QCWA Peach State Chapter 49 June/July 2008 Newsletter MEETING NOTICE: SATURDAY August 23, 2008 High Noon, WB4MAK QTH in Alpharetta Good day all ye mates and maties, As we are now in the heat of the summer and the best time to do antenna work without snow or ice hindering our climbing, it is time to take action…. However, you best think before you take action, it is best for survival. As we bounce along the bottom of the solar cycle, or beginning if you are an optimist, we can plan for the activities of the next 6 years. An antenna pointed in the right direction is always a big help. All of the higher bands have been open quite often. 10 meters has been open almost every day on FM. On the lower portion of the band, there is occasional activity. Obviously, people are not talking or listening! 6 & 2 meters have been open quite often with openings to Europe. 17M has been having more activity than 15M. It seems no one is listening or talking on 15M and it is open too. I guess people either do not know about the beacons or are just not listening. 20M activity has been great too, being open most of the time. As we enter this solar cycle, we need to remember that this cycle will be equal or better than the cycle in the late 50’s. It will be the best cycle for several to come which are forecast to be very poor for 2 or 3 cycles after this one. If you were active in the 50’s or early 60’s, you could work the world on a wet string and a tin can 8-). Low power and poor antennas worked great.. I worked Australia, with 25 watts on AM on 75M phone and a 75’ #24 transformer wire antenna and a command BC454 receiver, one day before I went to school. I had a hard time thinking of anything else during that school day or even the whole week!!! AH, the good old days!! It’s coming again and better than before. Do not forget to bring something with you that is radio related that you can talk about to the picnic. I will try to remember my 2 Farad Digital Capacitor!!! Yep, that is correct! A “Digital Capacitor”. 73, Jerry Lofstead W3CDE June Meeting: Thirteen Chapter 49 QCWA members and friends attended the June meeting. Following lunch and some good discussions, Jerry W3CDE called the meeting to order at 1300 hrs local. Bob, W4ZST, shared some great pictures of the 4 Landers setup for the recent ARRL VHF contest. Bob’s group uses a big operating trailer and some pretty impressive antennas in their hunt for contacts and multipliers. All in all it is a pretty sweet setup. At the time of the meeting, Jerry reported that Frankie, W4BJT, was resting comfortably with some cardiac complications. Frankie, get well soon! Dave, W4DTR, reported that our beginning balance was $763.42 and our ending balance was $780.42. It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to accept the treasures report. We do want to use some of that money for some door prizes at the next few meetings so “y’all come.” Following the business portion of the meeting, Mack WB4MAK, gave a talk and demonstration of Software Defined Radio. If you were there I think you would agree that this is pretty impressive technology. As Susan, AF4FO, noted these SDR rigs would do just about everything except make coffee for you. And we all are pretty sure that is just a software patch away! And that brings us to the next meeting at the WB4MAK QTH. In addition to the fellowship of a Chapter 49 QCWA meeting, this is an opportunity to see Mack’s Software Defined Radio in its natural environment, his ham shack. If you missed the last meeting and have any question about SDR’s this is your chance! The club will provide the burgers, hot dogs, sodas and water. QCWA members and friends are asked to bring a dish to pass. We do need some kind of a guess as to how many people will be coming so we know how much food to buy so please RSVP to John, K7SYS, at k7sys@arrl.netnot later than Thursday, August 21, 2008. Mack’s QTH is located at 310 Dancers Way, Alpharetta, GA, 30004. We will start about the usual time (12:00 noon) and wrap things up by 3:00 PM or so. Upcoming programs: August 23, 2008 - QCWA Summer Picnic at the WB4MAK QTH October 18, 2008 (Ryan’s) – “Old Rigs I Have Known” Tom Koch W4UOC December 6, 2008 (Ryan’s) – QCWA Christmas Party and Annual Election of Officers 73’s and BCNU John Kludt K7SYS, Secretary QCWA PEACH STATE CHAPTER 49 Web address: www.qcwa49.org 2006-2007 CHAPTER OFFICERS President Jerry Lofstead W3CDE 770-979-5500 w3cde@arrl.net Vice President Doug Foos KT4XF bogeyman10@netzero.net Secretary John Kludt K7SYS 770.891.8091 johnnykludt@earthlink.net Treasurer David Bruse W4DTR 770-623-0149 w4dtr@arrl.net Director Frankie Womack W4BJT 404-767-5382 w4bjt@mindspring.com Mike Swiderski K4HBI 770-449-0369 k4hbi@arrl.net Net Manager Jerry W3CDE using the K4VN Chapter 49 Club Call Chapter 49 QCWA HF Net Saturday 0900 3.8575 Mhz. JUN/JUL 2008 Newsletter John Kludt K7SYS Newsletter Editor 11165 Highfield Chase Dr. Duluth, GA 30097