REDUNDANT
?BY NO MEANS
Just
before we are about to enter the year 2002 my pupils, learning the code,
passed their exams and became full fledged Radio Amateurs.True,
the number of participants in these classes is getting much smaller.Unfortunately,
in my opinion, so it seems to me, I could teach the code at 12 words per
minute much easier than it is now at 5 w.p.m.When
previously the code sounds like music, and one remembers the letters by
their rhythm, nowadays I have the problem to avoid my student to ‘count’
dits and dahs.
Although
all of them have passed the exam and each of them have received their own
callsigns by now, I must admit, this was personally the best class I ever
had, bur learning wise the worst.The
prospect of getting a license for the HF bands was the only incentive to
learn.Non of them think that they
will ever this mode for communication.
So
now, will I be a redundant CW teacher (?) - by no means.The
next group is already standing by and waiting for me to announce the date
the new class is going to start. (4X1AT)
A
NIGHT IN NATANYA – The IARC Social Event
It’s
hard to imagine, but four years had lapsed since the last social event
which was the gala evening held at the Tel-Aviv Centre for the Performing
Arts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the IARC and the state
of Israel.
The
Park Hotel in Natanya was the spot. 265 hams and family members were present,
from Beer Sheva in the south to Haifa in the north, assembling in the lobby
at 7 PM for a massive marathon of “eyeball QSO’s”.It’s
always heart-warming to meet with so many amateurs who we’ve been in contact
with over so many years over the air and at similar events.There
were a number of hams who hadn’t been seen for over a decade, and we suspect
some of them were there thanks to the IARC council’s efforts to return
a lot of old hams to the fold.There
is a true family feeling in the amateur community, something that simply
cannot be duplicated by the internet!
Moving
into the banquet hall, we were seated at round tables for dinner and were
greeted with speeches by 4X6KJ, 4X4AH and others, including 4X4JO who demonstrated
miniature QRP gear.Dinner soon came,
and the time just sped by.Afterwards
was the raffle (the sale of a few thousand raffle tickets along with the
70 sheqel admission fee was enough to cover all the expenses of the evening,
so as per IARC council decision no sunsidy was necessary from the IARC’s
meagre treasury ) which included over a hundred items.The
real big prizes were an MFJ antenna analyzer, two brand new UHF FM transceivers
and a few station accessories.As
well we had some power supplies of varying vintage and sophistaication,
some antennas and an SWR bridge or two.But
there were also a few dozen “boat anchors” – old Motorola and Johnson VHF
and UHF commercial rigs, watches, clocks, and a gift-wrapped box, which
when open revealed a large salt and pepper shaker!The
important thing was the fun and a little boost for the club’s coffers.
Much
praise should go to the organisers of the evening (and our apologies for
not knowing all the names to be thanked!) headed up by Paul 4X6UU and Joe
4X6KJ.
4X6LM
STEPS DOWN
For
the past 12 years, Shlomo Mussali 4X6LM has been the editor of the IARC
magazine, HaGAL which conmes out like clockwork every two months.Shlomo
has brought the magazine forward in terms of content, format, graphics,
the inclusion of photos. The scope of articles in the magazine is sufficient
to give the local amateur, who does not read the foreign amateur journals,
a good idea of what’s going on in the ham world.Of
course much of this is thanks to writers and translators whose arms Shlomo
hastwisted to make them contribute
to HaGAL.
Now
Shlomo has decided to step aside and devote his spare time to other pusuits.Michael
Barak 4X4KF has agreed to to take over the editor’s job, indeed a hard
act ot follow!We wish Michael good
luck in his new venture.And thank
you, Shlomo, for a dozen years of publishing excellence.
2002
HOLYLAND CONTEST
Please
note the new starting time for the 2002 Holyland Contest… Saturday April
20th from 0000 UTC through 2359 UTC.The
previous contests ran from Saturday night through Sunday night, meaning
that any serious Israeli op had to take Sunday off work (a work-day in
this fair land).This should ensure
a lot more Israeli stations around the clock for the contest, and some
higher scores abroad this year.Another
news item is that for overseas operators there will be now THREE (count
them!) categories – SSB only, CW only and MIXED modes.So
more winners this time as well as well as more expected participation.GOOD
LUCK IN THE CONTEST!!!More
details at http://hamradio.iarc.org/contests/holy2002rules.html
Contest
manager Mark Stern 4Z4KX has been selected to be an adjudicator at
the IARU contest in Finland this year.50
teams of all-star contest ops from 35 countries will be operating identical
stations and antennas from within a 100 Km. radius.In
this way, only operating skills should determine the winners.Mark
was one of the fifty international judges chosen to observe the operation
of one of the stations and make sure that the operation is kosher J.
+++
Coming up in Jaffa is an exhibition of antique radios.On
the site will be the operation of station 4X4ARC, with 4Z4BU co-ordinating
operations.Volunteer ops are erquested
to call him at (03) 550-4944.
***
The 150th “new Israeli” ham from the former Soviet Union has
received his 4X/4Z licence.These
amateurs have given a serious reinforcement to our organisation and amateur
radio as a whole in the country.
<><>
CLUB ACTIVITIES are in full gear….In
Beer Sheba, the capital of the Negev, a new course has started at 4Z4YU,
the “Youth for Science” club operating under the auspices of the Ben Gurion
University.In Natanya, the Amishav
Club 4Z4EQ for the handicapped is on the air every Saturday night giving
those their a taste of on-the-air activity on 2 metres where the members
can chat in Hebrew.
###
The long awaited Israeli callbook should be out this month, and will be
sent to all dues-paying IARC members.It
may be had either on a floppy disk, CD ROM or paper format.