Amateur Radio Club

********************************************************************* SS II GG NN AA LL SS Monthly Newsletter of the Amateur Radio Club

Volume 29 Issue 03 Web Site http://www.w5rok.us December 2007

********************************************************************* Our Database manager, membership form improvements to make it even better and RCARC maker, encourager of renewing and new more informative. members, Mr. Joe Wolf - N5UIC, works Our Newsletter Editor and Treasurer, Jim Membership Meeting many hours at home and weekends using Skinner - WB0UNI monthly puts out a his custom database. I have asked Joe for RCARC “SIGNALS” newsletter of which different member data and he has always No Meeting in December all can be proud. It is consistent in format, come through, placing the data in the of- most informative and a joy to read. Now, ten strange form that I request. Joe also I have often wondered if his wife, Rose, Subject: No Meeting—No Program manages the ‘RCARC Retired Radio Club helps because I just cannot figure out how Members for Gate Access‘. In addition, one person can edit all the mishmash we he is always on the lookout and suggest- provide to him and make it look and read Local Club News ing items that will help members. In one well in the newsletter. Now, Jim must also Welcome (Back) New Member example, Joe arranged for colorful signs have a twin or clone because as you read advertising RCARC on the main bulletin Steve Coleman WB4GHY above, he is also club Treasurer, keeping boards and cafeteria. Message from Bob Kirby K3NT the books and providing a detailed and The Special Election to fill the Office of Our Secretary, Jim Gaston - KD5GYD clear monthly statement. Back in October, the President was completed at the 29 provides us with well written and infor- we truly found out just how important November meeting to elect Bob Kirby, mative Secretary’s Reports. Often you can these detailed reports were when we K3NT, by acclimation. Bob will step down read these in “SIGNALS”. He is very gift- wanted to donate to Amateur Radio Bal- as RCARC VP to assume that office at the ed to be able to capture the often fast loons Over North Texas. The current and January meeting. paced conversations at the e-board and past reports helped us donate the maxi- regular meetings. These reports provide mum possible while keeping RCARC fi- HELLO RCARC! you and me with the current pulse and di- nancially balanced. In addition, Jim’s Fi- First I wish to thank all of the officers and rection of our club. This valuable tool nancial club statements are vital in formu- members of RCARC for their dedication helps members to trace the club’s lating our yearly request for company and support. If I may step on the soapbox progress, identify areas we can improve support. Now, Jim would wish for me to for a little bit to thank our club members and often spawns helpful new ideas. remind you that we are an ARRL affiliat- who do so much to make the president’s ed club. When you renew your ARRL Our Website Manager, Wayne Hughes - job easier, please exercise your eyes on membership, even if at HAMCOM or WA0TGH has done a wonderful job redo- the following. through the mail, be sure to note your ing the RCARC website. Now this may be W5ROK club membership. Our outgoing President Bill Swan - a bit biased but, I believe it is the best of K5MWC has worked much overtime all the RC radio club’s websites. To see if Our Activities Chairman, John Champa - with the company to help keep space for you agree, just point your browser to K8OCL was kind of roped and hog tied our clubroom, renew the memorandum of http://www.w5rok.us/ There you will find into the position back in September. Be- understanding for emergency communica- current and past “SIGNALS” newsletters, ing a new member, he graciously (or tions, conduct a special election, prepare club information and a members only area forcefully?) stepped up to the plate and is the RCARC annual report to the compa- which, among other items, contains the providing interesting programs for our ny, and conduct e-board and monthly current membership roster to help you monthly meetings. In addition, John is the meetings. He remains a valuable source of contact other RCARC members. I think lead instructor of the current Technician guidance for this office. the best part is that Wayne continues with class for company employees and their SIGNALS October 2003 family members. This class started on No- vember 27th and will run until January 8th. Please consider volunteering to teach a class session or help students with a intro- duction to radio demonstration/operation. If all goes well, John may start a second class. (Cont. on Page 4)

