WD8KAF REPEATERS * hz 123 hz *Emergency Net Tuesdays, 7 PM Except 3 rd Tuesday of the Month

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NEXT BCARC CLUB MEETING TUESDAY, NOV. 15 TH 7:00 PM AT THE H & C BURNSIDE SENIOR CENTER FREE PIZZA, POP & POLITICS (Election of Officers) The BCARC Monthly REPEATER WD8KAF REPEATERS *147.30+ 443.

org/hamfest SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 TH LCARC Swap/Hamfest Madison Heights, MI http://www.n8lc.org SOLAR FLARE PREDICTION IN THE FUTURE?

Federal agencies now have until April to devise a comprehensive plan to predict, detect and deal with solar flares and other so-called space weather disturbances that could mess with the nation's

13th Executive Order directed Homeland Security, NASA, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior a- mong other offices, to find ways to be alert to such occurrences, including

1 NEXT BCARC CLUB MEETING TUESDAY, NOV. 15 TH 7:00 PM AT THE H & C BURNSIDE SENIOR CENTER FREE PIZZA, POP & POLITICS (Election of Officers) The BCARC Monthly REPEATER WD8KAF REPEATERS * hz 123 hz *Emergency Net Tuesdays, 7 PM Except 3 rd Tuesday of the Month KD8JGF B The official monthly newsletter of The Branch County Amateur Radio Club See Page 7 For Details Of The 2016 Christmas Party Founded In 1960 An ARRL Affiliated Club Since 1961 Volume 15, Number 11 NOVEMBER, 2016 HAMFEST CALENDAR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 TH Ft. Wayne Hamfest Ft. Wayne, IN SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 RD Fulton County Winter Fest Delta, OH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 TH LCARC Swap/Hamfest Madison Heights, MI SOLAR FLARE PREDICTION IN THE FUTURE? Hams deal with space weather regularly -- but what about everyone else? Yes, there is a plan - or there will be one soon in the U.S. Federal agencies now have until April to devise a comprehensive plan to predict, detect and deal with solar flares and other so-called space weather disturbances that could mess with the nation's technology, everything from GPS systems to satellites to the power grid itself. President Barack Obama's Oct. 13th Executive Order directed Homeland Security, NASA, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior a- mong other offices, to find ways to be alert to such occurrences, including geomagnetic storms. Obama ordered the agencies to find ways to protect or quickly repair the infrastructure, consistent with the goal identified in the nation's 2015 National Space Weather Action Plan. The order outlines the implementation of the plan as a coordinated effort among agencies. Thanks Ham Radio Newsletter WEEKLY RAG CHEW Every Saturday morning, beginning at 8:00, local amateurs, spouses and friends gather at various food venues in the Coldwater area. Watch your inbox for the week s gathering spot. GOOGLE GLASS MAY TEACH YOU MORSE CODE WITHIN HOURS Scientists have used Google Glass to teach people Morse code within four hours using a series of vibrations felt near the ear. Participants learned it without paying attention to the signals they played games while feeling the taps and hearing the corresponding letters. After those few hours, they were 94 per cent accurate keying a sentence that included every letter of the alphabet and 98 per cent accurate writing codes for every letter. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US decided to use Glass for this study because it has both a built-in speaker and tapper (Glass s bone-conduction transducer). In the study, participants played a game while feeling vibration taps between their temple and ear. The taps represented the dots and dashes of Morse code and passively taught users through their tactile senses even while they were distracted by the game. The taps were created when researchers sent a very low-frequency signal to Glass s speaker system. At less than 15 Hertz, the signal was below hearing range but, because it was played very slowly, the sound was felt as a vibration. Half of the participants in the study felt the vibration taps and heads a voice prompt for each corresponding letter. The other half - the control group - felt no taps to help them learn. Participants were tested throughout the study on their knowledge of Morse code and their ability to type it. After less than four hours of feeling every letter, everyone was challenged to type the alphabet in Morse code in a final test. The control group was accurate only half the time. Those who felt the passive cues were nearly perfect. This research also shows that other common devices with an actuator could be used for passive haptic learning, said Thad Starner, professor at Georgia Tech. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US decided to use Glass for this study because it has both a built-in speaker and tapper. Thanks to eham.net DX ON THE BANDS Bonaire PJ4L Nov 1-11 Palau T88AB Nov 2 8 St. Lucia J6 Nov 4-12 Cambodia XU7MDC Nov 4-14 Micronesia V63AJ Nov 6-16 Senegal 6V1IS Nov 6-16 Tanzania 5H3MB Nov 7 Dec 2 West Kiribati T30 Nov Central African Rep TL8AO Nov Saba & St Eustatius PJ6M Nov Kenya 5Z4 Nov Guam KH2 Nov Fernando denoronha PY0F Nov St Barthelemy TO2EE Nov Maldives 8Q7SP Nov 20 Dec 3 Nepal 9N7NZ Nov DR Congo 9Q0HQ/3 Nov Curacao PJ2 Nov Turks & Caicos VP5 Nov Ascension Island ZD8V Nov 21 Dec 1 Honduras HR2 Nov Chatham Is ZL7 Nov 21 Dec 1 Easter Island CE0Y Nov 24 Dec 2 Micronesia V63DX Nov Grenada J3 Nov 30 Dec 8 Thanks to NG3K.com QUOTE OF THE MONTH

