March fox hides near huge hole

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Fort Wayne Radio Club fox (hidden transmitter) hunters search for their “quarry.”

March 2, the Fort Wayne Radio Club once again prepared to hold its monthly fox (hidden transmitter) hunt, starting at 1:30 p.m. local time. Since the winner of the previous hunt, Don, K9LI, was not available to be the fox, the second-place team of W9LAN, W9SAN, and their grandson Alex Smith went off in search of a suitable hiding place somewhere in Allen County. Linda and Steve had been surveying sites for the previous two weekends and decided to reactivate a site that had been used many years ago, the Hanson Quarry observation tower on Sandpoint Road, not far from former Elmhurst High School site on the city’s southwest side. The weather was unusually warm, and the sun was shining; it was looking like that ground hog in Pennsylvania was right this year! The mood of the foxes was also unusually wacky, as the hunters were about to discover!

Back at the starting location, the veteran team of Al Burke, WB9SSE; Carol Burke, WB9RUS; Jim Pliett, K9OMA; and Muriel Pliett, KA9YYI were ready, along with Charles, KC9MUT and his young daughter. Then some newbies showed up. It was the OM and YL team of Adam and Meghan Warrix, KD9NRT and KD9ODP, along with new FWRC director Spencer Cassady, KD9NRS. The Pliett/Burke team took Spencer on board their vehicle, and Meghan and Adam joined KC9MUT and daughter as ride-alongs in his truck.

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FWRC offers certificate for centennial contacts with members

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Example of a certificate available to hams who make 100 contacts with FWRC members during calendar year 2020.

The Fort Wayne Radio Club (FWRC) is celebrating its centennial by offering a commemorative certificate to any amateur radio station who logs at least 100 contacts with FWRC members between Jan. 1, 2020 and 0500 UTC Jan. 1, 2021.

The club is calling the event, “100 years, 100 Contacts.” Anyone who wishes to receive the operating award must make 100 contacts with FWRC members using any band, mode, or amateur equipment. Participants may count contacts with the same FWRC member multiple times per day, but only if each contact is on a different band, mode, or combination of both. Participants must make contact with minimum of 25 different FWRC members. During each contact, stations must exchange call signs, names, cities, signal report, rig description, antenna description, and state, province or country. “Rag chewing” (extended conversation) is encouraged.

A list of FWRC members (i.e., stations that can be counted toward the certificate) is available on the FWRC website.

Participants may create logs using any logging program. To receive a certificate, they must either send via email a file containing only the Fort Wayne Radio Club members contacted, including contact information, date, time, mode and band, to kg9fm@arrl.net, or send paper logs (as done 100
years ago) via post to:

Clark Derbyshire, KG9FM
4107 North Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46815

All certificates will be sent via email, so participants must provide a valid email address.

Feb. 2020 general meeting minutes available

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ARRL Central Division Vice Director Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA speaks to the Fort Wayne Radio Club
ARRL Central Division Vice Director Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA speaks to the Fort Wayne Radio Club during its general meeting, Feb. 21, 2020

Minutes of the Feb. 21, 2020 general meeting of the Fort Wayne Radio Club are available for download from this website, using the “Files” menu above or the link below.

FWRC February 2020 general meeting minutes

FWRC February 2020 general meeting minutes

71.57 KB 1376 Downloads
February 26, 2020
Download

General meeting time changed

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During the FWRC’s February, 2020 general meeting, members voted to change the starting time of future meetings from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The events list on this website already reflects the new starting time.

Also, the host facility (Good Shepherd United Methodist Church) recently reminded club officers that all persons who attend club events must enter the building via door number two. Holding open any other door to allow entrance violates building policies.

FWRC registers for Indiana QSO Party

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The Indiana QSO Party (INQP) Yahoo Group email reflector is up and running! FWRC has registered our plans for a multi-operator, multi-transmitter operation during the contest on the first Saturday in May. We are now on the activity map for the state. Links to the email reflector and activity map are on the INQP web page.

Registrations open for Allen Co. Severe Weather Seminar

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The Allen County chapter of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, in collaboration with the Allen County Office of Homeland Security, invites all interested persons to attend its 2020 Allen County Severe Weather Seminar, Saturday, March 28, 2020.

This seminar offers the two sessions described below (all times EDT). Anyone may register for either or both sessions.

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Postal delivery of Allen County HamNews discontinued

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Mailed, paper copies of the Allen County HamNews are no longer available as of 2020.

Previously, the Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society (ACARTS) arranged for printing and mailing to hams who paid extra with their club dues for the service. ACARTS provided this service for members of both its own club and members of the Fort Wayne Radio Club (FWRC).

In recent years, the number of requests for paper copies dwindled to just a few. Meanwhile, printing and mailing costs rose significantly, to $35.00 per year. ACARTS therefore decided to discontinue the service as of the start of calendar year 2020.

The newsletter remains available electronically via both the ACARTS and FWRC websites.

ACARTS to conduct VHF/UHF FM simplex contest April 4

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Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society (ACARTS) president Dave Lindquist, W9LKH recently announced that it will conduct the Northeast Indiana VHF/UHF FM Simplex Contest, Saturday, April 4 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The format will be essentially the same as in previous years. Official rules, logs, and maps are posted on the ACARTS website. It has been a fun little contest in the past, and gives operators an idea of the capabilities of their stations for simplex operation in an emergency situation. Plan to join in for an evening of fun!