• Remembering the friends that we will miss • Staff appointments, resignations, and cancellations • Section Manager’s Desk • Section Emergency Coordinator’s report • Section Traffic Manager’s report • Technical Specialist Coordinator’s report • Public Information Coordinator’s report • 2020 Indiana Hamfest Schedule and Flyers
“To promote and advance the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio.” ~ Hiram Percy Maxim
Paul Axsom II, KC9TXR – Columbus, IN
For silent key notice to be placed in the newsletter, please forward a copy of the obituary notice directly to Jimmy Merry, Indiana Section Manager at [email protected]. For Silent Key notice inclusion in QST, INARRL will submit the Silent Key notice to ARRL headquarters so there is a record of the submission, for record keeping purposes. National Silent Key Archive http://www.silentkeyhq.com/
New Appointments: Mark Bottorff, KC9WDS, Emergency Coordinator, Porter County James Bottorff, AC9EB, Emergency Coordinator, LaPorte County *** Resignations and Cancellations:
Find Indiana ARRL on the web: www.inarrl.org * Facebook: ARRL – Indiana Section
Online ARRL publications Digital QST * On the Air magazine! * Electric Tech QEX * National Contest Journal
View online at: http://www.arrl.org/arrl-magazines
Meet the Indiana ARRL State Section staff:
Jimmy Merry, KC9RPX, Section Manager & Affiliated Club Coordinator Brian Jenks, W9BGJ, Asst. Section Manager & Section Traffic Manager Thomas Busch, WB8WOR, Technical Coordinator Jim Moehring, KB9WWM, Section Emergency Coordinator Barry Palencer, KC9WMS, Public Information Coordinator Andrew Murray, N9AWM, Section Youth Coordinator Dave Spoelstra, N9KT State Government Liaison
Greetings, Hope that everyone is doing well and staying safe during the pandemic of Covid-19. As the hamfest season approaches, I want to remind everyone to stay safe at Amateur Radio related events. Just a reminder to keep practicing social distancing and wearing of facemasks as recommended by the CDC and State of Indiana Department of Health.
I’d like to remind all field appointments to please send in a monthly report to the coordinator for their assigned appointment. There have been some monthly reports missing the past couple of months.
Clubs are reminded that they may share a note about their club activities for their club or upcoming events. Send to me at [email protected], by the 10th of each month. VE teams are also urged to send their contact information, upcoming test dates and how to register for the exams and license classes.
Also, the affiliated clubs need to update the annual club report, when changes occur with contact information, new officers, meetings, etc. in their club. Please contact me if help is needed with the update on the ARRL.org website.
73, Jimmy Merry IN SM
Section Emergency Coordinator Report
Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe that 2020 is now behind us. I hope that 2021 is a better year overall and for ARES and Ham Radio in general.
There are a couple of items that have already been announce that will affect all of us.
First the FCC announced a $35.00 license fee for new and renewal licenses. Among the responses to comments from the Amateur Community the FCC noted:
“Emergency communications, for example, are voluntary and are not required by our rules,” the FCC noted. “As we have noted previously, ‘[w]hile the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications, is one of the underlying principles of the amateur service, the amateur service is not an emergency radio service.’”
Obviously, this conflicts with our name, ARES, Amateur Radio Emergency Service. As such, we need to double down our efforts to support emergency services.
Secondly, the ARRL’s new Director of Emergency Management has announced that the software program, ARES Connect, will be replaced on the near future. This decision was made primarily because of the extended time (2 years) it has taken for implementation. I, for one, am disappointed that it has taken so long. Hopefully it will be replaced by a software package that will provide us the data we need to support our service (membership numbers, hours worked and events).
Finally, the COVID Pandemic has reduced our ability to train and practice emergency communications. As an example, the announcement that the Dayton Hamvention has been canceled for 2021. I hope that we can become proactive and find innovative ways to train until we can return to some form of normality.
With all of this being said, my goals for this year include recruiting new ECs in counties that currently do not have one, to improve our (ARES) interactions with both governmental and non- governmental agencies, and improve the ARES organization in Indiana.
Thanks for all you do!
Stay Safe and Well!
73
Jim Moehring, KB9WWM Section Emergency Coordinator Amateur Radio Emergency Service Indiana Section
***********ARES VOLUNTEERS NEEDED********** Current Open District Emergency Coordinator Positions: District 4, District 9 and District 10. If you are a current EC in one of these districts, or have past experience in the ARES field organization, please consider stepping up to serve your community with your hobby.
Current Open Emergency Coordinator Positions: Adams, Benton, Blackford, Carroll, Clinton, Crawford, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Fulton, Gibson, Greene, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, LaGrange, Marshall, Martin, Noble, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Pulaski, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Union, Wabash, Warren, Washington and White.
EC’s are the backbone of the ARES organization. I would like to fill as many of these county openings, as possible. If you are interested in filling a vacant County EC Position, please contact me at [email protected] to express your interest.
