November HARM Newsletter

HuronAmateurRadioMonthly

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Vol. 11, Issue 11 Official Newsletter of Huron Amateur Radio Association Web Site: www.huronarc.info November 2007

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2007 OFFICERS

President: Bill, KMØF

Vice President: Jack, KØOH

Sec/Tres Lloyd, WBØULX

Act. Mgr. Terry KIØBV

VQC Net© net control operators on 147.090 MHz each Sunday at 8:00 PM are as follows:

Lloyd, WBØULX Dec 16

Don, KØHHZ Nov 18, Dec 30

Bill, KMØF Nov 25

Terry, KIØBV Dec 2

Jack, KØOH Dec 9

Sam, NØOTB Dec 23

Lloyd, WBØULX explains RTTY and other Digital modes



Rod, KDØAKN explaining how to desolder a PC board connection.


 


Huron Amateur Radio Association Hosted Jamboree On The Air At Wessington Springs, SD 


On October 20th, the Huron Amateur Radio Association took the Ecomm Trailer to Wessington Springs for the 50th Anniversary of Jamboree on the Air. Rod Husiman, KD0AKN, a relatively new ham from rural Wessington Springs, and also a Scout troop leader was hoping to get at least a half dozen scouts to this special event and was surprised to see 26 scouts and their leaders show up. They came from Pierre, Mitchell, Miller, Wessington Springs and other locations. The events started at 9:00 am with some explanations about ham radio. The "classroom" started off a little slow but then groups of four or five scouts came into the trailer and Lloyd talk to them about various digital modes, and demonstrated how RTTY works by making some contacts. Each youngster learned SSB by making contact with other scout on the other end. We were able to make contact with W1BSA, W2BSA, and a station in Bonarie Curacao, PJ2 also a scout station, and others. The scouts went back to the hands on and static displays at the fire hall meeting room. Each Scout had the opportunity to use a solder removal tool and also a soldering iron to solder in components on an old radio printed circuit board. They also worked with some simple circuit breadboards and used an oscilloscope to see what a tone generator output looks like in waveform. A microphone was hooked to the scope so they could see how their voice is converted from an audio form to a mechanical and then to electrical energy. When some of them came back out to the SSB on the air demonstration, they no longer had that "first time" timid voice. Lloyd also brought some QSL cards to locate on a map and globe where they came from. Rod and Lloyd did a superb job of setting the displays in the hall. 


Every one had a good time, including the scouts, scout leaders, and hams alike. Who knows, maybe we set into motion the wheels to produce some new young amateur radio operators. Would we do it all again? In a heartbeat!


Contributed by Bill, KM0F
 


November 15, 2007 Agenda
Call to order by President, Bill; KM0F at 7:00 PM at LDS Church located at 1450 Frank St. SE, Huron, SD.


Old Business: Read the minutes of the previous meeting -- Report on JOTA participation -- Results of VE Testing- November 3rd 


Events: Nov 17 - 18 ARRL Phone Sweepstakes 


Dec 8-9 -- ARRL 10m contest 


Dec 20 -- HARA Christmas Party- 6:30 PM > Tailgate 


Jan 5 - 6 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup 


Jan 17 -- HARA club meeting with election of officers


New Business: Handout newsletter -- Collect Coborn receipts -- Appoint Nominating committee for January elections -- Solicit Net Control operators for Sunday night net for 2008 -- Set VE Testing dates in 2008.


October 16, 2007 Meeting


Meeting called to order by President, Bill, KM0F at 7:05 PM at LDS Church located at 1450 Frank St. SE, Huron, SD with 8 members and 1 guest ( Rod, KD0AKN) present.


Old Business: Read minutes of previous meeting -- Corporation Report has been filed -- Continue donating aluminum and scrap copper to Club -- $50.05 made from last sale -- Publicize VE Testing here Nov 3rd


New Business: Handout newsletter -- Collect Coborn's receipts -- Discuss JOTA participation – Lloyd going to Wessington Springs at 10:00 Friday and set up for Saturday start at 8:30 at Fire Station -- Check your license expirations -- Christmas party will be Thursday, December 20th at Tailgate with Social at 6:30 and order dinner at 7:00.


 


SECTION NEWS




Here is the section news for South Dakota, if there are any clubs that have material that they wish to have posted please email me the information no later than the 5th of the month so that I can get it posted to both the summary and the web site before the cut off date. kg0gg@arrl.net 


Monthly South Dakota Section News Summary


NORTHERN HILLS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 


The October meeting of the Northern Hills Amateur Radio Club was called to order by Vice President Chris Stallkamp at 1930 on October 26, 2007 at the Sturgis Fire Hall in Sturgis, SD. Those present were: Todd KCØCCB, Chris KCØADZ, Carol KCØZDA, Jerry KGØGG, Bob KBØNRB, Marj KBØWCF, Jack KBØJKO, Bruce KØNLE, and guests: Vickie, Barbara, and Mary. A report of Public Service for the year was distributed for additions and corrections. Two events were still to be added to the list. At present there were 833 amateur hours of involvement. The Simulated Emergency Test, SET, was held on October 20. The counties involved were Butte, Meade, and Lawrence. It was to test the 2-meter simplex capabilities between the county Emergency Operation Centers, EOC's. Those involved were Gene, NØMHJ (the planner), Neal, KCØZQD, Bob KBØNRB, Gene WØPYZ, Carol KCØZDA, Jerry KGØGG, and Carroll KØRXC. 


