CTSARA May newsletter w1ee

Squelch Burst Newsletter
Stamford Amateur Radio Association
June 2004 www.qsl.net/w1ee/ Issue Number Six
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Repeaters: W1EE 146.655 Out 146.055 In PL-100Hz. W1EE 447.125 Out 442.125 In PL-114.8Hz.

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Viewed In PDF Format, www.qsl.net/w1ee/SARAnewsJune04.pdf Reader® 6.0

President: Fred Cinningham K1FC, 322-8274. Vice President: Bill Librandi KB1IFY. Secretary: John Sabini WB1GRB. Treasurer: Dick Finn WA1VUU and Trustee of the Repeater: James Marcus. N1ZFS.

Next SARA Meeting: Thursday June 3, 2004 at 8:00 PM. All are welcome. Directions / Map

PROGRAM: Galicia Outes Director of Emergency Services Stamford Red Cross On Emergency Preparedness.

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.

FIELD DAY: June 26-27 Be there! CW Operators NEEDED AT FIELD DAY- At the Stamford Museum and Nature Center- Observatory. CW operators needed. We will be in same category as last year-QRP.

Field Day will be held on Saturday and Sunday June 28 and 29, 2003. The location for SARA'a Field Day site is the Stamford Museum Observatory grounds. The observatory grounds entrance is on Scofieldtown Road in Stamford. To get there from downtown Stamford, travel North on High Ridge Road past the Merritt Parkway until you reach a fork in the road with a traffic light. Take the left fork (Scofieldtown Road) for a distance of about 1/2 mile. The entrance to the site will be an open gate on your right with a sign indicating SARA Field Day. For those using the Merritt Parkway, exit at High Ridge Road (Exit 35) and head North to Scofieldtown Road. As above, take the left fork and proceed to the observatory entrance. Please note that the main entrance to the museum is at the junction of High Ridge and Scofieldtown roads, but do not use it. It will not lead you to the Field Day site. This Field Day we will be operating QRP using alternate power sources.. Solar, etc. We will be operating some of the newer digital modes as well as CW and SSB. Mark your calendar join us and have a great time operating. Hope to see you there.

www.stamfordmuseum.org/astronomy.html DRIVING DIRECTIONS.

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.

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.

June 2004 Minutes of the Meeting 5/6/04

Fred K1FC started the SARA meeting at 8:00 pm. Fred reminded everyone that we are guest of the Government Center and we must leave everything clean when we depart.
Everyone at the meeting then introduce themselves.

Fred then introduced Marv N1AWJ for an announcement.

“This will be my last Squelch Burst both for the “Old Junk Box” and “Ask Elmer.” I was diagnosed with cancer. I will be spending my time trying to get in a better form of health. I will do what I can, but I can not guarantee it. I would like to have someone take over for me on both the: Ask Elmer and editor for the Squelch Burst. Dick Finn is the other editor. This will also be my last VE session. If my condition improves in time I don't know. I have run the VE now for about 5 years. We are the only club in lower Fairfield County that gives the VE test. We need people to volunteer as VE and carry on the tradition. I have edited the Squelch
Burst for 20 plus years. Written the: Ask Elmer column for 20 years. I will be going to Dayton this year. I have been going to Dayton for 20 years and I have not missed one year so why stop now.”

Repeater: Fred announced that we have the 440 repeater is installed. We need to move the 440 antenna from the old location to its new location on the hospital roof. Coax will need to be installed. Antenna mast and mounts are already installed.

Dick WA1VUU asked SARA members give their e-mail address to him. We will e-mail the club newsletter thus saving postage each month.

Your address will not be published and will be kept confidential. Postal rates are going up next year. Make sure you e-mail is not blocked. For more information contact Dick. The newsletter will also be published on the SARA web site each month.

Business portion of the meeting ended at 8:20

Fred then introduced our speaker for the May meeting Bill Baker, W1BKR president of PBS Channel 13 in New Jersey.

He talked about how they managed their transmitters on 911.

Photos, www.qsl.net/w1ee/sarameetingmay04.htm.

Get with the Penguin ! Part 1

The Penguin is the symbol for Linux, the opened source operating system that is being used by millions. Actually it is much more than just an operating system. It is an operating system plus many useful ?packages? that come with it and it mostly depends on which Linux you choose, I chose Mandrake 9.2 because it was recommended at this web site: http://www.n9nu.net/linux/linux.php which was in an article in one of the QST magazines, but Mandrake 10 became available right after I got my disks. Some have heard that Linux is free. Well, it can be if you choose to download it, but with a standard modem that could take a week or more. The east way is to just spend a few $ and get Linux on CD disks. Nearly all packages (over 50,000 reported to date) are free for downloading also. I doubt if there is anything that most of us are currently doing that cannot be done with Linux without purchasing software. Both Microsoft and a virus are my reasons for making the switch. For years I have used a Macintosh and never been attacked by a virus, but when I bought a PC so I could run radio programs like PSK31 and MMSSTV I had a virus within a month. Linux is a much more secure system than windows. You have much more control, but it comes with a price (effort.) I feel the effort is worth it. Linux does seem to be an extremely powerful system, but that power does require learning and effort. You might think that I will loose everything on the computer that I have in the Windows environment, but that is not always the case. If you have sufficient disk capacity you can run Windows and Linux as a dual boot system and Linux can access nearly all Windows files. I had tested one version of LINUX without even installing it. I borrowed a book from the Library that had a bootable CD version of Linux (there are several versions like this.) The name of the book is ?Moving to LINUX, Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye!:? This book is also an excellent LINUX tutorial and it should be read by all interested in exploring LINUX as an alternative to 'WINDOWS. “ After a short test I figured that I could keep all of my old files and have access to nearly all of them through Linux. I had a problem though, my disk was insufficient. If you have a small disk and really want both systems it is recommended just to get another HD for Linux. I chose to clear my disk and loose all previous data. Windows ran so poorly that it was practically useless anyway. If you have a new computer with a large HD it can be partitioned or can add a second HD you will have little difficulty. I would say that you want to allow at least 5 Gigs for Linux, much more if possible, I only have a 6 gig drive and it seems sufficient. Information about Linux is readily available in books and on the internet. I would suggest the above mentioned book and also a book entitled ? LINUS TORVALDS, JUST FOR FUN.? This book describes how Linux came to be. .

