The Royal Order of the Wouff Hong

by W2ILP

 

July 2005                                VOL.  78, NO. 7                                        CIR 120

 
Last month I wrote about the Wouff Hong, which was one of the weapons that T.O.M. used to threaten the lids of his day.  There is also a traditional Ham ritual called a Wouff Hong Ceremony.  That ceremony is the subject of what follows.   Your Editor.     

 

Among the many certificates that you might expect a Ham of my age to have collected, I found an orange and black certificate that has the following inscribed on it: -

*****************************************************************************

The Royal Order of the Wouff Hong

To All Who Shall See These Presents:                                                                          

               Greeting!  

The Royal Order of the Wouff Hong, in solemn conclave assembled, makes known by this Certificate that its esteemed brother,

                 Radio Amateur < Bob Wexelbaum, W2ILP>

is a member of the Order in good standing, and is entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership, and the high regard of his fellow amateurs.

                                                             Conferred at the Midnight Conclave of the Order,

                                                             <National> Convention, American Radio Relay League,

                                                              Held at <New York,  July 20 1974>

                                                                                      The Old Man

                                                                      For the Supreme Council:

                                                                      <Dave Talley, W2PF>

                                                                        Master of Ceremonies

****************************************************************************

As certificates go, this was probably the easiest to acquire.  I have not reproduced it here to earn any special respect.  My purpose is just to say that I did attend a Wouff Hong Ceremony and this certificate did serve to remind me when and where it was held.  In recent times these ceremonies are usually held at ARRL conventions.  You pay a small fee to attend. (in addition to the fee for attending the convention itself.).  The motivation to attend is now mostly curiosity.  The first of such ceremonies may have been attended by “Young Squirts”, who after reading what The Old Man had written in “QST” feared the Wouff Hong.  They may have thus attended in order to possibly learn more of the secrets of the Wouff Hong and perhaps to learn of ways to take countermeasures against Wouff Hong punishment by some magical spell reducing method.  That was in addition to the normal types of technical know how and operating skills that would lift the curse of Wouff Hong,  if they followed what T.O.M. suggested..  A ham who attended the Wouff Hong Ceremony with me was disappointed.  He thought that A Wouff Hong was a canine type of wolf hound like animal, which had been chosen to be a ham mascot.  This reminded me of P.T. Barnum”s museum and menagerie.  Barnum put up a sign that said: TO THE EGRESS when his museum got too crowded.   Most folks thought that the “Egress” was a rare animal…only to find that it was a one way exit door.

          Anyway I can tell what I remember about the Wouff Hong Ceremony, without breaking any oaths, because I can’t remember much.  The hotel meeting room was extremely hot (limited A/C) and crowded and I just managed to get a seat in the back of the audience.  No PA system was used, so I couldn’t hear much from where I sat.  On stage were the two youngest hams that had been found at the convention: A boy of about 14 and a girl of about 16.  They were supposed to be representatives of all of us, so that their initiation was symbolic of all of the silent oaths and incantations of all of the hams in the audience. They read from scripts.  They were not very loud (about an R3), nor was Dave Tally, W2PF, who played The Old Man’s part.  (BTW W2PF, is now a silent key. He was Ed Tally’s W2IVA’s dad.  Ed is an active member of GARC). W2PF was a famous ham, especially in New York, and was one of the original founders of the QCWA. As I said, I could not hear much of the ceremony, due to the lack of any amplification.  The same problem arose at the recent HRU 2005, where Reilly Hollingsworth, FCC law enforcer, spoke.  Mr. Hollingsworth spoke softly and didn’t even carry a Wouff Hong.  The room was too small and I stood in the doorway, not far from Mr. Hollingsworth, but I was unable to hear a word he said.  I don’t know why, but hams must always think that another ham will provide for the audio amplification.  Heck. If Hams can build 500 watt AM modulators, one would think they could easily set up a 20 watt PA system.  I bet there are no such problems at the Bagel Benders Business conventions, because they probably hire professional audio experts. 

    Please don’t let anything I said here prevent you from going to a Wouff Hong ceremony, if you have never been to one.   My opinions may not hold if the ceremony is propagated in a cool place, with adequate decibels of audio, and preferably not in the middle of the summer. 

A Wouff Hong ceremony may be quite an inspiring event for the ham who knows everything but is still curious about any thing he or she may have missed. 

         If you missed my explanation of what a Wouff Hong originally was, please read last month’s “CQ de WA2LQO”.  There are still too many hams who don’t know which end of a horse it was designed for.

