Newsletter of the Amateur Radio Klub of the Arkansas Northwest ~ FEBRUARY 2013

5 months until Field Day; 8 months until Arkansas QSO Party 2013!

ARKAN on the web at: www.arkanhams.org

AREA & STATE NETS: MONDAY: W5YM Univ. of Ark. Weather Net – 8pm – 147.135 +110.9 TUESDAY: Washington Co. ARES Net – 8pm – 146.760 -110.9 TUESDAY: NW AR UHF Society Net – 9pm – 443.650 +97.4. 147.375 +103.5 WEDNESDAY: KE5LXK Repeater System Net – 7pm – 443.650 + PL97.4, 147.375 +103.5 WEDNESDAY: Bella Vista Repeater Group Net – 8pm – 147.255 No Tone THURSDAY: Benton County Radio Operators Net – 7pm – 145.290 + PL 110.9 DAILY: Arkansas Razorback Net – 6:30pm – 3.987.5 DAILY: OZK/MTN CW Traffic Net – 6:45pm – 3.570

NOISEBLANKERS HOST SPECIAL

EVENT STATION N5W

The Noise Blankers Radio Group recently provided radio communications for the logistics team at the Wreaths Across America event at Fayetteville National Cemetery. On the HF bands, their special event station, N5W, made 300 QSOs. In between coordinating parking and shuttle buses, they found time to make this humorous video which you can see at: http://www.noiseblankers.com/frontpage/ham-radio-hijinks.html

I’m not a cop, and I don’t ever want to play one on the radio! If you’ve traveled far, via HF or vehicle with VHF/UHF, you may have noticed that we live in a relatively quiet and polite radio area. If you’re a scanner listener, you might have noticed that even the local police/fire/EMS radio chatter is very professional and polite. Not so in other cities! Some places have the new operators so intimidated that they won’t ever talk or call CQ. Some have a lunatic fringe of “frequency disturbers”. Some places are just No Fun in the amateur bands! In the spirit of expanding our community, let’s all start the year with a review of what we’re all about…and make it a project this year to “Elmer” someone into amateur radio! … and “operate so that if a neighbor, niece or nephew or news reporter hears you, that person will be impressed with Amateur Radio.” Some of my favorites concerning good operating: The Amateur Radio Operator's Code by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA (1928) The amateur radio operator is:

CONSIDERATE never knowingly operating in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.

LOYAL offering loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, through which amateur radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally.

PROGRESSIVE with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station, and operation beyond reproach.

FRIENDLY with slow and patient operation when requested, friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance, co-operation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

BALANCED – Radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school, or community.

PATRIOTIC with station and skills always ready for service to country and community.

FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth (K4ZDH) has endorsed a list of several points that he feels help to define the concept of "good amateur practice." Section 97.101(a) of the Amateur Radio Service rules refers to (Cont. next page)

ARKAN Officers President Mark Parmer, NW5AR nw5ar@arrl.net Vice-President Paul Dixon, KK5II kk5ii@cox.net Secretary/Treasurer QSL Manager Scott Anderson, K5SAA k5saa@arrl.net Appointed positions: VE LIAISON Darryl Wagoner, WA1GON wa1gon@wagoner.me Board Member At Large Newsletter Managing Editor Don Banta, K5DB k5db@arrl.net

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 2

Northwest Arkansas Calendar FEB. 2 – White Rock 50K Run Begins early Saturday morning until mid-afternoon. Volunteers needed. If interested, call Loren – N5PUV @ 479-531-8169 FEB. 4 – ARKAN February meeting, Monday, 6:30pm American Red Cross, Tontitown Topic: Cross-band repeating with your mobile. Speaker: Mark – NW5AR FEB.12 – Benton County Radio Operators February meeting Tuesday, 7pm Rogers Chamber of Commerce 3rd & Walnut-North Entrance, Rogers FEB. 23 – Ozark Wireless Society (OWS) February meeting. Saturday, 10am. Shiloh Museum, Springdale

OPERATING EVENTS

CALENDAR

events of interest-February FEB. 2-3: Vermont QSO Party http://vtqsoparty.westriverradio.org/

Delaware QSO Party http://www.fsarc.org/qsoparty/qsohome.htm

Minnesota QSO Party http://www.w0aa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=7

FEB. 9-10 Louisiana QSO Party http://www.w5yl.org/

New Hampshire QSO Party http://www.w1wqm.org/nhqso/

FEB. 16-17 ARRL International DX Contest – CW http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx FEB. 23-24 & FEB. 24-25 Mississippi QSO Party http://www.arrlmiss.org/index.html

North Carolina QSO Party http://rars.org/ncqsoparty/

(Cont. from page 1.)

