Georgia Section On My Mind

MAY, 2004

Greetings, all.

First off, believe it or not, Field Day is coming up right around the corner already. PLEASE, if your club.... (or eclectic group).... will be setting up for field day activities this year, and if you're open to having visitors come share the experience with you, PLEASE send me information on where you'll be setting up: directions, contact person, whatever, ASAP, so I can share that information with the Section in next month's newsletter. With your help, I've been able to put that info out for the past two years, and it's been very helpful, especially for our new hams and for those who haven't joined a club yet. But be warned, I will NOT assume that you'll be in the same location as you were last year: if you want to be included in this year's newsletter listing, someone from your group will have to send me a note.

There's been quite a flurry of activity by the FCC in recent days with various rulings that will have a direct effect on amateur radio. In one surprise move, they've adopted a somewhat limited proposal to permit deployment of RF Identification (RFID) tags on the 70-cm band at much greater duty cycles than current Part 15 rules permit for such devices. I'd kinda thought this issue had gone away last year, but there it came, rearing its ugly head again. Another ruling change was made to accommodate a radio made by Kenwood. There's a whole listing on the ARRL website of some of these recent rulings. If you haven't already read them over, you might want to do so now. (AFTER you read this newsletter, of course!)

And BPL is still in the news, big time. The NTIA has finally released their report, at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/2004/bpl/index.html
I haven't had the chance to read it yet (I'm busy typing THIS!) but let's hope that they gave BPL a huge "thumbs down", especially since President Bush has come out in favor of this technology. (more on that to follow) The cut-off date for filing comments on BPL with the FCC is coming up on May 3. File at:
http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html  (docket 04-37)

OK, I'd really planned to make this month's newsletter shorter, but.... Well, stuff happens. Better get to it. (maybe next month...)

Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you don't have a leg to stand on.

APRIL HIGHLIGHTS

CALHOUN Hamfest--- April 23 - Attendance at this Hamfest, sponsored by the Cherokee Capital ARC, has been increasing each year, making this, year seven, its best yet. From its humble beginnings as a tiny tailgating event, with maybe twenty participants, it has grown to become a solid little Hamfest, with several indoor vendors and a boneyard full of good deals, that draws upwards of 200 faithful supporters. The weather was picture perfect, and the kitchen crew outdid themselves, serving up plenty of tasty, low-priced food, and serving it up with a friendly smile. ("Build it and they will come", but, better yet, "Feed them and they will STAY"!) My better half, MIKE SWIDERSKI, K4HBI, made some great deals, both on the selling and on the buying side. Most of the vintage equipment that he brought sold before he even finished moving it from the truck to the table..... talk about "selling itself"! He didn't even get the opportunity to launch into one of his "famous" sales spiels. Guess you guys just recognized a great deal when you saw it. The bottom line was that the net weight in the back of the truck definitely went down (and the gas mileage went UP!) by the end of the day, and now we even have one little clear spot in one of our rooms in the house, which is a good thing, just in case something follows us home from the Birmingham Hamfest. If (when?) it does, we now actually have someplace to put it. (After all, nature DOES abhor a vacuum.... and unused floor space.) Although no official MARS meeting was called, there sure were a lot of MARS members in attendance, and not just from Georgia. I was most impressed with an eight year old young lady, EMILY BISHOP, KI4CHK, who had just received her auxiliary member callsign from Tennessee Army MARS, where her dad MIKE, KI4AME, is a member. She was just so proud and excited, and told me that she'd already checked into her first MARS net with her dad. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess that she must be the youngest auxiliary member in the country. And her father, (who is now relegated to wearing only tee shirts, for fear of popping all of his buttons) must be the proudest member. It's been great to have been able to attend this Hamfest in Calhoun every year to watch it grow, and to enjoy the friendliness of all of the folks there. And tell you what, after having been a ham since 1963, my better half has attended a LOT of Hamfests. He never won anything before, and never expected to win anything. Well, he was absolutely astounded to win the grand prize at the Calhoun Hamfest this year! Golly, it just doesn't GET any better than that!! Thanks to the members of the Cherokee Capital ARC for all of the hard work and warm hospitality you put into this Hamfest for our enjoyment, and thanks to all of the hams who came to support their efforts, especially PHIL, from Ellenwood, who said that even though he has to get up reeeeeally early, and he almost always takes a "scenic route", (i.e. "gets lost"...) he still made the trip to the Calhoun Hamfest because he believes in supporting our little Hamfests so they can keep on keeping on. That's the spirit!

SE VHF CONFERENCE--- April 23-24 --- WOW!!! Sorry we weren't able to be there for all of the activities, especially for the auction, with everyone's favorite EME guru, RAY RECTOR, WA4NJP, pulling his fun shenanigans as the auctioneer. But it was great just to be there at all. Coming in "under the radar" and making a surprise showing at the conference was ARRL VP JOEL HARRISON, W5ZN, who expressed a genuine respect for the SE VHF Society, and seemed to have a terrific time. Alabama SM GREG SARRETT, W4OZK, a longtime Society member and VHF enthusiast, was in attendance, as were many other notable figures from across the spectrum. Oh yeah, SE Vice Director SANDY DONAHUE, W4RU, was there, too. (TOLD you I'd get you back for that "little old lady" comment at the VE session!) Seriously, I must admit that Sandy did do a terrific job with his role in making many of the arrangements for the conference, like its location, scheduling, meals, etc. And we sure did enjoy the Saturday night banquet, when all of the awards were presented, and when DENNIS MOTSCHENBACHER, K7BV, mild-mannered Sales & Marketing Manager for the ARRL by day, and DX-ing adventurer on his days off, served as the Keynote speaker. Part of his adventure while visiting Georgia was a trip to Cracker Barrel, where he discovered, much to his delight, that Moon Pies really DO exist. He couldn't restrain himself from purchasing a whole box of them, which he managed to sample quite handily, before bringing the remnants to the banquet. With nine of those legendary pies left in the box, Dennis asked how many people had worked EME. After all, a "Moon Pie" seems a rather appropriate and clever hand-out for folks of this persuasion, don't you think? But, as it turned out, the number of hands that shot up was FAR in excess of nine.... (Absolutely amazing!) It actually appeared that those of us who had NOT worked EME were in the minority! So, in the end, the Moon Pies went to the "spouses" of people who'd worked moon bounce, and even that criteria emptied out that box of pies in a heartbeat. Anyhow, the adventure that was highlighted in a film presented by Dennis was a DXpedition to East Timor. A place NOT for the faint of heart. Dennis' way of thinking runs along the lines of "it isn't an adventure unless you don't know the outcome". The war-torn land of Timor more than qualified. A very enjoyable presentation. This year's conference marked the first presentation of design awards from Mini-Circuits, with the first place prize of $2500 in products (or $1000 in cash) going to PIETER IBERLINGS, N4IP, and second place going to "MOE" WHEATLEY, AE4JY. For more information on the highlights of this conference, please see http://www.svhfs.org Next year's big event will be moving to Charlotte, NC, so you'll have to wait a few years before you'll have the opportunity to attend one on our home turf again. And when you get that chance, I'd highly recommend it.

My mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it's gone.

