[GVARC] June 2003 newsletter
Tony
[email protected]
Fri, 20 Jun 2003 09:48:14 -0700
************************* Garlic Valley ******************************
Volume 18 Jun 2003
******************* Amateur Radio Club Newsletter ********************
GVARC OFFICERS
President Frank Fahrlander, N7FF
Vice President Ed Vines, KG6WU
Secretary Mark Deger, KG6IFQ
Treasurer Tony Armendariz, AD6ID
Newsletter Editor Tony Armendariz, AD6ID
WEBster Claud Furnare, NA6W
Web Site http://www.qsl.net/gvarc
Upgrades: Mike McGregor, KG6OPC->AE6MY, to Amateur Extra
New Member: Ken Manuele, KG6QQU
=20
New Ham: Pat Moore, KG6RLR
Passed: Harold Packard, WA6YJU/SK
FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE:
NEXT CLUB MEETING
GVARC MEMBERSHIP
HAL PACKARD, WA6YJU/SK
AMERICAN QRP CLUB
NEW 60-METER BAND - JULY 3!
ARRL & DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO AFFILIATE
NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR RADIO HISTORY
CONTESTS MAY 2003
COMING EVENTS
***NEXT CLUB MEETING - Field Day Saturday, 28-Jun-03
--------------------
This month, the meeting is on Fremont Peak. We'll arrive about 8 and
start setting up for Field Day 2003. The actual contest begins at 11:00
(1800 UTC).
See the GVARC at Field Day item for the rest of the details.
=20
GVARC usually meets on the LAST Saturday of each month, at the
Sunrise Restaurant in Gilroy on Monterey Avenue (near the car dealers in
front of Motel 6). From the North or South, take the Monterey St. exit
from highway 101 (south end of Gilroy) and head north. We trickle in
about 8 a.m. and eat at 8:30ish. The South County ARES net is held
each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on W6GGF/R (147.825 -.600, no PL 100Hz).
=20
***GVARC at Field Day
---------------------
FIELD DAY 2002 June (27), 28, 29
Fremont Peak, Doe Flat Campground
Fremont Peak is outside of San Juan Bautista. The Doe Flats
campground is at about 3000 ft - a radio-quiet zone. We plan on:
3 HF, wire dipoles, band-pass filters
1 6M, beam antenna
1 2M. Horizontal + Vertical array
We use networked WriteLog software for contest logging.
Doe Flats is about 11 miles up Fremont Peak from "flat land" in SJ
Bautista. Someone usually monitors 147.825 (W6GGF GVARC rptr) 146.970
(K6LY) or 442.500 (WB6ZVW), though all are ineffective for several miles
in the last part of the climb.=20
There may be a few up there on Friday. But, with wire antennas, the
setup will happen Saturday morning, say about 8. The contest starts at
11 (1600 UTC) and goes for 48 hours.
=20
We're doing this for fun. There is no points pressure. There is
always time for everyone to operate.
So, bring yourself, your enthusiasm, some food, a radio if you wish.
There will be plenty of opportunity for anyone to operate anywhere in
any contest band.
=20
See you at Doe Flats!
-- AD6ID
***Hal Packard, WA6YJU/SK
-------------------------
My dad passed away on Saturday, May 3rd. During all his many
hospital stays, I would print the e-mails from the club and take them to
him. He enjoyed keeping up with things, even though he could no longer
participate. Thank you for keeping him in touch. He's finally at peace
and that brings our family comfort. Would you please ... let others
know too?
-- Karen Christopher, Hal's daughter
***GVARC MEMBERSHIP
-------------------
Dues for all members become payable each January. The annual cost is
only $20 per person and $10 for each family member in the same
household. Membership dues helps such things as the W6GGF/R repeater,
this newsletter, emergency readiness, etc. Membership, not required for
general use of the repeater, adds autopatch and autodial privileges.
GVARC is a non-profit organization per IRS section 501(c)(4) - we
don't make any money, do service for the community, but are not a
charity.
