Static
The Starved Rock Radio Club newsletter
September 2001
Greetings, I have several items of interest to report on in the club
equipment agenda for this month.
Kurt, KB9RKU, reported that all club members with packet capability are
requested to check the clubs bulletin board packet station every 3-4 days, as
quite a few messages are being passed along from various stations. A big
thanks goes out to Kurt, as he has been spending long hours working on making
the clubs digital station into a top notch operational system for digital
communications. In addition, Paul Roberts, KA9VAU, has agreed to let the
club have use of a color printer that he currently owns. There was a request
issued last month for a color printer, to be used with the clubs digital
communication station. Thanks again to Paul for responding to that request.
Again, I urge any club members currently in possession of any club equipment
to at least notify me as soon as conveniently possible. I will be conducting
an audit of all tangible club "equipment" here in the near future, and all
equipment needs to be accounted for. The audit, expected to be quite
extensive, will be completed for presentation at the SRRC board of directors
meeting next summer. I would appreciate any assistance in conducting the
physical audit at the clubhouse, and may request we do some of the physical
inventory audits at several of the upcoming technical sessions this
fall/winter. Again, a reminder that if you borrow any club equipment for any
reason, please write your name and call sign on the dry-erase board at the
front of the meeting room, along with a brief listing of any equipment
borrowed. I need to have this information to coincide with the audit, so
that nothing is unaccounted for!
All other club equipment appears to be operating properly. I hope to see
everyone at several of the upcoming hamfests, and again later this month at
the open house/technical session. Starved Rock Radio Club - September 2001
Activities Report
The 2001 ARRL September VHF QSO Party will be held the second full weekend of
September. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday and ends 0300 UTC Monday (September
8-10, 2001). The object is to work as many amateur stations in as many
different 2 degrees x 1-degree grid squares as possible using authorized
frequencies above 50 MHz. Exchange of grid-square locator is required! For
more complete details, consult the August 2001 issue of "QST."
North American Sprint, CW contest, sponsored by NCJ, 0000-0400Z Sep 9 (local
time, Sep 8) phone is 0000-0400Z Sep 16 (local time, Sep 15). Sprints are
separate. 80, 40, 20 only. North American stations work everyone; others work
NA stations only. Exchange other station's call, your call, serial no., name,
and state/province/DXCC entity. 3.540 3.850 7.040 7.225 14.040 14.275. Work
stations once per band. QSY rule: Stations calling CQ, QRZ, etc, may only
work one station in response to that call; they must then move at least 1 kHz
before working another station or 5 kHz before soliciting another call. Once
you are required to QSY, you may not make a new QSO on the previous frequency
until you have made a contact at least 1 or 5 kHz (as required) away. Team
competition. Awards. Electronic entries accepted. Send CW logs to Mark
Obermann, AG9A, 6713 Forestview Lane, Niles, IL 60714; cwsprint@ ncjweb.com;
phone logs go to Rick Niswander, Box 2701, Greenville, NC 27836;
ssbsprint@ncjweb.com, no later than 30 days after the end of the contest
www.ncjweb.com/
The Chicago FM Club will host their annual Grayslake hamfest at the Lake
County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, IL on September 22-23; Saturday 8 AM to 4
PM, Sunday 8 AM to 3 PM. The fairgrounds are located at the intersection of
routes 45 and 120; I-294 N to Rte 120, W to Rte 45. VE sessions both days,
TI: 146.760 (114.8 Hz). Admission is $6.00 in advance, or $8.00 at the door.
Tables are $20.00 each. For more information, contact Gerald Spearman,
W9EG, 348 W Natoma Ave, Addison, IL 60101; 630-628-1501;
geraldspearman@msn.com or www.chicagofmclub.org
The next regularly scheduled monthly open house/technical demonstration
session at the SRRC clubhouse has been set for everyone Saturday, September
29th from 3:00 p.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m. The purpose of this event
is to foster operation of the clubs radio station, gather fellowship at the
clubhouse, and promote amateur radio to the general public. Thus, EVERYONE
is welcome and encouraged to attend this event. Joe, KB9EZZ, has scheduled
several special VE session at the next few open houses, so plan on bringing
someone to become a licenses amateur radio operator, or study and prepare to
upgrade your license! These open house sessions have tentatively been set
for the last Saturday of each month, same time and same place. Any further
information will be posted to the reflector.
