VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN SECTION
NEWSLETTER
IEEE Region 3, Council 09, Section 65
April 2000
**************************************************
CONTENTS
April Meeting:
Student Project Night 1
VMS Activities: Meeting Report 2
E - Newsletter 3
Chair's Comments 4
C/C/IE Chapter News 5
By-Laws Ballot (Deleted)
Millennium Awards 6
Chapter Chairs - Attention 7
Newsletter Advertisements 8
CEU URL Correction 9
1999-2000 VMS Schedule 10
VMS Section 11
**************************************************( 1 )
April Meeting
Student Project Night
Lejeune Hall, VMI, Lexington
Come to Lexington on April 23
Four students from VMI and Va. Tech. will
compete for $700.00 in prize money by
presenting talks at our annual student paper
contest.
This year, the competition was opened to
under graduates only - a nice change I'm
sure, from their point of view.
The eager competitors and their topics are:
Christopher J. Lowrance:
Using Biometric Information to Encrypt
Data for Secure Transmissions Over the
Internet
**********************
Todd M. Fisher:
Multiuser Detection of Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) Signals
To maximize the capacity of cellular
CDMA systems it is desirable to eliminate
interference from multiple users.
Algorithms for doing this will be discussed.
**********************
Christopher Abbott:
A New Way to Use the Internet to
Improve the Quality of Education for
Young Americans
**********************
John O. Wells:
Overview of Mobile AdHoc Networks
(MANETs)
A MANET is a network of mobile nodes
connected to each other over wireless links.
Research on how packets are routed through
such networks will be discussed.
Judges will be picked from among the
attendees.
Directions
From I-81 Northbound:
Take exit 188 (Route 60) to Lexington.
Route 60 will merge into one lane (left lane)
as you approach the "downtown" area.
About 3 miles from the interstate (6th
traffic light?), turn right onto Main Street
(Route 11 North, one-way). Drive in the left
lane which will force you to make a U-turn
onto Jefferson Street (Route 11 South).
After the U, drive immediately to the right
lane and take the first right onto Letcher
Avenue. Follow Letcher Avenue through
the Washington and Lee University campus
onto the VMI post. Lejeune Hall is
diagonally opposite the parade grounds as
you enter the post. Drive straight on Letcher
until you pass Nichols Engineering Hall on
your right. Turn left in front of the barracks
(statues of Marshall and Jackson in front)
and drive until you have to veer left. Park in
front of Lejeune Hall and come to the
second floor.
Millennium Awards
Reservations
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Presentations: 7:30 PM
Cost:
Members and Guests $15.00
Students $7.00
Call before 5:PM, Monday, April 17:
Roanoke:
Dan Jackson (540) 774-0484
Blacksburg:
Ira Jacobs (540) 231-5620
Lexington:
David Livingston (540) 464-7545
Radford and Christiansburg:
Russell Churchill (540) 731-0655
**************************************************( 2 )
VMS Activities
Meeting Report
Ira Jacobs
Broadband and Wireline Access DSL vs.
Cable Modems
The sixth meeting of the 1999-
2000 season was held March 16, 2000 at
the Clarion Hotel in Roanoke. Thirty-five
participants enjoyed dinner together
followed by Ira Jacobs review of action in
the Telco and CATV competition for
broadband wireless services. The key factor
is the ability to provide high-speed always-
on internet access. Future services - voice,
data, video - are anticipated to be provided
through internet connections to the home
using either present twisted pair copper,
coaxial cable, or fiber optics.
Although the common goal is to
achieve broadband (greater than 1.5
Megabit/s), a number of technologies are
used to enhance the transmission capability
of the conduction medium. Since the bit-
rate capability of voiceband modems has
leveled out at about 56k, two other
technologies for broadband wireline access
have emerged: digital subscriber line (DSL)
systems on telephone company twisted-wire
pairs, and cable modems using CATV
company coaxial cables. These systems
differ not only because of the transmission
capabilities of these media, but also because
of architecture differences in the way that
telephone and CATV networks are
constructed. There are differences also in
the types of services that can be offered, and
the nature (and consequently the cost) of the
equipment necessary in the home and in the
service provider offices.
These trade-offs are currently
going on driven by economic business
issues as well as technical considerations.
Included in the influences are deregulation,
mergers between cable and Telco
companies, the continued viability of flat-
rate internet access pricing, wireless
applications, and service to rural areas. The
trends seem to favor the CATV companies
to eventually become the main providers of
home access. Technically, a full-service
passive filter optic access network is
projected to provide optical downlink to 16
or 32 homes using a splitter combined with
inexpensive transmitters for uplink.
Current interest in this topic was
evidenced by a very active question and
answer period. Vice-Chair Dave Kingma
thanked Ira for his effort in presenting this
timely subject. Chair Dan Jackson also
announced VMS section members who are
recipients of the IEEE Third Millennium
Medals. These members include: Dan
Jackson, Russell Churchill, John Fennick,
Ira Jacobs, David Livingston, and David
Geer. The next meeting is the Student
Project Night, April 20th, at VMI.
