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APRIL 2007

The Oracle is the official publication of The Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc.,

PO BOX 787, Silver Springs, FL 34489

The Oracle -- April 2007 Editor Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA

Kadeem and Malik Wheatle Matt Conner Tony K4OCF and Charles KC4Q

Local Scouts Experience Ham Radio Saturday, April 7, in Tuscawilla Park will be long remembered by local scouts from troop 112, who had their first encounter and experience with Amateur Radio. The event was spearheaded by Silver Springs Radio Club member Tony K4OCF, ably assisted by Ron N4US, Dick KF4ML, Bill N6WGM, Charles KC4Q, Earl K4LSB, and a number of other operators who showed up to help during the day. A complete ham station was set up in the park, operating on power from a generator, kindly provided by Jim KI4OLJ. Communications were possible on the VHF and HF bands, on a variety of antennas and equipment provided for the occasion by various club members. Club members invested time instructing the scouts in the correct procedures for using the equipment, then supervised the scouts as they made ham radio contacts The reaction of the scouts was fascinating. ""Cool! I never knew you could do that"" said Matt Conner, after chatting on 2 meters for several minutes with Silver Springs Radio Club Club President, Earl, K4LSB. The expressions on the faces of two scout brothers, Kadeem and Malik Wheatle, vividly tell the story. They lit up with joy and excitement as they experienced for themselves the impact of amateur radio communication. Several club members had opportunities to talk with the scouts about ham radio and answer their questions. Scouts can earn a radio merit badge and a good proportion of what they have to learn in order to earn that badge is almost identical to a part of the ham radio technician class license. A class for both the merit badge and the technican license is already in the planning stages for the fall.

Amateur Radio Operators -- Ready To Serve

Amateur Radio in Marion County is alive and thriving. The Silver Springs Radio Club, together with the Friendship Radio Club, provides regular training sessions to assist enthusiasts to earn their amateur radio license. And many new Hams are now enjoying their new hobby. But Ham radio is very much more than just a hobby. When properly trained, ham radio operators will provide invaluable communication assistance to the Office of Emergency Management through MERT (Marion County Emergency Radio Team).

Under the leadership of Captain Chip Wildy, Director of the Office of Emergency Management, MERT radio operators will augment communications capabilities within Marion County by serving in the shelters, hospitals and other locations as directed by Capt. Wildy. MERT members are active radio operators and provide their own radio equipment when they are mobilized in emergencies.

Members of MERT met in the Marion County Sheriffs' Office on Saturday, March 24, 2007, for specialized training in preparedness, to provide vital communications for the OEM. This training session, attended by more than thirty local amateur radio operators who are members of MERT, was spearheaded by MERT Liaison Officer, Bill Parker, WB4GAA, and MERT Training Officer, Charles Hensley, KC4Q. Training sessions for MERT members are held every two months.

MERT Liaison Officer Bill Parker, WB4GAA and Charles Hensley, KC4Q, Answer Questions

In the event of a local emergency, such as severe weather, tornados or hurricane conditions, the Office of Emergency Management will activate the MERT group and assign radio operators to the various hospitals and shelters in Marion County and the Emergency Operations Center. Past experience has demonstrated that even when cell phones and other forms of communications are down, amateur radio operators are nearly always able to contact one another and communicate vital information as necessary.

There is a special MERT Radio Net at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday on the K4GSO repeater, 146.610 MHz. There is also a Sky Warn net conducted by Charles Hensley, KC4Q, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, on 145.170 MHz. For more information about amateur radio, visit the Silver Springs Radio Club web site:

http://www.qsl.net/ssrc/ or contact Charles Hensley, KC4Q, (352) 732-3795.

http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars

Submitted by Bill Britt, KQ4UJ

The Dept of Homeland Security has adopted the Army Military Affiliate Radio System emergency communications network for deployment at major airports.

Army MARS is a US DoD and US Army-sponsored organization of Amateur Radio volunteers.

Developed by radio amateurs and already popular in Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) circles, Winklink -- a robust digital HF messaging system -- will enable an airport cut off from normal communication to exchange emergency traffic with the DHS and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Army MARS has been organizing teams of radio operators to deploy with TSA personnel from major airports in case natural disaster or hostile action disrupts normal TSA communications.

"The WinLink 2000 system consists of many different components making it very stable and reliable in times of need -- the key ingredient is HF

Radio," said Joe Hennigan, Director of Technology Support in the DHS Operations Coordination Directorate.

Winlink 2000, Hennigan says, will permit access to the SHARES [SHared RESources] program of the National Communications System and MARS systems via conventional HF/VHF/UHF radio circuits, and it's capable of e-mail.

Army MARS Chief Stuart S. Carter said DHS adoption of Winlink 2000 "is proof positive of DHS' commitment to enhancing emergency communications, and of Army MARS' commitment to be 'Relevant Today and Tomorrow.'"

