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President's LetterJonathan Pearce, WB2MNFApril 2023 |
April 2023
What could be more exciting than combining ham radio with rockets? Several months ago we were contacted by Nicholas Kreuz KC3RFB who is an electrical engineering student at Rowan University and is the architect of the avionics suite for a rocket being constructed by students to compete in an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics rocket competition in June. Nick and his team were looking for some help in designing the antenna to be used with the radio telemetry and module that controls ignition and parachute deployment of the rocket. We spent several hours at the Clubhouse working with him to get an antenna that would handle the 29g acceleration (even more than Tom Cruise in Top Gun) when the engine fires. At our March meeting Nick, Daniel Millar, and Thomas Stanek from that team presented the overall concept of the rocket including the basic design, propulsion and avionics programs – and they brought along the rocket! Judging from the crowd surrounding them at the end of the presentation it was one of the more interesting sessions that has occurred at our meetings. We’re continuing to work with those guys and hope we can build an ongoing relationship with the Rowan EE department.
It's always exciting to hear and see Club members working together on projects, and these cooperative activities continued through March. Len Rust W2LJR hosted a successful Tech Saturday event in March with a presentation on DMR radios, which filled the Clubhouse with more than 20 participants. The usual ad hoc discussions followed with some participants wandering into the HF room while others watched the latest satellite passes. Tech Saturday is turning into a great collaboration event so be sure to put it on your calendars (the first Saturday following the General Meeting) and come out when you're available.
As a result of Len’s presentation there are now two digital radio hotspots at the Clubhouse for use by Yaesu System Fusion and DMR radios. Frequencies and modes will be listed on the Clubhouse whiteboard so bring your radio and check them out.
The April Tech Saturday session will occur on April 8, 2023 with a presentation by John Zaruba Jr K2ZA on Yaesu System Fusion and Wires-X technology. Don’t miss it, especially if you have a Yaesu radio!
Jim Wright N2GXJ who was one of the primary architects of the 160 meter loop antenna at the Clubhouse presented his successes at the March General Membership meeting. Jim reported making 132 contacts during the CQ 160 meter SSB contest, working 33 states and provinces as well as stations in the Caribbean, northern South America, and central Europe. A great result for a project that was initiated only a few weeks ago.
The TechNets are continuing on alternate Monday nights with Gary Mirkin WA3SVW to present several sessions on amateur slow-scan TV software in April. Check the w2mmd.org website for Zoom connect info.
About a dozen hams came out to participate in the hidden transmitter “Fox Hunt”, which is always a fun-filled event. Fox hunts pit the direction finding skills of the participants against each other in locating a tiny transmitter that's hidden in an unknown location by the previous winner - sometimes in diabolically difficult and creative places.
The ARRL Field Day event occurs in the fourth weekend of June, and is one of the two major group events for the Club (the other being the Hamfest in September). Since the “Winefest” that occurs on the 4H property adjacent to the Clubhouse will be held on the same weekend as Field Day this year, Field Day chair Tony Starr K3TS announced that all of our operations will need to occur within the Clubhouse boundaries, and will probably operate several fewer stations than in the past. Field Day represents a great opportunity for new members and newly licensed hams to get a great taste of contest operating while working closely with other Club members in our largest event of the year. If you're a new ham and haven't worked at Field Day please consider volunteering to operate one of the stations for at least part of the scheduled time period.
The GreenCube satellite quest continues as described on the W2MMD VHF/UHF/Satellite Station page. GreenCube provides a fascinating opportunity to explore a different type of satellite operating along with solving many small but annoying problems that inhibited success. Check out that article if you’re interested, and come down to the Clubhouse some Saturday when there are active GreenCube passes to see if we can pick up some additional countries. Late news – we just worked Japan and Korea on GreenCube, marking the longest-distance satellite QSO that may be possible from our location.
Progress is also being made on the acquisition of a VHF tower to replace some of the functionality of the tower that was lost to the tornado several years ago. Stay tuned for more info as details get worked out.
As you can see there’s lots happening at the GCARC so find your niche and come out and be part of the fun!
This month we welcome the following new members :
73 de Jon WB2MNF
President, GCARC
What could be more exciting than combining ham radio with rockets? Several months ago we were contacted by Nicholas Kreuz KC3RFB who is an electrical engineering student at Rowan University and is the architect of the avionics suite for a rocket being constructed by students to compete in an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics rocket competition in June. Nick and his team were looking for some help in designing the antenna to be used with the radio telemetry and module that controls ignition and parachute deployment of the rocket. We spent several hours at the Clubhouse working with him to get an antenna that would handle the 29g acceleration (even more than Tom Cruise in Top Gun) when the engine fires. At our March meeting Nick, Daniel Millar, and Thomas Stanek from that team presented the overall concept of the rocket including the basic design, propulsion and avionics programs – and they brought along the rocket! Judging from the crowd surrounding them at the end of the presentation it was one of the more interesting sessions that has occurred at our meetings. We’re continuing to work with those guys and hope we can build an ongoing relationship with the Rowan EE department.
