SARA Newsletter November 2016

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016SARANEWSSchenectady Amateur Radio AssociationP.O. Box 449Schenectady, NY 12301A Message from the PresidentHere we are half way through the autumn season. The leaves are blowingaround and the young Trick or Treaters will be soon be knocking upon yourdoor. I would love to say that the weather is going to get warm again, but I knowit will not. Soon we will be talking about Turkey and other holidays. So, what isan Amateur Operator to do? If you are like me, you already put together yourholiday shopping wish list. I’m hoping that a new radio finds it home in theshack. So, what should we do in the mean time?Contesting What a great way to hone your operating skills and have some fun workingstations all over the world. There is literally a contest for every mode and formof operating. This is also a great way of making sure that your equipment isproperly functioning. Give it a try.Here is a great website to look at to see what contests are coming up:http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/Have fun and happy operating James MacMurray N2UZQSARA Presidenthttp://www.k2ae.orgsaranews@k2ae.orgPage 1 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016SARA General MeetingMonday, November 7, 2016, 7:00 pm"Fun with GNURadio"Presented byTom Early, AC2IEGNURadio is a powerful and extensible software definedradio (SDR) development platform. GNURadio alreadysupports a number of hardware devices that should be veryinteresting to any ham radio operator.Meeting LocationSARA meetings will beheld in the PolingChapel of the FirstReformed Church onNorth Church Street,Schenectady unlessotherwise noted.There will be very little (probably no) “canned” presentationfor this discussion. Instead, a low cost, receive-only devicewill be shown and a more expensive transceiver device will beDEMONSTRATED.Directions: The churchparking lot is on NorthChurch Street, on yourleft as you head northfrom Union Street.My efforts to develop GNURadio modules that support AMBEvocoder hardware (like those used in DStar, DMR andSystem Fusion radios) will, hopefully, also be demonstrated.Cross North ChurchStreet and find thewalkway betweennumber 10 and 12 NorthChurch. Go to the endof the walkway and enterthe building.Our Speaker: Tom Early, AC2IETurn left and go throughthe double doors. Turnright and walk past therest rooms. The PolingChapel is just down thehall.Tom Early, AC2IE, is a relatively new ham, licensed in early 2011and enjoys public service activities. He is especially interested inall digital areas of ham radio and tends to gravitate to the softwareend of this area.Tom has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, SanDiego. Tom is a recent retiree from GE Global Research after a 33year career at GE. Tom’s speciality was nuclear magneticresonance, an RF-based tool used for chemical and materialanalysis.MEETING LOCATIONFirst Reformed Church (in the Poling Chapel)North Church Street, cellationsIf Niskayuna High Schoolcancels evening classesand activities the SARAmeeting will also becancelled.www.niskyschools.orgfor school closinginformation.Page 2 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016October Board Meeting MinutesOctober 12, 2016, Wendy's, Route 50 GlenvillePresent:James MacMurray N2UZQ PresidentDave Bradshaw KD2FVM Board MemberJim Silva KC2ZVK Vice PresidentBob Saltzman WB2ARK Board MemberTim Long, W2UI TreasurerDave Bradshaw KD2FVM Board MemberPaul Siemers WY2F Board MemberCalendar of EventsNovember 7 at 7PMSARA General MeetingFirst Reformed ChurchNorth Church StreetSchenectady, NYNovember 9 at 7PMSARA Board MeetingWendy's Restaurant13 Saratoga RdGlenville, NYVisitors: Hal Post, AK2EMee-ng opened by President James MacMurray at 7:01 PM.Secretary’s Report: The Board accepted the minutes of the clubannual mee[ng of June 6 and the board mee[ng of September21, 2016 as published.Treasurer's Report: Reported by Treasurer Tim Long andaccepted by the board.Field Day: Discussion of purchase of special Field day mugs andbanners.Trailer Commi?ee: Tim Long reported on prices for two sizes oftrailer for Field Day equipment.Repeater: Dave Bradshaw reported on inves[ga[on ofinterference problems.Standing Requests for VE Coordinator and SARA News Editor:We s[ll need somebody to fill these posi[ons.Broughton Award: Con[nued the discussion from the lastmee[ng on possibly taking a year off.New Business: Discussion regarding available parcel of land. Itwas decided to not pursue this possibility.SARA YAHOO GroupVisit the club’s YAHOOgroup e-ng Adjourned at 9:19 PM.Submi?ed by Secretary Jim Stewart K2PKWebsiteVisit the club’s ranews@k2ae.orgPage 3 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016Fall SKYWARN Spotter Training SessionsDear SKYWARN ECs,We have finally put together the Fall 2016 SKYWARN Winter Weather TrainingSessions. We encourage you to get the word out regarding the sessions sothat we have a good signup. The SKYWARN Registration Page has been setup http://cstar.cestm.albany.edu/skywarn/Talks.htmWe are currently offering only three Go-To-Meeting Webinars as our staffingsituation still remains the same (we are down approximately a third of our staff)and have no one to travel to give sessions at this time. Hopefully, by spring wewill be back to or close to full staffing once again. At that time we hope toresume giving sessions on the road.John Quinlan - NOAA FederalOfficers & Board of Directors 2016-2017President: James MacMurray N2UZQVice President: Jim Silva KC2ZVKSecretary: Jim Stewart K2PKTreasurer: Tim Long W2UIBoard Member: Craig Wood W2XADBoard Member: Bob Saltzman WB2ARKBoard Member: Paul Siemers WY2FBoard Member: Dave Bradshaw KD2FVMSara Dues Reminder2016 - 2017 Membership Dues are DueThe SARA membership year runs from July to June and the 2016-2017 duesare due. The November meeting would be a great time to pay your duesand get current.Please use the form on the last page or see Tim, W2UI, our Treasurer at thenext SARA meeting.http://www.k2ae.orgsaranews@k2ae.orgPage 4 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016TONY'S WORLD FAMOUS 2016 HAMFEST LISTCome to FLUNGE and EBB with Tony, W2BEJMARLBORO2/13X Whitcomb School - Marlborough, MA147.27 pl 146.2SWL WINTERFEST2/19X Doubletree Suites - Plymouth Meeting, PA146.52HORSEHEADS2/27X Big Flats American Legion - Rt. 86 Exit 49147.36 COLCHESTER2/27X Holiday Inn - South Burlington, VT145.15 -LIMARC2/28X Levittown Hall - Hicksville, NY146.85- pl 136.5MT TOM3/5X Chicopee Falls Moose Lodge 1849146.94- pl 127.3SARATOGA WINTERFEST3/12X Ballston Spa, Solar Building147.00 pl 91.5SOUTHINGTON3/20X HighSchool - Southington, CT147.345 pl 77FRAMINGHAM4/10X Keefe Tech - Framingham, MA147.15 SPLITROCK, NJ4/16X Roxbury Senior Center - Succasunna, NJ146.985- pl 131.8DRUMLINS4/23X Palmyra VFW Post 6778, 4306 Route 31146.685 -MIDDLETOWN4/24X Wallkill Community Center146.76 - pl 100DEERFIELD (NEAR-Fest)4/29X Fairgrounds - Deerfield, NH146.52EAST GREENBUSH5/14X Phillips Road Firehouse147.27 DAYTON5/20X Hara Arena - Dayton, OH146.94-SoBARC5/21X Fairgrounds - Goshen, CT146.73 - pl 77.0BERGEN, NJ5/28X Westwood HS, Washington Township, NJ146.79 - pl 141.3ROCHESTER5/28X Kodak's "Theater on the Ridge"!, 200 W Ridge Rd, Rochester, NY 14615146.88 - pl 110.9BARNARD HAMFEST OF ROCHESTER6/4X Barnard Fireman's Field. 360 Maiden Lane, Rochester, NY 14616146.925 - pl 110.9BEACON6/5X Downstate Correctional QWL Hall - Fishkill, NY146.97 - pl 100CORTLAND6/11? Cortland County Fairgrounds147.18 NEWINGTON?X St Mary"s School - Newington, CT (next hamfest in 2017)145.45-MURGAS7/3X Polish American Veterans, 2 South Oak Street, Wilkes-Barre (Plains) PA146.61 - pl 82.5R.A.G.S. (SYRACUSE)7/10X American Legion - Cicero, NY147.30 BATAVIA7/16? Alexander Fireman Grounds - Alexander, NY147.285 pl 141.3SUSSEX CO, NJ7/17X Sussex Co Farm & Horse Show Fairgrounds147.30 pl 151.4UTICA7/25? Deerfield Fire Department - 5476 Trenton Road Deerfield NY146.76 -ITHACA8/6X Trumansburg Fairgrounds146.97-ROME8/13? The