he new SEMARA repeater went on-line T Wednesday morning, January 10, 2001. The measured increase in receive sensitivity as com­ pared to the back-up repeater is 12 dB. The calcu­ lated increase in transmit power is at least 6 dB. To date, the new system has met all expecta­ tions. The range of the repeater increased dramati­ cally. Additionally, the new repeater offers several features not available on the old Kendecom re­ peater that served the club for over 12 years. Some of the features now available to mem­ bers include Autopatch, Speed-dialed Autopatch, Speed-dialed emergency numbers (police), time of day, keypad test, CTCSS override, club and event announcements, codes to turn on the club flood­ lights, or put the furnace on high heat (70 degrees), and playback of your voice to check how you are getting into the repeater! Additionally, the controller automatically turns the club heat on high Thursday afternoons (3 pm) and Sunday morning (3 am) so members arrive at a cozy, warm clubhouse on those meeting days. Repeater code/information sheets and lami­ nated wallet-sized code lists are available at the REPEATER SPECIFICATIONS I clubhouse on the table next to the front door. TOWER- 180 foot high self-standing The repeater will send emergency alert paging ANTENNA- Celwave PD-220, 5.25 dB gain omni­ tones and announce loss of power or heat in the directional Super Stationmaster. clubhouse. Loss of utility power at the repeater site COAX- l-5/8" Andrews hardline will cause a short low-pitched tone to be sent im­ DUPLEXER- Celwave PD 497-1 mediately after the squelch tail but prior to the CONTROLLER- CAT-1000 courtesy tone. TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER- Motorola Micor set Repeater Control Operators are: Rick Cabral, for 50 watts output into the antenna system. W1RJC; Larry Houbre, AA1FS; Bob Metivier, PRESELECTORIPREAMP- GLB N1XZJ; Bill Miller, KlffiR; Tim Smith, N1 TI; and POWER SUPPLY - Astron 50 ampere rack Scott Szala, W1EV. Repeater Programmers are mounted unit with battery backup. Rick Cabral, W1RJC and Bill Miller, KlffiR. Page 2 SEMARA's ZERO BEAT February 2001 ZERO BEAT Published monthly by the Southeastern Massachusetts Amateur Association, Inc. 54 Donald Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748 *********************************** EDITOR William M. Miller Jr. KliBR Phone: (508) 996-2969 E-Mail: [email protected] *********************************** ADVERTISING Commercial ads the size of a business card will be accepted Rates are $5.00 for one in­ sertion, $20.00 for six insertions, and $35.00 for twelve insertions. Non-commercial ads up to forty words in length will be accepted. Rate is $3.00 for one or $12.00 for six insertions. Club members have one free non-commercial ad per month.

*********************************** THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITIING ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION IS THE 15TII OF THE PRECEDING MONTII.

hown above is long-time club member NAME THAT CIRCUIT SRalph Morris, WlQUE, back in the 1950's. The NC-240D receiver in the pic­ ture was bought by Ralph in 1948 and ~I then sold in 1958 to Bart Brady-Ciampa, a 16 year-old student at the time. Bart kept the radio and 34 years later in 1992 while living in Vancouver, Washington he no­ ticed Ralph's barely discernable name and call letters in the NC-240D owner's man­ 1.) Zener Diode Oipper ual. Bart tracked down Ralph and gave 2.) QPSK Driver 3.) SSB Modulator him a call. It was a most interesting call 4.) Peak Limiter as Bart and Ralph reminisced about the 5.) Crystal Detector "good old days." The saga of the NC- 240D was written up in the November ANSWER- See -7 1993 issue ofQST on page 30.

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION r.ut ~DID "A paranoid is someone who knows TLET a little ofwhat's going on."

Chuck Wyrick 224 N. Broadway Manager Salem, NH 03079 1flilli4M B~ KM4NZ (603) 898-3750, 1-800-444-0047

