WSN/1 will change starting time from 6:45 PM to 6:00 PM effective November 2 when the time changes to Pacific Standard Time

                          

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There is agreement to swap primary/secondary net frequencies effective October 1 (UTC) 3552 will be the primary frequency (with 3557 as a designated alternative primary frequency if 52 has QRM or is QRL), and 7052 as the secondary frequency if 80 is not working.
 
Net control stations retain discretion to Start a net session on or move the session to the alternative primary frequency if the primary has QRM or is QRL; or move the net session to the secondary frequency if band conditions dictate.

   

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Homer had his radio fixed over in Poulsbo. His Mike was missing when he got it back so he could only use CW. He did get a mic from another Ham and got it working  on SSB, but then it went out and quit working. . He checked in on WSN 2 times and then the CW Mode quit working too. Right now he has not figured out what the problem is. He thinks maybe it’s the antenna. So right now Homer's Station is in limbo and we will have to wait for the next episode.

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You may not have heard that Russ Ruby (W7AU) used his Elecraft KX-1 to call for help; after he broke a leg while backpacking in the Cascades, southwest of Chelan.   You can read the about his rescue at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/09/23/10348/?nc=1  Russ backpacked with his radio in the same area in the Fall of 2007; checking into WSN several times and sending radiograms to family.   We hope that Russ is mending well, and will be on the trails again next summer.

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I had been thinking about writing about one of my recent trips, but decided instead to pay tribute to some of the fine operators that I worked on WSN and RN7 some fifty years ago.

W7AIB (SK), know as Hap or FH, was one of the finest operators that I have ever worked. Hap was RM (Route Manager) for Washington Section ARRL. Very sweet fist. Monday NCS WSN.   Hap was retired Coast Guard and lived in Port Angles. FH operated a Ranger (Tx) and a Hammarlund (Rx.)

W7USO (SK) , Dan in Vancouver was Net Manager when I started with WSN.   I received my WSN Probationary Certificate signed by Dan Barney W7USO  8/22/1958
Dan was a super operator and handled traffic on WARTS as well as WSN Dan was a metallurgical Engineer with ALCOA He was one of my mentors. Dan used a Ranger driving a pair of home brew 6146s. and a Hammarlund RX. Dan was Wednesday night NCS on WSN. Dan and I had numerous Eye Ball QSOs.

W7OEB, EV, was from the Tri-Cities. I think he was Thursday night NCS. Always available with a helping hand. He was net Manager when I dropped out of the traffic game in 1961. EV changed to a Two letter call in the later years.

W7GIP (SK), Joe from Cashmere/Tacoma, forever a CW operator and Tuesday night NCS.

W7OE (SK), YB,  well known builder/author Howard Pyle.  Friday night NCS. I was alternate NCS on Friday and YB said he retired from NCS duties and gave me an opportunity to run the net. YB used a straight hand key and he could make it sing. As I remember, he ran a Viking QRP rig most ofd the time or one of his homebrew rigs.

W7QLH, John, out of Everett. John was RN7 Manager, ran a DX100 TX. John always had a BIG signal.

W7PGY, Bob Thurston (SK), Washington Section SCM, handled a lot of MCRD traffic on RN7 as well as NCS duties.  He pushed me to PAN with a lot of that traffic when I was just a beginner. I was really nervous, but found that PAN had GREAT operators, one was K6LVR, a teenager and better known today a K6YR Rob. (MCRD is Marine Corps Recruit Depot)

W7DZX, Jack Kane (SK), Wenatchee, BIG BIG signal, handled a lot of traffic from WARTS to WSN/RN7. He operated from his kitchen table. During these years, Jack used a straight Hand key. I heard him in later years using a Bug and he was really flying low with it.

K7CLL, Ken (SK), Dilley OR. He was finishing pre-law and handling traffic Ken also used a hand key. In later years I was told he used a Bug/Keyer and was a high speed operator. Ken was NCS on WARTS when he passed away. Ken had his Law practice in Vancouver and was considered to be THE expert in Family Law in the state. We had several eye-ball QSOs over the years.

W7BDU, Hank (SK), Eugene, OR. I worked Hank on OSN, WSN, RN7 and PAN. He ran a Ranger and a separate RX antenna for full QSK.  He not only was active on the above nets, but also handled a gear quantity of TCC traffic.Hank was a salesman for United Radio Supply

Time goes bye so fast that its hard to remember much more. I know I have forgotten some on the GREAT operators that I had the opportunity of working. Memories seem to fade over the years.

W7ZB, Don (SK) from Portland handled a large  quantity of my traffic from RN7. Don was retired from AP. Top operator.

W7FIX (SK), Vic Gish, Editor and publisher of PANN. (Pacific Area Net News)  I never worked him, but Vic was well known in traffic circles. I met him at a convention in Portland in 1960. Our photo appeared in 'QST' in  July Issue.  Pic was of Myself, Vic, Don, W7ZB and Ken K7CLL. Pic was taken by Ed Handy, W1BDI, Communications Manager ARRL.

W7KZ Will (SK),, also a top operator, from Olympia, he used a side swipper.

W7APS, Lou, (SK),  Seattle, he handled a lot of Seattle and Alaska traffic for us. Solid consistent operator,

For me, I started on WSN with a straight hand key, forty watts input rig, single 807, Old Hallicrafters SX-25 Receiver. My antenna was a 67 foot end fed long wire about 20 feet off the ground. It took quite a bit of patience for the other station to hear me at times. It was a fantastic experience to have had such a receptive group for me and my little flea flicker. I pay my respects to them all.

Dave Drew W7DPW
Vancouver, WA.
October 02, 2008

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    The October issue of World Radio contains an interesting article of the current Sun Spot Cycle. It is written by Carl, K9LA and he seems to know what he is talking about. In essence he tells us the current (No Spot) cycle is not abnormal. He states “ It is most likely that a solar minimum period per my definition will last from 21–30 months”. Ten of twenty three periods have done this – “that’s almost half of them”.

    He goes on to say that a period 51-60 months could currently exist and that 5 of the last 23 cycles have shown such properties.

    So even though we all can complain about the conditions continuing “without sun spots” I guess we have to just accept the current abnormal condx as normal.

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    The September 19 ARRL Electronic Newsletter tells us the Third Annual ARRL On-Line Auction will start October 23 and end November 1 on the ARRL Web Site <http:// arrl.org/auction>. The Auction preview will begin October 16 to let us all know what will be for sale. Items will be added daily.
   

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WSN Activity Report

	July	August	September
QNI	707	696	651
Traffic	116	79	99
Sessions	93	93	87