2 SIGNALS December 2007

VE SESSIONS President’s Message The Special Election to fill the Office of R-CARC OFFICERS the President was completed at the 29 No- Dallas tests are held 4th Sat of each month vember meeting in accordance with the at 10:00. 13350 Floyd Rd. (Old Credit previously published process and as ad- PRESIDENT Union) Contact Bob West, WA8YCD vertised to the membership in a series of Bill Swan K5MWC (972) 917-6362 462-300 X3441 email announcements. Only one candidate had submitted a notice of intent to stand [email protected] Irving tests are held 3rd Sat. of each for election and also provided a brief bi- month at 09:00. 5th and Main St. Contact ography for publishing in the newsletter. Bill Revis, KF5BL 252-8015 VICE PRESIDENT A motion was made to elect Bob Kirby, K3NT, by acclimation. The motion car- Bob Kirby K3NT McKinney VE test sessions are held at ried unanimously by the members present. 319.360.0500 the Heard Museum the first Sunday of the No absentee ballots had been received so [email protected] month. The address is 1 Nature Place, the election was declared closed and com- McKinney TX. The time of the testing is pleted. Congratulations to Bob. It was 14:30, ending no later than 16:45. Note: SECRETARY agreed that Bob would assume the duties no tests given on holiday weekends. Jim Gaston KD5GYD of President on 1 January 2008. His term will expire in September of 2008. X3369 Garland testing is held on the fourth [email protected] Thursday of each month, excluding No- SPECIAL Election Notice vember, and begins at 1930 sharp. Loca- Bob Kirby’s election to the Office of TREASURER tion is Freeman Heights Baptist. Church, President now makes the Office of Vice Jim Skinner WB0UNI 1120 N Garland Ave, Garland (between President vacant as Bob must resign that W Walnut and Buckingham Rd). Enter office since no member can hold two of- 214.535.5264 via the north driveway. A HUGE parking fices at the same time. The same process [email protected] lot is located behind the church. Both the used to fill the Office of President will be parking lot and the Fellowship Hall are lo- used to fill the Office of Vice President. ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN cated on the east side of the church build- That process is: John Champa K8OCL ing, with big signs by the entrance door. 1) Provide a notice to all members that a X1531 Contact Bill Reynolds, K8DNE, 972-475- Special Election will be held 3854. [email protected] 2) 2) Invite any full member in good standing to either submit their name Plano testing is on the third Saturday of for election as Vice President for the WEBSITE MANAGER each month, 1300 hrs at Williams High remaining unexpired FY2008 term or Wayne Hughes WA0TGH School, 1717 17th St. East Plano. Check agree to be placed in nomination if Repeater 147.180+ for announcements. 461-258 1406 the nomination is from a third party. [email protected] Greenville testing is on the Saturday after 3) Establish a deadline of 17 January 3rd Thursday, 1000 hrs at site TBA, con- 2008 for submitting your name if you STATION TRUSTEE tact N5KA, 903.364.5306. Sponsor is wish to stand for election Sabine Valley ARA. Repeater 146.780(-) Steve Phillips K6JT 4) Provide a short biography in addition with 118.8 tone. 972.517.3332 to your notice of intent to stand for [email protected] election by 17 January 2008. This biography would be included in the CLUB STATION January 2008 newsletter. S I G N A L S is the monthly newsletter of 5) 5) Voting and election of the new 972.705.1349 W5ROK the Rockwell Collins Amateur Radio Club, 461-290 published by and for its members. The en- Vice President would take place at tire contents of this newsletter are copyright the 24 January 2008 meeting.  2007 by the Rockwell Collins Amateur 6) Vice President elect would take of- NEWSLETTER EDITOR Radio Club. Permission is hereby granted to fice immediately. Jim Skinner WB0UNI any not for profit Amateur Radio Publication to reprint any portion of this newsletter pro- Note that in item 2) above that ANY full 972.690.9612 vided both the author and Rockwell Collins member in good standing is eligible to [email protected] Amateur Radio Club are credited. stand for election. Any full member includes those on either Active or Retired status.

