The Airwaves September 2005 SIERRA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB An ARRL Special Services Club -- RACES -- ARES -- P.O. Box 1442, Ridgecrest, California 93556-1442

BOARD	President	Bill Burns	WA6QYR	375-8566
	First VP	Paula Herr	N6VGW	375-5324
OF	Second VP	Gene Brewer	KI6LO	446-1315
	Secretary	Tom Ingram	WB6EPD	375-7950
OFFICERS	Treasurer	Pam Evans	KC6UUS	375-4240

SARC Owned and Maintained Repeaters

Randsburg WA6YBN 145.34 MHz (-600 kHz), PL 100.0 Hz, Wide Area Coverage, Emerg. Pwr. Ridgecrest WA6YBN 146.64 MHz (-600 kHz), Translator, No Squelch Tail, Emergency Power Ridgecrest WA6YBN 147.00 MHz (+600 kHz), PL 107.2 Hz, Autopatch, linked to 145.34 Ridgecrest YBNBBS:WA6YBN, 145.050 MHz, Bulletin Board, 1200 Baud Ridgecrest #YBNSW:WA6YBN-4, 223.580 MHz, Node, 1200 Baud Ridgecrest #YBNSW:WA6YBN-4, 439.025 MHz, Node, 9600 Baud

SARC Committees

Technical Assistance: Greg, WA7IRW 446-4383	Public Relations: Paula, N6VGW 375-5324
Program: Gene, KI6LO 446-1315	Airways Editor: Mike, WA6ARA 275-5324
RF Interference: Bill, WA6QYR 375-8566	Emergency and Public Service: Jerry, KK6PA 446-2228

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THE AIRWAVES CALENDAR

Every Monday Night ARRL Audio News 1910 (7:10 p.m.) on 146.64 MHz SARC Net - Visitors Welcomed! 1930 hrs (730pm) WA6YBN Translator 146.64 MHz (-) Sep 10 Scout Show (see article inside) Contact Bill WA6QYR 375-8566 Sep 14 SARC General Meeting ARRL Section Manager Presentation Charles McConnell, W6DPD (See article inside) Sep 17 Fox Hunt (Details inside) Sep 24 Kiwanis Walk-a-thon 7:00am to 11:00am Contact Greg, WA7IRW 446-4383 Oct 1 Pile-Up In The Park (See article inside) Ridgecrest to Kernville bicycle ride Contact Elvy Hopkins N¯LV 384-3589 Oct 15 Jamboree-On-The-Air will be happening at Pearson Park on October 15 from 9 to 3 pm. SARC will demonstrating Amateur Radio to the scouts. Contact Bill WA6QYR 375-8566

AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMS Second Sat, Even months Oct 08 Volunteer License Exam Sessions Kern County Library Ridgecrest Branch 131 East Las Flores Ave. Meeting Room Pre-register by 05 October. All must sign in at 9 am. Code test 11 am Contact Elvy N0LV 760-384-3589 E-mail Dates for the rest of the year are: 08 Oct and 10 Dec

Welcome back to the end of Summer/ School beginning time of the year. I hope you like a number of people made it out of the valley for a vacation to a "green area" of the world. I was off the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The place is nice and green with trees all over. The problem was at the end of July and early August that part of the world is hot and humid. 100- degree temperatures and 90 plus percent humidity was a real killer for everyone. I was part of the Radio merit badge booth for the Scouts. Amateurs from across the country came to provide program for the Scouts. The K2BSA staff of 50 provided an Amateur Radio Demonstration tent/ emergency back up communications for the Jamboree. There was a staff of 6 covering the licensing classes and VE sessions. I had a staff of 18 to put on the Radio Merit badge booth. Lots of work for two and a half weeks living in tents, but it was all for the benefit of the Scouts who came from all over the world.

SARC has been invited to put on the mobile radio demo station at the Scout Show on 10 September at Wal*Mart from 10 to 2 pm. Again a chance to bring Amateur Radio to the public and youth. Jamboree-On- The-Air coming on 15 October is another opportunity to bring both Scouts and Amateur Radio together for some fun. SARC has been asked by the Southern Sierra Council of Boy Scouts to bring the mobile station to the Camporall on 21-23 April 2006 at Keysville (Lake Isabella). More opportunities to get Amateur Radio in front of the community. We need to get more youth involved in the hobby of ours before it goes away with us graying hobbyists.

