December 2002

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.

The Stamford Amateur Radio Association is a tax exempt organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code.

TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF 18 NOVEMBER, 2002

INCOME EXPENSE

Txfr. In 500.00 Txfr. Out 500.00

Dues 30.00 Ins. 511.00

Int. 5.30 Phone 25.70

Rptr. Fund 67.00 440. Rptr 50.00

______ _______

Totals $602.30 $1086.70

Balances: Checking-$615.95 Savings-$3,482.70

De WA1VUU

Page 3 December 2002

TREASURERS MESSAGE

This page is usually the prerogative of the President, but since he is not well

I will take advantage of the situation.

As reported elsewhere, a decision has been made to replace the 2 meter machine.

We are not, and have never been a ‘repeater club’. However, no one can deny that a repeater is the glue that keeps a club together.

A repeater is also necessary to service our obligations to the City of Stamford and the Stamford Chapter of the American Red Cross. Our commitments to our public service partners necessitate a repeater.

Our financial reserves have always been dedicated to the repeaters and the possibility of having to replace them. We have adequate funds on hand to replace the machine, but it will leave us in a serious situation.

The total replacement will cost about $3,000.00 . This includes the new duplexer and will just about wipe us out.

There are certain fixed costs that we face that must be met. Postage will cost us about $520.00 next year, insurance $511.00 if the premiums do not increase and phone service about $160.00 (necessary for the phone patch).

We need money! We do not need to collect the entire $3,000.00 . But we do need to have a cushion to rely on. It has been suggested that we collect dues in advance, but that is simply putting off the inevitable.

The decision was made to solicit the members for contributions. A letter will be going out explaining the situation and asking for donations.

Donations will be anonymous. There will be no printed list of donors and amounts. There will be no discussion among the Board members about donors

and amounts. Only the treasurer will have the information. Totals will be printed in this publication.

Page 4 December 2002

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 7 NOVEMBER

(as I remember them– the minutes were taken by Andy, KA1SLG who had a medical problem at home after the meeting. As of 11/18 he is still hospitalized) As  12/01/2002   Andy was home recuperating. 

New members– Bob, KB1IZU

Guests– none

Committees– Marv, N1AWJ announced the cupboard was empty– he had no ASK ELMER questions left. Needs input from members.

Public Service– none pending.

Emergency– discussion was had as to the importance of the ARRL Emergency Communication course . It is currently free and some openings may be available.

Repeater– a general discussion followed re: 2 meter repeater. There have been general problems with the machine since it was moved. As soon as one problem was fixed another popped up. Also there is pager interference .

After discussion, a motion was made by KB1DXC to replace the repeater. Yeoman work has been done by KA1SLG, N1AWJ and others trying to keep the machine on the air. Several amendments were made to the original motion, establishing a Repeater Committee and giving that committee the authority to proceed with obtaining a replacement repeater. WA2NRV moved to replace the duplexer ASAP and the motion passed.

Andy, KA1SLG had previously reported that there were signs of corrosion on the duplexer connections and he felt that the duplexer was part of the interference problem.

A suggestion was made that the 50/50 drawing not be used and that those present donate the 50/50 money to the repeater fund. A total of $67.00 was collected.

WA1VUU(with apologies for errors and omissions)

ASK ELMER  

Dear Elmer,

In many of the Amateur Radio and popular publications I see references to a technology called “Software Defined Radio”. What are they really talking about, and how will it impact Amateur Radio?

Signed, Intrigued

Dear Intrigued,

With the blending of digital and analog communications and the very varied modulation techniques, the need for a large number of different transmitters and receivers in order to accommodate them all. In many ham shacks, there exists a transceiver with the ability to handle AM, CW, SSB, and FM modulation. With the addition of some additional equipment, namely a “TU” (Terminal Unit) or a “TNC” (Terminal Node Controller) and possibly a computer, which allows you to operate using some of the older and newer digital modes. As an example they would be (though not limited to) RTTY, Packet, Amtor, Pactor, PSK31, SSTV and a whole host of alphabet soup. The more modes and modulation techniques desired, the more external equipment must be added. A different type of radio, detector or processing method would be required for each of the new modes of operation. Over the years, theoreticians have devised mathematical representations of each of the many modulation techniques. This lends itself to using a computer to simulate all of the functions of a radio. One of the major limiting factors has been the speed of the digital systems. As microprocessors and other digital logic devices have become faster and large semiconductor memory has become physically smaller, engineers have been able to use digital signal processing in place of analog signal processing. The advantage of digital processing is that you can change the mode of operation by simply changing the software (programming). In analog processing, you have to change the circuit. One of the drawbacks to the use of digital systems, is that they simulate analog systems. In simulation, there is always some residual error (you can simulate something closely, but not perfectly). The amount of error is determined by the number of digital “bits” processed for each piece of information. The more bits processed, the less distorted the information will be when it is recovered. The more bits processed, the faster the digital devices have to be and the larger the memory required to store the information.

A Software Defined Radio is, by its very name, one where only software is required to change the mode of operation. This would simplify the Ham Shack by reducing the pieces of equipment required to operate the various modes that are currently in vogue as well as future modes with just a change in the software. Think of being able to download the latest operating mode off the internet and configuring your radio in one evening (or less). Of course the downside is to the manufacturers, who would not be able to sell you a new radio every few years. But fear not, as they will find a way to limit your ability to upgrade or to extract money from you in one form or another. (I’ll get off my soapbox now.) At this time, an all digital radio fully software defined for the HF bands is a reality. There are still some problems to be ironed out, but it is just a matter of time. The cost for these radios are not yet in the range of the average ham operator budget, but you won’t have to wait too much longer. The prospects for the future are exciting. With the blending of digital and analog techniques most anything will be possible.

73,

Elmer

Send your questions to “ASK ELMER”, c/o Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0113 or e-mail them to [email protected].

 

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

FatMac Computer w/ 1Meg Ram, Free!!!; 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 [email protected]

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 λ Mag. Mt. Ant., $12; ⅝ λ Mag. Mt. Ant, $15, ⅝ λ Trunk Mt. Ant., $10; Measurements Grid Dip Meter, $25; HP Signal Gen.; $15; Code Pract. Mach., $15

Call Milt, K2DLT, (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

YE OLDE JONQUE BOXX CONT.

Comet CX-333 Tri-band vert. No tuning req. $100.00 Tri plexer $60.00

Diamond CP6 6 band trap vertical 80,40,20,15 and 10. Slightly bent radial. $100.00. Call Chris, N1YNO evenings 359-0570

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.

Send all your ad's for YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX to Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877. E-mail to [email protected]. Ad's must be in by the meeting night of the month prior to the publication. (December meeting for January publication)