The Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club (HRAC) Hamfest held annually on July 4th in Bressler, PA. is again the EPA Section Convention July 4, 2009. Put this on your calendar and plan to attend.
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To submit stories or pictures contact, WB3FPL, WA3PZO, WB3W or KW3K.
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The Alert Date stamp will change when there is new information added to the Section News.
News last updated: Wed, June 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM ET
(June 15, 2009) -EPA Traffic Reports for May 2009-
Station Activity Reports:
N3SW 246, W3TWV 161, N3ECF 53, KS3Z 41, KA3LVP 10, AB3EM 9 Public Service Honor Roll:
KS3Z 100 ,W3TWV 100, N3SW 80 Net Reports:
EPAEPTN 56, EPA 30, CATN 25, SEPPATN 11, LCARES 3, PTTN 3
DE N3SW EPA STM
==========
June 9, 2009 --- DLARC to host Riley Hollingsworth
The Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club (DLARC)is presenting "An Evening with Riley Hollingswort, K4ZDH" on July 9, 2009.
The presentation will be at the Packard Laboratory Building at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA at 7:30 PM.
For more info visit the club website at http://www.dlarc.org
Bob WB3W
==========
June 9, 2009 --- Two new EC's
We are pleased to announce that Rich Shivers, AB3EO, will be the new EC in Philadelphia county, replacing Larry Stevenson who is stepping down to devote more time to his new business.
Also, Bob Chimel, WA3LWR will be the Lackawanna EC filling a post that has been vacant for some time.
73,
Bob Wiseman WB3W
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Pennsylvania Section
==========
(June 9, 2009)Below are Four more Articles Following this entry are four of fourteen Essays done by students at Trinity High School. All fourteen will be posted but not all at one time. The essays were written by the students as their entry into a mini contest where winners will be selected. The remaining entries will be posted and the winners noted. The essays give some insight into what today's youths think of Ham Radio.
73, Eric, WB3FPL
==========
(June 9, 2009)"What Today's Youth Will Like About Amateur Radio" by:KB3RYR.
Today's youth is often bombarded with electronics such as video games, computers, cell phones, and television. It is a shame that not many young kids are aware of what amateur radio is and how exactly it works.
I was first introduced to amateur radio in the fall of 2008. I can honestly say getting my license was one of the biggest and most exciting accomplishments I have had all year. I remember waiting and waiting to see my call sign in the database because I was so thrilled to get on the air and talk to other amateurs. Luckily, I was one of the ftrst students to be able to borrow a HAM radio from my teacher.
I was on the air the night my call sign was in the database. That night I was so active on the air, that the next day in physics class all my classmates had known
my call sign from hearing it so much. They began to mock me saying, "this is KB3RYR calling CQ". I just took it as a compliment. I was very proud of getting my amateur radio license and I was not afraid to show it. Later in the year, we were required to do a senior project. Our class either had the option to do a physics project or a project involving amateur radio. I decided to choose the option that
had to do with amateur radio. I can not thank my teacher enough for offering that option. The project consisted of asking personal questions about other amateurs' life. By doing so, it made conversation easier and more interesting. Until I started my project with amateur radio, I never
realized how life changing it could actually be. It was life changing for me because you never know what kind of people you are going to meet from allover the world. Every single contact I made was a memorable one, no matter the person or the length of time we talked. In addition,
there are plenty of reasons why I, along with other new people, like the hobby. When you are on the air, people do not judge you on looks because they can not see you, they are all welcoming to old and new HAM's, and help you with any advice or concerns you have.
Although getting an amateur radio license was required for a grade, I did not study because I wanted a good grade. I studied because I wanted to learn more about the hobby. If not for my teacher, I, as well as my brother, would have never come across amateur radio. When I saw my brother using a HAM radio when he was first licensed, I could not wait until I was able to get on the air and talk to all different people from across the world.
I believe today's young adults have been more involved in the hobby than previous years, thanks to people with the same qualities as my physics teacher. I have never known anyone in my life so inspiring to so many students at my school. It is unbelievable the way he can encourage the shiest of all people, me, to get on the air and get to know other amateurs.
(June 9, 2009)"What Today's Youth Will Like About Amateur Radio" by: KB3RZN
Being a ham radio operator offers many exciting opportunities to meet new people, learn about the world, and experiment with technology. It is a good way to stay in touch with friends or family members who become separated by large distances as time goes on without paying the long-distance phone bills. A radio license also gives the chance to meet many interesting, friendly people all over the world. This helps to be able to identify obscure countries most people wouldn't usually know about, as
well as contrast and compare cultures. Working DX to Spain, Central, or South America can also be a very effective way to improve your Spanish class grade as well. Knowing people in far-away areas also means that you may know someone if you visit there, whether Georgia in the South or Georgia in Asia.
