The ARRL Club News
ARRL Club News for June 2009
ARRL Club Newsletter
June 20, 2009
____________________________________________________________
Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor
IN THIS ISSUE:
+ Field Day Safety
+ Filed Day Bulletin Schedule
+ Reader's Response
+ Filed Day Chili Recipe
Field Day is just around the corner. (June 27-28) With your help we
can ensure it is a safe and fun weekend for everyone by reminding all
participants about the importance of electrical safety. Please take a
moment to share these safety tips from Southern California Edison:
Field Day Electrical Safety
Outdoor Field Day sites often place hams in spots where they're
unfamiliar with the location of overhead power lines. Before anyone
sets up the antennas and equipment all of the operators and
assistants need to walk the site together, assess the safety of the
location and discuss the following safety pointers:
Your first step is to locate the overhead power lines. Point them out
to everyone and discuss how you will all approach the set up and
breakdown of the antennas, towers, guy wires, awnings and tents. Ask
yourself... "At any time can arms, legs, head, the antenna, wires or
tools come in contact with power lines?"
Assume all overhead power lines are energized and dangerous.
Remember, these wires are not covered. This includes the service
drops, which typically run from a power pole to a home or business.
Look closely for power lines hidden by trees and buildings.
Use a safety spotter. Nobody can do the work alone and assess safety
distances. A safety spotter's only job is to keep people and
equipment safely away from power lines.
Remember the 10-foot rule. Locate your antenna as far as possible
away from power lines -- and never closer than 10 feet.
Never use metal ladders or long-handled metal tools when working near
power lines.
Make sure your antenna cannot be rotated into power lines. Or that it
cannot fall into a power line if the guy wires fail and the tower
falls.
Never set up an antenna in the dark. But if you feel you must do so,
first use a high powered spotlight to locate overhead power lines.
They are not reflective so take your time. Look for where the power
lines are, as well as where they are not.
Never throw an antenna wire, guy wire or rope into a tree which is
located near a power line. And if a power line is touching a tree,
stay away. The tree could be energized and deadly.
If you encounter a downed power line, stay away and keep others away.
Call 9-1-1 immediately.
Have fun and good luck.
73,
Charles Basham, N6DZW
Manager of Public Safety
Southern California Edison
Editor's note: Don't forget fire extinguishers and first-aid kits
for your Field day site.
W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule
Day Mode Pacific Mountain Central Eastern
Friday CW 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Teleprinter 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM
Phone 6:45 PM 7:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:45 PM
CW 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM
Saturday CW 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
Phone 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
CW 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Teleprinter 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM
Phone 6:45 PM 7:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:45 PM
Sunday CW 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
Phone 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
PSK31 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM
K6KPH Field Day Bulletin Schedule
Saturday CW 7:30 AM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM
CW 5:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
Teleprinter 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 8:30 PM 9:30 PM
Sunday CW 7:30 AM 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM
Teleprinter 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM
W1AW will operate on the regularly published frequencies. The
special PSK31 bulletin will be transmitted on the regular W1AW
frequencies.
CW frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675,
28.0675 and 147.555 MHz.
Teleprinter frequencies are 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095,
28.095 and 147.555 MHz (includes PSK31).
Phone frequencies are 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390,
28.590 and 147.555 MHz.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society's station K6KPH will transmit
the "W1AW" Field Day message for the benefit of West Coast stations
on 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz. The frequencies
for K6KPH Teleprinter (RTTY and FEC AMTOR) will be 7.095 and 14.095
MHz. At the time of publishing this packet, the K6KPH schedules are
accurate, but may change.
In Response to "QSL Direct"
Hi Norm - there are many good points in your article, and many
valuable tips on how to QSL direct, but the advice to include a
foreign postage stamp is not always valid. Speaking on behalf of a
number of Indian hams that I know personally, I can say that they
want dollars, not their own currency stamps. The ability to acquire
foreign currency is very useful to them, and they like to build up a
small stash of dollars that can then be used for foreign purchases.
Stamps sent are often the wrong value, or are old stock, making them
subject to questioning at the post office. Sometimes they are the
pictorial issues, which stand out and can get stolen.
You say 'Buying foreign postage is often less expensive than the
oft-requested two green stamps...' but is this really important to
the US ham? It certainly IS important to a third-world ham, who uses
the extra few cents to help pay for the card printing costs. By
including a stamp and no dollars cash, the third-world ham has to pay
for the card himself. Why should he? What does he have to gain from
the transaction? Nothing - he loses out by sending the card. I know
some hams in India with home made CW rigs, and for whom the price of
a card is a real issue. Just the fact that they have received one
from you makes no difference at all - it doesn't pay the printing
bill! I would guess that in a lot of cases, an envelope received
with no dollars just gets tossed in the bin. The US ham certainly
wouldn't have added stamps if he knew that!
I hope these comments from the 'real world' may help.
Best wishes and 73s,
Tim Makins, EI8IC
Bison Chili
1 lb ground bison or venison or beef.
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 -- 28 oz cans of diced tomatoes
2 -- 15 oz cans of red kidney beans
2 -- 15 oz cans of black beans
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup chili powder (more or less to taste)
Your favorite hot Sauce to taste
Shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar (optional)
- In a large skillet brown meat until no longer pink.
- Drain grease from meat.
- Heat a large stock pot. Add olive oil, onions, peppers and garlic.
Stir often.
- When onions begin to soften add browned meat and chili powder,
stir.
- Add tomatoes and beans
- Bring to a simmer then cook slowly over very low heat for about 45
minutes.
Best if made a day ahead and reheated before serving. Serve topped
with shredded cheese and a side of corn bread or biscuit. Add hot
sauce to your liking.
Milestones June 2009
60Years June
*W1
EMA Quannapowitt Radio Association W1EKT
*W2
WNY Lockport Amateur Radio Association W2RUI
*W3
EPA University of Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Club W3ABT
*W8
OH Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Association W4FU
OH Portsmouth Radio Club N8QA
*W0
KS Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club W0CY
IA Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association W0MG
=============================================================================
The ARRL Club News is published on the first Wednesday of each month by
the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur
Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARRL Club News is an e-mail digest of news and information of
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Material from The ARRL Club News may be republished or reproduced in
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be given to The ARRL Club News and The American Radio Relay League.
Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs@arrl.org
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Page last modified: 03:09 PM, 15 Nov 2006 ET
Page author: clubs@arrl.org
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