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August 2006

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB, INC.

July 17, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President Bill Miller, N6WGM, at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were Officers, President Bill Miller, N6WGM, Vice President Richard Moss, KF4ML, Treasurer, Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, and Secretary, Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA. Board Members present were Tony Blalock, K4OCF, and Russ Merkle, WB9GIU. There were 19 members and one visitor in attendance. A quorum was present.

The invocation was given by Walt Schuler, WA2LWR.

The membership recited the pledge of allegiance.

The membership introduced themselves.

Upon motion made, seconded and adopted, the June General Membership Meeting Minutes were approved as published in The Oracle.

Upon motion, made, seconded and adopted, the Treasurer's report was approved as published in The Oracle.

Committee Reports:

ARISS: All is in readiness for the call from the Space Station this fall.

MEMBERSHIP: The membership applications of Membership Applications of Richard Lawton, KI4OZS, and Ron Toller, N4US, were approved.

MERT: A MERT Special Meeting will be held July 29, 2006, for those interested in the WinLink program.

MARS: A MARS Committee Meeting was scheduled for Monday, July 24, 2006, at 6:30 p.m.

FIELD DAY 2006: Pete Axson, WD4LST, was not present, but those who attended the Field Day 2006 event enjoyed themselves, despite the rain.

PROGRAM: A short video was presented about Ernie O'Berry's recent receipt of a Jefferson Award for his work with Navy MARS and the telephone patches he has made.

There being no further business to come before the membership, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA,

Secretary

FLORIDA HAMFESTS

August 2006

Compiled by Bill Britton KB4VOL/AAM4AFL

THESE LISTS ARE ONLY AS ACCURATE AS THE INFORMATION RECEIVED.

PLEASE SEND CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS---SEE BELOW. SEND PL FOR REPEATERS WHERE NEEDED.

DATE LOCATION NOTES

Aug 26 Tampa TARCfest at 7801 N. 22nd Street.
Talk-in on 147.105 PL 146.2, INFO: Biff, K4LAW (813)

>Sept 23 Orlando, Bahia Shriners Tailgate, at 2300 Pembrook Drive, Talk-in on 147.390 PL 103.5, INFO: Warren, W4WHH

Sept 23 New Port Richey, at First Lutheran Church, Talk-in on 145.640, INFO: Ron, N9EE (727) 376-6575

Oct 7 Jacksonville FREE! At Terry Park Baptist Church (NEW LOCATION) 7024 Merrill Rd. > Talk-in on 146.700 PL 127.3 . INFO: Billy, N4UF (904) 765-3230

Oct 7 Oakland Park FREE! At Collins Center, 3900 NE 3rd Ave., Talk-in on 146.790 PL NONE, INFO: Marty, KI4IQZ (954) 632-1667

Oct 14-15 Melbourne At Melbourne Auditorium, (NEW DATE!) 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Talk-in on 146.850, INFO: Jan, K4QD (321) 256-2482

Nov 4 Titusville At the Disabled American Veterans, 435 Singleton Ave., Talk-in on 145.490 PL 100.0, INFO: Bob, N6USP (321) 264-2622

Nov 4 Eustis At Senior Center, 301 West Ward
Talk-in on 147.255 PL 103.5, INFO: David, KR4OW (352) 357-3485

Nov 18 Coral Gables FREE! At U of Miami Physics Dept., 5001 San Amero, Talk-in on 146.865 PL 103.5. INFO: Bill, WA4TEJ (305) 264-4465

Dec 2-3 Tampa Bay Manatee Civic Center, One Huber Blvd in Palmetto, Talk-in on 145.190
INFO: Jim, KG4JSZ (863) 422-0176

Dec 9 Ocala At Marion County Ag Extension. Complex, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd., Talk-in on 146.610 PL 123.0, INFO: Bill, N6WGM (352) 873-2017

For a complete listing of Hamfests in Florida, please visit the Florida Ham Website at its new location,bellsouthpwp.net/k/b/kb4vol

MARS to Assist TSA

"When All Else Fails"

Amateur Radio operators who are members of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) will provide back-up communication for the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under a formal agreement announced in July by Army MARS Chief Kathy Harrison, AAA9A. Protecting airports during the hurricane season will be the immediate focus, she said, adding that the new MARS-TSA collaboration "is likely to expand to other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) areas" in the future.

"This is an extensive area and will require member support across the continental United States," Harrison said in a broadcast announcement to Army MARS participants. "We will need many volunteers to man teams assigned to specific geographical areas, starting with airports throughout the hurricane corridor." She called for "physically capable" Amateur Radio operators to volunteer for the assignment.