Bill, WA6QYR

From the Editor... Bill is featured in CQ magazine August 2005 issue Bill is featured in page 2 (the table of contents), page 64, the "Beginners Corner" column, titled "Two's a couple; 30's a club" and page Bill page 66 giving a talk at the SBMS about a 10 GHz rig.

The June 8, 2005 board meeting was called to order at 1905 hrs. Those present: Pres. Bill Burns (WA6QYR), 1st Vice Pres. Paula Herr (N6VGW), 2nd Vice Pres. Gene Brewer (KI6LO), Treas. Pam Evans (KC6UUS), Airwaves editor Mike Herr (WA6ARA) and Secy. Tom Ingram (WB6EPD). There was a discussion on the 146.640 translator. A new battery is needed to get the translator back on the air. A 440 link is needed to provide proper control of the translator. A discussion was held on a donation to the Spectrum fund when the ARRL Section Manager is here in September. There was a discussion on the video projector that the club borrows from the United Way. Pam will look into painting the SARC sign located at Lloyds. Bill will check into buying a commercial sign for under $100.00. The board approved the purchase. The meeting was adjourned at 1920 hrs.

The 8 June 2005 meeting was called to order by the President, Bill Burns (WA6QYR) at 1932 hrs at the Heritage Inn. The Sign-in sheet was started around.

Announcements:

   1. 50/50 tickets were available.
   2. The Treasurers Report is in the newsletter.
   3. There were no visitors.
   4. The Technical assistant, Greg Roush (WA7IRW) just 
returned from a sailing trip.
      No technical assistance has been requested but Greg 
gave a presentation on antenna construction and 
displayed an assortment of MFJ analyzers.
   5. SARC members are encouraged to join the DX Club 
for the Field Day event. The location will either be at the 
Senior Citizens Building Park or at the Inyokern Park.
   6. There will be a VE session this Saturday.
   7. A discussion was held on the 146.640 translator. It 
needs a new battery, a 440 link for control, solar power 
and other upgrades. A motion was made to spend up to 
$500 with board approval. The motion was seconded and 
approved.
   8. A discussion was held on a $500 donation for the 
  Spectrum Defense League in September when the ARRL 
  Section Manager is here. A motion was made, seconded 
  and approved.
   9. Bill will look into getting a vinyl sign made for SARC.
  10. Jerry Brooks (KK6PA) talked about batteries
  11. Pam Evans (KC6UUS) provided cookies.
  12. Phelps TerHeun (W6PTH) provided the program on 
  the Visalia DX convention.
  13. Keith Clark (W6SIY) won the 50/50 again.
  14.  15 people signed in for the meeting.

Draft Account	$ 604.00
Share Account	$ 5,544.89
BALANCE:	$ 6,148.89

QRZ QRZ de SARC members, Wow where did summer go. It's September again in the valley and that signals the start of the SARC fall meeting schedule. We hope to have an interesting lineup for the remainder of 2005. To that end, the Sept 14th meeting will kick off with a special guest speaker, Mr. Charles McConnell, W6DPD of Fresno, CA. He will speak on the ARRL organization and what it means to individual members and hams.

Mr. McConnell is the Section Manager (SM) for the ARRL's San Joaquin Valley (SJV) section, which encompasses Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne counties. The SJV section covers a vast portion of central California.

What's a SM, you ask? Here are a few facts about SM's:

First, the position of SM is voluntary. They are elected by the ARRL membership for a term of 2 years and required to participate in a Section Manager orientation training session that is conducted by ARRL Headquarters.

Their tasks are wide, encompassing various management, supervision and guidance of section-level staff to administer the ARRL Field Organization's efforts. These include but not limited to emergency communications, message traffic relay, technical activity / problem solving, volunteer monitoring, government relations, public relations in the general community, information services for amateurs, and cooperation with affiliated clubs. They can also appoint qualified ARRL members in the section to other volunteer positions in support of Field Organization objectives or may authorize other section-level staff to make such appointments. In order to perform such involved tasks, SM's must keep well informed concerning matters of ARRL policy.

SM's report to the Division Director making periodic reports regarding the status of Section activities. SM's receive from the Director information and guidance pertaining to matters of concern and interest for the Section and maintain a Section News presence on the ARRL website.

