Watts News
Monthly Newsletter of the
Olympia Amateur Radio Society
P.O. Box 2861, Olympia, WA 98507
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At last month's meeting, we had
nominations for next year's officers, and
I am pleased to report that we have a full slate of candidates. They
are:
Leroy, N7EIE, President; Duane, WB7ROZ, Vice President; Helen,
KB7JDL, Secretary; Ed, N7WW, Treasurer; and Larry, KC7CKO,
Member at Large. It is good to see some new names on the slate of
officers for next year, because new faces bring new ideas, and every
organization needs that to maintain interest and enthusiasm in the
membership.
While both Lee, KI7SS, and I have enjoyed serving for the past 2 years, we both felt that it was time for some new blood in the board of this organization.
However, don't forget that nominations will still be accepted from the floor before voting at the October meeting.
Ever since I became active in OARS a few years ago, it has been a very public service oriented club. However, during the recent comments that I have received on the controversy over the repeater (see Repeater Status elsewhere in this newsletter) some people have told me that they did not favor this orientation for the club. This was something of a surprise to me, since I have asked for feedback from the membership in almost every newsletter and this is the first time that anyone has mentioned it.
I am even more surprised, since a variety of the activities that the club is involved in, and even listening to the weekly net preamble, gives the impression of a very service oriented organization. This is also why the club has received the ARRL designation as a Special Service Club. If the membership is truly interested in developing other interests, then this needs to be brought up at the meetings and shared with the membership.
Another way is to run for an office, or at least become part of the leadership. We are all interested in sharing new ideas.
Be sure to attend the October 22 meeting and exercise your right to choose the leadership for the club.
-- Ken
Dahl, K7TAG
World's broadcasters join anti-BPL chorus
A subcommittee of an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) http://www.itu.org/ panel of technical experts responsible for terrestrial broadcasting issues has joined a growing chorus of concern about the interference potential of power line telecommunication (PLT) -- better known in the US as Broadband over Power Line (BPL). ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Sub Working Group (SWG) 6E1 expressed the view that interference produced by systems employing PLT as well as by Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) equipment and short-range devices, would compromise broadcast reception.
"SWG 6E1 is of the opinion that any increase in the amount of noise due to these systems is unacceptable," said a statement from the group's chairman to the chairman of Working Party 6E (WP 6E). "In particular, broadcast services should be protected from unwanted emissions from PLT systems," the panel asserted, "as these emissions are a byproduct of a system that is not itself a user of the radio spectrum." The panel recommended the formation of a group representing all users of the radio spectrum "to coordinate development of limits to be imposed on the radiation from these systems."
WP 6E says it will continue to study the effects of PLT/BPL, ISM equipment and short-range devices on terrestrial broadcasting and send the results to ITU-R Working Party 1A, which is responsible for spectrum engineering techniques. WP 1A is scheduled to meet in Geneva October 30 to November 5.ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed strong support and appreciation for the SWG's conclusions and the ongoing efforts of parent Working Party 6E to study the issue. "If BPL is a problem for broadcasters," Sumner said, "it's easy to see that it would be a disaster for us."
Broadcasters themselves also have exhibited increased concern about the potential of PLT/BPL to prevent their signals from reaching listeners. The Research and Development branch of the highly regarded British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has released a White Paper http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp067.html reporting on a brief trial in Scotland. The two competing PLT/BPL systems in operation in the town of Crieff both interfered with HF reception. Tests were conducted at four locations.
"The forms of access PLT that were tested in Crieff were found to have demonstrable potential to cause interference to indoor reception of broadcasting in relevant bands," the White Paper concluded. Significant interference even occurred in one residential area with an underground power distribution cable. BBC engineers described the interference as varying between "annoying" and "a level sufficient to make the broadcast completely unintelligible." Before commercially licensing PLT, the report advised, regulators need to undertake further study of other PLT systems and, among other issues, look into possible ways to make the PLT systems compatible with radio reception.
A report prepared by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA), Broadband Powerline Communications Systems -- A Background Brief http://www.aca.gov.au/radcomm/frequency_planning/spps/0311spp.pdf, concluded that "a potential risk to HF radiocommunications services from the widespread use of broadband powerline communications systems" appeared to exist. Citing BPL trials in the US, Europe and Asia, the ACA brief said, "The results of these trials have not alleviated concerns over the potential interference risk to radiocommunications."
ARRL's comments http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/, reply comments http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/reply-comments-index.html and technical exhibits filed with the FCC in response to the Commission's Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket ET 03-104) are available on the ARRL Web site. See also the article "BPL is a Pandora's Box of Unprecedented Proportions, ARRL Tells FCC" http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/. Additional information and video clips are on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur Radio" page http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/.
To support the League's efforts in the BPL fight, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/.
