RANDOM Oscillations

RANDOMOscillations
A Monthly Publication for the Members of the Radio Central Amateur Radio Club
From the
President
Neil, KC2KY
Are knobs and buttons
toast?
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU
Greetings from the KC2KY keyboard.
October Meeting
Our October meeting will feature Ed Newman,
W2EMN, who will be giving a demonstration and
tutorial of EZ-NEC antenna software. One
component of a ham station that just about every
ham has constructed himself at one time or other
is the antenna. EZ-NEC is an excellent tool to
optimize your antenna for your QTH and your
limitations for space and height, and predict how
well your antenna will perform.
Radio Central Day
On Saturday November 1 we will be operating two
stations from the Marconi Shack to celebrated the
93rd anniversary of the opening of RCA Radio
Central. Setup stars at 8:00 AM and we plan to be
on the air from 9:00 AM to 3:00PM +/- propagation
conditions. November Sweepstakes desn’t start
until 4:00 so we won’t be impeded in the CW bands.
The bands were hopping during the CQ World Wide
Phone contest, and hopefully there will be good
conditions for Radio Central Day as well.
Hudson Division Awards
Luncheon
In a recent column on EETimes (http://www.eetimes.com/
author.asp?doc_id=1324283), an old colleague of mine, Martin Rowe,
says, “Knobs and buttons are slowly on their way out. Get used to it.”
He’s referring to the controls on oscilloscopes, but if he were a ham,
he might just as well be talking about amateur radio transceivers, too.
We already see this happening in amateur radio. FlexRadio, and a
couple of other companies, already make transceivers with no front
panel controls. You must have a computer to use them.
Might we even start to see this with handheld and portable equipment?
For example, how much cheaper could they make a Baofeng if to use
See "Knobs", Page 2
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The Hudson Division Awards Luncheon is on Long 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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Island this year, for the first time in a decade. The 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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luncheon will be held at the Towers On the Green 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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in Floral Park. If you’re thnkong about going, let me 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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know - it we get enough people I’ll reserve a table for 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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10 and we can get a discount on the admission. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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The price of admission is $50.00 per person, but a 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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table for 10 is $470.00. If we get enough people for 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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a table, the club will contribute $100 from the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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Treasury to bring your cost down t $37.00. But I 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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have to know at least a few days in advance to get 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890
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a table if there are any left.
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October Meeting Announcement
Antenna Simulation with EZ-NEC
Wednesday October 29 at 6:30 PM
Presented By Ed Newman, W2EMN
Middle Country Public Library in
Centereach
See "President", Page 2
October 2014
1
Vol XXXVII No. 10
President, from Page 1
September 28 Guide Dog Foundation Bike Ride
Radio Central supported the 2014 GDF bike ride and dog walk with three club members:
Net Control Operator Stan W2SCB; Stan, KB2QFT; and Yours Truly, Neil, KC2KY.
Two more operators, Ed, KC2E and Ed, K2LCK, round the crew up to five. We were
able to assist two pickups of riders with mechanical breakdowns of their bicycles.
Fortunately there were no injuries or serious emergencies, but it’s good to know we did
our part to be prepared.
Articles Needed!
If you're working on an interesting project or have an interesting story to tell, why not
share it woth your fellow club members. The Newsletter editorial staff (in other words,
me) iis always looking for interesting material to use in the Newsletter. When club
members contribute, it makes it a pleasure to put a Newsletter together.
A Century of Amateur Radio
and the ARRL
2014 Club Officers
President: ................. KC2KY
Neil Heft
Vice President: ......... K2CQK
Charlie Fiore
Treasurer: ... KC2KY (Acting)
Secretary: ................. AB2UW
Bill Lynch
Editorial Staff
Editor ......................... KC2KY
Neil M. Heft (737-0019)
Al Brogdon, W1AB
Directors
From the ARRL Letter, October 23, 2014
A first took place on Space Shuttle mission
STS-37. SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio
EXperiment) provided live communication
from the shuttle into many school
classrooms to teach the students about
space exploration and Amateur Radio.
