BSSS 2000-01

12 Pages·6.9 MB·

©2000
BADGER STATE
Specia\
"y to K" \ssue
For Radio Amateurs • Bk Radio Amateurs
Published Monthlk Since 1 969 • Our 31st Kear
Return Address: Bulk Rate
Kenneth A. Ebneter ADDRESS SERVICE US. Postage
PAID
Single Copk: $1. 25 322 Wauona Trail REQUESTED Permit #265
Portage, WI 53901 Portage WI 53901
Vol. 30 No. 1 • 357th Consecutive Monthlk Issue • Baraboo, Wisconsin • Januark 2000
Wisconsin prepares for Y2K; Boy Scout Troop 536 and the
governor addresses hants West Allis Radio Amateur Club's
1999 Jamboree on the Air
By Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, W9NXE
By Jay Kempinger, KA9NKA that brings t9gether Boy Scouts and Ham
Radio operators, worldwide, for an exciting
weekend of communicating by amateur
Excitement and enthusiasm sparked from radio.
both ends of the coax at this year's Jambo At Kulwicki Park in Greenfield,
ree on the Air, JOTA. For those who braved Wisconsin, hot coffee and cocoa helped to
the foul weather, the IO-meter band opened stimulate the group into action in spite of the
to a World of Ham Radio, filled with JOTA wind and cold misting rain. Volunteers from
stations all anxious to make contact.
Jamboree on the Air is an annual evem Please turn to page 6
Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson talks with Section Emergency
Coordinator/RACES Radio Officer Stan Kaplan, WB9ROR, on 40 meters from the
State Department of Emergency Management on December 16. Next to the
governor is control operator Sam Rowe, KN9NG. Behind are Ed Gleason,
Administrator, Wisconsin Emergency Management talking with Major General
James Blaney, Wisconsin's Adjutant General.
Like all states, Wisconsin is preparing get on the air at noon, when the Badger
for possible disruptions in public services on Emergency Net meets on 3.985 MHz. But in
December 31 - January 1 . Hams across the spite of the short notice, many Wisconsin
state have been recruited by public service hams managed to congregate on 7.285 MHz
agencies, utilities, hospitals, and local gov for Tommy's QSO with WB9RQR, and
ernmems. On December 16, Governor several others at about 11 :30 a.m.
Tommy Thompson and his cabinet visited It was definitely a success. No stranger
the headquarters of the Wisconsin Division to microphones, Governor Thompson knew This is the JOTA/WARAC HF station. Newly licensed hams Kate Connell.
of Emergency Government to review Y4K exactly what to do when KG9NG invited · KB9VGH, and Jayson Kempinger, KB9VGF, coach a prospective ham. In the
preparedness. The Wisconsin Emergency him to talk. He spoke at length, thanking the background are other visitors looking at displays.
Management (WEM) radio room combines hams who were listening (many of them Photo by Phil Gural, W9NAW
RACES station WC9AAG with FEMA HF members of ARES and RACES) for their
radio equipment· and other HF, VHF, and contributions and their volunteer spirit.
FLIPPING THE PAGES
satellite communications. The radio room The governor clearly was impressed and
has long been manned by hams. Mack Bro also intrigued by the experience. He stayed
phy, N9NTB, is the volunteer in charge. in front of the radio for quite a while. His
A day before the governor's visit, his "handlers" and staff hovered in the back What's Happening: Edited by Ken Eb net er, K9EN ........................................... ." ... : 2
staff asked if he could speak to Wisconsin ground, expecting him to hurry away. But Foundation for Amateur Radio Scholarships Announced. Three Wisconsin Clubs Sponsor Some .......•......•..•· . 4
Amateur Radio operators who were involved he didn't. He stayed to hear the check-ins
ARAL Asks Partial PRB-1 Reconsideration .......•.......................................... •. . 5
in Y2K. Sam Rowe, KG9NG, the EC for and greetings from hams around the state.
Nominations Open for Maxim Memorial Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . 5
Dane County, agreed to serve as control And as each ham announced his town or
operator at WC9AAG, along with Daniel county, it was obvious that the Governor The Computer Comer, No. 74: The Lowly Floppy· Stan Kaplan. WB9ROR . . . • . • . . . . . . • . . . . . • . • . . . . . . • . . . . 6
Gomez-Ibanez, W9NXE. Stan Kaplan, understood (and was delighted) that" the lakeshore Repeater Association .......•............ ·. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 7
WB9RQR, Section Emergency Coordinator circuit he had just used had connected him
ManCoRad Radio Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . 7
and RACES Radio Officer for Wisconsin, to the whole length and breadth of Wiscon
Sheboygan County Amateur Radio Club . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . • .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
and Don Michalis, W9IXG, SM, put out the sin.
word on HF nets that the governor would be A technical note: We were using the Red Cedar Repeater Association, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 8
on the air from the WEM radio room some WEM radio room's Kenwood TS-440 bare Quarter Century Wireless Association/SoutheastemWisconsin Chapter 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 8
time Wednesday morning (Dec. 16). Unfor foot into a vertical antenna on the roof of Wisconsin Association of Repeaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
tunately, his schedule did not permit him to the two-story building. (J
Wisconsin Nets Association Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . g
Editorial: Two Versions of BSSS? ...................•....•.. : . . . • • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 9
The Wisconsin Packeteer ......•...................•.• : . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 1O
Yellow Thunder Amateur Radio Club ........ ·. ....•.•...... :-...., . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 11
2 BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS• January 2000
WHAT'S HAPPENING
t!, 9wapfests and Other 9ocial Events t!, Club Meetings
t!, Amateur Radio Exam 9chedules
Edited by Kenneth A. Ebneter, K9EN, 822 Wauona Trail, Portage, WI 53901 • [email protected]
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2000 Rochester Hamfest and
on your event t.o [email protected].
Swapfests Computer Show Olmsted County Fairgrounds Rochester,
MN Doors open at 8 a.m. Info:
http://members.aol.com/rarchams [phone]
and Other Social Events SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2000 Madison Swapfest Mandt
Community Center, 4000 Mandt Parkway, Stoughton, WI
.... CLUB
Doors Open: 8 a.m. Information: (608) 245-8890.
SATURDAY. JANUARY 8. 2000 28dl Midwinter SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2000 Ozaukee Radio Club 22nd
Swapfest Waukesha Co. Expo Center Forum. Waukesha, Annuai Radio and Computer Swapfest S a.m. to l p.m., •'-''MEETINGS
WI Cont.act: WARAC Swapfest, P. 0. Box 1072, Circle B Recreation Center Int. of Hwys 60 and Cty. I
Milwaukee, WI 53201, or call Phil, W9NAW, (414) 425- Exam~nations by Badger Ruminers, Gary Sharbuno, 5119
3649. www.warac.org. · W. Willow Rd., Brown Deer, WI 53222. Information:
ORC, 1702 Holly Lane, Grafton, WI 53024.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000 South Bend Hamfest, Due to space limitations, we cannot always carry the
South Bend, IN Cont.act: Michiana Valley Hamfest SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2000 Lakeshore Hamfest full listing of Wisconsin and area club meetings. Please see
Association. 21970 Kem Road, South Bend, IN 46614. and Computer Swapfest Manitowoc County . Expo the Ocvtoberl 999 meetings column for the latest complete
ManCoRad Radio Club Info: Dick, N9QFY, (920) 682- listing. The following changes have been reponed to BSSS
FEBRUARY 22, 2000 Red Cedar Repeater 9264 P.O. Box 204, Manitowoc WI 54221-0204 since that listing.
Association Auction Ame1ican Legion Post 53 634 Water If your club has no listing, or the latest listing is
St.. Eau Claire WI Information: Steve Hart. KA90MC MAY 19 -21. 2000 Dayton Hamvention. and ARRL incorrect, please cont.act K9EN at the addre~ shown on
[phone]~ National Convention Dayton, OH Information: (937) 276- page 2. QS:,W A-WISCONSIN CHAPTER#SS
6930 weekdays 10 a.m. t.o S p.m. Web: Contact Treasurer, Ted Stiller, WA9RDI, 4648 N
Sl!NDA Y, MARCH 12, 2000 SEWFARS Swaptest8 http://www.hamvention.org Email: [email protected] 90th St,, Milwaukee, WI 53225, for information about
a.m. to2p.m., setupst.artsat6a.m. AmateurRadiolicense Advance registration: (937) 276-6930 or meeting dates or joining QCW A Chapter #SS. The
exams. Information: [phone]. [email protected] Wisconsin Chapter holds Spring and Fall dinner meetings
on the first Saturday of June and October. r
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2000 Wisconsin QSO Party SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2000 W9EAU Hamfest,
Info: www.wara1.:.org Eau Claire, WI Information: Jim Staatz, KG9RA, P.O.
Box 1867, Eau Claire WI 54702- 1867 [phone]
SUNDAY. MARCH I 9, 2000 Hamfost Y2K Info: Jim St.aatz, [email protected]
The Test Point
Jefferson County Fairgrounds Tri-County Amateur Radio
Club [phone] [email protected] SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2000 Hamfest 00 South
FOX CITIES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB @r:J-F:J
SUNDAY. MARCH 26, 2000 NSRCfest a/k/a/ Milwaukee Amateur Radio Club American Legion Parle,
LAMARStest Lake County Fairgrounds Grayslake, IL 6 Oak Creek Info: Verneat(414) 762-3235
a.m. setup, open at 8 a.m. Amareur Radio exams Web: Amateur Radio Examina'tion Loca'tions
www.ns9n:.org Email: [email protected] Phone: (847) 291- SATURDAY, AUGUST 12. 2000 Cin:us City;. .
4\60 Swapfest Sauk County Fairgrounds, Baraboo, WI Circus
City Swapfest Info
FRIDAY, APRIL 1 and SATURDAY, APRIL 8, As a service to our readers, this section is available
2000 Milwaukee AES Superfest 2000 without charge to list your upcoming swapfest, batnfest,
January 08 , 2000 Blaine.:, · MN
dinner, picqic, party or other event of interest to Radio
. ·:··· ·· Amateurs in Wisconsin aod nearby areas. Send information January 08; 2000- Eau Claire~ WI
January 08, 2000 Madison, Wl.
January 08, 2000 Sheboyqan, WI
January 13, 2000 Apple Valley, MN··
Badger State the 9th of that month. This material is to be sent to the Editor. January 15,-2000 Cottage Grove, MN.
January 15,:. 200,e .·LQvasr1ParJt,,_. I~:, :.
Where to Send It January 15, 2000 Milwa~e, WI {BE)
Smoke
S~gnal:S· . January 18, 2000 . Eden P.rairie, MN
January 22, 2000 Appleton, WI
Address changes and corrections, and exchange papers .should
January 22, 2000 Bloominqton, MN
be sent ·to Ken Ebneter. · January 29, 2000 MilW:l!l~kea, WI .(MRAC)
Amateur Radio · . Editorial material, photographs, and feature article~ should. be January 29, .2000 Tomaha~Jt, WI .
.s ent io Jim Romelfanger. February 05, 20QO Oahkoeh .(Omro) , . WI
Education and Information
Inquiries about advertising should be directed to Ken Ebneter. February 05, .J~Ooo ,.Raai~e,. Wl ..
