1. No category

D OWNEY AMATEUR RAD IO C LUB
Q5
V O L U ME X X X V # 2
FEBRUARY 2015
SERVING DOWNEY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SINCE 1951
February Guest Speaker, Bill Scholz, W1HIJ
Our February guest speaker will be
Bill Scholz, W1HIJ. He has worked
at HRO Anaheim for the past several years. Bill holds an Extra Class
license and was licensed originally
in 1954 as WN1HIJ in Providence,
Rhode Island.
The topic of his talk is "Maritime Communications
--the original World Wide Web".
Off the air between about 1972 and 1996 he retook exams in 1996 and became AC6UH. He retrieved his original callsign and became (again!)
W1HIJ.
His activity is almost entirely on CW with some
contesting efforts from various stations, including
K6CBS at CBS Television City in LA, and as an
operator at KG6OK as well as W6EMC. Noncontest activity is usually centered on 40 Meters
CW in the early mornings.
He's also participated in several "multi-multi"
teams as well as having managed a significant
contest station (W6EMC) in Riverside. On the
other radio fronts, Bill is active in the US Coast
Guard Auxiliary, manages an HF net that covers
all the western states plus Hawaii and Alaska for
the CG, and does a lot of "digital" HF radio including HF "Automatic Link Establishment"
Over the years since 2000 he has been an operator with the Pina Colada Contest Club at NP4A,
CO0US, and KP2AA, all in the Caribbean.
KP2AA holds the Field Day Record for Class 4A
BAT (QRP). He was on the air as FO0SCH from
Bora Bora between about 30 October 2000 and 8
November 2000.
He also holds a FCC 2nd Class Radiotelegraph
Operator's License.
DARC 2015 Public Service Events
Event
Date
Lead
ARC Walk
03.21.15
Norwood
Downey Street Faire
04.11.15
Savage
Q5
THE DOWNEY
AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC.
P.O. Box 207
Downey, CA 90241
PAGE 2
Editor
John Powell, KF6EOJ
john.powell@csulb.edu
Phone: (562) 862-4608
Alt Phone: (562) 985-8610
http://darcarc.wordpress.com/
Affiliations:
Affiliated ARRL Club
Los Angeles Area Council of
Amateur Radio Clubs
Orange County Council of
Amateur Radio Organizations
Club Frequencies:
Simplex: 145.595 MHz*
440 Repeater #1: 445.640 (-) PL 156.7 Hz*
440 Repeater #2: 445.640 (-) PL 88.5 Hz
* See Calendar for Net Schedule
Q5, as in: a signal that is perfectly
readable, hence the name of our
newsletter. We hope you agree.
Club Officers
Q5 Staff
Assistant Editor
Rick Norwood, KD6KHJ
Phone: (562) 865-5750
kd6khj@arrl.net
Associate Editors
John Schroeder, N6QQ
Jon Olesen,KD6HXP
Steve Hartranft, KI6SUF
Electronic Publishing
Rick Norwood,KD6KHJ
Phone: (562) 865-5750
kd6khj@arrl.net
Permission to copy material from
the Q5 is granted provided that
credit is given to the “DARC Q5”.
Looking for an Elmer?
Here are a few resources that can get you going:
President
Dave Glenn, N6TEB
Phone: (562) 928-8560
n6teb@arrl.net
First Vice President
Ron Eveland, W6QM
Phone: (562) 860-3623
w6qm@msn.com
VP Service
Rick Norwood, KD6KHJ
Phone: (562) 865-5750
kd6khj@arrl.net
VP Membership
James Nielsen, KJ6WZW
Phone:
james.nielsen7@me.com
VP Programs
Kent Savage, K6WCI
Phone: (562) 716-6070
k6wci@arrl.net
VP Ways and Means
Steve Hartranft, KI6SUF
Phone: (562) 923-0070
grandpasjh@aol.com
Secretary
Bill Heather, KB6WKT
Phone: (562) 863-6607
kb6wkt@arrl.net
Treasurer
Frank Myllo, KC6YPV
Phone: (562) 860-4045
f.myllo@verizon.net
Bill Heather, KB6WKT, 562 863-6607 kb6wkt@arrl.net,
Helping Hams, Contesting
Ivan Mikulich, KB6ATT, 562 862-4592 kb6att@att.net,
Helping Hams, Field Trips
Director (One Year)
Buck Kerns, AE6DT
Phone: (562) 634-8441
ae6dt@arrl.net
Glenn Allen, KE6HPZ, 562 928-2080 ke6hpz@hamradio.com, Microwave
Harold ‘Buck’ Kerns, AE6DT, 562 634-8441 ae6dt@arrl.net, Public Service
John Schroeder, N6QQ, 562 404-1112 n6qq@msn.com, Contesting, DXing,
DXCC and WAS Card Checker, QSL cards for CQ WAZ and WPX awards.
Director (Two Years)
Paul Metzger, K6EH
Phone: (562) 900-2217
paulmetzger@dmr-marc.net
Trustee, W6TOI
Bill Heather, KB6WKT
Phone: (562) 863-6607
kb6wkt@arrl.net
When and where we meet:
We normally meet the first Thursday of each month at 1930 hrs in room 120 of
the First Baptist Church in Downey. The church is between 2nd and 3rd
streets, near City Hall, address is 8348 E. 3rd St. Use 2nd St, east from
Downey Ave (1 block north of Firestone Bl), adjacent to City Hall. Entrance via
double glass doors on the north side of 2nd St.
Swap Meet Information:
CHHS Electronics Swap Meet
W6TRW Swap Meet
Chino Hills High School
Northrop Grumman Parking Lot
16150 Pomona Rincon Rd
Corner of Marine and Aviation
Chino Hills, CA
Manhattan Beach, CA
Held the third Saturday of each month, 06:30 to 11:30 AM
Held the last Saturday of each month, 07:00 to 11:30 AM
Q5
PAGE 3
President’s Message, February 2015
Already February! This year is off to a fast start. Seems we just put
away the Christmas stuff and celebrated the New Year. Club wise
we are pretty quiet on the public service front yet there is plenty going on. Example; Paul, K6EH has been doing a great job working
with the various city agencies to make sure all our equipment is well
documented and we have a cohesive plan for communication should
the need arise. He has been working with Arlene, KE6GFI and James,
KJ6WZW attending the Cert and CPT meetings. Together they have put together a questionnaire asking new CERT members if they need any help acclimating to Ham Radio.
Classes are being planned to assist with everything from operating skills to radio maintenance and programming.
I am running a small license class for a half dozen people that assist Kent, K6WCI and my
stages at Baker to Vegas. Speaking of licensing, California recently broke the 100,000 licensed amateurs mark. Many of these newly minted hams came to the hobby via the
emergency service route such as Cert. It seems a natural path to introduce these hams to
the Disaster Communication Service “DCS” or the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
“ARES”. Other new hams came via the “Maker” movement, where ham radio is just one
part of their experimental hobby. The options are almost limitless, from bouncing signals
off the moon to seeing how far you can get a signal to go using the least amount of power,
talking on your radio through an internet link to another country, contesting, public service,
Amateur TV, Amateur Satellites, APRS, Digital modes, T hunting or just chatting with
friends on the way to work. Our hobby has lots to offer.
Our club is doing very well. It is because we have a great group of people who care about
others and their community. This last year we added some new members to our roster,
welcome. I want to encourage everyone to greet those newbies on the air. Many will make
some mistakes, we all did at one time. I remember how nervous I was when I checked into
the DARC net for the first time. I was working as a dispatcher at the time and used 10
codes instead of Q signals. I was quickly informed that’s not the way Ham’s do it. After I got
over my initial embarrassment I continued to check into the net and started coming to
meetings. So if someone corrects you, remember, this is a hobby, we are supposed to
have fun. None of us were born with a complete set of operating protocols in our head, we
learned them. If you find yourself correcting someone’s operating skills, do so with kindness and humility. You may make a new friend.
Remember, our repeaters are open to anyone, so if you hear someone tossing out a call
sign welcome them and invite them to our nets and meetings. I recently heard KD8LEV on
our repeater early one morning and met who Marco lives in the South Bay and commutes
to Kaiser Downey for work. We have now had a couple of nice chats while commuting.
There are lots of interesting people out there, lets make sure we welcome them into our
group.
73, Till next month.
Dave N6TEB
Q5
PAGE 4
January Board Minutes
[Note: the board meeting took place before the general meeting –ed]
Kent called the meeting to order at 1903
Officers’ Reports
President- Dave Glen (absent)
VP – Ron (absent)
Finance - Frank Myllo (defer to agenda)
Service - Rick Norwood (defer to planning calendar)
Ways and Means – Steve Hartranft: he will not accept any wearables orders without payment up front.
