ARRL Field Day 2016

is coming

It’s difficult to believe that we are only weeks away from ARRL Field Day, June 25-26.  I always look forward to Field Day because it’s always a terrific learning experience as well as great fun.  Keep in mind, that if you belong to more than one club, you don’t have to restrict your presence to just one.  Spread yourself around!

Our June 6th meeting will be our ONLY opportunity to work through our check lists and be certain every critical detail is covered. Please be present for this meeting and volunteer your assistance or make suggestions so we can have another great Field Day.  Pulling off an event such as Field Day requires considerable planning and commitment. Commitment means raising your hand for things that need to be done.  Organizers need to know, for example, that you will be on hand at the agreed upon time to help set up,  or to take a turn in operating the station, logging, or other activity.

A few small tasks by each of us will ensure a Field Day you can be proud of.

Looking ahead….

On June 20th Bill Squires, N8WS will present an introduction to the amateur digital modes.  Come prepared to ask the questions, because Bill is the guy with the answers. And he has the logbook to prove it.

Participants in this years Earth Day event will recall that, as in the past years, getting antenna coax into the Stearns cabin meant propping a door open. Not only does that allow entrance of insects and other critters, it can also result in sliced coax. Parma Area Historical Society management has been very helpful and invited us to do whatever we needed to resolve the issue. So I wanted to follow up on the offer once we had a good solution. So I took it to the experts.

On a recent ten meter net, I raised this technical question for discussion. The photo on the left shows the results of our productive net.  While several good ideas surfaced, Bob, KA8WQL stood out. He suggested using a standard inexpensive spring-loaded electrical cover, available in most home improvement electrical departments.  Also on the net, Mark, KB8RST offered to contribute the covers and the installation. Such an offer!  The Historical Society management loved the idea. It met all their requirements, too.

Using a hole saw, Mark cut a 1-1/4″ hole in the 3/4″ wall. Applying silicone chalk for an extra measure of weather and critter protection, he attached the weatherproof cover. A great solution and a quick and easy installation. Two coax ports were installed. Thanks, guys!

While at the cabin, Mark and I installed a projection screen that was formerly used by the PRC. The heavy duty screen was a gift several years ago to the PRC from Bob, KA8WQL.  After learning that the PAHS had a need for a large screen, the offer was made.  Originally on a tripod, it now hangs from the a cabin joist and is available for use by not only the PAHS but many other groups. I have been surprised to learn how many groups use the cabin.  I’m sure it will serve everyone quite well. 

I should add that while Mark and I did our thing, we also received assistance in the form of moral support from a resident feline who had apparently spent the night prowling.

A big congratulations to

Tom Southam

Tom recently upgraded to extra class.  As a very appropriate gift to himself, Tom turned in his old call of KA8WLI and now sports W8WLI. This new call fits Tom well and already flows without a hesitation.  Congrats, Tom!

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director

A note from ARRL Ohio Section Section Manager: Scott D Yonally, N8SY

Hi everyone, I wanted to bring you up to speed on the Dayton On the Air event that the Ohio Section will be doing during the Dayton Hamvention. We are still looking for volunteers to mind the store between 12 & 2 on Friday,
and 10 & 2 on Saturday. Saturday AM is really important as that Saturday is a very busy day for everyone and we definitely need to have this booth staffed. If you are able to take an hour or so out of your busy schedule, we would greatly appreciate your help with this big project. The site is at 22 South Williams Street, in Dayton; about 6 miles from Hara Arena. There appears to be a parking area in the rear. I’ll be there around 8 AM each day to set up the stations, and again around 4:30 – 5:00 to tear down If you know anyone who may want to do a couple hours at the site, please ask them to contact John, KD8MQ at kd8mq1@gmail.com

73, for now.. Scott..

ARRL Ohio Section Section Manager: Scott D Yonally, N8SY n8sy@arrl.org

This just in from Dwaine, K8ME the CARS bus to the Dayton Hamvention still has available seats.  If interested, don’t delay.

CONTACT DWAINE K8ME
 k8me@sbcglobal.org

 CONGRATULATIONS

Our sincerest congratulations go out to PRC Treasurer, Jim Bis, N8FND.  Jim recently upgraded to Extra Class. Good job, Jim!

Hal Rogers, K8CMD President

Communications Director

PRC Earth Day Event a Success!

