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President's LetterJonathan Pearce, WB2MNFMay 2025 |
May 2025
April was another active month for the Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club, with members coming together to tackle technical projects and gear up for summer events. Our motto, Learning Stuff. Building Stuff. Doing Stuff - Together!, shone through in the enthusiasm and collaboration at our recent gatherings. Let’s recap some highlights and preview what’s next.
April Tech Saturday : PCB Design Success
Chris Prioli, AD2CS, delivered an outstanding presentation at the April 5th Tech Saturday Forum, guiding attendees through the process of designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) for production. Using examples like a simple Raspberry Pi-based project and the dummy load/wattmeter design slated for May’s build session, Chris demystified PCB creation. His clear explanations and practical demonstrations gave participants the confidence to start designing their own boards. If you missed it, don’t worry - Chris’s session set the stage for more hands-on opportunities this month.
May 10th Tech Saturday Forum : Building a Digital Wattmeter/Dummy Load
On May 10th, the first Saturday after our May 7th General Membership Meeting, Chris Prioli, AD2CS, will lead a hands-on Tech Saturday session to construct the digital wattmeter/dummy load project featured in the February issue of QST and reprinted in our April and May CrossTalks. This device, blending RF circuitry with an Arduino microcontroller, is a practical addition to any ham shack. With about a dozen participants already signed up, the session is nearly full, but Chris can accommodate more builders by adding a second session the following week if needed. Expect to wrap up in a single session, likely running into the early afternoon.
Go to https://registration.w2mmd.org/wpregp/gcarc-dummy-load-wattmeter-project-build and complete the registration form.
GCARC Family Picnic
Mark your calendars for the GCARC Family Picnic on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Red Bank Battlefield Park. This is our first picnic in several years, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic day of food, fun, and camaraderie. Further details are available in the May CrossTalk and will be announced at the May 7th General Membership Meeting, where we’ll also look for sign-ups to attend and possibly bring something to share. Bring your family and friends for a relaxing afternoon by the Delaware River!
Field Day Preparations
Field Day is approaching on June 28-29, and Jim Wright, N2GXJ, is rallying the team for another memorable event. For new operators, Field Day is a chance to dive into the fast-paced world of HF contesting. To ease first-timers in, our June 7th Tech Saturday Forum will host an “Intro to Field Day for Newbies” session, covering the basics and offering a preview of what to expect.
This will double as an organizational meeting for all Field Day operators. Jim is also seeking volunteers for both operating and non-operating roles, so if you’re interested, reach out to him at [email protected] to get involved.
DMR Repeater Now Operational
Thanks to the hard work of Frank Romeo, N3PUU, and John Zaruba, K2ZA, our DMR repeater at Rowan University is up and running on 440.10625 MHz (Color Code 1). Timeslot 1 supports most BrandMeister talk groups, while Timeslot 2, talk group 2, is dedicated to GCARC’s local chat group, with talk group 9 for local calling. Many members have jumped on board with affordable OpenGD77 DMR radios, programming them for local frequencies. If you’re curious about DMR, join the growing group of Club members exploring this mode - support is available at the Clubhouse and on our Discord channel.
Fox Hunting Antenna Build
We’re considering a Tech Saturday Forum session, tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2025 (Not July 5th), to build tape measure Yagi antennas with attenuators, a popular project from last year, if there’s sufficient interest. These portable antennas are perfect for fox hunting and other direction-finding activities. If you’d like to participate, let Chris Prioli, AD2CS ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) know, and we’ll confirm the date as we get closer.
Tower Refurbishment Progress
Al Arrison, KB2AYU, Frank Romeo, N3PUU, and Earl Moore, KC2NCH, are leading the charge on our 89-foot UHF/microwave tower, refurbishing pulleys and replacing cabling. Meanwhile, the 72-foot tower is in better shape and will soon support the VHF and lower-frequency UHF antennas currently on the tower trailer. Next steps include excavating trenches and installing underground piping for cables and grounding. These efforts will bring our new VHF station equipment online, enhancing our capabilities for contests and regular operations.
As we head into summer, the Club is overflowing with opportunities to learn, build, and connect. Whether you’re designing PCBs, operating during Field Day, or enjoying the picnic, there’s something for everyone. Keep sharing your ideas and expertise to help shape our community.
73 de Jon WB2MNF
April was another active month for the Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club, with members coming together to tackle technical projects and gear up for summer events. Our motto, Learning Stuff. Building Stuff. Doing Stuff - Together!, shone through in the enthusiasm and collaboration at our recent gatherings. Let’s recap some highlights and preview what’s next.
April Tech Saturday : PCB Design Success
Chris Prioli, AD2CS, delivered an outstanding presentation at the April 5th Tech Saturday Forum, guiding attendees through the process of designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) for production. Using examples like a simple Raspberry Pi-based project and the dummy load/wattmeter design slated for May’s build session, Chris demystified PCB creation. His clear explanations and practical demonstrations gave participants the confidence to start designing their own boards. If you missed it, don’t worry - Chris’s session set the stage for more hands-on opportunities this month.
