2014 - Programs, Activities, and Events |
Club Meeting : February 5, 2014
Ed Breneiser, WA3WSJ
Amateur Radio & The Great Outdoors
GCARC welcomes Ed Breneiser, WA3WSJ for February Program. Fans of HFPACK, CW, QRP, hiking and more will want to attend our February meeting. Licensed for over 40 years, Ed likes to operate his portable radios anywhere in the outdoors. He especially loves to operate as a pedestrian mobile station. He has operated as WA3WSJ/pm in such places as the Appalachian Trail through the states of West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Hampshire – as well as from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, the Summit of Pike’s Peak, Colorado, Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado and The Great Sand Dunes Park, Colorado plus many other scenic locales.
Living in Reading, PA, Ed has authored a number of books about the outdoors, including “Amateur Radio Pedestrian Mobile Handbook”, “Amateur Radio and the Great Outdoors” and “The Appalachian Trail Amateur Radio Guide.” He will be bringing along copies and will be available to autograph them, as time allows.
Please come out to the meeting and give him a warm GCARC welcome!
Living in Reading, PA, Ed has authored a number of books about the outdoors, including “Amateur Radio Pedestrian Mobile Handbook”, “Amateur Radio and the Great Outdoors” and “The Appalachian Trail Amateur Radio Guide.” He will be bringing along copies and will be available to autograph them, as time allows.
Please come out to the meeting and give him a warm GCARC welcome!
Satellite Communications - March 5, 2014
This month, we’re going to be treated to a presentation by one of our own – John Zaruba, Jr, K2ZA. John is experienced as a builder, author, D-STAR Sherpa and in-the-field portable operator – plus many more specialties, including his significant role in EMCOMM.
John will be talking about satellite communications, both on an entry level and what more-advanced operations include. If you’ve ever given thought to using your handheld radio to communicate over a larger area through a satellite or the ISS – even to one of the astronauts living there – then be sure to be in attendance.
John will be talking about satellite communications, both on an entry level and what more-advanced operations include. If you’ve ever given thought to using your handheld radio to communicate over a larger area through a satellite or the ISS – even to one of the astronauts living there – then be sure to be in attendance.
Apologies for the poor audio quality, the PA system was not working. The audio is not in sync with the slide show.
Radio Pioneers - April 2, 2014
This month, we’ll be treated to a visit from John Dilks, K2TQN, who writes the Vintage Radio column for QST. John is a seemingly inexhaustible authority on radio history, as well as having insights on technologies of the day and the personalities behind them. John’s presentation on “Radio Pioneers” is sure to entertain and inform, so be sure to attend.
www.K2TQN.com
www.eht.com/oldradio/
www.K2TQN.com
www.eht.com/oldradio/
Club Meeting : May 7, 2014
Having Fun with AM and FM on HF
Reginald Fessenden
1866 - 1932
In 1906, on Christmas Eve, Reginald Fessenden stunned radio operators and listeners with the sounds of a voice – and music. Up to this point, radio communications was limited to telegraphy, using spark-gap transmitters.
Using an early form of Amplitude Modulation, he broke ground on new frontiers and revolutionized radio into a mass-market. AM would remain “the” means of communications for decades to come. Although much broadcasting is now via Frequency Modulation (FM), AM remains the dominant method of broadcasting.
Single Sideband (SSB) is a version of AM that suppresses the carrier. While more efficient, SSB has other tradeoffs that affect fidelity and intelligibility. Operating with “vanilla” AM allows one to have better audio quality and experience the communications technology of old, while embracing modern ways to enhance communications quality.
Virtually every HF transceiver sold has AM capabilities. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s there or how you can put it to use to further your enjoyment of amateur radio, then come out to our May 7th meeting and learn more.
We will give you some additional background on AM, an overview of classic gear that’s still in use today and ways to make your AM (or SSB, for that matter) signal sound better and reach further. You don’t need a rack full of tubes to enjoy the warmth and fidelity of AM, just a little knowledge to get started.
We will cover two more modes you might have never tried on HF – AM and FM. While most think of AM operation on 160, 75 and just the top end of 40 meters, you can find AM enthusiasts elsewhere – especially on 10 meters.
