CSVHFS History
CONFERENCE HISTORY
The Central States VHF Society
A Short History
by
Bill Tynan, W3XO
Central States VHF Society Historian
The Central States VHF Society (CSVHFS) began informally among a small group of Midwest VHF hams, who regularly got together on 75 meters to commiserate on their separation from the rest of the VHF fraternity on the East and West Coasts and gripe about the greater distances they had to span to make QSOs and collect states.
In the summer of 1965, Bill Smith, K0CER, later to take the helm of the QST VHF column, “The World above 50 Mcs,” invited a group of these Midwest VHFers to Sioux Falls, SD. Those who attended this first get-togethere didn’t call it a conference and didn’t form an organization. It was merely a bunch of hams with similar interests and problems meeting to swap ideas and stories about operation on what was then considered the upper reaches of the radio spectrum, 144 and 432 Megacycles. They hadn’t yet started calling them Megahertz.
The following year, 1966, another similar informal gathering was held, this time in Sand Springs, OK. Once again, no thought was given to forming a permanent formal organization.
By 1967, it was perceived that regular annual gatherings should be held and an organization, to be called the “Central States VHF Society,“ formed. A General Chairman and several Committee Chairmen were selected and a conference was called for for August 19 and 20 at the Western Hills Lodge, Sequoyah State Park near Wagoner, OK. Those dates were selected to follow the Persieds meteor shower, so attendees could swap stories about what they worked, and didn’t work, during this major shower. Some 125 hams from 19 states and seven call areas descended on that beautiful location. Technical talks were supplemented by antenna tests.
Since then, both antenna gain tests and noise figure measurements have become key activities drawing VHFers to CSVHFS conferences. In those early days, a 2 dB noise figure could well win that competition. It is said that a prominent Iowa 2 meter EMEer, who had just worked Australia via the Moon, surprised everyone, including himself, when the preamp used for the record breaking contact, turned in an 8 dB noise figure. Nowadays, preamps must measure considerably less than a 1 dB to even be in the running. And, that’s not just on 2 meters. Phenomenally low noise figures are regularly turned in by preamps up to 10 GHz and beyond. For many years, Al Ward, W5LUA, was the prime provider of the latest exotic noise figure measuring gear. Through the years, the antenna range has been presided over by Marc Thorson, WB0TEM, and Kent Britain, WA5VJB. They, and those who have assisted them over the years, to measure antennas for various bands from 144 MHz and up, deserve the thanks of all: as do those who conducted the noise figure measurements.
The presence of many wives and children at that first 1967 conference, made it apparent that future meetings must include programs and activities geared to families, as well as presenting high quality technical programs. The family program has since become an important adjunct to all CSVHFS conferences. The toddlers present at those early gatherings are now grown and many are well know VHFers. Among them are such active Society members as Charlie Calhoun, Jr, K5TTT, Bryan Ward, N5QGH, and Ron Marosko Jr. NN5DX.
The 1968 conference, held at the Lake of the Ozarks, marked a milestone in the history of the Central States VHF Society in that it was decided to incorporate. This gathering saw some one-hundred hams from 35 states plus Canada and England, the CSVHFS gatherings already having become internationally known as prime venues for learning about equipment and operating techniques for the VHF, UHF and microwave bands. Participating on the program that year was Ed Tilton, W1HDQ, originator and long-time conductor of the QST VHF column and for many years, that publication’s VHF Editor.
The 1970 conference, was held again at the Western Hills Lodge near Tulsa, OK. On the suggestion of K0CER, it was decided to institute an award honoring the memory of John Chambers, W6NLZ, for his many technical contributions to VHF and UHF, including the first terrestrial bridging of the Pacific from California to Hawaii on any VHF band other than 50 MHz. W6NLZ’s contacts with Tommy Thomas, KH6UK (K2UK), on 144, 220 and 432 proved the existence of the pacific tropo duct. From then on, the Chambers Award has been presented to those who have made notable technical contributions applicable to the bands above 50 MHz, the award becoming a mainstay of the CSVHF Society conferences. The next year’s Conference held in Sioux Falls, SD saw presentation of the Chambers Award, to Mel Wilson, W2BOC, for his studies of Sporadic E propagation.
At the 1974 conference in Boulder, CO, the members decided to affiliate with ARRL and make the CSVHFS a Society Life Member of AMSAT. Mrs John Chambers, W6NTC, was present at the Saturday evening banquet to present the Chambers Award to Dick Knadle, K2RIW, for his 70 cm amplifier design and development of stressed dishes.
The 1982 Conference held in Baton Rouge, LA was dedicated to the memory of Mel Wilson, W2BOC. With the passing of this distinguished Society member, a new award commemorating Mel was instituted. Lists of the recipients of the Chambers and Wilson Awards, are presented below.
In 1984, the Society began printing collections of the various papers presented at its conferences, but this worthwhile endeavor took on a new direction and importance at the 21st conference held in Arlington, TX in 1987. Beginning then, ARRL became the publisher of the official Proceedings, making the technical information presented each year more widely available.
At the 1995 Conference held in Colorado Springs, those members planning the Conference proposed that a second track of presentations be established to bring younger people, both those not yet licensed as well as new hams, into VHF and above operation. This approach has been implimented at several succeeding Conferences, including the one held in San Antonio in 2007, and has become known as “VHF-101.“ Also at the 1995 Colorado Springs Conference, Rod Blocksome,K0DAS, prposed that the Society launch the “States Above 50 MHz Award“ for VHFers who work the most band/states (later modified to states and provinces) during the year. For initiating the idea, Rod became the first Administrator of the Award. The current Administrator is Jim Hermanek, K0KFC. The States Above 50 MHz Award has become a very popular Central States VHF Society activity as it involves many who never have the opportunity to attend our annual conferences.
The Year 2000 Conference marked a departure in the history of the Central States VHF Society. Not only was it was the first CSVHFS gatering for the new millennium, it was the first Society gathering held outside of the United States. The site was Winnigeg, Manatoba in Canada. Four years later, having broken the ice, the annual affair again moved north of the border, this time to Mississauga, Ontario.
The 2013 Conference held in Elk Grove Village, IL marked a first, but one no one hopes to have repeated. Both the antenna range and rover row, were rained out.
A complete list of the Conference locations and the Society officers who hosted them is shown below. For those of you have never before attended a Central States VHF Society Conference - WELCOME. Those putting on this year’s Conference hope that you will get as much out of it as many of us have for many years.
This is a listing of CSVHFS conferences held since 1965. Included are some significant society milestones.
|
Year |
Site |
Officers |
Notes |
|
1965 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
None |
Informal Get-together |
|
1966 |
Sand Springs, OK |
None |
Informal Get-together |
|
1967 |
Western Hills Lodge |
Larry Nichols W5UGO Chairman |
|
|
1968 |
Lake of the Ozarks |
Larry Nichols W5UGO Chairman |
The decision was made to incorporate, and a Board of Directors and Officers were selected. |
|
1969 |
Boulder, CO |
Don Hilliard, W0EYE President |
|
|
1970 |
Western Hills Lodge |
Sam Whitley, W5WAX President |
Upon suggestion of Bill Smith, K0CER, the Chambers Award was established. |
|
1971 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
John Fox, W0LER President |
|
|
1972 |
Overland Park, KS |
Larry Nichols, W5UGO President |
|
|
1973 |
Minneapolis, MN |
John Fox, W0LER President |
|
|
1974 |
Boulder, CO |
Dick Hart, K0MQS President |
|
|
1975 |
Western Hills Lodge |
Charlie Calhoun, K5BXG President |
|
|
1976 |
Houston, TX |
Richard Allen, W5SXD President |
|
|
1977 |
Kansas City, MO |
