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Next Meeting
The Next Meeting of the
Ak-Sar-Ben
Amateur Radio Club
will be on
June 14 at 7:00 p.m.
at the
Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross
2912 S 80th Ave
(near 84th and Center)
in Omaha, Nebraska
This Month's Program will be
The P.A.D.S. for Deploying Wire Antennas
Presented by
KØCTU
You saw a sneak preview last month, get the full story this month!
Upcoming Events
Thu, Jun 20 2013 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Bellevue ARC Meeting
Sat, Jun 22 2013 - Sun, Jun 23 2013
Field Day
Mon, Jun 24 2013 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Monday Night Chat Net
Thu, Jun 27 2013 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
PARC Meeting
Thu, Jun 27 2013 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
SWIARC Meeting
Upcoming Contests
CQ Field Day
The time is nearing... final preparations are being made. ITS ALMOST FIELD DAY
Setup will start at 6:00 on Friday night. Mostly this will involve moving the OMMRS trailer into operation position and hanging the wire antennas.
Please check the map at this link Field Day Site Map
Please avoid parking in the lots that are immediately adjacent to the building. This is as a courtesy to our hosts. Remember a crime lab runs 24/7 so we have to allow parking for employees at any time.
It is probably best to enter from 156th Street (turn at the light by HYVEE gas) and park in the first parking area. There is a fair amount of traffic on the driveway that enters the property from Maple. Do not park on this drive way! Please find a parking space!
Setup on Saturday morning will start at 9:00 am. and the festivities start at 1:00 p.m. - Dinner should be about 6:00 p.m. rumor has it that there will be a bar-b-qued brisquet. Operators eat first... so make sure you have some air time!
Operation will continue until Sunday at 1:00 - tear down will start almost immediately. Then we can all go to find a tall one and tell the tales of Field Day success.
AARC Field Day June 22-23
The Field Day committee is planning going back to the grounds of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab for Field Day 2013. It turned out to be a great location for Field Day and has an added benefit of a strong law enforcement presence. If you didn't make it out last year, the location was once the Thomas Fitzgerald Veterans Home and is located at 15345 W Maple Rd in Omaha and has lots of green space and trees for antennas and is close by for gas, food and other supplies.
But to be a great Field Day it takes YOU! Field Day is a great time to get involved as you can do as much as you want. Of course Shack Captains are needed, but shack captains can't operate the entire 24 hours, they need relief operators, loggers, antenna raisers.
SSB, CW, Digital modes, Satellites (bonus points), someone to staff the Information Shack (more bonus points) and monitor the repeater for talk in. If there is to be a GOTA shack, then there have to be GOTA Shack opertaors. 144 MHz, 220 MHz, 440 MHz, FM simplex contacts do count! There has been a lot of activity on 6 meters the last couple of years.
And of course the HF bands.
Field day is a great time to get involved. No experience is necessary, no matter how much experience you have or don't have, there is always something to help. No one needs to be there for 24 hours, but no one is going to tell you to go either. Operations will go through the night as long as the bands are open and the coffee holds out.
Volunteering is easy.. just fille out the "I Want To Help Make the AARC Field Day the BEST in the State" volunteer form and give the committee an idea of what you want to do.
Of course you can always just stop by and enjoy the site and chat with others visiting the area as well. But, no excuses to NOT GET ON THE AIR!
So Far the Shack Captain List looks like this:
160 Meter SSB Still Open
80 Meter SSB Still Open
40 meter SSB N0UP / N0TRK*
20 meter SSB K0CTU
15 meter SSB AI7Q / KD0MMG
10 meter SSB KD0SVD (GOTA?)
6 meter SSB Still Open
2 meter SSB still Open
VHF/UHF FM KD0OOB
Digital Modes & CW K0SKW / NW7US Corby and Tomas will be working out what bands and modes and will be working two separate stations.
A couple of people might need tents or generators, but are able to provide everything else. If you can help with these things please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The History of "73"
73 -- Ham lingo for "best regards." Used on both phone and CW toward the end of a contact.
The first authentic use of 73 is in the publication The National Telegraph Review and Operators' Guide, first published in April 1857. At that time, 73 meant "My love to you!"
In the National Telegraph Convention, the numeral was changed to a friendly "word" between operators.