“good engineering and good amateur practice" – considered to refer to maintaining the highest standards of engineering and on-the-air comportment. But the rule lacks specifics. "Good amateur practice is a hard thing to define," Hollingsworth conceded. "I'd have to say it's operating with the realization that frequencies are shared, that there's going to be occasional interference and that's no reason to become hateful and paranoid." Hollingsworth says amateurs have to realize that more people than ever are listening in, especially since September 11, 2001, and that amateurs always need to remember that "our rights end where another person's begin." According to Hollingsworth, good amateur practice means:

Giving a little ground--even if you have a right not to--in order to help preserve Amateur Radio and not cause it to get a bad name or hasten the day when it becomes obsolete.

Respecting band plans, because they make it possible for every mode to have a chance.

Not transmitting a 6-kHz bandwidth signal when there are lots of people on the band.

Not acting like an idiot just because you were stepped on.

Being aware that we all love Amateur Radio, and there's no need to damage or disgrace it just to save face.

Keeping personal conflicts off the air. Settle your arguments on the telephone, the Internet or in person. Just keep them off the air.

Cutting a net or a contester a break, even if you don't have to and even if you have no interest whatsoever in nets or contesting.

Operating so that if a neighbor, niece or nephew or news reporter hears you, that person will be impressed with Amateur Radio.

Realizing that every right carries responsibilities, and just because you may have a right to do certain things doesn't mean it's right to do them in every circumstance.

You don't "own" or get preference to use any frequency even though you've been on the same spot every morning for years shooting the breeze with Harry.

Not operating so that whoever hears you becomes sorry they ever got into Amateur Radio in the first place. This document has been accepted by the IARU AC (Administrative Council) meeting (Konstanz, June 24-25, 2008) as the recommended manual covering the subject of ethics and operational procedures:

http://www.ham-operating-ethics.org

73, Mark Parmer – NW5AR

“My kind of mobile antenna!...

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 3

ARKAN DUES – REMINDER Club dues are $12.00 per year (a bargain at a buck a month). If an individual joins the club at a point during the year, the membership dues are pro-rated at $1 per month for the balance of the months left in the year. (i.e. If you join in April, your dues for that year would be $9.00.) Any questions, contact Scott – K5SAA and thank you for supporting ARKAN!

ARKAN ADDRESS Amateur Radio Klub of the Arkansas Northwest P.O. Box 9701

Fayetteville, AR 72703

Dennis was born in 1941 in Birmingham AL and was raised in the nearby community of Irondale. During his teenage years he worked at the soda fountain in the local drug store. Attending college and obtaining his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma, Dennis accepted a new appointment at the University of Arkansas in 1971, at which time he and his family moved to northwest Arkansas. In 1975-76, he also served as part-time interim pastor for the First Christian Church in Bentonville. Dennis and his wife, Ann, will soon be celebrating their 49th anniversary. They have 2 daughters, an attorney and a nurse, whose families also make their homes in Fayetteville. They also have four grandchildren. Dennis was first licensed in October 2010 when he passed his Technician exam at an ARKAN meeting/VE test session. He was introduced to ham radio in the early 1950s by spending evenings sitting with his ear to the speaker of an old RCA console family radio and tuning into ragchewing sessions on the 40-meter-band. From there he sought out the few available books at a public library located within a barber shop in his hometown. From there he wrote the ARRL and ordered more books to read, including the ARRL Handbook. He recalls at least once attending an evening meeting of the Birmingham Amateur Radio Club. He studied a little code and should have taken his novice exam back then, but he had no means for traveling 150 miles to Atlanta where it was offered. Nonetheless, for over 50 years he harbored memories of his experiences and held amateur radio as one of the things he wanted to pursue when he retired. His elmers, Paul LeBlanc and Joe Dunn, made that possible. Dennis’ rigs consist of a Yaesu VX-8DR tri-band hand-talkie and a Kenwood TS-590S that he uses for the Technician class sub-band on 10 meters. He’s had so much fun working stateside and DX on 10, that he is now motivated to try for his General license as soon as possible and expand his HF experience. He uses a TransWorld omnidirectional, center-fed dipole antenna in a modified-H design that is made of heavy 1-inch aluminum piping and stands about nine-feet high. It is currently installed in his attic but future plans are to move it when he completes partially enclosing his deck. After retiring 6 years ago and moving into a new house, Dennis and his wife designated the most isolated bedroom as his study/fishing-room/man-cave, and now added to all that, his shack. Dennis advises that his greatest thrill in radio is working DX and talking to hams across distant borders. He has realized how critical are skills acquired through patient listening and experience, and he concedes having much to learn. He confesses, however, that after reading all about hams making contacts with other hams in foreign countries and on distant islands, his first contact turned out to be a ham—Jerry House KE5AGR—whom he had never met, but who lives no farther than down the street! His other hobbies include reading, theology, history, biography, gardening, dogs, and most of all, fly fishing. He especially enjoys fishing with his friend Paul LeBlanc or with his grandson Ben Houston. He usually fishes below the dams at Beaver, Bull Shoals, or Norfolk, or at nearby Roaring River State Park or Lake Taneycomo in Missouri. He also likes to read QST, CQ, informative ham websites, and an occasional book about ham radio. And at present he is reading the book Riding the Shortwaves: Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio by Alabama journalist Don Keith, N4KC. He deeply appreciates the efforts of his elmers in amateur radio, Joe Dunn and Paul LeBlanc. Joe, for providing easy-to-understand instruction on basic electronics, communication regulations, operator practices, and other subjects relevant to the Technician exam, and Paul, for patiently fielding scores of questions about antenna installation and setting-up a ham station. He also credits Paul with pushing him on toward the General exam and with practicing Morse code.

