels, weak signal DX, CW, SSB, ASCII and RTTY.
As for protecting the rights of the users of the 1.3 meter band, the four member Board of Directors has always been on the alert to repel any and all possible attacks on the band by responding to all Notices of Inquiry (NOI's) from the FCC pertaining to 220 and continuously reminding manufacturers of communications equipment that the so-called "unused band" is alive and heavily populated in Southern California.
The success demonstrated on band planning and the effective defense of the rights to this band has given the 220 SMA recognition nationwide as one of the leaders in spectrum management.
Membership in the Association is open and it operates in a one-man-one -vote principle thus eliminating the existence of pressure groups. Dues are $2.00 per quarter and general membership meetings are held quarterly. Next meeting will be Jan. 23, at the Orange Room of the DWP in downtown L.A. Come join us and help us preserve the best band in the Amateur spectrum. (Randy - WB6QWR)
WARNING: TUNE-UP CLINIC COMING IN JANUARY
Next month the fifth annual JPL ARC VHF-UHF Tune-up Clinic will be held to enable our members to maintain their VHF and UHF equipment in tip-top shape. As he has done for five years now, Miguel Santana, WB6TEB, will provide the professional grade test equipment to check frequency, deviation, power output, touch tones and possibly even spectrum for spurious outputs. While plans are not yet fully jelled, the clinic will probably be held at Miguel's house in Arcadia, in mid-January. Watch the JANUARY issue for exact details! (Merv - N6N0)
FCC EXAM SCHEDULE
The Long Beach Field Office gives us the following current information on their radio operator exam schedule:
APPOINTMENT
EXAM TYPE NECESSARY? GIVEN ONCommercial Radio -Telephone NO Tu,Th 8-2
Commercial Radio Telegraph YES As Arranged
Amateur Code & Written NO Wed 8 or 12
Amateur Written Only NO Tu, Wed,
(NO CODE) Thus, 8-2
In all cases, exams must be completed by end of business, 4 PM. Calculators or slide rules are permitted. The FCC field office is located at 3711 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 501, Long Beach, Ca. (Merv --N6NO)
OPERATION SANTA CLAUS NEEDS YOU!
All of us like to feel needed and all of us have a chance to do something about it this month. Volunteers are needed for Operation "Santa Claus". For those not familiar with this project, here's a brief explanation. Radio operators go to a local hospital to the Children's Ward and enable the children to hear Santa Claus on handheld or other portable rigs. On the other end is "Santa" (a ham volunteer) and a background cassette tape of North Pole sounds (wind, sleigh bells, Santa workshop elves working hard). YOU can volunteer to be "a" Santa (they especially need one Santa to be bilingual) or you can volunteer to be a radio operator talking to the children in the hospitals and helping them contact "Santa". There are going to be five nights when they need help. The dates are tentatively set for Dec. 10, 11, 14, 15 & 16.
You can help for a couple of hours on one night and then be off-duty for the rest of the time. You don't have to believe in Christmas or Santa Claus to help. All you have to believe in is helping kids that don't have too much to be happy about. The light in their eyes will be your reward.
Contact Don Lewis WA6MRN (286-8788) if you can help. He also needs a local coordinator. Please don't leave it to the "other guy" to do it. The other guy won't - and - the poor little children will be the only ones to suffer because someone didn't care. You'll be surprised at how much nicer your holidays will be if you help someone else. (Eileen - KA6DGV)
JPL ARC SUPPORTS RUNNING EVENTS
JPL Amateur Radio Club members provided communications support for two running events held at the Rose Bowl sponsored by the JPL Jogging Club. The Club WB6IEA 220 MHz repeater was used for both events.
The first event was the annual "Great Pumpkin Run" held on October 30 (the Friday prior to Halloween). The distance was 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) along a course that encircled the Rose Bowl. John McKinney, N6AVW, using a Tempo S-2 was at the starting line (which is also the 3-mile checkpoint). The sound of the starting pistol (loaned courtesy of Lumsden, WA6MYJ) was relayed to checkpoints along the course permitting the synchronized start of stopwatches. Connie Morris, KA6JAM was at the 1-mile checkpoint also with a Tempo S-2. Dick Mathison, KG6Y, was at the 2-mile checkpoint with his Mobile Midland 13-513. Intermediate times were called to the runners as they passed checkpoints and were relayed to the gallery at the finish line. George Morris, W6ABW, was at the finish line recording the results. George came prepared with his Midland 13-513, battery packs and 1/4 wave spike.
