| Greg KE8NWQ | Cuyahoga Falls, OH |
| Eva KE8NWR | Akron, OH |
| Matthew KN4GWY | Widermere, FL |
| Bob WD8PME | Macedonia, OH |
| Don K8ZGW | Twinsburg, Oh |
| Terry KC8TUE | Ravenna, Ohio |
| Paul KD8BXY | Twinsburg, Oh |
| Richard KD8SJB | Ravenna, Oh |
| Nicholas KE8JUJ | Reminderville, OH |
| Raymond WD8RAY | Akron, Oh |
| Donald K8DER | Oxford, IN |
| John K8NYL | Akron, OH |
| Scott K8SWJ | Chardon, OH |
| Dan KD8EPA | Ravenna, OH |
| Ken KD8EPG | Ravenna, OH |
| Neil N8IL | Kent, OH |
New PCARS Members
Dec 4
Welcome to the latest members of PCARS!
If you meet these people on the street, in a meeting, or on the air, be sure to say Hi and introduce yourself. Let's make our new members feel welcome!
Birthdays this Month
Dec 1
| David K1ZZ | Mark KC8FQV | Alice KE8EGG |
| Mark KE8LWL | Agnes KE8LWP | Bill KW8KW |
| Bob N8QE | Sly W8YIH | Dave WB2DFC |
VE Testing Information
Apr 3
To All ARRL Members and ARRL VEC accredited Volunteer Examiners:
We know many examiners have canceled Amateur Radio License exam sessions to meet the requirements and recommendations of national and local government and health officials. The health and safety of examinees and our Volunteer Examiners is first and foremost in any decision-making process. ARRL VEC does not offer video supervised online Amateur Radio licensing exams at the present time. However, we know some VE Teams are exploring alternative formats on a local basis.
ARRL VEC is continuing to process license examination materials received from Volunteer Examiners who have completed exam sessions although under the circumstances there are some delays. For qualified examinees, ARRL VEC forwards electronically all required data to the FCC.
We understand there are examination candidates who continue their studies toward new Amateur Radio Licenses and license upgrades. We also know some will be frustrated that, at this time, ARRL VEC does not offer online licensing exams. Amateur radio is not alone in this challenge, though.
While each of us continues to respond to the immediate evolving crisis, we also know that we must keep an eye to our future. Throughout its decades of service, the VEC system has served the FCC as a shining example of the successes of a privatized system. The ARRL VEC and our Volunteer Examiners are recognized throughout the Amateur Radio Service for our integrity and efficiency. Adapting our all-volunteer license examination administration will be a challenge, but one we are committed to undertake in order to advance the program and improve service.
While we face unprecedented challenges, opportunities also await. We are grateful to support radio amateurs in our common pursuit of skill, service, and discovery. ARRL and ARRL VEC remain steadfast in serving you. We will provide updates as they become available.
===========
Credit: The American Radio Relay League VEC.
April newsletter
Mar 29
Greetings PCARS Members, ARRL Officials, Amateur Radio Clubs and other interested people,
The April 2020 issue of The RADIOGRAM has been published and is ready for you to enjoy.
Here is the link: http://www.portcars.org/wp/?linker=april-2020-radiogram
Hope you enjoy this issue – READ ALL ABOUT IT – COVID19 Club Updates, Two of the youngest PCARS members Upgrade their licenses! – The RADIOGRAM wins the ARRL Great Lakes Division Newsletter Award – On-Line activites are expanding – A bit of April Fool Humor – Something for everyone!
Feel free to pass this newsletter on to anyone interested in ham radio or PCARS.
Take care & 73,
Tom “Parky”, KB8UUZ
PCARS Newsletter Editor
Any mistakes found in the newsletter are there on purpose so some of you can can have fun finding them…. The Radiogram is the monthly newsletter of PCARS. Every month, we bring you news, events, DX listings, articles, and lots of fun. All of the issues, dating back to the very first, are on the club website (http:www.portcars.org) for you to download and read. Amateur Radio articles are welcome. Send your submission in .txt (text) format to the editor: kb8uuz@gmail.com
This is the email that James Andrews received from Dave N8FYQ, Dayton Hamvention Flea Market Chairman concerning refunds for the cancelled 2020 Dayton Hamvention. Click here to see a copy of the form or use the following link:
Hi Jim,
I’m glad we had a chance to talk this evening. I’m not usually home at the time you called, but as I was just walking in the door, I was able to return your call, soon thereafter.
Attached is the Flea Market Refund/Credit statement that we’ll be sending out. Please feel free to share it with any other vendors you wish. As you’ll read, it’s fairly self explanatory, with some simple directions for vendors to follow. As we’ve already received some e-mails, indicating a desire for both refunds and credits, this letter will guide others and we’ll be able to start processing requests much sooner.
Thank you for your willingness to spread the “accurate” information, as this will help calm the curious crowds.
As always, should you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out.
Stay safe and healthy,
73, Dave
N8YFQ
Flea Market Chairman
Just a short note. I’d like everyone who participates in the contest to send me their final raw score from the logs you turn in. This will give me some idea of how we did and also how many members participated.
Thank you and I hope that we have a great turnout or turnin or whatever. Just HAVE FUN!!!
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
PCARS Updates
Mar 25
Greetings,
Tomorrow, Thursday 3/26, there WILL BE a weekly 2 meter net! Josh – K8YLK – will be our net control op. We had 27 check-ins last week, if you haven’t been on the net in awhile please check in, lets give Josh a BIG Number!
