In this issue:
-> DAYTON HAMVENTION NUMBERS
-> WINLINK AND FIELD DAY
-> WINLINK AND FIELD DAY
-> FIELD DAY PICTURES AND
MORE
-> THE TECHNICAL
COORDINATOR
-> AFFILIATED CLUB
COORDINATOR REPORT
-> THE SECTION EMERGENCY
COORDINATOR
-> THE PUBLIC INFORMATION
COORDINATOR
-> THE SECTION TRAFFIC
MANAGER
-> OUT AND ABOUT
-> ARES TRAINING UPDATE
-> OHIO RESPONDS
-> LET'S TALK
-> THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER
COORDINATOR
-> SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS
IN OHIO
-> OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR
-> MY FINAL
****************************************************
DAYTON HAMVENTION NUMBERS
Ok Guys and Gals,
You, like me have been waiting for some time now on the attendance numbers from the Dayton Hamvention. Well, my sources tell me that the attendance was..... 29,296!!
Wow.. That's really great, and I'm sure that the folks at DARA are proud of those numbers too.. Congratulations go out to everyone that had a part in making this Hamvention the greatest in the country!!
****************************************************
WINLINK AND FIELD DAY
Ok Guys and Gals,You, like me have been waiting for some time now on the attendance numbers from the Dayton Hamvention. Well, my sources tell me that the attendance was..... 29,296!!
Wow.. That's really great, and I'm sure that the folks at DARA are proud of those numbers too.. Congratulations go out to everyone that had a part in making this Hamvention the greatest in the country!!
****************************************************
WINLINK AND FIELD DAY
The OHKYIN ARS will be
running a WinLink station as part of the 'free' VHF/UHF station. After some
research being done with the ARRL, it was agreed that the rules allow Radiogram
messages to be sent via WinLink, as long as the message is sent via RF in or
out of the Field Day site. The same requirement as a voice message if you think
about it.
If anyone else wants to join
in on the WinLink fun during Field Day, send me a message using WinLink Express
and a Radiogram >> OR << use
an ICS-213 templated message. Be sure to update your software before sending
messages so your templates are up to date.
If you can't send messages
via RF from your Field Day site, you are still welcome to send a message to me
so our club can receive credit for it.
I will be checking for
messages in the WinLink system from Saturday at 14:00 local to approximately
Sunday at 10:00 local. Please send your messages during this time for credit
and I will reply to you.
If you want to test our your
Winlink messaging between now and Field Day, feel free to send me a test message
and I'll respond as I have time. This sure beats sending several messages via
voice!
I hope to connect with many
of you during Field Day so we all can get NTS bonus points.
73!
Bryan - kc8egv
****************************************************
FIELD DAY PICTURES
This is a great time for
taking pictures of your Field Day participation for sure. I will be out and
about with my camera, but I need your help too. I need you to take pictures and
send them to me. I will have a gallery setup on the website to display
everyone’s Field Day pictures as I get them. Please, take a lot of pictures of
not only the equipment and food, but also of everyone having fun at Field Day
too. Send those pictures to: n8sy@n8sy.com
I will be taking some of
those pictures and placing them on the next Ohio Section Banner.. Showing all of us having fun and
participating is what makes this banner so great!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
FIELD DAY MESSAGES – AN EASY 300 POINTS FOR SURE –
PLUS MORE
Each year, hundreds of Field
Day operations try and find every advantage to earn as many points as possible.
But many overlook bonus point categories that can add a reliable 300 points to
your group score: the group participation NTS message to the ARRL Section
Manager, the W1AW Field Day bulletin, and the NTS traffic handling bonus.
Each
Field Day group should generate a formal NTS-style piece to their ARRL Section
Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator. This message should include the group’s name, their location for Field
Day, and the number of ARES members participating in the event.
NOTE:.. Since I will be on
the road visiting a number of sites for Field Day, please send these pieces of
traffic to me via OSSBN – www.ossbn.org for details about the net, or you can find
them on (3.972.5MHz.)
This may mean that your group
may have to take one of your stations away from operating normal Field Day
contacts, your group is awarded the 100-point bonus for taking the time to pass
this piece of traffic. To claim this bonus, you must submit a copy of the
formal message with your Field Day entry. Note: The Section Manager message does not count as one of the 10 NTS
messages for bonus points.
For more details about how to
handle these messages, please go to: www.arrl-ohio.org/FD_Message.html or www.ossbn.org/FD_Message.html
FIELD DAY BONUS POINTS OPPORTUNITIES
Don’t forget that there are two
additional ways to earn extra points for your group's efforts. One is the "Safety
Officer" position and the other is related to promoting your Field Day via
"Social Media."
Safety Officer.. is a
critical concern during Field Day. Every year the Field Day packet contains a
Safety Check List that all stations should follow. All Class A entries can earn
an additional 100 points by designating a member of their group as "Safety
Officer." This person must verify that all safety concerns on the
Safety Check List have been adequately met.
The Safety Officer position
is to be taken seriously. Real oversight is required; appointing a Safety
Officer, affirming that all items on the Safety Check List have been completed properly,
must be included with a groups Field Day entry with all other supporting
documentation.
Social Media.. There
have been many PR and publicity bonus points available in Field Day for a very
long time. The addition of a social media bonus makes promoting your Field Day
event even easier than before.
Social Media refers to any
online platform that promotes being connected with friends and family..
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn are five examples of
allowed Social Media platforms.
The Social Media bonus points
will only apply on recognized social media platforms and NOT your clubs
website.
2017 OHIO FIELD DAY
PROCLAMATION ON-LINE
Just wanted to let you know,
if you haven’t already found it, that you can view and print the governor’s
Proclamation for the 2017 Field Day. Go to:
www.arrl-ohio.org/SGL/sgl.html to get your copy for your Field Day site. You can
also find a sample Press Release for your Field Day activities as well.
Thanks to Bob Winston, W2THU
our State Government Liaison (SGL) for getting the governor to take time out of
his busy schedule and getting this Proclamation for us.
