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Georgia Section On My Mind
January 2012
Happy New Year to all:
I hope you had good holiday celebrations.
Lots coming up for this New Year.
First is this Saturday, January 14:
the GARS Techfest.
As in the past, there is no admission fee, lunch is free,
and tailgating is free. There will be donation boxes
placed strategically around the room, and to help offset the
cost a raffle is offered for aFT857D with separation kit.
Tickets will be available on site and are available through
www.gars.org
web site. There will also be several door prizes and
the Grand prize is an ICOM ID31 hand held. New
location is at the Gwinnett Medical Center’s Resource
Center, 665 Duluth Highway (GA120), Lawrenceville, GA
30046. Meet me
there!
Next we have the annual ARES meeting at Forsyth as we have
for years. With
recent enthusiasm from you and good attendance, we have
upgraded this convention to a “Hamfest”.
It occurs on Saturday January 21 from 9:30 to about
4:00 PM. Again
I hope you will bring a “brown bag” lunch for yourself so
that you can spend the 2 hour noontime period picking brains
among the booths in the “cafeteria”.
There will be door prizes and good speakers.
Most of all, I hope there is information to help you
in your emergency planning.
There will be neither vendors nor tailgate selling.
But Jimmy Burgamy WB4NFG will be
there with a dozen 100 watt radios suitable for conversion
to repeaters.
These were taken out of service by GSP because of government
mandates that all public services must move to nbfm.
These radios were in good condition.
They are six Motorola MSR2000 two-frequency 146-174
MHz and six GE Master2, two-frequency radios 146-174 MHz.
They will be FREE for pickup at the ARES Hamfest in
Forsyth for those with acceptable plans for conversion and
placement into use.
We don’t want to hide them in a closet.
There will be more as others are retired from
service. You
may find more info at arrl-ga.org.
Also at the Forsyth ARES Hamfest we will hear from S.E.C.
Mike KE4FGF about who was elected (by you!)
as H.O.T.Y. (ARES Ham of the Year).
Next the Northern Florida Section Convention (Orlando
Hamcation) on February 10 .
See hamcation.com.
Dalton Hamfest February 25 (DaltonHamfest.com).
Alabama Section Convention (Birminghamfest) March 3
(W4CUE.com).
Table-top exercises are happening these days to learn how to
deal with emergencies.
Buzz Kutcher K3GWK, EC Butts County
reports on one for the Georgia hospitals Region F, This was
a table top tornado drill held at the GPSTC at Forsyth.
Working from handouts with a checklist and together
with enforcement, hospital personnel, coroner, fire and EMA
together with ARES persons they dealt with public
information, hospital security, evacuation, shelter in
place, etc. The
final discussion highlighted the use of amateur radio as
ARES in such emergencies.
A one-day course on “Nuclear Plant
Emergency Response” is to be held at Phoebe Northwest
Conference Center in Albany on January 27.
The course is free, but preregistration is required.
Twenty percent of the electricity in the U.S. comes
from nuclear power via 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states
including Georgia.
There are 21 applications for new nuclear reactors
pending in this country.
For more information email
[email protected].
Though this is not specifically ham radio I will attend
because it does relate to management of emergencies and
disasters. You
are welcome to register, too.
While the frequently mentioned ICS courses 100,200, 700 and
800 are taught on line and are free, there is a new offering
of the 300 and 400 courses which will be
taught in Plains starting on January 23rd at 1:00 PM and
ending on January 26th at 1700. If you are interested please
contact Mark Ruggiero at
850-766-4398
for more information and to register.
If you are in a “mid level management” position this
may apply to you.
Looks like we can’t win the problems with BPL (Broadband
over Powerline) in the courts or with the FCC.
However, the technology itself is flawed in delivery
and IBEC is now abandoning it.
Oh, well, it was a lousy idea anyway.
The Peach State Intertie, an effort pioneered by
Jimmy Burgamy WB4NFG has connected much of middle
Georgia.
Obviously many others have contributed their time and stuff.
To see it look at the website:
Peachstateintertie.com.
Thanks for your efforts, Jimmy!
Sixty Meters is going to become even more usable.
It seems almost like cheating to get on the air with
SSB and have no interfering stations on a near frequency.
Do know the rules, though, especially since we are
secondary guests and not the primary users.
