CENTRAL ILLINOIS RADIO CLUB Short CIRCuits September 2001 Central Illinois Radio Club P.O. Box 993 Bloomington, IL 61702-0993 President: Rick Kempf, WD9HRU 309-828-8054 Vice President: Larry Mays, KB9NPH 309-827-8183 Secretary: Dean Lacy, AA9BS 309-452-4309 Treasurer: Floyd Hofmann, W9EX 309-452-3612 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 19268 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. SEPTEMBER PREZ COLUMN CQ, CQ, the CIRC. With Sept. comes the start of school and the winding down of summer and the summer hamfest season. I always think of Princeton as the start unofficial start of summer and Peoria as the unofficial end of summer. Did everyone buy that special rig while selling their boat anchor. We need to start thinking about whom we want for club officers next year. The Jingle Bell Run will be held the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. The course is the same as the last several years. Bill Dunbar's program on Land Morse has been rescheduled for the Oct. meeting. Hope to see everybody at the Sept. meeting 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). Code Class 2001. Instructed by Dean (AA9BS), assisting Larry (KB9NPH) The CIRC would hold their first code class on September 11, 2001, a date we'll not forget, with respect to the terrorist attack in New York. Our intention is to help those interested in learning enough code to pass the five words a minute for the General Class amateur radio ticket. At this time the class is proceeding quite well, those in attendance are KB9ZDZ, John; KB9WNK, Steve; and KB9XDY, Jerry. We understand others would also like to participate but can't do to work hours, etc. Maybe we'll have to do flexible class time in the near future. The group is enjoying the time; learning and of course exchanging some winded QSO's, what else would you expect from a HAM! We hope those that wish to give the test a try will do so at November's VE testing in Bloomington. 73's Larry KB9NPH FOR SALE Submitted by Dave, KA9NAQ A friend of mine has a Tribander to sell. It's a handheld Yaesu vx-r1, new with extra Lithium battery pack and extra antenna(3' length). Price is $250 firm. Call 309-662-1341 and ask for Jeff, the number is a business phone for Corn States Credit.. Dave KA9NAQ CIRC Mini field day, August 18, 2001 The CIRC felt it was time to have a small field day exercise where club members could work a little DX and maybe if enough interest was noted, include a foxhunt. Members were to bring a dish for a quick meal and the club would furnish the drinks. Thanks to Dean AA9BS we had reserved a very nice sight at Maxwell Park. Arriving first at the park was KB9NPH, with others on the airwaves indicating they were on the way. What was also on the way was a punch by Mother Nature. Soon after my arrival the wind arrived, rain began to descend from the skies, thunder roared and soon the local emergency siren began to wale. Needless to say this put a bit of a damper on the days activity. We had intended to set up the club antenna, however we decided a smaller version of a dipole would better serve the group. Rick, WD9HRU had planned on bringing a station for HF operation, he had to change direction and head to Lincoln weather to man the station for severe weather. Luckily for whatever reason, I wanted to test my Kenwood 930, so I had it in the car just in case. We did make a few contacts with our limited antenna structure. Eldon KB9PZA had also brought his computer to demonstrate PSK31 and APRS. After the weather settled some, Eldon was able to set his system up for those in attendance to view. Also invited to this event was a representative of the ARC, his was to discuss our cooperative presence at a planned disaster drill. Due to the small attendance of club members, information from the ARC representative was presented to the club at our regularly scheduled August club meeting. CIRC had invited members from Peoria radio club, however with the sudden change is weather many folks also changed there traveling plans. In attendance were several members of our club, I'll attempt to identify call signs and seriously apologize for anyone that may have not been credited for attendance. In attendance: KB9NPH (Larry), AA9BS (Dean), KB9PZA (Eldon), N9RZV (Chuck), KB9IGT (Connie), N9ZKS (Norm), KB9ZDZ (John), KB9WNK (Steve), KB9ZDY (Jerry), WB9UWA (Jim), N9VXY (Earla) and W9EX (Floyd). Arriving at our site around 5 p.m. was a group that indicted they too had rented our shelter for an employee planned picnic. Realizing our numbers were quite small and they expected some sixty people we elected to share the shelter. Actually I think Dean was hoping to snag some fried chicken or potato salad. Our trimmings were a bit on the lean