You really didn't need have to be Systems' Analyst to keep your PC
working, you just did it. You changed hard drives, memory, sound cards,
cd-roms, etc and installed a few, small programs & voila! After a little
while, usually, everything ran O.K.

If you have no experience with Win95, I'll tell you it's DIFFERENT than
3.1, especially when networked with a LAN. Plus all the new software
required to run in the new environment. While watching our Tech Support
'kids' install my software, I realized how far things have come with
today's achitecture & operating systems as he whizzed through 10
screens, logged into that node, clicked those boxes, hotkey'd, saved,
created shortcuts, logged out, backed out. Whew - made me tired just
watching him, not to mention depressing as I realized just how far
BEHIND I am. And I used to stay up with technology pretty well back then
(enter trip down nostalgia lane....And I used to be as smart as those
young whippersnappers...Let's see, is that a 1/2 wave or a 5/8?). But I
digress. Most young tech's I've known just change boards & throw the bad
ones away. One told me, "Like, who'd wanna fix that old board? Even if I
could, I wouldn't." (This proves we are in a throw-away technology age
today).

At least I can dwell for a moment & enjoy the fact that over the years
I've designed & built many digital, analog & computer circuits with
discrete components, TTL/CMOS/MCU/CPU Integrated Circuits and etc. many
of which are still working & in use today. And I've fixed my share of
radios and the like, too.

What you & I used to be able to do and encouraged to do in the business
sector now REQUIRES a Tech Support rep to upgrade your software, PnP
hardware, 'gen' your applications, setup your accounts, TCP/IP stacks,
node authentications, user privileges, passwords, drivers, network
interface cards, CAT 5 / 568B wiring, assign your printer queues and a
host of other foreign-sounding items they know how & are empowered to
do. We technical folks, who have done this for years, have, in a sense,
been put 'out to pasture' with the new technology regime. Seems like
every time I find something that should work and doesn't, I used to be
able to find it & usually fix it with no problems. Now, I hit the
proverbial Information Box, which says:

"Operation Cancelled - Your authority level prevents you from changing
these settings. Please contact your System's Administrator for
assistance."

Now, I just have to call the Help Desk & wait. Believe me, it's hard to
be just a user.

All the more reason that I hope all hams will keep up their technical
skills so we don't get "left behind" to the new kids on the block.

de Chuck / N9RZV

A computer was something on TV
from a science fiction show
A window was something you hated to clean....
and ram was the cousin of a goat.....

Meg was the name of my girlfriend
and gig was something you did on stage for money
Now they all mean different things
and that really mega bytes

An application was for employment
A program was a tv show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano

Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
and if you had a 3 1/2" floppy
you hoped nobody found out

Compress was something you did to the garbage
not something you did to a file
and if you unzipped anything in public
you'd be in jail for a while

Log on was adding wood to the fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
and a backup happened to your commode

Cut you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
and a virus was the flu

I guess i'll stick to my pad and paper
and the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
but when it happens they wish they were dead

-AUTHOR UNKNOWN

de Chuck / N9RZV

"Unfortunately I see them getting closed up electronically.  That is the
only real solution to solving jammer and trouble maker problems.  And so
I see a lot of systems that are probably going to go private.  And
either go private electronically or go closed all together.  Or both, a
combination of both.  And fancy systems, one step beyond even digital
PL."  Magosci

Magosci says it does not have to be this way, but only the FCC can
really end the problems that are causing repeater owners to close their
doors to all but the select few:

"When I got my license I was afraid of the FCC.  So boy, I'd be the last
person in the world to make a mistake on the air.  Transmit off
frequency or something.  Double check, triple check everything before
you push the transmit button.

But today I see that attitude is not with your average person that joins
ham radio.  They don't know who the FCC is.  We are the 25th priority
with them.  And until we get a good scare into us we're not going to do
anything better.  We are going to get sloppier and do it worse."
Magosci

Magosci says that tradition tends to guide longtime hams along the right
path.  He says however that newcomers do not have that guidance and
without FCC support things will not get much better.

(Via Newsline)

You can now file comments to the FCC by electronic mail.  The Commission
has instituted a form on its website where you need only fill in your
views and affix an electronic signature.  After that you can save a copy
as an ASCII text file before e-mailing it back.  The form and full
instructions are available at:

          www.fcc.gov/e-mail/email.html

(Via FCC release)

   Norm - N9ZKS

USE OF THIS GUIDE

The information contained in this special weather edition is provided as
a reference source to supplement any training which amateurs and ESDA
members have in case of severe weather. It is hoped that the information
will assist amateurs and ESDA members in case of severe weather.

    THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS WEATHER NET

The Central Illinois Weather Net is a organization to promote
cooperation between government agencies and local amateur radio clubs.
Its goal is to assist the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Illinois,
in providing effective severe weather information.

The total warning system depends upon everyone participating to see that
all the steps function rapidly and efficiently. Weather watching can be
very boring at times for observers and hectic for those in Emergency
Operation Centers(EOC)and the National Weather Service. Severe weather
is a highly changeable commodity and must be treated accordingly.

The Central Illinois Weather Net is an organization currently comprised
of 11 counties. It provides planning and information that will help all
organizations to work effectively.

The Eleven Counties are: Knox, Fulton, Schuyler, Stark, Marshall,
Peoria, Woodford Tazewell, McLean ,Mason and Logan.

DEFINITIONS

* A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH means that severe weather is possible within or
close to the designated watch area Meteorological conditions are such
that severe weather could occur, usually within a six to eight hour
period

* A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING means that severe weather has been sighted,
reported, or has been indicated as likely from radar reports and its
occurrence in the warning area is imminent Persons in this area are to
take immediate precautions.

RADIO FREQUENCIES

Amateur Repeater Frequencies:
The primary Frequencies are 146.790 for McLean Co., 146.760 MHz for
Peoria Area and Backup is 146.970 MHz (103.5 Hz CTCSS) ; Tazewell County
146.910 MHz; Fulton 147.285 MHz; (103.5 Hz CTCSS) Woodford 147.255 MHz.

ESDA frequencies:
Central IL Weather net - 45.56 MHz
Peoria County ESDA - 154.295 MHz
Tazewell County ESDA - 155.%20 MHz

 NET ALERT LEVELS
STAGE 1: READINESS ALERT is initiated when one or more of the following
conditions exist:

* A Severe Weather Watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center
in Kansas City for the local area
* A Severe Weather Watch has been issued for an adjacent are at that may
later result in a Watch in the local area

* Statements issued by the NWS office in Lincoln indicate that heavy but
not necessarily seven storms are approaching.

At the time a STAGE 1 ALERT is initiated, announcements of the status
will be transmitted on Governmental and Amateur Radio Primary and
Secondary frequencies. There is no need for clearing the Amateur Radio
Frequencies, but users should be aware of the potential weather
situation.

STAGE TWO - STANDBY ALERT is initiated when severe weather or
potentially damaging weather is reported in an adjacent area moving
towards, or within the Peoria Warning area

Operation of the WEATHER SPOTTER NET will be formalized at this time.
Communications not relating to weather should be directed through net
control or eliminated hen the Amateur Frequencies.

STAGE THREE - FULL ALERT is initiated when a WARNING has been issued by
the NWS in Lincoln, or when the Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) deems
it appropriate based on level of activity. Radio frequencies should be
kept clear for Emergency traffic only.
 
 

PLEASE REPORT DAMAGE - If a warning is issued by the NS for your area,
there should be damage. Try your best to find it and report it to the
Net Control Station for relay to the NWS. Include kind of damage, place
of damage, when the damage occurred, and who is reporting the damage.

WIND CLASSIFICATION

Below is the Beaufort Scale which permits estimating of wind speeds from
observation. It also gives the basis for converting wind descriptions
used in weather reports to wind speed equivalents, and vice-versa.

A CHANGE IN RAINFALL REPORTSSince the National Weather Service in
Lincoln, Illinois is now up and running WSR-88D Doppler RADAR), there is
no longer any reason to report the rainfall in "levels" as was done
previously to compare with the older RADAR units. Rainfall reports are
still important, though, and NWS has requested that spotters  now
report  the  following  measured  rainfall accumulation data:

When the rain from your area has accumulated an amount of 1.0 inches,
please report that data. Then, report accumulation data for every .5
inches thereafter. This information is valuable and serves two purposes:
   1. It provides ground truth to verify the rainfall products produced
by the Doppler RADAR.  These products can sometimes be contaminated by
hail causing overestimates of rainfall by the WSR-88D.
   2. Accurate rainfall reports of 1.0 inches and over allows the NWS to
make the threshold decision for the issuance of small stream and urban
flood statements. Further rainfall reports that total 4.0 inches or more
will provide information for issuance of flash flood warnings.

