May 1, 2008 Volume XVIII, Number 5
21st Century L. A. R. S. Lines, the newsletter of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society, is published monthly as a service to its membership and to the amateur radio community.
Officers of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society for 2008 are: Peter Rock (KJ4ND) ........................ President Alan S. "PeeWee" Smith, Jr. (KF4ZUX) ...... Vice-President Stanley Baker (KD4ERF) ................... Sec./Treas.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
L. A. R. S. Meeting for May is the Special Weather Spotter Training Class
The Weather Spotter Training Class to be conducted by Mr. Tom Johnstone of the Jackson Office of the National Weather Service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., E.D.T. on Thursday evening, May 1, 2008 at the Fire Training Facility at the intersection of the 192 By-Pass and Highway 229 (at traffic lights #9 on the 192 By-Pass) at London, KY off Exit 38 of Interstate 75. This is the site that has been used for the L.A.R.S. Field Day for the past several years and was the site for the last Weather Spotter Training Class. We invite anyone interested in the class to attend and we extend a special invitation to all the firemen and to all the emergency services personnel in the area. We also encourage the administrators and all the principals of the local school systems to make use of this excellent training to provide a safer environment for all the students in the local area. Do not forget to put this event in your schedule. For those wishing more detailed information about this class, there is a link for information on the homepage of the Jackson Office of the National Weather Service at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl/?n=spotter . This program will be the chief item of business at our May 1, 2008 regular meeting. Come and join us for a great evening that is both enjoyable and informative. It could save your life or property as well as that of others in your community. Severe weather can take place throughout our area at any time of the year.
Minutes of the April Monthly Meeting
The April meeting of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society was called to order
on Thursday evening, April 10th at 7:34 p.m., local time, at the Fiesta Mexicana
Restaurant by its president, Peter Rock KJ4ND with seven present for the meeting
which was during spring break week for the area school systems and had been
scheduled one week later than usual because of a schedule conflict.
As the first order of business, the treasurer's report was given and was
approved as given after a motion to accept by Bill Hays AE4QL and was passed
without exception. Next, Peter KJ4ND led a discussion of the plans for the
Skywarn Severe Weather Spotter Training Class to be taught by Mr. Tom Johnstone
of the Jackson Office of the National Weather Service at the May 1st club meeting.
The time was to be 6:30 p.m., local time to allow more time for the class which was
to be conducted at the Fire Training Facility to allow for more space and better
multi-media access for the presentation. In addition, the club approved providing
some pizza for refreshment just prior to the class as had been the custom in prior
classes. Stan KD4ERF and Peter KJ4ND were designated to get the pizza and
have it at the site shortly before the meeting time.
The next item of business concerned the plans for the Field Day 2008 Events
on June 28-29 to be held at the Fire Training Facility. The annual pot-luck picnic
will be held at the Field Day site on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The club
will provide the chicken, fixings, and some soft drinks and coffee and those attending
are asked to bring a side dish, salad, or a dessert. This is a family event and you
are encouraged to bring the entire family so that they can enjoy the wonderful
world of amateur radio. It is rumored that a fox may be somewhere in the area
just to make things even more challenging. We must not let the fox get the chicken!
After some discussion and checking of possible dates for the next Great L.A.R.S.
Foxhunt, the foxhunt was scheduled for Saturday, April 26th at 10:00 a.m. with the
coordination frequency the 146.61 MHz repeater and the fox(s) using 147.55 MHz
for the elusive transmitter(s) and that the hunters would meet first on the parking
lot in front of the Tractor Supply behind the Burger King on the 192 By-Pass.
Jim N4ICU, known as the “sneaky fox,” and/or Stan KD4ERF, known as the
“elusive red fox” would be in charge of finding a suitable lair or lair(s) for the
fox(s). Stan KD4ERF remarked that the fox may not be where he seems to be
when signals are reflected!
James WA4HAR discussed the project to get some badges and emblems
for club members. Some additional quotes and possible designs were to be looked
at by the next regular meeting. Also, it was decided to see if an updated
presentation of the nationally known program “Stand Up for Standing Waves”
could be presented at the November 2008 meeting by our outstanding club
member William F. Hays AE4QL. Those of us who have had the privilege of seeing
the presentation before highly recommend this most interesting and
educational program. It helps you to understand a lot of the theories upon
which amateur radio operates and is a program that every amateur radio
operator or anyone wishing to be come an amateur radio operator should
attend. Also, it is a great educational event for those working in the local
emergency services or law enforcement areas. Stan KD4ERF was to order
a copy of the new ARRL VE Testing Manuals to prepare the club for
resumption of the VE Testing sessions in the future.
John KG4LFY moved to adjourn the business portion of the meeting.
