The 2008 Michigan QSO Party
in the Red Cross Radio Room.
What a hoot!
I don't
know when I have had more fun with a contest than we had last weekend with the
2008 Michigan QSO party from the Red Cross Radio room. It must have been the
synergy from all the different operators. Nate, KD8NCS, certainly wins the "most
aggressive" award for his unyielding attack on the 40 and 80 meter bands.
And Tom, N8DGD, showed again how he can complete an exchange under impossible
conditions (Mr. Impossible). And Jim, KD8CAN, for staying onboard (and
awake) for the full 12 hour contest. It was a great time!
We would like to thank our operators, AB8ND, KD8CAN, W8DER, KD8NCS, N8DGD and KB8AFS.
Together we worked 29 states/providences and 39 Michigan counties.
NEW GRARA Net, 147.26
MHz, Wednesday evening 8 p.m.
Every Wednesday evening,
8 pm
W8DC Repeater: 147.260 MHz 94.8 Hz PL,
Also W8DC Repeater: 444.400 MHz + 5MHz, 94.8 Hz PL.
Net Controllers: Tom Wilson, KD8DEG, and Dave Smith, KC8PCL and friends.
GRARA is excited to announce a new format for our Wednesday night W8DC Net.
Hosted by Tom, Dave and friends, the net will start Wednesday evening, March
12th and continue every week thereafter. For those of you who have heard
their Michigan DX Association Net, we are sure you will agree that the nets are
interesting and sometimes rather controversial, but always fun.
Tom and Dave would like to encourage anyone interested in co-hosting with them to let them know at least 4 days in advance. According to Tom,
"You could read an article that you have found, read the ARRL news letter, talk about ATV, hints for fox hunting, hints for contesting,
, digital modes, and so on for the net any night.
" They will also be looking for members who want to run the net itself as
part of club training or just for fun. Contact Tom at kd8deg[at]centurytel.net and Dave at kc8pcl[at]yahoo.com.
Tom and Dave will also be offering certificates "suitable for framing" to anyone who checks into the net 12 or more
times in any one year period.
Please tell as many hams as you know about the new net. When you check into
other nets, most all ask for general announcements. Tell them about the the new GRARA net.
Since this net will be held at the same time as open radio room at the Red
Cross, we will also keep you filled-in on happenings there. We hope this
will be fun, educational and informative. Let Dave and Tom know of
any suggestions you have. They are always looking for interesting discussion topics! We will also be opening a net suggestion topic on
the GRARA Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GRARA) for your ideas.
Enjoy!
Red Cross Adopt a Highway Cleanup
The Red Cross Adopt-A-Highway clean-up was held Tuesday evening April 22nd.
Thanks to all that came out and made a quick job of this highway cleanup.
Tom Hansen, N8DGD, chairman.
It's Annual Membership Renewal Time
again!
Yes, it has been another year! It is time to renew your GRARA membership again.
All members who pay their $25 dues now will be
paid through February 28, 2009. We depend on the prompt
payment of dues to cover our primary operating expenses.
Our primary expenses include our two insurance
policies for liability and equipment protection, our insurance
premiums are approaching $800 annually -- it takes 40 members' dues
payments just to cover our insurance premiums! Other money goes
toward our projects and repeater equipment maintenance.
Thanks again
for your support! :
Remember that membership for youth under 18 is
always free, all you need to do is fill out a membership form!
Also, one adult spouse or family membership is provided for each paid
membership.
Membership forms are available in PDF
format by clicking here.
Also, ARRL membership forms are available here.
Please order or renew your ARRL memberships through GRARA, if we
process your membership we retain a portion of your ARRL dues as a
commission. You can combine GRARA, ARRL memberships, and Red
Cross or other donations on one check!
Smoke Alarm Initiative
Continues
We have received a request for Red Cross Communication Team (RCCT)
and other GRARA members to participate in the Red Cross Smoke Alarm
Initiative. In the past we have had one communicator with each team
of installers as they go through a neighborhood installing smoke
detectors.
Below are the Saving Lives At The Sound Smoke Alarm
Initiative installation dates and locations that we will be needing
radio communication help for....
Anyone who can help out should email SLATS@ggr.redcross.org or use the sign-up tool below..
January 26, 2008, 7:30 AM to about Noon, South West Area Neighbors ---
ONE DOWN...
...a good start.
February 9, 2008, 9:15 AM to 1:00, Creston
Neighborhood -- TWO DOWN....
...a cold one.
February 16, 2008 9:15 am to 1:00, Hispanic Center --
THREE DOWN....
...a good job.
March 29th 2008 9:15 am to 1:00, Fuller Area Reformed Church --
FOUR DOWN....
...a super turnout.
Saturday April 26, 2008 8:30 am
to 1:00 pm The Other Way Ministries -- FIVE DOWN
MAY NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT....
Date: Saturday May 10, 2008
NA: Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church
Location: 811 Chicago Dr. SW
Times: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Click Here to Sign-Up for May 10th
|
CQ
Field Day, CQ Field Day, this is
Whiskey Eight Delta Charlie
Yes, It time to start planning for ARRL Field Day, 2008!
