QSL Direct Please, I prefer to receive QSL cards for all contacts, as I'm working on my ARRL - VUCC & WAS certifications.

March 2008 - I received an official appointment from the Michigan Section Manager as a "Official Emergency Station ".

November 2006 - I received an official appointment from the Michigan Section Manager as a " Technical Specialist ".

I am actively involved in Emergency Communications including (NMARES) Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Services, NOAA Skywarn, (ARES) Amateur Radio Emergency Service, (RACES) Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and (CCECPSCO)Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet Counties Public Service Communications Organization.

I am the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Otsego, Emmet and Cheboygan Counties in Northern Michigan.

I am net control for the NMARES simplex net held in Northern Michigan every Thursday night at 01:00 Zulu.

The NMARES net has a primary simplex frequency of 146.520 MHz with a secondary frequency of 146.550 MHz.

The NMARES net promotes development of skills and equipment required to complete point to point contact using simplex frequencies. (with out reliance on our well established repeaters).

I hope to hear you check into our net !

My Actual Grid Square information is below.

Latitude 45.0180 N (45° 1' 5" N) Longitude 84.8363 W (84° 50'11" W). Grid square: EN75na, Location is 1.2 mi (2.0 km) from SOUTH edge of grid square, 40.8 mi (65.7 km) from EAST edge of grid square.

My correct area code is (989). Elevation above Sea Level - 1370 feet.

I am located in the North West corner of Otsego County, approx. 53 miles South of the Mackinaw Bridge, in the center of Northern Lower Michigan.

For 70 centimeters I'm running 25 watts into a Home Brew 1/4 wave unity gain ground plane antenna up 15'.

For two meters I'm running 55 watts into a Ringo Ranger Antenna with 7 db gain up 30'.

Two Meter Upgrade May 2006 - I installed a TE Systems 1412G power amplifier with a maximum output of 170 Watts, it has a real nice 15db receiver preamplifier.

For six meters I am running 100 watts into a home brew wire dipole approx. 20 feet high. The major lobes of the antenna run East and West.

Six meter Upgrade September 2005 - I put up a SM-50 Moxon antenna with 6db gain its up 30' and its working great.

Ten meters June 2006 - I installed a stand alone 10 meter all mode transceiver with a 25 watt output.

I'm using a modified Antenna Specialist's 5/8 wave base loaded ground plane antenna its up 30’.

For HF I'm running a 100 watts into a Home Brew G5RV antenna up 35' with the major lobes pointing East and West.

I have a Experimental 1200 baud Packet Station on 145.090 with a bbs at KC8NTE-1 and an alis of NMARES.

For folks traveling trough the Northern Michigan area, I monitor the following simplex frequencies, 446.00 MHz FM, 146.520 MHz FM, 28.350 USB 29.600 MHz FM, and 50.125 MHz USB 52.525 MHz FM.

I also scan most of the repeaters in Northern Michigan, if you need help please call.

I live and work on our family farm where I grow nursery stock and native trees from seeds I collect. I work a little over 80 acres and take care of over 30,000 trees.

My farm is known as the " Davis Tree Farm and Nature Conservancy "

We have hosted Field Day on the family farm for the past four years. We had a real nice write up, with photos in the September 2004 Edition of World Radio.

Field Day 2006 - Reporters from World Radio visited our site for Field Day 2006. So watch for a story and photographs in one of their upcoming editions.

Field Day 2007 - We are Hosting the NMARES Field Day this year. We will have a Tail Gate Swap on Saturday June 23rd 2007 from 08:00-12:00. (Talk In will be on 146.520 MHz.)

Field Day 2008 - We are Hosting the NMARES Field Day again this year. We will have a Tail Gate Swap on Saturday June 28th 2008 from 08:00-12:00. (Talk In will be on 146.520 MHz.)

I am the founder of the Northern Michigan Amateur Radio Emergency Services - Organization also know as " NMARES ".

I am the trustee for the NMARES Organization callsign " NM8ES ".

Check out the NMARES website at " http://www.nmares.net " for more information.

We also have a NMARES yahoo group at

" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nmares/ ".

If you are interested in Emergency Communications check us out, and share your knowledge and expertise.

You can contact me directly via email at " mycallsign@arrl.net ".

73 for Now

Thanks for the contact!

I hope to work you again soon - Jim KC8NTE :)

last modified: 2007-12-20