-------------------------------- North Shore Repeater Association Newsletter Electronic edition Spring 1993 Editor Ken Smith AA1DR --------------------------------- Club: P.O. Box 3724 Peabody, MA 01961 Editor: NSRA Editor 505 Paradise Rd, Suite 115 Swampscott, Ma. 01907 Our repeaters: . 145.47 Danvers 146.88 Salem 145.09 Packet node 224.38 Danvers 442.80 Danvers The NSRA meets on the second Monday of the month at the Cy Tenny Club in West Peabody at 7:30PM. Talk-in on the 145.47 Danvers repeater. --- Elections are Coming! It's nominations time again. Time to think about a new slate of officers to direct this club through another year. Do you have someone in mind that you think would make a good officer? Someone that would make a difference? Someone that really cares about the direction this club will take in the future? It's time for us to think about the future of this club. Where do we want to be in another year? Who is it that you think would help us get there? Maybe YOU are one of those people who could make a difference. Have you been a member for at least one year? Are you concerned about the NSRA? Do you think your ideas and opinions would make a difference? Would you like to see some changes in the organization? Are you able to attend two meetings a month (except for the July and August break), one Board of Directors meeting and one club meeting? If so, then you sound like a perfect candidate. The Nominating Committee wants to hear from you! Whether you have someone in mind for an officer or if you are yourself interested in being nominated, please contact any of the Nominating Committee members by telephone or packet as soon as possible. . Mark Darrigo KA1YPR 508-744-7348 or KA1YPR @ K1UGM Jim Cavanaugh KD1FW 508-531-1934 or KD1FW @ K1UGM Bob Nelson N1EUN 617-599-5241 or N1EUN @ K1UGM Keith Triplett N1HLK 617-631-2993 or N1HLK @ K1UGM Nominations will be closed at the completion of the March business meeting. Act NOW! ----- Who's Who? Trustees and control operators 146.88 Trustee: Chuck Bergman Control operators: Keith Triplett N1HLK Mark Darrigo KA1YPR Andy Lapointe WD1Q 145.47 Trustee: Mark Hannon KA1LQX Control operators: John Lennerton KA1AHD Bob Hagstrom KA1EUK Roger Kolakowski WA1KAT Art Russell W1VUO 224.38 Trustee: Eric Cottrell WB1HBU Control operator: Keith Triplett N1HLK Jerry Clark K1DFD 145.09 Node Trustee: Dave Carnevale KA1USI 442.800 Trustee: Herb Ryan W1KVQ Control operator: Bob Ward N1FMQ Bob Hagstrom KA1EUK Roger Kolakowski WA1KAT ---- Dear NSRA A Special Note of Thanks.... December 12 brought disaster to our area in the form of a winter storm. The 88 repeater was chosen to relay information within the town of Swampscott. A call was put out shortly after noon as a request from the Civil Defense Director for volunteers. One operator was needed for the emergency shelter at the high school. A second was needed at the flood site to communicate with National Guard units. A third person was needed to transport evacuees and to report on ocean and traffic conditions. Within minutes of the first call, enough volunteers were obtained to do the job, and what a job they did! It was probably one of the smoothest disaster operations that this writer has encountered. (I have been a CD radio officer since 1953!) Swampscott Civil Defense would like to officially acknowledge the efforts of all who participated. From the people who were out in their own vehicles at their own expense slopping through the storm to the many members who kept the repeater clear for official traffic, thanks for a job well done. No one was hurt, valuable property was preserved, and the repeater was shown to be a very valuable resource in the community. Sincerely, John Telford W3TJ Radio Officer Swampscott Civil Defense --- Welcome to OUR Repeaters 146.88 This repeater is tho oldest one we have and is located in the penthouse of Davenport Building of the Salem Hospital in Salem, Ma. The picture shows the equipment located in the communication room along with the Salem fire and police communication equipment as well as several ambulance systems. We run a Spectrum receiver and exciter with a Mirage amplifier with an ACC 850 controller. The antenna is a Super Statonmaster with a reflector. We currently run about 80 watts to the duplexers. A temperature sensor is available and shortly a feature to measure wind speed and direction will be added. Phone patch service is also available. Refer to your handbook for other available functions. 145.47 The 47 repeater is located in a secure emergency powered building at the top of the hill at Danvers State Hospital in Danvers Ma. We have a $1.00 a year lease from Cellular One for this site. The equipment is essenntially a duplicate of 88. The antenna is on top of the water tower and is a Super Stationmaster fed with Andrews Heliax 7/8" cable. The antenna elavation is 310 feet above sea level. The service area limits are essentially Elliot Maine, Derry N.H.,Worcester Ma.,and Brockton Ma. 442.80 This repeater is located adjasent to the 47 equipment at Cellular One and comprises Spectrum receiver, exciter and Mirage amplifier with an ACC 85 controller. The antenna is a Stationmaster. The controller is limited in functions to the phone patch at this time. 224.38 This equipment is located at the Hunt Hospital in Danvers and consists of a Kendacom 222 repeater unit with a Stationmaster antenna. 