By all standards, our Earth Day special event operation was a great success.  We had the most participants ever, the most contacts, the most DX and the most fun.  Many thanks to our hosts, the Parma Historical Society who thanked us for doing our Earth Day Event and said what a joy it was to work with the Parma Radio Club.

We had many wonderful contacts with hams around the world.  Of course, we can always be certain that the number of people listening is far greater than the actual contacts.  Many will say, “I’ve been listening for some time and just wanted to say hi.” I don’t think they could hear the recently chicks under the red warming lights that were in the cabin but I was sure to paint word pictures for them to describe our wonderful location and the role of the Stearns Homestead as an educational urban farm. A Catskill, NY operator said, “I had to call you when I heard the fun you were having chasing those chicks around the cabin!”  Those New Yorkers!

We had two separate stations. On 40 meters we contacted many local operators in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, and Michigan as well as Wisconsin to New York to Toronto, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas. On 20 meters people as far as Lithuania, Vienna, and Syria.  It was a very good day. 

And like any rewarding endeavor, the day provided learning opportunities.  At our May 2nd meeting, we’ll give a full report and discuss how we might be able to make some improvements for next time. 

Apparently our setup was very similar to last year because our antennas required no adjustments. I guess we did a great job last year when we tuned the 40 meter dipole.  But we were equipped and ready just in case.  At our meeting May 2nd I’ll show you how easy it is to tune a dipole when you have the right tools.

Stearns Homestead has a couple of increasingly popular events that you won’t want to miss: The Farmer’s Market and the Rummage Sale.  Check them out at www.stearnshomestead.com .

Equipment for Sale

Member Bob Bassett, KE8UV  has some excellent equipment offerings. Definitely look his list over before you trek to Dayton.  I’m sure you’ll find a some real bargains.   Equipment for sale

The Buzz is Building

It’s kind of like the sound of bees in the spring and early summer.  As I listen to hams I hear the buzz of questions like “Goin’ to Dayton?”  And it’s not just midwest hams. Those DX operators are buzzing about Dayton as well.  Many have found it to be one of the most exciting aspects of their hobby.  One PRC member is making the journey with a group of friends, one of who is marking his 50th Hamvention!  Not many can say that! 

The 2016 Hamvention is May 20-22nd.

If you’re “goin’ to Dayton” your friends at home would appreciate a report on the experience… and dont forget to bring home some samples.

More info at  Hamvention

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director

This will be a “a quick read” post.  Like many of you, this wonderful weather has made it possible to get on with a number of pressing outdoor projects.  

I want to thank Natalie the Director of Replay for Kids for a very enjoyable program this month. From conversations at the event and on the net, we all had a wonderful time busily adapting toys for handicapped children. I have a superb collection photos from Ken Osicki K8OAE along with video I took and am editing it for a later date.  If you missed out on the event, another will be planned for later in the year.

Our April 18th meeting will be our only opportunity to discuss and finalize plans for the Earth Day Special Event on April 23rd at Stearns Farm.  Hard to believe that this will be our 4th annual event in which we operate entirely on solar energy.  This year, coincidentally, the Ohio section Emergency is hoping to expand the Section’s NVIS Antenna Day which also takes place on the 23rd.  Scott Yonally, N8SY our ARRL Ohio Section Manager suggested that we try an NVIS antenna.  So we’ve decided to “join the party” by using a quick and easy homemade NVIS antenna.

If you’re not familiar with this antenna, the acronym stands for Near Vertical Incident Scattering antenna. While several designs meet this purpose, a popular one is a short inverted vee dipole. The NVIS antenna directs the pattern vertically so that it reflects off the ionosphere and reflects downward. Similar to the broad, scattered illumination you get when you direct a flashlight onto the ceiling.

If you will be participating in any way at the event, particularly supplying equipment, we need to have your attendance at this meeting.

More information on the Ohio ARES event is on the ARRL site.    Ohio SEC NVIS Day

  All about coax

Many of us might think “Coax! What could somebody tell me about that stuff that I don’t already know?”  Well, I can say that Larry Shimerka, KC8VZZ really put some work into the topic and we all learned something new about this fundamental aspect of our hobby.  Larry’s presentation included many actual samples of hardline, LMR -400 and other pricey coax.  And, as if that wasn’t enough we even viewed a short video on the proper way to solder the PL-259.

