THE LOCAL OSCILLATOR - June 2004 NOTE: An HTML version is available at www.mvrc.qzxservices.com. A pdf file of the web edition is available at www.mvrc.qzxservices.com/pdf/LO0406.pdf. It will be easy to print that edition. If you do not have the free pdf reader you can get it at www.adobe.com TABLE OF CONTENTS COMING EVENTS PRESIDENT'S CORNER FIELD DAY 2004 MORE FIELD DAY SPECIAL SERVICE CLUB RENEWAL LINKED REPEATERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND UNCLASSIFIED ADS BACK PAGE COMING EVENTS Week days 6 m FM net 52.540 6:00AM Mon WTRA Swap net 146.88 8 PM Wed Net 146.64 6:45PM round-table 52.525MHz 8 PM Weekdays Informal get together Mon Wed Fri Munson Center 10AM Tue Thur Wal-Mart E June 5 Breakfest 8 AM Club House June 5 Business meeting 9:15AM Club House June 14 Social Meeting (2nd Mon) 6 PM Golden Corral June 16 1st Wed after 2nd Mon Directors at Club House 7:00PM June 26, 27 Field Day Sep 4 Alamogordo NM Hamfest PRESIDENT'S CORNER KD5SSF Broadband over power lines (BPL) pits two areas that most Amateurs are involved in against each other. BPL refers to the proposal (and practice in some areas) of sending Internet traffic over the lines that carry AC power into our homes and businesses. Everyone wants fast Internet access, but Amateurs are concerned that areas of the HF spectrum will be "polluted" by emissions from the power lines incidental to carrying the Internet traffic. Much the same has happened as the skies around cities are "polluted" by light, making observations difficult for astronomers. This reminds us that another reason we associate with other Amateurs is to provide a voice that decision-makers will hear when we encounter threats to our spectrum. Let's keep abreast of developments in this area so that we can help provide a reasoned evaluation of the magnitude of this threat to the spectrum. FIELD DAY 2004 KD5SSF Field day is coming. Field Day is an event at which we operate radios at a location remote from electric mains (in the field). It will start at noon (MDT) on Saturday, June 26 and end at noon on Sunday, June 27. We will set up in the gravel parking lot east of the Pan Am Center. Remote does not have to be austere so we will be operating out of several motor homes. There is plenty of fun to go around. Even if you have never been involved in a field day, come and man one of the stations for an hour or so. There will be experienced Amateurs on hand who will help you get on the air. Insomniacs are advised that we plan to operate throughout the night. This is your chance to join some other nocturnal hams. One of the biggest goals is to generate interest in amateur radio both among hams and those who have not yet discovered the joy of Amateur Radio. Bring along anyone you know of who has any tolerance at all for Amateur Radio. We are still looking for people to work the stations. We will have VHF, HF CW, HF Phone, and GET ON THE AIR (GOTA) stations. We will allow non-licensed people to make contacts from the GOTA station. We are also looking for someone else to loan us an ICOM 706. If you are willing to allow your ICOM 706 to get an extra workout or wish to man one of the stations for an hour or so, please contact Bob (KD5PPP) at 984-0995 or Cash (KD5SSJ) at 382-1917 MORE FIELD DAY WZ5R I have agreed to round up a crew to operate the phone station for field day this year. All licensed hams are welcome. The tentative (?) location for this year's station is same as last year: the parking area east of the Pan Am Center. If all goes as planned, you will be able to operate in air-conditioned (RV) comfort! We need operators and loggers. If you can spare an hour (or 6 or 7...hi), please let me know and I will sign you up. SPECIAL SERVICES CLUB APPOINTMENT KB1HSC (ARRL) We are pleased to report that the Mesilla Valley Radio Club has been officially renewed as a Special Service Club. The next renewal for the club will be in two years. Through the work of its members, this club is recognized for its continued efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio and services to its community. You are to be commended for your work with the club in helping it realize and maintain its potential. Because you have been so closely associated with the club during the development of its SSC commitment, we want to give you the opportunity of informing the club directly of its success. The club will continue to receive periodic mails of materials and information from Headquarters. Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date and current. Congratulations, and thanks for your good work! If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. THE MVRC SCHOLARSHIP FUND AD5LJ At the May general business meeting, the club approved the award of the scholarship for 2004/2005 to Mr. Brady Allred. Several people were surprised to learn that MVRC has a scholarship fund for NMSU students. Two of the club’s new members asked for more information on the scholarship, so here goes. GENERAL INFORMATION. The MVRC fund is officially known as the “Bob Fitzpatrick Memorial Scholarship Fund”, and is administered by the NMSU Foundation, Inc. MVRC has reserved the right to select the winners of the scholarship each year. MVRC has approximately $17,000 in an endowed fund at the foundation. Interest from the endowment is used to fund the annual scholarships. The amount of the award depends on interest rates and for the last few years has varied from $600 to $1000. The NMSU Financial Aid Office will screen scholarship applications and forward those that meet the following criteria to the MVRC for consideration. 