RADIO ACTIVE Newsletter of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club April 2004 Serving Las Vegas since April 1961 President's Corner By Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ I want to start out this month's article by again thanking all those who helped us at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Mar 5, 6 and 7. The final figures are in and our net profit after sales tax and 1% insurance have been deducted is $8962.45. This is to be shared with the Henderson Elks Club based on the hours worked. We still have a few expenses to be deducted, but the take should be about $6300 for us and $2400 for the Elks. Not bad for 3 days of fun. Not bad at all. As I keep saying - that sure beats carwashes or bowlathons... If you worked either this event or the one last November, be sure to tell Bill K8XC or Carolyn K9XC that you are coming to the Speedway Appreciation Dinner on April 17. You should have gotten a letter or email already telling you all about it. It's the tips we earned that pays for that, and tips are for good service, and we earned a lot of them! That speaks highly of the quality of volunteers who work our events. There's a lot happening the next couple of months for hams - a bunch of Public Service events to hone your skills as communicators, hamfests and conferences and more. As you read through this newsletter, put the ones that pique your interest in your calendar, get an email out or a phone call to the organizer and commit to help out. It's your chance to get involved. 73 --------------------------- Secretary's Report By Sandy Nelson, KD7WYD Minutes of the General Meeting of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club Tuesday, March 9, 2004 Call to order: 7:05pm Charlie Kunz AA5QJ conducting Welcome and Introductions: 62 Hams were in attendance. 2 visitors. Secretary: Sandy, KD7WYD - The members attending approved February's Minutes from the Newsletter. Treasurer: Jamie, N3TOY - The members attending approved the Treasurer Report from the February Newsletter. Trustee: Pat, N7QE - All of the donated radios are marked as 'bad'. Pat and Bill, WB0KSW, will have to check out all of them and try to piece a working radio together to use as a 440 receiver or we will need to come up with a scanner or other mobile radio to work as a remote control for the site. Pat is going to present to the Board what will be needed to get the repeater links working correctly. Newsletter Editor: Gary, KK7LV – absent. Librarian: Shelly, KD7HZK – Brought about 1/3 of the items from the Library with her to the meeting for members to check out. The antenna analyzers were both already checked out. Byon is keeping a record of them. Comm Trailer Manager: Vern, K0EGA – The old single circuit breaker box was replaced with a 6 - breaker box provided by Mike, KM1KE. Vern and Jack, N8RRL, completed the following: the AC loads in the trailer were distributed among those 6 breakers. Some of the heavy loads such as air conditioning and the 12 VDC power supply/battery charger were assigned to a separate breaker. Other loads, interior and exterior outlets, exterior lights, etc were spread among the remaining breakers. One of the external roof mounted lights was replaced, and a switch in the trailer now controls both. Separate from the wiring, a 900MHz transceiver and a trunk-tracking scanner were also installed. Public Information Officer: Frank, KL7IPV – A blurb on the LVRAC meetings has been added to the 'Events Around Town' section in the Monday editions of the Review Journal. If anyone has pictures of events, please send them to Frank at KL7IPV@aol.com and Gary at nevada_gary@hotmail.com. This will get them into the newsletter as well as Frank having them to pass on to the newspapers, etc. He is hoping to get something into QST soon. Old Business: Byon, N6BG announced that the date and location of the Antenna building project has not yet been selected. The project will be 3-element 2m Yagi's. Charlie, AA5QJ, reported that as of March 5th, with 75 of 97 membership voting we received 74 votes for (76%) and 1 vote against so the Bylaws have been approved! Speedway Concession, March 5, 6, and 7. Art, K7ZE, and Bill, K8XC: Art asked for special Thanks for Bill, K8XC, and Carolyn, K9XC, as they are the glue that holds this project together for the club. Bill reported $29,159.50 from Friday, $31036.00 on Saturday, and $46,504.00 on Sunday for a total of $106,000 for the weekend! Tips totaled $925.00! Not bad for such a ratty looking crew! We are just waiting for the Speedway bank to finish counting and comparing the closing inventories. The club has more than $1100.00 in the kitty for the