The
Marinette and Menominee Amateur Radio Club
GROUND WAVE
Repeater
Frequencies 147.00 MHZ & 444.075 Mhz
Club Net: Sunday 7PM 147.00 MHz
Simplex DX Spotting and Ragchew Frequency 146.55
Web Page: http://w8pif.com
Officers
President: Dave Cunningham, NS9R
Vice President: Dwight Bosselman, W9YQ
Treasurer: Tom Rynish N8LHB
Secretary: Jim Callow K8IR
The MMARC Newsletter November 2003
The
November meeting of the M&M Amateur Radio Club will be held on Thursday
November 13th at 7pm in the meeting room at Spies Public Library on
First Street in Menominee. We’ve
had an excellent turnout for our meetings this fall.
We hope to see you this month.
The
club’s annual Christmas Party takes the place of the December meeting on
Thursday, December 11th. The
party will be held at Schusslers in Peshtigo. We will be using their small banquet room. Full details are on the
reservation form included in this month’s Ground Wave. Please be sure to
return your form by the deadline of December 3rd.
A
reminder that it’s time to renew your club membership. Dues are $15 for
individuals, and $22.50 for families. You
can pay at a meeting or send your check to PO Box 1082, Marinette, WI 54143.
Those who have not paid by December 31st are removed from
the membership roster.
We
sadly note the passing of Keith Tonn, N9PQV on October 6th, 2003.
Keith was a longtime member of the club.
He was a familiar face at nearly all club meetings and functions.
He also visited many hamfests around the state.
Our condolences to his family.
HAM CLASSES IN PROGRESS…
Technician
Licensing classes began on Saturday November 1st at the Stephenson Public
Library in Marinette. Classes are held from 10am to noon each
Saturday with a break for the Holidays. Classes will resume in January
and conclude with a VE testing session sometime late Jan. or Feb. Class
instructors are K8IR, W9YQ, AA9GZ, KG8CX, W8RJ, WA8WG, and WC9E. We
welcome additional people who would like to get involved in helping to
increase the amateur radio ranks. Contact any of the above if
interested.
For
the third time in five years, the Marinette and
Menominee ARC has topped the Michigan QSO Party In-State Club
Competition. The club racked up 662,000 points with just four entries.
The second place Adrian ARC had 633,000 points with 17 entries.
The
club total included 351,000 points from the W8PIF station, set up in a
Menominee County deer camp. Operators included AA9PB, K0SN, K8NB, NS9R, W9YQ, and Jake Mans.
It was W8PIF’s third win in five years in the Multi-Op, Multi-Transmitter
category. Other scores included
KE9S, operating portable from Iron County, and K8IR and K5OT, who operated
mobile, covering all counties in the UP between them.
The
club and W8PIF will receive their plaques by December 31st.
ABRAMS - WAUSAUKEE REPEATER LINK PROGRESS…
Latest
news on this project is that a new controller with voice, time and message
capabilities has been added to the WA8WG Wausaukee repeater. Actual
linking should be coming soon since all necessary antennas, radios, and
components are already in place at both the Abrams and Wausaukee locations.
A remote receive site in Marinette will also be operational sometime soon.
The Wausaukee repeater operates Encode and Decode at 136.5 PL, while the
Abrams machine operates with a 107.2 PL.
NEW HAM - NEW WEBSITE…
A
new call sign appeared recently in Oconto County, and along with it an
impressive new ham radio website...
Jim,
KC9EWF of Oconto Falls has just gotten his Technician and General license, and
has put together a neat web page. You can access it at www.ham101.com
or just go to the club webpage at http://w8pif.com
and click on the KG8CX page.
Jim
is anxious to get involved in ham radio and meet some area hams. One of
his elmers was Les, KG8SQ of Escanaba, whom many of us are acquainted with
down here. He is currently studying for his Extra ticket.
Jim monitors the 146.880 Wausaukee repeater primarily, but does get around to other repeaters with a good signal. Welcome him to the ham radio ranks when you hear his call, or better yet, give him a shout on the Wausaukee repeater.
