Minutes: October 24, 2017

President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1910.

Program: Harold introduced John Lock, KFØM, who, in the 1990s, got involved in repeater maintenance, which led him into the development of the Kan-Okla system of linked repeaters. His very interesting program included history of the Kan-Okla linked repeater network. He also explained about different ways repeaters can be linked, and talked about the direction linked repeater systems are headed.

Business: Minutes of the August 29 meeting and the treasurer’s report were approved as printed and e-mailed. Attendance: 6 members and 3 guests.

Harold stated that we need to get really serious about next year’s officers. We need a vice president, who also is the program chairman.

Election of officers will be at the December 19 meeting.

Harold asked the secretary to send an e-mail to all current members, with the current chapter roster, and the names of some former members. He encouraged everyone to recruit new members and to try to get former members to rejoin QCWA and our chapter.

The chapter will pay for the meal of a serious guest prospective member candidate.

Harold said we need a program for the December meeting. Lloyd McCombs offered to check with a musical group that he knows.

The meeting was adjourned at 2028.

Submitted by Larry Cannon, KØSFV, Secretary.

Preview: October 24, 2017, meeting

Our October meeting is a week early due to Halloween falling on the last Tuesday of the month. Our president, Harold, WBØLFH, has lined-up another interesting program for this meeting. John Lock, KFØM, will present the program for our October meeting.

John was first licensed in 1974 as a Novice, WN5MHY. He upgraded to Technician class, followed shortly by Advanced class in 1976 with the call sign WB5WOQ. He earned his Amateur Extra class license in the early 1980s and changed his call sign to KFØM.

He was initially involved in HF contesting, especially on 10 meters. He got involved in 2 meter SSB in the early ’80s to talk to friends in Arkansas.

The VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC) got him seriously interested and he achieved VUCC number 9, on 144 mHz which then spurred an interest in EME. He achieved WAS on 144 mHz a few years later, and was within the first 100 hams to accomplish that goal. He also achieved WAC on 144 in that same time frame. In the 1990s, looking for a new challenge and learning opportunity, John got involved in repeater maintenance. This lead to the development of the Kan-Okla system of linked repeaters.

Most recently John has been trying to be more active in weak signal VHF-UHF on 50 mHz and 1.2 gHz.

Minutes: August 29, 2017

President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1852.

Minutes of the June 27 meeting and the treasurer’s report were approved as printed and e-mailed, upon a motion by Joseph Pajor, and second by Dale Puckett. Attendance: 11 members and 3 guests.

President Childress asked members to check our web site, QCWA79.com and to support webmaster Bryon Cannon with photographs and other content to post on the site.  Bryon’s e-mail address is qcwa79@gmail.com

Old business:  None

New Business: President Childress announced that nominations for officers for 2018 will be taken at the October meeting.  Nominations for all offices in QCWA Chapter 79 will be accepted.  You may nominate yourself.  If you nominate someone else, please be sure that person will accept the office if elected.  Election of officers will be at the December meeting.

Program: President Childress introduced James Whitfield, N5GUI, who presented an interesting program.  James likes to experiment and tinker, and doing talks and demonstrations.  He enjoys digital modes of ham radio.  He told about his radio equipment and about his newest project, learning about and using a Raspberry Pi computer. The Raspberry Pi is a tiny, versatile, powerful, and low-cost computer.  It was developed in the United Kingdom and was originally used to teach computer science. Millions of hobbyists are enjoying this nifty little computer.

Meeting was adjourned at 2005.  Next meeting is October 24.

Submitted by Larry Cannon, Secretary

Preview: August 29, 2017, meeting

Our August meeting is rapidly approaching, and our president, Harold, WBØLFH, has lined up a program by James Whitfield, N5GUI. Harold thinks that he will talk about his Raspberry Pi and its use for digital modes.

James has been licensed for 39 years but got his start with amateur radio more than two decades earlier assisting his blind brother, W5BIY (SK, license re-issued). The early experience led to an interest in building equipment and antennas more than operating to make contacts. He enjoys public demonstrations of light communication technology and digital modes of amateur radio, especially with Boy Scouts at Jamboree-on-the-Air.

