12/30/12 ..... A New Years Greeting from the SM...

As we approach the new year, I want to thank all of you who assisted me in my role as section manager over the last eight months.  I have enjoyed visiting and presenting before many clubs, and look forward to continuing that in the new year.

I would also like to thank all of you who participated in ARES and emergency communications operations during Hurricane Sandy.  Though we did not have quite as much destruction here in PA, some of our friends in New Jersey and New York were not as lucky.  Many radio amateurs where there to help.  I received calls from other section managers from around the country offering aid before and after the storm.  It was gratifying for so many hams to step up and offer assistance.

During Sandy, I had the pleasure of serving with the Delaware County ARES unit.  We spent hours in the EOC stationed with other agencies’ communications operators there.  I spent another 8 hour overnight shift leading the Rose Tree Fire Company crew.  I know my story isn’t unique.  Many of you had long nights as well.  Thank you for your service.

I am speaking at the Marple-Newtown Amateur Radio Club meeting in Delaware County on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 7 PM.  See www.mnarc.org for directions.  I will be speaking about amateur radio
and the law including antenna zoning and the latest ARRL news.  All are invited to the meeting.  Bring your questions, and let me know if you would like me to schedule a visit to your local club.

Finally, I would like to remind you all to send me articles and announcements that you would like to see posted on the section web sites.  Also, please send me questions and concerns about matters that are important to you. This will help me stay apprised of your concerns.  I can then address them and/or pass them along to headquarters.  You can write or call me during the day or evening at my office as listed in QST.

2013 holds many challenges and new issues for radio amateurs. Together, we will address them.  Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

73

Bob Famiglio, K3RF
EPA SM
 

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12/30/12 ..... Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club to hold Winterfest January 19th, 2013.

Who says hamfests need to be in warm weather?  Well, why wait 'till spring?  The Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club is holding its Winterfest on January 19th, 2013 from 8 AM to Noon at the Harrisburg Area Community College.  Go to www.w3uu.org  to see details.  Hot and humid it will not be.  Bargains and good company will make it a warm place never the less.  See you there?

Harrisburg, PA Winterfest 
 Start Date: 01/19/2013
 End Date: 01/19/2013
 Location: HACC Campus - Cooper Student Union South Hall
 1 HACC Drive
 Harrisburg, PA 17101
 Website: http://W3UU.org
 Sponsor: Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club
 Type: ARRL Hamfest
 Talk-In: 146.76 (PL 100)
 Public Contact: Terry Snyder , WB3BKN 
 PO Box 355 462B Tourist Park Road Halifax, PA 17032
 Phone: 717-896-0256
 Email: terry@djterry.com

Posted by K3RF,   EPA SM

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12/30/12 ..... Additional Upcoming Section and Area Hamfests Hamfests....

Greater Baltimore Hamboree & Computerfest
 Start Date: 04/06/2013
 End Date: 04/06/2013
 Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds
 2200 York Road
 Timonium, MD
 Website: http://www.gbhc.org
 Sponsor: Baltimore Amateur Radio Club
 Type: ARRL Hamfest
 Talk-In: 146.67 (PL 107.2)
 Public Contact: Sharon Dobson , K3DUH
 PO Box 120 Reisterstown, MD 21136
 Phone: 443-590-1444
 Email: w3ft67@yahoo.com

 York Hamfest
 Start Date: 04/13/2013
 End Date: 04/13/2013
 Location: Porters Community Fire Company
 1199 Porters Road
 Spring Grove, PA 17362
 Website: http://www.yorkhamfest.org
 Sponsor: York Hamfest Foundation
 Type: ARRL Hamfest
 Talk-In: 147.33+ (PL 123.0)
 Public Contact: Duane Sterner , KB3QLQ
 7197 Hershey Road Spring Grove, PA 17362
 Phone: 717-332-1385
 Email: duane.sterner@yahoo.com
 

 Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention (Firecracker Hamfest & Electronics Expo)
 Start Date: 07/06/2013
 End Date: 07/06/2013
 Location: HACC Campus - Shumaker Public Safety Center
 3599 Industrial Road
 Harrisburg, PA 17101
 Website: http://www.w3uu.org
 Sponsor: Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club
 Type: ARRL Convention
 Talk-In: 146.76 (PL 100)
 Public Contact: Terry Snyder , WB3BKN
 PO Box 355 462B Tourist Park Road Halifax, PA 17032
 Phone: 717-896-0256
 Email: terry@djterry.com
 

 Murgas ARC Hamfest and Computerfest
 Start Date: 07/07/2013
 End Date: 07/07/2013
 Location: Luzerne County Fairgrounds
 3621 Route 118
 Dallas, PA 18612
 Website: http://murgasarc.org
 Sponsor: Murgas Amateur Radio Club
 Type: ARRL Hamfest
 Talk-In: 146.61 (PL 82.5)
 Public Contact: Herb Krumich , K2LNS
 311 Meadow Run Road Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
 Phone: 570-829-2695
 Email: wa2fgk@yahoo.com
 

 Valley Forge Hamfest
 Start Date: 07/07/2013
 End Date: 07/07/2013
 Location: Kimberton Fire Company Fairgrounds
 Route 113 & Firehouse Lane
 Kimberton, PA 19442
 Website: http://www.marc-radio.org
 Sponsor: Mid-Atlantic ARC
 Type: ARRL Hamfest
 Talk-In: 145.130/- and 147.060/+ (PL 131.8)
 Public Contact: Mike Pilotti , KF3CD
 983 Crownpointe Lane West Chester, PA 19380
 Phone: 610-696-5040
 Email: KF3CD@arrl.net

 Posted by WB3W

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6/25/12 ...EPA Section Manager has "Flyover" to visit clubs on Field Day

Most Section Managers try to visit as many club setups as possible during the annual ARRL Field Day event, but this can sometimes be a daunting task with the event taking place in a 24 hour period and lots of miles to cover.

Our newly elected EPA SM Bob Famiglio (K3RF) had been used to visiting the 5 county sites within his own District when he was a former DEC, but now as the Section Manager he wondered as to how could visit ALL 34 counties in the Section spread out over a few hundred square miles in such a short period of time??

But he found a way – a rather unique one

He and Jim Goldman, W3JG, both licensed private pilots spent the Saturday of Field Day doing a "Flyover" throughout the Section in Jim's Cessna. They lifted off near Philadelphia at 14:15 and after a long day returned to their home airport just after dark around 2100.

Bob had sent out a Section wide email earlier in the week asking the various clubs and groups in the Section if they would send him their Field Day coordinates and he would circle their sites, and then on Friday he provided them all a general timeline of the flight path.

He and Jim actually flew over and circled 21 different sites in the Section, and since two groups were actually setup at private airports they were able to land and have visit first hand.

Resposnse to the "Flyover" was overwhelming.  Some groups were waving flags as the Cessna circled over head; and, then as it neared nightfall one group actually lit flares so their site could easily be seen from the air.

There are a couple of photos posted at the very bottom of this page from the "Flyover.  One is an APRS plot of the flight, and another with K3RF on his HT in the copilots seat. The view shot trough the Yagi is courtesy of pete Varounis, NL7XM.

Posted by WB3W

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6/2/2012 -  Governor Proclaims June Amateur Radio Month.

 I am very pleased to announce that Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed June as “Amateur Radio Month” in our Commonwealth.  A full color copy of the proclamation is posted below.  My thanks to our State Government Liaison, Fred Serota, MD, Esq.- K3BHX who did the legwork to obtain this honor.

K3RF, EPA SM

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4/21/2012 Orefield, PA . Chester County Operators support 3-day EMS exercise.

Emergency response teams from across the state of Pennsylvania  converge on a field in Orefield, Lehigh County Saturday to test their response capabilities to catastrophic events. The 3-day full scale exercise included 130 responders and over 40 ambulances and their support vehicles.

The exercise, named "Operation April Showers" was conducted under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Department of Health to test the Emergency Medical Service's Strike Team response to several mass casualty scenarios.

The exercise started on Friday and lasted through Sunday. As part of the exercise the first responders from around Pennsylvania gathered in Orefield, just north of Allentown, on Saturday for a mass casualty drill. Participants simulated a bus crash and a nursing home fire.