ARKAN Member Spotlight

VE REPORT From VE Liaison, Darryl – WA1GON

ARKAN conducted a VE test session at the January meeting, Monday 1/7, at the American Red Cross in Tontitown. 7 candidates either received new licenses or upgraded. A HUGE congratulations to:

Bart Williams / Colcord, OK / New license Jabed Drake / Siloam Springs,AR / New license Steven Owens/ Clarksville,AR / New license Jerry Friend, KF5OAE / Fayvl.,AR/ New General Robert Mowlin, KB5PZG / Fayvl., AR / New General James Vann / Siloam Spgs., AR / New Tech&General Stephen Morril, KF5TCE / Fayvl., AR / New Extra (VE TEAM MEMBERS: Darryl Wagoner – WA1GON; Tommy Phillips – KC3G; Paul LeBlanc – KA5IOE; Scott Anderson – K5SAA; Paul Dixon – KK5II; Mark Parmer – NW5AR; Joe Dunn – KD5TLH; Don Banta – K5DB)

Dennis Bailey

KF5IQW

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 4

2013 STATE QSO PARTY SEASON KICKS-OFF It may be winter, but that doesn’t stop the enthusiasm and dedication of the hundreds of radio amateurs who will be in preparation of getting their base or mobile stations ready to go as they help host their respective state’s QSO party during the month of February. A whopping 7 states will be conducting their state QSO parties this month! If you are working toward your Worked-All-States award, 5BWAS award, Worked-All-Counties award, etc., whether you participate and/or send in a log entry for a given state’s QSO party or not, you can still work them at your own leisure for that state’s credit in your log on just about any band and mode! Each month, keep an eye on this newsletter’s Operating Events section for info on state QSO parties and other important operating events. Stay in-the-know on when an event occurs that might be beneficial for you! *********************

ARKAN HAS NEW AA5AR QSL! From Scott – K5SAA: Several months ago, one of ARKAN's guest speakers suggested that we could use QSL cards as a "photo advertisement" for our home QTHs. As ARKAN's QSL manager, I knew we were out of cards and needed more. I decided to get new cards, and started thinking about where we might get a good picture. I first thought of the University of Arkansas. Several images immediately came to mind…the football stadium or old main. As the U of A has its own amateur radio club, I reluctantly dropped the idea. I focused then on a picture that might represent Springdale. This train of thought led me to ARVEST ballpark, home of the Naturals. I emailed the Naturals, and was put into contact with Mark Zaiger, Group Sales Manager of the Naturals. I explained what QSL cards are and expressed my wish to use a picture of the ARVEST ballpark for our new QSL cards. He offered me a chance to come to the ballpark and take a picture myself, as well as sending me a couple of possible photos the Naturals had on file. I selected one picture and sent it to our President, Mark - NW5AR, for some photoshop work. After Mark worked his magic, I sent the proposed card back to Mark Zaiger for official permission. The Naturals were kind enough to grant permission for use of the edited photo. My next task was to find a cheap way of getting this on QSL stock paper. After much research and contacting local print shops, I feared that this was going to be an expensive QSL card. A fine suggestion was offered to me that we didn't need to have it on stock paper. ARKAN requests an SASE for QSL card requests…our QSL card did not have to survive the rigors of the U.S. postal system on its own. This was a great idea, as we could cheaply print 10-20 photos at any local Wal-Mart. We could then simply construct the contact info on a QSO label, and put it on the back of the photo.

