fall volume 125 december 2015 ascra in-service · fall volume 125 ! december 2015!! association of...

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Fall volume 125 December 2015 Association of saints church radio amateurs, W0SHQ 1 Get Ready for World Conference World Conference is the ideal time to exercise ASCRA’s ability to provide communications in times of emergency. 1. During an emergency most hams are not in the effected area. Most hams render assistance by volunteering to serve from where they are located. 2. To exercise your ability to communicate with ASCRA checkin to a net, or communicate with another ASCRA station. 3. To improve your ability to communicate increase the number of bands, modes and methods you use to communicate with another ASCRA station. 4. To document your ability to communicate send an email or letter to me, W6LMJ letting me know what you did. Terry - W6LMJ ASCRA IN-SERVICE President’s Message Mike, KM0S Page 1 Skywaves - Doug, WA0EMX, Page 2 ASCRA Nets Ernie, WB2UJL, Page 3 Vertical Problem Larry Ragan, N0AIX, Page 5 The Antenna that Saved our House Larry Ragan, N0AIX, Page 6 Future Plans - Jim, AD0AC, Page 8 Listening for the Nets Terry, W6LMJ, Page 8 Request for Nominations Jim, AD0AC, Page 9 President’s Message - by Mike Thayer, KM0S Hi, I am Mike Thayer, KM0S, newly elected President of the ASCRA Board of Directors. I want to thank the board for their support of my vision for ASCRA in the coming year. One of my goals for ASCRA in the immediate future includes taking advantage of technology to allow our membership to participate in any of the our fellowship nets. As most of you know, we have HF nets on 40m and 20m every Sunday afternoon starting at 2:30/3:30PM central time. Most of the time, we do not have problems communicating. On occasion, we have to contend with contests and poor propagation. That is where technology comes in to play. I am going to try and get equipment setup so we can stream our nets online and give anyone wanting to listen in a way to join us. James Craft, the new Executive Director, has been working with other board members and has a solution in place that allows authorized users to monitor HF audio from our HF station at the Auditorium. All that is required is a Windows program, an internet connection, and a request to access the equipment. We believe that the data connection we have will allow several people to listen in to the HF audio from W0SHQ. For those that do not use or have Windows PCs, I am working on a similar solution for Apple and Linux users. We are also working on a plan and time to use EchoLink as a means to hold a “net” for those times we have bad propagation or conditions and for those not having HF equipment installed. At the classes ASCRA has provided for the SPEC attendees over the past few years, we have tried to get our new students and licensees to look at “communications paths” rather than RF mode specific connections. We all need to be open to new ways of “getting the message out” rather than be limited by conditions around us. Continued on page 4.

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Page 1: Fall volume 125 December 2015 ASCRA IN-SERVICE · Fall volume 125 ! December 2015!! Association of saints church radio amateurs, W0SHQ! 1 Get Ready for World Conference World Conference

F a l l v o l u m e 1 2 5 ! D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 5

! ! A s s o c i a t i o n o f s a i n t s c h u r c h r a d i o a m a t e u r s , W 0 S H Q ! 1

Get Ready for World ConferenceWorld Conference is the ideal time to exercise ASCRA’s ability to provide communications in times of emergency.1. During an emergency

most hams are not in the effected area. Most hams render assistance by volunteering to serve from where they are located.

2. To exercise your ability to communicate with ASCRA checkin to a net, or communicate with another ASCRA station.

3. To improve your ability to communicate increase the number of bands, modes and methods you use to communicate with another ASCRA station.

