MAD RIVER RADIO CLUB April/May 2001

Volume 30 Issue 6 TheThe FlashFlash

From the Big Fish Dave Pruett, K8CC [email protected]

One of the biggest chal- we have 74 people on the lenges faced by just about any roster. We typically have Inside this issue: club is getting people to par- between four and twelve peo- ticipate in the running of the ple show up for the Monday From the Big Fish 1 organization. It seems like Night Net – the rest are the Editors Notes 1 often the old “80-20” rule “hidden” members. The applies – 80% of the work MRRC Reflector has only 44 Member Profile 2 gets done by 20% of the peo- members subscribed to it – ple. I think MRRC is better the other 30 are “hidden”. Dayton Events 3 than most; with a lot of our I make this point not to current activities like “Suite bust any chops nor embarrass The ‘Big Fish’ hard at work at Treasurer Report 3 In The Sun”, MiQP/OhQP, anyone, but rather to ask these Windwood, VI. sponsoring meetings, etc., questions of MRRC’s Club Resources 4 much of the club work is be- “hidden” members: Are you many other contest clubs con- ing spread around. happy with the club as it is? duct their activities. Many of However, I sometimes Are you glad to be part of this these clubs have enjoyed tre- Upcoming Events worry that there are “two” club? Does your association mendous membership growth MRRCs. One MRRC (the with the club increase your over the past few years. Here 18-20 May “visible” one) is represented enjoyment of amateur radio? are some of the programs that by those on the MRRC Mon- Hopefully the answers to all I see that MRRC doesn’t do Dayton Hamvention day Night Net, and those who of the above questions are now: are active on the MRRC Re- positive. However, I’d like to Meeting on Saturday, • Apparel Program – Jack- flector. The other, “hidden” ask one more: What would ets, T-shirts, sweaters and Suite in the Sun MRRC is represented by eve- you like to see MRRC do that such build camaraderie ryone else – the members who its not doing now? and a strong club iden- Contest Super Suite pay their dues and make their Between my contacts in tity. meetings, then watch what contesting and the newsletters happens. To illustrate this, we exchange with other or- (Continued on page 2) consider that as this is written, ganizations, I get to see how 23-24 June Field Day Editor’s Notes Tim Mitchell, K9TM [email protected]

28 July If you feel like you just Dayton info and is also a little make it look good but contain Goosefest received a Flash and are won- late. We should be able to get useful information. dering why another one so back on the normal schedule You may notice even more soon? Well, it is due to several with the next issue. changes this time. Due to my things. I was tardy with the last Thanks to everyone who post-office telling me that sta- Flash but needed to put it out commented on the new look ples are not acceptable and before MQP. Flash. I appreciate it and will several members commenting This one contains mainly continue to try and not only (Continued on page 3) Page 2 The Flash Volume 30 Issue 6

quite memorable with decent weekend brings the annual From the Big Fish (continued) conditions and records set in MRRC Railroad where the many categories. We also got membership cajoles, tricks, (Continued from page 1) I’d like to ask all MRRC ALL 83 COUNTIES ON bribes or bushwhacks unwit- • Internal club achievement members to be thinking about THE AIR from our mobiles. ting members into being club awards for contesting projects or programs that The activity levels were much leaders for the following year. performance. you’d like to see the club ini- higher than previous years, Its that time again! I believe • “Local” organization to tiate. Even better, think about due in part to the effort put that the current officers are help members erect an- whether YOU could be part of into increased PR, but also willing to serve another term. tennas and encourage the team that gets it started. due to the great turnout of However, anyone who wants participation. I’d like to be able to bring MRRC members who got on to run for office (or who • Contest training. some ideas to the club at the and made QSOs. The MI wants to nominate someone) Dayton meeting so we can contingent thanks everyone should contact me prior to the vote on these and get started. for their activity, particularly Dayton Hamvention. Feel free to contact me prior the out-state members and Dayton is only two weeks “I’d like to ask all MRRC to Dayton with your ideas, or those who drove in for the away – I hope to see everyone members to be thinking about catch me during Friday and event. It was a great weekend at the official MRRC meeting projects or programs that we can talk about it over a – now let’s do it again from and the Suite In The Sun. you’d like to see the club cold beverage. OH in August! Now where did I put my initiate.” checkbook? 2001 MiQP Election of Officers 73, Dave/K8CC (From the Big Fish) The 2001 MiQP is now Dayton Hamvention history. The contest was

