Presidents Message

Feb club meeting: Feb. 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Roosevelt at the Moon Lake Building, 188 West 200 North. Jim(kj7s) will be talking about pks31 and slow scan., He will also touch on some other types of digital modes.

Just a reminder about dues. They are now $15 per year per person. All are invited to meetings but only members with dues paid can vote or run for club office.

I would still like any ideas for club meetings and if there is any special way you would like us to use your dues to improve or update club equipment or functions.

Note From the Editor

As the editor of the newsletter I would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to add anything to this letter to please do so.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my opinion on something, please keep in mind that this is strictly my personal opinion and does not reflect the views of anyone else.

The recent decision of the Board of directors regarding club dues I feel is a mistake. While I am in favor of increasing the membership dues I feel that the elimination of the family membership discourages the activity of the young people of our group. When this club was first organized I was only 16 years old and was accepted, listened to, and given every chance to get involved and participate. I felt as much a member of the club as anyone else there. I don't think that the recent decision reflects that same attitude. The future of any organization rests in their youth and by not giving them a voice I am afraid they will not feel like they are important or even a part of the club. The youth should not be compelled or required to pay a full membership, as the board stated, but they also need to be included as members of the club. After all they did pass the same test as everyone else did to get licensed in the first place. Again this is just my opinion take it or leave it. Either way I am still a member of this club and as such will support it, and its leadership in any way possible.

73 to all Von

Radio Rage? From The ARRL Newsletter

Entering his third year spearheading the FCC's Amateur Radio enforcement effort, Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth says "radio rage" could become a bigger danger to the future of Amateur Radio than rulebreaking.

"It's the infighting and arguments and juvenile spats," Hollingsworth said this week. "That's going to come back to haunt us if we don't just grow up. It will do the service in, if the ham community doesn't put a stop to it."

Hollingsworth said that he's encouraged that the FCC's enforcement program has the support of "99.9%" of the amateur community and that the vast majority of hams follow the rules. But, he said that radio rage in the form of such things as on-air squabbles or frequency fights can degrade the bands just as quickly as outright rulebreaking. "The FCC can't do anything about that," he said. "It's up to the amateur community."

Hollingsworth said that while much radio rage technically is not illegal, it reflects poorly on Amateur Radio and can balloon into an enforcement issue. More important, he said, rude or intemperate on-air behavior might provide just the sort of ammunition that an entity seeking additional spectrum will use against Amateur Radio.

Hollingsworth predicted that the departure January 19 of FCC Chairman William Kennard and the changing of the guard the White House the next day will not alter the course of the current amateur enforcement effort. He said he sees nothing but positive changes ahead. "I'm willing to bet my SX-115 that we won't miss a beat," he said, referring to one of his latest acquisitions of vintage ham gear, "as long as the amateur community lets it be known it still wants enforcement." Hollingsworth said it was pressure from the ARRL and individual amateurs that prompted the resumption of amateur enforcement in 1998 during Kennard's tenure, "and it's the type of program that needs that continual pressure to keep it going," he added. Overall complaints are down, Hollingsworth said, "but no one can be complacent."

Fox Hunters Ready? From The ARRL Newsletter

First US direction-finding championships set for summer: ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, has announced the first US National Championships of Radio Direction Finding this summer. The Albuquerque Transmitter Hunters, part of the Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club, will host the event July 31 through August 4 in Albuquerque New Mexico. The championships are open to all ages at any level of foxhunting experience. Main events on 2 and 80 meters will feature five fox transmitters to be found in accordance with standard rules of the International Amateur Radio Union. Lodging, meals, and ARDF training will be available. For additional event information, visit the 2001 USA ARDF Championship Web site, http://www.egroups.com/files/abqardf/web/index.html .

For general information on ARDF, visit Moell's "Homing In" Web site, http://members.aol.com/homingin/ .

The following is an excerpt from the WCARC newsletter, written by Jerry, N0EPG. It is a good article, and would like to thank Jerry for "hitting the nail on the head" so to speak!

WHO NEEDS A RADIO CLUB ANYWAY?

The fact is that every radio ham needs every other ham if the hobby of amateur radio is to survive in the future. In its infancy, amateur radio operators could probably get by without the benefit of a club. The radios were mostly handmade and very simple. The hobby consisted, primarily, of one ham with a homemade rig contacting another ham with another homemade rig. There were no satellites, UHF, VHF, packet, moon bounce, slow scan TV, contests, field days or any of the myriad aspects which define amateur radio today.

Since it is impractical for each ham operator to have his own repeater, clubs have been formed to share the considerable cost of owning and operating one. This is a common method used by clubs of all kinds to purchase and maintain equipment that is too expensive for individuals to acquire on their own, or too technical in nature for most to repair.

Of course, there are many other reasons for joining a radio club: training, helping one another, coordinating efforts in time of emergency, fellowship and so on. But there is one other reason, and this is one that should concern every amateur radio operator in this country.

Federal Intervention. I'm just waiting for the day when some industry officials with deep pockets get hold of a group of politicians and convinces them that some of the amateur frequencies can best be utilized by their industry, rather than by a handful of ham radio enthusiasts. It would be comforting to believe that this can never happen. However, we need only to look at some of the power grabs the Feds have made over the past couple of decades to realize that it could indeed happen.

*So, here's the plea. Join your radio club. Be a participating member. Join in the activities that the club sponsors. Pay your dues: $15.00 a year, (that's $1.25 per month, and we all can afford that) due each January. Get to know other hams in the area. Share your expertise with others. Band together. Enjoy the fellowship and keep our hobby alive!

