Provide by Mike Ernst, AE8U
MARC President

This year we have a really great central location that is easily accessible. We will be set up at the Meadowview Elementary School located at 5556 Mt. Zion Road in Milford. A copy of our news release is attached for this event. Again we will run three stations – the goal is to maximize participation. We would love to have you come out and spend some time on the air. If you have not gotten into HF yet, it is a great time to have some friendly “Elmers” to help you out and teach you the ropes. If you are an “old hand” we could use you to be an Elmer. Either way, the club needs you. So come on out.

VE Session: We will have a VE session at noon on Saturday, June 25 at this Field Day Location. Call or email Barb Steward for any changes at (513) 625-8651 or wsteward@fuse.net

The actual Field Day event runs from 2:00 PM Saturday June 25 – to Sunday June 26 at 2:00 PM. Setup starts at 2:00 PM Friday June 24. Additional setup starts early Saturday AM. Tear down of equipment starts at 2:00 PM on Sunday.

View Larger Map

73,
Mike, AE8U

Here is the June 2011 QST Product Review Preview Video from the ARRL. I also put this in the right column for the month.

Here is the April 2011 QST Product Review Preview Video from the ARRL. I also put this in the right column for the month.

Your prompt help to defend one of our amateur bands is urgently requested. Please read and follow through on the requested action.

You may have already heard that our 440 MHz band is being attacked by a bill introduced into the US House of Representatives. In its current form, HR 607 would take away the 420-440 MHz segment that is presently allocated to Amateur Radio on a secondary basis as our 70 cm band. Along with certain other segments not allocated to Amateur Radio, the 420-440 MHz segment would become part of a spectrum “give back” involved in allocating 758-763 and 788-793 MHz for a Public Safety broadband network.

The concept of this network has merit. Everyone wants first responders to have the radio systems they need in order to protect themselves and us. However, there is absolutely no need to take our 440 MHz band in making it happen. We need to let our US Representatives know we oppose the current form of HR 607.

To let your US Representative know you oppose the present bill, go to http://www.kd4pyr.net/hamletter.htm. Insert your call sign where indicated and follow the simple instructions. The name and address of your US Representative will automatically be put into the letter, as will your name and address. It will be ready to be printed and signed.

IMPORTANT: Please be sure to observe the following once you have printed your letter:

- Be sure to sign it. Letters without a handwritten signature are not effective.

- Signed letters can be sent by fax or postal mail. They can also be scanned into PDF format and e-mailed as a file attachment. Postal mail: John Chwat, Chwat & Co., Suite 103, 625 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail: john.chwat@chwatco.com. Fax number: (703) 684-7594.

- Do not send this letter or any letter about HR 607 to your US Senators at this time. The bill is only in the US House of Representatives. Letters sent on HR 607 to US Senators will merely waste their time and demonstrate lack of knowledge of how our system of government works.

WHY SHOULD the letter be mailed to John Chwat? There are two reasons. First, all postal mail to members of the US House (and other government bodies) is delayed 6 to 8 weeks in being searched for hazardous materials that may be included in them. Second, Mr. Chwat will increase the value of your individual letter by combining it with others and delivering the stack of letters directly to your Representative’s office. This manner of delivery makes a particular impact on our Congressmen.

If you feel it necessary to mail your letter directly to your Representative, do it. However, please also send a signed copy of it to Mr. Chwat for the reasons outlined above.

For your information, the letter generating utility will be open for use by any US amateur for at least a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your help and support in this important effort. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

73,

Jim

PS: Thanks to Rick Haltermon, KD4PYR for developing the letter generating utility. He was aided by Trey Garlough, N5KO who wrote the initial program. Rick continues to add flesh to the program.

Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
ARRL Great Lakes Division
ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio

——————————————————————–
ARRL Great Lakes Division
Director: James E Weaver, K8JE
k8je@arrl.org

Subject: SPECIAL REQUEST – HELP PREVENT BAN ON MOBILE OPERATING

(Reply to nb4k@arrl.org)

Dear Ohio Amateur Radio Operator,

US Senate Bill S. 1536, the Alert Drivers Act, is intended to improve
highway safety by reducing driving distractions caused primarily by
cell phones. Unfortunately, current wording of this Bill does not
specifically exempt Amateur Radio from is provisions. The Bill is in
the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As a result, ARRL
asks members who live in states that have a representative on this
committee to direct letters to senators who are on this Committee.
Senator George Voinovich of Ohio is one of the members of the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee.

We ask each ARRL member in Ohio to write a letter to Senator Voinovich
asking that Senate Bill S. 1536 be amended to exempt Amateur Radio.
You may use the letter that is attached or compose one of your own.
Either way it needs to be done as soon as possible.

As has been done in the past, please send your signed letter to our
Washington representative, John Chwat. Mr. Chwat will deliver the
letters directly to Mr. Voinovich’s office to increase their impact.
Please send your letter via one of the following methods:

As a signed attachment to an email to: arrl@chwatco.com.

As a signed fax to: 703-684-7594

As a signed letter to:
John Chwat
Chwat & Co.
625 Slaters Lane, Suite 103
Alexandria, VA 22314

If you choose to email your letter, please send it as a
personally-signed attachment to the email instead of as unsigned e-mail
text. This allows the letter to be easily printed and delivered to Mr.
Voinovich. If you decide to draft your own letter instead of editing
the sample, please remember to include the following key points:

- Identify the bill by number and title: S 1536 “The ALERT Drivers
Act”.

- Ask that S 1536 be amended to exempt “two way mobile radio
transmitters or receivers used by licensees of the Federal
Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio service.”

- Keep the letter brief and on the single topic – one page at the
most.

- Ask the Senator to consider becoming a co-sponsor and support this
amendment.

- Thank the Senator for considering your request.

If you prefer to send your letter directly to Senator Voinovich, please
also send a copy of it to Chwat & Co. This allows our team to discuss
accurately with the Senator and his staff the amount of support the
bill has in Ohio.

Thanks for your help on this Bill. I look forward to corresponding
further with you in the future.

The draft letter is below.

73,

John D. Meyers, NB4K
Great Lake Division
Legislative Action Chairman
Nb4k@arrl.org

——————————————————-

(Date)

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Attn: Chip Abernathy
Fax: 202-228-1382

Dear Senator Voinovich,

I understand that S. 1536, “The ALERT Drivers Act,” will be voted
upon in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As an
amateur radio licensee and member of the American Radio Relay League,
representing over 680,000 amateur radio licensees nationwide, including
28,377 in the state of Ohio, I urge you to support an amendment to S.
1536 that exempts amateur radio licensees from this type of ban. The
amendment would seek to exempt “two way mobile radio transmitters or
receivers used by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in
the Amateur Radio service.”

The form of communication used by amateur radio licensees is
fundamentally different from that of cell phone users. Amateur radio
utilizes simplex, two-way radio communication in which relatively
little time is spent transmitting-unlike cell phones. Additionally,
the mobile radio sets used by amateur radio operators are typically
permanently mounted on the floor of the motor vehicle and do not
interfere with operation of the vehicle. In fact, after more than 50
years of amateur radio in the U.S., we are unaware of any evidence that
mobile radio operation has contributed to driver inattention. Amateur
radio licensees are public-service minded citizens who use their
radio-equipped motor vehicles to aid others, and they focus on driving
in order to perform these services.

Please contact our Washington representative, John Chwat, if you can
help us by sponsoring this amendment. Please contact him at
john.chwat@chwatco.com or (703) 684-7703.