Editor's Apology:

"In the March issue of The Oracle, we published the listing of those club members who have upgraded their licenses. There were two club members who upgraded their licenses to General, but who were omitted from the list. Those two are Richard Cardinali, KG4TLE, and Walter Hill, WOWRH. Gentlemen, you have my sincere apologies for the omission."

Jeanette

Field Day 2007

Field Day is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for the weekend of June 23-24, 2007. Field Day is the premier ARRL sponsored event of the year, designed to both give us an opportunity to refine our skills as amateur radio operators and also to provide an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of amateur radio to the general public.

This year, the Silver Springs Radio Club will be conducting Field Day activities at the MARS Station, located at 161 Oak Circle, Silver Springs Shores.

As we have in the past, the club will be furnishing hamburgers, hot dogs and condiments. The members attending are requested to bring a covered dish.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE URGED TO ATTEND. This is one of the few opportunities for members to enjoy the fellowship of each other. Make it special, because you never know when it might be the last one for some of us.

ARRL HAMFEST LISTING FLORIDA

* = ARRL Convention
** = ARRL Convention pending Executive Committee approval
+ = ARRL Hamfest
x = non-ARRL Hamfest

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
OF SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB, INC.
March 21, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President, Earl Sweeney, K4LSB.

Officers present at the meeting, in addition to the president, included Vice President, Ron Toller, N4US, Secretary, Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA, Treasurer, Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, and Board Members, Carlos Cheker, K4CCJ, Walter Hill, W0WRH, and Wayne Hodgman, W1EXT.

There were 24 members in attendance (who signed in) and two visitors. A quorum was present.

The invocation was given by Gene Layerd, N4FQA.

The pledge of allegiance was led by Ron Toller, N4US.

The members introduced themselves. Visitors included Don Freer and Gil Fernald.

The Minutes of the February General Membership Meeting, as published in The Oracle, were approved.

The Treasurer's report, as published in The Oracle, was approved.

New membership applications were approved: Kenneth Brodeur, KK4WR, Carl F. Haas, AG2B, Fred Hay, KF4WHF, Arthur Kitterman, W9YJI, Homer Hamby, KI4TLG, and Gary Wimberly, KG4MLM.

MARS: Russ Merkel, WB9GIU, reported that he is still running the radios at the MARS Station. Bill Britt, KQ4UJ, urged the membership to become active in Army MARS. Otherwise, we could lose our MARS Station.

MERT: Charles Hensley, KC4Q, reported that a recruitment letter had been mailed to ham

operators in Marion County and that the MERT General Meeting was March 24, 2007.

SKYWARN NETS: Charles Hensley, KC4Q, announced that he has organized a Skywarn Net on the Top of the World Repeater, 145.170-, Tone PL 123.

TASTE OF SCOUTING: Tony Blalock, K4OCF, and Ron Toller, N4US, reported on the Club's

participation in the upcoming event, Taste of Scouting. The event will take place at Tuscawilla Park, and those participating intend to arrive at 6:30 a.m. or so to secure one of the covered pavilions for this event. The pavilions are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

ARISS: Bill Miller, N6WGM, reported that Larry Phelps, K4OZS, had a conflict and could not be at the meeting, but that now that the FCAT Testing is over, a proposal to conduct a Technician Class at Romeo would be presented.

BUDGET: The proposed budget, as printed in The Oracle was unanimously adopted by the mem bership.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bill Britt reported that Walt Schuler, WA2LWR, was in the hospital, after suffering a broken leg.

There being no further business to come before the membership, the meeting was adjourned

at 9:05 p.m.

Jeanette Frantz, Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA

Secretary

CLUB MEETINGS are the third Tuesday of each month 7:30 PM at Green Clover Hall, in the Marion County Government Complex, just east of SE 25th Avenue. Coffee & Doughnuts are available.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, 7:30 PM at the Green Clover Hall, 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.

RADIO NETS are conducted over the club repeater, K4GSO, on 146.610 MHz ( 600) Monday of each week.

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.

LICENSE TESTING, is on the second Tuesday of each odd number month, except July, 7:30 p.m. at Green Clover Hall. Call Ron Toller, N4US, at (352) 861-8769.

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

SSRC NET, every Monday 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.

CLUB OFFICERS

President Earl Sweeney, K4LSB 236-0180

Vice President Ron Toller, N4US 861-8769

Secretary Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA 489-0571

Treasurer Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Trustee Bill Britt, KQ4UJ 694-1605

Board Members:

Wayne Hodgman, W1EXT 236-4478

Walter Hill, W0WRH

Carlos Cheker, K4CCJ 861-6939

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/

Silver Springs Radio Club Net

7:30 P.M. Local Time

K4GSO Repeater

146.610- PL-123

EVERY MONDAY

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

April 2007