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ARRL Southern Florida Section (SFL)

Section Manager
Sharon T. Brower, W4STB
736 34th Ter
Vero Beach, FL 32968
772-562-3240
w4stb@arrl.org
Section Links
  • Hamfests
  • Affiliated Clubs
  • Ham Radio Classes

  • Other sections

  • Southeastern Division
  • Assistant Section Manager
    Jeffrey J Beals, WA4AW
    PO Box 1584
    Loxahatchee, FL 33470-1584
    (561) 252-6707, (561) 791-0956
    wa4aw@arrl.net

    webmaster - www.sflarrl.org
    Jeremy B Briggs, K4OCD
    PO Box 65
    Stuart, FL 34995-0065
    (772) 349-2797
    k4ocd@arrl.net

    Training
    Hubert C Connolly, AG4HC
    PO Box 212050
    Ryl Palm Bch, FL 33421-2050
    (561) 204-3122
    ag4hc@arrl.net

    Evelyn D Gauzens, W4WYR
    2780 NW 3rd St
    Miami, FL 33125-5059
    (305) 642-4139, (305) 642-1648
    w4wyr@arrl.org

    Ray Kassis, N4LEM
    1150 King St
    Cocoa, FL 32922-8618
    (321) 632-1000
    rkassis@cfl.rr.com

    Traffic Handling
    Phyllisan West, KA4FZI
    1410 Shelby Pky
    Cape Coral, FL 33904
    (239) 574-3567
    ka4fzi@arrl.org

    Affiliated Club Coordinator
    Jeffrey J Beals, WA4AW
    PO Box 1584
    Loxahatchee, FL 33470-1584
    (561) 252-6707, (561) 791-0956
    wa4aw@arrl.net

    Official Observer Coordinator
    Harry W Newell, N3HN
    26211 SW 127th Ave
    Homestead, FL 33032-7042
    (305) 258-0206
    hnewell7@bellsouth.net

    Section Emergency Coordinator
    Karen A Briggs, K8KB
    PO Box 65
    Stuart, FL 34995-0065
    (772) 349-6441
    k8kb@arrl.net

    Technical Coordinator
    Donald P Drennon, N4TZH
    11500 NW 35th Pl
    Sunrise, FL 33323-1328
    (954) 747-7777 HOME
    n4tzh@arrl.net

    Section News

    ALERT: Fri, April 18, 2008; 5:32 PM ET

    Mark your calendar. Tell your local emergency management personnel and representatives of served agencies. The Governor's Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale will be held May 12-18.
    Please attend on Tuesday May 13 from 2:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. -- Communications for the Recovery Process (ARRL)Meeting (check on-site for room number). Dennis Dura, K2DCD the ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, Karen Briggs, K8KB Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator and Sherri Brower, W4STB Southern Florida Section Manager will be presenting the program.
    Website -- http://www.flghc.org/
    Conference will be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Access from 17 St SE/ at the Port and the Intracoastal Waterway.)
    There is a fee for on-site parking. Photo ID is required to enter the area. Amateur Radio Operators may attend this session only at no charge. If you wish to attend other training sessions and workshops you will need to register for the conference.

    Monthly Summaries

    Monthly Summary for April 2008

    News last updated: Fri, May 9, 2008 at 4:23 PM ET

    Surf to www.sflarrl.org to view section data and recent e-mail news. Take a look at the site and if information about your county is missing ask your EC or Club President to send the information to Jeremy.

    I am very proud of our hard-working members in this section and I send a hearty "THANK YOU" to each of them.

    Please check the affiliated club listing and update the contact name, phone number, e-mail and web site address. You won't get new club members is your club can't be contacted and the meeting sites can't be located. Also, be sure to appoint a publicity chairperson in order to have local media outlets contacted for meeting dates and club events.