+ .Club, swapfest, and Test Point information sh.ould be s.ent to Fel)ruary os, 2.oo.o · · st:~. :E>au.l, 'Mli
Ken Ebneter. . :Febrµ~ey ·10, 2_090.· Appl~ v8.1iey, ~
CHAllMAN: Kenneth A. Ebneter,·K9EN, 822 Wauona Tra~. Portage, Swapfest ADS should be sent to Jim Romelfanger NO February 12, 2000 Blaine, MN
WI 539011• Teleplmne .1608! 742--3560. [email protected] LATER THAN EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE THE EVENT'S DATE. Feb~ary 12 ,. 2000 Ma~aon, WI
. . Subscriptions should be sent, with check or money order, to . Febru~:rjr ;15 ~ ~ 20'00, Ed~?i Prairie, MN
EDITOR: Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ, 412Yz Ash Street, Baraboo, WI Ken Ebneter. · Februaey'' 19', ttroo cottage Grove, MN
53913. Telephone (608) [email protected] -F'ebt-Uafy '19; ·~o~'b ·· oshkoah, wI
' ' Conditions for Reprinting or BBS' Posting ·Fehru~iy 19,·.2000·· Lovea Park, IL
TREASURER: Kenneth A. Ebneter, K9EN, 822 Wauona Trail, Portage · February 19, · 20bo' Milw..aukee ~ WI (BE>
WI 53901. Material from Badger State Smolm S'{gnalt · ·'February 2 6, :2000 :Sloominqton ,' MN
. . February 26, 2000 Milwaukee, WI · (MRAC)
EDITORIAL BOARD: Ken Ebneter, K9EN; Don Evenson, K9JYX; Jim Permission is hereby granted io reprint articles or posting articles on February 2~, 2000 Tomahawk, WI
Romelfanger, · K9ZZ. . ·
radio or .telephone b~lletin boards from {JadgerState Smoke Signals, March 04, 2000 Oshkosh (Omro), WI
providing credit is given to t~e origin~! author, publication in which the. March OIJ; ·20'00 · Racine, WI
Subscriptions article first appeared, and to Badger State Smoke Signals. THIS March 04, 2000 St. Paul, MN
CREDIT IS MANDATORY, AND NO MATERIAL MAY BE PRINTED March 09., 2000 ·Apple· Valley, MN
1 year (12 issues) $13.95 DR POSTED UNLESS IT IS GIVEN. March 11, 2000 Blaihe,·MN
March 11, 2000 Madison, WI
2 1ears (24 issues · save $1.95) $25.95
March 18, 2000 Cottage Grove, MN
This newspaper is produced by volunteer radio amateurs, and is non
March 18, 2000 Loves Park, IL
profit.. This newspaper is mailed from Portage, WI 53901.
March 18, 2000 Milwaukee, WI (BE)
Sarueb sacvraipilatiobnle . foFromr inisf oormn aptaiogne, 5c.o nStpaecct iaKl encl uEbb npeatcekra, gKe9 EreNd. uced rates Badger State Smoke Signals is i( ncorpor.a ted. as a Wisconsin non-stock, March 21, 2000 Sheboygan, WI
March 21, 2000 Edan Prairie, MN
non·for·profit organization.
March 25, 2000 Appleton, WI
When to Send It March 25, 2000 Bloomington, MN
Editorial Disclaimer March 25, 2000 Milwaukee, WI (MRAC)
The closing date for each issue is the first of the month for the March 25, 2000 Tomahawk, WI
next month's issue. For example, the closing date for the June issue April 22, 2000 Oshkosh, WI
The opinions expressed in editorials, guest editorials, columns, articles,
is May 1. The only exception is for participating clubs' minutes. Par· May 13, 2000 Manitowoc, WI
and letters from readers are the opinions of the authors only, and do
ticipating clubs are requested to send their material no later than FIVE May 20, 2000 Sheboygan, WI
DAYS after the club's meeting. For example, if a club meets on the not, unless otherwise stated, express or imply endorsement by Badger July 18, 2000 Sheboygan, WI
4th of the month, the material should be sent no later than State Smoke Signals, or by any other individual or organization. October 21, 2000 Oshkosh, WI
September 09, 2000 Appleton, WI
September 16, 1999 Sheboygan, WI
January 2000 • BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS 3
November 05, 2000 Kaukauna, WI Milwaukee. WI 53225. Radio Amateurs of Wisconsin (R.A. W.) Testing sessions at
November 21, 2000 Sheboygan, WI UW Oshkosh. Coll~ge of Nursing Building. 845 Algoma
Decenber 1·6, ·2000 Oshkosh, WI Blvd., Room 211, Oshkosh, WI. Park free in lot 29 on side
January 27, 2001 Appleton, WI BADGER EXAMINERS (BE)-MILWAUKEE of building or in lot 25 behind the building. Registration
Monthly, lat Sa~. Racine, WI Every third Saturday morning, 9:30 a-.m. to noon, start ~t 9 a.m. $6.35 per test. Bring 2 fonns of id etc.
(except January, July " August) Badger Examiners group tests at AES (Amateur Electronic Walkmsare welcome. Contact: Mark Miller, N9WT. (920)
Monthly, 1st Sat. Oshkosh (Omro), WI Supply) at 60th and Good Hope, Milwaukee. Exams are 231-1662 or Mike O' Conner, K9II [phone].
Monthly, lat Sat. St. Paul, MN
given at the old Sterman Printing shop, just 300 feet west of
Monthly, 2nd Thu. Apple Valley, MN the AES store. Novice to Extra are offered, and all test
Monthly, 2nd Sat. Madison, WI
materials are provided. Fee is $6.35, and bring your EAU CLAIRE, WI
Monthly, 2nd Sat. Blaine, MN original license, orCSCE if needed. The Eau Claire ARC will hold exam sessions on the
Monthly, 3rd Tue. Eden Prairie, MN
Also available are Commercial license exams GROL second Saturday in the months of January, April, and
Monthly, 3rd Sat. Milwaukee, WI (BE)
Monthly, 3rd Sat. Loves Park, IL (General ~diotelephone license), GMDSS, Telegraph, October, as well as on the date of their annual hamf est
Etc. Fee ts $35.00. For more information call Gary during the summer. For more info: Steve Bluem,
Monthly, 3rd Sat. Cottage Grove, MN
Sharbono, WI9M at [phone]. KA90MY. (715)
Monthly, 4th Sat. Blooain9ton, MN
Monthly, Last Sat. Milwaukee, WI (MRAC) 8__3_9_-_6__5_0_9_._ _____ ______________________________________ _
.:,
(eltoept December)
MADISON, WI
Monthly, Last Sat. Tomahawk, WI
Every second Saturday morning at 8 a.m. VE exams SHEBOYGAN, WI EXAMS IN YEAR 2000
(January th~ October only)
Quarterly ···· Eau Claire, WI are he~d in ~adison They a~ held at the operations building SATURDAYS, January 8, May 20, and September
(Second Saturday Jan., Apr., & of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District at 1610 16: 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. testing. TUESDAYS.
Oct.) Moorland Rd. Directio~s: Take the Beltline (Hwy 12 and March 21, July 18, and November 21~ 6:30 p.m.
plus annual summer hamfest.) 18) to South Towne Dnve. Go south 8/10 mile until South registration, 7 p.m. testing.
Towne Drive makes a bend and becomes Moorland Road All sessions will be held in the Red Cross building,
a~ .enter. at gate. You should bring a picture ID. your 2023 Erie Avenue. in the main level classroom area. This
GENERAL RULES FOR MOST EXAMINATIONS
ongmal ·licence and a copy of your licence. For exams testing site is handicapped/wheelchair accessible. Pre
~ ~re to .check with sponsors before going to an beyond the novice tests, bring a check for $6. 35, made out registration·is appreciated so we don't get caught shon of
exammat1on session. There may be changes and/or errors in
to the ARRL/VEC. If the special 610 form with the medical fonns and examinations, but walkins are welcome.
th~ dates or infonnation given ..s ome examinations require exemption is required, contact me beforehand to obtain Contact: Art Pahr, K9XJ, N8029 Willow Road, Plymouth,
filing an FCC or NCVEC , 'Form 605 ·and advance
one. No appointments are necessary to take exams. For WI 53073-2929. (920) 876-2370. K9XJ e-mail:
registration at least 30 days before the exam date.
· further questions. please leave a message on the mailbox or < [email protected] >
Some VE teams pennit walkins. Check with the
phone me at (6 08) 832"'6631.
spQDSC>r. .
Mark Jenks, NZ9B
Many hamfests and swapfests offer examinations. A ONALASKA, WI (ARRL\VEC)
hamfest entrance fee should not be charged if you come
The Riverland Amateur Radio Club will hold test
only to attend the examination.
MENOMONIE, WI . sessions at the Onalaska Public Library,741 Oak Avenue
To register in advance. you must get a copy of the Saturday, November 6, 1999: The Menomonie area South. registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Please bring two
current FCC Form 605, and filJ it out completely and
hams will conduct VE exams for all classes of licenses. The forms of identification and two copies of all original
correctly. thGe:o t your form from the FCC as instructed below location will be the U. W. -Stout Communications Center, documents, CSCEs, license, etc. For more information
or from American Radio Relay League. 225 Mai~
820 South Broadway, Menomonie Wisconsin. Walkins contact: Roger Reader, KA9BKK. 526 13th Ave~ N.,
Street. Newington, CT 061 11 . Please send an SASE if you only. Arrive between 9:00 and 11 :00 a.m. For information. Onalaska. WI 54650. (608) 783--0723.
request a form from the League. FCC Field Offices seldom·
contactJimLey, NX9F, 715-232-1397 (W)
stock forms. You can also get a form from ---------------
http://www.fcc.gov/forrnpage.html ... --------------------~--------------
MEDFORI), WI (ARRL/VEC)
or
Taylor County Area AREC,. Registration starts 8:30
ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/_Fonns/Form605. . STEVENS POINT, WI -ARRUVEC
a.m., testing starts 9:00 a.m. Location: The conference
A form by FAX is available at [phone] ARRL Exams in Stevens Point, Time: 0930. Place: room in the lower level of the Sheriffs annex to the Taylor
(request Form 000605). The FCC Forms Distribution A107 Science Building, on campus at UWSP (comer of
County Courthouse, corner of 2nd and. Ogden Sts.,
Center will accept orders at(800)418-3676. . Fourth and Reserve streets) For more information contact
Medford, WI. Take Ogden St. west <>ff of Hwy. 13 to the
Form 60S has a main form, plus a Schedule D with Joe Larson. N9JW, at 715-344-1182 evenings or email to courthouse. Park in the lots on the east or south sides of the
two parts (for Vanity and Physician's Certifications). [email protected]. courthouse or on the street. PLEASE use the entrance on
Fotmscan alto be obtained from the sponsoring group. the so~th side of the courthouse ano. wa1eh of the signs.
ARRL/VEC examinations require a check for $6.45 Walk~ins welcome ..C ontact: Tom Hnnaa, N9GEN."2373
payable to • ARRUVEc·. Exam fees change annually. See RACINE, WISCONSIN -ARRUVEC
Willow Ave .. Medford, WIS44St. [phone].
QST. W IA W bulletins, or The ARRL Letter regarding any Monthly - first Saturday. except January. July. and
annual exam fee changes. · August. Monthly exams are given 9 to 11 a.m. at the Faith
(The FCC has announced that the maximum Amateur United Methodist Church, 1013 Harmony Drive. Racine. PEWAUKEE, WI (ARRL/VEC)
Radio examination fee reimbursement that Volunteer Walkins are permitted. Talk in on 147.87/.27. Inquiries
First Saturday on months school is in session. Exams
Examiners and Volunteer Euminer Coordinators can and registrations should be directed to Robert N. Jensen.
collect during calendar year 2000 is $6.66. The WOWLN, ~16 cambridge lane 116, Racine, Wl. he\~ _at Wauke~ County Technical College Science
_Budding. WCTC is on Highway Doff Hwy 16 from the
Telepbone(414) 886-SSSl.
