Robert Kocourek W9RKK Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00PM
Attendees
Robert Kocourek W9RKK
John Shofield AC9JS
Bill Riess KW9WR
Danny Kafka KD9HIL
Cliff Sowka K9QD
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK
John Douglas AC9JS
Ed Lishka AC9SD
Secretary’s Report
Cliff Sowka K9QD: October BOD Meeting Minutes as published in the RHG; Danny KD9HIL moved to approve, Bill KW9WR seconded. Adopted.
Treasurer’s Report:
Chris Brewer AC9GN not present.
Public Service
Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.
EMCOMM
John Zietlow K9WIC EmComm Chairman not present.
Repeaters
Rob Glowacki N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ not present. Kent Ochs W9KAO has been partially reimbursed for the first part of planned $300 equipment cabinet upgrade. More equipment will be forthcoming.
Construction Project (CP)
Cliff Sowka K9QD reports CP is back in session and attendance during our first two events have hosted 25~27attendees. Club members are asked to think of appropriate projects that we could entertain.
VE Testing:
John Schofield AC9JS reports there is one candidate reserved at the moment for testing this coming Saturday. All FCC records from last month were updated quickly except one….a single character in that candidate’s eMail had to be corrected and the FCC responded accordingly.
Nets
Don Dewar KD9NJR Chairman needs volunteers willing to take a session.
Radio Hill Gazette RHG
Mike K9KMV No Report.
Membership
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Committee Chairman not present.
Publicity
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman has authored a summary of his recent participation in Fox Hunting and we can anticipate a post to SARC-ALL and FaceBook shortly.
Social
Need Chairperson.
In the interim, John Douglas KD9KSH has offered to manage and has secured a venue for our January Holiday Party.
Location:RICCARDO’S RISTORANTE. Plans for January will be sent to SARC-ALL a few times to remind membership.
Education
Leo N9NBH not present.
Programs
Don Dewar KD9NJR not present. It’s possible we’ll present a WinLInk video during the vote-count later this month.
FOX Hunt: Jim Campbell KB9RGU no report.
Old Business
Don Dewar KD9NJR has proposed updates to our Constitution and Bylaws during the September meeting. He presented valid reasons to edit six Articles that have become outdated (such as TVI Committee). The Board reviewed his suggested text changes and we’ll publish the proposed updates in time for the inclusion on the Ballot in November.
Don KD9NJR moved in September to place proposed Constitution Updates on our November Ballot. Ed Lishka AC9SD seconded. Motion Adopted
Bill KW9WR moved to approved Don’s Bylaw revisions as presented. Danny KD9HIL seconded. Adopted under authority granted to the Board of Directors.
Therefore only the Constitution Revisions will be on the November Ballot since the Bylaws are adopted tonight. Such revisions will be published to SARC-ALL for membership review. The Ballot will ask for an Up-Down vote.
New Business
Talliers for November’s Absentee Requests have received a few responses at the moment. Last year we enjoyed 100% participation so hopefully we’ll receive more response shortly.
[This discussion took place on our SARC-All email reflector – Ed.]
Bruce N9EHA started the discussion with this post.
In older radios, in order to get the tuning dial scale to tune linearly across the band and not “bunch up” frequencies at one end of the scale, they used an air variable capacitor that would change capacitance non-linearly. If it had circular plates, the shaft was installed off center to make the capacitance change non-linear (first pic), or they had a tear drop shape, that looked like the second picture below, to get a logarithmic change in capacitance with rotation of the shaft.
The question is, what was the common name for these type of non-linear variable tuning caps in old radios? Someone at the construction project thought it also used to be a test question on one of the older license exams, but I couldn’t find it. If anyone remembers the name or nickname for them, let me know.
N9EHA followed up a few days later with this, closing the loop on the ongoing discussion.
Good discussion point to keep the thread going. Butterfly is a specific type of construction with a split stator. Butterfly capacitors are where the rotor plates are made in four 90 degree quadrants instead of the usual 2 halves (half circle), hence the so-called butterfly shape looking at the rotor plates from the end. A butterfly capacitor is the first one below, vs a normal variable capacitor below that for comparison.
The difference between standard and butterfly is in where the electrical connections are made. On a standard one (half circle), one electrical connection has to be made to the rotor plates via a moving connection. You can see the connection on the second picture sticking up towards the top right, and that connection needs to slide on the shaft when the cap is adjusted to maintain its connection. That’s fine in a receiver circuit, or other relatively low power design.
On a butterfly, each electrical connection is to each side’s (separate, split) stator, with no sliding connections made to the rotor. RF current goes into one side’s set of stator plates, and comes out the other set of stator plates, coupled through the rotor plates along the way. It’s easier to see in the 3rd pic where the solder connections are made to each side’s stator, with the butterfly rotor having no connections to it. That’s advantageous because you can get more current out of a solid weld, solder, or bolt to the frame where the stator plates are mounted, than you can out of a sliding connection to the rotor. So very high current capacitor needs, like in tank circuits for high power RF amps, have less loss and more power handling capability. You sometimes see them tuning small magnetic loop antennas for that same reason, due to the very high circulating currents when the loop is tuned.
