September Monthly Meeting

     We had a full house last night at the PARA meeting, with 23 in attendance, a fine looking bunch, HI. PARA President Mike Newman mentioned that the NWS Open House is coming up in two weeks, The NWS Open House website link is: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=pah&storyid=103700&source=0 . Looks like a great opportunity for Amateurs and the Community to rub elbows, and learn about our regional NWS site, near Barkley Regional Airport. Jeff Weilgos, KB9BVL is a contact person for more information on volunteering for the event.

     George Lankton, W4TPC, has some radio equipment, an Icom IC706MKII HF transceiver, a Mosley HF beam antenna and 45′ crank up tower for sale. Give George a call if you are interested in any those items.

     Several computer programs were discussed at the meeting last night, including the VE7CC Cluster program, which Ed Pflueger, AB4IQ, and other Club members have set up as a local “node”, W4NJA-1. This allows our Club members and others to connect to the VE7CC-1 node, and several others, which link together. These connections allow local DXers to be able to spot any stations heard from exotic locations, worldwide. Also, Ed has tied his DXbase2007 program into the local node, in order to process any spots which include DX entities he  made need for DXCC awards.

     Ron Cowherd, K4GYD, Discussed the six meter band, and that it was a new band for him to be able to operate on. Ron has found a good website, DXMaps2.6,http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Map=NA   which shows propagation and spots on all the amateur bands, six meters included. This site is a great resource for DXers and those interested in propagation.

     Ken Wontor, WA9WJL, found some real gems once again, including; “Windom antenna build”, by W1GV, which describes the theory behind the Windom antenna. link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PbOfZYzCUE . Also, “Shortwave Radio from WWII, “Voice of Victory, part 2, 1944″, Hallicrafter’s SCR-299 HT-4 transmitter”. link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TURd_XVpwvk .

     We have five new Purchase Area Emergency Weather and Traffic Net, net controls for the month of September through October 12. To view the NCO’s click here. Be sure to mark you calenders for the next PARA Club meeting is October 13. See you there, 73.

Gene, N4FZ