RADIO ACTIVE Newsletter of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club June 2006 Serving Las Vegas since April 1961 The next regular meeting of the LVRAC is June 13, 2006. Leadership Message By Keith Lee, N0LSL Summer has made it here once again. Antennas need to be installed, beams to straighten out after the spring winds and before you know it Field day. First, I would like to thank Bob Mathewson, K7RJM for filling in for me during the last two membership meetings while I was out on Company business. We are looking at several changes to the regular meeting format. Members have expressed a need for more programs, and not a lot of information on multiple events in one meeting, perhaps keeping it to the current event for the next month. Some members have expressed that we have the program first, followed by the general business of the meeting, we have some ideas that I would like to share with the membership at the June meeting in order to get their feedback. Remember, that this is your club and the current board would like your feedback in order to keep the excitement in the club. Some suggestions perhaps would be a field trip to the Loran station south of Searchlight? Field Day is upon us and will be held on Saturday, June 24th starting at 12:00 Noon until Sunday, June 25 ending at 12:00 Noon. The ARRL Field Day event will be held at the Community College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Avenue. There has been an email sent out to LVRAC members and an interest form. Please fill out this form and send it back if you are participating or not. We need to plan on space and how much food is needed for the Bar-B-Que. For more information, check out fieldday@wa2soe.com or contact Arnie, WA2SOE at 374-3029 or Bob Mathewson, K7RJM, at 564-6263 or Keith, N0LSL at 247-6150. We need volunteers and amateurs who want to come out and have some FUN! 73's Keith **************************************************************************************** from the Editor's Desk... In the short time I was club PIO I have had the opportunity to meet other "authors". Not that I was really one but they are. One of them is AD5X, Phil Salas. He has written many articles for numerous ham magazines and also on www.eHam.net and his website: http://www.AD5X.com . I asked if I could use his stuff in our newsletter and he said, "Yes." Here is a reprint of a short notice from CQ magazine about Phil: AD5X Wins 2005 Bill Orr Award. " CQ Contributing Editor Phil Salas, AD5X, who is also a frequent contributor to QST and other ham radio magazines, has been named the winner of the 2005 Bill Orr Award, issued annually by the ARRL Foundation. The award recognized excellence in technical writing. According to the ARRL Letter, Salas was honored for "his excellence at making technical concepts understandable." In addition to frequent feature articles published in both QST and CQ, Salas recently joined the CQ Editorial staff as editor of "The Weekender." a monthly column focused on useful and easy-to-build projects for the ham shack. Congratulations, Phil. " To which I also offer my congratulations and thanks for letting me use his technical writings in our newsletter. I hope you enjoy his stuff as much as I have. Phil's first "The Weekender" column in the CQ magazine appeared in the March, 2006 issue. Watch for his articles in future issues of the LVRAC newsletter. Frank KL7IPV ********************************************************************* From Dayton and reported by the ARRL, May 26, 2006: RILEY HOLLINGSWORTH TO AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY: "LIGHTEN UP!" FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth advised those attending the FCC forum at Dayton Hamvention 2006 to try kindness instead of confrontation when problems arise on the bands. Hollingsworth spoke May 20 to a nearly full house at Hara Arena, and for the most part he praised the behavior of the majority of Amateur Radio operators, especially those who volunteered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year. But, he noted, radio amateurs still could be more courteous and less inclined to fly off the handle at some perceived on-the-air offense. "You need to lighten up and not embarrass the Amateur Radio Service," Hollingsworth advised. "All of us make mistakes, especially with the new features you have on radios today. It's very easy to make a mistake, to be on the wrong frequency or be operating split and not know it--there's a hundred ways to make mistakes." Hollingsworth said experience has shown him that at least 75 percent of the interference complained about is absolutely unintentional. In Hollingsworth's view, radio amateurs all too often are hypersensitive and rude. "We have a radar going to detect offenses at all times, we assume the worst in people, we rarely give people the benefit of the doubt," he said. He joked that if there were three amateurs in a town, there would be two Amateur Radio clubs. "And there'll be two hamfests with 20 people each, because they wouldn't dare consolidate them," he added. Hollingsworth acknowledged that "certain problem operators" remain, but the real troublemakers are rarely the newcomers to Amateur Radio. "If there's a downfall in Amateur