Speedway Volunteer dinner. It will be Saturday, April 17th, 6:00PM at Sunset Station in Henderson. Invitations will be sent to the volunteers. Please RSVP when you receive it and let us know if you will make it and how many in your party. Volunteers, spouses, significant others and children are invited this year. In addition to the buffet, rib- eye steak will be offered, but free beer and wine will not. Bill and Carolyn thanked the 71 volunteers that participated this year! Charlie reported that Rip was kept overnight in the hospital and released the next day. He is doing fine! NAB, April 19 – 22. Bill, K8XC, enough volunteers have signed up to man the ARRL booth for 3 days. He has checked with John Marino, VP of Technology with NAB, and there is not going to be any restrictions and the reception on Wednesday night will be open to all Amateur Radio Licensees. ARRL will have booth 9 in the lobby, right outside the restaurant doors. It is a great location! The volunteers will not need credentials, as the booth is located in the lobby. Bill did receive 150 certificates for ARRL members to receive free credentials for those that would like to see the exhibits. Seed 9 Rally Sprint, March 6. Jamie, reported that this was a success at several levels. We provided support for safety and welfare of the drivers and used the Comm Trailer. Certificates of Appreciation were passed out to the volunteers. Thanks, again, to all those that volunteered! Baker to Vegas Race, April 24 & 25. Howard, K3HM, spoke on the event. It is sponsored by the Los Angeles Revolver and Athletic Club. The race starts in Baker and ends at one of the hotels in Las Vegas. It runs through the mountains and not along the highway. It runs Sat and Sun. Race for the Cure, May 1. Tom, KE4ULL, was absent. Charlie reminded everyone that an email went out asking for volunteers. American Diabetes Assn. Bike Ride, May 8. Howard, K3HM, passed around a clipboard and requested volunteers. This year the turn-around will be in a parking lot of a small market. Hams will be needed for 5 rest-stops, 4 Sag wagons, 1 Supply van, 1 Ambulance, 2 Repair vehicles, 1 Shadow, 2 Rovers (motorcycles), 1 Back-up person. 20 volunteers will be needed to make sure all areas are covered. The 2m frequencies will be announced in the future. Las Vegas Marathon will be January 30, 2005, and we have been requested to cover the entire 26-mile route as we did such a great job with the first 13 miles this year! Silver State Classic Race, May 16. Silver State Gold Rush Challenge, July 18. Silver State Classic Challenge, Sept 19, Charlie is trying to contact John Bigley to find out who is coordinating these events this year, more information as soon as it's available. Volunteers will be needed! New Business: Byon, N6BG, announced that this months T-Hunt will be this coming Sunday in the Northeast part of town. It will start at 2PM and end at 5PM. There will be at least 4 transmitters in the area. You are welcome to hunt for one or all of the transmitters. Meet for dinner after to compare notes. Contact Byon to sign up or for more information. Congratulations to Byon, N6BG, and his son Scott! Scott won First Place in the Southern Nevada Math Competition and he competed in the State Competition March 6. Byon reports he took first place and will be moving on to the Nationals in Washington DC! Announcements: Vern, K0EGA, The Nuclear Transport Exercise ('Moving Target') is Apr 1 in Laughlin. There will be need for a lot of participation. 4 hospitals and 2 EOC's will need to be manned. Charlie, AA5QJ, announced that 15 hams attended the Red Cross Communications Volunteer Orientation on Feb 21st. Ham Test – Change in time and place: The 2nd Saturday of each month at the All Saints Episcopal Church, 4201 W. Washington or weeknights at the C.C. Government Center, in the training room. A calendar and more information are in the Newsletter and on the club website. Byon, N6BG, announced the raffle prizes: Canvas bag, Multi-meter, Solar panels, LVRAC Pen, Fish Tape, 12v Power Cell, Dual-band Glass Mount Antenna, $20.00 AES Gift Certificate and 23 amp Power Supply as the Grand Prize. The Speedway Volunteers were given a free ticket this month! Program: Luke, KK7XX, gave a presentation on some of the newer items in Ham Radio from AES. He brought in Anderson Power Poles, Rigrunners, Batteries, Watt Meters, and Mobile Rigs. Luke had a couple of websites he recommended: http://hb9drv.ham-radio.ch/HamRadioDeluxe.htm for control of most ham radios and www.digipan.com for PSK31. A question and answer period followed. And he was kept very late into the evening with members checking out the toys! The Raffle winners were: Canvas Bag and Multi-meter, WB0KSW, Bill Solar Panel & LVRAC Pen, KB7PHB, Clayton Solar Panel & Fish Tape, KD7CBJ, Mike 12v Power Cell Battery, N0CLU, Dave Dual-band Glass Mount Antenna, KA7GBE, Paul $20.00 AES Gift Certificate, AA7ZW, Bill 23 Amp Power Supply, KD7OOV, George The meeting adjourned at 9:00PM. The next meeting is Tuesday, April 13th. --------------------------- Treasurer's Report, Mar 2004 By Jamie Gorr, N3TOY Beginning Balance 8,582.85 Deposits: Dues (2004) 200.00 Raffle 186.00 speedway 300.00 Total deposits 686.00 Sub-total 9,268.85 Expenses: Sprint (Mar) 30.47 refreshments 105.14 (Feb/Mar) trailer registration 34.00 badges 13.81 raffle 588.37 speedway 259.70 misc business 75.00 Total expenses 1,106.49 Ending Balance 8,162.36 --------------------------- ARES / RACES Report – Mar 04 By Charlie Kunz AA5QJ - Charlie Kunz AA5QJ EC and Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training participated in the Moving Target 04 Tabletop Exercise in Laughlin on Mar 2 in preparation for the full-scale exercise on April 1 - Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training attended the McCarran Airport Aviation Security Tabletop Exercise on Mar 3. - Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training attended the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) meeting on Mar 9. - Lee Welsh KI7EY became a Silent Key on Mar 25. A memorial service was held on Mar 30. Our thoughts and prayers to his wife Jan Welsh NK7N and family. - Significant improvements have been made to the Emergency Communications Center: Permanent outlets and conduit have replaced the maze of power strips, radios and speakers have been remounted, existing and additional antennas have been (re)mounted, coax runs optimized, and the clutter removed. Particular thanks to Andy Gagliardo N7SGV for his hard work in this effort. --------------------------- Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure The event will be held on Saturday morning, May 1, 2004. It includes a 1K walk & a 5K run. Volunteers are needed just prior to 6:00 AM to sometime well before 1PM when the event's "use permit" expires. Please contact Tom Petrakis, KE4ULL, at 368-6763 or tpetrakis@cox.net for info or to volunteer. --------------------------- BPL Update! Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, your newsletter editor took the situation into his own hands and has rather gotten tangled up with the BPL issue. --------------------------- From the Editor By Gary Hartman, KK7LV Let us take a moment to be serious. I would like to recognize Lee Welsh, KI7EY, a Silent Key, member of LVRAC and LVRA, long time resident, retired Air Force and family man who contributed much to the Amateur Radio community. I like to think that my life has been richer because of the friendships and associations I have had. We are all unique and talented individuals. It's a shame that we don't get to know each other better. I am amazed at the talents and knowledge of the members of this club. The diversity of backgrounds and employment provide a rich blend skills. I would like to tell everyone to get to know your fellow club members a little better, but the truth is I need to encourage you to let others get to know who you are. May we never forget a Silent Key, but let us also not forget each other. --------------------------- Technical Tips Bob's Tech Talk I by Bob Eckweiler, AF6C Decibels (Part One): The Logarithm Decibels are commonly used in the field of radio. They are used to indicate signal strength, antenna performance, gain and loss, and even power output. Microwave transmitters, commonly used to transmit signals from point to point, often have power ratings expressed in decibels above one milliwatt, instead of in watts. How is your knowledge of decibels? This series of articles will help you gain a better understanding of what expressions like 40dB over S9 really means. Decibels are logarithmic in nature, so in part one lets look at the concept of logarithms and why they're important. We'll do this with as little math as possible, and use only simple math when needed. Occasionally there will be sidebars for those who enjoy math, but you won't need to understand them to proceed. Many hams have a junk box, and in the junk box they usually have an assortment of common carbon resistors. Resistors are used in almost every electronic circuit and come in numerous shapes and sizes. They also come in a very large number of values. Common 5% film and carbon resistors are available from 1 ohm to 22 Meg (22,000,000) ohms in over 170 standard values. Let's say we want to plot these standard resistor values along the bottom of a graph. If the