The Indianapolis Radio Club Newsletter Founded 1914 “The oldest continuously operating Amateur Radio Club in the United States” February 2010 Newsletter Upcoming Meetings: March 12: Software Defined Radio developments. April 9: Homebrew night, with kit building. May 7 (Note different date due to Dayton): Antenna meeting June 12: Annual Auction Highlights from the February Meeting: The club meeting was brought to order by Club President Ron Cooper, WB9DKL, at 7:30 and introductions were made. A moment of silence was observed honoring Silent Key Louie Linthecome, K9EAT. Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L, told about the testing session this past week in Lebanon manned by the Hendricks County W4VEC team. They had good results with several hams passing their tests. Mark Musick, WB9CIF, talked about the plans for the upcoming hill top contest. There will be more to follow on this. Tom Chance, K9XV, talked about the plans for Field Day at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Next, Dave Miller, K9RTT, talked about the ham radio Morse code. Jim Reinhart, K9RU, spoke about the history of Morse code and how it came to be. Dennis, K9KZZ talked about the Titanic and the last SOS message sent before it went down. He also played a recording of the SOS distress call while it was sinking. Various people talked about the old ham equipment that was on display at the rear of the room. Tom Chance spoke about different digital code programs found on the internet. The usual door prize drawing ended the meeting. (Editor’s note: Special thanks to Sam Carter, WA9VBG, for taking notes on the meeting in my absence) Ham Radio News: ARRL VE TESTING SCHEDULE FOR MARION COUNTY Sponsor: Indianapolis Radio Club (W9JP) Where: All testing is at The Indianapolis Training Center, 2820 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46208. Liaison: Gale Wuollet (317-849-8449) email: indy33windy@comcast.net When: April 3, 2010 June 5, 2010 Time: All testing starts at 9:00 AM; Walk-ins allowed TESTING SESSION COMING UP AT W9IMS >From Brian, W9IND: Want to take a shot at upgrading your license? Know anybody else who would ... or any unlicensed folks who want to get in the game? It'll be more convenient than ever at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20, when our club hosts its first-ever ARRL exam session at the Comm Center. Thanks to Jim Rinehart, K9RU, for putting this all together. Here are the pertinent details: 1. The cost is $15, and we would prefer a check made out to ARRL VEC, but we can accept cash. 2. You will need to bring your license (the original), plus a copy. We will need a picture ID; a valid driver license will do. 3. Walk-ins are allowed, but we would prefer advance notice if possible. 4. You do not have to be a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club (or any of our other clubs) to attend the session, nor do you have to be a member of the ARRL. All amateurs and would-be amateurs are welcome. Click here for details on what to bring to the session (and what you can't bring), plus other important info: http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml Here's what our listing looks like on the ARRL Web site: 20-Mar-2010 Sponsor: IMS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Time: 2:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed) Contact: JAMES K RINEHART (317)218-7304 Email: K9RU@ARRL.NET VEC: ARRL/VEC Location: 3321 N GALE ST INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46218 CLASSES CONTINUE IN HENDRICKS COUNTY Amateur Radio Classes are continuing in Hendricks County, at the Senior Services Center just north of Hendricks Regional Health in Danville. Classes meet from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and are available for Technician through Extra class licenses. Classes will meet for 8 or 9 weeks, with testing either on the last class meeting, or the Saturday following the last class. Contact Dr. Jay Wright, KK9L, with any questions. NCVEC RELEASES SECOND TECHNICIAN QUESTION POOL In January, the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) released the 2010 Technician (Element 2) Question Pool. Upon further review of the pool, members of the QPC found and corrected more than 50 minor typographical errors and clarified the questions and answers, making them easier to understand. These adopted changes are now incorporated in a revised question pool. The errata list, as well as the revised Technician question pool, is available on the