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Contents
|
September
1 |
[Fontana Swap Meet,
A. B. Miller HS, Fontana] |
|
September
12 |
General Meeting,
Noon - 238-543 |
|
September
15 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal
Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
September
26 |
Board Meeting, Noon
- 233-305J |
|
September
29 |
[TRW Swap meet,
Redondo Beach] |
|
October
6 |
[Fontana Swap Meet,
A. B. Miller HS, Fontana] |
|
October
10 |
General Meeting,
Noon - 238-543 |
|
October
20 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal
Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
October
24 |
Board Meeting, Noon
- 233-305J |
|
October
27 |
[TRW Swap meet,
Redondo Beach] |
|
November
3 |
[Fontana Swap Meet,
A. B. Miller HS, Fontana] |
|
November
14 |
General Meeting,
Noon - 238-543 |
|
November
17 |
[CMRA Hamfest, Cal
Poly, Pomona, 7 AM] |
|
November
24 |
[TRW Swap meet,
Redondo Beach] |
|
November
28 |
Board Meeting, Noon
- 233-305J |
By Christopher
Carson, KE6ABQ
The September General meeting will be held September
12th at noon in 238-543.
Everyone is welcome and you are invited to bring your lunch. The topics include the proposed Club Budget
for next year, the move to the new Shack, and nomination of Club Officers for
the coming year.
The September Board meeting will be held September
26 in 233-305J. Everyone is welcome to
attend – bring your lunch if you want.
n
By Bob Dengler, NO6B
As many of you
know, the autopatch on our 224.70 Cerro Negro repeater has been out of service
for some time due to phone line problems.
In addition, the controller on our 445.20 repeater has an autopatch that
awaits a few feet of phone line to plug it in to our telco connection so that
it will also have autopatch capability.
We also have had plans for the past couple of years to move the 224.08
repeater from the Mesa to Cerro Negro in order to integrate our main 220
operations with our 440 and TMO repeaters.
The way things
are going, I really think that sometime in the next two months we’ll be able to
finally accomplish these goals and get everything working. Randy and I will pick a date (probably a
Saturday) sometime in September or October, go up to the mesa, grab the 4.08 RF
deck and move it over to Cerro Negro. A
follow-up trip or two will probably be necessary in order to fine-tune things,
as there are some known antenna problems there. At least we’ll finally be on our way to our final system configuration. We’ll definitely need some help getting
everything moved (anyone remember the “big frequency change” of a few years
ago?). We’ll announce the date as soon
as we know on the Monday noontime net and on the JPLARC e-mail reflector. Keep an ear/eye on one or the other for
details. n
By
Jonathan Cameron, KF6RTA
General Meeting, August 8
The meeting was
called to order at 12:07 PM by club vice-president Chris Carson (KE6ABQ). Those present included: Eric Archer (N6CV),
Phil Barnes-Roberts (AD6PQ), Jonathan Cameron (KF6RTA), Chris Carson (KE6ABQ),
Bob Dengler (NO6B), Randy Hammock (KC6HUR), Jay Holladay (W6EJJ), Walt
Mushagian (K6DNS), Scott Nolte (K6SN), Jerry Person (KK6TS), Bob Polansky
(N6ET), and Robert R. Smith (W6GRV).
Bob Polansky
gave a presentation on the plans for the new radio shack in building 173 and
the progress to date. Bob has submitted
work orders for the necessary modifications to building 173. Good progress has been made and he hopes
they will be finished in an approximately a month (from August 8th).
Bob and Chris
have developed a list of activities that must be done in order to move into the
new shack. Bob thinks that most of the
work can be done in one long Saturday.
Bob passed out a handout that has a diagram of the new shack, a list of
the tasks necessary for the move, and a list of tasks to complete the antenna
system to finish the job. One of Bob’s
concerns was getting assistance to develop and install a 12-volt system. Anyone willing to help with that should
contact Bob Polansky directly. Bob’s
goal is to have the new shack operational by the middle of September with two
work Saturdays in late August and early September.
There was some
discussion of what to do with the 224.70 MHz repeater because of continued
power amplifier problems. There was a
suggestion that we continue to operate the basic repeater at its normal power
levels to occupy the frequency.
There was also a
brief update on the Cerro Negro site.
