THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB

NEWS SHEET 606

(http://members.aol.com/focuk)

Editor: G4BUE

April 2000

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755)
(3525, 7025, 10120-10125, 14025, 18080-18085, 21025, 24905-24910 and 28025kHz)

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL ARE 30 & 17 METRES

In this column in February Derek, G3NKS, addressed the band-planning issue and concluded: We need to be ready to present our case. Certainly protecting the CW subbands by occupying them (ZL1MHs proposal) makes a great deal of sense. But is this enough? Firstly, is the perceived threat real? It might seem safe to assume so. So it might be wise to develop the debate so as to progressively uncover all the issues. We have made a start on that. Then, when we are ready FOC could air its views in public and hopefully get itself in a position of influence. What are the likely time-scales? Again, it would be wise to err on the side of caution by assuming that the fuse is already lit. Any views need to be carefully constructed, founded on well-informed input, and pragmatic. Can we firstly determine what is the current thinking inside our national societies? Have views already been formed? If so, what are they? Is there a mountain to climb or nothing to climb? If it is too early to answer such questions then that is good news; it means that we are ahead, not behind the game. There could be two immediate initiatives: 1. To refine the FOC view: yes, we want the CW sub-bands protected from further erosion but in which ways and to what extent? Is lateral-thinking needed so as to encompass new approaches? Having formed such a view, then what about tactics? 2. To network outside the Club: it will be vital to be in touch with developments so as to be best positioned and not to be caught unawares. General debate is good but there comes a time when actions are needed. This means that one or more members need to adopt this specific issue and become pro-active. I am sure that the Committee would welcome of-

TOPICAL ISSUES by G3SXW

fers of help from any member in the position to contribute meaningfully. We need to scope the issues, suggest parameters, consider timescales, draw up an action-plan and then submit a draft paper to the Committee. And the sooner the better. Remember, this column is not a Committee view. This month they are the personal views of G3SXW, based on reading membership input to this column and wanting to take the process one step further. As always, please let me have your comments on this or any other topic for inclusion in this column. E-mail to <g3sxw@ compuserve.com> or to my CBA. You should find your 2000 Call Book and FOCUS 42 with this edition of the News Sheet. Please check your entry in the Call Book and advise G3MXJ or myself if it is wrong or anything is missing from it. If you hold other calls, then please check the rear inside cover and let me know if any calls are wrong or missing. Please note some additional text in the front of the Call Book, in particular the Advice on Sponsoring and Objecting by GW3KGV on page 6, the addition of a credit card facility for the payment of subscriptions for overseas members on page 11, and the FOC and the Internet on page 12, which has been re-written and brought up to date by G3WGV . I hope you have noticed the new style front and rear cover of FOCUS? This is an attempt to make our magazine a little more colourful for the Millennium. Please read my editorial in FOCUS 42, in particular the request for suitable colour portrait format photographs for future FOCUS front covers (that is assuming the Committee agree to continue the colour covers at their next meeting). My editorial in FOCUS 42 also refers to Silent Keys and our quotation from Samuel

EDITORIAL by G4BUE

Johnson: A man should keep his friendship in constant repair that has appeared in the heading of the News Sheet for many years. If that editorial gave the impression that I was a little down when I wrote it, then the impression was correct. However, despite going on holiday to the USA in a few days time, I am now feeling particularly up beat about our Club. This is primarily because of the high level and quality of on-air activity this year. It is tremendous! Better than I have ever heard it! What a marvellous start to the new Millennium. I say the quality of on-air activity as it has been a real pleasure to tune across all bands this past month hearing members deep in QSO, and giving positive comments to each other about the fun and enjoyment they are getting from the increased activity and chasing points for the Millennium Award. This has also been confirmed from comments in your e-mails and letters. Whilst I have heard a little of the quick thanks for the Windle / new band and then they are gone, type of QSOs, the vast majority I have heard have been the longer more chatty type of QSOs. Clearly, the improved band conditions are playing a part, as is the Millennium Award, but whatever the reasons for the increase in activity, long may it continue. Examination of the Windle Award table on the back page of this News Sheet shows three members with over 300 points already (and a real race developing for the top position!) and four more members with scores above 243, which was the second position score in the April 1999 News Sheet. By the time you receive this, June, her brother Jim and I should have arrived in Las Vegas for the start of our three week W6/7 holiday. I doubt whether I will be QRV as it is not an amateur radio related holiday, but we will be attending the West Coast Dinner at Visalia, staying overnight with K2VCO, and visiting K6ZSR and W6CYXs QTHs, so if I can just get close to a rig ..... ! This years Dayton Breakfast will be held at 8.30am (note the earlier time) Sunday 21 May in the John Glenn Room of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (ex Stouffers), 33 East 5th Street, Dayton (Downtown). The menu will not be the same as the brunch menu of previous years. This year the breakfast will be a buffet style, with only breakfast items on it. The cost is $8.25 (a lot cheaper than before) and I am looking forward to see many of you there. Please enjoy yourself while in Dayton.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MXJ

