1 August 2012 Vol. 37, # 8
THE WACOM HAM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
WACOM President’s Message—2 DXpeditions Feature — St Pierre et Miquelon—8-10
WACOM General Information—3 West Alex Fair/5K Labor Day Run – 11
WACOM Meeting Minutes - 4 WACOM Hamfest Flyer – 11
Upcoming Events—5
WACOM Annual Picnic –12
WACOM DX Corner—6 WACOM Renewal Form - 13 WACOM Annual Picnic –7
2011 West Alexander Fair FP-land Coat-of-Arms 2011 WACOM Picnic
2 WACOM President’s Message - August 2012
Hello Radio ! ( That is usually how I preface my good morning "check in" to the K3PSP 146.79 repeater. ). Seem to be a group developing that calls into the repeater on a daily basis on their way to their "first stop" ( work , coffee, shop- ping ?? whatever) about 8-8:30am. You should try it , it's fun. Speaking of FUN, Our WACOM Picnic is Thursday August 2nd at our fa- vorite FIREHALL South Strabane VFD #1 (1696 East Maiden St, Washing- ton, PA 15301) @ 6 PM!! Bill—NY9H
While it appears that Sherman Hemsley's day's on earth are gone, he might be "Movin' On Up " ; But WE ARE, as we are finally making headway with upgrading the .79 repeater. It had been moved from "Wheeler Hill" to 225 feet up the tower at Washington Park ( thanks to Dennis PSP and his crew, including Don YLR) . And so far, it indeed is showing the increased coverage the committee expected. While there may be some fine tuning, due to a new "RF" environment, it looks great so far. Especially along the Interstates, so do say "HI" whenever you hear a visitor passing. Sam has also extended his .49 radiator , and coverage with the addition of several more Rohn sections. One never knows who he will find when he turns on his HF ham radio. Yesterday, on 20 meter SSB, I worked a Puerto Rican station, which was a " Youth DX Adventure" mini expedition. Later, I found and contacted another " Youth DX " station, but on 17 meters TI5/ KS3P. That call belongs to Kaitlyn Cole the "young" daughter of Stan Cole NX3P formerly from South Franklin....they were busy making contacts , so I followed up with an email . Part of his response… [I] 'attended 5th grade at Morris Twp High School.. My class was the first year to go through the brand new McGuffey Middle School. My dad was AD3T (SK) and my mom is N3AOK and still lives in SF Twp. My daughter is Kaitlyn KS3P and she was the 2011 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year and she attended FDIM for the Build a Thon. I moved from PA in 2003 and now reside in north Alabama. I come back to PA rarely as work keeps me hoping. Kaitlyn and I are pretty active on HF and would love to talk to Wash, PA'. WOW ...... turn on that radio !!!!! Speaking of young people, WACOM TECH & GENERAL CLASSES begin on Tuesday Night, SEPT 4. 6:30 pm at "OUR" firehouse South Strabane VFD #1 (1696 East Maiden St, Washington, PA 15301) Class should be for 8 weeks, possibly with testing on the day following the last class. The General Class will follow shortly after. Our goal is to get everybody operating on HF. So far we've been very fortunate, as everyone has succeeded in passing. While the FREE classes are provided by WACOM , we need to have everyone at studying on the same page. We use the Gordon West study manuals ( about 24$ ) , which may be in stock at Radio Shack stores. We also request that you advise your intention to participate by sending an email to [email protected] . Please include your name ,address, phone, cell, and if you wish us to provide the manuals. Just prior to the first class we will place an order with the publisher. toner gone, 73 Bll NY9H/3 PS: I was successful in getting stuff destroyed by Verizon replaced/repaired & back on line!
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WACOM OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, REPEATERS, AND NETS!
Repeaters W3CYO - 145.490 MHz, 443.300 MHz Officers
K3PSP - 146.790 MHz President: Bill Steffey, NY9H;
[email protected] 2 Meter Net - Tuesdays at 8:30PM on K3PSP Vice President: Dave Demotte, N3IDH; Repeater [email protected] Secretary: John Quigg, N3GHR 10-meter net - Tuesdays at 9PM on 28.340 MHz [email protected] Treasurer: Norma Plants, N3YJJ; YL Net [email protected] - Wednesdays at 7:30PM on K3PSP Repeater Board of Directors
Elmer Net Director: Adam Quigg, NZ3S, - Wednesdays at 8PM on K3PSP [email protected] Repeater (immediately following the WA- Director: Jim Burtoft, KC3HW; COM YL Net) [email protected]
LOCAL TRAFFIC NETS Director: Bud Plants, N3TIR; [email protected] <+><+><+><+><+><+><+><+> Webmaster: Joe Caldwell, N3XE; SWPA 2-Meter Daily Net 146.880 8:00 p.m. [email protected] WACOM Ham Editor: Ken Frankenbery, AA3GM * * * * * * * * * * * [email protected] HF WPA Phone Daily Net 3.983 6:00 p.m.
