1

The Link

Newsletter of the Durham FM Association

January 2020

Next Meeting is Tuesday, January 7th, 6pm, at Bullock’s BBQ.

President’s Corner Thanks to everyone who came to our December party. It was a pleasure to see you, your families, and even some founding and out-of-town members. In addition to the fellowship, the gathering allowed us to collect donations

for Toys for Tots, the Durham Community Food Pantry, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, and the Durham Rescue Mission. Thank you very much for your generosity! Of course, now that the new year is upon us, that means it is time to implement our resolutions. Unfortunately for our Link editor, I'm not talking about resolutions of being better organized and completing the President's Corner earlier (although I am trying to keep a Bullet Journal to help with that). I'm talking about our Ham resolutions! Now's the time to start putting them into action. Is there something you wanted to learn more about? Find someone knowledgeable and suggest that they give a DFMA program. Better yet, if you need extra motivation, why not volunteer to give your own presentation on the topic or write a column for the Link. Do you want to build a power system for Field Day, put up antennas or make an emergency go-box? Now is the perfect time to work with some fellow members to make it happen. Just let us know on a net or the email list. Perhaps instead you have a boat anchor, er … radio equipment, that you want to sell at DurHamFest? Now's a great time to get it cleaned up, so it can fetch top dollar. No matter what you end up working on in the hobby this year, I look forward to hearing about it. 73, Jack - KM4MBG

2

In Loving Memory

MK Ramm, W4MKR, sk Former club treasurer, MK Ramm(W4MKR), passed away on December 5, 2019. More information was previously mailed and is available on the DFMA website: dfma.org. The family, (including Dee(KU4GC), Karl(N1XPB), Lenore(KF4PAB), and Jack(KM4MBG), express their appreciation for all the heartfelt condolences, cards, and those who attended MK's memorial gathering.

"MK selling tickets at an earlier DurHamFest"

3

Did it get a charge out of that? Yesterday, when messing with the Christmas outdoor lighting stuff, I pushed the test button on the GFI breaker in the power panel. Nothing happened! Since that not only powers the outdoor outlets, but also the bathroom outlets, that was something to worry about. Ground Fault Interrupters are a really good thing, especially in damp or wet environments. So, today, I went to Home Depot and brought home a new GFi breaker and a novel (for me) “power strip”. This five outlet device looks like it can actually handle five “wall warts” or the equivalent. While I haven’t really put it into place yet, it promises to be very useful. But, back to the problem. I opened up the panel, and, as shown in the picture, it looks as if we had a visitor a long time ago. Judicious prodding showed it was just about petrified, but really stuck in there. It looks like the beast got a full 240 volts applied to it. Since I couldn't just nudge it out, I thought: “I guess a large pair of pliers or tongs might do the trick.” Then it struck me what lunacy that was. Using any kind of metal tools, especially “above” the main breakers was a bit suicidal. Fortunately, I did some thinking before acting and finally pried it loose with some wooden chopsticks. The happy ending is the new breaker trips out when I hit the test button. 73, Dee, KU4GC

4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here are some pics that I took with my phone. It’s obvious that we need a real photographer!

5

6

7

8

9

Message from your editor

I try to give you an informing and interesting newsletter. It becomes difficult when I’m not given any articles and I have to scrounge for content. The following is some info from the Raleigh club’s Exciter newsletter. Thanks RARS

Upcoming Hamfests

01/11/2020 | W4NC First-Fest

Location: Winston-Salem, NC Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor

Forsyth Amateur Radio Club Website: http://W4NC.com

03/13/2020 | Charlotte Hamfest

ARRL North Carolina Section Convention 2020

Location: Concord, NC Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor

Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society Website: http://www.charlottehamfest.org

1004/11/2020 | Raleigh Hamfest, ARRL Roanoke Division Convention RARSfest

Location: Raleigh, NC Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor

Raleigh Amateur Radio Society Website: http://rarsfest.org

Interesting websites & misc info

SWL mapping website https://short-wave.info/index.php Have a friend or relative that needs basic computer help? https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Link Classified

Unfortunately, none of our members have anything they want to sell or need!

If you have items that you want to sell or give away or are looking for an item, just write your ad and send to me.