To join or for more information, please contact the treasurer:
Tony Armendariz, AD6ID
11950 New Avenue
Gilroy, CA 95020
408-683-2025 home
Internet: [email protected]
***American QRP Club
--------------------
NorCal, NJQRP merge to form American QRP Club: The NorCal QRP Club
and the New Jersey QRP Club have joined forces, effective June 4, to
form The American QRP Club. A larger, more comprehensive single journal,
The Homebrewer, will replace QRPp and QRP Homebrewer. The new club
already has begun to consolidate kitting operations as well, and a new
Web site <http://www.a-qrp.org> is in the offing. Continuing will be the
two QRP forums, Atlanticon and Pacificon, and the NJQRP and NorCal will
continue to plan and execute their respective forums, funded via the
American QRP Club. Detailed information is available on the American QRP
Club's temporary Web site <http://www.njqrp.org/a-qrp/index.html>.
-- ARRL
=20
***NEW 60-METER BAND - JULY 3!
------------------------------
The new five-channel 60-meter amateur allocation becomes available to US
Amateur Radio operators at midnight (12:00 AM) local time on July 3. The
local time designation means that amateurs in the US territory of Guam
likely will be the first to get a crack at the new band.
The new band will be a secondary allocation--federal government users
are primary--and the first on which the only permitted mode will be
upper-sideband (USB) phone (emission type 2K8J3E). The FCC last month
announced it would grant hams access to five discrete 2.8-kHz-wide
channels instead of the 150 kHz-wide band ARRL had requested and the FCC
initially proposed. The League remains optimistic, however, that Amateur
Radio eventually may be able to enjoy a band segment with multiple mode
privileges at 60 meters. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, has said that in
the meantime hams will have to be on their best behavior when taking
advantage of the limited channelized allocation, open to General and
higher class licensees.
The FCC has granted amateurs center-channel frequencies of 5332, 5348,
5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz--the last channel common to the amateur
experimental operation under way in the United Kingdom
<http://www.rsgb-hfc.org.uk/5mhz.htm>. To be "on channel," users of 60
meters should set their transmitted carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than
the channel-center frequency. In terms of day-to-day operation, the new
band is expected to resemble the sort of channel sharing typical on
local repeaters.
ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, says hams need to be very
careful if they're considering modifying their current transceiver or
transmitter for 5 MHz. The ARRL advises that members check with the
appropriate equipment manufacturers regarding specific modification
information. Some modifications not only may void the warranty but could
affect or alter a transmitter's operation in unpredictable ways.
"Hams need to be sure that any modifications put them right on the
desired channel," Hare said. "Most hams are used to just having to think
about band edges, so on other bands, if a mod were a bit 'off,' all
operators would need to ensure is that they are not transmitting outside
the band."
Hare recommended that on 5 MHz amateurs remain within "a few tens of
Hertz" of suppressed-carrier accuracy. He also pointed out that hams
have a mandate not to have any of their signal occupy spectrum outside
the assigned 2.8 kHz channels.
Noting that high-frequency audio response can vary considerably from
radio to radio, Hare has suggested restricting occupied channel audio
bandwidth to 2600 Hz, rolling off below 200 Hz on the low end and above
2800 Hz on the high end.
Last-minute opposition to the granting of a band segment at 5 MHz came
last year from the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), which cited the ongoing spectrum requirements of
federal government licensees having homeland security responsibilities.
The NTIA administers spectrum allocated to the federal government. A
compromise between the FCC and the NTIA resulted in the limited,
channelized allocation.
The NTIA selected the channels the FCC authorized to minimize the
possibility of interference to federal government users, and it dictated
the use of USB so that federal government users--who also use only
USB--could readily identify amateur stations if necessary.
The FCC has set maximum power at 50 W ERP and said it would consider a
typical half-wave dipole to exhibit no gain.
-- ARRL
***ARRL & DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO AFFILIATE
------------------------------------------------
ARRL and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
<http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/> will sign a Statement of Affiliation
(SoA) at the League's 2003 National Convention later this month in
Texas. The convention will be held June 20-22 at the Arlington
Convention Center in conjunction with Ham-Com <http://www.hamcom.org>.
