Amateur Radio Relay Group
Quarterly Newsletter
Holiday Edition
December 1 s t , 2012
Welcome
By Marc Peterson, W7PM
ARRG President
Amateur Radio
Relay Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 91213
Portland, OR 97219
www.arrg.org
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Amateur Radio News
Member Spotlight
Humor in the Static
New Members
Technical Team
Updates
Membership Info
Happy Holidays Everyone!
I’m hoping each of you had a great Thanksgiving this past week!
I was lucky enough to travel to sunny 64 degree Utah to see my folks.
While there, I had a great time working a bunch of you up here on the ARRG Repeater System
(442.225 +) via ECHOLINK. I used my laptop and IPAD with really good results.
So back to the ARRG business at hand,
I’ve often been asked why our group doesn’t hold regular member meetings or any in-person
member get together’s. Being social human beings, it’s sure nice to put a face to the many
voices we chat with on the air.
I know most of you understand that ARRG is actually a technical repeater group and not
necessarily a face to face social group.
It’s not because we are hideous techno trolls hiding behind the OZ curtain, it’s simply due to
the fact that our team enjoys doing all of this from behind the scenes and without much fan
fare. Trust me, these guys and gals that work for ARRG really put up with a lot of stuff.
I’ll be the first to admit that I am the instigator of most of this stuff, but we all do this with our
hearts in the right place. Our team loves to provide quality, reliable repeater systems for each
of you. The Team works their butts off keeping the entire K7RPT Repeater System running
smoothly.
They each do this because they love and support the Amateur Radio Community. Supporting
ARRG is just one way they make this support a reality.
A couple years ago when the ARRG crew asked me to become part of the Board of Directors
I said “sure!” Just a year later I got roped into presiding over the entire group and it has been
quite a challenge, but I sure want each of you to know that your support for ARRG has been
felt over and over again. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of you in person at the
ARRG SEA-PAC Booth and others down at Rickreall.
The ARRG Mission
Statement
ARRG is dedicated to
the advancement and
enjoyment of
amateur radio, to
promote our hobby,
to provide reliable
repeaters for
community service
activities, emergency
communications and
other types of ham
radio activities.
During this year of good tidings and stories of wonderful people, I would be remiss if I didn’t
tell each of you about our core group of folks that make this all a reality. These are the folks
that make up the ARRG Technical Team. These people are an amazing team of technically
trained individuals that have kept the K7RPT Repeater System going strong for over three
decades. This year I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of learning and training with all of
them in some form or another. These are the people who go above and beyond the call of
duty to give their time and expertise to serve the Amateur Community. These folks have done
some amazing technical feats over the years. Without their hard work on our repeater sites
and actual systems, we wouldn’t be here today.
As many of you already know, ARRG provides emergency radio facilities for several ARES and
CERT Response teams, and we provide communications facilities to Search & Rescue and
other Public Service events. We’ve added emergency b/u power to several of our sites this
summer and installed some higher gain antennas/power amplifiers to enable the entire
repeater system to operate more efficiently.
This Holiday season I want to thank each of you for continuing to support ARRG through your
membership dues. I hope each of you will continue to support ARRG by telling others to
become an active member or by renewing your own membership at www.arrg.org
The Officers and Board of Directors here at the Amateur Radio Relay Group
wish each of you a Happy Holiday’s and a very prosperous New Year!
www.arrg.org
Page 2
Amateur Radio News
Ham Radio Operators connect sick kids with Santa Claus at North Pole via Radio
Ham radio operators bring the magic of the jolly old elf to children stuck in Cancer Hospitals once again this year
For the past 12 years, local ham radio operators have strung up
antennae and made arrangements for Santa to take time out of his busy
schedule to talk via Ham Radio to kids at the St. Luke’s Children’s
Hospital and MSTI.
They also handle an intricate set of logistics so parents can
surreptitiously help Santa and tell him some details about their children.
“I like that it actually brings the make-believe to life,” said Heidi Lindsey,
whose son, Izik Salas, 6, talked to Santa over the radio with a look of
amazement.
Per Santa’s request, Izik ran over to his mother and gave her a big hug
afterwards. He whispered in her ear: “Merry Christmas from Santa.”
