The Longmont Amateur Radio Club THE SPLATTER Post Office ...w0eno.org/sites/default/files/files/Splatter - June 1993.pdf · THE SPLATTER June 1993 The Longmont Amateur Radio Club

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THE SPLATTER June 1993

The Longmont Amateur Radio Club

Post Office Box 86

Longmont, Colorado 80502-0086

Repeater WBOZ 147.27/.87

Club Station: WBOVFN

Editor: Pete Lagerman, WA9HTX, 651-7592. THE SPLATTER is published by LARC. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of

LARC or its officers. Articles may be copied if the source is credited.

JUNE MEETING The June meeting of the LARC will be attempt II of a tour of the

Solar Forecasting Lab of the National Bureau of Standards in

Boulder. It is suggested that members and guests meet at the

club (Boulder County Fairgrounds Admin building near Nelson

and Hover Roads in Longmont) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday

evening June 16th and carpool down to the lab. There will be no

meeting at the club. It is suggested that someone post a small

sign to this effect on the club door prior to 6:30 on that evening

so that anyone not getting this notice can get the it for

Vice President Dean Haney, W6RFM, has arranged for Mr. Chris

Balch to meet us in the main lobby of NBS at 7:00 p.m. for the

tour. The Solar Forecasting Lab. issues forecasts of atmospheric

conditions which affect quality of radio propagation.

FIELD DAY!!! For the first time in many years, LARC has organized field day

sponsorship. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW

HAMS FOR A LOT OF FUN. Field Day happens every year on the

last weekend of June, and the idea is to set up outdoor stations

using non-commercial power if possible. The ARRL (American

Radio Relay League) establishes a contest which rewards field

day participants with the goal of increasing emergency communi-

cations skills and equipment set-up which could be used in an

emergency. It's kind of a combination of camping and ham radio,

and, when you get a good group together, it can be a lot of fun

and laughs too! Randy Stevens, NONMD, is LARC's Field Day

1993 Chairperson. Randy wants to see as many LARC members

as possible (and their families and friends) participating. The

date: June 26-27, Saturday and Sunday. The Field Day contest

period is from 1800 UTC Saturday until 2100 UTC Sunday. See

attached Field Day Rules for more information. Randy needs:

1)Equipment. 2)Operators. 3)"Groupies" i.e. family, etc. to help

with food and sleeping arrangements and to help in operations.

Randy would like to set up a class 2A station(2 xmtrs, 150 watts,

locally generated power. Location: Call Randy at 499-1106 to find

out what he has Planned. The more. the merrier!! Do it TODAY.

THE CLUB Membership in the Longmont Amateur Radio Club is open to anyone

interestecl in radio. Dues are $12 per year. The club holds regular monthly

meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Boulder

County Fairgrounds administration building near Hover and Nelson roads in

Longmont. Membership benefits include the use of the club radio station

and use of the autopatch on the VHF radio repeater the club maintains. The

club is involved in various public service activities throughout the year, and

provides educational classes leading to FCC licensing for prospective

amateur radio operators ("hams"). For further inrormation, attend a meeting

or contact the Treasurer, Mr. Tom White at 776-8552.

CLUB OFFICERS • President: Rich Gelb, N4GWF 776-2067

• V. Pres.: Dean Haney, W6RFM 652-3677

• Secretary: Wayne Smith, NOLEA 776-5966

• Treasurer: Tom White, KCOYK 776-8552

HEALTH & WELFARE Wendell Fields, NOWQC, new member and a minister, has volunteered to

be LARC's contact for health and welfare in service to our membership. If

you know of a member who is ill in the hospital, even if just for a day or two,

or the death of a member or a death in a member's immediate family-- let

Wendell know. His number is: 651-0346.

NEWS WANTED Have yoJ upgraded your license or received a long-sought award?? If you

have, or have other news you would like to see published, send a postcard

or note to the editor via the club P.O. Box or on packet on the club BBS.