MRRC Profiles: N8MG By Goose Steingrass , W8AV [email protected]

This edition of the Unfortunately, Marty admits his wife Paulette (I FLASH profiles one of our that he had other things to thought that was a full newest members Marty Men- occupy his time and never time occupation instead of

delson, N8MG. Marty's inter- took the necessary steps to- a hobby.....Ed.) and his three Goose at the controls of W8AV est in ham radio was ignited ward obtaining a license until children Harold, KB8UCH; by visits to his great uncle's the summer of 1993. He be- Dale KC8EMO; and Alicia. house in Chicago. His great gan studying in that year and It is rumored that he will also phore instead of Morse Code. uncle was licensed in the late was licensed as a Novice with be entering the world of being I enjoy CW now but prefer 1930's and Marty notes that call of KB8RSH in February a grandfather this fall which phone and RTTY." He has the visits would occasionally 1994. Marty claims that no will yet become another facet obtained his WAS and has include a trip to the ham- one really stood out as an of the aforementioned hobby. also done a bit of county shack. "Elmer" to assist him in get- "MG" also claims to en- hunting. He also mentions "It (the radio equipment) ting his first license although joy a good game of chess al- that he currently enrolled in was pretty much all home- he credits Walt, WB8E and though he admits he is still a the ARRL Emergency Com- brew stuff and glowed very Mike, WX3L for encouraging bit of a patzer at the game. munication online class. nicely when he turned it all on him to upgrade. The encour- Between 1994 and 1998 Marty's favorite contests and started to transmit." agement worked pretty well Marty ham radio career cen- are SS (both modes), Field because Marty upgraded to tered around traffic handling. Day, and ARRL RTTY Technician nine months after He has been NCS for the both Roundup. He admits that he receiving his initial license, the Southeast Michigan VHF still doesn't feel comfortable and earned his Extra Class Traffic Net and the Michigan as a run station in SS so does license five months later. He Traffic Net and an occasional a lot of S&P in these contests. sported the call KG8QT be- check-in to the QMN CW Marty recalls that he first met tween April, 1995 and De- Traffic Net. Lately he en Don, WX3M at Field Day cember, 1996 when he ap- joys Dxing, RTTY, and of in 1994 with the USECA club plied for and received his course phone and CW con- which was the year that current call, N8MG. testing. Marty admits, "I USECA won their category in Marty lists as his hob- hated CW when I was in Boy Marty workin’ ‘em @ K8CC (Continued on page 3) bies, outside of Ham Radio, Scouts and learned Sema- The Flash Volume 30 Issue 6 Page 3

