Radio Happenings 1-8-26

 Our President's letter is a great start for the coming weeks ahead.. 

    ** 

Greetings,

Our February meeting is this week…Thursday the 12^th and I hope you will attend.  As usual, there will be many things to discuss and decide on.

We’ll start off with the Tech Talk at 6:30 this month and the topic will be “ARES” presented by Sam, KN9SAM.  Sam will provide an ARES overview and then talk about a new initiative intended to get more Amateurs involved in emergency communications.

Some of the meeting topics will include:  The Hamfest…May 30^th is getting closer; Field Day (June 27/28); Brat Barns; and, a status report on the 147.360 Repeater move to Champion.    We’ll also set the details for the Build-It Contest.  This competition will be a great opportunity to show club members your skills in building an electronics/radio home brew or kit-based project.  

We touched on the importance of volunteers at our past meetings and this month we’ll address specific areas where we need assistance. Examples are Field Day, Brat Barns, Tech Talks, Hamfest, Publicity, and more.  Please get involved and help make our club even better.

One other thing we’ll talk about is our 2026 goals… your input is very important in making sure we plan initiatives, activities and programs that meet your expectations.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting and as always, please let me know if you have suggestions or questions about our club.

73,  Bill

KB3KYH

(302) 537-4755

Thanks Bill... Looks as if we will start our radio year being rather busy... One thing you will be interested in is the Wisconsin QSO Party.. .. Also the .360 repeater status..  moving right along.. 

    We will   Explain the Makers Contest Starting soon... 

    Dues... March 1st is  the deadline for the 2026 dues. only $20.. your membership benefits also end then. .. any payments from the club for the parties , some of these newsletters ... use of club equipment... ..I

     Be sure to check the club calendar so you don't miss anything 

    CQ Tuesday the Third Tuesday at Bay Family Restaurant 

    PS Working on the webpage .. a bit behind ... 

         Enjoy  the 30s next week.... 

Radio Happenings 1-5-2026

 

First of all    Wishing all a Happy New Year !

   Once Thanksgiving came, the rest of the 2025 year became a blur and here we are into new year. It is starting off with being a bit cold but the day light is becoming somewhat longer.  

   A bunch of new stuff in the wind... More changes are going on with the incoming AI and more requirements for being online... Paper forms are becoming obsolete and you will hear more of this on the Tech Talk about VE testing not being on paper...  What?  Hard to imagine but true.. come to the next Talk on Thursday before the meeting.. 

                                

 THIS WEEK;;;

  Jan 8th -6 :30PM-  Tech Talk

  Jan 8th - 7 PM  GBM&K Meeting

  NEXT WEEK 

   Jan 14th Siren Test Net  11:45 .. List will be sent out the Sunday before..(note that it falls after the club meeting date) 

   Jan 20th  CQ Tuesday.. 

Remember that there is a VHF2 meter net at 8:45 PM on Tuesdays ..Net Control - WB9NRK .Dale .. One of the longest consecutive nets in the area... 

    Now::: A Message from the Club President .. 

Happy New Year!  I hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays.  One of the highlights for me was our club Christmas Party. We had a nice crowd, good food, and lots of fun.  Thanks to Sam, W9SJR and his XYL for making this event so special.

I hope you can attend the January meeting on the 8^th because we’ll be discussing 2026 activities and events. Among them are the Hamfest, Field Day, VE Testing, the Multi Club Picnic at Bayshore Park, Tech Talks, Fox Hunts, Brat Barns, the Wisconsin QSO Party, and many more.  We’ll also be asking for volunteers who are willing to work at and support these activities. 

The Tech Talk will begin at 6:30 this month and the topic will be “Changes to VE Testing”.  Todd, W9GRB will tell us about the recent changes that moved the VE program from a paper-based format to a computerized, on-line system.  There are big changes that we should all know about.

Something else we’ll talk about is a small competition among members who build a kit or other home brew project.  The members will vote to select the best project and the winner(s) will be awarded a small trophy or some other recognition.  Another agenda item will be the discussion of hands-on, building projects that we might want to do at a meeting.  Antennas, simple radios, test gear…there are a lot of potentials that we can consider. 

Please attend the meeting so we can have everyone involved in setting the course for 2026.

As always, please let me know if you have suggestions or questions about our club.

73,

Bill   KB3KYH

(302) 537-4755        bduveneck@aol.com

From the Editor... hope to see you on Thursday.. it is supposed to be nice weather then.. 

    

FROM OUR "SHACK" TO YOURS..

 

   

Radio Happenings 12-09-2025

 Hope you are all staying warm... It got so cold, my snow had freezer burn..... 

Thanks  to Kirk N9WVD for being the Fox for the November Fox Hunt... but the formative hunter, the non-stoppable seeker, John  WØLFE,  was successful in finding the Fox in his den.  We all hope more of you are able to use your talents and do the same... John will not be able to be the Fox for a while basking and sharpening his skills in warmer climes. So  the Hunts will be delayed for a while as well until Spring. But the next time will be in the calendar and announced in the newsletter. Also a thanks to Sarah AD9FA for chairing this event in 2025. 

    I think everyone wished for a tower at one time or another to put their antenna at an optimal height. I had one for a while.  Right now there is a nice Maple tree in the back for that purpose, but as I see more woodpeckers around it, I had best make future plans… As I got older, the climb  to repair something was more of a challenge. I was reminded of that this past week as we  read about the tower climber that made his last climb. Our sympathy to his family and the others that had the same fate this past year. 

    Note: there will not be a December Club meeting  !! 

   In a few more days, we will be enjoying the Club Christmas Party. Remember there will not be a White Elephant exchange this year. Instead, there will be a gift exchange, if you want to participate, not mandatory. The standards are listed on the Christmas Party Flyer sent out earlier or at the Club web site.     

    The Ham of the Year for 2025 will be announced at the Christmas Party..

 

Because we notice how time flies lately, I thought it might be time for a hint that the Wisconsin QSO Party is coming in March.. get your team together!!

    Just another friendly reminder that Club Dues can still be made .. Still $20 per member, but for one additional member in the same household, it is just  $5 more..

 As far as the information for the 147.360 repeater, it is still progressing  - waiting for the County legal folks and then the powers that be for formal approval.  

    

    Thanks to those that rang the bell for the Salvation Army   

     The Siren Test net is this Wednesday.. Please check the list and check one out -- we are down to  the last 11.. The sirens sound each Wednesday at noon... Three more chances at completing the list for 2025 !!   List is attached.. Even though there is not a Net each week, you can still check the siren and send in a report via email..

  

   “Wishing you a Christmas that sparkles with moments of surprise, twinkles with laughter, and glows with the warmth of friendship.” 

    Note: Meteor Scatter QSO Party..  https://www.hamsci.org/msqp

Maturity is when you realize that the volume knob also turns to the left..