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Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
78 years of service to the Greater Cincinnati Community
March 2015
Volume 79
Issue 3
This month the GCARA welcomes
Tom Delaney, W8WTW
Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division of the ARRL. Tom will be discussing current hot topics such as pending legislation for
protection from antenna restrictions for condo owners, remote
operation as it relates to awards, results from the recently completed
challenge and pending rule changes for dxcc. Come hear the latest. Offer your opinions and enjoy the company of members and friends of
the greatest hobby.
Next Meeting
March 25, 2015
7:30PM
The Main Door to the Breeze Manor will be locked,
and you must use the Communication Device located
near the entrance to request entrance to the building. Page 1!
Maple Knoll (Breeze Manor)
11200 Springfield Pike,
Springdale, Ohio
(Take Maple Trace Dr. off Springfield Pike)
Ye ED
David Self, K8SSN
Another month has come and gone, spring is just
around the corner and I am ready. Before Christmas, I
shattered my elbow and have not been able to do much
with it the past few months. I am still on restricted duty
at work, but am starting to get some use out of the arm.
Doesn’t look like I will be back to health until late
summer or early fall. Anyway, enough wimping and on
with the Ye Ed.
This month we will be starting our 2015 meeting
Cycle. The program for March the GCARA will host the
ARRL Great Lakes Vice-Director as he answers
questions on the direction of RRL and amateur radio.
Next month we will be holding the GCARA Annual
Auction. If you have never been to one of our auctions,
you are in for a treat. The are a lot of good deals and
unique items on the auction block. If you have
something you want to sell (it does not have to be radio
related) and are will to sell for a good price, (you know
hams) you are invited to bring your items for Richard,
KC8RP, to auction off. Hope to see you then…with or
without items to sell.
Well, I am going to wrap it up for this month and will
back next month.
73, K8SSN
Upcoming Monthly Programs
Published monthly by the
Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Assoc. Inc.
Submit ads and news to the editor
Deadline: forth Wednesday of the month
Editor: David Self, K8SSN
3261 Old Oxford Rd.
Hamilton, Ohio 45013
tm&[email protected]
Advertising Fees
Business card size..$5.00 / issue $60.00 / 12 issues
Half page.................$10.00 / issue $100.00 / 12 issues
Full page..................$25.00 / issue $250.00 / 12 issues
Reprinting, from The Mike & Key is granted to amateur
radio publications provided credit is given to the
original author and The Mike & Key.
GCARA officers & committee chairs
PRESIDENT: Neal Berter, N8QFZ
[email protected]
VICE PRES: Rick Burdick, K8WWA,
(513) 554-4662, [email protected]
RECORDING SEC’Y: Allan M. Hale, WA9IRS
(859) 525-1761, [email protected]
CORRESPONDING SEC’Y: Richard Pestinger, KC8RP
(513) 829-8807 [email protected]
SCOUTING ACTIVITIES:VACANT
TREASURER: Roger Kleine, KA8MOE
(513) 681-4586
REPEATER CONTROL OP: Roger Kleine, KA8MOE
(513) 681-4586
HAM HELP/EQUIPMENT SUPPORT:
Richard Pestinger, KC8RP
513-829-8807 [email protected]
HAMFEST: Neal Berter, N8QFZ [email protected]
Stan Cohen, W8QDQ
[email protected]
HISTORIAN: Sean Connelly KD8BQA
The Mike & Key: David Self, K8SSN,
tm&[email protected]
WEBMASTER: David Self, K8SSN [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP: Richard Pestinger, KC8RP
(513) 829-8807 [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIPS: Rick Burdick, K8WWA,
(513) 554-4662, [email protected]
SILENT KEY COMM: Jim Benson, W8OUU,
(513) 825-1254, [email protected]
VE TEAM: Gary Osborne, W8XS
(513) 474-0287, [email protected]
ARRL
Great Lakes Director: Dale Williams, WA8EKF
(734) 529-3232, [email protected]
Ohio Section Manager: Scott Yonally, N8SY
(614) 589-4641, [email protected]
W8DZ 2M REPEATER :145.27-
1936 Net
1.936 MHz, Thursdays 9:00pm
Net Control:
Jay Adrick,K8CJY / Geoff Mendelhall, W8GNM
November-February…NO MEETING
March 25…Arrl Great Lakes Vice
Director
April 22…GCARA Annual Auction
May 27…TBA
June 24…TBA
July 22…TBA
DONATIONS TO THE GCARA may be tax deductible.
