Old News

Area-11 Meeting in Statesville on 8/21/2010
was Cancelled two of the Counties have prior
Obligations.

Russell Beck/Paul-KD4OZI

 

A friend from Stanly County.

Fred Thomas Smith
N4NMS (SK)

 
OAKBORO - Fred Thomas Smith, 82, of Oakboro, formerly of Kannapolis, died Thursday, June 3, 2010, at Stanly Manor in Albemarle following a period of declining health. He was born Feb. 6, 1928 in Alexander County son of the late Harry Lee and Pansie Leola Ferguson Smith. He was a former member of Centerview Baptist Church in Kannapolis and attended St. Martin Lutheran Church in Albemarle. Mr. Smith was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and had retired from the Merchant Marines with 44 years of service. He had served in the Great Lakes area for 35 years. Fred was known for his electronic expertise and built and repaired computers. He was a well known longtime ham radio operator and computer user. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Rev. Judy Copeland. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral. At other times they will be at the residence. Interment will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Crowell of the Home, and a sister, Claudean Kluttz and husband, Hoy, of Kannapolis. He was preceded in death by a sister, Maylene Berryman and two brothers, James Grady Smith and Harvey Lee Smith. Whitley's Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Smith. Online condolences may be sent to www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Published in Concord & Kannapolis Independent Tribune on June 4, 2010

 

 

 

Cabarrus County in preparation for Field Day
Hands-on demo/training class.

Here is your chance!!!

On Sat. May 22 there will be a BSA Cub Scout Demo at Camp JJ Barnhardt from approx.
8:00am til 4:00pm. Jeff is asking for people to help-out with this event. Being a demo, there
will be an opportunity to help set-up the trailer and use the radios without all the hub-bub of
Field Day. You can take your time and experiment a little.

Send an e-mail to Jeff at wa1wxl@carolina.rr.com
or ka4att@arrl.net if you can help out. Include a time frame when you will be available.

Sam - KA4ATT

5/11/10
HURREX2010

Cat 4 event striking the coast of NC

STARTEX Tuesday, May 4, 0700 HRS
PAUSEEXX Tuesday May 4th 2000 HRS
RESUMEEX Wednesday May 5th 0700 HRS
ENDEX Wednesday 1700 HRS

Western Branch NCEM office at Conover will be activated - staff size unknown
Major focus on COMMS, particularly Tuesday 0700-1300 HRS
THEN will be on 3923/3927 (probably 3923 since the exercise will start before the chat crowd on 3823 starts their group fun)
THEN alternate 7232 +/- QRM
Stations without official exercise traffic should check-in to the THEN and NOT to a Branch office or the State EOC.
Please don't send non-exercise traffic to the Branches or the State EOC
If local ARES groups or County EM agencies are activated, please have them send a simple after-action-report to me and we'll include that info in our overall after-action-report

That's all I know, Paul
 
Area-11 Iredell County will participating in Walk For Babies Saturday....
State Meeting

Where: State EOC Center
When:  April 24th     Start Time 1030AM
116 west Jones Street, Raleigh, NC

3/31/10

TOPIC

PRESENTER

 

Introduction—State EOC

Tom Brown N4TAB

 

NCEM Operations

Clay Benton  NCEM Operations

                       Center Manager

Dianne Benton NIMS Compliant

2010 Hurricane Season

Darin Figurskey KC2IPY  National WX Service

 

New SM Introduction

 

Tim Slay N4IB

Bill Morine N2COP

Geologic Hazards

Bob Condor K4RLC

 

Winlink Expansion

Tom Brown N4TAB

 

ICS Certificate Database

Tom Brown N4TAB or

Steve Mizel

Hurricane Drill

ARES Statewide Database

 

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

 

Message Flow

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

 

Appointment Process

 

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

TARHEEL NET

 

Mark Cantrell KD4IMA or

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

EMAIL ADDRESS’S

 

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

 


 
Bernard Nobles WA4MOK
NC Section Emergency Coordinator
 

 
Thanks Bernie (WA4MOK) for your efforts over the last 10 years as service as the S.E.C.  Myself and folks in the
Western Branch will certainly miss you.  Good luck to you in your future endeavors.

Tom (N4TAB),  Welcome aboard.

Paul - KD4OZI

From: ncares-admin-bounces@rtpnet.org [mailto:ncares-admin-bounces@rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Morine N2COP
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 9:41 PM
To: 'NC Amateur Radio Emergency Service email list'
Subject: [Ncares-admin] Change in SEC

 

Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, has resigned as Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) and Tom Brown, N4TAB, has agreed to serve as his replacement.

 Bernie served as SEC since 2003 and indicated he wanted to spend more time with family.  During his term ARES made great strides in improving the ICS credentialing of county ECs , streamlining relations with state agencies and upgrading digital EmCOMM applications through Winlink.  He provided steady leadership during a time of tremendous technological and organizational change, and we wish him and his wife, Phyllis, well. 

Tom has served as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC) for the Central Branch, and has been instrumental in improving Amateur Radio response capability at the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  A strong proponent of interoperability, Tom will expand integration of Amateur Radio in the state’s emergency communications plans.

 We appreciate Bernie’s accomplishments and we welcome Tom as North Carolina ARES moves towards 21st century EmCOMM solutions.

 

73,
Bill Morine N2COP
ARRL North Carolina Section Manager

 
Ladies & Gentlemen, It is with my dismay that I have resigned the position of NC SEC, due to family commitments, and various other reasons. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you during the past seven years, and all of you have made a lot of progress over the last few years with everyone working hard to make NC ARES one of the best. Whoever takes the position as NC SEC I wish them the best, and hope they will lead NC ARES into the 21st century. My resignation was affective as of June 4, 2010.  Besides my family amateur radio will always be a big part of my life and NC ARES.

Thanks to All 73

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK

 
Area -13 Update

To:

"'BERNARD NOBLES'" <wa4mok@embarqmail.com>, "'PAUL B ROBINETTE'" <kd4ozi@bellsouth.net>, n2cop@ec.rr.com

Hi you all,

 I just wanted to give a little update about things that are going on in and around Cleveland County (Area 13).

 The Shelby Amateur Radio Club has installed a brand new D-STAR repeater.  The VHF repeater seems to be working well and has great coverage in the area.  The UHF repeater is waiting on a new antenna and we hope its coverage will be good also.  We (the SARC repeater committee) are planning to run these stand alone for a while to work out any kinks locally and then plan to begin working on connecting them to a Gateway.

 ARES of Cleveland County which is sponsored by the SARC has already been using the DSTAR DRATS application during drills and the SET on simplex frequencies.  This software allows those with a DSTAR radio and a computer to use the radio either on a repeater or simplex to send ICS 213 compliant forms, NTS traffic forms, Hospital type forms and even photographs on the air while at the same time using voice.  This has proved successful on each occasion used and the emergency management loves to potential of this.  SARC has donated a radio / antenna / coax to be installed at the Red Cross Building in Shelby and ARES of Cleveland County/SARC used monies from a raffle (a couple years ago) to buy a radio to install at the EOC in Cleveland County which is DSTAR Ready. 

 Over the county line in Gaston County, The EM there has used money given to the county by Duke Power grant to purchase ID-880H's (3 of them) Dstar radios for use at the EOC, Red Cross Building and in the field.  The great thing about dstar radios is the fact they can be used on Digital or analog modes.  Also no TNC is required between radio and computer to get on the air passing messages.  It cuts out having to carry another peripheral (TNC) and more cables.  Coverage of the SARC Dstar Repeater covers Gaston County really well and both counties are working together to test these repeaters.

 Just wanted to give you a little update of how your ARES volunteers in these two counties are working together and improving the ARES presence in these counties.  The EC's/AEC's in these two counties are continually at work to build the ARES groups in these counties.

The over-the-mountain triathlon in Kings Mountain is May 22nd and this event will include ARES members from Cleveland County, Rutherford County, Gaston County, Mecklenburg County and York and Cherokee Counties in South Carolina.  While this event is sponsored by ARES of Cleveland County / SARC it is definitely a group effort by volunteers inside and outside the NC ARES area 13 district.  This event has worked the past three years to strengthen the Mutual Assistance across county lines by allow members from various ARES groups to work together side by side and get to know one another.  This kind of practice will make Mutual Assistance Teams possible in the event of a real emergency and perhaps make the practice of assisting surrounding counties an easier process.

 Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on things happening in and around the area.

 73 and God Bless,
Susan - K4ZXN

5/16/10

Read between the Lines (Red) for some things  covered in the State Meeting in Raleigh
Paul - KD4OZI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

State Meeting

Nice Verbal presentation by Bob, KC4TVO Area-12 Mitchell County on Blue Ridge
Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

Also the Western Branch leads the State on the number of Monthly reports.  Hat's off to the EC's reporting their Monthly Reports and thanks to the DEC's.

Hurricane Drill May 4th and 5th start time 8am to Noon.  Focus on May 4th.
 

Paul - KD4OZI
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Area-12
Nice work to Bob (KC4TVO), Steve (KI4ZUI) and David (WA9OTP) On this report.  Always nice to see good things that are released to the public on Amateur Radio.  Hats off to  Western North Carolina News 13 for running the article.

Emergency Communication  Radio

Paul - KD4OZI
4/3/10

State Meeting Announcement

Monday, April 26, 2010 8:55 AM
 
From:
View contact details
 
 
To:
"ncares-admin" <ncares-admin@rtpnet.org>
To all North Carolina ARES/RACES appointees and participants,

Information following was announced at the State ARES/RACES Meeting held April 24, 2010 at the NC State EOC..

As initiated by the May 11, 2005 NC Governor's Proclamation and subsequently enacted General Statutes, all State Agencies, Counties and departments are required to adopt and comply with the National Incident Management System/Incident Command System (NIMS/ICS).  Compliance is also required of all participating State Emergency Response Team (SERT) partners, both public, non-profit and private.  This includes ARES/RACES in North Carolina and all of its appointees and participants..