Photos: Ken Osicki, K8OAE

PRC to host Replay for Kids

This April 4th will be a unique meeting.  Our guests from Replay for Kids of Strongsville will put us to work  modifying toys.  The organization specializes in adapting common toys so they can be enjoyed by handicapped children. While the organization provides the materials and tools, volunteers such as you and I provide the skill and labor to make it happen. The evening promises to be a fun opportunity to get hands on experience and benefit children.

Upper vs. Lower (Sideband — not dentures)

You might have wondered why it is that on the HF bands below40 meters we use lower sideband (LSB) while we switch to upper (USB) for the higher bands. In the April ’16 QST (p.24) Dave Cook, WA∅TTN explained. It all goes back to the receiver and transmitter designs in use at the time. (Recall that an early ham stations consisted of a separate transmitter and receiver. Dave’s explanation seems to pick up after transceivers became the norm. Another wonderful design that appeared was the variable frequency oscillator. The VFO liberated hams from crystals that had a fixed frequency.)

All this to say that the writer’s explanation covers post-transceiver introduction. He says that the IF frequency of the transmitter and the receiver were at 9 MHz.  The transmitter and the receiver used the same filters for carrier suppression and filtering out the undesired sideband. It worked out that the sidebands fall into those two differences when mixed with the (common) VFO output.

In the early 60’s, when I was starting into this hobby as a novice, sideband meant “double sideband” in which the AM carrier was removed but both the lower and the upper sidebands were transmitted. The missing carrier was referred to as “suppressed carrier.”  Soon afterward it was discovered how to remove not only the carrier but one of the sidebands. 

After several years of great work as NCO, Bob, KA8WQL has found it necessary to step down as Net Control Operator for the FM net.  Bob was covering the 1st Tuesday of the month.  If you would like to take the position, we would love to have you.  Please contact any of the officers or send us an e-mail.  If you can only take the role temporarily, we can work around that and it would help your club tremendously.

The nets are a great way for the club to reach out to new hams in the area and to invite prospective members to participate in the fun.

PRC to Celebrate 4^th Annual Earth Day

This year the Parma Radio Club will again celebrate Earth Day by operating a special event station in the heart of Parma at Stearns Homestead, the unique historical urban farm on Ridge Road. The Homestead is owned by the City of Parma and maintained by the Parma Area Historical Society as a living educational facility for people of all ages. This year marks our 4^th Earth Day celebration in which we plus entirely on power from the sun. On Saturday April 23^rd the PRC will have several transmitters in operation on the HF bands. and offer our radio contacts a custom QSL card to commemorate the event. Earth Day is celebrated around the world in hundreds of countries by millions of people and seeks to remind everyone of the fragility and singularity of our special planet. We welcome visitors and operators. In recent years we’ve spread the word to as many as three countries, hundteds of amateur operators and untold shortwave listeners. This event station gives us the opportunity to inform listeners about Earth Day but also our area and the Stearns Homestead. For more information about Stearns Homestead, the site of increasingly popular summer farmers market go to www.stearnshomestead.com

 We’ll be on the air from 10 am to 4 pm 1400z t0 2000z.  Operation will be entirely from solar power.  Mode of operation will be SSB on 40, 20  and 15 meters.

For photos of previous events see our albums.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director

At our last meeting, presenter Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF presented a highly informative program on the topic of microwave communications.  Tony discussed propagation characteristics on the microwave frequencies in such clear terms that everyone felt their knowledge level had been advanced significantly.  Tony explained that receivers are typically comprised of a microwave to 2 meter converter with the signal going into a 2 meter transceiver.

Tony, who is Editor of CQ Magazine’s VHF + column, showed maps that detailed some microwave competitions he’s participated in in which hams QSOed across the Gulf of Mexico as well as Lake Erie.

 Photos: Ken Osicki, K8OAE

---

Our March 21st meeting

…will be a short business meeting followed by a presentation by Larry Shimerka, KC8VZZ. Larry has prepared another informative presentation.  This program will bring us up to speed on one the most important elements of our hobby– coax.  Which one do you use? What are they talking about when they refer to “velocity factor?’ Can coax be buried?  This promises to be a very informative.

Looking ahead….

