National Wildlife Refuge Week - October 9 - 17

Lake Effect will again be operating from Seney National Wildlife Refuge (visitor center parking lot) for this event. Set up Thursday (14th) afternoon, ops during daylight hours Friday (15th)and Saturday (16th). The weather is usually pretty bad this weekend - may be operating out of the vehicle connected to the wire all-bander. The event has grown over the years - there were 15 refuge stations operating in 2009. See the event home site: http://nwrweek-radio.info/ .

National Preparedness Month Activies: September / TBA - stand by for volunteer opportunities in your community!

September 3 - 7: Bring on the Bridge II - North Country National Scenic Trail Special Event from old County Fairgrounds near Moran, Michigan. 2nd annual encampment and Mackinac Bridge walk organized by the Hiawatha Shore to Shore chapter of the NCTA. Event is co-sponsored by the Eastern UP ARC. See event info, including operating sked.

International Lighthouse - Lightship Weekend - August 21-22

Don't be confused about this event - see the official web at http://illw.net/ .
The intellectual property dispute over this event continues, and that continues to be too bad for the ham radio community. In any case, Lake Effect shifts are Saturday morning (9 to noon edt; 1300 to 16:00 z) and Saturday night (9 to 1:00 am Sunday;  0100z Sunday to 0500 z Sunday). The event is organized by Hiawatha club. Dave Thomas, KD8DRF (dlthomas@chartermi.net) is the contact person if you'd like to work at other times. Pete, K8PT, is the godfather of this event and QSL manager. 

North Country Trail Association National Conference: 3 - 8 August, 2010.

Lake Effect and EUP ARC joint sponsors operating from Ashland, Wisconsin as N9T. Look for us on 40m in the mornings and 20m SSB and PSK evenings. See ops info here.

3rd of July Parade - Marquette

Lake Effecters are encouraged to get in touch with Dave Thomas, KD8DRF (dlthomas@chartermi.net) to work this event. John, KC8ULE will be posted at the finish line and Marge, KD8AIL will be on a golf-cart as a "rover". Parade steps off at 14:00 edt from Family Video @ Washington and McClellan. Ops should be on station no later that 13:00 edt.

N8C Operations June 23 - 28

Lake Effect will be operating in special event mode starting this Wednesday thru following Monday recognizing the hard, skilled work done by skilled volunteers in developing the North Country National Scenic Trail from a very remote encampment near Alberta, Michigan using the call N8C. We will be on the air when possible (around camp and trail duties) but will try to maintain this sked:

6/23, 24, 25, 28 (Weds, Thurs, Fri and Monday after FD)

1300z - 1400z    7.263 SSB (+ / -)
0100z - later    14.060 PSK31

Field Day event - random times, random bands

Try cell contact 906@869@6621 to sked

NOTE: N8C will go QRT during and for 30 minutes after thunder activity (following NWS guidance).

Field Day Weekend June 25-26

Lake Effect will be operating from the deep woods near Alberta, Michigan again this year. Different deep woods from last year, off US-41, several miles down Baraga Plains Road. See the ARRL Event Locator for map: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator Search for callsign N8C.  Lake Effect field days are not "competitive" - that is, we operate mostly for the fun of the chase and to provide contact points for other stations. We do submit a log and points tally, and we QSL when asked.

While this is a public event and local hams are welcome to find us and participate, it is off the beaten path. Please, please let us know that you are coming at least a week in advance by phone or email. We'll be running emergency power (battery, with generator for recharging). There will be two operating positions available. Cell phone service is available at this QTH, but there will be no email or web contact after 6/21. Email: lakeeffectarc@charter.net . Phone: 869 6621 in area code 906.

June 4-5-6: Be there or Be Square!

Museum Ships Weekend starts 0000z June 5. Lake Effect KD8DKU will be operating in mobile mode at/near the Silent Service Memorial structure in Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, Michigan.  Look for us there Friday night (0000z to 0200z Saturday) and again Saturday 22:00z to 24:00z and possibly Sunday during the day. See the national event coordination writeup here: http://www.nj2bb.org/museum/index.html Look for us on 3.860, 7.260 and 14.260. The Silent Service Memorial is operated by the Marquette Maritime Museum. See their info here: http://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/SilentServiceMemorial.html .

After Action Report: Pretty successful! 60 qsos in 22 states, 2 Canadian provinces in about 4 hours of actual on-air operating. States included California and Utah (!) on 40 meters!! All ops in the van/mobile: Yeasu 857d, marine battery, ham-stick whips. Operating from the Mattson Park parking lot near the Silent Service Memorial structure.                                                                                    

Pictured: Operating position in the van. Note the rig control head on the stalk coming up from the center console, the mike on the dashboard and the logbook over the steering wheel. Actually works pretty well. Tried using the footswitch - judged the risk of getting sand in the works off our shoes was too high and went back to hand mike ops. Lower pic - van near the Silent Service Memorial structure in Mattson Lower Harbor Park. Note the ham-stick whip over the 2nd D in KD8DKU.