I ran across this site when the owner posted a message to the ClassicCmp
listserver.
http://terryking.us/parport/
The two projects that look the most interesting are:
COMPUTER DEMOLITION! Take an old computer apart with kids. How-to manual
in PDF format (300K).
PR Crane: A computer-controlled crane made from an IBM Graphics Printer!
PRCRANE.ZIP
Size: 300K
The basic thrust is education, and I *love* two quotes in the
introduction to "COMPUTER DEMOLITION!":
Will American kids be Inventors in 10 years, or just operate appliances
designed elsewhere? and, by the way, Whatever happened to the Kid who
took Alarm Clocks apart to discover how they worked?
and
YOU HAVE TO DEMOLISH TECHNOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND IT.
KIDS LEARN THE MOST WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DO THINGS, HANDS-ON.
KIDS CAN COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE OLD IBM XT-TYPE COMPUTERS , LEARN WHAT
THE DIFFERENT PARTS DO, AND REBUILD THEM IN 1-1/2 HOURS .
This Saturday (February 18), we will again hold the Beginner's T-Hunt at
Lake Los Carnaros. We will be meeting at 9:00 AM and get started hunting
shortly after that.
This will be an on-foot hunt with five transmitters and a course length
of about 2 miles. The expected time to find all transmitters will be
about 1 - 1 1/2 hours ... faster if you run and have experience :).
This is a free practice and some equipment will be available to borrow.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Beyond the Boilerplate!
Guest speakers are from the Santa Barbara South County Amateur Radio
Emergency Service group. You've probably already learned a lot about how
to prepare for a disaster and we'll discuss that, including emergency
kits. But we'll go beyond the usual: Survival psychology, lessons
learned from Katrina and Rita, communications in a disaster, and what
ham radio operators can do after a disaster.
Please join us! on Friday, February 17th, 7:30 p.m., at the Goleta Union
Schools District Administration Center Board Room, 401 N. Fairview Ave.
Free admission, free parking, refreshments, raffle!
ONeill Regional Park ARDF Course
Sunday, February 12, 2006
ONeill Regional Park is shaped like a V with the left side of the V a
hilly and rugged area while the right side of the V is mostly flat. The
park extends up about 1.6 km on the right side with a width of about 500
meters, and about 2.2 km on the left side with a width of about 700
meters with a larger "bulge" at the top. A road runs along the very
right side of the V and is about 50 meters above the flat portion. The
flat portion is challenging because there are a lot of reflections from
the hill in the middle of the V.
This course was put on in conjunction with an LAOC Score-O event, and we
had eleven competitors including first timers show up. The course was
not designed to be easy, but rather practice for those people planning
on attending the 2006 US ARDF Championships in North Carolina.
Transmitters #4 and #5 were located near the road on the right side of
the V about 50 meters higher than the rest of that area with #5 being
the farthest. Almost everyone found these difficult to find because of
the reflections. Part of the problem seemed to be that being about 50
meters below the transmitters, the reflections were stronger than the
main signal. Jay went to the high ground first, and had little problem
finding both transmitters. Several people added to the climb by going up
to #5, going back down, and then climbing again to #4 (or vice versa.)
The left side was the most physically challenging but was fairly
straightforward with a road running along the inside of the V most of
the way up. Transitters #3 and #4 were about 50 - 100 meters from the
road, and 2 was the farthest out near the top.
Course Length - 7 km
Course Climb - 195 meters
Course length is measured point-to-point and is not necessary a feasible
route. The course climb is the total climb along a reasonable route.
ARDF (11) 3 Hour Time Limit 5 Transmitters
Place Name Time Found
1 Jay Hennigan 1:38:28 5
2 Bob Cooley 2:11:10 5
3 Scott Moore 2:50:36 3
4 Ken Ericksa, Jim Ford 2:21:58 2
5 Tom Gaccione 2:26:11 1
6 William Smathers 2:58:58 1
7 John Frerichs 1:35:42 0
7 Micheal Helmeste 1:11:04 0
7 Jerrod Bickler
7 Joe L, Tony B, Joe C,
7 Brian Roode
Dear Folks,
Sharpen your skills in a refresher course for emergency and event
communicators at the meeting of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
group this Monday. Handouts on "Fundamental Operating Principles for
Radio Operators" will be available and we'll even have some
"off-the-air" exercises in an informal setting to give you practice.
