got DTV?

Joel Wilhite KD6W

To borrow a slogan from the milk industry, it’s a rather appropriate question at this time as the entire broadcast industry is about to shut off high power analog television come this February. The FCC recently asked the amateur radio community to help spread the word and help educate our neighbors and friends. There are no stupid questions but there are a raft of terms and jargon used in the industry. Amateur radio operators tend to have a better understanding of these subjects more than most, while still, there might be some that may be a little confused.  Last year we talked about how to adapt this new technology to amateur radio use. This presentation will focus on what is required for receiving the new signal in our homes around the Bay Area.

Have a very merry Christmas and a great new year!

Dream to Reality

Homebrew Night

No, this is not another beerfest, this your night for show and tell! Bring in your favorite original design, kit, boatanchor refurbish, anything that is ham radio related and show it off. We are looking for all the builders in the club to come forth and show us what you have been working on all year. If you have a homebrew rig or some device you are particularly fond of, we want to have you bring it in and show us. We will have a panel of judges for grading the designs and provde awards for the top 3 entries.

But wait, there is more! We also have the Dream to Reality raffle of the top of the line Elecraft K3. Raffle tickets will be sold at the regular prices up till 9:30. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE, WE KEEP PULLING TICKETS UNTIL WE GET A LIVE ONE. Tickets with filled out data are eligible for all other prizes.

Antenna Modeling Software

Part Duex

Steve Stearns - K6OIK

We flat ran out of time to cover this HUGE topic from the first meeting, so Steve is coming back to finish the presentation.

From before - Antenna modeling software like EZNEC and 4nec2 are powerful and very easy-to-use programs for modeling and analyzing nearly any kind of antenna in its actual operating environment. Software can be set to plot azimuth and elevation patterns; report gain, feedpoint impedance, SWR, and current distribution; finds and reports beamwidth, 3-dB pattern points, f/b ratio, takeoff angle, sidelobe characteristics; and more.

Steve reviewed the “method of moments” which lead to computational electromagnetics and the development of the NEC family (NEC-1, NEC-2, NEC-3, and NEC-4).  Steve will describe and show how to run EZNEC and the free program 4nec2.  He will also touch on some advanced modeling capabilities and indicate where the future of antenna modeling is headed. Download and install the free version onto a laptop and bring it with you to follow along! Slide rulers and pocket protectors are optional.

Radio in the Fishing Industry

Mark Meltzer, AF6IM will present an insiders view on radio in the commercial fishing trade. This will cover the spectrum from legal communications gear to bandit radios and will give a unique look into the role of scramblers, direction finding gear, Doppler spoofers, near field signal detection and other tricks of the trade. Mark’s view of non FCC approved radios on seagoing vessels is not 100% negative, which is guaranteed to raise some controversy among hams. His presentation will include first hand accounts of emergencies, rescues and loss of life in the world’s most dangerous profession. Be sure mark this event on your calendar.

Please RSVP to Joel if you are selling items and need some space or bringing a food dish.

kd6w@arrl.net

See more details below.

Saturday, September 27th – 11 AM

Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual PAARAFEST. And why not celebrate the beginning of Fall while getting that last swap meet bargain. After all, who else in the world will appreciate that precious boat anchor (other than yourself of course). You are welcome to bring your favorite pot luck dish or dip.

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Talk in on 147.45 simplex.

Date:  Saturday, September 27, 2007

Time:  11:00 pm - 5:00 pm *  set up:  10:00 - 11:00 buy, sell, swap, and dine:  11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Place:     The Wilhite Residence (Joel’s house – KD6W)

                701 Menlo Oaks Drive

                Menlo Park, Ca  94025

Who:  PAARA club members and famlies

What:  A combination of a bbq / club fundraiser, get together and mingle, and time to swap your ham gear! 

Lunch - $5:  All you can eat grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, dips.

Bottomless Beer - $5:  All you can drink (and still be able to drive).

Buck a Drink: All other chilled drink choices except the beer.

RSVP: No later than 9/24/2008 to reserve a selling spot OR if you’re bringing a food or dip. If you have other dietary requirements, we’re happy to throw just about anything on the grill that you bring. Please send email to Joel at kd6w@arrl.net to let him know you are coming to PAARAFEST 2008!

The Latest from the League

Bob Vallio - W6RGG - Pacific Division Director

It has been a few years since the last time Bob has stopped in to visit us with the latest news and views from around the Pacific Division and the league. Please join us for another evening of what will certainly be a very informative and lively discussion session. This is a great opportunity to hear about what other clubs and groups are working on and what sorts of things look forward to like Pacificon and the latest from Newington.

Program Notes -

November - Steve Starnes has agreed to come back and give us part 2 of his talk on Antenna Modeling. We’ll pick up where we left off and most likely get a better understanding of the available simulation tools at our disposal.   

Along with elections, the Decemeber meeting will be a bring your latest homebrew project or kit for show and tell. Each person will get a 5 minute slot to present a new or ongoing project or kit that is amateur related. We hope to meet in the MP council chambers as we have in the past. No doubt Jim will have an awesome first place prize for the raffle. Peter (Mr. Lucky) K6WEB won a 100w K3 last year!

Activating Farallon Islands

Eric Hilding - K6VVA

The Farallon Islands are a remote and uninhabited (by humans) 2 island chain on the Pacific Continental Shelf and home to a host of bird and seal life, 27 miles west of the Golden Gate. A marine wildlife sanctuary located outside the SanFrancisco Bay, bustles with the abundance of mamillian life/food and atracts sharks of rather considerable size on a regular basis. Getting there is not trivial and landing by boat is only allowed by the state and usually only by wildlife experts for doing research. Being so close to us but so remote from the general public, the challenge of delivering and operating a ham radio effort from the Farallones is formidable. Eric Hilding will talk about his adventure before, during and after the Farallon Island IOTA expedition. 

Antenna Modeling and EZNEC

Steve Stearns - K6OIK

EZNEC and EZNEC+ are powerful but very easy-to-use programs for modeling and analyzing nearly any kind of antenna in its actual operating environment. EZNEC plots azimuth and elevation patterns; tells you gain, feedpoint impedance, SWR, and current distribution; finds and reports beamwidth, 3-dB pattern points, f/b ratio, takeoff angle, sidelobe characteristics; and more.

Steve will review the “method of moments” (along with what that means!) leading to computational electromagnetics and the development of the NEC family (NEC-1, NEC-2, NEC-3, and NEC-4).  Steve will describe and show how to run EZNEC and the free program 4nec2.  He will also touch on some advanced modeling capabilities and indicate where the future of antenna modeling is headed. Download and install the free version onto a laptop and bring it with you to follow along! Slide rulers and pocket protectors are optional.

Steve is currently Senior Staff Engineer at Northrop Grumman’s Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory in San Jose, California, where he is leading the development of advanced signal processing algorithms for communication signal processing systems.