ANAHEIM CA ·ATLANTA GA • DENVER CO· OAKLAND CA PHOENIX AZ. ·PORTLAND OR· SALEM NH ·SAN DIEGO CA SUNNYVALE CA ·VAN NUYS CA • \1\JOODBRIDGE VA February 2001 SEMARA's ZERO BEAT Page 3

he club received a sur­ T prise visit from ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Sec­ tion Manager Phil Temples, CLUB NOTES Klm, at the January busi­ ness meeting. Phil will be back to the club on March 8th to present an update on ebruary! The very mid­ the ARRL. Joining him will F dle of winter. Snow. be Stan Laine, WAlECF. Cold. What happened to Global Warming? But hang in there - Spring is just embers are reminded around the comer. Don't M not to use tape when forget Valentine's Day on attaching anything to the the 14th and President's wall paneling in the club. Day on the 19th. The tape ruins the surface of the paneling when the tape is removed. wo new members T joined the club at the January business meeting - o name will be men­ Jean A. Jason and Rich­ N tioned, but one mem­ ard Mello. Welcome to the ber has been in a constant club fellows I battle with MICE lately. They recently invaded his home and are causing him oy did we drop the great distress and grief + B ball! Tim Smith However, word is the mice changed his call from ~0 will go .... SOON! - SPlAT! NlBTQ to Nl TI awhile back and we never reported - it. Better late than never. .. ill Vincent, WlPOW, Congratulations, Tim, on B had the great misfor­ your new call! NlTI tune of getting the ''Hybris" virus in his com­ puter. All he got every ohn Lima, WBlATO, time he turned on his com­ J donated a collection of puter was a hypnotizing QS Ts covering several spiral on the screen. What years to the club library. a bummer! They will be a nice addi­ tion to the library planned for the new annex to the harles Pelletier Jr., clubhouse. Thanks, John! CKDlDA, donated a Kenwood TS700S 2 meter complete with lub Vice-President a Kenwood MC-50 desk

C Ray Arruda, mike to the club for use by -u-~"--- ~ ~• KBlEVX, upgraded to the members in the club's ~: amateur EXTRA during the station. This is a valuable .. ~i •• -· ~ : . ~~~~ :::: January 6th VE session KBlEVX donation which fills a void held at the club. Ray stud­ that existed in the club ied hard in preparation for Amateur EXTRA equipment inventory. the test and it's nice to see Thanks, Charley, for this he passed. Congratula­ most generous donation. tions, Ray! Page 4 SEMARA's ZERO BEAT February 2001 CLUB NOTES

he January foxhunt was T cancelled when several hunters were unable to attend the event. Only two hunters and the fox showed up at the he Quarter Century Association was organized clubhouse. After waiting a T to promote friendship and cooperation among Amateur half hour for any late comers, Radio operators who were licensed at least a quarter century it was decided to cancel the ago. event and head out to Me & If you now have an license, and you were Ed's Restaurant for a bite to also licensed as a ham 25 years or more ago, you are eligible to join QCWA. It is not necessary that you have been con­ eat and some ragchewing. tinuously licensed during the twenty-five year period. If you are not absolutely sure of when you were first licensed, and do not have a copy of that license, ask HQ for help. They ew club member Jean Ja­ have nearly all of the past years' Cal/books, and can check to N son recently donated a 2 verify the year when you were first listed. meter beam antenna and an au­ QCWA maintains a full-time, fully-staffed Headquar- dio amplifier (P A) to the club. ters office in Eugene, Oregon: Jean is taking the radio class Jim Walsh, W7LVN, the club is presently conduct­ General Manager Thanks, Jean! ing. Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc. 159 East 16th Avenue, peaking of the radio class, Eugene, OR 97401-4017 Seleven students showed up on the opening night. After the Voice (541) 683-0987 students were registered and Fax(541)683-4181 the instructors introduced Email: [email protected] themselves, Tim Smith, Nl TI, Internet: http://www.qcwa.org presented an introductory video and slide show on the basics of amateur radio. Well done, Tim! FREE COMPUTER! Ralph Morris, WI QUE, nd speaking of Tim is offering a free TRS-80 A Smith, Tim gave an ex­ Color Computer to any cellent presentation at last club member that wants month's Tech-Talk on the it. It's operational and APRS radio system. Tim re­ Ralph will demonstrate vealed neat features such as the it's operation when you Internet sites that track all sorts of APRS activity and present it APR s pick it up. If interested in a format useable by ama- contact: teurs. Weather reports, active Ralph Morris, WI QUE DX stations, radio-location and (508) 998-7967 several other uses of the APRS system were discussed. SEMARA's ZERO BEAT Page5 IMEETING MINUTES I

