The Official Journal of the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont
FEBRARY 2006 Vol. 16 No. 2
VINTAGE TELEGRAPH KEYS IN THIS ISSUE... The February 14th RANV Meeting
For our Valentine’s Meeting our special guest will be the return of David MILTON INFO Hale, W1KR to update us on his work on miniature telegraph keys. Over the Meet the Member last several years, David’s passion has been reproducing half or third scale replicas of historical telegraph keys and semiautomatic mechanical keyers or DX Is... “bugs”. Words or even pictures cannot do justice to the level of detailed work Ham Classes which David does. His projects start with detailed research to know how they were built and of what materials. Sometimes, historical documents are used, Membership List and other times, David borrows the actual key from a collector and makes measurements. Not only do all the pieces have to be machined, but some- times, even tools have to be made to actually build the key. Even if you have little interest in telegraphy or antiques, David has a great VERMONT QSO presenting style which will draw everyone in for a wonderful evening. PARTY Other meeting activities: Brian will again have parts and tools available for The fun starts this FRIDAY, Feb- anyone who wants to build Power Pole cables. And we will be going over ruary 3rd at 7PM. Get on and call CQ organizational details for the Hamfest. Be sure to join us at 7 PM on February and have a ball! Or call W1SJ and 14th at the O’Brien Civic Center, 113 Patchen Road, South Burlington. Pre- help operate WB1GQR. Full rules meeting activities start at 6 at Zach’s on Williston Road. onthe RANV Web. MILTON HAMFEST 2006
The Milton Hamfest and ARRL hams they can find with them. You FLEA MARKET. I don’t buy as Vermont State Convention will be will have a good time. It is very, very much stuff as I used to, and I even Saturday, February 25th at Milton rare that I hear a complaint that the recognize some of the junk I’ve sold High School. Doors open to the Gen- hamfest wasn’t any good. over the years! But I still manage to eral Public at 8 AM and the hamfest Why go to Milton? There are a lot find valuable trinkets. It certainly closes at 1 PM. Milton High School of reasons: beats mail order and inflated ship- is on Route 7 in Milton, 5 miles north PEOPLE. For many, this is the rea- ping charges! The hamfest experts of I-89 Exit 17. son to go. It’s one thing to talk on the tell me that they enjoy Milton be- If you are waiting for a closer or radio, but yet another thing to have cause they manage to find good deals better hamfest, you will not find it. face time and that valuable eyeball on vintage equipment. We will have Milton is the only hamfest in Ver- QSO! I go to lots of hamfests, and the usual compliment of small deal- mont and is the best hamfest of its even when I don’t buy or sell a ers. For the first time in many years size anyway (so we’d like to think). blessed thing, I have a great time we will have a major equipment But it won’t be much of a hamfest if because of all the interesting char- dealer. KJI Electronics will be up apathy runs rampant and few show acters I get to meet (some of them are from New Jersey and will have a up. This is why it is imperative that my pals). Hey, it’s winter, and be- nice assortment of the latest radios all hams in our area make an ap- sides skiing (which stinks, so far), what from Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu. pearance and they drag any other do you have to do that is better? Start making your shopping list ! Milton... continued on Page 5 OUR LAST RANV THE PREZ SEZ MEETING by Brian N1BQ, President by Carl AB1DD, Sec'y We have started off a new year ate our own package without hav- and barely a month into it the view ing to worry about the balloon logis- The first meeting of the new year from here looks pretty nice. tics. Mike and Shermane Austin, was called to order on January 10th Our first meeting and presenta- KC2NAZ, a professor at Medgar at 7:10 by President Brian N1BQ. tion of the year was given by Bill Evers College of the City University There were 22 members and guests Noyce, AB1AV, from Hollis, New of New York, will be giving a pre- in attendance. Hampshire. He made the long drive sentation at the hamfest on the joint After a round of introductions, up, had dinner with us at Zach’s UVM/MEC high altitude balloon