’s musings us report: fcc’s cellphone radiation guidelines ...€¦ · new motorola quantar...
TRANSCRIPT
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Table Of Contents 1 BARC Officers And Directors 2 BARC Repeaters 3 President Speaks 4 From the Trustee 5 Simulated Emergency Test Coming 6 Big Boy Toys 6 Mickey’s Musings 7 Donations 9 Change To Field Day Rules 10 FCC Denies Petition Seeking Nationwide Emergency Calling Frequency 10 Relatively Easy Solar Power 11 Checkout Spaceweather.com 11 Relatively Easy Solar Power 12 Letters To The Editor 14 US Report: FCC’s Cellphone Radiation Guidelines Outdated 14 Is Amateur Radio Too Focused On Emcomm ? 16 Five Things you should know about that Gas Generator 17 Enforcement: FCC Tells Spy Shop To Stop Selling Jamming Devices 18 Hurricane Delivers More Misery To Some Zip Codes 19 Get Ready For “Super WiFi” To Be A Big Thing In 2013 20 South Florida Hamfest 21 Cy Harris Free Flea 23 Skywarn Class Coming To Broward County 25 FCC Releases Congressionally Mandated Study On Amateur Radio 26 FCC To Congress: No Need To Pre-empt CC&R’s 28 FCC Says No To Nationwide Emergency Frequency 28 ARRL: Executive Order Poses No Threat To Ham Radio 28 Oscar-7 10 Years Back On The Air 28 The Amazing Disappearing Antenna 29 Web Site Lets You Track Hurricanes 35 Weather Humor 35 Here Is A List Of 2012 Hamfest In The Southeast Division 37 Laurel Amateur Radio Testing Dates 38 Broward County Amateur Radio Clubs and Nets 39 Broward County ARES/RACES Application 43 Broward Amateur Radio Club Membership Application 44 BARC Meeting Place Information And Map 45
September 2012
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Broward Amateur Radio Club 2012 Club Officers & Directors
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS Name Call Sign Phone # E-mail
President Robin Terrill N4HHP 954 249-5343 [email protected]
Vice President Mickey Baker N4MB 954 667-3553 [email protected]
Secretary Ricki Witte KJ4FSJ 954 566-3772 [email protected]
Treasurer Carl Ricks KJ4VAS 954 648-4962 [email protected]
Administrator Officer Tom Hayes N4MEO 954 791-9923 [email protected]
Communications Officer Rob Frailing AJ4SB 954 701-3966 [email protected]
COMMITTEES
Broward County Emergency
Preparedness Net Manager Mike Wolf KI4JRT 954 993-1256 [email protected]
BARC Traders Net Manager
Electronic Newsletter Robin Terrill N4HHP 954 249-5343 [email protected]
Repeater Committee & Consultant Mark Lavallee AC4UV 954 961-2642 [email protected]
Repeater Committee & Consultant Mike Brand N4RQY 954 961-4434 [email protected]
Repeater Committee & Consultant Mickey Baker N4MB 954 667-3553 [email protected]
Repeater Committee & Consultant Bob Hartleb WA4EMJ ------------------ [email protected]
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Liaison For the Broward Amateur Radio Club
Robin Terrill N4HHP 954 249-5343 [email protected]
ARES® Emergency Coordinator Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB 954 803-6338 [email protected]
ARES® District Emergency
Coordinator Jeff Beals WA4AW 561 252-6707 [email protected]
Broward County RACES Officer Robin Terrill N4HHP 954 249-5343 [email protected]
Broward County Skywarn Coordinator Robin Terrill N4HHP 954 249-5343 [email protected]
Web Administrator Larry Arthurton N4YWN 615 893-7821 [email protected]
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Broward Amateur Radio Club Repeaters
VHF Repeater
146.910 MHz. -600 kHz, PL Tone 110.9 Hz.
UHF Repeater
444.825 MHz. +5 MHz, PL Tone 110.9 Hz.
220 MHz, Repeater
224.760 MHz -1.6 MHz. PL Tone 110.9 Hz
D-STAR Repeater
442.450 MHz. +500 PL Tone 88.5 Hz.
The Broward Amateur Radio Club (BARC) was founded in 1946 and received their ARRL
Charter of Affiliation March 2, 1949. The club call sign is W4AB with several repeaters cov-ering all of but not limited to Broward County. The coverage of the repeater maybe as far South as Central Miami Dade County and as far North as Palm Beach County. In 2008, we
had received our 60th anniversary award of the ARRL Affiliation.
The Broward Amateur Radio Club had a member named Cy Harris, W4MAQ who envisioned a tail gate (out of the trunk of your car) type of flea market. The very first flea market was held in the mid 1980s’ on the Motorola NE parking lot located in Sunrise Florida. The flea
market was so successful that Cy named the flea market “the Free Flea” because there was no charge to anyone wanting to participate. The Free Flea went on into the middle 1990s’ when Cy Harris became a silent key. In memory of Cy Harris, the Broward Amateur Radio Club bestowed upon him in his name from that point forward, the honor of calling the BARC Free Flea, the Cy Harris W4MAQ Memorial Free Flea.
BARC Mission Statement
Our mission at the Broward Amateur Radio Club (BARC) is to mentor new hams,
enhance fellowship among radio amateurs, provide emergency and public service
communications support to the community, and further the interests of amateur ra-
dio. This shall be accomplished by providing educational programs geared toward the
new amateur radio operators and by promoting involvement in ARES®/RACES for
emergency communications.
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THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
I do not know if you are aware that we can no longer meet at the Davie Police
department for any of our meetings effective immediately due to a civilian Police
Academy being held in both meeting rooms that we would normally use, for the
rest of the year. As you should also know
that Rob Frailing, AJ4SB is retiring and
moving to Tennessee sometime in 2013 and we
would have to obtain a new meeting place at that
time anyway.
At this time, I would like to give both Rob and
the Davie Police Department a huge thank you
for the time that we have met there for both the
BARC and ARES/RACES meetings.
After many inquiries and phone calls, I am happy
to announce that the Broward Amateur Radio
Club and Broward County ARES/RACES as of
the mailing of this Newsletter, now have a
permanent place to hold our meetings.
We are now going to meet at Broward General Hospital which is located at 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33316, (see tag A above). Parking will be in the 6 story parking garage. The entrance to the build-
ing is on the first floor directly across from the parking garage. You will need to go in the main entrance, sign in
at the security desk and they will issue you a pass to wear. Please do not by-pass security.
For this upcoming meeting we will be meeting on the second floor of the main building in the Boca Meeting Room
B. Please keep in mind that we also hold our ARRL and Laurel exams starting at 6:00 and end at 7:15. Please do
not go to the meeting room before 7:15 to allow those taking exams to finish. As a suggestion, if you should come
early to our meetings, you can go to the Hospital gift shop or grab a bite to eat at McDonalds which both are
located on the first floor in the same building.
As all good things come to an end, Mike Wolf, K2HXC will no longer be the BARC Traders Net Manager due to per-
sonal reasons. I would like to thank Mike for the time served for the last couple of years. We are now faced with
the task of finding a ham that would like to chair the position of BARC Traders Net Manager to continue running the
Net or managing the Net so it can continue on a weekly basis. Those interested in taking on this task, please con-
tact me at [email protected] ASAP if you are interested.
I would also like to thank those of you that went out of their way in trying to find a new meeting place.
After over a year of being the Laurel VE testing team leader and the ARRL VEC for the BARC, and after some long
thinking, I have decided to do both the Laurel and ARRL testing during the course of this upcoming year. To ac-
complish this task, I will start in January of 2013 to do one month of ARRL testing, and the next month Laurel test-
ing. By doing this, I can meet the obligations of both the ARRL and Laurel organizations. At the Cy Harris Free
Flea, I will be putting on an ARRL test session as usual.
Keep in mind that there is no testing in December since the December meeting is the same month that we meet for
our Christmas banquet. Last year we held it at Umberto’s Restaurant which is located in Fort Lauderdale off of
Commercial Blvd and the Intracoastal Water Way. If you have any other suggestions, please come to this meet-
ing and vote on where you would like to go this year as time is growing closer to December and I will need to
make a reservation real soon.
73 Robin N4HHP
BARC President
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FROM THE BARC TRUSTEE The DStar repeater is largely complete. As I've reported, we've encountered some
receive issues which we believe will be improved with our new antenna, that we'll
get installed as soon as we can get everyone engaged.
The 146.91 W4AB VHF repeater is operational, but we've seen problems with the
transmitter dropping out occasionally.
The W4AB transmitter is a mobile-service Motorola Radius transceiver with 45
watts rated output at about a 25% duty cycle. We have a fan blowing directly on
the heat sink to cool the output devices. Sometime in the past 20+ years, the
power wire to this fan has been spliced and I recently found the splice broken. I've
repaired the splice, restoring the operation of the fan and hopefully keeping the
thermal outage to the transmitter to a minimum.
Upcoming Events
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Transmitter repair on 146.91
Hopefully, the fan repair will address the intermittent transmit, but if it persists, we can replace the transmitter with an-
other mobile duty transmitter for under $100, which is what I will do if it fails - I've already started scoping out ebay
sales. In a couple of years, or sooner, we'll be doing this again. It works, but it isn't the best thing to do for reliability.
A radio club with a larger budget might do one of the following:
New Motorola Quantar Repeater: $5,000
Used VHF Quantar Repeater: 2,000
New Kenwood Repeater: 1,500
Used Motorola continuous duty xmtr 800
Used Kenwood Repeater: 1,000
Used gear is obviously subject to availability and the risk is ours.
The idea of a new Kenwood repeater is attractive at under $1,500, but we'd need to raise the money. Ideas?
Is there anyone at Motorola (or a Motorola user?) who might be able to donate a VHF Quantar? Or a continuous duty
VHF transmitter?
Repeater Controller Replacement
The CAT 1000 repeater controller that has served us faithfully for 20 years is going to be replaced, with trials to start
September 5.
W4AB will run as AllStar Link Node 28478. Connect remotely after registering at AllStarLink.org.
Buzz Saw on 444.825
I've heard the Buzz Saw on our 70cm FM repeater... although it wasn't on the repeater, it was on the output frequen-
cy. If you know the origin of this noise, please let me know and I will attempt to get it resolved.
73,
Mickey N4MB
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Simulated Emergency Test (SET) The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test is a nationwide exercise in emergency communications, administered by ARRL Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers. Both ARES and the National Traffic System (NTS) are involved. The SET weekend gives communicators the opportunity to focus on the emergency communications capability within their community while interacting with NTS nets. SET weekend is held on October 6
th and 7
th 2012.