    ----------------

    Displays for public events: The ARRL Web page has a new on-line page that enables someone to conveniently place an order (using credit card) for event and exhibit kit materials. The direct Web page link is http://www.arrl.org/brochures/. I visited the site and completed an order for a full exhibit kit with 2 large and 3 small brochure holders, brochures, and 100 extra of each the following: ARES, When All Else Fails, and Hello. Total cost was for shipping to my zip code -- Less than $13. This is certainly less than ordering each brochure separately and less than the cost of the just the holders from your local office supply store. Take a look and have your club PIO order a kit and extra brochures for the club. These will make your public displays look more professional.
    Looking for new hams and new ARES volunteers? Did you know that in 2005 the highest rate of volunteering of any age group was that of the baby boomers, 33.2%? This is above the national average of 29%. Boomers are those individuals born from 1946 through 1964.

    ----------------------

    LICENSING CLASSES
    Please remember to register all of your licensing classes (you need to log in as a member to do this). Recent experience has taught us that people will drive 100 miles for a test session and I had someone drive 100 miles for a licensing class that I recently taught. Also, if you become a registered instructor you can purchase textbooks and instructors manuals at a discount. Don't forget to send an e-mail to me (w4stb@arrl.net) and to Jeff, WA4AW our Affiliated Club Coordinator when you schedule the licensing class -- we can help you publicize the class.
    ============================

    Hamfests and Free Fleas--
    Any hamfest, no matter what size may request ARRL sanctioning. Please see: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/hamfests/rules.html for hamfest and convention rules
    See: http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/checkers.html for the list of ARRL awards checkers. If you wish to have an awards checker at your hamfest these arrangements must be made by the hamfest committee and the cards checker.

    8/9/08 - Fort Pierce - Fort Pierce ARC

    9/27/08 - Titusville - North Brevard ARC

    10/11-12/08 - Florida State Convention - Melbourne - PCARS

    11/22/08 - Fort Lauderdale - Broward ARC

    1/17/09 - SFL Section Convention - Fort Myers - Fort Myers ARC "A great hamfest is usually one that you find something you wanted or something you thought you would never see," says Bill, W2CQ.
    -----------------------------

    Materials in Spanish
    Visit this web site if you know someone who wants to get an amateur license but finds reading easier in Spanish. You will find a Spanish Technician License manual for sale. http://www.prarl.org/prod01.htm

    ______________________________

    Useful and Fun Web Sites and articles:

    Test your knowledge of geography at: http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq

    Information and question pools study materials and more (Gordon West's group) http://www.w5yi.org
    from QRZ.com https://secure.qrz.com/store/w5yi/index.html
    Online practice tests:
    http://www.kb0mga.net/exams/
    http://www.qrz.com/testing.html
    http://www.dcarc.net/practice_tests.htm
    http://www.radioexam.org/

    http://www.panamax.com/PDF/IEEE_Guide.pdf The above URL is to the IEEE guide on protecting home from lightning . It has some excellent ideas for the ham shack.

    Here is some reading material for any prospective net control stations. These sites are an excellent source on how to conduct a net.
    National Traffic Traffic System - Methods/Practices/Guidelines http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
    This next one is the manual for the above site which shows the information downloadable by chapter http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/docs/index.html
    This one is the SATERN Guide to Net Operations http://www.satern.org/ecom.html
    Lastly, this next link shows how to fill out an ARRL Radiogram and comes courtesy of the folks at the Baltimore Traffic Net http://www.baltimoretraffic.net/arrlmsgf.htm
    (info on this is also included at one of the previously mentioned links.)

    -----------------------

    CLUB NOTES and other news of interest:
    We have several requests for radio operators at large public service events. Please consider helping at these events. Also, alert high school and college hams about these events - these hours can be used for their public service time.

    Here, in no particular order are the affiliated clubs and their websites. Where I have news sent to me from the clubs there is a brief note and/or a photo below. FLORIDA KEYS ARC http://www.qsl.net/kb4gcz/

    FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIV ARC http://www.k4fau.org

    BOCA RATON AMATEUR RADIO ASSOC http://www.brara.org

    PALM BEACH COUNTY ARES, INC http://www.pbcares.org
    Web site has listing of nets and upcoming meetings

    BIG LAKE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

    LISATS

    COCOA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY http://www.cocoaars.org

    INDIAN RIVER ARC http://irarc.ham-radio-op.net
    Calendar lists programs for upcoming meeting and site has nice photo gallery.

