THE LOCAL OSCILLATOR - February 2006 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/LO0602.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 NOTES TECHNICAL MEETINGS RACES INSTRUCTORS NEEDED RADIO CLASS FLYER QRP GROUP DUES CW GROUP FEB PROGRAM MINUTES OF JANUARY 2006 BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING INCOME/EXPENSE BACK PAGE COMING EVENTS Sun CW net 7.142 MHz 4:00PM 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 MWF Informal get together Wal-Mart W (Valley) 10AM TTH Informat get together Wal-Mart E (Walton) 10AM Feb 4 Breakfast 8:00AM Club House Feb 4 Business meeting 9:15AM Club House Feb 5 Supper Bowl Run Feb 8 1st Wed after 1st Sat Directors at Club House 7:00PM Feb 9 Technical meeting on radios Club House 7:00PM Feb 13 QRP Group Club House 7:00PM Feb 23 Technical meeting on soldering Club House 7:00PM Feb 24-26 Technician Class Club House Apr 21-23 General Class Club House Apr 30 Bean Feed Club House Sept 8-10 Technician Class Club House Oct 27-29 General Class Club House PRESIDENT'S NOTES N5PK Greetings everyone. First, I was so pleased at the attendance at the regular meeting in January, thirty one or thirty three folks. Great to see you all. I was a little disappointed we didn't have more volunteers who wanted to contribute $10,000 to expand our meeting area, oh well! We will be going back to our original meeting area set up after breakfast beginning in February and we will need your help in taking the tables down and re arranging the chairs. This will in effect give us more room. Continue to attend the breakfast and the business meetings and we will provide the space for your comfort. Second, I received a telephone call from Paul Choc, WA5IHL, on Wednesday afternoon relating good news! Our two new repeaters are in and as soon as the final costs are known and coordination of a meeting time with him is arranged we will be going after them. I'm excited about this purchase and know you are as well. I can hardly wait to get them on line. These will replace our two VHF machines. Our plan is to Keep three of the old machines currently in use and an additional one for 70 CM to be used as "plug and play" spares if and when needed. Next, is a reminder about club dues. As you remember because of a serious money crises we raised the dues to $35 for single membership and $45 family. Renewal of memberships are now due for 2006 and we encourage you to send your renewal in promptly. We've approved a new budget that will require additional funds above that required the last few years if we are to achieve the goals that we have set together. Thanks for your prompt response. Finally, a couple of reminders, 1. The regular monthly breakfast and business meeting on the 4th of February, plan to attend if you possibly can. 2. Plan now to attend Tech Night on the 26th of January. Topic will focus on antennas for this secession. No matter your level of expertise, I 'm sure you will not go away un challenged. Be there! Last after finally, ARLB002 Newly elected Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will be the League's president for the next two years. He becomes ARRL'S 14th president. Additionally, you stay well, there are several things still going around out there that can make you very ill, keep out of harms way and watch out for the other guy! TECHNICAL MEETINGS WA5DJJ The February Tech night meetings will be on the 9th and 23rd of the month. The topics for discussion will be as follows: February 9th: Radios This discussion is about how to select your radio. What options do you need or may want on your radio to participate in future operations? What is the best radio for me to buy? If you have a favorite radio that you would like to bring for "show and tell" bring it along. Hopefully, I will have some of my radios there that we can talk about. February 23rd - Soldering We are going to talk about and demonstrate different methods of soldering from simple soldering two wires together to surface mount soldering techniques. We will look at different soldering irons and discuss the differences between them. We will also talk about solder, tinning before we solder, and try a hand at soldering parts to PC board and Manhattan style building. RACES KD5OHA The next race we have coming up will be Sunday Feb. 5 Supper Bowl Run. Probably about 9:30 AM. More details at a later date. The next race after that is the Run Old Mesilla in March. INSTRUCTORS NEEDED WZ5R Here is the 2006 schedule for MVRC classes. If you would like to take a turn instructing, please contact me by e-mail or phone: 521-7574. Classes run Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. Format is: watch video; review question pool; administer practice exam(s). All materials are provided. Snacks and lunches Sat, Sun are provided. Typically a single instructor will take a morning, an evening, or an afternoon. February 24, 25, 26: Technician Registration deadline: Feb.17 April 21, 22, 23: General Registration deadline: Apr. 14 September 8, 9, 10: Technician Registration deadline: Sep. 1 October 27, 28, 29: General Registration deadline: Oct. 20 RADIO CLASS FLYER WZ5R The flyer is a two page color production. It will not reproduce well in the e-mail edition of the Local Oscillator but is available in the web edition. QRP GROUP K5DI The QRP Group is a part of the Mesilla Valley Radio Club (MVRC) and it meets at the Clubhouse. Most but not all members are already members of the MVRC. Members of this group are Radio Amateurs that enjoy operating with their transmitted power at, or below 5 watts. We know that propagation and antenna efficiency is far more important to good communication than the power we transmit with. It matters not that the radio is capable of transmitting more power. We simply turn down the power to a QRP level. Where does the name QRP come from? CW operators use a list of Q signals that make sending things on CW simpler. The Q signal QRP means please turn your power down. The actual power level for QRP has been many levels from 25 Watts to 1 Watt with 5 Watts the current maximum power to use when you call yourself a QRP operator. There are others interested in even lower power and they are called QRPp operators and the maximum power is 1 Watt. A QRP operator does not always operate as such. He/She may use 1500 Watts on 20 meters to work a distant Net. During this time the operator must not claim QRP status. As you can see, it is a personal thing to operate QRP. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has many contests and some have a QRP class entry. In previous years they have had a problem believing that the score turned in was from transmitters at 5 Watts or less. QRP Hams like to build their own radios. The 5 Watt maximum power makes this easy. There are a lot of tried and tested kit radios on the market. The QRP Group is the place you can meet others who enjoy this part of the hobby, see the radio kits work and hear first hand from the person who built it, learn about Internet sites that provide an International connection to QRP. The Club meets at 7:00 PM every second Monday of the month at the Mesilla Valley Radio Club Clubhouse at Wilt and Jefferson Streets. If this sounds interesting try to make the next meeting, or for more information call Karl Larsen at 524-3303 DUES KJ5Q Single membership dues are $35.00. Family membership dues are $45.00. If you wish to have a paper copy of the Local Oscillator mailed to you, there is an additional $10.00 fee to cover the costs. Please make your check payable to MVRC and send to P O Box 1443, Las Cruces 88004. If you have moved, changed your telephone number, or have a new email address, please send that info with your dues payment. The bylaws state "Dues are due in January of each year and are delinquent April 1. An individual who has not paid dues by June 1 will be dropped from the club." CW GROUP K4DI The CW Group is going to stop holding meetings beginning with the first Monday in February. The purpose of the CW Group was to bring together people who enjoy CW with those who would like to enjoy CW. There seems to be a lack of the later group so we have decided to stop holding meetings. FEB PROGRAM KD5HZI The program for the next regular business meeting will be several different people demonstrating their radios. We hope to have some new ones, old ones, and kit radios available for every one to see and fiddle with. Several people have already been contacted and will bring in their radios. If you have something unique or simply want to show off you rig, please bring it to the club house early next week. Allow plenty of time to set up and tune up. Bring a cut sheet with your radio's specifications and be ready to talk about it after the meeting. If this is a success, it might be interesting to do this on several different things such as mobile installations, antenna tuners, ect. I hope to see some unique radios next meeting. MINUTES OF JANUARY 2006 BUSINESS MEETING W5JRD The MVRC met at the clubhouse on January 7, 2006 for the regular business meeting. The meeting was called to order by President Jack Lemons (N5PK) at 9:15 AM. Reports: Judy Davis (W5JRD) Secretary Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Sandra Hempfling (KJ5Q) Treasurer There is a total of $13,798.24 in all accounts as of December 31, 2005. We had a total of 106 members at the end of the year. The proposed budget for 2006 was presented to the general membership for approval. A motion to accept the budget was made by Marty Campbell (N7CYY) and a second was made by Charlie Welch (W5TLU). The motion passed. Marnie Leverett (KA2FVO) and Rodney Davis (WK5I) have agreed to audit the books for last year. The report will be given at the February meeting. Cash Olsen (KD5SSJ) Special Events The Bean Feed is scheduled for April 30, 2006 at the club house. Approximately twenty volunteers are needed. Joe San Filippo (WZ5R) Education Two tech classes and two general classes will be offered in 2006. The tech classes will be held on February 24th and September 8th. The general classes will be on April 21st and November 27th. Dave Hassall (WA5DJJ) Elmering sessions will be held the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the clubhouse starting at 7:00 P.M. George Kopp (KD5OHA) Communications- A Super Bowl Run will be held on Sunday February 2nd. The Old Mesilla Run will be held in March with the exact date to be announced at a later date. The dates for the Bataan Death March will also be announced at a later time. The lot that was used by the club for Field Day will be available again this year. Tres Campbell (KD5ZHI) Vice President Mugs will be ready for sale at the Bean Feed. Inventory is currently being done. Dues for the 2006 year are now due. Brad Sacca (KC5SKE) presented the program on the new repeaters. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 AM. MINUTES OF JANUARY 2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING W5JRD Board members in attendance were: Jack Lemons (N5PK) Tres Campbell (KD5ZHI) Sandra Hempfling (KJ5Q) Judy Davis (W5JRD) Bob Bennett (AD5LJ) George Kopp (KD5OHA) Cash Olsen (KD5SSJ) President Jack Lemons called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The minutes were read by Judy Davis and approved as read. Sandra Hempfling read the treasure’s report The club has $13,798.24 in all accounts as of December 31, 2005. The club calendar for the upcoming year was discussed and dates set. Regular monthly dates: The first Saturday General meeting The first Wednesday after the first Saturday Board Meeting The second and fourth Thursday Elmering sessions The 20th Articles for the LO due Other dates as known at this time: February 24th and Sept 9th Tech classes April 21st and November 27th General classes April 1st Horse Race April 4th Clean up day at the club house April 30th Bean Feed June 24th and 25th Field Day November 8th Club license renewal due October 7th Nominating Committee report November 4th Election of Officers for 2007 Cash Olsen reported the repeaters are ready to be reinstalled. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. INCOME/EXPENSE KJ5Q Mesilla Valley Radio Club December 1 through December 31, 2005 Beginning Balances MVRC Checking Account 2565.64 MVRC Savings Account 4106.98 Education Fund Account 2523.13 Cash on Hand 50.00 Balances Total 9245.75 Income Breakfast & Drinks 0.50 Contributions 5115.00 Dues 220.00 Tshirt sales -28.44 (not all were paid for in Dec) Interest Income 1.01 Total Income 5308.07 Balances + Income 14553.82 Expenses Property Tax 574.60 Misc. 80.72 Newsletter 33.29 Utilities Electricity 29.44 Telephone 26.32 Water 11.21 Total Expenses 755.58 Balances on hand, Nov 30, 2005 13798.24 Ending Balances MVRC Checking Account 7117.12 MVRC Savings Account 4107.99 Education Fund Account 2523.13 Cash on Hand 50.00 Balances Total 13798.24 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 judy@davis-domain.com 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 Repeaters Brad Sacca KC5SKE 382-4380 shiekyerbouty@msn.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?