Starred List
3. W4MQC: F5VEX, G8VG, K1AO, W1OT, W4PM (+N2UU, W8XM, GEBW, W9NN). 1. G4UZN: G4YNU, LA1IE, SV1AOW, W1FZY, W8EGB. 5. K1SM: K1AJ. 5. F5NZY: G3VMW, G4CEO, I7ALE, G3RCU. 5. W6EU: N6RA, N6NT. 5. KT3Y: DL8TWA, GW3SYL. 4. N7XM: K1JD, W8XM, KT5X. 4. VA3UZ (ex-UT4UZ): N6NT, KT5X, GW3SYL. 4. K3IPK: G3HZL. 4. G5LP: G4XRV, DK4LX, VK2BJ, G3VMW, G3HEJ. 3. ZS1WA: F2MA, ZS6AL, ZS6QU. 3. K8JPM: K5DQ. 1. W3MC: N9RD, G3LPN. 1. K1VR: K2VUI. 1. G3LCS: VK2AYD, G3LPN, VE7NH. 1. N6FB: K4EF. 1. K1KY: K4AO. 1. G8FF: EA6ZY. 1. KY7M: KC7V, G3ZEM. 1. G4BWP: KC7V. 1. KP2F (WCG): K4LT. 1. N1TO (VQ9VK): W4QM. 1. VK4EMM: VK2BJ. 1. KT4P: KT5X, N2UU.

Additional Nominations

An invitation has been sent to S57NW

New Members

1731 GJWB (Bill) W. J. Brady, 15 Bamford Crescent, Accrington, Lancs BB5 2PQ; tel 01254 237795; XYL - Lynn; e-mail - <bill. g0jwb@virgin.net>. 1732 LY3BA (Gedas) G. Lucinskas, PO Box 34, LT-5280 Birzai, Lithuania; tel - 20 32413; XYL - Regina; e-mail - <ly3ba@takas.lt>. PAABM (1415): tel - 118 475 399. K2OZ (1078): new address - 3 Tania Court, Succasunna, NJ 07876-1245. K2QAR (1562): Resigned. K6RA (1129): Silent Key. K7GE (1316): Silent Key. W9GIL (1243): Silent Key. The full information for the 28th annual North American Weekend (the 11th year in the DC area) is published on page 48 of FOCUS 42. My preliminary and tentative list of those planning to attend from overseas includes DL7AKC, GFJT, G3VMW, G3ZEM, G4CEO, G4PDQ, GM3POI, GM4ZDB, PABW and ZF2NT. Please let me know on the air or via e-mail if you plan to attend. The DC Dinner will be a terrific event this year and we look forward to seeing many new members.

