Metrocrest Amateur Radio Society
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October 1, 2025
JOTA/JOTI
Sunday, October 19, 2025—
MARS joined Carrollton’s Cub Scout Pack 121 for Scouting’s Jamboree On The Air/Jamboree On The Internet. Scouts turned out in force to learn about Amateur Radio and try out their radio skills.
The HF bands were a little quiet, but we had several HTs on hand for the future hams to make some local VHF contacts. Our popular “Kid Code Key” allowed the Scouts to try their “fists” with CW and was a big hit.
MARS thanks Scout Committee Chair Kristina Enslow and the rest of Pack 121 for the invitation and opportunity to show off ham radio. Thanks go as well to Ron Reeves, NN5R, Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, George Williams, KG5GXU, Liz Brown, K5EMB, Gregory Maddra, KG5CKX, Mike Brown, W5MDB, Fred Merritt, W5MGM, and his wife Joell for all their help. The Hams from MARS are looking forward to next year’s event.
W5SQA Recognized for his Lifetime Achievement
At our August 14 meeting, Bob Linker, W5SQA, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service and leadership to Amateur Radio. The award was presented by Darrell Crimmins, KG5E, Dave Lane, N5GDL, George Williams, KG5GXU, and David Gilpin, K5GIL. Bob is a founding lifetime member of MARS.
Build-A-Thon Solder Smoke
MARS Hams gathered at the Josey Ranch Lake Library on July 19 Play Day to work on their nifty uSDX 5-Band multimode QRP transceiver. This small rig is very popular but requires some skill in assembly. Magnifiers were the order of the day along with tiny tools and fine fingers.
Even with a few “uh-ohs,” everyone seemed to be having a good time. Dave Lane, N5GDL, 3D printed some very nice enclosures; much better than those you can find online.
At this writing the kit is still available from Amazon. Thanks go to Dave, George Williams, KG5GXU, and David Gilpin, K5GIL, for managing this project and putting together a handy Reference Guide you can download: uSDX Reference Guide.