Since both ARRL and DHS view community disaster preparedness and
response as top priorities, they will pledge mutual support for Citizen
Corps--a community-based training and outreach initiative that brings
together volunteers and first responders.
"This is all part of the bigger picture of getting emergency
communications, aligned with what our government needs," said ARRL
President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, who will sign the SoA on the League's
behalf.
"Amateur Radio stands ready to serve the country as needed in times of
emergency."
Chief Operating Officer of the Emergency Preparedness and Response
Directorate Ron Castleman will represent the DHS at the signing and
serve as the lead speaker during the ARRL Forum, Saturday, June 21, at
10 AM.
The forum will take place in an unnumbered room that's to the right of
the Ham-Com registration area, not in Room M5 as originally scheduled.
Programs under the Citizen Corps umbrella are aimed at helping
communities prevent, prepare for and respond to terrorism, public health
issues and disasters.
The Statement of Affiliation will call on ARRL and DHS to collaborate in
several areas, including raising public awareness of Amateur Radio as a
public safety resource and providing training and accreditation for
Amateur Radio emergency communications. The DHS and the League also will
work together to promote formation and assist Citizen Corps councils in
education, training and volunteer service opportunities that support
first responders, disaster relief organizations and community safety
efforts.
A schedule of Ham-Com/2003 ARRL National Convention programs is
available on the Ham-Com Web site
<http://www.hamcom.org/programs/Programs.pdf>.
- ARRL
=20
***NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR RADIO HISTORY
------------------------------------
1976
Golden Jubilee of NZART celebrated, Sir William Pickering guest speaker
at conference.
Use of 1803 to 1813 kHz authorized.
7
Licence fee raised to $6.00.
First full-colour cover for Break-In.
1977
Novice grade licence introduced.
1978
Forty-metre band extended to 7.3 MHz on a non-interference basis.
NZART team attends Fourth IARU Region III Conference, Bangkok.
First ATV repeater operational, at Wellington.
First two-way contact on 24 GHz, by Peter Williams ZL2ARW and John
Yaldwyn ZL2TRV.
1979
Licence fee raised to $10.00.
Hart Postlethwaite WB6CQW guest speaker at Conference, Upper Hutt.
WARC in Geneva, NZART paid for an Amateur Service representative (Fred
Johnson
ZL2AMJ) to attend as a member of the New Zealand delegation.
Term of office for NZART President and Council extended to 2 years.
50 to 50.15 MHz sharing arrangement introduced.
First Cook Strait crossing by two-way ATV, by ZL2TWM and ZL2ASF.
First 432 MHz E-M-E contact with USA by ZL2BCG and K5JL.
Jim Jackson ZL2BCG then Graham Alderson ZL3AAD set 432 MHz E-M-E world
record
when contacting I5MSH.
Tasman Sea crossed on 432 MHz, by ZL1TAB and VK2BQJ.
Chuck Rademacher ZL1ADI wins IARU Radiosport Championship and sets world
record,
repeating both feats the following year.
1980
World record E-M-E contact between ZL3AAD and DL9KR on 432 MHz.
QSL Bureau handled 247,000 cards at a cost of $1,300.
Frequency Management Working Group established.
Call signs retained when amateurs move between radio districts.
1981
First European 50 MHz contact and new world record: ZL1MQ and ZB0T, SSB,
18,250 km,
17 April.
Conference opened by His Excellency the Governor General, Sir David
Beattie.
"Milestones" appears in the NZART Annual Callbook for the first time.
ZL? prefix introduced for visitors to New Zealand.
Random 5-letter groups approved for Morse broadcasts from approved
stations.
144 MHz bandplan changes to 600 kHz offset for FM repeaters.
First 2m linear repeater, Dunedin, by ZL1BTB and ZL4DO.
1982
NZART membership peaks at 4397.
NZART Headquarters opens in Upper Hutt.
ATV record, 70cm: ZL2TWS Mt Ruapehu to ZL2ASF Mt Murchison, 373 km, 31
January.