“Greylining” is a term used in the amateur radio DX community. The "greyline" is a band around the Earth that separates daylight from darkness. Consequently, everyone experiences greylining twice each 24 hours – about 1-2 hours preceding and following dawn, and 1-2 hours preceding and following dusk. Propagation along the grey line is very efficient. One major reason for this is that the D-layer, which absorbs HF signals, disappears rapidly on the sunset side of the greyline, and it has not yet built upon the sunrise side. Amateur operators and shortwave listeners can optimize long distance communications to various areas of the world by monitoring the greyline as it moves around the globe. So, if you want a shot at working stations a long distance from your QTH, (especially on the low bands – 160, 80, & 40 meters!) remember each day when your area “grey lines” !

ARKAN TREASURER’S REPORT December 2012 Previous Balance : November 30, 2012 – $96.79 Deposit 12/11/12: 2012 and 2013 Dues (K5SAA) $40.00 Deposit 12/19/12: 2013 Dues (AE7VT, N7MTL) $12.00 Ending Balance $148.79 VE team box has $20 change not included above. 73, Scott – K5SAA

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 5

On Dec. 7-9, 2012, several members of ARKAN experienced the fun and enjoyment of operating a Special Event Station, as they took to the airwaves with special event callsign K5A. K5A commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove.

Recognized nationally as one of America's most intact Civil War battlefields, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park protects the battle site and interprets the Battle of Prairie Grove. On December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi, General Thomas C. Hindman commanding 11,059 troops, clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier, General James G. Blunt commanding 9,216 troops, in a day of fierce fighting.

Paul – KK5II at the mike Don – K5DB logging

The Battle of Prairie Grove was one of the bloodiest Civil War battles ever fought west of the Mississippi, resulting in about 2,700 casualties. This marked the last major Civil War engagement in northwest Arkansas. A great time was experienced by all who operated, along with good fellowship and ham radio talk. Many stations that we worked

Scott – K5SAA makes a QSO Billy – AE5CP manning the log program

voiced their appreciation of us putting a S/E station on the air commemorating a Civil War event. There are a lot of Civil War buffs out there, for sure. On all the main modes – PSK, Phone, and CW – K5A tallied a total of 408 QSOs. 44 out of the 50 states were worked, along with 6 Canadian provinces. QSOs with Australia, Spain, Canary Islands, Italy, South Africa, Venezuela, European Russia, Puerto Rico, and Cuba also made it into K5A’s log.

Whenever a station worked K5A, they could request via e-mail, with the QSO information included, a handsome certificate which we sent back to them as a .pdf attachment that they could print off themselves for the wall or ham scrapbook. This saved them and us a lot of time, postage, and printing costs. As of this printing, we have received 153 requests for the certificate, and the K5A info page on QRZ.com has had 1157 hits.

Dennis – KF5IQW & Paul – KA5IOE during their

stint at K5A

ATTENION AREA CLUBS We want you to know that although this newsletter does of course cover the happenings and events at ARKAN, we want to make this your newsletter as well! We are interested in your ham radio club, what it’s about, and what it’s doing or will be doing.

Tell your fellow club members about the newsletter, and how they will enjoy the monthly installments of articles, information and announcements. We trust that they will find many of them to be informative and entertaining in their enjoyment of amateur radio.

We are just now bringing back our newsletter from a long absence. This is only our 2nd edition of launching it again, and while we’re in the beginning stages, we sincerely wish to involve your club’s news and events with ours, in it.

So please pass the word, and as we get more people on the G-mail list, this will open-up more avenues of folks being aware of the newsletter. We’re here for all of our fine radio clubs in NW Arkansas, and want to help you all we can! Send your info to Don Banta at: k5db@arrl.net. Thanks!