Speaking of 10, that’s where most FM activity takes place. Not just through repeaters, mind you, but lots of FM simplex DX. It’s just a matter of knowing where and how to look. In fact, you might try some FM activity on 12 meters – if you know the inside story.
If you like the thought of having conversations with a bit more fidelity than SSB allows, then be sure to be in attendance at our May meeting.
Using an early form of Amplitude Modulation, he broke ground on new frontiers and revolutionized radio into a mass-market. AM would remain “the” means of communications for decades to come. Although much broadcasting is now via Frequency Modulation (FM), AM remains the dominant method of broadcasting.
Single Sideband (SSB) is a version of AM that suppresses the carrier. While more efficient, SSB has other tradeoffs that affect fidelity and intelligibility. Operating with “vanilla” AM allows one to have better audio quality and experience the communications technology of old, while embracing modern ways to enhance communications quality.
Virtually every HF transceiver sold has AM capabilities. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s there or how you can put it to use to further your enjoyment of amateur radio, then come out to our May 7th meeting and learn more.
We will give you some additional background on AM, an overview of classic gear that’s still in use today and ways to make your AM (or SSB, for that matter) signal sound better and reach further. You don’t need a rack full of tubes to enjoy the warmth and fidelity of AM, just a little knowledge to get started.
We will cover two more modes you might have never tried on HF – AM and FM. While most think of AM operation on 160, 75 and just the top end of 40 meters, you can find AM enthusiasts elsewhere – especially on 10 meters.
Speaking of 10, that’s where most FM activity takes place. Not just through repeaters, mind you, but lots of FM simplex DX. It’s just a matter of knowing where and how to look. In fact, you might try some FM activity on 12 meters – if you know the inside story.
If you like the thought of having conversations with a bit more fidelity than SSB allows, then be sure to be in attendance at our May meeting.
Club Event : May 26, 2014
Monroe Township Memorial Day Parade
At our club meeting on Wed, it was asked if we were going to participate in the Williamstown Memorial Day Parade this year. We now have the answer, and the answer is YES!
What better way to show support for our veterans, for our club, for our communities, for our state, and for our nation than with participation in a Memorial Day Parade?
Like previous years, staging will take place at Our Lady of Peace Parish parking lot, 32 Carroll Ave. Williamstown, 08094 beginning at 10:30 am. Actual parade will begin at 11 am down Main Street, past the Pfeiffer Center (where our club meets each month), on Monday, May 26, 2014 (Rain or Shine).
Press release:
http://monroetownshipnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-Memorial-Day-Parade-Press-Release.pdf
Tom Gorman KE2ES and Dave WB3JOY will serve as club member contacts for this event. Everyone is invited to attend. Just meet up with them on scene a few minutes early, if you can. Family members are invited to walk with club members if they wish too. Tom suggest bringing a small American Flag to wave, if you have one.
Jim, N2GXJ
What better way to show support for our veterans, for our club, for our communities, for our state, and for our nation than with participation in a Memorial Day Parade?
Like previous years, staging will take place at Our Lady of Peace Parish parking lot, 32 Carroll Ave. Williamstown, 08094 beginning at 10:30 am. Actual parade will begin at 11 am down Main Street, past the Pfeiffer Center (where our club meets each month), on Monday, May 26, 2014 (Rain or Shine).
Press release:
http://monroetownshipnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-Memorial-Day-Parade-Press-Release.pdf
Tom Gorman KE2ES and Dave WB3JOY will serve as club member contacts for this event. Everyone is invited to attend. Just meet up with them on scene a few minutes early, if you can. Family members are invited to walk with club members if they wish too. Tom suggest bringing a small American Flag to wave, if you have one.
Jim, N2GXJ
Club Meeting : June 4, 2014
Pizza Party and Swap Meet
June’s program is one of our most popular –
Pizza Party!
Plus, you’re invited to bring any radios,
station accessories or shiny objects that
you’d like to sell for a reasonable offer.
Pizza Party!
Plus, you’re invited to bring any radios,
station accessories or shiny objects that
you’d like to sell for a reasonable offer.
Club Meeting : August 6, 2014
Roll Your Own VHF/UHF Antennas
This month we feature a program by Ray Golley, N3RG. Ray is well-known for his DIY antenna construction presentations. While he’s describing the considerations that go into a design, he’ll be assembling one at the same time!
