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The“OfficialOrgan”
TheOfficialNewsletteroftheJohnstonAmateurRadioSociety,Inc.
July2016edition
JARSMeetingthisThursday:
Ourmonthlymeetingisthiscoming
Thursday,July21statthePanther
BranchCommunityBuilding.Our
programforthismonthwillbeonthe
“TrianglePacketNetwork.Ourvery
own“Chef–Boy–R-Tommy”willbe
grillinghamburgersandhotdogsfor
dinnerwithallthefixin’s.Weneedto
letTommyknowbythisTuesdayhow
manyofeachyouwillwant.Let
Tommyknowatn4cbi42@gmail.com.
Costis$7perpersonandpleasebring
exactchange.
InthiseditionoftheOfficial
Organ:
LifeontheFarm
LOMReport
NCSectionNews
ProductReviewsonHammo
CanandDV-4Mini
JohnstonCountyARES
ARRLNews
HamHumor
JohnstonCountyARRLVE
Team
LifeontheFarm:
Tosaythatithasbeenhothereonthe
farmwouldbeanunderstatement.It
hasbeenhotenoughtofryaneggon
thesidewalk.TheonlyreasonthatI
didnotfryaneggonthesidewalk,is
thatIdon’thaveasidewalk.Wedid
takeourlittlehairyhound,
Remmington,tothegroomerandgot
hissummerhaircut.Now,insteadof
beinga“HairyHound”heisalittle
“FuzzBucket”.Helikestorideandhe
reallyenjoysgoingtothegroomerand
gettingahaircutandunlikeme,he
actuallyhashairtocut.Tabitha,our
little“KrazyKat”saysitistoohotfor
hertowanttogoout.So,sheis
contentsittinginthewindowsand
watchingwhatgoesonoutside.
73from“TheFarm”
LOMReport:
Ithasbeenaninterestingmonthfor
theLOM(s).Mikegotthelidjustfor
beingamessenger(nowifthatisnot
unjust,whatis?)andVeldagotit(for
the2ndtime)fornottalkingonthe
radio.
Anyway,whenwegotithome,the
troublereallybegan.Iwantedthetop
halfandVeldawantedthetophalfof
thebuttgasketsincewewere“co-
lids”.Iamnotgoingtosaywhowon
thatbattle,butmyheadissoreand
thereisanindentiononmyskullthat
says“LodgeCastIronSkilletCo.”
Nowforthecandidates.Ithasbeen
kindofhardtryingtogetcandidates
sincemostoftheJARSmembersare
homesteadingoverontheSWARC
145.210repeater,whichinitself,
shouldbeenoughtogetthelidforlife.
Wehavehadtworegularuserswho
arenotJARSmembers(KD4KIIand
KN4OO)whohavegonesofaroutof
theirwaytogettheLOMthatIthink
theygotlostacoupleoftimes.Onone
occasiontherewasagroupofus,
includingAaron(KK4KFG)talkingon
therepeaterandthetopicof“Amazing
Idiots”cameupandAaronhadthe
nervetoinsinuatethatMikewasan
“AmazingIdiot”.Ontheverysame
nightwegottheLOM,duringthenet,
Barb,KK4TLY,doubledwiththelid
andthensaidthatshewasunawareof
thenetprotocol.Onmorethanone
occasion,wecameupbehindLannie,
KK4QEF,wedideverythingpossible
togethisattention.Icalledhimon
147.270,145.210,444.875and
146.520andhedidnotansweronany
frequency.Iamstilltryingtofigureif
hepurposefullywastryingtoshunthe
LOM’s.ThispastFriday,Iwastalking
toWalter,KG4QHL,andhesaidhehad
togo,Igavemycall,KD4MC,and
waited,andwaited,andwaitedand
waitedforWaltertogivehiscalland
neverheardit.
Asyoucansee,therearesome
DESERVINGcandidatesoutthere.I
wanttogiveittoonedeserving
candidateandVeldawantstogiveitto
anotherdeservingcandidate.
Iguessyouwillhavejusthavetobe
theretoseewhogetsitthismonth.
NCSectionNews:
ARRLNCSectionNewsletter
June,2016
GreetingsfromKarlW4CHX,your
ARRLNCSectionManager!