Since 2006, NC ARES/RACES volunteers have been aware of these requirements and many have completed the required IS-100, 200, 700, and 800 online, self-study courses. These courses are required for all participants at all levels. These are easy, simple courses and all four can be completed in a few hours

North Carolina Emergency Management is currently in the process of including all participants of all SERT organizations into their standardized statewide database.  This will include information for all NC ARES/RACES members along with copies of their completed course certificates.

To facilitate that process and to provide better management of our volunteer resources, NC ARES/RACES has established an NC ARES/RACES member database to provide a single point of registration for NC ARES/RACES participants. Our NC ARES/RACES database will regularly exchange data with the NCEM database.

Participation in this process is required of all NC ARES/RACES members. Excepting individuals that will not deploy, will not serve at EOCs, Command Posts

Accordingly, NC ARES/RACES members directly appointed by the NC SEC/RACES Officer including the offices of EC, ADEC, DEC,ASEC and SEC must be compliant and registered by July1, 2010.  Those appointees that have not completed the training courses and registered by July 1, 2010 will be considered inactive and subject to replacement. If, between July 1, 2010 and August 1, 2010, , they have completed the required training, they will be reinstated.  Those remaining non-compliant will be replaced in the roster.

An invitation will be sent to each NC ARES/RACES appointee, with the URL for the database and a unique password allowing access to the database. Registration is simple, requiring contact information, appointment and a easy upload mechanism to upload pdf files for each of your IS course certificates as received from FEMA.

Once the EC or higher-level appointee has successfully registered, he/she will then manage invitations and registration and approval for those members in their jurisdiction.

Compliance for other NC ARES/RACES participants (AECs and general members) is the responsibility of the appointed EC in whose jurisdiction they work. Note that non-compliant participants may not work at EOCs, Incidents, Command Posts, Staging Areas or at any point of interface with Government officials. In order to work with any NIMS/ICS compliant process, the participant must have demonstrated compliance, with copies of their certificates on-file with NCEM.
 

 

EC's remember to consult your county emergency manager to make sure the requirements listed above are sufficient to work in your county eoc.


73,

Bernard

 

 Nobles WA4MOK
NC SEC
NC State RACES Officer

4/24/10
 
Plans for 2010

Hurricane Drill – May 4
Weekly Training sessions
ICS 213 training
Short, 5 minute - ideas welcome
Increase participation
AECs, DECs, County ECs
Geographic – goal is every county (that would be 100 nightly)
Winter remedies
160 m capabilities
Other bands – 40m? 60m?

4/24/10

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB013
ARLB013 FCC Looks to Lower Fees for Vanity Call Signs
ZCZC AG13
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  April 14, 2010
To all radio amateurs 
SB QST ARL ARLB013
ARLB013 FCC Looks to Lower Fees for Vanity Call Signs
The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM) on
April 13 seeking to lower the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call
signs. Currently, a vanity call sign costs $13.40 and is good for 10
years; the new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go down to
$13.30 for 10 years, an decrease of 10 cents.
The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended)
to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated
with that program.  The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable
not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon
renewing a vanity call sign for a new term. Instructions on how to
comment on this NPRM are available on the FCC Web site at,
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/howtocomment.html .
The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 13 years of the
current program -- from a low of $11.70 in 2007 to a high of $70 (as
first proposed in the FCC's 1994 Report and Order). In 2007, the
Commission lowered the fee from $20.80 to $11.70. The FCC said it
anticipates some 14,800 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment
units" or applications during the next fiscal year, collecting
$196,840 in fees from the program.
The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when
applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity
call sign for a new term. The first vanity call sign licenses issued
under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that began
in 1996 came up for renewal four years ago.
Those holding vanity call signs issued prior to 1996 are exempt from
having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal,
however. That's because Congress did not authorize the FCC to
collect regulatory fees until 1993. Such "heritage" vanity call sign
holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio
database.
Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of
their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC
Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the
Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the ULS and
clicking on the "New Users Register" link. You must supply your
Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.
NNNN
/EX

 
 Tax Scam Warning from IRS
To:
"'NC Amateur Radio Emergency Service email list'" <ncares-admin@rtpnet.org>

April 14, 2010

 

ARRL made the transition April 13 to its new website, which has been in development for three years and is the largest change in communications outreach for the League since its first website was introduced twenty years ago.  The new website is far more interactive than the model it just replaced and will contain much more information and resources.  Like any large transition, however, there are glitches which need to be addressed.  Many Section Manager functions are not presently available.  ARRL staff is very aware of this and is working to restore these functions as soon as possible.  I hope to have a section newsletter shortly once that capability is restored.  Everyone’s patience is appreciated while these issues are addressed and resolved.

