In this issue:
-> HOT OFF THE PRESSES
-> DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
BEGINS
-> AFFILIATED CLUB
COORDINATOR REPORT
-> FROM THE SECTION
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
-> FAR SCHOLARSHIP INVITES
APPLICATIONS
-> FROM THE PIC
-> 2015 ARRL OHIO SECTION
NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES
-> FROM THE SECTION
TRAFFIC MANAGER
-> OUT AND ABOUT IN
SOUTHEAST OHIO
-> SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS
-> FROM THE TECHNICAL
COORDINATOR
-> FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT
LIAISON
-> FROM THE EDUCATIONAL
OUTREACH ASM
-> LET'S TALK
-> FROM THE OFFICIAL
OBSERVER COORDINATOR
-> FROM THE “SARGE” (W8SGT)
STATE OF OHIO EOC
-> 102nd ANNIVERSARY OF
AMATEUR RADIO IN DISASTER SERVICE
-> SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS
IN OHIO
-> OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR
-> FINAL.. FINAL..
****************************************************
HOT OFF THE PRESSES..
---------------------------------
Reprinted from ARRL Newsfeed
- 02/17/2015
FCC “Paperless” Amateur Radio
License Policy Now in Effect
Starting February 17
(Tuesday), the FCC no longer routinely issues paper license documents to
Amateur Radio applicants and licensees. The Commission maintains that the
official Amateur Radio license authorization is the electronic record that
exists in its Universal Licensing System (ULS), although the FCC had routinely
continued to print and mail hard copy licenses until this week.
In mid-December, the FCC
adopted final procedures to provide access to official electronic
authorizations, as it had proposed in WT Docket 14-161 as part of its “process
reform” initiatives. Under the new procedures, licensees will access their
current official authorization (“Active” status only) via the ULS License
Manager.
The FCC will continue to
provide paper license documents to all licensees who notify the Commission that
they prefer to receive one. Licensees will also be able to print out an
official authorization — as well as an unofficial “reference copy” — from the
ULS License Manager.
“We find this electronic
process will improve efficiency by simplifying access to official
authorizations in ULS, shortening the time period between grant of an
application and access to the official authorization, and reducing regulatory
costs,” the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) said. According to the
WTB, the new procedures will save at least $304,000 a year, including staff
expenses.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW.. The ULS License Manager now permits licensees
to change the default setting so that the Bureau will print and mail a license
document.
****************************************************
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS
Yes folks, that’s right, even
though your Freezing Your Acorns off right now, Sunday March 8th
will begin that absolutely wonderful loss of an hours sleep so that you can
have a little more sunshine to go with the below zero weather your experiencing!!
I’ve added this note so that
none of you would miss the opportunity of losing that valuable hour of sleep.
After all, misery just LOVES company.
Look at the bright side of
this… Summer is only 4 months away.
****************************************************
AFFILIATED CLUBS COORDINATOR
REPORT
--------------------------------------------------------------
By: John Myers, KD8MQ - ACC
kd8mq@arrl.net
Hi everyone,
Seems we have a bit of a
disagreement between Punxsutawney Phil, and Buckeye Chuck, as to the
arrival of
spring. As I’m writing this, the thermometer says -7 degrees outside. I’m not
sure which rodent needs to be cooked first, but. . . .
Anyhow, for those who braved
the weather, and made it to the Mansfield Hamfest, I salute you. Temps were
brutal, to say the least. I intended to be there, but just too darn cold! I did
manage to make it to the Nelsonville Hamfest in January, and had a great time!
Good crowd, and very friendly.
Moving on, looking at the
latest numbers from the club database, I’m happy to see more & more of you
coming up to date on your club paperwork. Out of 99 clubs listed in the Ohio
Section, about two thirds of you are up to date on your annual club reports to
the league. We are still far from 100%, but I’m happy to see things moving in
the right direction.
To beat the drum a little
more, the league requires annual updates to your club record as a condition of
affiliation. They aren’t sitting on the trigger, waiting for you to be one day
late. But in time, they will drop your club off of the “active club” list if
you neglect this important task.
In last month’s column, I
spelled out the advantages of keeping your affiliation current. It really does
take just minutes to do this online. If you have any questions, just drop me an
e-mail (kd8mq@arrl.net), and I’ll do my best to answer them.
So, a stranger walks into
your monthly club meeting. What do you do? Ignore them, or welcome them? If
you’re smart, you’ll welcome them. We’ve all read the horror stories out there
where the prospective club member shows up to a club meeting, only to be ignored.
Not only won’t they be back, but likely won’t have anything good to say about
that club to their friends.
It’s up to every one of us to
be an ambassador not only for Ham Radio, but for our clubs too. If you put your
best foot forward, it will pay future benefits.
I was at a club event
recently, and couldn’t help noticing how this club treated newcomers. A fellow
came out who was licensed, but inactive. The newcomer was made to feel welcome,
and included. I bet that they’ll be seeing him again.
We have the following clubs
to congratulate this month.
First, let’s welcome a new
club, the Kenton Amateur Radio Club. They are in the western part of the state,
based in Hardin County.
Next, I’d like to welcome
back the Tusco Amateur Radio Club. They are in the East Central part of the
state, in Tuscarawas County. They were off the list for a short time, but are
back.
Club news from around the
state
-The Dayton ARA recently held
a Chili Cook-off.
-Congratulations to Chris,
KD8TNF, Massillon ARC’s Ham Of The Year. Massillon has a full schedule of club
programs & activities scheduled for 2015. They recently held their second
Mentoring class, where they hold a Saturday morning in-depth class on various
subjects; the most recent being a group build on offset attenuators for Radio
direction Finding. With all this going on, is it any surprise to learn that
they are a Special Service Club?
-The Mt. Vernon ARC has
started off the new year with a record number of students in their Technician
classes. They are also planning to participate in the Ohio ARES NVIS Antenna
day scheduled for April 25th.
-From the Mahoning valley ARA
newsletter, Mark, K8MSH hits on an excellent point in his editorial. To quote
him, “Get involved in your local club. Pick an activity--even if it's just
one--in which to participate or lead. Offer to do a program, teach a class,
become a VE, serve on a committee, or help plan a club activity.”
-The Pioneer Amateur Radio
Fellowship is again doing their bus trip to the Dayton Hamvention.
-The western Reserve ARC will
be sponsoring a spud gun build this year.
-From the Cincinnati FM Club,
we see an interesting story by N8XX about his trip to Hell (Michigan).
-Northern Ohio ARS recently
had a club program on three SDR Radios.
-Also, congratulations to the
Alliance ARC Ham Of The Year, Tomas, KC8ZEH
And that wraps it up for
another month. Stay warm, and have fun!!
Till next time, 73 DE KD8MQ
****************************************************
FROM THE SECTION EMERGENCY
COORDINATOR
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By Stan Broadway, N8BHL
broadways@standi.com
Spring is on the way!
I offer that to counter the
mid-winter blah’s that we often get in this part of the country. But it’s true-
spring is coming with a lot to offer ARES in Ohio!
