"Alaska QRP Club"
News Letter
First Edition
Table of Contents
-----------------
Letter From The Editor...
- Mailbag Feedback
- Alaska QRP Club Formed...
- AL7FS - Jim Larsen Works FSFD
- Product Review... Whiterook MK-44 Paddle
- QRP Reference List
- Alaska QRP Club Round Table Schedule
Letter From The Editor
.....Welcome to the first edition of the "Tundra Telegraph", newsletter of the "Alaska QRP Club"... This is an experiment in the delivery of a club newsletter via the very medium in which this group was spawned, the Internet...
..... My first inclination was to produce this newsletter in PDF format but the cost was prohibitive, even though the reader for this format is free... Straight ASCII text, which may be necessary for a select few, can be tedious... I realized that nearly everyone who joined this club did so through the use of an internet browser capable of at least displaying and using forms... Once this realization was reached it became clear that an HTML based newsletter was perhaps the best way to go... With its standardized HTML delivery and all the nifty new features coming available on the web, it should be a fun experiment...
..... This first news letter will explore the use of the simplest tricks available, graphics, with perhaps a bit of JAVA thrown in to spice things up... In the future, audio, video, who knows what we will see developed for our use in the near future... So sit back and enjoy this experiment... Let me know how it works for you... I am certain there will be a few folks who find this method unworkable... If this is the case for you, please let me know and I will try to accommodate you with a straight ASCII text version... There are a few members here in Alaska who do not have a phone, let alone the internet, for whom I will try to make a printed copy available... I do not want to get into the printed version to any great degree because that costs money and when that happens you know what comes next: "DUES."... We are trying to avoid that...
.....As with all newsletters we are actively looking for articles from our members and readers... Send your ideas and comments... Help make this your newsletter...
Thanks - Bruce - KL7JAF 
Mailbag Feedback
.....Since this is the first edition of the Tundra Telegraph, there has not yet been any feedback... Here are some of the comments received in your membership applications...
* * * * *
Hello Bruce,
I heard that you're club is up and running. I would love to become
a member and have your special Alaska QRP number here in New England! I can
spread the word...well, I can spread the RF. In any case, I AM HAPPY FOR
YOU GUYS UP THERE!
Dennis Marandos - K1LGQ
Editor - New England QRP Club newsletter
*****
Hello to Alaska QRP Club - nice homepage. If you have anything you would like me to publish
for my QRP Clubhouse column in the QRP ARCI QRP Quarterly I'd be happy to do so.
Cheers 73/72 Bob VO1DRB/WA6ERB
*****
Congratulations on the new club. I wish you well.
Grover
*****
As former managing editor of the QRPI's QQ I wanted to offer my support to your club. Good luck :) I hope to check in to the net soon :)
*****
A great web site, I have been a QRP'er for 20 years, my callsign
is in honour of Doug DeMaw who had a big influence on my Ham career, look
foward to meeting some of your members. 73 Glen Torr VK1FB
*****
Hope to QSO some KL7s soon!!
*****
I love QRP! I hope to someday work an AK station. Only need AK and HI for WAS.
Good Luck es 72 de Mark N2VPK
*****
I only work QRP and love it I use an ArgonautII and a homebrew vert
and indoor antennas.
Alaska QRP Club Formed
The Alaska QRP Club is a new organization designed to promote "QRP," or low power Amateur Radio operation... One of our major goals is to get more QRP stations on and active from Alaska... Our membership, however, is not restricted to KL7's only... From our beginnings of just a few short months ago, we have grown to over 75 members... Of these members nearly half are in the "Great State of Alaska"... Rounding out the membership are hams from 25 US States and more than 10 countries... Welcome to you all... We will be looking for you on the bands...
AL7FS - Jim Larsen
Works FSFD From Alaska Super Station
.....Jim Larsen - AL7FS - AK/QRP #003, participated in the FSFD (Fifty States in Fifty Days) activity on Saturday, the 26th of January... The object of this event is to make available to the QRP community all 50 States in the first 50 days of 1997...
