Permission to copy is
granted provided "W6VIO Calling" is credited
Contents
- Meeting Notice
- President's Message
- May Club Meetings
- DX News
- W6VIO Work Party
- Field Day, 1997
- Memorial Day Parade
- Classified Section
- ARRL News
- Field Day Sign Up Form
The next regular JPL Amateur Radio Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11, at noon in building 238, room 543. The topic for this month will be Field Day. Club Board of Directors meetings are held at noon on the fourth Wednesday of each month in 301-227. Everyone is welcome at both meetings; bring your lunch. n
President's
Message
By Randy Hammock, KC6HUR
First off, I would to like to say that the Emergency Communications Team Net meeting on W6VIO seems to be working fairly well. However, since there were not too many days where we were able to hold the net on this system during May, the board agreed to continue the test. Therefore, the Monday noontime net will continue to meet on W6VIO with the Newsline play on WB6IEA. As stated before, one of the purposes for this change is to test the performance of the entire system. As luck would have it, the link to TMO did fail. It was operational 5 minutes before the net, but went down just as the net got started. This may bear some looking into.
I am happy to report that I had a good response to my call for volunteers for the La Canada-Flintridge Memorial Day Parade. On the other hand, it turned out that our service was not needed. An explanation by way of history: For about the past 15 years, the JPL ARC has provided manpower to the parade formation area. Over the last several years, our involvement in the planning stages has become less and less, to the point where we would eventually get a phone call about a week before the parade asking us to work our magic. Hoping to get a jump on things, I asked for volunteers a month early (to make planning much easier) and began the process of contacting the parade organizers. Actually, Bob Layne became my acting deputy in this cause.
After one month of quite literally getting no response from the parade organizer, I found out that there was another group involved. Since we were making no headway with the organizer, I decided to pull the plug at such a point in time so as to provide our volunteers the freedom of replanning their weekend. Many thanks to the following for stepping forward when the call for help was put out: Bill Fessler, Jay Holladay, Allan Hubbard, Bob Layne, Dick Mathison, Rick Mckinney, Chuck Sarture and Art Zygielbaum.
As to Field Day, I would like to see as many of you as possible come up for a fun time. I realize that many of you have busy schedules, but make plans to come on up for a visit. Bob and Jay are planning a more relaxed time this year, concentrating on have fun. See you there. n
May Club
Meetings
By Chris Zygielbaum, N6WEI
General Meeting
The May General Meeting was held on Wednesday May 14, 1997. Randy Hammock (KC6HUR) called the meeting to order.
Walt Mushagian (K6DNS) reported that the Monday May 12 Emergency Net was held on 220, 2 meter, and 440 frequencies. Only 25% of the individuals who checked in were on 220. It was a successful test and it will continue at least through June. If it continues to be successful, it may become the standard operation.
Bob Polansky (N6ET) reported that the parts for the TH7DXX antenna rotor are on order and repairs will continue when the parts are received. Two open hard lines to the Mesa have been repaired; two more are pending repair kits.
There has been a disconnect between the JPL ARC and the organizers of the La Canada Flintridge Fiesta Days Parade. Randy has tried to make contact, but has been unable to do so. The club did not support the parade this year and Randy is expecting a meeting to discuss the future of the JPL ARC and the parade.
Jay Holladay (W6EJJ) reported that he has had difficulty in contacting the organizers of the JPL Open House (scheduled for May 31 and June 1). His schedule and the difficulty has resulted in his deciding that, unless someone else volunteers to pick up the activity, he will drop the idea of a JPL ARC booth in the Open House.
Bob Polansky (N6ET) spent the balance of the meeting discussing the plans for the June 28 and 29 Field Day.
The JPL and Caltech radio clubs will combine efforts at Mt. Gleason again this year. We will use W6VIO call sign and KA6DAN for the Novice call. Bob's plan is to participate in the 2A class. A more complete description of the Field Day plans can be found in the article on Field Day later in this newsletter.
Board of Directors Meeting
The BOD meeting was held on Wednesday, May 28. Randy Hammock called the meeting to order. For the first time, Bill Wood (WB6FXJ) attended the meeting via conference call.
Bob Polansky reported that Field Day participation has been very low. Randy volunteered to be a second tower climber, which gave Bob the confidence that we would be able to participate as originally planned. Planning is continuing, albeit slow, because of workloads and the limited resources.
Bob also reported on the W6VIO reconfiguration. The coaxial antenna switch and the tower sections that were ordered have arrived. Bob is planning a work party for May 31 to continue the repair work.
Bob has started the planning for the auction of excess JPL ARC parts that will provide funding for some of the parts that are required for antenna repairs. Randy Hammock volunteered to coordinate the auction. Randy will be the one who will receive the bids and select the winners based on their bids.
Walt Mushagian reported that the Monday Emergency Net continues to be successful on the three frequencies. The frequencies that are being used are 147.150, 224.080, and 449.975. The plan is to continue this mode at least through June.
Chuck Sarture (KG6NF) passed out a preliminary May Treasurer's report. He hasn't received notification of the month's income, but will incorporate it in the report when received. n
In spite of the fact that solar flux seems to be inching upwards, planned DX activities seem to be slow in following suit. As a result, today's column is somewhat brief.
DODECANESE - SV5/SM7DAY should be active through 13 June on both 20 and 17 meters. No frequencies or modes were specified.
ICELAND - TF/OT9ESZ and TF/LA6ZH plan activity from 13 through 20 June on 40 through 15 meters. On CW they'll operate from 20 to 30 kHz above the lower band edge. 20 meters is probably your only chance from the West Coast. The SSB frequency will be from 14240-14250 kHz.
MACQUARIE ISLAND - VK0GW has been spotted at 7100 kHz taking his own list at 0620Z. Macquarie is quite rare these days. Work him if you can! I hope he listens up in the American portion of the band.
ST. PAUL ISLAND - The CY9AA call should be heard on 160 through 10 meters, both phone and CW, from 26 June through 3 July. We'll try to work them from the Field Day site. Frequencies can be obtained from the 16 May edition of the 59(9) report hanging in the W6VIO trailer.
TUVALU - T20JH will start an operation from here on 5 July. He plans activity on 80 through 6 meters.
Like I said, not much planned in the way of exciting DXpeditions. Maybe some will materialize without warning. Good luck in the pile-ups. n
W6VIO
Work Party
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
On 10 May, we had a work party to "fix" several of our HF antennas. C. Carson, W. Mushagian, J. Norris, J. Person, R. Polansky, and R. Snyder were all there to help. Our plan was to lower the Sommers tower and to temporarily "fly" the Club's new TH7DXX on that tower. After lowering the tower and inspecting the antenna rotor, we found that the rotor mounting screws had stripped their way out of the bottom of the rotor, leaving the rotor housing in an unusable state. In addition, the rotor-mast clamp had been badly broken up, both problems due to the hurricane force winds we had earlier in the year. Parts are being flown in from Japan to fix the rotor. The bottom line? No beam on the tower at this time. The group was able to fix the inverted vee antenna, giving the Club antenna capability on 80, 40, and 15 meters (and perhaps other bands using our new antenna tuner). We were successful in making the Club's first contacts with the new TS-850 through the repaired inverted vee on both 15 and 40 meters.
We also found several hardline problems, most of which have been corrected. Unfortunately, the main hardline that goes all the way to the top of the hill is open, probably at one of the connecting splices made at the water tower site. If we were lucky enough to find repair kits, that problem will have been fixed by the time you read this.
The Club's new antenna switch was delivered, along with the first three sections of our new Rohn tower and lower section guying hardware. The JPL Facility Division will dig us some holes so we can start planting the tower on the upper mesa site cleared during a previous work party. Work continues; although, time out needs to be taken for Field Day now. n
Field
Day, 1996
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
and Jay Holladay, W6EJJ
It's that time again - time
to shake the dust loose from all that equipment and operating
expertise that may have been sitting dormant since last Field
Day. The 1997 Field Day effort by the JPL ARC will take place
on June 27 through June 29 on Mount Gleason.
This year the JPL ARC will again join forces with the Caltech Amateur Radio Club, but we plan a more relaxed approach to things this time around. We will operate Field Day in Class 2A (two HF transmitters) and will use our W6VIO call sign. Although we don't expect to win a national title, we should be pretty competitive and have a lot of fun. There will be ample opportunities to get some operating time for everyone who wishes to participate.
If you do not feel up to tackling all the FD QRM, please come up and help with setup, computer logging, dupe-sheet chores, or what have you. All hams at JPL and Caltech and their families and friends are invited to visit us at the Field Day site.
