October Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Carbon Amateur Radio Club will be on Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Nesquehoning. Lamar, N3AT, and George, N3SQD, will present a program on test equipment. See you at the meeting!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Bob, WB3W, on his appointment to EPA District 2 Emergency Coordinator! District 2 covers Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe and Schuylkill counties.

Also, congratulations to Brian, KB3KLJ, on his appointment as Carbon County Emergency Coordinator!

Amateur Radio Newsline

Just a reminder that Bob, WB3W, transmits the latest Amateur Radio Newsline on Monday nights at 8 p.m. local time on the CARC repeater. Check out this excellent service that Bob provides and hear the latest amateur radio news!

Carbon Amateur Radio Club Regular Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Rob, KB3BYT, at 19:43 local time.

In attendance were: KB3LFD, N3TVV, KB3MIS, K3QG, W3EFI, KB3KLJ, KB3GPM, KB3FSU, KO3M, KB3BYT, WA3IEM, and WB3W (12 in all).

The treasurer's report submitted by John, W3MF, was read by Brian, KB3KLJ, as follows:

Treasurer's Report

Previous Balance (6/16/05)	$867.13
Receipts (dues)	$0.00
Sub-total	$867.13
Disbursements ($5.18 newsletter)	-$5.18
New Balance	$861.95

A motion was made to accept the treasure's report and was seconded and carried.

Questions were raised about mailing costs. To Whom are we mailing? Rob, KB3BYT said that anyone with questions should ask John, W3MF for details of the mailing.

Brian, KB3KLJ read the 8/18 minutes. A motion was made to accept the 8/18 minutes, seconded, and carried.

Old Business

Rob, KB3BYT noted the visit by Carl Stevenson, WK3C to the club during the August meeting, and asked if the members knew what had been happening regarding the Atlantic Division Director position. Various members mentioned about Carl, WK3C being denied by the ARRL a place on the ballot because of a possible conflict of interest (he has a business that could possibly profit because of his being in the Director position). There was serious concern voiced by various members who are following the election about how the ARRL has handled this.

W3HA Repeater

Bob, WB3W announced the successful installation of the new controller. He was not able to parallel it, so it was cut in. Bob, WB3W also thanked Joe, KB3LYS for his help during the installation (including doing some weed and wasp whacking). Bob, WB3W also indicated that there were initially problems with the PL, but was able to get help from the designer. Also, we wanted to put PL on the transmitter: it's hooked up to transmit but isn't sending the PL right now.

Bob, WB3W also noted that we have a null in the pattern for the repeater. We can swing two of the four dipoles to eliminate the null, while losing only a few dB from what we have now.

Bob, WB3W also reported that we have received eight donations totaling $160 for the new controller.

Bob, WB3W shared that Echolink has been successfully brought up on the new controller, but there must always be a control operator for it to be active (currently Bob, WB3W, and Rob, KB3BYT have been handling these duties).

New Business

American Diabetes Association Walk

Brian, KB3KLJ reported being recently asked about providing Comms for this event again this year on 10/9 (a Sunday morning). Currently the belief is that three operators will be needed. Brian, KB3KLJ will get more info shortly and circulate that for anyone wishing to volunteer.

PA QSO Party

Rob, KB3BYT asked if we want to have a club site for the PA QSO party. Folks can do this from home and the club still gets credit. Kent, WA3IEM is willing to host if we have operators; a message will be put on the email reflector to see who may be interested.

EMCOMM

An EC is an emergency coordinator (an ARRL appointment). Bob, WB3W is the District EC, and has recommended Brian, KB3KLJ for the Carbon County EC position. He noted that we have a lot of work to do to get organized. Anyone interested in ARES needs to be registered; right now there is no one registered in Carbon County.

Bob, WB3W, found an EMCOMM course on the Internet. This is a free document, and Bob, WB3W will be scanning it as well as send out an email with the location of the document.

Bob, WB3W indicated that we are not ready to approach the county yet. We need to identify voids where we can help and support the county. Bob, WB3W is working on developing a form for people to register themselves and equipment.

As for the EMCOMM Coordinator position in the club, Bob, WB3W, shared that Bruce, KB3DZN is willing to step aside from the club position since he doesn't currently have the time to devote to it (but he still does want to participate in the EMCOMM activities and help out). The thought is to have Brian, KB3KLJ pick up that position; since it is expected that he will be the Carbon County EC, it makes sense to bring these together in the club.