ARRL,COMMUNITYASSOCIATIONS
INSTITUTEFINDCOMMONGROUND
ONPARITYACT
LANGUAGE(6/7,ARRL)–ARRLand
theCommunityAssociationsInstitute
(CAI)–thenationalassociationof
homeownersassociations(HOAs)
–havereachedconsensuson
provisionsoftheAmateurRadio
Parity
Act,H.R.1301.Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrlcommunity-associations-institutefind-common-ground-on-parity-actlanguage
(source:ARRL)
AMATEURRADIOPARITYACTSET
FORHOUSEENERGYAND
COMMERCECOMMITTEE
MARKUP(6/23,ARRL)–TheAmateur
RadioParityAct(HR1301)isamong
fivebillsthattheUSHouseEnergyand
CommerceCommitteehasscheduled
for“fullcommittee”markupin
July.Forfurtherinformation,
includingthetextofthecomplete
substituteamendmentagreeduponby
ARRLandtheCommunity
AssociationsInstitute(CAI),see
http://www.arrl.org/news/amateurradio-parity-act-set-for-house-energyand-commerce-committee-markup
(source:ARRLwebsite)
ARRLFOUNDATIONANNOUNCES
2016SCHOLARSHIPRECIPIENTS–
TheARRL
Foundationhasannouncedthe2016
recipientsofthescholarshipsit
administers.Awardstotaling
$115,650wentto78youngradio
amateur
scholarsthisyear.TheGoldfarb
MemorialScholarshipwasnot
awarded
thisyear.TheOutdoorHams
Scholarship($1,000)wasawardedto
AlexanderM.Lozada,KK4THCof
Summerfield.Congratulationstoall
scholarshiprecipients!Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrlfoundation-announces-2016scholarship-recipients
(source:ARRLwebsite)
COLORADOCREATESAUXILIARY
EMERGENCYCOMMUNICATIONS
UNIT–Anew
ColoradolawhascreatedanAuxiliary
EmergencyCommunications
(AuxComm)Unitwithinthestate’s
DivisionofHomelandSecurityand
EmergencyManagement.Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/coloradocreates-auxiliary-emergencycommunications-unit
(source:ARRLwebsite)
BOUVETISLANDACTIVATION
PLANNED–Threeprovenand
experienced
DXpeditionleadersandalargeteamof
operatorshaveannouncedplans
toactivateBouvetIsland(Bouvetøya),
the#2most-wantedDXCCentity
inlate2017orearly2018.Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/bouvetisland-activation-planned(source:
ARRL
website)
POLISHDXER3Z9DXREPORTED
READYTORETURNTONORTH
KOREAONA
MOMENT’SNOTICE–Followinga
surprise“demonstration”
operationfromNorthKorealast
December,DomGrzyb,3Z9DXof
Poland,
iswaitingforthecallthatwillallow
himtoreturntothe#1
most-wantedDXCCentityforanother
briefactivation.Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/polishdxer-3z9dx-reported-ready-to-returnto-north-korea-on-a-moment-s-notice
(source:ARRLwebsite)
ARRLNOWOFFERINGNEW“RADIO
ANDWIRELESSTECHNOLOGY”
PATCHPROGRAM
FORGIRLSCOUTS–TheARRLis
offeringanewGirlScouts“Radioand
WirelessTechnology”patchprogram
thatprovidesopportunitiesfor
participantstolearnaboutwireless
technology,includingAmateur
Radio.TheprogramencouragesGirl
Scoutstopursueactivitieswhere
theywillacquireknowledge,skills,
andinterestinSTEMsubjectsand
careers.Forfurtherinformation,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-nowoffering-new-radio-and-wirelesstechnology-patch-program-for-girlscouts
(source:ARRLwebsite)
ARRLPROGRAMSANDSERVICES
COMMITTEEEXPRESSES
APPRECIATION,SUPPORTOF
NTS–TheARRLProgramsand
ServicesCommitteewillsubmita
motionto
theARRLBoardofDirectors
expressingappreciationforthework
and
volunteermembershipoftheNational
TrafficSystem(NTS™).The
motionthankedNTSmembers,
congratulatedthemforoutstanding
service,
andassuredthemofanongoingARRL
publicservicecommunicationrole.
Forfurtherinformation,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrlprograms-and-services-committeeexpresses-appreciation-support-of-nts
(source:ARRLwebsite)
ARRLEXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
REMOVESNTSEASTERNAREA
CHAIR,EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIASECTIONMANAGER
–TheExecutiveCommitteeofthe
ARRL
BoardofDirectorshasrelievedARRL
EasternPennsylvaniaSection
ManagerJoeAmes,W3JY,ofhis
appointmentsintheARRLField
Organization,includinghispositionas
ChairmanoftheARRLNational
TrafficSystem™(NTS™)Eastern
Area.Forfurtherinformation,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrlexecutive-committee-removes-ntseastern-area-chair-easternpennsylvania-section-manager
(source:ARRLwebsite)
ARRLPROGRAMSANDSERVICES
COMMITTEEAPPOINTSBUD
HIPPISLEY,W2RU,AS
NTSEASTERNAREACHAIR–The
ARRLProgramsandServices
Committee
(PSC)hasappointedGeorgeW.
(“Bud”)Hippisley,W2RU,asthenew
EasternAreaChairfortheARRL
NationalTrafficSystem™(NTS™)for
a2-yearterm,effective
immediately.Forfurtherinformation,
see
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrlprograms-and-services-committeeappoints-bud-hippisley-w2ru-as-ntseastern-area-chair
(source:ARRLwebsite)
“WARNING”NOTICESTOARRLEMAILUSERSAREBOGUS–Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/news/warningnotices-to-arrl-e-mail-users-are-bogus
(source:ARRLwebsite)
REMINDER!NETMANAGERANDNET
CONTROLOPERATORSNEEDEDFOR
TARHEEL
EMERGENCYNET–TheTarHeel
EmergencyNet(THEN)islookingfor
a
NetManagerandadditionalNet
ControlStations.TheTHENisthe
ARES
HFnetintheNCSectionandithas
beenoperatingsince1947.Thenet
meetsnightlyat7:30PMESTon3.923
MHz.AllindividualswithARES
appointments–AssistantEmergency
Coordinators,Emergency
Coordinators,andDistrictEmergency
Coordinators–shouldconsider
participatingastheNetManageroras
aNetControlStationforTHEN.