CLUB NEWS

ALFORD MEMORIAL ARC --- Congratulations to the officers and members of the club for their recent renewal as a Special Service Club. This valued designation recognizes their exemplary leadership and dedication to public service and emergency communications, as well as their tradition of warmly welcoming new hams into the ham fraternity.

ARC OF AUGUSTA --- On March 27th, this club provided communications support for the MS Walkathon in Augusta. The event was such a success and the MS Society was so pleased with the fine job done by these folks that they've already been invited back to cover next year's event. This year's Most Valued Volunteer recognition for working this walkathon went to KE4CJM, BUBBA MAY, who has MS and who did an outstanding job as a first-time and first-rate NCS during the event. On April 24, club members also provided communications support for the Augusta March of Dimes Walkathon. Coming up on May 8 will be the club's annual picnic, and I'm hoping that we can work out all of the details so Mike and I can be there to present a special Brass Pounders League medallion to that prolific traffic handler, SID HUTCHINSON, WB4GGS, in recognition of the many BPL awards he has racked up over the past seven months.

ATLANTA ARC --- FRANK RIETTA, KI4AWF, presented a program on the "magic" and the possibilities provided by wireless networking. Who better than a GA Tech student to enthuse about a technology that has the potential to give so much... for such minimal cost?? Plans are underway for the club's big Hamfest at Jim Miller Park in Marietta on June 5.

ATHENS ARC --- Thanks for the fine welcome that made Mike and me feel so at home at this group's April meeting. It'd been a couple of years since we'd been out to do our ARRL "Dog & Pony Show", and the gluttons for punishment graciously invited us for a return engagement. Hope they enjoyed having us as much as we enjoyed being had.... On another note, ED ROLLOR, N4ZRA, made good use of the club's shack when he brought members of Boy Scout Troop 22 in for a visit recently. The boys had lots of questions, and the "Answer Man", ED RIDDLE, N4ALE, kindly helped with some of the answers, via a QSO on 10M.

BILL GREMILLION MEMORIAL ARC --- TOM HAND, W4WDS, provided the program for the April meeting, expounding on his theory of the "Dark Side" of electronics. Tom is well-known for his custom-made transformers, which he has made for many hams around the country, particularly AM operators. Talking about AM operators, also in attendance at the meeting was ANDY HOWARD, WA4KCY, the illustrious president of the Southeastern AM Radio Club, with pictures of his 4-000 transmitter in hand, which contains some of Tom's transformers. On April 24, club members, along with Coweta county ARES members, under the leadership of EC SAM SMITH, KD4SHK, provided communications for the March of Dimes Walkathon.

COASTAL PLAINS ARC --- At their April meeting, that solar (and wind) power guru, PAUL PROSSER, WA4RWS, who definitely practices what he preaches, presented a program on emergency power operations, highlighted by a slide presentation of the solar power set-up at his home. For a look at some of Paul's solar ideas, check out http://www.solarkitchense.com (where he "cooks up" some solar solutions)

CONYERS ARG --- Club meetings have moved to a new location at Fire Station #8, on Scott Street, next to the City of Conyers complex. New place, but still the 3rd Thursday of each month.

GWINNETT ARS --- At the April meeting, SE DX Club president JIM KAUTEN, W4TE, and VP WES LAMBOLEY, W3WL, shared some of their knowledge and enthusiasm for DXing with an interesting and informative PowerPoint presentation. Wes had previously done a couple of terrific programs on some of his DXpedition experiences for GARS, but this DX 101 presentation was more of a visual primer on the what, why, and how of DXing. They also gave information on a very useful website that gives info on QSL managers: http://www.golist.net Looks like a must-have site for anyone interested in working DX. Coming up next month, repeater chairman EDDIE FOUST, WD4JEM, will do some "show and tell" on the club's repeater systems.

KENNEHOOCHEE ARC --- This club had the rare privilege of inducting TEN brand new members at their April meeting... quite an admirable accomplishment. (They must be doing something RIGHT!) The program at that meeting was provided by DAVE BUDNER, WA4PUB, on "Keeping Lightning Out", on the proper ins and outs of station grounding. The KARC has been graciously funding an annual $500 Eugene "Gene" Sallee Memorial Scholarship through the ARRL, and by acclamation, have now decided to double that amount, to either one scholarship of a thousand dollars or two five hundred dollar ones. Their repeater committee members have also been helping to get the Southern Polytechnic repeater back on the air.

LANIERLAND ARC --- Club members have been invited to participate in "Energy Night" at West Hall Middle School on May 4th, from 6 to 8PM. They'll be using this opportunity to make a big impression on students and parents alike with an amateur radio station set-up and demonstrations.

NORTHEAST ARC --- The Northeast ARC is back on the move with a permanent meeting place and a new callsign for the 2 meter and 440 repeaters - NE4GA. A Tech Class license class is set to begin April 29 and plans are in the works for Field Day and club garb. ARES will be the May program. The NEGARC home page (and further information) can be found at http://www.geocities.com/ddpresley/negarc (Thanks to LARRY OSBORNE, WT4XX, for providing this info, in a cut and paste-able format, no less!)

NORTH FULTON ARL --- At the April meeting, SE Vice Director SANDY DONAHUE, W4RU, reported the latest information on BPL, based on presentations compiled by the ARRL's General Counsel CHRIS IMLAY, W3KD, and CEO DAVID SUMNER, K1ZZ; and one of our Assistant SMs, JIM ALTMAN, W4UCK, talked about his upcoming bid for a seat on the bench as a Fulton County Superior Court judge. (election in July) Plans are still on track for the first annual Metro Atlanta Fox Hunt, to be held on May 22. Participants are to meet at 10AM at the parking lot next to the silos at the corner of Hwy 140 and Crabapple Road in Roswell. Teams of two or more are encouraged, and the competition will start via car, and finish on foot. Contact club president, TODD MCGINNIS at kb4kay@arrl.net for more info.

NORTH GEORGIA ARC --- Coming up on May 3, club members will meet at Hancock Park, just off the NW corner of the square in downtown Dahlonega, for their annual picnic. BBQ and all kinds of goodies.

THOMASVILLE ARC --- Club members are in the midst of another "busy season", providing communications for the Tour of Scenic Rural Vistas, a 2-day biking event, for a couple of parades and for Peacock Day festivities. They'll also be hosting the RV Radio Network folks in the near future, as well. Their Peacock Day service earns them the OK to use the Civic Center for their famous annual fish fry every November.

WEST GEORGIA ARS --- The Carrollton VE team held a session on April 3, where they processed 8 applicants, resulting in four brand new hams. That same day, the club's repeater team resurrected the long-silent W4FWD 440 repeater, on 444.075, PL 131.8.

Cats regard people as warm-blooded furniture.

INTERESTING AD FOR FREE RADIO EQUIPMENT

This thought-provoking editorial was brought to my attention because of its inclusion in one of our weekly MARS CHIEF'S nets. It was written by BOB FIELDS, KC6AOH, the president of the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association, in PA. Bob was kind enough to give the OK for me to share it with you:

Free Ham Radio Gear.... I hadn't been on the ham bands for many years when I saw the ad in the newspaper For Sale Column. I had struggled really hard to get my ham license as a teenager. But in my adult life I got involved in other things, and the radio gear on the bench had a fine coating of dust on it from inactivity.

