Breezeshooter’s Groundwave SSB
The SSB portion of the Breezeshooter’s Groundwave contest will be March 14, 2026 from 8-11PM at the clubhosue. We are looking for some able bodied operators to join in on the fun. We will again be a single radio-multi operator event for this. Come up and operate, or just to visit for a while. Everyone is welcome at this event. Hope to see you there.
Special thanks for Kathy & Mike King for helping us get out of the club house and out in the woods. We are having great time up here making contacts and enjoying the friendship of our fellow SCARC members.
POTA Weekend Raccoon Park
Kathy King (KA3VXM) has invited anyone from Steel City to join her at Raccoon State Park for a weekend of POTA activity. In celebration of the Winter Support Your Park event through POTA, she has reserved Cabin #2 at Raccon Park for the weekend. The event runs all weekend January 17-18, 2026 and she has invited anyone to stop by, get warm, have a little conversation or make some QSO’s. Space may be available to stay overnight, but please confirm with her. There may also be some pasta involved if I understood correctly. Please contact KA3VXM for more information at 412-481-1149.
Raccoon Creek State Park (Cabin Map) – Pennsylvania State Park Maps – dwhike
Operate From Your Home
Operate As A Rover
Operate From The Club
WASH TWO METER SIMPLEX CONTEST
What to do on a cold Saturday night in January? Yes, its time to push that VFO button on your 2M rig and work a fun 2M simplex contest. This is the 26th year for our neighboring radio club WASH to host their annual 2M simplex contest. Just by working this contest and turning in your log you will get an extra door prize ticket at their hamfest in February. So when is this fun contest:Saturday, January 10th, 2026 from 7 to 9 PM EST.
Read The Rules Here: WASH 2M SIMPLEX CONTEST
The Historic Morse Code Key
The J-38 CW key has a vast and wonderful history behind it. The J–38 key was used by all branches of the U.S. military. The J–38 key was produced by numerous manufacturers in very large numbers during the 1940’s and later.
Come to the club and see this type of key in action. The key was donated by W2BRS Patrick Keane in memory of his grandfather.
Do You Have Trouble Decoding Morse Code?
There An App For That!
If you have trouble decoding morse code there are apps that will help decode the morse for you. There are both Android and Apple IOS apps that will help you decode the morse code so you can copy the code and concentrate on the sending.
Android: Morse Expert
Decodes Morse Code audio to text. Optimized for decoding weak, fading signals in the noise and interference, especially on the Amateur Radio bands. Optionally highlights Ham callsigns and keywords. The audio may come either from the built-in microphone or from another device, such as a radio, via an audio cable. Decoding is performed using the same algorithms as used in CW Skimmer.
Apple IOS: Morse Transmitter
Morse Transmitter is the simplest morse code app for iPhone on the list. It allows you to convert text to morse and back in real time. There is a handy dictionary if you want to memorize morse codes for different alphabets and numbers.
Do you know SCARC has a large stack of VHF, UHF, and Microwave antenna’s! We can even get you on the 220 band. Have you ever use our great Icom IC-9700 multi-mode radio?
If the Polar Vortex has been getting you down, then the ARRL January VHF Contest might just be the antidote! The event gets under way at 1900 UTC on Saturday, January 17, and it wraps up at 0359 UTC on Monday, January 19.The object is for amateurs in the US and Canada (and possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different Maidenhead grid squares as possible using frequencies above 50 MHz. It’s the US and Canada (and possessions) working each other and the rest of the world (think F2 propagation!).
“You do not need a huge VHF/UHF antenna farm to compete and have fun,” said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW. He points out that even portable and rover operators have been quite successful, although that could depend somewhat on weather conditions where you live.
“January VHF/UHF propagation enhancements often just pop up,” Wilhelm added, with tropospheric and even extended aurora possible.
Getting on the VHF/UHF bands is easy, and Technician licensees have access to all amateur bands above 50 MHz. Antennas for VHF and UHF frequencies are far smaller than their HF counterparts. Most modern transceivers have 6 meter capability, and sometimes even an HF dipole can be used to work some DX on 6. Contest contacts may be made using SSB, CW, and even FM simplex, but keep calling frequencies such as 146.52 MHz clear of contest activity.
The January VHF Contest offers Single-Operator and Multioperator categories, and there is even a Single-Operator, FM-only category, as well as a Single-Operator, 3-Band (50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 440 MHz) category. For 2015 three new categories have been introduced: Single- Operator Unlimited High Power, Single-Operator Unlimited Low Power, and Single-Operator Unlimited Portable.
SCARC WINS – W3PIE SWaP-a-thon
Most Versatile and Most Overall
W3KWH took their Go Boxes down to W3PIE for their first SWaP-a-thon. what is “SWaP” it is the focus on Size, Weight, and Power reduction for Go Boxes. There were several go boxes on display and those attending had to judge who the winners were. SCARC won the categories Best Overall and Most Versatile. So now the club has won two $25 DX Engineering Gift Certificates.
Members:
You have one year to build your own Go Box for the 2026 SWaP-a-thon…
The phone portion of the ARRL sweepstakes is this weekend November 15-16, 2025. The event starts at 5PM Saturday and runs till 10:59PM Sunday. A signup sheet was sent out in an email last week and it is getting filled up. Please come up and help out operating even if just for a short time. We can only operate a maximum of 24 hours out of the 30 hour event, it should be a fun time. Click below to help out if you are available. Hope to see everyone this weekend.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oxE7u5gGCGTdN_mA3VU3NmQqdjduFRCA2_4QJe1_bes/edit?usp=sharing