Short Circuits P.O. Box 73 Titusville, FL 32781

TARC Newsletter March, 2006 Club Station Call K4KSC

Club Officers

President Bud Hughes, K4CWG 269-2796 k4cwgbud@cfl.rr.com	Vice President Ozzie Osband, N4SCY 321-Liftoff (543-8633) n4scy@amsat. org	Treasurer Becky Lee, KF4HTB 267-9375 beverly@peoplepc.com	Secretary Cathy Johnson KI4GMF 268-2107 alncat007@netzero.net
Board Member Pike Abell, W4EPU 269-4208 pikeatal@digital.net	Board Member Jose` Ramos, KC4VIO 267-5892 kc4vio@yahoo.com	Board Member Gary Johnson W4RBI 271-4500 GaryJay990@aol.com	Board Member Bob Farrington, W4YBI 633-5664 bobandlinda3@juno.com
146.91 Repeater Trustee Mic Woltman, KI4CFA 632-4601	146.97 Repeater Trustee Warren Murray, W4CEL pager - 638-5476	444.15 Repeater Trustee Mike Hensley, W4LOV 639-1553	147.775 Repeater Trustee Ken Denman, KD4HNW 269-5711
Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month at 7 PM at the Titusville Public Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Next: April 25th		"Eating Meeting" Every Thursday 5:30 to 6:30PM at a local restaurant. Talk-in 146.91 or call Sherry KU4ZO at 279-2796.

The President's Corner By Bud Hughes K4CWG

At our February club meeting our guest speaker was Mr. Mike Crane, Vice President for Programming at WMFE-TV. Mr. Crane spoke on HD TV and where the industry is going. We appreciate Mike's fielding of many questions. His insight to this technology and the upcoming FCC requirement for digital (no more analog) signal transmission of our TV reception in the near future. Thanks to Vice President Ozzie N4SCY for asking Mitch to be our guest speaker.

Our "Thursday Night Eating Meeting" on March 9^th was one for the history book. Nearly 30 club members and guests visited the BCC Planetarium where a young man named Chuck Greenwood gave us a guided tour of the heavens. Later, our own Jan W4REN hosted our group at the huge telescope where we looked at various stars, planets, the moon, and several galaxies. We are deeply indebted to these two for a fascinating experience. PS, Chuck also is interested in getting his ham ticket. Let's all pitch in to help.

For those who found the 146.91 repeater to be off the air several days during the latter part of February, the problem was not an unwanted signal keeping the repeater turned on and thus timing out as I had surmised, but rather was caused by a dirty squelch control potentiometer. Thanks to Mic KI4CFA for making the repair and restoring our speed dial function as well.

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Quinn, W1VN. Bill suffered from congestive heart failure. He lost his valliant battle on March 11th at Parrish Medical Center. From time to time within our club we become aware of fellow club members and friends who are either admitted to the hospital, have new additions to the family, have good news to share and gosh so many other events that merit the attention of all of us. Please share these interests with your club. Call me, email me or come see me and tell me of these events and I will see to it that it gets in your newsletter.

My sincere thanks to Lyle KI4MYT for his interest in and promoting the Amateur Radio Technician Class being taught at the Great Out Doors on Highway 50. The class began Monday March 13^th with class held each Monday, namely March 20^th, 27^th, April 10^th, 17^th and the final class to be held April 24^th. The class begin at 6:30 PM. The Technician theory is being taught from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM. After a 15 minute break there is a Morse code class/exercise. This session will be from 8:15 PM to 9:00 PM. There's still time for potential hams to participate. Please contact Lyle at 264-2479 email ki4myt@cfl.rr.com.

Remember our next club meeting March 28^th. Be there and bring a friend.

73's Bud K4CWG (269-2796)

The incomparable Bill Eppley W2SDB and his harmonica have been missing from TARC meetings in recent months due to health problems. Bill asked the club to use its tables at the recent Orlando HamFest to dispose of equipment from his home. Recently, he presented the club with a $350 donation for their efforts. Bill would enjoy a visit from his fellow hams. He currently is residing at Courtenay Springs Village Health Center on Courtenay Parkway south of Highway 520 on Merritt Island. You can bet Bill has a harmonica with him and will play a tune for you in a heartbeat.