3 SIGNALS December 2007

Do you know someone that you work ways opportunity to coordinate tion passed. Bob Kirby was with that is an amateur radio operator or activities with these other elected to the club’s President has expressed an interest in amateur ra- clubs. Position effective in January dio? If so I hope that you will take a mo-  The Cedar Rapids club has 2008 through September 2008. ment and let them know about the added a release statement to  The next newsletter will an- RCARC. Invite them to a meeting, take their membership application. nounce that the Vice President them down to the station and show them The Richardson Club might office will be vacant as of Jan- our web site. With the influx of new em- want to consider adding a sim- uary 1st. Another special elec- ployees this should be an opportunity for ilar release statement on the tion will be needed to address us to grow the active employee member- next version of the member- this vacancy. ship base of the RCARC. ship application. 3. New Business To you and to your family and all of those c. Treasurers Report: Jim Skinner, a. Activities: The E-Board conducted a close to you, have a blessed Christmas WB0UNI, reported brainstorming session to generate and a wonderful New Year.  The club has received $36 dol- ideas that might attract members and increase activity. The focus Well it is time to say 73s. lars in membership dues.  $60 dollars has been received was on broadening the appeal of _ . _ ….. _ _ . _ _ _ . _ . Amateur Radio to the current em- as donations to the ployees. The following ideas Bill Swan, ABRONET. As approved dur- K5MWC, President emerged: ing the October meeting, the  Special event involving small Secretary's Report club will be donating $160.00 electronic kits for employee’s to the ARBONET organiza- children to experiment with Bill Swan, K5MWC, opened the meeting tion. soldering and electronic at 1740 (Nov. 29th 2007), in the RCI Cafe-  The Treasurer’s Report was assembly. teria. Present at the meeting were: circulated and approved.  Social Events (family picnic, Jim Gaston KD5GYD d. Station Trustee’s Report: Steve etc.) Bob Kirby K3NT Phillips, K6JT, reported that the  Scheduled time to work the Steve Phillips K6JT clock needs to be updated on the repeater. Jim Skinner WB0UNI repeater. Otherwise everything is  Training sessions on how to Bill Swan K5MWC functioning. use the equipment in the Joe Wolf N5UIC shack. 2. Old Business  Some type of special activity The following business was conducted: a. Special Election between the sister clubs 1. Officer Reports  The need for a special election (Melbourne, Cedar Rapids, a. President’s Report: Bill Swan, for the President’s position Tuscan). K5MWC, reported arose due to the lack of a can-  Ask Clay Jones, or other high didate during the September level executive, to address the  The club’s Annual Report is elections. The club has inves- Richardson Facility via HAM complete and has been submit- tigated the company’s recep- radio over the intercom to ted to the company. It is locat- tiveness to having a retired emphasis the history of ed on the web site for all mem- employee become President Amateur Radio and its bers to view. and it is now clear that this is importance to Rockwell  Bob Kirby has submitted his not an issue. Further, the Collins. biography and candidacy for club’s constitution does not re-  Develop a pod and launch it the President position during quire that the president be a aboard one of the ARBONET the upcoming Special Election. flights. current employee.  The company’s Emergency  Sponsor an “Elmer”ing  The previous newsletter and Response Team may have committee or time period on two special bulletins have been need for the clubs support dur- the repeater. emailed calling for candidates. ing emergencies and drills.  Sponsor a J-Pole antenna Bob Kirby, K3NT, submitted a This is something that we will building instruction session. bio and announced his candi- want to follow-up on during This provides hands-on and dacy for the position. There the coming year. take-home content. were no stand-in candidates  The club should try to have a b. Vice-President’s Report: Bob Kir- identified during the meeting. presence at all the company’s by, K3NT, reported All present members agreed fun-days and other activities.  The Richardson club has three that the club should proceed Some of the underlying questions: sister clubs: Melbourne Flori- with the election at this meet-  How much emphasis should be da, Cedar Rapids Iowa, and ing. The motion has made to placed on understanding the Tuscan California. There is al- elect by acclamation. The mo- Technical aspects of HAM Ra- 4 SIGNALS December 2007

