2008 and Earlier News

November 29, 2008

9:50 am by admin

Exciting New Awards Program from PNWVHFS!

The Pacific Northwest VHF Society would like to announce the creation of the Lewis and Clark awards program. Its goal is to promote VHF+ activity throughout the Pacific Northwest.

A few years ago outgoing Club president Lynn Burlingame (N7CFO) challenged the club to create something bigger in the form of an activity that would encourage VHF+ activity as well as spur growth of the club as a whole. It was in the spirit of Lynn's idea that this award was created.

The awards and certificates of this program are specific to the culture and pioneering spirit of NorthWesterners. That being said, with e-skip, EME, and WSJT modes, award certificates should be obtainable for stations outside of our region.

The program offers two individual certificate programs that progress towards plaques and endorsements. One program is for home stations and the other is for mobile, portable and rover stations activating only Pacific Northwest grids. We encourage people to participate in both to enhance activity.

Our hopes is that this encourages more people to go to remote grid squares as mobile, portables or roving regardless of contest events. Awards will also be numbered to encourage a bit of competition.

Details of the contest can be found on a link on the PNW VHF Society webpages

In the near future we will be sponsoring a certificate and plaque design contest for members of the society as well their family members. The design will be the water mark for each certificate and engraving pattern for plaques.

The Awards program will kick off at 00:00 UTC January 1st, 2009. All contacts will have to be made after this point. Specific questions can be forwarded to [email protected] . Or any PNWVHFS BOD member.

November 18, 2008

8:05 am by admin

Winter 2008 Edition of Noise Floor now Online

Newletter editor W7DHC has put together yet another great issue of the society newsletter "The Noise Floor" and the Winter 2008   edition is now available!

This issue is packed with news from the Moses Lake conference and much more!

November 12, 2008

10:50 am by admin

Art Moe (KB7WW) SK

Art Moe, KB7WW has become a silent key on about Nov 9, 2008.

Art was quite active on the VHF bands, especially on 6M.  He was also PNWVHFS Director for Oregon from 2002 - 2004.  He had been in declining health for several years.

The society extends its condolences to Art's family and friends.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

October 22, 2008

5:54 pm by admin

Society Membership Passes the 400 Mark! And then some!

The society welcomes our newest members:

December 18, 2004

Jim Aguirre W7DHC

2005 Pacific Northwest VHF Conference

The 2005 Pacific Northwest VHF+ Conference will be held in Seaside, Oregon, on the weekend of September 30-October 2. Mark your calendar today and lock up those dates. Many of the top VHF, UHF and microwave operators from the Pacific Northwest and beyond will be there. Whether you're an "old-timer" or just getting started, you won't want to miss this opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other VHF+ enthusiasts.

PNWVHFS President Lynn Burlingame (N7CFO) has just negotiated a contract with the Shilo Inn and Oceanfront Resort in Seaside for conference space and associated services. This is a quality hotel with many great amenities and easy access to other Oregon Coast attractions that will appeal to adults and kids alike.

Best of all, the deal includes special room rates guaranteed for three days prior to and three days following the conference. In addition to being a great site for a VHF+ conference, Seaside and the scenic Oregon Coast offers many family-oriented activities. Add the fact that late September and early October is one of the best times of the year to visit this area and you have all the ingredients for a great time.

Following on the heels of the very successful 2004 conference in Moses Lake, Washington, the 2005 version is already shaping up to be even better. While it's too early to provide specifics on the conference programs, the format will be much the same as the 2004 event with a Friday evening no-host social event, a full day of VHF+ programs and activities on Saturday, a Saturday evening no-host dinner and an informal Sunday morning breakfast gathering. Watch the official PNWVHFS Conference website for updates as they become available.

December 19, 2002

Jim Aguirre W7DHC

Pacific Northwest VHF Society Callsigns

The Pacific Northwest VHF Society now has both K7VHF and W7VHF callsigns under its name. The change for W7VHF was posted on the callsign server today. The trustee for W7VHF is Bob Abernethy, W7BA. The transfer of K7VHF was accomplished some months ago, with Jim Christiansen, K7ND, as trustee.

With a regional organization as large as the Pacific Northwest VHF Society...171 members and growing...having two callsigns will make it possible for two separate groups to use club calls for contest operations, special events or Field Day.

