The Indianapolis Radio Club Newsletter Founded 1914 “The oldest continuously operating Amateur Radio Club in the United States” April 2009 Newsletter Upcoming Meetings: May 8, 2009: Antenna presentation by Tom Chance, K9XV June 12, 2009: Annual equipment auction. Highlights from the April Meeting: The meeting was called to order at 7:25 by club President Ron Cooper, WB9DKL. Ron started off with self introductions. There were 51 in attendance. Among those in attendance was new ham Don Campbell, N9PIC, and visitors Eric Sample, K9ETN, and Gill Coleman, KC9CCM. Ron said that 14 more riders are needed for the bus trip to break even. Steve Wendt, KB9RDS, spoke about what a good deal the bus trip is, at $30 per person, it costs more to drive to and park at Dayton than what the bus trip will cost. There will be 50/50 draw on the bus, as well as a stop at the MCL in Richmond on the way back. Tom Chance talked about Field day, it is a go, for June 27 and 28 at the Marion County fairgrounds. Tom encouraged those that want to, to stay over on Saturday night. Tom would like folks that are interested in working on Field Day to get in touch with him. Also, for the antenna forum in May, he wants anyone who has an antenna project to talk about to get with him. Hank, K9LZJ, talked about his tower work. Hank and Gary, K9SG, were working on a crank up tower. When tilting the tower over, it fell when at 45 degrees. This was at the same location that Hank had been the day before. It was determined that the bearing/brake mechanism in the winch that operated the tilt-over feature had deteriorated over time, and caused the failure. Hank noted that the materials used on this mechanism have been replaced over the past few years to materials that will resist deterioration. Next was a picture moment with Bob Begeman, who had received his 50 year pin from ARRL, and the newest ham present, N9PIC. Steve, KB9RDS, talked about the club's involvement with last year's Indiana QSO Party. The club received a certificate for first place in Marion county for multi-op station. Ron, W9KFB, talked about his software package, for control of several rigs. There is a full page review on page 60 of this month's QST. Ron will be at booth 195 at Dayton. Dovid announced his needing help with a testing session for IMPD officers on Thursday, April 23. Hank had “show and tell” on a new “kindle” electronic book reader. Dave, K9RTT, talked about May’s meeting project of building a DTV antenna out of coat hangers. He also promoted the auction at June's meeting. The September meeting will be at the IWM, showing off the new USS Indianapolis display. Dave is still working on the W9DUU memorial fox hunt, possibly at the August picnic. Next Mark Musick, WB9CIF... started his talk on the Indiana QSO Party. He passed out a hand out on the QSO party. He described a QSO party as a “mini contest”. Ours is 12 hours long, from noon to midnight local time on May 2, 2009. There are several different types of QSO parties, for states, or groups, etc... Scoring 1 point for SSB contact, or 2 pts for CW contact. There are different multipliers also available for helping with scoring. There are different categories, Single op hi power, single op low power, QRP, mobile, multi-operator station, etc. Certificates are awarded, as well as plaques for different categories. The Hoosier DX club has sponsored the contest for the past few years. The rules for the INQP are available at the club's web site located at http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp/index.html. There is also a listing of recommended logging software at their web site. Last year, there were around 110 logs turned in. There is a fair amount of interest generated in this contest. Lots of award hunters. There is a listing on their web site of where stations will probably be located. There is a max of 2 simultaneous counties available for mobile stations, where the station is “straddling” a county line. Mark noted several unique operations, both mobile and fixed. One of these is Mel, KJ9C, who will operate mobile CW, while computer logging and driving(!). There is a club competition category. With this, there need to be at least 3 people from the club to turn in a log, mentioning that they are with the club, and these scores will be noted as to how well the club does. Mark told of his wife getting a warning ticket for pulling over on I-64 without having a real emergency so Mark could operate in a particular county. They are having 4 stations using 1 by 1 call signs. W9UUU will be running a Bison Stampede station, for 50 bonus points. There will be a Brown County station. Mark pointed out there are a few “rare” counties in Indiana, such as Ohio, and Switzerland. There are suggested frequencies, for CW, it is 40 KHz from the bottom of the band. A large antenna array is not necessary. Exchange is just a signal report and the county. Steve, KB9RDS, went over W9JP's stats for last year's INQP. Steve will have the station available for this year. He warned that it occurs on the same day as the Mini-Marathon. Mark said there are some other QSO parties on the same day, such as the 7-land, and New England parties. Mark went over how “spotting” works, specifically for QSO parties. There was a discussion about preferred logging software programs. Hand written logs can be sent in, as long as the information is complete. The preferred format