“This is awesome,” said Jennifer Harrier, mother of Serena Harrier, 3. “We haven’t been able to go see Santa
because of the crowds.”
Serena has T-cell leukemia. Her blood counts are low and she’s ongoing weekly chemotherapy, so she a can’t go
to public places.
“I am so happy for her,” her mother said.
“It’s like nothing else,” said Lynne Pekuri, whose son, Grant, talked to Santa over the Ham Radio. “I don’t know
who loves it more — the kids or these guys.”
It’s a toss-up.
“We get to share in the wonderful magic that happens between children and Santa,” said ham radio operator
Doug Rich, who organized the event.
“This is what Christmas is,” agreed Gary Peek, who staffs the radio and asks Santa to tell kids about the reindeer
(out playing reindeer games), the weather at the North Pole (snowing), and the elves (on a chocolate cookie
break). He also asks Santa to check the naughty-or-nice list (twice).
Emilia Hahn, 6, made the nice list. Santa knew the name of her brother and teacher, and had left her a note last
year.
“I think he remembered me,” she whispered.
Story And Photo By Katherine Jones - kjones@idahostatesman.com
Santa’s been busy elsewhere too!
Santa Claus spoke with children today through the magic of ham radio.
The scene was Mountain States Tumor Institute.
Treasure Valley Ham Radio operators invited young patients to talk to Santa through a ham
radio.
The kids sat with Santa's Helper who put the radio calls through to the North Pole. And Santa's
Helper is only too happy to give these children this unique opportunity.
"To see their little faces light up when they talk to Santa Claus is just a wonderful thing," Gary Peek, "Santa's Helper," told
CBS 2 News. "It's the best Christmas anyone can have."
Children who attended say they were excited to talk to Santa and can't wait to see what he brings them come Christmas
Day.
www.arrg.org
Page 3
Amateur Radio News
INTERNATIONAL REPLY COUPONS MAY SOON
BE PASSED OUT IN THE USA
International Reply Coupons may soon be a thing
of the past. At least here in the United States with
word that the U.S.
Postal Service has proposed doing away with
them due to what it says is a very low demand.
The Postal Service says that even if it stops
selling International Reply Coupons that it will
continue to accept those purchased in foreign
countries and presented at its U.S. facilities.
International Reply Coupons have long been a
staple in the DX community used to help offset
the cost of DX'ers to provide QSL cards especially
from some of the words rarer DX locations. They
have also been used to assist hams in nations where sending in foreign currency is not allowed.
www.arrg.org
Page 4
Member Spotlight
Warren Winner, W7JDT
It started at a 1,000 watt AM radio station in San Luis Obispo, CA. The high school,
local companies and manufacturers had career days for the students to consider
possible careers in their respective industries. San Luis had two radio stations and one
new television station and a group from high school took a tour of the facility. A week
later the City of San Luis had a parade and the Cal Poly amateur radio operators
provided security and coordination for the event. Warren was interested in the very
large single band hand held transceivers that the hams used.
Warren, W7JDT in Hawaii
Even though he was in high school, Warren joined the Cal Poly amateur radio club,
W6BHZ and took the code and amateur radio theory classes.
While in high school the "rock and roll" era in Los Angeles was strong but had not moved north to San Luis Obispo. One
weekend the Winner Family headed to Burbank to find a Tower Record store. Buying a copy of all the LA top 40 records,
Warren and a friend drove their parents crazy by playing this new music. They were used to Percy Faith, Montavini etc.
With the owner of KVEC 920 am living in the same block as the boys, they asked if they could play the new music on
Saturday's from 12 noon to 4 pm. In July 1955 a new era of radio hit San Luis Obispo with the 1st song being played was
Bill Haley and His Comets "Rock Around the Clock".
After graduation from high school he started in the Electronics Engineering department at Cal Poly. Later that year, six
potential hams ventured to Los Angeles for the amateur radio test. The test was a written exam of 50 questions and the
examiner told Warren that he passed the code test but would have to wait 6 to 8 weeks on the results of the written
exam. Seven weeks later, his general class license arrived with a call sign of W6QGG.
Warren was active with amateur radio at Cal Poly with the club station W6BHZ.