there was some discussion about and gave a very well received pre- program. At the March meeting, some upcoming events. The 2006 sentation of Amateur Radio Direc- Mike (and possibly Shermane) will do Milton Hamfest is February 25th. The tion Finding, a ham radio variant of a presentation on the next planned need for volunteers was mentioned. Orienteering. A lot of interest was launch. We will have a skull ses- Tables are needed, as are a couple of generated there. sion there and set plans for the pay- trucks to transport them. A request For many months we have la- load that RANV will launch with it. was made to spread the word to mented the difficulty of getting ma- This month we have the irrepress- make this event successful. terial for the newsletter. A bare hand- ible David Hale, W1KR doing an- A motion was made to spend $99 ful of people regularly contributed. other presentation on his fabulous for domain name registration for Mitch W1SJ has been doing the historic miniature precision keys. He RANV.ORG was made by Dave newsletter for over a decade, both has a bunch of new creations he is W1DEC and seconded by Bob writing and publishing. It’s not fair anxious to show off. Even if you KB1LAX. The motion was passed. to have the entire burden fall on him. aren’t a CW buff, Dave ALWAYS Bob KB1LAX also made a motion, Once again, though, the club mem- gives a great show. seconded by Bob W4YFJ to spend bership came through. Ed N1UR, has See you all at the Hamfest! Re- $60 for an advertisement to be placed volunteered to take over as content member, help get out the local hams. in the Vermont Amateur Radio Direc- editor, leaving Mitch only with the I will bet that the many local hams tory. The motion was passed. task of composition and editing. I who pass up the hamfest every year Paul AA1SU gave a report on the am happy to say that Ed rolled up have no idea what they are missing. ARRL Division Cabinet meeting in his sleeves and waded right in and We have some great forums and Springfield that he and Carl AB1DD Mitch has been grumbling less. demonstrations lined up. It’s the attended. This meeting is a chance Mike KB1MDA, a relatively re- mid-winter break from cabin fever RANV for local clubs to give input to the cently licensed ham and mem- and time to renew old acquaintan- ARRL Director, Tom Frenaye K1KI ber, has been working at UVM with ces. and to also find out what is going the Amateur Radio High Altitude Bal- on at the ARRL. This information is loon program. He came to the recent taken to the ARRL Board of Direc- Steering Wheel meeting and offered RANV tors meeting on January 21st. Among a joint effort with to help us Contacting RANV get started in ARHAB while getting the topics presented was an upcom- In Person: Meeting, Feb. 14, 7pm, in return more hams involved in ing public relations campaign called O'Brien Civic Center tracking and recovering the bal- Hello Radio. 113 Patchen Rd, So. Burlington loons. Their planned launch in April Brian N1BQ talked a little about By Mail: PO Box 9392, has several pounds of payload the need for help on the newsletter. So. Burlington, VT 05403 space available allowing us to cre- There is too much work for one per- By Radio: 145.15 repeater son to do well. We need people to write articles. are placed around the countryside, WW Web: http://www.ranv.org Next, Greg KB1MPL showed a and the object is to find them as fast short PowerPoint presentation he as possible using direction finding President: Brian N1BQ 899-4527 did for his school a couple of months techniques. Bill had a receiver with [email protected] ago. It was a very good presenta- a loop antenna and some of the other VP/Tres Bob KB1FRW 434-2517 tion, and was well received. equipment needed to participate in [email protected] The topic of the evening was HF this sport. This looks very exciting, Secretary: Carl AB1DD 482-3878 Direction Finding, presented by Bill and plans may be made to do one at [email protected] Noyce, AB1AV. Bill came from a later date. The presentation was Editor: Mitch W1SJ 879-6589 Hollis, New Hampshire to do his quite interesting, and thank you to [email protected] presentation. This sport is like a fox Bill for coming up. Please send submissions for the hunt combined with orienteering. A Refreshments were served, and newsletter to the editor, W1SJ. group of three to five transmitters the meeting ended at 9:06.