Contact the treasurer for information
Page 2!
Meeting Minutes
Subject:
Date:
Location:
No
February 2015
Meeting
A Cold But Sunny Day Next To the Pemi
de Tim Carter – W3ATB
Last year the first day I operated outdoors was on March 17th. My outdoor radio colleague, Jim Cluett, W1PID
was itching to get out because it’s been such a wretched winter here in the Northeast. The brilliant sun spoke to
Jim in the morning like a singing siren serenades a sailor.
We were soon both to discover that Mother Nature can be such a teasing temptress.
We had to hike about a quarter of a mile from the parking lot at Profile Falls to the edge of the Pemigewasset
River. The walk through the woods was magical even though you had to look down almost all the time to stay
on the narrow hard-pack snow trail. If you strayed from the trail, you post holed up past your knee in cold
snow.
Today the only condition that was the same was the sun. Last year it was 37 F and today it was 21 F. Last year
there was no wind, this year a stiff breeze was lashing Jim as he was trying to get the halyard up into the tree to
pull up my par end-fedz antenna. I was busy getting my HB-1B rig set up.
I’ve discovered working with Jim in cold weather that you need to waste no time getting antennas up into trees.
If your fingers get cold, it’s hard to operate and the fun of the adventure diminishes as rapidly as water puts out
fire.
Once the antenna was connected, I started to check the 20-meter band for activity. It was dead to me only
because I had the filter on the HB-1B set too tight. Jim rotated it counterclockwise and then we could hear
operators.
While I was trying to find a strong signal, Jim got out his small camping alcohol stove and lit it with a match.
It was just what we needed to take the chill off our hands. We both had thick wool mittens and gloves and it’s
just about impossible to operate the radio and paddles with them on.
“Do you want to go? Are you cold?” Jim asked me as I was tuning around.
“No way. We’re not going to get skunked,” I replied.
Jim scored first lassoing NM2L/M. He was 599 into us and he gave Jim a 599. “I’m all warm now after that
QSO, so it’s your turn!” QSOs do that to Jim. He loves CW contacts.
Moments later I was able to sneak in my call to W9JVW and he came back. He gave the little HB-1B a 459 and
I gave him a well-deserved 579.
“Let’s get out of here!” Jim didn’t get an argument out of me.
As we walked back towards the car, we stopped in the large field to just soak up the sun. The wind had died
down a bit and the rays of the sun revived us and erased the pain we had just ten minutes before.
It didn’t take long to get back to the car and we both agreed it was the lower limit of us being able to operate
outdoors.
Without the sun, it would have been impossible. In just a few weeks, bare ground will start to appear and our
operating options will be as broad as the side of a battleship!
Page 3!
1936 GCARA NET CONTROL STATIONS
NCS FOR THE GCARA 1936 NET ARE AS FOLLOWS
March-K8RRH,George
April-N9RC,Ron
May-W8DXF,Bob
June-WD8NKJ,Marc
July- AE8I,Ken
August-OPEN,TBD
September-KZ8ZZ,Tom
October-W8GNM,Geoff November-K8CJY,Jay December-NM4A,Bill
Alternates:AI4XD, KZ8ZZ, WD8NKJ
CO-NET MANAGERS:Jay Adrick, K8CJY & Geoff Mendenhall, W8GNM
Don’t have an antenna for 160? Check with any of the above.
1936 Net
Thursday’s 9:00pm
1.936 LSB (160M)
NOTE: THE 1936 NET IS THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING NET
'ON SSB AND AM.
