Get Ready for Summer Events

Oregon Coast Gravel Epic: Saturday May 4. Bicycle race begins and ends in Waldport. https://www.mudslingerevents.com/oregon-coast-gravel-epic

West Coast Gravel: Sunday May 5. Begins and ends in Yachats. https://www.mudslingerevents.com/west-coast-gravel

Barrel to Keg Relay: Teams of runners relay from Wren to South Beach.

This is an all-hands- on- deck event for us to remotely pull off our mission. This is a unique and fun event, and has tons of tactical radio experience tied to it. If you are new as an operator or not participated in a public service event like this, please don’t hesitate to volunteer – you will be paired with someone who has experience on this event and there will be exercises we will do before, so you see and experience how it works.

Thank you and I hope to hear from more. Rather than tie up the listserv, please send me any questions or to sign up via my gmail account: dougholbrook05@gmail.com.

ARRL Field Day: June 22-23. Information

SeaPac Convention: May 31 – June 2. SeaPac.org

Chuck’s Blog February 2024

Women On The Airwaves

          I didn’t have a sister, only had a brother two years older and six inches taller than me.  The taller was notable to me because for some unknown reason my parents bought boxing gloves for us.  Neither of us was overly interested in the pugilistic pursuits but occasionally we would don the gloves and go at it.  The result was usually the same.  My brother would hold me off at arm’s length and use his other hand to pound me on top of the head as my gloves futilely swung at air.  The resulting headaches may have been the portent for some of my quirks today.

          Geri the neighbor girl three houses down the street was one year older than me and one year younger than my brother Kerry.  Geri was one year older than me in age but she was YEARS ahead of me in maturity.  She and I got along very well and I considered her my “sister”.  Looking back with the clarity of many years passing, I have trouble understanding why she put up with me.  By the time I was in  high school I was passably acceptable as a teenager and Geri continued to provide me with “big sister” advice and counsel.  Such was the majority of my early education about females.

          First of all,I think if I’m trying to help more women get on the air I should ask them, “What keeps you from keying the microphone and getting on the air?  How can we help you?  What can local amateurs do to help?”

          I provide this family background so the reader does not think I have any special insight into the female gender of our species.  I have successfully worked with, supervised, taught, socialized with and attempted to advise women during my lifetime.  I should not have included advising in the success column but I did use the word “attempted” in that statement.

          I have found women to have some of the finest brains and minds I have associated with.  Some of the female troops under my command were among my best soldiers.  Bright, tenacious, capable and self-sufficient are all adjectives describing many women.  So why don’t we hear more of them on the airwaves?  I read a statistic that 15% of amateur radio licenses are held by females.  I do not hear 15% of the QSO’s having female voices and viewpoints.  Obviously there is some interest or they would not have pursued getting licensed.

          Here are a few names amateurs should check out:  Jeri Ellsworth AI6TK, Ria Jairam N2RJ, Cat Scogins W4DXY, Mary Domaleski KI4HHI and Rasia R1BIG (Russian) and OH7BG (Finland).  Each one of these amateurs has a special story and each one is contributing to the hobby of amateur radio.

          Jeri Ellsworth is: a ham, race car builder and driver, entrepreneur, inventor, computer developer and a free spirit.  She grew up in the Monmouth / Independence area and would ride her bike over to the ham fests held at the Rickreal fair grounds and pick up equipment that was left behind by exhibitors.  She learned from playing and tinkering with the equipment. She is self-taught having dropped out of school.  She learned computer programming and developed video games one of which sold millions of units.   She went to a ham fest and passed all three tests in one sitting.  Obviously she is an extraordinary person with an extraordinary brain. She sees a challenge and works to solve it by herself.