The first airport emergency support teams will be located at four airports in the Florida hurricane belt: Miami, Ft Myers, Jacksonville and Pensacola, Harrison said. She added that recruiting will immediately follow for nine additional potential hurricane targets from Washington, DC to Houston. In a later phase -- but as soon as possible -- additional teams will be recruited for other hurricane locations including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and after that, the remainder of the continental US.

The emergency support teams -- each consisting of four members of MARS -- are being assembled under joint sponsorship of MARS and the TSA, with deployment assignments determined by the TSA when and if the government's communication systems fail. "Volunteers should be within a reasonable traveling distance to the airport. It will be their responsibility to get to the site when activated," said Harrison.

The Memorandum of Understanding, which is already in place, calls for using MARS networks, personnel and equipment to maintain communication during the first 72 hours of incidents involving aircraft, mass transit and pipelines. Seventy-two hours is considered the maximum time needed for federal response organizations to deploy internal emergency communication systems.

The MoU spells out the most extensive MARS support mission since the development of the Essential Elements of Information (EEI), which date to the 1994 Northridge earthquake that devastated parts of California's San Fernando Valley. EEIs are alerts to the Pentagon of a natural disaster or other incident that might require a federal response.

In a memo to MARS personnel, Harrison included the following points:

• The Navy-Marine Corps and Air Force MARS organizations are included in the call for volunteers, via their separate chains of command.
• Army MARS state directors will be responsible for formation of the joint teams.
• All deployments will be by team, each with a combination of equipment and operator capabilities and members ready to work 12-hour shifts. Some locations may ultimately require more than one team.
• Required equipment for each team will include HF and VHF radios with voice and digital capability, Pactor/Airmail digital messaging, phone patching and emergency power.
• Some locations may have TSA radio gear and emergency power supply to augment the hams' personal equipment.

A particular MARS responsibility will be to provide communication interoperability with local, state and national networks, such as the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Shared Resources (SHARES). A separate web of national and regional HF radio networks, SHARES links federal agencies under the DHS's National Communications System (NCS), of which MARS already is a primary participant.

The pact calls for a reliable back-up solution "to ensure the continuity of TSA's command and control function during the first 72 hours following any incident interfering with normal communications channels and to provide local, regional and nationwide TSA communications during that time." The existing Army MARS emergency communication network offers such a solution immediately and at no additional cost to the TSA, the MoU points out.

Under the MoU, the TSA agrees to provide MARS volunteers with access to its facilities and space for radio equipment. It further agrees to

integrate MARS planning and exercises. The Army's commitment includes providing "volunteer MARS radio operators, equipment, and use of the MARS radio networks" and developing "alert procedures and a communications support plan" that "will identify specific frequencies, call signs, and radio operator level duties." Harrison stressed that the decision to volunteer rests with the individual. "The Army has no liability over a member who reports to a disaster site; members will be responsible to TSA personnel."

Harrison told the Army MARS membership that she's "very excited" about the new agreement. "This will be a fast-moving recruitment/development action, and I request your support in filling these teams."

The chiefs of Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps MARS also are onboard with the new agreement and have messaged their respective memberships to signify their participation and cooperation with Army MARS. Air Force MARS Chief Don Poquette, AGA3C/KE9XB, has pledged his members' support. "AF MARS will assist to accomplish this mission," he said, pending working out logistical details.

Harrison says she and her headquarters staff met recently with TSA and DHS representatives to formalize the details of the cooperative arrangement. She said MARS area coordinators will provide specific requirements to state MARS directors to recruit members and equipment capabilities to support TSA.

Signing the MoU on behalf of the Army was Col Mary Beth Shively, chief of staff, Network Enterprise Technology Command/Ninth Army Signal Command. James Schear, general Manager, Operational Plans and Programs, endorsed it for the TSA. Headquartered at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, the Ninth Army Signal Command oversees the Army MARS mission. (Reprinted from the ARRL Web Site)

FCC ADOPTS MEMORANDUM OPINION

AND ORDER ON BROADBAND OVER

POWER LINES TO PROMOTE

BROADBAND SERVICE TO

ALL AMERICANS

Washington, DC - As part of its ongoing efforts to promote access to broadband services for all Americans and to encourage new facilities-based broadband platforms, the Federal Communications Commission today generally affirmed its rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems while maintaining safeguards against harmful interference to existing radio services. If harmful interference does occur, the Commission will take appropriate action to remedy the situation. Today's decision was adopted in response to a number of petitions for reconsideration of the BPL rules established in October of 2004.

