 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
News last updated: Wed, June 10, 2009 at 5:06 PM ET
Michigan now has its own Section Web pages at http://www.arrl-mi.org/ Check these pages regularly for the latest happenings and news.
Greetings Michigan Amateurs:
In June, practically everyone is preparing for Field Day, the largest ham radio operating event in the nation. Often overshadowed by FD is another activity that W8ISS quite fairly asked be hyped a little bit this year, the VHF QSO Party.
So, here are some comments offered by James W8ISS: "There are a number of VHF+ and Microwave users and rovers planning on being active during the June VHF QSO Party Contest the weekend of July 13th and 14th. For example, the ARROW Communications Association is going to be active on 6m thru 1.2GHz (minus 900MHz - still working on that transverter) from Domino's Farm in Ann Arbor using the call W8PGW. There are also going to be a number of Microwave rovers out there trying to get the bands active up through 24GHz that weekend. VHF+ and the Microwave contests don't get much mention because everyone thinks there isn't much activity, but to quote Lloyd, NE8I: "Activity happens, because we make it happen". So I think this may be a way to get some interest. There are a number of (as I call them) BIG guns in the state: WW8M - Chelsea, K2YAZ - Traverse City, K8MD - Howell, KB8U - Jackson, then you have the BIG gun rovers: NE8I - Traverse City, KB8U - Jackson, K8JA - Sterling Heights, WB8TGY - Lansing, WA8VPD - Farmington Hills. There a few others (whose call I can't remember) that are active also on the bands above 30MHz. There are also quite a number of VE stations active. It's just a shame that we don't hear the 'other' stations that have the radios that are capable of operating above 30MHz. It doesn't take much to get on and start racking up contacts even when there are no contests going on. All I want to see is more stations get active when they have the time. They may find out that they enjoy the uncrowded VHF+ bands more than HF. Currently there is 'talk' of the W8PGW VHF+ station going to Drummond Island to activate EN86 and 85 next year. This is in the planning stages right now, so no plans are definite yet." 73, James W8ISS
Truly, the Spring VHF QSO Party is a great contest. Give it a try. It was this Section Manager's introduction to contesting back in 1963 when our group of six operated from Peach Mountain near Pinckney. Tents, generator, severe weather, rain water in the equipment and great score. Not too different from Field Day!
Regarding FD and the publicity effort that surrounds it, the Governor's office has just issued a formal proclamation relating to amateur radio and our efforts in public Service. At this writing, the copy has not arrived, but our Public Information Coordinator (PIC) Pat Mullett KC8RTW will be issuing a formal announcement as soon as it is available for download. Feel free to incorporate it into your Field Day and local plans. Let's make the best of this opportunity which recognizes our contributions as communicators and good citizens.
Michigan nets reporting for April (in order of traffic count): MiTN, MiVHF, QMN, MACS, TMMTN, UPN, GLETN, SEMTN, NLEUP, Motor City ARC, NMARES, Hiawatha, MiARPSC.
Michigan ARES/RACES programs reported 7109 operator-hours for April, an in-kind contribution of $128,742 to the citizens of our state. The NTS team contributed 1676 Operator-hours for a $30,262 in-kind contribution to our citizens. You will find the complete reports on the ARPSC at: http://www.mi-arpsc.org/and the NTS reports at: http://www.mi-nts.org/.
Station Activity Reports (SARs) for May, 2009: WB9JSR 505, AC8AR 350, K8LJG 238, WB8WKQ 211, K8RDN 152, AB8SY 104, K8KV 84, KB8GT 81, KD8HPF 51, W8RNQ 42, WB8RCR 31, KC8NTE 13, KD8VYK 12, KC8MLD 10, KD8JJR 9, WA8OOH 8, K8UN 8, KC8ZGB 2, KC8BMV 1.
Public Service Honor Roll Reports (PSHRs) for May, 2009: AC8AR 610, KC8NTE 278, WB8RCR 165, K8RDN 145, K8MFK 145, WB9JSR 130, K8AMR 114, KB8GT 100, K8KV 80, AB9SY 80, KD8HPF 50.
To report your net's monthly activities, contact wb8rcr@arrl.net. Complete monthly net report details are at http://www.mi-nts.org/netreport.php. All nets are encouraged to report and this especially includes all local ARES and RACES nets.
PSHRs and SARs should be filed monthly with WB8RCR. You can access a simple reporting form at: http://www.mi-nts.org/PSHR_entry.shtml to provide your reports to John. In all cases, reporting by radiogram is encouraged -- let's keep the NTS busy. Packet messages can be routed to wb8rcr@wb8rcr.ampr.org and wa8efk@wa8efk.ampr.org.
73 until next month, Dale WA8EFK
Responsibility for content of all posted material above rests
exclusively with the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility
for errors, omissions, and accuracy of items appearing on this page. All
questions and comments should be directed to the item author.
