From N4AE at comcast.net Tue Nov 1 10:43:59 2016 From: N4AE at comcast.net (Brian S. McDaniel) Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2016 09:43:59 -0500 Subject: [ILHam] NTS Presentation Request Message-ID: Good morning, everyone. I'm looking for someone who can give a presentation about the National Traffic System. This would be in Bolingbrook in January or February. Can anyone point me in the right direction? -- 73, Brian, N4AE From todd at castco.com Wed Nov 2 10:06:01 2016 From: todd at castco.com (Todd Benson) Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 09:06:01 -0500 Subject: [ILHam] weekend training class in November Message-ID: <2A766AAD-70B1-4D10-80D5-05F58E6E7E2E@castco.com> Please pass along the following information - TO: anyone interested in preparing for a FCC Amateur Radio Technician license exam The York Radio Club will again offer a weekend training program November 12th and 13th - with exams at the conclusion of the classes. Classes are being held at the Elmhurst Fire Department station #1 More information is available on the club website and for registration to attend the sessions. http://yorkradioclub.com/training Also, here?s a link to a poster which you can print and help announce this unique opportunity to get one?s license. http://yorkradioclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/York-Radio-Club-License-Poster-letter-2016.pdf York Radio Club has over the years held weekend training and exams with an extremely high passing rate (100 percent last year) Certainly there are many ways for one to pursue their ability to get on the air - Here?s one way which is quick and effective - Know someone who wants to become a ham? 73, Todd, W9YK Elmhurst, Illinois From rk911forums at gmail.com Tue Nov 8 15:16:09 2016 From: rk911forums at gmail.com (Rich) Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2016 14:16:09 -0600 Subject: [ILHam] Greene County Fairgrounds Camping Review Message-ID: <008601d239fc$f26087c0$d7219740$@com> On our way back home from an RV vacation in October we intentionally stopped for the night at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, OH. We've been going to the Dayton HamVention continually since the early 1980's (missing only a handful of years) first staying at the Days Inn at I-70/I-75 and after 1986 at the KOA in Brookville, OH. We have a reservation at the KOA for the 2017 HamVention but as it's roughly a 45-minute drive from the KOA to the fairgrounds we wanted to scout the fairgrounds in general and the camping facilities in particular. First let me say that our first impression of the fairgrounds was positive. The grounds are nicely landscaped and, like the all of the buildings (none of which were open at the time of our visit) appeared to be well maintained. There is a large race track with grandstand that also appears to be in very good condition. Based on what I saw the fairgrounds have all the makings for a great HamVention. The staff we encountered and spoke with were universally friendly and helpful. There are two RV camping areas, one by the racetrack containing 40+ spaces laid out in two rows and the second on the opposite side of the grounds with 60+ spaces laid out in three rows. All spaces are 20' wide with lengths varying from 25' to 50'. A worker at the fairgrounds office told me that they likely would only be using two-rows in each area with spaces measuring 20' wide by 50' deep. I parked our motor home between the lines and found it was wide enough for our slide out rooms to be extended but our awning extended into the adjacent site. The sites are all on mostly level grass but you'll need pads under your leveling jacks. The only question I have is how well those grass sites drain when it rains but of course it never rains during HamVention. All tow/towed vehicles will have to be parked nearby. Each site has access to water and electric hookups located on telephone poles spaced at regular intervals in the camping areas. There are individual electrical hookups and water spigots at the poles (with a central circuit breaker box) but depending on how many RVs are expected to hook up to a specific pole you might need an electrical cable and water hose ranging in length from 20' to 60'. It all depends on how the RVs are positioned. The sites by the racetrack seemed to have mostly 50-amp hookup while the other area hookups are all 30-amp with just one 50-amp box. Water pressure was excellent. I measured it 90-psi at the spigot we used so be sure to bring a pressure regulator. There are no sewer hookups but there are two dump stations and the fairgrounds will have a honey wagon available to pump your black and gray tanks. Being very close to Dayton over-the-air TV reception is good. Those with satellite dishes will have no trouble locking onto Dish or DirecTV satellites save for a single spot by a tree in the area by the racetrack. I was not able to detect any wifi signals during our visit but I had excellent (5-bar) Verizon Wireless coverage. Back in September I placed my name on a waiting list for an RV space at the fairgrounds. Fairgrounds personnel were not sure how many spaces would be available for the event but during our visit I learned that there were only 60-names on the waiting list. A few days after we returned home I received a packet of information from Greene County regarding the rental of RV spaces. Greene County is renting spaces for 3, 5 or 7-days at a cost of $450, $650 and $770 respectively ($150/$130/$110 per night respectively). That includes 2-HamVention tickets and pumping two tanks at one time from your RV. Once parked you cannot remove your RV from the grounds until the conclusion of HamVention on Sunday afternoon. No guarantee will be made as to 30-amp or 50-amp electric so be sure to have adapters. I have included links to the photos I took during our visit. I hope this information proves useful. '73 Rich, N9DKO https://www.dropbox.com/s/82j7o0o7giv442z/2016-10-25%2016.37.38.jpg?dl=0 View of larger camping area with our motor home https://www.dropbox.com/s/prsbkv8anwwsmvq/2016-10-25%2016.37.45.jpg?dl=0 Second view of larger camping area. Smaller area by racetrack looks the same https://www.dropbox.com/s/linf1fpryi8pdzh/2016-10-25%2016.38.13.jpg?dl=0 Electrical hookups with common circuit breaker box https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4378s3nc0g5c0d/2016-10-25%2016.38.40.jpg?dl=0 Water hook up From N4AE at comcast.net Sun Nov 13 13:19:32 2016 From: N4AE at comcast.net (Brian S. McDaniel) Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2016 12:19:32 -0600 Subject: [ILHam] Need an NTS Relay Station for Bolingbrook Net Tonight Message-ID: Sorry for the last minute request. The Bolingbrook ARS is looking for anyone who can be a relay station to the NTS tonight (11/13). We are training people how to send formal NTS messages and do not have anyone with enough experience to accept a message and pass it to the HF nets. We will have one or two messages. Net meets tonight at 1900 local on the K9BAR repeater system (www.K9BAR.org) in Bolingbrook. Again, sorry for the last minute request. Much thanks in advance. -- 73, Brian, N4AE From ormos at ripco.com Tue Nov 22 17:12:00 2016 From: ormos at ripco.com (Neil R. Ormos N9NL) Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2016 16:12:00 -0600 (CST) Subject: [ILHam] Cook County ARES Net WEDNESDAY 23 November 2016, 9:00 PM CT--146.88 MHz Message-ID: <201611222212.uAMMC00m005173@shell3.ripco.com> Dear Cook County ARES? Members and Friends: Please join us WEDNESDAY ... 23 November 2016, at 9:00 PM CT... for the monthly Cook County ARES Net on the SARA repeater (146.88 MHz, R-600, PL107.2). All persons with an interest in emergency and public service communications are invited to participate in the Net. You need not be a member of ARES or any other organization. Residents of every county and state are welcome. For more information about Cook County ARES, including an ARES calendar of events, please visit our web site: 73 --Neil Ormos N9NL ARES? District Emergency Coordinator Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES District 4 (Cook, DuPage, Lake Counties) Email: n9nl /at-sign/ arrl.net