Grizzly
Triathlon – April 11
Jerry N7GE (Cell: 239-2223
or Work: 523-1137) could use more help for the Grizzly Triathlon on Saturday,
April 11th. Those interested in
participating please call Jerry or email at jehli@modermachinery.com.
Those helping can meet
with Jerry for breakfast at the Lucy Strike (behind Brook's Street Montana
Club) at 6:30 a.m. or behind the Grizzly pool (parking limited) at 7:30 a.m.,
or on 147.040.
Club members will be located
at strategic locations along the route.
It is usually finished by early afternoon and then we normally get
together at Tower Pizza or the MO Club for burgers at club expense. Those helping can give Jerry their
choice for the after-event get together.
A good activity to get involved with if you haven't participated in any
of these events in the past.
Future events are the
Missoula River Bank Run on Saturday, April 25th Grizzly Man Adventure Race, on Saturday, April 18th at the
Lubrecht Forest near Greenough.
Grizzly Man – April 18, 9 a.m.
Another event we've been
asked to help at is the new Grizzly Man Adventure Race, on Saturday, April 18th
in the Lubrecht Forest near Greenough. This looks to be an exciting race, and
with the remote location, our communication support will be of great value to
them. Please contact Bill Farrell (W4YMA) at billfarrell@hotmail.com if you have questions or want to help out.
Members, pay your dues please:
2009 DUES are DUE! Please support our area repeater system and Hellgate ARC activities.
Annual membership is $25.00 ($5.00 for additional family members).
(The
Hellgate Amateur Radio Club is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization)
HELP TOSRV
May
30 and 31 marks the 39th Tour of the Swan River Valley (TOSRV). This
is one of HARCÕs oldest and most rewarding public service operations.
HARC members do make a significant contribution. TOSRV is expecting 200
bike riders this year. So, we need more hams to help with communications.
You can choose to help one or both days. TOSRV provides food and
drink along the route. HARC will help with gas money, if you ask.
If you are going to stay overnight, we can pitch a tent at the Swan Lake
Campground along with the bicyclists. If you need something a bit nicer
in the Swan Lake or the Big Fork area, now is a good time to make
reservations.
Meet
at Bonner School on Saturday, May 30, at 7 am for assignments and last
minute instructions. Bring reliable vehicle, good 2 meter rig, and safety
vest. Turn on your headlights, and put your transceiver on high power
(whatever that may be). Make sure you know how to switch from repeater to
simplex and back. We will be on the 146.80 repeater while in the
Blackfoot and go to 146.80 (TX/RX) simplex, as we move into the Swan.
Sign
up sheets will be circulated at both the April and May club meetings. During
the May 11 club meeting, HARC participation with will discussed in greater
detail. If you can help or have questions, please call Bob N7MSU
(251-4148), or email n7msu@q.com.
Please do not contact TOSRV.
New
signs help identify club members.
The HARC recently purchased
16 new car door magnetic signs that will be used when members assist with the
various local events such as the Grizzly Triathlo
n, River Bank Run, Tour of the Swan River Valley,
etc. The new signs read HELLGATE
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. In addition
to the 16 purchased by the club, individuals ordered an additional 18, and a
few extra to be sold for a total of 40 signs. This will help identify our members making it easy for event
participants to identify a source of help and communications. The signs will help with the overall
safety of members and participants.
Club signs will be
distributed and collected by the events chair person. If anyone would like to purchase a sign or two for $8 each,
contact Elmer WG7P
Upcoming Club Programs
April: Mike, KE7IZG –
Takes us through the website and answers questions
May: Byron NN8A is back to
follow up with more on Emergency Communications
June/
July
– Hands on events. Various members will set up stations and we will get
to see them in action and ask questions. (Locations may vary. Watch the website
for details).
August: TBD
September:
TBD
October: Lance W7GJ – presents
on DXPedition to E51 Cook Island
November:
TBD
December:
John
KE7KNT, Dxpeditionto Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef in S. Pacific.
