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PROSPECT HILL
INTERMOD online Spring 2002 |
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PROSPECT HILL
INTERMOD online Spring 2002 |
Saturday, November 16, 2001
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Seller Check-In 9:30 AM
Newton Masonic Hall (2nd Floor)
460 Newtonville Avenue
(at the corner of Walnut Street)
Newtonville, MA.
JUNE W.A.R.A. CLUB MEETING TO BE HELD AT PROSPECT HILL!
The June WARA meeting will be held on
Prospect Hill, near the site of our 4 repeaters.
This has become an annual event featuring a cook out and a
visit to the site.
Mark your calendars now and plan to join us and meet or re-meet
some of the folks you talk to on our repeaters.
More details and updates will be maintained on the club web
site.
Directions will be available on the club web site and talk-in
is always on the '64 repeater.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HEAVY HITTERS AMSAT NET!
The "Heavy Hitters AMSAT Net" turned six years old on March 14, 2002. ALSO, March 21st marked the 300th net on '64. The Heavy Hitters AMSAT Net on the '64 repeater has been on the air on Thursdays at 8:30 - 9:30 PM since March 14, 1996. Net control, Ernie MacLauchlan, K1ELA, has sent out certificates to all stations that checked in on March 21st.How about a little AMSAT net trivia? |
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| 1996 | 633 check ins |
| 1997 | 860 check ins |
| 1998 | 903 check ins |
| 1999 | 754 check ins |
| 2000 | 842 check ins |
| 2001 | 762 check ins |
| 2002 | 187 check ins; so far |
| TOTAL CHECK INS | 4941 |
| INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE | 624 |
Congratulations to Ernie and to all who have participated over the years!
SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMS FOR CLUB MEETINGS
There are always opportunities for you and others to make a presentation at one of our monthly W.A.R.A. club meetings.
If you have a favorite topic that might be of interest to our group, you can contact Ann, KA1PON on the air or via email at ka1pon@amsat.org
To see if a particular meeting date is in need of a program check the "Meeting Information" section on our club web site at www.wara64.org
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
HAPPY SPRING! There has been a lot of activity, lately, at the repeater site up on Prospect Hill in Waltham.Thanks to all of the volunteers for helping
to make our 2001 auction a success, once again.
Many hands made the day easier for all workers.
Please save the date for the 2002 auction in your calendar
and volunteer early so our coordinators will know who will be
in attendance.
This is a very important event for the club. Please contact our
chairpersons as soon as possible.
Remember to renew your membership if you're
overdue.
Dues pay for repair and upgrading of equipment required to keep
the repeaters on the air.
Finally, thanks to all who go up the hill to
take care of the equipment.
It's a lot of work and your work is truly appreciated. Great
work!
Club meetings are held on the last Wednesday
of each month except July and August
at 7:00PM at Artisan Industries in Waltham. All are welcome!
73, Ann, KA1PON
W.A.R.A. OFFICERS President – Ann Weldon, KA1PON V. President – Kip Shustack, N1AUP Clerk & Treasurer - Andy Donovan, WA1GEP Asst. Clerk – Jim Finlay, N1HCF Asst. Treas. – John Antes, KB1EB |
PHI NEWSLETTER STAFF Publisher – Eliot Mayer, W1MJ Editor – Ron Perry, N1USS Production – Steve Gilbert, K1SG Circulation – Ann Weldon, KA1PON |
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The Waltham Amateur Radio Association is affiliated with the A.R.R.L. |
RACES & ARES & SKYWARN?
Some questions have
been asked about emergency preparedness training,
local net times & locations and how to join RACES, ARES
and/or SKYWARN.
Rather than duplicate
that which is already available, from the sources,
on our web site I've added links to these sites from our front
page.
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IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? NOPE!… IT'S W1FBI! From the pages of QST (Feb 2002 issue) to a newsletter or pond near you, In case you're
wondering, W1FBI's vehicle sports a 43-hp engine |
BALLOONS OVER "HOSS TRADERS"? (From WORLD RADIO Feb 2002) The Timberlane Regional High School, in Paistow, NH will be taking part in a high altitude experiment this spring. The Coordinated Algebra II and Physics classes taught by Lorainne Mascioli, N1VYQ, and Lou Broad, N1RCA, are planning their third year of Amateur Radio and high altitude balloons in May 2002. Six student teams will attempt to launch their balloons at the Hosstraders Ham Fest in Hopkinton, NH. Each balloon will carry a GPS receiver, a packet reporting system and several experimental payloads. This could include cameras, video, amateur television and cross band repeaters. At maximum altitude such systems will have a range of 300 miles and could easily cover all of New England. The class has grown to 34 students and they are planning to launch six balloons in the two day period! This could make it a record-breaking event in both Amateur Radio and high altitude ballooning. For more information check the CAPSAT web site: www.mv.com/ipusers/llb/capsat.html Thanks, again, N1JDU, for the tip! |
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"GO FLY A KITE!"
Speaking of N1JDU, I thought it would be nice
for you to get to know him better, since we mention him all the time!
I guess there's a reason for that. Richard is a very active
person, not only with the Waltham Amateur Radio Association
but in many other interesting areas as well.
We surely have heard that Richard is a
photographer
and most of us have seen some of his work in both issues of PHI
as well as on our club web site.
Did you know, however, that Richard also sends little cameras
aloft on the tethers of kites
and has taken some excellent airborne photos around this area?
Yes, Richard is an avid kite flyer, ham radio
operator, amateur astronomer,
Check out his web site at:
http://users.erols.com/ramirault/
MEMBERSHIP PAYS! JOIN W.A.R.A. TODAY! |
WE NEED YOU –TO PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE!
Prospect Hill Intermod (PHI) is YOUR
newsletter.
We always get good submissions of articles, information and
sometimes even photographs to include in each issue.
That’s what makes it interesting for the readers.
So if you have an idea, some thoughts or perhaps some photos of
your shack
or some event you participated in, send them on in and share
them with everyone!
You can send things in via e-mail to
n1uss@arrl.net
or snail mail to:
Ron Perry, N1USS
34 Summer Street
Melrose, MA. 02176-4610
Text should be plain text (ascii) like an
e-mail message or in Microsoft Word format (preferably).
| Waltham Amateur Radio
Association, Incorporated P.O. Box 411 Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-0411 2001 Annual Report |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Balance: | $1,279.85 | |||
| Income: | Contributions | $703.00 | ||
| 2001 Auction | $288.40 | |||
| N.H. Hamfest | $31.50 | |||
| TOTAL INCOME: | $1,022.90 | $1,022.90 | ||
| Available: | $2,302.75 | |||
| Expenses: | Telephone | -$409.19 | ||
| Equipment | -$376.71 | |||
| News Letter | -$225.36 | |||
| Insurance | -$255.00 | |||
| Bank Charges | -$146.25 | |||
| Auction | -$22.10 | |||
| Corporation Fees | -$15.00 | |||
| P.O. Box | -$45.00 | |||
| Miscellaneous | -$5.00 | |||
| TOTAL EXPENSES: | -$1,499.61 | -$1,499.61 | ||
| Ending Balance: | $803.14 | |||
Submitted by: |
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WHAT'S NEW ON WARA64.ORG?
There is a brand new MESSAGE BOARD, accessible from the main page of the site. This uses an off site provider and is much more user and administrator friendly. Speaking of administrators, John, KB1FQG is now a co-administrator of the message board so that he can maintain an online listing of postings to the Heavy Hitters Swap Net, which meets every Wednesday at 9:00 PM on the '64 repeater. John is the Net Manager for the swap net.
In response to many requests and one very eloquent email message from Ed, N1TV, we have added a front page link to the ARES regional web site which includes links to RACES and SKYWARN sites.
New photos have been added to the growing gallery section of our site, including some from last years auction, the KA1IYR picnic at Mike and Jeannie's house in Sunny Mendon and some links or photos from some familiar call signs. Be sure to check out the "personal shack" page!
Oh Yeah! Please, if you've asked us to add your email address and/or web site URL to the "Members and Friends" section, make sure you let us know if and when that information changes! Thanks!
Finally, there's the "Upcoming Events" section on the front page of the web site that is always being updated with new and current information.
Of course you can always check out the "PHI" archives or look for the latest issue, on line in your choice of HTML or Adobe PDF formats.
The W.A.R.A. membership form is now available on line in your choice of HTML, Microsoft Word 97 and Adobe PDF formats.
Be sure to let us know if you have any other ideas for information we should add to our ever growing and informative club web site.
A NEW HOME FOR THE REPEATERS!
Our four repeaters are moving into a new home. After some dedicated, behind the scene work Andy, WA1GEP, has secured us space on the new public service communications site at the top of Prospect Hill. This is what remains of the old Air Force site.
