THE LIVE WIRE

A Publication of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society, Inc.
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February 1999  

      Field Day is just around the corner….actually it is on June 26^th and 27^th . Field day is a drill that allows amateurs to hone their communication skills in emergency response scenarios. It is also a excellent opportunity to share amateur radio with the public while also enjoying the company of our amateur friends for the weekend. Five months away is a perfect time to start planning our 1999 field day. This will give us plenty of time to find a suitable location and find volunteers for various task. The main thing needed this year to make it an even bigger success than last year is YOU!

A field day committee hasn’t been selected yet. If you would like to be on the committee or have suggestions please let it be known. For now you can contact Johny Allison WD4DYH or Marty Hawkins K4MLW.

Hamfest

        If you agree it is time for us to dawn our thinking caps regarding Field Day…. Then you know it is time for some discussion about the 1999 Hamfest! The revenues from the hamfest makes it possible for BRARS to continue to provide numerous repeaters with wide area coverage. As with our past success we have to pull together and signup for task such as setup, teardown, ticket sales, etc… If you are interested in participating please let it be known at the next club meeting.

5 MHZ Will this be the next amateur band?:

"As amateurs we are accustomed to sending QSL cards and monitoring frequencies where we have privileges to speak. I think it would benefit this experiment if we listened for some of these experimental stations and sent them some SWL cards." K4MLW

Notice

I would like to remind all member of my Amateur Radio Land Line BBS. It can be reached at 235-8708. A lot of ham files and the only ham bbs in the state.

73 LeRoy

Check out W4VIW's BBS @ 235-8708

This months selection is from Dan KF4VIS.

Aluminum such as that used in a yagi or groundwire that is exposed to the elements will develop a coating of aluminum oxide, which is somewhat of an insulator, and will increase resistance in a electrical connection. This is a potential problem for an antenna or where dissimilar metals such as copper wire is connected to aluminum.

To eliminate or reduce this problem. Clean all surfaces in contact with another surface with fine steel wool, and coat with an anti-seize anti-oxide paste. Use an old toothbrush to coat all surfaces including screw threads and nuts.

This compound can be purchased at electrical supply houses as well as Home Depot in the lighting fixture department. Home Depot’s product is called "Nut & Bolt Anti-seize and is manufactured by Myro Corporation of Milwaukee, WI.

Exactly What is a Syntax Error?

Credit given to "News Bytes as published by McNaughton McKay Companies"

The pace of personal computing technology is astronomical. Unless you have a nine year old at your side, it can be difficult to stay up on the latest and greatest. Terminology throwing you for a loop? We’ve listed some of the most common terms below:

486: the average IQ needed to understand a PC.
State-Of-The-Art: any computer you can’t afford.
Obsolete: any computer you own.
Microsecond: the time it takes for a state-of-the-art computer to become obsolete.
Floppy: the state of you wallet after purchasing a computer.
Keyboard: an input device used to generate computer problems
Mouse: an advanced input device designed to make computer errors even easier to generate.
Syntax Error: telling a 16-year-old computer salesperson that you want to buy a computer and that cost is no object.
Disk Crash: the most common computer response to a critical deadline.

T.I.L.A.A.H. (Thing I Have Learned As A Ham

        I have plans to throw one or two of these in each newsletter. Eventually you will discover what a dunce I really am. As you can tell Murphy visits my shack on a regular basis and follows me to work on occasion. If you have learned a few things the hard way…. Please share them with us… After all if we can’t laugh at ourselves that leaves only one option. LAUGH AT EACH OTHER! For the less adventurous… we can tag your encounters with Murphy with the byline anonymous. Unfortunately each of the following Murphy gave to me personally! K4MLW

If you like what your seeing in the 1999 editions of the Live Wire I am very happy. If not then by all means let us know what you want to see in the Live Wire. If you have a comment, article, notice, advertisement etc…. please contact Teri or Marty Hawkins. E-mail Trapper27@Juno.com

Note from K4MLW

        I would like to apologize to the membership for the Live Wire being mailed a little later than normal. My employer recently announced they were laying off all employees in the upstate. Since that news my spare time has been spent seeking new employment opportunities, instead of working on the newsletter. I have had some positive responses and things are looking up. My apologies to the membership.

Minutes of the 01/04/99 BRARS Club Meeting

• This was the first Meeting of the new year and the first meeting at the new American Red Cross Building in Greenville SC.
• Meeting was called to order by President Buddy, KA4END, with introductions of members and guests.
• Buddy Rodgers, KA4END, on behalf of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society, Inc. presented to the American Red Cross two radios, one a Kenwood TS-820 low band unit (in memory of Fred Roper, W4MAF), and the other an Icom IC-207 dual 440 and 2 meter unit. Accepting on behalf of the American Red Cross was Leroy Alexander, KA5WLL, Communication Officer, and Libby Turner, Disaster Services Coordinator. These radios henceforth belong to the American Red Cross to be used as they see fit to assist with their communications.
• Applications affirmatively approved at the January 4, 1999 meeting by the membership are as follows

• Past Treasurer, Carroll Smith presented the treasurers report
• A team conducted an audit of the 1998 club finances with satisfactory results:
•         K4SUG, Ray Allison, and W4RGW, Bob Watson, and Carlisle Rogers, WA4ULE
• Door Prize won by Buddy Rodgers, KA4END
• Meeting adjourned.
• EVERYONE PLEASE NOTE: Beginning with the January 4, 1999 meeting, the meeting place has changed to the American Red Cross Building on Grove Rd, near the Hospital complex. The meetings are held in the Disaster Services Communication room.

Applications that will be submitted for Membership Approval at the February 1, 1999 meeting:

Submit any comments on above applications in writing to:
Attention: Board of Directors, BRARS, Inc, P.O. Box 6751, Greenville, SC 29606-6751

Next meeting February 1, 1999 at the American Red Cross Building on Grove Rd.

REMINDER:

It’s renewal time again. Dues are due 1 January with a grace period till February 28.
Dues are $20.00 for full membership, $15.00 for full membership if over 65 Years of age, $10.00 for family membership.
Make checks to "BRARS, Inc." and send to:
Attention: Secretary, BRARS Inc., PO Box 6751, Greenville SC 29606