Here is a good story. Enjoy ....
73 de Denny AD6EZ <><
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Saturday mornings
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet
solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded
joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a
Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement shack with a steaming
cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as
a typical Saturday morning, turned into one of those lessons that life seems
to hand you from time to time.
Let me tell you about it. I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the
band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net.
Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal
and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the
broadcasting business. He was telling whomever he was talking with something
about "a thousand marbles". I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he
had to say.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay
you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so
much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy
hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance
recital." He continued, "let me tell you something Tom, something that has
helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he
began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person
lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less,
but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the
number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.
Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part." "It took me until
I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail"; he went
on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred
Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had
about a thousand of them left to enjoy." "So I went to a toy store and
bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy
stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside
of a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear.
Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away."
"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really
important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on
this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my
lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out
of the container. I figure, if I make it until next Saturday then I have
been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little
more time." "It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with
your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band.
73 Old Man, this is K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!" You could
have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he
gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that
morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next
club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.
"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this
on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday
together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I
need to buy some marbles."
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND MAY ALL SATURDAYS BE SPECIAL!
Hi all,
Just a reminder that the deadline for Key-Klix will be next Monday, July 3.
If something is going to be late, let me know and I'll try and reserve room
for it. The list below shows a projection of what will/might be in the July
Key-Klix. Please email me and let me know if something below won't be in
this months issue, or anything that needs to be added.
Just as a FYI (For Your Information), a typical Klix page will use about 475
words or so depending on the number of paragraphs, any lists, photos, etc.
It helps a LOT to have photos with articles.
Lou - Prez-Sez, anything for the October Meeting?
George - If you have some photos along with the article for how Field Day
went, I would much appreciate it. I am also looking for a good cover photo.
Rod - Same as above. Are you going to include the ATV Field Day report in
your ATV column?
Mack - Did you take any pictures you think might make a good cover photo?
Jim - Are you going to have an article this month for QRP Notes?
Jug - Anything covering the activities for this month? This would be a good
time to include an article on the Fiesta Parade, and perhaps some
information on what we do during the parade. This would be a great activity
to get more club members involved.
Hubert - We need a publicity article for our Hamfest. I am assuming that we
will include a flyer as an insert in this months Key-Klix, is this true?
Darryl - Are you going to have a promo article this month to start
publicizing the September meeting with Bill Pasternak?
Lou/Marcia - Is there going to be a Balance sheet printed this month?
George - Is there going to be anything for ARES for July?
Bill G - Are you going to have anything this month for the For Sale, or will
the Bazaar eliminate the need for it this month?
Bill or Bruce - Anything on repeaters this month?
Michael - Anything on the VE Sessions for this month?
Everyone - We have been trying to keep the calendar updated, so if you have
the dates of any activities, please email me and I'll get them in the list.
We are still looking for another editor for next year. I haven't contacted
the person who expressed an interest in doing/helping with it, but that will
happen in the next day or so.
Thanks to everyone for all the articles; this is what keeps Key-Klix
interesting to read!
Marvin
Hello Paul,
Sorry to hear about your battery trouble. Or is it a battery or a
charger trouble? If you have a voltmeter that will read in the 0 to 15
volt range, take a measurement of the terminal voltage on the battery.
Then, take a reading on the plug coming out of the charging unit and goes
into the battery or HT (whichever it is with the HTX-202). There should
be at least 10 volts at this plug. I am not sure where this red light is
that you speak of. If it is on the radio, it may light up when it is
taking a charge. Likewise, the charger may have its light lit when
either it is charging (and go out when the battery is fully charged), or
just show that it has voltage at its plug whenever it receives power from
the a.c. outlet. A DC voltmeter will tell you the whole story.
Hope this will shed a little more light on your light.
73, Darryl, KF6DI
On Fri, 23 Jun 2000 19:43:05 -0700 "Paul Cronshaw, D.C."
<paulc(a)silcom.com> writes:
> I have been using an HTX-202 since I got my license year and a half
> ago.
> Every time I plug in the battery recharger the little red lite goes
> on.
> However, in the last 2 days it has not gone on and I can only use
> the unit
> in my truck with the cigarette adapter. Looks like the battery is
> dead and
> can no longer hold a charge. The manual says that there batteries
> last 3-5
> years. My time must be up.
>
> My question to the group:
>
> Is there a good source for a replacement?
>
> Paul Cronshaw DC
> KF6TRT
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> SBARC-list mailing list
> SBARC-list(a)lists.netlojix.com
> http://lists.netlojix.com/mailman/listinfo/sbarc-list
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
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I have been using an HTX-202 since I got my license year and a half ago.
