the chawed rag k5rwk upcoming events chawed rag... · 2019. 9. 27. · rwk has “loaner” hf and...
TRANSCRIPT
K5RWK UPCOMING EVENTS
Meeting-on-the-Air
Monday, June 5, 7:30 P.M.
RWK Repeater, 2 Meters
147.120 (CTSS 110.9 Hz)
###
Monthly Meeting
Monday, June 12, 6:30 P.M.
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church
1220 W. BeltLine Rd, Richardson
Canton, TX EmCom Action
with
Sean Kelly W5SPK
###
Monthly Breakfast
Saturday, June 17, 8:00 A.M.
Southern Recipes Grill
621 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 229, Plano, TX
### RACES Nets & Siren Test
Monday, June 5, 9:00 P.M. (Net)
Wednesday, June 7 Noon (SirenTest)
Monday, June 19, 9:00 P.M. (Net)
VHF repeater: 147.120 (CTCSS Tone 110.9 Hz)
UHF repeater: 444.725 (CTCSS Tone 110.9 Hz)
Affiliated Club Since 1952
Ham radio license exams
3rd
Thursday of each month @ 7:00 P.M.
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church
The Chawed Rag
Volume 47, Issue 6, June 2017
Canton, TX EmCom Action
Sean Kelly will outline the experiences that he and other involved hams had during the recent tornado that touched down in and around Canton, TX.
Sean is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He is a member of Collin County ARES and the Emergency Medical Corps. He is also VP of the Plano ham club.
Kelly's presentation will cover how he assisted during the emergency, the kind of equipment used, and the types of certifications a ham operator needs to be helpful in this type of emergency recovery effort.
There is much to know in order to assist during a real emergency. Ham operators need to understand what is required to avoid being more of a hindrance than a help.
Come early. Bring a friend. Make new ham friends & enjoy the fellowship!
Enjoy coffee and cookies.
In this issue:
1 K5RWK Upcoming April Fun Events
2 Prior meeting summary
3 RWK website & E-mail reflector information
3 Monthly Richardson sirens test
4 Future RWK events
K5RWK Repeaters 147.120 or 444.725
(CTCSS Tone 110.9 Hz)
Prior meeting summary
Dave Russell describes giant coax applications.
Huge coax for a VOA station in Saudi Arabia. Feed line selection must consider many variables.
Our May meeting set a record with at least 72 members and guests in attendance to learn about feed line selection.
Transmission Lines
Dave Russell W2DMR, a transmitting expert, described the large number of feed line choices available to radio amateurs and businesses. He told of his experiences installing giant coax for a 2 Megawatt Voice of America station in Saudi Arabia.
Later, Dave passed around samples of various size coax along with sections of ladder line as he discussed the pros and cons of each size and type. Feed line selection can be confusing, but the six key selection criteria will help the antenna designer and operator narrow down the choices to just a couple of one type or another. Amateurs are wise to pay attention to feed lines, the 'umbilical cords' between a transceiver, the antenna, and the world.
About 72 members and guests attended
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2017 Officers & Board Members
President Grant Laughlin W5XJ 214.908.6355
V.P. & Program Coordinator John DiFilippo AF5MN 214.755.8140
Treasurer Doug Kilgore KD5OUG 972.231.8539
Secretary/Field Day
Danny Siminiuk K5CG 972.827.7995
Director-Siren Tests Don Bowen K5LHO 972.235.3063
Director-Mentoring Dave Russell W2DMR 972.690.9894
Director-Historian & VE Bill Owens AD5EW 972.380.2859
Director Emeritus Hal Wolff N5BT 972.233.0345
Director Emeritus Forest Cummings W5LQU 972.231.0793
Repeater Trustee-Director Bob Coelln KG5JL 214.244.9506
Past President Grant Laughlin W5XJ 214.908.6355
Newsletter Editor /Public Info Dick Morgan K6RAH 972.931.7993
Webmaster-Director Bill Reed NX5R 972.713.9555
The Chawed Rag is the official publication of The Richardson Wireless Klub, Inc. You may reproduce any material contained herein unless otherwise noted, with attribution to original author(s), and The Richardson Wireless Klub, Inc. Please send us a complimentary copy.
Klub membership is open to all persons interested in amateur radio. Join at any meeting, by mail or on-line. Annual dues are $15 individual, $20 family, or $5 student rate.
Archives of The Chawed Rag are available online at: http://k5rwk.org/rwk01/index.php/rwk-documents/rwk-newsletters.
RWK Website: http://www.k5rwk.org
RWK E-mail forum - READ THIS! The Klub has a Yahoo group mailing list. Go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rwk-ntx/
All Klub members NEED to subscribe to get Klub news!
The E-mail list is a forum for announcements, comments
and ideas of interest to members. KEEP CURRENT!