****************************************************
THE TECHNICAL COORDINATOR
Jeff Kopcak – TC
Hey Gang,
Another Dayton Hamvention is
in the books. Yes, despite the arguments
– 'it's not in Dayton anymore blah blah blah' – the program guide still says
“Dayton Hamvention.”
My dad, N8ETP and I have been
attending Hamvention consecutively for the past 3 years. I've gone down a couple years by myself,
stayed at numerous hotels in the area, bummed rides off friends, taken bus
trips, and even stayed at the dorms on the University of Dayton's campus. Returning back each year quickly brings back
memories of routes in and out of the arena along with familiar eating and
travel destinations. The layout inside
rarely changed. You knew where the prize
booth was located along with favorite dealers, vendors, clubs and
organizations. The entire back parking
lot was the flea market. There was the
usual selection of arena eats – burgers, nachos, hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream
– that often benefited a local school or community organization.
Now, everything is different.
The Hamvention committee
should be commended for the monumental task of moving the event from the now
closed Hara Arena to the Greene County Fair Grounds in Xenia, Ohio within 9
months. I can't even imagine what it takes
to setup an event that draws 25-30,000 people let alone move it to another
location quickly.
Buildings at the new location
are less than 20 years old. They were
rebuilt after a tornado hit the fairgrounds in 2000. RV parking and an on-site bathhouse were
available. There was ample parking on
the grounds and at three remote locations with shuttle transportation. Quite different compared to the dilapidated
arena where there always seemed to be a haze indoors due to the lack of air
flow, falling ceiling tiles with mold and probably 30-year-old dust, and septic
system with a propensity to explode.
Atmosphere of was more “fair”
than “convention” because vendors and exhibitors were spread out over separated
buildings (themed Maxim, Tesla, Marconi, and Hertz), displays were in outside
tents, and an abundance of food trucks and carts similar to that of any county
fair was seen. More eating area was
needed compared to the amount we were used to at Hara. There were long lines and the limited
seating, for maybe 50, filled quickly. I
had an enjoyable standing lunch with members of the Wood County ARC.
If you were lucky enough to
be there Friday, you were greeted by the “Welcome to Xenia” signs quickly
followed by break lights and miles of cars waiting to get into the
fairgrounds. Even the shuttles were
stuck in traffic. The reason was
discovered once we arrived. Cars were
being parked at a rate of nearly one-at-a-time.
Time was wasted waiting to see which isles were full and which ones had
room for additional cars. This was
quickly remedied Saturday as cars were being parked in multiple locations at
once, effectively eliminating the traffic issue from Friday. Scratch that issue off the list.
In general, Hamvention is
smaller. I knew this going in from vendors
indicating they weren't going to have the space they were used to. Vendors made the most of it and generally
seemed to work. As a result, vendors
couldn’t bring the usual amount of stock.
Show specials for things like the very popular TYT MD-380, you could
purchase one but couldn't leave with one.
In one case, it would be shipped and arrive the following Tuesday. Kinda a bummer as many hoped to leave with a
new toy. Vendors in the outside display
tent got washed out with storms that rolled through. Not good for computers, sensitive radio
equipment, and video cameras I saw out there.
I was not able to find Mendelsons – a long time staple of the Hara flea
market. I heard others asking too if
they had been spotted.
Lastly, mud. The flea market and parking lots were in
grassy areas, or at least started out that way.
Friday wasn't bad as the ground was soft in a few areas of the flea
market. Saturday morning, with the help
of overnight storms, large farm tractors used for transporting patrons were contributing
to the problem of turning the grassy parking lot into a mud pit. After everyone took shelter for even more
storms Saturday morning, allll bets were off.
The flea market isles were mud tracks.
A good pair of rain boots were needed to help manage. It was funny watching rented scooters trying
to manage a couple inches of mud. Not
wanting to get our clothes dirty, we headed out about 3pm on Saturday and
learned the parking lot suffered the same fate as the flea market. The committee, I think, anticipated this
because they had rope and skid loaders for cars that needed assistance. We exited without assistance but still need
to get our car washed twice to get MOST of the mud off.
All-in-all, I'll call it a
success. Out of the things that could go
wrong, these issues were the harder ones to plan and tackle. The traffic issue was resolved the next day. This shows they are already learning from the
problems that came up during the show.
It was a suitable location for a venue change in 9 months. Anyone who is thinking of going next year,
you should make your reservations now.
The camaraderie, meet and greets, and running into fellow hams was as
exciting as ever. If any of the planning
committee is reading, I have an idea for a bigger location… just sayin'.
If you didn’t catch the June
7th episode of Ham Nation, Michael Kalter – W8CI was the featured
guest for the Hamvention recap. They
talked issues and plans for the future.
If you think they’re only working on minor changes, you’d be wrong. More: https://twit.tv/shows/ham-nation/episodes/303
There wasn't a ton of major
announcements at Hamvention. Some of the
more technical things I did pick up on:
* ICOM had a prototype of their latest
direct-sampling SDR transceiver, the IC-7610.
It resembles the IC-7600 with the SDR features of the IC-7300. They're looking at late summer availability
once approved by the FCC.
* Kenwood featured their TH-D74 APRS &
D-STAR 144/220/430 HT. This radio has
been out for some time but were touting D-STAR has seen a resurgence because of
this radio. I don't think people are
going to start putting up D-STAR repeaters again because of one radio. Kenwood is looking for feedback from
customers to see if there is interest creating an equivalent mobile radio to
the D74.
* 220 MHz DV access point (DVAP) for the D74
and 4 new “DV AIR” devices by Robin AA4RC.
AIR series are embedded devices supporting the DV Dongle, DV3K, and DVAP
eliminating the configuration and need of a Raspberry Pi to make those devices
portable.
* Yaesu had their new DR-2X repeater on
display.
* Flex Radio has four new SDR radios. Two models integrate the Maestro control
panel (touch screen and controls) into the radio. If you ever thought 'real radios have knobs,'
there you go.
