Permission to copy is granted provided that credit is given to “W6VIO Calling.”
Contents
- Calendar of Events
- Meeting Notice
- Prez’ Mix
- July Club Meetings
- DX News
- Field Day Wrap-up
- General Class Upgrade Seminar
- Fall PRC No-Code Tech Class
- 25 Years Ago In W6VIO Calling
- Classified Section
- ARRL News
Calendar of Events
|
August 9 |
General Meeting, Noon - 238-543 |
|
August 12 |
[Fontana Swap Meet, A. B. Miller HS, Fontana} |
|
August 19 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
August 23 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 233-305J |
|
August 26 |
[TRW Swap meet, Redondo Beach] |
|
September 9 |
[Fontana Swap Meet, A. B. Miller HS, Fontana} |
|
September 13 |
General Meeting, Noon - 238-543 |
|
September 16 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
September 27 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 233-305J |
|
September 30 |
[TRW Swap meet, Redondo Beach] |
|
October 7 |
[Fontana Swap Meet, A. B. Miller HS, Fontana} |
|
October 11 |
General Meeting, Noon - 238-543 |
|
October 21 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
October 25 |
Board Meeting, Noon - 233-305J |
|
October 28 |
[TRW Swap meet, Redondo Beach] |
By Christopher Carson, KE6ABQ
The August General Meeting of the JPL Amateur Radio Club will be held at noon on Aug. 9th, 2000 in 238-543. Bring your lunch if you like. The topic is TBD. If you’d like to volunteer a talk, demo, or slide show, for this or any meeting, please contact me via e-mail or at my lab extension 3-3888.
The August Board Meeting is scheduled for Aug. 23rd, 2000 in 233-305J. Everyone is welcome to attend – bring your lunch if you want. n
By Bob Dengler, NO6B
Phil Smith and Eric Archer continue to lead the 2.4 GHz portable emergency video project that will provide point-to-point video from most places on lab. This is an ambitious and time-consuming yet highly rewarding project that YOU can help with. In addition to the portable 2.4 GHz ATV transmitter, several receiving stations need to be installed at various locations on lab in order to maximize the coverage.
Coverage tests will need to be conducted to determine the best locations for these receivers. These tests, usually conducted on Fridays at lunch, are quite interesting to watch as you get to see firsthand the propagation characteristics of 2.4 GHz FM video, and just how unique a service us hams can provide to JPL. If you can help out with this project contact Eric at 354-7350 or Phil at 354-6145.
We are about to begin the long-discussed frequency and equipment swap of our 224.08 and 224.70 repeaters. When finished, 224.08 will be co-located and linked full-time with our 445.20 repeater, connecting those members with 220 with those of us with dual-band or 440-only radios. This will also allow communications between our 445.20 and TMO systems. Once the 220 SMA has received the paperwork for this switch, we can begin this process.
I’ll finish this month with a current listing of open 440 MHz repeaters in Southern California, taken from our own database at http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org. As you can see, there are quite a few open systems on 440 these days. I’ve further sorted these listing by region.
|
Los Angeles basin: |
|||
|
445.20 |
WR6JPL |
Cerro Negro Peak |
103.5 |
|
445.52 |
K6BDE/KD6LVW |
Brentwood |
123.0 |
|
445.68 |
N6JLY |
Mt. Thom |
136.5 |
|
446.40 |
WA6FZH |
Johnstone Peak |
103.5 |
|
447.00 |
W6TRW |
Palos Verdes |
100.0 |
|
447.025 |
N6ENV |
Oat Mtn. |
156.7 |
|
447.32 |
WA6QAG |
West LA |
103.5 |
|
447.58 |
AB6WQ |
Santa Anita Ridge |
131.8 |
|
448.34 |
KB6MRC |
Bellflower |
192.8 |
|
449.50 |
WA6ITC |
Sunset Ridge |
162.2 |
|
449.78 |
K6CHE |
Signal Hill |
131.8 |
|
Orange County: |
|||
|
445.52 |
K6KBF |
Knott's Berry Farm |
85.4 |
|
446.40 |
WB6IYP |
Fullerton? |
88.5 |
|
446.44 |
KB6VWN |
Mission Viejo |
156.7 |
|
|
|||
|
Hi Desert/Mountains: |
|||
|
446.40 |
WA6ITC |
Big Bear City |
162.2 |
|
447.025 |
W5HMV |
Ridgecrest |
123.0 |
|
447.20 |
WR6AZN |
Table Mtn. |
94.8 |
|
|
|||
|
San Bernardino/Riverside: |
|||
|
445.2875 |
K6SBC |
Jurupa Hills |
107.2 |
|
445.60 |