Radio, it won't be caused by no-code Technicians or codeless anything else," he said. "It'll be caused by the microphone--no doubt in my mind." He advised his audience to ignore the troublesome operators and not give them the attention they crave by engaging them on the air. "Now, think about it: If what you're hearing annoys you, or angers you or is stupid, use the 'stupid filter,' which is that big knob--that VFO that will take you somewhere else," he quipped. "It's the largest knob on the radio." He recommended moving to another frequency or even another band altogether. Hollingsworth praised the Volunteer Examiner program as "outstanding" and noted there had not been a single complaint in the past year stemming from an examination session. He also said the Amateur Radio community should have a greater appreciation for what the ARRL is doing on its behalf. "Most of you have no idea how much work is done in Newington for you and the Amateur Radio Service generally," he said. "I see it every day, but I think you have no idea of the hard work and dedication that comes out of that office up there, and I don't think we would be there if it weren't for [the League]." "This country's communications infrastructure needs Amateur Radio," Hollingsworth emphasized, praising Amateur Radio's overall performance following Hurricane Katrina. "You have a tremendous amount to be proud of." He also suggested that radio amateurs have an obligation to stay informed about what's going on in Amateur Radio that might affect their activities. "You have to not only keep up, you have to lead the way, because it's in your charter," he said, pointing to §97.1 of the Amateur Service rules. Hollingsworth noted at the start of his talk that he could not address any questions dealing with the FCC's long-awaited decision on the Morse code requirement (Element 1), because he works in the Commission's Enforcement Bureau. "We don't meddle in rule making," he explained, but added that he didn't expect CW to decline if the FCC does drop the 5 WPM Morse requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes as it's proposed to do. The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) handles Amateur Radio rule makings, Hollingsworth noted, including the "Morse code" proceeding, WT Docket 05-235, and the so-called "omnibus" proceeding, WT Docket 04-140. The WTB has said it will rule first on the omnibus proceeding, then tackle the Morse code proceeding, but it has not indicated when to expect either Report and Order. ********************************************************************** Secretary's Report By Kraig Knapp, KD7JSN Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club General Meeting May 9, 2006 – 7:00 PM Welcome – Bob, K7RJM Introductions: Visitors 4, Members 40 = Total 44 Reports: Secretary – Kraig, KD7JSN: Minutes of April meeting were approved. Treasurer – Dennis, KD7ZAL (absent): April financial report was approved. Repeater Committee – Tom, KE4ULL: No report Newsletter Editor – Frank Drake, KL7IPV: No report Librarian – Mike, KM1KE: No report Communications Trailer Manager – Bob, K7RJM: No report Public Information Officer – A new PIO is still needed. Any volunteers? School Support – Sully, KC6GLD and Dave, WD6ZZY: Parent night is this month. The amateur radio group will participate. Silent Key Program – Bob , K7RJM: No report. Old Business: National Academy of Broadcasters – Stan, W7SLP: Things in the booth went really well. About 400 people signed the desk log. Some individuals were interested in reactivating their ham license. Attenuator Party – Richard Stage, AB7ZI: Bill, WB0KW, brought an oscilloscope to check the assembled attenuators. There were a couple of no shows and these kits will wind up in the raffle. Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure – Tom Petrakis, KE4ULL: A short presentation with slides was given. There was also a demonstration of the radar system at McCarren airport. ADA Tour de Cure Bike Ride, Henderson – Howard Mark, K3HM: It will be held on May 13th. Checked to make sure all involved got Howard's email. Silver State Nevada Open Road Challenge – Charlie, AA5QJ: Email was sent today for all those involved. Lund to Hiko on May 21st. Field Day: Bob, K7RJM: Held this year June 24-25th. Bob needs people to sign up. This will be at CCSN Cheyenne campus. New Business: None Announcements: Club Reminders – Bob, K7RJM: The Club receives commissions for new ARRL memberships and renewals. Please pay through the club! Recycling of inkjet and laser cartridges – Pick up envelopes for smaller cartridges; bring your laser cartridges to the monthly meetings. ARES/RACES – Bob, K7RJM: Next meeting is May 27th, 2006 at 9 AM at the Clark County Government Center. Program: Julio Suarez, KP4UZ, from AES gave a presentation on a number of new products. This included the 2M U82 HT from ICOM , ICOM PCR-1500, Aero CD with a lot of ham software, a Garmin accessory for a tiny trac GPS APRS, an SWR meter from LDG electronics, and shown here with a Uniden 330 hand-held scanner Raffle Prizes – Bob, K7RJM: Briefly announced the prizes for the evening (Short Break & Refreshments – Thank you Karen, KD7MGK!) Raffle – Bob, K7RJM Dual band UHF/VHF mag mount antenna: Joe, WH6CYB Kenwood