The "Play-In-The-Park" activity of Jan. 15th went quite well. The weather was so-so for set-up on Friday except for one brief heavy shower. The site was already saturated due to the extended rainy period prior to the event.
Due to Al's (AH6PT) generosity, we erected a 20' x 30' canopy right next to the club's 20 x 20 so had a real nice large area under cover. Saturday's weather was a different story as it rained pretty heavily, intermittently throughout most of the time that the majority of the group was around. We still managed to draw 15 (unless I miscounted) attendees, including one new member and one former member who last came out about 4 or 5 years ago.
I fully intended to take a camera along to snap some pictures, but the weather was so nasty that I gave that up.
Mike put up an extended double Zepp, optimized for 20/15 M, and it apparently loaded up well for all bands. They were going great guns on 10 when the meeting crowd was around.
KARC President, Walt, AH6OZ's E-Mailed information (Edited)
I will post our radio contest score when it is availiable, along with the highlights of our operation.
There were some folks taking pictures, I will try and round them up for the newsletter and webpage. Aproxiamately 15 in attendance, even with the poor weather. Two new members were also signed up and welcomed into the KARC. (Welcome to KARC!)
I called the meeting to order at 0930 HST. I reported that the ARRL Affiliate application was on it's way. KARC should hear about it's progress in about 4 months (This is ARRL's guess). Ron Phillips, ARRL Pacific Section Manager knows that it's being processed and will approve it when he gets it. This will also further enhance our Non-Profit Educational Corporation paperwork as that progresses.
At the short business meeting, Sid, AH6HH, suggested that we start special interest groups that can get together outside the meeting or after the meetings to just talk about specific topics on a regular schedule. That will be brought up at the next meeting.
The official business meeting was concluded at 10:00AM. At adjournment, some members operated the contest station, some listened intently to Fred, KH6BI, who gave a presentation on "Fox Hunting".
Fred's demonstration riveted a half-dozen in attendance that together with his printed hand-out made a very interesting presentation. Soon there should be some more KARC sponsored Transmitter Hunt events.
Probably the most unusual event was that the cats got into the Hamburger and Hot Dog buns, not content to eat one or two, the seemed to nibble on all of them!(Editor's Note: It is unknown if this was told to those in addendance...)
The Rain on Saturday night was like the BIG FLOOD!. I slept in the back of the pick-up truck. The intense noise from the rain was like 100,000 mice with small hammers wacking on the aluminum roof of the camper top. It awaken me immediately each time a wave of rain passed through the park.
Featured were the large swap-sell area, much "free-stuff" including an indoor table area plus (outdoors) a truck full of free stuff courtesy of Ray-KH6IEL. (Thank you, Ray!).
DXCC card checkers John K1ER and Rick KH7RS were in attendance.(Thanks, Guys!). ARRL Oahu QSO card manager Ted NH6YK was there distributing envelopes of joy.(Thanks, Ted!) ARRL Pacific Section Manager Ron, AH6HN from Hilo was in attendance too. (Thanks, Ron!)
Several brief technical talks, and a close-out auction that raised $65 for the KARC treasury were widely enjoyed by all!
All of the KARC folks who participated also deserve a big round of thanks from the club and from the co-chairmen (Walt, Mike, and Warren). Special thanks to Art, Dennis, Al K. (and son), Fred, Jerry, Alex, “Mrs. KH6WM (Leslie), and all others who helped with the event.
Planning for a follow-up event tentatively titled "Ham Fest 2000" has already begun. The time frame of early October looks best overall. Discussion of this topic will begin at the February KARC meeting. Bring your ideas! Should we go for a full day or just half day? What about commercial displays (which were not allowed this time)? How can we organize this event better?
For sure, a "home-brew" radio display and friendly competition will be on the program. Anything amateur radio related from kit-built to modified to fully built-from-scratch is eligible, so warm up your soldering irons (or your Weller guns for you OTs "HI")
Thanks again to all who helped, and we look forward to seeing everyone at Ham Fest 2000!
The upper altitude winds have not been favorable. As each week goes by, more and more equipment is added to the payload. The present payload now consists of a color ATV camera on 439.25mhz with an optical mirror split screen. A "Parrot Repeater" on 146.58 simplex, protected with PL of 74.4Hz will allow carefull QSOs. A 100 MW 3.579 Mhz beacon feeds a 1/2 wave vertical trailing wire, 20mw on 50.220 and one last "flea power" beacon on 28.975 will simulaneously keyed will allow tracking and hopefully recovery of the payload.