There was further discussion lead by Bob, WB3W regarding ARES and RACES. Any licensed radio amateur can be part of RACES, but RACES operates under special rules, and can only be activated by a government agency. At this time once the EC appointment is official, Brian, KB3KLJ will work on getting people registered at the appropriate time for the appropriate groups.

Bob, WB3W also indicated that FEMA will be requiring NIMS-700 (National Incident Management System) training and certification for anyone to be involved in any kind of support role with the government. PEMA will be requiring this as well. This was motivated by the events of 9/11/01 and became official recently.

The meeting adjourned at 20:57 local time.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Brian, KB3KLJ.

Made A New Friend

By Larry, N3CR

Recently I went on hiatus to Fenwick Island in Delaware. In past years I operated from there as an IOTA station. Though not rare, a few stations including a couple DX from Europe took my info. Amazing sometimes what you can do with a dipole and 10m loop. I tried some 2m DXing on occasion only to have little response. Did better with a GPS radio - 15 miles over water. Actually did work a 2m cw station in Virginia Beach but that was the highlight. Last year’s VHF contest from there logged 3 stations - all on 6m. Trying to make contacts on 2m FM was near hopeless. The response was always "you must be new to the area and lost." On simplex, I was totally ignored like I was operating a dummy load. "Charlie Radio - and his name isn't even Charlie" was the usual response. I was advised unless you have a world-renowned or ARRL recognized callsign, you calling efforts get little response. And so has been the case.

I looked around the neighborhood and low and behold I spotted two antennas I did not see in the past. "Andy" lives across the canal to the bay from us. I spotted two wires, wash line style, strung across the very top of the roof of his modular house. He had a system with switches that he could use the antenna as a 20m loop or as kind of an end fed line. It turns out to be a really great SWL antenna, big signals received on his R7000, his favorite radio. He claims to be a real Kenwood guy and has owned several in the past. His current rig is a TS-570SG. He also has a TS-820 he struggles to keep operating. The lights and displays are a problem. Says he just couldn't come up with the money for a TS-2000 just yet but it is coming! He made a few calls to demonstrate his station and although the receiving was excellent at the time, his signal reports weren't all that great. As it turned out, he was right when he said he doesn't talk on the air much. I think his pet parrot gets more "air time" than the semi-retired OM. He does handyman stuff around the little trailer park, modular home, beach house community. He says he decided to put the wire up after watching me struggle with a 6m loop last year. No large antennas like a tribander would be allowed here but wires that are not obvious are tolerated.

Down the street further, I found another ham much by accident. A tree branch, from the recent hurricane passing, brought down one end of the multi-dipole hidden in the trees at the edge of "Jake's" property. He was very much retired, hoping to do little more than hang out on the island and watch the surfers, especially the young bikini clad ones. He claims you can tell where we are in the sunspot cycle by checking out the swimwear. The more skin you see, the further down the cycle you are. And he may be right. There wasn't a whole lot left covered up. Computers are a curse. If he ever got a glitch, he would call on his grandson to straighten that "dern CPU out. Whatever that is." Icons are his lifesaver. Never a contester, his years as a ham only ever got him a General license. Formulas and theories were just too hard to understand. Now tubes, oh yes, he could give you the whole history on them. He has a story of keeping the shack warm with his Globe King and Hammarlund HQ-145XA and talking all night with his friends in Philly. He retired from the Naval Ship Yard. The Delaware County boys would hold down the frequencies until the Southerners took over. Just talks to his old friends anymore, some who maintain contact on 20m and live in the Orlando Florida area. Jake claims they can live in trailers in the "hurricane landing zone."

Both guys impressed me. Andy was just happy to spend time listening to everything he could find on the radio but did like talking to DX stations on 15m / 20m, mostly with a hidden dipole. "They have to call CQ first." He kept a log on the computer with notes of the QSOs but also kept a date/time/frequency paper log "just in case." Neither claimed to be a typist and keyboard cw was a definite no-no. There is only one way to send cw - pound brass. I decided to show them some neat digital forms of ham radio. They were both happy to know someone who knew a little about computers. First, showed them color SSTV. Even I don't use some of the new formats and it was a new adventure for both of us. By hooking the computer to the earphone jack we were able to easily get some perfect pictures. They both had seen demonstrations but never could manage this in the shack. Jake's only complaint is the "noise" between descriptions of the pictures. Some of them were "real honeys."

