The Koolau Amateur Radio Club Newsletter for November 1998

-ANNOUNCEMENTS-

NEXT MEETING: November 14, 1998 @ 0930 at Ho"omaluhia Park Visitor's Center- Be there!

Our Guest Speaker will be Alan Lloyd, speaking about his US Navy experiences and Naval Activity in Hawaiian waters.

At the Next Meeting the Exchange Box full of magazines, catalogs, parts and books will be there. Come and take some of these magazines and items home or donate some for others. "Show and Tell" needs you to bring something from your shack to show those attending, while you tell about it. Remember, you can not win the prizes, contribute your special ideas and catch up on the latest from your ham friends if you do not attend.

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

FLEA MARKET & AUCTION GENERATES INCOME FOR KARC

Some KARC Members brought their junque, old rigs, parts, extra equipment to to the meeting. There were transcievers, HTs, parts, books, 1940s QSTs, TV, Computer parts, and more.

The Club made more than $75.00 by your reporter's estimate, and a good time was had by all.

This will be an annual event in October so keep it in mind. Thank you to all that donated items with 100% going to KARC, and thank you to those that gave there 10% of the sale price. Reminder- you can always list your extra gear or Ham Radio items for free in KARC NEWS.

SET-1998 Simulated Emergency Test Report

Stations from throughout Hawaii participated on VHF, UHF and HF in local, state and island nets. There were contacts through the state link with all islands clearly heard on 2 meters here on Oahu. Healthcom was activated linking Hospitals. Civil Defense, RACES, ARES, RED CROSS, SALVATION ARMY, MARS and other groups and individuals participated in this annual event.

This year's senario was hurricane striking all islands with secondary area senarios. See KARC Website for further details in the Latest News section.

More than 40 stations on Oahu participated. WB6FZH, Greg reported he checked in to VHF and HF SET Nets on battery Power and contacted Kuai and the Big Island on HF just prior to the official time before leaving for the Oct.10 KARC Meeting.

This is a good time to check your radio equipment, list of frequencies, batteries, portable antennas and other supplies you might need for emergency communications. There are free booklets availiable at City Mill that cover suggestions for emergency food and equipment.

HEALTHCOMM

We are still looking for participants in the project to include the Windward and Northshore healthcare facilities into the HEALTHCOMM" emergency network. Contact Greg, WB6FZH if you are interested. The HEALTHCOMM Website is http://home.hawaii.rr.com/healthcom/

MINUTES- October 10th Meeting 1998- What you missed!

Our guest speaker was Mary Oh, who shared with us her recent experiences as a professional tour guide traveling within China. Attendance was 16 members & guests on the sign-in but there were a few more.

Treasurer's Report: Balance 7/31/98= $447.46, Income= $25.08, Expenses= $84.17, Balance 9/30/98= $388.37

New members Doug White and Rolly Jones were voted in by the members in attendance.

The President, WB6FZH tried to expedite the meeting a little too much.. -by failing to get motion's passed to move to the next order of business, however, the members quickly passed the motions and told him it was OK to move on to the next topic.

The Auction/Flea Market activity raised more than $75.00 for KARC. Thanks to those that donated their equipment and percentages to the club. We need to find ways to generate money for operating expenses to keep our dues low.

Thanks to KH6BI, Fred, for the cookies and AH6OZ, Walt, for the Coffee. New Member Rolly Jones volunteered to bring the donuts next time. Please remember to leave a donation for the coffee and donuts so those that bring the next snack will not have to obsorb too much of a loss.

Please contact Greg, WB6FZH, with your additions or corrections to the minutes.

1999 CALENDAR OF EVENTS- Activities Incomplete/Proposed Your input needed!

HAWAII QCWA OCTOBER MEETING REPORT

On October 17, The Quarter Century Wireless Association had their meeting at the Columbia Inn in Honolulu. There were members from Kuai, Hawaii and Oahu. There was a brief business meeting and introductions of those attending. The Hawaii chapter has about 40 members. Membership requirement is being licensed 25 or more years.

Part of the discussion related to planning Hamfests, Mini-conventions and the like. Many clubs have been wrestling with the common goal of how to have a convention or Hamfest without making guarantees financial and otherwise that a small group can not manage. It is hoped that with continued interest by ham radio club officers on several islands a Hawaii Hamfest or Events will eventually happen. It has long been the desire of many to eventually have Hawaiian Hamfests with a Dinner, Speakers, Prizes, and even technical lectures.

KARC members Fred Maertens, KH6BI, Ralph Penner, WH6CUQ, Mike Burger, AH7R and Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH were there too! It was great to see men and women radio amateurs from all over the state gathered together.

HONOLULU AMATEUR RADIO CLUB- Meeting November 21

The Columbia Inn in Honolulu will be the place for the 0900 Breakfast, with 1000 to 1030 Business Meeting. All Radio Amateurs are invited.

