April Meeting

This month, Jerry KC8FAR will be doing a demonstration on Slow Scan Television. With the advances in digital modes, you no longer need to spend money on expensive equipment to enjoy SSTV. A simple interface between your radio and you computer sound card will let you send and receive pictures across the globe. You can use the same interface for Packet, PSK31, RTTY, and more. There are many different computer programs that you can download for free, some that will even do multiple digital modes. Clint Hurd - KK7UQ has a very complete presentation on interfaces along with different programs you can download at http://www.waypoint.com/users/~discobay/Sound_Card_Presentation.htm .

Upper Peninsula Skywarn

Upper Peninsula (U.P.) Skywarn is an informal, non-profit group of amateur radio operators, meterologists, and weather spotters dedicated to serving severe weather awareness in northern Michigan. U.P. Skywarn members primarily communicate via their local amateur radio repeater and maintain a private email distribution list called "UPSkywarn" used to disseminate urgent weather bulletins, organize Skywarn activities in the U.P., and serve as a technical amateur radio and weather discussion forum. Although primarily intended for U.P. hams, those in the N.L.P. and Soo, ON will find this site useful also since it includes images and news from National Weather Service Marquette and Gaylord. There are also lots of forecast links, warning maps, satellite/radar images, Skywarn training information, and APRS information. It is an excellent site with tons of information check it out at http://kcra-mi.net/skywarn/mission.html or follow the link on the SAARC home page.

QRP To The Field 2008 -- Days Of Yore

If you have ever wanted to operate QRP out in the field, the QRP to the Field contest may be just what you are looking for. This event is geared toward having fun while operating away from commercial power. Museums is this year's theme, courtesy of Henning Mikkelsen OZ4XF. Some of the smaller museums make an excellent venue to showcase amateur radio in a public place and do a little recruiting for the hobby. If you can't make it to a museum, by all means, set up outside in your back yard, away from commercial power as a field station.

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008. Time: 1500Z Apr. 26 to 0300Z Apr. 27. Bands: 40-20-15-10 meters, in the vicinity of the QRP calling frequencies, please be courteous to others. Mode: CW only. QRP only: 5 watts or less. Categories: Single Op Museum station / Multi Op Museum station / Single Op Field Station / Multi Op Field Station / Home Station. Exchange: RST + SPC (State, Province, or Country). Example: 559 NM. Scoring: Work all stations once per band.QSO pts - 1 pt for each QSO per band. SPCs pts - count once per band. Bonus points: Use SPCs received to fill in the blanks with the state abbreviation whose FIRST letter matches the individual letters in the words "Olden Days" without duplicating states. Remember to use the summary sheet, or you will miss out on the extra points. Each letter filled in is worth 100 pts (up to 900 max) Example: A=AZ, D=DE, S=SD, L=LA, etc. Note: Wyoming (WY)= Y; North Dakota (ND) and South Dakota (SD) can also count as N or D, S or D, but not both N and D, or S and D; E is a given, be sure to count it in your bonus score. Location Multiplier: Museum station = x5 / Field station = x3 / Home Station = x1. Final Score: Total pts x Total SPCs x Location + Bonus Points = Final Score A summary sheet is also available at the web site: http://www.zianet.com/QRP. Deadline: Send complete logs and summary sheets by June 1, 2008. Summary sheets must include a description of location and equipment used. It is preferred that you use the summary sheet that has been designed for this particular event, it makes the scoring easier. Please also include photographs and a brief write-up, it will be much appreciated! Your log should include a minimum of time (in UTC), callsign of station worked, complete exchange received, RST sent (if not a static exchange). Incomplete submissions will be used as check logs. Take your time and use a calculator if needed. Email submission: send complete logs and summary sheets in ASCII text format only to: n0qt@arrl.net. Please send text format only (.txt), all other forms will be rejected so no html, dta, bin, word processor documents or attachments please. Snail mail: send complete logs and summary sheets to:

