ARRL NC Section Newsletter

March, 2014

Greetings to all Hams across North Carolina from Karl W4CHX, your ARRL NC Section Manager! 

ARRL ROANOKE DIVISION CONVENTION/RARSFEST, APRIL 19^TH – The ARRL Roanoke Division Convention/RARSfest, sponsored by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, will be held on Saturday, April 19^th, in the Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Kay Craigie, N3KN, ARRL President will be attending and making a presentation in the ARRL Open Forum along with Roanoke Division Director, Dennis Bodson, W4PWF and Roanoke Division Vice Director, Jim Boehner, N2ZZ.  In addition, there will be a NC Section Forum with presentations by your NC Section Officials; topics to be discussed will include ARES and NTS.  Other forum sessions include: ARRL and ham radio: the first 100 years, presented by Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, ARRL Affiliated Club and Mentor Program Manager; activities and opportunities for new hams, presented by Virginia Enzor, NC4VA, Emergency Coordinator and Official Relay Station; the 2014 NC QSO Party awards presented by Marty Young, W4MY and committee members; and, NWS basic spotter training, presented by meteorologist Nick Petro, WX3H. 

The activities will include Royal Order of the Wouff Hong ceremony (Friday night), VE test sessions, ARRL/CQ awards QSL card checking, youth lounge, fox hunt, hands-on activities, amateur radio dealer and exhibitor booths, and the flea market.  For further information, please see http://www.rars.org/rarsfest

ARRL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES – The 100^th anniversary of the ARRL is being celebrated during 2014 and there will be many opportunities to commemorate this milestone.  Two activities -- the W1AW Centennial QSO Party and the ARRL National Centennial Convention 2014 -- deserve further comment.

The W1AW Centennial QSO Party, which began on January 1^st, consists of two main activities: 1) portable operation of W1AW in each state and most territories; and, 2) The Centennial Points Challenge which is the accumulation of points from qualifying contacts made throughout 2014.  For further information on the Centennial QSO Party, ie, W1AW portable operations, times, frequencies, rules, etc, go to the Centennial QSO Party website at http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party

The ARRL National Centennial Convention 2014, will be held from Thursday, July 17^th to Saturday, July 19^th, in Hartford, CT.  Activities planned for Thursday, July 17^th include:  all-day training sessions in public service, technology, and radiosport; a luncheon with guest speaker; and, an international guest reception.  It is worth noting that Contest University, DX University, and Public Service Communications Academy seminars will be held on Thursday, July 17^th.  Activities planned for Friday, July 18^th and Saturday, July 19^th include: an exhibit hall featuring ARRL program representatives, amateur radio manufacturers, equipment sellers, and indoor flea market; many forums and presentations; ARRL Centennial Banquet with special keynote speaker (Friday night); ARRL Wouff Hong Ceremony (Friday, 11:30 PM); Presidents Breakfast (Saturday morning); and, closing ceremony (Saturday evening).  See https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1248082  for more information.  Please consider attending the ARRL National Centennial Convention 2014.  It will be a great opportunity to improve your technical knowledge and operating skills, see what’s new in ham radio gear, check out the flea market, see old friends, meet new colleagues, and celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the ARRL!

2014 NORTH CAROLINA QSO PARTY RESULTS – The results are in!  As reported previously, the 2014 North Carolina QSO Party (NCQP), sponsored by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, was held on Sunday, February 23, 2014.  The total QSOs were 32,371, which was an increase of more than 7,300 (29%) compared to 2013.  CW and Phone contacts accounted for 44% and 55%, respectively, of the total QSOs for this year’s contest.  In addition, all 100 counties in North Carolina were activated. The first place winners are:

Top Score – DX: Andreas DL3GA (Germany)

Top Score – Canada: Jack VA3ATT (Ontario)

Top Score – Digital In State: Jim W4SDJ (Cherokee County)

Top Score – Digital Out of State: Joe KA1PPV (CT)

EMCOMM Challenge Award: ARES Area 10

Most NC Counties – In State: Louis K4BYN (Wake County)

