Happy New Year

Well the year is off to a great start. We already had our first test session and helped two hams upgrade their licenses. We have a new group of officers with Jack Felton KC8VXI at the helm as our new president. We are hoping to have plenty of activities to keep you entertained and help you to learn a lot more about amateur radio.

With the New Year, comes the time to make some New Year's Resolutions. Maybe you already have a few in mind but just in case you haven't come up with anything, here are a few suggestions that you may like, and you don't have to eat rabbit food in order to keep them.

- Why not try and check into as many nets as you possibly can. There are plenty of nets on 2 meters that are tons of fun. Look for the list in this issue of the Static and join in on the fun.

- How many club meetings did you attend last year? We have been having a nice group each time and are striving to have some sort of program at each meeting. While you are at it, why not resolve to bring a club member with you who could use a ride and some extra company.

- There is nothing more satisfying than getting someone else interested in Amateur Radio. Find a friend and bring them to a meeting, show them your shack, and help them study for their first ticket.

- Last but not least, resolve to become and active member of the club. If everyone helps out, we can have a lot of fun with all the activities that we are working on this year. And don't forget to pay your dues. I am including a membership form here in the Static so be sure to fill it out and send it into Maxine.

No More Code Tests

Well the big buzz for this year is that the FCC has finally decided to drop the code requirement for all Amateur Radio licensees. After all the rumors that have come and gone through the years this time it is for real. Despite that, there still are plenty of rumors and lots of confusion on what people will need to do to upgrade. Here is information that I received from Maria Somma, AB1FM who works with the ARRL VEC.

· The effective date of the FCC's action will be 30 days after publication in the Federal Register -- most likely in February.

· Once the changes are in effect, all Technician licensees -- whether or not they have passed a Morse code examination -- will have "Tech Plus" operating privileges. This means you will have all of your current VHF/UHF and above frequencies and also will have access to the Novice/Technician Plus frequencies on HF.

· Technicians can upgrade to General by passing the General (Element 3) written exam and to Amateur Extra by also passing the Extra (Element 4) written exam. No Morse code test will be required.

Navigating through the Upgrade Process

1. Technician Amateurs who wish to upgrade to General have a couple of options.

a. We recommend that Technician licensees who have NOT yet passed the General written exam (Element 3) wait until the new rules take effect to upgrade. At a session, the candidate must present a photo ID and their current license, pay the $14 test session fee and fill out the NCVEC form 605. If the Element 3 written exam is passed, the VE team will issue the candidate a CSCE for the upgrade to a general class license.

b. Technician licensees who have already passed the General written exam (Element 3) or wish to pass the General written exam before the rules take effect, will then have to apply for the upgrade at a VE session once the new rules are in place. At a session, the candidate must present a photo ID, their current license and the non-expired CSCE document, pay the $14 test session fee and fill out a NCVEC form 605. If the Element 3 written exam credit is valid, the VE team will issue the candidate a CSCE for the upgrade to a general class license. If the CSCE for Element 3 credit has expired (a CSCE is only valid for 365 days), you will have to retake the examination element in order to receive the credit toward your upgrade.

73,
Maria A. Somma, AB1FM
Manager, ARRL/VEC

Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net

Hello from Jim Davis - KC8NTE
January 2,2006

You are invited to participate in the new Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net

This net will meet every Thursday night at 01:00 Zulu, with the purpose of promoting the development of skills and equipment required to complete point to point contacts using simplex frequencies.

The primary net frequency will be 146.520 mhz with a secondary frequency of 146.550 mhz.

This net will be a challenge to you, and will test your ability to establish reliable contact with other hams in and around Northern Michigan. (Without reliance on our well established local repeater systems.)

The net will act as a forum for exchange of information and provide a opportunity for seasoned hams to share their expertise and act as "ELMERS " for our newer hams.

The net will provide current information on amateur activities in and around the Northern Michigan Area. (Come share your activities with the group.)

The net will explore different modes of communication and will utilize all appropriate amateur radio modes and frequencies, including but not limited to CW, PSK-31, SSB Phone, Slow Scan TV, Echo-Link, IRLP etc. (This net will not just be limited to 2 meter FM phone communications.)

If you have new equipment to test, such as amplifiers, microphones, or experimental antenna designs this is the place to try them out and receive feedback from the net participants. (How do your different antennas compare?)

There will be informal rag chewing at the conclusion of the formal net. (Dust off that equipment and get Radio Active!)

Please pass this information along to anyone you feel might be interested in joining our net.

Also - this net is just starting up and I will be looking for input from the participants for topics and activities. If you have any questions or input please email me at KC8NTE@arrl.net

Thanks and hope hear you on the net

73 for Now

Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net
James E. Davis - KC8NTE - Net Control

Dayton 2007

If you have never had a chance to attend the Dayton Hamvention, this year could be a great chance to attend. We have an opportunity to rent a cabin at a group camping site only 7 miles from Hara Arena. The cabin sleeps 35 and has heat just in case the weather is not so Spring-like. There is a large field with a very big fire pit just outside the cabin. There is plenty of room for antennas and we hope we can do a lot of barbequing instead of having to eat at restaurants. We will be reserving space soon so let me know if you are interested in going along. Jerry and I will most likely be going down in my truck, which has room for three more who would like to share with gas money. The cost apart from food and fuel is only $50 per night for the whole cabin. That's only ten dollars a night if we can get five of us to go and even less if we have a bigger group. It should be a lot of fun and very affordable so set aside May 17- 20 and start saving up for that new rig.

SAARC VEC

Well, now that you know what is going on at the FCC, I am guessing we might get a chance to see a lot of you guys in March for an upgrade. Be sure to make copies of your license, and any CSCE you may have. Also, please contact KG8JK, our test liaison, one week prior to the test date. You can call 231-348-5043 or email kg8jk@qsl.net. If no one signs up for a test session, it will be canceled. So head over to Traverse City in February and pick up that study guide. If you decide to go for the extra class, be sure to see us about becoming a VE.

March 3 - June 2 - July 14* - October 6 - November 3

All sessions will be in room 106 of Petoskey High School at 10:00 am.

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 - Net Control - Rotating

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

THURSDAY 08:00 pm EST The Charlevoix Cheboygan Emmet County ARES RACES Net
146.680 MHZ - Net Control - Rotating

01:00 Z Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net
Primary net frequency 146.520 MHZ Secondary frequency 146.550 MHZ

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

Dues is Dues

Ok, here is your chance to keep that first New Year's resolution. Be sure to fill this out and send it to Maxine. Better yet, bring it to this month's meeting on Tuesday, January 16. We will be having a presentation on the NTS message handling system presented by one of our emergency team members.

 

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______

http://www.qsl.net/k4adl/

  The SAARC Officers

73 KG8JK