The Six Meter Club of Chicago(SMCC) promotes interest in the Amateur Radio Service by fostering activity on all radio bands(HF, VHF, and UHF), provides emergency communications, community radio services, and technical assistance related to radio and its use in communications.

The next meeting of the Six Meter Club of Chicago
Friday April 9, 2026 at 7:30

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran

Church 9035 Grant Ave. Brookfield IL.

Our Club Activities
Click on one to learn more

2026 Dues are Over Due

Dues help fund the club’s treasury for repeater system operation and maintenance, meeting space, website hosting, and future activities.
Yearly dues are $25 per individual or $25 for a family living at the same address. Family members may support Club operations with individual membership dues at their option. A member shall pay dues by February 1^st of each year to remain a voting member in good standing (Constitution, §2.01.d). Yearly dues may be paid at the monthly meetings with checks payable to “The Six Meter Club of Chicago” or “SMCC” or by mail to the treasurer:

Craig Lundt, N9CGL
PO Box 55
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Donations to the club may be tendered to the treasurer at the monthly meeting or sent to the same address.

Beyond Skywarn

José Arrom, KE9ANL, opens his program, “Beyond Skywarn,” at the SMCC meeting on February 13, 2026. Photo by KB9LCD.

Jerry Had a Little Lamb

On Jerry Wysocki, KC9JXE, celebrated the birth of a new lamb on the farm in unincorporated Ogle County. The lamb was found by his grandson, nearly frozen to the ground, having been rejected by its mother. Jerry and his family nursed it back to health with bottle feeding. At last report, “Princess Jade Elsa Peebody” has come a long way and is thriving.

2026 Six Meter Club Officers

The 2026 SMCC Board-elect (L–R): Craig Lundt, N9CGL, Treasurer; Julianna Gercken, KE9ATL, Secretary; Scott Gercken, KB9LCD, Vice President; Jim Hull, W9JGH, First Director; Steve Rauter, N9ATO, GROL, Second Director; Will Sperling, W9WSS, President. Photo by outgoing Vice President, Martin Roycewicz, KD4SLL.

IN OTHER NEWS

We are always looking to expand our library of amateur radio resources. If you have an article, a photo story, or a technical tip you would like to share with the global ham community, we’d love to feature it. No contribution is too small—help us build the ultimate resource for operators everywhere by submitting your content today.
Your contribution may appear on the website or in the HALO or both!

Repeater Committee Report

The Committee welcomes Dave Atkerson, N8IQV. Steve Rauter, N9ATO, reports that our UHF-1 repeater is still fully operational on its 25-watt power amplifier and will continue to do so until we can install a 100-watt power amplifier appropriate for our machine. We also await the installation of an AllStarLink node, which will be done in the very near future. When the node is installed, net control operators will have a new interface to see who is active on EchoLink and other VoIP links to our repeater.

Swap Meet Report

Scott Gercken, KB9LCD, the Club's Swap Meet Chairman, is waiting to begin official advertising efforts until a Board Meeting can be held to finalize ticket pricing. Ticket prices will be largely unchanged. Once again, we hope to serve food with the help of volunteers from the membership. We will approach organizations and companies to sponsor some door prizes and offer them tables at the event.

The Grumpy Report

We have acquired one new Grumpy: #307, Kelly Begley, KE9OU. The title of Grumpy #308 is still awaiting assignment.

Coming Events

We have curated the following events from the ARRL Central Division calendar to help you stay connected with what is happening across the region. However, the best resources are built by the community. If you are organizing an event or know of a local gathering that fellow operators should know about, we invite you to contribute it to our list so we can share it with everyone. Send your event information to "webmaster@k9ona.com"

Saturday April 25, 2026
Sullivan Hamfest
Sullivan American Legion
2 E. Strain Street
Sullivan, IL 61951
More Information

Sunday May 3, 2026
Dekalb Hamfest
Sandwich Fairgrounds
1401 Suydam Rd.
Sandwich, IL 60548
More Information

Sunday June 7, 2026
Starved Rock Radio Club
Hamfest
Mendota Tri-County Fairgrounds
503 1st. Ave.
Mendota, IL 61342
More Information

Sunday July 19, 2026
KARS-Fest
Will County Fairgrounds
710 S West St.
Peotone, IL 60468
More Information

Sunday August 1, 2026
West Central Illinois Hamfest
Three Sisters Park
17189 IL-29
Chillicothe, IL 61523
More Information

Sunday & Sunday
September 19 & 20, 2026
Midwest Superfest
ARRL Illinois Section Convention
Three Sisters Park
17189 IL-29
Chillicothe, IL 61523
More Information

Saturday March 28, 2026
Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds
6550 North State Road 59
Brazil, IN 47834
More Information

Saturday July 18, 2026
Auburn Hamfest
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum
1600 Wayne Street
Auburn, IN 46706
More Information

Saturday August 1, 2026
Elkhart East Hamfest
Northern Indiana Event Center
21565 Executive Pkwy
Elkhart, IN 46514
More Information

Saturday August 8, 2026
Hendricks County Tailgate Fest
Avon United Methodist Church
6850 East Hwy US 36
Avon, IN 46123

Saturday April 25, 2026
ORC 46th Annual Spring Indoor Swapfest
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Expo Center
(Milwaukee Curling Club)
W67N890 Washington Avenue
Cedarburg, WI 53012
More Information

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