And speaking of G-mail…………if you are receiving this newsletter via the G-mail distribution list, please also pass the word on to your fellow club members that they can send an e-mail to: NWARKHAMS@G-mail.com and simply type on the e-mail, “Please add me to the list” so they can enjoy it as well. Not only will they receive the newsletter via e-mail each month free, they will also receive special announcements about upcoming NW Arkansas amateur radio events and announcements. And also remember, not only can they (or you) receive info on the G-mail distribution, they can post info themselves such as events, announcements, etc. to the list to spread the word on their activity as long as radio related. For more info on the G-list see: www.arkanhams.org. THANKS!

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 6

By Don Banta – K5DB

Over the years I have read several very good articles by other hams, and have been enthralled by many websites, on this subject. So, I thought I would take a stab at it and share some of my findings with you in this month’s newsletter. My favorite subjects in school were mainly English, History, and Astronomy. So for me, obviously when history is correlated with amateur radio, it is extremely interesting. What I am about to share with you is a compilation of my own personal research over the years, information that has been related to me by other hams, and also information from several websites that have been favorites of mine for some time: How many times have you ever told someone that you are a ham radio operator, and they reply, “Oh yes! I’m familiar with CB!” They then immediately and stereotypically err with their visage of the trusty ol’ truck driver going down the road on Channel 19 talking into their hand mic, the kids out in the backyard playing with their walkie-talkies, or some ol’ hillbilly in a run-down shack back in the “boonies” that, when he tells you “I use mah toothbrush ever day” he means it literally, with his CB whip “stickin’ out the ‘winder’ “ and relating about when he “talked to some ol’ boy thuh udder day that was a whole bloomin’ hunnerd miles from the house!” Of course, there’s nothing wrong with CB, if that’s your cup of tea. But unfortunately, most of the public at large confuse amateur radio with CB radio. Indeed, they have no conception of our hobby at all, the enjoyment it bestows to us, and the public service it provides. They are also unaware that we are blessed to belong to a unique national/international fraternity that includes distinguished, competent, gifted, and knowledgeable individuals, some of whom are/were very prominent and well-known. Amateur radio attracts people from all walks of life and this diversity in interests, expertise, cultures and opinions is one of the 'draw cards' of the hobby. One of the strangest aspects is the fact that many famous people participate in the hobby of amateur radio, yet they rarely make others aware of their status on air. Many times over the years, ham operators have discovered too late that the interesting person they've been speaking to on the radio about day to day projects and other technical interests, has made enormous contributions to electronic, scientific, or other historically significant discoveries or events of the past, but was too humble to say so. I would like to share a portion of a list with you, and if you’ve possibly never read about a topic such as this, I think you’ll be totally captivated, fascinated, and be proud of the fact that we are all in the same camaraderie with these notables. The list of these renowned hams is huge, so I have had to compile a very, very abridged list due to space constraints. Some of the names on this list will totally blow you away. I have divided the list of these prominent figures into 3 categories: Somewhat Famous, Very Famous, and the person who we could probably regard as “The most famous ham of all”. (Cont. next page)

ARKAN JANUARY MEETING NOTES American Red Cross/Tontitown, 1/7/13 – About 20 people in attendance. From: Scott – K5SAA: Old business: *K5A report/summary *Treasurer’s report *ARKAN newsletter is back and circulated via Gmail distribution list. Invite to all that wish to receive it to subscribe to the list. New business: *Field Day 2013 site has been secured at the Elm Springs City Park (full info on this appears in ARKAN Board notes else- where in this issue of the newsletter). *Billy Hyatt – AE5CP is this year’s Field Day Coordinator. Please contact him if you would like to volunteer in FD preps. *ARKAN is now of Facebook. As of meeting time, 17 likes have been posted. Welcome/introductions/program: Mark – NW5AR “ARKAN AND AMERICAN RED CROSS/NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (ARC NWA) WORKING TOGETHER” – *Discussion of coverage, personnel, responsibili- ties of ARC/NWA. *ARC’s amateur radio station is KE5YKN. *Discussion of ARKAN – it’s organizational struc- ture and EMCOMM (Emergency Communica- tions) involvement, present and potential. *Discussion of present communication/equipment status and needs: ^Checklists ^Callout lists ^Drill schedule ^Shelter locations ^Equipment checks ^Others *Discussion of APRS digipeater(s). *If desirable with ARC/NWA, they are very welcomed to communicate with ARKAN newsletter editor any monthly events and happenings at ARC/NWA, as a regularly featured department of the newsletter. (Red Cross Corner?) Guest speaker Kirk Seifert – W5KRK *More enthusiasm and involvement needed in EMCOMM from NW Arkansas amateurs. This initial meeting for a closer working relationship between ARC/NWA and ARKAN Is an excellent first step. *Discussion of a simplex net/simplex repeater system. ADJOURNMENT VE testing session following the meeting – 7 candidates for this month’s meeting were served.

