1. art and entertainment
2. radio

Six Meter Club of Chicago
HALO
www.k9ona.com
Holiday Issue
COMING EVENTS
January
9
10
Six Meter Club Meeting, 7:30
p.m. St. John’s Lutheran
Church, SW Corner 47th &
Brainard, La Grange
West Allis RAC Swapfest
Waukesha WI Expo Center
Arena Building 8 a.m – 1 p.m.
18 WCRA Mid-Winter Hamfest
And Computer Show, Kane
County Fairgrounds St. Charles
Open 8 a.m.
24-25
February
8
ARRL January VHF Contest
Club Participation,
See Article this HALO
Antique Radio Club of IL
Swap Meet American Legion
Hall, 570 S. Gary Avenue
Carol Stream 6-10 a.m.
(One block N of Geneva Rd.)
JANUARY 31 DEADLINE FOR
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Our Club has endowed a perpetual scholarship, which
is administered by the ARRL Foundation. The $500
award is presented annually to a licensed Amateur who
is currently enrolled in or has been admitted for the Fall
2014 term, to a degree program at a regionally
accredited technical school, community college, college
or university.
Any license class is eligible; preference given to
residents or Illinois. Application may be done on line
through the ARRL web site, www.arrl.org -- go to
“ARRL Foundation”. Deadline for submission is
January 31..
January 2015
ANNUAL ARRL VHF CONTEST
CONTEST JANUARY 24-25
This year the ARRL’s January VHF Contest will take
place Saturday and Sunday January 24-25, beginning at
1900 UTC Saturday – 1 p.m. CST, ending 0359 UTC
Monday, January 26 (10 p.m.) Sunday. There is Club
Participation in this event and we always submit
entries, so if you have VHF and/or UHF capabilities
please try to get on the air and submit a log, whether
you make ten contacts or a hundred!
Contest exchange is your Grid Square (EN61, etc.).
Operation is Simplex only, NO repeaters. On Two
Meter FM, DO NOT use 146.52. Suggested FM
operating frequencies are: 52.525, 146.49, 146.55,
146.58, 147.48, 147.51, 223.500, 446.00. Operation
may also be done using SSB or CW, usually around
50.125 and above (observe DX window below 50.125),
144.200, 223.100, 432.100, 903.100, 1296.100.
There are various entry categories, including Single
Operator High power, Low Power (200 W PEP or less
on 6/2 Meters, 100 W on 222/432, 50 W higher freqs;
Portable, 10 W or less not at a permanent station
location; Three Band – 6, 2, 432 ONLY; and there are
also several Rover and Multioperator categories. Full
details are available on the ARRL web site,
www.arrl.org.
HINT: Try looking for club members on the hour
and half hour on 146.550 MHz. Thanks, and good luck
in the contest!
GREAT CONDITIONS FOR
ARRL TEN METER CONTEST
Thanks to all who were able to participate in the
ARRL Ten Meter Contest December 13-14, including
WA9FIH, WD9GJK, KC9KLA, W9NHX and N9TUQ.
The band was open for worldwide DX both days, and
we should have a fine Club aggregate score!
Minutes of the November 14, 2014
Six Meter Club of Chicago Meeting
Officers present: WA9FIH, AK9Y, WD9GJK, KC9IDS,
W9NHX.
Jim, WA9FIH called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept
the minutes of the October meeting as published in the
HALO.
Mike, WD9GJK printed out ARRL Ten Meter and VHF
Contest forms for anyone not using computer logging.
He and Gail are starting to work on getting invitations
to the Hamfest out to dealers.
Our Treasurer, Bob, AK9Y is accepting dues for next
year, $20 regular, $12 seniors and second family
members. Our next VE test will be on Nov. 28, the
Friday after Thanksgiving in LaGrange Park and Jim
asked for a show of hands of Volunteer Examiners who
can attend.
Joe, KC9TQF was out of town and unable to attend.
Gary, KC9IDS reported 21 members and 2 guests in
attendance.
WA9FIH reminded those present that the Club’s
Holiday Luncheon will be December 20 and a sign up
sheet was circulated. Nominations for the Founders’
Award were reviewed at the Club’s Board Meeting
October 24. Awards will be presented at the luncheon in
December Jim has revised our flyer and ticket layout
for the Hamfest and has them printed for distribution to
members in the near future. Plans for the Hamfest
include better public address coverage and expanded
handicap parking. Since we have had such excellent
attendance we will not be raising prices of tickets or
indoor table spaces.
