AUGUST 1999 EDITOR: WB8IOW - Jerry S. Paquette http://www.qsl.net/k8ge
Our deepest condolences go out to Tom McDonough for the loss of his wife, Betty, who died this month.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Kim - N8YWX
The countdown is on and the Year 2000 is just around the corner! Whether you believe the new millennium will begin on January 1, 2000 or January 1, 2001, there is no escaping the fact that many experts are predicting some type of computer systems failure at midnight on December 31st of this year!
As an ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) club, we should all be prepared to provide emergency communications should it become necessary. You may recall from past newsletters the excerpts from the DeForest Amateur Radio Club Emergency Plan that discussed the situations under which we as communicators can support our Emergency Management Agency and other served agencies possibly needing our assistance. It's important that we remain prepared to respond by keeping our equipment ready, our batteries charged and make sure that our families and homes are taken care of. It is also important to maintain the skills and discipline necessary to make us effective emergency communicators.
Every time you check into the weekly net on Thursday nights, you are participating in a directed net with the NCS (Net
Control Operator) maintaining an orderly net discipline. This is great practice as well as a good time to "get together" on the air and visit with club members we haven't talked to in awhile or to meet friends from surrounding areas and clubs.
Coming in October will be another opportunity for all of us to participate in another important drill. It is the annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) and is a drill that is held across the United States by Amateur Operators to perfect their communications skills by passing Radiograms from one station to the next. This year's drill is on October 2nd. Many of you have heard traffic being passed on the nets or may recall in our training sessions and classes that we teach how to pass traffic.
WHAT DO "HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS - GOLF"
MEAN, ANYWAY?
Just a hint: it has nothing to do with teeing off of the 9th green!
We will be discussing this important part of our ARES training at the September meeting and I hope you will all be able to attend. For those of you who have sent, relayed or received traffic, this will be a refresher and we hope you will be there to help those who are not familiar. For those of you who have never passed traffic, please come and join us. It is a lot of fun, it could be important to know if there were an emergency and if I can do it, I am sure you can.
73
Kim
N8YWX
NEXT MEETING - September 14, 1999 - 7:00 PM
ABCAP SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER, WEST UNION, OH
Across from the Courthouse
MINUTES OF
August 1999 MEETING
Barbara Lock - N8HIA
The meeting was called to order by our president, Kim N8YWX on August 10, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. There were 21 members at the meeting.
Kim N8YWX asked for the minutes to be read from the last meeting. Ed KE8FK made the motion to accept the minutes as printed in the newsletter. Jerry WB8IOW second the motion and the motion carried.
Ed KE8FK did the treasurer report, reporting total inflows at $69.50 and the total outflows at $202.73 with a balance for August at $2,486.19 A copy of the report was passed around for others to read. Ed has gotten the insurance bill for the club equipment. He asked if there were any changes to be made. Jerry WB8IOW said there are not changes and so Ed can now pay the bill of $127.00. The bill to repair the repeater came to $77.15. The Field Day pin will be ordered tomorrow, anyone wanting one is to let Ed know. The cost of the pin is $5.00. Lucius KF8RC made the motion to accept the treasurer's report and Linda KC8JZG second and motion carried.
George KC8HFV said the boards had been repaired and would be put back into
the repeater soon. Jerry WB8IOW has filed a complaint with the FCC regarding the interference on the repeater. It sounds like a pager. Jerry has been trying to find out what is causing the problem.
Kim N8YWX said the tri-club picnic held by the three clubs, Maysville, Georgetown and ours was a success. The food was all good and the main meal was cooked in a trash can. It was layered vegetables and meat and was different but good. Enjoyable time had by all, around 40 people attended. Maysville has their meeting the first Monday of the month, and Georgetown has their meeting the first Thursday of the month.
Portsmouth Hamfest will be August 28, 1999, ARES meeting in Columbus August 28, 1999, and QSO party also August 28, 1999. Kim asked George KC8HFV about the special event for celebrating the 25th anniversary of the DeForest Amateur Radio Club.
George KC8HFV said there would be 2 stations for the special event held at Adams Lake, using 20 and 40 meters. We will need just two radios and antennas. Jerry WB8IOW, Lucius KF8RC, and Ed KE8FK can bring their radios or antennas or both. There will be a certificate sent to ones who send information and self addressed envelope to us. George asked about sending a picture of the lake or something from the area on the certificate. Pat KC8LVE will check and see if we can use the postcard of serpent mound to send with the certificate and get back to Kim.
