KØND
 
                                                                                             
News Letter -- September 2003
Volume 21, Number 8
 

Greetings from the President

I hope everyone has been having a great summer and taking in the nice weather. I've been out  enjoying the summer as you can tell from me not being around.  I was disappointed that I missed Field Day and the TRARC Picnic, but when opportunities come up you have to make a decision. I know you all had a great time at both events and hope to see you next year.  If you haven't had a chance to get out and enjoy the summer you better do it soon since it seems to be slipping away.

Before I forget I want to thank those that were up at the peace gardens for supporting me for Ham of the Year.  I was very surprised when Darrel called me and told me that I was Ham of the Year.  It is an honor for me to have the recognition and a representative of the TRARC Club.  Thanks for the support.

With the summer coming to a close for another year, I would guess there are many antenna projects taking place.  All the hams are getting things prepared for the fall of the year and making sure that when the snow flies that the shack will be ready.  As always if you need some assistance put a call out on the repeater and I'm sure you will get someone that could help.

Not much else from here. Until next time, 73.

Curtis  F. (KC0JVJ)

 
 
 
 
 
CHECK YOUR CALENDAR 

 
Sept 8 .....................TRARC Meeting @ LEC 7 PM
Oct 6 .......................TRARC Meeting @ LEC 7 PM
 
 
 
 
 
 
TEST SESSIONS 
 
If you are in need of a test session, contact either Bill Bosch, KØUB or Emil Wieglenda, NØDK. Bill is associated with ARRL VEC and Emil is W5YI. They will let you know when the next test session will be held.
 
Bill 701-483-3869               Emil 701-483-4953
 
 
 
 
Theodore Roosevelt Amateur Radio Club
Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2003
 

Minutes submitted by Laurie, KCØNHW

The meeting was called to order by Vice Pres. Darrel KCØAPN, at 7:05 pm.

Introductions of members and guests followed. Nineteen were present.

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted on a motion by Bill, KØUB and seconded by Emil, KØDK. Motion passed.

The treasurer’s report was given by Darrel, KCØAPN. Motion for approval by Stan, WDØDAJ second by Irene, WDØDAW. Motion carried.

 

Business:

A. Repeaters:  440 is still down. 82 the controller was not working and sent in but came back DOA in the box so it has been sent back for more repair.  Identify the repeater KØND when using. Hopefully it will be in working order soon.

B. Extension Cable:  We have all the parts to put the cable together and wire the generator for hookup. Anybody willing to help call Stan, WDØDAJ.

C. Taylor Horsefest:  Margaret relayed the message that the Taylor Horsefest committee was very appreciative of our help. 

D. TRARC picnic: Won't need to mow, need trimming around posts and building. Need to fix 3 outlets for the campers to use. 2 posts broken that need to be replaced. Curtis will bring the grill out Friday. Betty is checking on the table and chairs. Bill will call and have the garbage dumped. Need agenda of activities printed up. Sam will be checking DX cards. Set up the tent after breakfast Saturday morning. Clean trap club building Thursday night at 6:30 pm. 

E. Next Meeting:  Portable repeater in the club trailer sometimes not working. Discuss replacing. 2 Meter rig not up to full power. Need to discuss to replace or fix. Consensus if decision to replace with Dual Band and 2 Meter.

thank you from Bill, KØUB for the memorial in the loss of his step-mother from the TRARC Club.

We also received a donation from KØJJ, Skapoose, OR. He won a door prize at the International Ham Fest and Stan was kind enough to get it mailed out to him. thanks Stan!

Field Day held June 28th and 29th, 377 contacts were made. Pins were awarded for most contacts - Stan, WDØDAJ, Farthest contact - Glen, WDØDAI. Winner of the draw for a pin was Louie, W7IKC. And to the co-coordinator Bill, KØUB.

Motion to adjourn by Darrel, KCØAPN, second by Stan, WDØDAJ. Motion passed.

 

TRARC Annual Picnic
 August 9th and 10th, 2003
Dickinson Trap Club
76 people registered. We had visitors from SD, MT, SK, and various parts of ND
Very good food, lots of variety when it's potluck, grilling was done by KBØVSE, Art and KCØAPN, Darrel.  Thanks guys. Thank you to KCØJVJ, Curtis for bringing out the big grill. Saturday entertainment was enjoyed by all.
 
The "Whatt" Trophy was won by WDØDAJ. Congratulations Stan! The good stuff auction went well and some folks took home some mighty fine goodies. KCØNHW, Laurie was presented with a unique mode of transportation with a headlight, tail light and license. Se may need to study for a pilots license to fly it legally. Donated items for the sack raffle brought in a nice amount of funds.
 
Thank you to those who donated for the auction and sack raffle.
 
Winner of the cash card drawing was KØUB. Congratulations Bill! (Where are we going for dessert?)
 
A plastic bowl with a lid was left at the club. If anyone knows who's it is please call Betty, 225-2267.

