May Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for May 15. Jeff Morey WD8DX, (formerly KB8TY) has offered to do a program on APRS, Automatic Position Reporting System. APRS is a system developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, which uses amateur radio to transmit position reports, weather reports, and messages between users. Jeff has several stations from which he logs into the system and posts reports.

We will also be discussing our preparations for the Swap coming up on July 14 and our annual Field Day outing. Our goal this year for Field Day is to get everyone who comes up to make at least a few contacts on one of the four stations that we will have set up. I will be doing a presentation on Field Day at our June meeting and will show everyone how to use the logging program that will keep track of our contacts.

NLEUP Traffic Net

We have been working on getting people familiar with handling traffic using the NTS format. Besides the presentation that Chuck Brew did at a recent club meeting, Jim Davis has regularly been passing traffic on the NMARES 2 meter net on Thursday nights. If you are looking for more opportunities to practice copying NTS messages, The Northern Lower Easter Upper Peninsula Traffic Net takes place every day on the 146.64- repeater (no pl). Marv KC8MLD is the net controller and the net starts at 6:30 local time seven days a week. They are a friendly bunch of guys so be sure to stop by and give them an extra check-in

Straits Area Amateur Radio Club
Petoskey High School
Room 106
Petoskey, MI. 49770

Minutes for April 17, 2007

President: Jack Felton KC8VXI Called Meeting to Order At 7:30pm.

Introduction of members present ((19)

Minutes of March Printed in Static Motion by KD8CYQ Bob, Seconded by Bernie K8ZI to approve minutes in static with no corrections. Motion Approved.

Treasurer Report: Given by DeWayne KC8LJX for Maxine KC8WXN Savings $79.33, Checking $1,200.00. Total of Accounts $1,279.33. . Motion by Bernie K8ZI Seconded by KD8CYQ Bob, to approve Treasurer Report as read. Motion Approved.

Old Business. Discussion on AARL letter regarding requirements, per ARRL Sanctioned Swaps and Special Events, Dirk KG8JK said everything has been taken care of.

John KA8DRJ reported he had a quote from Seeley's Printing for Swap tickets of $107.00, he also talked to another print shop and their price was higher. After discussion, John will order tickets from Seeley's printing.

Bill KD8CNS, said that the CCECPSCO has purchased a Trailer for their use and will be outfitting it soon.

New Business Bill KD8CNS explained that AB8VV Jerry Cokewell will be doing a code class soon, and if anyone needs a ride to Gaylord contact him, Bill.

The General class is still on for anyone who wants to upgrade, cost will be about $20.00. Contact Jack KC8VXI. He will be the instructor.

Motion to adjourn to high school shop to build J Pole antennas by Jack KB8RJ, Seconded KC8YLJ Herb. Motion approved.

Program: A good time was had by all.

Editor's note: We had several people building J-Poles, John Meeks brought in his monster 6 Meter J-Pole and we helped him tune it up. Bill Dunstan was working on a "backpack" style 2 meter dipole made from TV rabbit ears. I gave up on the j-pole for 6 meters due to the price of copper and made a rotatable dipole for 6 out of the remains of an ill fated HF beam.

Respectfully Submitted by Annette KC8QII

Cookie Report

Here is who will be bringing you treats for the next couple months at our club meeting. Just one other reason to attend.

May - Bob Still

June - Bill Dunstan

July - DeWayne Holmes

SAARC VEC

Here is the schedule of our test sessions. 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.You can 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

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

All sessions will be in room 106 of Petoskey High School at 10:00 am.
*12:30 after the Swap 

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 - Net Control - Rotating

WEDNESDAY
08:00 pm EST The Chain - O - Lakes Net
147.280+ MHZ pl 103.5 - Net Control - Rotating

THURSDAY
01:00 Z Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Service 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 - Net Control - Rotating - 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. So far we only have three net controllers to share the load. If you would like to be added into the list, just let any of the current controller know. I am sure they would be happy to have the help.
 

Pandemic Exercise

Friday was a good day for Ham Radio. Seven members of the CCECPSCO joined forces to support the communications needs of the Pandemic Exercise In Cheboygan and represent Ham Radio to the area's professional emergency services. In attendance were...

Chuck Brew, N8NXP  Bob Still, KD8CYQ  Jim Davis, KD8BST

Tom Swiger, WA8AA  Jim Davis, KC8NTE  Craig Stewart, KB8KPV  Chuck Scott, N8DNX

Considering this was a Friday morning, and during work hours, this attendance by the CCECSPCO did not go un-noticed by the rest in the room. Upon arriving at the Cheboygan EOC, we flew into action routing the antenna cable from the dual-band antenna at that end of the building through the ceiling across to the communications center at the opposite end of the room. Thanks to the nice folks with maintenance, the cable had already been run through the outside wall and into the space above the drop ceiling. We made a point to thank them for this and they responded by asking about how to get a license--we pounced like hungry dogs on that opening. After a short orientation meeting, two were deployed to the High School Bus Garage (KC8NTE and KB8KPV) where they used typical Ham ingenuity to establish communications using a ladder, some kind of mast they located and a 2 meter beam provided by John KC8OAZ for this event. (Don't tell him we actually used it on UHF!) Two others (WA8AA and KD8CYQ) deployed to the Cheboygan Hospital where they applied diplomacy in the best Ham tradition to establish their presence there in spite of there being no formal notice of their participation. N8NXP, KD8BST, and N8DNX remained at the EOC to provide central communications and message routing where N8NXP performed with honor under pressure handling communications with all points. In addition to our full coverage of the three Cheboygan locations, traffic was passed with the Alpena EOC via the 147.020 repeater and through them to Mt. Morency. Later a request was made that we establish communications with Munson Health Center in Traverse City, which we did via the 443.375 repeater and remote base to link to the 146.860 repeater in Traverse City. What they didn't tell us was that nobody was manning that location for the exercise. Undaunted, and intent on proving our point, communications was establish to the Leelanau County EOC using that configuration and noted as so in an ETeam Agency Sit Report update. In the end, we received personal thanks from several of the other agencies represented and a thanks from Jack Messer in the follow-up meeting, thus establishing the CCECPSCO as a communications force to be used, not abused. Also, special thanks go to Craig KB8KPV and Jim KC8NTE for their heroic efforts in saving my tower from a fatal collapse. In a quick three hours, these two, and to some extent myself, installed guy wires on my tower at home which, upon inspection, turned out to have more serious problems than I thought.

Thanks to all in attendance!

Chuck Scott - N8DNX

Dayton

On Thursday, May 17 a group of us will be heading down to enjoy the Dayton Hamvention. We will be staying at Sycamore State Park just seven miles from Hara Arena. If you are going to be at the Hamvention, be sure to stop by and check out the group campsite where we are staying. Saturday night we will be barbecuing and enjoying a campfire and you are all more than welcome to join us. We will be monitoring146.68 simplex if you need directions or I can give you a map at our May meeting. I hope to bring a G5RV and a rig so we can play a little radio. If anyone is still interested in going, we have space for two left in my vehicle and plenty of room at the campsite.

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