SCARS News August 31, 2021

/ August 31, 2021

In This Issue…

Conrad Warren W7WLM – Silent Key — Menu

Conrad Warren W7WLM passed away on August 16, 2021. Hams typically call this “becoming a silent key”. For those of us that were able to know Conrad, we are much better for that relationship. Conrad had such a long list of experiences and he could “spin a yarn” that could entertain for hours. He was a frequent flyer, literally, at the McDonalds daily group. In fact he holds the duration record for a single McDonalds visit. He arrived at 9:00 am, and 7 1/2 hours later, he finished his last discussion and headed for home at 4:30 pm. The McDonalds crew will be telling Conrad stories for years to come…

We were able to talk Conrad into making a couple of presentation for the SCARS group. The first one was on building your own Marconi T antenna, and the second one was on tube radios. A number of local hams built the T antennas right after the meeting and they worked great. And, as Conrad arrived for the tube radio presentation, he realized that he had left the schematics he planned to use during the presentation at home. No worries, he just pulled up the white boards and drew the schematics from memory. He confessed after the meeting that this wasn’t the schematic that he used to build his radio, but thought the one that he drew was actually a bit better.

Conrad grew up on a ranch in Montana and despite his dad’s urging to take over the ranch, he followed his lifelong interest in aviation and joined the Air Force in the early1960’s. The ranch was purchased by the National Parks System and still operates today as it did ‘back in the day’. Conrad was meant to fly, as an aviation cadet he soloed and flew in numerous types of USAF planes, from tail draggers and jets.

Later, he was assigned to a communications slot at the Air Base near Orlando, Florida. In his spare time, he earned money by flying surplus Air Force planes to a place where they were scrapped. Among those planes were Corsairs that could be purchased for $500. Later he served at an air base in Germany and eventually received an honorable discharge.

When he returned to Montana, he flew for an aircraft firm that dropped chemicals on forest fires. He flew various aircraft including the B-17, DC-3, and the Ford Trimotor. Later, Conrad became a “Bush” pilot in Alaska, flying the De Havilland Beaver filled with fishermen to remote lakes. 

Conrad enrolled in schools in Southern California, earning three engineering degrees. Sometime later, he worked for an engineering firm in Northern California near Auburn or Grass Valley. During this time, he bought a Russian MIG-15 fighter jet, one of many planes he owned at various times.  Conrad claimed to have flown more than 40 types of airplanes. 

By the way, he received is HAM license at age 14 when he was growing up at Deer Lodge, Montana. He applied for the astronaut training program and was selected as a trainee. Some 15,000 applied. He was flown to Florida on three occasions for various training and testing. When the group of trainees were narrowed down to approximately 146, Conrad said the names of a dozen or so names were announced as final selectees and everyone else was sent home.

As a teenager, he participated in rodeos and was outstanding at lassoing wild animals, etc.

Tom Seale KH6AAA said it best when he stated “If we were ever to meet Nikola Tesla, he would be a lot like Conrad.”

David White N5DW – Silent Key — Menu

By Gary Skaggs WB5ULK

I do not know how many Amateurs in the Norman area knew Dave White. Dave was not active in any clubs as far as I knew – he was busy enough trying to keep all of the broadcast assets for which he was responsible on the air.

Dave was my Elmer when I passed my license exam in late June of 1976 in Ada. At the time, he was Engineer for 3, and perhaps as many as 5 radio stations around Ada which were owned by the same local family. He was patient to a fault. If you did not understand a concept, he wouldn’t just repeat what he just said, he would approach the concept from an entirely different point-of-view. After he got to know me a bit more, he trusted me to power-up the local 100 watt AM broadcast station, play the National Anthem, and kick-off the pre-recorded stuff for the early morning weekends.

He didn’t do this only for me. He did it with many others.

God’s Speed, Dave. I miss your smooth-as-butter baritone voice already, but I can still hear it in my memory.

Ed Fong Group Antenna Order – Last Call — Menu

Our August meeting presentation was about the J-Pole antenna and was hosted by Ed Fong WB6IQN. He walked through a J-Pole and a dual band J-Pole electrically and mechanically through each individual part or connection. If you missed the meeting, his presentation is available at this link on the SCARS YouTube channel. Ed also provided us a copy of his presentation slides if you would like to read some of them at your leisure. Those PowerPoint slides are available at this link.

