December 2001 & January 2002

Central Illinois Radio Club
P.O. Box 993
Bloomington, IL  61702-0993

President: Larry Mays KB9NPH
(309)-827-8183
Vice President: John Payne KB9ZDZ
(309) 728-2288
Secretary: Mitch Bricker KB9PXL
(309)-378-2281
Treasurer: Rick Kempf WD9HRU
(309)-828-8054
Newsletter Editor: Norman Huber, N9ZKS
(309)-378-4674

The CIRC is a not-for-profit ARRL special service club whose purpose is
to advance the service of Amateur Radio.  Located in Central Illinois,
CIRC and its members welcome all to use the 146.94 repeater and to
attend club meetings.

Submissions for the newsletter must be received by the 10th of the month
and may be snail or e-mailed to the editor at:
Norm Huber
19266 E. US Hwy 150
Bloomington, IL  61704-5855

e-mail  n9zks@earthlink.net

Permission is granted to Amateur Radio-related organizations to
reproduce contents of Short CIRCuits provided full credit is given.

NEW COFFEE KLATCH
For all those who would like an alternate get-together time, a weekly
gathering has been started. It is every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at
the Dunking Donuts on E. Oakland. It is across from the Jewel - Osco,
about two blocks from Veterans. Come on out and meet some of the voices
you know.
 

DECEMBER PREZ COLUMN

CQ CQ The CIRC

With Christmas around the corner, it must be December.  That means my
term as president is coming to an end.  I have enjoyed the past year,
and hope everyone else has too.  Next year let's all get behind Larry
and help him make the CIRC bigger and better.  Then the fourth Wednesday
of every month, the CIRC meeting will be a "must go to" event.  Speaking
of the fourth Wednesday, there will be a meeting at usual time and usual
place to wrap up the year.  Hope to see as many people as possible that
night.

Keep in touch with club activities and last minute changes by checking
into the Tues night net on 94.

73's de WD9HRU

Calendar of Events

Weekly 2 Meter Net
Every Tuesday evening on the
146.940-146.340 repeater at
 9:00 p.m.
10/10 Breakfast
 First Saturday of every month at 8 a.m. Baker's Square, Vernon & Vets
(Just south of College Hills Mall)
CIRC Meeting
 Fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Red Cross building in
Bloomington (Just north of the airport).
CQ CQ CQ de KB9NPH calling CQ to all members of the CIRC, Welcome to
2002.

Let's start out with a big thank you directed to the retiring officers
of 2001, they did a fantastic job creating growth and new programs for
club members participation.  I expect the year 2002 to continue with
growth and member involvement with all club activities.
A little about myself:  I was licensed in 1996, joining the CIRC around
the fall of that same year.  My first interest in Ham radio started as a
scanner of HF and foreign broadcast. I also remember as a kid building a
small receiver where I'd plug in coils for frequencies of special
interest.  In addition having an Uncle (Glen Mays, N6JNS) around when I
was younger, had a bit to do with my exposure to Ham Radio.  I remember
many evenings visiting their home and after a nice meal, we would
adjourn to the radio room and listen to Amateur operators around the
world.  I often regret I didn't take to the hobby at a much younger
age.  It's been a great opportunity to make new friends, and learn new
skills.
The January meeting will open setting up a year's calendar of
activities, so bring your personal planners to mark those dates of great
importance. The floor will be open to discuss activities of personal
interest.  Hallway conversations have created many ideas for every
member involvement.  We'll also have some regular club business to
transact.
HAM FEST TIME......
Immediately after the meeting, the CIRC will sponsor it's first Ham Fest
of the new year.  AA9BS has several items for viewing, so we decided to
declare our first meeting a mini Ham Fest, open to all interested
amateur operators and their friends.   Look through your box of goodies
or on those dusty shelves and bring your items for sale with the CIRC
group.  You do not need to be a club member to participate.

I'm looking forward to seeing a large gathering at the January meeting,
being held at the local Red Cross of the Heartland, 1 Westport Court.
Need directions, call on the 34/94 repeater.  Meeting starts promptly at
7:30 p.m.  Come early or stay late for a little rag chewing. Please sign
in upon your arrival and pick up a meeting agenda.

73 de KB9NPH Larry Mays, President of CIRC 2002.
 

Decembers meeting had 13 members in attendance, The November minutes
were approved by Gary AB9M and seconded by Steve KB9WNK. The December
Christmas party was discussed; most had a good time socializing.
There was some concern about lack of space, and further talk on options
for future parties, and will be tabled for future meetings.
Upcoming events and activities include the Weather Seminar, March
9,2002.
With Corn Belt moving, discussion of concerns regarding loss of the
repeater site came up. It was decided to contact the proper individuals,
and an announcement would follow. Gary, AB9M offered some suggestions on
temporary sites. Andy announced upcoming disaster drills, watch for
future time and dates. Andy will also be working with the Red Cross to
improve communications for radio operators and activities to help
prepare us for emergencies.
Dean AB9M suggested a swap meet for the January meeting; members were in
favor of it.
Larry KB9NPH 2002 President would like to see incoming ideas for the
2002 club year. Contact any club officer with topics or activity
suggestions.
Andy K9EMA asked if the club would be interested in McLean County
disaster membership. Benefits and personnel shortage were some of the
concerns. It was decided to attend a meeting and table for future
discussion.
ARRL will provide labels of area hams if future mailings were needed.
The State Farm Illinois office radio room was offered as a tour activity
for the club, and summer family activities such as a picnic, foxhunts,
for the year 2002.
Motion to close meeting at 8:25 P.M. by Gary AB9M and seconded by Steve
KB9WNK.