CQ WW RTTY Contest sponsored by CQ magazine, 0000Z Sep 29 to 2400Z Sep 30.
80, 40, 20 15, 10 meters. Single op all band high or low power; single op
single band; single op assisted; multi-single high or low power; multi-multi.
W/VE stations send RST, state/province, and CQ Zone number; others send RST
and CQ Zone number. Work stations once per band. Score 1 pt/QSO with own
country, 2 pt./QSO same continent, 3 pt./QSO different continent. Multipliers
are states (48), provinces (13), DXCC/WAE entities and CQ Zones per band.
Final score is QSO points x multipliers. Awards. All entries must be
postmarked no later than Dec 1. CQ RTTY DX Contest, 25 Newbridge Rd,
Hicksville, NY 11801 USA; cqwwrtty@kkn.net.
The Starved Rock Cycling Association is having their Pumpkin Pie ride Sunday
September 30th from 7am to 3:30. A few of their members attended a bike ride
in Oregon IL and was impressed by the work of the Oregon Amateur Radio Club.
SRCA has asked SRRC to help during the Pumpkin Pie ride. The ride is just
that, a ride from the Peru YMCA and either a 25, 50, 75 and 100 mile ride on
the road or a 30 mile ride on the canal. Hams are needed at the Peru YMCA,
Tonica rest area (near ball diamond), Ottawa (Thornton Park) and 4 hams to
ride with drivers (SAG) who follow the bikers with tires, tubes and
assistance.
Joe (KB9EZZ) will be at the Utica rest area just off the canal and will try
to assemble a system, which can get into Ottawa/Leonore and run packet and
APRS to track the SAGs. Can we use this as our simulated emergency test?
Can we set up ARESDATA? Can we hit the phone patch from all along the track
(to summon emergency help)? Please let Joe know if you can help. (All
volunteers get a shirt and lunch); contact Joe (KB9EZZ) at 815-433-2347 ASAP.
A reminder that the ARRL's annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will be held
October 6 and 7, 2001, which is the first full weekend of the month. The SET
involves such groups as ARES, the ARRL NTS system managers, RACES, SKYWARN,
and many other agencies that work closely with amateur radio to host
simulated emergency scenarios to test the capability of operators, equipment
and overall response efforts. Look for more details in next month's report,
but be keeping the dates in mind!!
That's all I have for this month, but please post any activities additions to
the reflector if you have them.
73's
Jesse L. Risley - KB9TMA
SRRC Activities Chairman
Joe Tokarz, KB9EZZ, submitted this.
Special Event "W9P"
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2001
Time: All Day
Big Rock Plowing Match, Big Rock, IL "W9P" Special Event, sponsored by the
DeKalb County ARES Group. Sat. 15th and Sunday 16th. 7.108cw, 7.275, 14.275,
28.390 CERTIFICATE SASE 9x12 to Bob Yurs W9ICU, 1107 Commercial St,
Sycamore, IL 60178
Members are reminded that we are having another activity/operating/technical
meeting, September 29th from 3 to 9 PM if you have any activities you want to
include, talk to KB9TMA.
It was decided by the VE members that it was not feasible to have VE testing
on the same day as the tech session. The next VE session has been moved to
Monday the 17th.
Sept 30 is the bike tour. Further detailed info to follow.
We had great reports about the tech training CD that we purchased from the
ARRL.
Members who have packet capability were urged to check into the club BBS at
least weekly to check the mail and bulletins. There was no important
business transacted.