Vern, K9LAE reported on repairs to the two meter
repeater duplexer, and on the UHF repeater move to
Hinsdale.
Nominations for officers for 2015 were held:
President: Jim, WA9FIH
Vice President/Rec. Sec’y: Joe, KC9TQF
Secretary: Mike, WD9GJK
Treasurer: Bob, AK9Y
Sergeant at Arms: Gary, KC9IDS
Member at Large: Will, K9WSS
Election will be held at the January meeting, and
additional nominations may also be made prior to the
election..
WA9FIH reminded members about the ARRL Ten
Meter Contest, Dec, 13 and 14; there is club
participation. WD9GJK has paper forms for anyone
who is not doing computer logging.
WA9FIH held the attendance drawing.
A motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn
at 8:03 p.m. WD9GJK conducted the 50/50 drawing
following adjournment.
Jim Novak, WA9FIH for the
Recording Secretary/V.P.
SIX METER ROUNDTABLE
EACH TUESDAY AT 8 P.M.
Our Six Meter Roundtable Activity Net meets on
50.130 MHz USB Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m., usually
for about a half hour. Help keep the band active and
join in the ragchew – tell your friends about it too! May
through July is sporadic-E skip season, so check six
meters often for openings!
NEXT SMCC BOARD MEETING
SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23
Our next Board of Directors meeting will be held at
6:30 p.m. Friday, January 23 at the LaGrange Park
Village Hall Community Room.
DIGITAL SLOW SCAN TV
NEET MEETS THURSDAYS
Interested in Slow Scan TV? Our digital slow scan net
meets Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. on the two meter
repeater, using Easy Pal software, which is free,
downloadable from the internet. Check it out!
DUES NOW PAYABLE
FOR 2015 MEMBERSHIP
This is the third and final dues notice for the 2015
membership year. Annual dues are $20, except $12 for
Senior Citizens or additional family members at the
same address. See our Treasurer, Bob, AK9Y at the
next meeting or mail your check payable to the “Six
Meter Club of Chicago” to Bob Sebonia, 5118 South
Meade Avenue, Chicago IL 60638. Thanks for your
continued support of the Club!
UPCOMING 2015
HAMFEST SCHEDULE
UPCOMING EVENTS
Listed below are all known hamfests and swap meets in
the local area:
Throughout the year, our members participate in a
number of activities and events involving emergency
preparedness and public service. Please mark the
following on your calendar.
January
February
10
WARAC, West Allis WI
18
WCRA, St. Charles
8
ARCI, Carol Stream
14
MRAC, Brookfield WI
April
19
ARCI, Carol Stream
May
3
Kishwaukee ARC, Sandwich
June
7
Starved Rock RC, Princeton
21
Six Meter Club Hamfest
and ARCI Swapmeet
Wheaton
July
12
19
July 31-Aug 1
August
September
FRRL, Aurora
KARSfest, Peotone
ARCI Radiofest, TBA
2
19
Hamfesters, Peotone
Peoria Superfest
October
4
ARCI, Carol Stream
December
6
ARCI, Carol Stream
AWARDS BESTOWED AT
DECEMBER 21 LUNCHEON
In addition to awards for participation in the ARRL
Ten Meter and January VHF Contests from the past
year, a very special award was presented at our Club’s
annual holiday luncheon December 20.
Richard Hrubec, W9NHX was the recipient of a well
deserved Honorary Life Member Award in recognition
of many years of total involvement in Club activities,
including Field Day, our Hamfest, special events, public
service activities, and serving as an officer. We offer
our congratulations and sincere thanks to Rich for his
continued work on behalf of our Club!
TO PARTICIPATE IN
Walk For Autism, Sunday, April 6 sponsored by
Hinsdale Community House
LaGrange Park Run For The Roses Saturday, May 16
ARRL Field Day June 27-28 at Hinsdale Central High
School
HALOADS...
