Volume XVIII Issue 2 Editor: Howard; KC2OJO February 2011 Our next meeting is Thursday, February 10th. Items scheduled for a vote include the budget for 2011 and reapproving or modifying the budgeted antenna work scheduled for the.210 repeater. In addition there will be a discussion of increasing the club s income via changes to the dues schedule, raising the cost for the mailed hardcopy of QSX and other forms of revenue raising that may be brought up by the members present. - For member enjoyment and to raise an additional $190 per year we have had coffee and donuts available at our monthly meetings at $1 for each. The money for this ($19/meeting) has been donated by K2TVN, KC2OJO and KC2RKK. We need 5 more volunteers to keep this going for the rest of this year. Please help! It s time to renew your membership for 2011. The dues schedule is unchanged for 2011 and is printed on page 8, the cover page. Renewal forms will be available at the next meeting so that members can update any changes to their mailing address, license or email address. If you don t wish to make any changes to your membership status you may write your call sign on your check, make it out to LARC and mail it to: Larkfield Amateur Radio Club P.O. Box 1450 Huntington, NY 11743 PLEASE GET YOUR DUES IN BEFORE FEBRUARY 28! QSX February 2011 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Page 1
January 13th Membership Meeting The January 13 th General Meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:40 PM, immediately following the Executive Board Meeting. The meeting was chaired by Gary K2TVN. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, nominations were held for the election of the empty spot (6 th Director) on the Executive Board. Ed KC2E was nominated and elected. Ed has been and is the club's main contact with the Town Of Huntington for arranging for the monthly meeting room, arranging for the bimonthly VE meetings at Town Hall and for arranging other events that come to the club through the town. Steve N2PQJ agreed to assist Ed with future arrangements. Roger W2GLE gave the Treasurer's report and indicated that the club was still running at a slightly negative cash flow. A budget is being prepared by the Executive Board for presentation to the members at the next meeting. Howard KC2OJO gave the Secretary's report and the QSX and Website reports. He stated that there were no minutes from December since there was no meeting on December 9 th ; that night was devoted to the Holiday Party. The QSX monthly newsletters for December and January were put up onto the Larkfield Reflector on November 24 th and December 23, respectively, and mailed by Rich KA2LHK shortly thereafter. He went on to thank Mike W2SWR for his continuing help and for his activity on behalf of the club and again, reminded the members that fresh material was needed for both QSX and for the club's web site. Bob AC2AZ suggested having a station of the month feature which received a favorable response from the members present. It was indicated that all material for QSX had to be submitted at least five days before the publication date. Upon a suggestion from the floor it was agreed that copies of QSX would be sent to Mike Lisenco N2YBB the head of the ARRL NLI section. Other than for a brief several hour interruption of the website there had been no problems with either the Larkfield Reflector or the website during the reporting period. Bruno KC2ESI gave the Repeater report. The.210 repeater was doing well and the.075 had been up but unfortunately then went down again. It seems to be intermittently suffering from several problems including inter-mod, transmitter spurs and possibly receiver audio dropouts. Bruno, Richard WA2WNY, and Jack K2JX are working on the problems. Bruno reminded the club that proceeding with the addition of a new antenna for the.210 repeater will require a new vote because we have passed into a new calendar year. Repeater usage was also discussed. The members discussed ways of increasing usage of our.210 repeater to solve the problem of long periods of time within any week that are completely absent of any traffic. Ed KC2E gave the VE Report. Two hams passed their exams at the December VE session and it was announced that the next session would be at the Huntington Town Hall on February 12 th. The Field Day report was given by Fred K2LDC. There was no formal report as Fred and Pat WS2A had not had a chance to get together before the meeting. Larry N2BKJ gave the membership report. One proposed new member, John Aguis KC2ZOA, had his name presented for a vote at the February meeting. Continued on facing page Page 2 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club February 2011
Continued from previous page Fred KC2LDC gave the Nightimers report. There were generally 4-9 hams present at Panera's at the Tuesday night 6PM meetings. Several members commented on the interesting technical aspects of the recent meetings including use of a tube tester, programming of a low cost Chinese HT, troubleshooting of an old Heathkit HF transceiver, etc. Howard KC2OJO gave the Daytimers report. Typical attendance at the Northport McDonalds was 5-7 people at the Monday morning 10 AM meetings. Due to the difficulty in getting a full time Net Control for the Monday night 8 PM Larkfield InfoNet it was informally decided to change the format to a Monday night Info-Chat with no formal Net Control. Feb 13 th Executive Board Meeting The meeting started at approximately 7:10 PM. As is presently customary, some of the club membership sat at the Executive Board table as observers. Attending were Gary K2TVN, Fred K2LDC, Steve N2PQJ, Roger W2GLE and Howard KC2OJO. Issues discussed were the 2011 Larkfield Budget, repeater maintenance, the election of a 6 th Director and the availability of Larkfield ARC QSL cards. It was decided that Roger would submit a preliminary budget to the Directors via Email and that a final version would be worked out communicating via phone and the larkexec reflector. This budget would then be presented to the members for approval at the February General meeting. Issues related to the budget were 1) Incorporating money for the new.210 antenna, 2) providing more flexibility for funding repeater maintenance, and 3) steps to fix the current negative cash flow. The Executive Board meeting was closed at approximately 7:40 PM. Spooky Station Too neat for any operating ham. The room lights are usually out; the chair is usually empty, but voices come and go along with some static. On the table is a Kenwood TH-D7A(G) HT, a Mirage B34 2 meter amplifier, a Ten-Tec Omni VII HF Transceiver, 12 V Supply, a power meter, Signalink Adapter, an old IBM X-40 Notebook computer, external hard drive, and switching for 5 antennas plus 2 baluns. Continued on page 4 QSX February 2011 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Page 3
Continued from page 3 Spooky Station Looks like someone works here! Lots of stuff, but no radios; just a headphone, keyboard, display and computer paraphernalia. However, everything needed to control the HT and the HF transceiver in the shack is in place. How does it all work? The Omni VII, out of the box, can be controlled via the Internet using Ethernet no computer needed at the radio! The Kenwood TH-D7A(G) (not shown) like all of Kenwood s recent HTs can be completely controlled via its PC programming input. This ability is not advertised or provided in their accessory software. The screen shown is taken from the IBM X-40 notebook computer in the shack. The program running in the window on the left takes button clicks and translates them into commands that are sent from the computer s serial port into the HT s PC input. It s written in Visual Basic. The window in the middle of the desktop will be familiar to many hams; it s just Skype, the program people all over the world use to communicate with each other by voice via the Internet and their PCs. Skype is installed in both the computer in the shack and in the computer in the remote control area. The IBM X-40 s earphone output is connected to the HT s mic input and the HT s speaker output is connected to the X-40s mic input. The two computers are connected via the home network. Once a Skype call is made between the two computers the HT s audio I/O comes from the headset at the remote computer. Continued on page 6 Page 4 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club February 2011
Long Island Hamfair & Electronics Show Sunday, February 27, 2011 Large Indoor Location! Levittown Hall 201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville, NY 11801 Amateur Radio Equipment / CB Equipment / Computers / Ham Equipment Dealers Television / ARRL Information / VHF Tune-up Clinic (Get your rig checked) DXCC Card Checking General Admission: $6.00* Doors open 9:00 AM Free parking for all! Door Prizes! Food/Refreshments available Talk-in on W2VL 146.85 repeater (136.5PL, negative - shift) There will be a VE Test Examination at 10:00 a.m. Please be prompt and best of luck! Test Fee is $15 Sellers: All spaces $20.00. Admission for each person, including the main vendor, is $6.00 each. Doors open at 9:00 AM for Buyers Doors open at 7:00 AM for Sellers (ends @ noon to 1 pm "ish") Pre-Registration is highly suggested! Limited same day table sale; Pre-Register to insure YOUR space(s)! Full Details at http://www.limarc.org/fest.html QSX February 2011 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Page 5