Many thanks to both W7BA and K7ND for their willingness as trustees to put these club calls under the PNWVHFS umbrella. In order to accomplish this, we merged the clubs that previously held the callsigns with the society. Since the members of both clubs were already members of the society, there was no actual gain in membership; just a consolidation of the three organizations.

The PNWVHFS board is working on a set of guidelines for using the calls. In the interim, the individual club trustees should be contacted regarding use of the calls.

Jim Aguirre, Secretary-Treasurer

October 3, 2002

Jim Aguirre W7DHC

NU7Z named "2002 VHFer of the Year" by Pacific Northwest VHF Society

Rick Beatty, NU7Z, has received the first annual "Pacific Northwest VHFer of the Year" award from the Pacific Northwest VHF Society (PNWVHFS). The award was presented at the 2002 Pacific Northwest VHF Conference in Bend, Oregon, on September 28, 2002. PNWVHFS Awards Chairman and Western Washington Director Eric Olson, N7EPD, made the presentation.

Beatty was cited as having "been instrumental in promoting VHF, UHF and Microwave activity in the Pacific Northwest for many years. He has encouraged many to move up to the higher bands by making himself available to help with the construction and troubleshooting of transverters, antennas, etc." As noted in the nomination, "If you have a problem, you can call Rick and his response is always “Come on up and we'll see what we can do.” His well-equipped test bench has solved many problems for newcomers and experienced VHF+ operators alike.

NU7Z also maintains a series of beacons on all bands from 903 MHz through 10 GHz that many in the Seattle area have used as references in determining whether equipment is working properly, as well as to check out propagation.

During the past year, Beatty has organized and coordinated three "group buys" of transverter kits, resulting in a number of local amateurs moving up in the bands. He has also been instrumental in bringing the prestigious Microwave Update conference to the Seattle area in 2003. This is the first time this event will have been held in the Pacific Northwest.

October 3, 2002

Jim Aguirre W7DHC

2002 Pacific Northwest VHF Conference Rated "a Success" by Participants

Many positive comments have been received regarding the just-concluded Pacific Northwest VHF Conference in Bend, Oregon. The event ran from Friday evening, September 27, through Saturday afternoon, September 28. Participants came from as far as Alaska, Colorado, Nevada and British Columbia, to join the majority from Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Many of them joined in the Friday evening "Pizza Bash" renewing old friendships and making new ones.

Saturday’s events kicked off at the Central Oregon Environmental Center with a catered breakfast arranged by event chairman Don Krug, K7HSJ. Breakfast was followed by a "Tour de Rover Rigs" in the parking lot while the facility was reconfigured for the conference presentations.

Presentations were made by:

• Ralph Parker, VE7XF ("Surf, Sun and Six Meters: The 2001 Cook Island DXpedition")
• Mike Pinault, W7GHZ ("Maybe You CAN Get There from Here: Using Radio Mobile path prediction software")
• Bob Larkin, W7PUA ("Taste the Alphabet Soup: PUA43, JT-44 and more")
• Rick Beatty, NU7Z ("Coming to a City Near You: Microwave Update 2003")
• Jim Aguirre, W7DHC ("Amateur Radio’s ‘Exteme Sport’: VHF roving")

Awards Chairman Eric Olson, N7EPD, surprised Rick Beatty, NU7Z, just prior to his presentation with the presentation of the first annual "Pacific Northwest VHFer of the Year" award. The look on Rick’s face was worth the price of admission!

The first annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest VHF Society followed the programs. Secretary-Treasurer Jim Aguirre, W7DHC, gave a financial report showing that the society currently has $1,614.33 in the bank and $39.59 in petty cash for a net worth of $1,643.92. Some of the 2002 Pacific Northwest VHF Conference expenses still need to be paid and about $315 was received at the conference from at-the-door registrations and new memberships. The society membership now stands at 149.

Results of the recent elections were officially announced. Since this was the first election for the new organization a drawing was held to determine the length of terms for three of the five directors. Directors serve two-year terms, staggered so no more than three terms end in any given year. Since all five were elected this year, three names were randomly drawn to determine who will serve two-year terms. Idaho director Bob Hallock, K7TM; Western Washington Director Eric Olson, N7EPD; and Oregon Director Art Moe, KB7WW, were drawn for two-year terms. British Columbia director Ralph Parker, VE7XF, and Eastern Washington Director Bob Lee, N7AU, will serve one-year terms. President Lynn Burlingame, N7CFO, and Secretary-Treasurer Jim Aguirre, W7DHC, will serve one-year terms as spelled out in the society constitution.