 

73,

Bill Morine, N2COP

ARRL North Carolina Section Manager

 

 
Ladies & Gentlemen,  Statewide ARES meeting April 24, starting at 1030, location State EOC, 116 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC. Attached is the agenda.

 Hurricane Drill,  May 4 & 5,  starting at 0730 each day until NCEM releases us. Winlink will play a big part in this drill, with some portable stations setting

 up at different locations, provided by ARES Members from the Western Branch, also from South Carolina EM & ARES. The Tarheel Net will be active, so     I'm sure Mark KD4IMA will be looking for net control stations. The Eastern Branch will be active on 3923, VHF/UHF, Winlink. Please plan to participate if you can. Further info will be provided at the ARES meeting.

REMINDER: When using the ICS-213 message format, that format is Plain Language ONLY , NO  Q  signals, which is one reason the Incident Command System, and the message format  was developed to provide a means of all agencies speaking the same language.

Further info will be provided at the ares meeting

THANKS 73

Bernard Nobles WA4MOK
NC Section Emergency Coordinator

 

 
Hey Folks, can you lend a hand? 
Paul - KD4OZI

To: kd4ozi@bellsouth.net, "Tommy Queen" <K4bnp@aol.com>, w4dk@arrl.net

Hope this finds you well and looking forward to something other than snow.

This past week, I received a phone call from Mars Hill College requesting help with communications for the 2010 Southestern Collegiate Cycling Conference Championships, which is going to be held in Mars Hill on April 17. There will be about 32 colleges there, and the winners of this event will be traveling to the nationals next month. The course is 12.5 miles, and can be covered easily will 2 meter simplex. In thinking about this event, I see it as a great chance for the hams of Western North Carolina to show what we can do, largely due to the fact there will be a lot of media coverage. The event starts at 8:00 and should be over by 3:00.

Now for the meat of the email. As you can see, we don't have a lot of time to prepare, and I am need of operators willing to help with communications. I know there are nets in your counties and surrounding areas, and I ask that you put the word out about the race. I can be reached by phone (828-712-6554) or email (kf4zds@arrl.net). I would like to have 12 or more. I have asked Dean Blair, K2JB, about using the Buncombe County van as a command post for the race and am awaiting word on that. I guess the term "always prepared" comes in handy with this races.

Thanks for your help with this and '73s

Allen Stines, aka 00
CTE: BITE-ME
KF4ZDS
Assistant Chief, Big Pine VFD

3/31/10
To:
KD4OZI@BELLSOUTH.NET

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB012
ARLB012 ARRL, Red Cross Sign Memorandum of Understanding

ZCZC AG12
QST de W1AW 
ARRL Bulletin 12  ARLB012
From ARRL Headquarters 
Newington CT  March 30, 2010
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB012
ARLB012 ARRL, Red Cross Sign Memorandum of Understanding

On Thursday, March 25, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed a
new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Red Cross
(ARC) at ARC National Headquarters in Washington, DC. The MoU, which
replaces an earlier Statement of Understanding that expired in 2007,
provides a "broad framework for cooperation" between the ARRL and
the ARC "in preparing for and responding to disaster relief
situations at all levels in rendering assistance and service to
victims of disaster, as well as other services for which cooperation
may be mutually beneficial."

The ARRL Board of Directors approved the signing of the MoU at its
January 2010 meeting following the completion of negotiations. The
Red Cross requires the completion of a criminal background check to
participate in Red Cross activities and provides a process by which
a volunteer may have a criminal background check performed at no
cost to the volunteer.

In the case of ARRL volunteers, the Red Cross has agreed to accept
an alternative process: ARRL volunteers may arrange, at their own
initiative and expense, to have the criminal background check
performed by a state or local law enforcement agency.

The Red Cross also has agreed that ARRL volunteers shall not be
asked or required to consent to credit checks, mode of living
investigations or investigative consumer reports in order to provide
a communications function.

The ARRL and the Red Cross encourage interested volunteers in their
respective organizations to become members and to participate in the
activities of the other organization. ARRL volunteers should be
aware that if they wish to become Red Cross volunteers, they may be
required to consent to additional background checks in accordance
with Red Cross policy that may include credit checks, mode of living
investigations or investigative consumer reports.

Per the MoU, "both ARRL volunteers and ARC workers will work
cooperatively at the scene of a disaster and in the disaster
recovery, within the scope of their respective roles and duties as
recommended."

During a Red Cross Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) and depending on
their training and qualifications, ARRL volunteers may perform in
one or more of several roles, including Amateur Radio Liaison,
Communication Equipment Operator, Communication Equipment
Installation/Repair and Disaster Assessment. ARRL volunteers who are
assigned roles by the Red Cross during a DRO will be provided with
Red Cross credentials as required by the role, consistent with Red
Cross policy.

"Because of the importance of emergency communications, we are happy
to be able to continue the League's long-standing relationship with
the American Red Cross," said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. "The
ARC and other served agencies give Amateur Radio operators the
worthwhile missions in our communities that allow us to thank
America for the privilege of being hams."
NNNN
/EX

 

 

 

 

 

When Is Daylight Savings?