                                        CQ DE WA2LQO JULY 2005                                              Page 2

                                                                                     

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

BY

KE2LJ

 

The summers are really rough on Club activities. Not just GARC, but all kinds of Clubs. In fact, the LIDXA (NN2C is the Pres, and I am the VP) does not even meet during the summer. A lot of clubs close up shop. Too many people are on vacation, and attendance is very sparse. Also, the weather is so nice on LI during the summer that a lot of folks are engaged in other activities, and don’t make club meetings. I for one, go walking with my XYL every evening after dinner, for up to an hour. We enjoy our walks, and sometimes I have missed a WAG net because we were still out pounding the pavement. No, I am not going to carry an HT with me. That would spoil the mood. It would also interfere with those long cell phone calls she makes to her sister and Mom while we’re out walking. That’s the mood I was talking about. But, this has been the hottest summer for many years, and I’m doing very little actual radio operating. Part of that is from the extremely poor solar flux numbers we are having due to being at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. The other factor is the nice weather, and I don’t want to be indoors if I can be outside. Soon enough we’ll have cold weather, and then I can start planning some antenna work. I still need something better for 40 and 80, and don’t want to make any major investments since I intend to move out of here in another 2 years. We took a “vacation” in early  August, and I spoke about this on the 2 meter WAG net. I also showed pictures at the August meeting. We rented a “canal boat” in Waterford, NY, and spent about 3 days traveling the Erie Canal westbound, and back. The actual Erie Canal (Clinton’s Ditch) was a huge success in the 1800s, and was subject to numerous upgrades. In 1905 they decided to tame the Mohawk River. With a series of dams, flood gates, and locks, they created the NY State Barge Canal, and this was opened in 1918. They then abandoned the original Erie Canal, but you can see pieces of it in various places around the Mohawk Valley. Our trip west took us through 12 locks, and then we came back the same way. It was a lot of fun. I had my 2 meter radio on board, but didn’t make any contacts. Turns out I was pretty busy all day piloting the boat. And it’s a 41’ steel boat, so the mag-mount worked pretty well. If you missed the pictures, and want to see them, let me know. Next year we intend to take the same boat northward through the Champlain Canal.

 On another note, you may have noticed that there was no newsletter last month. There’s lots of reasons, and one of them is that I was away, and we couldn’t have a Board meeting. We also didn’t have repro services here, so we skipped the newsletter. Hope you weren’t too disappointed. Also, we had our kickoff meeting for HRU 2006. It appears Gordon West will be the keynote speaker, and the room will be much larger than last time. I hope that you can attend, as it’s a real good learning experience.

 On August 20th we did our operation from the Nantucket Lightship in Oyster Bay. We ran one radio on 20 and 40, and did quite well. Probably 50 QSOs for the day, but the bands are generally dead during the day. We didn’t want to stay till dark, so we left around 3 PM. We had fun, as always. If you worked us (or even if you didn’t) you can get a card via the callbook address for WA2LQO.

 I am on the Board for the LI Friends of  Wireless. They have asked me to do a demo of the Tesla Coil at an upcoming meeting of the Sayville Historical Society, so look for that announcement.  And at the Sept 17th Friends meeting (Saturday) there will be a nice presentation about the Telefunken site. A lot of never-before-seen photos will be shown. I’ll be there, and I think you might enjoy this one also.

 

 

       Our next GARC meeting is 9/21.  We’ll be at the Bethpage Library. – Pat KE2LJ 

 

                                       

                                       CQ DE WA2LQO     JULY 2005                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 6/15/2005

 Pete, N2PYV, secretary.

 

                                          The meeting was called to order by Pat at 5:44 PM.

 

TREASURERS REPORT – Ed, WB2EAV       REPEATERS Gordon, KB2UB

 Finances continue to be in good shape.                Gordon received a call from Bill, N2NFI, but has

            Pat stated that we had submitted some bills           not been able to arrange a time to visit the

            To NGC Recreation Dept, and were waiting         Hauppaigue site.  The repeaters appear to be

            reimbursement.                                                       working OK.

 

VE REPORT – Bob, W2ILP                               NET REPORT- Zack, WB2PUE

There were four VEs and one applicant                 The Sunday morning 40-Meter net was good.          

present.  The applicant passed the Technician        last week.

Exam.  The VEs were: AG2A, KB2QFT,                  

N2SFT and W2ILP.                                               WAG REPORT-Bob,W2FPF

                                                                                No activity.           .