Come join us at 7 p.m. Monday, February 13, at the County Health
Services Auditorium, 300 N. San Antonio Rd. (where the VE sessions are
held). Refreshments included -- such a deal!
See you there!
73,
Lou, N6ZKJ
Building can have cell phone antennas, Goleta council rules
THOMAS SCHULTZ, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
[]
February 8, 2006 12:00 AM
The Goleta City Council on Monday night unanimously approved four
cell phone antennas for a commercial building on Calle Real, denying
an appeal brought by neighbors concerned about aesthetics, health
effects and the prospect of still more transmitters being
"co-located" at the site housing offices and a Spectrum Health Club.
Because they comply with national standards for acceptable levels of
radio frequency radiation, federal law prohibited the council from
ruling on the basis of safety. Hidden in a wall and faux pipe vent,
the devices' appearance did not amount to visual blight, the council decided.
"Our hands are pretty much tied," said Mayor Jonny Wallis, who joined
colleagues in urging Sprint PCS to find another location in the face
of public outcry. "This is not good for your business."
Sprint agent David Thornburgh, of InfraNext Inc., said the antennas
are safe and needed to improve cell reception along Highway 101.
The devices will produce roughly 5 percent of the maximum radiation
exposure allowed under federal law, according to Sprint.
Mr. Thornburgh said the company investigated other locations,
including the Fairview Shopping Center and a nearby church steeple,
but none panned out.
Opponents suggested putting the antennas atop the Fairview Avenue
freeway overpass, but that is too difficult due to Caltrans
restrictions, Mr. Thornburgh said. "To allow a maintenance vehicle to
enter and exit here is not permissible."
Andrew Seybold, a Santa Barbara wireless consultant supporting the
project, noted Cottage Hospital has two rooftop cell sites with a
third likely on the way. Hospital spokeswoman Janet O'Neill confirmed
this Tuesday, describing a total 18 existing antennas from various
companies, some dating back 10 years.
Sprint attorney John Boat told the council it could not legally
overturn the city zoning administrator's November approval of the
Calle Real project based on fears of an "antenna farm" sprouting
there. "Sprint cannot control who is going to show up next."
Led by Verdura Avenue resident Bob Wignot, opponents of the project
from the Fairview Avenue and Los Carneros Organized Neighborhoods
(FALCON) complained of being caught in a bureaucratic time warp.
Based on a rule inherited from Santa Barbara County when Goleta
incorporated in early 2002, the antennas must be 50 feet or more from
the closest residence. The county has subsequently made placement of
a cell site within 300 feet of a home more difficult. Goleta is
expected to strengthen its ordinance as well, though a change would
come too late to affect the Sprint project.
Among the most vocal opponents was Malva Avenue resident Jackie
Chapman, who gathered 200 signatures from like-minded neighbors.
"The whole situation brought our community together," she said
Tuesday. "It made me really proud. Even the City Council members
would have definitely voted for us. I'd like it known that it's
pretty sad that you get lawyers in there and this big company and
they can pretty much push a little town around."
Even before the decision, Mr. Wignot offered a similar
David-versus-Goliath portrayal of the situation. "FALCON was going to
use the same attorneys at 'Dewey, Cheatem & How,' but they weren't
available," he told the council.
At least one health-conscious member plans to abandon the Spectrum
fitness center for either another branch or a new gym. Brian Lee said
he works out up to 18 hours a week, and noted the Calle Real club has
a child care center.
Ted Ontiveras, general manager of the Spectrum branch, said company
executives attempted to communicate concerns about the project with
the property owner. "It doesn't seem to have done much good."
Sprint has permission through a conditional use permit for two arrays
of two antennas each, in addition to a nine-inch global positioning
system rooftop antenna and a rooftop air conditioning unit, plus
associated equipment.
An antenna array proposed for the roof will be in a cylinder designed
to resemble a pipe vent, the other recessed into the wall of the
southwest corner of the building. The off-white roof cylinder will be
12 feet tall and set back 25 feet from the nearest roof edge.
e-mail: tschultz(a)newspress.com
