SHORT SKIP - FROM THE PARADE STAND
By Tim McGillen/N9CA 2021 LCARC President April 2021 Past March Program: “Slow Scan Amateur TV & How To Use Free MMSSTV Software”. Download free MMSSTV software at: www.HamSoft.ca. On the HamSoft web-site, choose “download on the MMSSTV – YONIQ page” The next page that comes up explains that there is a new updated version of the MMSSTV called MMSSTV-YONIQ. It can be downloaded with improvements over the original MMSSTV. Read the page scrolling down. About mid-page is the option to download either the newer MMSSTV-YONIQ or the original MMSSTV. Frankly, I suggest the original MMSSTV. The YONIQ version is almost the same, is initially in Spanish, and is optimized for a Ten-Tec Omni transceiver. Most hams are using “MMSSTV113a” the original. It works very well. Watching two YouTube how-to videos plus this software will get you in on this fun interesting mode very quickly. You can even download ISS images. www.YouTube.com and search; “MMSSTV, Working With Pictures and Templates Basics” (12 minutes) ”Getting Started Making SSTV Contacts With Ham Radio” (14 minutes) Upcoming April 9th Club Program Carl Luetzelschwab/K9LA “Radio Propagation & Solar Cycle 25”. Carl will join us via ZOOM. For Carl’s remarkable lifelong HR bio visit: www.K9LA.us April Club General Meeting will be via ZOOM: Friday April 9th at 7:00pm. A Zoom link will be emailed to all Club members and posted on www.W9LJ.org as well as FaceBook. April Club Board meeting will be via ZOOM: Tuesday April 6th at 7:00pm. A ZOOM link will be emailed to all Club members. Club News Physical Club meetings: We’re anticipating the resumption of physical Club meetings rather than via ZOOM at the EMA Building 7:00pm on June 11th. *Covid growth rate may delay this. New HR licensees may be eligible for a 2 band fully programmed HT starting June 2021. You must belong to the LCARC, and provide proof you were newly licensed in 2020 or 2021. This limited time program is to help new Hams get on the air. VE License Session: A session is scheduled for Saturday May 22nd at 9:00am at the Lake County Government Complex Building 2900 W. 93rd Ave Crown Point Indiana 46307. The 7 story building is on the North side of 93rd across from the Government Center. Limited to 12, all license levels, proper masks (not bandanas), social distancing, disinfected surfaces, temperatures will be taken. Contact Tim/N9CA at 219-769-0673 and leave a message. The fees will still be just be $15 check or cash. Wednesday Information Net: 8:00PM. Fun–fast-informal-radio-news learning questions. 147.000 and 442.075 pl 131.8. You do not have to be a Club member to check in. Renewing and new 2021 Club members: Thank you for your continued support! We are all looking forward to seeing friends and meeting our new ones… in person very soon. 2021 Club Dues are still only $20. Help support your local HR Club. LCARC, PO Box 90, Crown Point IN 46308. Licensed amateurs, who have never been a member of LCARC, can join with 2021 membership dues waived. Applications at www.W9LJ.org or email thru Club’s website. Real Time Propagation website: www.DXmap.com all modes & bands. Better than WSPR.org? Indiana ARES District 1 is conducting a weekly net every Tuesday evening at 1900L - 2000L (7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CST). Membership not required to check in. N9IAA repeater 146.685 pl 173.8. Joe/W1SPY has assured me that he is streamlining District One ARES and ARES training to make it easier for volunteers to join in. Joe has also created a great new website. www.ARESd1.com FCC Not Yet Collecting $35 Application Fee. The majority of the FCC's revised Part 97 rules (adopted in December 2020) establishing new application fees become effective on April 19, but the new amateur radio application fees will not become effective on April 19. It is expected that such fees will not become effective before summer 2021. The FCC has stated that amateurs will have advance warning of the actual effective date, because it will publish such date in the Federal Register. FCC Agrees with ARRL - Allows Partial Reprieve on 3.5 GHz Pending future FCC action, amateur radio secondary use of the 3.3 - 3.45 GHz band segment may continue indefinitely. Thank you again ARRL ! ARRL Podcasts On the Air podcast (Episode 15) features a