This year we will again use computers to log our Field Day QSO's. We will use the contest logging program CT (ver. 9.2-) by K1EA. If you would like to brush up on your CT logging skills or have an introduction to the software (or even have some practice CW QSOs), call Jay Holladay at 354-7758 and we will set up a practice session.
How You Can Take Part:
Please fill out the sign-up sheet on page 7 of this newsletter and return to Bob Polansky. Keep the rest of this issue and bring it with you to Field Day. Even if you do not return the sign-up sheet, please feel free to visit us at Mt. Gleason - but you'll have to take your chances on operating time if we are not expecting you.
Come to the JPL ARC Meeting on Wednesday, June 11 (238-543 at Noon) to hear more detail on Field Day planning and ask any questions you may have about the operation. There will be a work party on June 14 to check out equipment and get things ready to move up the hill. Also request a training session as mentioned above. The latest Field Day planning information will be disseminated via the Club's e-mail list and via the Monday net on the WB6IEA repeater.
Field Day activities will kick off on Friday morning, June 27. The hard-core FD types will take vacation that Friday to assist with the logistics and transportation chores. We will meet at 8:00 AM at the ham shack trailer by the East Gate to load all of the gear for the trip up the mountain. Once everything is loaded we will caravan to Mt. Gleason and begin setting up. Lunch and dinner will be served on Friday while we erect tents and the big antennas. The Field Day contest starts at 11 AM local (1800 UTC) Saturday and ends at the same time on Sunday. Three meals will be served on Saturday, as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday. After the contest is over we will have lunch and disassemble everything, leaving Mt. Gleason as we found it. Then it's back to JPL to return the Club equipment and home for a well-deserved shower and nap.
What To Bring to Field Day:
Even if you only plan to visit for the afternoon, it is wise to be prepared for anything. You may enjoy Field Day so much you will want to spend the night. To get to Mt. Gleason, see the map and directions on the next page. The road is paved all the way except for the short bypass around the correctional facility and any car can make it to the top.
Meals will be provided by the Club-suggested donation is $3 per person per meal to help defray expenses. You are responsible for your own place to sleep and enough warm clothing to stay comfortable during the cold nights (Mt. Gleason is at 6520 ft). Be prepared for weather like the Sahara Desert during the day and the Arctic at night, along with gale force winds, and you should be OK. Seriously, light thermal underwear is a big help if you are operating in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
The following is a suggested checklist for your personal FD preparations:
|
Wide-brimmed hat, Long-sleeved shirt |
||
|
Mosquito repellent, Toothbrush & paste |
||
|
2 gallons of water per person, Favorite snack food |
||
|
Sleeping bag, First-aid Kit, Flashlight, Chair |
||
|
Heavy jacket, Undershirt, Thermal underwear |
||
|
Jeans, Several pairs of socks, Boots |
||
|
,Money, Tent, 220 MHz Handy-talkie, Sunglasses |
||
|
Sunscreen, Soap, Lip balm, Maps |
||
|
AM/FM Radio (for earthquake report, etc.) |
Don't forget any needed medications or aspirin and vitamins. If you do spend the night, it is highly recommended that you bring a tent or camper. The view is well worth bringing camera and binoculars.
As far as Amateur Radio gear is concerned, the Clubs will furnish rigs (with some additional loans from the members). We can always use a spare HF or VHF rig as backup, so bring one along if it's convenient. Don't forget the rig-compatible power supply and cables. Bring whatever specialty operating items you wish. If you have a favorite keyer, headset, or boom mike, please bring it along. All the HF rigs will use 8-pin mike connector wired for Kenwood. (We could really use a digital voice "keyer" if anyone has one!) Also a small tool kit, extra table, antenna wire, battery-operated clock, spare batteries of all types, etc., always seem to come in handy. In short, anything you might need to be self-sufficient and stay operational under emergency conditions will probably be useful at Field Day. In fact, that's what the exercise is supposed to be all about. CU at FD!
