Section News

 Welcome to the Alabama Section of the ARRL web.  

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ALABAMA QSO PARTY 2012

http://www.AlabamaQSOParty.org

Objective:

Everyone works Alabama stations. Alabama stations work everyone.

Activate all Alabama counties

When:

Starts; 4800 UTC(1100AMCOST), Juo 2th and end 0400UTC(1100PM CDST), Jun 3th, 2012

Everyone may work the entire 12hours

Exchange:

Alabama Stations: RST and county (see website for abbreviations)

Outside Alabama: RST and State or Providence or DX Country

Where:

10 thru 160 Meter, No WARC bands.

CW: 28045, 21045, 14045, 7045, 3545, 1810 and above

PH:28450,21300, 14250, 7230, 3855,1865 and above

MOBILES: Reserve first 10KHz of the General Band for mobile ops
(Fixed stations@please do not call CQ' in this area@work the mobiles but
don't call CQ in this portion.)

Categories:

Single Op, Multi-Single, Muttt Multi, Mobiles, Club (schools, local and
national)

Awards:

Plaques and certificates (see website for details)
NOTE: If you are planning on operating, please let me know at
(kc4hw@alabamaqsoparty.org) so that I can update the website with planned activities.

Sponsored by the:
ALABAMA CONTEST GROUP

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Once again Amateur Radio Operators have been called on to provide emergency communications to the served agencies of Alabama.  In the early hours Monday, January 23rd, 2012, a number of tornados swept across the State.  Tuscaloosa County had minimal structural damage in the North Eastern part of the county with Jefferson County having much destruction centered in the Center Point area. 

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for these areas around 2:30 AM.  Local ARES members in Jefferson County stood up a net on the Birmingham ARC repeater,146.88, taking reports from 34 check-ins.  Once the storm was clear, these reports were used by the Homewood Police Department to dispatch First Responders.  Also ARES volunteers responded to the Jefferson County EMA to coordinate shelter communications.  By 9 AM 14 hams were reported being available for deployment.  This effort was headed up by David Gillespie, W4LHQ.

The Alert Group in Jefferson County supports Amateur Radio Communications for the National Weather Service and deployed members earlier in the evening prior to the Tornado Warning. Alert members collected spotter reports from area ARES nets that were used by the NWS to refine their forecast.  In addition the Sylvan Springs ARC stood up a net (KD4KZT) at 4:30 AM with a number of check-ins providing reports and Health & Welfare messages.

As the day progressed Monday,  local nets went to a stand-by mode with KF4OUS at the EOC/EMA monitoring traffic and forwarding information for shelters and response volunteers.

The hams in Alabama, particularly Jefferson County, are to be commended for their commitment and service to their served agencies. They provide a public service that is invaluable.   A job well done!

David – W4MD
AL ARRL Section Manager
 

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 Alabama  HF Nets

• Alabama Day-Net 3.965.0 - The Alabama Day-Net meets daily at 10 AM on 3.965.0.  There is an informal session that starts at 9:30 AM and is a great place to chat with the hams who are active on HF throughout the state.  Stop by and chat with a great bunch of hams.
• Alabama ARES State Net  - The Alabama ARES State Net meets each Sunday at 2100 UTC (3 PM Central) on 3.965.0.  The NCS is Mike Watkins, WX4AL, and check-ins are taken from ARES districts. All  Districk Emergency Coordinators (DECs) and Emergency Coordinatoars (ECs) are encouraged to participate. 
• Alabama Emergency Net Mike (AENM) - The Alabama Emergency Net Mike meets daily at 23:30 UTC (6:30 CDS)  and Sunday mornings at 8 AM (1300 UTC) on 3.965.0 and is part of the National Traffic System (NTS). Check-ins are taken by Alabama Counties.

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A number of good hamfest are coming up in Alabama  They afford a place to meet fellow hams as well as buy and sell that Ham Radio gear or junk.  So make sure you attend these as it is a must!

 Hamfest in Alabama 2012 (and GA, MS & OH)

• February 18th, 2012 - Freeze Fest;  Blount County ARC.  Locust Fork Baptist Church, 30580 State Hwy 79, Locust Fork, AL;  8 AM till 2 PM; Admission $5.00, Tables $5.00, License Exams at 10 AM, Free Parking, Tailgate spaces free.  www.freezefest.com or www.w4blt.org
• February 25th, 2012 - Dalton Hamfest in Dalton, GA.  Sponsored by the Dalton Amateur Radio Club  http://DaltonHamfest.com
• March 3-4, 2012  - Birminghamfest 2012 Sponsored by the Birmingham ARC at the Samora Shrine Temple: Birmingham, AL.  More information at http://w4cue.com
• March10th, 2012 - Tail Gator;  Fred K Wright Park; Satsuma, AL (Mobile Co).  8AM till 11AM.  Contact Bud Stacy at 205-706-2733 or e-mail at staceys4@hotmail.com
• April 14th, 2012 - Mobile Hamfest; Mobile, AL.
• May 18-20th, 2012 -Dayton Hamvention Sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Assoication.  Hara Arena, Dayton, OH.  http://www.hamvention.org
• July 28th, 2012  - Culman Hamfest Sponsored by the Cullman ARC, Cullman, AL.  For more information contact Charles McBrayer, WB4PED.
• August 18-19, 2012 -  Huntsville Hamfest; Huntsville, AL.
• October 13, 2012  - Helena Hamfest Sponsored by the Shelby County ARC. 4151 Helena Road, Helena AL.  9 AM to 1 PM. http://www.helenahamfest.com/
• November 10, 2012 - Montgomery Hamfest and ARRL Alabama State Convention sponsored by the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club; Montgomery, AL . 

I hope all of you that can will attend these as if you don't hamfest will be a thing of the past.    See ya there!

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ARRL Alabama Section Section Manager: David Drummond, W4MD w4md@arrl.org

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Alabama has many fine amateurs that make up clubs, special events and various amateur activities.; See the Alabama Section web site at www.arrl-al.org or contact me to learn about amateur radio happenings in Alabama. 

Here are some quick links to Alabama amateur radio information: 

Clubs 

ARES Registration Form 

Alabama Awards Managers 

NET Reports 

Section Officers

David M. Drummond, W4MD

ARRL AL Section Manager

5001 Lakehurst Drive

Northport, AL  35473

205-391-7249 Cell

e-mail: alsm@arrl-al.org
web site: www.arrl-al.org