BELLBROOK

AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

3^rd Thursday, 15 April 2010, 7:30 PM

BARC Clubhouse & Communications Center

Sugarcreek Elementary School

51 South East Street, Bellbrook

Talk-in on BARC 147.045(+) Repeater & 147.405 Simplex

QSO’s with Europe and South America are routinely done using only 25 to 40 watts.

Ralph will provide an overview of the most popular HF digital modes, an explanation of the computer/radio interface, and a live communication demonstration on the HF bands using Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) and Digital Master (DM780) software.

Thirty-five BARC member, spouses and guests attended BARC’s 34^th Annual Dinner Meeting held in a private banquet room at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Waynesville. The family style menu included salad, roast pork, roast turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, rolls, butter and an assortment of pies for dessert. Beverages included water, iced tea and soft drinks.

Following dinner, ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Jim Weaver, K8JE, talked about ARRL’s involvement with the International Amateur Radio Union in dealing with international treaties and issues. ARRL Ohio Section Manager Frank Piper, KI8GW, then reported on current activities and issues in the Ohio Section.

Don Dubon, N8JRL, and Dave Kalter, KB8OCP, then presented an overview of their 2009 trip to Costa Rica to the contest superstation TI5N for participation in the 2009 CQWW contest

A BIG THANK YOU to Ed Kulesa for handling all of the arrangements again for this year’s event.

By BARC Secretary Ed Kulesa K2VEE

The February general meeting was called to order by Club president Chris Stauter, KD8APN at 7:30PM. There were 25 members and guests in attendance.

The minutes from the 21 January 2010 meeting were accepted as published in the newsletter without any corrections or additions.

The next public service event will be the Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival Parade on Saturday 17 April 2010.

More details at the meeting and in a special email message.

Henry discussed the need to purchase a thermostat to control a light bulb to be placed in the repeater cabinet to keep the ambient temperature within operating norms during especially cold weather.

The Spring Greene County Amateur Radio License courses began February 14 with good attendance in all courses. Sixteen students are attending the Tech course with seven students in the General course and 8 students in the Extra Class course.

Clubhouse Telephone: In accordance with a decision at a recent meeting, BARC now has acquired a "magicJack" to provide general telephone service at the Clubhouse.

Club Committees & Coordinators: Our President Chris Stauter again encouraged members to consider volunteering to fill the remaining committee and coordinator positions that were listed in previous newsletters.

2010 Field Day Chairman: The post of Field Day Chairman was accepted by Fred Stone with the proviso that other volunteers would step forward to assist with major Field Day functional positions such as antennas, power, stations, logging, food, hospitality, transportation, etc.

2010 Field Day Site: The Club unanimously voted to return to Sackett-Wright Park for Field Day operations this year. Park reservations will now be made for this major BARC event.

Floor Plans: Fred Stone presented to the Club, for review, discussion and approval, a proposed floor plan for the clubhouse radio station positions and for the general meeting room. The layout of the radio station operating positions was modified to meet electrical code requirements. There was a brief discussion as to whether the proposed amount of space at each of the four operating positions was sufficient. It was concluded that the planned space should suffice and that modifications were always possible even after the positions were in place. Henry W8TOG moved that the Club accept the drawings as presented and the motion was seconded by Jim KC8EFD. The motion was voted on and approved by the club members.

Sugarcreek Township Zoning Regulations: Fred also announced that Sugarcreek Township is reviewing and "cleaning up" it zoning regulations, and described the proposed regulations for amateur radio antenna support structures.

Fred said a hearing will be held on the revised regulations in April [now postponed to May] and encouraged members, especially Township residents, to review the regulations and discuss any concerns with Trustees. Fred had discussed the scope of the regulations review with Sugarcreek Township Trustee Nadine Daugherty. Nadine is open to discussing any concerns from the amateur radio community.

Several concerns were expressed and the revised Township proposal was generally compared with the ARRL-National standard, with the legislation currently going through the Ohio House and Senate and with the standards for Greene County, the City of Bellbrook and some surrounding communities.

By Ed Kulesa, k2VEE

Ed presented a program aimed primarily for new amateurs as they start to select and install their first antenna for HF work. His presentation covered the ‘workhorse dipole’ in its many forms, as well as the G5RV and the horizontal loop antennas.

