News for Amateur Radio Operators In and Around Hillsdale County

 

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Amateur Radio Volunteers are needed to work two local events.  These are great opportunities to get our hobby out in the community.  Please note date change on CAA Head Start Picnic.

 

The Hillsdale County CROP Walk is Sunday, May 5.  CROP walks are community-wide events sponsored and organized by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger.  Volunteers are needed starting about 1:15pm until about 3:30pm to work the parking area, staff a water station at the beach, and monitor points along the trail.  Walker registration starts at 1:30pm the Salvation Army Citadel, 160 E Bacon in Hillsdale (map).  The walk starts at 2pm, walking the Baw Beese Trail to Sandy Beach and returning.  Anyone that can work the trail mobile (on a bicycle or roller blades) is especially needed.  To volunteer, sign up here.

 

The Community Action Agency (CAA) Head Start Picnic is Thursday, May 9.  (Date has changed since original request for volunteers was sent out).  Volunteers are needed from 10am to 12:30pm to work the parking lot detail.  We’ve worked this event for the last three years and had lots of fun.  Free lunch is available to volunteers.  CAA is located at 55 Barnard in Hillsdale  (map).  This is a weekday and many people are working, so if you are off and available we really need your help.  To volunteer, sign up here.

 

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The next monthly Ham Breakfast will be Saturday, May 11 at 8am at the Coffee Shop, 119 W Main in North Adams (map).  Please come join us, even if just for coffee and conversation.

 

 

The next club meeting will be Thursday, May 16 at 7pm at Hillsdale High School (map) in room 131.  Take Bacon Street to Hornet Drive, then turn left at the top of the hill into the parking on the north side of the building.  Use the entrance by the generator.  Everyone welcome.

 

 

Club membership currently stands at 16 as of May 1.  One new member joined in April.  Membership application is available here.

 

 

Field Day is coming up on June 22-23.  Anyone interested in participating in the planning process should contact a member of club leadership.  Your participation is appreciated.  Don’t know what Field Day is?  Cick here for a Field Day primer.  Check out the ARRL Field Day web page and order your official ARRL Field Day gear here.  Field Day will be held at Sprow Tax and Accounting, 3671 Bankers Rd, Hillsdale (map).

 

 

Don Falls KC8AAA has some HF equipment for sale.  The equipment includes a Kenwood TS 930 S w/automatic tuning, Signal-link USB, antenna rotor control and rotor, 6 element 3 band yagi (10,15, &20m bands), a wire dipole for 80 & 40 m, a coax switch, about 60 ft.  of tower, lots of coax cable.  $750 for all.  Also, there is a "hazer" to lower the antennas, etc.  to a convenient working level.  If interested contact Don at 517-368-5384 or kc8aaa@hotmail.com.

 

 

Michigan is one of 12 states testing a new tornado warning system that includes more descriptive language of the storm’s likely impacts, intended to motivate people to take action to safeguard themselves and their families.  The new warnings will include text and language describing the magnitude of the impacts the weather is expected to bring.  The impact-based warnings should give people a better idea of what could happen as a result of the storms.  (MLive.com story)

 

 

The FCC is seeking to reassess RF exposure limits and policies and possibly propose changes to the FCC’s rules regarding human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields.  These proposed changes, announced on March 27, would affect the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97) rules.  The FCC said “The Inquiry is intended to open discussion on both the currency of our RF exposure limits and possible policy approaches regarding RF exposure.  We look forward to developing a complete record to determine whether the current rules and policies should remain unchanged, or should be relaxed or tightened.”   Comments will be accepted until 90 days after the information is published in the Federal Register (this can take up to six weeks after its release by the FCC).  The FCC will be seeking comments to determine whether its RF exposure limits and policies need to be reassessed.  (ARRL story)

 

 

The World's Free Repeater Apps are now available for iPhone and Android.  RepeaterBook enables you to easily find repeaters across the USA, Canada, and Mexico for free, and without a network connection.  (qrz.com story)

 

 

Idaho’s Governor recently signed legislation exempting Amateur Radio support structures from a previous law that required guyed towers “be lighted, marked and painted or otherwise constructed to be visible in clear air during daylight hours from a distance of not less than 2000 feet.”  (ARRL story)

 

 

Over 200 Amateur Radio operators participated in communications for the recent Boston Marathon bombing.  Amateur Radio operators, already in place supporting race operations, performed magnificently in the face of adversity as cell phone systems became overloaded and making phone calls and text messages was difficult.  No Amateur Radio volunteers were injured on the course during the event.  Read the full ARRL story here.

               

 

The Dayton Hamvention Awards Committee announced that it would be withdrawing its Amateur of the Year Award for 2013.  The awards committee had received conflicting information from credible sources regarding the accuracy of the winning nomination.  (ARRL story)  (Hamvention statement)

 

 

The FCC has denied an ARRL Petition that sought reconsideration of the FCC’s decision regarding rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems.  The ARRL made 14 principal points in its Petition, each of which was aimed at urging the FCC to enact additional rules that would permit BPL systems to operate without the severe interference potential inherent in BPL technology.  (ARRL story)

 

 

The Michigan ARRL Section Outing will be held on July 11-14 at the Woodlands Conference Center & Campgrounds in Hale (map).  It's a 4-day fun-filled event hosted by your ARRL Michigan Section Staff involving fun events for the whole family.  Camping, RVing, canoeing, horseshoes, volleyball, softball, boating, swimming facilities are available all day every day of the outing for your pleasure.  The event is free to attend, although campsites and beds in the Bunkhouse have a nominal charge.  Motels and Bed-and-Breakfasts are available just a short drive away.  Meals are potluck but a main course will be provided.  Donations are accepted to help cover costs.  You can stop by for just a day or stay for the entire event.  Click here for more information.

 

 

FCC Enforcement News: In the first quarter of 2013 the FCC issued 23 enforcement actions, including issuing a warning letter to a Michigan ham for communicating with unlicensed individuals on Amateur Radio frequencies.  (ARRL story)  In April the FCC has issued a Citation to a Florida man in response to several complaints about a well pump that was acting as an incidental radiator and causing harmful interference to local radio amateurs.  (ARRL story)

 

 

Upcoming Events

May 2 – Board Meeting

May 5 – CROP Walk (sign up here)

May 9 – CAA Head Start Picnic (sign up here)

May 11 – Ham Breakfast at Coffee Shop in North Adams (map)

May 16 – Club Meeting

May 17-19 – Dayton Hamvention

June 1 - Independent Repeater Association Hamfest

June 1 – Fulton County Hamfest

June 2 - Chelsea Hamfest

June 16 - Monroe Hamfest

June 22-23 – Field Day

July 11-14 – Michigan Summer Family Outing