November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 2 NEWS & VIEWS SELECTED ON THE AIR EVENTS NOVEMBER 2 UKEICC 80M CONTEST NOVEMBER 3 NRAU 10M ACTIVITY TEST NOVEMBER 4 NCCC RTTY SPRINT NOVEMBER 5 IPARC CONTEST

WV0SS Arnie Hayward, NS8T Justin Lopshire KD8JEL EMERGENCY COORDINATOR Pat Beeman N8VM PRESIDENT ROY MCCLOUD, AB8RM NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Where did summer go?

I don t know about you, but summer got away from me this year and I did not accomplish most of what I wanted to. We all know how time goes a lot faster as we get older but, it shouldn t go this fast.

2 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 2 NEWS & VIEWS SELECTED ON THE AIR EVENTS NOVEMBER 2 UKEICC 80M CONTEST NOVEMBER 3 NRAU 10M ACTIVITY TEST NOVEMBER 4 NCCC RTTY SPRINT NOVEMBER 5 IPARC CONTEST CW UKRAINIAN DX CONTEST RSGB INT L SPRINT, SSB ARRL SWEEPSTAKES, CW NOVEMBER 6 EANET SPRINT NOVEMBER 8 ARS SPARTAN SPRINT NOVEMBER 9 CWOPS MINI CWT TEST NOVEMBER 12 WAE DX CONTEST, RTTY CONTEST, DIGITAL JIDX PHONE CONTEST OK/OM DX CONTEST, CW KENTUCKY QSO PARTY CQ-WE CONTEST NOVEMBER 19 SARL FIELD DAY CONTEST ARRL SWEEPSTAKES, SSB NOVEMBER 20 HOMEBREW EQUIP PARTY NOVEMBER 26 CQWW DX CONTEST, CW NOVEMBER 30 UKEICC 80M CONTEST PHONE FRAY CWOPS MINI CWT TEST Thanks to WA7BNM 2016 CLUB OFFICERS PRESIDENT Roy McCloud, AB8RM SEC/TREASURER Ted Hadfield KU8F BOARD MEMBERS Jim Voss, WV0SS Arnie Hayward, NS8T Justin Lopshire KD8JEL EMERGENCY COORDINATOR Pat Beeman N8VM PRESIDENT ROY MCCLOUD, AB8RM NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Where did summer go? It seems like only yesterday that we were just waiting for the good weather to start with the warm temps and sunshine. Now look, we are deep into fall. I don t know about you, but summer got away from me this year and I did not accomplish most of what I wanted to. We all know how time goes a lot faster as we get older but, it shouldn t go this fast. I didn t do a lot of what I wanted this year because to be honest I just didn t feel up to it. The past year has been kind of tough but, things are improving all the time. With it getting this late into fall you know what that means. Winter and the holiday season is almost here. I m sure we still have a lot of nice weather yet to come, or at least I hope so. But, here in Michigan this time of year, the sun seems to go on vacation and we don t see much of it. So take advantage of every nice day we get and enjoy it no matter what you want to do. Every year at this time our last two meetings are a little different than the rest of the year. We don t have the usual entertaining program after the business portion of the meeting. We take care of some important business at one and have a party at the other. it s important to try and make it to these meetings. First of is the November meeting to be held at 7:00 PM on November 15, As the Club did last year we will be providing pizza and pop for all those who attend. This will be an annual event that we hope you will enjoy. The important part of the meeting will be the voting on some minor changes in the Club Constitution. You should have received this information by way of . The other important issue at this meeting is