4. To document your ability to communicate send an email or letter to me, W6LMJ letting me know what you did.

Terry - W6LMJ

ASCRAIN-SERVICE

President’s MessageMike, KM0S Page 1Skywaves -Doug, WA0EMX, Page 2

ASCRA NetsErnie, WB2UJL, Page 3 Vertical Problem Larry Ragan, N0AIX, Page 5

The Antenna that Saved our House Larry Ragan, N0AIX, Page 6 Future Plans -Jim, AD0AC, Page 8

Listening for the NetsTerry, W6LMJ, Page 8Request for NominationsJim, AD0AC, Page 9

President’s Message - by Mike Thayer, KM0S

Hi, I am Mike Thayer, KM0S, newly elected President of the ASCRA Board of Directors. I want to thank the board for their support of my vision for ASCRA in the coming year. One of my goals for ASCRA in the immediate future includes taking advantage of technology to allow our membership to participate in any of the our fellowship nets. As most of you know, we have HF nets on 40m and 20m every Sunday afternoon starting at 2:30/3:30PM central time.  Most of the time, we do not have problems communicating. On occasion, we have to contend with contests and poor propagation. That is where technology comes in to play. I am going to try and get equipment setup so we can stream our nets online and give anyone wanting to listen in a way to join us.  James Craft, the new Executive Director, has been working with other board members and has a solution in place that allows authorized users to monitor HF audio from our HF station at the Auditorium. All that is required is a Windows program, an internet connection, and a request to access the equipment.  We believe that the data connection we have will allow several people to listen in to the HF audio from W0SHQ. For those that do not use or have Windows PCs, I am working on a similar solution for Apple and Linux users.  We are also working on a plan and time to use EchoLink as a means to hold a “net” for those times we have bad propagation or conditions and for those not having HF equipment installed. At the classes ASCRA has provided for the SPEC attendees over the past few years, we have tried to get our new students and licensees to look at “communications paths” rather than RF mode specific connections. We all need to be open to new ways of “getting the message out” rather than be limited by conditions around us.  Continued on page 4.

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SKYWAVES - WA0EMX

Skywaves -by Doug Shaw WA0EMX

NEW OFFICERS: As you may see elsewhere in this issue, our recent board meeting made some changes in ASCRA officers among the new board members. I welcome our new president, Mike Thayer KM0S, who has been a great support since taking his place on the board. In our discussions I agreed to step aside for Jim Craft AD0AC to assume the position as on-site Executive Director and to resume Jim’s former office of Secretary to support him locally at the Church HQ campus. I agreed to continue as FCC Trustee for our HQ station, W0SHQ. Chuck Palmer will continue as our reliable Treasurer.

ASCRA HF ECHOLINK SHADOW NETSWhile the number of stations participating is up and down week to week, the ASCRA HF Echolink Shadow Nets (40M @ 7190 kHz @ 1430 CT, 20M @ 14287 kHz @ 1530 CT, +/- QRM) have seen growing activity in the past several months. I will list the call signs of the stations reported as being heard during that time in the next issue. Remember that anyone may act as facilitator for these two nets if no one else is doing so. If you do fulfill this role at any time period, please report the stations heard for the date/time in question to Doug Shaw WA0EMX. Stations who do check in and are unsure if call signs of participants are being tracked send a check-in report to me yourself if you would like to be listed as participating. Eventually we may be able to file net and other activity reports on the website.

Stand-Alone Echolink NetA Stand-Alone Echolink Net will be held later in the afternoon on Sundays at 1630 CT following the end of our 40 and 20 Meter HF nets. This will allow those stations active on HF to meet other members online via Echolink at 4:30 PM CT. Please use the *MISSOURI* Echolink Conference node to join in this activity. The conference node has no time-out issue as do repeaters such as W0SHQ/R (3 min.) and AA0OS/R (2 min.). Also we may not always be able to connect the W0SHQ-R node with the conference node before beginning the stand-alone operation. Consider this a work in progress for which we can develop operating protocols as we proceed.

LAMONI REPEATER ~ ECHOLINK UPDATE:The Lamoni Chapter (LARA) has assumed full responsibility for operating the repeater located there using the Jon Barney’s call sign as AA0OS/R. The repeater frequency is changed to 147.96/147.36. The change in frequency was caused by intermittent input signals on the 146.13 input frequency of W0SHQ/R which exceeded the transmitter duty cycle on more than one occasion, which required replacing the transmitter each occurrence. The Echolink Repeater Node for Lamoni continues to be W0YO-R and remains connected by RF link to AA0OS/R. Using Echolink, the repeater is connected to various other repeaters in Iowa during the week for other region wide nets in south-central Iowa and northern Missouri. Information about those activities can be obtained from chapter president Tony Crandall K0ISA, Jon Barney AA0OS, or Steve Murdock N0ZY (sysop for W0YO-R). Let me know if you cannot find their contact information elsewhere.