•

MAY MINUTES

EDUCATION FOCUS The meeting came to order at 1859 MDT on Wednesday, May 19 1993. Rich Gelb, N4GWF, President, presiding. Introduction of members and

guests. OLD BUSINESS: Tom White, KCOYK, Treasurer gave the financial report. He then reported on the Club's effort to obtain Tax Exempt Status from the IRS. This effort is ongoing, and the Club has so far used a

professional accounting service for advice in filing the necessary forms.

The Club has to document man-hours in public service activity in such

things as 9 Health Fair, Skywarn, BCARES, Adopt-A-Highway and training

and education activities. The IRS "suggested" changing some of our

articles of incorporation in order to qualify for tax exempt status. A motion

was made and passed unanimously to leave the incorporation articles

suggested by the IRS intact and include them in our current incorporation

documents. These article changes were signed by the Club's officers.

NEW BUSINESS: Randy handed out flyers for Field Day participation.

Pete is taking orders for T-shirts. A vote was taken and passed

unanimously to spend no more than $400 for a new beam antenna for the

club station. For BCARES, the BOD voted to direct the club to spend $500

for new antennas and equipment to support the new City of Longmont

public safety building now under construction. We should also assist in

installing antennas. The Longmont Police Dept. is committed to installing

the needed coax and control cables. Phase II of the project will include

trying to acquire the needed equipment through donations to support a

BCARES station at the building. John Stransky. KFORQ, (LARC'S BCARES

representative) passed around e list of needed equipment. A letter was

read that was sent to the City of Longmont on May 17th regarding a

permanent AN and packet station to be installed in the new public safety

building. LARC will do communications for the Longmont Triathlon on June 6th. Ken Parker, WOONF, has volunteered to head up the

organization for LARC's participation and solicited help. New Member,

Wend! Fields agreed to serve as Health and Welfare chairman. Don

McLauglin, NODM donated Lifeline modules and schematics to any

member wanting one. The meeting adjourned at 2008. It was followed by

the program which was a presentation by Doc Evans, N001, who is a

scientist in the Voyager spacecraft program. He showed slides on solar

system imagery and graphs on HF radio astronomy on the mission.

Submitted by: Wayne Smith, NOLEA, Secretary.

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY On Saturday Jun 19, 1993 we will have the LARC 18th trash pickup along

Colorado Highway 119 between 83rd and 95th St. We will have our briefing

at 9 AM. The briefing will be given on 119 just east of the Left Hand Creek

bridge on the west bound lane. We hope to have a good turnout for the 1

mile walk as the more that show up the easier it will be for everyone. Each

person should have to walk only a 1/2 mile when 4 persons show up to

help out.

This month I want to focus on the Abbott Family. I had a shor visit with the family the day before David's 12th birthday.

Randy, NOCD, has been licensed since the age of 15 and his enthusiasm for our hobby has motivated the rest of the famil..

The family has no requirement to learn or use Amateur Radio,

they have chosen to get licensed.

Teresa. NOWJJ, nearly 14, started studying Morse Code during

the last school year and completed Extra Class requirements

April 18, 1993. When she was studying Morse Code, Kathy,

KBOLDJ, age 6, was getting the characters at the same study

sessions. David, NOXAP, started studying near the same time.

Teresa and Kathy enjoy HF CW, while David prefers HF phone contacts. Randy likes phone HF when solar flux conditions are

good for long range skip. He uses CW 50% of the time when

band conditions are poor to weak. Jan and Randy use AMTOR a

lot and enjoy getting acquainted with other operators on this

mode. Christy ,age 8, likes to listen to others talk on HF. Jennifer,

not pictured, age 17 months, likes to talk to Mom and Dad on 2

meters.

The family enjoys outdoor recreation, hiking and bicycling and

find 2 meters ideal for staying in contact. Late in May they weu

hiking in the nearby mountains and stayed in contact vie

hand-held's.

