Port Ludlow Amateur Radio Club

*Happy Halloween!* Today's luncheon had some special visitors... right Friar Gary, below a super strain of the deadly red needle nose spider and bottom right Clown Kathy. We had a good turn out and and lots of fun. If you were not there you missed a good time!

2007/2008 Dues and Banquet Information

Dues reminders have been mailed via snail mail to all existing members of record. If you did not receive yours in the mail please contact the Club Secretary, Nancy right away.

The Club's banquet for 2007 has been canceled. All person who sent their reservations in should by now have received a full refund.

Just as a reminder your dues are for the period of October 1st through September 30th.

Strangers at PLARC Luncheon!

	This week (May 31) several folks we haven't seen for awhile attended lunch at Fiesta Jalisco!
Not seen in a long time (above)Doug Lee - W7TDR, Lee Watts - W7OK and Jack Schmidt W7JS
	Above Marie Schmidt K7MES & Jack W7JS Left Bill WA1FKV, Hugh KF6AOK and Roy KF7LJ
Right Doug Lee W7TDR
	Left Lou W7LS Good to see all of you there!!

PLARC Welcomes Class Graduates

Port Ludlow Amateurs welcomed recent class graduates at Ferrinos May 8th. Pictures Available

Plarc Antenna Crew at it Again!

Jack's Tree

In the story below, Phil K7PF had a problem with a tree across his street. It seems this infliction is spreading! Jack, W7JS has a tree too that has his feathers a ruffle.

To the rescue once again was the PLARC antenna team of Bill Webber, K7IK and Jack West, W7LD.

Jack's tree is located over an embankment laced with many years of blackberry vine growth. Bill took on the task of vine removal and path creator forging a carefully crafted narrow path from the back of Jack's house to the infamous tree.

While Bill was busy with the bush cutter Phil K7PF was busy plotting, calculating and measuring the tree specs.

K7PF using his transit

K7IK brush cuts a path

Why all this fuss? In the weeks to come the crew will be back again to pull a long wire antenna over the top of the tree.

Art, Jack, Jack, Phil and Bill

July 30th Luncheon

Wireless Presentation by Dan Withers

Dan WM7W, explains how wireless is being implemented

Dan's lack of attendance at our Wednesday luncheons is not by accident. Dan has been extremely busy with a new company he is involved with, Echelon.

Dan's new company is involved in deploying wireless technology to public service agencies and the public at large. Echelon has been working with Benton County PUD in eastern Washington providing custom software with extreme encryption, hardware consultation and technical support in order to tap into the fiber resources in the area.

The County's goal is to provide all the public service agencies (police etc.) secure continuous mobile access to the Internet with a secondary goal to provide high speed wireless to the County's population at large.

Looking for an antenna project? Well Phil K7PF did.

The bothersome tree

Phil for some time has been bothered by a tree located across the street from his house. It is not that the tree is blocking his view, endanger of falling on his house or anything like that. It's because it would make a great antenna support.

Thursday, July 31st Phil rounded up an antenna crew consisting of Bill Webber K7IK and Jack West W7LD.

Crossbow inspection

Using a crossbow they were able to shoot a line over the tree and hoist up a copper clad steal wire. On the back side of the tree the down leg was anchored up out of the way of busy hands. On Phil's side of the street, the antenna is anchored and fed against his tower.

K7IK readies the tower

Antenna modeling predicts great things from this antenna. If you hear Phil, let him know how his signal is doing!

June 18th PLARC Luncheon

PLARC members turned out in numbers for the June 18th club luncheon. All in all there were 24 members present.

Jim Kasto WB0YPG, one of Aaron W7XT's in-laws attended the luncheon and decided to become an associate member. Jim is from Topeka, KS. Welcome aboard Jim!

Meet our newest associate member Jim Kasto WB0YPG. Jim is from Topeka, KS

After the lunch and after the drawing Aaron W7XT presided over another exciting auction! Lot's of goodies were bid on and best of all there will be more next week!

So far the goodies donated by Dick Miles has generated over $61.00! Thanks Dick!!!!

