Club Meetings

The next club meeting will be Thursday, September 21, at the First United Methodist Church, 45 North Manning in Hillsdale (map).  Everyone welcome.

There was no club meeting in August.

Ham Breakfast

This month the Ham Breakfast will be held on Saturday, September 9, at 8am at the Coffee Shop, 119 W Main in North Adams (map).  Come and join us for a meal or just coffee.  Everyone welcome.

The August breakfast was held at Ray's Tavern in Reading and was attended by six amateurs.

Membership Report

Club membership stood at 15 as of August 31.  There were no new members or renewals in August.

Board Meeting

The next Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30pm at the First United Methodist Church, 45 North Manning in Hillsdale (map).  All club members and invited guests are welcome to attend.

Dale Smith W9LKI (SK)

Dale Smith W9LKI, of Hillsdale, became a Silent Key on August 14.  Dale was a well-known active amateur in the tri-state area.  Click here to view Dale's obituary.

Solar Eclipse QSO Party A Hit, Science Conclusions Await Analysis

The 2017 Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) is history, and, while logs are still coming in, the preliminary participation numbers look good, according to Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF of HamSCI.  Frissell and others are investigating whether the sudden absence of sunlight during the eclipse, and especially of solar ultra-violet and x-rays, would briefly change the properties of the upper atmosphere.  Frissell said overall, the event went well, and he heard a lot of on-the-air activity during the 8 hours the SEQP was running.  (ARRL story)

ARRL News Hurricane Harvey Coverage

ARRL News published several stories over the life of Hurricane Harvey

08/19/17 Caribbean Emergency and Weather Net was Activated for Tropical Storm Harvey

08/22/17 Hurricane Watch Net Still Eyeing Remnants of Tropical Cyclone Harvey

08/24/17 Harvey Regains Strength, Hurricane Watch Net Plans to Activate

08/24/17 Harvey Gains Hurricane Strength, Hurricane Watch and VoIP WX Nets Activate

08/24/17 Southern Territory SATERN Net to Activate on Saturday, August 26, for Hurricane Harvey

08/25/17 Array of Amateur Radio Resources Readying for Hurricane Harvey Response

08/25/17 Amateur Radio Preparations Continue for Category 4 Hurricane Harvey; Flooding Most Significant Fear

08/26/17 Heavy Rainfall from Hurricane Harvey Could Extend for Days, Catastrophic Flooding Forecast

08/26/17 Hurricane Watch Net Suspends Operations for Hurricane Harvey

08/28/17 Texas Flood Zone ARES Volunteers Advised to Stay Home, Family Safety Comes First

08/29/27 Interview: ARRL Public Information Officer Describes the Situation in Harris County, Texas

08/30/17 Amateur Radio Volunteers Assisting Where Needed in Hurricane Response

Senate Confirms FCC Commission Nominees

The US Senate confirmed the president's nominees to fill the two empty seats on the FCC.  Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel, a former commissioner, and Brendan Carr, the FCC general counsel, a Republican were confirmed.  The five-member FCC now has three Republicans and two Democrats.  (ARRL story)

Hara Arena Auctioned By IRS

Hara Arena, former home of the Dayton Hamvention, was scheduled to be auctioned by the Internal Revenue Service to satisfy a tax lien.  The now-beleaguered building and grounds were closed a year ago by its owners, the Wampler Family, which had attempted for years to put Hara on a profitable plane.  The auction comes in the wake of an Order of Sale entered in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.  The IRS took bids on August 30.  According to the announcement, “any rights, titles, claims, liens and interest” in the buildings and land will be discharged once a sale is confirmed.  (ARRL story)  (IRA Sale Notice)

ARRL Posts Amateur Radio Parity Act FAQs

The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 is now in the US Senate (S 1534).  ARRL has developed and posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), “The Amateur Radio Parity Act: Setting the Record Straight,” to explain and to clarify what the passage of the legislation would accomplish, as well as what it would not.  (ARRL story)

Revised Form 605 Must Be Used At Exam Sessions Starting On August 21

A revised Form 605, "QUICK-FORM 605 APPLICATION AMATEUR OPERATOR/PRIMARY STATION  LICENSE" went into effect on August 21.  The revised form must be used at exam sessions starting on August 21.  The form ask applicants if they have been convicted of a felony in any state or federal court.  This conforms with FCC requirements to evaluate an applicant’s qualifications to hold any FCC-issued license.  The FCC has been asking “the felony question” on other forms, and its omission on Form 605 was an apparent oversight.  (ARRL story)

Great Lakes HamCon Update

The Great Lakes HamCon hamfest will be held at Michigan International Speedway on October 7 & 8.  Ticket prices are $17 in advance and $20 at the gate.  Each ticket is good for both days.  Children under 12 are free with a paid admission.  A child’s ticket must be requested when purchasing adult tickets.  The dollar off advanced ticket promotion ended on June 30.

