Short Skip - January 2022

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. [email protected]
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