September 2017 Vol. 42, #9 Washington Amateur Communications Inc. THE A 501-C3 Tax Exempt Organization WACOM HAM WACOM BUILDATHON! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WACOM President’s Message—2 WACOM Buildathon! - 8-10 WACOM General Information –3 DXpedition Feature—South Shetland Is - 13-14 Regular & Board Meeting Minutes—4-5 ARRL News——13-15 Upcoming Events—6 WACOM Hamfest Flyers—16-17 WACOM DX Corner—7 WACOM 2017 Renewal Form - 18 WACOM 2017 Buldathon! DX Feature of the Month Major Solar Flare Hits Earth! Pp. 8-10 P. 14 South Shetland Is. Pp. 11-12 2 WACOM President’s Message September 2017 Joe—N3XE President’s Message, September 2017 September means back-to-school time for the kids as well as hams looking to upgrade! WACOM will be of- fering classes for both the General and Extra class li- censes. Classes start September 12th for the General and on the 13th for the Extra. The only cost is for the instruction book, if you don’t have one already. This is a great opportunity for those without HF privileges to vastly improve their operating capabilities and join in on the fun. We also have a lot of events in the coming months that need some thought ahead of time. Both the SET drill and fall Marianna Canoe Race take place in early October, and our WACOM Hamfest isn’t that far away either. All of these events need your help and partici- pation, so keep them in mind as we head toward fall! 73, Joe, N3XE 3 WACOM OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, REPEATERS, AND NETS! Washington Amateur Communications is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing the principles of Amateur Radio while making it fun for all who participate. We have been affiliated with the ARRL for over 25 years. Our club call sign is WA3COM. Because of our activity in promoting Amateur Radio, including conducting classes, public demonstrations, emergency preparedness and training, studying technical advancements in radio and mentoring of new and soon-to-be hams, WACOM has earned the designation of Special Service Club from the ARRL. Membership Repeaters - WACOM membership is open to anyone K3PSP - 146.790+ MHz, EchoLink node - WA3COM-R - Annual Dues: $20 for individuals 147.285+ MHz (Scenery Hill, PA) $10 for each additional family member 145.250 - MHz (West Alexander) (send check & completed form to club treasurer) - Questions? Contact the WACOM club treasurer. 147.390+ MHz (Smith Township) Membership Meeting 147.315+ MHz (Greene County) - 7:30PM (1930 hrs), First Thursday of every month W3CYO - 145.490 MHz, 224.4 MHz, 443.300 MH z Board of Directors Meeting Digital Net - 7PM (1900 hrs), Last Thursday of every month - Mondays at 8PM (2000 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater Mailing Address - Bob, KC3AJM Net Control WACOM 2 Meter Public Service Net c/o Norma Plants N3YJJ - Tuesdays at 8:30 PM (2030 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater 236 Chambers Ridge Road West Alexander, Pa 15376-2270 10 Meter Net - Tuesdays at 9:30 PM (2130 hrs), on 28.340 MHz E-Mail - Bud, N3TIR Net Control General Club Correspondence; [email protected] YL Net 2017 Club Officers - Wednesdays at 7:30 PM (1930 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [email protected] - Karen, K3PUP Net Control Vice President: Patrick Degnan Jr., KB3TFN; [email protected] Secretary: Randy Kief, KC3EKZ; [email protected] Elmer Net - Wednesdays at 8 PM (2000 hrs), on K3PSP Repeater Treasurer: Kathleen Briggs, KC3HBO; [email protected] - Bud N3TIR, Net Control 2017 Board of Directors Club Elmers Director: Bob Fischer, KC3AJM, [email protected] Director: Dennis Presky, K3PSP; [email protected] DX Contest - Bill Sheehan, KB3LIX; [email protected] Director: Rob Balogh, KB3ZUS; [email protected] QSL & DX - Bill Steffey, NY9H; [email protected] Newsletter Editor ARES & RACES - Bob Ketzell, KB3IN; [email protected] Ken Frankenbery, AA3GM; [email protected] Webmaster CW - Loren McCullough, WA3WZR; [email protected] Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [email protected] VHF - Craig Yoho, KB3RHR; [email protected] VE Liaison Repeaters - Dennis Presky, K3PSP; [email protected] Bob Kinnear, KI4DHB; [email protected] Radio Room Committee Websites - Joe Caldwell, N3XE; [email protected] Patrick Degnan Jr., KB3TFN; [email protected] Elmer Net - Bud Plants, N3TIR; [email protected] EMCOMM Training Officer Brad McCarrell, KC3EDQ; [email protected] 4 WACOM General Meeting Minutes 6 July 2017, 7:30 PM General Meeting – 7/6/2017 The meeting was called to order by Joe (N3XE) at 7:30 pm. Membership introductions and introducing visitors were performed. Old minutes and treasury report was not read. The board of directors have decided that since both reports are published in the club newsletter, and the website, the reading of these reports is redundant. This will be the standard practice for all remaining general meetings in an effort