Gee Our Old LaSalle Ran Great

Transcription

1 August 2001 Gee Our Old LaSalle Ran Great Over the last couple of years there has been a huge decline in repeater use. I know not everyone likes to talk on local repeaters, but whatever happened to the morning crew. There were always four or more people chatting on the way to work talking about antennas and towers or how they just replaced an output transistor on their radio. How about the traffic net, there used to be at least ten or more people who checked in every night to handle traffic or just to say no traffic. Is it just me, or is ham radio really in trouble? I learned about ham radio by listening to my scanner at night and found the traffic net and thought to myself this is really neat, what is all this traffic stuff. So I went to a class to learn about this really cool hobby. What happens to that kid lying on his or her bed with the scanner on if we are not there for them to listen to? They won t get the same opportunity as I did twelve years ago. Sure you are so busy with your life that you can t get on the air once in a while. Use whatever excuse you want, but in ten years when you don t have a local net or you don t have that morning chat ask yourself, could I have done something to change this? The amateur radio tradition has been one where getting on the air was a privilege and a joy. Operating was about practicing your skills, keeping up on what's going on, making good friends and keeping a keen ear tuned in case someone needed information or help. Those Were the Days Best 73 Randy N1PTB Editor Ham Breakfast An idea is being passed around for a once a month breakfast for hams and prospective hams. Please send me your comments and/or suggestions. Do you have a place in mind? Contact info: Randy N1PTB n1ptb@arrl.net H IGHLIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 Gee Our Old LaSalle Ran Great 2 Important News 3 Red Cross and ECTN 4-5 Morse Code Practice Oscillator 6 Classifieds, Contacts and Important News 7 Advertisements The RASON Monitor 1

2 UPCOMING ELECTIONS The Nominating Committee has chosen the candidates for the upcoming election. All members are asked to attend the August meeting to hear the nominations, as well as make your own nominations from the floor. This is very important, as the next elected officials will be running your beloved amateur radio club. Fellow Amateurs: * * * IMPORTANT NOTICE * * * Because of recent reports of amateurs operating in a less than courteous manner, the following changes have been made to the repeater controller: 1. All transmissions will be limited to 2 minutes. This is a reduction from the current 3 minute maximum. Any attempt to talk beyond this period will time out the repeater. There will be no exceptions to this limit. 2. An appropriate message advising amateurs to wait 2 seconds between transmitting on the repeater will be transmitted EVERY hour. These changes will stay in effect until further notice. All amateurs are reminded of the requirement to wait for the courtesy tone BEFORE keying the transmitter during a QSO. Failure to do so can prevent the repeater system from being used in an emergency. Recent incidents during which amateurs had long winded QSO's without waiting for the courtesy beep prevented the machine from being used in an actual emergency. All amateurs, RASON members and non-members, are advised that repeated failure to wait between transmissions may result in temporary or permanent suspension from the use of the RASON repeaters. Thank you for reading this message, Mike Martell N1HFX RASON Repeater Trustee THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE Nothing can be more fun, particularly on a long trip through unfamiliar towns than reading the signs. The freeway coming down from Big Bare, California passes the San Bernardino Municipal Airport. A ign s near the exit reads, "SBD AIRPORT". We have all seen the signs warning us of "FALLING ROCKS" or, "SLIDE AREA AHEAD". In Oregon you find yourself wondering if this sign was placed by the highway department or the local tourism promoters. It reads simply, "ROCKS". Sometimes signs tell a story of the region's governmental customs. Who hasn't seen the signs on I395 next to the prison in Montville that says, "DO NOT STOP". In Oklahoma clearly however, lawmakers and enforcement authorities are held accountable for their policies and must give reasons for their instructions. On I40 near the state pen a sign reads, "HITCHHIKERS MAY BE ESCAPEES". The RASON Monitor 2

3 Sometimes businesses find clever ways to make people remember their establishments while rendering a political statement. It's common out west to see signs proclaiming, "SPANISH SPOKEN HERE". One west coast gas station mini mart sports a sign that reads, "ABLE BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH". Still none can top the informational posting scrawled in magic marker in gas a station mends room in Virginia. It reads, "PLEASE FLUSH AFTER USING THOROUGHLY!". Kevin Harkins, KA6PDG ARC/EX 2001 American Red Cross South Eastern Connecticut Chapter Three Chapters of the American Red Cross in Connecticut are participating in a drill called ARC/EX 2001 on November 30th and December 1st This drill includes a 24-hour period beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday November 30, 2001 and ends at 6:00 PM Saturday December 1, During this 24-hour period The ARC EOC will be opening along with (2) shelters. Now the catch... The Red Cross is seeking help from the three local radio clubs and area amateurs to support this important exercise. We are looking for amateurs to participate during this 24-hour exercise to be stationed at the EOC or at the shelters to support Red Cross Operations. Contact Bruce Adams, KA1ZM at Eastern Connecticut Traffic Net (ECTN) Needs You! As of late, there has been very little participation in your local Traffic Net (ECTN). Please usethis net for what it is designed for, SENDING TRAFFIC or PRACTICE. The net meets every night at 9:00pm on the RASON repeaters, and Why not send a message to a relative, friend, or your fellow ham? It doesn t take much to send a message, if you have never sent one, we will show you how to on the net. Try being a Net Control, we are always looking for new NCS s to fill-in or take Monday or Friday night, which is open at this time. I can t stress this enough, this net is here to provide training in traffic handling in the event of a disaster where all other means of communication are disabled. If you are listening for the net and realize there is no one there to run it, take charge and run it yourself. The preamble is available on the RASON website. Support your local Traffic Net, it only takes a few minutes out of your busy day! 73, Randy, N1PTB The RASON Monitor 3

