December 2007 - Branch County Amateur Radio Club

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
DECEMBER
B R A N C H
AN ARRL AFFILIATED CLUB
SINCE 1961
In This Issue
Ω
Page 3
Photos of Bruce Kryder’s
outstanding find
Ω
Page 4
Paul Herman, K8AXN - SK
Ω
Page 5
Christmas Party and Gift
Exchange Information
Ω
Page 6
Ω
Page 7
Solar Update
Coordinator’s Corner
YOUR CLUB OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Jim Voss, W8SST
517-278-4636
wvoss@charter.net
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Bill Kubiac, KB8VWI
517-639-4390
banjonut@yahoo.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Arnie Hayward, NS8T
517-278-8507
ns8t@arrl.net
Bill Slade, WD8MGF
517-238-2112
wn.slade@charter.net
Larry Camp, WB8R
517-278-0406
wb8r@arrl.net
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
Larry Camp, WB8R
517-278-0406
wb8r@arrl.net
2007
S I G N A L S
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BRANCH COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC.
Club Repeaters: 147.300 + 100 Hz
443.300 + 123
RIGHT PLACE - RIGHT TIME
By Bruce Kryder, W4LWW
Note: The author is an old friend of the BCARC. Former owner of Kryder Electronics in Ft. Wayne, Bruce would
occasionally bring the latest ham gear for show and tell at meetings. Thanks to the ARRL website
See photos on page 3
It was a raw December morning on the north side of Chicago in 1992. I found the address in one of the
older neighborhoods and knocked on the window of the closed antique store as the voice on the phone had directed. Soon an older woman appeared and introductions were made. As she escorted me up the dimly lit flight of
stairs, I felt as if I were being led to one of the city’s speakeasies of the Capone era. But our destination was her
apartment in which she had lived for over 40 years. I had no idea what I was gong to find—
find—whether or not the long
drive would prove to be just another wild goose chase. In the entry hall, she opened the door to a coat closet and
there they were on the floor where they had been for over 30 years. My trip had not been wasted. I stood looking
SX--100 receiver, both new in the box with just the
down at an E. F. Johnson Valiant 1 transmitter and a Hallicrafters SX
tops of the boxes slit open. It was hard concealing my excitement.
My journey to this runrun-down section of Chicago had begun years earlier with a high school class in electricity. I became interested in ham radio and got a Novice license, KN9GTR, in 1956 at age 21. Before it expired, I
got my General license, which I have maintained ever since.
My first radio was a Heathkit DXS--40B reDX-35 transmitter, which I built from the kit, and a Hallicrafters S
ceiver. I still have these, and they still operate. My interest over the years in ham radio has led me to acquire a good
number of radios and radioradio-related items. Currently, I have about 21 operating stations.
Knowing of my interest, an acquaintance had contacted me earlier in the month and told me of an old
family friend who had called him asking what she could do with the radio equipment that her late husband had
brought home just before his death in 1957. A phone call to her had set up our meeting.
As I stood looking down at these old radios, I realized I had made quite a find. As you readers know,
there is a considerable amount of old radio equipment floating around out there. By 1992 I had acquired several
pieces myself. But I had never before, nor have I since, heard of finding 35 year old “new” equipment still packed in
its original boxes just as it came from the factory.
on--theI asked my host how this had happened. She said that her husband had been an on
the-road salesman
for Allied Radio in Chicago. One Friday evening he had brought the two units home, removed the instruction manuals to read over the weekend, and placed the boxes in the bottom of the closet. He had gone on the road on Monday and died. “They’re still there just as he left them,” she said. I immediately thought of Willie Loman in Arthur
Miller’s Death of A Salesman. “Was it a car wreck?” I asked. “No. I think it was his heart,” she responded.
She then asked me if I was interested in buying the radios and I said that I was. Because of my familiarity
with radio Web sites that sell old equipment, I was able to tell her the current value of the units. She agreed to sell
them at that price. However, there was one small problem. The Valiant manual was lying on top of the transmitter
but the Hallicrafters manual was missing. I asked her if she knew where it was and she said, “I’m not sure, but I
know it’s around here someplace.” We began to search. I soon saw that we had some real work ahead of us.
