MINUTES OF MEETING OF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB, INC.

January 5, 2004

The meeting was called to order by President, Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Treasurer Johnny Williams, K4ANJ, and Board Members Bill Miller, N6WGM, and Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM. Also present at the meeting were members Emily Cardinali, KI4BIH, Ken Frantz, KF4QID, Phillip Frantz, KF4QIC, and Donna Williams. A quorum was present.

The minutes of the November 2003 General Membership Meeting and the December 2003 Board Meeting were approved as published in The Oracle.

The Treasurer's report, as presented, was approved, with the Treasurer's statement that additional financial figures would be provided before publication in The Oracle.

Ernie reported to the Board on the hearing before the County Commission concerning the tower ordinance, and urged as many members as possible to be present on February 3, 2004, at 9:00 a.m. The County Commission will be discussing the tower ordinance during its meeting that day.

Secretary Jeanette provided a printout to the Board of last year's budget as published in The Oracle in the March 2003 issue.

Board Member Bill Miller, N6WGM, and Vice President Tony Blalock, K4OCF, discussed programs for the year, and elected the program for the January General Membership Meeting.

Vice President Tony Blalock announced that Newt Williams has been hospitalized at North Florida Regional Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Newt.

The Board discussed 2004 Field Day, 2004 Christmas Party, and the possibility of a club-sponsored December Tailgate event.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Secretary

For a complete listing of Hamfests in Florida, please visit the Florida Ham Website at its new location, http://bellsouthpwp.net/k/b/kb4vol

FINANCIAL REPORTS

The financial reports of Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc. are not available on the website. If you are a member and entitled to view the financial reports, please contact the Oracle Editor or one of the club's officers or board members to secure a copy of the financial reports.

By Direction of the Silver Springs Radio Club Officers and Board of Directors.

Thank you.

The Editor.

OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING!

Someone once told me that "Fools' names and fools' faces are always seen in public places." Well, your Net Manager is beginning to feel like one of those "Fools"! Seriously, wouldn't it be nice if every other week, it were not the same voice badgering you to check into the net?

Serving as Net Manager and Net Control Operator is probably one of the easiest functions I perform for the Club, but I sometimes feel that I'm monopolizing the airways! Hi Hi Hi!! Surely there are a few of you out there who would like to be heard once in a while!! I am certainly not "coping out" - I just don't want to "hog" the airways!

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA

Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc. will again sponsor a Technician's Licensing Class. Classes will commence with registration on Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. The length of each class is two hours (from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.), with a total of eight (8) classes. There is no charge for the class itself, but the text for the Tech License Manual is $18.00. The FCC License Examination will be administered at the end of the course. There is a fee of $12.00 for the examination fee.

The Technician Class instructors are Richard Cardinali (KG4TLE); Brian Hancher (KV4CA), Charles Hensley (KA0OGU); Otto Hoel (N1OH); and Jack Scott (N4NWT).

For additional information, please call Jack Scott at 622-4447, or Charles Hensley at 732-3795

Anyone interested in any of this equipment should contact Jack Scott, N4NWT at 622-4447; Bill Britt, KQ4UJ at 694-1605, or Station Manager, Ken Frantz, KF4QID, at 489-0571.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Barry Rimmer
K4MG
Email: k4mg@arrl.net
Phone: 352-625-6580

Peet Bros. complete ULTIMETER 2000 Weather Station, asking$375.00, original cost $1035.00. Up and operating at my QTH in Ocklawaha, sending APRS data to Find U viewable at:http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call= K4MG&units=english&last=240

Package includes the console, wind gauge, rain gauge, indoor and outdoor humidity sensors, Weather Picture with four displays, tower mount, software to interface with equipment and display results on PC, or optionally send to internet for APRS or Weather Underground, and all cables. A more detailed description of equipment is on SCARS Junque cars webpage, at:http://home.swfla.rr.com/kd4udy/JunqueCARS/_JunqueCARS/00000021.htm

(352) 629-5450

11 Element 2 meter Beam, $30.00

CDR Antenna Rotor & Control, $115.00

Complete Mobile Antenna and Radio, High Sierra Screw Driver Antenna and T5430S Kenwood Radio, $650.00.

SSTV ON VHF????

There was discussion about a month ago about maybe setting up a "skid" or an informal net using SSTV on the 2 FM meter band and maybe set up a time that the clubs repeater could be used for a net using SSTV. According to information from the internet, this is possible.

There are a couple of reasons to bring up this subject:

There are a few-maybe more-like myself who do not have the license upgrade to operate in the HF bands on SSTV. But I would like to give it a try and maybe have some fun at the same time.

As a club, we need to get more people interested in "HAM RADIO" especially the "new" HAMS that are in the club, plus those who will pass the TECH exam which will be starting soon. I think it would be an incentive for the TECH's class HAMS to upgrade since they will get the "bug" to try other modes of operations (including me) Along with SSTV there will be a side effect in another hobby of photography and showing their pictures.

There are also the other modes such as PSK31 to spark the interest of other members of the club.