James WA4HAR seconded the motion and Peter KJ4ND adjourned the
meeting to a round of good amateur radio conversation while finishing the
outstanding Mexican food of the Fiesta Mexican Restaurant.
------ minutes by Stanley Baker, Sec.\Treas.
Weather Spotter Training Class
The Weather Spotter Training Class to be conducted by
Mr. Tom Johnstone of the Jackson Office of the National Weather
Service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., E.D.T. on Thursday evening,
May 1, 2008 at the Fire Training Facility at the intersection of the
192 By-Pass and Highway 229 (at traffic lights #9 on the 192 By-Pass)
at London, KY off Exit 38 of Interstate 75. This is the site that has
been used for the L.A.R.S. Field Day for the past several years and
was the site for the last Weather Spotter Training Class.
We invite anyone interested in the class to attend and we
extend a special invitation to all the firemen and to all the emergency
services personnel in the area. We also encourage the administrators
and all the principals of the local school systems to make use of this
excellent training to provide a safer environment for all the students
in the local area. Do not forget to put this event in your schedule.
For those wishing more detailed information about this class,
there is a link for information on the homepage of the Jackson Office
of the National Weather Service at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl/?n=spotter .
L.A.R.S. Field Day Update
Field Day 2008 is coming up on June 27th-28th and the site for
our events this year will again be at the Fire Training Facility at the
junction of the 192 By-Pass and Highway 229 (at traffic lights #9 on
the 192 By-Pass) off Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY. More
information about the plans for the events will be given later as the
date approaches. Meanwhile, please join us at the L.A.R.S. monthly
meetings and help us to plan for this exciting time of the year for
amateur radio operators throughout the world and for anyone
interested in amateur radio.
LARS Foxhunt of 04-26-08
By Tony A. Anders KI4VMN
Around 9 a.m. I began attempting to get a hold of someone on the radio to make
sure the hunt we still going to be on. Not making any contact I decided to go on up to
the Tractor Supply parking area and take a chance on it not raining up there. My son ,
Austin, and I went mobile about 9:30 AM and put out a call on the 146.610 repeater
and heard Peter KJ4ND come back to me and ask if I was fox hunting today. I confirmed
that I was and wanted to make sure it was still on. It was so we made our way to the
meeting place to wait for the fox to start barking.
About five minutes till 10AM we hear the first series of signals in the air ways. We
started checking for direction then it was gone. Wonder what happened… but then right
at 10 AM the fox began to bark again. This time it wasn't as strong a signal. We attempted
to get a direction on it again. We never could get enough signal to obtain a direction.
“Let's try up on the hill behind the Wal-Mart again like we did before,” Peter suggested.
So, we went up there and got a couple of signals. I was getting one to the south southwest
and Peter got a louder signal to the North. Still not signal reference but the modulation was
louder to the North.
Over to 5th street and heading into town to find another high level to get a signal reading
we drove. Austin said that we were getting a signal just before we got to the Ambulance Inc
of Laurel County. We turned on to Mill Street and started North with the signal getting a
little stronger. We may be headed I the right direction now. We came to the intersection of
Mill Street and Parker Road. There, we turned north again. I almost went south and headed
up to the hospital hill to check for another reading. The signal here was about 1 or 2 bars on
the Alnico handheld which Austin was watching for me.
On around to the parkway to highway 638 and turning left on 638 and up to Marvin's
to check again for a signal. Looks like the signal is now s-sw, checking the map looks like
it could be right in line from here to Sue Bennett College. But we just came from there and
I didn't hear any thing when we were there… Hmmm… that is puzzling. What has Stanley
done this time? Could he have hid it in a can or something? Off the hill we started back
towards town. I went down Delmas Gilliam road to Slate Lick Street and back in to town
there to EC Porters. I had seen Dr. Rock there in a parking area just before we got to
EC Porters taking another reading. Left on 4th street and out towards Benge Farm supply…
”The signal is getting lower Dad”, Austin said. Let's turn and head back. As we came back
towards Porters we met Dr. Rock and I motioned behind me and shook my head as we
dropped over the hill. I told Austin we will go down by the railroad and up to the hospital
the back way and check the signal from up there.
Over the tracks and up the hill, there comes the signal back. Getting louder the closer
we got to the hospital. Up to Skyline Drive and up the hill to check a signal which was
getting about half scale now. I got out and tried a signal but I couldn't get it to
differentiate any. I did notice I was right on the back side of the London Elementary school.
Let's go down there I told Austin and see if we can get a signal with no antenna. Down the
hill we go. There is Dr Rock again. I stopped and told him what I had found up on the hill.
We drove on to the back of the school. There is Stanley's car.