Building your own antennas is a great way to understand the principles and theory behind the designs, while saving considerable sums of money, as a result of your new-found knowledge. Please join us for what will be an interesting evening.
Building your own antennas is a great way to understand the principles and theory behind the designs, while saving considerable sums of money, as a result of your new-found knowledge. Please join us for what will be an interesting evening.
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Club Event :
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As part of the ARRL’s Centennial Celebration, W1AW is operating portable on the air in each state and most territories throughout this year. W1AW/2 operations return to New Jersey the first full week in August. If you find yourself having “Field Day withdrawal symptoms” about a month from now, this could be the antidote! Our club will be operating out of our new clubhouse as one of the W1AW/2 stations during this event! I've presently reserved 6 hours on Friday night August 8, and another 4 hours on Saturday afternoon August 9. Additional time slots may be available. Contact Jim Wright, N2GXJ at jim <dot> n2gxj <at> gmail <dot> com if you want to get in on the action.
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At September's meeting I will do a presentation on RTL-SDR USB dongles. The most widely cheapest one to get is the RTL-SDR, FM+DAB, DVB-T USB Stick RTL2832U. It can be found on Amazon for as little as $8.41 . It’s a cheap Software Defined Radio receiver to tinker with on your pc. It covers the following frequency ranges:
Receiving frequencies:
- DVBT: 48.25 ~863.25 MHz
- FM radio: 87.5~108 MHz
- DAB radio: L-Band-1452960~1490624 kHz
- Antenna with MCX male connector
- VHF-174928~ 239200 kHz
There are great websites for available programs that are usable with this SDR and guides. The best site to start with is http://www.rtl-sdr.com/. The most used interface with it is SDRSharp (SDR#) http://sdrsharp.com/. Before installing any software you need to install the driver first. The driver is called Zadig: http://zadig.akeo.ie/. Here is the wiki link showing how to install the driver http://rtlsdr.org/softwarewindows . Once the driver is installed, it’s a matter of choosing a program you want to use to listen to or decode certain digital modes it can receive. The usable program list is at this link: http://www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-sdr-supported-software/.
There are some YouTube videos on setting up some of the programs in the list. At the meeting, I will show some of the how-to videos for programs I have installed on my laptop. You can connect a external antenna to the dongle by buying a MCX male adapter (pig-tail) connector of your choice to connect to the coax, also found on Amazon at around $7. Just don’t use too long of a coax to the external antenna.
One of the programs I will show is Automatic Dependent Surveillance – broadcast (ADS–B) plane tracking software. It shows live tracking on a map. If I get other programs working right, I’ll show them as well.
So anytime the band is dead or your bored, there are other radios to use that do interesting things.
73's
Dan Tremolini N2TXG
October 1, 2014 General Membership Meeting
Recap : Our October Meeting - WOW!
October’s program – which was intended as an informal set of Q&A roundtable discussions, quickly evolved into a vibrant evening of conversations that were too numerous to catalog. What this tells me is that you’d like to have some meetings without a formal program – simply to get to know each other better and have time to freely exchange ideas – face to face.
Maybe we should try this on a regular basis – perhaps quarterly to gauge interest. If so, the next opportunity would be January, so we “sync up” with June’s pizza party.
October’s program – which was intended as an informal set of Q&A roundtable discussions, quickly evolved into a vibrant evening of conversations that were too numerous to catalog. What this tells me is that you’d like to have some meetings without a formal program – simply to get to know each other better and have time to freely exchange ideas – face to face.
Maybe we should try this on a regular basis – perhaps quarterly to gauge interest. If so, the next opportunity would be January, so we “sync up” with June’s pizza party.
October 1, 2014 Meeting : We’ll have many presenters, as we hold break-out sessions on a variety of topics. We are blessed with many members who have expertise in a variety of facets, when it comes to ham radio. We also have members who want to learn more about these special modes, operations, and more.
By matching everyone up this coming month, it gives our Elmers a chance to share with some “Elmees” and get to know each other a little better. Even if you know “just a little” about some particular area of amateur radio, it may be more than someone else knows. All a teacher really needs to know is just a little more than her students.