NCVEC Web site at, http://www.ncvec.org/. The previously released pool dated January 4, 2010 is invalid for use. The newly revised Technician question pool will become effective for all examinations administered on or after July 1, 2010; it will remain valid until June 30, 2014. The current Technician question pool that became effective July 1, 2006 will expire June 30, 2010. The new Technician pool contains approximately 400 questions, from which 35 are selected for an Element 2 examination; it will contain graphics and diagrams, something new for this element. The current General class question pool was effective July 1, 2007 and is valid through June 30, 2011. The current Amateur Extra class pool was effective July 1, 2008 and is valid until June 30, 2012. FRIDAY NIGHT 220/440 NET SUSPENDED The Friday night 224.98/443.25 net has been suspended effective with the close of the net on Friday, January 22. Tim DeLong, W9NES, founder and net control for the net cited the lack of other net control operators and the demand that this put on his time as reasons for suspending the net. Tim did say that if anyone was interested in taking the net over, or assisting with it, he might consider starting it back up. Contact Tim at w9nes@comcast.net if interested. W1AW 2010 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: 1.8025 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 A PROPOSAL FOR SOME MORE SPECTRUM This was circulated recently on several Ham Radio Newsgroups by Glen Zook, K9STH: Glen E. Zook 410 Lawndale Drive Richardson, Texas 75080 (972) 231-3987 gezook@sbcglobal.net 27 January 2010 Federal Communications Commission Office of the Secretary 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Subject: Petition for proposed changes in 47 CFR Part 97 Section 97.301(a) and Section 97.305(c) to add the 4-meter band Commissioners: The 4-meter (70.000 MHz to 70.500 MHz) amateur radio band has been authorized in a growing number of European and African nations and establishing such privileges for amateur radio operators in the United States and other areas over which the Commission has jurisdiction would be of great benefit to those operators residing in such areas. The recent migration of broadcast television stations to primarily the UHF frequencies basically eliminates any probable interference to television channels 4 or 5 which otherwise might have occurred because the 4-meter band is located on frequencies that were allocated to television channel 4. Since the 4-meter amateur radio band does not fall in the 72.0 MHz to 76.0 MHz segment which is allocated to Operational Fixed and various mobile services there would be no potential co-channel or adjacent channel interference. It is proposed to allow all classes of amateur radio operators operating privileges on this new band. However, it is suggested that Novice Class licensees be restricted to a lower output level than those allowed for Technician Class, General Class, Advanced Class, and Amateur Extra Class licensees. If the present power output limitations of 1500 watts are granted to the higher class licensees then the Novice Class licensees should be restricted to no more than 200 watts power output as per most of the privileges granted those operators who hold a Novice Class license. If a lower power limit is placed on other classes of operator then the power output limits on the Novice Class should be reduced accordingly. For example, if power limitations of 200 watts maximum output power be placed on Technician Class and higher licensees, then it is suggested that Novice Class licensees be held to no more than 25 watts output. One possible scenario would be to limit the Technician Class and higher licensees to 200 watts output power for a period of time (i.e. for 2 years) to determine any major interference problems which may occur by establishing these new operating privileges. At the end of that time, then the power output should be increased to the 1500 watts output power now allowed to Technician Class and higher class licensees. The power output allowed for Novice Class operations would then be 25 watts for 2-years increasing to 200 watts after the 2-year time frame. It is recommended that 47 CFR Part 97 Section 97.301(a) have the following additions made: Wavelength band Region I Region II Region III Sharing 4m 70.0 – 70.5 MHz 70.0 – 70.5 MHz - (a) and Section 97.305(c) have the following additions made: VHF 4m MCW, phone, image, RTTY, data, test (2), (5), (8) Respectively