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P a g e | 1
The Longest ARRL Affiliated Club
in Michigan
March 2018 Volume 66 Issue 3
Here we are in late February and thoughts of spring are growing
inside us. You may remember our February meeting being
cancelled by the only winter storm of the season which dumped
around nine inches of snow, prompting Wyandotte to close the
Copeland Center, our meeting place.
At that point it was clear that either we cancel or meet in the
parking lot. We cancelled. But that isn’t to say that nothing has
happened. We secured our Field Day site for 2018 again at
Centennial Farm in Grosse Ile. We have a Field Day co-chair in
place, Bruce Menning, AC8KD. We need someone else to step up
to work with Bruce. We will be asking someone to do that at our
March meeting. The program for March is Skywarn which we
expect to begin promptly at 7:00. Please invite anyone having a
weather interest to join us that night.
At our last board meeting we voted to put members who haven’t
paid their dues this year to be lapsed members. If you are one of
that group, please don’t let your membership expire. Dale Poblenz,
WA8FRD will be happy to reinstate you upon payment of your
dues. If you are unable to afford your renewal, please contact me
or Rick Hardy, KE8BPZ about special consideration.
The MCRC will be taking part in keeping everyone safe at the
Metro Grand Spring Bike Tour this year held on May 6th. See page
7 of this issue of the Spark Gap for more information. Please
consider joining us for this event.
See you on Friday March 9th for our Skywarn program.
Don Novak, K8THU
Don’s Ditherings Don K8THU
MCRC President
Inside this issue …
2018 Fox Hunts …………………………….. 2
Bus Trip to Dayton ……………………….. 4
J-Poles ………………………………………….. 5
2018 Field Day ……………………………... 5
Upcoming VE Exams ………………….… 6
Metro Grand Spring Tour …………..… 7
Skywarn ………………………………………. 8
P a g e | 2
2018 Fox Hunts
start in May
Perhaps you have heard club members talking about Fox Hunts. It's
all about Amateur Radio operators doing a radio direction finding
exercise. Special antennas are used to tell what direction a radio
signal is coming from. The antennas, plus the other equipment in
their vehicles, are used to track down the source of the radio signal.
It's all part of a contest called a hidden transmitter hunt or simply a
"foxhunt."
Somewhere out there is another Amateur Radio operator with a
transmitting setup. The "fox" might be in a car, or out in the open in
a park, or on a hill, or just about anywhere in a discreet, incognito
location. Every one of the teams are trying to find the fox by figuring
out where their radio signal is coming from. The winner is the team
that finds the fox with least mileage.
It’s a lot of great fun, and is a challenging contest. Transmitter
hunting also has lots of practical uses. Amateur radio operators have
been called on to use direction finding equipment to locate downed
airplanes, boaters in distress, and sources of radio interference. It
can also be used to find illegal and unlicensed radio transmitters.
Hams use contests like fox hunting to test their equipment and
practice their skills in preparation for more serious searches.
Motor City Radio Club's first fox hunt is May 26th, and run once a
month until October. Once you do it, you will be hooked.
The Heath Kit HW101 was Heath's
most popular HAM Transceiver. It was
sold for nearly 12 years and evolved
from the HW100. The HW series was a
cheaper version of the better looking
SB series but circuitry wise these
radios are 95 % the same. In fact all of
the circuit boards are identical. Some
boards were not fully populated with
components on the HW series radios
to reduce costs. The main difference
between a HW100 and a HW101 is
that the 101 has a CW filter option. If
you have a chance to purchase a HW
series radio be aware that the 101 is
the better of the two. However, either
will work in SSB or CW with almost
identical performance. For more
information on the HW-101, visit: http://www.northland-drifters.net/HW101Project.htm
P a g e | 3
Wyandotte Amateur Radio Repeater Association
1885 Pinetree Dr
Trenton, MI 48183
Name________________________________________________ Call__________
Address_______________________________________
_______________________________________
E-mail _______________________________________
Donation amount_____________
The MCRC has a library of valuable knowledge that is available for loan to all members. The library
includes both books and audio tapes on various ham related subjects. Members are encouraged to take
advantage of this valuable member benefit.
