THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB

NEWS SHEET 615

(http://www.firstclasscw.org.uk)

Editor: G4BUE

January 2001

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755)
(3525, 7025, 10120-10125, 14025, 18080-18085, 21025, 24905-24910 and 28025kHz)

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY ARE 160 & 20 METRES

Happy New Year. A perfect time to reflect for a moment on how we might be able to help improve the world. In recent months we have debated in this column some important issues that affect FOC. That debate continues. Meantime, there are many important issues which affect us all but which are not specifically FOC issues. This fine Club of ours contains many excellent brains and much experience. We, as an organisation, are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the issues of the day which affect HF. We have previously contributed to the Future of Amateur Radio enquiry and expressed views about CW as a licensing requirement. Here are one or two other issues that are very relevant to us and that we might think about: Spectrum protection: we are so used to exclusive access to our bands that we are perhaps these days becoming a little complacent. Have you noticed, with the higher sun spots, just how polluted our bands are nowadays? It used to be just CBers on 28005kHz but now there are all manner of illegal noises everywhere. It occurs to me that with DX-Cluster and Internet e-mail we have the means to instantly communicate information about Intruders. But to whom? What little I know of the official Intruder-Watch system (in UK anyway) suggests that official channels must be followed and they are slow. The system is thereby restricted to long-term Intruders. But what happens when a broadcast station is emitting spurious harmonics? Radio Portugal had one right in the middle of the 17 metre band. It eventually went away but only after causing a lot of QRM for some weeks last year. What is needed is more instant reaction. If our authorities could establish appropriate channels then there is a readymade source of instant information from a large population of educated HF band users.

TOPICAL ISSUES by G3SXW

If a really simple reporting system were introduced there could be many, many volunteers to help. National societies: spectrum is absolutely our most valuable resource. Without it we are dead in the water. National societies and IARU are utterly crucial here. Whenever someone tells me that they are not a member because of some specific political issue, I ask whether they would care about loss of our bands. At best many of our national societies have about one half of licensed radio amateurs as members. Should we not work to increase that proportion? Beacons: the most fascinating thing about our hobby is the unpredictability of HF propagation. NCDXF have invested enormously in time, effort and money to create a world-wide network of beacons on each of the five HF bands (see page 51 of FOCUS 23 and page 44 of FOCUS 31 - G4BUE). They seem to be under-utilised. DXers use them only infrequently so pay-back is less than it might be. Maybe we all just love the unpredictability of switching on and not knowing what will be heard. Check out a computer-program called BeaconSee. There is potential here for a massive researchproject with so much information available and free to all. Do you know the NCDXF-beacon frequencies? Contest co-ordination: perhaps it is national pride which hinders collaboration. Wouldnt it be good (for contesters and noncontesters alike) if some contests were combined? It seems that every country must have its own contest these days. A small handful of contest-fanatics can be worked in all of them. Lets combine some of these everybody-works-everybody national events in to one weekend. And how about one world-wide Field-Day weekend? Contest co-ordination efforts by IARU seem to be only marginally successful in these directions.

There are several internal issues facing FOC just now and these are being addressed. But FOC could be more than just a self-serving group. We are a tight-knit group of experts who can contribute hugely to the good of the hobby. If we choose to. Should we, through FOC, address issues such as these and seek to improve our HF world? Or, should we concentrate only on our own internal interests? Please let me know. Which important issues, if any, do you think FOC might address? A Happy New Year to all of you and your families from June and me. I wonder what 2001 will bring for FOC? G3MXJ described areas of possible change in last months Topical Comments column and I look forward to trying to reach a consensus in Committee on the way forward for the areas of members concern that Dennis identified. It will not be easy, and sadly not every member will agree with the outcome, but I would like to reassure members that (as Dennis said) the Committee will be working hard in the coming months to resolve these areas of concern. June and I stayed in Florida for three weeks in December with N4TO and both of us had the opportunity to operate Vics wonderful station. June made her first ever QSOs and found the 15 metre USA Novice band ideal for her slower CW. It shows how busy we had been at home before leaving for Florida that June made her first ever QSOs as W4/ MBUE instead of from home as MBUE! Those QSOs included one with W4/VP2MT from W4/VA3CHs QTH. June has since been on the air from home and is determined to try and make at least one CW QSO each day to try and build her speed up. Vic, June and I entered the ARRL 10 Meter Contest as N4TO (multi-single) and June made 1300 SSB QSOs while Vic and I made 1200 CW QSOs. Just for interest I kept a list of the FOC members who Vic and I QSOd on CW and at the end we were amazed to find we had worked 87 members, possibly more with contest callsigns that we did not recognise. Considering the contest was held on just ten metres, we thought this a very high number, suggesting that FOC members generally support contests although they may not be contesters themselves. This is supported by a comment from NP3G, who worked over 100 members in the same contest, and told me, Several of us were serious about the contest, most were looking for Windle points or Y2K Award points. Others were looking for new band countries or simply just wanted to say hello and help with a QSO.