In the heyday of the sailing ship, every man-of-war had to have cannons
for protection. Cannons of the times used round, iron cannon balls. The
captain needed to store the cannon balls so that they could be of
instant use when needed, yet not roll around on the gun deck. The
solution was to stack them in a square-based pyramid next to the cannon.

The top level of the stack had one ball, the next level down had four,
the next had nine, the next had 16, and so on. Four levels would provide
a stack of 30 cannon balls. The only real problem was how to keep the
bottom level from sliding out from under the weight of the higher
levels.

To do this, they devised a small plate called a "monkey", with one
rounded indentation for each cannon ball in the bottom layer. When iron
was used to make the "monkey", the cannon balls would rust to the plate.
As a result, these plates were made of brass to prevent this problem --
thus the name  "brass monkey".

When temperature falls, brass contracts faster than iron. As it got cold
on the gun decks, the indentations in the brass monkey would get smaller
than the iron cannon balls they were holding. When it was cold enough,
the bottom layer would pop out of the indentations spilling the entire
pyramid over the deck. Thus it was, quite literally, "COLD ENOUGH TO
FREEZE THE BALLS OFF A BRASS MONKEY".

Just think; all this time "land lubbers" thought we sailors were talking
dirty.

FOR SALE

MICRONTA (RADIOSHACK) 13.8 VOLT / 3 AMP UNREGULATED POWER SUPPLY
Like New - Used very little.    $20.00
Loren Graber  K9ILP
 

RF EXPOSURE HAZARD:

When you walk outside on a sunny day, you are standing next to a Nuclear
Fusion furnace and exposed to all manner of nuclear fusion products
including dangerous Electromagnetic Radiation.  The RF radiation from
the sun is 100 times greater than what is considered safe by the RF
exposure limits set by the government.

Now, of course, this is an extrapolation, typical of what the News Media
does all the time when it distorts facts...   the RF table in the Radio
Handbook only goes to 100 GHz, but if you extend the posted limits up to
100 THz, then,  that is 100 times less  than the 1000 watts  per square
meter that the sun produces on your skin.

Just a tidbit of trivia ...

FYI- The author said that no study was made.  It's common knowldege
that the sun is 1000W per square meter and the ARRL license manual
shows the exposure limit is 1 mw per square centimeter up to 100 GHz.

I bet the Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie (http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html
) will soon be the recommended head gear to wear outside.

Bloomington Public Library
205 E. Olive
Bloomington, IL 61701

Remaining dates for the year 2002 (Walk-ins are welcome)
Jan 19
Mar 30
May 25
Jul 13
Nov 16

The testing is being headed by Keith, AC9S.

Comments due February 12 in ''Band Threat'' proceeding

SB QST ARL ARLB052
ARLB052 Comments due February 12 in ''Band Threat'' proceeding

Comments are due February 12, 2002, in the FCC Notice of Proposed Rule
Making and Order in ET Docket 01-278. Reply comments are due on March
12, 2002. The proceeding deals in part with a potential band threat to
the popular 70-cm band from Part 15 RF identification devices proposed
for deployment between 425 and 435 MHz.

SAVI Technology, which markets radiolocation and wireless inventory
control products, told the FCC it needs the rules changes to satisfy
customer demand for increased RFID system capabilities. The FCC has
proposed to allow operation of RFIDs as unlicensed Part 15 devices in
the 425-435 MHz band with transmissions of up to two minutes at field
strengths now only permitted for extremely short-duration, intermittent
control signals.

The ARRL has argued that under the Communications Act of 1934 the FCC
lacks authority to permit unlicensed devices with substantial
interference potential and that such devices must be licensed. The ARRL
also is looking into the interference potential posed to 20 meters by a
proposal to increase the maximum emission levels permitted by Part 15
devices operating at 13.56 MHz, as well as the maximum level of
out-of-band emissions.

Commenters are advised to read paragraphs 20-27 of the NPRM&O, which is
available on the ARRL Web site,
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/10/19/1/290a11.html.

Interested parties may file comments using the FCC's Electronic Comment
Filing System, http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html (search using
''01-278''). Commenters should include full name, US Postal Service
mailing address, and applicable docket or rule making number--in this
case ET 01-278.

It's also possible to e-mail comments via the ECFS. To obtain e-mail
filing instructions, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov
and include the words ''get form your e-mail address" in the body of the
message. A sample form and directions will be sent by reply e-mail.
NNNN
/EX

Local DX Packet Cluster Information

Bloomington Access and Transport node BMIDX1 (N1SF) 144.91   1200 baud
Bloomington PacketCluster node BMIDXC (K9CW2)
Connections to the network are made by first connecting to BMIDX1 then
connecting to BMIDXC or K9CW2