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23 AUGUST 2014
FROM MIKE, KD8CVY-CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE QRZ SCAMMER
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CLICK HERE FOR 2014 VIDEOS OF GARY'S (KI8BQ) AM GET-TOGETHER
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CLICK HERE-2014 STOUGHTON HAMFEST PHOTOS FROM KARL KC9AA
****************** MARCH 2014-RFI info from net
member, Barry, K9YVT, Selmer, TN
The ARRL has formally complained to the FCC, contending that a “grow light” ballast being widely marketed and sold is responsible for
severe interference to the MF and HF bands. The League urged Commission action to halt sales of the Lumatek LK-100 electronic
ballast and to recall devices already on store shelves or in the hands of consumers. In a March 12 letter to the Commission’s
Enforcement Bureau and its Office of Engineering and Technology, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said the ARRL’s
own laboratory testing revealed that the Lumatek device exhibited excessive conducted emissions, in violation of the FCC’s
rules. “ARRL has received numerous complaints from Amateur Radio
operators of significant noise in the medium and high frequency bands between 1.8 MHz and 30 MHz from ‘grow lights’
and other RF lighting devices generally,” Imlay told the Commission. “The level of conducted emissions from this
device is so high that, as a practical matter, one RF ballast operated in a residential environment would create preclusive
interference to Amateur Radio HF communications throughout entire neighborhoods.” An extensive Conducted Emissions Test Report detailing the ARRL Lab’s test results was attached to the League’s correspondence. “[T]he Report concludes from the conducted emissions tests that the six highest emissions from the device in the HF band vastly
exceed the quasi-peak limit specified in Section 18.307(c) of the Rules,” Imlay related. The ARRL further pointed out
that, while a FCC sticker has been affixed to the device, it lacked FCC compliance information. FCC Part 18 rules require
RF lighting devices to provide an advisory statement with the device, notifying users that it could interfere with radio equipment
operating between 0.45 MHz and 30 MHz. The
League noted that the device is imported into the US and marketed and sold by Sears, where ARRL purchased its test sample,
as well as by Amazon.com and other retail outlets. The ARRL also called on the FCC to consider enforcement proceedings against
the importer, Hydrofarm Horticultural Products of Petaluma, California. “ARRL respectfully requests that your office take the appropriate action with respect to
this device without delay,” Imlay’s letter concluded. Copies of the correspondence were sent to the importer. In separate correspondence to FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, seeking
his review of the complaint, Imlay said the Lumatek unit was “typical in terms of its performance, and many other types of ‘grow lights’ are being imported, marketed,
sold and deployed now.” One of Pai’s main interests is the revitalization of the AM Broadcast Band, where noise
can be an impediment to reception. “It is not at all an exaggeration that even one of these electronic ballasts operated
in a residential neighborhood makes any AM Broadcast reception impossible,” Imlay asserted. The League included a copy
of its test report with the letter to Commissioner Pai. “Marked increases in the noise floor at MF and HF, year-over-year, are well-known to active Amateur Radio licensees,
and it is devices such as the Lumatek LK-1000 and its progeny that are major contributors to this noise pollution,”
Imlay added.
********** From Frank, W9FM, last year:
In May 2013, I was found to have
a tumor inside my bladder! (blood in stream).
It was removed in early July ... the biopsy was serious ... a very aggressive
muscle invasive form of carcinoma!
Various treatment options were studied and I elected a radical cystectomy
(remove the whole thing and some surrounding organs) I had that surgery on July 30 at Loyola University Medical in Maywood!
After 8 days in the hospital, I came home :-)
Subsequent pathology reports indicate no further
evidence of cancer! :-) :-)
Recovery will be 6 to 8 more weeks so wish me luck and prayers are really appreciated!
FURTHER INFO FROM FRANK 2 MARCH 2014 I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking!
As you may know, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in June 2013.
After one minor and two major surgeries in July and August, the Drs say that all the cancer is gone with the exception of
2% of one lymph node! As a result, I've been undergoing a chemotherapy regimen which began in December and will end
on March 23!
The chemo hasn't been as intolerable as it could
have been but it does cause me to be really tired!
I'd rather sleep late than get
on the air .... .. !
I will be making an effort to return to the Saturday AM net as soon as
I can! I need to heat the basement these cold winter days with the warmth of all those glowing vacuum tubes!
Thanks for your friendship!
73, Frank W9FM
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The MCWA newsletter mentioned
... AES DATA Breach : Friday January 24,2014 I received an email from Tom Pachner W9TJP an official at AES. He said that "consumer information" from
AES orders from January 6 to January 23,2014 had been compromised. I ordered from AES during
this time period. I guess this circumlocution means that means credit card data has been stolen. I've done business with AES for over 30 years. This is the first time this has happened. During
this time period I had ordered (and received the next day) a duplexer to combine inputs with a VHF and UHF
antenna. It was a mere $24.95 purchase! Within two days my credit card
company contacted me to confirm "out of my usual pattern" purchases from on-line orders. In this case someone
overseas had ordered over $900 of baby supplies ... crib, car seat, etc. The fraudulent purchase
was stopped. I also had to standby as the credit card account was closed and new cards were issued. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm@amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal
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| Spotted at Superfest |
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| Ken-W0HRO, Lou-W9LRS and Tom W9QI |
Thanks Dave-W9WRL for the above photo he took on Jan 25, 2014. Dave also spotted Frank-W0KH in the crowd.