Again field day will be held the last full weekend of June. That is June 28th and June 29th this year. Operation will be all of Saturday afternoon and night until Sunday at 2 PM.
Watch this space for updates. Send any suggestions to Ron, K8DMR. His committee is currently
looking at sites.
|
An upgrade to 146.76 MHz repeater - D-Star, Digital Voice!
A few months ago,
Dave Devos, KF8QL, and others gave a compelling presentation on
upgrading the 146.76 MHz repeater to use Digital Voice, as defined by
the Japanese Amateur Radio League, and currently implemented by Icom,
with other manufacturers and vendors in the wings. We voted to
have a capital campaign to raise money for the hardware needed. A
list of donors is in the works, and, hopefully a "thermometer" to show
the goal and the amount raised to date. Look here for updates.
Remembering the
GRAHamfest
2ии7 September 8th
Turnout
was good, lots of fun and trading going on
 |
|
The GRARA sponsored annual GRAHamfest was held this
year on Saturday, September 8, 2007, once again at the Kent County
Fairgrounds in Lowell. Doors opened to the general public at 8
AM. Swap table setup started at 6 AM on Saturday and from 6-10 PM on
Friday evening beforehand. A delicious potluck was held Friday
evening and avoided the rain later that evening. The next day we had
a very good crowd (about 500). A plaque was presented to Jack Amelar, NY8D, hamfest
chair for the last several years for a job well done. The club made
just over $2000 on this event with lots of members helping Jack put
on a very successful and fun GRAHamfest. We have already booked the
Fairgrounds for next year.
For more pictures, click here.
W8DC Radio Room is now a
Wi-Fi Hotspot!
Thanks
to efforts by Stephen KC8WQL, Tom N8DGD, and Bill AD8BC and also with
a big thanks to the American Red Cross, we are now online downstairs
with high-speed internet! We have an 802.11(b) and (g) wireless
connection, so feel free to use it when you are visiting the radio
room (access instructions will be posted). A limited amount of
wired connections are also available, if you don't have wireless.
The wireless connection is also useable in the upstairs training room
at the Red Cross (room M-1) and also the training room across the
hall from the radio room.
Wednesday Nights are Fun at GRARA!
Open Radio Room is held each Wednesday at
7:15 at the W8DC Ham Shack on the lower level of the Red Cross
building. This is one of
our most popular and most frequent events!
Come operate HF, VHF, UHF, Packet,
EchoLink or PSK31; bring a project to work on; or just come to chew the fat
with the regulars! If you do not have HF privileges and wish to
try to operate HF, one of our regulars would be happy to serve as
control operator! We will also help you study for your next ham
radio exam. Come down and join us and try something new!
GRARA Thanks:
The
Steelcase Foundation for their recent $5000 grant towards our
repeater replacement project! The Steelcase Foundation joins
the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (see below) for enabling us to
raise a total (so far) of $15,000 in foundation funding for our
repeater project. Foundations like these enable local
non-profit organizations to serve the community and we are proud that
the Steelcase Foundation has chosen to partner with GRARA for this
vital project!
The
Grand
Rapids Community Foundation for their June, 2005
grant of $10,000 for major upgrades to our W8DC Repeater System so
that we may continue to provide reliable emergency communications for
the Red Cross and other area agencies. This is the largest
fundraiser in the history of GRARA and we certainly appreciate the
generosity of the GRCF.
Citadel
Broadcasting and WLAV-FM
for allowing us to keep our SuperSystem Repeater 2-Meter
transmitter antenna on their transmitting tower. By allowing us
to use their tall location, we can provide repeater service to all of
Kent County.
Diocesan
Publications for their $250 donation to the GRAHamfest
concession stand to purchase food for us to sell. Also, in the
past, they have donated printing services for our GRAHamfest fliers
and GRARA information cards.
And,
of course, GRARA would not survive without the continuous support of
the American Red
Cross of West Central Michigan. Our local Red Cross
chapter provides invaluable meeting space, antenna tower space, and
our W8DC radio room! To help show our appreciation to the Red
Cross, GRARA has started a Red Cross Fund. If you would like to
make a donation to the local Red Cross, you can mail
it to our PO box or bring it to the next monthly meeting.
Your donation is still tax-deductible (through GRARA) and it will be
donated directly to the Red Cross in the name of GRARA.
GRARA
Merchandise Available!
Official GRARA Logo
Callsign Badges are available from The
Sign Man of Baton Rouge. Badges start at $11.50
with a safety-pin style fastener and other styles of fasteners are
available for a slight extra charge.
GRARA Logo Merchandise
is available from our online store at CafePress!
T-shirts, hats, clocks and mousepads are a few of the items that you
can purchase to promote your amateur radio club! Visit
today! All profits from our online store are put into the GRARA
general fund so that your club can do more!
Welcome
to the website of the Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association and
radio station W8DC