Every time I plug in the battery recharger the little red lite goes on.
However, in the last 2 days it has not gone on and I can only use the unit
in my truck with the cigarette adapter. Looks like the battery is dead and
can no longer hold a charge. The manual says that there batteries last 3-5
years. My time must be up.
My question to the group:
Is there a good source for a replacement?
Paul Cronshaw DC
KF6TRT
FYI:
73,
Don Milbury, W6YN
---------------------------------------------------
HISTORIC MORSE CODE RADIO STATION RETURNS TO THE AIR
Former "Wireless Giant of the Pacific" Will Once Again Be Heard
22 JUNE 2000 (MRHS) - The former Marconi and RCA Morse code
radio station KPH will make a commemorative broadcast on
Wednesday, 12 July, the first anniversary of the last commercial
Morse code transmission in North America.
KPH began life at the dawn of radio. Its first home was the
Palace Hotel in San Francisco, from which it derived its first call
letters, PH. When the Palace Hotel was destroyed in the 1906
earthquake and fire the station moved to several different locations,
eventually finding a permanent home on the mesa west of the small
California town of Bolinas. Along the way federal regulators added
the K prefix to the original PH, creating KPH, one of the most
famous radio call signs in the world.
Radio operators ashore and afloat came to regard KPH as "the
wireless giant of the Pacific". Only the best operators worked at
KPH. They were there 24 hours a day, ready to help with
everything from the mundane messages of maritime commerce to
urgent requests for assistance from ships in distress. The KPH
signal literally spanned the globe. Radio operators on ships in the
far corners of the world were comforted by the steady signal of KPH
in their earphones.
As technology progressed the end of Morse code was predicted
many times. But KPH soldiered on providing good, reliable service
to the maritime community. The end came at Bolinas in 1997 when
Globe Wireless purchased the license and the big transmitters were
finally shut down. On July 12, 1999 Globe Wireless sent the last
commercial messages in Morse code from KFS, their master station
near Half Moon Bay. It was the last time the famous call KPH would
be heard on the air - or so it was thought.
Today the former KPH facilities are part of the Point Reyes National
Seashore which has a strong interest in the important role the
station played in the history of radio communications. The Maritime
Radio Historical Society has been working with the Point Reyes
National Seashore to preserve and restore KPH with the goal of
eventually creating a museum dedicated to this great station that was
once heard throughout the world.
On 12 July KPH will return to the air from its original location, using
its original equipment and its original frequencies - generously made
available by Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH license
and operator of the equally famous KFS from which the last
commercial Morse message was sent.
Veteran operators, radio engineers and those with an interest in
radio history will gather at the Bolinas transmitter building to watch
the station come on the air one year and one minute after the last
Morse transmission from Half Moon Bay. Commemorative
messages will be sent by hand by the operators who once stood
watch at the station. And then they will listen for any calls from the
few remaining ships at sea with Morse capability.
While this event does not signal the return of KPH to commercial
Morse service we intend it to acknowledge and honor all the radio
operators who have "worn the earphones" and played a role in the
history of maritime radio.
The station will operate on 4247.0, 6477.5 and 13002.0Kc on
shortwave and 500/426Kc. on medium wave. If additional
frequencies become available by 12 July these will be announced in
the commemorative broadcast.
Contact:
Dick Dillman
Maritime Radio Historical Society
Phone: 415-512-7137
Email: ddillman(a)igc.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio: If you're not having fun, you are not doing it right!
http://www.qsl.net/arrlsb
ARRL, Santa Barbara Section
To subscribe: mailto:arrlsb-subscribe@egroups.com
Internet Manager: AD6AD(a)arrl.net
I have ben assigned the task of chairing the VHF field day station, 6m,
2m, 220m, 432, with Rod wb9kmo doing ATV
So at this time I am looking for operators to man the various stations
I have a time table for you to sign up for the time that you want to work
and what band. Your commitment for these hours will be yours only, if
some one else is on the radio, they will have to relinquish it to you
I am sure there will be times that no one will be there to operate,
THE OBJECT IS TO HAVE FUN
Please don't let all this hard work setting up these stations go for
nought
Call dick w6dnn to sign up your time and band
967-7573 or e-mail by Thursday AM ( I am home all day)
TNX
http://totl.net/Ham/
--
Jay Hennigan - Network Administration - jay(a)west.net
NetLojix Communications, Inc. NASDAQ: NETX - http://www.netlojix.com/
WestNet: Connecting you to the planet. 805 884-6323
June 28th is the day the Assembly Committee will consider bill.
Please take action NOW!
73,
Don Milbury, W6YN
-------------------------------------------------
SB-1714: Letters Needed!
By Jim Maxwell, W6CF, Director, Pacific Division, ARRL
w6cf(a)arrl.org
You may know that SB-1714, which is our first step
toward restraining local jurisdictions from regulating
Amateur service antennas out of existence, passed the
California Senate 39-0 on May 30. From there it has gone
to the Assembly for consideration.
On June 6 SB-1714 was assigned to the Local
Government Committee of the California Assembly. The
members of the committee are Assembly members Longville
(Chair), Pacheco (Vice-chair), Corbett, Kaloogian,
Kuehl, Thompson, Torlakson and Wiggins. The present text
of the bill may still be found at
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov; click on "bills" and search
on "1714" (no quotes).
We have just been informed that the SB-1714 will be
considered in the Local Government Committee on
Wednesday, June 28. Preparations are in progress right
now for a small group to appear before the Committee in
support of the bill. The makeup of our group is in a
state of flux at the moment, but current plans are for
our group to be led by Vice Director Vallio, W6RGG, ably
supported by Sacramento Valley Section Manager Jerry
Boyd, K6BZ, and possibly Volunteer Counsel Coordinator
Harry Styron, K6HS. I will be out of the country on that
date, so will not be able to attend.
We do not have a sponsor in the Assembly, so we need
to be more active in support than was necessary in the
Senate, where we had the minority leader carrying the
bill. We continue to face opposition to any meaningful
bill from the California League of Cities and other
lobbying organizations concerned with land use and real
estate.
You should express your opinion (hopefully
supportive) to your individual Assembly member and to
the members of the Local Government Committee and/or to
the committee staff. At this point please do not suggest
changes to the bill, because any amendment in the
Assembly would effectively kill it for this year. In its
present form it doesn't hurt, and it will permit us to
work with the Governor's Office of Planning and Research
to get (hopefully) something next year that will really
help.
You may find your Assembly member's name in the
government pages of the telephone directory or on the
web by going to http://www.assembly.ca.gov and using the
zip code finders that can be found off those pages.
Every Assembly member may be contacted by mail addressed
to him or her by name at P. O. Box 942849, Sacramento,
CA 94249-0001. Every Assembly member may be contacted by
email at an address constructed as
assemblymember.<name>@assembly.ca.gov, where <name> is
the last name of the Assembly member. For example,
Assemblyman Sam Aanestad of the 3rd district has email
address assemblymenber.aanestad(a)assembly.ca.gov.
Each member of the Assembly has individual office,
telephone and fax numbers in their district and in
Sacramento. Local offices are listed in the government
section of your phone directory. A great deal of
information about each member can be found off of the
http://www.assembly.ca.gov page.
The Local Government Committee is more primitive, for
they have no email address. Their snail-mail address is
1020 "N" Street, Room 157, Sacramento, CA 95814. Their
telephone number is 1-916-319-3958 and their fax number
is 1-916-319-3959. You should send them a copy of every
letter addressed to your Assembly member or to the
Assembly members of the Local Government Committee. In
the Senate we got a very misleading support count in the
legislative analysts' comments, because few of our
letters went to the committee staff. They said we only
had six letters in support, which is only the count of
letters that went to the staff itself - they apparently
did not see the many letters addressed to individual
Senators.
It is sufficient just to write or telephone to say "I
am an Amateur Radio Service licensee and I support SB-
1714." Staff at each level simply keeps a count for and
against for the member. The Assembly member generally
will not see the individual letters, only the count.
Please at least tell me and our Pacific Division
Volunteer Counsel Coordinator Harry Styron, K6HS,
(hlstyron@ wcrklaw.com) that you have written, to whom
you have written, and if your letter was for or against
the bill. This way we can keep a count for when we
appear before the Committee.
Harry, K6HS, has also created a SB-1714 mail list.
The list contains periodic updates and alerts related to
SB-1714. If you wish to subscribe, send email to 1714-
info-request(a)contra-costa.net with the word "subscribe"
(no quotes) in the subject line.
Thanks to Harry Styron, K6HS and Mike Mitchell, W6RW,
for most of the information provided above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amateur Radio: If you're not having fun, you are not doing it right!
http://www.qsl.net/arrlsb
ARRL, Santa Barbara Section
To subscribe: mailto:arrlsb-subscribe@egroups.com
Internet Manager: AD6AD(a)arrl.net
