THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB

NEWS SHEET 622

(http://www.firstclasscw.org.uk)

Editor: G4BUE

August 2001

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755)
(3525, 7025, 10120-10125, 14025, 18080-18085, 21025, 24905-24910 and 28025kHz)

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST ARE 30 & 20 METRES

THE 2001 LORDS ANNUAL DINNER

Saturday 6 October 2001 See April News Sheet for full information
Tickets 32 each from Maud Slater, Wychwood, Park Lane, Maplehurst, West Sussex. Telephone 01403 891342.
Just when I think I am beginning to understand a little about how the Internet and e-mails work, something happens to destroy that myth! Such was the case on 13 July. You will recall that last September I changed my e-mail address from Infinnet to the RSGB because, for some reason that I never found out, I was unable to download my messages, despite them being received in my mail box and not bouncing. Every few weeks I tried to download the messages but without success. In March this year my Infinnet mail box became full and messages were bounced explaining this as the reason. I became aware of this as people who subsequently found my new email address sent me a copy of the bounced Infinnet message. I tried several times again to download the Infinnet messages and even close the mailbox, but was unable to do either, despite sending several messages to the Infinnet Help Desk. You can imagine my surprise, therefore, when on 13 July I routinely went to download the Infinnet messages, and down they came - all 2078 of them! I had not done anything different and am at a loss as to why they came down on this day. The messages were all dated between September 2000 and March 2001 and totalled 25mB. Many were from FOC members, who had apparently missed my note in the October 2000 News Sheet about changing my e-mail address. Since becoming an e-mail user, my policy has been to reply to each message received, especially from FOC members, even if just to acknowledge a Windle score. I feel bad that many

EDITORIAL by G4BUE

messages from members went unanswered between September and March and if yours was one of them, then I am sorry, and I hope this note will explain what went wrong. I think I have now overcome future problems by using <g4bue@adur-press.co.uk>. The organisation with whom I have registered this address has a transfer facility whereby I can tell it to automatically send all messages sent to that address to whatever server I choose to use. This means that when I change servers (ie when staying in Florida), I do not have to change my email address. I am aware that several other members use a similar facility, but if you dont, and have been having similar problems to me, then this may be your answer. The automatic transfer of messages works so quickly that you do not notice any difference. You should receive a voting form and a candidate profile sheet with this News Sheet to enable you to participate in the ballot for the 2002 Committee. There are seven candidates for five vacancies and each member can therefore vote for a maximum of five candidates. You may either vote by sending the ballot form to me, the Returning Officer, by post or by sending me an e-mail message, but in either case please make sure they arrive by 1 September and that your callsign and membership are on the form or message. At their meeting on 15 July, the Committee nominated G3WUX (1189) to be President for 2002. Terry joined FOC in January 1973 and will be installed at the Lords Dinner.

COMMITTEE BALLOT by GW3KGV

PRESIDENT 2002

The full Committee and G3RXP (President) met on 15th July at GW3KGVs QTH. Nominations for the Al slater, G3FXB, Memorial Trophy and 2002 President were considered and agreed. Preparations for the Lords Dinner were progressed (including some afternoon presentations and speeding up the raffle process). A possible new venue for the 2002 Dinner was considered along with a possible new style and format. G3MXJ and G3VTT will make more enquiries for the next meeting. GW3KDB (Treasurer) joined the meeting and presented his financial report for 2000. The accounts were agreed and will be published in the August News Sheet. The Club appears to be in a sound financial position and therefore there will not be any increase in subscriptions for 2002. The Club Web site has been re-designed by G4VXE but there is still some work to complete. The Internet Discussion Group had settled down and was being well used. It was agreed to combine this and the News Group into one group by the end of the year. G3MXJ reported there are 479 members, seven Associate and one Temporary Associate member. Replies from eight members to Rule 8 letters were considered and the appropriate action taken. Nominations for Committee were considered, including G4BUE who said he had now decided to seek re-election as he wanted to be part of the review process and felt that, through the Internet, he could still carry out Committee duties even from Florida. Arrangements for the ballot were agreed and GW3KGV will act as the Returning Officer. G4BUE said he should be able to continue editing and publishing the News Sheet and FOCUS from Florida, although he needs to finalise the actual detail. G3SXW reported a total lack of response from members regarding the QRP CW kits initiative published in FOCUS (page 31 FOCUS 46) and, disappointingly, not one kit had been distributed via FOC. The next meeting will be on 8 September at G3PDLs QTH. There are just over two months to go before our Annual Dinner on 6 October at Lords. We have received two gifts from Waters and Stanton and Icom, who have contributed a gold plated paddle and a radio clock respectively. We are hoping to hear from other amateur radio dealers to supply us with raffle items in the next few weeks. If you can bring a gift for the raffle on the day it would be most welcome. The list of overseas members attending is growing with 5B4AGC, W9KNI, KY7M and W4ZYT in addition to those published last month. During the afternoon VK2BPN (just retired as President of WIA) and G3PJT (next