Pictured in the photos at the bottom of this page are some of the Chester County ARES/RACES Amateur Radio operators who accompanied the ambulances on their trip up from Cester county and set up a portable command post in support of the operation.

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(March 13, 2012) GenOn Energy Gives Donation to enhance amateur Radio communications capabiltities at the Berks County Emergency Operations Center.

     Berks County PA - Berks County Department of Emergency Services graciously accepted a charitable donation of $3,600.00 on behalf of Berks County ARES/RACES.  This donation was made by GenOn Energy who owns and operates Titus electrical generating station in Cumru Township.  The $3,600.00 will be used to enhance Amateur Radio capabilities in the Berks County Operations Center located at 2561 Bernville Road Reading, PA.  Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) are nationwide organizations with local chapters whose primary mission is to support civil emergency authorities through the use of amateur or "ham" radio services.

     The volunteer members of Berks County ARES/RACES, most of whom are part of local amateur radio clubs, supply a much needed service to Berks County residents by providing amateur radio communications during natural and manmade disasters.  As recently as during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, their services were indispensible in ensuring communication among mass care shelters, emergency response personnel and other incident facilities. This amateur radio communications frees up public safety radio channels and emergency dispatchers  to permit thier focus to be on more emergent communications related to the event at hand.

     The need for enhancement of Berks County's ARES/RACES capabilities was brought to the attention of GenOn Energy by an employee at the Titus Station who is also a members of the Reading Radio Club and Berks ARES/RACES.  "GenOn is pleased to support community organizations that help protect lives and property during emergencies"  said Jeff Marks General Manager of the Titus Station. 

    Berks County ARES/RACES and the Berks County Department of Emergency Services wishes to thank the GenOn Corporation for its generosity.

     Additional information can be found on the Berks County Department of Emergency Services website at    http://www.berksdes.com   .

This is from a news release by Berks County D.E.S.  The story was picked up and printed by Ther Reading Eagle Newspaper.

 http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=370262
            

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(March 3, 2012) WB3FPL Luncheon

Members of the EPA Section Staff, Atlantic Division Director N3LLR, and incoming Section Manager K3RF gathered in Reading to thank Eric, WB3FPL for his 12 years of service as EPA Section Manager and service to EPA hams since 1979.

(Feb. 11, 2012) Montgomery Co RACES Hosts Radio Class.

Montgomery County RACES will host a 2 day getting started in ham radio class on March 10 and 11 at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Center in Conshohocken. Preregistration required. Contact Doug Priest, W3CF at mcartest2012@verizon.net or 215-356-2903

(Feb 6, 2012) Department store introduces ham radio.

The Marple Newtown ARC is participating in the " Boscov's Campus of Courses."  In several locations, Boscov's openned it's facilities to local community groups to teach a course. MNARC has 17 students in the " Get your Ham Radio License" course that started Feb 4, 2012. The class also has 4 local Boy Scouts attending the class.   Instructor for the course is Vic Tenaglia N3IO. See pictures below. 

(Jan 10, 2012) EPA NTS Reports for December 2011

Station Reports

N3SW - 301, W3TWV - 161, KB3BAA - 122, KS3Z - 98, W3DWD - 72, KA3LVP - 17, WB3HNA -8.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW -100 & W3TWV - 100.

Net reports

EPAEPTN - 107, PTN - 41, EAETN - 32, CATN - 31, LCARES - 8,

SCESN -3.

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(Dec 11, 2011) EPA NTS Traffic Reports for November 2011

Station Reports

N3SW - 291, W3TWV - 99, KB3BAA - 96, W3DWD - 42, KS3Z - 31,

KA3LVP - 10, WB3HNA - 10, N3AS - 4.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW - 100, W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports

EPAEPTN - 58, PTN - 46, EAETN - 41, CATN - 20, LCARES - 7,

SEPPTN -6, SCESN - 4.

Submitted by EPA Section Traffic Manager N3SW.

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(Dec. 3, 2011) The Marple Newtown ARC members once again this year dontated toys to the " Toys for Tot's" program as part of their continued Public Service.