District Emergency Coordinators Reporting (6/7)
Joe Cirone, W1SPY (District 1) Lyle Long, N1LL (District 2) Jim Moehring, KB9WWM, (District 3) Marv Gilliland, KC9RVL, (District 6) David Ofansky, K9DWO, (District 7) Alan Scott, N9KL (District 8) Emergency Coordinators Reporting (35/53) KB9WWM, K9JAJ, W9DBA, KV9N, KB9OIC W9EEU, N9JFH, WD9GC, KC9RVL, N9GTL W9MSK, KD9GHS, N9CWW, KD9DHJ, K4BXX N9JIN, N9SIU, KD9EDR, KC9GFO, KC9WPH W9GNR, WD9GIU, KC9EVU, N9JPX, KD9HIG
KB9RZK, KC9PJX, WR9G, W9DRB, KP4CI N9QVQ, W9COD, K9DWO, KB9ML, AB9HP
District Emergency Coordinators Reports
Joe Cirone – W1SPY – District 1
District 1 is growing in numbers and capability as word gets out of our reemergence in October 2020. Progress is slow due to constraints imposed by CVID-19 precautions but is steady. I have recommended the appointment of an Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Porter County and one for LaPorte County, which when processed by the ARRL covers three of the five counties in the District. In the process, the former EC for LaPorte County was reassigned to a role requiring less of his time due to the demands of his work schedule, leaving little to no time to fill the EC role. Simplex Nets on VHF-FM continued, with N4GIX (Bill - a Lake County AEC) conducting one and N9CA (Tim, a Lake County AEC) conducting the other, with 15 participants in addition to the Net Control. We developed and activated an Indiana ARES District 1 website (www.aresd1.com) to provide news and information about our efforts. The site has received more than 700 visitors in its first month. “On-the-job” training, practice and testing occurred with KD9LWR/Jacob, AC9EB/Allen, N4GIX/Bill, N9CA/Tim, N9SES/Ayman, KD9QGN/Don, KD9OKX/Brandon, W9JOM/Jim, and I participating in five different Net sessions during the month. The longest session (with N9SES/Ayman, KD9QGN/Don, KD9OKX/Brandon, W9JOM/Jim and I) lasted nearly nine hours, and covered two FL-Digi modes, Winlink Express, VARA, MMSSTV, and JS8 Call, on VHF-FM and HF. The other sessions were between one hour and three hours in length, with some also covering the digital modes. KD9LWR/Jacob and I conducted the testing of Olivia digital transmissions over a wide-area repeater that covers the entire District. Thanks to the introduction by N9SES/Ayman, Repeater owner, KA9QJG/Don hosted and moderated a Questions and Answers (Q&A) discussion/session enabling me to answer questions and respond to misconceptions about ARES D1s intent and the false belief that we are associated with another Ham, formerly associated with ARES who raised some eyebrows and the blood pressure of other Hams in the area. The session stimulated some thought and updates to our website, including the addition of a “Myths and Facts” section to proactively address the issues raised and possibly others potential members and affiliates may have in the future. Utilized two weeks of vacation time in addition to weekends, holidays, and evenings to Invest 192 hours to ARES administrative and operational work during December, which necessitated a significant reduction in the number of Nets I participated in beyond those mentioned above. We are planning the implementation of weekly ARES Training and Information Nets, and Monthly virtual meetings. We are currently developing a DHS Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant Seminar, a Workshop and a four-hour long Drill or Functional Exercise which will be executed in the next 30-60 days. Lastly, we continue our attempts to make contact and establish a good working relationship with the Porter County and LaPorte County Amateur Radio Clubs. To date, several emails and phone calls have gone unanswered. We welcome help
from anyone who can help introduce us or successfully place us in contact with officials from these two groups, which we consider important to partner with for mutual success.
Jim Moehring – KB9WWM – District 3
ARES members from throughout Districts 2 and 3 supported the Huff 50K Trail rune held at Chain O’Lakes State Park on Saturday, December 19th. Approximately 30 operators worked over 175 hours in support of this trail run. Thanks to all the helped out!
Marv Gilliland – KC9RVL – District 6
Christmas dinners for Muncie Area ARC and EmCommECI ARC Clubs in Delaware County postponed due to Covid.
I am still looking for an EC for the following counties in District 6: Blackford, Fayette, Rush and Union. If you are interested in a position, please contact me at [email protected]
Happy New Year to all! Thanks to those who volunteer for Indiana ARES!
Alan Scott – N9KL – District 8
Continuing efforts remotely to fill EC vacancies
Emergency Coordinator Reports
Scott Nelson – W9DBA – Brown Co. During December there were 5 scheduled ARES nets conducted on the Brown County KA9SWI 2 meter repeater 147.300 MHz PL 136.5 with 51 check-ins lasting 112 minutes providing operators an opportunity to test the capabilities of their equipment and practice net protocol.
Daniel McDonald – KV9N – Cass Co.
All activity from our regular local net - 5 events for a total of 118 minutes and a total of 72 check-ins
Gary Adams – W9EEU – Clay Co.
Will resume our regular meetings in January and will be operating as a group in WFD.
J W Temple – KB9OIC – Clark Co.
Clark County ARES had 5 nets for December
Gabe Creech – WD9GC – DeKalb Co,
We held our 2-meter ARES Nets this last month and are hoping to resume training and hold an exercise sometime in 2021. 73.
Marv Gilliland – KC9RVL – Delaware Co. Usual Christmas dinners for Muncie Area ARC and EmComm ECI ARC postponed due to Covid.
