RADIO ACTIVE Newsletter of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club August 2004 Serving Las Vegas since April 1961 President's Corner By Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ Emergency Communications - in the news and in our lives. On July 15, the ARRL approved the inclusion of Winlink 2000 into ARRL ARES "as an additional emergency capability provided to agencies served by ARES". Winlink was developed as a means for mariners and RVers to get their email by radio wherever they are in the world. It provides HF or VHF/UHF links to nodes and email servers interconnected by the Internet. Recently it has been looked at as a means to provide traditional email capabilities to served agencies in areas where Internet connectivity may be disrupted - in the 'Last Mile'. It's packet radio, but with a user interface all computer users already know how to use! There have been several articles written in the past year - in QST and CQ magazines - on what Winlink is and what it can mean to emergency communications. Clark County ARES/RACES is drafting a digital communications plan incorporating Winlink. There are several parts to Winlink: Telpac nodes link radio packet to the internet – AA5QJ-2 on 145.05 is one – connect with any packet or terminal program to send email. Paclink is a mini email server on your PC that links your email program – Outlook Express, Eudora and others - to either the Internet or to your packet station, sending your email automatically by the most accessible route. Airmail is another program with an email program-like interface that uses HF Pactor to send email to distant PMBO stations. Don't know what a PMBO is? Read the articles at www.winlink.org, read the QST and CQ articles, including the first of a 2 part series in this month's QST Public Service column, and become acquainted with Winlink. Dig out that packet station and give it a try. It may even revitalize your interest in packet! Then on July 26, wildfire again affected our area - the Robbers Fire on Mt Charleston. ARES/RACES had the opportunity to support the firefighting efforts for 6 days, gaining experience in such operations, viewing the Incident Command System in action, and providing valuable resources to the agencies involved. And so on to this month: A couple of months ago, Bill Croghan WB0KSW gave us a brief overview of the Amber Alert system. At this month's meeting, Bill will show us the details of the Emergency Alert System, including Amber Alert, and how it fits into our daily lives. Come join us! 73 ----------------------------------- Secretary's Report By Sandy Nelson, KD7WYD Minutes of the General Meeting of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club Tuesday, July 13, 2004 Call to order: 7:00pm Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ, conducting Welcome and Introductions: 58 Hams were in attendance. 1 new licensee. 4 visitors. Secretary: Sandy, KD7WYD - The members attending approved June's Minutes from the July Newsletter. Treasurer: Jamie, N3TOY - The Treasurer's Report was posted on the Website and printed in the July Newsletter. The members attending approved June's Report from the July Newsletter. Repeater Committee: Bob, KD7UHG – absent. Trustee: Pat, N7QE – absent. Newsletter Editor: Gary, KK7LV – absent. Charlie asked the members if they approved of the new single column format of the Newsletter. It was agreed that it's much better. Librarian: Shelly, KD7HZK – absent. COMM Trailer Manager: Vern, K0EGA – Nothing new to report in the trailer at this time. Public Information Officer: Frank, KL7IPV – A write up of Howard, K3HM, and the Thunder bird Award will be in the August ARRL Newsletter. QST will have an article on Moving Target soon. Frank also suggests that if you are donating your old magazines to offices or libraries, print up a form with the club's name and address and tape it inside the magazine so people reading them can contact us if they are interested. Include a note on the meeting dates and times if possible. Old Business: Silver State Gold Rush Challenge, July 18th: - This has been cancelled and there has been no further word if we will be needed to support the Silver State Classic Challenge, Sept 19th: There was no one in attendance from these events. Field Day, June 26th and 27th: Jamie N3TOY, It went well! We had a new location in Sunset Park with privacy and lots of shade. The park provided 2 -20 x 20 tents, tables and chairs, and a huge bar-be- cue. Nellis provided a swamp cooler that kept the tents really comfortable. More then 80 people, hams and family, attended the potluck dinner on Saturday night. Frank has posted some pictures on the website. If you have pictures to share email them to Jamie and he will post them on the Field Day website. The exact numbers have not been