The Indianapolis Radio Club Newsletter Founded 1914 “The oldest continuously operating Amateur Radio Club in the United States” May 2010 Newsletter Upcoming Meetings: June 12: Annual Auction Highlights from the May Meeting: Meeting called to order at 7:20 pm by Ron Cooper, WB9DKL. Ron made an appeal to sell the last 4 Dayton bus tickets needed to break even. Next, Ron started the self introductions, there were 50 present, with several first time attendees. Dave Miller, K9RTT, talked about next month's meeting, the annual auction. Ron talked about the picnic in August, announcing the prizes that will be available in the blind draw donation drawing. They will be a Yaesu FT-60R Dual Band HT, a Yaesu FT-450 HF & 6 meter transceiver, a Yaesu FT-7900 dual band mobile, and a Yaesu VX-150. Mark Musick, WB9CIF, talked about the annual Hilltop event. This year, the event will be on August 28, and the hours have been extended to 8 am to 2 pm. The bands of operation will be basically the same as in the past: 2 meter FM and SSB, 6 meter FM and SSB and , 75 meter SSB instead of 40 meters. As a history, the hilltop event will be in it's 4th year, operated as a Field Day type set up. Mark went over the scoring scenario. Ken Bandy, KJ9B, mentioned that we need to get more involvement from throughout the state for the hilltop event. Jerry Skoll, KC9DTB, said he will be at sea starting May 19th through June. This will be a trans-Atlantic crossing to Portugal. He will try to work 15 and 20 meters. There will be more information forthcoming. Tom Chance, K9XV, talked about the “o’ dark thirty” Swapmeet. Tom said there were around 175 people in attendance. There were 75 hot dogs, and 9 dozen Long's doughnuts consumed. Tom said the event will definitely be done again next year. Tom also talked about Field Day, which will be the last weekend in June. We will be set up in the Sheriff's building at the Marion County Fairgrounds, and will be running either 2A or 3A. Next, Dave announced this was “antenna night”. He also asked for any suggestions for meeting topics for next year. Dave then introduced Tom Chance, K9XV, who was the host for the evening’s antenna presenations. There were 6 projects to go through this evening. Tom talked about vertical antennas, specifically 80 meters. Tom wanted high efficiency, with low angle, also wanted directionality. Tom explained and showed how he erects a 65' vertical antenna by himself, using a derrick. Next, David Poole, AD9DP, gave a presentation on a tape measure ground plane vertical for 10 through 40 meters. After David, Steve, KB9RDS, talked about his mid-loaded inverted 'L' for 160 meters. And his previous experience with 160 meter antennas. Next Bob Begeman, W9KVK, talked about and demonstrated twin lead J-poles. Rounding out the presentations, Greg, KC9NRO, talked about what can be done with “military” poles found at hamfests, to make field antennas. Greg also talked about Penninger Radio (http://www.penningerradio.com/) as a supplier for accessories for these poles. Finally, door prizes were drawn, and the meeting adjourned at 9:03 pm. Ham Radio News: WW2IND USS INDIANAPOLIS MEMORIAL STATION OPERATIONS Here’s the latest information from Chuck Crist, W9IH: There will several chances during May,June,July & August this year for hams to operate WW2IND from the Indiana War Memorial Musuem... come join in & bring friends. (if just for an hour...need radio operators) also spread the word I may have missed someone that you know would like to help out. INFO: (A) all radio ops will be at the IWM (indiana war memorial museum)... Use Michigan st entrance. (B) after hours talk-in is 146.52 simplex for door entry...call WW2IND (C) Parking is free weekends & holidays around the building. (D) CW Operators _bring own Key or paddles. Please check out the ops sked on the http://www.ussindyradio.org/ website... click on special event 2010 links let me know when you can operate, or just show up! WHEN:_WHAT:_& _TIME: [1] May;31 mon. Memorial day _noon-9P; Two-three ham stations CW on any ham ststion.... [2]JUNE 4th_5th & 6th Fri-Sun Museum Ships Event(48 hrs); three Ham station CW on any ham ststion.... [3]JULY TBA 9a-6pm USS Indiana-BB-58 _OTA Call (WW2IND/BB-58) to honor the newest addition to the IWM WW2 historical area...Two-three ham stations [4] AUGUST; 1st Sun, 9am-3pm; survivors remembered...Two-three ham stations please check ou the ops sked on the http://www.ussindyradio.org/ website... let me know when you can operate. 