 
 
 
BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER
Bonnie Schapper KBØNVU
9 - 1
Deb Barros  KCØADI
9 - 3
Larry Engelman WØLOL
9 - 6
Estelle Wolberg ? ?   When?   ??
9 -11
Larry Sanders WØIRY
9 -23
Ken Kudrna KCØHSS
9 -25
Betty Kittleson KBØNVT
9 -26
Jerry Wolberg KØDIK
9 -27
Sue Haakedahl KBØNBU
9 -30
 
 

==>HAMS A BRIGHT SPOT DURING POWER BLACKOUT<==

When a power blackout struck at least a half dozen eastern states August 14, many Amateur Radio operators were ready and able to provide whatever assistance they could. Hardest hit were metropolitan areas like New York City, Detroit and Cleveland. In New York, residents and commuters found themselves stranded in electricity-dependent elevators and subway or rail cars while visitors ended up stuck at airports, which were forced to shut down. With the cellular systems overloaded or out altogether, the incident turned into a test of Amateur Radio's capabilities to operate without commercial power.

"It was a good drill," said New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D. But, he adds, it was a cautionary tale too. "The lesson is that everybody gets a little complacent," he said. "Have emergency power backup and make sure it's working!"

By and large, Carrubba said, ARES members did what they were trained to do. "It's going to show the worth of Amateur Radio," he said of the blackout response. "There were people on the air immediately."

Diane Ortiz, K2DO, the Public Information Coordinator for NYC-Long Island was one of them. When power went down in her Suffolk County community, she started up an informal VHF net. Over the next 20 hours or so, it passed some 500 pieces of what Ortiz described as largely "health-and-welfare traffic."

"People are getting on and helping," she said. In addition to handling messages for people stranded in the city, amateurs also relayed useful information, such as which stores or filling stations were open and operating. With many radio and TV stations dark, and hams were able to help fill the information void, Ortiz said.

In the Big Apple itself, ARES teams provided communication support for Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) set up at main transportation centers in Manhattan. ARES members also accompanied ERVs on fire calls.

RACES activated in most Greater New York City area counties after a state of emergency was declared. Some ARES teams--including a few across the Hudson River in New Jersey--activated or remained on standby to help if called upon. In New Jersey, a net linked the Red Cross lead chapter's N2ARC in Princeton with other New Jersey ARC chapters.

Michigan Section Manager Dale Williams, WA8EFK, reports scattered ARES activations. Williams, who lives in Dundee south of Detroit, was without power August 15 and relying on his emergency generator. Some Michigan ARES teams assisted emergency operations centers and the Red Cross.

In Ohio, Section Emergency Coordinator Larry Rain, WD8IHP, reports that all ARES organizations in northern Ohio were activated after the power grid went down. Still going strong at week's end were ARES teams in Cleveland and Akron. "ARES is handling communication support for Ohio Emergency Management in the affected cities and communities," Rain said. Ohio VHF and UHF nets and the Ohio SSB net on HF have been handling blackout-related traffic.

Nancy Hall, KC4IYD--who lives 20 miles west of Cleveland--said she's glad she'd taken the ARRL Emergency Communications Level I class. "I have to say that being a ham and knowing about emergency preparedness did make life easier for me and my family," said Hall, who's now signed up for the Level II class.

New England states were far less affected by the blackout. ARES/RACES operators in the region were on standby after the blackout. Only Connecticut and sections of Western Massachusetts reported significant outages, and ARES nets activated in both states.

Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, an Army MARS member, said his emergency power capability permitted him to check into the Northeast SHARES (National Communications System HF Shared Resources Program) net and maintain e-mail contact after Berkshire County lost power.

"The experience proved once gain the great strength of ham radio in an emergency," Sexton said. "It is self-starting, and it is everywhere."

Ham radio buffs come through with frequency in disasters
03/19/2003
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
 
