April 2003
February, March
THE SQUELCH BURST
a monthly publication of the
STAMFORD AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION
President .......… Andy Laska .............. KA1SLG ........ 531-9493
Vice
Pres .……..Fred Cunningham...... K1FC …......... 322-8274
Secretary .....…. Mike Cordelli .....…... N1FOA .…..... 838-3661
Treasurer ...…... Dick Finn .…..............WA1VUU ..... 323-0982
Trustee
.......…... Jim Markus ... ........... N1ZFS .......... 316-8585
Editors
.......…... Marv Fleischman ...... N1AWJ ....….. 438-7889
Mike Cordelli ........... N1FOA .....…..
838-3661
Dick Finn ..................WA1VUU …... 323-0982
Y.O.J.B.
Ed..…. Marv Fleischman .... N1AWJ ...….... 438-7889
Circ/Pub..…...... Dick Finn ................. WA1VUU …... 323-0982
Repeaters: W1EE/R........
146.055 in; 146.655 out (PL. 1Z, 100Hz)
W1EE/R.... 442.125 in; 447.125 out (PL. 2A, 114.8Hz)
Internet Home Page at: www.qsl.net/w1ee/ctsara.htm
Yearly membership $20.00 ($ 15.00 for retirees, senior members over 62,
$10.00 for full time students, members under 16 years of age and members living
over 100 miles from Stamford; $20.00 for family memberships.) This
includes a copy of the club bulletin and a copy of the club roster. Send your dues, membership applications, etc. to the club Treasurer, Dick Finn,
WA1VUU, 27 Ivy St., Stamford CT 06902.
Non-commercial ads are printed in the SQUELCH BURST on a no charge basis, club
members only. Send your ads for Ye Olde Jonque Boxxx and articles for the
SQUELCH BURST to Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, P.O. Box 113, Ridgefield, CT
06877-0113, or e-mail to n1awj@ att.net.
Unless noted, meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month in the 4th
floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center, Tresser and Washington B'lvds.,
Stamford, CT. Meetings start at 8:00 P.M. Free parking in the
Government Center garage with the entrance on Washington B'lvd. Directions / Map
The Stamford Amateur Radio Association is a tax exempt organization under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code. By-Laws
TREASURER'S REPORT AS OF 13 MARCH, 2003
INCOME
EXPENSE
Dues
50.00
Phone
51.80
Repeater Fund
30.00 Repeater
1270.73
Postage
37.00
______
________
Totals
$80.00
$1,359.53
Balances-Checking $1,090.77 Savings $2,986.72
(Balances include Repeater Fund as of 3/13/03 $2,287.00)
De Dick, WA1VUU
ASK ELMER Ask
Elemer Archives
Dear Elmer,
Field Day is coming up and I am a devoted environmentalist. I have been thinking
of various methods of powering my QRP rig from natural, environmentally friendly
sources. I can think of solar and wind power, but do you have any
suggestions for a reliable power source?
Signed, Earthy
Dear Earthy,
There is a vast source of environmentally friendly energy that has remained
untapped, but which has the potential to supply a
reasonable amount of emergency power in times of need. I have to admit,
that until recently, I was unaware of the potential of this power source, which
has been available for far more years than amateur radio has been around.
The main stumbling block has been the interface between the power source and the
equipment it is meant to power. Advanced technology in the processing,
storage and distribution of power sources has come to the rescue. A
primary requirement is to understand the sources method of power generation and
its inherent distribution. Using this knowledge, we can design an
appropriate method of extracting, storing and distributing this power in the
most reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly manner. It is
interesting, that during WW II, the military made use of remotely related, but
environmentally friendly, method of powering a radio transceiver. The method that I refer to is the use of a hand powered
generator used to supply power to a low power radio. One soldier would have the
task of cranking the generator while another operated the radio. As I said, this
is only remotely related, but you will see the connection (no pun intended, but
if it works, why not). Another consideration is the method of containment
and source of fuel for the power source. A significant amount of thought
has to has been given to this problem, and I feel that a reasonable solution has
been found. I don't think it is an optimal solution, but with the
increased use of this source, undoubtedly improved methods will emerge.
The power source in question produces a rather varied amount of electrical
energy, depending upon its state of excitation. At minimum excitation, it
produces a potential of about 25 to 40 volts at a pulse rate of 1 to 5 per
second. At maximum excitation, it produces a potential in the order of 500
to 700 volts at a pulse rate of 100 to 200 pulses per second. As you can
see, the power does vary considerably. Some method of storage and stabilization
has to be employed to make it a useable power source. Fortunately the
concept of a universal switching power supply has been used to power laptop
computers for several years. These supplies operate over a voltage range
of 80 to 270 v ac or dc, but with appropriate changes in design, can be made to
handle the wider range from our power source. As to the storage, a
lead-acid, nicad or any rechargeable battery would do that job nicely. As
you can see, a reliable and continuous power source is quite practical. Even
though the power source is a pulsating DC, I would retain the capability of
handling an AC source, so that the polarity of the primary power source would
not need to be considered. As far as fuel for the power source, it is
natural, organic, fully bio-degradable, with no fossil fuel or synthetic fuel
ever being used. To contain the primary power source, I would recommend a
tank, at least 4 ft long and 2 ft wide containing at least 50 gallons of salt
water, many salt water loving underwater plants. These plants should generate a
reasonable amount of Oxygen into the water, as that is necessary part of the
fuel required by the primary power source. A set of stainless steel
electrodes, made from stainless screening, spaced about 3 feet apart
connected to the input of the switching power supply. The screening should have
large enough spacing between the wires to allow the solid fuel to pass through,
but contain the primary power source. The wires should also be
insulated and water resistant. The solid fuel should be dropped into the
tank between the electrode and the tank wall and allowed to drift through the
electrode screen as needed by the primary power source. When power is
needed, the solid fuel is just dropped into the tank, and power will be
generated to charge and maintain the battery charge. Periodically, spent
fuel will have to be removed from the tank, but over a 2 day period this
probably would not be necessary. If the tank were made of a transparent
material such as Lucite or glass, you could watch the primary power source in
operation. Once done with the need for the power source, one can
display it in your home, as it would be of some interest to your friends and
family. Actually, you would be one of the only ones in your neighborhood
to have such a display, and it would always be ready for the next
emergency. Were you to have several of these power sources, you could set
up a QRP contest station, with one on every band. You would not have to
rely upon commercial power at all for your operation. It presents quite an
attractive alternative to what we are generally used to.
