The Next meeting will be at 7 PM on Monday, January 7, 2018 at the EOC at 200 N. Delaware Street, Anderson, IN January 2019 President s Message Welcome to the January edition of the Madison County Amateur Radio Club newsletter. I hope everyone whose reading this had a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year! As a club, we've had a busy 2018, and I hope, an even more fun 2019! Elsewhere in the newsletter, you'll find more information about Winter Field Day, which will be on January 26-27. We're planning on moving the van out to the parking lot at that time and setting up probably 2 different antennas, so, we can use two different radios. If we set up there, we'll have access to the restrooms, and any equipment that we'll need. On the Wednesday evening nets, we've had a good head count. It s much appreciated! If anyone has a question, they would like asked, please let Lew, K9LBB or myself, KC9DJU know, and we'll try and use them on a Wednesday night. Keep checking in. I know that there are several people who listen in. Please jump in and tell everyone Hi! Also, I'd like to thank those officers from 2018 that didn't run again that I am grateful for their help through last year. We've had a lot of things done for the good of the club, and, hope to be able to do more for this year! Congratulations to the new officers! The slate of officers can be found elsewhere in the newsletter. I'm looking forward to working with them this year. Don't forget, the Wednesday night net at 8 pm, on the club's repeater, 145.390 with a pl tone of 151.4. All are welcome to check in. Then, after the net is over, everyone is invited to move over to 28.465 MHz, for the informal rag chew. It's in the Tech portion of the band, so, any and everyone is invited to join in. The conditions haven't been the greatest lately, but you never know who you might hear! Then, every Thursday morning, at 9 am, is the "donut meeting". There's always a lot of discussion, and sometimes, we even talk about radios. Remember, every 3rd Tuesday, there is the monthly VE testing at the EOC, at 7 pm. If you know anyone who wants to upgrade, or, just get started, it s a good time to try and test. Remember, you can try for the Technician's license, or, try for all 3 for the same money. It only costs $15. I guess I'd better wrap this up and get it sent to Kyle. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year! - "73" Mike, KC9DJU In this Issue: President s Message Message from the Editor Minutes from last meeting K7RA Solar Update Events
Message from the Editor Greetings, With this being my first newsletter for the club, I wanted to say a little word. First off, thank you kindly for entrusting me with the responsibility of making sure the information is gathered and disbursed monthly to keep everyone in the club informed. I look forward to doing everything I can to help the club. I also want to express thank you Mike Hoggatt, KD9CDO, for his service as Newsletter Editor, and also for helping me get set up and started for 2019. I know I am new, not only to the club, but to HAM radio as a whole, so please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kyle, KD9LJA. I will be turning 30 this March. I am a dispatcher for the Madison County Central Dispatch. I have been dispatching for 9 years now. I started dispatching at Alexandria when we still had our own dispatch there and merged into the county in 2012. I will be moving back to night shift in January. I have been in public safety in Madison County for over 11 years. I started as a teenage Jr. Firefighter at Summitville Fire, and then joined the Richland Township Fire Department as an adult and served there from 2007-2015, where I worked my way through the ranks to Assistant Fire Chief and served as Interim Fire Chief for a short period as well. I have 2 boys, a 4-year-old mini-me named Luke, and a 10-year-old step-son named Hayden. I currently live in North Anderson. I obtained my technician license in June of 2018 with encouragement from Jeff, K9DYR, and Brent Jensen, N9JKU. I have been studying for General and plan on getting it in the next few months. I look forward to 2019 and further participation in the club! 73, Kyle James, KD9LJA MCARC Minutes of Regular Meeting December 3, 2018 Location: EOC, 200 N. Delaware St., Anderson, IN 7:00 Mike-KC9DJU opened meeting Program: Mike-KC9DJU announced to the membership that the new Club radio has arrived. Appreciation was expressed to the Tech Committee for doing the research and making the recommendation for which radio to purchase. Jeff-K9DYR showed an instructional video about the basic operation of the IC-7300. This video, along with many others are readily available on YouTube. Members should familiarize themselves with the manual, videos, and the radio. Feel free to ask questions of the Tech Committee and others who have some experience with the radio. Terry-N4TZ stated that the IC-7300 is now interfaced to the computer at that station. Terry also recommended that the club get an account on Logbook of the World (LoTW). Minutes: Minutes presented for the 11/5/18 meeting: Motion to accept by Tim-KC9GBL/Dave-KB9NTG passed Minutes Continued on next page