With the US Army breathing down on him, he joined the Signal Corps and
attended two electronic repair
courses. One was at Fort Gordon, GA, K4WAR and Fort Monmouth, NJ, K2USA.
After completion of these courses, Warren was assigned to South Korea installing
and repairing field carrier, microwave and cryptography equipment for the
Department of Defense. He was the second US Army soldier to be licensed by
the Korean government at HL9KT.
After graduation from Cal Poly, Warren worked at Stanford University, W6YX
before moving to Portland, OR. Upon moving to Oregon, he applied for an area seven call sign and was given
W7JDT.
Warren has been a member of ARRG, K7RPT since 1977 and is a charter member of the Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur
Radio Club, W7OTV.
Warren Knight, N7BIJ remembers that he 1st met Warren when I came to Oregon in 1971.
He was with Graphic Arts Center, and I was just starting with Photo Art Commercial Studios.
Warren was involved with ARRG in the beginning and has been ever since. That's over 35 years, as I count them. Local
hams owe him a great deal for giving so many years of devotion!
www.arrg.org
Page 5
Humor in the Static
"The Night Before Christmas"
Ham Radio-style
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the town,
The snowstorm was raging, the phone lines were
down;
The wind it did howl, the tree limbs did crack,
I hope that St. Nick isn't forced to turn back.
The wife making cookies, the kids making noise,
While away in the shack, by my rig I was poised.
The finals were glowing, the mike gain was set,
I was chasing DX to see what I could get.
The bands were all empty, the frequencies clear,
So into the backyard the reindeer did drop,
St. Nick, the elves, and the sleigh went kerplop!
Then at the back door, I heard this loud knocking,
"Open up in there, or I won't fill your stocking!"
As I turned off the light and was leaving the
shack,
Into the house Saint Nicholas came from the
back-His two-meter rig held to his hip with a strap,
"Hams do it in the shack" on the front of his cap.
The sack that he carried made his aged brow
furrow,
Page 6
www.arrg.org
Solar activity is well below normal levels
Scientists are puzzling over the sun and why its activity is low when it should be
much higher. Despite the predictions of an active sun for 2012 and 2013, the sun is
quite pacific leaving scientists to wonder over what appears to be the sun's quietest
period over the last century.
Solar activity is well below what has been predicted for 2012.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - It is an established fact that the sun has cycles.
Every 11 years, the sun completes a cycle of activity, becoming alternatively active,
then quiet during that span. Right now, the sun should be active, but it isn't. It's
nearly as quiet as it is during its minimum, which has scientists scratching their
heads.
Solar activity can only be generally predicted and has fluctuated considerably in the
past. Solar minimums, represented by weak activity are generally correlated with cold periods in Earth's history. The "Little
Ice Age" that lasted somewhere between 1550 and 1850, saw temperatures well below average normal’s and has been
correlated to a decline in solar output. That period of solar decline is known to scientists as the "Maunder Minimum."
The Little Ice Age was typified by unpredictable weather and colder summers in northern Europe. The region was beset with
sporadic famines. Glaciers crept down from mountains and consumer farms and villages, while lakes and ponds froze over
across Europe so that people could skate on them.
The current level of solar activity is still well above Maunder Minimum levels, but it could portend the start of a general
decline. Such a decline could affect Earth's climate for several centuries.
Scientists have several ways of measuring solar activity, but one easy way is to count the number of sunspots on the solar
disk. Currently, there are less than 50 identified and recognized sunspots on the solar disk, which means activity is very low.
Sunspots are dark areas on the sun's surface which appear black to observers on Earth. Sunspots are not actually black, but
they appear that way because they are cooler and less luminous than the surrounding surface of the sun. Sunspots are
created when the suns magnetic field becomes twisted and distorted in places as a result of high internal activity.
Periods of high activity are typified by an increase in the number and size of sunspots, which can release solar flares and
coronal mass ejections (CME). These events are eruptions on the solar surface which throw incredible quantities of solar
material out into space. Many solar flares are much larger than planet Earth itself.
Fortunately, the sun is so far away that solar flares cannot endanger the Earth. However, coronal mass ejections, which occur
when a flare shoots a pulse of charged particles into space, can affect the planet.