he January business meeting plans to go on-line at the February Sending of sympathy cards T was called to order at 7:05pm business meeting. to members and former by President Bill Miller, KlffiR. The members gave a big members or family when a Thirty-seven members were pre­ ''Thank You" to the members that death occurs. B - Dues of sent. Following the salute to the donated the following items to the $5 for the first year for all flag and roll call, the Secretary's club: newly licensed hams. C - and Treasurer's reports were read New members joining the E. K. Rogers, WlEB - A Hal­ and accepted. club after September 1st licrafters radio station consisting of shall be considered paid fucoming President Bill Miller a HT-44 transmitter, a SX-117 re­ through the next year also. thanked last year's officers and ciever, Hallicrafters power supply D - Committee contin­ Board of Directors for the fine job and speaker, and spare tubes. gency fund shall be $30 they did running the club during Charles Pelletier, KDlDA -a per month. E - Free cof­ the year 2000. Kenwood TS-700S and MC-50 mi­ fee, donuts, etc. shall be Committee reports followed: crophone. provided to members and Technical - Preamps just arrived Richard Simpkin, W Al CRA, guests as was the past and tested AOK. Programming of a new rug runner for the entrance to practice. controller almost complete and the club. 2. Motion to "lock up" all new repeater should be on-line Ratifications - The following equipment recently do­ within a week or two. Buildings nated to club pending rec­ and Grounds - Oil tank about 1/2 applicants were voted into the club: Jean Jason, and Richard Mello. ommendations from full, will order oil soon. It was Board of Directors. suggested the driveway be sanded Old Business - Andy Reuter when icy. Ham Class - Classes to and Pete Carreiro will investigate 3. Motion to give John Car­ start January 14th, 10 students getting replacement fire extinguish­ rerro $30 to cover ex­ signed up for the class. Scholar­ ers for the club and report back at penses of ink cartridges ship - No report. Constitution - the next business meeting. while Treasurer last year. Work ongoing. Field Day - No The meeting adjourned at 8:10 report. Fleamarket -No report. New Business - The following motions were made and passed: pm. Several members headed out Communications - A new to Burger King for a "second meet­ card-lock system shall be installed 1. "Carry-over motions" ap­ ing" and good old ragchewing! during the month of January with proved each year: A - IFINAL DUES NOTICE I 2001 DUES ARE PAYABLE NOW - THIS MAY BE YOUR FINAL ISSUE!

Members are notified that club dues for the year 2001 are payable now. LIFE (Life member) Dues are only $10 per year and checks may be sent to: HONORARY (Honorary member) ADVERTISER (Advertiser in ZERO BEAT) SEMARA Treasurer ARRL (ARRL official) 54 Donald Street CLUB (Club newsletter exchange participant) South Dartmouth, MA 02748 2000 If you are not sure what year you are paid through, check the mailing John Q. Hamm WlHAM label on this issue of ZERO BEAT. The first line of the label is coded 73 Radio Drive as follows: So.Dartznouth,MA 02748 2000 (Dues paying member -year paid through) Page6 SEMARA's ZERO BEAT February 2001 Get your Technician Class Amateur Radio License In one weekend J The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association ***License in a weekend class*** Pre-registration reguired, no walk-ins, 1 CEU credit Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22, 2001 LOCAL Location Barnstable County Fairgrounds Classroom VESESSIONS Route 151 Falmouth Ma. IN FEBRUARY Text ARRL's Technician Q & A Book, 3rd Edition 08 Providence, RI Schedule Judy Nelson Fri. 77-9pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm 401-231-9156 (ARRL VEC exams 2pm Sunday) Course Fee 10 Falmouth, MA $45.00 Ben Fleck Includes lunch Sat & Sun, exam fee 508-540-2583 and 1 year membership in FARA 12 Brookline, MA To register and for more info Bob Wondolowski

Call Bob, NlWAT@ 508-477-0771 or e-mail, j 508-865-5822 [email protected] 17 Marlborough, MA Or register on the web at WWW.FALARA.ORG William Wade Note 781-891-9079 No prior experience required-no age limit-all 21 Cambridge, MA are welcome. Class size limited so register early Nick Altemdbemd to assure placement Registration closed 617-253-3776 7 days prior to start ofsession.

RADIO PIONEER AL GROSS, WSPAL, DEAD AT 82 The man who brought the world such indispensable wireless communications concepts and devices as the walkie­ talkie, and has died. Al Gross, W8PAL, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away on December 21. He was 82 Gross obtained his Amateur Radio license in 1934 at the age of 16. His early interest in Amateur Radio helped set his career choice while he was still a teenager. Gross pioneered the development of devices that operated in the rela­ tively unexplored VHF and UHF spectrum above 100 MHz. His first invention was a portable hand-held radio trans­ mitter-receiver. Developed in 1938 while he was still in high school in , he christened it the "walkie talkie." During the 1950s and 1960s, Gross secured several patents for various portable and cordless telephone de­ vices. As his IEEE biography put it: "It is clear that Mr. Gross was a true pioneer and helped lead the way to today's wireless personal communications revolution." February 2001 SEMARA's ZERO BEAT Page7

