RADIOACTIVITIES Newsletter of the Argonne Amateur Radio Club
Volume XLII, Number 3	March, 2001

“We are the first to do a two-way QSO on LF across the North Atlantic as far as I am concerned,” Kayser said. “We are the ones who put the stakes in the ground; others will build on what we have done.”

The VA3LK-G3AQC contact began February 5 and was completed February 19 with the reception and confirmation of VA3LK’s report by G3AQC. Kayser said the participants agreed in advance to a “firewall” between them for the duration of the contact and that all QSO information was exchanged over the LF radio link.

Mayhead said it was clear from the outset that, because of the relatively short band openings, he and Kayser would have to spread the contact out over several days. “It was not easy,” he said. “I stayed up late most nights — 3 AM on one occasion — changed blown fuses in my transmitter six times, and reconfigured my receiver to include a narrow filter because of interference that was desensitizing it.” Kayser says he once had to climb the tower supporting his wire antenna in total darkness.

The UK has authorized amateur operation on 136 kHz, with special authorization and strict limits on radiated power. While Canada has not yet authorized general Amateur Radio operation on 136 kHz, Kayser and a few other Canadian amateurs have received special authorization to experiment there.

Reception of weak LF signals typically is done using spectrographic software like ARGO or Spectran. Signals are transmitted using dual-frequency CW — or DFCW — or very slow-speed CW, also known as “QRSS.” Using their particular brand of QRSS, Kayser calculated that it took nearly 70 minutes for him to send his call sign. “Certainly the information rate will improve,” he said. “We did the best we could with what we had to work with over the last two weeks.”

G3AQC and VA3LK were using a combination of commercial and surplus equipment at their respective stations. G3AQC estimated his effective radiated power at 350 mW, while VA3LK said he might have been at the 5 W ERP level.

In October 1998, the ARRL petitioned the FCC to create two amateur LF allocations at 135.7-137.8 kHz and 160-190 kHz. The FCC has not yet acted on the request.

The February meeting at the Argonne Clubhouse was a success with 31 different souls attending. The speaker gave a very informative talk and gave details on weather formation and what to look for in good detail. Sorry if you missed it but you will have to wait until next year to see the presentation again. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those that made the meeting possible: Deni, Dennis, Bill, Dale, Paul (our speaker for the evening) and Lou. I have to say it is so nice seeing the cooperation between club members in getting everything setup, hooked up, torn down then put away.

80% of the full members and 79% of the associate members have signed up for 2001. This is less than last year. Included with this issue of the newsletter are membership lists that consist of: 1) full list sorted by last name, 2) e-mail list sorted by call suffix, and 3) full list sorted by call suffix with addresses and phone numbers of the current members. It contains all of the members names that I show paid for 2001 as of February 21, 2001. If someone wants a roster sorted by name or any other field, just ask me for it and I’ll do my best to get it for you. Here is a rerun of the access codes for the repeater:

Please remember that you must ID before accessing the repeater for code practice. You don’t have to say what you are going to do, just your call will do. eg. 1) Key your transmitter, 2) wait for 3 to 4 seconds for the repeater to come up, 3) give your call, 4) issue the code to do what you want to do, & 5) unkey and listen for the acknowledgment (K).

ARRL Western Washington Section Manager Harry Lewis, W7JWJ, reports that some communities are without power. Telephone lines are jammed, and customers were being asked to not use their telephones.

District Emergency Coordinator Ed Bruette, N7NVP, was reported enroute to the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center. “State RACES officer Jim Sutton, WA7PHD, is NCS on the Washington State Emergency Net operating from the State EOC at Camp Murray,” Lewis said. ARES volunteers in King County were active on an emergency repeater net with King County EC Rich Hodges, KB7TBF, and Lt Russ Reed, N7NOV, of the US Coast Guard acting as NCS. Lewis said that several other county ARES nets were active as well.

“I am deeply impressed by the immediate response that occurred with hams coming out of the woodwork, just like it might have been planned,” Lewis said. He noted that Red Cross, with Amateur Radio operators assisting, was already doing damage assessment, and that a temporary 2-meter net was set up for that purpose.

Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network reports it is standing by on its net frequency of 14.265 MHz.

Due to postal considerations, this offer cannot be extended to those living in other countries. The special five-year membership offer expires June 30, 2001, the last day the present dues schedule is in effect. After that, annual dues will increase to $39 for individuals ($34 for those 65 and older).

Another option is to apply for an ARRL Life Membership for $850. Special discounts apply to senior and visually impaired applicants. A complete rate schedule and application form is available on ARRLWeb, http://www.arrl.org/join.html.

The system is comprised of a Commodore 64C computer, a micro log swl plug in cartridge decoder for rtty, a Commodore 1702 color monitor.

The only thing you need for it is a scanner or receiver that tunes 147.060 and plug the audio in from that to the decoder cartridge with a 1/8 in miniature phone plug. The decoder has a built in 14000 character receive message buffer from which you can later recall messages sent!

A Commodore compatible printer could be plugged in for hard copy if desired.

The system is in excellent condition with all manuals and instructions for $ 50.00. Contact Fred Propper at wb9vut@core.com e-mail, or phone is 815-436-8286.

By C. Ennit Meiwiegh

1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
2. Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING Conference: “The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.”
3. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
4. Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
5. “Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.”
6. Next Sunday is the family hayride and bonfire at the Fowlers’. Bring your own hot dogs and guns. Friends are welcome! Everyone come for a fun time.
7. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
8. The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus”
9. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
10. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons.
11. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing “Break Forth into Joy.”
12. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
13. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
14. Don’t let worry kill you off — let the Church help.
15. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
16. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
17. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
18. Eight new choir robes are needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
19. The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
20. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
21. The Lutheran men’s group will meet at 6 PM. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.
22. For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
23. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.
24. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
25. The church will host an evening of fine dining superb entertainment and gracious hostility.
26. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM. prayer and medication to follow.
27. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.