The Koolau Amateur Radio Club Newsletter for December 2000 and January 2001

NEXT MEETING- Saturday, January 13th, 2001 09:30

In Kaneohe, at The Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Meeting Room in the Visitor's Center at 9:30AM.

KARC Hamfest 2000

License Plates at Hamfest 2000

Photo Credits: AH7R- Mike, the collage, WH6JC-John the plates!


KARC Hamfest 2000 - Combined Report from E-Mail

This report is largely from email from Walt- AH6OZ, Mike- AH7R, Clem- KH7HO, Sid- AH6HH, Lee- KH6BZF and Al- AH6PT. Thanks to all that provided information that was incorporated in this Hamfest 2000 Report- Greg- WB6FZH

Many KARC members and officers have worked on the event planning and on-site activiities. Special thanks to Walt- AH6OZ, Clem- KH7HO, Al- AH6PT, Doug- WH7E, Shep- NH6IG, Jerry- WH6BHZ, David- KH6AW, Lee- KH6BZF, Mike- AH7R and Howard- WH6CLZ.

Mike- AH7R was a everywhere doing everything, Clem- KH7H at the door collecting money and rounding up the door prizes. Al- AH7PT was handling the refreshments and many other details. Shep- NH6IG, did a great job as liason to the Rainbow Bay CC, Doug- WH7E, was our media coordinator graphics wizzard with the flyer, map and webpages. Jerry- WH6BHZ, Howard- WH6CLZ, David- KH6AW were invaluable with the set-up and clean-up along with the many other things they did. The Amateur Radio Testing was the dedicated group of Sid- AH6HH, Lee- KH6BZF, Ted- NH6YK, and Doug- WH7E. AH6HH, Sid reports the W5YI testing report: 5 applicants, 2 auto upgrade to Extra Class, 1 up grade from No-Code to Extra Class, 1 upgrade from General to Extra, 1 code test fail.

Al- AH7PT, KARC Treasurer reports that about $330.00 was collected via the door and refreshments. Sid, AH6HH reported that his donated junk table with "Honor System" Coffee Can Donations to KARC netted an additional $160. Thanks to Sid and any others that donated parts and equipment that were sold to benefit KARC! We will be looking forward to more donations for next year.

There were two great prizes donated to KARC for the Hamfest 2000 event. The grand prize was a Kenwood 2 Meter Mobile, TM-261-A, donated by Miles Sakaguchi (KH7HT) of Kenwood Communications. This radio retails for $180.00. The winner of this prize was Rick Ching, KH6O. Thanks again to Miles and Kenwood Communications!

The other great prize was a Uni-Solar Battery Charger (solar panel) made by United Solar Systems Corps. This was donated by Dan Durgin (KA1AFJ) of SolarWorks, Ocean View, Hawaii. This solar panel retails for $55.00 and the lucky winner was Doug White, WH7E. Thanks to Dan and SolarWorks!

Please whenever possible, consider supporting these two companies and fellow Radio Amateurs that supported our Hamfest 2000. While the thank yous are being handed out many thanks to all of those that gave of thier time and resources to make this such an great event. Especially, those who may have been missed by this article being specifically named by oversight. Thanks!(Editor)

The general chronology as reported by KARC President, Walt- AH6OZ was that he and Mike- AH7R arrived about 0720 to put up signs and wait for Clem, Shep, and Al at 0800. The neighbor island folks started arriving at 0735 with four from Kauai followed by a crowd from the Big Island at 0755 of about 6 hams. Attendees came all during the day. The "official guestimate" based on lucky number tickets handed out is about 155 folks. The number is undoubtedly higher since a lot of folks didn't bother with the donation/ticket and just wandered in like last year. 180 people is a fairly accurate estimate of attendance.

There was a great deal of activity in the parking lot, swapping, selling, talking-story, DX and Contest lie telling, some visitors came to prove that they were not silent keys, Mel- WH6UG, brought his CD Van as an exhibit, we all certainly appreciate his largely personal investment in this community asset. Entry to the building was not until 0845. Once inside the KARC para-military Hamfest SWAT team had the tables and made arrangements for the major activities in the building squared away in just a few minutes.

Oahu RACES put up a display with video. EARC put up a HF station with vertical antenna out side and did what Hams do.. .communicated. Dan, KA1AFJ, from the Big Island was there showing solar panels and other emergency power accessories. Mike- AH7R, was showing the video from the KARC Field Day, Clem & Al were checking folks in. There were several other venders there with quite an assortment of gear new and old, with many interesting accessories too. Lots of sales and happy buyers and sellers, if you did not find that item you were looking for, come next year it will be waiting for you! Harry, KH6FKG, was there to check QSL cards for DXCC verfications.