73 chuck-W9IH W9IMS VOLUNTEERS WORK ON THE USS INDIANAPOLIS MEMORIAL The W9IMS group has adopted the restoration of the USS Indianapolis Memorial as a club project. The restoration was presented by Mike Koss, W9SU, a couple of years ago and got the go ahead earlier this year. Work started in April and will continue through the summer, weather and time permitting. TIME TO GET THOSE INQP LOGS IN All indications are pointing to record breaking participation in the last Indiana QSO Party. In order to make sure that all the points go to the right places, be sure to send in your log, even if you only had one contact, or if your log is paper. Point your browser to http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp/rules.html to see how and where to submit your log. JERRY SKOLL, KC9DTB, GOING ON TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING Here’s the note received from Jerry on May 16: I'll be departing shortly for Bermuda to begin the trans-Atlantic crossing aboard the sailing vessel Berkerly East:; leaving Bermuda Wednesday May 19th. We expect approximately 16 days to the Azores Islands. After a short rest we'll continue Eastbound for 10-11 days to Legos, Portugal...arriving approximately June 21. I hope to be able to talk to Indiana HAMs as we progress. I'll follow our usual practice for 20 meters. I'll daily try to check into Maritime Mobile (14.300) as soon as possible (early to midafternoon Indy time). If an even numbered calendar day (May 28th for example), I'll announce that after checking in we'll move to 14.285 for an hour and do QSO's with an Ocean Square QSL card to follow when I return home. On odd days we'll go to 14.315 after MMSN check in. I'll try to work the daily frequency again (either 14.285 or 14.315) at about 9 PM Indy time. On weekends I'll try to work these frequencies longer and more often as more people won't be at work. I'm not giving any 40 or 80 meters frequencies as we're starting 600 miles offshore (better than 1300 miles from Indy) and pulling away further East each day. I'll try to work 17 on 18.120 and 15 meters on 21.375, but have no clue if that will work. I expect results to be spotty and unpredictable. Our max power is 150 watts, our antenna is the rigging and it's very uni-directional off the stern. Storm conditions will keep me off the rig as I have other duties then. The open times for me to transmit are further limited by other crew sleeping, mandatory marine band check in schedules for the Atlantic Rally fleet net and weather report downloads. Of course, band conditions may be great in Indy, but suck where we are. Of course, our progress can be followed on the internet via Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN). Click the shiptrak icon (lower left) (http://shiptrak.org/) and input by call sign KC9DTB. You can also follow us on http://www.worldcruising.com/ . Click on "ARC Europe Latest News" and look for Berkerly East dispatches. W1AW OFFERS CODE PRACTICE, BULLETINS VIA ECHOLINK Audio from W1AW's CW code practices and CW/digital bulletins is now available using EchoLink via the W1AW Conference Server "W1AWBDCT." The 9:45 PM ET phone bulletin is currently unavailable via W1AWBDCT. The audio is sent in real-time and runs concurrently with W1AW's regular transmission schedule. According to W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, this server is currently at an experimental stage: "Since the server is located at ARRL -- and uses the ARRL's Internet connection -- there may be an issue as to how many users can connect to W1AWBDCT via EchoLink. The current number of connections is set to 350. If the current system can properly handle these connections without adversely affecting the performance of the conference server, this number will be bumped up higher." All users who connect to the conference server are muted. Please note that any questions or comments should not be sent via the "Text" window in EchoLink. Please send any questions or comments via e-mail. A GREAT DAY AT DAYTON Those of you that were on the bus trip to Dayton on May 15 know what a great time we all had. Those of you that weren’t on the bus will just have to ask someone who went on the bus. We had great weather and a fun and relaxing ride over and back. Here’s a “class picture” of us at our dinner stop at the MCL in Richmond. 