PRC is now 70 years old

I received correspondence from a couple of former members of the PRC, Roger Kaul K3TM (ex- K8BQY) and Jay Sturtevant, K2ZT (ex-AA2IX).  These long-time friends of the PRC brought to my attention that our club, having begun in 1948, is now 70 years old! They wondered if we had anything planned?  I had to confess that at this time, we don’t have anything on the calendar. But what do you think? Let’s discuss the possibilities.

Roger’s father, Arthur Kaul, K8BFT (SK) was one of the PRC founders and wrote a history of the club for publication many years ago. Roger sent me that very informative publication which I’ll share at our February 5th meeting. I’ll also have an old local call book complete with ads that was produced by the PRC in those early days. It’s nostalgic.

PRC Rolls out 2018 at Das Schnitzel Haus

Our “Roll Out 2018” dinner was good fun and it’s always wonderful to get together with our members and their families. The menu at Das Schnitzel Haus offered so many choices! And their Black Forest cake, that’s another story.

Straight Key Night

I set a goal to operate 40 meter CW on Straight Key Night (Dec 31-Jan1). My plan was to do the deed with my old Novice transmitter, a 50 year old Knight T-50. (It now is good for just 15 watts out, due to a soft 807 final tube.  I also wanted to try my homebrew 6L6 transmitter (below) It currently runs just 4 watts out, due to an under-sized power supply.

I only had a little time to dedicate to the cause but despite all the technical handicaps, the day was a success! I made one contact with each transmitter! The T-50 got me a good report from Texas and the 6L6 was stomping into Rhode Island.  Just like the old days, I was “rock bound” with crystals,  limiting my mobility, but the bands were crowded. Of course, with my booming signal they were probably tracking me down to me.

Instead of using a vintage receiver, I took an easier route and listened on my Icom 756 Pro 3, using a separate antenna and muting it while transmitting.

For you youngsters with fancy tranceivers, operating separate transmitter and receiver presents an antenna switching problem that has to be dealt with. Typically, you use some kind of (transmit/ receive (T/R switch), switching the antenna to transmit before you key up. Further, the receiver input needs to be muted somehow. One thing you might be able to do is short out the receiver antenna input while transmitting so you don’t put too much RF into the sensitive receiver when you key up. You might also want a CW side tone monitor so you can hear tones when you key. It gets complicated.

Sometime I’ll have a total vintage station set up, just for fun.

Our February 5th meeting program “back to the basics” for the benefit of new hams and those of us who’ve forgotten some things.  We’ll also have discussion of program suggestions.

Our Treasurer, tells me that many of members have done a fine job of sending in their dues. Thank you so much.  If you still haven’t done the dues thing, please take a moment to support our efforts.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD President, Communications Director

Happy New Year!

We certainly hope that you and your family had a pleasant holiday and continue to have a wonderful 2018.  I’m looking forward to meeting you all at our January  20th, 5pm “Rollout 2018” at Das Schnitzel Haus, Pearl Road in Parma. For more information and photos, check our December 9th post. If you’re able to join us, please confirm at parmaradioclub@gmail.com.

A reminder

We all know that a club can’t exist without a strong core of members. It’s great to have supporters who can never say enough good things about the club.  However, we also need financial support. Even if you’re not able to attend every meeting, net or event, if you feel we’re on the right track we need your support. Our expenses continue to climb for insurance, and meeting/ event location fees. Some might think that being a club we get everything free. Definitely not so. Nothing is free. Even this web site has a recurring fee.

Please  support the PRC by sending your 2018 dues to the Treasurer using this link: application form .

Shortly, we will cease to email persons whose membership is not current. If you are dropped inadvertently, please write us.

Let’s design your club for 2018

As we begin the year it’s time for you to let us know what program topics you’d like to have covered at our meetings. Please write and let us know your ideas for programs or share them with a net control operator to pass along to the board.

This week the PRC received an alarming email

A ham group that has serious concerns about the direction they feel ARRL is headed wrote the PRC and other ARRL clubs. Their web site lists a number of issues that I found very disturbing.  According to the My ARRL Voice group, the ARRL board has been taking steps to silence the voice of the average member. I urge you to review their information and respond to the ARRL if inclined. Your attention is timely, since the ARRL board meets and votes on January 19th. Their site is at www.myarrlvoice.org.

