Cherry Juice Newsletter of the Cherryland Amateur Radio Club
VOLUME ISSUE 48 1 January, 2021
With 2020 now in the rear-view mirror, where do we want to go in 2021? How can we get there? .
Membership Dues are Due page 13
In This Issue
2021 View Ahead Pg 1 Ring that Bell Pg 5 Mesh Net Record Pg 6 Brian Cox, N8TC Pg 7 News you can Use Pg 10 Ham Workshop Pg 11 Dues are Due Pg 13
Read the Board’s aspirations for 2021 and more inside. You are invited to chime-in too!
Continued on Page 2
Affiliated Club #1082 2021… a new hope!
As you know, the SATERN group has erected a new 50’ aluminum tower. We don’t Ernie Abel, K8RCT have any antennas for it yet but President, Cherryland ARC I think we can get some installed pretty quickly. Well, I am really glad that the New ham training and dreadful year of 2020 has come reactivating some of the hams and gone. I’ll happily tear up the we haven’t heard on the air will Glen Johnson, K8SGZ calendar and use it to start a be a priority for CARC in 2021. I Vice-President, Cherryland ARC bon fire! Bah Humbug 2020! know the club is committed to training new hams. We also We do have a nice new shiny were planning on a project to WHY HELP OTHERS? year ahead of us so let’s think reach out to approximately 450 about all the ham radio things Technician class and inactive We see hospital staff, police, fire, we can look forward to doing. hams in our area. and other people in our Here’s my list of ham events community helping others every that I’m looking forward to! Scott, WX1J, has been holding some hands-on-training for new day. Each day people go into work Getting back to gather with my hams and we your need to help where there is a chance of injury, ham buddies. I really miss expand that project. getting sick, or the remote seeing you at our club meetings possibility of dying. People not and social events like Field Day, Of course we want to see involved in this effort reason that the annual picnic and Christmas everyone back at Field Day in it is their “job” and they get paid party. 2021. We did hold an in-person for their work. But really, is any Field Day this past year but job worth your health or your Zoom meetings help bridge the many folks chose to stay home life? For those of us who gap but it’s just not the same as because of the virus. The same volunteer, sometimes you get a lot in-person meetings. situation was true for our of aggravation from those we are annual picnic. trying to help. So why help Getting the club station back up others? and running. Jim Marco has So, throw away that old made a good start on calendar and start planning on The Starfish Story – After a modernizing the clubroom. what you would like to storm, a man is walking down a Most of the old “junque” has participate in this year. beach and sees a boy throwing disappeared and as soon as we starfish washed up on the beach can get back into the Salvation And have a Happier New Year! back into the ocean. The man Army building let’s start putting 73, asks the child, “What are you the room back in order. doing?” The child replies that Ernie, K8RCT each starfish will die in the sun. Continued on Page 3 2 ISSUE Outlook00 for the New Year (continued) Johnson - Continued from Page 2 Due to the restrictions, the The man tells the boy that the locations may vary. Thanks to beach is miles long and that his Glen, W8SGZ we will be able to efforts cannot matter to the hold the next test session thousands of starfish. The boy February 6 at New Approaches picks up a starfish and throws it Center. He asks that we follow back in the ocean and says, “It proper Covid procedures as matters to this one.” required. In the worst of times, it seems like Test sessions will be registered small acts of kindness do not with ARRL for those looking for matter. On the contrary, it is my information. The locations for belief that seeing beyond ourselves the remaining tests in 2021 are and seeing that we are part of a as yet undetermined, but the community is extremely dates have been posted later in important. Having pride in what Hope Francisco, AA8SN this newsletter and on the you do and being part of a team Secretary, VE Leader website. that has a “Do the right thing” attitude can become a powerful An important note for any force against negativity and applicant for an initial license— apathy. No matter how small or All new applicants in 2021must register in the FCC CORES system large the effort, I wish that all of One of the more important you take pride in that we “fight the (https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/user) activities that the Cherryland good fight.” and obtain an FRN number ARC provides is regular VE before the test session. This To the Munson Healthcare staff, testing. Our regular schedule must be done at least a week Northern Michigan first responders, includes four test sessions held prior to the date of the test as and our own Munson Emergency every quarter – February, May, there is a delay in the initial Communications/TBARG team August, and registering/setting up of a members, I just simply want to say, November. Because of the password and signing up for the “Thank You.” What you do matters. Covid