Any approved list member may post a message to the
group at [email protected].
RWK Siren Testing Services
The City of Richardson will test all emergency sirens on
first Wednesdays, at noon (weather permitting). We do
not conduct the test if the weather looks threatening, to
avoid confusing residents. Hams assist each month by
going to a designated siren, checking into the net on
147.120 MHz, watching and listening to the performance
of the siren, then reporting on the net. Most sirens have
an assigned ham, but there often are unassigned sirens.
New hams are welcome to participate and learn!
Please contact Don Bowen K5LHO, 972.235.3063,
if you can help with siren tests near your QTH.
0 MHz, watching and listening to the performance of the
siren, then reporting on the net. Most sirens have an
assigned ham, but there often are unassigned sirens.
New hams are welcome to participate and learn!
Please contact Don Bowen K5LHO, 972.235.3063,
if you can help with siren tests near your QTH.
Help RWK with 'AmazonSmile' donations! Register on-line now!
Smile.Amazon.com is the website to use when making purchases on Amazon! Once you subscribe to smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchases to The Richardson Wireless Klub! Sweet! Amazon paid RWK $9.29 for the 4th Quarter 2016!
Click this quick link to register on smile.amazon.com
Future RWK Events:
Jun 07– Wednesday – City of Richardson Siren Test, 12:00 noon http://www.cor.net/EM
Jun 05 – Monday – Meeting on the Air, 7:30 P.M.
Jun 05 – Monday – Richardson RACES Net, 9:00 P.M.
Jun 09-10 - Friday/Saturday - HAM-COM 2017, Irving Convention Center - https://www.hamcom.org/
Jun 12 - Monday – Monthly Meeting, 6:30 P.M. – HAM-COM Review (Mentoring @ 5:30 P.M.)
Jun 15 – Thursday - VE ham radio license exams, 7:00 P.M., St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church. Call 972.380.2859
Jun 17 – Saturday – Breakfast at Southern Recipes, 621 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 229, Plano – 8:00 A.M.
Jun 19 – Monday – Richardson RACES Net, 9:00 P.M. Jun 24-25 - Saturday/Sunday - ARRL FIELD DAY 2017!
Jul 05– Wednesday – City of Richardson Siren Test, 12:00 noon http://www.cor.net/EM
Jul 03 – Monday – Meeting on the Air, 7:30 P.M.
Jul 03 – Monday – Richardson RACES Net, 9:00 P.M.
Jul 10 - Monday – Monthly Meeting, 6:30 P.M. – TBD (Mentoring @ 5:30 P.M.)
Jul 20 – Thursday - VE ham radio license exams, 7:00 P.M., St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church. Call 972.380.2859
Jul 15 – Saturday – Breakfast at Southern Recipes, 621 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 229, Plano – 8:00 A.M.
Jul 17 – Monday – Richardson RACES Net, 9:00 P.M.
Recent Licenses & Upgrades
Frank Krizan - New call is KR1ZAN (nifty)
New Members in May
Ram Laska KG5TKH (General Class)
Beau Williamson N5PY (Extra Class)
Need help getting a ham license? Getting on the air? Trying something new?
The Richardson Wireless Klub (RWK) donated to the Richardson Public Library a set of books to study for the Technician License. In addition, there are handbooks on various facets of ham radio operations. Look on the third floor in reference category 621.384.
RWK has “loaner” HF and VHF transceivers available for short-term use by newly licensed RWK members. For more information, contact Dick Morgan ([email protected] or 972.931.7993).
RWK offers informal Mentoring sessions prior to the Klub’s regular monthly meetings. Arrive at 5:30 P.M. to get answers to your ham questions and issues. "Elmer" is the term used to identify a mentor for amateur radio. RWK members act as local “Elmers” to new hams or to existing members exploring new modes or interests. If you could use some help, just let us know. We will put you together with one of our ‘old hands’ to help get you going. We may soon offer group mentoring to Technician licensees who want to upgrade to General, but who have questions about certain portions of the General Class test. Meanwhile, here is a good online site with lots of references, self-study guides and video. http://www.hamelmer.com/.
You will find interactive practice license exams online at the following websites: http://qrz.com/ht/, or http://www.eham.net/exams/. When you can consistently get a 90% or better on practice exams, you are ready to take the real exam from any local club’s Volunteer Examiner team. You can check for exam locations, dates, and times at http://www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/search.
P.S. RWK offers exam sessions on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. For more info or to reserve your seat, call Bill Owens at 972.380.2859 or email [email protected] Alert! Alert! almost 40% of RWK’s membership could upgrade their license class!
CLICK HERE: to go directly to ARRL’s booklet, “Practical Radio Applications for New Technician Licensees.”
K5RWK VE Ham Exam sessions – Monthly Progress Report The Richardson Wireless Klub holds license exam sessions on the third Thursday evening each month, starting at 7:00 P.M. We examined seven candidates from five cities in May and administered nine exams. We passed three Technicians and three General Class candidates. One Technician candidate will need to try again.
If you know someone who might like to become a ham, please tell him/her about the RWK VE program. Our VE testing project also has produced quite a few new RWK members. We're anxious to help new hams learn and enjoy!
Interested in helping with VE testing? An open book orientation exam for Volunteer Examiners is all it takes to receive ARRL accreditation. If you are a General, Advanced, or Extra Class, why not get your accreditation? For more information, contact Bill Owens at 972.380.2859 or email [email protected].
RWK Wednesday "Hungry Hams" lunch The RWK lunch bunch meets each Wednesday at noon at Sonny Bryan's BBQ on West Campbell Rd. two blocks East of Coit Rd. All are invited to enjoy the benefit of a lot of "eyeball QSOs." NOTE: On the first Wednesday of the month, RWK helps the City of Richardson conduct siren tests, so lunch is delayed until around 12:30 P.M. Of course, members of other ham clubs and guests are very welcome to join in the fun and fellowship!
Just for fun, since you’ve read this far More random thoughts and questions to ponder...
> Pride is what we have. Vanity is what other people have. > If ignorance is bliss, why aren't many more people happy? > I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt! > Once you're over the hill, you pick up speed! > I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. > If you can't be kind with your remarks, at least be vague. > Teenagers: God's punishment for having sex. > One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! > Nothing is fool-proof when you're dealing with a talented fool. > If it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all. > Never test the depth of the water with both feet. > Nothing is worse than that moment, during an argument, when you realize you're wrong! > A perfect gift for someone who yearns for peace and quiet: a phoneless cord. > Why do we say that something is out of whack? What the devil is a "whack?" > TV can insult your intelligence, but nothing rubs it in quite like a computer!
NOTE: answers shown in copyright notice box below. No peeking!
ARRL "The Doctor is in" podcasts available on-line - give a listen
"The Doctor is in" podcasts with ARRL's Joel Hallas W1ZR are now available on InetRadio. They are located under "Talk" in the "Amateur Radio" category. Selecting the Blue Info button in the menu listing will let you set it to AutoPlay so new episodes automatically play when they are posted. InetRadio is a free app for iOS and Android, giving the user complete control of what they listen to...music, news, podcasts and more. A player is available for desktops and laptops. Other ham-related podcasts are also available on the same InetRadio site. To try a podcast, click on: http://www.inetradio.com. Copyright 2017, Richardson Wireless Klub K5RWK, Box 830232, Richardson, TX 75083. Answer to Extra Class Question: D Trivia Quiz: 1
HAM TRIVIA QUIZ
Other than when handling 3rd party traffic,
how often must a U.S. ham send the other
ham's call sign?
1. Zero times 2. One time 3. At beginning and end of the QSO 4. None of the above
From the Extra Class Question Pool which of the following is true about contest operating?
A. Interference to other amateurs is unavoidable, therefore acceptable.
B Every contact requires a signal report in the exchange.
C. It is mandatory to transmit the call sign of the station being worked as
part of every transmission to that station.
D. Operators are permitted to make contacts even if they do not
submit a log.
From a recent A.R.R.L. QST Survey?
Do you want to read a QST "Product Review" of a new transceiver before you make a decision to purchase?
Yes = 62%
No = 38%
No = 77%
Promoting “Radio Scouting” with Amateur Radio at Jamboree
Boy Scout 'Radio' Merit Badge
Amateur radio will be on the air from Philmont, New Mexico July 17 to 28. Watch for station K5K on the porch near
the Tooth of Time Traders. Dale Finley KB5NFT, will be the primary operator and assisted by Dale Hiatt KC5MAY. These
ham operators will promote “Radio Scouting” by using equipment provided by Icom America, a sponsor of amateur radio
within Scouting.
Antennas will be suspended high in the nearby trees as well as vertical antennas on the ground. These antennas along
with Icom's transceivers will allow communication across the country and at times around the world. Radio modes will
include: HF Voice, HF PSK, HF RTTY, DStar, Echolink, HF Winlink Email by radio as well as other voice and digital
modes.
National Scout Jamboree
This operation will also coincide with the National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. We're
hopeful that we will be able to make frequent contacts with station K2BSA at the Jamboree.
There will be plenty of opportunities to check out the station, make some contacts, or just learn more about how it all
works. It's great fun and this is a superb way to learn more.
Please contact Dale Finley at [email protected] or call 214-244-2100 for more information.
Antenna repair project a success On Wednesday, May 17, RWK members John Di Filippo AF5MN, Tim Bratton K5RA and Doug Kilgore KD5OUG visited the home QTH of Wes Connally N5TVB to repair his HF dipole antenna that was damaged in a recent storm. The antenna was unusual being connected to the shack's antenna tuner with a balanced feed line constructed of parallel coax. The shield of the two coaxes was connected together at the top and bottom. The purposed was to shield the feed line from the high voltage power lines nearby. Before and after repair photos are below. Good work guys.
Wes Connally W5TVB ponders his ravaged dipole. The dipole hanging loose before repairs.
Wes' dipole after the RWK crew made the repairs. One of the ham stations @ the Richardson EOC.
ARRL FIELD DAY - June 23-24 provides lots of opportunities Field Day provides unique opportunities for both experienced hams and newcomers to our hobby. Newer Technicians can make HF QSOs as an Extra Class operator controls the rig. This year, RWK holds the Klub's field day exercise at the City of Richardson's Emergency Operations Center at 1621 E. Lookout Dr, just east of Plano Road. City employees will be on hand to open the EOC for the Klub at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 24.
On-the-air fun starts at 18:00 UTC (1:00PM local) and runs through Sunday the 25th, at 20:59 UTC (3:59PM local).
There will be catered food, and plenty of parking on a brand new parking lot. Families and the public are welcome.
We are looking for leaders to step up as Station Captains to manage HF station activity, and we are looking for operators and loggers to fill the entire 27 hour schedule. If you are interested in participating please send an email to [email protected] with your availability, or call Danny K5CG at 972-827-7995.
More specific information will be available at the June Klub meeting. Picture yourself at one of the rigs, making contact after contact or logging QSOs on a laptop for a fellow ham. Don't miss this big nationwide on-air event!
Foundations of Amateur Radio - What radio should I purchase?
A regular question that I hear from amateurs, both new and experienced ones, is "What
radio should I purchase?". It's a simple question that doesn't have a simple answer.
The obvious variables, budget, size, frequency and modes are one side of the coin, and
when you start looking, you'll learn that there is a lot of information on the subject.
You'll learn that you can get amateur radios from $15 to $20,000 and everything in
between. To be clear, I'm just talking about the radio, not the power supply, the
amplifier, microphone, computer, antenna, interfaces, Morse key and the like.
Unless you won LOTTO yesterday, and not even then, you should probably not buy a $20,000
radio first up. The question that's often asked is, should I buy Yaesu or Icom, which is
like asking, should I buy a Mac or PC? As you know, there are many different options and
the same is true for your radio.
The reality is that unless you have specialized measuring equipment, most modern radios
are pretty similar. That's not to say that they are the same, far from it, it's just that
you are unlikely to come across a situation where you'd actually notice, since the
variables that make up our hobby are so vast, propagation, antennas, local environment
and the like, that any slight differences in radio performance are likely to be
completely masked by other factors.
If you had a shack where you have 10 radios side-by-side, all connected to the same
antenna, you'd be able to notice differences, sometimes they'll even be significant,
but overall, in day-to-day operation, other variables beyond the simple metric of
"performance" are more important.
The budget you have is a big factor when you get your radio, and don't spend more than
50% of your total budget on the radio, since you'll need a whole lot of other stuff that
simply isn't in the box. Antennas, power supplies, coax, headphones, microphones, etc.
are just the basics.
When you've narrowed it down to a couple of radios, go and visit some shacks and see them
in operation. Try to work like you would work on one of those radios. If you're a
contester, try a contest on a friend's radio, if you like working portable, go out with
your friend and see how the radio performs. There's nothing wrong with picking the radio
that your friend has, since it will help you learn more about your own gear.
Since my first purchase I've learned lots about radios. I have no regrets that my first
radio was a Yaesu 857d. I picked it because it suited me. I can tell you that I don't
think that my next radio will be the same. There is lots that I like, and some things I
don't. Even the most experienced ham asks their friends for their opinion. My current
recommendation is an open source software defined radio, but I've not actually used one
yet and I already know I dislike the software that it ships with, so there's that.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB.
Got something to say? Write an article for the Chawed Rag We're always on the lookout for ham radio-related articles by our members. You choose the topic and simply draft your article. You might describe your most memorable QSO, or put together a technical description of an antenna design that you have used successfully. Tell other members the ham activities that most interest you and tell why you find those aspects so compelling. Your article can be as short as three or four paragraphs, or as long as a page...or two.
What new Klub activities would interest you enough to explore with a few other members? Have you recently experimented with Raspberry Pi circuits? Have you tried a new digital mode? Are you planning a hybrid antenna design? Who knows, you may pique the same interest in several other members and do something really special!
Just send your draft to: [email protected] along with any other notes. It's simple. See the example by a fellow ham in Australia just above this request. I'll edit it for you and you soon will see it here in the Chawed Rag!