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Heard sparks lately?
by Darryl Widman 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

>From EDN Magazine Sparks John Dunn - March 11, 2013 An antenna for the 40-meter ham radio band is a pretty large thing. A half-wave dipole antenna is around 66 feet long from end to end. Mine was center fed with RG-11/U coaxial cable terminated with a PL-259 type of UHF connector at the transmitter end of the coaxial cable feed line. One day, I had disconnected that cable from my transmitter for some reason or other and just left the open PL-259 sitting there. Thunderstorms started rolling through. Suddenly I noticed a sound. It was "snap..........snap...........snap........................snap....snap.." and so on at a varying rate. I couldn't imagine what it was until I saw the open PL-259. There were quite energetic sparks jumping across the gap between the connector's center pin and its outer shell. It wasn't even raining at that moment, but there was enough charge buildup via that dipole antenna for electrostatic discharge (ESD) activity to be going on and to make me very nervous. I just left the cable totally alone and let it spark to its heart's content until the thunderstorms had gone. Lessons learned: ESD events don't require direct hits from lightning Never design anything that's going to be connected to an antenna without providing an intentional discharge path as protection from electrostatic charge build-ups. 4 Comment(s) Flagstaff Rich This is one of those things that every generation rediscovers. Lightning protectors were used back in the early days of radio, too, and they evolved into quite a clever design. The ones I refer to were cast from clear glass and had a pair of neon bulbs within - one from each side of the ladder line to ground. The casting was in the shape of a battleship and when the bulbs lit she appeared to be firing a broadside! I hook mine up for grins when conditions are right for some naval action. 3.12.2013 4:05 PM EDT Reply EIMEWORRY I first saw the antenna build-up effect while fishing as a kid off a lake Michigan pier. The static in the air accumulated on my fishing pole and discharged with static hisses. 3.12.2013 3:25 PM EDT Reply G Man Neat story! Nothing like a lesson learned eh! Kinda bummed it didn't involve the connector being in the "lap" vicinity and causing mayhem that can only be laughed at later. After all, what is life without some good hair raising stories? But I am not one to laugh at others pain, glad it all turned out well. :-) Living in the radar world was a never ending source of "surprises". Interesting that those old radios tolerated so much. 3.12.2013 1:33 PM EDT Reply AC0QG When I was a boy, I liked to do shortwave listening and installed a dipole antenna on the roof. I had read that to protect my receiver, I should add a Neon lamp from the antenna to ground and a knife switch to ground the antenna. After doing so, I noticed that if the knife switch was not closed, the lamp would be continuously lit. The antenna was picking up enough induced voltage from the nearby overhead power lines to energize the 50V lamp. 3.12.2013 1:14 PM EDT

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Public Safety communications and cellular
by Bill Talanian 02 Mar '13