The SM's also communication directly with ARRL members and affiliated clubs in the Section, responding to members' questions and concerns or referring them to an appropriate person or office in the League organization. The SM's also makes personal visits to clubs, hamfests, and conventions.

So as we can see the job of SM is a very complex but I'm sure it is also fun. Mark your calendar to be sure and attend the Sept monthly meeting to hear all about it and other facts about the ARRL Field Organization. Who knows, you may have what it takes to join in and help out in a Field position. See you at the meeting.

Gene KI6LO
Program Chairman

Scout Show
The Scout Show will be held 10 Sep next door to WalMart 10am to 2 pm. We will be demonstrating Amateur Radio and Radio merit badge to the people and scouts attending theshow. Volunteers are needed, Contact Bill WA6QYR 375-8566

Pile-Up In The Park
This sixty-mile bicycle ride from Leroy Jackson park in Ridgecrest to River Park in Kernville on Saturday, 1 October is sponsored by the High Sierra Cyclists of Ridgecrest. Yes, the name was changed from Picnic- to Pile-Up in the Park. Also, this year there will be riders starting at the top of Walker Pass which will increase our task of keeping track of riders' location on the course. Eight Hams are needed to provide communications at the start, finish and six water stops. Contact Elvy Hopkins NØLV at ehopkins@ridgenet.net or 760-384-3589.

Check ins

		June 27   - 12
		July 4    - 5
		July 14   - 14
		August 8  - 15
		August 15 - 14
		August 22 - 13
		August 29 - 11

June 2005:
Aaron Waite Earned new Tech License. KG6ZPK
Examiners were:
N6BVP Mark
W6SIY Keith
WB6EPD Richard

August 2005
Marvin Sass W6DSL Upgraded to Extra.
Aaron Waite KG6ZPK Upgraded to General.
Phillip D Burum Earned a new Tech.
Philip Storch (age 11) Earned a new Tech.
Examiners were:
N6BVP Mark
KM6JM Hal
N6PR Bill
WB6EPD Richard.

The next Fox Hunt will be on 17 September (Saturday after the SARC club meeting) at 9am. The meeting place is the parking lot of the Heritage Inn. If you have never been on one before, give it a shot. Even if you don't have equipment come along and ride with one of the hunters with equipment and learn the ropes. See you there!

I was one of the 50 staffers on the K2BSA/4 operation at the 2005 Jamboree. 49 guys and one lady maintained the operation of the Amateur Radio Demonstration Tent, Amateur Licensing Session and Radio Merit Badge booth for the little over a week that the Scouts were at the Jamboree. There were several days before hand when we had to be present to set up the operation. This made for just over two weeks of living out in tents in the hot humid Virginia weather. Hams from all across the country assembled at Fort A.P. Hill about 50 miles south of Washington D.C. to support the Jamboree.

The Demo tent receives the loan of top of the line transceivers from companies like ICOM to demonstrate to visitors to the Jamboree what hams can do. There are mono-band beam antennas on power poles for 40 meters up to 6 meters. A satellite system and digital mode station are available to show off those modes. A "Mars Rover" radio control car with ATV is fun for the Scouts to play with while driving around all the ankles of people. The station is in operation 24 hours a day during the Jamboree. Phone service is available to reach emergency and security folks at the Jamboree. An evening 2-meter net links all the troops who have someone with an HT to the rest of the troops. Message traffic both to the scouts and home from the scouts is available at the demo tent and net. Each evening weather reports and other information of interest to the scouts is relayed over the net.

The VE sessions were lead by daily morning license classes and afternoon practice testing and Q&A sessions. VE session in the evenings were available to get the tech license or upgrade. Some 256 tests were given and 116 number of tech were earned along with 2 general upgrades and 5 extra upgrades.

The Radio Merit Badge classes ran from 9 to 5 pm with starting on the hour for each part. Requirements 1 to 4 on theory were covered in one session of about 45 minutes long. Paperwork with Scouts ID number and merit badge counselor name had to be made out along with our own hometown info sheet. Our laptop computer program let us keep track of Scouts as they went through the various sessions. Session 2 covered the practical part of requirements of 5 and 6 in about 30 minutes. The amateur radio option 7a and tour of a station was completed at K2 BSA Demo station in about 30 minutes. During the tour of the station Scouts were allowed to make and HF contact with a control operator at one of the rigs. All in all it took 2.5 hours to complete the badge at the Jamboree. 486 scouts started the badge and 329 completions for 68%. The other 157 received partials for the badge. The hot heat index weather kept a lot of Scouts from coming out and working badges.