The J-Poles that Ed and his university student build work on two meters and 70 cm. These antennas work well, and are easy to install. The DBJ-1 antenna is designed to slip into a schedule 200 PVC pipe, and they can be u-bolted to a tower, or mounted on a pole. I’ve got one over the house right now that I use for FM and DMR contacts. The DBJ-2 antenna is designed as a roll-up antenna for temporary use. You can hang it from a tree, a balcony, or a wire strung between two supports.

The J-Pole antenna is designed to be omni-directional and provide some gain on both bands.

Ed Fong Group Order

Ed has made the following six items available for us to group order at a reduced price. These items were described during the presentation and more detailed information on each of these is available on Ed’s web page at this link. The special order price on DBJ-1 and DBJ-2 is a 20% discount from his online prices and these will be shipped for free.

  • DBJ-1 (ham) dual band base antenna (144-148 MHz and 440-450 MHz)   Maximum power input 75 watts. – $40 — Special Club Group Order Price — $32
  • DBJ-2  (ham) dual band roll up antenna kit –  (144-148 MHz and 440-450 MHz)   Includes adapters for BNC, SMA and SMA – female.  Also includes a 6 ft extension cable.  Maximum power input 50 watts. – $40 — Special Club Group Order Price — $32
  • Extra 6 ft extension RF cables for the DBJ-2 (note –  this only works with the DBJ-2 and is NOT compatible with our other antennas – this is because it is custom built with BNC male to BNC female)  $5
  • TBJ-1  (ham) triband base antenna (144-148 MHz, 222-225MHz, 440-450 MHz) Maximum power 75 watt  $70 (comes complete with PVC pipe) featured in March QST 2017  US patent 9,608,336 — Special Club Group Order Price — $65
  • BNC male to PL259 adapter $2.50
  • GP5 / SSB radio — Special Club Group Order Price — $65

To place your order, please send an email to mkleine@live.com with your request. Payment can be made by PayPal (details will be emailed back to you), delivered at a Elmer Night, or through special arrangements that can be made. Send your order today. Orders will be accepted until 9/1/2021 at 5:00 pm.

Orders Received…

Here is the list of orders received. If your name’s not on-the-list, please send and email to mkleine@live.com.

DBJ-1 —

  • Peter Laws N5UWY (Paid)
  • Paul Hoegstrom N5HOB (Unpaid)
  • Ron LaSpisa K5RJL (Unpaid)
  • Frank Hall cencrunner@gmail.com (Unpaid)
  • Rodney Holden KG5SST (Unpaid)

DBJ-2 —

  • Ron LaSpisa K5RJL (Unpaid)
  • Rodney Holden KG5SST (Unpaid)
  • Bill Lockett AE5F (Paid)

Extension cable for DBJ-2 —

  • Ron LaSpisa K5RJL (Unpaid)
  • Rodney Holden KG5SST (Unpaid)
  • Bill Lockett AE5F (Paid)

TBJ-1 —

BNC male to PL259 —

  • Ron LaSpisa K5RJL (Unpaid)
  • Rodney Holden KG5SST (Unpaid)
  • Rodney Holden KG5SST (Unpaid)
  • Bill Lockett AE5F (Paid)

GP5 —

QRZ072: Ring The Bells For Little Zedd — Menu

This ongoing series was written by SCARS charter member SK Jack Bickham WB5TZZ / KU5B. Jack was a prolific novelist, his two most known works were turned into the movies “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, and “Bakers Hawk.” These 104 Q. R. Zedd articles were originally published in the Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs (CORA) Newsletter, the Collector & Emitter from September 1981 through April 1990, and are hosted on the SCARS web site. We are reprinting this series to provide you with a glimpse of the past.

Originally published in the August 1987 issue of the Collecter and Emitter.

Births —
A son, 8 lbs. 10 oz. to Mr. and Mrs. Q.R. Zedd, A5A, just a hoot and a holler south of town, at Norman Regional Hospital Tuesday.

Most faithful readers will have seen the above announcement, or one similar, since the news went out on AP, UPI, Reuters, CNN, all ARRL frequencies and the C&B Bulletin. We do, however, have a serious historic function here as part of our ongoing journalistic responsibility, so we went to make sure you have the facts before getting to the other stuff we have to report this month.

Tondolayo did just fine. Zedd, A5A, world’s best DXer, was in a QSO with a rare one, no Tondnleyo understandingly drove herself to the hospital. Momma Zedd (of Mena, Ark.) was visiting, and she would have taken the deer girl on her Kawasaki, but Momma was down at Red’s in a break-dancing contest she just couldn’t leave right then.

