This month's Guest Speaker will be Dan Spears, NL7UW. He is an ARRL Official Observer. For over 50 years the ARRL has chartered the Official Observer program. Come and learn what these dedicated "OO"s do and how they help us all!
The KARC ELECTION is in June. It is time for all of us to give consideration to helping actively, If you have the time, we have the opportunities for you to help shape Amateur Radio on Oahu.
Old Business: Following up on his offer at the March meeting, Shep Williams reported on what he was able to determine regarding availability of facilities at the PH Marina area for our 2000 Swap Meet event. Shep found that the management of the marina has been re-aligned and it now falls under some master MWR oversight. Net result is that the dates that we had indicated we wanted were already reserved. Shep’s observation indicated that some of the reservations had been made up to a year in advance. Since the October dates were not available, Shep has made a reservation for September 30 (date subject to re-confirmation), since no advance deposit was required, for the Community Center at the Marina area. Discussion among the membership indicated that September 30 appeared to be a viable date. Shep was asked to relay specifics of his findings to Walt, when he returns from his trip.
In the interest of minimizing costs for the KARC NEWS, Howard Andrus again reminded the membership that we would welcome additions to the list of members who would be willing to read/print the bulletin off the club web site rather than getting a mailed copy. At present, about a dozen members have taken themselves off the mailing list.
New Business: Membership applications submitted by Melvin Koizumi, KQ6EB and John J. "Doc" Radovich, KH6GJZ were received and were unanimously accepted. Welcome aboard to both gentlemen.The Ho’omaluhia staff issued an invitation to all KARC members to attend their Honolulu Botanical Gardens Volunteer Appreciation Event, to be held at Ho’omaluhia on Tuesday, April 18, 2000, from 10 AM to noon.
Program: Our guest speaker, Kimo Chun, KH7U, gave us a presentation on repeaters and repeater installations. He covered a wide spectrum of the subject matter, including antennas, duplexers, cavities, intermod, etc., and answered numerous questions from the membership. All in all, a very informative program. Kimo also indicated a willingness to do a presentation on his Dxpedition(s) at a future date. We look forward to that.
Thanks again, Kimo.Meeting was adjourned at 11:15 AM.
Joe Ham finds a box (black colored of course) and he notices 3 wires coming out of the case.
Assuming there is no voltage on the leads, he whips out his handy ohmmeter and he measures 20 ohms across any 2 leads. What is in the box ?
How can you prove your answer (NDT or non-destructive testing is preferred if possible) ?
Last Month's Quist Quiz- How many trips across the ravine are necessary to identify each conductor of a 99 wire cable ?
The answer is amazingly simple, being one round trip to identify all leads. Now another trip might be necessary to do some disconnecting of course.
Solution: On the starting side, strip back each lead. Twist together each wire to one other lead (make all into pairs and tag all leads, noting which lead is attached to which other lead). If odd number of conductors, leave the one extra floating.
Now go to the other side of the ravine with an ohmmeter or buzzer.. The odd wire will immediately be apparent as there will be no continuity to any other lead, so tag it.
Now undo each pair and reattach each lead to a wire from a different pair (if laid out side by side, just move every conductor down one and reattach).
Now go back to the other side, unattach the original twists - then buzz for continuity and all leads can be identified.
As I said, the leads on the far side are still tied together...Try it on paper - it works ! Honest... Now, how many trips for an even-number of leads ?
The mother of all solar events causes the really big skip!, with a young man who is a ham in the present contacting his father in a time years earlier.
The ARRL, and the US movie distributor are hoping that ham radio clubs will coordinate some sort of activity with the showing of the movie. The ARRL is making a copy of ARRL handbook availiable to participating clubs. See the ARRL website, http://www.arrl.org, for details. Information about the movie may also be found online at the official movie web site http://www.frequencymovie.com.
NOTE: When you are asked if this sort of communication is technically possible...just tell them ONLY if the Hams are KARC members.
Besides.. What on earth would you do if you did have some nice convenient length power cables, with some extra power connectors to hook some other radios, lights or other accessories to when you need it most? Well you might be able to sit in a chair at a folding table for hours while operating, instead of crouched on the floor. You just might be able to plug-in your TNC and charge your laptop making you the guy that had the portable packet set-up that actually set-up quickly and it even worked!. Sure, it is fun making it look difficult, impress everyone as you act like the flash of sparks, smoke and frenzied hunt for the spare fuse are just part of some normal procedure, why would they call it "Amateur Radio" otherwise. Besides, that smell of burning plastic will fade eventually.
