Category: KARC Posts

Official posts of the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club (KARC)

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June 2018 Meeting – Contacting Military Satellites & Field Day Prep

Note: There is a change of location for our June KARC meeting. The Club meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m. We’ll meet at the pavilion in Flesher Field on 9-th Street, south of the intersection with Stadium Dr.

This month Charles Agosti (WD8AXA) will talk about and demonstrate “Contact with Military Satellites”. Dave Moss (KE8DI) will talk about our Field Day prep. The last part of the meeting will move to our new Field Day site behind the Oshtemo Fire Station on West Main Street (M-49) west of 11-th Street.

Here is a photo of our ARRL Field Day 2018 Operating Location.

ARRL Field Day 2018 at Oshtemo Township Park (includes W8VY and ARRL Field Day 2018 logos)
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May 2018 Meeting – APRS at W8VY

This month John Mathieson (AC8JW) will talk about the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) node he implemented in the KARC Radio Room for W8VY.

If you are attending Hamvention in Xenia, OH on May 18-20, be sure to look for other members of KARC. Charles Agosti (WD8AXA) has a spot in the Flea Market, stop by and say hello. Take a look at what he’s offering for sale. Perhaps he has something you need or want.

Anyone want to organize a talk frequency for our Hamvention travelers? Contact a Club Officer.

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April 2018 Meeting – Our Local Repeaters

Join us for the April meeting of the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club at the Red Cross Chapter House on Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m.

Our program for April is all about local repeaters. Chuck Agosti (WD8AXA), KARC VP, will talk about our local repeaters both analog and digital. You’ll also get a pocket guide with repeater information. Alex Stuart (KE8ICM), KARC Treasurer, will talk about the new super controller on 040.

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Club Kit Build – Fox Hunt Attenuator – March 31

The Club will build a antenna attenuator from a small, inexpensive kit the Red Cross Chapter House on Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. until noon in rooms L3 & L4 (basement). Cost will be minimal ($10). The kit is small and suitable for beginners. Bring a soldering iron, if you can. The build will provide one component of the gear needed to participate in a Fox Hunt (locate a hidden transmitter). Since the hunt requires receive only, you don’t need a ham license. The Club will build a direction finding antenna and explain how to “hunt” at sessions during the summer. The Club will hold it’s Fox Hunt in September. For more info and to reserve a seat at the build, contact Charles Agosti vice-president@w8vy.org

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March 2018 Meeting – Adventures in Building a Hinged Tower

Join us for the March meeting of the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club at the Red Cross Chapter House on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m.

Randy Mead (KKE8R) KARC member and Member At-Large on our Board will speak about how he designed and constructed a large hinged tip-up tower at his QTH.

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Skywarn Training – Van Buren/Allegan Counties

Skywarn Training for Spring 2018 will be held on Saturday, March 10 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Paw Paw High School off Red Arrow Highway. There will not be training in Kalamazoo this winter or spring. Ask about ride sharing. You do not need a reservation, just show up. You do not need to be a ham to participate.

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February 2018 Meeting – MI Public Safety Comm System

Join us for the February meeting of the Kalamazoo Amateur Radio Club at the Red Cross Chapter House on Thursday, February 15 at 7 p.m.

Al Melon (N8KLI) of the State of Michigan DIT will speak about the Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS) and the public safety radio network on 800 MHz. This is the “largest in the U.S.”

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Skywarn Training – Kalamazoo/Calhoun Counties

Skywarn Training for Spring 2018 will be held on Saturday, February 24 from 10 a.m. until noon at Lakeview High School in Battle Creek. There will not be training in Kalamazoo this winter or spring. If you have questions, contact our Emergency Coordinator, Gary Wightman wa8mcd@w8vy.org Ask about ride sharing. You do not need to be a ham to participate.

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LoST 2018 Schedule Released

The LoST or Line of Sight Team Schedule for 2018 has been created. You can download it Here. LoST is an event held on Wednesday evenings to practice portable and emergency communications techniques. Hams deploy to various locations throughout Kalamazoo County and use portable equipment to “check-in” to the Kalamazoo County Public Service Corps Net.

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Technician Amateur (Ham) Radio Licensing Class

If you are interested, or know someone who is interested, in learning material for Technician Amateur Radio Licensing (entry level ham radio licensing), please contact John Tucker (WB8ZVV) either by email wwb8zvv@gmail.com or phone (269-324-9085) leaving a message after the generic “no one home” message if John does not answer the phone.

The class will be held at the SW Michigan Red Cross Chapter in Kalamazoo, MI. It will be taught in the traditional format for a couple of hours on Tuesday nights from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm starting September 24 and running until December 10. Students may take the official licensing test (all multiple choice questions) on December 10.

Contact John if you or someone you know is interested in the class. Also contact him if you have questions about amateur (ham) radio, licensing, or the class.

If you have questions about our club, its activities and events, do not hesitate to use the email addressed secretary@w8vy.org

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