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January 2007

December 11, 2006, Ocala, Florida
HAMFEST.

The Silver Springs Radio Club, Inc. held its annual HamFest at the Agricultural Extension building on Northeast Jacksonville Road. Temperatures hovered around 37 when the first attendees arrived, but the sunshine was welcome. The Silver Springs Radio Club table (left center) was manned (left to right) by Ron Toller, N4US, and Charles Hensley, KC4Q, with Walt Hill, W0WRH standing (back to camera). During the day, the table was manned by other club members. Door prizes included the 2007 ARRL Handbook, the ARRL Antenna Book, an ARRL Repeater Directory, and other items, including some gift certificates (for food), and a three pound tin of homemade fudge, The grand prize, however, was a FT-1802 M/E radio and mobile antenna.

Although everyone in attendance appeared to enjoy what was offered at the HamFest, for two examinees, the testing session offered at the HamFest provided them with the opportunity to take the exam for their FCC Technician Licenses. Congratulations to Sue Cantrell, KI4SUV, and James C. Graves, KI4SUU, for testing successfully on December 11, 2006.

Kudos to Bill Miller, Dick Moss, Tony Blalock, Charles Hensley, Ron Toller and all those who worked so hard to make this event a whopping success!

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the membership for electing me as your President for this year. With the help of the Board members, we will do our best to carry on the activities of the Silver Springs Amateur Radio Club. We are planning on having some interesting topics to present during the year, now that many Technicians will be upgrading to General and Extra. We have a wealth of knowledge within the membership and I encourage those of you who would like to share a topic or project during this year please let me know. Remember this is your club. HAPPY NEW YEAR

73 Earl K4LSB

MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

MEETING OF

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB, INC.

November 20, 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 Walter Hill, W0WRH, and Russ Merkel, WB9GIU. A quorum was present.

The invocation was given by Walt Hill, W0WRH.

The membership recited the pledge of allegiance.

The membership introduced themselves.

Upon motion made, seconded and adopted, the September 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: Larry Phelps, K4OZS, announced that, after 2-1/2 years, we finally have a date scheduled for communications between Romeo Elementary School and the International Space Station. The date is set for January 22, 2007, with a backup date of January 29, 2007.

TECH CLASS: Charles Hensley reported on the testing administered November 13. Eight class members were in attendance at the testing, seven of whom passed the test.

HAMFEST: The membership discussed the HamFest scheduled for December 9, 2006.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Members were urged to get their reservations in for the Christmas Party at an early date.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Upon motion made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the following persons were elected to serve

Earl Sweeney, K4LSB President

Ron Toller, N4US Vice President

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA Secretary

Bill Britt, KQ4UJ Treasurer

Wayne Hodgman, W1EXT Board Member

Walt Hill, W0WRH Board Member

Carlos Checker, CX8BZ/W4 Board Member

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

Jeanette Frantz, KG4DJA,

Secretary

DUES ARE DUE!

ARISS CONTACT FOR SSRCÆS

SPONSORED SCHOOL, ROMEO

ELEMENTARY, SCHEDULED

After more than 2-1/2 years, the contact between Romeo Elementary School students and the International Space Station has finally been scheduled.

The primary date is January 17, 2007, with no information as to a backup date.

This project has been a monumental undertaking for ARISS Chairman, Larry Phelps, K4OZS. The Board is undertaking to prepare a Press Release to send to the local media. This event will demonstrate that amateur radio is not technology of the past, but is very much the present and the future of communications.

How very appropriate it is that the contact between a school and the International Space Station is taking place at an elementary school to inspire enthusiasm in the youth of our county for this enjoyable hobby!

Many of SSRC's members have participated in this project, chaired by Larry Phelps, K4OZS, including Bill Miller, Dick Moss, Tony Blalock, Richard Cardinali and Emily Cardinali. Hopefully, all who have participated in this project have been named. For those of you unaware, this project includes design and installation of antennas at the school to enable the radio contact. The students are really excited about this event.

FCC REVOKES AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE OF CONVICTED FELON

The FCC has ordered that David Edward Cox, W5OER, of Pride, Louisiana, be stripped of his Technician class Amateur Radio license. In October 2005, the FCC sent Cox an Order to Show Cause to initiate a hearing proceeding to determine if Cox, who's serving time on several felony convictions, possessed the requisite character to remain an FCC licensee or should face license revocation. The FCC says Cox failed to respond to the show-cause order. A Commission administrative law judge subsequently concluded that Cox had waived his right to a hearing, terminated the proceeding and released an Order of Revocation December 4.

A few years ago, the FCC began applying its so- called 1990 Character Orderö, initially intended to Broadcast Service licensees, to Amateur Radio licensees and applicants. The Commission says its character policies provide that any felony conviction is a matter predictive of licensee behavior and is directly relevant to the functioning of the Commission's regulatory mission. The revocation order is effective 40 days after that date, unless Cox appeals. An Amateur Radio licensee since 1995, Cox has a clean record in terms of obeying FCC rules and regulations, the Commission said. The revocation order recounts CoxÆs 2004 felony burglary conviction that drew five yearsö probation. Later the same year, he was arrested on federal firearms charges and has been incarcerated ever since after accepting a plea agreement.