 Some tech tips:

The quickest way to find a standard flat screwdriver? Look for a Philips screwdriver.

Avoid continuing frustration, always buy extension cords that are 6 inches longer.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD President, Communications Director

Tom Bedocs, K8DMM “ties a ribbon” on 2017

Member Tom Bedocs, K8DMM wrapped up 2017 with a very informative presentation on the decibel. We’re all now beginning to get a better grip on that common, but little understood term. It was helpful to me to learn that “decibel” has a different refererence, depending on the industry or technical area in which it’s used, audio, rf, of the phone industry, for example.  Tom also brought a selection of equipment he uses to measure decibels.

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PRC to “Roll out 2018”

It’s always fun to do something new. So, instead of a Christmas party we’re having a “Roll out 2018” dinner on January, 20th at Das Schnitzel Haus in Parma.   Check out their site at www.dshparma.com . You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the location and menu which is posted on their web site.

The party is open to everyone.   We’ll meet at 5:00 pm on Saturday, January 20th. Das Schnitzel Haus is at 5728 Pearl Road, just North of Snow Road.

We hope you’ll be able to join us. As a courtesy to the restaurateur, please let us know how many will be in your party. Just send a note to parmaradioclub@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays!

Ken Koyan, K8TV will be presenting RF Magic at the Medina 2 Meter meeting this coming Monday.  It should be great, Ken is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge!!  All are invited, we would love to see our Ham neighbors.

LOCATION:  Medina Career Center, 1101 W. Liberty St., Medina, OH, 44256, December 11th,  7:30pm

73, Jane/ K8JGR

President, Medina 2 Meter Group

Please don’t forget to send your 2018 dues to Treasurer, Jim Bis. Please use this Membership Form.  And, yes, membership is still the same great price.

Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see you next year.

————-
Hal Rogers, K8CMD,  President, Communications Director

Meeting Photos by Ken Osicki, K8OAR

ELECTION 2018

The 2018 elections went swiftly at our November business meeting.  Candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer were each uncontested, resulting in the elections being decided by acclamation.

Congratulations to the 2018 slate:

President – Hal Rogers, K8CMD

Vice President – Mike Marganski, KE8HBK

Secretary – John Malloy, KA8VTV

Treasurer – Jim Bis, N8FND

While three candidates were incumbents, Mike Marganski is a new amateur who has been an energetic addition to our nets and meetings after joining the PRC this year. Please give the Officers your support and help us make 2018 a great year for the PRC.

Dues for 2018 now being collected

PRC Treasurer, Jim Bis, N8FND reminds us that members are invited to renew their dues at any meeting or mail it to the address on the application. We require a new application each year as a way of being certain our information for you is correct and current. Please use the application on this site.

Roll out 2018

Please join us for our “Roll out 2018” party on January 15.  While the location is not yet confirmed, members at the recent meeting decided to do something different this season. While December is full of holiday parties, the question is asked, “What about January”?  It seems to be forgotten. So a “Roll out 2018” seemed a great idea. While we will not have our regular meetings in January, this will be a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet fellow members and kick off the new year.

More information on “Roll out 2018” will be provided in coming weeks.

What in the world is a dB?

I will confess that one of my least understood electronic terms is decibel.  I hoping to turn that around after our December 4th meeting when Tom Bedocs, K8DMM will present his new program on this the ubiquitous decibel.  Yes, decibels are everywhere. I hear them every day. It even has its own nick name –  dB. There are even meters that read them. But what are they really?  Tom will explain the term and present helpful demonstrations that will help us all to understand the decibel and also explain why the B so big?

How multi-color LEDs work

I’ve been a fan of holiday lights since, as a youngster, I first saw those bubbling candles on our little tree.  I wondered then how they worked that when one met misfortune my mother was really upset. All I think was “What’s in those candles”?  I never did find out. But to this day it seems that the holidays are perfect for showing off new technology.  Which brings me to wonder about those curious LED lights that we see everywhere. You know, the lights that change colors. How do they do that?

