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Electronic Applications Radio Service “Because a frequency is a terrible thing to waste” |
Evansville,
IN 145.11-
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Summer, 2000 Newsletter
THE NEXT E.A.R.S. EATING MEETING will be at Golden Corral, Lloyd Expwy. and Cross Point Blvd. (behind the east side Drury Inn near I-164), on Friday, October 20 at 6:30 pm, in the banquet room. EVERYONE is invited. It’s a great way to meet the people you hear on the radio in a casual atmosphere.
THANKS to those who donated to EARS
recently, including: Tom Anderson KB9NVI, Keith Hemenway KB9WAC, Delbert Rapp
WB9UKG, Margie Rapp WD9HEE, and Robert Helderman KB9SEQ. Your support keeps
EARS going!
REPEATER NEWS... for the latest information, check the EARS web site. We’re hoping for coverage maps in the next
newsletter, pending the new antennas.
Please send in signal reports!!!
- 145.11... The repeater is on from
Chrisney in testing mode thanks to Pete WB9DRB. Be sure to use 107.2 CTCSS.
- 145.15... A lot of work has been done
since the last newsletter. The
main receive site, just west of USI, took a lightning hit. Del WB9UKG repaired the power
supply. Neil WB9VPG purchased a
new dual bander to put at the site to eliminate the memory/power glitch
problem that frequently took the receiver down. The new receiver seems to be working very well. It appears to be completely reliable,
and receiving a little bit better than the old one. In light of this, the receiver at
WB9VPG’s house has been turned off until the voter installation is
complete. Therefore, the only
receiver on 145.15 at this moment DOES require tone. Mirage has finally called, and notified
us that the amplifier (that was purchased 1.5 years ago) went bad in March
has suffered major damage to the board due to a design flaw, and can not
be repaired. A new redesigned
board has been requested to be installed.
We’re still waiting on that, so the output power on the repeater is
still only 8 watts .We hope to
have an open receiver and more receive sites on soon. Thanks to Pete WB9DRB, Mel N9IZG (now
K9MEL), Dan KB9KCF, and Patti KB9TJW for their help during our work day in
July. We were able to raise some
antennas, re-route the power to the building, move some lights, and begin
installation of the voter. We
continue to welcome all hams to use the repeater and autopatch free of
charge, as we always have. (Donations to help defray operating costs are
welcome, though!)
- 146.925/443.925
The new 2m antenna is working great from Vincennes! There is still a problem with the
443.925 antenna system. We’re
waiting on an analysis of the situation, and most likely will have to have
another tower climb performed to fix the feed line or connector. The Terre Haute receiver has been real
noisy because of the 440 antenna problem.
- 145.25... 145.25 is back on the
air. The main amplifier is down,
however.
YOUR COMPLETE HAM
INFO SOURCE IN THE TRI-STATE is the EARS Web page!!! And now, we offer FREE E-Mail! The new address is: http://w9ear.org. You can sign up for free email in the top
right corner, just click on New User.
Your address will be the user name that you pick followed by @w9earDOTorg.
- VE information is updated
DAILY. We list a wide range of
testing opportunities all throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.
- SIGN UP FOR EARS NEWSLETTERS using
our new online form, on the support page.
- DONATIONS can now be accepted on
the web site thru X.com’s PayPal service.
Just click on “How to Support EARS”, or
click on the Donate button on the front page. Also, if you sign up for a PayPal account using the button
on the support page, EARS receives a $5 donation from PayPal.
- Please visit our web sponsors at
the bottom of the page. EARS will
receive a donation if you look at about.com thru our site, or make a
purchase from any of the other businesses, like 800.com electronics.
- Because of a drop in interest of
meetings, the frequency of eating meetings and newsletters has been
reduced. More frequent updates are
available on the EARS Web Site, and on the EARS E-mail list. To subscribe to the e-mail updates,
contact Neil at wb9vpg@w9earDOTorg.