Jan Harden N0QT
QRPTTF 2008
P.O. Box 1768
Socorro NM 87801

SAARC VEC

Here is the schedule of our test sessions for 2008. Please contact KG8JK, our test liaison, at least one week prior to the test date if you are planning on attending. We have several new VE's around so if you are one of them and would like to participate in the test session, give me a call. We would love to have you. Please call 231-348-5043 or email kg8jk@qsl.net. To save wear and tear on our small group of ve's, we will cancel a test session if no one signs up. We are also looking for someone to take over as the VE Liaison officer as I will be starting graduate school in the fall, which will require me to be gone most Saturdays. It is not a difficult or time consuming job and is a rewarding way to give back to the hobby

June 7th
October 4th
December 6th

These dates are subject to change so be sure to check "The Static" for updates

Remember to bring a photo ID, a copy of your license and, if applicable, a copy of your "Certificate of Successful Completion of Element" you received at your last session. You will also need $14, a pen and pencil, and a calculator if you think you'll need it.

SAARC Area Nets

MONDAY
08:00 pm EST - The Bill DeMay Memorial Two Meter Social Net
146.680- MHZ pl 110.9

TUESDAY
08:30 pm EST - TopOf Michgan Social Net
146.820 MHZ w/Pl 118.8

WEDNESDAY
08:00 pm EST - The Chain O' Lakes Net
147.280 MHZ w/Pl 103.5

THURSDAY
01:00 Z - Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Services Net
Primary net frequency 146.520 MHZ Secondary frequency 146.550 MHZ
Net Control - Jim Davis - KC8NTE 

SATURDAY
08:30 pm EST The Dip Net
146.680- MHZ pl 110.9 - Net Control - Cliff Rosebohm KC8NVI

DAILY
06:30 pm EST The Nothern Lower and Eastern Upper Pennisula Traffic Net
146.64- MHZ - Net Control - Marv DeWitt KC8MLD

22:00 UTC - The Michigan Upper Peninsula Net
3.921 MHZ - Pre-net at 21:30 UTC
Additional net on Sundays at 1700 UTC

Bill DeMay Memorial Net Controllers

Here are your net controllers for the Monday night net. Cliff KC8NVI and DeWayne KC8LJX will be taking the first and third Mondays of the month. On the other days we will have a "Wild Card" net controller. One of the people standing by will step in and run the net for the evening. It is not difficult (all you need is a pad of paper and a pen), it is great practice for controlling radio traffic during an emergency, and it is lots of fun. If you are interested in signing up ahead of time for a particular Monday night, just let me know and I can add you in whenever you would like to give it a try.

 

2008 Michigan QSO Party

Attention Michigan Amateurs!!!!

It's that time of year again! It's time to gear it up and get ready for the 2008 Michigan QSO Party.

The MiQP has something to offer for everyone and there is no shortage of reasons for joining in on the fun on April 19th, 2008.

Last year was a good year for the MiQP. Activity was up and we hope to do even better this year.

We hope to see an increase in activity within the traditional amateur radio clubs in Michigan. I think that most clubs are looking for special activities and the MiQP has some features that should be considered in filling this need.

This type of event is what it's all about. It is a group activity that can be a source enjoyment before, during and after the event! This year we will have the traditional categories such as Single-Operator, Multi-Operator and Mobile. But in addition to these, we are adding a new "Emergencies Operation Center" EOC category. This will provide an opportunity to brush up your clubs emergency operation skills and provide great training (and fun). This would also be a great opportunity to expose some of your newer members to emergency communications operations, but in a less formal environment.

As you can see from the rules listed below, this is only a 12 hour event. Please consider getting on the air for the whole thing, or any portion of the 12 hour period. You can operate from home, portable, mobile or at the clubs EOC. With the support of mobile and portable stations, we plan on having activity in all 83 counties.

