News
January 27, 2020
Handi-Talkie Talk
January 9, 2020
Tom Yenny, K5LOL, shared just part of his massive collection of portable radios at MARS’ first meeting of 2020. He took us back before we enjoyed our computer-programmed, non-skid, color-displayed HTs with controls too small for human fingers.
One advantage of early portables was that hams did not have to program CTCSS tones because that feature wasn’t there. And that confusing VFO wasn’t necessary because you just bought a bunch of crystals for your desired frequencies.
Tom challenged the group to speculate the future for HTs. Will there more merging with cell phones or will the portable just go the way of the floppy disk? He pointed out that amateur radio continues to be at risk of losing our frequency allocations. He challenged us to be more active on the air, and to encourage new and potential hams.
Go here to download your very own copy of Tom’s presentation, and check out the gallery below.
Next Regular Meeting
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Carrollton Public Library, 4220 N Josey Ln,
Amateur Testing 6:00 PM
Meeting 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
David Gilpin, K5GIL, will go over digital modes.
Next Play Day
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Carrollton Josey Ranch Lake Library, 1700 Keller Springs Road
Carrollton
Farmers Branch
Addison
ARES/RACES
Quarterly Meeting
8 February 2020, 10:00 AM – 12 Noon
Carrollton Fire Rescue Administration 1111 W. Belt Line Rd suite #100
Next scheduled nets
ARES Training
9 February 2020, 8:00 PM CDT
145.210 Tone 110.9
RACES Training
16 February 2020, 7:45 PM CDT
145.210 Tone 110.9
President’s Corner
January 2020
Happy New Year! We are halfway through the current “club year” and it’s been fun. Coming up are Winter Field Day this month, then Texas State Parks On The Air (TSPOTA), and finally ARRL Field Day in June. In between are several hamfests including Cowtown Hamfest this month, Irving and then the big Ham-Com in Plano in June. Plan to participate in as many as you can; it’s a great way to sharpen your operating skills and contribute to the club.
Christmas Party a Success
Over 50 hams and guests gathered at The Victoria Restaurant in Farmers Branch for a great Tex-Mex dinner, door prizes and fellowship on December 12. President Kevin Grantham, N5KRG, presided over the event. An excellent video, The Last Ham on Earth, by Tom General, KE5ICX, was quite a hit.
David Holliday, NB5V, took away the big Raffle Prize—a $1,000 gift certificate from Main Trading—making him a very Happy Holliday indeed.
For pictures of the festivities, go now to the Gallery. MARS wishes everyone a wonderful New Year with good DX in 2020!
I predict that very shortly the old-fashioned incandescent lamp, having a filament heated to brightness by the passage of electric current through it, will entirely disappear. —Nikola Tesla
The world’s first communications-quality two-way transatlantic transmissions were made between Brant Rock, Massachusetts and Machrihanish, Scotland.