ARRUVEC bas set its ~test fee at $6.65. Per ARRL -------:-----------------------.. ------ East_ I'.""94 and Hwy 1 from West J-94 just north of GE
VEC policy, there is no examination charge for those 1aking
M~J~l Systems. Handicapped parking is at the rear of the
only Elements IA or 2. A $6.6S fee will be collected from buildmg. Tests start at 9 a.m. and registration ends at 10
TOMAHAWK, WI
~ceirtctfalcnat~ao n steoe wkiani~v e tthoe Mupogrrsaed ceo deu seinxgam ian atpiohny. s-i-ciBana'ns Last Satunlay of every month. Jan. thru Oct. aB.mrad. lCeyo,n AtacAt:9 0AJU,o .l.m ~n. AA 7CS, (920) 568..0836~ Roger
1. Jahnke. W9.iJ in The ARRL Letter) Tomahawk (262) 691-3o89 or SEWFARS Repeater club c/o Jam
FCC tequiteS .a pplitants to show their original Volunteer Examiners (ARRUVEC). Tomahawk, Laz.achek. KF9GG (262) 6S0-0724.
amateur license or CSCE to the VE. team. You must also WI. No_ advance regist1'3tion required, but appointment
~ve a good copy of your license or CSCE. ·A copy of your would be appreciated. Registration at 8:30 a.m. and testing HUDSON. WI (ARRLIVEC)
license or CSCE must be attached to your FCC form 60S Slans at 9:00 a.m. For location or other information
and most VE teams need a copy for their m:oa One good . inquire on 145.43 MHz. repeater or contact: Terry Collins' Sponsor: St. Croix Valley AR Testing Col. Time:
CSCE copy is sufftcienL You are also be required lO have a KB9AUP, W6S64 Highway 8. Tomahawk. Wt 54487: Cati for time and walk-in info, Conract: Gregory Miller
Telephone (71S) 453-4633. · ·
photo ID. or two other forms of ID. Contact the VE team [phone] ~tion: St. Croix County Emergency.
for details. Government Center by jail. Carmichal R.d. lower level.
Technician clais licensees must show proof of testing Hudson, WI 54016. (lnfonnation tnx ARRL Web site)
before Mareh 21,' 1987, in onlerto uparade to General with APPLETOJ\l, Wl-ARRUVEC
a code test only. Proof must be either in the form of a pre- MANITOWOC. WI CHAMFEST) --------~---------------------~--~---------------
3/21/87 license·document or a •Leuer of Veriftcation of KAUKAUNA, WI (HAMFEST). FRIENDSHIP, WI (ARRUVEC)
Technician License Held Prior to 1937• as requested in Conducted by the Fox Cities ARC VE team. All test Sponsor: Adams County ARC. Location: Adams
writing from the FCC. 1270 Fairfield Road. Gettysburg, sessions in Appleton are held at James Madison Jr. High, Columbia electric Cooperative (Community Room), 410 E.
PA 1732S-724S. . 2020 S. Carpenter Street. Testing staning at 8 a.m. For Lake St., Friendship, WI 53934. Contact: Karl Simonson,
sessioFnosr i st ahvoasiela bwleit fhr oimnt:e rnet access. a listing of exam 2A1p1p3l Tew~ m_in Wforimlloawtiosn ,D croivn«e.i.a cAi Gppeolertgoen ,R ..W CIr o5y4,9 W149. M(9D2P0). KB9EQI, (608) S65-6S33. [email protected]
hap://www. arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml 730-0_9_6_7_. __F_o_r_ _M__a_n_it_o_w_o_c_ __o_r_ _K_a_u_k_a_u_n_a_ _i_n_fo rm__at ion
By checking this page, you can find .registered VE contact Larry Siebers, KD91A [phone]. ....; ' HAMFEST EXAMS
sessions anywhere in US and some overseas. You can Cedarburg WI -ORC 1-{amfest
search by countty. state or zip code. The listing is not Eau Claire WI -ECARC Hamfest
OSHKOSH (OMRO)
speciftctoanypanicularV~. It isa master database. Green Bay WI -ARES Hamfest
T-h--a-n-ks- -tO- -B-a-r-t J-a-h-n·k-e-,- W--9-J-J-, -A-R--R-L-/-V-E--C- ----- Ra~ioT hexe amOssh mkoosnht hlVy Eo nT tehaem f irwsti llS aatdumrdianyi.s teRre gAismtraattieounr Hayward WI -Hayward Hamtes\
Kaukauna WI -Swaptest
~ms at 8:30 a.m. and exams will be given from 9 a.m.
Manitowoc WI -Lakeshore Ham fest
until noon at the Omro Community Center, 130 W.
MILWAUKEE. RADIO AMATEURS CLUB Oak Creek WI -SMARC Ham fest
(MRAC/VEC) MILWAUKEE Lar~bee. Omro, WI. Walkins welcomed. Bring a good Racine WI -Racine Hamfest
quabty photoq>py of your original license and any other
Last Saturday. except June, July, and August. 9:30
Rhinelander WI -NW ARC Swapfest
necessary documents such as a CSCE, etc. The first session
a.m. to noon at. Amateur Electronic Supply (AES), 5710 Rockford IL-RARC Ham test
will be through WSYI/VEC, and then sessions will
W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee. For additional
Rothsehild WI -.WVRA Hamfest
. alternate between ARRL/VEC and WSYl/VEC. The exam
Information, call (414) 797- M~C (answering machine) South Milwaukee, WI -.SMARC Hamfest
or (41~) 797-6722. Bring along your original license, fee is $6.35. For more information, please call Dick Waukesha WI -KMRA Swapfest
Lemme; K9FA, at (920) 235-0987, e-mail.
CSCE (tf any), and one (1) good quality photocopy of each, Waukesha WI -Midwinter Swapfest
[email protected], or write Dick at 826 Jefferson Street
plus two forms of identification, such a driver's license,
Dubuque IA -Hamfest
Oshkosh. WI 54901. '
etc. Also required is"$6.40 for the exam fee. Walkins are
welcome. To register in advance, use a post card: Print the
See the Swaptest colum)a tor additional information
grade of license you are applying for, your name, addre~.
and telephone number. and send the card to MRAC/VEC OSHKOSH, WI (R.A. W.) -(WSYJ/VEC) and contact persons. ~~
Milwaukee Radio Amateurs Club, J>O Box 25707; October 16, 1999. December 18, 1999. Sponsored by (continued on ~e 11)
'
4
BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS• January 2000
Foundation for Amateur Radio Here are the Wisconsin clubs and their studying Electrical Engineering or related
offerings: technology. They may reside in Wisconsin,
announces scholarship availabilities Illinois or Indiana, with preference given to
West Allis Radio Wisconsin residents.
Amateur Club
Ozaukee Amateur Radio
Three Wisconsin clubs are among the donors.
Club
W ARAC Memorial Scholarships
The Foundation for Amateur Radio,
Two at $1000 each
Inc., a non-profit organization with head
One at $1000
quarters in Washington, D.C., plans to
These awards are sponsored by the West
administer seventy-three (73) scholarships
Allis Radio Amateur Club of Milwaukee. This award is available to Wisconsin
for the academic year 2000 - 2001 to assist
Applicants must · hold an Amateur Radio residents holding any class of Amateur
licensed Radio Amateurs. The Foundation,
license, be residents of the state of Wiscon Radio license and pursuing at least a bache
composed of over seventy-five local area
sin, pursuing at least an Associate degree. lor's degree in any course of study.
Amateur Radio Clubs, fully funds ten of
Those seeking graduate degrees are also
these scholarships with the income from
eligible. Wisconsin amateurs seeking scholarships
grants and its annual Hamfest. The remain
should apply to FAR for these and other
ing sixty-three (63) are administered by the
scholarships for which they may be eligible.
Foundation without cost to the various do South Milwaukee
Additional information and an applica
nors.
Amateur Radio Club tion form may be requested by letter or QSL
Licensed Radio Amateurs may compete
card, postmarked prior to April 30, 2000
for these awards if they plan to pursue a of certain study programs. Clubs, especially
from: FAR Scholarships, Post Office Box
full-time course of studies beyond high those in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Four at $500 each
831, Riverdale, MD 20738
school and are enrolled in or have been Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wiscon
The Foundation for Amateur Radio,
accepted for enrollment at an accredited sin, are encouraged to announce these op Applicants for the SMARC scholarships
incorporated in the District of Columbia, is
university, college or technical school. The portunities at their meetings, in their club must hold an Amateur Radio license and
an exempt organization under Section
awards range from $500 to $2500 with newsletters, during training classes, on their intend to seek an Associate or baccalaureate
501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
preference given in some cases to residents nets and on their world wide web home degree froom a college or university in the
1954. It is devoted exclusively to promoting
of specified geographical areas or the pursuit pages. U.S. Preference will be given to applicants
the interests of Amateur Radio and those
scientific, literary and educational pursuits
that advance the purposes of the Amateur
Radio Service.
Foundation for Amateur Radio
Johnson Space
Center Amateur
Radio Club
offers "remote
membership"
•
February 22, 2000 7 P.M .
The John Space Center Amateur Radio
Club, in the NASA complex in Houston,
Texas, is offering "remote membership" to
anyone wishing to join. The JSARC is the
American Legion Post 53
club which, among lots of activities, teaches
astronauts to be ham radio operators. The
club's call sign is W5RRR.
634 Water Street
Membership is $15 per year. Patches are
available as well.
For more information, please contact
Eau Claire, Wisconsin club secretary Larry Dietrich, at (281) 483-
9198, or email him at
< [email protected] > .
Call-in frequency: 146.0 I /61 MHz Thanks Kent Castle, NASA/Houston
DOORS OPEN AT 6 P.M. Y2K
ADMISSION: $3.00, OR PAID 2000 RCRA SUPPORT
Though authorities expect little
problem as the year rolls from 1999 to
2000, it's possible that there may be
isolated problems - and if that happens,
Sell Your Gear • Mark all Items! Amateur Radio communications may be
part of a situation.
Club Retains I 0% of all sales This is to request that if your club,
group or organization furnishes commu
nications for a problem area, please
send a story to Badger State Smoke
COFFEE AND SNACKS
Signals. If photos are available, we'd
like to have those as well. (Photo
documenting ham communications is
Not responsible for any loss!
always a good idea anyway.)
If you do standby duty and not much
happens, we'd like a short summary of
COL. BRUCE WALTHER, W9QAH, AUCTIONEER that, too! Yup, pictures, if you get 'em.
("Real" photos are preferred, but me
dium-resolution digital images are OK.)
Proceeds to the Red Cedar Repeater Association, Inc. Snail to: Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ,
editor, Badger State Smoke Signals,
412V2 Ash Street, Baraboo, WI 53913-
Fo~ more information, contact Steve Hart, KA90MC 2501.
Email: < [email protected] > .
E6-16 810th Avenue, Knapp, WI 54749 • [phone]
Thanks in advance!
January 2000 • BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS 5
ARRL seeks Nominations open for • Technical achievement.
• Operating record.
