The new digital edition of QST will debut toward the end of May. If you are an ARRL member and you haven’t yet signed up to be notified automatically when the digital edition becomes available, you can do so easily. Just click on the “Edit your profile” link on the ARRL website . Once you are in your profile, click “Edit e-mail subscriptions” and then check the box next to “Notification of monthly digital edition of QST.” That’s all there is to it. A new FAQ about the digital edition has the answers to the questions ARRL members have been asking (it can also be accessed from the QST page on the ARRL website . We hope you enjoy the new digital edition of QST.

Source: The ARRL Letter

April 12 2012

Hosts: Bob Heil (K9EID), Gordon West (WB6NOA), and George Thomas (W5JDX)

We talk to Steve Katz about all things HAM radio, free schematic CAD software, NAB next week, and more.

Guests: Steve Katz (WB2WIK), Don Wiltsanks (AE5DW), Julian (N6GEB), Amanda Alden (K1DDN), and Cheryl Lasek (K9BIK)

Download or subscribe to this show at http://twit.tv/hn.

We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes at wiki.twit.tv.

Thanks to Joe Walsh who wrote and plays the Ham Nation theme.

Thanks to Cachefly for the bandwidth for this show.

Provided by Bill, WS6K

We ran some RTTY during Field Day last year, Denny KC8RPV gave it a try, got the bug and ordered a SignaLink USB unit. Prior to his getting on RTTY I’d been testing various RTTY contesting software packages and not been able to find anyone locally to run tests with.

Once Denny was on the air we started talking, on the MARC repeater, about the DX and dxpeditions we were able to work using RTTY. Pretty soon, as hoped, a few MARC members expressed an interest.

We decided that we would use two free software packages, the MMTTY engine and N1MM logger. I wrote some installation instructions and shared them with the group.

That’s when we discovered that the MARC repeater had been hacked. A couple of stations came up on the repeater and asked if we would share our information and help them get on the air. Could this be considered aiding the competition? Well, maybe not if we recruited them into becoming MARC members.

We made what I believe is MARC’s first RTTY contest club entry when Denny KC8RPV, Jerry AE8S, Mike AE8U and Bill WS6K participated in the CQ WPX RTTY Contest on February 11-12, 2012. Mike WN8GXX and Dave K8DV also worked the contest be were not part of the MARC club team.

We hadn’t finished entering the logs when I’d been asked “when is the next contest”? Well, that was February 24-25, 2012 when Denny KC8RPV, Roy AE8S, Andrew AC8JO, Mike WN8GXX and Bill WS6K participated in the North American QSO Party RTTY Contest (NAQP-RTTY) as a team.

Dave K8DV operated multi-operator, 2 radio’s with two of his buddies that he introduced to RTTY contesting.

Last count our RTTY group has grown to nine. If your interested in getting involved in RTTY contesting or chasing RTTY DX contact me or anyone in the group.

When’s the next contest?

Bill WS6K
MARC On The Air Operating Events Coordinator.

I have a wonderful announcement about our upcoming April 12th meeting. I am very pleased to announce that Mr. Bob Heil, K9EID, will be our guest speaker by way of a video call. Many of you will know that Bob Heil is the owner and founder of Heil Sound, manufacturer of microphones among other things. Probably some of you are using a Heil Microphone or other Heil product in your Ham Shack. I know I am.

Here is a blurb from the Heil website:
Heil Sound, Ltd. was founded by Bob Heil in 1966. Bob pioneered the live sound industry with clients such as the Grateful Dead, the Who, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck and scores of major touring acts of the 60′s and 70′s.

Bob and Heil Sound have won numerous awards over the years, including the first ever “Pioneer Award” from the Audio Engineering Society, and the Parnelli Award.

In 2007, Bob was invited into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to put up a display of his historically important gear, including the first modular console (the Mavis) his custom quadraphonic mixer (for the Quadraphenia tour) and the very first Heil Talk Box.

No manufacturer has ever been invited into the Rock Hall before.

Here is a wonderful interview where you can learn more about Bob. Bob also headlines a weekly internet broadcast on a website called TWiT.tv Called HamNation, which many of you may have watched. If notview all of the episodes.

Bob will be coming to us at our meeting at Faith Church by way of a Skype video conference. He will be broadcasting directly to us from his studio, so we will see him on the screen. He will also see us, so you will be able to ask questions. Some of you may have heard Bob speak at one of the last R&L customer appreciation days. I have heard him in both 2010 and 2011. I can tell you firsthand that Bob’s presentation will be very informative and you will learn many new things about sound that just may help improve your audio quality.

Due to the importance of this event, we will cut our business session to one half hour max to allow ample time for the presentation, which will start promptly at 8PM.

I am looking forward to this event and I hope you are too.