for software logs is Cabrillo, but any ASCII file will work. The Hoosier DX club also sponsors the “Worked All Indiana” award. Need to work and confirm 60 of the 92 counties in Indiana to get this award. Confirmation is by GRC rules. The “Worked All Indiana” award does not have to be during the INQP. Next Chuck, W9IH, gave a presentation on the Museum Ships event. It is on June 5,6,7. There are normally around 80 ships on the air. Starting in 2005, the USS Indianapolis has been on the air for the event. On June 5, 2009, there will be a reunion of the survivors of the USS Indianapolis. Chuck talked about the plans for the IWM USS Indianapolis display. After talking to anyone they could find to find out information about WWII radio ops, information was put together on the USS Indianapolis. Chuck gave an interesting PowerPoint presentation on the radio rooms on the USS Indianapolis. Stan, AC5TW, donated a great deal of equipment for the radio room. USS Indianapolis' call sign was “NABD”, Amateur call for IWM station will be WW2IND. More info at IRC web site. Hope to have room ready by 2nd week of May. Steve, KB9RDS, talked briefly about the SMIRK 6 meter club. He was ranked first in the state for contacts, and 19th in the world. Steve's point was there is not much activity on 6, and plenty of room for getting contacts. Finally, door prizes were awarded. The meeting adjourned at 9:07. Ham Radio News: 2 METER SSB NET CHANGES TIME To accommodate schedule changes due to daylight saving time, the weekly 2 meter SSB net has changed to 8:30 pm local time. This net meets on Thursday evenings on 144.25 MHz USB. INDIANA QSO PARTY THIS SATURDAY Received from INQP mobile/portable coordinator, Mel Crichton, 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 Second half of 2009 ARRL TEST SESSIONS: Sponsor: Indianapolis Radio Club (W9JP) Where: All testing is at The Indianapolis Training Center, 2820 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46107. When: June 6, 2009 August 8, 2009, liaison is Dovid Ofstein (N9APE) September 5, 2009. liaison is Gale Wuollet (AA9WU) October 3, 2009, liaison is Gale Wuollet (AA9WU) November 7, 2009, liaison is Dovid Ofstein (N9APE) December 5, 2009, liaison is Gale Wuollet (AA9WU) Time: All testing starts at 9:00 AM Phone if needed; Gale Wuollet (317-849-8449) email - indy33windy@comcast.net or, Dovid Ofstein (317-908-5125) email - doctoro57@yahoo.com Walk-ins allowed A NEW HARMONIC FOR TREVOR FULK, N9YM Trevor has been a bit busy lately. He and Julie welcomed their baby girl, Isabella Elyse, on Tuesday, April 21. Sounds like the newest “Chick Factor” club member! Congratulations to Trevor and Julie! DAYTON BUS IS FILLING UP! There are still a few seats left on the coach that the Indianapolis Radio Club has chartered to go to the 2009 Dayton Hamvention, on Saturday, May 16, 2009. There will be two pick up points: Southern Plaza (I-465 and US 31 on the south side) at 6:30 am; and Peddler’s Mall (I-465 and US 40 on the east side) at 7:00 am. We will stop in Richmond for a short breakfast break, and then be dropped off at the front door of the exhibit hall in Dayton. The bus will be parked nearby and will either be attended or locked when unattended with arranged drop-off times, so you can store your treasures during the day. We will leave Dayton around 4:00, and stop in Richmond at the MCL on the way home for dinner. We should arrive back in Indy around 7:00 pm. This is always a fun trip, as well as an economical one! Cost is $30 per seat. This does not include admission to the show. Point your browser to http://indyradioclub.org/bustripdayton09.htm for more information. FCC, INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDRESS UNLICENSED OPERATIONS >From the ARRL: In response to an investigation by the FCC, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) has taken action to prevent further use of Amateur Radio frequencies by unlicensed officers. Any Amateur Radio equipment in the cruisers of unlicensed officers was removed by order of IMPD Chief of Police Michael T. Spears. According to the FCC, some IMPD officers were using the radios to supplement their normal communications channels, including using amateur frequencies for tactical communications during drug surveillance. As part of its inquiry, the FCC reminded the IMPD of the large number of tactical channels available on a secondary basis to police departments from the public safety pool of frequency allocations. "We are pleased that IMPD has put a stop to this unlicensed activity," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The investigation by the FCC, coupled with the expedient cooperation and correction of the problem by the IMPD, eliminates a situation that had raised serious concerns in the amateur community." The FCC stated they would monitor the situation and follow-up appropriately if needed. 