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ASCRA on the air and signal pathways

Net Frequencies14.287 Sunday 4:30 PM ET 7.190 Sunday 2:30 PM CTEchoLink W0SHQ-R 4:30 PM CTW0YO-R and 2 m Lamoni Sunday 7:30 PM CT

Check-ins since September, 2015 for the following nets are below:20 M NetAD0AC James CraftN0AIX Larry RaganW0DZX David AtkinsN0ENG WhiteheadWI0F Gary TickemyerW0FEN Robin CrossKA0GFC Charles BradyWA0IBS Andy FerrarKD0MEI Edward BrileyN0OXK Jeff WinshipAA0OS Jon BarneyKM0S Mike ThayerW0SHQ Aud. Doug ShawAC0UN Alan HendersonKB0UVI Kevin LeinbachKD0VJL David SatreN0PPQ Charles HayesN0TtQ Harold DillonKA0UTA Sharon Fletcher N1TN Waldo Co. ME Club WA2GTM Ray KnappWB2UJL Ernie Miles W3HEN John SeitherVA3RZ Raymond ElseVE3SCP Scott Price KB4IML Rober Cox W5CXC Pat LonganWW5DD Donald DisonKB5EAG TJ ReddingKG5EEU William ReedW5GFC Club Edgemont ARKG5HBL Louis JansenK5HTB Hugh BergessKD5HQE Charles CodyN5LCL Dave GatesK5NRK Russ Tillman

KB5OJ Ernest WankowskiWB5OXQ James MillerKB5RKP Alton Pitre W6DY Lawrence FlemingKF6FRR John StephensonW6LMJ Terry Redding KA7ECY Harry HowellAF7GY Phil HorkinKL7IXI Michael FletcherK7NCG Jim FishK7RTH William Herberg KD9BQO James BrantleyW9LSE Robert SeaquistK9YV Stephen FaganK9ZVZ David Hanson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~40 M NetW0DZX Dave AtkinsW0FEN Robin CrossKD0MEI Edward BrileyKD0MLW James Craft Sr.N0OXK Jeff WinshipKM0S Michael ThayerAC0UN Alan HendersonWB2UJL Ernie MilesWZ4DAY Jerry DayKF5JUX Harry HendersonKF5PWG Ronald FennellKF5SLK Noel LeeW6LMJ Terry ReddingK9YV Stephen Fagan

EchoLink WA0EMX Doug ShawW0FEN Robin CrossWA2GTN Ray KnappWB2UJL Ernie MilesN2SBJ Steve McCrosson

M5BOP Mark RileyW5LN Carlos HammKD9CHC Ronald Woodward

ASCRA ON THE AIR AND IN ACTIONEchoLink - ASCRADoug Shaw, WA0EMX, is leading an EchoLink net that starts one hour after the 20 meter net. It can be accessed from anywhere via the Internet. Many use a free smart phone application to connect to W0SHQ-R system. Others can connect from desktop computers or via their handy-talky, mobile or fixed site amateur radio station. In addition to smart phone applications, there are free applications for PC, Mac, or Linux which are readily available.

Today, December 20th, Doug used EchoLink to take checkins for the first time on the new EchoLink net following the 20 meter net. It was a bit of an ad hoc beginning. The Missouri Conference node is the preferred method of accessing the EchoLink net. It will take time for the new net to gain a following. However, this could easily become the largest ASCRA net given the ease with which worldwide communications are possible. Use your two-way radio to connect to EchoLink via a local repeater or download and install software on one of your computer devices. Once the software is setup and your are registered, try connecting to W0SHQ-R and calling CQ. You will be heard on the Independence, MO 146.73 repeater and may get a response from any of a dozen ASCRA hams in the Independence area. Or, try connecting to the W0YO-R system via EchoLink. That will allow you to be heard in Lamoni, IA and on the Graceland University Campus.