Purpose Of The SET To find out the strengths and weaknesses of ARES and NTS, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES) and other groups in providing emergency communications.
To provide a public demonstration -- to served agencies such as Red Cross, Emergency Management and through the news media -- of the value to the public that Amateur Radio provides, particularly in time of need.
To help radio amateurs gain experience in communications using standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated- emergency conditions.
Are you a member or want to become a member of the Broward ARRL Amateur Radio Emergen-cy Service (ARES) and/or the Broward Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and want to participate in this year’s upcoming Simulated Emergency Test (SET) ? Then you need to tune in to the Southeast Florida Traffic Net (SEFTN) 146.790 MHz, -600, PL 88.5 Hz daily or you can email Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB [email protected] Broward County’s ARRL Emergency Coordinator for more information on participating in the SET.
A Salute to HAM "AMers" Big Boy Toys
sent in by Bill / W2CQ <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0oH2oXJ3Bg&feature=related>
TECH SUPPORT
Sent in by Tom / KG4CYX
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Mickey’s Musings
Most all of us have two meter FM transceivers. They are a number of "nets" in South Florida that hold sessions
on 2 meter FM, but, to my knowledge, only 1 on 70cm.
Someone asked recently, "Why aren't there more nets on the 70cm band?" Another question was, "Why is there so much activity on 2M and almost nothing on 70cm?" These are great questions. Antennas with the same gain are smaller on 70cm than on 2m, so a given antenna design will be smaller. There is more frequency allocated - 30 MHz (420MHz-450MHz) vs 4 MHz (144 - 148 MHz). So why are we all still on 2m? There's an old story about the gangster Willie Sutton, who was asked, "Why do you rob banks?" He answered, "Because that's where the money is." The reason that we all still use 2m is simply, "that's where the activity is." But why? Historically speaking, until the 1970's, 70cm was THE band for experimenters. The first 12MHz of the 70cm band was used by local TV hams - old commercial NTSC TV signals buzzed up to 6MHz wide with (usually) a cheap surveillance type camera feeding fuzzy video. Hams played with radar, moonbounce, facsimile and experimental modes with lots of power, lots of spurious side bands and gobbled up a lot of bandwidth. You could put a repeat-er on 70cm and no one cared – but there was no coordination. At that time, two meter FM was largely simplex and we used the only radios available, retired VHF Motorola Motracs and GE Progress Line radios. (Here’s a very good history of Motorola radios: MotorolaHistory) I had one once that had two frequencies with a toggle switch: A: REPEATER (() ) SIMPLEX. There were plenty of VHF units available from the police radio shop who replaced radios with newer models in cars. Some were donated to the radio club. A VHF repeater infrastructure was born from (mostly) surplus equipment through Civil Defense coordination! When moon landings were becoming a regular occurrence, America was introduced to Smokey and the Bandit with Burt Reynolds, America was hungry for useful technology during the times of new technology… everyone bought a CB radio. The techies that could learn Morse code stepped up to amateur radio. A lot of people got into radio then – you? Manufacturers like Midland and Regency who made CB radios started making consumer grade 2m radios and they sold like hotcakes. A lot of these radios were built on the 23 or 40 channel CB designs and held as few as 4 and as many as 100 channels. Phase locked loop frequency synthesizers became available and frequency agil i-ty with some stability at VHF was obtained. Two meter repeaters were popping up on mountains and tall build-ings everywhere. Many frequencies were coordinated and sometimes two repeaters occupied the same fre-quency. This was out of control. The FCC was getting thousands of complaints. Hams were putting pins in one
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another's coax and jamming one another over the air. It was Dodge City on 2 meters, in every town. Friends were being unfriended before Facebook. So the FCC acted. They issued strict regulations of 2M repeaters. Within (2 years, check this fact) every licensee who was operating a 2M repeater was required to reapply with a application similar to that of a commercial radio station, devise some method of a timeout and positive control and a person WITH that control must monitor the frequency at all times. This placed an incredible burden on licensees. This lasted a few years – WR4 repeaters were all you’d hear in this part of the country. On the other side of the table, the FCC realized a substantial burden on these repeater applications – in the ear-ly (1980s – need check) the FCC change the rules again, establishing the role of frequency coordinator and sim-plifying their role in the interference issue by enacting a rule, very much like this current one § 97.201 Auxiliary station.
(c) Where an auxiliary station causes harmful interference to another auxiliary station, the licensees are equally and fully responsible for resolving the interference unless one station's operation is recommended by a frequen-cy coordinator and the other station's is not. In that case, the licensee of the non-coordinated auxiliary station has primary responsibility to resolve the interference. So the frequency claims began, as well as the rush to register repeaters. There was a perception of “turf to be claimed” and the rush was on to grab frequencies. The frequency coordinators were under a lot of heat, in some cases with multiple claims for frequency coordina-tion for overlapping areas. Unfortunately, they didn’t have Google Earth, so they had to figure out where all these repeaters were on a map, determine distances, anticipate problems and make awards. Tough job, my hat is off to them. During this “frequency rush,” urban areas saw almost every available repeater pair assigned to someone. Rules were developed that would revoke coordination if a repeater is found to inoperative over a period of time. A lot of repeaters went up somewhere and appeared in the repeater directory. Many times, these repeaters had limited range, but occupy a frequency for a minimum range as far as frequency coordination is concerned. We can only communicate with the repeaters that are within range of our transmitter at any given moment. Many of the allocations that you find in the directory are legitimate allocations but are assigned to an unused repeater. So that’s the reason you won’t find nearly as many repeaters that you can reach from your location at any given moment as you think you might. And here’s how to change this, if you’re still with me… Get yourself a good UHF antenna and decent (even Wax On) radio for and start using it! (Check out September CQ Magazine for the Herringbone antenna. Would this be a good Group Build?) (Wow, if you’re still reading this, I’m amazed.) Here’s your reward for reading: For the first 10 that send me an email with your latitude and longitude and I will send you all the 2M and 70cm repeaters that are coordinated and listed within 5 miles of your qth. Send me your radio type and I’ll try to send a data file that will work for your software, but no guarantee. In turn, I’d ask to report a status on as many of those repeaters as possible. Let’s keep an informal log of what we hear on those repea t-ers and share it with one another – we might be missing out on something cool. Write down the call sign and maybe even send the trustee an email. Or even better, go to to the web site at http://florida-repeaters.org, download the repeater listings and tune around yourself and see what you can
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hear (please identify when kerchunking!) Email status to me at [email protected] and I will publish the list – the good, the bad, the ugly, in this column. Please provide as much as possible:
Date/Time: 01-Sep-2012, 0525Z (any time zone, just say which)
Repeater Callsign: W4AB
Frequency: 444.825
PL Used or Attempted: 110.9
What you heard: Voice and code ID. Time off by -1:15 code ID (w4ab k) Not much else As you might guess, this is our club’s 450MHz repeater. Welcome! Ham radio is about communication, not necessarily nets. Let’s make September – a QSO a Day on 444.825. I’ll listen! Let me know how I can help you. 73, Mickey N4MB
**** Donations ****
The Broward Amateur Radio Club is a non-profit organization. We support
four repeaters in Broward County and sponsor "free" amateur radio exams
before every meeting. Our ongoing costs include an Internet connection for
the repeaters, maintenance costs for the repeater equipment, liability insur-
ance, and materials for exams - paper, pencils, copying expenses, and mis-
cellaneous parts.
These operations require funds that we receive from our membership dues,
from donations, and from our 50/50 drawing each month. We need your
support.
To make a financial contribution, either send it to Robin Terrill @ 4240 SW
20 Street, Fort Lauderdale Fl. 33317, or see a club officer at a meeting. Ask for a receipt. To donate equipment
please send an email to [email protected]. Donations of surplus radio equipment, antennas, towers, tubes,
accessories, test equipment, and electronic parts are always welcome! If it is not put to use directly, your donat-
ed item might be sold to members at a Club meeting or end up on the "Club’s swap" table at the Cy Harris Free
Flea for sale by the Club. All proceeds go to our Club’s treasury for equipment upgrades. Thank you for
your generosity.
If you are not a member of BARC but do use our repeaters or take one of our free tests, please consider making
a donation to help keep testing free and to keep our repeaters on the air. Club dues are only $20.00 a year for a
single ham and $25.00 for family membership for full club benefits. You will find an application towards the back
of every BARC Newsletter.
Thank you for your generosity.
Robin Terrill N4HHP
BARC President
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Change to ARRL Field Day Rules Sent in by 73, PeteR N8PR
When the ARRL Board of Directors met for its 2012 Second Meeting July 20-21 in Windsor, Connecticut.
It passed the following:
Change to ARRL Field Day Rules: Due to concerns regarding extreme heat and weather conditions in many
parts o f the country, the Board voted to change the Field Day rules to permit Class A and B stations to begin to
set up earlier. Prior to the rule change, these stations were not allowed to begin setting up their stations before
1800 UTC on the Friday before Field Day.
Now these stations can begin setting up as of 0000 UTC on the Friday before Field Day (Thursday afternoon or
evening, local time). Even though the rule change permits setup to begin 18 hours earlier, cumulative setup time
shall not exceed 24 hours.
This is the first major change to the Field Day rules since 2003, when a new class -- Class F for EOC stations --
was added.
FCC Denies Petition Seeking to Designate
Nationwide Emergency Calling Frequency
From the ARRL News Letter 07/31/2012
Saying that it believes that the Amateur Service “allows flexibility to provide emergency communications in a way that takes into account channel availability and other local conditions,” the FCC denied a Petition for Rulemaking to cre-ate a nationwide emergency calling frequency. The Petition -- filed by Bryan
Boyle, WB0YLE, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and Jim Dixon, WB6NIL, of Al-hambra, California -- called upon the FCC to designate 146.550 MHz as a “non-exclusive nationwide Amateur Radio Service emergency communications channel using FM wideband modulation.” Doyle and Dixon noted in their Petition that other services, such as the Citizens Band Radio Service, the Aviation Service and the Maritime Service have specif-ic channels set aside for emergency communications. They claimed that use of these channels “to good effect by those in distress [and that this] is a testament to the need for individual services to have a readily accessible and publicized”
emergency communications channel. In denying the Petition, the FCC said in part that Boyle and Dixon “had not shown an existing problem that would be addressed by a rule change designating a nationwide Amateur Service emergency calling frequency.” The FCC told Boyle and Dixon that the rules of the Amateur Radio Service allow “an amateur station to transmit one-way messages necessary to providing emergency communications,” maintaining that these messages may “be transmitted on any frequency authorized [by] the control operator of the amateur stations transmitting the messages. Additionally, the rules require that, at all times and on all frequencies, each control operator must give priority to sta-tions providing emergency communications. Administration of these rules is accomplished primarily through voluntary frequency planning by, and cooperation among, Amateur Radio operators.”
