NW S.O.A.R.

Northwest Society Of Amateur Radio

KD7WBP

Thanks to all who took the time to visit the NW S.O.A.R. booth at the Mike and Key swap meet.  Now that you've seen us, come and join us for breakfast.  We'll be finalizing our plans for field day 2006. 

Field day 2005!

Field day was a great success.  Frank says that we made 3886 points. Most of all, people had a lot of fun, fellowship, and radio.  Band conditions could of been better, but at this stage of the sunspot cycle, you take what you can get.  The members of the NWSOAR would like to thank Dan and Patty for hosting the field day site and their kind hospitality. 

Way to go to the satellite team for their contacts and congrats to Nathan and Brown Bear -- kids getting their first QSOs.  APRS was demonstrated, and many non hams got to see ham radio. Plus many CW contacts.  Way to go!

Barry and Kelly operate Land-Locked Maritime Mobile from Dan's boat, on a trailer in his yard.  Next year... Tethered Blimp?

Kevin, El Presidente, racks up the CW contacts. Freely, not shown, is operating the logging program. (On the internet, no one knows you're a dog.)

Steve and Claude man the GOTA station. Brown Bear's Grandmother looks on.

Brown bear calls CQ while Nathan looks on. We've got two future hams here by golly!  Claude (bald, hairy, arms folded) acts as Control Operator.

Greg, Carroll, and Robert, at the satellite station, just before that big contact.  Who-hoo!

Andrew  (KE7BTU) and Gidget take 5 outside the food area.  (Gidget is the brunette. )

Thanks Jay Jay

JayJay, N7CNK, has decided to turn over the web control point to myself, Claude, KD7MJR. Jay Jay has done excellent job as webmaster -- I hope that I can do as well a job. Lets hear it for Jay Jay! Any suggestions or complaints, please send them as always to webmaster@nwsoar.org.

Look Out Above!

The ISS expedition 11 crew arrived at the International Space station April 17.  All three astronauts, Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, John Philips KE5DRY, and Roberto Vittori IZ6ERU  are hams.  Roberto Vittori will be leaving ISS with  Leroy Chiao (KE5BRW) and  Salizhan Sharipov April 24.  Perhaps we'll hear more contacts?

Want to see -- or hear -- when ISS is overhead? This NASA website contains a handy java applet that will generate tables of when they are overhead. Enter your coordinates, or choose from a list of cities. Another good site for tracking the ISS, ham satellites, and astronomy stuff in general is Heavens Above (registration required).

Want to know what "That Lazy ol'Sun" is up to lately, or if the ISS crew has to duck and cover because of a solar flare? Check out www.spaceweather.com. This is the site Frank, N7UO, often mentions during Net. This site always has the latest news on the solar indexes and solar phenomenon. Plus cool pictures!

If the terrestrial weather ever clears here on earth, check out Jack Horkheimer's Star Gazer site for the latest on naked eye astronomy. (Remember kids, never ever look at the sun directly.) And don't forget! On the Bears repeater, 145.33, there is a weekly astronomy net Sundays at 10pm.

NWSOAR VE Team Swings Into Action

Following a request received from Dave Funk, WA7RSO, and Dave Hale, KD7HAA who had trained a number of potential operators at Harborview Medical Center over this weekend, John Hirsch, W7RFM, VE team leader and Frank Pritchett, N7UO got busy.  For those of you who remember, it takes three VE's to conduct an examination!  One plus one does not equal a VE team.  John, with the capable assistance of Anna, W7MIA began scrambling to acquire a 3rd ARRL VE and Frank began making calls.  Frank finally contacted Shirley Murphy, N7QHW the VE Coordinator for the Radio Club of Tacoma who graciously  provided telephone numbers for several potential certified VE's on her team.  Pay Dirt!  Frank was able to convince Al Burleson, K7HW to accompany the team from his Tacoma home to Harborview Medical Center where the team conducted a successful testing session.

Through the quality training provided by the Dave and Dave team, both candidates successfully passed their Technician class license examination.

The calamities faced by the VE team are a reminder that we desperately need additional VE's within the club prepared to assist in conducting examinations.  In order to be a VE one must be a General or Extra Class licensee, and successfully have completed the training program that is free from the ARRL.  Please consider your involvement in the VE program.

2004 Field Day Results

Thank you to everybody who showed up and especially Dan, KB7UXE and his wife Patty for letting us join him on his property. I have more information going up so I have moved the field day article to a new location, you can find it here:

Field Day Results

Pictures:

1st set N7UO

2nd set N7CNK

3rd set KD7YDL

4th set KB7UXE

5th set KD7YOH

NWSOAR Introduces Saghali Middle School Students to Amateur Radio Operations

NW S.O.A.R. Vice-President John Hirsch, W7RFM, Secretary/Treasurer Anna Witte, W7MIA, and Frank Pritchett, N7UO presented anateur radio to a group of students at Saghalie Middle School in Federal Way on Friday, June 18th. At one time, nearly 20 students were present as John and Frank operated their rigs. A number of students expressed an eagerness to learn more about the hobby, and to possibly pursue licensing.

While Operating, John worked numerous local and distant U.S. stations, and Frank worked across the nation, Alaska and Guam from the Outbacker Outreach antenna he was using.  John's antenna was a portable rotatable dipole loaned by NWSOAR member Claude, KD7MJR.  Barry, WA7IXG spoke to several students, as did Gary K7NLG.  Thanks to all of them for making this operation possible and successful.  John and Frank just couldn't keep the students away from the keyers and microphones!