The family could have it's own VE team, except, Teresa, the third

Extra Class member of the family, is not old enough. Randy and

Jan are both Extra Class VE's with ARRL certificates and look

forward to helping with testing and teaching, in Longmont.

The family would enjoy a youth Amateur Radio club, starting in

Longmont.

I enjoyed the interview with the Abbott family. I encourage you to

say "Hi," when you hear them. Their happiness is contagious.

Earle, NOISB

74E Ace FAtAtL-( DAVID TAN, CNelsry . R.ANDAL ) f4471-ly TERGS-A

NOXAP goaScq ivoco xqis wszr, .1- 6•)/al FER il(Yr PICTUeep

• CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• LOCAL EVENTS

LARC General Meeting Jun 16

WOILR's Breakfast @ Leo's Jun 19

WOILR's Breakfast @ Leo's Jul 3

LARC Board Meeting Jul 7

Splatter inputs due Jul 11

Colo. Adopt A Highway(PS) Jun 19

Colo. Adopt A Highway(PS) Sep 18

Colo. Adopt A Highway(PS) Nov 13

Note: PS=Public Service Event

• TESTING

Boulder Testing Jun 14

Christiansen Testing Jul 3

East Denver Testing Jul 10

Ft Collins Testing Jul 10

Thornton Testing Jul 17

Greeley/KEOJ Testing Aug 14

Coloraco Exam Hotline 360-7293 • SWAPFEETS

Loveland Superfest XV Jun 12

Denver Radio Club Swapfest Jul 11

Woodland Park Swapfest Jul 24-25

• OTHER EVENTS

Estes Park Breakfast Jun 26

• CONTEST CALENDAR

ARRL Jun VHF QSO Party Jun 12-14

Field Day Jun 26-27

IARU HF World Championship Jul

10-11

CO WW VHF WPX Contest Jul 10-11

• CALLSIGNS

Calisigns Issued as of 1 May 1993

Extra AAOMR

Advanced KGOFH

Technician NOWMS

Novice KBOLFG

At least 8 weeks for FCC to act on

Form 610's from the date they receive

them. --WBOZ--

TESTING LOCATIONS

Thornton W5YI Testing

Location-Front Range Community College

At 3645 W. 112 Ave. Westminster

Talk-in 8:30 AM 145.28/144.68

Time 9 AM

Greeley ARRL Testing

Location Ross Hall-Rm 12

At University Northern Colorado

Time 1 PM

Phone 353-3577

Talk-in 147.16/00

Christiansen Library W5YI Testing

Location 2305 E. Arapahoe, Littleton

Time 9 AM

Phone 796-9702

East Denver ARRL Testing

Location CWC College Campus

At Fotte Hall--Quebec & Montview

Time 9 AM

Phone 366-9689

Boulder ARRL Testing

Location Heathwood Dr & Cambridge

At St. Mary Magdalene Church

Time 7 PM

Phone 530-2903

Ft. Collins ARRL Testing

Location CSU Lory Student Center

At Room 208

Time 9 AM

Phone 229-0313

Changes made without notification,

New: Exam Hotline call 360-7293 which

gives exam info for most of Colorado.

Please call the number listed for the

testing location of your choice before

going because changes may have

occured. If a change is made please notify

WBOZ. Cost is $5.40 (1992) $5.60 (1993),

NEEDED EQUIPMENT As reported in the May minutes, LARC's BCARES

representative John Stransky. KFORO is asking for

donations of equipment to be used for emergency

communications at the new Longmont public safety

building. If you have something you think would

help our efforts in this area, please give John a call

at 776-2110. Particularly needed are: Antenna rotors,

cable, fitters, a VCR, Coax, 2m radio, VHF antennas,

TNC, IBM p.c., Table and chairs.

MYSTERY DONATIONS A couple of weeks ago, as we opened the club

station area for the board of director's meeting,

there were several pieces of large electronic test

equipment outside of the building. No note or

information. No one had been notified, Should you

have something that you wish to donate to the club, please notify an officer before leaving anything at

the club area. Remember, the building is primarily used by the Boulder County Fairgrounds. We don't

want to wear out our welcome!