    WYNMOOR RADIO CLUB

    HOLLYWOOD ARC http://www.geocities.com/WB4TON/HARC.html

    NORTH DADE REPEATER ASSN

    BROWARD ARC http://www.eagle3.net/barc

    SOUTH FLORIDA DX ASSN http://www.qsl.net/k4fk/
    Listing of meeting dates, nets, and lots of useful information about DXing.

    PALMETTO ARC OF BROWARD COUNTY, INC. http://www.palmettoarc.org/
    Information about meetings, club activities, and ARES meetings on the main page. Other pages have many useful links.

    FORT MYERS ARC http://www.fmarc.net

    GULF COAST AREA REPEATER CLUB

    FORT PIERCE RADIO CLUBhttp://www.qsl.net/w4akh

    C3I AMATEUR RADIO GROUP http://www.ac4xq.net

    JUPITER TEQUESTA REPEATER GROUP INC http://www.jtrg.org
    Activities calendar on home page and a nice photo album.

    KEY WEST ARC INC

    LEHIGH PSK31 CLUB

    K2UGH KILOWATT CLUB

    PALMS WEST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC http://www.freewebs.com/pwarc
    Club and other local radio activities listed. There is a nice photo gallery.

    PALM BEACH AMATEUR RADIO COUNCIL (Club Council) http://www.freewebs.com/pbarc

    MAJOR ARMSTRONG FM ASSOCIATION http://www.freewebs.com/mafma
    Learn a lot of radio history at this site.

    PLATINUM COAST ARS http://pcars.org
    Lots of information about local and state ham radio activities and lots of photos.

    FLORIDA WEAK SIGNAL SOCIETY http://www.flwss.net
    This site lives up to the comment - Promoting Weak Signal Operating on VHF, UHF, and Microwaves in the Southeast

    DADE RADIO CLUB OF MIAMI INC http://www.daderadioclub.org

    AMERICA RADIO CLUB, INC. http://www.qsl.net/americaradioclub

    NORTH BREVARD AMATEUR RADIO CLUBhttp://www.northbrevardarc.org

    ARA OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC. http://www.araswf.org
    All local meetings are posted and there's a nice archive of club newsletters. Check the newsletters when you have some time - there are many informative articles in these publications

    GULFCOAST AMATEUR SOCIETY

    OKEECHOBEE ARC, INC. http://www.k4oke.com

    HARRIS INTERSIL ARC

    MOTOROLA ARC

    WR4AYC REPEATER GROUP

    GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION INC http:// www.w4bug.org
    Informative page of club activities.

    PORT ST LUCIE ARA http://www.pslhams.com

    MARTIN COUNTY ARES/RACES, INC http://www.wx4mc.org
    Live local scanner on this site.

    MARTIN COUNTY ARA (MCARA) http://www.mcaraweb.com
    there's a lot of news and links on this site

    TITUSVILLE ARC

    VERO BEACH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB http://www.vbarc.net

    ST LUCIE REPEATER ASSN INC

    WEST PALM BEACH ARC, INC http://www.wpbarc.org

    VA MEDICAL CENTER RADIO CLUB
    -------------
    Note: If your club is not getting recognition in the monthly news, either in the e-mail short summary or on the web news page, step up to the plate and ask your newsletter editor or PIO to send the news to me and to our Affiliated Club Coordinator - Jeff Beals, WA4AW. No newsletter or Public Info Officer/Publicity Chairperson? Volunteer to do the job or share the job with another club member. It is YOUR club.
    Please include us on your newsletter e mail or snail mail lists. We obtain most of our info for ARRL Section and national news from these club publications.

    Should you have any questions on how to update your club information at ARRL, please let Jeff know. E-mail wa4aw@arrl.net

    Only affiliated clubs and ARES groups or national amateur service groups will be given space in the "Club News". The only exception that will be made is Field Day since this is an event to promote amateur radio emergency communications.

