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By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2022 LCARC President
April 2022 Hi Everyone, Hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the increased band openings. Last Month’s program: was presented by Tim Duffy K3LR the CEO of Dx Engineering on Ham Radio Antenna. If you paste Tim’s bio below into your browser, you will see he is definitely a friend and pace setter of our Ham Radio hobby. Thank you Tim. It was a great presentation. https://apis.mail.yahoo.com/ws/v3/mailboxes/@.id==VjN-x7--X6RX3mb3dwxNAFNiqAhoQLtLOVQrdHUXR1l3PFfBR3cMl_mikfl1LEPXn8oFUhdU6mcDJjuvZpK4ENtD1Q/messages/@.id==AGGCaVF-QD3eYivg9wXYGNfuHFs/content/parts/@.id==2/refresh?appid=YMailNorrin&ymreqid=f0a6115a-4055-96a5-1c7f-03000a014100 Dx Engineering carrys all the popular antennas in stock and all the parts to “roll your own” Request a catalog or shop on-line: www.dxengineering.com April Club Meeting Friday April 8th at 7:30pm. The meeting will be held entirely on ZOOM. Our program is by Joe Butcher/KE9FZ: How To Obtain A Permit To Build A HR Tower The ZOOM link to log-in will be available on our Facebook and Club website in April www.W9LJ.org You do not have to be a Club member - or a ham - to join us for that meeting. 2022 CLUB MEMBERSHIPThe LCARC always welcomes new members. If you have never been a Club member, the cost to join for the year 2022 is; zero, free, nada. Go to www.W9LJ.org and submit an email membership request. You can also print a form out and mail it to us. Club dues are just pennies a day. Send your membership renewal checks to: LCARC PO Box 90 Crown Point IN 46308 Spring Time Trans-Equitorial PropagationA few weeks +/- of the spring and the fall equinox…. March 21st and September 21st The best ham radio bands to benefit from TEP: 10m and 6m Occurs in late afternoon and early evening local time (think 3pm – 7pm) Skip from the 100-500 mile high “F and F2” layer are steady and strong Range for TEP on 10 and 6 meters is… 3000 to 5000 miles 2 Meter "EveningTEP” may observed later in the day between 7:00pm and 11:00pm local time if, if the atmospheric ionization is strong enough. These late evening TEP signals exhibit distortion, flutter, and fading as the ionization of the F and F2 layers break up after sun down. TEP radio paths are north – south. (Think Central and South America) *All HR licenses have privileges on 10, 6, and 2 meters. APRIL HAMFESTS 04/02/2022 - Columbus (Indiana) Hamfest Location: Columbus, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Columbus Amateur Radio Club Website: http://carcnet.net 175 miles EDT 04/16/2022 - Henry County Tailgate II Location: New Castle, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Henry County ARC Website: http://w9ob.org 184 miles EDT 04/30/2022 - Sullivan Hamfest Location: Sullivan, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub Website: https://www.qsl.net/mark/ 173 miles CDT The bad news is they are 173 – 184 miles away. The good news is we have longer hours of daylight. LOCAL VE EXAM SESSIONS04/02/2022 | Freeport IL 61032-4116 Sponsor: Stephenson City ARES Location: Freeport Public Library Time: 12:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed) 04/11/2022 | LaPorte IN 46350 Sponsor: LaPorte ARC Location: LaPorte Seventh Day Adventist Church Time: 7:00 PM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead) 04/16/2022 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820 Sponsor: Porter County ARC Location: Valparaiso Public Library Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed) APRIL CONTESTS Sunday April 10th ARRL SSB ROOKIE ROUNDUP. Runs 6 hours 1:00pm to 6:59pm CDT) Mission: To encourage newly-licensed (3 years or less) operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person. Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible using SSB on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands. *Complete list of other HR contests go to: www.ContestCalendar.com LOCAL HR NETS Courtesy of KC9UNS www.tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets The LCARC Information NET Every Wednesday - at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 (pl 131.8) Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. Typically 30 minutes long. ARRL Podcast The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 27) features an audio tour of the 10-meter band. (Click on the blue link above) Podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well as on Blubrry. INDIANA ARRL STATE CONVENTIONMay 7 -- ARRL Indiana State Convention (North Central Indiana Hamfest), Peru, Indiana HAMVENTION 2022 Hamvention will be held May 20, 21 and 22, 2022 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Have your hotel reservations yet ?? Visit: www.hamvention.org 73, and good DX Tim/N9CAQuestion #1: What is the other name associated with a YAGI antenna? a) Beam b) Parasitic c) Uda d) Horizontal Question #2: Name the outside receiving wire of old radio sets? a) parrellax b) aerial c) ground-plane d) feed-back loop Q1 c Q2 b By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2022 LCARC President
March 2022 Hi Everyone, On March 13th we switch to “Daylight Savings Time”. “CST” becomes “CDT”. Our time offset from “UST” changes from -6 hours to -5 hours. Last Month’s Program: Thank you to Charlie Sufana AJ9N!! If you watch the news, at all, his timely program was “Our Planet’s Future - Renewable Energy”. Below is the link to his program: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/l40uqnoaxzcq6si2pph7r/LCARS_2021-02-11_Meeting_Renewable_Energy_as_of_2022-02-12_0100_UTC.pptx?dl=0&rlkey=7164vd8ikttvm0o6ztxny75b5 The March 11th LCARC meeting: 7:30pm CST 100% on ZOOMThe ZOOM meeting will officially start at 7:30pm CST. Club members will receive a ZOOM link sent to their email-of-record. The ZOOM link can also be found on www.W9LJ.org (the Club’s website) as well as on our Facebook page. *Non Club members are always welcome to log-in on ZOOM with us. BTW, the LCARC always welcomes new members. A member application can be submitted through the Club website www.W9LJ.org by clicking on “INFO” . Many hams belong to more than just one Club. March 11th program: by K8MNJ Teri Grizer of DX Engineering Teri has been with DX Engineering for several years. Her responsibilities include; equipment supplies for DXpedition trips, Hamfest sponsorship programs, leading the Contest University (CTU) organizing committee, plus various Dayton Hamvention related activities. Amateur Radio in Ukraine Ordered Off the Air in State of Emergency A state of emergency was declared in Ukraine just prior to the Russian military invasion. Among other things, the February 24 decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky will remain in effect at least for 30 days and may be extended. Crozet Island DXpedition Preparations are Moving Forward The upcoming solo DXpedition to Crozet Island, spearheaded by Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, will likely arrive on the island around Christmas. While traveling aboard the Marion Dufresne, Mazel will make stopovers at other remote islands that are also rare DXCC entities, including Tromelin Island. The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The average daily planetary A index went from 13 to 9.6, and the average daily middle latitude A index was off by a point to 7.3. Predicted solar flux for the month of March is predicted to be over 100 For real-time solar flux index (SFI) and propagation on all HR bands; www.dxmaps.com Hamradio Related Dates March 2nd, “Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop,” RATPAC Zoom Presentation. Starts Wednesday 8:00pm CST TOPIC: Ham Radio-Citizen Science Workshop Speaker/Presenter: Dr. Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF Assistant professor at the University of Scranton Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering. The March 2nd ZOOM link into the meeting is below. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2128884758?pwd=VTE0ajAraG0rMyticmtwN2ZCdHZ3Zz09 Meeting ID: 212 888 4758 Passcode: WEDNESDAY March 12-13 – “Virtual Ham Expo” The next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will be held live from March 12-13, and then on demand for 30 days afterward. More than 60 speakers will deliver presentations on their subject areas. "There's content for everyone whether a newly licensed ham looking for next steps to use their license or a 30+ year experienced ham looking for “new projects”. *Tickets are $10 thru March 6. March 18-19, HamSCI starts 8:00am CDT Via ZOOM Join HamSCI at its fifth annual workshop March 18-19, 2022 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the amateur radio community and professional scientists. The theme of the 2022 HamSCI Workshop is “The Weather Connection”. This workshop will also serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station project, a NSF-funded project to develop a citizen science instrument for studying space weather from your backyard. The PSWS is led by the University of Scranton, and includes participation from TAPR, Case Western Reserve University/W8EDU, the University of Alabama, the New Jersey Institute of Technology CSTR, MIT Haystack Observatory, Dartmouth College, and the amateur radio community at large. The 2022 HamSCI workshop is organized by The University of Scranton in collaboration with The University of Alabama and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Support is provided by the National Science Foundation. https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022 Use the above internet link to view the diverse “cutting edge” program topic details and to register to connect via ZOOM Webinar on March 18th and 19th. LOCAL HR NETS Look-up Courtesy of KC9UNS www.tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets MARCH CONTESTS Go to www.arrl.org and search “contest corral March 2022” Go to www.contestcalendar.com CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2021 or 2022, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club by US mail or @ www.W9LJ.org , and physically attend at least one live Club meeting LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes 73, Tim/N9CA CU on ZOOM Friday March 11th 7:30pm ! By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2022 LCARC President
February 2022 Last Month: Thank you Michael Martins KB9BVR for our January ZOOM program. Michael has 400ish HR videos posted on YouTube! Consider subscribing to his YouTube channel. His program for us was: “Homebrew Construction and Optimizing Performance of the J-Pole antenna”. BTW, Michael also custom builds and sells J-Pole antennas. These rugged vertical antennas can be tuned for; HR, NOAA weather satellites, RR communications, commercial air traffic, GMRS, and other frequencies. February 11th Club Meeting: The second Friday of the month meeting will be on-line via ZOOM… no physical meeting! February’s Program: “Our Future - Renewable Energy” By Charlie Sufana AJ9N a past Club member now hailing from Melbourne Florida. The ZOOM meeting will officially start at 7:30pm CDT. Club members will receive a ZOOM link sent to their email-of-record. The ZOOM link will also be found on www.W9LJ.org (the Club’s website) as well as on our Facebook page. *Non Club members are always welcome to log-in with us. BTW, the LCARC always welcomes new members. A member application can be submitted through the Club website www.W9LJ.org by clicking on “INFO” . Many hams belong to more than just one Club. FEBRUARY CONTESTS
February 19-20 ARRL CW Contest: Begins 06:00pm Saturday and runs through 11:59pm CDT Sunday. Visit www.arrl.org More contests: The WA7BNM calendar: www.ContestCalendar.com For even more, go to www.ARRL.org In their upper left webpage “Website Search” box type: “contest corral February 2022” Wait a moment then click on the “Contest Corral February 2022” link. Print or save the PDF Up Coming HR Events Of Note 02/26/2022 - Cabin Fever Ham Fest Location: LaPorte, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club VE EXAM SESSION 02/12/2022 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820 Sponsor: Porter County ARC Location: Valparaiso Public Library Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed) VE EXAM SESSION 02/26/2022 | La Porte IN 46350-4227 Sponsor: La Porte County ARC Location: La Porte Civic Auditorium Time: 9:00 AM CDT (Walk-ins allowed) ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation® February 10-13, 2022 | Registration is Now Open “Next QSO Today” -- Virtual Ham Expo March 12-13 What's become a regular March event, the next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will be held live from March 12-13, and then on demand for 30 days afterward. More than 60 speakers will deliver presentations on their subject areas. "There's content for everyone whether a newly licensed ham looking for next steps to use their license or a 30+ year experienced ham looking for “new projects”. Early bird tickets go on sale on February 1. Tickets are $10 thru March 6. Solar Update Tad Cook K7RA February prediction: solar flux will hover between 90 and 100. Check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, www.K9LA.us For real-time propagation on all HR bands visit www.DXmaps.com Looking For Vacuum Tubes? www.vacuumtubes.et www.vacuumtubesinc.com www.tubedepot.com www.tubesandmore.com LOCAL HR NETS Courtesy of KC9UNS www.tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2021 or 2022, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club by US mail or @ www.W9LJ.org , and physically attend at least one live Club meeting LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes 73, Tim/N9CA Q1: What is a MOPA ? Q2: What is the best antenna polarization for space communications? A1: Master oscillator and power amplifier A2; Circular By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President