restrictions in 2020, we FRN number. In the past an were one of very few clubs to applicant could simply give their Glen Johnson, K8SGZ hold in-person test sessions social security number at the test Munson Emergency which brought an increase in session and the FCC would then Communications the numbers of applicants issue them their FRN number for coming to our sessions. In 2020 future use. This will no longer be Traverse Bay Area Radio Group we held five sessions with 37 the case. applicants earning either an Vice President, Cherryland ARC initial license of an upgrade to Feel free to contact me with any an existing license. In 2021 we questions and/or signing up for a plan to continue as we have test session. done in the past offering Hope Francisco AA8SN quarterly tests or more if the 231-218-0622 (cell) need arises. [email protected]
Continued on Page 4 33 OutlookISSUE for the New Year (continued) I believe that Cherryland ARC is 00 more active than a lot of clubs, While 2020 had its challenges and we have a core of members for the Club, I would like to who are committed to helping inform everyone that the club is the community through service financially healthy and with to organizations needing continued good guidance, will be communication, and supporting able to withstand the sure to be emergency communication challenges of 2021. Our programs including TBARG membership is stable and even ARES/RACES, SKYWARN and though we will not be able to SATERN. benefit from a Hamfest in February, the club is on solid ground and able to continue to Joe Schnaidt, KC8RLU provide services and activities as Communicating Secretary, Station we have for the past decades. Manager Best wishes to everyone in 2021. As I look into 2021 I am hopeful Ward, N8WK on two levels; personal enjoyment of Ham radio and how that can translate into my work with the club. First, I plan to increase “getting on the air”, and participating in more club activities. I want to spend more energy working on Scott Pyles, WX1J projects, whether they be fixing Board Member or building something fun. I look forward to contesting and DXing more. For example, Field Day As well, we volunteer to help and the Michigan QSO Party are Cherryland ARC members 2 of my favorites. through on-air nets, on-line and Second, I hope that my radio in-person project meetings or activity can be used to help bringing new hams into the mentor new operators. Without hobby through VE Exams and them, amateur radio will, no Workshops. (see page 10) doubt, vanish before our eyes. At a broader perspective, when I I would like to see CARC being Ward Kuhn, N8WK look back at this past year and known as a welcoming, open Treasurer how one global event can environment actively fragment and divide us as encouraging hams, non-hams, operators, it is the whole world and SWL’s into the club of amateur radio, I've found, that activities. Every person has What are your aspirations actually brings us together, experience and an interest they for 2021. How do you see despite the doom and gloom. I can share. CARC should be a hope that my activeness can help the club’s opportunities motivate others to follow suit key resource to further those and targets? and not stay dormant awaiting interests. Send your thoughts to us at what will happen next." Best wishes for a marvelous [email protected] -73s de Joe KC8RLU New Year – Scott, WX1J 4 Cherryland ARC Rings that Bell
A cold west wind blew new Additional contributions were Salvation Army also supports snow across the unplowed made by members who donated CARC by providing our radio parking lot at Oleson’s Market on the CARC Donation page of and meeting rooms, a tower on North Long Lake Road on the Salvation Army website. and more. The Club provides December 14. While the Thank you to all who hams and equipment to staff temperature was in the low contributed. Salvation Army the SATERN Emergency double digits, the Cherryland fills a large void in our Communication node in Amateur Radio Club member’s community and we support Traverse City. hearts were warmed by the them in their efforts. steady flow of shoppers who Thank everyone who one, by one, filled the red contributed to the club’s kettle. efforts in 2020. Thanks to volunteers who took shifts to fill the CARC commitment to staff the kettle. Chris Blouch, KE8OUM Bill Rossbach, WR8NY, Scott Pyles, WX1J, Chris Blouch, KE8OUM, Ward Kuhn, N8WK, Pete Van Den Berge, K8WQK, Randy Wood, KE8JWB and President Ernie Abel, K8RCT who took the last two shifts. Ernie reports that the end of the day, the kettle was over flowing. Bill Rossbach, WR8NY
5 NET IN FOCUS MESH Net Sets Check-in Record in 2020 Every Monday 8:00 pm on W8TCM repeater, Traverse City