2 MEET THE MEMBER: Ed N1UR
Each month, we will introduce a mem- My DXing and antenna building competitive contesting was out of ber of RANV. News & Views used to mentor was Bill Poellmitz, K1MM. the question. I connected up with have a column 10 years ago entitled, He heard me DXing in our local town Bob NX5M who has very large “Famous Hams in RANV”. Ed will be and invited me over to his shack. multi-multi contest station in Texas. bringing back this concept with a His two 100 foot towers and There I did station and antenna member's story each month. Please share monobanders made this 16 year old work with Bob. I operated a number “your story”. It doesn’t have to be this drool for the big stuff. I was a regu- of multi-operator contests and guest long. It just needs to be about YOU. lar tower monkey at K1MM’s place, operated on many occasions. Email Ed at [email protected]. eventually installing 15, 20 and 40 As job opportunity moved me back He will be out recruiting for this col- meter monobanders on his towers to New England and Vermont, I de- umn, so be warned! and getting some hand-me-down cided that I really wanted to find a stuff for my eventual first tower. By great location to set up a station. My I got started in Ham Radio as a age 18, I had a 50 foot self support- first couple of years here in Vermont, young teenager in Massachusetts. I ing tower with a home brew 10/15 I lived in a rented farm house in East used to listen with my grandfather meter duo band yagi (20 foot boom), a Montpelier. The owner had no prob- back in the early 1970s to AM 75 Hygain 204BA (4 elements on a 26 lem with me putting up wires and Meter rag chews on his Zenith Tran- foot boom) and some wires. I was big even allowed a temporary “Field soceanic radio. It caught my interest into DXing and somewhat into con- Day” style ladder tower. I set up a and I wondered how I could be part testing at the time. I started collect- 25 foot ladder with 10 and 15 Meter of this interesting hobby. A brief ing countries and ended the first part 3 element monobanders. I also had foray into CB radio at age 14 con- of my ham career with roughly 270 numerous wire antennas including vinced me that CB wasn’t what I countries mixed mode all on 100 a 4 element 20 meter quad. There was looking for, but I did like to com- watts of power. I have never owned was a very favorable drop off to Eu- municate, and enjoyed setting up an amplifier! I also followed rope and the station did surprisingly antennas, and such things. So in K1MM’s worldwide DXpeditions well running low power. Once I was 1976, at age 14, I received my Novice with awe. I even did a DXpedition able to buy a house, I decided to license, KA1CFC. My first radio was myself at age 20 to FP0 (St. Pierre ) as purchase some land to build on and a 25 watt Archer crystal controlled FP0GXV, doing about 3,000 QSOs it had to be a great contest location CW transmitter with a 6L6B final. I with a TS-530S. to Europe. Ideally, I would have liked had a Hallicrafters receiver and a I pretty much left ham radio from a great location to everywhere but dipole 20 feet off the ground. When I 1986-1996 as other things in life kind what I found was a very “work con- had my first QSO with a Novice in of pushed the hobby aside. I got re- venient” location with excellent an- Virginia on 3720 KHz, I was hooked. interested in the hobby as I began to tenna properties to many parts of Quickly upgrading to General Class travel frequently to Asia on business the world and primarily Europe. It and moving up to a Hallicrafters and was reminded of some of the isn’t great to the Pacific or Japan AM/SSB/CW 100 watt transmitter cool DXpeditions that K1MM used and much of Asia. But it is a “wow, and later a solid state Heathkit re- to do. So, now in Michigan, I ap- you are LOUD” location long path ceiver, I found that I enjoyed both plied for the vanity callsign K8EP, into Australia running 200 watts SSB and CW but really thought CW and relaunched my ham radio ca- and is just a killer into Europe. I am was neat. I was also frustrated not reer. Using a Kenwood TS-530S and still constructing my dream contest being able to work DX in the Extra all wire antennas in Michigan, I be- station. Right now, I have one 70 and Advanced portion of the bands. came much more interested in con- foot tower and many monobanders. I received my Advanced in 1977 and testing and re-gained my interest in I also have some large wire anten- Extra at age 18 in 1980, changing DXing. I also started DXpeditioning nas on 80 and 160 meters. I am re- my callsign to KS1Y. One of my early as I traveled to Asia operating 5 times ally enjoying DXing and contesting. mentors was Julie Hoffer, W1DL, as XX9TEP in Macau, and 9M6AAC You will also hear me on 2 meter who taught me how cool CW con- and 9M6A in East Malaysia . I also FM from my car. I also enjoy that. I testing was as I rode shotgun with contested as C6ARS in Bermuda) really don’t operate any other VHF him on late night 40 meter CW Field and PJ2E in Curacao. bands. To me, Ham radio is HF Day runs at 30-40 wpm. The first I moved to Texas in 2001 and DXing and contesting. I am sure it is year, I couldn’t copy anything. By found myself in the classic deed re- different for most of you. That is age 18, I was trading chair time with stricted neighborhood. Even though what makes this hobby so great. It is Julie. I had very, very found memo- I did some DXing from the house what you make it, and there are ries of late night operating in a tent with many stealth wires into the plenty others who enjoy what you with Julie. trees (moving my DXCC up to 302), do.
