THE LOCAL OSCILLATOR - July 2005 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/LO0507.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 JUNE 25 and 26 FIELD DAY NO JULY MEETING CW GROUP RACES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MVRC BUSINESS MEETING ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION HAMFEST INCOME/EXPENSE BACK PAGE COMING EVENTS M-F 6 m FM net 52.540 6:00AM Mon YL Rise & Shine 449.9 8:30AM Mon WTRA Swap net 146.88 8:00PM Wed Net 146.64 6:45PM M-F round-table 52.525MHz 8:00PM Weekdays Informal get together Mon Wed Fri Munson Center 10AM Tue Thur Wal-Mart E 10AM June 25 - 26 Field Day Missouri and Don Roser July 2 NO Breakfast 8 AM Club House July 4 NO Business meeting 9:15AM Club House July 4 Race at Burn Lake July 13 1st Wed after 1st Sat Directors at Club House 7:00PM July 29-31 Rocky Mountain Division info at www.utahhamfest.org PRESIDENT'S CORNER N5PK Well, the Elmering session the 11th of June went off smoothly, even though club member and officer participation was disappointing. Several brought in their 2 meter and 70 cm equipment for all to see and to demonstrate it's operation. Many questions were asked and information exchanged. We all enjoyed the getting together and talking about our equipment. Those present all agreed that even though the attendance was disappointing, this event is important to the life of our club and will be repeated in the near future. On the 18th, field day antennas, associated hardware and equipment were set up at the club property, checked out, taken down and made ready for transport to the field day site. We have in hand the proclamation presented the the MVRC by the City Council, proclaiming the week of June 20 through June 26 as "Amateur Radio Week". All that remains now is that we collectively go out and have a great field day experience. Remember, the location is the corner of Don Roser and Missouri. Come out and fine tune your communication skills or get over "mike fright". Hope to see each of you there. A reminder for all, the July club meeting falls on the July fourth week end and the officers and board of directors have canceled that meeting. We will send out notices concerning the August meeting so no one will forget and you will be informed of the events in July as those events get near. We still have lot's to accomplish this year. Help us get this message out please Our year is nearly half gone. If there are issues that you feel are important that we have not yet addressed or something we've overlooked that needs attention, please contact me or another officer at the numbers listed under officers. This is your club and if we are to do the best job at attaining our goals, we very much need your inputs. JUNE 25 and 26 FIELD DAY KD5OHA This coming weekend June 25 and 26 The Mesilla Valley Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the annual ARRL Field Day Event. It starts at noon Saturday and runs till noon Sunday. Everyone is invited to come out and see how we operate under emergency conditions with battery power and portable base station antennas. Come out to the corner of Don Roser & Missouri and find out what amateur radio is all about and how to get involved. You can even get on the air and talk across the United States. So come on out, bring your family, kids, and friends. NO JULY MEETING N5PK Since our regular meeting date falls during the Independence Day holiday weekend, there will be no club breakfast or meeting in July. Remember Field Day is June 25 and 26 – located at the corner of Don Roser and Missouri Streets. CW GROUP K5DI We had a nice crowd at the last meeting and we talked about many things often with 2 conversations going at the same time. One item is very important. Since the next first Monday is July 4th we decided to move the meeting to July 11th at 7 PM. Now we have 5 people improving there code speed using the CD-Rom with MP3 code from Chuck Adam. I'm using the paper in pdf form on this CD to learn how to use Iambic keying. We discovered that not all the members can get on the air. Some are missing a radio, some are missing an antenna. Some are not sure one or another will work on 40 meters at 7.142 MHz. So here are some ideas on antennas. I like the 44 foot long dipole fed with 450 ohm ribbon. The ribbon goes to an antenna tuner with a parallel feed line input. Almost all MFJ Tuners have this feature. Simpler is a 64 foot long dipole fed with RG-8X coax. This antenna will work on 40 and 15 meters. The best way to get on the air is with a known good 40 meter radio from Small Wonders Lab. They have a web site at: http://www.smallwonderlabs.com/ You want to order the SW+ 40 Meter kit which will cost $55.00. Of course you need to put this kit together. There will be help at these meetings if you need it. We will talk about the design of this radio and why it's such a good CW radio. As always, if you don't want to drive at night, you can get a ride from me to the Clubhouse and home again. Karl Larsen, 3310 East Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005, 505-640-1383 RACES KD5OHA Attention Members of the Mesilla Valley Radio Club. We have races coming up that I will need help with. The first one is July 4th at Burn Lake. The next one is July 9th. It starts at the park by the Rio Grande river bridge on Picacho and goes down the river trail two and one half miles and then back to the same park. The next one is a new race this year. If it is approved, it will be July 23. More details coming as soon as Don Shepan gets them to me. MINUTES OF JUNE 2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS W5JRD The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of MVRC was held on June 8, 2005 at the club house. Those in attendance: Jack Lemons (N5PK), Tres Cambell (KO5ZHI), Sandra Hempfling (KJ5Q), Alex Burr (K5XY), George Kopp (KD5OHA), and Judy Davis (W5JRD). The meeting was called to order by