August 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


CIRC Minutes of meeting  7/25/01
Officers Present:   Rick WD9HRU; Pres.  --   Dean AA9BS ; Sect.
Members with Health Problems:  Floyd W9EX;  Andy K9IKR;  Paul N9PE;
Keith AC9S.
12 Members in attendance.  One new Member for the Club Troy Shealy
KT4SO. Welcome to the CIRC, Troy.
Discussion about Club Cook Out and Operating Station scheduled 08/18/01,
at Maxwell Park in Normal, IL Rick to Furnish Radio; Dean Power Supply;
Elden to bring APRS operating Station; 34/94 to be Fox Hunting Freq. (34
Fox freq.) and Club to furnish Pop, Potato Chips, & Eating Utensils,
Members to bring a Covered Dish and or meat to Cook Out.  Any one
wanting to bring equipment for display or sell will be welcome.
Minutes for meeting 6/27/01 approved.
Question about Club Antenna being used by Members.  No one had any
objections.
No reports on  repeater operation and Emergency Drill available.
Chuck  N9RZV to notify Peoria and invite them to attend our meeting
07/18/01.
Norm N9ZKS advised Lincoln invited the Club to hold a meeting in their
Town along with a Fox Hunt.
12/01/01 Lincoln Wx (ARRL)  will have a Special Event Station operating
00Z to 2400Z with Demonstrations. Station Call Sign will be WD9CIR.
Chuck N9RZV motion to adjourn, Second by Steve WB9WNK,  Meeting Closed
.
Members watched a Video of Field Day's held in the forties and later,
narrated by Floyd W9EX and Chick W9OBN.  This was enjoyed by all.
 


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)

Blomington-Normal Area Repeaters

Freq            Callsign        Location        PL
145.390 N9EZJ           Lincoln
145.430 KD9F            Gridley 103.5
146.790 K9CYW           Bloomington
146.940 W9AML           Bloomington
147.015 NX9M            Normal  88.5 (open*)
147.150 WD9FTV  Bloomington     103.5(open*)
147.345 K9ZM            Lincoln
442.700 WB9UUS  Normal  107.2 (open**)
443.325 KE9HB           Congerville     107.2
444.350 W9EX            Bloomington     107.2
444.975 N9FZF           Normal  136.5
* Repeater is currently in open mode with pl for those with QRM
** Repeater RX with tight carrier squelch and loose tone squelch (107.2)

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


 

The Central Illinois Radio Club is having a Pot Luck Cook-out!
Will include a Fox Hunt and informal Special Event Station.
We would like to welcome all hams and interested visitors, and show off
our hobby!
When:   Saturday, August 18, 2001
Time:    12:00 Noon till Park Closing Time
Where: Maxwell Park, Normal, IL (Near Normal West HS)
A complete operating station will be set up for Members and Visitors
If you have any questions contact Dean Lacy, (309) 452-4309
Talk-in Frequency is the 146.340/146.940 Repeater.
See you there!


Red Cross Disaster Drill Invitation

The Red Cross has contacted us and asked us to participate in the
disaster drill to be held September 22.  We would be performing our
communication function. The drill will start officially at 10 A.M. and
last 4 to 5 hours.
A tabletop session for the Red Cross participants will be held on
September 10th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
The scenario is an air disaster involving a downed airliner at BMI
Airport. The Red Cross has been tasked with tracking disaster victims so
they will need to have people at the various hospitals, and the
locations where family and news media people will be to provide up to
the minute information.
The accident involves an airliner taking off and experiencing trouble
and crashing when attempting to return to the airport so there will be
"family and friends" at the airport needing to be informed as to
condition and location. There are also "family and friends" at the other
end of the flight who will be demanding information.
We are looking to find out who can help with this and I see it as a
chance to develop the methods we would use if the real thing would ever
occur.
I have invited the Red Cross contact (Brad Bryant of HP) to our cookout
Saturday.
Let me know who would like to participate and who would like to head up
the response, as I will be doing 12 hr days at Braidwood by then.


 

FOR SALE

ALINCO DJG1T 2M HT
 $115.00
Tx:  144 mhz - 148 mhz
Rx: Air and expanded UHF bands
1.5w (7.2v) or 5w (13.8v)
Includes:
Case, plus extra 7.2v bat (new)
Drop in Charger
Dry cell pack
Speaker Mike

Sale by:  Larry Mays KB9NPH - 827-8183

NEW CALLSIGN FOR SF CLUB STATION
Vanity callsign WX9WX issued to N1SF Radio Club for the State Farm
Illinois Regional Office amateur radio station which was issued KB9ZJY
through the "Club callsign program" administered by the ARRL. The vanity
callsigns were applied for directly, at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls using
Netscape 4.7 (required by the FCC) and JAVA, and paid electronically
($14)by credit card (128 bit encryption required for the secure link).
Time from application to issuance - 18 days.

