December, 2009

Hello, Gals and Guys of the Radio persuasion!  Wha’s’up in November?

Clubs are active!  The Gateway ARC has been working with classes for Techs, and planning for other levels as well.  That club has access to a club station associated with the EOC/EMA/911, and requires all operators to have passed IC 100A and IC 700A.

Also, check out the 10 meter net in North Georgia Wednesday at 8PM.  You can talk yourself hoarse.  (and on ten meters there is a couple yards of bandspace to do it in). 

In Glynn County David KD4NUE, the EC, has two to step up as AEC’s to help.  They are Don, N4CMA, and Gary K4KAH.  Welcome, guys!  David has big plans.

From Hall County EC K9VR reports that his organization has moved from 18 to 42 members and going strong.  Michael has negotiated M.O.U.s with the regional hospital and others and has created Mutual Assistance agreements with other nearby counties.  Two SERA-coordinated D-STAR repeaters and another analog repeater will support these ambitious plans.   New Techs and eight upgrades to General Class will support this.  No wonder the Hall County ARES group was given the Frank Hobbs award for service from the Emergency Management Association! 

The Chatham EC K4GTM, Guy, reports new hams:  14 Techs, 5 Generals and 6 Extras this year.  The CARC activated the Chatham EMA (N4CEM) for the storm December 2, with KC4MKD, KF4MND, W4SGA and KJ4FAW participating.  On November 11, Veterans Day, they honored those who serve (veterans and active duty military) with a special program.  For real fun, the “Anderson DX Challenge” is open to the local club members to compete with DX contacts, their own little DXCC.

The big event for the North Fulton Amateur Radio Club was a seminar at Roswell by Joel Hallas W1ZR Technical Editor of QST.  This was open to all without charge.  (I wish I could have attended).

Lynn, KN4YZ, reports a successful Skywarn Recognition Day on December 4 at Peachtree.  There were 337 Contacts by W4JB, KJ4QOG, KJ4IHL, KI4NGD, KJ4BIZ, AG4ZR, W4JNF, K4GVO, K2BOT, WZ3B, KD5EJN, WB4A, AND KN4YZ. 

John Davis WB4QDX, our DEC for Georgia Public Broadcasting has worked with Mark Fehlig WA6NGG the former Director of Engineering for PBS to use $165,000 to purchase and install D-STAR equipment (2 meter, 70 cm and 1.2 GHz) including antennas and lines on all 9 TV towers in the state.  So we should all be able to access the system with the radio of choice in the first quarter of 2010.   

Personal news of note includes the Tift Scene Magazine article on Wayne Harrell, WD4LYV.  Wayne is crippled with immobile limbs and works from wheel chair to support the club in communications.  The club in turn supports Wayne.  Wayne is an IT guy who sets up web sites professionally. 

Lynn Bianco KN4YZ, reports on a certain ham of 18 years age.  Daughter Lisa was an Extra but had to wait for her 18th birthday to qualify as a VE.  Now she is featured as a violinist with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

Section Wide we have 15 OO’s with OOC Richard Turner WB4A busy monitoring.  They report 883 hours of monitoring in October.  Listen on 3.910 for a vicious problem of QRM.  They are closing in on that probably unlicensed person. 

Those of you who have benefited from the slow speed CW net at 9PM on 3.949 will always remember the steady accurate fist of Willis, AD4DX.  He is now resigning because of visual difficulties, but will check in regularly, we hope.  Section Traffic Manager Charles K4GK is installing Bill Carter, KG4FXG as Net Manager of the GTN.  Thanks, Bill.  This net helps us plodding CW guys get enough confidence to push ahead to other QSO’s and nets.  

Upcoming events include the Techfest at Lawrenceville on Jan 9 (see www.arrl-ga.org for details) and the annual ARES meeting at Forsyth Jan 25.  We still need nominations for the Ham of the Year for that meeting.  Also, please do invite your EMA to come with you to the meeting.  All should try to attend both the morning and the afternoon sessions.

Of national interest, the Astronauts placed new 2 meter and 70cm antennas on the ISS to study Maritime Automatic Identification Systems, with a 6 hour 8 minute EVA exercise. 

The LOTW (Logbook of the World) now has 80,000 hams who have entered >250,000,000 QSO’s.

Vibroplex, the oldest operating business in amateur radio industry (since 1904) is being sold.  Scott Robins is leaving Tentec to purchase Vibroplex.  I have 2 keys from Vibroplex which I use regularly.

Finally, we sign off with 3 of our own. 

Joe Good W4HRR became a Silent Key 12/3/2009.  Joe has been around almost since there was ham radio.   

Ray Prim KD4VQS became a Silent Key November 27. 

James D. Rice KG4APJ Silent Key on November 25.

Farewell, friends, we will miss you.  Condolences to the families and friends. 

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
ARRL Section:    GA            Month:    November Year: 2009                                                                            
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members:  *788 (actual # on reporting system)    Change since last month: +15 actual  (+, -, or same)
# of DECs/ECs reporting this month:  51, # of ARES nets active: 197,  # with NTS liaison:  0   
Calls of DECs/ECs reporting:  see below
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 194, Person hours: 1384
Number of public service events this month:  8, Person hours: 460
Number of emergency operations this month:  5, Person hours: 79
Total number of ARES operations this month:  207, Total Person hours: 1923

Comments: see below
Signature:  Thomas Fuller, KE4QCM

DEC GA Public Broadcasting/WB4QDX, DEC Metro Atlanta/N4SEG, DEC National Weather Service-Columbia/N0FBV, DEC-Tallahassee/KJ4GOJ, DEC Northwest/KD4EKZ, ASEC Operations/KM4Z, DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC, DEC Southwest/KE4RWR
 
ECs:

Central
Baldwin/KG4EPI, Bibbs/KJ4PEO, Laurens/KF5TA, Macon/KI4BEO, Putnam/KF4EOH, Washington/K4GK
East  Central:
Richmond/AH6IW
Metro Atlanta:
Clayton/AJ4GT, Dekalb/W4TGA, Fayette/AG4ZR,  Gwinnett/WB4QDX, Newton/WA4UJC, North Fulton/W4UOC, Paulding/K4DMF
Northeast:
Barrow/K4JSR, Clarke/N4ZRA, Forsyth/W4PX,  Hall/AA4BA, Madison/KI4MHF, Stephens/KU4ES, Towns/W4VFZ
Northwest:
Bartow/N4QET, Carroll/N4IF, Catoosa/W4LAW, Floyd/KD4EKZ, Gilmer/KC4GH, Gordon/AF4DN, Haralson/KD4YDA, Heard/KE4OBM,  Murray/AI4ZV (counted in Whitfield Co. report), Pickens/K4SJR,  Polk/KD4EKZ, Whitfield/AI4ZV
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM, Toombs/KG4BKO
Southwest:
Baker/K4GCR, Dougherty/N4GPJ, Lee/W5VRV, Mitchell/N1QJ,  Seminole/K4TPD, Thomas/N4KXl, Turner/W4GHW
West Central:
Troup/K3IMC
Comments:
 
DECs:
 
DEC GA Public Broadcasting/WB4QDX:  Formed Administrative Team to build and operate statewide D-STAR network, met with SAGO Networks about hosting Georgia server for statewide D-STAR network, conference call with Admin team to kickoff activities on buildout of statewide D-STAR Network.
DEC Metro Atlanta/N4SEG: The Metro Atlanta District ARES NET meets on the first Sunday of the Month. The November NET was hosted by the North Fulton County ARES Group. There were 30 check-ins and the NET lasted 27 minutes. The December NET will be hosted by Steve Reynolds, ADEC for the Metro Atlanta District.

DEC National Weather Service-Columbia/N0FBV: skywarn class 2 x 10 min don n0fbv
ASEC Operations/KM4Z: Researching D-Star operation - 3 hours WINMOR BETA Testing w/SOC equipment - 4 hours
DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC: NOTE: change of time for the SATERN Nets. The international net is Mon. thru Sat on 14.265 MHz at 10 am EST, the mid south net is on 7.262 MHz at 11am on Sat.
DEC Southwest/KE4RWR: The Southwest District VHF Simplex Net is going very good and we have been testing other repeaters and finding many new ways to communicate troughout SWGA.
 
ECs:
 
Central
Baldwin/KG4EPI: THANKS TO EVRYONE THAT HAS CALLED A NET DUE TO MY WORK SCHEDULE. I HOPE THAT EVEYBODY HAS A SAFE AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
Bibbs/KJ4PEO: I have been working on the emergency operations plan for the program and i also have a few more meeting scheduled with various agencies. Im also developing a program for one of the area hospitals and will be soon implememting this program to assist ARES in ocmmunication needs of the local hospitals. Also attended the lawerenceville hamfest and met alot of area EC's . Still working with local repeater owners to establish a local repeater to use as the ARES repeater.
Metro Atlanta:
Clayton/AJ4GT: Five Nets - one monthly meeting - one work party to put up APRS digipeater on top of Henry County Medical Center -
Dekalb/W4TGA: Most of monthly activities were around the hamfest.
Fayette/AG4ZR: Miscellaneous activity includes 911 Practitioner activity, AEC/ASEC Meetings and nets
North Fulton/W4UOC: We held several simplex comm check nets. Our goal is to identify high elevation locations within our served cities in order to form a simplex network backbone for emergency communications among the cities. • Five hams from NFARES/NFARL volunteered for the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day.
Northeast:
Barrow/K4JSR: Congratulations to the new B.A.R.E.S. CLUB Officers for 2010. President is Bill, KJ4EX; VEEP is Steve, N5SMD; Secretary is Rebecca, KJ4IDI; Treasurer is MegaDave, KJ4DDZ. The Executive Committee members are: Cal, K4JSR; Berk, KB4JEH; Jim, KJ4IDJ. The B.A.R.E.S. CLUB'S 3rd annual Christmas Breakfast will be held on 12 December. New Technician and General classes will start in January as well as more VE testing sessions. Welcome to Jere, N4DQ, to the Barrow ARES group. 73 and Merry Christmas to all. Cal K4JSR
Clarke/N4ZRA: We had 4 public service events this month: 3 were serving Red Cross at UGA football games (KY, Tenn Tech, and Auburn). We also provided communications for a footrace (SOAR 5K). Stan Edwards, WA4DYD, presented a 1 hour basic emergency communications lecture followed by an exam.
Forsyth/W4PX: 2 ARES Tech& General license classes, 1 FCC VE exam-10 new hams, operating station at Cumming Steam engine show
Hall/AA4BA: We continue to grow!
Stephens/KU4ES:  The Stephens ARES/Skywarn Training Net is now simulcast on the K4TRS 2M Repeater (145.250-/71.9)and the W4BNG 440 Repeater (442.500+/88.5). An MOU is in the process of finalization with the Stephens County Hospital, making two county agencies served by Stephens ARES thus far with negotiations beginning with others. Additionally, a 440 repeater is being installed at the hospital to better facilitate emergency communications. The repeater was donated by the Stephens AEC, Fred Rickman, W4BNG. Seventeen new technician class operators have been licensed in the past month at the hospital and we are looking for them to join with the Stephens ARES shortly.
Northwest:
Carroll/N4IF: *Simplex Nets on Wednesdays @ 7:30 PM Plus on Sundays @ 4:00 PM ** Planning for West Georgia ARES Repeater system
Catoosa/W4LAW: No change since last report.
Haralson/KD4YDA: Discussion and planning for West Georgia ARES Repeater system
Heard/KE4OBM: Discussion and planning for West Georgia ARES Repeater system
Murray/AI4ZV (counted in Whitfield Co. report)
Polk/KD4EKZ: I am deeply saddened to report the death of one of Polk County's ARES members. James D. Rice, KG4APJ, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Jim was 60 years of age. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to his family.
Whitfield/AI4ZV: This is a combined Murray and Whitfield County report.
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM: Read about Chatham County ARES and Savannah radio activities at www.k4gtm.blogspot.com
Southwest:
Baker/K4GCR: Hope the bad weather coming in will not be too bad for the area.

Lee/W5VRV: No activity this month.
Mitchell/N1QJ: A quiet month
Seminole/K4TPD: The SW District ARES VHF Net on 146.580 has really been a benefit to my emergency communications capability here in Seminole County. It has greatly improved my ability to communicate with others in the district without using repeaters. The expansion of the Net to test UHF repeaters throughout the SW District and VHF repeaters outside or almost outside the SW District has also benefited those of us in the extreme SW corner of Georgia. Thank you Robert, KB4RG, for coordinating the simplex net. One problem was noted in the monthly SW Georgia HF Weather net on 75 meters. Since the change back to Eastern Standard Time band conditions are not favorable for local traffic on 75 meters at 7:30 PM. During the November HF Weather Net I was unable to copy any of the SW Georgia Stations. I was able to establish contact with KG4GPJ, Larry, in North Carolina who serves as a net control for his local ARES Net and he assisted me and several other ARES Stations in SW Georgia in checking in to Net Control. Thanks Larry for reaching out to us.
Thomas/N4KXl: We lost Ray Prim, KD4VQS who is now a silent key. He was a
Turner/W4GHW: No response from the TC Commission. :(

Section Traffic Manager (STM) Report

Georgia Section

November, 2009

December 10, 2009 

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

K2HJ          185

K4GK         120

K4BEH       111

W4WNE     110

K4BG         100 

WA4UJC    100

WB4BIK       90 

Station Activity Report (SAR) (Traffic)

W4WNE     349

K4GK         112

K4BG         103

WB4BIK       43

WA4UJC      30

K4BEH         24

K4BAI            6

Section Nets

Georgia ARES (statewide) Net                     QNI-480   QTC-4  Sessions-4

3975 KHz 2200 UTC Sunday                       K4GK Net Manager

Georgia Single Sideband Net                      QNI-1916  QTC-62 Sessions-30

3975 KHz 2300 UTC Daily                           KE4VPD Net manager

Georgia Traffic and Emergency Net            QNI-767  QTC-18  Sessions-30

3983 KHz 7:15 EST Daily                            W4AYK Net Manager

Georgia Cracker Net                                   QNI-990  QTC-8  Sessions-30

3995 KHz 7 AM Mon-Sa and 8 AM Sun      N4VMC Net Manager

Georgia Traffic Net                                     QNI-438  QTC-120 Sessions-25

3987.5 KHz 1 PM Mon-Sat                         WA4UJC Net Manager

Georgia Training Net  (GTN)                        QNI-125  QTC-0  Sessions-30

3549 KHz  9 PM Daily (slow speed CW)      KG4FXG Net Manager 

Georgia State Net (GSN)                            QNI-361  QTC-210  Sessions-62

3549 KHz 7 and 10 PM Daily (medium speed CW)        K4GK Net Manage 

Remarks

Willis, AD4DX, has resigned as Net Manager of the Georgia Slow Speed Training Net (GTN) for health reasons.   He has done an excellent job.  We thank him for his service.

Bill Carter, KG4FXG, as agreed to take over the responsibilities as Net Manager of GTN.  Bill was one of the founders of GTN several years ago.  We welcome him back!

Charles A. Pennington, K4GK,

Section Traffic Manager,

Georgia Section

That’s it for now.  To quote Susan, my favorite Section Manager:  “Take care of yourselves.  And each other.”