Too often we ignore or fail to recognize the activities of our fellow club members. Phil, KD8KZB, recognized the need for getting the 440 club nets up and running and has done a very good job in getting them operational. He keeps looking for more hams to join in the UHF nets.

It must be noted that SARs, Station Activity Reports have not represented Calhoun county for several years, but now monthly reports of activity in this area is being reported by "Doc", K8OLY. He also has topped the Public Service Honor Roll by a score that doubles the next in line. Congratulations Doc!

Sometimes a person gets "volunteered" for work that is a real bear. In particular , the running the annual Hamfest. John, W8JRD, is in that responsible position for the second year.

Of course, Don, W8RVT, has put forth much effort in expanding our 220 repeater capabilities, allowing 220 to be used by 440 equipment, expanding with Echolink and APRS functions.

There  are many others within SMARS that also contribute without fanfare in activities that are necessary for the welfare of the club. If any feel left out, the coming Hamfest at Marshall should provide an opportunity to exercise a little bit as well as patting yourself on the back!  Of the many activities of our members, please share them with other members. Write it down. Don't worry about passing some writing class. The editorial staff will fix it up.

It seems as if I'm getting further and further behind in the producing of "Feedback."  On top of the flu roaming around, the computer decided that it was working too hard and went on a slow down strike. Rose heard a restatement of an old but ineffective vocabulary.

As usual, we have some information on the world of Hamdom, some tecky stuff and a little humor.  This month, Larry W8VVG will be discussing the learning of Morse Code and perhaps organizing some training sessions. Larry is a serious contestor and use of the Morse.

       
When General Motors -- the world's second largest auto maker --  encountered a problem with the AM/FM antenna on its 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, it was at a loss as to what to do. Spy photographs showed a pre-production version of the car with a long  whip-style antenna on its rear fender. After what GM called "an outcry among Camaro enthusiasts," the company decided to rethink the antenna. But how?
On hardtop Camaros, the antenna is integrated into the rear  windshield, but given the disappearing nature of this car's roof,  that wasn't possible on the convertible. So GM turned to two antenna engineers -- Don Hibbard, W8DBH, and Gregg Kittinger -- who were  tasked with doing what some thought was impossible: concealing the AM/FM antenna without sacrificing radio reception, while not putting  it inside the Camaro's windows. 
ARRL

At 0132 UTC January 28, a Soyuz-U rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan carrying the Russian Progress  M-09M cargo vehicle to orbit for a rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS).
      In addition to delivering fuel, oxygen, food and other supplies, the  Progress contains the new AMSAT ARISSat-1 Amateur Radio satellite. Progress is scheduled to dock with the space station on January 30 at 0240 UTC.
      ARISSat-1 will be manually jettisoned from the ISS during a spacewalk on February 16. The satellites features a new software  defined transponder that will provide simultaneous 2-meter FM, CW, BPSK transmissions, as well as a Mode U/V (70 cm uplink, 2 meter downlink) transponder.
      More information is available at the AMSAT-NA website at  http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php, and in the February 2011 issue of QST magazine.
      ARRL