MEMBERSHIP

The executive Committee and the General membership approved an application by Karen Cefalo to

be a Sustaining Member.  Karen does not have a license yet.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Plans for Field day were discussed.  We will start setting up at the site near the Bethpage water tower

About 3:30 PM on Friday June 24.  We plan to set up an 80-Meter dipole, a 40-Meter sloper and a 20-                                         

Meter dipole.  We probably will use two tents.

GARC NETS:

40 Meters: 7.289 MHz at 7:30 AM EST Sundays.

20 Meters: 14.275 MHz at 12 Noon EST Wednesdays.

2 Meters (via repeaters): 146.745 MHz  (-.600)at 8:30 PM EST Thursdays.

                                           145.330 MHz (- .600) at 9:00 PM EST Thursdays.

[Tone for both repeaters is 136.5 Hz]         (ARES/RACES) Mondays

                                          

MEETINGS

General Meetings of the GARC are held on the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 5:30 PM.   The meetings are usually held at the Underwriters Lab, 1285 Walt Whitman Road,  Melville, NY.  Driving directions and maps can be obtained from http://www.mapquest.com   It is suggested that the GARC Web Site be checked to be certain of meeting location, which may change after this newsletter is distributed. Board meetings are held eight days before the General Meeting and GARC members are invited. to attend, but please call Pat Masterson, KE2LJ, at 516-346-7125 to confirm place and time of meeting.  

                                                          

GARC WEB SITE

The web site of the GARC can be found at http://www.qsl.net/wa2lqo/     Webmaster is Pat Masterson KE2LJ.  Pictures of GARC activities, archives of newsletters, roster of members, and other information about the GARC may be found there.                                                                                                                                    Page. 4

 

 

OBITUARY

DAVE ANDERSON, KA2FEA passed away on July 5, 2005 from heart and kidney failure.  Dave was 79.

He was the editor of “CQ de WA2LQO” from April 1990 to 2005.

JOHN C. MAGIN, W2MFN passed away in June 2005 from cancers.  He had moved to Hawaii, where his call changed to KH7Y.  John was 68.  He had been president of the GARC from 1987 – 1988, and had also held office as treasurer and vice president at other times.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Internet Link of the Month for Internerds

 

This month I’ll talk about an internet site where you may be able to get manuals and schematics for many of your old radios.

The site is:

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/

This is the BAMA web site.  BAMA stands for Boat Anchor Manual Archives.  The manuals and schematics are free for the taking.  That is if you can download them.  There are different formats used and you may have to first have to download a graphic player that you may not have already loaded in your computer.  I had Adobe Acrobat but needed to download other formats to get what I was looking for.  As the “Boat Anchor” name implies, don’t expect to find anything for recent models This site is mainly good for older models.  Since it may be hard to get information pertaining to your antiques from the original manufacture; this site covers the old stuff that has been discontinued and might be hard to find elsewhere.  Many of the manufactures covered there are no longer in business.    

When you get to the site you will see a list of manufacturers.  You then click on the one you are interested in and another page comes up with a list of model numbers.  If what you want is there, you click on the model number and then you see what is available for that model in terms of manuals, schematics and/or illustrations.

 

On Field Day I mentioned to Bob Fox (AB2OE) that I was only able to get part of a schematic when I tried to use BAMA. He said that the trouble was that the BAMA site server could not always support fast downloads and would drop out if a download was large and the web server got hit too fast.  He suggested that I try to load a program that would alter my PCs downloading rate.  The software he suggested is called Download Express.  After doing a search for Download Express, I found a site where I could download software by that name. The software that was listed there is not free as far I could see and it comes in many versions, which I am not sure are what I want. The software belongs to Meta Products.  I will have to get back to AB2OE for more information before I go on.  Now here is another example that may apply to what I spoke of before when I talked about experimenting with digital modes, You find that you get software that is free but sometimes it won’t work without getting software that is not permanently free or not free at all and you don’t know if it will do what you need it to do without conflicting with stuff that you have been doing without it.  The question is often what will my PC continue to do and that is, in software terms, what you want it to default to. Logically it is like the guy who is training dogs.  What should he do if he calls Rex and Fido comes instead?  This all reminds me of an old Marx Brothers movie.  One of the brothers is selling books from an ice cream peddler’s cart. The trouble is you need to buy all of his books to understand the book that you want.  This was supposed to be a comedy in the days of B & W movies but it seems to be reality today in the day of computers.  I’d rather see that Marx brothers’ ice cream cart crash from a bad load than my computer.

