PCARS (K8BF)

Hi everyone,

Our Portable ops Sig this month is on Tuesday, March 14th.

We’ll be talking about our upcoming Support Your Parks event to Wingfoot Lake State Park which will be coming up in April. . Here’s a link to the flier (https://www.portcars.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PUN-POTA-APR16-23-Flier.pdf).

There’s also a new plaque event coming up this year that we’ll be looking at. This is actually a POTA “contest”. Hope you can come out for the SIG this month either in person, or via Zoom. We’ll be meeting on March 14th, at 7PM in person at the club site (705 Oakwood St, Ravenna) or via Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89732195744?pwd=cldtZmxMcmFqQndhQWtJN0s2NUNnUT09

Meeting ID: 897 3219 5744
Passcode: PCARS2022

Hope to see you there.
John Myers, WG8X
kd8mq1@gmail.com
330-936-5021

We’re a few days away from our next PCARS meeting! Join us Monday, March 13th at American Legion Post 496 on Mogadore Rd in Kent. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM sharp!

Dr. Willem Schreuder, AC0KQ Director of Continuing Education
for the Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Club will be discussing digital techniques in microwaves. This club, RMHAM, runs a digital microwave network of 137 sites spanning Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83734648478?pwd=NlBickJXRk5KdkIza1FKWlcwbXdvQT09

Nick AC8QG
PCARS President

Attention PCARS Contesters:

This weekend we plan to put K8BF on the air in a few State QSO Parties. The Idaho QSO Party starts on Saturday, and runs from 2PM Sat afternoon until 2PM Sunday afternoon. The Oklahoma QSO Party runs from 10AM Saturday morning until 9PM Saturday evening. It then breaks for a good night’s sleep and restarts on Sunday from 11AM until 5PM.

The Wisconsin QSO Party begins on Sunday at 2PM and runs until 9PM Sunday evening.

The challenge is that our computer setup will only allow ONE contest to be operated in at any one time. Therefore, when we gather on Saturday morning, we will decide which of the two contests that takes place on that day, to participate in based on the activity we hear on the bands.

Sunday, we will concentrate on the Wisconsin QSO Party since we have placed well in the contest for the last several years.

Don’t forget, if you have not contested before and want to get an idea what it’s all about or want to get some training, please attend this weekend. For all who will be participating, I suggest that you show up about an hour early so that we can make our decision regarding which contest we will enter on Saturday and to review the rules for each contest.

Hope to see many PCARS members attending. I’m looking forward to having fun.

One last item…we are supposed to have a fairly significant snow event this weekend. I don’t want to have anyone risk their lives if the roads are really bad. Watch your emails for any change of plans.

—
73 – Chuck W8PT
PCARS Contest Coordinator

We’re a few days away from our next PCARS meeting! Join us Monday, March 13th at American Legion Post 496 on Mogadore Rd in Kent. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM sharp!

Dr. Willem Schreuder, AC0KQ Director of Continuing Education
for the Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Club will be discussing digital techniques in microwaves. This club, RMHAM, runs a digital microwave network of 137 sites spanning Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83734648478?pwd=NlBickJXRk5KdkIza1FKWlcwbXdvQT09

Nick AC8QG
PCARS President

Unfortunately the Balun and Cable Build scheduled for March 18th will need to be reschedule to March 25th. This is necessary for two reasons. First, I have a scheduling conflict that has developed for the 18th. Second, the toroids will not arrive until the 21st. Sorry for the inconvenience.

If you are interested in this build, you will need to let me know what you want to build. The options are as follows:

1:1 Current Balun – $40, includes 5×5 IP65 Box and all connectors
4:1 Current Balun – $55, includes 5×5 IP65 box and all connections
9:1 UnUn. – $40, incudes 5×5 IP65 box and all connections
6 foot RG8X Jumper – $15

I need to know what you want to build by Wednesday March 14th to make sure all the parts will be available. Please send me an email indicating what you want to build. Payment will be due the day of the build in checks to PCARS or cash.

Jim, AC8NT

Attention PCARS Contesters:

I want to give you a heads up on a few QSO Parties in which K8BF will be participating.

The weekend of March 11-12 hosts three QSO Parties. They are the Wisconsin, Idaho and Oklahoma contests.