In the Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) adopted today, the Commission again acknowledged the significant benefits of Access BPL, reaffirmed its commitment to address interference issues, and reemphasized that the Part 15 rule changes were made to ensure that Access BPL operations do not become a source of interference to licensed radio services.

Specifically, the MO&O by the Commission:

- Affirms its rules regarding emission limits for BPL, including its determination that the reduction of emissions to 20 dB below the normal Part 15 emissions limits will constitute adequate interference protection for mobile operations;

- Denies the request by the amateur radio community to prohibit BPL operations pending further study and to exclude BPL from frequencies used for amateur radio operations;

- Denies the request by the television industry to exclude BPL from frequencies above 50 MHz;

- Affirms the July 7, 2006 deadline for requiring certification for any equipment manufactured, imported or installed on BPL systems, with the proviso that uncertified equipment already in inventory can be used for replacing defective units or to supplement equipment on existing systems for one year within areas already in operation;

- Affirms the requirement that information regarding BPL deployment must be provided in a public database at least 30 days prior to the deployment of that equipment;

- Adopts changes regarding protection of radio astronomy stations by requiring a new exclusion zone and amending consultation requirements for these stations; and

- Adopts changes to provide for continuing protection for aeronautical stations that are relocated.

- Denies the request by the aeronautical industry to exclude BPL operating on low-voltage lines from

frequencies reserved for certain aeronautical operations;

- Denies the request by the gas and petroleum industry to be considered as public safety entities;

Action by the Commission, August 3, 2006, by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 06-113).

Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Tate, and McDowell. ET Docket No. 04-37 and 03-104.

Office of Engineering and Technology Contact: Bruce Romano (202) 418-2124; Anh Wride

(202) 418-0577.

-FCC-

(Reprinted from the ARRL Web Site)

BILL BRITT, KQ4UJ, APPOINTED

ASSISTANT STATE

MARS DIRECTOR

Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, has recently been appointed Assistant State MARS Director.

Bill says being Assistant State Mars Director is like being Vice President of Silver Springs Radio Club, it's a title. If the State MARS Director were out of commission, Bill would be called upon to fill in until the State MARS Director was back in commission.

Otherwise, Bill ". . . checks into the nets as AAM4FL, and everything else is business as usual."

Bill also pointed out that AT4FL the BBS station is no longer. We now have a Winlink 2000 PMBO up and running as AAB4FL. It can be reached via, HF Pactor, I, II or III, VHF and Internet.

This is just one more reason why all SSRC Members should be aware and proud of our MARS Station.

CLUB MEETINGS are the third Monday of each month 7:30 PM At the Health Department Auditorium, 1801 Southeast 32nd Avenue, Ocala, Florida., Ocala, Florida. Coffee & Doughnuts are available.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meetings are the first Monday of each month, 7:30 PM at the Marion County Health Department, 1801 Southeast 32^nd Avenue, Ocala, Florida.

K4GSO, club station, Green Clover Hall, is available to all members. Contact Bill, KQ4UJ, 694-1605.

MARS, club station located at 161 Oak Circle, Silver Springs Shores. Phone number is 680-1528. Contact Bill KQ4UJ, at 694-1605.

LICENSE TESTING, on the second Monday of each odd number month, except July, 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Room 18, located on East Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala.. Call Otto Hoel, N1OH, 291-4934.

RADIO NETS are conducted over the club repeater, K4GSO, on 146.610 MHz (-600).

LADIES AUXILIARY. Sunshine - Provides flowers and get-well cards for members or members' family. Also orders SSRC logo shirts and caps, Barbara Million, KE4ZTW, 694-5744.

NOTE: For change of address or corrections (with SSRC) contact the Membership Chairman.

SSRC NET, every Tuesday at 7:30 (local time). Contact Jeanette at (352) 489-0571.

MERT (Marion County Emergency Radio Communications Team) NET, every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. LOCAL time. Contact Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA at (352) 489-0571.

President William Miller, N6WGM 873-2017

V. President Richard Moss, KF4ML 873-2079

Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Treasurer Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Trustee Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Board

Members: Russ Merkle, WB9GIU 624-2285

Walter Hill, W0WRH

Tony Blalock, K4OCF 622-4960

Oracle

Editor: Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Oracle _editor@prodigy.net

Membership Phillip Frantz, KF4QIC 489-0571

Ladies'

Auxiliary Barbara Million, KE4ZTW 694-5744

Email: funyet2@earthlink.net

Silver Springs Radio Club Website:

http://www.qsl.net/ssrc/

Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

P.O. BOX 787

SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489

August 2006