Next was a demo of PSK31. Andy could not understand that you don't need to actually hear the station, just click on the "waterfall" graphic. A guy from the local radio club will help him get it to transmit but for now just receiving something was great. "These computers really are good for something." I tried to explain how the DX Clusters work but they didn't really want to hear that. If he couldn't hear them, then they weren't out there and why post something you can't hear. If everybody could hear them, then it was ok. I was told in the old days you had to "earn" that DX QSL card by hunting and having a good station not by buying an expensive radio and maximum power sounding like some broadcast station. Jake thinks Andy "is a lug" because it is hard to get him into a long conversation or argument. However, when we were about to leave, I heard locals telling them to find a new simplex frequency on 2m. They were tired of hearing them discuss PSK and SSTV, things they have done for years. They were a little grouchy but found a "new home" on .58. Andy and Jake are now searching 20m 15m and 10m for new PSK frequencies, hoping to find one of their old friends gabbing on the keyboard. Looks like they are well on their way to logging DXCC on PSK. Neither go to the local club meetings. They don't understand much of what they are talking about and most is about VHF and UHF. But the club members seemed willing to get them active on PSK and hearing them try something new. Andy and Jake say they are always ready for emergencies but "are just too old". An emergency to them is to find the restroom door locked, "dern wind musta got it again." The island will never be the same again…Maybe next year I will take my satellite stuff down and play...73s de Larry N3CR

Amateur Radio Antenna “CC&R Bill” Reintroduced in Congress

(From the ARRL Letter)

New York Congressman Steve Israel has reintroduced legislation that could make it easier for radio amateurs living in communities with deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) to erect suitable antennas. Arkansas Congressman Mike Ross, WD5DVR, signed aboard as an original cosponsor of the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act" (HR 3876). ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, attended Israel's public announcement of the bill September 19 on Long Island.

"Unfortunately if all new housing developments contain deed restrictions forbidding outside antennas there will probably come a time when there will not be enough ham radio operators to help their neighbors and countrymen," said Fallon. He believes Israel's bill will help to ensure that Amateur Radio will continue to be able to provide emergency communication should a disaster occur.

Fallon, who heads up the League's grassroots lobbying initiative, noted the bill's introduction comes in the immediate aftermath of positive media coverage of Amateur Radio's response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He was on hand for Israel's public announcement, which took place at the home of ARRL New York City-Long Island Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D.

The one-sentence measure is identical to the text of the CC&R bill that has been introduced in the last two sessions of Congress: "For purposes of the Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna structures in the Amateur Radio Service (47 CFR 97.15), any private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a state or local regulation and shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as a state or local regulation." The measure would put private land-use regulations, such as homeowners' association rules, on the same legal plane as state or local zoning regulations under the FCC's PRB-1 limited federal preemption. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, this week encouraged League members to write their elected representative and ask that they cosponsor and support the bill, especially given two hurricane emergencies in short order.

"Amateur Radio is certainly a part of this nation's communications infrastructure," Haynie said. "What we're asking for is just a fair shake so we can put up antennas and help our fellow citizens." While the League has ramped up its efforts to educate members of Congress about Amateur Radio, Haynie said lawmakers respond best to individual members. HR 3876 has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Information about the bill and a sample letter to use when contacting your representative are available on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr3876/.

In his formal announcement this week, Israel said that "often unsung" Amateur Radio volunteers were instrumental in helping residents in the hardest hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, including saving stranded flood victims in Louisiana and Mississippi.

"State and local governments, as well as disaster relief agencies, could not possibly afford to replace the services that radio amateurs dependably provide for free," said a statement from Israel's office. "However, the hundreds of thousands of Amateur Radio licensees face burdensome regulations that make it extremely difficult to provide their public services.”

ARRL Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Propagation Forecast Bulletin 41 ARLP041

From Tad Cook, K7RA

Seattle, WA September 30, 2005

To all radio amateurs

Average daily sunspot numbers dropped over the past week by over 16 points to 29.7. Solar flux values were down 20 points to 80.2. The week was quiet, with no geomagnetic storms. September 26-28 had the most geomagnetic activity, but it was all pretty mild. The K index for middle latitude and planetary readings only went to 3 or 4 on occasion and quickly dropped back to 2.

