Published by the Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society, Inc.
October 2016
RVWARS Club President and Secretary
positions are open.
The Rip Van Winkle Club Meeting is October 17th, at 7 pm
at the Churchtown Fire house
This issue includes a short report on the ARES SET exercise of October 1st, based on a press
release I wrote for the local papers; and an intriguing article by our newest member Catherine
Dibble on Mesh systems in amateur radio and their possibilities for EmComm. Guess I’m an
old-timer, having joined over a month before Catherine ;-). Please be patient as I climb the
learning curve.
These articles are followed by a selection from the Minutes of the September meeting.
– Christian Sweningsen, KD2LIN
Wireless Radio Mesh for Youth, Outreach,
Community EmComm
By Catherine Dibble, KC2HMN
Imagine a local disaster where someone
desperately needs to send a text, a map, or a
brief video in order to save lives. But all
they have is their ordinary smartphone or
laptop, and all internet and cell phone
services are down.
We know how to use packet network such as
AMPRNet among our ham radios if we need
to, but what about all of our friends and
neighbors who only have an ordinary
smartphone or laptop, with no radio license?
How could RVWARS help our radios to save
the day? What would you do? How could
you help to save many lives? Obviously, if
neighbors can reach us directly and they know
we could help, we could offer to send a voice
message, or even Morse. But how do you
send a map that way?
More to the point, how could we help
someone we can't see or hear? What if the
person who needs to send that message
doesn't know anyone within RVWARS, or is
Continued on page 3
Page 1
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
SET 2016 “This Is a Drill”
Early Saturday morning, October 1, fifteen amateur radio operators ("hams") spread out
across Columbia County, responding to an intense ice storm that had closed roads and
knocked out power, telephone exchanges, and cellphone and internet services throughout
the County. Most homes and businesses were without power, heat and water.
This was "SET 2016" (Simulated Emergency Test), a mock emergency operations
exercise, and the troubles - this time - were imaginary. The operators were members of
the Columbia County chapter of ARES ("Amateur Radio Emergency Service"), a national
organization and part of the Eastern NY division of the ARRL, the American Radio Relay
League.
By 8 a.m. the teams had gathered to receive assignments at the ARES Net Control
Station, strategically located in the County Emergency Operations Center or 'EOC'
building. They then spread out to establish radio stations at Columbia Memorial Hospital,
Greenport Rescue, firehouses, and other locations that might serve as shelters in such
emergencies. Some locations have radios and antennas in place; at others, operators
brought mobile or hand-held radios; many were battery operated and importantly, not
dependent on local power.
"According to our FCC license designation, we are called 'amateur' radio operators, but
ARES members take further steps and train to operate under crisis conditions in a
professional manner." said Barry Thompson, ARES Emergency Coordinator for Columbia
County.
"During an incident, we do this in order to serve a number of different agencies when
traditional lines of communication have become overwhelmed or inoperative. We are not
"first responders" but you will find us at the hospital, fire stations, nursing homes, schools
and designated shelters, serving County Health, local EMS, and the American Red Cross."
He added, "Messages can range from simple requests for blankets and clean up kits to
logistical information about road conditions from our mobile members. If there is data to
be transmitted between agencies and their field offices, with no other means to
accomplish this, we find a way - period."
This simulation lasted until 11 a.m and was followed by debriefing, discussions and
critique for another ninety minutes. The group will be training and practicing techniques
regularly during the year and meets every Tuesday night on air via one of the local
repeaters. “Any licensed amateur is welcome to inquire about ARES membership by
dropping a line to [email protected]. All you need is your license, and a desire to
lend a hand when your town or community needs help,” said Thompson
by Christian Sweningsen KD2LIN, Columbia County ARES
Page 2
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Wireless Radio Mesh Continued from first page
trapped somewhere unseen and can't send a message except through their smart phone?
Finally, beyond the immediate need to save lives during the disaster, how could RVWARS
and radio help to coordinate resilient recovery in its aftermath? Especially if it is a
widespread disaster where power, internet, and cell phone service might remain out for a
week, a month, or a year?
A network for this already exists, and RVWARS could enable its life-saving mesh in our
counties.
AREDN – Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) allows amateur radio to
deliver quality, high-speed data communications from smartphones, tablets, and laptop
computers.
As part of outreach to engage youth and potential new members from local schools and from
the community, we propose an RVWARS Mesh Special Interest Group (SIG) with several
possible goals:
Goal 1: Establishing local AREDN fixed and mobile nodes for a local Columbia-Greene
mesh. According to this map from AREDN there is only one local AREDN node, near
Rhinebeck, with nothing in our area.
