THE FIRST CLASS C.W.

OPERATORS CLUB
Editor: G4BUE

NEWS SHEET 578

(Call in brackets indicate G4FOC op)

December 1997

A man should keep his friendship in constant repair - Samuel Johnson (1755).

BANDS OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER ARE 30 AND 15 METRES

Friends A reminder on behalf of Maud and Elliott that this is your last reminder if you have not paid your 1998 subscription - details in the October News Sheet. This News Sheet has been published a little early as June and I leave for the USA on Saturday (29 November) and the Florida Dinner - our first holiday since the 1996 Florida Dinner! June and I thank you for all the support you have given us during the year, which has been a very difficult one for us. A Happy Christmas and New Year to you and your families and we look forward to a better year in 1998. 22 November 1997: attended by all members (except G3LIK and G3KTZ) and G3LTV, President. G3WGV and G3PDL were welcomed to Committee following the ballot, G3PDL to take over Social Secretary role and G3WGV to deal with publicity matters, including the new Internet Web site. The 1997 Lords Dinner made a small loss which was offset by the profit made in recent years. Letters from G3IGW and G3SXW were considered and the booking for the 1998 Dinner to be confirmed with Lords. Funding for the history book (including donations) was considered and a budget set. Printing and binding options to be considered and members to be asked for photographs and contributions for content. Letters from G3INA and G8VG considered. Sources for the supply of new club badges were considered. G3WGV updated on the proposed Internet Web page and it was agreed to go live. G3MXJ reported 481 members and 17 Associates (11 permanent). Review of four temporary Associates to be commenced by G3MXJ writing to them. Band of the Month to continue in 1998 with two activity weekends and possible activity weekend with non-members. Suggestion from KT5X for an annual Windle award to be considered further and letter from VE7NH considered. Next meeting 24 January at G3LIKs QTH. A list of members operating away from their home QTHs in the Marathon will be published in the next News Sheet. I am aware of K2LE, NR7O and W1BIH. Please let Den, G3MXJ, know if you will be operating with a different call so it can be included on the tick sheet, which will be mailed with the January News Sheet. A reminder that although computer logs can be accepted, I still need the front sheet of the ticksheet completed, please.

FOC CALENDAR

COMMITTEE REPORT by G4BUE

December - 30 and 15m (GW3KGV) 6 Florida Dinner 10/17 C6 by W9VNE 27 Deadline for January N/Sheet January - 160 and 20m 1 1998 Subscriptions due 10 PJ9JT by W1BIH until 31 March 17-28 8Q7AA by N6NT 24 Committee Meeting 27 Deadline for February News Sheet February - 80 and 15m G3SED, G3WGV & K5VT Spratly Isl. 2-15 P4/K2LE by K2LE

6-8 Marathon 17 Deadline for FOCUS 34 24 Deadline for March News Sheet March - 40 and 12m 27 Deadline for April News Sheet April - 30 and 17m 24 Deadline for May News Sheet May - 80 and 20m 1 Deadline for FOCUS 36 8/10 North American Weekend 15/17 Dayton Hamvention 28 Deadline for June News Sheet June - VHF and 10m 26 Deadline for July News Sheet

2. G4OEC: G4GLL, G4ZDB, G8VG, W2BA, W8EGB (+G3AZ, G4ZDB, K9QVB, DJOS, W4QM, DL7AKC). 2. K5AX: EA8CN, W4QM, K5DQ, NP3G, G3LIK (+AA5DX). 1. G3HEJ: G3MCK, G3RVM, K1RH, W8EGB, K9QVB (+N4AR, W4QM, G3XAQ, W1HMD, G3KKQ). 1. N4TY: G2FDF, G4BUE, K4FU, K4LT, N6NT (+W9VNE, K4LTA). Invitations have been sent to VK6VZ, WL7E and K2ZR. 5. G3PDH: G3RXP . 2. G3TOK: G3CWW 2. W4ZYT: JA1NUT, W3NZ, K1MEM, K5DQ. 2. W8LAT: AA5DX, W1FZY.

Starred List

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION by G3MXJ

1. N4IR: W4TAJ. 1. K7OQ: NR7O. 1. DK8IT: DL4CF. 1691 K2VCO (Vic) - V. Rosenthal, 2639 N Adoline Avenue, Fresno, CA 93705; tel - 209 226 4978; xyl - Lise; e-mail - rekefet@rakefet. com. 1692 GCHV (Mike) - T. M. Sherriff, 5 Pembroke Avenue, Bare, Morecombe, Lancs LA4 6EJ; tel - 01524 410438; xyl - Beryl. G3MCK (1639): change address - 22 Peterborough Avenue, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6EB; tel: 01572 756444. G3PQC (1682): amend tel - 01252 664694. W4CK (1515): amend tel - 931 433 0251.

New Members

Additional Nominations

Amendments

I still have a number of the new club ties left and will be taking some to the Florida Dinner. They can be purchased for 7.50 (paid to me, cheques payable to FOC), or for US $15 (paid to Elliott, W2MUM), both post-paid. Following the Committee meeting on 22 November, the Club Web page has now gone live on the Internet. The URL is <http://members.aol. com/focuk>. An article will be published in FOCUS 33 giving more information about it. The Windle Table will not be published in the next News Sheet as it will be the end of the year. Please send in your entries to me as soon as possible after the year end. Tick sheets for the 1998 Windle Trophy will be sent out with the January News Sheet and Ken, GW3KGV, will be taking over the management of the Windle Trophy from me.

CLUB TIES by Maud Slater

INTERNET by G3WGV

THE MARATHON 1997 by G3LIK

1997 WINDLE TROPHY by G3LIK

On a sunny Sunday morning in July, I was away from the house in the garden when the phone rang. Just a run of the mill call I thought with no need to panic, and as so often happens, by the time I had stopped the mower and got back to the house, the phone had gone dead. I recall touch-toning 1471, which in the UK is a facility that records the last callers number and gives the option of calling the number if you wish to do so. From the 1471 the callers number sounded DX, in so much that it was not local and not a code I could readily recognise, so you can imagine my surprise to hear the friendly voice of Dennis G3MXJ. Dennis told me of a committee meeting that had taken place the day before... When told of my election to be President and asked if I would be prepared to accept, this was undoubtedly my proudest moment in 40 years of amateur radio, and as a self taught CW operator, I believe this to be the ultimate and most cherished honour that one can receive.

