SYNTOGRAM -- September 1998
Synton Web Site:
http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/w9yh/index.html
Please advise Tim, km4ks@uiuc.edu, if you are receiving duplicates of this newsletter.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Hi Syntonites!
Welcome back for another academic year with hopes that amateur radio ... and specifically
Synton ... will help make those long hours of study, work on projects and good old
fashioned mind-bending for exams a little easier to take.
It has been an eventful summer for the club. Most of you know that two of our "antenna
trees" were chopped down by the University's forestry crews this summer, and that
W9YH's HF capability was severely limited as a result. However, hams are resourceful
and ingenious by nature, and I'm very proud of the work of W9YH staion manager Tor,
N4OGW, who has re-installed a V-beam at Physics House III. We're still a little
concerned about our signal into Europe, but have had excellent signal reports in
the Caribbean, South America, and New Zealand. Take some time out before the semester's work
catches up with you and give the new V-beam a try. Also, pass on suggestions for
what we could do to improve our signal heading to northern Europe.
We still have a big job ahead of us in small Room 330D Everitt Lab. A donated Grundig
Yacht-Boy 500 receiver donated by a club friend gives us a modest SWL capability,
and I still have high hopes that we can have a packet station working with a minimum
of time and invested effort. An internet link and a PC loaded with all the ham software
we can fit on it would complete the "four part plan" for 330D Everitt Lab.
I was especially pleased with how things went for this year's Quad Day on August 25th.
It was good to have "eyeball QSO's" with some hams on campus who were not aware
of Synton's existence, and to chat with some who had a long interest in the hobby
but were unsure of how to begin. On behalf of the club, I extended the "Synton welcome",
and would hope that you would join me in making new faces welcome in the club should
we see them in the days to come.
As we prepare to meet some new folks, we bid a fond farewell and 73 to a veteran member.
Mario, N9ZCT, who has been a mainstay of the club for many years, leaves us to take
up his post-doctoral studies at the University of California - San Diego. Join me in wishing him the best of luck in the months ahead.
Let's not begin the new semester without a word on safety! Let's make sure we keep
up our housekeeping in our facilities, and are extra good about turning off gear
when not in use. Our use of power strips should help make this as easy as flipping
the switch. Remember that I have appointed every one of you -- whether Synton member or
visitor -- an official Synton Safety Inspector and encourage you to make club safety
the top priority. Let us all know how we can improve!
Best of luck for a good start to the semester, and I'll be looking forward to seeing
everyone at our Wednesday lunchtime meetings in 330D Everitt Lab!
73 Tim, KM4KS
Synton ARC President
SYNTON CALENDAR
Sept. 14,15,16 -- Engineering Employment Expo
Sept. 16th -- First "Synton Buys" PIZZA LUNCH! 330D Everitt Lab.
Sept. 19-20 -- Peoria Hamfest ... check out
http://www.cyberdesic.com/w9uvi/ for more info
Sept. 23rd -- "brown bag" club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab (noon to 1 p.m.)
Sept. 30th -- "brown bag" club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab (noon to 1 p.m.)
Oct. 7th -- "brown bag" club meeting, 330D Everitt Lab (noon to 1 p.m.)
Oct. 18th -- ARRL Examinations, 1 p.m., Fire Service Institute
TREASURER'S REPORT
Treasurer Wayne Wagner is busy balancing the books, and will have this for us next
month!
OFFICER LIST
President: Tim Shy (KM4KS)
Vice President: -- Vacant --
Treasurer: Wayne Wagner (AA9DY)
Secretary: Debbie Fligor (N9DN)
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)