Secretary – Bill Heather (absent see below)
Director 2 years – Paul Metzger (defer to agenda)
Director 1 year Buck Kerns (absent)
Membership - James Nielsen: reported he has not been able to send newsletters out to newly licensed
hams because of his inability to access the ARRL database. Kent will have Dave Glenn assist him in
accessing the database
Programs –Kent Savage (defer to agenda)
Topics:
Bill Heather: is recovering at Southland. Kent reported Bill is out of the hospital and in rehab. He could
be out of service for up to three months.
Rose Float Return: Kent reported all went well except for a detour down a small side street.
Christmas Parade: review and changes for next time, Kent reported there will be no TV coverage next
year and Maria Larkin , parade chair, is retiring after 17 years.
Hamcon, Update: Need to cover Bill at the meetings. Need to find out the dates first, Kent will follow up.
Appoint Budget Audit committee: a committee of Kent Savage, James Neilsen and Paul Metzger was
appointed and will meet on Tuesday January 13th at Coco’s
License Classes: James reported there are several open dates, nothing firmed up. Paul Metzger
mentioned that an effort should be made to recruit CERT members to attend the classes. Paul
questioned James on class format and materials. James stated he had nothing formal set up.
Rick Norwood suggested that ARRL Power Points and class materials be used. Kent will look into
that.
Guest Speaker January: Kent reported that Scott Bovitz will have a presentation on T-Hunting.
February speaker will be Bill from HRO. In March Gene, WB9COY, from the Qualcomm Club, will
talk about digital radio.
Hospital Repeater Status: Ken reported the roof is still being worked on and it could be March before it
is ready.
Planning Calendar: Rick reported the ARC walk is on March 21 st and the Street Faire will be held
on April 11th.
Continuity Yearly calendar: the proposed lighthouse tour in February is on hold until Bill Heather is
up to it.
Kent and Paul spoke with Andrew Steven, Downey Emergency Manager. He would like to see a
relationship between DARC and CERT Develop.
Meeting adjourned at 1940
Respectfully submitted by Rick Norwood, KD6KHJ.
Q5
PAGE 5
Float Escort Photos
Each year DARC provides communication escort
for the Downey Rose Float Association and its
float. The float is escorted from the viewing area in
Pasadena to the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downey
for viewing by the public. It’s a long late night process for these volunteers.
Larry Cude, KE6EOL and Glenn, KE6HPZ
Kent Savage, K6WCI and Dave Glenn, N6TEB
The float passes by...
Escort crew follows
Photos by Ray Olesen, AD6AF
Q5
PAGE 6
Treasurer’s Report—Income
2014 - 2015
Dec 14 YEAR-TO-DATE ANNUAL (OVER)/UNDER
ACTUAL
ACTUAL
BUDGET
BUDGET
INCOME
Club Merchandise
Dues
Luncheon
Misc.Income
Fund Raisers
Total Income
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$130.00
$675.00
$20.00
$0.00
$825.00
$0.00
$0.00
($130.00)
($675.00)
($20.00)
$0.00
($825.00)
Treasurer’s Report— Expense
2015
EXPENDITURES
Repeater
Club Merchandise
Correspondence
Printing
Supplies
Postage
Committees
Award
Education/Awareness
Membership
Publicity & Public Relations
Sunshine
Equipment/Maintenance
Events
Christmas Party
Field Day
Luncheon
Fund Raisers
Other Events
Insurance
Misc. Expenses
Officers' Expenses
Board Members
Treasurer
Other Organizations
Dues
P.O. Box Rental
Refreshments, Meetings
Total Expenditures
Dec 14
ACTUAL
YTD
ANNUAL
ACTUAL BUDGET
(OVER)/
UNDER
BUDGET
$67.68 $354.68
$0.00
$422.36
$0.00
$67.68
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$31.88
$0.00
$0.00
$31.88
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$31.88
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$31.88
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$825.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$825.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$67.68 $1,243.44 $1,311.12
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$67.68
Q5
PAGE 7
Treasurer’s Report— Summary
TREASURER'S REPORT
Dec-14
SUMMARY
CHECKING-CHASE
BALANCE AS OF Nov 30, 2013
INCOME
EXPENDITURES
Raffle (Month)
Raffle (Total Holdings)
Brunch (Month)
Brunch (Total Holdings)
CHECKING-CHASE
BALANCE AS OF Dec 31, 2013
$5,085.03
$0.00
$67.68
$0.00
$0.00
$5,017.35
John Johnson, W6NH
Robert Wartenbe, WB6GJW
February Birthdays
Bill Heather, KB6WKT, 7th
Frank Tillmann, KN6LM, 7th
Robert Wartenbe, WB6GJW, 20th
Lloyd Hendrickson, K6NQY, 23rd
Steve Hartranft, KI6SUF, 25th
John Kountz, W01S, 28th
Q5
PAGE 8
Q5
PAGE 10
February 2015 DX
By Mike Gauthier, K6ICS
1-14-2015
February Propagation Outlook
It’s mid-winter. That means great nighttime DX contitions on 160 to 30 meters. Daytime operating conditions
will remain about the same as last month. 20-15 meters, should have openings with strong signals. 10-12
meters will be open for a few hours after sunrise and for a few hours before sunset. Look for weak CB signals
to indicate band openings. Also listen to the beacons (28.1-28.3MHz, mainly) for openings. If a band sounds
dead, call CQ. You may find the band open, but no one is transmitting. Monitor the DX spotting services,
such as DX Summit http://www.dxsummit.fi/DxSpots.aspx for current band conditions and what DX is currently on the air and where to find them.
