GISBORNE BRANCH 11 NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER BELATED
ali.a...@xtra.co.nz
FIRST LIGHT
The Official Newsletter , Branch 11, ZL2AA
Gisborne NZ. 9th November 2009.
CLUB NEWS
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Present . M. Mather ZL2CC , A Mackintosh ZL2AOP , A. Gemmell ZL2AIX, H.Dobson ZL2HC, Ric Coleman ZL2RIC,
R .Sewing ZL2RC
Apologies:-
D Birt ZL1BFS . Sustained
Minutes of Previous Meeting:-
Read and confirmed, Moved Alistair, Sec Hamish . Carried
Matters Arising:-
Mike yet to check Polytech., Roger :- Colvin fundraising job on holdCorrespondence:-
Inwards:- Bank Statement, Q Bits.Outwards:-
NilMoved inwards be received and Outwards approved.
Treasurers Report:-
Bank Balance ,
$4037.98 Current Account, $5,000 investmentAccounts for payment. Nil
Roger emphasized that any account with Colvins should be settled promptly as we receive very favorable terms from them.
Reports.
Alan and Mike reported on the meeting with members of the E.C. Museum of Technology regarding display of radio items and possible clubrooms or lecture room. It was requested that we write to them setting out our proposal for their committee approval.Moved
,Alan , that we write to the museum at their request and then deliberate their response with our club members for any final decision. Seconded Mike , Carried.
Gen Business.
Suggested meeting topics. Next meeting QSL Skite Night. Perhaps following meeting an address by the visiting Radio Inspector. Laurie, Cellphone SystemsJOTA .
Alistair gave a rundown on what he proposed , that it be held at Bryce St., and to encompass as many modes as possible and open to the public in general.
Mike said the 80/40 aerial was still there at the hall.
IRLP
Discussion took place on the relocation of this facility to 680 and it was agreed that Tom Moorcroft’s offer of two computers be taken up with thanks. In the meantime to meet JOTA requirements it be operational from Rics if possible. The relocation means no license would be required and no power costs.
Moved IRLP be relocated to 680 Alan Seconded Ric Carried
Repeaters ,
considerable discussion took place on the need and state of the repeaters.
680
It was agreed on Roger’s suggestion that 680 should be load tested.685 Roger gave a rundown on the need for a complete upgrade of 685 including helicopter time. This would be at an estimated cost of $6000.
690
Moved Mike , seconded Ric that 100 amp hr batts be installed at 690. Roger voted against on the grounds of longevity. The motion was carried.
It was noted that a new pole would be $600 new but there may be a possible second hand one depending on any Eastland network reconstruction.
It was moved as a recommendation that all repeaters be retained and maintained.
Moved Mike, Seconded Hamish. Carried
Meeting concluded 1910 Hrs
Approved
- Drivers may not put a hand on a cellphone , while driving , including pressing a button to initiate a call or holding a phone up to their ear.
- Hands free devices are permitted , such as ear pieces and wireless speaker phone .
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"However, as the evidence also
highlights ' hands - free ' , as a
significant risk , so too is a total ban on mobile use
justified "
Professor Stevens,
British Medical Journal.
BEWARE. Do not find yoursef being
mistaken for a cellphone user while using your mobile amateur
transceiver. |
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ARRL President Harrison presents League's views on distracted driving lawsTo ensure that Amateur Radio is not an unintended victim
of the growing public debate over what to do about distracted drivers,
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written a letter
to the National Safety Council (NSC), highlighting issues regarding the
use of Amateur Radio emergency communications devices in
vehicles Many states have outlawed the use of cell phones while driving; some states with these laws have ambiguous wording (such as "mobile communication devices" or "mobile electronic devices") concerning the use of Amateur Radio while driving. According to their Web site, the NSC is "on a mission" to "alert the American public that different kinds of distractions have different levels of crash risk. Talking on a cell phone and sending text messages are much higher risk activities that occur for longer durations and with more people than most other actions engaged in while driving." They also seek to "lead a change in our nation's cultural norms, so people come to view cell phone conversations and text messaging while driving as unsafe and socially unacceptable. Calling for a legislative ban on these activities is the first step in a long-term process to educate Americans to their risk and change the culture". Harrison explained to NSC President Janet
Froetscher that Amateur Radio operators provide essential
emergency communications when regular communications channels are
disrupted by disaster: "Through formal agreements with federal agencies,
such as the National Weather Service, According to ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, it boils down to the difference between simplex -- when only one message can be sent in either direction at one time -- and duplex -- a communications mode, such as a telephone system, that provides simultaneous transmission and reception in both directions. Harrison, citing Sumner's 40-plus years of experience as an Amateur Radio operator, puts it this way: "Simplex, two-way radio operation is simply different than duplex, cell phone use. Two-way radio operation in moving vehicles has been going on for decades without highway safety being an issue. The fact that cell phones have come along does not change that." Harrison attached a copy of the ARRL's Policy Statement on Mobile Amateur Radio Operation to the letter to the NSC. "Amateur Radio mobile operation is ubiquitous, and Amateur Radio emergency and public service communications, and other organized Amateur Radio communications activities and networks necessitate operation of equipment while some licensees are driving motor vehicles," the Policy Statement reads. "Two-way radio use is dissimilar from full-duplex cellular
telephone communications because the operator spends little time actually
transmitting; the time spent listening is more similar to, and arguably
less distracting than, listening to a broadcast radio, CD or MP3 player.
"Nevertheless, ARRL encourages licensees to conduct Amateur communications from motor vehicles in a manner that does not detract from the safe and attentive operation of a motor vehicle at all times." See the Policy Statement on the ARRL Web
site: Source: The American Radio Relay League BROADBAND OPTIONS The Government is looking at using
frequencies now carrying analogue television broadcasts as a means of
providing some rural residents with wireless broadband.
The Government expects broadcasters to switch over to digital television between 2013 and 2015 -- which would make the 700Mhz band available.
Four Amateur Radio Operators killed in plane crash at Summerville Airport
October 23rd 2009 Provided by Robert
Biss Edwin Steeble (left), Dallas
Carter (center) and Peter Radding pose in front of Radding's plane in the
Bahamas last year. The three men died Wednesday morning when the plane
crashed at Summerville Airport. Not shown is the fourth victim, James
Randolph Hargenradar. |
The group was set to participate in the CQ World Wide DX Competition, a contest that draws the participation of thousands of amateur radio operators from around the world, said Jon Zaimes, a friend of Carter’s who lives in Delaware.
Many operators, including Zaimes, communicate from their home stations during the contest, but traveling to another country, like the Bahamas, scores a contestant more points, he said.
Zaimes did not know Hargenradar or Steeble, but he said Radding and Carter were “major league amateur radio operators, known around the world for their endeavors.” The group was set to participate in the CQ World Wide DX Competition, a contest that draws the participation of thousands of amateur radio operators from around the world, said Jon Zaimes, a friend of Carter’s who lives in Delaware.
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