Static
The Starved Rock Radio Newsletter
October 2001
Not much happened. Very small turnout, only 12 members. There is another
tech session/open house set for Oct 27 at 3:00 PM. There will not be a VE
session this month. Oct 19-20-21 is JOTA. Look for info from KB9EZZ soon
for info on this event.
Matt, KB9VZH finally rec'd the contract from the Bureau City Ag Board.
The only problem is that it specifies that WE collect camping fees from
campers. The contract was signed with this in it, and apparently it was in
there last year too. The big problem is that we have advertised FREE
CAMPING, and this has been the long standing custom at our hamfest. We
could stand to loose $300.00 or more if the Ag Board wants the money.
The electric door lock quit working entirely, but after the meeting Cecil
KB9LNK took it apart and found the gears jammed, and other problems. He is
trying to fix it, and it looks like he may get it going. In the meantime,
the locks on the north door are going to be changed.
Videotapes and a CD are available for loan at the clubhouse for the ARRL
Tech training course. Be sure to sign them out if you borrow them. There is
also a laptop with Morse Academy in it to practice your code. We approved
buying three PL boards to mute the ids from the remote sites, as well as
providing PL access to the repeater if we need it, and filtering out some of
the "buzz" from those rigs that have the PL level cranked up too high.
Starved Rock Radio Club - October 2001 Equipment Report
There is nothing new to report on this month for equipment related matters. I
expect to get the equipment audit under way in several months, so again
please let me know if you are in possession of any club equipment, and
remember to leave your name, call sign, and equipment borrowed on the dry
erase board at the SRRC if you borrow any equipment from the club.
Starved Rock Radio Club - October 2001 Acitivites Report
The Illinois Valley Radio Association (IVRA) meeting will be held this
evening at the Hennepin Town Hall, in Hennepin, IL. Meeting begins at 7:00
p.m. sharp. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. A reminder that the
ARRL's annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will be held October 6 and 7,
2001, which is this coming weekend. The SET involves such groups as ARES,
the ARRL NTS system managers, RACES, SKYWARN, and many other agencies that
work closely with amateur radio to host simulated emergency scenarios to test
the capability of operators, equipment and overall response efforts. It does
not appear as if there will be anything conducted by SRRC, but keep an ear on
the radio for other area activity. The Streator Amateur Radio Club will host
their monthly dinner/meeting at Chippers' Grill, located on route 23 N in
Streator, on Saturday, October 6th at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome and
encouraged to attend, but please contact Jim Morris (N9PLM) at 815-673-1752
no later than noon on Saturday for a reservation spot. If you are unable to
make an advance registration, we do leave several extra seats open for this
reason! The next few dinner/meeting dates, unless otherwise noted, are as
follows: November 3rd / December 1st. Dinner/meetings are held on the first
Saturday of every month at Chippers' Grill, unless noted for holidays or
other special circumstances. Illinois Valley ARC hamfest in Beardstown,
Illinois will be held on October 7th, from 8 AM to 5 PM. The hamfest will be
located at the UFCW Union Hall Local 431, Arenzville Rd; ½ mile S of Rte 125
(across from Excel Plant). Swapmeet, vendors, VE sessions (by reservation
only; Tim Childers, KB9FBI, 217-245-2061; kb9fbi@arrl.net). TI:
146.715(103.5 Hz), 443.95. Adm: $3. Vendors must provide their own tables.
For more information, contact Butch Tritsch, KB9LZP, RR 1, Box 31B,
Frederick, IL 62639; 217-322-2803; bruce@jacil.org.The Decatur "Old
Fashioned Hamfest" 2001 will be held Sunday, October 7, 2001 in Decatur,
Illinois. For more information, contact Jerry Sebok, N9RBQ,
217-423-2095.Ten-Ten Day Sprint Contest, sponsored by Ten-Ten International,
from 0000-2400Z Oct 10. Single op; multiple station, single operator (club
station); single station, multiple operator (OM/XYL, family stations). AM,
FM, SSB, CW and RTTY, 10 meters only. Work stations once, regardless of mode.