TH-K2AT HT: Brantley, KD7GIN GPS antenna: Clayton, KB7PHB Soldering iron kit: Ron, KC7QXJ Hustler scanner mag mount antenna: Arnie, WA2SOE Diamond dual band BNC RH770A: Jim, KC7UXB Dual band 2M/70cm Pro-Am mag mount MM270B: Clayton, KB7PHB Adjourned: 8:45 PM Attenuator Party by Richard Stage – AB7ZI The club sponsored Attenuator Building Party held at the CCSN chemistry lab on the Cheyenne Campus on Saturday April 29th was a great success. Eleven members showed up to build the step attenuators. Bill WB0KSW brought his oscilloscope to test the attenuators and all were passed with flying colors. Richard AB7ZI put together the kits and championed the event. Kraig KD7JSN obtained the lab at CCSN Cheyenne Campus for us to use. The following projects have been suggested for future building parties: SWR Meter, Power Supply with Volt and Amp Meters, Smart Charger for Gel Cells, Tiny Tracker, Tape Measure Yagi, Binary Clock, Frequency Counter and Active Attenuator. If you have any other projects you would like to have at a building party or would like to champion an event, contact a member of the Board of Directors. This is Bill, WB0KSW working on his attenuator while Dan, AA7I is very attentive to his. Jamie, N3TOY concentrates on his while Art, K7ZE and Byon, N6BG look busy. Linda, KC7IIT looks on as Frank, N7ZEV works on his. Jay, K7COM smiles as his XYL looks on. Arnie, WA2SOE looks at the pile of parts before him. ********************************************************************* Treasurer's Report By Dennis Barker, KD7ZAL Last report received was for May, 2006: LVRAC Monthly Reconciliation of Income and Expenses *Balance at the end of April: $16,609.10 Income for May: $0.00 Expenses for May: $640.58 Balance at the end of May: $15,968.52 Net Change in May: ($640.58 ) * Note: Check Number 2330 Incorrectly enter as 29.51 instead of 29.53. Now corrected. Note: Treasurer has not yet received funds from Raffle and/or May memberships. Will be received in May and deposited. LVRAC Monthly Income / Expenses 5/1/2006 Through 5/31/2006 (Cash Basis) 5/31/2006 Page 1 Date Account Num Description Memo Amount EXPENSES Building Party 5/3/2006 2005 LVR... 2332 Richard Stage Attenuators -493.05 TOTAL Building Party -493.05 Post Office Box 5/14/2006 2005 LVR... 2334 U. S. Post OfficeAnnual Box Rent -74.00 TOTAL Post Office Box -74.00 Telephone 5/31/2006 2005 LVR... 2335 Sprint May -29.53 TOTAL Telephone -29.53 Trailer Expenses 5/3/2006 2005 LVR... 2333 Dennis Barker 2006 Registration Fee -44.00 TOTAL Trailer Expenses -44.00 TOTAL EXPENSES -640.58 OVERALL TOTAL -640.58 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** Articles and Pictures are needed for the newsletter. Submit your articles and pictures to Frank Drake, KL7IPV, our Newsletter Editor. Send them to: sirdrakejr@AOL.com . Yup, that'd be me: *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** This is the latest ARES/Races calendar for 2006: June 19 – UNLV Tabletop Exercise. July 22 – Rapid Response Team Training. August ? - Regular ARES meeting. September 13 ( or 14th) - UNLV Clark Country Interoperability Exercise. October 4 – McCarran Triennial Exercise. ********************************************************************** Field Day 2006 by Arnie Zelig - WA2SOE Hi, I've put a couple of links on my website: http://www.wa2soe.com/ which are maps of where the college is located. This link is to the field day form: http://s163886770.onlinehome.us/tinc?key=zg6UlTFU&formname=Field_Day_2006 These are links to the field day maps: Area map: http://s163886770.onlinehome.us/tinc?key=xskCVeld Detailed map: http://s163886770.onlinehome.us/tinc?key=xskCVeld&zoom=1 LVRAC Contact Information President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director Director Director Newsletter Editor Trustee Public Information Librarian Webmasters Net Controllers Keith Lee, N0LSL Bob Mathewson, K7RJM Kraig Knapp, KD7JSN Dennis Barker, KD7ZAL Richard Stage, AB7ZI Don Jaster, KA7GRU Don Randles, KD7YNS Frank Drake Jr, KL7IPV Pat O'Gara, N7QE Open Mike Stratton, KM1KE Jamie Gorr, N3TOY Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ Howard Mark, K3HM Frank Drake, KL7IPV Bob Mathewson K7RJM Jay Peskin, KE7EGO Kblee4@cox.net K7rjm@yahoo.com kraigknapp@earthlink.net barkerdl@earthlink.net rvstage@yahoo.com donj@mail2world.com donrandles@gmail.com sirdrakejr@aol.com patogara@cox.net km1ke@arrl.net n3toy@yahoo.com aa5qj@arrl.net hmark@earthlink.net kl7ipv@aol.com k7rjm@yahoo.com jpeskin@cox.net 247-6150 564-6263 362-1265 362-6971 247-9424 737-0544 897-5029 838-3452 804-6629 612-5696 233-2479 334-1196 256-3662 838-3452 564-6263 896-4104 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 or pay by PayPal at www.lvrac.org Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club P.O. Box 27342 Las Vegas, NV 89126 June 2006 Issue Internet: http://www.lvrac.org/ Radio: 146.940 MHZ (K7UGE repeater) 448.500 MHz (K7UGE repeater) 146.730 MHz (QST machine) K7UGE Page 1 http://www.lvrac.org Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club June 2006 Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club June 2006 K7UGE Page 9 http://www.lvrac.org Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club June 2006 K7UGE Page 11 http://www.lvrac.org