With
the advent of LOGBOOK of the World and the FCC's creation of the 60m band
amateur radio has new opportunities to explore. LOGBOOK of the World (LoTW)
rolled out on September 15th this year with the promise of
simplifying the process of confirming a QSO via the internet. There was a nice
write-up in the October issue of QST that explained how it works and the
process involved to sign up. W9YQ and K8IR participated in the beta test of
LoTW both indicated it was a slick way to confirm QSO's. You can learn more
about LoTW by visiting the ARRL website www.arrl.org/lotw.
Another
development this summer was the addition of a 5MHz band to the amateur radio
spectrum. There are some strings attached: transmissions are limited to USB,
power is limited to 50W effective radiated power (ERP) and is restricted to
the following frequencies: 5330.5, 5346.5, 5366.5, 5371.5 and 5403.5 kHz.
There is a nice write-up in the August QST that attempts to explain the
reasons for the rules the FCC attached.
These
are two of the latest opportunities hams have at their disposal to learn from.
I hope you get a chance to explore and make use of them. See you on the radio.
73,
de
ns9r
The
fifth annual SKYWARN Recognition Day, co-sponsored by the National Weather
Service and American Radio Relay League, will be held on Saturday, December 6,
2003. All Amateur Radio operators
are welcome to visit the Marquette National Weather Service office between the
hours of 0000 UTC to 2400 UTS on December 6th.
(Although we have no official word at
press time, the Green Bay office will probably also be participating.)
The
purpose of the event is to recognize amateur radio operators for the vital
public service they perform during times of severe weather, and to strengthen
the bond between radio amateur and their local National Weather Service
office.
The
National Weather Service appreciates the assistance provided by amateur radio
operators during times of severe weather by providing real-time reports of
severe events and storm evolution throughout the year.
Personnel from NWS have stated, "You simply can't put a price tag
on it".
The
Alger County Emergency Coordinator is looking for amateur radio volunteers to
assist with communications for the "Seney 300 Sled Dog Run" which is
an Iditarod Qualifier run. The
event will run December 14th through the 19th.
Anyone
interested in volunteering should e-mail Skip KA8IXC at skipkwas@up.net .
Volunteers
must provide their own food, shelter and radio equipment.
Murphy's
Law is usually summed up as "whatever can go wrong, will."
We have all been “visited by Murphy” in the course of our hobby.
The original "Murphy"--- the late Edward A Murphy Jr.--- was
recently and belatedly honored for coining the phrase some 50 years ago during
early rocket sled experiments at Edwards Air Force Base in
California.
See
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994231
The
meeting was called to order at 7:10pm in the Spies Public Library meeting room
by Vice President Dwight, W9YQ.
W9YQ
thanked the past officers for their service to the club .
Members
and Guests introduced themselves. Guests
were Ben Steimle, W9ZFX, Damon Whitmar, and Greg Steimle.
Bill,
WA8WG moved to approve the September minutes as printed in The Ground Wave.
Second
by Ed, KG8CX.
Treasurer
Tom, N8LHB was not present. No treasurer’s report.
COMMUNICATIONS:
K8IR
reported the results of the Michigan QSO Party in April.
W8PIF won the Multi-Multi category. The M&M ARC won the club
plaque, for the third time in five years.
REPEATER
REPORTS:
Ed,
KG8CX reported the 147 and 444 repeaters were “working great”.
Earl,
KB9DSV reported his Abrams repeater (146.835) tower was increased in height to
130 feet (to the tip), improving reception.
The UHF antenna and transmission line are ready for the link to the
Wausaukee repeater.
Bill,
WA8WG reported “we’re getting there” on the link between the Abrams and
Wausaukee repeaters.
NET
REPORT:
Ed,
KG8CX, reports the Sunday net is doing very well.
OLD
BUSINESS:
W9YQ
passed out copies of the Club’s Constitution and By-Laws.
A
moment of silence was observed for Keith Tonn, N9PQV, who became a Silent Key
October 6th.
W9YQ
reminded members of the Fish Fry to be held October 17th at
Cramer’s Golf Course south of Peshtigo.
George, N9UGG, is taking reservations.
NEW
BUSINESS:
W9YQ
reported that the club has made reservations at Schusslers in Peshtigo for the
Christmas Party on Thursday December 11th. Social hour at 6pm. Dinner at 7pm. Attendees will have the choice of three items, chicken, fish,
and steak, off the regular menu. Reservation
forms will be included in the November Ground Wave.
Due
to high interest, License Classes will be held this fall, starting on November
1st. Paul, WC9E will
reserve a room on Saturday mornings at the Stephenson Public Library. Those
who volunteered as instructors include: KG8CX, K8RJ, K8IR, WA8WG, W9YQ, and
AA9GZ. WC9E will help as much as
he is available. Notices will be
put in the local papers and on Cable Channel 9.
Earl,
KB9DSV volunteered to bring soda and water to the meetings. Profits from the
sale of these items will go towards a picnic.
Bill,
WA8WG, offered to do programs on cavity tuning and APRS at future meetings.
A
discussion was held on the status of the EOC at the new Marinette County Jail
building. Bill, WA8WG said he would be willing to donate an HF station for the
EOC. Bill said he would invite
Marinette County Emergency Director Eric Lohman to a future meeting.
A
motion to adjourn was made by Earl, KB9DSV and seconded by Bob, AA9GZ.
Submitted
by Jim Callow, K8IR
Secretary
Those
in attendance:
Jim
Callow K8IR
Dwight Bosselman, W9YQ
John Goldschmidt, KC9AXH
George Benoit, N9UGG
Louis S. Parkansky, AA9JH
Paul Drees, WC9E
Jim Voss, KC8WJO
Bob Jarnutowski, K8RJ
Larry Buchholz, N9OSF
Nancy Buchholz, KA9UZC
Aaron Buchholz, KC9CTJ
Earl Andre, KB9DSV
Bill Becks, WA8WG
Dave Arnold, W8DXX
Kurt Berge, K8BKA
Bob Schrader, AA9GZ
Ben Steimle, W9ZFX
Damon Whitmar
Greg Steimle
Ed Engleman, KG8CX
Bill Peterson, KB9URW
Eric Janssen, KG9GH
Earl Bramschreiber, KC8WJN
Club members and guests are cordially invited to
attend
the M & M Amateur Radio Club
Christmas
Party
RESERVATIONS
ARE REQUIRED!
PAYMENT
MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR RESERVATION
Place:
Schussler’s Supper Club
W 3529 County Trunk B
Peshtigo, WI 54157
Time:
6:00 p.m. social - cash bar
7:00 p.m. dinner
Reservations
are due no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2003. Make check payable to M
& M Amateur Radio Club and send to:
M
& M Amateur Radio Club
P. O. Box 1082
Marinette, WI 54143
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail this
portion with your check
Name of club member
_____________________________________
Menu Selection
No.
Total
Grilled Rib-Eye
cut from the Prime Rib roast and steel grilled, 12 oz
How Cooked (Well, Rare, Etc)
________
__ @$16.95
___________
Broasted Chicken,
our famous Banquet chicken
Regular
__ @$12.10
___________
All White Meat __
@$13.30 ___________
Fresh Green Bay Whitefish,
served baked or French-fried
Baked
___ French-fried ___
__ @$14.50
___________
Amount enclosed $ ____________
Note: Prices include tax and tip.
M & M AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Membership Renewal
Name _________________________________
Call Sign _____________________________
(Please print)
I am submitting a check for:
Individual membership $15.00 _____
Family membership $22.50 _____
Please make check
payable to: M & M Amateur Radio Club and mail to:
M & M Amateur Radio Club
ATTENTION: Club Treasurer
P. O. Box 1082
Marinette, WI 54143
If any of the
following has changed, please complete this portion when submitting your
renewal check.
Call sign: ____________________
Street Address ______________________________________________________________
City ___________________________ State _____________ Zip Code _______________
E-mail address ______________________________________________________________
Birthdays/Anniversaries
for the Ground Wave _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
If you currently receive the Ground Wave via snail mail and would like to have it sent to your e-mail address, please provide your e-mail address: ___________________________________
Please remember the club year runs from October 1st through September 30th. Anyone who has not paid their dues by December 31st, 2003 will be removed from our club roster.