The situation regarding the city of La Canada-Flintridge is still in
limbo and the site is still difficult to access.
Board of Directors Meeting, August
22
The meeting was
called to order by the club president, Bob Dengler (NO6B). Those present included Bob Dengler (NO6B),
Bob Polansky (N6ET), Walt Mushagian (K6DNS), Jan Tarsala (WB6VRN), Jonathan
Cameron (KF6RTA), and Bill Wood (W6FXJ), via phone. A quorum was present.
Bob Dengler
presented a preliminary budget for the next fiscal year. He briefly reviewed the budget and there was
some discussion. He suggested keeping
the line item for the Cerro Negro rental since it was still unclear if we would
have to pay rental for that site eventually.
Bob also discussed the possibility of purchasing an HF rig to set up a
remote HF base at the Cerro Negro site.
Bob Polansky
suggested several modifications to the budget related to the new radio shack
in building 173. Bob also reminded us
that we will have access to a 6 KW generator that will be installed for backup
power for the new shack. A small
concrete pad will be installed next to the shack for this purpose. Obviously, it will be necessary to install
necessary wiring and hardware for connecting emergency power from the
generator to the new shack.
Jan Tarsala
expressed concern that we be able to operate our laptop computers for logging
and other purposes during a power outage and wondered if the current set of
batteries were adequate. Bob Polansky
indicated that we are a few batteries short.
Jan also suggested that we invest in a few 12-Volt automobile power
inverters
for powering the laptops in an emergency.
We briefly
discussed IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project). This system allows connections between any two IRLP-equipped
repeaters
via a digital audio stream transmitted over the Internet. This seems like a useful concept and one
worth considering for one of our repeaters.
Jan Tarsala
spoke several minutes on the desirability of implementing digital messaging
systems for NASA-wide emergency communications. He explained that the new digital protocols such as PACTOR and
PACTOR-2 offer the ability to reliably communicate digital data over low-power
radio links despite significant RF noise and disturbances. This makes it ideal for transmitting lists
of people and phone numbers such as might be necessary during an actual
emergency.
In order to
implement PACTOR, for instance, a station would require a radio, a computer,
and a multi-mode communications processor (MMCP). The MMCP is a specialized computer with DSP circuits necessary
for processing the digital signals at full speed. The MMCP for PACTOR (a proprietary protocol) is relatively
inexpensive (approximately $700) and its functionality cannot currently be
replaced by off-the-shelf computers and software.
Jan believes
that the HF frequency authorizations that NASA uses for its internal
communication and for emergency communications should be updated to include
digital messaging systems in the future.
Current technology for NASA emergency communication is essentially
obsolete and needs to be updated to the more powerful and reliable protocols
available today. n
By Bob Polansky,
N6ET
There’s been precious little time to listen to the
ole HF rig this month. Most of the
spare time has been spent ensuring that the new W6VIO shack in B173 is coming
together, meeting all our needs. See
the companion article in this issue of W6VIO
Calling on that subject. According
to the latest information in QRZ DX
and The Weekly DX, There are still a
number of upcoming DX activities planned that should whet DX appetites. The following are samplings of what to
expect:
CHAD - TT8DX should be active as I type this
article. He plans to be active for
about a year from this semi-rare African entity.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND - Look for VK9XV from 6 through 13
September. I’d like to meet up with
him myself on 17 and 12 meters.
COCOS KEELING - After the Christmas Island operation
(see above), this group will move their rigs and antennas to Cocos
Keeling. They will be using the call
sign VK9CQ. Operation is planned from
14 through 20 September.
GUATEMALA – A TG0R operation is planned from 17
through 26 September. This is a 6-meter
QSO possibility, given that the propagation gods favor the West Coast.
JOHNSTON ISLAND - K3J will be the unusual call sign
for this operation from 11 through 18 September. If we’re lucky, we may be able to snag these guys from our
6-meter station, perhaps also a 160-meter QSO from our new ham shack.
MIDWAY ISLAND – No information on the call signs to
be used, but KH4/DL??? is one of many possibilities. These ops should light up the West Coast from 20 through 29 September. Another candidate for a 6-meter QSO,
perhaps even a 160-meter QSO!
NEPAL - Need Nepal?