K6LLU |
Loma Linda |
118.8 |
|
447.00 |
KE6CPF |
Loma Linda |
156.7 |
|
447.32 |
KA6GRF |
Fontana |
136.5 |
|
|
|||
|
Ventura/Santa Barbara: |
|||
|
447.32 |
WB6ZTU |
Sulphur Mountain |
100.0 |
|
448.34 |
W6MWA |
Ventura (low-level) |
141.3 |
|
449.30 |
WB6OBB |
Broadcast Peak |
131.8 |
|
|
|||
|
San Diego: |
|||
|
446.75 |
KA6DAC |
Monument Peak |
107.2 |
|
447.32 |
W6UUS |
Kearny Mesa |
107.2 |
|
447.80 |
WA6SYN |
Palomar Mtn. |
88.5 |
|
449.18 |
N6LVR |
Monument Peak |
88.5 |
|
449.30 |
KC6EWG |
100.0 |
|
|
449.50 |
WB6WLV |
Mt. Otay |
107.2 |
|
449.82 |
WB6WLV |
Mt. Laguna |
107.2 |
|
449.98 |
WA6SYN |
Mt. Otay |
88.5 n |
By Jonathan M. Cameron (KF6RTA)
General Meeting, July 12
No official meeting was held since there was a lack of a quorum. However, Jay Holladay led an informal discussion regarding the results of the field day exercise. There was also some discussion regarding the emergency committee budget and how to prioritize spending of the remaining funds. Eric Archer plans to talk with Eric Fuller about using $1K to purchase miscellaneous ATV equipment.
Board of Directors Meeting, July 26
Chris Carson called the meeting to order at 12:20pm. Those present included: Chris Carson (KE6ABQ), Bob Dengler (N06B), Walt Mushagian (K6DNS), Bob Polansky (N6ET), Scott Nolte (N6CUV), and Jonathan Cameron (KF6RTA).
Scott Nolte recommended that we start planning the Christmas party soon. It was reported that Manny Caldera (KC6ZSY) has volunteered for this duty and has a location in mind. We voted to ask him to take over this planning.
Various items were discussed but no further actions were taken. The meeting was closed at 12:50pm. ¾
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
Sunspots are back with us, and along with them come the annoying temper tantrums on the sun, which can result in sometimes severe communications interruptions here on Earth. In spite of that, I actually almost heard the 1A0KM DXpedition, which was active last week. Unfortunately, almost doesn’t count as far as DXCC is concerned. Perhaps there’ll be another operation from SMOM at a later time when propagation favors the West Coast. Until then, we look at the Bulletins and attempt to work what we can hear. Speaking of the DX bulletins, The 59(9) DXReport and QRZ DX both provided helpful hints on what’s ahead for us in the world of DX. A few of the more interesting items are posted after my introduction to whet your appetites. Worldwide and local spots on the DX Clusters have shown that 10 and 12 meters have shown little in the way of DX activity. The lion’s share of the DX seems to be on 15, 17, and 20 meters. Listen and judge for yourselves!
AGALEGA ISLAND - No calls announced yet, but don’t miss a major operation from the most-remote QTH, which is scheduled to run from 8 to 24 October. They plan to operate 8 stations simultaneously, 6 on HF, 1 on 6 meters, and 1 on Satellite.
ALAND ISLAND - Several SM hams will operate from OH0-land from 10 through 13 August. No frequencies were given, but the group does plan operation on 160 through 6 meters, both SSB and CW as well as PSK31. Perhaps now is the time to ready your rigs for the exciting new PSK31 mode.
IRAQ - YI9OM continues to haunt the suffering W6’s. I’ve heard him several times around 21025 kHz from 2200Z for several hours, but the East Coast seems to have a pipeline into YI at that time of day. One day, I’ll get a QSO with him.
KINGMAN REEF (& PALMYRA) - A major operation is planned from Kingman Reef (and almost simultaneously from Palmyra, in early October this year. Plan your vacation either before or after October. You don’t want to miss Kingman Reef! More information on this operation as the time grows closer. It sounds like they will be well heeled with 6 stations, amplifiers, and lots of sky-borne aluminum. They should be loud on all bands.
MALAWI - 7Q7HB will be active for the next 5 weeks. Look for him on SSTV; although, some SSB operation may also take place.
PALMYRA - KH5/KH6ND is active from this Pacific island for an unspecified length of time. I understand that he favors 20 and 15 meter CW, but I have no specific frequencies or times.
