Greetings to the Hams of Michigan:                                November, 2013

We have had the first snows of winter, so apparently it is game on for a few months. Hopefully all the antennas have been erected, repaired and otherwise made capable of withstanding what Old Man Winter throws at them.  

PRB-1 Update  

Here is an update from WA8QJE, our MI State Government Liaison:  

State Government Activity for Michigan

As many of you know, Senator Rick Jones has re-introduced the Michigan version of PRB-1 now known as Senate Bill 0493. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Energy & Technology. We are working on adding additional verbiage to this bill.  

It has come to my attention that some amateurs are not aware of what PRB-1 is.  I would like to direct you to the ARRL website.  Click on the Regulatory & Advocacy Link and then select the Antenna Regulation and Zoning link and select PRB-1.

It is important that all of us are aware of and understand the importance of PRB legislation for the future of current amateur radio operators as well as future generations of amateur radio operators.    

I continue to work on this legislation almost on a daily basis. I am asking that you please continue to send emails to the Energy & Technology Committee members. It does matter and the Senators staff members do record the messages and some even reply.    

Stay in touch with what is going on by monitoring the Michigan PRB-1 website located at: www.miarrlprb1.org for further information.  You can also contact me by email at wa8qje@arrl.net or our Section Manager at wb8r@arrl.org

73, and thank you for your continuing assistance.  

Ed Hude, WA8QJE, State Government Liaison, Michigan  

Many thanks go to Ed for his relentless work. He has been working tirelessly for years and he continues to work towards a better antenna environment in Michigan. If you run into Ed, be sure to tell him that you appreciate his efforts.   We are anticipating that our Committee Hearing will most likely happen after the first of the year, but we still want to keep the pressure on. A second note to the Committee members urging them to schedule a hearing for our bill as soon as possible would be in order. Remember to be polite and respectful. The old story of honey and vinegar applies here.   LC 

Digital HF Help Wanted:  

We are looking for hams in various parts of MI with digital HF knowledge and experience to help other hams learn how to get started using various digital modes on HF. These individuals should have hands on experience with a variety of digital modes and be capable of teaching others to be capable of setting up their own stations and get on the air.  

These individuals should be willing to travel reasonable distances at times that fit their schedules to attend club meetings near their home areas to present instructional programs. Ideally, we will have volunteers that will cover the more populated areas of the state and perhaps be able to extend our reach to hamfests in less populated areas as well. Well distributed publicity should generate attendance from around the areas of the clubs hosting such a program, increasing audience volume and reducing the need to travel.  

In addition, these individuals would be able to work together to develop an HF digital primer in PowerPoint format to be used as an instructional aide across the state. There are some digital HF PowerPoints out there and they could certainly be useful as idea fodder for assembling our presentation.   This is a great opportunity to share your expertise with other hams. Interested parties, please contact me at wb8r@arrl.org.    

Radio Clubs Elect New Officers for 2014  

SARA - Shiawassee Amateur Radio Association  

2014 SARA Officers:

President            Don Warner, WB8GUS

Vice President    Phil Bates, AC8FW

Secretary            Jack Barnhart, K8NOC

Treasurer            Tom Carpenter, KI8AS

Trustees              William Blick, W8EB                            

                            Bob Wilcox, K8OMS                                            

                            Tom Kurtz, W8TEK  

Thank you for accepting the call to serve. Amateur radio clubs are truly the lifeblood of amateur radio.  

Hospitality Acknowledgements  

Many thanks to the following organizations for their warm hospitality shown to the section staff during our travels around the state:  

The Muskegon Color Tour Hamfest, the Kalamazoo Hamfest, and the Central Michigan Amateur Radio Club.

It was a pleasure to attend your events.    

Section Staff Travel Plans  

Nov 26, 2013              Chelsea ARC, Chelsea, MI – WB8R  

Jan 12, 2014                Hazel Park Hamfest, Hazel Park, MI – WB8R  

Feb 1, 2014                 HARA Hamfest, Negaunee, MI - WB8R  

Feb 8, 2014                 Cherry Land Hamfest, Traverse City, MI – WB8R 

Feb 16, 2014                Livonia Hamfest, Livonia, MI - WB8R  

Michigan Section Traffic/ARPSC Nets  

MACS - MI Amateur Communications System 3.952 1000 Daily  

UPN – Upper Peninsula Net 3.921 1700 Daily; Noon Sunday  

MIARPSC – MI Amateur Radio Public Service Corps 3.932 1700 Sunday 

QMN – The Michigan Net 3.563 1830 and 2200 Daily  

MITN – MI Traffic Net 3.952 1900 Daily  

MIDTN – MI Digital Traffic Net 3.583 within waterfall 2000 Tues, Thurs, Sat 

GLETN – Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net 3.932 2000 Daily  

MVTN – MI VHF Traffic Net IRA Link System 2100 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun 

 NLEUP - Northern Lower Eastern UP Net 146.64- 18:30 Daily  

SEMTN – SE MI Traffic Net 146.76- 2215 Daily  

TMMTN – Thumb Mid Michigan Traffic Net 147.30+ 2130 Mon - Sat  

More information is available at http://nts-mi.org/. Come join us on our traffic nets.  

APRSC Activities  

Station Activity Reports (SAR) for October, 2013:

K8RDN 509, K8ED 328, KD8AAD 271, KB8RCR 267, WB8WKQ 211, K8LJG 199, N8FVM 143, KD8ULU 140, KC8BW 136, WB8TQZ 125, WB8RCR 72, WD8USA 53, WB8H 33, WB8R 27, W8MSK 19, N8OSL 14, KD8LSM 12, KC8YVF 10, N8UN 5, WB8WJV 3, KC8QWH 1, KD8HPG 1. 

Total SAR’s reported: 2579  

Brass Pounder’s League (BPL) for October, 2013: K8RDN 509.  

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) for October, 2013:

WB8RCR 410, K8RDN 260, WB8R 212, KC8YVF 201, N8OSL 174, KC8QWH 161, KD8HPG 136, WD8USA 135, N8FVM 121, WB8TQZ 100, KB8RCR 100, WB8WKQ 100, KCBW 90, K8ED 80, WB8H 78, KD8AAD 59, KD8ULU 57, KD8LSM 39.  

Net traffic for October, 2013:

Michigan Traffic Net 210, The Michigan Net 169, Michigan Amateur Communications System 159, Southeastern Michigan Traffic Net 91, Michigan Digital Traffic Net 80, Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net 41, Upper Peninsula Net 40, Michigan Amateur Radio Public Service Corps 11, Alcona County ARES Net 4, Saginaw County ARES Net 3, District 3 ARPSC Net 1, District 3 Digital Training net 1, Tuscola County Amateur Radio Association 1, Branch County Emergency Net 0, Red Cross Net of Greater Grand Rapids 0, District 5 Hospital Net 0.  

Total net traffic reported: 811  

Total Station Activity Reports: 2637  

Value of NTS Contribution: $55,792  

Value of ARES/RACES contribution: $74,988  

Total October 2013 Michigan ARPSC Dollar Contribution: $130,780 

Holiday Wishes  

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we are once again reminded that we are blessed to live in this country with all of the benefits thereof. Thanksgiving is just that: an opportunity to get together with family and