For Sale:
Astatic 877HL Desk Microphone………………$50
Hallicrafters SX-117 Ham Band HF Receiver
Excellent condition, few paint chips on top of
cabinet, front panel is perfect. With original
manual. Will transceive with a Hallicrafters
HT-44 transmitter (which is not included)…….$250
Hallicrafters HA-10 Low Frequency Converter
Accessory for SX-117 listed above. Excellent
Condition, w/manual. An uncommon item……$150
National HRO-60 Receiver with matching speaker,
Nine coil sets for shortwave bands including bandspread on ham bands and cabinet to hold unused
coil drawers. Radio has been recapped and is in
excellent condition. Also includes a plug-in
SSB product detector from a QST article which
occupies space intended for a NBFM adapter (no
mods to the radio). Original manual included…$400
Shure 404B Hand Mic, new in the box…………$30
Shure 450 Series 2 PTT Desk Mic, like new……$40
Multi MPA-250 Biamp, 250 Watt Public Address
Amp in rack cabinet, like new…………………$150
Ron Fitzgerald, K9ZWR
5555 South Neva Avenue
Chicago IL 60638
773-586-3276
[email protected]
For Sale:
For Sale:
ICOM 271A Multimode Two Meter 10 W
With hand mic…………………………………$250
KLM KT-34 HF Triband Beam, 10-15-20 Meters
from WA9CJZ’s estate. Appears never to have been
used. Has been assembled and checked out by Bill,
KC9KLA who is currently storing it. The antenna has a
16 foot long 3 inch diameter boom, and is rated to
survive winds up to 100 MPH. This antenna is still
supported by M2 Antennas, who currently sells their
version of the antenna for $1468, and also offers a series
of upgrade kits for the original KLM antenna. See the
www.M2inc.com web site for details. Prefer local
pickup in the Chicago area. If interested please make an
offer in writing:
email Jim, WA9FIH at
[email protected].
ICOM 471A Multimode UHF w/mic 10 W…..$250
Yaesu FT-901DM w/AM filter + desk mic $500/ofr
Yaesu matching antenna tuner…….……..$100 firm
Yaesu FT-767 HF + 6, 2, 432 + hand mic…$600/ofr
Wanted: Yaesu FL-2100Z Linear
Tom Dombrowski, K9BVQ
5426 South 72nd Court
Summit IL 60501
708-496-8982
For Sale:
Complete Drake Station: TR-4CW Transceiver,
RV-4C Remote VFO, AC-4 Power Supply, MS-4
Speaker, W-4 Wattmeter/SWR., Astatic D-104
Desk Mic; all in excellent condition, local pick up
only………………………………………..asking $600
Dentron Clipperton-L Amplifier, Excellent Cond.
Local pick up only…………………………asking $550
Dentron MT-3000A Antenna Tuner, good condition
Local Pick up only…………………………asking $250
Drake MS-4 Speaker, Very good condition………..$75
Heathkit SB-610 Monitor Scope, great condition….$70
Rich Breckinridge, WA9BXB
3827 Kemman Avenue
Brookfield IL 60513
708-387-0245 days
[email protected]
For Sale:
Yaesu FT-50R Dual Band (144/440) 5 Watt Handheld
in excellent condition with drop in charger and copy
of manual ………………………………………..$100
Mike Huedepohl, WD9GJK
3532 Raymond Avenue
Brookfield IL 60513
708-485-5481
[email protected]
For Sale:
Crystals for 222 MHz Midland 13-509, Clegg FM-76
And Cobra 200 radios. Many repeater pairs and
simplex channels available. SASE or email for a list.
$5.00 each, $9.00 pair plus postage.
CASIO CT-700 Tone Bank Electronic Keyboard,
Excellent condition……………………………….$50
ICOM IC-471A UHF Multimode transceiver, variable
Power up to 25 Watts out 430-450 MHz, built in
CTCSS encoder, dual VFOs, 32 memories. Very clean
with manual, mic, power cord…………………….$325
Motorola C54RCB MICOR UHF repeater on 440 ham
band, including unified chassis with rcvr, transmitter,
card cage, and power amplifier. Does not include 13.6
VDC power supply, cabinet, or ID/controller. Very
clean, excellent working condition when removed from
service. Club property surplus to our needs…….....$90
Tektronix 535A Classic Oscilloscope with several plugins and matching cart, exc. cond……....$100/offer
Jim Novak, WA9FIH
2335 South 2nd Avenue
North Riverside IL 60546-1308
708-442-4961
[email protected]
SOMETHING TO SELL? GIVE YOUR INFO TO
WA9FIH FOR PUBLICATION HERE NEXT
MONTH!
