April 20th, 2021
The OCF Dipole… or… Antenna Computer Simulation
CARS Meeting Presentation by Wesley Cardone, N8QM
There are presently three topics on the table for possible presentation. Please let a club officer know of any preferences you have.
Possibility #1:
Every amateur knows that the traditional center-fed dipole only resonates at the fundamental and its odd harmonics until about the twenty-third harmonic where it begins to transition into a long wire. This operation is easily explained by understanding the principle that multiple half-wavelengths cancel themselves, one-for-one. If after cancelation there is a leftover half-wavelength, that remaining half-wavelength becomes an effective radiation element. But what about the traditional one-third off-center fed (OCF) dipole? It resonates at the fundamental of course but also for some odd harmonics and for some even harmonics. Why? Wes Cardone, N8QM, will explain the OCF dipole’s harmonic efficacy in terms that are easy to understand while not discarding the easy to understand electromagnetics. With this understanding the attendee will have a radically increased understanding of overall antenna workings.
Possibility #2:
Would there be any interest in an introduction to the free demo version of EZNEC? EZNEC is a very capable antenna computer modeling and simulation application targeted at the antenna enthusiast who has antenna knowledge and experience, but has thus far avoided integrating modeling into his or her design and thinking process.
If you attended the presentation given earlier last year titled, “The Mighty Dipole,” you have sufficient knowledge to benefit from the free EZNEC application. But an EZNEC presentation will vanish in favor of something else for April if it is determined there is not sufficient interest.
Possibility #3:
“What’s all this DMR Radio Stuff, Anyhow?” How does it relate to D-Star? Is DMR useful for me? What’s a good DMR hot spot, anyhow? For DMR radio Wes will invite a highly respected speaker to educate us.
March 16, 2021
Speaker: Steve Waterman, K4CJX
Affiliation: FEMA R4 RECCWG AuxComm Committee, Chair
More than ever, the U.S. Amateur Radio spectrum is under observation for use by commercial communications giants. We have just experienced a loss in the GHz range and the loss is likely is not over yet. While the ARRL is working to protect our Amateur frequencies, at the same time there are supplemental avenues to successfully maintain the amateur spectrum. 
Recognizing the issues the Amateur Radio operator faces and the need for our services, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) SHAred RESources (SHARES) program advocates the use of Amateur Radio volunteer resources for the installation, operation and maintenance of its agency member stations.
For our March 16th meeting Steve Waterman will provide information about the CISA SHARES program and how amateurs can become involved. This presentation and discussion will be a follow-up to Max Schneider’s January 19th CARS presentation about the CISA Emergency Communications Division (ECD) AuxComm solution for Amateur Radio EmComm. Winlink radio email, which has been adopted by the Department of Homeland Security for its own use is an important tool in the processes and will be a part of Steve’s presentation.
February 16, 2021
PREVIEW: For the February 16th, 2021 meeting we will be having a presentation by Bruce Braun (W6FSG), a retired NBC broadcast engineer, who will be presenting about a documentary that he produced on the Titanic. Here is a teaser he has given us as an early intro to the presentation.
January 19, 2021
For the January 19th meeting our speaker was Max Schneider presenting on Michigan’s AuxComm. It has been announced that many of Michigan’s RACES organizations are being decommissioned in favor of AuxComm. This presentation was therefore of intense interest to many of our members.
Here are the PDF notes Max gave us from the presentation:
What is Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM)
Title: What’s this thing called AuxComm, Anyhow?
Auxiliary Communications, or AuxComm, has been finding it’s way into the vocabulary of amateurs involved in emergency communications and the agencies that they serve. Here is what we learned:
- The history of emergency communications in the amateur community
- AuxComm certification and what that means
- How you can get involved in emergency communications to support your local emergency management agency
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