ARRL Senior Technical Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B author of many of the licensing books and Handbook was on hand to help in all areas of the K2BSA work. Larry, a friend of WA6QYR, carried many ARRL books to the Jamboree for the Tech No-code classes and general support. ARRL supported Larry's duties by allowing him to come on the payroll.
WA6QYR

Bill Maraffio N6PR has been an Indian Wells Valley resident since 1972 when he came to NWC and became a US Navy bigger-'n-better-bomb-maker. He is leaving the area for Virginia where his wife, Kenea, is working for the U. S. Marines and they have purchased a second home.

Bill has always been an active Ham and a solid source of accurate electronic and RF information for anyone who asked. He has been instrumental in keeping the SARC 146.64 MHz translator operating. Bill became the IWVs first lead Volunteer Examiner in 1985 and continued that task until recent out of state obligations of an aging mother in Idaho and a second home in Virginia interfered with his VE work. At this time he passed the torch to Mark Rosenthal N6BVP.

Bill sold his home in Ridgecrest which meant his three towers had to be taken down and removed from the property. I purchased his Hy-Gain AV-18HT five band vertical antenna and three section crank-up tower. The 18HT Bill took down and we moved it ourselves.

The crank-up took a crew of twelve Hams to move. To assemble a tower moving party, I made a list of twenty- three names, called sixteen, got nine yes, two maybe and five can't do it answers. At tower moving time, ten tower lifters showed up and the job was done with aplomb. Thank you to Mike Herr WA6ARA, Gene Brewer KI6LO, Keith Clark W6SIY, John Denson AI6A, Todd Evans W6TOD, Ralph Frasier KQ6UU, Frank Gonseth WB7UBP, Greg Roush WA7IRW, Ed Hinkley WK6L, and Dick Slater KC6UUT. Thanks a bunch to these heavy lifters.

Farewell to you Bill. We wish you well in your adventures in the heavily populated and very wet, very green (and very buggy) east coast of Virginia.

Elvy Hopkins NØLV

Yep, the FCC has finally released it: Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (PDF) concerning dropping the 5 WPM Morse code element. The document in question is WT Docket 05-235. Despite all the changes originally proposed, i.e. new entry license, band expansion, grandfather upgrades, etc, the FCC only is proposing dropping the 5 WPM requirement. A 60-day period for the public to comment on the NPRM&O in WT 05-235 will begin once the notice appears in the Federal Register Reply comments will be due within 75 days.

To file on-line comments in this proceeding, WT Docket 05-235, or to view others' comments, visit the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) site and click on "Submit a Filing" or "Search for Filed Comments."

In either case, type "05-235" in the "Proceeding" field. Be sure to include the hyphen--but not the quotation marks. Directions for filing comments, which can be in the form of an attached document, are on the ECFS site. Click on "Getting Started" to learn more.

And some light humor...
Two antennas meet on a rooftop. They fall in love and end up getting married.
The ceremony was not that hot but the reception sure was good!

SARC members, Here is a list of equipment and parts that was donated to the club for sale/use/disposal from Jeff Eaton K6IDP via Elvy Hopkins. Most of the equipment is older gear but is still useable. Some of it has been checked out, some not. If the equipment has been checked over, the status of it is listed. If not, it will say not tested. Here is a chance for you to get some really nice gear for next to nothing. Listening experimenters?

All dollar prices are based on eBay and Internet listings for last month or two. If you are interested, take a look and if you like it, buy it or make a counter offer if you feel it is too high. Remember it all goes to the SARC.