Since you have read this far you are aparently interested. I will tell you another secret, you can build it for your HF radio or your 2 meter/70cm radio or both at the same time. If you use larger wire and more than one fused lead from the point that you connect your polarized connectors for the radios from the original power cable it becomes very versatile. Think of your 12VDC EMERGENCY POWER CABLE in three sections, all with the appropriate inexpensive Radio Shack Molex connectors, so you can even lengthen the connections if necessary.
The first part is the "Source" connection; have several ways of connecting to that unknown source, at that future time... Bare wires (keep the appropriate size butt connectors to "extend or splice" into a wire), medium alligator clips that will handle an auto or RV battery terminal, suitable size "crimp-on" terminals large enough to fit a power supply binding post, or a "heavy duty" cigarette lighter connector. All of these can be made with 18-24" lengths terminated with the "female" Molex connector. Keep a roll of Duct Tape for anchoring various cables for saftey.
The second section is the "Extension" part, the basic section being 6-10 feet, with a "male" connector on one end and a "female" connector on the other end. A second 10' length can be made-up and kept in your "bag of tricks" to extend the wire if needed. Small nylon cable ties can be used every 12-18" to keep the Red and Black wires together for easy storage and a clean neat cable assembly. You can make more than one "Extension" cable and perhaps find a more comfortable place to operate from..
The third section is the "Connection" part, you will make 3-6' cables that will mate with the "extension" cable and connect with your VHF/UHF radio or HF radio. At the end that connects with the "extension" cable section you will add an additional female polarized connector in paralell with the power cable. This will allow you to connect a second radio or accessorie to the 12VDC source you have so carefully extended to your radio operating area. You can even make a distribution adapter, with smaller polarized plugs that handle less current and may be good for TNCs, lights, CB Radio, Scanner, computer battery charger, or other accessory.
Well, if you have now thought about taking out a piece of paper and making a diagram to formulate your own set-up, and list of parts for the Radio Shack or other electronic parts supplier, you are to be commended!. Do your best work, using proper size connectors, heat shrink tubing (always put it on the wire first!), good quality electrical tape,cable ties, careful crimping and even soldering the "solderless" connections. These power cables will last many many years.
Now whatever you do, DO NOT store these various sections of your 12 VDC Emergency Power Connection and Distribution Cables in individual "zip lock" bags, with extra wire ends or connectors incase they are damaged (by someone else ofcourse). Put them all in a bag or box so you can dump all the cables and adaptors on the ground and see how fast you can sort it out quickly (you may want to practice in the dark with at flashlight too), like some kind of aptitude test or Olympic Event. Naturally, plastic covered stiff wire "twistem"s or other device to keep them neatly coiled up would only further slow you down. Keep the "Amateur" in Amateur Radio, don't store it properly!
Plan your fusing carefully, consult the instruction manuals, you remember the book that reminds you how to program the radio,etc. calculate the total current draw for your large conductor power cable if you are considering making one that will do HF and VHF/UHF at same time. Then at the "connection" point add an "inline" fuse holder and connect it to the auxilary polarized connector for your 2nd radio, or accessories. Make extra power connections to suit your needs. Consider placing an axial lead diode of suitable ratings accross (Arrow points to PLUS) the connection closer to the radio or accessory then, if the power cable is accidently connected backwards will blow the associated fuse, even BEFORE you connect your valuable and much needed radio to the power source you built. Yes, you can also add a BIPOLAR LED (Red one way, Green the other) with a series resistor (usually 560 ohms) to show both polarity and presence of 12VDC at the end of the "source" part of the cable, so you can see the error of your ways BEFORE you plug the "EXTENSION" and "CONNECTION" sections to your radios and accessories.
You imagination is the limit, BE SURE TO USE THE STANDARD POLARITIES USED BY ARES/RACES/ETC...THE POSITIVE CONNECTION IS CLOSE TO THE POINTED END OF THE 2 CONDUCTOR MOLEX, (large or small current model), and RED is "Positive" and BLACK is "Negative". Make adapters to interface with other connectors used by other groups and individuals.
