Five new AREDN nodes on WoTo

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Five AREDN nodes have been added to the WoTo site. We also now have an interconnection to the internet so that the 146.92 repeater can join the Fusion network. Let’s see how many ARROW members can access the network. C’mon, guys!!! Get your nodes up in the air!!!!

While onsite, Jay, WB8TKL, also tightened the squelch on the 146.96 repeater, since at times in the winter it goes open, and the repeater times out. Jay also returned the 220 MHz antenna to the rooftop, since it had been moved when the roof was resealed last month.

Here’s a photo of one of the AREDN antennas:

Jay, WB8TKL, Explains AREDN Mesh Networking

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For a year or more now, several ARROW members have been experimenting with mesh networking, specifically Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN). In this talk, which was presented ARROW’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, Jay, WB8TKL explains some of the basics and how we’re trying to set up a network here in Ann Arbor.

For more information, or to jump right in, you can join the ARROW Mesh Network mailing list.

Field Day 2022: Back at the Airport

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If you weren’t at Field Day this year, you missed a good time. The weather cooperated, the ionosphere cooperated, and everyone who was there had a good time. Below, are some photos from the event. For more photos, go to the ARROW Field Day 2022 Photo Gallery.

The weather was pretty nice for Field Day. Temperatures were moderate, and there was plenty of blue sky.

We set up four stations: 2 CW stations, a phone station, and the GOTA station. Here, Arun, W8ARU, is pulling the night shift at one of the CW stations.

Pictured here is Joe, AC8ES, at the phone station.

Matthew, KE8UEE (in the blue shirt, lower right), was our GOTA station star this year, racking up 100 contacts.

Max, the son of Charles, W8HAX, also worked the GOTA station and scored some points for us.

This guy also paid a visit to the GOTA station. We couldn’t get him to make any contacts, though.

Jay, WB8TKL, did another fine job with the public information tent this year. He also brought out the portable tower that you can see in the rear of this photo.

We also got a visit from our new Section Manager, Les, W8MSP. Here, he poses with Ralph, AA8RK, and Governor Whitmer’s proclamation declaring last week to be Amateur Radio Week in Michigan.

Mark, W8MP, took a motley crew up in his plane, and Dinesh, AB3DC, took this shot of our FD setup.

From L to R, the flight crew consisted of Dinesh AB3DC, Dan KB6NU (rear seat), Matthew KE8UEE, and Mark W8MP. In addition to getting an aerial photo, Matthew made his first aeronautical mobile contact!

AMP Team Hunt Park Meeting, Monday, June 20, 2022

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The ARROW Mobile and Portable (AMP) Team met for the second time in 2022 on Monday, June 20 in Hunt Park. 15 ARROW members showed up and really had a great time. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the ARROW Monday Night Net. With most of the net’s check-ins at the park, it was almost like we were holding the net in stereo.

The next AMPTeam meeting will be on Monday, August 15, at a location to be determined. If you would like to suggest a park for this meeting, contact Jay, WB8TKL.

Here are some photos from the outing:

Matthew, KE8UEE, our newest and youngest member heating up the air waves.

Jay, WB8TKL’s “go kit” includes both HF and VHF/UHF capabilities.

Ryan, K8RHH, having a blast with his mag loop antenna.

Dinesh, AB3DC (is that Delta Charlie or Dog Cat?), operates an FT-891A with a Buddistick antenna. He may be the only who worked any DX on Monday.

Mo, KE8BZH, working hard to make contacts.

Dan, KB6NU, crouched over his KX-3. He wasn’t having much luck early on, but managed to eke out 3 CW QSOs later in the evening.

Wednesday March 9 meeting

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Our Arrow general membership meeting will be this Wednesday, March 9.  We will continue with our virtual meeting format on Zoom.

Zoom details for the Arrow meeting:
Wednesday March 9, 2022, 6:30 pm US/Eastern standard time
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92284436755?pwd=cG1uSlFCbU9xUDJIVjNHZ21YZE1Qdz09
Meeting ID: 922 8443 6755
Passcode (all lowercase): arrow

To start the meeting we will talk about some of the current and future club activities.
Then Loren Anderson KE0HZ from Colorado Springs, CO will be joining our zoom meeting to give a presentation about the FCC Report and Order Governing RF Exposure.

Wednesday February 9 meeting

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Our Arrow general membership meeting will be this Wednesday, February 9.  We will continue with our virtual meeting format on Zoom.  We will keep our usual timing; informal gathering starting at 6:30 pm, and our program will start at 7:00 pm.

Zoom details for the Arrow meeting:
Wednesday February 9, 2022, 6:30 pm US/Eastern standard time
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92284436755?pwd=cG1uSlFCbU9xUDJIVjNHZ21YZE1Qdz09
Meeting ID: 922 8443 6755
Passcode (all lowercase): arrow

This month, our featured presenter will be our own Jay Nugent, WB8TKL.

