ARRL-SC

Section News Archives

2003

 

Click HERE for January 2003
Click HERE for February 2003
Click HERE for March 2003
Click HERE for April 2003
Click HERE for May 2003
Click HERE for June 2003
Click HERE for July 2003
Click HERE for August 2003
Click HERE for September 2003
Click HERE for October 2003
Click HERE for November 2003
Click HERE for December 2003

 

 

January, 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  I’m Dr. Jim, N2ZZ, and beginning today, I am proud to serve as ARRL Section Manager for South Carolina. I wish everyone a Happy New Year! I would like to thank Pat Hensley N4ROS, and her appointed section staff, for their service to the ARRL over the past several years. That being said, I would like to introduce my section staff cabinet that will be assisting me in the administration of the SC ARRL programs over the next two years: ASM’s: Area 1-David Crockett WB4DFW, Area 2-Bob Bacharach WA2EMF, Area 6-Bob Besley K4NJN; SEC-Charlie Miller AE4UX; STM–Adam Hoffman AF4QZ, Asst STM Joe Ferguson W4JF; ACC-Kimberly Smith K1MI, OOC-Sue Chism N4ENX, PIC-Dan Donovan KF4VIS, and TC-Marc Tarplee N4UFP.  Several cabinet appointments are still open, and if you have an interest in one of those positions, please contact me at n2zz@arrl.org. 

  I have reviewed the ARRL appointment database, and in order to be certain that all appointees are all active, all previous section appointments will expire this month.   I ask that if you wish to renew your appointment or apply for an appointment, please contact us.  We do not wish to exclude anyone that is interested in actively being a part of the organization!  Each cabinet position will appoint within their program.   The STM will appoint NM’s, and ORS’s.  The SEC will appoint DEC’s, EC’s and OES’s, and so on.  Please go to the SC Section Website at http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ for more information (and please bookmark that site!). 

  I will be using the http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ for communication within the section, along with the section bulletins via the ARRL website.  I will endeavor to keep the site updated in regards to hamfest information, and other items of interest to the SC section.

  I will also plan to make periodic announcements on the SC SSB net that meets at 7pm local time on 3915 kHz.  Work permitting, I will plan to be there every Wednesday to give a Section Manager Report.

  The key word in this administration will be COMMUNICATION!  If you have not signed up for Section/Division bulletins on the ARRL members-only website, please do so!  I will be using that list to make announcements throughout the month.  Please also go to the SC Section Website noted above, and sign up for the mail reflector where there can be an active dialog between the ARRL members in the SC section.  For all ARRL members-If you have not done so already, please go to the ARRL members-only section, and apply for a YOURCALL@arrl.net alias.  It is a benefit of membership, and aids in communication on the Internet!

  Our priorities this term are in line with the National ARRL priorities:  1) To develop an Amateur Radio Emergency Service where the qualifications are based on interest, experience and training, but not on license class.  To strengthen the bonds between the ARRL Emergency Programs and other Programs with whom the ARRL has Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s), such as the Red Cross, the National Weather Service, the National Communications Agency, and the Salvation Army.  To form associations with local public authorities and state authorities to better serve the citizens of South Carolina. 2) To increase the ranks of Amateur Radio Operators by striving to make our hobby more visible in the media, to introduce Amateur Radio in the schools, to volunteer at events that are in need of communication professionals while interfacing with the public in a very positive way, and especially to provide communications for those who are in need during emergencies.  3) To increase the ranks of ARRL members to maintain a strong national organization that will fight to keep our frequency bands in the Amateur Radio Service during these times of frequency auctioning, to offer legal help with tower disputes, and provide many other member benefits.

  These are lofty goals, especially with the challenges we are faced with today.  One, five or even fifteen individuals cannot accomplish these goals.  Our entire organization must be an active one.  Our plan is to expand the ARRL field service extensively through South Carolina, and use the interest, talents and knowledge of all that will participate to achieve these goals.  Here are some statistics:

  ARRL members-the number or ARRL members in South Carolina have decreased by 1.3% since November 2001.  To keep our national organization strong, we need to give it our support.  For the cost to become a member, our programs within the state must be strong so that member benefits are not only at the national level, but also at the state level!

  School clubs-checking the ARRL database, I did not find any active ARRL affiliated clubs in schools.  I was fortunate to find Chris KG4UOY, a sophomore from Pickens High School who is interested in forming an amateur radio club at his school.  I was able to get him in touch with John Hoyt, W5UGD, who knew of the family of a silent key who has equipment to donate.  Chris is a member of the Foothills Amateur Radio Club, and that club will be helping Chris obtain clearance and set up a station at his high school.  FANTASTIC!  My personal KUDOS to all those involved!! 

  Are you a member of a school board or part of a school’s administration or faculty?  Are you a public official in some capacity?  Can you pave the way to allow an amateur radio station in your school?  You will be doing Amateur Radio a great service if you can help in any way!

  Please attend the Greenwood, SC Hamfest on January 11.  We need to support our hamfests!  I plan to be there, as well as the majority of my section cabinet.  Les Shattuck, our Vice Director for the Roanoke division plans to be there also!  Information can be found by going to http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ and clicking on the scrolling display!  Please also mark your calendars for the Charleston, SC Hamfest on February 1st.  This is an ARRL sanctioned event, and we will have an ARRL forum at that hamfest!  Information can be found by going to the above website and checking out the links section, or going directly to http://www.qsl.net/wa4usn/hamfest.htm .

  Don’t forget Kids Day on January 4th!  This is an on the air event that invests in the future of amateur radio by allowing kids to get on the air and exchange information with other kids around the country and around the world (watch out for the third party agreements!!)  Check out http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html on the ARRL website for more information.

  I am a bit premature in posting Section News for this month, but I was anxious to get started.  Traffic and PSHR reports have just come in and are below:

Station Activity Reports: AF4QZ 195, KA4UIV 161, KA4LRM 93, WD4BUH 22, K4JIF 20, N4VVX 13.  Public Service Honor Roll Results: AF4QZ 105, KA4LRM 100, KA4UIV 100, N4VVX 88.  Congratulations and thanks for your service to amateur radio!

 

  Happy New Year to all!

 

  ’73 de JIM N2ZZ

Section Manager, South Carolina

 

February, 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ, and January has been a very productive month.  I appreciate the efforts of my section cabinet, and all the suggestions given to us by the ARRL members of South Carolina.  Since January, I have added two more cabinet members:  Laurie Sansbury Jr. KV4C, Assistant Section Manager EMD Area 4 and Dennis G. Fowler, KG4JIA, State Government Liaison.  The cabinet members have been active in recruiting for their respective programs, and the ARRL database is currently undergoing housecleaning.  All previous section appointments have expired as of January 31st.  If you have an interest in participating in the SC ARRL field service, please notify us!  We will be happy to hear from you!

            Please keep in mind that the ARRL-SC website is at http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ , and there you will find current information on the ARRL field service in South Carolina and contact information.  I also encourage everyone to join the ARRL-SC mail server by sending an e-mail to this address: arrl-sc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.  This will allow a dialog between the amateur radio operators of South Carolina. Please also keep in mind that the Section Manager’s report is given weekly on the air on the SC SSB net, which meets on 3915 kHz, at 1900 Eastern time.

            Now for the developments for the month of January.  Looking back at the month, there has been an incredible amount of progress made.  In regards to Emergency Communications, we now have an ideal amateur radio-state relationship.  Our Section Emergency Coordinator, Charlie AE4UX, was appointed State RACES officer by Ron Osborne, State EMD director.  Charlie, myself, and our two Aiken County EMD directors, David Ruth and Paul Matthews KB4GYT had a meeting with Mr. Osborne at the state EOC. We discussed with him the advantages of having the same person occupy the Section Emergency Coordinator/State RACES position to ensure that both programs proceed in the same direction.  As of Thursday, January 30th, Charlie was appointed State RACES officer.  In that capacity, he has already given a presentation to the state EMD Area 1 officials on February 4th.  Dave WB4DFW (ASM Area 1) and Sue N4ENX (EC Greenville County) also attended that meeting.  This gave the other attendees a very positive impression of Amateur Radio volunteers as professional and well organized.  This meeting has already had a positive effect, as one of the counties in Area 1 who did not want any coordination with Amateur Radio has actually contacted the EC of that county and asked to meet with him.  This has really had an impact, and I thank all involved! 
   
Charlie has also been contacted by the state DHEC to comment on a plan by John Welton N4SJW from the Charleston area, regarding his plan for amateur radio coordination between the Medical University of South Carolina campus and surrounding hospitals.  Both Charlie and I reviewed the plan, and found it to be well thought out.  Charlie responded positively to that inquiry, and hopefully we will see some action soon.  I noted that there is interest in such a system in the Grand Strand Area, and in North Carolina.  Perhaps a hospital linking system would be possible along the entire coast of South Carolina, and perhaps even throughout the state!  Some grants may be forthcoming as well!
    Just after I took office as Section Manager, I was distressed to find that there were strained relations between the American Red Cross and the South Carolina ARRL.  Charlie AE4UX, myself, and Bob K4NJN (ASM Area 6) met with David McGlothlin W4EPD, Chairman of the Red Cross Disaster Communications Subcommittee.  We discussed the fact that the ARRL has a Statement Of Understanding with the American Red Cross, and that the current ARRL-SC team will certainly honor that agreement.  I later sent a letter to David, specifically stating that:

“I would like to state to you that it is the full intention of the South Carolina Section of the American Radio League to cooperate with the American Red Cross in the spirit of the Statement of Understanding (SOU) signed by our national organizations on September 17, 2002.” 

Additionally, I requested that Charlie AE4UX be asked to join his subcommittee so that an active dialog can be maintained between the Red Cross and the SC-ARRL field service. 
   
I told Charlie that SEC is probably the most time consuming appointment given in the ARRL field service, and I think he agrees with me.  He is still busy making appointments.  Our goal is to have District Emergency Coordinators in each of the EMD Areas and Emergency Coordinators in each county.  If you have an interest, please contact him at ae4ux@arrl.net .  Listing of the EMD areas can be found on our Section Website.

    I strongly encourage anyone interested in Emergency Services or the National Traffic System to sign up for the Level I Emergency Course offered by the ARRL. I finished Level I in a weekend, and I’ll be signing up for Level II in short order.  At this time, Level I is funded by a grant.  You would pay $45 up front, and then it will be refunded at your successful completion of the course-What a deal! 

    January 11th was the Greenwood Hamfest, and the new ARRL-SC team was there!  I was told that attendance was about 500, up from last year.  I could tell that there was a newfound enthusiasm for amateur radio in the state!  The Charleston Hamfest was on February 1st in its new location in Ladsen, SC.  The forum schedule included my first ARRL forum where we discussed the new direction of the ARRL-SC field service, and our Technical Coordinator Marc Tarplee N4UFP gave a presentation on “The Ultimate DX Experience”.  There were also excellent forums by the State Guard and on APRS. 
   