We’re nailing down the
specifics for the All-Ohio ARES Conference. It’s scheduled for April 11 at
the
Ohio Fire Marshall’s Conference Center, 8895 E. Main St, Reynoldsburg, OH. That’s
a little drive east from Reynoldsburg. Our aim has been to make this a training
session, with information you can take home and be really glad you came. Our
keynote speakers will be from the joint FBI/Homeland/Police “Fusion Center” and
the training will be on anti-terrorism. I’ve seen these experts before, and I
have to tell you I had trouble sleeping for a couple nights when I heard what
all was going on right here in Ohio! We will learn eight signs of terrorism-
and since hams communicate for all the major populated events in our state, we
need to be more than just ‘aware’ we need to be active and trained! We have
representatives of the Red Cross to talk about their renewed interest in
partnering with ARES hams. Of course, we’ll have some important internal
discussions: the re-written Ohio Section Emergency Response Plan (OSERP), the
launch of the Ohio ARESMAT program, the Ohio OARS database, and a few
administrative details. There are more speakers on the agenda as well and not
to be overlooked is the group from Ashtabula County to detail our Ohio NVIS
Antenna Day. Pre-registration for the conference is on the ARRL-Ohio website,
and they are coming in good numbers. There is a seating limit of around 125-140
so don’t wait! Bring your go-box, and your comm vehicle for the show!
April 25 is another great day
in the Ohio Section! That is the Ohio NVIS antenna day. You should know the
drill by now- put together your concepts of what a good NVIS antenna should be
like, and get together to actually try them out! Starting at 10AM, this is not
exactly a contest, but it’s designed to get as many counties in Ohio on the air
at once, all testing antennas and communications with each other. Since we’ve
been written up in ARRL’s national news, I have received numerous inquiries
from as far away as Texas! I think this is going to be just a fun way to get
together, play and test in our hobby, and munch some great burgers!
The most important thing we
can do until spring breaks is TRAIN! Our recent activation when 911 service
dropped for six Ohio counties showed that it ~can~ happen to you and when it
does it’ll come quickly! Our county EC’s and volunteers did a great job- ham
radio was absolutely a star in this real-life event that paralleled our last
SEC almost to the letter. So bring in your EMA Directors, Red Cross managers,
safety officers and get some training in stuff that happens when there is a
disaster! We should know how to operate radios- but we’ll be much more useful
if we are familiar with NIMS, ICS, and our local officials.
This is also a great time to
make contact with the representatives of the public service activities that we
cover. Make sure you have email, telephone and other contact information up to
date, get the right dates for when your activities will be held this year, and
make an early contact to get in on their planning process!
I sincerely appreciate all
you do for your neighbors, and for the Ohio Section!
73, Stan, N8BHL
****************************************************
FAR SCHOLARSHIP INVITES APPLICATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------
The non-profit Foundation for
Amateur Radio (FAR) invites applications for the Amateur Radio-related
scholarships it administers. These academic awards are sponsored by individuals
and by Amateur Radio clubs across the US. The FAR scholarship application
process is open to Amateur Radio licensees worldwide. For 2015 FAR is
administering 67 scholarships worth an aggregate $125,500. The list includes 36
Quarter Century Wireless Association scholarships worth a total of $77,000 for
2015 (these require a recommendation from a QCWA member). Individual awards
range from $500 to $5000. Applications are due by March 30, 2015.
The preferred method to apply
is to enter the required information into the electronic form on the FAR
website. Information entered on the form goes directly into an encrypted,
password-protected PDF file that is available only to the review committee. Raw
data are not stored online. Applicants will have an opportunity to print their
applications and to edit them.
The application cannot be
downloaded and completed, however. Applicants who are unable or unwilling to
use the online application should contact Dave Prestel, W8AJR. FAR may be able
to provide an alternate form of the application.
Official or unofficial
transcripts may be submitted but are not required; it is preferred that these
documents be scanned into PDF files, if they are to be submitted via e-mail.
Schools that prefer to mail paper copies should send them to FAR Scholarships,
PO Box 911, Columbia, MD 21044.
Visit the FAR Scholarship
Information page or contact FAR, if you have questions about the 2015
scholarship application process.
****************************************************
FROM THE PIC
--------------------
By John Ross, KD8IDJ
john.ross3@worldnet.att.net
Short Circuits
Hi Everyone...instead of one
long article this month I thought I would pass along several "shorts"
that might be of interest!
First...I received several
emails on last month's article about the hams at the Ohio Veterans Home in
Sandusky. They are a great bunch of guys doing a lot of good things.
I misidentified Joe Paluh,
KB3LUE, as a Vietnam Veteran. He is actually a Granada Veteran. Sorry Joe.
You'll be hearing and seeing more about these folks pretty soon.
Second...One of the great
joys working at a company like AT&T is there are hundreds of ham radio
operators spread all across the country. I talk with many each day and now I'm
working on a story about how AT&T hams actually helped invent most of the
technology we use today. The Old MA Bell was built on experimenting with
technology and then making it the standard main stream systems we still use
today. Who better to do that than ham radio operators!! I've got a growing list
of almost 200 AT&T hams and if you are an old Bell System employee...or
know someone who was...email me. This is really a big deal. Ham radio and
telephony pretty much paralleled each other for more than 100 years. After all,
the cell system that everyone marvels at today...is really just a repeater
system! And we all know who pretty much invented that technology!
Third... WOW! The newsletter
contest is in high gear and it's only February! Keep sending your clubs'
newsletters...printed or electronic. I really do read them all. We'll judge
them in June and have another list of great winners at the August HamFest.
Fourth...The Weather! As we
move though this crummy cold and snow the active tornado season is right around
the corner. Each year I try to get to one of the National Weather
Services/Emergency Management Agency weather spotter training events. A lot of
good information is presented that I can take back to work and pass along to
co-workers. It's also a great way to meet and talk to other hams...and to folks
who would like to be hams! If you have the time check one out.
Fifth...Your Ham Shack! I
thought we needed to liven up the PIC section so, starting this month, we'll be
featuring pictures and stories about members' ham shacks, operating areas or
end-table control centers! I remember the first shack I saw when I was 10. It
was tucked away in a basement corner complete with lights, switches and glowing
tubes. And the smell, or aroma, was hypnotic! I can still remember that
smell...ozone, burning tubes, dust or whatever it was... was a part of luring
me to ham radio.
So, first up this month is
the incredible shack of Ohio Section ARES Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL.
Check out the photo (viewed from website version only) and the story below and
start sending me pictures of your shack and brief story of its evolution.
Stan’s hamshack.
I have a ~very~ understanding
wife. Let me explain. I was very active in the 80’s and 90’s but a divorce,
apartment living and all that put the stops on my hobby for about 15 years. I
did run a little HF mobile but mostly chased storms on two meters. After 2005 I
found myself out in the country, with lots of room. I started thinking about
that prized radio still on the shelf after all these years. The 1982 Yaesu
FT-102 has developed a cult following (its receiver is the design for the
FT1000) and a retired cardiac surgeon (NC4L) was the go-to FT-102 specialist to
make this one sing opera again. So with a pile of tower, antenna and leftover
stuff behind the barn, I figured I could establish a station for about $500.
After digging through the pile, I discovered the tower was there, but the boom
to my beautiful Hy-quad beam was missing. I had two rotor controllers, ~but no
rotors (!)~ apparently lost in several moves. So in a short time I added a nice
used-in-the-box Force12 beam, the FT-102 and my old homebrew sweep tube amp.
Even though the 160 full-wave Delta Loop didn’t cost much, needless to say my
original estimate proved to be just a little low.
I soon added an Icom Pro II
and a Dentron amp to be more consistent in signal, after joining the Hurricane
Watch Net as a controller. Later, I traded off my motorcycle in favor of a used
K-3. My most recent addition has been a nice Swan Mark II full-power amp. Since
I do a lot of digital radio, and since the Hurricane Net uses Internet
back-channels to communicate between operators, I dedicated a couple surplus
PC’s and some monitors to the project.