January 2022 Happy New Year Everyone! January 14th Club Meeting : The second Friday of the month meeting will be held entirely via ZOOM. So… no physical Club meeting! The ZOOM meeting will officially start at 7:30pm CDT. Club members will receive a ZOOM link sent to their email-of-record. The ZOOM link will also be found on www.W9LJ.org (the Club’s website) as well as on our Facebook page. *Non Club members are always welcome to log-in with us. The Program Presenter on the 14th will be none other than YouTube Ham Radio sensation Michael Martins KB9BVR who has about 40 HR videos posted. The Program will be: How to; build, use, and optimize a “J Pole” antenna for 2 meters BTW, the LCARC always welcomes new members. A member application can be submitted through the Club website www.W9LJ.org by clicking on “INFO” . Many hams belong to more than just one Club. JANUARY CONTESTS January 1-2nd Straight Key Night 6:00pm CST through 5:59pm CST Sunday evening.Objective: Not really so much as a contest as a great excuse to dust off that straight key... or bug. Many Hams fire-up their vintage gear, but all gear is welcome regardless of its (or your) age. I will be operating this one myself. January 8-9, 2022. RTTY Round-UP Begins 1800 UTC (2:00pm CST) Saturday, ends 5:59pm Sunday. Contest Objective: Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using digital modes (Baudot RTTY, PSK, FT8/FT4, ASCII, AMTOR, and Packet—attended operation only) on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. Any station may work any other station. Visit www.ARRL.org for rules January 15-17, 2022 January VHF Contest Begins 03: 00pm CST Saturday, ends 10:00pm CST Sunday Contest Objective: For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions) and Canada. Visit www.ARRL.org for rules Lists of ALL known HR contests a) The WA7BNM calendar: www.Contestcalendar.com b) www.ARRL.org In their upper left webpage search box type: contest corral January 2022 Next click on their “Contest Corral January 2022” link. Print out the PDF Simply amazing. New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on January 1, 2022 ARRL has set a new standard for what counts as low power for ARRL-sponsored HF contests. The new limit is 100 W OUTPUT which is down from the 150 W. A new release of WSJT-X is available. The WSJT-X development group -- Joe Taylor, K1JT; Steve Franke, K9AN; and new member Nico Palermo, IV3NWV -- have announced the release of WSJT-X 2.5.3. This new release includes a feature of special interest to users participating in the ARRL January VHF Contest (January 15 - 17). This new feature is an enhanced macro facility for text messages that is aimed at making it easier to ask another station to move to another band. This feature is described briefly in the updated WSJT-X User Guide. Installation packages for WSJT-X 2.5.3 are available on the WSJT-X website LOCAL HAMFESTS 01/16/2022 - WCRA 55th Annual Mid-Winter Hamfest Location: St. Charles, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs Website: http://www.w9ccu.org/ Location: Kane County Fairgrounds Expo Center LOCAL VE TESTING SESSION 01/08/2022 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820 Sponsor: Porter County ARC Location: Valparaiso Public Library Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed) *For other sessions, visit www.arrl.org type into their search box “VE Session” HAM RADIO LINKS Local HR nets. Courtesy of KC9UNS www.tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets Breadboard QRP Kits www.breadboardradio.com Find Your Ham Neighbors www.haminfo.tetranz.com VLF HF VHF real-time propagation www.dxmaps.com 2 meter real-time propagation www.aprs.mennolink.org (mouse over to N.A.) Improve the effective range of your HT. The latest episode of the ARRL On-the-Air podcast (Episode 24) features helpful tips. The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Average daily solar flux slipped just slightly from 125 to 124. Predicted Solar Flux is predicted to be 130 through January 2022. Can you say “Hello… 10 and 6 meter DX” ? CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2021 or 2022, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club by US mail or @ www.W9LJ.org , and physically attend at least one live Club meeting LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes POTA A number of Club members have expressed interest in operating “off-the-grid” at a park location when it warms up. Radio Fox Hunt We will have upcoming Club events planned both building “tape measure” antennas and hunting “radio foxes”. The Indiana QSO Party is Saturday May 7th 10:00am CST – 9:59pm CST. We want to get a group together. I will ask the EMA if we can use their site behind the Lake County Government Center. This is a great event. Please email me if you are interested in one or more of these upcoming Club outings. tim2020@sbcglobal.net 73, Tim/N9CA Ashleigh Brilliant – “My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I’m right”. George Burns – “If you live to be a hundred, you’ve got it made. Very few people die past that age” RIP Betty White SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President December 2021 Hi Everyone, It’s getting awfully close to saying good-bye to 2021. Here is what’s going on: Last October’s Club Program Was: Producing “Amateur Radio Newsline” (ARN). Presented by Paul Braun WD9GCO via ZOOM. I was impressed at their teams’ dedication and skill over all these decades of production. Past ARN programs can be listened to or downloaded by Googling: Amateur Radio Newsline. Thank You Paul for your time at our November 12th Club meeting, and for all the years of dedication to making Ham Radio an even better hobby! December 10th Club Meeting : The meeting will be held entirely via ZOOM. So, No physical meeting! The ZOOM meeting will start at 7:30pm. Club members will receive a ZOOM link sent to their email of-record. The ZOOM link will also be found on www.W9LJ.org - the Club’s website as well as on our Facebook page. The topic will likely be “The Radio Sport of “Fox Hunting” a very popular shared outdoor event the LCARC used to heavily participate in the past – and or - perhaps “Making Your Own Crystal Radio Receiver” for the January 2022 contest. CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club by US mail or @ www.W9LJ.org , and physically attend at least one live Club meeting 2022 Club Officers and Board At the November 12th Club Meeting, we had a slate of 11 volunteer Club Board members for 2022 and Club Officers were elected. They are: Tim McGillen N9CA President George Suprenant N9GWS Vice President Russ McComb KB9HO Secretary Jim Harney KF9EX Treasurer The following Club members make up the 2022 Club Board of Directors Mark Skowronski K9MQ John Litton KI4CHF Kenny Brown KE9TC Paul Pietrie KD9NPC Adam White KD9JCX Pat Finick N9FTX Andy Finick W9FXT LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes FOX HUNT ANTENNA Club building project using tape measures and PVC pipe coming up soon. HR Items For Sale: coming to www.W9LJ.org in the next few weeks. UPCOMING HAMFESTS SUNDAY - 01/16/2022 - WCRA 55th Annual Mid-Winter Hamfest Location: St. Charles, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs *Website for more info: http://www.w9ccu.org/ Location: Kane County Fairgrounds Expo Center Sunday 8:00am – 1:00pm * WCRA plans to offer virtual HR information forums on Saturday, AND physical on-site in in-person forums on Sunday Saturday 01/22/2022 - Winterfest, ARRL Midwest Division Convention Location: Collinsville, IL Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: St Louis and Suburban Radio Club *Website for info: http://winterfest.slsrc.org Winterfest 2022 SATURDAY 8:00AM – 4:00PM · There will be a ARRL banquet dinner with a featured guest speakers as well as in-person forums. Forum topics yet to be announced. OTHER IMPORTANT HR ITEMS Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) plan to transmit slow-scan TV (SSTV) images on December 1 - 2 on 145.800 MHz FM using SSTV mode PD120. The transmissions from RS0ISS will be part of the Moscow Aviation Institute SSTV experiment (MAI-75) and will originate in the Russian ISS Service Module (Zvezda) using a Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver. Transmissions are scheduled for December 1 from 1210 - 1910 UTC and December 2 from 1140 - 1720 UTC. Dates and times are subject to change. Predictions for