TRISTAN DA CUNHA - ZD9ZM plans to hit the airwaves on 5 September and operate until just before his departure on 25 September. He has backup rigs and his setup includes an amplifier. He has a variety of good antennas permitting operation on 160 through 6 meters.
Well, that’s enough for now. It this hasn’t convinced you to turn on the ole HF rig and join the fun, you are DX-wise beyond hope! 73 until next month. ¾
By Jay Holladay, W6EJJ
Our JPL ARC/Caltech ARC Field Day entry has been received and acknowledged by ARRL Headquarters; now we must wait until December QST to see the final results. Our QSO totals and projected score are summarized below.
Our score is difficult to compare with last year’s because we were competing in a different category. It is easy to see the effect of improved HF conditions by noting the increased number of 10-meter contacts (453 this year vs. 113 in 1999). These same conditions made things a bit tougher on the low bands, where it was hard to maintain the contact rates that stations back east were making. At any rate, our score would have been good for 10th place in 3A last year, and I think we will at least fare quite well compared to other stations on the West Coast. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we are already planning ways we can improve our effort next year. Isn’t that part of what Field Day is all about?
Herewith the final numbers:
|
Band |
CW |
Phone |
Total |
|
80 |
96 |
134 |
230 |
|
40 |
332 |
59 |
391 |
|
20 |
593 |
551 |
1144 |
|
15 |
452 |
363 |
815 |
|
10 |
16 |
437 |
453 |
|
6 |
- |
21 |
21 |
|
2 |
1 |
281 |
282 |
|
220 |
- |
55 |
55 |
|
440 |
- |
70 |
70 |
|
10N |
- |
152 |
152 |
|
Satellite |
- |
5 |
5 |
|
Total |
1490 |
2128 |
3618 |
Our thanks to all who participated in making Field Day 2000 a memorable event. We really appreciate the increased support this year, which made things more pleasant for all concerned.
The following participants were noted during our activities on Mt. Gleason:
KC6ZSY, KF6RTA, KE6ABQ, NO6B, KE6LEA, K6NJ, W1EEL, KC6HUR, W6EJJ, KF6PVG, N6NO, K6DNS, N6ET, N6MP, N7OLI, KG6NF, WB6CIA, KE6BKE, W6GRV, W4EF, N6CI, W6TX, N6VI, WB6FXJ, Janet Cameron, Steven Sander, Dee Boerstler, George Boerstler, Lisa Tatge, and 15 members and advisors of JPL Explorer Post 509. (If we missed anyone, please let us know.) ¾
By Phil Barnes-Roberts AD6PQ/(ex-WA6DZS)
Sometime this fall (start date still TBD), I will be facilitating a General Class FCC Amateur Radio License upgrade seminar for the Pasadena Radio Club, and if there is sufficient interest, an Extra upgrade group as well.
This will be operated as a round-table seminar, with each participant expected to come to class prepared to teach an agreed-upon section of the study material. The text will be the ARRL study manual, and some enrichment material may also be taken from the Handbook as well. You do have an ARRL Handbook, right? This is the primary reference for amateur radio and much other electronics; highly recommended, in any of its annual incarnations.
In this way, everyone is encouraged both to attend, and to be prepared, and nobody is overly burdened with detail. One big advantage of this method (thanks to Allen, KC7O for the idea!) is that once you can teach it, you know it, and know you know it. For this to work, we will need several signups, and I am looking for these through the Club and outside as well, although PRC members will get first seating.
Morse practice is an issue that we still need to address, and I am soliciting suggestions. Individual practice with SuperMorse or Morse Academy is one way, but lacks structure for the daily reinforcement needed. The little MFJ Tutor box is another, but again, the daily habit must be formed for it to be useful. An on-air net is possible, and we are working up a simple MCW oscillator that can be used with any VHF transceiver to operate on some simplex frequency for real-world QSO’s. Many old-timers insist that the best way to learn the code is to get on the air and use it. What do you say? (Constructive suggestions only, please! Flames go in the bit-bucket.) 73 AD6PQ@arrl.net
The Pasadena Radio Club’s Fall 2000 Class for the FCC No-Code Technician Amateur Radio License is now forming. Please forward this message to anyone you know who would be interested.
The class will commence on September 28th (Thursday) at 7:00PM sharp, adjourn at 9:00PM sharp, and continue for eight Thursdays, in order to be completed before Thanksgiving. The last session is the FCC license exam, administered by the Club’s Volunteer Examiner team. Note that the Crescenta Valley Club will be conducting a class just after this series, for those whose fall schedules won’t allow their attendance earlier.
