Newsletter #7 VCARC / Radio Club NewsletterVILAS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB VCARC / Radio Club...

VCARC contacts:

President Paul Clay – N7EKY [email protected]

Vice President Andy Falkenstern – N9NBC [email protected]

Secretary Tony Campion – KC9SZW [email protected]

Treasurer Dave McMaster [email protected]

VILAS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

VCARC / Radio Club Newsletter January 2016

VCARC / Radio Club

Newsletter #7

On Monday, January 4, Tony (KC9SZW) reprogrammed Repeater #1, KD9DXK/R to use a PL of

114.8 in accordance with the Coordination from the Wisconsin Association of Repeaters (WAR).

Our repeater was on a PL of 123.0 but WAR required the change to stay in keeping with their Re-

peater frequency plan.

The club will continue to watch to make sure that there isn’t significant interference. If there is, a

request will be made to WAR for a new PL.

The Ministry Repeater KD9DXK/R

Iron Line Sled Dog and Fat Bike Races

Members of the VCARC will

support the Iron Range Ama-

teur Radio Club of Iron

River, Michigan, in their ef-

forts to provide communica-

tions for the Iron Line Sled

Dog and Fat Bike Races

scheduled Friday evening,

January 29 and all day Satur-

day, January 30, 2016. The

Sled Dog teams are divided

into 4, 6 and 10 dog teams

and it is expected that ap-

proximately 150 Fat Bike

racers will compete. These

races are a big draw for Iron

County, Michigan, and in

particular, Iron River.

The Iron Range ARC does

not have sufficient members

to staff all the checkpoints so

several VCARC members

volunteered to help their

fellow HAMs. The planning

for these events has been

excellent and VCARC mem-

bers have been involved in

several meetings that in-

cluded guided tours of the

Fat Bike race course. These

are important events for the

Iron River area so this is a

great opportunity to be of

service to the community.

Several club members have

indicated that they hope to

provide similar services for

future events in Vilas County.

License Class and Exams — Congrats New Hams!

VCARC conducted a two-day Technician Class in September in Eagle River. All nine participants

passed their examinations, six for Technician, two for General, and one for Extra Class.

Don Couey and Robert Olszewski of St Germain, Dr. Richard Reinhart of Minocqua, Charles

Poupart of Lac Du Flambeau, Charles Ceglarek of Mercer, and David Simcoe of Bessemer, MI all

passed their Technician Class license exams.

Donald Korbas of Wabeno, and Robert Parsons of Eagle River passed their upgrade exam from

Technician to General Class and Dr. Paul Weeks of Harshaw, WI passed his Upgrade exam from

General to Extra Class.

Class instructors were Andy (N9NBC), Vince (KA8FFM), Roger (KD9EPX) and Paul (N7EKY). The

class covered electronics, radio and antenna theory, rules and regulations, and safety. Volunteer

Examiners were Extra Class hams Mike (KC9ZJF), Andy (N9NBC) and Paul (N7EKY).

Future classes and exam sessions will be announced. See page 4 for the next scheduled training.

Tony and

Ministry

repeater.

mailto:[email protected]




VCARC / Radio Club Newsletter #7

Amateur Radio HF Nets — Part 4

This net provides emergency

communications support to

the Salvation Army wherever

needed. During wide-spread

emergencies such as hurri-

canes, earthquakes and forest

fires, the 14,265 KHz Net

becomes the emergency traf-

fic and Health and Welfare

message Net. The 14,265

KHz Net is on the air from

1500Z (09:00 CT) Monday

through Saturday, with early

check-ins taken from 1430Z.

More information can be

found at http://

www.satern.org where one

can find out if the net is in

training mode or handling

emergency traffic. On Janu-

ary 23, nine members of the

club are scheduled to attend

training provided by Ms.