COMMITTEE REPORT by G3PDL

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MXJ

Starred List
2. KZ5D: W5ZR. GKDZ, K6TS, K5AX, W8XM, K5CA, G4HZV, G4AFU, SV1AOW. 2. LU6EF: K4EWG, K4BAI, W6IJ, G3SXW, PAVDV, PR7PO, ON4RU, ZP6CW. 2. K5RC: W4AN, W4QM, W5GEL, G3RTE, N3BB, G4BUE. 1. N6FB: G3IEW, W5ZR, LZ1AF, W1WEF, W3NZ, G3NOH, K5DQ. 1. W8PBO: G4HZV, W6OV, W1OT, W5ZR, N6NT, K5XK, VA3LK, VE1BN, N3BB, K2VCO, G3IY, G3KTZ, G3VMW, G3NKS. 1. N6XI: W6CYX, N6NT, LZ1AF, DL4CF, G3LIK. 1. DL8LBK: DL4CF, W1HMD, N4TY, DJ5ZN, G4XRV.

The objection to K4UEE has been overruled by the Committee. Invitations will be sent to K4UEE, G5LP and G4VHH.

Additional Nominations

6. ZS1WA: G3LIK, ZS1EL, ZS6QU. 6. LY2PX: SV1AOW, LZ1AF, W2DX, I7ALE. 6. K7SS: N6NT, W1WEF. 3. I3KAN: K6TS. 2. N4XP: OK1GT. 2. G4PPG: G3HSP . 1. EI6FR: 9V1YC. 1. K5ALU: K5XK. 1. VK3XU: G4BUE. 1. ND4AA: K4BAI.

New Members

1754 AA4Z (Bruce): B. R. Savage, 143 Hardy Road, Rincon, GA 31326; XYL - Ranzie; tel 912 826 0429; e-mail - <aa4z@arrl.net>. 1755 K3TF (Tom): T. E. Freeman, 2505 Buggywhip Circle, Norristown, PA 19403; XYL - Peggy; tel - 610 631 1375; e-mail - <thomas.e. freeman@tektronix.com>. 1756 K6LQA (Bill): W. Bradshaw, 4732 Stratford Ave, Fremont, CA 94538-3337; XYL - Judy; tel - 510 656 7351. G3JZV (1223): tel - 023 9264 9254. G3LIK (1192): add YL - Alison. G4PKD (1658): amend address - Westlands, 29 Whitewell Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 6DA. OK1RR (1437): tel - 2 2491 7855. ZS1AAX (1517): amend tel - 21 7152162. 9M2NK (1523): new call - JE1JKL; new address - 1-27-2, Kamiya, Ushiku, Ibaraki, 300-1216 Japan; tel - 90 7954 4865; fax - 298 71 5994. K2OZ (1078): amend tel - 973 927 5869. N2UU (1483): tel - 856 428 4643. K2VUI (1561): delete XYL. N4KG (1689): amend tel - 256 233 1402. NNM (1714): new address - MCC, PO Box 2541, Quezon City Central Post Office, 1165 Quezon City, Philippines President of the RSGB) will discuss the future of Amateur Radio and the implications for CW operation in an open-forum. The Committee

Amendments

LORDS UPDATE by G3VTT

will also hold an open-forum chaired by G3MXJ. Information about accommodation was published in the May News Sheet and tickets are available from Maud, see front of News Sheet for details. Remember this is your chance to meet some of the folks you contact during the rest of the year and to many the Annual Dinner has become a time of renewal and consolidation of old friendships. If you live in the Southern parts of the U.K. will you be coming along this year and meeting our overseas members?