Goal 2: Local AREDN QSO contests to practice AREDN mesh node access from local smart
phones and laptops. This could be an especially great way to interest and involve local youth
and potential new members who may not yet have a radio license.
Goal 3: To be able to run our AREDN mesh nodes and our Repeater Antennas on emergency
power, ideally renewable power such as solar and wind, which are powerfully
complementary.
In addition to providing helpful Emergency Communications, this could involve
complementary projects related to renewable power systems and robots that could provide
foundation for an engaging RVWARS SIG that could also be of great interest to new
members of all ages.
For example, to build, adapt, or inspire projects such as this Emergency Antenna Platform
System (E-APS) a pole-climbing bot that could easily raise an emergency antenna, an
OpenCellular unit or similar wireless router, or emergency power such as this lovely tree of
vertical wind micro-turbines.
As a complementary to an amateur network mesh, a goTenna Mesh device pairs via
Bluetooth to a smart phone to “Send text messages and share GPS locations on offline maps
with others. Chat privately in 1-to-1 or group conversations, or broadcast to any other
goTenna Mesh device up to several miles or kilometers away all without using towers, routers
or satellites” via its 1-watt radio.
Continued on page 4
Page 3
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Wireless Mesh Radio Continued from page 3
I’d like to acknowledge the help of Christian, KD2LIN, who pointed out AREDN and the
goTenna Mesh in response to my interest in this project.
URLs linked in text above, in order:
AMPRNet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMPRNet
AREDN: http://www.aredn.org/aredn-advantage
E-APS: http://wc2fd.com/index.php?title=Emergency_Antenna_Platform_System
OpenCellular: https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/06/facebooks-opencellular-is-a-new-opensource-wireless-access-platform-for-remote-areas/
Micro-Turbine Tree: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3450924/The-windturbine-backyard-Wind-Tree-uses-tiny-blades-generate-electricity-light-breezes.html
goTenna: http://www.gotenna.com/ (look for the goTenna Mesh link)
Highlights from the Minutes of the meeting of September 19, 2016
Minutes by Tom Cody, WE2GE, Acting Secretary. Paraphrased by the editor
Meeting opened at 7:00 pm by WA2UJX. Treasurer's report –Balance $2826.14 + $50.00 petty
cash, total $2876.14.
ARES: SET will take place October 1 at 9:00 am on all 4 repeaters. Pre SET meeting will be
September 24 at 9:00 am at EOC, to go over forms and procedures.
Repeater: Committee has been formed consisting of N2NZD, WA2UET, K2KGJ, WA2KLP
and N2LDR. Projects proposed include changing the ID on the 220 repeater, storage shelving at
the old shelter, various upgrades and repairs. Much work has been done; an energy audit will be
conducted regarding runtime on emergency power.
Motions were passed to purchase a new controller for the 220; to upgrade another controller,
and to purchase materials for shelving.
Operators should watch etiquette on repeater. Children and others could be listening. If there are
any ideas for the repeater, let the committee know.
New Business: Christian, KD2LIN is the new newsletter editor. Repeater maintenance fund
discussed, N2LDR will get a quote from tower climber, reserve fund may be set aside for future
maintenance or replacement of antenna. Positions of President, Secretary and Historian are
vacant; a nominating committee of NX2X and WA2UJX will seek candidates. October 15,
OSO party.
Outreach: Hawthorne Valley School will participate in the School Club Roundup October 1721. K2WG will be teaching a licensing class at the East Chatham Firehouse in the spring. He
has apporached the Columbia County Fire Chiefs' Association about setting up a station at the
Continued on page 6
Page 4
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio•Society
October 2016
Paul, KC2IK
Ken, N2SQW
Frank, KD2EBL
Next Meeting
Oct. 17
Churchtown
Firehouse
Your dues are important to this club! We sup
port the operation of the repeater at between
700 and 800 dollars per year just in electric
bills. We are always upgrading and improving
and maintaining the system. Some of this ex
pense is covered by our members. Our insur
ance is $320 per year. Food alone for Field Day
and the picnic is over $300. We purchase some
kind of snack for each meeting at probably
around an average of $15 per month and about
another $100 plus for the goody fest. Other than
dues our income is sparse. The only substantial
income has been the fall tag sale and the goods to
sell are running out. The income from the raffle
is not a lot. Our paid roster so far in 2016 is only
45 members paid. About $600 income from dues
so far. A rough estimate is about $1600 expense
and about $600 income leaving us in the hole for
$1000. At the current rate we will be broke in two
years! I know that several more members will pay
their dues soon, but if you could pay sooner it
would make it easier to plan. These figures are
obviously a rough esti mate but I think you can
all see the potential dilemma looming. Please
consider helping to maintain your club. Not only
dues but your at tendance at the meetings and
your donations toward the fall tag sale and other
needed sup port.
