News for Amateur Radio Operators In and Around Hillsdale County

 

The next club meeting will be Thursday, February 20 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 and follow the signs.  The program will be “ARRL at 100 — A Century of Ham Radio”, a video that explains the League’s history and mission over the past century.

 

 

This month the Ham Breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 8 at 8am at the Tastes of Life, 3380 Beck Rd in Hillsdale (map).  Please come join us. 

 

 

Club membership stands at 19 as of January 31.  So far 5 members have renewed for 2014. 

 

 

Club membership dues for 2014 are due.  You must renew by March 31 to maintain your membership status.  Rates are unchanged from last year and are $15 for regular membership, $5 for household membership (additional members in same household after first member pays regular rate) and free for students.  All members are asked to fill out an updated membership application (print 2-sided) as part of the renewal process.  Dues can be paid by cash or check at the monthly meeting or mailed to club Treasurer Joe Gosla KD8UJS, 2175 Blackmer Drive, Jonesville, MI 49250.  Make checks payable to Hillsdale County Amateur Radio Club or HCARC.  Thanks for your support.

 

 

Club member Logan Crook has a new vanity call sign.  His new call sign is K8LRC.  His previous call sign was KD8OMD.

 

 

Congratulations to new ham Richard B Stephenson KD8WER of Hillsdale who was granted his technician license on January 7.  Be sure to say hi if you hear him on the air.

 

 

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

 

 

January was a rough month for club meetings.  The board meeting was canceled twice and the club meeting was canceled, all due to weather.  It even snowed on breakfast Saturday, but those who made it had a good time.  Check the club website for February meeting schedule. 

 

 

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

 

 

The Amateur Radio population in the US continues to show steady growth, according to statistics compiled by Joe Speroni AH0A.  As of the end of 2013, the FCC database showed 717,201 licenses in its Universal Licensing System (ULS).  That's the greatest number of US hams ever, and it's up from 709,575 in December 2012.  The volume of Amateur Radio applications slowed somewhat to 141,943 from its zenith of 176,826 in 2007, the year the FCC dropped the Morse code requirement.  (ARRL story)

 

 

In Hillsdale County there were 130 active amateur radio licenses at the end of the year, based on data pulled from the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS).  Keep in mind that an active license doesn’t mean an active ham.  Active licenses may include Silent Keys, hams that have moved out of the area and not updated their address with the FCC and inactive hams.  Also included in the active total are 10 licenses that are within the two-year grace period for renewal.  Not included in the total are any hams that moved to the county and have not updated their address with the FCC.

 

 

The FCC has invited comments by February 18 on the latest batch of draft recommendations of its Advisory Committee for World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-2015).  At its January 27 meeting, the Advisory Committee approved draft recommendations on a number of issues that will be considered by WRC-2015.  Some items, including one which could possibly lead to changes to 60 meters in the long term, could affect the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services.  ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price N4QX, is a member of the WAC, which is chartered to allow non-federal government entities to “provide to the [FCC] advice, technical support, and recommended proposals for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference.”  (ARRL story)

 

 

Check out this story and video about the beginnings of the Internet.  This San Francisco newscast from 1981 begins "Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee and turning on your home computer to read the day's newspaper", chronicling how newspapers are starting to send newspapers over the Internet.  Someone is even credited as a "home computer owner."  (Huffington Post article and video)

 

 

Cuba’s Ministry of Communications is reported to have made available to its radio amateurs a 12 kHz segment of 60 meter spectrum, as opposed to a channelized plan as the US and other countries have done.  Access is not immediate.  Hams in Cuba must obtain approval and a license modification.  Access to 5418 to 5430 kHz will be on a secondary basis, with emphasis on its use during emergencies, especially hurricanes.  (ARRL story)

 

 

Antique Radio Classified magazine has announced that it will resume monthly publication starting with the February 2014 issue, but with some changes.  The last issue published was the March/April 2013 issue.  “The antique radio community as well as the magazine publishing market is changing," said ARC Publisher Jon Kummer WA2OJK, “and we are changing what we do and how we do it in order to continue providing the number one magazine in world for collectors of antique and vintage radios and electronic

equipment.”  (ARRL story)

 

 

FCC License Database Activity in Hillsdale County

01/07/14 KD8WER, Stephenson, Richard B, New licensee technician

01/08/14 KB9AMI, CAROBINE, JOSEPH A, License renewed, address updated

01/23/14 KQ8R, KING, DAVID M, License renewed

01/25/14 K8LRC, CROOK, LOGAN R, Issued vanity call sign, previously KD8OMD

 

 

QSM

SKYWARN training will not be offered in Hillsdale County this year.  2014 Spotter Training for the Northern Indiana Forecast Office Northeast Region will be held on March 6 in Archbold, Ohio.  Completion of the Free Online Spotter Training is recommended prior to attending this training session.  Click here for a complete schedule of training for the Northern Indiana office.

 

 

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 2012.  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 kicked 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)  Lots of addition information about the centennial QSO party is available here.

 

 

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)

 

 

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.

 

 

Upcoming Events

February 8 – Ham Breakfast

February 16 - Livonia Hamfest

February 20 – Club meeting

March 15 – Marshall Hamfest

March 16 – Toledo Hamfest

March 20 – Club meeting