The forecast for the next few days, September 30 to October 2, is for low sunspot activity. The next peak of activity may be when sunspot 798 returns, currently on the Sun's far side. That activity should peak around October 14-16. The geomagnetic prediction for this weekend is for mild to unsettled conditions, with the planetary A index for September 30 through October 3 at 15, 15, 12 and 12. Prague Geophysical Institute predicts quiet conditions for October 5 and 6, quiet to unsettled conditions October 3 and 4, and unsettled conditions September 30 through October 2.

Brandon Duke, KC0UWS says he is still working 10 meters successfully from Colorado into South America, with only 25 watts and an indoor isoloop in his apartment. Around September 20-23 he worked Brazil, Belize, Costa Rica and Argentina among others, all with S8 signal reports. 15 meters is still good as well, and open more often than 10 meters. Doing a path projection from Dallas, Texas to Brazil over this weekend with a sunspot number of only 22 shows 15 meters opening strongly from 1530-2300z. Signal strengths should be better toward the end of that period.

The West Coast also looks good, with 15 meters probably open from 1630-2400z toward Brazil from Seattle. Move east though, and the opening tightens a bit. From Cleveland, the opening isn't as strong and probably only runs from 1630-2000z.

Allan Greening, VK3PA said he has worked 250 countries on 80 meters from Australia over the past three years. You can see his notes on DX worked at, http://www.vk3pa.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=1.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, [email protected].

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. An archive of past bulletins is found at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Sunspot numbers for September 22 through 28 were 28, 49, 33, 28, 25, 23 and 22 with a mean of 29.7. 10.7 cm flux was 83.7, 82.8, 81.4, 81, 81.3, 76.9, and 74.6, with a mean of 80.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 8, 4, 5, 14, 13 and 12 with a mean of 9.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 5, 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12, with a mean of 6.7.

ARRL DX Bulletin

DX Bulletin 39 ARLD039

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington CT September 29, 2005

To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by 4X1VF, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST. Thanks to all.

ISRAEL, 4X. A group of operators are QRV as 4X7AZ from Akhziv Island, IOTA AS-100, until October 1. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via 4Z5LA.

MAURITANIA, 5T. Jean is QRV as 5T0JL and has been active on 80 meters around 0500z. QSL via ON8RA.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Abdullah, A61Q has been active on 30 meters around 1530z. QSL via EA7FTR.

SPAIN, EA. Operators ED5MDT, EDD5PSG, ED5PSM, ED5PSR, ED5PYP ED5TCG, ED5TIF, ED5TII and ED5TSJ will be QRV as ED5TH from Tabarca Island, IOTA EU-093, and as ED5TIF from the Tabarca Lighthouse, ARLHS SPA-136, until October 2. They will also be active using their own calls. QSL via operators' instructions.

REUNION ISLAND, FR. Serge, F6AML is QRV as TO5R until October 23. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW and SSB. During this time, he plans to take a side trip to Mayotte where he will be QRV as TX5M from October 10 to 14. QSL direct to home call.

JERSEY, GJ. Ramon, XE1KK will be QRV as GJ/VE7RKK on October 5 and 6 on an FM LEO satellite. QSL to home call.

GUERNSEY, GU. Prior to his Jersey stop, Ramon, XE1KK will be QRV as GU/VE7RKK on October 3 and 4. He will be active on the HF bands and satellites. QSL to home call.

WALES, GW. Special event station GB5SIP is QRV from Flatholm Island, IOTA EU-125, until October 2 to celebrate the 100-year centenary of Cardiff City. QSL via GW0ANA.

KURE ISLAND, KH7K. A number of operators are QRV as K7C from Kure Atoll, IOTA OC-020, until October 6. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via K4TSJ.

GREECE, SV. Geza, HA4XG will be QRV as J43XG from Rio from October 1 to 15. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters, including the newer bands and 2 meters, using CW, SSB and FSK441. He is here on holiday, so his operating time is during early mornings and evenings. QSL to home call.

CRETE, SV9. Stephan, DK3TNA is QRV as SV9/DK3TNA until October 12. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home call.

PALAU, T8. John, WB6Z is QRV as T88US until October 2. He may also be active as T80B. Activity is on all bands. QSL via operator's instructions.