During the Charleston Hamfest, we received the unfortunate news about the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster.  We offered our respects during the ARRL forum by observing a moment of silence.
    Pictures of the hamfests are available on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc website.  Please support our SC hamfests!  The next SC hamfest will be in Union, SC on April 5th, a new date for that hamfest!

    The time has come for an on-the-air event for South Carolina.  I have asked Paul Matthews KB4GYT and Ray McClure W8CNL to set up a South Carolina QSO party for later in the year! 

Now a word on school clubs-I mentioned last month that when reviewing the ARRL affiliated club database, I found NO affiliated school clubs in South Carolina.  I also mentioned that the Foothills club was working with Chris, KG4UOY to set up a club station at Pickens High School. 
    After doing some investigating, it seems that there is a problem with getting anything new started at a public school.  There appears to be a reluctance to do anything out of the norm, perhaps due to liability concerns.  It seems that the person that would be in the best position to start a school amateur radio club is a Principal, a Teacher, or a member of the School Board.  If you occupy any of these positions, or you know of someone who could work with the public school system, please encourage them to work at starting a school club in their area.
 
Alternatively, if the public schools continue to be resistant, perhaps an alternative route could be utilized.  I had the pleasure of attending a Technician level Amateur Radio Course that is being conducted by a joint effort of the North Augusta-Belevedere Amateur Radio Club and the Aiken County EMD department.  There is a rotation of teachers, and the teacher the night I attended was Bob, K4NJN, our Area 6 ASM.  We had a group of 6th graders that were from the same Boy Scout Troop, and they were up on the material!  Interestingly, they REALLY liked Morse Code!!  YES!  This will bring new hams into the fold!
Another possible route is along the private school system.  They appear to have fewer constraints than the public schools.  This may be a route to follow in the future. 

I received an e-mail from our new State Government Liaison, Dennis KG4JIA yesterday.  He had suggested working on obtaining an ARRL vehicle license plate for South Carolina to replace our “Plain Jane” black and white plates.   Interestingly, our Vice Director Les K4NK was working on this project in the past, and I had approached a local state Senator about this previously.  Dennis will take the lead on this project, and begin making inquiries this week!  If you have suggestions, please send them to Dennis at kg4jia@arrl.net

Well, I’m on my third page, and there is still more to report!  I ask everyone to check our website www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ .  I put new announcements on the home page, and have a clock on that page to say when it was last updated. 

To all the Amateur Radio Operators in South Carolina, THANK YOU for your support!   If you are not an ARRL member, PLEASE consider becoming one.  The ARRL needs your support!  I hope that through the increased programs in SC that becoming an ARRL member will not only be worthwhile on a National Level, but on the Section Level as well!

 

Traffic Totals from our Section Traffic Manager, Adam AF4QZ:

 

STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS January 2003:  

CALL             RCVD          SENT             DLVD             ORIG              TOTAL
AF4QZ            89                    59                    31                     2                      181
KA4UIV         59                    55                    3                      0                      117
W4JF             17                    14                    3                      0                      34
K4NJN            9                      9                     2                      0                      20
K4JIF              2                      5                      1                      4                      12
W4QD             1                      3                      3                      0                      7
K3LM              3                      3                      1                      0                      7

 

  PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL REPORTS January 2003:

  CALL             01            02            03            04            05            06            TOTAL
AF4QZ            40            40            20              0              0              0            100
KA4UIV         40            40            20             0              0             0            100
K4NJN          20            20            10            20             0             0            70

NET ACTIVITY REPORTS January 2003:

 

NET NAME                                                             TRAFFIC            CHECKINS            SESSIONS

BLUE RIDGE 2 METER NET                                           31                        1719                      31
CAROLINA’S CW TRAFFICNET (CN)             218/196                          558                      62
CAROLINA SLOW CW TRAFFIC NET (CSN)    25/21                          148                      31
COLUMBIA ARC 2 METER NET                                     0                          185                        9
LANCASTER COUNTY 2 METER NET                        22                         150                      13
MULTISTATE 2 METER SSB NET                                  0                            33                        4
PALS NET                                                                           34                       1314                      31
SC SSB NET                                                                       85                       1512                      31
YORK COUNTY ARS 2 METER NET                             2                        1066                      31

To everyone listed above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio! 

 

’73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL SC Section Manager

 

March 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the March Section Manager’s Report.  I’m happy to say that almost all ARRL-SC cabinet positions have been filled, and many of the cabinet appointees have made appointments to their respective programs.  Charlie Miller AE4UX, SEC has filled 5 out of 7 DEC spots, and has appointed 21 EC’s.  He is still actively recruiting for these positions.  Sue Chism N4ENX, OOC has filled 7 OO spots.  Adam Hoffman AF4QZ, STM has appointed 8 ORS’s and 7 NM’s.  Dan Donovan, KF4VIS PIC has appointed 7 PIO’s.  Marc Tarplee N4UFP, TC has filled 8 TS spots.  I know that this is a cornucopia of acronyms, but please check out the field services portion of the ARRL website: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/ to see what these positions are all about.  Perhaps there is an ARRL field service position that will interest you!

Please keep in mind that the ARRL-SC website is at http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ , and there you will find current information on the ARRL field service in South Carolina and contact information.  I also encourage everyone to join the ARRL-SC mail server by sending an e-mail to this address: arrl-sc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.  This will allow a dialog between the amateur radio operators of South Carolina. Please also keep in mind that the Section Manager’s report is given weekly on the air on the SC SSB net, which meets on 3915 kHz, at 1900 Eastern time.  On a special note, the SC SSB net is now celebrating its 45th year of service!

Now for the developments for the Month of February.  February began with the Charleston Hamfest on February 1st.  This hamfest was at its new location in Ladsen, SC.  The hamfest was a success, and I was pleased to give my first ARRL forum at this hamfest.  Marc Tarplee N4UFP, TC gave a forum on “The Ultimate DX Experience”.  Pictures of the hamfest are now on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc website.  Please support our SC hamfests!  The next SC hamfest will be at Union, SC on April 5th, a new date for that hamfest!  For the next hamfest, we have great news: The Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society has been granted permission to hold an ARRL approved South Carolina State Convention in Greenville, SC on May 3, 2003!

In Emergency Communications, Charlie AE4UX has been spending time presenting amateur radio to the SC Emergency Management Department (EMD) personnel.  He has presented to Area 1, Area 3, and the State EOC personnel.  He has portrayed a very positive image of amateur radio, and its usefulness in emergencies. Due to his efforts, Amateur Radio is gaining rapid acceptance by EMD personnel throughout the state of South Carolina, and Charlie has been asked to provide amateur radio communicators to several groups within the EMD system already.

We have been notified by the ARRL that all three emergency courses (EC-001, EC-002 and EC-003) will now be reimbursed! 

I would like to offer my congratulations to Bob Besley K4NJN, ASM6 and Paul Matthews KB4GYT (Aiken County Emergency Management Division Asst. Director) on their successful completion of the ARRL Level III emergency course!

I received an e-mail on February 21st from Bill Morine, N2COP Regarding CARES:

I am pleased to report that on January 10th, the CEOs of the Coastal Carolinas Hospital Alliance (CCHA) voted to fund $68,000 to implement a ham radio emergency based communications system for Southeastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina using voice and digital repeaters.  To our knowledge, this is the most geographically expansive amateur radio hospital communications system in the Americas, and the third such system undertaken in the United States.  The amateur operators serving on the task force met subsequently on January 31st to begin implementation.  The group votes to adopt the name of CARES – Carolinas Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

I had mentioned last month that John Welton N4SJW, was working on a system to link the Charleston hospitals via amateur radio.  With CARES now a reality, it is possible this linking may soon exist along the entire coast, and perhaps within all the hospitals in South Carolina!

Throughout the country, all SM’s, SEC’s and ARRL affiliated clubs received a surprise in their mailboxes this month.  The ARRL “Amateur Radio Today” CD was sent out mid month.  This is excellent presentation material to be shared with public groups, local government officials, etc. to show how emergency preparedness fits in with amateur radio.  It is a professional production, narrated by Walter Cronkite.  Copies are available from ARRL headquarters, either by purchasing a CD or as an 80 Meg download.

Projects still underway include developing a SC QSO party, currently in its development stages by Paul KB4GYT and Ray W8CNL.  Additionally, Dennis Fowler KG4JIA, has developed preliminary designs of future SC Amateur Radio License Plates for comment.  Look for pictures of these preliminary designs on the SC-ARRL website in the near future.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Emmie Patience KA4LRM on the loss of her husband Lee W4DRF, who became a silent key in February.  Lee contributed a great deal to amateur radio in this state.  Miss Emmie, we hope to see you back on the SC SSB net in the near future.

Station Activity Reports – February 2003

  AF4QZ 217, KA4UIV 144, K4NJN 28, WD4BUH 26, WA4UGD 20, W4QD 2

Public Service Honor Roll – February 2003

  AF4QZ 100, KA4UIV 100

Net Reports: (Net Name, Traffic, Checkins, Sessions, Reported By)

Anderson ARC 2 Meter Net, 24, N/A, 28, WD4BUH
Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net, 50, 1853, 28, K4SUG
Carolina’s CW Traffic (CN) Net, 183/173, 499, 56, K4IWW
Carolina’s Slow Net, 33/32, 132, 28, W4EAT
Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net, 2, 165, 8, K4RKC
Horry County Skywarn Net, 6, 38, 2, KF4HAV
Lancaster County 2 Meter Net,18, 140, 11, N4WMB
Laurens ARS 2 Meter Net, 3, 107, 4, WA4AOS
MultiState 2 Meter SSB Net, 0, 74, 4, WB4PCS
PALS Net, 45, 1180, 28, KG4KOE
Salkehatchie ARS 2 Meter Net, 0, 74, 4, AF4QZ
South Carolina SSB Net, 79, 1429, 28, WA4UGD

  To everyone listed above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!

’73 de Dr. JIM N2ZZ

April 2003:

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the April Section Manager’s Report.  As I sit here composing my report this month, I’m coming off of a “high” with the events over the last few days!  On Saturday April 5th, the ARRL-SC team showed up in force at the Union Hamfest on its new date!  December was much too cold! I had mentioned to our SGL, Dennis KG4JIA, that we were in need of a banner for our hamfest table.  He surprised me by coming with a huge 4x6 foot ARRL-SC banner that was fantastic!  He has been working on an ARRL prototype license plate for SC, and he had a poster board made up with all the designs.  Our PIC, Dan KF4VIS had a CD/TV combo that continuously played the new ARRL CD, “Amateur Radio Today” narrated by Walter Cronkite.  Most of the ARRL-SC team was there, working the ARRL Table and meeting with the hamfest crowd!

