Dale's Tales for July 2018

Greetings, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for July 2018.

Best wishes to all for a safe and sane July Fourth.  Happy Birthday America!

WHAT"S ARRL DONE for me lately?  That was the subject of a couple of recent talks I had the pleasure of presenting to Division radio clubs.

It struck me that this was a really important topic and perhaps a look at it for everyone would help instill a little pride in what our organization is all about.   With so many facets in the great hobby, we often forget about that the other guys and gals are doing. So here is my shot at an ARRL overview.

WIIFM?  What's In It For Me?  Here are just a select few items:

Advocacy Programs

PRB-1 and Antenna Protection Legislation Lobbies for spectrum protection - Intruders Lobbies for additional bands. - WARC and VLF Represents the interests of US hams at IARU Rules Enforcement - Amateur Auxiliary and OO Programs ARRL  Laboratory Technical Information Service Tests new equipment and provides reports RFI Assistance Provides Social Media Programming W1AW - Training and Bulletins VEC - examinations Publications - Technical and Operating Journals QST Monthly Journal QEX Bi-Monthly Journals for experimenters NCJ Bi-Monthly Journals for contesters QSL Service - incoming and outgoing Training Courses Technician Licensing General Licensing Teachers Institute Volunteer Counsel Program Volunteer Consulting Engineer Program Technical Specialists Volunteer Instructors Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee RF Safety Committee ARRL Outreach Program Youth Schools ARRL Foundation - Scholarships Heritage Museum NTS ARES Public Service Honor Roll LoTW On the Air Awards DXCC WAS WAS VCC

A-1 Operator Club  Triple Play  Fred Fish Memorial Award  Morse Code Proficiency  Elmer Award

First Contact Award  

Contests 

Straight Key Night  Kids Day  RTTY Roundup  January VHF  School Club Roundups  International DX, CW and Phone  June VHF  Field Day  IARU HF World  222 MHz and Up  10 GHz and Up  Rookie Roundup  RTTY  EME  23 GHz and Up  EME 50-1296  Nov Sweepstakes CW and Phone

160 Meter Contest  10 Meter Contest  Rookie Roundup - CW

I think a lot of us simply fail to realize all of the things we members of ARRL are fortunate to have available to us.  Hopefully this little "Dale's Tales" reminder will open a few doors to further involvement.

TOM'S COMMENTS:  Comments from our Vice Director Tom Delaney W8WTD

Styles of communication

For a lot of hams, Field Day is a big deal.  For others, not so much.  I should say that although my time was limited, it was a great event for me this year.

It has been said many times that there is something in ham radio for everyone.  That is true even when you consider styles of communications.

Some of us love the rapid exchange, make-the-points, get-the- next contact mode of operating.  Others would prefer to be more laid back, finding out something about the other person, exchanging interesting information.

I was thinking about this recently as I compared the reactions of two of my friends to Field Day.  One told me that he just enjoys talking to people, and the ten-second exchange of information leaves him cold.

Another, a young man who rarely gets on the radio, changes completely when you put him in front of a microphone on Field Day.  Even though he hasn’t been on in a while, he knows exactly how to make the contact, build up the points.  His competitive nature shines through.

What’s to be learned here?  My own observation is that while I was able to make a significant number of contacts, band conditions were such that it took more concentration than usual, and I’ve been a ham for a lot of years.  That skill of listening through the noise, getting the call exactly right, and knowing the exact second to call is a good one to have if you ever have to do emergency communications.   The “right” conditions are never there in an emergency.  But I don’t do emcomm, you might say.  Well, if you ever have to, you need the skills built up from contesting, DXing, etc.  And practice is a good thing.

There’s also a lot to be said for conversation on the radio. “International good will” is one of the goals of ham radio.  So making friends in other countries is a wonderful example of ham radio at work.  And so is talking on the local repeater.  In fact, there’s more to using a repeater than you might first think.  We have so many VHF and UHF repeaters that rarely get used across the country that it gets worrisome.  We have a resource we’re not using.  Remember, we lost 2 MHz of spectrum in the old 220 band.  If we want the repeaters to be there for Skywarn and the local parades, bike rides, and other public service events, then we need to use them.  

Whether you’d prefer contesting, or like chatting, turn on a rig occasionally and make a local contact. And maybe talk about next year’s Field Day. Whatever your style of communicating, communicate with your fellow hams!

--73, Tom W8WTD Vice Director, Great Lakes Division

HAMFESTING:  Here is the current Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Schedule covering the next couple of months.  These swaps have received their sanctioning approval from ARRL HQ at the time of this publication.  We have approximately 65 ARRL hamfests each year in the Division.  I do encourage each Hamfest Chair to register early for ARRL Sanctioning.  Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set. 

7/8/18                  20/9 Radio Club                            Austintown, OH

7/21/18                GMARS Trunk Swap                    Shelby Twp, MI

7/21/18                GARS Hamfest                             Germantown, OH

7/21/18                Gladwin Hamfest                          Gladwin, MI

7/21/18                NOARS Fest                                 Elyria, OH

7/22/18                Van Wert Hamfest                        Van Wert, OH

7/28/18                Big Sandy Hamfest                       Louisa, KY

7/28/18                CMARC Hamfest                         Lansing, MI

7/29/18                Portage Hamfair                           Ravenna, OH

8/4/18                  Columbus/OH Sect Conf             Columbus, OH

8/4/18                  UP Hamfest                                  Escanaba, MI

8/11/18                Central KY Hamfest                     Lexington, KY

8/12/18                Cuyahoga Falls Hamfest              Stow, OH

8/12/18                Seaway Trunk Swap                     Port Huron, MI

9/8/18                  GRAHamfest                                Grand Rapids, MI

9/8/18                  Greater Louisville                         Louisville, KY

9/9/19                  Findlay Hamfest                           Findlay, OH

9/16/18                Adrian Hamfest                            Adrian, MI

9/16/18                Central Kentucky                         Richmond, KY

9/22/18                OHKYIN Hamfest                       Cincinnati, OH

9/23/18                Cleveland Hamfest                       Berea, OH

9/29/18                Paintsville Hamfest                      Paintsville, KY

10/6/18                Vette City                                     Bowling Green, KY

10/6-7/18            Great Lakes HamCon                   Brooklyn, MI

10/11-14/18        Microwave Update                       Fairborn, OH

10/13/18             Cave Run Hamfest                       Moorehead, KY

10/20/18             Muskegon Color Tour                  Muskegon, MI

10/21/18             Kalamazoo Hamfest                     Kalamazoo, MI

10/27/18             Hazard                                          Hazard, KY

10/28/18             Massillon                                      Massillon, OH

10/28/18             USECA                                         Madison Hgts, MI

  

Be sure to check your Section's news pages for the latest local happenings, club and net information.

73, Let's fire up the bands,

Dale Williams WA8EFK

Director

Great Lakes Division