Forfurtherinformation,see
http://www.ncarrl.org/nets/THEN/in
dex.html
orcontactKarlBowman,W4CHX,
ARRLNCSectionManager,atw4chx
at
arrldotcom.Thanks!(source:NC
ARRLwebsite)
ARRLNATIONALPARKSONTHEAIR
2016–Forinformationonrules,
answerstofrequentlyasked
questions,activatortipsandNPS
documents,NPOTAdocuments,
answerstobasicquestionsfromNPS
employees,theLeaderboard,listof
NPOTAunits,merchandise,NPOTAon
socialmedia,andlatestnews,see
http://www.arrl.org/NPOTA(source:
ARRLwebsite)
LICENSECLASSES–
Raleigh(NC):Generallicenseclass,
October1toOctober22,2016,
sponsoredbyRaleighAmateurRadio
Society,contactMurrayMerner,
K4MHMbyphoneat(919)803-7973
orbyemailatk4mhmatarrldotnet
forfurtherinformation.
Tofindupcomingclasses,goto
www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radiolicense-classPleasenotethata
licenseclasssponsoredbyyourclub
ororganizationwillnotbelisted
ontheARRLwebsiteunlessyou
registeryourclass.ARRLRegistered
Instructorsmaylistupcomingclasses
ontheARRLwebsite.Forfurther
information,see
http://www.arrl.org/Licenseinstructor-registration
Also,pleaseletmeknowifyourclubis
sponsoringalicenseclass.
Thanks!(source:ARRLwebsite)
SILENTKEYS–Withdeepregret,the
passingofthefollowingamateur
radiooperatorsisreported:Jerry
Willis("Jerry")Henderson,W1JER
(SK)ofCharlotte;and,StephenFrancis
(“Steve”)HorneII,KB5B
(SK)ofGreenville.Pleasenoteitisnot
possibletopostinformation
aboutanamateurradiooperatorthat
hasbecomeaSilentKeywithout
confirmationviaacopyofanobituary
ordeathcertificate.
SPECIALEVENTSTATIONS–
July16:CandorNCPeachFestival,
1400Z-1800Z,NC4MC,Candor,NC.
MontgomeryAmateurRadioSociety
(MARS).14.250USB14.030CW7.250
7.030.Certificate.DonGrady,KG4ZRH,
120WoodlineDr,Troy,NC27371.
AnnualPeachFestivalandParade.
July16:OperationRedSleigh,1000Z2010Z,K4NWJ,Asheboro,NC.
GuilfordARES-AUXCOMM.14.265
3.9507.232.QSL.W4S/OperationRed
Sleigh,5186FarloweDavisDr,Sophia,
NC27350.
http://www.operationredsleigh.com/
September1-4:60thAnnualShelby
HamfestSpecialEvent,1600Z-2200Z,
W4NYR,Shelby,NC.ShelbyAmateur
RadioClub.AllHFbands,SSBandCW.
QSL.SARC,POBox2206,Shelby,NC
28151.Timeswillvarydaily.
www.shelbyhamfest.org
September10:48thAnnualNational
Hollerin’ContestSpiveys’
Corner,1500Z-2200Z,KK4NC,Dunn,
NC.SampsonCountyAmateurRadio
Service.14.26414.2427.2647.242.
Certificate.CliffIreland(KK4NC),
170PinecroftDr,Dunn,NC28334.
www.nationalhollerincontest.com
SpecialEventStationlistingsintheNC
Sectionnewsletterarebased
onwhatappearsontheARRLwebsite,
see
http://www.arrl.org/special-eventstationsPleaseconsiderlisting
yourSpecialEventStationatleast60
daysbeforetheevent,see
http://www.arrl.org/special-eventsapplicationAlso,pleaseletme
knowifyourclubissponsoringa
SpecialEventStation.Thanks!
(source:ARRLwebsite)
UPCOMINGHAMFESTSAND
CONVENTIONS–
July30:WCARSHamfest,Western
CarolinaAmateurRadioSociety,
Waynesville,NC,http://wcars.org
August13:18thAnnualCapeFearARS
Swapfest,CapeFearAmateurRadio
Society,Fayetteville,NC,
http://www.cfarsnc.org/
September2-4:60thAnnualShelby
Hamfest/ARRLNCStateConvention,
ShelbyAmateurRadioClub,Shelby,
NC,http://shelbyhamfest.org
September24:FreeGate2016,Qorvo
AmateurRadioClub,Greensboro,NC,
http://kd4rf.org/
BetweenJune10thand20th,Ivisited
familyinMichigan,Pennsylvania,
andVirginia.Uponmyreturn,I
preparedforFieldDayvisitsand
made
apresentationtotheCaryAmateur
RadioClub(6/23).Itwasgreatto
visitwiththeCARCclubmembers!I
amlookingforwardtoattending
theirSwapfest,andothers,inJuly.
