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Thank you to Mark Thompson, for his program on digital radio. He sure was busy fielding questions from the group. Talk about timing, a couple came with a radio they just bought and found our group on-line and saw our meeting that month just happened to be on that topic.

Here comes February. Happy Valentine’s to everyone. Our February program will be given by Gregory Rosenberg, AB9MZ on the subject of EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency interference). Gregg always gives an informative program. So hope to see everyone there.

Just a reminder, at each month’s meeting, the Club provides its members at no cost the yummy donuts, coffee, pop, water, and door prizes raffle. Also, you can buy a few tickets for the fun of Split the Pot.

Let’s keep in our prayers our members and their families who have had their children deployed overseas in the rising tensions there so that they can come home safe.

HEALTH AND WELFARE: Best wishes and prayers go out to any members who are not feeling well and struggling with your health matters. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

NEW MEMBER: I would like to welcome back an old member as our newest member, Ron Azarkiewicz, WA9RHU.

MARCH MEETING: Your favorite meeting, the White Elephant sale. So grab your goodies and come on down to sell or have your cash ready to buy. It is always an interesting meeting and a great gathering of attendees who normally don’t come to regular meetings. As a reminder from Don KC9EQQ, please if you are selling at the sale, bring extension cords for testing items your selling, cash to make change, and please do not leave your table un-attended as Hamfesters Radio Club is not responsible for any losses of personal property or cash at any Hamfester’s event. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

APRIL MEETING: Our biggest meeting of the year is our Basic Weather Spotter course given by our own, Dave Bukowski, N9KPD. Be sure to pre-register when that becomes available. Also, please note this meeting will have an early start time of 7:00 p.m.

As always, we ask you to keep an eye on the website for the most current happenings in our club. Remember to Like us on our Hamfesters Page and spread the word about our great club too! We are “the fun” place to have a good time of fellowship at all of our events!

Thank you to all of you for your continued support of the best Ham Radio club around!

73,
Nora Pointer KC9MLV
President of Hamfesters Amateur Radio Club of Crestwood
P.S: If you need to reach me, please email me at: npointer92@gmail.com

Secretary’s Beat – Meeting Minutes

No minutes to report this month!

License Class Survey

Try the Club’s Flex 5000!

This Flex 5000 is available to a club member to use and experience this high performance HF transceiver. You can borrow the rig on a one month (or more) installments. You will need a 12v DC power supply at 10 amps. Included in the package is the Flex 5000, computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor and power speakers.

Contact Brian, W9HLQ to schedule your session.

73, Brian, W9HLQ

CQ Field Day

de Jim Riley W9JPR

Please consider this your “save the date” for Field Day 2020. The date is June 27-28 from 0800 local time Saturday to 1400 or earlier on Sunday. The location is Southbridge Church on 155th St. just west of Harlem Ave.

It’s time to start thinking about radios, antennas, and all the other parts that make a great Field Day. I’m sure Kurt WB9FMC is already planning some kind of elaborate antenna concoction. This year’s might even work.

Last year we beat the previous year’s score but that wasn’t difficult since we had just minutes to find a location and set up in 2018. This will be our third year at Southbridge. Let’s make it the best so far.

If you’re new to Amateur Radio or Hamfesters, don’t think for a minute that you’re left out. Everybody has a role and we need you.

In the next few months I’ll get into specifics, but for now just circle the date and keep that weekend open.

Hams Help Red Cross in Puerto Rico

Our friends at Tri-Town Radio Amateur Club posted the following information on their Facebook page.

Amateur Radio volunteers are helping to support the American Red Cross’ efforts following the recent earthquakes in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, reports that several Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers have been deployed to earthquake-ravaged regions of the island at the request of the American Red Cross. Initial operations got underway in the town of Yauco, where the Red Cross has a central warehouse for the earthquake relief effort. Operations are on VHF and UHF, although commercial telecommunication services remain in operation for the most part. A station has also been activated at the Red Cross Headquarters in the capital of San Juan, which is not in the earthquake zone. Aftershocks continue on the island. A magnitude 5.9 tremor struck over the weekend.

“The stations are operating as a backbone, in case a new or stronger earthquake hits the region,” Resto explained. “HF equipment is stored in Pelican Cases for protection from a larger catastrophic event, if communications fail.” Power has been re-established over more than 90% of Puerto Rico, and water service is operational in most places, Resto added.

ARRL is shipping six VHF/UHF base/repeater antennas and six 50-foot rolls of LMR-400 coax, through the Ham Aid Fund.
Since January 12, the ARES Zone 5 amateur radio volunteers have been handling health-and-welfare traffic from the earthquake zone, reports Yauco ARES District Emergency Coordinator Heriberto Perez, WP4ZZ, who said internet service has been slow. He said the Red Cross has been providing food and drinks for the volunteers. Operations are running from 9 AM until 5 PM each day.

We made the Desplaines Valley News!

Hamfester of the Year Award

If you made the January meeting, then you already know that your humbled editor, Granville W9PNG, received the “Hamfester of the Year” award!

This was quite the surprise to receive the award. I remember looking at the photos of the Chrismas party where the award is usually presented and not seeing any photos of the award being given. I had to miss the Christmas Party this year.

Thank you to everyone who congratulated me at the January meeting and of course, the previous award winners who nominated and chose me to receive the award. I am quite humbled by the experience.

VE Testing

Hamfesters VE Testing Report for HamGab
Al Bukowski N9ZD – VE coordinator

Hamfesters Amateur Radio Club VEs offer Amateur Radio License Testing for those who want to get their first ham license, or Amateur Hams who want to upgrade to a higher class license. Examination sessions are available on the second Saturday of each month. We will assist you with all necessary paperwork prior to taking your exam. Please make sure you are studying the latest question pool that can be found on the internet, through ARRL publications or Gordon West books. The Exam fee is $15.00 (CASH ONLY – Please NO Checks or Credit Cards.) Also please bring a photo ID with you to the exam. If upgrading, bring your original signed Amateur License and a photocopy we can send with the test results.

If you need information on how to print your FCC License, please go to this url for information. http://www.arrl.org/obtain-license-copy

The exam sessions are held at the Oak Forest City Hall 15440 S. Central Ave. Oak Forest, Il 60452. Please arrive by 9:00 AM. We begin testing promptly at 9:15 AM. Please enter through the marked Police door entrance at City Hall and look for the ARRL Amateur Radio testing signs for directions.

Future VE Exam dates are as follows:

• February 8th, 2020
• March 14th, 2020

*******New General Class License Exams were implemented on July 1, 2019. You will need to study the new General Class Question pool found here. >>> http://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2019-2023GeneralClassQuestionPool.pdf

Please, it would help the VE Team to pre-register and/or if you have any other questions regarding our test sessions, please contact Al, N9ZD via e-mail at: N9ZD@arrl.net

A Special ‘Thank You’ to All the VE’s volunteering there Saturday morning to assist me at the Exam sessions.

Club Information

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Pics from January Meeting

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