THE LIVE WIRE

A Publication of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society, Inc.
http://www.brars.org
JUNE 1999  

From Marty - K4MLW
Did you miss the May issue of the LIVE WIRE? A few members did not receive it in the mail. I thought about getting the Post Master to investigate but I have to confess there wasn't a May issue. The May issue should have been completed and mailed the last week of April, however apparently I was still in shock from beginning my newest responsibility "becoming a father" and I didn't realize it was the end of the month. Speaking of which my son James Matthew Hawkins was born April 8th and weighed 6 lbs 9 oz. He has lots of hair, looks like his mommy and doesn't care anything about amateur radio…. but we love him anyway! HI HI He is now seven weeks old and tipping the scales around 12 lbs and turning our world inside out and we are loving every minute of it.

HAMS WRAP UP OKLAHOMA TORNADO DUTY

Hams in Oklahoma stood down at mid-month following several days of volunteering to provide emergency communication after severe tornadoes devastated entire communities May 3. The Oklahoma storms left dozens dead, hundreds injured, and thousands homeless. Meteorologists now say the worst tornadoes were F5 storms packing record-breaking winds of 318 mph!

"It's like a nuclear bomb went off," said ARRL Public Information Coordinator Tom Webb, WA9AFM. Webb was among the hams assisting Red Cross teams with damage assessment following the storm.

Hams got initial word of the tornadoes to the National Weather Service. "The first reports of tornado development came to our forecast office through ham radio," said Dennis McCarthy, KC5EVH, the meteorologist in charge of the NWS Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Salvation Army's Frank McCollum, N5FM, coordinated Amateur Radio activities on behalf of his organization. McCollum, who also organized the Salvation Army's Amateur Radio efforts in the wake of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing, said that ham radio remained "critical" until cellular telephone service was restored. Ham volunteers subsequently were assigned to handle transport for meals. Some even volunteered to load and unload trucks and delivery vehicles. "We did good!" McCollum exulted.

Jim Volner, WA1VIB, reports that hams aided volunteers using heavy equipment to remove storm debris in the heavily-damaged village of Bridge Creek, 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. "I was very proud to be part of the situation where ham radio operators and the community all came together to provide a vital service," said Volner, a New Hampshire State Police retiree.

By mid-May, Oklahoma Section Manager Charlie Calhoun, K5TTT, reported that Amateur Radio efforts were officially wrapped up. "Many times we think of those who helped after the incident, but I would also like to thank the weather spotters who helped warn on this storm" Calhoun said, "If it were not for them, we could have lost many more lives." For more Oklahoma tornado information and photos, visit http://www.hamsnet.net/kc5trr/oklahoma_disaster.htm

Field Day

Well it is June again and Field Day is just around the corner. In the June issue of every publication that is remotely associated with amateur radio there is sure to be an article about the importance of Field Day. A majority of amateurs all ready comprehend the need for exercises in emergency communications. For the few who do not and in keeping with this long standing tradition of having a Field Day Article (HI HI) …. I feel compelled to tap out a few words on the importance of Field Day. I promise to keep it short in fact here it is: earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood, etc…

Participation in Field Day is valuable experience that may prove indispensable in the face of adversity. Not to mention it is just plain fun! If at all possible drop by the field day site this year if only for an hour or two. Volunteers are always needed to set up and tear down and everything in between….. but if time doesn't allow you to stay all day and night and be a work horse…… don't let that keep you from coming for a little while making a contact or two, meeting a few new faces and old friends as well. Directions to this years field day site are located in the April Meeting Minutes near the back of this newsletter.

I have also noticed that QRP articles appear yearly around Field Day. Apparently a few people believe that QRP rigs are good for emergency communications. I tend to agree with them whole heatedly. QRP rigs allow you to have QSO's across town, from coast to coast and occasionally some DX. All this from rigs that are often small enough to stuff in a jacket pocket and run off one or two 9 volt batteries.
QRP'ers normally build their own equipment thus they learn more about how to tweak and fix their equipment. That knowledge is good to have at anytime and especially during emergency situations.
I would encourage all hams to try kit building. Most QRP kits are for CW rigs but I have found one for SSB and it priced lower than a lot of the CW rigs. So if you think you would like to try your hand at kit building but don't want to pound brass you don't have to and the investment is minimal.