2020 was quite a year for all of us in so many ways- But for Toby Check-ins are from the broad Way, KC8VSU and the Cherryland Amateur Radio Club’s Monday Grand Traverse Area, including Evening Social Hour (MESH) net – it was a record breaking year of net Cadillac, Lake City, Sutton’s Bay, check-ins. With total monthly check-ins in November and Kewadin, Elk Rapids, Gaylord, December up ~57% over January and February of this year. Annual Kalkaska. Echolink provides a total was, (drum-roll please. . . ) 591 check-ins in 2020. pathway for Livonia MI, Alaska, Austin Texas, North Carolina, Florida and occasionally other 2020 MESH NET CHECK-INS locations by local travelers. 700 The MESH net is lively, active Cumulative 600 591 and a fun evening. Particularly Monthly 530 friendly to new hams, visitors to 500 461 the area and those just a little 415 shy to get on the air. Come join 400 389 340 Toby, KC8VSU and the group on 293 300 Monday nights 8:00 right after 234 TBARG, on 146.86 Repeater TC. 200 191 138 100 81 70 57 53 59 47 49 69 40 41 43 26 46 0 40 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
This is a very strong performance by CARC hams who check in each week. Thank you for your participation. Joe Novak, W8TVT remembers when he ran the net. The net would run sometimes an hour or more with two rounds of discussion before going into Overtime. Some longer winded hams were awarded The Purple Crystal. We still have recent recipients of that award as well. The Purple Crystal award is given to the one who talks past the repeater’s three minute timer, thus shutting down the repeater. After a while, the repeater re-sets, but the winner continues to receives a lot of good natured joking. Toby Way, KC8VSU, Net Control
6 Remembering Brian, N8TC By Joe Erlewein, N8CN
With great sadness, I inform Out of nowhere, Brian you of the passing of Brian casually reached up and "Cubbie" Cox, N8TC. Brian began sending code. Not just passed away unexpectedly on a CQ -- He was replying to November 28, 2020. He was someone and sending an 68. Brian's family is planning exchange. Brian did this services for a future date in while continuing the 2021 and will communicate conversation with everyone more information when in the room. When he available. finished, there came a burst of stations replying to K8XX Brian had been a Cherryland (the callsign the club used ARC member for many years. that year, courtesy of Jack Licensed as WA8QAF before Lieshman). Brian watched 1989, he has had an active whoever was logging ( I history with the club and Ham forget! ) start keying in calls Radio in general. It was not to a computer and writing long after Brian became a other callsigns down on the ham that he became one of Brian Cox, N8TC
7 JohnsonISSUE - Continued from Page 2 N8TC00 - Continued from Page 7 Scott (NM8R) recounted a With Radio, Brian became active In the early afternoon of similar event regarding Brian's with other area groups, such as the November 28, 2020, Brian was skill as a CW operator. Scott Bay Area DXers (BADX). He assisted fat-tire biking deep in the moonlighted as an engineer for with efforts to get the area's first Northern Michigan wilderness. an AM radio station that the DX Cluster online and operate from Unfortunately, he suffered an local high school had acquired one of the higher antenna unknown cardiac event, and from WKLT. It was on 1420 locations near town. The system despite valiant efforts to save kilohertz. The antenna was a ran for more than 15 years, and his life, Brian passed away. quarter wavelength at the the Bay Area DXers are an active Brian's life was cut short, and it bottom of 160. One winter, he and avid group to this day. isn't easy to understand why. invited Barry (KI8W) and Brian We should all take some small Brian became a mainstay at CARC to contest at the transmitter measure of comfort in knowing Field Days to come and other CARC site, located in a swamp on Old that he passed doing something and radio events, particularly those M-66 south of Kalkaska. They he loved, with people he loved, outdoors. Brian's love for the bypassed the antenna in a place he loved - the North Country and being active matching network at the Northern Michigan Wilderness. outdoors ran deep. He was antenna base, and were driving Let us all remember the goofy involved with several groups it with Scott's TS-940 and a pair charm, witty humor, and zest fostering outdoor activities, from of 3-500Z's during the 160 for life that Brian had. He will hiking to biking to others, and contest. NM8R recollected they live on in our hearts and minds made it a part of his lifestyle. made about 500 contacts in 8 forever. hours before calling it quits. Around 2008, Brian did slow down The vertical was on club activities - because he was Continued on Page 8 understandably noisy on working on getting his pilot's receive, and they'd worked license! I recall a conversation he everything they could hear. had with my Father (ex N8CN) Scott was working the pile-up about what got him into flying, drawn to the enormous signal how excited he was about it, and the broadcast vertical created, how his licensing process was while Brian and Barry were progressing. Brian was always busy standing on the other side of and challenging himself, and the transmitter building always - always - having fun doing chatting. Without a hitch amid it! the conversation between Barry and Brian, Brian pointed out the full calls of two other stations calling us. Scott said he always marveled at how Brian could multitask. It was like there was a separate channel in his brain that handled CW that didn't put any load on any other activity or effort.