     See Photo below

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Nov. 30, 2011) Department store looking for local hobby instructors.  

Do you have a hobby or talent that you would like to share? Join Boscov's Campus of Courses as an instructor. Classes take place in our auditorium. 

Boscov's is looking for talented people who would like to teach a unique talent or hobby to others. We have openings in all course areas, including arts and crafts, dancing, basic computer and internet skills, yoga, foreign languages, decorating, financial planning and more.

To see if a Boscov's near you is looking for instructors check out their web site at http://www.boscovs.com/static/about_boscov/stores_locations.html

 Sounds like a great way to introduce amateur radio to the public.

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   (Nov 6, 2011) AIRPORT DRILL SHOWCASES DELAWARE COUNTY ARES-RACES   

     The October 29 airport drill, PHL EPEX 2011, highlighted the communications expertise of Delaware County’s ARESRACES
unit. Despite brutal weather conditions including a nor’easter featuring
freezing temperatures, blowing rain, sleet and snow, a team of 13 radio operators provided communications that helped make the important drill a success.

     The exercise, held every three years, tests the capabilities of airport management and local emergency service units in responding to a major aviation disaster. The drill simulates the crash of a commercial airliner with a resulting fire and scores of injuries.

     Delaware County ARES was tasked with providing communications for patient transport and recovery. A communications base was established inside Atlantic Aviation’s hangar adjacent to runway 26. A radio operator was assigned to each of five buses used for transporting simulated victims. Radio operators assigned to the buses included Jim Rowland, KB3UGL, Sonya Fazio, KB3UGI, Rich Caruth, K3ZEZ, Nat Stinson, K3NAT and Mike Thomas, KB3SUS. Sol Volen, N3UBY and Carl Gerhart, N3ZZK, both of Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, also participated.

     Bob Famiglio, K3RF, served as liaison to the airport operations staff and Hal Frantz, KA3TWG, served as liaison to Delaware County DES inside Mobile-1, the county’s communications and command vehicle. Four operators including Joe Ames, W3JY, Ace Trexler, KB3ACE, Craig Skotnicki,
KB3SUM and Bob Wilson, W3BIG manned the communications base  inside Atlantic Aviation’s hangar, serving as net coordinators and  command and control.

     The exercise this year broke new ground as it was the first time frequencies outside the Amateur Radio bands were utilized to carry
the bulk of message traffic. Commercial band digital transceivers were employed to afford the ARES unit an opportunity to use equipment and frequencies of adjunct services.

     Amateur Radio frequencies were used to provide backup and command and control. The KA3TWG repeater in Bethel was employed for main event communications. For tower to base communications D-STAR frequencies on 1.2 Ghz Bob Famiglio, K3RF stationed in ramp control were also used.
Craig Skotnicki, KB3SUM served as net control Although inclement  weather caused officials to abbreviate the operational phase of the  exercise, the communications aspect of the drill was not curtailed. Delaware County ARES stayed on the job from 0800 to 1600 hours,  shepherding buses to and from the airport to area hospitals.

     The decision to integrate commercial and Amateur Radio frequencies to coordinate message traffic proved to be a valuable and successful test.
Airport managers were impressed with the capabilities and  professionalism of Delaware County ARES-RACES, expressing
how important the contribution was to the success of the exercise.

(story by Bob Wilson, W3BIG EC for Delaware County)

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(Oct 15, 2011) September EPA NTS Reports

Station Reports.

N3SW - 377, W3TWV - 96, W3DWD - 74, KB3BAA - 69, KS3Z - 43,

KA3LVP - 10, N3AS - 6, WB3HNA -4.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW - 100, W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports.

EPAEPTN - 87, EAETN - 48, PTN - 39, CATN - 16, LCARES - 2, SCESN - 2.

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(Sep 15, 2011) August 2011 EPA NTS Reports.

Station Reports.

N3SW - 355, W3TWV - 121, W3DWD - 35, KS3Z - 31, KA3LVP - 13,

WB3HNA - 4.

PSHR

N3SW - 100 & W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports.

EPAEPTN - 55, PTN - 47, EAETN - 38, CATN - 24, SCESN - 6, LCARES - 1.

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