DuringARRLFieldDay2016,Ivisited
12clubsitesand1homestation
incentralNorthCarolina.OnFriday
(6/24),mywife,GaleK4GGB,and
IvisitedtheFieldDaysiteforthe
RaleighAmateurRadioSociety–
W4DW(Apex)andthehomestationof
WayneStarnes,W4UV(Cary).On
Saturday,IdrovetoClevelandCounty
andvisited(inorder)the
followingclubsitesonmyreturntrip
home:ShelbyAmateurRadioClub
–KM4C(Shelby);GastonCounty
ARES/GastonCountyAmateurRadio
Society/GastoniaAreaAmateurRadio
Club–N4GAS(Gastonia);
MecklenburgAmateurRadioSociety–
W4BFB(MintHill);StanlyCounty
AmateurRadioClub–K4OGB
(MorrowMountainStatePark);
Cabarrus
CountyAmateurRadioSociety–
K4WC(Concord);RowanAmateur
Radio
Society–N4UH(MtUlla);Forsyth
AmateurRadioClub–W4NC
(Winston-Salem);HighPointAmateur
RadioClub–W4UA(Jamestown);
and,GreensboroAmateurRadio
Association–W4GSO(Greensboro).I
arrivedhome(northRaleigh)around
1:20AMSundaymorning.Whew!
Afterafewhoursofsleep,Ivisitedthe
FieldDaysitesforthe
DurhamFMAssociation/Orange
CountyRadioAmateurs–W4EZ
(Hillsborough)andtheMooreCounty
AmateurRadioSociety–NC4ML
(Pinehurst).Accordingtothe
odometeronmycar,Idrovemore
than
800milesduringmyFieldDay
visits!Asalways,itwasgreattosee
everyoneduringFieldDayandlearn
abouttheuniqueapproacheachclub
hadtakenforsetupand
operations.Ofcourse,thefoodwas
outstanding!Pleaseacceptmy
apologyifIdidnotvisityourField
Daysite.Finally,thankstoallclubs
thatsentaSectionManager’s
messageviaNTS–your
communicationswereappreciated
greatly!
Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeif
youhaveanyquestionsorwant
toprovideinputonourSection.Ican
bereachedviaemailat
w4chx@arrl.orgorviacellphone.As
always,thankyouforsending
youremails,photos,andclub
newsletters–theykeepmeinformed
aboutyouractivitiesandprograms!I
lookforwardtoseeingyouatan
upcominghamfestorclub
meeting.Thanksforeverythingyou
aredoing
foramateurradioandyour
community.73,KarlBowman,
W4CHX,ARRL
NorthCarolinaSectionManager,(919)
669-6068(cell)
ProductReviews:
HammoCan:
The“Hammo-Can”isacomplete
stationinaplasticammocan.There
aretwoversions.Oneversionhasa
5amp-hourgelcellbatteryfor$279.73
andonewitha12amp-hourgelcell
batteryfor$349.73.Bothversions
includeaJetstream2meter/70
centimeter25-wattdualbandmobile
radio,anLedreadoutthatdisplays
voltage,twoUSBports,andasmall
BNCantennathatmountsinthebox.
The12amp-hourversionhasaheavy-
dutylightersocketforconvenient
power.BothhavetwoAnderson
PowerPolesocketsforchargingor
operatinganotherdevicefromthe
samepowersupply.
Thatisthemanufacturersdescription,
nowfortheproductreviewbyan
actual,unpaid,user,me(KD4MC).
Whiletheconceptisagoodone,it
doeshaveitslimitations.Thefirstone
isthattheradioisonly25wattsand
theantennaisaveryshortdualband
BNCantenna.Thatisgreatifyoulive
inanareathatissurroundedby
repeatersoronlywanttowork
simplex.Unfortunately,Ilivequitea
distancefrommyfavoriterepeater,
(147.270)andcouldnotgetintothe
repeaterwiththesuppliedantenna.
SinceIusuallyoperateonthe“Mighty
27”likeatrueJARSmember,Ibought
anotherantenna(DiamondRH-205)
thatextendsoutto47inchesandit
doesallowmetogetintotheJARS
repeater.
Whenyouchargethebatteryonthe
unit,ithastobepoweredon.
However,theradiodoesnotneedto
beon.Igotthewallwartcharger,
whichcamestockwiththeunitand
madeacigarettelighterchargeranda
solarpanelchargerusingthe
Andersonpowerpoles.Iliketokeepa
handheldscannerwithmeandthe
USBadapterscomeingreatfor
keepingpowertothescannerandthe
USBportscankeepacellphone
chargedalso.
Igottheunitwiththe5amp-hourgel
cellandIamabletorunitforabout5
hoursbetweencharges.Thesolar
panelkeepsitsufficientlychargedfor
continuoususe.
Theunitcomeswiththe
manufacturerssoftwarefor
programming.RTSystemsalsomakes
programmingsoftwarewitha
programmingcable.IprefertheRT
Systemssoftwarebecauseitallowsfor
metocopyfromoneradioofanother
manufacturerandpastetothisradio.
Onascaleof1–10,Iwouldgiveitan
8mostlybecauseoftheantennaand
lowpowerradiorequiresclose
proximitytoarepeater.
ThisproductissoldbyQuickSilver
Radioandcanbepurchasedfrom
theirwebsite:
http://www.qsradio.com/index.html
73deKD4MC
DV-4Mini:
Manufacturerdescription:
USBstickcontaining70cmdata
transceiver.WorkswithD-Star,DMR,
Fusion,APCO25,DPMRandother
digitalmodes,whicharebasedon
GMSK,2FSKor4FSK.(samplepicture)
antennanotincluded
ActualUserReview:
Thisneatlittleunitallowsyouto
expandthecapabilitiesofdigital
radiosthatyoualreadyown.Itis
capableofoperatingonDStar,DMR+,
Brandmeister,C4FM(SystemFusion),
APCO(P25)anddPMR.Whilethe
deviceiscapableofoperatingonthese
modes,youneedaradiothatisalso
capableofoperatingonthesemodes.I
haveaDMRandC4FMradiosothatis
whatIwillreviewhere.
Youwillhavetodownloadthe
softwaretooperatetheunitfrom:
http://wirelesshold.com/modems.asp
xandinstallitonyoucomputerand
theyhavethesoftwarethatwillrun
onmostflavorsofcomputer.
Thisiswhatthecontrolpanellooks
like.OntheDMR+therearemany
reflectorsthatyoucanconnecttoand
talktopeopleallovertheworld.
Thereisawebpage:
http://xreflector.net/neu3/that
allowsyoutoseewhatstationsare
connectedtowhichreflectorsor
channels.
Onthedifferentdigitalmodesyouwill
finddifferentreflectorsthatattracta
specificgroup.Likespecificcountryor
aspecificareaofacountry.
Therearedifferentnetsonthevarious
reflectors.Myfavoriteistheworld
wideneton“Brandmeister+TG91.
ThatmeetsonSaturdayat12noon
easterntimeandhascheckinsfrom
allovertheworld.Itisadirectednet
andIfinditveryinterestingtolisten
tothevariouscountriesthatcheckin
tothisnet.Ihave,onoccasion,gone
toareflectorwherethereappearedto
benobodytalkingandjusttossedout
mycallandlocationandhavetalked
allovertheworld.
Thisunitsellsfor$129.00butdoes
notcomewithanantenna.The
antennacosts$14.35.Bothcanbe
boughtfrom:
http://wirelesshold.com/modems.asp
x.
Now,theuserreview.Iwouldgiveit
an8becauseoftheabilitytoconnect
tovariousreflectorsandtalktopeople
allovertheworldandithasalotof
potentialforuseinadisaster.The
onlythingkeepingitfromgettinga
solid10isthefactthatyouhaveto
haveaseparateradiotointeractwith
thevariousdigitalmodes.Iguessasa
preludetotheDV-4multiband,multi
moderadiothatissupposedtocome
outlaterthisyear,thisisagoodway
togetyourfeetwet.
73deKD4MC.
JohnstonCountyARES:
Nowthathurricaneseasonisuponus
andwehaveanalmostdailythreatof
severeweather,theJohnstonCounty
AmateurRadioService,ARES,is
lookingforlicensedamateurradio
operatorsthatareinterestedin
helpingJohnstonCountyEmergency
Managementbyprovidingauxiliary
communicationsintimesofdisaster.
Youdonotneedtobearesidentof
JohnstonCountytojoin.Johnston
CountyARESmeetsonthesecond
Mondayofeachmonthat7pmatthe
AmericanRedCrosslocatedat805-A
SouthThirdStreetinSmithfield.We
alsoholdatrainingnetonthe
147.270+repeateronthefourth
Thursdayofeachmonthat7pm.This
netisopentoalllicensedamateur
radiooperators.Ifyouwouldliketo
givebacktothecommunityorwant
moreinformationonJohnstonCounty
ARES,itcanbefoundat
http://www.johnstoncuntyares.com,
orbycontactingMike,KD4MCat
mcallam@centurylink.netorbyphone
at919-934-9623.
ARRLNews:
AmateurRadioParityActReceives
FavorableHouseEnergyand
CommerceCommitteeReport
AnamendedversionoftheAmateur
RadioParityAct,H.R.1301,receiveda
unanimousfavorablereportonJuly13
frommembersoftheUSHouse
EnergyandCommerceCommittee.
ThebillnowwillgotothefullHouse
forconsideration.Beforereporting
thebilloutofcommittee,thepanel
firstvotedtoaccepttheamended
language,"inthenatureofa
substitute."RepGregWalden,W7EQI
(R-OR),whochairstheEnergyand
CommerceCommittee's
SubcommitteeonCommunications
andTechnology,saidthesubstitute
billrepresented"agoodbalance"that
cameinthewakeofmonthsof
meetings,hardwork,and
compromise,andherecommended
themeasuretohiscolleagues.
"Theamendmentguaranteesthat
evenindeed-restrictedcommunities,
AmateurRadiooperatorsareableto
useaneffectiveoutdoorantenna,"
Waldensaid."Withoutaneffective
antennaAmateurRadiooperatorsare
severelylimited,sothisamendment
ensuresthatamateursarefreeto
pursuetheirpassionwhereverthey
live."
Atthesametime,hecontinued,the
measureprotectstherightsofthose
"whohavechosentoliveindeedrestrictedcommunitiesandtoset
theirownaestheticandotherrules."
Atthesametime,hecontinued,the
measureprotectstherightsofthose
"whohavechosentoliveindeedrestrictedcommunitiesandtoset
theirownaestheticandotherrules."
InearlyJune,theARRLandthe
CommunityAssociationsInstitute
(CAI)--thenationalassociationof
homeownersassociations(HOAs)--
announcedthattheyhadreached
consensusonsubstitutelanguagefor
HR1301inanefforttomoveit
throughcommitteeandtoovercome
objectionstothecompanionUS
Senatebill,S1685.TheofficesofUS
RepresentativesAdamKinzinger(RIL),thebill'ssponsor,AnnaEshoo(DCA),andWaldenmediatedandoffered
assistance.
