WCARS.org July 2009 The Official Publication of The Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Inc

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1 WCARS.org July 2009 The Official Publication of The Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Inc President s Microphone Another trip up the mountain, this time to set a new generator in place, could not have happened at a better time. Less than two hours after completion, the new generator was pressed into service when severe weather disrupted the power grid in West Asheville. I thank all those who helped, and especially to N4KKOX who made the project possible in the first place. Hope to see everyone at the next club meeting. 73 Dean ~ k2jb scenario depicts massive communications infrastructure failure from damage and circuit overload. NC Emergency Management expects Amateur Radio to play a key role in this exercise. The operations assessment will be included in a later edition of the Smoke Test. Meals on Wheels (MOW) Road Ride Upcoming Events July 11: Salisbury Hamfest July 18: Cary Swapfest July 25: Western Carolina Hamfest, Waynesville July 25 & 26: APRS Golden Packet Event, Western NC August 8: Cape Fear ARS Swapfest, Fayetteville Sept 5 & 6: Shelby Hamfest, Dallas May 30, 2009 was an absolutely gorgeous day ARES for the 2nd Annual Wheel Ride For Food. After The Buncombe County ARES group (BCARES) nearly 2 weeks of rain, the skies cleared and met on June 18 th to plan for the state temperatures rose into the low 70's with a emergency management drill scheduled for light breeze. Early that morning, 190 cyclists Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24. assembled at Carrier Park in Asheville, NC The drill is to simulate a large earthquake in eager to head out on their metric half/metric the Buncombe County area; resulting damage century courses to have fun and support Meals will affect structures and communications On Wheels. facilities not "earthquake resistant", with The 2009 Wheel Ride For Food was a huge special emphasis on cell phone facilities and success! The event raised $22,406 (that's towers. The focus of this exercise is on 2,988 meals!) for Meals On Wheels of communications and interoperability and the Asheville-Buncombe County! WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Page 1 of 6

2 Assembled were volunteer operators to work sag vehicle/rest/rescue stations along the bicycle route. The event began at 0845 at Carrier Park, on Amboy Road, in Asheville. The long route traveled through Marshall, on to Weaverville, and returned to Carrier Park via Ox Creek and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Thanks from MOW, WCARS and BCARES for everyone s participation this year. K4BNP Atlantic hurricane season Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are calling for a "near-normal" season this year. In its initial outlook for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season -- which runs from June 1-November the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is calling for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season. According to the CPC, global weather patterns are imposing a greater uncertainty in the 2009 hurricane season outlook than in recent years. From ARRL Senate Bill S-1194 In March of this year, the Coast Guard announced that they would be closing down the 24 LORAN-C (Long Range Aid to Navigation) stations operated under the auspices of the USCG. LORAN stations provide navigation, location and timing services for both civil and military air, land and marine users. According to the USCG, LORAN-C is approved as an en route supplemental air navigation system for both Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) and Visual Flight Rule (VFR) operations. The LORAN-C system serves the 48 continental states, their coastal areas and parts of Alaska On February 26, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) publicly announced the President's fiscal year 2010 Budget. In the section for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the budget "supports the termination of outdated systems such as the terrestrial-based, long-range radio navigation (LORAN-C) operated by the US Coast Guard, resulting in an offset of $36 million in 2010 and $190 million over five years." The USCG, once a part of the US