Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society
News
July 13, 2025
MARS Hams Have a Field Day during Field Day
—Ron Reeves, NN5R with Mike Brown, W5MDB
Bright and early Friday morning, the MARS antenna crew Eric Silverthorn, NM5M, Jordan Lichtenwalter, KE5BRT, George Williams, KG5GXU, Bill Clements, K5PEC, and Ron Reeves, NN5R, converged on Fellowship Hall at the First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch to festoon the roof with some sparkling (not sparking) antennas. Saturday morning we installed our rigs to be ready for our start at 1:00. The setup created quite a network of transmission lines into the building but it was all under control.
Working as class 3A MARS operators overcame some poor propagation to make 358 QSOs during the two-day event, June 28 through 29. The preliminary score was 700 but does not include any bonus points (it’s not a contest).
CW operators Eric Silverthorn, NM5M, and Darrell Crimmins, KG5E, racked up 218 contacts. This was Darrell’s first Field Day contact on CW! David Gilpin, K5GIL, Jordan Lichtenwalter, KE5BRT, and Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, made 124 digital contacts with FT8 being the favored mode. Andy and James Jernigan, KG5WVL, were able to make only 16 phone contacts due to conditions (but it’s not a contest).
New ham Roman Soriano KJ5KEU, made six phone QSOs at the “Get On The Air” (GOTA) station with excellent coaching from Kevin Grantham, N5KRG. Andy Smolenski tried to work a satellite but had no luck. All told we were able to work 7 bands over 19 hours.
But it’s not a contest.
Farmers Branch Emergency Coordinator Luke Parten, KI5WJM, dropped by with his family for a visit. Janette Begert, KI5SSR, and Mike Bergert, K5MY, came by and were so impressed they joined the Club! Welcome Janette and Mike!
Everyone involved had a great time. Thanks go to Field Day Marshal Ron Reeves, NN5R, for his leadership and to the First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch for the excellent venue. Thanks go as well to Liz Brown, K5EMB, Ellen Markey, KG5IKG, Gregory Maddra, KG5CKX, Collin Swain, KG5ELO, Kim Walter, K1MME, for being part of the team to make our event successful. Special thanks go to Kim Gilpin who prepared lunch and an awesome Saturday night spaghetti dinner and to Bill Clements, K5PEC, for Sunday’s biscuit, bacon and eggs breakfast.
Without everyone’s help, Field Day just isn’t Field Day and we’re looking forward to 2026. Have some ideas or comments? Let us know, fieldday@kb5a.org. Remember, it’s not a contest—it’s a propagation report.
Carrollton Recognizes Amateur Radio
(L-R) MARS Immediate Past President David Gilpin, K5GIL; Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick; MARS President Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX; Carrollton Emergency Management Specialist Ryan Owusu-Ansah
At the June 17, 2025, Carrollton City Council Meeting, Mayor Steve Babick declared the week of June 22-29, 2025, to be “Amateur Radio Week.” Leading up to ARRL Field Day, the proclamation recognizes amateur radio operators and their public service in times of emergencies and community events.
MARS President Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, and Immediate Past President David Gilpin, K5GIL, were on hand to accept the certificate on behalf of the Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society. Carrollton Emergency Management Specialist Ryan Owusu-Ansah participated in the ceremony.
Earlier this month, the City of Farmers Branch issued its own “Amateur Radio Week” proclamation.
MARS will work Field Day June 28 through 29 from the First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch. More details are on our EVENTS page.
Next Regular Meeting
Thursday, August 14, 2025, 7:00 PM
Greg Mihran, KJ6ER, will talk to us about Portable antennas.
More details on the EVENTS page.
License Testing
Allan Batteiger, WB5QNG, will have an in-person test session on the third Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Check the EVENTS page for details. Allan continues to offer remote testing sessions as well. Please visit https://wb5qng.org/ to learn how to sign up.
Carrollton
Farmers Branch
Addison
ARES/RACES
Next scheduled nets
ARES® Training
August 10, 2025, 8:00 PM CT
145.210 Tone 110.9
RACES Training
July 20, 2025, 7:45 PM CT
145.210 Tone 110.9
Support MARS When You Shop
A percentage of your purchases can be donated when you visit Tom Thumb, or Kroger at no extra cost to you. Please go to the SUPPORT page to learn how.
Donate to MARS
Build-A-Thon Set for July
Warm up your Weller! MARS is planning a kit build for Play Day July 19 at the Josey Ranch Lake Library. The project is a uSDX 5-Band multimode QRP transceiver available from Amazon for only $83. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YH2V2ZP
Order your kit now so you can get a head start with your build.
All the surface mount components are preinstalled! Everything else is through-hole. The trickiest part of the build is winding some toroids and transformers.
Chief Kit Builders George Williams, KG5GXU, Dave Lane, N5GDL, and David Gilpin, K5GIL, have compiled a complete reference with all you need to know about the project. Go now to the Build-A-Thon page for more information.
“ARES®” and “Amateur Radio Emergency Service®” are registered service marks of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated and are used by permission.