In July 1991, N6CA and KH6HME set a new
record on 3456 MHz between California
and Hawaii. Each was running 5 W to a 4foot dish.
In 1992, after 8 years as ARRL President,
Larry Price, W4RA, declined to run for reelection. The League’s Board of Directors
subsequently chose him as the next
See "Century", Page 5
Stu Goodman K2RPZ sk
Harry Lersner N2AWM sk
Honorary Members
Frank Kiefer, K2PWG sk
Art Greenberg W2LH sk
Warren Bogin W2GZA sk
JoAnn Colletti N2IME sk
TOPIC
Logbook of the World
CQ Magazine Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, Live Via Skype
An NE-602 Receiver for 30M
D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio)
Coolest Ham Shack Accessory
RF Safety
Test Equipment
Race to Communicate Across the Atlantic
September 24, 2014
Round Table Discussion: Antennas and Antenna Ideas
October 2014
Serving until 12/16 . . .
Bob Chandler ... WB2ETR
Steve Sussman-Fort
AB2EW
Founding Members
January 29, 2014
February 26, 2014
March 26, 2014
April 30, 2014
May 28, 2014
June 25, 2014
July 30, 2014
August 27, 2014
October 29, 2014
November 19, 2014
December 17, 2014
Serving Until 12/15 . . .
Joe Cohen ............ KJ4ZW
Stan Bryer ........... W2SCB
N7FKI and W7ZOI reported in the March
1992 QST that they had built a one-transistor
10 meter CW transmitter and made
contacts with it using lemon power —
essentially a cell made by inserting
appropriate electrodes into a lemon. If life
gives you lemons, make contacts!
Radio Central Amateur Radio Club's 2014
Meeting Calendar
DATE
Serving until 12/14 . . .
Dick Pav............... K2RFP
Richard Fisher .... KB2ZPB
International Affairs Vice President, which
provides liaison with the IARU, which Price
served as Secretary. George Wilson,
W4OYI, succeeded Price as ARRL
President.
Future Meeting Topics
To Be
Announced
2
Club Resources
W2RC/R ............ 145.150 MHz, 4Z PL
W2RC/R ............ 449.525 MHz, 2A PL
Repeater Nets
Tuesday at 20:00 EST : Club Rag Chew
Net
Club Web Page: http://rcarc.org
Vol XXXVII No. 10
The K7RA Solar Update
From the ARRL Letter, October 23, 2014
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:
Solar activity is making a healthy comeback, just in time for the SSB
weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest.
A series of large solar flares erupted this week. The most powerful was an
X1.6 flare on October 22. The sunspot is now directly facing Earth.
Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 55.1 during October 9-15 to 83.9
this week, and average daily solar flux increased from 117.4 to 174.
The predicted solar flux for this weekend is 220, higher than on any day since
January 7. Prior to that, we didn’t see solar flux values this high since late
October 2003. Accompanying the high solar flux back then was a great deal
of geomagnetic activity. On October 29, 2003, the mid-latitude A index hit
199! Several 3-hour K index values were 9, the top of the scale. On the same
day the daily sunspot number was 330.
Predicted solar flux is 215 on October 23, 220 on October 24-27, 215 on
October 28-29, 205 on October 30, 140 on October 31, 130 on November 13, dropping to a low of 110 on November 8, and rising to 180 on November
19-20.
Along with that relatively high solar flux this weekend will be unsettled
geomagnetic conditions.
The predicted planetary A index is 15 on October 23-24, 10 on October 25,
12 on October 26-27, 10 on October 28-29, 8 on October 30, 5 on October
31 through November 3, 8 on November 4, 10 on November 5, 8 on November
"Knobs", from Page 1
it, you had to also have an Android or iPhone app to act as the human
interface?