Camping spaces are $35 without electric and $50 with electric for Friday and Saturday nights.

Flea Market spaces are available for purchase by phone only.  Spaces are $40 for a 12x20 foot space on pit road.  Adjacent spaces may be obtained only by ordering the spaces at the same time.  Call 888-905-7223 between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.

GLHAMCON Resources

Website: http://www.glhamcon.org

ARRL Hamfest Info Page: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/great-lakes-division-convention-1

Flyer: http://glhamcon.org/FlyerDaytonColor051417.pdf

Window Sticker & Ordering Instructions: http://glhamcon.org/sticker.html

Recruitment Letter: http://glhamcon.org/letter.html

Volunteer Email Address: volunteer@GLHamCon.org

GL HamCon Online Store: https://glhamcon.qbstores.com/

Online Ticket Portal: http://www.mispeedway.com/About-MIS/Special-Events/Great-Lakes-HamCon.aspx

Most Recent Newsletter: http://glhamcon.org/newsletter/

Newsletters: June 17, June 6, May 8, April 2

FCC Amateur Radio License Database Activity In Hillsdale County

08/02/17 AC8WD, Smith, Nicholas J, address updated from out of county

Silent Keys

Dale Smith W9LKI 08/14/17

Michigan Distracted Driving Legislation Update

Distracted driving bill was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives on March 30.  Click here to follow the progress of HB4466.

PRB-1 Legislative Update

House Version: HR 555 was introduced in the US House of Representatives on January 13 and was passed just 10 days later.  The bill was sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  The bill calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications.  Click here to follow the progress of HR 555.  (ARRL story)

Senate Version: S 1534, the Senate version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 was introduced in the on July 12 and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  Click here to follow the progress of S 1534.  (ARRL story)

PRB-1 Resources

ARRL Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 webpage

HR 555 status page

S 1534 status page

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

QSM

Monday Night Net Certificate: The club will award certificates for exceptional participation in the Monday night net.  The purpose of the program is to encourage participation in the net, both as check-ins and as net control station.  The certificate will be awarded to participants that attain at least 75 points during 2017.  Rules and results are posted in the Net Control Schedule section of the club website.  So far Bill Hicks WB8FFO and Joe Gosla KD8UJS have qualified for 2017.

Michigan State Parks On The Air: Starting April 1 Michigan hams embarked on the most ambitious on-the-air project ever, the Michigan State Parks on the Air (MSPOTA).  Previous State Park activations on the air around the country have focused on a single weekend.  The Michigan State Parks system as a whole will be 100 years old in 2019.  Some of our parks actually began operation in 1917.  Hence, the celebration began in 2017 and continues through 2019.  That is three years of State Parks on the Air!  Lots of time for activators and chasers alike!  This event includes 117 MDNR Parks & Recreation sites including State Parks, Recreation Areas, Scenic Sites and State Trails rotated over the 3 years.  That adds up to about 50 parks across the state active in each event year.  (More info at MSPOTA website)

Upcoming Events

September 9 – Ham Breakfast

September 9 – GRAHamfest

September 10 – Findlay Hamfest

September 16 – Hoosier Lakes Radio Club Tailgate Hamfest (Warsaw, IN)

September 17 – Adrian Hamfest

September 21 – Club Meeting

October 7-8 – Great Lakes HamCon  NEW HAMFEST

October 14 – Ham Breakfast

October 19 – Club Meeting

October 22 – Kalamazoo Hamfest

October 29 –  USECA Hamfest/Swap & Shop

November 11 – Ham Breakfast

November 16 – Club Meeting & Leadership Elections

November 18-19 – Fort Wayne Hamfest