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Net member, Bob, W9RAN, has done it again. Another fine
article written by him has been published in QST (January 2014). It appears on page 38 and is titled: "Virtual RADAR from
a Digital TV Dongle". Congratulations Bob.
You can click below to go directly to an online version
of Bob's article:
CLICK HERE
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The October 2013 issue of Electric Radio MAGAZINE includes an article by Bob-
W9RAN showing how to convert
a basic "All American 5" broadcast radio
into a simple 2-watt 75 meter AM transceiver. Bob calls his
Franken-Radio the "All American 75" and MCRN members as far as 300 miles
away have heard its Heising-modulated QRP
signal. The AA75 conversion
consists of adding an external power supply to eliminate the hot chassis
shock hazard
and building a simple crystal controlled transmitter using
a 35L6 that replaces the original rectifier tube in the series
filament
string. Re-tuning the receiver from the BC band to 75 meters
provides about the same
performance as an S-38 type receiver which is
good enough to hear any station that can receive the AA75s QRP signal.
Bob
was motivated to try the AA75 conversion after finding an AA5 radio
with a hopelessly broken plastic cabinet in an antique
shop for $5. As
a result, his rig is housed in a homebrew cabinet made of scrap wood and
plastic (note
how the dial has been carefully calibrated for AM
operation!)
Bob hopes others will be motivated to try similar
conversions and with their own innovations.
Since the basic AA5
circuit was used by hundreds of manufacturers, the AA5 was possibly the
original Open Source Design!.
Unfortunately,
a couple of errors crept into the 35L6 transmitter
schematic that appears on page 19 of the article, and W9RAN urges
anyone
wishing to give this idea try to use the following corrected version
instead of the one published in ER.
********
July 27, 2013 AM get-together in Sturgis, MI... CLICK HERE
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July 2013 LIZ-K4GHT IS GOING THROUGH CHEMO AND AT THE HAMBOREE LOU, W9LRS PASSED A CARD AROUND
FOR ALL OF US TO SIGN...THIS NOTE AND ATTACHED LETTER FROM LIZ IS FROM LOU: Thanks to all who had signed the card for Liz
at the six meter hamfest. I also added the MCRN, Noon time forum and the DX 60 net et al to the signatures Here is the response and update from
Liz. Lou, W9LRS
I want to thank
you for the very special card that you sent to me while I was in the hospital. I don’t know how you did it but it by
far is one of the nicest things any ham has ever done for me. I was moved to tears when I received the card and saw all of
the signatures. It made me feel great knowing that my Mid-West buddies were thinking of me. My progress is good and according to my doctors I am in full remission from the
AML Leukemia cancer. I thank everyone for the warm thoughts and prayers, they have been answered. I have two more sessions
that require hospitalization, each lasting two to three weeks. When I am finished with the chemo sessions I should be completely
clear and ready to continue with my life. My friend Sara, my dog Gizmo and I will be heading to Michigan towards the end of
October of first of November. I am looking forward to getting the equipment check out and getting on the air with AM forum
folks so I can personally thank each and everyone. I will say 73/88 for now. Thank you again for being so darn thoughtful. God Bless! Liz **********************
click here for South Milwaukee 2013 Hamfest fotos
click here for Dayton 2013 fotos
***************** November 2012
This is a message from Pete, N9HXW, who moved from Willowbrook, IL
to an area north of New York City. With all the bad weather out there it is comforting to hear this from him:
Thank you for the well wishes. We survived the three "once in a 100 year" storms this past year
without ever losing electric power. Unbelievable given the devastation inflicted on so much of the East Coast. I had my generator
ready to go but didn't have to fire it up once. We couldn't have been more lucky. I am going to have a natural gas generator
installed once we get by the immediate crisis. Seems that all the people who install them are busy attending to present customers.
Take
care and give my best to all our old friends. Pete, N9HXW *********************
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| Harry, N9CQX admires Skip's K7YOO very rare Atwater Kent model 3945 |
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CLICK HERE FOR GROUP PHOTO OF AM GET-TOGETHER AT GARY'S KI8BQ ON JULY 28, 2012. CLICK ON PICTURE FOR NAMES AND CALLS. THANKS
TO K8SMC
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Submitted by George, K9GDT:
A presentation by Wes Schum, Central Electronics founder. Wes gives his story about his company, how he started in ham
radio, development of SSB, involvement in WW II research, helping VOA when Russia was jamming them, Art Collins call for help
and the taking over of Central by Zenith. He also mentions his retirement plans.
CLICK HERE FOR WES SCHUM PRESENTATION
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ANOTHER LINK. THIS ONE FROM BOB-W9RAN. IT IS FOR COLD WAR SHORTWAVE.
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MORE PHOTOS-CLICK HERE
15 AUGUST 2011 TOUR
OF ABC CH 7 CHICAGO
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| Our tour guide, Lou, W9LRS |
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