Her apartment looked as if she had not discarded anything in 40 years. There were piles of newspapers
and magazines everywhere. In one, I found a Tucker Car Company stock certificate for 50 shares. Tucker was the
World War II industrialist who came out with the “car of the future” in the late 1940s. It never caught on. I showed
her the certificate and asked her if she wanted to sell it. She replied, “No. We got suckered into that deal. I keep it
as a reminder that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” We continued to look. After quite some time,
she said, “When I find it, I’ll send it to you.” As you readers know, that seldom happens. I thought of one of the late
Dizzy Dean’s oftenoften-used statements during baseball broadcasts. A player or manager would start arguing with the
mind—
—slim and
umpire over a call and ole Diz would say, “He’s got two chances of getting that ump to change his mind
SX--100 manual were “slim and none.” “If you don’t mind,” I
none.” I knew my chances of her ever sending me that SX
said, “let’s continue to look for it.”
She wandered into the bedroom to search. It really didn’t matter where you looked. There were plenty of
SX--100 manual and recalled that her husband
piles everywhere. After about 20 minutes, she came out with the SX
had been reading it in bed on that last Sunday night. He’d obviously placed it on a stack of papers before he went
to sleep and it had just gotten covered up with other stuff over the years. I now had both radios and their manuals. I
was thankful I was dealing with a woman who never threw anything away. The manuals are still just as I received
them as new in 1992 and the radios are still in use. Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time.
BRANCH SIGNALS
Flashback Photo
Page 2
GOT DX?
ROTUMA ISLAND, 3D2. Tony,
3D2AG expects to be QRV
from December 3 to January
20. QSL to home call.
MADAGASCAR, 5R. Remco,
PG0A is QRV as 5R8NL until
December 7. He is active on
the HF bands holiday style.
QSL via PA7FM.
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5.
E5
George, E51MMM and Ron,
E51NNN have been QRV on
160 meters using CW around
0500z. They will be active in
the ARRL 160 Meter contest
during the first night of the
contest. QSL both calls via
K5KG.
This shot of the inside of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association Emergency Van was taken in the
early ‘80s. From l to r are Emergency Coordinator, Jim Voss, N8BJD, Terry Falknor, N8EEO, Sheriff
Norm Heinemann and Joe Moore, K8VAZ. Terry was good enough to drop by with this well equipped
goodie on his way through the area.
47 Years Ago - From the minutes of the November 1960 meeting
There were 14 members present for the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by President Paul Herman.
Due to the vacancy of Secretary Gerry Bistry, the job was volunteered for by Dave Miller.
Due to the vacancy of the E. C. Carl King was appointed.
John Wilson and Jeff Gates were placed in charge of the publicity for the classes at Coldwater High School.
Tom Brockman was to see the newspaper staff and High School authorities for publicity in
Bronson and Dean Miller taking care of the publicity at St. Charles, the Coldwater paper
and the Battle Creek paper.
Ham Radio Classes are to begin at Coldwater High School on November 17th at 7:00 p.m.
MAYOTTE, FH.
FH Alan, F4RPW is
QRV as FH1LE and has been
active on 20 meters using
RTTY around 1640z. QSL via
F6BFH.
BURKINA FASO, XT. Michael,
F1IQH will be QRV as XT2WC
from Bobo Dioulasso from
December 5 through early
January 2008. QSL to home
call.
FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8.
VP8
Chris is QRV as VP8CXV and
has been active on 30 meters
using RTTY between 2230 and
2330z. QSL via GM0TQJ.
OGASAWARA, JD1.
JD1 Masa is
QRV as JD1AHC and has been
active on the low bands at
various times.
QSL via
JA1BVA.
Next meeting to be at Walt, K8TIY’s, house with a Junk Swap. Also will try to get Wally
Whitten, Civil Defense Director for a talk, also to plan our future RACES Plan. Those who
have no transportation to meet at Paul, W8OLT’s place no later than 7:00 p.m.
ANDORRA, C3. Salvador is
QRV as C31CT and has been
active on 40 meters around
2330z. QSL via EA3QS.
George Burnholtz ran off a few rosters of the club members.
Thanks to the ARRL DX News
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
Page 3
HAMFEST CALENDAR
Sunday, December 16th
5th Annual ARGYL Hamfest
Well, it looks like it’s time to start work on those antennas!
Only one hamfest in the area in December.
Lowell High School
Lowell, MI
http://www.argyl.org
Heck, maybe a guy could even turn on a radio and try some DX.
Unfortunately, there are about as many sunspots as there are hamfests!
A COLLECTOR DISCOVERS THE HOLY GRAIL
(CONT’D. FROM PAGE 1 - Also see http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/11/20/1/
Above - Bruce with
his treasures .
The Hallicrafters SXSX100, one of the first
SSB receivers made
by the company in
1956.
The Viking Valiant
160 through 10
meter
plate
modulated AM/CW
transmitter.
This
could be purchased
as a kit or factory
built.
VE TEST SESSIONS
Saturday, 8 DecemberDecember-2007
Sponsor: EATON COUNTY ARC
Time: 12 NOON (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: JOHN A. DEWEY
(517)543-0398
Email: DETTA@IA4U.NET
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: EATON CTY. SHERIFF’S DEPT-EOC
1250 INDEPENDENCE BLVD.
CHARLOTTE, MI 48813
Saturday, 15 DECEMBERDECEMBER-2007
Sponsor: CASCADES ARS
Time: 10:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: RICHARD H. MCGUIRE
(517)782-1430
Email: DICKKI8C@JUNO.COM
VEC: W5YI VEC
Location: JACKSON DISTRICT LIBRARY
244 WEST MICHIGAN
DOWNSTAIRS AUDITORIUM
JACKSON, MI 49204
Thursday, 27 NovemberNovember-2007
Sponsor: SMARS
Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: RICHARD F. HOLCOMB
(269)969-3026
Email: DICKNHLEN@AOL.COM
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location:SEVENTH
DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
Location:
264 WEST MICHIGAN
BATTLE CREEK, MI 49015
Thanks to ARRL.org
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
Page 4
Past President, Founding Member
PAUL HERMAN, K8AXN, SK
Editors Note: I believe Paul was a founding member of the
BCARC. He initiated the weekly Rag Chew Net, was instrumental in getting the first 2 meter repeater set up and was
one of our most active members/officers for many years.
SKYWARN R ECOGNITION D AY
The Ninth Annual SKYWARN Recognition Day recognizes Amateur
Radio operators for their commitment to help keep communities
safe.
Co-sponsored by the ARRL and
the National Weather Service
(NWS), the event is scheduled for
Saturday, December 1. During
this 24 hour special event, Amateur Radio operators, working together with their local NWS of-
fices, will activate Amateur Radio
stations and work as a team to
contact other hams across the
world.
erty are at risk. But this one day is
for fun, friendship and recognition
of the critical services given to
communities by the hams."
"This is a fun event," said ARRL
Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "For 364
days of the year, hams aid in providing the NWS offices with realtime information on severe
weather when people and prop-
For more information on SKYWARN Recognition Day, including
a list of participating NWS offices,
QSL card and certificate information, please see the NWS Web
site <http://www.crh.noaa.gov/
hamradio/index.php>.
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
Page 5
CHRISTMAS DINNER/GIFT EXCHANGE AND ELECTION
Tuesday, December 4th, Dinner Served at 6:30 p.m. Cost - $10 per person
Location: 4-H Cabin on the grounds of the Branch County Fairgrounds
OFFICIAL RULES OF THE GIFT EXCHANGE
The gift exchange is open to all members and guests. In order to receive a gift, one must bring a gift. Gifts should be
useful items that have a value of $10 or more. A gift can come from your junk box or can be purchased and should be
radio or computer related. Gifts should be wrapped and need not have “to” or “from” tags or other identification on them. Be
sure to remember which gifts you brought so you don’t select your own gift! If your spouse and/or children bring a gift that will maximize
your “take” from the exchange and may enable you to take home that “prize” gift that everyone covets. Those that bring gifts will be
asked to draw a number, which will determine the order of gift selection and opening.
The gift opening will proceed as follows: Number 1 chooses a gift from the gift table, opens it, and MUST show it to everyone present.
Number 2 can choose a gift from the table or he can take Number 1’s gift if he thinks that is a better gift than he could find amongst the
unopened gifts. If number 2 chooses a gift from the table, he opens it and MUST show it to everyone present. If Number 2 takes the gift
from Number 1, then Number 1 goes back to the gift table and selects another gift, opens it and MUST show it to everyone. Number 3 can
choose a gift from the table, Number 1, or Number 2 and follow the same procedures listed above. This same procedure is followed until
the final person selects the last gift. The third owner of any gift gets to keep it. An individual cannot retake a gift that was just taken from
him. Gifts must be able to be carried by one person. Gifts cannot consist of spouses, children or pets. After all gifts have been opened, it is
acceptable to trade your gift to anyone who is willing to trade with you. Be creative in the selection and packaging of your gift. This event
is supposed to be fun so feel free to “ham it up” a bit to add some humor to the evening. Walk around and look over the gifts that are
available for taking. Look at everything… even those items that you have no intention of taking. Do what you can to “fake out” the crowd
and when the time comes, pounce on that treasure! Feel free to take pictures of the event and the haggling and conniving that will undoubtedly go on. Any questions may be directed to Jim at: wvoss@charter.net or call him at 278-4636.
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
Page 6
Thanks & A Tip Of The Hat
Next Meeting - Tuesday, December 4th - 6:00 pm
December brings our annual Christmas Dinner and Gift Exchange. This year we will also be having the election of officers
at this get together due to the lack of a quorum at the last
meeting. Join in the fun on the fourth and be sure to bring a gift
for our unique gift exchange. See page 5 of this issue for rules.
Don’t forget that we will be meeting at the 4-H Cabin at the
Branch County Fairgrounds. Note the special date and time.
BRANCH COUNTY A.R.C.
Meeting Every Third Tuesday
Branch County Communications Center
At The Branch County Airport
7:00 P.M.
WE’RE ON THE WEB!
WWW.BRANCHCOUNTYARC.COMWE
This month, a flip of the old
fedora goes to Arnie Hayward, NS8T . Arnie has
served as the Club’s repeater trustee for a number
of years now and has served
on the Board on more than
one occasion. When there’s
a problem with either of our
repeaters we don’t call some
radio fixfix-it guy - it’s Arnie that
runs out there and checks
the situation. So, Arnie,
thanks for doing an often
‘thankless’ job!
J O I N
U S
O N
T H E
W E E K L Y
T W O
M E T E R
N E T
T U E S D A Y 7 : 0 0
P . M . 1 4 7 . 3 0 0 - A L L
W E L C O M E !
SOLAR UPDATE - WEEK OF NOVEMBER 22ND
PRESIDENT’S NOTES
Tad "I Don't Wanna Holiday in the Sun"
Cook, K7RA, this week reports:
Sunspots appeared over several days
in the past week. November 2424-27
had daily sunspot numbers of 15, 12
and 11. Otherwise, the sun has been
blank. In the previous reporting period,
November 1515-21, there were only two
days with sunspots and the daily sunspot numbers on both days were 13.
The result is the average daily sunspot
number from the previous reporting
period to the current (November 222228) reporting period rose from 3.7 to
5.4. Sunspot numbers for November
22 through 28 were 0, 0, 15, 12, 11,
0 and 0 with a mean of 5.4. The 10.7
cm flux was 69.7, 70, 71.3, 70.7,
71.5, 71.4 and 71.2 with a mean of
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the
crew who has supported me through the
year. Tops on the list is Secretary/
Treasurer, Bill Kubiac. Bill is the guy who
actually has to do work in this outfit, so
don’t give him any guff. Thanks, Bill! Then
we have our trusty board members. Their
job isn’t so hard, but they do have to endure
a couple hours of coffee with each other
once a month. A pat on the back to Larry
Camp, Bill Slade and Arnie Hayward. It’s
been my pleasure to be your President, but
I look forward to sitting in the cheap seats
with you soon. Of course, a club wouldn’t
exist without it’s members, so thanks to
every one of you who participated in any
way in 2007. Here’s looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange.
Jim Voss, W8SST
70.8. Estimated planetary A indices
were 13, 10, 12, 11, 8, 4 and 3 with a
mean of 8.7. Estimated midmid-latitude A
indices were 6, 8, 8, 8, 6, 5 and 3 with
a mean of 6.3.
There were no days with geomagnetic
storms, and geomagnetic conditions
should be quiet over the near term.
The next recurring solar wind stream is
expected December 17. Expect more
weeks of no sunspots, with occasional
appearances for a few days at a time.
The US Air Force predicts a planetary A
index of 5 for the next 10 days. For the
week, Geophysical Institute Prague
predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions
for today, November 30, quiet to unsettled December 1 and back to quiet
conditions for December 22-6.
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12
Page 7
November was pretty much a normal month with weather about what you would expect. As we move into
the winter months, our focus turns to snow and ice and all the things that go along with winter. As this is being written, we are in the midst of a snow/freezing rain/rain event that we won’t know for a while if it is going to be a major event or not.
One of the things that your ARES/RACES Leadership is working on is planning our annual spring Severe
Weather Spotter Training which will take place in March. Other things on the agenda are a few training sessions
this winter that will help us to be ready for winter emergencies and of course getting us prepared for the severe
weather season.
Our new Emergency Management Coordinator for Branch County, Tim Miner is a very knowledgeable individual who is easy to get along with and I am sure that he will be a asset to our county and to our group. We are
already working on getting him started on his ham ticket and our goal is to get him licensed before the spring
storms hit.
I would like to pass along the best of Holiday Greetings and wishes for a safe, happy and prosperous new
year from the entire ARES/RACES Leadership Team.
See you on the air.
Larry Camp, WB8R
Emergency Coordinator/RACES Officer
Branch County Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!