145.09 This is the packet node which is also located at Hunt Hospital. It consists of a KDK tranceiver a TNC-2 and a simple antenna. Any member may visit the sites by appointment. Simply contact any trustee or a member of the Tecnical Comittee. Respectfully submitted Herb Ryan , Art Russell --- FIELD DAY "93" Yes, once again it is time to start preparing for the event that only happens on the last full weekend in June, You guessed it, FIELD DAY! With any luck this year, and no lighting storms or earthquakes, it will be better than last. We will be running 3A again this year. Hopefully we will have more participation than last year in setup, operating, and take-down. However, we did have a great number of people that just came to watch. Some even tried to get a free lunch with out helping! Please remember..... no "workie", no "feedie". So lets make this FIELD DAY 100 times better than last year. We have the resources and the talent of every member in one of the largest Amateur Radio Clubs in Massachusetts. Let's show all the other clubs how it is done. I need volunteers and the support of the whole club this year and not just from a few members. Let me know if and how you can help this year. I can be reached in many different ways; by packet at KA1YPR @ K1UGM, or at KA1YPR-1 on 145.010; by phone at (508) 744-7348; on the repeaters (146.880, 145.470, 442.800); or at any meeting. Thanks to all for making this FIELD DAY the best one ever. 73's and hope to talk to everyone soon. Mark Darrigo KA1YPR --- Autopatch Guidelines Amended On February 1st, 1993, the following amendments to the "Guidelines for Autopatches" in the North Shore Repeater Association Handbook were voted on and approved by the Board of Directors. On Page 9 in section "Guidelines for Autopatches", third paragraph, last sentence stated: In fact, the NSRA rule is that NO calls should be made to ANY commercial establishment Is to be replaced with the following: Calls to a Commercial establishment of a personal nature may be made at the discretion of the control operator(s). Beware of music or commercial announcements on hold. No other person(s) shall interfere or terminate any phone patch. --- Why Radio Amateurs Are Called "HAMS" From Florida skip Magazine -1959 and Found In "The Fantail" December 1992 U.S. NAVY MARINE CORPS MARS Have you ever wondered why radio amateurs are called "HAMS"? Well it goes like this: The word "HAM" as applied to 1908 was the station CALL of the first amateur wireless stations operated by some amateurs of the HARVARD RADIO Club. They were ALBERT S. HYMAN, BOB ALMY and POOGIE MURRAY. At first they called their station "HYMAN - ALMY - MURRAY". Tapping out such a long name in code soon became tiresome and called for a revision. They changed it to "HY-AL-MU", using the first two letters of each of their names. Early in 1908 some confusion resulted between signals from amateur wireless station "HYALMU" and a Mexican ship named "HYALMO". They then decided to use only the first letter of each name and the station CALL became "HAM". In early pioneer days of unregulated radio, amateur operators picked their own frequency and call - letters. Then, as now, some amateurs had better signal than commercial stations. The resulting interference came to the attention of congressional committees in Washington and Congress gave much time to proposed legislation designed to critically limit amateur radio activity. In 1911, ALBERT HYMAN chose the controversial WIRELESS REGULATION BILL a the topic for his Thesis at Harvard. His instructor insisted that a copy be sent to Senator DAVID. WALSH, a member of the committees hearing the BILL. The Senator was so impressed with the Thesis that he asked HYMAN to appear before the committee.. ALBERT HYMAN took the stand and described how the little station was built and almost cried when he told the crowded committee room that if the BILL went through they would have to close down the station because they could not afford the license fees and all the other requirements which the BILL imposed on amateur stations. Congressional debate began on the WIRELESS REGULATION BILL and the little station "HAM" became the symbol for all the little amateur stations in the country crying to be saved from the menace and greed of the big commercial stations who didn't want them around. The BILL finally got to the floor of Congress and every speaker talked about the "....poor little station HAM". That's how it all started. You will find the whole story in the Congressional Record. Nationwide publicity associated station "HAM" with amateur radio operators. From that day to this, and probably 'till the end of time in radio: An amateur is a "HAM". --- Trustee Opening Announcement The NSRA has an opening for the position of Trustee for the 224.38 repeater at Hunt Hospital in Danvers. As Trustee you will assure that the repeater is operated in compliance with FCC regulations and in a manner that brings credit to the Association. You will serve as a voting member on the Board of Directors, attend all Board meetings and provide notes for the newsletter when requested. All interested parties should