ISS pass times are available on the AMSAT website https://www.amsat.org/track/ . Visit the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) SSTV blog at https://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ for more information VHF/UHF NETS NW Indiana and Chicagoland. Courtesy of KC9UNS. (paste in browser) http://tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets Indiana ARES District 1 is conducting a weekly net EVERY Tuesday evening 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT. ARES membership not required to check in. N9IAA repeater 146.685 pl 173.8. Joe/W1SPY offers free training and practice in the latest digital EMCOMM modes. Joe has also created a great new website that he constantly updates. www.ARESd1.com VE Exams:Visit www.ARRL.org for information on physical and virtual license testing December 2021 CONTESTS December 3 - 5 -- ARRL 160-Meter Contest (CW) for details visit www.ARRL.org Visit: www.CONTESTCALENDAR.com for ALL the upcoming US & worldwide HR contests January 1 – 8th 2022 Crystal Radio DX Contest It is hoped that the upcoming 'Crystal Radio DX Contest' will generate interest in the design, construction and operation of crystal radios while giving entrants the opportunity to discuss and compare the design and operating capabilities of their radios. Using unpowered ‘passive’ receivers to detect stations hundreds of miles away is both an exciting and enjoyable pastime. Info: www.facebook.com/groups/crystalradiodxcontestgroup/ Building plans: www.analogdial.com *click on Alfred P. Morgan- Crystal Radio Set A TRUE RADIO PIRATE STORY https://youtu.be/Kgmwi6Roo88 PROPAGATION REPORTS Solar Flux has been hovering at about 85. The upper HF bands including 10 meters have been open in mid-day regularly. 6 meters has been active to a lesser extent. Visit: www.K9LA.us www. DXMAPS.com the K7RA Solar Update and www.SPACEWEATHER.com VHF & UHF tropospheric ducting openings of 200-400 miles often occur when the soil is warmer than the colder air aloft. Look for it in the fall/winter mornings and over the Great Lakes. For real-time 2 meter propagation visit: www.APRS.mennonlink.org MORE HR NEWS The ARRL Foundation will start accepting applications for its 2022 scholarship program on November 1. The submission deadline is December 31. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded in 2022. The 2022 scholarship year totals an eligible amount of over $800,000 to be awarded. All applicants must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs (active non-US radio amateurs are eligible for scholarships sponsored by ARDC), and many scholarships have specific requirements, such as intended area of study, or residence within a particular ARRL Division, Section, or http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundationstate, and license class. Some scholarships also require additional documentation, such as letters of recommendation. 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Confirms November 2022 Activation The 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition team says that with its first deposit on its contract to have the SS Marama provide transportation to Bouvet, it has confirmed its plans to activate the second most-wanted DXCC entity in November 2022. The WSJT-X development team has announced the general availability release of WSJT-X version 2.5.1. This release mainly contains improvements and repairs defects related to Q65 and JT65 when used with nonstandard and compound call signs. Those planning to use Q65 or JT65 to make weak-signal contacts involving a nonstandard call sign should upgrade to this version. Also included is a new feature for microwave aircraft scatter, as well as repairs for bugs detected since the general availability release of version 2.5.0. A complete listing of changes is available in the Release Notes. Links to WSJT-X 2.5.1 installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Mac are available. Q#1: Except for the ISS, no ham radio operator may broadcast music. What was the first song transmitted from space by the ISS - ever? A) Silent Night B)Manheim Steam Roller, C) Jingle Bells D)Christmas Rock A: C) Jingle-Bells Q#2: All letters addressed to Santa in the United States are sent where? A) Bethlehem Pennsylvania B) Christmas Florida, C) Santa Claus Indiana, D) North Pole Alaska A: Santa Claus Indiana (In southern Indiana near Evansville) 73, Tim/N9CA (See you on ZOOM Friday December 10th @ 7:30pm) By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President
November 2021 Hi Everyone, Last October’s Club Program Was: “The Raspberry Pi Mini Computer + Ham Radio, + Much More” presented by LCARC Club VP George Suprenant N9GWS. Thank you George! This November’s Club Meeting will be: Producing Amateur Radio Newsline Presented by Paul Braun WD9GCO. The physical Club meeting and ZOOM link will start at 7:30pm Friday November 12th. Look for the ZOOM link on www.W9LJ.org (lower first webpage) or on Facebook. Club members will have the link sent to their email as well as a meeting reminder. The physical meeting is at the EMA office 2900 W. 93rd, Crown Point IN. BTW, Paul is the President of the Porter County Amateur Radio Club www.PC-ARC.net MORE CLUB NEWS It’s Club Board 2022 Election Time. It’s absolutely fine to nominate yourself to serve in 2022. The Club needs you and it’s actually easy and fun. Here is the 2022 slate running… so far; Tim McGillen N9CA George Suprenant N9GWS Russ McComb KB9HO Jim Harney KF9EX Mark Skowronski K9MQ John Litton KI4CHF Kenny Brown KE9TC Paul Pietrie KD9NPC LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club (found on www.W9LJ.org) and physically attend at least one live Club meeting. LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes FOX HUNT ANTENNA Club building project using tape measures and PVC pipe coming up soon. HR Items For Sale: coming to www.W9LJ.org in the next few weeks. UPCOMING HAMFESTS 11/13/2021 - 11/14/2021 Fort Wayne Hamfest & Computer Expo, ARRL Central Division Convention Location: Fort Wayne, IN Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society Website: http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com 11/27/2021 - Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association Hamfest Location: Brazil, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: None Learn More *BTW, no Illinois hamfests are currently posted on ARRL.org until 2022! OTHER IMPORTANT HR ITEMS Indiana ARES District 1 is conducting a weekly net EVERY Tuesday evening 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT. ARES membership not required to check in. N9IAA repeater 146.685 pl 173.8. Joe/W1SPY offers free training and practice in the latest digital EMCOMM modes. Joe has also created a great new website that he constantly updates. www.ARESd1.com Local VE Exams:11/06/2021 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820Sponsor: Porter County ARC Location: Valparaiso Public Library Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed) 11/11/2021 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820 Sponsor: Porter County ARC Location: Valparaiso Public Library Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed) Learn More NOVEMBER 2021 CONTESTS November 6th – 8th ARRL CW Sweepstakes (info @ www.ARRL.org) November 20th – 22nd ARRL SSB Sweepstakes (info @ www.ARRL.org) November 27 – 28th CQWW DX CW Contest (info @ www.CQWW.com) January 1 – 8th 2022 Crystal Radio DX Contest It is hoped that the upcoming 'Crystal Radio DX Contest' will generate interest in the design, construction and operation of crystal radios while giving entrants the opportunity to discuss and compare the design and operating capabilities of their radios. Using unpowered ‘passive’ receivers to detect stations hundreds of miles away is both an exciting and enjoyable pastime. Info: www.facebook.com/groups/crystalradiodxcontestgroup/ Building plans: www.analogdial.com click on Alfred P. Morgan-- Crystal Radio Set MORE HR NEWS The ARRL Foundation will start accepting applications for its 2022 scholarship program on November 1. The submission deadline is December 31. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded in 2022. The 2022 scholarship year totals an eligible amount of over $800,000 to be awarded. All applicants must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs (active non-US radio amateurs are eligible for scholarships sponsored by ARDC), and many scholarships have specific requirements, such as intended area of study, or residence within a particular ARRL Division, Section, or state, and license class. Some scholarships also require additional documentation, such as letters of recommendation. 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Confirms November 2022 Activation The 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition team says that with its first deposit on its contract to have the SS Marama provide transportation to Bouvet, it has confirmed its plans to activate the second most-wanted DXCC entity in November 2022. The WSJT-X development team has announced the general availability release of WSJT-X version 2.5.1. This release mainly contains improvements and repairs defects related to Q65 and JT65 when used with nonstandard and compound call signs. Those planning to use Q65 or JT65 to make weak-signal contacts involving a nonstandard call sign should upgrade to this version. Also included is a new feature for microwave aircraft scatter, as well as repairs for bugs detected since the general availability release of version 2.5.0. A complete listing of changes is available in the Release Notes. Links to WSJT-X 2.5.1 installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Mac are available. PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity was up with the average daily sunspot number increasing by nearly five-fold from 11.3 to 54.9. Average daily solar flux rose from 78.6 to 95.7. Solar Flux (which creates skip DX on HF bands and 6 meters) rose to 110 at the end of October. The new daily prediction levels for November are from 88 to 96. *FYI: Two years ago, our Solar Flux stood at just 68. Solar Cycle 24 (a weak Solar Cycle) peaked at 145 in 2014 For daily flux and propagation go to: www.dxmaps.com The live Solar Flux and MUF is in the upper right of screen. Q: Question: The Hallicrafters HT-4 had a carrier output of 325 watts phone and 450 CW and sold for $795.00 in 1940. What was the shipping weight? A) 112lb, B) 234lbs, C) 364lbs, D) 436lbs A: C) 364lbs !! Adjusting for inflation, that 1940s transmitter would cost you… $15,900. No way Amazon Prime or UPS would deliver this to your door step. 73, Tim/N9CA (Hope to see you Friday November 12th @ 7:30pm) SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President October 2021 Hi Everyone, Last month’s Club Program: “Solar Effects On Earth’s Power Grid” was by Charlie Sutana AJ9N via ZOOM from Florida. Charlie, thank you for an insightful “what-if” program. You gave us all a lot to think about. The Covid pandemic just might look like small potatoes. Here is a link to the recorded program: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ji55rwreqjkbzsykxdbqe/LCARS_2021-09-10_Meeting_Geomagnetic_Disturbance_Impact_as_of_2021-08-24_2200_UTC.pptx?dl=0&rlkey=bde0pg3huavyowrmcutk1ovxk October’s Club Program: “The Raspberry Pi Mini Computer + Ham Radio, + Much More” presented by LCARC Club VP George Suprenant N9GWS. Kits available at; adafruit.com dfrobot.com, Chicago electronics and vendors on Amazon.com. A case and fan are needed it you plan to run a full SDR or FT8 with the thing. BridgeCom makes an HT to WiFi hotspot using a Raspberry PI (with no fan!). Popular links are below. Click on OR copy and paste address into your browser. https://all3dp.com/2/amateur-pi-raspberry-pi-ham-radio-internet-radio/ http://www.hamblog.co.uk/top-10-amateur-radio-uses-for-raspberry-pi/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dN4hos5_6M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzkDxKkjRXQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrN55ZwZikQ http://www.g0hwc.com/raspberry-pi-ham-radio.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zNWX85wa8Y https://www.rtl-sdr.com/building-a-ham-tranceiver-with-an-rtl-sdr-raspberry-pi-and-rpitx/ October’s Club Meeting: The physical Club meeting and ZOOM link will start at 7:30pm Friday Octuober 8th. Look for the ZOOM link on W9LJ.org. Club members will also have had this link sent to their email as well as a meeting reminder. The physical meeting is at the EMA office 2900 W. 93rd, Crown Point IN. MORE CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club (found on www.W9LJ.org) and physically attend at least one live Club meeting. LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes UPCOMING HAMFEST NEWSAt ARRL.org, there are three Indiana Hamfests in October. All three are waaay waaay down in southern Indiana. For me, plan B is to wait until November. 11/13/2021 - 11/14/2021 Fort Wayne Hamfest & Computer Expo, ARRL Central Division Convention Location: Fort Wayne, IN Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society Website: http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com 11/27/2021 - Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association Hamfest Location: Brazil, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: None Learn More *BTW, no Illinois hamfests are currently posted on ARRL.org until 2022! OTHER IMPORTANT HR ITEMS Indiana ARES District 1 is conducting a weekly net EVERY Tuesday evening 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT. ARES membership not required to check in. N9IAA repeater 146.685 pl 173.8. Joe/W1SPY offers free training and practice in the latest digital EMCOMM modes. Joe has also created a great new website that he constantly updates. www.ARESd1.com OCTOBER CONTESTS FT8 North American Stations are to transmit on the “ODD” ½ minute intervals. SO… looking at the main page of WSJT, in the middle middle of the page, just below the software menu click setting box that says DECODE, is a another click check box that says “Tx even 1st”. Make sure this box is not “clicked toggled” to “on”. SOTA & POTA (not SODA) Summits On The Air. Worth a few moments to read the interesting link below to understand what HR equipment they are using, the adversities, and the joy of it all. So, copy and paste the link below into your browser. I think you will be glad you did. https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2021/09/sota-pota-yellowstone-grand-teton/ Locally, we do have 3 sand dune “mountains” at the Indiana Dunes State Park and of course Mount Baldy near Michigan City. Hmmm? The 2021 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is Just Ahead The weekend of October 2 – 3 2021 is designated for holding the annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), although local and