Upcoming Club Events - Your
participation is encouraged
April 11 – Grizzly Triathlon
April 18 – Grizzly Man
April 25 – Riverbank Run
May 16-17 – TOSRV
June 27-28 – Field Day
July 4 – W7PX Special Event Station
July 12 – Missoula Marathon
July 17-19 Glacier / Waterton
July 9 – Blackfoot Cleanup
Oct 17-18 – Boy Scout Jamboree
Dec 4-5 – Skywarn Recognition Day
Dec 14 – Christmas Party
Dec 31 – First Night
Reminder of upcoming Events
Pacificon 2009 to be hosted by
EMCOMMWEST, May 1, 2, and 3, at the Circus Circus Hotel, Reno, NV
The
keynote speaker will be Steve Ewald, WV1X, Field Organization Supervisor from
ARRL HQ; and the banquet speaker will be Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, who was in
charge of Amateur Radio rules enforcement at the FCC when he retired.
More
information is available at <pacificon.org>.
Glacier Waterton HamFest July 17 -
19:
Registration is open at www.gwhamfest.org
A very special historical
Glacier Waterton calendar is available from Lyndel n7lt@mail.yellowstone.net (very cool)
Meet Our Members – Bill Farrell - W4YMA
This
is another in the series of ÒGetting to know youÓ as members of HARC step up
and share their backgrounds.
By
Bill Farrell -
Many
of you may recall that I celebrated my 18th birthday last year by going to Las Vegas.
Prior
to going, I e-mailed the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to see if there were any
special Leap Year, Leap Day Birthday events planned in Las Vegas as I would be
celebrating my 18TH birthday. They e-mailed me
back to say that I shouldnÕt bother coming, as I wouldnÕt be able to get into
many, if any, of the events there. In my reply,I reminded them: Leap Day comes
only once every four years. Their return e-mail was one word! ÒAmazingÓ
All
of the above to say, in my Ò18 Leap yearsÓ I have covered a lot of ground and
accumulated a lot of memories and accomplished quite a few things. I have been
truly blessed to have seen and participated in numerous events, radio related.
I
worked for RCA Global Communications for over 10 years during which I was a
construction Engineering Assistant, New York City; Station Office Manager,
Paumalu, Hawaii; and finally Office Manager, San Juan, Puerto Rico. My mentor
was Thomson H Mitchell, President of RCA Global Communications, a wholly owned
subsidiary of RCA. Mitchell felt he was beholden to the Name ÒWilliam E
FarrellÓ who was Professor of Steam and Mathematics at Annapolis U S Naval
Academy. I was my uncleÕs name sake and Mitchell was to say Òthanks to the
Professor through meÓ
RCA
Global Communications was THE original RCA until the FCC made then divest
themselves of the manufacturing aspect of the company due conflict of
interests.
RCA
was originally founded by the U.S. Navy, General Electric, and United Fruit
Company. All of which were in response to the British Marconi Wireless Company
which had the first world wide network of radio stations. The United States
Navy didnÕt want their world-wide communications carried by a foreign nation,
so that was the driving force behind establishing a US Communications company.
My
first overseas assignment was to dismantle a Marconi Receiving station located
in Koko Head volcano crater on Oahu, Hawaii, and relocate it to the Paumalu
Ridge on OahuÕs North shore. While on Oahu, I was privileged to know and work
with Ralph Thomas KH6UK (SK), who was the first to EME from Hawaii to
Annapolis, MD, US Naval Academy on 440Mhz.
As
a commercial operation, RCA Global had a number of firsts: the first to utilize
SSB as an HF communications method, first with ARQ ( Automatic Error Correction
transmissions), first to use Dual diversity signal comparison (using space
diversified antennae), and first to establish 1200 Baud HF circuit direct
between Hawaii and New York City with 99.9% accuracy rate. Previously 55 Baud
was the normal rate for Teletype. At 1200 Baud, data could now be transmitted.
Dual frequency and space diversified antennae were the basis for being able to
do this. I was involved in a lot of data transmission and data processing both
at the transmitting and receiving end of the circuit. ÔReorganizingÕ is another
familiar term in my employment lexicon. Puerto Rico was needing the talents I
had developed and used in Hawaii so the ÒPowers That BeÓ moved me again.
In
Puerto Rico, within six months I brought the District into profitability for
the first time in its 40 year history. For me it was simple. I used the FCC
accounting procedures that had not been used previously.
On
a personal tack, I got my Private PilotÕs license (120 minutes to solo) and
developed a couple of inventions related to aviation safety, which I patented,
one of which the FAA used in a safety training sessions in the early Ô70Õs.
Also in Puerto Rico I was introduced to the term ÒDownsizingÓ and for many,
many years ran ahead of the Ôtsunami of downsizingÕ. RCA downsized me! I went
to Grinnell Fire Protection as Finance Manager of Puerto Rico, The Caribbean,
Central and South America.
Also
in Puerto Rico, a huge turning point in my life was made. I was introduced to sobriety
and have practiced that way of life now for over 37 years.
With
Grinnell again downsizing struck. GrinnellÕs headquarters being in Providence,
RI, I thought I might get on there with my field experience. It was not to be,
and I found myself in Rhode Island, unemployed. I got on with the Electric Boat
Division of General Dynamics as an auditor of Nuclear Submarine construction in
Groton, Connecticut, where I worked for a period of 10 years. Unofficially, I
was the employee-assistant for drug and alcohol situations. To my duties of
auditing the aspect of Property Management was added. This opened the door to
another opportunity closer to my home, I had been commuting about 120 miles a
day, and the job was with Aetna Life & Casualty Insurance in Fall River, MA
(a two mile ÒcommuteÓ!) As
administrator in Aetna, I was involved with the community in many ways, one of
which was Fall RiverÕs alcoholism prevention task force. This lead to my
eventually getting a National Certification as a Drug and Alcoholism Counselor.
That
Certification opened another door to work in a Nationally recognized treatment
center in Newport, RI. Managed
Care Insurance and its restrictions to length of time in a treatment facility
caused ÒDownsizingÓ to strike again.
A
job offer developed in Florida so
I went to Charter Glade Hospital in Ft Myers, Florida as Supervisor of the
Alcohol Treatment unit of that
Psychiatric Hospital. In a very
short time (90 days) the hospital went into Chapter 11 ( I guess they were all
nuts in the accounting department!) and I was on the streets of Ft Myers,
Florida looking for work.
A
non-profit organization was opening a residential treatment facility for
juveniles and need a counselor so there I went. SWFAS (South West Florida
Addiction Services) and I were to share a number of ÔdancesÕ in the counseling
field. Within a year of employment ÒdownsizingÓ was part of a weekly managers
meeting and so out I went to the State of Florida where a new Juvenile program
for addicted youth was being cobbled together out of a number of social service
departments.
I
signed up with a lot of misgivings. And a Òred-tape nightmareÓ it was! It
didnÕt take long for me to know I was in the wrong place! From there I went to
another State operationÉDepartment of Unemployment (I had a lot of experience
there!), and once a gain I was doing a long daily commute until a car accident
ended that. A few years hiatus battling cancer, then back into the job market
where I worked as an auditor in a medical device manufacturing company
(Sims-Portex) but downsizing had not gone to sleepÉSims closed and moved to
Mexico!
What
to do! SWFAS on the scene again with a job as counselor for hurricane
survivors. While working in the field, I was diagnosed and treated for Adult
AD/HD which enabled me to complete writing and publishing a book on that
lifeÕs journey.
A
couple of years hurricane counseling then I, myself, was a victim of Hurricane
Wilma in 2005, so I looked for hurricane free areas and came to Missoula,
Montana where my friend and college days FiancŽ Betsy lives. We have
re-connected.
Here
in Missoula, I have had a few moves in the employment field, but now am fairly
settled in attending school as a Post Baccalaureate Senior at the University,
recently initiated into ΦΚΦ, am majoring in Journalism Radio
& TV Production and working
part time.
I
donÕt know what I will do with another degreeÉ IÕll cross that bridge when I
get to it
ÔSo
there you have it Sports FansÕ .
Bill Farrell – W4YMA.
7QP-2009!! - By Bob N7MSU
What is 7QP-2009? Many
hams do not know much about it, because the 7QP is fairly new. 2006 was
its first year. Briefly, 7QP is short for the 7th Call Area QSO Party, and May 2 and 3 are the dates you need
to plan for.
This ham radio eventÕs main
objective is to activate every county in the 7th Call Area during a nationwide contest. There are 259
counties in the 8 states, and very few hams reside in many of those
counties. So, getting all counties on the air on the same weekend
is no easy task.
WhatÕs it like? 7QP
can be viewed as a kind of miniature Field Day. You can be solo or have a
team. You can take it seriously and get into contest mode, or be laid
back and just have fun. You can stay at home, or you can travel. Many
put up mobile and portable stations using battery, solar and/or generator
power. You can try a remote site with good views or a WalMart
parking lot. And this is one of the more interesting possibilities, you
can just keep traveling and activate various counties along the way. You
can even account for two counties at a time by parking on a county line!
After participating in a couple of 7QPs, I know lots of Montana hams are missing out on lots of fun, and several MT counties donÕt get activated. Give it a try. Start planning for this event now and get acquainted with the rules by checking this website: www.7qp.org
Montana QSO Party – A
The Montana QSO Party, Sponsored by the Flathead Valley Amateur Radio Club will be held this April 3rd starting at 6:00PM MDT (0000Z), and end April 5th at 5:59PM MDT (2359Z). Details at http://www.fvarc.org/Events/events.htm
Need a list of Montana repeaters
that's easy to read?
Download
KI7XF, Harley Leach's Latest, (May 2008), 8
1/2" X 11" inch, Montana repeater map shown below from
http://www.fvarc.org/Repeaters/MT_Repeater_Map_20080523.pdf
Other
News
LEGISLATION
INTRODUCED IN US SENATE TO INVENTORY RADIO SPECTRUM
Two US Senators -- Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and Republican Olympia
Snowe of Maine -- have introduced a bill in the Senate that would mandate an
inventory of radio spectrum bands managed by the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/> and the Federal
Communications Commission. The inventory would include those frequencies
between 300 MHz-3.5 GHz managed by the two agencies.
Hams Assist Woman Injured
in Desert
(Mar 18, 2009) -- It was a sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, when Hal Whiting,
KI2U, Todd Kluxdal, Kluxdal's father and Whiting's two sons decided to go out
to the Poverty Mountain area in Arizona to search for airplane crash sites.
Whiting, who lives in St George, Utah, and Kluxdal, who lives in Mesquite,
Nevada, took two vehicles that day. According to Whiting, they always take two
vehicles, just in case a problem pops up: "We always have two spare tires,
extra gasoline and a tow rope. We take enough food and supplies to stay two or
three days." In addition to the extra equipment, Whiting took the one
thing he never goes without -- his ham radio.
Full Story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/18/10706/?nc=1
Hams to Activate Midway
Atoll as K4M in October 2009 (Mar 11, 2009) -- Earlier this year, US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that they would open Midway Atoll to Amateur
Radio operations for two weeks only, from October 5-19, 2009. Tom Harrell,
N4XP, of Monroe, Georgia, and Dave Johnson, WB4JTT, of Aitkin, Minnesota, have
put together a team of 19 operators from all over the world to activate Midway
Atoll for a 10 day period as K4M. This the first time that USFWS has allowed
amateurs to operate from the wildlife refuge since 2002. Full Story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/11/10695/?nc=1
Get Ready for ARRL Field Day 2009 (Mar 23, 2009) -- The official 2009 ARRL Field Day Web page is up and running. This page includes a summary of available resources, with links to Field Day forms and rules, logos and reference links. The page also includes a quick link to the map-based Field Day Station Locator where users can search for public Field Day sites. "Field Day is the largest on-the-air operating event," said ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The event draws tens of thousands of radio amateurs to the airwaves over a single weekend." This year, Field Day is June 27-28. Full Story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/23/10715/?nc=1
March Minutes:
MINUTES MARCH 9, 2009 MEETING
MEETING
called to order at 7:00 PM by Elmer WG7P
INTRODUCTIONS were made with 18 present
MINUTES were approved as
presented—motion Paul N7PAS, 2nd Donnie W7XY—carried unanimously
SPECIAL PRESENTATION--Tim Marchart
of TOSRV stated a letter requesting HARC to provide emergency communications
again this year is forth coming. Indicated they were appreciative of
assistance last year with accident that placed participant in Missoula hospital.
Contribution will be sent for last yearÕs assistance. Hoping for 200
participants, an increase over the 125 from last year.
Motion
for HARC to participate with TOSRV event—motion Bob N7MSU, 2nd Bob K7BA—carried unanimously
TREASURERÕS REPORT approved as presented—motion Donnie W7XY, 2nd Lewis AC7UZ—carried unanimously
Jerry N7GE
indicated 501 C-3 applications submitted
Article
IX—Conflict of Interest statement added to HARC constitution—motion Bill W4YMA, 2nd Paul N7PAS—carried unanimously
Eliminate
one of two savings accounts—motion Jerry N7GE, 2nd Norman AB5CN—carried unanimously
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Repeater—Bill
W4YMA—no report—Elmer indicated a meeting should be held to
establish 2009 goals and proposed repeater budget
Membership—Liz
WG7E—Stated membership board and promotional materials were displayed at
Argus Ham Fest. Brochure that she developed was presented. Motion Liz WG7E, 2nd Bob K7BA to adopt as the HARC
brochure—carried unanimously
Net operators—3-18 Eric NZ7S, 3-25 Jerry N7GE, 4-1 Kevin W1KGK, 4-8 Lewis
AC7UZ, 4-15 Elmer WG7P
OLD BUSINESS
Equipment Inventory complete with Eric, Byron and Jerry housing the
clubs equipment
Argus Ham Fest—16 HARC members attended, club made $400 selling excess
equipment, items not sold at Ham Fest will be auctioned off at the end of
meeting. Motion Eric NZ7S, 2nd Lewis Ac7UZ to BFI any equipment
remaining after auction—carried unanimously
Static—Thanks
to Andy KE7SHZ for March Static, Andy agreed to be editor for April Static, Bill
W4YMA will write ÒGetting to KnowÓ article
Winter Week-End—Steve K7PX not present, considering lateness in year will
postpone event and consider early in 2010
QSL Cards--
Bob N7MSU presented new HARC QSL cards, nice job and thanks for designing and
ordering cards
Field Days—motion Paul N7PAS, 2nd Donnie W7XY to hold event at Fort
Missoula—carried unanimously, pot luck will be held Saturday
evening, Lewis Ac7UZ will conduct education activity
building J-Pole antennas, radio operation signup sheet circulated to operate 24
hour period
Goals for 2009—Goals ranked as result of February meeting
vote. Number 1 was MRLA, thus committee of Eric=Chair, Kevin, Jerry N7GE,
Bob N7MSU, and Vick established to review and make recommendation to club.
Kevin W1KGK agreed to chair the classes for new hams which was number goal
#2. Committee to review Repeater Etiquette will be formed. Anyone
interested in others contact Elmer WG7P
Emergency Courses—ICS 100a, ICS 200a and NIMS 700a—Paul N7PAS, Donnie W7XY,
Bob N7MSU, Eric NZ7S, and Elmer WG7P have completed courses
NEW BUSINESS
Purchase AA battery pack for Realistic hand held—motion Jerry N7GE, 2nd Bob
N7MSU to authorize $40 for battery pack—carried unanimously
Location June and July Meeting—motion
Eric NZ7S, 2nd Donnie W7XY to have June and July
monthly meetings at Fort Missoula—carried unanimously. Still
looking for another person to set up mobile operation for July meeting.
Grizzly Triathlon—motion Jerry N7GE, 2nd Bob K7BA to have HARC assist with
Triathlon—carried unanimously
Magnetic Car Door Signs—motion
Bob K7BA, 2nd Bill W4YMA to purchase 16 signs for club
use at an approximate total cost of $150 —carried unanimously. Club
members agreed to purchase signs at club price—Lewis 1, Jackie 1, Donnie
2, Jerry GE 2, Paul 2, Norm 2, Bill 2, Kevin 2
Silent Key—Paul Blomgren KA7VSL--motion
Paul N7PAS, 2nd Bill W4YMA for club to send
sympathy card—carried unanimously. Bob N7MSU agreed to send card
PROGRAM—Donnie
W7XY presented a program dealing with ARRL traffic handling. Radiogram
forms along with other information were distributed and discussed.
AUCTION OF EXCESS EQUIPMENT—all excess equipment was auctioned off with
$34 income for club. Norm claimed the prize for the most valuable item
purchased!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worked All Hellgate Award—show of hands as to people working on award,
Lewis AC7UZ in hot pursuit of certificate
QSL Cards for album—would like to have members QSL cards to
place in 2009 Club Album
HARC Emergency Coordinator—those interested submit copies of
certificates for course work, emergency certifications (Army MARS, etc) and
summary of operating skills to Elmer for consideration. Recommendation to
club will be made.
Meeting with Bob Reid, Missoula Emergency
Coordinator. and Dave McGinnis, Missoula Communications Manager—highlights of meeting Jerry N7GE and Elmer WG7P had
with these gentlemen were reviewed. Certification, Army MARS, assist by
invitation, follow agency protocol, etc. were some topics discussed
DOOR PRIZE-Jackie big winner of ARRL Radiograms, traffic post card, and Band
Chart
ADJOURN-motion Liz WG7E, 2nd Donnie W7XY—carried unanimously,
adjourned at 9:08 PM