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WACOM General Meeting Minutes
5 July 2012, 7:30 PM ______Present: Bill S ( NY9H), Bud (N3TIR), Norma (N3YJJ), Sam (W3CYO), Dave D (N3IDH), Paul (W3PLP), Adam (NZ3S), John Q (N3GHR), Bob K (KB3IN), Frank (KB3AAG), Joe C (N3XE), Loren (WA3WZR), Patty (N3XAR), Jim B (KC3HW), Jim (AA3JK), Ed (N3ZNI), Don (KB3YRL), Fay (KA3VOM), Ken (AA3GM), Ralph (KB3VGY), Melissa (KB3VGU), Denny (K8DKS), Debbie (KD8KAC), Dennis (K3PSP), Jim(AA3JK), Dan (AB3EN), Bill (W3WH), Larry (K3VY)
Bill called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM
Reports Secretary – Don moved to accept minutes as published in newsletter, Bud 2nd, motion carried Treasurer – Norma gave treasurer’s report; Adam moved to accept treasurer’s report, Dave 2nd, motion carried; Norma noted that any outstanding receipts for field day should be turned in Repeater – frequency now available, Dennis will put repeater at Scenery Hill; Sam says 49 will be installed on tower soon Education – new VEs trained; Bill will have schedule for Technician and General classes by mid-August Nets – Wednesday night nets stopped until this fall; Bud working on a digital net
ARES,RACES – 1st energy drill sent messages to Red Cross Old Business Club house – Dave reported that we should be able to move in soon; Bill and Bud going to next fire department meeting to discuss improvements Picnic – picnic will be first Thursday in August, the 2nd, at South Strabane fire hall (Laboratory) Ham Fest – purchased 2nd and 3rd prizes from Ed; 1st prize to be a TV; vendors from last year coming again Field Day – good score, CW down, phone up because it ran all night; thanks to all who participated; it was sug- gested that we put a committee together to improve next year’s event VE – Bob Kinnear (KI4DBH) is now VE coordinator There being no further business, Sam moved to adjourn, Dave 2nd, meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM
Thanks to Dan for his demonstration of the HRD deluxe operating software!
Next WACOM meeting 2 August 2012, 6:00 PM!! FEATURING... WACOM Club Picnic! South Strabane Fire Dept. #1, 1696 E. Maiden St., Washington Pa.
5 ______2012 WACOM Upcoming Events Calendar
Meetings, Contests & Other Significant Club Events (Subject to Change)
2 August 2012- WACOM PICNIC and meeting at 6:00 PM! South Strabane Fire Dept. #1 in Pancake
4-5 August 2012 - ARRL UHF Contest, http://www.arrl.org
26 August 2012—Western PA Section Convention, New Kensington, PA, : http://www.skyviewradio.net
3 September 2012- Labor Day 5K Classic, Washington, PA -http://www.laborday5kclassic.com
6 September 2012 - WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM @ Washington County Building
6-8 September 12—West Alexander Fair SES, West Alex, PA - www.westalexfair.com