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 7

The Somewhat Famous Hams In History (some, of course, are Silent Keys): CALLSIGN NAME CLAIM TO FAME – COMMENTS W1AW Hiram Percy Inventor, radio pioneer, ARRL Founder Maxim K1AYA Pee Wee Hunt Bandleader, musician, & recording start (“Slowpoke”) K2AMH Bob Moog Inventor of the “Moog” synthesizer. W2BML Dr. Harold Inventor of the “Beverage” antenna. Beverage 3BEC Arthur M. Young Inventor of the first commercially practical helicopter (Bell Helicopter) K4FW Albert Founder of Electro-Voice “Al” Kahn Founder of Heathkit Founder of Ten-Tec WB4KCG Ronnie Milsap Country music singer/musician K4LIB Arthur Godfrey Film and TV variety show star WD4LZC Larnelle Harris Famous Christian music singer WB4MCJ Carl Rochelle Former CNN and ABC news correspondent W4USR Dennis J. Had Founder of Dentron Radio Company KD4WUJ Patty Ramey aka Patty Loveless, country music singer W5LFL Owen Garriot NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut WA6BND Stephen Wozniak Founder of Apple Computer. Got his first ham license in the 6th grade. K6DUE Roy Neal Renowned NBC space reporter/anchor. W6DOE Clarence Fender Inventor and designer of Fender guitars. N6FUP Stu Cook Bass player with Creedence Clearwater Revival. N6KGB Stewart Granger Famous Hollywood actor (“King Solomon’s Mines) WA6MOS Joseph Pevney Famous film and TV director KE6PZH Marlon Brando Motion picture icon. Film star. WB6RER Andy Devine Western motion picture actor N6YOS Priscilla The famous ex-wife Presley-Beaulieu of the King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis. 6UK John Huston Motion picture icon director. Angelica’s father. KA7EVD Donnie Osmond Yes, this is Donnie of “Donnie and Marie”. NA7NA Klein Gilhousen Co-Founder of Qualcomm. 8CR Powel Crosley, Jr. Founder of Crosley Radio. Pioneer in radio broadcast. W8JK John Kraus Astronomer and noted antenna designer. Invented the “Windom” antenna. 8NH Emma Candler First U.S. licensed female radio amateur. W9YZE Harry A. Turner Held Morse code speed sending record on Nov. 9, 1942 while in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, for which he was listed in the Guiness Book of World Records. He sent 35 wpm using a STRAIGHT KEY. WØCXX Art Collins Founder of Collins Radio. KØDWC “Butch” Griswold Famous leader of Strategic Air Command w/Curtis LeMay. WØFQY Carl E. Mosley Founder of Mosley Electronics. Some of the finest beams made. KØHWY “Tex” Beneke Lead tenor sax for the Glenn Miller orchestra. Was leader for the orchestra after Miller’s untimely death. (cont. next page)

SAFE HAM RADIO MOBILING Basic mobile ham radio safety considerations have not changed that much since the early days of mobile operation. However, technology has invaded much of our mobile environment. This has added some new safety considerations to an already long list. Today, an additional concern comes from the legal department. Does the law allow us to use our mobile rig whil driving? Not everywhere anymore. Needless to say that, in all cases, it's in the best interest of all concerned that we abide by the law and basic safety rules. Safe Power Levels The increasing use of dedicated micro-computers in cars to control critical functions such as ignition, fuel mixture and emissions, ABS braking systems, etc., makes it imperative that you use as little output power as required to maintain contact while the vehicle is in motion. Too much effective radiated power (ERP) could cause your car or a nearby car to stall, or worse, your ABS to malfunction just when you need it the most! Also, please refrain from transmitting when you hear an ambulance or other emergency vehicle approaching. Resume transmitting when they are well away from you.

You might interfere with electronic medical equipment being used on a patient on board the ambulance.

You might interfere with their emergency communications.

Power output should be kept below 15 watts ERP (Effective Radiated Power) while in motion. Use higher power only when stationary. "Off Road" Mobile Ham Radio As a good law abiding ham radio operator, you should choose to play it safe. When parked in a campground or commercial parking lot for example, make sure that people – especially children – cannot come in contact with your antenna while transmitting and run the risk of injury. Keep your mobile operating safe and legal ... and have fun!