Orville Burg, K5VWW President |
|
|
1978 |
Rochester, MN |
Ed Fitch, W0OHU President |
|
|
1979 |
Dallas, TX |
Al Ward, WB5LUA President |
|
|
1980 |
Colorado Springs, CO |
Ray Uberecken, AA0L President |
|
|
1981 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
Ed Gray, W0SD President |
|
|
1982 |
Baton Rouge, LA |
Bob Taylor, WB5LBT President |
Dedicated to the memory of Mel Wilson, W2BOC; the Wilson Award was established. |
|
1983 |
Overland Park, KS |
Tom Bishop, K0TLM President |
Dedicated to the memory of Carl Scheideler, W2AZL. |
|
1984 |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
Rod Blocksome, K0DAS President |
The first published Proceedings were issued this year. |
|
1985 |
Tulsa, OK |
Charlie Calhoun, W0RRY President |
|
|
1986 |
St Louis, MO |
Bob Sluder, N0IS President |
|
|
1987 |
Dallas, TX |
Al Ward, WB5LUA President |
|
|
1988 |
Lincoln, NE |
Roger Cox, WB0DGF President |
|
|
1989 |
Rolling Meadows, IL |
Charles Clark, AF8Z President |
|
|
1990 |
Wichita, KS |
Jon Jones, NO0Y President |
|
|
1991 |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
Rod Blocksome, K0DAS President |
|
|
1992 |
Kerrville, TX |
Bill Tynan, W3XO President |
|
|
1993 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
Joe Lynch, N6CL President |
Dedicated to the memory of Joel Paladino, N6AMG who contributed so very much to the advancement of our interests in the wonderful world of VHF and above. |
|
1994 |
Memphis, TN |
Dave Meier, N4MW President |
|
|
1995 |
Colorado Springs, CO |
Lauren Libby, KX0O President |
|
|
1996 |
Bloomington, MN |
Paul Husby, W0UC President |
|
|
1997 |
Hot Springs, AR |
Joel Harrison, W5ZN President |
|
|
1998 |
Kansas City, MO |
Denise Hagedorn, AJ0E President |
|
|
1999 |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
Rod Blocksome, K0DAS President |
|
|
2000 |
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Barry Malowanchuk, VE4MA President |
|
|
2001 |
Fort Worth, TX |
Lilburn Smith, W5KQJ President |
|
|
2002 |
Milwaukee, WI |
Ken Boston, W9GA President |
Conference highlights viewable HERE. |
|
2003 |
Tulsa, OK |
Charlie Calhoun, K5TTT President |
Conference highlights viewable HERE. |
|
2004 |
Mississauga, Ont. |
Peter Shilton, VE3AX President |
Conference highlights viewable HERE. |
|
2005 |
Colorado Springs, CO |
Lauren Libby, W0LD President |
Dedicated to the memory of Ted Mathewson W4FJ, a founding member of CSVHF. Ted was instrumental in the early growth of the society. The society would not be here today if not for his efforts during the formative years. |
|
2006 |
Bloomington, MN |
Bruce Richardson, W9FZ President |
|
|
2007 |
San Antonio, TX |
Paul Goble, ND2X President |
|
|
2008 |
Wichita, KS |
Mel Graves, WR0I President |
|
|
2009 |
Elk Grove Village, IL |
Kermit Carlson, W9XA President |
A special presentation was made to Larry Hazelwood W5NZS of the President's Award for Twenty-Five years serving the Society as Corporate Secretary. |
|
2010 |
St. Louis, MO |
Ron Ochu, KO0Z, President |
|
|
2011 |
Irving, TX |
Chuck Clark, AF8Z, President |
|
|
2012 |
Cedar Rapids, IA |
Bill Caldwell, N0LNO President |
|
|
2013 |
Elk Grove Village, IL |
Kermit Carlson, W9XA President |
|
|
2014 |
Austin, TX |
Steve Hicks, N5AC, President |
|
|
2015 |
Broomfield, CO |
Doug Sharp, K2AD, President |
|
| 2016 | Rochester, MN |
Donn Baler, WA2VOI, President |
President's Award presented to Charlie Betz, N0AKC for his work in the collection and editing of historical material for the "50 Years of the CSVHFS" publication. |
| 2017 | Albuquerque, NM |
Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, President |
President's Award presented to the New Mexico VHF Society for promotion and organizing a great conference. |
| 2018 | Wichita, KS |
Mel Graves, WR0I, President |
Special President's Award presented to Steve Kostro, N2CEI for his extensive work as Conference Liason Chairman |