We are proud to announce we have aquired the Athens 147.045+ repeater from the K9MCE Club and WS9V. This will remain linked to the Central Illinois Linked System as we are great partners with the K9MCE and AD9OV clubs that are also part of the system. We greatly appreciate WS9V and his many years keeping this system on the air.
In an increasingly complex world, it's important that our nation's youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering and math - disciplines collectively known as STEM.
W9I at the 2019 Illinois State Fair
On July 27, 2019, the SVRC held its summer family picnic and unofficial “Field Day” at Richardson’s Clubhouse near Buffalo Hart. The event was generally well attended with multiple radios, two dipoles in the trees, a twenty foot car-mounted HF antenna mast, and multiple VHF/UHF verticals on several portable masts. Even though the conditions were not great, many QSOs were made; many with “Parks on the Air”. We covered 20/40 meters and had some fun with two-meters and 440. Roger Whitaker even conducted a Winlink demo.
The Hex Beam is in place and operational! After months of planning and organizing, the Hex Beam was pressed into service for the VHF contest on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The official antenna crew under the direction of senior club members, hauled heavy steel, concrete, and antenna components up to the Red Cross building roof in several stages. We now have extra directional capability for HF 20 meters and up – including 6 meters. This unique antenna certainly gives our club location a distinctive visual footprint with the upside-down umbrella design.
Memorial day provided a perfect time to complete phase 2 of the SVRC Hex Beam Project. A large volunteer crew assembled on Monday morning, May 27, to help with the ongoing plan to erect a Rohn tower on the roof of the Red Cross building – home of the SVRC club station. Thirty donated concrete blocks were taken from the parking lot to the roof where they were installed on the tower base that had been constructed a week earlier. Then the single section of Rohn tower and rotor were installed on the base. Only one step remains; installing the Hex Beam on the tower.
The new official Sangamon Valley Radio Club T-shirts are available for sale now! These comfortable white cotton shirts proudly sport the SVRC club logo on the front. Wear them with pride at any of our public service events, club meetings, or just about anywhere you wish. They come in all sizes from small to XXX-large and are only $20. Please contact our club treasure, Will Summers WR5C, for more information or purchase them at any official club meeting or gathering. Make checks payable to SVRC.
Field Day 2019 will be held June 22/23, 2019 at the Red Cross building at 1045 Outer Park Drive in Springfield. The operation will be as an Emergency Operations Center classificatrion. The official start of the event will be at 1:00 p.m. with some setup prior to that time.
SVRC was honored and delighted to have Dr. Bob Heil of Heil Sound to speak to the March meeting of the Sangamon Valley Radio club about his fabulous journey into audio engineering and amateur radio over the past 50 years.
Congratulations to Rachel who recently passed her Technician’s exam for her amateur radio license.
Rachel’s father, Mike Neuliep KB9YEJ, answered Rachel’s questions as they came up during her studies, otherwise, Rachel studied on her own. She decided when she was ready to take the exam.
