Medina County Amateur Radio Club (MCARC)

Vol III Issue 2 February 2020

Member to Member News Beacon

Prez’s Preface

“While it is February one can the nerve to once again Seven Techs are curling up taste the full joys of balance on a 10- foot by the fireplace with the anticipation. Spring stands at ladder! ARRL License Manual to the gate with her finger on the prepare for our MCARC latch.” Patience Strong Here’s hoping for a General Class licensing continuation of this winter’s And it is with that same sessions being held at the Inside this issue: mild weather so we all can anticipation that I await the Medina County Career continue working on This and That 2 chance to attach the newly Center. There is still time outside projects. to join us. The second Calendar 3 purchased UV and solar radiation modules to the However, if you prefer to weekly class is being held AMSAT 4 Davis weather station hibernate indoors until the next Wednesday, February th Richard AC8RI 5 mounted 30 feet up on my temperature hits 70- 4 at 6:30pm. Exams for tower. All I need is a warm all Amateur Radio Exams Repeaters 6 degrees, you still have – relatively speaking – day, several months to tech- will be held during the last th Who We Are 7 a block of free time, some read, tinker, key or talk. class on February 25 . All, including walk-ins are ARRL Application 8 winch-cranking strength and welcome to sit, but if you think you will attend, Hamatuer Antix please notify Doug KD8SST or me, so the VEs can better prepare.

Happy Valentines Day to you all – be kind to everyone.

88,

Jane K8JGR 216-570-8500 (mobile)

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MCARC January 13, 2020 Meeting Minutes

The Secretary’s Minutes for January will be passed around for review at the January General Meeting.

This and That

• Any member wishing to purchase gift cards, please contact our Treasurer, Gail KD8GGM. To see the listing of participating vendors, visit www.ShopWithScrip.com . The Club receives a small commission.

• According to Fred K8FH, “Winter Field Day [January 25 &26] went well. No big score but we don’t enter into WFD with the objective to win. We see WFD as an opportunity to practice emergency preparedness.

We take pride in our ability to set up good antennas in an efficient manner and make contacts all over the country, which we did. We had a nice group show up to assist and operate: NF8O, K8MD, KD8UJG, W8RWK, KE8JID, K8IQ and myself. We had three operating positions and they were busy except for maybe 4 or 5 hours during the night. I think the ambition to stay up all night and operate doesn’t have the appeal it once did to us older guys. We put up three different all band antennas; the usual FD inverted “V”

antenna, an end fed half wave, and a horizontal loop. We had good separation between the antennas and even when operating CW and Phone in the same band, there was no interference between the operating positions. We were comfortable in the Shed and ate well thanks to Dave and Bob. It was fun watching and listening to Gavin, KE8JID, run the pileups he created, he really had some nice QSO runs.”

• We will be setting up and staffing our Emergency Communications Trailer at the Brunswick Summer Celebration on Saturday June 13th from opening to about 1-2 hours from closing. Of course, if there is any severe weather event, not only would we need to remove the trailer, the Celebration would be shut down as well!

• June 27-28 means the big event of the year – ARRL Field Day. We will once again set up operations at Mill Stream Park in Valley City.

• The MCARC Summer Picnic for all members will be moved to the Valley City, Mill Stream Park on August 2, 2020.

• You might want to check out the 2016 YouTube video about the repeaters owned by the Medina County Amateur Radio Club, AKA, Medina Two Meter Group, starring Ken Koyan K8TV! The video is a bit dated,

and many more changes are to come, but it provides an historical snapshot of our network of repeaters. It can be found at the bottom of the home page on our website, www.W8EOC.org .

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February 10, 2020 General Meeting

Join us 7:30 pm for our Monthly Meeting on February 10 the Medina County Senior Center, AKA Medina County Office for Older Adults, Basement, 246 Northland Drive, Medina 44256.

The evening program will be presented by Mark Moro WJ8WM. Mark is a certified, career electrician and is the Garfield Heights Building Commissioner. His background obviously gives him experience and familiarity with residential, industrial, and amateur radio station electrical code requirements.

Mark enjoys his profession and the Ham Radio hobby very much. He will be glad to answer all questions or provide advice on projects and installations.

Meetings are open to anyone interested in Amateur Radio or electronics. MCARC (M2M) Calendar General Meeting Venues: JVS = Medina County Career Center February 10, 2020 General Meeting Sr Room 246 1101 West Liberty Street

March 9, 2020 General Meeting Medina 44256

April 13, 2020 General Meeting Sr = Medina County Senior Center (Basement) aka: Medina County Office for Older Adults 246 Northland Drive

Medina 44256

Meetings start at 7:30pm

Ohio ARRL Hamfests ARRL Contests December

Mansfield Mid-Winter Hamfest February 10-14 School Club Roundup February 15-16 International DX – CW 02/16/2020 Location: Richland County Fair Grounds

750 North Home Road Mansfield, OH 44901 Hamcation Website: http://WWW.IARC.CLUB Sponsor: Intercity Amateur Radio Club Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park Talk-In: 146.940 - (PL 71.9) Public Contact: Danny Bailey , W8DLB 4603 West Colonial Drive Phone: 567-763-0021 Orlando, Florida 32808 Email: [email protected]

02/07/2020 9AM to 5PM 02/08/2020 9AM to 5PM

02/09/2020 9AM to 2PM

Admission $20

https://www.hamcation.com/hamcation

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What is AMSAT?

