Hello Everyone, The year is off to a little less than stellar start. Propagation is on a downward trend in the solar cycle and DX this year promises to be more of a challenge for many.   

Section Manager Personal Note  

This is my first newsletter since the January/February 2016 newsletter and I felt that I should let the section know why they have not been regularly published. Shortly after the beginning of 2016, I began to experience some personal health issues, being tired, sometimes losing attention and generally being run down for which there was no answer.    As I consulted with my medical doctors, we began to determine that I may need to change or curtail some medications. We also discovered that a cancer diagnosis that we had been monitoring for some years was now becoming active.   Because of some medication withdrawals and the advance of the cancer, by late August and September we had grave concern that my life may be in peril. Though we were able to determine a solution, the recovery has been at times difficult but steady and I have now been informed by my Oncology team that the cancer is in remission. We are grateful to those who were aware of these circumstances for their support and prayers. We ask the same from others, if you are so inclined.   During this time, I delegated several of my Section Manager responsibilities to members of my executive staff and their help in completing our mission of program and service have been far and above any expectations. I am very thankful to them for their help.   As we begin this year, after attending the LARC Hamfest in Morristown 01/07/2017, I came home and promptly came down with pneumonia. I am now pretty well recovered and looking forward to being able to travel again as soon as I am released by my doctors.    Again, I am sorry for so long a time between newsletters and will try this year to be timelier.    

Amateur Radio Parity Act

On the legislative front, the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 HR 555 (which contains the same wording of the previous HR 1301 2015), was introduced to the House and unanimously passed by the House of Representatives the week of January 24, 2017. It has now been sent to the Senate for review and passage.    “We’re very encouraged by the speed with which this bill made it through the House. It’s amazing that this happened,” said ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who has been at the forefront of the legislative initiative. “With the help of ARRL members, we believe we can get this done,” Lisenco continued. “We came within a hair’s breadth last time, with 110,000 e-mails to members of both houses of Congress, as well as letters and telephone calls. Member participation in this final push is critical.”   For the full article see this link: http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-parity-act-speeds-to-u-s-house-passage-heads-to-u-s-senate    All Tennessee Amateurs need to be ready to do their part by contacting their Senators to request support of the new Senate Bill when it is introduced. Please stand by for further information to come.  

Winter Field Day  

Winter Field Day was held this past weekend. Many across the section participated in the activity. WFD is a great way to test your outdoor operating skills during cold or cooler weather conditions, which differ greatly from the ARRL Summer Field Day in June. Let the section know how and what you did on the TN ARRL Facebook page.      Logbook of the World to no longer accept contacts signed by TQSL versions earlier than 2.0   A reminder: As of 1400 UTC on January 16, ARRL Logbook of The World (LoTW) will no longer accept contacts that have been digitally signed by versions of TQSL earlier than version 2.0.  Users of earlier versions are encouraged to upgrade as soon as possible, as older TQSL versions contain uncorrected defects and display inaccurate error messages.  The current versions of TQSL for Windows, OS X, and Linux are available online, https://lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/installation/  This action does not affect data already uploaded to LoTW; all QSOs remain in the LoTW database in perpetuity – Thanks to Norm Fusaro, W3IZ.  For further information, see   http://www.arrl.org/news/logbook-of-the-world-to-no-longer-accept-contacts-signed-by-tqsl-versions-earlier-than-2-0-1   (sources: W3IZ, ARRL website)    

Tennessee ARRL/ARES Website and Face book Pages  

Work continues on our web pages to help make them more accessible and to provide more information for the section for both ARRL activities and ARES/Auxillary communications across the section. Please take a look at the pages and let us know your thoughts.   I hope you like the new pages. We will work to take your comments and suggestions and, if possible, incorporate them into the page if allowable.    The TN ARRL Face book page is up and running. The page name is ARRL Tennessee Section. Our ARRL ACC Jim Goodrich WA4VGZ at wa4vgz@arrl.net laid out the page. I want to thank Jim for a great job to help us get the page up and running.     

