Next Meeting Thursday 11March. 7:00 PM at Senior Center

TOWER PARTY

Get your hard hats and get ready. As soon as the weather co-operates, we will be taking down the tower that belonged to George, KC7BCI SK. His son Mark, who is also a ham, has donated it to the club if we will remove it from the property. The more we have, the quicker and easier it will be, so be take it down. Be listening on 688 for the date and time. We are now having more and more good days.

A NEW CALL SIGN

Clyde, who has been N7PBX, is now W7PBX. Jo, who is now KC7QCA, is now attempting to change her call to N7PBX. WY5I at first told us “no problem”. They now tell us that to be able to have the call that previously belonged to a relative, the relative must be dead. Jo is still all for it, but I am not too sure about this SILENT KEY stuff.

CAMP OUT

The first KCARC camp out and cut loose for 2004 will be April 19 thru 22 at the Watchman Camp Ground at Zion National Park. This is the camp ground that has electric hook ups. You will need to make reservations by calling 800 365 2267. If you prefer to stay in the SOUTH CAMPGROUND (which is north of the Watchman campground), it will cost less, but no hook ups. I do not know if reservations are required at this campground or not. You will have to inquire. 435-772-3837. Both campgrounds are small enough and right next to each other, so you can be in any camp site in either campground and we will still all be more or less together. PLAN NOW-----------YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

To Upgrade or Not

Many new “HAMS” get a technician class license. Only they find out that their horizons are limited. Most only contact a few friends on the local repeater. Then comes the disappointment of not being satisfied. There are no challenges. Shortly they become inactive. This need not happen. At present all it takes to upgrade is a little study. Now with the code requirement at 5 WPM anyone can pass the code test in a few weeks. Those holders of tech licenses can study the General written test in a very short time. There is only 25 question on this test.

The HF bands offer many new challenges for the true “HAM” operator. I remember working a station in St. Petersburg, Russia. This was exciting as I was using only 10 watts of power. He gave me a 57 great. Also it is fun to work stations on a regular basis. People you have never meet but are your radio pals. I have found it kind of fun to picture in my minds eye what they look like. Then at a hamfest or on a trip to have an eyeball with them. Some times it is quite a shock. There are many fun people out there just waiting to talk to you. The county hunters like Kane county and will usually come back to a CQ from Kane County Utah.

A note to our younger “hams”. There are available some 35 to 40 scholarships given annually to students> However you must show an interest in amateur radio. Most but not all have at least general licenses. Those that receive the most sort after scholarships ($1000 to $5000) usually have upgraded to extra class. That is not to say that some scholarships also go to Tech+ license class.

Upgrade or not it is your decision but I will guarantee you many more hours of enjoyment upgrading will give you.

73 Harvey AB7UT