[FARC] Odds 'n Ends

[Kirk Talbott]

Kudos to Bill Horine on a fine demonstration of APRS.  I don't know about 
anyone else but I loved the format of our last meeting with the APRS 
demonstration and the Homebrew Ham gear show and tell.  It was very 
informative and very interesting especially for rookies like me.

Phil Stalnaker (W3ICF) expresses his heartfelt thanks for the awards 
received at the last Eat and Greet at the Golden Corral. FYI, all Hams and 
their guests are invited to the Eat and Greet at the Golden Corral 
restaurant at Francis Scott Key Mall on the first Friday of every month at 
11:30 a.m.. It is a fun morning and gives you a chance to meet everyone you 
hear on the radio, so come on out.  An announcement is made on the 146.73 
repeater as a reminder and to advise on rescheduling issues such as 
cancellation due to bad weather, holidays, etc..

For those interested in HF but are having problems making contacts, like me, 
I found a friendly net on 40 meters.  Every Saturday morning from 8:00 to 
9:00, Scott (KG4WEL) in Georgia on 7.272 hosts the "72 Chew," a nice, 
organized, ragchew net.

HFer's as you know, sunspot activity has been nil and is forecasted to 
continue to be dismal. However, some local Hams have advised me to attempt 
HF communication at "greyline" times; right at dusk or dawn. I have noticed 
that I can hear a few European DXer's on 40 meters at sunrise and 20 meter 
(14.070.15) PSK31 is exceptionally active for DX at sunset.  Now keeping 
these "Vampire" hours is difficult, but anytime I can tune 40 meters and not 
hear hillbillies is a bonus.  These greyline windows are short as commercial 
shortwave broadcasting stations come in pretty quickly on 40 meters just 
after sunset.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk