Next Meeting Jan 8th @ 7:30

• Website Tour of W9AA.com !

Secretary’s Beat

• Zoom Meeting

Tech Class Back in Session

• Starts Jan 13 at 7pm

CQ Field Day

• Hamfester’s Score 3,089 points!

FCC Decides on $35

It’s Dues Time!

• 2 ways to pay
  • Online through our website
  • Snail Mail to Brian, details below

Hamfester’s VE Testing

• No VE Testing until March 2021

Other Club Info

• Locations, times, dates, nets, and other info!

Photos from the November Meeting

• Screenshot from our virtual meeting!

PO Box 474
Crestwood, IL
60445-0474

Meets 1st Friday of every month at the
Crestwood Civic Center
14025 S Kostner Ave
Crestwood, IL

January Birthdays
Paul Batchelor
Michael Cicchetti
Thomas Costello
Jim Georgias
Michael Kiley
Wayne Lacoy
Michael McGuire
Peggy Peters
William Peterson
Richard Schneider
Michael Vannier
James Watt
Mark Zelesky

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Officers
President – Nora KC9MLV
Vice President – Jim W9JPR
Secretary – Patty KC9LYE
Treasurer – TBD
Sgt at Arm – Don KC9EQQ
Trustee – Gene W9PNG

Board Members
Steve – W9KXT
Kurt – WB9FMC
Cindy – N9CAS
Don – KC9EQQ
Rich – KB9NTX
John – KB9FQB

HamGab Editor
Gene – W9PNG
hamgab@hamfesters.org

Secretary’s Beat – Meeting Minutes

No minutes to report.

Technician Class is back in session!

We commence on Wednesday evenings at 7  pm beginning January 13th and will last approximately 2 hours.  The opening Jan. 13th class is scheduled to be a short check-in, orientation, and course introduction session.  The 5 session course will end on February 17th.

We will use a virtual classroom and login info will be sent later.The no-charge course is based on the ARRL License Manual, 4th edition and is required for the course.  The cost of the manual is approximately $30.00.The manual can be ordered from the ARRL, Amazon, or HamRadio Outlet.  We recommend the wire spiral-bound version. 

Links to order the required manual:

• ARRL:  http://www.arrl.org/shop/
• Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/
• HamRadio Outlet:  https://www.hamradio.com/search.cfm 

Questions and to register: Contact Brian Davis, W9HLQ at w9hlq@hamfesters.org or Mike McGuire, K9ACM at k9acm@arrl.net

CQ Field Day

de Jim Riley W9JPR

Depending on when you read this, it will be my final Field Day article for 2020 or my first for 2021.
I’ll clear out 2020 as quickly as possible so we can hopefully move on to better things in 2021. It was a strange year for just about everything and Field Day was no exception. We couldn’t gather as we always have and all our 1D and 1E entries from our home stations went to the ARRL individually with the option of aggregating them into a club score. There were some other rule changes, too. For the first time, Class Delta stations were allowed to operate other Delta stations. According to QST, there were 8,298 Delta and Echo entries but only 611 Alpha entries. Total entries were 10,213 or three times normal but total participants were way down because of the lack of visitors.
Normally, I’d give a breakdown on how we did in our division, state, and class but that wasn’t an option this year due to the aggregate system caused by the pandemic. The best I can do is show how we did against some other clubs in our area. The following breakdown lists the name of the club, their score, and how many home stations submitted their scores to that club.

As you can see, we did OK operating from home but it just wasn’t anywhere near as much fun. With that, we won’t talk about 2020 ever again.

                                       ********************************************

All I can say for sure about 2021 is Field Day will be June 26 and 27. The crystal ball is murky beyond that. It might be at Southbridge Church in Orland Park with setup at 0800 and operations beginning at 1300 local or 1800Z. Or it might be in your home, car, or in your back yard as I did. Only time will tell.
If we’re allowed to have a meeting, I’ll need pictures of your home operating setup for my FD program in June.
Stay tuned, it’s going to be interesting.

FCC Decides on $35 Application Fee

From ARRL

The FCC, based on input from the ARRL and its Members, agreed to in the Report and Order for MD Docket No. 20-270 to lower the  “Personal License Application Fee” that applies to Amateur Radio licensees from the originally proposed amount of $50 to $35.  For more information please read the news story on the ARRL website.

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-reduces-proposed-amateur-radio-application-fee-to-35

It’s Dues Time!

The Hamfesters radio club values each member. We hope you enjoy the club, whether it be the monthly meetings, the Field Day outing, or the Christmas dinner meeting. Even in this time of Covid virus the club appreciates your support. You can always get technical help and advise from other club members. If you are looking for help getting an antenna up or advice on getting a new radio, perhaps some club members can help. Of course, all of the activity costs money.

It is that time of the year when I take a look at our membership dues payment records. We really would like to keep you in the club and on the Hamfesters Roster. If you see me at the next meeting, please consider submitting your dues to me, or better yet, do it now by using our web site and using our online form. You can also send a check to the Membership Chairman, Brian Davis, 17038 Oconto Ave. Tinley Park, IL 60477. Be sure your call sign is on the check or
letter so I know who sent the funds! Pay your dues here: https://www.hamfesters.org/main/club-information/

Thank you in advance for renewing your dues.
73,
Brian, W9HLQ, Membership Chairman

VE Testing

Hamfesters VE Testing Report
Al Bukowski N9ZD – VE coordinator

No VE Sessions until March 2021

The Hamfester’s VE examinations to Continue on APPOINTMENT TIMES ONLY for the remainder of the year. NO WALK-INS

The Hamfester’s Radio Club VE test session(s) for xxxxxxxxx  will be Appointment only.

Candidates MUST email to get an appointed time (earliest 8AM), other instructions, and directions to the Exam Location
Liaison Al Bukowski (N9ZD)        ( aln9zd@gmail.com )

TEST Location: TBD – Oak Forest, IL  60452  (will be using a VE’s Garage for now unless Oak Forest City Hall reopens)

VE Stock test material will be in Plastic protective sleeves to protect the next user after disinfectant cleaner applied.

NOTE: Since Hamfester’s average candidate attendance the past years has been average of 4, the 
Appointment times will be 3 candidates 8:00 AM / 3 candidates 9:30AM /  3 candidates 11:00AM  / Flexible as needed

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

Because it is touching sensitive areas of your machine it will ask your permission to make the changes it needs to. Simply click [YES]. Then agree to the license agreement on the next screen.

Club Information

Meetings and VE
Testing

Club meetings are held on the
first Friday of every month at
Crestwood Civic Center
14025 Kostner Ave
Crestwood, IL
Meetings begin at 7:30 PM.
September meetings may vary if our meeting date conflicts with the Crestwood
Flower show.

Board Meetings: 7:30 PM on
the 4th Monday of each month
at the
SouthBridge Community Church
15500 S.73rd.
Orland Park, IL

VE TESTING: Testing currently by appointment only. See details here. Exam fee is now $15.00. Al N9ZD
VE Team Chairman

Special Activities

Hamfester’s Big Peotone
Hamfest:

***Cancelled for 2020****

Field Day:

***Not a public event for 2020***
SouthBridge Community Church
15500 S. 73rd
Orland Park, IL
Field Day Chairman
Jim W9JPR

MAKERS: we participate in the
annual Southwest Chicago
Makers Faire

Community Service: we support
local communities by providing
radio communication for parades
and marathons / walk-a-thons.

Nets/Contact Info
10 METER NET: Every
Sunday Evening at 8:00 PM on
28.410. Tom KA9ZXN is Net
Control

2 METER NET: Every
Monday Evening at 9:00 PM on
146.640. Tom KA9ZXN is Net
Control

WEB SITE: www.hamfesters.org
Webmaster
Brian ,W9HLQ
Granville, W9PNG

Club’s address:
Hamfesters Radio Club
P.O. Box 474 Crestwood, IL 60445
Attn: Patti KC9LYE Sec

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Pics from the November Meeting

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