All posts by Steve/N9ZE

Chicago Area Net Directory (“CAND”)

Chicago Area Net Directory

The following statements were taken from the pdf Net Directory document located on www.therainreport.com…

Are you new to the Chicago ham radio scene?
Are you interested in becoming active with a repeater organization in the Chicago 6-collar county or North West Indiana?
Are you looking for something to listen to on VHF/UHF in the evening hours?
For answers to these questions and more you need not go any further than CAND, the Chicago Area Net Directory, compiled by Ben Straw/KC9UNS.  When Ben began assembling this directory in 2011, his motivation was to provide a comprehensive document for volunteer examiners and radio clubs that can be handed out to new and aspiring hams. Ben recognizes that unless new hams actually begin talking to someone on the air soon, they’re apt to lose
interest and find another hobby/service.
Unlike net directories of the past, CAND will be revised when necessary and live, using Google Spreadsheet. Friends of Ben will be monitoring the 6 and 2-meter bands along with the 220 & 440 MHz bands for additions and changes to this compendium. For the latest CAND online go to: http://tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets
Many thanks go out to those who have assisted Ben in this laborious project.  Special thanks to the RAIN Report’s Hap Holly/KC9RP for helping to verify net info for the north and Northwest suburbs from his Des Plaines home and SK Dennis Duffner W9FBM for helping him start the project; Ben resides in Hammond IN.
Additions and changes to the Chicago Area Net Directory are welcome either to Ben (kc9uns (at) gmail.com) or to Hap (hap (at) therainreport.com).

YRC and the 2014 Chicago Marathon

Once again the members of the York Radio Club assisted with the running of the 2014  Chicago Marathon.  There were over 40,000 runners and thousands of volunteers dealing with a multitude of tasks.  Our responsibility was to support the medical staff within Aid Station #20 located at 18th Street and Michigan Avenue. Amateur radio continues to play an important role in this world-class sporting event.

AS20 is the final “numbered” aid station along the course positioned one mile from the finish line.  Runners are generally exhausted from the duration of the race at this point but fiercely committed to finishing despite the complaints from their bodies. The medial team is here to ensure the safety and well being of the participants.

There were over 100 ham operators helping with the event in numerous roles. Aid Station 20 was operated by the following volunteers:

Kate KC9IQF
Neil KB9VMR
Geoff KA9QGH
Nick KC9WPR
Steve N9ZE

Station setup starts early in the morning well before 5:00am. The various nets typically shut down around 3:30pm which makes for a long day of operating. Good planning and preparation is vital in making this work. Thank you to everyone that helped make this day a success.

More photos will be added to the gallery.

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