.....Dan Robbins - KL7Y kindly donated the use of his "Super Contest Station" for this effort... Dan's antenna farm consists of stacked 5 element monobanders on 15m at 125' & 72'...The 20m antenna is a 5 element monobander at 125'... Dan has a 3 element beam on 40m at 125', slopers on 80m, and an inverted vee for 160m at 150'...
.....Jims QSO totals included: 31 States and 3 Canadian Provinces on 20m...2 States on 30m...12 States & 1 Province on 40m... There were no contacts on 80m...Totals included 32 States & 3 Provinces...Total operating time was 11 hours... Jim says that he felt things went really well for a first effort... Jim hopes to do some repeat performances if Dan is willing to have the QRPers over for another go at it...
.....I know that I speak for the entire QRP community when I say thanks to Dan for his generosity...
.....Thanks to Jim for a job well done ! ! !
Product Review
Whiterook "MK-44" Iambic Paddle
309 S. Brookshire Ave.
Ventura, CA 93003
(805)-339-0702
- Ultra portable and lightweight design is ideal for QRP!
- Overall Size: 2.0 x 2.4 x 1.5 Inches
- Dual Paddles for Iambic "squeeze Key" operation
- Weighs only 1.2 ounces.
- 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo jack output connection.
.....The Whiterook MK-44 iambic paddle is a miniature paddle just begging to be taken on your next trip to the field with your QRP gear... Its size and price make it perfect for Mobile and Field Operations... I use mine in the shack on a daily basis connected to my Sierra...
.....Construction is all plastic except for the contacts necessary to make the closures and the stereo phone jack... The contacts appear to be standard screws with an aluminum center post... No gold plate or silver here but I have only had to clean the contacts one time in six months... While not appearing overly robust it is well made and has held up well in my operation...
..... The size and weight of the paddle make using it a two hand operation... I filled the base with lead shot and epoxy to give it some table weight and found this to work well for me... I built small cardboard dams around the moving and electrical parts poured in the lead and epoxy and now have key that weighs about 8 ounces... In the mobile try Velcro hooks on the bottom with the pile on a knee board for one handed operation...
.....At $11.95 US Dollars postpaid in the US it is a good value... Whiterook also makes a straight key, single lever paddle, and what they claim to be the worlds smallest Keyer/Paddle... Take a look at their web site for a full listing of their products...
72 - Bruce - KL7JAF
QRP Reference List
.....Each edition we will give you some sites our members have found of interest to the QRP community... Check them out... If you find some good sites you would like to share, send them to us and we will get them in the next newsletter or on the AK/QRP Web Site...
* * * * *
.....If you are not familiar with the QRP-l reflector or the QRP-l home page, you should be !!!
.....The reflector will bring you 100 or so messages a day relating to QRP... The Who's Who of the QRP community can be found here... Check it out...
.....To learn more about QRP-l and lots of other good QRP information point your browser at the QRP-l Web Site... The Club Information section will guide you onto the QRP-l reflector...
80m/40m Round Table Schedule
Wednesday @ 2115 Alaska Time (Thursday UTC: 0515 UTC during summer months / 0615 UTC during Daylight Savings Time)
3.725MHz @ 2115 Alaska Time...
If no propagation on 80m try 40m
7.125MHz @ 2130 Alaska Time...
Sunday @ 2115 Alaska Time (Monday UTC: 0515 UTC during summer months / 0615 UTC during Daylight Savings Time)
3.725MHz @ 2115 Alaska Time...
If no propagation on 80m try 40m
7.125MHz @ 2130 Alaska Time...
.....This is a preliminary schedule that can be moved to the best days and times to satisfy the largest number in the group... Suggestions are requested...
.....We are thinking about putting a code practice session on the roundtable freq. for 30 to 45 minutes preceding the Round Table... This would not only give the Fairbanks group some local code practice, it would serve as a propagation beacon for the Round Table... Your input on this would be appreciated...
.....The "Tundra Telegraph" is the newsletter of the Alaska QRP Club... No item may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the Alaska QRP Club...
.....Please address any comments or questions to the "Alaska QRP Club"