George Boaz – KD9GHA - Hancock Co. At the request of the COAD, I met with members of the COAD and the Transportation Director for Greenfield Schools. The COAD wants to use the busses for emergency transportation during a disaster and they wanted me to discuss how we would communicate with bus drivers.
We held our monthly Auxiliary Communications meeting on the UHF repeater operated by the Hancock Amateur Radio Club. While attendance wasn't what we had hoped for, the format worked very well.
Due to the virus, we have suspended all face-to-face meetings until next year (probably February)
Since there were five Tuesdays in the month, we were able to hold five practice nets with a total participation of 135 operators checking in.
Clark Whitehouse – N9CWW – Hamilton Co. During Dec. there were 4 scheduled Ares Nets , conducted on 146.820 PL 103.5 with an negative offset of 600 with 37 check-ins , lasting for 69 minutes. Thanks N(CWW/Clark
Don Somerville – KD9DHJ – Hendricks Co. eekly/Monthly Nets: We conducted four (4) weekly Tuesday night ARES Nets on the 147.015 MHz during the month and had
good participation. We accumulated just over 30.5 hours of air-time.
The Simplex net was held on 145.555 MHz Simplex at 2000 hours, right after the scheduled weekly Tuesday Night Net on December 8th. Richard Click, N9THO was our net controller and did a great job. These Nets are conducted to check our radio performance and capability with a Net Controller Operator as well as other Amateurs in and around Hendricks County. These Nets are running from now to April of 2021.
Our hospital net was restarted In November with Hendricks Regional Hospital at their request. Vern Madden, N9VAM, conducted the net on Saturday, November 28th from Hendricks Regional Health hospital (HRH). Being December is a holiday Month we did not have a hospital net. Hopefully, we will get back to regular nets in January 2021.
Community Events: There were no events during the month other than the Hendricks County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (HCARES) annual holiday dinner which was held in place of our monthly meeting at Logans Steakhouse in Plainfield IN with members and family. A good time was had by all and it was a great time to relax and enjoy each other ’s company.
General: The latest version of the HCARES Emergency Plan (v10) is available for viewing and download on Hendricks County ARES website. You can get it with this link: http://hendricksares.org/docs/misc/emergency-plan-v10.pdf
HCARES would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year! We look forward to the challenges and the opportunities it might bring.
73, Don
Justin Johnson – N9JIN –Howard Co. The end of 2020 saw a couple of great resources for Howard County ARES, thanks to the Kokomo Amateur Radio Club. First, KARC brought their first 900MHz repeater on the air. Currently situated on top of a building in downtown Kokomo, the repeater has excellent coverage in and around the city. The frequency is 927.250 -25MHz PL173.8. This brings the KARC repeater count to 5 active machines.
Also, KARC was able to acquire a new tower site, also near downtown Kokomo. Situated at Kokomo Beach, it is the former tower used by Kokomo public safety services, which sat empty for many years. It is now home to the following KARC repeaters: 146.910, 442.300, and the club's APRS digipeater, at
144.390. This new tower is 180 feet tall, providing a tremendous boost to all 3 of these systems. Plans are in the works to continue adding systems to the site as time and money allow.
Robert LaGrange – KB9DJA – Johnson Co We hope that this next year 2021 will be a better year for Johnson County ARES/RACES. There has been many limitations placed on us serving the community.
Brian Sexton – KD9EDR – Kosciusko Co. Good riddance to 2020 and hope for a great year in 2021.
F. Gary Sherman – W9GNR – Madison Co.
Madison County is still handling this Covid abuse in good shape. Although most if not all community events have been cancelled, Madison County members have remained active. We have continued to hold meeting at the EMA EOC maintaining “social distancing” and masking. The State of Indiana is planning to go on “lock down” as the assumed Covid levels have increased. Madison County is prepared to continue to hold meetings “on the air” as we developed earlier in the year. Our ”Meeting on the Air” format is in place should winter weather make driving hazardous and continue to hold our meetings.
Madison County EMA Communication Division, the Madison County EMA Field Service Team and the Madison County Mobile Command Unit assisted the Madison County Health Department to hold three drive-thru Covid testing throughout the county. The EMA teams also assisted Madison County Police Union with their annual “Shop with a Cop”. The above activities provide the Madison County Communication Division, ARES operators and RACES operators with valuable training.
Madison County’s yearend total for the year 2020 was 1, 932 hours of volunteer time.
Madison VE testing held 10 sessions this year due to Covid restrictions. During these testing, VE testers saw 53 Candidates with 29 New Hams and 19 upgrades. VE testing is once again cancelled until the State mandated lock down is in effect.
Again, it is my sad duty to report another Silent Key in Madison County. Gene Samples, K9RPZ became a Silent Key on December 9, 2020. Gene was an active member in Amateur Radio for over 50 years. Gene and his vast experience will be missed.
Bill McAlpin – WD9GIU – Miani Co, I hope to start ARES training again in 2021. Even if it has to be on Zoom.
Zach Minnick – KD9HIG – Owen Co.
Skywarn ops- local siren testing net on the first Friday of the month, ran by JIM BAUGHN KD9EOH
ARES Volunteers- I have a total of four including myself at the moment that have participated and or are current Active members locally.