On Monday, April 7th, the South Carolina Sideband net celebrated its 45th anniversary.  The net had an unprecedented 140 check-ins!  I was very pleased that Dave Sumner, K1ZZ and Dan Miller K3UFG from ARRL HQ found time to check-in to show their appreciation for the net.  The ARRL has given special recognition to the net in the form of a certificate.  This certificate will be part of the SC SSB net roster and I will be officially presenting it to the net at the State ARRL Convention at the Upstate Hamfest in Spartanburg on May 3rd.  There will also be a sidebar article about the SC SSB net in an upcoming issue of QST by Steve Ewald, WV1X.  If that wasn’t excitement enough, I watched my Alma Mater win the NCAA Basketball Final Four in New Orleans-GO SYRACUSE!

Please keep in mind that the ARRL-SC website is at http://www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ , and there you will find current information on the ARRL field service in South Carolina and contact information.  I also encourage everyone to join the ARRL-SC mail server by sending an e-mail to this address: arrl-sc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.  This will allow a dialog between the amateur radio operators of South Carolina. Please also keep in mind that the Section Manager’s report is given weekly on the air on the SC SSB net, which meets on 3915 kHz, at 1900 Eastern time.  IMPORTANT: If you have not signed up for receiving section bulletins, please go to the members only page on the www.arrl.org website and select the option.  I hope to use those bulletins sparingly, but wish to keep the section informed by that route and the website!

Emergency Services has had a busy month! Many SC Amateur Radio Operators have taken the Emergency Courses given by the ARRL.  Mary Favaro AE4BX, Sue Chism N4ENX, Charlie AE4UX and myself, N2ZZ completed the Level II course this past month.  Many others have completed the Level I course, including Adam AF4QZ.  Ties continue to strengthen between amateur radio and the state/county Emergency Management Departments.  Charlie AE4UX, SEC reports that this month's two emergency operations were in response to ice storms in northern South Carolina.  WB4BLI, W8CGQ and various amateur radio operators who were out and about during the storm assisted the Cherokee County Emergency Management Director by handling communications during the response.  Laurie KV4C, ASM Area 4 has suggested another EC, which will just about fill the EC spots for all counties in his area.

John Hoyt, W5UGD, a representative of the Pickens County ARES/Foothills ARC has met with school officials at Pickens High School, and it looks like an amateur radio club there will soon be a reality!  John brought along the ARRL “Amateur Radio Today” CD during his presentation, and this was well received!  John also told me that he may have a chance to make a similar presentation to a middle school with an enrolment of 1500+!  Great work! Dan Donovan KF4VIS, our PIC had the opportunity to make a presentation on amateur radio to Post #3 American Legion, and this presentation was also well received!  In the Aiken area, the amateur radio class has come to a close, and after testing, there was a 75% pass rate, and a few were 12 years old!  Thanks to the North Augusta/Belvedere club!

Good news in the PR Department!  Both Paul Harvey and USA Today had excellent news stories on Amateur Radio Emergency Communications this month.  Details are available on the ARRL website!

Great news for the I-95 corridor-The Dillon Repeater (146.745-) is now back on the air and operational! 

South Carolina QSO Party-Ray W8CNL, Paul KB4GYT and myself have been working on a SC QSO party.  The preliminary information is up on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc website.  The Sumter club has come forward and has agreed to sponsor the first annual event.  The event is planned for September 20th and 21st.  Please check out the website above for more information!

Legislation-There has never been a more important time to contact your elected representatives in D.C. regarding bills related to amateur radio.  The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act is now in the house and senate, and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency act is in the House!  Please check out the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website for more information, and please contact your representative ASAP!

The more I look, the more there is to report!  I’ll keep this report short, though, and report more next month.  Don’t forget the Anderson hamfest on April 26th and the SC State ARRL convention at the Upstate (Greenville/Spartanburg) hamfest on May 3rd.  I hope to see everyone there!  Information is available on the section website: www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ .  Again, if you have not signed up for section bulletins, please go to the members only area of www.arrl.org and select “section bulletins”.  Thank you!

March 2003: 

Station Activity Reports: KA4UIV 192, AF4QZ 181, K4NJN 20, K4JIF 17, WB4PCS 14, K4RKC 5

  PSHR Reports: AF4QZ 100, KA4UIV 100, N4VVX 70

  Net Reports: (Net Name, Traffic, Check-ins, Sessions, Reported By)

  Blue Ridge 2 meter net, 60, 2069, 31, K4SUG
Carolina’s Slow Net-CSN, 41/40, 151, 31, W4EAT
Carolina’s Traffic Net-CN, 213/200, 517, 62, K4IWW
Columbia ARC 2 meter net, 12, 178, 8, K4RKC
Greater Pee Dee 2 meter net, 7, 183, 6, K4DTT
Laurens County Emergency 2 meter net, 1, 151, 5, KF4YKT
MultiState 2 meter SSB Net, 0, 39, 4, WB4PCS
PALS, 49, 1464, 31, KG4KOE
SC SSB Net, 86, 1460, 31, WA4VYS

  To ALL listed above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!

 

‘73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina Section  

May 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim with the May Section Manager’s Report.  This past April was a good hamfest month, beginning with the Union Hamfest on April 5th, and the simultaneous 25th annual Lake Hartwell (Anderson) Hamfest and Rosewood get-together on April 26th.  May was begun with the Upstate South Carolina State ARRL Convention/Hamfest.  Union was on its new date, a much warmer month than December!  A good time was had by all! On April 26th, Les K4NK our Vice Director and I decided to split up so that we could cover both events.   I attended the Rosewood Get-together and wish to thank Ray and Kathleen for their hospitality.  Les attended the Anderson event and enjoyed the fellowship as well! 

My travel to the Upstate hamfest resulted in my arrival just after a severe storm on Friday-I missed it by a half hour!  Whew!  Of the SC-ARRL Team, those attending were: KG4JIA, WB4DFW, WA2EMF, N4UFP, KF4VIS, AF4QZ, myself N2ZZ and our Vice Director K4NK!  Marc Tarplee N4UPF TC gave a great talk on PSK-31 at 9 am.  The ARRL forum followed at 10 am.  I presided over that forum, and gave everyone an idea as to what was going on in the South Carolina section. Our topics included Emergency communications, getting amateur radio into the schools, the upcoming SC QSO party, Legislative concerns, the proposed ARRL SC license plates and recognition of the SC SSB net for their 45th anniversary!  I want to thank all of our friends in the Upstate for all their hard work on this hamfest.  It is always a great hamfest, and I thank the hamfest committee to allow the ARRL-SC team to be a part of your hamfest!

Please be sure to go to the ARRL-SC website www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ and check out the picture gallery-I haven’t had pictures sent to me for the Anderson Hamfest yet, but I’ll be happy to put them up when I receive them.  Thanks to N4LAW for his pictures of the Rosewood get-together! 

Your Section Manager broke down and bought a Davis Weather Station at the Upstate SC hamfest.  With all of the Emcomm courses I have been taking, it just seemed to be the next logical step!  I did get the computer software, and if you go down the left sidebar on the ARRL-SC website, you will see “Current Weather-Aiken, SC”.  Click on that link and see what the weather station is capable of doing!  It is a work in progress, as I have had to relearn some of the HTML formatting that is in my distant memory!  Next step-APRS!

Regarding emergency communications, Charlie AE4UX, SEC reports that the total number of SC ARES members is 187, up 65 members from last month!  John Hoyt, W5UGD, Pickens County EC, strengthened ARES’s relationship with the local Red Cross Chapter, and a memorandum of understanding has been signed.  Bobby Collins KG4BZK, Florence County EC, arranged for a district-wide ARES training session, and  Matt McGuire AF4UZ Area 4 DEC, presented the material during that session.  Mike Croft KG4LUS, York County EC, led an ARES team helping their county EMD personnel distribute Potassium Iodide tablets to county residents.  KI tablets are used to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine, which could become airborne during a nuclear incident.  Mary AE4BX represented SC at the recent CARES meeting.  Mary reports that CARES now has linked 13 hospitals, with Loris and Conway being the two hospitals in South Carolina (so far!).

I would like to remind everyone that the three ARRL Emergency communications courses are fully reimbursable for ARRL members.  I strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of these courses, even if your main interests are not in emergency communications.  Over the last month, I have received word that Bob Bacharach WA2EMF, ASM AREA 2 and Peter KG4VDR completed level I.  Matt AF4UZ, DEC Area 4 completed Level II.  Mary AE4BX, and your SM, Jim N2ZZ completed level III!  In SC, a total of 7 have completed level III, 5 have completed level II, and 50 have completed Level I.  Please become part of the emcomm group when you can!  The courses are a great experience!

I would like to offer congratulations to the North Augusta-Belvedere Amateur Radio Club, which became an ARRL Special Service Club this past month.  I was pleased to note that this club ran a licensing class this Spring.  Per Joe AF4JX, club president: “The North Augusta Belvedere Radio Club sponsored an entry level license class. The class met on Thursdays at 7:00 PM until 9 PM, the class ran for 12 weeks starting on Jan 9th and a VE session on the 13th week, April  3rd. The class started with 14 students and had 11 sit for testing.  Eight of these eleven obtained a Technician license”.

Other clubs have also been busy:  The Trident Amateur Radio Club (TARC) was proud to provide communication services for the recent Charleston, SC MS Walk.  Eight club members participated using one of the club repeaters for communications. The Ridge Club will be participating in the Batesburg-Leesville Poultry Festival on Saturday, May 10.

Well, there seems to be more and more to report each month.  I do endeavor to give updates on the SC SSB net on 3915 kHz Wednesday at 7 pm local time.  Please check www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website’s home page for updates as well!  I hope to see everyone at the Dayton Hamvention this week!

Station Activity Reports April 2003: SENT/RECEIVED/DELIVERED/ORIGINATED/TOTAL: AF4QZ 125/30/70/0/225; KA4UIV 56/51/0/0/107; WA4UGD 26/3/0/0/29; K4NJN 5/5/4/0/14; KG4VDR 2/0/2/5/9; N4VVX 2/5/0/0/7

PSHR April 2003:

N4VVX 01/40 02/7 03/30 04/30 05/0 06/0 Total 107

AF4QZ 01/40 02/40 03/20 04/0 05/0            06/0 Total 100

KA4UIV 01/40 02/40 03/20 04/0 05/0 06/0 Total 100

To everyone listed above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!

 

‘73 de Dr. JIM N2ZZ
Section Manager
South Carolina Section
Visit our website www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/

June 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim with the June South Carolina Section Manager’s Report.  Since the last report, there has been plenty of news in Amateur Radio, both at the Section and National level!