Section-level exercises may take place throughout the fall. The SET is ARRL’s primary national emergency exercise and is designed to assess the skills and preparedness of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers, as well as those affiliated with other organizations involved in emergency and disaster response. The SET encourages maximum participation by all radio amateurs, partner organizations, and national, state, and local officials who typically engage in emergency or disaster response. In addition to ARES volunteers, those active in the National Traffic System (NTSÔ), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN®, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and a variety of other allied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are needed to fulfill important roles in this nationwide exercise. The SET offers volunteers an opportunity to test equipment, modes, and skills under simulated emergency conditions and scenarios. Individuals can use the time to update a “go-kit” for use during deployments and to ensure their home station’s operational capability in an emergency or disaster. To get involved, contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager JOTA - Scouting Jamboree On The Air The weekend of October 15-17 2021. Millions of scouts (boys and girls) participate around the world with amateur radio each JOTA. * This not a contest but an event. Please ANSWER when you hear them call “CQ” . Visit ARRL.org for info, or click the link below. https://www.scouting.org/international/jota-joti/ SCHOOL CLUB ROUNDUP October 18-22 2021 This 5-day event runs Monday through Friday from 1300 UTC Monday through 2359 UTC Friday. A station may operate no more than 6 hours in a 24-hour period, and a maximum of 24 hours of the 107 hour event. These are school Clubs looking for contacts to score points for certificates. They will be clustered about the frequencies below. Why not answer them and give them some points? They are our future! More details at ARRL.org Phone (MHz): 1.855-1.865; 3.850-3.880; 7.225-7.255; 14.250-14.280; 21.300-21.330; 28.440-28.460 CW (MHz): 1.800-1.810; 3.530-3.540; 7.030-7.040; 14.030-14,.040; 21.130-21.140; 28.130-28.140 CQWW DX SSB CONTEST October 30th and 31st . “CQWW is the largest Amateur Radio competition in the world.” Over 35,000 participants take to the airwaves on the last weekend of October (SSB) and November (CW) with the goal of making as many contacts with as many different DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible. Visit www.CQWW.com for more info. EVEN MORE HR NEWS · Lance Collister, W7GJ, will undertake a 6-meter DX-pedition to the Austral and Marquesas Islands. He'll spend October 15 - 24 as FO/W7GJ on the Australs, and October 28 - November 7 as TX7MB on the Marquesas. He is planning to use the Q65-60A for all 6-meter moonbounce activity and FT8 for terrestrial contacts. · The Arizona Association for Summits on the Air (SOTA) will host the 4th annual 10-Point s2s Madness event on Saturday, October 2, 1400 - 2359 UTC. In this event, multiple hams simultaneously operate mountaintop portable on 10-point summits. Hams can participate as activators or chasers; add your information to the Alerts section on the SOTA website if you plan to activate. The same website will display the spots on the day of the event, if you are a chaser. In the past, 25 - 30 activators are on a 10-point summit at the same time. For more information, contact Pete Scola, WA7JTM, or search social media for the hashtag #TenPointMadness. The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Predicted Solar flux; October 5; 82 on October 6; 80 on October 7 - 8; 78 on October 9 - 11; 75 on October 12 - 20; 80 on October 21 - 22; 82 on October 23 - 25; 84 and 82 on October 26 - 27, and 84 on October 28 - November 1. The northern autumnal equinox occurred at 1920 UTC on September 22, which means Earth is bathed in approximately equal amounts of solar radiation over the Northern and Southern hemispheres, always a good sign for HF propagation. Propagation Also, check out the Propagation Page link of Indiana Section Manager and Club friend Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. For What It’s Worth – A Survey Here is your Chance! Please for the direction(s) you want the Club to do more of: Email your thoughts via W9LJ.org · Contesting · ARES · More NETS · DMR · Local Volunteering · Building sessions · Computers · Advanced Ham Radio License Classes · Off-The-Grid outings · More on Propagation · A Bowling Team · Breakfast get together · Dinner night · Or some-thin else Q: In what year was SSB beginning to be heard on the ham bands? 1955, 1960, 1948, or 1962 73, Tim/N9CA (Hope to see you Tuesday October 8th @ 7:30pm) A: 1948 SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President September 2021 Hi Everyone, Last months Club Program: “6 meter Propagation” simulcast to us via ZOOM and presented by Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA. Thank you again Carl for the generous sharing of your time with us. The presentation on “The Magic Band” demonstrated why so many find it fascinating. September Program: “Solar Effects On Earth’s Power Grid” by Charlie Sutana AJ9N via ZOOM from Florida. The physical Club meeting and ZOOM link will start at 7:30pm Friday September 10th. Look for the ZOOM link on W9LJ.org. Club members will also have had this link sent to their email as well as a meeting reminder. Physical meeting at the EMA office 2900 W. 93rd, Crown Point IN. MORE CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club (found on www.W9LJ.org) and physically attend at least one live Club meeting. LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes Indiana Parks On The Air (INPOTA) is Saturday September 11th. We will be getting a group together to meet and operate off-the-grid at the Indiana Dunes State Park (weather permitting). Set-up 8-10am. On the air operating 10-5pm. Contact Tim N9CA via W9LJ.org for details for a day near the Saturday European Market, shops, and pub restaurants of Chesterton. The IDSP has one of the 10 best rated beaches… in the entire world! October Club Program: “The Raspberry Pi mini-computer”. Live hands-on building and programing for Ham Radio use. Kits available in stock at; adafruit.com dfrobot.com and vendors on Amazon.com. A case and fan are needed it you plan to run a full SDR or FT8 with the thing. BridgeCom makes an HT to WiFi hotspot using a Raspberry PI (with no fan!). UPCOMING HAMFEST NEWS 09/11/2021 - MARC Tailgate Hamfest Location: Franklin, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Midstate Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.midstatehams.org (down I-65, South of Indy near Columbus and Nashville Indiana) 09/11/2021 - Tippecanoe County Hamfest Location: Lafayette, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Tippecanoe Amateur Radio Association 09/10/2021 - 09/11/2021 W9DXCC Convention, ARRL Illinois Section Convention Location: Naperville, IL Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Northern Illinois DX Association (NIDXA) Website: http://w9dxcc.com 09/18/2021 - 09/19/2021 PAARC Superfest 2021 Location: Pekin, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.w9uvi.org 09/26/2021 - Radio Expo Location: Belvidere , IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Chicago FM Club Website: http://chicagofmclub.org OTHER IMPORTANT HR ITEMS Indiana ARES District 1 is conducting a weekly net EVERY Tuesday evening 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT. ARES membership not required to check in. N9IAA repeater 146.685 pl 173.8. Joe/W1SPY offers free training and practice in the latest digital EMCOMM modes. Joe has also created a great new website that he constantly updates. www.ARESd1.com SEPTEMBER CONTESTS FT8 North American Stations are to transmit on the “ODD” ½ minute intervals. SO… looking at the main page of WSJT, in the middle middle of the page, just below the software menu click setting box that says DECODE, is a another click check box that says “Tx even 1st”. Make sure this box is not “clicked toggled” to “on”. Hunting For NDBs In CLE 271 https://ns6t.net/azimuth/azimuth.html It's CLE time! 