Michael J. Anglin – KC9PJX – Saint Joseph Co.
Still in the hot spot conditions for COVID-19 in the county. Many of the events that normally have been part of the Amateur life in December weren’t possible. Michiana Amateur Radio Club has been holding the monthly meetings with Zoom and started a new Wednesday Net. Access to the WB9AGX repeater in the County City Building has once again been restricted as the county closed access to the building.
Steve Jewell – WR9G – Scott Co. The Scott County EMA Group conducted a VE Session Saturday, December 12th at the EOC. We had three candidates come in for testing. Two successfully passed their Technician exam and the Technician operator passed his General Class exam. The next testing session is scheduled for February 13th at 11:00 AM. Walk-Ins are welcome, however due to virus, social distancing is required. There is a limit of 8 candidate seats. The testing location is at the Bacala Center, 69 E Wardell St, SE Corner of Courthouse Square, Scottsburg IN 47170 and is ADA accessible. For more info email: [email protected] or visit www.wr9g.net/links. 73, Steve WR9G
Peter Crasher – W9DRB – Spencer Co. 4 analog and 4 digital nets
Robert Sambolin – KP4CI – Tippecanoe Co. TCARES had Zoom meeting on December 17th, 2020. In attendance were 10 of our members and Section Manager & ACC Jimmy Merry KC9RPX.
The discussion revolved on goals for 2021. These goals are: Virtual training for Net Control operators,
New addition of Net Control operators for the Monday Night nets. Promote ARES Connect, SKYWARN online training, the participation of the Simplex net after the TCARES Net for members to improve thier simplex capability.
We are currently working on updating the web page and our files. Also trying to have a January training session virtually, just waiting on either files to give the training or the previous trainier to accept and give the class.
Len Schmitt – N9QVO – Vanderburgh Co. Vanderburgh County Aux-comm members continue to be very involved. Thanks so much to Chris KE9YK and Mark KC9TYA who manage and run many of our nets. Once again, due to Covid-19 our monthly meeting was a Zoom session where Ken K9KDJ shared information on setting up DV Switch, which allows you to access many digital modes (DSTAR, DMR, Yaesu Fusion and others) using a Raspberry Pi and your Android Phone (even some older phones will work). We are planning to participate in the ARC Emergency Communications drill in May (with monthly practice sessions on using Winlink forms beginning in January). I have volunteered once again to act as Regional Coordinator for the North Central region.
James Laboyeaux – KB9ML – Wayne Co. Another month with everything shut down for Covid and Christmas.
Official Emergency Station Reports
Vernon Austermiller – NA9L – Morgan Co. I checked into the Morgan County, Hendricks County ARES nets . I checked into the Indiana Traffic Net. I checked into the Brown County ARES, Bloomington ARC, Johnson County ARES Nets, Handcock County net, Monroe County net. I received and sent Routine traffic on the ITN.
Jimmy Merry, Jr – KC9RPX – Monroe Co. Total approximate hours for December 2020 were 10 Hours. --- 3 sessions for Monroe County weekly ARES Net as NCO or Liaison. 5 Sessions of the Bloomington Weekly Thursday night net. 1 Session Monroe Co Monthly Warning Siren Test Net - NCO. 5 Sessions Assisted Greene Co with the weekly net - NCO or Liaison.
2 Sessions Assisted Owen Co with the weekly ARES net - NCO. 5 sessions if the weekly South Central Indiana Simplex.
Mark Thienes – KC9TYA- Vanderburgh Co. The Indiana Section ARES Net had 4 Nets and 59 check-ins during December. If you are interested in Public Service and Emergency Communications, have an interest to hear from Sections throughout Indiana, about what they are doing please join us on Sundays 2200z on or about 3.900. Indiana Winlink Wednesday had 5 Nets in December. There were 72 stations, using an "RF" connection passing ICS213 Forms via Winlink. This month we will begin by learning "How To" pass a Radiogram Form using, FL- msg. We also use FL amp, to capture/pass larger messages. We also send Notices, Bulletins, etc. January marks our 1-year Anniversary, for Indiana Winlink Wednesday. Check-ins are accepted on Wednesday only 0000-2359 Local time. If you are interested in Public Service and Emergency Communications, please join us. I can be contacted by sending KC9TYA a message thru Winlink.
Happy New Year 73 Mark / KC9TYA
Don Evilsizor – KA9QWC – Whitley Co.
The COVID-19 situation certainly has affected club meetings, hamfests and numerous other activities. We hams continue to meet on radio frequency options with our radio nets using repeaters, simplex modes, HF voice and digital signals. More meetings have migrated to ZOOM features now including VE exams. In the event of a major breakdown on the WWW such as happened recently in Tennessee amateur radio comes to the rescue in time of need. Wishing everyone the best in year 2021.