In addition to meeting people from different parts of the globe, ham radio allows you to meet people from very different backgrounds. You might find yourself talking to a WWII veteran, a Harvard graduate working for NASA, a high school student, or a Joe six-pack and a hockey mom. Chances are, these people are all pleasant and interesting. Radio operation is for talking, so it isn't very attractive to
misanthropes.
Becoming a radio operator also creates an entirely new world, and you're automatically a member! This network has many days for events such as hamfests, contesting, field days, and fox hunts. Hamfests provide great opportunities to buy and sell equipment. Everyone there is a fellow ham,
so rip-offs are rare, at worst. In fact, most radio items sold are great bargains. Hamfests also are a great
way to meet people you may have talked to on the air, and meet new people to make contacts with.
Contesting is a chance to talk to a lot of people in short time periods, and try to make a contact with them later. Much of this is DX work. Accumulating contacts can also lead to receiving awards.
If you love exploring nature and astronomy, radio operation is a great way to utilize that knowledge and then expand it. Working DX requires you to check on solar activity, ionosphere conditions, and aurora. Not many other hobbies are enhanced when there's northern lights! Meteor shower, moonbounce, and satellite communications also are uses for earth and space science. Ham radio operators are also the only "ordinary people" allowed to contact spaces stations such as the ISS.
With so many revolutions these make every day, you're sure to reach them eventually with only a little patience and luck. My physics teacher who encouraged the entire class to obtain a license has contacted the ISS a few times.
Another great thing about being an operator is the opportunity to build and repair your own rigs.
Other radio services do not allow their members to build or reassemble their equipment, but the FCC encourages hams to experiment with building and repairing their stations. This also helps develop an understanding of communications hardware and technology.
In the end, I think the best thing about ham radio is the ability to meet new people and maintain old friendships. Phone companies can't offer weekly opportunities to renew relationships with far-away friends or family members. You can join a worldwide community of genuine, friendly people that you can talk to whenever you feel the desire to. It creates a hobby that can last your entire life that is both
interesting, useful, and helpful.
by: Kyle Donnelly, KB3RZN, Senior Trinity H.S., General
==========
(June 9, 2009)"What Today's Youth Will Like About Amateur Radio" by: KB3RZW.
Amateur radio is unknown amongst our modem society. Occasionally one will see a car with a vanity license of a vanity call sign, but one never sees amateur radio in
the media or talked about anywhere else. This is a shame because without amateur radio being talked about, very few young people will hear about the wonders that are amateur
radio. But this can be changed. The best way to recruit new hams is to target those who are most disposed to love amateur radio. Those people are those with that innate love of math and science. The kids who have always loved to tear their toys apart to see how they operated. Amateur radio needs these inquisitive minds. These kids are those who
will be the hams of the future. And now that we have our target audience, all that has to be done is to show them the wonders of ham radio. Anyone with a love of science, would love to see the inner workings of a machine as the radio and see all those physics theories finally put to use.
Ohm's law does not mean much until one sees its application in a radio. In addition to the science behind amateur radio, young people will also find its practicality appealing. We live in a world where so quickly all of our means of digital communications can go down. At these times, amateur radio is of the utmost importance. Amateur radio allows us to communicate to others during natural disasters and other similar situations. Without it, situations like Hurricane Katrina would be absolutely more
catastrophic than what he had seen. Some people might think that this is not appealing to young people, but as a young person myself, I understand and like the practical relief
functions of amateur radio.
Another appealing attribute of amateur radio, and perhaps its most appealing attribute, is its sense of community. More so than almost any organization or group of which I can think, hams are family. They treat each other with respect and always try to help out when they can. Instead of mercilessly making fun of and mocking "noobs" to the amateur radio community, they help them out whenever they can. When someone new to the community makes a minor mistake or breaks a ham radio convention or tradition, the seasoned hams out there assist the new ham instead of ostracizing him or her. I experienced this when I was making my fIrst amateur radio contacts. I could have
never imagined fInding a community so helpful and accepting. And while there are a lot of things that one can learn in a book, there is no better way to learn about amateur radio than from those hams who have been out on the airwaves for awhile, I contacted one guy who had been a ham for over half a century!