'CLE's are 'Co-ordinated Listening Events, and NDB DXers around the world focus their listening time on one small slice of the NDB spectrum. Click on headline to be directed to an article that tells you everything. SOTA W0C 10-10-10 Challenge Report In the ilk of POTA and INPOTA, there is SOTA. Worth a few moments to read the interesting link.. For activators, the objective was to activate 10 summits higher than 10k feet in 10 days. … Continue reading SOTA W0C 10-10-10 Challenge Report → Locally, we do have 3 sand dune “mountains” at the Indiana Dunes State Park and of course Mount Baldy near Michigan City. Hmmm? · September 1 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest · September 1 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone) · September 1 - 3 -- G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest (CW) · September 2 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital) · September 2 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW) · September 11-13th ARRL VHF Contest Details at: ARRL.org · September 18-19th ARRL 10 GHZ and Up Contest Details at: ARRL.org · September 25-26 CQWW RTTY Contest. Details at: cqwwrtty.com The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sun watchers saw no days without sunspots this week. Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 17.7 last week to 21.7 over the August 19 - 25 reporting week. Average daily solar flux increased from 73.8 to 78.5. We are less than 1 month away from the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, September 22. That's when both hemispheres will be bathed in equal measures of solar radiation -- always good for HF propagation. For What It’s Worth – A Survey Here is your Chance! Vote for the direction(s) you want the Club to do more of: Please Email your thoughts via W9LJ.org · Contesting · ARES · More NETS · DMR · Local Volunteering · Building sessions · Computers · Advanced Ham Radio License Classes · Off-The-Grid outings · More on Propagation · A Bowling Team · Breakfast get together · Dinner night · More frequent Club meetings Or, some-thin else Q: Other than the initial use of the call sign of a station you are communicating with (so they know you are calling them) is it necessary to ID using their call every 10 minutes? 73, Tim/N9CA A: NO. You must announce your ID every ten minutes and also when you signing off at the end of the QSO SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President August 2021 Hi Everyone, Last months Club Program: “Electric Utility Communications” was simulcast via ZOOM and at the EMA Office in Crown Point. It was presented to us – from Florida - by Charlie Sulfana AJ9N. A BIG THANK YOU to you Charlie for being such a friend of the Club all these years. August Club Program: “6 meter Propagation” simulcast to us via ZOOM and presented by Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA. The physical Club meeting and ZOOM link will start at 7:30pm Friday August 13th. Look for the ZOOM link on W9LJ.org. Club members will also have had this link sent to their email as well as a meeting reminder. Physical meeting at the EMA office 2900 W. 93rd, Crown Point MORE CLUB NEWS LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club (found on www.W9LJ.org) and physically attend at least one live Club meeting. LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes Indiana Parks On The Air (INPOTA) is Saturday September 11th. We will be getting a group together to meet and operate off-the-grid at the Indiana Dunes State Park (weather pemitting). We anticipate operating beach-side for a change, getting food from the new concession stands, and access to modern wash-rooms with changing rooms should you go for a swim. We are pushing for more public exposure to Amateur Radio. Contact Tim N9CA via W9LJ.org for details for a day at one of the best rated beaches in the world. VE Session: LCARC VE Session Saturday August 28th at 9:00am at the EMA office inside the Lake County Government Complex Building, 2900 W. 93rd Crown Point IN 46307. Walk-ins are OK. Photo ID, FCC FRC number, your email address, $15 check or cash, photocopy current amateur radio license you hold (if any), face mask, pens and pencils. Visit www.w9lj.org or www.ARRL.org UPCOMING HAMFEST NEWS 08/07/2021 - West Central Illinois Hamfest Location: Carlinville, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Macoupin Cnty ARC, Montgomery Cnty ARC, Okaw Valley ARC & Sangamon Valley Radio Club Website: http://K9MCE.com 08/07/2021 - Elkhart East Hamfest Location: Elkhart, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Northern Indiana K9DEW Repeaters Website: http://elkharteasthamfest.com 08/28/2021 - North Central Indiana Hamfest Location: Peru, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Cass County, Grant County, Kokomo, and Miami County Amateur Radio Clubs Website: http://www.nci-hamfest.net 08/28/2021 - SMCFest, ARRL Operating Specialty Convention Location: Naperville, IL Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Society of Midwest Contesters Website: https://www.w9smc.com/smc-fest/ QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo ARRL on-line seminar program is live from August 14-15, 2021 and then on-demand for 30 days for only $10. 93 speakers and 93 topics. It’s a great experience for those that want to improve their amateur radio knowledge and get exposed to new ideas, cutting edge ham radio technology, and practical techniques. Information can be found at at: https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com. FCC Investigating Alleged Jamming on 40 MetersReports suggest that jamming stations have been deployed on the lower portion of 40 meters. The jamming appears to be coming from Cuba. The signals, spaced at regular intervals, exhibit a squishy, popping noise. 10 Meters is open regularly (especially FT8). Because 10 is “open”, drift-net radio buoys and other fishing gear are again being heard on 10 meters, illegally serving to mark fishing nets at sea, These typically operate in the 28.000 - 28.450 MHz segment. Transmissions are short but frequent throughout the day. These often identify in CW, transmitting from 1-3 letters. GPS buoys transmit short bursts in FSK (F1B) with their positions scrambled so that the illegal fish poachers can’t be poached! Skipping Around on 10, 6, and 2 Meters Sporadic E peaks around the summer solstice, on or around June 21, with a minor peak around the winter solstice, on or around December 21. Each summer season has unique characteristics that are not predictable, but make these bands so fascinating to follow. No special antennas, no special power output. 600 to 1,400 miles are typical (sometimes more with a double hop). 