Department of Transportation, is now under the direction of DHS. Members of the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee have introduced a bill, S Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and that, if passed, would require that the US Coast Guard "maintain the LORAN-C navigation system until such time as the Secretary is authorized by statute, explicitly referencing this section, to cease operating the system but expedite modernization projects necessary for transition to eloran technology." ARRL Healthier Radio Clubs D. E. "Dee" Logan, W1HEO wrote an article, published on June 27, 2006, that still provides useful hints for improving any amateur club. First pondered are the following questions: What makes a radio club successful? What secrets enable them to keep adding members, providing interesting activities and offering interesting programs? Here from W1HEO is a list of eight tips that are always applicable to a clubs activity: 1. Have fun! 2. Give Em (members) what they want 3. Publish a good newsletter 4. Tap the talent 5. Stay active 6. Use your radio communications 7. Promote fellowship 8. Recruit new members The full text of this article is available on the ARRL website. Search for Tips and Tonics for Healthier Radio Clubs, or enter WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Page 2 of 6

3 June 4 th Minutes Bob WD4CNZ WCARS President Dean Blair K2JB called the meeting to order at 1929hrs and invited those present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members and guests were invited to introduce themselves with name, call, and QTH. The Minutes of the previous meeting were published in SMOKETEST. No additions or corrections were presented. A motion to wave the reading of those Minutes was received, seconded, and voted 100%. Steve Emory presented the Treasurer s Report. The Savings Account shows a balance of $ Checking/Savings balance at the end of the period: $ It was reported that the MOVAN is having trouble with the power steering pump and the problem is being worked on. The unit also needs new tires. Elwood Miles gave a listing of tire replacement options and costs. A motion was made/seconded to allow up to $ for new tires for the MOVAN. A motion/seconded was made to allow up to $ for the repair/replacement of the power steering pump and both motions received a YES vote. Elwood Miles gave Hamfest update on plans and activities for the event in July. Mr. Dan Henderson of ARRL is scheduled to attend and give a presentation about ARRL. Tommy Queen gave a report on the Meals-On-Wheels project event. 188 bicycle riders participated and the event raised $20,000 (which translates into meals for next year for the needy). The Repeater de-sense issue is still present. A team worked on the problem but additional work and equipment relocation is being considered. Russ N4KOX announced the installation of a back-up generator at zero cost due to a generous donation of a generator. June is set for an "earthquake drill" with EOC and emergency agencies is the primary frequency. The drill will involve four counties with "normal" systems taken down. Members are strongly encouraged to be ready and participate where they can. Formal traffic rules/procedures are to be followed. The NN4BC callsign will be used by Buncombe County AREAS operations. Blue Ridge Bonanza has asked WCARS to participate again this year on Mt. Pisgah. September 19 & 20 is set for this date for participation. Dean K2JB announced a blood drive on behalf of a local Masonic organization and asked for folks to commit to give blood in April The early commitment is needed for planning purposes. Field Day band captain volunteers were asked for the event. Dean demonstrated a homemade antenna "raising device" similar to a fishing bait launcher. A brief slide show was presented and narrated by Elwood Miles about the 2009 Dayton Hamfest showing facilities, old and new equipment, and interesting attendees. Michael KI4WCA presented the main program for the meeting. He showed sources available on the Internet of antenna designs and how to research them. He clicked on a 2 meter J-Pole design and proceeded to construct that antenna live. While doing the construction, he explained what materials can be used for other antennas and why some materials are better than others. He also demonstrated construction ideas using short aluminum tubing sections from scrap sources to make a yagi along with connection ideas. The drawing followed. Doris Galyean won the drawing for a mug or cap. A motion to adjourn was received/seconded/carried and the meeting closed at 2057 hrs. Refreshments followed. WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Page 3 of 6