June 19th is Kid's Day
Who's gonna flip burgers?
In the January edition of the Live Wire I wrote a larger article about Kid's Day. I want each of you to go to that special place you file each edition of the Live Wire and re-read it. I will wait here until you return………………… Ahhhh your back! For those of you who still had your January copy of the Live Wire…. you are now dismissed to go catch a nap, or make a few QSO's on your favorite band. The rest of you need to sit right here. Put on you safety belts it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Kid's Day happens only twice a year. This is a great opportunity for you to share the enjoyment of amateur radio with a young person. In the January issue I attempted to reason that introducing children to your station would save amateur radio. Now I would like to persuade you that introducing children to you station may save the children. ---- editors note--- (Sally Struthers joke removed)!----
There is a unique possibility that a close encounter with your station could lead a child into a career in electronics, electrical engineering, computer programming, etc… Who is confused? I can hear someone out there asking what does Kids Day have to do with career choices. Let me explain by saying there isn't anything wrong with a honest living flipping burgers….
There are plenty of children who would move tons of earth and rock with a common shovel if you told them there was a SEGA buried in the front yard. Or spend years banging on a drum set if they wanted to become a drummer in a rock and roll band. On the other hand there are plenty of children who will make a career flipping burgers because they spent so little time focused on getting and education. As demonstrated children will focus their attention if they so choose to do so, and only if they so choose. If the goal remains tangible and their interest in obtaining the goal doesn't fade, there is very little that will stop them from accomplishing the necessary task. Children will give up looking for the buried SEGA even after investing weeks and months into the dig if they hit a: water main, sewer pipe, septic system, or the earth's crust. And thank God or the deity of your choice that most children eventually become bored of banging on their drum sets, because they eventually realize that it is highly unlikely that practicing even 16hrs a day will net them a guaranteed record contract. However, believe it or not the lowly amateur radio operator has a few things video games and rock and roll never will. Tangible goals, goals on many different levels, mystery, suspense, a special magic, pride in accomplishment, a faint signal from another continent on a $15.00 home brew receiver.

Another article in the January 1999 Livewire I expressed "What if I had been exposed to amateur radio at 14yrs of age versus 24 yrs of age." I believe it would have made a profound difference in my life. This is not to say that every child that visits you station will eventually become a radio astronomer or noble prize winner. But what if there is a young person next door or in your extended family that all ready holds a fascination for scientific projects… Will he or she get a half hour experience at your station this year or will he or she flip burgers?
Ok…. The above is a little on the TWILIGHT ZONE side of things but the point is please participate in Kids Day. A much better article including Kid's Day Rules and Operating times can be found in the June 1999 QST.

CONTEST

Here is a contest for the amateur that doesn't have time to operate on the weekends. Even better than that you get more than a certificate to hang in the shack if you win. The winner will receive a copy of
Hints & Kinks for the Radio Amateur published by the ARRL.

It contains the best tips, and projects from the popular Hints & Kinks column in QST.

All you have to do is write an article for the Live Wire. Any topic related to amateur radio is acceptable. All submissions must be received by July 15th , 1999. All submissions will be reviewed and the most appropriate article for the August Livewire will be declared winner. Just read the articles I have written the past few months and you will know that you don't have to posses a degree in English or Grammar to get published among your friends.

You may submit your article via snail mail at:

Editor of Live Wire
P.O. Box 349
Tigerville, S.C. 29688

Or you may E-mail to: Trapper27@Juno.com

Notice
I would like to remind all BRARS members 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

If you have an idea for a program, or know someone who would be willing to come speak to the BRARS club please contact Al Holden - KM4TN.

Sealing rotators. Any time you put up an antenna rotator, usually it's up there for a long time. Do not assume just because the metal casing looks tight, that it is. Take a few minutes to seal the case seams with a bead of silicon glue on the outside. This will better seal the case against wind and weather. Worn AC plugs and sockets. Many a radio device that appears to be intermittent - or won't work at all - simply has no decent electric contact to the ac power. If the plug pins are the kind made by folding a metal strip, you can put a thin knife in the fold and pry it open a bit. This makes the pins thicker, to get decent contact with the wall socket. (Of course the plug is not in the wall during this adjustment HIHI)

Dan Donovan - KF4VIS

After the ARRL Library package was donated to the Greenville County Library April 11th, 1999. It took the library staff awhile to log the items into their catalog but the ARRL books are now available from the Greenville County Main Branch or the satellite branches. To find these books type in "ARRL" at the prompt on the catalog database computers and it will list the Dewey decimal number assigned to the 17 donated books. If you are unable to visit the main branch, any branch of the Greenville Library System will grant a request for a book from another branch. It takes 3 to 5 days to have a book moved from one branch to another and the receiving branch will phone you when the book is delivered. That branch will then hold the book for you at their location for you for one week. There is no charge for this service.

Minutes of the 05/03/99 BRARS Club Meeting

• Meeting was called to order by President Buddy, KA4END, with introductions of members and guests.
• No applications were submitted for membership approval at the May 3, 1999 meeting.
• Discussed upcoming hamfest and reviewed tasks that needed additional help.
• Treasurer, Carlisle Rogers presented the treasurers report.
• Field Day(June 26 and 27) for '99 was approved to be held at Charlie Thompson's farm located above Landrum. Johnny Allison is helping coordinate Field Day again this year. Johnny will need help. More discussion will be held at the June Club Meeting.
• Directions to FD Site: Get on Hwy SC 14 north of Greer, travel through Landrum, across I26, into North Carolina (SC 14 turns into Landrum Hwy at the line), 6 miles from I26 cross Hwy 9 (Stop Sign and flashing light), continue 1 mile and then turn left onto MOORE Rd., turn left at first fence on left and THERE IT IS!!! (Can see Mobile Home immediately after you turn onto Moore Rd.)
• Dan Donovan reported that the Library Book Set had been presented to the Greenville County Library System and will be available for checkout once they have been catalogued and installed into their system.
• Door Prize won by Amor KLOTZBACH, N2FY.
• Sue, N4ENX, announced that the March of Dimes Walk held on 24 April went well.
• Program was a tape of Riley Hollingsworth's speech at the March 30, 1999 Spartanburg SC Club meeting. Very Interesting....
• Meeting adjourned

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