Section Happenings Newsletter
edited by Tom Carrubba KA2D
NLI Section Manager
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April 2007 |
Welcome! This is the April edition of the New York City-Long Island Section "e-Happenings" newsletter. This newsletter is here to serve the Amateur Radio community in our area. We welcome and encourage all submissions. Help make this your newsletter. We especially encourage NLI Radio clubs and Organizations to submit their meeting announcements, guest speakers and any special events. Please submit any information for the May issue prior to the end of April. Section News Section News is available ONLY on the world-wide-web. See the NLI site at: http://www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=NLI IN THIS ISSUE: * from Tom Carrubba KA2D, Section Manager * from Diane Ortiz K2DO, Public Information Coordinator * UPCOMING Club Events * Other "stuff" [ARES] [DX] * NLI Section Website: http://hudson.arrl.org/nli HAPPENINGS * From Tom Carrubba KA2D, Section Manager Spring is here. Time to think about planning for Field Day and those great club picnics. Band Edges and Good Operating Practices In the last edition of the ARRL Club News it was pointed out the importance of staying within the band limits. There is a good discussion of these limits in the article written by H. Ward Silver, N0AX and published in QST: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/0210051.pdf Tom KA2D *from Diane K2DO, NLI PIC A PR opportunity is coming up in April. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), and its member societies representing over 150 countries around the world, will celebrate World Amateur Radio Day on April 18, 2007. The theme for this year's celebration is "Amateur Radio: Allowing youth to connect the world." Put together a press release using the information below and send it to your local media. Make sure you have one or more young hams that would be available for an interview or quote, and get permission from their parent/guardian first. Here's the rest of the press release from the ARRL: Despite the Internet and cellular phone, Amateur Radio continues to attract people world-wide by providing free international communications and friendships. Because it does not need pre-established supporting infrastructure, Amateur Radio (often called "Ham Radio") reaches into every corner of the world -- and into space too. With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and ham radio operators, space shuttle astronauts and crewmembers of the International Space Station have been speaking to youth around the world over the ham airwaves while in orbit. They are talking directly with schools, showing teachers, students, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning. The program is called ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, and is an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with about science, technology, and learning. Speaking to the ISS crewmembers is a unique educational experience. Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators, including those from NASA Amateur Radio clubs at Johnson Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center, work behind the scenes to make these educational experiences possible. Recently, a Wisconsin teacher tuned to the ISS frequency. His students were excited to hear Astronaut Suni Williams, KD5PLB, talking to another school. One comment about traveling "over 17,000 mph" in the ISS really got the kids. The teacher reported, "The class made a collective 'Ohhhhh' sound... That's interested students!" Similar youth programs are available through Scouting as each year more than many thousands of Scouts "get together" over the airwaves for their Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA). Modern radio technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without leaving home. JOTA is an annual event in which Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur Radio. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared via radio waves. Since 1958 when the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held, millions of Scouts have met each other through this event. Many contacts made during JOTA have resulted in pen pals and links between Scout troops that have lasted many years. The radio stations are operated by licensed ham radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licenses and have their own stations, but the majority participate in JOTA through volunteering stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs. Calling "CQ" on the Amateur shortwave bands can result in a contact with other Amateurs across town or far across the oceans. While Hams have repeatedly been in the news for their life-saving communications services in disasters, a large part of their activities remains the excitement and joy of contacting distant and remote areas of the world, learning directly about each others' regions and lives and trying different ways to make radio contacts around the world. It is through this enjoyable radio hobby activity that the Hams learn the skills which, in other situations, have earned them world praise for their responses in emergencies. In addition, leading