I wish to further congratulate the SC SSB net on their 45th anniversary of service to the Amateur Radio community and the citizens of South Carolina.  I am proud to report that a sidebar article was published on page 76 of  June’s QST, bringing national congratulations to the net.  On the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ SC section website, please check out the picture gallery for pictures of the presentation of the ARRL Certificate of merit to the Net’s officers!

I had the pleasure of traveling to the Dayton Hamvention on my annual visit.  I have traveled to the Dayton Hamvention yearly, beginning in 1994 to present.  This year was a wonderful year for me, representing South Carolina as your Section Manager!  One of my first stops was to the ARRL tables, having the opportunity to speak with Dave Sumner K1ZZ, CEO of the ARRL, and ARRL President Jim Haynie W5JBP.  I met up with John Covington W4CC, Section Manager of North Carolina.  We had a picture taken of both of us with Jim Haynie, and I saw that the ARRL published that picture on their website, under “In Brief”.  That picture, and my report on the Dayton Hamvention are available on the SC Section Website in the Picture Gallery.

One of the potential threats to Amateur Radio and any service using the HF spectrum is PLC, Power Line Communications.  President Haynie had indicated to me that he had just come from a five-hour meeting on that topic.  The ARRL-SC team mobilized its Technical Group through Marc Tarplee K4UFP, TC.  Marc has already filed his comments with the FCC, and encourages others to do the same: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi .  Marc has also been busy completing a PowerPoint presentation on NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Sky Wave) propagation.  He will be providing me with a disk having his presentations on a number of topics, and I’ll add those to the Section website!

The big news, though, is our new band, 60 meters!  The FCC has allocated five frequencies for Amateur Radio Use, 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz.  These will be USB only, 2.8 kHz wide, with a maximum ERP of 50 watts.  Transmitters should be tuned to 1.5 kHz below the center frequencies above.  This allocation will begin on July 3rd, 2003 at Midnight, Local Time.  If you want to be the first to use these allocations, better get your ticket to Guam ASAP!  President Haynie described this allocation as a “foot in the door”.  We, as an Amateur Radio community, must respect the restrictions on this band, as we will share the band on a secondary basis.  If we misuse it, we will lose it!  The primary allocation is to the Federal Government.  On a related note, we did not obtain a LF allocation on 136 kHz, primarily due to concerns of power companies who say they control power grids on or around that frequency.  They were concerned about interference into their system by signal ingress.  Hopefully they will be as concerned as much about signal egress potentially causing interference to the HF spectrum by PLC, as mentioned above.

I was fortunate to visit a few clubs earlier this month, and wish to thank them for their hospitality!  The first was the Columbia ARC, who met on June 2nd at the Columbia American Red Cross Building.  Charlie AE4UX, SEC was invited to call the SC ARES/RACES net from their new communications room.  I arrived in Columbia during the net and checked into the net as a mobile station.  Upon my arrival, Brian K6NWS gave me a tour of the facilities, and discussed further plans for the communications room.  The Columbia ARC meeting ensued, called to order by Roger KF4PRV.  Roger called on both Charlie AE4UX and myself to give a brief presentation at the meeting.  I also had the pleasure of meeting Joe KF4TEN, the President of the Palmetto ARC.  I was very pleased to find that the Columbia ARC and the Palmetto ARC were combining efforts this year for Field Day!  A few Palmetto ARC members were present as well.  Thanks to both clubs for your hospitality and your upcoming combined effort on Field Day!

On Tuesday, June 3rd, Bob K4NJN, ASM6 and I traveled to the Spartanburg ARC club meeting, presided over by Art KE4EAN, DEC2.  Bob WA2EMF ASM2 had arranged for a number of the ARRL-SC cabinet members to be present.  Bob WA2EMF gave a great talk on the ARRL organization structure and opportunities for membership and field service appointments.  Marc N4UFP, TC gave a brief talk on PLC and NVIS to the audience.  My talk centered on our progress in the state to date and what directions we will be proceeding with the ARRL-SC team and field service.  Dan KF4VIS PIC was present, as Spartanburg is his home club.  I was proud to see the number of ARRL members and appointees in the audience! 

Thanks to both clubs for welcoming me to your meetings and for the opportunity to address your members!

Speaking of Field Day, my designee or I will be available on the SC SSB net on June 28th to receive Section Manager messages from Field Day Stations.  Remember that a message to either the SM or SEC this year adds an additional 100 points to your score!

I was approached by Toni Pipkins KG4LXM, in regards to an upcoming 4-H club Congress which will be held at Clemson University on July 20th-24th.  4-H clubs were polled across the state, and one of their main interests involved Emergency Preparedness!  Dave Crocket WB4DFW, ASM1 works at Clemson University and will be handling the presentation of Amateur Radio to the 4-H Congress.  The ARRL will be providing information brochures for the Congress, and I have inquired regarding videos from the ARRL library.  The ARRL-SC section will be donating five “Now You’re Talking” Books to Dave’s presentation.

The Salkehatchie ARS reported a good turn out for their yard sale on June 7th, and wish to thank all that turned out for their event.

Laurie KV4C, ASM4 reported that there was an article in the Florence Morning News on June 9th regarding the benefits of Amateur Radio to the public, including Emergency Preparedness and SKYWARN.   Congratulations!

John, W5UGD, EC Pickins County, reported that three of our EC’s, John W5UGD (Pickins), Elsie KA2CLX (Spartanburg), and Sue N4ENX (Greenville) were featured in an article in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal concerning SKYWARN.  Congratulations!

I appreciate the media efforts.  Remember, although we have specific appointments for PIO’s (Public Information Officers), we are all PIO’s to some extent.  Any opportunity for good publicity is a good opportunity!

South Carolina underwent a full scale emergency drill on June 3rd and 4th.  The scenario was that of a WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) attack.  Communications were primarily via the Palmetto 800 trunked system, with satellite phones as a backup.  Amateur Radio Operators were called upon as communicators, manning the Palmetto 800 system as relief operators.  Although amateur radio was not specifically a backup in this scenario, VHF nets were brought up on local repeaters with a liaison to the HF net on 3993.5 kHz with a secondary frequency of 7250 kHz.  Announcements were to be made from the State EOC at prearranged times to activate ARES if necessary.  It was unfortunate that HF propagation was poor on both days of the exercise.  Fortunately, the SC Emergency Operations Center ARES/RACES was able to make contact with radio operators throughout the state using the repeater systems.  VHF nets were established at 0800, 1000, 1200 and 1400 hours.  The exercise greatly built confidence in the amateur radio operators as professional communicators, which is a big plus for ARES/RACES in South Carolina.  Charlie AE4UX did identify a number of equipment limitations in the SC EOC, and has suggested additional equipment to be obtained.  Antenna work will also need to be performed.

I have a plea to the Amateur Radio community in South Carolina.  There are many hams that are not members of the ARRL.  There is no doubt that some people have very strong feelings against the ARRL for whatever reason.  There is nothing any of us can do about the past, only the present and the future.  I can truthfully say that of my 30+ years of ARRL membership, I have never seen such a dedicated, progressive organization.  President Jim Haynie W5JBP is an excellent representative of that effort.  He is a salesman by trade, and a very enthusiastic salesman of the ARRL and Amateur Radio in general.  There are commercial interests out there that are bidding high dollars for spectrum.  Haynie had made an interesting observation at the Dayton ARRL Forum. Each frequency, channelized at 12.5 kHz is worth $300,000 on the open market.  That means our 420-450 mHz allocation is worth over a Billion dollars!  Individually, we would have no recourse if that allocation were auctioned from the amateur service.  The ARRL, as our representative, is our watchdog and we need to have a strong organization.  If you know someone who is not an ARRL member, please encourage them to become one.  We want all of the Amateur Radio Operators in SC to be a part of the ARRL-SC team!

 

The following reports submitted by Adam AF4QZ, STM:

 

Station Activity Reports, May 2003: (Call/Received/Sent/Originated/Delivered/Total) AF4QZ 109/35/3/48/195; KA4UIV 42/49/0/1/92; WA4MIY 16/17/3/1/73; KG4VDR 0/6/0/0/6; N4VVX 1/1/0/0/2

PSHR Reports, May, 2003 : AF4QZ 40/40/20/0/0/0/100; KA4UIV 40/40/20/0/0/0/100; N4VVX 40/2/30/5/20/0/97

May 2003 Net Reports: 

Net Name                                            (Checkins / Traffic / Sessions / Reported by) 

Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net                    2183 / 41 / 31 / K4SUG

Carolina’s (CW) Net                                501 / 154 / 62 / (745 minutes) / K4IWW

Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net                 180 / 8 / 8 / K4RKC

Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net                  877 / 44 / 31 / K4DTT

Laurens County 2 Meter Net                 91 / 6 / 4 / KF4YKT

Multistate 2 Meter SSB Net                        26 / 0 / 4 / (83 minutes) / WB4PCS

P.A.L.S 2 Meter Net                                1367 / 52 / 31 / KG4KOE

Ridge ARC 2 Meter Net                    48 / 4 / 4 / K4RKC

SC SSB Net                                        1352 / 67 / 31 / WA4UGD      

 

To everyone above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!  See you next month!

 

’73 de Jim N2ZZ
Section Manager
South Carolina Section
Visit our website: www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/

JULY 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim with the July South Carolina Section Manager’s Report.  Since my last report, we have had numerous accomplishments, both at the National and Section Level!

            Field Day was an opportunity for teamwork and an excellent exercise for emergency communication preparedness this year.  This was the first year for Class “F” stations, operating from Established EOC’s or Served Agencies with the requirement of close interaction with agency personnel.  This should go far in improved relations between amateur radio and the agencies we serve!  For Charlie AE4UX, SEC, and myself, we decided on a road trip!  On Saturday June 28th, over the course of a day, Charlie and I traveled 500 miles over 11 hours on the road to visit 6 field day groups.  My full report and pictures of our travels are on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website entitled “Jim and Charlie’s Excellent Adventure”!  My thanks to all the groups that we visited for their hospitality, and my apologies to all of the groups we were unable to visit.  That day made me realize how big a state South Carolina actually is!  Fortunately, Les K4NK, our Vice Director, was able to visit a number of clubs in Upstate South Carolina.  Excellent Public Relations resulted as a result of Field Day.  Our PIC Dan Donovan KF4VIS just awarded Dennis Zabawa KG4RUL, PIO of the Trident Club and Michael Duff KG4SLH, PIO of the Florence Club certificates for their hard work and originality in establishing grass roots public relations in our section.  In addition, I would like to thank all those others who worked so hard in their public relations capacity.  Special mention is due to Elizabeth KG4CEZ, Brian K6NWS and Robert K4RKC from the Columbia club for securing the proclamation from Governor Mark Sanford to proclaim June 22-29, 2003 as Amateur Radio Week!

