Our next DARC/Skynet field trip is March 10th. 

At least five folks are headed to Houston to see the history making Apollo 11 Command Module.  Piloted by Michael Collins in July of 1969, the Command module “Columbia” circled the moon while astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.   After jettisoning the Lunar landing Module on the moon, Columbia returned to earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

The legendary spacecraft is on tour around the United States for the first time in nearly 50 years.  It’s currently at “Space Center Houston” in Houston, Texas. 

Our Field trip will leave from “Dallas Medical Center” 7AM sharp.  We will be car pooling to Houston, spending 3 or 4 hours visiting the complex.  But wait, there’s more.  Also at “Space Center” is the Apollo 17 Command Module, the Skylab training module, Gemini 5, Mercury/Faith 7, the 747 Shuttle Carrier, Orion mock-up, and Star Trek’s Galileo 7 shuttlecraft full size prop.  So there’s plenty from the past, present, and future to see.

Here are the particulars: Continue reading →

Lecture and Lab today was great! I’ve shown off my Singing Tesla Coil…have you?

The Irving Hamfest is coming up next weekend! Don’t forget to volunteer for set-up or take-down if you want a free ticket. You can also buy admission tickets (or extra raffle tickets) on-line.

On this week’s contest calendar, we have two events that are going on right now: the CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest, and the NCJ North American RTTY QSO Party. Get on the air and have fun!

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SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT

Saturday’s Topic: “United States National Radio Quiet Zone” and “Supernova’s First Light”

Net Control: Billye KF5PDS

Afterglow Movie 10:30PM:

“The 4D Man” 1958

2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –

Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.

Video Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/skynet2

& Facebook “DARC Skynet Astronomy Net”

Audio Stream: http://pokeys.doomdns.com:8000

Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skynet

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/

Continue reading →

The signal generator kits are MIA! I can’t find the dog gone things.

So, until they resurface at the “Lost and Found” I have something even more fun (and perhaps even sinister).

The DIY Mini Tesla Coil Kit! Why yes! From the man who brought us the “Tesla Death Ray” comes a scaled down home version for our times. This little device will not only produce electrical lightning to amaze your friends, but it also plays music! Yes music.

You will need a 15-24v DC power supply (you know you’ve got one somewhere).
Bring correct change and build one this weekend at the monthly DARC “Lecture and Lab” 10AM – 2PM.

This will be an easy build, but think of the educational opportunities after you unleash this baby on family members and local kids!

Saturday, Feb. 24th
Dallas Medical Center
7 Medical Center Way
Farmers Branch, TX
3rd Floor Conference Room
Free Parking!
10AM – 3PM
Kit is $15 – which is my cost.

We have an assembly video too!

Rescheduled.  We’ll be building the “Mini Tesla Coil Kit”.  See elsewhere for additional information.  

There are two interesting contests going on right now: the ARRL CW DX contest, and the much more relaxed AWA AM QSO Party. Several of my rigs can operate AM,  but I’ve never even tried to make an AM contact. I guess I’d better get to work!

The next Lecture and Lab will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24th. We’ll be building the XR2206 High Precision Function Signal Generator. This kit is easy to build and it’s a useful piece of test equipment. Bring $15.00 and a soldering station to the Dallas Medical Center and meet us in the 3rd floor community room. We’ll be there from about 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a possible break for lunch.

We had a few interesting announcements during the net: The Irving Hamfest is coming up soon…and so is the TESSA conference. The Garland Amateur Radio Club will have technician classes starting on this coming Tuesday, February 20th.

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SKYNET!!!!  9PM CT – 10:30PM CT

Saturday’s Topic: “JPL: The Voyager Missions (Part 1)”  and “Tour of the Constellation Monoceros”

Net Control: Kelley K5KTX

Afterglow Movie 10:30PM:

“The Matrix” (1999)

2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –

Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.

No video or audio streams tonight.  They will return next week!

Video Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/skynet2

& Facebook “DARC Skynet Astronomy Net”

Audio Stream: http://pokeys.doomdns.com:8000

Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skynet

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/

Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.

Discussion topic of the evening. Continue reading →

The Irving Hamfest is fast approaching! You can buy tickets on-line, and even more importantly, you can volunteer to help out. The need for hams to help with set-up and take-down is particularly significant. The DARC supports this event, and we benefit from the proceeds, so please—do your part.

Texas State Parks on the Air will be taking place this April 7th and 8th, so now’s the time to look for a state park that you can activate. You can contact the Lake Area Amateur Radio Klub for more information.

And don’t forget: the Dallas County SKYWARN training event is just one week away! Head on over to the Granville Performing Arts Center on Saturday the 17th and learn from the best. There’ll be food trucks, ham merchandise vendors, door prizes, and good fellowship, too.

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SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT

Saturday’s Topic: “How Many Space Aliens: Do The Math” and “Tour of the Constellation Gemini”

Net Control: Tom KE5ICX

Afterglow Movie 10:30PM:
“The Time Tunnel” (2002)
2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –
Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
Video Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/skynet2
& Facebook “DARC Skynet Astronomy Net”
Audio Stream: http://pokeys.doomdns.com:8000
Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skynet
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.

Discussion topic of the evening.

“How Many Space Aliens: Do The Math” Continue reading →