electrical engineers are able to draw from their practical, hands-on experiences gained as Amateur Radio Operators while they develop the inventions that are today's necessities. Since 1925, the IARU has been instrumental in coordinating and representing Amateur Radio to the world. For information about the International Amateur Radio Union please see: http://www.iaru.org/ Submitted by Diane Ortiz K2DO, ARRL NYC/LI PIC 631-691-1801 k2do2arrl.net *NTS Section and Local Nets: Net Name Abbreviation Sessions QNI QTC/QSP Net Manager NY STATE/MORN. NYS/M 25 121 82/74 KA2GJV NY STATE/EARLY NYS/E 31 256 132/125 N2QZ NY STATE/LATE NYS/L 31 117 71/32 W2YGW NY PUBLIC OPER. NYPON 31 401 175/174 N2YJZ NY PHONE NYP 31 181 105/101 K2MPE BIG APPLE VHF BAVHF 31 530 49/49 KB2KLH NASSAU CO VHF NCVHF 31 131 121/107 W2DSX SUFFOLK CO VHF SCVHF * ** EMPIRE SLOW SP. ESS 31 541 159/* WI2G * = report not received in time for posting. ** = position open, please contact w2dsx if interested in position ******************************************************************** NTS SECTION LEVEL and INDEPENDENT CW nets : PLEASE READ!!! The FCC R&O is mandating drastic changes to 80 meter CW NTS, and the NET Frequencies are changing weekly as everyone tries to find room in the first 100 kHz of 80 meters. I will post them as I get them, but by the time you read this, it probably will have changed. Through foresight and good planning of Bud W2RU and Jack W0UCE (among others), there is a frequency matrix which has all of the major nets and their meeting times/frequencies. (thanks to the folks at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NTS-EAN for this info.) The matrix is http://4rnc4.homestead.com/80mCWNETMATRIX.html NYS/M 10am local time daily NYS/E 7pm local time daily NYS/L 10pm local time daily Consult the above mentioned matrix for the net QRG's. Also, there is the daytime alternate freq. of 7042 kHz +/- and a alternate of 1812 or 1825 kHz depending if propagation on 80 goes long... INDEPENDENT CW NETS which maintain close association with the NTS. Empire Slow Speed Net (ESS) 6pm daily on 3576 kHz . (Freq subject to change!! Tnx Anne!) Hit and Bounce Net (HBN) 8:30am daily on 7042 kHz . Hit and Bounce Slow Net (HBSN) 7:30am daily on ???? kHz (Unsure now, waiting to hear from NM Sis WD8DIN. Try the alternate freq. 7114 kHz). NTS SECTION LEVEL HF/phone nets: New York Phone (NYP) 1pm daily Try 3925 kHz first during the winter months, but may also be on 7237 kHz. New York Public Operations Net (NYPON) 5pm daily on 3925 kHz +/- QRM, alternate freq. 3913 kHz 4)The NTS "local nets" are: Big Apple VHF Net 8pm daily on 146.430 MHz (1 MHz split) Nassau Co. VHF Net 7:30pm on 146.805 MHz (136.5/114.8 dual input) Alternate freq. of 145.290 pl 94.8 -Tnx Bernie NY4Z Suffolk Co. VHF Net Not meeting at this time, however if you're interested in participating, please let me know w2dsx@arrl.net ******************************************************************** * UPCOMING Club Events/Meetings The previous listing needs updating. Please submit your meeting information to ka2d@arrl.org NOTE - Always check with the club to verify the date, time and location of the events/meetings listed here. 575 Long Island Amateur Radio Simplex Club The LIARS Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at Newfield High School in Selden, NY at 7:30PM. All are welcome. Our web site is www.lisimplex.org. Contact: Frank Peppe fpeppe@optonline.net ECS-ARC Meets at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd. Room 213, Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday Monthly 7:30 PM Home page URL: http://www.arcecs.org Please contact Leonard Smith (Director) at: n2ldv@arrl.net for information. Grumman ARC GARC) http://www.qsl.net/wa2lqo/ Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Allen Ellsworth Park in Farmingdale, starting at 5:30 PM GARC Meetings will no longer be held at the Underwriters Lab. GARC VE sessions are held on the second Tuesday of each month at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, Room: Long Beach #5, starting at 5:00 PM. Contact: Robert Wexelbaum w2ilp@optonline.net Results from GARC VE session held at Briaecliffe College, Bethpage, NY on March 13, 2007 Spomnsor: Grumman Amateur Radio Club VEC: W5YI-VEC Number of upgrades to General Class = 5 Number of upgrades to Amateur Extra Class = 3 Total number of applicants (all upgraded) = 8 VEs present were: AB2EF, AB2NT, KB2QFT, KC2HNN, KC2OPX, and W2ILP Great South Bay ARC GSBARC Monthly meetings are the last Thursday of the month, 8PM. Babylon Town Hall EOC, 200 East Sunrise Hwy, North Lindenhurst. GSBARC Monthly VE are the 4th Sunday starting 12:00 NOON For more information, see http://www.qsl.net/gsbarc/ The NY Hall of Science ARC has general membership meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, with the exception of July and August. The meetings are a time to take care of club business, listen to a great speaker regarding an interesting topic related to ham radio, and to make new friends and catch up with old friends. The club has its meetings at the NY Hall of Science in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY. Please check the club's website at WWW.HOSARC.ORG for