14 IMPD OFFICERS ARE NEW HAMS! On April 23, a VE team comprised of VEs from the MARC club in Johnson county and the Indianapolis Radio Club tested 21 IMPD officers in two sessions. Fourteen of them passed and are now new hams! Congratulations to both those officers who earned their licenses and the VEs that volunteered for the sessions. NEW VIDEOS PROMOTING FIELD DAY, AMATEUR RADIO TECHNOLOGY, AVAILABLE FROM ARRL Two new video Public Service Announcements (PSAs) -- one promoting ARRL Field Day and another showing the technical side of Amateur Radio -- are now available from the ARRL Web site. "These videos are great for PIOs , clubs and hams in general to use in promoting the fun side of Amateur Radio," said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "The Field Day PSA is meant to be posted on Web sites, added to e-mails and shared via the Internet," Pitts explained. "While not broadcast quality resolution, it was intentionally made small enough to go through almost all e-mail systems and able to be seen on almost every computer. The PSA spotlighting Amateur Radio technology is meant for broadcast and cable TV; it is more general than the Field Day video and media outlets can use it all year long. This video complements the WeDoThat-Radio campaign and the Technology Pillar, one of the ARRL's five pillars." "Please do not modify it or change the ending!" Pitts requests. "Since the files can go all over the country -- and world -- the ending needs to be able to direct anyone, anywhere to the closest Field Day site near them. Just be sure your local group is listed on the ARRL Field Day Locator and they will find you." Since the technology PSA is targeted for commercial TV uses, it is a high resolution, 43 meg, MOV type file; it can be downloaded from the ARRL Web site . Because this version is meant for professional use, it has a formal 60 second lead-in followed by the 30 second PSA. A very low resolution preview version (not meant for distribution) is also available . To get a copy of the technology video on a disc, please send Pitts an e-mail , letting him know which TV stations or cable systems will be showing the video, and which format is needed. ARMED FORCES DAY MILITARY/AMATEUR COMMUNICATIONS TEST MAY 9 Brian Smith, W9IND, reminds us that Saturday, May 9 is the annual Armed Forces Day Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test. This is a neat opportunity to get some interesting QSL cards from some military stations. If you are a new (or not so new) ham, this is a good time to test your rig for operating “split”, where you will receive the military stations on their frequency, outside of the amateur bands, and transmit on an amateur frequency, where they will be listening. Point your browser to http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/docs/AMC_Test_2009.pdf for all the details. A FUNNY STORY, THAT HOPEFULLY IS NOT TRUE John Lee, W9GRE, gave me a copy of this story at the last radio club meeting. It’s been making it’s rounds for years. Hard telling where it originally came from. Antenna Raising Incident “I’m writing in response to your request for additional information for Block Number 3 of the Accident Reporting Form. I put “poor planning” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter I should explain more fully, and I trust the following details will be sufficient.” “I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the accident I was working alone on the top section of my new 80’ tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 lbs. of tools and hardware. Rather than carry the now un-needed tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower.” “Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and materials into the barrel; I went back to the ground and untied the rope holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 300 lbs. of tools. You will note in Block Number 11 of the Accident Reporting Form, I weigh only 155 lbs.” “Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40’ level, I met the barrel coming down; this explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.” “Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold on to the rope in spite of the pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 lbs. I refer you again to my weight in Block Number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40’ level, I met the barrel coming up; this accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body. “This encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on the pile of tools, and fortunately only 3 vertebrae were cracked. I’m sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel 80’ above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope.” WELCOME NEW MEMBERS New member at the March meeting was: Trikam Parmar, KB9PGP (after a one year absence) 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 April, 1950 Amachewer: The Indianapolis newspapers on Wednesday March 1st, 1950 carried an account of how a “peeping Tom” was captured by Wm. Williams, W9ZCE. Seems the culprit was noticed peering through the window of a neighbor’s home. The neighbor telephoned W9ZCE and he in turn covered the intruder with a shotgun until the police arrived. Upcoming Area Radio Events: * May 2: Indiana QSO Party. Point your browser to http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp for more details. * May 15 – 17: Dayton Hamvention. Get your ticket for the IRC’s bus trip going over on Saturday, May 16. Only 44 tickets are available at $30 per person. * August 1: Ernie Pyle Island (IN008L) on the air! From Cagle’s Mill Lake in Owen County, Indiana. Station W9I will be on the air to commemorate the 109th birthday of Ernie Pyle, operating CW and SSB on the 10 – 40 meter bands. * August 1: Annual Indianapolis Radio Club Broad Ripple Hamfest and picnic. More info to come later. 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 ?? ?? ?? ?? 9