Starred List

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MXJ

3. G4BWP: G3HEJ, G3SWH, G3SXW, KC7V, 5B4AGC (+GW3YDX). 3. DF5JT: K4EWG, DL4CF, K1JD, W8XM, SM5COP N9RD, , DK8IT, GM3UA. 3. OK1RP: OK1RR, W4PM, GEBW, W4ZYT, G8VG, K1SS, W3NZ 1. DK4AN: DJ5ZN, DL4CF, DL7AKC, KL7HF, W1HMD, DK8IT, G3MCK, SV1AOW 1. K4WJ: K4EFZ, K2UFT, YV1NX, W1HMD, F5VEX, GW3HCL

EDITORIAL by G4BUE

Objections to VK4EMM and K1VR are under consideration by the Committee. Invitations will be sent to SM6CLU and V31JP .

Additional Nominations

5. N6TR: VK6VZ, K4OJ, 4X4NJ, VE7BS 5. G3ZGC: G3RVM, GORH. 3. VE3HX: VA3LK, K5DQ, N6NT. 3. K6LQA: K6TS, K1AJ, W4LZ, W1RAN. 3. K4UEE: W4ZYT, W1RAN. 3. VE3OU: K2UFT, K4AO. 3. W6JD: W6CYX. 2. K3TF: N2UU, W1OT. 1. VE3VA: DK8IT. 1. KP3R: KP4L. 1. LU6EF: K4EWG. 1. G3ORH: K4EWG. 1. OZ7UW: K4EWG 1. K2KQ: W1WEF. 1. OE3GSA: ZS6AL, ZS6QU.

New Members

1741 KY7M: (Lee) L. M. Finkel, 1011 W Las Palmaritas Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85021; XYL - Debby; tel - 602 371 8563; e-mail <ky7m@arrl. net>. 1742 WCGR: (Gary) J. G. Atkins, 2201 Rambouillet Dr., Ft Collins, CO 80526; XYL - Lorene (WBVVD); tel - 970 493 9368; email - <gatkins@lamar.colostate.edu>.

Amendments

G3VCN (1647) Resigned. EI5BW (1651) Resigned. NP3G (1397) Resigned. VK3MJ (1061) Resigned. The Florida Dinner was the best yet - 74 attended making it the second biggest FOC social event of 2000. Only Lords had more attendees but if the Florida Dinner continues to grow, as it has done in the last few years, then it is not going to be long before it overtakes Lords. Congratulations and thanks to K4EFZ and his team of organisers. I remember attending my first Florida Dinner in 1992 when everyone agreed that one of the main attractions was its small friendly atmosphere. The 2000 Dinner had a large friendly atmosphere and I know the organisers and several regular attendees are wondering how to deal with the nice problem of the Dinner continuing to grow each year!