the election of officers and board members. As it is every year, up for election are the positions of President and Secretary/Treasurer. Also, there are two positions for the Board. A one year position and a two year position. So plan on attending and let your voice be heard. Now, the December Christmas Party. This Party is on a different night and time than the regular meeting night. The Christmas Party will be at 6:00 PM on December 6, At this time the Party should be back in our usual location if all goes well. They tell me the construction will be done but, just in case I have an alternate location lined up. As you know, at the Christmas dinner we also have the gift exchange which is the highlight of the Party. As of right now the cost of the dinner will be $11 per person. You will be getting more information and gift exchange rules very soon. This is something you do not want to miss. As most of you know, I missed the November and December events last year but, I m planning on being in attendance this year. One very important item. Please let me, ab8rm@arrl.net or Deb ke8bps@arrl.net, know ASAP if you are planning on attending November and December. We really need a head count so we know how much pizza to buy and a head count for the caterer for the Christmas Party. The cut off date for Christmas Party is December 2. Hope everyone can attend. One more reminder for everyone who pays their dues before the December Christmas Party. You will be entered into a drawing to win a Baofeng handheld radio donated by Arnie NS8T. Please get your dues to Ted as soon as you can. That all folks. See you all real soon. 73, Roy AB8RM GET YOUR CLUB MUG OR WINDOW STICKER AT THE NEXT BCARC MEETING 73 & HAPPY NEW YEAR SWEEPSTAKES 2016 The very popular ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) operating events take place in November on separate weekends for CW (November 5-7) and SSB (November 19-21). The contest period for each contest begins at 2100 UTC on Saturday and continues through 0259 UTC on Monday. Stations may operate for 24 hours out of the 30 hours available. Logs are due 15 days after each event. SS is a "domestic" contest that not only has broad appeal, but is within the reach of stations with modest equipment and antennas. Many stations enjoy operating in the QRP category each fall (5 W or less output). The challenge of Sweepstakes is the lengthy exchange, as compared with other operating events. In SS, stations exchange: A consecutive serial number (leading zeros are not required). Operating category -- Q for Single Op QRP; A for Single Op, Low Power (up to 150 W output); B for Single Op, High Power (greater than 150 W output); U for Single Op, Unlimited, regardless of power; M for Multi-Op, regardless of power, and S for School Club. Your call sign. Check -- the last two digits of the year of first license for either operator or station. nyour ARRL/RAC Section. Thanks to the ARRL Letter

November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 3 MINUTES AND MISCELLANY THE PHANTOM TURNS TO CW!

In the current story thread, the Phantom goes into a rather retro-looking ham shack in the ancient Skull Cave, the jungle hideaway he shares with his wife, Diana Palmer.