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Pointing out that the its Wireless Telecommunications Bureau had previously considered establishing a nationwide common calling or distress channel “in a service where transmission of such communications is permitted but not re-quired...and the channels are shared by all users,” the FCC said that it had concluded that “it was not necessary to designate a Family Service Radio (FRS) channel for establishing emergency communications because emergency communications have a priority on all FRS channels and the record did not demonstrate that FRS users were having any difficulty establishing communications.” The FCC did note, however, that unlike channels in the Citizens Band Radio Service and the Maritime Service, chan-nels in the FRS are not routinely monitored by emergency first-responders: “Like the FRS, the Amateur Service differs from the services in which our rules designate a nationwide emergency calling channel in that it is not routinely moni-tored by safety entities such as the police or the Coast Guard. Additionally, those services do not require an individual to have an operator license or otherwise demonstrate the ability to operate the station by performing such functions as selecting transmitting channels to avoid interference. Therefore, we believe the administration of these services pr i-marily through operational rules that specify the use of a channel and transmitter technical standards is reasonable.” The FCC observed that under the current rules of the Amateur Radio Service, operators can use “multiple channels on the same or different amateur band if needed for an event, or use multiple channels in the same band when mult i-ple, but different events occur.” It also mentioned that the Boyle and Dixon’s proposal “that the channel be a ‘non-exclusive nationwide’ channel is, substantively, no different from current channel priorities because all Amateur Ser-vice channels are shared and may be used for providing emergency communications. If such a ‘non-exclusive nation-wide’ channel is needed, nothing in our rules prevents the amateur community from voluntarily agreeing to designate a channel for this purpose. We conclude, therefore, that you have not shown an existing problem that would be ad-dressed by a rule change designating a nationwide Amateur Service emergency calling frequency.”
Relatively Easy Solar Power from Kenneth M. Beck, WI7B sent in by Al KD4KNV
View comments about this article!
"Editor's Note: Due to the popularity of some of eHam's older articles, many of which you may
not have read, the eHam.net team has decided to rerun some of the best articles that we have
received since eHam's inception. These articles will be reprinted to add to the quality of eHam's
content and in a show of appreciation to the authors of these articles." This article was originally
published on 04/04/2009
Check out Spaceweather.com's Simple Satellite Tracker: International Space St Sent in by WB4RFC
US and Canadian readers, enter your zip code below, hit Go!, and you
will find out what is going to fly over your area in the nights ahead. There
are hundreds of satellites in Earth orbit; we cut through the confusion by
narrowing the list to a half-dozen or so of the most interesting. At the
moment we are monitoring a number of spy satellites, space shuttle At-
lantis, the International Space Station, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Spaceweather.com's Simple Satellite Tracker: International Space Station, spy satellites, Hubble Space Telescope
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Relatively Easy Solar Power Running your station HF and VHF/UHF radios on renewable solar energy.
The point of this short article is to show that a station based on renewable solar power is within the reach of any
radio amateur for the price of a mobile rig and, honestly, minimal effort.
I've taken a 15 Watt amorphous silicon solar panel (shown above) and fitted it to the metal roof above the shack.
It's used to trickled-charge a 12V deep-cycle battery. Diode-blocking protects the panel from reverse current as
the battery reaches full charge.
In direct sunlight, the panel produces 20V unloaded. However, it is able to provide charge even in overcast and
rainy conditions. It was purchased from Silicon Solar for under $120.
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The deep-cycle 12V 33 amp-hours (AH) SLA absorbed glass matt (AGM) battery with the finished wire set is
displayed above.
Although it is capable of working in a range of temperatures, maximum efficiency is maintained by keeping the
battery inside. AGM technology allows 99% of produced hydrogen and oxygen gases to recombine in the bat-
tery, while acid leaking is mitigated. It was purchased at a Battery-Plus mall outlet for under $80.
In typical use, the battery is charged-up by a mean 10% of its AH capacity per day. This allows just under 10
minutes of 100% transmit capacity at 100W on my Kenwood rig for total renewal. For emergency use (non-
diurnal renewing) this can be extended to 60% of battery capacity (19.8 AH) or about 55 minutes of transmit
without detrimental effect.
Relatively Easy Solar Power
by W4KYR on August 6, 2012
One can buy one of those 3 solar panel set from Harbor Freight for under $200 if on sale. It includes a charge controller and a couple of lights. Solar panels are a good alternative energy source, but in most cases, they are dependent on batteries. Deep Cycle batteries are a must. Although a riding lawn mower battery will do in a pinch if you are constantly charging it while using the ra-dio. Keep in mind that after some time (a few years) the batteries will have to be replaced. Never connect a radio directly to a solar panel as they put out 17 volts or more. Most of today's radios will be OK with the high side of 12 volts, but after awhile the rig may start having issues from the lower power as the battery drains. Some radios may not perform well with 12.3 volts when it requires 13.8. Look into a voltage booster to take the 12+ volts and convert it to a steady 13.8 volt output. All hams should start somewhere with solar, even if it is just a couple of AA rechargeable batteries and a AA solar charger. Cost? You can do ok with solar for a price of a HF rig. Two Harbor Freight(3 panel)sets for $200 X 2 = $400, two deep cycle battery group 27 $70-$80 x 2 = $160 , voltage regulator $100. $660 total. You might wish to invest in a couple of extra panels and keep them in storage if you do decide a permanent installation. You will use them to replace the ones damaged by hail or wind. I don't suggest in getting an inverter unless you get a pure sine wave one. The modified sine wave inverters can do damage with sensitive electronics. The use of inverters with a solar panel system adds to the cost, but gives more flexibility in the long run. You might need extra panels, batteries and a larger charge controller. Many people have started out in solar with nothing more than just a solar panel. Regardless, get a decent a charge controller.
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Letters To The Editor From Kai / KE4PT
I enjoyed seeing "Wire Antennas for Ham Radio", by Iulian Rosu YO3DAC / VA3IUL in the August 2012 BARC Newsletter. It seems that the listing in the Newsletter omits antennas 142 through 147. The full list is available at: http://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Antenna/Wire%20Antennas%20for%20Ham%20Radio/
142-VK2AAR_Wire_Antenna_20m.jpg 19-Jul-2012 13:41 92K
143-2-Elem_Quad_Ant_6m.jpg 19-Jul-2012 13:41 142K
144-Hula-Loop_Bidirectional_6dB-Gain_Ant_17m.jpg 19-Jul-2012 13:41 84K
145-Moxon_Rectangle_Beam_15m-10m.jpg 19-Jul-2012 13:42 105K
146-Double-D_Beam_4dB-Gain.jpg 19-Jul-2012 13:42 108K
My antenna is also pictured in http://qrz.com/db/ke4pt
147-KE4PT_OCEF_All-Band_Dipole.jpg 09-Aug-2012 09:07 121K
Very best regards,
Kai, KE4PT U.S. report: FCC's cell phone radiation guidelines outdated by Elinor Mills August 7, 2012
Cell phone usage changes, and new research could affect cell phone exposure limits, says a report by the Government Accountability Office. The Federal Communications Commission should review its cell phone radio-frequency (RF) exposure limit, which was set 15 years ago, because it does not include testing for potential harm from holding phones directly
against the body or factor in the latest research, a government report recommended today.
When the RF exposure limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram specific absorption rate (SAR) was established in 1996, phones
were bigger, bulkier, and carried in holsters outside of clothes and not in pockets, said Marcia Crosse, director of health
care at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and co-author of the report. The report adds to mounting
concern that the FCC standards are not the best measure of safety.
"The expectation was that people weren't holding it against their head for long periods of time," Crosse told CNET in a
phone interview. "They have gotten slimmer, thinner, and more readily able to be put into a pocket. The expo-
sure is different. Even a short distance from the body can dissipate the extent to which you are getting RF or the thermal
effect, the heat you get from the phone. We think they need to consider how phones currently are being used and carried
around."
15
The FCC RF energy exposure limit "may not reflect the latest research, and testing requirements may not identify max-
imum exposure in all possible usage conditions," concludes the GAO report, entitled "Exposure and Testing Require-
ments for Mobile Phones Should Be Reassessed" (PDF). "By testing mobile phones only when at a distance from the
body, the FCC may not be identifying the maximum exposure, since some users may hold a mobile phone directly
against the body while in use. Using a mobile phone in this manner could result in RF energy exposure above the max-
imum body-worn SAR determined during testing, although that may not necessarily be in excess of FCC's limit."
As to the studies of harm from RF exposure, the report says adverse health effects have not been demonstrated conclu-
sively at this point. But this could be because of limitations in the studies, including design flaws.
"The research has been inconclusive," Crosse said. "There have been some studies that give some inkling that at high
exposure levels there may be some risk. But studies haven't been replicated or there is the possibility that the study de-
sign was biased in some way. So there really is no conclusive evidence."
Among the research mentioned, the Interphone study did not show an increased risk of brain tumors from mobile phone
use, "but at the highest level of exposure, findings suggested a possible increased risk of glioma," a type of tumor that
starts in the brain or spine, the report said.
Also, cancers can take time to develop, making it difficult to conduct shorter term studies, according to the report. "Ep-
idemiological studies to date have been limited in their ability to provide information about possible effects of long-
term RF energy exposure because the prevalence of long-term mobile phone use is still relatively limited and some tu-
mors, including some cancerous tumors, do not develop until many years after exposure," the report said.
Related stories Congressman introduces new cell radiation warning label law
FCC to re-examine cell phone radiation standards
CTIA moves to block SF cell phone law
The troule with the cell phone radiation standard
WHO: Cell phones may cause cancer
The report was hailed by the Environmental Working Group. The "FCC's current standards -- which have
never been updated -- allow 20 times more radiation to reach the head than the body as a whole, do not ac-
count for the possible risks to children's developing brains and smaller bodies, and consider only the impact
of short-term cell phone use, not frequent calling over decades," the group said in a statement. "In 1996,
tweens and teens were not consumers of wireless technology, but today it's hard to find a group of young
people who aren't armed with the latest mobile device," said Renee Sharp, director of the Environmental
Working Group's California office and senior scientist. "Those populations who are now talking and texting
daily were not considered by the FCC when it devised its safety standards 15 years ago."
Wireless trade group CTIA-The Wireless Association issued a statement today noting that the FCC has said it is confi-
dent that its standards are safe. "The FCC, the FDA, the National Cancer Institute, and the World Health Organization
have each evaluated the scientific research on wireless phones that has been conducted worldwide for more than two
decades. Each has found that the weight of the scientific research has not established that wireless phone use causes ad-
verse health effects," the statement said. "The FCC has been vigilant in its oversight in this area and has set safety
standards to make sure that radio frequency fields from wireless phones remain at what it has determined are safe lev-
els. The FCC's safety standards include a 50-fold safety factor and, as the FCC has noted, are the most conservative in
the world."
The FCC announced in June that it would take a closer look at its standards and will seek comments from experts and
the public. The agency made that announcement after seeing a draft of the GAO report, according to Crosse. The GAO
report was conducted at the request of Representatives Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Anna Eschoo (D-Calif.) and Edward
Markey (D-Mass.).
Yesterday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced a bill called The Cell Phone Right to Know Act that would put
warning labels on cell phones and require the Environmental Protection Agency to update the RF energy absorption
rates.
16
Meanwhile, the CTIA is suing San Francisco over a law that would require cell phone vendors to provide consumers
with a one-page fact sheet about potential health risks of cell phone radiation. The case is slated to begin in the U.S.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday.
Elinor Mills
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after
working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry
Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press.
Is Amateur Radio Too Focused on EmComm?
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU On the Ham Radio Help Group, a Yahoo Group mailing list for anyone looking for help with any-thing related to amateur radio, one ham asked "Over lunch today I read the September issue of QST, which is heavily EmComm oriented. The articles were interesting, but the op-ed piece on page 98 seemed a little over the top to me...Has this focus of this intensity always been a part of ham radio and I just wasn’t expecting it? How has it evolved over the years?" To answer the question, another replied by posting Section 97.1, namely the principles behind the amateur radio service: Sec. 97.1 Basis and purpose. The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a volun-tary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency com-munications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for ad-vancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.
17
(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international good-will. He went on to say, "I think that 97.1(a) addresses your question." I like that reply a lot. First, it shows that providing emergency and public-service communica-tions has been a part of amateur radio since its beginnings. Some hams are extremely focused on this, and I applaud them. In my opinion, the piece referred to in the latest QST was not over the top. I think, however, that some hams do sometimes go overboard on emcomm, and act as if it’s the only reason that ham radio exists. It’s not. As you can see, the rules describe five different “purposes” for amateur radio. Emcomm might be the first, but it’s only one of five. We need to keep in mind the other four as well. I personally like (e), and would like to see amateur radio actually do more to promote international good will. What do you think? ============================================================================== When he's not pondering the place of emergency communications in amateur radio, Dan, KB6NU, writes books about ham radio. He is currently feverishly trying to finish the No-Nonsense Extra Class License Guide. You can read excerpts from this upcoming book on his website, http://www.kb6nu.com/. You can e-mail him with comments, questions, compliments, or brickbats at [email protected].
Five things you should know about that gas generator Sent in by Al / kd4knv.
Now is the time – if you haven’t already – to drag out the old gas generator to make sure it works if and when
needed this hurricane season.
So let’s get the point: Here are five things you should know about using your generator:
1. Never, ever use a generator inside a building, including homes, garages, crawlspaces and sheds. Levels of
carbon monoxide may quickly reach deadly levels.
2. Read your instructions. Nobody does this and it’s a big mistake. It will take all of 15 minutes or less. If you
tossed them, try typing in the manufacturer name and model into a Google search bar to search for online man-
uals. You may be able to get what you need from a similar model.
3. Generators may be dangerous in wet conditions, causing electrical shock or electrocution in the worst scenar-
ios. Try to keep rain off the generator, using perhaps a canopy to allow for open ventilation while keep raindrops
from the generator. Make sure hand are dry before touching the generator.
4. Never plug generator into a home wall outlet. That could be like putting a match to a gas-soaked rag.
5. Keep the fuel in a safe place. Store asoline, propane and other flammable liquids outside of living areas in
proper safety containers. Label if needed.
18
What do you say? Do you have better tips? An interesting story about a problem with a generator?
May I add to #4. It is insanely dangerous and also illegal to do this, EVEN IF YOU DISCONNECT THE POWER
TO THE HOUSE VIA A BREAKER. Why? 1) the breaker does NOT cut off anything but the “hot” side of the cir-
cuit–electricity can still back flow to FP&L. 2) If your generator energizes an FP&L line (and it most certainly
can), it can kill FP&L employees who think the line is not energized. Basic electronics: transformers work in
BOTH directions. A transformer that takes 13,000 volts of electricity and brings it down to 110 volts for your
house is perfectly good at turning the 110 volts from your generator back into 13,000 volts on the power line out-
side of your house. If you want to wire in a generator, you MUST contact a LICENSED electrician to install an
approved transfer switch and any other necessary modifications.
Try not to smile too much …
Sent in by Dave /N4QPM
ENFORCEMENT: FCC TELLS SPY SHOP TO STOP SELLING JAMMING DEVICES Sent in by Chuck / W4ROA
A California electronics retailer has been ordered to stop selling products designed to jam radio communications
equipment. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Jeff Clark, K8JAC, reports:
The FCC has issued an official Citation and Order to Spy Shop of Sherman Oaks, California that also does busi-
ness as IQ Tronics, Inc., SpyShopOne.com, and SpyGadgetsShop.com. This, for marketing cell phone, and
Global Positioning System and other signal jamming devices in violation of Section 302(b) of the Communica-
tions Act, and Sections 2.803 and 15.201(b) of the Commission’s rules.
In its July 18th Citation the FCC ordered that the Spy Shop should take immediate steps to come into compli-
ance and to avoid any recurrence of this misconduct, including actions such as removing illegal signal jamming
devices from displays and declining to sell signal jamming devices in the United States. The FCC said that if af-
ter receipt of the Citation, Spy Shop violates the Communications Act or the FCC Rules by marketing unauthor-
ized radio frequency devices within the United States or its territories the Commission may impose monetary for-
feitures of up to $16,000 for each such violation. In the case of a continuing violation, the Commission may im-
pose monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each day of such continuing violation up to a maximum forfeiture
of $112,500 for any single act or failure to act. In addition, violations could also can result in seizure of equip-
ment as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment. As we go to air, a check of the company website
shows that all of the gear that the FCC says is illegal to sell has been removed from the company website.
(FCC) Sent in by Jeff / K8JAC
19
Hurricanes deliver more misery to some zip codes
The Homestead area has seen the most hurricanes in South Florida, including Andrew in 1992..
By Ken Kaye, Staff Writer
Large and powerful hurricanes have frequently delivered widespread misery across South Florida, yet their relatively small cores
have battered some zip codes much more than others.
In the past 150 years, Homestead's 33033 was hit by the dead center of seven hurricanes, including that of Category 5 Andrew,
making it the most storm-visited zip code in South Florida. The runner-up: 33035, directly to the south with five hurricane hits.
In Palm Beach County, Jupiter's 33468 has seen the core of four hurricanes, including Wilma in 2005. In Broward, Parkland's
33076 was hit three times, including an unnamed Category 4 in 1947.
The information comes courtesy of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site that shows hurricane tracks since
1842, as they run through states, counties, cities and zip codes.
Called Historical Hurricane Tracks, (csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes), it shows more than 60 hurricanes have struck South Florida in
those 150 years, so many that all their tracks look like a bowl of spaghetti.
"Knowing more about local hurricane history can help communities better understand their vulnerabilities," said David Eslinger, an
oceanographer with the NOAA Coastal Services Center and one of the site's developers.
Although a hurricane can be several hundred miles wide, the site shows where the exact geometric center – theoretically smaller
than a pinprick – of a storm traveled. That means even if a hurricane's center plowed through one zip code, others around it might
have received worse damage.
For instance, Category 2 Wilma's center angled well north of West Palm Beach and emerged over the ocean near Martin County.
Yet it caused severe damage in southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County, and its misery was felt as far south
as Miami.
"A hurricane is not a dot on a map," said Dennis Feltgen, spokesman for the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County. "It
is a large storm with impacts over a large area."
Just the same, if an area saw the exact center of a hurricane, it likely felt both sides of the eye wall, where the winds can be dev-
astatingly strong, officials said. In addition to hurricanes, the tracking site shows the paths of tropical storms and depressions.
In Palm Beach County, Jupiter's 33468 received a total of 8 storm hits, including four hurricanes. Aside from Wilma, those included
an unnamed Category 4 in 1933, Category 3 Isbell in 1964 and an unnamed Category 1 in 1948.
Loxahatchee's 33412 also saw a total of 8 systems, including four hurricanes, but the storms weren't as strong. Meanwhile, Delray
Beach's 33444 has been relatively lucky; it was hit by two tropical storms and two depressions, no hurricanes.
In Broward County, Parkland's 33076 was struck by nine storms overall, including three hurricanes: an unnamed Category 4 in
1947, Category 2 Cleo in 1964 and an unnamed Category 2 in 1865.
Not far behind: Coconut Creek's 33073 was hit by eight systems, three of them hurricanes. Hallandale Beach's 33009 also was hit
by eight storms, of which three -including Katrina in 2005 – were hurricanes.
Although Hollywood's 33019 received the most total hits of anywhere in the region with 10, five of those were tropical depressions
and only two were hurricanes. On the slower side, Davie's 33314 saw the cores of three systems, including one hurricane, one
tropical storm and one depression.
Of South Florida's three counties, Miami-Dade was hardest hit, as most of its cities saw the cores of two or more hurricanes. Aside
from Homestead's seven hurricane hits, Hialeah was struck by four hurricanes, downtown Miami three, Miami Beach three and
Opa-locka three.
20
While NOAA has offered the Historical Hurricane Tracks site for the past several years, it was recently updated with 2011 data.
Users can narrow their searches to specific storm categories, years and months.
Overall, the site supports NOAA's findings that South Florida is one of the nation's most storm vulnerable regions, with hurricanes
hitting on average once every four years. Yet officials urge all coastal residents to be prepared, particularly now that the peak of
the season is here.
"They can take steps to be more resilient if a future hurricane strikes," said Eslinger, the NOAA oceanographer.
[email protected] or 954-572-2085.
Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Do you have a new idea to make the BARC better?
Our Officers and Trustee want to hear what you have to say.
Call or email them today! You can make a big difference.