Most NC Counties – Out of State: Jeff N8II (WV)

Single Op/In State/Mixed: Jim K4QPL (operating from Pender County)

Single Op/in State/Phone: Nate N4YDU (Franklin County)  

Single Op/In State/ CW: Jack W0UCE (operating as N4C) 

Single Op/ In State/QRP: Jim W4UX (Forsyth County)

Mobile/In State/ Mixed: Kyle WA4PGM and XYL Pam (from VA, operated as N4E)

Mobile/In State/Lone Ranger: John AD8J 

Expedition/ In State/Mixed: Mike N4GU (Wilson County)

Expedition/In State/QRP: Patrick KI4SVM (operated from mountain tops in 3 counties) 

Club/ In State/Mixed:  K4MN, Cape Fear ARS (Cumberland County)

Club/ In State/Phone:  NC4AR, Tri-County ARC (Alleghany County)

Single Op/Out of State/Mixed: Jeff N8II (WV)

Single Op/Out of State/CW: Paul N3KR (PA) 

Single Op/Out of State/Phone: Ken WB2P (NJ)

Single Op/Out of State/QRP: Curt WB8YYY (MD)

The winners will be recognized at the upcoming ARRL Roanoke Division Convention/RARSfest (Raleigh) on Saturday, April 19, 2014.  For a more results from the 2014 NCQP, see http://rars.org/ncqsoparty/index.php?id=results  Congratulations to all of the winners!  And, thanks to Marc Sullivan, W4MPS, Award Manager and Marty Young, W4MY, NCQP Chair, for providing this information!  

LICENSING CLASSES –

Murphy (NC), Technician licensing class, March 11 - May 20, 2014, sponsored by Cherokee County NC ARES.

Raleigh (NC), Technician licensing class, March 29 – April 12, 2014, sponsored by Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.  To find upcoming classes, go to www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class  To register a class that your club or organization is sponsoring, go to www.arrl.org/register-a-new-license-class

MEDIA HITS – No media hits were found nor forwarded for inclusion in this month’s edition of the NC Section newsletter.  If you find a media hit associated with amateur radio in the NC Section, please forward that information to your Section Manager via email w4chx@arrl.org  Thanks!

NC GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS JULY AMATEUR RADIO RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION MONTH – North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed the month of July 2014 as, "Amateur Radio Recognition and Appreciation Month" in honor of, among other things, the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the American Radio Relay League.  Thanks to Raymond (“Woody”) Woodward, K3VSA, ARRL Public Information Coordinator for North Carolina (an ARRL-trained Public Information Officer), for providing this great news!

NTS SECTION TRAFFIC REPORT FOR FEBRUARY, 2014 –

QNI (total check-ins): 3195; Total messages passed: 542.

Station Activity Reports (SARs), total number: K4IWW 331, W2EAG 171, W4DNA 159, AK4RJ 104, WK4WC 102, WB4ZIQ 94, KJ4JPE 54, WB4Y 53, KC4PGN 44, W4TTO 40, K4JUU 35, KK4BVR 32, KE4AHC 31, W3HL 24, N2RTF 16. 

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR), total number: KK4BVR 187, N2RTF 176, KJ4JPE 175, WK4WC 170, W4DNA 160, WB4ZIQ 145, K4IWW 130, AK4RJ 115, K4JUU 113, W2EAG 110, W4TTO 100, WB4Y 100.

Thanks to Dave Roy, W4DNA, Section Traffic Manager, for providing this information!

SILENT KEYS – We regret to report the passing of Ricky V. Ezzell, KI4ZBU of Goldsboro; Michael Falzone, K4PSP of Raleigh; Edward (“Ed”) George Myers, K4PEF of Newport; and, Michael D. Tuttle, NC4DT of Zebulon.  Please note: it is not possible to post information about amateur radio operators that have become Silent Keys without confirmation via printed obituary or similar.