Terri Leece of the Salvation

Army at the Vilas County

Economic Development

classroom.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)

The International Police Association Radio Club (IPARC) NET

This net was founded to sup-

port people who are or were

in law enforcement and who

are also licensed amateur

radio operators. The U.S.

section IPARC has been ac-

tive for over 30 years. Al-

though their club member-

ship application asks for law

enforcement background, a

law enforcement background

is not necessary to join or

check in. Their U.S. Nets are

listed below:

More information can be found at http://www.iparc.org/ .

TIME DATES FREQ COMMENTS

1700Z SUN & WED 21.410 MHz (15M) U.S. Section NET

1700Z SUN & WED 14.240 MHz (20M) Alternate Freq

1715Z SUN & WED 7.175 MHz (40M) Alternate Freq

1700Z FRIDAY 7.175 MHz West & East Coast NET

0300Z SUN & TUE 3.850 MHz West & East Coast NET

1615Z MON – FRI 147.270 MHz Los Angeles 2M NET

1500Z MON/ WED/ FRI 7.200 MHz East Coast NET

VCARC members to Attend SATERN Training

Several club members are scheduled to attend a day long training event presented by Ms. Terri

Leece of the Salvation Army. Included in the all day event will be “Introduction to the Salvation

Army Disaster Services” and “Safe From Harm”, both required classes for those volunteering for

the Salvation Army’s communications arm, SATERN. SATERN is comprised of amateur radio

operators, some of whom deploy to disasters while others provide communications support

from their home shack. It may not be too late to attend this training. If interested contact Paul

(N7EKY).

*Offered in the Manufacturing Incubator Classroom

**Tentative Date to be confirmed

Tech Talk


Tony (KC9SZW) gave the club an overview of his Northwoods Search and Rescue Organization. Members

of the Northwoods SAR club utilize their own trained dogs to seek people who are lost in the woods of

Wisconsin and Michigan. Tony and other members provide professional dog training on a regular basis and

both the animal and handler must go through strenuous professional certification on a regular basis. Tony

also displayed some of the communications equipment the group uses to remain in contact while in re-

mote areas, including a UHF Portable Repeater. Persons interested in this organization should contact the

VCARC Secretary, Tony (KC9SZW). The current 2016 Tech Talk & Training Schedule is as follows

The current 2016 Tech Talk Schedule is as follows:

DATE SUBJECT PRESENTERS

*January 23, 2016 SATERN Training SATERN

**February 10, 2016 US Army MARS Richard Peltso

(AAA5WI) WI State

MARS Director

*February 17, 2016 Setting up the HAM Shack Andy (N9NBC)

Paul (N7EKY)

February 27, 2016 Monthly Vilas County Amateur Radio Club HAM Breakfast All

*February 27, 2016 Building for the HAM Shack Roger (KD9EPX)

March 9, 2016 Designing Antennas & Building Your Own Antennas (Part I) Andy (N9NBC)

Roger (KD9EPX)

March 26, 2016 Monthly Vilas County Amateur Radio Club HAM Breakfast All

March 26, 2016 Solar Winds / Atmosphere Layers / Propagation Andy (N9NBC), Roger

(KD9EPX)

*April 9, 2016 Designing Antennas & Building Your Own Antennas (Part I) Andy (N9NBC)

Roger (KD9EPX)

April 13, 2016 Using Test Equipment, Building for the Shack Andy (N9NBC), Roger

(KD9EPX)

April 23, 2016 Monthly Vilas County Amateur Radio Club HAM Breakfast All

*April 23, 2016 Grounding the Shack Andy (N9NBC)

Roger (KD9EPX)

May 11, 21, 2016 National Parks On The Air (NPOTA) Andy (N9NBC),

Fred (KD9CCE)

Scott (WA9STI)

**July 13, 2016 Summits on the Air (SOTA) Scott (WA9STI)

August 10, 2016 The Inns and Outs of DXing


Two-Day Technician Ham Class set for April 2016

Looking for

newsletter

articles!

