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June Updates

Last updated on June 16, 2022

What’s Happening With WCRA?

Parks On The Air (POTA)

June 18, 2022 – 0900-1200

James Pate Philip State Park

2050 W Stearns Rd, Bartlett, IL 60103

All amateurs are invited.

See our Facebook page for details or Contact Tom-KD9JSA

Field Day

June 25-26, 2022

Who:           The Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs

What:          ARRL Field Day 2022

Where:        At the home of Thomas Sarlitto (KD9JSA), 681 Paxton Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188

When:         June 23, 2022, to June 26, 2022 (See Schedule Below)

Call Sign:    W9D

Click the links below for more details

Operating Equipment:

Radios

Yaesu 857D

Yaesu 891

Yaesu FT 7800 (Winlink Operations)


Antennas

Hustler 5BTV Antenna – 10, 15, 20, and 40

FMJ Vertical Antenna – 10, 15, 20, 40, 80

Wolf River Coil – 10, 15, 20, 40, and 80

MFJ Ham Sticks Horizontal Dipole – 20 and 40


Power

Batteries and generator(s)

Schedule:
Thursday June 23, 2022Setup and test radios and antennas – Noon to 5pm
Friday June 24, 2022 Finalize setup, test radios and antennas – Noon to 8pm
Saturday June 25, 202211am to 1pm equipment checks and testing
1pm to midnight Field Day Operations
Sunday June 26, 20226am to 1pm Field Day Operations,/td>
Invitation: Open to any amateur radio operators, club member or not. Also open to non-amateur operators.

Although not necessary to reserve operating time on Saturday and Sunday, since we do not know how many will attend this event, it is best to email tsarlitto@gmail.com to reserve operating time. We will do our best to accommodate. All attendees may come and go as they wish and do not need to stay for the entire event. We do ask that if any guests attend, that we all take part in assisting them and perhaps give them a chance to operate a radio, even if you have reserved time.

Saturday Time Slots

1pm-3pm3pm-5pm5pm-7pm7pm-9pm9pm-Midnight

Sunday Time Slots

6am-9am9am-11am11am-1pm
Media:

All information about WCRA Field Day will be posted on groups.io, website, and Facebook. To assist in promoting this event, we ask that all members share this information with friends and family. As always, our goal is to encourage and promote amateur radio.

Weather and Comfort:

As we can not predict the weather, you are encouraged to dress accordingly. There will be no air conditioning, operating stations will be in a garage and the use of the DuPage County ARES trailer.

Since this is field day there is no rain date.

We also ask that members wear their club badge, but it is not necessary. As ambassadors of WCRA, we should look professional even though this is a hobby.

Housekeeping Items:
  1. Snacks and Beverages will be provided all four days. Meals will be on your own or if we have enough club members attend, we can share the cost of ordering food. If you have special dietary needs, please bring your own refreshments.
  2. No overnight stays or camping.
  3. No generator power after 8pm
  4. If you wish to use your own radio equipment and antenna, please email tsarlitto@gmail.com to make sure there is room for you. Bringing and using your own equipment is at your own risk.
Photography and Video:

Photos and video will be permitted during field day. However, if you do not wish to be in a photo or a video, please let us know. Photos and video will be used to promote WCRA and amateur radio on, but not limited to, social media and website.

❖ If you have any questions in regard to this event or would like to help, please contact Thomas Sarlitto

KD9JSA

681 Paxton Place

Carol Stream, IL 60188

tsarlitto@gmail.com

630.973.8027

145.310 will be monitored all four days

See the club’s Facebook page for additional details and updates.

July Membership Meeting

Due to the 4th of July Holiday, our regular meeting will be pushed back to July 8, 2022.

More to follow.

4th of July Parade

If you are free on the morning of the 4th of July,  we would love to have you join us at the parade.

Where: Meet at the Fifth Third Bank at the corner of Main St and Hawthorne Blvd in Wheaton

When: Meet at 8:45 AM on the 4th. Step off is at 11, but our main assistance is with staging.

Frequencies: Most of us will be on 147.540 simplex. Staging and Review will be on the KA9KDC repeater. Please also have the WCRA 145.31 and UHF repeaters programmed

Please sign up at https://forms.gle/pf1t3V8oDZXMS32v5. If you have any issues with the form, please reach out to me at N0MO@N0MO.info

ARDEN Training

DuPage ARES and WCRA will be putting on a basic class on ARDEN. This class will be at the DuPage OHSEM on July 16th from 10 am to either 2 pm or if we are having good success, longer. The goal of this class is to get equipment flashed to run ARDEN firmware, set up and run that equipment outside and attempt to pass traffic of a digital nature. We would like to throw in some real-life complications regarding obstructions, power issues, and cross-platform issues as well as find and agree on software that we can all use. Mike Wilson, N0MO, will be the course director for this and I will be facilitating the administrative portion. Please complete the google form if you are planning on attending. We will figure out lunch. Water and coffee will be provided. 

This is the Google Link to sign up:>>>>. https://tinyurl.com/27vpqy7t

Feel free to contact me at markspoo@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

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