New PCARS Members

Posted on December 4, 2011 by K8SRR

Welcome to the latest members of PCARS!
Karl W8KFWRavenna, Ohio
Robert W2THUPerry, OH
Gene AC8RHAkron, Ohio
Jennifer KB3GXBAtwater, Ohio
Kristen KB3OQVAkron, Ohio
Andrew KE8ELRAtwater, Ohio
Marie MCARRONKent, Ohio
Robert N8SKNSugar Bush Knolls, Ohio
Bob WD8PMEMacedonia, Ohio
Tim W8HFZUniontown, OH
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!
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Birthdays this Month

Posted on December 1, 2011 by K8SRR

James AB8YKGia AG8GMMichael KC8LJY
James KC8YYSRay KD8DFLGary KE8REE
Carl N4ITDavid W8HFY
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Bouvet DXpedition News

Posted on February 4, 2023 by KD8MQ
PCARS DXers:
The following has been reported by several sources [edited]:
4 team members have spent 4 days on the island under difficult conditions. All team members are now back on the vessel and everyone is safe. Bouvet has proved to be a difficult destination to activate, and the team is now adjusting our plans before we return to the island.
The WX forecast for the weekend indicates a storm with 60 knot wind
Sunday/Monday and depending on this storm we will assess the situation and go onshore when conditions are good. This will not be a fullscale operation as planned but a smaller setup. We have a good overview of the camp and the possibilities, and will attempt to continue building the camp. We have infrastructure on the island including access to the camp.
So it appears that this DXpedition is going to downsize its efforts in order to make sure that they can do something to make it successful instead of totally giving up because of the WX conditions.
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
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PJ2T Curacao Opportunity

Posted on January 31, 2023 by KD8MQ
PCARS Contesters:
Here’s a great opportunity if you’re feeling adventurous.
Contesters,
PJ2T is looking for your help for the WPX SSB contest. Our team presently consists of AD7XG, AC7DC, and WA7CPA. We have space for six more operators to do a Multi/Multi operation from PJ2T. Last year we placed World #2 in this contest, and this year the sunspots are even better.
You would need to arrive in Curacao on March 21 and depart March 28. We have rented a luxury home with an oceanfront swimming pool that’s only a five minute walk from PJ2T. If you bring your XYL or OM, you’d have a private bedroom and bath. Approximate cost for the trip would be around $950 if we get a full team. That is all in, covering the sleeping space, all meals and beverages, and shared station expenses. (Hotel rooms on the island run around $280/night this time of year, so your PJ2T experience is a very good deal.) We collect only, to the penny, what we spend for groceries, the rental house, et al. If you choose to rent a car or eat out a lot, that’s an additional cost to you.
We have five stations set up, running K3s and AL-1200 amps, and the QTH has very fast and reliable fiber direct to the station.
Drop a note to Geoff, W0CG, ghoward@kent.edu if you think you can help. We need to move quickly, because airfares rise rapidly close to the travel dates.
   Thanks,
     – Geoff, W0CG, PJ2DX
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
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PCARS February Newsletter

Posted on January 31, 2023 by KD8MQ
The February 2023 issue of The RADIOGRAM has been published and is ready for you to enjoy.
Hope you enjoy this issue – CQ-POTA – On The Road with WG8X – Support Your Parks Weekend – Internet Archive – 18th Annual FYAO – 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 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: newsletter@portcars.org
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Bouvet DXpedition

Posted on January 31, 2023 by KD8MQ
For those of you who are hoping to work the Bouvet DXpedition, here are some rules that they have just issued.
3Y0J Bouvet Island 2023 Update:
RADIO OPERATIONS BAND PLAN
3Y0J will always listen up (using split) so it will be useless to call us on our transmission frequency. Please be sure to double check your settings to make sure you are not calling us simplex.
Always give your full callsign. Listening is the key, so be sure we call you before replying.
CW MAX 15 kHz split
(operators choose QRG within a certain bandwidth)
SSB MAX 30 kHz split
(operators choose QRG within a certain bandwidth)
Lowest 10 kHz spectrum on regular bands
NO TX to allow regular DX traffic
Lowest 5 kHz on WARC band
NO TX to allow regular DX traffic
We are aware of US band plans for E/A/G/N/T
FT8 40-10m, with focus on 20-10m yagis.
FT8 ALWAYS F/H
We will transmit: 100W on FT8
Up to 1500W on CW/SSB (by special permit)
Please Follow The DX Code of Conduct
73,
Steve N2AJ
Media Officer & NA East Coast Pilot
3Y0J Bouvet Island 2023 DXpedition
3Y0J expect to be transmitting on the following frequencies:
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
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Here’s the February issue of The RADIOGRAM

Posted on January 30, 2023 by KD8MQ

Greetings PCARS Members, ARRL Officials, Amateur Radio Clubs and other interested people,

The February 2023 issue of The RADIOGRAM has been published and is ready for you to enjoy.

