From the Desk of AB9ZI - August 2025 Message
When people think of Amateur Radio the picture is usually of someone sitting alone in front of a radio or two. However, that isn’t the whole picture. Our club has many annual outdoor events where we can show off our radio skills to the public and socialize.
In June we got together at Field Day to show off our skills of stringing antennas, setting up stations and contacting other Hams. We had a great visible location along Willow Road and the signage placed brought many visitors to whom we were able to explain about hams’ alternative form of communications. Many were unaware that during disasters that take down land lines and cell phone towers, hams could provide essential public safety communications. I believe we have at least three new members who joined our club after visiting our Field Day event.
Our club’s annual Fox Hunt was held on Tuesday, July 8. This year we had perfect weather and of course plenty of hunters with various combinations of antennas and signal attenuators. As happened at Field Day, people in the park inquire about what we are doing, and we educated them about amateur radio. As usual the fox was first found by our resident expert fox hunter and second by a new member who is 13 years old! Their names along with photos of the evening can be found on the club the website www.ns9rc.org. (And in this newsletter Ed.)
Our next outdoor event will be QRP Night September 9th in Emily Oakes Nature Center in Skokie. Here we set up low power stations and antennas. Contacts are made, SMORES are cooked and eaten around a bonfire, and sometimes we fight off mosquitoes. But we get no visitors at this rather secluded location!
Last but not least we meet for a Hams in the Park on the second Saturday of the month from March through October. Portable solar and battery powered stations are set up feeding a variety of quickly erected antennas. This is an opportunity to test out homemade antennas. Feel free to join in.
While not a sponsored club activity, our members do volunteer to assist the medical teams at the Chicago Marathon. Information on the date and how to sign up is on our website.
Our next INDOOR meeting will be at Heller Nature Center on August 12th and also available to be seen via Zoom.
The North Shore radio club is an all-volunteer organization. There are many opportunities to volunteer to assist with club events and behind the scenes
. Check it out on the website!
73,
Brian Dubin AB9ZI
President