8-9 September 2012 - September VHF QSO Party, http://www.arrl.org
9 September 2012—Butler Swapfest, Butler, PA- http://w3udx.org
30 September 2012—MarcFest, Belle Vernon, PA—http://www.w3csl.org
4 October 2012 - WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM @ Washington County Building
13-14 October 2012—PA QSO Party! - http://www.nittany-arc.net/PAQSO.html
4 November 2012—WACOM 2012 Hamfest!, Washington Co. Fairgrounds— http://www.wacomarc.org
Want to show off your shack, antennas, and/or projects? E-mail photos and descrip- tions to Ken—AA3GM
6 WACOM HAM DX Corner—August 2012 COURTESY: http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html
By TA1HZ fm Durres; QRV for European TA1HZ 2012 Aug01 2012 Aug07 Albania ZA1TC See Info HF Championship; QSL OK via TCSWAT, 20120509 POB 73 Karakoy, 34421 Istanbul, Turkey or
N0TW By N6OPR N0TW as TI5/K6MQ; QRV 2012 Aug01 2012 Aug08 Costa Rica TI5 N0TW 20120207 for 10-10 Summer QSO Party
By IW3SQY IV3DSH IZ4AKS IZ8GCE IW3SQY 2012 Aug01 2012 Aug31 Comoros D64K IV3DSH IT9YVO C31CT SP3DOI fm AF-007; 160- 20120327 6m, possibly including 60m; all modes; exact
IZ2DPX By I2RNJ as SV5/I2RNJ and IK2IHY as 2012 Aug04 2012 Aug11 Dodecanese SV5 LotW 20120507 SV5/IK2IHY fm Rhodes; 100w; SSB; multi-
K9HZ Di- VA3RJ By K9HZ fm NA-108 (WLOTA 1336); 40- 2012 Aug04 2012 Aug19 St Lucia J68HZ rect 20120719 6m; CW SSB, focus on RTTY
IK0LNN By IK0PEA fm Bugibba nr Valletta; HF; 2012 Aug05 2012 Aug17 Malta 9H3EA IK0PEA 20120703 mainly SSB + digital; holiday style operation;
425DXN By 9M6XRO 9M6DXX fm Pulau Layang 2012 Aug07 2012 Aug13 Spratly Is 9M4SLL LotW 20120721 Layang (AS-051); 80-10m; CW SSB RTTY;
2012 Aug08 2012 Aug20 Comoros D64K IV3DSH ATDX By team fm Ngazidja I; HF
DXW.Net By W4XP fm Diego Garcia; focus on 6m 2012 Aug09 2012 Aug25 Chagos VQ9XP W4XP 20120605 w/ some HF; spare time operation
By LA6VJA as JW6VJA and LA6TMA as VA3RJ 2012 Aug10 2012 Aug12 Svalbard JW Home Call JW6TMA fm Longyearbyen (EU-026, 20120316 WLOTA 0125); CW SSB + digital
By VE2XB as FP/VE2XB fm NA-032; 160- St Pierre & DXW.Net 2012 Aug10 2012 Aug20 FP VE2XB 6m; SSB CW; 500w; QSL OK via Buro or Miquelon 20120618 direct Lakshad- N6ML By VU2UR VU2LX VU2GSM VU2GGM 2012 Aug13 2012 Aug22 VU7M VU2JHM weep Is 20120728 VU2LU VU2JHM fm Minicoy I (AS-106,
DL4ME By DL4ME; 80-6m; focus on CW, some 2012 Aug14 2012 Sep03 Tanzania 5H3ME DL4ME 20120620 digital; holiday style operation
2012 Aug15 2012 Aug21 Aruba P40NF W6NF ATDX By W6NF; HF, perhaps 6m; mainly CW
ATDX By M1KTA as 6W/M1KTA; SSB PSK CW; 2012 Aug15 2012 Aug22 Senegal 6W LotW 20120705 QSL also OK via M1KTA
ATDX By AF6WU as V31WU and AF6KJ as 2012 Aug16 2012 Aug20 Belize V31 AF6WU 20120525 V31DV fm Caye Caulker (NA-105); HF
4S7LGT 4S7LGT ATDX By Radio Society of Sri Lanka members fm 2012 Aug18 2012 Aug19 Sri Lanka Buro 20120725 Barberyn I (AS-171); HF
2012 Aug22 2012 Aug29 Gambia C5 M1TKA ATDX By M1TKA as C5/M1TKA; HF; SSB PSK
2012 Aug27 2012 Sep03 Crete SV9 ON6DSL ON6DSL By ON6DSL as SV9/ON6DSL/p fm EU-
7 WACOM PICNIC!!
Picnic pavilion is reserved for the WACOM picnic on Thursday August 2th 2012 The location is: South Strabane Fire Dept. #1, 1696 E. Maiden St., Washington Pa. The picnic will start at 6:00 p.m. Covered dish ; contact Norma N3YJJ or Deb Schwing KD8KAC [email protected]
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Have you ever wanted to participate in a DXpedition? While some are comprised of large teams with ‘deep-pocket’ sponsors to very remote and sometime dangerous location, some can be ‘close by’ and fairly easy to get to. This article will focus on DXpeditions to DX countries that are more accessible for the average amateur radio operator interested in possibly going to one of these ’exotic’ locations in the future. The first one will focus on a ‘country’ that I operated from in an austere solo DXpedition as FP/AA3GM in July 1997. It was quite an experience which I wrote about in the September 1997 issue of The WACOM HAM. I even got my photo in the February 1998 issue of QST in the IARU HF World Championship Contest article! St. Pierre recently had FP/VA2WA operating and will be replaced by FP/VE2XP in mid-August. For the next year, each issue of The WACOM Ham will feature a new DX country somewhere ‘close’ in the Western Hemisphere. A great way to improve your geographic knowledge as well as to light that spark for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a ham operator on the receiving end of a DXpedition in an ‘exotic’ land! Ken—AA3GM
9 SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA History: The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon were discovered by Europeans on 21 October 1520, by the Portuguese and were made a French possession in 1536 by Jacques Cartier on behalf of the King of France. Though already frequented by Micmac Indians and Basque and Breton fishermen, the islands were not permanently settled until the end of the 17th century: four permanent inhabitants were counted in 1670, and 22 in 1691. In 1670, a French officer annexed the islands when he found a dozen French fishermen camped there. English ships soon began to harass the French, pillaging their camps and ships. By the early 1700s, the islands were again uninhabited, and were ceded to the English by the Treaty of Utrecht which ended the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713. Under the terms of the 1763 Treaty of Paris (which put an end to the Seven Years' War), France ceded all its North American possessions, except Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Britain invaded and razed the colony in 1778 and the islands were claimed back and forth until 1816 when settlers, mostly St Pierre in 1921 Basques, Bretons and Norman fisherman kept the island in French hands. During the early 1910s the colony suffered severely as a result of unprofitable fisheries, and large numbers of its people emigrated to Nova Scotia and Quebec. The draft imposed on all male inhabitants of conscript age after the beginning of World War I crippled the fisheries, which could not be processed by the older people and the women and children. About 400 men from the colony served in the French military during World War I, 25% of whom died. Smuggling had always been an important economic activity in the islands, but it became espe- cially prominent in the 1920s with the institution of prohibition in the United States. In 1931, the archipelago was reported to have im- ported 1,815,271 US gallons (6,871,550 litres) of whisky from Canada in 12 months, most of it to be smuggled into the United States. The end of prohibition in 1933 plunged the islands into economic depression. After the fall of France in World War II, the Free French seized control on Christmas Day 1941. In a quick plebiscite the next day, the population endorsed the takeover,[ and the resounding vote in favor of Free France. After the approval of the 1958 French constitutional referendum, the islands were given the options of becom- ing fully integrated with France, becoming self-governing states within the French Community or preserving the status of overseas terri- tory; they decided to remain a territory.
Politics: Since March 2003, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has been an overseas collectivity with a special statute. The archipelago became an overseas territory in 1946, then an overseas department in 1976, before acquiring the status of territorial collectivity in 1985. The archi- pelago has two communes, Saint Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade.The inhabitants possess French citizenship and suffrage. Saint Pierre and Miquelon send a senator and a deputy to the National Assembly of France in Paris, and enjoy an amount of autonomy concerning taxes, customs and excise. France is responsible for the defense of the islands. The Maritime Gendarmerie has maintained a patrol boat, the Fulmar, on the islands since 1997. Law enforcement in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is the responsibility of a branch of the French Gendar- merie Nationale. There are two police stations in the archipelago.
Geography: Located in the heart of the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic, 25 km southwest of Newfoundland, the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is composed of eight islands, totaling 242 km2, of which only two are inhabited. The islands are bare and rocky, with steep coasts, and only a thin layer of peat to soften the hard landscape. Saint Pierre Island, whose area is smaller (26 km2), is the most populous and the com- mercial and administrative center of the archipelago. A new airport has been in opera- tion since 1999 and is capable of accommodating long-haul flights from metropolitan France. Miquelon-Langlade, the largest island, is in fact composed of two islands, Mi- quelon (110 km2) connected to Langlade (91 km2) by the Dune de Langlade, a 10 km-long sandy isthmus.
Climate: The archipelago is characterized by a cold borderline humid continental/subarctic climate, under the influence of polar air masses and the cold Labrador Current. The average temperature is +5.3°C, with a temperature range of 19°C between the warmest (15.7°C in August) and coldest months (-3.6°C in February). Precipitation is abundant (1,312 mm per year) and regular (146 days per year), falling as snow and rain. Because of its location at the confluence of the cold waters of the Labrador Current and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the archipelago is also crossed a hundred days a year by fog banks, mainly in June and July. Two other climatic ele- ments are crucial: the extremely variable winds and haze during the spring to early summer.
