December 2003               
THE SQUELCH BURST
a monthly publication of the
STAMFORD AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION

President .......… Fred Cunningham. .. K1FC..
Secretary .....…. Mike Cordelli .....…... N1FOA .…
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/w1ee/ctsara.htm  Has been updated.
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.

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.

Minutes of the Meeting 11/6/03

Fred K1FC Started the SARA meeting at 8:00 pm.
Marv N1AWJ then began a series of reports.

Squelch Burst: There is the Old Junk Box please make any changes or additions. Marv will be editing the Squelch Burst this month. (December) So send Marv all your input.

Ask Elmer. “Thankfully do to the participation of some very loyal “Ask Elmer” readers we now have three or four questions. Keep sending your questions this makes it easier for me to pick and chose.”
You are probably tired of seeing my articles. Please this in your newsletter you can see your name in print. Write your article anything that might be of interest to the other members of the club hopefully radio related.

VE: Marv announced that there would be a VE session held on Saturday, November 8 at 9:30 AM. Session will be on the fourth floor Cafeteria. Stamford Government Center at 9:30 AM. He called for VE's to attend the session. Check the SARA web site for future VE exams and Classes.  www.qsl.net/wb1grb/VEtest.htm

Classes: Marv has been getting inquires on classes. We have to start looking into holding Technician classes. We have to advertise two or three months before the classes start. We need to get it out so that people know it is around. Since we are part of the city emergency planning, we should try to get notification to city employees about the classes.

We have one person that works in the maintenance department that is interested in getting a license. It was decided that the club would supply “ARRL” book, Now You Are Talking. Maybe we can get other people that work at the Stamford Hospital interested in getting a license.

Emergency: Dick WA1VUU announced that a new updated Emergency list will be sent out soon and to check to make sure your information is correct. If there is any changes to contact Dick. 323-0982.

Fred mentioned that we had a state simulated emergency. We did participate to some extent by activating the repeater and took some check-ins. The Call up List was in a state of flux so we did not activate the list. Norwalk (GNARC) did a little more formal job on the simulated emergency. I tried to link the two repeaters with Echo Link but I was not successful. There was a technical problem on Norwalk's end. This would have been an interesting experiment to do as for emergencies.

Repeaters: Marv N1AWJ talked about the repeaters and that they will be moved to a much better location at the Stamford Hospital. This area of the hospital is at least 20 feet higher. We will also be some distance from radio and pager interference. We will have almost unlimited room for both 2 & 440 repeaters.
The maintenance department will find a convenient area for the repeaters. Install a pipe to feed the coaxial cables to the roof. They will connect power (undisrupted power) and phone lines. They will mount side brackets on the side of the building for our antennas. We will provide side mounts and two 10 ft. masts. This is the highest area of the hospital so we want to make sure everything is properly grounded.

Since they are doing this as a big favor we what to make this move and installation as simple as possible. (Photos on club web site)  www.qsl.net/w1ee/newrept.htm

We will probably still have some repeater interference to a lesser extent. After the move, we are going to continue to concentrate on removing Hospital interference. Details contact Fred K1FC or Marv N1AWJ.

Holiday Party: Dick then reminded everyone that the next meeting would be our Holiday Party. We are planning to have this in the fourth floor cafeteria. If we can't get the cafeteria we will probably have it on the second floor were we had our November meeting.

Sunday Net: You can check-in on SARA repeater ever Sunday at 8:00 pm. There will be an informal net. News Line will also be played with the latest Ham Radio News. 146.655 PL-100Hz.

Club Web Site: I have several areas I would like to mention. I have a SARA Voluntary Members Information page. All information is voluntary. This would include your first name, Call Sign, E-mail Address and if you have one, your web site. Contact me. John..WB1GRB

Complete SARA Newsletter for November including past newsletters.
Ask Elmer questions going back to 1986.
Message Board used mostly for items that are for sale.
If you have, any old photos of SARA events like those at Field Day I would like to barrow them so I can publish them on SARA's Archive web page.
Their is too much to mention in this newsletter. Check it out yourself.  http://www.qsl.net/w1ee/ctsara.htm
If you would like your own starter web page, which would include text and photos on qsl.net contact me at:        348-3983.  J/S WB1GRB