W6VIO does, on CW! 9N7IG is
expected
to put this Himalayan entity on the active list from 7 through 9 September.
PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - P29AM and P29WS should make their
presence known from 7 through 16 September.
TRISTAN DA CUNHA - ZD9BV and ZD9YL should be back
here about the first of September.
Since they’re residents of the island, they should be here for a long
time. Unfortunately, their antenna farm
was destroyed in a recent bad storm according to my vague recollection, so
their signals may be a bit weak for some time.
Good luck.
Lots of possibilities appear to exist for “new ones” for many during the
month of September.
n
By Bob Polansky, N6ET
Our new shack in B-173 is coming alone well. The water fountain is in and dispensing
cold, filtered, good tasting water. The
117-, 220-, and 240-volt plugs are all in place and functioning. Bracing for the horizontal surfaces is in
place and the surfaces themselves should be in place by the end of the week (31
August). The carpet is ready to be
installed as soon as the dirty part of the work has been completed. The new air conditioner/heater unit is
purchased, but not yet delivered. Look
for it to appear in about a week.
The pad for the 6.5 kW diesel generator is framed
and ready for the cement truck. The
generator itself has been tested and is ready for installation on the cement
pad, once it dries. Connecting it
into the remainder of the shack’s electrical system through a transfer switch
will have to wait for some additional funding, hopefully this coming fiscal
year.
Arrangements for an Internet drop and phone line
underground conduit connection to B-173 have been made and an unsubscribed
security-ready PC has been made available for the Club’s use. The monthly service charge for the network
connection has been negotiated through the JPL EOC.
The second of three AL-82 linear amplifiers has
arrived and will be assembled in the new shack, once the Club gets beneficial
occupancy to the building. The third
linear will have to wait to be purchased until FY02 at the earliest. A large character GMT display, which
automatically syncs to WWVL has been acquired for the new shack. The sister unit is already installed in the
JPL EOC if you want to see it in action.
Finally, the Club’s TS-850S has been repaired and is ready for
reinstallation. This will also take
place after the move into B-173.
Once the facility division says their work is done
in B-173, we need to install our 12-volt distribution system, our multiple
phone line distribution system, and our Panduit cable raceways. After that, we move antenna lines, rotor
lines and equipment in preparation for the “W6VIO shack grand opening”. Anyone have some “bubbly” to christen our
new ham shack with?? n
Wanted:
Reliable on-lab 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 one hour each a month. Contact Scott Nolte, K6SN, at Ext 4-9724 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:
Kenwood TS-940S
base HF radio w/automatic tuner, MC-60 microphone, SP-230 speaker & MFJ 300
watt dummy load. Asking $850 or trade
for FT-100D. Contact Bob at
909-396-0991 or no6b@rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org.
Kenwood TM-G707A
2 meter/440 dual-band mobile (single band receive). 50 W 2 meters/35 W 440, CTCSS decoder modified to eliminate
falsing problem common with all G707s & V7As. Original/only owner, asking $260. Contact Bob at 909-396-0991 or no6b@rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org.
QST 1990-1994 CD-ROM set, new. $25 (ARRL price $39.95) Skip, W7NWY,
818-354-9674
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
Bob Polansky passed along the following request from
a disabled Ham in Tooele, Utah:
“I receive the
JPL Universe through the graces of friends that my mother used to work for,
however they are usually two to three months old before they reach me. I noticed that there have been several
laptop computers advertised in the June issues. Here again it is useless for me to call about them, as they are
most likely gone before I even get the paper!
I have a base packet station that uses a 386 computer that runs 24 hours
a day.
However, I am
looking for at least one laptop to make up a portable packet station. I really would like two but I am disabled
and on a fixed income, so unless they were really cheap I probably couldn’t
afford more than one at the present.
Any
way if the members of the radio club could keep an eye out for me and contact
me if something reasonable comes up I would really appreciate it.
David R Haag,
KC7PVD, DN-30um
Treasurer West
Desert Amateur Radio Club
P.S. Mom worked on the Viking Project in years
past.”
Contact
David at kc7pvd@erda.net n
Newsletter
Deadline:
Thursday, September 27 for the October 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 regular mail to: Bill Wood, 31094 Hemlock Ave, Barstow, CA 92311.
Posted September 3, 2001