Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Green Bay Mike & Key Club Ham Fest June 4th

Radio Happenings March 27th, 2022..

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK + some next week>
The Logs for the Wisconsin QSO Party are DUE TODAY !!!March 27th.
April 5th.. Voting
April 9th …Brat Barn at De Pere Festival.

Brat Barn Fund Raiser
Our first fund raiser is the Brat Barn at the Festival Foods on the West side of DePere on Saturday, April 9th. On the South side of Main Street. We have some slots filled already, but we are in need of at least two more for the 9AM shift.. If you can help, please contact Keith at 920-619-3394 or ks9wi@new.rr.com
Another way of helping, is to come to the Barn and purchase a brat or burger or even both.. open ‘til 5

##The Annual Awards Banquet

I was unable to go to the banquet on the 19th and the only thing that was reported was the Facebook comment by Keith KS9WI which I will quote in part.
“There were 32 in attendance. Food was good. But could have been warmer. Dave Catalano was awarded Ham of the Year. I was caught totally by surprise. I 3as voted a life time paid membership for my years of club participation and support. I am glad the board decided I was worth honor. Makes me proud to have served and been a member for31 yrs. I'm wondering how it can be that many years. THANKS AGAIN!!!!,

Some pictures from Bill, KB3KYH

Presentation of Life Membership to Keith Summers, KS9WI, and Past President Appreciation Certificate to Dave Ziesmer, KD9HJJ. In addition, President Paul Racine, KB0P provided an overview of upcoming club activities.

Door prize winners...

For more information on the storm spotter program, including online training materials, brochures and references, please visit: https://www.weather.gov/grb/skywarn

Stay Radio Active

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Radio Happenings March 17th, 2022

St. Patrick Day..

It was quite busy the past few days and some more activity coming up..

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK

March 19^th Awards Banquet (the Woods) Doors open at 5ish for attitude adjustment and dinner a 6PM 530 Erie Road-- Please RSVP to ka9bxg@gmail.com

Scout Radio Merit Badge

On Saturday, March 12th, we were busy with the Radio Merit Badge and the Scouts were there at NWTC for that Merit Badge as well as other badges .. after all, it was Pi Day !!

That famous base number which is too long for me to remember.

We set up a VHF station and utilized the .120 repeater.. Paul, KBØP, set up his traveling antenna and hooked into the IRLP and the East Coast Reflector. A big thanks to all of you that were able to take some time and talk to the Scouts. There were about 17 that completed the Merit Badge requirements which included talking on the radio for at least 10 minutes.. the reflector connection even made contact all the way to the UK.. That same day, our VEs were setting up for testing at St. Norbert College. There, they were able to squeeze in a couple of contacts with the Scouts ... Multi tasking...

WISCONSIN QSO PARTY

Then the next day, March 13th, was the Wisconsin QSO Party.. Not much of a party at my QTH. Noise was the highest ever... could not hear any stations on any bands.. After an hour and a half, called KD9LHY who was on his way to my place and he checked the noise at his place and it was somewhat better. We operated from his station.. took about another half hour to get our first contact.. very slow day for us until the last hour but by then it was almost over.. not a great score but we had fun trying. And since then, the noise has disappeared..?? (knocking on wood)

I understand that the party was not going on at St. Norbert either. A few of the members were there to make contacts for the Wi QSO using the Club "Shack". A number of incidents can cause havoc.

Some History of the St.N. “shack”

In order to use the 2M radio, the D-Star has to be turned off in order to use that antenna... There is a brand new Yeasu 3000DX there for HF. That is a big machine with a lot of bells and whistles and not having operated it before, can cause a bunch of head scratching. The feed line goes out to the top of the building where there is a Hustler 5BTV vertical antenna. There is some history with that antenna.. and bare with me as I try to make it short.

First of all, we were given a small area to put up antennas. So verticals would fit the area. The Dual Band VHF UHF antenna was easy. For HF, we used to have a three element beam on the roof before the remodeling. That had to go with all the cable and all the equipment in what used to be the "Shack". So the five band Hustler was chosen. There is a pipe bolted to the frame of the building as it's base. The antenna was set up on a pipe elsewhere and tuned to all the bands before being mounted at St. N. It worked well until a day of 50 MPH winds. The antenna had a large 80M coil on the top. It is not guyed due to restrictions by Facilities. The swaying back and forth caused the lower length to bend permanently. The bend was not able to be straightened. An attempt to strengthen it, caused a mismatch.