Like most, I started in the
basement with my modest shack. That changed with the reality that kids grow
up…and move out! When they do that, they leave bedrooms empty and I seized an
opportunity to make one into my radio room. I was still on a budget and found
excellent operating tables could be made from finishing a pair of interior
doors, resting on some shelving. (They’re deeper than desks, affording more
writing room in front of the rigs.) Since I am on the second floor, I ran all
the coax through a closet to the attic and out to the tower. So I have been
blessed with a great environment, and some great radios. Now- the challenge is
to make it past the Computers, email, club and SEC duties to actually get on
the air! I did just grab Navassa on ten, so I’m not completely a hermit when it
comes to operating. I don’t have the warehouse of gear that many have who’ve
been active for a long time, but I think I’ll stay with this stuff for a while.
Finally... now for brief
musical interlude...when you can, grab a copy and listen to Glen Campbell's
Wichita Lineman. Right after the main refrain..."and the Wichita Lineman
is still on the line"...the violins begin pounding out...MORSE CODE!!! No
kidding. Listen carefully and see how good you can copy Violin Code in 4/4
time!!!
73, John, KD8IDJ
****************************************************
2015 ARRL OHIO SECTION
NEWSLETTER CONTEST RULES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here the rules for the 2015
entries:
A.) An eligible newsletter
must be regularly published at least four (4) times per year by an Ohio
Amateur
Radio organization. The Ohio Section Journal and the newsletter for any club
that the current PIC is affiliated with are not eligible.
B.) Each organization
submitting a newsletter for the contest must enter at least two (2) issues
starting with January 2015 for judging. All Amateur organizations that have
regularly been sending newsletters to the Ohio PIC are automatically entered
(as long as these publications qualify under rule A, or C if applicable).
Unless you are automatically entered, the deadline for entries is Tuesday, June
30, 2015, and all entries must be in the hands of the Ohio PIC by that date.
C.) Electronic (Web based)
produced newsletters may also enter. Non-amateurs, in the Public Relations
industry will do the judging. They will be judging on style (15%), content
(35%), service to membership (35%), and clarity of presentation (15%). Style
means newsletter design of all pages. Content means amount of useful
information contained in the newsletter. Service to members means amount of
information using individual members' names. Clarity of presentation means
readability of the newsletter including accuracy of English grammar.
D.) No entries can be
returned and all decisions of the judges on content and eligibility are final.
The Ohio PIC only serves to certify entries, to provide the judges with
entries, and to announce their decisions only.
E.) The decision of the
judges is final.
Like last year we are keeping
our Honorable Mention categories. It allows the judges to award special and
unique efforts.
****************************************************
FROM THE SECTION TRAFFIC
MANAGER
---------------------------------------------------------
By: David Maynard, WA3EZN -
STM
wa3ezn@att.net
By the time you read this the
Mansfield Mid-Winter Hamfest will be over. I wanted so much to attend but the
cold weather forecast and a deep family commitment kept me away. I hope
everyone attending had fun and got home safely.
NEW NET MANAGER
On the CW side of traffic
handling Bob Zimmerman W8OLO has stepped up to become the new Ohio Slow Net
manager effective January first. I thank him for taking over the reins and
doing the fine job that he is doing. I also would like to thank Henry Koenig
WD8Q for his many years of service as the net manager and thank both of them
for their service to the National Traffic System as excellent traffic handlers.
If you are not aware of this net brush up or learn CW and join in the fun on
3.53535 daily at 18:00. They will slow down to your speed while you get
accustomed to CW and build up you own speed.
WEATHER SPOTTER REMINDER
Next month is March and that
means there will be multiple weather spotter training sessions all over the
state of Ohio. These training sessions and a good weather alert radio or cell
phone alert app are two of the steps you can take to help protect yourself and
your family if a severe weather situation arises. Some sessions require pre-registration
and this can be accomplished on the NWS website. Below is the information from
the NWS website in Wilmington.
If you are going to attend
the session at the OSU Fawcett Event Center in Columbus on March 7th stop by
the Central Ohio Traffic Net table at the center and say hello. The COTN is
planning on recruiting traffic handlers at the session.
NWS WILMINGTON OHIO 2015
SPOTTER TRAINING SCHEDULE
Classes are free and open to
the public, but some may require advanced registration. You do not need to be a
resident of the county in which a talk is being held in order to attend. Each
class lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours and is led by a National Weather Service
meteorologist who will discuss techniques and safety for severe weather
spotting. Once you attend a class, you are an officially trained spotter and
can report severe weather to your NWS office.
We are still working with
county emergency managers to finalize a few training classes for the 2015
schedule. Please check back periodically for complete details.
ARES NVIS ANTENNA TEST
In support of the antenna
test I offer this information to all Amateur Radio Operators.
On April 25 the Ohio ARES is
planning a NVIS ANTENNA DAY. It would be an excellent time for all traffic
handlers to join in this test even if you are not an ARES member. And speaking
of ARES membership I encourage all traffic handlers to seek out the ARES in
your area and join so you can be better prepared to assist in the event of a
disaster in your area.
You should be working now on
antennas to try out during the event! For more information check out this ARES
link http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/ . There is more NVIS information and some excellent
antenna plans so you can build your own NVIS antenna. One advantage of this
antenna is that you will not need a tower or to climb anything to install these
antennas as they are all low to ground level antennas.
HOW NVIS WORKS
If you don’t know what NVIS
is it stands for Near Vertical Incidence Skywave. RF is launched at a high
elevation angle and is refracted back to earth.
Notice that unlike a signal
launched at a low angle for DX, the NVIS signal returns to the ground close to
the antenna.
NVIS is well suited to
regional emergency communication. Reliable NVIS communications are possible out
to distances of approximately 300 miles. This means that a small number of NVIS
stations are required to provide a statewide network. Amateurs can quickly
establish communications using NVIS after a natural disaster because NVIS uses
readily available HF equipment and simple antenna that can be constructed from
readily available materials and do not require towers or other special types of
mounting. CW, SSB and various HF digital modes all can be used with NVIS.
Credits:
The weather spotter
information is from the NWS Wilmington website. Portions of and the NVIS
illustration are from the ARRL website.
That is all for this month. I
have provided the information above instead of more traffic handling
information this month because of the high importance of the two events. I hope
that all have a chance to get involved in these very worthwhile activities.
73 for now, David, WA3EZN
****************************************************
OUT AND ABOUT IN SOUTHEAST
OHIO
------------------------------------------------------
By: Lyn Alfman, N8IMW - Assistant
Section Manager (SE)
lynalfman@aol.com
The weather the last month
has made traveling a challenge since I live in the “outback.” However, I
did
make it to the Sunday Creek Amateur Radio Federation’s hamfest in Nelsonville
on January 18. That was the first time that I had attended that hamfest, and I
was quite impressed at the amount of vendors and attendees. Section Manager
Scott Yonally, N8SY, and Affiliated Club Coordinator John Myers, KD8MQ, were
also in attendance. We had a pleasant encounter when former Section Manager
Frank Piper, KI8GW, dropped by.
I attended the Cambridge
Amateur Radio Association and the Zanesville Amateur Radio Club meetings where
I promoted the ARRL Elmer Award. I reminded the members that it was not too
early to start planning a location for their ARRL Field Day exercise.
District 9 Emergency
Coordinator Sonny Alfman, W8FHF; Guernsey County EC Dick Wayt, WD8SDH; and his
AECs Bruce Homer, N8JMK; Mark Jenei, KC8SBB; and Larry Dukes, KD8QYV, and I
attended an Everbridge Citizen Notification training session at the Guernsey
County EMA office to learn how to set up an A. R. E. S. ® group notification. I
am a member of the Guernsey County A. R. E. S. ®, and I needed the training
since I am the EMA Director’s backup PIO.