On April 4th we’ll have a return visit from Replay for Kids.  This will be our first hands-on lab session in which we give selected toys a special life, adapting them to the unique needs of handicapped children. This promises to be a very rewarding experience. Breezeshooters Hamfest

---

Area Nets

For some time I’ve given thought to posting a list of area nets.  After a modest start, Mike Peters, KD8ZMN came along with additional information for my list. If you can help us, please send additional listings or corrections.  See the AREA NETS list under Resources on the left.

---

 Hamfests Update

This is a great event- Breezeshooters Hamfest in PA. June 5th from 8a-3p.  There’s lots of stuff.

More info at  http://www.breezeshooters.org/html/hamfest_calendar.htm

Make your plans for the Dayton Hamvention. A great way to “do Dayton” is by taking the Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Society’s chartered bus.  Click the link for a flier.  2016 Dayton bus

QST  QST

It always nice to hear from QST.  I recently learned that a submission to the Hints and Kinks column will appear in the May issue. I was notified last summer that the article had been accepted. They do tell  you that publishing might take a year. It’s my 3rd H&K article.  Pre-release PDFs of the column are sent to the authors as a proof to check over. If you’d like a peek of the PDF just click.  It’s a “no batteries required” idea that had it’s debut at our Earth Day event.

QST Hints & Kinks “Sound Director”

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director

Those Mysterious, Intriguing Amateur Microwave Bands

A presentation by Tony Emanuele, WA8RJF
Editor, VHF+ column, CQ Magazine

First licensed in 1965 with the Novice call of WN8RJF, the excitement had taken hold a year later Tony began his upgrade journey, receiving his Extra Class license in 1976.  Tony enjoys operating on HF as well as the 50 MHz to 24 GHz bands.  He also works EME (earth – moon – earth) operations on the 144, 432, 902, 1296, 2304 and 3400 MHz bands.

For the past two years, Tony has been sharing his experience and enthusiasm as the Editor of CQ Magazine’s VHF+ Column.

Join us in welcoming Tony on March 7th.

NOARS Winter-hamfest

Break the winter doldrum!

Another great hamfest is in store for you from NOARS this Sunday, March 6. You can’t beat the price and it even includes a pancake breakfast.  Get all the important details at NOARS Winter-Hamfest.

Hal Rogers K8CMD

President/ Communications Director

Toy Talk at the PRC

Our February 1st meeting was a departure from our usual discussions, for sure. The presenter was Natalie Wardega VP and Director of Operations for Replay for Kids.  The organization provides modified toys to clients who make them available to handicapped children.  Toys are modified by volunteers. PRC members look to provide services in a session scheduled for April 4th.  

If you’d like to participate in this very rewarding project, plan to join us on April 4th. 

Our next meeting

Our meeting on February 15th will be a business meeting. We’ll be discussing our Earth Day special event operation planned for April.  The meeting will be followed by a brief presentation on the ever popular Yagi directional antenna. I’ll have a couple samples of that you could easily build.

The Busch community rooms are normally closed when there’s a Parma Schools closing. Our meeting night is on the Presidents’ Day holiday and schools will be closed no matter what the weather. At this time, the facility is planned to is planned tobe open.  If we’re informed otherwise, we’ll inform you by e-mail as soon as possible.

Hal Rogers K8CMD

President, Communications Director

“Replay for Kids” to present at next meeting

Ever think “I have these hands on skills and I wouldn’t mind putting them to use to help someone in a real valuable way”?  Well listen to this. Our upcoming meeting will be quite different.   The speaker will be Natalie Wardega, Director of Operations of an organization located in Medina called Replay for Kids.  Natalie will be telling us about this unique organization that serves our community in an amazing way.

Jeff Ronay KF8CQ, our vice president,  introduced us to this organization so we already know that they modify toys so then can be enjoyed by handicapped children.  Where do we fit in? There are many ways. For one, Its volunteers with hands-on skills (with hand tools and soldering irons) who are at the heart of their effort. Without volunteers Replay for Kids would be just a dream.

This meeting will be an introductory opportunity to learn more about Replay for Kids and see where we can be of most assistance to their effort. I hope you will be able to attend our meeting Monday, February 1st.

 www.replayforkids.org

Join the fun

“Winter Field Day” Jan 30-31

In our January 4th post we mentioned Winter Field Day.  The WoodChuck Club is particpating in WFD and you are invited to attend. From the Woodchuck ARC newsletter:

  “As others sit and watch the world go by the Woodchuck A.R.C. is joining the 2016 Winter Field Day event on Jan. 30^th at 12 noon.

