1. Thursday (tomorrow) at 3:00PM the Gazette photographer will be here taking photos for their upcoming article. Frank & Nick are scheduled for the photo. Anyone else who would like to be in the photo is welcome to drop by as well. The feature story will be published either 3/25 or 4/1. Al Powell, the reporter, will allow us to review the article before publication. KYFC that this will work as a good recruitment tool for the HWC. Phil, I passed on our URL to this guy, as I mentioned to you.

2. The outer doors to the building have been re-keyed. We knew it was coming. Toss your old keys to the front door and to the Adams tunnel door. I have a new master key (1) and it is illegal to cut copies from it. The good news is that the construction people have just installed magnetic card-swipe machines for entry and that system should be up and running soon. I'm lobbying Casali for a batch of entry cards and will keep you all posted on progress. Maury, I'll send you a card ASAP.

3. Speaking of the construction people, they expect to be done here on Friday. Then comes the detail work -- cleaning, painting, moving the VES people in. I took a walk through the whole building last evening. I have two impressions, a) for a building that is 'done' it sure looks like there is a lot left to do, and b) what *is* done is fantastic. The two floors of studios and exhibition space are very impressive. I'm not sure how long it will take VES to settle in here but when they finally do, they are going to have an excellent facility. The new bathrooms are likewise impressive -- and just steps away from the clubroom.

4. Of course there are still loose ends we need to tie up with Casali Group. I have a meeting coming up with Tom Murray to discuss a) procuring the magnetic swipe cards for the front door, b) sorting out these new telephone connections, both the Centrex data line and the extension upstairs, c) reimbursement for replacing our 2nd position antennas, d) getting the green light for Matt to start on the roof, e) working out placement for our mailbox. Believe it or not, this has become an issue, e) moving the old electrical panel out of our outer room. Looks like someone bagged on this issue.

5. I printed out a copy of the ARRL DX SSB Contest log for our own use and also submitted the log and .bin file to the ARRL Contest Committee. I'm pleased to note that the log was very clean, that there were no bad calls logged and that there was only one dupe -- which was due to the computer glitch and not to operator error. I venture we'll receive full credit for all the points we claim. Good Work!

6. Since we're talking contests, how about the WPX SSB Contest coming up on the 27th & 28th of this month? There is a big rules change this year in that contacts with stations in your own country are now worth 1 point each rather than the 0 point value as in the past. There is quite a controversy raging about how this might affect the contest. Most US operators support the change, while many Europeans do not. We'll see, won't we? Unfortunately, we're using CT 9.37 which is one version early for correctly scoring the new rules in the contest. Time for an upgrade! If you high-power DX contest guys are interested in operating the WPX, let's talk next Tuesday.

7. I printed up extra copies of the HWC membership roster in case you weren't able to print out the e-copy I sent out several weeks ago. The stack is in the outer room on the white table.

8. N1VTN brought PY1DVG over to the club this past week as his guest. It's always nice to have visiting hams drop by the HWC. Don't forget that if you bring a guest ham over and get him/her on the air that we have a "W1AF Operator's Club Certificate" to give the guest as a little gift. The awards are in the certificate box on the wooden bookcase and are easy to fill out. Don't pass up the opportunity to show off your club station!

9. Frank has gotten access for Phil to our web files on the HCS server. Phil plans to update the membership roster first and is looking for suggestions for updates/improvements after that. Take a look at the W1AF home page at and send Phil your ideas. A killer web page will do wonders for the HWC.

10. Dave Allred hasn't been around recently because a member of his family was severely injured in a car crash. We wish Dave and his family all the best as they cope with this difficult crisis.

11. I put in yet another call to W1GSL, Steve Finberg about the Flea. Hopefully we'll hear back from him this time.

12. Matt, KC1XX, is expecting his Rohn tower shipment any day now from the factory. He is anxious to get back to work on the W1AF antennas. I just need to clear that with Casali and we'll get Matt back on the roof. He can do the anchor work on the wire antenna tie-offs and erect the new tower, rotor and hardware. When that's done, then we'll have to do our part (in the beautiful spring weather) and have an antenna- building party. I estimate it will take Matt & crew 3 visits to complete their work.

13. A few more clubroom improvements: painted the newly installed electrical conduit for the fire alarm system; ran a heavy duty extension around the room to the table with the Heath Twins; fired up the Mohawk receiver for the first time in (probably) years -- sounds as good as ever. When the new HF antennas go in, we'll free up the R-7 to run into the clubroom for the vintage Heath station. Real radios glow in the dark. . . ; strung a temporary receiving antenna around the room; mounted wall brackets and hung the Power-Mite speakers in the 4 corners. These old squash court concrete walls are tough! Even with a masonry drill bit and the big DeWalt drill, it took a real effort to get those brackets up.

14. Conway, I have a new set of keys for you.

15. As I write this, the Harvard telephone people are installing high speed data cable and regular telephone cable and jacks in the outer room and in the clubroom. In addition to gaining access to the Harvard system, we will maintain our Bell Atlantic connection (876-4131) however, the point where this line actually enters the building (the basement of Apthorp House) will be moved to our own building.

73, Mike
K3UOC

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Harvard Wireless Club is Affiliated with the American Radio Relay League, Inc.

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© 1999 The President and Fellows of Harvard College.