February DX
"New DXer's Handbook." Four years ago K7UA, Bryce Anderson, wrote a series of short articles for his local DX club called the "New DXer's Handbook." The revised second edition is now available, "still free of
charge" as a "gift to the world's new DXers", on Bryce's web site at www.k7ua.com.
ANTARCTICA.
I1HYW, Gianni, has compiled a list of the hams currently active from Antarctica.
CE9OJZ
D8A
DP1POL
IA/IZ2QEJ
KC4AAA
KC4USV & W2NAF/KC4
RA3ARY
RI1ANC
RI1ANP
RI1ANR
RI1ANT
RI1ANZ
RI59ANT
VP8ROT
8J1RL
T.te Marsh Chilean AFB
Jang Bogo Station
Neumayer III Station
Concordia Station
Amundsen-Scott New South Pole Stn.
McMurdo Station
Mt. Vinson Camp
Vostok
Progress
Novo Runway
Mirny Base
Progress Base,
Bellingshausen
Rothera (Two operators)
Syowa Base
CZECH REPUBLIC, OL750CB. Special event station OL750CB is operating to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the city of Ceske Budjovice. QSL via bureau.
HAITI, HH5/KC0W. Tom, KC0W will be on the air as HH5/KC0W until February 3. Activity is on 160, 80 and
40 meters using CW. QSL direct to home call.
JAPAN, 8N3HC and 8N3HC/3. The Himeji Amateur Radio Club has established special event station 8N3HC
to promote the Grand re-opening of the World Cultural Heritage "Himeji Castle". Both 8N3HC and 8N3HC/3
will be operating from March 1 to May 31, 2015. Activity will be on CW, SSB and the digital modes on 160
meters through 23 centimeters. Look for this special event station to be active in both the CQ WPX SSB and
CW Contests. QSLs will be sent to all via the bureau.
JAPAN, 8N8SSF. Special event station 8N8SSF will be on the air until February 11 during the 66th Sapporo
Snow Festival. QSL via the bureau.
SENEGAL, 6W7SK. Francis, F6BLP will be operating as 6W7SK from Saly Partudal until February 5. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using mainly CW and RTTY. QSL to home call.
Con’t next page
Q5
PAGE 11
SPRATLY ISLANDS, DX0P. "All Systems Go" for the upcoming 6 day DXpedition to the Spratly Islands in
mid-April, says DU1JP/WJ1P, Joel. DX0P will be operating from the disputed islands, which count as a separate DXCC Entity. Activity is planned for SSB, CW, RTTY and JT65 on 1.8 through 28 MHz.
https://www.facebook.com/DX0P2015
TRISTAN de CUNHA AND GOUGH ISLANDS, ZD9A. David, ZS1BCE is operating as ZD9A while working
as a radio technician on Gough Island, IOTA AF-030, until September. Activity is in his spare time on the HF
bands using SSB and digital modes. QSL via ZS1LS.
TURKEY, TC100GLB. Special event station TC100GLB is on the air until April 30 to commemorate the Battle
of Gallipoli 100 years ago. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via TA1CM.
WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2MRS. Rich, PA0RRS, is operating as 9M2MRS from Penang, IOTA AS-015, until
February 4. Activity is on 30 to 10 meters using CW, RTTY and PSK. QSL to home call.
DARC Member DXCC Count
N6QQ - 350 Mixed, 336 SSB, 313 CW, 252 RTTY, 8-Band DXCC, 6-Band WAS,
5-Band WAZ, 3052 WPX.
K6ICS – 325 Mixed, 302 Phone (AM & SSB), 166 Mixed on 40 Meters.