88 Brian and daughter Caitlin Brian,ISSUE N8TC and Brad Mellberg, W8QPO At Field Day 2005 00
Brian
Brian Cox, N8TC Joe Novak, W8TVT outside and John Doneth, KX8CW inside – at Field Day 2005
Brian and daughter Caitlin at Field Day 2005
9 ISSUE 00
Our Deep Roots in Radio Ham Radio University By Scott, WX1J We all said Uh, no. We looked It Saturday Jan 9, 2021 up on-line during the Project Night Jerry, W8RQM also alerted us to Dave, K8WPE wrote one on Dec 22 and everyone went HamRadioUniversity.org that is morning with this link. Ham super-sonic. This app is on offering free on-line forums on Radio Magazine, All back-issues Windows, Apple, and Android. It Saturday January 9. neatly organized and available is a great internet radio access for on-line. SWL’s at heart, like me, and You need to register on-line to anyone who wants to listen attend the free forums that around the world, live. cover a wide variety of subjects. Ok, I hear you, there are plenty of The list of subjects and sites, Simple Radio, Tune-In, and registration links are on their others, but this is different. Just website forums page And you click the link, or Google it. You will can view past Forums from be both amazed and intrigued. years gone by.
DIY Solder-wick Dave, K8WPE, also added today a helpful hint from QRPLabs.groups.io on making your own solder-wick. “For those of us that make mistakes or need to, for some So, I clicked the link and spent reason, replace a component, hours reading ham radio from App Screen for Radio. Garden.com the best thing to use for the 60’s & 70’s, dreaming all removal is solder-wick... over again about the radios I Just turn the Google Earth globe to had, and wanted. Great articles any green-spot on the map. on antennas and everything FREE Solder-wick. Can be made ham. Give it a try. Join me, while listening to Radio using coax braid and rosin. For Deutechewelle, or HCJB, I close those of us who are fortunate It also sparked a memory of my my eyes, and listen, it’s still 1953, enough to live in the South (ie. six-year old self sitting in a chair I’m still 6 years old and I’m still the southern USA) we have in front of my Great- absolutely, spell-bound. plenty of FREE rosin. Pine grandmother’s floor, upright, Sap. Just put a small gash on radio, tuning shortwave radio the trunk, collect some sap, stations from around the world. dilute it with a small amount of I was hooked early, still am. – alcohol, then soak a length of AND THEN. . . Project Night 12- braid in it and let it dry--- and 22-2020, Jerry W8RQM said - wow solder-wick.” “Hey have any of you heard of Radio.Garden.com? Credit QRPLabs.groups.io.
10 Amateur Radio Workshops: Update and 2021 Plan
Now we look forward to 2021 and making the Amateur Radio Workshop series club resource. In the fall of 2020, CARC embarked on a project designed to ease the pathway for newly licensed Following is an outline of the workshop concept for hams, into the activity of on-air amateur radio 2021. Search for a workshop or topic that may operation. We called it Amateur Radio Workshop. interest you to volunteer two hours once every other month to attend and share your experience. The first workshop was well attended, everyone got a chance to practice initiating, holding and ending a You are invited to be that one voice that inspires a contact on the radio. Other nuances of operating, generation of new hams, or just helps one ham over such as International Phonetic Alphabet, and why a hump in the road to his/her future in ham radio. it’s important, and programming a repeater into their radio. Joe, KC8RLU and Dave K8WPE What we learned from 2020, is that we will be more volunteered to be there for support and handle one- effective if we construct a pipeline of support for on-one any questions. Their presence during the prospective, newly licensed hams, and all hams who session was invaluable. Each of us have a set of wish to explore new territory, modes or operating experiences, and sometimes one way of explaining styles. This provides a broad set of appeal for any something is better done from a couple of angles. ham wanting to take part in the workshops, and The post-workshop feedback was good and those who are able to share their experience, skill valuable. We learned and re-grouped for the second and encouragement to help others along the way. and third sessions. The 2021 plan has three workshop styles License Prep Workshop, provide an opportunity for people to ask questions that are stumping them, or to understand the ways they can remember the correct solution to a potential exam question. The plan is to have interested attendees register for Technician, General or Extra questions, so we can match them up with the right hams to discuss their areas of concern. This is not to teach you the answers to every test question, or to teach the course in an afternoon, but to be a resource for you to discuss topics that you studied, but just don’t feel confident that you know or can remember the right answer. New Ham Workshop, designed specifically for those who have just passed their test and are awaiting