Download Report

See you at our October 7
2014 meeting. 630pm coffee, donuts, eyeball QSOs,
swap sale table. Formal
meeting @ 7 PM.
Volume7 Number 10 **35th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE October 2014** Meet First Tuesdays at First Church, Nashua NH
October 7, 2014 General Meeting
Special Guest Jack Warren WB4MDC
Mechanical and other Techniques in Ham Radio Building
* Tame tangled cables.
* Point your antenna in the correct direction.
* Use minutes (and a little math) instead
of hours for a quick dipole installation.
* Try the bouncing battery test.
* Re-purpose an existing plastic connector.
* Quickly pick the right size heat-shrink
tubing.
All these topics and more unveiled at the
October meeting.
Jack WB4MDC
Membership Report
9/1/2014 – 9/22/2014 - 37
(One year ago – 40)
Latest renewal: Mary Jane N1ZWT
New member: Frank W1SKI (for 3
years!) September was renewal
month – Have you renewed?
TIPS FOR MODEST STATION CONTESTING
Bob Foster, N9BGC of Waverly, Iowa offers some
tips for modest stations operating Contests:
1. Try the 'hunt and pounce' method.
2. Tune slowly. Think of the Jodie Foster movie,
'Contact.' Her Ham father admonished her,
'Small steps, Ellie, small steps.'
3. Don't try to bust into a pileup for very long.
Move on and come back. The big gun will still
be there.
4. Stations are hungry for contacts as the event
winds down. That's when they often make an
extra effort to work the little guys.
5. The band doesn't go dead just because Field
Day ends. I often work some pretty cool QSOs,
once the band clears of Field Day traffic. Also,
remember in Field Day there are no rare sections, states or countries. Every unique contact
on a band or mode counts the same.
"My station may be modest, but I'm not!"
Page 2 - Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting, August 26, 2014
Ω Attendees: Present were President, Ed DeichΩ KC1AXX: Elizabeth Schenk (KC1AXX) who is a
ler (K2TE); Vice President, John Halbert
newly licensed ham, invited the club members to
(W1SMN); Secretary, Jack Duffy (NF1L); Treasuran IEEE presentation at the Nashua Library on 30
er, Bill Bordy (NJ1H); Membership Director, Layne
September for a presentation on Software DeLa Baume (AE1N); Program Director, John Keslo
fined Radios.
(W1MBG) and the Activities Director, Bill HamΩ Membership: The Membership Director reportmond (KA1SSR).
ed we have 80 members.
Ω Location: The August Board Meeting was held
Ω Treasurer: The Treasurer reported that we
at The First Church of Nashua.
have $ 2,317.64 in the bank at this time.
Ω WOKQ: The Vice President said that WOKQ
Ω President: The President announced that some
had agreed to do a half hour show on the 35th
flotsam and jetsam from the WRTC had fallen off
Anniversary of the Club. The program would be
the truck at his residence and would be transtaped during the week and then played on a Sunferred later to BOB.
day between 6 and 7 AM and between 11 and 12
Ω Activities: The Activities Director announced
pm. Information about the Club should be Ethe Pizza schedule for September.
mailed to [email protected].
Ω Adjournment: Having no further business the
Ω Program: Next meeting is Wayne Grant
Board Meeting was adjourned. The next Board
(KB1HYL) on Operating Ethics.
meeting is September 23rd at 7:00 PM at The
Ω W1AW/1: WC1M is coordinating the next periFirst Church. Board meetings are open to any inod of W1AW/1 operating in New Hampshire.
terested member.
ACTIVITIES and CONTESTS
NE Flea Markets
Contests
10/3-10/6: N1FD Special Operation 35th Anniversary SSB 28.400 21.300 14.285 7.200 3.900; CW 30 kHz from band edge.