* Just before Dayton, Connect Systems shipped
the first batch of CS800D DMR dual band mobile radios. There is a waiting list for the next around
assuming no issues with the first. Check
the Connect Systems store and look for the 'CS800D waiting list' option for
instructions.
The 300th episode of Ham
Nation was the week before Dayton. I
attended the Ham Nation forum which was still standing room only in the new
room. I got to be apart of the forum promoting
the D-STAR After Show net. Show hosts
and net controllers were invited to the ARRL booth afterward to get our picture
taken with Tom Gallagher – NY2RF.
With the highlights and
festivities around Dayton Hamvention, the special event commemorating 300
episodes of Ham Nation kicked off the following Wednesday with episode 301. For one week, show hosts, after show net
controllers, many with 1 x 1 special event call signs where on the HF bands and
digital modes. With nearly an estimated
10,000 contacts made, digital didn't get the numbers we hoped. There were pileups for the nets but quickly
dropped off for the remainder of the week.
The idea for digital was to involve more hams that don’t have privileges
or means for an HF setup. Those that
participated were happy digital was involved.
If you participated in Ham
Nation 300, send your QSL card with an SASE to the stations worked. A commemorative card will be returned. The logs are being compiled for the
certificates which will be available in the future, catch the show for
details. Lastly, the points challenge is
going on until August so you still have time to get involved if you missed the
special event stations.
Last month, I started out
with an introductory series on terminology used in ham radio DMR. I finished a second writeup on programming a
code plug from scratch. Programming is
focused around the TYT MD-380 but should apply to other CPSes too. It covers a fictitious repeater example,
hotspot configuration (even for the DV4Mini), and simplex operation. Check it out and get familiar with your DMR
radio by programming it! http://www.k8jtk.org/2017/06/11/dmr-in-amateur-radio-programming-a-code-plug/
Not at Dayton but shortly
after, I saw a hands-on review of the new Tytera (TYT) MD-2017 DMR dual band
hand held on Ham Radio 2.0. You heard
right, a DUAL BAND DMR HT! I was excited for this radio even though
there are not many VHF DMR repeaters – unless you're in New England it
seems. The review indicated the channel
selector knob was replaced with a Blackberry Curve-style roller trackball. My enthusiasm quickly deflated. WHY??!!
I had a BB Curve. The trackball
was a nice idea at the time but it was overly sensitive, got gummed up quickly
– especially in a dirty environment, was hard to clean, and had to be replaced
about once a year. The radio itself is
similar to the MD-380 but differences include programming cable, software, code
plugs, and a VFO. An MD-380 code plug
won’t open in the MD-2017 CPS. I’m sure
a hacked program will be available to load code plugs on different radios. Seemed like a good radio otherwise, though I
won't be getting one. Ham Radio 2.0
Episode 99: Debut of the TYT MD-2017 Dual Band DMR HT: http://www.livefromthehamshack.tv/2017/05/29/episode-99-debut-tyt-md-2017-dual-band-dmr-ht/
The next big ham holiday,
Field Day, is right around the corner.
Get out and join your club or find a club to join if you’re not a member
of one. It’s a great time to bring
friends and get them excited about ham radio.
Hams that come out get bitten by the bug to expand their station or
learn a new mode. Check the Field Day
Locator for operations taking place near you: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator. Sending 10
messages over RF from your site gets you 100 points – including Winlink
messages. I love to receive messages
about your setup, stations operating, or social activities taking place. These can be sent via the National Traffic
System (NTS) or Winlink – K8JTK at Winlink.org.
Winlink post: https://winlink.org/content/field_day_send_11_winlink_messages_200_points
With July around the corner,
the 13 Colonies special event is coming up (http://www.13colonies.net/) along with the RAC Canada Day contest (http://wp.rac.ca/rac-canada-day-contest-rules-2017/).
Thanks for reading and 73… de
Jeff – K8JTK
Note: Ham Nation pictures
taken by Tom – N8ETP.
Thanks for reading and
73… de Jeff – K8JTK
****************************************************
THE AFFILIATED CLUBS COORDINATOR
Tom Sly, WB8LCD - ACC
Greetings to all from your
new Affiliated Club Coordinator!
First and foremost, I would
like to say “Thank You” to SM Scott – N8SY for the opportunity to serve you in
this way. Same with your outgoing ACC
John – KD8MQ. I'm amazed to see all the
places they've traveled to in the last couple of years, and all of the things
they have done to support the ARRL, and ultimately you and I. They both deserve your admiration and
respect, and I hope that my contribution will be worthy of the groundwork they
have laid.
I feel that my job for the
ARRL is an important one. Their official
listing has several bullet points of what I'm supposed to be all about, but let
me tell you in my own words what I think they mean and how I will be
approaching the position. First let me
point out that in my view, the ARRL has two distinct and separate operations:
1. The National Organization and 2. The Field Organization.
The work of the National
Organization is the serious stuff like interacting with governments on a
worldwide basis, lobbying all for the benefit of the hobby. They do an outstanding job on our behalf, and
Ham Radio exists today because of the ARRL's efforts to protect us from those
who would like us gone (specifically industry who would love to have our
frequency allocations). The larger their
constituency, the more clout they will have with their lobbying efforts. This is good for us!
The work of the Field
Organization is to make sure YOU have FUN with your hobby! If you have fun, you will naturally bring
other folks into the hobby who also want to have fun. Clubs make it easy to have fun with any new
activity because you can leverage off the knowledge of the other members to
make you successful quicker, and the more you have success with any endeavor,
the more fun it's going to be for you.
My job is in the Field
Organization. It's basically to help you
all have fun with your hobby through your involvement in your clubs! Of course, there will be some natural spill
over to the National Organization as hams support the group that keeps their hobby
viable. So, we all serve each other, but
if the participants in any hobby aren't having fun – one by one they will all
drop out and there won't be a hobby anymore.
So I do view my job as important to the survival of the hobby I call my
own.
