THE
SPARK GAP
April 1998
Club Information
President: Dennis KI5FW
Vice Pres: C.P. W5OQY
Secretary: Bill KB5ASR
Treasurer: Ross WB4ZIK
Editor : Darrell W5MAV
Club meets every Saturday 10 A.M. at Queen City Truck Stop. All
visitors and new members are welcome. Some folks come early for
breakfast.
President Report:
GE once again: I hope everyone is having as much fun cutting their grass as I am mine. It's that time agn. Everything is green and blooming and the greatest holiday of all is here, EASTER.
Personally, I've been glad to see the large groups of HAMS turn out fer the Spotters Group meetings we've had so far. Hopefully everyone will pitch in during threatening weather and make this program a success. Everybody please gather around the repeater when these weather fronts approach and pass thru our area. With the leadership of Mel (N5JCG/RCA) and the help of everyone we can all benefit from this effort.
At the April meeting (4/4/98) the club voted to replace both antennas at the repeater site. The bottom antenna has been found with a problem in it and since both have been up and operating since 1982 the thought of the top antenna having a problem soon may occur and replacing both will be preventive maintenance. Russell (WA5EE) C.P. (W5OQY), Bill (KB5ASR) and myself volunteered to get this project handled and completed.
Also at the club meeting the local VE team decided on MAY 2 (1st Sat in May) to give VE exams. Exams will be given at MCC with registration beginning at 12:00 noon and testing starting at 12:30. Study up and upgrade those license, We love to see HAMS pass and upgrade (especially CW exams).ThThThThat's all FFolk's............. 73's.....de....Dennis......KI5FW..................
Vice President Report:
Hello from plant sweat. Can't say enough about tornado weather. It is here anyway. Hope everyone gets involved in our wx net.
Well El Nino messed up our Spring fishing. Its been okay but not as good as previous years. Field day is coming up soon. Make sure it's on your calender. Hope we have a big turn out. If we are in town lets turn out and have fun again. Wish everyone a safe Easter, and be careful thru the bad wx season. 73's C.P. W5OQY
FCC PROPOSES RULES CHANGES AFFECTING HAMS
In a sweeping Notice of Proposed Rule making the FCC has suggested several rules changes that could affect Amateur Radio, including replacement of the venerable FCC Form 610. NPRM Docket WT 98-20, "To Facilitate the Development and Use of the Universal Licensing System in the Wireless Telecommunications Services," seeks comments on proposals to replace Form 610 with FCC Form 605; to permit automatic reciprocal licensing of foreign hams wishing to operate in the US; to privatize the issuance of club station licenses; and to require applicants and licensees to supply a taxpayer identification number (TIN) and to file electronically. The FCC also plans to consolidate the application procedures for all Wireless Telecommunications Services into a single set of rules. All of these proposals are part of the FCC's efforts to implement the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Universal Licensing System (ULS).
The new Form 605 would apply for Amateur Radio and other services "not presently required to submit extensive technical data to receive a license." The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is trying to drastically cut down the number of forms for the various services it administers, and to include all of its services under the ULS. The FCC last November began initial collection of licensee data to populate the ULS. Using the ULS, applicants and licensees will be able to file, modify, and renew electronically. Ultimately, the FCC intends to require all applicants, as appropriate, to file all applications and notifications electronically.
The FCC says it's tentatively concluded that there is "little or no need to continue issuing the reciprocal permit" (FCC Form 610-AL) for alien amateur licensees because the license from any foreign country with which the US has a reciprocal agreement would "stand as the proof that the foreign operator is qualified for the reciprocal operating authority." Reciprocal operation under the new regime would be "by rule," which means no special action is necessary on the applicant's part, and the elimination of Form 610-A.
For club station licenses, the FCC proposes to accept the services of VEC-like organizations as volunteer club station call sign administrators. Prospective organizations would have to complete a pilot auto grant batch filing project before being authorized as call sign administrators.
Under the ULS, applicants or licensees would have to supply a TIN, usually a Social Security number, or "its functional equivalent." The FCC says this is consistent with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996." To allay fears of misuse of TINs, the FCC says the ULS would be designed so that TINs will not be available to the public and "only a small number of Commission employees would have access to TIN information in conjunction with their work." The FCC says a Privacy Act submission would be published in the Federal Register "to obtain the requisite public and Congressional comment and Office of Management and Budget approval prior to implementation of the ULS."
Comments are due to the FCC 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Reference WT Docket 98-20. ARRL
The Third Man
Last night I dreamed I took a walk up Calvary's lonely hill, The things I saw with my own eyes could not have been more real.
I saw upon three crosses three men in agony; two cried out for mercy... But the third man just looked at me.
Oh, the pain in this man's eyes broke my heart in two! It seemed I could hear the third man say: "I'm doing this for you."
I knelt beneath the third man's cross, and slowly bowed my head, I reached out to touch his feet, and it stained my hand's with red.
An when I heard him cry in pain, I raised my eyes to see; blood spilled from the third man's side...and some of it spilled on me.
The third man wore a crown of thorns, spikes held him to the tree, I heard him cry, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
And those who mocked him cried, King...save Thyself if thou art King!" And then the third man died.
I heard the thunder roll, and saw the lightening pierce the sky. Then third man was still hanging there, and I began to cry.
I heard the boulder fall, and saw the breaking of the ground. And then I awoke, and though I dreamed; I touched my cheek and found my eyes were wet where I had cried,
A DREAM? I wished I knew---I can still hear the third man say, "I'm doing this for you."
Author: Unknown
A bricklayer's accident report
This is a bricklayer's accident report that was printed in the newsletter of the English equivalent of the Workers' Compensation Board. So here, thanks to John Sedgwick is this Bricklayer's report.
Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block #3 of the accident reporting form. I put "Poor Planning" as the cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found I had some bricks left over which when weighed later were found to weigh 240 lbs. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 240 lbs of bricks. You will note on the accident reporting form that my weight is 135 lbs. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel which was now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed. This explains the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone, as listed in Section 3 of the accident reporting form.
Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley which I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this correspondence. Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of the excruciating pain I was now beginning to experience. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel.
Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I refer you again to my weight. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and severe lacerations of my legs and lower body.
Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope ...
