NEWSLETTER OF THE
ST CLAIR AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
PO BOX 94 BELLEVILLE< IL 62222
JUNE/JULY 2002
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ENJOY AND LEARN
Hamfests are going
strong and a number of our members recently returned from their annual
pilgrimage to Dayton where opportunities abound to buy anything related
to ham radio, and brochures and forums can add to the knowledge of even
the most experienced hams.Your editor
missed Dayton, but did enjoy taking in the Missouri State ARRL Convention
at Lebanon on May 4th.The multipurpose
area of the Lebanon Civic Center was well populated with vendors and individual
sellers; however, there appears to be lots of room to expand and I hope
it does, because this is a great facility for a hamfest.What
did make this hamfest above many others, was a full day of worthwhile forums.They
included MARS, emergency communications, DX, antique radio, 10-10, an ARRL
session and much more.Keeping this
in mind I want to promote the nearby Egyptianfest coming up in our area
June 9th.Like so many in our area
this fest needs a better draw, but the organizers are working hard to make
it better and this year, forums are available to include an ARRL session,
contesting, amateur television, digital communications and emergency communications.Give
this one a shot with your money, trade goods and a willingness to add to
your knowledge of our hobby.
FIELD DAY
The ARRL field
day this year will be the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd.Your
club will again offer the enjoyment of participating in this great summer
time event in the 2A category which means there will be phone and cw stations
available.Field day operation follows
a contest format for making QSO’s, but it’s real purpose is to practice
and demonstrate the set up and operation of amateur radio as needed in
an emergency communications situation.The
activity also offers a wonderful opportunity for those new or wanting more
experience in HF operating to get on the air and make QSO’s.To
help in this operation, the club plans to activate a special phone “get
on the air” station which is a bonus point producer for 2A participants.Extra
class control operators are on duty at all times so any class license can
participate on the air.If you got
into ham radio to talk on the air, there is no excuse not to make it happen
with field day.
The clubs field
day set up will start at 9:00am Saturday the 22nd.On
the air operation starts at 1:00pm and ends at 1:00pm Sunday.The
location for the club activity is at the home and businesses of Marlyn
and Terry Thorne at 522 N. Main of Shiloh just north of I-64 and east of
O’Fallon.Park in the Muellers Antiques
lot and join the fun.
Guests are welcome
and encouraged to take in the clubs participation. Food
and drink will be furnished by the club throughout the event for participants
and guests.Point of contact for
set up and operations is John, WA0LIS and for refreshments, Red, WA9MGX.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Norm Baetz, W0KME,
has been enjoying ham radio since 1951 and became a member of our club
in 1999.His QTH is an elevated location
with space in Hecker.Enviably this
means he can have an antenna system for operation on all bands.At
the present time Norm has a three element tri-bander for HF and another
array for 2-meters.An assortment
of wire including a 17-meter half square rounds out the HF antenna systems.Equipmentin
the shack includes for HF a Kenwood TS-570D and 600 watt amp, and for VHF,
a Kenwood TS-700SP and 75 watt amp.For
mobile he has the Kenwood TM-261A.Norms
operating interests include ragchewing and particularly regular schedules
with friends in Iowa and Texas.His
emergency communications interest and participation provides valuable coverage
at the southern edge of St Clair County.Aside
from the challenge of new antenna configurations and maintaining what he
has, Norm is focusing on expanding his 160-meter capability and chasing
the DX on that band.With his location,
space and experience, he should do well on 160.
REPEATER SYSTEM STATUS
The clubs repeater
system maintenance team has been hard at work to find the gremlin that
has plagued the 2-meter machine.The
problem is apparently in the antenna system.
Until replacement
parts are received and a climber scheduled, the receiver will be run with
the squelch quite tight.At the May
30th club meeting $350 was approved to replace the antenna and transmission
line.Several members have volunteered
to climb the tower to do the replacement and a climber will be scheduled
when the parts are received.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Rain or shine your
club demonstrates the willingness to help out community activity with support
communications.All committed operators
showed up in bad weather to support the WalkAmerica which was declared
rained out at the last minute.Kurt,
N9PYM always does a super job coordinating this event for the club.The
Shriners parade had a wonderful clear day for their event.Eleven
club operators on site and W9RQR monitoring and relaying through his home
station provided great communications support for the parade.Well
done to all the participants including three that were new to the parade
support and a big thanks to Jim, N9HZD for organizing the clubs participation.
NEWS BRIEFS
Welcome to new
club member Mark Causey, KB9ZQN of new Athens.
Our Treasurer,
Bob, WA9TUG has moved.Send dues
and changes in membership status to his new address at 5 Seven Iron Ct,
Belleville, IL 62220.
The club got great
coverage of our fox hunting activity in an article on the subject on page
30 of the May CQ magazine.
The MS 150 bicycle
ride in Missouri will be September 14 and 15.Ham
radio operators are needed for check points and support vehicles.Contact
is Mike Musick, N0QBF.
The June club meeting
will work after action items from field day.In
July a presentation on CPR will provided by Skip AA9ZV.Remember
club meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month.
VE sessions for
St Clair County are the second Tuesday of each month.For
information and a reservation contact Ted, K9HUH at 233-1313 or 235-6152.Sessions
are only held if at least one reservation is made.
Need a schematic
and/or directions for just about anything electronic?Try
http://www. commlinx.com.au/schematics.htm.
Club members Skip,
AA9ZV and Ed, KA9HDY are in the process of opening a ham radio business
in Caseyville.They will be a source
for many equipment, accessory and repair items.They
will be called Midwest Amateur Radio Supply and when opened, their number
will be 344-6263.