THE COUNCIL MEETING

The most recent Israel Amateur Radio Club executive council meeting was held just before the onsetof the Jewish New Year, on September 29. It bore evidence that the new Council moves on like a steamroller, full of creative ideas. The meeting began with the traditional Jewish News year's custom of eating an apple with honey (to signify the desire for a sweet and fruitful year) and exchanging best New Year's wishes.

The agenda was full: First and foremost, the activities for the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel and of the Israel Amateur Radio Club to go along with that.

To mark the jubilee, the IARC has made available some great merchandise for members to buy: a station clock sporting the Israel 50th anniversary and the IARC logo. The timepiece is an alarm clock and includes a thermometer and humidity gauge. It is styled very attractively and made in Israel by ADI and is specially priced for the Israeli amateur in Israel at 65 sheqels. You can get one in Black with white letters for UTC or in white for local time. There are two types of wrist-watches, one with a leather armband the other with one of steel, both of them with the IARC log on its face. The price for each of them is 150 sheqels in Israel, a very good value. (At the present 3.5 sheqels = $1 U.S.)

The festivities will include either a big cocktail party or a gala dinner. The decision has not been made yet, but is expected soon. Count on us to let you know!

THE NEW ISRAELI CALLBOOK

The new Hebrew language callbook is out. Whereas in the past we listed only Israeli Amateur Radio Club members, for the first time the files of the Ministry Of Communications have been raided and included are all licensed Israeli radio amateurs. It will be sent to our overseas members receiving HaGal International who read Hebrew and plus those who will request the book. It will be available for-non members at the cost of about 15 Sheqels.

A big tip of the hat must go out to Israel Kass 4X1IK who has been behind this project from its inception. According to our sources, this is his tenth callbook. It is actually called in Hebrew, "Kol-Bo", a play on words, sounding like "Callbook", but meaning, "everything is in it."

Eli Stern 4Z5IS, the chairman of IARC, prepared a data base program that will include all the Israeli amateurs. their addresses, telephone numbers as well as their respective 'Holyland Square'. The names and addresses will also be in English. It has yet to be decided if it will be on diskettes or CD-ROM's and in which way these items will be distributed.

REPEATERS

The Jerusalem repeater on R1, 145.625 MHz, (input down 600 KHz) has moved. It is now in Gilo, a high spot above Jerusalem, with excellent coverage. of the central area of the country.

A new repeater will be shortly on its way to Mitzpeh Ramon, in the central Negev highlands (and overlooking the world's largest crater - The Ramon Crater). It will be on top of the town's water tower. The IARC at long last was granted official permission to install our equipment there.

With the linking system, there is now full two metre repeater coverage of Israel. The R0 repeater which had been previously in Ariel has been redesignated to be the main link site of Israel. It connects the Safed (Upper Galilee) repeater with the Jerusalem (Gilo) repeater and from there will link up to Mitzpeh Ramon machine.

We have the IARC Repeater Committee to thank... never resting on their laurels, but constantly moving on with new projects. The main people behind the scenes are Israel 4X1OM and Itzik 4X6ZH under the most efficient and knowledgeable guidance of David 4X1WA. Fortunately, there are sufficient funds and donated equipment. Of course none of the above- mentioned amateurs receive a dime for their involvement. In the true spirit of amateur radio, the work is done on a complete voluntary basis.

PACKET RADIO 2000

Packet Radio 2000 is the name of a new project the IARC is undertaking, whose goal is to be accomplished within a short period of time. It has been skilfully prepared and documented by Tidhar 4Z5CA, a council member, who is responsible for the development of digital communications. Its aim is to bring our somewhat neglected Packet Radio network up to date. This project will enjoy the grants awarded us through the Ministry of Communications of funds bequest to the State. The project's estimated cost runs around $66,000. It includes the training of youngsters to become full fledged radio amateurs with specific knowledge in Packet Radio. Tidhar points out that it is going to be a high speed net living up to all the international standards.

MORE ON DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

With the high cost of TNC's and having to import them into the country, experiments are going on in Haifa using the garden variety computer sound card to work Packet Radio.

Three Internet to Packet Gateway stations are now operating: 4X4AC at the Technion in Haifa, 4X4FU (in memory of the late Isaac Halfon) at the Netvision Internet provider site housing the IARC's server and 4X6MF (in memory of the late Steve Friedlander) in Tel-Aviv.

Those IARC members without Packet radio or an Internet service can dial the Bezeq telephone company's 135 digital service, hook up to either 4x6mf.ampr.org or 4x4fu.ampr.org, using their password (available from 4Z5BR, the treasurer) and use their callsign as a user name. They can then get all the services (except the radio port to keep "pirate hackers" off the radio) including E-mail and chat groups.

Uzi 4X4CP is operating a telephone BBS in Haifa (04-870-2880) with access to Packet, sending E-mail and downloading programs and files. 4X4CP must be contacted to receive authorisation.

In the meantime, the 1200 baud VHF Packet system (with 9600 baud UHF backbone) is functioning properly, as outlined in previous issues of this newsletter. There is a constant stream of mail and informative bulletins coming in from all over the world.

WE WISH ALL OUR READERS THE BEST FOR A PEACEFUL, HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

73 de Ahron and Ron