Thank you,

(Your signature)

(Your printed name)
(Your address)
(Your city, state, ZIP)
(Your telephone number, e-mail address)

—————————————————————–

Tnx vy much for your important help,

Jim

Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
ARRL Great Lakes Division
5065 Bethany Rd.
Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661
ARRL, The national organization for Amateur Radio

——————————————————————–
ARRL Great Lakes Division
Director: James E Weaver, K8JE
k8je@arrl.org

With the rip-roaring success of the first-ever ARRL Rookie Roundup this past April — modeled on the popular Novice Roundups from a decade or two ago — the ARRL is pleased to announce that a second Rookie Roundup is coming this Sunday, August 15 from 1800-2359 UTC. You don’t have to be a rookie to participate. For the purpose of the Rookie Roundup, a “rookie” is defined as someone who has been licensed for three years or less, regardless of license class. If you received your license in 2008, 2009 or 2010, you are eligible to compete as a rookie. Non-rookies are encouraged to work the rookies and be an Elmer to those just starting out. It is an immediate, hands-on way to teach good operating practices to those just getting started. Read more here.

The Ohio QSO Party (OhQP) is just 5 weeks away, and the excitement is already building. Stations from across Ohio are making their plans to be on the air for one of the premier state QSO parties. Small stations from Ohio can make hundreds of QSOs during the short 12 hour event. Get on and call “CQ Ohio QSO Party” and run the pileups! We hope you will join us to make this the best event yet – our goal is to get fixed operations on from every county this year. If you are planning on being on, please let everyone know by posting your county of operation on the “Planned Operations” website at http://ohqp.org/plannedOpsEntry.html

For those who don’t know what the OhQP is all about, it’s a fun time for Ohio stations to be on the air and be the hunted station, or “DX”. People from around the world are seeking out Ohio stations in this event, which is a nice change from most operating events. The OhQP occurs on Saturday August 28, 2010 from local noon to local midnight. In the basic QSO exchange, Ohio stations send a consecutive serial number + county, and non-Ohioans (who can only work Ohio) send a consecutive serial number and state/province/DX. Suggested frequencies are: CW: 3545, 7045, 14,045, 21,045, 28,045 kHz; SSB 3825, 7200, 14,250, 21,300, and 28,450 kHz. Don’t be shy – try calling CQ in addition to searching and pouncing. Remember, the world is tuning the bands looking for Ohio stations – your CQ’s will be answered! Full details and an OhQP operating guide can be found on the official website at: www.ohqp.org/.

This is a great event for a club activity or a training ground for new(er) hams. QSO rates are as high or higher than Field Day, and there’s virtually no QRM in this event. Round up the club and have some fun. If you are in the mood to enjoy the great Ohio countryside, try operating portable or mobile from a rare county. Remember, the ultimate goal is to just get on the air and have some fun!

73 and we hope to hear you on the air,

Kenny K2KW
Ohio QSO Party PR Coordinator
kenny.k2kw@gmail.com

P.S. If any Ohio amateur radio organization has an upcoming event, they can post it on the ARRL Ohio Section calendar, even if they are not a member of the ARRL. http://arrlohio.org/calendar/calendar.php (QSP from Scott N8SY, ARRL Assistant Section Manager)

Please join the Milford Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for our ARRL Field Day operations. We will again be operating from Barb and Bill Steward’s house on Newtonsville-Hutchinson Rd. The club again thanks Barb and Bill for having our club out there for a couple of days!

Directions to Barb and Bill’s Field Day Site: Map Here

5681 Newtonsville-Hutchinson Rd
Batavia, OH 45103

Reminder: We will start setting up the site on Friday at 2:00 PM local time. Let Bill, WS6K know if you’ll be available to help. We will finish setting up on Saturday morning and start operating at 2:00 PM.

About Field Day
The first Field Day dates back to June 1933 when gasoline was 12 cents a gallon, transmitter tuning was done by holding a neon bulb near the plate tank circuit and tuned for maximum brilliance, and the transmitted frequency was fixed and not readily movable. Field Day was in 1933, and still is, a way to test a station’s or a club’s emergency preparedness.

Sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Field Day is an annual event testing emergency preparedness and communication skills for hams. We use generators, and string antennas through trees to make contacts with other hams at field day sites across the country. The idea is to put together self-sufficient, working stations quickly and begin making contacts. It is an ideal event to practice skills in portable operation, erecting antennas, operating a HF station and logging contacts.

