the longest arrl affiliated club in michigan november...
TRANSCRIPT
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Sweepstakes …………...............2
VE Exam and Classes ..............3
2018 Ham Classes ……..…........4
Christmas Party ……..……….…. 7
Fort Wayne Hamfest ..............7
October Minutes ………………… 8
The Longest ARRL Affiliated Club
in Michigan
November 2017 Volume 65 Issue 11
Family Membership $35.00
Full Membership $25.00
Senior (60+) $20.00
Student $10.00
See Dale WA8FRD to pay your dues.
Thanks to everyone who voted in the last election for club officers
for 2017-2018. I voted for myself and held a proxy for Bob,
W8OWL. I seriously considered writing in: “anyone but K8THU” on
those two ballots. But unfortunately, I was elected, not
unexpectedly, since there was only my name on the ballot.
During the next year I will try to listen to the membership as we all
seek to make our club stronger and more meaningful for our
members and for the community we live in. It seems to me that we
should be more welcoming to visitors and potential new members.
At times we may unintentionally exclude visitors because we are
so focused on socializing with friends already in the club. In this
year I will go out of my way to be welcoming to new visitors and
new hams at our meetings. Kimball has a suggestion of offering a
one-year free membership to people who take their VE exams with
us. It sounds good to me and you should expect to see the issue
come before the members for consideration.
In the coming year, I hope we as a club will be willing to look at our
member activities and review diverse and more welcoming to new
hams. whether they are meeting our needs or whether they should
be modified in some way. If so the club will have choices as to how
to proceed.
Most of all, I want to hear from each of you about your views of
MCRC. What is working for you and what you think needs to
change. Perhaps there are some new things you would like us to
do. I want to hear it all. I will listen and give you a reaction.
Together we can make the club stronger, more
Finally, thanks to our new board for agreeing to stand for election. I
am looking forward to serving with them as we represent all of
you.
73, Don K8THU
Don’s Ditherings Don K8THU
MCRC President
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World’s Largest Telescope Stopped by LED
Earlier this year a simple indicator LED brought the Keck 1 telescope, a
370 tons mass, to a halting stop. How exactly did an LED do this?
Simple: it did nothing.
As it so happens, Andrew Cooper was just about the leave the summit of
Mauna Kea (in Hawaii) when his radio instructed him otherwise: there
was an issue. Upon returning, Andrew was met by a room of scientists
and summit supervisors. “Yeah, this was not good, why are they all
looking at me? The rotor wasn’t moving the telescope, and “no rotator
equals no science data.” After being briefed on the problem, Andrew got
to work. Was it a mechanical issue? No: manual mode worked quite
fine, also indicating that the amplifiers and limit switches are functional
as well.
Jumping from chip to chip, Andrew came across an odd voltage: 9.36V.
In the CMOS Andrew was investigating, this voltage should have High
(15V) or Low (0v) and nowhere in between. Judging by the 9.36V
Andrew decided to replace the driving IC. One DS3632 later, nothing
had changed. Well, maybe is one of the loads pulling the line low? With
only two choices, Andrew eliminated that possibility quickly. Likely
feeling as if he was running out of proverbial rope, Andrew remembered
something important: “the DS3236 driving this circuit is an open
collector output, it needs a pull-up to go high.”
Reviewing the schematic, Andrew identified the DS3236’s pull-up: an
LED and its current limiting resistor. While the carbon composition
resistor was “Armageddon proof,” Andrew was suspicious of the LED.
Getting a 5k resistor from the lab, and holding the resistor on the pins of
the chip, the amplifiers immediately enabled.
Andrew summarizes things quite well: “Yes… One of the world’s
largest telescopes, 370 tons of steel and glass, was brought to a halt
because of a bad indicator LED”. It stopped things by doing nothing, or
rather, by not turning on.
- by: Michael Uttmark hackaday.com
Objective: For stations in the United
States and Canada (including territories
and possessions) to exchange QSO
information with as many other US and
Canadian stations as possible on 160,
80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.
CW Sweeps run from 2100 UTC
Saturday, Nov. 4th. thru 0259 UTC
Monday, Nov. 6th.
Phone Sweeps run from 2100 UTC
Saturday, Nov. 18th. thru 0259 UTC
Monday, Nov. 20th.
Reminder: the Canadian province of
Ontario now consists four RAC
sections: Ontario North (ONN), Ontario
South (ONS), Ontario East (ONE) and
the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Make
sure your contest logging software and
"country" (CTY) files have been
updated so that those abbreviations are
recognized and credited properly.
