February 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 (114.8Hz)

 SARA Voluntary Member Information Newsgroup  

Internet Home Page at: http://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. 

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.   Directions / Map 

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 JANUARY, 2004 INCOME EXPENSE Txfr. In 500.00 Svce. Chg. 6.00 Dues 485.00 Txfr. Out 500.00 Int. 3.33 Education 46.58 Postage 37.00 Phone 24.90 Donation 100.00 Rptr. 128.06  Totals $988.33 $842.54

SARA Minutes of the Meeting 1/8/04

Fred K1FC started the meeting at 8:00 pm.

Squelch Burst: Marv, N1AWJ will be editing the Squelch Burst this month. Marv announced that he has some new “Ask Elmer” questions to answer.

“Ask Elmer” archives are on the club web site. (1986 to Present) Marv is still looking for articles from the membership to publish in the Squelch Burst.

VE: Marv N1AWJ talked about the next VE test exam. The next Amateur Radio License Examinations will be: Saturday, February 14 at 9:30 AM. They will be held on the 4th floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center on Tresser and Washington B'lvd's, Stamford CT. Check in is at 9:30 AM, and the examinations are at 10 AM. No pre registration is required. The fee for the session is $12.00 and we would appreciate a check made out to the ARRL/VEC (we do accept cash, but would prefer a check). Those who are upgrading bring a photocopy of your current license and any CSCE's that you have and any other supporting documents as required. Bring 2 pieces of ID, one which is a photo ID. If you are a VE, please contact me. I require your name, call sign, license class and VE expiration date. More information and updates at: www.qsl.net/wb1grb/VEtest.htm

Emergency: Fred K1FC, there was a simulated emergency in Connecticut. Fred got a phone call from Bill Barrett he wanted us to put out an announcement to see if we could get some one to check in on 3.963. Fred put out several calls and finally contacted Jay NE2Q. Jay lives in Pound Ride on top of a small mountain. Jay could not hear anything. The band was lousy!

Emergency Tree: Dick WA1VUU has a new emergency list which has been sent to the members. Make sure your information is current and correct! If you need to make any corrections or updates be sure you contact Dick WA1VUU. When you receive this list make sure you keep it in a safe place where you can find it. 

AREA's. On the SARA web site there is a registration form for ARES. You can go to the Connecticut AREA's web site and see if your membership is current. This is also on our club web site. If it is not current you can update it on the ARES web site. If you don't have a computer, fill out the form and give it to Fred. K1FC.       This form must be filled out every year. Any questions contact Fred: K1FC.

Nomination of new officers: the Nomination Committee chose for President: Fred Cinningham K1FC,  Vice President Bill Librandi KB1IFY, Secretary: John Sabini WB1GRB, Treasurer Dick Finn WA1VUU and Trustee of the Repeater; James Marcus N1ZFS.                                                                                              Without going into great detail no one opposed the nomination of officers. The members voted and all of the new officers were nominated for 2004.

Repeater: Fred K1FC. Marv N1AWJ and I moved the 2 meter repeater to the new location at the Stamford Hospital. The 2 meter antenna, coax has been installed with hardware. Uninterrupted AC power and phone lines are installed. Phone patch and remote controls for different repeater functions will be programmed. The 100 watt amplifier and possible retuning of the antenna in the spring. The coverage is 100% improved! Next we will be working on the 440 repeater. We have a newer smaller 440 repeater that was donated. We will be working to get it running and make a full report to the members. The 440 masts, brackets and power have been installed no antenna yet. We will need volunteers to remove the old 2 meter cabinet from the hospital. Check the club web site for photos and updates: www.qsl.net/w1ee/  (Enter Page) J/S WB1GRB 1/12/04

Would like to start a 6 meter SSB net for the Westchester, Fairfield and Long Island areas! Let's figure a time and frequency. Whoever would like to participate, please leave a message on 50.125! Monitor most late evenings. J/S WB1GRB 1/12/04

AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMINATIONS SARA is holding Amateur Radio License Examinations on Saturday, February 14, 2004. They will be in the 4th floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center on Tresser and Washington B'lvd's. No pre-registration is required. Check-in is at 9:30 Am and exam starts at 10AM. Fee for the session is $12 (check made out to the ARRL/VEC). Upgraders bring a photocopy of your license, your original license and a photo ID, as well as any CSCE certificates issued. New applicants bring 2 forms of ID, one a photo ID. For more information contact Marv, N1AWJ at (203) 438-7889.

ASK ELMER

I am an ARRL member, and receive their email newsletters. I also receive something called "ARKL075 Keplerian Data". It apparently needs to be decoded somehow and I assume it has something to do with HF signal propagation. Most of my activity is on 2m & 440- does this Keplerian Data offer me information that might impress people at work, or does it not apply outside of HF. Gerry KB1-EBU

Dear Gerry, I am sorry to inform you that the Keplerian Data has nothing to do with HF signal propagation. You can still impress the people at work with your knowledge of the uses for the data. The Keplerian Data (Elements) really have to do with astronomy and spacecraft. Before we get into the definition and uses of Keplerian Data, I think we should talk about the data's namesake, Johannes Kepler. Kepler lived from 1571 to 1630. He studied for the Lutheran ministry, and at the university he became acquainted and accepted the ideas of Copernicus, ultimately studying astronomy and mathematics. Copernicus was an astronomer and mathematician who put forth the “heliocentric” theory of our solar system. In other words, he said that the Sun is the center of the solar system and the planets (earth included) revolved about it. At the time this was a heretical idea, as the church doctrine was that the Earth was the center of the universe and everything revolved around it. Copernicus theory was that everything revolved in perfect circular orbits (the music of the spheres).

Kepler wrote a defense of the Copernican theory while he was employed as a teacher of mathematics in Graz. Because of problems with the church, Kepler had to leave his teaching post in Graz, and moved to Prague to work with the renowned Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahe. Following Tycho Brahe's death, Kepler inherited the post of Imperial Mathematician. Using the voluminous and very precise data collected by Brahe, Kepler discovered that the orbit of the planet Mars was an ellipse. It was in 1609 that he published his discoveries, which are considered Kepler's first 2 laws of planetary motion. In 1621, Kepler published a 7 volume work which discussed all of the heliocentric astronomy in a highly organized manner. A most important work for the time. Kepler went on to complete the Rudolphine Tables that were started by Tycho Brahe. Using these tables and a series of calculations using logarithms (which he developed), generated a series of perpetual tables which could predict both future and past positions of the planets. Kepler's contribution to mathematics and astronomy were, to a great extent, the cornerstone of many of the greatest advances in the physical and mathematical sciences.

Now that we know something about the life and accomplishments of Kepler, let us see what the Keplerian Elements are all about. The Keplerian Elements are used in tracking the various satellites in orbit around the Earth. There are 7 (or sometimes 8) Keplerian Elements. They describe the shape of the elliptical orbit and place the satellite in it at any given time. The elements are, Epoch, Orbital Inclination, Right Ascension of Ascending Node, Argument of Perigee, Eccentricity, Mean Motion, Mean Anomaly and at times Drag. This data is necessary to know where to position your antenna so that you can communicate using a particular amateur radio satellite. It will also allow you to track the satellite, to permit you to have the maximum operating time. To go into great detail on each of the elements would take far more space than we have allotted for this column.

 I would highly recommend that you visit the AMSAT website at www.amsat.org/keps/kepmodel.html  for an excellent tutorial on the Keplerian Elements. With VHF/UHF equipment you can use the satellites to communicate around the world. Some satellites even permit the use of FM, though this is a power wasting form of modulation. Most satellite communication uses SSB because of its power and bandwidth efficiencies. I would suggest visiting the AMSAT website for more information on the proper procedures for operating the satellites. I hope that this has given you an insight into the Keplerian Data and its uses. This may also start you in another fascinating area of amateur radio as well as wowing the people at work with your knowledge of “space (the final frontier)”. 73, Elmer

Send all your questions to “Ask Elmer”, c/o Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0113.

SARA SUNDAY NIGHT NET  We encourage all of the SARA members to join in the informal net on the Stamford Repeater every Sunday night at 8 PM. After about a half hour of friendly discussion, we play the “Amateur Radio Newsline” with the latest happenings in amateur radio. Make yourself heard, join the net.

DUES TIME!!!!!!  Its time to renew your membership in the Stamford Amateur Radio Association. Send in your dues to Dick Finn, WA1VUU, 27 Ivy St. Stamford, CT. 06902.

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

Message Board (For Sale)

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

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 [email protected]

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

Send all your ad's for YE OLDE JONQUE BOXXX to Marv Fleischman, N1AWJ, PO Box 113, Ridgefield, CT 06877. Ad's must be in by the meeting night of the month prior to the publication. (December meeting for January publication) February 2004

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