Twenty Second Annual Amateur Radio Southwest Ohio Digital Symposium

Twenty Second Annual Southwest Ohio
Digital Symposium
Saturday 12 January 2008
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Planning is underway for the 22nd annual SW Ohio Digital Symposium to be held from approximfrom 8 AM to approximately 4:30 PM EST, Saturday, January 12, 2008 in Thesken Hall, on the Middletown Campus of Miami University, Middletown, Ohio. If you have a particular subject of interest which you'd like to present, or know of someone who is qualified to present, please contact, Jay Slough, K4ZLE k4zle <at> embarqmail <dot> com.

The 2008 program is being beaten into shape, and promises to be a good one. Times aren't fixed yet, but list in probable order of presentation is below

TIMES	Welcome and Introduction - Jay, K4ZLE and Carl, K8CM
to	Digital Communications Overview - Tom Holmes, N8ZM
be	VOA Moonbounce Project Update - Mike Murphy, KA8ABR
determined	Design & Manufacturing in the Internet Age, LP-100 - Digital Vector Wattmeter: A Case Study - Larry Phipps, N8LP
	Modern PC CAD Techniques - Bill Pollack, N0CALL
	ARRL update - Joe Phillips, K8QOE & Jim Weaver, K8JE
	Lunch
	AmSat Update - Gerd Schrick, WB8IFM and Steve Coy,K8UD
	EME using WSJT cluster of programs - Tom Lubbers, K8TL
	PSK-Mail - Bill Kelsey, N8ET
	Prize Drawing, Housekeeping and Farewell

There is no charge for attending the symposium. A box lunch will be available on site. Updates to the program will be posted here on the website, so please check in from time to time. For further information please contact

We will have a "demonstration room" for items on the program, plus any items which you'd like to display. We'd like, in particular, and specialty APRS stations, a working PSK-31 station, and any other systems which you've found useful.

For reference purposes, the program from last year's event is listed below. .

Bring your portable or semi-portable digital station!
We'd like to have as many types of stations, and as many demos as possible
We'll have a secured room, open during the registration and lunch period, for demos.
If you have an interest in CW, RTTY, Packet Radio, AMTOR, D-Star, etc., please plan to join us.
Send comments to: Jay Slough, K4ZLE
k4zle <at> embarqmail <dot> com

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Directions	Program	Center for Chemistry Education Miami University, Middletown
Bio - Larry Phipps, N8LP	Bio - for Steve Coy, K8UD	Background
Bio - Carl Morgan, K8CM	Bio - Joe Phillips, K8QOE	Bio - Jim Weaver, K8JE
Bio - Greg Zach, WG8Z	Bio - Mike Murphy, KA8ABR	Credits

AMSAT®The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
BIOGRAPHY

Steve Coy, K8UD

Original call WN8ZFR. Past call KB8UHY. Membership in the following clubs: ARRL, AMSAT, TAPR, Boy Scouts of America, MVFMA, DARA, DMA. Currently serving as Amsat SW Ohio Area Cooridinator DARA Youth Director Committee Chairman for BSA Troop 85, Beavercreek, Ohio Member of Tarhe Lodge BSA Tecumseh Council. Working on establishing a permanet "Ham Shack" at Hugh Taylor Birch Boy Scout Camp.Actively work "Field Day" VHF, UHF Contests, Satellites, FO-20, FO-29, RS-15, RS-13, and hopefully AO-40 soon. Also I work APRS ocassionaly as well as PSK-31 and other modes.

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Jim Weaver, K8JE

Jim was first licensed in Cincinnati in 1962 as Novice Class operator WN8COA and a month later also as Technician Class operator WA8COA. He soon obtained second-site license WA9FEW for his home QTH in Francesville, IN. He won the Indiana Section Novice Roundup while using this contest as relaxation from week-long preliminary exams for an advanced degree at Purdue University. He passed the General Class examination in Chicago, both in 1963; the Advanced Class exam in Cincinnati and the Extra Class in Columbus, OH. He changed calls to become K8JE soon after becoming an Extra.

Soon after arriving in Cincinnati in 1964, Jim became very active in emergency/public service communication with the Queen City Emergency Net. Later, he became EC for Hamilton County, OH, Ohio SEC, and finally Southwest Ohio DEC/Hamilton County EC. He has been active in several area clubs -- general-interest, repeater, DX, VHF -- and an officer in three of these. Also formerly active in Ohio Navy MARS, he has been a member of OSSBN and BN traffic nets, and a Life Member of ARRL. Jim originated and for 20 years wrote the "Ham Call" Amateur Radio column in the Cincinnati Sunday Enquirer.