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The tower |
Hoisting up the antennae |
Andy, WA1GEP, Kim, WA1PBU and Steve, WA1HUD along with others have spent a lot of time preparing for and executing the move, which is almost completed. The 220, 440 and 6 meter repeaters are completely moved and the rest of the 2 meter repeater will be moved soon. With high winds (most of the time) and cold March and early April weather, this hard work wasn't made much easier but no one complained. Yet another banner job of maintenance and re-construction shows the dedication of those few who are able and take care of these things many of us take for granted.
Now for a few more pictures.
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Andy and Kim tying one down |
Steve and Andy on top of the world! | The repeaters with their friends, Steve and Kim. |
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Now, how about this for a "walk to the top of the world"? |
As the work progresses the "boys" see the light. |
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this little visit
to the scenes behind the WARA repeaters.
I also hope it helps you to understand the work a few dedicated
individuals do
for the many of us who sometimes take for granted that the
carrier will always be there when we "push to talk".
Don't wait for the beep!
Photos by Richard, N1JDU (right) Where's the kite? |
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WHO ARE JIM AND RHODA?
He talks and talks and talks…… and everyone listens. He wonders if "this old man" can keep track of what's going on and who's who. He reads, he researches, he sails, he travels, he talks and………… once in a while we hear the voice of his "best friend" and wife, Rhoda.
Well, to we who listen, often, to '64 they are Jim and Rhodie. To us, Jim is the altruistic, scientific guru of the techie crowd on '64.
BUT……… who are they really? Well, to many they are family, friends, mentors, helpers, sources of strength and knowledge….. very special people.
To begin with, Jim and Rhoda are two very, very accomplished professionals and extremely enviable family leaders. Both have endured the pinnacle of success as professional folks while maintaining a family life that many could and should envy.
Moreover, in spite of their (some would think) incredible life accomplishments, both Jim and Rhoda are "just plain regular folks" in every aspect of their lives. Both have contributed as senior managers to the success of major, world renowned corporations, yet they come home or get on the air and are just plain good friends.
Work, learning, family, amateur radio, traveling the world, collecting scientific instruments, hosting a major packet site, building and maintaining repeaters when there were none and helping others are just a few of the many things which and who are Jim and Rhoda.
To some, it's a little overbearing when Jim gets on the air and queries the heck out of whomever is talking about whatever on '64…… but… what it always comes down to is the one simple thing which Jim is all about. What is always comes down to is his personal challenge to ALWAYS test that which you "think" is what you think.
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Oh, by the way. This is Jim (K1UGM) and Rhoda (N1CSI). SMILE! |
Jim and Rhoda are all about one simple thing. Challenge and learning. Regardless of how many times he or she have done it before…. Regardless of how many times they've embarked on something that is new to both… it's always just one more challenge to experience just one more thing. To learn just one more tidbit of information… whether about the person they're getting to know or that cutting edge technological break-through which could make the next big difference in our lives.
Then again, if you knock on their front door… any time or any day… and they're home…. The answer is always the same… regardless of whether or not they know you…. "Come in…. it's open". And,, it always is. Just be careful, because you don't get off easily if you're a friend of Jim and Rhoda. If you can't deal with being challenged, tread carefully!…
From us, to you both. Thanks for being here for we who need that little challenge and more than that… need to know that, in today's world, there are still just plain good folks like you both.
You both are what life and amateur radio has been and should still be.
Thanks, for being just plain K1UGM and N1CSI and for being our friends.
--- Packet Mountain, U.S.A.
IT'S ALL ABOUT REAL PEOPLE ON AMATEUR RADIO!
The INTERNET is something that our young folks relish because it's easy to sit at the computer and "chat" all over the world. It's something that they don't get from sitting in the classroom or walking down the street. It's something that offers the possibility to be someone whom they may wish they can be but are not.
Many, today are asking what amateur radio can offer in a world with every young person already on the internet and in contact with everyone else around the world. What can amateur radio offer to the young folks that the internet cannot?
The answer is REALITY! In amateur radio, you can talk to REAL people all over the world in REAL time about REAL things. The internet offers a mask which makes it possible for those online to be something which they are not. Amateur radio offers REAL TIME contact to REAL TIME people who are REAL. It's pretty hard to hide age and true feelings behind a REAL voice.
For about the same as it costs, or less, to get on the Internet,,,,, you can talk to real people…….. ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AMATEUR RADIO CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE,,,, whether during an emergency situation when all else fails or just because it and we are just plain who we are.
SPREAD THE WORD AND MENTOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR HELP.
| W.A.R.A. | GOD BLESS AMERICA! |