A new section was purchased and replaced the bent one and to prevent another such incident, the 80 meter coil was removed. The band width was only 1.5 k for that band, so it seemed impractical to have. At the same time, it was discovered that it needed radials to be more efficient. We were then told that as long as they were hidden we could put them up. We have two wires woven through the edging. The radials are needed because without them, the pipe stand becomes part of the antenna like a dipole.. we got this advice from the "Doctor" at ARRL. and it seemed to work. The Kenwood 570 (the radio before the 3000) was able to operate on all bands using its internal tuner. There is another radial ready to be attached via clamp whenever we get a chance to go up there. . It would be good to check the coax attachment to the antenna when up there.. it is not a PL259 but a screw through a ring lug. So now the antenna is a 4BTV using four bands, 40, 15, 20 and 10 meters ....

For those that wonder where the 80 meter coil is. .. N8KQS has it with the "top hat" as told to the membership at the time we fixed and re-tuned the antenna. (all the “we” is the membership as it went through the meetings prior ) I actually have two because of what happened at St. N, I took the coil off mine.

If anyone is going to take the antenna down, I will be glad to show you an easy way and you should have a harness on if the wind is blowing at all..

Sometimes it is good to know the past so we do not have to relive it.. I have to pass the information I know, in order to save a lot questions or work later..

Stay Radio Active...

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Radio Happenings March 6th, 2022

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK

March 9^th – Siren Test Net 11:45 147.120 March 10^th – M&K Club Meeting March 12^th Scout Radio Merit Badge March 13^th Daylight Savings begins.. March 13^th.. Wisconsin QSO Party

March 19^th Awards Banquet (the Woods) 530 Erie Road-- Please RSVP to ka9bxg@gmail.com

Scout Radio Merit Badge

We have been asked to help with the Radio Merit Badge. The Scouts need to have a 10 minute contact via radio and that is where we come in. Please plan on being available on March 12^th. All radio operators like to talk.. here is a chance for more.. More information on Freq. and times coming. (I hope) Most likely starting mid morning until about 3PM

Those of you that use the N3FJP Logging software for the Wis. QSO Party – They have an update that is available dated 3/03/2022. Hope you made your plans for the QSO party. – The Club“Shack” at St. Norbert College will be open for the Wisconsin QSO Party. They will be using the Club Callsign. Drop in..

##The Annual Awards Banquet is coming up. At the Woods Banquet Hall,. $18/person. I have heard that the menu will be chicken and beef tips.. Will be looking for a head count soon.. Everyone welcome.. Make plans…. RSVP to ka9bxg@gmail.com

NOW!!! Need 20 to nail it down ..

MEETINGS

Meetings have been at St Norbert as well as on Zoom. Use the information sent out last week and this week. You will also find it on the Web Site.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86188759720?pwd=M3RuV2xqYWdKbTdqWkRRMWpQUFhqUT09

Meeting ID: 861 8875 9720
Passcode: 656630
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbC5BBfWHr

Treasurer’s report:
Opening Balance Feb 5, 2022               $ 10, 338.43
Deposits
Paypal2/18                                                    9.22
Paypal2/22                                                  42.72
Bank Deposit 2/24 20.00
Paypal2/28                                                  18.93
Amazon Smile3/3 33.17
Total deposits 124.04
Expenses                                                          -0-
Ending Balance 3/3/2022                      $ 10,462,47

As you may see, if you are purchasing anything via Amazon, switch to Amazon Smile and set the charity to the Green Bay Mike & Key club.. then they will send a percent of the purchase to the Club.. without an additional cost to you. Thank you to those that are already doing it…

The link of the week is : http://kv5r.com/ham-radio/digital-modes/sounds-of-the-digital-modes/

How many times have we come across some “noise” on some of the bands and if we have been using FLdigi, would like to know what mode to set it for. Is it PSK31 or Olivia or even RTTY.. this web site link has a lot of the answers and you will be surprised on the wealth of other information it has .. another tool of reference perhaps…

For Sale

APC Battery Backup UPS, 6 outlets

4 battery ups +surge, 2 surge 255 watts $50 obo. New in box..

Contact N8KQS or KD9HJJ..

As you saw with the tornados in Iowa this past week.. it can come at any time and more are showing up further North lately. Be ready to assist.. good start is to go to the National Weather Service site an take the virtual class.. at:: For more information on the storm spotter program, including online training materials, brochures and references, pleasevisit: https://www.weather.gov/grb/skywarn