3 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 3 MINUTES AND MISCELLANY THE PHANTOM TURNS TO CW! MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 18TH, 2016 MEETING Ted Hadfield, KU8F, Secretary The venerable comic strip The Phantom, originally inked by Lee Falk starting in the 1930s, has recently resurrected Amateur Radio as a plot device. The Ghost Who Walks has resorted to ham radio in the past, dating to the early days of the strip, when the Phantom needed to get a vital message through on one occasion using a phone patch. In the current story thread, the Phantom goes into a rather retro-looking ham shack in the ancient Skull Cave, the jungle hideaway he shares with his wife, Diana Palmer. They re now empty nesters, and the Phantom wants to assuage his wife s fears that their now college-age son, Kit, indeed has arrived at his monastic school in an unspecified Himalayan country (a daughter, Heloise, is away at college in the US). His son s teacher breaks away from tutoring Kit to quietly keep an on-the-air schedule with the Phantom, in order to let him know that the young man got there safely. Their conversation in Morse code is displayed, in a fashion, across the panels of the strip. Only some of it actually seems to make sense. Darling, Morse code!? Isn t that obsolete? asks Mrs. Phantom, as the masked crime fighter sits at a hand key (with no apparent lead wires running from it) in front of what looks like a National NC-300-series receiver and assorted other boat anchors. Not at all, the Phantom replies. And certainly not in the Himalayas. Apparently not in the fictional African country of Bangalla either, which the Phantom Family calls home. A past strip once showed the Phantom setting up a microwave dish with a handheld connected to a solar panel. Appearing in more than 500 newspapers around the world, The Phantom now is penned by Mike Manley, written by Tony DePaul, and distributed by King Features. Thanks to ARRL Newsletter Call to order by President Roy McCloud, followed by the pledge of allegiance and introduction of all present at the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were referred to the Newsletter posting. Justin Lopshire motioned that we accept the minutes as printed, followed by a second from Larry Camp. Motion passed. The Treasurer s report for the month of September was given by Ted Hadfield, KU8F. Deb McCloud moved that we accept the report as read, seconded by Arnie Hayward. Motion passed. Larry Camp reported on our repeaters, as working well. We have available from the Monroe Club a vhf antenna for our Dstar VHF repeater, in trade of some old parts that we have on hand, saving us to needing to purchase one, just that we need transportation provided. Our VHF/UHF Net checkins have been down a bit for the Tuesday Emergency Nets. Our Newsletter editor is on vacation this month. Our Website coordinator Justin Lopshire, reports that our website has been moved to the new service. It is currently a static display, no modifications are available currently, but will be ready fully in a week or so, Andrew Glenn is our new website administrator, and Justin will handle the local additions, editing, etc. OLD BUSINESS: The club constitution with recommended changes is being made available to all club members via . We will vote on the November club meeting to approve these changes, Raffle: Currently on hold until after the first of the year Dues: all members who pay before the December Club Christmas annual meeting, will get a chance to be placed into a drawing for a handheld dual band transmitter. Dues are $15.00 per member and $18.00 per member plus a family member. Our November meeting will be our annual election of officers, with pizza and pop. Officers up for election are the President, Sec Treasurer, a 2 year and a 1 year director. Our December meeting will be the Christmas Party, we are still not firm on the use of the Senior Center cafeteria. We do have an alternate facility at 120 S Jefferson Street if needed. Larry presented a photo of the Michigan QSO Party award that we sponsored. Larry Camp announced that there is a distractive driving bill being amended to NOT include amateur radio mobile transmitters. The bill is aimed at making it illegal to text or use a cell phone that is not hands free. Due to the timing of presentation, it is most likely going to be brought back up in the next session of Legislature. Justin Lopshire reported he purchased a new car. Ted Hadfield shared info about using a dv4 dstar home repeater that he has borrowed from Ted Jaszczak AJ8T. Deb McCloud worked the Pennsylvania QSO party making contacts with 58 counties. Roy McCloud has recently completed his 100 th DXCC contact. The meeting closed at 7:35, by motion of Larry Camp, Seconded by Justin Lopshire, and motion passed. Program with Larry Camp to follow. Respectfully submitted, Ted Hadfield, KU8F, Secretary ROHN TOWER BASE PARTS NEEDED! LOOKING FOR THE VARIOUS PARTS TO ASSEMBLE A ROHN HB-36 BASE. SEEKING EITHER BITS AND PIECES OR THE WHOLE SHEBANG. CONTACT JUSTIN LOPSHIRE AT kd8jel@arrl.net

) contact Roy McCloud by email at: ab8rm@arrl.net or phone: 517-610-3628 or contact Deb McCloud at: dmccloud51@frontier.