conversation with HR propagation expert Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about what to expect in the new solar cycle. Eclectic Tech (Episode 29) is a chat with Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, about how amateurs have participated in ionospheric research during recent solar eclipses. Eclectic Tech (episode 30) features a conversation with Clark Burgard, N1BCG, about the current state of AM in amateur radio. The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android), as well as on Blubrry. web links > -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech. ARRL Learning Network The Art and Science of Operating Ultra-Portable -- Mike Molina, KN6EZE / Tuesday, April 6, 2021 @ 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, April 7) HF Noise Mitigation -- ARRL Northwestern Division Director Mike Ritz, W7VO / Thursday April 22, 2021 @ 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC) web link > ARRL Learning Network HR NEWS ARISS Ham Station in Columbus Module Is once again operational Ham Radio Satellite Returns from the Dead After 7 years of silence, the Delfi-n3Xt satellite is again transmitting a signal. The 3U Delfi-n3Xt nanosat, launched by Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), has not been heard since 2014, and its sponsors were surprised to learn that it was transmitting again. Delfi-n3Xt carries a linear amateur radio transponder (2 meters and 70cm). The K7RA Solar Update: Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The average daily sunspot number rose just a little this week, from 18.4 to 19, and average daily solar flux edged up to 78.6. Solar activity remains low. The Spring Equinox can increase mid-day HF propagation from the US to; South America, Africa, the Caribbean, and even Australia. This is called Trans-Equitorial-Propogation or “TEP”. (15m and 10m have been open on and off to South America) Mysterious groups of dashes -- sometimes five, sometimes 16, sometimes continuous -- are being transmitted over long periods daily at or around 7075 kHz, a segment of 40 meters typically occupied by FT8 operators. So far, no one's been able to pinpoint the source of the transmissions. 40m Spy "Numbers Station" continues to be heard Wednesdays on 7062 kHz and 14280 kHz. The voice is female, speaking Russian. The signal is believed to belong to the Ukraine Security Service. RADIO SPORTS ARRL Rookie Round-up Sunday April 18th SSB six hours 18:00 –23:59 UTC (1:00pm – 6:59pm CST) Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (General Class or Amateur Extra licensed since April 2017 “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 on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands. Visit www.ARRL.org · March 27 -- VHF FOC QSO Party (CW) · March 27 - 28 -- CQ World Wide WPX Contest, SSB · March 31 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW) · Sunday April 18th is World Amateur Radio Day! The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has so proclaimed this day – all day. This year’s theme is: “Amateur Radio - Home but Never Alone.” The INQP (Indiana QSO Party) is coming up soon--first Saturday in May (May 1-2 UTC) This year, the rules are back to "normal" for multi-single and multi-multi stations considering potential progress with the vaccination program. However, if the situation changes for the worse, the 2021 rules will be adjusted accordingly. Keep an eye on the rules page here. Remember, ops using their individual stations (e.g., home, portable, etc.) plus multi op stations may submit logs indicating club affiliation to count toward club competition. It would be great if there were more resident ops or ops from adjacent counties putting rare ones on the air in 2021. Please bring this opportunity up to your club members. Folks who operate in rare counties should have interesting pile ups. Here are 25 counties which might be considered rare ones: Spencer, Pike, Jefferson, Crawford, Martin, Union, Floyd, Shelby, Newton, Owen, Clay, Scott, Orange, Gibson, Jay, Knox, Kosciusko, Jackson, Marshall, Decatur, Rush, Posey, Cass, Dearborn, and Jasper. Have fun! See the INQP website Indiana QSO Party for more info. Mark your calendars! See you on ZOOM 73, Tim/N9CA Comments are closed.
|
Short SkipThe Official Newsletter of the LCARC
|