more detailed information. The following is the schedule of meetings for 2007: April 10th - Topic - Radio Astronomy May 8th - Topic - Silent Auction June 12th - Topic - Introducing the Public to Ham Radio Town of Huntington ARES/RACES Meetings Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM at the Senior Citizens Center, 423 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY. The primary agenda for the meetings will be scheduling special events, training, and technical discussions. NY. For more information, see: <http://www.wb2lua.com/> http://www.wb2lua.com or contact John A. Allocca, WB2LUA at 631-261-3726 or via e-mail at <mailto:drjohn@allocca.com> drjohn@allocca.com Long Island DX Association (LIDXA) http://www.qsl.net/lidxa/ Regular meetings are at 8PM on the third Friday of the month at Briarcliffe College, 1055 Stewart Ave., Bethpage (Room 10 in the Huntington Hallway). For club details, see our Web site, or contact Ed Whitman, K2MFY, LIDXA Secretary at edwhit@optonline.net for further information. There are usually two ARRL DXCC card checkers present: Tom AG2A and John W2GW. Bring your new DXCC cards and paperwork to these meetings for official verification and credit. Long Island Mobile ARC LIMARC meets the second Wednesday each month, 8PM at Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville, NY. All are welcome. Bring a friend! Future meetings are April 11, May 9, June 13. Webpage is: http://www.limarc.org Club Contact: President, Rick Bressler, K2RB K2RB@limarc.org Club PIO: Eddie Muro, K2EPM K2EPM@limarc.org LONG ISLAND QRP CLUB APRIL 7 GET-TOGETHER [Someone please volunteer to do talk-in on two meters -- see frequencies below.] The Long Island QRP Club will have an LIQRPicnic at Sunken Meadow State Park starting at about noon on Saturday, April 7, 2007. Directions and talk-in details are below. Please check your email before going to the meeting. If a significant amount of rain is predicted as of the Thursday before the meeting, then I'll announce on the LIQRP email list that we're moving the meeting to Nicky's restaurant in Centerport. If you are not subscribed to the LIQRP email list, then check the club's web site, http://www.qsl.net/liqrp/meet.html , for the latest on the meeting location. The LIQRPicnic will be a great time! Our club has no dues and we don't conduct any business at our meetings, so you will be neither poor nor bored. Instead, we'll toss up some antennas, eat, and try out a few rigs on the air. Of course, everyone is welcome -- spouses, kids, friends, prospective hams, etc. Bring show-and-tell items and tales of the Atlanticon QRP 'fest, or just bring yourself. There are lots of trees for use as antenna supports. There are also plenty of tables and barbecue grills, a small playground area, and a basketball court, in case you bring kids. Bring your own food and, if you want, bring something to share. Don't worry about having enough for everyone, because it's hard to predict how many will show up. Please note that, due to my recent callsign change, my wb5gwb@arrl.net address no longer works, but you can reach me reliably at ne2j@arrl.net . Hope to see you on the 7th! 73 & 72, Jeff NE2J (formerly WB5GWB) LIQRP #1 DIRECTIONS TO LIQRPicnic AT SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK Talk-in provided courtesy of the Larkfield ARC Repeater: 147.210 MHz, +600 kHz, 4z PL (136.5 Hz). Secondary talk-in on 145.430 MHz, -600 kHz, 4z PL (136.5 Hz). The 145.430 machine works inside the park, where 147.210 sometimes drops out. 1. Long Island Expressway (495) to Exit 53. 2. North on Sagtikos/Sunken Meadow Parkway. Follow Sunken Meadow Parkway all the way to the end and you will encounter the park tollbooths. 3. Stop at the tollbooth and pony-up a nominal fee (around $7 per car). 4. As you enter the park, you'll travel down a hill. Take the first right turn (after the park service area that is marked "NO ENTRANCE", but before the bridge). 5. Go to the end where the road empties into a large parking area and immediately turn right, 90 degrees, follow the curb straight, and about halfway down and up on the right side you'll find us at the low ends of the wires in the trees. You cannot miss the distinctive appearance and behavior of a group of QRP hams! 6. Once you've found us, you can unload your passengers and stuff, and then go park wherever you can and start having fun! Long Island Transmitter Hunters (LITHARC) seeking new participants A group of Long Island transmitter hunting enthusiasts has been conducting hunts on Friday nights with an occasional Sunday event and we are seeking new participants to join in the fun. Anyone interested in learning more about the activity of radio direction finding and radio "fox hunting" is invited to come out as a hunter or rider. A LITHARC discussion group (Long Island Transmitter Hunters ARC) has been established on Yahoo Groups as a central information and communications site. You are welcome to sign up to keep informed about upcoming events. If you would like our group to conduct a hunt in your area that would include members of your radio club, please let us know. For more information, contact Larry, WA2SUH at wa2suh@aol.com Nassau ARC (NARC) http://www.nassauarc.org