If Earth is in the path of a CME, people who live in far northern and southern latitudes can see the northern or southern lights
in the night sky. These colorful displays known as auroras, are caused when the sun's charged particles strike gas molecules
in the upper atmosphere. They pose no threat to humans.
However, in the rarest cases, the electrical charge of these particles can cause power fluctuations on the ground. At least one
such event caused a blackout across much of Canada in the 1980s. Today, these events can be predicted and prepared for
to prevent disruptions.
During the solar minimum, these events simply do not occur. So while solar minimum means auroras become rare, it may
also mean cooler temperatures for the planet.
Scientists still do not fully understand the processes involved, so they cannot make any firm predictions. Although the sun is
quiet just now, it could erupt with activity in the days to come. There is simply no way to forecast what will happen next.
www.arrg.org
Page 7
Winter Solstice makes for possible E-Skip (Sporadic E) Conditions on 6 Meters
Sporadic E or Es is an unusual form of radio propagation using characteristics of the Earth's ionosphere.
Whereas most forms of skywave propagation use the normal and cyclic ionization properties of the ionosphere's
F region to refract (or "bend") radio signals back toward the Earth's surface, sporadic E propagation bounces
signals off smaller "clouds" of unusually ionized atmospheric gas in the lower E region (located at altitudes of
approx. 90 to 160 km). This occasionally allows for long-distance communication at VHF frequencies not usually
well-suited to such communication.
Communication distances of 800–2200 km can occur using a single Es cloud. This variability in distance depends
on a number of factors, including cloud height and density. MUF also varies widely, but most commonly falls in the
27–110 MHz range, which includes the FM broadcast band (87.5–108 MHz), Band I VHF television (American
channels 2-6, Russian channels 1-3, and European channels 2-4, the latter no longer widely used in Western
Europe), CB radio (27 MHz) and the amateur radio 10- and 6-meter bands. Strong events have allowed
propagation at frequencies as high as 250 MHz.
As its name suggests, sporadic E is an abnormal event, not the usual condition, but can happen at almost any
time; it does, however, display seasonal patterns. Sporadic E activity peaks predictably in the summertime in both
hemispheres. In North America, the peak is most noticeable in mid-to-late June, trailing off through July and into
August. Interestingly, a much smaller peak is seen around the winter solstice. Activity usually begins in
mid-December in the southern hemisphere, with the days immediately after Christmas being the most active
period.
www.arrg.org
Page 8
Technical Corner
Amateur Radio
Relay Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 91213
Portland, OR 97291
email: k7rpt@comcast.net
web site: www.arrg.org
Operating the K7RPT Repeater System
Officers
President:
Vice-President:
Secretary:
Treasurer :
Marc Peterson, W7PM
Terry Biggs, WB7CHK
Peter Jones, KE7CKB
Warren Winner, W7JDT
Board of Directors
Chairman: Terry Biggs, WB7CHK
Vice-Chair: Brian Nordlund, AC7QE
Directors: Jim Campbell, N7QME
Marc Douglas, AE7KK
Peter Jones, KE7CKB
Dale Justice, K7WW
Dee Lynch, K7JRB
Marc Peterson, W7PM
Jeff Scheetz, KF7HG
Mark Walker, W7CLU
Warren Winner, W7JDT
Committee Chairmen
Electronic Communication Jim Campbell, N7QME
Web Site - Marc Peterson, W7PM
Newsletter - Pat Roberson, W7PAT
Membership -Peter Jones, KE7CKB
Purchasing -Warren Winner, W7JDT
Sea-Pac -Dale Justice, K7WW
Standardization -Terry Biggs, WB7CHK
Technical & Site Maintenance Chair-Jeff Scheetz, KF7HG
By Marc Douglas, AE7KK
PAT, this is still forthcoming….Waiting for Marc to write it
Here is a summary of some of the work done on the K7RPT
repeaters since the last issue.