02 Mar '13

<http://www.noozhawk.com/> Noozhawk.com Santa Barbara & Goleta Local News Andrew Seybold: New Reason to Approve More Cell Sites http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_m… By Andrew Seybold [] [Writers disclaimer: I am a consultant, educator and writer in the area of wireless communications. I consult to commercial <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>wireless networks, device vendors, the public safety community and others. But I have never been hired by any company, organization or person to support new cell sites. I am a believer in wireless and understand, because of my work, that without cell sites wireless will not be the pervasive technology that many want it to be.] Soon the commercial cell sites will have some new tenants: public safety, fire, EMS, sheriffs and police. In February 2012, <http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama>President Barack Obama signed the <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Class_Tax_Relief_and_Job_Creation_Act_o…>Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that contained provisions for the establishment of a new public safety network for data and video services and $7 billion to build out this network nationwide (not enough funding but a good start). This new network is needed because commercial networks are not capable of meeting public safetys needs. The public safety community and commercial broadband operators will work together to build out this Nationwide Public Safety <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>Broadband Network (NPSBN). This new network will provide interoperability, enabling first responders and various agencies across the United States and locally to be able to communicate via text, data and video. This will help our first responders serve all of us better and more safely. Even in Santa Barbara County, while the <http://www.sbsheriff.org/>Sheriffs Department and police can communicate with each other, they cannot communicate directly with fire services, <http://www.police.ucsb.edu/>UCSB police, or other city and county agencies. The NPSBN is a cellular-type network that will require many more cell sites than we currently have allocated for public safety. In Santa Barbara County, we have six mountaintop sites for the Sheriffs Department and <http://www.sbcfire.com/>County Fire to provide <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>voice communications, but we will need 60 to 70 sites to provide data and video for our public safety community. That means that public safety will need to share sites with the commercial operators to build its network. On the commercial side, the additional cell sites will benefit the 32 percent of <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>wireless customers who no longer maintain a wired phone in their homes and provide more capacity for the rest of us. The county and the city will need to take this into consideration when evaluating new cell sites moving forward. Most network operators plan to add many more sites each year than the citys and countys capacity to approve them because of the way in which each site must be handled one at a time. If the county and city had a long-term policy to approve cell site expansion, this process could be fast-tracked to the advantage of the citizens of the area, the city or county, and the wireless operator, resulting in less cost for each of these entities. The commercial operator must prove that the site it has selected is the best to add coverage or capacity where it is needed. Counties and cities, by law, are not permitted to use health concerns to deny these <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>applications, but they are permitted to consider aesthetics and other issues to make sure that the cell sites that are approved meet the requirements of the county or city. Because of the increased demand for wireless <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>broadband services, which is growing at a rate of more than 100 percent a year, over the next five years cities and counties will have to deal with at least a 50 percent increase in cell site permit requests. Now is the time to standardize the procedure for site approval to facilitate network expansion. Now when the county, city and residents of this area oppose a new cell site, they might also be opposing this new public safety communications network that could end up saving their lives in the future. I know that most people want cell sites but not near their own homes or <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>schools because of <http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/print/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_mor…>aesthetics and health concerns. However, if a cell site is located on a tower, a pole or a faux tree and is higher, rather than lower, any possible radio frequency exposure is reduced. So the smart thing to do is to approve cell sites that are higher rather than lower, and to remember that these sites will, in the near future, also be used for public safety communications services that might be critical to you someday. Andrew Seybold is a Santa Barbara resident and head of <http://www.andrewseybold.com>Andrew Seybold Inc., which provides consulting, educational and publishing services. <http://www.andrewseybold.com>Click here for more information. The opinions expressed are his own. http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/030113_andrew_seybold_new_reason_m…

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Another Silent Key- Lee Ruzicka KG6KKT
by Rick Whitaker 22 Feb '13

22 Feb '13

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Lee Ruzicka (KG6KKT). Lee battled with many strokes and became a silent key on February 7, 2013. If anyone out there has a story to share please send it to me at rickwhtr(a)cox.net Thank you Rick Whitaker

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AMERICAN RED CROSS TO PHASE OUT EMERGENCY, COMMUNICATION RESPONSE VEHICLES
by Marvin Johnston 21 Feb '13

21 Feb '13

From: ******************************************** The ARRL Letter Published by the American Radio Relay League ******************************************** ==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: AMERICAN RED CROSS TO PHASE OUT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION RESPONSE VEHICLES The American Red Cross has made the decision to phase out and decommission its Emergency Communication Response Vehicles (ECRVs) due to changes in technology, as well as a new satellite system and other factors regarding the vehicle fleet. "Retrofitting the decade-old vehicles with new equipment is not a good use of donated funds, as the long-term strategy is to move to more portable systems," American Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Manager Keith Robertory, KG4UIR, told the ARRL. "This is consistent with the trends in the telecom and technology industries." The American Red Cross will be removing the Amateur Radios from the ECRVs as part of the decommissioning process. These radios will either become part of the deployable inventory or provided to the local American Red Cross chapter to build local capacity. Robertory explained that from a radio perspective, the American Red Cross has a variety of different kits for amateur, business and public safety bands covering HF, VHF and UHF with portable radios, mobile units and base stations: "Two-way radio remains a valuable tool, providing communications in the initial days or weeks of a disaster, until normal communications is restored. Each American Red Cross chapter should continue with -- and improve -- the relationship with their local Amateur Radio operators. In a disaster, Amateur Radio will be the fastest deployed radio network because operators already live in the impacted communities." Read more here <http://www.arrl.org/news/american-red-cross-to-phase-out-emergency-communic…>.

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RE: Special VE Session of February 23
by K6QD 14 Feb '13

14 Feb '13

We have an "un-scheduled" VE session on Feb 23 as the culmination of the General Class which is currently in-process. It will be held at the "regular" location; County Health. Please let me know if you can support this. Michael (NO6O) & Jay: Please identify Feb 23 VE session on the SBARC web site and Web Server. Tks es 73 de, Mike K6QD -----Original Message----- From: Tom Saunders [mailto:tsaund@cox.net] Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2013 8:54 PM To: 'Darryl Widman'; David Larson; 'Ed Leska'; ICE; jimrallen(a)aol.com; 'K6QD'; 'Michael Jogoleff'; Walt Harasty; 'Ziebell, Michael J.' Subject: Special VE Session of January 26 Mike and VE Team I will be there for this session. Please indicate the location and time. If you want it at the Red Cross we should reserve a conference room. Tom Saunders Mobile (805) 452 - 0840 Home (805) 967 - 7351 FAX (805) 308 - 0347 tsaund(a)cox.net We have a "special" VE session scheduled for Jan 26 for the students in the current Tech class. I know of at least three people who want to take the General exam as well. Please indicate if you can support this exam session or not. Thanks. Mike Wapner, K6QD