1. Hold a valid amateur radio license. 2. Be at least a sophomore. 3. Be a full time student in any field of study, either undergraduate or graduate. 4. Have at least a 2.00 GPA (this is a university requirement). After the list of candidates is submitted to the MVRC, one of two actions occurs. If only one candidate is submitted (this has been the case for the last three years), then a motion is made at a business meeting to award the scholarship to that individual. If two or more names are submitted, then the club president will appoint an Ad Hoc committee to review the applications and make a recommendation. The committee’s recommendation is then presented to the membership for approval. HISTORY. The idea to form a MVRC scholarship fund was introduced as a motion at a business meeting in 1982 by Dan (?), KC5BH. After much discussion, the motion was approved by the membership and a committee formed to implement the motion. The original idea was that the scholarship would be funded directly from the club’s general funds, be for club members and their families and that the award would be $150 per year. The first scholarship was awarded to Tracy Hooker (KA5ECS) in 1983 and he again received the award in 1984. In 1985, the club decided to open the scholarship to non-member amateurs and elected to turn the administration of the scholarship over to NMSU. In 1986, the club deposited an initial $2500 with the Foundation and through donations, reached the $5000 threshold necessary for an endowment in 1987. Awards started again in 1988. During the 1990’s, several contributions to the fund were made by the club and by the estates of deceased amateurs. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. The following people have received the MVRC Scholarship: 1983 – Tracy Hooker 1984 – Tracy Hooker 1985 – Not Awarded 1986 – Not Awarded 1987 – Not Awarded 1988 – Unknown 1989 – Unknown 1990 – Unknown 1991 – William Baggett 1992 – Dean Kozel 1993 – Justin Knight 1994 – William Baggett 1995 – Not Awarded 1996 – Maria Hendricks 1997 – Not Awarded 1998 – Not Awarded 1999 – Kenneth Leitch, Jason Payne and Kendall Mauldin 2000 – Ruth Martin and Charles Lopez 2001 – Corey Asbill and Brian Hogan 2002 – Scott Kersey 2003 – Melanie Leaton 2004 – Brady Allred LINKED REPEATERS WK5C Three linked repeaters have been established in the Deming, Mimbres, and Lordsburg area. All have a PL of 127.3. The 147.02 is in the Little Floridas, just south of Deming, with the antenna pointed north toward Silver City. The 147.04 is in the Mimbres Valley area. The .04 and 06 machines are assessable from my QTH in Talavera. The Lordsburg machine is a little scratchy but the Deming machine is full quieting. The 147.06 is at Murray Tank, near Lordsburg. According to WD5EZC, an APRS station is also at each of these locations, and 3 packet stations are in the makings for the same locations. UNCLASSIFIED ADS FREE: Motorola FMTR 80D(E)1A commercial VHF transceiver, 1960's vintage, not working, but a gold mine of vacuum tubes and electronic components. Pick-up only. Bill Johnston, k5zi@arrl.net, 382-7804. WANTED: 1962 New Mexico ham radio callsign license plate. Most other years are of interest also. Will buy or trade. Bill Johnston, k5zi@arrl.net, 382-7804. BACK PAGE The newsletter is always looking for articles and notes of interest to the members of the Mesilla Valley Radio Club. Please send them to Alex. F. Burr, K5XY, Editor, MVRC Local Oscillator, 695 Stone Canyon Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Small personal ads from members will also be published. It would be helpful if submissions would be made in a machine readable form. MSDOS disks are welcome. Files can also be sent to the Internet address aburr@aol.com. The club has a web site maintained by WA2NIJ at http://www.zianet.com/mvrc. OFFICERS Pres Tim Linn KD5SSF 521-0486 kd5ssf@arrl.net VPr Bob Deal KD5PPP bob-verna@zianet.com Sec Carleton Talbot KC5MRM (915)877-3538 kc5mrm@zianet.com Tres Charlie Welch W5TLU 524-3412 cwwelch@usa.net Board Communications Karl Larsen K5DI 524-3303 k5di@zianet.com Education Joe San Filippo WZ5R 521-7574 sanfilippo@zianet.com Special Events Cash Olsen KD5SSJ 382-1917 KD5SSJ@zianet.com Newsletter Alex Burr K5XY 522-2528 k5xy@arrl.net Repeaters Brad Sacca KD5SKE 382-4380 sheikyerbouty@msn.com Facilities Bob Bennett AD5LJ 382-0148 rbennett@zianet.com JOIN THE CLUB To join the Mesilla Valley Radio Club, renew your membership, or to support the repeaters, please complete the form below and send it with dues ($25 single, $35 family per year) to: Treasurer, MVRC, Box 1443, Las Cruces, NM 88004. Name: Address: Call: Class of License: Phone: E-Mail Address: ARRL Member? Yes? No?