Last but not least, we ask those of you that have participated in the MIQP to please help us get the word out and encourage other Michigan hams and radio clubs to participate and join the fun. See http://www.miqp.org for more details and the rules:

Date /Time: Michigan QSO Party, sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club, from 1600Z April 19th t until 0400Z April 20th. Stations may operate the full 12 hours. (12 noon to 12 midnight local Michigan time on April 20th )

Modes and Categories: Phone and CW on 80/40/20/15/10 meters. Single-op, multi-op, mobile and Emergencies Operations Center (EOC) categories. Single-op entries are categorized by output power, QRP (5W or less), Low Power (100W or less), and High Power (greater than 100W)

Multipliers: Work stations once per band and mode. Work other states and Michigan Stations. MI to MI QSO's are allowed. Work portables and mobiles again as they change counties, state or province.

Exchange: Exchange QSO number and location (county for MI stations, state/province or "DX" for others).

Scoring: One point per phone QSO, two points per CW QSO. Count multipliers once per mode. Multipliers are MI counties for all entries, plus states & provinces for MI entries only. Final score is total QSO points times total multipliers.

Freqs: Suggested frequencies: CW-3545, 7045, 14045, 21045, 28045; Phone-3800, 7200, 14250, 21300, 28450.

Log Submittal: Mail logs no later than 30 days after the contest to: Mad River Radio Club, c/o Dave Pruett, 2727 Harris Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 or via e-mail to logs@miqp.org

More Information: For complete rules, along with free logging software, log and summary sheets, see http://www.miqp.org

73 es cu April 19th 2008

Mark NU8Z

Straits Area Amateur Radio Club
Petoskey High School
Room 106
Petoskey, MI. 49770
Minutes for March, 2008

Meeting started at 7:02 pm - 20 present

Treasurers Report:

Savings $79.33. Checking $702.38. Total $781.71. Motion to approve made by Irv ( KC8YOJ). Seconded by Jack (KB8RJ). Motion approved

Old Business:

Fliers (5) will be sent to the Cadillac club to be used for the drawings during their swap. Receiptients will get 1 free admission to our October swap.

New Business:

Ham of the Year Cliff (KC8NVI)

Chain of Lakes Net starting again. Wednesday at 8 pm on 146.28 PL= 193.5

Discussion of having a 50/50 drawing each ½ hour during our swap at a cost of $1.00. At the end of the swap have a grand prize 50/50 drawing at a ticket cost of $3.00. Topic will be tabled until the April meeting.

Mike (K8RVR) contacted Kent Cartright from Boy Scouts. Kent is the scoutmaster and also a ham. Can SAARC set up a demo? See Mike if you are willing to help.

Starting at the April meeting the attendance sheet will by type written. Please correct any information and fill in the left hand column. If your name does not appear on the list, please add your information at the end of the list. This new, improved list complements of Jack (KC8VXI). Thanks Jack!

Motion to close at 7:24 made by Bob (KD8CYQ) Seconded by Ralph (WB8TBL).

10 minute break for cookies and beverage

Introduction of Meteorologist Jim Keysor and Forcaster Jeff Lutz (KC8CWI) from the National Weather Service in Gaylord.

Jim presented the 2008 Severe Weather Spotter and Safety Course. This excellent, and sometimes humorous, program was concluded at 9:00 pm

Submited by Jack Staats (KB8RJ), Secretary

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FOR SAARC Dues: Regular - $10.00 Student - $5.00 Family - $15.00 Associate - $4.00 Help support this great organization and repeater system. Thank You.   Name - Call Sign   Address   City/State/Zip   Phone Email Send to: Maxine Holmes KC8WXN 4047 Quarter Mile Rd. Harbor Springs, MI 49740 Make Checks Payable To: STRAITS AREA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Regular______ Family_______ Student_____Associate______TOTAL______

www.qsl.net/k4adl 

  The SAARC Officers

73 KG8JK