or have just received their Technician or first license. This is a chance to learn and practice the basics for their first time on the air, and getting the radio set-up, getting on the air, learning the important parts that will make that entry into amateur radio communication as stress free and successful as possible. The Amateur Radio Workshop for all hams, designed to share, demonstrate, and discuss operating in specific areas of interest. Examples of this are the 2020 workshop “Work LEO Satellites with your hand- held”, a hands on demo with live satellite passes held at Clinch Marina parking lot. In 2021 we want to have hams who are interested, to experience hands on demonstrations (live or virtually) on subjects as we will in the spring, see a live DEMO of 6 meter EME Moon-bounce QSOs. From the simple to the exotic, Hams helping hams experience things before they jump into set it all up for themselves. Continued on Page 11 11 ContinuedISSUE from Page 10 Amateur Radio Workshops
The graphic on the right is a proposed00 schedule for 2021. The schedule dynamic is based on the VE-EXAMS planned by CARC VE Team, led by Hope, AA8SN. Timing is on VE Schedule The first VE Exam of 2021 will be on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 1:00 PM at: New Approaches Center 5123 N Royal Dr. Traverse City, MI 49684 If you plan to test on February 6, please contact Hope, AA8SN, at [email protected] to confirm your space and to get a list of the new requirements before testing. New requirements are that you must go to the FCC Website and obtain an FRN number. It must be associated with your email address. You will need three pieces of ID at the test time and the test is $15.00. Therefore, we will plan to have a In column 2 above, the star To make sure you receive all License Prep Workshop in indicates that a License Prep communication on the workshop January, pending prospective workshop will be planned during schedule as either an attendee or licensee’s interest and availability. If you are planning that month, pending number of Elmer, please send an email to to test, and would like to attend registrations and license class [email protected] a prep - workshop, please interest. contact Scott at [email protected]. These three workshops can make Other workshops indicated for a huge difference in the number The first New Ham Workshop that month, are Workshops for All of active hams in the 10 county will follow the testing period, hams and anyone can join-in. area, and just as importantly, they allowing for you to receive your can provide the pathway from license, or be close to it. On As we enter the 2021 year, in through the testing process, into March 20. We will plan to have respect for everyone’s safety, a sign-up registration facility on the hobby learning curve and many of these workshops will be launch one or more hams into a the Cherrylandarc.com web-site virtual on Zoom. Registration in coming weeks. lifetime of satisfaction, learning forms will be available on-line and the joy of experiencing Any ham is welcome to attend, within the next week or two and Amateur Radio the way we all or help coach any workshop. will allow us all to plan in ways have. that meet your needs and assure Contact: Scott, WX1J – the resources of the club that will Amateur Radio Workshop [email protected] – 248-495-3665 be necessary to have the initiative builds the present and workshop. the future one ham at a time.
12 Coming Highlights
January 2021 Board Meeting Jan 5 Project Night Jan 12, 19 Club Meeting Jan 26 Call for Writers Join Amateur Radio Workshop Planning session- TBA Want to have your say, your design Renew published, your experience out there? This is a good chance for Grow you to write an article, or author a regular column in the Cherry Juice Newsletter that goes to over 200 February 2021 subscribers and other clubs too. Club Dues are Due Board Meeting Feb 2 You can submit your article to the Club Member dues are annual, Roundtable Net Feb 4 Cherry Juice staff or contact us to and each membership begins on discuss a quarterly, bi-monthly, or January first. VE EXAM Feb 6 monthly column. This is the Club’s Newsletter, written by and for the Please join or renew your 1pm at New Horizon Center membership today. Cherryland ARC members and Project Nights Feb 9, 16 surrounding clubs as well. You may send your dues to: Club Meeting Feb 23 We want to read what you have to Ward Kuhn N8WK say, send in photos of you at your PO Box 987 Amateur Radio Workshop station, your mobile set-up or your field operations. Traverse City, MI 49685 We’ll work with you to make your article stand out and be something CARC Membership Dues: you will point to with pride. Individual $24.00 Contact: Scott, WX1J at [email protected] or 248-495-3665 Family in same house $26.00 Student Discounted Rate: $5.00
Cherryland Amateur Radio Club President Ernie K8RCT Vice President Glen K8SGZ Cherryland Amateur Radio Club Treasurer Ward N8WK http://cherrylandarc.com/ Recording Secretary Hope AA8SN Traverse City, MI 49686 Communicating Secretary Joe KC8RLU Cherry Juice Editor Joe N8CN 13