Get Ready For 'Super Wi-Fi' To Be A Big Thing In 2013 - Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-form-of-wifi-is-coming-and-its-good-news-for-many-americans-2011-12#ixzz25KBZV8zm
http://www.businessinsider.com/get-ready-for-super-wifi-to-be-a-big-thing-in-2013-2012-9
By this time next year, thousands of people will be using a new longer-range kind of Wi-Fi commonly called "super Wi-Fi." Supe r Wi-Fi isn't really Wi-Fi, a form of wireless networking which uses unlicensed spectrum. Instead, it's a new kind of wireless network running on unused or underused spectrum known as "white spaces." It's championed by the likes of Google <http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/google> and Microsoft <http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/microsoft>. After a long, protracted battle with broadcasters, who first opposed the new tech, it got the official okay from the FCC <http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/federal-communications-commission> last December. Since then there's only been a few pilot networks where people can use it. But progress is being made. A key company in the Super Wi-Fi industry is Spectrum Bridge. It just announced a new program <http://www.spectrumbridge.com/ourcompany/pressreleases/12-08-29/Spectrum_Bridge_Launches_TV_White_Space_Certification_Program_to_Help_Radio_Manufacturers_Navigate_FCC_Approval_Process.aspx> to help equipment makers get white-spaces radios approved to be sold. That means that Super Wi-Fi is on track to be more widely available in 2013. This follows news from June, when the Advanced Internet Regions University, (AIR.U) said <http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/airu-to-connect-universities-with-8220super-wi-fi-8221/12143?tag=content;siu-container> that it will deploy Super Wi-Fi on university campuses across the country starting next year, too. Super Wi-Fi is exciting becausee it is stronger and more powerful than existing Wi-Fi. It will be especially important for rural areas and other dead spots where broadband wireless isn't available. If it can get a TV signal, the area can have high-speed Inter-net access. This is expected to become a $1 billion market, similar to the Wi-Fi industry. *Don't miss: The Next Billion-Dollar Wireless Industry Has Officially Launched <http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-form-of-wifi-is-coming-and-its-good-news-for-many-americans-2011-12#ixzz25KBZV8zm>* sent in by Bill / W2CQ
21
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23
24
Breakfast Menu
#1 2 eggs (scrambled, sunny side up or down) with toast
3 Pancakes and a cup of coffee ------------------- $5.00
#2 2 Eggs (scrambled, sunny side up or down)
2pc toast and coffee --------------------------------- $2.50
#3 Short Stack Pancakes (3) and coffee ------------- $3.50
Toast (2)------------------------------------------------------ $0.50
Cup of Coffee ------------------------------------------------ $1.00
Coffee Refills (using your original cup)----------------- $ .50
25
Skywarn Class Coming To Broward County
September is National Preparedness Month and residents are encouraged to take steps
to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. As part of
National Preparedness Month, Broward Emergency Management Division will host a
training class for SKYWARN Storm Spotters on Saturday, September 22, at the
Broward County Emergency Operations Center in Plantation.
Become a SKYWARN weather spotter and be part of a nationwide volunteer network,
which reports observations of significant weather and damage resulting from severe
weather to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service then sends
alerts to the public via television, radio, marine and weather radios, public safety
agencies and other information sources that severe weather is approaching or has been
sighted.
Since the National Weather Service instituted the SKYWARN program, there has been a significant decrease in the death
rate due to tornadoes and other severe weather. SKYWARN classes are ideal for Community Emergency Response
Team volunteers, amateur radio operators, Red Cross volunteers, firefighters, students or anyone who is interested and
wants to serve.
SKYWARN Spotter Eligibility Requirements:
• Minimum 14 years old (responsible and accompanied by an adult)
• Able to observe the weather (though no instruments are required)
• Have access to a telephone or cell phone to call in reports, though reports are accepted through email and the amateur
radio network
The class is intended for those interested in becoming a Storm Spotter or those who are spotters and want to sharpen
their skills. Training is required in order to be a Storm Spotter.
Classes for beginner and advanced Storm Spotters will be taught in a combined class by the warning coordination mete-
orologist with the National Weather Service -- Miami/South Florida Forecast Office, on Saturday, September 22, at the
Broward County Emergency Operations Center, located at 201 N.W. 84th Ave., Plantation . The Beginners/Advanced
Refresher class is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Break: Noon-1 p.m. - bring your own lunch).
Registration is required by phone or email. Space is limited; only 60 seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
Deadline to register is September 15. To register, call 954-249-5343 or email: [email protected].
Note: The class is contingent on the weather and if there is any severe weather activity, the class will be canceled.
Attendees will need to be at the Broward County Emergency Operations Center no later than 9:30 a.m. for admission.
Those who are running late will need to call Robin Terrill (cell phone) 954-249-5343.
Tom Lewis on Lightning Protection For a nice presentation by Tom N4TL on Lightning. For those who do not remember, Tom is a SFDXA member living out of the area. SKIP the first 19 minutes of the video to get past the BS by the “MC” on the video. GO TO: http://arvideonews.com/hrn/HRN_Episode_0015.html 73, PeteR /N8PR
The SKYWARN class will be in-
structed by warning coordination
meteorologist with the National
Weather Service -- Miami/South
Florida Forecast Office.
26
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 22 ARLB022
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT August 23, 2012
To all radio amateurs
ARLB022 FCC Releases Congressionally Mandated Study on Amateur Radio
**********************************************************************
On August 20 -- in response to a Spring 2012 Congressional directive -- the Federal Communications Commission released
its findings on the Uses and Capabilities of Amateur Radio Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
This report contains the FCC's "review of the importance of emergency Amateur Radio Service communications relating to
disasters, severe weather and other threats to lives and property in the United States; and recommendations for en-
hancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio operators in disaster and emergency communications and dis-
aster relief efforts; and recommendations for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in the planning and fur-
therance of initiatives of the federal government." It also required "that the study identify impediments to enhanced Ama-
teur Radio Service communications and provide recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments."
"There are many positive things included in the FCC report to Congress," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan
Henderson, N1ND. "We are pleased that the Commission highlighted the existing Amateur Radio infrastructure to provide
disaster and time-critical communications. They also recognized the flexibility of the Amateur Service in working with fed-
eral, state, local and tribal emergency service agencies to supplement existing communications. The affirmation of the val-
ue that Amateur Radio brings to the communities across the country is underscored by the suggestion that 'DHS work with
state, local, and tribal authorities so they may develop disaster area access or credentialing policies for trained amateur
operators, including a means for documenting their qualifications..."'
While the FCC did hold Amateur Radio in a positive light in its discussion of emergency Amateur Radio Service communi-
cations, the FCC report was not as favorable in the portion of the study that addressed impediments to enhanced Amateur
Radio Service communications. In the comments provided to the FCC as they prepared the study, the ARRL -- as well as
numerous individuals -- cited the proliferation of specific land-use restrictions, such as deed restrictions and homeowners
associations covenants, that prohibit the erection of even modest Amateur Radio antennas.
The ARRL cited that such restrictions now apply to tens of millions of homes and condominiums. In communities across
every state, these restrictions make finding suitable living arrangements that would also allow amateurs to participate ef-
fectively in providing support communications nearly impossible to find. The FCC disagreed with that assessment stating
"...our review of the record does not indicate that amateur operators are unable to find homes that are not subject to
such restrictions. Therefore, at this time, we do not see a compelling reason for the Commission to revisit its previous
determinations that preemption should not be expanded to CCRs."
When considering any current rules that serve as impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications, the
report did agree with the ARRL's position, stating that "Commission rules that may be an impediment to enhanced Ama-
teur Service emergency communications can, as the ARRL notes, be considered through the Commission's rulemaking pro-
27
cess. Consequently, we do not believe that Congressional action is necessary to address any of these issues."
In the report, the FCC recommended that "DHS consult with the public safety, emergency management and Amateur
Radio emergency communications associations and group s to identify training opportunities that will support better
utilization of Amateur Radio operators for emergency communications, and to solicit views on how Amateur Radio capa-
bilities could be further incorporated into response plans or initiatives. We also recommend that OEC include these
recommendations in the NECP."
Henderson noted that it is significant "that the FCC recommends efforts be continued by DHS to facilitate the training and
utilization of Amateur Radio across the emergency and disaster response spectrum -- from the public sector through to
the various groups and organizations which provide support communications via the Amateur Service, including ARES,
RACES, MARS or locally organized support groups. When served agencies and amateur groups plan and train cooperative-
ly, it only enhances our abilities to serve our communities and the public."
With the delivery of the FCC's report to Congress, the ARRL will determine its next step in its efforts to find relief for ama-
teurs who live under unduly restrictive private land-use regulations. "Our review of the FCC report shows that there is a lot
to be done if amateurs living in deed-restricted properties are to receive even the limited relief they enjoy under the
Commission's PRB-1 ruling or the limited relief given to deed-restricted properties given by the FCC's OTARD ruling," Hen-
derson said. "This means continuing ARRL's efforts on Capitol Hill and continuing to seek a Congressional directive to the
Commission to extend those limited preemptions to include prohibition of effective Amateur Radio antennas and support
structure that are imposed by private land use restrictions. The FCC report to Congress is not the final action in this fight. It
merely lays the groundwork for the next steps to be taken by the ARRL," he concluded.
Read the complete FCC report on the web at,
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0820/DA-12-1342A1.pdf
FCC to Congress: No Need to Pre-empt CC&Rs
The FCC has told Congress that there is "no compelling
reason" for it to revisit its previous decisions not to extend its
limited pre-emption of restrictive state and local antenna laws
to private land use regulations. These CC&R, or Covenants,
Conditions and Restrictions, are imposed by developers and
homeowners' associations on purchasers of homes in many
areas. The report to Congress released on August 20 is the result of a study mandated earlier this year - with the
ARRL's strong backing - of the value of amateur radio emergency communications and impediments (including
CC&Rs) to effective amateur communications.
The Commission said commenters disagreed over the impact of CC&Rs on
amateur radio emergency capabilities and that "a review of the record does
not indicate that amateur operators are unable to find homes that are not
subject to such restrictions." The report also said the FCC does not believe
Congressional action is necessary regarding CC&Rs or other impedi-
ments to amateur communication.
Overall, the report was laudatory of amateur radio's ability to provide emer-
28
gency communications and recommended that the Department of Homeland Security work with state, local and
tribal authorities to improve training for hams and to better integrate amateur radio into existing emergency
plans. However, it stopped short of supporting an ARRL recommendation for a federal credentialing system to
permit trained amateurs to have easier access to disaster areas when traveling from other states to help provide
communications support.
