Name Call Date ExpiresThere will be no more paper notices mailed due to the rising cost of postage and supplies. All future notices will be sent electronically. See Members List for your expires date.
Second Notice
Brooks, Lynda KI6OHX 5/31/2010
Wagner,Lee Alan KI6KVI 5/31/2010
First Notice
Dillon, R. Don W6PLT 6/30/2010
McCormack, Bill WA6BM 6/30/2010
Stuart, Ronald WA6JEF 6/30/2010
Woollacott,Lori KJ6AFH 6/30/2010
by Gary Stigall
www.rwonline.com/article/100300
Kenneth, Ronald, and John
I have written a biography of Guglielmo Marconi, entitled Marconi, Father of Wireless, Grandfather of Radio, Great-Grandfather of the Cell Phone, The Story of the Race to Control Long-Distance Wireless.
It is available at www.Amazon.com. If you search for Marconi Trowbridge, it will come right up.
This biography is, I believe, the fullest account to date of Marconi's business and scientific accomplishments and their interaction with each other and with events occurring about him.
Marconi and radio amateurs, as I am sure you know, shared a close relationship with each other and the development of wireless and radio. Hams were among the first Marconi wireless operators. In 1909 Marconi's American company successfully fought legislation aimed at limiting ham operations (p. 268). In 1922 hams' transatlantic signals inspired Marconi's revolutionary short wave experiments (p. 379-80).
"Marconi was a giant in his time, akin to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of today. As a technological inventor/entrepreneur/businessman, he foreshadowed the booming era of Silicon Valley, one hundred years later, paving the way for the communications revolution of today's Wi-Fi, smart phones, and ultraportable computers." Introduction, p.v
"Marconi lived at a level of elegance rarely achieved. Scientists infrequently break to the forefront at the young age he did. He was twenty-seven at St. John's. For the past quarter century he had been setting the pace. Not many play such a preeminent role for so long. Even fewer create a global, industry-dominating enterprise in which they remain one of the principal executives. Neither Thomas Edison nor Alexander Graham Bell did. It would be difficult to find a handful of examples in other fields. On top of this close to unique dual distinction, Marconi attracted star-like notoriety on two continents. He was feted and recognized with nations' honors. He led his country's elite royal academy. With a noble, young wife at his side, he was acquaintance, friend, host, or guest of kings and queens, the pope, state heads, movie stars, and society figures. Life and research on Elettra were frosting on his cake." Chapter 22. The Last Merger, p. 423
"The London Times said upon Marconi's death in 1937 that it was difficult to imagine any diminution of the fame of Guglielmo Marconi, that he might even be regarded as the supremely significant character of the epoch, the name by which the age is called. ... What the Times foresaw has not happened. In the years intervening since 1937, there have been many portentous events. Yet it is possible that the paper was just premature in its prediction. When we look about us at the ubiquitous cell phone implementing Marconi's concepts and what he envisioned, making a reality of point-to-point and person-to-person communication, through the air, at innumerable places around the globe, perhaps ours is the age that should be called the Marconi Era." Introduction, p. vi.
I hope you and members of your club will enjoy the biography.
Best regards,
Cam Trowbridge
Trowbridge International Consulting
646-256-0639
Paris London
New York Washington, D.C.
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU
Ever since the FCC dropped the code requirement and the Novice license exam, the Technician Class license has really been misnamed. Being the first license that most hams obtain, it really should have been called the Novice license. The question pool was arguably at the appropriate level for newcomers to amateur radio, being heavy on rules and operating practices, and perhaps a little light on technical topics.
That's about to change. On July 1, 2010, the question pool for the Tech test changes, and this version has noticeably more technical questions than the previous test. You could say that the Tech test is getting, errrr, a little more technical.
For example, the new question pool contains more questions about electronics components and their functions. In addition to that, examinees must also be able to identify the symbols for these components on a schematic diagram. This is a big change from the previous test, which had no diagrams at all. There are also more detailed questions about transistors and how they work.
There are also questions on how to make basic measurements with a multimeter how to troubleshoot basic problems that Technicians are likely to encounter. One question asks, "What two measurements are commonly made using a multimeter"? Answer: voltage and resistance. A follow up question asks, "What is the correct way to connect a voltmeter to a circuit"? Answer: in parallel with the circuit.
