What's New

Updated: 5/30/2008

Minutes of the May Meeting BY RICH KO6FR

David AE6W called meeting to order and asked for introductions. No VIP/RACES  information.

Ron W6BIS said repeater working good.

John N6XN said the D-STAR computer is about ready to install software. The power supply replaced with electronic one that  runs on 12 volts. There are two micro wave radios on the hill.

Rich KO6FR gave treasury report.

David AE6W thanked everyone for the coverage of Tour-De-Cure  and the Cycle for Sight race.

Meeting to be held in same place in July. May have discussion on T-hunting.

Next testing will be held Sept. 7, and Tech class Sept. 6-7 (if held).

David AE6W will try to get Field Day article in newspaper.

Fox Hunt next Tuesday May 27th.

Arnie N6APA said Field Day meal will be same as last year. Furnish your meat, and bring a dish to share.

Ron W6BIS said there was a good article in QST, on power generators.

There was discussion  to hold a tech.net on the repeater, so if you have questions you can asked it and get answers.

 

Meeting adjourned.

73

Rich KO6FR

Coming Soon:  Field Day 2008.  It's hard to believe but the last full weekend in June is practically here!  We always need help with this event so if you have some time mark your calendar.  We need operators and volunteers to help set up and tear down.  See all the details here.

Just a rumor but from some pretty reliable sources:  Due to the sinking value of the US dollar in overseas markets, travel is not the only thing becoming more expensive.  Radios produced for the Amateur market are going to be "repriced" some time in June.  Repriced?  Read; the prices are going up.  We're told that Icom will be leading the market so if you have your eye on a new radio, don't wait.

Still no news to report on the PAVE PAWS (PPR) issue but in a related matter the ARRL newsletter once again reports the pending retirement of our good friend Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH.  As we reported late last year, Riley had originally planned his retirement earlier this year but decided to postpone the date so he could deal with the PPR problem.  He has been a real champion for us.  Read the whole story here.

And in yet another related matter,  another threat to the 70 cm band has come into view.  This from the NARCC forum.

"A Public notice posted by the FCC has a proposal to use 430-448 MHz for remotely-controlled surveillance robots for emergency use.

For the power proposed and the limited use, I don't believe the device will cause any significant interference to the ARS. (Amateur Radio Service)

The real issue for the manufacture is how to stop the ARS from interfering with the device. It seems the real possible threat may be that once the manufacturer has its foot in the door so to say on 440mhz, they may start petitioning for channelization to be done and assigned to it, citing interference problems that have occurred in
alleged emergency situations."

Read the FCC document here.

I'm not sure who the author of this quote is as he uses an alias on the forum but I'm not sure I share his position on "no significant interference".  According to the FCC document the service proposes to limit the output power of the robot to 1 Watt peak.  They first considered 2.4 and 5.8 gHz but felt that the power limitations of those bands would "Not allow building penetration."  As any foxhunter knows, 300 mW (one third of a Watt) penetrates buildings quite nicely and can be heard miles away!  Stay tuned.

From the ARRL Letter, May 23rd, an interesting transcript of a speech by FCC staff member Bill Cross and Special Council Reilly Hollingsworth at the Dayton hamfest.  Some of this speech was broadcast on the ARNewsline but unfortunately was poor quality audio.  Read the entire speech here without the white noise.

ARRL letter May 23rd

A little more detail from the minutes:  At the May meeting we discussed the declining interest in the cram type training.  It's been quite a while since we've had a General Class, there just hasn't been enough interest to justify putting a class together. (it really is a lot of work and some expense).  Likewise, requests for entry level training has also been falling off.  A few of us have been kicking around the idea of starting a "Tech net" on the W6CO repeater system where persons interested in upgrading can come and actually learn "ham stuff". Here's a sample: "What's a critical angle and why is it important?"  Any of you new Generals remember this?  If not, it's probably because you just memorized the answer long enough to pass the test.  Real learning sticks with you because we cover the "Why's" of the subject.

We kick of the series with Ron, W6BIS discussing receiver sensitivity; how it's measured and why it's important.  Do you know what the sensitivity of your rig is?  It's in the specifications section of your owners manual.  Come by Wednesday after the net and listen in, or better yet, join in.

If you have a question concerning any material in your study guide, please ask.  There are no dumb questions.

D-Star update:  As reported elsewhere in this issue, a number of D-Star Reflectors have been put on line and are gaining popularity.  New software has enabled system operators to link their repeaters to various reflectors so that anyone using one repeater will simultaneously appear on any other repeater that is also linked.  This makes for some pretty interesting conversations.  Today, a D-Star repeater user in Missouri talking to a mobile in Italy.  Both voices crystal clear.  Now a ham in Tucson has taken the initiative and connected one of his D-Star radios to the internet so that the audio from Reflector-001 can be heard by anyone, anywhere with a computer.  Would you like to hear what D-Star sounds like? Click here and select "Listen".  The audio stream opens in Windows Media Player.  You may not hear anything for extended periods because, being new, the reflector is lightly used.  Also you may not hear callsigns because in D-Star, the callsign appears on the radio's display so many operators have gotten out of the habit of identifying by voice. (comment withheld)

Most likely, audio streaming will become commonplace very soon but for now, this is unique.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

Photocredits: Valley scenes KE6O