INDIANA ARES BY THE NUMBERS (ONLY 35) ECs REPORTING! Total ARES Members reported: 744 Number of reporting ARES EC’s: 35 Number of reporting OES’s: 4 Number of reporting DEC’s: 6 Number of ARES Nets: 176 Number of Nets with NTS Liaison: 76 Number of exercises, and training sessions: 46 Person Hours: 1356.7 Public Service Events: 4 Person Hours: 187.92
Emergency Operations: 0 Person Hours: 0 SKYWARN Nets: 10 Person Hours: 156.6
ARRL – INDIANA SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT Greetings all, was indeed my pleasure to send the last report of 2020 it’s been a heck of a year! Traffic count is steadily seeing an increase both at region and section levels. We still hold our own as leaders of NTS traffic across the country and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our dedicated traffic handlers. Thanks, one and all and looking forward to a good 2021. Until next month 73 all!
BRIAN G JENKS W9BGJ ARRL ASSISTANT SECTION MANAGER INDIANA SECTION ARRL SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER INDIANA SECTION ARRL OFFICIAL RELAY STATION [email protected]
INDIANA STM REPORTS DECEMBER 2020 HF NETS NET NAME SOURCE QNI QTC QTR SESSIONS INDIANA SECTION ARES KC9TYA 59 0 116 4 IDTN K9JAJ 190 58 382 22 ITN N1LL 2248 133 1420 60 QIN K0TQ 27 243 30 INDIANA WINLINK KC9TYA 72 0 2160 5 TOTALS 2596 191 4321 121 NETS REPORTING 5
INDIANA STM REPORT DECEMBER 2020 PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL STATION SESSIONS MESSAGES APPTS PUB SVC EMG RES DIGITAL TOTAL W9BGJ 3 40 30 0 0 10 83 KA9QWC 40 40 30 0 0 10 120 AB9ZA 40 40 10 20 0 0 110 N1LL 40 40 30 0 0 20 130 W9EEU 40 7 30 0 0 20 97 TOTALS 163 167 130 20 0 60 540 STATIONS REPORTING 5
INDIANA STM REPORT DECEMBER 2020 ORS AND SAR STATION REPORTS STATION TYPE ORGINATED RECEIVED SENT DELIVERED TOTALS W9BGJ ORS 0 90 90 0 180 KA9QWC ORS 0 13 24 9 46 AB9ZA ORS 1 83 56 23 163 K0TQ SAR 27 88 60 24 199 N1LL ORS 5 197 162 4 368 NA9L ORS 2 2 3 3 10 W9EEU ORS 0 1 3 0 4 W9PC ORS 0 1 0 8 9 K9ATP ORS 0 9 3 9 21 W9MGB ORS 9 9 11 8 37
TOTALS 44 493 412 88 1037 STATIONS REPORTING 11
INDIANA STM REPORT DECEMBER 2020 VHF/UHF NETS NET NAME SOURCE QNI QTC QTR SESSIONS BARTHOLOMEW CO ARES K9JAJ 29 1 101 4 BLOOMINTON AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NET KC9RPX 73 17 66 5 CASS CO ARC KA9BYN 72 0 123 5 CLAY COUNTY W9EEU 57 0 70 6 CROSSROADS DMR K9NQW 133 0 116 4 D STAR NET K9NQW 39 0 66 3 DEKALB CO ARES WD9GC 69 0 75 4 HENDRICKS CO ARES KD9DHJ 123 19 32 5 HOOSIER HILLS ARC WD9EWF 55 0 29 5 HUNTINGTON CO NET K9BME 80 0 164 5 IMO NET K9SKS 562 0 295 28 JEFFERSON CO N9XVB 23 0 42 4 KOSCIUSKO CO EMG NET KC9AYT 131 0 106 4 LAWRENCE CO ARES KC9WPH 3 0 10 1 MID STATE ARC K9DY 146 0 182 4 MONROE CO KC9EVU 77 31 79 4 MORGAN CO ARES N9JPX 78 0 99 5
NORTHEAST INDIANA PACKET NET KA9QWC 43 1 210 4 OWEN CO ARES K9EOH 9 0 20 1 SCOTT CO ARES/RACES WR9G 67 2 116 4 SOUTH CENTRAL AREA KA9OPL 51 0 112 4 TARS EVANSVILLE KE9YK 139 3 123 10 TRI STATE 2 METER W9OU 385 0 471 21 VIGO CO ARES K9WDO 11 0 10 1 WCARC SUN NET KA9QWC 46 5 114 5 WHITLEY CO ARES W9NNH 47 0 119 5 21 REPEATER GROUP KA9QWC 67 1 167 5 2615 80 3117 156 NETS REPORTING 27
DMR
Time Time Net Bega Ende Date Control QNI QTC QTR n d Freq
442.750(+ 12/06/20 KC9OYW 39 0 28 20:00 20:28 )
442.750(+ 12/13/20 KC9OYW 29 0 28 20:00 20:28 )
442.750(+ 12/20/20 W9DDX 29 0 30 20:00 20:30 )
442.750(+ 12/27/20 K9NQW 36 0 30 20:00 20:30 )
Total Total Total Sessions: 4 : 133 : : 116
Decembe Month of Report: r 2020
D-Star
Time Time Net Bega Ende Date Control QNI QTC QTR n d Freq
443.400(+ 12/03/20 KA9OPL 18 0 37 20:00 20:37 )
443.400(+ 12/10/20 K9NQW 16 0 25 20:00 20:25 )
443.400(+ 12/17/20 KA9OPL 7 0 18 20:00 20:18 )
443.400(+ 12/24/20 KA9OPL 6 0 15 20:00 20:15 )
443.400(+ 12/31/20 KA9OPL 17 23 20:00 20:23 )
Total Total Total Sessions: 5 : 64 : : 118
Decembe Month of Report: r 2020
NOTE:
QNI – Total Number of Check-ins
QTC – Total Traffic
QTR – Total Minutes
Technical Specialist Coordinators Report
Chris Frederick, KQ9Y MARC in Johnson County has started weekly Technical Sessions using WebEx platform for group. Presentations started with a basic test session to introduce all to how WebEx can be used. 2nd week was an hour of very interesting information from a very active POTA "Hunter." 3rd week was 2
videos from Scott Davis, co-author of N3FJP logging software. (Available to all from UTube.) This week will be an hour on radios, headphones, antennae, HF operations, etc. Next week will be WIRES-X by a very active user in MARC. WebEx meetings are on a weekday evening, 7-8pm. Topic suggestions came from poling members.
