N.E.W.S. Group VHF-SHF club July 12 PICNIC:
Knights of Columbus pavilion, Enfield, CT (20 mi N of Hartford)
featuring:
BARBECUE - 11:30am to 1:30pm grilled Dogs and Burgers etc.
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Prez Sez:
Just a reminder the Saturday July 12th NEWS group club Picnic
will be held outdoors at the Knights of Columbus Pavilion on
Washington Rd in Enfield, CT. This is a covered Pavilion, so it's
Rain of Shine. The tentative agenda is:

9:00 - 11:30am Set up and gab
11:30am - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00 - 3:00pm MDS 10GHz, 24GHz, and play with 47 and 78 GHz if you have it
3:00 - 3:45pm NEWS Group meeting
Election of officers - one director, announce new newsletter editor
If you are interested in serving, let me know.
Dues are due and we have a request from the Club Treasurer
that members try to pay with exact change ($15).
KA1OJ will have club logo hats for $12 (try to bring exact change)
Picnic'ers are encouraged to bring a favorite dish if
you feel so inclined.
Thanks much & 73
-Mike N1JEZ

Weather forecast prediction is for a sunny, warm upper 80's day.
This is a good time to show off your latest project, socialize,
and informal tailgate swapping and selling is encouraged as well.
You don't have to be a member to attend although we may try to
sign you up if you're not (like we did to K1PXE and WA2LTM last year).
Anyway we must be doing something right because no-one's ever complained.
The bulk of our activities usually run from noon til about 4pm.
See our July NEWSLetter.
N.E.W.S. MDS and ERP Testing

At the annual N.E.W.S. picnic, we well do MDS (Minimum Discernable Signal)
and ERP testing on 10 GHz and 24 GHz.
To test for MDS, we set up a distant signal source. After everyone has
a chance to peak up on the signal, the signal level is reduced one dB
at a time - when you can no longer hear it, then you have found the MDS
for your system. You decide how well it works, and whether you can hear
as well as Don and Dale. As a doublecheck, the frequency is moved a
few KHz, then the signal level is increased one dB at a time. If you
weren't kidding yourself, you should be able to find it at the same
level as before. Usually, it takes a few more dB to find a signal.

Finally, we also check relative ERP, transmitting one at a time and
recording the relative power received at the distant point.

Results in 2005 were pretty good, with 22 participants on 10 GHz
and 5 on 24 GHz, plus a couple of higher frequency stations for show.
This isn't a competition, just a chance to check out the gear with
friends around to help. Most folks had 10 GHz stations that worked
pretty well, while a few found problems to fix before the 10 GHz & Up
contest in August. Not only do we know our equipment works, but also
that there will be some other good stations to work.

I-91 exit 48 onto Rt 220 East (Elm St). 
Bear left at fork onto Shaker Rd. 
At 9th traffic light from exit 48, 
turn left onto Washington Rd., K of C 1 mile on left.
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Lost going that way? Try this: 
I-91 exit 49, go south on Enfield St Rt.5
Drive 1/2 mile, take a left on Brainard Rd. 
Drive 2 miles, take right on George Washington Rd. 
K of C picnic area will be on the right.