Maxim Memorial Award
• Recruitment and training of new amateurs.
partial
• Public relations activities.
·Nominations are open until March 31, 2000, for the In keeping with the tradition of the award when it
reconsideration 1999 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. The award was first established in 1936, fomiaI nominations are
goes each year to a radio amateur under the age of 21 made by Section Managers. Supporting information,
whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most including the endorsement of ARRL-affiliated clubs and
of PRB-1 exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur elected or appointed League Leadership officials, should
Radio activities. These include, but are not limited to: be submitted with the nomination to Jean Wolfgang,
• Participation or leadership in organizational affairs
petition denial
at the local or national level. Please turn to page 7
The ARRL will ask the FCC to partially reconsider M F J TUNERS
its dismissal of RM-8763, the League's 1996 petition that
sought to strengthen arid clarify the limited federal
preemption policy governing Amateur Radio antennas
MFJ-989C Legal Limit Antenna Tuner
known as PRB-1. The League also agreed to fund a
Florida antenna case with PRB-1 implications.
MFJ uses super heavy duty components to make the world's finest legal limit tuner
In its petition, the ARRL wanted the FCC to prevent
states and localities from enacting provisions that frus -MFJ uses super heavy duty · ·
components --roUer inductor,
trate the intent of PRB-1 or make it costly to apply for variabl11 capaciJors, ant11nna
permission to erect an amateur antenna. The FCC switch and balun •• to build tht
world's most popular high MFJ AirCore'"' !lolltr Inductor
dismissed the petition in its entirety November 19 and pow11r antenna tuner. gives high-Q, low loss, high effi·
indicated it was unwilling to go beyond what is already The rugged world famous ciency and high power handling.
MFJ-989C handles 3 KW PEP MFJ's exclusive Self
spelled out in PRB-1. "We continue to believe that the SSB amplifier input power (I 500 Resonana Killer™ keeps dam·
standards the Commission set, that is 'reasonable accom Watts PEP SSB output power). aging self-resonances away from
Covers 1.8 to 30 MHz, includ- your operating frequency.
modation' and 'minimum practicable regulation', have ing MARS and WARC bands. s3M5f'I·9989C9 5 Large, self-cleaning wiping
worked relatively well," the FCC said. MFJ'sAirCore™ roller induct- shortwave·-nearly Needle SWR/Wattmeter, contact gives good low-resistance
or. new gear-driven turns count- any antenna. Use ~sive trans~itting connection. Solid 114 inch brass
The League will ask the FCC to reconsider two er and weighted spinner knob coax, random wire or variable capacitors, shaft, self-align bearings give
important aspects of the original petition. Meeting giv~s you exact inductance con· balanced lines. ceramic antenna switch, built-in smooth non-binding rotation.
trot for absolute minimum SWR. You get everything you've dummy load, TrueCurrent™ MFJ No Maltu Whal™ Warranty
December 4 in Texas, the ARRL Executive Committee You can match dipoles, vcrti- ever wanted in a high power, full Balun. scratch-proof Lex an fronl MFJ will repair or replace
voted to instruct the League's General Counsel to seek cals, inverted vees, random featured antenna tuner -· widest panel - all in a sleek compact your MFJ-989C (at our option)
reconsideration of the FCC Order regarding the applica wires, beams, mobile whips, matching range. lighted Cross- cabinet (IO'f.Wx4'/,Hx ISO in). 110 11UJl/er what for one year.
More hams use MFJ tuners than all other tuners in the world!
tion of PRB-1 to restrictive covenants and to excessive
costs that localities might levy or require in order to
.'.Wl'J.986 Two knolt Ol,,__,,,_,_r.. MPWM tlelvxe 300 Watt Tuner MP.1-16010 ra•do• wire Tuw
install an antenna structure. Mort hams _,,,... Operab: all bands anywhere ~
vse MFJ-949s with MFJ's reversible L-network. l~
In its dismissal, the FCC pointed out that PRB-1
than any other Tums random wire into powerful MFJ-16010
excludes restrictive covenants in private contracts as anunna tuntr in transmitting antenna. l .8-30 MHi.. •49H
"outside the reach of our limited preemption." The t3h0e0 wWoraluds! . HFaunldl.l1e:s8 to30.~Hz 'M1F4J.9949.E. 200M WFatJts. 9PE0P6. /T9i0ny3 2•x 3.x,4., i.nT. v...,..
Commission added, however, that it "strongly encour MFI coverage, 48 position Pnc1S1on4lf™ MFJ-906 has Jighled
986
ages associations of homeowners and private contracting Two knob tuning (differential 132~• inductor, I 000 Volt tuning capacitors. full Cross-Needle SWR/
capacitor and AirCore™ roller size peak/average lighted Cross-Needle SWR/ Wattmeter, bypass swilch.
parties to follow the principle of reasonable accommoda inductor) makes tuning foolproof and easier Wattmeter, S position antenna switch, dummy Handles 100 W FM. 200W SS B. ti7F9~
tion" with respect to Amateur Radio. than ever. Gives minimum SWR al only one load, QRM-Free PreTune™, scratch proof MFJ-903, $49.95, Like MFJ-906,
setting. Handles 3 KW PEP SSB amplifier Lexan front panel. 3'/,Hx l(}'f,Wx7D inches. less SWR/Wartmeter, bypass switch.
In addressing zoning laws and application costs, the input power (1.5 KW output). Gear-driven MFJ-948, $129.95. Economy version of MFJ- Ml.1-921/924 VIW/UHP 'hnen
2 \1!3!!lif&.l., ..
FCC dismissal Order asserted that the PRB-1 principles turn!; counter. lighted pcaklaverage <;ross- 949E, less dummy load. Lexan front panel. MFJ-921 covers i ... ., ......1
Needle SWR/Wattmeter. antenna switch., MIJ.9411_...,..,.,_1Vn9r Mcters/220 MHz. _ . ~ ~~
of "reasonable accommodation" and "minimum practica balun. 1.8 to 30 MHz. 10'/.Wx4'hHx 15 m. The most for MFJ-924 covers 440 ·-- .t · ·' a:-*'~
ble regulation" already provide sufficient guidance to MPJ.962D compact Tuner for Amps your money! !-1Hz. S~R/Wattmcter. 8x2'hx3 Mr!;~1~M.f'
Handles.JOO Watts inches. Simple 2-knob rumng '69H
communities. Local zoning ordinances should be written PEP, covers 1.8-30 MFJ. E for mobile or base.
so as to "not impinge on the needs of amateur operators MHz, lighted Cross-Needle SWR/ 'I l9941•• MIJ-922 144/440 MffJrhner
to engage in amateur communications," the FCC said. Wswaitttcmhe, t4e:r1, b8 aplousni,t1io0n0 a0n vteonltn caa pacitors, tuneUr lctorave trisn yV H4xF2 1'h3x6l-'1f7, 5in MchH z ;·. ·-·"""'·,;: :·
In a related action, the Executive Committee agreed Lexnn front panel. Sieck 10'/iWx2''2Hx7D in. and UHF 420-460 MHz. SWRJ ·-· r.;9ii:
to have the League fund an appeal in a Florida Amateur A few more dollars steps you 9M2F6J-9962.0. MPEJx.9te4n5d1s yHouFr• m6oMbielef e!rW ....M.. ,.P_.J. -W9a113me11er r ~eads~ 60/1-50 WGattNs. und
Radio tower case. Lenard Persin, WB4HZQ, had applied up to a KW tuner for an amp Iau:r. . antenna bandwidth so .. • ,~ • Create~ art11ic1al RF ground.
Handles 1.5 KW PEP SSB amplifier !npu~ you don't have to stop, Also electncally plac~s a ~- '
to Seminole County for a special exception to a 35-foot
power (BOOW ourput). Ideal for Amentron s go outside and adjust your antcn- - far away RF ground direcl· .. : .
tower height limit to build an 80-foot tower on his nearly A~·811H! AirCore™ roller i~ductor, gear· na. Tiny 8x2x6 in. Ughted Cross· ly at your rig by luning "" ~ 1: ~ .
dnven turns counter, pk/avg hght~ Cross- Needle SWR/Wattrncter. Lamp and bypass ?UI re~ctanc.e ~f connect·
one-acre Jot. Initially granted, his application was later Needle SWR/Wattmetcr, antenna s,w•tch.,ba!un, switches. Covers 1.8-30 MHz and 6 Meters. mg Wire; Ehmmates RF hot SJ>?IS, r7FJ-9~j
denied after a neighbor appealed. Persin appealed in Lexan front, 1.8-30MHz. IO't.x4 lixlO /,in. 300Watts PEP. MFJ·20, $4.95, mobile mount. RF feed.,ack. TVl/RFI, weak s1!',- 9
federal court, and the ARRL filed a "friend of the court" MFJ.969 300W....,. .." '1cfDrTuner MF.1-971 ,-.-_-..W_.e /QB' Tuner " Wr:aJlsJ -c9a3us4e, d$ b1y6 9p.o9o5r, ARrFti fgircoiauln gdrinogun. d/300
brief in the case. On November 2, a US District Court . Tunes coax, .balanced . ,~· Natt Tur.:.rlCross-Needle SWR/Waumeter.
Imes, random wire 1.8-30 . ..,,_
in Florida ruled for the County, saying it had "properly MHz. Cross-Needle Merer. .. 'M9F9;~5';j'}.' '~1 1'lnPc9 MFJ li4mlralCIG
SWR, 30/300 or 6 Watt QRP
balanced Mr. Persin's interests with the needs of the
ranges. Matches popular MFJ
community." transceivers. Tiny 6x61l1'X2'/, inches. MFht.tpI:M//wwFw. mtJ..enterprises.com
In its November later dismissmg RM-8763, however, Superb AirCore'" Roller 1 MIFSJ-;r.1 MPJ.9018 w.a..t Vw Tuner •I Year fVo Mattu What warranty •30 day money
Inductor tuning. Covers 6 Meters MFJ's smallest (5x2x6 - back guarantee (less s/h) on orders from MFJ
the FCC declared that, given the express language of thru 160 Meters! 300 Watts PEP SSB. Active in.) and most affordable J ENTERPRISES, INC.
PRB-1, "it is clear that a 'balancing of interests' ap true peak reading lighted Cross-Needle SWR wide range 200 Watt PEP · · " " Box 494, Miss. State. MS 39762
proach is not appropriate." Wa.tttcrhne, tdeur,m QmRyM l-oFarde,e 4 P·.1r ebTaulMun™, L, eaxnntnen fnrao nt V30e rMsaH tzu.n eGr.r eCato fvoerr sm 1a.t8c htoin g M'7FI-9901"B ~6'A0: :2: 3(2630-15) 836f93; -86-45:J5O1C;S AT. dMdon s..!l'hn .
ARRL President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, has ap Spwanlel. 3' f1Hx J 01/,W x9'/,D inches. soh. d sta·t e n.g s to l.i near amps. ,...,., -i _ ;,.......T., .e..c.,jho cHl,. e..l..p..:. .'). :,.i: >19l9)1 3M2F'J3 £-.0,,5.,,4.;9,,, , '""
pointed a committee to study how the ARRL provides
support for antenna cases.
r----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
The ARRl letter
®lf
~@@~~ ~I J.~ ®~@~~ ®O@~iA\~~
I
Have you · · Subscription Form
considered ARRL VEC Regular Individual Subscription Rates
becoming an
1 Year: $13.95 • 2 Years: $25.95 (save $1.95)
ARRL Volunteer Examiner?