          Rasia is a Russia YL who operates out of Russia, Finland and Canada, the some times remotely.  She is enthusiastic and even learned Japanese phrases to respond to Japanese operators for contesting.  Rasia produces many interesting videos and tries to bring people to the hobby, especially women.  She can’t operate out of her home 27th floor apartment in St. Petersburg. Russia so she does a lot of her radio work outdoors or with another amateur’s station (i.e. Finland and the remote station in Canada)

          Ria comes from the Dominican Republic and is now an American citizen, an Electrical Engineer, a mother, was an ARRL Director for a number of years.  She creates a very interesting web page “Ria’s Shack” and is an advocate for women in amateur radio.  Ria wrote a Technician Class study series and checked with the ARRL if there was any “conflict of interest” as she was a Director on the Board.  They gave her permission to publish the series and later rescinded permission and used her actions as a reason to remove her from the board.

          Perhaps the Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club can do something to help improve female  participation and membership.  I have talked about a class that would be  on the subject “I Have My License, Now What?”.  I need to quit talking and create the class.  If you have any ideas which would help with this, please contact me.

          Some ideas would be a regular class but could be a breakout at a Club meeting or during Field Day.  Perhaps a zoom session like Daron’s Wilson’s Wednesday Workshop.  Subjects could range from setting up a simple station to putting up an antenna or “what do I say on the air”.  One ham told me that making contacts on the air with his computer keyboard  gave him experience and confidence to pick up the microphone and have a verbal QSO.

          One of the major frightening aspects seems to be “making mistakes while I’m talking on the radio”.  I think that the fact that there is no facial “feedback” can be a factor.  Maybe what you say will seem strange, silly or wrong to the receiving station.  OK.  Everyone has to start somewhere and everyone has made and will make mistakes.  One can say, “oops” or “so what?  You’ll likely never see nor talk with the person again and if they can’t overlook your mistake … perhaps that is for the better.”  I have seldom had a QSO with the same person (other than local hams) multiple times and if it was not for my computerized logbook I wouldn’t know that we had a QSO in January of 2020 let alone know what was said.

          I talked with one ham who had multiple scripts that he used during his first few months on the air.  Many hams seem to be obsessed with the weather.  “It’s sunny and warm here on the Oregon coast, we are 78 degrees and no wind.  How is the weather in the Himalayan mountains?”  Is it an obsession or just a interesting comment that almost anyone can relate to?

          Others will discuss their station.  This can lead to common and not so common ground.  “I’m running a Flex 6500 through a 1,000 watt amplifier to a StepIR beam on a 150 foot mast.”  Which can bring up many comments such as “Wow you must really be rich.”  “I’ve always been interested in the Flex radios, are they hard to set up?”  “I had a Flex radio but I didn’t like it as it had no knobs to fiddle with.”  Or it might bring a comment like, “Well I’m running 100 watts and a wire 30 feet off the ground.”

          QSOs, like life can be good, bad, interesting or boring (you might ask yourself is this guy ever going to stop talking?)  And with that comment, I will take the hint and “stop talking”. 

73

Chuck Gerttula

W7CRG

orefinn@yahoo.com

We Need to Vacate the Barn

“The Barn,” which has served as our clubhouse for the last few years, was Willie N6OED’s shack before he became a silent key in 2019. Willie’s widow Margaret is now ready to downsize and put the property (which includes their house) on the market. This means we must move out, possibly very soon.

We need to identify adequate storage space, which may cost us significant rent, that we can move into quickly. We probably have a couple of months before it goes on the market, but there is a LOT of stuff.

We need to execute a plan to downsize what we have to store, and reduce that load as much as we can in the time we have. This means sorting, prioritizing, boxing, and SELLING.

We need a team to spearhead this (as well as MANY hands when called for), and a Leader for the team. Joe NJ7OK will be a resource.

One thing we don’t want is to be an impediment to Margaret’s ability to make a sale to the right buyer. So we need to move as quickly as we can. Please contact President Mike N7ONP or Vice President John KN4RTK, or any officer, to volunteer.