The little mother was radiant after a labor of a few hours, and the darling baby was hollering like mad in the nursery. The boy-child was kind of purple and wrinkly and repulsive, but newborns are all like that.

The proud parents announced that they would cell the child Zepp Marconi Zedd, after Q.R.’s father and one of his ancestors on his mother’s side.

Zedd installed a CW monitor in the crib, and Tondelay recited AC theory during feeding times.

By the time you read this, it is anticipated that mommy and daddy and itty bitty Zeppy will have left the sweetsie itsie hopital and toodled home in the cutey nicey truckie, to the funny lovely ranchie forever more.

Bells rang in London at the news of the birth. The Pope issued an encyclical. The White House sent a telegram. The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society sent a flower. A few dignitaries — the Queen, Debra Winger, Brian Bosworth and the like — visited the ranch.

Last Sunday, a worldwide alert startled the USAF as an unidentified Soviet bomber streaked through U.S. radar defenses. However, it was quickly determined that the plane was on a special mission to Honor Roll Ranch from Moscow, and the Iluyshin 222-B was given a special escort through the Zedd antenna farm and to safe landing at the Goldsby International Airdrome.

When what to our eyes should appear, hopping out of the bomber, but this big dude with a bushy black beard, 44 front teeth, rumpled Russian army uniform (complete with 17 rows of medals) and posture-patty boots, loaving a trail of crushed Twinkle wrappers and empty Coors cans.

Had to be, and was, Boris Badenov, ace Soviet DXer and longtime irritant to the great Zedd.

“Where is this capitalist lackey swine, eh?” Boris roared. “I have come from beloved mother Russia, give the nerd my personal congratulations and let him feel my BY QSL card! Is big thrill for him, hah? Where at is he, eh?”

A couple of the local boys and two disgused CIA agents brought up a car, complete with multiple bugs and hidden cameras. As Badenov looked the conveyance over, out of the airplane behind him bounded thin vision of loveliness in a black leather jumpsuit, black boots, rhinestone dagger belt and crimson flaggelation gauntlets, none other than Natasha Bullwinkle, brunette, nubile, youthful QSL, secretary from Box 88 and Badenov’s constant companion.

WB5RZX tried to help Natasha into the car, but she slid nimbly aside and made a quick, savage gesture.

“Ouchl” WB5RZX screamed. “Ow! Ow! Heckl” And possibly some other words, because Natasha had stuck him with her dagger.

“You touch sexpot intellectual genius and radio sportswoman of Soviet Union, pig, and I stick you with my knife!” Natasha hissed.

“Now you tell met’ WB5RZX moaned.

“But now,” Natasha cooed, moving closer, “I see you are how you say in pig capitalist countries, kind of cute, eh? Hey, big boy, you kind of… how you say… hunk, hah? How you like some Armenia with me, do some DX, huh?”

Patriot that he is, WB5RZX declined, citing pressure of studies and the American Way. Natasha snarled a bit, but then accompanied Boris to the ranch.

We would like to tell you what happened at the ranch when the two great DXers met, and actually that was our intent when we started this article, but how space evaporates when you’re having fun, and the juicy part will have to wait until next month.

— KU5B

New/Upgraded Hams

Please join the SCARS Exam Team in welcoming the following new amateur to the air:

David KI5RBX
Elijah KI5RBY
Martin KI5RBZ

each of whom earned a Technician class license as well as:

Taylor KI5ICE
David KI5QMF
each of whom upgraded to General class as well as:

Jonathan KF5YET

who upgraded to Amateur Extra at the August 5th exam session.

Congratulations!

Next Exam Session:  September 2

Dates to Remember — Menu

Newsletter News — Menu

This newsletter is announced in several places. Feel free to subscribe to the way that suits you best. If you’re an email person, you can subscribe by visiting https://w5nor.org/email. If you’re a Twitter person, visit us at https://w5nor.org/twitter. And each newsletter announcement is posted on the Facebook group at https://w5nor.org/facebook. And, if you like to search this yourself, you can go straight to the newsletter at https://w5nor.org/newsletter. Any way you found the newsletter, we’re glad you made it.

And, this newsletter should be for, and about, you. If you have a neat build project to share, an interesting QSO, a new radio review, a new idea, an upcoming event, a member spotlight, or if you’d like to help produce the newsletter, please send an email at w5nor@w5nor.org. These don’t have to be polished articles; we’ll edit as required. Don’t forget a picture or two. That picture is worth a thousand words.