Remote Base at W0SHQ

You can now operate W0SHQ as a remote base. Go to http://www.remotehams.com establish an account, then download and install a new client. Once you have created your account, simply log in using the client software and search for "W0SHQ". When you log on to the radio, you will be able to tune it, but you will need to request access in order to transmit. Once I've received your transmit request, I will approve it according to the license class of the requestor. +++ Jim Craft, AD0AC

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Continued from page 1.

As I think about the upcoming ASCRA General Meeting this coming June at World Conference time, I feel this may be a good time to have some hands on demonstrations of technology that will help us connect in more frequent and better ways.  I also want to ask each ASCRA member to think about organizing local chapters in your areas. We need to make sure our church leaders are aware we are out there and willing to serveusing our hobby as best we can. Take a look at the Purpose statement of ASCRA.

The purposes of the association are:

■ 1. To establish, maintain, support, and operate an association of persons commonly interested in amateur radio communication, and

■ 2. To legally utilize communication skills and the licenses granted to service our community and, in this way, lessen the burden of government, and

■ 3. To legally utilize communication skills and the licenses granted to service any religious and charitable organization and in this way lessen human suffering, and

■ 4. To provide for mutual improvement through the various teaching skills, to foster the professional competence of the amateur radio licensee, and to promote the 

performance responsibilities, ethics, and general educational level of the amateur radio licensee, and■ 5. To conduct and encourage scientific

research and investigation into the radio and electronics art, and

■ 6. To do all and everything necessary, suitable, and proper for the accomplishment of the forgoing purposes and anything which the Board of Directors of the Association may deem conclusive or expedient for the proper conduct of the Association and for the carrying out its purposes.

■ 7. To be a public benefit corporation whose purpose shall be religious, charitable, scientific and educational within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal laws and regulations and the laws of the State of Missouri.

Please join me in making our association the best that it can be.  The Board is here to do whatever we can to support the membership. Please let us know what we can do for you. The webpage has the Board of Directors listed. We would all like to hear from you.  Please keep us in your prayers as we do our part for ASCRA. 73,  Michael Thayer, [email protected]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ASCRA needs your donations and talent. A number of years ago ASCRA decided to forego dues and operate completely on donations. Donations are needed to fund repairs and upgrades to our station, W0SHQ, in the auditorium. We also need your talent to maintain the station antennas and equipment. Feel free to volunteer your time. Your tax deductible donations should be sent to ASCRA, POB 73, Independence, MO 64051-0073.

In-Service in need of your talent. As a newsletter, we need to hear from you. What are you interested in? Whatever your interest in Ham Radio, please share by writing short or long articles. All of us are interested in information about operating, station configuration and antennas. Each one of us have several stories we could share. If you can write an article contact Terry, [email protected] to submit the article.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Ver$calAntennaProblembyLarryRagan,N0AIX

AsthosewhohavebeenonthenetsknowIhavenotbeenontheairforsome3me.ThereasonisthatmyantennahasnotbeenusablebecauseSWRwassohighthatitmeasuredinfiniteonallbandsandwouldshuttheradiodown.TheproblemstartedinFebruarythisyearandtheonlywayIcouldworkontheantennawasbyclimbinga20footladderupthetowerandsinceIhadakneereplacedinJanuarythatwas

out.WhenIwasabletoclimbtheladdertheweatherfoughtme.WhenIfinallywasabletoworkonittheissuestooksomerealdetec3veworktofindwhatturnedouttobeacoupleofproblems.

FirstletmeexplainaliFlehowtheantennaisconstructed.