calculated, but Jamie will post them as soon as he has them. Thanks to everyone who assisted with the day: Tom, KE4ULL, for his excellent cooking. Bill, K8XC, and Carolyn, K9XC, for all their assistance and running around. Sandy, KD7WYD, for the use of her truck to tow the club trailer (and for taking all the lights down in the middle of Gary's, KK7LV, TV interview!). Frank, KL7IPV, has a copy of the broadcast available if anyone would like to see it! Jamie is hoping to get that same location for next year. He is also making a list of items for next year. If there is anything that you thought we were missing or might be beneficial next year please email it to Jamie. Field Day Shirts and Pins: Several people have still not picked up their Field Day shirts or pins. (Most picked them up during the break at the meeting.) Sandy still has shirts for Lauriann, KD7UWE, and Bob Herrell, NK7I. If you have decided that you don't want them – let Sandy know. Other's may wish to purchase them! Vests: The vests are in for the people that ordered them back in May. If you have not picked yours up contact Sandy, KD7WYD. They are $35.00. (Note from Sandy: It was just brought to my attention that this last batch of vests had no pockets. I apologize; I did not notice that the pockets were missing. In the future we will make every effort to ensure that the vests have pockets.) New Business: Antenna Building Party: Dave Freidman, N0CLU, was absent. Byon, N6BG, announced that due to the success of the T-Hunt at Field Day, Dave is trying to put together an Antenna Building Party to build the Tape Measure antennas. It is hoped that we can build them before the General Meeting some time in the future. Expect to hear more about this in the next couple of months. Graphics Person: The Board is looking for someone to clean up the club logo so it can be used for printing shirts, etc. It was announced during the meeting that it's already been done! A member and I must apologize because I did not get your name and/or call sign, created a screened shirt and donated it for the raffle. He will get a copy of the logo to Byon and get with Bob, KD7UHG, regarding additional shirts for the club. Announcements: ARES/RACES, Charlie, AA5QJ: There will be a meeting on Sat, July 24, at 9:00 AM at the Clark County Government Center in Training Room 3. We will be gearing up for exercises coming up in the Fall. Raffle Prizes, Byon N6BG: The LVRAC T-shirt donated by a member, a solar panel, power pole supplies, AA battery packs, Gel-cell batteries, 2m Hershey Kiss antenna, and the Grand Prize is a Yaesu FT 1500 Dual Band mobile radio. BPL Test, Cedar Rapids, Vern, K0EGA: The BPL test in Cedar Rapids was cancelled after a week. This was mostly due to the professional job of the local hams in getting together and publishing a 33- page report and presenting it to the power company. As a result the power company decided to pull the plug on the testing. 10-10 International, Bill, AA7ZW: Bill has obtained a 10-10 number for the Club, 74200. As a gift to the club he has also paid the first years dues! Thank You, Bill! FARS Antenna Project, Butch, WA0VJR: FARS has an antenna raising project and they are asking for assistance. They need someone to climb the tower for them. Please see Butch if you can help! Speedway NASCAR Truck/Indy Car Race, Sept 25, Bill, K8XC: We are looking for volunteers for the LVRAC stand, B-9. The stand will open at 12:00 Noon and close after the Indy race – probably after 11:00 PM. We will need people at the stand from 9:00 AM until after closing. Please sign up – if we get enough volunteers we can schedule shifts. We hope for at least 20 – to allow for breaks, shifts, sneaking a peak at the races, shopping, etc. We are also in need of a volunteer for Stand Manager. Bill and Carolyn are recruiting; please let them know if you can help out! Refreshments/Break Program: Weather Spotting, Don Maker, National Weather Service: Don gave a complete Skywarn Intro and Training program. He also provided rain gauges for those members that signed up as Skywarn volunteers. It was extremely informative and timely! Raffle: Solar Panel, power pole cables, AA Batteries: Robert, AA7NR Red & Black Zipcord, Power pole connectors and crimper: Jerry, W7GGS LVRAC T-Shirt and AA Batteries: Michelle, KC7KXM COAX, power pole supplies, and Gel-cell Battery: Ron, N7NBA 2m Hershey Kiss Antenna and AA Batteries: Joe, WA6CYB Radio Yaesu FT 1500 Dual Band Mobile Radio: Clayton, KB7PHB Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. ----------------------------------- Treasurer's Report By Jamie Gorr, N3TOY The treasurer's report is also posted on the club Web site. We will continue to publish it in the newsletter as well. Beginning Balance 11,593.61 Deposits Dues 120.00 Raffle 174.00 FD Shirts 19.00 