submitted: Glen E. Zook, K9STH Whether or not the FCC will even actually consider establishing a new amateur radio band will have to be seen. But, nothing tried, nothing gained! Glen, K9STH FCC NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING TO REVISE AND CLARIFY VANITY CALL SIGN RULES OPEN FOR COMMENTS Late last year, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) -- WT Docket 09-209 -- seeking to amend the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules to clarify certain rules and codify existing procedures governing the vanity call sign system, as well as revise certain rules applicable to club stations. Interested parties may make comments on the NPRM in the following ways: via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at, http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home, or via the FCC's Web site at, http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Comments must be submitted by March 26, 2010; reply comments are due no later than April 12, 2010. ROVER CLASS ADDED TO IN QSO PARTY >From Mel, KJ9C: Be sure to check out the new class (ROVER) added for the 2010 Indiana QSO Party on May 1. Also, there are links (via the discussion group in Yahoo) to downloadable publicity packets, operating hints, and a PowerPoint presentation for Indiana clubs to use for meetings. www.hdxcc.org/inqp A NOTE OF THANKS TO WW2IND >From Bob Osterhous, W9PSE: WW2IND, thanks for being on the air for the “Farwell to Ft. Monmouth N.J.” signal school and K2USA - MARS station on the closing of this base on Jan 30, 2010. I was stationed at Ft. Monmouth and operated K2USA when attending the Signal School, they had a great station with separate rooms for 10,15, 20, 40, and 80 Meters bands and sign in sheets to operate when not on the AIR for MARS. Monmouth was called the “Country Club” base of the Army. (Actually the food was great). WW2IND is the call sign for the Ham Station at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. They have re-created the USS Indianapolis “Radio Room” and have a great display. A group of volunteers have worked hard to get this replica room ready for visitation. Ham visitors to Indianapolis should stop by from 9 AM-5 PM Wednesdays thru Sundays. For further information see their WEB Site http://www.ussindyradio.org. 73, Bob Osterhous W9PSE - Indianapolis NEW LOCAL SWAPMEET COMING IN APRIL! April 17th 2010...O'Dark-Thirty Swap meet is FREE Admission, donuts & coffee (while they last) and Rain or Shine event. (bring your own rain cover).. 0600-noon...location is Northwest corner of Southport road & Madison Ave. PITCH-IN Lunch! GOT A SPARE HI POWER TUNER LAYING AROUND? USS Indy Radio exhibit needs a donation of one (1) Antenna tuner..1kw roller inductor or better. This is for the WW2IND 2nd ham position & will be a permanent part of the Indiana War Memorial Museum exhibit... contact Chuck-w9ih email; indytrax@core.com 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 February, 1979 Amachewer: In an article about a Simulated Emergency Test: There were several firsts in this year’s operation. The REACT Team activity proved feasible and was well organized by the Ham members of that group to form a link with the 2 meter net. This will be further developed in the future and may prove to be a really valuable asset. There was another 1st this year provided by Oscar Satellite, station WB9FNR at Peru, Ind. Sent a message via Oscar 8 to Bruce Woodward, W9UMH which was relayed by WB9GC at Greenwood, Ind. WB9FNR was working mode J and WB9GCV was working mode A, but through the fortunate simultaneity of the two modes at the time a crossover was effected and the message was passed. Upcoming Area Radio Events: * February 27: Cabin Fever Hamfest, 7 am to 1 pm at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., LaPorte, IN * March 6: Dugger ARC Hamfest Go to http://www.kc9ak.org/hamfest.html for more info * March 13: Wabash Valley ARA Hamfest Go to http://www.w9uuu.org for more info * March 27: Severe Weather Spotter Training, starting at 9:00 am at the Indianapolis Training Center. * April 17: Indianapolis Radio Club “O-Dark Thirty” Swap Meet starting at 6:00 am at the northwest corner of Southport Road and Madison Avenue. * May 15: Annual IRC Bus trip to Dayton Hamvention. $30 per person. 2010 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: Tom Chance, K9XV - ..EMAIL k9xv@arrl.net · Dir. at large: Jim Rinehart, K9RU – EMAIL k9ru@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 ?? ?? ?? ??