CANADA, VE. Mike, VE6AO is QRV as CK6AO to celebrate Alberta's 100th anniversary, and can often be found on 20 meters using SSB. QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The TARA PSK Rumble Contest (The Fall Classic), Oceania DX SSB Contest, International Hellschreiber Contest, EU Autumn SSB Sprint, California QSO Party, PRO CW Contest, UBA ON SSB Contest, RSGB 21/28 MHz SSB Contest and the German Telegraphy Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see October QST, pages 99 and 100, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

Third-Party Traffic

By Paul Dunphy, VE1DX

One of the Local QRPers was along the other day, this one with a look of concern in his eye. "I have been thinking about DX nets, and I believe they are illegal," he said, sitting down and looking us right in the eye. "Some things never change," we replied confidently, "and there have been arguments for and against lists since the Early Days of DXing. They have been called cheating, spoon-feeding, immoral and a dozen other things, but love them or hate them, if they were illegal, they wouldn't exist." Of this we were confident. The argument over DX nets never ends. Like the Energizer Bunny, it goes on and on and on!

Just as we were sure we had headed this one off, the QRPer threw a fly in the ointment. "That's what I thought," he replied, "but there is a fundamental FCC regulation that will have every net controller issued a citation and if they continue to run their nets, they will eventually lose their ticket! And I believe it's as solid as the rock of Gibraltar."

We had to know more, for this appeared to be a new spin on an old story. "What reason have you found?" we asked. The QRPer was quick to reply, "Part 97.114 of the FCC regulations. This prohibits third-party traffic with those countries where a third-party agreement is not in existence." Son of a Gun! This was a new one . . . we'd expected a variation of the old standard about giving the 'last two' as beginning a transmission without your whole call. So we simply nodded to the QRPer and said "Tell us more."

The QRPer was happy to comply. "It makes perfect sense. Let's say a DX station from a country with which we do not have a third-party agreement checks into a net. A station from ZA, for example. This is fairly common, right?" We had to agree that this happened a lot on nets. "OK," the QRPer continued, "now the net controller makes a list of stations wanting to work this DX." We nodded in agreement. "When the net controller runs the list, he always says something to like, 'AB, make your call' and the station ending in AB sometimes says 'Sorry, but I've lost propagation. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow night.' You must have heard this sort of thing." We had to admit that when we had listened to DX nets, it was not uncommon for a station on the list to lose propagation after the list had been taken. We still were confused at the possibility of a violation, so we asked the QRPer to explain what was illegal about this.

"Nothing illegal yet," the QRPer continued, "but invariably the net controller will then call the DX station, the ZA for example, and say, 'ZAxxx, sorry, but yyyyAB says he has no propagation at this time." We looked at the QRPer and said nothing as he continued on. "Now, it seems to me that this is a case of the net controller passing traffic, in this case a message of no propagation, from the stateside station ending in AB to the DX station in Albania. And since the US and Albania have no third-party agreement, is the net controller not in violation of part 97.114?"

We had to think about this, because the QRPer was starting to make sense. The more we thought about it, the more we were convinced he might have a point. On the other hand, why hadn't this question been asked before? Maybe it had, and we just hadn't heard the answer. So we looked at the QRPer and said, "Have you asked around about this?" He replied, "No, I haven't yet, but I intend to find out. Should I call the FCC and ask them?" We scratched our head for a moment and then replied, "No, we wouldn't do that. It may be better to ask the experts. Why don't you check in to one of the 20-metre nets like the one on 14.227 MHz or 14.247 MHz and ask one of the net controllers. They will likely have some thoughts on the matter that will clear this all up. They might even have some advice for you."

"Good idea!" the QRPer answered and he was off to the shack, sure that a solution to his dilemma was only a question away! As for us, we went into the shack and set the VFOs for the net frequencies. We had planned to go to the DX Club meeting with the Old Timer, but we decided to see what was happening on the DX nets . . . sometimes you will find a new one when you least expect it!

Helpful Hints

Increase the life of your carpets by rolling them up and keeping them in the garage.

Shallow Thoughts

Why can’t women put on mascara with their mouths closed?

October 2005

Amateur Radio Antenna “CC&R Bill” Reintroduced in Congress

ARRL Propagation Forecast Bulletin

ARRL DX Bulletin