Following the program, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15PM

As many of you know, Pete Fee, the electrician who helped us with the clubhouse Communications Center electrical system project, donated all of his time. Just prior to the start of the project, Pete incurred some unexpected and significant medical bills, but still insisted on doing the job for us—without charge. He spent two days with us when he could have been working for pay.

During the work parties (when Pete was not present), discussions developed about trying to do something nice for Pete to really show him our appreciation. Dave Walton has suggested that we take up a purely voluntary collection for him at the April BARC meeting and present it to him at one of our weekly lunches.

In the spirit of full disclosure, Dave says he has known Pete for several years and has worked with him on several of his contract projects. Pete has no knowledge of this suggestion, nor has he made any comment about receiving compensation. It just seems like a good gesture on behalf of the club to show our appreciation to him.

Please consider contributing to this collection as you are able and feel appropriate--$1, $5, $10, $20. If you would like to contribute but cannot make the meeting, please call Dave Walton at 426-3923.

Incidentally, donations to BARC’s Communications Center project are tax deductible under our 501(c)(3) status. See Dave or Henry for receipt..

A 2010 BARC Membership Roster will be unveiled at the April club meeting and distributed to all members by email (and mailed to a couple members without email). The Roster will include:

• Name
• Call (and license class)
• Mailing Address
• Email Address
• Phone Numbers (home, cell, work)

Please advise the Treasurer immediately if you want any of this information omitted on your listing.

This test session is sponsored jointly by the three Greene County amateur radio clubs (BARC, UVARC and XWARN) and GCARES. The exams are administered by Greene County Certified Volunteer Examiners (VE’s). Usually, some DARA VE’s volunteer to assist. All VE’s are affiliated with both the ARRL and the Laurel [Maryland] Amateur Radio Club VEC’s.

The Greene County Spring 2010 Amateur Radio License Courses began Sunday, February 14, with 16 Technician Class students, 7 General Class students and 9 Extra Class students. It is not too late to join a course if you are interested.

Technician Class and General Class courses will conclude Sunday, April 11 and the Extra Class course will end on Sunday, April 18. There will be no classes Easter Sunday, April 4. The Test Session will be held Sunday, April 25, at 6:00 PM.

These courses are sponsored jointly by the three Greene County amateur radio clubs (BARC, UVARC and XWARN) and GCARES.

The next Greene County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (GCARES) meeting will be April 26 (fourth Monday), 7:30 PM, in the Training Room at Beavercreek Township Fire Station 1 (Dayton-Xenia Road just west of Orchard Lane). All Greene County hams are encouraged to be Active members of GCARES.

This will be the last meeting until the August 23 meeting. We take off May because of Hamvention, June because of Field Day and July because it’s a popular summer vacation month.

The March GCARES meeting was cancelled because our usual meeting location was preempted by the Beavercreek Township Trustees. Thus, we considered the March 29 Skywarn Training Class to be our GCARES meeting event for the month.

The annual Greene County Skywarn Training class originally scheduled for Tuesday 9 February was postponed because of severe weather (snow storm and associated hazardous driving conditions). The Training class was subsequently rescheduled for March 29—same time and place.

The next Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (MoCoARES) meeting will be April 27 (last Tuesday of even months), 7:00-9:00 PM, at the Miami Township Government Center on Lyons Road (behind the Police and Fire Department buildings).

MoCoARES hold a Net every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm on the MoCoARES 146.640 Repeater (except the last Tuesday of every even month)

BARC members and new hams are reminded that they may become an ARRL member or renew an existing ARRL membership at a discounted rate. BARC is an ARRL affiliated club and receives a commission for ARRL memberships transacted through the club. BARC passes on this discount as a club membership benefit in order to promote ARRL membership. New ARRL members receive a $15 discount on first year cost. Please contact the Treasurer for details.

This is a reminder that Dayton Hamvention 2010 now is only a month away--May 14-15-16.

Several BARC members have expressed a special interest in volunteering to support Hamvention this year to show BARC’s appreciation to DARA for the funding assistance for the Comm Center antenna system (coax, connectors, lightning protection, grounding, etc.). Volunteers receive a free Hamvention ticket and possibly a parking pass depending how much time is volunteered—usually 4 to 6 hours—on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday (or a combination of days)