When is Field Day?
Field Day 2010 takes place June 26-27th, starting Saturday at 1800 UTC (2:00 PM) and ending at 1200 UTC (2:00 PM) Sunday running for 24 hours straight.

Setup and Tear Down
We need volunteers to help us setup, the day before, and to tear down, immediately at the end (Sunday 2:00 PM). We can start setting up equipment 24 hours before the start of Field Day. We will start setting up Friday afternoon, June 25th at 2:00 PM.

Who Can Operate the HF Stations?
You do not need to have a General License or an amateur radio license to operate a HF station during Field Day. If a technician class or someone totally new to ham radio is interested in operating the station, they can operate as long as there is a higher class operator present. We have Extra Class operators that are in the immediate area, allowing everyone to operate within the FCC rules. We encourage people interested in seeing what amateur radio is all about and to come out and visit us and operate. The Field Day event is operated under the club call W8MRC.

Have Fun
We want everyone to have a good time, be able to make SSB, PSK and CW contacts, and encourage camaraderie. You are welcome to just stop by and check things out, and if you are not interested in operating, you can help with the setup, take photos and/or video, log contacts for operators, or help us tear down. Hamburgers and hotdogs (typically) are provided for the potluck (bring a dish/snacks) dinner on Saturday night and breakfast is provided on Sunday morning.

Different clubs have different goals for what Field Day is. Some clubs, like the Milford Amateur Radio Club (MARC) encourage new people to get involved and when we can, try to make as many contacts as possible during the 24 hour period.

This is a short video “preview” of the Product Review section of the February issue of QST.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz6aBjmFRRU

This is great seeing the continued growth of Amateur Radio over the past five years!

—

This past year was a banner year for new Amateur Radio licensees. According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, the FCC issued more than 30,000 new ham radio licenses. “In 2009, the demand for Amateur Radio exam sessions remained elevated and is still running at a higher rate than before the FCC’s restructuring of the license requirements in 2007,” Somma said. “This high level of exam session activity has produced an elevated influx of new applications, far outpacing recent years.”
[caption id="attachment_1715" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="In 2009, the FCC issued more than 30,000 new Amateur Radio licences -- an almost 3 percent increase in the number of new licenses issued in 2008. At the end of 2009, there were 17,084 Novices, 334,245 Technicians, 150,970 Generals, 60,795 Advanced and 119,403 Amateur Extra class licensees."][/caption]
A total of 30,144 new licenses were granted in 2009, an increase of almost 7.5 percent from 2008. In 2005, 16,368 new hams joined Amateur Radio’s ranks; just five years later, that number had increased by almost 14,000 — a whopping 84 percent! The ARRL VEC is one of 14 VECs who administer Amateur Radio license exams.

“When looking at the statistics over the last 10 years, these are some the highest numbers we’ve seen,” Somma explained. “Additionally, our total number of licensees across all three classes has grown each year.” Currently there are 682,500 licensed Amateur Radio operators in the US, an almost 3 percent rise over 2008. In 2008, there were 663,500 licensed amateurs; there were 655,800 in 2007. Broken down by license class, at the end of 2009 there were 17,084 Novices, 334,245 Technicians, 150,970 Generals, 60,795 Advanced and 119,403 Amateur Extra licensees.

“The ARRL VEC has been busy meeting the needs of the Amateur Radio community by helping people to become radio amateurs or upgrade their existing licenses,” Somma said. “In 2009, ARRL VEs administered 44,595 exam elements at 6369 ARRL VEC-sponsored exam sessions. The number of amateurs who want to be Volunteer Examiners and who want to teach Amateur Radio classes is also going up — we’ve seen a spike in the number of applications from General and Extra class radio amateurs who want to give back to their community by serving as ARRL examiners and instructors.”

Somma applauded all the volunteers whose “hard work and contribution of countless hours of time helps to ensure the future of Amateur Radio. The ARRL VEC thanks our 32,411 VEs from around the world whose dedication and service helped to contribute to the success of Amateur Radio. I am delighted by these important achievements. 2009 was a very good year for Amateur Radio and I am excited by the promise of 2010.”

Source: ARRL