dio? How much on the Opera- The RCARC 'SIGNALS' Newsletters are 11-12 JANUARY 2008: The tional aspects? available to ANYONE who would like to First Annual Fort Worth Ham-  Should we focus on 50MHz read/print them. Just go to our RCARC fest — Talk-in 147.28+ PL 110.9 and a and higher due to the techni- website. http://www.w5rok.us/ Balloon repeater UP 445.800 / DOWN cian license privileges and its Members are encouraged to point anyone 147.560 (no PL). Free Parking, Chili din- application to apartment interested in the club to our RCARC web- ner on Friday night, BBQ Lunch ($8 dwellers and those living in site. adults / $4.25 kids) on Saturday. Com- HOA controlled areas. Finally, I would like to wish everyone a mercial Vendors, Door Prizes, VE Test- b. HAM Scholarship Opportunity: Joe safe and joyous Holiday. ing, much more on the website. Volun- Wolfe, N5UIC, brought up a HAM 73, Bob – K3NT teers are needed and receive complemen- scholarship opportunity. He will tary admission. Tickets: $5.00 by Jan 4 provide some information to be in- Upcoming Events and (see Website), $6.00 at the Door. Loca- cluded in the next newsletter. tion: Lockheed Martin Recreation Assn, Bill Swan, K5MWC, closed the Meeting Public Service Ops 3400 Bryant Irvin Rd, Fort Worth, TX at 1900. 29 December 2007: 2nd Annual 76109 Dates: January 11-12, 2008 (Friday A Message from Bob Kirby – NTMS Straight Key Day Back by 5-8PM, Saturday 8AM-5PM). Go to K3NT (Cont from page 1) Our Station popular demand, the NTMS "Straight Key http://www.w5fc.org/ for links to other in- Trustee, Steve Phillips - K6JT looks after Day" will be held Saturday morning De- formation. our UHF repeater (441.875(+) PL 131.8) cember 29, 2007 starting at 8:30 AM CST and our packet node (145.01 – connect and ending at 10:30 AM CST. Bands of 19-20 January 2008: ARRL Jan- with w5rok or w5rok-1 to use the public operation will include 222 MHz and Up. uary VHF Sweepstakes The object mailbox). K6JT monitors the mailbox and Send me an email if you think you will be of this event is To work as many amateur will take any outgoing messages to the able to get on the air [email protected]. If stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 National Traffic System for relay. Steve is you are not a CW op, SSB is fine, as are degree grid squares as possible using au- a very skillful CW traffic handler operat- crossmode (CW to SSB) contacts. The in- thorized frequencies above 50 MHz. For- ing in two (or more) high speed CW traf- tent is to get folks on the air. Portable op- eign stations work W/VE amateurs only. fic nets on HF daily. See http://k6jt.home- eration is encouraged from those that The event starts at 1900 UTC Saturday, .att.net/ don't have stations at home! If you have ends 0400 UTC Monday (January 19-21, Our Station Manager, Dennis Cobb - any questions or comments, please let me 2008). More info at WA8ZBT keeps our HF, VHF, UHF sta- know. Regards, Eric NM5M http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/ja n-vhf-ss.html tions operational. This includes radios, 01 January 2008: ARRL logs, computers, antennas, cables, space, Straight Key Night The object of Peter W Dahl Company, Manu- tools, test equipment and much codepen- this friendly event is to enjoy some good facturers of Custom Transform- dence from the ARRL, area clubs and old-fashioned QSO fun, using straight ers, Going Out of Business The members. Often, his wife Kathy is on-site keys. The emphasis is on rag-chewing Peter W. Dahl Company in El Paso, helping him in the radio room with a rather than fast contest-style exchanges. It Texas, will be closing its doors as of De- project. Through their special efforts, we starts at 7:00 p.m. EST December 31, cember 31, 2007, according to Peter Dahl, other members can walk right in, sit right 2007 and runs for 24 hours through 7:00 K0BIT, owner and founder of the compa- down, and begin to operate the radios in p.m. EST January 1, 2008 ( 0000 – 2400 ny that has made custom transformers for comfort and with joy. Dennis and Kathy UTC January 1, 2008). To participate, more than 40 years. Dahl, 67, is suffering also spend many hours getting the club simply send “CQ SKN” or listen for CQs from Parkinson's Disease. The company ready for Field Day each year. This in- that have SKN in them. More info at manufactured a wide variety of transform- cludes everything from operation to a http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/sk ers and reactors for Amateur Radio and great fellowship feast fit for a king, queen n.html commercial radio and television applica- and their immediate subjects. In addition, tions. According to Dahl, many are direct you will often find Dennis exercising one 05-06 January 2008: ARRL replacements for original equipment com- of the radios on HF, VHF or UHF. A top RTTY Round-Up The object of this ponents that are no longer available from CW and voice operator, Dennis is always event is for Amateurs worldwide to con- the manufacturer, while others have gen- open to helping the members learn and tact and exchange QSO information with eral-purpose applications in any number use the club’s equipment. other amateurs using digital modes (Bau- of different transmitters. He said that they OK - I will step off the soap box for now, dot RTTY, ASCII, AMTOR, PSK31, and had more than 4000 individual trans- but in the coming months my intention is Packet—attended operation only) on 80, former designs on file. QST columnist to tell you about other members and their 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. Any sta- John Dilks, K2TQN ("Old Radio"), said families, who make RCARC a club of tion may work any other station. The the closing of the Dahl Company was which we all can be proud to be a mem- event starts at 1800 UTC Saturday, and "sad news for those of us who restore the ber. ends 2400 UTC Sunday (January 5-6, big iron." Dahl told the ARRL, "I want to Member Feedback: 2008). All stations operate no more than thank everyone for their business through- An RCARC member suggested that we 24 hours. The six hours of off time must out the years. I have enjoyed making each should send the current newsletter to all of be taken in no more than two blocks. Amateur Radio transformer." the former members. More info at http://www.arrl.org/contests/ rules/2008/rtty.html 5 SIGNALS October 2003