Local Hamfests — Menu

Briefly, here’s the list of the upcoming local hamfests. Hamfests are always great places to buy new equipment, sell your underused equipment, and find that great flea market bargain. They are always a great place to meet local hams and learn some new tricks.

9/11/2021 | Tulsa Tailgate | Location: Tulsa, OK — On Schedule —
9/10-11/2021 | Arkansas State Convention | Location: Mena, AR — On Schedule —
9/16-17/2021 | Duke City Hamfiesta | Location: Albuquerque, NM — CANCELED —
8/14/2021 | Reno County KS Hamfest | Location: Hutchinson, KS — On Schedule —
9/25/2021 | Springfield MO Hamfest | Location: Springfield, MO — On Schedule —
10/02/2021 | Wichita Area Hamfest | Location: Wichita, KS — On Schedule —
10/22-23/2021 | Hamarama Holiday 2021 Hamfest | Location: Ardmore, OK — On Schedule —
11/5-6/2021 | Enid Hamfest | Location: Enid, OK — On Schedule —
3/5/2022 | Elk City Hamfest | Location: Elk City, OK
4/1/2022 | Ozark Con – 4 States QRP | Location: Branson, MO
4/8-9/2022 | Green Country Hamfest | Location: Claremore, OK
5/20-22/2022 | Dayton Hamvention | Location: Xenia, OH
7/22-23/2022 | Ham Holiday | Location: OCCC – Oklahoma City, OK
9/16-18/2022 | Duke City Hamfiesta | Location: Albuquerque, NM
8/27-28/2021 | Joplin Hamfest | Location: Joplin, MO — CANCELED —

The ARRL maintains a list of all US hamfests if you would like to travel. Click here for the ARRL list of those within 250 miles.

Odds and Ends — Menu

SCARS Is On The Web — Menu

News, links, repeater info, hamfests, licensing, and more are linked from the menu sidebar at the SCARS Homepage – W5NOR.ORG!

Podcast: On The Air — Menu

The On the Air podcast is a companion to the bi-monthly On the Air magazine (an ARRL membership benefit) and takes a deeper dive into select features and projects. Each month, host Steve Ford, WB8IMY offers additional resources, techniques, and hints to help you get the most from the magazine’s content.

Audio Link

ARRL’s On The Air – Episode 20

Here’s an introduction to Winlink, courtesy of Oliver Dully, K6OLI.

The “On The Air” podcast homepage is available by clicking here.

ARRL Letter — Menu

The current ARRL letter is available by clicking here.

ARRL DX Bulletin — Menu

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD034
ARLD034 DX news

ZCZC AE34
QST de W1AW  
DX Bulletin 34  ARLD034
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  August 26, 2021
To all radio amateurs   

SB DX ARL ARLD034
ARLD034 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
The Daily DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral
from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.  Thanks
to all.

MALAYSIA, 9M64.  Look for various special event stations using the
prefix 9M64 to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Malaysia's
independence, until September 1.  Operations will be on 80 to 10
meters using CW, SSB and the digital modes.  Check QRZ.com for the
QSL info because each station's QSLs are different.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 9Y59.  Members of the Trinidad and Tobago
Amateur Radio Society will be active with special call sign 9Y59IND
until September 12 to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the
Independence of Trinidad and Tobago.  Operations will be on various
HF bands and modes.  QSL is via LoTW only.

MARKET REEF, OJ0.  Joseph, OG7D is activate as OJ0D until August 28,
using mostly the QO-100 satellite.  He may do some HF SSB also.  QSL
direct via OG7D or use LoTW.

TONGA, A3.  Masa, JA0RQV is active as A35JP from Nuku'alofa,
Tongatapu Island (OC-049) until early November.  Activity is on 80
to 6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8.  QSL via LoTW and ClubLog, direct
or via the bureau to his home call.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A60.  Members of the Emirates Amateur Radio
Society (EARS) will activate special event station A60EXPO from
September 1 to October 1 to promote World Expo 2020 in Dubai.  QSL
via EA7FTR.

SPAIN, AN5.  Pascual, EA5WO will be active with special call sign
AN5WAR from September 1 to 30 to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of
the beginning of World War II.  Activity will be on various HF
bands.  QSL via LoTW or eQSL.

MADEIRA, CT9.  Operators Klaus, DJ9KM and Georg, DD8ZX will be
active as CT9/DJ9KM and CT9/DD8ZX until August 31.  Activity is
holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using mainly FT8 and RTTY.  QSL via
their home calls, direct, via the bureau or LoTW.