Log Submission Deadline
Logs are due within FIVE (5) days
after the event is over. Paper logs are
still accepted, but electronic Cabrillo
logs are preferred. Contest clubs are
encouraged to help their club members
submit their log electronically.
For more information, visit:
http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes
Here you can find operating guide,
complete contest rules, how and where
to enter your electronic log.
ARRL
November
Sweepstakes
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The next Ham Radio License Exam is Saturday, November 11th at First Methodist
Church. 72 Oak. Wyandotte Michigan. Please arrive at 9:00 am. Testing will begin
after paperwork completed and is usually finished by noon.
There will also be a second exam a week later on November 18th at the Bacon
Memorial Library in Wyandotte. This one will start at 1pm.
Items to bring with you:
1. $15.00 exam fee (Exact Amount Preferred) 2. Number 2 Pencil 3. An original of your current FCC license (if you have one) 4. A copy of your current FCC license (if you have one) 5. Two pieces of Identification (at least one photo) 6. Your Pay Pal Receipt if you choose to pay online beforehand.
Those interested can register for the exam ahead of time on the Motor City Radio Club's website. Go to w8mrm.net. Click on the Event tab on the left, then click on the exam announcement. On that page, you can register for the exam and also pay beforehand using Paypal.
Woody N8MWQ V.E. Liaison
Livonia ARC
Edmund Fitzgerald
Special Event Station
On November 10, 1975, the freighter SS Edmund
Fitzgerald sank during a storm while enroute from
Superior, WI to Detroit, MI. 29 crewmembers were
lost when the vessel went down in 530 feet of water
17 miles northwest of Whitefish Bay, near the twin
cities of Sault Ste. Marie, MI and Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario, Canada. On the 2nd Saturday in November each year, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club operates Special Event Station W8F
commemorating the sinking of the "Mighty Fitz". This year's event will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at
the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit. Operations begin around 10:00 AM with equipment and
antenna setup and end at 3:30 PM. Hams are invited to come to the Dossin museum and take part in operating the
special event station on the air.
The "grey line" is a band around the Earth that separates daylight from darkness.
Propagation along the grey line is very efficient. One major reason for this is that
the D layer, which absorbs HF signals, disappears rapidly on the sunset side of the
grey line, and it has not yet built upon the sunrise side. One advantage of gray-line
DX is that your signals tend to reflect off the edge of the ionized portion of the upper
layers. This means propagation will often be in a southerly direction, bouncing along
the shadow, or terminator, between sunlight and darkness.Ham radio operators and
shortwave listeners can optimize long distance communications to various areas of
the world by monitoring this band as it moves around the globe. - qsl.net
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2018 Amateur Radio Classes Our initial 2017 classes to assist in bringing 9 new hams into the hobby are off to a running start and a big “Thank You” is
extended to Bob Lawrence K8HV for leading the effort, and to several other MCRC members who have devoted some of
their Saturday mornings to ably assist in teaching specific topics.
I have been able to ‘sit in’ on a couple of the classes and discovered again just how much fun it can be to bring new
hams into Amateur Radio. We hope to welcome several new members to the club as they pass their exams and get
their call signs.
The welcome we received from the Bacon Memorial Library in Wyandotte has been extended into 2018. In anticipation
of the start of our ‘Safe Soldering & QRP Rig’ classes in January. The library has constructed a “Maker Space” in its upper
loft to accommodate 12 ‘work stations’ for our class members (New Hams & Current Students & Elmers*) to join the
class and learn from each other as we construct QRP (low power) CW (Morse code) equipment from kits. The selection
of the kits is intended to provide elements of a complete, low cost, ‘First’ Ham station. (The conclusion of the classes
will be used to ‘check out’ of the complete assembly and to help the new Hams to get on the air, and make their first
contacts.) For a list of kit options, contact N8FNC @ [email protected] .
Our first 2017 series of classes had to be cut back to only 6 weeks due to library constraints.
Looking forward to the 2018 classes, we plan to begin with a 10 week “Technician Class license + Morse code” and a
companion - 10 week “Safe Soldering & QRP Rig” series of classes.
Planning Ahead:
The library has given MCRC “first choice” on the days and times we would like to hold classes. So, we are asking all our
members to consider their available time and to sign up for day/time ‘slot(s)’ to teach one or more classes. The library
opens at 10 AM and closes at 9 PM. Our classes can be scheduled at any time we choose within those bounds.