SKYWARN AND PUBLIC SERVICE

April 12: Basic and Advanced SKYWARN Spotter Courses, sponsored by Charlotte Regional SKYWARN.  Location: Salvation Army Charlotte, 501 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.  Classes start at 10:00 AM and end by 2:30 PM, with 30-minute break between classes.  Teacher: Tony Sturey, NWS, Greer, SC.  Cost: Free to attend.  Class size limited to 75 people.  Please contact Chris Gay at N1CRG@outlook.com if you plan to attend.  For more information, please see www.charlotteskywarn.com

Thanks to Chris Gay, N1CRG, Charlotte Regional SKYWARN District Coordinator and Paul Robinette, KD4OZI, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (Western Branch), for providing this information!

Public service season has arrived!  Please consider participating in the Ham Public Service Net, which meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM EST on the Carolina 440 Link System.  For further information, including the location of a 440 MHz repeater close to you, go to http://rars.org/public-service  Thanks to John Snellen, AI4RT for providing this information!

SPECIAL EVENT STATION

April 12: General Hardee's Retreat, 1330Z-1730Z, NC4AR, Trinity, NC, sponsored by Tri-County ARC. 145.29 7.210. Certificate. NC4AR, PO BOX 747, Trinity, NC 27370. Follow instructions to receive certificate. www.nc4ar.org

TEACHER’S INSTITUTE ON WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY – The ARRL has just announced the schedule for two sessions of its Introductory Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI-1), which will be offered during Summer, 2014.  Please consider recruiting teachers from your local schools who have an interest in exploring radio science, amateur radio, and wireless technologies as part of the Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) focus in education.  Now in its 11^th year, the ARRL Teachers Institute is a four-day, expenses paid, intensive professional development opportunity for educators who want to receive training and resources to explore wireless technology in the classroom.  Topics include basic electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming, and basic robotics.  ARRL will also offer an advanced Teachers Institute (TI-2) on Remote Sensing and Data Gathering.  The linked article from the March issue of QST, includes the schedule and description of offerings this summer.  Please see www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology for more details.  Go to www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-application for information about applying and to download an application.  The application deadline is May 1st.  Contact individual: Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, ARRL Education Services Manager, Office: (860) 594-0296, Fax: (860) 594-0259, email: djohnson@arrl.org

UPCOMING HAMFESTS

April 19: ARRL Roanoke Division Convention/42^nd Annual RARSfest, Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, Raleigh, NC, http://www.rars.org/rarsfest

April 19: 17^th Annual Catawba Valley Hamfest, McDowell Amateur Radio Association, Morganton, NC, http://cvhamfest.com

May 3: 24^th Annual Down East Hamfest, Down East Hamfest Association, Kinston, NC, http://www.downeasthamfest.org


May 10: 10th Annual Rockingham County Swapfest, Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club, Reidsville, NC, http://www.rcarc.com

May 17: FreeGate 2014, RFMD Amateur Radio Club, Greensboro, NC, http://kd4rf.org

May 24: 40^th Annual DurHamFest, Durham FM Association, Bahama, NC, http://dfma.org

June 7: Winston-Salem Classic Hamfest, Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Winston-Salem, NC, http://www.w4nc.com


QUA* – I had a lot of fun representing our Section at the Charlotte Hamfest/ARRL NC Section Convention earlier this month.  I met many individuals, including some regular participants on the Tar Heel Emergency Net.  It was great meeting the hams “attached” to the call signs on that net!  The Tar Heel Emergency Net is one of the longest running nightly nets and has been meeting on the air since 1947!  The Net meets nightly at 7:30 PM EST on 3923 kHz.  I am the net control station on Thursday evenings.  Please consider participating in this net.  For further information, please see: http://www.ncarrl.org/nets/THEN/index.html   

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to provide input on our Section. I can be reached via email at w4chx@arrl.org or via cell phone.  Thanks for everything you are doing for amateur radio!  73, Karl Bowman, W4CHX, ARRL North Carolina Section Manager, (919) 669-6068 (cell)

*QUA is an international Q signal (prosign) meaning, “Have you news of _____?”  In the absence of a question mark, QUA means, “I have news of ____.”