May 10th Tech Saturday Forum : Building a Digital Wattmeter/Dummy Load
On May 10th, the first Saturday after our May 7th General Membership Meeting, Chris Prioli, AD2CS, will lead a hands-on Tech Saturday session to construct the digital wattmeter/dummy load project featured in the February issue of QST and reprinted in our April and May CrossTalks. This device, blending RF circuitry with an Arduino microcontroller, is a practical addition to any ham shack. With about a dozen participants already signed up, the session is nearly full, but Chris can accommodate more builders by adding a second session the following week if needed. Expect to wrap up in a single session, likely running into the early afternoon.
Go to https://registration.w2mmd.org/wpregp/gcarc-dummy-load-wattmeter-project-build and complete the registration form.
GCARC Family Picnic
Mark your calendars for the GCARC Family Picnic on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Red Bank Battlefield Park. This is our first picnic in several years, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic day of food, fun, and camaraderie. Further details are available in the May CrossTalk and will be announced at the May 7th General Membership Meeting, where we’ll also look for sign-ups to attend and possibly bring something to share. Bring your family and friends for a relaxing afternoon by the Delaware River!
Field Day Preparations
Field Day is approaching on June 28-29, and Jim Wright, N2GXJ, is rallying the team for another memorable event. For new operators, Field Day is a chance to dive into the fast-paced world of HF contesting. To ease first-timers in, our June 7th Tech Saturday Forum will host an “Intro to Field Day for Newbies” session, covering the basics and offering a preview of what to expect.
This will double as an organizational meeting for all Field Day operators. Jim is also seeking volunteers for both operating and non-operating roles, so if you’re interested, reach out to him at [email protected] to get involved.
DMR Repeater Now Operational
Thanks to the hard work of Frank Romeo, N3PUU, and John Zaruba, K2ZA, our DMR repeater at Rowan University is up and running on 440.10625 MHz (Color Code 1). Timeslot 1 supports most BrandMeister talk groups, while Timeslot 2, talk group 2, is dedicated to GCARC’s local chat group, with talk group 9 for local calling. Many members have jumped on board with affordable OpenGD77 DMR radios, programming them for local frequencies. If you’re curious about DMR, join the growing group of Club members exploring this mode - support is available at the Clubhouse and on our Discord channel.
Fox Hunting Antenna Build
We’re considering a Tech Saturday Forum session, tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2025 (Not July 5th), to build tape measure Yagi antennas with attenuators, a popular project from last year, if there’s sufficient interest. These portable antennas are perfect for fox hunting and other direction-finding activities. If you’d like to participate, let Chris Prioli, AD2CS ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) know, and we’ll confirm the date as we get closer.
Tower Refurbishment Progress
Al Arrison, KB2AYU, Frank Romeo, N3PUU, and Earl Moore, KC2NCH, are leading the charge on our 89-foot UHF/microwave tower, refurbishing pulleys and replacing cabling. Meanwhile, the 72-foot tower is in better shape and will soon support the VHF and lower-frequency UHF antennas currently on the tower trailer. Next steps include excavating trenches and installing underground piping for cables and grounding. These efforts will bring our new VHF station equipment online, enhancing our capabilities for contests and regular operations.
As we head into summer, the Club is overflowing with opportunities to learn, build, and connect. Whether you’re designing PCBs, operating during Field Day, or enjoying the picnic, there’s something for everyone. Keep sharing your ideas and expertise to help shape our community.
73 de Jon WB2MNF
Saturday, May 3, 2025
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Sunday, May 4, 2025
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May 4 - 10, 2025 : https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
Monday, May 5, 2025
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Tuesday, May 6, 2025
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Wednesday, May 7, 2025 : National Teachers Day
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Thursday, May 8, 2025
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Sunday, May 11, 2025
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May 11 - 17, 2025
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Full Flower Moon - Saturday, May 12, 2025 @ 1256 Hours.
May’s Flower Moon name should be no surprise; flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month! “Flower Moon” has been attributed to Algonquin peoples, as confirmed by Christina Ruddy of The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre in Pikwakanagan, Ontario. May’s Moon was also referred to as the “Month of Flowers” by Jonathan Carver in his 1798 publication, Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America: 1766, 1767, 1768 (pp. 250-252), as a likely Dakota name. Carver stayed with the Naudowessie (Dakota) over a period of time; his expedition covered the Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin and Minnesota areas. Henry David Thoreau sparked the Native American Moon names as well, referencing the Flower Moon and Carver when he wrote about Native Americans.
Old Farmer’s Almanac - www.almanac.com
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Saturday, May 17, 2025 : Armed Forces Day
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Monday, May 26, 2025 : Memorial Day