Wednesday Lunchtime Net Digital Modes

Update: KB7KBH reports response has been weak, and he also finds himself busier than expected, so the digital focus on Wednesdays has been suspended. Plenty of good information below, however, and a future event or discussion is always possible.

Greetings all. Michael W7ALX wanted me to do the Wednesday Lunchtime Net to see if there was any interest in folks wanting to expand their knowledge in Digital, and Satellite Opps. I am by no means an expert, but I’m willing to assist those that are interested. We will have the normal net, then after check-ins we can discuss the digital and Sat stuff.

Here are some examples of radio setup for digital modes.

Kenwood radio link 590G

https://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/ts_590g/pdf/ts590_g_ft8_settings_en.pdf

Yaesu

Icom

Most of the newer Icom radios have a built-in sound card. Other brands may need a SignalLink USB modem.

There are a lot of YouTube videos that will help guide you thru installation and setup for your brand radio.

The WJST-X free software is what most folks use. They have it for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html. Com ports are the biggest issues some folks have, Me included!

VARA HF is very similar to FT-8 and some of the settings are similar. It again depends on the brand of HF radio you have. I did a lot of trial and error until I got it. YouTube videos are helpful in setup.

Satellite Comminutions

Satellite comminutions can be a challenge. There are a few in the club that work the birds with a HT or two, and a handheld dual band Yagi antenna. You can find tracking software for your cell phones to help with that. Most of the Sats uplink on 2M, and downlink on 440, depends on the satellite. There are Linear sat’s that are SSB, in that case you would need a radio capable of 2M and 440 SSB. The challenge is the Doppler shift. I have a unit called S.A.T from CSN Technologies. It is a standalone unit that can be used on your cell phone (no computer necessary.  It will control the antennas, frequency’s and doppler shift. I have the Yaesu G5500 rotor for azimuth and elevation antenna control.

Anybody interested can come over to my QTH, and see how it works.

Don Hopkins

KB7KUH

Chuck’s Blog January 2024

Starting the new year can be problematic. Do I change things or do I
leave well enough alone? If I do change things, what things do I change and to
what extent do I change them? Some things get changed for you. I am no
longer President of Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club, I’m beginning to feel
my age, and my family responsibilities have increased. Some things you are in
the driver’s seat and can decide direction, speed and duration. Then there are
those things you would LIKE to change and which you must conjure up the
resources to affect that change if you want to accomplish them.

Changes I want to make for my amateur radio life can be easily listed and
can be difficult to get done. First of all, I must decide which of the lengthy list
I want to work on. Then I have to muster the willpower and other resources to
get started. The biggest problem to getting started is always the “circle of
projects”. That is to start this project I need these tools and items. I know I
own all those tools and items … but I must FIND all those tools and items.
My mind says, “It would be far easier to round those items up if you just
clean and organize your shop.” Alas! Now I’m off course! I’m cleaning and
organizing instead of trouble shooting that Hallicrafter’s SX-100! But relax
Chuckie, you just found that VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) that you will
find very useful when trouble shooting! See, you are making progress! You
are starting on the project!

But look, when I plug the VTVM in it isn’t working! Probably just one of
the tubes. Get out the Tube Tester and check the tubes. How much trouble is
that? Where are you going to set the tube tester? Clear that work bench and set
it there. OK


Oh, look, there is that box of vacuum tubes I was given last year. I might
as well test them too. Kill two birds as they say. Three hours later and the box
of tubes are tested, dead ones discarded, good ones boxed and labeled and
numerically stored with all the other vacuum tubes! Good job, Chuckie!
Oh, I forgot to check the tubes in the VTVM. Well how much time can
that take? There are only a few. Common ones too. This isn’t going to be a
problem at all! There, it only took 45 minutes and all the tubes are checked and
they were all good! OH! That means the problem is elsewhere. Where is the
manual for that meter? 45 minutes of going though the files and Voila there it
is a printout from the internet. I must have done that when I got the meter.
Good for you Chuckie!