-- from the ARRL Letter, Electronic Edition
Used ham related items from estate
Contact person:
Keith McDonald N7JSK 352-2514. Home Days & Evenings. sarcapt1@juno.com
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two elderly gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant, and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."
The other man said "What's the name of the restaurant?" The first man knits his brow in obvious concentration, and finally said to his companion "Aahh, what is the name of that red flower you give to someone you love?"
His friend replies "a carnation?" "No, no -- the other one," the man says.
His friend offers another suggestion, "the poppy?" "Nahhh," growls the man. "You know, the one that is red and has thorns."
His friend said "Do you mean a rose?" "Yes, yes -- that's it. Thank you!" the first man says.
He then turns toward the kitchen and yells, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"
-- from W1GMR, via packet
As of 9/30/03
Previous balance $2,420.52
Income 125.08
Expenses 0.00
Ending balance 2,545.60
REPEATER / PACKET FUND (savings account)
Previous balance $ 969.41
Income 2.69
Expenses 0.00
Ending balance 972.10
Name Call Address Phone
Larry Alvar KD7TQW 3412 Beth Ct NE Lacey WA 98516-9248 360-413-7539Reade Apgar N7AGG 929 Trosper Rd SW RM 126 Tumwater WA 98512 360-754-0395
Fred Baker W7SIX 224 Satsop Ave Shelton WA 98584 360-357-2662
Jack Barber W1PRT 4316 Chambers Lake Dr. SE Lacey WA 98503 360-438-5921
Ruth Barber K1IIF 4316 Chambers Lake Dr. SE Lacey WA 98503 360-438-5921
Ben Bennett N7IVM 1212 Tabitha Ct NW Olympia WA 98502 360-705-8533
Jon Bennett W7LWB 7132 Hawks Prairie Rd NE Lacey WA 98516 360-459-0697
Ruth Bolstad KC7QHK 929 Trosper Rd SW Tumwater WA 98512-6961 360-754-7433
Duane Braford WB7ROZ 204 Shadow Ln NE Olympia WA 98506 360-412-1902
William Braford KD7SQT 2030 Cardinal Lane Lacey WA 98503 360-438-5777
Bob Brown KA7KSK 6106 Lemon Rd NE Olympia WA 98506 360-452-3842
Richard Bullard KD7RAT 2020 Mare Ct SE Olympia WA 98501 360-357-3249
Mick Bush N7ZTU 1003 Surrey Trace Dr. SE Olympia WA 98501 360-956-3312
Sharon Campbell N7DHE 9101-24 Steilacoom Rd. Olympia WA 98513 360-491-6460
George Carle N7ARY 1809 Centerwood Dr SE Olympia WA 98501 360-943-3536
Chris Chambers KA7BNS 908 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0800
Kristopher Chambers KC7ZWN 908 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0800
Lee Chambers KI7SS 908 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0800
Marie Chambers KC7MNM 908 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0800
Morgan Chambers KC7VNY 908 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0800
Ray Chenhall AA7ET 9038 Waddell Creek Rd SW Olympia WA 98512 360-902-7378
Thomas Christian W7IOM 5825 Stellar Ln SE Olympia WA 98513 360-459-3060
Marc Cote KD7MHC 2105 Wedgewood Dr SE Olympia WA 98501 360-753-2276
Lois Cox KB7HTX 4818 Belwood Dr. NE Olympia WA 98506 360-357-6256
Daniel Crane KB7DFL 4310 Glen Terra Dr. SE Lacey WA 98503 360-459-1564
Ken Dahl K7TAG 1120 Palomino Ct SE Tumwater WA 98501-8633 360-534-9357
Rick Damitio W7DOY 7023 Mullen Rd SE Olympia WA 98503 360-491-2587
Curt Danell 1708 Ann St Olympia WA 98506 360-951-3848
D.J. Darby KD7USS 4839 Sleater Kinney NE Olympia WA 98506 360-491-1457
Rod Deakin NR7E PO Box 8820 Lacey WA 98509
Jim Elder KD7CZM 6007 LaVista Ct SW Olympia WA 98512 360-705-4329
Ken Elfbrandt AA7MX 918 Corral Lane SE Tumwater WA 98501 360-357-4447
James Elliott AA7OH 3455 Martin Way #18 Olympia WA 98506 360-456-5571
Gary Ernest N7HKI 2718 24th Ave. SE Olympia WA 98501 360-352-2503
Isabel Ernest KA7WIC 2718 24th Ave. SE Olympia WA 98501 360-352-2503
Bill Fill KD5IC 3 Fair Oaks Dr Conway AR 72032 501-327-0337
Dora Anna Fill NI5D 3 Fair Oaks Dr Conway AR 72032 501-327-0337
Ed Fitzgerald N7WW 5006 Lacey Blvd. SE Lacey WA 98503 360-491-2289
Helen Hannigan KB7JDL 2409 Morse Rd SE Olympia WA 98501 360-352-9189
Ron Hill W7NN 10624 Zephyr Ln SW Olympia WA 98512 888-357-7779
