August 2023 – HamGab

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Secretary’s Beat – Meeting Minutes

Hamfesters Club meeting July 7, 2023 8:20pm

Please check Hamfesters.org for club updates.
At tonight's meeting; 28 members, and 4 visitors. Welcome all.

Tonight was our annual July 4th pizza, potluck. Thanks, for a good time.
Steve w9kxt, read the prayer before our meal. Mike wa9zpm, our sound system setup.

Roll: Nora kc9mlv, Jim W9jpr, Kurt wb9fmc, Steve w9kxt, Patti kc9lye, Cindy n9cas.
 Bob n9wdv.

Minutes: approved by Jim w9jpr, and Cindy n9cas.

Treasurer by Kurt wb9fmc, we have expenses for Field Day food, and gas for the generator.

Field Day: by Jim w9jpr, sun spots were not our friend, making voice contacts difficult.

Kurt wb9fmc, made lots of CW contacts. Voice contacts were alittle better after dark. 

Luckly, our GOTO station was in the church library, we were W9HLQ. Brian Davis is Sk.

Dan Davis (Brian's son) is W9HLQ now. Al n9zd, was in charge of GOTO.
The club bought a new GOTO tent, it blew down during a storm over night. Nobody was hurt.

At Field Day everyone had fun. Thanks to everyone.

Membership: By Bob n9wdv, HamClub software is up and running members can check their club membership, renew their ham radio license. 
Programs: Tonight a video about the impotance of ham radio and the war in the Ukraine. It was supposed to be live on Zoom, but couldn't because of the war.

Hamfest 2023: By Jim w9jpr, Aug. 6th we need volunteers, we need advance ticket sales.

Hamfest setup Sat. Aug. 5th at 4:00pm. On Saturday Aug. 5th at 7:00pm there will be
 the vendor's pizza meal.

If you can volunteer please contact: Jim w9jpr, or Don kc9eqq.

John kb9fqb, will run a special events station during the hamfest on Aug. 6th.
On Aug. 6th at our hamfest there will be VE testing.
Pulicity: By Jim w9jpr, will send out publicity for our hamfest on Aug, 6th.

Adjournment: Cindy n9cas, & Jim w9jpr. 9:05pm

Split the Pot won by Nora kc9mlv. Door prizes won by Mike wa9zpm, & Tom kb9zxn
    

CQ Field Day

 Field Day 2023 was not the greatest. In fact, it sucked. It wasn’t the team. They went above and beyond. It was just that everything else conspired against us. It was brutally hot Saturday morning and afternoon and we didn’t have enough help for setup. Then we had a nasty storm early Sunday morning. Band conditions were not the greatest either. Field Day was so bad that Don Pointer KC9EQQ did not take one picture. You read that right. The man who has provided us with thousands of Field Day pictures over the years didn’t shoot one frame. My presentation next June is going to be very short. Despite all that, we did what we could and made the best of it. 

   As usual, the food was great. Connie Kelly AC9CK provided a plentiful taco bar with all the trimmings for lunch on Saturday. Rick Reynolds W9DOQ served roast beef sandwiches and pasta for supper and eggs, sausages, and pancakes for breakfast Sunday morning. Thanks to both of you for keeping us fed. 

   Steve Peters W9KXT set up the GOTA station in the operating suite inside the church under the supervision of his wife Peggy K9QLM. GOTA operated under the memorial call of W9HLQ authorized for our use by Brian Davis’s son, Dan. Contacts were hard to come by until dark. That’s when Charley Derringer, no call, racked up nineteen contacts under the watchful eyes of Marty Linke WD9ABG, Bob Fleischmann N9KWG, and me. Marty also helped Kat Lynch KD9YLP make her first-ever contact with her newly-minted license. 

   Kurt Pawlikowski WB9FMC hammered away in the CW tent and, as usual, racked up the most contacts of any other station. In fact, he made more contacts than all the other operators combined. The foil cap he put over his tent must have kept all the distractions out. 

   Al Bukowski N9ZD worked whatever band and mode brought contacts into the trailer. 

   John Swanson operated digital from the mobile suite in his travel trailer. 

   Linas Matonis KC9PCP worked VHF/UHF from his tent and Tim Szymanski KC9POS chased satellites from his. Tim had a perfect satellite pass but no one answered his calls. 

   Field Day 2023 can be divided into two parts: before the storm and after. Field Day is never official until it rains. It’s more official when it storms. This was a most official Field Day. 

   I was working 40 phone in the GOTA suite after midnight local time as I watched the lightning flash. When the first rain drops hit the window, I headed for my car to ride out the storm. It wasn’t long before our new tent came loose in the wind, hit Ron Kalat’s car and mine and went on to wrap itself around a light pole in the parking lot. That wasn’t all the storm did. Kurt got water damage, Linas and Tim had their tents destroyed, and Al lost part of his antenna. That put a literal damper on everything and the log shows our final contact at 1320Z Sunday morning with almost five hours left in the event. 

   We had breakfast, salvaged what we could and swore we wouldn’t put ourselves through this again. Field Day 2024 is Saturday June 28 and 29. See you there. 

   As mentioned above, our top CW operator was Kurt with 208. The top digital op was Linas with 24. Tops on phone was me with 40 from the GOTA suite.

   The sign-in sheets showed twelve visitors with two of them operating, and seven participants out of twenty-two operating.

   Our entry to the ARRL shows a preliminary score of 2403 including QSO points, power multiplier, and bonus points. 

Cast of characters

• Grabber of the Glory: Jim Riley W9JPR
• Hamfesters President: Nora Pointer KC9MLV
• Field Day pins: Patty Gulick KC9LYE
• Setup/tear down: Dan Haug KA9BAR, Bob Fleischmann N9KWG, Tom Gulick, Paul Truback KD9RRY, Ron Kalat KB9TCX, Gene Phillips W9PNG, Mike Kiley WA9ZPM, Bob Berger N9ORD, Marty Linke WD9ABG
• GOTA: Steve Peters W9KXT, Peggy Peters K9QLM
• Saturday lunch: Connie Kelly AC9CK
• Saturday supper, Sunday breakfast: Rick Reynolds W9DOQ
• VHF/UHF: Linas Matonis KC9PCP, Tim Szymanski KC9POS
• 20-meter CW, Kurt Pawlikowski WB9FMC
• 20-meter digital: John Swanson KB9FQB
• Trailer operator: Al Bukowski N9ZD
• Photographers: Jim Riley W9JPR and Dan Haug KA9BAR
• Here are the stats as generated by N3FJP software:

W9AA + W9HLQ Combined Score Field Day 2023
 
 Total Contacts = 377

 Total Contacts by Band and Mode:

 Band       CW   Phone     Dig   Total       %
 ----       --   -----     ---   -----     ---
   80        0       0      12      12       3
   40       98      78       0     176      47
   20      110       5       1     116      31
   15        0      30       7      37      10
    6        0       1      20      21       6
    2        0      14       0      14       4
   70        0       1       0       1       0
            --   -----     ---   -----     ---
 Total     208     129      40     377     100

Projected Bonus Points: 1155

States:    46
Provinces:  5
Sections:  69

Total Contacts by Operator:

 Operator    Total     %
 --------    -----   ---
 WB9FMC        208    55
 N9ZD           45    12
 KC9PCP         40    11
 W9JPR          40    11
 Youth <18      19     5
 WD9ABG         10     3
 W9KXT           8     2
 KB9FQB          6     2
 KD9YLP          1     0

 Total = 8

Hamfest Ticket Sales

Jim Riley W9JPR

   Brothers and Sisters! The day of reckoning is at hand!!

   Really, it’s not that serious. It’s just that the time has come for those of you who have tickets out for sale to turn in your cash and unsold tickets. You can do that at the August meeting. If that’s not possible, you can turn them in at the Hamfest. Either way, we need to have everything finalized by the end of the fest.

   If you haven’t bought an advance ticket, the August meeting is your last chance to get two bucks off the gate price and double your chances of winning a prize. Advance ticket sales end when the meeting adjourns.

Ham Radio Ops sought for Chicago Marathon

This is the start of our 15^th year serving the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.  We are seeking 140 volunteers and currently we have 90 signed up!  If you have an interest in using your radio skills to help with a big community service project, please sign up to the link below or send a note to Rob@roborrproductions.com for more information. This event has really demonstrated to many agencies that ham radio can be effectively used to support large community events.

Please fill out the Google Form below to get the process started

2023 Ham Radio Chicago Marathon Com Team Register

Our sincerest thanks for your support!

Your volunteer leads:

Rob Orr, K9RST

Jerry Watts, K9LOT

Jeff VanBuren, KD9IPG

General Meeting Security Update

Jim Riley W9JPR

At the request of Pastor Dean, the front door of our meeting place at SouthBridge Church will be kept secure before, during, and after our meetings. The door will be unlocked at 7 p.m. with someone posted there. It will be locked at 7:30. If you arrive after that time, you can call W9AA on 146.43 MHz or call Jim at 708-218-0695.

The new changes in Illinois law require this policy for the security of the facility and safety of all meeting attendees.

April Fools 😉

FOR SALE by Owner

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program

from ARRL VEC VE Newsletter

The ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program went into effect on April 19, 2022. ARRL will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program. The $35 FCC application fee will be reimbursed after the ARRL VEC receives the completed reimbursement form and the new license has been issued by the FCC. The reimbursement check will be mailed to the fee payer. Also, candidates younger than 18-years old would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. The $5 fee is for all candidates under the age of 18 regardless of the exam level taken. Proof of under 18 status is required at the session. Visit the ARRL website for the program instructions and reimbursement form at www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program<http://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program>.

The ARRL Board approved the “Youth Licensing Grant Program” at its July 2021 meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, expanding on the scope of the original motion proposed by ARRL Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB. The new program will cover the $35 FCC license application fee for candidates younger than 18-years old. The Board believes that “the recruitment and training of young amateur radio operators is a necessary and proper mission of the ARRL, and that subsidization of the $35 fee will reduce the number of new amateurs that otherwise would be lost from these groups,” the Board said. Initially the new program would serve up to 1,000 new license applicants under 18 years old. The program length is indefinite; it may be renewed or terminated by the Administration and Finance Committee or by the Board of Directors. The motion carried with applause from Board members.

Hamfesters VE Testings

Important Note: Amateur Radio Exams

1. Bring 2 pencils for the answer sheet, and a Black ink ball point pen for the FCC VEC 605 form we provide.  (FCC registration form)
2. Exam Candidates: Prior to your arrival. You are REQUIRED to register in the FCC CORES system online and receive a FCC Registration Number (FRN) before exam day.
   Once you have obtained the FRN number, please bring it with you to the exam location. To apply for the FRN, please go here.>>>  https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do 
   Already Licensed? Please bring your Official Amateur License and Photo Copy of Your License. The FRN number is printed on your FCC License. (also found on the GMRS license if you have one) ALL Copies are filed with all testing materials. You will keep the originals. The FCC ULS CORES system must have a valid email address.  Otherwise you may not get your License.
   The FRN number is a requirement on the FCC 605 form we provide and your Exam answer sheet.
3. A fee of $15 dollars is charged for the examination. Payment is Cash ONLY — no credit cards or checks accepted.
4. Please bring a photo ID such as a Government Drivers License or US passport.
5. Exam location is at Oak Forest City Hall 15440 S. Central Ave. Oak Forest.  Enter through the Police Station Door and follow the ARRL EXAM Signs to the Exam Area.
6. Yes, You may bring your calculator, however you must demonstrate that all memories are erased.

NOTE:     Starting  April 19, 2022 the FCC $35.00 Amateur Application Fee Starts. This new fee will only apply to applicants for a new 10 year License, renewal, rule waiver or a new vanity call sign.  (The $35.00 Application Fee is non-refundable) There will be no charge for future License Upgrades or administrative updates, such as a change of mailing address or email address.

The New $35.00 Fee will NOT be collected by the VE’s (Volunteer Examiners). ALL Exam paperwork including exam fees, answer sheets and Form 605s are mailed to the ARRL-VEC headquarters.  If you passed your exam the ARRL-VEC will submit your information to the FCC. Once the FCC runs batch processing, they will email you the process to pay the $35.00 fee. (usually credit card) You will have Ten calendar days to pay per instructions giving by the FCC. If payment is properly transferred, the FCC will then email instructions to download your License.  You will have 30 days to download the Amateur license. 

Again, The FCC must have your valid email address in the ULS CORES system.

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program starts on April 19, 2022

Anticipating the implementation of the fee in 2022, the ARRL Board of Directors, at its July 2021 meeting, approved the "ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program <https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-establishes-program-to-cover-initial-fcc-license-fee-for-young-applicants>." Under the program, ARRL will cover a one-time $35 application fee for license candidates younger than 18 years old for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC upon examination.

To give yourself practice on all the questions: Please click on the Website below that contains Exam Flash Cards Go to  >>>  https://hamexam.org/   Click on the Flash Cards for the Class of Exam you wish to study. You can also take the practice Exams found on the same Web Site. It’s free and a good practice prior to any Exam Session.

73’s   Al – N9ZD   VE examiner

Feburary 2022 Contest Calendar

From WA7BNM Contest Calendar Website

Club Information

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