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| Fox Hunt Results | Fox Hunt Results (July 2001-Rich
WA1TRY) Our first Fox Hunt for the new Millennium is history. John, K1VDF
and Rich WA1TRY volunteered to be the fox. The fox's transmitter (built
by none other than N1GNV) was hidden in the bushes at the north entrance
of the Linear Trail in Wallingford on the West side of Community Lake.
Rich and John set up shop, and threw some camouflage around the tiny transmitter
and antenna. You'd have to walk right up to it in order to see it.
Funny how Mr. "Bee", aka N1GNV was the FIRST one to find it. I think, (since he was the builder) he had some kind of hidden modulation technique known only to him. While the rest of the fox chasers were listing to a raspy carrier, only John could decode the buzz. And I'm SURE it was transmitting coordinates to him. John drove right up to where K1VDF and myself were standing. Jumped out of his car and headed immediately to the "Porta Potties." After insuring they were only filled with normal Pottie stuff .. he used an HT with the body mass radio direction finding technique. And quickly found the transmitter hidden in the brush a few yards behind the Potties. Actually John was using a mucho multiple antenna roof mounted Doppler D-F set up. We put him in the "expert" category just based on the equipment and number of 19 inch wires sticking out of his roof. Hot on John's heals were the next (professional) team .. John N1LEZ and Jim N1LEV. They too had a Doppler type set up, but far fewer whips. I guess accuracy and speed can be equated by how much metal you stick in the air. <grin> Not far behind these first and second place finishers was the team of KB1FYL and K1TDO. They actually "could" have had third place. They got within a few hundred feet of the transmitter but once in close proximity, had difficulty pinning down the exact spot. If these guys hone their "up close" technique a little I think they might give the "Pro-Doppler" gents a run for their money. But they were beat out of third place by N1OFB. The first "non-Doppler" guy to find the fox. Next in fourth place was the team of W1KKF and KE1AY. Again using "minimal" equipment. We would expect no less from KKF, our leader and Prez. Fifth place overall, was Tim WY1U. Tim has a story to tell you about a security guard checking out the suspicious character with the electronic stuff .. And finally (after about a mile or so sojourn down Wallingford's Linear trail) the team of KB1FYL and K1TDO were able to locate the transmitter. I hope I didn't confuse anyone when I kept telling them the transmitter was within a mile of where K1VDF and I were standing. I wasn't lying ... 100 feet IS within a mile isn't it? We shut down when it started to get dark and headed back to the EOC. Where we found KB1CIW and KA1SZP. Well at least they found their way back to the coffee and donuts. On a personal note .. I found it interesting how many of you thought the transmitter was in the Porta Pottie. Just goes to show what a class group we have. This was fun for all ... and I hope we make this a regular thing. IRS Recognizes MARC (KK Nov 2000-Dan KA1SZP) The IRS has affirmed MARC as a charitable organization under its 501(C)(3) code. After a two year paper chase, the IRS ruling recognizes the work of MARC members efforts in the newly constituted scholarship fund, and the ongoing efforts in education and pubic service. This determination allows MARC to continue its activities in public service and education, as it has for more than fifty years. The ruling also allows MARC to proceed with the scholarship activities of fund raising and scholarship awards. The scholarship fund - formally The Frank Darmofalski Scholarship Fund - was started about two years ago with an offer by Frank W1FD to seed a fund if the appropriate paper trails were instituted. Known as a permanent scholarship, the fund principle will remain and awards will be taken from the annual interest earned. The fund also has a proviso for short term legacies that may be awarded until depleted. The scholarship is principally aimed at central Connecticut high school seniors that wish to pursue career in electronics and communication. Full details will be published shortly in Key Klix, on the club web page, and distributed to local high schools. The two year effort included an extensive IRS filed document, changes to the MARC Constitution, phone calls to the IRS, establishing of a scholarship committee, and drafting of a scholarship rules document. A final step of incorporation filing with the State of Connecticut is in progress. The Scholarship Committee currently consists of Don KE1AY-chair, Frank W1FD, Joyce N1RMA, and Bill W1KKF. In addition to scholarship details, the filing included information
of MARC activities in Amateur Radio classes, as a ARRL Special Service
club, Wallingford Civil Preparedness, communication services during area
public events, and ARES activities. The 501(C)(3) classification states
that MARC is a non-profit corporation and may receive tax deductible funding
from individuals and other outside sources.
