August 1996
On Sunday 07/28/96 the new repeater must have received a surge from the thunderstorm that passed though about 10:45 AM
Thank you Steve, Tom, & Don for going out to check on this for us. It appears that the pre-amp & phone patch were the only thing hurt at the time of this printing. Unknown at this time if it can be repaired or if we will have to replace the damaged parts. We should discuss the purchase of lightning protection at our next club meeting. This could have been a lot worse.
Update from Don on new repeater:
This month I will try and update everyone on more of the functions we now have with our new repeater and controller. As I told everyone last month, this new controller has the capability of supporting 100 speed dial slots. Please see the MARC Membership list for currently assigned slot numbers. You can refer to last months MARC newsletter for speed dialing information. If you would like to have a slot, please contact WD5HLD
Another feature we have is the ability to check your touch-tone pad on the air. To do a pad test, ID and say your doing a pad test and enter 375 plus the pad keys you want to test.
Another feature, is the provision for any club member to put the Weather Alert on the repeater during bad weather. Please, only do this when severe weather is in the area and hams need to be notified. To put the Weather Alert on the repeater, ID and announce your on command and enter the code 428341. The repeater will announce WEATHER ALERT after the courtesy tone and just before the signal drops. To turn the Weather alert function off, enter 428340. As always, safeguard these code numbers and do not give them out on the air.
Also, if you want to hear Howard's welcome announcement, enter code 70012.
Well, that is about all for now, until next time 73's WD5HLD
President Report:
I want to thank all of you for the good attendance we have had at the last few meetings. Your input on issues and fellowship are greatly appreciated. We have had a few visitors from out of town stop by to meet us at a couple of meetings. This is what Amateur Radio is all about. Please welcome Darrell KC5CZX to our community. A special thank you to Tom for working with the old repeater.
Secretary Report: Don't forget to check into the Tuesday evening 2-meter net at 7 P.M. each week on 146.700. Any announcements, emergency traffic, or a simple hello and 73 can be passed along to others. Let us know how you are doing.
Treasurer Report:
Thanks to all who have made a contribution to the new repeater fund. The figure gets lower every month. However; We still need $171.94 more funding. If anyone has any extra cash lying around, please mail your contributions to
John Davis
2215 28th Ave
Meridian, MS 39301.
If you have not paid your dues, please do so as soon as possible.
Hamfest:
Bossier City, LA on August 10-11 @ Bossier City Civic Center. Admission is only $4.00. There will be VE TESTING on Sunday at 9 AM, door prizes, and a host of other events. I know it is a long drive, ( between 5-6 hours ) However this is one of the largest Hamfest in the State of LA. It may well be worth your drive. I have additional information on this event and recommendations for over night accommodations and entertainment. If interested call W5MAV Darrell @ 485-7568.
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Huntsville, AL on August 17-18 @ The Von Braun Civic center. Admission is $5.00. VE TESTING on Sunday at 9:15 AM. Again, a long drive, but one of the largest Hamfest in the State of AL. Contact Scotty Neustadter @ 205-534-557 or Don & Joann Tunstill @ 205-534-7175 for additional information.
NEWS: LAST GASP FOR CYCLE 22
Solar prognosticator Tad Cook, KT7H, asks: Is this a last gasp for Cycle 22? Solar activity recently took a big and unexpected jump, with solar flux peaking at 83.6 on July 9, and the average sunspot number up almost 6 points beyond the previous week. Solar flares around the first of the month produced slow-moving protons which affected the A and K indices around July 3, 4 and 5. The highest K index was 4. A later flare disturbed conditions on July 12 and 13 during the IARU HF World Championship.
Cook predicts the solar flux will again rise above 70 after July 28. The next solar rotation will probably bring the current active region around again to bump the solar flux up around 80 after August 1. Sunspot numbers for July 4 through 10 were 12, 12, 0, 27, 42, 44 and 36, respectively, with a mean of 24.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 69.1, 68.6, 68.2, 71.9, 81.6, 83.6, and 79.8, respectively, for a mean of 74.7. Sounds like things are looking better....