Jerry reported on the Jamboree On The Air event hosted by Scott Rausch WAØVKC, and Harry Martens WAØMFZ. It was a successful event. Chris requested help for Net Control Operators on the State Link Net on Wed. evenings. He will distribute a check-in list to those requesting one. Chris has the APRS equipment at his house and it is working from there until it can be reinstalled on Terry. The Director for DARN to represent the Northern Hills Amateur Radio Club was discussed and Jerry Hawley KGØGG was chosen. First alternate is Carol Katz, KCØZDA, second alternate is Chris Stallkamp WØADZ, and third alternate is Gene McPherson NØMHJ. Bob KBØNRB reported that Red Cross has a repeater available with 14 HTs to be used in an emergency. The contact people are Bob KBØNRB or Marj KBØWCF. Chris reported that the Rapid City Club is considering changing the trusteeship of the various repeater links and repeaters in the system. 


A discussion was held on possibly increasing the dues to help defray the cost of repeater maintenance costs and operation. The by-laws will need to be addressed on that matter. 


Jerry mentioned that the NWS Skywarn Appreciation Day might not be held this year, due to lack of interest. Meeting adjourned at 2033. Next meeting will be at the Sturgis Fire Hall. After the meeting, Bruce presented surge suppressor and gas tube testing methods. Bruce Conlee, KØNLE, Secretary 


HOT SPRINGS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB HSARC News--- Our new tower was delivered by Burghardt's last month. Mounting it on our trailer will be our main plan for next spring. We appreciate Burghardt's working with us on this project. Also our club shack remodeling has begun. Phil, KA0FUI, and John, KC0WIB, have installed and even cleaned the new windows. Next item is a new door, which was donated by Carl, W9LEQ. We are also planning on operating Sweepstakes from the shack during the phone contest. Listen for K0HS if you are looking for South Dakota. Our October meeting included a very interesting program by KC0YOE and KC0YOF from Chadron, NE. They gave an excellent talk about ballooning and ham radio. The December meeting will be at the QTH of Robert, KC0WID. We will meet at the club shack and car pool to his house. 


We regret to announce that Dwight Sholl, W0HGZ, became a silent key on Oct. 31. Dwight was very active in public service events and a special member of our club. We will miss our "sidewalk supervisor". 73 Dwight Tim K0OR 


HUB CITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 


The Hub City Amateur Radio Club will be on the air from the Aberdeen Weather Service Office for the Skywarn Recognition Day event. It is on Dec 1, 2007 from 0001utc to 2400utc. Friday night, Nov30 at 6pm through Saturday night Dec1 at 6pm. We will be on HF, 2m, IRLP and maybe 6m. Anyone who would like to stop in and or participate is more than welcome. Hope to see you there or talk to you on the air. 


Randy KA0ZEE 


JOTA HELD AT THE BALCK HILLS ARC CLUBHOUSE 


2007 marked the 5th year that the Black Hills Amateur Radio Club hosted the Scouts' Jamboree On The Air. 24 Scouts and Scout leaders came out for the event, approximately the same number of participants as last year. HF contacts were made using the club's Kenwood TS440 that was set up at the operating position in the Radar Hill clubhouse. The open wire fed, all-band dipole, normally connected 


to the remote base, was temporarily used during the event. Antenna matching was accomplished using the club's Johnson Matchbox. The Scouts made many contacts. After practicing with a script, the Scouts enjoyed "calling CQ and bye for a call". As each contact was made, one of the Scouts reported it to the Scout leaders in the adjacent conference room where a star was placed on a US map. Included with each verbal report were the weather, the operator's name, and other pertinent information concerning the contact. With a PC and Internet connection adjacent to the HF station, the Scouts checked each callsign on QRZ.com and enjoyed seeing photos of the Scouts at the other end of the QSO. QSL cards were filled out for each contact. Lunch (pizza and chili) and other craft activities were provided by the Scout leaders in the 


conference room. Scott, WAØVKC was the HF control operator. Several of the Scouts had participated in prior years, and assisted the newer communicators with selecting a frequency, calling CQ, taking pictures, etc. New this year was the addition of a simplex IRLP node. The IRLP node consisted of a 2 meter mobile rig connected to the Internet at an off-site location. Another mobile rig, power supply and mag-mount mobile antenna were used as the IRLP station at the clubhouse. Initially the IRLP station was located in the club's conference room, but was later moved to the HF operating desk because of ambient room noise. Harry, WAØMFZ provided the IRLP equipment, and had previously researched JOTA participants on several IRLP reflectors. Of particular interest to our Scouts was an IRLP contact with Scouts in Massachusetts, who 


were unaware that anyone was living in South Dakota. At the end of the event, several hardy communicators remained after the others departed for home to listen to Scott, WAØVKC act as net control station for the South Dakota state HF net on 75 meters. The Electrical Engineering Department of the SD School of Mines and Technology will be hosting a crystal set kit construction and Morse code session as a new JOTA activity. A tour of a local commercial AM and FM radio station is also being added. These two added activities, in conjunction with the on-the-air operations, will allow those participating Scouts to obtain their Radio Merit Badge. It certainly is a pleasure to see many of these Scouts return each year. I suspect one or two of them will be considering a career in electronics.