Thanks, your treasurer...
Page 5
2219 Cty 27
Hudson, NY
All are Welcome
Wanted: Club Historian
There is a lot of history here, and the position is
vacant and available to any member who is
willing to serve to preserve our history. The club
currently has several documents and photographs
from the years the club has been in existence,
and much is preserved in back issues of the
Newsletter. The club has a long and colorful
history and maintenance of these records is an
important task.
Please join us on the Tuesday night for the
ARES Net on 147.210 at 7:00 PM. ALL
ARES members are welcome! Use the
EchoLink (K2RVW-R) if need be.
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Minutes continued from page
Chatham Fair next year. This would put amateur radio in the public eye. School Club Roundup
is great for getting younger members involved. Other schools could be involved. Radiosport
could get them involved as they probably don't want to sit through club meetings. Suggestions
of forming committees for outreach and a public information officer.
Mesh Network radio suggested by KC2HMN, has value for Em Comm, and could help keep
young people involved. We need ambassadors to schools.
Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society Repeater Operation Rules
The Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society maintains several repeaters for the use of club
members as well as for all amateur radio operators. Operation and use of these repeaters shall
comply fully with the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97) regulations of the Federal
Communications Commission's Private Radio Service, and the following rules of the Rip Van
Winkle Amateur Radio Society:
1. The repeaters are provided for the purposes of contacting and passing information between
fellow amateur radio operators, and providing service to the public as a voluntary,
noncommercial communication ser vice, particularly with respect to providing emergency
communications.
2. In the spirit of the Amateur Radio Service, users shall respect and support each other in a
courteous and positive manner.
AM and 4:00 -7:00 PM, the length of QSOs must be kept to a reasonable maximum.
Conversations should be limited to 20 continuous minutes to permit others to use the repeater.
During QSO's, operators should always pause before transmitting, to allow other stations to
break in. As the 147.210 repeater is the main frequency for the Rip V an Winkle ARS, users
should consider using one of the other repeaters or simplex for longer discus sions.
4. Operators shall announce their call sign before transmitting any touch-tone commands, at the
end of each communication, and EVERY TEN MINUTES OR LESS during a communication.
5. There shall be ABSOLUTELY NO communications containing obscene, indecent, or
profane words, lan guage, or denigrating inference. Discussion of political or potentially
sensitive social issues should be avoided. If such discussion is undertaken, it must be conducted
in a respectful manner and not be provoca tive or angry in nature.
6. No person shall cause, or condone, malicious or intentional interference to anyone
communicating via the repeaters.
7. Control Operators designated by the Board and/or the Repeater Trustee are required to turn off
a repeater to terminate improper operation or use.
8. The Rip V an Winkle Amateur Radio Society officers and repeater trustee reserve the right to
forbid the use of the repeaters by anyone who repeatedly violates these rules, or anyone who
facilitates or encourages others to violate these rules.
Page 6
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Newsletters back to
June 2006 on the web
site and Click on
“newsletters”
The Web Page has been updated! We
added some info on the main page to try to
keep folks aware of events. Comments and
suggestions are welcome. We will keep
Dave Clappers design at least for now.
Let me know what you think.
www.rvwars.com
Join our Yahoo Group at the bottom
of our web page. Www.rvwars.com
Simply enter your email address.
2016 dues are
$25.00 per indi
vidual $30.00 for
family $5.00 for
students and
active Military
are free.
FYI
RVWARS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
corporation. As such all monetary
donations are tax deductible and do
nations of equipment are deductible.
Please consider donating your idle
equipment to the club for our use or
for sale at the annual tag sale or auc
tion.
500-Wind Speed & Direction 501Outside Temperature 502Indoor Humidity
503-Outdoor Humidity
504-High Wind Speed (since mid night)
505-High Outside Temperature (since
midnight)
506-Low Outside Temperature (since
midnight)
Hopefully a Rain reading will be add
ed soon. But these are what is availa ble
at this point. The system is in stalled
and ready to use. Please feel free to
try the codes and see what is going on
at the repeater site at Forest Lake. (the
outside temperature from the new system
is different than that from the controller. They are
different sensors.)
Page 7
Site Info:
228-Outdoor Temp
229-Indoor Temp
230-DC Volt Bat 1
231-AC Volt read
232-DC Volt Bat 2
>
>
>
>
>
Daily•High/Low
900
Resets•at
910
1:00•AM
930
Daily
920
940
**********************************
450-To check your input to the repeat er.
Key up and type 450, when it says
“ready” QUICKLY key up and record
your short message , un-key and it will
play it back as it heard it.
WEATHER RADIO
310-ON
325-OFF
These codes will work on 449.925 as
well as 2 Meters.
I would like to add a basic weather sta
tion sometime as well so we could ac
cess wind speed etc. up there.
Feel Free to try them!
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
ARES
Our ARES office in the
CC EOC is now ours
again!
The investigator
that was borrowing it has
moved on to a new office.
We will be setting up com
puters and equipment for
emergency and practice
use. We received a brand
new desktop computer
from the County. We also
received a new FTM-400
digital transceiver from the
county. We have a HF setup
and a VHF/UHF set up.
WIRES-X is an interface to the world wide internet. It is digital work ing
with the Fusion system. I have made a couple of contacts with it and they
are awesome audio quality! In digital mode it far exceeds the audio quality
of Echolink and DStar, The software is upgraded and working through
the repeater. You will however need a digital UHF radio to use it.
And if the WIRES-X is in use it will tie up the repeater. I will email
basic operating procedures to members as soon as I figure them out.
There are rig specific WIRES-X manuals on the Yaesu.com web site.
Some of our members have used it and seem to be impressed. Another
interesting fun mode of Amateur Radio. And some rooms are very
active.
If you have a Yaesu Fusion radio go to the Yaesu web site and down load
the WIRES-X manual for your radio. It should walk you through making
a connection on the system available on the 449.925 repeater. I usually
have the system running while I am here. I turn it off when I leave because
I don’t know enough about it and don’t want to make a mess.
Weekly Nets
EVERY TUESDAY at 7:00 p.m.
ARES Net followed by Informal
Roundtable on the 147.210
repeater. ALL are welcome.
Balance Fwd. Checking Acct.
$2930.99
Repeaters
147.210/147.810 NO PL tone
147.015/147.615 No PL Tone
449.925/444.925 PL tone 110.9 Hz
224.280/222.680 NO PL tone
Vital Statistics
President — Vacant
V.President, Acting President — Carl
Verderber, WA2UJX
Secretary (acting) — Tom Cody,
WE2G
Treasurer — Marty Miller, N2LDR
Repeater — Tom•Guterrez, N2NZD
Newsletter – Christian Sweningsen
KD@LIN
Safety Officer — Todd Brackett,
KC2YKM
Club Call — K2RVW
Club Special Event Call—WD2K
Web Page — http://www.rvwars.com
NEWS E-mail — [email protected]
Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
RVWARS/
Page 8
0.00
Rcpts:
Exp:
Cumb. Farms (ice for picnic)
$8.60
Family Dollar (food, etc picnic)$28.91
NYSEG
$67.34
Total
Checking acct ending bal
Petty Cash
Total RVWARS monies
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
$104.85
$2826.14
$ 50.00
$2976.14
October 2016
Take exit 12 off of I90 onto route 9
south. Travel 4.6 miles to the traf fic
circle and take the first right out of
the circle (not the mall) onto route
9H. About 11.5 miles you will come
to a traffic light intersec tion of 9H
and route 66. Go straight through that
light for about 3.6 miles to the next
traffic light at 9H and route 23.
Again go straight through that light
for about 1.1 miles to a left turn off
of 9H onto County Route 27. It is
marked. Stay on route 27 for about
2.5 miles and the Firehouse is on
the right with a sign out front. Park
in the lot just before the building.
From the intersection of 9G and
Route 23 take 23 about 2.7 miles to
the traffic light at the intersection
of Route 9. Go straight through the
traffic light and travel about 2.7
miles on route 9 to the next traffic
light at the intersection of 9H and
82. Turn left at that light onto Route
9H about 2.8 miles to Coun ty 27.
Stay on route 27 for about 2.5 miles
and the Firehouse is on the right with
a sign out front. Park in the lot just
before the building.
Page 9
2016 Dues
Mail to:
Rip Van Winkle ARS
PO Box 163
Ghent, NY 12075
Attn: Martin Miller, Treasurer
Or bring with you to
meeting
Make checks Payable to
RVWARS
For your information...
We have the antenna and have the cables
and switches for the HF station in the
Churchtown Firehouse. We should have a
station set up and working soon so that we
might do some operating on meeting nights.
