The Repeater (electronic version)
Newsletter of the Arkansas River Valley Amateur Radio Foundation
Russellville, Arkansas
February, 1999
Officers:
President: Nick Kennedy,
WA5BDU
Vice-President - Margaret Alexander,
KC5MCS
Secretary-Treasurer - Charles Hall, KC5CVG
ARVARF Board:
John Evans, WB5BHS
Dick Koski, W5VUB
Tom Hughes KC5VRI
Les Hendrickson KD5DKL
Dennis Schaefer W5RZ
Newsletter staff
Dennis Schaefer W5RZ
Melissa Schaefer KI5QJ
John Evans WB5BHS
Jonathan Setcer KC5BRY
Charlotte Stockton KC5CKQ
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
February
13 - VE Test Session, 9:00 a.m. ANO Training Center
16 - ARVARF meeting, Ryan's, Meeting at 7:00, those who want to
eat, come
at 6:00.
20 - ARVARF Hamfest. Hughes Community Center, 8:00 a.m.
23 - RACES meeting, 911 building. 7:00 p.m.
Every Saturday at 0700-0800 - breakfast meeting at Perkins
Restaurant.
ARVARF Net - Every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on 146.82 (except club
meeting night)
HAMFEST 1999
It's Hamfest time!!! After months of anticipation, the
Hamfest is nearly
here. The committee has worked hard and really pulled
together this year
as usual. At this writing there are only six tables still
available,so if
you want a table, you need to contact Jonathan Setcer
immediately. Several
vendors will be at the Hamfest and if you need anything that is
radio
related, you can probably find it. Your purchases will not
only support
those vendors, but they will also insure that we can continue to
get good
vendors and that makes our Hamfest continue to be successful.
Melissa has arranged for several informative forums. We
hope you will find
time to sit in on some that are of interest to
you. Dennis and his
committee are putting together a great assortment of
prizes. More money
was allocated to prizes this year. Be sure to purchase lots
of prize
tickets. Speaking of tickets, Ben has tickets now and you
can get them
ahead of time. That way, you can get in the door quicker to
the bargains.
Tables, forums, prizes, and concessions add up to another great
Hamfest.
Plan to be there at the Hughes Center, same location, on February
20.
Doors open at 8:00. Plan to stay all day and have a wonderful
time visiting
with friends who share your interest in ham radio. See you
then!!!
Margaret Alexander KC5MCS
Plans for the ARVARF Hamfest Feb. 20th are shaping up nicely.
The forums
are ready including: Y2K Forum; ARRL Forum; EMWIN Satellite
demonstration;
and a QRP demonstration and forum. We have Several Vendors
registered
including: S & S Radio; Rad-Com Radio; RLS Electronics; T.J.
Garland-Military Surplus; Sid Wilson -Software & Antennas;
The Sign Man of
Baton Rouge - badges & Caps; Clear Signal inc.-Antennas &
Coax; Gaylon
Pearson-Connectors, cords, plugs, etc.; & ARRL-books, and a
Radio Shack
dealer. There will also be a table for ARVARF members to
put a couple of
items on for sale.
While at the "Dixie-fest" in West Memphis last
Saturday, I asked around
about who was coming to Russellville Hamfest on the 20th.
The general
answer was: "I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it!" The
tickets are ready. If
you want an advance ticket, the best plan is to, see Ben Hillis
either at
Breakfast on Saturday, or at the test session Saturday, Or at the
ARVARF
meeting on the 16th. If you want a flea market table, you
better contact
me QUICKLY. As of Monday, there are only 7 tables left! (All but
four of
the tables that are already rented have been paid for. And I
expect that
"the check's in the mail" for those four). We have a
nice list of door
prizes lined up. That should make some folks very happy that they
bought an
entry ticket or two. The only thing we need more of is.......
Volunteers.
If you can spend even a little time helping out Friday evening,
Saturday
Morning, and/or Saturday afternoon, please contact Margaret
Alexander:
ealexand@cswnet.com or
968-7270; Jonathan Setcer: jsetcer@cswnet.com
or
968-2938; or Ben Hillis-ticket sales: 641-2022
Jonathan Setcer KC5BRY
ARKANSAS HAMS RESPOND TO TRONADOES
Eight people died when tornadoes struck in the vicinity of
Little Rock and
White County, Arkansas, January 21. The National Weather Service
called it
"an unprecedented outbreak of tornadoes for January."