Amateur radio does not need to try too hard to recruit young people. The appeals of amateur radio itself will take care of that. The amateur radio community must merely
let young people out there know that amateur radio exists, so that they, like I did, can discover all that amateur radio has to offer.
by: Matt Rickards, KB3RZW, Senior Trinity H.S., General
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(June 9, 2009)"What Today's Youth Will Like about Amateur Radio" by: KB3RZZ.
The typical American teenager believes he is an expert in the field of electronic communications. Teens are constantly talking on the phone, texting, instant messaging,
and using webcam programs such as Skype to speak ace-to-face with friends and family all over the globe. These devices have marked the advent of a new culture in our world: instant communication. Pioneered by the Internet, the possibilities of instant communication technology stretch before us limitless and beyond imagination.
It is hard to imagine a time without email or cell phones, but these methods of communication have barely been around for two decades. The ease with which we can press a button and communicate instantly with a particular individual halfway around the world is mindboggling, especially for grandparents who can still remember the days of utilizing the telephone "operator" when making a phone call. The fact of the matter is, communication in this age has become such an everyday occurrence that it has lost its excitement and become a bore. The world of Amateur Radio provides an exciting and atypical spin to worldwide communications.
Amateur Radio has been around for a lot longer than cell phones or instant messaging. It is a tried and true form of communication that is both reliable and fun. Radio has an element of randomness that makes it intriguing and exciting. Every contact has the possibility of broadening horizons and meeting new people is part of what makes Amateur Radio interesting. Curiosity is a natural human trait, and teenagers are especially known for testing boundaries and exploring limits.
Amateur Radio is complex and operates under very specific and formal rules. As bothersome and numerous as these regulations are, it is fun to operate in an official and
professional manner. Teenagers, especially boys, all grew up playin-garmy and using walkie-talkies, and now those pretend games of making maneuvers and issuing orders
come to life in Amateur Radio where all the classic abbreviations and letters are used in everyday conversation.
Some naIve people claim that Amateur Radio is old fashioned and consists of mostly old army war veterans who sit at home in their studies and just listen to the airwaves all
day. This claim is far from the truth. People of all ages can get radio licenses, and an increasing number of younger people are getting on the air. Amateur Radio has kept up
with the times, developing programs such as the Internet Radio Linking Project and EchoLink that make use of the internet to extend the range of radio operators. These
programs have made it even easier to make contacts around the world.
The Amateur Radio experience is beneficial and thrilling for young people, especially teens who have not traveled much beyond their home states. Radio is a way to travel to other states and foreign lands and learn about the people who live there without opening a textbook or getting in an airplane. The other operators are courteous and interesting people, always willing to chat about anything and everything, and from personal experience I can say I thoroughly enjoy talking on amateur radio.
Like the typical American teenager, I too use my cell phone and computer to talk with my friends, but I enjoy these methods of instant communication. However, I also love
getting on the radio and calling CQ,because unlike my cell phone, I never know who I might end up meeting and getting a chance to know, because radio is unpredictable and to steal a line from Forrest Gump, "Radio is like a box of chocolates, you never know who you're gonna get".
by: Ted Spinelli, KB3RZZ, Senior Trinity H.S., General
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(May 27,2009)Bill Henderson, WM3L, Montco EC--Acting RO & ARRL OES has made the following appointments to the
Montco ARES-RACES Leadership Team:
AEC for Training NF3L Jim Chookagian
AEC for Administration W3CF-Doug Priest
AEC for Logistics and Digital Infrastructure WA3WLH-Rich Sahlender
AEC for Liaison and Hospital Communications N3FKR-Rocky Pistelli
AEC for Engineering and Chief Control Operator K3ITH-Dick Stewart
Former EC/RO's will continue to serve in Emeritus capacities. They are: Bob Lees-W3ZQN, Bob Griffith-NE3I
and Steve Pearl-N3LJZ.
Montco ARES-RACES feels a renewed sense of optimism looking forward to fulfilling its role as first responders of EmComm in their many communities, and has embarked upon an aggressive recruitment campaign to attract additional members. Any Montgomery County radio amateurs interested in emergency communications and how they can join ARES-RACES
should contact Bill, WM3L at: WM3L@arrl.net
Reg-N3KAS/PIO
==========
(May 18, 2009) EPA CW Training Net is Closed Down.