John Loughmiller, KB9AT, has written and published A Family Affair - The R.L. Drake Story which has received rave reviews on the Drake Internet Reflector. It contains not only the story of the R L Drake company, but also useful service hints and tips, and suggested modifications, mainly for the TR4, R4/T4 and TR7 series of equipment. In North America the book can be ordered on the Internet at <http://home/fuse.net/ tsg> and elsewhere from the Universal Radio in Columbus, Ohio, USA at <http:// www.universal-radio.com>, telephone 614 866 4267, who take credit cards and ship internationally. The book weights 1kg and costs $29.95. Shipping to the UK is a further $19. I have a copy. As the owner of several pieces of Drake equipment, I have found it a fascinating read and a valuable work of reference. To be recommended. Starting in January 2001, members can submit their logs electronically, via e-mail, for both the Marathon and Windle Award. The log format is identical for both and comprises a Tab Separated Variable log file. Cover sheets are still required for both events and will initially be in Excel spread-sheet format. The tick sheets are not required as part of the electronic submission. Full details of the log format, together with blank Excel spread-sheets will be available from 7 January 2001 in the FOC members database area, at <www.egroups.com/files/ foc_ng>. Technical queries should be submitted to me, via e-mail at <g3wgv@aol.com>. Electronic logs for the Windle Award should be sent to GW3KGV <ken@gw3kgv.freeserve. co.uk> and those for the Marathon to G3LIK <g3lik@dormic.freeserve.co.uk>. Terry Nurkiewicz, Widow of Steve, N2DAN, wishes to sell Steves personal paddle and has asked me to assist her. She would like to spread the word throughout the amateur community, however, I thought it would be better, and she has agreed, to let the FOC membership have first crack at it. The paddle is a chrome model, serial number 0001, dated 4/68 with the N2DAN call engraved it. Finger tips are gold/green/white. Terry, of course, is looking for the best price and perhaps there are a few collectors and/or club members who would be interested in this paddle. If anyone is interested please call Terry direct at (941) 743 3139.

DRAKE FANS by G3NKS

Please make the following amendments to your tick-sheets for the 2001 Marathon. G3XAQ will be QRV as 9G5XA. G4PDQ will be QRV as 5B4/G4PDQ. At the risk of being labelled obsessive-compulsive, I am announcing a bit ahead of time that the 2001 annual FOC West Coast Dinner will be held at the DX Convention in Visalia, California, on Friday 20 April. Please mark your calendars now and reserve the evening! Actually, my motive in mentioning this at this time is that I would like to be able to present a truly outstanding programme that will make this event the greatest ever. So I am soliciting suggestions and volunteers to participate in the planning and/or presentation of our after-dinner programme. If you are interested, please e-mail me directly at <rakefet@rakefet.com>. We have now reached the last month of the 20th Century and the 2nd Millennium AD. It is only members of The Flat Earth Society and those of similar ilk who still truly believe that the Year 2000 marks the beginning of new ones. Although the FOC Committee have made a decision not to carry the Y2K Award scheme over into 2001, there is surely no reason why members should not continue to do so, but purely on an unofficial basis without seeking any reward apart from the satisfaction of adding spice to the Windle award. With this in mind I have more or less made a decision, unilaterally, to proceed with operating in 2001, keeping a log to show points gained on the basis of the rules so ingeniously devised for the FOC Y2K Award. My aim will be to score 2001 points during the year. As I have pointed out, 2001 will be an extra special year and I feel it would be a shame for FOC members not to make some effort to commemorate it. In News Sheet 613, John, G3LWI, quite rightly pointed out that the increased activity during 2000 was largely due to the Y2K programme and I would be surprised if my proposal did not generate similar levels of activity during what will be, after all, the true Millennium year. I wonder how many more FOCers would be interested in marking the year on the basis of my suggestion? OK1RR and W5ZR have both written software for maintaining Y2K records - G4BUE.

MARATHON by G4BUE

2001 WEST COAST DINNER by K2VCO

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF WINDLE AND MARATHON LOGS by G3WGV