The second event was the 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) NASA Intercenter Running Competition held on Friday the 13th of November. Organizers had an easy time with this race by simply asking the participants to run twice around the previous Rose Bowl course. John, N6AVW, George, W6ABW, and Connie, KA6JAM, returned with their same complement of equipment. John Earnest, N6CTT, was at the 2 and 5 mile checkpoint with his Tempo S-2. (John -N6AVW)
AVON WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON SUPPORT - Six club members provided communications again this year for the Avon Women's Half Marathon long distance race (roughly 13 miles). This major event in the women's race circuit was held on Nov. 15. The race started in Brookside Park in Pasadena, circled the Rose Bowl and continued on city streets to the So. Pasadena border and back again. Although the top runners did not appear this year, around 450 runners participated. Club members participating were Rick Endsley, WA6YIG, with the race manager on the lead car, Bob Layne, W6LTC, on the press truck, Art Zygielbaum, WA6SAL, at the first water station, Connie Morris, KA6JAM, at the one mile and 1O KM mark, OM George, W6ABW, at the start/finish line, and Warren Apel, K6GPK, at the 10 mile mark. The major radio traffic consisted of progress reports on the leaders back to the start/finish area, which were then relayed by public address to the spectators. We were also able to call for aid when one of the runners collapsed near the 10 mile mark. Warren called George at the finish line who dispatched the paramedics to the scene. Fortunately, it appeared to be a case of exhaustion, but the victim was taken to the hospital anyway for observation. As usual for this event, it was a beautiful day, lots of beautiful scenery and everyone had a good time. (Warren - K6GPK)
A CONTACT WITH CUBA
(I request that this note not be reprinted in any wider media publication.)
Earlier this year, I was fortunate to have a very pleasant CW contact with a station in Cuba. Being of a slight DXing bent (interested, but not devoted!), I mailed a QSL to the station. My QSL has a picture of one of the Deep Space Network's 64M (210 foot diameter) antennas and a description of how I have used those antennas in radio science experiments with various spacecraft. Several months later, I received the return QSL. A letter attached to the back touched me greatly. I'd like to share it with you, but you'll understand the need for me to hide the identity of my friend. At the very least, the letter is instructive to those of us who take our "everyday" freedoms for granted. I will quote from the letter, not correcting the English and leave out identifying parts:
Cuba,
1981
Dear Mr. Zygielbaum,
Today received your very interesting QSL, with the info, printed on back of your QSL. Really it is something marvelous, things concerning the space. In Cuba we can't get any info about U.S. activity on space, because you must know that Cuba is a satellite of Russia, my info comes listening to radio of Voice of America, and the rest of the world, but local info. nothing doing. I could see by U.S. television, on channel 11-Fort Myers, the walking on the moon. I built a Collinear 16 element to pick up sigs. from U.S. If you can give the dope on the better antenna, will appreciate you giving me such info. Now I am sending you my special QSL, my regular QSL is printed by myself because, there is no way to get QSL printed by govern. hi. (deleted) ... now I'm retired, but we can't get tech. magazine etc. it is prohibited, can you imagine this situation? Hi. I want to have an answer to this note to be sure that my QSL arrived safe to you, understand? Hoping to hear from you soon. I'll say 73 and DX.
A reply has been sent.
I think that the important message here is to remember those things that are commonplace here and those conveniences we take for granted. One should also note that Ham Radio is an important way to maintain contact with the world.
(Once again I request that this note not be reprinted in any wider media publication.) (Art - WA6SAL)
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JPL ARC MEMBERS ACTIVE IN FOURTH ANNUAL ARRL UHF CONTEST
Out of the 10 Southwestern Division entries in the UHF Contest held last August, and reported in December QST, no less than 4 were JPL ARC members. W6ABW led with a score of 2430 points, 90 QSO's and 9 multipliers on 220 MHz. George's score was second highest for single operator stations in the division, but he only used 220 MHz: the highest scorer had to resort to 220, 450 and 1215 MHz! Congratulations George! Others competing were Merv N6NO; George, KD6FL; and Dick, KG6Y. This is the type of report the FCC looks at to quantitatively assess the amateur activity level on 220 MHz. We hope to see all of you again next year, along with many more of our 150 members, 70 of whom are equipped for 220! (Merv - N6NO)
EDITORIAL SECTION - The opinions expressed in any editorialized articles contained herein are the opinion of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the JPL Amateur Radio Club.
VISITOR To 224.08 DECIDES TO STAY
In an incredible display of incompetence, the 220 MHz Spectrum Management Association recently sanctioned a closed repeater/autopatch in Orange County to share the frequency with the JPL ARC closed repeater/autopatch which has been operating for years on 224.08 MHz.