Arkansas Section Manager Roger Gray, N5QS, in Searcy, reports he
was up all
night and observed four or five funnel clouds, but he estimated
that at
least 30 tornadoes swept through the area. Gray has been actively
managing
the ARES operation. "We have had an incredible response from
the amateur
community," he said. He estimated that up to 60 hams were
active on VHF and
HF nets. "We have been running nets almost continuously
since 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon and no end in sight," he added.
Gray said five weather-spotting net control stations were active.
The EC in
charge, James Wiles, KK5WM, in Beebe, suffered damage to his
house and had
to move operations to a Red Cross shelter, Gray reported. Hams
are expected
to become involved in damage assessment.
"Another wild night in Arkansas," said ARRL Vice
President Joel Harrison,
W5ZN, in Judsonia, who reported "lots of damage" in his
area. "I have to
tell you, in my 41 years of living here, I have never seen storms
like we
had last night," he said. Harrison said the first line came
through around
5 PM, "then another, and another, and another for what
seemed like every
half hour till about 10:30 PM."
"The damage in a 10 mile radius around my home is
horrible!" Harrison said.
Arkansas State University in Beebe--where his son, Mark, attends
school--had
extensive damage. "There is considerable damage in Little
Rock, even to the
Governor's Mansion," he added.
(From The ARRL Letter)
RUSSELLVILLE HAMFEST FORUMS
9:00 a.m. Y2K forum conducted by John Evans, WB5BHS
9:30 a.m. Antenna Modeling forum conducted by Kelsey Mikel,
KK5KU
10:00 a.m. ARRL forum conducted by Roger Gray, N5QS
11:00 a.m. QRP forum conducted by Jay Bromley, W5JAY, and
Kelsey Mikel, KK5KU
11:00 a.m. Arkansas DX Association quarterly meeting
QRP demonstration by Jay Bromley, W5JAY and Kelsey Mikel, KK5KU
EMWIN weather satellite demonstration by Charles Shingleur, KF5JH
RUSSELLVILLE HAMFEST PRIZES
Kenwood TM-261 2-meter mobile
Alinco 5W Handie-talkie
MFJ-259B Antenna Analyzer
MFJ Morse Code Tutor
There will be many other prizes, including station accessories,
antennas,
and books. There will be a door prize given in each forum.
JANUARY MINUTES
Margaret Alexander called meeting to order at 7:00
PM. Minutes were
accepted as written in newsletter.
Financial report was accepted as presented during meeting.
A video of John
Stockton was shown having Christmas Dinner with a family in
California and
on the local TV news. John will be stationed in England for
the next two
(2) years.
Dennis said RACES meeting would be January 26th.
Ben said a test session would be February 13.
Joel Harrison informed us that enforcement was moving forward.
Roger Gray, Section Manager for Arkansas was promoting ARRL
membership:
"Notify your Director of any problems. If you are NOT
a member of the
ARRL, you should not complain about what they do." ARRL is
looking for
OO's. He also spoke of Y2K. He gave us a lot of scare
tactics, then said
he would not worry about it.
Meeting was adjurned at 7:31 PM
Respectfully,
Charles W. Hall, KC5CVG, Secretary
UPCOMING HAMFESTS
Green Country Hamfest-Oklahoma State Convention- Maxwell
Convention Center,
7th & Houston, Tulsa OK March 19-20, 1999. for info.: 24 hour
hotline:
918-622-2277.
Http://www.greenCountryHamfest.org
e-mail megriffin@ionet.net
Little Rock Hamfest - Expo Center I-30 exit 126. April 23-24,
1999. for
info. contact Jim Blackmon,
870-246-7833.