Directions to Mount Gleason Field Day Site:
Take the Foothill Freeway (210) to La Canada. Exit at Angeles Crest Highway/Route 2. Go north 9.1 miles on Route 2 up into the San Gabriel Mts. Turn left at the junction with Angeles Forest Highway (N3). Continue 3.8 miles on Angeles Forest Highway past Big Tujunja Junction. Go another 5.9 miles through the tunnel, past Hidden Springs to the Monte Cristo Campground. Continue another 4.9 miles on Angeles Forest Highway to the Mill Creek Campground at the Mill Creek Summit. Turn left on Mt. Gleason Road. (The Mill Creek Campground will be on the right.) Continue 6.2 miles on Mt. Gleason Road until you reach the Mount Gleason Conversation Camp. Take dirt road bypass left of the Correction Facility; continue 2.5 miles. Keep to the right at Y-junction just after Microwave Station. When you reach the locked gate, call on Simplex for admission. The road will end at the Summit and our FD site. Do not block the road at the far end of the Mt. Gleason operating site by parking on it. Watch out for kids, antenna wires, and loose hams
Alternate Route: 210 Freeway to Interstate 5; North to 14 Freeway; Exit at Angeles Forest Highway take Angeles Forest (N3) South, turn right on Mt. Gleason Road. n
Talk-in Frequencies
- 224.08 (-) W6VIO SIMPLEX 224.08 (switch to Simplex
- 147.15 (+) W6VIO SIMPLEX 147.15 as you near the site)
Newsletter Deadline:
June 29 for the July issue of W6VIO Calling. Your articles, ads, photos, diagrams, letters to the editor, or technical material should be submitted to the editor via email (bill.wood@mindspring.com) or at the return address shown on the last page.
La Canada
Memorial Day Parade
By Carol Bruegge, KE6SRN
Over 20 La Canada PERCS provided radio communication for this year's La Canada Memorial Day Parade, held May 26. The PERCS (Public Emergency Radio Communications Service) are an element of the city's volunteer emergency response team. The volunteers who assisted in the staging area lined up the entrants and moved them onto the parade start. This was done in coordination with the parade chair and net control. A half dozen volunteers were assigned to work the parade route, where they encouraged entrants to pick up the pace as large gaps arose.
Highlights of the parade were the five Shriners in tiny red cars, the fly-by of vintage Air Force planes, and the many children from the La Canada schools, Girl and Boy Scouts, and preschool centers. The PERCS, with Dale Boyd, KD6PYQ, as net control, did an excellent job. They organized to retrieve a lost girl from the street, had the sheriff bring her to the comfort of the net-control motor home, and contacted her family to arrange for her pick up. Some confusion arose due to a last minute change in the end-of-parade destination. This left some parents waiting, and waiting, for their children. The PERCS were able to spread the word, as best they could, to facilitate the reunion.
This year marked a transition in that members of the JPL ARC had, for the past 15 years, previously provided this communication service. The PERCS are delighted to now support their home-town event, and invite any JPLARC member, who can operate 2 m, to join them in future years. Carol Bruegge KE6SRN, a member of both clubs, enjoyed her assignment on the parade route. This less demanding position allowed her to enjoy the parade with her family, and wave to the many neighbors who passed by. n
Wanted:
A 50-to-80-foot self-supporting/telescoping/tilt-over tower or towers. Can be either tubular or triangular. Need to be in good condition. Motorized would be a big plus. Will pay for packaging and shipping to Prescott, Arizona. Contact Brian (KW6J) at 714-896-3514 (M-F, 8 AM to 4 PM) or via Internet at stapleton@apt.mdc.com.
New or used (but in good condition) HF large mono-band beams which were designed for high gain/good front to back ratio/good directivity etc. Contact Brian (KW6J) at 714-896-3514 (M-F 8 AM to 4 PM) or via Internet at stapleton@apt.mdc.com.
Icom IC-04AT 440 MHz HT. Call Joel Mosher KB6RXE at 818-791-1779 or email to jam@alps.jpl.nasa.gov
US Tower (or Wilson) ROTATING BASE and RAISING FIXTURE for a 40 foot tubular telescoping tower. US Tower part number for the rotating base is MARB/40 and for the raising fixture is MAF-40. Please contact Brian Stapleton (KW6J) at 714-896-3514, M-F 8 AM - 4 PM.
Your want ad or article for inclusion in a future issue of W6VIO Calling. Submit either to Bill Wood, Mail Stop DSCC-33; or via Internet (bill.wood@mindspring.com)
For Sale:
Only $4,500 for a US Tower Model HDX-589-MDPL 89-foot self supporting triangular tower with heavy duty motor, pull downs, and limit switches (original cost, over $8,100!). Tower is in great condition and is only a few years old. Contact Brian (KW6J) for further details (work number M-F, 8 AM to 4 PM, 714-896-3514).
