The MARC meeting for March will feature our very own Andy Barnes, W5KZJ, giving an updated presentation about the Parks On The Air (POTA) program. Find out what new Parks have been added and how you can get involved, either activating or chasing the Parks!

Please join us for this and more on March 10, 7pm, at Spring Creek BBQ, 75 and 380 in McKinney.

We hope to see everyone there!

Please join us for our February meeting as we welcome special guest, John Hill, KF5VO, who will be offering an interesting presentation on Winlink Express.

According to its website, “Winlink is a worldwide radio email service that uses radio pathways where the internet is not present, and is capable of operating completely without the internet – automatically – using smart-network radio relays. Winlink provides its users email with attachments, position reporting, weather and information bulletins, and is well-known for its role in interoperable emergency and disaster relief communications.”

John Hill has been a ham for six years. He began working with Winlink because he did not have an HF antenna at his house and Winlink was one of the aspects of amateur radio on which he could hit the ground running. John had all the equipment necessary from other ham projects and, having worked for an Internet Service Provider more than twenty years ago, found many similarities between dial-up service and Winlink.

John soon learned that other hams in the North Texas area were interested in using Winlink and established the Winlink Wednesday net.

Winlink Wednesday provides a forum for amateur radio operators to regularly practice perishable Winlink skills by sending emails via RF. The weekly net also gives operators an opportunity to exercise both their own radio and computer equipment as well as nearby gateways.

Anyone with a valid amateur radio license can sign up for a Winlink account and is more than welcome to check into the net.

Please join us for this and more, Tuesday, February 11th, 7p.m. at Spring Creek BBQ, 75 and 380 in McKinney. Hope to see everyone there!

Please join us for the January meeting as special guest Dick Sanders, K5QY, will be presenting on Low Noise Receiving Antennas. 

ARRL life member Dick Sanders – K5QY, was first licensed in 1958. Dick retired from Rockwell/Alcatel Telecom as a senior technical writer. For Ham radio he’s listed on the DXCC Number 1 Honor Roll and has 7BDXCC, 6BWAS, and WAS HF mobile. He is also an ARRL DX card checker including 160 meters. Dick has modeled, designed and built many of his antennas from 160-meter phased verticals to 440 MHz yagis.

Dick has given many antenna talks and presentations to local clubs and at DFW’s Ham-Com Hamfest.

Please check out his website when you get a chance. Lots of great information on antennas and more:

www.k5qy.net

Join us for this and more on January 14th, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ, 75 and 380 in McKinney.

It’s time for the annual MARC Christmas Party!   This year the Membership did approve a modest increase in the budget for the event which will result in some pretty nice member door prizes. And don’t forget to participate in the gift exchange… just bring a wrapped gift (something that you would like to receive) and the exchange will begin. In addition, at the party, as in previous years, we will be collecting items for the U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots campaign. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy and we will see that it is properly delivered (note: cash donations are also acceptable, but a toy is a little more manageable).

Please join us for this and more on December 10, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney. We hope to see you there! 

Our Program for the November meeting will be entirely member driven! Got a favorite QSL card? How about a really nifty design for a Go-Kit? Favorite story about a DX contact or expedition (or one that got away) ? Want to share a bit of HAM radio history with new HAMS? As long as it’s HAM radio related, let’s hear about it or see it! One other request, if you have your own QSL card, bring it to the meeting. We’ll line these up on the front table for all to see, the more the better!

Join us for this and the annual Club Officer elections on November 12th, 7pm, at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney. If you have any questions or suggestions for future programs, please email me, programs at mckinneyarc.org. Hope to see you there!

Sid Gibson – K5DKW, MARC VP

For October, MARC’s favorite Wordsmith, Bob DeVance (K5CRX) will be giving a presentation on everything you ever wanted to know about the Fusion/WiresX system.

Please join us on October 8th, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney for this and more!

UPDATE: Presentation can be downloaded below!

Our September meeting will feature a presentation on lead acid batteries for ham radio use. Our very own John Urban, WA9UOD, will present for discussion, battery safety, makeup, voltages, capacity ratings, charging and more! Everything you ever wanted to know about choosing the right battery for your application, but were afraid to ask.
Join us on September 10, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney for this and more!

Our July program will feature our very own William N5WOI and Kenneth KF5TXL presenting on Allen CERT. Find out how Ham Operators provide critical communications during various emergency situations and how you can get involved. They will be also be sharing a real life example of the help CERT/ Ham Radio provided after the devastating Hail storm this past March in Allen.

Please plan on joining us for this and more at 7pm, July 9th at Spring Creek BBQ, 75 and 380 in McKinney. We hope to see you there!

Field Day 2019 is almost here! Please join us on June 11th, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney for an in-depth look at MARC’s plans for Field Day 2019 and how you can be a part of it. We have something for everyone this year, from setup, takedown, GOTA station, VE Exam, Educational Activity, Satellite work, Traffic Handling (W1AW bulletin), Family dinner and of course, making as many contacts as possible on CW, Phone or Digital stations!

Hope to see you there!

Special thanks to Mac Cody, AE5PH, for the presentation and live demonstration on working Amateur Satellites! If you missed any part of it, click the links below to view or download the information.