George said the certificates will be printed up after we see how many send in the information. Kim said the certificates are to be donated by Jerry and her. Lucius KF8RC made the motion to include a post card with the certificates and Dick W8ZFO second, motion carried. We will use a stamp Dick had made for his use on pamphlets, with club address and meeting time. It just does not have the club call. George said start setting up about 11:00 a.m., starting the special event at 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We will have a picnic at 5:30.
Classes for no-code and 5 word a minute code start on September 16, 1999, and run through October 21, 1999. Jerry WB8IOW will be doing the no-code class with help from members. George KC8HFV and Barry KB8OMG will be doing the code class. Barry said the first 12 signed up will be the ones to take the code class. It is easier with about 12 people. Any help from club members who want to help may contact Jerry or Barry and George. Jerry made a motion to charge just $5.00 for anyone who has a current book or knows anyone who would let you borrow their book to take the class. Barry second the motion and the motion carried. If you have to buy your book the cost is still $20.00 for the class. Dick will put information about the class in the paper.
George KC8HFV congratulated Jerry WB8IOW for being one of the recipients of the Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award for 1998. There was a round of applause by all.
Jerry WB8IOW will put off the Manchester station for right now. Ash Ridge packet re-confirmed, need a panel for Gift Ridge and power supply for Ash Ridge and Gift Ridge. Kim and Jerry are donating a $60.00 panel for Gift Ridge. Jerry made the motion to buy a power supply, lighting arrestors, and surge protectors for both Ash Ridge and Gift Ridge for the cost of $300.00. Lucius KF8RC second and motion carried. Kim asked how long before the packets can be up and running. Jerry said that once he gets the equipment it would take a day to get it up and working.
Jerry WB8IOW discussed and gave out information about universal licensing system. If you are a ham you have to register if you want to keep your license. Jerry said you can register on the internet or you can fill out a form and mail it in if you do not have a computer.
We had split the pot with Sharon KC8LIE drawing. Kim N8YWX won $12.00 and donated it back to the club.
Lucius KF8RC made the motion to close the meeting at 8:25 p.m., Dick W8ZFO
second and motion carried.
73's
Barb N8HIA
DeFOREST A.R.C. BIRTHDAYS
& SPECIAL EVENTS
September 1999
09-01 K8GXL Donald L. Hoop
09-03 KC8CXM Jered D. Grooms
09-04 KB8SCV Warren P. Lewis
09-05 KC8JXC Don R. Myers
09-09 K8CML Ed Harmon
09-10 KB8JML John L. Kimble
09-11 KC8HGA Helen J. Paquette
09-14 DeForest ARC meeting - 7:00 PM
09-17 N8XGQ Marty J. Gilkison
09-18 9:30 AM Portsmouth test session
09-21 N8XGP Ridney S. Lorenz
09-22 KA8URK Jack Bradford
09-22 KC8BWJ Bruce M. Ashley
09-24 KC8JZH Stephen Downey
09-25 KE4ETT James K. Brewer
09-29 KB8OMG Barry B. Storer
09-30 N8YWX Kim A. Paquette
09-30 KF8IX Danny Hoop
10-02 KB8VBJ Sheila Starcher
10-04 WB8UJM Al Norris
10-05 KB8AMX Eldon O'Cull
10-09 9:30 AM Mason County test session
10-12 KB8SRN Gary L. Miller
10-12 DeForest ARC meeting - 7:00 PM
SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!
"It's the most wonderful time of the year...."
Oh, I guess that song was for something else! But it really is a great time of year to hold Amateur Radio Classes and the DeForest ARC is doing just that. Beginning on September 16th, classes will begin for the no-code Technician license class. Additionally, there will be a class for those interested in upgrading by learning Morse code. The classes will be held simultaneously at the Ohio Valley Vocational School beginning September 16th and continuing through October 21st with only one exception (there will be no class on October 12th as that is regular club meeting night).
Barry Storer, KB8OMG and George Larter, KC8HFV will be teaching the code at the introductory 5 word per minute speed. There is no fee for the code class, however classes are limited to 12 people. Those interested in learning the code, please call 544-7233 or 544-6889 to register. You need only bring pen or pencil and a pad of paper to class.
Jerry Paquette, WB8IOW, Ed Lock, KE8FK and other members of the DeForest ARC will teach the no-code Technician class. Fee for the class is $20.00, which includes the book "Now You're Talking" and membership to the DeForest ARC club through December 1999. If you have the above-mentioned book, (most current edition), the fee will be reduced to $5.00. Anyone knowing of somebody wanting to take this class please call
(937) 544-3763 or (937) 587-5122.