2000 ACCOUNTS by GW3KDB Financial Report for the year ending 31 December 2000
Income Subs received - 2000 5489.99 Subs received - 2001 3113.00 Bank interest 200.01 Donations 674.18 Sundries 294.87 Sales 102.50 Lords ticket sales 3374.00 (note 1) Lords raffle 501.50 Transfer from old account 8562.05 Total 22312.10 Expenses Printing 4145.06 Postage 2830.02 Stationery 222.32 Sundries 256.17 Trophies 578.15 Petty cash 450.00 (note 2) Committee expenses 90.00 Lords 3447.96 (note 3) Lords 2001 deposit 587.50 Lords insurance 52.00 Transfer to new account 8562.05 Total 21221.23 Excess income 1090.87 Balance in bank 31.12.99 8489.73 Total 9580.60 Note 1: Includes Day ticket sales of 35. Note 2: Petty cash expenses total 368.47 Repayment of 1999 excess 54.31 Cash in hand 27.22 Total 450.00 Note 3: Lords does not include the deposit paid in 1999, this was 587.50. (signed) P Miles, GW3KDB, Treasurer, 3.5.01. . (signed) G. Stancey, G3MCK, Examiner, 20.5.01. On your behalf I would like to thank Gerald, G3MCK, for his independent examination of the accounts, to Ken, GW3KGV for collecting sub, scriptions and to Elliott, W2MUM, for collecting North American subscriptions. Finally my thanks to the following members who made generous donations during the year, either by paying extra with their subscription or separately.

K4II OH2FOC G3MRP 4X1FC K4LT OH2KI G3NKS 5B4AGC W4ML OK1CF G3NOH 5B4AGN N4OO OZ6XT G3OAY 9A2AA W4PM PAABM G3PDL 9A2TS N4UB PAINA G3RCU A45XR K4XG PALOU G3RPB DF2IC W4XJ S57NW G3RTE DJ5ZN W4YE S59AR G3RXP DJOS K5AX SM3EVR G3SXW DL1EE W5GEL SM5COP GW3SYL DL1PM N5TJ SM5GLC G3SYM DL6TQ W6CYX SM6CPY G3VCN DL7AKC K6DC SM6DHU G3VMK DL9TJ W6IJ SMBDS G3VTT F3AT K6OU VA3LK G3VTT/2 F3OA W6RGG VK2BJ G3WGV F5VCT W6THN VK8AV G3WPF G2FFO K6TS VK8HA G3XAQ GW3AHN W6TZD YO4PX GM3YTS G3AXI K6ZSR K1AR G3YXX G3AZ NR7O W1FJ G3ZQS G3BFP N8BR K1JD G4BUE G3DOJ K8EJ K1YT G4BUO G3HSP N8GZ N2AA G4CEO G3IGW K8NW W2QM G4GLL G3IY W8VSK K2TT G4PDQ GM3JKS W8XM N2UU G4VXE G3JLB K9BG K2VUI G4YNU G3JZV W9GW N3BB GCHV G3KGB W9IV W3LPL GCMM GW3KGV K9QVB K3TW GIHM G3KTZ K9UIY N4AR IXXR G3LIK W9VNE W4DGJ JA7SSB G3LTV K9WA K4EFZ KL7PJ G3LWI WUA K4FU LA3FL G3MCK LA8XM G3MXJ Mr and Mrs R. Quick (Re K7GE) Gavin and Karen Fale (re K7GE) Paul and Virginia Syron (re K7GE) K2VCO from the West Coast Dinner G3LZK from the Cheltenham Mini-Dinner

9M2NK: Saty was in hospital in Japan between January and June (apart from the Marathon weekend when he went back to 9M2), and has now returned to Japan permanently. He says, 9M2NK is going to QRT but 9M6NA will be activated in major contests, especially the CQ WW CW Contest. GORH: Ken is offering his Challenger MK1 2kW amplifier by UK Linear Amp for sale, 16010 metres, soft start, mint condition, for 1000 (new price is 2200) and can either bring it to Lords or post it. G3JZV: Mort asks where the new members are? He needs 28 for his Augie Award of which 21

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

have a membership number in the 1700s and says so the new members are very elusive. G3SWH: Jan and Phil will be in 5R8 6/20 September and he has applied for 5R8WH. They will be travelling extensively and Phil doesnt expect to be QRV until they get to Ile Ste Marie (IOTA AF-090) on the 15th. G3WGV: Congratulations to John on taking early retirement at the end of July and over the next few months will complete a move to Cumbria in northwest England. He hopes to be able to build a substantial antenna farm in Cumbria by taking advantage of an option to purchase up to 10 acres of fields on top of a small hill. For the time being, John continues to be QRV from Berkshire and G3WGV/P may be heard from time to time, using wire antennas from the Cumbria QTH. G4HZV: Look for Bob to be QRV as W8/G4HZV from 21 August while he and the family stay with N4AR at their Paradise, Michigan QTH. G4OEC: Mac will be QRV 8/22 September as GM4OEC/P from Kilmartin (WAB NR89) while on holiday, mostly 40 metres. G4PKD: Jack was due back in hospital on 22 July and we wish him a good recovery - thanks GCHV. K2AGJ: Eileen, who was a member of FOC between 1965 and 1997, is listed in the August edition of QST as a Silent Key - thanks W3ABC. K2VUI: Joe will be attending Lords with Jenny. K8JP: Joe will be QRV from Belize at the beginning of October after a nine day 2880 mile drive from Indiana. A QSO with W1OT on 28 July gave him 2003 points this year under the Y2K criteria. KY7M: Lee and his family will be making their first trip to the UK to coincide with Lords. NNM: Congratulations to Jon on obtaining his Master of Arts degree and a new job in the Philippines at the end of September. Carolyn and Jon will live in Davao City in Mindano for six years and he hopes to be QRV by Christmas. N3RS: Mary Ann and Sig are planning to attend the Florida Dinner for the first time. N4AR: Bill and Betty are bringing their friend Kay to Lords and will be staying with GM3POI

