DELARA NEWS is the monthly publication of the Delaware Amateur Radio Association, Delaware OH. January, 2019 VOL 38 Number 1

Welcome

This edition starts off 2019 in the life of DELARA! Our newsletter is also formatted to be read on cellular devices, so use your cell browser to check us out on the go! Our DELARA family appreciates what you’re doing with the hobby! Why not take a few minutes and write out what interests you in our hobby! We have room for your article always! Send it to Stan [at] standi.com by the end of the month.

DMR Comes to

Delaware!!

There’s a new digital repeater in town

For those who own the inexpensive DMR digital radios, get your batteries charged! There is a brand new DMR repeater in Delaware. Established by Ken Snare of Marion, the new KC8BPE repeater operates on 442.1375. This brings Delaware further into the ‘new age’ of digital voice transmission. Starting with the Yaesu repeater program a few years back, Gary, KE8O, has put hours into programming his Fusion repeater on 443.55. Located at the radio station tower (alongside the 145.19) this repeater has a significant ‘footprint’. Now, the DMR version of digital voice can be heard throughout Delaware County, with the repeater located at the old Berlin Twp. road antenna on Cheshire Rd. Ken and his team manages the Marion DMR repeater, and has plans to further expand into the Kenton and Port Clinton area. DMR is becoming the first line alternative to FM Voice for ARES and emergency operation across the state, with DMR available at our Delaware Red Cross as well as the Ohio EOC with W8SGT. DMR was used on the Ohio talk group during SET last October with good results. Load a fresh code plug, or just add the Delaware groups and talk digital in Delaware! A program note: the “home” talk group is teh repeater ID: 310385 and there’s an additional group of Local 8 which should be placed on repeater slot 2. In blackout periods with no Internet, this will still allow for two simultaneous conversations on the machine.

The Prez’s Shack

Happy New Year! Hard to believe that this is the third time that I have written this. In case you have not heard, we almost set a new record for minimal election season lasting all of about 20 seconds. By affirmation, the 2018 officers (who were also the 2017 officers) will also be the 2019 officers. Thanks to Stan, N8BHL, who will be vice president for another year and Ken, W8SMK, who will be secretary/treasurer for another year. And I will be rapping the gavel and calling for order for another year. We thank you for your vote of confidence. To continue with a theme that has gone on for a few months, we are pleased to announce that more improvements have been made to the club’s station at the Delaware Red Cross. There is an electronically-controlled switch that can take its switching commands from the FT-950 that was installed. Installed not without some drama which you might read elsewhere in this issue. But, thanks to the “don’t give up” attitude of Dale, W8KTQ, it is working. As a reminder, the FT-950 and variety of wire and beam antennas are available for club members to use, either in person at the Red Cross or remotely. Please ask if you are not sure how to do any of that. The 950 is not the only radio there so you must check out the others, too. Here we reach our annual plea to catch up on your dues for 2019. They will remain at $20 for one year. It is not difficult at all to chase down Ken to give him your $20 or you can use our super convenient PayPal option that is right on our club’s web site (http://www.k8es.org/). You don’t even need a PayPal account. Paid-up members get access to our station so please advantage of that. Guess what is six months away? Can’t be Santa Claus so it must be the next best thing – Field Day! Hard to believe it has been six months since the last one. We welcome you or anybody else to come on out to the Delaware Red Cross for two big events in January. The first is our annual holiday party on Saturday, January 12 starting at 5:00 p.m. Bonus – the sun will be setting later so the Red Cross will not be in total darkness. The second event is our monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Red Cross is at 380 Hills-Miller Road. See you there. 73, Joe, AA8TA

LEARN CW!

Amateur Radio started with the use of “Continuous Wave” signals, or CW. Keying transmitters in the pattern of short and long signals, operators formed letters and words using the Morse Code. It’s been a staple of our hobby ever since. The art of CW has been on the increase, as the original digital mode of transmission has gained more appeal! Hams, though not required, are now interested in learning the code again. Our primary station manager and general all- around master of the hobby Dale Bauer, W8KTQ, is launching a “Learn CW” class for member of DELARA and anyone else interested! The class will be an evening class. It will be important to attend the first session so everybody is on the same page. Just a reminder, and don't let this scare you, but this class will be taught at 20 wpm. There is a huge advantage in teaching it this way which you will discover the first night. The other reason I delayed it is to make sure those of you who are building the oscillator kit will have completed them by the first class. -Dale, W8KTQ