Greetings to all the Amateurs of Michigan,
Compiled below are Cheers, Changes, and Comradery. This and more awaits you in the December 2018 Michigan Section Newsletter. As we ever so gently slide into the official start of Winter, toss another log on the fire (not your station log please) and settle in for some mostly correct, reasonably accurate, and hopefully non-disturbing news from in and around the state. My apologies for the late publication, sometimes schedules simply get in the way!
I Wish That Jim Would
Not much mind reading activity goes on here. If there’s something going on in your patch, and you want to tell the Section about it, you might want to consider pointing it out to me. I am only too happy to include details about your upcoming events, elections, and whatever else you’d like to share. Please note that timing is everything. Again, predicting the future and determining what your thinking are not among my skillset.
Affiliated Clubs
From Bill Loeber, NU3D our Section Affiliated Club Coordinator
I would like to thank our Section Manager for promoting the updating of your Affiliated Club status in the last Section News. Also, a big thank- you to all of the clubs that have updated their information and renewed their Affiliated Club status. To the clubs that have not done so yet, please jump in and update, it is quick and painless – let’s go for 100%! One last thing, after reviewing many of our clubs in the MI section, I would like to suggest that you consider applying for the coveted status of a Special Service Club. Please check out the ARRL website to see the benefits besides the obvious ones. As of this writing, we only have seven in our section and I am sure we can grow this number. If I can be of any help in renewing your club status as an Affiliated Club and/or the Special Service Club, please don’t hesitate to email me or give me a call. We are all in this together.
Bill Loeber, NU3D
New Officers At Many Clubs
I appreciate those who have taken the time to send this along, and I’m happy to post them in the Section Newsletter:
Shiawassee Amateur Radio Association 2019 Officers
President Kevin Middleton, K8MID
Vice President Don Warner, WB8GUS
Secretary Phil Bates, AC8FW
Treasurer Dennis Phillips, KC8ETW
Trustee Charles Dafoe, K8DZH
Trustee Michael Middleton, KF5MYQ
Trustee Mike Rothe, AB8VS
2019 USECA ARC Officers:
President: Jim Marek N8KKG
Vice-President: Jim Hoffman K8JEH
Treasurer: Gary Simms KI8M
Recording Sec: Rob Lifton NY8W
Membership Sec: Brenda White KD8SGB
Board Members (3):
Glen Garant VE3GQG
Jim Blackford KD8YAF
Linda Line KD8SAI
Michigan Section Digital Radio Group Meeting
Fourteen ‘DRG Representatives’, District EC’s, and Section Staff from all around Michigan gathered Saturday December 15th in Howell for a three-hour long meeting discussing the status of Packet Radio data networking around the state.
We concluded that we have four distinct “networks” – the BPQ (NetROM) network, the Michigan AMPRnet TCP/IP network (JNOS), the Mi7 BPQ network, and the Mi6 microwave network (TCP/IP). Three of the four form a mostly “homogenous” network linked together via the NetROM protocol, and two of the networks speak TCP/IP natively. But ALL networks are well integrated with one another, so access to ANY provides reachability to ALL.
As all these networks have been growing in size only shows that Michigan Hams have an increased interest in connecting us all together for both the benefit of the average Ham, as well as to move critical information during EMCOMM emergencies and drills. And as these networks grow we hope to provide maps and node lists on the http://WWW.MI-DRG.ORG website to help all interested parties in connecting to and using this data resource. The more trained and equipped Hams we have the better prepared we are in times of disaster.
The Michigan Section “Digital Radio Group” was established in 2004 and has been in continuous operation ever since, with the goal to assist Michigan Hams in working together in a more coordinated manner with regard to Packet data networking, digital voice/data modes such as P25, D-Star, DMR, C4FM/Fusion, and HF digital modes. The DRG assists all groups to work together toward a common goal, create interconnections between dissimilar networks and modes, and to help train and advise groups interested in these powerful tools in the Amateur Radio hobby. This is all done in an effort to meet the Michigan Section Mission Statement:
“Develop the Michigan ARPSC Program into a fully integrated communications team ready, willing and able to provide radio communications support to public service agencies and the citizens of Michigan ”
Further information and resources can be found at the http://WWW.MI-DRG.ORG website.
We thank you all for your continued participation!
— Jay Nugent WB8TKL
Hospitality Acknowledgements
December 2nd L’Anse Creuse Swap (K8JK)
December 14th SEMDXA Meeting (K8JK)
December 15th DRGMeeting (K8JK)
Michigan ARRL Section Staff Travel Plans
January 27th, 2019 Hazel Park Swap (K8JK)
February 17th, 2019 Livonia Swap (Section Staff)
March 16th, 2019 Crossroads Swap (K8JK)
Michigan Public Service Activities
Michigan Section Traffic/ARPSC Nets (all times local)
Please note that time adjustments may be necessary due to propagation
changes. Contact your net manager for alternate frequencies and/or
times.
MACS – MI Amateur Communications System 3.952 1000 Daily
UPN – Upper Peninsula Net 3.921 1700 Daily; Noon Sun
MIARPSC – MI Amateur Radio Public Service Corps 3.932 1700 Sun
QMN – The Michigan Net 3.563 1830 and 2200 Daily
MITN – MI Traffic Net 3.952 1900 Daily
MIDTN – MI Digital Traffic Net 3.583 (Olivia 8/500) 2000 Tu, Th, Sat
MIADS – MI ARES D-Star Net Reflector 24C Mon 2000
D8EN – District 8 Emergency Net 3.909 Wed 2000
GLETN – Great Lakes Emergency and Traffic Net 3.932 2000 Daily
MVTN – MI VHF Traffic Net IRA Link System 2100 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
NLEUP – Northern Lower Eastern UP Net 146.64- 18:30 Daily
SEMTN – SE MI Traffic Net 146.76- 2215 Daily
TMMTN – Thumb Mid-Michigan Traffic Net 147.30+ 2130 Mon – Sat
Michigan Amateur Radio Public Service Corps (ARPSC) Activities for November 2018
Station Activity Reports (SAR) for November 2018
WB8WKQ 282, K8ED 168, N5MKY 122, WD8MWD 114, WB8TQZ 75, WD8USA 52, KB8KM51, KE8CEH 49,K8RDN 38, KE8CYC 29, KC8NFN 15, KE8BYC 10, KD8ZCM 6, WB8RCR 5, KC8YVF 3
Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) for November 2018:
WB8RCR 175, WD8MWD 150, WD8USA 140, KE8CYC 129, , K8RDN 124, N5MKY 110 , WB8TQZ 110, KE8BYC 100, KE8CEH 100, KC8YVF 95, WB8WKQ 90, K8ED 90, KD8ZCM 81, KC8NFN 55
Brass Pounder’s League (BPL): No reports this month
Net traffic for November 2018:
Michigan Amateur Communications System 154
The Michigan Net 65
Southeastern Michigan Traffic Net 60
Michigan Traffic Net 37
Upper Peninsula Net 36
Michigan VHF Traffic Net 33
Michigan Digital Traffic Net 18
Northern Lower Eastern Upper Peninsula Net 3
Saginaw County ARES Net 3
District 5 Hospital Net 3
Total Volunteer Dollar Value for November 2018: $ 34,931
More information is available at http://nts-mi.org/.
Come join us on our traffic and public service nets.
A hearty thanks to the hundreds of volunteers across the State of
Michigan who work hard as volunteers to hone their skills month after
month to make sure they are ready for any situation that may arise. Our
ARPSC and NTS programs are an integral part of AuxComm, which in turn is
an integral part of the Michigan State Police Homeland Security
Division. Public service is in the DNA of Amateur Radio, one of many reasons we enjoy so many radio frequencies to utilize, experiment with, and enjoy.
Final Thoughts
From Roberta, K8RJE, and myself we wish you all the best of the holiday season, and may your 2019 year start on a positive note!
I’m looking forward to hearing from all of you, and to visit your local club or group. Thanks to all of the radio amateurs who continue to make the hobby great! Get Active, Get Involved, and Get On The Air!
73
Jim K8JK