	Jack W7JS is busy doing his favorite thing, taking money!
A great turn out for the luncheon and lots of fascinating stories.
	Jack and Marie Schmidt are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this week! Congratulations!
After the lunch activities the board members retired to the hotel lobby for a quick meeting.

Plarc Lunchtime Auction

Wednesday, June 4th after everyone had an opportunity to enjoy their meal at the PLARC luncheon the Club had an impromptu auction.

Aaron W7XT performed the duties of auctioneer. He proceeded to auction off a number of goodies that had previously been donated to the Club by Dick Miles, K7RNZ. Some of the items that went up for bid included a Kenwood phone patch, 12 Volt power supplies, Bencher keyer, remote speaker, antenna amplifier and more.

The bidding almost turned into a free for all as excited bidders started bidding on two different items at the same time. If you were not there you certainly missed out on a good time and some great bargains!

	Left, Aaron auctions off the Kenwood phone patch.
Right, Jerry W7EE examines his new found treasure, a Bencher keyer.
	Left, Jack W7JS collects from Owen.

PLARC Goes to Dinner

Several of the PLARC members have been meeting for dinner each month at the Flagship Grill. This month the day is set for June 27th at 5 p.m.

	In attendance were, W7EE and Pat, WA7OK and Jeanne, WR7V and Nancy, W7JS and Marie, KD7EWC, Connie and grandkids, WB7DSM and Noreen
We kept our waitress, Britney plenty busy.
	Don, WB7DSM was showing off his new Coast Guard hat design!
Here you can see the wheels turning.. . .and turning. . . .. a new hat. . .. . maybe?
	The rest of the group. Sorry we did not see you there!

Feedline Basics

Bill Weber K7IK, took the luncheon attendees through a basic course in antenna feed line principals and theory. Bill covered coaxial cable to include open and shorted cables and open wire feeds.

This was a great refresher course for the experienced and a excellent introduction for new hams.

Thanks Bill!

Antenna Modeling

Owen Mulkey N0WO, demonstrated physical antenna modeling at our April 16th luncheon. Owen brought several 1/10 scale antennas along with an artificial ground and test instruments to demonstrate the ease and effectiveness of antenna modeling.

Great job Owen, thank you!

British Virgin Islands

Thinking about taking a trip to the British Virgin Islands? If so you missed a great preview of what the islands have to offer from WO7O, Bill Whitney. Bill and Lou spent about a week sailing around the islands along with other Crusing Club of America members, stopping at many of the out of the way attractions. Bill used the Club's TV and Power Point to dazzle us with some great scenery and tails of a good time!

Digital Photography

Dick Miles K7RNZ

Dick Miles, K7RNZ provided an excellent overview of digital photography at the PLARC luncheon March 12, 2003. Additionally he demonstrated several photo manipulation programs and techniques for enhancing digital photos. If you were not there you missed out on a very informative and interesting presentation. - thanks Dick for a job well done!

Club Luncheon

Every Wednesday the Port Ludlow Amateur radio club meets at Pedro's Fiesta Jalisco. Members and nonmembers are invited to attend. Reservations are required. To reserve your seat please check in on the Tuesday or Wednesday's Boaters Net, use our online reservation feature. You need to let us know either way by no later than 9:30 am on Wednesday.

Social gathering begins about 11:15 am with lunch being ordered at 11:45 am sharp.

PLARC Visits Aero Museum

Over the last several weeks Lou WA7LS has arranged a field trip for PLARC members to visit the Port Townsend Aero Museum Located at the Jefferson County International airport, the museum rebuilds and restores antique airplanes.

The museum also provides hands on work shops, educational seminars, apprentice training, guest lectures and a reference library in addition to memorabilia and exhibits.

Annual Banquet Dinner

It's over! and what a success! If you did not come you missed out on one of the best Banquet Dinners in PLARC history!

If you would like to view some of the moments from the 2003 banquet click on the link below. Please be patient while the pictures load into your browser. It will take some time, perhaps as much as 10 minutes.

Banquet Pictures