Daylight Savings time begins each year at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March, with clocks moving ahead one hour. Standard time begins each year at 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November, with clocks moving one hour back.



Read more at Suite101: U.S. Daylight Savings Time in 2010: Clock Changes - When to Spring Forward and Fall Back http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/us_daylight_savings_time_information_for_2010#ixzz0hy46PSb2
 
When Is Daylight Savings?
Daylight Savings time begins each year at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March, 
with clocks moving ahead one hour. Standard time begins each year at 2:00 A.M. 
on the first Sunday in November, with clocks moving one hour back.


Read more at Suite101: U.S. Daylight Savings Time in 2010: Clock Changes - 
When to Spring Forward and Fall Back 
http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/us_daylight_savings_time_information_for_2010#ixzz0hy46PSb2
2010 Charlotte Hamfest
March 13 - 14, 2010
Saturday - 8:30AM to 5:00PM
Sunday - 9:00AM to 1:00PM

                                                         Tickets at the door $10.00    
                                                            Advance Tickets $7.00   Order Now

 

I will be at tables 204, 205 and 206 with the Stanly County Club.  Stop and see me.
Paul - KD4OZI

 

From: Susan Melvin [mailto:k4zxn@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 8:47 PM

Hope to see all of you all at the Area 13 District meeting on Saturday, March 6, 2010 9AM at the Gaston County EOC located at 615 N. Highland Street in Gastonia. 

I hope the meeting will not take up too much of your morning on Saturday and I will try to get you out and back to your families just as soon as I can.   After my presentation to the group, Ben KM4C and Todd WA4TV from ARES of Cleveland County will present a demonstration of using DSTAR with the DRATS software to send forms/photos and files over the air.  I'm sure that you all will find this very interesting!  We used it in Cleveland County during the S.E.T. and it was a great asset to us!  

Please look over the directory attached and send me any corrections that I may need to apply, as I would like to have this updated prior to the March 6th meeting. 

Anyway, I look forward to seeing you at the district meeting this weekend!
73 and God Bless!
 

Susan Melvin, K4ZXN
District Emergency Coordinator
Area 13 North Carolina ARES

ARES ® Registered Trademark of ARRL

 


                                                               Fox Hunts in Area 13

Third Saturday of each month/except for hamfest days) – Alternating between Gaston and Cleveland County
February 20th foxhunt will be in Cleveland County. 
We will meet for breakfast at Mountain View Restaurant in Kings Mountain, NC on Business 74 (100 W. King Street) at 8:30am.

The fox will transmit on 146.535 and the hunters will use 146.880 to communicate with each other.  The fox will begin transmitting at 10am.

 

 

Items In the news to read items go to
Section News to read the complete articles/

NEW NC PIC APPOINTED
NC QSO PARTY - FEBRUARY 28
STATE ARES MEETING - APRIL 24
NEW ARRL VOLUNTEER COUNSEL

PREVIEW - ROANOKE DIVISION CONVENTION
At the Charlotte Hamfest

Speaking at the Hamfest, come and see me at Stanly County K4OGB tables 204, 205 and 206

Paul - KD4OZI

 

Hello All,
Everyone is invited to the Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Societies, W4BFB, club auction this Tuesday evening,  January 26th at 7:30PM at East Baptist Church, at 6850 Monroe Road, next to East Mecklenburg High School. This auction is free and open to all W4BFB members and the general public to buy and sell and everyone is encouraged to participate. Jerry Malin, N2HV will serve as our auctioneer, and Tom Hunt KA3VVJ will be our treasurer.
 
To encourage participation, this is a totally free auction, there are no fees or charges for anyone to buy or sell at the auction.
Please try and limit your items to electronics, ham radio gear, and things used in the shack. 
 
Remember the Charlotte Hamfest isn't too far away so now is a great time to sell some items to build up that hamfest fund. 
one mans junk is another mans treasure.
 
If you would like to sell any items, please come about 7PM, so we can get you registered and items checked in before the club meeting begins. You will be asked what the minimum price you will accept, and items will not be sold below that minimum without your permission. To speed the flow, our treasurer will collect all monies for items sold and at the end of the auction, monies will be distributed to the sellers.
 
If anyone has any questions please email Bill Fisher W4GRW at w4grw@w4bfb,org
 
73 de w4grw
Bill Fisher
Mecklenburg Amateur Society, Vice President
From: Susan Melvin [mailto:k4zxn@yahoo. com]
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:04 AM
To: 'k4zxn@yahoo. com'
Subject: Charlotte Area SKYWARN and National Weather Service
Importance: High

Charlotte Area SKYWARN (CASN) and the National Weather Service (NWS) will
present a spotter training class with a winter weather focus on Thursday,
January 14, 2010 at 7PM at the Cleveland County EOC in Shelby. They will be
presenting this information at the ARES of Cleveland County Meeting. We
would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to you to join
us for this spotter training. If you've already have had the spotter
training but it has been some time since you have received it, it is always
good to get a refresher of the information. Come on out and lets learn
spotter training on Thursday January 14, 2010.