To be honest, I haven’t really thought about this much myself. I’m
enough of a dinosaur to still prefer buttons and knobs, but having to
use on-screen controls certainly doesn’t turn me off. Rowe claims,
however, that “as the old-timers retire (or in our case as older hams
become SKs), younger engineers (or young hams) will expect every
user interface to function like a phone or tablet. Don’t believe me?
Just wait.”
I got several interesting replies to this idea on my blog. Bill, AD8BC
says, “What would be fun would be an open-source mobile radio. I
picture an RF deck with a Raspberry Pi and touch screen for control,
the Pi would simply tell the RF deck where to tune and handle the
interface and scanning functions, it would ship with a stock app, but
you could make your own. Built in support for SDR stuff, packet,
APRS, remote operation….”
Most commenters, however, even the younger guys, still seem to
prefer analog controls. Lucien, DH7LM, says, “I’m a newly licensed
October 2014
3
6-7, 5 on November 8-9, 8 on November 10-11,
then 5 and 8 on November 12-13, 12 on November
14-15, 15 and 12 on November 16-17, 15 on
November 18-19, then 12, 10, and 8 on November
20-22, and 10 on November 23-24.
This weekly “Solar Update” in The ARRL Letter is
a preview of the “Propagation Bulletin” issued
each Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive of
past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow’s bulletin look for an updated forecast
and reports from readers. Send me your reports
and observations.
ham and I like both – experimenting with advanced
computer stuff like SDRs and the great feeling a real radio
provides!” Grant, KJ6ZZD, says, “Knobs perform some
tasks better than a screen can. Knobs provide some
tactile feedback that a screen just can’t.”
So, what do you think? Are knobs and buttons toast, or
do you think there’s still some life left in analog controls?
When not twiddling the knobs on his HF
transceiver or relatively ancient Tek 2213
analog oscilloscope, you’ll find KB6NU working
on updates to his “No Nonsense” study guides
or blogging about amateur radio at
www.kb6nu.com.
Vol XXXVII No. 10
A Slip of the
Tongue
DX Humor by Paul
Dunphy, VE1DX
One of the Local QRPers came
around the bend and beat his way
up the hill. He flopped down in the
chair and it was evident he felt he
carried the weight of the world on
his shoulders. “What’s new?” we
asked, not really sure we wanted
to know.
“There’s no DX” he said sadly and slowly,
“and I really don’t think there will be any in
the foreseeable future, either.” This got our
attention! Any mention of less DX, let alone
no DX, sent shivers of fear up the spine of all DXers. “What do
you mean?” we asked. “Look at the way things are going”, he
said with a disheartened look. “I spent four long years watching
propagation fade and suffering through the bottom of the cycle.
Why, I just got my tower and beam up when 10-metres closed
and 12 and 15 weren’t far behind. And you kept telling me to
be a believer. You said that the Great Days of DXing would
return. And I was a believer, too!” He looked us straight in the
eye and continued on, “I believed. And I waited. I watched as
the Palos Verdes Sundancers finally brought on the new
cycle. And here we are, on the upswing, the flux is 140 and
where is the DX?” He stood up, sweat dripping from his face
and he was starting to shake. “Where’s the DX?”
“What do you mean?” we replied, following his beady little
eyes as he paced back and forth, “There’s DX for all, although
for some more than others. What about those three new ones
out over the western horizon that are pretty much guaranteed
to get the nod from Newington in September? You worked all
three and you were here just last week showing us the cards.
In a month or two you’ll have three brand new counters to add
to your total. What more do you want?”
“What more do I want!!??” he stammered. He stopped pacing
back and forth and looked straight at us again. “Those stations
are not DX today . . . they are DX that WAS and DX that maybe
WILL BE! I want DX now. I want the DX that IS! You, of all
people, should know this. You keep telling me I don’t understand
the true meaning of DX IS! Well, buster, the bands are dead.
Stone cold dead! And, as far as I can tell, they will stay that
way. Instead of DX IS!, the way I see it, it’s DX ISN’T!”