Abell's Anecdotes By Pike Abell W4EPU

Some, who may not have always been members of TARC, have asked me how long I have been doing this column. Now that you asked, I feel it is fitting that you know and the following should answer your questions:

Becky Lee, KF4HTB, who was editor of the TARC Newsletter at the time, provided most of this information.

In March 1993 we were having one of our Thursday evening eating meetings (Yes, we had our eating meetings even back then) at the IHOP. (At that time, the IHOP was in the building now housing the "Pineapple Bay" restaurant, across the street from the old Ace hardware, now Salvation Army.)

We were sitting around the table finishing our dessert and telling stories (jokes?). Here are a couple of examples -

Our Honorable President went to Radio Shack to buy a phone plug. The clerk asked "Do you want a male plug, a female plug, or both?" Bud answered: "I just want something I can use to listen to the radio. I don't plan on raising them."

"I have been with you for 25 years," complained the farm worker, "and never before asked for a raise." "That, my man," retorted the farmer, "is the only reason you have been here for 25 years."

Anyway, Becky asked me if I would consider writing a one page article each month in the TARC newsletter. Becky said "You can call it Abell's Anecdotes". I told her that I would at least give it a try.

My first anecdote, entitled "The Deer Hunt", appeared in the April 1993 issue. As of this date, 150 articles have been written and published. I can only recall two issues I missed. One when I had open heart surgery and one other was inadvertently left out of the newsletter.

Oops! Having used up my allotted space in this issue, a repeat of "The Deer Hunt" will appear in the next issue of the TARC Newsletter.

To be continued…

73s es 88s Pike.

Silver Anniversary of America's First space Shuttle Launch

A special event will be held April 9-15 to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of America's First space Shuttle Launch. It will be a combined effort by local amateur radio clubs: IRAC, North Brevard and TARC. The event will be a seven day around the clock worldwide operation. The operating site is to be determined and will have easy access to all participants. Your own home and mobile stations may also be used with proper coordination.

The special event call sign will be N4S (NASA for Space). Primary frequencies will be in the 15, 17, 20 and 40 meter bands and additional frequencies in the 10, 12, 75 and 160 meter bands. Our VHF repeater, 146.910, will be used for those wishing to participate who do not have HF privileges or may be in the skip zone of HF bands.

No-code techs may use the HF bands with a control operator present. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone to participate. A sign-up roster will be available at the March 28 meeting for you to select your operating times and bands. You will be provided with log sheets and instructions for your particular operation. The success of the event will depend on your participation. Join the fun and experience the satisfaction of participating on this memorable event. TARC points of contact are: José, KC4VIO, and John, WB3JBK. See you at the meeting.

José, KC4VIO

February Meeting Minutes By Cathy Johnson KI4GMF

On Feb.28,2006 TARC held its monthly meeting. The program had two parts. First Mike Crane, vice president of programming of WMFE TV told about digital tv and some changes coming to a tv near you in 2009. In the second part of the program Carl Zelich AA4MI told about the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Apr.9-15 and an opportunity to operate radios for worldwide communications. If interested contact Jose' Ramos.

Cathy Johnson KI4GMF

Mosquito Net Control Needed.

Stephanie K4MVO has asked to be relieved as Net Control for the Mosquito Net each Wednesday evening at 7 PM on 10 Meters. If you have a rig capable of tuning up on 28.333 and a desire to participate in club activities, get in touch with President Bud. The Mosquito Net has been on the air for nearly 17 years. Here's a chance for you to become a part of this piece of history.

TITUSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

PO Box 73

Titusville, FL 32781-0073

TREASURERS REPORT

Beginning balance 1/1/06 $4173.31

Deposits in 2006 1539.00

Total Income $5712.30

YTD Expenditures 1146.94

Balance as at 3/9/06 $4565.36

The Brevard County Office of Emergency Management is sponsoring a Terrorism exercise involving CERT teams and first responders. Ham Radio operators are invited to participate to practice their skills at providing point to point communication.

This exercise will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at the Brevard Community College, Cocoa Campus, 1519 Clearlake Road. The program is scheduled to run from 9 AM until noon. With this full-scale exercise, you will have an opportunity to practice your emergency COM skills and meet CERT members and hams from all over Brevard County.

If you are interested, contact David Norton at AI4FY@arrl.net by Saturday March 18th. David will need you to provide you name, Ham call, address, telephone number and e-mail address.