In a high-tech world saturated with cell phones and Web sites, ham radios may seem old-fashioned, something only for geeky hobbyists in cluttered basements.
But when disaster strikes, phones get jammed and computers go down. Ham radio is left standing.
North Texas cities rely on ham radios and the people who operate them as a vital part of terrorism and emergency plans, disaster officials say. They serve as backup for emergency agencies when other communication lines fail.
"On the surface, they may not seem important, but in my business, they're critical," said Pat McMacken, Irving's emergency management coordinator. "I'd never go into an emergency without them. You never know what's going to happen."
Amateur radio operators, or hams, travel to a disaster, set up equipment and work as couriers for rescue agencies, taking and transmitting messages to various groups.
Hams helped emergency officials in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. And they looked for debris from the Columbia space shuttle when it exploded last month over North Texas.
Cities and rescuers rely on hams because radio equipment is expensive and requires expertise to operate. Hams must pass an exam to become certified.
The federal government encourages cities to use ham radios for support, said Don Jacks, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. And Texas' Division of Emergency Management endorses them as an official resource during emergencies.
Hams are critical during a disaster because they're mobile, said Bill Gross, Dallas' coordinator of emergency preparedness. They don't require much space to set up their equipment. And they're knowledgeable, allowing rescuers to focus on helping victims.
"It's a good tool to have when all else fails," Mr. Gross said.
Area hospitals are beefing up their ham radio capabilities, said Paulette Standefer, executive vice president for the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. Hams would help hospitals contact medical vendors to order supplies and communicate with other hospitals to determine patient flow, she said.
The council recommends that hospitals train employees to become hams. Some are buying radio equipment and towers, Ms. Standefer said.
Sometimes disasters occur in remote areas, where phone service is spotty. So agencies call upon hams for assistance.
When the Columbia blew up last month, many hams descended on Nacogdoches County, one of several Texas counties where debris was found.
Shuttle debris landed throughout the county, which is dotted with pasture, tall pine trees and valleys and parts of which have limited cell phone and law enforcement radio capabilities. So when rescuers spotted debris, hams relayed information to authorities. That sped up the recovery process, said Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss. "They became a vital link in our operation," he said. "Without the ham radio operators, we simply would not have had communication capabilities in certain areas."
On Sept. 11 five minutes after the second of two planes sliced into the World Trade Center towers in New York, ham radio operators were mobilizing.
Charles Hargrove, that city's district emergency coordinator for the American Radio Relay League, over saw 275 hams who staffed shelters at city schools after the attacks. Hams communicated with the Red Cross to request food, personnel, nurses and baby supplies.
"If we weren't there and if we weren't organized, what would they have done?" he said about emergency agencies. "When [the twin towers] came down, the guts of the communications infrastructure of New York City was wiped out. It took something like this to prove that if you rely on an infrastructure that you have no way of controlling, then you're hostage."
Although hams respond to disasters, they are mostly used for assisting parades and watching the skies and notifying agencies of ominous weather.
Mr. Hargrove says that kind of practice keeps hams sharp when an emergency occurs.
About 835,000 hams live in the united states, according to the American Radio Relay League.
Area operators gathered in Irving a couple of weekends ago at a ham festival. They say they're passionate, not geeky, but they acknowledge a need to bring younger folks into the hobby.
The average ham's age is 52, said Jim Haynie, ARRL president."We're getting to be a bunch of old fogies," he said.
So the organization is scouring schools, looking for fresh blood.
Rena Dulworth, 20, got hooked as a 12-year-old. The Irving resident tracks stormy weather and talks to hams from Europe.
Hams are a close-knit bunch, she said. When she and her family were lost in Colorado, they contacted hams, who offered directions.
Assisting during a crisis, though, is what matters most.
"If I can go out and help the community by doing something I like, that's great," she said.
 
 
==> "BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE" POSES HF INTERFERENCE THREAT <==
The FCC soon will invite public comment on the concept of using existing electrical power lines to deliver Internet and broadband service to homes and offices. The Commission initiated a Notice of Inquiry  (NOI) in ET Docket 03-104 when it met April 23. What the FCC calls "Broadband over Power Line" (BPL) is a form of carrier-current technology typically known as power line communication (PLC). Whatever its name, the technology is raising serious interference concerns within the Amateur Radio community, since BPL would apply high-frequency RF to parts of the power grid. One aspect of the NOI is to gather information on potential interference effects on authorized spectrum users.
 
"Entire communities will be affected, so every amateur in that community could have part of the radiating system 'next door' on the power wiring on his or her street," cautioned ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFL. Hare chairs the PLC Work Group of the IEEE C63 Accredited Standards Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility http://c63.ieee.org/.
 
The complete NOI has not yet been released, and until that happens, the FCC will not formally accept comments in the proceeding. The ARRL will be among those expected to submit detailed comments in ET 03-104.
 
So-called "access BPL" would use medium-voltage (1kV to 40 kV) power lines to deliver Internet and broadband applications. Hare says access BPL is likely to be a more significant interference source than in-building PLC technology "because overhead electrical wiring is a much better antenna than the electrical wiring within a building."
 
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, editorialized on the subject of PLC in "It Seems to Us..." in the October issue of 2002 QST. "Is it possible to do power line communications without causing interference to over-the-air communications?" Sumner asked. "Count us among the skeptics. What may be a fine transmission line at 60 HZ looks more like an antenna at HF." Hare said his own computer analyses of interference potential from access BPL/PLC suggest "a significant increase in noise levels" from deployed systems.
 
 
The FCC appears enthusiastic about BPL, however, saying it has the potential to "provide consumers with the freedom to access broadband services from any room in the house without adding or paying for additional connections." The Commission also touted BPL as "a competitive alternative to digital subscriber line and cable modem services."
 
New digital power line designs use multiple carriers spread over a wide frequency range--from 2 MHz up to 80 MHz-- and capable of high data rates--up to 20 MB/s, the FCC said.
 
In addition to viewpoints on interference potential, the FCC also has requested comments on the current state of high-speed BPL technology, test results from BPL experimental sites, appropriate measurement procedure for testing emission characteristics for all types of carrier-current systems, changes that may be needed in Part 15 technical rules, and the equipment approval process to foster the development of BPL.
 
Tests of BPL are under way in several states, including Alabama, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Hare says ARRL Lab personnel will visit some of the test cities this spring to take field measurements to quantify the potential for interference to Amateur Radio operations.
 
BPL/PLC technology already has been deployed in some European counties, and amateurs there have complained about interference.Japan--responding in part to concerns expressed by amateur community--decided last year not to adopt the technology because of its interference potential.