 

 

   CQ  DE WA2LQO   JULY 2005                    Page 5

PUZZLE

Here is another cryptogram:

 

DM  IQ  SBJSPBR  FHU  JDNUDQAHDNXSJ  NTDSQUDNU  NIRN  UXIU  NYLSUXDQA  DN

 

EYNNDFBS  XS  DN  IBLYNU  TSPUIDQBR  PDAXU,  FHU  DM  XS  NIRN  UXIU  DU  DN

 

DLEYNNDFBS  XS  DN  ZSPR  EPYFIFBR  KPYQA.

 

--IPUXHP T.  TBIPVS--   

 

Solution to last month’s cryptogram:

HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE.  THE “EAGLE” HAS LANDED.

         -- NEIL A.. ARMSTRONG—

 

 

CLASICAL PUZZLES

 

There are a few famous classical puzzles that we learn about when we study algebra and geometry.

One is the trisection of an angle.  After learning that we can bisect any angle with only a compass and a

straight edge, the trigonometry teacher often asks “Now lets see if anyone can trisect any angle with only a compass and straight edge.  No protractor may be used in these constructions.  It seems doable at first but as far as I know it is impossible.  Next can anyone  prove why it is impossible?  That may not be impossible but it may be hard to explain why.  If you can explain why in logical terms send me your work and I will print it here.

 

The next famous riddle is known as the proof of FERMAT’S LAST THEOREM.  This theorem states that it is impossible to find integers which can satisfy the equation:  A^n + B^n = C^n,  except when n=2

Legend has it that French mathematician Fermat wrote this theorem in the margin of some notes on more advanced linear algebra.  He wrote that the proof was trivial but didn’t detail any proof.  He died leaving mathematicians working on proofs to this day.  There have from time to time been math experts that have come up with proofs, only later to be challenged by other math experts who claim the proofs are not rigorous enough.  Some proofs are impossible for me to follow because they get into using other algebraic proofs that I can’t understand.  When I was a senior in high school, I assumed the proof would be easy, so I attacked it myself.  I believed my math teacher when he said that Fermat thought it would be trivial and did not know at that time that the world’s best mathematicians had given up on solving it and it was now used as a sort of joke to frustrate foolish pretenders who didn’t know that it was impossible to prove, least at that time.   Anyway I came up with what I think is a simple obvious solution while in high school and my math teacher was impressed as were some of my classmates.  Heck it didn’t seem as hard as learning to use Smith charts on my own.

I would like to hear from any of the readers of this newsletter if they have tried to solve Fermat’s theorem.

I will show W2ILP’s solution next month unless preempted by something more appropriate to amateur radio.

My solution seems obvious to me but it is not rigorous enough in the eyes of the experts.  I will also mention how this fits into the subject of LINEAR ALGEBRA and how it does apply to electronic engineering.  Don’t get scared if you don’t consider yourself a great math student.  Remember that I only got Bs and Cs in math courses and Albert Einstein flunked high school geometry.  I kid you not..

 

 

                                                  CQ DE WA2LQO                 JULY 2005                                             Page 6


GARC VE EXAMS

 

We are continuing to proctor exams for all classes of ham licenses on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 5:00 PM.

 

The present exams are: Element 1: 5 WPM CW, Element 2: Technician,

Element 3: General and Element 4: Amateur Extra Class. The fee for 2005 is $14 for all exams taken in one sitting.

 

Applicants for upgrading should bring a photocopy of their present license and their FRN number.

 

New, first time, applicants should be aware that their Social Security

number will be required on their application form. All applicants should bring drivers license or other picture ID. The exams are given at the Underwriters Lab in Melville,

unless otherwise noted.   This is the same building where GARC meetings are presently held.

 

For any further information e-mail: -

[email protected] or phone: - (631) 499-2214

 

Study material information is available at the http://www.arrl.org or the http://www.w5yi.org web site.

 

All VECs use the same Q & A pools.

 

Since the beginning of the VE program the GARC has provided opportunities to take ham exams monthly, during all twelve months of every year.

 

Bob Wexelbaum, W2ILP

and the Grumman VE team.

 

 

                                   Page 7

 

CQ de WA2LQO

JULY 2005

 VOL.  78,  NO.  7

 

EDITOR

Bob Wexelbaum  W2ILP

(631) 499-2214

[email protected]

 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PAT MASTERSON, KE2LJ

PETE RAPELJE, N2PYV

And all the members of GARC (we hope!)

 

CQ de WA2LQO is published monthly by the Grumman Amateur Radio Club for its members and friends. Send articles and amateur equipment advertisements to:

KE2LJ or W2ILP

 

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

If you want to submit articles or amateur equipment ads via e-mail do the following:

1. For submission direct to editor call him at above number to set up a transfer.

2. For e-mail transfer:

Internet Address

[email protected]

 

 
EDITORIAL

 

I note with sadness the passing of Dave Anderson, our former editor, who was a very proficient experienced publications man.  It was also sad to learn from Tom Provost that John Magin is a silent key.