HOLIDAY CHEER- Will we have a Club Project?

The Christmas Holidays are around the corner, and we do not have a December meeting as usual. Are there any ideas for a Holiday Project? Something we could do for a person or a group this Christmas? Please contact me with your ideas, time is short. Contact one of your KARC officers or bring your idea to the meeting.

NEW FREQUENCY COORDINATOR- Richard, KH6O

Richard Ching, KH6O, has agreed to document existing and planned repeater pairs, links, simplex and other frequencies to keep some order and reduce loading on frequencies. He will be placing the information collected on a webpage, and the page will be linked to the KARC Website. Some of the information will also be displayed on the KARC Frequency Lists. Having this information coordinated is a valuable service to all. "Thanks" Richard, it is often a thankless task, but so important.

USS MISSOURI HAM RADIO STATIONS

Initial reports are that the USS Missouri will have two ham radio stations on board for visiting operators to use. There will also be some restored Navy radio, communications and electronics on board. There probably be a USS Misouri Radio Club and restoration group. These activities will not go forward until after January 1999, the estimated time when enough work will have been completed to allow visitors to some parts of the ship. More information when availiable. (Thanks John, K1ER of HARC)

ADVERTISING KARC- The KARC Evangelical Activities are paying off!

Increased contact to and from our Website has also increased the number of people interested in attending a meeting, purchasing license study materials , taking Ham Classes classes and Testing. Our Website and members have been responsible for increasing Amateur Licensing and upgrading in Hawaii already! Individual members have been helping hams new and old with their radio requests.

CONTESTS- Sweepstakes!

NOVEMBER- CQ WW CW DX 27-28th! DECEMBER- Remember to send Santa your equipment requests early!

NEW WINDWARD 2 METER NET

In an effort to find times and frequencies more convenient to the members there is now a 2nd Windward Net. It is Wednesdays at 8:00 PM on 145.150 (-600).

Members that need help with their VCRs to record favorite TV programs at that time are refered to their respective instruction booklets. Come by and visit, see where your signal is heard and participate in some of the fun and learn net participation for operating skills. the Net is sponsored by the Kailua Amateur Radio Association the sponsor of the 145.15 machine.

The October 28 net control was KARC Boardmember KH7HO, Clem. Some of the sations heard were KH7JX, WH6CXM, NH6VX, KH7EF, WH6XR and KH7BM. The net and discussion only lasts 15-30 minutes, dust-off your 2 meter rig and check in.

VE TESTING- Upcoming VEC Testing Date- November 14th

KARC Board Member, Sid, AH6HH and his team will be testing immediately after the KARC meeting. Testing Period: 11AM to 2PM. Contact Sid at 261-7916 for further information.

SWAP and SELL-Your Free Listings Here!

CENTRAL AMERICAN TRAFFIC NETS- Watch for them and give them space

The recent Weather Disaster in Honduras and Nicaragua have required HF Amateur Radio Network operations to help these countries to coordinate health and safety operations.

There are reportedly nets on 14.265 and 7090 presently and more will be established as needed. The propagaton on several bands to Hawaii is good and we will want to be careful not to QRM them. From the pictures on the TV it is a monumental disaster that has wiped-out the roads and infrustructure of large parts of the countries. We here in Hawaii have great respect for the power of hurricanes and wish them well.

KARC IN THE COMMUNITY- Be an "Elmer"

If you are interested in helping with "KARC in the Community", by visiting a school, helping someone newly interested in Amateur Radio with those first important questions or helping with an event, please contact Greg WB6FZH/KH6 or Sid, AH6HH. We do not have a class scheduled currently, but we are looking for KARC members to participate It is easy and very rewarding to see others begin to find the magic of Amateur Radio. Remember?....

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS- New Section at KARC Website Under Construction

Frequencies, Networks, Repeaters, Simplex Area Frequencies, MARS, RACES, ARES, Civil Defense, Public Safety, CB and other Communications will be addressed in this new section as a resource with links to other sources of Emergency Communications Information. Look for it in December.

Recently Utilized Emergency Frequencies(1st Draft)

Consider placing this list with your emergency equipment.

SPACE & Satellite NEWS- SEDSAT-1 Launched

A new amateur radio satellite was launched as a secondary payload along with NASA's Deep Space 1 probe on a Delta 2 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center at 12:08:00.502 UTC on Saturday 1998-Oct-24. Chris Lewicki, KC7NYV, SEDSAT Program Manager, reported that the SEDSAT-1 ground station crew at the University of Arizona in Tucson had a number of problems during the satellite's first pass over the ground station, but the satellite team in Florida had audio confirmation of telemetry sometime later in the duration of their pass.