Martin Brody, KA5JUJ martin@brody1.com 919.260.0632

Minutes of Last Club Meeting

Durham FM Association (DFMA) DFMA Club Meeting - 12/03/19 – Dan, KR4UB, Secretary Location: Bullock’s Bar B Cue, Durham Attending: KK4PH, Lowell; KM4LKN, Detlev; W4QWM, Sid & Sandy; KA5JUJ, Martin & Catherine; KA1HPM, Nick & Rosemary; KF4PAB, Lenore; KM4MBG, Jack; AJ2X, Mark; KN4PTU, Charles; NC4CD, Charlie;; WA4HYL, Lee; KN4SVO, John; N8BR, Bill & Patty; W4BOH, Wilson & Dee Ann; KE4HIH, Rhett; KE4QOZ, Joanna; KA2WDL, Phil; W4LMW, David; KE4UVJ, Don; KW4KZ, Chuck; KF4NTC, Bob & Renu; KR4UB, Dan

11& Jean; WA2JLW, Roy & Patricia; KF4LJZ, Linda; WB4YYY, Jim; KA4AVM, Sue; N4CH, Herman; N4RXL, Donna; NA4VY, Dave; N2XZF, Paul; KV4ZR, Loren & Carol; W4SAR, Dave; KD4YJZ, Karen; WB4ROI, Henry; KW4XL, David & David Jr.; WA4UJM, Wally; KN4BBA, Bob; N3UZ, Jimmy; KK4BPH, Michael; Rueben Jones

A total of 51attending, 40 them hams. President: Jack, KM4MBG opened the meeting at 7:10 pm with introductions and circulated the hat for donations to the Durham Rescue Mission and Food Bank of North Carolina. DFMA will again this year (please confirm) donate $350 to be split between the Food Bank of North Carolina and the Durham Rescue Mission. Also thanks to members bringing gifts for Toys for Tots.

Jack noted Dee & M.K.’s absence, with M.K. at Duke Hospice and asked for your prayers. Jack reported that Dee, KU4GC has volunteered to take on coordination of DurHamFest.

REPORTS

Jack called for brief officer reports.

Treasurer – Lenore, KF4PAB provided the treasurer’s report. There are 115 members with dues current. In a follow-up report of contributions made at the Christmas Dinner meeting, passing the hat and donations from DFMA yielded the following donation results: Pass the hat yielded $315.00. Traditionally, the club also donates $350, divided equally between the two charities.

Directed to DFMA for Donation:

Durham Community Food Pantry checks totaling $ 75.00 Durham Rescue Mission checks totaling $ 200.00

Club and Member Cash Donations:

Durham Rescue Mission $ 332.50 Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina $ 332.50

Secretary – Dan, KR4UB; no announcements at the meeting. In a follow-up from the meeting, twenty donated toys were delivered to the Department of Social Services in Hillsborough for distribution in area counties.

Field Day Coordinator - Dave, W4SAR reported the combined 2019 OCRA/DFMA Field Day achieved a point standing of #4 in the nation out of 3,112 participants, #2 in the ARRL Roanoke Division, #1 out of 92 in North Carolina and #2 out of 290 operating in QRP class. This was an excellent result given propagation conditions.

Dave further reported on a discussion at the last OCRA meeting considering running higher power (up to 150watts) at next year’s Field Day. The change under discussion is in part due to expected poor propagation conditions expected again in 2020 and, to help out in overall Field Day satisfaction by making more

12contacts. The higher power would allow the CW stations to run and hold frequencies which typically makes more contacts and would also help on the phone frequencies. In this higher power class, field day rules give a 2x point multiplier (versus the 5x multiplier for running 5 watts) and allows the use of fossil energy generators to recharge batteries. Higher power handling bandpass filters will be required. Planning for the 2020 Field Day will begin in January.

Show & Tell Herman, N4CH did a show & tell of several vintage 2M radios including a functioning Motorola HT220 handie talkie or “HT” and a 2M transceiver that is truly a one of a kind. Herman recounted the history of the Clegg series of 2M tube 25 & 35 watt transceivers. The FM27a & FM27b quickly became obsolete due to the FCC expanding the 2M frequency range. Herman then displayed the FM27, a “one and only one lab queen” designed by Ed Clegg. This lab test unit was used by Ed for some time in his car. The FM27 is a fully functioning unit and is a recent addition to Herman’s “one & only” collections of very special vintage radios.

Program Presentation There was no program as such but Jack read the resolutions from last year and asked each ham to report on their accomplishments and solicited New Year’s resolutions for the next year. A fun time was had by all hearing progress and not so much progress reports.

Dee, KU4GC - Jack reported on Dee’s WAS & DXCC progress. At present he is missing 3 states and several countries. Next Year: Continue the WAS & DXCC chase.

Dan, KR4UB - More “Have Another Meal” activity and increased HF activity. More “Have Another Meal” activity was pleasurably done! More HF activity principly FT-8 at home and at Field Day was accomplished, in part due to the arrival of a new Elecraft K3S. Next Year: More HF activity and hopefully less demands for repeater building.

