Submit your Nominations for MARA Ham of the Year to the Secretary by Dec 1st
Author: KL7JFT
2023 BOY SCOUT JOTA SETUP
We have been asked to support the Boy Scout’s JOTA at the Scout Camp Gorsuch at Mirror Lake 22700 Camp Gorsuch Rd, Chugiak. It will be Oct 20-21ST, We’ll set the trailers Frida 1000 and operate Saturday and tear down Saturday evening around 1600. We need about a dozen folks or more to support this, excellent training opportunity. We will operate DMR and HF. We need trailer pullers, coordinate with Scott/KL7SLM, setup and teardown crews, coordinate with TJ/KL3IT folks to interface and training folks Equipment setup in Comm Trailer and to work with the kids to operate. Make sure the kids log books get signed and attendance list get completed. Possibly coordinate with Kathy/KL7KO to run packet, if it will work from the site. We are registered with the BSA and have the use of their call sign K2BSA/KL7. Suggested HF freqs are on their website. Please contact Don/KL7JFT so we can make sure we have enough folks on hand. Trailers need to depart no later than 0915 from MATCOM.
MARA 2023 Field Day (COMPLETED)
Ok MARA Field Day in going on this year. Sean Mckenney/KL5NE will be in charge. https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator . Please contact Sean to volunteer and give him a hand in setting up. This is great time practice portable setup and have fun contacting folks around world and lower 48.
Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday.
Field Day 2023 is June 24-25. Check with Sean for his final plan.
Check Field Day (arrl.org) for all the rules.
Annual ARRL Field Day Update & Planning - 04/26/2023 - YouTube
Four Field Day Generators - YouTube
ARRL Field Day Safety - Ham Radio Q&A - YouTube
The location I will be using is just north of the intersection of Glenn Highway and Palmer-Fishhook intersection on the east side of the road there is a large pull off that overlooks that Matanuska River, my thought is to set up in the grassy area and have some sign by the road that would indicate 'Ham Radio' or 'Ham Radio Field Day'.
For those who would like to run field day from home or other remote sites, look over the rules. You would need to be at least a general class to run the site. I would also recommend at least 2 people great time to get the family into the mix.
Everyone please take care and have fun.
Don/KL7JFT
MATSU DEC
MARA Producing Training Videos
Ken/KL2HF would like to see the club get together and produce some instructional videos. If anyone has a subject that they think they would like to present or participate in, I would like to know about it and we can see if we can plan and arrange for a video recording on the subject.
We have two pan, scan, zoom video conference cameras, and there are some web cameras that can be used.
Not everybody can be in the same place at the same time so it would be nice to have some videos that Ham operators could go to for demonstrations and learning, plus it would make our club look really good.
The video with George Strother soldering coax cable is an example of what we might be able to do.
Looking for feedback. Contact Ken KL2HF
MARA 2023 ANNUAL PICNIC (COMPLETED)
MARA's annual picnic will be held at the Lake Lucille Rec Area on the 15th of July at 1000, it will be in Pavilion A. We will be having our usual Barbee, we need a grill and chief cook. We ask folks to bring a side dish, MARA will supply the Dogs, Cow, Buns, Condiments and Water. We will have door prizes. There is a very large field and play ground, good for flying drones if you are interested. There is a great dog park that the dogs will enjoy running and playing. Those that have ordered coffee cups in the past please stop by and pay for them and pick the up. If you are interested in a VE Session, contact Ken/KL2HF, other wise it will be the following Saturday. Bring a chair and if bad weather a picnic cover. We will have picnic tables in the Pavilion.
2023 Motely Picnic (COMPLETED)
ALASKA AMATEUR RADIO PICNIC – 2023
Sponsored by The Alaska Motley Group
June 25th to June 28th - Tolsona Wilderness Campground
ALASKA MOTLEY GROUP PICNIC – 2023
Mile173 Glenn Hwy, tolsonacampground.com/ - Phone 822-3900
This will be the 41st annual Motley Group picnic. There are typically 60 to 80 attendees, most of whom are members of the Motley Group, Snipers Net or Alaska-Pacific Emergency Preparedness Net, but all amateur radio operators and their families are welcome to attend.
Fish, hike, chat with other Hams, and participate in as many of the following scheduled activities as you choose.
THURSDAY, 1700 hours - EARLY BIRD GET-TOGETHER - Bring snacks to share and beverage of your choice. Dee Bowns, the Motley Group historian, will provide an opportunity for you to page through photo albums and recall people and events from previous years. Your photos are welcome.
FRIDAY, 1130 hours - LADIES LUNCHEON - Campground pavilion - Potluck.