side. Business of the day also included the setting for a future code class for those wishing to take the General exam for ticket upgrade. Dean AA9Bs and Larry KB9NPH will assemble some materials, meeting at Deans QTH on September 11 for our first class. While we did spend most of the day at the sight, the group elected to retreat to the local pizza hut to finish off the day. While the day was very cold for August, everyone in attendance made a good time out of a make shift picnic / field day. 73's Larry, KB9NPH Lucky Ham While attending the BARS (Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society) Hamfest in Joliet on Aug 26th, CIRC member Connie Kostelc (KB9IGT) won a door prize of $100.00. She used her winnings to treat fellow CIRC attendees to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. BLOOMINGTON EXAM DATES Following is the schedule for W5YI-VEC Amateur Radio exams for the year 2001 at the Bloomington Public Library. Setup is from Noon to 1:30 normally. Exams begin as listed. Questions may be directed Keith Hanson. Please bring two forms of identification. You must have Social Security Number. We cannot administer a test without SSN. You will need a copy of your Current license plus any CSCE you want to apply. Bloomington Public Library 205 E. Olive Bloomington, IL 61701 Remaining dates for the year 2001 (Walk-ins are welcome) Nov 10 The testing is being headed by Keith, AC9S. MORTON EXAM DATES Following is the schedule for W5YI-VEC Amateur Radio exams for the year 2001 at the Morton Public Library. Setup is from 11 to Noon. Exams begin at noon but registration is typically from 11:45 to 12:30. Questions may be directed to Bob Davis (AA9MY) at 309-263-8620 (Day) or email to redavis@dpc.net Please bring two forms of identification. You must have Social Security Number. We can not administer a test without SSN. You will need a copy of your Current license plus any CSCE you want to apply. Morton Public Library 315 W. Pershing Morton, IL 61550 Remaining dates for the year 2001 (Walk-ins are welcome) Oct 20 Dec 15 There will be VE testing at the Peoria SuperFest on Sunday September 16, 2001 Testing at the Fest will begin at 10:00 A.M. Walk-ins are welcome. Nets in the Area Monday 9:00 P.M. 146.730 123.0 PL Open Net Tuesday 7:00 P.M. 146.910 Tazwell County ESDA Net Tuesday 9:00 P.M. 146.940 CIRC Open Net Wednesday 9:00 P.M. 147.060 Open Net Has Newsline Wednesday 9:00 P.M. 442.250 123.0 PL ARES Open Net Wednesday Varies 147.100 Trader's Net follows ARES Net on 442.250 Thursday 9:00 P.M. 146.760 Open Net with Newsline Thursday 9:00 P.M. 146.895 North central IL Traders Net Sunday 8:30P.M 147.075 Open Net with Newsline Mon / Fri 9:00 A.M.(Local) 14.247.5 Displaced Peorians Net Sunday 8:30 AM Local 1815 kHz 160 m AM net (Please help me correct this list. I know it's not up to date at this time. Norm N9ZKS) THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S VACATION By Norm, N9ZKS Before starting work I took the little trip I had been planning. It made for an interesting two weeks. I left for my house in Louisiana with a stop in Huntsville TX for BBQ on Thursday 30 Aug. It was a good start to a great vacation except for the periods of rain and constant overcast. I spent 4 days with my daughter and her husband, then started the second leg of my trip Friday morning 7 Sep., rolling across the World's longest Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, out of Louisiana and up through Alabama. Saturday took me up past Lake Guntersville into Chattanooga for a short visit with my sister-in-law to watch the Alabama game with her alumni husband. I got a good nights rest despite the thought of the following days ride. Morning dawned clear and sunny for a change. So far this trip I had overcast nearly all the time. Down off of the Cumberland Plateau, cross the valley and onto the Cherohala Parkway. At this point I noticed an interesting point. There were more motorcycles than cars. It is a beautiful ride. One of those rides that you want to do in all four seasons. That was just the beginning of the day. Coming down off the parkway, I cruised along the river till I came to the dam. Surprise, Fugitive Bridge turn, the start of Deals Gap. A stop for the obligatory T-shirt and snack, then ride The Gap! Good show to the two sportbike jockeys that took the two pick-ups and me in the quick S near the bottom. I was being careful cause I was, oh what the heck, chicken! 