4 Hamfest Calendar 25 Jul 34th Annual Western Carolina Hamfest Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Haywood County Fairgrounds 758 Crabtree Road (NC 209) Waynesville, NC Talk-In: (PL 91.5) & (PL 94.8) Contact: Dean Blair, K2JB 20 Coffey Place Asheville, NC Phone: Fax: VE Exams Jul 11 Andrews, NC Sponsor: KG4LVO Time: 10:00AM (Walk-ins allowed) Contact: EDWIN A FLOWERS (828) KG4LVO@YAHOO.COM VEC: ARRL/VEC Location: ANDREWS PUBLIC LIBRARY- CONFERENCE RM 871 MAIN ST BUSINESS US 19 AT WALNUT ST TESTING FEE $15 Greenville, SC July 4th, 8:30 AM Red Cross Building Grove Road Walk-ins normally accepted Sue L. Chism, N4ENX 139 Mustang Circle Simpsonville, SC Asheville, NC & & , 9:00 AM July 18, Room 134, Elm Building - AB Tech Walk-ins only Bob Helton, KS4FX 84 Hemlock St. Arden, NC Don Lovelace, W4TMT PO Box 766 Spruce Pine, NC **345 Contact VE for Exam Dates: Burnsville, NC Yancey County Public Library - Town Square Burnsville David McCarty, W4TDM 391 E. Main Street Burnsville, NC Barry McKinney Rt 2 Box 1122 Burnsville, NC Columbus, NC Wayne Ackerman, W3GYK 621 Laurel Lake Drive, Unit B-104 Columbus, N C Rutherford County, North Carolina Isothermal College, Spindale, NC F. Bruce Tessinear, KD4OJ P. O. Box 341 Henrietta, NC A. B. Brackett, AB4E 117 Toney Rd Bostic, NC Hot Doggett 100 and Devil s Fork Metric Century Ride. July 11, 2009 is the The Madison County ARC Team will provide communications for this event, as was done last year. Volunteer operators are asked to contact Allen Stines, KF4ZDS, kf4zds@arrl.net. Net Control will be conducted on the repeater. This repeater is operating now, with a temporary PL of KF4ZDS will advise when/if the tone is changed. Mt. Mitchell Amateur Repeaters Earlier in June, WMIT General Manager, Alice Knighten informed Ken Woodard, WA4BVW, sponsor/owner of the repeater (and others) to..."please plan to remove all of your equipment from the site and return the access keys to our office by July 31, 2009." Amateur Repeaters on Clingman s Peak appeared to be in imminent peril. The decision to require all amateur repeater removal from Mt. Mitchell seemed irreversible, with no recourse except to remove the repeaters. The only immediately available alternatives seemed to be to negotiate another site with the US Forest Service on Clingman's Peak, with no assurance this would even be possible, or to generate enough attention to this issue with the people who may be able to appreciate the value of amateur radio on Mt. Mitchell and reverse this decision. However the decision was brought about, on Monday, June 22 nd, WA4BVW informed the WCARS Information Net and others of the receipt of notice that all amateur repeaters are now cleared to remain in place and operational for the next year, while negotiations to establish terms of occupancy are underway. At this time, the entire amateur community should pause to thank all who worked diligently to at least temporarily resolve any threats to the Mt. Mitchell equipment, and remember that amateur users are guests. Hopefully, a permanent solution to ensure the future for the ham community on the highest point east of the Rockies will be found before this situation again rears it ugly head. date for the 4th Annual event. WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Page 4 of 6

5 WCARS Information Net (Callsign W4MOE) 6/1/09; with K2JB as NCS; 15 check-ins 6/8/09; with K2JB as NCS; 16 check-ins 6/15/09; with as NCS; 16 check-ins 6/22/09 with K2JB as NCS; 21 check-ins Tarheel Emergency Net (THEN) Has a new look, and can be found at Special Events Jul 1-Jul 9, 1300Z-0300Z, Sevierville, TN. 470 Amateur Radio Group, W4H. 1st Fourth of July "QSO Party" of the 470 ARG QSL. Rick Sawaya Sr, 2005 Spence Mountain Lp, Sevierville, TN Area operators will be participating using their own call signs. Jul 18-Jul 26, 1400Z-2100Z, Cleveland, OH. NASA Glenn Amateur Radio Club, NA8SA. 