10/4-10/5 Oceania DX contest; Russian WW Digital contest; CA/NJ QSO Party
10/7: 6:30pm Club Meeting at First Church of Nashua, 1 Concord Street, Nashua, NH, 03064-2303. Jack Warren, WB4MDC,
Mechanical Techniques in Ham Radio Building
10/10-10/11: New England Amateur Radio Festival (NEAR-Fest XVI), Route 43, Deerfield NH www.near-fest.com
10/10: 10-10 Int. 10-10 Day Sprint
10-11-10/12: Oceania DX contest CW; Scandinavia Activity contest SSB’ AZ/PA QSO parties
10/18-10/19: 10-10 Int. Fall contest CW; Stew Perry Topband Challenge; Worked All Germany contest; IL/NY/SD QSO Parties
10/19: Cambridge MA
FLEA at MIT
Mitch 617 253 3776 F
10/20-10/24: ARRL School Club Roundup
10/28: 7pm, Executive Committee meeting at First Church of Nashua, Nashua, NH, 03064-2303 (Classroom 15, open to all)
11/4: 6:30pm, Club Meeting at First Church of Nashua, 1 Concord Street, Nashua, NH, 03064-2303. Speaker: Fred Kemmerer
AB1OC, “"DX Labs Suite from Soup to Nuts"
Page 3 – Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
T
Minutes of the NARC Club Meeting September 2, 2014
he President, Ed Deichler (K2TE) called the
meeting to order 7:05 PM with Introductions.
President: WRTC is over and at least half of the
club provided support, Thanks to everyone.
Some debris from the WRTC castoffs has ended
up at the President’s Palace. They will be interred
in BOB at a later date.
W1AW/1: W1AW/1 operation will take place between September 10th and 16th. WC1M Dick is
coordinating the operation.
35th Anniversary: See the bulletins for more information
KB1ST: Steve Thompson (KB1ST) needs transportation to his radiation treatment. See NE1B
for further information.
Programs: The Programs Director, John Keslo
(W1MBG), reviewed future program plans:
Future Program Plans
Tonight: Wayne Grant KB1HYL on Operating Ethics & Fred
Kemmerer AB1OC on ‘13 Colonies’
October: Jack Warren WB4MDCon Mechanical Construction
November: USB SWR Meter
December: Yankee Swap and Elections
January: Project Night
Programs: The Programs Director, John Keslo
(W1MBG), introduced our guest speaker, Wayne
Grant (KB1HYL) and his subject “Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur”.
Wayne’s presentation was based on a Power
Point Presentation and PDF document of the
same name, prepared by John Devoldere,
(ON4UN) and Mark Demeuleneere, (ON4WW).
Copies of each are available at:
http://www.hamradio-operatingethics.org/versions.html.
Because of the extended nature of the subject
it is recommended that every amateur download
a copy of the manual for their shack. Why operating ethics? Because of the FCC for one. Failure
to comply with rules and regulations can lead to
large fines and loss of privileges. There are Practical Rules and Ethical Rules.
13 Colonies: Fred Kemmerer, (AB1OC) gave a
short presentation on the 13 Colonies operation
and its success. New Hampshire was represented
by 6 operators and made over 9000 contacts.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer, Bill Bordy
(NJ1H), reported that we have $2317.64 in the
bank at this time.
Membership: The Membership Director, Layne
La Baume (AE1N) reported that we have a total
of 81 members.
President: The President and Secretary are
leaving the Board at the end of this year. We
need a nominating committee to suggest Club
members to serve on the Board. New Board
members would not necessarily be taking these
positions, but could be replacing current members
that aspire to higher positions.
Adjournment: Having no further business, the
meeting was adjourned. The next Club meeting
is October 7th.
Jack, NF1L, NARC Secretary
NARC ELECTIONS!
Nominations are hereby open for our 2015 slate of
Executive Officers and Volunteers! The Executive officers are: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Program Coordinator, Activities Coordinator and
Membership Coordinator. See full duty descriptions at:
http://n1fd.org/Narc%20Constitution.pdf.
Other NARC Vacancies are: QSL Manager, Field Day
Incident Coordinator, NARC Net Control, Station Trustee, Club Property Manager, Training, EC Liaison, Au-
dit Committee (2 positions), Bulletin Editor, Advertising, and Volunteer Exams.
Now is the time to serve you Club and the Amateur
Radio Community! Please ‘step up’ and provide
names for consideration including yourself to
[email protected]
Voting Takes Place at our December 2 General Meeting!
Page 4 - Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
Nashua Area Radio Club Treasurer's Report - For Period from July 1, 2014 to September 2, 2014
Beginning Balance: July 1, 2014
$2,529.92
Receipts
Membership
$ 45.00
Meeting Refreshments Donations (July 1, 2014)
$
9.99
Total Receipts
$ 54.99
Disbursements
FD Gasoline
($ 25.74)
FD Refreshemnts
($ 31.92)
Meeting Refreshments (July 1, 2014)
($ 13.98)
Newsletter (July 2014, 8 pages)
($ 15.15)
Newsletter Labels
($ 13.29)
Newsletter Postage
($ 39.20)
PO Box Annual Fee
($128.00)
Total Disbursements:
($267.27)
Ending Balance: July 1, 2014
$2,317.64
"CQ CQ CQ, this is special event station
sary of Your Club! Club Station N1FD will be active,
N1FD; N1 Foxtrot Delta, celebrating the 35th staffed by NARC members operating their own stations, from Friday, October 3rd through Monday
year anniversary of the Nashua Area Radio
Club. CQ CQ CQ N1FD, N1 Foxtrot Delta Day, October 6th, 2014.
