The Thumb Amateur Radio Club started in the very early 1950's, sometime before 1952. It was a group of Amateur radio
operators from the Thumb area who met once a month for a meeting. Our club call W8AX came from one of the Hams that attended
those meetings.
The first real records of the club came on March 25, 1957, when our constitution was adopted. The club became affiliated
with the ARRL on June 10, 1958. On June 10th , 1958 our club was incorporated with the state of Michigan as a non-profit organization.
On the advice of an Attorney, who was a club member, the incorporation was dropped a few years later as it offered no protection
to the club members.
The club started with an AM net on 3950 Khz each Sunday morning at 8:00 am local time. It was called the MTN (Michigan
Thumb Net ). When SSB became popular, the net changed. The net changed to SSB as most nets operatored in this mode. This net
is still operating today.
In the 1962 the club started an AM net on 2 meters. This net operated on AM until FM became popular and most members
could operate FM. This net is still operating on 146.430 Mhz every Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM local time.
In the 1970's when SSB started to appear on 2 meters, the "East Michigan Sideband Net" was started. This net is still
operating on 144.250 Mhz every Monday evening at 8:00 PM local time.
On November 12, 1990 the club asked the "Michigan Area Repeater Council" for permission to put a repeater on the air
for the "Thumb Amateur Radio Club". On January 31, 1991 we had our coordination to put a repeater on 146.860/146.260 Mhz.
On June 21, 1991 the repeater was on the air. We also have a net on the repeater. It is called the "Sanilac County Amateur
Radio Emergency Service Net". This net meets every Thursday evening at 9:00 pm local time.
All Amateurs are welcome to check into all of the "Thumb Amateur Radio Club" nets.
Bart Raysin W8IDT