The ad said -- "Giving away Ham Radio Gear. You pick up. No charge. Free to a good home!" Wow I thought - This sounds too good to be true! I had just the other day thought how much fun it would be to turn the radio on and make a few contacts both local and worldwide.

So I called the number and a pleasant older voice answered. I made arrangements and went over to see this gear. The radios ranged from older tube sets to a new HF/VHF radio. I asked the ham why he didn't want any money for the gear. He just smiled and said that he could not use it anymore. I thought that he might be selling his house and moving into a retirement community where they did not allow radios. I thanked him, packed the gear in the car and rushed home to try it out.

My antenna farm was a tangled mess due to a number of frozen winter storms without repair. So I fashioned a crude antenna from a hunk of wire and stuck it to the back of one of the newer radios. I pushed the "on" button, with the intent of just listening to some HF Ham Stations, and was surprised what I heard.

There were signals there all right but not the ones I had hoped to hear. Instead the band was full of Short Wave and Data Signals. I turned to another band and heard the same thing. This is really weird I thought! Since this was one of those fancy newer HF/VHF radios, I tuned down to the 2 meter and 440 bands looking for the local repeaters. What I heard there were truck drivers and taxi cab companies talking to their dispatchers, and even a local hotel chain talking to their work crew about getting rooms ready. I thought to myself -- no wonder the guy wanted to get rid of this equipment --the radio only gets the scanner channels. I'm guessing that he wanted to get rid of this radio, because he didn't want to go to the expense of sending them back to the manufacturers service center.

Puzzled by what I was hearing I decided to call the old ham and ask some information on what had caused this radio to receive the local scanner frequencies in the ham band segment. Over the phone he laughed out loud and said, "No those are the ham bands all right -- or what used to be the ham bands!" "What - do you mean used to be?", I asked back.

He went on to tell me that several years ago the FCC had closed those bands to hams due to inactivity by the ham community. Those bands are now being used by land services and other business uses," he said. "You mean all the ham bands were given away?", I asked. "Don't be silly," he replied, " the FCC sold off those parcels of unused bands to the highest bidder! They simply put out a letter to all the hams saying that these bands were restricted to business only. And we were to never use these bands again under penalty of thousand of dollars in fines."

What he told me left me dumbstruck! "So let me get this straight," I said, "you mean that the reason you gave me this equipment is because there are no longer bands to use it on! "Yep! he said with a laugh, "It was simply that the FCC saw all those empty ham bands as a gold mine of potential fundraising for the government. With no one using the bands, and a unsupportive and ineffective ham radio lobby, hams just literally gave those bands away to be sold off!"

As I hung up the phone I thought of all the money I already had tied up in ham radio equipment down in the basement. I had purchased both old and new sets through the years and was quite proud of my ham radio station. All that money wasted with nothing to do now, but monitor the local Burger King asking if someone wanted fries with their Whopper.

A far fetched story? Not at all! Not a day goes by that you don't read in the newspapers about the government selling off frequencies to the highest bidder! A national radio communications magazine recently had an article by a columnist saying his good byes as he was closing his column after many years. Why? Well, he explained that with all the different agencies going to trunking, the average scanner listener could no longer listen to anything interesting on the radio. That facts are time had passed and so had technology. Suddenly he found himself with no one sending him emails about interesting local frequencies that he could pass on to his readers. With all the new systems out most of the old scanner units were as useless as our old early day computers.

There is a moral to this story of course. Anyone who has been around the activity for a while can see the handwriting on the wall! Have you listened to the repeaters lately, during daytime, during drive time, or anytime at all? Remember the days when all your friends were on the radio just waiting to chat with you during the drive home or after dinner? Well, those friends are no longer on the radio anymore.

Some have said it was because their old friends had moved to other towns. Some said that their old friends got busy doing something else, and no longer had the time to talk on the radio. Some blamed it on the internet. While others decided that they just did not want to talk to the new people they heard on radio. Everyone had an excuse for no longer turning the radio on. Suddenly there was silence!

So when was the last time YOU threw out your call on the radio? When was the last time you turned on the HF radio and enjoyed the thrill talking to another land? I didn't say TYPING on the Internet to another land, I said TALKING on the radio to another land! When was the last time you came to a radio club meeting, and what excuse did you have for that? Was it because you were too busy? Was it because you were afraid you would have to talk to "those new people" face to face? It seems that today we all have so many excuses no longer being active on the bands. I am sure that you have heard plenty or perhaps made up a number of them yourself.

Well, lets look at this another way! I remember a local AM talk radio broadcaster suggesting that we follow the money trail. Let's start with our side! We shelled out money for books and tapes to learn the needed information to past the license test. We shelled out good money for the license, for the QSL cards, for the tower, the antennas, the base radio, the mobile radio, the HT's, the new keyer, club memberships etc. Look at all the money that you have spent on this great hobby. Count it up and you will soon discover that you have a lot of time and money invested in this activity.

Now lets return to the FCC looking for a way to make a buck by selling frequencies. You know they really don't care how much you personally have spent on radio hardware! They don't care how much time you took to get that license. In fact your personal interests are the last thing they are thinking about. They are only looking at all those "empty" frequencies that they could sell to big business. Remember the 220 ham segment that was sold off to United Parcel Service a number of years ago? It will happen again -- for the right price!

But wait you say! How about the need for ham radio during National Emergencies? How about 911, and the twin towers, and the terrorists who are lurking everywhere. How about the hurricanes, the tidal waves, the tornados and the floods? Let's be honest folks -- when was the last time that YOU participated in any of those events? If you haven't turned on the radio in years then isn't that Just another excuse. Ham Radio is going to run out of excuses one day and suddenly YOU will be the one giving all your equipment away. You may think this is all far fetched, but you would be wrong. Remember that there are no guarantees that the ham bands will go on forever. Especially if they are mostly empty and there is a buck to be made.

Perhaps you would like to turn on the radio and check this out for yourself? Simon and Garfunkel put out a record talking about "The Sounds of Silence." This sound is not a good sound for YOU the ham radio operator! This is the sound of the wolves at the door just waiting to pounce on your ham bands! Oops - I meant to say on the FCC frequencies that were your ham bands.

This is a wake up call! Use them or lose them! Let me repeat that again so it sinks in: USE THOSE BANDS NOW...OR LOSE THEM TOMORROW!

Now is the time to dust off those radios, to throw out your call, to join a radio club, to support the ARRL efforts in your behalf, to do Field Day this summer and to return to the days when you made lifelong friends through a great hobby.

Or you can just leave it the way it is now. Get that newspaper ad ready for some poor ham who hasn't been on the radio for a long time. It will save you leaving those boat anchors out on the curb for the trash man! Earthquake predictors are faultfinders. TIM DAVIS

THREE MILE ISLAND - 25 YEARS AGO

It seems that for this month, not only is Georgia on my mind, but Pennsylvania is, too. You just read an editorial from a PA ham. Well, what follows is an account by DOUG REED, N3AIA, who is a happy GA ham now, but 25 years ago, when the disaster occurred at Three Mile Island, Doug lived in York county, Pennsylvania. Ground zero. This is his story:

It was the last week of March, and the year was 1979. Jim Walsh, N3AVS (now K3JIM), was a detective with the York County Pennsylvania DA's office. He and I had become friends through our membership in the Keystone VHF Club. Jim and I had been working to try and convince Randy (can't recall his name), the head of the county Emergency Management Agency, the need for amateur radio as a backup or redundant communications service. We had already participated in a couple of drills and a parade or two. The movie "The China Syndrome" had just been released and was playing at all of the local theaters. That helped fuel the rumors and fears of what was about to happen.