PLEASE PRINT!
If you are 18 or older, and are presently a General,
Advanced, or Extra class licensee, the ARRL/VEC Name:------------------- Call Sign (if any): ________
would be glad to hear from you. Feel free to contact
Address:------------- City: ________ State: ZIP:
the ARRL/VEC at [phone] and request our
Prospective VE Packet. Very 73 to all my friends in o 1 Year o 2 Years o New o Renewal
Wisconsin!
Send this form, with your check or money order, to Ken Ebneter, 822 Wauona Trail, Portage, WI 53901.
Bart Jahnke, W9JJ/1, ARRL/VEC Manager Please do NOT send cash!
JANUARY 2000
6 BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS• January 2000
WARAC does JOTA 1999
The Carnputer
Carner
_Continued from front page microphone while others investigated the 2-
meter station for local contacts.
the West Allis Radio Amateurs Club, Evening came too soon and our event
By Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR • I OS Martin Drive W9FK, began the early morning task of began to wind down. Being witness to all
Port Washington, WI 53074-9654 raising their "Field Day" antenna (a 40- foot the excitement at our small station, it was
tall rotating dipole). Everyone helped set up easy to imagine the multitude of other JOT A
[phone]
tables, power lines, a short wave listening stations operating that day, and the great
[email protected]
display, and a 2-meter radio station. Tarpau time they must have had at the other end of
lins were duct-taped and roped into submis our coax.
sion against the wind for shelter as the Our thanks to the following people who
No. 74: T.he Lowly Floppy
W ARAC hams finished the last connections helped make this year's Jamboree possible:
to the Kenwood TS-570D. The Greenfield Lions Club (who made the
Aaah. The lowly floppy. Much maligned If you do, all the old data will still be on the There was aura of anticipation as the use of the Kulwicki Park pavilion possible),
and often cursed. However, it is still the disk after the format is finished! The only station went on the air. With WARAC hams Amateur Electronics (who donated the use of
fastest, most efficient way to move files thing a quick format does is to change the at the helm, flanked by scouts, contacts were the Kenwood TS-570D and a G5RV an
from one machine to another, so long as the first character of the old file names to the ·soon being made. England, the Azores, tenna), Kate Connell (KB9VGH), Louie
files are small enough to fit. To move larger Greek letter sigma. This permits overwriting Bahamas, Martinique, Brazil, Peru, Quebec, Golembewski (W9GSV), Phil Gural (W9-
amounts of data, the Writable CD-ROM of the old data by any new files you copy to Nova Scotia, and many stateside stations NA W), Jayson Kempinger (KB9VGF), Tom
(CD-R) or Rewritable CD-ROM (CD-RW) the floppy. Until then, the old data is still were worked. Two newly licensed hams Macon (K9BTQ), Les Peterson (W9YCV),
are gaining a position in the computer there, and easily recoverable! Your aim is to since last year's JOTA, Kate Connell (KB9- Wayne Schrubbe (N9RXB), Dave Shank
world, but as you know if you ever used really erase every bit of data on the floppy. VGH) and Jayson Kempinger (KB9VGF), (KA9WXN). Howard Smith (W A9AXQ),
one, the writing process is slow and some For that, you must select Full from the nervously made their first HF contacts. Lynn Tamblyn. (K9KR), and Jim White
what of a pain. You sometimes need to format types. Select Full and then click the Some of the scouts took turns at the HF (WB9YCS). 0
make an image copy of the data first, then a Start button. On the machine I am using
"practice run" at writing, then the actual now to type this article, it takes about 1
write. All this can easily eat up 30 minutes minute and 52 seconds to format a 1.44 Mb
to several hours of your precious time. The floppy, from the time I click Start to the
floppy is still the best for little files. time the process is finished.
One way to insure the integrity of the Now, let's do it the easy way. Click
files you are moving using floppies for Start, then Programs, then MS-DOS
trar.sfer or storage is to work only with Prompt. That will put you into the old com
freshly formatted diskettes. After repeated mand-line DOS configuration; don't worry
use, a fresh format can prevent your newly if all your little icons disappear. Then, at the
added data from being garbled with junk left C:\ prompt, type FORMAT A:/ U and press
over from the erased file detritus remaining the Enter button. When the formatting is
from past u~e. A complete format erases done, you will be asked if you want to label
everything and rewrites the Boot Record, the disk, and whether or not you wa,nt to
File Allocation Table and Root Directory as format another. When you are finished, type
well as marking the boundaries of the tracks EXIT and you will be returned to Windows.
and sectors. Oh yes, if there were any vi On my machine, formatting a disk in this
ruses on the floppy, formatting it in an way took only 1 minute and 9 seconds, or
uninfected machine will erase the virus, too. about 60% of the time it took to do it in
Good stuff. Like cleaning out your closet by Windows.
removing everything, so that you can pro When you go to the MS-DOS prompt,
ceed to neatly stack all your stuff back in you are using native DOS to format the
when the closet is empty. Doing that to your floppy: When you do it through the Graphi
closet can make more space. Moving flies cal User Interface we call Windows, Win
off a floppy, reformatting it, then putting the dows has to make repeated requests to DOS
At the two-meter station are, left to right, Boy Scouts Dan Rymaszewski, Jayson
files back has an added benefit. Any frag to have each part of the floppy formatted.
Kempinger, KB9VGF, Greg Konkol, and Kate Connell, KB9VGH.
mented files - those broken up into non Hence, the difference in speed, but then we
contiguous pieces - are put back together all know that speed is not a hallmark of Photo by Phil Gural, W9NA W
into continuous files when you copy them Windows. The /U switch? Oh yes, the /U
back to a newly formatted floppy. switch on the command line tells DOS to
So how do you format a floppy? Well, Unconditionally format the disk. This means
http://www.bsss.org
there are two basic ways, assuming you are completely rewriting every byte on the
using Windows 95 or 98, with a 1.44 MB floppy, and erasing any garbage that is left
A: drive. Let's do the Windows one first. over from previous disk use. It is always
Double click My Computer, then single good practice to start with a clean slate.
click the A: drive icon to highlight it. Then Happy computing!
click File to get a drop down list, and Reprinted, by permission, from the ORC
choose Format. An option window will Newsletter, Ozaukee Radio Club, 101 E.
come up, usually with Quick format se Clay Street, Saukville, Wisconsin 53080-
lected. Do not choose Quick Format (erase). 1903 (Skip Douglas, KA9DDN, Editor). 0
Offer to sell:
Many hams who· took part in Jo.TA (iaJ:i:lbo.ree on tlje Afr} •fttttt'"ttt::t~""'.""4] Amateur Radio business
have sent us their JOTA survey, W~_;have::exceeded ~~t,:y~~~
numbers by over 1,500 scouts:! Our cil~q(f.9.W:.9(:~¢.Q~ij::W,Ji;o/
~~~ ~: ::po~:: :~g:: ~~~: :!~::~~~t.~~~:;r:~~~~i1::1• :11111111
Excellent location • Lots of traffic
every year. Each. scout, leader ~g:yisHQt:i~:=a,=:@te#Wl\f41.:Wi~tif:f
Radio Operator! · · · ·· '.: . · .•.. '· \
The surveys we receive will help ·us to:··d¢le~cft;lithi¢eak ·'"·"' _;,..; . .._.;..~ "'-"~--'-- Milwaukee area ·
for JOTA 2000. This year's "JOTA Kit" contamedd:itectiqrisforsirimrebuiI9iii:gprojects
and a Morse code game. These were included as a directfesil;lt .of.the 1998· S.Ut:v.«?Y.S.
We have received surveys from 39 states. (No: ·sUr\'e)'s were ~#V,ed :from
Wisconsin JOTA operations. Tbere wer.e at least two; please :: Slibip,i~: surveys. A career change for me ~ould mean an
Thanks! - BSSS ed.) I know there are ~nstaiitly .ham: r:i.dio,e.v.ents=it:t·evecy 41UU
section. It would be impossible to keep track of them alHHowever, if yoli•are aware. of . opportunity for you.
JOTA activity which took place in your section, pl~e·encourage barns to submit a
survey.
The League's JOTA web address is <http;//www..ard.o.rg/ead/j.otalog/>. Interested?
Jean W~llg_an,91 YJB310S
Educational Progr~ms-Coordinatqr Call (414) 760-3000. Ask for Neil.
ARAL Freid and Educa~ional Services, ARRL
January 2000 •BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS 7
Lakeshare Bepeater Association
Mancorad Radio Club
Theresa Hartlaub, KB9KXE,
147.170 MHz • Racina, Wisconsin
Secretary
P.O. Box 204 •Manitowoc, WI LarrJ lcCaltJ, lllJIO • 1400 Siz lila Baad
54221-0204 Bacina, II 51401-1741
[email protected]
2-Meter Repeater: 146. 01 lnput/146. 61 Output
MEETING MINUTES W6BSF, will present it to him. Thank you, January Y2K lems that may have occurred in the area.
December 8, 1999 Janice. Parking for both meeting will be in back
An idea of a club newsletter was brought Your 1999 Board of Directors met with of the building. Enter through the glass door
The December meeting was called to up by Fred, W6BSF. It was decided not to Lakeshore's newly elected officers on De on the East Side of the large overhead ga
order at 7:40 p.m. by President Fred, W6- do it because of the cost of postage. cember 17th to finalize the transfer of re rage door.
BSF. Don, KB9l'HL. was presented a certifi cords, funds and duties. With Fem Fisher, Our Annual Ham Banquet is scheduled
The minutes were approved as published cate by our president for working the sub W9LCJ, and Bob Jensen, W0WLN, return for Saturday, March 18, 2000 at the Racine
in the Badger State Smoke Signals with a event (everyone who worked it received ing to the duties of Secretary and Treasurer Yacht Club, 2 Hubbard Street, on Racine's
motion made by Len, N9QFO, and seconded one). The next sub event will be April 29 after a 12-month hiatus from those coveted lakefront. The meal will be buffet style with
by Red, N9GHE. and 39, 2000. A suggestion was made of positions, our association's records and three entrees, Tenderloin tips, roasted tur
The treasurer's report was given by maybe doing some other special events, such funds are in good hands and have already key, and a pasta-meat dish. Cost per person
Roger. W9NPX, and approved by a motion as the car ferry or lighthouse in Two Rivers. been examined and updated to their specifi is $18.00. A list of door prizes and other
made by Red, N9GHE, and seconded by Fred will check this out. cation. I will be appointing an audit commit details will be available on a soon-to-be-con
Chuck, N9WUN. The membership drawing was held. tee for the annual financial record check. structed flyer that will be handed out at all
Everyone was reminded that the dues are N9VIA was drawn but not present. Next The committee may have a report for our our Southeastern Wisconsin ham gatherings
due NOW. Please pay Roger, W9NPX. month, it will be worth $7 .00. Fred donated January 25, 2000 meeting. The meeting is during the first two months of Y2K. Imme
There will be a discussion at the Febru a· CQ Magazine for raffle and it was won by scheduled for Tuesday, January 25th begin diate details are available from our Banquet
ary meeting about opening a new C.D. Bob, KB9INK. ning at 7:30 p.m. at the Red Cross Building, Chair, Kathy Madson, N9ZWN, or myself.
