November 3, 2016 Club Meeting
Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 7:00 PM Red Cross Building, 60 Hawthorne St., Medford, OR (across from Hawthorne Park)
Program: Early Ham Radio History with a focus on Oregon and the Rogue Valley, Bob Deuel, K2GLO
Bob will present the beginnings of ham radio, the equipment used, governmental regulation, growth of ham radio in Oregon and Rogue Valley including club activity up to 1940. Also included will be the spawning of commercial radio in the Rogue Valley.
Bob Deuel, K2GLO is an avid tube collector, radio historian, and serves as club treasurer.
Announced in the November 2016 issue of The Repeater.
Meeting Notes
From the December 2016 issue of The Repeater.
RVARC meeting notes for Thursday November 3 2016
The meeting was called to order by Scott Cummings NA7OM at 6:58PM. The first portion of the meeting was a business meeting with the first order of business the nomination and voting on club officers for 2017. This was done ‘bottom up’ style with Bob Deuel K2GLO consenting to continue as treasurer. Voting was unanimous. Second, Allan Taylor K7GT had offered to stand for secretary if there were no other nominations. None were offered, voting was again unanimous. Next, the VP slot. Mike Bach WB6FFC accepted the Vice President role. Voting again unanimous. And, finally, with Mike’s support Scott Cummings accepted the nomination for President. Voting again unanimous. Those making formal nominations and seconds were not noted. So, club officers for 2017:
- President: Scott Cummings NA7OM
- Vice President: Mike Bach WB6FFC
- Secretary: Allan Taylor K7GT
- Treasurer: Bob Deuel K2GLO
Other matters in the business meeting:
The liability insurance payment is due in December 2016 for the 2017 year. Discussion was had whether to keep the current policy with Mercer or change to that currently available through the ARRL. That through the ARRL is significantly less expensive with (apparently) equivalent coverage. Service through Mercer has always been top notch with paperwork for Field Day always coming back quickly. A motion was made for the club leadership to analyze and make an appropriate decision.
Treasurer’s report: current account balance $4553.11 It was noted that a significant portion of the club account balance is attributable to the Ed Vaughn estate items donated earlier this year and sold at the August swapmeet.
After a coffee and eyeball QSO break, the main presentation was given by Bob Deuel K2GLO on the history of radio, commercial, military and amateur, especially in southern Oregon. Items of note from the presentation are:
- The Marconi experiments were probably at 800-850m wavelength and the only message was a single ‘S’.
- Spark transmissions were apparently optimal between 300 and 6000m wavelength (1 MHz down to 50 kHz!)
- Very early on, ship to shore standardized on 300m and 600m (1000 kHz and 500 kHz)
- Amateur radio almost didn’t come back after WW1.
- The nickname ‘ham’ apparently comes from telegrapher lingo describing a poor telegrapher (unskilled and unprofessional).
- The development of the Audion (triode!) and of developing an oscillator lead to voice broadcast radio.
- Broadcast radio began with KDKA at 50W (!) in Pittsburgh PA.
The first broadcast station in the Rogue Valley was KFAY in Ashland (August 1922). After various power, location, and other changes, KFAY sputtered out and the equipment was given by Mr. Ruhl to Mr. Virgin. He set up the first KMED transmitter at 50W in the Sparta building (corner of East Main and Riverside).
While there were amateurs in the valley well before then, 1936 marks the first documented amateur radio club in the valley. The Ashland Radio Club had 70 members in that year and also a club was started that same year in Medford to support the Ashland club in preparations for a state-wide amateur radio convention held in Ashland in 1937.
Early Field Day operations were held often on Roxy Ann peak.
Bob’s presentation was enjoyed by all.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45. The next meeting will be a Saturday tour of the Rogue Valley Manor radio facilities.
Allan K7GT