GCARA 2015 Membership
If you have not taken the time to renew your membership in the GCARA for 2015, please take the
time to do so.
A lot of members renew at hamfest and Since we did not have one last year, your dues may not
have been pay for this year.
You can use the form on page 11 or you can use PayPal to renew by click here (if reading via pdf)
or go to www.gcara.org and scroll to the bottom of the page.
New members: if using PayPal, please put Name, Call address, etc in the message box or send
email to [email protected]
Silent Keys
John Gantt, K8IJU
If you know of a ham who has become a SK
please contact Jim Benson, W8OUU
513-825-1254, [email protected]
please contact Jim Benson, W8OUU
Page 4!
Member’s Mart
FOR SALE:Collins station consisting of a 75S-3 receiver, 32S-3 transmitter, 312B-4 Station Control
and the 516F-2 power supply. It comes with manual for everything but the power supply. I also have
some other Collin's goodies such as a new logbook and catalog. I have a full set of photos and serial
numbers if interested. I also have a Heathkit SB-200 linear. This station belonged to a silent key
w8hsi and has been sitting in a basement for 10 years but is in good physical shape, $800 for the
station & $200 for the linear. Contact Richard Pestinger at 513-829-8807 or [email protected].
Send ads to tm&[email protected]. Ads are free to members and subject to editing.
Deadline: last Monday of the month. Ads will run for two issues, unless otherwise requested.
RESTRUCTURING: ARRL ASKS MEBERS TO COMMENT ON DRAFT HF BAND PLAN PROPOSALS
Your opinion could help shape future amateur rasio bandplans. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH,
The ARRL High Frequency Band Planning Committee is recommending band by band changes to the overall High
Frequency bandplan and wants input from its members before April 19th.
The proposed changes differentiate among Automatically Controlled Digital Stations known as ACDS, narrow RTTY
and data modes having a bandwidth no greater than 500 Hz, and wider data modes having a bandwidth up to 2700 Hz.
Here are some of the highlights for the most popular bands.
Starting with the 75 and 80 meter spectrum, the committee recommends that the League petition the FCC to move the
boundary between 80 meter RTTY and data and the 75 meter phone/image band from 3600 to 3650 kHz and restoring
that segment to General and Advanced class licensees. Members are also being asked if the League should petition the
FCC to shift the ACDS band segment from 3585 to 3600 kHz higher to 3600 to 3615 kHz making it consistent with the
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 and 2 band plans. Also should it ask to extend the current Novice and
Technician CW segment up to 3650 kHz as well as adding 80 meter RTTY and data privileges for these licensees.
At 7 MHz, the committee has concluded that it would be unrealistic to try to bring the ARRL 40 meter band plan into
alignment with the rest of the world. They say that in Regions 1 and 3 where 40 meter operating patterns developed
when the entire band, including phone, was just 100 kHz wide and is still only 200 kHz. While 7040 kHz is a
recognized RTTY and Data DX frequency in the band plan, it believes that the best place for other RTTY and Data
activity in the United States is above 7070 kHz.
For 20 meters the committee suggests using the 1 kHz International Amateur Radio Union backed Northern
California DX Foundation beacon network frequency at 14.0995 to 14.1005 MHz as a dividing line between wide
ACDS in the 14.1005 to 14.112 MHz segment, and narrow ACDS from 14.095 to14.0995 MHz. It also recommends
14.070 to 14.095 MHz for RTTY and narrowband data, noting that so-called weak-signal data modes often are used
between 14.070 and 14.078 MHz.
On 15 meters, the committee recommends that 21.070 to 21.090 MHz for narrow RTTY/data modes, the FCCmandated ACDS segment of 21.090 to 21.100 MHz for both narrow and wide automatically controlled data station
activity, and above 21.100 MHz for any additional wide data activity. The ARRL Board also wants members to
comment on the desirability of adding RTTY and data privileges for Novices and Technicians in their existing 15 meter
segment, where theyre now limited to CW.