LOCAL HAMS ATTEND ARES CONFERENCE
On August 28th, Emergency Coordinator Barb Lock (N8HIA) traveled to Columbus for the annual Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) meeting with Assistant EC (N8YWX), Official Emergency Station (KE8FK), and District Emergency Coordinator (WB8IOW). The meeting was directed by the Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator, Larry Solak (WD8MPV).
Topics discussed included the importance of filing Public Service Activity Reports for each event that we help with and some of the new electronic forms that are on the ARRL Great Lakes website "mrrace.com".
The upcoming Simulated Emergency Test was discussed for this coming October 2nd and 3rd nationwide. As always, Hams are encouraged to use emergency power (just like field-day) and to pass messages not only on 2 meter, but on 40, 80 and this year, on 160 meters.
The Ohio EMA will be holding another drill on October 7th with certain Emergency Management Agencies participating. Even though Adams County is not named on the list we were given, we were asked to send test messages, so anyone available for that day will be welcome to help.
Y2K was discussed and commanded a great deal of the time. Ham Radio Operators should be prepared to be called upon for local and area wide emergency communications. The ARES frequency of 3.875 MHz was discussed for communications in the event of an emergency and additionally, it was announced that Larry, WD8MPV would submit that National calling frequencies during emergencies be established at 3.890 MHz, 7.250 MHz, 14.245 MHz and 146.46 MHz simplex.
It was a good meeting with about 40 ARES members attending. Next years meeting is set for August 26, 2000 and is open to all Amateur Radio Operators interested in public service communications.
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!!
IT HAS MUSIC! IT HAS PICTURES!
IT'S JAM PACKED FULL OF HAM RADIO INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SAVE AND READ LATER!
And there's more….You'll also find sample amateur radio exams for all license classes to test your skills on Amateur Radio Theory. No, you can't upgrade on line, but you can test yourself.
You'll even be able to find Net Control information and other club documents as well as links to the Adams County EMA web page, 911 and others….
Let us know what you think…hopefully it's all good so I won't have to fire our "webmaster."
HAM RADIO PROVIDING
POST-EARTHQUAKE COMMUNICATION LINKS
Within the first hour of the devastating earthquake August 17 in Turkey, members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service organized by TRAC, the Turkish Amateur Radio Society, began providing emergency communication. "The first three days following the quake all communication needs were met by radio amateurs," TRAC Secretary Yuksel Hak, TA1BY, reported this week. Hak said telephone and other communication networks had collapsed, either due to power failures or from too much traffic.
The quake in Western Turkey lasted 48 seconds and measured 7.4 on the Richter scale. The death toll to date is 13,000, but it's expected to rise much higher. The earthquake also affected a very large area involving several provinces and towns.
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told CNN that rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by lost communications and limited transportation. "Telecommunications were completely cut off for at least two days in the three provinces which are badly hit," the prime minister said.
Hak said local ARES branches in provinces in the disaster area used both HF and VHF to provide or assist with continuous communication between local crisis desks and the capital city of Ankara. TRAC's Hakan Guner, TA2LJ, said hams used HF mobiles during the initial response, then established local communication by setting up a few VHF repeaters. Guner also cited an urgent need for additional equipment, especially VHF and UHF hand-helds and mobile gear.
Hak said the common frequencies used by ham radio also helped to tie together the incompatible radio systems used by various governmental organizations. "TV networks, daily newspapers and magazines all appreciated the support given by the hams," he said. "This proved
the important role of Amateur Radio service in case of disasters."
In the US, the Salvation Army's SATERN is continuing its Amateur Radio efforts to assist in the wake of the earthquake disaster, despite poor propagation to that part of the world and a lack of Turkish stations. The Salvation Army says the SATERN net will continue daily at 1400 UTC on 14.265 MHz in conjunction with various efforts via the Internet. (Thanks, ARRL Letter)
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111
ARRL MEMBERSHIP
Anyone interested in Amateur Radio can find out more simply by contacting the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). This is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to Amateur Radio and has 160,000 active members all over the United States. You can also look through local hometown newspapers for listings of local Amateur Radio club meetings; knock on the door of someone whose home sports an interesting array of radio antennas; or contact the ARRL for information:
ARRL
225 Main Street
Newington, Conn. 06111
http://www.arrl.org
For ARRL Membership
contact the DeForest A.R.C.
Treasurer, Ed Lock, KE8FK
544-2585