Section PIC (Public Information Coordinator)  

Our PIC Cathy Goodrich now has a new call sign W4CMG. By Her statement, she found that her former call KK4IWN was getting “busted” in pileups during the NPOTA activities last year. So she requested a new, shorter call that she found was available! It just happens that the one she asked for - and was granted - has her initials, Hi-Hi.    Please be sure to check out her monthly “PIC News” that is sent to ARRL Affiliated Clubs in the section. The “PIC News” has a lot of great information for clubs, VE sessions, classes and other information around the section.   If you would like to see your WFD or other club events in the “ARRL TN Section PIC News”, please send info about your event, including pictures, to Cathy Goodrich, W4CMG, ARRL TN Section PIC at w4cmg@arrl.net  

Coming Tennessee Hamfests  

The following Hamfests are currently scheduled in the Tennessee Section:  

MTARS Tullahoma Hamfest

03/11/2017
Start Date: 03/11/2017
End Date: 03/11/2017
Location: First Methodist Church
208 West Lauderdale Street
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Website: http://www.qsl.net/mtars/
Sponsor: Middle Tennessee Amateur Radio Society
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.7 -600 offset, (PL 114.8)
Public Contact: Larry Cagle , K4WLO 
100 Urban Farms Land Manchester, TN 37355
Phone: 251-680-3520
Email: lcagle@hvca.com  

Ides of March Hamfest

03/25/2017
Start Date: 03/25/2017
End Date: 03/25/2017
Location: Tennessee National Guard Armory
2017 East Reelfoot Avenue
Union City, TN 38261
Website: http://www.reelfootarc.com
Sponsor: Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.70/10 (PL 100)
Public Contact: Robert Miles , K9IL 
113 Green Acres Drive Martin, TN 38237
Phone: 731-588-2840
Email: greenacres113@charter.net  

Memphis FreeFest
04/08/2017
Start Date: 04/08/2017
End Date: 04/08/2017
Location: Bartlett Station Municipal Center Auditorium
5868 Stage Road Bartlett, TN 
Website: http://maraonline.org
Sponsor: Mid-South Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 145.21 (PL 107.2)
Public Contact: Tony Brignole , WA4KHN 
2444 Lacosta Drive Bartlett, TN 38134
Phone: 901-216-3263
Email: abrigno@comcast.net  

RACK Hamfest: Tennessee State Convention
06/17/2017
Start Date: 06/17/2017
End Date: 06/17/2017
Location: Kerbela Temple
315 Mimosa Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37901
Website: http://www.w4bbb.org
Sponsor: Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 147.300 (PL 100)
Public Contact: Dave Garner , K4YRK 
10917 Sonja Drive
Farragut, TN 37934
Phone: 865-966-9811
Email: dgarner@usit.net  

I hope to see as many of you as possible at these Hamfests this year.  

Section Manager Club Visits  

I still want to be able to visit with as many of the clubs as I can this year however my health will play a great part in my availability. I will still try to make every effort within my control to make those visits as quickly as I am able and my doctors do not have me restricted in travel.   

If your group is not affiliated and would like to have me visit your club as well, I will be willing to do that but I will need your help to let me know who you are and when you meet to be able to arrange a visit. I may not be able to get to all of you this year and if not, I will work to be there as quickly as possible.   

Silent Key  

It is with regret that we report the passing of the following operators in the Tennessee Section: 1/27 Bill Hornbaker WA4TJJ Knoxville, TN; 02/09 Walt Bailey K4WRP Johnson City, TN; 03/21 Roger Dale Banks KC4RAD Lyles, TN; 03/27 Charlotte Ann Prince KZ4V Winchester, TN; 03/26 Don Gilbert W4EHI Bristol, TN.; 03/28 Robert Alan “Buddy” Frase W4GYS Memphis, TN; 04/02 Donald A. “Don” Cook K9GT Centerville, TN; 05/07 Donald Pittman “Dave” Colvett K4WWV Bertrand, Mo.; 05/10 W R “Billy’ Smith W4PAL Knoxville, TN; 05/27 Steven James Robeson K4YZ Winshester, TN; 07/23 Thomas Ray Mills K4BNX Humbolt, TN;  08/10 Hugh W. Morgan W4VAB Knoxville, TN; 08/25 William Parks “Bill” Dobbs. Jr. K4TSF East Ridge, TN; 09/12 Ray Burns W4TZG LaFollette, TN; 10/08 Randy Allen Stephens KC4PDQ Maryville, TN; 11/4 Joseph Dalton McCrary W4WUQ Murfreesboro, TN; 11/16 James D. “Jimmy” Welch W4MJW Crossville, TN.; 12/01 Bob Gruner W4UFT Memphis, TN. Please note: it is not possible to post information about an amateur radio operator that has become a Silent Key without confirmation via a copy of an obituary or death certificate.  

QUA  

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 ____.”  

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 n9dgk@arrl.org or via cell phone 615-631-9952.  As always, thank you for sending your emails – they keep me informed about your activities and programs!  I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming hamfest or club meeting.    

Finally, thank you for everything you are doing for amateur radio and your community!     73,   

Keith Miller Sr., N9DGK 
ARRL Tennessee Section Manager, 615-631-9952 (cell)