FRIDAY, 1700 hours - BAKED POTATO BAR & CHINESE AUCTION
The Motley Group will provide potatoes, and participants provide toppings to share.
Topping ideas: butter, sour cream, bacon, chili, cheese, diced veggies (raw or cooked), etc.
Bring food and item(s) for Chinese auction - “gag gifts" always welcome.
SATURDAY, 1100 hours - SNIPERS NET MEETING - Net Control & Sweep Operators.
SATURDAY, 1300 - 1500 hours – AMATEUR RADIO WORKSHOP - An open-forum discussion of antennas and other Ham radio related items. Show & tell one of your radio projects.
SATURDAY, 1300 - 1500 hours – LADIES BOARD GAMES AND CARD GAMES
SATURDAY, 1700 hours - THE MOTLEY PARTY - Potluck dinner, awards presentation, door prize drawings, and outcry auction. For outcry auction bring equipment you would like sold at auction. Motley Group will keep 25% of the sale price, or you can donate the item and the Motley Group will keep 100%. You can specify a reserve price if you choose.
SUNDAY, 0900 hours - FAREWELL BREAKFAST - Pancakes, syrup and butter provided. You are welcome to contribute precooked meat, scrambled eggs, fruit, pastries, etc.
DOOR PRIZES AND AUCTION ITEMS - There will be over 1200 dollars worth of new radio equipment and accessories available as door prizes and auction items.
Camping fee is $35 per night for RV sites, which includes water and electricity. Showers and laundry available in campground. This is a discounted rate for Motley Group picnic attendees.
If you have not reserved a site, do so NOW. "Tell them you are with the Motley Group."
Larry, AL7LW - Manager, Alaska Motley Group
http://www.tolsonacampground.com
ARMED FORCES DAY CROSS/BAND EXERCISE (Completed)
Here is a good chance to work some cross band with the military on the 13th of May
The US Department of Defense (DoD) will host this year's Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test on May 13, 2023. This annual event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators and will not impact any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this event.
The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario.
Military stations will transmit on selected frequencies and will announce the specific ARS frequencies monitored. All of the times are Zulu (Z), and all frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless otherwise noted. The frequencies used for the test will not stray outside the confines of the exercise.
A complete list of frequencies, time periods, QSL cards, and other information can be found at DoD MARS - Armed Forces Day.
AFD is a time of honor. It will be celebrated on Saturday, May 20, 2023. The first AFD was celebrated with parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. Today, many events and activities take place and may include multi-service military displays in areas open to the public, various educational activities that teach children about the armed forces, and large parades with local celebrations.
MARA HamWAN Presentation (COMPLETED)
OK coming up on Saturday, April 29th at 1800 will be a presentation on HamWAN at WASI Class Room. The club is looking into possibly setting up a network around the valley to start with, to give us an internal internet. This is a modern, multi-megabit, IP-based, digital network for amateur radio use. It can be tied into the regular internet if available but continue to work if it is lost. There are several additional features it could provide to work with outside agencies or activities
Currently Puget Sound has quite a network established. The MARA working group will have equipment on hand and discuss the pros and cons of the system. HamWAN for any additional info on the presentation.
MARA 2023 HAMFEST
Our date is set for 09 Sept. Setup time is 0900 open from 1000-1600. The location will be the Big Lake Lions Club, at 2942 Lions Cir, Big Lake. Tabitha/KL4FZ has complete our door prize request letter to give to the vendors and businesses to request door prizes soon. Remember they are tax free. Check with the Treasure for Tax Receipts to give to the vendors.
We will be inviting the ARRL Northwest Director or Assist. Director, depending on their schedule He will be bringing a lot of new ARRL and Ham radio info with him and wants to get our opinions on various items. Lets hope he can make it. We are currently looking for presentations to put on the schedule. Coordinate with Hamfest Coordinator to get on the schedule.
Entry is $5.00 at the gate and 1 door prize tickets, additional door prize tickets will be a $1.00 max of 10, Tables are $10.00 reserve them thru John/KL1XM. The Barbee will be $5.00 ea.
We need volunteers to help on various tasks for the hamfest. Please contact Hamfest Coordinator to assist. We will need VEs to conduct testing at 1300-1400, will need folks at the gate, and the MARA Country Store, setup and tear down crews. Folks can bring side dishes and deserts if they desire. Please turn door prizes into Prior to the Hamfest to John/KL1XM.
Personal Websites
We now have a page where we will list members personal websites. If you would like to have your page listed send an email to dbush@gci.net and I will add it to the Members Websites page for you.