    ----------------------------

    Club Program Ideas

    German WW2 radio technology
    Video presentation about PSK 31
    PowerPoint presentation on Replacing and Repairing Towers
    Seminar on becoming a Volunteer Examiner.
    Antenna theory
    Antennas designed for Hams who can not have visible antennas
    RF Matching

    Sky Warn
    Most Unforgettable Contact
    The Digital TV Transition
    Here's an idea from a club in Northern Florida. The Silver Springs ARC haolds a weekly New Hams Net on the local repeater

    ----------------------------

    SILENT KEYS
    Suzanne Stiles, KI4KQJ of Lee county. Survived by OM, Larry W4FLS.

    Dale DuKate,KM9T on March 21. He was a VE, active on the air and a good friend to many. He was a member of LARA and JTRG.

    Hollywood Amateur Radio Club member, and testing VE, Rick Adamson,KC4ZHL passed away March 15.

    Hollywood Amateur Radio Club member, and testing VE, Rick Adamson KC4ZHL, passed away March 15.

    Bill Eppley, W2SDB became a silent key on March 11. Bill was a member or Indian River ARC and entertained us often with his harmonica at the Melbourne Hamfest.

    -----------------------
    ARES and NTS

    SAR Reports for April: KA4FZI 313, KE4CB 128,AA4BN 55, KC4TM 18, W7GXW 13, K9GZT 8
    ===========
    PSHR Reports for April: KA4FZI 120, KE4CB 95, AA4BN 89
    ======
    NET Reports for April:
    NET, ABB, SESS, QNI, QTC, MGR
    All Florida CW Traffic Net, QFN, 60, 541, 255, AD4DO
    Florida Amateur SSB Traffic Net, FAST, 30, 279, 68, K4SCL
    Florida Medium Speed Net, FMSN, 30, 254, 49,
    AG4RJ/AB4XK Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group, JTRG, 7, 66, 25, AG4BV/W4FK
    Palm Beach County Ares Net, PBCAN, 10, 101, 39, K4DLF
    Saint Lucie Repeater Association, SLRA, 4, 38, 1, KE4UEI
    Southeast Florida Traffic Net, SEFTN, 30, 739, 45, AG4RJ/KI4IQZ
    Southwest Florida Traffic Net, SWFTN, 26, 325, 105, KE4CB
    ===========
    THE TOTALS ARE UP FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW. GREAT JOB, SOUTHERN FLORIDA! Total April checkins 2343 Total April traffic 587
    ---------------------------------------

    Section policy has been and will continue to be: if health, family or work matters interfere with an appointee performing the duties of the appointment he/she may step aside without hard feelings and may apply for an appointment at a later date when the other matters are settled.

    Amateur radio in Oregon received a lot of favorable press and praise from government officials for their work during and after the recent storms. Why? Because there were PIOs (Public Information Officers) working with ARES to get the information out in real time and the PIOs were available to the media. Where does your ARES group stand in this area?

    Need to know who your ARES® Emergency Coordinator is? When the traffic nets are held? Hamfests throughout the area? How to complete the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) report? Go to: www.sflarrl.org

    Need traffic handling procedures? Need information about ARES® and RACES functions? Can't find information on your individual traffic count for your Station Activity Report? Go to: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/index.html
    I will be happy to mail traffic handling information to anyone interested... Just ask. de KA4FZI@ AOL.COM

    SFAN (Saturday at 8AM local, 3.940MHz ), Net Manager is Thom, N5KFR.
    All ECs are encouraged to check into these nets or send an OES representative if you cannot join the net. All ARES members are welcome to join the nets.

    ================
    If your weekly net and local repeater has IRLP or Echolink check-in available please let Karen K8KB, Phylisan KA4FZI and I know. Also advise the ARES EC in your county and the neighboring counties. This information could be useful during disasters.

    If you are going out of town for more than a few days when the season is quiet or more than 48 hours with a system beginning, please notify your local EC. Time is of the essence when a phone tree is activated or when members are phoned after they do not check into a resource net. And, especially if you can't deploy to a shelter or to another area, please offer your time to phone members, enter logs into a database, provide route directions, or other at-home activities. Everyone can do something.