I attended the Muskingum
County A. R. E. S. ® meeting where Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway,
K8BHL, welcomed the new Muskingum County EC Liz Nichols, KC8SIQ. Also in
attendance were several neighboring counties’ ECs and AECs, who wanted to meet
SEC Broadway. Stan put on a nice program on “My First SOS” and the role and
organization of A.R.E.S. ®.
I plan on attending the
Mansfield Hamfest on February 15, weather permitting. Hopefully spring will
arrive before long!
73, Lyn, N8IMW
****************************************************
SOUTHWEST OHIO HAPPENINGS
---------------------------------------------
From: Kitty Hevener, W8TDA -
Assistant Section Manager (SW)
w8tda@arrl.net
CLASSES AND EXAM
OPPORTUNITIES
The Monday Morning Memo
reports that the Wilmington National Weather Bureau is scheduling spotter
training classes. This year many counties are being combined for training
purposes. The schedule can be found on the Wilmington NWS web site. http://www.weather.gov/iln/spottertrainingschedule
The Greene County Amateur
Radio License Courses, jointly sponsored by the three Greene County amateur radio
clubs (Bellbrook, Fairborn and Xenia) and Greene County ARES, started on
Sunday, February 8 and will run through April 12. All classes begin promptly at
7:00 and end at 9:00 PM. There will be no classes on Easter Sunday, April 5th. A
Greene County VE Test Session is scheduled for Sunday, April 19th at 6:00 PM. To
register for one of the courses or for more information, please contact Bill
Watson K8WEW, Green County License courses Coordinator by email at wwatson4@att.net
Rob Lindsay, W8MRL reports
that the Butler County Amateur Radio Association (BCARA) will offer an amateur
radio operator's license examination session beginning at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the Fairfield Township Police Department, 6485
Vonnie Vail Ct., Hamilton, Ohio. Exams are FREE. Walk-ins welcome -
Preregistration is not required. Additional information may be obtained from
Thurl Golden, KD8VLU, (513-939-4891) or Carl Morgan, K8CM, (513-422-9384)
PUBLIC SERVICE
According to Rob Lindsay,
W8MRl, Butler County Amateur Radio Association members Thurl - KD8VLU, Charlie
- K8CLC, Mindi - KC8CKW, Kevin - W8KJ and Terry - KD8ULM brought a taste of
amateur radio to residents of the One Way Farm Children’s Home in Fairfield
Ohio. During the Jan 24 event, children ranging in age from 10 to 17, learned
the science of radio, deployed a wire dipole and assembled a ground mounted
antenna. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the opportunity that the children
had to talk with Stu, MM0BSM in Scotland.
Steve Lewis, N8TFD, advises
that volunteer registration for the 2015 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is now
open. Anyone interested in assisting as a ham radio volunteer is urged to
contact him at (513-985-9844-home).
MAXIMIZING YOUR RESOURCES
It’s the last minute and you
are still hoping and praying that somehow you will get enough volunteers to
provide communications for your marathon, bike-a-thon, parade, etc. Sound
familiar? Imagine only needing to put out one call for help for that special
event, and getting far more volunteers than you need. It’s possible, especially
if you play your cards right!
Chances are newly licensed
hams and those who have recently moved to your area or who are visiting may
step up to the plate. Some of these volunteers may likely be disabled. This is
because people with disabilities now make up a large and rapidly growing
segment of our population. And, as we all know, Amateur Radio is the great
equalizer.
If you feel uncomfortable
interacting with folks that are disabled, you’re not alone. Just remember that
people with disabilities are people first, just like you. They may do things a
little differently, but as long as they can get the job done, and do it
effectively, that’s all that really matters, right? For example, you read with
your eyes, a person who is blind, will most likely read with their fingers, or
have an electronic reader that will speak to them. As long as the communication
gets through correctly, what’s the difference in how it got through!
The following three keys have
led to many successes in working with volunteers who may or may not have
disabilities. Implement them, and watch your volunteers come back again and
again.
Get To Know Your Volunteers
What do your volunteers want
to do? Are they interested in fulfilling a community service requirement? Do
they wish to build their resume? Perhaps they want to make a difference. Are
they motivated by the recognition that comes with a job well done? Or, perhaps
they simply enjoy the social interaction and fun that comes from participation.
Determine Your Volunteers’
Strengths
Once you know a person’s
strengths, it’s possible to play into them. In doing so however, you may find
it necessary to make small changes in your assignments/ activities. Your
willingness to make these small changes will make all the difference as to how
effective your volunteers with disabilities can excel.
For example, suppose you need
a net control who can direct the operation of the net, and keep an accurate log
of net activities on a specific form which can only be accessed through a
computer system. And, the radio equipment available is setup for someone who is
sighted only (no talkie chip). Initially it may seem impossible for a ham who
is not sighted to be able to function as Net Control, even though they have the
experience to perform the Net Control task very well. Hold on! Before you send
that talent packing, determine if making a minor change to assignment would
allow this person to do the task after all. Nothing says that all the duties of
a Net Control has to be done by just one person, or for that matter even a
licensed ham. So, why not split up the duties if you can? Assign the task of
directing the operation of the net to your experienced volunteer ham, who also
happens to be blind in this case. Assign the sighted duties to the non-ham who
can perform those duties. This setup will enhance your overall operating
efficiency, since everyone involved can be more focused on their specific
tasks. It also gives a non-ham the ability to participate in an activity that
they wouldn’t ordinarily be allowed to participate in as well!
Now you have just put two
people to work that might not have ever been asked to participate in the first
place. What a WIN – WIN opportunity. Now, so far the discussion has been tilted
toward just sighted / non-sighted persons.. What about someone with missing
digits or limbs? There are an awful lot of soldiers coming home with just such
disabilities. They have a lot of experience in handling difficult and strenuous
(even life threating) situations. Are you going to turn all this experience
away? Sometimes the knobs on the radios are so small, or situated in a location
that they cannot be manipulated by someone with prosthetics. This too is where
you can excel. By allowing an additional person to help out, you again have a
WIN – WIN situation.
This is by no means the only
accommodations one can make to maximize the benefits of talented resources. There
are many, many more. In most cases, if you just ask the person with a
disability what can you do, they will tell you exactly what it takes to make it
possible for them to participate.
It is also recognized that
not every situation allows for an additional person to be involved. Sometimes
it just isn’t possible.. but when it is possible, especially when you have
non-ham volunteers that are just chomping at the bit to help, this is an
excellent way to get the extra resources that you sometimes need. You know, if
this experience for the non-ham is a positive one, it just might be the “push”
it takes to get a good trained ham in the future as well.
Recognize Your Volunteers’
Contributions
Finally, don’t forget to
acknowledge your volunteers for their contributions that helped make your event
a resounding success. This holds true for every occasion. We all work for
“positive strokes.” It’s only human to want to hear that you’ve done a good
job, especially if you have.
By following these simple
keys, your volunteers (those with and without disabilities) will likely come
back again.
In closing, FEMA
Administrator, Craig Fugate, (KK4INZ) reminds us that “In a disaster, we need
Amateur Radio operators of all abilities who can support their communities in
their time of need. As an Amateur Radio operator, you can play a key role in
your community’s response and recovery from disaster. But we can only do that
if we are prepared and trained.”
