Sad day for amateur radio.

This is from Martin Jue's personal Facebook Page:

April 25, 2024

Dear Fellow hams and Friends,

It is with a sad heart as I write this letter.

As many of you have heard by now, MFJ is ceasing its on-site production in Starkville, Mississippi on May 17, 2024. This is also the same for our sister companies: Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft, Mirage and Vectronics.

Times have changed since I started this business 52 years ago. Our product line grew and grew and prospered. Covid changed everything in businesses including ours. It was the hardest hit that we have ever had and we never fully recovered.

I turned 80 this year. I had never really considered retirement but life is so short and my time with my family is so precious.

I want to thank all of our employees who have helped build this company with me over the years. We have many employees who have made MFJ their career for 10, 20, 30, 40 and more years.

We are going to continue to sell MFJ products past May 17, 2024. We have a lot of stock on hand. We will continue to offer repair service work for out-of-warranty and in-warranty units for the foreseeable future.

Finally, a special thanks to all of our customers and our dealers who have made MFJ a worldwide name and a profitable business for so many years. You all are so much appreciated.

Sincerely Yours, 73s
Martin F. Jue, K5FLU

GBARC Net Report April 24, 2024
Net Control Tom VA3TS
Topic: Your Speciality

Echo Link
KO4DXQ Bob
VA3RAC Kevin
VE3DDU Ray

2 Meters
Paisley
VA3MFO Jim
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3EAC Janet
VE3WI Dave
VE3OZW Richard

Owen Sound
VE3RQY Greg
VE3BQM Bernie
VE3DNY Dan

80 Meters
VA3RCA Kevin
VE3BQM Bernie
VE3OZW Richard
VA3MFO Jim
VE3VCG Marvin
VE3WI Dave
VE3DGY Doug
VE3DDU Ray
VA3DNY Dan

2024 OQP done and over with. 
I started OQP on time, 1800z and operated S&P for few minutes then switched to Running till the band conditions subsided for the evening which was around 0300z. It seemed to me that band conditions were not the the greatest given we are near the peak of the solar cycle. I found myself doing a lot of band hopping because the I could not get a steady flow of contacts Running. 
40m and 20m bands were most productive and closed off the night with several contacts on 80m and 160m. 
Following morning I started off on 80m but as day went along I found myself not making much progress. After having some breakfast, got back on the air and picked up few on 15, 20 as well as only 1 contact on 10m. Not much of new activity, most already worked were heard. Just before 1400z I decided to go QRT. 
My overall observation was that majority of activity was CW which tells me CW is gaining popularity. Awesome!

Operating conditions: CW
Rig: Kenwood TS590s @100watts
Ant: 160-10m offset dipole, TH6 beam
CW Paddles: MFJ564B
Total Operating time(hrs): 8:17

Results:

I really enjoyed Adam's presentation.  Building a hexbeam from scratch is impressive.

For anyone wanting to buy one, most if not all hexbeams for sale are based on the design by Steve Hunt G3TXQ (SK), that Adam described.  

Steve Hunt's website http://www.karinya.net/ is still up and has all his hexbeam info as well as a wealth of info on baluns and chokes.  He did hundreds of tests of different chokes and distilled the results into a great design chart.  Check it out:  http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/chokes/

I don't own a hexbeam but have done a little research:

The Cadillac of hexbeams is the VHQ. It's relatively new (23 reviews on eHam.net, 5 out of 5). Also the priciest (~$2300 CDN + shipping).
https://www.vhqhex.com/

The most popular hexbeam is probably the one manufactured by K4KIO (187 reviews on eHam.net, 4.9 out of 5).
https://www.k4kio.com/

Other USA manufacturers are:

N4ARR: https://k4hex.com/

DX Engineering: https://www.dxengineering.com/search/dep...Ahexagonal

MFJ: https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1848

There are also several European manufacturers.  

A complete list of all the hexbeams which have eHam reviews is at https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-category?id=11

73
Dave, VE3WI

This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with
this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.    Incorrect Renewal Message sent to RAC Members

We have received several reports from RAC members who have received a message from RAC which indicates that their membership has ended.
This message was in fact sent by Radio Amateurs of Canada to members, but it was entirely as a result of a technical error while working on an
update to the RAC website.
We apologize for this error and any inconvenience that it has caused and we thank you once again for your response. If this had in fact been a
phishing or other cybersecurity threat we hope that you would act the same way and contact RAC before clicking on any links.
-- Alan Griffin, RAC MarCom Director
RAC Website

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.    The new ONTARS website Market Place.

Market Place has underwent significant software updates. Our new format is a breeze to use, with the ability to post multiple images of
your gear as well as it is now easier to use for the novice user.  Take a look at this site! In the last few days, more than 75 users from
all over Canada have registered. Classified ads are streaming in daily.
Check out      https://www.ontars.com/ss
-- Barry VE3ISX Ontars Website Manager

3.    Simcoe County Hamfest

Sponsor:    Simcoe County Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
Date    :    Saturday, May 11, 2024
Location:    Grenfel Community Centre, 1989 Sunnidale Road (County Rd 40}
Times    :    Setup / vendors 0800. Open to public 0900. Close / cleanup
1200.
Cost    :    Admission free. Vendors $5.00.    Donations to the Grenfel
        Community Centre Building fund are greatly appreciated.
Talk-in:    146.55 Mhz simplex no tone.
Description:    Vendors, bring your own tables and chairs or tailgate as you like.  If the weather is wet, there is lots of room in the rink.