Communications: The islands are a separate country among radio amateurs. They also have a separate ITU prefix, FP. Therefore Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are visited by radio amateurs every year, mainly from the US, who activate the islands on ama- teur radio frequencies. These activities have made the islands well known among radio amateurs as the geographic location of Saint Pierre and Miquelon gives a very good takeoff for shortwave communication all over the world. Licensing in St Pierre & Miquelon is governed under the CEPT agreement. Please see details on http://www.arrl.org/cept.
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The Town of St. Pierre
Looking down at St. Pierre (not far from where I operated in 1997) A DX team operating from Miquelon Island
My 1997 solo-DXpedition camp on St. Pierre published in QST. The locals thought I was nuts...they may have been right!
For more information on St. Pierre & Miquelon visit: http://www.st-pierre-et-miquelon.com/english/index.php/
11 WACOM GOES TO THE FAIR SPECIAL EVENT 5TH YEAR
WEST ALEXANDER FAIR
September 6th thru the 8th 6:pm to 10:00pm
You can post some pictures from other years
Talk in on the 79-machine
MUST SHOW CLUB ID FOR Admission . AT MAIN GATE.
METAL BUILDING NEXT TO FOOD COURT
73 BUD N3TIR
Info 724-350-6745
www.westalexfair.com
WEST ALEXANDER FAIR on Route 40 West 12 miles west of Washington, Pa
WASHINGTON, PA LABOR DAY 5K CLASSIC Start: Monday, September 3, 2012 @ 9:00 AM Starts from the Park at 9AM. Once again Hams will provide communications for this event, so stations must be in place by 8:30AM to be available for communication be- fore the event begins. This is a fun event and we can help provide communication for the runner's safety. We need at least 6 stations so please sign up. The walk will be over by 12PM. If you are new to this type of event, this is a good place to learn. If you are new you will work with someone who is experienced. If you don't have a hand- held radio, there are loaners available for you to use. No worries, no excuses. As you come in to Washington that morning, check in on the 146.790 repeater for your as- signment along the route. After the Walk is over, everyone will meet at the finish line. We have been invited to stay for food & refreshments. The Labor Day Run and walk benefits The Washington Christian Outreach. They provide food and clothing for low income and underprivileged families. It is a completely volunteer organization with no paid staff. Sign-up: Contact Dave DeMotte, [email protected] Info: http://www.laborday5kclassic.com
PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN!
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WACOM 2012 HAMFEST Washington Amateur Communications SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 2012 WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 2151 North Main St. WASHINGTON, PA 15301 8:00 A.M –3:00 P.M—Admission $5.00 Doors open early for VENDOR SETUP Saturday 6:00 p.m. Talk in on 146.790 MHz no Pl
MAJOR VENDORS Over 200 tables KJI ELECTRONICS—QUICK SILVER RADIO MAIN PRIZES: 1st AMERITRON 811 HF Amplifier 2nd HI-DEF TV 3RD VHF FM TRANSCEIVER ICOM IC-V8000 BLACK BOX PRIZE ONLY 50 TICKETS SOLD MAIN DRAWING AT 1:00 P.M. NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN
Vendors Contact Bud Plants N3TIR [email protected] 724-350-6745 Vendor Forms located at www.wacomarc.org 6Ft TABLES SUPPLIED, cost $12.00 ea. - Discount reserve more than (5) $10.00ea. TABLE DEADLINE IS OCT 24th, 2012- Must prepay to hold tables
VE TESTING TIME TBA BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE DOOR PRIZES--YL PRIZE---DX CARD CHECKER THE MEADOWS CASINO NEAR BY
Send vendor payment to- Please include vendor form and make checks payable to WACOM c/o Norma Plants N3YJJ 236 Chambers Ridge Road West Alexander, Pa 15376
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2012 MEMBER INFORMATION AND DUES RENEWAL FORM
Name: ______Address:______
City: ______State: ____ Zip:______
Home Phone: ______Business Phone: ______Other Phone: E•Mail: ______Amateur Call: ______License Class : ______Spouse: ______Spouse Call: ______Spouse License Class: ______In case of emergency, for what bands do you have equipment? ______What are your favorite amateur activities? ______What activities would you like to see WACOM sponsor? ______ARRL Member? Y N Please return completed form and dues to: WACOM c/o Norma Plants 236 chambers Ridge Road, West Alexander PA 15376 E- mail [email protected] Dues: Individual $20 per year, Additional Family Members $10 each