 Join us at Dan’s at 4868 Summer Lane in Brooklyn, OH. The map to his place is attached. Just turn off Ridge Rd. as if you were going to Lowes and take that street (Northcliff) to the end, turn left and follow that street (Idlewood) to the end and turn right on (Kennedy), as the street seems to end just follow it to the left and you will be on (Summer LN.) which is Dan’s street. Look on the right side for antennas. 

 (Map, https://goo.gl/maps/QnLBfLWga452 ) close window on left, (click -) then drag map left until Summer Lane is on left of screen. You will see Lowes on right side. 

The Start time is 12 noon Jan. 30^th till noon on the 31^st and we will go until everyone wants to quit, this is a 24 hour event so we will go until we run out of operators.

 As with Field Day everyone is welcome you do not need a license to operate as we will always have Extra Class Control Operators there to allow anyone to operate.

You may also just wish to log on the computer or watch and learn, (then we will put you on the air) just kidding, do whatever you like.

 We count at least eight operators at this time and hope for more, so join us.”

Dan’s going to cook Chile, both hot and mild and there will be other food available, just bring your favorite beverage.

All details about WFD 2016 are at  http://www.winterfieldday.com.

Thanks to Mike KD8ZMN, Mark KB8RST and Dave Semanik, K8WRS for this information.

We never pass up an opportunity to share some technical information so at at the recent meeting I brought an antenna that was built by one of our members a few years ago.  It’s a very clever, easy to build design but I got a surprise when I opened it because it wasn’t what I expected. The original project was a 2 half wave 2 meter vertical built inside a PVC assembly, keeping it completely protected from the weather. It appears that this version was intended for the 70 cM band. We didn’t have an RF analyzer or GDO (grid dip oscillator) on hand to properly check it out. So now we have another project!

photos courtesy Ken Osicki, K8OAE

Hal Rogers, K8CMD,

Preident  & Communications Director

Here’s a riddle: What does the Parma School system have to do with Parma Radio Club?  Actually nothing.  However, when the Parma Schools are closed due to bad weather, meetings scheduled for that day will be cancelled.  That’s because the management of the Busch Community Rooms determined that widely published school closings are the best way to notify the public of their facility’s weather related closing. So when a meeting is planned and a school closing occurs, stay home and safe. We’ll reschedule the program. If the meeting room is closed for any other reason or we cancel a meeting, we will inform you via email.

Dues are Due

If your haven’t yet sent in your dues for 2016, please do that as soon as  possible.  We need your support. A convenient printable PDF form is on this site. You’ll notice the application form has been updated and includes the address of our new Treasurer, Jim Bis, N8FND.

  Good news for 2016 Dayton Hamvention goers

The CARS folks are again organizing an easy way to “do Dayton.”  Take the bus and leave the driving to them. Reserve your ultra-comfortable seat now.  A printable PDF flier containing all the details you need is at this link.  2016 Dayton Bus Trip Flier    Don’t wait. Seats fill fast.At

IDEAS… IDEAS… IDEAS … keep ’em coming

At our first meeting of the year we began discussions of various topics members would like to have covered in depth at future meetings.  Is there a topic you would like to see covered? Or one you’d  like to present? Sometimes you don’t have to look far to find a great program topic. Next time you find yourself researching a technical topic of any kind, or discovering something fascinating in a magazine, consider sharing your new found knowledge with fellow members. We need your ideas. Let us know so we can include them in our 2016 program line up.  At our January 18th  the brain storming continues.

Also at our next meeting, I’ll show you an easy-to-build half wave 2 meter antenna that is completely enclosed and out of the weather.  It was designed by a PRC member and several members built them as a fun construction project.  I’ve used one for 7 or 8 years and some have many more years experience without a hitch.

Do you have some equipment or a gadget you no longer need and want to find a new home for that treasure? Bring it along and we’ll have a fun drawing.

Equipment for sale

Dwaine Modock, K8ME has listed some fantastic deals that might be just what you need. Check it out on our Equipment for Sale page.

While you’re on the page, check out the listings from Bob Bassett, KE8UV. Many items are available.

Amateur Radio Parity Act

 Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director