Cheryl Jackson KD7SNS 3539 Yorkshire Dr SE Olympia WA 98513 360-455-5090
Jeffrey Jackson W9CID 3539 Yorkshire Dr SE Olympia WA 98513 360-455-5090
Phillip Jackson KA9BON 3539 Yorkshire Dr SE Olympia WA 98513 360-455-5090
Finch Johnston KA7UXU 6335 103rd Ave SW Olympia WA 98512 360-236-1319
Gerald Julian KD7CZN 4417 Clar Mar Ln SE Olympia WA 98501-4711 360-943-7009
John Kennedy KD7ISO PO Box 5556 Lacey WA 98509
Bob Keppler KE7HA 1120 Chestnut SE Olympia WA 98502 360-943-1368
Dorlene Keppler N7HFS 1120 Chestnut SE Olympia WA 98502 360-943-1368
Sharon Kinder N7SSD 502 S. Edison St. Olympia WA 98501 360-943-6187
George Lanning KB6LE 4129 Green Cove N.W. Olympia WA 98502 360-866-2185
David LeFevre KC7FEC 3737 Golden Eagle Lp SE Olympia WA 98513 360-491-2540
Paul Leach N7GGX 2030 Cardinal Lane Lacey WA 98503 360-438-5777
Vaunn Litchfield KD7UJH 7844 Holiday Valley Dr Olympia WA 98502 360-866-3618
Charles Lund K7VRE PO Box 14729 Tumwater WA 98511 360-319-8715
Robert Lyon AA7YD 7734 Nottingham Ct SE Olympia WA 98503 360-459-9263
Sara Lyon AB7PS 7734 Nottingham Ct SE Olympia WA 98503 360-459-9263
Clark Main N7HCT 5509 Thornbury Dr SE Lacey WA 98513 360-923-1300
Mark Matthies W7MRK PO Box 14114 Tumwater WA 98511-4114 360-943-1624
Keith McDonald N7JSK 10337 Carney Dr. SE Olympia WA 98501 360-352-2514
Lawrence McKnight KD7MBP 4931 Delores Dr NE Olympia WA 98516 360-412-5973
Barbara McRoberts KB7OSX 9101-68 Steilacoom Rd SE Olympia WA 98513 360-438-2965
Dick McRoberts WB9ZIP 9101-68 Steilacoom Rd SE Olympia WA 98513 360-438-2965
Jeffery Meador KD7SXW PO Box 1288 Yelm WA 98597 360-458-3823
Dennis Mills N7MEA 804 Narnia Lane NW Olympia WA 98502
John Moore N7GMC 2407 Tyndell Circle SW Tumwater WA 98502 360-357-6234
Kathleen Moore KC7RHK 2407 Tyndell Circle SW Tumwater WA 98502 360-357-6234
H.J. Motomatsu WB7AKL PO Box 206 SilverCreek WA 98585 360-866-7975
Wallace Music W7UUO 5305 Stikes Ct. SE Lacey WA 98503 360-491-0354
Tim Nairn KB7UKX 5629 Sleater Kinney Rd NE Olympia WA 98506 360-491-4956
Reed Nightingale KD7MNN 2423 Woodfield Lp SE Olympia WA 98501 360-491-1280
Phil Norris KD7LZA 205 Shadow Ln NE Olympia WA 98506 360-491-1873
David Palmer AC7PT 2413 Woodfield Lp SE Olympia WA 98501 360-491-3749
Brian Parsons 3235 Lilly Rd NE Olympia WA 98506-3009 360-438-3966
Jeff Parsons KC7GBQ 3235 Lilly Rd NE Olympia WA 98506-3009 360-438-3966
Shirley Rohr NW7Q 609 N 9th Ave SW Tumwater WA 98512 360-402-9097
Terry Rohr WF7E 609 N 9th Ave SW Tumwater WA 98512 360-402-9097
Charles Scovill KC7FEE 6625 Bellevista St NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-1961
Rollo Shaw AB7NE 1809 Sawyer St SE Olympia WA 98501 360-754-9682
Don Shields KJ7NV 1872 Circle LN SE Lacey WA 98503 360-438-5066
Kenneth Smith W7HRY 7627 Cooper Point Rd. NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-2507
Leroy Smith N7EIE 8525 Mahonia Ct SE Yelm WA 98597-9794 360-468-8286
Thom Solberg N7KJG 3067 60th Ave SE Olympia WA 98501 360-456-3297
Kip Stilz K7KIP 4625 Norcross Ct SE Olympia WA 98501 360-456-4949
Charles Stoddard NX6W 1737 Judd St NE Olympia WA 98516
Brett Taylor KC7OQJ 3720 Wesley Loop NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0683
Paul Taylor KC7LA 3720 Wesley Loop NW Olympia WA 98502 360-866-0683
Mark Tyler KD7LVV 2247 Sapp Rd SW Tumwater WA 98512 360-352-5990
Bill Waesche KE7CG PO Box 1190 Rainier WA 98576 360-446-5085
Steve Ward WC7I 5034 Meridian Rd. NE Olympia WA 98506 360-456-4249
Kathy Watkinson KC7OQM 1405 9th Ave SE Olympia WA 98501 360-943-4352
Larry Watkinson KC7CKO 1405 9th Ave SE Olympia WA 98501 360-943-4352
Al Williams K7PUC 706 Frederick St NE Olympia WA 98506 360-753-1328
Jeff Withers W3GE 6010 193rd Ave SW Rochester WA 98579 360-273-8614
Lisa Withers KB7PNX 6010 193rd Ave SW Rochester WA 98579 360-273-8614
Tim Woodard WH6KC 406 B St SW Tumwater WA 98512
In Mid September I, as President of OARS, received a letter from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) stating that we must make available to them (and CAPCOM) a copy of the repeater control program by Oct. 31, 2003.