KB6ATT - 305 Mixed, 60 CW.
K6TV - 257 Mixed, 240 SSB, 126 QRP, 151 CW, 30 RTTY.
W6TOI - 215 Mixed, 145 Phone, 104 CW, 100 RTTY.
WA6OUD - 161 Mixed, 131 Phone on 10 Meters.
KJ6YQV - 150 Mixed, 145 Mixed on 10 Meters.
W3OB - 150 Mixed.
AE6XC – 108 Phone.
K6EH - 57 on 30 Meters CW.
I am interested in receiving DX reports for this column, one contact or many.
e-mail: k6ics@arrl.net
Ham Ad, Gear for Sale
A couple of assembled (and tested) Ten-Tec “T-Kits”.
The 1253, a 9 Band “Short Wave” suger-regen receiver. This kit receiver
is about 6” on a side, runs on internal batteries or external 12V supply.
Has screw terminals for a wire antenna, or adapt it for PL-259 use. Original cost nearly $100, selling for $40.
The 1209, a 2 meter to 6 meter all mode Transverter (5W in, 8W out). Use
with your 5W HT, or 2M all mode rig “dialed down” to 5W, for 8W out on 6
meters. This is a relatively inexpensive way to get on the “Magic Band” if
you don’t have 6 meter gear. It comes with a long red/black fused pigtail
power cord. PL-259 in/out connectors. No tuning, one on/off switch. Original cost nearly $160, selling
for $40.
Both units come with the original manuals of course. Both are clean and in “near new” condition.
Contact John Powell, KF6EOJ at 562-862-4608 or john.powell@csulb.edu for details.
MON
2
9
16
23
SUN
1
8
15
22
DARC 440 Net
1900 hrs
Club Repeater
445.640, pl 156.7
Control Op: AD6AF
24
DARC 440 Net
1900 hrs
Club Repeater
445.640, pl 156.7
Control Op: N6TEB
17
DARC 440 Net
1900 hrs
Club Repeater
445.640, pl 156.7
Control Op: K6EH
Board Meeting
10
DARC 440 Net
1900 hrs
Club Repeater
445.640, pl 156.7
Control Op: WB6JDH
3
TUE
25
18
11
4
WED
DARC 2 meter net
1915 hrs
Club simplex
145.595
Control Op: KI6SUF
26
DARC 2 meter net
1915 hrs
Club simplex
145.595
Control Op: K1SL
19
DARC 2 meter net
1915 hrs
Club simplex
145.595
Control Op: AD6AF
12
Club Meeting
19:30 hrs, First
Baptist Church,
Downey
5
THU
27
20
13
6
FRI
DARC Calendar of Events February 2015
DARC Club Breakfast, 0630 hrs,
Coco’s
TRW Swapmeet
See page 2
28
DARC Club Breakfast, 0630 hrs,
Coco’s
21
CHHS Swapmeet
See page 2
DARC Club Breakfast, 0630 hrs,
Coco’s
14
DARC Club Breakfast, 0630 hrs,
Coco’s
7
SAT
Q5
PAGE 11
PLACE POSTAGE
STAMP HERE
Downey Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 207
Downey, CA 90240
SERVING DOWNEY AND THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
SINCE 1951
PLACE MAILING LABEL HERE
darcarc.wordpress.com
VE Exams
The Downey Amateur Radio Club
provides VE examinations for all classes of Amateur
Radio licenses on
the third Saturday of each evennumbered month. Exams are held at
the Downey Fire Department Headquarters EOC rear building, 12222 Paramount
Boulevard, beginning at 08:30 AM.
DARC INFORMATION
DARC Annual Membership
Single: $20 Associate: $10
Maximum for Family: $35
Make checks payable to “DARC”,
Send to: DARC Membership
PO Box 207
The upcoming dates are:
Downey, CA 90240
February 21, April 18
Contact Steve or Ginny Grudzinski 951674-4699 prior to the session.
The ARRL/VEC test fee is $15.00 for all
tests which goes to the ARRL to cover
their expenses in providing the tests and
handling the applications.
After the test session please wait 10 days
before contacting the ARRL at (860) 5940300 or http://www.qrz.com/callsign for
new license information. Please do not
call the FCC directly.
Ever want to be a writer?
Do you have an idea for an article for
the Q5? Remember, this is OUR
newsletter, about OUR hobby.
Please submit articles to: John Powell, KF6EOJ, john.powell@csulb.edu
I
DARC
Saturday Breakfast Location
7900 Florence Ave.
Downey, CA