Griffiss Institute located at 725 Daedalian Drive, Rome NY146.88 -NoBARC8/28X Bowe Field - Adams, MA146.91-BOXBOROUGH9/9X Holiday Inn - Boxborough, MASARATOGA9/11? Saratoga Co Fairgrounds147.00 pl 91.5ELMIRA9/24? Chemung Co Fairgrounds147.36 DEERFIELD (NEAR-Fest)10/14 X Fairgrounds - Deerfield, NH146.52NUTMEG10/16 ? Sheraton Four-Points Hotel - Meriden, CT147.36 UPDATED 2/21/2016 (X CONFIRMED) (? NO DATE THIS YEAR)Note: Date for multi-day events reflects the starting dateAdditions, Corrections, Comments? Send E:Mail to: Randy, KL7TJZ - rstein02@gmail.comTHANKS to ALL who have helped with updating this list!http://www.k2ae.orgsaranews@k2ae.orgPage 5 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 20162016 PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTSIf you can help out with one of these events please contact Tony Pazzola - W2BEJ formore information.Note: You don’t need to own a radio to participate in one of the Public ServiceEvents. The club can supply a radio to use.May 1 Schenectady Crop WalkMay 1 Literacy Run/Walk, RPI Tech ParkMay 21 Niska DayMay 25 Scotia Parade, Mohawk Ave, ScotiaMay ? Rotterdam ParadeMay 19 CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge, Albany, 6PMMay ? Maplewood ParadeMay 30 Watervliet Parade, Watervliet, 10AMJune 4 Freihofer's Run for Women, 9AMJune 5 Tour de Cure, Saratoga SpringsJune ? Run For Help, Goff Middle School, East GreenbushJuly 4 Alplaus ParadeSept ? Mud Run (RAID Series)Sept 17 Bike MS: Hudson River Ramble, 6AMSept 24 Veterans Ruksmarch (Run), 8AMSept ? Race For Hope, 5K Race For Cancer, SlingerlandsSept ? Dunkin Run (Bagel Run), Albany JCCSept ? Arsenal Run, WatervlietOct 9 Mohawk Hudson River MarathonOct 30 Pumpkin Patrol (Bridges on the NYS Thruway)Oct 31 Pumpkin Patrol (Bridges on the NYS Thruway)Nov 13 Stockade-athon, Schenectady, 8AMNov 19 Schenectady Christmas (HOLIDAY) paradeList subject to change. More information and updates to follow.http://www.k2ae.orgsaranews@k2ae.orgPage 6 of 10

SARA NewsletterNovember 2016Looking for a new SARA News EditorWe need a new SARA News Editor starting with the January 2017 Newsletter. If youcan use a computer and word processing software, your qualified!Please contact a Board Member if you can perform this duty for the club.Topics for Future SARA Meetings?Your suggestions are neededIf you have a topic that you would like to present, or know of someone whocould present a topic of interest to the club, please contactJim Silva, KC2ZVK at jsilva.ny@gmail.com.K2AE Repeaters GuidelinesK2AE Repeaters are open and visitor friendly.1. There will be a control operator monitoring at all times. If there is no controloperator, the repeater will be unavailable. (97.103 and 97.105)2. Control operators will not discourage anyone from using the repeater.3. Conduct on the repeaters should be governed by common sense and courtesy.Conversations should be in plain language and suitable for all listeners. (97.112and .113)4. No commercial business use is allowed.5. Pause a few seconds between transmissions. The repeater will recycle. Thisgives a chance for other users or emergency traffic to call in. (Give even a longerpause in Winter.)6. If someone calls “Break”, operators will yield the frequency for emergency traffic.Yielding to a “breaking” or new station is common courtesy. New York State andFederal law prohibit interference with emergency traffic.7. Operators are encouraged to use simplex whenever possible. Operators areencouraged to use the minimum power necessary to maintain clear contact, i.e. 50Watts or more is not appropriate in close proximity to the repeater when 1 or 5watts achieve full quieting. (97.313)8. Use of the repeater for non-SARA public service events is prohibited unlesspermission from the Trustee is obtained. Please forward requests to:ak2e@arrl.net.9. In the event of an emergency (SKYWARN, flooding, weather conditions or otheremergencies) control operators will turn the repeater on if it is down.http://www.k2ae.orgsaranews@k2ae.orgPage 7 of 10