Tag: program

Preview: June 26, 2018, meeting

Jerry Kahn, ACØRL, has prepared a very interesting and informative program for our June meeting: “A Modern, Simple, and Safe Method of Reforming Electrolytic Capacitors.”

The DOD, NRC, and manufacturers of capacitors recommend periodic reforming to keep electrolytics ready for use and to restore electrolytics that have gone through extended periods of disuse.

Bring an old, undamaged, electrolytic capacitor (or two or three) to the meeting. Once they are smoked, the magic is gone.

Jerry is an Amateur Extra Class operator, first licensed in 1991. He holds a GROL with Ships Radar Endorsement. He served in the United States Navy as an avionics tech, working on FLIR, RADAR, flight, and weapons systems. He worked in marine electronics.

Jerry attended DeVry University in electronics engineering technology. He worked for Logical Devices in QA, test, and product engineering.

He started his current technology business, VeriStitch, Inc., and Stitch Dynamics, in 1993, serving the personalization and decorative industry. His customer list includes Lands’ End, Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney, Vera Bradley, Disney, Michaels Arts and Crafts, JanSport, Taylor Made, Williams Sonoma, and other companies.

He is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine endorsements. He is also a certified motorcycle safety coach, currently teaching motorcycle safety at Hutchinson Community College.

Minutes: April 24, 2018

There was no formal business meeting.

Shaun Halstead, KØPER, joined Chapter 79. Three members paid their Chapter 79 dues for 2018.

Attendance: 12 members and 3 guests.

Joe Pajor, KBØKFH, arranged for the very interesting program presented by Dr. Brian A. Coon, traffic engineer and Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the City of Wichita.

Dr. Coon’s program, “Traffic Signals: Look Who’s Talking Now,” included information about various ways traffic signals can be programmed. Some intersections even have helpful talking signals for people who have impaired vision.

Preview: December 19, 2017, meeting

Our December meeting is a week early due to Christmas.

Our annual chapter election of officers for 2018 will be at this meeting.

We’ve been operating without a Vice President for the past year so it is imperative that we elect someone for this important office. Nominations for all offices will be accepted, and we welcome folks to nominate themselves. If you nominate someone else, that person must be willing to serve if elected. Please e-mail your nominations to Harold Childress, WBØLFH, wb0lfh@cox.net, by December 17, if you haven’t already done so.

Lloyd McCombs, KØLM, has lined up a very good musical program for this meeting.

Troy Pulver and his 37 Mile Band will entertain us with Christmas music and maybe some other songs.

The 37 Mile Band is an old-time acoustic string band. They play barn dances, coffee houses, farm and art markets, private parties, etc. They feature a variety of stringed acoustic instruments, and play folk and Celtic music, and at this time of year some Christmas music.

Bring a friend, and if you see a former Chapter 79 member ask him or her to join us again. If you have an idea for a program for one of our meetings, let Harold know.

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.

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

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.