After a bit of digging, I soon found a wealth of fascinating info on a site in the UK called Kitronik Ltd.  which says  “A colour changing LED isn’t one LED in a package but three LEDs along with a small computer to drive them. The LED is made up of red, green and blue LEDs each of which can be controlled by a microcontroller. Since the two legs on the LED that supply the power are connected to the microcontroller and not the LED elements a current limit resistor is not required. The microcontroller is able to turn each of the colours on or off, so if the red LED is turned on then the output from the colour changing LED is red. When the blue LED is turned on it is blue, if both the blue and red LEDs are turned on then the colour changing LED is a shade of purple (called magenta). Similarly combining red with green gives yellow and blue & green gives cyan.

Although the colour changing LED uses the six colours mentioned above, it slowly changes from one to another.”

To learn more on this topic, see https://www.kitronik.co.uk/blog/how-colour-changing-leds-work/

Not surprisingly, Kitronik offers many fascinating LED and other electronic kits.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD, President and Communications Director

Our Homebrew Show and Tell meeting was great fun and many attending expressed the same sentiment.  I believe the reason the meeting was so enjoyable is basic. Many people contributed their experience, knowledge and questions during the introductory discussions as well as the actual program. Some great ideas were shared that evening and that’s what the PRC is all about. (Be sure to see the photos below.) Which brings me to share the following:

Tech Tip (?)

When I began writing this post (on my Win 10 laptop)  I discovered that the space bar wasn’t working. Howannoyingisthat? After some research I found this condition might be called “sticky keys” and the solution for some folks was to press the SPACE BAR, ENTER and BACKSPACE keys simultaneously and hold them for 10 seconds. Did it work? No.

Then I decided to turn the PC off by clicking RESTART. I should have tried the space bar after the RESTART, but I didn’t. Instead, I tried the previous trick. All worked fine! So somewhere in the process was the solution. Just thought I’d share.

Homebrew Show & Tell photos by Ken Osicki, K8OAE

There are a couple of fun events happening on the same date. Isn’t that always the way it is!

Fox Hunt

M2M will be having our first Fox Hunt in years on October 14^th.  I attached a flyer and “rules” that we adapted from Cuyahoga Falls ARC.  This is our first Fox Hunt in years, and I was part of the team to try to pull it together.  Hope the weather cooperates! Please let your members know about the hunt, we’d love to see them. Hope to make it to some more PRC meetings this year. Happy Autumn, Jane/K8JGR

Fox Hunt Flier

Fox Hunt Rules

Woodchuck ARC holds picnic/  PA QSO Party operating event, October 14th.

PRC members have been invited to the event at Rich Balata’s, KD8KBO at 11694 State Road. Or as Rich says, “Four fireplugs South of Wallings Rd, on the West side.

The activity starts at 2 pm. Bring your own items to cook on the grill. The club will be participating in the Pennsylvania QSO Party and will have an HF station and NVIS antenna set up.

Our next meeting is October 16. At this business meeting we’ll pick a nominating chair and accept offers from those who wish to be considered for a 2018 office. All positions are open.  Elections will be held in November.

Following the meeting we’ll have a brief technical discussion on a topic that is often mentioned by hams but little understood – the tuner.  So the topic – The tuner: what is it? When is it needed? and How is it used? 

If you can, bring a tuner for others to check out.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD, President, Communications Director

PRC member takes main prize at Cleveland Hamfest

It was good to see many PRC members at the Cleveland Hamfest.  In years past we’ve seen just about everything in terms of weather but this was certainly the hottest – 93 F.   Member John Malloy, KA8VTV is glad he attended. John took the 1st prize of $400. Congratulations, John!

Home Brew Show + Swap and Shop

Home Brew Show and Tell Night & Swap and Shop has always been a big hit at the PRC.  And that’s our program for October 2nd.  Scratch your head and recall some homebrew projects or gadgets that would interest fellow members. There’s no limit to the topic. It doesn’t even have to be a gadget. As long as it’s radio related. If, while digging deep in the barrel you find some treasures you’d like to “unload”, bring them to the meeting as a Swap & Shop item.  One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

Amateur Radio’s Force of Fifty Answers the Red Cross Call in Puerto Rico

Zello: The walkie talkie app helping in Harvey

from USA Today

As rescue efforts continue in and around Houston following Hurricane Harvey, one communications  (phone) app is proving to be a lifesaver.