He was elected to the ARRL Board of Directors in 2002 and re-elected in 2005. He has served on the Administration and Finance and the Programs and Services standing committees as well as on ad hoc committees of the Board. On the Board, he is known to be a strong advocate of the interests of members and involving members in the affairs of the League.

Jim and his wife Janice live in Mason, OH. They have seven children, two of whom are licensed as WD8BMK and WD8DAN.

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Mike Murphy, KA8ABR:

Licensed since 1978, Mike has been interested in many varied aspects of amateur radio and communications over the years. A long time member of AMSAT, Mike has operated on many satellites, from Oscar 7 to Oscar 13.

The EME project at the VOA is the culmination of an interest in VHF/UHF/Microwave and moonbounce communications that has been an active interest since Mike took up the hobby.

Other radio-related interests include digital communications, VLF, radio astronomy and satellite tracking. Mike is also active on HF and enjoys collecting/restoring antique radio equipment..

JOE PHILLIPS, K8QOE

Joe Phillips, K8QOE, has been a ham radio operator for 48 years; first licensed in 1959. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University (1964) with a master degree from Miami University (Ohio).

In the 70s, he served several Cincinnati amateur radio organizations as newsletter editor utilizing his journalism skills. For seven years, he wrote a weekly newspaper column called "Ham Call" in The Cincinnati Enquirer and also served as host for a cable television show by the same name in Hamilton County.

In 1984 Joe was appointed to his first statewide office, as public information officer for the Ohio Area Repeater Council (OARC). In 1986, he developed the first Ohio Repeater Directory. In 1989 Mr. Phillips was appointed Public Information Coordinator (PIC) for the Ohio Section and organized in 1992 the first Ohio Section Ham Radio Newsletter Contest.

In 1998 Mr. Phillips was elected Section Manager for the Ohio Section for a two year term and has been reelected four times. The 2006 election was historic in setting national ARRL records - the Ohio Section for most total votes and Mr. Phillips personally for most votes for SM. He is the first Ohio Section Manager to be elected five times. His current term ends September 30, 2008

On a personal note, Joe is married to Donna Fox (WD8OTC) and they have three children - none in ham radio. He has eight years experience as a reporter for major metropolitan newspapers (Indianapolis -Dayton-Cincinnati) and 30 years teaching high school English.

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Larry Phipps, N8LP

Larry Phipps, N8LP, has been licensed since 1965, first as WN8PSD, later as WA8PSD and finally as N8LP, when he upgraded to Amateur Extra. Larry also earned an FCC First Class Radiotelephone license in 1967. Larry worked for WJBK-TV, Detroit, while attending the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He left school in 1971 to work full-time at WJBK as a broadcast engineer. He then moved to NET Television Inc (a subsidiary of WNET-TV, New York), where he was instrumental in launching one of the first computer controlled videotape-editing facilities in the country. He and XYL Janet founded TelePost Inc, a high end television post-production facility in 1986. After 15 years of crazy hours and deadlines, and lots of awards, they sold the facility and semi-retired. Larry is now devoting his time to designing and manufacturing unique products for the commercial and amateur radio industry under the TelePost banner.

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Carl Morgan, K8CM

Carl was first licensed as K8NHE in November 1958. After an extended period of VHF/UHF activity, he upgraded to Advanced (1990), Extra (1991), and opted for a new call sign in 1996. Carl became interested in packet radio early in 1985 and has been active in the various digital endeavors (RTTY, AMTOR, AX.25 packet, PBBS, APRS) at various times during the past decades.

He serves the amateur community as an instructor for ham radio classes and as a part of the VE teams for both Dial Radio Club (Middletown) and the Butler County VHF Association (Hamilton). He also serves as trustee of WA8MU (Oxford repeater) and W8MUM (Middletown repeater), both issued to the Miami University Amateur Radio Club (MUARC).

Carl is a member of the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary and served the Ohio Section as OO Coordinator 1998-2000.

Professionally, he taught at Ohio Mechanics Institute/Ohio College of Applied Science for 10 years before coming to Miami University. After 24 years of full-time appointment at Miami, Carl retired from full-time teaching in 1992. He now keeps busy with a part-time appointment in the Center for Chemistry Education (Miami U), as a computer support/network administrator.