Riley Hollingsworth's Visit to Wallingford (KK Sep.2000 - Frank W1FD) Riley Holingsworth K4ZDH, FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement presented a talk to a combined membership of MARC and MARS at the Mountainside Conference Center. He conveyed a message of encouragement stating the growth of Amateur Radio was evident and operating procedures are improving; indicating a better job of training and self discipline. Mr Hollingsworth's answer to non-licensed signals on 10 meters was of the FCCs concern and penelties to those caught will be meted out, although legal and court actions take time. Operators who have problems with interference should contact the FCC with details. Riley also noted the success of the VEC (VE) program and that the FCC is pleased with the results of the program. ARRL president, Jim Haynie W5JBP, concluded the meeting with anecdotes of his early amateur operating days in Texas. New FCC - RF Exposure (KK Sep.2000 - Dan KA1SZP) New FCC guidelines incorporate limits for Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) in terms of electric and magnetic field strength and power density for transmitters operating at frequencies between 300 kHz and 100 GHz. The FCC's MPE limits are based on exposure limits recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) over a wide range of frequencies, the exposure limits developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., (IEEE) and adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Each licensed amateur must be in compliance with the FCC mandated RF-Exposure
regulations as of 1 September 2000. Each amateur is responsible to certify
their station is in compliance. This compliance is self-performed and certified
on your next F605 or F610. Read the full story
MARC is in the ARRL Spotlight as May SSC (ARRL May 2000) The ARRL spotlights a Special Service Club (SSC) biweekly on its Field Organization web page. MARC stepped to Stage front as the May 31, 2000 SSC. Read the full story License Upgrades in Vogue at VE Session(KK May 2000 - Dan KA1SZP) MARC members are among the many to take the opportunity of the license restructure to upgrade. A VE session on April 17th – the first after the FCC change went into effect – reflected the ARS wide increase in upgrades. Twenty-one applicants attended the VE session, but only three were taking tests. The remainder were submitting their recently obtained CSCEs for credit of passed elements to upgrade to the new General or Extra license. Congratulations to: KE1AU, N1GNV, WV2LKM, KE1LR, K1MKF, N1OKF, KA1SZP, KA1UXJ, and N1YGL on their upgrades during the “April Rush” (My apologies to those that I did not hear about before press time). MARC Station Activities (KK Feb. 2000 - N1API) Al N1API, the new station manager, outlines his plans to improve the MARC shack and make operating more of a pleasure. Read the full story High School Club Formed at Lyman Hall (KK Feb. 2000 - John KB1EEN) The Lyman Hall Amateur Radio Club (LHARC) is the newly formed club for the students and faculty of Lyman Hall High School here in Wallingford. The Meriden ARC is acting as the "Elmer" club Ham of the Year/Elmer of the Year November is the Annual Meeting and the balloting for the prestigious Ham of the Year and Elmer of the Year Awards. The MARC membership recognizes the best of the best each year in these awards. Ham of the Year is for outstanding service to MARC and the amateur service at large in the most idealistic sense. Elmer of the Year - named for Adolf Goodsell W1ICQ - honors the mentor of new and not so new operators to enjoy amateur radio to its fullest. These prestigious awards are the highest recognition by the Meriden ARC to those exhibiting the best characteristics of Hams and Elmering in the amateur radio service community. Click here for a list of recipients ULS - It's Mandatory (KK Jan 2000 - KA1SZP) The new FCC Universal Licensing System or ULS has been put into place. Although partial implementation was instituted in August of 1999, final bugs were worked out and ULS is now a required part of the FCC dialog. The time honored Form 610 is a thing of the past and is replaced with the new Form 605 and all communication is on line (web based). As amateur operators, we have to be registered with the ULS database. Details and an easy to follow procedure is in the full story. License Restructure (KK Jan 1999 - KA1SZP) On December 1999, the FCC released its Report and Order 99-412 - the License Restructuring of Amateur Radio Service. Effective April 15, 2000, there will only be three license classes of Amateur Radio Licenses in the United States - Technician, General and Extra. This will include a single CW requirement of 5 WPM at the Technician license class. Although many procedural questions arise, the FCC was very specific in the R&O stating all existing license classes are "grand fathered" into their current privileges of band edges, power and mode restrictions. ARRL Award (Dec 1998 ) The Meriden ARC was presented an award for fifty years as a continuous Affiliated Service Club. New England Division Director, Tom Frenaye K1KI, and Connecticut Section Manager, Betsey Doane K1EIC, bestowed the membership with a plaque in tribute to the service years between May 1948 -the club founding - and May 1998. Nutmeg Hamfest Alliance Receives IRS Nonprofit Status (Nov 1998) The IRS has approved the Nutmeg Hamfest Alliance as a non-profit organization. This validates the Alliance, and the member Meriden ARC and Middlesex ARS, in their public service and educational objectives. Nutmeg Hamfest Success (Oct 1998) The Nutmeg Hamfest, in its sixth year, is a huge success at its new location at Wallingford's Mountainside Resort. Field Day - A New Class for the Meriden ARC (June 1998) MARC operated in the ARRL Field Day activities as a 2A class station - two transmitters plus a Novice station this year, after several years in the 1A-Battery class. The change was a reflection of the changing interests of club members in the SSB and upper band areas. MARC placed a respectable 40 of the 606 entries in the class. In the 1A arena, MARC placed consistently in the top six with several first place years. MARC Kicks Off Its 50th Anniversary Year (Feb 1998) Born in Meriden in February 1947, the MERIDEN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB is looking forward to a year long 50th. birthday party. A variety of activities are being scheduled and planned, including public demonstrations, special QSL and on-the-air activities, and many more. MARC Wins 1997 1A Battery Class Field Day (Nov 1997) For the second year in a row, MARC placed first in the 1A Battery class at Field Day. The 1A class allows for a single transmitter to operate using no more than 5 Watts of power and completely independent of any commercial or motorized generator power - battery and solar power only. MARC has placed in the top ten of this class for more than a dozen years. |