So, would you look at that fried resistor and the two capacitors leaking
wax! This thing is older than I thought. 30 minutes and I have found replacements for the capacitors and the resistor. Get the soldering iron on and
remove and replace the three items. Wow! Am I good or am I good? Look at
that; the VTVM is working … except where is all that smoke coming from?
Two hours later, I have a working, non-smoking VTVM. One hour later I
have the tube tester and other equipment put away and the workbench is clear
and usable … OK, relatively clear and usable.

So now you have an idea of how the “circle of projects” works. If all
goes well I should circle my way to working on the Hallicrafter’s SX-100 in a
month or so. Hopefully I will still have the determination to work on it.
The “circle” exists in other part of my life as well. For instance I would
like to relearn CW. I determined that the Koch method would be a good way to
accomplish that goal. I determined which computer to put the program on and
set it up. In setting it up I found that I had begun to load a program which had
a Ham Clock on that computer and began checking the extent to which I had
committed the computer to being the Clock. I then remembered I decided to
put the Ham Clock on a Raspberry Pi.

Where is that Raspberry Pi now? Oh gee, I found three. Why do I have
three? What is on each one? Oh, I think the readers see where THIS is going!
My life can be a series of “circles” if I let it. Fortunately, I can also get projects
into a “linear” status and I can actually accomplish something!
So to the hams who have labored through this piece I wish you a Happy
New Year! Go forth and try new things. Hopefully one or two of those things
will involve amateur radio. Extend your horizons. Try something you have
thought about doing. Contact other hams whether they be within the county,
the state, the United States or around the globe. We are part of a wonderful
hobby that holds possibilities for new experiences, new friends, and new
accomplishments! Experience things with this new year!
Chuck Gerttula, W7CRG 73

“73” Which reminds me of my first effort for this New Years Blog. The
term 73 and how we use it.

We’ve all heard something like the following come across the airwaves.
“Hey, it’s been nice talking with you! I hope we meet again on the bands.
This has been a very interesting QSO. 73.”

I’ve heard something similar to this hundreds of times on the ham bands.
I’ve never thought much about such statements. Today I heard a ham sign off
with “73s”. You will hear “seventy-three” and “seven-threes” often as hams
end their conversations. The intent is to wish the other ham well or have a
good day.

First of all, it is SEVEN THREE. Two numbers not the third number to
show in the seventies. Remember much of our lexicon comes from the beginnings of amateur radio which was Morse Code sent over the radio. Why
did they choose 7 3?

First of all, Morse Code numbers consist of Zero through Nine. There are
no teens, twenties nor seventies, hundreds, thousands, etc.. If you know Morse
Code, which is not my forte I was a novice in 1960’s and very poor at CW, you
know that Seven is . . . – – and Three is – – – . . ! How about that they are the
reverse of each other! Easy to learn, easy to send and easy to hear.
This, like the Q codes was to make sending and receiving CW easier and
faster. Also, like many things from the beginning of our hobby the use and
meaning has been diluted or changed.

Will this explanation make a big difference to anyone in our hobby? I
doubt it. Just an interesting sidelight to add a little depth and verve to our
favorite pastime. “7 3” Chuck W7CRG

2024 Officers

At our Annual Meeting and Holiday Dinner members elected new officers for 2024. Heartfelt thanks are due to our outgoing officers for their years of dedicated service to the Club. Chuck W7CRG, David KG7ZMX, Ginny W7OTR, and Jim KK7EMhave been active members for a number of years, both in and out of office. As Immediate Past President, Chuck remains on the Board.

2024 officers are:

President: Mike Eastman N7ONP
Vice President: John Moore KN4RTK
Secretary: Michelle Pelkey KA7OQQ
Treasurer: Chris Nintzel KJ7RAL
Immediate Past President: Chuck Gerttula W7CRG

We are grateful for a very good year in 2023 and look forward to a fruitful 2024.