The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler a circuit or net- 37. Another kind of logic gate work 38. What the original ham band is called 50. Base predeces- today sor? 39. Linear (but not an amp), briefly 51. W2 summer 40. IN district time 45. Honored or favored 53. Dir. beaming 47. Covet, as a big antenna farm Billings from 48. Collectors' ancestors? Boise 49. Contacts (but not QSOs) 54. Bad, if a tire...; 50. ____ King 500 good, if SWR... 51. VCR button 57. Desk Kilowatt 52. Prescribed amounts maker 54. Italy, No. Ireland, in prefixes 59. Lots of Hertz, 55. McCartney, Lancelot and others in the early days 56. Took a 707 62. ARRL Op- 58. Mfgr. of HRO rcvrs ____ (dupe sheets 60. Hz, to Hertz were #6) 61. A step higher in frequency than so's 63. Receiver maker in HPM's time 64. Walk back and forth 65. Natural anten- Solution to this month’s Puzzler na support Across 66. A YL, after getting an X 67. Jet-setters' jets, once 1. Radio named for a bird 68. Wisdom says that sometimes it's more 5. Lake ____ swing 9. An SB-220, very broadly speaking Down 14. Oscar's follower 15. In the middle of EME 1. 20 WPM, 300 Baud, and others 16. Tough, durable wood 2. SP capital 17. Times past 3. To AMers it's the scratchy one from 18. Fine tuning, on some vintage receivers Heath 20. Presses the upper left key 4. AMSAT partner 22. They get disqualified in a contest, 5. Glowing remnant probably 6. Effect of 5-down on a hot dog 23. Vibroplex manual item 7. Sometimes it's plus sometimes minus 24. Iowa ham equipment maker, informal- 8. AR, on CW ly 9. Some amplifiers, starting around 1970 25. Cartoonist Schultz, on CW maybe? 10. "Who ___?" 26. _____ generator 11. Part of EAN, CAN, PAN 28. A step lower in frequency than Re's 12. Future doc's exam 29. Proof ender, maybe on CW too 13. Docs of another kind Classified Ads 32. Meadow sound 19. Arrangements or organizations - in Radio Repair, Kit Building, Antenna and 34. Volatile computer storage databases Computer Help. Free Estimates; Contact 35. Four digits of nothing, on CW, for 21. Like a ruling in HV-land Bob Kirby K3NT at [email protected] short 25. Layer, as with paint 36. An R-390 on a carrier? 27. Pac. div. ARRL sect. 41. Part of S.R.O. 28. Their dials are greenish-blue 42. What log entries were often written in, 29. Miamisburg, to 28-down before computers 30. Maker of 9-down, once 43. Sixty-one-forty-____ 31. Serial port pin 44. Foxhunt (abbr.) 33. Code proficiency, say 45. Delight 35. Extra stable freq. ref. 46. Pertaining to a point of connection, in 36. Kind of logic gate 6 SIGNALS December 2007

Rockwell-Collins Amateur Radio Club Mail Station 461-290 P.O. Box 833807 Richardson, TX 75083-3807

CLUB STATIONS (972) 705-1349 W5ROK REPEATER 441.875 MHz +5 MHz Input 131.8 Hz PL - RX and TX W5ROK-1 PACKET BBS ROK Node 145.01 MHz

MEETING NO MEETING IN DE- CEMBER Rockwell Collins Cafeteria

NEXT SIGNALS DEADLINE: 15 January 2008