TREASURER'S REPORT AS OF 11 NOVEMBER, 2003

INCOME EXPENSE
Trnfr. In 500.00 Trnfr. Out 500.00
Int 1.74 Rptr. 47.40
______ ______
Totals $501.74 $547.40
Balances: Checking- $803.65 Savings- $2,011.65
de WA1VUU
Page 5 December 2003
 

ASK ELMER

Dear Elmer,

I am new to the world of HF radio. I am thinking about buying a new station consisting of a HF rig, Amplifier, Antenna tuner, Monitor Scope, SWR meters, Key, Mike, possibly a Phone Patch and ATV setup as well.
My question is with all this equipment, how do I set it up? In what order do the pieces go together?
Signed:   KB 1- Befuddled

Dear Befuddled,
Assembling a station is an exciting time. You have a an opportunity to craft a station which suits your budget, personality and operating style. I have seen many hams assemble a station by randomly selecting equipment based only on cost. If you are on a very tight budget, this may suit you, but you would probably never be comfortable or satisfied with your station (as if we hams ever are). My personal recommendation is to choose your equipment carefully. Ask yourself, how much space do you have for equipment and most importantly antennas.

The second question, of equal importance is, what is my budget? With that as a starting point you can
choose your equipment. The most important piece of equipment is the Transceiver. I would spend most of my effort in choosing a suitable unit, as this piece of equipment would be the heart of your station. All of the other equipment will be used to augment and accessorize the radio. Once the Transceiver is chosen, you can look into the auxiliary equipment made by the radio's manufacturer or by independent manufacturers. Keeping with the radio's manufacturer's equipment will generally result in a seamless integration of the accessories, as they were generally designed to be used together. This should not in any way dissuade you from looking at other sources of equipment. Let yourself be guided by what “bells and whistles” you want in your equipment, and not what someone else thinks you should have.

 Be prepared to do some assembly of cables and adapters to tie everything together. One of the primary considerations is your antennas. If you don't have an antenna which can handle a kilowatt, you would be ill advised to purchase a KW Power Amplifier, since you couldn't use it. Keep in mind that in setting up a station, the equipment is only 1/3 of the equation. The antennas are a third and the station power and grounds, etc are the last 1/3.

I would suggest that you plan out your station on a piece of graph paper. This will help you with the placement of your equipment and the location of any new power outlets, both RF and power line grounds and antenna connections. This may prevent your station from being an assemblage of one piece of equipment piled upon another. The order in which the equipment is placed or assembled is entirely up to you. There is no formula, but from my own experience, the location of the transceiver should be the central point of your operating position. The ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs has a chapter devoted to setting up a station with many helpful hints. There is the Heil Ham Radio Handbook with a chapter on setting up your station. A little thought and preplanning will go a long way making your station a place which is comfortable for you.

I hope you have fun setting up your new station and get many years of enjoyment operating from it.
73,
Elmer
Send all your questions to “Ask Elmer”, c/o Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0113 or e-mail to
 

WE WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THE BEST OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
AND
A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR  
December 2003                                             
ASK ELMER

YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX

SARA Voluntary Member Information  

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

HYGAIN CD 45-II Rotator Control w/cable and manual.
Call Frank, KA1NTG at (203) 655-7378

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; Icom T8A
HT w/slow charger & 2 extra Batt's., $150; Radio Shack HTX 242 2m 10/45W Mobile w/o mounting bkt., $85
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; MFJ Versatuner
II (300W), $100; Tram Reflectometer, $15; Azden PCS3000 2M Mobile w/o Mic, $25; HP5301 10 MHz Freq Ctr. $25; Eldorado 1615 30 MHz
Freq Ctr., $25; AEA PK-88 Packet TNC, $35; Leader LAC 897 2M Transmatch, $20.
Call Marv, N1AWJ, (203) 438-7889 or e-mail 

DIGITRAVLER Personal Navigation System w/ Delorme Street Atlas USA for a laptop computer. Will work with Tiny Track 3. New. $55
Call Bill, KB1IFY, (203) 353-8131 Evenings

HALLICRAFTERS SX-28 Receiver- Needs cleaning & restoration, $75; Hammerlund HQ150 TR General Coverage Rcvr w/ 10-11 meter
Transmitter $ 50.
Call Art, KA1YVU at (203) 322-3636

11/26/2003