To make room for these questions, the committee dropped questions on operating practices and rules and regulations. In general, these are not big losses, but two questions that I was sorry to see go are the questions on the "basis and purpose" of amateur radio. I think these are very important for new amateurs to learn and keep in mind. (If you don't recall them, go to www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio and review them.)
By the time you read this--or shortly thereafter--the new version of my No-Nonsense, Technician Class License Study Guide should be available. You can download it free of charge from my website, www.kb6nu.com. Look for the link in the right-hand column. It's currently in the hands of more than two dozen reviewers, who are proofreading it right now.
While it may not be in the initial release, I plan to include a section that contains links to websites that cover topics included in the study guide. That way, students can find more information on a topic, if they choose to do so. If you have any favorite websites that discuss making measurements with voltmeters or how to read schematic diagrams, I'd love to hear from you.
When not updating his No-Nonsense amateur radio license study guides, you'll find him on 40m, 30m, 20m, and if we ever get any sunspots to stick around, 15m and 10m pounding brass. You may even hear him trying to get the hang of using the bug he bought at Dayton this year. You'll find his blog at www.kb6nu.com, and you can e-mail website suggestions to cwgeek@kb6nu.com
www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2010-05-19
Garbage Bag as EmComm Asset
The garbage bag is the most overlooked yet most practical single item available in an emergency. Not only can it protect you and/or your equipment from a variety of climatic conditions, it facilitates carrying items ranging from your most expensive equipment to trash from an abandoned site.
Further, the typical garbage bag weighs less than an ounce, occupies little more room than a business envelope and costs pennies. From personal experience in the most inclement weather and most demanding situations, where I didn't have a garbage bag, I wished I had one, and, where I gave thanks for having had the prescience to have brought one along. In an emergency, after functioning communications equipment, nothing beats a garbage bag! -- John Kountz, KE6GFF/T6EE, CRO Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Team, Laguna Beach, California
The meeting will be held on June 2, 2010 (the first Wednesday of each month). Arrive at 7:00pm for set-up and chat; the meeting starts at 7:30pm. Talk-in on 146.730 MHz repeater.
Directions to the Safety Center.Come early and enjoy an "eyeball" QSO with our members.
The club will operate Field Day (June 26-27) from Dennis N6KI's new favorite location, the hilltop home of Nash W6HCD in Bonsall. Ron, K2RP, has agreed to coordinate logistics. If you can participate as station captain, or can help out with the food service (very crucial!), or have a comfortable RV you can lend us for shelter, or wish to contribute in some other way, please contact K2RP.
Carlsbad Safety Center
2560 Orion Way
Carlsbad
There was no formal meeting May. The club provided communications
for the Avenue of the Oaks Bicycle Ride on that date. This financial report
is provided for member information.
Checking Balance March 31, 2010 $3,464.34
Petty Cash Balance March, 2010 $34.53
Total $ 3,498.87
APRIL INCOME
FARC Membership Dues $20.00
Total $20.00
MARCH EXPENSES
No Expenses $0.00
Total $0.00
Checking Balance March 31, 2010 $3,484.34
Petty Cash Balance March, 2010 $34.53
Total $ 3,518.87
Ken Dickson, W6MF
Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club
Secretary/Treasurer
Dewey ECC Committee
Bigs-KG6GIU, Ron-KG6HSQ, Ken-W6MF, Randy-KD6UAK, Bob-W6VR, Hayden-KG6YVD
Technical Committee
Bob-W6VR, AA4CD-Chris, Bob-WB6DIJ, Paul-W6SJL, Daryl-WA5QMV, Ron-KG6HSQ
| News Items from CGC Communicator Newsletter Robert Gonsett - W6VR Editor |
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS BRIEFS o Mexico plans to cut cell phone service to many unregistered users: o Technical papers on electrical grounding have been Web-posted by the Copper Development Association. To see them, visit this URL and search on the word "grounding:" o Micro super-capacitors are expected to rival batteries for some applications: o To recycle old electronic devices including TVs, check out the Consumer Electronics Association's Website: o Government time clock. Click on the map for your time zone: HAM RADIO NOTES o The redesigned ARRL website is up and running: o NPR story about Amateur Radio: o Regarding use of Ham Radio during government disaster drills, comments on proposed rules are due May 24, and replies June 7: THE BPL WAR: MANASSAS, VA TO END BPL SERVICE JULY 1 "It's a big victory over QRN [electromagnetic noise]. This with word that the once highly touted Broadband over Powerline [BPL] experimental project in Manassas, Virginia, will soon be no more as the Manassas City Council votes to discontinue the service as of July 1st...." Amateur Radio Newsline, April 16 2010 FCC NEWS BRIEF - CLEARING THE 700 MHZ BAND The manufacture, importation, sale and lease of 700 MHz wireless microphones is now prohibited; consumer alert required for all other wireless mics at the point of sale or lease: FCC reminds consumers of June 12, 2010 transition date for 700 MHz wireless microphones: 700 MHz & Wireless Mics: o FCC reminds us that wireless microphones must vacate the 700 MHz band by June 12, 2010: o The manufacture, importation, sale and lease of 700 MHz wireless microphones is now prohibited; consumer alert required for all other wireless mics at the point of sale or lease: o FCC grabs 25 MHz of spectrum near Sirius/XM; tells Sirius/XM to build terrestrial repeaters to mitigate wireless-to-Sirius/XM interference: FCC FORFEITURE WATCH o Bi-directional amplifier (BDA) jams T-Mobile in Culver City: o Cox Communications, Laguna Beach etc., issued a NOV for excessive cable leakage: o Fisher Wireless Services, La Cresenta, issued a NOV for hogging a 461 MHz channel and failing to I.D. as required: ITEMS OF INTEREST TO BOTH RADIO & TV o Video of a falling Loran tower. More than just spectacular, this video is educational in the way the tower collapses: o A brief (5 min.) history of batteries: RADIO NEWS BRIEFS o Radio broadcast transmitter stolen while in operation: o With KSIQ-FM's booster alive and well on San Miguel Mtn., one would expect to find their primary transmitter in Campo in full operation, but recent Web postings indicate that Campo just has a weak, monaural, dead carrier on 96.1 MHz. No programming; no required hourly IDs, no nada. TV NEWS BRIEF o First-run motion pictures can now be sent directly to homes using FCC-approved anti-piracy technology. Whether major motion picture producers will be willing bypass motion picture theaters is another story entirely: MISCELLANEOUS NEWS BRIEFS o Cash for "700 MHz Clunkers" (wireless mics) program: o Robert Gonsett, Editor of the CGC Communicator newsletter, is featured in this Radio World cover story: o Modern copy machines often contain hard drives that "remember" thousands of pages that were copied. This leads to huge security risks when the machines are sold or discarded (CBS Evening News item from 4/19/2010): WIRELESS POWER Here is a critical look at transmitting electrical power without wires. It turns out that inductive coupling is only practical over a distance of a few feet and even then there are human exposure to RF issues that cannot be ignored. If you are in a hurry, start reading in the middle of page 3 (the following URL takes you there). Begin at the bold title "How electromagnetic fields..." and finish by reading page 4. Fascinating stuff. AMATEUR RADIO NEWS o San Jacinto resident Irene Levy allegedly peppers police and fire radio channels with threatening remarks: o FCC proposes to modify the use of five channels in the 5330.6-5406.4 kHz (60 meter) ham band, among other things: GRADE A OFF TOPIC MATERIAL THE NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK Check out the new and improved U.S. Debt Clock containing important information for all of us. Each U.S. taxpayer now owes just over $118,000 as their share of the National Debt. It's your credit card. Someone else is running it up. And that's not the half of it. The U.S. National Debt is projected to skyrocket under Washington's announced spending plans and -- for the first time -- there is no abatement plan. o Airborne broadcast stations, Air Force style: o Breaking into a garage in six seconds: o Checking out Saturn: o The WolframAlpha ("WA") search engine is extremely useful for certain technical things. CGC uses WA as an adjunct to Google: o The "World's Smallest Political Quiz" is quick and goes beyond Republican, Democrat and Independent. Ten questions. Fun, easy and instructive: o CGC #1004 linked to the first 35mm motion picture reportedly made, a trolly ride through San Francisco just days before the 1906 earthquake (first URL). Now, take the photo journey again, same route but 100 years later (second URL). Enjoy! o A quick and delightful video tour through the International Space Station: o Honolulu, Hawaii, August 14, 1945. This video is in honor of Memorial Day and captures the spontaneous celebrations that broke out on hearing the first news of the Japanese surrender: |
| Duane, AA6EE is offering FARC members discount prices on ARRL items: |
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