            On July 20th-24th, Dave WB4DFW, ASM-1 will be presenting amateur radio to the 4-H club Congress that will be held at Clemson University.  ARRL-SC has donated five “Now You’re Talking” books for Dave’s presentation, and ARRL videos will be used as part of the teaching materials.  My thanks to Dave for his upcoming presentation!

            I have just firmed up the SC QSO party details with Jim KB3PU, President of the Sumter Club.  The Sumter club will be sponsoring the event, which will be held September 20th and 21st.  I have contacted Ward N0AX to add the event to “Contest Corral” in QST.  Full details are on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website.  If anyone is part of the “County Hunters” group, please let them know about the QSO party!  For Mobiles and Portables, there will be a multiplier for each county they activate-so there should be a number of rare SC counties on the air!  Let’s have a lot of activity, and make this a successful first annual SC QSO Party!

            Now on to the National News-What a month!  On June 30th at Midnight local time, five frequencies on 60 meters became available to US amateurs for the very first time!  Full details on 60 meter operation can be found on both the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc section website and specifically the national www.arrl.org website.   The VFO tuning frequencies are 5330.5, 5346.5, 5366.5, 5371.5 and 5403.5 kHz. Frequency accuracy must be within “a few tens of Hertz”.  Bandwidth must be limited to 2.8 kHz.  ERP is limited to 50 watts.  50 watts PEP to a half-wave dipole would satisfy this requirement.  For gain antennas, you must “do the math” and be certain that your ERP does not exceed 50 watts!  ENJOY!

            The second development is the compromise made at the World Administrative Radio Conference 2003 in regards to 40 meters!  By 2009, Shortwave broadcasters will move out of the 7100-7200 kHz spectrum and that spectrum will then be allocated to Amateur Radio in Regions 1&3.  This will result in a world-wide allocation of 7000-7200 kHz to Amateur Radio.  US amateurs (Region 2) will continue to enjoy 7000-7300 kHz, but will no longer be plagued with shortwave broadcast stations in the 7100-7200 kHz segment.  This is a great development for amateur radio worldwide!

            The ARRL is also on the Power Line Communications Issue.  This technology has the capability of disrupting communications from 2-80 mHz, and should be considered a serious threat to Amateur Radio and other services that use the HF/VHF-Lo bands.  Please become involved in this issue, and make your feelings known.  Full details can be found here: http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/06/19/2/?nc=1

Well, that’s it for this month’s report!  Have a great month, and don’t pass up any opportunity to promote Amateur Radio to the public!  We are all PIO’s in this capacity!

Reports submitted by Adam AF4QZ, STM:

JUNE 2003 STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS: (CALLRCVD/SENT/DLVD/ORIG/TOTAL) AF4QZ 80/45/34/0/159; KA4UIV 45/39/3/0/87; WA4MIY 29/28/4/1/62; WA4UGD 26/0/2/0/28; KG4VDR 2/15/6/4/27; KA4LRM 13/13/1/0/27

JUNE 2003 PSHR REPORTS: [CALL (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / TOTAL )] AF4QZ 40 / 40 / 20 / 45 / 0 / 0 / 145; KA4UIV 40 / 40 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100; KA4LRM 37 / 17 / 20 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 89

JUNE 2003 NET REPORTS: Net Name(Check-ins / Traffic / Sessions / Reported by) Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net 2015 / 48 / 30 / K4SUG;Carolina’s (CW) Net 473 / 253 / 60 / K4IWW; Carolina’s Slow (CW) Net 130 / 20 / 30 / W4EAT; Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net 185 / 9 / 9 / K4RKC; Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net 901 / 39 / 30 / K4DTT; Laurens County 2 Meter Net 91 / 6 / 4 / KF4YKT; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net 173 / 29 / 30 / N4WMB; Multistate 2 Meter SSB Net 27 / 0 / 3 / (81 minutes) WB4PCS; P.A.L.S 2 Meter Net 1320 / 41 / 30 / KG4KOE; Ridge ARC 2 Meter Net 45 / 0 / 4 / K4RKC; SC SSB Net 1202 / 104 / 30 / WA4UGD; South Sandlapper 6 Meter Net 56 / 0 / 4 / K4RKC; YCARS 2 Meter Net 800 / 0 / 47 / KG4LUS

To all above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!  See you next month!

’73 de Dr. JIM N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina Section
www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/

 

August, 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim with the August South Carolina Section Manager’s Report.  Since the last report, there has been plenty of news in Amateur Radio, both at the Section and National level!

            First, I would like to remind everyone of the South Carolina Section Website at www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/.  This site will contain my full Section Managers Report, and not an abbreviated version.

            As I begin this report on August 16th, I am happy to say that the ARRL-SC section was mentioned twice in the September 2003 issue of QST.  On page 13, the Field Day adventure that Charlie AE4UX, SEC and I had, traveling 500 miles and visiting 6 Field Day sites, was highlighted in the column “Section Managers Get Around on Field Day!”  In Contest Corral on page 105, our upcoming first annual South Carolina QSO party on September 20th to 21st was announced.  More on this later!

            On July 20th-22nd, our own Dave Crockett WB4DFW, ASM-1 gave a presentation on Amateur radio to the 4-H Club Congress held at Clemson University, attended by approximately 70 teens.  It was interesting that one of the major concerns of the attendees was Emergency Preparedness, as determined by polls several months prior to the conference.  Dave centered his talk on Emergency Communications via Amateur Radio, and used the ARRL Disaster Preparedness video in his presentation.  He thanks Fred Tuck KD4OAQ for his invaluable assistance on site and Sue N4ENX, OOC for her help with on-the-air demonstrations to the participants.  The ARRL-SC section donated five “Now You’re Talking” manuals to Dave’s presentation!  Thanks to all!

            The first annual South Carolina QSO party will be held on September 20th through the 21st.  I encourage everyone to read “Contest Corral” in their September QST, or visit the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website for the details.  Remember, mobile and portable stations receive a multiplier for the number of different SC counties they activate!  Thanks to the Sumter ARC, and their president, Jim KB3PU for their sponsorship of the South Carolina QSO party!  To Everyone, PLEASE PARTICIPATE, Even if for a few hours!

            Congratulations go to Mike Duff KG4SLH, PIO/Florence ARC on completing a basic Public Information course offered by the SC Emergency Management Division.  Mike reports that this course is offered three times a year, and lasts three days.  He goes on to say that the course teaches how to write press releases, public speaking and how to speak with reporters.

            Word has it that York County has a high power 6-meter repeater!  According to John, KI4D, This is a 100-watt repeater at an antenna height of 167 feet, and frequencies are 53.520 receive/52.520 transmit.  It is coordinated with a 123.0 Hz tone, but currently is on carrier access.

            Marc Tarplee N4UFP, TC reports that he has assembled an NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) station for 60 meters, and currently is testing propagation from his QTH.  He also reports that the planned Digital Seminars (covering PSK31, APRS, ECHOLINK/IRLP) will be held September 27th from 9am-4pm in several locations:  Charleston EOC, Sumter Technical College, Florence (meeting room at KD4HTW’s workplace), and York Technical College in Rock Hill.  For further information, contact Marc at n4ufp@arrl.net. Each seminar will be divided up into two-hour sessions, and attendees will be able to decide which seminar they would like to attend.

            On Tuesday August 19th, the Aiken County Council will formally recognize the amateur radio operators that assisted the Sheriff’s Office Communications following a lightning storm on June 16th that rendered most of the EMS communication systems unusable.

I was able to take a trip up to my hometown of Syracuse, NY this past weekend and had the pleasure of speaking with Al N2CCN, SEC and Scott W2LC, SM, both of the Western NY section.  I even spoke with an old friend, Viv WA2PUU on one of the repeaters!  Thanks for your hospitality!

            I would like to formally express my appreciation to two clubs, the Grand Strand ARC and the York County ARS for renewing their affiliation with the ARRL!  Thanks also to ALL the ARRL affiliated clubs in the ARRL-SC section!  With strong club support and member support of the ARRL, we will aid our growth of our national organization.

            Speaking of our national organization, and going on to our national news, as of July 3rd, 60 meters is now a reality, with 5 available frequencies, 50 watts to a non-gain dipole.  Amateur Radio worldwide has been benefited by the 40 meter compromises made at the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-03), where broadcasters will move out of the 7100-7200 kHz band, and that range will be allocated to amateurs worldwide in 2009.  The US will continue to enjoy 7000-7300, but will notice a drop in Shortwave Broadcasters over the next 6 years in the frequency band 7100-7200.  The changes should be complete by 2009.  There is now a youth page on the ARRL website.  Go to www.arrl.org, select “Educational” and then “For Kids” on the pop-up menu.  Quite a bit of research has gone into this part of the ARRL website, and kids apparently love it!  It is definitely worth checking out!  ARRL President Haynie has been working with ARRL staff and consultants regarding Power Line Communications (PLC), also called Broadband over Power Line (BPL).  He states that if this medium is allowed to be widely deployed, would result in “spectrum pollution” on a level that is “difficult to imagine”.  Full story is available on the ARRL website: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1.  He encourages all hams to get involved, as this is a very significant threat to all that use the HF bands.

Reports Submitted by Adam AF4QZ, STM:

JULY 2003 PSHR REPORTS: (CALL 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / TOTAL): AF4QZ 40 / 40 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100; KA4UIV 40 / 40 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100; KA4LRM 40 / 19 / 20 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 79

JULY 2003 STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS: (CALL RCVD/SENT/DLVD/ORIG/TOTAL): KA4UIV 82/72/4/0/158; AF4QZ 79/45/30/0/154; WA4MIY 50/29/16/0/98; KG4VDR 13/13/16/11/53; WA4UGD 26/0/2/0/28; KA4LRM 11/5/3/0/19

JULY 2003 Net Reports: (Net Name/ Checkins / Traffic / Sessions / Reported by): Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net 2219 / 61 / 31 / K4SUG;  Carolina’s (CW) Net 487 / 223 / 62 / K4IWW; Carolina’s Slow (CW) Net 127 / 32 / 31 / W4EAT; Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net 165 / 10 / 9 / K4RKC; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net 200 / 20 / 31 / N4WMB; Multistate 2 Meter SSB Net 22 / 0 / 4 / WB4PCS; P.A.L.S 2 Meter Net 1446 / 151 / 31 / KG4KOE; Ridge ARC 2 Meter Net 45 / 0 / 4 / K4RKC; SC SSB Net 1158 / 98 / 31 / WA4UGD

To all above, THANK YOU for your service to Amateur Radio!  See you next month!

