May 2004
THE SQUELCH BURST a monthly publication of the
STAMFORD AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION
President .......… Fred Cunningham. ..... K1FC..
Vice Pres .…….. Bill Librandi ……….... KB1IFY
Secretary .....….. John Sabini ….....…... WB1GRB
Treasurer ...…... Dick Finn .….................WA1VUU
Trustee .......…... Jim Markus ... ............. N1ZFS
Editors .......…... Marv Fleischman ........ N1AWJ
Mike Cordelli ........... N1FOA
Dick Finn ..................WA1VUU
Y.O.J.B. Ed..…. Marv Fleischman ........ N1AWJ .
Circ/Pub..…...... Dick Finn ...................... WA1VUU
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, http://www.qsl.net/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.
Next SARA Meeting: Thursday May 6, 2004 at 8:00 PM. All are welcome. Directions / Map
We do have a speaker for the May meeting. The speaker will be Dr. Bill Baker, W1BKR, president of Channel 13. He will talk about how they handled the transmitters on 9/11.
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.
May 2004 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.
License Renewal
I do not have any questions to answer, but due to many telephone calls I receive regarding license renewal and the FCC's CORES system, I felt it necessary to write this months column as general answer to all those questions. I have to remind you all that ASK ELMER will only appear in future issues if there are questions submitted.
License Renewal: There are many paths to renew your Amateur Radio License. The most common path is to fill out an NVEC605 form from either the ARRL/VEC or W5YI/VEC, and submit them to their respective groups for renewal. If you are a member of the ARRL, you do not pay a fee for the renewal, otherwise the fee is $12.00, the same as if you were attending a VE test session. The W5YI charges for the service as well. The NVEC605 form may be downloaded from the ARRL website or obtained from any stocking VE. You may also renew using the FCC's CORES system. In order to do this, you have to be registered with the FCC CORES system. If you have had any business with the FCC, either manually registering on the Universal Licensing System or the CORES, and have your FCC Registration Number and remember your password, you may log onto the FCC's website: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ Once on the website you choose “Online Filing” and then enter your Registration Number and Password on the Login screen. If you forgot your password, there are directions for obtaining it from the FCC on screen. Once you are logged in, choose “Renew Licenses” on the left side of the screen, and then follow the instructions. The renewal process by the FCC and the VEC's will not accept renewals earlier than 90 days before your license expiration date. An additional advantage of using the FCC's CORES system, is that you can modify the information on their database, such as change of address, etc. Registering in the CORES system. If you have not done business with the FCC in the last 6 or more years, you may not be registered in the CORES system,. You must be registered in the system to conduct any business with the FCC. This is true even though you hold a current FCC Amateur Radio License. The FCC did not automatically register you in the system, as it requires your Social Security Number as part of the registration process. It is up to you to register. To do so, go to the FCC website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ . Choose registration and follow the on screen instructions. It is a simple as that.
I would recommend that you write down, in a secure location, your FCC registration number and password. This is so you can use the CORES system whenever you need it. Another feature of the system is that you can use it to apply for a vanity call sign and search the database for license information on anyone registered with the FCC. This includes commercial as well as amateur radio.
I hope this will help all of you who are ready to renew their licenses or notify the FCC of a change of address, etc.
73, Elmer
Send your questions to “ASK ELMER”, c/o Marv Fleischman. N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0113.
May 2004
1000 Marbles (Robin Klepp - Collected by Gerry Russo)
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement shack with steaming cup of hot coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it. I turned the dial up into the phone portions of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind , he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whoever he was talking with something about “a thousand marbles”. I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. “Well Tom, It sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughters dance recital. He continued, “Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities. “ And that's when he began to explain his theory of “a thousand marbles.” “You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part. “ “ It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail,” he went on, “and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that If I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.” “So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up a thousand marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear. Every Saturday since then I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help you get your priorities straight.” “Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday, then I have been given a little extra time. And one thing we can all use is a little more time.”