submit a letter to the Board of Directors, by April 3rd, stating your intentions and why you think you would make a good candidate for Trustee. Attn: Board of Directors N.S.R.A. PO BOX 3724 Peabody, Ma. 01960 --- Teaching Was FUN The Technician class went very well and we have a few new hams to prove it. I hope they learned as much as I did teaching it. At its completion we had eight students. Five have now passed their exams and three are due to take the exam this week. I would be glad to teach another class but due to some changes in my life (read: diapers) it cannot be immediately. If all goes well, I plan on teaching another class just after Field Day which I think would be perfect timing. A class right after field day should be offered by all clubs who participate in field day itself. I would like to thank the First Baptist Church in Beverly for the use of the room and namely Pat in the office for being so helpful. I hope we can continue to use the same facility for classes in the future. When I made the decision to teach this class, I also decided to take the position of Chairman of the NSRA Education Committee. I haven't seen much done regarding education within the club lately so I decided to do my part. At this time I am the only member of this committee and I would like to see this change. If you would like to help put together some educational programs I would like to hear from you. This doesn't just mean ham radio classes; this could be educating the public about ham radio or educating hams about changes in the rules. The more people we have in this committee the better. If you hear a new callsign on the air please pick up that microphone and say hello. They got over being mic shy, you should too. --- Ham SUNK in Phony Distress Case Jorge Mestre, NS3K, of Fairfax VA, pled guilty today to knowingly and wilfully communicating a false distress signal, resulting in th U.S. Coast Guard launching a major search and rescue operation on August 7, 1992. Mestre will surrender his FCC amateur radio license, dispose of his amateur radio equipment within 60 days, and make immediate restitution of 50,000 dollars to the U.S. Coast Guard. Sentencing is set for May 7. Mestre could receive up to six years imprisonment and a fine of up to 250,000 dollars. The FCC used direction finding data, detailed signal analysis of the transmissions, and other information to identify Mestre's station as the source of the false distress messages. Mestre is also suspected of having been involved in at least three additional false distress cases in the last few years. From ARRL Headquarters, Newington, CT. --- Who's Listening Last summer I discussed over a local repeater my plans for a trip to Florida with my family. When we returned, our home had been burglarized. VCR, tape deck, coins, silverware, etc., were gone, and of course my ham equipment was missing. I did have my SSN and callsign on most of the rigs. Two weeks later the police recovered a stolen car in the next state. The trunk of the car was filled with stolen property. On the front seat was a scanner programmed full of local repeaters adn a 1992 call book with over 100 calls checked in a three state area. Beware of the eavesdroppers. Do not give out personal information over the air waves. To embarassed to sign. From Auto-Call, published by the Foundation for Amateur Radio --- NEW ARRL NTS AWARD The ARRL now has a National Traffic System award for new traffic handlers. The "Message Origination Award" is will be presented to individuals who show proof of originating at least four messages (in NTS format) in one month's time. This new award will the accompany the existing awards available for NTS achievement. The others are "Public Service Honor Roll", "Brass Pounders League", "Brass Pounders League Medallion" and the "Public Service Honor Roll" which all have varying requirements that might not be easily attainable for someone new to the NTS. For more information regarding this and other NTS awards, contact our Eastern Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager Jim Hatherly WA1TBY at 617-254-6042 or Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Dave Crocker W1TMO at 617-444-7724. --- A Little Common Courtesy This is a VERY difficult topic to discuss with people. The main problem being that everyone thinks you are pointing the proverbial finger at them. I would now like to make it clear that this essay was not intended for that reason. If you are a one-hundred percent, bona fide, A-1 operator my kudos to you! However not everyone fits into that catagory, so here goes! There has been quite a bit of pent up anger directed at certain individuals in and outside the club because of their methods of operation on the air. Whether the problem is due to the lapse of memory about radio ettiquite, the person's nature, or just plain being uninformed there is a simple solution to the problems at hand we all can use called COMMON COURTESY. I'm sure we are all bothered at times by rude behavior on the air, for instance: A person jumps into your conversation and proceeds to take over OR: Two people talking on a repeater quick keying so not even an emergency situation could get a word in edgewise. These are all too common situations and I'm sure anyone on the radio could come up with other scenarios to match them. I find myself quick keying at times so I'm not perfect either by ANY means! This is precisely the point, NO ONE is PERFECT! So before we point fingers remember that the use of common courtesy is absolutely necessary to keep us ALL in line. If you see or hear anyone slipping DON'T embarrass them by pointing out their mistakes on the AIR! Take them aside and constructively show them where they are in error. Do not do it in anger, think first then act accordingly with COMMON COURTESY. 