Licence fee raised to $13.
10.1 MHz band made available.
8
Non-Morse operators permitted on 51 to 53 MHz band.
NZART team attends Fifth IARU Region III Association Conference, Manila.
AREC 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Tasman Sea crossed on 1296 MHz by ZL1AVZ and VK2BDN.
-- http://www.nzart.org.nz
***CONTESTS MAY 2003
---------------------
------- (From-to) -------- -------------------------------------------
DATE WEEKDAY - TIME UTC CONTEST NAME - MODE
----- ------------------- -------------------------------------------
1 Tue 0000 - 2359 RAC Canada Day Contest - CW/Phone
4- 5 Fri 2300 - Sat 0300 MI-QRP Club July 4th CW Sprint - CW
5- 6 Sat 0000 - Sun 2400 Venezuelan Independence Day Contest - SSB
5- 6 Sat 1100 - Sun 1059 DL-DX RTTY Contest - RTTY
5- 6 Sat 1500 - Sun 1500 Original QRP Contest Summer - CW
6 Sun 1100 - 1700 DARC 10 m Digital Contest "Corona" - DIGI
12-13 Sat 1200 - Sun 1200 IARU HF World Championship - CW/SSB
12 Sat 1700 - 2100 FISTS Summer Sprint - CW
12-13 Sat 1800 - Sun 2400 *?* Internet 6 m DX Contest - CW/SSB
13 Sun 1400 - 1500 SSA M=E5nadstest nr 7 - CW
13 Sun 1515 - 1615 SSA M=E5nadstest nr 7 - SSB
13 Sun 2000 - 2400 QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint - CW
19 Sat 0001 - 2359 Colombian Indep. Day Contest - CW/SSB/RTTY
19 Sat 0700 - 2300 Pacific 160 metres Contest - CW/SSB
19-20 Sat 1500 - Sun 1500 AGCW QRP Summer Contest - CW
19-20 Sat 1500 - Sun 2359 *?* W/VE Islands Contest - CW/SSB
19-20 Sat 1800 - Sun 2100 CQ World-Wide VHF Contest - All
19-20 Sat 1800 - Sun 0600 North American QSO Party - RTTY
20 Sun 0900 - 1200 RSGB Low Power Field Day (1) - CW
20 Sun 1300 - 1600 RSGB Low Power Field Day (2) - CW
20 Sun 2000 - 2200 The Great Colorado Gold Rush - CW
26-27 Sat 0000 - Sun 2400 Russian RTTY WW Contest - RTTY
26-27 Sat 0000 - Sun 2400 Venezuelan Independence Day Contest - CW
26-27 Sat 1200 - Sun 1200 RSGB IOTA Contest - CW/SSB
26-27 Sat 1600 - Sun 0400 Kentucky QSO Party - All
27 Sun 1201 - 2400 *?* FRACAP Contest - SSB
-- Jan-Eric Rehn - [email protected]
http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/text/c2003May.txt
***COMING EVENTS
----------------
- Livermore Swap Meet - 1st Sunday of each month at Las Positas
College in Livermore, 7:00 AM to noon, all year. Talk in 147.045 from
the west, 145.35 from the east. Contact Noel Anklam, KC6QZK, (510)
447-3857 eves.
- Foothill Flea Market - 2nd Saturday of each month from March to
October at Foothill College, Los Altos Hills. FARS NET on 145.23
repeater Thursday nights at 8 PM.
***GVARC EMAIL LIST SUMMARY
---------------------------
[email protected] is the official list of GVARC members with
e-mail addresses. This is a closed list; Joining GVARC gets you on the
list. Anyone on the list can send to the list; no one else can.
[email protected] is a list of those interested in gvarc.
Anyone can join (with confirmation message) and any member may
unsubscribe freely. Members of the gvarc_cc list can send to the list.
No one else can send to the list. List administrators, Tony, AD6ID,
and Frank, N7FF. The list's web site is http://www.qth.net.
______________________________________
To leave GVARC list, Contact Tony Armendariz, [email protected]. If you're
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