distance between where we plot the one ohm point and the two ohm point is a just one-tenth of an inch, the length of the graph would have to be over 34 miles! That's impracticable, especially since there are six standard values that need to be plotted between the one and two ohm points. Also, the next to the last standard value (20 Meg) ohm would be over three miles from the last point. The solution is to use a logarithmic scale. This scale is based on powers of ten. Look at the following numbers; they are powers of ten: 10 = 10 = 101 10 X 10 = 100 = 102 10 X 10 X 10 = 1,000 = 103 10 X 10 X 10 X 10 = 10,000 = 104 (etc.) In each case tens are multiplied together a different number of times to get the value shown. The expression on the right is a different way to express that value; the number in the superscript is just the number of tens used and is referred to as the exponent. Ten with an exponent of zero (100) is less intuitive. By definition it is one. 100 = 1 Not only can exact powers of ten be expressed in this manner. All the numbers in between them can also be expressed using decimal exponents. For example: 5 = 10 0.7 20 = 10 1.3 200 = 10 2.3 5000 = 10 3.7 Don't worry about calculating these exponents. It is difficult, and is the reason books containing "Tables of Logarithms" used to be common. Today the simple scientific calculator has replaced the tables. Numbers between zero and one can also be expressed by using negative exponents. Now we're dividing by ten instead of multiplying: 0.1 = 1/10 = 10 -1 0.01 = 1/10 X 1/10 = 10 -2 So what is a logarithm? It is just a way to express one number with another number based on the exponent of the power of ten. Why use logarithms? It allows you to express a large range of numbers with small numbers. To show this, let's go back to our example of plotting standard resistor values. Here are ten standard resistor values and their logarithms: 1 ohm 0.0 2 ohms 0.3 100 ohms 2.0 300 ohms 2.5 10,000 ohms 4.0 75,000 ohms 4.88 510,000 ohms 5.71 1 Meg ohms 6.0 10 Meg ohms 7.0 22 Meg ohms 7.34 Figure one shows the resistors plotted by logarithm and value. Usually only the value is given on plots, as in figure two. Since the values increase by multiples of ten on each large division of the plot, the plot can be distinguished as being logarithmic. Just about every A.R.R.L. Handbook since before 1944 has a reactance chart that uses logarithmic scales for the frequency and reactance axes. Look it over! In the radio world, receiver sensitivity is measured in tenths of a microvolt and transmitter power in kilowatts and sometimes megawatts. With a large span like that you can bet that decibels are based on a logarithmic scale. We'll explore decibels further in the next Bob's Tech Talk. {Sidebar} Logarithms - some interesting facts: Logarithms can use base numbers other than ten. The mathematical value "e", (2.71828...) which has certain properties only a mathematician can enjoy, is a common base. Logarithms based on "e" are called natural logarithms. Negative numbers do not have logarithms. While very small numbers can be expressed easily with logarithms, zero cannot. Numbers can be multiplied together by adding their logarithms. Numbers can be divided by subtracting the logarithm of the denominator from the logarithm of the numerator. These last two principles are the basis of the slide rule. --------------------------- Speedway Special The working crew at this years Speedway event included members of the LVRAC and the Elks Lodge in Henderson. Here are just a few of our fine volunteers: Sandy Nelson KD7WYD and Charlie Kunz AA5QJ tuning up their "TIP" voices. Here is Linda Kostelac KC7IIT preparing for surgery. Carolyn Cornelius K9XC and Dennis Cornell N7HRO and group. Lou Meiss WA6EPD and Howard Mark K3HM waiting for the rush. Byon Garrabrant N6BG managing the second beverage stand. Believe it or not, Charlie got an A on his report card, From the health district that is. Looks to me like Richard Stage AB7ZI, Art Sheldon K7ZE and Shelly Holt KD7HZK were doing dishes. Norma Delibertis (Elk), Judy Bazar (Elk), Gary Hartman KK7LV Charlie Kunz AA5QJ, Bob Wescom AA7NR, Lou Meiss WA6EPD, Richard Letendre (Elk), Howard Mark K3HM, John Stevens (Elk). Vern Garman K0EGA, Richard Letendre (Elk), Ron Smith N7NBA, Bob Wescom AA7NR, John Stevens (Elk) --------------------------- Coming Events April Meeting April 13 2004 at Nevada Power on Sahara just west of Jones. April Raffle Grand prize is an LDG Z-100 Auto HF Antenna Tuner along with other prizes. NAB April 19, 20, 21, and 22. Free Ham reception Wed Apr 21 at 6 PM at the LV Hilton. Contact Bill Cornelius at 897-9626, or k8xc@aol.com. Baker to Vegas