We got out here and started checking again. “You want the big antenna Dad,” Austin
asked. I took the small piece of wire I had and applied it to the hand held and began walking
toward a dozer that was parked at then of the lot. Signal getting higher now. It must be here,
I thought. We walked over and check the bulldozer. Nope not on it anywhere; maybe it is
over in that pile of trees. I started walking over there to check the pile when I head Peter,
“there it is.” It is a good thing it wasn't a snake or I would have been eaten up. It was on
a pile of fencing they had piled up from the excavating.
Great hunt!!! Thanks Stanley for hiding it in such a challenging spot.
73 and God Bless
Tony Anders with Austin(his son) KI4VMN
Foxhunt 04-26-08
By Peter Rock KJ4ND
Before the fox hunt started, Stan and I had to consider whether to go ahead, as
one of the foxes (Jim N4ICU) would not be there. We decided to go ahead. I packed
my equipment in the car, and headed off about 9:30 a.m. I got to the Tractor Supply area
about 9:40. Along the way I was talking to Tony KI4VMN, who was also coming to the
fox hunt. His son was with him also.
A little before 10 a.m. we heard the fox, moderately loud. Then, we did not hear it.
At 10 a.m. we could hear the fox very weakly. I got a reading toward the North (by sound
only, no "bars"). So, we went over to the dentist area up the hill behind Wal-Mart. We took
readings there too, and it seemed again to be to the North, but still very weak.
We drove up West Fifth Street and could hear it weakly near the Sue Bennett College
area. Then turning on Mill Street, I lost it. I turned left and drove up the rest on Main Street,
and still could not hear it. Then, we drove along the bypass, still not hearing it, I decided to drive
up to Marvin's AG4RE, and get a reading there. I could hear it weakly while going up the hill there.
As I got out at Marvin's, he and Georgia KE4MAT came out, and volunteered to use his beam
to get a reading. So, we listened with his beam, and the best we could hear was only 2 bars, and
to the southwest.
Tony and I got back in our vehicles, and drove off. I headed down the hill and across
the road, and by the recycling center. The signal was a lot stronger there. So, I got out and took
a reading near there. I got a heading toward the hospital. I drove up on the hospital hill area,
and it was full scale on the 9th Street side. For some reason, the signal was varying, and some
reflections, but it seemed strongest toward the London Elementary School. Driving there next,
I met Tony going the same way. We both went into the parking lot behind the school, and saw
Stan KD4ERF there. So, now we were on foot again, and soon I was getting readings with the
antenna off. I found it soon after, as did Tony.
Looking at the placement of the fox, one could see why the signal was so weak to the
North. It was next to a good sized hill blocking the North. It was a fun hunt, and Stan was
promising more challenges in the future.
73's Peter
** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FCC Callsign Update for Region 4
Extra – AJ4HG
Technician, & General – KJ4DME
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Next Meeting Date: Weather Spotter Training Class on Thursday, May 1, 2008,
at 6:30 p.m., E.D.T., at the Fire Training Facility at the intersection of the 192 By-Pass
and Highway 229 (at traffic lights #9 on the 192 By-Pass) at London, KY off Exit 38
of Interstate 75. This is the site that has been used for the L.A.R.S. Field Day for
the past several years and was the site for the last Weather Spotter Training Class.
Mid-Month Meeting: Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 12:00 noon, at
Fazoli's on the 192 By-Pass at Exit 38 of Interstate 75 at London, KY.
Membership: $15.00 /year
L. A. R. S. Lines
Laurel Amateur Radio Society
Peter Rock (KJ4ND) .......................President
Alan S. Smith, Jr. (KF4ZUX) ..Vice-President
Stanley E. Baker (KD4ERF).............Sec/Treas.
Correspondence address:
Stanley E. Baker (KD4ERF)
12 Boggs Road
London, Kentucky 40744-8260
Phone: 606-862-4608 or 877-1534
Fax: 606-862-4609 or 606-877-1534
E-mail: sbaker@sebaker.com
DO NOT FORGET THE L. A. R. S. EMERGENCY NET EACH
SUNDAY EVENING AT 9:00 P.M., E.D.T., ON THE WD4KWV
146.61 REPEATER!!!!!
IMPORTANT REQUEST
By Stanley Baker KD4ERF
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If you are willing to be be placed on our “call list” for help with
communications in area emergency situations and if you wish to volunteer
your help in those situations, the Laurel Amateur Radio Society needs
some contact information for you. Please email to Stanley Baker KD4ERF
( sbaker@sebaker.com or sbaker@laurelamateurradio.org ) the following
information: 1) Your complete name; 2) Your call sign; 3) Your telephone
number; and 4) Your email address.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
IMPORTANT NOTICE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
L. A. R. S. Meeting for April 2008
The April monthly meeting will be held
on Thursday evening, April 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.,
local time, at the Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant near the Kroger and
Advance Auto Parts store opposite the Laurel Landing (formerly O'Mally's)
at traffic lights #6 of the 192 By-Pass off Exit 38 of Interstate 75
at London, KY.
Plan to come out and join us on Thursday,
April 10th and enjoy a wonderful evening of good food
and lots of amateur radio fun. Hear about the tricky
foxes and their dirty tricks they played on the hunters.
Net Control Operators Needed
for the Sunday Evening Emergency Net
If you are a member of the Laurel Amateur Radio Society and
would like to help out with the Sunday Evening Emergency Net on the 146.61
MHz repeater at 9:00 p.m., E.D.T., on Sunday evenings, the club is in need
of more net control operators. If you are interested, please contact the club
president, Peter Rock KJ4ND, the club vice-president Alan S. Smith, Jr. KF4ZUX, or
the club secretary, Stanley Baker KD4ERF on the above repeater or via email
at the addresses on this newsletter.
Reminder : The New Question
Pools are online !!!
The new question pools are now online
via a link from the Laurel Amateur Radio
Society's Home Page on the web at the following
location: < http://www.laurelamateurradio.org >. These
question pools apply to V.E. Testing sessions
current testing sessions. If you plan to test in the near
future you will want to check out these question
pools.
A CD if the question pools and a Morse Code program has
been prepared and may be optained from the club
secretary Stan KD4ERF via email request from the
email link on the club wev site.
Remember that the Morse Code
requirement has been totally removed from the
testing requirements as of February 23, 2007. For the
latest information on the new FCC rules and
regulations on the license classes, consult the
ARRL web site at: < http://www.arrl.org > and the
FCC web site at: < http://fcc.gov >. These sites
contain the latest interpretations of the recent
changes in the licensing structure for amateur
radio in the United States.
Don't forget to check into the Laurel
Amateur Radio Emergency Net on Sunday
Evenings at 9:00 E.D.T. on the 146.61 MHz
repeater. This is an excellent time to get to know
more hams in the area and to prepare ourselves
to react with amateur radio in case of an
emergency situation. Peter KJ4ND coordinates
the list of net control operators who call the net
and appreciates greatly those club members that
volunteer to work with him to call the net each
week. If you would like to call the net, just
contact Peter KJ4ND on the 146.61 MHz repeater.
I have received a few advertisements as
of the date of this newsletter for starting the new
Classified Advertisements section of the
newsletter. If you have any equipment that you
need to sell or trade, just email it to me or call me
at the address at the end of this page. Just
remember, no commercial advertisement will be
accepted and that the editor reserves the right to
refuse any listing not meeting the guidelines that
the advertisement must be for amateur radio
equipment and must not be commercial in
nature. Also, it was passed
that a classified section be developed in the
newsletter and on the club web site for private
listings of items that club members may want to
buy, sell, or trade. All listings must be sent to the
secretary/treasurer by the 20th of the month at the
address on the back page of this newsletter or
emailed to sbaker@sebaker.com by the 20th of the
month. Items received after the deadline will not
appear in the newsletter until the following
month but can be listed on the web classified
section during the current month. No
commercial listings will be accepted and the club
officers reserve the right to refuse any, or all
listings not deemed to be in the best interest of
the club. Items not relating to amateur radio will
be refused. The listing will begin with the next
issue of the newsletter providing that listings are
received, but the listings will begin immediately for
the web site.
In order to update the web page listing for
our club members, I am requesting that you
email me your correct email address. The easiest
way to do this is just to send me an email at the
following address: sbaker@sebaker.com . I will
compile these addresses into a listing that will be
placed on the club web site. Also, if any of our
club members have web pages that you would
like to have linked from the L.A.R.S. home page,
just send me an email giving me the correct URL
for the home page. Just remember that the
L.A.R.S. Home Page is a family site and that links
to pages that contain adult material will be
refused.
Remember that we are now in the time of year
in which severe weather events have taken place
in the past in the local area. Keep alert and ready
to use your SkyWarn Training if such a weather
event takes place. The life you save could be your
own! When severe weather threatens, do not forget
to be ready to use your Skywarn Training
received at the L.A.R.S. training meetings !
Have a great day, and see you at the
next meeting. It is the Weather Spotter Training Class on Thursday, May 1, 2008,
at 6:30 p.m., E.D.T., at the Fire Training Facility at the intersection of the 192 By-Pass
and Highway 229 (at traffic lights #9 on the 192 By-Pass) at London, KY off Exit 38
of Interstate 75. This is the site that has been used for the L.A.R.S. Field Day for
the past several years and was the site for the last Weather Spotter Training Class.
Come out and join us for a great evening of
good pizza and great amateur radio information and discussion.