"Whileit'sraretohavetwogroups
withopposingviewpointswalkaway
fromlegislationhappy,bygolly,I
thinkwe'vedoneithere,"Walden
concluded.Hesaidthesubstitutebill
represented"thebestofwhatour
committeecandowhenwework
togetherinbipartisancompromise
thatmeetstheneedsofallparties
involved."
Inherremarks,Eshoosaidshewas
gladthatanagreementhadbeen
reachedonthebill'slanguage,which
sheinitiallyfearedwouldviolatethe
rightsofhomeownersassociations.
"Wefoundabalancethatworksforall
stakeholders,"shesaid,callingthe
ARRLandCAI"thebookendsofthe
effort."
Kinzingercalledtheamendedbill"a
goodamendmentthatstrikestheright
balance."
FCCFindsaFixforAmateurRadio
ApplicationBatchProcessingProblem
It'stakenacoupleofweeks,butthe
FCChasresolvedacomputer
programmingproblemthathad
affecteditsabilitytoacceptand
processbatch-filedAmateurRadio
applications,resultinginabacklogfor
theVolunteerExaminerCoordinator
(VEC)andotherstakingadvantageof
automatedprocessing.TheFCC
informationtechnologystaffhadbeen
attemptingtofixtheglitchthathad
affectedtheUniversalLicensing
System(ULS)ElectronicBatchFiling
(EBF)systemsinceitfirstcroppedup
onJune28.Atfirsttheproblemhad
affectedtheprocessingofall
AmateurRadioandcommercial
licenseapplications,saidARRLVEC
ManagerMariaSomma,AB1FM,who
alertedtheFCCITDepartment.By
June30,itappearedthattheFCChad
correctedthebroaderproblem,but
theEBFremainedunabletoprocess
ARRLVEC'sautomated,batch-filed
applicationsandexamsessions.VECs
thatweremanuallylogginginto
uploadtheirfileswereunaffected.
ARRLandFCCITstaffersputtheir
headstogethertosolvetheproblemof
theblockage.
"TheFCCITstaffwasastutely
attentivetotheproblemeverystepof
theway,astheyworkedwithourIT
departmenttofindasolution,"Somma
said."Weappreciatethespecialized
servicewereceived."
ARRL'sITDepartmentandtheARRL
VECconfirmedonJuly14thatthe
problemhadbeenfixed,thebacklogof
morethan1200applicationsand300
examsessionscleared,andtheflowof
automated,batch-filedapplications
andexamsessionsabletoresume.
HamRadioOutlettoAcquireSome
AESEmployees,Re-OpenMilwaukee
LocationasHROBranch
HamRadioOutlet(HRO)has
announcedplanstohirean
unspecifiednumberofAmateur
ElectronicSupply(AES)employees
whenAESshutsdownitsfour
locationsinlateJuly.Inaddition,the
currentAESHeadquartersstorein
MilwaukeewillbecomeHRO'snewest
locationlaterthissummer,following
renovation.OnJuly1,AESannounced
thatitwasgoingoutofbusinessand
endingretailoperationsatits
Milwaukee,LasVegas,Cleveland,and
Orlandolocations.Withtheapproval
ofAESmanagement,HROsenior
managersvisitedeachAESlocationto
interviewstaffersinhopesof
"acquiringsomeoftheAmateurRadio
retailemployeetalentineachofthe
currentAESlocations,"anHROnews
releasesaid.
"Togetherwiththisinterviewprocess,
HROexaminedwhatitwouldtaketo
perhapsacquireoneormoreofthe
AESstorelocations.Atthetimeof
theseinterviews,manyopportunities
wereexploredwithcurrentAES
seniormanagement,"therelease
continued."Weareveryexcitedto
announcethatHROwassuccessfulin
providingoffersofemploymenttoa
numberofsoon-to-be-formerAES
employees,andthattosome,wehave
offeredpositionsthatinvolveHROsponsoredandfundedrelocation."
HROannouncedthatonceAES
shuttersitsMilwaukeelocationat
5710WGoodHopeRoadonJuly28,
HamRadioOutletwillundertakean
extensiveremodelingprojecttocreate
anewHROMilwaukeestoreatthe
samesite,whichwillopenattheend
ofAugust.
"Itiswithgreatpleasurethatweare
abletocontinueTerrySterman'sand
PhilMajerus'legacyofprovidinga
fantasticAmateurRadiostorein
Milwaukee,Wisconsin,"saidHRO
PresidentRobertFerrero,W6KR."Itis
ourimmediategoaltohavethe
largest,mostwell-stockedAmateur
RadioretailstoreinNorthAmerica
andperhapseventheworld."
Afamily-ownedbusiness,HROisthe
world'slargestAmateurRadio
dealership,withlocationsfromNew
EnglandtotheWestCoast.
ARRLCEO,EmergencyPreparedness
ManagerVisitFEMAHeadquarters
ARRLCEOTomGallagher,NY2RF,and
EmergencyPreparednessManager
MikeCorey,KI1U,recentlyvisited
FederalEmergencyManagement
Agency(FEMA)headquartersin
Washington,DC,tofurtherexplore
areasofcooperationandpartnership,
inlinewiththeMemorandumof
AgreementthatARRLandFEMA
signedin2014.
