SYNTOGRAM -- April 1999
Synton Web Site
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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, km4ks@uiuc.edu, if you are receiving duplicates of this
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PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Hi Syntonians!
As the weather warms up and the first solid cases of spring fever start to spread
around, most of us are trapped inside by the need for a strong finish for the semester.
Make some time -- even if it's only a short time -- to relax with a hobby for a
few minutes each week. It does wonders to
keep the brain stabilized and restore the frayed edges of your attitude.
The month of April will feature a Synton-sponsored "new ham" class on Thursday nights.
Thank Debbie, N9DN, for setting this up and getting it going, and our instructor
corps for donating their time as well. Class meets Thursday evenings in April (except
for April 1st -- no fooling!) from 7 to 9 p.m. at 335 Grainger Library. This class
already has an enrollment of 11 students, and the classes will follow the excellent
ARRL study guide "Now You're Talking!" which is available from the league and in
local bookstores. With good luck and some study from our students, I will have the pleasure
of reporting 11 new hams in the community after their exam session in early May.
Good luck to all who are participating, and Synton welcomes you to the king of hobbies.
I am very pleased to see our Friday evening "open house" at our Physics House III
shack have become part of the Synton routine. With W9YH operating, this is an excellent
way to rediscover the magic of the hobby while helping along those who are new or
just plain curious. I've also discovered a side benefit ... meeting hams on campus and
in the community who discover our open house was exactly the excuse they needed to
come see us and what we're up to.
And finally, a word on safety. With warmer weather in the Midwest comes the threat
of thunderstorms and lightning. The watchwords are simple: disconnect or ground
antennas from equipment not in use. We have been very lucky at Synton to have suffered
no major lightning casualties, and I am very anxious to make sure this year is not the
first for this unwanted signal! Please take that extra moment to make sure that
all antennas have been disconnected before you leave either of our facilities. I
will be posting signs shortly in both PH III and 330D Everitt Lab as reminders, and would encourage
members and friends to be extra vigilant. If you hear some thunder or skies look
threatening, poke your head into either of our facilities and give them a quick check to make sure we will survive a lightning strike.
Have an excellent April. Good luck in wrapping up the semester's work. See you around
the shack or around the bands.
73,
Tim, KM4KS
Synton ARC President
SYNTON NEWS
License Examinations
Twin Cities Amateur Radio Club (TCARC) will be holding ARRL-VEC license examinations
on Sunday, July 18, 1 p.m., at the Fire Service Institute Building.
ARES Training
The local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group will hold a Spotter Safety
Seminar on Wednesday, April 7th, 7 p.m., at the ESDA building in Urbana. Those who
attended the National Weather Service storm spotter training are particularly urged
to attend, as are all other hams interested in staying safe during severe storm events.
QEX
We have renewed the subscription to the League publication "QEX" by popular demand,
as it has a good "shelf life" and the articles are well-written and useful. Should
we be subscribing to any other ham magazine? Let us hear your preferences ... and
take time to check out the latest issues in 330D Everitt Lab.
Handbook Sales
Now down to two copies left -- and more can be ordered. Spread the word to other
hams in the area that the '99 RAH is on sale at Synton for $30 -- a two dollar savings
over the cover price.
New Ham Class
With 11 enrollees, the ham class is a "go". Class time will be Thursday evenings,
7-9 p.m. with the first class on April 8th. Classes will be held in 335 Grainger
Library, and there is plenty of parking in the "B-1" lot adjacent to the library.
Experienced members are welcome to sit in (and brush up on some of those fundamentals we
might have forgotten since our last upgrade!)
Antenna Workshop
We'll target one of our Friday evening "open houses" for "The Night of the J-Pole".
Keep an eye on the newsgroup and mailing list for the night for building this simple
but effective antenna ... particularly for 2-meter or 70 cm band use.
70 cm Repeater
We're still looking for ways to activate our 446.5 MHz repeater. Pass along on
what you'd like to see with this project.
...AND ON THE BACK BURNER...
Guest Speakers
Who would Synton most like to invite as a guest speaker? Pass along those ideas.
ARRL Affiliation
QSL to four Syntonians on their league status. Are any other Synton members also
members of the ARRL?
SYNTON CALENDAR
- Apr 2 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
- Apr 7 Synton "brown bag" meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.
- Apr 7 ARES Spotter Safety Seminar, 7 p.m., ESDA Building, Urbana.
- Apr 8 Synton New Ham Class, 7-9 p.m., 335 Grainger Library
- Apr 9 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
- Apr 14 Synton "brown bag" meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.
- Apr 15 Synton New Ham Class, 7-9 p.m., 335 Grainger Library
- Apr 16 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
- Apr 21 SYNTON BUYS PIZZA meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.
- Apr 22 Synton New Ham Class, 7-9 p.m., 335 Grainger Library
- Apr 23 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
- Apr 28 Synton "brown bag" meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.
- Apr 29 Synton New Ham Class, 7-9 p.m., 335 Grainger Library
- Apr 30 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
- May 5 Synton "brown bag" meeting, 330D Everitt Lab, noon to 1 p.m.
- May 7 Synton Open House, Physics House III (#10), 5-6 p.m.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Debbie, N9DN, will have this for us next month.
OFFICER LIST
President: Tim Shy (KM4KS)
Vice President: -- Vacant --
Treasurer: Debbie Fligor (N9DN)
Secretary: -- Vacant --
Station Manager: Torsten Clay (N4OGW)
QSL Manager: Chris Bochna (N9RQW)
Public Service Manager: Mark Belding (N9GPA)
Engineering Council Representative: Tim Shy (KM4KS)
Advisor: Prof. Jim Coleman (KA6A)