UKRAINE, EM30.  Look for special event station EM30UARL to be active
until December 31 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the
Independence Day of Ukraine and the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of the Ukrainian Amateur Radio League (UARL).  QSL via
UX7UU or UARL bureau.

ESTONIA, ES30.  Members of the Estonian Radio Amateur Union will be
active as ES30ES until August 29 to celebrate the 30th anniversary
of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia's passing the
Resolution on the National Independence of Estonia.  QSL via LoTW or
eQSL only.

HUNGARY, HG52.  Members of the Budapest Radio Amateur Society will
be active as HG52IEC until September 30 to celebrate the 52nd
International Eucharistic Congress.  QSL via eQSL only.

TANZANIA, 5H.  Gab, HA3JB will be QRV as 5H1IP from September 17 to
29.  Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and
FT8.  He also plans to participate in the CQWW DX RTTY Contest.  QSL
via HA3JB or ClubLog's OQRS.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5.  The Italian DXpedition Team will be QRV from
October 9 to 22, using the call signs J5T on CW, SSB and RTTY and
J5HKT on FT8.  Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters.  QSL via I2YSB
direct, OQRS or LoTW.

HAWAII, KH6.  Keith, KC0PP will be active as KC0PP/KH6 until
September 12.  He plans to participate in the Hawaii QSO Party.  QSL
via his home call sign, direct or via the bureau.

GUINEA, 3X.  Jean Philippe, F1TMY will sign 3X2021 during his
upcoming visit, starting in mid-September.  He will be on 160 to 6
meters and the QO-100 satellite.  He will also be portable from Los
Islands, IOTA AF-051.  QSL through Club Log.

UNITES STATES, N.  N7F is a September 11th 20th anniversary special
event call sign by the American Legion Post 10 Amateur Radio Club,
N7ALA.  They wil be active from September 9 to 12 on 40 and 20
meters using SSB, PSK31 and CW.  QSL via postal mail, with SASE, to:
N7F Never Forget c/o American Legion Post 10, 1215 Pacific Blvd SE,
Albany, OR 97321.  Also, N3U will be QRV September 9 to 14 to
remember the 9/11 victims who crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania
and those in New York City and Washington, D.C. in 2001.  Operator
W3BTX plans to do mostly SSB and CW but will do some digital modes
as well.  QSL via W3PN.

POLAND, SP.  Members of the Scout Communication Club (SP3ZBY) will
operate as SP0PILKON from August 27 to 29.  QSL via SP3ZBY (d/B) or
eQSL.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0.  Members of the Old House Radio Club of Finland
will be QRV as OG0C until August 28.  The team includes Juha, OH5CW,
Pia, OH5JZP, and Toni, OH5CY.  They will be using CW and FT8 and
maybe some SSB.  QSL direct or via the bureau to OH5C.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The Hawaii QSO Party, ALARA Contest,
W/VE Islands QSO Party, YO DX HF Contest, World Wide Digi DX
Contest, Kansas QSO Party, Ohio QSO Party and the SARL HF CW Contest
are all on tap for this weekend.  Please see August QST, page 71 and
the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX

The latest ARRL DX Bulletin is always at the top here — ARRL DX Bulletin

Amateur Radio Newsline — Menu

– DISPUTE OVER SUSPECTED RFI AND INSULIN PUMP
– NASA MAKING PLANS FOR A ‘LUNAR ARECIBO’ DISH
– AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
– SPAIN PREPARES FOR TWIN SATELLITE LAUNCHES
– SWEEPING ANTENNA ARRAY DELIVERS GALAXIES IN HIGH-DEFINITION
– SPECIAL NYC EVENT MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
– IN NEW ZEALAND, BACKYARDS GO BACK ON THE AIR
– WEST BENGAL HAMS MARK 100 YEARS OF RADIO
– ACMA SEEKS INPUT ON 2×1 CALLSIGNS
– ACMA REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS FOR AMATEUR REPEATERS, ASSIGNED BEACONS
– WORLD OF DX
– KICKER: A SPARK GLOWS BRIGHTLY AT MUSEUM IN FINLAND

SCRIPT

AUDIO

The Amateur Radio Newsline can be found at ARNewsline.org.

W5KUB – Amateur Radio Roundtable Video

Amateur Radio Roundtable 8 24 21

The W5KUB YouTube channel link is here: W5KUB YouTube.

Ham Nation — Menu

Ham Nation: Summits On The Air, Huntsville Ham Fest, Update On Our After Show Nets

The last half-dozen or so episodes are linked right here: Ham Nation

73 de Mark N5HZR

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