4 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 4 SHOPPER S GUIDE TOWER WANTED Got an extra tower laying around? (Or maybe standing up?) If so, and you would be willing to part with it for a fair price (or maybe you d just like it to disappear?) contact Roy McCloud by at: ab8rm@arrl.net or phone: or contact Deb McCloud at: dmccloud51@frontier.net $290 FOR SALE Icom IC-2730 Dual Band Transceiver Used for 1 month, then decided to buy a D-Star rig instead. Very nice rig with remote control head in new condition. Offered by Arnie, NS8T

November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 5 SHOPPER S GUIDE cont d NEVADA HAM PROPOSES CHANGE TO VANITY LICENSING TERM The FCC is inviting comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775) from a

5 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 5 SHOPPER S GUIDE cont d NEVADA HAM PROPOSES CHANGE TO VANITY LICENSING TERM The FCC is inviting comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775) from a Nevada radio amateur that seeks changes to the rules governing the Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Program. Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North Las Vegas, is proposing that any licensee obtaining a vanity call sign be required to keep it for the full license term. LaRue contends in his petition that excessive and frequent vanity call sign filings are hampering the ability of other qualified licensees to obtain vanity call signs in one of the more desirable 1 2 or 2 1 formats. LaRue said that since the FCC dropped the fee to file for a vanity call sign, some applicants are taking advantage by regularly obtaining new call signs, thereby keeping them out of circulation. Some are changing call signs almost monthly, just to keep the newer code-free Extra class operators from obtaining a shorter call sign, he said in his petition. I even saw an older operator that said he does it all the time and has not even owned a radio in over 6 years. When I looked him up, he has had 16 different [call signs] in 18 months. LaRue said his proposed minor rule change would require any licensee applying for and obtaining an Amateur Radio vanity call sign be required to keep it for the duration of the license, which is currently 10 years. He said this would alleviate a lot of the stress on the ULS system and manpower requirements at the FCC. It will also keep inactive amateurs from changing call signs regularly, thereby tying up call signs for 2 years after dismissal of said call. Interested parties may comment using the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Comments are due within 30 days of the October 26 posting date. Thanks to ARRL.org

November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 6 MARK YOUR CALENDAR PIZZA, POP AND POLITICS! It s almost time for our November Meeting which features the election of officers and free pop and pizza.

Christmas Party Scheduled for Tuesday, December 6 th! It s time to keep your eyes peeled for a likely gift for the annual Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange.

6 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 6 MARK YOUR CALENDAR PIZZA, POP AND POLITICS! It s almost time for our November Meeting which features the election of officers and free pop and pizza. This year we will also be voting on updates to the Club Constitution. Plan on being a part of our annual official meeting the evening of Tuesday, November 15 th. Christmas Party Scheduled for Tuesday, December 6 th! It s time to keep your eyes peeled for a likely gift for the annual Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange. You ll find the rules for the gift exchange on page 7 of this issue. BCARC HAM EXAMS PLANNED FOR 2016! At the October BCARC board meeting, it was determined that the club would schedule Quarterly Volunteer Exam Testing Sessions beginning in January, The Board selected the third Saturday of January, April, July, and October as dates for our test sessions. Time of the events as well as locations will be announced prior to the session dates. We are also in need of additional Volunteer Examiners (VE) for our club. Becoming a VE is not difficult, but does require that VE s take and pass a 40 question open book exam. You do not have to be an ARRL member in order to be an ARRL Volunteer Examiner. You do, however, have to hold a General or Extra Class amateur radio license in order to participate in the VE process. There is no cost associated with becoming a VE and there is a tremendous feeling of satisfaction associated with assisting others to gain their initial amateur radio license or to upgrade their licenses. Complete information can be found on the ARRL web page here: Current BCARC VE s include: WV0SS, NS8T, WB8R, N8VM, WB8ZSK, KC8RYF, W8KI, WD8MGF, and KD8LSM. While this sounds like a lot of VE s, We must have a minimum of 3 examiners at a test session and we need more to make sure that we can meet our requirements at any of the 4 scheduled sessions during the year. If you have any questions about how all of this works, feel free to contact WB8R, WV0SS or NS8T. Once you pass your certification test and receive your VE Badge, be sure to let the club officers know that you are ready to join the BCARC VE Crew.

November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 7 MISCELLANY 2016 BCARC CHRISTMAS PARTY The annual BCARC Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday evening, December 6th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The festivities will be taking place at the H & C Burnside Senior Center and will be catered by our favorite caterer, Linda Hyska.

7 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 7 MISCELLANY 2016 BCARC CHRISTMAS PARTY The annual BCARC Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday evening, December 6th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The festivities will be taking place at the H & C Burnside Senior Center and will be catered by our favorite caterer, Linda Hyska. The menu is yet to be determined, so watch this space for the details next month. Like last year, each family is asked to bring a dessert to top off our dinner. Cost is $11 per person and you should contact Roy at ab8rm@arrl.net before November 17 th if you intend on joining us. Dinner will be followed immediately by the world renowned (OK, renowned may be stretching it a bit.) Gift Exchange. GIFT EXCHANGE RULES The gift exchange is open to all members and guests. In order to receive a gift, one must bring a gift. Gifts should be useful items that have a value of $10 or more. A gift can come from your junk box or can be purchased and should be radio or computer related. Gifts should be wrapped in Christmas paper and need not have to or from tags or other identification on them. Be sure to remember which gifts you brought so you don t select your own gift! If your spouse and/or children bring a gift that will maximize your take from the exchange and may enable you to take home that prize gift that everyone covets. Those that bring gifts will be asked to draw a number, which will determine the order of gift selection and opening. The gift opening will proceed as follows: Number 1 chooses a gift from the gift table, opens it, and MUST show it to everyone present. Number 2 can choose a gift from the table or he can take Number 1 s gift if he thinks that is a better gift than he could find amongst the unopened gifts. If number 2 chooses a gift from the table, he opens it and MUST show it to everyone present. If Number 2 takes the gift from Number 1, then Number 1 goes back to the gift table and selects another gift, opens it and MUST show it to everyone. Number 3 can choose a gift from the table, Number 1, or Number 2 and follow the same procedures listed above. This same procedure is followed until the final person selects the last gift. The third owner of a gift gets to keep it. An individual cannot retake a gift that was taken from him. Gifts must be able to be carried by one person. Gifts cannot consist of spouses, children or pets. Any participant bringing a gift making ticking noises, leaking suspicious liquids or emitting noxious vapors will be subject to body scan. Refusal of a body scan will require a body search by the club sergeant at arms. After all gifts have been opened, it is acceptable to trade your gift to anyone who is willing to trade with you. Be creative in the selection and packaging of your gift. This event is supposed to be fun so feel free to ham it up a bit to add some humor to the evening. Walk around and look over the gifts that are available for taking. Look at everything even those items that you have no intention of taking. Do what you can to fake out the crowd and when the time comes, pounce on that treasure! Feel free to take lots of pictures to share with the newsletter editor.

8 November 2016 THE MONTHLY REPEATER Page 7 MISCELLANY THE ASSEMBLING AND RIGHTING OF THE N7VEY TOWER A number of hams and non-hams came together on a recent Saturday to erect a tower at the home of Gene and Jacquie Hesse. Below are some highlights. Photos Courtesy of Deb McCloud, KE8BPS

QSP. July VE Report. QSP On-Line at: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club. July 2012

QSP. July VE Report. QSP On-Line at: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club. July 2012 Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club QSP QSP On-Line at: http://www.centralksarc.com/qsppage.htm July 2012 The July Meeting is Friday July 27th at KWU s Peters Science Hall Room 211 7:30 PM Inside this issue: