NCRC Clubmate, Peter, KB1ZMO, is a silent key as of May 25, 2018.
As reported by John Mills.
Peter was Navy pilot and commercial pilot for Mohawk Airlines
He lived in Little Compton for 20+ years and was an accountant.
KB1ZMO was active on HF nets and had joined NCRC about 4 years ago.
It is with great sadness that we report the passing lifetime member James W Kyle, KC1SD.
Jim has a long history of service to his country and his community. His love of Amateur Radio was obvious to all who knew him.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 4 Everett Street, Newport, RI
Jim was a mentor to many and was an early STEM educator when the term was not even created. His willingness to share the knowledge he accumulated in his 92 years was an inspiration. He taught radio science in local schools and found a way to do it even without a teaching certificate.
His long history in underwater sound transmission and military systems had him leading the engineering department at the Navy’s New London Sound Laboratory and he later moved to Newport when the Lab was combined with the Naval Underwater Systems Center and now NUWC.
Jim was a lifelong sailor and cruised Vineyard Sound and beyond with his family and members of Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
He will also be missed at the Atria home where he resided because he led the garden club and was an active member of his church choir until recently. Of course, he had an off-center fed dipole there, an antenna design that he studied and championed.
His pride in his family and their talents was never far from his lips.
RI Hams are warned that effective June 1, 2018, you may no longer use any handheld devices while driving your car. That includes your 2-meter microphone, or handheld radio.
Sadly, the marketplace has not caught up with the need for hands free radio operation. There are some very expensive commercial Bluetooth interfaces available for a few radios. Some newer ham gear includes Bluetooth interface options. Those of you with BaoFeng type connectors can find a Bluetooth interface via eBay. But often the Bluetooth interface does not deal with PTT — you aren’t supposed to be holding a pushbutton in your hand either.
A reminder that some radios do have VOX operation. The BaoFeng includes a headset with lapel mic and can be configured for VOX operation. Just watch those comments when drivers cut you off — don’t want that on air!
Congratulations to the eight new NCRC members voted in during tonight’s membership:
NCRC Membership now stands at 123.
Just a reminder that our regular club meeting will be this Monday May 14th at 7 PM at KVH.
We will be discussing plans for Field Day (June 22-24 in Glen Park, Portsmouth) as well as our usual business meeting. Assuming the regular meeting ends quickly we will be showing a video “The Last Big Field Day” about a Maryland FD with 50 transmitters on the air (the ARRL changed their rules the year after which is why it was the last “big” field day).
Hope to see everyone there.