Y2K EXTENDED? by G2FFO

THE N2DAN PADDLES by W1HMD

5B4AGC: George says A big thanks from Bob and myself for all the FOC calls in the logs for the CQ CW Contest. Bob made 4700 QSOs from ZC4ZM (SOAB), a super performance for 35 hours of operating with mediocre antennae, and I made 2700 QSOs on 10 metres beating the existing record by 200k points. I lost the amplifier for about two hours and had Mike, 5B4AGX, pop round and fix it whilst I kept going running barefoot, its nice to have friends about. DJOS: Cliff went home from hospital at the end of November and found his magic loop had suffered from storm damage since August. G3XNG reports that although Cliff may be able to listen on an indoor antenna, he is quite unable to transmit at the moment and asks if anyone has ideas to suggest, bearing in mind Cliff is more or less literally single handed? Lee says I am reminded that when Ernst, DL1PM, was flying with DLH he used a mobile whip from hotel windows and balconies. EI5BW: In writing to resign from FOC, Peter says that his activity levels no longer justify his continuing membership. He sends 73s to all. GORH: Ken and Ian, G3RVM, will be QRV in the CQ 160 Meter Contest at the end of January as G3N or G3WOI. G3KKQ: Our sincere sympathy and condolences to Dennis who went into hospital in December with a collapsed lung. Keyhole surgery failed and he is due to have an operation at the end of December. His wife Dawn, passed away on Christmas Day following an illness. G3PQC: Dougs New Year resolution: I promise not to mention the words straight key ever again!. G3VCN: Paul has decided not to renew his membership due to family commitments and a low level of activity that he feels does not come up to the requirements of the present rules. G3XAQ: Alan was QRV as EA8/G3XAQ 21/28 December and plans to be QRV as 9G5XA during the Marathon. G4GLL: Geoff cannot return to his QTH until April because of flooding - thanks G3IGW. G4PDQ: John will hopefully be QRV as 5B4/ G4PDQ in the Marathon while on holiday, and says, dont expect any quick QSYs - I will be operating with a roach pole antenna (also known as a bit of wet string). I6BQI: Angelo will be touring the Pacific for six weeks starting in February and hopes to be QRV 160-6 metres from A35BQ, then ZK2BQI and possibly from YJ, 5W, C2 and T3. K4DL: Jens apologies for his activity being down this year. He has been in and out of the hospital for the past two months and they are still running tests trying to find an answer!. His mother passed away on 15 November, aged 98 and he has been busy clearing up her estate. K9DX: John was QRV 12 December as VP5/ K9DX QSL via K9QVB LA3FL: Per writes, I am transferring from

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

(callsign in brackets indicate G4FOC operator)

FOC CALENDAR

January - 160m & 20m (G3RXP) 1 Final day for 2001 subscriptions 13 Galveston Get-Together CQ 160m Contest ZC4GB by 5B4AGC/AGN G3N or G3WOI by GORH/G3RVM 27 Committee meeting 28 Deadline February N/Sheet February - 80m & 15m (G3RXP) A35BQ and ZK2BQI (615) 6/26 D68C by 9H1EL, 5B4AGC, DL7AKC, G3SED, G3VMW and G3WGV+ (612) 12 S21YD by SM6CPY (615) Bear Island (EU-027) to the even more remote and sought after Hopen Island (EU-063) at the end of January. I hope to put up a multi-band broad-band dipole to be QRV on 80m but it is cold and dark around the clock for antenna work and the polar bears do not always stay away! I have re-activated the old Bear Station club station JW1I, but some days I am QRV as JW3FL, which will be the call I will use on Hopen Island. LZ1AF: Congratulations to Dimiter on being President of the LZ CW Club formed on 17 October 2000 to promote CW activity. Club meetings are held every Tuesday on 3527kHz at 1930z and membership is open to foreign amateurs. A candidate must be nominated by a club member and approved by the meeting. A bulletin will be started shortly - thanks FISTS November Key Note. NP3G: Terry finds himself in serious disagreement with what he sees as a lack of activity by the Committee in taking action to ensure that FOC remains an active club, and has resigned. OH2EA: Hans was due to leave for three months in Thailand at the beginning of December and hopes to be QRV occasionally from a different club station from the one he will be staying at HS2AC, which does not have any HF facilities! OK1RR: Martin was QRV 18/31 December with the Czech Millennium call OL2. SM6CPY: Unfortunately the flood situation in western Bangladesh is still bad and Carl will not now be QRV as S21YD until 12 February. VA3UZ: Yuri says all QSOs made with VE2IM (zone 2) in the CQ CW Contest were with him. VK3MJ: Wally says that he has been in poor health and cannot get on the bands very much these days so has taken the decision to leave the Club. He sends his best 73s to all the friends he has made over the years. W1HX: I have only just learnt that ex-member Norm (910) became a Silent Key three weeks, almost to the hour, after his wife Tisha passed away on 12 July. W6OV: Dick has been QRV on the 18 year old AO-10 satellite lately and says it is still functioning well. He is waiting for the new AO-40 to be ready as it will be better to use with its more channels and better antennas.