From the CQ Newsroom
FCC Says No to Nationwide Emergency Frequency
The FCC has denied a petition by two hams to designate 146.55 MHz as a national
emergency calling frequency, essentially saying their proposal was a solution in search of a problem. The
Commission said the current flexibility in frequency use serves the amateur service well, and noted that the ham
community - if it wished - could designate an emergency calling frequency through voluntary band planning
without official FCC action. From the CQ News-
room
ARRL: Executive Order Poses No Threat to Ham Radio
Despite speculation on the internet, President Obama's executive order of July 6 addressing the federal
government's national security and emergency preparedness communications needs does not pose a
threat to the Amateur Radio Service or to ham radio participation in emergency response. That's the
conclusion of the ARRL after closely reading the order, which creates a new Executive Committee on
National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications, with representation from eight feder-
al departments and agencies. ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, says
nothing in the order directly affects everyday amateur radio operations and says that based on ham radio's "on-
going, positive relationship" with the Department of Homeland Security, it is "hard to envision" any new man-
agement plan that would exclude amateur radio. From the CQ Newsroom
OSCAR-7: 10 Years Back on the Air
It's an amazing story that just keeps getting more amazing. OSCAR-7, part of the first generation of amateur ra-
dio satellites, was launched in 1974 and operated until its batteries short-circuited in 1981. Twenty-one years
later, in 2002, the satellite incredibly came back to life. AMSAT officials speculate that the batteries some-
how went from a short-circuit condition to open-circuit, allowing the satel-
lite's solar panels to power its radios when in sunlight.
QSL card from 2004, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the launch of
OSCAR-7. (Courtesy AMSAT) Ten years after returning to the air, AO-7 is still going strong, with uplinks
on 2 meters and 70 centimeters and downlinks on 10 meters and 2 me-
ters, respectively. It switches between bands randomly each time it starts up on re-entering sunlight, and is
currently the only amateur satellite providing really long-range communications. In fact, the AMSAT News
Service reports that two new distance records were recently set via AO-7, with contacts 7849 kilometers
(4877 miles) and then 7903.55 km (4911 mi), just short of the satellite's theoretical maximum range of 7907
km (4913 mi). From the CQ Newsroom
29
The Amazing Disappearing Antenna
A short story by Don Keith, N4KC ©2012 by Don Keith Sent in by Mickey / N4MB Copyright 2012, used by permission. Don Keith N4KC is author of the new book RIDING THE SHORTWAVES:
EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF AMATEUR RADIO from which this story comes. Details at www.n4kc.com.
They were an easy-going group. Most were longtime friends, some went to high school or college to-
gether, others became acquaintances when they first took the test for their amateur radio license and
joined the exalted fraternity of hamdom. Some were newcomers, teenagers, young adults, even a few
husband/wife teams. Some newcomers were gray-haired, too.
All of them shared one common bond. They were deeply involved in the hobby of ham radio and thor-
oughly enjoyed being with others who were members of the same tribe.
The brotherhood and sisterhood of the spark!
The group met once a month—on a Tuesday night—in a room at the downtown YMCA for their club
meeting. They usually began with a warm-up session while everyone gathered and bragged about the
DX they had worked or how great their newly-constructed QRP transceiver was working. There was
some horse-trading, too. That was followed by a short business discussion, and then a program, deliv-
ered by a member or a guest, always on topics that might be of interest to the group, old-timers and new-
comers alike.
As with all assemblies of human beings, there were those occasional moments when things got testy,
when politics sparked a tiff or whoever was delivering the night’s program made claims that were dispu t-
ed by someone in the audience who had a different opinion. But it always ended amiably with a motion to
adjourn for a cup of coffee and a doughnut at Krispy Kreme and more chatter, bragging and horse-
trading.
Joe Wynn, WB4CDB, was delivering the program one night. His subject was some kind of cobbled-
together antenna he had conceived and then modeled on his computer, using the latest software. He had
then erected and tested the monstrosity. It consisted of an odd amalgam of copper wire, coax cable,
snippets of 300-ohm television twin-lead, a strange circuit at its middle with capacitors and coils soldered
together, and a bunch of rope to string it up from tree limb to tree limb. Antennas were always hot topics
at the club meetings. There was an abundance of opinions about what worked best and what did not.
Most agreed that a hundred watts of power output was basically the same, regardless the kind of radio
that was generating it. But it was the antenna and the feed line that led to it that took those watts, con-
verted them into magnetic energy, and threw it off into space to reverberate off the ionosphere. The more
efficiently it did this beautiful trick of physics, the better. The more efficiently an antenna worked, the more
successful an amateur radio operator would be in communicating with others of a similar ilk around the
state, the country or the world. There was no argument there.
But the more Joe talked about this odd, ugly duckling of a radiator, the more complicated and obtuse his
drawings on the white board became. And the more he pontificated about how great it worked, the more
some members of the club frowned, snorted, and exchanged quick glances with each other.
30
“Now when I first looked at the computer model and saw the specs on this aerial, I was amazed,” Joe
proudly claimed. If he noticed the doubting looks on some faces out there in the group, he ignored them.
“SWR below two-to-one across the 40-, 30-, 20-, 17- and 15-meter bands without having to tune it. A very
fat lobe that radiates in practically all directions. And a gain over a dipole of 6 dB. And the thing is only 50
feet long in its entirety. I have been using it for a month now and it is by far the best performing antenna I
have ever seen. Anybody have any questions?”
John Carlson—a local broadcast engineer and easily one of the more technically competent among the
club members—raised his hand.
“Joe, that’s a mighty fine explanation, but that all looks like a mess to me.” John was always cordial but
he also tended to cut to the chase when he had an opinion on something. “If it really does as well as you
say, you must have just gotten lucky. I don’t see any way that can work.”
“Yeah, I can see the SWR being low,” Roger Schwartz chimed in. He was the acknowledged “antenna
guru” among the bunch. “That circuit there in the middle and the two-hundred feet of coax is probably go-
ing to mask any reflected power, but I bet you could cook a hamburger on that little circuit board after a
few minutes of key-down!”
“Seems to me to be way complicated, too,” Jack Mainerd jumped in. Jack’s antenna farm—which actually
grew from the black dirt at his spacious farm south of town—was the stuff of dreams for most of the hams
in the bunch. “You could just put up a 65-foot dipole, feed it with ladder line, and hit all those bands just
fine without the weight, the parts, and all that precise measuring.”
Joe Wynn took the comments in stride. He simply rocked back on his heels, grinned, and folded his arms
across his chest.
“All I know is it works. I’ve got the contacts and the signal reports in the log book to back it up. You’d
need a couple of trees in the right place for your dipole antenna, Jack. And figure a way to snake the lad-
der line around gutters, cables, wire and stuff to get it inside. Then you have to use an antenna tuner—
and you all know how I feel about antenna tuners—to get a match on all of those bands. And you would
still have a figure-eight pattern with some really nasty nulls and no gain at all. The same as a dipole be-
cause it would be…well…a dipole!”
“Heck, Joe, you can make contacts using a ten-penny nail for an antenna if…” Roger started, but just
then, Bob Marx, the club president stood up and interrupted before things went sour.
“Well, Joe, thank you for another interesting program,” he said with a smile. “You always bring us a pro-
ject that will make us think. It’s past nine already and some of us have to go to work tomorrow to earn
money to support our hobby. Let’s give Joe Wynn a round of applause.”
Everyone did, including the three men who had challenged Joe’s weird antenna experiment. It was true.
Those members who were good enough to volunteer to conduct a program were always appreciated.
And it was also true that WB4CDB always came up with things that…well…made them think. And shake
their heads.
There was the transmitter he built from an old television set that dimmed the lights when he transmitted
and emitted a signal that sounded more like an elephant burping. The Morse code “translator” that was
supposed to take the characters through a microphone set up next to a speaker and convert them into
letters that were displayed on an old Atari game console. Only problem was, it could not tell a dash from
a dot, a rather fundamental flaw for such a device. But mixed in were some occasionally usable and prac-
31
tical items, too, and, as Bob Marx noted, it made everyone in attendance think, and thinking inevitably led
to learning.
This night, the discussion of what Joe had dubbed his “flotsam and jetsam antenna”—he noted that you
could just take the flotsam and jetsam from your junk box and build it—continued over the hot coffee and
the sweet pastries at the doughnut shop. John, Roger and Jack all continued to challenge, in a friendly
enough way, the theory, complexity, and claimed results of the antenna. And Joe stuck to his guns.
“Best antenna in my arsenal right now, and I’ve got one of about everything growing out there,” he ma in-
tained.
As they headed for their cars, the three questioners told Joe and the others goodnight, but they huddled
at Jack’s car for a few minutes before they all loaded up and headed home.
Nobody noticed the sudden burst of laughter just before they climbed into their vehicles and went their
separate ways.
Two nights later, Joe Wynn was goofing around in his shack, working on some project he had discovered
in an old ARRL Amateur Radio Handbook from the 1950s. There was a “ding” on the computer indicating
someone had “spotted” a DX station. The station was on some tiny island in the South Pacific and when
Joe tuned him, his signal on 40 meter CW was marginally readable, though not nearly as strong as the
reporter who had spotted him indicated. Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, Joe waited impatient-
ly for the old tubes in his amplifier to warm up. He clicked the rotary antenna switch around to make sure
he had selected the spot on the dial where the plastic label indicated that his super-duper “flotsam and
jetsam antenna” was hooked up. Then he hit the button on his transceiver to send power to the amp so
he could quickly tune it up.
There was a brief hiss and just the slightest hint of a spark from somewhere inside the cage that housed
the amplifier’s innards.
“That’s odd,” Joe muttered, but he quickly twisted the dials until the arcing ceased. Still, the loading was
not nearly as smooth as it typically was.
There were surprisingly few other stations calling the distant one, but it took Joe a good half hour to final-
ly get a response from him, even though the DX station called “CQ” several times but did not seem to
hear WB4CDB when he responded.
Joe simply chalked it up to poor-but-just-good-enough propagation as he proudly logged the new country
and placed a pin in the map on the wall to formally mark the accomplishment. If it was easy, every ham
out there would have confirmations from every country on the planet.
The next night, Joe had a 40-meter schedule on single-sideband with an old friend halfway across the
country. They usually had no trouble carrying on a conversation, but this night, his friend could hardly
hear him and finally lost him altogether. And the amplifier had been even balkier in tuning up, too.
Now Joe was curious. He disconnected the amp from the AC power and carefully lifted the lid and looked
inside. Everything looked all right. No smoke. No sign of the tell-tale black carbon streak that would have
indicated arcing damage.