Here is the link: https://www.portcars.org/wp/go/february-2023-radiogram/
Hope you enjoy this issue – CQ-POTA – On The Road with WG8X – Support Your Parks Weekend – Internet Archive – 18th Annual FYAO – 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 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: newsletter@portcars.org

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Winlink on Linux Session, Tuesday January 31 7PM

Posted on January 30, 2023 by KD8MQ
Please join us at the club site 705 Oakwood Street, Ravenna, or via Zoom, at 7pm Tuesday January 31st for the 5th Tuesday SIG. We plan a hands-on session with your Raspberry Pi or Linux computer. The goal is to get you onto the Winlink messaging system using your computer and telnet internet transport, by the end of the session.
Bring your computer and a note pad. We hope to have some fun and send and receive Winlink messages by the end of the evening.
Rick KD8WCK is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:
Topic: PCARS 5th Tuesday SIG
Time: Jan 31, 2023 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 502 385 5449
Passcode: 123456
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,5023855449#,,,,*123456# US (Chicago)
+16469313860,,5023855449#,,,,*123456# US
Dial by your location
       +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
       +1 646 931 3860 US
       +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
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Vermont QSO Party February 4th

Posted on January 28, 2023 by KD8MQ
Attention PCARS Contesters and Contest Newbies:
On February 4th, the club site will be open to those who want to take part in the Vermont QSO Party. We will gather at 10AM. We will be only using SSB and CW Modes since FT8 requires a logging program other than what we normally use for our contests.
Those who have not contested before or who are fairly new to the sport can participate at a more mild pace and get you contesting legs set under you.
Come on out and participate.
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
PCARS Contest Coordinator
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Winlink on Linux Session, Tuesday January 31

Posted on January 26, 2023 by KD8MQ
This coming Tuesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. at the club site, we’ll have a hands-on session to walk participants through setting up a Winlink 2000 account on their own Raspberry Pi or laptop/desktop computer running Linux.
Winlink is a message-passing system used by mariners, emergency services and hams in general to pass electronic mail even when the internet is inaccessible. Rick K8CAV gave us an overview at the Digital SIG in January and we’re going to build upon that with a hands-on session that will establish your Winlink account and send an initial message via telnet protocol over the internet. Once we’ve succeeded with those goals you will get to take your computer home and fight on your own getting the RF part of the game to work!
For the hands-on session:
Bring your Pi or Linux computer, configured with
  • Administrator-access account
  • Functioning networking (wired or WiFi will be provided)
  • A functioning web browser so we can download some files
  • Monitor and keyboard (we will have some to share)
  • If you already have an active Winlink account, bring your Winlink password so we can connect to the system.
  • If you don’t have a Winlink account yet, that is good – you’ll get a password assigned in the course of the workshop
  • If you HAD a Winlink account and haven’t used it for 400 days, your password has probably expired. So go to the winlink.org web site and go through the process to retrieve your password or reactivate your callsign.
  • You’ll need access to your personal email account, either on the computer we’re working with or via your phone, so you can confirm your new Winlink account information.
  • And you’ll need some patience as we go through this process.
The good news is that Brandon KE8ARB has agreed to be another pair of hands for the hands-on, and that is really great.
We will meet in-person at the club site as well as on Zoom. The Zoom link will be provided in another QST message closer to the event.
Please join us if you can, and 73 de Rick KD8WCK
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Freeze Your Acorns Off 2023

Posted on January 25, 2023 by KD8MQ
PCARS Members:
Well the WX has decided to cooperate with PCARS and give us weather that is appropriate for our annual QRP Special Event.
of course we are talking about FREEZE YOUR ACORNS OFF for 2023! It takes place on February 11, 2023.
As in previous years, the operating format will be a “contest” for all participants that set up a station and operate from the FYAO site. And as in years past, the host site is the shelter house at Fred Fuller Park in Kent. The winner will receive a certificate and his or her name and call sign will be added to the FYAO plaque displayed at the PCARS Club site.
We will also be having a contest within a contest…..the Best Recipe Cook-Off. So you great cooks, whip up your best recipe of chili, mac & cheese, spicy meatballs, stew, or whatever your hearts desire and bring your dish to pass and have it judged by our “expert” panel of judges. (Judges to be chosen during the event to assure “NO COLLUSION – absolutely NO COLLUSION.)
The contest begins at 1500 UTC (10 AM Local) and ends at 2000 UTC (3 PM Local). For those of you setting up a station, you are encouraged to come one hour earlier to pick your operating spot. Remember, this is a QRP Event so keep your foot warmers at home. (And you know I’m not talking about heavy socks.)
Come on out and set up a station, bring lots of food, invite your friends to see what this is all about, and just have a good time with your fellow HAMS. Most importantly, we’re here to have BIG FUN so I hope to see a lot of you there.
73 for now,
Chuck W8PT
PS: Don’t forget to wear your best Hawaiian shirt!
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Neat Maps

Posted on January 25, 2023 by KD8MQ
Bob Liddy, K8BL, sent this out. Thought it would be a help to many PCARS members
Here’s a site with helpful maps of ARRL Sections for variousContests. Note that some of the Canadian Sections have changed names/abbreviations.
73, Bob K8BL
—
73 – Chuck W8PT
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