QSX Newsletter. The. Jan 2014 Volume 55, Issue 1

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1 The QSX Newsletter Jan 2014 Volume 55, Issue 1 Calendar of Events: General club meeting: Jan :30 pm, 4 th floor, council room C Verdugo Hills Hospital, Montrose Ca 1801 N. Verdugo Blvd. Montrose, Lichtman, KF6KXG Prez Sez Jan 2014 President, Mike Happy New Year to all our members. I hope you were able to attend our Christmas party. We had plenty of great food, some interesting auction items, and a drawing for a $100 HRO gift certificate. Ed KD6TAV got the best auction deal of the night, a new in-the-box Yaesu 2 meter mobile rig that was donated by Krystyn KK6BWN. 1 We have three events planned for January. The board meeting breakfast (open to all members) is on Saturday Jan 4 th. The regular meeting will be on Thursday Jan 9 th. The evening s speaker will be Kate Hutton. She is an expert on earthquakes from Cal Tech. While she will be speaking on the National Traffic System, she said she will also take any questions on earthquakes. On Sat Jan 18 th, we will hold our QRP mini field day (weather permitting). Now that January is here, it is time to think about club elections. Please give some thought to taking a club office. This last year we have been running with a minimal crew. For the club to schedule more speakers, have more interesting events, and offer more to you, the members, we need to fill all the club offices.

2 (Climbing down from soapbox) The other night, just after signing off of my regular afternoon ragchew net, I pulled down one of my antique radios---a Knight Kit Ocean Hopper. It is a 3 tube regenerative radio with different coils for each band and works best from a random length long wire antenna. (cont. below) MFJ also offers a kit called the MFJ for about $80. Both are fun to put together and all you need is a small soldering iron from Radio Shack. They would make a great first project if you have never made a kit before. Regens are very sensitive, but not too selective. You will be surprised how much you can hear and, by setting the regen control a little higher, you can also here SSB and CW. You really can still construct a fun and enjoyable radio. Let me know if you have any questions. 73 Mike KF6KXG Transponder Net news: There was no Transponder Net for the month of January. Mark, W6MW was travelling, but hopefully will be there for the February net. As I tuned in several signals and had to constantly tweak the regen control and the antenna trimmer, I thought about what radio was in the early days. It was a challenge just receiving the signal, but what a lot of fun especially if you like twisting the dials. If you have never played with a regen receiver before think about building up one of the modern solid state regen kits. Hendricks offers a $50 kit called the Scout 2 Last Months meeting: Sunday night Nets: Please do not forget that every Sunday at 7:55 pm there is the no chit chat net on the Clubs Mhz repeater (minus, pl) Check in with your name and call sign only. This will make sure that your radio is working. Then tune to the Clubs Mhz repeater (minus, pl) for the whats going on net at 8:00 pm. Here you get to tell us what went on with you for the past week and what you would like to share with the Club. These nets are usually hosted by Ed, KD6TAV but might also be hosted by anyone that would like to run a net. Don t be mike shy, just jump in there and say let me run the net tonight. It really is fun.

3 2013 Christmas Party fun: This year s annual Christmas Party was a great success. Lots of people, lots of food, and lots of fun. With our Prez Mike, KF6KXG hosting the party, and the Club providing the main vittles, things really got going when our old friend and former President Don, KD6EQV put on his Santa hat and conducted a great auction of stuff that members brought in. Up for grabs this year was a brand new in the box Yaesu FT meter radio, Knots Berry Farm jam, wine, ham gear and more. $ was raised for the Club and will go into the general fund account. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated, along with the great food and side dishes. And as always, getting together with friends make it special. 3

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9 Contact information: President Mike Lichtman, KF6KXG, VP Mark Gershen, KF6YAN Secretary (not filled yet) Treasurer Mark Kanzler, KE6ZRP Repeater Dave Bellinger, KO6TD Trustee Larry Cohen, AD6IZ Trustee Mark West, W6MW Editor Mark Kanzler, KE6ZRP Mail: CVARC, P.O. Box 854, La Canada, Ca Website: 9