There are lot's of activities
to participate in with Ham Radio, but all of them require you to get on the
air! Making Q's is one of the most fun
things you can do in our hobby, that's why it's called “Ham Radio!” (Yeah, I know it's really called Amateur
Radio.) So starting this new position
for me in June gives me an easy topic to talk about where you, as part of your
club, can have FUN with Ham Radio – Field Day!
If your club doesn't show up for Field Day then you are missing out on
one of the most Fun and participated in events in Ham Radio (in North America,
that is). If your club doesn't do Field
Day than find another club that does and ask them if you can become an
“honorary member” for the weekend and help them out. Get a couple of your friends together and
participate. Get on the air from your
home stations and give out Q's. Now
matter how you participate, you'll be having fun and making it more fun for
everyone else, too! Chances are good you
could work all states in a weekend!
Remember, Field Day is NOT a
contest! But, everyone keeps score. Everyone's goal should be to do better than
you did in prior years. That might mean
you try a new location, use different antennas, try different bands and modes,
get more people involved in your operation, learn about propagation. Whatever it is, do what it takes to get
better! (Remember now, it's not a
contest, but it sure is fun if you're winning!) By keeping score and good records
of your set-up, you can look back at your operations and see what may have been
the key factors in doing better or worse than prior years. You can also tell how you do in relation to
other clubs. But you can't call it
winning – because it's not a contest!
(Unofficially now, since there is a score, you can win. And to quote my friend Ed – K8IV: “What could
be more fun than winning?”)
So, if someone you know says
they're not operating field day, and then gives you some lame excuse as to
why (most commonly you'll hear “we did
that 30-40 years ago”) you need to shake them up and get them out there! The new hams need the experience of the “Old
Timers”. And even those “Old Timers” can
learn a few things from the new guys.
Some clubs are all business at Field Day, and there are others who make
it a weekend of socializing on/off air.
Find a place that suits your style and get out there! Have some Fun!
Now that's the easy
part. I'll probably key in on having fun
for the next couple months, but, the tough stuff is coming. Running a successful club program does not
happen by accident. It needs to involve
quite a few dedicated leaders who are going to work awful hard and spend a lot
of their personal time doing it. You
need to thank those guys! A simple
“thank you” will go a long way, but, the best way you can tell them you appreciate
what they are doing is to SHOW UP! Club
leaders can get pretty discouraged when they work hard at putting a program
together and then only one or two show up.
They won't put as much of their personal angst into it next time and
from there failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Please, don't put your club leaders in that
position. You are one of the most
important members of your club, and you can make a big difference in what
happens there. Show up, be positive,
help where you can. It only takes a
couple of you doing that to make a big difference in a club!
Hope to hear you on the air
during FD.
73, de Tom wb8lcd
***************************************************
THE SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
Stan Broadway, N8BHL - SEC
We’re in it up to our boot
tops!
ARES in Ohio is in the midst
of its active season. There are a lot of events- marathons with BIG crowds,
large bicycle rides (Pan Ohio, GOBA and more) and even a national level
Ironman. In addition, there are local parades, community events and more to
keep even the modest counties active.
For some, this can get old… the ‘been there, done that’ syndrome. But
remember why we do these: first, to serve our neighbors and our communities!
Second, because it’s great practice for transferring our communication
abilities over to a real emergency situation. And there’s a new ‘third’: the
harsh reality is we need to have eyes and ears at large public events to help
safety forces with situational awareness.
In other words, look for weird stuff and report it. These events can also serve as field tests
for new technology- digital radio, video, etc., as we step up to new levels in
communications. Most of all, they provide the opportunity for the experienced
guys to lead by example and show how concise, professional communicating
happens. EC’s- get your local LEO’s to
provide terror awareness training, brush up on what to look for.
EC’s you should be always on
the lookout for activities in which amateur radio can be a benefit! The best
way to keep your volunteers interested and excited is to ~stay active!~
How bad is it?
One item moving up the list
in FEMA and OHEMA circles is ‘rapid damage assessment’. Sounds like something we
can provide, right? Seek out some new
training on the rapid assessment side of damage assessment for our people! It’s more critical than ever that EMA’s
provide fast estimates of damage in order to bring in state and federal help.
Your EMA Directors should be able to help get this rolling for you!
The votes are in!
I have had conversation with
a few people who are very interested in applying amateur radio to helping at
polling places during elections. Marion County did that with good success last
year, and a couple elections officials have indicated they’d help running this
up to be a statewide initiative if we’re up for that. If you’re interested….or if you hate the
idea….please let me know your thoughts before we proceed.
Get Registered!
Not for voting (you oughta be
involved in that as a citizen) but for recognition by the state as a volunteer.
Scott has circulated information about our new relationship with Ohio Responds-
a database for registering volunteers. This is the clearinghouse to make certain
we’re covered under Ohio’s liability protection statutes. http://www.arrl-ohio.org/ohio-responds-page.html gets you the
background, and a link is there to register. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL FOUR FEMA
COURSES FIRST!!! You will not be included without them. There is also a question if you’ve had a
background check in 5 years. It doesn’t affect your ability to register, it’s
informational only at this point. Read
Scott’s page completely before registering… take the time now to jump over and
get in the database!
Field Day!!
It’s that time of year again-
for one of the most fun activities I can think of in amateur radio. For groups
that have been doing it over the years, or groups that are just sitting on the
side with their toes in the water (operating only a few hours or under limited
circumstances) it’s all fun. Just like any other activity in ham radio, the first
goal is fun and fellowship! Operating
the radio in a concentrated fashion is excellent practice and still fun! Don’t forget the underlying purpose: to be
able to provide all-else-fails emergency communication. Have fun, be safe and try something new this
year!
The Sarge is alive
You may remember that the
Ohio EMA station, W8SGT (The Sarge) has been severely limited since last July’s
remodel. We have been down to two HF rigs, operating out of the FEMA EMP-vault
(lovingly referred to as the ‘meat freezer’) or out of someone’s home. A new
room was constructed right on the EOC floor, and nice furniture was installed.