The repeater, initially identified as "KQ6P/R" and located in Yorba Linda, was allowed to test for compatibility on the frequency with us. Immediately, problems became evident. In a good co-channel arrangement, both systems must have essentially mutually-exclusive coverage areas so users of one system are normally out of range of the other. It is conceivable for both systems to share identical coverage areas if all users of each machine can hear the other machine. In our case, some areas overlap but others are exclusive, resulting in unpredictable sporadic but largely unintentional interference between users of the two groups.
As an example, we may hear nothing on the channel and bring up our repeater which then interferes with their output; or perhaps one of their users gets into the input of our machine while it is in operation, causing both conversations to vie for the channel. This latter situation is particularly irritating when they, not hearing our use, transmit during one of our autopatch calls which locks out the autopatch downlink. And that doesn't begin to document the confusion caused to the non-ham on the other end of the telephone!
We have even experienced unintentional interference when one of our users tried to make a highway emergency call. The call was disrupted and had to be re-dialed with all the attendant queuing and waiting for a highway patrol operator to take the message again. Precious minutes were lost. Since the visiting machine only responds to their own users' signals, there is no way for us to break into their QSO to ask to use the frequency in an emergency.
KQ6P did not just plop on the frequency willingly. He had previously been coordinated by the SMA to share 224.90 with a repeater in Thousand Oaks having a service area supposedly limited to Ventura and Santa Barbara. The owner/trustee of the Thousand Oaks machine accepted that coordination which included his written agreement that it would not put a useable signal into LA. Tests verified this and it seemed like a good coordination. But when KQ6P/R came up, suddenly the Thousand Oaks machine got very loud in LA and Orange County. Obviously, something had changed. But instead of enforcing the conditions of the Thousand Oaks coordination, the SMA decided the easiest way out was to find another co-channel for KQ6P/R. Their admitted rationale was that since JPL operates two 220 MHz repeaters, we could time-share the frequency of our closed repeater with another group; besides, there were claims of light usage on our closed repeater.
Several JPL ARC users of this frequency sent letters to the SMA complaining about the poor choice for coordination, and citing the interference we were experiencing. The SMA then cancelled the test sanction for KQ6P on 224.08 and coordinated them back on 224.90... apparently intending to get the Thousand Oaks machine to return it's pattern to exclude LA.
The Coordination Board of the 220 SMA seems to have performed sloppily in this coordination. The co-channel test sanction with us was done verbally in direct violation of the SMA's by-laws. Verbal agreements were not followed up by paperwork; repeater trustees of affected systems were not notified of upcoming co-channel sanctions; charges of some systems violating their sanctions by altering sites, power or antenna patterns were never followed up, or, if followed up belatedly, corrective action was never attempted.
We feel the SMA is at a crossroads. Up to now, there have been enough frequencies to handle all the requests for coordination, and while not always easy, amicable solutions could be found. Problems have been relatively minor. Admittedly, the job is getting more difficult because of limited resources, but the SMA must not allow the 220 Community to lose respect for it through shoddy technical performance. The only way a voluntary technical coordination organization can function is through respect of the people it coordinates. It must therefore demonstrate it's technical integrity by thoroughly researching every aspect before issuing the coordination. Furthermore, it must demand the same honesty and integrity from those it coordinates. After all, nobody likes the expense or inconvenience of changing frequencies at the whim of an irresponsible coordination board. The SMA must always strive to keep the coordination board competent and responsible, or the organization will become entirely ineffective.
Meanwhile, back to our story. KQ6P himself, merely an unwitting pawn in this unbelievable game of chess, moved upstate bequeathing his machine to those whom remained. The present call is WA6OPQ/R, and it is still located in Yorba Linda. Their test sanction for co-channeling with us expired November 26, but casual listening will show they are still with us. It appears they want to stay, as they have initiated an appeal to the SMA to do so.
"Appeals" are voted on by the general membership of the SMA at their quarterly general membership meetings. The next one will be on Saturday, January 16, 1982, at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, 111 N. Hope Street, Los Angeles.
If you want to help prevent an unworkable co-channel coordination with our machine, we call your attention to the fact that all SMA members have a vote, and SMA membership is open to all interested hams at $8 per year. (Merv - N6NO)
FCC HAS ANNOUNCED THAT INTERIM PERMITS (ISSUED FOR 90 DAYS - UPGRADES) CAN BE EXTENDED BY WRITING TO THE OFFICE WHERE TEST WAS ADMINISTERED. THE MAIN OFFICE AT GETTYSBURG IS RUNNING BEHIND SCHEDULE. ALSO - CHECK YOUR RENEWAL DATE ON YOUR LICENSE. FCC FORM 610 (which must be dated Aug 1980 - older forms no longer accepted) IS THE FORM TO USE TO RENEW OR APPLY FOR NEW LICENSE. SOME FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM JAY W6EJJ OR STAN N2YQ IF NEEDED.