Continued from page 4 The screen shown below is from the remote (controlling) computer. The program running in the window on the right (and in the computer in the shack) is VNC. It s a free program that allows us to control the computer in the shack from this remote computer. When we click on any button in the widow on the right we are actually clicking on that same button on the computer in the shack. So, we can click on any of the buttons and control the HT. We can Transmit, Receive, change frequency, channel, power or any other function; some functions are changed via text typed into the Other Code box. The window on the left is running N4PY s Pegasus program. It is controlling the Omni VII and is easier to use than the radio s front panel! So now, when you hear KC2OJO on the air you will know he s not in the shack! Packet Radio Assignment WA2PNU (0-15) 145.070 BBS; FlexNet Gateway WA2PNU-4 145.070 Local area PBBS KC2COJ (0-15) 145.050-4 = BBS KC2COJ 4 144.050 BBS NY2LI (0-7) 145.050 BBS=WA2PNU-4 NY2LI (8-12) 144.930 BBS=WA2PNU-4 Members of the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club are invited to use the W2RGM Repeater System: 2 meters 147.075 MHz out/147.675 MHz in 1.25 meters 224.560 MHz out 222.960 MHz in 70 centimeters 448.525 MHz out 443.525 MHz in 114.8 Hz PL These machines are linked cross band also 448.500 MHz out 443.500 MHz in 448.475 MHz out 443.475 MHz in The Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Operates: WR2ABA HUNTINGTON REPEATERS 2 meters 147.210 MHz out/147.810 MHz in 4z/136.5 Hz PL Linked cross-band with 70 centimeters 448.675 MHz out/443.675 MHz in 114.8 Hz PL W2LRC SMITHTOWN REPEATERS 2 meters 145.430 MHz out/144.830 MHz in 4z/136.5 Hz PL 1.25 meters 224.620 MHz out/223.020 MHz in 70 centimeters 448.425 MHz out/443.425 MHz in These 3 repeaters are linked cross band Page 6 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club February 2011
The Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Affiliated with American Radio Relay League Officers (one year terms) President Gary McDowell K2TVN (2011) Vice-President Chuck Hartley N2JIY (2011 Secretary Howard Stern KC2OJO (2011) Treasurer Roger Rapp W2GLE (2011) General Directors (two year terms) Neil Harris KC2TAF (2011-2012) Pat McPartland WS2A (2011-2012) Steve Hines N2PQJ (2011-2012) Daniel Harris KC2TFS (2010-2011) Fred Kruger K2LDC (2010-2011) Ed Ebert KC2E (2010-2011) February LARC Birthdays Call Name Birthday K2OLO Paul Angerame 2/20 KC2KVT Deborah Cooperstein 2/27 KA2LHK Richard T Gong 2/18 KC2NRB Evan McPartland 2/21 KB2LYT William P. Oxer 2/10 KC2KSD Tim Shanahan 2/15 KC2JFU Arthur T. Zapke III 2/5 WA2PNU Station Trustee Roger Rapp W2GLE WR2ABA Station Trustee Roger Rapp W2GLE W2LRC Station Trustee Roger Rapp W2GLE Boxer Court.210 Repeater is now Operational. The repeaters have been relocated to a better location in Boxer Court and this has given the club the opportunity to upgrade equipment and antennas. The repeaters affected are the 2 meter repeater on 147.210 and the cross linked 70 centimeter repeater on 448.675. The WA2PNU packet antennas have been moved and are being reinstalled. Updates will be on the Larkfield Reflector. General Meetings January 13, 2011 June 9, 2011 February 10, 2011 September 8, 2011 March 10, 2011 October 13, 2011 April 14, 2011 November 10, 2011 May 12, 2011 December 8, 2011 Board Meeting January 13, 2011 June 9, 2011 February 10, 2011 September 8, 2011 March 10, 2011 October 13, 2011 April 14, 2011 November 10, 2011 May 12, 2011 December 8, 2011 GOOD AND WELFARE Attention members: Our Good and Welfare Chairperson is Helene Lazarus (XYL of Arnie N2PLS). Please inform her (499-2837) of news about club members so she may make submissions to this publication. ARES/RACES NET Attention to all members: The weekly ARES/RACES net is active, meeting every Monday evening at 1930 on 147.210. Check in with our net control, John Allocca WB2LUA, to learn of any ARES/RACES news and to help maintain your proficiency in emergency communications procedures. QSX February 2011 Published by the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Page 7
- 2011 DUES SCHEDULE Regular Membership: $25.00 Extra Family Member - Same Address: $6.25 Senior Membership, 65+: $18.75 Student Membership: $6.25 Living Outside Club s Operating Sphere: $6.25 PLUS $5.00 TO GET QSX VIA U.S. MAIL Make your check payable to: Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Inc. And Mail to: Larkfield Amateur Radio Club Inc. PO Box 1450 Huntington, NY 11743 VE SESSION SATURDAY February 12th HUNTINGTON TOWN HALL 100 MAIN ST., ROOM 114 WALK-Ins WELCOME Team Liaison is Ed KC2E. Contact is Stan N2YKT. Fee is $15. All elements will be offered and exams start at 9:00AM. Must have 2 forms of ID, one of which includes a photo. If upgrading, bring an original and a copy of your license and an original of any CSCEs. The next Executive Board and General meetings will be on Thursday, February 10th at 7:00PM and 7:30PM, respectively. The weekly Larkfield InfoChat will be on Mondays at 8:00 PM. The InfoChat is on the Larkfield 147.210 repeater; +600kHz offset, 136.5 tone. Larkfield Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Post Office Box 1450 Huntington, NY 11743