The hangup has been antenna work- and now we’re close to having that complete.
Another workday or two should see the Sarge alive and well, with big signals
thanks to our new FT-1200’s and ALS amps! Thanks for your patience in the
meantime- it’s been a long time but we’re really close to being finished!
SET
Planning is underway for this
year’s Simulated Emergency Test- where we can put all this practice to use.
This year has potential for being a ‘big-time’ operation! So stay tuned!
73, Stan, N8BHL
****************************************************
THE PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR
John Ross, KD8IDJ - PIC
From the PIC
The deadline for entering the
2017 Newsletter Contest is just about here…June 30th!
All entries need to be either
postmarked or emailed by midnight June 30th to qualify.
So far…WOW! …a lot of recent
entries the past two weeks by snail mail, email and web posting so this
year should be great.
If you have any questions
call or email ASAP so we can make sure you’re in.
Dayton Hamvention 2017
It’s been about a month since
the Dayton Hamvention at the new location at the Green County Fairgrounds and
everyone is still talking about it.
Different….yes. Bigger….I
think so. More food…you bet! Same enthusiasm about Amateur Radio…better than
ever.
I had a great day on Saturday
working our booth and talked to dozens of hams from all over the world. We are,
collectively, an interesting group of folks and our passion for Amateur Radio
is growing stronger.
It was good to see a lot of
younger hams represented and the credit for that, I think, goes to all of us. I
have never met a ham who wouldn’t take the time to talk to new ham…or a would
like to be… ham. As our hobby grows and changes and we experiment with new
types of communication the interest, the excitement begins to filter down. I
know my career and my life would not be the same if wasn’t for amateur
radio. If we can open doors for future generations everyone wins.
Finally, I know a lot of
improvements are in the works for next year. I’m sure by the it’s all said and
done Xenia will be the greatest destination ever for Amateur Radio!!!
Amateur Radio In
Pennsylvania
I spent about a week in Pennsylvania
earlier this month and Amateur Radio is alive and well there.
Just outside of Philadelphia
you can hit repeaters in Delaware, Maryland, Philly and dozens of small towns
in between . Despite the hills signals are good and the hams there have a done
great job with high towers and coverage. I was never out of range of a
repeater…even with a handheld!
All of the repeaters I used
were analogue and the traffic was pretty heavy! Apparently Amateur Radio
signals are better than cell.
Just one caveat. If you
travel on Pennsylvania on the turnpike the mountains and the tunnels pose
an obvious problem. You can receive several signals but you’ll need a little
luck and a little power to make the contact.
That’s it for this month.
73,
John, KD8IDJ
****************************************************
THE SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER
David Maynard, WA3EZN - STM
I would have liked to have
gone to the Dayton Hamvention but was not able. I was off the air and assisting
with a family emergency. Now that Hamvention has come and gone for this year it
is time to begin thinking about the next big Ham Radio event, Field Day.
FIELD DAY
A few words about bonus
points for field day. Here are the rules
about originating radiograms and extra points.
7.3.5. Message Origination to
Section Manager: 100 bonus points for origination of a formal message to the
ARRL Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator by your group from its
site. You should include the club name, number of participants, Field Day
location, and number of ARES operators involved with your station. The message
must be transmitted during the Field Day period and a copy of it must be
included in your submission in standard ARRL radiogram or no credit will be
given. The message must leave or enter the Field Day operation via amateur
radio RF.
Here is a sample message for
Section Manager N8SY and Emergency Coordinator N8BHL:
1 ROUTINE AC8XX 17 ANYWHERE
OH JUN 24
419 512 4445
BT
XYZ RADIO CLUB HAVING FIELD
DAY AT JOEY PARK WITH
20 PARTICIPANTS AND 7 ARES
MEMBERS 73
BT
XYZ RADIO CLUB FIELD DAY CHAIRMAN
614 600 1635
The Section Manager message
is separate from the messages handled in Rule 7.3.6. and may not be claimed for
bonus points under that rule. Available to all Classes.
7.3.6. Message Handling: 10
points for each formal message originated, relayed or received and delivered
during the Field Day period, up to a maximum of 100 points (ten messages).
Copies of each message must be included with the Field Day report. The message
to the ARRL SM or SEC under Rule 7.3.5. does not count towards the total of 10
for this bonus. Available to all Classes. All messages claimed for bonus points
must leave or enter the Field Day operation via amateur radio RF.
Your Field Day messages can
be sent on a VHF traffic net or on the Ohio Single Sideband Net on 3972.5 at
10:30 AM, 4:15 and 6:45 PM. You should
get you message sent early into the Field Day operating period and remember to
be patient as there could be a large volume of traffic on the nets.
GENERATOR SAFETY
If you are going into the
field and away from commercial power for field day it is now time to check out
the generator and review its use. Safety should be your number one priority.
I am sure that owning an
electrical generator must be appealing to anyone who plans on being prepared
for emergencies or part of an emergency response team. To us being able to generate electricity
means we will be able to remain on the air for Field Day, during blackouts or
at the scene of any emergency or disaster.
But are we thinking about safety when we set up and use the generators.
Here are some basics
regarding generators. But the first thing to do is read the instruction booklet
or manual that came with the generator. If the manual is lost or missing,
contact the generator's manufacturer for another manual.
The correct way to use a
generator is to connect a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated power cord to the
generator. Radios and appliances can then be connected to the power cord. Make sure that the outdoor-rated power cord
has a sufficient wire gauge to handle the electrical load.
Don't overload the
generator. All generators have a power rating.
They should be used only when necessary and only to power a limited number of
appliances or equipment. The total wattage used by the appliances should be
less than the output rating of the generator. If you put too many appliances on
the generator, it could seriously damage the appliances, radios and
electronics. Overloading the generator could also cause fires in the over
heated power cord. A generator should be sized to handle twice the expected
load.
