COMMENTS
This month you will find several items about Fox Hunting, Including an article by SM0VPO describing an antenna that he used successfully on his first fox hunt. His description on how to use that kind of device is very clear. There is also an article by a pair of hunters showing the fun that could be had in the hunt. Thanks  to John W8JRD, Dave KC8COT and Larry WB8R of the Coldwater club a hunt has been arranged where the beginner can get a feel for how things are done.
Over the last few months, several antennas have been demonstrated . Not only antennas for fox hunts but also some for other uses. This month, an antenna that can be placed on your desk top that would make your HT do better than the rubber ducky will allow it to do. One thing that each of these antenna projects have in common is cost -- all have had a minimum cost without having to search for scarce items.
Our technical engineering staff has added one more piece of equipment to our repeater capabilities as describe in the adjoining column. Take a step back and look at what is available through our repeaters. Not only do we have three repeaters operating but the UHF repeaters can be crossbanded resulting a greater use of the 220 repeater which has Echolink  and APRS functions.
The use of our calls

has been sloppy lately. Remember that the last thing heard from you is your call and that when you are using the radio ( any ham radio ) you are required to identify at no more than 10 minute intervals.Sometimes we get so wound up in our conversations that we forget the rules of the game.
In this month, as usual the last full weekend will be the time for Field Day. Hopefully all hams will take part in the action. There will be a space for anyone interested in operating and all are welcome. Just remember to operate within the license limits of your ticket. Carry that ticket with you.  There also is a need for grunt work. Towers being erected, trailers being moved, setup tables and

W8DF-5 WEATHER STATION
A WMR968 weather observation station from Oregon Scientific has been installed at SMARS repeater site.  This unit measures wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and rainfall.  Installed software accumulates the data and supplies it to APRS on the internet.  The data is also transmitted on 144.39 MHZ and is passed around via digipeaters.
Want to see the reports?  Log on to www.aprs.fi.  You are presented with a map.  In the upper right corner, enter W8DF-5 in the search box then click on search.  A blue WX symbol appears at the location of W8DF with a word balloon.  The first line is the date and time of the beacon.  The second line is the time of the observation.  The rest is self explanatory. 
Notice the third line and shows weather charts.  Click here and a page of charts appears.  These charts provide a 48 hour history of rain, wind, temperature, barometer and other tidbits of information.  Want to know how hard it rained when it woke you last night?  It is here.  Sorry about the barometer in millibars.  Software won't allow reports  in in.Hg.
As long as you are on the map page, play around with it.  Just above the Search box, click on show all and see all the APRS stuff.  Point at a vehicle icon and learn who it is.  Click on it and learn more.  You can drag the map around by holding the left mouse button and moving the mouse.  The scroll wheel will zoom in or out.  See your house by clicking Satellite View in upper right corner.
W8RVT

VETS SALUTE

The proper salute for vets regardless if you are covered or not is the hand to the forehead as it was back in service days. The non-vet still places the hand over the heart. Senate Bill 1877 establishes this as the proper way. A vet need not uncover to salute.