TECHNICAL TIPS NET DIRECTORY Here is a neat trick if you need a low-frequency Strobe Light. Connect an LED to the -Sunday- output of a square-wave genera­ 8 am 28.375 SEMARA NET tor. Place a small limiting resis­ 9:30am 50.225 Yankee SSB tor (1 0 ohms) in series with the LED. If the generator puts out -4th Sunday- over 2 volts you will need a lar­ 9 pm 449.575 EM-ARRL ger resistor such as 100 to 330 ohms. -Daily- 5:30pm 3.915 EMIRI NTS ssb A frequency counter con­ 7&10pm 3.658 EMIRINTS cw nected to the generator will give 6:45pm 147.315+ NTS!frivia you the exact frequency of the 7pm 146.550 SEMARA NET strobe light. Since LEOs don't 8pm 145.230- EM-NTS put out a bright light you may have to dim the room lights when - Monday to Friday- using this method. 7:30am 14.262 SEMARA NET 8 pm 145.490- Weather Be sure to put an index mark (gummed label) on the shaft or -Thursday- pulley you are measuring. The 8 pm 147.180+ Trivia new bright-white LEOs are great for this application, but require a -Saturday- high output signal generator. ! 800G I 4. 300 Coast Guard

- SEMCARES NET- 1st Sunday of the month at 7:30pm VISIT THE SEMARA WEBSITES 145.490- (Fairhaven Repeater) WWW .LRH.NETISEMARAISEMARA.HTM WWW.EGROUPS.coMIGROUPJSEMARA "NAME THAT CIRCUIT" ANSWER SEND E-MAIL m: [email protected] .IOJ;l;lPQ (BJSA.i;) ("s

SEMARA OFFICERS 2001 FEBRUARY 2001 MARCH 2001

President William Miller Jr., KiffiR I -Business Meeting, 7:00pm I -Business Meeting, 7:00pm Vu:e-Presitknt Raymond Arruda, KBIEVX Secretary Henry Bianchdt, WIGYL 3 - VE Session, 10:30 am 3- VE Session, I0:30 am TreasiiTt!t' Scott Szaia, WIEV 8- 2 Meter Foxhunt@ clubhouse, 8- Tech-Talk, 7 pm, "ARRL UPDATE" by Board ofDirectors: 7:00pm l'bil Temples, K9Hl, and Stan Laine, Edward Blouin, KAIAW WAIECF. Martin Jordan, KAI YFV I5- Tech-Talk, 7 pm, "The NTS Traffic Robert Metivier, NIXZJ System" by Andy Reuter, WAIFNM I5- 2 Meter Foxhunt@ clubhouse, 7:00pm Trustees:

Frank Fonseca, WBIASD- Chairman NOTE: Normal TO.Talk/Fomllllt dafel...,...ped_ Martin Jordan, KAI YFV William Vincent, WIPOW Edward Blouin, KAI A W Norman Riley, WIATI offee Hour at the clubhouse every Sunday at 9:00 am. Drop by and ragchew! 1 ~:f.: 4 145.150- 123.0 WAIDGW Fall River 441.400 + 192.8 WGIU Assonet 145.490- KDICY Fairhaven '>', 442.200+ 88.5 NINRL Fall River 146.445 +lMhz 91.5 KBIBWN Dartmouth ~r~: 442.600+ 100.0 KlLIQ Tiverton, RI ;';C:, 146.655- 88.5 WAIGPO Falmouth :,>: 443.450+ 88.5 KIMYL Westport 146.685- WILM Plymouth 443.500+ 141.3 K1PBO Barnstable 146.955- 88.5 KIPBO N~ 443.600 + NS1N Dennis :.,_,. Norwell 147.000 + 67.0 WIAEC Dartmouth -.~~: 443.800 + 88.5 N1RFH Dartmouth 147.135 + 67.0 ND1N Taunton IJ 444.200+ 118.8 N1YHS Bourne 147.180 + 67.0 WIMV Bridgewater ~;; 443.850 + 131.8 W1ARM Chatham 147.315 + 156.7 NIBBT Wareham 444.250+ 141.3 WA1GPO Falmouth ~~; 444.350+ 88.5 WlACT Fall River 22 444.550+ 88.5 W1MV Bridgewater 224.340- KlKEK Dennis :l 447.075- 88.5 N1DZD Kingston 224.840- 100.0 K1LIQ Tiverton, RI

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