Activity will be on 10 through 80 meters SSB, CW
Over",
th
and
other modes. We already have 12 volunteers
Friday, October 3, 2014 is the 35 year annivers
and could use more. You don’t have to have a big
station to join in; you only have to have a love of
Amateur Radio. Our Special Event is listed in the
October issue of QST on page 95 and also online:
http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations (search
‘N1FD’)
We will be using a real-time internet tracking
sheet to ensure no more than 1 operator per
Band/Mode will be on at the same time. Included
is up-to-date propagation predictions.
Layne AE1N
SUPPORT ouR advertiserS
Page 5 – Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
A NARC Bulletin Exclusive
A monthly column by Ed Deichler, K2TE
3D Radio
A few years ago, the club held an off-site meet-
ing in a rambling building squeezed in a forgotten
part of Nashua where the railroad tracks merge
near the Merrimack River. The occasion was an
introduction to something called a 3D printer at a
Maker Fair gathering. At the time, I thought this
was redundant. After all, a printer IS a 3dimensional object, as is nearly everything we
have in life. It wasn’t until later that I learned that
a 3D printer is an articulated machine with at
least three axes of movement controlled by software. It is capable of depositing malleable materials in a layering fashion to produce whatever 3D
object the software tells it to. The result is a finished object ready to use or integrate with other
parts. No machining, drilling, planning, or other
manufacturing steps needed.
3D printers have been steadily grabbing headlines as the technology has improved, moving beyond plastics as the working medium to other
materials. I recently saw a video of a fellow who
used 3D printing with a continuous pour concrete
machine to build a castle in his backyard complete with parapets, arched windows and entryways. (To be fair, I doubt the integrity of castle
would hold up over time since there was no rebar
involved for strength.) Even more remarkable
was a group of university students who fabricated
an artificial arm for a small boy using a 3D printer
and standard electronics. The arm was integrated
with the boy’s remaining limb, allowing him to
pick up things with it. The kicker: total cost less
than $1000.
3D printing may be transforming the mechanical
manufacturing world but what about electronics?
We still need wires or board traces made of conductive materials, and discrete components, ICs
and CPUs with rare and precious metals in them.
The familiar form factor of printed circuit boards
populated with rectangular parts has been established for decades. The parts are cheap so long
as what they integrate with also meets the established paradigm of rectangular or circular. Special
designs do upset the cart due to the engineering
to shape the electronics to meet the unique applications at hand. Aircraft designers would love to
have conformal electronics everywhere for aerodynamics and
weight management. There has to be a better
way.
Well, say hello to 3D printed electronics. A German company is working with printing liquid inks
that have electronic properties onto existing 3D
objects. The inks are combined in various ways
to implement a variety of electronic functions:
conductors, semiconductors, resistors, dielectrics,
and optical materials. These flexible components
can be deposited on any number of surfaces in
any shape. Where needed, surface mount devices (usually dense IC chips) can be added mated
up to the traces with minimal impact on the integrity or shape of the end object.
This new way of realizing electronic circuitry
combined with the already established 3D printing
of polymers and other materials moves us much
closer the “Luke Skywalker” arm or leg. The world
of prosthetics suddenly no longer seems so primitive or restricted.
But what does this entail for the cherished “box”
that we use for communications? The answer is:
it depends on the application. For traditional amateur use, there is little need to radically reshape
our rigs just because we can. However, the technology may help those involved with emergency
communications or in situations where both
hands are busy and an HT or mic just gets in the
way, or cannot be readily accessed, as is often
the case with first-responders. The military has
been experimenting with the concept of wearable
electronics to reduce the discrete equipment a
soldier must carry while simultaneously keeping in
continuous contact with him or her. The advent of
3D printed electronics opens up a belt or harness
strap to integrate a loop antenna with a preamp.
An Ohura-style mic interfaced with a printed radio
on a hard hat frees up ones hand. (This would
sure come in handy when working on a tower.)
Other sensors can be integrated with sleeves or
trousers to check vital signs to telemeter back to
a command post.