So far I have found 36 versions of Linux readily available so choosing which version can be a problem. Below are 3 web sites where Linux disks can be purchased at a reasonable cost. http://www.cheaplinux.org/v0.1/index.php http://almostfreelinux.com/ http://www.osdepot.com/

Of course you can download most (maybe all) of the versions for free, but you really do need a broadband connection for that.

I would suggest that anyone interested in possible making a move to Linux to do plenty or research, ask many questions and join a Linux users group. I joined the Wftl-lug user group. It is an email reflector and you can get all emails sent to the reflector. The folks at this reflector are absolutely great. It is hard to explain how helpful they were to me in getting my Mandrake installed properly and functioning. You can always unjoin if you choose to. http://www.marcelgagne.com/wftllugform.html.

One thing I should mention, and this is important. In order to install Linux you have to know EVERYTHING about your equipment. Most modems will not work on Linux, external modems seem to work best, win modems rarely work at all. Also, I am having problems with Linux recognizing my sound card (I may have to invest in another sound care.) I had a lot of trouble with the install because I did not know about my graphic card and monitor. If you don' give Linux the right information the install becomes useless. I have to say, moving to Linux is not for wimps. I have heard that Mandrake is one of the hardest for installing so it might not be so bad with other versions, I do not know for sure.

Look for Part 2, The installation of LINUX and More, I may have to write several more installments about this system. It is extensive.

Mike KB1DXC ``When you say `I wrote a program that crashed Windows', people just stare at you blankly and say `Hey, I got those with the system, for free'.'' - Linux Torvalds

To be continued in future editions of the Squelch Burst.

Ask Elmer June 2004

Dear Elmer, I am installing new HF and VHF antennas. How should I set em up and which type is best? Signed, Off the Air Dear Off, It would be difficult for me to specify which antennas you should install, as I don't know what bands you normally operate nor what the setup is at your QTH. If I made the assumption that you have lots of land, unlimited financial resources and no restrictions, I would suggest a series of monoband Yagi's on towers which are at least 1/2 wave off the ground for each of the bands that you operate. I would imagine that you don't have an unlimited source of land and funds, so I would suggest that you plan your antenna farm on a piece of graph paper. Your first decision would be whether you are going to have a tower with some sort of commercial beam antenna on it. If so, the location of the tower should be drawn to scale on your antenna farm layout. Show, as accurately as possible where the house and shack are located, and then the proposed position of the tower. Using information obtained from the manufacturer of the beam antenna's) plot its location to make sure that it has plenty of clearance. Once this is plotted, you can indicate where any vertical antennas are to be located. These would be located on the roof of your house or even the top of the tower. If a vertical antenna rotates, it really doesn't make any difference to its radiation pattern. Locate the vertical antennas at least 1 or 2 wavelengths from each other to minimize any coupling. I am making the assumption that the vertical antennas are to be used for VHF/UHF. In the event that you cannot erect a tower or don't want to use commercial beam antennas or for any other reason want to build your own wire antennas, preplanning is all important. Using the same drawing techniques as previously described, decide where you have natural supports for your antennas and where you would have to erect supports. You choice now is what type of antenna to erect. All antennas radiate, and I would suggest an ideal situation would be 1/2 wave dipoles on each band elevated as high as possible. As dipoles are directional, they should be positioned so that their radiation pattern favors NE-SW which would give you maximum coverage. If this is impractical, trapped Dipoles work relatively well on several bands (depending upon the number of traps), as do the so called Windoms (offset dipoles). The bottom line is that any antenna that gets out for you is a good antenna.

There is no rule that says that you are limited to any particular combination of antennas at your QTH. The beauty of antennas, especially wire antennas is that you can experiment to your hearts content. Good luck with your antenna farm and enjoy operating. 73, Elmer

Due to significant health concerns, this will be my last “Ask Elmer” column. For the past 20 years I have enjoyed writing this column and answering your questions. I would hope that that in the near future, someone would volunteer to continue this column.

To all my friends and readers, I thank you for your submissions and I do hope you have enjoyed reading Ask Elmer and have gained a few smiles, a chuckle or two and some knowledge from the answers I have provided. 73, SK CL Marv (Elmer) N1AWJ June 2004. ASK ELMER.

We looking for volunteers to take over Ask Elmer.

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 726R 2M all mode Xcvr $325; Yaesu YS-60 SWR-Pwr Mtr, $50; Tram Reflect meter, $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 Dick Finn, WA1VUU, 27 Ivy St., Stamford, CT 06902 . Ad's must be in by the meeting night of the month prior to the publication. (December meeting for January publication)

Listen to Local Emergency police/fire/ambulance radio calls Fairfield County's Only Live Scanner Site !

Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan & Norwalk, Connecticut Shelton, Monroe, Trumbull, Derby, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Seymour & Oxford.

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J/S WB1GRB Friday, May 28, 2004