He scratched his chin, considered the possibilities, and finally decided to sleep on it. A new DXpedition
was set to be on the air starting the next weekend. They would be operating from a tiny coral reef in the
32
middle of the Dangerous Grounds off Malaysia. It would not take long to see if he had some component
going on the fritz. In fact, in Joe’s estimation, the easiest way to trouble-shoot a problem was to keep us-
ing it until “it released smoke” or made enough noise to easily locate it in the midst of whatever might re-
main.
It had not occurred to Joe Wynn to check his whiz-bang, Rube Goldberg antenna that stretched across
the backyard.
The same antenna that John, Roger and Jack—his buddies from the ham club—had been whittling down
a few feet or so each evening ever since the night after the meeting!
After they were certain Joe had turned in for the night, the three men crept into Joe’s backyard each
evening, untied the rope supports from the trees at each end, and lowered the aerial to where they could
reach it. Then they took the wire loose from the end insulators, measured precisely with John’s pocket
tape measure, folded it back on itself, and carefully twisted it so it would be secure. And they did the
same thing on the other end. That effectively shortened it each evening by about four feet on each end
without really doing any lasting damage to it. They could always let it back out to its original length after
putting Joe in his place and showing him the error of his ways.
The men knew Joe’s old watchdog, Sparky, was too deaf to hear them and too lazy to alert h is master
even if he did. They figured the minimal change each night to the antenna would hardly be enough to be
noticed. But then, suddenly, Joe would realize that his wonderful concoction of a radiator was not so
great after all.
After the fifth night of antenna modification, John Carlson could not resist it any longer. There had been
no word whatsoever from Joe Wynn about any issues with the antenna of which he was so proud. Then
John heard him on his morning commute, talking to another station on the club’s two-meter repeater.
John stifled a yawn—the late-night shortening operation was cutting into his sack time—and broke into
the QSO at the first opportunity. “Mornin’, Joe and Mel. How you fellows doing? Joe, what’s the latest on
your ‘flotsam and jetsam’ antenna?” John asked.
“Even better than I thought!” Joe responded enthusiastically. “I worked a QRP station in Slovenia last
night on 17 and then got three more good ones on PSK31 on 20.”
John frowned as he eased to a stop at a traffic light. Had old Joe not yet realized that his miracle antenna
was working even worse than before? Or was he just too stubborn to admit his antenna did not work be-
fore and was a total failure now. John had an idea. It was time to press the point. Heck, a few more nights
and there would be no “flotsam and jetsam antenna” left to trim!
“Hey, that’s great. Do you mind if some of us drop by and see her in action this weekend?”
“Not at all,” Joe Wynn responded immediately. “I’ll be home Saturday, trying to work that DXpedition out
in Malaysia.”
John grinned broadly, ignoring the lady in the car next to him as she gave him an odd look.
“Perfect. We’ll probably stop in mid-afternoon.”
John could not wait to tell the others about his chat with Joe and how the guy was so sure his antenna
was something special that he was blocking out completely its worsening performance. Just to be sure,
the three of them made one more late-night stopover in Joe’s backyard on Friday night, but this time, they
33
took a good ten feet off the antenna’s length. That only left a few feet of wire either side of the monstrosi-
ty Joe had hacked together at its center. Unless that bunch out in the Indian Ocean was using the world’s
highest-gain receiving antenna and some kind of spectacular noise-reduction gear, there would be no
way Joe could ever work them.
Truth was, Roger, Jack and John were beginning to feel a tad bit guilty about the dirty trick they were
playing on their friend. Even if they did all agree that he deserved it for being so haughty about his phys-
ics-defying antenna. To atone, they stopped and got a bucket of chicken wings and some cold beers on
the way over to Joe’s place on Saturday afternoon.
Joe’s wife showed them into the shack in a corner of the garage where Joe was already busy at the ra-
dio, tuning in the distant station and setting the proper split between his listening and transmitting fre-
quency. The three visitors could hear the bedlam of chirps and cheeps from all the hams around the
world who were desperately calling the rare operation way out there on the other side of the planet. It
was a mess. What little power Joe’s miscreation of an antenna might spit out would be lost amid all that
mob of stations trying to get the rare contact on the operation’s first weekend.
“How’s propagation?” Roger asked Joe.
“Not the best,” Wynn replied. “Solar flux is only about 95. I can hear him, though. I think he’s coming up
some.”
The men suppressed grins. Sure he could. With that diminished shrimp of an antenna? Not a chance.
Not on 20 meters in the middle of the afternoon, even if they were on CW.
Joe punched a button on the front of his radio.
“Back to his frequency,” he announced. “I can see a few holes in the pile-up on the spectrum scope so I’ll
call him on one of those frequencies.”
With the chicken wings spread out on the corner of the operating desk and with each of the hams enjoy-
ing the cold beer, they each listened to the frequency where the faraway station was supposed to be
transmitting.
There was nothing. Nothing but the hiss of atmospheric noise.
Jack Mainerd dropped a chicken bone in the trash can, turned his head sideways, and said, “Joe, I don’t
hear him. You sure you are on his frequency. There are lots of stateside guys calling him so I figure we
would at least be able to…”
But just then, there was the sound of rapid Morse as the rare station’s operator sent, “N4KC, 599,” and
then, three seconds later, “R, TU, UP.” (The DX station has just acknowledged hearing the call from sta-
tion N4KC and gave him a signal report, then confirmed he heard a report from the calling station, said,
“Thank you,” and indicated that he was listening for calls up a few kilohertz in frequency.)
All three doubters looked at each other. The station was actually quite strong. Stronger than he had been
at any of their houses an hour before. Propagation must have improved since then. He had to be boom-
ing in for Joe to hear him that strong on his junk antenna. Roger Schwartz glanced at the labels on Joe’s
antenna switch. Sure enough, it was on the position that said “Flotsam/jetsam.”
Wynn was already busy pounding out his call sign on his ancient J-38 straight key. Joe did not believe in
computerized CW keying or using his radio’s CW memory to save info that could be transmitted merely
34
by hitting a button or keyboard key. True CW operators did it the old-fashioned way, with an arm-numbing
straight key.
The DX operator answered another station, a W6. Then three Japanese stations in a row. Jack, Roger
and John settled back in their chairs, sure that Joe could call all day and all night but would never be
heard. Not with all his RF power likely eaten up in heat in the mess of an aerial he was using. They had
already decided to let him try long enough to make their point about the ineffectiveness of his homebrew
antenna and then gently let him off the hook with an explanation of what they had been doing.
“Anybody ready for another beer and some chicken…?” John started.
But just then, out of Joe’s radio speaker, the DX station clearly sent, “WB4CBD, 599.” Joe raised his
hand to quiet John and calmly—as if it was no surprise at all that the operator had managed to pull his
signal out of the wall of stations that were calling him—sent back a maddeningly slow, “599, TU.”
All three visitors sat there, eyes wide, jaws dropped, as Joe turned and smiled at them.
“And that was without the amplifier,” he said, beaming. “I had a grid resistor go bad and I haven’t had a
chance to fix it yet. I just worked that guy with 100 watts. And on the fifth call, too.” Joe did not seem to
notice the amazed looks on his visitors’ stunned faces. “That antenna has just kept getting better and bet-
ter. Don’t know why it’s changed since I first put it up, but it’s hotter than blue blazes now.”
John Carlson stood and walked to the garage door and on out into the backyard. Sure enough, most of
what he saw stretched across the yard was rope, not copper wire. Joe’s antenna was only a small pair of
wires and the junkbox-in-a-bundle at its center. He looked at the antenna then back through the window
at the radio. At Joe and at the other two hams.
“Well, I’ll be,” was all he could manage.
He stepped back into the shack, settled into his chair, and studied the fine print on the beer can. Maybe
they had somehow made the antenna better by making it smaller. Odds were against such a phenome-
non. No way that should have happened. But maybe. Still, they were all baffled. It just did not make
sense.
“Hey, there’s Pitcairn Island on 14 dot 007. Let’s give him a try,” Joe said and made his call. The VP6
came right back, and he gave Joe the highest possible signal report, 599, as well. “Now he’s just showing
out,” Jack whispered.
They watched as Joe made a few more impressive contacts before they all suddenly stood and told him
they had to go.
“We all have to try to work the DXpedition, too,” John explained. “And I have to tell you, Joe, I think I’m
going to try to put that antenna contraption of yours together, too. Maybe a little shorter than how you
drew yours up. But I have to admit, that baby works!”
Roger and Jack nodded. Reluctantly, sincerely.
As they left, Joe Wynn thanked them for the wings and beverages and wished them luck on working the
DXpedition. Then he watched them go, a sly grin on his face. Watched them as they paused in the
driveway and studied his “flotsam and jetsam” antenna for a long moment, pointing, shaking their heads,
even arguing with each other. Watched as they shrugged their shoulders before climbing into Roger’s car
and pulling away.
35
Finally, sure the doubters were not going to come back, Joe Wynn leaned over to where his antenna
switch was bolted to the back wall. He pulled off two of the labels, one that read “Flotsam/jetsam” and the
other one that said “Beam.” He switched the labels back to their rightful spots on the switch, where they
belonged.
To the place where his abysmal junk box antenna was hooked and the other to the position on the switch
where his five-element Yagi beam—the one mounted at the 100-foot level on his tower, and the antenna
he had actually just used to make those impressive contacts—was attached.
The smell of the chicken wings had lured Sparky into the shack. Joe leaned down and scratched the dog
between the ears. He handed the mutt one of the wings.
“You deserve this, old boy,” he told Sparky. “I do appreciate you bringing me my present last night, bud-
dy.”
Joe pulled from his pocket a metal tape measure. Etched in its side was the amateur radio call sign that
belonged to John Carlson.
“You know what I always say, Sparky,” Joe told his watchdog. “The best antenna is always the one you
got!”
Web site lets you track hurricanes
by Eliot Kleinberg Sent in by Al / KD4KNV
Ever wonder how many hurricanes came through your town? An interactive web site lets you see tracks of every tropical
system on record for more than 150 years, right down to the zip code.
The Historical Hurricane Tracks website, http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes, also has links to detailed reports on storms
since 1958.
You can search by place, storm name or year, or latitude and longitude points, and limit your search to storm category and
year or years.
And the data isn’t limited to the United States. It can be searched in every “basin” that’s prone to tropical cyclones.
It also shows population increases in coastal counties from 1900 to 2000, bringing home the sobering reality that should
speak for itself: when an area has more people and more buildings, hurricanes will do more damage. Seven of the top 10
costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have occurred in the past eight years.