You may think this is all science fiction and ain’t
gonna happen. When I got started in the hobby
(…continued on page 6)
Page 6 - Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
(…continued from Page 5)
a robust amateur station consisted of a separate receiver,
transmitter, tuner, speaker
boxes, desk mic, keyer, and
assorted monitors that occupied the top of a desk and a
good portion of the floor. This
gave way to the transceiver
with a built-in tuner & keyer
and the desk mic morphing into a boom on the headphones.
The transceiver itself is evolving into a monolithic box attached to a computer and a
display of virtual knobs and
meters, aka the softwaredefined radio. Each generation
of amateur equipment has led
to new operating modes and
ways to use them.
So what will happen to amateur radio in the future with
printable/wearable electronics?
I don’t know any more than
you do but it is sure sounds
like a fascinating ride.
Ed, K 2 Tiny Elephant
N1FD History
FROM Ed K2TE: The N1FD callsign originated about 20 years ago
when then-president John, WS1E applied for it as a club vanity call.
I think this was after we won it all for the first time, making it
somewhere around late 1995 since our first of four in a row would
have been 1995. John was trustee for the call until he transferred it
to me when he retired and moved to Maine.
FROM W1HZN: John Gaffey, WS1E, did the work to get the call. He
knows the whole story.
N1FD History (continued)
FROM K1DGQ, The original Club call sign was
WB1FFZ. It got changed to a Vanity Club callsign,
N1FD. N1FD (Number One Field Day) was chosen, because Field Day has traditionally been one
of the Club’s big activities. I believe the NARC,
over the years, has usually scored in the top 10,
in the United States, for Field Day. I think that
twice the Club scored number one, but I do not
know when. The Club used WB1FFZ to make contact with one of the first Shuttle flights. The Boy
Scouts or Cub Scouts were present when this
contact was made from the Nashua Public Library. John E. Keller (NF1N) organized this effort,
and helped install the needed equipment and antennas at the Library. There is a VHS video tape
of this contact, but I do not know who has the
video. John now lives in Florida. I have copies of
the Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin from December 1984 to the present. You are welcome to
borrow them to see what other information you
can gather about the Club history. The Nashua
Area Radio Club Bulletins, as dated below, identify the following Station Trustees:
DEC 1984
Don Gowdy W1RCC
JAN 1985
Dan Vaillancourt K1OSM
NOV 1989
Dan Vaillancourt K1OSM
DEC 1989
Don Dillaby KA1GOZ
JAN 2004
Don Dillaby KA1GOZ
FEB 2004
No information published
MAR 2004
John Gaffey WS1E
DEC 2004
John Gaffey WS1E
JAN 2005
Ed Deichler K2TE
JUL 2014
Ed Deichler K2TE
If you need further information, I am usually
available, except when I visit my other residence
in Chicopee, MA, about once a month for about a
week. Be advised that currently I do not have Internet access in Chicopee.
Frank K1DGQ
Page 7 – Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October 2014
The
..
NARC, PO Box 248, Nashua, NH 03061-0248
Founded in Nashua, NH on October 3rd, 1979, in order to operate a
non-profit corporation for education and scientific purposes as follows:
1) To educate and increase proficiency of its members in the science of
radio communications
2) To provide for the dissemination of information among its members
concerning scientific advancement and progress in the field of radio
communication
3) To organize and train units of licensed radio amateurs capable of
maintaining radio communication as a public service during periods of
emergency
Executive Board - 2014
President
K2TE Ed Deicher
603-420-8380,
[email protected]
Vice President W1SMN John Halbert
603-402-3306,
[email protected]
Secretary
NF1L Jack Duffy
603- 882-2085,
[email protected]
Treasurer
NJ1H Bill Bordy
603- 402-1178,
[email protected]
Activities
KA1SSR Bill Hammond 603-341-0324,
[email protected]
Membership AE1N Layne Lab
603-882-3717,
[email protected]
Programs
603-635-9843,
W1MBG John Keslo
[email protected]
Activities and Committees - 2014
QSL Manager
K2TE Ed Deichler
603-420-8380
Field Day Mgr
K2TE Ed Deichler
[email protected]
NARC Net Control K1WVO Mike
603-880-4913
Station Trustee
K2TE Ed Deichler
603-420-8380
Club Property Mgr.