If you would like to

contribute an arti-

cle to this newslet-

ter, and you are

encouraged to do

so, please contact

Paul (N7EKY) at

[email protected]

The DX Century Club (DXCC)

According to the ARRL, The DX Century Club, or DXCC is Amateur Radio’s premier operating

award and is earned by confirming 100 or more countries around the world. Started by the ARRL in

the 1930s the ARRL worked for several years in an effort to compile a list of all possible countries

that Amateur Radio operators could contact. The DXCC award came out of this effort and is highly

sought after by Contesters. Our own Contest Master, Andy (N9NBC) recently qualified for DXCC

on 15 and 20 meters through log book of the world and has submitted his application for the award

to the ARRL. If you are interested in contesting, you should consider getting together with Andy

(N9NBC) at [email protected], who will be happy to show you the ins and outs of contesting.

Members of VCARC and the Iron Range Amateur Radio Club have teamed up

to teach Technician Classes. A two-day Technician ham class was held on

January 16-17, 2016 at the Vilas County Manufacturing Incubator Classroom

in Eagle River. A Technician Class using the same format will be offered in Iron River at the

Iron Range Amateur Radio Club clubhouse in the Windsor Center on U.S. 2

in Iron River, MI on April 9-10, 2016. These classes will include all the infor-

mation necessary to prepare the student to pass the examination to earn

their Technician Class FCC license. The VE (Volunteer Examiner) session for

the examination will be offered immediately after the class. There is no cost

to the student for the class but they will be expected to purchase the re-

quired text book. The cost of the Examination is $15.00. Pre-registration is

necessary to reserve a seat in the class. Contact Paul (N7EKY) for more in-

formation. The instructors are Andy (N9NBC), Roger (KD9EPX), Vince

(KA8FFM), and Paul (N7EKY) .

The Vilas County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. now can count 73 members!

Club

Membership

Vilas County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Working on Website

Fred (KD9CCE) announced that he would reserve the domain VCARC.net so that work on a

web site for the club could start. This is good news and it will provide wider coverage for the club

calendar and events as well as results of activities of members.

The Phelps Chamber of Commerce has invited members of VCARC to support their Triathlon

scheduled for August 27th. Paul (N7EKY) has met with the Phelps Chamber Director Celeste

Hendrickson and Chamber and club member Lorin Johnson (KD9CXC). Several VCARC mem-

bers have signed up to support this event. More to come.

Phelps Twin Tri – Triathlon Set for August 27


During 2016 the National Park Service will celebrate their 100th anniversary and Amateur Radio has

been invited to help. This may be a great way to test your go-kit and get in a little camping with the

family at the same time. The idea is to visit one of the National Parks recognized areas and celebrate

the National Parks Centennial by making as many contacts as possible.

There are seven Locations in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula qualified as NPOTA loca-

tions for the purposes of the program and they are listed below.

NATIONAL LAKESHORES

1. Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

2. Pictured Rocks, Michigan

NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS

1. Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, Wisconsin

2. Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Minnesota-Wisconsin

NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARKS

1. Keweenaw, Michigan

NATIONAL PARKS

1. Isle Royale, Michigan

AFFILIATED AREAS

1. Father Marquette National Memorial, Michigan

As you can see, there are plenty of areas offering opportunity in Wisconsin and the U.P. for

NPOTA on-site activity. If this isn’t your bag you can still participate by contacting NPOTA stations

from your home station. Contact Andy (N9NBC) for details about how you can participate in this

program. Also, this could be a great getaway for the whole family. Andy (N9NBC), Paul (N7EKY),

and Fred (KD9CCE) are planning a field trip to the Keweenaw to see what resources are available

to Amateur Radio Operators.

National Parks on the Air – NPOTA

Slow Scan TV (SSTV) on KD9DXK/R

Tom (KC9UDA) has requested that a Slow Scan Television (SSTV) net be approved and it was put

before the club at the January 13 meeting. The club overwhelmingly approved the request so the

first SSTV net will take place Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30.