Exchange call, name, state and 10-10 number (if member). Score 1
pt/QSO/non-members and 2 pts/QSO w/members. Final score is QSO pts. Awards.
Send logs by Oct 22 to Don Ward, W0RTV, 4514 Ferrer Dr, St Louis, MO
63129-3741. Email to donw0rtv@juno.com. For more information see
http://listserv.lehigh.edu/lists/tenten-l/rules.html.Centralia Wireless Assn.
will sponsor their annual hamfest in Salem, Illinois on October 13, 2001 at
the Salem Community Activity Center, Oglesby St; Rte 37 N to Oglesby St.
Dealers, vendors, tailgating, refreshments. TI: 147.270. Adm: $2 each or 3
for $5. Tables: $10. For more information, contact Daisy King, AA9EK, 776
Bethel Road, Sandoval, IL 62882; 618-532-6606; bking@accessus.net.The
Chicago ARC will sponsor their annual hamfest at Oakbrook Terrace/Chicago on
Sunday, October 14, 2001. Setup is at 7 AM; public 8 AM to 1 PM. Entrance
at Park View Dr, N from Cermak Rd (22nd St), 1 block W of Rte 83. Vendors,
tailgating, free paved parking. Adm: advance $4, door $5. Tables: free
space (bring your own tables). Contact Melissa Meneely, KB9QWZ, c/o CARC,
Box 410535, Chicago, IL 60641-0535; 773-384-7514; carc_inc@hotmail.com;
www.chicagoarc.com; or Dean, NB9Z, 708-331-7764.
he Lewis and Clark Radio Club will be sponsoring their annual hamfest on
October 20, 2001 at the Lewis and Clark Community College, River Bend Arena,
5800 Godfrey Road; on US Rte 67, 25 miles N of downtown St. Louis, MO and 4
miles N of Alton, IL. Indoor flea market, commercial vendors, ARRL booth, VE
sessions (all classes; pre-registration required for "no code" exams,
walk-ins allowed for all other exams; Richard Morgan, KF9F, 618-466-2306),
handicapped parking, free parking, refreshments. TI: 145.230. Adm: advance
$2 each or 3 for $5, door $3 each or 2 for $5. Tables: $10 (618-254-9465).
For more information, contact Dennis Hutchins, WA9RD, Box 553, Godfrey, IL
62035; 618-377-5033. dhutchins@msinet.com;
www.ezl.com/~lmiller/lcrc.html.Illinois QSO Party, sponsored by the Radio
Amateur Megacycle Society, 1800Z Oct 21 until 0200Z Oct 22. Phone and CW. No
repeater QSOs. 160 80 40 20 15 10 6 2 meters. CW 50 kHz up from the bottom;
phone 3.890 7.290 14.290 21.390 28.390; Novice 30 kHz up from bottom for CW.
IL stations exchange RS(T) and county; others exchange RS(T) and
tate/province/DXCC country. Count 1 pt/QSO on phone, 2 pts/QSO on CW. Work
stations once per band and mode, and once per band/mode/county for IL mobile
stations. IL 2/3/4 county border stations may count only 1 QSO (not 2/3/4)
per contact toward this extra multipler. IL stations multiply QSO total by
sum of states, IL counties, VE provinces plus a maximum of five DXCC
countries. Count additional DX for points, but not multipliers. Others
multiply QSO points by the number of IL counties worked. All stations may
take one bonus multiplier for each eight QSOs with the same IL county.
Awards. Send entries by Nov 19 to RAMS, c/o John Matz, KB9II, 7079 West Ave,
Hanover Park, IL 60103. http://www.megsinet.com/~jematz/rams.html.CQ WW DX
Contest, phone, sponsored by CQ Magazine, 0000Z Oct 27 to 2400Z Oct 28 (CW is
0000Z Nov 24 to 2400Z Nov 25). Exchange RS (T) and CQ zone. Classes: Single
operator all band/single band/assisted, high power/low power.