Wilson, W4BOH - Sell more amplifiers! Sold one amp. Next Year: Start receiver he promised to build 2 years ago!

Charlie, NC4CD - Build his tower at TV Hill & get it on the air. Tower is now standing and awaiting an antenna. Next Year: Get station on the air.

Dave, NA4VY - Get all antennas moved back to old QTH with everything up and working. All back at QTH, but not all working. Next Year: Learn Morse Code… 1 WPM !

Jim, WB4YYY - Work on CW. Have learned a few letters. Next Year: Learn more letters.

Don, KE4UVJ - Small tower at house. Not Yet. Next Year: Upgrade to General Class license.

Paul, N2XZF - Longer & higher wire antennas. Still working on it! Has done a lot of volunteer work for the club Next Year: Get the wire antennas up.

Lenore, KF4PAB - Keep DFMA bills paid; appreciate mother for serving as DFMA treasurer for 8 years. Did it! Next Year: Get back on HF.

Jack, KM4MBG - Find some talks for club meetings. Did it! Next Year: Clean out detritus and get on HF.

Rhett, KE4HIH - Encourage others to join in the nets. Not quite yet! Next Year: Enjoy talking on the net with others running it.

13

Lowell, KK4PH - Put up a tower. Made progress, have 4x4x7 ½ foot hole, dug by hand; Rockingham County appropriately named, has lots of rocks! Next Year: 5 ½ yards of concrete next. Finish!

Martin, KA5JUJ - 1 hour/week on HF; publish fantastic DFMA Newsletter. Did it ! {Round of Applause to Martin} Next Year: Do battle with 90’ trees to accept wire antennas; More time on HF

Bob, KF4NTC - Have antenna, have cable & have chimney. Some assembly required! Next Year: Get it assembled!

Roy, WA2JLW - 160M contest, work some Carribean, Cayman, and Virgin Islands DX. Did it! Next Year: Get on LOTW, go for DXCC.

David, KW4XL - Get antenna on roof and work some DX. Nope! Next Year: Put antenna on ground.

Wally, WA4UJM - Use dipole & get on HF. Next Year: Same goal!

Chuck, KW4KZ - Get outside wire antenna up. Done! Next Year: Use it and also work some DMR.

Dave, W4SAR - Get close to #1 in Field Day points. Close! Next Year: Score highest points ever!

Karen, KD4YJZ - Get elected public official to Field Day. Nope! Next Year: Learn to use FT-8

Bill, N8BR - Get tower up. Not quite! Got hole in the ground and filled with concrete! Next Year: Get tower up!

Mike, KK4BPH - Upgrade License. Did it! Next Year: ...

Loren, KV4ZR - More HF operation. Next Year: Put up antenna.

Susan Pasour - Get tech license. Next Year: Get Tech license.

Mary Anoia - Get hubby to clean out garage! Still working on it!

Bob, KN4BBA - Get radio, dipole up & on the air. Bought house instead. Next year: Get radio, dipole up & on the air.

Jim, N3UZ - Get wire antennas in the trees. Antennas still in the garage. Next Year: Get antennas in the trees!

Charlie, KN4PTU - Get Extra class license & get permanent antenna up. Antenna to be completed next week. Next Year: Get Extra class license.

New Resolutions:

Sid, W4QWM - Be here next year!

Reuben Jones - Get amateur radio license.

David, W4LMW - Work Field Day.

14Detlev, KM4LKN - Get SDR Raspberry PI completed.

KN4SVO, John - Get on HF, LOTW, work DX and operate on Field Day.

Nick, KA1HPM - Get architect (his son!) to finish ham shack design and build.

Herman, N4CH - Limit collection to 1 item.

Donna, N4RXL - Get house cleaned up (after Herman limit’s collection)

Mark, AJ2X - Get on digi

DFMA Club Resolutions

The call for next year DFMA resolutions originally made by Wilson, W4BOH, with additions & updates from many led off with:

• More operators at Field Day. Had some! Next Year: Need more! • Operators practicing for Field Day ?? • New for Next Year: More net participation

J JR, N4JQR - Organize day trips for hams. Shelby & JarsFest done via BOHmobile & others. Next Year:

Repeater tours Bob, W4WCV - Add 6M repeater to the DFMA club repeaters. Done! Next Year: Progress toward getting it on the air!

Charlie, NC4CD - Have over 100 members now; have 133 members next year. Currently have 115 members with dues current. Next Year: More!

Dan, KR4UB - Next Year: More members getting involved in new activities be it Field Day or taking on a club role of responsibility.

Meeting adjourned at 8 pm.