News for Amateur Radio Operators In and Around Hillsdale County

 

Congratulations to the new club officers that were elected at the club meeting on November 21.  Club officers include President Don Gambill KC8WAU, Vice President Anne Burchardt N8VIF, Secretary Penny Seevers KD8PKY and Treasurer Joe Gosla KD8UJS.  The Board Member at Large position went unfilled.  A special election will be held at the Christmas party to fill this position.

 

 

The next club meeting will be Thursday, January 16 at 7pm at the First United Methodist Church, 45 N Manning in Hillsdale (map).  Park in city lot F and use the east entrance off the alley to the Fellowship Hall in the basement.

 

 

This month the Ham Breakfast will be held on Saturday, December 14 at 8am at the Sidekick Cafe, 4682 Hudson Road in Osseo (map).  Please come join us.

 

 

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 20 for the club Christmas party at the Fayette Street Church of Christ, 131 W Fayette in Hillsdale (map).  More information to follow.

 

 

Club membership currently stands at 19 as of November 30.  One ham joined at the November club meeting.  Membership application is available here (print 2-sided).

 

 

Volunteers are always needed to run the Monday Night Ragchew Net.  Check the Calendar page on the club website for the schedule and results.  And don’t forget to check in at 7pm every Monday on the 147.06 MHz repeater.

 

 

Longtime club member Charlie Hinkle W8CFO is downsizing his station and has some equipment for sale.  Click here for a list.

 

 

Over 75 National Weather Service (NWS) offices throughout the US are scheduled to participate in National SKYWARN Recognition Day on December 7.  During the 24-hour period, radio amateurs will operate stations that largely use call signs issued to local NWS offices for amateur stations at the offices.  The stations are staffed by radio amateur volunteers and provide net control service during weather emergencies and emergency training.  Contacts with amateurs throughout the world are invited.  QSLs will be available from a most of the NWS stations.  (NWS SRD webpage)  (Participating offices)

 

 

Roger Sherman, a communications attorney with strong links to the Democratic Party, has been named acting Wireless Telecommunications Bureau chief.  The WTB oversees Amateur Radio within the FCC.  (ARRL story)

 

 

The ARRL Repeater Directory for Android beta version is available at Goggle Play.  It is free and fully functional until February 28.  After the beta period expires, you must upgrade to the Premium version to retain full functionality.  Click here to for more info or to download.

 

 

The ABC comedy Last Man Standing aired an episode on November 22 that featured a scene with main character Mike Baxter KA0XTT, played by Michigan’s own Tim Allen, in his basement ham shack.  In the scene, Mike heads to his shack with his grandson Boyd to escape a houseful of guests waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to be served.  Click here to watch the full episode.  The show’s producer John Amodeo NN6JA and several members of the production crew are licensed amateur radio operators.  (ARRL story)

 

 

In a QRZ.COM post dated November 17 states that scientists have revealed that the magnetic field of the Sun is expected to reverse polarity within the next three weeks, which could have a huge effect on our solar system.  The Sun's magnetic field changes polarity approximately every 11 years, at the peak of each "solar cycle."  (QRZ.COM post)

 

 

A hiker in distress in Nevada is thankful that he had his hand-held transceiver along when he found himself stranded in the hills near Henderson.  Western Intertie Network (WIN) System member Jim Frederick KF6QBW in Arizona reports he was monitoring the system November 3 around midday when he heard, “Mayday, Mayday.  Hiker in distress!” from his WIN System repeater.  (ARRL story)

 

 

The ARRL has asked the FCC to delete the symbol rate limit in its Amateur Service rules, replacing it with a maximum bandwidth for data emissions of 2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below 29.7 MHz.  The ARRL Board of Directors adopted the policy underlying the petition initiative at its July 2013 meeting.  The petition was filed November 15.  (ARRL story)

 

 

The U.S. Coast Guard is using alternative methods to monitor marine radio frequencies for possible mariners in distress due to extended communication outages in the Great Lakes region.  Due to recent storm damage, the Coast Guard is experiencing "significantly reduced radio coverage and communications" throughout northern Lake Huron, northern Lake Michigan and all of Lake Superior.  Storms with strong winds swept through the region on November 17.  (Mlive story)

 

 

Check out this nice story and video from BBC News on amateur radio.  The song in the background is called "CQ Serenade" from the early '50s.  Click here to listen.

 

 

The ARRL published several stories about amateur radio activities in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the central Philippines on November 8.

11/08/13 Amateur Radio Volunteers Ready as Strong Typhoon Hits Philippines

11/09/13 Hams in Philippines Support Critical Communication in Typhoon’s Wake

11/09/13 Amateur Radio Aids Post-Typhoon Rescue and Recovery Effort

11/11/13 ARRL President Praises Ham Radio Efforts in Typhoon’s Wake

11/11/13 Amateur Radio Continues to Play Crucial Role in Typhoon Rescue and Recovery

11/12/13 Philippine Amateur Radio Volunteers Continue to Fill Communication Gap

11/13/13 ITU Deploys Satellite Communication Equipment to the Philippines, Ham Radio Response Continues

11/20/13 Hams Up Their Game in Philippines Typhoon Response

11/26/13 Amateur Radio Remains a Communication Mainstay in Storm-Stricken Philippines

 

 

FCC License Database Activity in Hillsdale County

None in November

 

 

QSM

PRB-1 legislation was re-introduced in the Michigan Senate on September 17.  The bill would put state law in sync with FCC regulations with respect to encumbrances to antenna structures.  A similar bill died in committee at the end of the last legislative session in December.  ARRL Michigan Section Manager Larry Camp WB8R and State Government Liaison Ed Hude WA8QJE issued a request to amateurs to contact members of the Energy and Technology Committee requesting quick action on the bill.  Click here to follow the progress of the Senate Bill 0493.

 

 

The ARRL Centennial QSO Party is set to kick off January 1 for a year-long operating event in which participants can accumulate points and win awards in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ARRL.  During 2014 W1AW will be on the air from every state (at least twice) and most US territories, and it will be easy to work all states solely by contacting W1AW portable operations.  The event is open to all, although only ARRL members and appointees, elected officials, HQ staff and W1AW are worth points.  (ARRL story)

 

 

A new electronic publication, The Spectrum Monitor, will begin publication after the Monitoring Times publishes its final issue in December.  Charter subscriptions are available until December 15 for $20 for twelve issues, a $4 savings.  (ARRL story)  Monitoring Times announced earlier this year that it was ceasing publication after a 33 year run and the retirement of its publisher, Bob Grove W8JHD.

 

 

ARRL membership certificates commemorating the League’s 100th anniversary in 2014 now are available.  Members logged onto the League’s website can generate their own certificates or cards online for printing.  (ARRL story)

 

 

Upcoming Events

December 5 – Board Meeting canceled

December 14 – Ham Breakfast

December 20 – Christmas Party

January ?? – Board Meeting

January 11 – Ham Breakfast

January 16 – Club Meeting

February 16 - Livonia Hamfest