The FCC said it finds CoxÆs egregious criminal misconductö justifies revoking his Amateur Radio ticket. In footnotes, the Commission cited several cases in which it has applied its character standards to Amateur Radio licensees. Two of the cases involved radio-related violations, while one stemmed from a felony conviction for indecent assault upon and corruption of minors and another from a felony conviction for computer fraud and lack of candor regarding that conviction in representations to the FCC.

The serious convictions described above mandate the conclusion that Mr. Cox does not possess the requisite qualifications to be or remain a Commission licensee.

Reprinted from ARRL News.

FCC Releases Report and Order in "Morse Code" Proceeding.

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 19, 2006 -- The FCC has issued the complete Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code" proceeding, WT Docket 05-235. The R&O follows fast on the heels of the Commission's December 15 public notice announcing the elimination of the Morse code exam requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. The R&O also addresses the ARRL's request to eliminate the disparity between "Tech Plus" licensees (Technicians with Element 1 Morse credit) and Technician licensees -- present and future -- who have not passed a Morse code test.

"In summary, we believe that the public interest will be served by revising the Amateur Service rules to eliminate the telegraphy testing requirement," the FCC concluded in the R&O, released today. We also believe that these rule changes will allow Amateur Service licensees to better fulfill the purpose of the Amateur Service and will enhance the usefulness of the Amateur Service to the public and licensees.

The FCC took the opportunity in the R&O to act on the League's Petition for Partial Reconsideration in the "omnibus" proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, to retain the 3620-3635 kHz segment for automatically controlled digital stations. ­We conclude that the expansion of the 75 meter band should not be so limited,­ the FCC said. We agree with the ARRL, however, that the Commission did not intend to reduce the amount of spectrum available for automatically controlled digital stations.

To rectify the "unintended consequence" of the rules adopted in the omnibus proceeding, the Commission amended บบ97.221(b) to authorize 3585 to 3600 kHz for automatically controlled digital stations.

Finally, the Commission said it would conform the Amateur Service rules to reflect that the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has reduced from two to one the number of Amateur Radio license classes.

The Commission is amending บบ97.301 "to authorize Amateur Extra class privileges to all individuals who have been issued a CEPT radio- amateur license by their country of citizenship, and who satisfy other requirements in the Commission's

No Effective Date Yet

Today's R&O spells out the specific Part 97 changes going into place once the new rules go on the books and indicates that the effective date will be 30 days after the document appears in the Federal Register. Publication likely will occur in January, with the new rules going into effect in February.

(Reprinted from the ARRL Website).

CHRISTMAS ARRIVES EARLY!!

Len Ryttse, W2LG, of Leesburg, Florida, proudly displays the Yaesu FT1802 M/E radio and mag mount antenna he won at the Silver Springs Radio Club HamFest. Len was excited over the win, exclaiming that heÆd never won anything in 60 years of Hammingö. Congratulations, Len, and thanks for attending our HamFest. Silver Springs Radio Club

FLORIDA HAMFESTS

January 2007

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

Jan 13----- Tailgate at UCF, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Talk-in on 146.640, PL 103.5. INFO: Steven, KG4YDW (407) 823-4385

Jan 20----- Fort Myers, at Araba Shrine Auditorium, 2010 Hanson Street, Talk-in on 146.880, PL 136.5; INFO: Earl, K4FQU (239) 1536

Jan 27,----- Arcadia, at Turner Civic Center, 2160 Northeast Roan Street, Talk-in on 147.075, INFO: Doug, KN4YT (863) 491-0618

Feb 9-11----- Orlando, at Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 West Colonial Drive, Talk-in on 146.760; INFO: Roberta (407) 814-0434

Feb 17----- Sebring, at Agri-Civic Center, US 27S. & George Avenue, Talk-in on 147.045, PL 100, INFO: Richard, W8FCS (863) 3829454

Feb 17----- Brooksville, at Hernando County Fairgrounds, US Route 41, Talk-in on 146.715; INFO: Jerry, N8VTW (352) 6833617

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

January 15 -----First Ham in Space, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, w/replica radio & actual spacecraft recordings

February 19----- Larry Phelps, K4OZS/Romeo Elementary ARISS Contact (tentative)

March 19----- Home Depot Four-Element quad design and build for 2 meters

Special Get-Well Wishes to Barbara Million, KE4ZTW recovering from surgery in December 2006

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 Earl Sweeney, K4LSB 236-0180

V. 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/

Ocala Radio Amateur's Candid Letter of Enlightenment

SILVER SPRINGS RADIO CLUB

P.O. BOX 787

SILVER SPRINGS, FL 34489

January 2007