Tom (KC9UDA) has created and posted an SSTV “How To” You Tube video here: https://

youtu.be/lOymyZ7WDPg

SSTV Frequencies:

10 Meter Band (USB): 28.680 MHz 28.677 MHz

12 Meter Band (USB): 24.940 MHz 24.975 MHz

15 Meter Band (USB): 21.340 MHz

17 Meter Band (USB): 18.120+ MHz

20 Meter Band (USB): 14.230 MHz*** Most Active Frequency

30 Meter Band (USB): 10.132 MHz (MP73-N)

40 Meter Band (LSB): 7.171 MHz 7.040 MHz in EU 7.033 MHz

80 Meter Band (LSB): 3.990 – 3.999 Mc 3.845 Mc 3.730 Mc 3.733 Mc

160 Meter Band (LSB): 1.924 MHz 1.890 MHz

This net and other VCARC nets are open to all amateur radio operators.

January Ham Breakfast

The second monthly ham breakfast was held on Saturday, January 9, at the Friendship House in

Eagle River. There was no December breakfast meeting due to the busy schedule and holidays.

About ten members of the club braved slippery roads and dropping temperatures to join the fun.

Andy Falkenstern presents an Outstanding Service Award

to Paul Clay (top left), and Paul presents Outstanding

Service Awards to Tony Campion (top right) and Red

Pajula (bottom left). Not pictured is Fred Bouwman who

will receive his award at the next meeting.


Club Charter Members and Outstanding Service Awards

At the December club meet-

ing club members were

asked to nominate their top

three choices for club mem-

bers they thought contrib-

uted the most during 2015 to

the club and community. The

nominees were tallied and

resulted in four members

(two tied for third place)

receiving the first Annual

Outstanding Service Awards.

The recipients were Fred

Bouwman (KD9CCE), Rod-

ney (Red) Pajula (N9GHO),

Tony Campion (KC9SZW),

and Paul Clay (N7EKY).

In addition, Club Officers

presented Charter Member

Award Certificates to all club

members who joined the

Vilas County Amateur Radio

Club, Inc (VCARC). during

the year 2015. Those who

attended the December

meeting received their award

certificates and others can

pick theirs up during any

future meeting.


Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)

APRS is a digital mode re-

leased in 1991 based on

AX.25 invented by Bob Brun-

inga (WB4APR). APRS is a

connectionless protocol, that

is, there is no expectation of

an acknowledgement so sta-

tions using APRS appear

more like a one to many, or

broadcast mode.

The reasons Amateur Radio

Operators use APRS may

include the transfer of a mul-

titude of items about stations

including call sign, location,

speed, altitude, tactical infor-

mation, and comments. APRS

also allows for the broadcast

of weather information, text

messaging between amateurs,

and is frequently used in

community service events,

emergencies, notices of

event times and locations,

and monitored frequencies.

This is all accomplished in a

very small packet not requir-

ing very much bandwidth or

on-air time.

For example, hamfests and

other events may be

“advertised” by use of APRS

which could provide the

event location, time and date,

and a beacon that can be

tracked on a map or by use

of a properly equipped APRS

radio. Or the location of an

APRS equipped event aid

station might be more easily

discovered by other APRS

stations needing assistance.

A properly equipped and

trained search and rescue

party might make use of

APRS. Imagine a search party

where the entire team is

equipped with APRS equip-

ment, as is the net control.

The net control operator

would be automatically up-

dated of the location of each

station in the search team

and can direct team members

based on the search pattern

or desired focus. If any sta-

tion reports a find, then the

proper response can be im-

mediately directed precisely

to his or her location. APRS

has been adopted by many

emergency communications

organizations such as some

local ARES groups who use it

regularly in their drills and

real life events.

APRS does require specific

equipment, which would nec-

essarily include a transceiver,

a hardware or software

based terminal node control-

ler (TNC) and GPS. Yaesu

and Kenwood offer several

mobile and handheld models

with everything necessary to

do APRS right out of the box.

There is usually also an APRS

infrastructure called the

APRS network that is needed

to pass the APRS packets

between stations that are not

within direct communications

with each other. APRS util-

izes repeaters, called digipeat-

ers, to store and forward

packets. An APRS digipeater

transmits and receives on the

same frequency. It is designed

to receive, store and forward

packets received from sta-

tions within communications

range to other stations.