...Howard J. Moses
...Secretary/Treasurer
**************************************************( 3 )
E-Newsletter
Update
Responses to our request to accept the
electronic version of the Newsletter in lieu
of hard copy are still coming in. We
strongly encourage more of you to sign up.
As noted previously, the Newsletter is the
largest single expense in the Section's
budget. The total cost is about $0.50 per
copy. That's a small number but we send
out about 500 copies each month. We are
trying to trim the mailing to free funds for
other uses.
Please send your name to the editor
(j.fennick@ieee.org) with a short note
requesting sign-on. We will see that you are
placed on the distribution list.
Note, the Newsletter is also available, along
with back issues, on our Web site. Go to:
www.ewh.ieee.
org/r3/virginia-mountain
...editor
**************************************************( 4 )
CHAIR'S COMMENTS
by Dan Jackson
d.jackson@ieee.org
Inserted into this issue of the Newsletter is a
ballot for approving a completely revised set
of Virginia Mountain Section Bylaws. This
is the first revision of the Bylaws since
1982, eighteen years. Many things have
changed in the past two decades and it
seemed time that we got into line for the
21st century. Not the least of these changes
was the need to bring our bylaws into
agreement with the Institute Bylaws. The
Section executive committee has approved
submitting these revised Bylaws to the
Regular voting membership of the Section
and recommends approval. Please take the
time to fill out and return the ballot to
Howard Moses. If you wish to see the
complete revised Section Bylaws please
refer to the Web page as listed on the ballot.
The old bylaws, also, are available on the
Web page. Help us to modernize the
operation of the Section by voting approval
of the revised bylaws.
**************************************************( 5 )
Computer / Control /
Industrial Electronics Chapter
April Meeting
Tuesday, April 4
Scott Midkiff
Virginia Tech
Mobile Internet Technologies:
A Brief Survey
Driven by the growing reliance on the
Internet and the convenience demonstrated
by mobile telephone services, rapid
advances are being made in the
development and deployment of mobile
Internet services. This presentation briefly
surveys important technologies - at the
link, network, and application level - that
enable wireless mobile Internet access.
Specific topics discussed include mobile
data services, the IEEE 802.11 wireless
local area network standard, mobile ad hoc
networks, the Mobile Internet Protocol (IP),
and the Wireless Application Protocol
(WAP).
Scott is known to VMS IEEE members as a
former newsletter editor, and long time
active member of the Section. He received
his degrees from Duke and Stanford, and
has been at Tech longer than I have been at
GE in Salem (this time). His research
interests include computer networks,
including wireless networks, broadband
network management, network applications,
and performance evaluation. He is
associated with the Center for Wireless
Telecommunications (CWT) and is part of
the Virginia Tech team funded by DARPA's
Global Mobile Information Systems
(GloMo) program. He teaches courses in
computer networks, telecommunications,
and computer engineering.
The meeting will be held at the GE main
plant at 1501 Roanoke Boulevard in Salem.
Come to the front door near the flagpole.
Guests are Welcome. You do not have to be
a member of the Chapter to attend. Social
hour begins at 5:00. Coffee and soft drinks
will be available. The presentation will
begin promptly at 5:30. There is no charge.
All IEEE members and Guests are
welcome. Reservations ARE appreciated!
Please call Dave Geer, 540-387-7359 by 5
PM Monday.
...Dave Geer
**************************************************( 6 )
Awards
Last year the Board of Directors of IEEE
decided to celebrate the new millennium by
awarding Third Millennium Medals to a
number of IEEE volunteers who had
contributed outstanding service to either
their Section or Society. Because of our
size, the Virginia Mountain Section was
authorized to award five of these medals.
Awardees were selected through member
nominations.
At the March meeting, the following VMS
members were honored:
Dr. Russell J. Churchill - For outstanding
service to the Virginia Mountain Section as
a past Section Officer, filling all the offices
of the Virginia Council, and for his
outstanding leadership of SoutheastCon '97
at Virginia Tech.
John H. Fennick - For outstanding service
to the Virginia Mountain Section as the
Newsletter Editor since October 1993, six
and one half years, and for his work in
completely revising the Section Bylaws.
You will have a chance to vote on the new
Bylaws shortly.
David H. Geer - For his outstanding
contribution to the Virginia Mountain
Section as founding chair of the joint
Computer/Control Systems/Industrial
Electronics Chapter in the 1970s, as
Membership Chair during the 70s, and as
Chair of the same joint chapter for several
years in the 1990s after returning to
Roanoke from eight years in Schenectady,
NY.
Dr. Ira Jacobs - For outstanding services to
the Virginia Mountain Section as Co-Chair
of SoutheastCon '97 and as a long time
member of the Section Executive
Committee.
David L. Livingston - For his outstanding
contribution to the Virginia Mountain
Section as Section Chair for two
consecutive terms (the only one in our
recollection to ever do so), for his excellent
scheduling of rooms as the local
arrangements chair for SoutheastCon '97,
and for his continuing support of student
activities.