I was sent an e-mail from one of my QRP CW friends in BC along with a link to the website they have been building as the project progresses. I was delighted to see a group working on a project together, solving problems, and finding new ideas to incorporate. While balloons with radios have been sent aloft since the beginning of radio, you can tell that it is still new and exciting to this Canadian Group. Parts and advice come from everywhere, including the neighborhood hardware stores, electronic stores, and helpful Amateur Radio Operators many of which have space or aviation backgrounds who send special parts and expertise to expand the goals as they wait for good weather, Jet Stream predictions and atmospheric reports.
Many Canadian Government agencies and even NASA from the "States" helping this group from the area of Quesnell, British Columbia conform with all the many rules and regulations designed to regulate space and aircraft of all types.
Other payload items include sealed lead acid batteries, PIC Computer Controllers, An 8' Red & White canopy sewn by local "Gals", An Altimeter with voice readings, A special switch to literally blow up the balloon at a specific altitude to avoid problems with it traveling where is should not. A device to determine when it is 70% darkness (including a sensor to help insure it is not in a dark cloud), A remote control to manually detonate (if required) the fishing line holding payload and parachute to the balloon. Even positive and negaitve ballast control devices are found in this project along with a continious light strobe.
You will see live video on the "Quesnel Ham's Website", and progress reports posted on maps uploaded as the flight progresses. There will be a full report following the flight. There are full instructions for monitoring and reporting on their website for those in North America that wish to help by reporting. WB6FZH in Northern California is the farthest South with only a couple other US hams in the Northwest listed so far, most the monitors and the desired flightpath are in Canada from West to East.
Special Insurance, permission from government agencies, observance of aviation rules and treaties were all hurdles cleared by this group. Even the size of the Y2K Balloon was dictated by the many laws and regulations. A Million Dollar insurance policy is even required.
Last December 19, they had a "Test Launch" with a 2 meter beacon on board. (SEE PHOTO ABOVE) The journey was plotted on a map with the signal reports from several BC Hams as the balloon traveled East (just as the Jet Stream predictions said). The Test Balloon climbed to more than 50,000'. This weather balloon based craft held a 6' parachute with the payload suspended under it. The clever disconnect device was as simple as a 12volt lamp, with it's glass envelope broken, and filiament exposed glued into plastic pill vial with gunpowder to separate the 40lb fishing line connecting it to the balloon. The payload was in an Orange Garbage bag, just like the ones you often see along highways. The dedicated group in Quesnel are really hoping someone will follow the beacons and locate the payload so they can use it again.
Members of the group are even trying to involve School Kids who might be able to hear the Balloon with a simple scanner or Hand Held Radio. A Special Internet QSL Card Image will be availiable for all who send in a signal report via email or make 2M Contacts through the echo type repeater.
They are targeting the first optimum Saturday with good weather and favorable predicted Jet Stream path Eastward for lift-off to the East. If you have a computer, you can follow the action! You can even sign-up for e-mail reports on status of readiness and launch information. The Quesnel Hams website is http://www.caribooweb.com/y2kballoon/mainframe.htm . Sign the Guest Book and say you saw the article in KARC News!
Classes will be Saturday mornings 9-11 AM at the OCDA beginning on Saturday February 12th and concluding Saturday April 1st. Exams will be the following week. Sign-up by Wednesday February 9th to assure your place in this class. To sign-up contact Charlie, KH6AB at clumkeehawaii.rr.com If you have no email have someone send your phone # and name to Charlie and he will call you.
T-hunters have become very sophisticated at finding dastardly hiding places. With the right combination of location and antenna, they make it difficult for hunters to get reliable bearings. Like a ventriloquist, a good hider can make the signal appear to be coming from some other location. With careful planning (and a little luck), the signal's characteristics can cause the hunters to approach the transmitter from the most difficult direction, with impassable roads or other obstructions, even though the T may be easily accessible via other routes. Perhaps the hider will camouflage the setup so well that the hunters won't find the transmitter unless they literally trip over it.
The most challenging of all southern California 2-meter RDF events are the All Day Hunts. Despite their difficulty, many enthusiasts like them best of all. The name is a misnomer, because these marathons often last the entire weekend. The transmitter(s) can be anywhere in the continental USA. The hunt starts in Rancho Palos Verdes. Hiding spots have included locations near Yosemite National Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, Yuma, Arizona, and St. George, Utah. The record path distance for a two-meter hidden transmitter signal to be heard at the starting point was set on the St. George hunt.
Not every hunt is this arduous, of course. Several clubs are now sponsoring beginners hunts. Hiders make brief transmissions on a repeater, encouraging hunters to come out and find them. After a while, they give clues to narrow the search area. The idea is to give every participant a good first-time experience, including a story-telling session at a restaurant after the hunt.
While some hunters prefer to go it alone, most have more success by teaming up. The driver concentrates on handling the vehicle, while the DFer turns the beam and reads the meters. The DFer also handles maps and plotting, unless there is a third team member for that task.
FINAL INSTALLMENT IN MARCH ISSUE
MEMBERSHIP 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