On 10 meters the committee only recommends that wide data be confined to the FCC-mandated ACDS spectrum at
28.120 to 28.189 MHz be separated from narrow RTTY and data modes at 28.070 to 28.120 MHz.
Proposals for the other High Frequency bands can be found in an article on the ARRL website at tinyurl.com/HFbandplan-proposal. The League has also set up a web page at arrl.org/bandplan where members can comment. Those
wishing to offer more detailed proposals may do so by e-mail to bandplan (at) arrl (dot) org.
The HF Band Planning Committee will deliver its final report at the ARRL Board of Directors July meeting.
Page 5!
With Just a WSPR
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU
It's really amazing what you can do with computers in
amateur radio, and there's been an explosion in the
number of digital modes. One interesting mode that I've
recently been introduced to is WSPR, which is short for
Weak Signal Propagation Reporting. The protocol and
the original WSPR program was written by Joe Taylor,
K1JT, and is designed for sending and receiving lowpower transmissions on the HF bands to test propagation
paths.
Mini-Circuits 10.7MHz low-pass filter, then to a 1:1 balun,
which is connected directly to the dipole elements.
Joe says, "The antenna is just a dipole taped up to the
walls of my living room and hallway." As you can see he
made the balun and dipole from 24 ga speaker wire.
The performance of this setup has been kind of amazing.
In one e-mail, Joe reported, "Your toroid seems to be
working well. Got the balun and antenna finished and
executed seven WSPR transmissions from the
Raspberry Pi. The WSPR reporting website WSPRnet
(http://wsprnet.org) came back with a couple dozen
reception reports; typical distance is ~300+ miles, max
was 593 miles." In a second e-mail, Joe writes, "Did a
few more beacon transmissions and checked the WSPR
signal reports again. Someone picked up my 5 mW
signal from 1010 miles away in Canada."
I won't try to cover all the technical details here. There
are several sites that cover them pretty well:
* Wikipedia: WSPR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
WSPR_%28amateur_radio_software%29)
* G4ILO's Shack: WSPT - Distant Whispers
(http://www.g4ilo.com/wspr.html)
I was introduced to WSPR by my friend, Joe, AC8ES. He
posted a message to our club mailing list asking if
anyone had a toroid core that he could buy to make a
QRP balun for 10 MHz. When I asked what he was going
to use it for, he said that he was making a WSPR
transmitter with a Raspberry Pi, and the balun was for
the dipole he built for it. He said that he'd gotten roped
into doing this because he'd attended a local Raspberry
Pi users' group, and when he mentioned he was an
amateur radio operator, they encouraged him to try this
project.
Joe's turned into quite a WSPR fan. He's even written an
Android app - WSPRnet Viewer (https://play.google.com/
store/apps/details?
id=com.glandorf1.joe.wsprnetviewer.app) to retrieve and
displays report from www.wsprnet.org. Tapping on a
specific report displays more details about it, along with a
world map that shows transmitter and receiver locations.
Unfortunately, I don't have a Raspberry Pi, or I'd try this
as well. I do have a BeageBone Black, but there doesn't
seem to be software that I can download and install as
easily as the Raspberry Pi software. That being the case,
this might be a good excuse to purchase one of those
new, cheaper RPis.
How could I refuse a request like that? I have a whole kit
of ferrite cores, and after some back and forth, we found
a small core that he could use.
The software he chose is WsprryPi (https://github.com/
JamesP6000/WsprryPi). It's described a "Raspberry Pi
transmitter using NTP-based frequency calibration." It
uses a GPIO port to generate WSPR signals anywhere
from 0 to 250 MHz. Joe said that there are several
Raspberry Pi programs that run WSPR, but that he
chose this one because it seemed to have more features
than the others.
-------------------------------------------------------------------When he's not digging through his junk box or teaching
amateur radio classes, KB6NU writes about amateur
radio at KB6NU.Com. He has just released The CW
Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code. The book
is available on Amazon.Com or on KB6NU.Com.