Kimo Chun- KH7U, had just returned from Kingman Reef the week before, gave two great talks about the trip down there and the activities. He had a nice digital slide show on a PC with external monitor that was very well received and attended by about 40 people.

ARRL Section Manager, Ron Phillips- AH6NH and just about all the Pacific Section officers were there. He conducted a meeting under the tree outside. A major part of the meeting was the planning for next years event. KARC has been offered both bodies for organizing and some ARRL section funds to expand on the Annual Hamfest on Oahu. Just about everyone listed in QST for the Hawaii Section wass there, Ron- AH6NH, Harry- KH6FKG, [Lee- KH6BHZ, was there but he was with Sid testing], Jim- KH7M, Stu-NH6DR, Dan- KH6UW, Bob- AH6J and others who's names and calls were missed, but attendance appreciated!

The same location has been reserved for a date closer to the permanent time slot in early October 2001. We will occupy the Rainbow Bay CC plus we'll have the adjacent Yacht Club room for testing and presentations. The covered pavilion will be in use for rain-or-shine Swap Meet sales. It looks like we may be able to utilize the large grass area across from the buildings that can be used if we set-up tarps,etc. Plans include soliciting more actively for exhibitors of Amateur Radio and related equipment, services and accessories. We will be joined by other clubs, ARRL, JARL, public service organizations and more! The Neighbor Island clubs are already working on their plans for technical presentations and the like for next year. KARC President, Walt- AH6OZ, said that he believes that it will become a full day event next year, and WB6FZH- Greg, KARC NEWS Editor says he is looking forward to purchasing his KARC Hamfest 2005 "Mainland Ham Package", including dinner, prize drawing ticket, rental car accomodations and many more features as the event expands through the years.

But for next year, the additional outside areas, and plans for XYLs and Harmonics will be included to make sure the entire family can attend if they wish, and even bring a picnic basket. The immediate plans call for retention of the current location with perhaps in years to come a section of the Blaisdale Center Exhibition Hall. Perhaps growing to an event that would attract Radio Amateurs from all around the world, as an excuse to have a vacation and a Hamfest Hawaiian style. However, your KARC officers will be planning very conservatively, and not obligating the club beyond it's means to pay if the event begins to lose money. This has been a problem universally with Ham Radio events as they often grow beyond their means to pay the actual expenses too quickly..

Hamfest 2000 was targeted to close in the early afternoon, the KARC crew tried to close it down about 1:30, the planned time as the facility had been cleaned and straightened-up by then. Shep-NH6IG, was kind enough to stay later to lock-up, as many were there still listening to Kimo's second presentation, talking-story, and the like even later. There clearly was lots of interest that could support an all-day event.

Warren- KH6WM, did a great job last year promoting the event, and this year built on those attendance levels, with the ARRL cooperation, and other sponsors that are already interested, we will have and even larger, longer turn out for Hamfest 2001 on October 13th next year. Be There!

Editor's Note: Thanks to all that emailed information to the Trinity National Forest in California so I could incorporate it into one article. I will add recognitions that were not included when I get more information into our next issue.

-NEWS-Features-CONTESTS-Ham Ads-MINUTES-Articles-PHOTOS-

Santa's new HT

FIELD DAY 2000 REPORT- Walt, AH6OZ

IN QST the following stations were listed in the results: 

Call    Class   QSOs    Power   Score   Club

KH6J      1A    920       2     3848    Koolau ARC
KH6RS     2A   1080       2     2484    Maui ARC
KH6IN     1A    132       5     2085    Hawaii QRP/Hilo ARC   Battery
KH6KWS    1A    524       2     1516    Wailua ARC            Battery
NH6DR     1A    395       2     1390    Kona Harbor Rats      Battery
KH6EJ     1A    885       1     1536    BIARC

No sign of the Kauai ARC or EARC in the QST listing. Of the 215 total 1A stations most were 1A and about 63 1A Battery and 4 1A Commercial We were 16th in 1A and 29th out of all three 1A sub-catagories.

If we had the 200 additional bonus points for Satellite Operation and the FD message we would have moved up 2 places. Tops in US for 1A Battery was N4IR at 10,900 and 1A NC7J at 6,520.

Editor's Note: This is a very respectable showing, thanks to all that worked so hard to ruin the day of the other KH6 Club members that found KARC #1 on the list of 1A Class participants. Let's build on this next year, as the other clubs will be re-redoubling their efforts I am sure!

DECEMBER - JANUARY CONTESTS-

SWAP, SELL & TRADE- KARC Members...Your FREE Advertisement here!