Jeff DeLucenay KB9QG I was the net control for the Northeastern Indiana Amateur Radio Association meeting on December 5th using the W9OU repeater on 147.015 Mhz. On December 10th a number of local hams helped Steve N2BMT to setup an end fed antenna. However He needed a 49 to 1 UNUN to make the antenna tune properly. I repaired two radios TS-520S and TS-120S to be used as “loaner” radios for new general class licensees. There was license testing on December13nd and 30th. Marshall Young passed the Technician Class Linense and Dustin Macy KD9PNA and Nathan Macy KD9FSC upgraded to General Class License. No training classes or technical night sessions since the Covid 19 has been active.
Roger McEntarfer N9QCL The month of December I continue working with the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club board dealing with club activities and COVID-19. I continued Elmering Steve Leisinger KD9QHK on HF Antennas, towers and grounding. I continue working with my Whitley County W5YI VE Team with virtual remote testing, helping a team out of Texas on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We hope to be trained and set up to start remote testing starting February following our Live Test Session on January 30, 2021. Steve Holzinger KC9WBR and myself are in the process of planning and setting up a Virtual Technician Class hopefully to begin in February. The next Whitley County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC) General Meeting will be held on Thursday January 14, 2021 starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held via ZOOM. Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87378815017 Meeting ID: 873 7881 5017 Meeting will be streamed live on Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wc9ar/ The Program for the evening will be on Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code, presented by the American Radio relay League (ARRL).
Pete Ostapchuk N9SFX I routinely listen to W1AW on 7.0475 for the code practice. Lately I had been getting hammered by what could be FT8 bleeding over from around 7.048. It did not appear to be malicious interference but rather the folks from 7.074 branching out real close to 7.0475. I switched to a radio that had a narrow CW filter and that solved the problem, for me. But what of Lazarus? The offending signal is there 724, weekdays and weekends. Not malicious but poor operating practice given that the W1AW practice sessions are published and have been there for decades. I conveyed the above observations to K4ZDH, Riley. I also mentioned that I heard what sounded like a Spanish language QSO on 7.06 LSB on December 20, 2020 around midnight.
Mark Skowronski K9MQ The local radio club that I am officer of, asked that I create a new website for the organization. I spent some free time building the site out. Ran into some issues trying to create a "members only" area (without having to upgrade to a paid subscription). After much research, I came up with a solution for our new members portal. You can check the site out at http://www.w9lj.org.
Lou Kruizinga N7BBW I worked with several operators who have had complaints of low or intermintent transmit audio from their handheld radios. In the case of low transmit audio reviewing the radio setup we found "narrow band" selected. Switched to "wide band" solved the issue. The case of intermentent hi/low transmit audio was resoved by reloading the factory firmware.
These were different brands of manufactures. You gotta to love software controlled radios. On another note, I was able to repair an old HTX 202 and an HTX 404 handhelds for a fellow 86 year old HAM. He was having a difficult time operating his small Baofeng radio. He now gets into the local repeater from the confort of his recliner on just one watt (low power setting). His Baofeng was very intermentent into the repeater. And it was putting out four watts. Even with different antennas. I love it when a plan comes together
No Activity to Report Tom Busch WB8WOR Public Information Coordinator’s Report
Hendricks county ARES ( HCARES ) PIO Report Jake Stellmack, KI6PKV
Completed events- December
The scheduled weekly W9HCA Hendricks County ARES net was held every Tuesday night at 1930 on the 147.015 Mhz repeater. The Hendricks County ARES Tuesday night Simplex net was held on Decem,ber 8 right after the regular net with Dick Click N9THO hosting on the 147.570 Mhz simplex. These nets will continue to run through April 2021.
The ARES hospital net was held on November 28 at the Hendricks Regional Health Hospital at 10:30 AM on the 147.570 Mhz simplex with Vern Madden N9VAM hosting.
The Hendricks County Health Department Has activated the Emergency AM Radio station. It is broadcastinf fron 9 AM to ^ PM every day. It uses the 1610 AM frequency to broadcast.
Upcoming events The next Hendricks County ARES Simplex net will be held on Tuesday January 12 right after the regular HCARES net with Ken Kayler KC9SQD hosting .
The latest HCARES Emergency Plan is now available for viewing and downloading on the Hendricks County ARES web page. This can be reached with this link: http://hendricksares.org/docs/misc/emergency-plan-v10.pdf
The Hendricks county Hamfest will be held on February 6, 2021 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Jake Stellmack, KI6PKV - HCARES PIO
Whitley County PIO Roger McEntarfer, N9QCL
I announced in the local newspapers: Columbia City Post & Mail, Churubusco News, IN Whitley County, and South Whitley The Tribune News, Local WJHS 91.5 FM (Whitley County Joint High School) radio station, Local Web based News: Columbia City Talk of the Town. HF Nets: Indiana Traffic Net and several of the local 2M and 70 CM nets around the northern Indiana area about the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC) General Zoom Meeting on December 10, 2020 and the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC) General Zoom Meeting on January 14, 2021.
The next Whitley County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC) General Meeting will be held on Thursday January 14, 2021 starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held via ZOOM. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87378815017
Meeting ID: 873 7881 5017
Meeting will be streamed live on Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wc9ar/
The Program for the evening will be on Learn and Have Fun with Morse Code, presented by the American Radio relay League (ARRL).
All WCARC General Meetings are open to the Public.
The next W5YI Test session will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, at the St Paul of the Cross Deacon Joe Bldg, gymnasium, 215 S Line St, Columbia City, IN.
We will require mask to be worn and social distancing at this test session. We are also asking those testing to bring Pencils to use for taking the test. The cost to take the test is $14.00.
Click the link to sign up for this session: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/5febfe8070530faabed41405/1
For additional information visit the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Web Page at www.wcarc.org, or the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Group Facebook Page or contact Roger McEntarfer via email at [email protected]
73 Roger McEntarfer/ N9QCL Whitley County Amateur Radio Club President Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Technical Specialist Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Public Information Officer Whitley County W5YI CVE Monroe County PIO Report
Jimmy Merry, KC9RPX Monroe County PIO
Congratulations to Neil Rapp, WD9VPG. Educator at Bloomington High School South and K9SOU club Sponsor. 2021 Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award recipient.
Orlando HamCation has announced that ARRL Life Member Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, of Bloomington, Indiana, is the 2021 recipient of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. The award recognizes an outstanding individual contribution in educating and advancing youth in amateur radio. It was first awarded in 2018 to its namesake, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, in honor of her work as an educator teaching students about ham radio. Rapp was ARRL 2004 Professional Educator of the Year. He’s an Assistant Central Division Director and an ARRL VEC certified examiner.
An educational professional for more than 28 years, Rapp currently teaches chemistry at Bloomington High School South. He’s also the school’s amateur radio club sponsor and has introduced 3,600 students and parents to amateur radio through his involvement in the organization. Among his educational
achievements, he was able to send an experiment involving protein crystallization to the International Space Station (ISS). He also mentored 2013 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year and ARRL William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship recipient Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS.
Rapp got his license when he was 5 years old, and, at the time, was touted as the world’s youngest ham. Now 50, he’s the host and founder of the amateur radio podcast Ham Talk Live! He’s also a member of AMSAT and was the youngest person to both join and be eligible for membership in the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). He contributes to the “Next-Gen Contesters” column for NCJ. Orlando HamCation has been sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club since 1946. HamCation 2022 will be held February 11 – 13, 2022 Club News 2021 Indiana Hamfests Schedule - Earlier this week, the Indiana Section Manager, Jimmy Merry Jr. / KC9RPX, sent out an updated Indiana Hamfests Schedule. Unfortunately, several hamfests are cancelled, and more may follow, but for now, these are the current Indiana Hamfests. Please see the attached .pdf document for details.
GMRS Repeater in Elkhart - This is not amateur radio, but Dewey / K9DEW thought it might be of interest to some because of the reasons mentioned below. "Not sure if I had ever mentioned to you, but I put up a GMRS repeater in Elkhart. It’s linked into 14 other GMRS repeaters at all times located, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and etc. "There’s several nets throughout the week that ends up linking into 60-70 more repeaters throughout the Nation. "There’s couple benefits to GMRS, the licenses are good for 10 years, and one license covers the whole family. "It’s definitely family driven service and a great tool in case of an emergency. The repeater can also be ran in a local setting if needed. "You can find this repeater at 462.550 +5.000 offset with a PL131.8 encode/decode. "I encourage anyone that doesn’t have a GMRS license to still give it an opportunity for listening. Maybe it may strike up some interest. The repeater does have some really good coverage and may be possibly heard and reached by ones in your county. "Here’s a really good website about GMRS and has all the repeaters information listed. myGMRS.com "Thank you for taking the time to read this and wish you the best." - Dewey / K9DEW
Shorts from AC9DN - Roy / AC9DN sent a few short messages this past week that might interest you.
"Dedicated Channels - I just learned that 146.460 simplex is the designated "4X4" or off-road channel of choice for hams, and for non-hams the similar GMRS frequency is channel 15."
"Saint Louis Hamfest Virtual Again - This is about the size of the Fort Wayne hamfest each year, going online this year again. Full information in above link - https://winterfest.slsrc.org/ " (AB9ZA Note - Carl Luetzelschwab / K9LA of Fort Wayne is one of the Presentation Speakers!)
"New G-QRP youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhe-ybLZzpnJh80VmFuS- A/videos "
"New sun cycle might be very strong. Might. https://www.universetoday.com/149468/will-solar-cycle- 25-dazzle-or-fizzle-in-2021/"
"Texas HAM-COM closing for good. This doesn't affect K-county so much, but it was the historical biggest hamfest in Texas for decades. https://sites.google.com/hamcom.org/ham-com "
WCARC Ham Radio Testing - The next W5YI Test session will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, at the St Paul of the Cross Deacon Joe Bldg, gymnasium, 215 S Line St, Columbia City, IN. We will require mask to be worn and social distancing at this test session. We are also asking those testing to bring Pencils to use for taking the test. The cost to take the test is $14.00. Click the link to sign up for this session: https://hamstudy.org/sessions/5febfe8070530faabed41405/1 For additional information contact Roger McEntarfer via email at [email protected] Or visit the www.wcarc.org or the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club Group Facebook Page
EDITOR'S TWO CENTS SECTION: The following is the editorial opinion of AB9ZA, and while it might not be directly related to Amateur Radio, it is important to Amateur Radio Operators as persons in modern society.
Truth - Pontius Pilate famously asked, "What is truth?" It seems we are just as confused on the subject today as he was 2000 years ago. Some define truth as relative, in the eye of the beholder. Others would say truth is whatever you can get away with. Still others would claim that truth is what the "experts" (be it doctors, scholars, scientists, philosophers, or whatever) say it is. And it might be, or not. Let's not forget that at one time it was commonly believed that you could sail off the end of the world, that the stars and planets revolved around earth and that you could make gold out of lead - all ideas endorsed by the experts of the day. Often those who disagreed with these ideas were persecuted - sometimes severely. The problem arises when those who imagine they have a corner on the truth try to "educate" those who don't follow their theories. The origin of the earth is one of the areas where theories are many and opinions run deep. But because not a one of us was there, all we have to go on is reverse engineering what we can see, or believe the record of someone that was there. Both these options have issues: reverse engineering assumes many things, all of which might not be as we imagine. Conversely, the idea that someone was there at the beginning of the world is to many a thought so terrible it can't be allowed as a possibility. So, what to do? Don't blindly believe something because "everybody" endorses it. Don't be afraid to
take a position that isn't "approved." But do your own research: are there opposing views, other options, other issues to consider? Take it from someone who doesn't buy the myth of "one hundred million years ago . . .", believes life starts at conception, and that there is someone whose opinion is infinitely more important that anyone's on earth. Holding unconventional beliefs is not the end of the world!
I wish all of you a great week, and take some time to warm up that antenna!
73 Mark Gregory / AB9ZA Winter Field Day January 30 & 31, 2021
Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) is a dedicated group of Amateur Radio Operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer but with some additional unique operational concerns.
We believe as do those entities of ARRL Organizations like ARES & RACES that maintaining your operational skills should not be limited to fair weather scenarios. The addition of Winter Field Day will enhance those already important skills of those that who generously volunteer their time and equipment to these organizations. This is why WFD is open to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide.
Disasters are unpredictable by nature and can strike when you least expect them. WFDA's goal is to help enhance your skills and ready you for all environmental conditions found in the US and Canada during the spring, summer, fall and winter Preparedness is the key to a professional and timely response during any event and this is what local and state authorities are expecting when they reach out to the emergency service groups that offer their services.
If you are serious about emergency communications as we are; we welcome you to join us for our yearly event. We are sure you will find this event a pleasant change and challenge to that of a normal summertime field day.
For more information see this website: https://www.winterfieldday.com/
2021 Indiana ARRL Hamfest Schedule February 6 Hendricks County Hamfest - Canceled *** February 27 LaPorte County ARC Hamfest – Canceled *** February 27 Dugger Hamfest Dugger Community Building Hwy 54 W – Dugger, IN *** March 20 Wabash Valley & Computer Expo 8 am – 12 pm Clay County 4H Fairgrounds 6550 N SR 59 - Brazil, IN https://www.w9uuu.org/hamfest.php *** April 3 Columbus Hamfest – Canceled *** July 9 & 10 Indianapolis Hamfest 2021 - ARRL – Indiana Section Convention Marion County Fairgrounds 7300 E Troy Ave – Indianapolis, IN http://indyhamfest.com *** July 10 Auburn Hamfest Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum 1600 S. Wayne Street – Auburn, IN http://W9OU.ORG
*** July 31 East Central Indiana Hamfest Randolph County Fairgrounds 1885 S US Highway 27 - Winchester, IN *** August 7 Elkhart Hamfest Northern Indiana Event Center 21565 Executive Parkway – Elkhart, IN http://elkharteasthamfest *** August 14 Hendricks County Tailgate Fest Avon United Methodist Church 6850 E. Highway 36 Avon, IN *** November 13 & 14 Fort Wayne Hamfest & Computer Expo 2021 - ARRL - Central Division Convention Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 4000 Parnell Ave – Fort Wayne, IN http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com *** Canceled 2021 Indiana Hamfests February 6 Hendrick County Hamfest Canceled February 26, 2021 - LaPorte Cabin Fever Hamfest Canceled April 3, 2021 - Columbus Hamfest Canceled May – Dayton, Ohio – 2021 Hamvention Canceled