(callsign in brackets indicate G4FOC operator)

FOC CALENDAR

August - 30m & 10m (G3SXW) PA/G3VTT (621) 4/30 GB2FOS by G3LIK (621) 11/19 UA by W4CK? (622) 20 Deadline FOCUS 48 21 W8/G4HZV from MI (622) 29 Deadline September N/Sheet September - 40m & 15m (G3LIK) SV8/G3JZV (621) 1 Closing date for Ballot returns 8 Committee meeting 8/22 GM4OEC/P from Kilmartin (622) 15/20 5R8 by G3SWH (622) October - 80m & 17m (G3KTZ) V31 by K8JP (622) 6 Annual Dinner at Lords 12/14 RSGB International HF Convention from 27 September and with G4BUE from 4 October. N4TO: Vic will be in the UK 24 September/8 October for Lords, staying with G4BUE with a side trip to Cornwall to visit G3SYM. OH2EA: Congratulations to Hans on receiving a QSL for Bouvet Island, his last DXCC which took him 38 years. His apartment building is undergoing extensive renovation until September, resulting in his antennas being down, except a vertical for 17 and 12 metres. WCGR: Our condolences to Gary on the passing of his Uncle, world famous country music guitarist Chet Atkins, W4CGP on 30 June in , Nashville, TN. Gary has recently built a five band boomless quad designed by new member Bruce, AA4Z and says, Look for a big signal in G from the Rockies far away. W4CK: Mark made 817 QSOs (including 75 FOC QSOs) 19/26 July as HR1/W4CK using a TenTec Scout 35 watts and a longwire to the top of the hotel. Between 11/19 August Mark will be in Moscow on a business trip and RK3AZ has offered him to use his station. W4ZYT: Don will be in London 4/10 October for Lords, his first visit to the UK since 1984.

Score updates can be passed to G4BUE or any committee member. An asterisk against the call indicates the score has been updated this month. Table shows the scores received by 1000z 31 July 2001.
W8XM* 352 K8JP* 314 YV1NX* 288 W4QM* 287 G3LIK* 250 SMCCE* 249 G3KTZ* 238 LZ1AF* 231 W5ZR 229 SV1AOW 218 K4AO* 201 K9QVB 199 W4LZ* 198 DL6TQ* LY3BA G3SXW* ZL1MH* GORH* G4BUE* G4HZV* G3MXJ F5VEX G4BJM* N3RS* W3NZ W1HMD 196 195 193 188 187 182 181 180 178 173 171 169 168 KT4P* W6TZD* G3NKS* W6OV G2FFO WCGR* F3AT* VE1BN G3IY* K2VCO W6TZD K5DQ* W1WEF 165 160 151 150 143 136 134 129 123 122 122 120 120 G2HKU* 119 G3JJG* 119 SM5COP* 117 PA5TT 116 N3BB 115 G3IEW 114 W4CK* 114 DJ5ZN 112 OK1RR* 111 G3MCK* 110 W3MC 110 G3HEJ 102 G3KKQ 102 G3CWW* K6TS 4X1FC* G3LHJ W9GW AC5K* G3JZV* G8VG* ZL1AH PABW W2DX W4YE 97 96 94 88 88 85 84 78 78 77 76 75 G4XRV ZP6CW* K4II WIAK GW3SB* N4JT* G3JZV HA7PB* K2SX* W1HT* GCHV* W6IJ 74 73 72 71 70 68 65 65 65 64 63 63 VE3AR* W1FJ* W5GEL W8VSK OZ4FF K5CA* KC7V VK8AV W6THN W6RGG G4PKD W4ZYT 62 61 61 57 56 55 55 55 55 54 53 52 N2KW W3ABC* W1FZY DK4LX* DK8EI* W4IF K6LQA* K2UFT W2MEL OH2EA* K6OU OH2KI* 51 45 44 41 40 35 32 26 26 19 12 12

THE 2001 WINDLE AWARD