‘Suggested’ class days and times are:
Saturdays: 10 AM – 11:30 AM – and / or, 2 PM – 4 PM
Mondays or Wednesdays: Evenings 7 PM – 8:30 PM
We have options teaching in the downstairs ‘Reading Room’ or upstairs in the ‘Maker Space’ (Loft). The Reading Room
can accommodate up to about 24 students while the Maker Space (Loft) will be equipped for 12 students at a time.
Our initial plan is to use the Maker Space
(Loft) to teach the Safe Soldering &
QRP Rig classes and the Reading Room
for the Technician License classes.
However each could be used for the
license classes if limited to 12 students.
Possible day and time combinations
for the MCRC classes are shown on right:
Mon Eve Wed Eve Sat AM Sat PM
Room Both Loft Both Both
Class # Date Date Date Date
1 1/22/2018 1/17/2018 1/20/2018 1/20/2018
2 1/29/2018 1/24/2018 1/27/2018 1/27/2018
3 2/5/2018 1/31/2018 2/3/2018 2/3/2018
4 2/12/2018 2/7/2018 2/10/2018 2/10/2018
5 2/19/2018 2/14/2018 2/17/2018 2/17/2018
6 2/26/2018 2/21/2018 2/24/2018 2/24/2018
7 3/5/2018 2/28/2018 3/3/2018 3/3/2018
8 3/12/2018 3/7/2018 3/10/2018 3/10/2018
9 3/19/2018 3/14/2018 3/17/2018 3/17/2018
10 3/26/2018 3/21/2018 3/24/2018 3/24/2018
- article
continued on
Page 5
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- continued from Page 4
Specific days and times for all classes at the library need to be selected by our volunteer ‘Elmers’.
To sign up to teach one or more classes, contact Denise, KC8HDX, our club administrative assistant at
[email protected] with the days and times you want to select. We all look forward to a great new year in 2018
with lots of fun with new students and members.
*Elmers (From the ARRL) “Elmering or mentoring has long been the backbone of Amateur Radio. While technology constantly evolves, the
human interaction between hams will not be replaced and will always remain one of the hobby's strongest traditions. As licensed hams we are all
ambassadors of Amateur Radio and we should always be looking at ways in which we can welcome newly licensed hams and project a positive
image that will attract others to ham radio.” http://www.arrl.org/elmer-award
International Space Station astronauts
are calling CQ students
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals from U.S. schools,
museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member
aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 31, 2018.
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with opportunities to learn about space technologies and
space communications through the exploration of Amateur Radio. The program provides learning opportunities by
connecting students to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through a partnership between NASA,
the American Radio Relay League, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation and other Amateur Radio organizations
and worldwide space agencies. The program's goal is to inspire students worldwide, to pursue interests and careers in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through Amateur Radio.
Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program inspires an interest in STEM
subjects and in STEM careers. Ninety-two percent of educators who have participated in the program have indicated
that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration, discussion, and participation, and 78 percent said that
ARISS was effective in stimulating student interest in STEM.
ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-
developed education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research
conducted on the space station, what it is like to work in space, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students
learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions.
ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.
The proposal deadline for 2018 contacts is November 15, 2017.
The ARISS website has additional details on expectations, proposal guidelines, and the proposal form. See:
http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html
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Manager reopens
Jefferson City Missouri RadioShack It is not often that you see a company go out of
business and quickly reopen in the same location, but
that is exactly what Jeff Pederson and Trevor “Reed”
Freers have done with the Jefferson City RadioShack.
Freers was the manager of the original store for six years
before RadioShack went bankrupt and closed all of its
stores nationwide. “I saw a lot of people lose their jobs,”
Freers said. “As the marketing manager, I was the one
who had to let a lot of those people go. It was really sad.”
Freers’s store was one of the last to close as they
continued to do well under his high level of customer
service, which often including going to customers’
homes to make sure they were satisfied with their
purchases and helping customers set up or troubleshoot
new devices. “Running this store, I really grew to love
the community,” Freers, who is originally from Kansas
City, Missouri, said.
When Pederson contacted him about managing a
privately owned RadioShack in the same location, Freers
was excited at the chance to get back to doing what he
loves. RadioShack’s corporate office stayed open as a
distribution center only and began offering opportunities
for private ownership, which allows owners and
managers to purchase stock from the RadioShack
distribution center as well as other distribution centers
and offer competitive pricing.