We look forward to seeing you all at the class! If you would like to pass
this along to your club's / ARES groups, feel free!

Thank you so much and may God Bless you in the New Year!
73
Susan, K4ZXN
 

Comment:  This was very good class.  Folks in or out of Amateur Radio will enjoy
this class. Snow's coming soon in an Area near you.

Paul - KD4OZI
Haiti Earthquake Disaster
Up Dated 1/14/10

 

Hello all,
I just received a phone call from a person identifying themselves as with "Consumer Rewards" telling me my phone number had been selected to receive $400.00 in Wal-Mart gift cards.  He assured me there was no catch, all I had to do was pay $3.95 Shipping and Handling.  Of course then he wanted my credit or debit card number.  He already had my name, address, and phone number.

This is obviously a scam.  DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO ANYONE CALLING YOU WITH SUCH OFFERS.  Remember, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.

This is for real, it just happened to me.  Pass this along to let others know that this scam is out there.

Peace and 73
Adam WK4P
1/21/10
Attention,  (Saturday 1/16/10)
Just so you know, there will be a foxhunt held tomorrow in Gaston County. All interested in hunting are welcome to come out and join us. The group will meet around 8:30 am at Munchies on Chestnut in Gastonia for breakfast and a little fellowship before the hunt. The fox will begin transmitting at 10:00. Please feel free to join us for what is always a great time, and also a good chance to work on some training, just in case we should ever have to use those skills on a real hunt. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, and I'll see if I can answer your questions. Thanks, and see you tomorrow.

73,
Michael-AJ4QJ

1/15/10

[Ncares-admin] EmComm House Bill HR 2160

Saturday, December 26, 2009 12:48 PM
 
From:
Add sender to Contacts
 
To:
"NC Amateur Radio Emergency Service email list" <ncares-admin@rtpnet.org>, "SmithChart" <smithchart@yahoogroups.com>, "rars" <rars-l@rtpnet.org>
The EmComm bill that passed the US Senate last week, S1755, is headed back to the US House Committee on Energy & Commerce.


-While it's great that it passed, the original EmComm bill HR 2160 has sat in this House committee since 04/29/2009, with no action. Don't know why. But, this House committee will have to pass the bill, before it can move to the House floor for a vote. And, then for a reconciliation with the Senate version (but they are virtually identical in language.)
-
Fortunately, NC has two Congressmen who are members of this House committee.
-Rep GK Butterfield from District 1 - it's a weird shaped district that covers Henderson, Ahoskie, Edenton, Greenville and parts of the counties where Little Washington and Havelock are.
-Rep Sue Myrick (you should know her as former mayor of Charlotte). Her district seems to be most of Union and Gaston counties (but none of Mecklenburg).


-As the ARRL State Government Liaison for North Carolina, I'm encouraging the constituent members to write to these Representatives.

 Remember when writing to be respectful and brief, as we're asking them to do us a favor.

And passage of this bill will be great for Amateur  Radio in many ways.
-

-To find the email (and snailmail) address of your congressman, go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/

 

-A sample letter for Representative Butterfield or Myrick might read:

 Dear Honorable ..,

 As a constituent and supporter, I am writing to ask your support for the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Act of 2009 HR 2160. As you know, the Senate version of this bill S1755, passed the Senate unanimously. The House version HR 2160 was originally introduced in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which you are a member. The bill acknowledges the contribution of FCC licensed amateur radio operators in providing essential communications (at no cost to the government and purely voluntarily) in times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, ice storms and floods. Upon passage, the Bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to undertake a study on emergency communications. S 1755 points out that "There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that performance must be given -- (A) support at all levels of government; and (B) protection against unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of the valuable communications provided by such stations."

Sincerely,

 Your Name and Callsign

 

If you are not in Districts 1 or 9, please write your Congressman/woman, and ask that they co-sponsor and/or support HR 2160. Write as an individual citizen and not as a member of ARRL or a specific radio club. Feel free to note the disasters you have paricipated in. Edit the above letter as needed.

 

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

Bob K4RLC
ARRL NC SGL

12/26/09

Tar Heel Emergency Net

Nightly 7:30 p.m. - 3923 kHz

(Alternate Frequency 7232 kHz**)

Status: Not activated. THEN is currently on regular schedule at 7:30 pm tonight on winter frequency of 1.943 MHz.
Breaking News: Check back often for updates.

 
News Updates: November 15, 2009

Tar Heel Emergency Net winter shift to to 160 m. Band conditions at our home frequency of 3.923 have deteriorated through the Fall, especially with the time change. So, Tar Heel Emergency Net will make a seasonal shift to 160m band for the regular evening Net, beginning November 8. Same time, different frequency.

The 160m is a quite band, and there is plenty of room - so if we find the frequency in use, start at 1.943, then move up by 10 kHz increments - 1.953, 1.963, 1.973, 1.983, 1.993. Please stay with us as we try to find a frequency that will allow us to stay on the air. Watch this page for updates on the frequency plans.