On the second orbit, the team in Tucson was able to verify the audio of the SEDSAT heartbeat, but weren't able to decode the digital telemetry.On the third pass the team successfully received the full heartbeat and decoded it to reveal that the satellite was operating at a nominal main voltage, reasonable temperatures, sucessfull bootups of various processes, but slightly more power drained than expected. The engineering group is studying the situation.

The satellite contains Mode A and Mode L linear transponders. It will be utilizing 9600 baud FSK for telemetry and PACSAT activity on the 70 cm downlinks. There is an earth imaging device on board too. More information on the internet at http://www.seds.org/sedsat. Source: Space News/AMSAT.

Hawaiian hams continue to aim their antennas hundreds to thoasands of miles into space and contact stations with the magic of Amateur Radio.

QRP COLUMN- CQ WW SSB...QRP!-Operating Technique...The Results!

This year's preparations consisted of improved manual logging. I photocopied some of my log pages, modified for contest use. I filled-in blanks as I needed the pages("20 meters", "Page 03"). I kept them in a small binder on the desktop and logged by band as I operated. It was easy to leaf from page to page to check to see if I had worked the station on the band I was on.

This year I dusted off my ICOM 735 160-10 meter transceiver that I keep for emergency operation and gave it a good test. The power level was all the way down, the microphone gain down with measurements made to insure that the 5 watt output level was observed. The Antenna system was selection between the Butternut HF6V near the water and the R5 near the street. Considerable differences were noted during diferrent conditions on various bands. The coaxial feed length is about 100' for each antenna.

I took the carefully stacked papers and folders on my desktop and placed them in a large box and placed it behind me out of my field of view. I gathered various operating aids and references and waited for the contest time to arrive. I spent the first few minutes of the contest in Safeway, finishing grocery shopping. After putting the frozen food away I abandoned the rest and joined into the contest. 10 meters was full of stations and I thought that was a good as any place to start. My first contact...AH6HH, Sid, small world. I tuned down the band and found many Mainland stations and worked 12 in the first hour. Keep in mind that up the coast at the Contest Station KH7R they made 12 contacts in the first 3 minutes.

I probably spent 20 hours or so operating in the 2 day event, and made about 200 contacts. That would be about 10 contacts an hour. I worked about 16 zones and XXXX countries.

The technique I use for working QRP Phone in the contests involves the following concepts. Keep in mind that your QRP signal will most likely get to the station if band conditions are good. The only issue is how many other stations that are stronger are on top of you, keeping the desired station from hearing you. The choices are wait till the numbers of total calling stations decreases and then call, or call with the rest and try and use some sort of mind control or ESP. By watching the "S" meter and listening to who the station is working will be useful, but often misleading. As an example, a station is S-9+20 and you call them, and the never hear you. There are so many other stations hearing them it insures a pile-up. You tune down a few khz and call a station that is S5, they say QRZ the KH6? and I slowly say.."Kilo Hotel Six Portable Whiskey Bravo Six Foxtrot Zulu Hotel Five-Nine, Thirty-one, QRP" Sometimes they come right back with QSL 31 and move on to the next guy and other times they ask for missing information or QRZ? I often watch the QRP wattmeter as I enunciate the phonetic words to fill the modulation envelope (every milliwatt helps!).

The most rewarding part of QRP operation for me is that sometimes I can hear the amazement in the voice of the operator on the other end when he makes a remark about the QRP signal, or vollunteers my actual strength or inquires about my antenna and power level. Many operators are kind enough to rotate their beams to bring my signal up, and even more immediately give up and continue on with a stronger signal. I do not get offended anymore, they are often under great pressure to make many contacts a minute.

I did make a 3.8 mhz 5 watt QSO to Mainland! Ofcourse, the 3 element 80 meter beam with a 76' boom up 165' on the other end probably helped. I was "S-3" in CA! You can imagine how strong I was at a more common antenna. Reverse split operation on 40 meters made JA and VE7 contacts. On 160 I was lucky enough to contact Jack, KH6CC and KH6AT,Bryce both on the Big Island.

It was nice of several stations that always work the contests to say it was nice to hear me again, and a few remembered the "/KH6 QRP Guy with the long call." I worked the legendary VK9NS, and as I write this column I still have to look-up calls to figure out where they were and finish my contest summary. This contest is great for QRP as many stations have great antennas and are listening intently for every signal weak or strong. It is a good chance to make DX QRP contacts. -72/73 GREG

KOOLAU AMATEUR RADIO CLUB INFORMATION

CLUB OFFICERS

DIRECTORS

PROGRAM CHAIRMAN- Howard, WH6LF 247-0775

NEWSLETTER

CLUB MEETINGS

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

VEC TESTING

2 METER ACTIVITY

KARC WEBSITE