VOLUNTEER STORM SPOTTERS

The National Weather Service (NWS) has a number of devices for detecting
severe thunderstorms. Included in these are radar, satellite, and
lightning detection networks. However the most important tool for
observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the stem spotter As a
trained spotter, you perform an invaluable service for the NWS.  Your
real-time observations of tornadoes, hail, wind, and significant cloud
formations provide a truly reliable information base for severe weather
detection and verification.
   There are certain criteria far reporting severe weather Recall that a
thunderstorm is defined as severe if it produces a tornado, hail 3/4
inch in diameter or larger, and/or wind gusts 58 miles an hour or
higher.
   Report hail occurrences when the hailstones have a diameter of In
inch, and report wind gusts when their speed reaches 50 miles an hour.

                         Definitions

1. A Tornado - If the violently rotating air column of a funnel cloud
reaches the ground, it is called a tornado. An important point to note
is that a visible funnel DOES NOT have to extend to the ground for a
tornado to be preset. Instead, look for a rotating cloud of dust and
debris underneath a funnel cloud as evidence that the tornado's
circulation has reached the ground.

2. A Funnel Cloud is defined as a violently rotating column of air which
is not in contact with the ground It is usually marked by a
funnel-shaped cloud extending downward hen the cloud base (hence its
name)..

3. Rain - First inch and each subsequent 1/2 inch of measurable inch of
rain. This is the new way of reporting heavy min.

4. Thunderstorms - All thunderstorms, whether or not they become severe
must have three conditions present in order to form (1) Moisture in the
lower to mid levels of the atmosphere (2) Instability. If the air mass
is unstable, air which is pushed up ward by some force will continue
upward (3) Source of lift. Lift is a mechanism for starting an updraft
in a moist, unstable airmass. If the air has sufficient moisture and is
unstable, a thunderstorm may farm.

5. Wall Cloud - is defined as an isolated cloud lowering attached to the
rain-free base. The wall cloud is usually to the rear(generally south or
southwest of the visible precipitation area.) Wall clouds suggest
inflow/updraft maintain position with respect to rain and slope upward
away hen precipitation area.

6. Shelf Cloud signifies an area of downdraft and outflow. If a shelf
cloud is observed for several minutes, it will tend to move away from
the precipitation area

              TORNADOES
Tornadoes are short lived local storms, containing high speed winds,
usually rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. These are often
observable as a funnel shaped appendage to thunderstorm cloud On the
average, tornado paths are only a quarter of a mile wide and seldom more
than 15 miles, moving usually from the south, southeast or west at about
30 mph. (From NOAA & NWS )

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
All thunderstorms are capable of producing tornadoes. Strong and violent
tornadoes are usually associated with what are called Tornado
Thunderstorms. These usually are separated from other thunderstorms or
even may be isolated This separation allows them to feed upon warm moist
air from miles around Figure 1 is a representation of a tornadic
thunderstorm as a spotter might see it when located east of the storm,
moving west. This is a sideview of a supercell storm. The storm is
generally moving left to right. The main updraft of warm and moist air
is entering the cloud base below the main storm tower. Air in the upper
portion of updraft eventually be comes colder than the surrounding air.
At this level the cloud spreads out rapidly, forming an Anvil Cloud As
precipitation begins to occur, downdrafts are created.
Figure 2 is a view of the same storm and its associated weather from
above, looking down. The intense updraft, which is rising out of the
drawing, is located within the main storm tower as shown by the
scalloped lines in a semicircle surrounding the medium darkened area.
The downdraft air sinks to the ground in the area where precipitation is
falling, mainly to the north and northeast of the updraft A second
downdraft forms just southwest of the updraft This is the area, near the
intersection of the updraft and this "rear-flank" downdraft, where the
tornado is likely to occur. Large hail is likely to fall just outside
the upper draft core, mainly northeast of the updraft Tornadoes may also
form along the Gust Front and Flanking Line, these are usually weak and
short lived
 

CLUB JACKETS
. The jacket is the one a number of our members have. The most popular
color is bright red so that it is easy to see when we are working as
communicators. (It may also help us find each other at Dayton, although
I think wearing a bike fkag with our HT's antenna at the top would be
better for that.)
A picture of the logo is to the right.
I will order the jackets one week after I have enough orders to fill a
minimum order.  This is to make sure I don't have one or two members
waiting for a long time before I have enough demand to put in another
order.
 
 

Jacket with logo on back and Name  Call on front. $ 30.00

XXL size                   add          $ 3.00

XXXL size                 add           $ 5.00

If you want one of these jackets, send or deliver the size, name, color
wanted and call along with the money to  Norman Huber
or to the CIRC Post Office Box.