Aside for his professional life, Carl is married to Wanda (W8WLM) and they have two adult children - one in ham radio. He has been a Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman and a Course Director and Assistant Course Director on numerous Adult and Youth leadership training courses in the local Council and [BSA] area.

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Greg Zach WG8Z

Greg became interested in electronics since age 3 when he inserted a fork in dryer outlet. Began SWLing on a TO and a modified AA5 at the age of 6 (1962) also involved in TV and Broadcast radio (fm) DXing at 7 continued on to 11meter am on an old Lafayette spotter. Favorite reading at that time was PE magazine and old '50's ARRL manuals. Always dreamed of getting a Ham ticket one day. Got his fill of 2-way radio after working for several years right out of high school at a local 2 way land mobile service shop. Continued on with an interest in Tube audio and music gear. Took the plunge into amateur radio many years later after winning an Icom 706 at a local hamfest while searching for NOS Tubes for a vintage Gibson music amp he was restoring. Licensed as KC8VIF in Dec 2002,upgraded to General Dec 2003, Extra March 2004, obtained vanity Call WG8Z April 2004. Currently AEC Logistics Hamilton Co Oh, Net Manager Tri-state Amateur Traffic Net and Asst NM OSSBN. Still heavily into hollow state, primary HF rig being a SWAN 270 and also investigating the digital modes including RTTY. Loves to hook his old vintage tube gear to the PC.

THANKS!

Thanks to the Center for Chemistry Education and Miami University, Middletown Campus for hosting this event. And, thanks to ARRL for sanctioning the event and providing door prizes and free literature.

As you leave, please drive carefully. Remember, the 19th Annual SWOH Digital Symposium, - scheduled for 15 January 2005.

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Background:

The South West Ohio Digital Symposium has been held each year since 1987, for the purpose of promoting digital modes of communications via Amateur Radio. The primary, but not exclusive, thrust is packet radio and networking, but we try to present other modes including CW, RTTY, coherent CW, et. cetera. (semaphore and smoke signals were discussed during one session.)

Sponsoring organizations are The Center for Chemistry Education of Miami University , the DIAL Radio Club, and the Ohio Packet Council.

The symposium is non profit, we make no money - we try to break even.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

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Directions to Thesken Hall:

Arriving via I-75:

Exit at SR #122 (exit #32) and travel West toward Middletown. The first traffic light will be at the end of the SB I-75 exit ramp. After passing the third traffic light, move into the right-hand lane. SR #122 will veer left; you proceed straight ahead, continuing on GRAND AVENUE. The fourth traffic light will be Marshall Road, the 5th light will be Elliot Drive and the 6th light will be BREIEL BOULEVARD where you should turn right (North). As you make your turn at Breiel & Grand Avenue, you will see the Middletown Shopping Center on the right.

Continue on Breiel to the 6th traffic light, this is the entrance to Miami University. Come down the drive; taking care at the speed bumps, parking on your left and buildings on your right. The second building is Thesken Hall. You may unload in front of the building but DO NOT park there nor in the handicapped area unless you have appropriate authorization.

Middletown's repeaters operate on 146.61, 224.96, and 444.825 using standard offsets.

Arriving, from Germantown, via SR #4:

Follow SR #4 (South) into Middletown to the intersection of Verity Parkway. SR #4 will turn right; in the right hand lane, you proceed through the intersection to the second (not next) traffic light. At this light, turn left onto UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD. Continue on UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, along the north side of Middletown, passing through the next traffic light at SUNSET STREET, to the entrance of Miami University. Come down the drive, taking care at the speed bumps, and at the "Y", veer right. Parking is on your left and buildings on your right. The second building, after passing the "Y", is Thesken Hall. You may unload in front of the building but DO NOT park there or in the handicapped area unless you have appropriate authorization.

Middletown's repeaters operate on 146.61, 224.96, and 444.825 using standard offsets.

Arriving, from Hamilton, via SR #4:

Follow SR #4 (North) into Middletown to the second traffic light, turning right (East) onto FOURTEENTH AVENUE. Follow 14th Avenue until it runs dead. Turn left (North) into the center lane of UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD and proceed North. Continue on UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, around the east and north side of Middletown, passing through a traffic light at SUNSET STREET, to the entrance to Miami University. Come down the drive, taking care at the speed bumps, and at the "Y", veer right. Parking is on your left and buildings on your right. The second building, after passing the "Y", is Thesken Hall. You may unload in front of the building but DO NOT park there or in the handicapped area unless you have appropriate authorization.

Middletown's repeaters operate on 146.61, 224.96, and 444.825 using standard offsets.

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