Amendments

DC 2000 by N2UU

DAYTON BREAKFAST by K8NW

It is inevitable that as the tide of war recedes it leaves behind small backwaters of military occupation where the troops have little to do except wait for orders sending them back home. Typical was the Libyan desert airfield of Al Adem. Stuck out there bored and with time on my hands in 1946 I borrowed an AR-88 general coverage receiver to use in my quarters to receive the BBC Overseas Service updates on what was happening back home. While idly spinning the dial one evening I stumbled upon the 20 metre amateur band and was immediately intrigued. I vaguely remembered that something called amateur radio existed in the UK before World War II closed it down, but until now had never seen it demonstrated or indeed had any contact with it. Surely this was something I could do to fill in time? Great! But how to get started Already being a reasonable competent Air Force user of speech and CW, familiar with military procedures and some of the Q code, it did not take much listening to pick up the basics of amateur procedure and jargon. I was ready to have a go All I needed was a transmitter, antenna and the all-important call sign. Equipment could be borrowed. There had to be something suitable lying around somewhere. But at that time Libya, an ex-Italian possession, had no national government. Such territories were under Allied control and with Libya being in the British sphere it was the British Military Administration which was busy constructing a framework of civil government, controlling the economy, issuing currency and establishing law and order. All things much more important than amateur radio, which had to wait. Logically that with nobody of the Administration who was willing to say Yes to amateur radio activity, equally there was no one with the authority to say No. So it followed that it would not be illegal if I had a go on the air. At that very early stage of my amateur career I had discovered only 20 metres and it was a stroke of good fortune that short skip brought in someone operating in Benghazi, 200 miles away but still in Libya. He was using the prefix LI2, and enquiry on the grape vine to my opposite number on another airfield, Benina, near Benghazi established that the operator was a civilian in UK Government service as a meteorologist. I made contact with him and he turned out to be a pre-war G6. (to be continued in the May News Sheet)

HOW IT ALL BEGAN by GW3HCL

With reference to the 12 inch high laser cut FOC badges mentioned in the March News Sheet (in the 2000 Con-Din column) and on page 49 of FOCUS 42, it is only the free 24 inch badges that I am making for the ConDin that will have the words Maastrich Millennium Condin 2000 on them. The 12 inch high ones that I am offering to members for 4 each will be engraved with the members callsign, name and FOC number on. DL8TWA: Tom is counting the days until he goes QRT in Germany and returns to Washington DC as K3TW. He was QRV in the ARRL DX CW Contest as OK/K3TW/P from OK1RRs QTH. EA6ACC: Josep made 1105 QSOs (180 with members) between 22 January and 12 March as VK4FOC from the 3, 4, 5 and 8 VK call areas and a further 209 QSOs in the Marathon. He used a IC-706 and R7000 vertical and says It was a pleasure trip, not a DXpedition. Thanks to everybody who gave me a QSO, and my apologies to others who I couldnt copy. GORH: Ken is QRV for 14 days at the end of March as GBWV a special event station, , from RAF Welford, near Newbury in Berkshire. The event is in aid of the second World War veterans arriving from the USA for a big reunion. Welford was a key base, and many gliders took off from their for the D-day offensive. G2FDF: Bill will be on holiday in Spain shortly and QRV as EA4/G2FDF again. G2HKU: Ted has been given a Toshiba T2000SXE laptop, and with a TNC he bought for 10, is exploring Packet. He says I am learning about the laptop but do not have a users manual, so all sorts of funny things happen!. G3IGW: Mike was in hospital for 11 days at the end of February, but is now recovering and QRV again. G3IY: Jim was in hospital suffering from a blood disorder in March but is now home recovering - thanks G2FFO. G3SXW: Roger will be in Ghana (9G) and Burkina Faso (XT) 29 March to 10 April. G3VCN: Paul writes My thanks to all those members who responded to my request for VR6 cards and memorabilia. Unfortunately I havent worked VR6 and wonder if my QTH is the reason. Perhaps I can use this as an excuse to move to my xyl! G3VMW: Steve and Bob, G3ZEM, will be attending the Washington DC Dinner, both for the first time. They will then drive to Day-

FOC LASER CUT BADGES by G4PKD

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

ton before returning to Washington for their flight home. G4ZVJ: Andy was QRV from ET3AA in March and then from Ghana as 9G5VJ. K4XU: Dick will be in Nuremberg on business on 7 June and then in France, Austria and others parts of Germany, including attending the Hamfest at Friedrichshafen. LA3FL: Per entertained ZL2AZ and ZL2AGY on board the Crystal Symphony when it docked at Wellington at the beginning of March and VK6LW and VK6WT when it docked at Freemantle, near Perth the following week. LA8XM: Trond will be a delegate to the WRC2000 in Istanbul between 8 May and 3 June and will be taking an IC-706 along and may be QRV as TA/LA8XM from the hotel, time permitting. N4TO: Vic spent ten days in hospital after falling off his motor cycle on 6 March. He broke a few bones and had his spleen removed and is now at home recovering, rather sore, but still planning to visit the UK and the ConDin in May - thanks W4QM & WB4OSN. OZ1LQH: Rene still has water coming into his radio room due to the hole in the roof. He has disconnected his HF equipment to prevent it being damaged and says it will probably be another two months before he is up and running again. VK8AV: Alan worked some European members on 160 metres on 9 March. W4/VP2MT: Ursula will be in the UK from 14 April for the summer and QRV as GIHM. W5GEL: Congratulations to Hallye and Bob on becoming great grandparents on the birth of their great granddaughter. W5ZR: Bert I am having a great time with the Windle and the Millennium Award and have sent in for WAFOCC and for WAFOC and received both. My DOS based program is available to any one who wants to try it. W9NN: Bob is back home after a spell in hospital and rumoured to be getting ready to ride his moped again - thanks K9MIF. WB4OSN: Barbara was rushed into hospital