Well, Earthy, you are all set for field day or any other emergency situation.
Let me know how it works out for you.
73, Elmer
PS. I forgot to mention that the primary power source was an Electric Eel.
73 and Happy April Elmer
Send your questions to Ask Elmer, c/o Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113,
Ridgefield, CT 06877-0113 or email to [email protected]
.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Looking for volunteer amateur radio operators to provide communications
for a major national bicycle race, of approximately 120 miles in length, going
around Lake Candlewood, with start and finish in downtown Danbury, on
Sunday May 18. Event is sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Tourism
Office, a state funded non profit organization and local chambers of
commerce to promote tourism in this area. Detailed maps are available by
calling 1 800 841 4488 and asking for HVC maps...and full detailed race
information is also available on the internet at Spartacycling.com.
For further information, please contact Herb at or call
1 203 748 8909.
The Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club (GNARC) will be helping
with this same bicycle race on May 18 (Sunday) from Calf Pasture Beach in
Norwalk. The start time is 8:00 am. This is a all day affair. They will need 20
plus operators to work 2 shifts. Contact: Toy: [email protected]
EMPIRE SLOW SPEED NET
Join the Empire Slow Speed CW Net every evening on 3590
KHz at 6PM local time. CW speed is between 6 and 8 wpm. A great way
to improve your CW proficiency and learn net operation. Joe, W1LUH is one
of the rotating Net
Control stations.
YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX
ICOM IC-2AT 2m HT w/Charger, Batty., & SS-32MP micro-min. CTCSS Encoder kit,
VGC, $100; Simpson 260 VOM, VGC, $50.
Call Geoff, N1CAT, (203) 966-7444 evenings
HALLICRAFTER SX-28A RECEIVER, recapped, $275. Works good.
Call Joe, N1GWO, (203) 322-4061 Evenings
PARTS GALORE- Xerox 3000 Word Processor (antique) w/transformer,
p/s, etc., connection to Diablo printer. FOR FREE!!! Take it away!
Call Mike, KA1VWP, (203) 838-8089
AOR 1000 XLT, 1000 Channel HH Scanner, 5KHz to 1.3 GHz cont. coverage.
Exc. cond. $ 275.
Call Rick, N1LYK, (203) 531-1756
YAESU FT-757 GXII, HF Rig, FP 757 HD Power Supply, FC 757 AT Tuner
and MD 1B8 Desk Mike.
Call George, N1HIX, (203) 357-1879
Mac Laserwriter printer, best offer.
Call Jeanine, KY1Q, (203) 324-6865
FOR PARTS..Olevetti Accounting Machine. FREE!!!!! Take it away!!!
Call Marv, N1AWJ, (203) 438-7889
HD-73 ROTOR w/CONTROL & CABLE, $50; Cushcraft 10-40M Vert. Ant., $15;
Heathkit Station Monitor Mod. 614, $50. 2 South Bend 7.5 HP
Go-Cart Engines. Call for Info.
Call Irv, N1ATS, 348-3425 or e-mail
2M 30W AMPLIFIER, $25; 6M Amplifier, 10W in 150W out, $175: AM6155 2M SSB
Amplifier, 8930 Tube based, Cavity Tuned, 400 W Out (not
cont. duty) $325.
Call Andy, KA1SLG, (203) 531-9493
MFJ ANTENNA TUNER A-1 Cond. $100; Cushcraft R4 Ant , New, $25; ¼ ? Mag.
Mt. Ant., $12; ? ? Mag. Mt. Ant, $15, ? ? Trunk Mt. Ant.,
$10; Measurements Grid Dip Meter, $25; HP Signal Gen.; $15; Code Pract.
Mach., $15
Call Milt, K1DLT, (203) 324-2723
MICROTEK SCANMAKER, Flat Bed Scanner Mod. E3 w/cables, software and ISA
SCSI card. FREE to a good home
Call Dick, WA1VUU, (203) 323-0982
DIAMOND CP-6, 6 Band Trapped Vertical, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 & 6M (tuner req'd,
for 80M), $125; Comet CX-333, 3 Band Vert., 2M, 220 &
440, Like New, No Tuning Req'd., $ 100. Triplexer for use w/Comet Ant
w/Leads $60.
Call Chris, N1YNO at (203) 359-0570 evenings
SWAN ST2 ANTENNA TUNER w/built in meters. Max legal power, Very Clean,
lightly used. Output: Balanced, single wire & Coax. $160
Call Jack, K1UL, (203) 322-6047 or
Send all your ad's for YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX to Marv
Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877. E-mail to: n1awj@ att.net .
Ad's must be in by the meeting night of the month prior to the
publication. (December meeting for January
publication)