73,
Mike Ernst, AE8U
President, Milford Amateur Radio Club

Provided by Rob Blocher, N8JMV

Check out the MARC Birthday Party pictures from our 38th Birthday party! A fun time was had by all! These are also filed under the “Photo’s” tab.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Provided by: Denny Hutson, KC8RPV

You may have heard QSOs on the Bands when an Operator states, “I’m a casual contest operator” or “The day I operate in a contest is the day Pigs Fly.” I admit I’ve likely said something similar myself. But, recently Pigs were seen Flying around the Milford area. Thanks to Bill WS6K several club members were enticed to enter a couple of RTTY contests. Most recently a team was formed to enter the NAQP RTTY contest sponsored by the National Contest Journal held on February 25-26, 2012. The team was called the “MARC Flying Pigs”. On the team were: Bill WS6K, Jerry AE8S, Andrew AC8JO, Mike WN8GXX and myself KC8RPV. You may have heard activity on the Club repeater in preparation for the event. All reported having fun and accumulated a respectable first time team score of 56,238.

Earlier in February the Milford Ohio Amateur Radio Club participated in the CQ WPX RTTY contest as a club entry. Club participants were: Bill WS6K, Mike AE8U, Jerry AE8S and myself KC8RPV. Again a respectable first time club score of 450,742 was obtained.

Outside of competing for the best score one can get, the contest event is one “Ham” activity that can provide a lot of fun and a sense of satisfaction. Whether you’re in for an hour or for the duration doesn’t really matter. The ultimate goal is to have fun and maximize participation. I found that once you get started, the initial goal of 30 contacts becomes 40, then 60, and then you’re hooked. So keep an ear open for talk of the next club contest event and join the fun. The more the merrier.

Here are a couple of videos I found that have some interesting ideas that can be used for your homebrew antenna.

Provided by Bill Schroeder, WS6K
MARC Operating Event Coordinator

It’s time to mark your calendars, the ARRL Field Day is the weekend of June 23-24, 2012 and Ohio State Parks on the Air is September 8, 2012.

—- FIELD DAY

What’s Field Day? The answer can be found by going to the ARRL website for Field Day Information.

Under “At A Glance”, click on: “Rules, Entry Forms and Information Packet”.
Scroll down to Page 14, “ARRL Field Day Overview”.
The Rules can be found on pages 3-8.

MARC will be operating Class 3A from Meadowview School, 5556 Mt Zion Rd, Milford OH. Go to the Field Day Locator and search for the club call: W8MRC for details.

We will be operating 3 HF stations using SSB, CW and RTTY. In addition we will have a 2-meter/6-meter station and a satellite station.

Setup starts on Friday at 2:00 PM EDT. We operate from 2:00 PM EDT Saturday to 2:00 PM Sunday.

There will be a pot luck dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

This is a family event, everyone is welcome to participate. It’s a good opportunity to check out various HF rigs and operating modes.

— Ohio State Parks on the Air

OSPOTA is Saturday, September 8, 2012. In response to the request to find a location with modern facilities we are moving to the Turkey Ridge Shelterhouse in East Fork State Park. This will also be the club’s annual picnic.

Additional information can be found at the “OSPOTA’ website.

Provided by Jim Linn, WB8RRR

It’s time for MARC’s annual Birthday Party on Saturday March 10th. This party takes the place of our March meeting.

For new members, and old members that have forgotten, the Milford Amateur Radio Club (MARC) holds this party each year to celebrate our Birthday. This party is for the family. The dinner will be catered with a $9.00 cover charge per adult and $3.00 per child (12 and under).

As usual, there will be prize drawings so bring your lucky charms!

The party will be held at the Milford Masonic Temple, 32 Water St., Milford OH on March 10th.

This location on Water St. is in Old downtown Milford between Main St and the river behind the bank. Take Garfield Ave Northwest off Main St to Water. Turn left and you’re at the Temple.

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After 6:30 P.M. you can park in the Bank lot or any other time on the street, across the street in the empty lot or the lot on the right side of the Temple.

We will gather around 6:30 PM and probably eat around 7:00 PM.

We need to have a count, so send me an e-mail, call on phone (831-6255), leave a message, or send a letter… Anything you can with how many will be attending.

Tnx
CU THERE!

Jim

wb8rrr@arrl.net or wb8rrr@juno.com

Provided by Mike Ernst, AE8U
President, Milford Amateur Radio Club

I am pleased to announce that MARC will be holding Technician Classes. They will begin on February 15 and will run for four consecutive Wednesday nights, continuing on February 22, 29 and March 7. They will run from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. They will be held at the same place we hold our monthly meetings, the Faith Church located in Milford on Price Road.

If you know of anyone that you have been prodding to get a license, or someone who has expressed an interest, please have them call or email me right away so we reserve a slot for them. I plan to run an ad in the local newspaper and perhaps on the Enquirer website. I expect this will get some attention and we will get filled up quickly. We already have 6 students form the Red Cross as well as one other person. Please contact me at ae8u@fuse.net.

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