Treasurer s Report : Motion to accept with changes by Tim-KC9GBL/Rick-N9XQX $3,096.62 Beginning balance Expense IC-7300 <$1079.95> Note: $100 rebate has been requested Expense SK plates <$ 11.00> Expense Memb. Cds <$ 20.75> Income DUES <$ 120.00> ============ $2,104.92 Ending balance Motion to accept by Tim-KC9GBL/Dick-WA9STB Passed Officers Reports VP, Lew-K9LBB : Lew requests that anyone interested in running the Wednesday evening net should contact him. Lew would like to share the fun and experience of running a net with others. TRAINING PROVIDED. Awards, Lew-K9LBB: As the reward for earning the most points last year, Lew is tracking points for this year. Points have been posted. Lew s jacket has been ordered and will be picked up soon. Wear it with pride, Lew! Trustee, Allen-KC9JWO : Not present. Repeater is working fine. Newsletter: A hardy thank you to Mike Hoggatt-KD9CDO for his hard work with the newsletter and web site. Mike has moved out of the area and has still continued to take care of our communication needs. THANKS, MIKE! Tech Committee, Doug-N9DR : Dennis-N9OWN and Terry-N4TZ made some comments about the status of the IC-7300. The radio is operational and ready for use. We are reminded to read the manual and ask questions. Activities, Dale-KV9W : Dale not present, but we are reminded that the Christmas party will be on 12/8 @ 6:00pm at Perkins, and Winter Field Day will be 1/26-27. Sick list: Dick-WA9STB reports that he is with us and is happy for that. Dave-KB9NTG reports that his son continues to have residual issues related to the accident, but for the most part is doing well. Discussion: A general discussion about the Fort Wayne Hamfest concluded that, like many such events, continues to get smaller each year. Several of our members made the trip to Fort Wayne. New Business: A motion was made by Dave-KB9NTG/Tim-KC9GBL to accept the slate of officers Passed. The officers for 2019 are as follows: President: Mike Cook KC9DJU V-President: Lew Baker - K9LBB Sec/Treas: Jeff Dyer K9DYR Trustee: Alan Weber-KC9JWO Activities: Franklin Dudley KD9KOE Tech Chair: Doug Rose - N9DR Tech: Gary Sherman W9GNR Tech: Terry Zivney N4TZ Newsletter: Kyle James-KD9LJA Kyle will get with Jeff for credentials to the web site. Adjourn : Motion to adjourn made by Tim-KC9GBL /Lew-K9LBB Passed. Respectfully submitted, JEFF-K9DYR
The K7RA Solar Update Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On Wednesday, December 19, Spaceweather.com reported, "Solar minimum conditions are in effect," adding, "The sun has been without sunspots for 209 days in 2018." Spaceweather.com said the most recent similar stretch of blank suns was in 2009, "when the sun was experiencing the deepest solar minimum in a century." My records show the average daily sunspot number for all of 2009 was 5.05, and average daily solar flux was 70.6. Looking at the past 2 months, the same values were 3.6 and 69.4, so we are clearly in the same sort of minimum. Looking at all the numbers for 2018 to date, we see averages of 6.6 and 69.9. Average daily sunspot numbers for the past week were 3.4, down from 9.7 in the previous week. Average daily solar flux declined slightly, from 70.7 to 70.4. The average planetary A index decreased from 8 to 4.1, while the average mid-latitude A index went from 6.4 to 3. Predicted solar flux for the next 45 days is 70 on December 20-23; 72 on December 24-26; 71 on December 27; 72 on December 28 - January 4; 70 on January 5-16; 72 on January 17-31, and 70 on February 1-2. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 20-23; 8 on December 24; 5 on December 25-27; 8, 12, 10, and 8 on December 28-31; 5 on January 1-2; 10, 12, 10, 10, and 8 on January 3-7; 5 on January 8-12; 8 on January 13; 5 on January 14-23; 8, 12, 10, and 8 on January 24-27; 5 on January 28-29, and 10, 12, 10, and 10 on January 30 - February 2. Sunspot numbers for December 13-19 were 0, 12, 12, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 3.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.2, 70.8, 71.2, 69.8, 70.1, 70.4, and 70.2, with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 3, 2, 2, 6, 7, and 6, with a mean of 4.1. Estimated mid - latitude A indices were 2, 3, 1, 1, 5, 5, and 4, with a mean of 3. Share your reports and observations.
Events Every Wednesday MCARC 2M Net 8:00 PM - 145.390 pl 151.4 Followed by an informal ragchew on 28.465 Every Thursday Donut Meeting 09:00 AM at the EOC Every Saturday Breakfast at Eva s 09:00 AM at 832 Broadway St, Anderson January 1 Straight Key Night January 5 Kids Day January 5-6 RTTY Roundup January 7 MCARC Meeting @ 7pm at the EOC January 15 VE Testing @ 7pm at the EOC January 19-21 January VHF January 26-27 Winter Field Day 2p-2p Madison County Amateur Radio Club Contact Information Madison County Amateur Radio Club P.O. Box 3044 Anderson, Indiana 46018 www.w9vcf.org w9vcf.mcarc@gmail.com www.facebook.com/w9vcf @w9vcf (765) 400-0426 -- 765-4000-HAM Officer Contact Information President Mike Cook KC9DJU cook3909@sbcglobal.net Vice President Lew Baker K9LBB lbj6668@yahoo.com Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Dyer K9DYR k9dyr@arrl.net Activities Franklin Dudley KD9KOE franklindudley91@gmail.com Trustee Alan Weber KC9JWO kc9jwo@outlook.com Technical Committee Chair Doug Rose N9DR n9dr@arrl.net Newsletter Editor Kyle James KD9LJA kjjims@gmail.com Meetings are at the Madison County EOC 200 Delaware Street Anderson, IN 46016