History agencies and commercial launch were launched on 8 October 2015 and AMSAT is a name for amateur radio contractors to develop new ways to 18 November 2017 respectively and satellite organizations worldwide, but take advantage of unused areas of are currently operational and available in particular the Radio Amateur launch vehicles. In return, AMSAT for use. Fox-1D (AO-92) was launched Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA) sometimes can negotiate a reduction or on 12 January 2018 on the PSLV-C40 with headquarters at Kensington, waiver of launch costs. One of the most mission from Satish Dhawan Space Maryland, near Washington, D.C. significant is the Ariane Structure for Centre in Sriharikota, India. Fox-1Cliff AMSAT organizations design, build, Auxiliary Payloads (ASAP), developed was launched from Vandenberg Air arrange launches for, and then and manufactured in partnership with Force Base aboard the SpaceX Falcon-9 operate (command) satellites the European Space Agency in 1990 for SSO-A rocket on 2018-12-03. These carrying amateur radio payloads, use on its Ariane 4 launch vehicle. four Fox satellites contain FM including the OSCAR series of AMSAT was again able to take transponders with uplink on the 70cm satellites [Orbiting Satellite Carrying advantage of unused space with the band and downlink on the 2 meter Amateur Radio.] Other informally launch of AMSAT-OSCAR 40 (AO-40), band. affiliated national organizations exist, occupying unused space on an Ariane such as AMSAT Germany (AMSAT- 5. DL) and AMSAT Japan (JAMSAT). The IPS (Interpreter for Process CubeSat AMSAT-NA was founded in 1969 in Structures) programming language was Washington, D.C. to continue the specifically written for the RCA 1802 efforts begun by Project OSCAR. Its AMSAT Phase III satellite. first project was to coordinate the RadFXSat-2/Fox-1E, a variation of the launch of OSCAR 5, constructed by Satellite Names students at the University of Fox-1 series, carrying a mode V/U Most amateur satellites do not receive linear transponder has been accepted Melbourne. Some design their sequential OSCAR designation until modifications were needed and were for a launch by the NASA CubeSat after they are successfully in orbit, and Launch Initiative. made by AMSAT members, and the then only at the request of the satellite was successfully launched launching organization. Regardless, on January 30, 1970, on a NASA amateur satellites will have been named AMSAT is also working on a Phase 4 Thor Delta launch vehicle. by the organization that constructed it, mission to geosynchronous orbit and and that name is frequently prepended actively pursuing High Earth Orbit AMSAT's next launch was AMSAT- to its OSCAR designation, resulting a (HEO) opportunities. OSCAR 6 (AO-6) on October 15, name such as CubeSat-OSCAR 57. In 1972. AO-6 was AMSAT's first long- conversation, names are usually Current Operating Missions life satellite and was built with abbreviated as CO-57 or similar. AMSAT-NA operates the AO-7, AO-85, participants from Australia and West AO-91, and AO-92 satellites, which are Germany. Command stations in A unique amateur satellite was SuitSat, open for general amateur use. The Australia, Canada, Great Britain, an obsolete Russian space suit with a U.S. Air Force FalconSAT-3 was turned Hungary, Morocco, New Zealand, the transmitter in it, which was launched in over to AMSAT for amateur radio use United States and West Germany 2006 from the International Space in late September 2017. AO-95 was controlled the satellite, contributing Station. In a twist of fate, "Oscar" was launched aboard Spacex's Falcon-9 greatly to its 4½ years of service. the name given to an obsolete space SSO-A mission on 2018-12-04 and was Further launches continued to suit by its young owner in the book later determined to have poor to no RF emphasize international cooperation, Have Space Suit, Will Travel, by Robert reception capability, thus preventing with AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7) A Heinlein. This book was originally commissioning and putting its FM launching with a new transponder published a year after the launch of the transponder mission into indefinite developed and built by Karl Meinzer first artificial satellite, Sputnik. suspension. and AMSAT Germany (AMSAT-DL). AMSAT Japan (JAMSAT) contributed Current Projects Excerpts from Wikipedia a transponder to AMSAT-OSCAR 8 (AO-8). AMSAT-NA is currently building a series of 1U CubeSats to carry university More info found at www.amsat.org experiments, including a camera, and In order to launch its satellites, mode U/V FM repeaters. The first two AMSAT has worked with space of these satellites, Fox-1A, and Fox-1B,