I have decided to put the Pennsylvania Traffic Training Net into a hiatus. Bob W3ZQN cannot continue as an NCS (see below), and the net does not appear to be serving any purpose as a training resource these days. With the scarcity of CW traffic handlers in the Section we are
getting stretched to the limit just keeping the EPA CW net going, so lets stop PTTN unless and until some need arises.
I have done CW presentations at local clubs and I have advertised the PTTN for years on VHF nets and when delivering traffic, to no avail. AB3AP was the
last station to finish the training course, but he did not continue as a traffic handler after getting his wallpaper.
Let's concentrate on keeping EPA alive and performing our liaison duties to the higher levels of the NTS.
I suggest that we call and run the 1900R edition of EPA CW at a slower speed. I have typically set my keyer to 22 wpm for the net, but I am going to back that down to 17 or less, in the hope that any new ops will not be intimidated and will give it a try.
Please advertise the EPA CW net whenever you get
the chance.
73,
-Scott N3SW EPA STM
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May 13, 2009 --- More EC Appointments
We are continuing to strengthen our ARES leadership in the EPA section.
Bill Henderson, WM3L is the new EC for Montgomery county, replacing Steve Pearl who had to recently step down from the position.
I want to welcome Bill and thank him for taking the time to volunteer for this position.
73,
Bob Wiseman WB3W
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Pennsylvania Section
April 29, 2009 --- New EC Appointments
We are pleased to announce that Ron Nelson, W3RN, has been appointed the new EC in Susquehanna County and Nick Shyshuk, N3GTH, is the new EC in Wyoming County. Both these positions have been vacant for a little while and we want to thank Ron and Nick for stepping forward to take over this important function.
Additionally, I want to welcome Ron Zukosky, N3VTH, as the new DEC for District 3. Ron is replacing Jim Martin who has stepped down after many years of service. Ron is a communications specialist with the PA State Police and should be an asset in this position. Ron is currently the EC in Luzerne county and will continue in that role in addition to the DEC position.
73,
Bob Wiseman WB3W
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Pennsylvania Section
==========
***I regret to announce that Cliff Bader W3NNL became a Silent Key in late April. Cliff was an A-1 operator and a dedicated traffic handler on the CW nets at the Section level and higher. He will be sorely missed in EPA.
(May 13, 2009) -EPA Traffic Reports for April 2009-
(April 25, 2009) The Latest Figures from Trinity H.S.
Hello fellow ham radio enthusiasts,
We just had a successful (and busy) FCC testing session at Trinity HS, and I thought I'd pass along the report to everyone.
Laurel VE Team: Amateur Radio Club of Trinity (ARCoT)
Place: Trinity High School, 3601 Simpson Ferry Rd, Camp Hill, PA 17011
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 12:30 pm
VE Lead & Physics/Radio Instructor: Sean Barnes N3JQ
VE's Present: James Musselman K3XLT, Charles Hooker AD3L, Daniel McGlothin KB3MUN
Seated to test: 59 (57 Trinity Students, 2 from the community)
Results: 50/59 upgraded: 28 new Technicians, 20 new Generals, 2 new Extras (both of the community applicants passed: Tech & Extra)
Trinity program since inception September 2002:
475 Licenses:
206 Girls,
268 Boys,
1 Club -- N3THS
License Class Level:
403 Tech,
60 General,
11 Extra,
1 Club
Students Currently Licensed in the Building = 96
(79 Seniors will graduate, 17 Juniors will return)
(69 Tech, 25 General, 2 Extra)
Thank you all for your continued support of our program. Its hard for me to be the Elmer to so many new hams, so community support is vital.
As they near the end of the school year, I always have them turn in a homework assignment:
What city will you be in next September? (many off to college)
What is the Callsign of the club on campus? (or nearest
club in the city that you will be living).
Who is the president of that club, and what is his/her e-mail address?
I record their homework "points", and return this assignment to them to point them in the right
direction next September.
I was at the CPRA/HRAC dinner/meeting with Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as speaker, last month. He emphasized the need for growth in our hobby by the younger folks both for the numeric support of our hobby, and the
intellectual advancement of our next generation(s). I will continue to do my best to get all the students I can influence at Trinity to become licensed and responsible amateur radio operators. I ask you all to continue to make them feel welcome as they 'really' learn how to drive
with their license/key on the airwaves.
73,
Sean Barnes, N3JQ
Trinity High School Physics (& Trigonometry) teacher
Trustee for N3THS, the Amateur Radio Club of Trinity (ARCoT)
Moderator of the Astronomy Club of Trinity too (AsCoT)
========== (April 16, 2009) Seeking ARES County Emergency Coordinators
We are currently in the process of strengthening our ARES program in the section and we are looking for volunteers to participate in our ARES leadership positions.