4 Morse Code Practice Oscillator By Mike Martell N1HFX Even though amateur license restructuring reduced the morse code requirement to 5 WPM in the United States, many amateurs still have not upgraded. This project is intended to help hams elmering others to pass their code exam as well as classroom instruction of morse code. This circuit will provide output for a small speaker and an additional add on amplifier circuit will produce enough volume to satisfy almost any need. The basic circuit uses the well known and ultra stable 555 Timer IC as its basic oscillator. The circuit will operate from 6 to 14 volts and can be operated from a 9 volt battery if desired. All parts are available off the shelf at your local Radio Shack store for those who hate mail order. While the circuit in Figure 1 is adequate for a small speaker, there are times when you just can t get enough volume. The circuit in Figure 2 uses an inexpensive LM386 audio amp IC to minimize parts count and efficiency. This circuit produces plenty of volume to fill a room for class room type practice. In Figure 2, resistor R3 and C2 are used in a different configuration then Figure 1. Only 2 additional Capacitors C3, C4 and IC-2 is needed to get the additional volume. The RASON Monitor 4

5 Parts List R1 100 Kilo Ohm Resistor ¼ watt 10% R2 1 Kilo Ohm Resistor ¼ watt 10% R3 10 Ohm Resistor ¼ watt 10% C1.01 Micro Farad Ceramic Disk Capacitor 15 volt minimum C2 4.7 Micro Farad Electrolytic Capacitor 15 volt minimum C3,C4 220 Micro Farad Electrolytic Capacitor 15 volt minimum (Not used in Figure 1) IC-1 Type 555 Timer IC IC-2 LM386 Audio Amp IC (Not used in Figure 1) Because of the large volume produced by the amplifier in Figure 2, all amateurs are reminded to use the enhanced volume with discretion particularly when sharing your habitant with a spouse or children. Morse code sometimes sounds like music to amateurs, but to other members of your household it could be perceived as a form of torture or even spousal abuse. For smaller households, the circuit in Figure 1 is recommended along with the use of headphones in lieu of a speaker. 73, N1HFX ED **********************SEND ME ARTICLES FOR THE MONITOR******************** The RASON Monitor 5

6 C ALENDAR OF E VENTS?? THE NEXT RASON MEETING WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 15 TH AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE NORWICHTOWN MALL COMMUNITY ROOM. ALL MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. SHARE THE HOBBY WITH A FRIEND AND BRING THEM ALONG TO SEE WHAT WE RE ABOUT. TALK-INS WILL BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE MEETING ON THE AND REPEATER. Area NETS?? HORIZONTAL ENGINEERS Nightly at 7:00 p.m. on ?? AREA 4 ARES NET Every Monday Night at 8:00 p.m. on ?? AREA 4 Weather NET Every Wednesday Night at 8:00 on (PL 156.7)?? E.C.T.N. Nightly at 9:00 p.m. on and ?? RASON Phone NET Every Thursday Night at 8:00 p.m. on (+ -)?? CONNECTICUT Phone NET Mon.- Sat at 6:00 p.m. on (+ -) and Sunday at 10:00 a.m.?? THE WEATHER NET will meet on on the First Wednesday of each Month, at 8:00 p.m.?? T.I.P.S. NET Every Tuesday at 7:30 on (PL 156.7) and RASON CONTACTS President: Mark Noe, KE1IU Vice President: Bruce Adams, KA1ZMZ RASON Monitor Editor: Randy C. Gudeahn, N1PTB P.O Box 161 Taftville, CT n1ptb@arrl.net RASON Monitor Publisher: Mike Martell, N1HFX Classifieds There are no items reported for sale this month. * * *IMPORTANT NOTICE * * * VEOSEC CONNECTICUT CO-CHAIRMEN Michael J. Martell, N1HFX Roy Hilt, K1JNR 74 Lillibridge Road 41 Jerome Road Plainfield, CT Uncasville, CT VEOSEC AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXAMINATIONS AUGUST 18, 2001 NOVEMBER 17, 2001 See January 2001 RASON Monitor for details. The RASON Monitor 6

7 Call Lentini s at or The RASON Monitor 7