James is a retired aerospace engineer and USAF officer. He is a member of the Wichita Amateur Radio Club and the current secretary of the Boeing Employees Amateur Radio Society.

Minutes: June 27, 2017

President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1845.

The minutes of the April 25th meeting and treasurer’s report were approved as printed and e-mailed.

Chapter 79 Webmaster Bryon Cannon, KAØIIU, reported that the chapter website is live. The URL is QCWA79.com. Content is needed. Submit content to Bryon.

Old Business: The office of Vice President still needs to be filled.
New business: Don Sharp, KDØQFR, joined Chapter 79. Welcome, Don.
Attendance: 9.

Program:

Joseph T. Pajor, KBØKFH, presented a very interesting program about the total solar eclipse that will happen on August 21, 2017. The eclipse, which will travel from west to east across will be seen in totality in many locations across the United States. Joe will be in Atchison, KS, which is in the path of totality, and plans to operate using the call sign KØS, from the Benedictine College press box.

People in areas not in the zone of total eclipse will be able to see a partial solar eclipse. He said that a lot of the scientific studies will take place during the eclipse across the country and the world.

The program was followed by a time of visiting about Field Day operations that took place the previous weekend.

Meeting adjourned at 1955.

Submitted by Larry Cannon, Secretary

Minutes: April 25, 2017

President Harold Childress, WBØLFH, called the meeting to order at 1901.

Everyone introduced themselves. Joseph T. Pajor, KBØKFH, a new QCWA member, joined Chapter 79 during the meeting and was welcomed into our chapter. Attendance was 11.

The minutes of the February 28th meeting and treasurer’s report were approved as printed and e-mailed.

Chapter 79 Webmaster Bryon Cannon, KAØIIU, reported that the chapter website is live. The URL is QCWA79.com. Content is needed. Submit content to Bryon.

Old Business:

The office of Vice President still needs to be filled by a volunteer.

Continued discussion of ways to increase membership and attendance of our chapter. As a way to increase membership, a motion was made by Lloyd McCombs, that our chapter to pay for one meal for a prospective member of Chapter 79, who meets QCWA requirements. Motion passed. QCWA qualifications: First licensed as amateur radio operator 25 or more years ago; currently holds a valid amateur radio license; current member of QCWA national organization.

Lloyd McCombs asked if there was interest in starting a Chapter 79 net. Discussion included making the net interesting; deciding on dates and time; location (repeater or Echo Link); need at least three net control operators so a NCS would always be available. It was decided to continue this discussion later.

New Business:

Harold asked if someone would find a program for the June meeting. Joseph Pajor volunteered to present the program.

Meeting was adjourned at 1947.

Submitted by Larry Cannon, Secretary

Preview: June 27, 2017, meeting

The June 27 meeting will be at the usual time and place (scroll down). We’re going to have a great program, given by one of our newest members. We hope to see you there!

Citizen Scientists: The Intersection of Amateur Radio
and the August Total Solar Eclipse

On August 21, we will experience a total solar eclipse that will affect much of the continental US. This relatively rare astronomical event presents a unique opportunity for amateur radio operators to add to our scientific understanding of the behavior of electromagnetic waves as they interact with the ionosphere. Researchers at Virginia Tech are asking for the assistance of ham radio operators and others to collect data from this eclipse event that can contribute to their scientific studies.

Joe Pajor, KBØKFH, will explain what we are being asked to do and why and will describe a Wichita Amateur Radio Club sponsored activation of Atchison, Kansas, which is within the path of totality. Amateur radio has a long tradition of delivering on one of our federally mandated purposes, that being “to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.” Come to our meeting and learn how our hobby can continue its role of helping others.

Hello, Wichita area hams!

QCWA Chapter 79 is just getting our new website up and running. We’re still tuning up and working on all sorts of great things to put here. Meanwhile, look at our About page for more information, and be sure to check back soon if you’re in the Wichita area!