Video Update – So what kind of radio do you think you can buy in today’s market that will still be effectively functional 50 years from now? Burt K1OIK makes a good point in this month’s contribution to the video archives.

Registration problems – Some people my have experienced difficulty registering on the site to leave comments due to a possible conflict with our Captcha spam control and particular browsers. If you have trouble logging in or registering please drop an email to webmaster@kc2elx.net. We hope to have this resolved soon.

May 26th – Foundation Day
Well every tower party has to start on the ground (or in it). Saturday May 26th will prove to be a great day (weather wise) to finish forming the base hole for the T-400 80′ Trylon tower. Most of the work has been done already. What remains to be done involves the use of a pneumatic chisel to remove fairly loose shale exposing the bedrock at a depth of 32″. Time permitting, we will all have an opportunity to play around on the air, build antennas and roast hot dogs (you get the picture). Party begins at 11 am and ends with Lunch-on-the-Barby. Next Tower Party – we fill it up and bring it home…

May 28 & 29 – License Course Registration and Orientation
Still thinking about upgrading? Or have you been contemplating becoming a ham yourself? A little help could go a long way. Come by the JCRAC Cornerstone Facility, 19723 Lloyd Rd, (west of) Watertown, NY Monday and Tuesday evenings, May 28th and 29th at 6 pm to find out more and register for this years License Examination Prep Courses. Technician and General Courses will be held each month throughout the summer back to back. Technician in June will be held on Monday and Wednesdays and General on Tuesday and Thursdays. All Classes are held in the evenings 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The goal of this program is to cover one entire license level in a month’s time and to progress seamlessly into the next level while the previous course is still fresh in your mind. This is why the two courses will swap days each month, e.g.: during July, General will be held on Monday and Wednesdays etc. Extra Class Study Groups will be coordinated as needed and conducted in an informal manner. If you cannot make any of these dates or would like more information write to courses@kc2elx.net or call 785-6838.

May 29, 6:30 pm – Troop 54
We would like to welcome Boy Scout Troop 54 as they will be exploring the world of Amateur Radio at the Cornerstone Facility Tuesday night. If you would like to share your ham radio experience with eager minds please contact Rick Letson NB2E at treasurer@kc2elx.net.

June 9 – Meeting & Exam Session
The new Constitution and Bi-Law proposal will be presented to the club membership in attendance (Please be present to be sure you are heard). Any major changes to the document must happen prior to this date;  by law (no pun there) we are only allowed to change small things after this meeting, such as wording but not meaning. Then the ‘finished’ document will be posted on this website for membership review for 30 days before ratification in July. Some of the greater highlights include more flexibility for specialized operations and special interest groups (contest, digital, DX/QSL groups, MARS, ARES etc.), along with a more refined and professional organizational structure with clearer definitions of the duties and roles of appointed and elected positions thus pulling us into closer compliance with state and federal regulations.  The new Constitution will re-emphasize our group’s focus on promoting the amateur radio service in our community in all of its various forms and functions.

The exam session will begin at 11 am. Walk-ins will be accepted until 12pm. The membership business meeting will begin at 1 pm.

June 16 – Kids Day, Cornerstone/OTA (On-The-Air)
Bring your kids to hobby day. The Cornerstone Facility will be open June 16th for kids from 1 to 92 with age appropriate activities. Have you ever had trouble getting your children to take you seriously when you tell them how fun it is? Let us give you a hand with some activities geared for their interests that show how what you do in the ‘pig pen’ affects so much of their daily lives. We guarantee they will never doubt your abilities as a Super Sayan with a PTT again.

June 23-24 – FIELD DAY!!!!!
Really? Do I have to say more? Well, I will! FOOD, FUN, TENTS, WIRES, NOISE! And did someone say PIG ROAST? More here as we get closer.

Here’s a sample badge, using the walnut background, inner shadow on the text and the NY state outline.

You may also choose whether you want a pin style back or a magnetic back which doesn’t leave holes in your shirt. Badges may be ordered at club meetings or by mail. If you want your badge mailed back to you please include $2.00 to cover USPS First Class return postage.

Order form: HERE

One of the first steps was to address the availability of water throughout the winter. All of the old CPVC piping was replaced with a manifold controlled PEX system. While installing the new plumbing, the outside wet walls were expanded to a full width of 8 inches, increasing the available insulation space in those areas. The well source was additionally addressed. Water testing has indicated that pesticides and bacteria were at minimum levels however it was suggested that a well shock to get the year started out right would not be a bad idea, especially with all of the reconstruction of the plumbing system. JCRAC would like to thank W. H. BISNETT Inc. of 1870 State St, Watertown, NY for donating their water analysis services. A filtration system for taste and potability is in the works for the new refrigerator’s ice maker and a side sink water dispenser. The final water item is to move the siphon pump to its own enclosure. An insulated ‘lean-to’ will be built against the north side of the shed to provide heat during cold periods and easy access to the pump for maintenance allowing it to operate year round. A small light mounted on the outside will allow us to verify that the heating unit is working allowing us to avoid having to open the box and inadvertently killing Schrödinger’s cat by letting the heat out.

