2012 Muncie Community Preparedness Fair

Setting up in Heartland Hall

By invitation, MAARC hosted a table at the 10th Annual Muncie Community Preparedness Fair on September 15, 2012.

This year's Fair-- a free and family-oriented event sponsored by our local LDS church-- included a community Blood Drive and offered over 30 exhibits, info tables, workshops and live demonstrations on how to see yourself through personal and local emergencies.

This event is a worthy service and definite asset to the East-Central Indiana community.  Muncie Area Amateur Radio Club is proud to have offered our support as a participant.

Gary, KB9ZUV at the MAARC Table

We were excited to have the opportunity to publicly demonstrate a few capabilities of amateur radio at the Fair, and we sincerely appreciate the invitation to do so.

Of course MAARC stands ready to get on the air anywhere, anytime.  In addition to our static displays, extensive literature and demo equipment, we had five club members and seven stations up and operational at the Fair-- all on emergency power and with five portable antenna systems.

WB9HXG logged several QSOs during the show including contacts to Mexico.

Larry, WA9OAO on the Satellite & HF Digital Stations

Featured Stations and Modes:

Yaesu FT-757GX Base, 20 Meters SSB

Elecraft KX3 Portable, 20 Meters SSB and CW
Yaesu FT-8100 2m/70cm Mobile FM

Yaesu FT-857D Mobile, 20 Meters PSK31

Jetstream JT-220M Mobile, 1.25 Meters FM

Kenwood TH-F6a Handheld, 2m/1.25m/70cm + HF RX AM/SSB/FM

Wouxun KG-UV3D Handheld, 2m & 70cm FM

Homebrew CW QRP Radios built by Larry, WA9OAO

Static Equipment on Display:

Lafayette HA-700 General Coverage HF Receiver

Alinco DR-135T 2 Meter Mobile Transceiver

MFJ-1722 2m/70cm Ultraflex Magmount Antenna

Arrow 2m/70cm Diplexed Handheld Sat Yagi

Various Homebrew HF QRP Transceivers

Various Diamond & Pryme VHF/UHF HT Antennas

Jim, KB9LEI explaining Azimuth headings to a youngster

We had a great time speaking with folks of all ages and answering questions about Ham Radio.  The most common questions were about how to get your first license and the differences between CB and the Amateur Radio Service.   However we also had folks interested in weather spotting, radio theory and experimentation, fox hunting, SWL & international broadcasts, traffic handling, digital DX, regional VHF/UHF FM simplex and working satellites.

Gary, KB9ZUV spinning the dial on 20 Meters SSB

We would like to thank the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair for their kind invitation, all of the fine folks who stopped in at the Fair, and the following club members for volunteering their time at the event:

Vernon, KC9KLI

Larry, WA9OAO

Jim, KB9LEI

Gary, KB9ZUV

Robert, KB7ZGB 

Special thanks to Larry, WA9OAO for bringing

your fine collection of portable and QRP gear !