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
RVWARS REPEATER
CHATTER
The new computer needed to upgrade
the system is in place and working
properly.
Thanks again Barry.
The repeaters are as follows:
The 147.210 repeater is unchanged! Using a
MTR-2000 with no PL tone required.
However there is a tone encoded at 110.9
Hz if you want to set up Tone Squelch on your
receiver.
The 449.925 Fusion repeater now requires a
PL tone of 110.9 Hz and also encodes that tone
for the use of your Tone Squelch.
The 224.280 repeater is completely un
changed and works like a champ.
The NEW 147.015 Fusion repeater does not
require a PL tone but also encodes a tone at
110.9 for the use of your tone squelch.
The new 147.015 antenna is 80’ lower than the 147.210 antenna but seems to work just
as good as the 147.210…
There are some scratchy’s on our signals when the wind blows hard on the hill. That
apparently is just the nature of the Super Stationmaster antennas. We have talked
about changing them but that would be expensive and we would have a problem find ing
a tower climber that is qualified by Insite Towers Company.
THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
DOCUMENT IS UNDERGOING A
MAKEOVER. IT WILL BE BROUGHT
TO THE MEMBERSHIP WHEN
FINISHED!
RVWARS ON
FACEBOOK!
There is now a group on Fa
cebook for the Rip Van Win
kle Amateur Radio Society.
Just search for the above.
There are currently 13 mem
bers since Tom started the
group about a month ago.
Please join in!
The Meeting
room in the
Churchtown
Firehouse is
HUGE. Bring
yourself and lots
of other folks.
Join us for our next Meeting
At the Churchtown Firehouse
We are making badges for member that pay their dues. The purpose of the badge is
so that we will know that you paid your dues and also show that you are a voting
member of the club.
If you have paid your dues please pick up your ID badge at the meeting.
Page 10
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Churchtown•Firehouse
It’s•right•here,
Please•join•us!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From the West RVW Bridge or 9G take Rt 23 to the 9H intersection and either go North to School House Rd and to Churchtown Firehouse
or go through the light and take Bells Pond Road to the Firehouse. From the North or from Hudson go south on 9H, from the traffic light in
Claverack, about 1 mile, to County Route 27 on the left then 2.4 miles to the Firehouse.
Park in the lot to the right of the Firehouse and enter through the Main Entrance. Someone will be listening to the repeater and will help
you if need be. “FIREHOUSE” is indicated on the right side of the map.
New and Old HAMS needed!
Columbia County (ARES) "Amateur Ra
dio Emergency Service" is seeking new
members. We currently meet once a
month prior to the regular meeting. We
do an occasional public service event as
ARES members where we utili ze
our
communications skills and equipment to
assist with public safety. We assist the
County with Civil Emergencies and disas
ter communications when they request us.
No equipment required. No experience
required. Total voluntary participation.
Your help is appreciated when needed to
maintain communications during disaster,
emergencies or public service events. I f
you think you might be interested, please
email me or ask at field day or an RVW
meeting.
Any Ham Related articles, particularly those re
lated to the Rip Van Winkle ARS or other local clubs
are greatly appreciated. Please include pictures and
images if possible.
We would also like to hear your opinions about
what is happening with the club.
Please submit any material for inclusion to the
Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Thank you.
Barry Thompson ([email protected])
Page 11
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016
Henry 2KD2 upgraded to 2KD3. Very low
hours 3-5000Z's, up-to-date grid bias cir
cuit. Pi-L network, New power supply
components. Fully functional. requires
build bucking transformer. Modified top
cover to fit new tubes. Full power out 80
thru10 M. Asking $590.00 Contact Carl
WA2UJX at [email protected]
I have a Item here I would like to
put in the News Letter For Sale I
is a AOR TDF-370 DSP Multi
Media Terminal NEW in Box.
Everything is there plus I burned
a CD for the unit. There is a link
below of a description on what
the thing does plus you can go
right to a PDF file for the owners
manual and a picture of the unit.
Thanks !!!!!
I am ASKING $225.00
Mike , N2JVE
http://www.usascan.com/files/
tdf370.html
For the news letter
Anyone interested it this package.
If your ad is no
longer valid please
let me know.
MFJ 962 tuner
Ten-Tek HF rig
Forty foot crank up tower
CDR rotor & cable
Coax cable Tri Beam Ant
You have to take it down
Price total-----$550.00
Wa2uyy Ron
Coons Sr. 518945-3731
Page 12
Rip’s Report — Rip Van Winkle Amateur Radio Society
October 2016