RADIOACTIVITIES Newsletter of the Argonne Amateur Radio Club
Volume XLII, Number 10	October, 2001

Two dozen or more hams per shift are covering communications and logistical support for the American Red Cross as well as supplementing communication for the New York City Office of Emergency Management. “It’s a great effort every day, 24/7, and it’s expanding as we get more requests.” A single, multi-purpose ARES/RACES net is being maintained on the 147.000 MHz repeater in Manhattan. New York City District Emergency Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer Charles Hargrove, N2NOV, is serving as the incident commander.

Hams are deployed to 13 American Red Cross shelters, two OEM sites, several staging areas, and Red Cross headquarters, and as not controls. At any given time, up to a half dozen amateurs are posted just outside the secure perimeter of the so-called “Ground Zero” World Trade Center site, where Carrubba described conditions as “terrible.” Volunteers there have been asked to provide respirators and other protective clothing. Shifts at all locations are 12 hours long.

Since September 11, more than 350 hams have volunteered in excess of 5000 work hours.

Carrubba anticipates the Amateur Radio support operations to continue for some time to come, since the normal telecommunications systems remain disrupted or problematic. “The communications in the shelter are being used like telephones,” he said. Telephone service is available, but it can take 15 or 20 tries to get a call through. Carrubba said net traffic has been substantial, although there are occasional lulls.

Many more volunteers will be needed before the ARES and RACES operation stands down “Right now our task is a long-term effort,” Carrubba said. “The schedule is being filled in on a day-by-day basis.” To date, more than 200 individuals have signed up via the World Trade Center Disaster Relief Communications Web site, http://wtc.ab2m.net.

In the meantime, REACT International is seeking additional Amateur Radio and licensed GMRS users, primarily to support the Salvation Army’s relief efforts in New York. ”We still need volunteers,” said REACT International Secretary Lee Besing, N5NTG, who added that some shifts on Wednesday went unfilled. “They’re burning out and having to return to their jobs,” he said. REACT is now running 20 volunteers per shift. Volunteers should visit the REACT International Web site, http://www.reactintl.org/tragedy_09112001.htm or contact Charles Bessels, NYCHelp@reactintl.org.

I never thought I would see so many people crowding into their respective houses of worship again, all the while praying for people they didn’t know except for the fact that those people were fellow Americans.

It was so very gratifying to see the President, Vice President, and members of the congress get together so quickly to act in our nations our of need. When the united congressmen stood on the steps of the capital and sang “God Bless America” I sang along with them at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard me. While I will always have a special place in my heart for Kate Smith’ rendition of “God Bless American” my new favorite is when those congressmen and women sang it that day in Washington.

I am proud of the amateur radio community in its’ swift and ready response to the problems in New York and Washington D.C. Even as this is written those hams continue to help with the disaster relief. May propagation be with them.

But there is one thing I wonder though and the more seasoned amongst us might be able to help me. Did the days following December 7th 1941 have any resemblance to what we are facing today?

Paul Fulk Jr, N8ITF, of Springfield, Tennessee, had first complained to Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative more than two years ago to get his noise situation resolved. After the company claimed it had done everything possible, the FCC’s Riley Hollingsworth advised the utility in June to get in touch with the ARRL. The ARRL convinced Cumberland to secure the services of Mike Martin, K3RFI, who operates RFI Services in Traceys Landing, Maryland. Martin was able to pin down the problems in fairly short order.

“As of today all interference has been cured,” Fulk recently reported to Hollingsworth. He credited Martin with “an exceptional job” in finding the interference sources.

Since coming to Headquarters in May, ARRL RFI Engineer John Phillips, K20AI, has been working closely with the Cumberland and other suspected power-line-interference situations. He says even some experts are easily befuddled while trying to pin down interference sources, but that Martin’s technique is nothing short of amazing.

“He’s almost supernatural in his ability to find line noise,” said Phillips, who attended Martin’s RFI seminar earlier this year. Phillips says line noise usually turns out to be the result of something that’s typically fairly easy and inexpensive to fix. “You just need to know the techniques,” he said.

Another recent case referred to the ARRL was resolved without heavy FCC pressure. Mark Mandolkern, K5AM, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, had reported noise apparently coming from lines operated by the El Paso Electric Company.

“We merely wrote a letter to the CEO of El Paso Electric — with a copy to Riley Hollingsworth — and it quickly trickled down to a local manager who called me with a real sound of apprehension in his voice,” Phillips recalled. Mandelkem wrote Hollingsworth August 14 that the company has been very cooperative and has begun work to completely rebuild a troublesome section of line.

In North Carolina, Jim Scholten, AD1V, had been frustrated by noise from Duke Power Company lines for several years. After a letter went out from ARRL to Duke Power — with a copy to the FCC — Scholten reported that linemen suddenly appeared at the suspect poles, and his noise problems abated. “It was impossible to make the power company do their job without you!” he wrote Phillips.

Amateurs suffering from interference believed to be emanating from power generation or transmission facilities may contact John Phillips, K20AI, rfi@arrl.org.

“ATV from the balloon was spectacular,” said Jack Roland, KE0VH. “It showed the balloon going through a snowstorm as it ascended through 25,000 feet, on its way to its maximum altitude of slightly more than 90,000 feet.”

