Sullivan Amateur Radio Club

Last September four of our club members (John, Frank, Allan and I) took a day trip to the observation tower area on Taum Sauk Mountain. We set up radios, did some operating, ate some lunch and just had a whole bunch of fun! We enjoyed it so much that I am proposing we do it again coming up here in May. Everyone is welcome, so come join us!!!

Here’s the plan so far:

Date: Saturday, May 11th, 2019 (weather permitting – see below!)

Timing: Leave our departure point around 8:30 and return by 4:30 or 5:00.

Departure Point: Steelville, MO

Google Maps Link:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Steelville,+MO/Taum+Sauk+Lookout+Fire+Tower,+Ironton,+MO+63650/@37.7715857,-91.0551561,87067m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87da290eeb2138c9:0xaa368eca6a55036f!2m2!1d-91.354868!2d37.9680999!1m5!1m1!1s0x87d9c8deeb064a81:0xf98e4dd9af2cfff5!2m2!1d-90.7187721!2d37.5688044

The timing and departure point are for those who might want to caravan down to the mountain. If you chose to come a different path, that’s fine. These were chosen to put us on the mountain around 10:00 am.

Weather Permitting

My definition of weather permitting at this time of year is this. No prediction of significant precipitation. Temps between 50 and 85. If a shower or two is predicted, I can handle that but everyone should be prepared for that. I will bring light plastic drop clothes to help protect radio equipment. Just to say, YMMV! (Your mileage may vary!)

Mobile Communications Plan (in order of priority)

Cuba Repeater (KD0JOX) – 147.345+, 110.9 tone
Potosi Repeater (AB0TL) – 146.835-, 100 tone
Arcadia Repeater (KD0KIB) – 147.300*, 100 tone
Simplex – 146.500 Analog

Things To Bring

• Ham Equipment – radio(s), battery(s), antenna(s), tuner, coax, whatever else you might need to get on the air. There are plenty of trees for hanging wires, and some open spaces for poles. If you bring a radio, you should also bring a portable table from which to operate. If you don’t have or prefer to not bring a radio let us know. I’m sure those who will would be happy to share their airtime.
• A folding chair. You’ll need this whether you bring a radio or not.
• Food and Drink. We will be there through lunch so bring something on which to dine.
• Bug spray and sun screen.
• A hat or cap to help ward off those wicked ultraviolet rays.
• Whatever other fun things you might want to share or that will make you comfy! 🙂

As the date gets closer, I will update everyone with whatever changes come about. I just want to reiterate what a fun time we had last fall. In my opinion, more people will make it even more fun. So if you’re interested, plan to come with us!!! Please let me know at higginsDOTwsATgmailDOTcom.

The next meeting of the Sullivan Amateur Radio Club will be held on Thursday, March 14th at 6:00 pm at the Sullivan Fire House #5. At this meeting we will have a presentation by Mark Griffith, the inventor of the PiGate and PiGate RMS. Mark has described his presentation as follows:

“This will be a presentation and demo on integrating ham radio functions using a combination of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment for WiFi, Broadband Hamnet (BBHN), mesh and computer technology, and the PiGate system.  Several different applications and communications methods will be used to demonstrate possible amateur radio procedures to support EMCOMM.”

Mark is a great presenter and I expect this will be a very interesting topic for us all!

Come join us!

Our first Knucklehead Breakfast was a great success! So let’s have ANOTHER!!! 😀

The next Knucklehead Breakfast will be at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Sullivan MO on Saturday, March 23rd, 2019. We’ll meet at 8:00 am! Please come join us and feel free to bring your family and friends. It really is fun and I promise, we don’t bite! 😀

For quite a while now, we have been enjoying the Knucklehead Lunches that we hold at various restaurants around the area once a week. We just recently moved those from Tuesdays to Mondays so watch the FaceBook page to keep on top of where we are meeting.

Along the way, we’ve had several people ask if we couldn’t do something on the weekends because they work during the week and couldn’t attend the lunches. So starting this coming Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, we will have our first monthly Knucklehead Breakfast! We will be meeting at the Barn and Grill in Bourbon, MO at 8:00 am. Please come and join us if you can!

I anticipate that we’ll move the breakfast around a bit to different breakfast venues as we have with the lunches. If you know of a great place for breakfast, please let us know. Our lunches have been great fun and I believe the breakfasts will be so as well!

The Sullivan Amateur Radio Club would like to congratulate our newest ham, Dana Brewer! Dana passed his Technician exam yesterday morning and is anxiously awaiting his call sign. Please make Dana feel welcome when you hear him on the air or meet him in person!