Also note that a butterfly only has useful rotation of 90 degrees, not 180 like a standard. It will repeat the same capacitance value at FOUR points in a single rotation, not two points like a standard. Not a problem for the cap, just something you have to consider if you want to mechanically restrict the rotation on the shaft to not repeat, or to design the face panel markings on gear, etc.
Well , it’s over. Summer that is. Oh, and the Foxhunt season as well. October 28th 2023, the last of the four Saturday Foxhunts is in the books. We changed the hours at the suggestion of a couple participants.
Started at 1500 and finished at 1600, welcomed sunshine on a cool and windy day. The change in hours worked out very well, and may be permanent.
The hunt started with four teams but equipment issues sidelined a couple of the hunters. Participants were K9HIK, W9RKK, K9FNM and son, and W9KAO. W9KAO was first to find.
Howard kd9wsv, the Fox, had the stuffed Fox on the hood of his FOXMOBILE, so it was a little easier to locate.
During a recent construction project club members built dummy loads for testing radios. The loads required a heat sink and club member Bob W9GEW provided materials and machine time from his business to help produce those. He provided this video of the machining process.
Don Dewar KD9NJR President called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Attendees:
Robert Kocourek W9RKK
John Thornton KD9VZJ
John Schofield AC9JS
Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ
Paul Burkett KD9FMN
Leo Ribordy N9NBH
John Childress KD9YKF
Charlene Treve K9CMZ
Don Dewar KD9NJR
Danny Kafka KD9HIL
Danny Meyers K9LDM
Bob Lacursia K9SKY
Bill Riess KW9WR
Bob Benwitz N9JAX
Rob Glowacki N9MVO
Howard Mitchell KD9WSV
Bill McGovern W9WEM
Cliff Sowka K9QD
Chris Brewer AC9GN
Richard France N9PAN
Bob McIntire W9DXR
Ed Lishka AC9SD
Sid Puri KD9OLI
Kent Ochs W9KAO
John Douglas KD9KSH
ZOOM Attendees:
Jim Campbell KB9RGU
Pierre Berube K9EYE
Bates Noble N9UVI
Steve Karson AC9EM
John Zietlow K9WIC
Joshua Spivey KD9WDV
Kevin Willard KB9QVX
Bill Schroeder KA9DQB
David Binkowski K9IBM
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK
Secretary’s Report:
Cliff Sowka K9QD: October Business Meeting Minutes were published in the Radio Hill Gazette (RHG).
Danny KD9HIL moved to approve Leo Ribordy N9NBH seconded. Motion Adopted.
Treasurer’s Report:
Chris Brewer AC9GN reported:
SCHAUMBURG AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MONTHLY REPORT
Month: October 2023
Checkbook Balance 09/31/2023 $7,289.30
INCOME MEMO $ 25.00
DISBURSEMENTS MEMO $ 151.77
10/10/2023 AT&T DSL $ 62.82
Check 1289 Lightning Part Replacement $ 28.02
Zelle Payment Repeater Shelf $ 60.93
10/31/2023 Account Balance $7,162.53
10/31/2023 Bank Statement $7,162.53
Checks Outstanding $ 0.00
Adjusted balance $7,162.53
Checkbook balance 10/31/2023 $7,162.53
Petty Cash 10/31/2023 Current balance $ 110.00
Funds Available $7,272.93
107 active members in roster with one additional posting shortly
Danny moved to approve, Paul Burkett KD9FMN seconded. Adopted.
Public Service
Rob Glowacki N9MVO: No Report.
EMCOMM:
John Zietlow K9WIC: No Report.
Repeaters:
Rob N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ: No report.
Pierre Berube K9EYE requested status of 2M machine’s static and momentary attenuation remediation. No specific action at the moment.
Construction Project (CP)
Cliff Sowka K9QD: No Report.
VE Testing
John Schofield AC9JS reports VE Tests Results for November 4, 2023
Name
Call
Class
Kirk
KD9ZDT
Technician
Class
Technician
1
General
0
Extra
0
Total
1
The results were in the FCC ULS system by Wednesday, 11/8.
Participating Volunteer Examiners (VEs):
Bill
Davies
K9WKD
Steve
Karson
AC9EM
Ed
Lishka
AC9SD
John
Schofield
AC9JS
Will
Sperling
W9WSS
Next examination date: December 2, 2023
Nets:
Don Dewar KD9NJR: No Report.
Radio Hill Gazette (RHG):
Mike K9KMV: Not present
Special Events: No Report.
Membership:
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW: Not Present.
Publicity:
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK: No Report.