Below is a list of the resources currently in the library:
The ARRL- Operating Manual For Radio Amateurs
The ARRL- RFI Book 2nd Edition...Practical Cures for Radio Frequency Interference
The ARRL- Ham Radio Liscense Manual 1st Edition Level #1Technician
The ARRL- Handbook 2008...For Radio Communications.
The comprehensive RF Engineering Reference 85th
Edition
Simple, low cost Wire Antennas for Radio Amateurs
The ARRL- Handbook 2001 78th Edition
The ARRL- Spread Spectrum Source Book
ARRL DVD Amateur Radio Today
ARVN DVD Digital Voice for Amateur Radio HF: AOR, WinDRM, DRMDV, FDMDV 25 Minutes VHF/UHF:
D-Star P-25 35 Minutes
Troubleshooting Solid State Circuits
- George Loveday, Arthur H. Seidman
Getting started in Electronics
-Forrest m. Mimms,III
National Electrical Code 2005
-International Electrical Code
Ham Antenna Construction Projects -J.A. Stanley
Beam Antenna Handbook
-5th Edition Orr & Cowan
Amateur Radio Vertical Antenna Handbook
-Capt. Paul H. Lee USN (ret) N6PL
Digital Interfacing with an Analog World 2nd ed
-Joseph J. Carr
Cassette Tapes for General Class Liscense study
- 6 Tapes
Cassette Tapes for Morse Code Practice
- 2 Tapes
CD's for Morse Code Practice - 2 Tapes
Members are encouraged to contact the club librarian, Ray - KD8DPZ, to reserve any of the materials
they wish to borrow. Donations of new materials to the club library is also appreciated.
100% of the operation of the
Wyandotte Repeater is paid
through financial
contributions. You may
support the repeater in a
couple of ways. You can
give your donation directly
to the club treasurer using
this form, or mail the
donation to the address on
the form. Thank you so
much for your support.
P a g e | 4
Once again, the ARROW Club in Ann Arbor will be hosting a one-day excursion to the Dayton Hamvention. Tickets are now on sale. The bus departs from Ann Arbor (Pioneer High School, 601 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI) at 5:00 AM, arriving in Xenia, OH around 9:00 am. On board, you can stretch out, relax, chat with other Hams and enjoy a continental breakfast with coffee as the coach takes you directly to the door of the country’s largest amateur radio event! Who could ask for more? Breakfast. Door prizes. You have the dealers and forums inside and the monster flea market outside.
Tickets are $55 (Before April 1) and $65 (From April 1). Please note that this does not include the Hamvention ticket. For more info and to buy the tickets online please visit: https://w8rp.org/activities/dayton-bus-trip/
ARROW Club Dayton Hamvention
2018 Bus Trip
V.P. Rick KE8BPZ asks: Would anyone be interested in operating a
special event station for the Motor City Radio Club 86th birthday? All
you need is your voice! no set-up or tear-down sit and rag chew with
the world! (propagation permitting) All license classes welcome,
(technicians you can operate HF with the W8MRM call sign) Elmers
too! Date in September...let us know...on a weekend, 1 day or 2
depending on operators.
Shoot us an email at [email protected] or [email protected]
Get out have some radio fun!
The club is thinking about having a non-profit booth at the Wyandotte Art Fair from July 11-14th this year.
We would like to set up an information booth about ham radio, upcoming classes, upcoming club meetings, and other fun and interesting ham radio and electronic related events.
Right now, we are just pondering whether or not to do this. . Since the fair runs for 12 hours for 4 days straight, we would need just about every member to commit to attend the booth. At the March meeting, there will be a discussion on if we can get enough club members and friends to pledge to do this.
Thank you for considering this. This sounds like a great way to get the word out about our club, and ham radio.
P a g e | 5
- courtesy John Huggins on www.hamradio.me/
Here we see five variations on the basic J antenna (aka J-pole). Key takeaways include:
The basic J and SlimJIM configurations operate identically for all practical purposes.
The Super J is an easy way to obtain
gain towards the horizon. The 5/8ths Super J represents the most
bang for the buck for gain. The Collinear J provides the benefits of
the Super Js in a slim package. If on a conductive mast (red) a mast
decoupling stub (green) provides essential RF isolation while preserving a direct path to ground.
Field Day is ham radio's open house.
Every June, more than 40,000 hams
throughout North America set up
temporary transmitting stations in
public places to demonstrate ham
radio's science, skill and service to our
communities and our nation. It
combines public service, emergency
preparedness, community outreach,
and technical skills all in a single event.
Field Day has been an annual event
since 1933, and remains the most
popular event in ham radio. In 2018,
Field Day will be the weekend of June
23rd and 24th.
Location will be the same as last year,
Grosse Ile's Centennial Farm. Make
plans now to be a part of this year's
Field Day. Details coming soon.
2018 ARRL Field Day is June 23-24
P a g e | 6
Our next exam session will be held on Saturday, March 10,
2018 at the First United Methodist Church, 72 Oak St.,
Wyandotte, MI. 48192.
On March 24th, there will also be an additional VE session for
the graduates of the Motor City Radio Club's Technician Class.
This exam will be at the Wyandotte Bacon Memorial Library.
45 Vinewood. Testing beings at 10am.
Items to bring with you:
1. $15.00 exam fee (Exact Amount Preferred)
2. Number 2 Pencil
3. An original of your current FCC license (if you have one)
4. A copy of your current FCC license (if you have one)
5. Two pieces of Identification (at least one photo)
6. Your PayPal Receipt if you choose to pay online
7. Your FRN number if you choose to pre-register
Although not mandatory, we strongly recommend you pre-register for your FRN number
at: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls to avoid using your Social Security number on the NCVEC QUICK-
FORM 605.
Those interested can register for the exam ahead of time on the Motor City Radio Club's website.
Go to w8mrm.net. Click on the "Operating and Events" tab on the top, then click on the exam
announcement date. On that page, you can register for the exam and also pay beforehand using
Paypal.
Woody N8MWQ
V.E. Liaison
MOTOR CITY RADIO CLUB VE EXAMS
2018 November
Dinner
Mark your calendar now, and save the
date for this year's Banquet. As of right
now, the menu and price are expected to
be the same as last year's. Location has
also not changed from the last two years.
CW Sportsmen's Grill
(formally the Sportsmen Den)
15001 Sibley Road, Riverview, MI 48193
November 10th, 2018
6pm to 8:30pm
At the November 2017 banquet, incoming
president Don K8THU honors outgoing
president Bruce AC8KD with a award of
recognition for a terrific job the past two
years. Bruce's efforts were well appreciated
by all in the Motor City Radio Club.
P a g e | 7
UPCOMING HAMFESTS
Toledo Hamfest
Sunday, March 18th, 2018 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Owens Community College - Student Health and Activity Center (SHAC)
30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551
GMARC Swap and Shop
Sunday, April 29th, 2018 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
UFCW Local 876 Hall
876 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights MI 48071
Motor City Radio Club General Membership meetings are held at
the Copeland Center at 2306 4th Street in Wyandotte at 7pm.
Meetings are the second Friday of each month, except there is no
meetings in August and November. August is the Club Picnic, and in
November, there is the 2018 Annual Banquet.
It's Metro Grand Spring Tour Time May 6th
Once again the Motor City Radio Club has been asked by the Downriver Cycling Club to provide communications for the 35th Annual Metro Grand Spring Tour (MGST). MGST is one of Michigan's oldest, continually recurring rides and is generally acknowledged to be the start of the ride season in SE Michigan We need as many operators as possible, hopefully 20 or more, to cover all the routes. More details will be coming as plans are finalized. Please contact Dale WA8FRD for more information.
P a g e | 8
Skywarn
Training
March 9th.
At the Motor City Radio Club March General Membership meeting, Skywarn Training will be provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office for the
Detroit/Pontiac area. SKYWARN® is a National Weather Service (NWS) program developed in the 1960s that consists of trained weather spotters who provide reports of severe and hazardous weather to help meteorologists make life-saving warning decisions. Spotters are concerned citizens, amateur radio operators, truck drivers, mariners, airplane pilots, emergency management personnel, and public safety officials who volunteer their time and energy to report on hazardous weather impacting their community.