On Wednesday, March 28, 1979, news began filtering out that there had been an "incident" at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant located about 30 miles Northeast of York, PA. York had been my home for 3 years and we lived there a total of 10. I was in my office and I received a telephone call to help setup and man an emergency HF station across from the TMI facility. I don't remember the person that called, but he identified himself as an amateur radio operator and said he got my name from Randy at York County EMA.

I was the Regional Manager of a major financial services company and able to leave my office immediately. I remember that my wife was home with my two daughters (ages 7 and 9) and upset with me going up so close to TMI. Never the less, I wanted to try to help.

When I arrived, I found an office trailer had been moved across from unit #2 at TMI. There was also all the new HF gear we needed. I met the gentleman who had called me and identified himself as a fellow amateur. Something did not sound right about the entire situation. Other amateurs arrived on the scene to assist from the surrounding towns. It was soon after we were setup that we learned that this was NOT a county, city or state run operation, but an operation put together by NBC "in case the worst happened they could have contact with people right at the scene". We discussed the situation and decided that since amateur radio could not be used in a pecuniary manner that we would not operate this station.

I headed back home and spoke with Tom Codori, WB3FHA on 2 meters and told him what was going on. In the meantime, the Red Cross had requested assistance in setting up an evacuation center at one of the schools considered outside the "danger zone". Tom and I headed to the school and setup a 2 meter station with communications between the Red Cross and County EMA. By this time, the telephone system had become overloaded and amateur radio was one of the only methods of communication. Here was our chance to "show our stuff". Tom and I and one other amateur (who I don't remember) worked through the night providing communication to the Red Cross for needed supplies and County EMA with names of those at the evacuation center.

As a result of this incident, amateur radio showed its importance in emergency communications, and to this day, enjoys an excellent relationship with York County EMA.

2000 pounds of Chinese soup equals wonton
PAUL MANNO, KG4UVU

ARES NEWS

CLARKE --- ED ROLLOR, N4XRA, conducted a Clarke/ Madison/ Oglethorpe ARES drill on April 4 to test the capability of each participant's equipment to reach four different 2M repeaters in the area. ARES members were given the info on each repeater in advance and were responsible for programming these frequencies into their radios before the exercise. The NCS took check-ins for the regularly scheduled net and then gave instructions for all to switch to each repeater for signal checks, and called roll at each repeater being tested. The purpose of this drill was to emphasize the fact that ability to reach each of these repeaters is important and could play a vital role in times of emergency communications. Each participant now has information concerning their personal station and has been assigned the responsibility to make the necessary improvements.


FORSYTH --- Some of these fine folks, under EC JERRY ADAMS, WA4NEE, taught a technician class every Saturday in March, followed by a VE session. Of the eleven students, ten of the students passed their test. In fact, the whole venture was so successful that Forsyth ARES is going to do it all over again, only with an additional twist. Not only will the "book learning" be provided, but each class will begin with an hour's worth of instruction on Morse code. These classes will be held at Grace Chapel Church of Christ, 1390 Weber Industrial Drive in Cumming, from 9AM until noon, for 5 weeks, starting May first. This will be FREE, and the goal is to teach elements one, two, and three. For additional information, or to register, please contact JOHN MANTON, W4JJM, at w4jjm@arrl.net

GLYNN --- It's no secret that our beautiful Coastal area is at a higher risk for hurricanes, plus with the upcoming G-8 conference, the value of amateur radio operations for emergency communications has become more obvious and more desirable to members of emergency management and law enforcement in that part of the state. Sincere thanks and congratulations to our new EC for Glynn county, CAPTAIN CHARLIE CARROLL, WD5ECL, who has risen to the call to help amateurs from that area meet those communications needs through the establishment of Glynn county ARES. Thanks, also, to CLAY SMITH, WO4X, who will be serving as Assistant EC, and to each of the FIFTEEN hams from that area who have already signed on as new ARES members. You are all filling a very important need, and we salute you.

GWINNETT--- EC STAN EDWARDS, WA4DYD, and his top-notch leadership team have finalized an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Gwinnett ARES and the Gwinnett Health System. This system includes Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville and Joan Glancy Hospital in Duluth. Since an earlier MOU was signed with Emory Eastside Hospital, this means that all three hospitals in Gwinnett county will be relying on amateur radio operators to provide communications in the event of an emergency or disaster. This will require a lot of manpower, and response teams are now being formed for each of these locations, as well as for all of the local fire departments throughout the entire county. If you live in Gwinnett county, please consider becoming a part of one of these response teams. Even if you are not an active ARES member, providing communications in times of need is a longstanding amateur tradition. Joining one of these teams gives you the opportunity to see that the job gets done in YOUR neighborhood. Gwinnett ARES meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at Central Gwinnett High School, and nets are held each Monday evening at 9PM on 147.075 PL 82.5 Ask what YOU can do to help. Also, Stan just released the long-awaited Beta version of his Packet Client program for use with a sound card. The April meeting featured an interesting program on NTS and ARES, presented by JERE SANDIDGE, K4FUM. Efforts are underway to make more Gwinnett ARES members comfortable with pulling traffic from Jere's digital board for relay and delivery.

NEWTON --- CARL WULFESTIEG, AG4LS, hasn't been in the EC position very long, but he and his group have already made great strides. He has developed a good working relationship with the EMA Director TRAY POLK, and the group, in fact, will be holding its meetings on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 7:30PM right there in the EOC. (8134 Geigor Street in Covington) After its first meeting, there were already 12 registered members, with more on the way. A weekly net is held on Tuesdays at 8:30 PM on 146.925(-). This fledgling group took flight on April 17, with its first official public service event, for the March of Dimes' "Walk America". Great job. Congratulations to Carl and to all of the Newton county ARES members for a terrific start.

RANDOLPH --- CONGRATULATIONS, and thank you to KEN FIELDS, W4KEF, who has been serving as EC for Calhoun county, for also taking on the position for neighboring Randolph county.

ROCKDALE --- Under EC TIM ROSING, KC4ELV, this group's new meeting place is at Rockdale Hospital, 1412 Milstead Avenue, in the lower level of the Women's Resource Center, class A/B. A new place, but the same meeting time: first Wednesdays of the month at 7:30PM.

CONGRATULATIONS to two new DECs: DALE CULP, W1BPP, has worn many different hats and has served in countless roles in GA emergency communications over the years, and his newest role is to be serving as our DEC for Navy/ Marine Corps MARS. Dale is the Navy/ Marine Corps MARS emergency operations officer, and is proud to fill this liaison role between MARS and ARES, joining CLYDE MATHE, WB4BDP, DEC for AFMARS, and MIKE SWIDERSKI, K4HBI, DEC for Army MARS. Congratulations also to BOB BUTLER, W4RBB, EC of Cobb county, who will be taking over as the DEC for Red Cross. Besides serving as EC, Bob is the communications leader for the NW Metro Center and for the disaster staging area at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and is a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Red Cross leadership council, as well as the Communications Task Force. Sincere thanks to both of these guys, as they continue to share their time and their talents to the benefit of our communities.

The upcoming G-8 Conference, to be held on Sea Island in June will also greatly affect much of the surrounding areas, particularly Savannah, requiring a lot of preparation from our ARES leadership, in order that all of the ARES volunteers who will be involved in providing the 24 hours-a-day communications will be ready. MANY THANKS to all of those folks who have been so integrally involved in these preparations, notably DAVID DELAMATER, K4DJD, EC for Chatham county, SE DEC JIM COTE, N4PJR, and DEC STEVE REYNOLDS, W4CNG.

GREAT NEWS for the digipeater system here in Georgia! Digital DEC JOHN KRAUS, KC4ZGQ, and BLANDON MOSELEY, N4XKE, EC for Laurens county, recently installed a digi and IGATE in Dublin at the Laurens county EOC. John wrote: "This system is attached to the state sponsored fiber optic internet connection. Since this connection is underground and the EOC has a backup generator, I suspect it is going to be rather robust once we get the kinks out." In addition, tentative approval has been received to install a full time digi on an AT&T tower in Orianna. While the details still have to be worked out, this site could provide what may be the "missing link" to complete the digipeater path up the I-16 corridor, one of SEC MIKE BOATRIGHT's longtime dreams for the GA Section. Even the possibility of being able to use this tower site at all is due to information graciously provided by KEVIN WOOD, KQ4LE, and forwarded to you in the March newsletter. In case you missed it..... with another great big thank you to Kevin, here it is again:

AAA Towers owns a number of old microwave tower sites throughout the southeast, many of which are old retired AT&T sites. DAVID FRIDLEY, with the tower company, would "like to have as many of his sites occupied by hams as he could". These are some very choice repeater/digi sites, and the usual agreement is that the hams take care of the site maintenance, both the building and the grounds. (i.e. cutting grass) To see if there is a tower site available in your area, check http://www.aaatower.com

If you plan for problems, they cease to be problems and become merely a part of the plan.

ARES REPORT FROM SEC MIKE BOATRIGHT, KO4WX

Georgia Section Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Section Emergency Coordinators Report for March, 2004

1 Jurisdictions Reporting 71
2 Total # of ARES Members 921
3 Change since last month 12
4 Total Net Sessions 186
5 Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month 187
6 Man hours 1158.45
7 Number of public service events this month 27
8 Man hours 608.25
9 Number of emergency operations this month 5
10 Man hours 28
11 Total number of ARES operations this month 408
12 Man hours 2637.75


Section EC Notes
Kennehoochee Ham Fest ARES Forum 3/20/2004
Central US Earthquake Center Drill
Asst. SEC, W4CNG meeting with Chatham/Glynn Co. ARES re G8 needs
Begin planning for GA ARES support of G8

Counties/Jurisdictions Reporting District Reporter Appointment
Bartow 1 KG4SRX EC
Carroll 1 K4DEY EC
Catoosa 1 W4LAW EC
Chatooga 1 W4LAW EC
Coweta 1 KD4SHK EC
Dade 1 W4LAW EC
Floyd 1 WB4FGM EC
Gilmer 1 W4YNE EC
Gordon 1 WQ4T EC
Haralson 1 KD4YDA EC
Murray 1 KG4RSU EC
Paulding 1 W4JFL EC
Pickens 1 K4BEH EC
Polk 1 KD4EKZ EC
Walker 1 W4LAW EC
Whitfield 1 KV4ED EC
Banks 2 KG4PPQ EC
Barrow 2 K4JSR EC
Clarke 2 N4ZRA EC
Dawson 2 WA4NEE EC
Forsyth 2 WA4NEE EC
Hall 2 KT4VP AEC
Jackson 2 KG4PPQ EC
Madison 2 N4ZRA EC
Oglethorpe 2 N4ZRA EC
Cherokee 3 WA6IKS EC
Clayton 3 WB4WQE EC
Cobb 3 WK4E AEC
Dekalb 3 N4SEG EC
Douglas 3 KG4WQZ EC
Fayette 3 AG4ZR AEC
Gwinnett 3 WA4DYD EC
Henry 3 WB4WQE EC
Newton 3 AG4LS EC
North Fulton 3 KF4MDV AEC
Rockdale 3 KC4ELV EC
South Fulton 3 W4ZT EC
Baldwin 5 KD4NGC EC
Bibb 5 W4ALQ EC
Dooly 5 WA4RWS EC
Houston 5 WB4EEL EC
Monroe 5 KG4CIY EC
Morgan 5 K2MGL EC
Peach 5 AA4JF EC
Pike 5 N4EVR EC
Columbia 6 KF4ITM EC
Jefferson 6 KR4JI EC
Baker 7 K4GCR EC
Calhoun 7 W4KEF EC
Dougherty 7 N4GPJ EC
Lee 7 KB4OMV EC
Mitchell 7 K4TWG EC
Sumter 7 KE4VPD EC
Tift 7 KE4RJI EC
Worth 7 K1KBA EC
Bacon 8 KJ4WX EC
Brantley 8 KE4WXD EC
Bryan 8 W4KTN EC
Bulloch 8 KF4MLT EC
Camden 8 N4TIS EC
Charlton 8 WB4GPR EC
Chatham 8 K4DJD EC
Coffee 8 KD4QFH EC
Dodge 8 KG4WQZ EC
Effingham 8 AF4VH EC
Emanuel 8 KC4ULS EC
Evans 8 W4HYU EC
Laurens 8 N4XKE EC
Wayne 8 N4RRO EC

Happy people live longer than unhappy people, proving that..... the surly bird catches the germ.
CAL NEFF, K4JSR

NET REPORT FROM JIM HANNA, AF4NS, STM

NET ACTIVITY:

PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL:

STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS:

Traffic handled (QTC):

CONGRATULATIONS to SID HUTCHINSON, WB4GGS, who earned yet another Brass Pounder Award for the month of February.

NOTE: If you're interested in getting involved in a CW net, but aren't sure where to begin, the GA Training Net, using slow speed CW, is the place to start. For instructions on how to check into this net, see "Training Aids" at http://gtnnet.tripod.com

"In days of old, when ops were bold and sideband not invented,
the words were passed by pounding brass, and all were quite contented."
Anonymous

NO MORE PROCRASTINATING!!!

The changes that will be taking place in the 605 form, along with the FCC's recent revelation that their definition of an "amateur radio operator" is NOT one who been issued a license, but one who is REGISTERED in the FCC database with an FRN, means, if you haven't already done so, for Heaven's sake, don't put if off any longer. Go to http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ without delay, and be prepared before you attempt to upgrade or renew your license. Avoid the hassles THEN by taking care of it NOW. Your time is running out.

HOWIE GOULD, W9HG, a longtime Volunteer Examiner, wrote:
Heads up and pay attention to this as those of you who have not registered with CORES and have no FRN number are in trouble after May 3 if you take an exam anywhere to upgrade, this has been the case for some time now, but new policy and forms are slowly forcing us to use online rather then a paper route.

All existing licensed operators must have an FRN to get past the VE, and an SS number is no good to use as that is used by first time applicants only who are then issued an FRN by the FCC.

Those of you who have ignored the CORES registration will be forced to fill out a form 160 to get an FRN and then a 606 to associate your license and call sign with FCC records before you fill out the new 605 coming out.

In case you missed the ARRL bulletin on the matter, it follows:

Effective with Monday, May 3, receipts, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will dismiss any applications filed on an FCC Form 605 issued earlier than December 2003. Form 605, Quick-Form Application for Authorization in the Ship, Aircraft, Amateur, Restricted and Commercial Operator, and General Mobile Radio Service, is the hard-copy version of the Amateur Service application. The change does not affect applicants filing on-line with the Universal Licensing System (ULS) at, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/, said the FCC, which is encouraging on-line filing

ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, says the Form 605 announcement will affect the way ARRL has been making FCC Form 605 available. He says the League's widely distributed March 2001 Form 605 in a three-sheet ivory/buff-colored package with perforated pages will become obsolete for applications the FCC receives on or after May 3. In the wake of the FCC's unexpected announcement, the ARRL is developing a replacement package that could require several more pages. It hopes to have it ready in time for Hamvention May 14-16.

The FCC has been accepting both older and current Form 605 applications that included a line (Item 9a) for a Taxpayer Identification Number, a Social Security number for an individual. The FCC would then issue the applicant an FCC Registration Number (FRN) without additional paperwork. All amateur applicants must have and use an FRN when filing an application such as Form 605 with the FCC. Applicants attending VEC test sessions can still supply a Social Security number, which will result in automatic Commission Registration System (CORES) registration.

All amateur applicants must have and use an FRN when filing an application such as Form 605 with the FCC. Under the system going into effect in May, applicants not yet registered in CORES and filing on paper will need to file FCC Form 160, CORES Registration to obtain a FCC Registration Number (FRN). After the FCC has issued an FRN, applicants also might want to file FCC Form 606 to associate the FRN with an individual's license record(s) and call sign(s). CORES registration data and FCC license data are maintained in separate FCC databases.

The completed Form 160 goes to a unique Washington, DC, FCC address to obtain the applicant's FRN. Once the FCC issues an FRN to the applicant, this number must be used when filing FCC Form 605, which goes to the FCC's Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, office. The two forms may not be mailed to Gettysburg together. Applicants need to have obtained an FRN via Form 160 before they can file a Form 605.

ARRL recommends that all amateurs file an on-line or paper Form 606 to associate their FRN with their license record(s) and call sign(s) in the FCC license database. Jahnke says the easiest way is to do this electronically via the ULS, and the process now is fairly straightforward.

The current edition of Form 605, dated December 2003, is available on the FCC forms page, http://wireless.fcc.gov/feesforms/index.html.

For more information or assistance, contact the FCC Consumer Center, toll-free, 888-CALLFCC (888-225-5322) and select option 2, or via e-mail at, fccmd@fcc.gov.

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
WILLIE BROWN, AG4HY

SECTION NOTABLES

A champagne toast and sincere CONGRATULATIONS to BILLY JOE LEWIS, W4XDP, and his lovely bride DOT, who recently returned from a second honeymoon trip to Hawaii, in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary. These two well-loved members of the Thomasville ARC still share the "magic" of a beautiful relationship, and it feels good just to be around them. We wish them many more years of this wonderful magic that they share. Salut!!

If you live in Fulton county, consider casting a vote on July 20th for JIM ALTMAN, W4UCK, who is running for a seat on the Fulton County Superior Court bench. Jim served as Georgia SM in the early nineties, and was instrumental in winning Georgia hams the privilege of getting FREE ham license tags, helped hams in multiple counties in the metro Atlanta area get favorable tower and antenna ordinances passed, and has served for a number of years as one of the ARRL Volunteer Counsels here in Georgia, providing legal advise and assistance to amateur radio clubs and individual hams. That makes him a pretty cool ham, but does it qualify him as a superior court judge? Probably not, but his years of experience as a lawyer and as a part-time magistrate judge over a wide variety of cases sure do. What impresses me is that Jim has a support base comprised of both defense lawyers and prosecuting attorneys alike. That says a lot for the fairness of his legal decisions and his integrity. That, coupled with his vow to give a full day's work every day and to handle trial calendars efficiently makes him sound like an excellent choice to sit on the bench. This is kind of a conflict of interest thing for me, since I'll probably lose him as an assistant SM once he gets elected, but, y'know, we need good judges. Since I don't live in Fulton county, I can't vote for him, but I thought I'd give you folks who do a "heads up", so you can give him your consideration. http://www.altman4judge.com 

How to solve antenna restriction ordinances (the hard way) "The town wouldn't let me put any antennas up, so I ran for city council, got elected, fired the planning director, revised the antenna ordinances and now have my tower and antennas permitted. Hard way to do it, but it worked...." An anonymous ham (TRUE story!)

CONGRATULATIONS to BUD THILLY, W9IGJ, who placed fifth in the US on 20M in the single operator/ single band/ high power category in the ARRL SSB DX contest at the beginning of March. At the end of March, he managed to go silver with a second place finish in the CQ WPX SSB contest, again on 20M, in the single operator/ single band/ LOW power category. (amp trouble!) Sounds like he "didn't need no stinkin' amp!" Way to go, Bud.

There's a brand new beacon on ten meters. DREW MCCARSKY, KB2SEO, that fine Joisey lad in Murray county, is using a monoband Emperor TS5010, set on 28.238, running 1 watt into an aluminum ground plane up 35 feet, 1 mile west of the entrance to Grassy Mountain. The text is sent at 13 WPM, with a series of vees and long tones at the end. Drew welcomes all reports at kb2seo@yahoo.com So, check it out and see if you can copy his beacon from your QTH.

PHIL NEIDLINGER, KA4KOE, that prolific writer of DED (dead electrical dudes) for eham, has a serious side, too. (No, really!!) He's going to be doing a presentation on BPL in May for the local chapter of IEEE at the Georgia Power office in Savannah. I know he'll WOW 'em.

DAVID PEARCE, ABØNG, learned something the hard way, and he was kind enough to share what he'd discovered in the May QST. In case you overlooked it, it's worth repeating. Here in Georgia, we all tend to use quite a bit of insect repellant, especially those that contain DEET, to discourage those pesky mosquitoes. It turns out that the chemical composition in DEET doesn't get along well with plastics. DEET can soften, or even dissolve them. So after applying your repellant, be sure to wash your hands before grabbing your HT or soldering iron, etc. You sure don't want the term "soft"ware to describe your radio.

ALL OF YOU FOLKS who teach ham classes and help interested people get into the hobby... you're ALL "section notables". Every month, I receive mailing labels from the ARRL of all the newly licensed hams here in Georgia. I just received SIXTY-ONE of them! That's the largest number for a single month since I started serving as SM. It's easy to see from the addresses where a ham class was taught. There were a bunch from Marietta and the surrounding area, thanks to the Boot Camp at the Kennehoochee Hamfest; another cluster from the Cumming area, thanks to the class offered by the Forsyth ARES group; another group from south Georgia, thanks to the classes offered by MARK AULICK, KF4MLT; and another cluster down in the Americus area. For the first time ever, a five-week technician class was offered in Americus, taught by LANI HARRISION, W4VIR, and MIKE COCHRAN, N4WOF, and twenty-five students completed the class, resulting in thirteen new hams. There's even talk of resurrecting a radio club in Sumter county now! So KUDOS to all of you hams who teach these classes. You're personally responsible for growing the Georgia ham community. (and for giving me writer's cramp.... after I write out all of those 61 post cards!)

Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
WILLIE BROWN, AG4HY

PIGLETS (AKA YOUNG HAMS)

Turning ten years old is quite a milestones in a young man's life. For JAMES GREENE, KG4XXD, it was made even more of a milestone, because he passed his general class test shortly afterwards. Congratulations to James, and his parents CHRISSY, KG4ZZE, and JON, KG4ZZF, who also passed their general class tests the same day. Grandpop GARY, WA4TOL, is pretty darned proud of the whole crew.

TECH TIPS

NTIA COMPLIANCE INFO -- Thanks to JOHN ECKERL, KC4YOJ, here's the correct website for the NTIA compliance information: https://164.235.4.115/comm/equipment/hf_equipment.cfm

ECHOLINK CONFERENCES ON WINLINK:

Thanks to STEVE WATERMAN, K4CJX, for this information. For an opportunity to learn more and discuss technical issues of Winlink 2000 and its applications for emergency communications, please check into EchoLink on the *W8FSM* conference server Wednesdays at 8:00 PM EDT, 7:00 PM CDT, 6:00 PM MDT, 5:00 PM PDT or 00:00 UTC.

It takes about 24 hours to get approved on EchoLink from the time of requesting via their license verification process. The program is downloaded from http://www.echolink.org. Once you get it going, Go to the preferences and give yourself some more time per transmission, and set other options as you prefer.

Click on the explorer view, go to "Node Type" and then to "Conferences" and scroll down to the bottom to "W8FSM" and that is where we will be. It only take one of the cheap Internet mics and a sound card to do this. Of course, you must have Internet connectivity, dial-up or hopefully, permanent connection.

If you have a router/firewall between your EchoLink computer and the Internet, be sure to follow the instructions below: Most hardware router/firewall devices will work with forwarding.

EchoLink uses UDP ports 5198 and 5199. To use EchoLink, you must configure your router to direct all incoming data on these two ports to the PC on which EchoLink is installed. Typically, there are two ways to configure this:

Forwarding. Most routers allow data on specific ports to be "forwarded" to specific computers. If you expect to use EchoLink on only one PC, configure your router to forward UDP ports 5198 and 5199 to that computer.

Port triggering (not needed often). Some routers implement a "smart" forwarding scheme which tries to direct data to the computer which is most likely to use it, based on requests each computer has recently made. If you expect to use EchoLink any of several different computers at different times, you may wish to try this option. Configure the router to direct ports 5198 and 5199 to any computer which makes outbound requests over UDP ports 5198 or 5199, or TCP port 5200.

EchoLink also uses TCP port 5200. Most routers will handle these requests correctly, since EchoLink always initiates them from the local computer. So, there will be no special configuring to do in the router/firewall.

If you are using firewall software, however, you may need to "open up" outbound connections to this port. (EchoLink does not use TCP for incoming connections.)

Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement equals I bananosecond
PAUL MANNO KG4UVU

HPL: HAMS OVER POWER LINES

GARY GREENE, WA4TOL, sent me some QST articles as a follow-up to an interesting conversation we'd had on hams using power lines as a means of communicating during WWII. Some of you may already know all about this; heck, some of you may have even participated in the experimentation. But, for the rest of you, who may be unaware of this stage in amateur radio history, here's a little info, thanks to Gary.

The project on "communication by means of a carrier-current system" was introduced in the "Experimenter's Section" of the March 1942 QST, along with projects on communications via light beams and communications via audio-frequency induction fields. As you may know, a communications emergency was declared during WWII, taking hams off the air. Many of those hams turned to the ARRL for direction, and for projects to experiment with until their privileges were restored. The Experimenter's Section was the ARRL's response, and it provided an welcome outlet for innovative hams.

The carrier-current project was introduced by saying, "Wire circuits are used as non-radiating transmission lines from transmitter to receiver. While telephone and power companies have used such systems successfully for years over special wire circuits, very little has been done to investigate the possibilities offered by ordinary house-lighting circuits."

In that same March 1942 magazine, an article "Wired Wireless", by BYRON GOODMAN, W1JPE, expounded on the whole low frequency communications over commercial power lines concept, and even offered design plans for a 25 watt transmitter, a converter, and receiver for this wired wireless communications.

Subsequent columns from May, 1942, until October, 1945, report on the successes (or failures) of hams from all over the country with their experimentation using power lines. Carrier current nets were even formed for emergency communications and public service. Hams and non-hams alike registered to build the equipment and participate in the experiment. (A license was not required for current-carrier work.) Gleeful experimenters used the power lines to communicate with their friends again, using both phone and CW.

All of these columns make for fascinating reading, and I happen to know that at least one current GA ham participated in the experimentation, because reference was made in one column to a November, 1942 report filed by W4NX, BILL CLONINGER. Users of this wired wireless communications quickly learned of the necessity of keeping the power level low and of using frequencies between 160- 200 kHz to avoid the risks of radiating and potentially interfering with other services.

NOTE: BPL, on the other hand, would generally use frequencies between 1.7 and 80 MHz. It doesn't take much interpolation to conclude that radiation and interference at these frequencies will be inevitable.

The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so sleep late.

BPL: ANOTHER CHALLENGE

As some of you may have already read or heard, President Bush has come out in support of the BPL technology. In response, the ARRL is promoting a grassroots effort, in which we hams contact President Bush and members of Congress to express our opposition. Getting members of Congress to contact the FCC and the White House with concerns about BPL's interference potential is our best next step to take with the folks on Capitol Hill. Any communication with the White House should say right upfront that you OPPOSE President Bush's endorsement of BPL in his April 26th speech in Minneapolis. Then say WHY: (i.e. there are several broadband technologies, and BPL is the only one that causes severe interference to radio communications.) You can contact our legislators at http://www.house.gov/writerep/ and at http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm

If you do write, please send a copy of your letter(s) to the ARRL. And to me. That "right on top of it all" fella, PHIL NEIDLINGER, KA4KOE, has already written and sent a fine letter to President Bush on the matter.

You can write to the White House directly at president@whitehouse.gov or can fill out an online form at http://sawho14.eop.gov/PERSdata/intro.htm Or if you prefer to place a phone call, you can call (202) 456-1111 to make a comment. Be prepared to make a brief, concise statement. (guess that leaves ME out!)

I received a ton of information on this grassroots movement, too much to put in this newsletter (or else you'd be getting it in THREE parts this month!) but I have sent some of it to our webmaster ROBERT TYLER, KF4VBR, and to BOB SMITH, K4PHE, to post on our webpage at http://www.arrl-ga.org Please look it over to get a better idea of how YOU can be a part of the efforts to oppose the BPL support.

Here follows a letter from the ARRL's CEO DAVE SUMNER, K1ZZ, on President Bush and BPL:

On April 26, President Bush told the American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention in Minneapolis: "There needs to be technical standards to make possible new broadband technologies, such as the use of high-speed communication directly over power lines. Power lines were for electricity; power lines can be used for broadband technology. So the technical standards need to be changed to encourage that."

Mr. Bush is wrong. Using power lines to distribute broadband services (called Broadband over Power Lines, or BPL) is a bad idea that should not be encouraged. Federally licensed Amateur Radio operators need to tell him so - and also need to enlist their Members of Congress in reversing this bad administration policy.

Do it now! We need thousands of responses from all parts of the country, right away, if we are to make an impression.

Here is our basic argument:

Power lines were designed to transmit electrical energy. They were not designed to transmit broadband signals, which is fact are radio-frequency (RF) signals. When a broadband signal is put on a power line, much of the RF energy leaks off the line and radiates, causing interference to nearby radio receivers. Interference has been documented at test sites throughout the country and overseas where BPL is in operation. Recordings of actual interference at several test sites are available at http://www.arrl.org/bpl.

The nation's 680,000 radio amateurs are especially concerned about this interference because it affects the short waves - a unique portion of the radio spectrum that supports long-distance, intercontinental radio communication. Licensed radio amateurs use these frequencies for hurricane reporting, disaster and emergency relief, and many other purposes in accordance with FCC regulations. The Amateur Radio Service is the only 100% failsafe emergency communications capability in the world. No matter what happens, radio amateurs will be able to communicate with one another without having to rely on the expensive and vulnerable infrastructure - but we cannot maintain our emergency networks if BPL is deployed and interferes with the weak radio signals we are trying to hear.

In addition to amateur operation, the short waves are used for international broadcasting, aeronautical, maritime, and other services including the military. Depending on the frequencies in use, BPL interference also could wipe out radio communication for many of our nation's First Responders - police, fire, and emergency medical personnel - who use low-band VHF radios operating in the 30-50 megahertz (MHz) range.

Radio amateurs support expanded broadband services to consumers at lower cost. Indeed, they tend to be early adopters of new technology. However, there are ways to deliver broadband that do not pollute the radio spectrum as BPL does. These include fiber-to-the-home, cable, DSL, and Broadband Wireless Access. None of these technologies causes interference to short wave radio.

BPL is sometimes touted as a solution for rural areas. It is not. A BPL signal only carries a few thousand feet down a power line and then must be repeated. This requires a lot of hardware and will not be economic in areas with low population densities.

The FCC recognizes the interference potential of BPL and is in the midst of a rulemaking proceeding, ET Docket No. 04-37, that proposes new requirements and measurement guidelines for BPL systems. However, the FCC proposals do not go nearly far enough to protect over-the-air radiocommunication services.

In short, BPL has a major disadvantage that is not shared by other broadband technologies and that outweighs whatever benefit it may offer. National broadband telecommunications policy should not include support for BPL, but should focus on other, more appropriate technologies.

Please write or call - right now! Don't put it off. We need thousands of responses to reach the White House and Congress in the next few days.

David Sumner, K1ZZ
Chief Executive Officer, ARRL
April 27, 2004

BPL HANDOUT AVAILABLE FROM ARRL

ARRL has posted a two-page document http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/BPL-leave-behind.pdf that discusses Broadband over Power Line (BPL) in lay terms. "Broadband over Power Line: Why Amateur Radio is Concerned about its Deployment" is available for reprinting and use as a handout when, for example, dealing with members of Congress, municipal officials, power utilities and the news media. While emphasizing that hams do not oppose broadband services per se and tend to be "early adopters" of new technology, the information sheet outlines Amateur Radio's concern about BPL's potential to create interference. Other broadband delivery methods "do not pollute the radio spectrum as BPL does," the paper states. It also defines BPL, outlines its current deployment status, discusses FCC regulations already in place and explains that BPL's interference potential is real, not just theoretical. Finally, it lists "Others at risk," including short-wave listeners, public safety agencies and federal government radio systems.

Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY 1-2 --- Birmingham Hamfest, at the Zamura Temple , off of exit 27 on I-459. Talk-in on 146.880. For more info, see http://www.w4cue.com MARS meeting to be held on Saturday, from noon until 2PM.

MAY 3 --- last day for making comments to FCC on BPL, docket 04-37, at http://www.fcc.gov/e-fiel/ecfs.html

MAY 8 --- Military- Amateur Crossband test, in honor of Armed Forces Day

MAY 8-9 --- Mid Atlantic QSO Party, a new multi-state event (NY, NJ, DE, PA, MD, DC, WV, VA) For details, see http://www.qsl.net/maqso/

MAY 9 --- MOTHER'S DAY

MAY 14-16 --- Hamvention 2004 (that little gathering in Dayton, OH) I know a bunch of you are counting the days... HAVE FUN!

MAY 15 --- GA Emergency & Traffic Net Picnic, to be held at Indian Springs State Park (near Jackson) Bring a covered dish, and be prepared to have FUN

MAY 24 --- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my better half

MAY 29 --- South CARS Picnic --- One of the fine South CARS NCS fellas, GEORGE YOUNG, KE4VPD, said this group's 2nd annual picnic would be held at the GA Mountain Fairground in Hiawassee. He says, "Bring a dish (with food in it) and if you sing or play an instrument, that too. We are promised a karaoke contest by ED GOLDGERG, N9CJA, asst. NM, and a lot of 'pickin and grinnin'. Check into any net (7 days a week 8-10 AM and noon-2 PM, on 7.251 MHz) and ask the NCS for info, go to http://www.southcars.com or drop the net manager JOHN BOSTIC, WB4GOV, or the activities guy, BOB FOLLIS, WB4UT, a line, to find out more." Last year, there were about 100 attendees from all over the SE, and you don't even have to be a member to attend and join in the fun.

MAY 29-30 --- STRANGE ANTENNA CHALLENGE. The object is to "construct, assemble, find, or use antennas made of anything and everything.... Except pipe, tubing, or wire." Sound like fun? For more info, see http://www.n0ew.radiomonkey.org/StrangeAntennas/k0s.specialevent.html Tell you what, this sounds like such fun, to encourage GA hams to participate in this challenge, any of you who DO participate, send me a picture of your antenna and some details about its construction and performance. Most innovative entry wins a 20th edition of the ARRL's "Antenna Book". Only one entry? You'll win by default. But I'm hoping for a number of entries here that we can post on our website. C'mon guys, put on those thinking caps

MAY 31 --- MEMORIAL DAY "Freedom is not free" (from the Korean War memorial in Washington, DC)

JUNE 5 --- Atlanta ARC Hamfest in Jim Miller Park, Marietta

SILENT KEYS

BILL FISHER, W4AN
CHARLES FORRESTER, WA4BKM
CAROLYN HASKINS, K4AIQ
DON SURBAUGH, WN4Q
WALT TERRELL, KF4TYE

Sincere condolences to the families and many friends of all of these fine people. They will be missed.

Well, that's it for now, folks. Until next time, this is AF4FO, signing clear. Take care of yourselves. And each other.

73, Susan af4fo@arrl.org   (Send me your news and tech tips!!)
ARRL Georgia Section Manager

No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However,
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

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