Jay’s title and description:

“Providing the Power needed to run Emergency Communications”
-or-
“When All Else Fails…Or at least until your battery dies”

This presentation will cover station power needs for long-term communication deployments (or Grid down), determining your Power Budget, various battery chemistries, discharge curves, charging profiles, generator backup, and we go in depth into Solar Power, PWM-v-MPPT, PV technology, the myth of “Excess Energy”, how to ‘Rack Up’ some PV, and how to do 12VDC on a more massive scale.

This presentation is being produced for the upcoming DHS/FEMA/MSP Interoperability Conference scheduled for early March, in Traverse City.  You fine folks will be my first victims..err…audience to see this presentation. Your feedback will be used to polish up any rough spots.

ARROW is testing again

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ARROW re-started in-person VE testing several months ago after pausing for COVID. We test every second Saturday of the month at Fellowship Bible Church, 2775 Bedford Road, near the intersection of Washtenaw and Stadium Blvd., in Ann Arbor.  This morning, 5 VEs tested 6 candidates. Also  in attendance was one observer and Pastor Matt Postiff, aka W8MAP.

When we got to the church this morning, Pastor Matt had already hung signs directing people to the assigned room. It seems that his job description exceeds the normal range of pastoral care. Thanks, Matt!

The good thing is that all of the candidates were successful and left with either a new license or an upgrade. One of the applicants was a young lad of 10 or 11, whose mother brought him to the test session. He passed the Tech test handily, and seemed to be very happy about this result. In fact, all of the applicants were pleased to have passed. The VEs were happy about this as well, since it is always a bummer to tell somebody they failed.

One of the applicants was ARROW member Steve Bemis, W8AYN, who got 50 correct answers on his Extra element. As he was leaving, I told him that if he had studied harder, he would have done better!

If you have been wanting to get your ham license or upgrade to General or Extra Class, our next exam session will be at 9AM EST on Saturday morning, January 8, 2022 in the Youth Room at the Fellowship Bible Church.  Walk-ins are allowed, but we would prefer pre-registration by e-mailing Mark, W8FSA, at mrkgoodwin@comcast.net, or yours truly, Ralph, AA8RK at aa8rk@arrl.net.

ARROW Elects Officers for 2022

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On Wednesday, December 8, the membership elected the following officers:

  • President: James Forgacs, KC8BGJ
  • Secretary: Don Winsor, AC8TO
  • Treasurer: Steve Rogacki, AC8GO
  • Technical Coordinator: Steve Gladden, N8LBV
  • Public Service Officer: Ed Thierbach, AB8OJ
  • Activities Coordinator: John Wasciuk, WA8TON
  • Delegate Trustee: Thom Martin, W8TAM

Ed, AB8OJ, is returning to the board, while James, KC8BGJ, is joining the board for the first time.

Congratulations to all!

General Meeting – June 9, 2021

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I don’t know about you, but I’m really tired of Zoom meetings. So, instead of cramming into a University of Michigan classroom—which we haven’t yet gotten permission to do anyway—I decided that meeting in one of Ann Arbor’s lovely parks would be just the ticket. I’m not a big planner, so my original thought would be for everyone to just show up, maybe bring a radio, and a bag lunch.

Nick, W8XM (L) with Mo, KE8BZJ.

Nick, W8XM, wasn’t having any of that, though. He volunteered to head over to Costco and purchase what we needed for a real cookout. He bought burgers, brats, cheese, onions, lettuce, buns, and a cooler full of Coke (both regular and diet) and water. He even brought his pop-up canopy. Dinesh AB3DC brought a pop-up gas grill, Jack N8PMG brought some snacks, Don AC8TO also brought some beverages, and 18 of us had a real feast.

Some guys brought radios. Dave N8SBE brought his KX2 and worked some FT4. Ed AB8OJ brought his AREDN node, and Thom W8TAM showed up in what he calls his “POTA pursuit vehicle,” a former cop car, with an IC-7300 and screwdriver antenna installed. I brought my KX-3, but never did get around to setting it up.

The weather cooperated, too. At 4 pm, it started pouring, and it looked like it was going to be a wet evening, but the rain cleared out by 5 pm, and stayed nice, if a little humid, throughout the rest of the evening.

This event turned out a lot better than I had planned. It was great seeing everyone face-to-face again. We may just have to do this again next month.

18 ARROWheads showed up last night to enjoy the sunshine and some burgers and brats.

Our next event is going to be a small gathering at the same park for Field Day in a couple of weeks. Instead of our usual 4A + GOTA operation, we’ll be either 1A or 2A, and probably only operate from 2pm until 10pm on Saturday, when we’re supposed to be out of the park. Stay tuned for details.