While each type of generator
has safety issues they all have certain things in common. One thing most generators have in common is
that the electricity generated needs to be conducted through wires to
receptacles and radios. On field day it
is more likely that the generator will be exposed to layman not used to working
with generators and long extension cords.
Consequently they can be exposed or involved in trips and falls over the
electrical extension cords. Animals,
children or adults who behave like children in the same space as your generator
or wiring can quickly make a bad situation worse and you must be prepared for
this in your plans. Extension cords on
wet ground are a shock hazard, as is operating a generator with wet hands or
when you are wet. It is always a shame
to lose good people to preventable accidents so don't take chances.
Fuel and fire safety is a
must. Have a fire extinguisher handy and the fuel stored a safe distance from
the generator. The area should be mowed at least for a 20-foot diameter. Fuel
must be stored in a separate area as well as the fire extinguisher in an
accessible convenient place away from the generator area. NEVER REFUEL A GENERATOR WHEN IT IS
RUNNING.
Most generators produce heat.
This can be a resource or a liability depending on how you manage it. You could
cook on the exhaust manifold it is so hot or the same could become an ignition
source for leaking fuel or nearby combustibles. Care must be taken to prevent
burns to anyone in the area and also to prevent a fire while refueling the
generator. It would be advisable to have an inspected fire extinguisher on hand
just in case a fire would start.
I encourage you to practice
proper poison prevention safety by learning the signs of carbon monoxide
poisoning. An odorless, tasteless, gas
that is a by-product of the combustion of just about any fuel, Carbon Monoxide
(CO) is poisonous if it is not vented properly and if allowed to accumulate
without sufficient oxygen in a confined area like a tent. Do you know the symptoms of CO
poisoning? Symptoms in people include
headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, irregular breathing, feeling tired or
ill in a confined area like a tent or building and finally loss of
consciousness and respiratory failure but fell fine away from the confined area
. A generator should never be used indoors or in a confined area.
The surest way to know if
there is carbon monoxide in the area is to use a Carbon Monoxide detector. If
you smell exhaust fumes or suspect CO poisoning leave the building or area
immediately, get to fresh air and call 911 for assistance.
Grounding is a difficult
issue when using generators. For single-generator operation, powering a couple
of station locations, there may not be any benefit in grounding. Making sure your
generator has a good earth ground may help to avoid electrical shocks. Check the generator owner's manual for
correct grounding information. With
large distribution systems, grounding of the generator is best with at least an
8-foot ground rod and standard NEC procedures must be followed. Check this
article on the Ohio website for a picture of how not to ground the generator.
Other considerations are
placement for access, noise abatement, distribution of the feed cables and
grounding if necessary.
GFI systems generally don’t
perform well in field operations due to long feed runs and ground loops with
the various end locations. If your generator has a GFI you may have Ground
Fault issues.
Many small generator units
are the inverter type and although efficient and light they can create a large
amount of inverter hash that raises your HF noise floor to an unacceptable
level. A brushless generator is best.
FINAL TIPS BUT WORTH
REPEATING
Many generator parts are hot
enough to burn you during operation. Stay away from the muffler and other hot
areas. Keep children away from portable
electric generators and their electrical connections and fuel at all
times. Read the instruction booklet or
owner's manual that came with the generator.
Also check the generator owner's manual for correct grounding
information.
Grounding the antenna feed
for lightning is a much more sensible option with the possible cessation of
operation during storms. That means disconnecting and sitting inside the car.
Have fun and have a safe
Field Day.
Additional Resources:
Additional Resources:
That all for is month,
73,
David WA3EZN
****************************************************
OUT AND ABOUT
Lyn Alfman, N8IMW - ASM
May went by so quickly! I only
attended the Coshocton County Amateur Radio Association meeting because the
Cambridge Amateur Radio Association’s May meeting was postponed a week due to
the observed Memorial Day holiday. The Guernsey County Amateur Radio Emergency
Service meeting and training session has changed it meeting day, time, and
location to the first Monday of the month; therefore, they did not have a
meeting in May. The Zanesville Amateur Radio
Club did not meet in April or May, but they will meet in June.
I went to the Hamvention at the Green County Fairgrounds in Xenia on
Friday and Saturday. I helped with the
booth on Saturday morning. I saw and
spoke with many local hams. The new venue
was nice, but of course, there are always differences between having it in a
large arena and a fairground. The
buildings were clean, and some were even air-conditioned. The volunteers and
staff were extremely accommodating.
Friday was very sunny and hot, so, of course, I got sunburned. The remote parking was the best way to
go. I parked at the high school, took
the school bus, and was on the grounds in a matter of minutes.
I, unfortunately, will not be attending the Field Day activities this
year. My grandson is getting married in
South Carolina that Saturday afternoon.
(Maybe I can find a Field Day location to visit after the reception
before I head back to Myrtle Beach. )
Even though I will not be at Field Day, as PIO, I will place W8VP on the
Field Day locator, send out a press release, send out invitations to attend
Field Day to elected officials and served agencies, set up our information
table handouts and information packets for the media, print out and go over the
Field Day package with the participants, and arrange for someone to track and
verify bonus points.
Have a safe and fun Field Day everyone!
Remember to be “Radio Active”!
’73 Lyn, N8IMW
****************************************************
ARES TRAINING UPDATE
Jim Yoder, W8ERW – ARES Data
Manager
ARES Training Update
The season of being busy is
here, the Hamvention is behind us and a list of ARES activities has begun to
take shape. The Great Ohio Bicycle
Adventure, GOBA is scheduled to pass through Seneca County again this year requiring
several days of ARES support and our Hams are working on the logistics and
assignments. Of course, Field Day 2017
will be here soon and all of us hopefully will participate and be able to enjoy
perhaps what is our most significant activity each year. It will again be a busy Summer of Ham
activity. Have fun and play radio. Our work is serious, but fun is also an
important part of what we do and enjoy as Amateur Radio Operators.