Fromlefttoright,FEMAChiefTechnology
OfficerTedOkada,K4HNL;ARRL
EmergencyPreparednessManagerMike
Corey,KI1U;FEMAAdministratorCraig
Fugate,KK4INZ,andARRLCEOTom
Gallagher,NY2RF.
AfterAESclosesonJuly28,allformer
AESlocations'directandtoll-free
telephonenumberswillberedirected
totheclosestHROlocation,andthe
AESwebsitewillbedirectedtoHRO's
website.
DuringtheJune29visit,Gallagherand
CoreymetwithFEMAAdministrator
CraigFugate,KK4INZ.FEMAChief
TechnologyOfficerTedOkada,
K4HNL,alsoattendedthemeeting.
"AdministratorFugate'sdetailed
knowledgeofAmateurRadiois
impressive,andhissupportforthe
amateurcommunityisvery
encouraging,"Gallaghersaid
afterward.Hewentontosaythathe
wasmostimpressedbyFugate's
observationthat"anymodeofRFthat
willconnectacrossthecontinentis
valuable;wedon'thaveenough
backupstothepublicswitched
network."
NationalParksontheAirUpdate
Julyrepresentsthehalfwaymarkfor
theARRLNationalParksontheAir
(NPOTA)program.Withjustunder6
monthstogo,slightlymorethan
490,000contactshavebeenmade
from431ofthe485eligibleNPSunits,
in8250separateactivations.
There'splentyoftimelefttoget
involved!Withthesummervacation
seasoninfullswing,manyNPSunits
wouldenjoyseeinganewNPOTAface.
YoucanstartcollectingNPOTAunits
anytime;Activatorsarealways
lookingfornewstationstolog.With
bandconditionsbeinglessthan
spectacularlately,NPOTAoffersaway
toenjoyAmateurRadioaseither
ChaserorActivator,withplentyof
domesticQSOopportunitiesand
portableoperatingadventuresfreefor
thetaking.HelpNPOTAreachmore
than1millionQSOsin2016!
Arecord68activationsarescheduled
fortheweekofJuly13-20,including
BryceCanyonNationalParkinUtah,
andtheNezPerceNationalHistorical
ParkinIdaho.
Detailsabouttheseandother
upcomingactivationscanbefoundon
theNPOTAActivationscalendar.
KeepupwiththelatestNPOTAnews
onFacebook.FollowNPOTAon
Twitter(@ARRL_NPOTA).
AttendanceatDaytonHamvention®
Tops25,000forSecondYearinaRow
Giventhelevelofenthusiasmatthe
2016runningofDayton
Hamvention®inmid-May,attendance
mayhaveseemedup,butforall
intentsandpurposes,itheldsteadyat
25,364visitors.Thatfigurewasdown
onlyslightlyfromthe25,621
attendeesreportedfor2015,but
abovethe25,000markforthesecond
yearinarow.Forthosekeepingtrack,
in2014theofficialcountwas24,873
visitors,andattendancein2013was
24,542.
Hamventionattendancepeakedin
1993at33,669,beforethe1996
changeindatefromApriltoMay.
Whileattendancehasfluctuatedover
theyears,Hamventionhasgrownto
internationalproportions,attracting
membersoftheworldwideAmateur
Radiocommunityeachspring.
TheDaytonAmateurRadio
Association(DARA)hassponsored
Hamventionsince1952.Originally
calledtheSouthwesternOhioHamvention,theinauguralevent,heldin
MarchindowntownDayton,attracted
600attendees--twiceasmanyashad
beenpredicted.Todayitistheworld's
largestAmateurRadiogathering.
DARAnowiscountingdownthedays
tothenextHamventiononMay19-21,
2017.Hamvention'snewGeneral
ChairmanisRonCramer,KD8ENJ,
whosucceededJimTiderman,N8IDS.
Tidermanreportedan"overallgood
mood"and"apositiveattitude"atthis
year'seventandsaidtheHamvention
staffreceivedmanyupbeatcomments.
Hamvention'spost-showSatisfaction
Surveyissolicitingcommentsand
observationsfromthosewhoattended
thisyear'sbigshow.--Thanksto
HenryRuminski,W8HJR
ARRLTrainingWebinar,"Contesting
asTrainingforPublicService,"Setfor
July24
AfreeARRLTrainingWebinar,
"ContestingasTrainingforPublic
Service,"hostedbyWardSilver,N0AX,
willtakeplaceonSunday,July24,8
until10PMEDT(0000-0200UTCon
July25).Allareinvitedtojointhe
audio-slidepresentationonlineorvia
telephone.
"Thinkofcontestsasahamradio
fitnesscenter,"Silversaid."Public
serviceteamsarealwayslookingfor
enjoyableactivitiestoimprove
operatorskills.Justassportsprovide
goodphysicalexercise,contestsare
greatatdevelopingradioskills,and
botharealotoffun."Silverpointed
outthatcontestsoriginatedasaway
tohonetraffic-handlingskillsand
developaneffectivestation.
Registrationisrequired.
Inaddition,ARRLEmergency
PreparednessManagerMikeCorey,
KI1U,isseekinganecdotesfromradio
amateurswhohaveactivatedan
emergencyoperationscenter(EOC)
forabonafidecontest,suchasARRL
NovemberSweepstakesorastateQSO
party--butnotARRLFieldDay,aSET,
orSKYWARNRecognitionDay.