Race April 24 and 25 is the annual Baker to Vegas 120 mile race. Fresno Hamfest Friday, April 30 through Sunday May 2, 2004 in Fresno, California Race for the Cure May 1, 2004. Contact Tom Petrakis at 368-6763 or tpetrakis@cox.net. American Diabetes Assn. Bike Ride May 8, 2004 Dayton Hamfest The Dayton Hamvention on May 14-16 Silver State Classic Race May 15, 2004 Field Day 2004 June 19th and 20th, 2004, contact Jamie Gorr at 233-2479 or at n3toy@qsl.net. ARCA/Ft. Tuthill Hamfest, Flagstaff, AZ. July 4th weekend at a NEW Location. Williams, Arizona on July 2, 3 and 4, 2004. --------------------------- 2004 Exam Schedule *** NEW *** License examinations are given on the second Saturday of each month. There are a couple of evening sessions at a different location. April 10th 12:30 PM (PST) May 8th 12:30 PM (PST) June 12th 12:30 PM (PST) July 10th 12:30 PM (PST) August 14th 12:30 PM (PST) September 11th 12:30 PM (PST) October 9th 12:30 PM (PST) October 22nd 6:30 PM (PST) November 13th 12:30 PM (PST) December 11th 12:30 PM (PST) The black dates are day time events. The red dates are evening test sessions and they take place at different locations. Day Time Test Sessions at: All Saints Episcopal Church 4201 W. Washington Ave. Between Decatur and Valley View Evening Test Sessions at: Clark County Government Center, Training Rm 3 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. Southeast of the spaghetti bowl (I-15 & 95) Please visit www.lvhamtest.com for updates, maps and further information. $12.00 Exam Fee Proper Identification, prefer a picture ID with your signature. Normally applicants provide a drivers license or student ID. Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer ID number (TIN) if you are not eligible for an SSN. If you presently have an Amateur Radio License, we will need the original plus a photocopy. If you have a CSCE, we must see the original plus a photocopy. Pen and a pencil. You may bring a calculator as long as the memory can be "flushed" before you take the exam. -------------------------- LVRAC Contact Information President Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ aa5qj@arrl.net 334-1196 Vice President Alan Skillin, NV7Y nv7y@hotmail.com 645-7725 Secretary Sandy Nelson, WD7WYD SNelson@newgen.com 228-2216 Treasurer Jamie Gorr, N3TOY n3toy@qsl.net 233-2479 Director Byon Garrabrant, N6BG byon@mail.com 228-6950 Director Bob Nelson, KD7UHG bobnelsonv@aol.com 228-2216 Director Art Sheldon, K7ZE k7ze@arrl.net 255-1074 Newsletter Editor Gary Hartman, KK7LV kk7lv@arrl.net 564-3792 Trustee Pat O'Gara, N7QE patogara@cox.net 804-6629 Public Affairs Frank Drake, KL7IPV kl7ipv@aol.com 838-3452 Webmaster Jamie Gorr, N3TOY n3toy@qsl.net 233-2479 Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ aa5qj@arrl.net 334-1196 Librarian Shelly Holt, KD7HZK ersh@earthlink.net 642-6871 Net Controllers Howard Mark, K3HM hmark@earthlink.net 256-3662 Bob Nelson, KD7UHG bobnelsonv@aol.com 228-2216 Clayton Hughes, KB7PHB kb7phb@yahoo.com 365-9544 Joe Esprecion, WH6CYB wh6cyb@cox.net 636-5544 LAS VEGAS RADIO AMATEUR CLUB P.O. Box 27342 Las Vegas, Nevada 89126 Membership Application Please Print Legibly NEW MEMBER (Please attach copy of license) RENEWAL UPDATE INFORMATION Name_______________________________________________ApplicationDate ____/______/_______ M D YR Call Sign _______________ License Class ______________ Expiration Date ____/______/______ Address _______________________________ City ___________________ State _____ Zip ______ Home Telephone (____)___________________ Work Telephone (____)___________________ Cellular/Pager (____)______________________ E-mail: ________________________________ Family Membership Name _____________ Call _______________ License Class __________ Name _____________ Call _______________ License Class __________ Name _____________ Call _______________ License Class __________ ARRL Member Signature ___________________________________ Your preference in receiving the monthly club newsletter - Club Web Page w/email notification The club operates on a calendar year (January through December) with dues presently at $20 per year. Dues are the same for an individual or family membership. Please send check or money order payable to the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club (or LVRAC) and mail to the club's post office box listed in the heading of this application.. Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club P.O. Box 27342 Las Vegas, NV 89126 Internet: http://www.lvrac.org/ Radio: 146.940 MHZ (K7UGE repeater) 448.500 MHz (K7UGE repeater) 146.730 MHz (QST machine) Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club April 2004 Issue