Edward D. Wheeler - For his service as an
active member of the Virginia Mountain
Executive Committee and for his service as
Secretary/Treasurer, Vice Chair and
Program Chair.
Because Ed is now at Rose-Hulman Institute
in Terre Haute, Ind. his medal will be
presented by the Central Indiana Section at
a ceremony in May.
...editor
**************************************************( 7 )
Attention Chapter Chairs
Need help with Meetings?
Meetings help to achieve the goals of
education and professional advancement
basic to all IEEE Technical Societies and
provide a way to manage Chapter business.
For some pointers on the basic components
of holding successful meetings, go to the
Section/Chapter Support web page at
www.ieee.org/ra/scs
Select the link for Resources for Officers,
then "How to hold a Successful Chapter
Meeting."
...editor
**************************************************( 8 )
Ads in Your Newsletter?
Over the past month, the issue of
advertisements in the Newsletter has
become an item of interest.
It began with a request from IEEE
Continuing Education to run targeted
educational materials ads. A quick
canvassing of members subscribing to the e-
Newsletter effectively "shouted that down".
A second question followed: What about
employment opportunity ads, sponsored by
local and-or national companies? A similar
poll shows a split of opinion but some
members, on either side, apparently have
strong feelings about it.
The fact such ads might provide a small
revenue source for the Section is, in my
opinion, of little consequence.
A suggested alternative was to post such ads
on the Web Site.
If you have an opinion, send comments to
me at: j.fennick@ieee.org
Let's hear from you.
...editor
**************************************************( 9 )
Correction
The URL for the
CEU COURSE DIRECTORY
as announced in the January issue is
incorrect. The directory is located at
http://www.ieee.org/organizations/
eab/ceucourselist.htm.
**************************************************( 10 )
1999-2000 MEETING SCHEDULE
DATE
SPEAKER/TOPIC
MEETING PLACE
September 16
50th Anniversary
Hotel Roanoke
October 21
Joint Meeting with Industry
Applications
Dr. Jason Lai, Virginia Tech
Topic: "Electric Vehicles and Power Electronics"
Appalachian Electric Power,
Christiansburg
November 18
Partners' Night
Nancy Vorona, Industry Director for Advanced
Materials & Electronics, Virginia Center for
Innovative Technology
"The Electronics Industry in Virginia
- Plans for the Future"
Clarion Hotel, Roanoke
January 20
Dr. Dennis G. Sweeney
Center for Wireless Telecommunications
Department of Electrical Engineering, VA Tech
"Local Multipoint Distribution Services"
Appalachia Electric Power,
Christiansburg
February 17
Bart Cregger, Assistant Dean of Engineering, VCU
"Engineering Education for the 21st Century:
The Model at VCU"
Appalachian Electric Power,
Christiansburg
March 16
Joint Meeting: Industrial
Electronics/Computer/Control
Systems
Ira Jacobs, Virginia Tech
DSL vs. Cable Modems
Telco and CATV Competition for Broadband Wireline
Access
Clarion Hotel, Roanoke
April 20
Student Project Night
Lejeune Hall
VMI, Lexington
May 18
Plant Tour
Cloverdale Station
**************************************************( 11 )
IEEE Virginia Mountain Section
VMS OFFICERS
Chairman: Daniel W. Jackson
d.jackson@ieee.org (540) 774-0484
Vice Chairman: Dave Kingma
dkingma@swva.net (540) 552-3011 x304
Sec./Treasurer: Howard J. Moses
hjmoses@aol.com (540) 953-5069
VMS Executive Committee
Russell Churchill
arcova@swva.net (540) 731-0655
John Fennick
jhfslf@swva.net (540) 552-0052
Ira Jacobs
ijacobs@vt.edu (540) 231-5620
Vacant (1)
Junior Past Chairman:
David Livingston
d.livingston@ieee.org (540) 464-7545
Virginia Council Representative:
David Geer
d.geer@ieee.org (540) 387-7359
VMS Chapter Chairs
Industry Applications
Dal Y. Ohm
ohm@usit.net (540 ) 552-8973
Industrial Electronics/Computer/Control Systems
David Geer
d.geer@ieee.org (540) 387-7359
Microwave Theory & Techniques/Electron Devices
Tim Gittemeier
Tim.Gittemeier@gaastek.de.ittind.com
(540) 563-3972
Power Engineering
Ted Aaron
Tea45@aol.com (540) 381-2521
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Awards:
Ira Jacobs
ijacobs@vt.edu (540) 231-5620
Education:
Russell Churchill
arcova@swva.net (540) 731-0655
Membership Development:
Ira Jacobs
ijacobs@vt.edu (540) 231-5620
Nominations:
David Livingston
d.livingston@ieee.org (540) 464-7545
PACE :
Dan Jackson
d.jackson@ieee.org (540) 774-0484
Program :
Dave Kingma
dkingma@swva.net (540) 552-3011 x304
Publicity :
John Fennick
j.fennick@ieee.org (540) 552-0052
Student Activities:
Vacant
NEWSLETTER
Editor: John Fennick
j.fennick@ieee.org (540) 552-0052
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