73,

Gary -AB9M-

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)
Sep 16 (Peoria Superfest)
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.

AND YOU THOUGHT THE BUTTONS ON YOUR HT WERE SMALL


BIG BREAKTHROUGH IN TINY SWITCHES
Researchers at Hewlett-Packard were granted a patent last week for a
breakthrough in the quest to develop computer chips made of individual
molecules. HP's patented process could help create microchips as
powerful as next-generation silicon chips, but 1,000 times smaller and
less expensive. Parts of some molecules can be made to swing open or
shut, making the molecules themselves switches.

According to HP researchers Stan Williams and Phil Kuekes, molecular-
scale switches can be connected with chemical "wires" that are just 6 to
10 atoms wide. They've also found a way to make the molecular systems
run, even with the imperfections found in nature.

The patent was awarded to Williams and Kuekes for a chemical process and
computer program that create an order to the molecular system and enable
it to be mapped like a city grid. The map would let the brains of the
computer know where information is being stored.

"We think it's sort of the only serious solution so far that's
manufacturable," said Kuekes. "If this is to become a commercially
viable technology, we have to be able to do this on a mass-production
basis."

Visit http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20010726A3 for more information.


ROBO-FARM

Just watch out when they start using this method to drive the grain
trucks!

Technology is not only a major part of urban life - now it's made its
way onto the farm. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh has
developed the Demeter, a robotic hay harvester that may make farm hands
obsolete.

Demeter is a revamped Hollander 2550 Speedrower with a GPS sensor and
two color cameras for navigation and detection of cut and uncut rows. It
can plan harvesting operations for an entire field, then cut crop rows,
turn to cut other rows, reposition itself, and detect unexpected
obstacles in its path. The robotics researchers at CMU also want to make
Demeter even smarter by infusing it with the skills of an expert human
operator.

That skilled operator would simply have to harvest a field once,
allowing a lesser-skilled operator to play back the original "program"
at a later date. The Demeter is close to being commercialized by Case
New Holland, which plans to include the robotic technologies in their
new HW340 hay harvester. Eventually it will be part of Case New
Holland's complete product line.

Why the need for the robo-harvester? According to the CMU researchers,
"Human performance is a key limitation in the efficiency of harvesting."

Visit CMU at http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20010726A5 .


WEATHER FREQUENCIES
http://www.galstar.com/~kbrews/radio/il-e.html

  Illinois North and East

NOTE: When in doubt, try PL 107.2 on Chicago area repeaters
 
LOCATION            FREQ    DUP   NOTES

Belvidere           147.375  +    Boone Co.
Rockford            147.195  +    Winnebago Co. SKYWARN
Naperville          443.050  +    Naperville EMA (Du Page Co.)
                    147.510       Simplex, backup
McHenry/Crystal Lk  145.330  -    Mc Henry Co.
 ** Chicago             145.210  -
                    147.060  -    backup
                    147.060       Wx RTTY and emergency voice
 ** Chicago NWS         442.975       Net Coord NE Illinois
                    145.350       Net Coord NE Illinois
Libertyville        147.180  +    PL 107.2 Lake County ARES/RACES
Bolingbrook         147.330  +    Bolingbrook Skywarn
                                  Part of Wheaton multi-county
 ** Peoria              146.760  -    PL 103.5 Peoria County and
vicinity
(incl. Peoria Co.)  444.200  +    Areawide: multi-county
                    146.970  -    backup for 146.76
                    146.850  -    backup for 146.76
Lincoln             147.345  +    NWS Lincoln monitored
 ** Macomb              147.060  +    McDonough, Hancock Cos
  * Canton              147.285  +    Fulton County RACES
 **                     147.555  packet 16-county distribution point for
text
                                    of watches/warning messages
Metamora            147.270  +    Woodford County
Tremont             146.910  -    Tazewell County
 ** Wasco (Kane Co.)    145.470  -    Weather Net
                    146.580  147.66 Backup to 145.470
 


 Miscellaneous Public Safety Systems
  10-County Weather Net     45.560  Net Control is NWS Lincoln
    Counties are: Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Mason, McLean,
                Peoria, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Woodford.
  Winnebago Co. (Rockford) 155.115  County ESDA (and animal control)


Miscellaneous Public Safety Systems (Cont.)
LOCATION            FREQ    DUP   NOTES
 
                           154.130  Countywide Fire Dept Spotters
  Peoria County            154.295  Countywide WX Repeater
  Champaign County         155.040  County ESDA
  Tazewell Co. (Tremont)   155.820  County ESDA
  Tazewell Co. (Tremont)   155.070  Countywide spotters
                           155.820  backup for 155.070
 

  Illinois Statewide Systems:
    155.025 Emergency Services Mutual Aid Radio Network (ESMARN)
    155.055 Illinois Radio Emergency Access Channel (IREACH)
    45.440 Statewide ESDA Net
    42.500 Illinois State Police statewide car-to-car.  District
           offices transmit weather info/watches/warnings here.

