Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society
News
November 27, 2023
Christmas Party
Reservations are open now for dinner during our Christmas Party, December 14. You get your choice of grilled chicken or steak, and it comes with two sides.
Make your reservations now! Tickets will not be sold at the door. Check out the EVENTS page for details.
MARS has chosen a Yaesu FTM-500DR dual-band 2 meter/440 + C4FM transceiver as this year’s Christmas Raffle prize. Tickets are 5 dollars each or 20 dollars for 5 tickets—a bargain!
The drawing will be held on December 14 during our Christmas Party. Go now the the RAFFLE page to buy your lucky tickets.
The awesome FTM-500DR
Switchyard Notes
This year’s Festival at the Switchyard saw a steady stream of interested fest-goers visiting the MARS booth. We had several guests who expressed an interest in ham radio so we explained how to study and get a license.
The “Kid Code Key” attracted kids of all ages and generated smiles as they pounded out their names in Morse code. We had over 130 visitors work the key. Even Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick demonstrated his “fist.”
Billed as a special event we set up stations seeking contacts from around the world. Tom Yenny, K5LOL, and Ron Reeves, NN5R, worked SSB on 15 and 20 meters. David Gilpin, K5GIL, and Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, were at the digital rig running FT4 and FT8 on 10, 12, 15 and 20 meters. Steve Darrah, KD5YPB, set up a Winlink® station.
We worked 31 states, and 14 foreign countries. Best DX was Australia (≈14,000 km) with Japan in the second slot (≈10,500 km). All told we had 80 unique QSOs in the log.
Thanks go to the radio operators and to Daryl DeVault, KE5SAB, James Jernigan, KG5WVL, Kevin Grantham, N5KRG, Mike Brown, W5MDB, and Liz Brown, K5EMB, for making the event a great success. We’re looking forward to next year’s Festival at the Switchyard.
Fox Hunting with Tony
At the October 12 meeting, Tony Mendina, NT5TM, shared his extensive expertise with “Fox Hunting.” Fox Hunting is searching for low-power transmitters hidden around the area. Tony shared his best direction-finding techniques in the video below. You can find more information at these links:
https://www.k5rwk.org/foxhunt/
https://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-direction-finding
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_direction_finding
Play Day
Play Days are usually on the third Saturday of each month. The next Play Day is January 20, 2024.
Go now to the EVENTS page for more details.
License Testing
Allan Batteiger, WB5QNG, will have an in-person test session on January 20 at the Library. 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
January 14, 2024, 8:00 PM CT
145.210 Tone 110.9
RACES Training
January 21, 2024, 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.
“ARES®” and “Amateur Radio Emergency Service®” are registered service marks of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated and are used by permission.