“This is a good opportunity for people to get into
a small business,” Pederson said. Pederson gave Freers
quite a bit of freedom in setting up the store, which he
completely remodeled on his own.
The newest addition to the store, unique to the
Jefferson City location, is the area Freers named the
“Makers’ Space.” This open area of the store will be
home to the many classes the store now offers, such as
soldering classes, drone classes and monthly training
sessions on how to set up and use a cell phone.
“These types of programs were dropped by
RadioShack years ago,” Freers said. “Now we have the
opportunity to bring them back. We have to get to the
next generation. RadioShack will die out if we don’t get
to them.”
The Makers’ Space will include 3D printers,
scanners, HAM radio, soldering stations and classroom
style workspaces. - http://www.citizentribune.com
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The last 2017 Fox Hunt was October 21st. Another
splendid season comes to an end.
2017 Season Monthly Winners:
May 20th Bruce AC8KD
June 17th Stan K8SB and Ruth WB8AFO
July 22nd Bob K8HV and Larry KE8HCD
August 19th Bruce AC8KD
September 16th Woody N8MWQ
October 21st Stan K8SB and Ruth WB8AFO
Congratulations to Bruce AC8KD and Bob K8HV. They
have tied this year for first place for overall points.
Hidden Transmitter
"Fox" Hunt
Hunt
In December after our regular business meeting on
December 8th, we will be having the traditional potluck
dinner in celebration of Christmas. Everyone always has a
great time. Please bring a dish to pass and join us for the
fun and fellowship.
Eugene Merle Shoemaker
(April 28, 1928 – July 18,
1997), also known as Gene
Shoemaker, was an American
geologist and one of the
founders of the field of
planetary science.
His accomplishments continued after his death, when
he became the only person to be buried on the Moon.
Ham Classes at Bacon
Memorial Library Ham classes have been going great at the Wyandotte
Bacon Memorial Library. Classes are every Saturday
from 1000 to 1130 hours. The library is at 45
Vinewood.
Last theory class is November 11th. Everyone
welcome to come out and help teach the class.
There will be test session for all class attendees, and
any others interested in taking the exams, on
November 18th at 1300 hours.
A big thank you to Bob K8HV for coordinating and
teaching the classes this fall. Also thanks so much to
the club members who came and helped Bob teach
our eager students.
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Motor City Radio Club General Membership Meeting
October 13, 2017
Submitted by Admin/Secretary - Denise KC8HDX
1 Meeting called to order at 7:14 p.m. by Vice President Ralph KA8KGW. President Bruce AC8KD was absent
due to a sudden death in the family. One minute of respectful silence was observed. Our condolences to Bruce.
2 Members Present: 34 Guests: 1
3 President’s Report: Board Elections tonight.
4 Vice President Report: read Rules for MCRC new members.
5 Admin Report: Minutes from the last meeting accepted as printed.
6 Treasurer’s Report: The meetings for 2018 will all be held at the Copeland Center. The next meeting will be
the dinner at the Sportsmen’s Den on Nov 11 at 6 p.m. Without objection the Treasurer’s report was accepted
subject to audit.
7 Committee/Coordinator Reports:
a Education – Kimball N8FNC – class size is improving and we have several more students. Kimball brought
several of the soldering units Education is buying. They will be donated to the Bacon Library for use. The
next class will most likely have a soldering class to build a small unit.
Thank you to all the instructors for the demonstrations and teaching the classes.
b. Fox Hunts – October 21st is the last fox hunt with two very clever foxes as the quarry. Students from the class
have been invited to participate. Come and enjoy the challenge! Breakfast at 0900 at Leo’s Coney Island on Fort St.
Riverview, followed by the foxhunt at 1030 hours.
c. Net Manager/Emergency Communications/Custodian – John N8KAM. John is looking into different forums.
d. Special Events/Publicity/History – Volunteer for this job is needed.
e VE program – Woody N8MWQ will be taking over this program.
f. Spark Gap – Mike W8MRA – please e-mail any articles for the Spark Gap to Mike.
g Webmaster – Jim KD8HFX – going well.
h Librarian – Ray KD8DPZ – no report
8 Awards/Recognition – the new badges are ready for pickup.
9 Refreshments: Coffee: Dale WA8FRD soda/pop: Rick KE8BPZ . Snacks were available. Thank you.
10 No new members at this time
11 Old Business: Ideas, volunteers needed as well as suggestions for a club field trip.
Program Presentations: any ideas for 2018? Let Stan K8SB know what kind of support you may need.
