Short Skip - November 2022

By Tim McGillen/N9CA   2022 LCARC President
November 2022
Hello and welcome,
It’s hard to believe it is November. That means it is time to think about antenna maintenance or finally putting up that antenna you were meaning to (like me). It’s so easy to do now while it’s warm. Some ideas;
Check and tighten screws and bolts
Clean off terminal corrosion and apply a protective sealant
Check for fraying of guy lines or rope supports
Consider replacing the coax feed line and consider rewrapping the coax connectors for water resistance  * especially if the SWR is off from the past
Drive in any new antenna grounds, and check spark-gap plugs for continuity to see if they have failed due to static electricity over time
LCARC November Meeting: Second Friday of the month, November 11th at 7:30 pm - 2900 W. 93rd Ave. Crown Point Indiana 46307 - EMA/Lake County Health Department building north of 93rd Ave. Look for a "HAM RADIO" sign along 93rd.
Meeting Program; There will be a door prizes for the first 5 attendees, as well as free raffles for some cool prizes. Perhaps a 50-50 raffle, so bring a few $1s. This meeting will be an informal conversational, sharing, get to know each other format, talking about HR, the Club, and it’s 70 year history
Our meeting is on the ground floor, handicap accessible, lots of free easy parking. Windows will be open, fans running, social distance respected and face masking is optional.
You do not have to be a Club member to attend or link via ZOOM for our meetings.
The ZOOM meeting link if attending virtually is on our Club webpage; www.W9LJ.org
This meeting is an important one for the Club. We will are asking for members to help determine the direction of the Club in 2023 by volunteering to be on the 2023 Club Board.
Speaking of Heathkit
You may not have been around, but build-it-yourself kits from Heathkit were popular ways for hams to save money. In 1979, Heath engineers designed a brand new state-or-the-art ham radio transceiver. Meant to replace the SB-104, it was christened the SS-8000. It had all the bells and whistles built into it that we just take for granted today, including computer control!
Heath made 3 prototype SS-8000s. Heath even wrote the assembly manuals when news from the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) in Geneva Switzerland announced 3 new amateur radio bands: 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters.
The project was terminated, and the three SS-8000 prototypes were reportedly scrapped… or were they?
The incredible story of the 1 that survived for 35 years as broken pieces stuffed inside a forgotten cardboard box in someone’s garage and the 200 hour restoration to bring that radio back to life that can be found on Youtube.
https://tinyurl.com/2u373pcc   and at    https://tinyurl.com/2t3xv8vj
Before Heath went out of business, did they make a transceiver with the WARC bands?  Yes, but it was not offered as a kit. 1980 cost... $3,000 or $10,800 in 2022 dollars. It was the SS-9000 and they made just 350 of them.
Upcoming Nearby Hamfests
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
11/19/2022 - 11/20/2022
Fort Wayne Hamfest & Computer Expo
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society
Website: http://www.acarts.com/hfmain.htm


HAMFEST/CONVENTION
11/05/2022 - Sullivan Swapmeet
Location: Sullivan, IL
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Moultrie Amateur Radio Klub
Website: https://www.qsl.net/mark/
 
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
11/05/2022 - Friendly Fest
Location: Milwaukee , WI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Milwaukee Repeater Club
Website: http://MRC91.org
 
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
11/06/2022 - FCARC Swapfest
Location: Kaukauna, WI
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Website: http://www.fcarc.club/hamfest.php
 
Local VE Session
 EXAM SESSION
11/12/2022 | Valparaiso IN 46383-4820
Sponsor: Porter County ARC
Location: Valparaiso Public Library
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
From the NOAA Weather Service - Indiana Section
They  will conduct the spotter training virtually again this Fall, and are offering four sessions to make it convenient for you.

More details can be found online at www.weather.gov/iwx/Spotter_Event_List


On-Line VE Testing Sources
 http://www.arrl.org/online-exam-session


www.hamtestonline.com

November ARRL CONTESTS
5-7       Nov. Sweepstakes – CW
12-13   EME - 50 to 1296 MHz       
19-21   Nov. Sweepstakes – Phone
 
Other Worldwide Contests
www.ARRL.org/contest-calendar   *pick the month you wish
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.
ARES 2 meter NET   Tuesday evening at 7:00pm. N9IAA repeater 146.685 MHz PL 173.8  www.ARESD1.com
ARES HF Net Sunday 4:00 PM - 80 meters 3.900 MHz - LSB
On-Line EmComm WINLINK VARA Digital Training
http://www.EmComm-Training.org


See you at the meeting   73, Tim/N9CA
Q1) When was the Technician Class license granted?
        1948, 1951, 1957, 1958
Q2) What frequency range is used to communicate with submerged submarines?
        SHF, MF, ELF, LF
Q3) Philo T. Farnsworth owner of Philco is best known for inventing what device?
       Stereo FM radio, the HT, the car radio, television
A1) 1951  A2) ELF   A3) At age 19, in 1927 he received the patent for television !