Articles Needed If you have anything pertaining to amateur radio that you would like to share in the ARKAN Newsletter, we would be happy to include your article in a future edition! Hints & Kinds, antennas, technical talk, operating tips, public service, vintage radio, club activities, etc., would be heartily welcomed!!! If interested, send your article to: Don Banta – K5DB 3407 Diana St. Springdale, AR 72764 or e-mail to: k5db@arrl.net Let us hear from you!!!

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 8

Interesting, interesting, interesting. Now we proceed to some of the VERY FAMOUS radio amateurs, whom I would like to spotlight separately:

KB2GSD Walter Cronkite

The world’s most recognized television newscaster. Walter has an asteroid named after him.

WB6ACU Joe Walsh

American rock music icon. Has played with The James Gang and The Eagles. Avid Collins collector.

W5CY Howard Hughes

Billionaire, inventor, motion picture producer/director, aviator, aircraft designer (Spruce Goose). He unfortunately became a Mysophobiac (fear of germs) and ultimately went insane.

K4ZVZ Gen. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr. Pilot of the Enola Gay (named after Tibbets’ mother), the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in the history of warfare. The bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

UA1LO Yuri Gagarin

First human to be launched into space and also orbit the earth aboard Vostok I.

W4CGP Chet Atkins

Country music icon and legend. Vice-President of RCA Victor records. Country music Hall of Fame. His callsign suffix stands for Certified Guitar Player.

K7UGA Sen. Barry Goldwater

A passionately devoted radio amateur and a gentleman of the airwaves. During his Presidential campaign run in 1964, Senator Goldwater stated, “If I’m elected, there will be a tri-band beam on top of the White House.” Although unsuccessful, he served his country not only in the U.S. Senate, but his name will forever be in the annals of amateur radio for handling over 100,000 phone patches between Vietnam servicemen and women, and their families back home in the U.S. during the Vietnam War…a phenomenal feat. (Cont. next page.)

VE – Volunteer Examiners From Scott – K5SAA To many hams, their first interaction with a VE was during a test to earn a new license or get an upgrade. A VE is a general class or higher license holder who administers the FCC licensing tests. The ARKAN VE team is affiliated with ARRL. Information below applies to ARRL VE. How to become a VE: 1. Review the Volunteer examiner manual. 2. Complete and sign the VE application form and the 40 question review (test). 3. Send form to ARRL. If you pass, the ARRL will email you a nice laminated badge to wear when you participate in VE test sessions. More information can be found on the ARRL website : http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners

“You don’t need another freaking radio ! “

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 9

Again, the list of famous hams is enormous, and I have not necessarily listed these personages in any order of importance. If you want to pursue more information on this topic, search the web and make your own list! It is very fun, rewarding, and educational. There’s lots of websites about them. And, most of them concur as to who could be termed……

The Most Famous Ham of All

JY1 – King Hussein of Jordan His Majesty King Hussein I, was an avid and very active amateur radio aficionado. He passed away on Feb. 7, 1999. At that time, he was the Middle East’s longest reigning ruler, 47 years, ascending the throne when he was just 17 years old. He was a life member of the ARRL. David Sumner, ARRL Executive Vice-President, K1ZZ, called him “An enthusiastic radio amateur whose support was invaluable to us in obtaining new amateur bands at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference.” King Hussein promoted amateur radio to the hilt in Jordan, and saw to it that amateur radio classes were instituted in elementary schools. The list of the myriads of other contributions that King Hussein made to amateur radio is so great, there is no way to list even just a portion of them here. King Hussein’s friend Bruce Blackburn of St. Petersburg, FL, W4TA, reminisced of him, “He was one of the world’s most respected amateur operators. He was a wonderful guy, interested in everything and everyone.” King Hussein was also jovial and humorous. During one of his visits to the United States, he was engaged in a very informal group discussion with some other U.S.amateurs, when one of them asked him, “Your majesty, all the ham callsigns I’ve ever seen always have a suffix. You know…either 1, 2, or 3 letters after the number in the callsign. But, I notice your callsign doesn’t have any suffix. There are no letters after the number…it’s just JY1. Why is that?” Hussein chuckled and replied, “Because I’m the King.” All members of the Jordanian royal family have amateur radio privileges in Jordan., including Hussein’s widow, Queen Noor, JY1NH. My cousin John Allan Jones of Harrison, AR, W5OX, was first licensed a few months before I was in 1969, when we were issued our first Novice callsigns, he WN5ZGI, me WN5ZKE. John was my inspiration and a great elmer in helping me get into amateur radio. After we both upgraded our Novice licenses, he was WA5ZGI, and I, WA5ZKE. We both kept these callsigns for many, many years until vanity callsigns were approved to be issued. Some of you had the pleasure of meeting John when he attended several of our ARKAN Field Days a few years back. A nicer guy you’ll never meet. He doesn’t speak very much of his DX successes, triumphs, and accolades over the years, but he is a DX hound, and has the cards to prove it. He has worked and confirmed all DXCC entities with the exception of only about 15 countries to go. (Cont. next page)

ARKAN BOARD – JANUARY MEETING The ARKAN board met on Saturday, 1/5 at the Golden Corral in Fayetteville. The main points of discussion were:

Reviewed January club meeting agenda with the American Red Cross in Tontitown.

Preliminary discussions for Field Day 2013. The main item right now is where it would be held, and a location has been secured!! The Elm Springs city park has been chosen for this year’s Field Day and it should provide an excellent site: LARGE area for beam erection and safety, several tall oak trees for the dipole antennas, no power lines that are extremely close to the park, large pavilion, men and women restrooms, bar-b-que pit if desired, asphalt walkway all the way around the park for anyone wishing to walk/exercise, big outdoor gym and swings for any kiddos who might come, entire perimeter fenced and gated for children security. Should be an ideal location. (Directions to the park, along with much more Field Day information will appear in the June issue of the ARKAN newsletter.)

ARKAN is now on Facebook. Find us on Facebook and like us at: ARKAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

ARKAN Newsletter – Page 10

John experienced the rare blessing of working King Hussein in 1971 (when he held WA5ZGI).Consequently as a result, he is the proud possessor of one of JY1’s illustrious QSLs. John also has in his collection of DX awards The Arabian Nights Award, which is actually a scroll, that was issued by King Hussein’s administration. The Arabian Nights award is issued for working all the Arabian countries in the Middle East.

John – WA5ZGI (now W5OX) in 1971 with the prized JY1 QSL

(Check-out the snazzy Swan 500-C and the restored BC-348 receiver!)

JY1 QSL (front)

JY1 QSL (back)

John it’s been many years, but still…another big word of congrats on working King Hussein. However, I just want you to know that this remains as the lone, single-most component of our ham radio experiences together over the past 4 decades that I will always be GREEN with envy about!!! (LOL)

News &

Events

IRCs could be discontinued in U.S. An IRC (International Reply Coupon) is used when you wish to offer the foreign station that you are sending your QSL to, to supply return postage. You cannot send them a U.S. stamp, which is not honored by their country’s post office, so you send them either 1-2 US dollars or an IRC. The foreign amateur (hopefully) takes the IRC to their local post office and exchanges it for the corresponding amount of an air mail postage stamp in their country’s currency, which they will (hopefully) use to send their QSL back to you. The advantage to using IRCs is that they are a type of “international money”, and make the chore of returning a QSL to you easier for the foreign ham. The disadvantage is that they are very expensive. They are $2.20 each in the U.S. The local PO usually doesn’t stock them, but they are readily available online. Most of the time, you will receive your card back; sometimes you won’t. It’s a risk that all DXers take in QSLing when they choose this method. The USPS has proposed to possibly discontinue the sale of IRCs effective Jan. 27, 2013. Whatever its decision will be, it will still continue to redeem them for the foreseeable future. If you want to play it safe and have some on hand should you want/need them, it would be best to make your purchase soon. This Month’s DXpeditions KENYA – 5Z4/DL1QW & 5Z4/DF3ZS Jan. 7-20. 80-10m. CW, SSB, RTTY QSL to home calls. MOUNT ATHOS – SV2ASP/A (RARE!) Monk Apollo has been active around 7.150 on SSB around 0600 to 0700Z. Good luck on getting him, but a HUGE congrats if you do! QSL to home call. LAOS – XW1A Larry is on 160-2m using CW, SSB & RTTY. QSL via E21EIC. MONGOLIA – JT1CO Chak is active on 30m around 2100Z. QSL direct. SENEGAL – 6W Francis-F6BLP is active as 6W7SK until Jan. 18. 80-10m, mostly CW. QSL to home call.