12 Great Lakes Ham Convention – Most enjoyed it and all would like to see more added to the next one.
13 The Special Service Club renewal was just submitted.
14 Club/Board Announcements:
a. Board Meeting: Thursday October 19 – 1930. Leo’s Coney Island, Taylor.
b. Club Breakfast: Saturday October 21st – 0900. Leo’s Coney Island, Riverview.
Newly Elected Board:
President – Don K8THU
Vice President – Rick KE8BPZ
Admin/Secretary - Denise KC8HDX
Treasurer – Dale WA8FRD
There was an excellent program presented by Stan Briggs on Hints and Tips. Complete with musical introductions!
For the good of the Club: The Admin is updating the membership roll for the Club. If you are a new member within the
last year please e-mail your name, call, e-mail address, home address, phone number and license class to the Admin at
[email protected]. Thank you.
Note: The Club has a Facebook page. Please “like” it so that it will be seen by many.
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MCRC Officers
President Don K8THU
Vice President Rick KE8BPZ
Secretary Denise Keeler KC8HDX
Treasurer Dale Poblenz WA8FRD
Custodian John Roberts N8KAM
Trustee(s) Jim Baksa KD8HFX for W8MRM
John Roberts N8KAM for W8GTZ
Parliamentarian Bill Loeber NU3D
Committee Chairs
V.E. Liaison ‘Woody’ Kirkman N8MWQ
Net Manager John Roberts N8KAM
Education Kimball Williams N8FNC
QSL Manager Jim Baksa KD8HFX
Webmaster Jim Baksa KD8HFX
Associate Webmaster ‘Woody’ Kirkman N8MWQ
Spark Gap Editor Mike Antio W8MRA
JACKSON HEIGHTS NYC — A school in Jackson Heights NYC is connecting
families to loved ones in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico and other Caribbean
islands this week. The Garden School currently operates an amateur radio
station that has the ability to send and receive messages from the areas that
have been affected by recent hurricanes and earthquakes.
Ham radios do not require use of a power grid and can run off a small
generator. Garden’s Amateur Radio Club has teamed up with Amateur Radio
Emergency Services to help relay messages to and from locations on the
stricken islands that have lost power and cell phone service.
“It’s providing real-life experience for student from grade 6 through 12,”
Garden School Director of Outreach Jim Gaines said. “The program is in its
second year and it was started by an alumni and a student who had interest
in ham radio. The students are learning geography, meteorology, electronic
and communications. You have an idea and you just make it happen.”
The process begins by making contact with a radio operator and filling out a
ARRL Radiogram of 25 words or less. They can relay a message through
different relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, letting loved ones and
friends know their location, their well-being or any other information.
“You just relay the message from one ham radio operator to the next until
the message arrives, kind of like the pony express,” Gaines said. “Ham radio
enthusiasts actually have competitions for these relays and you get excited
about times like this.”
Since announcing the messaging service to Puerto Rico, more students have
come in to learn about amateur radio, Hale said.
"Students are excited to know that they can help somebody," he said. Senior
Lea Medina is one of a few students who is licensed on her own to relay
messages over the airwaves. Knowing she can transmit and receive messages
to people who don't have other ways of communicating is the "best feeling,"
she said.
"There is not a better feeling than being able to make someone smile," she
said, "or make sure that they feel safe."
If you'd like to send a message to Puerto Rico, email the radio club
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Coming Events
November 4th CW Sweeps Event runs from 2100 UTC Saturday, Nov. 4th. thru 0259 UTC Monday,
Nov. 6th. See Page 2 for Sweepstakes information. November 16th Board Meeting 7:30pm Leo's Coney Island, 19230 Fort St., Riverview.
November 11th. Ham Radio Exam. First United Methodist Church. 72 Oak St. Wyandotte. 9:00am.
November 11th. 2017 Annual Dinner. 6pm. November dinner is also the November General
Membership meeting.
November 18th Club Breakfast 9am Leo's Coney Island, 9845 Telegraph Road, Taylor.
November 18th. Ham Radio Exam. Wyandotte Bacon Library. 45 Vinewood St. Wyandotte.
This exam starts at 1pm.
November 18th Phone Sweeps Event runs from 2100 UTC Saturday, Nov. 18th. thru 0259 UTC
Monday, Nov. 20th. See Page 2 for Sweepstakes information.