TheGapTitanDXantennaisamul3-bandver3calthathasperformedverywellformeovertheyears.Thepictureincludedshowstheantennaandallofthetuningrodsforthevariousbands.Thecapacitorthatconnectstothecenterconductorofthecoaxandthetopofthemainelementtunesthe80meterbandandistheonlyelementconnectedtothecenterconductor.Thesidedrawingofthecoaxinsidetheantennashoeshowtheconnec3onsaremadetothevariouselements.Yes,thereisalotofcoaxinsidetheantennacentertubinganditisinalargeloop.ThetwomaintubesareseparatedbyaBakeliteinsulatorandthetuningrodsandthemainboFompor3onareallconnectedtothecoaxviatheshielding.ThecoaxMUSTexittheantennaviaaholeinthemainboFom

elementaboutaninchfromtheboFomandtheinstruc3onsmakeitclearthatitcannotjustexitviatheboFom.ThecoaxhasaPL259connectorthathastojunc3onwiththefeedcoax.

Nowtotheproblemresolu3on.Istartedbycheckingmyfeedcoaxwithadummyloadwhereitconnectstotheantennacoaxandgotagoodreadingsoonepossibilitydown.Nowtheladdercomesoutandupthetower.Visualexamina3onoftheelements-sinceIcouldnotreachthem-lookedgoodwithnovisibleshorts.ThecoaxwhereitexitedtheantennalookedokatfirstsinceIhadcompletelywrappedtheareawithCoaxSealerbuttobesureIremovedthesealeranddiscoveredthatwhentheantennawasextendedtheweightonthecoaxandthewindhadrubbedthecoaxinsula3onanditwouldgroundout.IfixedthatproblembypuYngapieceoftubingunderthecoaxandthruthehole.ThenItriedtheantennaagain.Itwasmuchimprovedbuts3llnotusable.

ThenextitemtobelookedatwasthePL259connectorontheantennacoax.ItappearedtobeokatfirstbutthenIno3cedthatitturnedonthecoaxaliFletooeasy.IreplacedthatconnectorwhichwasnoteasysinceIhadtobeontheladderwithaclimber’sbeltandasolderingiron.ThislastfixbroughttheSWRbackintoworkablerangeonallbands.ThefinalworksothatIcanextendtheantennawillbetosupportthelargeandheavierRG8thatupun3lnowhasbeentheweightpullingonthesmallRG8Xthatisintheantenna.

Itshouldbenotedthatifthisantennacanbemountedatgroundlevelitismucheasiertomaintainandthatisnotapossibilityatmyloca3on.

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TheAntennaThatSavedOurHousebyLarryRagan

Therearemanystoriesthatcanbetoldaboutantennasbutthisisoneaboutanantennaanditstowerthatdidawonderfulthing.OurhouseisbuiltattheboComofahillthatisourbackyard.Wehaveseveraltreesonthepropertythatarequitelargebutmostofthemarefarenoughbackthattheydonotthreatenthehouse.Thereare–were-threehoweverthatarecloserandhadthepotenJalbutdidnotseemtobeathreatunJlonemorninginlateOctoberwhenthemiddletreedecidedtoaCackthehouse.

Thetreewastallenoughthatitwouldreachtheroofanddosomerealdamageifithit.However,theantennaandthetowerweredirectlyinitspath.Thetreehittheantennaandthetuningrodononesideandthecounterpoiserodsseemstohaveworkedtogethertodeflectthemainbranchanditthenhitdirectlyonthetopofthetower.ThiscausedtheantennatolayoverontheroofandthetowertoJltsinceitdrovethetowerdownaboutaninchonitsmount.

Asyoucanseebythepicturethemessthetreecreatedalsotookouttherailonthedeck.

WefinallywereabletogettheantennaofftheroofandthetowerJltedoveraNerthetreewasremoved.ThenIwas

abletotakeagoodlookattheantennaandtheevaluatedamagetotheantenna.

FirstIwanttopointouthowthecoaxfeedstheantennafromtheboComthroughaholeaboutonehalfinchabovetheboCom.ItthenrunsallthewayuptheinsideofthemainelementshaN.

InstallaJonwasmuchneaterbeforethetreeworkeditover.

WhenthemainshaNoftheantennabent,itwassosharpthatitcutrightthroughthecoaxthatrunsupinsidethemainelementtofeedallofthetuningrods.

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TowerMountAntennaSha[

Thetwopicturesaboveshowthedamagetothecoax.ThepieceoftheantennaremainingonthetowermountandboComoftherestoftheantenna.