Again, I can report ARES
training continues to grow and the numbers I report to our SM Scott N8SY are
both encouraging and very impressive. If
you aren’t seeing them in Scott’s news updates, get on the mailing list and
stay up with all the happenings around the Ohio Section including our progress
in getting ARES members trained. The
numbers are increasing daily and as we continue to grow, the State of Ohio
recognizes our benefit and our capability for supporting state wide efforts to
manage disasters and critical response efforts as evidenced by the Ohio
Responds program. The FEMA NIMS courses
are an important part of these efforts and many of you have already been
approved for participation. This is
great work and is a serious credit to each of you and the Ohio Section.
As a reminder, I can provide
a list for EC’s and individuals if requested, of the training taken for your
county ARES organization. Scott also
updates regularly on the ARRLOhio.org web page, the list of those who have
completed all four of the required FEMA courses, ICS-100, 200, 700 and 800. There are many of you in the database who need
just one more course to be on that list and others only two. I encourage everyone to get on the list by
completing your training. It does take a
little time and the online training is not difficult. You will find the material is very logical
and is structured to give you a good understanding of what will happen when we
are called to assist our public service agencies in the event of a disaster
situation. The training will give you
the assurance that your efforts will be put to good use. Your experience and training as Amateurs is
both needed and significant to managing an appropriate response to any disaster
should one occur.
Again, I want to thank you
for the diligent effort in completing FEMA NIMS training. If you have any questions or need to verify
your courses, please let me know. SEC
Stan Broadway is also a resource as well as your county EC who can help you
with any questions etc. When you
complete your training, don’t forget to send your EC a copy of the certificates
provided by FEMA and also to me. It
doesn’t matter how we get them as long as we do to insure you are
documented. I receive them regularly as
well from SM Scott and SEC Stan as well as our county EC’s. You can submit individual certificates in
.PDF format ideally or you can request a transcript from FEMA that will list
them all in a single document. Either
form for submission is acceptable and will be saved along with inclusion in the
ARES Training Database.
Keep up the great work and be
assured that your effort is both appreciated and recognized. The Ohio Section is making a terrific showing
and it’s all the great effort and dedication Ohio Hams are doing to insure we
are ready when we are called to serve supporting our local communities and the
Great State of Ohio.
73 and Thank you,
Jim W8ERW
****************************************************
Ohio Repsonds
Ok.. Here’s the latest update
on Ohio Responds. We now have 122 persons approved!! Let’s keep this going. We have over 500 with all their
certificates on file. Let’s get everyone to get moving and sign up for Ohio
Responds.
Signing up with Ohio Responds
will give you liability protection under the State of Ohio. This is a real big
things folks.. Where else can you get liability insurance for FREE.
Now, admittedly their system
was designed for another purpose, so in some places it doesn’t match up well
with Amateur Radio Operators and what we do. I have created a webpage where
you’ll find all the pertinent information for getting registered on Ohio
Responds website with as little issues as possible. You really do need to read
this information BEFORE you attempt to register, and you will need to have all
4 of your NIMS courses completed and in our statewide database first! There’s
some very specific information up there that you’ll need to know to correctly
complete the registration process since it doesn’t match up well in some places
with what we do. Here’s a link to that
webpage… http://arrl-ohio.org/ohio-responds-page.html You can also
find this link on the main page of the Ohio Section website as well.
How do I know if I’m on the
list or not? Here’s the link to the list.
http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html Don’t see your
name on the list, and you’ve submitted your certificates? Contact me
immediately!
****************************************************
LET'S TALK
Scott Yonally, N8SY - SM
Hey Gang,
WOW, it’s almost Field Day! Are
you ready? I’ve been keeping a sharp ear to what all the clubs that I have
visited as to what all they are going to do it get the points! I again will be
attempting to visit with as many of you as I can during Field Day.
I need your help.. Please
take pictures of your Field Day and send them to me. I’ll display all the
pictures in a gallery that I’m setting up on our website. Yes, I’ll be out and
about taking pictures, but I need your pictures too. Please send me your Field
Day pictures to: n8sy@n8sy.com
Have you registered for the “Handbook
Giveaway” drawing yet? If you haven’t, go to:
http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html and get
registered. You never know, you just may be the next winner for sure.
Are you getting those emails
from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them. Heck, just
send me an email n8sy@n8sy.com I’ll
get you added to the mailing list. There’s a link to do this on the Ohio
Section website, it’s on the bottom left corner. For your convenience. Here’s a
direct link to it:
http://arrl-ohio.org/forwarder/forwarding.html I urge all of
you to make sure that everyone, regardless of whether they are a League member
or not, gets signed up for one of these options. You can always “Opt-Out” at
any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting. Did you know that the Ohio Section mailing
list is almost 2,000 strong now? It is, and the ARRL emailing list for Ohio is
over 3,600. We have 28,000 licensees’ in Ohio, let’s see if we can get this
email out to all 28,000 by the end of the year!
Just let me know that you want added to the listing. I do get 8 – 10 new
people every week! If you know of anyone that might be interested in getting my
emails that isn’t already, please let them know!
On that same subject, there’s
another NEW – one question – questionnaire on the Ohio Section Website! This
question is really important for me to know. It will only take about 2 seconds
for you to answer it, and you can see how your answer stacks up with others
instantly. If you haven’t done it yet, please do. I really want to hear from
you. And, if you have a question that you’d like to see on our questionnaire,
please send it to me! I have had several of you already do that and I would
love to see more!!
Are you a member of the
ARRL?? If you aren’t a League member, this is a great opportunity to become
one. Want more information on how to join? Here’s the link: http://www.arrl.org/membership-levels. There’s even a 90 day FREE trial that you can apply
for if you’ve never been a member.. Got questions about being a member or what
the League is all about? Send me an email
n8sy@n8sy.com I’ll be happy to call or write to you. We can
even meet and have coffee if you’d like, and I’ll buy!!