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: June 5, 2010 Time: All testing starts at 9:00 AM; Walk-ins allowed NEW 220 NET STARTED Tom Chance, K9XV, has started a new 220 net on Tuesday evenings at 8:00 pm Indianapolis Time. This net meets on the 224.8 (88.5 PL) repeater, located in downtown Indianapolis. If you don't have 220 capability, you can also check in on the 146.67 repeater, which is linked to the 224.8 machine. FCC SEEKS COMMENTS ON NEWLY PROPOSED RULES FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS AND EMERGENCY DRILLS In March, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to amend the Part 97 rules governing the Amateur Radio Service. The new rules would provide that, under certain limited conditions, Amateur Radio operators may transmit messages during emergency and disaster preparedness drills, regardless of whether the operators are employees of entities participating in the drill. On April 22, a summary of the NPRM was published in the Federal Register and the FCC is seeking comments on it. Comments must be filed on or before May 24, 2010 (30 days after publication in the Federal Register); reply comments must be filed on or before June 7, 2010 (45 days after publication in the Federal Register). Instructions on how to file comments are listed beginning on page 5 of the NPRM. The NPRM is available on the web in PDF format at, http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-45A1.pdf. LOCAL HAM GETS A LONG-AWAITED AWARD Read about local ham Brian Smith's (W9IND) 40 year pursuit of the "Chief Big Thunder" Award. It was published on the ARRL web site at http://www.arrl.org/yesterday-once-more. Quite an interesting story! POSSIBLE CHANGES TO 60 METERS COMING Acting on a 2006 Petition for Rulemaking filed by the ARRL, the FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), ET Docket No 10-98 to modify the rules that govern amateurs’ secondary use of five channels in the 5 MHz frequency range known as 60 meters. The proposed changes would substitute a new channel for one that is seldom available because of occupancy by the fixed service, which is primary in this range. Also proposed is an increase in power from 50 to 100 W effective radiated power (ERP) and the addition of CW, PSK31 and PACTOR-III modes with provisions to ensure that such operations would be compatible with the primary service. The proposed changes can be found beginning on page 8 of the NPRM. “The ARRL is pleased that the Commission has opened this proceeding to increase the usefulness of the limited 5 MHz Amateur Service allocation,” said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. “We are gratified that the Commission and the NTIA agree that the responsible manner in which amateurs have been using the five USB channels warrants some expansion of privileges so that the Amateur Service can be even better prepared for service to the public.” Point your browser to http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-additions-changes-to-amateur-5-mhz-allocation for all the details. NATION'S FIRST MAJOR BPL DEPLOYMENT SHUTS DOWN Manassas, Virginia has long been the poster child for BPL's supposed successes, and was the first real non-trial deployment of the technology in the United States. The city's network, built by a company named COMTek, offered city residents speeds slower than 1 Mbps for $24.95 a month. By 2008, COMTek was starting to realize their fortunes would never be made in residential broadband using an inherently flawed technology, so they sold the network to the city -- and it has been sucking Manassas dry ever since. After pouring $1.6 million into the network and losing about $166,000 a year -- the city this week finally voted to shut the network down. All 520 residents have been told to find a new ISP, and the remnants of the city's "great broadband hope" are being sold off for scrap. WELCOME NEW CLUB MEMBER Mark Musick, WB9CIF 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-May, 1949 Amachewer: Meeting Announcement for May 20th: Robert C. Moyer of RCA will talk and demonstrate the 45 RPM RCA record changer. He will tell the features and reasons for the event of the speed and type of record reproduction. Upcoming Area Radio Events: * June 5-6 Museum Ships Weekend. Go to http://www.nj2bb.org/museum/ for more info. * June 26-27 Field Day * July 10 Indianapolis Hamfest, Camp Sertoma, Indianapolis 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 ?? ?? ?? ??