THE PHANTOM JAMMER
The Phantoms Amateur Radio Group (PARG) of Portland, Oregon, is claiming credit for helping police to nab "The Phantom Jammer," who was interfering with police calls in Seaside, Oregon, during the Northwest Division Convention in early June. John Mackey, KA0SSF, of PARG reports members were on the beach enjoying the annual PARG bonfire when KB7YZS heard someone "cursing and yelling at people" on the VHF police frequency, which he was monitoring at the time.
After a few minutes of listening, members figured out that the person was up in a balcony and was with a mixed group. KB7YZS, KB7YZR, N7XMD, and AA7UP (who just happen to be most of the PARG Interference Committee) immediately activated direction-finding operations and tracked down the interference to a local motel. It only took them a few minutes to spot a group on a balcony, one of whom was using an H-T. After noting that the transmissions coincided with what they heard on the police frequency, PARG informed Seaside Police. A short time later, Mackey reports, Seaside Police "caught the person in the act." Seaside Police subsequently charged Bobby Lee Aguero, KE6VNU, of Rocklin, California, with interfering with a police officer.
Aguero, 19, already faces similar charges in California. (youth is wasted on the young) Mackey said this was the second consecutive year PARG got to provide a public service during the Seaside convention. Last year several PARG members apprehended a purse thief--after a brief foot pursuit--returned the purse to its rightful owner, and detained the suspect until police could arrive.
BERTHA TESTS NORTH CAROLINA HAMS;
GOVERNOR EXPRESSES APPRECIATION
Although North Carolina Hurricane Awareness Week was a week away, Bertha didn't wait. After dithering for a while in the Atlantic, threatening to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and then appearing to break up, Hurricane Bertha picked up some steam, turned north and stormed up the North Carolina coast July 12. The storm caused considerable damage along the coast, and spawned tornadoes 150 miles inland in the Raleigh area. Dozens of Amateur Radio Emergency Service operators took their customary places in Emergency Operation Centers in coastal counties and at the state EOC in the capital, Raleigh. The Tarheel Emergency Net--North Carolina's primary ARES net--went into continuous operation on 3923 kHz until midday July 13. Skywarn nets were activated along the coast and in Raleigh to update the National Weather Service on changing conditions. Although power and telephones were knocked out over wide areas, state emergency communications systems held up well, and hams had only limited opportunities to assist. The Skywarn nets provided the most critical information, but even there, the hurricane-generated tornadoes were very short-lived and sporadic, making warnings useless. Bertha turned out to be more of a drill for amateurs than an actual emergency, but ham radio's efforts were recognized by North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt Jr, who sent this message: "Thank you for volunteering your time, equipment and expertise helping in the Bertha emergency. Your devotion to public service exemplifies the ideals that make this state great."--
Olympics Update
Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, NC Section Public Information Coordinator W4O TO COMMEMORATE OLYMPICS Jim Altman, N4UCK, in Atlanta, Georgia, reports that the special-event 1x1 call sign W4O has been issued as the official Olympics commemorative station. Altman, the call sign's trustee, says the call sign will remain in use by various clubs and groups until August 31. Among the clubs expected to use the call sign is the Sci-Trek Amateur Radio Society (STARS) operating from the Science Museum of Atlanta. He said the group or groups using the call sign--or one of the authorized Olympics alternatives, such as W400O, W96O or W26O--will determine the operating schedule and handle QSL chores. Altman said to direct QSLs per the instructions of the operator on duty at the time of the contact. N4UCK has been giving the call sign an SSB workout on 20 meters and 10 meters.
Our friend Terry KB5QOD was able to talk to Shannon on the Mir Space Station ( ROMIR ) on 2 meter 145.550 this past month. What a treat !!! The packet radio robot, W5RRR-1, has also been active. It seems those on both sides of these QSOs have been enjoying the experience.
Next testing session in Meridian will be in September for all who wish to upgrade their license.
Have a great month