 AM Radio
 WMBD, Peoria, 1470 kHz
 
 NOAA Weather Radio
162.400   Springfield, Plano
162.425   Marion
162.450   Odell, Newton
162.475   Oregon/Rockford, Peoria
162.500   Crystal Lake, Watseka
162.525   Paris
162.550   Rock Island/Moline, Champaign, Chicago
 
  Sources:  Jeff Schroeder, CRF_SCHROEJ@CRF.CUIS.EDU (10/92)
        Mark Baert, baert@fnal.fnal.gov   baert@fnal.bitnet (1/93)
        Phil Fleming, fcesda@heartland.bradley.edu (5/93)
        Jeremy Ruck, WW9C, ww9c@dave-world.net (2/97)
        Jerome C. Berryman, kermit140@juno.com (4/98)
        Michael Christman, mdxman@ntslink.net (5/00)
        Troy Christensen, KB9WAU, KB9WAU@aol.com (02/01)
        Matt, N9NPP, n9npp@n9npp.com (2/01)


kBrews Weather Spotting Frequency List

Western Illinois

 
LOCATION            FREQ    DUP   NOTES

Morgan Co.          146.775  -    Also Pike & Scott Co.'s
Greene Co.          145.23   +
  * Macoupin/Montg Co.  146.82   -    Macoupin/Montgomery Co. Primary
                    147.475  +    Macoupin/Montgomery Co. Alternate
                    145.23   +    Macoupin Co. Alternate
Montgomery Co.      146.82   -
                    145.23   +    Alternate
Christian Co.       146.955  -
  * St Louis-East       145.11   +    Metro-East Area/Monroe Co.
                    443.00   +    Metro-East Area
  * Madison Co.         145.23   +    Madison/Calhoun/Jersey Counties
Primary
                    146.79   -    Madison County Alternate
                    442.40   +    Madison Co. Command/Control Net
Greenville          147.165  +    Bond & Fayette Co.'s
                    146.415       Alternate, Simplex
Fayette Co.         147.165  +
                    145.23   +    Alternate
  * St. Clair Co.       147.12   +    St. Clair County Primary
                    145.11   +    St. Clair County Alternate
Centralia           147.27   +    Washington, Clinton, Jefferson Co.'s
                    145.11   +    Alternate
Marion Co.          147.27   +
                    145.11   +    Alternate
Perry/Randolph Co.'s147.09   +
                    145.11   +    Alternate
Jackson Co.         146.565  -
                    223.54   +


NOAA Weather Radio
   162.400   Springfield
   162.450   Jerseyville, Chester, Kahoka, MO
   162.425   Marion, Princeton, Hillsboro
   162.475   Hannibal, Salem
   162.500   Macomb
   162.525   Jacksonville, West Burlington, IA
   162.550   St Louis, MO
 
source: Mike Redman, KA0YXU / WC0AAF,  greetings1@juno.com (m g redmann)

 


Thanks to each of you who sent in suggestions for possible meeting
locations!  We have several.  Andy found us a room that will work out
well
-- I visited it Friday evening, and chatted with the captain while
there.
The room (address below) will hold 65 people, has tables & chairs,
rest rooms, A/V screen, etc.

Take College Ave. to Blair Drive.  Turn North next to the fire station,
and
as Andy mentions, please park in the lot on the North side (about 8) or
if
full, drive on toward the East and another 20 or so parking slots are
there.
If that is full too, there's a connecting driveway going a bit further
East
-- feel free to park in the church parking lot.

On the NorthWest corner of the building is a ground-floor door directly
to
the training center room -- please use this entrance, so we're not
disturbing anything going on at the fire station.

Please get this word out to all of your volunteers that will be
attending
our September 10 meeting!  Sorry for the change of location...

Also, by way of "good news", Andy Stubblefield has offered to take on
the
role of "emergency services coordinator" for the chapter.  He may be
recruiting some helpers in the near future, to make initial and/or
follow up
contact with airlines, airports, fire stations, ambulance units,
hospitals,
etc.