3 DX IS... by Ed N1UR
DX…. What does it mean? This is lenge of what you are doing. Come learning about where people are. the great thing about DX and the to a meeting and share what you Trying to DX on 432 MHz? How pursuit of it. DX IS the thing that have done and what you are work- about listening for Mitch W1SJ when you don’t have. DX IS the thing that ing on. he is up on Mt. Equinox? One thing you find challenging and difficult. I will supply some DX informa- is for sure, he can’t hear your signal DX IS the one that you need to con- tion here which may be of interest to up there, if he isn’t up there, or if the tribute to an award or goal. DX IS you. But my information is HF radio isn’t turned on. So it goes with the thing that you had doubts that DXing using 200 watts and really any DXing. On HF, it often comes you could do. good antennas. Other members are down to a couple of things: Does Traditionally, DX is most often using VHF/UHF bands or smaller anyone live there? If no one lives discussed as HF DXing. Typically, antennas but I would still like to there, is anyone going there, and it is working one of the other conti- hear from them as well. I have de- when? How hard will it be to work nents or one of the more rare DX fined what DX IS for me, so that is them when they are there? There countries heard on the air. However, the easiest to share, but the purpose are lots and lots of DXing activity DX is much more universal than that. of this column is not for it to be DX around the world but I will mention DX could be hitting a repeater in according to N1UR; it is to provide a just a notable one here. Starting at Maryland during interesting 2 meter forum of interest to all members. the beginning of February a conditions or working California on So here are some January thoughts DXpedition to Peter Island (3Y0X) 160 meters or working Florida on 6 on HF DX to get things rolling: is planned. Peter Island is on the meters or even working Boston on Conditions: You have no doubt World’s top 10 needed DX list. Ac- 1296 MHz. How about working heard that we are at the bottom of cording to the web site established Alaska using less than 5 watts? All the sunspot cycle and that means for this DXpedition, “More people of this is DX because it represents that HF DXing conditions are not at have gone into space than have challenges to the operating skill and their peak, and probably that DX is walked on Peter Island!” This group technical skill of making a contact. “no good” right now. This is only will be there for about 2 weeks. If So, when you hear of people talk- partially true and actually wrong to you have ever even THOUGHT ing about DX on the repeater or at a some extent. It is true that on 10, 15 about DXing on HF you should try club meeting or hamfest, the feeling and 20 meters, conditions are much and work these guys. It has been of “I can’t work DX” or “My station lower than found at the sunspot over 10 years since anyone has op- is too small to work DX” or “I can’t peak. However, there is enough vari- erated from there. So how do I have work DX because I am just a Techni- ance in conditions that you can still a chance of working them, you say? cian” should not emerge. Instead it work great DX on the higher bands, Well, as much as everyone needs should be something like, “this certainly some of the time. In the last them, by the second week, most of DXing thing sounds fun, what 4 weeks, I have worked much of Eu- the world will have worked them. would be DXing to me right now?” rope and some Africa and Pacific on Yet they will still be there. There will Consider giving DXing a try, you 15 and 20 meters. Sure I have big be 5 stations running on multiple may find it really enhances the fun antennas, but in some cases the sig- bands at once. Those that have al- of the hobby for you. But make nals reached 20dB over S9, which ready worked them will be looking DXing, what it IS for you, not what means that even with a simple di- for them on some other band or mode you think it should be. pole up 40 or 50 feet in the air the or just not calling any more. I expect Here in the Newsletter, I would signals should be S9. And how that these guys will be begging for like to recount members’ DX high- about 80 