"Justabriefoverviewoftheevent,the
results,thenumberofparticipants,
andanyinterestingoutcomes,"Corey
said,indescribingwhathe'slooking
for.ContactCoreyviae-mail.
Thepresentationwillbeavailablevia
YouTubefollowingthewebinar.
NewISSCrewIncrementwithTwo
RadioAmateursArrivesonStation
NASAastronautKateRubins,KG5FYJ,
astronautTakuyaOnishi,KF5LKS,of
theJapanAerospaceExploration
Agency(JAXA),andcosmonaut
AnatolyIvanishinofRoscosmos
officiallyjoinedtheirExpedition48
InternationalSpaceStation(ISS)crew
membersonJuly9,whenthehatches
openedbetweentheirSoyuzMS-01
andthespacestation.Fourradio
amateursnowareonboardtheISS.
Expedition48CommanderJeff
Williams,KD5TVQ,ofNASA,and
FlightEngineersOlegSkripochka,
RN3FU,andAlexeyOvchininof
Roscosmosgreetedthenewcomers.
Rubins,Onishi,andcosmonaut
IvanishinreplacedExpedition47
CommanderTimKopra,KE5UDN;
FlightEngineerTimPeake,
KG5BVI/GB1SS,andYuri
Malenchenko,RK3DUP,whoreturned
toEarthinmid-Juneafteralittlemore
than6monthsinspace.
Laterthissummer,Williamsand
Rubinsarescheduledtoinstallthe
firstoftwointernationaldocking
adapters,soontolaunchtotheISS.
Theadapterswillallowcommercial
spacecrafttodocktothestationinthe
nearfuturewhentransporting
astronautsaspartofNASA's
CommercialCrewProgram.
Rubins,Ivanishin,andOnishiare
scheduledtoremainonstationuntil
lateOctober.Thetriolaunchedearly
onJuly7fromtheBaikonur
Cosmodrome,travelingtotheISS
onboardanupgradedSoyuzMS-01
spacecraftonitsmaidenvoyage.
Williams,Skripochka,andOvchinin
willreturntoEarthinSeptember.
InBrief...
SolarCarChallengeW1NTraveling
SpecialEventOperationSet:Special
eventstationW1Nwilltravelfromthe
TexasMotorSpeedwaytoMinneapolis
betweenJuly15andJuly24to
highlightthe2016SolarCar
Challenge®.Severalteamsinclude
studentsandadultadvisorswhoare
radioamateurswhowantedto
operateaspecialeventstationduring
theSolarCarChallenge.Activitywill
belimitedonJuly15-16butwillramp
upJuly16-24,0500to2359UTC.W1N
willbeontheairwithaportable
operationfromtheTexasMotor
Speedwaybeforethevehiclessetoff
ontheroad.Duringtheon-the-road
event,W1Nwillhaveamobilestation
andportablestationsactiveasthe
carsmovenorthtowardMinneapolis.
Mobileactivitywillbeon20meters,
centeringaround14.343MHz.
Operationfromportablesiteswill
takeplaceon6,10,and15meters.
Thecalendarprovidestheevent
scheduleanditinerary.QSLtoSteve
McDermott,KF5RVR.Formore
information,contactFredVarian,
WD5ERD.
SpecialEventStationstoMark
Pope'sVisittoPoland:Several
specialeventstationsarepoisedto
markthevisitofPopeFrancisto
Poland.ThePopewillbeinPoland
July27-31toonceagaintakepartin
WorldYouthDaysinKraków.Thisis
PopeFrancis'firstvisittoPoland,
wherehewillalsomakestopsatthe
nationalshrineinCzestochowato
honor1050yearsofChristianityin
Polandandpayrespectstothevictims
oftheformerAuschwitzNazi
concentrationcamp.WorldYouth
Daysisabiannualeventinitiatedby
PopeJohnPaulII,thefirstPolishPope
(KarolWojtyla).Some2millionyoung
Catholicsareexpected.Specialevent
callsignswillincludeHF0FinKraków,
aswellasHF31WYD,HF2SDM,and
HF7SDM.
HamRadioHumor:
KD4MC,atmcallam@centurylink.net
or919-934-9623.
JARSOfficers2016
JohnstonCountyARRLVETeam
President
Mike KD4MC
V.President
Aaron KK4KFG
Secretary
Peggy KJ4OPH
Treasurer
Paul
KD4BJD
NetWhip
StephenKJ4QNW
HamoftheYearStephenKJ4QNW
Editor Mike KD4MC
JohnstonAmateurRadioSociety,Inc.
POBox302
Benson,NC27504
TheJohnstonCountyARRLVETeam
holdsamateurradiolicensetest
sessionsonthe4thMondayofeach
monthat7pmattheFourOaks
ChamberofCommercelocatedat204
N.MainStreetinFourOaks.Costis
$15.00.YouwillneedaphotoID,$15,
proofoflicenseorCSCE.Ifyoudonot
havealicense,youareencouragedto
goto:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm
?job=homeandregisterforanFRN
priortocomingtotaketheexam.This
issoyouwillnothavetodiscloseyour
SSN.Walkinsarewelcome.To
registerfortheexamorformore
information,contactMikeCallam,
Thatdoesitforanothereditionofthe
“OfficialOrgan”.Seeyaatthemeeting
Thursday.