MainPartOfAntennaAntennaTowerMount

Themainpartoftheantenna,shownontheleN,hasmanyofthetuningrodsbentbeyondrepairandthecounterpoiserodsarebentandbroken.Thepictureontherightgavemetheclueastowhatcausedthetowertobe looseonitsmount.ThebrownstainontheclampsistreebarkandthisporJonofthetowermastisimmediatelyabovethetowerwhichmeansthetreesliddownagainstthispartandhittheverytopofthetowercausingthelimbtobreakandfallonthedeckbelow.

SoIcanonlyinterpretthecluestomeanthattheantennagaveitslifetosaveourhouse.ItwillbemissedbutIamsurethatthemulJ-banddipoleIplantousetoreplaceitwillservemewell.TheonlyadviceIcangiveasaresultofthisincidentisthatsupportlinesworkwellagainstthewindbutatreewillwineveryJmesomakesuretheantenna isoutofthereachofnearbytrees.

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FuturePlansforW0SHQbyJimCra[,ADØAC

Atthe2015ASCRABoardofDirectorsmee3ng,ournewPresident,MikeThayer,requestedthatIserveasExecu3veDirectorforthe2016.IhaveservedontheASCRABoardsince2010andenjoyedservingasaboardmemberandSecretaryfortheorganiza3on.Inthat3me,wehavemanagedtogetWØSHQbackontheairbyrepairingtheantennasystemandrunningnewcoax,whichDougShaw,WAØEMXandRobinCross,WØFENledthewayonrepairingforthebenefitofallclubmembers.WehavealsoobtainedInternetserviceintheshackwhichhasallowedtheclubtoputWØSHQopera3onsonlineviaHFremotebaseso[wareandEcholinkforlocalFMrepeateropera3ons.TerryRedding,W6LMJ,andMikeThayer,KMØSbothdonatedradiosandhardwaretoaccomplishthesetasks.Useofthesesystemsisassimpleasdownloadingandinstallingso[warefromhFp://www.echolink.organdhFp://www.remotehams.com.

OncetheRemoteHams.comso[wareisinstalled,youcansearchforWØSHQandlistentotheremotetransceiverviatheInternet.Ifyouwouldliketotransmitviatheremotebaseon10,15,and20meters,allyouhavetodoisrequestpermissiontodosoanditwillbegrantedaccordingtoyourlicenseclass.Pleaseemailmeatjrcra[79@yahoo.comonceyouhavesubmiFedyourrequestthroughtheRemoteHams.comso[wareinterface.Thisso[wareallowsseveralpeopletolistentotheaudiostreamatonce,whichisahugestepforwardoverthepreviouslyinstalledso[ware.

NextstepsforWØSHQinvolvegeYngthesta3onreadyforthe2016WorldConference.Atthispoint,weareadver3singforsalethefollowingpiecesofequipmenttoallowupgradingthemainHFsta3onattheshackintheAuditorium.Ifyouareinterestedinpurchasingapieceofequipment,pleaseno3fymeoranotherBoardmember:

TenTecJupitertransceiverwithbluescreen,built-intuner,Heilmicrophone,handmicrophone,externalspeaker,powersupply,amplifierinterface,andsoundcardtorigadapter--$1,000

Alpha374AAmplifierwith3CX400tubeswithfullratedoutputandbandpasstuningfunc3on-$2,000

TenTecModel238Blegallimittuner,newinbox--$350

DrakeMN2000legallimittuner--$250

DentronSuperSuperTuner--$200

FutureplansforWØSHQinvolveconstruc3onoftwoopera3ngsta3onswithfullHF/VHF/UHFcapability,addi3onalantennastotransmit6-80metersattheAuditoriumANDviaInternetremotebaseforallASCRAmembers,highpowerbandpassfiltering,andpurchasingonemodernsolid-stateamplifiersuchastheIcomPW-1orAmeritronALS-1306toreplacetheAlpha374A.Inorderto