(callsign in brackets indicate G4FOC operator)

FOC CALENDAR

Until 10 April 9G and XT by G3SXW Until 15 April NA-062 by K2ZR/4 (600) Until 14 May ZF2NT by N6NT (601) Until 20 June DL8TWA by K3TW (604) April - 30m & 17m (GW3KGV) 14 West Coast Dinner (605) 27 Deadline May N/Sheet 29 Committee Meeting May - 80m & 20m (G3LIK) BV/DJ3KR (604) 8/3 June TA/LA8XM (606) 12/14 DC FOC 2000 20 Deadline FOCUS 43 21 Dayton Breakfast (606) 26/27 Con-Din (603) 29 Deadline June N/Sheet June - 10m & VHF (G3WGV) 17 Harrogate Get-Together 24/25 Hamradio, Friedrichshafen 28 Deadline July N/Sheet July - 40m & 12m (G3HZL) 28 Deadline August N/Sheet August - 30m & 20m (G4BUE) 20 Deadline FOCUS 44 29 Deadline September N/Sheet September - 40m & 15m (G3LIK) 27 Deadline October N/Sheet October - 80m & 17m (G3KTZ) 7 Annual Dinner at Lords 28 Deadline November N/Sheet November - 160m & 20m (G3MXJ) 19 Deadline FOCUS 45 27 Deadline December N/Sheet December - 30m & 15m (G3PDL) 2001 subscriptions due 2 11th Florida Dinner 27 Deadline January N/Sheet January - 160m & 20m 1 Final day for 2001 subscriptions

for a week at the beginning of March where it was discovered she is a diabetic. She is now home and we wish her a speedy recovery. ZP6CW: Doug had a QSO with 5B4AGC on 6 metres on 14 March and says Now to get into the UK!.

Score updates can be passed to G4BUE or any committee member. An asterisk against the call indicates the score has been updated this month. Table shows the scores received by 0900z 25 March 2000.
W8XM* EA8CN* W6CYX* LZ1AF* W4QM* G3LIK* G4BUE* W5ZR* G3HZL* G3ZEM 314 313 312 285 259 248 246 230 227 220 SV1AOW* 213 G2FFO* 208 DL6TQ* 201 GW3KGV*200 F2MA 194 NP3G 192 K9QVB* 189 G4BJM* 172 W4CK* 169 W6TZD* 159 GORH* NP3F F3AT* G3KTZ PABW* G4HZV* K1JD* ZP6CW* G4PKD* G8VG* 155 154 152 150 145 144 143 141 138 136 YO4PX* K4EF* DJ5ZN W3NZ N1DG K1GUP* G3LHJ* G3SXW* KT5X* G3LWI 135 123 121 119 114 113 109 106 105 102 G3MXJ* W4ZYT GW3KDB K4II* G2FDF VA3LK W4DGJ* G3MCK G4OEC SM5COP 99 99 97 91 90 90 88 85 84 80 W2DX* ZL1MH AC5K LA8XM* G2HKU* GW3SB* W3ABC* OH2FOC VK8AV* 80 80 77 77 72 66 65 61 59 ZS6AL G3KKQ N4UB W1HT* GCHV G4XRV* GEBW G3NKS ZM2AGY* 57 56 55 54 53 53 51 45 43 SM6AOU OZ4FF W9VNE K6OU* W2MEL* VK4XA W5GEL K6DC W6THN 39 34 34 33 32 29 25 20 12

THE 2000 WINDLE AWARD