73 Jim KD1FW --- NSRA Field Trip An Instant Success On February 20th the NSRA held their first "NSRA Field Trip". The agenda for this Field Trip included stopping for breakfast at Denny's in Stoneham, carpooling up to Rivendell and Ham Radio Outlet in New Hampshire, then we stopped for pizza in New Hampshire before heading to the computer show in Wilmington for a few hours. Thanks to Joe Savasta and Bob Frost for volunteering their vans and for doing all the driving. This trip was organized by Ken Smith AA1DR. These NSRA Field Trips will benefit those who don't have transportation as well as those who just don't like the long drive. If you would be interested in participating in with us or can help us out with a large passenger vehicle and your driving skills, please contact me at the phone number, packet, or internet address listed below. The only cost will be a small donation to cover the cost of fuel. The next trip is planned for Saturday, March 20th. We will goto Rivendell and then proceed to Ham Radio Outlet for 'Yaesu Day'. At HRO there will be hourly drawings as well as a grand prize of an Yaesu FT-5100 Dual Band Mobile radio. These Field Trips will take place once a month and we are open for ideas on exciting places to go. We are now planning an NSRA trip to ARRL League Headquarters in Newington, Ct. for the spring. Also it has been suggested that we have "Flea Trips".... Field Trips to New England area Flea Markets and Hamfests. What do you think? If you are interested in participating or helping out in any way, please contact me: Phone 617-581-9812 Packet: AA1DR @ K1UGM.MA Internet: ken.smith@channel1.com. Thanks alot! Ken Smith NSRA Editor and Education Committee Chairperson --- Rescue on 5.13 December 10, 1992, was a sullen wintry morning in Gloucester, Ma. Not frigid, but cold. Ralph Knight WA1GCO, a WW2 veteran with the navy and a respected Ham radio operator, lives within sight of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association clubhouse. On this morning Ralph was on his way to work, but first he had some letters to mail a few blocks up the road near Willow Rest. "I parked the car on the side of the road, got out and mailed my letters." , Ralph later explained, "Then I headed back to the car. As I got in, my right side became paralyzed and my right arm and leg became useless. Somehow I clawed my way into the car, laying on my now paralyzed right side.... helpless." Ralph might have thought at first he was helpless, but he took stock and found he had some assets. (1) He was conscious. (2) His brain was working. (3) His left arm was fine. (4) In front of him was a 2 meter radio. (5) One half mile away was a tall tower which held the antenna for the Gloucester repeater. With his good hand, he pressed the push to talk! Thanks to reliable repeater operation, that first call was heard by Aubrey WA1EVO in Amesbury. Due to Ralph's slurred speech, Aubrey could not understand him and thought he was too far away from the repeater. Enter Chris K1ACM. Chris is a nurse and an alarm had gone off as she listened to Ralph and Aubrey. She took over and patiently questioned Ralph. "Are you ill or hurt?", Chris asked, "Can you walk? Do you need an ambulance?", the questions continued, "Are you feeling cold or faint? Is anyone near you?". The answers came slowly and Chris strained to understand Ralph. Jack W1PSG, who had been listening, called an ambulance and then attempted to contact Ralph's wife. Chris was twenty miles away from the scene, so she made a call on the repeater for anyone in the Willow Rest area to stay with Ralph until the ambulance had arrived. It was good fortune that she caught Rick WZ1B on the air. He was just a few blocks away from Ralph's location, so he hurried over to assist. Upon arriving he got the heater going for a now cold Ralph and made him comfortable. After the ambulance had taken Ralph, Rick followed them to the hospital to be with him on arrival. It was a great example of rescue by remote control. There were many "ifs" that swung "our" way. What if the radio was dead? What if Aubrey hadn't answered? What if ....... Think about it, all of us. Do we ever consider that the little black box we ragchew on, complain about, kick, stomp, revile, ridicule, and spill coffee on might be a vital link in our life chain? We are pleased to report that after two months, several hospitals, and rehabilitation, Ralph walks unaided. He now has clear speech and his arm is slowly coming back. Thanks to the "Vital Link", Ham Radio. --- Tem Commandments of Human Relations Speak to people - There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting. Smile at people - It takes 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile. Call