meters? All I have there is contacts on 20 and 15 meters during lights of the month. Tell us about an inverted-V dipole up 70 feet. Just the last few days of the expedition what your DX goal is and about any about every night you can hear Eu- and be very workable from Vermont contacts which met that goal. And rope on 80 meters coming in over S9. with a modest station. Any one up also tell us about the near miss (I So, don’t believe that just because for the challenge? Take a shot and heard them but they couldn’t hear me) conditions aren’t peak that it means let us know what happened. Just or about the strategy (I read that the nothing is out there. DX IS…. don’t be discouraged by the bedlam conditions for 6 meter skip could be good Activity: One of the things that is which will occur in the first week. It and spent some time listening but didn’t essential to working someone in an will die off, as it always does. hear anything). DX becomes even interesting place is the requirement Have fun and let us know what more fun when it shared with oth- that they are THERE. So one of things DX IS to you. ers who can appreciate the chal- that quickly happens with DXing is
4 Milton... continued from page 1 HAM CLASSES DEMONSTRATIONS. Each year, we find interesting items to show off to the ham public. This year is no exception. We will have a special by Mitch W1SJ event station. The callsign will be K1D, and it will be manned (kidded) by kids! Carl AB1DD is putting together a gaggle of kids to operate and One of the great things about ham radio compete to make the most contacts during the morning. If you are a kid, in our area is the proliferation of Ham Ra- come down and operate. If you are an older kid, we need control dio Classes. The Spring Weekend Ham operators and spectators! Contact Carl to sign up. We will also bring Class will take place on Saturday, March back the IRLP/Echolink station and PSK-31 station. No matter what 18th at the Essex Town Office. This is a the HF conditions are like, the IRLP system will allow us to talk all over ONE DAY class. Arrive at 8:30 Saturday, the world in noise free, high fidelity sound (almost). And if the above take your Technician exam at 6:00 and get isn’t enough, to complete our 3-ring circus, we will have a high altitude your license on Tuesday. It’s that easy. But balloon (tethered to keep the FAA happy) outside. The balloon will con- you do need to enroll and show up! There tain a payload of sample radio equipment. The usual stuff includes is a General Course scheduled for Sunday, APRS, television and repeaters. making it easy to upgrade. There is also a FORUMS. Milton’s Forum program is second to none. We have an class in Manchester, New Hampshire on assortment of forums, including a mixture of new and old. Your only April 1st if that will work better for you. To problem will be to figure out which ones you want to attend. This find out about the Weekend Class, contact year’s special guest is Mike Gruber W1MG of the ARRL Laboratory. Mitch at 879-6589 or at [email protected]. He will give forums on Powerline Interference and on RFI and Consumer If you live in Franklin County, a 3-day Devices. I dare say that there likely isn’t any ham who hasn’t experi- Technician Class will be held at the St. enced one of these nasties. Mike will detail the various forms of inter- Albans Armory, March 11, 12 and 18th. Con- ference, how to track it down and how to get it fixed. tact Earl K1YLB at 524-3716 or President Brian N1BQ will again be spending most of the morning [email protected]. in the Forum Rooms, bringing back the popular QRP Forum, giving us Can’t make it to the class dates? Can’t an update on APRS and introducing a new topic, Microcomputers in the leave the house? Interested in upgrading to Shack. A recent topic which appeared at a previous RANV meeting was General or Extra? No problem! Try out the on Radios and High Altitude Ballooning. So, we have two experts in the On-Line Amateur Radio Course. This course field, Shermane KC2NAZ and Mike KB1MDA, veterans of many is a lot different than what you think a balloon launches, to give a talk on this exciting topic. We will do more computer based course is. Each lesson is than have words on this – this spring RANV will get involved