accomplishthesegoals,inaddi3ontosellingtheaforemen3onedequipment,weproposetoraiseaddi3onalfundsviamembershipdona3onstoASCRA.Thesedona3onsaretax-deduc3ble,asASCRAisaregistered501(c)3charitableorganiza3on.Wealsoacceptdona3onsofequipmentforsaleordistribu3ontoASCRAmemberswhomayotherwisenotbeabletoaffordtogetontheair.Unlikemanyotherorganiza3ons,ASCRAdoesnotchargeduesforthegeneralmembership,anddoesnottrytocompetewiththeARRLorthegreaterchurchfordona3ons.Pleaseconsidersuppor3ngASCRAin2016andoureffortsinbringingthecapabili3esofWØSHQtoallmembersofourorganiza3on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ListeningfortheHFNetsbyTerry-W6LMJ

IhavebeenblessedwiththeopportunitytoworkoNenfromhomeandtothushaveHFnetsplayinginthebackgroundasIwork.MyworkinvolvestheInternetandtechnologyandsomyearsperkupwheneverIhearsomeoneapplyingabitofInternetmagictohamradio.OvertheyearsIhavecreatedandhostedamateurradioremotebasesystemsthatallowonetooperateHF/VHF/UHFacrossawidearrayofmodesallcontrolledviatheInternet.Recently,remoteoperaJonshavebecomemucheasier. ElsewhereJim,AD0AChasdiscussedtheimprovedcapabiliJesatW0SHQtobeusedtolistentoASCRAnetsandevenremotelyoperateW0SHQandparJcipateinthevariousnets.ThisarJclewilladdressusingSoNwareDefinedRadio(SDR)tomonitornetsremotely.

TotheleNisanSo[wareDefinedRadioReceiverUSBS3ck-RTL2832w/R820Tthatsellsforabout$22.Ifyou'veeverbeencuriousaboutso[waredefinedradio(SDR),thisUSBs3ckistheeasiestwaypossibletohavefunwithapowerful,configurablereceiver.Packedwiththepowerful

RTL2832UandR820Ttuner,itcantuneintosignalsfrom24MHzto1850MHz.Thatmeansyoucanuseacomputer(withWindows,Mac,orLinux)totuneinto:FMRadio,AMsignals(butnotAMradio),CW(morsecode!),unencryptedradiosignals(suchasthoseusedbymanypoliceandfiredepartments),POCSAGpagers,andmore.IboughtoneoftheoriginalSDR,aFunDongleforabout$200.

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TheFunDongleallowsyoutoreceivefrom150Khzto1.9Ghz.ItalsoallowsyoutolistentoCW,SSB,AMandFMsignals.Morecapabili3esarebeingaddedastheso[wareimproves. However,usingaSDRsystemiseveneasierforallofus,andespeciallythoseofusthatwishtomonitorHFnetsforwhichwehavenopropaga3on.ThereareanincreasingnumberofInternetbasedSDRsystemsmaintainedbyamateurradiooperatorsthatallowyoutolistentoSSBonawidearrayofHFfrequencies.Pleasevisit:hFp://ve2cwq.ham-radio-op.net:8901hFp://websdr.lumpkin.k12.ga.us:8888 Thesesystemsarebuttwoofthehundredsthatarenowavailableworld-wide.TheytypicallyserviceseveralHFbandsandmodes.Theymayscheduletheirsupporttomatchpropaga3oncondi3onsfromtheirloca3on.Theallowyoutologin,establishanaccountandsaveyouropera3ngmodeandfrequencies.Thisway,whenyoureturnyoursta3on/callsign/loginisautoma3candyouareabletoresumelisteningonpar3cularband,frequencyandmodewithnearlynoeffort.Theyincludemodecontrolandwaterfalldisplay.Theytypicallyincludeinforma3onaboutthesta3onhardware,antennas,SDRandso[warewithalinktoWebSDRwhereyoutoocanlearnaboutseYngupaWebSDRsystem.HereisascreenshotfromoneofthesystemsIuseon40meters.

