June 1999   President's Message For the first time in three years, the weather was terrific for us during our hamfest weekend- and Hamfest' 99 was another great success for the club. General admission attendance from buyers was strong and we received great support from our indoor vendors and outdoor tailgaters who come out year after year for our major fund raising event. A sincere WARC thank you goes out to co-chairs Tony Simek (N3YNH) and Roy Conners (K3TEN), as well as ALL the WARC members who helped out. We hear it every year from our attendees- WARC has the reputation for putting on the BEST RUN HAMFEST in the area! There's always room for improvement and new ideas, so get any suggestions you have for Hamfest' 2000 over to Roy or an Executive Board member. I sincerely hope that ALL our members will participate in the club's Field Day activities during the June 26/27 weekend. Co-chairs Doc Whitticar (W3GAD) and Stu Simon (K2QBU) are hard at work organizing WARC's participation in ham radio's premiere operating event. You can help with set up (scheduled for 2pm Friday this year with finishing touches on Saturday morning), operate any time from 2 pm Saturday until 2 pm Sunday, and help with tear down and return equipment to storage on Sunday after 2 pm. Field Day participation is very flexible and you don't have to be there the entire weekend. The club supplies ALL the food, soft drinks and coffee you can consume and will again have the traditional pizza run on Saturday evening. Bring family members, friends, hams who are not affiliated with a club that does Field Day, or just yourself- it's a great way to introduce someone to ham radio as well as rekindle your own interest in this great hobby. Congratulations to our newly elected officers who will take office on July 1. I have truly enjoyed both the challenge and rewards of having had the privilege of being WARC's President for the past three years. Thank you to those who have served on the Executive Board, taken on leadership responsibilities for our club's many committees and activities and our members for the wonderful support I have received. I'm looking forward to my continued role on the Executive Board, but realize that it's time for new leadership and fresh ideas. And I hope that by spending less time as an "administrator", I'll spend more time on the air and explore some of the other interests I have in amateur radio. Over the past three years I've said it many times before - it's up to the MEMBERSHIP to decide what we should be spending our limited resources (money and time) on and help the WARC's Executive Board to decide on club priorities. We've done surveys, held "open mike" nights, adopted a mission statement and set of goals and updated the club's constitution- all of which have allowed us to make changes to our existing club programs, activities, meeting format and priorities. We'll celebrate WARC's 35th anniversary this December- let's make sure we keep the old traditions alive (if they remain relevant) and continue to make WARC responsive to the needs of its members. de Bill , K3MFI Warminster Amateur Radio Club General Meeting May 6, 1999 Meeting called to order at 7:32 PM by Bill K3MFI. Round of introductions by those present. Introduction of visitors. No upgrades or new licenses. John Gramer gave a presentation about the senior center and offered those who are interested in joining more information. President's Report - Bill K3MFI The 1999 holiday dinner will be the 35th anniversary of the club. We would like to bring former and alumni members of the club. Results from the Executive Board Meeting were presented to the club. Bill presented an overview of the club's new elmer program directed by Ron NY3J. Burt N3YVH is stepping down from the refreshments committee. Randy N3LJE is taking over starting with the July meeting. A review of the May hamfest will be held at the May board meeting. Vice-President's Report - Rocky N3FKR tonight - Pizza Social. No real program will be presented. June 3 - Antenna construction night. July 1 - No programs yet. Suggestions sought. Treasure's Report - Al KY3T The club's April finances were presented to the membership. Budgets by the various committees are due to the Treasurer at the May club meeting. Secretary's Report - Mark N3GNW Motion to approve April general meeting minutes as published in May Feedback. Seconded. No discussion. Passed unanimously. Membership - Don KA3N 131 members Don will step down in June. Nominations Committee Nominations for the club's May election are as follows: President: Rocky N3FKR Vice-President: Mark N3GNW Treasurer: John N3ZMJ Secretary: Ron NY3J Motion to elect by acclamation. Seconded. No discussion. Passed unanimously. Classes - George KA3WXV By evidence of a student attending the meeting, classes are going well. Considering a summer class. Hamfest - Tony N3YVH Turn-out was excellent. Thanks to all who helped. Round of applause. Received an e-mail of thanks. Field Day - Stu K2QBU June 26 & 27. There is no air show this year to compete for the club's attention. Looking for volunteers to help with various tasks. Public Service MS Walk-a-Thons: Bones found near one of the check-points. The State Police investigated. otherwise no significant events during the Walk-a-Thons. Warminster Memorial Day Parade. George N3HBT, May 31, 1999. 