John will be well remembered by many members of the GARC as a devoted ham and an admirable leader. Details are listed under “Obituary”. 

 

As VE coordinator, I have to keep up with all of the latest changes that apply to licensing exams.  I thought that there would be an exam changed on July 2005. I checked with the VEC and there will be no exams changed this year, so that all present Q & A study guides remain the same for now.  Next year, as of July 1, 2006, the Extra Class exam will change.  If you are preparing for Extra Class, using present Q & A study material be sure to get tested before July 2006.  The Technician and the General exams will remain the same in 2006.

 

Field day was great this year.  I managed to do some operating on both Saturday and Sunday, but unlike other years, I did not stay overnight.  Pat has been busy summing up our score.  See his page for details..

 

73,

w2ilp (I License People)

 

GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB OFFICERS FOR 2005

 

President               Pat Masterson              KE2LJ              V01-01    516-346-7125

Vice President       Gordon Sammis             KB2UB            Retiree     631-666-7463

Secretary               Peter Rapelje                  N2PYV          Retiree     516-676-0694
Treasurer               Ed Gellender                   WB2EAV         X02-14   516-575-0013

2Yr Board Member    Zack Zilavy               WB2PUE        Retiree     631-667-4628
2YrBoard Member     Dave Ledo               AB2EF

2Yr Board Member   Bob Christen         W2FPF               

1Yr Board Member   Bob Wexelbaum    W2ILP                 Retiree     631-499-2214

1Yr Board Member    Jack Cotterell        WA2PYK            Retiree     516-249-0979

Trustee WA2LQO       Ray Schubnel        W2DKM           Retiree

 

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

 

Meeting Programs       Contact a Board Member

FCC Exam Coord.         Bob Wexelbaum       W2ILP                           631-499-2214

 

 

GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB OFFICERS FOR 1997

 

President                       Pat Masterson          KE2LJ             B38-111          346-6316

Vice President               Gordon Sammis        KB2UB           C63-005          575-1846

Secretary                       Peter Rapelje             N2PYV           Retiree            676-0694

Treasurer                       Phil  Simonetti           N2ZED           K10-14            346-8124    

2Yr Board Member       Paul Chalson             WA2FOF       A16-043         224-8153

2Yr Board Member       Howard Liebman      W2QUV         Retiree            433-7487

2Yr Board Member       Martin Miller             NN2C             Retiree            423-8153

1Yr Board Member       Zak Zilavy                 WB2PUE       Retiree            667-4628

1Yr Board Member       Hank Niemczyk         W2ZZE          Retiree            796-3212

Trustee WA2LQO       Ray Schubnel           W2DKM        C31-005          575-5036

 

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

 

Meeting Programs       Contact a Board Member

FCC Exam Coord.         Bob Wexelbaum       W2ILP                                    499-2214

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

Sixty Years 1944 -2004

P.O. Box 0644

Bethpage, NY 11714-0644

 

 

 

                                                                                                        FIRST CLASS

                                                                           DO  NOT DELAY

 

 

                                 TECHNICAL BITS                

 

Last month I wrote about a one tube radio receiver that consisted only of a single regenerative detector stage.  This type of receiver has the advantage of being a very good CW receiver because it can be caused to oscillate only in the presence of an RF carrier and produce an audio tone.  It also develops a very narrow bandwidth when on the verge of oscillation and this is   desirable for CW reception.  For AM reception the feedback is reduced and we find that the Q multiplying effect is also reduced and thus AM

 

 

 

detection also works well.

To improve our radio receiver we can add more vacuum tubes as amplifiers. The one tube radio can only drive headphones but by adding one or two audio amplifier stages we can easily drive a speaker.  The first audio stage could be a triode voltage amplifier and it can drive a beam power pentode which can provide all the audio power needed for a speaker, A volume control would be needed to control the audio gain..  Now going in the other direction in front of the detector we can add RF amplification.  Here we find

new restrictions. We must

 

 

 

tune each RF amplifier stage with a tuned tank made up of an inductor and a capacitor. The tuning must track between all RF amplifier stages and the detector stage.  This is usually done by a ganged variable capacitor.  Tracking is not so easy and adjustments involving trimmer capacitors and padder inductors must be used so that the band pass remains usable on the high and low ends of the tuned band.  Next we find that adding more than one RF stage may cause undesired oscillation. Also Increased RF gain may amplify both noise and signals with no advantage.