I don't know what it would cost to set up a "rig" to use SSTV or the other modes but if you already have a transceiver with a interface to a computer sound card and a computer program that is FREE!!!!!!. The most I have invested other than the computer/sound card and transceiver is about $35.00 for the interface. Hey--there is a good project for some to build one!!!!! Could this be a club project????

Right now I really enjoy watching SSTV and copying the PSK31. Just the other day I was copying a conversation between Concepcion, Chile and Arizona coming and going 599 both ways!!!

So lets "talk it up" at the next meeting-I know I can't hear very well---anyway that is what my XYL tells me--HEY--maybe that is why I enjoy SSTV and PSK so much, I don't have to hear so good!!! Anyway I will bring up the subject unless some others will jump in a head of me.

Also "plug-in" SSTV or VHF SSTV into the "GOGGLES" SEARCH ENGINE and look around a bit. There is a lot of information to be found.

LETS GET SOMETHING GOING!!!!!!!!

KEN FRANTZ, KF4QID

PS: Here is just one of the first sites I came to that caught my eye. Also go to : www.ultimatecharger.com/SSTV.html

SSTV ON VHF
K8BE's Note Pad

www.angelfire.com/oh3/k8be/VHF.html

Most SSTV operators know that there is an abundance of activity on the HF bands. On most any day, one can tune to 14.230 and copy many great pictures. There are nets on, where the net control can forward pictures to folks too far away for band conditions to allow. Even then, some of the received pictures are not necessarily "Keepers". Along with that, on occasion, the net control may not be able to hear you trying to check in, or you may get covered by other check-ins. Yes, the nets sometimes are very busy. Along with that, there are frequent contests going, where the Slow Scanner gets clobbered by the infamous "CQ Contest". This can be very trying to ones patience.

Now this might not interest everyone, but what about 2 meters FM?? Many of us have found a 2 meter sstv net, on a local repeater, which affords not only what is a usually CD quality picture, but some great fellowship also. There has been some activity on VHF for a good while, but over the past few months, I have found a real trend toward SSTV repeaters on 2 meter FM, and not just in my area of the country.... they are popping up all over. This is really encouraging. No fighting for your place in the crowd, and copying less than perfect pictures. One even gets to send more than 1 picture per session, depending on how many operators check in to the net, which is usually 1 to 1.5 hours in length, and can help or be helped to fine tune software or computer.

A few of us in this area have been really promoting Digital Communications, and have found that this is what some of the operators that can not find time, or ambition, to upgrade their license, have been seeking. Not to say that all you will meet on the local nets are Technicians..... quite the contrary, most of us on the local 2 meter FM nets are Extra Class, and we welcome any class of license to participate . This might be just what is needed to stimulate activity and upgrades. Don't get me wrong.... there are MANY Amateurs around the world who know my callsign well from SSTV on the HF bands. I have certainly been there, and will still use it, but I find real satisfaction on the local 2 meter nets! The appeal of no QRM, no major crowds, contesters, etc., on 2 meter FM, has made this facet of the hobby a joy, and real relaxation for a positive change. Many of us work some simplex on 145.50 & 145.55 when there is no net. You may be open for a welcome surprise when you send your "CQ SSTV" picture. Don't pass this opportunity by, with decent 2 meter rigs available at a very low cost. Some of the BEST software is FREE! Same computer as for HF, and interfacing is the same too. Let's keep the ball rolling, with digital modes on 2 meter FM.

CHECK THIS OUT!

You may have a real 2 meter workhorse on hand.... I purchased a Radio Shack 2 meter mobile rig a couple years ago. It is a HTX-242 rig, that uses the RJ-45 mic connector. I connect it to my 10 amp power supply, and a discone antenna, and use it in the shack as my VHF SSTV machine. This little rig is a real workhorse too. I have been using it for Slow Scan for beyond 1 ½ years now, without a hitch. It is nearly always on, and I send 8 hours or more, of pictures each week. That is not bad for a rig that only cost about $150.00 new, and you can find them used these days for a song. One uses the rig in the 10 watt position, which is overkill in most instances, and will provide for a long life for the radio. The 45 watt position will not really help the pictures.

The most difficult part of using this rig (not hard) for SSTV is the voice identification, or talking about the pictures you are sending or receiving, without switching mic and interface cables each time. You can always improvise a "Y" or the likes, to get around this, but what I have done is described below. Make note that one needs to make or purchase (hard to find) a cable that is flipped, as the inline coupler reverses the lines. A standard line will present a direct short circuit to the rig, so keep this in mind.

For further information, contact the following website: http://home.att.net/~n8st/

Slow Scan TV History

1957 - Concept of SSTV formatted by Copthorn Macdonald

1958 - Electrostatic P7 monitor built by Macdonald

1958 - SSTV Camera using special Westinghouse 7290 vidicon by Macdonald

1960 - FCC Grants a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) to send SSTVG. Limited to those who Macdonald had given 7290 vidicons

1967 - Magnetic Deflection, transistor-ized P7 monitor - K7YZZ & W6MXV

1968 - Flying Spot Scanner for SSTV by W8ZCF, K7YZZ, & WB8DQT

1968 - SSTV with standard vidicons, WB8DQT, K7YZZ

1968 - FCC makes SSTV legal or advanced class hams.

1969 - SSTV Test Equiptment of Yesteryear, K7YZZ

1969 - Sampling Camera for SSTV by W9NTP

1970 - Independent Sideband SSTV provides simultaneous voice and SSTV by W7FEN (Voice on lower sideband; SSTV on upper sideband)

1970 - Color SSTV using Polaroid camera, RGB filters and P7 monitors - WB8DQT, W2DD

1970 - 1st commercial SSTV system with Robot 70 monitor & Robot 80 camera

1971 - Audio Frequency Spectrum Analyzer for SSTV - W0LMD

1971 - Old plumbicons from TV stations used for SSTV camera, W7ABW

1972 - SSTV keyboard is first SSTV integrated circuit unit W0LMD

1972 - Publication of the "SSTV Handbook", W9NPT,WB8DQT

1973 - Camera Scan Converter uses TV camera for SSTV - W6MXV & W0LMD

1973 - Double vidicon tubes provide bright SSTV pictures on TV monitors - W9NTP & SM0BUO

1974 - Receiving SSTV Shift Register Scan Converter - WB9LVI, W6MXV, & W0LMD

1975 - Three color shift register scan converter, W9NTP

1975 - Robot 300 using salvaged Princeton double vidicons

1976 - Color multiframe SSTV receive/ transmit Scan Converter using color wheel filters - W9NTP

1976 - RAM SSTV scan converters, W0LMD, WB9LVI (Microcraft)

1976 - Solid state RAM Robot 400 obsoletes Robot Model 300

1977 - Personal Computer 1st used to send & receive SSTV, W0LMD

1978 - Special Temporary Authorization (STA) to send Medium Scan Television - 36 KHZ, W0LMD

1979 - 1st moving TV from USA to Europe without cable or satellite, W0LMD 1980 - Single frame color developed, W0LMD

1984 - Robot 1200 provides commercial single frame color, Multiple Analog Components (MAC) method

1984 - SSTV using the Radio Shack Color Computer, K6AEP, WB8DQT

1986 - 1992 - Various high resolution color systems developed

1993 - PC based software & hardware boards for SSTV, Pasokon

1995 - PC DOS based software & an operational amplifier interface for SSTV marketed

1997 - PC Windows & Sound Blaster based SSTV software marketed http://www.ultimatecharger. com/html/sstvhistory.html

(Submitted by Ken R. Frantz, KF4QID - Internet Research)

SSRC DUES ARE DUE

JANUARY 1, 2004

Renewal forms were mailed with the December Oracle, and will be available at the General Membership Meeting on January 19, 2004, and subsequent meetings. Click here to get a printable RENEWAL FORM. (Pay dues to SSRC Treasurer) Ken R. Frantz, KF4QID, Membership Chairman

Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc.

CLUB MEETINGS are the third Monday of each month 7:30 PM at Green Clover Hall in the Marion County Government Complex on Southeast 25th Avenue. Coffee & Doughnuts are available.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meetings are the first Monday of each month, 7:30 PM at Marion County Facilities Management Office.

K4GSO, club station, Green Clover Hall, is available to all members. Phone number is 620-7210. Contact Ken, KF4QID at 489-0571.

MARS, club station located at 161 Oak Circle, Silver Springs Shores. Phone number is 680-1528. Contact Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605.

LICENSE TESTING, on the second Monday of each odd number month, except July, 7:30 PM at Green Clover Hall. Call Jack Scott at 622-4447.

RADIO NETS are conducted over the club repeater, K4GSO, on 146.610 MHz (-600).

LADIES AUXILIARY. Sunshine - Provides flowers and get-well cards for members or members' family. Also orders SSRC logo shirts and caps, Barbara Million, KE4ZTW, 694-5744.

NOTE: For change of address or corrections (with SSRC) contact the Membership Chairman.

SSRC NET, every Tuesday at 7:30 (local time). Contact Jeanette at (352) 489-0571.

MERT (Marion County Emergency Radio Communications Team) NET, every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. LOCAL time. Contact Charlie Lord, NR2F at (352) 489-9185.

Repeater Trustee,(146.610)Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605;

President Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

V. President Tony Blalock, K4OCF 685-2028

Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Treasurer John O. Williams, K4ANJ 685-2028

Trustee Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Board Members:

Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE 690-7500

William Miller, N6WGM 873-2017

Ernie O'Berry, K4OSM 732-0374

Oracle Editor: Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Oracleeditor@prodigy.net

Membership Ken Frantz, KF4QID 489-0571

Ladies'

Auxiliary Barbara Million, KE4ZTW 694-5744

Email: funyet2@earthlink.net

Silver Springs Radio Club Website:

http://www.qsl.net/ssrc/

Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

P.O. BOX 787

SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489

January 2004