6 meters is the most likely, but pick your favorite. Try monitoring and decoding signals on those FT8 frequencies. AUGUST CONTESTS August 2 going forward -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, maximum 20 WPM) This Club operates their SST, with a military theme, on 160m, 80m, 40m and 20m in the afternoon each weekend Visit K1USN.com for more details. 4th Anniversary of FT8. Many stations will take to the airwaves August 2nd to August 15th to celebrate the 4th anniversary of FT8. All stations will use call signs with "FTDMC" or "FTDM" in the suffix. The activity also celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the FT8 Digital Mode Club. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW and eQSL. QSL cards will be available. Their website, is extremely cool. Worth a look alone. Explore by opening the various menus on the left. Working just 8 FTDM stations (there are 45 FTDM stations) on FT8 earns you a cool award. The more FTDM stations you work, the more cool the awards! Visit: https://ft8dmc.eu/ * directions if you wish to participate: First, open your WSJT FT8 program. Make sure MODE is set to FT8 and that you have updated the synch on your computer’s clock. Now, in the upper right menu go to File, then to SETTINGS then go to ADVANCED. At the bottom of the ADVANCE page you will see a click box that says “special operating activity”. Click on this click box tab to open it and then enter FTDMC in the Field Day Exchange Box. This will add FTDMC to your call. Remember….. by a rather new convention now, North American Stations are to transmit on the “ODD” ½ minute intervals. SO… looking at the main page of WSJT, in the middle middle of the page, just below the software menu click setting box that says DECODE, is a another click check box that says “Tx even 1st”. Make sure this box is not “clicked toggled” to on NORTH AMERICAN QSO PARTY CW August 7th - 8th. Visit ARRL.org for details SSB August 21st -22nd For What It’s Worth Sunday, August 1st I attended the Hamfester Club’s Hamfest in Peotone. What a great day. 70 degree breezes from the North. Blue Sky with filtering high clouds. In my humble estimate, the crowd of sellers and buyers was about 75% of the pre-Covid crowd of 2019. Lots of great items. I am very encouraged and glad I went. I even bumped into quite a few hams I knew. I’m looking forward to attending more of these summer Hamfests that I used to just take for granted. Q: Before SOS,what was the distress call; CQD, QSD, QRH,or MDY? 73, Tim/N9CA A: CQD SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President July 2021 Hi Everyone, I hope “Mother Nature” acting up on Saturday of Field Day didn’t cause anyone harm. The tornado sirens, lightening, cloud bursts, and high winds on Saturday certainly were unpredictable additions to our local operators. NOAA tracked and officially declared that a tornado traveled through Dyer to Schererville on Saturday.. Last Month’s Programs were: “Restoration of a Heathkit HW-16”. The popular and collectable HW-16 was in production from 1967-1976. The other program was “Using FT8 on Field Day”. Both were presented at a live meeting at the Crown Point EMA Office and on ZOOM by Tim McGillen N9CA. July Club Program: “Electric Utility Communications” to be simulcast both via ZOOM and at the EMA Office in Crown Point. Presented to us – from Florida - by Charlie Sulfana AJ9N. The Club meeting and ZOOM link will start at 7:30pm Friday July 9th. Look for the ZOOM link on www.W9LJ.org. Club members will also have this link sent to their email as well as a meeting reminder. Skipping Around on 10, 6, and 2 Meters Sporadic E peaks around the summer solstice, on or around June 21, with a minor peak around the winter solstice, on or around December 21. Each summer season has unique characteristics that are not predictable, but make these bands so fascinating to follow. No special antennas, no special power output. 600 to 1,400 miles are typical (sometimes more with a double hop). 6 meters is the most likely, but pick your favorite. Try monitoring and decoding signals on those FT8 frequencies. Upcoming Nearby July Hamfests 07/09/2021 - 07/10/2021 Indianapolis Hamfest, ARRL Indiana State ConventionLocation: Indianapolis, IN Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Indianapolis Amateur Radio Assoc., Inc. Website: http://indyhamfest. 07/10/2021 - Auburn (Indiana) Hamfest Location: Auburn, IN Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association Website: http://w9ou.org 07/18/2021 - KARS-Fest Location: Peotone, IL Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: the Kankakee Area Radio Society Website: http://w9az.com July Contests IARU World Championship - International Amateur Radio Union The objective of the IARU HF World Championship is “to support amateur self-training in radio communications including improving amateur operating skills, conducting technical investigations, and intercommunicating with other amateurs around the world, especially IARU member society headquarters stations, using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-meter bands.” Saturday July 10th at 12:00 UTZ (7:00am CDT) > Sunday Jul 11th at 1159 UTZ (6:59am CDT) Visit www.ARRL.org CQWW VHF Contest The contest promotes VHF activity on the 6 and 2 meter bands with participation from around the world. Saturday July 18th 1800 UTZ (1:00pm CDT) > Sunday 2100 UTZ ( 3:59pm CDT). Visit www.cqww-vhf.com North American QSO Party (RTTY) The North American QSO Parties are favorites of beginners and seasoned operators alike. The NAQPs are low-power only (no amplifiers allowed) which makes for a lot more breathing room on the bands. July is RTTY only. May operate 10 out of the 12 hours of the contest. Off-times must be at least 30 minutes in length. 1800 UTC Saturday July 17 (1:00pm CDT) to 05:59 UTC Sunday July 18 Visit www.ncjweb.com Other Club News Physical Club meetings: We’re resumed in-person physical Club meetings at the EMA Building 7:30pm. Masks will be required, windows will be open, and social distancing practiced. For now, we will offer a simulcast ZOOM option with a log-in link posted on the Club website. There will be a 50/50 raffle held. $1 per ticket, 6 tickets for $5.00 www.W9LJ.org LCARC HT Give Away GOTA Program The Club officially presented programed VHF/UHF HTs to two recently licensed Hams and new members of the LCARC; Chad Marine KD9STK and Tara Howell KD9STJ. Congratulations! If you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021, you too may join the LCARC for our yearly $20 membership dues and we’ll help you get-on-the-air with a programmed VHF/UHF HT provided to you by the LCARC. You must submit an application to the Club (found on www.W9LJ.org) and physically attend at least one live Club meeting. LCARC Information NET EVERY Wednesday at 8:00pm. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8 (on linked Club repeaters). Informal, informative, and fun. A great way to stay connected with local hams. You do not have to be a Club member to check-in. Typically 30 minutes VE Session: We anticipate a VE Session in late August at the EMA office. Lake County Government Complex Building, 2900 W. 93rd Crown Point IN 46307. Details to follow. Visit www.w9lj.org or www.ARRL.org Have a safe terrific 4th of July everyone! 73, Tim/N9CA |
Short SkipThe Official Newsletter of the LCARC
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