Vests 119.00 Donation 43.76 Park Refund 170.00 Void Check 15.00 Total Deposits 660.76 Expenses Sprint 30.03 LVRAC Banner 150.00 Sec of State 25.00 Refreshment 50.42 ARRL Club Membership 24.00 Trailer Generator 321.43 Field Day 29.46 Raffle 58.50 Total Expenses 688.84 Ending Balance 11,565.53 ----------------------------------- Volunteers Needed Bill Cornelius, K8XC On Friday, September 24, and Saturday, September 25, 2004, the club will operate one fund raising concession stand at B-9, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in conjunction with the running of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race and the recently added Champ Car Race (Open wheels similar to Indy cars). Both races are evening events so the concessions will open in late morning and close as the last race ends. On Friday, we expect a day event as the cars practice and qualify. This is the speedway's first attempt at two races in one evening so exact times are difficult to predict. This is not a radio event so club members, their families and friends are invited to volunteer. You need not be a ham and no experience is required. There is some sort of work for near everyone, ranging from selling over a counter to stocking, banking, and just general chores. We call these stands a Mini-McDonalds with beer, plus we make nachos, steam hot dogs and generally have fun. Tips, of which there will be many, go into a kitty that is combined with the Spring Race income to fund a dinner for all speedway volunteers and their families. To date, we are short about seven volunteers for Saturday and perhaps more as some folks are expected to shift their volunteer day to Friday. At this writing, we have only three folks on Friday of the 10 - 12 that are needed to operate the stand comfortably. So, won't you please carve out one or more days to help the LVRAC in this important fund raising effort? If you can volunteer for any period on 24 - 25 September or have questions, please call Bill (K8XC) or Carolyn (K9XC) at 897-9626 or send an email to K9xc@aol.com. ----------------------------------- ARES / RACES By Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ Clark County ARES Emergency Coordinator/RACES Officer July 2004 EC Report Charlie Kunz AA5QJ EC attended the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) meeting on July 15. A general membership meeting was held Sat July 24 at the Clark County Govt Center. AECs and managers updated the members on their activities since the last meeting. Charlie Kunz AA5QJ presented Winlink2000 and its application in emergency communications providing email over radio between served agencies when Internet connectivity is disrupted. He has a Telpac node in operation, and encourages others to try it out. See www.winlink.org for detailed information. A digital communications plan is being drafted to outline the use of this technology for ARES/RACES and our served agencies throughout the county. Joe Scanlan N7XSD has been appointed AEC for Salvation Army support. Charlie Kunz AA5QJ EC, Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training, and Joe Scanlan N7XSD AEC Salvation Army met with Rev Duane Sonnenberg of the Salvation Army on July 26 to discuss communications support and tour their facilities. RACES was activated on Monday afternoon July 26 by the Clark County Office of Emergency Management to support the communications unit at the Robbers Fire on Mt Charleston. 32 hams volunteered 301 hours at the Fire Command Post monitoring fire radios, and programming, issuing, and receiving hand helds used by the firefighters. 29 of the hams participating were Clark County ARES/RACES members and 3 were Nye County ARES/RACES members working under a Mutual Aid Team agreement between our counties. 7 Nye County members had placed themselves on standby to assist in our efforts. In addition, 3 of our members assisted, or were prepared to assist, the American Red Cross in food service and shelter operations. Our support ended Sat morning July 31. ----------------------------------- Silent Key By Gary Hartman, KK7LV I received a call from Al Olcott, K7ICW, past president of Frontier Amateur Radio Society last week and he informed me of the passing of Harold P. Leary, K7ZOK. Following is a copy of the e-mail he sent to Dick Flanagan on 31 July 2004: On Fri. 30, July 2004, I was informed by the XYL of K7ZOK that he had passed on from an on-going illness in a Las Vegas nursing home. Harold "Hal" P. Leary, K7ZOK, ex W0FKY was 88 yrs old. He was honored by the ARRL recently for his 50 year membership. Hal was a Professional Electrical engineer whose job duties with the U.S. Rural Electrification Administration brought him to Nevada in the mid 1960's. His working life consisted of thousands of miles of travel every year to the far corners