(Continued from page 2) Outpost and Outbacker anten- Suite In the Sun the contest. He remains nas, a long wire for 80 meters, The club is once again hosting the "Suite in the Sun" at proud of that accomplishment and a Comet G9 VHF/UHF the Dayton Hamvention. We are again in spaces 3858 to 3860. to this day. antenna make up the antenna We will be open Friday and Saturday only. When asked about how farm. Marty just purchased W8DRZ & I are again hauling the stuff and setting up. he learned and became inter- the Outpost antenna and states We need two things: ested in MRRC, Marty ex that it compares very favora- 1. Volunteers to spend a few hours running the suite plains, "Mike, WD8S men- bly to the R7000 and in some 2. Stuff to sell. tioned several times about cases is a bit better. He Please let me know when you might be able to spend going out to K8CC's station to wishes that he could accom- some time. DRZ and I are willing to spend significant time, operate. This past spring, modate some larger antennas but we do have other things to see and do. I have spent a good Mike, over breakfast one but is restricted by the size of deal of time at the suite the past two years, but with my supply morning, mentioned CQ his city lot. of old TV transmitter junk about cleared out, I am ready for a WPX and asked me to join Marty is presently study- more modest schedule. him. I contacted Dave to be ing Electrical Engineering at There are few things as sad as an empty table in the flea sure that it was all right and the college level, since he is market at the beginning of the Hamvention, and few things as the rest is history." He likes presently on layoff from Gen- happy as an empty table at the end. Selling stuff is what the the professionalism of con- eral Motors. However at GM, flea market is all about, especially in the early hours when testing at Dave's and the gen- Marty has worn a number of people still have money and energy. And I have found it a bit eral professionalism he sees occupational hats from an amazing what we have sold in previous years. Things like in Mad River. He is hoping assembler at the Pontiac Commodore 64's and broken radios. And lots of better stuff as that he can add a new per- Truck Plant, to truck driver, well. spective to MRRC as he gains dock chief, inspector, and Bring your stuff to the Suite as early as you can. Make more exposure to the club and toolmaker apprentice. Al- sure we know who it belongs to, your asking price, and what its workings. though he is not exactly in a condition it is in. If you have some absolute minimum price, The N8MG station con- deep love affair with Calcu- let us know as well. sists of an FT1000MP with a lus, Marty plans to have the Should anyone wish to bring stuff for the club to sell as a Heil Proset, a Kenwood TS- EE degree completed by the donation to the club treasury, we will gratefully accept that as 50 as a backup and mobile time he is eligible for retire- well! transceiver, and a Yaesu ment from GM. He resides at So clean up your shack, be prepared to rejuvenate your FT5100 dual band FM trans- 26242 Woodingham in War- radio budget, and come spend some time hosting the Suite in ceiver. A Cushcraft R7000, ren, Michigan. the Sun. And cross your fingers for good weather! Treasurer Report By Buck Switzer, N8CQA [email protected] Editor’s Notes (continued) 04/01/01 Bal. $104.73 Dep. 48,00 (Continued from page 1) 04/30/01 Bal. $152.73 on their issue arriving torn up, I have decided to tri-fold it and put it in an envelope. This should make everyone happy and ALL the plaques for OH/MI 2000 have been paid for and doesn’t increase the cost of production. shipped. WD8S advises the plaques will be $60.00 each for 2001! Watch for the next issue to contain MQP stories and claim 73, Buck/N8CQA scores. If anyone wants to put together an article on their opera- tion, please do so and send it to me. You don’t have to worry about any of the formatting. If you have pictures, send those to MRRC Dayton Events me as well. Send the hi-resolution pictures and I will do any conversions required. If you send me compressed pictures to Hospitality Super Suite make them smaller, they will likely not look as good. MRRC is again joining our friends from the North Coast Con- testers to host the contest super suite in the Miami Room (2nd I hope that everyone has a safe trip to Dayton and may you floor) of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton. After find what you are looking for. I have to miss Dayton for the first spending your day at the suite in the sun, come to the night time in a long time this year. I will be recovering from surgery time suite on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7 PM earlier in the week. However, that won’t stop me from taking until 2 AM. advantage of Dayton specials… where’s my MasterCard? MRRC Meeting 73, Tim/K9TM The meeting is on Saturday at noon in the main arena behind the Cushcraft display. Mad River Radio Club

Tim Mitchell K9TM 6016 Granville Drive Sylvania, Ohio 43560

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Club Resources

The Mad River Radio Club Club dues are $12 per year, Eastern time on 3825 KHz. President is an ARRL affiliated payable after the 1st of May Keep up with MRRC hap- Dave Pruett K8CC club of amateur radio each year with a grace period penings by subscribing to the 2727 Harris Road enthusiasts. The club is thru 31st of July each year. Ypsilanti, MI 48198 MRRC Internet Reflector. To centered near Findlay, Members of the same family join send an email to mrrc- (734) 481-0755 Ohio and serves Ohio living at the same address may [email protected] [email protected]. The and the surrounding elect to receive a single Flash body of the message should States. Membership is open to for one set of dues. Fulltime Editor include “subscribe mrrc your- Tim Mitchell K9TM anyone. students are eligible for dues at call”. 6016 Granville Drive half price. Dues are to be paid The Flash is the official Sylvania, OH 43560 newsletter of MRRC and is to the treasurer at the address (419) 882-1149 published six times per year. shown below. Please make K8MAD is the club call- [email protected] Submission of material for checks payable to Mad River sign of the Mad River Radio publication is welcome. It may Radio Club. Club Treasurer be sent to the editor at the The club roster appears Buck Switzer N8CQA postal or email address shown annually in the Oct/Nov issue 427 Jeffrey Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48073 in this section. The Flash may of the Flash. (248) 435-2448 be reprinted in whole or in part The Mad River Net is held [email protected] provided proper credit is given. on Monday nights at 8:30 PM