Want to know more? Contact
me, I’ll be happy to talk to you, or your organization about how this WIN – WIN
opportunity can be utilized to its fullest. You can also contact the HandiHams
or consult the ARRL Public Service Handbook for more information.
73, Kitty, W8TDA
****************************************************
NOTES FROM THE TECHNICAL
COORDINATOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
By: Jim Yoder W8ERW - TC
w8erw@arrl.net
If you thought we'd escape winter,
I think by now the notion of any such luck has passed. It's snowing again now
as I write this and the temperatures have already been making the gas meter run
more like a gyroscope. It's pretty perhaps, seasonal for sure and likely drives
most of us to inside activities rather than being outside in the weather.
Those inside activities
sometimes lead to thinking about future plans for our operating environments
and other chores that we might wish to accomplish which otherwise might not get
done when we are busy outside. I apologize in advance for those who lament the
snow shovel, blower and the ice scrapers early in the morning. Here is what I
have been contemplating.
Our friends in Michigan have
initiated a group of technical experts to produce up to date instructional
materials to assist their members with the digital modes. Here in Ohio we have
a group working to connect all of us digitally in support of our ARES and other
needs. I would like to see something similar to the Michigan program here in
Ohio. When you meld computers, radio and the appropriate software, the task can
be daunting, especially to those who have had little exposure to either of the
necessary elements involved. So, I am asking for your input and a few talented
Ohio Hams to form a group towards this end. If you have some experience using
the digital modes and would like to assist in collaboration with others to
produce graphical presentations that can be used at club meetings etc., I want
to hear from you. Specifically, we need people who are actively using the
digital modes and have some skill in producing video, Power Point and written
documentation. Let's see what we can do.
Along the same theme,
Technical expertise is always welcome. If you would like to be a part of the
team of Technical Associates serving the Ohio Section, I would like to hear
from you also. Our mission to the Section is to assist other Amateurs with RFI
and other technical problems as well as serve as a resource to local clubs
throughout Ohio. A little experience, an outgoing personality and a certain
desire to help a fellow Ham are what you need to be a part of a great group of
Amateurs who serve as Technical Associates. Drop me a line or give me a call if
you are interested.
Although not a technical
issue, the State of Ohio is now requiring holders of Amateur Radio special
plates to provide a copy of the FCC license in order to renew those plates. Renewal
can be done at the local Deputy Registrar office or by mail. In either case, a
copy of the FCC license is required. For those of us who have used the online
renewal "O-Plates", it appears we will no longer be able to do that. The
following message appears online when I made an attempt to renew my plates: "This
plate cannot be updated through the O-PLATES program. Supporting documents are
required for renewal. Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for assistance at
our toll free number 1-866-868-0006."
I spoke with a representative
of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles today expressing my concerns in light of the
recent FCC announcement that they will no longer routinely provide Hams with a
paper copy of the Amateur license. The FCC now states that proof of license
primarily resides in the FCC database and this change represents a significant
cost savings in not having the expense of printing a paper license. We have a
situation now where what is sufficient for the Federal Government is not enough
for the State of Ohio.
The BMV was very
knowledgeable of the FCC licensing process including this recent change and
assured me of their intent to keep up with technological changes and continue
to provide the best possible service to Ohioans. Indeed, the Ohio BMV is at the
top among other states in providing their services to the residents of Ohio
including Amateurs requesting Ohio special plates.
BMV is however required by
law to periodically review policies and procedures to insure compliance with
the applicable Law. In this case the Ohio Revised Code, section 4503.14 which
states in part, "Owners and lessees of motor vehicles who are residents of
this state and hold an unrevoked and unexpired official amateur radio
license.... issued by the federal communications commission, upon application,
accompanied by proof of ownership of such license.....shall be issued a
validation sticker and license plates or a validation sticker alone" Effective
date: 08-21-1997.
For now at least, this change
in policy will require a visit to the local deputy registrar with a copy of
your license in hand to satisfy the proof requirement or the same by mail. ARRL
has provided information relative to the FCC policy change including provisions
on how to obtain a paper license copy and documentation on the FCC ULS manager
web site. Here is the ARRL URL containing the information:
Please note that the original
license if you still have one is not necessary. A "Reference Copy" is
allowed and you can obtain one of the FCC ULS page. You will need to register
and have your FRN and password to enter the system. Here is the link to the FCC
License Manager web page:
I encourage all Ohio Amateurs
to refrain from contacting the Bureau of Motor Vehicles concerning this policy
as they cannot change Ohio law. Rest assured that they do understand and are
sympathetic to our concerns. However they cannot change the law as written. If
you have any questions, please contact me and I will endeavor to answer them
appropriately. I also emphasize that my conversation with BMV this afternoon
was very cordial and productive. They were very aware of the situation
including the desire of all hams to protect the integrity of their license
including the issuance of Ohio Special call sign plates.
BMV has also stated that
deputy registrar offices are aware of the changes and if difficulty is
encountered while attempting to renew your registration the local deputy
registrar should contact their help desk for questions and assistance.
Your Ohio Section leadership
is currently looking at this situation and will be evaluating an appropriate
response.
Spring is coming. Every cold
and snowy day is one more behind us.
73, Jim, W8ERW
****************************************************
FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT
LIAISON
-----------------------------------------------------------
By: Nick Pittner, K8NAP - SGL
Back to Basics
Many of you already
understand what is about to follow, but there are also, it seems, many who do
not and it has been suggested that it’s time for a refresher. So, with
apologies to those who have already heard this, let’s get back to some basic concepts
about amateur radio antenna regulation.
It has to do with the
regulation of land usage. Many of us believe that if you buy a piece of land
it’s yours, to do with what you wish. But in many respects that has never been
the case. You can’t use your land to create a nuisance for your neighbors, for
example, or to conduct activities that pose a physical threat to them. With
respect to ham radio antennas, which are not inherently dangerous or otherwise
unlawful, there are only two basic types of regulation. The first is by
contract - restrictions that you agreed to when you bought the land. The second
is by law, in the form of zoning ordinances legislatively imposed without your
agreement.
Contractual limitations can
take many forms. Deed restrictions are one of the most common. Deed
restrictions are land use limitations imposed on the land by the developer
often referred to as “covenants, conditions and restrictions, or “CC&Rs”. Residential
real estate developments commonly carry numerous restrictions on the permitted
usage of land in the development covering wide ranges of issues such as the
parking of motor homes, the size of the houses in the development and,
commonly, “antennas” of all sorts. Once imposed, the restrictions “run with the
land” and apply to all subsequent purchasers, whether they specifically agree
to the restrictions or not. Because the deed restriction are matters of public
record, the buyer is presumed to have purchased the property with knowledge of,
and agreement to the restrictions.
Other forms of contractual
limitations come in the form of condominium agreements and neighborhood
agreements, all of which involve the same basic principle – that by buying the
property with is subject to the restriction the buyer has, by contract, agreed
to those restrictions. These agreements have been adopted, and can be amended
by the governing board, though it may be difficult to accomplish.
We all understand that
amateur radio serves an important public safety role as a source of emergency
communications and in 1984 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
recognized that role when it issued order PRB-1 limiting the power of local
government agencies to restrict amateur radio antennas. Noting that “[t]here is
also a strong federal interest in promoting amateur communications.” The FCC’s
order states, “Except as otherwise provided herein, a station antenna structure
may be erected at heights and dimensions sufficient to accommodate amateur
service communications. (State and local regulation of a station antenna
structure must not preclude amateur service communications. Rather, it must
reasonably accommodate such communications and must constitute the minimum
practicable regulation to accomplish the state or local authority's legitimate
purpose. See PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985) for details.)”
PRB-1 was initiated by the
ARRL and, though not the answer to all of our antenna problems, was an
astounding success because, in this area, FCC regulations have the force and
effect of federal law and pre-empt local regulations that conflict. Notably,
though, PRB-1 did not apply to contractual land-use limitations and only
affected local antenna zoning regulations. Additionally, the vague language of
PRB-1 (which intentionally omitted specific height provisions for antennas) led
to an extensive amount of federal litigation, with a mixed bag of results for
radio amateurs. But, with the support of federal legislation behind them, many
hams began to seek state legislation protecting their right to antennas. To
date, over 23 states, including Ohio, have passed “PRB-1 –like” legislation. The
import of the FCC’s federal regulation into state law has been useful in many
instances and has proven much more difficult for local zoning authorities to
ignore. It also avoids many of the legal “scope of preemption” questions that
have posed difficulties in federal court.
In most cases the state
legislation, like the FCC, have avoided the difficult issues associated with
taking on CC&Rs or other forms of contractual antenna restrictions. The
practical reasons for this have to do with money and legislative power. Real
estate developers have, it seems, an abundance of both and any proposed law
that would limit the authority of developers to impose CC&Rs is an almost
guaranteed battle. There may be other ways to get at that issue, but that’s
beyond the scope of this article. Suffice to say, for the moment, that we have
legal rights with respect to antenna-restrictive zoning restrictions, but not a
great deal of leverage when it comes to contractual limitations. So, if you’re
looking to buy real estate, be sure to check the deed restrictions and any
other applicable neighborhood or condominium restrictions before you sign. Next
time we’ll talk about Ohio’s antenna law.
73, Nick, K8NAP
****************************************************
FROM THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
ASM
-------------------------------------
Anthony Luscre, K8ZT
Hi Everyone,
As part of our ARRL
educational outreach to schools through Education & Technology Program,
each summer the ARRL offers multiple sessions of the Teachers Institute on
Wireless Technology, an expenses paid professional development seminar, in
locations through the U.S.
The Teachers Institute has
provided teachers from elementary school to the university level with tools and
strategies to introduce basic electronics, the science of radio, space
technology and satellite communications, as well as weather science,
introduction to micro-controllers and basic robotics in their classrooms.
The curriculum is designed
for motivated teachers and other school staff who want to learn more about
wireless technology and bring that knowledge to their students.
Please pass this information
along to any teachers that are not hams but interested including Radio
Technology in their classrooms.
73, Anthony, K8ZT
****************************************************
LET'S TALK
----------------
From: Scott Yonally, N8SY -
Section Manager
n8sy@arrl.org
Hi Gang,
Wow.. Another month has gone
by. Boy, time is really moving fast! Life on retirement has really been a
pleasant surprise. I know that I’m rubbing it in some, but after more than 40
years of getting up in lousy weather to go to work and now not having to, it’s
the greatest feeling. In recent days I have sat at the kitchen table enjoying a
hot bowl of oatmeal and just thinking to myself “boy it’s great not having to
get out in this cold and snowy mess..”
Now that I’m retired I’ve got
the time to give much more to the Section Manager’s job than when I was working
full time. I now can give this position the time that it really needs to be a
PRO-active Section Manager as the Ohio Section needs and deserves!!
I do have to chuckle a bit on
this next item.. No matter how much I mention this, it seems that someone
hasn’t yet signed up to receive emails from the Section Manager / Great Lakes
Director with the ARRL. I'm going to keep encouraging you to check out your
account with the League and make sure that the box for receiving emails from
the Section Manager / Division Director is checked.
Now, for those of you who may
not want to go to all the bother of checking your account with the League, or
you are just not League members, you still have a chance to get these important
emails. All you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them. 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, get 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. But, who in their right mind would want to miss out on
anything coming out of the Great Lakes Director or the Ohio Section Manager?
Oh, you didn’t know that the
Ohio Section had a website?? We definitely do.. You can find it at: http://arrlohio.org If you don’t
have this website set as your home page, I urge you to do so. This website is
one of the exceptions to the rules.. It changes all the time. It’s never
stagnating, and I would highly recommend that you check into the website at
least 3 times per week or more if you can. Yes, it does change that much!
Ohio's Speaker Bureau.. Need
a speaker for your club meeting? I’m available. Please, feel free to give me a
call. I’ll do my very best to be at your function.
**Have you noticed??**
There’s a NEW – one question – questionnaire on the Ohio Section Website once
again. It changes about once every couple of weeks or so. It only asks one
question and it will take all of about 5 seconds for you to answer it, and you
can see how your answer stacks up with others instantly.
Why is this there? I want to
know how you feel. This is YOUR way of letting me know how the Ohio Section is
thinking. Yes, this is very important to me. I represent YOU and I’m asking how
you feel about something.
Also new on the Ohio Section
website main page is a Twitter window. It’s a window directly to the W8SGT
(Ohio EMA) Twitter account. In the past months it has been very difficult to
find where W8SGT is operating for their weekly net. They started out trying to
use just a couple of published frequencies. They quickly found out that 80
meters is just too crowed to nail down one particular frequency. Thus the need
to let everyone wanting to check in to the nets on Tuesday night at 7:15pm just
where they are.. Thus, the need to be able to update everyone quickly to go
with the ebb and flow of the enormous amount of traffic up there. The Twitter
window allows you to see just what frequency they are using at any given time.
This also allows you to quickly see if they are on at other times too. Just go
to the Ohio Section Website and look on the left side column.
Have you checked out the
Great Lakes Division website lately? http://arrl-greatlakes.org It’s changed.
It’s been brought up to the twenty-first century with an entirely new look and
feel. It’s cleaner and much easier for you to navigate. Check in often, and
check out the changes..
Now something that was
announced by our Great Lakes Director at the Mid*Winter Hamfest this past
weekend. There will be a Division Conference this year. It will be held in
conjunction with the Columbus Hamfest on August 1st. Keep this date
open. There’s going to be a lot of neat forums that you won’t want to miss out
on.
OK.. On to a REALLY important
topic.. Has your annual club report form been filed with the League yet?
-- Club Officers.. take note
of this article.. A number of clubs around the state have been placed into the
“inactive” clubs category due to forgetting to simply fill out the annual
report. It is critical for your club to update your clubs information once per
year. The club update area on the ARRL website is now active. This section
allows you to edit information in your club record and also upload photos of
your club activities.
The club update is your
annual report. You must update your club
record at least once per year or your club will be listed as inactive. Updates
may take up to three business days to appear on the web. Note: You must be
logged into the ARRL web site to use the editing system. Go to: http://www.arrl.org/club-update to update your club’s information. Don’t get caught..
Update your club record now. It only takes 5 minutes and it will save you a lot
of time and headaches by keeping current with the ARRL.
Now on to the stats for
Ohio.. We are not as bad as it may seem on the surface, but we could be much,
much better. Right now we have 99 “Affiliated” clubs in Ohio with 60 of those
clubs being up-to-date with their paperwork. That’s over half, not bad, but
could be better for sure.. You’ve worked so very hard to get the club to
“Affiliated” status, why would you not want to continue being a great club and
follow through with something as simple as filling out the annual report. All
it takes is about a half an hour worth of work and that’s it. For most of the
clubs around the state, I would imagine you could almost copy verbatim last
year’s report! This will make it even go faster. You know, I would be amazed to
hear that your club members wouldn’t want to hear a financial report at least once
a year.. This is really the same thing. It’s a report on how your club is
doing.