Social: Chair open.
Education:
Leo Ribordy N9NBH: No report.
Programs:
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK presented a tutorial on Winlink.
Old Business:
Constitution updates: Don Dewar KD9NJR published several editing proposals to SARC-ALL before Election Night. Members will be asked to vote UP/DOWN.
New Business: Don Dewar KD9NJR explained tonight’s Constitutional revisions are simply a ‘clean-up’ of outdated verbiage. There is no new wording. Items such as Budget, Audits, and Club Asset Records are not affected. Tonight’s vote is simply UP/DOWN choice.
Constitution revisions are adopted.
2023 ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS FOR YEAR 2024
President Don Dewar KD9NJR
Vice President Dann Kafka KD9HIL
Treasurer Chris Brewer AC9GN
Secretary Cliff Sowka K9QD
Director Robert Benwitz N9JAX -3 Year Term
Director Paul Burkett KD9FMN -3 Year Term
Danny Kafka KD9HIL moved to adjourn, Leo Ribordy N9NBH seconded.
Bill Riess KW9WR called the meeting to order at 7:00PM
Attendees
John Douglas AC9JS
John Shofield AC9JS
Bill Riess KW9WR
Danny Kafka KD9HIL
Don Dewar KD9NJR
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK
Cliff Sowka K9QD
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW
Secretary’s Report
Cliff Sowka K9QD: November BOD Meeting Minutes as published in the RHG: John Shofield AC9JS moved to approve, Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded. Adopted.
Treasurer’s Report:
Chris Brewer AC9GN not present.
Public Service
Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.
EMCOMM
John Zietlow K9WIC EmComm Chairman not present.
Repeaters
Rob Glowacki N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ not present.
Construction Project (CP)
Cliff Sowka K9QD reports CP continues to enjoy strong attendance and we’re planning to host both December sessions even though the fourth Saturday of December aligns closely with family holiday celebrations.
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK is currently crafting Winlink training to be offered to CP attendees during Jan~Feb.
VE Testing:
John Schofield AC9JS reports there is already one candidate reserved at the moment for the January session. John has been supporting student interest in joining an organized Ham Radio organization and his efforts have resulted in several new members for SARC.
WebMaster will be asked to edit our home page layout in order to accommodate a more rapid access to our VE Testing services.
Nets
Don Dewar KD9NJR Chairman needs volunteers willing to take a session.
Radio Hill Gazette RHG
Mike K9KMV No Report.
Membership
Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Committee Chairman noted our status as Affiliated ARRL Club requires update. Bill Reiss KW9WR suggested we also acquire an additional domain SCHAUMBURGARC.COM so that prospective hams can find our entity more easily. The additional domain for our club could simply point to www.N9RJV therefore providing a more efficient search result.
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK moved to approve the $14 annual domain registry expense and Danny Kafka KD9HIL seconded.
Publicity
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman has authored a primer for Winlink and anticipates we could offer training during Jan~Feb Construction Project meetings.
Treasurer Disbursements Needed: Previously authorized support payments of $25 each to Newsline, Repeater Association, and Ham QSL.com.
Social
Need Chairperson.
In the interim, John Douglas KD9KSH has secured a venue for our January Holiday Party.
Current reservation is 14 but we’re obligated to provide 25 attendees minimum. John will continue to remind membership via SARC-ALL.
Education
Leo N9NBH not present.
Programs
Don Dewar KD9NJR: planning a December Business Meeting presentation.
Old Business
Talliers for November’s Absentee Requests received only ~ 65% response but those who did respond to several requests and reminders were represented in November’s election.
This contrasts to last year where we enjoyed 100% participation so hopefully we can implement a better scheme for next year’s election; maybe craft a simple, click-enabled document for those who cannot attend election night in person if our mandated SASE US Mail process won’t be followed again in 2024.
New Business
Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK noted our website needs 2024 officer update to reflect the November Election Results. Also, Google Groups for SARC-BD requires update.
Dennis submitted a Winlink primer for presentation during our Jan~Feb Construction Project venue for interested members. Cliff Sowka K9QD moved to approve and John Schofield AC9JS seconded. Adopted.
Dennis will communicate with several governmental agencies to reaffirm our Schaumburg resources: Tennis Plus, Bocce Court for SARC-in-the-Park, CRC for BOD and Business Meetings, and any rental/insurance documentation requirements.
Don Dewar KD9NJR reviewed open action items: Determine FTM 300 location and current function, Inventory of club Assets, Annual Audit, and proposed Budget.
Professional Audit of our Treasury could cost ~$2,000 but since our revenue as Non-Profit is well under the IRS-defined threshold, third party review would suffice.
Treasurer requested to present budget proposal during the December Business Meeting. Operating expense of $1,754.00 estimated but Committee requests need to be informed.
sunshine on a cool and windy day. The change in hours worked out very well, and may be permanent.