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Member of the Month – Richard AC8RI

Name, Call Sign, and Tech/ What/who got you interested in Current projects? General/ Extra? amateur radio? I am most interested in Richard Baggett AC8RI, Extra I have been interested in experimenting.

electronics as long as I can How long have you been a remember. There were some Current projects are a Morse ham? acquaintances who were hams, code reader. I know I can buy but I never had the patience for one, but what fun is that? Licensed June 23, 2014, after code. I remember when the code failing the Tech class exam, I have had some input on the requirement was removed, but by immediately re-taking and passing feature set of the new then I had a very busy life. all the tests through Extra! Propeller2 micro-controller Consistency has never been a What modes of operation do from Parallax and have rated one of the 130 good ones strong point. you like best? from the first wafer. (Rev A) It

How long have you been a I sometimes join the chatter has many built-in abilities that member of M2M? before the Silver Creek Barometer will make it a phenomenal Net (147.39) on the way to work. addition to most radio I joined M2M last year after experiments. moving to Lodi. Previously, I was I am trying to get into the habit of a member of Cuyahoga Falls having an HT on Monday nights Other Comments? Amateur Radio Club (CFARC). for the MCARC net. If you aren’t having fun… You Family Members who are aren’t doing it right! hams?

I am the only ham in the family but have helped a few co-workers into the hobby.

The limited-edition Propeller 2 ES Eval Board Rev B is a multicore microcontroller designed for experimentation.

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MCARC (M2M) Repeaters

05/11/2018 Summary

Remember to Call Location Function Repeater Repeater CTCSS Band

check in to the Input Output (PL) 2-Meter Net W8EOC Medina Repeater 147.630 147.030 141.3 2

147.030 on non- (Main TX & RX Meter meeting, Monday Site) evenings at 7:30pm. W8EOC Brunswick Receive 147.630 From Main 131.8 2 (North) only Site Meter W8EOC Lafayette Receive 147.630 From Main 88.5 2 (South) only Site Meter Digital 147.885 147.285 (0) 2 C4FM Meter TX & RX W8HN Medina Repeater Analog 147.885 147.285 (110.9) 2 TX & RX Meter Repeater W8UQZ Medina Repeater 223.260 224.860 - 1.25 TX & RX Meter W8EOC Lafayette Repeater 449.925 444.925 131.8 70 CM TX & RX

MCARC (M2M) Monday Night 2-Meter Net Control

ARRL Membership

Please consider paying your dues for ARRL membership through our club Treasurer, Gail KD8GGM. M2M will retain $15.00 for each NEW membership and $2.00 for each renewal.

Yearly dues are $49.00 for regular membership, $25.00 for youth under age 21 being oldest Ham in household, and $10.00 for Additional Ham member in family. All but Additional Ham memberships will receive the monthly QST magazine. Dues can be paid by cash, personal check made out to “Medina Two Meter Group” or credit card.

A copy of the ARRL Membership Application/Renewal form is appended to this newsletter). Please return it with payment to: Gail Helwig KD8GGM, Treasurer, M2M Group, 12891 East River Road, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028. (Do not mail cash, give it to Gail at the next meeting.)

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Who’s Who M2M GROUP, INC President: Trustees: Website: Jane Reed K8JGR Doug McClure KD8SST Jane Reed K8JGR We’re on the [email protected] Web! Dave Swancer KE8APO Net Scheduling: 216-570-8500 Dave Oravec N8JNX Baji Panchumarti K8IIT See us at: VP: Diane Snider KD8SSX Amy Panchumarti K2KSU Social Events: www.W8EOC.org Gail Helwig KD8GGM Treasurer: Ed Eyerdom K8NVR Gail Helwig KD8GGM Skywarn: Sunshine: Tracey Liston W8TWL Also, Secretary: Diane Snider KD8SSX Ray Orobona K2RWO “Like Us” on Newsletter: MECARS/ARES: Jim Bodnar W8UQZ Facebook W8EOC Repeaters: Jane Reed K8JGR Ken Koyan K8TV RACES: “Medina County Ed Eyerdom K8NVR Field Day: Fred Helwig K8FH Dave Rickon NF80 Amateur Radio State Certification: Program: Club” Don Duman W8DD Toby Kolman W8TO

About Our Organization…

The Medina County such as bicycle and foot Amateur Radio Club races. (M2M) is a nonprofit, We meet on the second ARRL Special Service Monday of each month at registered, amateur radio either the Medina County organization based in Senior Center (Sr) or the Medina County, dedicated Medina County Career (JVS) to communication, public Center. See Website or page service, education and three for more information. fellowship. Many of our members also are involved with Skywarn, ARES/MECARS, RACES, and assist with community events

MEDINA TWO METER GROUP (M2M) INC. DBA: MEDINA COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 1254 HADCOCK RD BRUNSWICK, OHIO 44212

TO: