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: Jim Callow K8IR
Vice President: Ed Engleman KG8CX
Treasurer: Lynne Rynish N8OSK
Secretary: Gary Luthardt KG9AD
The MMARC Newsletter January 2002
FIRST MEETING OF 2002...
Our first official gathering for the new year will be the regular meeting on January 10th, 7pm in the cafeteria of BAMC. Let's hope for clear weather and no snowstorm as happened last year which caused the January meeting to be cancelled. Some agenda items include: (a) review of the Christmas party (b) looking ahead to the Charter Banquet (c) ARRL member survey (d) ARES. Remember, 12 members are needed for a quorum in order to conduct official business. Hope to see you there.
VE SESSION PRIOR TO MEETING…
The radio club will be testing for all classes of amateur radio licenses--technician, general, extra, on Thursday, January 10th, at 5:30pm in the cafeteria of BAMC in Menominee. This is prior to the regular January meeting of the M&M ARC. If you, a family member, or a friend have thoughts of upgrading, or getting their initial ham license, let Jeff, N9PQU or Ed, KG8CX know. Jeff will be in charge of the testing session, and has ordered out a number of tests, both written and code.
HAM OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED...
Congratulations to Jeffrey Rymer, N9PQU, for being selected as 2001 Ham of the Year by his fellow club members at the December Christmas party. The plaque will be officially presented to Jeff at the Charter Banquet.
CHRISTMAS PARTY A JOYFUL OCCASION...
Thirty-five members and spouses attended our annual
holiday celebration on December 13th at Schusslers in Peshtigo.
Several prizes were given out to lucky people, and of course, the Ham of the
Year was revealed. Check out the club website for several pictures of
the event. Thanks to Lynne, N8OSK, for
organizing the party and the prizes, and to Schussler's Supper Club for
another great social event.
CHARTER NIGHT COMING NEXT…
With the holidays now behind us, we now look forward
to the next major event on the club calendar, the Charter Night Banquet, which
will be held on Saturday February 2nd at Schusslers.
The program will include the presentation of the Ham of the Year
Plaque, ARRL Wisconsin Section Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG, and a video
entitled “The Ham Radio Olympics”, which recounts The World Radiosport
Team Championship (WRTC) 2000, held in Bled, Slovenia. This 24-hour
Olympic-style competition is a celebration of contesting and ham radio. The
video, produced by Oscar-winning producer Dave Bell, W6AQ, debuted at the 2001
Dayton Hamvention. A reservation form can be found in this Ground Wave.
HELP WANTED…
The Bay Area Wireless Association wants to try for the Top Club Score in the Wisconsin QSO Party on Sunday March 10th. Plans are to operate several multi-operator stations, and additional operators are needed. If you’d like to help out, contact Jeff, N9PQU.
MEMBERSHIP ROSTER UPDATED...
As soon after January 1st as possible, the current club roster will be updated on the website. All returning and new members on record as of December 31, 2001 will be listed.
NEW REPEATER UP …
A new repeater is now on the air from Abrams, WI, on
146.835 with a pl of 107.2. KB9DSV, Earl, moved it recently from the
Green Bay area where it had been operating for several years. The
antenna is only 25 feet off the ground, but can be accessed from the
M&M area with a decent outdoor antenna. Plans are for it to be
raised to 50+ feet early in the spring. This is the first Oconto County
2 meter repeater. Check it out when you are mobile, as it is very strong
from Oconto to Green Bay. Earl would like some signal reports from us, so
check it out and let him know how you're receiving it.
FROM THE DAILY DX…
K9ZZ,
Jim Romelfanger, became a silent key Saturday, December 22. Jim edited
"The Badger Smoke Signals." He apparently suffered heart
failure at his home. He was 60. This item is reported to us by
K9GS and W9IXG.
I
DIDN'T THINK I WAS AN EXPERT…
By Jim Mans, AA9PB
Just
the other day I was talking to Ed, KG8CX and discussing the new DXCC Award
called QRP DXCC. I was kind of laughing about how it could not be done, and
telling Ed that I would never even try such a foolish thing. What a waste of
time! Can you imagine getting
into a DX pileup with 5 watts or less? I
do hear it once in a while though. Certainly my thinking was "I'll never
even attempt such a thing". Well
my thinking has changed. A few years ago I entered the Michigan QSO Party as a
CW Only QRP station and had a bunch of fun. When it was all over and the
results came out I ended up with 5th place and got a certificate out of it. I
thought "WOW! that was a freak happening and wont happen again".
