Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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*~- '.,dk Amateur Radio I Amateur Rad Emergency Pi BY BRENDA EASTERLING Of The Gamecock staff The University amateur radio station, WB4VJK, joined other ham radio stations across the country Saturday, to participate in Field Day. The event is sponsored each year by the American Radio Relay League, ARRL, to demonstrate radio communication efficiency in a simulated disaster: Amateur radio equipment was set up at R. G. Bell Camp. Ap proaching the site, one could see the top of a green tent and car tracks leading up to the site. The first sounds were those made by a gas powered generator shooting electricity through wires con nected to an antenna. The radio was manned by two amateur radio club members, graduate students Ross Amico and Mike Johnson. Also, local ham operators, Bob and Cindy Bishop were assisting them. Throughout the day, they made contacts with 60 stations. This was the first year the USC amateur radio station has par ticipated in Field Day. Each year ham stations are divided into various categories and judged on the number of contacts they make within a 24-hour period. Amico, who is president of the club, said people sometimes confuse amateur bands with the citizens band. Amateur bands are licensed by the Federal Com munications Commission, FCC, and have 1,000 watts of power. This differs from the citizens band which operates on five watts. Participation in amateur radio at USC has been low since its equipment was stolen last August. The club now has a new station and new equipment. Faculty advisor to the club, Dr. Leconte Cathey, said there is no place for amateur radio to meet since construction began on the engineering building. The Russell House construction plans From Page Bi it, Marchant said. "When Dr. Patterson took ov'er as President, he indicated he would be dedicated to two goals, Marchant said. "They were tc consolidate gains maade over the past few years at UWC and to strive to achieve exceMaCe across the board. That's what we're trying tc do." Marchant agreed that several important officials at USC have been leaving and that some Johnny Drummings las Field Day io Club Tests 'ocedures will provide space for a new amateur radio room. Cathey said the new station will be protected in at least two ways. First, equipment will be bolted down and second, there will be only one key to the room. Persons using the room will leave identification with the policeman on duty. Amico said lack of interest shown in the club by students is partly because of a lack of publicity. "There are hams on campus we don't know about," he said, "and who don't know about us." Cathey said the club is both fun and a learning experience for its members. He believes mem bership will grow when the club moves to its new location at Russell House. The Amateur Radio Club was formed by radio operators from World War 11. Some of these wartime "hams" are now professors at USC. They include Dr. Ed Cease and Dr. Cliff Baucom of the engineering department and physics professors Dr. Colgate Darden and Cathey. Baucom is trustee of the club and it is licensed by the FCC under his name. The club on campus began in Spring 1971. Original headquarters were on top of the engineering building. "The club is undergoing a transition," Cathey said. "While the direction of engineering has changed, a broader spectrum of students have become interested in amateur radio." The club includes radio, wire and telephone com munication. Therefore, it is becoming a more technical communications club than an engineering club. The ARRL offers the only non commercial radio service in the United States. To receive the basic license both a code test and a theory test of rules and regulations must be passed. Presently, there are five classes of licenses: novice, technician, general, ad vanced, and amateur extra. idget Cut programas $ye been changed, however ,he denied that the University is attempting to change its basic approach. Pattergo .sold, "We have vir tually the inne organization we started with. We are attempting tc centralize a number of people. A proliferation of offices who repori to the president is not good. This is one of those things that Inevitably happen from time to time." * From Page 1 USC Faces Ene energy conservation," Brunton continued, "in volves three completely separate approaches: One, the design of mechanical systems (air conditioning, heating) to go into buildings. Gambrell Hall, which is currently under design is the first building that we are designing with energy conservation in mind. Up until now, our main objective has been comfort and convenience. At Gambrell Hall we have already eliminated 30 per cent of what normally would be put in terms of the tonnage of heating and cooling equipment. A number of windows have been eliminated," he said. A fail-safe circulating air system which would trigger itself in case of a failure of one of the normal systems also is in cluded. "Ultimately," Brunton said, "I think the University is going to have to look at every building on campus." The second approach to energy conservation, he said, would be to connect more campus buildings to the various energy facilities to increase efficiency. "We have a limited amount of interconnection at the present time. To completely interconnect this campus will require in excess of $5 million," he said. The third approach, according to Brunton, "Is control of what we currently have. A limited amount of savings may be made by cutting down thermostats. We have hot and cold pipe systems. Cutting down the thermostats may not help at all. We don't know. This is what we have to study. We are going to accelerate our moves." A long and exhaustive study would be required, he said, to show the best ways to operate the facilities. A group is supposed to meet the week after next to Y *CELEBRA * Plnaprty aeV o dowaee*orhatds Afe*l,w a tt e bako*ody *HAPPY *UNIVERSIT rgy Problem follow up on the proposals. The answers, Brunton said, are not easy. There is still disagreement over what the right questions are to ask concerning conservation. Concerning other possible means to cut energy costs, Brunton said the University could cut down on the total amount of kilowatt hours by shutting off lights at night and by reducing peak energy demands. USC pays SCE&G for the use of special equipment needed when most or all of the big energy facility motors switch on at the same time. To prevent this, Brunton said there are several commercial systems used to stagger the operating times of equipment. "That's going to be studied too," he said. "Something has to be done. Something has to give. It isn't only the amount of money we're spending. Turning out lights is only a small part of the situation." When asked about the long-term, future plans for energy supplies, Brunton said that consideration would be given to any practical energy-producing means, including solar power. A new report, he said, encouraged the uses of solar power and breeder reactors that produce their own nuclear fuel. Brunton said there are no plans to build a reactor. "I don't foresee USC going into the energy -producing business. I believe the power will be there from outside means." The group which plans to meet in two weeks, he said, would be looking further into the problem. "We're going to be asking President Patterson to appoint a special energy committee," he said. "I'd like to see it (set up) under the Facilities and Grounds Advisory Committee." RELAX AND ENJOY OURSELFZ TE OUR AR OF DOM. >kout, go swimming -* res, but please be careful. * your smiling face* FULY 4th FROM* Y DINING SERVICES *