Heath Kit Cantenna Dummy Load with oil, Used, make offer
Miscellaneous metal chassis, Make Offer
Green case with some sort of 3-axis G recorder (12v motor), Make Offer
Home made cw keyer in nice box (key tube type rigs.), Make Offer
Jensen speaker 12 inch P12-rx, Make Offer
Tuna Tin CW crystal transmitter QST type, Make Offer
Military audio oscillator 1940-50s 100 Hz to 32 MHz (big box) SG15A/PCM, Make Offer
Frequency meter 1940-50s with frequency list up to 10 GHz (big box) TS-186 UP, Make Offer
Many boxes of electronic parts (50's-80s), Make Offer

Larson 2 mtr mobile antenna, NLA-MM magnetic mount + NLA-150 tunable whip, Make Offer
Butternut RMK-II roof mount kit for HF6V thru HF9V multi-band vertical Antennas, New, in original box, Make Offer
Hy-Gain Penetrator CB or 10M 5/8 wave vertical antenna, Missing minor hardware (nuts, bolts and clamps), Make Offer
J Beam Antenna 15 element, 2M dual boom, single driver Yagi, Nuts/bolts missing, Make Offer
US Army box of misc. guy wires & special hardware, Obviously for some specific purpose, Make Offer
Butternut HF-3B or HF-4B, 2 element, small sized, HF antenna Seems to be complete and usable, Partially disassembled, Make Offer
Set of Hy-Gain 5BDQ-S traps, Make a 95" HF longwire(?), Make Offer
2 mtr J-Pole w. chain bumper mount, Rough, needs electrical repair, Make Offer
Mobile vertical whips 4 ea. & J-Pole materials. Misc whips and materials good for J-pole construction, Make Offer
Small lot of misc. antenna parts, tubing and construction materials, Includes good start on 5 element 2mtr portable Yagi, Make Offer
US Army collapsible, adjustable UHF ground plane antenna, Needs new coax, Make Offer

Yaesu FT-101-EE HF tranceiver with manual all in original box. Tunes up on all bands, 65W out on 80-15, 50W out on 10M. clean, could use an alignment, possibly new finals (2x6JC6) $200
Hallicrafters SX-71 general coverage / HAM band receiver with original manual, AM Broadcast works but dial needs calibration, rest of the bands make noise but need alignment - CW tone control modified with knob missing, power supply wiring modified for homebrew 100kc calibrator (included). Probably will need alignment and tubes checked/replaced? $75
Hallicrafter R-46 speaker 500 ohm for SX-71 $20
Gonset Commnicator III 2 mtr AM tranceiver, 2 FT-43 crystals and power cord. I downloaded schematic and manual. Found 2 cables disconnected internally to XMITTER - not tested electrically $45
Gonset 6 & 2 mtr converter, Clean with NO burned components. Suspect it should work but no manual or schematic - no info - No Model number on unit - not sure how or if it works with Communicator III unit or if working at all, Make Offer
Drake 2 C HF Hamband receiver with original manual (80, 40, 20, 15, 10), 100kc calibrator loud on 80M but barely heard on 40M, not at all on 20, 15 or 10M - suspect needs alignment $100
Military O'scope, No AC pilot light on power up - no schematic or manual -manual with unit is a primer on using oscopes, not specific to this unit, Make Offer
Military Receiver Not tested. Take a look at it. Make Offer
MFJ 564 CW Paddle, Chrome (Bencher BY-1 clone) Works, looks new $30
Icom 2AT hand held, manual, hand mike, AA battery pack Intermittent PLL lock. Works ok when PLL is good. Freq accurate and On-The-Air check was good when PLL stable. $20
PakRatt packet interface with some cables Works to PC, radio interface not tested. $35
Military surplus 60W/15W wattmeter/52ohm dummy load, Measures 57ohm and compared to Bird 43 at 40w on 14.200Mhz, surplus meter shows 54 watts. Can be aligned in back of meter housing, $45
Heathkit 1M-11 VTVM with leads Works but needs cleaning / tubes checked $20
MFJ HF Wattmeter with Cross Needles 20/200/2000W, Works, accurate to <1% of Bird 43 wattmeter comparison $35
Henry Radio 2M amplifier Spec'ed at 1 to 5W in, 30 out. Measured 40W out with 2W in. 5W was overdriving so this would be a good amp for a small HT., $35
General Electric (antique) clamp-on AC volt/current meter, Measures AC/DC voltage/current Good condition with leather case, Make offer
TS-352U VOM 5kVDC/10AMP, Uses flat BA-31 battery. Can be fudged. Good condition, Make offer. Military desk mike (1943) with telephone type mouthpiece, Make Offer

Updated Sat Sep 24 19:13:48 PDT 2005