Zello is basically a walkie talkie in your pocket. Users push and hold a button to talk immediately with others on radio-style channels.

As rescuers and storm victims seek assistance during the aftermath of Harvey, Zello is among the go-to tech tools. Zello has seen 20 times as many new users in Houston on the app compared to the previous week.

“It’s centered on live voice,” said Zello CEO Bill Moore. “Our voice is how we most naturally communicate. A few seconds of voice has so much information on emotion, education, gender, what part of the country are they from.”

Moore says dozens of channels have popped up since Harvey, from Texas Search and Rescue and the Cajun Navy Dispatch to channels for Houston midwives.

“Typically, a channel is going to have a handful of people on it,” said Moore. “Sometimes they get quite large.”

Zello started out as an app called Loudtalks in 2007. The company maintains the technology and formally launched as Zello four years later. As of February, Zello had 100 million registered users on iOS and Android.

This is not the first time Zello has seen usage spike during times of crisis. The Cajun Navy, a group of rescue volunteers begun after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, uses Zello regularly.

Moore says Zello has seen use increase during global uprisings, including ones in Egypt and the Ukraine, as well as protests in Venezuela. Zello was blocked during several of these events, most recently in Russia in April.

Moore says it’s “satisfying” Zello — based in Austin — has been so helpful for rescue efforts.

“Many of us have friends and family in Houston,” said Moore. “More broadly, technology like Zello allows people to solve things closer to the problem, where it’s so effective.”

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

Communications Director, President

QRPicnic a success

I think everyone who participated will agree that our fall QRPicnic was very enjoyable. Thanks to Grill Master Larry, N8OWS who got it all warmed up for us and all the folks who brought salads and deserts to share.  Some very tasty delights!

We had three QRP stations set up, which made the day interesting.  Some technical and propagation issues, but that always makes it interesting.

The Cleveland Hamfest

The Cleveland Hamfest is almost here.  Mark your calendar for Sunday September 24th at the Cuyahoga Fairgrounds in Berea. Many of you have probably received a flier from the Cleveland Hamfest Association with all the particulars.  If not, click on this link for a printable copy   Cleveland Hamfest Flier

The flier asks for us to supply an email address for entry in a special drawing.

How to get a FREE ARRL Handbook

On recent 10 meter net the discussion of the 2018 ARRL Handbook came up. And the ongoing Handbook Give Away by Scott Yonally, ARRL Ohio Section Manager. Here’s a link to the current post. http://arrl-ohio.org/news/ps-08-28-17.pdf  . Could you possibly win? Ask member Rich Nagel, W8KU, one of the first winners. Congratulations, Rich!

To enter in the drawing just follow the link he provides each month in his newsletter. It’s too late to enter in the September Give Away but ARRL members can be ready for the next one by subscribing to Scott’s newsletter by going to your account “e-mail subscriptions” page.

Audio for Radio … can you hear me now?

For all the time hams spend discussing signal strength, static, fading signals and other conditions that effect how well our voices are heard (and understood) by the other operator, a surprisingly small amount of time is given to audio quality and proper microphone use.

At our next meeting, Mike Peters, KD8ZMN, who has spent many years as a professional audio producer, will give us a presentation that covers all the information you need to sound your best on the air.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications  Director

A reminder–

there is NO meeting on September 4th

as we celebrate the Labor Day holiday.

Passing comments on the Solar eclipse

Many of us were looking forward to the 2017 eclipse with great anticipation and we were not disappointed. Some used special protective lenses, some used a home made pin hole projector, some watched it on TV or the internet. I hope that everyone who planned to observe this amazing occurrence was able.

These eclipse photos really moved me and I want to share them.

If you’re looking at closeup of the photo on the left you’ll see the international Space Station passing in front of the sun. You can click on the photo to see a large version with accompanying article.

In the close up you can see the ISS as well as a couple “rare” sun spots. Thanks to Clayton Samels, AC8TA for sharing these ISS “photobomb” pics.