’73 de Dr. JIM N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina Section

September 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators!  This is Dr. Jim with the September South Carolina Section Manager’s Report. First, I would like to remind everyone of the South Carolina Section Website at www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/.  This site will contain my full Section Managers Report, and not an abbreviated version.  Additionally, you may have noted that I always give the month of the report when I write it, rather than the previous month as it is listed on the ARRL national website.  I hope that this doesn’t lead to much confusion-It definitely helps me keep my thoughts in perspective!

            I mentioned in my last report that I had the pleasure of spending time with a very close friend, Al Topalian, N2CCN, SEC WNY in early August.  I am very sorry to report that within three weeks of my visit he unexpectedly became a silent key.  I did send in information on Al to the ARRL, and my comments were published in the current ARRL “News in Brief”.  He will never be forgotten.

            On August 19, the Aiken County Council issued a resolution to express their appreciation to the Aiken County ARES/RACES members who helped maintain EMS communications on June 16 after a lightning storm disabled the EMS radio system.  Congratulations!  The resolution is on the ARRL-SC website.  Please check for the link on the home page!

            I have received word from John W5UGD that the Pickens High School may soon have an amateur radio club starting.  John and Chris KG4UOY, student at Pickens, have made arrangements with the principal, and have a faculty advisor.  The Foothills club has offered to mentor the club.  In my area, a technician/general class has been started at Aiken Preparatory School in preparation for a club starting at their facility.  Joe Semer AF4JX, is heading up that effort, aided by volunteers from the area offering to teach individual classes.

            In the ARRL Roanoke Division, of which South Carolina is one of four sections, our Director Dennis Bodson W4PWF and our Vice Director Les Shattuck K4NK have been declared re-elected for another term, as both ran unopposed.  Pat Hensley N4ROS challenged the Vice Director spot, but her petition was deemed invalid by the ARRL election committee since it did not contain the required ten ARRL member signatures.

            Labor Day weekend brought about the Shelby NC hamfest.  I had the opportunity to attend, and was in good company at the ARRL forum.  Our Director Dennis Bodson W4PWF was unable to attend, so the ARRL forum was run by our Vice Director, Les Shattuck, K4NK.  Les spoke on a number of topics, including BPL and the Morse Code requirement for licensure in the US Amateur Radio Service.  John Covington W4CC, SM NC spoke on topics specific to North Carolina, and I had a chance to speak about the ARRL field service in South Carolina.  Dan Henderson N1ND from the Contest Branch at ARRL HQ spoke also.  I had the pleasure of seeing and acknowledging my predecessor as SM, Pat Hensley N4ROS who was in the audience.  A little later in the day, I had the privilege to speak with Susan AF4FO, SM GA.  With the numerous vendors, the large flea market and good fellowship, Shelby is always a lot of fun!

            I had the honor of being asked to go to ARRL HQ in Newington, CT in early September to attend a Section Manager Conference.  I was one of 15 SM’s who attended, and had a chance to interact with HQ personnel.  Steve Ewald, WV1X and Chuck Skolaut K0BOG ran the conference, and several other HQ staffers presented programs as well.  While the programs were very informational, I think the informal interaction that I had with the other SM’s was extremely helpful.  The interaction answered a number of questions I had, and gave me some new ideas.  On the other hand, I realize that we are very lucky in South Carolina for a number of reasons.  One is the excellent relation we have with emergency officials.  Another is the lack of significant repeater conflicts.  Despite our varying challenges, though, the SM’s were all very upbeat and positive.  We were pleased to have two Vice Directors attend the conference also.

            Well, September is here, and the first annual SC QSO party, sponsored by the Sumter ARC, will be held on September 20th and 21st.  Full details are on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc website, and in Contest Corral in the September issue of QST.  PLEASE participate, even if for only an hour or two.  We want our first QSO party effort to be a success!  Remember that mobile/portable stations receive multipliers for each county they activate, to emphasize emergency preparedness.  At the Shelby Hamfest, Les K4NK told me that one of his club members has vowed to operate from EVERY County in South Carolina!  Brother, I thought I was type “A”!  I will definitely operate the contest, and hope to hear everyone participating!

            There will be digital seminars covering PSK31, APRS, Echolink, and IRLP at two locations on September 27th, from 9 am to 4 pm.  One will be at the Charleston EOC, and the other will be in Florence at KD4HTW’s workplace (The location in Florence is on Hwy 52, 2 miles from I-95 toward Darlington at the SC Forestry Commission Office next to Florence Darlington Technical College.  Talk-in on 146.85mhz)

.           Please attend the Rock Hill Hamfest on October 4th at York Technical College (NEW LOCATION)!  Information is available on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website.

Well, that’s the news for the September report!  See you next month!

Reports Submitted by Adam AF4QZ, STM:

AUGUST 2003 STATION ACTIVITY REPORTS:

CALL            (RCVD/SENT/DLVD/ORIG/TOTAL): KA4UIV 82/72/4/0/158; WA4MIY 37/16/3/1/57; KG4VDR 9/16/18/0/43; WA4UGD 24/0/5/0/29; KA4LRM 7/3/1/0/11

AUGUST 2003 PSHR REPORTS:

CALL (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / TOTAL): KA4UIV 40/40/20/0/0/0/100; WA4MIY 40/40/10/0/0/0 /90; KA4LRM 40/11/20/0/0/ 0/71

august 2003 Net Reports

Net Name (Checkins / Traffic / Sessions / Reported by): Carolina’s (CW) Net 458 / 162 / 62 / K4IWW; Carolina’s Slow (CW) Net 146 / 31 / 32 / W4EAT; Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net 801 / 41 / 32 / K4DTT; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net 196 / 26 / 12 / N4WMB; Multistate 2 Meter SSB Net 24 / 0 / 4 / (50 minutes) / WB4PCS; SC SSB Net 1140 / 201 / 32 / WA4UGD      

To all above, thank you for your service to Amateur Radio!  See everyone next month!

’73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina Section

October 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators.  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the October South Carolina Section Manager’s Report!  Please remember that the SC Section website can be found at www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ where my full SM report will be listed as well as up-to-the-date information on Amateur Radio in South Carolina!

            I stated in the September report that I had the chance to travel to ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut in early September.  Dan Miller K3UFG, Emcomm Course Manager, met me at the airport.  Steve Ewald, WV1X, Field Services Manager and Chuck Skolaut K0BOG, Official Observer Program Director ran the programs. Presentations were given by Maul Lau N1VH, Field and Educational Support Team Supervisor; John Hennessee N1KB, Regulatory Information; Bob Indebitzen NQ1R, Marketing; and Mark Spencer WA8SME, the ARRL Big Project Director. For Dinner one evening, we had the pleasure of the company of Rosalie White K1STO, Field and Educational Services Manager.  We had a chance to tour Headquarters and a chance to operate the historic Hiram P. Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW.  We were brought up to date on a number of the current developments in amateur radio, and saw a very disturbing presentation on “Broadband over Power Line” (BPL/PLC) technology.  This is a service promoted by the power companies that is meant to bring broadband Internet communication to everyone, even those in rural areas.  From an interference perspective, it could bring about the demise of amateur radio and all services that use 2-80 mHz in this country, and in the world.  A video was shown that in one of the pilot regions of this technology, the noise floor on the HF bands was S9, and up to 40 dB over S9!  The ARRL has been actively defending against BPL, and has requested funds from the membership to offset the incurred costs in the defense of our amateur bands.  It is important to note that Japan, well known for their technology in electronic devices, has outlawed this technology.  Please get involved!  Kathleen Q. Abernathy, an FCC commissioner, has compared BPL to “Broadband Nirvana” and recommended deregulation along the “Path to Enlightenment”.  We strongly disagree. Those in favor of BPL have not even addressed the serious interference issues to other wireless services.  I did see that the World’s Broadcasters have partnered with the ARRL in the fight against BPL. Please check the www.arrl.org website for further developments!

            I should note that Marc Tarplee’s presentation on BPL is available for download on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ site, and a set of movie files can be downloaded from the www.arrl.org website!

            I have sad news to report that Jack Pegues, W4APE became a silent key on Friday, September 19th.   Jack was the local reporter for the National Weather Service for over 20 years.  He was the Emergency Communications Director for Cheraw, S.C., a member of the American Radio Relay League, and had several other amateur radio associations.  His wishes for memorials are to St. David's Church, building repair fund (420 Market St., [ph.#537-3832] Cheraw, S.C.) or to the maintenance of his system of five linked radio repeaters which have allowed innumerable people to stay in contact with each other.  Any contributions to the PALSNET system should be addressed to Dr. Jack Wood, 14 Bent Tree Lane, Pawleys Island, S.C. 29585.  Please note in memory of Jack on your check. We all mourn the passing of Jack, as he has touched our lives in many ways.  Please remember him and his family in your prayers.  Please click HERE for a memoriam of Jack composed by Jimmy W4EOZ in Cheraw.

            Well, the first annual South Carolina QSO party is now history!  I wish to again thank the Sumter ARA for their sponsorship of the event!  Thanks also go to Ray W8CNL and Paul KB4GYT who assisted me in designing the contest.  I have received a number of e-mails and comments while working the contest that it was very well received, and I couldn't be happier!  Band conditions were not too cooperative from my perspective.  Whenever I checked, the 15, 10 and 6-meter bands were closed to propagation.  I did not note much activity on 80 meters.  The majority of my operation was on 40 and 20 meters, mainly Sideband, some CW.   I hope that everyone was able to work both W4GL and me for the additional 300 bonus points (apiece!).  I have to look through my logs, but I did make 250+ QSO's, and hopefully I was in the contest long enough for everyone to work me for the extra points!  I heard a lot of mobiles going from county to county. John W5UGD, despite an overheating car engine, activated and worked every county in SC!  I encourage anyone who has a good story and/or pictures to e-mail them to me!  In any case, the SC QSO party was meant to be a fun on-the-air activity.  I think that goal was reached, and it was a great weekend!  Thanks to everyone for their participation in the first Annual SC QSO party!  Please go to the Sumter website for details on submitting your logs-They are due on October 18th!

            On September 21st through 24th, Sandy Donahue W4RU, Southeastern Division Vice Director and Dan Miller K3UFG, ARRL HQ Emcomm Course Director visited Charlie Miller AE4UX SEC and myself for an Consequence Management Seminar at nearby Fort Gordon.  Dan Miller reports:

 [
With preparations and assistance from John Houpt, II, KG4WRJ, Emergency Manager, Ft. Gordon Directorate of Public Safety, Chip Giddens, Consequence Management Director, Administrative Director for the Center of Operational Medicine, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, and Charlie Miller, AE4UX, SC Section Emergency Coordinator and SC State RACES Officer, ARRL was included in the Region IV FEMA Consequence Management regional conference. This was sponsored by DHS-FEMA Region IV, Office of National Preparedness-Interagency Support Group, Atlanta, GA.]

