Holland Amateur Radio Club K8DAA USA

The hits just keep on coming!  Since the HARC “How Are You?” net was a big hit during our shelter in place phase, it’s been replaced with another Friday night net that is more permanent.

So, we’re having HARC “TGIF Nets” Fridays on the 06 repeater. We’ll have topics and maybe some trivia. This is a laid-back net to kick back, unwind, and hang out.  Take off your mask, pull your chair up close, and chillax.*

Please come join us for the next HARC TGIF net Friday at 7PM on the 06 repeater.

*Yes, “chillax” is a real word – a combination of “chill out” and “relax”, which can be found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.  Use it to impress your kids and/or grandkids.

Join the fun at the Holland Amateur Radio Club’s monthly general membership meeting without leaving the comfort of your home!  No masks, no social distancing!  Our February meeting will be held on the air.  Meet us on the 06 repeater (147.060) on Tuesday night, February 9 at 7:00pm.  As always, you need not be a club member to attend our meetings, whether they’re held in person or on the air!  Hope to hear from you!

On Wednesday, February 10, the West Michigan Emergency Communication Net will be holding basic National Traffic System (NTS) traffic training.  The net occurs at 8 PM local time every Wednesday on the W8LRC Lowell Amateur Radio Club repeater system (145.270 MHZ with a standard negative off-set and a 94.8 CTCSS tone).  The training will be given by experienced NTS traffic handlers.

The February 3 session was devoted to providing an overview of the NTS Radiogram form, and basic NTS net procedures.  The February 10 session will allow net participants to gain some first-hand experience in receiving, passing, and possibly even creating sample NTS traffic messages.

In order to prepare for this training, we ask that you download the materials contained in the “Traffic Handlers Toolbox” as outlined below.  In addition, we are also including some links to some more detailed material if you’d like to do some more in-depth reading prior to the training.

We hope to see many of you at this training, and appreciate your support for this very important activity.

Event contact:  Tom Behler, KB8TYJ, West Michigan Emergency Communication Net Assistant Manager

 TRAFFIC HANDLER’S TOOLBOX

• ARRL Radiogram
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/RADIOGRAM-2011.pdf
• FSD-3 ARL Numbered Text Guide
  https://www.scc-ares-races.org/nts/arrl_fsd3_ARL.pdf
• “Traffic Handlers Pink Slip” (short 6-page guidebook)
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%2520Service/fsd218.pdf

 ADDITIONAL READING MATERIALS

• NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
  CHAPTER 1, THE ARRL MESSAGE FORMAT
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/MPG1V14A.pdf
• NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
  CHAPTER 2 – SENDING MESSAGES ON VOICE
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/MPG204A.pdf
• Skipping Chapter 3 as it pertains to CW and we will be only discussing voice
• NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
  CHAPTER 4 – NET OPERATIONS
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/MPG404A.pdf
• NTS Methods and Practices Guidelines
  CHAPTER 5 – NET CONTROL
  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/MPG504A.pdf

Pictures and words from Jeff, KD8THX on the rebuild of the club’s DMR repeater.

DMR Repeater KD8THX Nov 2020

This activity is subject to all health and safety requirements, which includes wearing masks, limiting class size, social distancing and possibly even cancellation.

On Saturday, March 13, the Holland Amateur Radio Club will be holding licensing exams for anyone wishing to obtain or upgrade their amateur radio license.  The testing will be held at the Chick-Owa Sportsmans Club, 9279 Ottogan St., Holland.  The testing session will begin at 6:00 p.m.  There is no charge for any testing.  No Morse code is required for any grade license.  In addition, if your license is within 90 days of expiration, it can quickly be renewed at no charge between 6:00 and the end of testing.

What to bring with you:  If available, bring a legal photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.  If no legal photo ID is available, bring 2 pieces of legal ID.  Anyone 16 years old or younger must have a parent or legal guardian present for the entire testing session.  IMPORTANT… If you currently hold a ham radio license, bring the license and a copy of the license to the test session.  (Copy will be sent in with the testing results.)   

Note:  This is a federal exam and the FCC requires you to have an FRN.    You can obtain your Federal Registration Number (FRN) before the test, by going to this website:   https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do   The FCC FRN process is simple, and quite fast. 

For further information on license testing, please email Bob Broene, K8RJB, at k8rjb[dot]ham[at]gmail.com. 

This activity is subject to all health and safety requirements, which includes wearing masks, limiting class size, social distancing and possibly even cancellation.

“Ham in a Day”  will be held at the Chick-Owa Sportsman’s Club located at 9279 E. Ottogan Street (just west of Winding Creek) in Holland.  This is an opportunity for anyone wishing to get their amateur radio technician license to study and take the exam all in one afternoon.  Directed study starts at 1:00 and continues till 6:00, when the test will be given.  

For registration and more information, go to:  http://tinyurl.com/holo-hiad-ve.  Cost for the Ham in a Day study session is $25 (which includes the book Ham Radio by Bob Heil), but there is no cost for testing. 

In addition to the Ham in a Day students, anyone can arrive at 6:00 and take the technician, general, or extra class exam at no cost.  Also, anyone whose license is within 90 days of expiring can renew their license between 6:00 and the end of testing at no charge.

The Holland Amateur Radio club is on Facebook!  It’s where to go for the latest news, ideas, questions, and comments.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/233793361844/

If you haven’t already done so, please join the Holland Amateur Radio Club for another successful year by renewing your membership today.  This club is active and growing and we need your support to keep the ball rolling.  Where else can you have so much fun for so little cost?  (We’re talking about the cost of membership, not your radios!)  And how easy can it be to pay those dues?  Just bring your $25 (single) or $35 (family) dues to the next meeting, OR mail it to Holland Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 2104, Holland, MI 49422-2104 OR you can use Paypal.  Even if you don’t have a Paypal account, you can still pay online using your credit card. Details are on the membership page:  http://www.hollandarc.org/?page_id=2458.

The Holland Amateur Radio Club values your membership and your support.  Thank you!

Ivan “Ike” DeWitt, age 83, of Holland, passed away Sunday, September 13, 2020 at the Stanford Lodge in Plainwell.  Ike, K8EMU, was a longtime member of the Holland Amateur Radio Club.  Ike was a past president of the Club and in 2010, was honored as “Ham of the Year” for his role as co-chairman of the annual hamfest.

Ike could always be counted on to lend a hand and pitch in wherever needed, whether it was making coffee for club meetings or working at Tulip Time parades.  Each year, for every parade, Ike requested to be stationed near the grandstands, where he assisted attendees up and down the dangerous steps of the old bleachers.  It’s hard to imagine those activities without him.

Please keep Ike’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

Support us when you shop on Amazon. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/38-2136386 and Amazon will donate a percentage to Holland Amateur Radio Club.  This adds nothing to the cost of your purchase but benefits the club.  Thanks!