With this, he threw himself back down in the chair, wiped a bit
of the sweat from his trembling upper lip and waited for an
answer. We were silent for a moment, for we recalled the last
time someone had uttered those same blasphemous words
“DX ISN’T” . . . and that had been another QRPer over 25 years
ago. That QRPer had been unsubscribed from the WCDXB,
expelled from the local DX club and told never to speak of DX
again! And while that had been 25 years ago, and times and DX
standards seemed to be changing, such blasphemy like “DX
ISN’T!” is not to be taken lightly. We were concerned that word
might get out.
So we looked the QRPer straight in the eye, raised our finger for
emphasis and began, “Listen son,” we said in a firm and rather
loud voice, “you’ve just uttered the one phrase that no true blue
DXer may ever say. You’re lucky no one else is here. Never speak
those words again! Never! Do you realize what you said? Surely
it was a one time slip of the tongue, right?” The QRPer looked
around a bit to make sure no one could hear, then replied, “Do you
really think it’s that bad? I never thought about it until just now,
but I think you are right. How could I have been so dumb!” He
began to shake even more. We got the uncomfortable feeling that
there might be more to this. We had seen QRPers in tight
situations before and this one had the all too familiar look of
hidden guilt.
“Ahh . . . well . . . errr . . . you see” the QRPer began to stammer,
“I was, well, you know . . . a couple of nights ago I was tuning 20metres.” He was in full confession mode now, so we just looked
sternly on as he continued, “I came across this net. A DX net of
some sort, I think. There was a guy who sounded like Elmer Fudd
taking a list of some sort. So I muttered DX ISN***” Whap! We
slammed our hand over his mouth before he could get it out and
held it there until he nodded that he was OK. “Whew!” he
exclaimed, when we let him go, “I almost said it again.” We just
looked at him and he continued. “So anyhow, after I heard that list
I moved on and came across another one. And I think I said it
again. Yes, I’m sure I did. And then I noticed that the bands were
not quite as good as they were a little earlier, so I said it again and
See "DX", Page 5
October 2014
4
Vol XXXVII No. 10
Century, from Page 2
During the early 1990s, interest in digital
communication grew, and QST published many
articles on the subject that helped fan the
flames. Also, hams became interested in the
old concept of direct-conversion receivers. KK7B
presented one of the best in the August 1992
issue of QST. Another old receiver circuit was
also revived — the regenerative receiver. WJ1Z
described one for 40 meters in the September
1992 issue of QST.
By the early 1990s, digital signal processing
(DSP) had made its appearance, and had
begun to be used by both homebrewing hams
and equipment manufacturers.
A September 1992 QST article, “ABC: The
First Electronic Digital Computer,” recounted
the fascinating tale of the first real computer,
the Atanasoff-Berry computer — a vacuum
tube device — designed in 1939 and 1940 by
university professor John Atanasoff and built
by electrical engineering student Clifford Berry,
W9TIJ.
The Atanasoff-Berry computer used racks of vacuum tubes.
DX, from Page 4
turned the rig off. And you know . . . I haven’t heard any DX since. “At least four times”, we answered grimly, “and over a two to
What have I done?” He was starting to look more and more afraid. three day period.” The Leader of the Palos Verdes Sundancers
shook his head slowly and then said, “we better get started.”
“What have you done?” we roared, “What have you done? You He picked Do you realize that when you are told that the road
might well have blown the entire solar cycle! That’s what you to understanding the Eternal Enigmas of DX is often crooked,
could very well have done. Did you know that the Ap is 39 today that you must listen? And that DX knowledge only comes with
and there are active sunspot regions everywhere . . . the type that experience? Do you now see that what may seem like an
generates those killer X-ray flares? Did you know this?” The innocent slip could mean disaster?”
QRPer looked at us in stark terror, “No. No I didn’t. Did I cause
The QRPer nodded and replied, “I sure do. I never realized the
it? Was it me? What can I do to fix it?”
importance of protocol, or the significance of DX IS! before.
We took a deep breath and looked at the QRPer who was shaking And it’s a good thing I told you about this. It’ll be OK now, won’t
like a leaf and on the verge of tears. We had to admit to ourself it?” We took our time in answering. “Yes, probably so. If
that, although he had taken out the bands for a lot of DXers, we anyone can bring on the DX, it’s the Palos Verdes Sundancers.
did feel a bit of sympathy for him. Not a lot, but a little. So we told Even in the face of such terrible odds, they can pull off
him to get a pencil and a piece of paper and come with us. We miracles. But tell no one of what happened. Not Sunspot
made our way down to the barrancas of Palos Verdes country and Louie, his cousin Red Eyed Louie, any of the other QRPers
found the leader of the Sundancers. “What can I do for you guys?” and especially not the Old Timer! Never mention this again.
he said above the rattle of the tenor bongos. “There is an Understand?” The QRPer shook his head in agreement. “I
emergency situation”, we replied, “and we need your help.” He won’t!” he said as he made his way down the hill and around
looked at us and said, “How bad is it? Is the flux dropping a bit? the bend. We looked out over the bay and then down toward
We’re a little short-staffed with summer vacations, but I was sure Palos Verdes country where the Sundancers were hard at it.
that we had things covered. What is the problem?” We told the We decided that it wasn’t worth tuning the bands anymore
QRPer to write down on the piece of paper what he had said and today, and probably not even tomorrow. For while there was
to show it to the Leader of the Sundancers. One glance at the DX waiting over the horizon in the far reaches of those distant
paper and his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “You’re right!” lands, there would be no signals heard until things settled
the Leader exclaimed, “this is trouble. I’ll have to call the folks down. And upon reflection, we decided that maybe this was
a good thing, because it would give us time to see if we could
back from vacation. How many times was this said?”
find a QSL route for EP2MKO. DX IS!
October 2014
5
Vol XXXVII No. 10
Items For Sale
John, K1DWU, was generous enough to
donate some equipment to the club. He's
relocating to Colorado and did not want to
drag the stuff to his new QTH. We are offering
the following items for sale to any interested
club member. All proceeds will go into the
club Treasury.
1. Kenwood TS-570S with matching PS53 power supply and matching SP-23
speaker: $750 / package
2. Rigblaster PRO radio-computer
interface with Kenwood cable: $100.00
($75.00 if sold with TS-570 above)
3. Yaesu FT-7800 dual band mobile
$175.00
4. ICOM IC-2100 2m mobile $150.00
5. Timewave DSP-599ZX Audio DSP
processor $225.00
Contact Neil kc2ky@arrl.net if you are
interested.
Purchasing Parts for your Next
Project?
If we pool our parts orders together with
Newsletter Articles Wanted
Working on a new kit or homebrew project? Have
you recently received a rare or interesting QSL
card? Received a new DXCC award or band
endorsement? Or just have a cool photo (ham
radio related) or some soap box comments to
share with other club members? Why not consider
submitting an article for the Newsletter. We're
always looking for material for the Newsletter and
feedback from club members goes a long way
towards keeping the Newsletter interesting as well
as stamping the club "personality" on our monthly
publication. Articles can be submitted
electronically or on paper, whatever you feel
comfortable doing. As RCARC's Newsletter editor,
I particularly look forward to putting a new edition
together when I have material submitted by
members.
October 2014
mail order suppliers like Digi-Key, Allied
Electronics, or Mouser Electronics, we can
defray some of the shipping costs and save
some money. Bill, AB2UW, has set up an
on line utility for members to order parts
from Mouser Electronics as a group. To find
out more, check out <http://editthis.info/
wiki/RCARCparts>.