WANTED/FOR SALE WANTED: Needed desperately: Service Manual for

Azden PCS-4000 FOR SALE: IBM Model 5050

computers with color monitors; 2/ 360K floppies, no

hard drives. Texas Instruments Omni 800 Model 855

printers. Call Glenn, KBOBHN, 833-2192.

FOR SALE: I have new nicad battery packs and

HT's for sale. Call Rich Gelb, N4GWF, 776-2067.

Field Day Rules 1) Eligibility: Field Day is opened competi-

tively to all amateurs in the ARRL/Canadian Field Organization (plus Yukon and NWT). Foreign stations may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to compete.

2) Object: To work as many stations as possible on any or all amateur bands (except 10 MHz) and in doing so, to learn to operate in abnormal situations under less-than-optimum conditions. A premium is placed on skills and equipment developed to meet the challenge of emergency preparedness and to acquaint the public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio.

3) Dates: June 26-27, 1993. 4) Field Day Period: From 1800 UTC Satur-

day until 2100 UTC Sunday. Class A and Class B (see below) stations that do not begin setting up until 1800 UTC Saturday may operate the entire Field Day period of 27 hours. Others must begin their set up no earlier that 1800 UTC Friday and may operate no more than 24 con-secutive hours; ie, once on-the-air Field Day operation has started, it must end 24 hours from that point.

5) Entry Categories: Field Day entries are classified according to the maximum number of simultaneous transmitted signals, followed by the designation of the nature of the individ-ual or group participation. Below 30 MHz, once a transmitter is used for a contact on a band, it must remain on that band for at least 15 minutes. During this 15-minute period, the transmitter is considered to be transmitting a signal, whether it is or not, for purpose of determining transmit-ter class. Switching devices are prohibited.

(Class A) Club/nonclub portable: Club groups (or nonclub groups with three or more licensed amateurs) set up specifically for Field Day. Such stations must be located in places that are not regular station locations and must use no facilities installed for permanent station use, nor any structures installed permanently for Field Day use. Stations must be operated under one call sign (except when the Novice/ Technician position is used) and under the con-trol of a single licensee or trustee for each entry. All equipment (including antennas) must lie within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet). All contacts must be made with transmitter(s) and receiver(s) oper-ating independent of commercial mains. Entrants who, for one reason of another, oper-ate a transmitter or receiver from commercial mains for one or more contacts, will be listed separately at the end of their class.

Any Class A group whose entry classifica-

Send for Your Field Day Package Send to HQ a 9- x 12-inch self- addressed envelope with four units of First-Class US postage or four IRCs for the official Field Day Entry Package. This package includes one Publicity Kit, one Field Day Summary Sheet, one large dupe sheet with instructions and a check list to ensure that your entry is complete. If you require more dupe sheets, indicate so in your request and affix one unit of additional First-Class postage to your SASE for each two additional dupe sheets requested.

tion is two or more transmitters (non-Novice) may also use one Novice/Technician operating position (Novice bands only) without changing its basic entry classification. For Field Day purposes only, any Canadian amateur licensee who has been licensed for less than six months prior to Field Day, shall be considered a "Nov-ice," to provide a means for Canadian Field Day Class A stations with two or more transmitters to participate with a "Novice/Technician" op-erating position. This "Canadian Novice sta-tion" is restricted to the US Novice subbands and power/mode restrictions as well as to the restrictions of the operator's license. The Nov-ice/Technician station (including antennas) should be set up and operated by Novice and Technician licensees and should use the call sign of one of the Novice/Technician operators.

(Class A—Battery) Club/nonclub portable: Club groups (or nonclub groups with three or more licensed amateurs) set up specifically for Field Day and all contacts are made using an output power of 5 W or less, and the power source is other than commercial mains or motor-driven generator (eg, batteries, solar cells, water-driven generators). Other provi-sions are the same as for Class A.

