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Bart Raysin W8IDT
History of the Michigam Thumb Net and W8AX

Thumb Amateur Radio Club started sometime in the early 1950's It was a group of Amateurs who met once a month for a eyeball QSO. The Club call W8AX came from one of the Ham's that attended the meeting.

Although we have photo's back from 1948, the first real records of the club came on March 25th, 1957, when our constitution was adopted. The club became affiliated with the ARRL on June
1958 and later was incorporated swith the State of Michigan as a non profit organization. On the advice of an Attorney, and fellow club member, the incorporation was dropped a few years
later as it offered no protection to the members.

The club started with a AM net on 3950 kHz each Sunday morning at 8:00am local time. It was called the Michigan Thumb Net (MTN). When SSB became popular, the Net changed to
SSB as most Nets were using that mode. This Net is still in operation Sunday mornings.

In 1962 the club started a AM net on 2 meters. This net operated on AM until FM became popular as most operators could operate FM. This net is still operating on 146.660 MHz
every Wednesday evening at 9 PM local time.

In the 1970's, when SSB started to appear on 2 meters, the East Michigan Sideband net started. This net is still in operation 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 up a repeater on air for the Thumb Amateur Radio Club. On January 31, 1991 we
had our coordination on 146.860/146.260 MHz. On June 21, 1991, our repeater was on the air. We also have a net on the repeater called the Sanilac County Amateur Emergency Service
net. This net meets Thursday evening at 9;00 PM local time.

All licensed Amateurs to check into any of the nets offered in the thumb of Michigan.

Bart Raysin W8IDT

W8SJK Warren audio recording on his recollection of the MTN history.

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