people by name - The sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of their own name. Be friendly and helpful - If you have friends, be friendly. Be cordial - Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure. Be genuinely interested in people - You can like everyone if you try. Be generous with praise - Cautious with criticism. Be considerate of the feelings of others - It will be appreciated. Be thoughtful of the opinions of others - There are three sides to a controversy; yours, the other persons and the right one. Be alert to give service - What counts most in life is what we can do for others. From the Polish Legion of American Veterans Newsletter, January 1993. --- ***CONNECTED to Packet Radio Low Cost Packet by Mel Cole WZ1Q Do you have the urge to get on packet but the BIG BUCK outlay is out of the question? Try the low cost approach. Commodore 64 computers are to be had, complete with 1541 disk drive, anywhere from $100 to $150. I have one that was complete with disk drive and color monitor and sold for $100. The Want Advertiser booklet sold in most variety stores and magazine racks always has a couple for sale. Negotiation is the big problem pushing the C64. With a readily available TV adapter, an old 12 inch black and white set will get you in business. I have found the power supply that comes with the C64 to be the weak link in the system, and it is potted therefore almost impossible to repair. Tenex Computer Express has a great power supply for $39.95 that can be repaired if it ever needs it. Mine is over a year old and running great. Other than a 2 meter radio, which I am assuming you already own, the only other piece of gear required is the packet interface. Digicom Packet Interface is the generic name, and at least three companies I know of offer it for sale at $50, plus or minus $5. The third company wants $75, so I wont mention them. Mine is a Digicom-64 made by Crawford Amateur Radio Society. MFJ markets one under the model number MFJ-1271 selling for $49.95, however the program disk (MFJ-1293) is an additional $5. Either the Digicom-64 or the MFJ-1271/1293 will plug directly into the game port of the C64 and you only need to rig up three shielded leads between the radio and the interface to handle PTT, audio from the radio, and FSK to the radio. All connections on the Digicom-64 circuit board are RCA jacks and I'll bet the MFJ is the same. Oh yes, I bought a used Commodore printer two or three years ago for $75 and it handles everything I need for packet and the simple word processor I typed this article on. Actually Tenex has a Star printer that is Commodore compatible for only $119. If you are interested and want to talk about it, call me up most any time at 508-927-1953, or if you want, I would be glad to give you a demo here in my shack. Mel WZ1Q --- The Editors Letter An anonymous letter arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago. A letter that was apparently sent to me to be printed in this newsletter. Well, due to it's nature I was unable to print it here, I'll explain why. You see this letter was apparently from a very irate individual who is upset about some remarks that were made by another Ham. The letter describes the remarks as "anti-Semitic" and that they were made during a public service event by someone who happens to be a member of the NSRA. This part of the letter I really had no problem with. The direction the letter then took is where it is off base. At this point the author then directed his anger toward the NSRA and seemed to imply that the club was responsible for this persons actions. This was a letter that attempts to persecute the Association without proper cause. I agree that whatever this person said is irresponsible and wrong, but labeling the club like you have because of those remarks is also wrong. I cannot print something that directly attempts to harm the Association and it's reputation. The North Shore Repeater Association is a club that does not discriminate and is open to all who are interested in Amateur Radio. The club bylaws state, "No action shall be taken by the Association which is discriminatory in nature due solely to reasons of sex, race, or national origin." To the person who allegedly made these remarks, I honestly hope you think about what you said and how it has affected the people around you. To the anonymous author of this letter, I hope you will understand why it would be inappropriate to print your letter in this newsletter. Ken Smith AA1DR --- S P R E A D the Word Explicit permission is granted to reproduce or distribute by electronic or other means, in whole or in part, any material appearing herein provided credit is given to the author and this publication including issue date. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This has been another edition of the North Shore Repeater Association Newsletter 'Electronic Edition'. Spring 1993 For more information on the North Shore Repeater Association Contact NSRA Editor, Ken Smith 505 Paradise Rd., Suite 115 Swampscott, MA. 01907 Packet: AA1DR @ K1UGM.MA.USA.NA Internet: ken.smith@channel1.com Phone: 617-581-9812 -or- NSRA Membership services Keith Triplett 617-631-2993 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading! <><><><>