of Nevada and other Western states to keep the lights on in small communities. He had service club affiliations with the Masons and others. He was very active in his church group. Hal is survived by his wife Ethlyn, a son and a grandson. The boys have ham licenses. Hal's residence was in Las Vegas, and a time share property on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Hal was a past member of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Radio Club (LVRAC), The Clark County Amateur Technical Society(CCATS) and the Southern Nevada Amateur Radio Club (SNARC). He held several offices in the SNARC. His club affiliation with the Silver Dollar Amateur Radio Club (SDARC) brought him in contact as a charter life member with a group that survives today since it was founded the 1960's. It was a sponsor of the "truck stop" ham dinners for 20 years. Hal was attributed to having worked the first interstate contact on the 1.2GHz band, between Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona. He also achieved Worked All States 50Mhz from Nevada and also Colorado. K7ZOK also held the Army MARS call, AA7ZOK, and was an Army MARS member for 3 decades. K7ZOK was an early member of the Southern Nevada Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Corps (AREC). Hal checked into the local 145.8MHz AM mode Southern Nevada AREC Net (now disbanded) whenever he was not out on the road working. Somehow, Hal managed time to be on the staff to support the Sahara Amateur Radio Operators Convention (SAROC) held in Las Vegas annually for about 14 years. Hal was interested in weak signal radio frequency communications and was a Southern Nevada pioneer on 50,144,432 & 1.2ghz. He had an ARRL appointment as: Official Experimental Station, succeeded by the Official VHF/UHF Station appointment and in the end, Technical Advisor. In the 1960's, Hal was part of a team, including Frank Beising, W7FJM, Don Brickey, W7OK(deceased) that installed the first 2 meter ham radio FM repeater in the Southern Nevada area. Hal and his XYL were pioneer members of local garden clubs and managed to raise rare orchids in a special greenhouse designed and maintained by him. Many of his plants were unique rare specimens that would die in 5 minutes exposed to our harsh desert weather. Hal was a private person that rarely showed his dissatisfaction or anger at anyone. The world is a lesser place that he is gone, but a better place that he was here. Those of you with enquiries to his family may call his surviving XYL Ethlyn at (702) 645-4527. Submitted by Al Olcott--ARRL Technical Adviser k7icw@arrl.net ----------------------------------- Robber's Fire Excerpted from: The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 30 July 30, 2004 ==>FIRES MAKE JULY A BUSY MONTH FOR NEVADA ARES VOLUNTEERS Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Southern Nevada have been assisting firefighters attempting to quell the so-called Robbers' Fire. The 290-acre timber and brush blaze in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest some 36 miles northwest of Las Vegas has led authorities to close at least three state highways. Earlier this month Nevada ARES volunteers at the opposite end of the state assisted the American Red Cross during the destructive Waterfall Fire. "The activation of Clark County ARES/RACES continues for the Robbers' Fire on Mount Charleston," said Southern Nevada District Emergency Coordinator Glenn Hale, KB7REO, in a July 28 report to Nevada Section Manager Dick Flanagan, K7VC. "It does appear that things are getting under control. Clark County ARES/RACES will be active at least through the weekend working 24 hour shifts." Hale said that while ARES/RACES volunteers have handled some tactical messages for supplies, their primary tasks have included programming and issuing radios for firefighters as well as monitoring fire service radios. He said an ARES Mutual Assistance Team (ARESMAT) request was implemented to have Nye County ARES members assist if needed. ----------------------------------- Coming Events August Meeting August 10, 2004 at Nevada Power on Sahara just west of Jones. August Raffle The usual good stuff, and maybe a surprise... Labor Day September 6, 2004 Columbus Day October 11, 2004 ----------------------------------- 2004 Exam Schedule License examinations are given on the second Saturday of each month. There are a couple of evening sessions at a different location. August 14, 2004 12:30 PM (PST) October 22, 2004 06:30 PM (PST) September 11, 2004 12:30 PM (PST) November 13, 2004 12:30 PM (PST) October 9, 2004 12:30 PM (PST) December 11, 2004 12:30 PM (PST) The black dates are daytime 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. ----------------------------------- 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)