As Irene bore down on parts of the U.S. east coast not used to hurricanes, tens of thousands of people used Historical Hur-
ricane Tracks to compare the National Hurricane Center’s projected path with those of past storms. On Aug. 26, with Irene
off the North Carolina coast and aiming at New York, traffic on the site peaked at more than 19,000 clicks.
The site was developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center in partnership with the hurricane center and the agency’s
National Climatic Data Center.
Tags: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NHC, NOAA, Tropical Storm
Hope you don’t mind the weather humor? Can you imagine this happening?
intense wheather-man.wmv
36
“NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE” SERVING AMATEUR RADIO SINCE 1980
DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL ICOM-ASTRON-AMERITRON-MFJ-HY-GAIN-MIRAGE-SCS-TRAM-UNIDEN
SHAKESPEARE-HUSTLER-COMET-MALDOL-DAIWA-ARRL-VANCO
1069 NW 53 STREET, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. 33309 PH: 954-491-7110 FX:954-491-7011
TOLL FREE 800-427-3066 [email protected] Hours: 9AM – 4PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9AM – 12 PM Wednesday and Saturday
Check The Status Of Your New Or Upgraded Ham License One source you can use is this link to the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3 . Use it to look up
whether your new license is effective (and discover your newly assigned call sign). You can confirm your upgraded
license status (if you took and passed a test to upgrade).
Another great link is the ULS lookup on the FCC's web site. On that site you can print out additional "reference copies"
of your license and see the status of your license and any application matters related to it. You can choose to search
by name, callsign or your FRN number.
This helpful search page can be found at this link: http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp
37
Here Is A List Of The 2012 Hamfest That Covers The Entire Southeastern Division
Since the listing is so long to print and some of the listings are not correct, please refer to the ARRL
Southeastern Division 2012 Hamfests web page
http://www.southeastern.arrl.org/SE_hamfest_2012.htm
38
LAUREL AMATEUR RADIO TESTING DATES
September 11, 2012
October 9, 2012
November 8, 2012
Sponsor: Broward Amateur Radio Club
Time: 6:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Laurel Exams Are Always Free Please bring a, pen and pencil, a photocopy of your Driver’s License,
your CSCE and a amateur radio License if you have one
Any questions regarding a test session should be directed to me.
WANT TO JOIN OUR VE TEAM
Contact: Robin Terrill / N4HHP (954) 249-5343
Email: [email protected]
Laurel Team Leader
Location: Broward General Medical Center
1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Boca Room A
39
Broward County Amateur Radio Clubs and Nets
Broward Amateur Radio Club (BARC) W4AB Meets 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Broward General Medical Cen-
ter, 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Further information is available on the club
repeater 146.91 Contact: Robin Terrill, N4HHP / BARC President Phone: (954) 249-5343
E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.browardarc.org
Broward County ARES/RACES Meeting Meets 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Broward General Medical
Center, 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, Boca Room A. Further information is
available on the club repeater 146.91 Contact: Robin Terrill, N4HHP / RACES Officer. Phone:
(954) 249-5343
E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.browardarc.org
Broward County Emergency Preparedness Net
The Broward County ARES & RACES Net is held every Wednesday night starting at 7:00 pm local time on
the Broward Amateur Radio Club’s repeater, 146.910 with a PL Tone of 110.9 Hz. At 7:15 pm there will
be a brief training session. Every licensed ham is welcome and encouraged to check in by using their
callsign and the city that they are presently calling from. The Emergency Net web site can be viewed at
Davie / Cooper City Amateur Radio Club (DCARC) KJ4URW
Meets at 7:30 P.M. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Davie Police Department, which is
located at 1230 Nob Hill Road, Davie Fl. The club is geared towards people in the west Broward area -
which is where our activities take place - with an emphasis on newer operators. Contact: Rob
Frailing, AJ4SB / DCARC President. Phone: (954) 701-3966 E-mail: [email protected]. (Our website
is still under construction).
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association (GCARA) W4BUG
Meets 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) at the Imperial Point
Medical Center, 6401 North Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in the hospital auditorium. Refresh-
ments are provided. Dinner is available in the cafeteria @ 5:15 pm GCARA / ARRL VE Testing @
6:00pm in Auditorium C. Meeting starts @ 7:30pm in Auditorium A. Talk-in on 146.610 MHz. and 146.820
MHz., -600 Pl 110.9 Hz. Contact: Joseph Tiritilli, N4ZUW. Phone: (954) 428-4817 Web: http://www.w4bug.org/;
E- mail: [email protected]
Hollywood Amateur Radio Club (HARC)
Club repeater: WB4TON 146.985 PL 88.5. Contact: Bob Young, KC4KME. Phone: (954) 296-1242 E-
mail: [email protected]
Motorola Amateur Radio Club (MARC)
(open only to current and former Motorola employees) Contact: Richard E. Pratt, K4XF. Phone: (954) 723-
5000
Web: http://www.geocities.com/bcepn/freeflea.html; E-mail: [email protected]
Palmetto Amateur Radio Club (PARC)
Meets 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month at Memorial Regional Hospital 3501 Johnson
Street, Hollywood, Florida (Main Auditorium, inside the main hospital entrance). Talk-in: 146.850
and 442.250. Contact: Robert P. Broderick, Jr., WE4B. Phone: (954) 524-6051 Web:
http://www.palmettoarc.org/
E-mail: [email protected]
South Florida DX Association (SFDXA) K4FK Meets 7:33 PM on the first Wednesday of odd numbered months at Florida Medical Center, 5500 West Oakland Park Blvd., Ft . Lauderdale, FL. Further information is available on the club repeater: 147.33/93 PL 103.5; DX Spots are welcome; DX Net: Wed. evenings at 7:30 PM. Bill Dzurilla, NZ5N, SFDXA President: E-mail: [email protected]; Web: http://www.qsl.net/k4fk/ WR4AYC Repeater Group
Contact: Marshall A. Paisner, N4BIF. Phone: (954) 873-2234 Web: http://wr4ayc.org/ E-mail: [email protected]
40
Friday Night BARC Club Get Together at Lester’s
Please join us for
American Cuisine, Dinner, Desert & Coffee
Lester’s Diner
250 W. State Road 84
Fort Lauderdale FL 33415
If you want more information, please contact
Robin N4HHP at 954 249-5343
Our members and friends start to arrive as early as
8:30 PM and leave around 10:30 PM
ADVANTAGE COMMUNICATIONS, Inc.
Excellence in 2-Way Radio
Mark Lavallee, President
Motorola, Kenwood, Icom Consulting SCADA
& MEDCOM
515 South Highlands Drive
Office: 954 961-2642
Facsimile: 954 894-8900
Hollywood, Florida 33021
www.advantage-com.com
HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE
BARC WEB PAGE YET?
Broward Amateur Radio Club
http://www.browardarc.org
41
BROWARD COUNTY ARES/RACES Training NET
The Broward County Emergency Preparedness Net
(BCEPN) is held every Wednesday night, at 7:00 p.m.
and uses the Broward Amateur Radio Club Repeater,
146.910 MHz. -600 PL 110.9 Hz . This net is used as a
training net for ARES and RACES members. It is vi-
tally important to get all of the amateur radio opera-
tors to check in on the net and participate in the dis-
cussion. If you have any questions please Contact
Michael Wolf/KI4JRT Net Manager or 954 993-1256
1 800-377-8646
http://www.edco.com Our Club Badge & Shirt Supplier
Your business card could be here
“FREE”
Please send it to the Editor CAMERA
READY by the 15th of each month
BARC NAME TAGS FOR SALE
To order your name Badge contact Robin /N4HHP
at the meeting. Please bring $12.00 exact cash or
a check made out to the BARC with your order.
BARC SHIRTS FOR SALE
To order your Embroidered Club shirt contact Rob-
in /N4HHP at the meeting. Please bring $25.00 for
sizes S, M, L and XL. $30.00 for sizes XXL and
XXXL cash or a check made out to the BARC with
your order.
42
BARC Newsletter Articles Wanted Working on a new kit or homebrew project? Have you recently received a rare or interesting QSL card? Received a new DXCC award or band endorsement? Or just have cool photos (ham radio related only) or some soap box comments to share with other club members? Why not consider submitting an article for the Newsletter. I am always looking for material for the Newsletter and feed-back from club members goes a long way towards keeping the Newsletter interesting as well as stamping the club "personali-
ty" on our monthly publication. Articles can be submitted electronically or on paper (camera ready please), whatever you feel comfortable doing. As the BARC Newsletter editor, I particularly look for-ward to putting a new edition together when I have material submitted by members. I hope you enjoy this month’s BARC Newsletter as much as I did publishing it! Robin / N4HHP
FOR CLUB MEMBERS ONLY
If you have a ham related want or trade item that you would like to advertise FREE in our Newsletter,
please submit those items and Include your Name, E-Mail address, Phone number where you can be
reached, Item description, Condition and Price and email it to the Editor, [email protected] NOTE: the
deadline is the 15th of each month!
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Membership Application
Full (licensed) Family Associate (no license)
$20.00 $25.00 $10.00
Make checks payable to: Broward Amateur Radio Club
Send application and dues to the address below or hand them to the club treasurer
BROWARD AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
4240 SW 20 Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317
Name ______________________________________________________ Call Sign _____________________
License Class __________ Expiration ___________ Family Member Names and Call Signs ____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________City _______________________State _______ Zip Code _________
Telephone ( ) _______-________________ Cell ( ) _______-________________
E-mail _________________________@__________________________ (Mandatory to get your Club Newsletter)
List your ham radio activities and/or interests ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________ Date ____________________
Please “PRINT” legibly. Annual dues are due by January 1st. Family members all live in one domicile. New member dues
are pro-rated by quarter and if paid in the fourth quarter, are $25.00 and good through the following year.
(The board of directors reserves the right to refuse any applicant without stated cause)
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Monthly Meetings
2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 P.M.
VE TESTING AT 6:00 P.M.
Broward County ARES/RACES
Monthly Meetings:
3nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 P.M.
Broward General Medical Center
1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Boca Room A
Parking will be in the 6 story parking garage, (see A Above). The entrance to the building is on the first floor di-
rectly across from the parking garage. You will need to go in the main entrance and sign in at the security desk
and they will issue you a pass to wear. Do not by-pass security.
Talk-in will be on the 146.910 MHz. -600 PL 110.9 Hz.
If you get lost or need directions, please call me on my cell phone 954 249-5343
Robin Terrill, N4HHP
BARC President