All sessions are held in our multimedia-equipped meeting room in the Kaiser Permanente Office building, Walnut Center, at 393 East Walnut at Los Robles in Pasadena. Thanks go to the generosity of Kaiser for the use of their space, and to our liaison, Jerry Hawkins K0DRO for his efforts in securing it.
To sign up for this class, have any interested prospective students contact Allen Wolff, KC7O, at 818-603-5682 or email mailto:KC7O@arrl.net with their intentions.
Allen has just been announced as the Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year for 1999 by the ARRL. He has been teaching ham radio for 14 years, turning out interested and informed graduates.
Please join us in congratulating Allen, AND keeping him supplied with fresh students, ready and eager to learn how to get started in our fascinating hobby! Way to go, Al! n
By Bill Wood, W6FXJ
The press of Viking launch activities made it necessary for Editor Stan Hench, WB6JMP, to combine the July and August 1975 issues into one.
President Walt Diem, WA6PEA, congratulated all who made Field Day a success. A special mention was made regarding Richard Spear’s Novice station operating. Rich, then WN6MBW, now KD6LWD, produced over 20 percent of the total club score of 4650 points.
Walt also reported on the status of the “Shack in the Trailer” project. The trailer had been painted and equipped with power, lighting and air conditioning. Rich Spear was appointed to head the committee responsible for organizing work parties needed to put the station in operation.
Diem also announced three other chair appointments:
Norm Chalfin, K6PGX, club Publicity
Jim Lumsden, WA6MYJ, Viking Commemorative
Merv MacMedan, W6IUV, Education Committee
Bob Ackers, K6CYY presented a very detailed report on the design of the VHF-UHF system planned to implement the JPL emergency communications system between JPL and other Caltech/JPL sites in Southern California. The report laid out the objectives and constraints of the system that became the repeater network we now have in the year 2000.
Merv MacMedan, W6IUV, planned to begin code practice classes in September to assist prospective hams get their code skills and existing members to move up in the ranks of Amateur Radio.
The full July-August 1975 issue can be accessed at the following Internet address: http://www.jplerc.org/radio/calling/1975/jul/jul75.html ¾
Wanted:
Reliable Person to receive about 40 copies of “W6VIO Calling” each month to address and mail to retired and other off-lab club members. Job involves applying club supplied adhesive address labels and postage stamps. Takes only 30 minutes each a month. Contact Bill Wood, W6FXJ, at 760-256-5529 or w6fxj@earthlink.net for details.
Your want-ad or article for inclusion in a future issue of W6VIO Calling. Submit to Bill Wood, W6FXJ, 31094 Hemlock Ave, Barstow, CA 92311; or email w6fxj@earthlink.net
For Sale:
QST 1990-1994 CD-ROM set, new. $25 (ARRL price $39.95) Skip, W7NWY, 818-354-9674
US Tower (MA40) 40 foot tubular telescoping tower, hinged base, 2 co-ax arms, mast extension, Hy-gain Explorer-14 beam antenna with 40 meter dipole add-on, and Hy-Gain antenna rotator (Ham IV). Original cost, less tax, was over $2200. Sell all for $800. Contact Ron Zenone (W6TUZ) at (626) 914-5585.
Icom UT-40 Tone Squelch Option Board (CTCSS) for HT models 2GAT, 4GAT, 12GAT, 32AT or for mobiles 228, 448, 901, 1201, 2400 and 2500. Cost: $80 (AES Catalog) Sale for $40. Radio Shack, Rotor/Controller and Cable, 3 years old, never used, have box/papers, like new. Cost: $70+ Sale for $50. Scott Nolte, N6CUV 818-354-9724 n
| Newsletter Deadline: |
| Friday, September 1 for the September issue of W6VIO Calling. Your articles, ads, photos, diagrams, letters to the editor, or technical material should be submitted to the editor via email (w6fxj@earthlink.net) or regular mail to: Bill Wood, 31094 Hemlock Ave, Barstow, CA 92311. |
Via ARRL Letter Online Vol. 19, Nr. 29, July 28, 2000
ARRL staffers were greeted the morning of July 24 with reports of a continuous string of CW dits near 14.008 MHz--heard throughout North America over the preceding weekend. Initial reports gave conflicting beam headings of the offending signal, dubbed "the ditter." But when FCC staffer John Reiser, WQ4L, called ARRL to report his observations, things started to happen.