THE SIX METER CLUB OF CHICAGO, INC.
“We desire to promote the Interest of Amateur Radio, foster activity in the HF, VHF, and UHF bands, acquire proficiency in
CW operation, provide mutual aid in matters technical. . .”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
PRESIDENT………………….….Jim, WA9FIH
VICE PRESIDENT………………Joe, KC9TQF
SECRETARY……………….…Mike, WD9GJK
TREASURER………………….…..Bob, AK9Y
SGT-AT-ARMS………….…….Gary, KC9IDS
MEMBERS AT LARGE…………
Will, K9WSS
CUSTODIAN OF K9ONA……………Mike, WD9GJK
NET MANAGER…………………..……Jim, WA9FIH
HISTORIAN……………………………
ARRL VE TEST CAPTAIN…………..…..Bob, AK9Y
PROGRAM CHAIR……………………
DIRECTORS………………………….
Rich, W9NHX
HALO EDITOR…………..Jim Novak, WA9FIH
CLUB WEB SITE:
www.k9ona.com
2335 South 2nd Avenue
WEBMASTER…………..Bob, AK9Y: [email protected]
North Riverside IL 60546-1308
24-HOUR InfoLine:
708-442-4961
[email protected]
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The HALO is the official publication of the Six Meter Club of Chicago, a not-for-profit ARRL-affiliated Special Service Club
incorporated in the State of Illinois and maintained by and for Radio Amateurs.
MEETINGS: Held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month (except December) at St. John’s Lutheran Church, southwest corner
of 47th Street and Brainard Avenue, La Grange IL; enter through south side door adjacent to parking lot.
NETS:
Six Meter Activity and Ragchew Net, Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. Central Time, 50.130 MHz USB
Two Meter FM Information Net, Tuesday evenings at 9 p.m. Central time over our K9ONA repeater, 146.37/97
ARRL Bulletins, Club news, swap shop, other items of interest to the Amateur Radio community.
Digital SSTV (Slow Scan Amateur TV) Net, Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. on our two meter repeater.
REPEATERS: The Club operates three open repeaters under the call K9ONA/R. Our Two Meter repeater, located in Hinsdale, uses
146.370 MHz input, 146.970 MHz output, with a three minute timer that must be reset with a short pause after the courtesy tone between
transmissions. A 107.2 Hz subaudible (PL) tone is usually required for access. Our 220 repeater, also located in Hinsdale, uses 223.22
MHz in, 224.82 MHz out and requires a CTCSS tone of 110.9 Hz. Our UHF repeater, located in La Grange Park, uses 448.300 MHz
input, 443.300 MHz output, a four minute timer, and is also “PL” access, requiring a 114.8 Hz tone. The two meter and UHF repeaters
also transmit the subaudible CTCSS tone. The repeaters are usually set in cross-link mode.
AFFILIATIONS: The Club is a Life Member Club supporting AMSAT, the non-profit Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. We have
been named an ARRL-affiliated Special Service Club, and belong to the Illinois Repeater Assn.
CERTIFICATES: Available for working ten Club members (five if applicant is more than 100 miles from Chicago) on either 50, 144,
or 222 MHz. Stations worked must be valid Club members at time of your QSO; repeater contacts do not count. Send log data list with
time, date, and band/mode to our Secretary. There is no charge for the award.
SCHOLARSHIP: The Club has endowed a perpetual scholarship administered by the ARRL Foundation. It is awarded annually subject
to specific criteria listed on the ARRL web site, www.arrl.org, or available from the foundation. Applications are due by January 31 of
each calendar year.
INFOLINE: Our Club’s InfoLine telephone service is available around the clock at 708-442-4961. A recorded message will brief you
on Club news and coming events, and you may leave a message on our answering machine.
FACEBOOK & YAHOO GROUP: The Club’s Facebook page is available at: www.facebook.com/groups/287932964607477/. The
Yahoo Group can be accessed at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9ONA.
HAMFEST: Our Six Meter Club of Chicago HAMFEST is held annually on the third Sunday in June (June 21, 2015) at the DuPage
County Fairgrounds in Wheaton IL. All Club members are expected to work to insure its success.