President Jack Lemons at 7:05 PM. There were no minutes from the last meeting. The treasurer’s report was read by Sandra Hempfling. The Club has a balance of $10,248.84 as of May 31, 2005. It was decided to try and make the educational fund self sufficient. The club will also buy the meat for the Field Day event. It was reported that the paper work for the city council’s proclamation has been submitted marking Amateur Radio Week. Letters to elected officials and press releases have been sent. A thank you note was also sent to Eddie Binns for the use of his property for Field Day. There will be a practice session for Field Day on June 18 at 8:00 AM at the club house and an Elmering session will be held on June 11 at 10:00 AM at the club house. A discussion of the points system for Field Day was given by Alex Burr. Tres Cambell volunteered to update the information packet for the event. The inventory list for the club was submitted by Tres Cambell and approved. Alex Burr requested that the Local Oscillator reports need to be in to him by Monday, June 20. Because of the July 4 holiday, there will be no July meeting. The meeting was adjourned. Submitted by Judy Davis, acting secretary MINUTES OF JUNE 2005 MVRC BUSINESS MEETING W5JRD The MVRC met at the club house June 4, 2005 for the monthly business meeting. Vice President Tres Cambell (KO5ZHI) called the meeting to order at 9:15 AM. All present introduced themselves. Two new members, Leslie Morrell (KW5ST) and Randy Adamson (KE5EMP) were introduced. Minutes of the meeting of May 7, 2005 were read and approved. Treasurer’s report was given by Sandra Hempfling (KJ5Q). Our balance from all accounts is $10,248.84 as of May 31, 2005. The report was approved. Cash Olsen (KD5SSJ) announced that the Elmering event for new hams will be on June 11, 2005 at 10:00 AM at the club house. Volunteers are needed for support and equipment. Marny Leverette (KA2FVO), promotional chairman for the Feld Day event, reported that the city will issue a proclamation marking amateur radio week ending with Field Day on June 26, 2005. The city council will announce this at their June 20, 2005 meeting. Club members are encouraged to attend this meeting. Announcements for Field Day are being sent to the local news papers and TV stations. Leslie Morrell volunteered to assist. Cash Olsen will have a BBQ for those helping to set up at 7:00 PM on Saturday, June 25. George Kopp (KD5OHA) announced that the area at Don Roser and Missouri Streets has been secured. Two motor homes and a travel trailer will be provided by club members for use as operating stations. A practice session will be held at 8:00 AM on Saturday June 18, 2005 at the club house. George Kopp announced that the club will support a race at Burn Lake on July 4, 2005. Cash Olsen, the new director for RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency System), requested that operators interested in participating in RACES sign up on the provided sheet. An exercise will be held on June 29, 2005 to train radio operators and medical personnel in emergence operations. Volunteers are meeded. The program was presented by Jim Leverette (WA2NIJ) about the search and rescue organization and the part amateur radio operators play in it. The meeting was adjourned. Submitted by Judy Davis, acting secretary ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION HAMFEST N5ZGT The 2005 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division convention, sponsored by the Utah Hamfest, will be held on Friday, July 29 thru Sunday, July 31 at Ruby's Inn, just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Rooms reserved by July 1 are discounted as low as $53 per night. RV camping is also available. Features include FCC's Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH, exhibitor and vendor displays, ARRL forum and meetings, a multitude of special interest sessions, plus: - Wouff Hong ceremony - Transmitter Hunt - Mobile installation and homebrew contests - CW copying and transformer tossing competitions - QLF contest (how good are you at keying CW.with your left food?) - VE sessions - RV Camping - Activities for non-Hams - Prizes - Friday evening Eyeball QSO Party BBQ dinner hosted by the organizers - Saturday evening Dutch oven cook-off - Sunday morning Breakfast Banquet - And more! Come on out and enjoy the beauty of Bryce Canyon, as well as the fun of a great Hamfest. Help us spread the word, and book your room now at a special rate. Don't miss the 2005 Rocky Mountain Division convention! For more information, including registration forms, swing by http://www.utahhamfest.org INCOME/EXPENSE KJ5Q Mesilla Valley Radio Club Income/Expense May 1 through May 31, 2005 Beginning Balances, May 1 MVRC Checking Account 3425.61 MVRC Savings Account 4102.81 Education Fund Account 2540.13 Cash on Hand 49.47 Balances Total 10118.02 INCOME Breakfast & Drinks 72.00 Dues 70.00 Equipment Sales 58.00 TOTAL INCOME 200.00 Balances + Income 10318.02 EXPENSES Breakfast 31.47 Utilities Telephone 26.38 Water 11.33 TOTAL EXPENSES 69.18 Balances on hand, May 31, 2005 10248.84 May 31, 2005 Bank Accounts MVRC Checking 3556.43 MVRC Savings Account 4102.81 7659.24 Cash Accounts MVRC Petty Cash 49.47 Education Fund Education Fund Account 2540.13 Total 10248.84 Sandra Hempfling Treasurer 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 k5xy@arrl.net. The club has a web site maintained by WA2NIJ at http://www.zianet.com/mvrc. OFFICERS Pres Jack Lemons N5PK 526-9428 n5pk@zianet.com VPr Tres Campbell KD5HZI 373-2008 trscam@netscape.net Sec Judy Davis W5JRD 522-6833 jhughes@nmsu.edu Tres Sandra Hempfling KJ5Q 373-1166 kj5q@arrl.net BOARD Communications George Kopp KD5OHA 525-1956 geokd5oha@yahoo.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 Clubhouse 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 ($35 single, $45 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?