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Antennae and Tower anyone?
by Dorothy Oksner 02 Feb '13

02 Feb '13

I have knowledge of an unused antenna tower that once was 60' tall. The property owner had to lower it to around 25 feet or so. It has guy wires holding it up and it looks like it may have been telescoped down to reduce its height. If anyone has an interest in this tower (it also appears to have antennae still attached), I could put you in touch with the owner. Dorothy Oksner KJ6UGL sbarc.org

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RE: SBARC-list Digest, Vol 114, Issue 9
by K6QD 02 Feb '13

02 Feb '13

Thanks Bill! Mike Wapner -----Original Message----- From: sbarc-list-bounces(a)lists.netlojix.com [mailto:sbarc-list-bounces@lists.netlojix.com] On Behalf Of sbarc-list-request(a)lists.netlojix.com Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 12:00 PM To: sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com Subject: SBARC-list Digest, Vol 114, Issue 9 Send SBARC-list mailing list submissions to sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.netlojix.com/mailman/listinfo/sbarc-list or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to sbarc-list-request(a)lists.netlojix.com You can reach the person managing the list at sbarc-list-owner(a)lists.netlojix.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of SBARC-list digest..." Today's Topics: 1. 223.92 back on (Bill Talanian) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:52:55 -0800 From: Bill Talanian <w1uuq(a)cox.net> Subject: [Sbarc-list] 223.92 back on To: sbarc list <sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com> Message-ID: <20130131025250.GLAM30259.fed1rmfepo103.cox.net@fed1rmimpo110> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: QST To All From: Bill Talanian Subject: 223.92 Island repeater The Island 223.92 repeater was taken off the air a few weeks ago due to the repeater transmitter becoming activiated without any signal on the input. Today we made a trip by helicopter to Diablo Peak and did some troubleshooting. The problem was traced to the two meter and six meter remote base controller. The remote base controller and transceivers have been removed and are now permanently decommissioned from the repeater. The 223.92 now functions normally. The 121.5 ELT remote receiver is still part of the system. Thanks to Matt, w6kgb and Paul wd6eby from Ventura County who helped out with technical issues at the peak.

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223.92 back on
by Bill Talanian 31 Jan '13

31 Jan '13

To: QST To All From: Bill Talanian Subject: 223.92 Island repeater The Island 223.92 repeater was taken off the air a few weeks ago due to the repeater transmitter becoming activiated without any signal on the input. Today we made a trip by helicopter to Diablo Peak and did some troubleshooting. The problem was traced to the two meter and six meter remote base controller. The remote base controller and transceivers have been removed and are now permanently decommissioned from the repeater. The 223.92 now functions normally. The 121.5 ELT remote receiver is still part of the system. Thanks to Matt, w6kgb and Paul wd6eby from Ventura County who helped out with technical issues at the peak.

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HAM Radio General Class
by K6QD 30 Jan '13

30 Jan '13

There is a General Class scheduled to begin next Tuesday, Feb 5. Please confirm your plan to attend or not. Tentatively, classes will be held on Tu & Th nites from 6:30 - 9:30. However this remains somewhat flexible depending on student preferences. Thanks & 73, Mike Wapner, K6QD Michael: Please post on Website Jay: Please post on sbarc-list

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Monday: NASA Astronaut Richard Linnehan in Santa Barbara
by Levi C. Maaia 27 Jan '13

27 Jan '13

SBARC Members: I have told some of you personally about this event but I want to be sure to reach any anyone who may be interested in attending ... NASA Astronaut Richard Linnehan will give a free presentation on the future of human spaceflight this Monday, January 28 at 7:00 PM at the SB Public Library's Faulkner Gallery on Anapamu Street His presentation is part of a special series on space at Anacapa School and is part of the work my students in the Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club - KK6BBL are doing leading up to their scheduled ARISS ham radio contact with the International Space Station in May with the help of SBARC. You are welcome to attend this extraordinary opportunity to meet this astronaut, who over a career total of 58 days in orbit helped service the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. K6LCM, Santa Barbara, Calif. Levi C. Maaia lcm(a)comcreations.com www.levi.maaia.com blog twitter.com/levimaaia Twitter Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

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