SYNTOGRAM -- Special Y2K Edition, 2000


Synton Web Site <http://www.uiuc.edu/ph/www/synton>
Synton news group <news://news.cso.uiuc.edu/uiuc.org.synton>


Joint Synton/Twin Cities ARC 2-meter net Thursdays at 9 p.m. local 146.76 MHz (-600 kHz transmit offset) Champaign repeater

Please advise Tim, KM4KS, shy@uiuc.edu, if you are receiving duplicates of this newsletter, or would like to be added to our e-mailing list.



PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Hi Syntonians!

Welcome to the first days of Y2K! Congratulate yourselves on a very successful entry into the year 2000. I am pleased to report that Synton performed up to its usual high standards supporting the University’s communications needs.

W9YH was staffed at 6 p.m. on December 31, 1999 and established contact with our counterparts at the University of Illinois - Chicago (Jim, K9ZAT), and the University of Illinois - Springfield (Jim, W9CNP) in case of widespread landline failure. Re-establishing contact several times per hour, we were able to assure the university of a back-up communications capability should it have become necessary.

With an uneventful rollover through midnight, January 1, 2000, W9YH remain staffed and operating, and was able to relay several routine messages on behalf of the command center. Finally, shortly before 3 a.m., we were released by the command center and returned to normal amateur use.

I was most delighted to hear many favorable comments about Synton from senior university officials. Several officials were unaware an organization like Synton existed, while others were pleasantly surprised that we were up to the challenge.

The evening was not all work. Shortly after the rollover, W9YH worked special event station K2K in Indianapolis for the first contact of the year. This was an excellent illustration of what amateur radio is all about. We stood ready to provide what could have been emergency service, and had some fun along the way.

Best wishes for an outstanding year 2000! See you around the shack and around the bands.

73 Tim, KM4KS
Synton ARC President



SYNTON NEWS

License Examinations -- Next chance to test locally will be with the Twin Cities Amateur Radio Club (TCARC). They will be holding ARRL-VEC license examinations on Sunday, March 19th, 1 p.m., at the Fire Service Institute Building.

Handbook Sales -- Look for the year 2000 edition of the Radio Amateur’s Handbook, which we will be selling to EE classes again this semester. For those of you who don’t mind a "golden oldie," we have a couple of 1999 volumes still remaining.

70 cm Repeater -- Good news about the 444.65 MHz W9YH repeater! Al, WB9OIH, reports that initial tests have been successful, and that the repeater will be ready for operation as soon as the antenna is permanently mounted.


...AND ON THE BACK BURNER...

Antenna Workshop -- We’re still thinking about building J-pole antennas during an evening session. Feedback from members (to Tim, KM4KS, shy@uiuc.edu) on a good time for this would be much appreciated!


SYNTON CALENDAR

Jan 19 -- First meeting of the year, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.

Jan 23 -- ARRL License Examinations, 1 p.m., Fire Service Instititute.

Jan 26 -- Club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.

Feb 2 -- Club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.

Feb 9 -- Club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.


TREASURER'S REPORT

Checking $301.12
Savings $475.91
Voucher $167.66
===========================
TOTAL $944.69


OFFICER LIST

President: Tim Shy (KM4KS)
Vice President: -- Vacant --
Treasurer: Debbie Fligor (N9DN)
Secretary: -- Vacant --
Station Manager: -- Vacant --
QSL Manager: -- Vacant --
Public Service Manager: Mark Belding (N9GPA)
Engineering Council Representative: Tim Shy (KM4KS)
Advisor: Prof. Jim Coleman (KA6A)


Last modified: Tuesday, February 08 2000