More good news! On Monday April 13, 2020 we WILL HAVE a PCARS meeting! And you won’t have to leave your house to attend. This will be our first “Virtual Meeting” and will be held on the ZOOM platform. Very easy to use and participate. As we get a little closer I will send you all the information you’ll need to get logged in. BOTH Jim Storms – AB8YK and Michael Kalter – W8CI will attend online as our featured speakers to talk about the David Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure program. You won’t want to miss it.
A big “Thank YOU” to Amy – KD8SKL for taking over as our social media chairperson. If you haven’t taken a look at the PCARS Facebook Page lately – check it out! Amy has already made some serious updates and changes to the page to make it current.
This weekend is the CQ WWPX contest! I hope you’ll all get a chance to participate in it. Next week I’ll be rolling out some PCARS “Stay at Home” operating activities. These will be events that last as long as the quarantine does (or until I declare them over) and there will be PRIZES for the winners! Stay tuned.
One last “housekeeping” item. Not knowing what goes on around our clubsite in this extended quarantine period, I have made sure that the hasp has been secured on the door leading to the bathroom, and on the door between bays 2 and 3. I have also removed the key from the outside lockbox. I want to do everything possible to keep our clubsite safe from intruders. If, for some reason you need to gain access to the clubsite, contact me directly and I will make sure arrangements are made to get you in.
That’s all for now – Hope to hear you on tomorrow’s net!
73,
Tom WB8LCD
PCARS President
PCARS IS CLOSED
Mar 24
America. As a nation, we were born out of “Civil Disobedience”. Throughout our history, that same attitude of “Don’t Tread on Me” has been a hallmark of our actions and our commitment to the individual freedom we all enjoy.
The current crises we face is demanding that we do things that we are not used to. Some states, like OH have declared “orders” demanding that we self-quarantine and employ “Social Distancing” to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. So far, there has not been a National order.
This is NOT the time for civil disobedience. These are times that require us to consider our social responsibility and direct our actions accordingly. I truly believe that we can slow the spread of the virus and save our friends and family a lot of angst and fear if we just do a few things on our own volition instead of waiting for more draconian orders from our government.
We know that our club members have a lot of questions and concerns with respect to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we are reaching out to share with you what we are doing. We want you to know that your health and safety is top priority and we are taking the coronavirus outbreak very seriously.
PCARS is cancelling: Board Member Meetings, Regular Member Meetings, Special Interest Group meetings, Club-site Build Days, Club Site activities such as contesting and VE testing sessions until further notice. Please check the PCARS web site (www.portcars.org) for any updates.
When we do re-open the doors, our first activity will be a complete and thorough cleaning of our club facility.
You can get the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/
We cannot stress enough that we are being proactive because your health and safety is our foremost priority. We will continue to monitor developments and evaluate the situation to support our club members as needs arise.
If you have any concerns or questions, please email me or one of the PCARS officers. You can find our e-mail addresses on the PCARS web site in the ‘Members’ area.
The Thursday evening nets on 2-meters will continue. Please check in via the repeater or from EchoLink. We encourage everyone to keep in touch via ham radio as much as possible. Get on the Air! (look for my next email with some special PCARS on air activities.)
We are privileged to serve you and thank you for your ongoing support of PCARS. I will be in contact with you on a regular basis to keep you informed of what PCARS will be doing as we pass through this time of disruption. God Bless you all, and please, stay safe.
73,
Tom -WB8LCD
Hello PCARS Contesters:
This coming weekend, March 28-29, the CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB mode will be held. Since all of us are housebound by the Governor’s order, this would be a great time to get on the air and see what you can do from your own QTH.
Please go to the contest website (Google CQ WW WPX Contest) and read the rules. Get on the air for the full time or any part of it. It runs from 0000Z on the 28th until 2400Z on the 29th. You will use your own call sign.
When you have completed your participation and the contest is over, submit your Cabrillo log file per instructions and DO NOT FORGET to indicate your club affiliation as Portage County Amateur Radio Service. A plaque is awarded each year to the club that has the highest aggregate score from logs submitted by its members. To be listed in the results, a minimum of four logs must be received from a club.
One other thing, participation is limited to club members residing and operating within a 250 mile radius circle from the center of club area.
Let’s see if we can post a really good score. And let’s see if, by doing this, we can expand our contesting participation.
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
Hello PCARS Members,
March is just about over – went faster than I thought.
This Friday – the 27th is the last Friday of the month and you all know what that means – newsletter inputs a due NOW (no later that 8pm – Friday the 27th)..
If you have any inputs for YOUR newsletter please get them to me as soon as possible. With this being the April newsletter, I hope some of the humorous stuff I have in there will help bring a smile to you in these difficult times.
Send your inputs as soon as you can to KB8UUZ@gmail.com
Looking forward to YOUR inputs.
73,
Tom, KB8UUZ
PCARS Newsletter Editor
Thursday Night – 8:00PM on the K8IV repeater. Check into the PCARS net! We’ll bring you up to date on several items of interest in these times of “social isolation”. Check in and let us know how you’re holding out.
Don’t forget – you can also check in via the K8SRR Echolink node.
73,
Tom wb8lcd
Greetings,
The special VE testng scheduled for today 3/18 at the club site is stiil a GO.
The number of people is small.
All we ask is: if you feel uncomfortable about attending, or if you have a cold or flu, please do not attend.
73,
Tom, KB8UUZ