In 1859, the Western Union Company set up the standard "92 Code." A list of numerals from one to 92 was compiled to indicate a series of prepared phrases for use by the operators on the wires. Here, in the 92 Code, 73 changes to "accept my compliments," which was in keeping with the florid language of that era.
Over the years from 1859 to 1900, the many manuals of telegraphy show variations of this meaning. Dodge's The Telegraph Instructor shows it merely as "compliments." The Twentieth Century Manual of Railway and Commercial Telegraphy defines it two ways, one listing as "my compliments to you;" but in the glossary of abbreviations it is merely "compliments." Theodore A. Edison's Telegraphy Self-Taught shows a return to "accept my compliments." By 1908, however, a later edition of the Dodge Manual gives us today's definition of "best regards" with a backward look at the older meaning in another part of the work where it also lists it as "compliments."
"Best regards" has remained ever since as the "put-it-down-in-black-and-white" meaning of 73 but it has acquired overtones of much warmer meaning. Today, amateurs use it more in the manner that James Reid had intended that it be used --a "friendly word between operators."
Tech Class Starting June 4
The Ak-
Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club will be hosting an eight week entry level amateur radio operators license class starting on June 4th. The class will run for 8 weeks and will be offered free of charge.
All Classes will be held at the Heartland Chapter House of the American Red Cross at 2912 S 80th Ave Omaha, NE. and will start promtly at 6:30 pm.
The course will follow the ARRL's Ham Radio License Manual Revised 2nd Edition. The book will be available for $20 at the class.
Class size is limited, so sign up ensure your book and a seat. Use the form at this link: Ak-Sar-Ben ARC June 2013 Ham Radio Class
Community Service Thanks!
A big thanks goes out to Adam, KDØMMG, Corby KØSKW, Mary NØTRK and Pat KØCTU for keeping providing communications support to the MS Society's "MS Walk". This has been a service provided by the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club for more than 20 years.
The 2013 Edition started at Stinson Park and followed along the Keystone Trail to the turnaround point at Kohl's parking lot. The trail was often crowded with walkers but everyone made it safely back to Stinson Park.
If you weren't able to help out with this event, there will be more in the future. Stay turned to this web site and the weekly ARES net for more chances to volunteer.
FCC seeks small Vanity Call Sign fee increase
The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 23, seeking to raise the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs by 20 cents. Currently, a vanity call sign costs $15 and is good for 10 years. The new fee, if approved, will go up to $15.20 for 10 years.
The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The NPRM can be found in PDF format at,
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0523/FCC-13-74A1.pdf
The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 15 years of the current program -- from a low of $11.70 in 2007 to a high of $70 (as first proposed in the FCC's 1994 Report and Order).
The FCC said it anticipates some 14,300 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment units," or applications, during the next fiscal year, collecting $217,360 in fees from the program.
The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign. Those holding vanity call signs issued prior to 1993 are exempt from having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal, as Congress did not authorize the FCC to collect regulatory fees until 1996. Such "heritage" vanity call sign holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio database.
Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and clicking on the "New Users: Register" link. You must supply your Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.
The ARRL VEC will process license renewals for vanity call sign holders for a modest fee. The service is available to ARRL members and nonmembers, although League members pay less. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be free of charge for ARRL members.
Trustees of club stations with vanity call signs may renew either via the ULS or through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator, such as the ARRL VEC.
Visit the "Call Sign Renewals or Changes" web page at http://www.arrl.org/call-sign-renewals-or-changes for complete instructions on how to have the ARRL renew your license for you or for how to do it yourself.
License application and renewal information and links to the required forms are available on the FCC License Renewals web page at http://www.arrl.org/renewals.
The FCC's forms page at
http://www.fcc.gov/forms also offers the required forms.
Radio Ham named to Senior State Department Telecom post
Radio amateur Julie N. Zoller, KJ4EMJ, has succeeded Richard C. Beaird at the Department of State
as Senior Deputy Coordinator of the Office of Multilateral Affairs, Communications and Information Policy Directorate, Economics and Business Affairs Bureau.
The ARRL report that in this position, she will serve as principal advisor to the United States Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy.
“Julie Zoller’s appointment is great news for United States telecommunications interests, including, but by no means limited to, radio amateurs,” commented ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. “She is well known at the ITU and has earned great respect by virtue of her expertise.”