Larry Shimerka, N8OWS had a unique observation and captured it in these pics.  While in a garage with sun light flowing from a sky light, something above acted as a pin hole and projected the image below, which included several crescents of the sun, A close inspection revealed a near perfect crescent. Who needs a pin hole projector!

Thanks, guys for sharing.

1st Annual QRPicnic !!

Our fall picnic will have a new twist. We’ll take advantage of this wonderful time of year to  set up QRP/portable stations and do some outdoor radio.  Antennas must be free standing and not attached to any park structures or trees. While battery operation is preferred, there are power outlets but bring an extension cord.

As for the picnic: Our September picnic has always been popular. Mark your calendar for Monday, September 11. Talk it up among your friends and let’s have fun. The location will be the Day park pavilion we’ve used for several years.  See directions below.

Of course, our picnic is open to everyone. The club will provide the fire.   Bring whatever you would like to cook on the grill and your refreshment. Alcohol is not permitted in the park. In the past, some folks have brought dessert and other snacks and dishes to share — which is always appreciated, but not required.  Even fast food wrappers have been seen at the picnics. The Pavilion has electrical outlets that can be used for food warmers, coffee maker, lighting, etc.

The Pavilion shelter is behind the swimming pool at Day Park, just west of Tri-C.  We will gather about 5:00 pm or and will try to listen to the 145.410 repeater in case you get lost.

We’re hoping that all of our new members will be there and give us all a chance to meet them in a totally different environment. It will be great fun! See you there.

Directions: From Ridge and Pleasant Valley, the location of our regular meetings, go West on Pleasant Valley Road past York Road.  You’ll pass the entrance to Cuyahoga Community College, then a U-shaped road that goes to  the park ball fields. Turn right (north) when at the play ground and park sign, which is Sesquicentennial Drive. At this time there is no road sign.  We’ll be in the large shelter called the Pavilion, behind the swimming pool. 

We’ll be meeting at the Pavilion in Day Park, off Pleasant Valley.

Hal Rogers, K8CMD

President, Communications Director

The Solar Eclipse of 2017… A Cosmic Coincidence?  

And what’s the significance of the numbers 400 and 5?

By now we’ve all heard a lot of talk about the 2017 solar eclipse we’ll experience Monday, August 21st.  Some say it will be an extraordinary experience no one should miss, “a once in a lifetime experience”.  Actually, it’s better than that. It’s a cosmic coincidence that  only happens once in five lifetimes!  And do you know the significance of the numbers 400 and 5? You will soon!

Last week my wife Kathy treated the family to a presentation on the eclipse at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center planetarium. The program was informative and we received two great handouts, a pair of “Eclipse Shades” (yes, they meet the ISO requirement for direct solar viewing) and a loaded NASA two sided sheet on the solar event of our lifetime. If you don’t have proper viewing lenses, the NASA page suggests several easy ways to safely view the sun.

Time now for me to say something obvious– DO NOT try to view the sun without proper lenses.  These lenses are made of material that reduce the sun’s light to a hundred thousandth of it’s actual intensity.  Also, don’t view the sun through a normal telescope or binocular. These devices actually AMPLIFY light level and you will cook your eyes!  Remember those times as a kid you took a magnifying glass outside and focused sunlight onto a leaf or piece of paper to start a fire?  Well I do. It didn’t work fast enough so I focused it on my finger. Yike!!! That was hot.

Our meeting Monday August 21st will consist of a short business meeting, then I’d like those present to share how they experienced the eclipse of our lifetime.

Check out these links:

Cosmic coincidence.  A short animation from NBC.

Many thanks to the West Park  RadioOps for sponsoring a fun QRP day August 12th.  What a great idea!  Eight stations were set up in a North Olmsted park using a variety of very interesting low power rigs and antennas.  This ham took advantage of the opportunity to set up the bamboo poles/ 20 meter delta loop I built last summer.

Of course, no ham event goes without ample story swapping and other chit chat and this was no exception. I met many nice folks and even learned some helpful QRP tips.

It was great to see four PRC members come to check out the fun!  See photos from Bill and Judi Squires from this event at West Park 2017 QRP Day

Hal Rogers, K8CMD President, Communications Director