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Central Bucks East Youth Track & Field, Sunday, June 6. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 12 operators are needed. If interested contact George N3HBT. Vintage Car Show. George N3HBT, June 13, 1999. 8:00 AM to 3:30PM at the old Naval Air Development Center in Warminster. Special Event Station - Bob N3SRO It will be held in August or September at the Pearl Buck foundation. Hamwear - Bob N3SRO Discounts on merchandise are available to the club for orders of 12 and 36 items. Picnic - Mark N3GNW It will be scheduled for the fall and once again at Core Creek Park. June VHF Contest - Al N3ITT The Pack Rats are going to Camelback and they are inviting us to visit. The contest is scheduled for June 12 and 13. Respectfully submitted, Mark Kempisty - N3GNW Public Service Since there will not be an air show at Willow Grove this year, the WARC is going to be involved with three public service events on three straight weekends this and next month. Monday, May 31, 1999 The Warminster Memorial Day parade is being held. I have enough operators for this event, however if anyone wants to come out and see an old fashion community parade, they are more than welcome to. Sunday, June 6, 1999 The Hershey youth track and field meet is going to be held. The event is being held at ehe Central Bucks east high school, on Holycon and York roads in Buckingham. I need about twelve operators to staff the event between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 pm. This is a low impact track and field meet for kids between the ages of 9 and 14, and supports the Bucks County Parks and Recreation departments. On Sunday June 13, 1999, the Antique Ford V-8 car club is holding a car show on the grounds of the old Warminster NADC. I will need about 18 operators to staff this event, and if I get enough, I will be able to swap out the operators, so they can see some of the show. If you can help out at any of the events, please contact George N3HBT at 443-5656. 73 George Brechmann Solar Update Solar flux and sunspot numbers dropped this week, with average flux values off over 18 points and average sunspot numbers down over 33 points. May 13 and 18 were disturbed days, with planetary A indices over 20. The planetary K index reached 5 on both days, and on May 13 the high latitude K index was 7, with the high latitude A index at 46. This higher number reflects the high latitude and polar region's greater vulnerability to solar flares and proton events. Solar flux peaked for the week at 152.2 on May 16 and is expected to be 140 for the next few days. The planetary A index for May 21-23 is expected to be 8, 8 and 10. Flux is expected to reach 145 on May 27, and 150 by June 2, peaking around 170 on June 5. Look for geomagnetic disturbances due to coronal hole effects on May 26-29, with the worst conditions on the first two days of that period. Sunspot numbers for May 13 through 19 were 118, 126, 167, 151, 148, 129, and 120, with a mean of 137. The 10.7-cm flux was 147.3, 144.2, 143.6, 152.2, 145.3, 140.6, and 142.4, with a mean of 145.1. The estimated planetary A indices were 24, 9, 9, 6, 5, 23 and 10, with a mean of 12.3. Courtesy The ARRL Newsletter LEAGUE URGES FCC TO EXPEDITE RESTRUCTURING The ARRL has urged the FCC to act "without delay" on Amateur Radio restructuring and has suggested that the Commission adopt the League's restructuring plan as its own in order to speed up the process. In a May 19 letter to the FCC, the League said that the state of limbo created by the current FCC Amateur Radio restructuring proceeding, WT Docket 98-143, is stifling Amateur Radio's growth, as current and prospective hams await an FCC Report and Order. The League asked the FCC to adopt the League's restructuring plan in a Report and Order "at the earliest possible time." The ARRL told the FCC that its comprehensive plan of four license classes and two Morse code testing tiers--5 WPM and 12 WPM--plus refarming of the Novice/Technician Plus HF CW subbands "constitutes a reasonable middle ground proposal." The ARRL's restructuring proposal formed the core of the League's comments to the FCC on WT 98-143, which the FCC refers to as the Part 97 Biennial Review. Both the FCC and ARRL proposals would eliminate the Novice and Tech Plus licenses. The ARRL's letter stressed that "refarming" of the Novice class subbands was "the most critical portion of the League's comprehensive plan, or, indeed, of any license restructuring plan the Commission may adopt." The League said refarming was essential to make room for anticipated additional licensees using SSB HF subbands. In addition, the League said, refarming "is absolutely necessary to preserve and enhance the incentive self-training program" and to ensure more efficient use of limited HF allocations. Under the League's plan, General, Advanced, and Extra class licensees would get additional HF spectrum for phone operation. The League said that adopting its restructuring plan in toto was "the best means of accomplishing increased growth in the Amateur Service" and of continuing Amateur Radio's value as a "cornerstone of telecommunications development." The League also took the opportunity to express appreciation for the support for the Amateur Service by both FCC Chairman William Kennard and WTB Chief Thomas Sugrue and to thank the FCC for the renewed enforcement efforts of Compliance and Information Bureau Chief Richard Lee and CIB Legal Advisor Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH. Courtesy The ARRL Newsletter FCC'S HOLLINGSWORTH IS DAYTON'S MAN OF THE HOUR The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, exhorted a standing-room-only crowd at the Dayton Hamvention to "read over the basis and purpose of Amateur Radio and the rules in Part 97" and to operate as if youngsters and overseas stations might be listening in. He made the remarks Friday during the first of two FCC forums in Hara Arena. Calling Amateur Radio "an American institution," Hollingsworth momentarily assumed the mantle of the ham radio evangelist. Ham radio, he said, is "not about the First Amendment, it's not about slandering somebody you don't like, it's not about ridiculing somebody who's operating 10 kHz away, it's not about jamming or obscenity." Nor, he said, is it intended to be a talk show or an "electromagnetic forum for hate groups" or "an audio version of The Jerry Springer Show." Hollingsworth called the on-air activities of some hams "childish and stupid" and said the hobby does not always present its best face to the world. He also said hams need to understand that demand for HF spectrum in countries outside the US is increasing. "Too many in our service take the allocations for granted," he said. "Some of the Third World countries would love to have 75 meters as a national telephone system," he said. What does transpire on some amateur frequencies "is often an international embarrassment," he said. "What kind of service is it when you're afraid to leave on the radio in the house or the car?" he asked. Hollingsworth said he even knew of a young Extra class amateur whose parents won't let him on 75 meters. He asked law-abiding hams to not retaliate against hams who are offensive on the air or who break the law but to shun them instead. He also challenged each ham to recruit one newcomer into the hobby or to help another licensee to upgrade. Hollingsworth especially encouraged recruiting young girls into Amateur Radio. He delivered similar remarks during two other Dayton forums and received an enthusiastic reception--including a standing ovation. In response to a question from the audience, Hollingsworth revealed that FCC officials on May 14 had attempted to visit the station of Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. Baxter heads the American Amateur Radio Association; his on-the-air talk and news transmissions have been the subject of some controversy within the amateur community. Hollingsworth said that, although Baxter's station was on the air, no one came to the door, and the building appeared to be locked. Hollingsworth and an FCC field office team from Detroit spent several hours doing enforcement work at the Hamvention itself. The field office personnel attempted, without success, to determine the sources of intentional interference on the Hamvention's 2-meter talk-in frequency. At least one source appeared to be mobile. FCC personnel also cited or verbally warned several vendors about violations related to the sale of amplifiers. Courtesy The ARRL Newsletter Vanity update: The FCC in Gettysburg reports it has processed vanity call sign applications received through April 23. On May 14, the FCC issued 144 grants. Another 175 applications landed in the work-in-process (WIPs) stack.--FCC Make that dot net: The ARRL e-mail forwarding service e-mail address format is your call sign@arrl.net. Some forwarding service users mistakenly have given out their forwarding addresses as .org, which is the domain for ARRL Headquarters addresses. Mail sent to .org addresses that are not those of ARRL staff members or volunteers will bounce. The ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service is a free member service. Courtesy The ARRL Newsletter BACK