318 curves in 11 miles! Most of you would think; that would make a full day. I wasn't done. I rode over to Smoky Mountain National Park. I ended up taking the nice ride around the south end of the park to the visitor's center, then over Newfound Gap to Cherokee for a Chinese dinner and then onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. I made it into Ashville NC and checked into a motel. The Weather Channel was not very promising. I awoke in the morning to overcast and the threat of rain. It is another side of the drive to see the ridges with the clouds pouring over their tops. I soon found myself riding through those clouds. I didn't go to the top of Mt. Mitchell because from the bottom of the road it was obvious that visibility would be zero. The day continued overcast and I continued to Waynesboro, making the last 50 miles as the sun set. Saw a large number of deer, only a couple of which jumped in front of instead of away from my path. Monday had come to an end, damp but fun. Tuesday started with promise of clearing skies and a better day. How wrong! As I was walking into the motel room after loading the bike, the TV started talking about a terrible accident in New York. As I turned in my key, a lady came into the office and told us a second plane had crashed into the WTC. The world had changed! I was looking forward to seeing my kids and grandkids in DC, so I mounted up and headed up Skyline Drive. As I rode up the Drive, I started hearing reports of the Pentagon and Pennsylvania crashes on the 2-meter radio. Amazing what a 3000 ft. tower does for propagation! Calling into a Virginia repeater, I heard that I ought to avoid DC. The situation started to detract from the pure joy of riding this fantastic road. I stopped at Panorama and tried to call but could not even get a dial tone for a while. After having a snack, I finally got a line and contacted my wife. She convinced me I should press on because my grandkids would be disappointed if I didn't show up. As I continued on the last 30 miles of the drive and on into DC, I listened to the volunteers of the ham radio clubs setting up communications in the schools, shelters, fire stations, Red Cross centers and police stations. The phone system was almost useless due to all the people frantically trying to find the location of friends and loved ones in or near the Pentagon. Also due to the traffic gridlock caused by road closures and the release of all the government workers, parents were not home even trough schools were anxious to release the children. By the time I made my way into DC, the traffic had dropped to a level usually only seen before 10 AM on Sunday mornings. I stopped at Walter Reed where I spent the majority of my 20 years in the Army to give blood and after getting past the heightened security, found they had cut off taking volunteers so they could process the blood they had already collected. The community's response was immediate and wholehearted. I spent the next two days with my kids and grandkids, but as everyone, was unable to escape the news. Due to the job I was to start on Monday the 17th., I left DC on Friday and headed for home. I was still looking for good roads so I was following US 50 across Maryland and West Virginia. It's a great road for motorcycles, if you don't end up behind a sixteen-wheel dump truck on the uphill. I spent the night in Parkersburg WV. The morning proved interesting. I was rolling along Ohio 681 reveling in the blind curves and whoop-d-dos. I was wondering about the car that seemed to be staying right on my tail. As I came to the intersection with US 33, a police cruiser whipped into OH 681 and hit the lights, followed by two more, one of which went diagonal in front of me. The thoughts that went going through my mind! The officer courteously asked for identification, not my license. The driver of the car, which had been following me, joined the uniformed officers. All concerned had serious looks on their faces, as I suppose did I. I sat on the bike and spent my time telling the gentlemen about my trip. If it were not for the three squad cars, with light bars lit, it would have been a rag chewing session. After some comments as to everything checked out, the bike is registered to him etc., it was explained to me that someone had been taking pictures of a power plant in the area from an unauthorized area and some one said the individual had Illinois plates. Yes, the world did change on Tuesday September 11th. The remainder of the trip quickly became routine as I rode out of the Ohio valley up on to the farmland of the Midwest. Never let me say it's not beautiful to see the rich farmland, but the roads are not as conducive to fun biking unless you have wheelie bars and burn nitrous. Since this trip started out as a BBQ sampling ride I must confess that I'm forced to report the best I had during the trip was in Huntsville TX. Besides the great BBQ, the chance to see America, both hams and non hams come together for at least a short period of time was very exciting. One disappointment was the fact that my Kenwood D7A quit transmitting during the trip from DC to Bloomington. I wondered what was wrong when I could not get anyone to answer, and in fact could not bring up the repeaters as I finished the trip. It has been returned to Kenwoo0d for repair and upgrading to a D7A(G), so hopefully when I am through with this job, I'll have it back with great new features. 