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing QSL. NA8SA, NASA Glenn Amateur Radio Club, Brookpark Rd MS 50-4, Cleveland, OH Jul 25, 1200Z-2359Z, Waynesville, NC. Haywood County Amateur Radio Club, N4P. 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountain National Park Certificate. Bill Harmon, PO Box 1435, Waynesville, NC The special event station will be located at the site of the Asheville, NC Hamfest (Haywood County Fairgrounds). New ARRL Affiliated Club Congratulations to the newest ARRL affiliated club in North Carolina, the Cleveland County Amateur Radio Service. Based in Shelby, NC, the club meets the third Tuesday of every month. More info is available at The CCARS joins 59 other ARRL affiliated clubs in North Carolina who are current in the league database. NC ARRL July Meeting - The next WCARS meeting will be July 2, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in the Simpson Auditorium, Simpson Bldg, at AB Tech. Program: To be announced. WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Spivey Repeater now boasts reserve power source On June 13th, thanks to club member N4KOX and others, the WCARS repeater site on Spivey Mountain gained the addition of a new generator. Club members and others gathered to prepare the site, set the new unit in place, and ready it for final connection to the power grid and fuel delivery. When barely completed on the afternoon of June 18th, the unit went into almost immediate operation in the aftermath of severe thunderstorms and high winds that took down the West Asheville area power grid. Upon inspection by work crews, the WCARS generator was the only one in operation on the mountain. This unit, a Generac 12KW unit, along with the 500 gallon propane supply, is capable of providing 2+ weeks of service without attention. Those present for the workday included K2JB, K8SKX, KI4VLW, KN4ST, KU2U, N4KOX, and W2CWP. Also contributing to the effort was non-ham Steve Dunn. Thanks to each for their work to complete this project. Page 5 of 6

6 THE SMOKE TEST The Official Publication of the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Inc. PO Box 1488, Asheville, NC W4MOE/ /PL 91.5 Spivey Mountain/Asheville 2008 OFFICERS President Dean Blair K2JB k2jb@arrl.net Vice-President Michael Brown KI4WCA Unlisted brownpiggin@gmail.com Secretary Bob Dockery WD4CNZ wncgeneao@aol.com Treasurer Steve Emory n4set@arrl.net Executive Committee Dean Blair K2JB k2jb@arrl.net Executive Committee Elwood Miles KN4ST elwood3@charter.net Trustee Norman Harrill N4NH nharrill@bellsouth.net Quartermaster Elwood Miles KN4ST elwood3@charter.net Awards Chair Bob Dockery WD4CNZ wd4cnz@arrl.net Public Information Bob Dockery WD4CNZ wd4cnz@arrl.net Hamfest 09 Elwood Miles KN4ST Elwood3@charter.net Smoke Test Editor Steve Emory n4set@arrl.net American Radio Relay League Affiliate No WCARS meets at 7:30 PM the first Thursday of each month at the Simpson Building at AB Technical Community College. Everyone is welcome to attend. Membership dues are $20 per year payable in January. Net Freq (MHz) 12 Hr Day offset/pl Time NOTES WCARS Information Net /91.5 Monday 9:00 pm Informal, Everyone Welcome Oasis Shrine Radio Corp. Net Sunday 9:00 pm BRARC Net /91.5 Sunday 8:00pm Good Morning Net M-W-F 9:00 am Informal, Everyone Welcome Madison Co. Am.Rad.Com.Tm /100 Tuesday 9:00 pm Madison Co. Emerg. Comm. Net Buncombe Co. Emerg Mgt Net /91.5 Wednesday 9:00 pm Directed Net, ARES / RACES Haywood County Roundtable /94.8 Monday 8:00 pm Informal, Everyone Welcome Volunteer Net /136.5 Friday 9:00 pm Info, News and Swap Net 6600 Net Saturday 9:00 pm Many Check-Ins - Wide Coverage Blue Ridge Traffic Net Nightly 9:00 pm May be ARES / SKYWARN in bad WX Mount Pisgah 220 Net Sunday 9:00 pm Informal, Everyone Welcome Mount Mitchell 220 Net Monday 8:00 pm Informal, Everyone Welcome Mount Mitchell Rag Chew Net /107.2 Monday 9:00 pm Directed, Everyone Welcome SATERN Net Daily 3:00 pm Salvation Army Team Emergency Net K4UUQ Morning Net Daily 7:00 am Rag chew NC Morning Net Daily 7:45 am SSB Traffic Net NC Evening Net Daily 6:30 pm SSB Traffic Net Carolinas Net (early) Daily 7:00 pm CW (20-22 wpm) Traffic Net Tarheel Emergency Net Nightly 7:30 pm Directed, NC Emergency Mgt/Traffic Carolinas Slow Net Nightly 8:00 pm Slow CW (8-10 wpm) Traffic Net Carolinas Net (late) Nightly 10:00 pm CW (15-18 wpm) Traffic Net WCARS Smoke Test July 2009 Page 6 of 6