FROM YOUR PRESIDENT by G3LTV

THE 1997 WINDLE TROPHY

Score updates can be passed to any G3LIK, G3MXJ, G4BUE or any committee member. An asterisk against the call indicates the score has been updated this month. Table shows the scores received by 1400z 27 November 1997.
GM3POI 386 W1HMD* 373 W4QM 364 K4FU* 357 K4KQ 335 G3KTZ* 323 G3LIK* 322 W2MUM*312 K4LTA* 307 N6NT* 303 G4ZDB* 300 K9QVB 292 K5MA* 285 NP3G* 280 G3AZ* 276 VE1BN* 266 GIVZ 265 W6OV 262 W6CYX 260 K5DQ 256 YV1NX* 250 W3NZ 241 G4PKD* 240 W9GIL 236 G2FDF 235 NP3F* 235 G3IY* 234 W6DU 229 SM5COP*225 G4ZVJ 222 N1BB 221 AA5DX 220 KT5X 219 G3JZV 217 G4HZV 208 K4EF 207 G3RVM 204 SMCCE*204 W8KJP 203 DL6TQ 202 OH2FOC 202 N4AR 200 PABW* 200 LA1IE 196 K1RM 193 GW3KDB 192 DL7AKC 190 GORH* 190 JA7SSB* 190 N4UB 189 G4PKT 188 W3VT 188 VE3DZZ 186 OZ4UN 185 W4FOA 185 ZL2AGY* 185 W8XM 184 G3ZEM 182 K9BG 178 N3SZQ 178 DL4CF 177 K7UOT* 176 AC5K* 175 GM3JKS*175 GW3KGV*175 W6GTI 174 W1BIH ZP6CW* N4TO JA1NUT ZS6QU K4BAI U3DR* G3VMW G4RMV GBQV G3IZD K1JD K5VO JA1NUT N3JT DK4LX* G3IEW EA8CN* G4ODV W1NV* G3MXJ F5VEX 172 172 171 170 170 169 168 167 167 166 163 162 161 160 160 158 158 157 157 156 152 150 ZL1MH G4BJM W5GEL K7UOT F3AT W9GW GWFJT W6IJ* N4LS W4DGJ G3LHJ G8VG W1WEF G3MCK G4BUE* GEBW W4TAJ G4SFO G3KKQ OK1KT W4CK* I3BLF 150 147 147 144 142 141 140 140 138 138 136 134 134 133 132 131 131 130 127 127 127 126 W2DX 125 G3HZL 122 G3GFG 121 G3PQC* 120 W1RM 119 ZS6AL 119 W1HT 118 K9DX 116 GM4SID 114 W6TZD 113 G2HKU* 112 G3SXW 112 K4II 112 K5XK 111 PALOU* 111 GW3HCL*110 G3RCU 109 K6RA 109 K6OU 107 N4XR 107 W9NN 107 4X1FC* 106 9J2BO 106 YO4PX 105 G3VCN 102 WB2YQH*102 K2LE* 101 N2UU 100 G3LZK 99 K6TS 99 ZL3GQ 99 G3RFE 98 G4XRV 98 G3WGV 97 G4DJX 93 GM3HUN 93 W6THN 93 K4DL 90 G3CWW 89 GW3SYL 88 G3NOH 86 DJ9SB* 85 W2GW 84 G3LPN 82 G3IGW K6DC VK8AV W8AV GW3SB W4PM G3TXF KC7V G3NKS G3SED GM3UA LA3FL* WA4SNI N4WJ K2SX OH2EA K2VUI G3JJZ K1AJ OZ1LO VE3AR W1HL 80 80 80 80 79 79 73 73 72 71 69 68 67 66 65 63 62 61 60 60 60 58 W1FJ W2MEL OH2KI OX3XR W4DM G4FNL LA2UA PADIN W4DHZ KP4L SM6AOU W6ISQ* K1MEM ZL1AH I7ALE GIHM JP1BJR VK3MJ W8VSK W1AX K4LT 57 56 56 56 56 46 45 45 45 44 42 40 38 33 30 28 22 20 11 10 7

With the 60th anniversary of the club, and the 50th post war dinner now past, Kathleen and I thank all who made it such a momentous occasion for us with a special mention to the advance party who ensured that the Colonnade bar was still open when we returned to the hotel. The Colonnade is very much part of the Lords weekend and it is a pity that many members who live within a relatively short distance from the city, dont call and visit our overseas visitors who regularly stay there. I thank also, the committee who have placed their confidence in me and in particular to Pete our past President , who with Diane has done an excellent job over the preceding year. Receiving the chain of office was a great honour, and I will do my best to serve you in the same manner as my distinguished predecessors. I am employed in the competitive field of Telecommunications which will mean some of my time being restricted, but I will do my best to meet as many of you as possible, if not in person, then certainly over the air. If all has gone to plan, Kathleen and I will have attended the Florida Dinner and will be planning our 1998 trips to Washington, hopefully the Condin, and of course Harrogate, which we have always enjoyed and attended all but the first meeting held there. As winter approaches in this part of the world , I am attempting to computerise my WAFOC records using G4HZVs Excel spread sheet, but I am finding recording the ticks for all my QSOs since 1966 very time consuming particularly when the points run into tens of thousands. Kathleen and I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year, and hope for improving conditions and lots of DX on the HF bands. 73/88, Bill.

MEMBERS NEWS by G4BUE

AA5DX: Congratulations to Suzanne and Ron on a recent arrival (the birth of a healthy baby boy) which has changed their lives. Suzanne

wishes to be closer to Grandma and Grandpa in Texas and Ron has put his Caribbean distributorship up for sale. If you have ever thought of living in the Caribbean, as well as owning your own business, Internet users want to consider having a look at <http://www.applink. net/tejas/aa5dx.html>. EA8CN: Andy and Irma were in SM3 at the end of November completing the carpentry work on their summer QTH. They will then be going to EA8, from where Andy will be QRV in the Marathon, returning to Germany on 13 February. GORH: Ken says OZ5DXs WARC band antenna in FOCUS 32 (page 36) works perfectly, after building it and putting it 22 metres high inverted vee style. G3IY: Jim thanks John, G3JVC, for the filter he described on page 43 of FOCUS 32 (corrected circuit diagram on page 48 of FOCUS 33). Jim built it back in 1990 and says, it certainly outperforms my 500Hz filter in my trusty TS-930S. JA7SSB: Jun will be in London at the beginning of December on a business trip. JE1JKL: Sati was planning to be QRV as 9M6NA in the CQ CW Contest. K2LE: Andy will be P4/K2LE again 2/15 February, including the Marathon. K4LTA: Ruby and Bill will be in Grenada between 10 February and 3 March, and for ten days with John, OE3JOS, and Gerhard, OE1GRU. Bill will be doing the Marathon from home but will be in Grenada for a multi-single effort in the ARRL DX CW Contest with their friends from Vienna. Outside of the contest Ruby, K4UPS, and Gerhard will be QRV SSB and Bill on CW of course. K6NA: Glen was planning to be QRV as 9Y4H in the CQ CW Contest. K7UOT: Tom put up a sloper for 160m, primarily for the Marathon, which is working fine. LA3FL: Per will be rejoining his ship on 22 December and his next leave will be in April. N6NT: Bruce is one of the operators of the Central Arizona DX Clubs DXpedition to the Mal-

dives as 8Q7AA, 17/28 January, and will be mainly on CW 80 and 160 metres, including the CQ 160 Meter Contest. More info on their Internet Web page at <http://www.cadxa.org/8q7aa>. NR7O: Tony is QRV daily at 1600z on 14025 and 21025kHz as XE2/NR7O, and in the Marathon. OZ8RO: Rag was in Phoenix, AZ recently and met Mike, KC7V, at a Central Arizona DX Club meeting. PALOU: Lou had a FT-1000MP on trial for two days recently. He had just returned from WRC-97 where the 40 metre band re-alignment will not be put on the agenda for WRC-99. Lou says it may make the WRC-2001 agenda. SMCCE: Congratulations to Kjell on his recent retirement. VE7NH: Congratulations to Doug on making a QSO with F9VN from G3YXXs QTH to complete his Augie. W1BIH: John will again be QRV as PJ9JT between 10 January and 31 March, including the Marathon. W1FJ: Al was one of YCCC operators for their J39A CQ CW Contest operation. W2MUM: Elliott thanks all those members who kindly sent him stamps - much appreciated. W3NZ: Fritz recently bought a IC-706 Mk2. W4CK: Laura and Mark visited Charleston, SC recently and took the opportunity to have a minidinner with Lin, N4LS. W4DHZ: Nap has been in a nursing home since the beginning of November. WA4SNI: Our condolences go to Dick on the passing of his wife, Lulu, at the end of October. ZL2AGY: Tony was one of the operators at ZM2K in the CQ CW Contest. He has been working EU on 24MHz between 0800-1000z. ZL3GQ: Maire and Peter stopped off in Florida on their way home from Lords, and made visits to W9IV, W2MEL and N4TO. ZP6CW: Doug says the TS-570 is a CW mans dream machine, as he tries to sell his TS-870 which is now gathering dust!

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