Yaesu FT-470 2m/440 mobile w/tone squelch, PA-6, FNB-12 batteries, charger and vinyl cases. Like new, $250 or best offer, + shipping. FT-212RH 2m mobile with mike, speakers, Diamond antenna. Like new, $195 plus shipping, or best offer. KC6CWA Geo Kendall (916) 383-1652. For more info contact W6MEO @ KJ6FY.#NOCAL or a.k.chapman@ieee.org. n
ARRL News
Via the ARRL Letter On-Line, Volume 16, Number 21
FCC Issues New Form 610; Old Versions Still Valid
The FCC has just released a new Form 610, dated March 1997, that -- among other minor changes -- now includes a space for your Internet address. The new form is available via the FCC's Internet site (http://www.fcc.gov) and via the FCC's fax-on-demand service (202-418-0177; to obtain Form 610, the form number to request is "000610;" Form 610A is "006101;" Form 610B is "006102;" and Form 610V is "006108." Form 159, of interest to some vanity filers, is "000159").
The form is much the same as the previous Form 610, dated March 1995, except that item 3A asking for the applicant's "Internet Address" is included on the same line as the street address. The environmental impact question, formerly item 6, has instead become a statement in the applicant certification section where the applicant certifies that "the construction of the station would not be an action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect (see the Commission's Rules 47 CFR Sections 1.1301-1.1319 and 97.13a)." The former item 7 has become item 6 on the new Form 610.
According to staff members at the Gettysburg FCC office, the FCC will continue to accept any of the three Forms 610 (dated November 1993, March 1995 and March 1997) until further notice. n
Revised Vanity Call Sign Electronic Application Available
On May 19, 1997, a revised version of the electronic Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request form (FCC Form 610-V) was made available on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html. Under "Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign System" choose "Interactive Vanity Call Sign Application." This version allows a user to file multiple applications using one FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice), thus permitting several applicants to file vanity applications at the same time and combine their fee payments. The fee will calculate and preprint on the FCC Form 159, depending on the number of applications submitted. Detailed instructions are available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form. Previously, applicants had to complete a separate FCC Form 159 for each application submitted electronically.
Electronic payment is not yet available, and applicants must mail a completed FCC Form 159 with payment to FCC, Box 358994, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5994, immediately after submitting any electronic application(s).
For technical assistance, contact the FCC Technical Support Group, 202-414-1250. For general questions regarding the application or fee, call the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Consumer Assistance staff, 800-322-1117. --FCC n
The following is a list of the FCC's most recently issued call signs as of May 1, 1997.
District Group A Extra Group B Advanced Group C Tech/Gen Group D Novice 0 AB0FH KI0IB ++ KC0ATB 1 AA1SD KE1HP N1ZDC KB1CDN 2 AB2DQ KG2LE ++ KC2BMQ 3 AA3PT KE3ZP N3ZFT KB3BTD 4 AF4CV KU4GL ++ KF4RIY 5 AC5MF KM5IU ++ KD5AHF 6 AD6BE KQ6OO ++ KF6KSU 7 AB7VB KK7HK ++ KC7WFH 8 AA8ZY KI8CD ++ KC8HEG 9 AA9UK KG9KG ++ KB9QII N Mariana Is NH0A AH0AX KH0GT WH0ABG Guam # AH2DD KH2RU WH2ANT Hawaii AH7V AH6PA KH7DW WH6DDT Amer Samoa AH8O AH8AH KH8DH WH8ABF Alaska AL0D AL7QT KL0GK WL7CUE Virgin Islands ++ KP2CJ NP2JQ WP2AIH Puerto Rico NP3F KP3AV NP3MW WP4NNB
# New prefixes are available for this block, but none have been issued.
++All call signs in this group have been issued in this area. n
The following test session information is provided by the ARRL/VEC for the upcoming one month period. For further information, please call the test session contact person at the telephone number listed.
Although the test session information presented here does not indicate whether walk-ins are accepted or not, most test sessions do allow walk-ins. We encourage you, however, to always call the contact person at the telephone number provided so that the VE Team is aware that you be attending the test
