The Indianapolis Radio Club Newsletter Founded 1914 “The oldest continuously operating Amateur Radio Club in the United States” January 2009 Newsletter Upcoming Meetings: February 13, 2009: Legacy Radio March 20, 2009: Direction Finding April 10, 2009: Antennas Highlights from the January Meeting: Club President Ron Cooper, WB9DKL, started the meeting out with self introductions. There were 52 present at the meeting. Ron requested a moment of silence for Alan Westwater, KA9UFH, SK. Ron announced that the annual bus trip to Dayton was on again for this year. The date will be Saturday, May 16, and we need to sell 40 tickets for the bus. Ron instituted a new $5 “fine” for anyone who’s cell phone rings during a club meeting. Jim Rinehart, K9RU, talked about next month’s meeting on “Legacy” radio. March’s meeting will be on Direction Finding (DFing). Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L, announced that classes will be starting in Hendricks County on Wednesday, January 28, meeting every Wednesday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Danville Senior Services building. Jay said there will be 8 classes, followed by a testing session. All license classes will be available at this class. Mike Palmer, N9FEB, thanked everyone present for their past help with the various events that he solicits ham radio help for. He said that there are 10 events presently scheduled for 2009, with 3 of them in May. Mike is also the newly appointed District 5 ARES emergency coordinator, and is starting a district wide VHF FM voice net for the 1st Saturday of each month at 6:30 pm on the 146.70 repeater. Charlie Sears, N9MEW, spoke about the upcoming DTV transition. He says the possible delay until June proposed by President Obama would cause problems. He also cautioned that if anyone goes out to help on set up of anyone’s system, to not take any tools, and not to touch any of their gear, due to liability concerns. Dave Miller, K9RTT, next introduced the evening’s speaker, Don West, W9DEW. Don is Communications Director for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). Don said that in May of 2006, the Federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a national response plan in response to the 9/11 attacks. This primarily took care of the Federal level, establishing Emergency Support Functions (ESFs 1 through 15). Then mandated in 2002 and established in 2006 was the DHS/FEMA regional EmComm Working groups. So far, these have been largely ineffective, with no funding. Established in April of 2004 was a program called “SAFECOM”, with a statement of requirements. The state of Virginia is a pilot program for SAFECOM. Don explained how a great drawback of public safety radio systems is that for the most part, they are proprietary, single source based. Amateur Radio, on the other hand, is completely open sourced. Don also explained the theory of “Interoperability continuum” of communications. He also explained the NIMS concept. In January of 2008, the DHS published the national response “framework”. In July of 2008, the DHS office of Emergency Communications released the National Emergency Communications plan. On the state level, in July of 1999, the Integrated Public Safety Commission was established to create a statewide radio system with interoperability capability. Construction was begun on the system in 2000. In 2002, part of BMV fees were designated to go toward SAFE-T construction. In 2008, the initial build out of the SAFE-T system was competed on time and under budget. In October of 2007, Don submitted a proposal that would enable ever county EMA to have amateur radio gear for 80 meter to 10 meter operation. To also have the capability to transmit and receive data, complete with a computer with a UPS. He also wants each county to have a 2 meter and dual band (2 meter/440 MHz) radio, as well as a 220 MHz radio. For digital comms, he is thinking a Signalink Tigertronics TNC, USB connection. [Editor note: If anyone would like a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that Don had at the meeting, send a message to kj9b@arrl.net, and let me know.] Next, the winner of the chili cook off was announced. It was KC, KC9MTL. Door prizes were awarded, and the meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm Ham Radio News: INDIANA QSO PARTY COMING UP IN MAY Received from INQP mobile/portable coordinator, Mel Chrichton, KJ9C: Every May, hams in Indiana are the target of contesters, county hunters, and other hams who just want to have fun....The Indiana QSO Party is a 12 hour event in which hams all over the world try to work as many Indiana hams in as many Indiana counties as possible... it's the Indiana QSO Party, to be held May 2 2009. INQP is sponsored by the Hoosier DX & Contest Club, and rules, scores, and activity information are posted at http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp. Take a look at the web pages, and plan to be on the air May 2 from your county. If you don't have an HF station, now's the time to line up a "guest op" position, upgrade your station or license, set up a mobile rig, or energize your club to put together a multi-op effort. Hope to hear a LOT of Indiana signals on May 2. INDIANAPOLIS VE Testing Schedule for First half of 2009 March 7, 2008 April 4, 2008 June 6, 2008 Calling in advance to ensure testing availability is suggested but not mandatory. SPONSOR: Indianapolis Radio Club (W9JP) LOCATION: Indianapolis Training Center 2820 N. Meridian Street. CONTACTS: Gale Wuollet, AA9WU (h) 317-849-8449, or Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L 317-203-3335. All testing at the Indianapolis Training Center starts at 9:00 am and the last test will be administered no later than 11:00 a.m. FORMER IRC PRESIDENT JOHN JONES, W9FZW, SK I received this from Ron Williams, W9YZ: On Dec 24th, 2008 John C. Jones W9FZW age 92 passed away. He was president of the Indianapolis Radio Club in the 1950s. He was quite active in many years of field days. He also was quite skilled in repairs to ham radio equipment which was quite helpful to many hams. About 30 years ago the company he worked for closed its Indianapolis factory and transferred John to their plant in Camden TN. They needed his skills in machine repair and various other problems. I believe some of the old timers of IRC remember him quite well. I first knew John in 1950 when I had acquired my first call sign of W9JVF. John's wife Martha was also a ham with the call sign of KQ4PS. She had passed away about 2 years earlier. W1AW WINTER OPERATING SCHEDULE Morning Schedule: Time Mode Days ------------------- ---- --------- 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) CWs Wed, Fri 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) CWf Tue, Thu Daily Visitor Operating Hours: 1500 UTC to 1700 UTC - (10 AM to 12 PM EST) 1800 UTC to 2045 UTC - (1 PM to 3:45 PM EST) (Station closed 1700 to 1800 UTC (12 PM to 1 PM EST)) Afternoon/Evening Schedule: 2100 UTC (4 PM EST) CWf Mon, Wed, Fri 2100 " " CWs Tue, Thu 2200 " (5 PM EST) CWb Daily 2300 " (6 PM EST) RTTY Daily 0000 " (7 PM EST) CWs Mon, Wed, Fri 0000 " " CWf Tue, Thu 0100 " (8 PM EST) CWb Daily 0200 " (9 PM EST) RTTY Daily 0245 " (9:45 PM EST) VOICE Daily 0300 " (10 PM EST) CWf Mon, Wed, Fri 0300 " " CWs Tue, Thu 0400 " (11 PM EST) CWb Daily Frequencies (MHz) ----------------- CW: 1.8175 3.5815 7.0475 14.0475 18.0975 21.0675 28.0675 147.555 RTTY: - 3.5975 7.095 14.095 18.1025 21.095 28.095 147.555 VOICE: 1.855 3.990 7.290 14.290 18.160 21.390 28.590 147.555 Notes: CWs = Morse Code practice (slow) = 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM CWf = Morse Code practice (fast) = 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM CWb = Morse Code Bulletins = 18 WPM The W1AW Operating Schedule may also be found on page 100 in the January 2009 issue of QST or on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html. NASA FUNDED STUDY EXPLORES SOLAR ERUPTIONS A NASA-funded study describes how extreme solar eruptions could have severe consequences for communications, power grids and other technology on Earth. The National Academy of Sciences in Washington conducted the study. The resulting report provides some of the first clear economic data that effectively quantifies today's risk of extreme conditions in space driven by magnetic activity on the sun and disturbances in the near-Earth environment. Instances of extreme space weather are rare and are categorized with other natural hazards that have a low frequency but high consequences. Besides emitting a continuous stream of plasma called the solar wind, the sun periodically releases billions of tons of matter called coronal mass ejections. These immense clouds of material, when directed toward Earth, can cause large magnetic storms in the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. Such space weather can affect the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems Point your browser to http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/spaceweather_hazard.html for more info. ARES DISTRICT 5 NET STARTING I received this from Mike Palmer, N9FEB: As ARES District 5 Emergency Coordinator, I am going to establish a VHF Net on the 146.700 Repeater in Indianapolis on the FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, beginning on February 7 at 6:30 pm. This net will not have ARNewsline or other pre-recorded amateur radio broadcasts at this time, but will have announcements concerning all available ham radio activities in ARES District 5. Those counties in District 5 are: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby. Tune in and check it out. You DO NOT have to be an ARES Member to check-in, but I strongly encourage all ham radio operators who support their local events to consider joining ... IT IS FREE! Just contact your local county ARES EC for assistance. You are not required to join the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), but you may want to also think about this: As a member, you get a monthly magazine called QST, which brings you interesting news from all over about ham radio. You would also be entitled to get discounted ham radio insurance that would protect you in case of loss or damage. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/insurance/equipment.html Thanks for your time and I hope to hear you the first Saturday of each month on the net. MICHAEL COPPS APPOINTED ACTING CHAIRMAN OF FCC On Thursday, January 22, President Barack Obama named current FCC Commissioner Michael Copps as Acting Chairman of the Commission. Last week, sources close to the President mentioned Julius Genachowski would be nominated as Chairman. Copps will serve as Acting Chairman until a new Commissioner/Chairman is confirmed. "I am honored to be designated as Acting Chairman of the FCC," Copps said in a statement released by the FCC. "I thank President Obama for his confidence in me and for this opportunity to serve. I know that I have a truly gifted and terrific team to work with. I pledge every effort I am capable of to help steer the Commission through its current transition to new leadership." ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, congratulated Copps on his appointment. "Whenever we have sought a meeting with him or his staff, his door has always been open to us," he said. LAURA L. SMITH NAMED TO AMATEUR ENFORCEMENT ROLE Laura L. Smith of Pennsylvania has been named by the FCC to fill the vacancy created when Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, retired in 2008 as Special Counsel for the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. Hollingsworth served in that position for more than 10 years as the FCC's enforcement watchdog over the Amateur Radio Service. A 1990 graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law, Smith began her legal career with the FCC, working in the Mass Media Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also served as Deputy Division Chief of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division. Smith is currently licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. HENDRICKS COUNTY CLASSES GOING Classes started on Wednesday, January 28 in Hendricks County for new Techs as well as upgrades. Class meet from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Senior Services Building just north of Hendricks Regional Health in Danville. Classes will meet for 8 consecutive Wednesdays, with testing on the Saturday following the last class. Contact Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L, with any questions. ARRL BOARD VOTES FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ARRL Membership and Deployed Active Duty Military: The Board voted unanimously to amend Bylaw 5, stating that the Executive Vice President is authorized to maintain ARRL membership privileges without charge for the duration of a member's active military deployment outside the ARRL operating territory as described in Bylaw 30, with or without the delivery of QST at the member's option. Bylaw 30 delineates which states (or portions of states) belong to the 15 ARRL Divisions. This action brings in to the Bylaws a policy adopted earlier by the Board. ARRL BOARD ISSUES MOBILE OPERATION POLICY STATEMENT On January 30, at the instruction of the Board of Directors at its January 2009 meeting, the ARRL Executive Committee adopted a policy statement on mobile Amateur Radio operations. The statement addresses the growing number of proposed state and local laws and ordinances regulating the use of cellular telephone and text messaging, inadvertently affecting Amateur Radio mobile communications. In its statement, the Executive Committee urges state and municipal legislators to limit the scope of their proposals, limiting them to devices such as full duplex wireless telephones and related hand-held or portable equipment. Alternately, it suggests that licensed Amateur Radio operation be listed specifically as an exclusion to the proposed regulations. The ARRL Policy Statement can be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/MobileAmateurRadioPolicyStatement.pdf. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS New members at the January meeting: Larry Hagner, KB9IKY Marc Snell, KC9CCM Dennis Snell, KC9CCO (Travis) William Vetters, KC9HNS KENWOOD TS-2000 FOR SALE Trevor Fulk, N9YM, writes: Would you possibly be able to let the IRC members know that I am looking at selling my Kenwood TS2000? I am not in a position to use it, and it is in excellent condition. Would like to get $1250 for it, was $1700 new. It works on all bands, no issues with the rig at all. They can contact me at tnfulk@gmail.com or n9ym@arrl.net. FEEL FREE TO SHARE OUR NEWSLETTER If you belong to any other radio groups, please feel free to share our newsletter with them. They can also sign up to be on our mailing list by filling out the form available at http://www.indyradioclub.org/rqstnewsletter.htm. SEND ME YOUR HAM RADIO NEWS If anyone has any items for the newsletter, please send them to Ken Bandy at kj9b@arrl.net Signals from the Past: >From the January, 1951 Amachewer: Pittman mobile rig is all finished except for drilling a few holes, talking PM into winding a few coils, talking the XYL into letting him put it in the car, wiring the tuning unit up, finding a mike, installing a PE103, and buying a battery charger. Upcoming Area Radio Events: * Running through March 18: Hendricks County classes. Classes available for all license classes. Class runs from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Contact Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L, for more information. * March 14: Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Assn. Hamfest. Point your browser to http://www.w9uuu.org for more info. * May 2: Indiana QSO Party. Point your browser to http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp for more details. * May 14 – 16: Dayton Hamvention. Stay tuned for details on the Indy Radio Club’s bus trip to Dayton. 2009 IRC Officers: · President: Ron Cooper, WB9DKL - ..EMAIL wb9dkl@sbcglobal.net · Vice Pres.: Dave Miller, K9RTT - ..EMAIL dmiller@ivytech.edu · Secretary: Ken Bandy, KJ9B - ..EMAIL kj9b@arrl.net · Treasurer: Jay Willever, K9LJW - ..EMAIL k9ljw@arrl.net · Chief Operator: Steve Wendt, KB9RDS - ..EMAIL kb9rds@arrl.net · Dir. at large: Tom Chance, K9XV - ..EMAIL k9xv@arrl.net · Dir. at large: Bob Osterhous, W9PSE - ..EMAIL rosterhous@iquest.net · Dir. at large: Bob Begeman, W9KVK - ..EMAIL w9kvk@juno.com · W9JP Trustee: Don Hemenover, N9DOO – EMAIL don9doo@lightbound.com