One Kaneohe Amateur that recently returned to California had all these cables made up for 6 years. He would take them out from time to time to use portable at the beach or to simulate new equipment configurations. It just sat there with other associated EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS equipment in a transit box, waiting for the Hurricane or Tsunami that never came. He figures that if he had not gone to all the trouble to build this versatile and necessary piece of "Professional" Amateur Radio equipment, the disasters would probably have come. They now sit in the same box, 2300 miles away warding off "Earthquakes, Weather Emergencies, Forest Fires and Volcanic Explosions, by their presence alone."
Maybe somebody on Oahu should make some of these cables to ward-off the Hurricanes, Tsunamis and the like.. JUST IN CASE. -73 WB6FZH, Greg
It is very easy to communicate with MIR from Hawaii. We are very lucky, since there are very few Hams that even try compaired with the US Mainland, Europe, and other heavily "ham populated" areas.
You will need to know where MIR is, or more exactly when it is within the field of view of your antenna. You can download FREE or LOW COST Satellite Orbital Prediction Software, from links on the "SSTV over Hawaii" page located at http://members.aol.com/greg6fzh/kh6sstv.htm. There is even a link that will show you were MIR is at anytime.
There is information on building or purchasing a serial or sound card adapter that will convert the speaker audio from your HT, scanner or 2 meter rig into a colorful SSTV inmage on your PC. Your existing terrestrial 1200bd packet set-up is compatible with the MIR equipment. You can review the MIREX and MAREX information sites for procedures for Voice and general information.
Information and links for the FREE or LOW COST SSTV software is also availiable on the same site. The DOS based software that is used with the inexpensive ($20 parts from Radio Shack) serial adapter only needs a 486 computer that runs DOS. The sound card software requires windows 95/98 and a simple soundcard interface circuit.
Your existing 2 meter antenna will likely provide you with a clear picture, allow standard AX25 1200bd packet connects or reception of the MIR greeting beacon. Voice contacts are always a possiblity too. Many KH6 hams have MIR Space Station contacts in their logs.
This is an opportunity that may not happen again in your lifetime, so do not miss this oportunity. The ISS, International Space Station may not have as much activity in the future. It is a great opportunity to share your experience with young people that might be interested in Amateur Radio.
Check out the SSTV Over Hawaii website, if you have any questions just email the author of the page and tell him KARC News sent you. Sergei and Alex will be up there atleast 60 days if it is safe, and longer if they can continue to reduce the air leaks and solve some other problems that may allow longer conmmercial utilization of MIR.
Specialty Clubs and Organizations are wonderful and provide a great service to the communities and members they serve. Amateurs on Oahu can belong to more that one club, that serves their many interests. Cooperation between clubs is always desiriable. Often those that give so much of their limited time to their clubs only have so much of it and often family or work gets in the way.
You have probably noticed that it is often the same folks through the years that seem to hold the offices every few years. This is usually because there were no others able or willing to take the position. We owe these folks a great debt, keeping the club together through the years so it is here for us now. Please give some consideration to volunteering to hold an office or committee position, or just help with some something that you are interested in. If KARC is not doing it, already it may only be because you did not bring it up at the meeting, or suggest it to an officer to bring up for you, to see if others might be interested in the idea too.
Extra Class hams, Generals, Advanced and Tech Plus Hams are all capable of helping with Field Day, HAMFEST 2000, and other KARC activites. I have observed that Extra Class hams turn burgers as well as Tech Plus cooks, guy wires can be held equally well with folks with no license at all, than the most experienced antenna veteran. We want everyone to feel like they are part of KARC, helping your club is not "Rocket Science" the out-going officers always help the incoming officers, nobody is "sentenced" to KARC membership, we do it because we have a common interest in Amateur Radio and Public Service. Sometimes life takes us in other directions, we have officers that can not make every meeting their intentions were good, but their life changed, you will notice that the club still meets and the business gets done. The more of us that help the more we can do. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm to the meetings, or if you can not come in person, contact your officers, or a friend by phone to bring it up for you. We have hundreds of years of Amateur Radio Experience at each KARC meeting to answer your questions and point you in the right direction if the answer is not known.
This is a critical time in Amateur Radio, what we do in the next few years will probably determine more than ever the future of Amateur Radio on Oahu and everywhere else. If you value the privilege of Amateur Radio operation and it's traditional service to the community do what you can to support KARC.- 72/73, Greg WB6FZH
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