Http://www.aristotle.net/~ares/lrh99.html
The Fort Smith Area Amateur Radio Club Hamfest 99 Will be held on
Saturday,
March 13, 1999 at the Fort Smith Civic Center Its behind the
Holiday Inn
Down Town Ft. Smith. 55 South Seventh
Special Guest "Doug Hendricks of NorCal QRP club"
Homebrew and Kit Building Contest
VE - testing 10:00 a.m.
Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.
Setup Time Sat. 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Talk-in 146.64 - W5ANR
Admission $5.00 - 16 Free
Flea Market Tables $10.00 each Easy Setup
Electricity Available for $5.00 extra
Mail To: Fort Smith Area Amateur Radio Club (FSAARC), P.O.
Box 32, Fort
Smith, Ar. 72901
Hamfest Chairman: Win Dooley WB5KOM
e-mail wb5kom@amsat.org
Phone 501-785-5313
Hamfest Co-Chairman: Kelsey Mikel KK5KU
e-mail kk5ku@amsat.org
Phone 501-452-2525
JY1, SILENT KEY
Radio amateurs around the world joined in mourning the death over
the
weekend of Jordan's King Hussein, JY1. Hussein, 63, died
Sunday morning.
The Middle East's longest-reigning ruler, he'd been Jordan's king
for 47
years, taking the throne when he was just a
teenager.
POTTSVILLE TORNADO
Several ARVARF members were active in helping with the recent
tornado in
Pottsville. On Saturday night, February 9, Pope County was
under a
thunderstorm warning, but there was not a tornado watch.
The storm did not
seem particularly severe, but we started a weather net just in
case. There
were some windy conditions in Yell County, Crow Mountain, and
other areas,
but nothing too threatening. About 9:45, the TV showed a
tornado warning
for the area north of Atkins. KB5ZNP and KD5CJU reported
that a tornado
had apparently hit Pottsville before the warning was
issued.
The Red Cross needed to assess the damage, so Melissa and I
went to
Pottsville and KC5BRY took over net control of the weather
net. Although
there were roadblocks at the affected area, the police were very
courteous
and let us go wherever we wanted to. However, we were glad
to be carrying
both Red Cross and RACES ID cards! We did what damage
assessment we could
in the dark and looked for people who were displaced from their
homes. The
Red Cross can provide temporary lodging after a disaster.
However,
everyone had already gone to motels or relative's houses.
The next morning, we went back. The tornado apparently
crossed Hwy 247
south of Pottsville, passed over Ellis Rd. causing lots of
shingle damage
and destroying numerous outbuildings. Then it touched down
briefly in the
Gibson Rd area in the south part of Pottsville. Two mobile
homes were
destroyed and another heavily damaged. One of the mobile
homes that was
destroyed was occupied by 6 people at the time. The only
injury was a
minor bump on the head! We did find some people to assist
that day,
putting one couple up in a motel until they could find a new
place to rent,
and advising others to go to the Red Cross office on Monday for
assistance
with clothing and household goods.
James (N5UNM) and Kathy Judd did an extensive damage assessment
of areas
north of I-40. They found several damaged buildings,
including a mobile
home with a large tree on it. The tornado apparently
continued on into
Conway County, but stayed in the air after hitting the mobile
homes.
Dennis, W5RZ
WEST MEMPHIS HAMFEST REPORT
"DixieFest '99"- The Dixie Amateur Radio Group's first
attempt at a hamfest
was a HUGE success in this writers opinion. The location was good
- easy to
find, plenty of parking, easy unloading. The building was well
lighted and
clean. The folks in charge were very friendly and easy to work
with. They
were very well organized down to the smallest detail. They had a
good
balance between vendors and flea market tables. And they had
decent door
prizes. I didn't attend any of the forums, or the V.E. testing,
but I saw
lots of folks come out of the room smiling, so I assume those
went well too.
The only problem I saw was at 9 AM when they opened the doors,
there were
SO MANY people that came in there was "human gridlock"
for over an hour.
You had to move with the crowd, at the speed the crowd was
moving. There
was no turning around or going back. If you wanted to visit a
particular
table a second time, the only thing to do was stay in the loop
and
eventually you would make a second circuit of the room.
They announced that they have a reservation at a bigger building
for FEB.
4th, 2000. Based on what I saw Saturday, I'LL BE THERE.