Although, NWS has access to data from Doppler radar, satellite, and surface weather stations, technology cannot detect every instance of hazardous weather. Spotters help fill in the gaps by reporting hail, wind damage, flooding, heavy snow, tornadoes and waterspouts. Radar is an excellent tool, but it is just that: one tool among many that NWS uses. We need spotters to report how storms and other hydro meteorological phenomena are impacting their area.
SKYWARN® spotter reports provide vital “ground truth” to the NWS. They act as our eyes and ears in the field. Spotter reports help our meteorologists issue timely, accurate, and detailed warnings by confirming hazardous weather detected by NWS radar. Spotters also provide critical verification information that helps improve future warning services. SKYWARN® Spotters serve their local communities by acting as a vital source of information when dangerous storms approach. Without spotters, NWS would be less able to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property. NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such HAM radio, to join the SKYWARN® program. The March 9th monthly meeting of the Motor City Radio Club will be at the Copeland Center at 2306 4th. Street in Wyandotte, starting at 7pm. If you are unable to make this training session, two other ham clubs in Wayne County are also hosting SKYWARN training in March:
Saturday, March 10th from 10:00am to Noon Garden City Presbyterian Church 1841 Middlebelt Road in Garden City 48135. Park on sounth side of building, session in basement. Location website: http://www.gardencitypresbyterian.org/
Sponsored by the Garden City Amateur Radio Club and Wayne County ARPSC.
Club website : https://www.gcarc.net/ Wednesday, March 28th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Livonia Civic Center Library Auditorium. 32777 Five Mile Road in Livonia 48150. Park in rear of building, session in Auditorium. Location website: http://livoniapubliclibrary.org/civiccenter Sponsored by the Livonia Amateur Radio Club and Wayne County ARPSC. Club website: http://www.livoniaarc.com/ National Weather Service - White Lake Michigan office: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/
P a g e | 9
MCRC Officers
President Don K8THU
Vice President Rick KE8BPZ
Secretary Denise Keeler KC8HDX
Treasurer Dale Poblenz WA8FRD
Custodian John Roberts N8KAM
Trustee(s) Jim Baksa KD8HFX for W8MRM
John Roberts N8KAM for W8GTZ
Parliamentarian Bill Loeber NU3D
Committee Chairs
V.E. Liaison ‘Woody’ Kirkman N8MWQ
Net Manager John Roberts N8KAM
Education Kimball Williams N8FNC
QSL Manager Jim Baksa KD8HFX
Webmaster Jim Baksa KD8HFX
Associate Webmaster ‘Woody’ Kirkman N8MWQ
Spark Gap Editor Mike Antio W8MRA
Renewing MCRC membership, on-line:
Open the MCRC website at: http://www.w8mrm.net/
Log into the site using your e-mail and password.
‘Click’ on the ‘Member Application’ button.
You will see the Notice: “You are already a member. Edit your
member profile”
Click on the ‘Edit your member profile’ and you will be taken to the
“My profile” page.
Notice the first section titled ‘Membership details’ with the
Renew to mm/dd/yyyy button in the lower right hand corner of that
first section.
Click on the Renew to mm/dd/yyyy button and you will be taken to
the ‘Membership renewal’ page.
If you need to renew, you may click on the ‘Update and next’ button
to go to the page where payment method may be chosen.
From there on, the system branches, depending on your chosen method of
payment. ( mm/dd/yyyy is the format for the date code in the website.)
P a g e | 10
Coming Events
March 9th. General Membership meeting. 7pm. Topic: SKYWARN TRAINING Provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office Detroit/Pontiac. Copeland Center 2306 4th. St, Wyandotte.
March 10th Ham Radio Exam. 9am. First United Methodist Church, 72 Oak St, Wyandotte.
More information on Page 6 of this Spark Gap.
March 15th Board Meeting at 7:30pm. Leo's Coney Island, 19230 Fort St., Riverview, MI 48193
Everyone is welcome at all Board Meetings
March 17th Club Breakfast 9am. Leo's Coney Island, 9845 Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI.
March 24th Ham Radio Exam 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Bacon Memorial Library, 45 Vinewood St, Wyandotte, MI 48192
More information on Page 6 of this Spark Gap.
April 13th General Membership Meeting. 7pm. Copeland Center. 2306 4th Street Wyandotte 48192.