A discussion was held on buying a new Our meeting was adjourned at 8:55 with 4521 Taylor Avenue in Racine. We will Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Our
repeater as the current one is very old and a motion by Ken, K9HAG, and seconded by discuss the moving of our 440 machine from purpose is to honor area hams who have
would be kept for stand by. John, NZ9Z. the Explorer Post in Kenosha to spot still to contributed to Amateur Radio and our com
President Fred is taking names for a Lunch and refreshments were served and be determined on the West Side of Racine. munities. If you know any of these deserv
Y2K volunteer list for New Year's eve. enjoyed by all. This and a few other topics of concern to mg Amateur Radio operators, please jot
Nancy Crowley had contacted us to stand by our members are scheduled. I can not say at down the reasons you think they are deserv
in case of possible problems. Everyone was Submitted for approval: this time, because I not sure. But there will ing and email, FAX or snail mail them to
reminded to have all HT b.1tteries charged Theresa Hartlaub, KB9KXE be a few tidbits. me so they may be recognized. For addi
up in case of a power failure. A motion was Preceding our event at 6:00 p.m., mem tional details contact Larry McCalvy, WA9-
made and passed that the club purchase two MEETING ATTENDANCE bers and other interested folks are invited to JMO, by FAX ~t 262-639-3320 or email at
gel-cell batteries for emergencies or portable attend · the Racine ARES meeting. John < [email protected] >.
use. KB9GOY Mary
Rusfeldt, KA9RZL, will discuss in detail
John, NZ9Z, brought up the fact that W9NPX Roger how Amateur Radio ties into Southeastern 73,
our club is a service club and could ring W6BSF Fred Wisconsin's emergency preparedness plan. lArry McCalvy, WA9JMO,
bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas N4WGK Denise And he may share with us any Y2K prob- President
time. Several members volunteered. W9GXD Charles
Fred, W6BSF, congratulated all the new KB9INK Bob
board members for the upcoming year and WS9X Ron BSSS gets a tardy mark; Ham radio restructuring close
thanked all outgoing members for their KB9NTL Don
service. · NZ9Z John
•Our December issue went into the mail late, and we apologize, folks. I completed
Fred, W6BSF, made changes on the N9XEZ Bil1
flyer for our upcoming hamfest, which will N9QFO Len my section on time, but K9EN wasn't able to meet the deadline because of several
be held May 13, 2000. Changes were ap K9HAG Ken factors, primarily his work. We'll try to avoid a recurrence. Ken's work takes him all
proved by the club, and Janice, N9IQZ, and N9WUN Chuck over the southern half of the state, from Cleveland to Platteville to Stevens Point to
Ron, WS9X, will make up a new flyer so N9GHE Red Waupun and heaven only knows where else. The best way to help us to be on time is to
we can start circulating them as soon as N9FVZ Dan have all material to us either on schedule, or, if possible, a little early.
p0ssible. N9IQZ Janice • Word is that Amateur Radio's restructuring will likely be a done deal by the time
Janice, N9IQZ, made up an appreciation WB9VYO Vic
you are reading this. Those who have internet can keep up with that by going tc
certificate for Chuck, W9BZU, for his KB9GRC Toin S
<http://www.arrl.org>. We'll have in-depth coverage in February.
donation of his lifetime collection of Ama N9PBL Steve
teur Radio equipment to the club. Fred, Brandon Gue st
20-200 watts $100.00 Total: $756.00
• Atlas 21 OX transceiver with
manual and power supply $150.00 The first $680.00 will take the whole works.
• Dentron Clipperton-L linear amplifier. Pickup only, no shipping. To my knowledge, all
Uses four tough but economical 572-B works unless stated otherwise. If it doesn't, I'll
triodes in grounded grid for a full 1000 gladly refund your money.
watts DC on CW, and 2000 watts Bob Johnson, WB9EIW, N6646 Fawn Circle.
FOR SALE: Cleaning the shack. All items sold as PEP input on SSB. Wired for 234 VAC, Pardeeville, WI 53954.
is. but can be changed to 11 7 VAC if Tel: [phone].
desired. Covers 160-10 meters. $250.00 Email: [email protected]. D
• Old B/W TV set $1.00
• COE rotor control Model Ham ll/CD44 $3.00 Maxim Nominations to those deserving young amateurs who contribute their
• Heathkit model HD-1 5 phone patch $4.00 time, skills and energy daily through their commitment
• New Tronics SWR meter model C-M 52 $4.00 to Amateur Radio.
• Very old series 912 Dynamics Continued from page 5 Nominations go to Section Managers, who should
Electrometer (tube checker) $5.00 review and forward nominations to Jean Wolfgang,
• One box of hundreds of old radio knobs $5.00 WB3IOS, at ARRL Headquarters. WB3IOS, at ARRL Headquarters by March 31, 2000.
• Antenna selector switch, 5 position $5.00 An award panel will review the nominations received There is no limit to the number of nominations a Section
• Camel headphones GE-303 $5.00 and select the winner. The prize consists of a cash award Manager may make.
• Micronta LCD digital multimeter $10.00 of $1000, a suitably engraved plaque, and travel and Elisabeth Price, KC8ALW, of Worthington, Ohio,
• Astatic mike model 0-104 $20.00 accommodation expenses to enable the winner to attend was the winner of the Hiram Percy Maxim M~morial
• I com IC2-AT 2M transceiver, an ARRL convention for a formal presentation. Award for 1998.
receives but will not transmit $20.00 Nominations should document as thoroughly as For information and a nomination form visit
• Vo-Comm amplifier (2M) No. 2C-050 $25.00 possible the Amateur Radio achievements and contribu <http://www.arrl.org/field/awards/hpm.btml >or
• Kenwood mike MC-50 $40.00 tions of the nominee during the previous calendar year. contact Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, [email protected];
• Mirage amplifier (2M) SSB-FM $45.00 Additional information concerning the character of the 860-594-0219; or write her at ARRL Headquarters. 225
• Kenwood remote VFO model 230 $50.00 nominee should be as complete as possible. Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
• Kenwood antenna tuner Tue award is intended to provide a tangible reward The ARRL letter
8 BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS• January 2000
11 RED CEDAR REPEATER ASSOCIATION, ItNC .
SHEBOYGAN t
County Amateur Radio Club STEVE HART, KASIOM(, SECRETARY
*
ECS1CS 810TH AVENUE KNAPP, WI !;4749
Sky Borkenhagen, N9XRU, Secretary
N6466 Plank Circle • Glenbeulah WI 53023
2-Meter Repeater: 146. 01 lnput/146. 61 Output
2-Meter Repeater: 147.06 Output Greetings, RCRA sponsors and guests. point bucks on opening deer hunting day.
Welcome to year 2000! NQ9X, Ed Van Sickle at Whitehall, has
The December meeting of the Sheboy Core There is much news from neighboring coined a new phrase, "Wheels on Meals".
gan County Amateur Raidio Club was called Albertville, where N9ISN, Al Schlaugat and When we last saw K9RRU, Bob Spinti
to order by the club President Steve, 4th Saturday - Parkside Restaurant, Sheboy YL Dnnna report daughter J arnie is now at Menomonie, he had is hand a wood dowel
N9TRK at 7 p.m. local time. There were 7 gan Falls KB9UIC. That makes three of four licensed that was going to be turned in his lathe.
members present at the meeting. The amateurs in their family. The N9ISN DX Please plan on attending the club auction
SCARC meets every second Tuesday of the 5th Saturday - Farm Hill Restaurant, Cty V Packetcluster will be moving to the new 180 February 22, 2000 at the American Legion
month at the Red Cro5s building, 2032 Erie and OK foot tower at his home soon, which recently Post 53 at 634 Water Street, Eau Claire,
Ave., Sheboygan. acquired the W A9PAM/R owned by Ron WI. Auction time is 7 p.m. sharp. Doors
See yellow pages for addresses and Anderson of Chippewa Falls. The access for will open at 6 p.m. for you to set up your
The treasurer's report was given by phone numbers. the DX cluster is N9ISN or PCEAU on items. Equipment should pertain to the
Mike, K9SJ, showing a current balance of Steve, N9TRK adjourned the meeting at 145. 51 MHz at 1200 baud packet. The electronics hobby. Please mark all items
$900. 30 in the checking account. Mike also 8:30 p.m. cluster is linked to the Midwest DX "Mega with some identification and what you will
reminded members the cut off for annual cluster" through La Crosse with vert stable accept for a minimum bid. Some snacks and
dues is January 1 lth. To sign up for the Sheboygan Hams connections. WA9PAM/R operates on coffee will be provided. W9QAH, Bruce
Further plans were discussed for the e-mail list, submit your address to 444.350 MHz, and has had reports from a Walther, will auction your items to the
basement project. The Y2K stand by sched <[email protected] > . All messages 45-mile radius. Ron expects to use other highest bidder. The RCRA is not responsible
uled from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m on New sent to this address will be forwarded to all equipment on the system soon which .should for any loss. Keep track of your stuff. All
Years Eve was discussed and plans were listed subscribers. Thank you, N6ARE, for improve the already good performance. sales are final, and we will auction what
made for operations. The meeting concluded providing this service. KB9LUK, James Kinney at Eau Galle, time will allow. Admission is $3 or paid
at 8:30 p.m. Postal address: SCARC, P.O.Box 1282, has applied for 448.475/443.475 MHz plti.r year 2000 RCRA support. The RCRA will
Each Saturday at 8 a.m., you are invited Sheboygan, WI 53082-1282. and is waiting for the thirty-day WAR ap retain 10% of all sales to offset expenses.
to join us at the following venues: proval. Come to buy, sell, or just have fun. See you
NET SCHEDULE The Foundation for Amateur Radio will at the Eau Claire auction.
1st Saturday - Jumes, Sheboygan again be granting scholarships for amateurs Word from W9QAH, Bruce Walther, is
8 p.m. Monday night, SCARC Fun Net, who are seeking continuing education be that a visit to the hospital in the Twin Cities
2nd Saturday - Highway Bakery at Hwys J 147.060, PL107.2+ yond high school. Get the details and appli yielded him much better health and he ex
and 42 cation form from FAR Scholarships, P.O. pects to have some back troubles corrected
Respectfully submitted: Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. Application soon. Good health to "Auction Bruce".
3rd Saturday -Jumping Jacks, Kohler Sports Sky Borgenhagen, N9XRU must be postmarked prior to April 30, 2000. The next social hour is scheduled for
The RCRA has received about 25 pledg January 25 at 1414 9th Street Peppermill
es to date for the new year sponsorship of Restaurant in the L-Mart shopping mall,
Wisconsin Association of
the repeater. If you are able to support the Menomonie. Meeting time is 7:30 p.m. and
system, we suggest a $15 individual support, we will be looking for helpers for the auc
Repeaters or family at $20. If you would like a month tion in February.
ly copy of the Badger State Smoke Signals
newsletter, add $10. Steve Hart,
KB9LUF and KB9T AC, John and Andy KA90MC
Mark Heimmermann, KF9CS, Secretary
Wagner at Cedar Falls, bagged 4 and a 5 SecretaryfI'reasurer
I 523 E. Moonbe"m Tr. • Appleton, WI 54915
December 11, 1999 KF9ZU, Bette Kratz
N9TD, Arthur J. Kratz
The meeting was called to order at 1: 10 K9IK, Pat Latour
p.1 by the Chainnan, Gary Bargholz. It KB90WC, David Campion
w:• ·ld at Gulliver's Restaurant in Neenah, W9RIC, Rick Kosiorek
V. onsm. W9IEI, Greg Schneider
nroduction of members and guests: KB9QXJ, Mark Strand
N9VSV, Jeananne Bargholz
KF9CS, Mark Heimrnermann N9UUR, Gary Bargholz
Sharon Heimmermann KA9FUR, Dave Karr
KG90Z, Ernie Swanson N9RSU, Leroy Dirk Sr.
