VE Testing & Elmers

Participate in our training workshops designed for aspiring amateur radio operators. Gain essential skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience to help you obtain your license. Connect with experienced mentors (Elmers) and fellow learners in a supportive atmosphere. All levels welcome!

MARC Wednesday Night Net

K9DEW Repeater

7:00 PM

147.330+

Note: In the event of K9DEW Repeater problems, we switch to the WB9AGX Repeater (147.390+)

MARC at the 2025 Indiana QSO Party – Event Recap
Location: US-2265 – Potato Creek State Park

We had 10 members attend this year’s Indiana QSO Party, held at our club’s temporary field station in Potato Creek State Park.

• Three attendees operated on-air—one on Phone and two on CW.

• Two others provided expert support, assisting with IT troubleshooting, antenna deployment, and minor equipment repairs.

• The remaining attendees were actively involved, learning about antenna setups and engaging in productive conversations about amateur radio.

• Thanks to member donations, we had plenty of food to keep our operators fueled throughout the day.

Band conditions were poor for the first 4–5 hours of the contest, but our CW operators kept the log moving during the tough early hours. Their efforts made a significant difference.

We’d like to encourage the Indiana DX Association to consider including digital modes in future INQP events. Several members noted how digital would have helped fill the gaps when Phone contacts were difficult, potentially improving both engagement and score.

This event also served as a valuable shakedown for ARRL Field Day.

• Club radios and computers performed reliably.

• Coaxial cables were the weak link—we had to perform a field repair to remain operational. The club should plan to purchase two new 250-foot sections of coax.

• Chris N9JV noted that antenna performance would benefit from greater separation between setups.

We plan to upload the log to POTA, but there may be a short delay as we determine who currently has access to the club’s POTA account.

If you’re a MARC member who operated independently during INQP, please consider adding
CLUB: Michiana Amateur Radio Club to your Cabrillo log submission to help boost our club score!

Call: W9AB
Operator(s): W9RWG N9UH WD4MSM
Station: W9AB

Class: M/M LP
QTH: INSTJ
Operating Time (hrs): 9

Summary:
Band CW Qs Ph Qs
--------------------
160: 0 0
80: 0 9
40: 19 239
20: 100 47
15: 0 0
10: 0 1
--------------------
Total: 119 296 CW Mults = 39 Ph Mults = 95 Total Score = 70,618

🎉 MARC Annual Picnic & Fox Hunt 🦊
📅 Friday, August 15, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Potawatomi Park – Area 13
💵 $5 per family

Join us for an evening of food, friends & fun! 🍔🌭

👉 Burgers and brats provided
👉 Bring a side dish & dessert to share
👉 Fox Hunt for all ages!

Let’s enjoy the summer together with good eats and a little radio adventure. All hams, families, and guests welcome!

#HamRadio #MARC #FieldDayFun #FoxHunt #SouthBend #AmateurRadio #W9AB

🦊 Basic Fox Hunt Equipment (For Participants/"Hunters")

1. Handheld Transceiver (HT)

   • Typically 2-meter band (VHF), such as a Baofeng, Yaesu FT-60, or similar.

   • Capable of tuning the fox frequency and adjusting squelch and attenuation.

2. Directional Antenna

   • Yagi or Tape Measure Yagi antenna (3-element is common for 2m).

   • Helps pinpoint the direction of the signal source.

3. Attenuator

   • Passive or active device to reduce signal strength as you get closer to the fox.

   • Prevents receiver overload (especially important near the hidden transmitter).

4. Signal Strength Indicator (Optional)

   • Some HTs have built-in S-meters. External meters can give better precision.

5. Headphones or Earbuds

   • Useful in noisy environments to better hear weak signals.

6. Notebook or Compass App

   • For logging signal directions and triangulating the fox’s location.