Last year I wanted to enter the 160 meter contest but did not have an
antenna. With the persuasion of Jeff, N9PQU,
I was talked into doing it anyway. But all the power I could muster
with the rig on a bad antenna was in the neighborhood of 3.5 to 4 watts. On
160 meters that is considered a joke. But I hung in there and worked only the
S9 signals, [they seemed to be the only ones hearing me] and what do you know,
I won the Wisconsin section in
the QRP Category.
Just
last month was the ARRL Ten Meter
contest. I knew I did not have a chance in that contest. So while talking with
Jeff I mentioned that I did not have the time to put in to do it seriously,
and with Tom K0SN (my elmer) and Jeff to compete with, knew I didn't have a
chance of any kind at winning the Wisconsin Section. [Hey if you don't think
you have a chance why try? right??] WRONG!!
Jeff talked me into [yes again] trying it in the QRP class. So off I
went scanning up and down the band, working the strong signals. It wasn't long
before the band began to die out and there were no more loud ones. I thought
"well that’s it I'm done", when I heard a ZL [New Zealand] in the
head phones. He wasn't that loud but I gave a call anyways, WOW! I just worked a ZL with 5 watts. Now that’s about as far as
you can get in miles as far as DX goes. I was extremely excited!! I could not
believe it! And then another ZL came in the phones, I called and worked him
too, and then a VK [Australia]. This was too good to be true! Working DX QRP?
I
almost could not wait for morning to try for more countries when the band
opened to Europe. I got up around 8:00 am and fired up the rig. What a
surprise! I could hear all kinds of Europeans all over the band. And after
working a ZL and VK the night before my confidence was up, I started to call
them, and WOW! I was working all sorts of countries with just 5 watts. I even
worked a Bangladesh station [considered semi rare].
When
the contest was over I had worked 46 countries plus Hawaii, Alaska, Canada,
And about 42 states in the USA, which brings the count to 50 DXCC countries in
2 days, all with 5 watts.
Believe
me, three QRP contests in as many years certainly does not make me an
"expert", but it did open my eyes to the possibilities and
"POWER" of QRP operating. Don't get me wrong, I am not a QRP
operator by preference. I'm not even a great contester or expert CW operator.
But I am not afraid to try something new or different once in a while. I
already know I did not win the contest. [hey,
if it's not fun or exciting, why do it!]. There is certainly no money in it!
[amateur radio that is] But I did have fun and got excited a few times.
And
as far as QRP DXCC? I think being half way there I'd be nuts not to try it.
[well
maybe I am already nut, but that’s still up in the air]
I guess there are several points to be made here.
1. You don’t need to big a "BIG GUN" to
work DX.
2. Any way you choose to operate is fine, as long as
it is you enjoy it.
3. Even if your not a contester, its a good way to
work DX. [ besides it gives them points and maybe a multiplier]
4. I like to have fun while I'm in the ham shack.
They
say DXing is a lot like fishing. It takes patience, practice, and persistence,
and you never know what you'll catch. I’m not great at fishing, but I still
like to do it. QRP DXing is like
fishing Marlin with an ultra light. It may seem impossible but it sure is
exciting and fun when you get em' on and land em'.
HAVE FUN WITH AMATEUR RADIO!!!!! DE AA9PB
THE
AMATEUR'S CODE…
Gary,
KG9AD brought this to our attention. With the start of a new year, we often
make resolutions. The following
is some great advice as to how we should strive to conduct ourselves as
amateurs:
The Radio Amateur is:
CONSIDERATE...never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the
pleasure of others.
LOYAL...offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs,
local clubs, and the American Radio Relay
League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented
nationally and internationally.
PROGRESSIVE...with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and
efficient station and operation above reproach.
FRIENDLY...slow
and patient operating when requested friendly advice and counsel to the
beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interest of
others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.
BALANCED...radio
is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school, or
community.
PATRIOTIC...station
and skill always ready for service to country and community.
It’s remarkable how this code stands the test of time.
It was originally written in 1928 by Paul M. Segal, W9EEA.
JANUARY
ANNIVERSARIES/BIRTHDAYS...
Anniversary congratulations go out to John and Rosemary Edquist on the 16th. The following celebrate birthdays this month... 7th, Joan Callow; 20th, Connie Bosselman; 27th Lisa Beardsley
CREDITS…
Thanks to Peninsula Office Equipment of Menominee for printing the Ground Wave.
Thanks to Jim, KC8DOA, for hosting the W8PIF 147.000
Repeater on his tower.