There are several counties in need of Emergency Coordinators (EC's), specifically Tioga, Bradford, Lackawana, Juniata and Montgomery.
If you or anyone else you know might be interested in these positions please contact me direct at wb3w@arrl.net or wb3w@wb3w.net.
Although it may seem as though the early months of the year are quiet it is not generally true. This year has been quite busy here at the Section Manager's desk. One of the positive happenings is that Jose Rodriguez, KB3FPJ, Bethlehem, PA has accepted my invitation to be an Assistant Section Manager for EPA. Many thanks to Jose for accepting the position and representing EPA's large Hispanic group.
Another positive here in EPA is that Olaf Markert, W3PA has taken over as the OO Coordinator (OOC) for the Section. Olaf is doing an outstanding job at reconstructing the OO program here in EPA. Not only is the OO personnel situation being improved but other OO issues are being dealt with as well. We should see many improvements in the time to come. Those of you who are interested in becoming an OO should contact Olaf.
Standing in as Technical Coordinator since that post is now vacant. I had the privilege of assisting K3ARR and K3NVI in working on a noise problem in the Dover, PA. area. We have yet to see a resolution to the problem but I am sure the fine effort put forth will result in a positive outcome.
Other issues also surface in the ARES field and are being dealt with as they come in. So far these issues seem to be less urgent than a few of the others.
The annual Atlantic Division Cabinet Meeting will be held on May 2, 2009 in Gettysburg, PA. This meeting will bring together the Division leadership as well as most of the SM's, SEC's and ACC's of each Section in the Atlantic Division as well as others.
73, Eric, WB3FPL
========== END
Members of the Columbia-Montour A.R.C. Helped with foot race communications Nov. 2007.
CMARC Members at the Nov foot race. Columbia Co. E.C. Randy, N3JPV on the right.
Attending the dedication ceremony of the Montgomery County (EPA) ARES-RACES new radio room and 100' tower were (L-R) PA State Rep. Thomas Quigley; Upper Pottsgrove Twp Mgr and EMC Jack Layne; Montco ARES-RACES EC/RO Steve Pearl-N3LJZ and District 1 EC, Bob Famiglio-K3RF.(Photo courtesy of Dick-K3ITH)
One of 2 walls of radio consoles in the new Montgomery County (EPA) ARES-RACES Command Center recently dedicated. The facility features much larger space adjacent to the county EOC. In addition to all computers being fully networked, the radio compliment includes several V/UHF/HF Icom & Kenwood analog and digital including D*Star-ready radios. Kantronics KPC3+ and 9612+ TNCs handle WinLink and APRS functions with Astron RS-20A's providing the power. Another wall of consoles contain operating positions for ATV and APRS which are connected to overhead projectors. Plus, there will be a planned WinLink RMS Hubbing Center (formerly known as PMBO). This will be a fully hardened site complete with HF Pactor III.
Lance Armstrong Livestrong Public Service Event
Steve-N3LJZ at the Command Ctr in the Montco Mobile Command Ctr monitoring APRS.
Lance Armstrong Livestrong Public Service Event
Dan-KB3KBD operating from a remote location in Berks County and running an APRS digipeater all from deep-cycle battery
Lance Armstrong Livestrong Public Service Event
Clay-AA3JY operating Motorcycle Mobile with dual band & HF rigs plus APRS was able to cover a lot of territory and respond to any "dead spots" on the course when necessary
Lance Armstrong Livestrong Public Service Event
Ham teams came out the day before to prep all power cords with Anderson Power Pole Connectors for the SAG vehicles. Standardization is vital in an event of this stature
Upper Macungie Emergency Prepardness Event
The Lehigh County Amateur Radio Club (LVARC) recently participated in an open house and demonstration in Upper Macungie, PA in conjunction with September being Emergency Preparedness month. Shown is club president Rodney Wolfe, N3XG, discussing Amateur Radio with a local fire fighter.
Upper Macungie Emergency Preparedness Event
The Lehigh County Mobile Command Center was on hand for the Upper Macungie Event. This unit is used by the LVARC during various events.
Paul-N3UD and Melody-KB3SJR behind the Reception Table at the Pottstown Area ARC Field Day site greeting visitors. Note the array of attractive ARRL brochures among the many handouts. Mel's winning smile alone should have garnered an additional 100 Bonus Points!
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