Now on the Special Services
side of things we definitely need to give this some attention. We have 28 clubs
that are in the rears for paperwork, with just 9 clubs up-to-date. That’s about
one third. Now, to get to “Special Services Club” status you’ve had to work
even harder to make it, don’t throw it all away. Get the paperwork submitted.
Again, I can’t stress this enough, it’s so simple, just fill out the annual
report. If you need help, just ask. I’m sure that our ACC – John Myers, KD8MQ,
or myself, can find time to answer your questions and help you get that all
valuable annual report filled out.
You know, Ohio is THE largest
Section out of the 71 sections. Let’s have the most Affiliated and Special
Services Clubs as well. If you didn’t know, the Ohio Section is responsible for
a lot of the rules that now determine what makes a club a “Special Services
Club.”
Elmer Award..
Hay Gang, did you know that
the League has a beautiful Elmer Award that you can apply for to give to your
Elmer? They do, I presented one of these awards at a club meeting just this
past month. It was great giving back to my Elmer and recognizing him for all
the great things he did for me as I was starting out.
Recognizing your Elmer is a
way of “paying it forward” and to encourage future Elmers out there. Anyone
that is a League member can go on line to: http://www.arrl.org/elmer-award and fill out the form and either have the
form mailed directly to the Elmer, or more impressively, and the one that I
would encourage all of you to do, have the certificate mailed to you and
present it to your Elmer in person, it’s a fantastic way of recognizing your
Elmer for all the things that he/she did to get your started. Yes, you do have
to be an ARRL member to request a certificate, but you don’t have to be one to
receive it!
Now for the logistics.. First
and foremost, like I said above, you need to be an ARRL member to take
advantage of this particular program. If you aren’t a League member, this is a
great opportunity to become one. This is the perfect reason for you to join.
Now, once that is taken care of, go on-line and fill out the form and hit the
submit button. That’s it. A few simple boxes to fill in and that’s all there is
to it.
Since this certificate is
mailed to you via the US postal service you’ll have to wait to get it (about 2
– 3 weeks), as it is a certificate that is snail mailed only at this time.
Hey club officers.. I know
that you’re always looking for club activities to get your members involved
with.. this is a fantastic way of getting old timers and the young folks
together. You might have a night set aside just to “award” all of your Elmers
out there. Wouldn’t that be great!
Let me know if you take
advantage of this great recognition, I would like to hear about your Elmer.
The League also has a “First
Contact” award for you to present as well.. I’ll discuss more on that one in
future articles.
Last item of the
article.. Did you know that there is a
warrant for arrest out for that rodent that predicted 6 more weeks of winter?
It’s true, it seems that Punxsutawney Phil is in a lot of trouble for the
recent deluge of snow in the eastern seaboard. Anybody got bail money??
That’s going to do it this
month from here.. I hope to see all of you at the various hamfests or meetings
soon and who knows; maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones to get a “mug” on me.
Oh, by the way, the mugs are now filled with some extra surprises..
Have a question? Feel free to
give me a call or write to me. My email and phone number are always listed on
the Ohio Section Website http://arrlohio.org as well as on page 16 of QST..
73, Scott, N8SY
****************************************************
FROM THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER
COORDINATOR
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John Perone, W8RXX
jper@insight.rr.com
Hi Folks,
The Ohio Section has elected
to start showing just how much work our OO’s in Ohio are doing for us. This all
started with a question from a new Section Manager out west asking all the
Section Managers around the country if any of them publish a report on their
particular OO program. Most of the SM’s stated that they don’t publish anything,
including Ohio. This started me and Scott, N8SY to thinking, our OO program in
Ohio is very active and they spend a tremendous amount of time monitoring the
frequencies and making sure that we don’t go astray. So why shouldn’t the folks
of Ohio know just how much time is spent. Thus, a new monthly article.
Please remember one thing
here that is VERY important to keep in mind, OO’s are NOT cops. They do not
have the authority to cite or arrest anyone. What we are here for is to gently
let you know when you’ve gone astray and broken a rule, hopefully before the
FCC gets involved. This can be anything from key clicks, to not identifying
properly, to improper language, to being out of band. So you know that it isn’t
all bad news.. We also send out “Good Guy” cards too. This is when we feel that
the operator has done something good and needs to be recognized for it. So you
can see, it’s not all bad news, we also recognize good behaviors too.
The Official Observer (OO)
program is part of the FCC Amateur Auxiliary and has been sponsored by the ARRL
for more than 85 years. The OO program serves as the first line of "eyes
and ears" for the FCC. OO’s are certified in the Auxiliary by passing a
mandatory written examination. It’s not easy to do. It takes a lot of studying
and understanding of the laws, technical operation for all the various modes of
operation and even then you may not pass.
Are you interested in taking
the challenge and becoming an OO? Do you have a question about the OO program?
Let me or our Section Manager know. We’ll be happy to guide you through it.
Now here’s the January 2015
report overview:
Total Hours = 510
OO cards sent = 7
Good Guy Cards sent = 2
73, John, W8RXX
****************************************************
FROM THE “SARGE” (W8SGT) STATE
OF OHIO EOC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
By Gayle Adams, W8KWG
w8kwg4@gmail.com
THIS IS A TEST FROM …. W8SGT!
You are familiar with the
occasional interruption of on-air programming with an alarm tone and this
announcement: “This is a test from the Emergency Alert System,” followed by
instructions on what to do. Now let’s take this same scenario and apply it to
our Amateur Radio Service.
We all know the reasons for
the occasional interruptions—to test equipment to make sure it is ready in case
of an emergency. The same goes for our service—we must test our equipment so we
can be ready in case of an emergency. A perfect example, as all of you know,
happened last month. Remember the 9-1-1 service interruption in Medina and
several other counties? W8SGT was requested by Medina County to help out during
this time.
We never know when disaster
may strike, or whether or not we will be needed in a public service event. How
many of you participated in public service events? The purpose is twofold: (1)
to test your equipment and skills and put them through their paces and 2) to
provide safety for all participants involved.
The next time your county is
activated, will you be ready or will you be a sitting duck? Hopefully, you will
be ready.
Henceforth, this behooves me
to mention our Tuesday night net. Yes, our Tuesday night net is a means by
which we can test our radios to make sure they are functioning properly and our
skills as operators, for that matter. I encourage any and all of our 88
counties to check into our net.
Our net has been changed to
7:15 (1915 hours or 0015 UTC). Tune up and check in! Follow us on Twitter
(hashtag W8SGT) for frequency information. You can also see our Twitter feed
directly from the Ohio Section Website. There’s a window on the left side of
the main page that allows you to view the Twitter posts from W8SGT directly.
So, if you don’t have a Twitter account, you are still good to go. Just logon
to the Ohio Section website.. http://arrlohio.org and look on the left side bar.
This topic also segues into
propagation. The 40 meter band can be so long (stretching like a pair of old
pantyhose from here to Timbuktu.) The problem is that we don’t want to talk to
Timbuktu. We often hear foreign broadcasters, so it makes things challenging
for us.
Have you tested your
equipment lately? Maybe you have an old radio in your attic or closet that’s
begging for some TLC in order to be airworthy. Think about this the next time
you hear the familiar alarm tone followed by “This is a test…….”
73, Gayle, W8KWG
****************************************************
102nd ANNIVERSARY OF AMATEUR
RADIO IN DISASTER SERVICE
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Reprinted from QRZ.com
“SOS Hilltop Business Men’s
Association wants city to send boats……….Supplies will last until about
tomorrow……… Men are hanging on trees…….Send supplies…... Water is
receding…...Try and get us water and gas…… People are suffering…….. Send this
to Mayor Karb at once…… SOS.”