The new increase in power, use of psk and frequency
change for one channel will not be in effect until 1 month
after published in the Federal Register, and it is not yet
published. So
for now, short transmissions, 50 watts erp, USB only, no
tone for tune-up.
From the Department of the Army we see that steps are being
taken to phase out Winlink from its tools.
A new system, totally radio and not internet
dependent will be developed, mainly keyboard to keyboard.
Most amateur modes will not be used in Army MARS, but
voice, RTTY, MIL-STD 110A and
Pactor III will be the emphasis.
Yaesu is leaving the Motorola group, exchanging its Vertex
group for its freedom.
Yaesu plans a new digital voice/data system that will
be different from DSTAR and incompatible with it.
It seems that the C4FM system is similar to the
APCO-25 radios. You
can google “yaesu digital” for more on this.
SK:
Harold Jones N4BD of Rockyface, and of the Dalton
Amateur Radio Club.
This guy was a big part of this Section and will be
missed.
Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL
Headquarters
ARRL Section:
GA
Month:
DECEMBER Year: 2011
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members:
* 895
Change since last month:
+68
reported
# of DECs/ECs reporting this month:
52, # of ARES nets active: 214,
# with NTS liaison:
0
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month:
278Person hours: 1822
Number of public service events this month:
31
Person hours: 441
Number of emergency operations this month:
9
Person hours: 151
Total number of ARES operations this month:
348
Person hours: 2414
Signature:
Thomas Fuller
Call sign:
KE4QCM
* 895 members reported, 827 from last report, with +68
reported by EC's
ASECs/DECs/ECs
reporting
ASEC/DECs:
ASEC Digital Comms/KG4VUB, DEC GEMA/K5AES, DEC GA Public
Broadcasting/WB4QDX,
DEC Georgia State Patrol/W4SKB, DEC Handiham/N0FBV,
DEC Metro Atlanta/WB4NWS, ASEC National Weather
Service-Peachtree City/KN4YZ, DEC Northwest/KD4EKZ, DEC
Operations/KM4Z, DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC, DEC
Southeast/K4GTM, DEC Southwest/KE4RWR
ECs:
Central:
Butts/K3GWK, Crawford/WB4NKU, Dodge/KC5AVR, Laurens/KF5TA,
Macon/KI4BEO,
Putnam/KF4EOH, Twiggs/KJ4LAM, Washington/K4GK
East Central:
Columbia/K1OYQ
Metro Atlanta:
Cherokee/WW4WX, Clayton/AJ4GT, Dekalb/W4TGA, Fayette/AG4ZR,
Gwinnett/WB4QDX, Newton/WA4UJC, North Fulton/W4UOC,
Paulding/K4DMF, Rockdale/KC4ELV, South Fulton/KJ4NAX
Northeast:
Clarke/N4ZRA, Greene/KF4EOH, Towns/W4VFZ
Northwest:
Bartow/N4QET,
Floyd/KD4EKZ,
Gordon/AF4DN, Murray/AI4ZV, Pickens/K4SJR, Polk/KD4EKZ,
Whitfield/AI4ZV
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM, Toombs/KG4BKO
Southwest:
Baker/K4GCR, Colquitt/W1BPP, Decatur/KJ4GWB,
Dougherty/N4GPJ, Grady/KJ4UKR, Lee/W5VRV,
Seminole/K4TPD, Thomas/N4KXL
West Central:
Troup/AD4GS
Comments:
ASEC/DECs:
DEC GA Public Broadcasting/WB4QDX,
Software updates for all GPB and
GEMA funded sites.
DEC Georgia State Patrol/W4SKB,
There was no activity this month.
DEC Handiham/N0FBV,
3 NEW PEOPLE STUDYING FOR TECH
LIC EXAM AND THAT ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY FOR THE 2011 YEAR END
REPORT GOOD LUCK FOR 2012 DON DEC HANDIHAM
DEC Metro Atlanta/WB4NWS,
December Net was not called.
Re-distributed 2012 schedule and Net Script
ASEC National Weather Service-Peachtree City/KN4YZ,
Many thanks to those who
participated in the 11th annual Skywarn Recognition Day. The
Peachtree City office of the NWS made 369 contacts which
included 30 other NWS stations. 14 Hams staffed WX4PTC
during this 24 hour event
DEC Northwest/KD4EKZ,
December brought an F3 Tornado to
Floyd County. This tornado very closely tracked the route of
the April storms. No deaths were reported in Floyd County.
Wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year.
DEC Operations/KM4Z,
Participated in GA ARES ID card
discussion Participated in monthly cabinet meeting Made
final plans for Statewide meeting
DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC,
I am still waiting for approval
for the station in the HQ in Atlanta. We continue to
participate in the SATERN Nets each week.
DEC Southeast/K4GTM,
Was on vacation for two weeks
this month
DEC Southwest/KE4RWR,
Hope everyone had a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year. We had a great year. Looking
forward to getting SWGA back on track for 2012.
ECs:
Central:
Butts/K3GWK,
Several members assisted with the
Atlanta Christmas Parade. Attended a tabletop prep meeting
for the upcoming regional hospital WX drill. Assisted Newton
County ARES with WX siren testing. Monthly ARES training
meeting attended by eleven members, celebrated group’s 1st
anniversary. Met with the 911 Center Director, planning
radio ham installation.
Crawford/WB4NKU,
Public Service was helping
Houston County with Santa Patrol each week-end in Dec. and
with the Warner Robins and the Centerville Parades on the
third and the tenth
Dodge/KC5AVR,
Public Service: Eastman Christmas
Parade. Misc. Gema Preliminary Damage Assessment And
American Red Cross Shelter Operation
Laurens/KF5TA,
Well I hope everyone had a great
Christmas and are starting off the new year well. This month
was slow as far as ARES , only one event. Laurens Co. ARES
worked two races for the Laurens County Baptist Ass. By
monitoring the races and keeping track of the runners. We
had only one fall out the race, they had not ate anything
and got sick but turn out ok. We will be looking to see
everyone at Forsyth , Jan. 21st.
East Central:
Columbia/K1OYQ,
Six members of the Columbia
County ARES group repaired the feed line to one of our
repeaters this month. A young man in a 1998 Ford Bronco
managed to leave the road, go air borne, jump a fence, and
smash into the leg of a county water tower. He moved a leg
of the 150' water tower two feet and chopped the feed line
to our 440MHz repeater in half. The young man survived the
crash, but the repeater didn't. The Columbia County ARES net
time is being changed to 7:30pm starting Jan 4, 2012
Metro Atlanta:
Cherokee/WW4WX,
Cherokee ARES had 57 check ins in
December with 29 hours total. Annual Christmas party was a
huge success. 2 misc hours recorded for newsletter. 1 new
member joined bringing our total membership to 50. Welcome
aboard Bob Junk, KA5JRX.
Clayton/AJ4GT,
Sorry Late - slow month -
Dekalb/W4TGA,
Attended MMRS meeting.
Fayette/AG4ZR, Miscellaneous
activity includes 911 Practitioner, State ARES meeting
planning, and various nets.
Gwinnett/WB4QDX,
12/3/11 - Comm assistance to
Atlanta Christmas Parade, 12/22/11 Skywarn net.
Newton/WA4UJC,
We continue to conduct the weekly
test of the weather sirens for Newton County
Paulding/K4DMF,
Began installation of a new
repeater at Fire Station 7 to better cover that part of the
county. Attended meeting with vendors on the new county
radios, met with 911 Operations to better coordinate our
logging at events, attended the annual Fire Chief Breakfast
and had two organizational meetings for planning in 2012.
South Fulton/KJ4NAX,
October, November and December
have been very busy. As reported last month, South Fulton
supported DeKalb ARES and the Wesley Walk for Others,
followed by the Atlanta Track Club's Atlanta Marathon the
week of Halloween. The next weekend we provided talk-in
operators for the Stone Mountain Hamfest. On Thanksgiving
Day we provided operators and net control for the Atlanta
Half Marathon and 5k sponsored by the Atlanta Track Club.
This past weekend, with assistance from DeKalb and Gwinnett
ARES, we provided operators in support of the Children's
Hospital of Atlanta Christmas Parade down Peachtree Street
in Atlanta. With all of the public service action, we are
looking forward to some time off. Hopefully, the weather and
other events will cooperate.
Northeast:
Towns/W4VFZ,
* Last two nets were on 146.550
MHz. Simplex, as LI4ENN repeater is still undergoing
repairs.
Northwest:
Floyd/KD4EKZ,
December brought an F3 Tornado to
Floyd County. This tornado very closely tracked the route of
the April storms. No deaths were reported in Floyd County.
Wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year.
Gordon/AF4DN,
On Dec 22 at 5 pm local a weather
net was began with the weather advisory of severe
thunderstorms approaching Gordon Co from Floyd Co. This net
ran for one hour. There was no sightings of a tornado even
though a F3 tornado hit the Sonoraville area just SE of
Calhoun. There were 3 to 5 houses destroyed with over 150
having damage of some type. Darkness and being rain wrapped
caused this tornado to be hard to see. The NW GA ARES/CERT
Net continues on Tue. nights at 8 PM on the 146.805+
repeater in Jasper. There are 20 plus ARES members from the
NW GA area that check-in each time. There is a training
topic each time given by the NCS. Al amateurs are invited to
check=in and encouraged to join their local ARES and or CERT
group.
Murray/AI4ZV,
Please see Whitfield County
report for combined Whitfield and Murray counties report
Polk/KD4EKZ,
The single Emergency Activation
was for an unseasonable Severe Thunderstorm Watch. No damage
was caused in Polk County. I want to wish all a Very Happy
New Year.
Whitfield/AI4ZV,
This is a combined report for
Whitfield and Murray Counties.
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM,
Provided comm support for \"Flying Fortress 5k\" race at the
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Hosted Charles, K4GK for his
Message Handling class here
in Savannah. Great job to
Kevin Bell, KW4B and Mark Bolton, KA4CID whodeployed and
activated a new APRS digipeater to fill in the gap between
Charleston and Jax. All antennas and feedline for the eight
new Region J hospital stations have been installed.
Installation and testing of radio stations begin first week
of Jan.
Southwest:
Dougherty/N4GPJ ,
12-3-11 Aby Christmas Parade est.
12 hams from 12:00 till 19:00 0R 7 x 12 = 84 MHRS Increased
activity on W4MM net and ARES nets due to W4MM repeater
being conferenced into EchoLink and the Peach Net Intertie
by Joe Woody, WG4JOE.
Lee/W5VRV,
This time covers my time as net
control for the Georgia Traffic, Georgia Traffic & Emergency
Net, and checking into the various nets.
Seminole/K4TPD,
K4TPD filled in for KJ4GOJ as net
control for the monthly SW Georgia ARES HF Weather Net.
There were 12 check-ins from across the state. Band
conditions were excellent. I appreciate the ham radio
operators who were rag chewing on 3.975 yielding to us at
7:30 PM so we could have this net.
Thomas/N4KXL,
WE also had a Christmas net along
with a New Years net local with great participation.
Section Traffic Manager Report
Georgia Section
December,
2011
Filed
January 10, 2012
Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)
K4GK 115
K4BG 110
WB4BIK 90
WA4UJC 88
N5EEO 80
Station Activity Report (SAR) traffic
K4BG 145
K4GK 104
N5EEO 84
WB4BIK 31
K4BAI 28
K4BEH 22
WA4UJC 18
KJ4DRW 2
Section Nets
Georgia ARES Statewide HF Net
QNI-600 QTC-4 Sessions-5
3975 KHz 2200 UTC
Sunday
K4GK Net Manager
Georgia ARES Digital Net
QNI-105 QTC-1 Sessions-5
3583 KHz 2130 UTC
Sunday
PSK31 WB4NWS Net Manager
Georgia Single Sideband Net QNI-2202 QTC-42
Sessions-31
3975 KHz 6:00 PM Daily
KE4VPD Net Manager
Georgia Traffic and Emergency Net QNI-919
QTC-12 Sessions-31
3982.5 KHz 7:15 PM Daily
W4AYK Net Manager
Georgia Cracker Net
QNI-962 QTC-11 Sessions-31
3995 KHz 7 AM M-Sa & 8 AM
Sun
AF4XZ Net Manager
Georgia Traffic Net
QNI-331 QTC-24 Sessions-27
3987.5 KHz 1:00 PM M-Sa
WA4UJC Net Manager
Georgia Training Net
QNI-84 QTC-5 Sessions 27
3549 KHz 9:00 PM Daily Slow CW KG4FXG Net
Manager
Georgia State Net (GSN)
QNI-310 QTC-124 Sessions-62
3549 KHz 7 PM and 10 PM Daily
K4GK Net Manager
Charles Pennington, K4GK
Section Traffic Manager
Georgia Section
Make it a good month!,
Gene W4AYK
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