I’m sure all of you have
heard me say that I’m always available for you, whether you’re an ARRL member or
not. It’s true, and you can feel free to write or call me anytime. If you have
any questions, concerns, or would just like to sit and chat awhile over a cup
of coffee or something cold to drink, feel free to call or write me
That’s going to do it for
this month. I hope to see you all at your hamfests, club meetings or on the
air!
73, Scott, N8SY
****************************************************
THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER COORDINATOR
John Perone, W8RXX - OOC
The total hours of listening
in May were 826
No OO cards were sent
73, John, W8RXX
****************************************************
SPECIAL EVENTS STATIONS
Events Stations
07/03/2017 | Railroad
Telegraphers
Jul 3-Jul 14, 0100Z-2300Z,
K8T, Bellevue, OH. Mad River &
NKP Railroad Museum. 14.245 7.195 3.850 146.865. QSL. Rick Wolfe, KD8KWV, 358
High St., Bellevue, OH 44811. Celebrating the significance of the use of
telegraphy with the advancement of the railroad. The telegrapher's primary duty
was maintaining communication between the train dispatcher, who was usually
many miles away, with trains and the whole rail system. We will be operating
all modes from the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue, Ohio. QSL
request with SASE to Rick Wolfe, KD8KWV, 358 High Street, Bellevue, Ohio 44811
07/06/2017 | Ohio
State Parks The Grand Tour
Jul 6-Sep 8, 1900Z-0300Z,
W8WDS, Cincinnati, OH. Multiple Local
Clubs. 146.520 14.260 7.235 3.810. Certificate & QSL. William Schramm, 4220
Endeavor Dr, Unit 204, Cincinnati, OH 45252. The Grand Tour is a special event
running from July 7, 2016 to Sept 9, 2016. We will be operating Amateur radio
stations each day from a different Ohio State Park. We will also dedicate each
park's operation to a fallen/disabled Ohio Soldier/Sailor/Airmen. THIS EVENT
HAS BEEN CANCELLED. ohiostateparks.gaterunner.com
07/15/2017 | Marvin
Gilbert (KD8GPF) Special Event
Jul 15-Jul 16,
0800Z-1600Z, W8UCO, Marysville, OH.
W8UCO ARC (Union County Amateur Radio Club). 3.840 7.240. Certificate. Marvin
Gilbert Special Event (W8UCO/KD8GPF), 24581 Sandusky Rd, Richwood, OH 43344.
Commemorating 57 years of public service with Civil Defense/Union County
Emergency Management Agency . Marvin C. Gilbert was a lifelong member of
Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on various boards at the church, a member the
Marysville Evening Lion’s Club, the American Legion Post 79, served with the
Union County Civil Defense and Union County EMA for 57 years, 25 of those years
as Chief. He was also a committee member for the Marysville High School Hall of
Fame, was a board member of the American Red Cross and a member of the Union
County Republican Club, serving as Treasurer and Central District Committeeman.
He enjoyed playing Dart Ball for over 50 years and getting together for his
Wednesday afternoon card club but most of all, he cherished his granddaughter
and attending her activities, never missing a soccer or softball game. A
graduate of Marysville High School, Marvin served in the National Guard, worked
42 years at O.M. Scott’s, retiring as a shipping manager. Born July 9, 1941 in
Marysville. On May 2, 1965, he married his wife of 51 years, Sharon
(Wasserbeck) and she survives in Marysville. Also surviving is his son, Brad
(Tara) Gilbert of Marysville; his granddaughter, Emma Karen Gilbert of
Marysville ohiohams.net
07/24/2017
| Cabwaylingo State Park Dog Days of Summer
Jul 24-Jul 30,
0000Z-2359Z, W8V, Cincinnati, OH. KE8BBB.
14.330 7.400 7.180. Certificate & QSL. Arthur F. Menges, KE8BBB, 2603 Foran
Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45238. Special Event to run entire week at various times
from various locations within 8123 acre state park. QSL Manager: Arthur F.
Menges KE8BBB
****************************************************
OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR
06/17/2017 | Milford Hamfest
27th Annual
Location: Milford, OH
Sponsor: Milford Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.w8mrc.com
07/08/2017 | GARS Germantown Hamfest
Location: Germantown, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Germantown Amateur Radio Society (GARS)
Website: http://GARSohio.org
07/09/2017 | 20/9 Radio Club Hamfest, Computer & Electronics Show
Location: Austintown, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: 20/9 Radio Club, Inc.
Website: http://20over9.org
07/15/2017 | NOARSFEST
Location: Elyria, OH
Sponsor: Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://noars.net
Location: Milford, OH
Sponsor: Milford Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.w8mrc.com
07/08/2017 | GARS Germantown Hamfest
Location: Germantown, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Germantown Amateur Radio Society (GARS)
Website: http://GARSohio.org
07/09/2017 | 20/9 Radio Club Hamfest, Computer & Electronics Show
Location: Austintown, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: 20/9 Radio Club, Inc.
Website: http://20over9.org
07/15/2017 | NOARSFEST
Location: Elyria, OH
Sponsor: Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://noars.net
07/16/2017 | Van Wert Hamfest
Location: Van Wert, OH
Sponsor: Van Wert Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://w8fy.org
07/30/2017 | Portage Hamfair '17
Location: Ravenna, OH
Sponsor: Portage Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Website: http://hamfair.com
Location: Van Wert, OH
Sponsor: Van Wert Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://w8fy.org
07/30/2017 | Portage Hamfair '17
Location: Ravenna, OH
Sponsor: Portage Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Website: http://hamfair.com
We now have a complete
listing of hamfests in Ohio on the website. Go to: http://arrl-ohio.org/hamfests.html to see everything
that is currently scheduled, including the Great Lakes Division Convention!
****************************************************
A final – final..
Today is June 16th, and it’s
National Flip Flop Day as well as National Fudge
Day, yum, yum!!!
Now, on that note... Amateur
Radio is exciting and a lot of FUN. It’s also a learning experience for
everyone! Share your enjoyment and learning experiences with those just coming
into Amateur Radio!!
eof..