(Class B) One- or two-person portable: Nonclub stations set up and operated by not more than two licensed amateurs will be placed in Class B. Other provisions are the same as for Class A. One- and two-person Class B entries will be listed separately in the results.

(Class B—Battery) One- or two-person portable: Nonclub stations set up and operated by not more than two licensed amateurs and all contacts are made using an output power of 5 W or less, and the power source is other than com-mercial mains or motor-driven generator (eg, batteries, solar cells, water-driven generators). Other provisions are the same as for Class A. One- and two-person Class B Battery-entries will be listed separately in the results.

(Class C) Mobile: Stations in vehicles ca-pable of operating while in motion and normally operated in this manner, including antenna. This includes maritime and aeronautical mo-biles.

(Class D) Home stations: Stations operat-ing from permanent or licensed station loca-tions using commercial power. Class D stations may count contacts only with Class A, B, C and E Field Day groups for points.

(Class E) Home stations—emergency power: Same as Class D, but using emergency power for transmitters and receivers. Work stations in Class A, B, C, D and E.

6) Exchange: Stations in any ARRL/Cana-dian Section will exchange their Field Day operating class and ARRL/Canadian Section (see page 8 in any QST). For example, if your club group was planning to operate in the three-transmitter, Class A category from Missouri, you would send "3A Missouri." Foreign stations send RS(T) and QTH.

7) Miscellaneous Rules: A) Operators participating in Field Day

may not, from any other station, contact for point credit the Field Day portable station of a group with which they participated.

B) A station used to contact one or more Field Day stations may not subsequently be used under any other call sign during the Field

Day period. Family stations are exempted. C) Each phone and each CW band seg-

ment is considered a separate band. All voice communication contacts are equivalent and packetIRTTY/ASCII/AMTOR is counted as CW. A station may be worked once on each band. Crossband contacts are not allowed. The use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single band is prohibited, except that a Novice/Technician position may operate on any Novice band segment at any time. No repeater contacts.

8) Scoring: Scores are based on the number of valid contact points times the multiplier corresponding to the highest power used at any time during the Field Day period, plus bonus points. Phone contacts count one point each and CW contacts count two points each. Power multipliers: If all contacts are made using an output power of 5 W or less and if a power source other than commercial mains or motor-driven generator is used (eg, batter-ies, solar cells, water-driven generators), multiply by 5. If any or all contacts are made using an output power of 150 W or less, multi-ply by 2. Multiply by 1 if any or all contacts are made using an output power of more than 150 watts. Batteries may be charged while in use for Class C entries only. For other classes, batteries charged during the Field Day period must be charged from a power source independent of the commercial mains.

A) Bonus points: The following bonus points will be added to the score (after the multiplier is applied) to determine the final score. Only Class A and B stations are eligible for bonuses. Just check the box on the Field Day summary sheet to indicate that you qualify for the bonus and attach the necessary proof.

I ) 100% emergency power: 100 points per transmitter for 100% emergency power. All equipment and facilities at the Field Day site must be operated from a source independent of the commercial mains. Example: A club oper-ating 3A using 100% emergency power may claim 300 bonus points.

2) Public relations: A) 100 points for media publicity.

Publicity must be obtained or a bona fide attempt to obtain publicity must be made. Evidence must be submitted in the form of a newspaper clipping, a memo from a BC/TV station stating that publicity was given or a copy of the material that was sent to the news media for publicity purposes.

B) 100 points for physically locating in a public place (eg shopping centers. parks, etc) with significant access by the public. The intent here is for Amateur Radio to be on dis-play to the public.

C) An additional 100 points can be earned by such display stations in public places

W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule In addition to the regular schedule detailed elsewhere in this issue, extra CW bulletins will be run at 1400 UTC (10 AM EDT), and extra phone bulletins at 1500 UTC (11 AM EDT) Saturday and Sunday mornings.