If you do not have a 160m antenna, then go ahead and put one up. Or maybe you can tune that 80m G5RV to transmit. Or drop some verticals from each end of your 80m dipole. Tune a random wire. Be creative - there are many cheap, easy antenna designs that can be fun to experiment. Treat this as a drill - what would you do if your regular antenna was damaged by high winds?

Special thanks to those who served as Net Control Station last month! K4BNP, WA4MOK, W9EF, KD4IMA, K8SKX, N4IB, KG4OPM, W4YBQ, KG4GPJ

Remember, we are always looking for volunteers to serve as Net Control station. So step up and gain some valuable experience.

For More Information  http://www.ncarrl.org/nets/THEN/index.html
 

 

NEW NC SECTION MANAGER ELECTED

My four years as your ARRL Section Manager have been the most rewarding experience of my 33 years in Amateur Radio. But expanding work responsibilities and a couple of over-active kids make it hard for me to devote enough time to the important work we've doing in the North Carolina section. But the section will be in good hands when my term expires. On December 10, Bill Morine, N2COP, our current Section Public Information Coordinator was declared the next NC Section Manager, running unopposed in the election. Bill's term begins April 1.

Bill was first licensed in 1970 as WN1NOP and got his General and his current call of N2COP in 1981 while living in New Jersey. Bill became an Extra in 2001. Bill is a life member of ARRL and QCWA. He and XYL Pam have two sons: Reid, W4RSM, and Grant, W4GHM, who was named Young Ham Of The Year in 2007. Bill became an ARRL Public Information Officer (PIO) in 2000, was named section Public Information Coordinator (PIC) in 2004, and became a member of ARRL's national Public Relations Committee in 2005. Bill has served as chairman of the national PR committee since 2008. He is an Assistant EC in New Hanover County (Wilmington) and is also an ARRL and W4VEC Volunteer Examiner. Bill has worked extensively with Boy Scouts, and served on the staff of K2BSA at the 2001 and 2005 National Jamborees. He has helped over 1,800 Boy Scouts earn the Radio Merit badge, and has helped over 300 Scouts and Scout leaders nationally and in North Carolina get licensed. He served as the first chairman of CARES, the Carolinas Amateur Radio Emergency Services, from 2001 to 2006, implementing a 220 MHz network in southeastern North Carolina dedicated to public health traffic in disasters. Since 2008, he has served as head of communications for the Beach 2 Battleship triathlon, the only full iron distance (140.6 miles over 17 hours) triathlon in the Roanoke Division. Bill and his wife run an independent financial planning practice in Wilmington.

The North Carolina Section is fortunate to have so many strong leaders like Bill and I know you will join me in supporting him as he assumes his new and challenging responsibilities.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, CW WORKS!

Running our section SSB nets has been a big challenge since we returned to standard time. The band frequently goes long soon after sunset and while Midwest stations boom in, it's hard to hear others in North Carolina. There have been several Tarheel nets with NO check-ins because of poor band conditions. So I've been occasionally checking into our section CW nets to get my "net fix" and polish my rusty fist. I've been amazed at how often I've listened to a struggling SSB net only to move to the CW frequencies to find a full net with perfectly readable stations from all over the state. It's a reminder of the effectiveness of CW even in poor conditions.

Joel Hallas, W1ZR, wrote an interesting article about CW for the May, 2007 QST. According to Joel, CW has major advantages over voice and other modes. CW has much lower bandwidth than SSB. How well we can receive a signal is specified by its signal to noise ratio (SNR). If we change our receive filter from 2.5kHz for voice to 250Hz for CW we reduce the received noise power by a factor of 10. That's equivalent to 2 S-units improvement in SNR. To gain the same SNR improvement with SSB we would need to increase the transmit power from 100w to 1000w! With a higher SNR for CW, it's much easier to detect a weak CW signal than a weak voice signal. A good CW operator can copy code at or below the noise level. To copy voice it takes a minimum of 3-5 dB SNR. Because of the narrower bandwidth, five or more CW stations can fit into the space one SSB signal can fit. But what's this all mean? It means your CW signal can usually get through when your voice signal cannot. Your 100w CW transmitter can get to places that your neighbor's 2000w voice transmitter can't!

So try one of our CW nets some night when you're struggling to copy the net control for an SSB net. A great place to start is with the Carolina Slow Net, which meets nightly at 8pm on 3.571MHz. Helpful info on the net can be found at http://bellsouthpwp2.net/r/g/rg_burns/index.htm.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN NC

March 13-14: Charlotte Hamfest, Concord

April 3: NC State Convention, Raleigh Hamfest

DECEMBER TRAFFIC

K4IWW 561 (BPL), N3BW 267, W2EAG 233, KI4YV 228, W4DNA 61, W4TTO 61, W4FAL 45, KE4AHC 34, K8SKX 30, W4EHF 26, KC4PGN 22, W3HL 21, NC4VA 16.