The controller at Sylvan (147.04/442.225) has been replaced,
audio levels brought up to standard. The Autopatch has been
placed back into service. The 442.225 transmitter and
receiver have both been put on the bench for a tuneup and
addition of CTCSS decoding/encoding. The “Marx” brothers
(W7PM, W7CLU and AE7KK) met up with Dee (K7JRB) in Bend
to reinstall the 147.04 repeater along with the 444.225 link
radio to Mt. Hood, both of which had been removed for other
maintenance at the site. W7PM also made a trip to Medford
and found a failing power supply, but was still able to push out
6 Watts from the 147.02 machine. In the meantime, the other
two UHF repeaters in the Portland metro area (Mt Hood
444.225 and South Saddle 442.325) both started having
problems. A couple of trips to South Saddle were made to
replace a failing UHF transmitter, upgrade the firmware and
programming in the controller (including the autopatch) and
add a rebuilt Henry PA to the VHF (147.32) repeater.
Immediate plans are to get the other two UHF repeaters (Mt
Hood and Sylvan) back on the air, install a 7 DB 24' Collinear
VHF replacement antenna at South Saddle, install our first
MSR2000 VHF repeater at Cedar Mill (147.38) with IRLP link,
and get a replacement power supply down to Bill (W7QMU)
who has graciously offered to install it for us. If you like
working on this kind of stuff, come join us! As you can see,
there's never a dull moment! 73, Marc AE7KK
Page 9
www.arrg.org
ARRG has a Christmas Wish as well!
Equipment Needs List in order of priority:
1- Second Dualband Mobile Tranceiver
(working with programmable CTCSS and a working DTMF mic).
This radio is needed to begin testing the IRLP Node for 147.380. The radio needs to have dualband
capabilites because we may wish to point the unit during emergencies, drills, ARES tests, etc. to any of
ARRG’s VHF or UHF repeaters. If you have something, even if it is older and lower power, we need it.
In fact we could use TWO dulband rigs if we could get them. One for on the air and the other for remote
programming from our IRLP Node managers QTH. On a side note, it is unfair for the Node Manager to
provide his own equipment fulltime when the ARRG team should be providing the equipment for the
entire link backone.
2- VHF or UHF Repeater(s)
The Technical Team is looking for any VHF/UHF Repeaters, Transmitters, Receivers from the GE Master
II or newer or the Mototorla MICOR, MSF-2000 or newer line of Repeater boxes.
3- Antenna Tower Sections
ARRG Needs several Rohn 25 or 45 Sections for a few of our sites.
If you have any sections lying around, let us know, we’ll come pick them up, refurb them if needed and get
them in use at our sites to hold our antennas.
4- Feedline (COAX)
We also need LMR-400, 9913 and any Heliax Hardline sections you might have lying around. Lengths
from 25’ and more are needed for new repeater installs
5- HELP WANTED: Technical Help.. willing to train people who have a desire to assist us on the ARRG
Repeaters! Contact Marc Peterson w7pm@live.com for a complete list of items we need help on right
now!
Amateur License Testing Sessions
OTVARC SESSIONS Exam sessions are held on the first Saturday of each month except June at 1:00 PM at the
Hillsboro Fire Department, Ronler Acres Station, 4455 NW 229th Street, Hillsboro, Oregon.
All exam elements are administered at each session. You may verify any exam schedule at
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session as any changes will be posted there.
The test fee is $15.00. Bring check or money order payable to ARRL VEC and a photo ID. Applicants upgrading
must bring the original AND a photocopy of their current license. Contact Carl Clawson, WS7L, 503.629.5796,
ws7l@arrl.net, to preregister.
KA0TP SESSIONS SE PDX/Milwaukie "First Sunday" VE testing. 7:00 pm at the Roundtable Pizza at 82nd Ave
and King Rd.
Walk-ins welcome! Please come early. Bring Photo ID, photocopy of current license or other paperwork, Pen,
pencils, and check for $15 made out to the ARRL. We accept cash if you have exact change but all funds are
submitted to ARRL, as we keep nothing locally. Contact KA0TP - Tom at ka0tp@aol.com or cell 503-318-5399
2012 schedule: July 1, Aug 5, Sep2, Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2
PARG SESSIONS PARG has test session on the Westside by Capitol Hwy and Barbur Blvd. on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays at 8:00 pm. For more information and for info on other test sessions in the area, see ARRL Exam Search
at arrl.org website.