President Burlingame asked the members present for suggestions on what they’d like to see from the developing organization. Members were reminded that the only way to make things happen is for people to step up and offer to do them. A list of suggestions was made and will be pursued.

The final event of the conference was the prize drawing. Many thanks to prize donors ARRL, Olde Antenna Lab, KB6KQ Antennas, N3FJP Amateur Radio Software, K7HSJ, W7DHC and others.

After the conference concluded, many participants lingered on the grounds of the Central Oregon Environment Center for more conversation before heading home. A big "Thank You" to Don Krug, K7HSJ, for his efforts in setting up the event. Many positive comments were received from participants.

List of attendees:
AL7EB Ed Cole Nikiski AK
VE7XF Ralph Parker Delta BC
W6OAL Dave Clingerman Parker CO
NA7L Jeff Miller Athol ID
K7TM Bob Hallock Coeur d'Alene ID
KF7CQ LeRoy Phelan Meridian ID
W7MEM Mark McMillan Rathdrum ID
K7XC Tim Marek Fallon NV
AB7UN Hal Worchester Bend OR
K7HSJ Don Krug Bend OR
KA7NAA Allan Chambers Bend OR
KB7W Mike Bond Bend OR
KC7CKC Joel Lydy Bend OR
WA7AJ AJ Perry Bend OR
W7PUA Bob Larkin Corvallis OR
WA7TDU Sam Hawley Klamath Falls OR
WA7TDZ Dan O'Connell Klamath Falls OR
W7NOI Stan Huber Lake Oswego OR
W7MQY Doug Beck Merlin OR
KB7WW Art Moe Oregon City OR
W7KCK Donald Galarneau Portland OR
W7ZSL Wallace Young Redmond OR
KG7P Stanley Beneveds Auburn WA
N7CFO Lynn Burlingame Bellevue WA
KD7OFC Barbara Alexander Bellingham WA
KK7LK Rodger Alexander Bellingham WA
W7GHZ Mike Pinault Cheney WA
KD7TS Mike Reed Des Moines WA
NU7Z Rick Beatty Edmonds WA
N7ART Russ Miller Ephrata WA
N7AU Bob Lee Ephrata WA
K7NQ Jimmy Sutton Federal Way WA
K7ND Jim Christiansen Fox Island WA
N7FYP Jerry Ball Kennewick WA
N7CC Art Tanaka Kirkland WA
K7IEY Al Norton Lynden WA
W7GTM Grant Miller Lynnwood WA
W6LLP Jim Phelps Medical Lake WA
KD7LHN Rich Collingwood North Bend WA
W7IEW Jerry Espada Olympia WA
KF7CN Kevin Imel Palouse WA
KB7DQH Eric Smith Port Orchard WA
W7DHC Jim Aguirre Preston WA
W7DHC/2 Diane Aguirre Preston WA
KK7GU Kenny Richards Renton WA
N7OEP Tom Saunders Seattle WA
N7WLO Scott Honaker Snohomish WA
KA7LJK Augie Allen Spokane WA
N7MX Marty Hibbs Spokane WA
WB7QBS Glenn Skinner Sunnyside WA
KE7SW Tom Crelling Tacoma WA
N7EPD Eric Olson Tacoma WA

October 25, 2001

Lynn N7CFO, President

Appointment of PNWVHFS Board of Directors

I am pleased to announce the appointment of the following board members for the Pacific Northwest VHF Society:

• Bob Lee, N7AU, Eastern Washington
• Ralph Parker, VE7XF, British Columbia
• Eric Olson, N7EPD, Western Washington
• Don Krug, K7HSJ, Oregon
• Bob Hallock, K7TM, Idaho

These board members will serve until the 2002 annual meeting, when we will have an election for officers and the board. At that time we will set the terms of the individual board members so they will be staggered per the bylaws. The board members and their email addresses are listed on the society website so you can contact them with your comments and suggestions.

73 Lynn N7CFO, President, PNWVHFS