May 1993 123

FIELD DA-I .ULES ) P46E

actively conducting an information booth for the visiting public and dispensing information handouts, maintaining visitor's log, etc. as an information/recruitine tool for Amateur Radio. Evidence submitted for both (B) and (C) may consist of copies of handouts, visitor' s log, brief report on activities conducted, photos, etc.

3) Message origination: 100 points for origination of a message by the club president or other Field Day leader, addressed to the SM or SEC, stating the club name (or nonclub group), number of operators, field location and number of ARES members participating. The message must be transmitted during the Field Day period and a fully serviced copy of it must be in standard ARRL message form or no credit will be given.

' 4) Message relay: 10 points for each message received and relayed during the Field Day period, up to a maximum of 100 points. Copies of each message, properly serviced, must be included with the Field Day report.

5) Satellite QSO: 100 points can be earned by completing at least one QSO via satellite during the Field Day period. The repeater provision of Rule 7C is waived for satellite QSOs. A satellite station (one) does not count as an additional transmitter. On the summary sheet, show satellite QSOs as a sepa-rate "band." --

6) Natural Power: Field Day groups making a minimum of five QSOs without using power from commercial mains or petroleum derivatives can earn 100 points. Intuitively, this means an "alternate" energy source of power such as solar, wind, methane or grain alcohol. This includes batteries charged by natural means (not dry cells). The natural-power station counts as an additional transmitter. If you do

Additional Bonus Points Available An additional 100 bonus points can be earned by qualified participants in Field Day for completing at least 10 VHF/UHF QSOs (excluding packet contacts). Also, a "free" VHF/UHF transmitter has been added for Class A and Class B stations. This station can operate the entire Field Day period, just like the "free' packet and satellite transmitters. Take a few minutes to look at VHF/UHF (item 9) under.the bonus points in the rules. It's an ideal station for Technicians to operate since they . have full privileges on these bands. ' Make sure your club or group invites :- everyone to fully participate in Field Day! ".• -1.7 .

• '- not wish to change your entry class, take one of your other transmitters off the air while making the natural-power QSOs. A separate list of natural-power QSOs should be enclosed with your entry.

7) WIAW message: A bonus of 100 points will be earned by copying a special ARRL Field Day bulletin sent over W I AW on its regularly announced frequencies just before and during Field Day. This message can be re-ceived directly from W1AW or by any relay method. An accurate copy of the received mes-sage should be included in your Field Day report.

8) Packet Radio: 100 points can be earned by completing at least one QSO on

packet radio during the Field Day period. The repeater provision of Rule 7C is waived for packet radio QSOs. A packet station (one) does not count as an additional transmitter. On the summary sheet, show packet radio QSOs as a separate "band."

9) VHF/UHF: 100 points can be earned by completing at least 10 QSOs (excluding packet contacts) on any band or combination of bands above 50 MHz (VHF/UHF bands) during the Field Day period. A VHF/UHF station (one) does not count as an additional transmitter. This station is not limited to making just 10 QSOs. It may be operated for the entire Field Day period and all contacts (excluding packet contacts) count for QSO points credit, including the first 10.

9) Reporting: Entries must be postmarked by July 28, 1993. No late entries can be accepted. A complete entry consists of an offi-cial ARRL summary sheet (or reasonable facsimile), and a list of stations worked on each band/mode during Field Day, plus bonus proof. The list of stations worked on each band or mode may take the form of official ARRL dupe sheets or an alphanumeric listing of call signs worked per band and mode. This list may be computer generated. Incomplete or illegible entries will be classified as checklogs. A copy of Field Day logs should be kept by your Field Day group, but should not be sent in unless specifically requested later by the ARRL.

10) Condition of Entry: Each entrant agrees to be bound by the provisions, as well as the intent, of this announcement, the regulations of his or her licensing authority and the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee. .

11) Disqualifications: See January 1993 QST, page 52.

THE SPLATTER THE LONGMONT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB PO BOX 86 LONGMONT, COLORADO 80502-0086

LARC, PO BOX 86 Loncimont. CO 80502-008A