It was with these words sent
by a 15 year old teenager over 100 years ago that Amateur Radio entered into
Disaster Service.
 |
Photo courtesy Bill Neill-NE1LL
|
Herbert V. Akerberg was a
student at West High School in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio when
he anxiously tapped out that Morse code message on the afternoon of March 26,
1913.
A slow moving storm had
dumped 11 inches of rain over much of Ohio’s already saturated soil. In Zanesville
the Muskingum River was cresting at 27 feet and 20 feet of water stood in her
intersections. Five of the town’s seven bridges were washed away. Only the tips
of the lampposts of the famous “Y” bridge could be seen.
In Defiance, Ohio the Maumee
River rushed in 10 feet above flood stage and covered 268 homes. Rowboats
plucked people from trees and rooftops everywhere. In Tiffin help came too late
for several. Nineteen people waiting on their roofs for help, perished when
their homes collapsed and they were swept away by the Sandusky River
On the west side of Columbus,
where young Herb Akerberg was manning his station, the Scioto River crashed
through the downtown dumping flood waters 17 feet deep into his neighborhood.
Thirteen people were rescued.
“For about three days and
nights, practically continuously for seventy-two hours, young Akerberg remained
on duty at his radio set, in communication with the radio station on top of the
Huntington Bank Building, sending messages to the mayor and keeping the public
advised as to the conditions on the devastated West Side.
Many messages were sent to
the friends and relatives of those in the devastated district.” C. B.
Galbreath-Author “The History of Ohio”
The greatest destruction was
in the areas around Dayton, where the rushing waters of the Great Miami River
washed away homes and bridges claiming hundreds of lives. In Dayton 360 souls
were lost, 3,400 domesticated animals and horses perished, 65,000people were
displaced and 20,000 homes were destroyed. Damage, in today’s dollars, exceeded
$2Billion.
The flow of the Great Miami
River through Dayton during that Easter week storm in 1913 was equivalent to
the same amount of water that spills over Niagara Falls in a month! In nearby
Hamilton four-fifths of the town was covered and 400 people lost their lives.
“People talked about how fast
the waters rose, sometimes one or two feet per hour, and there wasn’t any way
of sending warnings downstream because of the downed wires,” she said. “There
was no radio then except for a few ham radio operators, and the 1913 Flood is
what triggered the legislation to create an emergency broadcast system.”…Trudy
E. Bell-Author “The Great Dayton Flood of 1913”
Back in Columbus, Herbert
Akerman, pounding brass from his home shack is joined by the station from Ohio
State University. Unlike Akerman, the OSU students are not proficient in Morse
Code. To the North of Ohio, B.N. Burglund at the University of Michigan station
was unaware of the flooding in Ohio until he intercepted a call from a operator
in Freemont, Ohio who reported that the town was under water and that the
Captain of the Port Townsend Life Saving Station had drowned while attempting a
rescue. The operator reported that all telegraph and telephone lines were down.
Burglund put out a General
Call to any station located in the flooded areas. This call was responded to by
operators in Mansfield, Springfield, and Mt. Vernon, as well as the OSU station
in Columbus.
Burglund, assisted by engineering
students George Norris, Worth Chatfield, and Mr. Watts (who had once been a
commercial operator) began handling Health and Welfare traffic from the devastated
area.
The Ohio State University
station was now being manned by a capable operator, J. A. Mercer who pounded
the key for more than 70 hours before he collapsed from exhaustion and was
temporarily relieved by operators from the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Young Mr. Akerberg, the first
Ham ever to use Amateur Radio in a disaster would go on to honorably serve with
the men of the Army Signal Corp during World War I.
In 1923 he directed the
building of Radio Station WPAL in Columbus. Six years later he joined the start-up
network CBS, where he built much of their network of radio and television
stations. Herbert Akerberg passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 6,
1964.
“Wireless in the hands of the
amateur, while it is used by some as a plaything, is capable of doing excellent
service in time of need; and we hope the work done by these men who did all
they could to maintain communication between the flood stricken cities and the
rest of the world, will long be remembered.”
B.N. Burglund –Modern
Electrics, April 1913
Written by
John Bigley-N7UR
President-Frontier Amateur
Radio Society
Las Vegas, NV
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SPECIAL EVENTS STATIONS IN
OHIO
---------------------------------------------------
02/25-26/2015 | The Northeast
Ohio 2-Meter FM Simplex Squares Contest
Full details, including rules,
grid square information, HT enhancements,
Antenna construction links,
operating tips can be found at:
./././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././
05/23/2015 | WBCCI Region 4
39th Annual Rally
W4B, Mansfield, OH.
Wally Byam Caravan Club
International Region 4.
7.225 +/- QRM. Certificate.
David Brett, 40 Edgewater Dr,
Youngstown, OH 44514.
Celebrating the 39th annual
rally of Airstream Owners
in Ohio, Michigan, and West
****************************************************
OHIO HAMFEST CALENDAR
--------------------------------------
03/15/2015 | TMRA's Hamfest
and Computer Fair
Location: Perrysburg, OH
Sponsor: Toledo Mobile Radio
Association
./././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././././
03/28/2015 | MOVARC HamFest
Location: Gallipolis, OH
Sponsor: Mid-Ohio Valley ARC
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FINAL.. FINAL..
For those of you who have
been recipients of prestigious Ohio Section Mug I want you to know that you are
in very good company. I now have proof positive that our “Mug” is used every
day at the ARRL Headquarters and proudly displayed to all who visit Becky
Schoenfeld, W1BXY, the managing editor of QST.
I presented Becky with a
“mug” last year at Dayton and she was thrilled with it. She told me then that
she was an avid coffee drinker and would proudly use our mug every for her
coffee. I now have a picture of Becky showing off her mug, thanks to our Vice
Director, Tom Delaney, W8WTD. When Tom was up at Connecticut for the Board of
Directors meeting last month, he happened to stop in to Headquarters and ran
across Becky during his visit. He took a picture of Becky holding the mug.
You’ll have to go online to see the picture, but believe you me.. I’m proud
that she shows it off for everyone that visits Headquarters.
Thanks Tom for taking the
picture and showing that our “mug” is getting its due all over the country.
****************************************************
eof..
Just wanted to pop in to your email box today on this very
cold and snowy day to let you know of a couple of very important dates coming
up this next week..
** There’s a NEW – one question – questionnaire on the Ohio
Section Website. It only asks one question and it will take all of about 5
seconds for you to answer it, and you can see how your answer stacks up with
others instantly. Why is this there? I want to know how you feel. This is YOUR
way of letting me know how the Ohio Section is thinking. Yes, this is very
important to me. I represent YOU and I’m asking how you feel about something.
** Finally, I want to say that I’m sorry that some of you may
not have gotten the complete version of the Ohio Section Journal, even though
it was sent twice.. It seems that the League has a maximum size that my
communications can be to all of you and I exceeded it.. Twice.. Let that be a lesson to me I guess.
You are familiar with the occasional interruption of on-air
programming with an alarm tone and this announcement: “This is a test from the
Emergency Alert System,” followed by instructions on what to do. Now let’s take
this same scenario and apply it to our Amateur Radio Service. 
02/25-26/2015 | The Northeast Ohio 2-Meter FM Simplex
Squares Contest
For those of you who have been recipients of prestigious
Ohio Section Mug I want you to know that you are in very good company. I now
have proof positive that our “Mug” is used every day at the ARRL Headquarters
and proudly displayed to all who visit Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, the managing
editor of QST.