The WIQSOP takes place on Sunday, Mar 12 from 1800Z to 0100Z (Mar. 13). For those of us who are UTC challenged, that’s 2PM to 9PM local time.

The IDQSOP takes place on Saturday, Mar 11 to Sun, Mar 12 from 1900Z to 1900Z (24 hrs). That’s 2PM Sat until 2PM Sun.

The OKQSOP takes place on Saturday, Mar 11 and then again on Sunday, Mar. 12. This event is broken in two to allow a good night’s rest. On Saturday, it runs from 1500Z to 0200Z. (10AM to 9PM local ti,e). On Sunday it runs from 1500Z to 2100Z. (11AM to 5PM local time.)

The differences in time are due to that weekend being when we switch to Daylight Savings Time. So don’t forget on Saturday before you go to bed, turn your clocks 1 hr ahead.

I hope to see many members at the club site during that weekend. For those who have not contested or would like to just find out more about it, please come out and join us. I feel confident that you will have a good time.

Unfortunately for those who like FT4/FT8, that digital mode is not allowed in any of these three contests.

—
73 – Chuck W8PT
PCARS Contest Coordinator

PCARS DXers:

Here’s an interesting item:

1S – Spratly Islands
Gil Lapply, 4F2KWT, has successfully renewed his license to operate on Kalayaan, Spratly Islands. He will be using DX0NE. The license is good until May 9, 2025. However, he needed a special permit to operate on Spratly and this was issued but is only good from March 1 until June 20, 2023.

He is now working to get someone to transport him and equipment to the island. He will be working with a team from the DX Chasers Club Philippines, and they are looking at operating during the third week of May for the entire week. They have posted an operating schedule including band plans on their website. If you want more info you can get details at: https://www.qrz.com/db/DX0NE

—

It’s time for us to do a little cleaning up around the club site. A little sweeping, dusting and surface cleaning needs to be done.

If you have a some time between 9: AM this Saturday March 4th and noon, we would appreciate the help. It won’t be hard work, I promise.

Jim, AC8NT

Attention PCARS DXers & Contesters:

Just a reminder that next Tuesday, Feb. 28th, we will be holding our DX/Contesting Special Interest Group meeting at the club at 7PM. We hope to be able to show by ZOOM, a video presentation on DXing and Contesting using QRP.

I hope to see many of you there or attending by ZOOM.

Event DX/Contesting SIG
Topic: DXing and Contesting using QRP
Time: February 28 at 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZEqfumsrD0uHNF41I4e5gH1Js9F5pyrqTHX/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGtqTIqHtaTtB-CRpwMB4r4c-jzpiFbgo17yE7MVyUGZSunHPEbFOdvCcrB

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85790426465?pwd=YVBTUnhMaXVwNTN5amxsQnU0RnhDdz09

Meeting ID: 857 9042 6465
Passcode: PCARS2022
—
73 – Chuck W8PT

Here is something that might interest a few of you. Tae a read and drool.

Ever thought about being the DX instead of just working the DX? How about at a location where your spouse, family, and friends could join you? What if you were able to be the DX AND help to provide funds for future DXpeditions?

Why just THINK about it anymore? Why not take a chance to make it happen?

The Southwest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) in conjunction with the owners of Harbour Rock Villa announces a Major Prize Raffle to raise funds to support DXPeditions.

The Prize is a week at Harbour Rock Villa in the Turks & Caicos Islands. This gorgeous villa has room for 6, a well-equipped amateur radio station, multiple antennas, including the use of a vehicle, and assistance in obtaining a VP5 license. The winner will provide their own transportation to the island and meals.

This raffle prize is worth approximately $5000 and will be awarded at the 2023 DX Dinner held in conjunction with the Dayton Hamvention®.

Please visit https://www.harbourrockvilla.com/vp5-ham-radio-2 to view the Villa layout, the amenities, and other details. For updates and more ham information search VP5M on QRZ.com.

Ticket sales will be capped at 500. The cost is $25 each or 5/$100.

More information can be found at www.swodxa.org/VP5M, by emailing thedxmentor@gmail.com, or by calling 1-513-855-3980.
—
73 – Chuck W8PT