From 1985 - Union Pacific Special
UNION PACIFIC SPECIAL HAMMING STEAM TRAIN MOBILE
The Union Pacific Railroad let three of us put a ham station on board their train being pulled by one of th few remaining steam locomotions as it winded its way home from the World's Fair in New Orleans. To say we had fun would be a serious understatment -- we had a ball.
The three of us were a husband and wife team of Marge Askey, WAØRDY, OM, WAØRDZ Ed. I was there also, Hugh Tinley, KØGHK.
This trip to Louisianna to Nebraska took nine days and was pretty much a tour of the South and Middle West. At the moment, I don't know how many contaces we made, but it was a bunch.
Most of our activity was on 2; had some voltage problems that slowed us down a bit on the hf frequencies, but Jim, KA5QYV, helped us unravel these when we got to Fort Worth.
You can't believe the attention this engine and the train attracted. There were always helicopters and airplanes over us, the little towns dismissed schools and there were crowds of people at every underpass and road junction and mobs of them at the major cities.
The hams turned out in droves; some followed us from town to town and large groups would always show up at every stop. Using little hand held gear, we would get together on 52 direct and hold reunions in front of the locomotive.
The train people treated us like visiting royalty. We had our own private bedrooms and, believe it or not, private showers. Each room had its own john, dresser, closet and each had an electric blanket. It was a tough life; the accommodations, food, drink and hamming were out of this world.
I have oten though that Murphy, who said, "Anything that can go wrong -- will," invented radio not Marconi. the instablity of our power source caused us to go up the wall; we nocked out a power supply, then a rig and even a volt meter, but amateurs along the way consistantly bailed us out. Thanks to their help, we were able to operate almost ten ours a day and ride piggyback on the Eye Bank Net that meets in the morning and evenings on 3970.
Hugh Tinely, KØGHK
World Amateur Radio Day 2013
This year's theme for World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, is 'Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications'
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) E-letter reports:
Each year the IARU Administrative Council selects a theme for World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) for the following year. WARD takes place each year on April 18. At the November, 2012 Administrative Council meeting the AC adopted the following proposal: "The theme 'Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications' was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2013."
The selected theme for 2013 is a excellent opportunity for amateur radio emergency communications or disaster communications groups to take advantage of the WARD to highlight the role amateur radio plays in disaster communications and disaster response. IARU member-societies could arrange amateur radio demonstrations in public places such as parks or shopping areas. Prepared handouts could explain the benefits of amateur radio in times of emergency or disaster. A ham radio demonstration in public areas usually generates inquiries and questions from the public about amateur radio and it also provides a great opportunity to attract new ham radio operators. If you plan on such a demonstration, don't forget to include some young people from your society so that young people who happen by the demonstration can see that amateur radio activity can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Ham Radio in the the News
Here are some links from around the web to news stories about amateur radio...
Planning to consider Ham Radio amendment to zoning
Interest is buzzing in Amateur Radio
Students hold radio tribute on Pearl Harbor Day
Hello? What’s your call sign? It’s Marshall calling
Ham radio operators connect with people all over -- even in space
USS Hazard Radio Room
The USS Hazard, an Admirable class WWII Minesweeper, was launched on October 1, 1944. She and her crew of over 100 men patrolled the waters of the Pacific serving as an escort ship for supply vessels, as well as finding and destroying enemy mines and aircraft. In 1946 she returned back to the States, and was placed in "mothballs" just waiting to finally be scrapped.
In the early 1970's, a group of Omaha business men aquired the Hazard for use as a museum ship and paid to bring her up the Missouri River and placed on permanant display here in Omaha.
Over the years, the ship has had several different owners and has gone through periods of being in excellent condition, to being in minor disrepair and eventual closure due to flooding and significant damage to the park. But clean up and repairs are underway at the park as a small group dedicate volunteers work to get the displays ready for visitors again. The Hazard is also getting some attention and one project that is happening is the restoration of her radio room.
When the Hazard was decommissioned, it came with a lot of equipment, however one of her radios, a TBS-6 that was removed by the Navy in the 50s. The Volunteers located a "new-in-crate" TBS-6 and have convinced the owner to sell it to them. The immediately began fund raising. But radios like this are rare and the word got out that one was available and the USS Alabama has made a competing offer.
This pushes up the time line a bit on the need to have the money for the radio to days rather than weeks.
Donations can be made to the project via the City of Omaha Parks department. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details on how to make sure your donation ends up on the project.