UPCOMING
HAMFESTS/GATHERINGS:
October
1, 2000 – Bedford, IN http://hoosterhillshamfest.org
November
18-19, 2000 - Fort Wayne (Indiana State Convention) - http://www.acarts.com
November
25, 2000 - Evansville, IN - Vanderburgh Co. 4-H Center Auditorium -
9 am - 2 pm Central Talk in on 145.15-
(107.2) http://w9ear.org/hamfest.htm
VE TESTING:
updated daily on EARS Web site
For
the question pools, go to: http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html
To take a practice exam, go to: http://www.clicktron.com/ham/index.html
(or click on the links on the EARS Web page)
EARS
does not sponsor VE testing, but does list area testing dates and times. If you
know of a test not listed, please write, call, or e-mail it to Neil ASAP!!! For all
tests, bring 2
forms of ID, one must include picture; calculator; pens/pencils, CSCEs and
current license photocopies (if any); test fee ($6.65 for all Amateur tests...
$35 for commercial GROL)
Vincennes, IN - Saturday, September 16 &
November 18 at 9:00 am Eastern. Davis Hall, Vincennes University. For
more information, contact Phil Smith AA9ZZ at 812-885-5830 (work). ARRL-VEC.
Evansville, IN - Sat. Sept. 30, Oct. 28, Nov. 18, Dec. 16, 2000; 9:00 a.m.... Evansville/Vanderburgh EMA office, located in the Red Cross Bldg., Diamond and Heidelbach, sponsored by Evansville-Vanderburgh EMA. Pre-registration is not required. ARRL-VEC. Contact Terry AA9MM tbrooks@sigecomDOTnet or evenings 812-421-9135.
Terre Haute, IN - 1st Sunday of EVEN
numbered months at 1pm at the Terre Haute Red Cross on Hwy 41 North. Call Bob
Harker KC9UU at (812) 235-9374 or rharker@email.msn.com
Indianapolis, IN - IPL, 37th and Arlington, at 6:30 p.m. BY APPT. ONLY.
Call Tom N9LFU at 317-326-3168. Thomson ARC/ARRL-VEC
Franklin, IN - Walk-ins only. For more
information, call 317-974-1488. MidState ARC (3rd Sat. March thru November)
VANDERBURGH COUNTY RACES had a drill on September 16,
and will be planning another one for the spring and fall of 2001. RACES is the organization that is designed
to assist with emergency communications in the event of a disaster. For more information about RACES, contact
Norm King W9AU at nking@usi.edu.
THE
ARRL CENTRAL DIVISION DIRECTOR elections are coming up next
month. There are three candidates this
year. The incumbent is Ed Metzger,
W9PRN. The challengers are Richard David Klatzco Jr, N9TQA, and George
R. (Dick) Isely, W9GIG. Vice Director Howard Huntington, K9KM, is unopposed for
reelection.
EDITORIAL: EARS encourages ARRL members to cast their vote for Dick Isely
W9GIG in the upcoming election. Dick
has been instrumental in the formation of the National Frequency Coordination
Council, and has been a long time officer of the Illinois Repeater
Association. He has also offered a lot
of assistance to Indiana over the years in matters involving repeater
coordination.
While Director Metzger has done a lot for ham radio, and has been very supportive to hams in our division in the past, EARS members may or may not also recall some of the problems we ran into with some very routine hamfest paperwork a couple of years ago. This was another sign of a very unfortunate situation, as Ed’s age is apparently catching up with him. We all appreciate what Ed has done in the past, but we feel that a change in the office has been long overdue. Now, more than ever, we need a strong, clear voice representing us at ARRL.
For
a short biography about Dick Isely, please visit http://www.geocities.com/~w9az/w9gig.html
The Louisiana QSO Party 2000
will be held on 30 September 2000. For full details and rules, see the
Official LAQP website.http://www.tchams.org/users/contest/laqp/
General queries should be directed to the TCHC Contest Chairman at contest@tchams.org, or to Scott Dickson, W5WZ@arrlDOTnet, or via US mail to: TCHC Contest Committee, PO Box 1871,
West Monroe, LA 71294.