Jonathan Setcer, KC5BRY
RADIO NERDS
(Continued from January)
Step Seven: Whenever possible, use the wrong terminology. It
keeps people
guessing. Use "modulation" when you mean
"deviation", and vice-versa.
Step Eight: If someone asks for a break, always finish your turn,
taking as
long as possible before turning it over. Whenever possible, pass
it around
a few times first. This will discourage the breaker, and if it is
an
emergency, encourage him to switch to another repeater and not
bother
you.
Step Nine: Always ask involved questions of the person who is
trying to
sign out. Never let him get by with just a "yes" or
"no" answer. Make it a
question that will take him a long time to answer.
Step Ten: The less you know on a subject, the more you should
speculate
about it in the roundtable. Also the amount of time you spend on
the
subject should be inversely proportionate to your knowledge of
the subject
even thought you have no clue.
Step Eleven: Always make sure you try to communicate with only a
handheld
and a rubber duck antenna. Also, make sure you work through a
repeater that
you can hear, but it cannot hear you. This will put out a kind of
"RN
mating call": "Well, Joe, I can hear the repeater just
fine here. I wonder
why it can't hear me?" You will score maximum RN points if
you are mobile,
and with the radio lying in the passenger seat.
Step Twelve: If you hear two amateurs start a conversation, wait
until they
are twenty seconds into their contact, and then break in to make
a call, or
better yet to use the auto-patch. Make sure you keep the repeater
tied up
for at least three minutes. This way, once the two have
re-established
contact, they won't even remember what they were talking about.
Step Thirteen: You hear someone on the repeater giving directions
to a
visiting amateur. Even if the directions are good, make sure you
break in
with your own "alternate route but better way to get
there" version. This
is most effective with several other "would-be RNs",
each giving a
different route. By the time the visiting amateur unscrambles all
the
street names whizzing by in his mind, he should have moved out of
the range
of the repeater. This keeps you from having to stick around to
help the guy
get back out of town, later.
Step Fourteen: Always end each transmission with
"Over", "Roger?",
"QSL?",or "Back to you..." Otherwise,
the repeater unkeying, and/or the
courtesy tone on the repeater might not be enough indication to
your fellow
"RN" that it is his turn to talk.
Step Fifteen: Always use the National Calling Frequency for
general
conversations. The more uninteresting, the longer you should use
it. Extra
points are awarded if you have recently move from an adjacent
frequency for
no reason. Make sure when DX is comming in on 52.525 that you
hang out
there and talk to your friends five miles down the road about the
good old
CB days!
Step Sixteen: Make sure that if you have a personal problem with
someone,
you should voice your opinion in a public forum, especially a
net. Make
sure you give their name, call, and any other identifying
remarks. For
maximum points, make sure the person in question is not on the
repeater, or
not available.
Step Seventeen: Make sure you say the first few words of each
transmission
twice, especially if it is the same thing each time. Like
"roger, roger" or
"fine business, fine business". I cannot stress enough
about encouraging
redundancy.
Step Eighteen: If you hear a conversation on a local repeater,
break in and
ask how each station is receiving you. Of course they will only
see the
signal of the repeater you are using, but it's that magic moment
when you
can find a fellow "RN", and get the report. Extra
points are awarded if you
are using a base station, on high power, and the repeater is less
than
twenty-five air miles from you.
These eighteen easy steps should put you well on your way to
"RN-Hood". I
hope these helpful hints will save you some time in your quest to
sound
like the perfect "RN". I should also note that these
steps need not apply
to simplex operation, as nobody really cares because that HTX-202
isn't
going to get out too far with just a rubber duck anyway.
VALENTINE'S SPECIAL EVENT
The MARC Club of Little Rock will sponsor a special event
station from
Romance, Ar on February 13, 1999 from 9:00 a. m. CST to 3:00 p.m.
CST.
Call will be: N5RLJ-- phonetics Nuptial 5 Romeo Loves
Juliet.Frequencies
will be 14.265, 21.350, 28.465 MHZ. For QSL (SASE please)
send to:
David Flake N5RLJ, 2043 Dean Martin Drive
Cabot, Arkansas 72023