On the second Sunday in December
WB0WOT, Scot E. Thompson K90QO, Jim Sheetz
1999, QCWA Chapter 162 gather at the
N9GDY. Harry Hartmann W A9JOB. Nels Harvey
Chancery Restaurant in Kenosha to celebrate
the holiday season and the 90th anniversary
Secretary's Report
Silent l(ey of the birth of our outgoing president, Spen
cer Clope, W9LDH (see photo). A fine
There were no additions or corrections
meal, stimulating conversation and an ex
to the minutes. A motion was made to ac
change of gifts preceded the birthday bash.
cept the minutes of the last meeting as print
HARV ARD D. HAMER, K9- Spence reached that plateau on Thanksgiving
ed in the newsletter. The motion was sec
YHO, 83, of Baraboo, died Wednes onded and approved by the members pres Day, November 25, 1999. Here's hoping the
next 90 years are just as grand!
day, December 16, 1999. ent.
Our next meeting is scheduled for 7:30
Harv was a founding member and
p.m., Monday, January 17, 2000 at the
the first president of the Yell ow Thun Treasurer's Report
Meadows Restaurant in Franksville. Our
der Amateur Radio Club of Baraboo.
activity caiendar for Y2K will be handed
Jim prefers that all dues be paid by
He was active in teaching ham radio out, along with committee appointments.
check and made out to the Wisconsin Asso
courses for ten years, and was ari We have two new event endeavor-s for
ciation of Repeaters.
Elmer to many new hams. · this year. The first is an Activity Panel
Harv was a TV and electronics whose members will be asked to research
Balance on 09/ 11/ 1999 $2949.57
tasks that the chapter may wish to get in
technician for Satterfield Electronics Balance on 12/11/1999 $2789.79
volved in. The second is the hosting of the
(Madison, WI) and managed several of
International QCWA Convention on a cruise ·
their stores in the area. He was al~o 2. Nels, WA9JOB, made a motion to ship in October of 2001. We have offered to
production supervisor at Soiltest in accept the treasurer's report. It was sec
host this event, but the board has not grant times and meal menu items listed. We will
onded by Harry Hartmann, N9GDY, and
Baraboo for ten years. He served his ed the request as yet. This represents a be looking for nominations of area Hams
approved by the members present.
country in the U.S. .-....vy during WW major change in how these conventions have who have contributed significantly to our
II, having taught .)urses in military taken place in the past. We are waiting word hobby and their communities for the years
Frequency Coordinator
radio repair at Corpus Christi Naval from the International Board as this goes to 1998 and 1999. Specifically the Olie Fox,
Air Station and Wright-Patterson Air The WAR database has been sent to the press. As you can see, there is nothing to K9AKG Award of Excellence, Ham of the
worry about; everyone will receive at least Year and the Ten-Year Achievement Award.
Force Base. · ARRL for next year's Repeater Directory.
one committee appointment. Please send your narrative nominations to
' Memorial services were Saturday, Dan has settled into his new home in Florida
Our Ham Banquet is scheduled for Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO, 5400 Six Mile
, December 18 in Baraboo, and he was and enjoying his retirement. Dan will con
Saturday, March 18, 2000 at the Racine Road, Racine, WI 53402, FAX (262) 639-
interred in Greenwood Cemetery in tinue providing support and direction as the Yacht Club. The meal will be served buffet 3320, or email to
Dalton. new frequency coordinator comes up to style at $18 per person. Detailed flyers will < [email protected] > .
speed.
He is survived by his wife, Doro be handed out at all area meetings during the
Some of the problems facing the new
thy. two sons, and many other relatives months of January, February and early 73,
frequency coordinator include: allocation of
and friends. March with reservation information, agenda Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO
2 meters, locating spectrum for new coordi
The "Yellow Haired Ostrich" will nations, support and enhancement of the
be missed.
Ponder: The number of radio amateurs continues to decline. Is this a dying hobby?
January 2000 • BADGER STATE SMOKE SIGNALS 9
Wisconsin Association of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will not
require any rule changes. A future meeting Wisconsin Nets Association Ltd.
Repeaters is planned for Gettysburg.
Nels mentioned the situations in Iildiana
between the IRC and MISMA. Things have
Bette Kratz, KF9ZU, Secretary
Continued from page 8 not improved much· in recent months. We
950 E. Trout Valley Rd. • Friendship WI 53934-9672
also discussed the recent events with
WAR database, delivering data to surround SCRUBA in southern California.
ing states and the ARRL "Repeater Direc If anyone has a grievance or suggestion,
tory". attend one of the WAR meetings or contact
WAR greatly appreciates the commit a board member. WISC.ONSIN NETS
ment from two volunteers who offered to fill
Dan's suspenders. They are: Dave Karr, Old Business
Nat WNA Freq. UTC CST Manager
KA9FUR, and Leroy Dirk Sr., N9RSU.
Dave Karr was appointed at the new None. BWN Yes 3985 1200 0600 W9RCW
frequency coordinator. As of 12/11/1999, all BEN Yes 3985 1800 1200 KE9VU
coordination should be sent to Dave Karr, New Business WSBN Yes 3985 2330 1730 WB9WHQ
WNN Yes 3723 0000 1800 KB90CZ
KA9FUR. Dave's address is: Dave Karr, WSSN Yes 3645 0030 1830 N9BDL
KA9FUR, S64 W24740 Susan St. Waukesha We discussed other places where WAR WIN/E Yes 3662 0100 1900 WB91CH
WI 53189. <[email protected]>. Voice, might have a meeting. Some places named WIN/L Yes 3662 0400 2200 W9UW
[phone]; FAX [phone]. were: Madison, Fond du Lac or Eau Clarie. RCRA No 01 /61 0130 1930 KA90MC
If you have any suggestions and can make (Mondays CDT) (Menomonie Area)
Chairman arrangements for a new meeting place con
tact one of the board members. Gr. Bay No 72/12 0345 2145 WB9NRK
(Green Bay Area)
Gary told us that Dave, W A9POV, had The next meeting is the annual election
been sick for a while and is improving. of officers. It will be March 11, 2000 at ARES No 4.65/5.25 0300 2100
Everyone wished Dave· a quick recovery. Titletown Brewing Company, 200 Dousman (South East/South Central Wisconsin)
Street, Green Bay, WI.
RACES No 3993.5 1500 0900 WA90AY
NFCC/MACC The meeting was adjourned at 2: 12 p.m. (LSB Sunday)
Nels gave a report on the NFCC. It does Respectfully submitted
not look like the petition for rule making Mark Heimmermann (KF9CS) Wisconsin STM Report traffic and the rece1vmg station establish
will be submitted to the FCC. Instead they Wisconsin Association of Repeaters, November 1999 contact on the net frequency before moving.
are looking into a side letter or Memo Of Secretary When the time arrives, you'll be ready
The traffic nets in Wisconsin are, first, to be a good NCS. Please QNG.
for traffic handling. Our nets are not just
roundtable discussions. True, they're also a 73, K9LGU/STM
EDITORIAl
great place to do some visiting, check anten
nas, keep up friendships, get questions NOVEMBER NET ACTIVITY SUMMARY
answered, but the best way to test our traffic NET ONI OTC OTR SSNS NM
system is to generate and handle messages.
Yup, now there are two "versions" of stuff, like ad stuffers and major magazines.
If the radiograms bring holiday greetings, BWN 1430 1906 2250 30 W91HW FOR W9RCW
Badger State Smoke Signals. Those are the Clearly, the InterNet is not hurting "conven information to other hams, congratulations, BEN 573 84 845 29 KE9VU
one you are reading right now and the one tional" media. More likely, it is supplement weather reports, or data on how well the WSBN 533 59 805 28 WB9WHQ
on the web at bsss.org. ing it. system is working, it doesn't matter. What WNN 146 24 366 30 KB9ROB FOR KB90CZ
So, why an editorial? To put to rest So, I feel we have a quandary here, and matters is that we handle the messages WSSN 231 30 335 30 N9BDL
questions and speculation about this version I am not sure how to deal with it. With that efficiently as well as build the strength of WIN/E 251 92 319 30 WB91CH
·the printed one. uncertainty, we will do as we have been for our network. It is also good to learn names, WIN/L 200 48 313 30 W9UW
voices, fists, and techniques of other opera
Here's the story: The print version will at least two years: two versions, one print,
tors on the nets - not just to have them as STATION ACTIVITY SUMMARY
continue for two years. If svmething chang the other electronic. In the next two years,
friends, but because such knowledge is November 1999
es, it could run longer than that. we should have a much better feel for how
helpful in times of emergency. We want to
----._Thmerlem ise a certain risk in putting all the to proceed. keep getting better at what we do. STATION ORIG RCVD SENT DLVD TOTAL
eggs basket as the old and tired The web edition was made possible with To keep the nets working well, we could
metaphor teaches us. the help of several wonderful people - good use some more Net Control Stations. Lots of K9JPS 0 513 39 333 885 ·BPL
Not everyone has lnterNet - not yet. So, friends - who believe in what BSSS is and times the regular NCS just can't be there, W9RCW 0 429 39 307 775 -BPL
to discontinue the print version would short does for Wisconsin's Amateur Radio com· has rig trouble, thunder storms, or the like. W91HW 0 351 38 188 577 · BPL
change those individuals. And, we publish munity. I don't believe they'd care much for On both our phone and CW nets, we could K96U 0 313 28 203 544 · BPL
material in this version you won't find on public thanks, so I'll leave it at this. They use more Net Control Stations -- not only to W9YPY 0 253 285 0 538 -BPL
run the nets and keep the system function N9TVT 1 139 327 1 468
the web edition, either. That works both know who they are, and there isn't a better
ing, but to add to the pool of experienced W9CBE 0 130 120 2 252
ways, actually. bunch anywhere. Rick Lindquist, NlRL, has operators from which to draw in times of K9LGU 0 62 37 2 101
The web edition is off to a great start, been kind, too, giving us a "brief" in the need. So here's how to prepare yourself N9BDL 0 26 70 0 96
with an average 40 VISITS (not hits) a day, ARRL Letter and in the Web Extra. The site ahead of time so you'll be ready when the
W9UW 0 57 32 1 90
and visits are the true measure. counter was very busy several days after time comes. W9YCV 2 28 46 9 85
But know what? All the stuff we put in those mentions. ( 1.) Become familiar with the other K9FHI 2 19 61 0 82
the web edition can be found elsewhere on We'll keep the urgent stuff posted to the stations on the net. Knowing correct call AG9G 0 12 52 6 70
the web, just in a bunch of different places. web as quickly as we can. But most likely, signs, names, and locations is a good idea. N9CK 5 27 27 0 59
Yes, the web edition will continue, but I the same stories with more details will then Even if you never perform as an NCS, it's KE9VU 0 23 32 0 55
always good to know with whom you're KB9QPM 2 2 34 0 38
question its value. At least for the time follow in the print edition.
working and where they live. Check out the
KG98 0 3 34 0 37
being. Thanks to all our loyal readers for your Routing Guide at Eboard.com (enter WNA).