to make future meetings more interesting, and shorter in length. Old Business – Radio room – Patrick (KB3TFN) reported that the weekend antenna work party is this week- end at 10 am. ACS – Joe (N3XE) stated that anyone can bring up a skywarn net. Bob (KB3IN) stated that there is not skywarn net for watches, only warnings in our area. All logs, and call-up sheets are on the website. The labor day 5K is the next event. The run for Alex went well. There was one issue of people asking to talk to command, and telling net control the entire message, then tell- ing comman the entire message a second time. There is no need to tell net control the message. Just request to talk to command, wait for permission, the tell command the message directly. Field Day – Went very well. 926 QSO’s made. Mike (K3AIR) made the majority of the con- tacts. Joe (N3XE) reviewed battery technology. W3R is going on now. This special event can be done from home. Please forward all logs to Bill (NY9H). The event ends the 16th. Bill (NY9H) W3M is July 3rd – 12th. Anyone interested can work it from home. Joe (N3XE) reviewed the BITX40 kit project. He also stated that there is another QRP night planned for August after the BITX40 project is complete. A motion to adjourn was made by Bob (KC3AJM), 2nd by Sam (W3CYO). Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. Respectfully submitted by Randy Kief. (KC3EKZ) Next Regular WACOM Meeting - Thursday, 3 Aug 2017, 7:30 PM! 5 WACOM Board Meeting Minutes 27 July 2017 , 7:00 PM Board) Meeting Minutes – 7/27/2017 The meeting was called to order by Bob (KC3AJM) at 7:00 pm. Previous meeting minutes were read by Randy Kief (KC3EKZ). Motion to accept by Rob (KB3ZUS)/Bob (KC3AJM). Minutes accepted by unanimous vote. The treasury report was not read. Old Business – Station 3 – Rob (KB3ZUS) reported that the equipment is scheduled to be in- stalled. Classes – All classes are posted on the ARRL website Radio Room – Patrick (KB3TFN) reported the antennas are back up & repaired. The tilt base is installed. QRP (BITX40) – Bill (NY9H) stated that the night went well. The made several contacts with the BITX40 radios. New Business – Repeaters – The repeater should be repaired by the weekend. ACS – Next event is the Washington Labor day run. No request or date yet. There will be a fall Marrianna canoe race in late October. Medowcroft – August 12th for the on-site event. Norma (N3YJJ) asked if the board has access to the club bank account. Joe (N3XE) stated that he has access. Bob (KC3AJM) suggested a Toffee House fund raiser. This needs to be looked into for a future meeting. Joe (N3XE) stated a QRP night for the BITX40 radios TBA Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm. Patrick (KB3TFN)/Rob (KB3ZUS) Respectfully submitted by Randy Kief. (KC3EKZ) 6 2017 WACOM Upcoming Events Calendar Meetings, Contests & Other Significant Club Events (Subject to Change) ____________________________________________________ Thu, 7 Sep 2017, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building Sun, 10 Sep 17, Butler Co. ARA Swapfest, Union Fire Hall, Butler, PA Tues, 12 Sep 17, General License Class Begins, 6-9 PM, WACOM Radio Room Wed, 13 Sep 17, Extra License Class Begins, 6-9 PM, WACOM Radio Room Sun, 24 Sep 17, The Great Races (ARES Event), http://rungreatrace.com Thu, 5 Oct 2017, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building Sat, 14 Oct 17, Mariana Canoe Race, (Assist in EMCOMM), Mariana, PA Thu, 19 Oct 17, WASH VE Exam, 4145 Evergreen Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 28-29 Oct 17, CQ WW DX Contest SSB, http://www.cqww.com Thu, 2 Nov 2017, WACOM Meeting at 7:30PM, Washington County Building 4-6 Nov 17, ARRL Sweepstakes—CW, http://www.arrl.org Sun, 5 Nov 17, WACOM Hamfest, Washington Co. Fairgrounds 1-3 Dec 17 , ARRL 160-meter Contest, http://www.arrl.org 7 WACOM HAM DX Corner —Sep 2017 COURTESY: http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html 2017 2017 Market OJ0 TDDX By UA4WHX as IJ0/UA4WHX; 160 80 60 30m; end UA4WHX Sep01 Sep08 Reef 20170902 date uncertain 2017 2017 DXW.Net By Radio Club of Djelfa fm Rachgoun I (IOTA AF-094); Algeria 7Y94I 7X2DD Sep01 Sep10 20170710 HF 2017 2017 425DXN By K9HZ fm IOTA NA-108; 160-6m; CW SSB RTTY; St Lucia J68HZ LotW Sep01 Sep16 20170826 QSL also OK via Clug Log or K9HZ direct By SQ1SGB fm King George I (IOTA AN-010, 2017 2017 South HF0ARC SQ1SGB DXNews GC07su); 40m (22-23z) 20m (21-22z); SSB JT65 JT9; Sep02 Oct10 Shetland Is Direct 20170905 100w; delta loop By PA3HGT as 3B8/PA3HGT fm IOTA AF-049; 40 20 2017 2017 3B8 DXW.Net Mauritius LotW 10m; SSB + digital; 100w; end-fed wire; QSL also OK Sep05 Sep22 20170731 via PA3HGT (Buro or diret) By TA1HZ as CN2HZ and TA7AZC as CN2ZC; holi- 2017 2017 CN2 TA1HZ Morocco LotW day style operation; QRV for WAE DX SSB Contest; Sep06 Sep13 20170711 QSL also OK via LZ3HI By DF1YP as FO/DF1YP fm Moorea I (IOTA OC-046, 2017 2017