in a displayed as an easy to read slide while the balloon launch. Yes, we really are space cadets! instructor (yours truly) narrates your jour- The ARRL Forum is a fixture at Conventions and this year’s forum ney through the depths of ham radio. There will include our Director, Vice Director, Section Manager and as many are pictures, graphs, diagrams and even a ARRL appointees we can round up. Just back from the ARRL Board of few anecdotes. If you don’t understand Directors meeting, Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI will share his insights something, simply type in a question and on where the ARRL and amateur radio is going this year. the instructor will quickly send your an- Milton forum veteran John VE2EQL is back with a new forum this swer back. Or, with prior arrangement, you year, High Performance Antennas. He will explain how to get the very can even call. Students have taken these most out of an antenna which needs to be located in a restricted space. courses, and they do indeed work. To find And finally, we cannot forget the many non-hams who come to Milton out the details or to take a sample lesson, go (whether willingly or via leash). For the benefit of our non-ham friends, to www.hamclass.net. Mitch W1SJ will be doing Why You Would(n't) Be a Ham? which prom- It is no newsflash that growth in ama- ises to be part stand-up comedy and part radio class! Don't miss it! teur radio lately has been poor. I can count TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Milton is the place to do your one- the number of new hams in our area in the stop ham radio shopping. Upgrade your license at the VE session at last year ON MY FINGERS. That won’t in- noon ($14). We also run FCC Commercial License testing ($35). Stop by sure our strength. At the same time, with the RANV table and renew your membership, buy a copy of the Vermont the end of Morse code testing imminent, I Amateur Radio Directory, or pick up a back newsletter or ARRL form. would expect a tremendous rush of hams We’ll also have some books on sale. to study for their General. Not happening! As always, we need volunteer help. The pay stinks and you don’t So the message here, as always, is to con- get free admission, but you will have a great time. We need truckers to tinue to SELL amateur radio by being in- move tables and setup people on Friday night. We need ticket sellers, volved in it. When people see you having table watchers and tear down people on Saturday. Contact Mitch to fun they will want to join you. So get your sign up. And finally, we need everyone to show up and to bring a friends signed up into one of the classes couple of hams with them. Hamfests have been losing attendance each listed above, or at the very least buy them a year. I’d like Milton to be the weird little exception which bucks the study book (I’ll have ‘em at the fest) and give trend (just like Vermont!). it to them!
5 NORTHERN VERMONT WINTER HAMFEST
ARRL VERMONT STATE CONVENTION
MILTON, VERMONT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2006
NOW IN ITS 24TH GREAT YEAR! NEW ENGLAND’S BEST AND BIGGEST WINTER HAM RADIO SHOW!
FLEA MARKET FORUMS ACTIVITIES The latest in technology RANV Information Table Tables & Tables of Goodies – conducted by the experts! K1D Special Event Station New Equipment Dealers 8:30 QRP & APRS Forum 9:00 Powerline Inteference IRLP & Echolink Demo VT Amateur Radio Directory 9:30 High Performance Antennas 9:30 Why You Would(n't) be a Ham? High Altitude Balloon Demo Radios, Computers, Connectors 10:00 ARRL Forum 10:30 Radio & High Altitude Balloons Coffee, Donuts and Sandwiches Tables FREE while they last 11:00 RFI & Consumer Devices 11:30 Computers in the Shack Hundreds of Hams to Meet!
ADMISSION $5 UNDER 18 FREE DIRECTIONS: FOR MORE INFO: TALK-IN: MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, ROUTE 7 Mitch: (802) 879-6589 WB1GQR 145.15- Rptr I-89 Exit 17, Route 7 NORTH 4 Miles [email protected] W1NVT 146.67 Beacon I-89 Exit 18, Route 7 SOUTH 5 Miles http://www.ranv.org
6 NEXT MEETING: “Vintage Telegraph Keys” Tuesday, February 14th, 7 PM O’Brien Civic Center
MILTON HAMFEST ARRL VERMONT STATE CONVENTION Saturday, February 25th, 8 AM
RANV http://www.RANV.org P.O. Box 9392 South Burlington, Vt 05407
7