KB9ROB 0 32 3 2 37
Something else: Why are newspapers all encouragement and support. It does not go You can also enter: AA9BB 0 1 33 0 34
over expanding production facilities? Count unnoticed. <http://www.wna.eboard.com > . K9HDF 0 1 32 0 33
in South Central Wisconsin Newspapers, Jim Romelfanger, K9ZZ (2.) Make some notes. Pay close atten KA9KLZ 0 0 32 0 32
Madison Newspapers, Inc., and the Chicago Editor tion to the stations that go off frequency to W9BHL 0 0 32 0 32
Tribune. To those you can add Perry-Judd Badger State pass traffic. What frequencies does the net WB9NRK 0 3 26 2 31
and Quad Graphics, which print the "slick" Smoke Signals use to move traffic? Up to 95? Down to 77? WB91CH 0 22 5 2 29 l.·~
UP 4? DWN 5? Usually the NCS knows the WZ7V 0 0 28 0 28 'J
open spots, where adjacent nets are, etc. N9JIY 1 3 13 2 19
You'll get a feel for the NCS action by W900V 0 0 19 0 19
keeping track of what's happening. KA9FVX 0 2 13 1 16
(3.) Try to guess what the NCS will do K9UTO 0 1 2 1 4
next. Sometimes, different types of traffic W9PVD 0 1 2 0 3
will appear on a net and the NCS will have
VARI-NOTCH® DUPLEXER&
to rank them in importance. For example, PS HR SUMMARY -NOVEMBER 1999
you may notice that out-of-state or "thru" CALL 1 Z 3 4 5 6 1 8 TL
.
FOR 2 METERS traffic gets higher priority than a message
' bound for a city usually represented on the W9RCW 29 0 0 307 0 30 0 0 366
The TX RX Systems Inc. patented Vari·Notch filter net. Of course, formal traffic will take K9FHI 60 24 24 0 2 30 0 30 170
circuit, a pseudo-bandpass design, provides low precedence over "informal" exchanges. W9YCV 60 24 24 9 2 20 0 0 139
loss, high TX to RX, and between-channel isolation, (4.) Notice the order of things. Who's N9BDL 60 24 24 0 0 30 0 0 138
asked to check in first? Emergency and K9LGU 60 24 24 2 0 20 0 0 130
excellent for amateur band applications. TX RX
priority traffic holders? 9RN representative? W9CBE 60 24 24 2 0 20 0 0 130
Systems Inc. has been manufacturing multicoupling
Listen for the jargon, the pacing, and the N9TVT 60 24 24 1 1 10 0 0 120
systems since 1976. Other models available for
phrases that make things flow. "Additional AG9G 60 24 18 6 0 10 0 0 118
220 and 440 MHz, UHF ATV and 1.2 GHz.
stations please call . . . " "NEED MKE, N9KHD 60 24 24 1 0 0 0 0 109
MODEL 28-37·02A LAX, QNI K" Under poor conditions, hear KA9KLZ 60 12 0 0 0 30 0 0 102
I
how the NCS ·has the station holding the KA9FVX 30 3 0 1 0 10 0 0 44 Q
144-174 MHz
92 dB ISOLATION AT 0.6 MHz SEPAFlATION
400 WATT POWER RATING r.=============================================================a
TX RX SYSTEMS INC. 19" RACK MOUNT Coming in February's print edition of BSSS: Another
Dave Barquist, K9PAK, Factory "Representative
Testy, Truly Tough, Terribly Terrific Quiz'.
414-387-2929 or E-Mail [email protected]_
10 BADGER STAn SMOKE SIGNALS • January 2000
THE WISCONSIN PACKETEER
W1SC01Jsin
Amateur
Packet ......,
Radio
Wisconsin Amateur Packet Radio Association
Allen Schnepf, N9GMJ, Treasurer
Ogema, WI 54459
Andy Nemec, KB9ALN, Editor• 453 Cottage Grove Avenue • Green Bay, WI 54304 •e-mail: [email protected]
W APR News - January, 2000 has accomplished for a lot of packet operators in Wisconsin. in two parts.
One additional note on this. Many of you may know
Happy New Year! I hope that yours was an uneventful
that Len has been associated with the Wisconsin Interstate JNOS is one of the most popular packet radio
one with no Y2K troubles. And I hope that you continue to
Network. This organization has been active in the pat;ket programs, particularly with BBS operators. Don't let this
have a safe and happy New Year, full of peace and
world, and you may recogni:te Len as one of it's most scare you, though. It can be scaled back to suil your needs.
prosperity.
visible members. Take note that this departure of Len from You don't have to operate a big, powerful .station if you
In December, the packet community was active, and
the packet radio scene does not mean that W. I. N. is gone. - don't want to. Although the capability is there, should you
we have seen an arrival. and a few departures.
the Wisconsin Interstate Network does more than involve decide to go in that direction later.
First. the arrival of a new node. The new backbone
itself in Packet Radio. It also supports an extensive voice
node in Door County, #446DC: W9AIQ-9 is on the air! Jim,
repeater network, which will still be here, unchanged. A Tiny BitofHist~ry
WA9ARB sent me an E-Mail note announcing the birth of
Len'sdeparture will mean that some areas in the state,
the new node, and so far, it works great. It will help to
JNOS is a packet radio program that was based on a
particularly the south-central and southwestern areas, may
provide a more reliable link to the Door peninsula LAN
program originally written by Phil Karn KA9Q, called
find a lack of nodes making some packet connections
nodes.
NOS. It was originally written to run on the MS-DOS
difficult. In a few cases, mail forwarding will become more
Previous lo this, the two Door county nodes,
operating system, and was quite a change from what was
difficult. WA PR is now trying to fill in these gaps and help
WlDC:W9AIQ-l and WISTB:W9AIQ-7 were only available at the time. It was the first widely-available
keep the Wisconsin packet network operational.
accessable through the LAN node in Algoma. program that brought TCP/IP capbilities to amateur radio.
Addtionally. W APR is committed to making certain that
WI ALG: KE9LZ-8. Along with the goOd news, there is a bit . It is also the basis for a number of other programs that have
packet connectivity is maintained with the State Hamshack
of bad news connected with the Door county node system. NOS in their name, JNOS included.
in Madison. As of this writing, we are working with the
It seems chat the WISTB site was broken into and the
affected parties in an effort to see that this happens. We'll
radio stolen. This leaves the people in the northern areas of JNOS was originally customized by Johan Reinalda,
keep you posted on future developments concerning this
Door county without a node temporarily. That makes for an WG7J. He later tu med development over to James Dugal,
situation.
awful long path back to WIDC, located in the southern part N 5KNX. It was later adapted to Linux through a
This pretty well sums up the news for this month.
of rhe county. The Door County Amateur Radio Club plans cooperative effort with Brian Lantz K04KS, the author of
Until nex.t time, 73 from Andy.
to replace the radio and re-activate the node. I' II report here· TNOS. JNOS has undergone very many refinements and
when WISTB once again lights up the air. enhncements over the years reflected in may versions. The.
Another depanure also makes the news. however this Linux and Packet Radio version that we will be working with is the most current one
one is more voluntary in nature. Hawk. WA9KEC is taking Part 4 By Andy Neme~, K89ALN that I know to be available, version 1.1 ld.
his BBS off the air after 15 years of operation. He sent a
packet message notifying everyone of the BBS closure. Availability
In part 3 of our mini-series, we discussed the two
which was effective asot" New Year's Eve. Hawk states the
methods you can use to put packet radio on your system
reason for·the -closure was that his interests have changed. JNOS is available from a numbei: of sources. and in a
and he wishes to move on to other things. The pack.et wbuitih\t AinXto. 2t5h.e Oonpee riast iknegr nseyls-tbeams.e dT. hme eoatnhienrg itsh aatp pAliXca.2ti5o nis coupte·Ofd'ffferent form!": Ont fonn is ihe s0urce code. that
operators and BBS operators who have benefited from his you compile by yourself into a binary eucutable program.
based, which measn that all AX.25 operation is done by a
Compiling a working· program is 'no· problem_ for the
15 years of BBS Sysop'ing owe him a big Thanks and best
program without any unusual aid from the operating
wishes in whatever endeavors he undertakes. system. experienced Linux user and allows one to cuStoln-tailor a
version. For most people, another method is preferable.
·Another BBS and a large associated node 5fstem will
That is the Red Hat Package Manager file(RPM File), put
also be closing. Len, N9QIP notities us that he has decided Currently, the kernel-based. AX.25 system is in the
together by Jose Marte, HI8GN. One word of caution,
to pull the plug due to a low volume of messages and a lack process of a re-write, and major changes are in the offing. for
however. This RPM is file is· specifically constructed
of time. If you have read messages on your local BBS, Rather than give outdated information, we will be
Red Hat Linux version 5.2. By the time you read this,
there's a good chance that you have seen Len's call-sign in discussing an application program that will give you AX.25
newer versions of the RPM file may be available for use
the forwarding path header. capabilities - JNOS. Because of the large amount of
with Red ~at Linux 6.0 and 6.2. While the installation
Len's BBS. did not see a large user base, but it's infonnation we'll present here, it will require presenting it
presence has been key to mail forwanting. especially in the
WISCONSIN AMATEUR PACKET ~ MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
southern parts of the srate. At a time when there was very .
little of a pipeline to get messages in and out of Wisconsin,
PLEASE PRINT
Len was there with-his BBS and node system to get traffic
t1owing. He now feels that there are enough alternate paths NAME: CALL: HOME PHONE:< )
and the investment in time is not wonh the results.
\
Along with the BBS, .1 m~ nodes.· There were ADDRESS: CITY: STATE:_ZlP:
two differing systems, and as I mentioned earlier, there
were quite a few that I.en construcu:d to suppon mail HOMEBSS: FREQ. {Usting your bame BBS is-import.ant)
forwarding. These also wili be gone, and the changes have Your HOME BBS should be a fuHservice BBS, notyourTNC'a mailbox.
already been seen. As of this writing, a tew have been
MY PACKET STATION OPERATES: DAY NIGHT 24HRS
deactivated, and as soon as Len can find the time to visit all
of the associated sites. the remainder will go silent.
'OPERATE A: OIGiPEATERWffHAUAS OF:
Along with the nodes used for mail forwarding, the
,
status of the ARES nodes that Len constructed will change,
F.ULLSERVJCEBBS
although exactly how is not yet known. Son.e of these were
constucted by Len at his own expense, anc th-~ will be PRIMARY PACKETINTEREST/EXPERTISE IS:
either sold to the highest bidder, or donated to responsible
entities if the situation is favorable. It is Len's hope that
they remain on the air so that packet connectivity to the
Division of Emergency Management in Madison ·remains
possible for ARES and RACES groups within reach of the
YES I want to receive Badger State Smoke Signals and I understand that part of my dues goes to pay this
ARES network on 145.610 MHz.
subscription. cost $20.00
Note that some of these nodes were <>Wned and
operated by Len, but not all of them. Some were owned by NO I do not wish to receive Badger State Smoke Signals as a part of my WAPR membership. Cost $15.00
\RES organizations, and their status is oot imme<liately
mown. One can as:;ume that they will remain on the air, as COMPLETE and return this fonn with your check or money order- $15.00 membership only or $20.00 membership and
·well. Badger State Smoke Signals. made payable to W.A.P.R. to:
Len deserves thanks for his efforts to keep mail
forwarding alivi:, in Wisconsin at a time when mail Allen Schnepf, NOGMI, Treasurer
W5000SR86
forwarding was getting awfully tough. We hope he fares
POBox558
well in his future endeavors and takes pride in the work he
Ogema, Wt 54459