THE LOCAL OSCILLATOR - June 2010 NOTE: The text file is very difficult to format. Nicely formated and easier to read versions are the HTML versions, available at www.mvrc.qzxservices.com and the pdf file of the web edition available at http://www.mvrc.qzxservices.com/pdf/LO1006.pdf. It will be easy to print that edition. If you do not have the free pdf reader, you can get it at http://www.adobe.com TABLE OF CONTENTS COMING EVENTS FIELD DAY 2010 A TRIP TO DAYTON MINUTES OFFICERS JOIN THE CLUB COMING EVENTS M-F 6 m FM net 52.540 6:00AM Mon WTRA Swap net 146.88 8:00PM Wed Net 146.64 6:45PM MWF Informal get together Wal-Mart W (Valley) 10 AM TTH Informal get together Wal-Mart E (Walton) 10 AM June 5 Breakfast Club House 8 AM June 5 Business meeting 8:45 AM Club House June 8 Builder's Group 7 PM Club House June 9 Board Meeting 7 PM Club House June 26 - 27 Field Day See http://www.n5bl.org/calendar for more events. FIELD DAY 2010 Field Day is the biggest operating event of the year. It is likely that the club will be on operating from the club house. The event starts at noon on Saturday June 26 and runs through 3 PM on Sunday. There may be more than one operating position for at least part of the time. Everybody is urged to come out to the club house for at least part of the time. WB4AEJ will conduct trainig the week before. As more specific plans are made, they will be given in e-mail messages. A TRIP TO DAYTON W5UMQ Friday May14,2010, I arrived at the front gate 5 minutes early to find a sea of people under a partly clouded sky and a temperature of 65 degrees. No rain was forecast. The gates open and you make a mad rush to see what bargain, you can't live without, that may await you in the 1415 flea market spots. You know that if you see it, and don't buy it now, it won't be there in 10 minutes. (A old Dayton rule.) All the time you know the inside 300 manufacturer and commercial dealer spots are to open in 1 hour. Pressure is rising, a decision must be made, do you stay outside or go inside. I decided to stay outside and observe some of the trades being negotiated and re-live some of my early days in ham radio. Numerous pieces of equipment from the 50's and 60's were for sale and young hams were asking why do you have to peak the grid and dip the plate? Another ham had an old BC-610 transmitter with a sign saying it was a "TVI Transmitter" and a young fellow wanted to know if that was a new mode of operation. Who would have thought you could find so many "Boat Anchors" that far from the ocean. Since I was not looking for anything specific and Yaesu would not start passing out caps until 11:00 AM, why be in a rush. The fun was all outside! Finally inside, we find all the major manufacturers have arrived with a complete product line and the personnel to demonstrate every operation. Manufacturers normally do not sell the equipment but will provide you with a list of dealers who will be happy to take your credit card and cash if you insist. At noon time the attendance was estimated at 25000 with 31 countries represented. Don't you feel sorry for the vacationing family who is passing through Dayton this week end looking for lodging. They have at least 50 more miles to drive! It's the Holy Grail of Ham Radio and every ham should make it at least once. Monthly Business Meeting Mesilla Valley Radio Club Saturday May 1, 2010 Meeting Minutes KF5DNI The meeting was held at the club house on Jefferson. Prior to the meeting we shared a hot breakfast by Chef Terry and then an insightful presentation by Evan Salazar, our most junior Extra License holder. His presentation ‘Project Impact – building a disaster resistant community’ and covering online r/c circuit display was well received. He suggested we look at www.falstad.com/circuit for the program he used. Vern called the meeting to order at just before 10 a.m. and asked all to insure they had ‘signed in’. He acknowledged Evan’s presentation and commended him for passing the Extra exam the previous week. Vern also commended the entire membership for the Bean Feed event’s success. The hard work in preparation by the Bean Feed team paid off. OLD BUSINESS Secretary: The club needs a Secretary and the floor provided two nominations for the position. Karl Larsen, K5DI, was nominated and seconded as was Melanie S Jack, KD5UZF, who was not present at this meeting. After a member count, the Chair rules a quorum was present, the nominee left the room and the member discussed the nominees. The vote resulted in Melanie Jack being elected the MVRC Secretary for 2010. Mr Larsen returned to the meeting and was informed of the result. The Chair thanked him for his willingness to serve. NEW BUSINESS The cards from the previous week’s QSL party were circulated. They are from the Bataan Death March period and there are many of them. The Club is hosting a Field Day the last full weekend in June. Some planning notes about current needs are: • Names of members who will attend, and help • Hot dogs, hamburger, and soda • Club open house • Pairs of radio operators (log and operate) • Fred, WB4AEJ, to conduct training a week before on how to efficiently manage ‘pile- ups’ and use of a PC to aid the control. • Open band on 6 meters • Some members will bring other radio units for an opportunity to run multiple stations • 24 hours (12 noon Saturday to same on Sunday) • Charlie Welch, N5CWW on CW Comments on the newsletter are needed by Alex. ADJOURN Upon motion and second, President Vern adjourned the meeting at 10:15 a.m. Collectively we genuinely appreciate Terry’s breakfast efforts and will help him in his request for clean-up aid. OFFICERS Pres Vern Vonheeder WV5N 510-909-0069 vern@wv5n.com VPr Cash Olsen KD5SSJ 382-1917 kd5ssj@arrl.net Sec Treasurer Fred Atkinson fred@wb4aej.com BOARD Communications Henry Schotzko AD5FE 526-1922 schotzko@comcast.net Education Evan Salazar KE5ZRZ Special Events Terry Angle KF5DNS 640-9669 kf5dns@gmail.com Newsletter Alex Burr K5XY 522-2528 k5xy@arrl.net Clubhouse Bob Bennett AD5LJ 382-0148 rpbennett1@comcast.net Repeaters Robert Truitt KE5OFK 649-4173 robtruitt@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. MESILLA VALLEY RADIO CLUB CALL SIGN(S) ______________________FAMILY ___________________ ______________________ LIC CLASS (E, A, G, T, N) ______ ______ _______ ARRL (Y/N) ______ ______ _______ ARRL VE (Y/N) ______ ______ _______ Would you like to be added to the MVRC reflector? _____EMAIL _______________________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________ CITY & ZIP ________________________________ PHONE ______________________ (OPTIONAL) INTERESTS – Computer __ Contests __ Digital __ Elmer __ Emergency Communications __ Field Day __ Packet __ Programs __ Public Service __ Publicity __ RFI __ Repeater __ Soci NAME ________________________________________________________________________________ al __ Take License Classes __ Teach License Classes __ Volunteer Examiner __ Other ___________________________ SINGLE $35 FAMILY $45