Amateurradioischangingrapidlyandcon3nuestobeamostexci3nghobbytoengagethemindandmo3vatelearning.AsIsitherewri3ngthisshortar3cleIamlisteningtoChristmasmusicandmyfamilyisgatheringforChristmasattheRedding’sinDeLeonSprings,Florida2015.

IwouldliketowisheachofyouablessedMerryChristmas.AllIwantforChristmasisforthosewhoreadthistoknowtheyarelovedandhavebeenblessedwithlifeandtheabilitytomakeaposi3vedifferenceinthelivesofthoseyoucomeincontactwith.Asyouhavebeenblessed,myprayeristhatyoumaybeablessingtoothers.

++++Terry-W6LMJ

Requestfornomina$onsfor2016-2018ASCRABoardofDirectorsClass:The3mehascomeagainfortheelec3onoftheASCRABoardofDirectorsClassforthe2016-2018term.Theseofficerswillstarttheirtermattheboardmee3ngtobeheldonJune4,2016.ItisnotnecessaryfordirectorstoaFendboardmee3ngsinperson,buthighlydesirediftheyaFendviateleconferenceop3ons.Thefollowingdirectorsarecurrentlyservinginthe2015-2017classandnoteligiblefornomina3on:JamesCra[,(ADØAC),Independence,MO(Execu3veDirector)DougShaw,(WAØEMX),Raytown,MO(Secretary)RobinCross,(WØFEN),KansasCity,MOChuckPalmer,(NØONN),Independence,MO(Treasurer)RayKnapp,Jr.,(WA2GTM),Perry,IATerryRedding,(W6LMJ),DeLeonSprings,FLAllASCRAmembersingoodstandingareeligiblefornomina3on,includingincumbentboardmemberswhosetermsareexpiringin2016.Formoreinforma3onontheseofficers,pleasevisithFp://www.ascra.org/officer.htm.PleaseverifywillingnesstoservepriortosubmiYngyournomina3on.Allnomina3onsrequirethenominee’sname,callsign,address,phonenumber,andemailaddress.Nomina3onsmaybesubmiFedtojrcra[[email protected],Independence,MO64051.Nomina3onsareduenolaterthanJanuary31,2016.

Jim-AD0AC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Youareinvitedtopar3cipateinASCRAinseveralways.First,considerwri3ngmeatw6lmj@arrl.netandleYngmeknowyoureceivedthenewsleFerandreadittotheend.Second,considerjoiningtheascra_members@yahoogroups.comandsharinginthefellowshiponline.Third,considerusingyoursmartphone,computerorradiotoconnecttoASCRAthroughEchoLinkandjoininthefunfromwhereeveryoulive.Fourth,considerusingW0SHQasaremotebasetopar3cipate,ortheWebSDRsystemstomonitoranet.ifyoudothelater,againdropmeanoteandletmeknowhowthatworkedforyou.Fi[h,eachofyouareinvitedtowriteanitemforIn-Service.Tellaboutyourinterestinhamradio.Finally,theAssocia3onofSaintsChurchRadioAmateursisadona3onsupportedorganiza3on.Considermakingadona3onifyouareable.++++++Terry-W6LMJ

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Please send comments or suggestions regarding ASCRA policies or programs to the Executive Director c/o [email protected]. Send revisions to the membership data base (license upgrades, postal or Email addresses, phone numbers, acceptance of newsletter delivery via email, etc.) to the Secretary... c/o P.O. Box 73, or via emailc/o [email protected].

Send comments, suggestions, and material proposed for future issues to: Terry Redding W6LMJ IN SERVICE Editor 1825 Glenwood Oaks Lane Deland, FL 32720 Email: [email protected]

IN-SERVICEA publication of The Association of Saints Church Radio Amateurs, Inc.P.O. Box 73Independence, MO 64051-0073

http://www.ascra.org

Editor: Terry Redding W6LMJ

President: Mike Thayer, KM0SSecretary: Doug Shaw, WAØEMXTreasurer: Chuck Palmer, NØONNExecutive Director: Jim Craft, ADØ0AC(Officers E-mail addresses available on the website)

Association of Saints Church Radio AmateursP.O. Box 73Independence, MO 64051-0073