Another part of the APRS

network is an IGate which is

designed to pass packets to

the Internet where informa-

tion about stations, including

messaging and location, can

be viewed by anyone. But the

internet is not necessary for

localized APRS operations.

Remember the search & res-

cue team. Properly equipped,

they can set up their own

digipeater, which may be

nothing more than a light

weight mobile radio with

built-in APRS and an attached

GPS display, to receive up-

dates from APRS equipped

search teams.

APRS is most commonly

used on VHF in North

America on 144.390 MHz,

but APRS is gaining popular-

ity on HF, particularly on 30

meters, especially for long

range use or where VHF

digipeaters are not within

range. APRS digipeaters are

also found on some satellites

and even the International

Space Station.

So, how does one start using

APRS? That’s a good ques-

tion and there may be sev-

eral valid answers based on

the equipment you currently

have and your radio budget.

APRS doesn’t always need to

be expensive. There are a

myriad of ways to get your

current VHF or HF radio on

APRS without buying a new

radio. Next time we will dis-

cuss the specifics of how to

get started and provide some

examples for those who

would prefer to keep the

cost down.

APRS session in Eagle River.


Automatic Packet Reporting System Special Interest

Group – Fred (KD9CCE)

The initial meeting of the SIG

was held at the Vilas County

Business Incubator building in

Eagle River following the

monthly Ham Breakfast. Pre-

sent were Don (KD9EPY),

Paul (N7EKY), Dave

(KD9DRG), RayBob

(KD9DDE), Bob (N9HSQ),

Tom (KC9UDA), Mike

(KC9ZJF) and Fred

(KD9CCE). As this was the

first SIG meeting, members

set goals and future meeting

agenda and schedules. Since APRS can be a very

complex undertaking with

several different methods of

implementation, the group

decided to concentrate on

one or two examples of con-

figuration at each meeting in

order to be able to drill

down to solve configuration

or integration issues between

software and hardware. The SIG will concentrate on

the Tigertronics SignaLink

sound interface at the next

meeting, which is scheduled

for Saturday, February 27 at

10:30 after that Saturday’s

HAM Breakfast. The location

will remain at the Incubator

classroom. There was some measurable

success as a result of the

SIG’s first meeting, with three

members visible on APRS for

the first time over the week-

end of the meeting, and one

existing APRS user adding a

mobile implementation. We

have an active group of APRS

users in our Northwoods

area, one time over the

weekend I counted ten

VCARC and RRA members

on the map. APRS real-world

applications were discussed.

The ability to track Search

and Rescue Team members

on a real time map could be

invaluable to managing a SAR

event. It was noted this could

be a good fit with the Iron

Range Amateur Radio club

civic events like the dogsled

races.

APRS Implementation

Examples

On their base stations, most

SIG members not equipped

with purpose built APRS ra-

dios are currently using

UZ7HO and APRSISCE32

Software on their Personal

Computer. The UZ7HO

Soundmodem can be found

at http://uz7.ho.ua/

packetradio.htm . The APRS

client currently in favor is

APRSISCE/32 which can be

found at http://

aprsisce.wikidot.com/. Both

software applications are

free and an instruction video

provided by Paul (N7EKY) is

available at https://

www.youtube.com/watch?

v=EBO0isGj8W0.

In addition to radios that

include a GPS and TNC and

the software designed to

support APRS like those

from Kenwood and Yaesu,

there are several inexpen-

sive products that will help

implement APRS on non-

APRS equipped mobile ra-

dios. The TinyTrak http://

www.byonics.com/ used by

Chuck (KC9KAK) and Fred

(KD9CCE) is one example.

The SIG will concentrate on

this and several other manu-

facturers offerings over the

coming months.

Newsletter produced by

Newsletter #7 VCARC / Radio Club NewsletterVILAS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB VCARC / Radio Club...

Documents

Transcript of Newsletter #7 VCARC / Radio Club NewsletterVILAS COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB VCARC / Radio Club...