I’ll have some topic area tent signs made up for tables, but I need your help. The more of you that attend October’s meeting and stay to share your knowledge, the more successful this experiment will go. So, if you’re willing to share what you know about DX, Contexts, Satellites, Digital Voice (D-STAR, System Fusion, DMR), Digital Modes (RTTY, PSK-31, JT-65), CW Proficiency, Antenna Design, Homebrewing, QRP, Weak Signal VHF/UHF, Public Service or something else - please let me know and I’ll make sure you have a sign. Otherwise, we’ll see what “elegant randomness” blesses us with.
By matching everyone up this coming month, it gives our Elmers a chance to share with some “Elmees” and get to know each other a little better. Even if you know “just a little” about some particular area of amateur radio, it may be more than someone else knows. All a teacher really needs to know is just a little more than her students.
I’ll have some topic area tent signs made up for tables, but I need your help. The more of you that attend October’s meeting and stay to share your knowledge, the more successful this experiment will go. So, if you’re willing to share what you know about DX, Contexts, Satellites, Digital Voice (D-STAR, System Fusion, DMR), Digital Modes (RTTY, PSK-31, JT-65), CW Proficiency, Antenna Design, Homebrewing, QRP, Weak Signal VHF/UHF, Public Service or something else - please let me know and I’ll make sure you have a sign. Otherwise, we’ll see what “elegant randomness” blesses us with.
NIST Station WWV, Fort Collins, Colorado
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November 5, 2014 This month’s program was all about WWV. Sure, it’s all the time – all the time, but there’s more to this valuable resource than just ticking and tones. www.nist.gov |
December 3, 2014 Meeting
Club Officer Elections and Skywarn Presentation
Club elections will be conducted at our December club meeting for the slate of candidates finalized at the November club meeting. The finalized slate of candidates is:
In addition, we have two (2) 3-year director positions to fill from a list of three (3) candidates nominated. Nominated are:
In accordance with Article IV, section 6 of our club’s constitution, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast for the two vacant 3-year directorships shall be declared elected. Thank you, and good luck to all the candidates who have been nominated!
Just because you have not been nominated for an elected position does not mean that there aren’t other ways to participate in the leadership and direction of your club. Quite the contrary! A quick glance at the list of committee chairs included near the end of this edition of Crosstalk should provide the realization that we are all volunteers in this all-volunteer organization. In addition to elected positions, there are various volunteer committee opportunities available for next year. Two areas that are most important to the club, and require the most volunteers, will be the 2015 Field Day, and planning for our 2015 Hamfest. If you have an ability to guide us in either of those areas, please contact Jim N2GXJ direct. If you have an interest in helping out in any other area, please contact the current committee chair direct. Thank you!
- President: Jim, N2GXJ
- Vice Pres: Cory, WA3UVV
- Treasurer: Al, KB2AYU
- Recording Secretary: Sheldon, K2MEN
- Corresponding Secretary: Ron, NR2B
- Trustee: Bob KD2GFL
In addition, we have two (2) 3-year director positions to fill from a list of three (3) candidates nominated. Nominated are:
- Chuck, WA2TML
- Ken, WB2P
- Bill, NJ2S
In accordance with Article IV, section 6 of our club’s constitution, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast for the two vacant 3-year directorships shall be declared elected. Thank you, and good luck to all the candidates who have been nominated!
Just because you have not been nominated for an elected position does not mean that there aren’t other ways to participate in the leadership and direction of your club. Quite the contrary! A quick glance at the list of committee chairs included near the end of this edition of Crosstalk should provide the realization that we are all volunteers in this all-volunteer organization. In addition to elected positions, there are various volunteer committee opportunities available for next year. Two areas that are most important to the club, and require the most volunteers, will be the 2015 Field Day, and planning for our 2015 Hamfest. If you have an ability to guide us in either of those areas, please contact Jim N2GXJ direct. If you have an interest in helping out in any other area, please contact the current committee chair direct. Thank you!
The second part of December’s meeting will be presented by our own Anthony Otlowski, W2WCC. If you’ve wondered about the SKYWARN program – what it is and how you can help – please join us for this informative and enjoyable overview. www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/skywarn |
Tony Otlowski, W2WCC
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