If you have a supply of junk box parts you
want other members to know about - whether
you want to sell stuff or give it away, Random
Oscillations is a great way to let your fellow
members know. Just drop me an emal or
a snail mail with details and we'll put your
items in the Newsletter to see if there are
any takers. (limited to amateur radio or
other electronics related items)
6
Vol XXXVII No. 10
Radio Central Amateur Radio Club
10-8-2014 RCARC Executive Board
Minutes
Board Members Present: President & Acting
Treasurer Neil Heft, KC2KY; Secretary *Bill Lynch,
AB2UW; Director *Richie Fisher, KB2ZPB; Director
Dick Pav, K2RFP, Director *Steve Sussman-Fort,
AB2EW, Director Stan Bryer, W2SCB
Board Members Absent: Director Joe Cohen,
KJ4ZW; Director Bob Chandler, WB2ETR; Vice
President Charlie Fiore, K2CQK
Guests Present: none
Meeting started at 7:08PM in the ‘Lower Meeting
Room’ of the Middle Country Public Library
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 7PM sharp, in the
‘Lower Meeting Room’ (downstairs) at the Middle Country
Public Library in Centereach.
Future RCARC meetings:
October – Neil has contacted Ed Newman, W2EMN, re doing a
presentation on EZNEC – he will do about an hour presentation and
then have time for questions.
November – Neil will email Bruce Streger, WB2ADF, and ask him
to do the November meeting presentation on lightning protection.
Miscellamneous:
Sat. Oct. 18th - Trip to Voice of the Twenties Museum with
the LI Wireless Historical Society – let Connie Currie
know if you are interested. <constancec@optonline.net>
Adjourned at 8:07PM
Radio Central Day:
Radio Central Day will be Saturday, November 1, 2014.Setup start
at 8 AM, operation starting at 9AM, expect to stay until about 3pm
. Dick will bring his radio and a 40/20 fan dipole, Richie will bring FT897, a fan dipole and an electric heater.
—Bill Lynch, AB2UW, RCARC Recording Secretary
Ham Radio University:
Neil will do a ‘fun with CW’ presentation there, Richie will contact
Frank’s (K2PWG) widow and see if the family still has the giant
wood key he made.
Repeater:
We recently tested the 440 repeater we bought near Fiskill, NY.
Receiver sensitivity is to spec, and the RF power output is well
within spec (73 watts). Still need the programming software. Neil
will make the request for the software.
Hudson Division Awards Dinner:
Saturday, November 8th, 12noon to 4PM, Towers on the Green in
Floral Park. Neil will email RCARC members to see if there is any
interest.
Next RCARC Exec Meeting:
October 2014
7
Vol XXXVII No. 10
October Meeting Announcement
Wednesday October 29, 6:30 PM at the Middle Country
Public Library in Centereach
Antenna Simulation with EZ-NEC
Presented By Ed Newman, W2EMN
Inside this issue
From the President ............................................................................................................................... 1
Neil, KC2KY
Are Knobs and Buttons Toast? ........................................................................................................... 1
Don Romanchik, KB6NU
A Century of Amaterur Radio and the ARRL ...................................................................................... 2
Al Brogdon, W1AB - from the ARRL Letter, September 11, 2014
Meeting Calendar ................................................................................................................................. 2
Solar Update .......................................................................................................................................... 3
From the ARRL Letter, October 23. 2014
A Slip of the Tongue ............................................................................................................................ 4
DX Humor from Paul Dunphy, VE1DX
Club Announcements ........................................................................................................................... 6
Radio Central Amateur Radio Club 10-8-2014 RCARC Executive Board Minutes ......................... 7
RANDOM Oscillations is published monthly by Radio Central Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 396, Centereach, NY 11720. RCARC, its officers
and director, disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or the content of articles published herein. The opinions expressed are solely those of the
authors. RCARC neither necessarily endorses or opposes said opinions. Material may be excerpted from this issue providing credit is given to the
appropriate source. Club members are encouraged to submit articles to the Corresponding Secretary for possible publication in this newsletter. The
deadline for articles is the 10th of each month.
October 2014
8
Vol XXXVII No. 10