“It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again on the band. 75 Year Old Man, this is K9NZO, clear and going QRT, good morning”
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off.
I guess he gave all of us a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. “C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast.
“What brought this on?” she asked with a smile. “Oh, nothing special, it's just been long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we are out? I need to buy some marbles.”
Make today count for every one you waste can never be lived again.
Spend your marbles wisely! Gerry's Web Site, www.qsl.net/ka2alt/ Gerry's Message Board
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 1, 2004
Officers Present: Fred, K1FC; Bill, KB1IFY; John, WB1GRB; Dick, WA1VUU; and Jim, K1ZFS.
Meeting began at 8:00pm. All got a notice that we were going to have a speaker, unfortunately they cancelled. Our goal is to have a program at each meeting
We do have a speaker for the May meeting. The speaker will be Dr. Bill Baker, W1BKR, president of Channel 13. He will talk about how they handled the transmitters on 9/11.
Emergency: Fred also reported that in May the Red Cross will have a communication exercise. They will contact us as to date and details. Emergency Response Team Telephone Tree has been circulated. Make sure your information is correct Make sure you keep the list in a safe place. Send corrections to: Dick Finn, WA1VUU.
Squelch Burst: Marv , N1AWJ advised that Dick, WA1VUU will be editor next month. Articles and YOJB items should be sent to him. We need new articles! Ask Elmer questions are needed- the pantry is empty! No questions, no Ask Elmer.
E-Mail Squelch Burst: We are asking SARA members to give their E-mail addresses to Dick, WA1VUU so that the club newsletter can be sent by E-mail thus saving postage!. Your address will not be published and will be kept confidential. Postal rates are going up next year.
VE Exams: Marv reported that the next VE session would be Saturday, May 8, 2004. The session will be held in the fourth floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center on Tresser Blvd..
Repeater Report: The 440 repeater has been repaired and tested and is now installed at the Stamford Hospital, thanks to Marv, N1AWJ. We need to install new coax and relocate the antenna to the new location. The antenna hardware is already installed.
The 2 meter repeater is working well, the 100-watt amplifier needs to be installed.
Repeater Interference:
We had some talk from members about repeater interference If you experience interference fill out the Malicious Interference Report form on the SARA web site. This report may be forwarded to the FCC in the future so include as much detail as possible. Remember to listen only, and call Dick, WA1VUU or Fred, K1FC if you deem it necessary.
SARA equipment donation: Fred mentioned that we have had equipment donated to SARA- including a complete 440 repeater from John Minehan. The club treasury can benefit from donations and you can take a tax deduction! Web site: If you have anything you would like to share, photos etc. contact John, WB1GRB
John Sabini, WB1GRB
May 2004 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.
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
HYGAIN CD 45-II Rotator Control w/cable and manual. Call Frank, KA1NTG at (203) 655-7378
ICOM T8A HT w/slow charger & 2 extra Batt's., $119; Radio Shack HTX 242 2m 10/45W Mobile w/o mounting bkt., $60 Call Chris, N1YNO at (203) 359-0570 evenings
ESTATE SALE (N1CML) Yaesu FT-980 HF Xcvr, $475; Yaesu FT 726R 2M all mode Xcvr $325; Yaesu YS-60 SWR-Pwr Mtr, $50; Tram Reflectometer, $15; HP5301 10 MHz Freq Ctr. $25; Eldorado 1615 30 MHz Freq Ctr., $25; AEA PK-88 Packet TNC, $35 Call Marv, N1AWJ, (203) 438-7889.
Send all your ad's for YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX to Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877. E-mail.
Ad's must be in by the meeting night of the month prior to the publication. (December meeting for January publication)
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FIELD DAY- June 26th. And 27th. Stamford Museum and Nature Center- Observatory. CW operators needed. We will be in same category as last year-QRP.
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May Program- Dr. Bill Baker, W1BKR, President of Channel 13, will speak on 9/11 problems with transmitters and antennas.
See this month's QST (May) page 51 for article by W1BKR.
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Saturday, April 24, 2004