We were invited back next year, and hope to have an ARRL booth to highlight the important aspects of amateur radio in emergency communications.          

            On September 27th, I traveled to Columbia for the Quarter Century Wireless Association, Palmetto State Chapter 89, annual meeting.  The new slate of officers for the 2003-04 year are: President-Daniel P. Lykins KM4GT; First Vice President Dr. Jim Boehner N2ZZ; Second Vice President Kenneth Ferguson K4KXO; Secretary Jenny Myers WA4NGV; Outgoing President is Ralph Mott N4RM.  For those that have been licensed 25 years or more and are interested in joining QCWA, please contact Jenny Myers BRYCEMYERS@aol.com. The digital seminars were also held on this date, and my report from Lloyd KD4HTW is that both sites were a success!  One of the seminars was held in Florence, another in Charleston.  Topics included APRS, PSK31, Echolink and IRLP.  Interest in the digital modes was high, and presentations were excellent!  Thanks to all involved in making these seminars a reality!  I hope these are held again in the near future so that I can attend also! 

            On the following day, September 28th, Adam AF4QZ STM and I had the pleasure of attending the PALSNET picnic at Santee State Park.  The weather was beautiful, and all had a good time.  The sadness of the loss of Jack Pegues W4APE, who became a silent key on September 19th was evident, but all present knew that Jack would have wanted everyone to come to the picnic and have a great time.

            I had the pleasure of attending the Rock Hill Hamfest at York Technical College on October 4th!  Bob Bacharach WA2EMF, ASM2 was the hamfest chairman, and when I spoke with him, he was very pleased with the turnout!  Whenever you either change the date or the location of any hamfest, it usually results in lower numbers of attendees.  From the look of the hamfest, though, it certainly rivalled the numbers of attendees at the "Knights Castle" in previous years!  The dealers inside the building included The Wireman, Communications Headquarters, SERA, Antique Radios, ARRL and several others.  The flea market commanded a lot of attention, as the parking lot at York Technical College certainly provided ample space.  From the ARRL-SC team, I was pleased to see Dave WB4DFW, ASM1; Bob Bacharach WA2EMF, ASM2; Laurie Sansbury KV4C, ASM4; Adam Hoffman AF4QZ, STM; Marc Tarplee N4UFP, TC; Charlie Miller AE4UX SEC and Les Shattuck K4NK, Vice Director.  Thanks to all for attending!
The Forums began with Mark Tarplee N4UFP, TC with a presentation about amateur radio's biggest threat, Broadband over Power Lines (BPL). The following hour was a presentation about SC ARES/RACES by Charlie Miller AE4UX, SEC.  The final hour was the ARRL forum, first with a presentation by Les Shattuck K4NK, Vice Director, followed by my presentation about the ARRL field service in South Carolina.
Thanks to all for attending!  Good hamfest participation will keep our South Carolina hamfests strong!  I would also like to thank John Covington W4CC, Section Manager North Carolina who sent out a mass e-mailing to his state at my request to raise awareness of the Rock Hill hamfest!
The next SC hamfest will be in Sumter on October 25th.  Details are on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website!
         

     On the same day as the Rock Hill hamfest, the South Carolina Simulated Emergency Test (SET) was activated by Charlie Miller AE4UX, SEC.  The scenario was that of an earthquake felt throughout South Carolina with commercial power lost, and all phone and cell phone communication lost.  In addition, there would be loss of commercial towers (including 800 mHz) and amateur towers only in Area 5.  Charlie said that he will be collecting reports, and I will report on this in next month’s SM report!

            I have heard quite a bit about JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) planned activity from e-mails that I have received from Bill Lemmon KA4TWK, Columbia and Mike Duff KG4SLH, Florence. The 46th annual JOTA will be held October 18th, and is an activity that brings scouting and amateur radio together!  The Florence group will be operating from the Pee Dee Area Boy Scout Council Service Center, 702 S. Coit Street, Florence.  The Columbia Group will be at Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church which is located 1/4 mile off I-26 St Andrews Rd across from the St. Andrews Cinema and next to Bojangles.  Please make every effort to get on the air (GOTA!) to participate in JOTA!  The scouts that get a good impression of amateur radio will be the amateur radio operators of tomorrow!  Please participate!

            The Florence Club has been very active, as reported by Mike Duff KG4SLH, PIO.  Their list of activities for the last month include putting together the Florence County Library display, interviews by WPDE TV-15 regarding ARES communications, Show and Tell for the kids at the Florence County Library, ARES involvement in the military medical simulation out of Columbia, and several ARRL test sessions.  Congratulations and thanks!  Great work!

            I attended the Augusta, GA hamfest on October 11th, and was pleased to meet with the Georgia SM, Susan Swiderski AF4FO.  The SE Division Vice Director, Sandy Donahue W4RU attended, as our own Les Shattuck K4NK, Roanoke Division Vice Director.  Despite rainy weather, the hamfest appeared well attended, and there were a lot of great deals!  The ARRL forum was held at 12 Noon, and ended up with a roundtable discussion of a number of current issues important to amateur radio.  I was asked to let our Georgia audience know about the Stone Mountain Hamfest that will be held on November 1&2 at the Guinnett County Fairgrounds.  Thanks to the Augusta ARC for a great hamfest!

            Thanks to Dan Donovan KF4VIS, PIC, the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ SC section website is now on the South Carolina SCIway (South Carolina Information Highway) website as a link: http://www.sciway.net/org/radio.html .  Additionally, our website was featured as the “Website of the Day” on the SCIway site: www.sciway.net/ .  Thanks to Dan for the publicity!

            Well, if anyone has been keeping track, my SM report this month is several pages long, has taken two days to write, and I still think there is more to add.  I’ll save the rest for next month, though.  I really want to emphasize that there is an INCREDIBLE amount of amateur radio activity in South Carolina, either on the air, ARES, club functions or the like compared to previous years.  I am very proud to be a part of this snowball that is gaining momentum!  Thanks to EVERYONE for your interest and your participation in our joint avocation!

September 2003 Station Activity Reports (Call / Received / Sent / Originated / Delivered / Total): KA4UIV 92 / 76 / 0 / 5 / 172; WA4MIY 37 / 25 / 4 / 0 / 1 / 67; KG4VDR 18 / 17 / 0 / 16 / 51; KA4LRM 18 / 4 / 0 / 7 / 29; WA4UGD 25 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 29; WB4PCS  3 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 10

September 2003 Public Service Honor Roll Reports (Call 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / Total): KA4UIV 40 / 40 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100; WA4MIY 40 / 40 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 90; KA4LRM 40 / 29 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 89; N4VVX 40 / 5 / 20 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 70

September 2003 Net Reports (Net Name/Check Ins / Traffic / Sessions / Reported By): Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net 1857 / 39 / 30 / K4SUG; Carolina’s Net (CW) 491 / 212 / 30 / K4IWW; Carolina’s Slow Net (CW) 143 / 35 / 30 / W4EAT; Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net  817 / 48 / 30 / K4DTT; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net  100 / 23 / 12 N4WMB; PALS Net 1297 / 54 / 30 / KG4KOE; SC-SSB Net 1269 / 131 / 30 / WA4UGD

Again, thanks to EVERYONE for your contributions to amateur radio!

’73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina Section

November 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators.  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the November South Carolina Section Manager’s Report!  Please remember that the SC Section website can be found at www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ where my full SM report will be listed as well as up-to-the-date information on Amateur Radio in South Carolina !

I hope everyone has enjoyed our Fall weather!  As I write this report on November 16th, I note that we have had temperatures from 33 degrees to 74 degrees this month!

I wish to thank Kim K1MI for her work as Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) this year.  Kim has had to resign because of home and work commitments. I wish to welcome our new Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) to the ARRL-SC team!  He is Brian Sugden KR4SP from the Anderson area.  Please visit the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ website, and read about Brian under “Section Leadership”.  Brian is anxious to visit clubs in the SC section, and has this to say:

November 2003

Hello to all SC ham clubs:
               
Having recently been appointed Affiliated Club Coordinator in
South Carolina , I would like to introduce myself before visiting your club, which is part of my job.  Before meeting with you personally, I am available by phone or e-mail for any questions or concerns you may have regarding your club.   My phone number is 864-231-8732, and e-mail is KR4SP-1@juno.com.
               
The Holiday Season is rapidly approaching, and this is the time when most clubs elect a new administration.  It is most prudent for each club to file an annual report to the ARRL during January. Details may be found at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/cwp/cwp.html or send an E-mail to clubs@arrl.org
               
In the course of time -- and it will take a while -- I hope to visit all the clubs in the Section so that I may establish some personal contacts.  If you have any particular reason for me to make a special visit to your club, please let me know so that we can make suitable arrangements.

Sincerely,
Brian Sugden   KR4SP
Affiliated Club Coordinator
South Carolina Section ARRL

I ask all clubs in our section to place Brian on your e-mail or mail list to receive your club newsletters!

I had the pleasure of attending the Sumter hamfest on October25th!  I appreciate the hospitality of the Sumter Club in providing space for us to set up our ARRL table!  There were a number of dealers present, including Ham Station, Rosewood, and Batteries Plus!  SERA was there, and gave me a tip-renew your membership in SERA now for up to two years at $8 a year, and avoid the upcoming $10/yr price increase in January 2004!  My thanks to all of the ARRL-SC team who came to the Sumter hamfest: Marc Tarplee N4UFP, TC; Laurie Sansbury KV4C, ASM4; Bob Besley K4NJN, ASM6; Adam Hoffman AF4QZ, STM (who headed up the WCARS VE team to grant three licenses/upgrades!); and Les Shattuck K4NK, Vice Director Roanoke Division.
    I would like to give special thanks to Les K4NK at this time!  With my on-call schedule, it is rare that I can stay the night before a hamfest so that I can get an early start in the AM and set up the ARRL booth.  I usually have to leave early from Aiken on the day of hamfests.  I would especially like to thank Les for taking the time to set up the ARRL booth prior to my arrival at several of our SC hamfests.  Les was the Section Manager of
South Carolina several years ago, and did a fantastic job-in fact he did such a great job that he was moved up the ARRL administrative ladder to Vice Director!  Les has been a great mentor of mine since my election as Section Manager!  Again, THANKS!
    I would also like to remind everyone that the
Sumter club sponsored the SC QSO party, and I thank them for their sponsorship!
    I also had the pleasure of meeting Thalia Wilhide KF4UMR who is the Secretary of a new organization called SCARS (SC Amateur Radio Service) which will be dedicated to providing communications at public service events throughout our state.  Contact information: SCARS, 317 Crestwood Arch,
Lexington , SC 29073 (803) 413-0260.