DECEMBER PSHR

NC4VA 273, K4IWW 130, W4DNA 130, W4FAL 130, W2EAG 110, KI4YV 100, W4TTO 100.

NC Section Manager Tim Slay, N4IB
 

KD4OZI
1/19/10

 

SEPTEMBER 2009 TRAFFIC UP Dated (10/22/09)

K4IWW 524, KI4YV 361, N3BW 265, W2EAG 173, W4DNA 71, W4TTO 50, W4FAL
44, KI4ZJI 42, W3HL 36, KE4AHC 33, K8SKX 27, NC4VA 22, KC4PGN 12,
WX4MMM 11, W4EHF 9.

SEPTEMBER 2009 PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL

NC4VA 209, W4DNA 135, K4IWW 130, W4FAL 130, KI4ZJI 120, W2EAG 110,
KI4YV 100, W4TTO 100.

NORTH CAROLINA SECTION TRAFFIC NETS

North Carolina Morning Net
7:45am Daily
3.927MHz

Carolinas Slow Net (8-10wpm)
8:00pm Daily
3.571MHz

North Carolina Evening Net
6:30pm Daily
3.923MHz

Carolinas Net - Early (20-22wpm)
7:00pm Daily
3.573MHz

Carolinas Net - Late (15-18wpm)
10:00pm Daily
3.573MHz

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL North Carolina Section
Section Manager: Timothy B. Slay, N4IB
n4ib@arrl.org
 

 

 

                                                         Anderson Power Pole

If you don't like the way Anderson Power Poles pull apart SO easily, here are some solutions BESIDES tying the wires in a sqare knot...

PowerWerx sells a plastic retention clip that goes into the holes where the roll pin was originally intended to go.  No good if you have filled that hole with glue, as I have...
"Retention Clips for PP15/30/45 Powerpole Connectors, Bag of five."
<http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson%2Dpowerpoles%2Daccessories/individual%2Dhousings%2Dcontacts%2Droll%2Dpins/>
if that URL is too long, go to powerwerx.com (the home page) and
click on the "Individual Housings, Contacts & Roll Pins" text.

There is another brand of connector to use, that still is compatible:

This note is from Eric, N3EF, swiped off of the Elecraft reflector discussion:

"Trouble with Power Pole connectors
for those of you that have an issue with the way Anderson's "lock" together, you might want to give these a try. I get mine from Mouser.
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/632/1186.PDF

I have been getting away from using Anderson Powerpole connectors, and now
I am relying on Tyco Electronics - AMP Power Lock Connectors. Essentially the same thing as Anderson PP, but much higher quality. They will mate with the Anderson line so there is no problem [with compatability] there. A lot of people have complained at how easily the powerpoles come apart. I did some testing and found that it takes about 3 lbs of force
to pull two powerpoles apart, while it takes 8 lbs for the AMP connectors.
With an AMP mated to Anderson, it takes 6 lbs. With the AMP connectors, it
takes considerably more force to mate them and there is a distinct
snap/click sound when they go together. The pins are thicker and they have
"wings" on them so they don't flop around in the housing like the Anderson
ones do. Also, they don't require a roll pin to lock them together. There is a little tab on the housing that locks one half of the connector to the
other. They do cost more but your getting a higher quality product in my
opinion. Anyway, for those of you that have an issue with the way Anderson's "lock" together, you might want to give these a try.

Mouser
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/632/1186.PDF

Eric N3EF"
 

Field Day 2007
Counties that I visited my pictures and comments

           Ashe County        Cabarrus County        Caldwell County        Iredell County        Rowan County        Stanly County
Score    3A - 4,066           2F                             3A                            5A                         2A                         1A - 2,722

Have you completed your Counties Field Day results and filed them with ARRL? 

First of all I really had a good time and each stop Rhoda and I made were really unique to what each county was doing or had in their plans for FD.  All counties were heavily involved and had a true interest in the actual meaning of what FD was really about.  The number of point that your county scored is a side issue the important issue is people, ARES  and your public involvement.  Back on points I normally looks at the extra points category because this tells me what your Club/ARES forks were really busy doing vs just making QSO points.  Look over your picture and identify those operators in the pictures that are shown in your counties.   If you have your FD scores let me know that and e-mail me. I was extremely pleased with ASHE County and their people and public involvement it was like that every ARES member had a preset assignment and were busy doing it, lots of sharing ideas among those doing the actual work.
Paul - KD4OZI@ARRL.NET
Area-13 First Quarter meeting of 2008.  All Area-13 EC slots are filled.  Who are the EC's? 
See
Article and Picture.
1/28/08
Mecklenburg Mini Field Day Pictures

 

Amateur Radio Film (Pete Smith Specialty)
 Take a look at this one.  Thanks to
               Russell (KF4AEX)
                10/15/07
 

 Ten Steps toward a Healthier Radio Club
                          3/5/07
Moved from front page
4/14/07

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