Short Skip - August 2021

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