Roland said the EOSS team had clear pictures throughout the entire flight. Future flights will incorporate a crossband repeater. For more information, visit the EOSS Web site http://www.eoss.org/index.html.

Jacobs will remain on the CQ staff as contributing editor emeritus. “George Jacobs is an institution at CQ and in Amateur Radio community,” said CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU. “Over the past 50-plus years, he has helped demystify propagation for amateurs around the world, and has a prediction accuracy record that can’t be beaten.”

Dayton Hamvention this year named Jacobs Amateur of the Year. An ARRL Full Charter Life Member, Jacobs was among the founding fathers of the OSCAR amateur satellite program and served as CQ’s space communications editor prior to the launch of OSCAR 1 in 1961.

Professionally, Jacobs was instrumental in building the Voice of America’s worldwide short-wave network as well as other shortwave broadcasting facilities.

The 1000-square-foot retail store and ham shack are in the lobby of the Ten-Tec manufacturing facility in Sevierville, Tennessee.

“We have a large, loyal customer base that we’ll be able to supply with accessories that complement our own manufactured equipment,” says Ten-Tec Amateur Radio Product Manager Scoff Robbins, W4PA.

“Equipment from more than 20 manufacturers is already in stock and available direct from Ten-Tec.” Ten-Tec is planning a grand opening celebration for its new retail outlet during the annual Ten-Tec Hamfest, Friday and Saturday, September 28-29.

Visit the Ten-Tec Web site http://www.tentec.com.

Stations who worked the AM Expedition to Thomas Point Lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay can now check whether they made it to the official logbook. A photographic OSL certificate will soon be produced. The QSL manager and other details are now posted at www.amfone.net/K3L

The club counts several ARRL staffers among its members. ARRL staffer Margie Bourgoin, KBlDCO, reports that as of the first week of August, the ARRL had received 175 QSL requests for two-way FM voice contacts, 49 for packet QSOs and 77 for listener reports.

Among recipients of the first NA1SS cards to be mailed was Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ, who worked Susan Helms (KC7NHZ) while he was at the WB9FDZ Field Day site.

“It’s fun to be part of a true ham radio first!” he said. US stations working NAlSS or RS0ISS aboard the International Space Station should send QSLs to Margie Bourgoin, KBlDCO, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required to get a QSL in return.

01		W9MKJ		Bill		Bartlett, IL
01		WB7NHS		Doug		Idaho Falls, ID
02		K9FAT		Jim		Romeoville, IL
05		KORTF		Bruce		Decorah, IA
06		W9KJA		Clem		Western Springs, IL
06		N7NHF		Robin		Idaho Falls, ID
07		WA9TLT		Clarence		Villa Park, IL
08		K9JON		Ronald		Glenwood, IL
11		WB9IRH		Howard		Western Springs, IL
11		W9GBL		Jim		Yorkville, IL
13		KB9CYL		Jim		Orland Park, IL
20		WB9PGO		Lewis		Glen Ellyn, IL
21		N9OA		Steve		Bolingbrook, IL
22		N9TEB		Jim		Willowbrook, IL
30		N7ATW		John		Shoshone, ID
31		N9JTV		James		Wilmington, IL

10. THE WILD YEARS - by Al Gore
  9. AMERICA’S MOST POPULAR LAWYERS
  8. DETROIT - A TRAVEL GUIDE
  7. DR. KEVORKIAN’S COLLECTION OF MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES
  6. EVERYTHING MEN KNOW ABOUT WOMEN
  5. MIKE TYSON’S GUIDE TO DATING ETIQUETTE
  4. SPOTTED OWL RECIPES - by the Sierra Club
  3. THE AMISH PHONE DIRECTORY
  2. MY PLAN TO FIND THE REAL KILLERS - by O.J. Simpson
  1. MY BOOK OF MORALS - by Bill Clinton

On a bright, beautiful Sunday morning, everyone in the tiny town of Johnstown got up early and went to the local church.

Before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in their pews and talking about their lives, their families, etc.

Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from the evil incarnate.

Soon everyone was evacuated from the church, except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew, not moving, and seemingly oblivious to the fact that God’s ultimate enemy was in his presence.

Now this confused Satan a bit, so he walked up to the man and said, “Don’t you know who I am?”

The man replied, “Yep, sure do.”

Satan asked, “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“Nope, sure ain’t,” said the man.

Satan was a little perturbed at this and queried, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

The man calmly replied. “Been married to your sister for over 48 years.”

WANTED: Almost any sort of amateur radio related Tube-Type radio gear which might yet be restorable and ultimately suitable for display. Numerous items to trade or will pay a fair price in cash. Also looking for keys, bugs, paddles, sounders, etc.

FOR SALE: 90-foot Rohn 25 tower. Many accessories, including rotor plate, fold-over base, anti-torque arms, tumbuckles, etc. $250

FOR SALE: Astron RS-70M Power Supply. Separate Amp & Volt meters. 57 amps continuous, 70 amps intermittent. Fold-back current limiting & crowbar overvoltage protection. $175. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

Ron Hensel, K9ZE, 630-365-0213 or k9ze@aol.com.