The change at the FCC from ULS to CORES is a
reality. When the FCC moves its
Taxpayer Information Number/Social Security Number registration system for
amateurs from the Universal Licensing System to the new FCC Commission
Registration System, the changeover will be largely transparent to users.
Steve
Linn of the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau says once the
changeover is in effect, the CORES/FRN system will be linked from the ULS home page. In addition, those
already registered in the ULS will--in most cases--still be able to use their
ULS password to access CORES.
Amateurs
will not have to start signing up in CORES until sometime next year, however,
and those already registered in ULS won’t have to do a thing. For now, Linn
says hams should simply stick with ULS "TIN/Call Sign" registration
until CORES registration becomes mandatory.
"Don’t
even worry about CORES," Linn said. "If you have a letter from CORES,
hang onto it for your FCC Registration Number." The FCC recently sent
letters to every licensee who was registered in the ULS as of June 22, 2000.
The letter contains the individual’s new FCC Registration Number--or FRN--and a
few words about CORES. Linn says the FCC has suspended mailing out CORES/FRN
letters for now.
Described
as an agency-wide registration system for anyone filing applications with or
making payments to the FCC, CORES assigns registrants a unique 10-digit FCC
Registration Number. The FCC says it will modify its licensing and filing
systems--including ULS--over the next several months to accept and use the FRN.
The FCC says use of the FRN will allow it to more rapidly verify fee payment.
Until
CORES assumes the registration function, Linn encouraged hams to register in
ULS, which will continue to house the FCC’s Amateur Service database even after
CORES registration is implemented. Just when in 2001 that will happen Linn was
not able to say. "There are a lot of factors involved," he said.
Individuals
who register in CORES are not automatically registered in the ULS database (an
individual does not have to be licensed to register in CORES). ULS TIN/Call
Sign registration is eventually reflected in the CORES database, however, Linn
confirmed.
The CORES on-line filing system and further information on CORES is available by visiting the FCC Web site and clicking on the CORES registration link.
(Thanks to ARRL Web for the story)
A REMINDER THAT AUTOPATCH CODES do not
change. If you have ever had an
autopatch code for 145.15 or an autodial code for 146.925, it should still
work. Some features have been added or
dropped in the last few years. If you
need a new code sheet, or have problems, please contact Neil ASAP.
Ham
gear: Duane AA6EE would
like to offer members of EARS the following special prices:
> Callbook 2000 Summer Edition CD: $38.95
> QRZ! Ham Radio CD (v.15): $16.95
> ARRL Periodicals CD 1999: $18.95
Hy Power Antenna Company http://www6.bcity.com/hypac
Sale of multi band and single band wire antennas for all HF ham bands.
Antennas:
http://my.cybersoup.com/ke6cvh/
New fully assembled G5RV antennas for sale $18. Center insulator is ½
inch thick Dupont plastic with stress reliefs and weatherproofing. 14 awg
Insulated/stranded/copper wire with end insulators. Vertical section is
29.5ft of 300ohm twinlead with UHF connector and protective cover at base.
Credit cards accepted over Paypal or may be emailed at ke6cvh@the-i.net for purchasing with money order or cashier's
check. Shipping $5.40. Mailing address: Mike Kendall, 869 Victoria Ave.,
Taft, TX, 78390 (I'm an Electronic Technician Chief in the Navy
manufacturing antennas in my spare time. Picture may be viewed at http://images.honesty.com/cgi-bin/honesty-image/12029803/new30g5rv.JPG)
The E.A.R.S. newsletter is a monthly
production of Electronic Applications Radio Service, Inc., a non-profit,
tax-exempt organization. Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, editor. Send donations,
articles, comments or information to the address above or call (812)
479-5741. Articles for the newsletter
and/or E-mail can be sent to ears@w9earDOTorg.
Information contained may be reproduced, provided that credit is given to the
EARS newsletter.