Next was heat for the building. For the time being we now have a 30,000 BTU wall mount propane heater installed that is quiet and does a good job heating the entire building. It is a vent-free unit so future plans are to eventually install a 95% efficiency forced air, attic mount system that will provide heat to all parts of the facility on demand. As for weatherization, all of the windows and doors (but one) and 70% of the insulation surrounding the building have been replaced. Only the attic need be addressed with the second layer of insulation now. It should also be mentioned that the double doors donated by Denver, WD9DVM have been installed and gone are the barn doors of yester year. The restroom also sports a window of its own complete with privacy diffusion film.

Now that the essence of winter has been dealt with it is time to move on to items essential for advanced station operations. There are many projects pending including the installation of an 80 foot self standing Trylon tower (cleared by the FAA) topped with a Force 12 C4XL. The new studio room will finally be receiving its long awaited consol for housing the equipment the club will be using. The silo will be cleaned up and capping with a water tight platform that will hold static antennas for links and repeaters and a 20’ center tower to hold high a Telwave 6db Collinear for one of the club’s new repeaters. These are just 3 of the projects in the works this season. Additional towers, antennas and infrastructure can be planned for in the months to come. Equipment is already available through donations and acquisitions to make many a concept come true. There are 2 more 60’ towers with HF antennas to mount on them. We have 2 full acres to work with and a host of antennas to plant such as a Hustler 10–40 mtr vertical, a Butternut, a Carolina Windham, an ATB-34, a KLM-KT34A, and many other antennas that were not discovered until a recent inventory of our storage facilities was conducted. An 80/160 mtr loop and VLF structures are planned.

Be a part of Watertown history and help to build one of the largest amateur radio facilities on the east coast today. If you haven’t been a member for a while, look again. Things are changing in a positive direction. If you don’t have room in your yard to build what you’ve been dreaming of or would just like to explore a new dimension in the hobby of amateur radio this is the place for you.

More is in store this summer as KC2ELX comes back to the air on two meters with two new frequencies, higher power ratings and fantastic locations. Our second repeater gracing the airwaves will be dedicated to ARES, RACES, and ACS emergency services for Jefferson County and the listening areas as well as distributing amateur radio related information and bulletins. We look forward to finalizing link details between the BRVARC’s 146.955 and our primary repeater located west of Watertown, NY thus allowing their evening net to reach out to more hams and for better coverage at local levels in both communities.

Up to four additional repeaters on other bands will be introduced locally with the possibility of cross linking. Tests have already begun to determine coverage and feasibility. Of course all of this could not be possible if it were not for the generosity of the club’s membership and a few corporate sponsors.

Of course if you would like to help out financially or just be more involved in amateur radio, send us a note at info@kc2elx.net.

Among the major changes are:

Anyway, like I said earlier… It’s a complete re-write of our existing constitution and bylaws. The comment period for this change is now open. This revision of the constitution and bylaws will be proposed at the February meeting and voted upon at the March meeting. Changes may be made to the document between the February and March meetings provided the changes are minor and do not change the overall intent of an Article or Section.

The document is formatted into Article and Section. Some sections which were wordy have been further split into subsection. The intent of this formatting is to make it easy to make changes (amendments) at a later date. Also, this format will make it easier to refer a member to a specific passage within the bylaws. An index will be created to go with the document after it is adopted.

Ric, NB2E

New Constitution PDF

**** Voting upon this updated constitution and bylaws was tabled until after the May 2012 meeting in order to allow for further discussion and proposed changes ****

Here’s a link to the archive: http://www.archive.org/details/73-magazine

On that page, if you click on “All items (most recently added first)” you’ll get a full list of all the issues.

In this edition:
Amateur Radio Represented at the Whitehouse
Changes to the Part 97 Rules on 60 Meter Operations
The President’s Volunteer Service Award
Upcoming Contests & DX Opportunities

Stay tuned for the next release of the J.C.R.A.C. Feedline which is expected to be released in February, 2012 and will include additional content and NEW advertisers to help support the club’s finances.

Ric Letson, NB2E

The JCRAC will be holding it’s winter meetings at the Watertown Denny’s conference room for one more winter to allow the new heating system to be fully installed at the Cornerstone facility this coming spring. The day will begin with a exam session starting at 11 am followed by club activities at 1 pm. Come hungry, leave informed.

Meetings will be held every second Saturday of the month. 11/12/11, 12/10/11, 01/14/12, 02/11/12, 03/10/12, 04/14/12. We hope to reopen the building in April, weather permitting. If not then May.

PC

A Technician Class Course orientation will take place Wednesday evening September 14th at the Carthage Medical Center, 117 Mechanic St., Carthage, NY, (across from Stefano’s on State St.) at 6 pm. Enter through the center door facing State St. and follow the signs. The class will meet each Wednesday from 6-9:30PM for 8 weeks following orientation night. Students will be asked to complete a placement test and will have the opportunity to sit for the Technician Exam that night if they so choose. (A license earned at this session will most likely be validated in time for the Black River Stages event in Harrisville, NY on September 23rd and 24th.)

A General Class Course will also be offered Thursday evenings from 6-9:30PM at the JCRAC Cornerstone Facility, 19273 Lloyd Rd., Watertown, NY, for 9 weeks after the course orientation September 15th. If you are interested in sitting for the General Class Exam, please see the club’s schedule posted on the right side of this page.

Books and other materials will be outlined in your return email after signing up online or at the course orientations Sept 14th and 15th. Walk-ins are welcome. To sign up for a class, click on the tab at the top of the page or signup in person at orientation. Course books can be obtained at a discount rate – please speak to the course instructor during orientation.