Figure 1 shows Joe's setup. Since the output generates a
square wave, a low-pass filter is needed to filter out the
high-frequency components. As you can see, the GPIO
output is fed through a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor into a
Page 6!
ED NOTE: Reprinted from June 1974 TM&K
Page 7!
This crossword puzzle was developed for the GCARA Mike & Key by A. Hale, WA9IRS
for the enjoyment of the members and friends of the club. Copyright WA9IRS © 2014.
Solution found at
www.gcara.org/puzzle
or scan
Page 8!
DX happenings…
Page 9!
FCC Ham Exams
GCARA March 23, June 10, September 9, December 2:Blue Ash Recreation Center 4433 Cooper Rd Blue Ash.
Registration 6:30pm. For more information contact Rick, K8WWA at [email protected] WALK INS
ACCEPTED
1st Saturday each month: Cincinnati (Hartwell), CRA, at Hartwell Pres. Church. Registration 8:30am; walk-in
only! All licenses classes. Dale Pritchett, KC8HJL at (513) 769 0789
2nd Monday each month: Kentucky (Edgewood) NKARA, at Turkeyfoot Middle School, 3230 Turkeyfoot Rd.
Registration 6:00pm. Follow the signs. Pre-registration preferred, walk-ins accepted. Lyle Hamilton, AB8SH,
(513) 315 4032. Talk-in 147.255
Webpages of Importance to Members of the GCARA
Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association…..www.gcara.org
GCARA on Facebook…..www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=402853765060
American Radio Relay League…..www.arrl.org
Great Lakes Division-ARRL...www.arrl-greatlakes.org
Ohio Section - ARRL…..www.arrl-ohio.org
Ohio Section News…..www.arrl-ohio.org/sm/Section_News.html
Dayton Hamvention…..www.hamvention.org
Shortwave listening Guide...www.naswa.net/swlguide
Follow the GCARA on Twitter…@W8DZ
* If reading from a pdf file, clicking on the link will take you to the webpage
Page 1! 0
Membersh
ip Applicat
JOIN
or
RENEW
GCARA
MEMBERSHIP
ion
GCARA membership application and information update form
( ) I enclose $15 dues per club year (Jan. 1- Dec. 31) x ( ) years = $_________
( ) I request free student membership (licensed Hams in grades 1-12) for Jan. 1-Dec. 31.
If a free Student Membership, what is your school & grade?___________
This is a ( ) new, ( ) renewed membership. Member of ARRL? ( ) yes, ( ) no
( ) My yearly dues are paid. Please enter the following changes for me:
NAME ________________________________________ CALL _______________
ADDRESS*___________________________________________________________
CITY/STATE*__________________________________________ ZIP* __________
Tel. No. with A/C* (_____)________-__________
E-MAIL ADDRESS* _____________________@____________________________
My interests in and out of Ham radio: Public service; Working with youngsters;
On-air operations; VHF/UHF; HF; Building; Teaching; Computers;
Helping people become licensed; Repairing equipment; Helping other Hams.
*Provide specified information only if it has changed since last renewal.
Mail with dues payment to: Richard Pestinger, KC8RP
66 Boehm Court
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
Make checks/MOs payable to GCARA
to pay with PayPal go to www.gcara.org
GCARA meets the 4th Wednesday of each month
Directions to GCARA Meeting location
Maple Knoll (Breese Manor)
11200 Springfield Pike, Springdale, OH
(Take Maple Trace Dr. off Springfield Pike)
Page !11
Send application
and $15.00
to
Richard Pestinger,
KC8RP
66 Boehm Court
Fairfield, Ohio
45014
If you would like your
membership card
mailed to you, please
send a SASE with your
The Greater Cincinnati Amateur
Radio Association, Inc.
______________________________
TM&K Editor
3261 Old Oxford Rd
Hamilton, Ohio 45013
TO CHANGE YOUR CALLSIGN, ADDRESS, PHONE OR EMAIL
GO TO THE GCARA WEBSITE www.gcara.org
(link located at bottom of page)
Page 1! 2