    ======================

    Check into a net - better to learn how now than during a disaster!
    FMSN (FL Medium Speed CW Net) 3.651 Daily 6:30 PM
    QFN (All FL CW Traffic Net) 3.547 Daily 7:00 PM, 10:00 PM
    FAST (FL Amateur Sideband Traffic Net) 3.940 Daily 6:00 PM
    FMTN (FL Midday Traffic Net 7.242 Daily 12:00 Noon
    FPTN (Friendly Phone Traffic Net -- FL AL GA) 3.940 Daily 7:55 AM
    NFAN (North FL ARES Net) 3.950 M-S 9:00 AM
    NFPN (North FL Phone Net) 3.950 Daily 5:30 PM Winter 6:30 PM Summer
    SFAN (South FL ARES Net) 3.940 Sat 8:00 AM
    TPTN (Tropical Phone Traffic Net) 3.940 Daily 5:00 PM
    SEFTN (Southeast FL Traffic Net) (2 meter) 146.790- Daily 6:00 PM
    SWFTN (Southwest FL Traffic Net) (2 meter) 146.685 M-S 10:00 AM

    ------------------------

    Does your club have a Publicity Chairperson? Is there a Public Information Officer for your ARES group? Are these people actively promoting amateur radio on an ongoing basis and are they known at the EOC by the county or city PIO? For more information read the e-magazine Contact, at www.arrl.org/pio

    ======================
    Say Hello to your world with Amateur Radio. Stay on the air, talk up ham radio, support your local club and emergency communications group.

    N4GKI, Jerry Gumbus presents the JTRG Ham of the year award to KG4QKN,Craig Eller.

    On March 16 at Heritage Park in Plantation the members of Broward ARES, RACES and SEFTN held a picnic and training session.

    Robin Terrill, N4HHP, long-time communications coordinator for the holiday boat parade in Fort Lauderdale (and wearer of too many other amateur radio hats to list here) receives a Certificate of Merit from Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Southeastern Division Director, at the ARES/RACES/SEFTN picnic in Plantation on March 16. Jeff Beals, WA4AW, Assistant Section Manager, applauds in the background.
    Photo by Carl Zettelmeyer, WA4CZ

    Marty Falk, KI4IQZ, Southern Florida Section PIO, receives his Certificate of Merit from Division Director Greg Sarratt as Chuck Baer, W4ROA, looks on.
    Photo by Carl Zettelmeyer, WA4CZ

    Photo by Jeremy Briggs, K4OCD

    At the March 25th QCWA luncheon long time Chapter member, Allen Richter, W4PHL, was honored on the occasion of his 75th year of licensing. Chapter VP, Al Maslin, N3EA, also receivied his QCWA Golden certificate for his 50 years of licensing.
    Allen, on left, presented plaque by Chapter President Hugh Connolly, AG4HC.
    JTRG President, Bert Moreschi AG4BV, stopping by on his lunch hour from work, also presented a plaque and JTRG life membership award.

    There were many bargains to be found, and negotiated, at the Cy Harris Free Flea on March 29th. (Photo by Marty Falk, KI4IQZ)

    One of the club tables at the cy Harris Free Flea on March 29th. (Photo by Marty Falk, KI4IQZ)

    JTRG Officers and Section Affiliated Club Coordinator at recent JTRG picnic.

    Fort Myers ARC and COllier ARES had a display booth at the static display of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft (Public Service Event) at Page Field in Ft Myers. Fifteen Hams were present. They operated live on the air from that location and also held the traffic net live from there. Amateur radio literature was passed out to all who were interested.

    Palms West ARC picnic on April 27.
    Photo by Myra K3PGH

    Skywarn Training for the Treasure Coast Weather Net was held at the April meeting of the Vero Beach ARC.
    Forecaster Scott Spratt, KT4PD of the National Weather Service presented this plaque to Wayne Burkett, Jr KA1VRF. forecast office in Melbourne

    In addition to this plaque, Wayne, KA1VRF was presented a letter from Bartlett Hagemeyer, Meteorologis in charge of the NWS Melbourne thanking him for his "longterm committment to leading the weekly Skywarn weather net, even when travelling away from home" and for serving "as a vital resource for the National Weather Service Melbourne outreach and educational campaigns."


    Responsibility for content of all posted material above rests exclusively with the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, and accuracy of items appearing on this page. All questions and comments should be directed to the item author.

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    Page last modified: 04:23 PM, 09 May 2008 ET
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