Short Skip - February 2021

By Tim McGillen/N9CA   2021 LCARC President
February 2021

Thank you Robert Clark/WA0WAS for presenting the January 8th Zoom Club program. The topic was how Verizon and other telecoms restore service after a natural disaster. The planning along with talent of the response teams that go about this work is incredible. Thank you again Robert.

February Club Program: February 12th at 7:00pm topic “The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), EmComms, and SkyWarn  in NW Indiana District One’. The Presenters will be Joe Cirone/W1SPY the ARRL ARES EC for District one, Jim Mohring/KB9WWM the Indiana Section ARES Emergency Coordinator, and Jimmy Merry/KC9RPX our ARRL Indiana Section Manager. A ZOOM link will be sent to all Club members. The ZOOM Link is also posted on  www.W9LJ.org
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
February Club Board meeting will be via ZOOM on Tuesday February 9th at 7:00 a ZOOM  link will be sent to all Club members.

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.
 
LCARC Information Net  a fun informal net. Wednesdays at 8:00pm on either the Club’s VHF (147.000) or UHF (442.075) repeaters pl 131.8. A great way to stay in touch with local hams. If you haven’t logged in, you are missing out.  Non-member logins are welcome

ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 13) features a discussion with Curt Laumann, K7ZOO, about his success in boosting activity at the University of Arizona amateur radio club.
The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 26) discusses synchronous AM reception and includes an interview with Dave Tipping, NZ1J, about a novel approach to boost foxhunt participation.
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 -- On the Air | Eclectic Tec

HR NEWS
Balloon Launched by Pella Students Makes 3rd Trip Around the Globe
KNIA-KRLS Radio (Iowa), December 28, 2020  www.kniakrls.com
 
Predicted solar flux for the next 30 days is 76. 
Predicted planetary A index is 5.    Check out K9LA’s solar predictions on the web.
 
UPCOMING RADIO SPORTS
Winter Field Day is January 30 - 31, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association (WFDA), "a dedicated group of amateur radio operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer, but with some additional unique operational concerns." CW and SSB only. INFO www.winterfieldday.com
 
The CQWW 160 meter CW contest  Jan 29th Friday  through Sunday the 31st. Visit www.CQ160.com   for details.
 FYI:  This time of year, the 160m band has relatively low amounts of atmospheric noise. The band plan is CW from 1800 – 1830 KHz. The so-called DX window is 1825 – 1830. Typically, DX stations work split frequency.  For instance, they may transmit CW between 1825 – 1830 kHz, but listen for stations calling them on another frequency that they announce with their “CQ”. After sending their CQ and call sign they might add “5u” or “10d” after their call sign meaning they are listening up 5 KHz or down 10 kHz for you to call to them.
 
North American CW Sprint February 14th (Valentine’s Day)  Lasting only four hours and using only the 80, 40 and 20-meter bands, these contests demand that participants be on their toes at all times. The Sprints’ unique QSY requirements eliminate the usual approach in many contests of dominant stations sitting on one frequency and running others.  2300UTC – 0259UTC visit www.ncjweb.com    or  www.ARRL.org 
 
School Club Roundup    Feb 8th to 12th . 5 days! visit www.ARRL.org 


Orlando HamCation  radio contest AND online webinar event February 13 - 14 will take the place of what would have been the HamCation 2021 in-person show.
The online event will include youth, technology, contesting, and vendor webinar tracks. ARRL will also present two webinars on Saturday, February 13.
Live, online prize drawings are also scheduled during the HamCation Special Edition online event.  Visit  www.ARRL.org   or  www.hamcation.com
 
CQWW WPX RTTY contest Feb 13-14  0000GMT – 2359GMT  visit  www.cqwpxrtty.com
 
ARRL International CW DX Contest Feb 20th – 21st visit  www.ARRL.org
 
CQWW 160 Meter SSB Contest  Feb 26th – 27th  visit www.CQ160.com
FYI: 160 meters is typically a night time band for DX. “Grey-line propagation” is very useful. With Grey-line propagation, one can make contacts North and South +/- of an hour of the setting or rising SUN. Typically, from the US, signals East toward Europe peak about mid-night and then reception swings South then finally West to the Pacific about dawn.
 
North American QSO RTTY Party February 27-28. Visit  www.ncjweb.com 

FYI: 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. The 12 hour format allows participants to do some great contesting, yet still have time for other activities during the weekend.
 
February is busy month to be sure. Don’t forget about Valentine’s Day on the 14th.  Mark your calendars! See you on ZOOM.
73, Tim/N9CA