Your OAHU QSL Bureau- Update on Operations 

FROM: Dennis Yee- AH6P Emergency Amateur Radio Club
VIA: E-Mail Announcement
EARC WEBSITE: http://www.qsl.net/earc/

Did you know that the Emergency Amateur Radio Club operates the Oahu Section
of the KH6 Bureau?  You ask, "What is that?"  Well, if you're a DXer, then
you know that the final courtesy of a DX contact is the exchange of a QSL
card.  The KH6 Bureau on this island facilitates your receipt of your QSL
cards by receiving them via the ARRL Bureau.  It is then your responsibility
to retrieve them from your local bureau manager.  Currently I am managing
the bureau for the EARC.  How do you know if there are cards in the bureau
for you?  Well, if you're an avid DXer, then you should probably expect
cards to come in for you.  In that case, two of the best ways for you to get
your cards are:

1.  Leave some money($$$) on-file with the bureau so that as cards come in
for you they can be mailed out to you.  A check for $5 or $10 is a good
start and can be made out to me.
2.  Visit the EARC General Membership Meetings.  The bureau will be at each
meeting and you can check for yourself.

There is also a web site online that you check:  http://www.qsl.net/ah6p

For the time being, while I work out a formatting problem, you'll have to
download the PDF file.  Note that callsigns are sorted in ascending order
according to the first letter of the suffix of your callsign.  I usually get
cards in from the KH6 Bureau Manager, Wayne Jones (NH6K), monthly, so check
back often.  Please note that once cards are given to me, they will be
retained for a maximum of 90 days unless you personally make arrangements
with me.  Thereafter they will be returned or destroyed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email.

Dennis Yee / AH6P
dnryee@hawaii.rr.com
ah6p@arrl.net

SPACE NEWS- AMSAT P3D, MIR & ISS

December 26th Update: AMSAT announced today that a contol station ZL1AOX was able to send a signal that resulted in P3D/AO-40 resetting a house-keeping computer and turning on a 2401.305mhz carrier signal. This is the first successful contact since the satellite's 400-N motor was fired on December 13th to achieve it's current 61,000 km high orbit. Doppler characteristics and tracking data confirm that is is P3D!. The signal strength was "S-5 to S-6", compared to the "S-2" strength of the beacon after initial low orbit insertion.

On December 25th, MIR space station telemetry was lost immediately after a control signal was sent by the Russian Space Agency. It is speculated that an error in the uplinked signal turned off the stabiliation and tracking unit that tracks the sun for the electrical solar panels. 21 hours later on December 26th, 21 hours later, the telemetry has been restored and testing is being done to determine what happened. Ooops!

December 27th found an unmanned "Progress" cargo ship docking automatically with the international space station. These are truely amazing times we in, clearly Amateur Radio is not just dots and dashes anymore! Stay tuned.

KARC News December-January Issue Combined

With the Hamfest 2000 replacing the November meeting, no December meeting there was little to report for the December issue that could not wait until the January 2001 issue. The consensus of your officers agreed that it was OK to save the postage and production costs to the club. This was suggested by KARC Editor, Greg- WB6FZH who was also having some difficulty with getting this issue together.

It might be nice to again have the December "Holiday or Christmas Dinner" in 2001, perhaps someone might again look into the places and prices availiable for KARC on the Windward Side of Oahu for this traditional Club Activity.

Honolulu Amateur Radio Club Moves Meeting Place

The Columbia Inn, a long time Honolulu eatery has closed forever! HARC will meet at Denny's near Pearl Ridge Shoppiing Center with the same meeting schedule, 3rd Saturday, Odd months (Jan,March,May,July,Sept Nov) at 0900. Amateur Radio Testing will be after each meeting. The room is reserved from 0900-1100. Denny's Restaurant is located on Pali Momi, across the street from Sears.

QCWA Charter on Oahu!

The Quarter Century Wireless Association now has Chapter #206 in Honolulu. It meets the 4th Friday of month at 0800 in the morning at the Sizzler Restaurant at Pearl Ridge on Moanalua Road. This location is one street Ewa of Pali Momi Street. Lots of parking and good food! Anyone may come to the meetings, to join QCWA you need to be licensed before 1976.

The first slate of Officers are Joan, KA4DPW, President. Ted, KH6GI, Vice President. John, K1ER, Secretary-Treasurer. Joe- KH6JF and Lee- KH6BZF are Directors.

KOOLAU AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

CLUB OFFICERS

DIRECTORS

PROGRAM CHAIRMAN- NONE

NEWSLETTER- Online & Mailed Versions

CLUB MEETINGS & MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP & Field Day CHAIRMAN- Jerry Mulherin, WH6BKQ, 235-3042, email:jerham@aloha.net

MAILING ADDRESS- KARC c/o J.Mulherin, 45-145 Mikihilina St., Kaneohe, HI 96744

KARC WEBSITE & INTERNET INFORMATION