(vacant)
Training
(vacant)
EC Liaison
(vacant)
Audit Committee K9AEN John Yurcak
603-888-6343
Audit Committee K1SMD Steve Davidson
603-465-7054
Volunteer Exams
(vacant)
Nashua Area Radio Club,
P.O Box 248,
Nashua, NH 03061-0248
Home page:
http://www.n1fd.org.
Webmaster:
Bill Bordy, NJ1H
[email protected]
NARC Board Mailing List: [email protected]
ARES Emergency Coordinator for Hillsborough County
Fletch Seagroves, N1MEO, (603) 673-3036
[email protected]
ARRL:
1-800-NEWHAM or [email protected]
http://www.hello-radio.org
NARC meetings are accessible for the physically challenged
2014 NARC Calendar
Club Meetings: First Church, 1 Concord St., Nashua
TUESDAYS: October 7th 2014 and November 4th 2014
6:30 PM Donuts & coffee, Eyeballs, Swap/Sale Table)
7 PM Formal Meeting
Board Meetings: Classroom 15, First Church, Nashua
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2014 @ 7PM (open to all members)
7th
2014 Programs
October Special Guest Jack Warren WB4MDC
Mechanical (and other) Techniques in Ham Radio
Building
Weekly Nets
NCS Mike, K1WVO
6 Meter Net: 2nd & last Sun – 9 PM – 50.18 MHz USB
10 Meter Net: 1st & 3rd Sun – 9 PM – 28.480 MHz USB
Pizza
Thursdays 6:15 PM, Various Locations, check
147.045
Saturday Breakfast: 7:00 AM @ Joey’s Diner
Craftsman’s Lane, off Route 101A, Amherst
Hillsborough County ARES Training Nets
http://www.k1hil.org
4th Monday 2nd month per quarter 7 PM Simplex 147.405
3rd Monday each month – 7 PM - 147.045 PL 100.0
Other Mondays – 7 PM - 146.730 PL 88.5
Every Monday – Fldigi - 7:30 PM – 146.730 PL 88.5
New Hampshire ARES HF Training Net:
Saturdays – 8:30 AM 3.945 MHz +/- LSB
Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin
Published by the Nashua Area Radio Club, Inc. just prior
to its monthly meeting and distributed free to members
and friends of Amateur Radio.
Bulletin Staff
Editor and Circulation
AE1N, Layne Lab
Advertising
W1SMN, John Halbert
603-882-3717
603-402-3306
WE NEED SUBMISSIONS! Deadline for submitting articles
and/or photographs for the next issue is the 15 th of the
Month prior to the next issue.
Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent
via electronic mail to [email protected].
Images are accepted in any standard file format.
Material for publication may also be sent to the Nashua
Area Radio Club, PO Box 248, Nashua, NH 03061.
Advertising inquiries should be addressed to the above
mailing address or by contacting any Board Member.
Advertising matters must not be raised over the
Amateur Airwaves.
Page 8- Nashua Area Radio Club Bulletin, October, 2014
Nashua Area Radio Club Official Membership Application
New Applicant
Date Applying
Sep-Nov
Dec-Feb
Mar-May
Jun-Aug
Regular
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$ 5.00
Student/Sr. over 65 Family
$15.00
$30.00
$11.25
$22.50
$ 7.50
$15.00
$ 3.75
$ 7.50
Renewals (due in September)
Regular Student/Sr.over65 Family
$20.00
$15.00
$30.00
Annual Dues – Due September of each year.
Membership Runs September to August.
Name_____________________________Callsign____________________________Class___________________________
Address_________________________________City____________________________State___________ZIP____________
Home Phone ____________________Work Phone __________________Email Address _____________________________
Monthly Bulletins are sent via EMAIL (opt-in for USPS)
ARRL Member
yes
no
Expiration Date________________
Additional Family Member(s) Callsign/Name__________________ ARRL Member yes no Expiration Date____________
Make Checks Payable to ‘The Nashua Area Radio Club. Mail Check and application to:
Membership, Nashua Area Radio Club, PO Box 248, Nashua, NH 03061-0248
In signing the application, I hereby apply for membership in the Nashua Area Radio Club, and agree to abide by its constitution and by-laws.
_________________________________________________date_________________
================================================================================================
First Church, Nashua NH www.n1fd.org
Tour the World with Amateur Radio
Next Meeting October 7th, 2014 6:30 PM
For Sell/Swap Table, Refreshments, and
Eyeball QSOs. Formal Meeting @ 7 PM.
______________________________________________
Nashua Area Radio Club
PO Box 248
Nashua, NH 03061-0248
NARC Website QR Code