Meetings every Monday night at 8 PM in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow at the Senior Citizen's Center. The General meeting is the last Monday of the month at 8 PM. All are welcome. Contact Lance Aue, KA2EJD, President at vze3db97@verizon.net Suffolk County Radio Club (SCRC) Monthly Meeting is third Tuesday of the month at 8 PM Bohemia Recreation Center on Ruzicka Way, in Bohemia. Contact: Tim Clark KC2LIN, 631-418-5057 http://members.tripod.com/~parasca/index/scrcreve.htm The Town of Babylon Amateur Radio Emergency Services (TOBARES) meetings are on the third Thursday each month at 8:00 PM. Location is the basement of Babylon Town Hall in the Emergency Operations Center, 200 East Sunrise Hwy, North Lindenhurst, NY. For more information, see their Website: http://www.tobares.org or contact Babylon town EC Walter Wenzel, KA2RGI at 631-957-0218 or via e-mail at tobares@optonline.net. * Other "stuff" [DX] Changes in DXCC, WAS and VUCC Card Checking Program rules: Mar 27, 2007, DXCC announces the following changes to the DXCC Card Checking program: The 10-year rule is now removed. Card checkers can now check cards for current entities only, dating back to November 15, 1945. Card checkers still cannot verify 160 meter cards or deleted entities. In addition, DXCC card checkers can also check applications, if they agree to do so, for: The Worked All States Award (WAS) (See www.arrl.org/awards/was); and The VHF/UHF Century Club Award (VUCC)(See www.arrl.org/awards/vucc) Contact Bill Moore, NC1L (dxcc@arrl.org) with questions NLI DXCC card checker John Reiser, W2GW is the section DXCC card checker and is available for field checking of QSL cards for your DXCC Award. John is available by appointment at his home in West Hempstead for card checking , and at all LIDXA meetings. If some lives far from him, John is willing to meet them half way at a diner or someplace. Contact John at w2gw@arrl.net NLI DX Spotting Clusters AA2MF Staten Island-NY, dxc.aa2mf.net W2GSB West Babylon-NY, 24.185.125.244, RF 145.670 K2LS Greensboro- NC. dxc.k2ls.com *K2LS is still a popular spot for many NLI DXers. 2007 EASTERN VHF/UHF CONFERENCE W2 QSL Bureau Rate Increase The W2 QSL Bureau, run by the North Jersey DX Association, will be increasing its subscriber rates. Effective April 1st the minimum credit purchase will be ten postage credits for $6.00. The bureau has kept rates flat for several years absorbing four postage rate increases by cutting expenses and streamlining its operations as much as possible. Based upon news of more postage increases due this spring the Bureau felt it could no longer absorb rate increases without a change. In spite of the increase using the bureau option is still the best dollar value around as evidenced by the amount of QSL cards still handled. More information can be found on the NJDXA webpage: www.njdxa.org. It also lists meeting and program dates as well as other DX news and links. Thanks W2UDT for the info..... 33rd Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference to be held April 20, 21 & 22, 2007 once again at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Enfield, CT. This year we will sponsor a Saturday afternoon Microwave Workshop --mini conference in addition to our regular 3 day conference activities. Friday night hospitality suite, Saturday lectures, band session discussions, vendor displays and noise figure measurements with an evening banquet. Sunday morning weather permitting) we will hold an Outdoor Flea Market specializing in VHF and Up items. The Microwave Workshop will be patterned after the UK Microwave Group's "Microwave Radio Workshop for Beginners". This event is suitable for all newcomers to the microwave bands, with no previous experience necessary. Paul Wade, W1GHZ world renound microwaver and editor of QST's Microwavelengths column is coordinating the event. If you are interested in trying out the microwave bands but haven't done so, or are just getting set up for the bands, then this event is a great opportunity to kick start your activities. The afternoon will be structured around a series of introductory talks and practical demonstrations of microwave station operations. There will be a number of experienced microwave operators on hand over the day so that all of your questions can be answered. The workshop will be an introduction to microwaves. Please note that it is NOT intended for those already experienced in this part of the spectrum. Directions: take Interstate 91 take to Exit 49, bear right at end of the ramp, and take your immediate right (at Friendly's) onto Bright Meadow Blvd. The hotel will be on your left. See WWW.NEWSVHF.COM or contact Bruce Wood, N2LIV, Conference Chairman at N2LIV@ARRL.NET or (516) 938-0698 ext 210, (days) for further info. If you interested in presenting a talk or preparing a paper for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings please contact Bruce Wood, N2LIV, Conference Chairman. Paper submittal deadline March 1, 2007. [From ARRL] Finding ham radio classes a mouse click away! A new user-friendly feature on the ARRL Web site--the ARRL Amateur Licensing Class Search Page--lets prospective hams search for a licensing class in their area. It also allows ARRL registered instructors to list their classes on the Web. Visitors can search for classes by ZIP code, ARRL Section or state. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/courses/ Registered ARRL instructors can list their classes by visiting the Volunteer Instructor Support page and completing a simple form. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/instructor/ Listings will automatically drop from the list when the class is completed. The new page also links beginners and those planning to upgrade to various resources, including ARRL's Now You're Talking! studymanual and the ARRL Exam Session Search page. http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml Newcomers may also want to visit the "Welcome to Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site. http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html "We're very excited about this new feature that makes it easier for prospective hams to find a class so that they can earn their Amateur Radio license," said ARRL Affiliated Club and Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ. "ARRL also continues to support all of the instructors who give so much time and energy to teaching classes for new hams and upgraders." To become a registered ARRL Volunteer Instructor, contact Norm Fusaro; 860-594-0230.[w3iz@arrl.org] League Rolls out Emergency Radio Public Relations Campaign, Web Site (Jan 30, 2007) -- "Ham Radio . . . Getting the message through for your family and community" is the theme of the League's 2007 public relations campaign. The "Emergency Radio" Web site debuted this week. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says the 2007 emergency communications initiative pick up the momentum ARRL public information officers started during the just-ended "Hello" campaign. For the full story,goto http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/01/30/100/?nc=1 ARRL C-CE course advance registration opportunities via e-mail A service now allows those interested in taking an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the future to receive advance word of registration opportunities via e-mail. To take advantage, send an e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line, include the course name or number (eg, EC-00#). In the message body, include your name, call sign, e-mail address, and the month you want to start the course. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> and the C-CE Links found there. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org 860-594-0340. - ARES E-Letter, sign up now! The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and to hams concerned with public service and emergency communications ARRL members may subscribe to The ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at: http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Check the box for "ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news)" and you're all set. Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at http://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page after publication. [BPL] - List of Frequently Asked Questions on BPL available I received this via e-mail from Jim N2ZZ, the ARRL Section Manager from South Carolina. It is an informative list of frequently asked questions about Broadband over powerlines. Check it out at http://www.qrpis.org/~k3ng/bpl.html [Repeaters] - MetroCor is coordinating body for the New York metro area MetroCor is the established coordinating body for the New York Metro area, inclusive of New York City - Long Island, Westchester County and the majority of Northern New Jersey. You must apply for coordination through MetroCor if: you have a system that has an expired TSARC coordination not yet registered with MetroCor, or wish to establish a new system on Amateur Radio Spectrum above 29.5 MHz, These and any other matters related to repeater systems' coordination are welcomed by MetroCor. They invite you to visit their website at: http://www.metrocor.net You can also direct questions to their e-mail at metrocor@metrocor.net - Section VE Sessions Section VE Sessions - available on the web at: http://www.hudson.arrl.org/nli/nlive.htm NLI Webpage: The Section Webpage will be redone and will contain LOTS of great information on section happenings, VE session, Education, Clubs, section staff, and much more! See http://hudson.arrl.org/nli A new webmaster is under consideration to replace the former webmaster, Tom Carrubba KA2D. NLI Section News is available at http://www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=NLI Please continue to help make this newsletter even more interesting and informative by sending me news about YOUR club and events. Assistant Section Managers NLI - Mike Lisenco N2YBB (n2ybb@arrl.net) Nassau County - ******* OPEN ******** Suffolk County - Len Battista W2FX (w2fx@arrl.net) Digital Communications - John Blowsky KB2SCS (kb2scs@arrl.net) NLI ARES SEC NLI - Mike Lisenco N2YBB (n2ybb@arrl.net) DEC New York City - John Healy KA2ABV (ka2abv@arrl.net) DEC Nassau County - Jim Mezey W2KFV (w2kfv@arrl.net) DEC Suffolk County - Bill Scheibel N2NFI (n2nfi@arrl.net)
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