Meeting Dates Fall 2020

Due to the Covid restrictions and to allow for students away from campus to participate, we will be meeting on Zoom this semester. We will have presentations on interesting topics related to amateur radio each month, as well as other meetings related to other activities as needed. Everyone is welcome to join us at our club meetings. Some updates from the year can be found below:

Upcoming meeting:

September: TBD, 6pm EDT, Zoom info to be published.

Past meeting and events:

March Club Meeting on Thu Mar 19, 2020 at 6:30 – 8:30 in 1005 EECS

Sat, Jan 18, 2020 2pm – 5pm
NAQP/NACC contest (https://www.w9smc.com/nacc/)
Results: We made 10 contacts or so, not much effort put in.

Thu, Jan 23, 2020 6:30 – 8:30 – EECS 1005
Adventures in Ballooning at the University of Michigan – Prof. Aaron Ridley of CLASP

In 2005, the University of Michigan started a high altitude balloon program. The balloons are launched to about 100,000 feet, where they burst, and the payload drops back to the ground with a parachute. Back then, the communications were done with a hand-held radio with a TNC.There was a lot of experimentation with communications systems back then, with the team trying 900 MHz systems and UHF systems. Eventually, we settled on APRS (144.39 MHz). Over the last 15 years, everything has changed with microcontrollers and GPS units and even radios. We have formed student teams to launch balloons and started classes to teach students about the systems. We have launched about 100 balloons and have had many adventures!

Image of high-altitude balloon stolen from MBurst’s Gallery:

Sat, Jan 25, 2020 morning + afternoon – EECS 1311
KB6NU 1-day Tech Licensing Class + Licensing Test Session
Results: All students passed!

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Thu, Feb 20, 2020 6:30 – 8:30 – Chrysler 151 (NOT EECS!!!) – by Kirk Lawrence

CoE’s 7 meter KuBand Broadcast Satellite Antenna: history and functional operation

CoE’s [Integrative Systems & Design] 7 Meter KuBand Satellite Antenna has a legacy of service, beyond the academic. It’s history, functional working parts and demonstration of it’s capabilities will be discussed. Plus, a walking tour of the Control Room from the operators perspective.

Also for February,

Joseph Burkhead, KE8MKR, will talk a little about Amateur Radio Direction Finding and possible involvement of UM-ARC.

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Above: Joel Thurtell, K8PSV demonstrating the Zenith 100-R for the club after his presentation. Jan 2018.

Parking Info

For those driving to North Campus, I’m sorry to say that parking has gotten a bit more challenging. UM has increased the hours of enforcement of parking permits on a couple of lots. Both the NC27 lot (by the Walgreen Drama center) and the NC60 lot (by the Lurie Engineering Center) are now enforced until 8 pm, so you could get a ticket if you park in them without a UM “blue” or “gold” permit. Fortunately there are still two other good options. Lot NC48, on Hayward near Murfin is probably the best choice. It is free after 5 pm and almost always has plenty of space in the evenings. The best route is to go down the steps out of the east side of the parking lot, pass the Beyster building on the right, and then take the outdoor stairway underneath the Beyster building down to the diag area. Turn left and go to the west entrance of EECS. The left green line drawn on the attached parking map shows this route. Another possibility is to park in lot NC28 behind the Space Research Building; that lot is also free after 5 pm. From there, exit the parking lot to the west, come down the hill to the corner Hayward and Beal, then cross Hayward and follow Beal down to the east entrance of EECS. The right green line drawn on the map shows this route.

Don – AC8TO

Learn about Ham Radio, Join the Club!

Communicate with other site stations around the world using U-M’s amateur radio station W8UM, obtain your own FCC Amateur Radio License, and get involved in an exciting hobby that you’ll enjoy for a lifetime.

Check out this flyer (pdf) describing our club.

Also, be sure to get on our e-mail list, so you’ll get announcements of upcoming meetings and events around the W8UM “shack”.

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