*Some changes were made in the last paragraph to make it work for our club.

Utah VHF Society Swap Meet

(24 Feb 2001 at 8:00am):

Yes its that time of year again! The swap meet will be held at new location this year, so don't go up to the old location or you will be late. The new location is the Utah State Fair Park, North Temple and 10th West. Enter from the gate on 10th west and it will be in the Bonneville Building, doors will open at 8:00am.

We have to pay for each table we use this year so please be prepared to pay for each table you use, cost will be $5.00 per table and $2.00 for a space if you bring your own table.

Remember current VHF Society members do not have to pay an entry fee all others will be charged $2.00. We will have donuts and goodies for sale too.

Miscellaneous Info

2 Meter Repeaters

Blue Mountain 147.100 + Tone 136.5 Hz

Grizzly Ridge 147.040 + Tone 136.5 Hz

Roosevelt 145.490 - Tone 136.5 Hz

Duchesne 147.260 + No Tone

Tabby Mtn. 147.240 + Tone 136.5 Hz

Bruin Peak 147.320 + Tone 88.5 Hz

440 Repeater

Blue Mountain RX 449.700 TX 444.700 Tone 136.5 Hz

Visit the website at

www.ecso.com/barc it contains past newsletters and other information so check it out.

From the W5YI Report Courtesy of Jay KA 7BPB

Dues

Please. Remember that dues are once again due. They can be mailed to Jay anytime and will appreciated. The amount has changed this year from $10.00 to $15.00 per individual.

Thank you.

Articles

Ok, so this turned into the begging corner of the newsletter but I am on my knees hands clasped tightly looking to anyone who would happen by for tidbits to go in this newsletter to make it more informative and enjoyable for all. So consider me with a forlorn, desperate look and take pity by sending in something of interest. I would like to get the letter out by the first weekend of each month so if you would like to submit something PLEEAASSEE doso by that time. THANK YOU

From the W5YI Report Courtesy of Jay KA 7BPB

INDIAN HAMS PUT AVAILABLE HAM TECHNOLOGY TO THE TASK

From The ARRL Newsletter

Hams assisting with earthquake relief operations in the Indian State of Gujarat are even taking advantage of the UO-14 amateur FM satellite as they continue providing communication from the stricken region. Hams within the quake zone and those keeping touch from the outside also have found themselves caught up in the human tragedy. The death toll from the quake now is estimated at up to 50,000 and could rise higher. More than 600,000 were left homeless.

Bangalore-based Guru Rao, VU2GUR, and Sandeep Shah, VU3SXE, a Gujarati Bangalorean engaged in relief work in Gujarat have been using UO-14 to touch bases. "Guru and Sandeep were quick to seize the opportunity and roped in the amateur satellite UO-14 to maximize all possible communication routes," said Raj Kumar, VU2ZAP, another Bangalore ham who's been following the Amateur Radio effort.

While some telephone service in the earthquake zone has been restored, Amateur Radio was the primary link to the outside world in the immediate aftermath of the January 26 earthquake.

Another Bangalore amateur, Chandru Ramachandra, VU2RCR--a former UNESCO official--drove his SUV to Bhuj, 1700 km distant. Carrying a medical team and some 400 kg of gear and supplies, he set up a station to establish a link between Bhuj and Bangalore. As of a few days ago, 18 amateurs from the State of Karnataka were handling communication regarding placement of doctors and medical supplies as well as health-and-welfare inquiries into areas where the telephone system is still out.

"This has become a practical exam showing our capability and preparedness in disaster management," said Bangalore Amateur Radio Club President Lion Ajoy,VU2JHM.

Most of the earthquake-related traffic continues to be handled via HF on 40 and 20-meter SSB, although some VHF FM links have been established for local work in Gujarat.

Horey Majumdar, VU2HFR, says hams in Calcutta, where he lives, have been able to locate and pass along information about the well being of several individuals. "However, the best option would have been to have our own team from Calcutta at Bhuj," he said. Majumdar says handling some of the H&W inquiries has been tough. In one case, the information he got via ham radio from the quake zone was not good news. "It was extremely difficult for me to convey to their family that this person, his wife and 7-month-old daughter didn't make it," he said. "There must have been thousands of families like this."

Late word from Prem Manani, VU2XMX, in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, is that reliance on amateur communication has ended with the restoration of normal communication channels, although he said some stations were still in action at the request of the Indian government. "The untiring job done by all hams was appreciated by one and all in the government," he said.

Just a note here to reinforce an idea yes this is only a hobby but one that we may someday make a difference with.

ARRL OFFERS NEW FIVE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP PLAN

With a membership dues increase going into effect July 1, 2001, the ARRL is offering a special five-year membership plan until then, so members can lock in at the current, lower dues rates. Effective immediately, current or prospective ARRL members in the US and US possessions can obtain a five-year renewal or membership for $146 ($122 for those 65 or older)--a saving of $24 ($18 for those 65 or older) from the cost of year-to-year renewal at current rates!

Due to postal considerations, this offer cannot be extended to those living in other countries. The special five-year membership offer expires June 30, 2001, the last day the present dues schedule is in effect. After that, annual dues will increase to $39 for individuals ($34 for those 65 and older).

Another option is to apply for an ARRL Life Membership for $850. Special discounts apply to senior and visually impaired applicants. A complete rate schedule and application form is available on ARRLWeb, http://www.arrl.org/join.html .