1981 is going out-with a bang for W6VIO Calling. We have a special "6 PAGE ISSUE" for December. We had several "time-critical" articles and two really long ones so the end result is a packed issue. Your comments will be most welcome.
CLOSED REPEATER COMES TO AID IN STORM
During the rainstorm on Thanksgiving evening, our closed repeater/autopatch proved to be "worth every penny" to member N6ET. He suffered a blowout while driving down the 210 Freeway in East Pasadena and found himself stranded in the center divider with no flashlight. A quick call for emergency help raised N6NO who gave him the local AAA emergency road service number. Bob made the call on the autopatch and a tow truck (with plenty of lights) arrived in 15 minutes to help him on his way. Says Bob "Whatever the radio cost, it paid for itself tonight!". (Merv N6NO)
20th. ANNIVERSARY OF OSCAR-I
WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 9, 1981 - 238-543 NOON
Our December meeting will celebrate the 20th. Anniversary of the first Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR), launched on December 12, 1961. Recordings of the now-historic "HI" beeped by that first nongovernment satellite will be played, and we hope to have a member of the original OSCAR crew, to recall the early days. The meeting is being coordinated by Norm Chalfin, K6PGX. (Merv - N6NO)
CLASSIFIED ADS COLUMN
NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO FINALLY CLEAN OUT THAT OLD GARAGE OR HAM SHACK. A NEW YEAR IS STARTING AND IT'S TIME TO GET ORGANIZED. GET RID OF THAT OLD PILE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEEN GATHERING DUST FOR YEARS. SOMEONE ELSE WILL LOVE GETTING A BARGAIN AND YOU'LL LOVE GAINING ALL THAT SPACE THAT YOU FORGOT YOU HAD. SET ASIDE SOME TIME THIS WEEK IN THE EVENINGS OR ON THE WEEKEND AND GET IT ORGANIZED. THEN LIST ALL THE ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO SELL, GIVE-AWAY, DONATE OR TRADE AND SEND IT IN TO VIO CALLING CLASSIFIEDS. YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY 'YOU'LL GET FAST RESULTS. REMEMBER IF YOU HAVEN'T USED IT IN A YEAR - DO YOU REALLY NEED TO KEEP IT? SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE!!!
LOST TRACK OF MY VIKING N6V MEMORABILIA NOTEBOOK IF YOU KNOW OF IT'S LOCATION PLEASE CONTACT JIM - WA6MYJ X6726.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It gives me great pleasure to announce that with this issue, the new editor of "W6VIO Calling" will be Eileen McKinney, KA6DGV. As announced last month, Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ will be taking over the job of Repeater Committee Chairman. While Jim did an excellent job of handling this award winning newsletter, we're fortunate in having such an able and enthusiastic replacement as Eileen. Please forward all contributions of articles in care of John McKinney at MIS 233-208. Eileen can usually be reached on the repeaters or you can leave a message with John 354-6610 and he'll relay it to her.
A reminder: Elections will be held during the December General Meeting for next year's club officers. The slate proposed by the Nominating Committee (Warren Apel, Ron Ploszaj and Dick Piety) will be presented in the December meeting notice. According to the Club by-laws, additional nominations may be made from the floor at the December meeting, so take a few moments to think about who YOU would like to have running the Club next year and voice your opinions.
Since this will be my last opportunity as President to harangue you in this column allow me to indulge myself one more time. I have enjoyed this year tremendously because it has given me great satisfaction to be part of such a dynamic and well known Club. As I have tried to post in previous columns, we are now extremely visible and enjoy an outstanding reputation for our Commemoratives, public service, official activities within the ARRL, our newsletter and repeaters. Maintaining this position requires that we find a new focus for our efforts, now that we have a while to wait for the next planetary encounter. The examples of the commemoratives and the Shuttle voice link transmissions show that amateur radio and space are closely linked. We have the opportunity to develop this relationship further by participating more seriously than before in AMSAT projects and other space related ham activities. At JPL we are in a unique position with respect to the space program. Let's do what we can to take advantage of this relationship and at the same time, keep the space program visible in the ham community.
CHRISTMAS BANQUET - This year the Crescenta Valley and Pasadena Radio Clubs will be hosting a Christmas Banquet at the Elks Club in Pasadena on Thursday, Dec. 17th. Featured will be an all-you-can-eat buffet with roast beef, ham and turkey entrees. Amateur radio film-maker Dave Bell will be the featured speaker. Members of the JPL Club are invited to participate and may obtain tickets for $9.50 each by calling Jerry Hawkins, WD6CKN at 240-0673. (Stan - N6MP)
HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!
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