73 Yall N9ZKS ARLB041 Amateur Radio volunteer information is on line Amateur Radio volunteers continue to be needed to assist with disaster relief communication in New York City and in Washington, DC. Operators willing able to volunteer for communications duty to support the Amateur Radio Emergency Service relief and recovery effort at the Word Trade Center in New York City may register at the World Trade Center Disaster Relief Communications Web site, http://wtc.ab2m.net. When logging onto the site, Amateur Radio operators first will be quizzed against a checklist, then asked to complete and submit an on-line form. New York City Amateur Radio volunteers must have a VHF (2-meter) or, preferably, a VHF/UHF (2-meter/70-cm) mobile radio, power supply and cables, and mobile/portable mag-mounted gain antenna. This duty requires a serious commitment and could involve working in a possibly hazardous area in war zone-like conditions. Volunteers will need to supply some items of protective clothing. Amateurs from outside the Greater New York City area who are asked to report for duty are requested to alert their section managers. A list of SMs is available on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smlist.html. Amateur Radio operators within 50 miles of Washington, DC, are being sought to assist the ARES relief and recovery effort for the Pentagon attack site. Those available to help should first visit the Virginia ARES Web site, http://www.aresva.org/help.htm. Those willing and able to assist should then contact Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, n4nw@arrl.net. The subject line of your e-mail should read ''Salvation Army Support''. Volunteers need a 2-meter hand-held or portable with CTCSS capability plus at least two batteries and a charger. Current shifts are 4 AM to noon, noon to 8 PM and 8 PM to 4 AM, Gregory said. ARES volunteers are staffing three sites in Washington, DC, primarily supporting the Salvation Army relief and recovery efforts. The need is for three operators per shift. Amateurs from sections other than Virginia or Maryland who are asked to report for duty are requested to alert their section managers. A list of SMs is available on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smlist.html. Overheard "The building is going to collapse", he overheard. "I know," he mumbled, strapping his breathing apparatus to his back. A tidal wave of people and smoke came at him, and he fought against the current desperate to get inside the place where everyone was trying to escape. He is a firefighter, doesn't see himself as a hero. This is what he does. "People are trapped upstairs", she overheard. "I know," she mumbled, as she grabbed her oxygen cylinder and bag and walked into the billowing clouds of debris looking for someone, anyone, who needed her. She is a paramedic, doesn't see herself as a hero. This is what she does. "The people don't know what is happening" he overheard "I know" he mumbled, as he walked towards the panic and pain bringing comfort by his strength, giving directions, showing people where to go, even as he goes closer and closer. He is a Police Officer; he doesn't see himself as a hero. This is what he does. "We lost the entire engine company," one numbly said. "I know", said the captain. He looked at the faces on the wall. Faces he would never see again. "We have Police and Fire waiting, and Ambulances are lined up." "I know", said God, as he wiped the tears from his eyes and opened up to golden gates at the entry to paradise and let our ordinary heroes in. They were the men and women who didn't need to be there who could have saved themselves who could have stayed away from the scenes of pain and hell but they walked into the fire though they knew that they might die and we watched their spirits rise to heaven as the towers collapsed in the sky. Just ordinary people, whose families daily prayed that their loved ones would return to them at the end of every day. In this great tragedy, a greater story unfolds of the bravest men and women that New York City holds the simple, ordinary heroes. Fire fighter. Paramedic. Police officer. "We have Police and Fire waiting, and Ambulances lined up...." " I know", said God, wiping tears from his eyes and He opened up the golden gates at the entry to paradise and let our ordinary Heroes in. It's what He does.