Follow us on Facebook at Illinois Section--American Radio Relay League!

SM--Tom Ciciora KA9QPN
ASM/SRM--Ron Morgan, KB9NW
ASM/SEC--Brad Pioveson, W9FX
ASM/ASEC--Shari Harlan, N9SH
ASM for Youth--Neil Gebhardt, KB9ZGZ
ACC--Joe Serocki, N9IFG
SGL--Charles Richey, K9DUE
STM--Roy Eades, KA9MZJ
PIC--Fritz Bock, WD9FMB
TC--John Dinella, WA9IL
OOC--Tim Childers, KB9FBI
ASEC--Curtis Williams, W5DTR
ASEC--Kelly Robertson, KC9FVK
ASEC--Pat Ryan, KC6VVT
ASEC--Pat Stowell, N9PN
ASEC/Digital Ops--Danny Pease NG9R
DEC: Region 2--OPEN, Region 3-- Dale Marzano N9JH, Region 4--Neil Ormos N9NL, Region 6--Gary Shanks KA9FAJ, Region 7--OPEN, Region 9--John Van Sandt N9YRX, Region 8--Curtis Williams W5DTR, Region 11--Bruce Talley WA9APQ

From the top...
**The FT5ZM Amsterdam Island exercise has completed, and those folks are headed home. I don't recall having ever heard such a firestorm of complaints over malicious interference to the stations involved. And, if I live to be 100, I'll never understand the mentality that inspires such behavior. Hopefully, those of you who needed that entity were able to get it despite the intramurals.
**Honest: spring is coming.
**I was at the WCRA Hamfest last month. It turned out to be a scheduling disaster for me, as I needed to depart on a business trip later that morning. So I was unable to give the event my full and usual attention, and that bothered me. I enjoy seeing and speaking to you all in person, and I'm just as cabin fevered as the next guy. These messes don't occur often, but when they do, they are legendary.
 

Get informed...
**I get requests occasionally for a recommendation to take the final assessment for EC-016. I'm always happy to do so. However, I don't always know who's asking very well. So, please don't be offended if I ask what you've been doing in EmComm and where you've been doing it. A couple of lines are sufficient, and it helps me know who I'm recommending.
**Here's an interesting one: look for W1AW/KG4 from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba later on this month. It's part of the Centennial QSO Party and will happen from 26 February through 4 March. Certainly unique, if not rare.
**Radio Shack has announced its intention to close 500 stores across the country. It comes as no surprise to those of us that frequented the stores for years. R/S has gone from the last of the general electronics retailers to a run at being a niche computer seller to a glorified cellphone store. It used to be a place to get that last part for a project that you were building on a Sunday afternoon and go-to place for a scanner, entry level shortwave radio or even a ham rig for a short time. It's a shame, but I confess that I rarely go into R/S any more, and then only to cruise the bargain bin. Most everything of consequence gets purchased online or off the hamfest tables. In my desk drawer at work, there is an old R/S 2m HT: the little one that was about 300mW output and the ham radio equivalent of a .22 derringer. It's plenty good for listening to the local SKYWARN net (the repeater is line-of-sight from work). It was also woefully overpriced when it was new, as is most of their stuff.
 

Around the Section...
**I did not know this...and I'm a member. The Fox River RL sponsors the Worked All Illinois Counties Award. This is no mean trick, as there are some counties in the southern portion of the state whose count of Amateurs via the databases run only to double digits. Back out the inactives and SKs, and you've got a real challenge on your hands. Some of these might only be gotten via a dedicated rover effort. In any case: an effort of which I was not aware. Worth a look.
**From the Peoria Area ARC "Bandbits" and Fritz Bock WD9FMB: "PAARC participated in the annual Winter Field Day on January 25-26 at the Old Farm Pavilion adjacent to Wildlife Prairie Park. 14 ham radio operators attended the 24 hour contest. Although the total number of contacts were down slightly over last year, the consumption of chili, chicken noodle soup and ham and beans was up 37% with corn bread consumption up a whopping 42 %. The home cooked Sunday morning breakfast was great. The increase in food intake may have contributed to the slightly lower score.Thanks to KC0TOT, KD0EKA, K9DRF, K9CEW, W9WTF, KB9VQH, KC9QYA, N9ZBE, KC9SZC, KA4DEB, W9WGN, NM0O, N9SJZ for your participation!"
**The bottom feeders are everywhere, and I'm afraid that we're not immune. If you made a purchase from Amateur Electronic Supply between 9 January and 23 January via credit/debit card, check your statement. AES reports that "consumer information" from orders during that period had been "compromised". Not a lot else is known here as to point of attack or how many customers were involved.

Ye Olde Traffic Report DE KA9MZJ...

Illinois Side Band Net - Net Manager WB9QPM
Daily on 3905 at 1800 local time
QNI 251 QTC 69 Sessions 31
 
Illinois Phone Net - Net Manager K9GYI
M-F on 3857 at 1645 local time
Sunday on 3940 at 0810 local time - right after the Illinois Emergency Net
QNI 249 QTC 45 Sessions 27
 
Illinois Emergency Net - Net Manager K9HEZ
Sunday on 3940 at 0800 local time
QNI 76 QTC 7 Sessions 4
 
North Central Phone Net – Net Manager K9HEZ
M-F on 3912 at 0700 local time
QNI 275 QTC 14 Sessions 23
 
Illinois CW Net (ILN)   Net Manager WB8SIM
Daily on 3838 at 1915 local time   
QNI 68 QTC 6 Sessions 14
Report Submitted by W9NXM