The rules are simple, respect the site, it's neighbors and each other by being clean and quiet. Vendors, if you don't sell it, it goes home with you.
No dumping.  Visitors, respect the setup time, public opening is 9:00 AM

Info    :    Brant Smith VE3UME
Email :    ve3ume @ scare-radio.com
Webpage:    http://scare-radio.com
-- RAC Events

4. Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club Hamfest

Date    :    Saturday, May 11, 2024
Location:    Civitan Club, 12468 Highway 15, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4S7
Times    :    7 AM for dealers, 8:30 AM for general admission.
Cost :        General admission: $5 per person (includes door prize ticket), youth under 16 admitted free.
Talk-in:    VE3RLR 147.210 + PL 151.4Hz AMS (Auto mode select) IN/OUT 
Description:    We hope to have a number of commercial vendors, a canteen, consignment table and equipment testing table.
Exams:    Basic, Advanced and Morse Code examinations will be available
        Exam fee: $25, includes Hamfest admission. Age 25 or younger: free.
        Candidates must pre-register by Wednesday 8 May 2024.
        Please e-mail Examiner Dave VE3KG at ve3kg @ myrac.ca.

This will be the 38th annual RLARC Hamfest. We are in a slightly smaller facility this year as our recent venue will be undergoing renovations at
the time of the event.
Info:        ve3rlr @ gmail.com for Hamfest information
Webpage:    https://www.ve3rlr.ca
-- RAC Events

This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or
clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.

Trillium Venture 2024 is an Emergency Response Training Exercise which will be conducted by the Canadian Forces, 31st (Reserve) Brigade on the weekend of May 3rd, 4th and 5th. The objective of this exercise is to provide a real world opportunity for members of the unit to prepare to respond to potential large scale disasters or emergencies.

  31st Canadian Brigade Group

This year Amateur Radio operators have been asked to participate as part of this exercise. During emergency events, emergency managers and potentially the military need to have real time information from across the impacted area. This is referred to as “ground truth” Amateur Radio operators are ideal suited to provide “field reports” and to help pass traffic. This is an especially important activity in the first hours or days after an event. Decision makers can only decide how best to respond to the emergency if they have good, current information.

With changing weather patterns and the potential for attacks on critical infrastructure training exercises like this are vitally important. Responding to large scale disasters or emergencies is not simple or easy and so better training allows for a quicker more efficient response.

The Trillium Venture exercise 2024 in Bruce County needs to have Amateur Radio volunteers at at 4 operational unit locations, including, Lion’s Head, Wiarton, Mildmay and Port Elgin.


Marvin VE3VCG will be operating at the EOC in Port Elgin. The objective is to have enough operators so we can cover all locations and work in shifts from Saturday May 4th to Sunday May 5th.


To volunteer please contact Marvin VE3VCG at mdoublester@gmail.com or via Winlink at ve3vcg@winlink.org. You can also call 226-930-1373 (Cell) Please put Trillium Venture in the subject line so as to draw my attention.

Net Controller — VE3OZW Richard - Otter Creek

Topic for discussion -

1. Spring is finally here and the weather is improving and warming up.  What does that mean for you?  Amateur radio or life in general?  What do you have going on?
I am going to leave this here from my last evening as Net Control as the topic popped up a few times during the net.  

VHF/Echolink

VA3RCA Kevin - Alliston
VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VE3WI Dave - Port Elgin
VA3EAC Janet - Paisley
VA3SGZ Sheldon - 
VA3TS Tom - Shallow Lake
VE3RQY Greg - Brooke
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs

HF – 3.783 MHz

VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VE3DDU Ray - Nottawa
VA3RCA Kevin - Alliston
VE3WI Dave - Port Elgin
VE3IXX Bob - Belwood

Grey County has decided to get some of their staff Ham Radio Certified as County or Municipal operators in the event of a declared emergency.  This will help in staffing operators in our area and they all would have a community interest that emergency comm's will work.  There may be an opportunity for those non County Staff interested to get basic certified on this course.

The course will run at an accelerated pace with the following schedule where the material lectures are held in the mornings and in the afternoon Industry Canada questions on the material covered are reviewed and explained.  

Wednesday, May 22 - Sydenham Campus (formerly Sydenham Community School, now owned by Grey County)
Wednesday, May 29 - Sydenham Campus
Friday, May 31 - Valley Room, Grey County Admin Building
Tuesday, June 11 - Sydenham Campus
Thursday, June 13 - Sydenham Campus
Tuesday, June 18 – Valley Room, Grey County Admin Building 
Thursday, Jun 20 – Bay Room, Grey County Admin Building
Tuesday, Jun 25 – Sydenham Campus – FINAL CLASS, FOLLOWED BY EXAM

My objective is to get these students to pass with an 80% or more final test grade.

Any instructors willing to assist with the course are appreciated and should get in touch with Frank Gufler at VA3-GUF@outlook.com.

UPDATE APR16; Grey County has confirmed that anyone wishing to participate in the course to get their Basic HAM radio certification is welcome for these daytime classes held at Grey County facilities.  Get in touch with with Frank the course leader at VA3-GUF@OUTLOOK.COM.  Class size is limited to 20 students and will be a first come first served basis.

UPDATE APR22; This is considered an accelerated course.  Class lectures run from 08:30-12:30 and 13:30 to no later than 16:00hrs covering course material review and practice test questions.  There are 13 open positions at this time for anyone interested in taking the course.