It's always exciting to hear and see Club members working together on projects, and these cooperative activities continued through March. Len Rust W2LJR hosted a successful Tech Saturday event in March with a presentation on DMR radios, which filled the Clubhouse with more than 20 participants. The usual ad hoc discussions followed with some participants wandering into the HF room while others watched the latest satellite passes. Tech Saturday is turning into a great collaboration event so be sure to put it on your calendars (the first Saturday following the General Meeting) and come out when you're available.
As a result of Len’s presentation there are now two digital radio hotspots at the Clubhouse for use by Yaesu System Fusion and DMR radios. Frequencies and modes will be listed on the Clubhouse whiteboard so bring your radio and check them out.
The April Tech Saturday session will occur on April 8, 2023 with a presentation by John Zaruba Jr K2ZA on Yaesu System Fusion and Wires-X technology. Don’t miss it, especially if you have a Yaesu radio!
Jim Wright N2GXJ who was one of the primary architects of the 160 meter loop antenna at the Clubhouse presented his successes at the March General Membership meeting. Jim reported making 132 contacts during the CQ 160 meter SSB contest, working 33 states and provinces as well as stations in the Caribbean, northern South America, and central Europe. A great result for a project that was initiated only a few weeks ago.
The TechNets are continuing on alternate Monday nights with Gary Mirkin WA3SVW to present several sessions on amateur slow-scan TV software in April. Check the w2mmd.org website for Zoom connect info.
About a dozen hams came out to participate in the hidden transmitter “Fox Hunt”, which is always a fun-filled event. Fox hunts pit the direction finding skills of the participants against each other in locating a tiny transmitter that's hidden in an unknown location by the previous winner - sometimes in diabolically difficult and creative places.
The ARRL Field Day event occurs in the fourth weekend of June, and is one of the two major group events for the Club (the other being the Hamfest in September). Since the “Winefest” that occurs on the 4H property adjacent to the Clubhouse will be held on the same weekend as Field Day this year, Field Day chair Tony Starr K3TS announced that all of our operations will need to occur within the Clubhouse boundaries, and will probably operate several fewer stations than in the past. Field Day represents a great opportunity for new members and newly licensed hams to get a great taste of contest operating while working closely with other Club members in our largest event of the year. If you're a new ham and haven't worked at Field Day please consider volunteering to operate one of the stations for at least part of the scheduled time period.
The GreenCube satellite quest continues as described on the W2MMD VHF/UHF/Satellite Station page. GreenCube provides a fascinating opportunity to explore a different type of satellite operating along with solving many small but annoying problems that inhibited success. Check out that article if you’re interested, and come down to the Clubhouse some Saturday when there are active GreenCube passes to see if we can pick up some additional countries. Late news – we just worked Japan and Korea on GreenCube, marking the longest-distance satellite QSO that may be possible from our location.
Progress is also being made on the acquisition of a VHF tower to replace some of the functionality of the tower that was lost to the tornado several years ago. Stay tuned for more info as details get worked out.
As you can see there’s lots happening at the GCARC so find your niche and come out and be part of the fun!
This month we welcome the following new members :
- Jacqueline Blanch KD2JBY, of Manchester Township, NJ
- Keith Evans KC3PAA, of Wilmington, DE
- Daniel Lenco WA2BPH, of Pedricktown, NJ
- James McCullough, of Sewell, NJ
- Edward Scheidts KC2QFB, of Riverside, NJ
73 de Jon WB2MNF
President, GCARC
Friday, April 7, 2023
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Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Friday, April 7, 2023
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Friday, April 28, 2023
Full Pink Moon : April 6, 2023 @ 0037 Hours. This Moon heralded the appearance of the “moss pink” (Phlox subulata), also called wild ground phlox or creeping phlox—one of the first spring wildflowers.
With spring thaws come the Algonquin Breaking Ice Moon and the Dakota Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable. When spring growth appears, so does the Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala). Animals returning to the area inspired the Lakota name Moon When the Ducks Come Back. Certain Dakota peoples chose the name Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs. Other names are Broken Snowshoe Moon (Anishinaabe), Frog Moon (Cree), and Sugar Maker Moon (Western Abenaki).
Appearing either in April or May, Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) refers to a time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or lake shallows to spawn. According to legend, now is the time when this fish comes back from the spirit world to purify bodies of water and the creatures living in them. (This name may also be applied to the February Moon, to honor the sacrifice of the sucker fish in order to feed the Anishinaabe peoples, helping them to survive the winter.)