Congratulations to Marc Tarplee N4UFP, SC Technical Coordinator for his article entitled "Two Bands from One Dipole" that was published in the November 2003 issue of QST on page 46!   I would like to remind everyone that Marc has generously allowed us to place his presentations as downloadable files on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/  website.  Click on the left sidebar entry "Technical Presentations by N4UFP, TC"!

Charlie AE4UX SEC, Marc Tarplee N4UFP TC and Tony N4ADM traveled to the State EOC on November 7th to evaluate the HF antenna situation.  Drills had made it very obvious that the State EOC HF antenna system needed work.  A great deal of information was obtained on Friday, and Marc will be formulating his recommendations for improvements. On a related issue, the State Emergency Management Division had provided us with a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ARRL ARES (and RACES) operators.  The document was reviewed by ARRL HQ, and was sent back to me to execute the agreement.  I signed the MOU on behalf of the ARRL ARES program, and I am awaiting a signed copy from the SC Emergency Management Division.  More news on this later!

My thanks to the Grand Strand ARC for sponsoring the South Carolina Section Convention on November 8th in Conway !  Thanks also for a great hamfest (Beachfest)!  This event capped off the SC hamfests for the year, and it was a great one!  Attending from the ARRL-SC team, were Adam AF4QZ, STM; Brian KR4SP, ACC; myself N2ZZ, SM and Les K4NK, Roanoke Division Vice Director.  Our honored guest from ARRL HQ was Dan Henderson N1ND from the ARRL contest branch.  The ARRL forum was held at 9:30 , and a great number of topics were covered.  Les K4NK spoke about the Morse code requirement for future licensing and the Broadband over Power Line threat.  I covered SC ARES/RACES progress to date, our Technical accomplishments including the digital seminars given in September, our successful SC QSO party, Field Day operations, BPL, 60 meters, and our WARC '03 accomplishments with 40 meters.  Dan N1ND spoke on a number of topics including Logbook of the World, and, of course, the threat of Broadband over Power Lines-Main Point-GET INVOLVED!

We did have one other ARRL Section Manager present-John Covington W4CC from North Carolina who was attending incognito!  John has a family member that lives in Conway , and came to visit us at the hamfest!

Here is a note from Jim KF4CJE from the Grand Strand ARC:

The Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club would like to thank all hams for their support by promoting and/or their presence at "Beachfest 2003" South Carolina Section Convention. The convention was an overwhelming success thanks to you. The Armory was packed with vendors, outside tailgate area had goodies for all and the attendance was tremendous. A special thanks to the ARRL folks and the VE Team for all their help and participation. Let's do it again next year.
73, Jim Wood KF4CJE / Co-Chair   

On a personal note, thanks to all that attended and the vendors that came.  Attendance at SC hamfests keeps our avocation strong.  It promotes face to face communication and keeps our dealers in business!  This is the last SC hamfest of the year, and we have had a great year of hamfests!  I hope to see everyone out next year!

Well, as you can see, it has been a month with a lot of activity.  As I mentioned last month, there is an INCREDIBLE amount of amateur radio activity in South Carolina , either on the air, ARES, club functions or the like compared to previous years.  I am proud to be a part of this momentum!  Again, Thanks to EVERYONE for your interest and your participation in our joint avocation!

October 2003 Station Activity Report: (Call/Received/Sent/Originated/Total)

KA4UIV/95/92/6/193; WA4MIY/24/20/5/51; WA4UGD/26/3/2/31; KG4VDR/11/14/22/35; KA4LRM/13/6/4/23

October 2003 Pubic Service Honor Roll Reports: (Call/1/2/3/4/5/6/Total):

KA4UIV/40/40/20/100; KA4LRM/40/23/20/83

October 2003 Net Reports: (Net Name/Check-ins/Traffic/Sessions/Reported By):

Blue Ridge Two Meter Net/1810/49/31/K4SUG; Carolina Slow Net/151/37/31/W4EAT; Carolina’s Net/474/191/62/K4IWW; Columbia Amateur Radio Club/187/9/9/K4RKC; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net/187/16/13/N4WMB; PALS Net/1220/61/31/KG4KOE; SCSSB Net/1343/128/31/WA4UGD

Thanks to EVERYONE for your contributions to Amateur Radio!

’73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina
Section

 

December 2003

Greetings to all Amateur Radio Operators.  This is Dr. Jim, N2ZZ with the December South Carolina Section Manager’s Report!  Please remember that the SC Section website can be found at www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/ where my full SM report will be listed as well as up-to-the-date information on Amateur Radio in South Carolina !

            Well, as I write this report on December 14th, I wish everyone a very happy holiday season!  South Carolina has been quite rainy this weekend, with total rainfall this month being 1.34 inches.  Temperatures this month have varied from a low of 28 to a high of 67 F.  If you have an interest, feel free to check out the SC Section website for current weather-this is based at my QTH, but may be at least somewhat representative of South Carolina !

            There have been no South Carolina Hamfests since my last report, but quite a bit has been going on, both at the Section and National levels.  Our new ACC, Brian KR4SP has been very active, attending several club meetings. He has also revitalized our “Monthly Club Activities Summary” on the Section Website.  This is an excellent way to have an idea what clubs are doing in South Carolina, and perhaps encourage an active dialog among clubs to enhance monthly programs.  I noticed the Greer Club had a Foxhunt-How about asking someone from that club to discuss organizing a Foxhunt at your club? There are many possibilities.  Brian will be your contact, and he can be reached at his e-mail of kr4sp-1@juno.com or by phone at (864)-231-8732. Speaking of foxhunts, has anyone seen “Insomniac” starring Dave Attel on Comedy Central?  He visited Arizona , and became involved in a Foxhunt by one of the Amateur Radio groups there.  Do you believe that Amateur Radio or Ham Radio was not mentioned once during that entire show?  This could have been a fantastic Public Relations opportunity!

Now speaking of Public Relations, we have a new addition to the ARRL-SC cabinet. Mike Duff KG4SLH has been named Assistant Public Information Coordinator, and will be assisting Dan Donovan KF4VIS PIC to coordinate public information activities throughout the South Carolina Section.  Mike is the PIO for the Florence ARC, and has done an excellent job.  Mike will continue his work with FARC in addition to his new activities.  Thanks to Mike for offering his time and efforts to the SC Amateur Radio Community!

Reported by Charlie AE4UX, Section Emergency Coordinator: On November 7th, Marc Tarplee N4UFP, Technical Coordinator led a team of South Carolina Amateur Radio Operators in an analysis of the roof mounted State Emergency Operation Center antenna farm installation.  They documented the physical configuration of the antenna farm and took readings using antenna analyzers.  On-the-air contacts were made with several stations around the state.  Subsequently, Marc performed an analysis on the data collected.  The draft report has been submitted for review by myself and Jim N2ZZ, Section Manager.  Additionally, the Memorandum of Understanding between the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) and SC ARES has been signed by South Carolina Section Manager Jim Boehner, N2ZZ and has been delivered to SCEMD for their signature.

I would also like to remind everyone to visit the “Picture Gallery and Hamfest Memories” section of the SC Section website.  I have finished uploading pictures to the website.  It contains pictures of all the SC hamfests I attended, the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL Headquarters and W1AW, a few North Carolina Hamfests, and more!  Please take a look!

On the National Front, we have just gained another ally in the fight against Broadband over Power Line (BPL), The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)!  From the ARRL Letter of December 12th: Expressing "grave concerns" about likely interference from unlicensed Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told the FCC that BPL could "severely impair FEMA's mission-essential HF radio operations in areas serviced by BPL technology." FEMA responded December 4 to last April's FCC BPL Notice of Inquiry, ET Docket 03-104. Now part of the Department of Homeland Security--the agency said its primary worry is BPL's potential impact on the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) on HF. FNARS is FEMA's primary command and control backup medium under the Federal Response Plan.  The FCC's BPL Notice of Inquiry has attracted more than 5100 comments--many of them from the amateur community.

The FCC on December 14 will unveil a new on-line filing interface for its Universal Licensing System (ULS), on the web at, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls, which includes the Amateur Service. To implement the changes, the ULS on-line filing system will be down from 12 AM EST Saturday, December 13, until 10 AM EST Sunday, December 14.  Further information is available on the FCC website, or ARRL Bulletin #71 on the www.arrl.org website.

Finally, Congress is on recess, and ARRL President Haynie has stated that this is the perfect time to speak with your congressman about the two bills facing Amateur Radio at this time, The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, HR713/S537 and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003, HR1478.  The bills' texts, sample letters and information on how to write members of Congress is on the ARRL's The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page, www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html and on the HR 1478, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003 Web page, www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/. Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence via e-mail to specbill03@arrl.org. Those writing on behalf of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, HR 1478, are asked to copy their correspondence to ccr-bill@arrl.org.  (This information is taken from ARRL Bulletin #70).  Both of these bills need co-sponsors, and to my knowledge, no South Carolina Congressmen are co-sponsoring either of these bills.  Please write and/or visit your Congressmen!

And that will bring an end to the December 2003 South Carolina Section Manager’s report.  I have asked the entire ARRL-SC cabinet to submit reports of all their activities for 2003, and I hope to compile all that has happened in 2003 either in my January report or on the www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/  SC Section website!  I have a feeling this will be a long report, since I feel that amateur radio activity has picked up 1000% in the last year!  Congratulations and thanks to everyone for their contributions!

  South Carolina November 2003 NTS Reports per Adam AF4QZ, STM:

  Station Activity Reports (Call/Received/Sent/Originated/Delivered/Total): KA4UIV/133/124/0/10/267; KG4VDR/10/18/0/13/41; WA4UGD/30/0/0/30; AF4QZ/16/0/0/0/16; WB4PCS/7/5/0/3/15; K4RKC/7/7/0/0/14; KA4LRM/9/4/0/0/13; N4VVX/3/4/0/0/7; Note: KA4UIV’s 267 total was an all time high for her. Congratulations Barbara!

  Public Service Honor Roll Reports: KA4UIV 100; N4VVX 77; KA4LRM 73

  Net Reports (Net Name/Checkins/Traffic/Sessions/Reported By): Blue Ridge 2 Meter Net/1917/34/30/K4SUG; Carolina Slow Net/133/39/30/W4EAT; Columbia ARC 2 Meter Net/189/9/9/K4RKC; Greater Pee Dee 2 Meter Net/713/41/30/K4DTT; Lancaster County 2 Meter Net/212/20/12/N4WMB;  South Carolina 6 Meter SSB Net/60/0/4/K4IRT; South Carolina SSB Net/1316/115/30/WA4UGD

  Again, THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMATEUR RADIO!

’73 de Dr. Jim N2ZZ
ARRL Section Manager
South Carolina
Section
www.qsl.net/arrl-sc/

 

 

 

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