The reason for this was because at that time, only one person had access to the repeater programing, and this meant TCSO was supporting an emergency backup system with an engineered single point of failure, which was unacceptable to them.
Larry, KC7CKO, chairman of the repeater committee, sent an email to the club license trustee indicating that it was the intent of the club to comply with the request by the TCSO and to do so as soon as possible.
The original letter from the TCSO and the response by Larry, KC7CKO, were emailed to the membership and are also posted on the OARS Website (olyham.org).
I received many comments from the membership about this, and regardless of the feeling about the ultimatum given us by the TCSO, there was a unanimous feeling that we could not have only one person with that access to the system.
In discussion with the members of the repeater committee and the board of directors it was decided that the club would comply with the request from the TCSO. Unfortunately, the club license and repeater trustee was unwilling to make this code available, so as President of OARS and with the concurrence of the board, I regretfully removed the existing club license trustee.
I then found a new club license trustee and submitted the paperwork to change the responsible individual. Duane, WB7ROZ will be the new club license trustee, and we will be using his call on the repeater until we get the confirming paperwork back from the FCC. At the same time, we changed the mailing address on the license to the clubs P.O. Box.
At about the same time, we began experiencing some unrelated repeater controller problems which result in having to do a hard reset on the controller twice in a single week. The systems have been unlinked and we have brought the water tower controller back on the air with a very simple program. There are also no auto-patch functions available.
Since the controller now seems to be functioning properly, we will slowly add functions to it. We will begin by adding a voice id-er and then adding the Crawford Mountain link to the system. Once those are stable, we will add basic auto-patch and then add the stored auto patch slots.
Thanks for your patience while we resolve these issues. 73
-- Ken, K7TAG
Annobon Island DXpedition Shut down
The Annobon Island 3C0V DXpedition http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/ea5yn/ ended abruptly October 4. Local officials reportedly ordered the operators to shut down and vacate the tiny, mountainous South Atlantic island. The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com reports that at least three of the 3C0V operators have left Annobon -- a part of Equatorial Guinea and located in the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast -- while one remained at last report. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, got word of a very brief telephone call October 6 from the DXpedition to pilot station Gaby Mardiros, OD5NJ.
"Gaby received a 10 second phone call from EA5BYP, Elmo [Bernabe], who reported that 'the military soldiers allowed only the three operators to go back to Spain,'" McClenny said, adding that it appeared that Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, Victor Polo, EA5FO, and Vicente Pastor, EA5YN, had been released but that EA5BYP -- the team leader -- would be remaining on the island. McClenny said the telephone call was cut off before Mardiros could obtain additional information. At week's end, The Daily DX reported that Langner was safely back in Germany, but there was no word concerning the other three operators.
Some initial reports indicated that local authorities had given the DXpeditioners 24 hours to pack up and get off Annobon "or else," McClenny said. The details surrounding the shutdown remain a mystery, however.
The 3C0V operation took to the air September 26. Although struggling with technical, antenna and weather issues, it was expected to remain operational until October 11. The team had managed to log numerous contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters but had not yet activated the lower bands.
Also known as Pagalu, Annobon was the site of the 1999 3C0R DXpedition http://web.jet.es/lynx/annobon/annobon.htm in which EA5BYP and EA5YN also participated.
A Russian, an American, and a blonde were talking one day.
The Russian said, "We were the first in space!" The American said, "We were the first on the moon!" The blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!"
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads. "You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian.
To which the blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!"
-- from David, ZL3AI, via packet
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