Reiser facilitated an FCC DF trace to the San Diego area. The ARRL San Diego Section leadership was notified, and Section Manager Tuck Miller, NZ6T, coordinated local hams in a close-range DF effort. San Diego section Official Observer Coordinator Bill Sallee, K6TWO, took several field readings. At one point, when he'd narrowed the location to within two miles, the signal abruptly disappeared. The ARRL Monitoring System also was alerted. It was confirmed that this was a normal CW signal, not a "woodpecker"-type intruder.
Dialing around the bottom edge of 20 meters early on July 26, IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator Martin Potter, VE3OAT, heard the ditter once again, this time near 14.026 MHz. Potter determined that the signal had an identical period and beam heading as the one heard earlier. He notified ARRL Headquarters, and the San Diego hams picked up where they'd left off.
Sallee's field strength readings drew him closer and closer to the coast, where the heading reversed. Sallee reports that he ultimately found the apparent source in the oceanfront community of La Jolla. He says the woman who answered the door said her husband was a ham and allowed Sallee to take a look at the station. Sure enough, a stuck dit paddle was keying a powered, unattended rig, which Sallee disabled.
Sallee theorizes that heating and cooling within the ham's uninsulated shack and a combination of corrosion in the keyer paddle's pivot mechanism and close dit contact spacing contributed to the contact's migrating to a closed position. He said the ham later told him that he'd been operating on 14.007.5 MHz on July 21 but did not return to the shack until Monday afternoon. "He remembers listening to a CW contact on 14.026 but did not transmit," Sallee said. "He then left the shack unaware that by leaving the rig on, he would fall victim to unattended transmission when the moisture and temperatures began to change."
Sallee says the ham, whom he did not identify, "was most embarrassed." "I really felt sorry for him and assured him that public hangings were no longer in vogue," Sallee said. "He said he had learned a valuable lesson about disabling a rig that will be unattended."
Potter congratulated the ARRL Monitoring System and the San Diego field organization for what he called "a fine example of quick reaction and good, solid work" on tracking down the unintentional transmission.--Brennan Price, N4QX ¾
Solar seer Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar flux and sunspot numbers were down only slightly this week from last. Last week’s average sunspot numbers were up over 40 points from the previous week, and this week’s are down less than seven. But the big news this week should be the big peak in sunspot numbers on Thursday, July 20, when it reached 401. This is a rare, high number in any solar cycle, and the biggest so far in cycle 23.
A cursory examination of the data shows that the sunspot number has not been this high since August 23, 1991, when it was 478. Sunspot numbers over 400 suggest that we may be nearing the cycle peak. The latest projection the author has seen for cycle peak is from the July 4 Preliminary Report and Forecast of Solar Geophysical Data from the NOAA Space Environment Center.
The latest short term projections show some rough weather ahead for the weekend, with the planetary A index for Friday through Tuesday at 30, 25, 12, 12 and 10. Projected solar flux for those same five days is 160, 155, 155, 150 and 145. Solar flux should rise above 200 by August 4, then reach 230 on August 8-14, and peak around 235 on August 15-16.
Sunspot numbers for July 20 through 26 were 401, 325, 290, 276, 215, 232 and 214 with a mean of 279. The 10.7 cm flux was 252.9, 250.9, 251, 217.3, 224.8, 201.8 and 174.6, with a mean of 224.8. The estimated planetary A indices were 43, 9, 18, 20, 8, 7 and 20, with a mean of 17.9. n
Lew McCoy seriously ill: Former ARRL Headquarters staff member and well-known Amateur Radio personality Lew "Mac" McCoy, W1ICP, is reported to be seriously ill. McCoy, an ARRL Life Member, is 84. His daughter Marsha Ashurst, W1HAQ, says that McCoy would enjoy hearing from friends and acquaintances.
Greetings may be sent in care of Armann, 2215 East Siesta Dr, Phoenix AZ 85040 or via e-mail to lewmccoy@uswest.net. "I know it would help his spirits to hear from his ham buddies," his daughter said this week.
First licensed as W0ICP in 1946 in Missouri, McCoy was an ARRL HQ fixture from 1949 until 1978 and was the first QST Novice editor. He has written hundreds of articles for QST and has been a major contributor to other Amateur Radio publications, including CQ.
Hans D. Peters, VE3CRU, SK: Well-known VHF-UHF enthusiast Hans Peters, VE3CRU, of Cobourg, Ontario, reportedly died July 22 after a long battle with cancer. An avid EMEer, Peters was also a key figure in the VE3ONT Algonquin EME expeditions in 1992-95 and had 48 states worked on 432 MHz. A North American distributor for Microwave Modules in the 1970s, Peters is credited with helping to introduce many newcomers to VHF and UHF operating.--Peter Shilton, VE3AX via VHF Reflector n
Posted August 1, 2000
