The February meeting of the Tar River Amateur Radio Club will be held Monday, February 7^th at RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSE located at 1968 Stone Rose Drive in Rocky Mount. The supper meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.

Check out the new Tar River ARC web site at www.qsl.net/w4dcg. Thanks to Bert, WA4TLI, for putting together this first class web site for our club. If you have any suggestions, corrections, or information to be posted to the web site, contact Bert at wa4tli@arrl.net

5    Charleston SC hamfest

7    Tar River ARC Meeting

14    Valentines Day

17    RMARS Meeting

20    Elkin Hamfest, Elkin NC

6    Tar River ARC Meeting

11-12    Charlotte, NC hamfest

16    RMARS Meeting

25    VE Session, Rocky Mount

Bill, N2BT

The Tar River ARC VE exam schedule for the remainder 2000 is as follows:

March 25

May 27

July 22

September 23

November 25

The exam sessions will be held at the J C Penney Department Store, Golden East Crossing Mall, conference room. All sessions will begin at 9 a.m. The exam fee is $6.65.

Bill, N2BT

February 5     Charleston SC hamfest

March 11/12     Charlotte, NC hamfest

March 25/26     Timonium, MD hamfest

April 2     Down East, Kinston

April 9     Raleigh, NC RARSfest2000

April 15     Morganton, NC

If your ARRL membership is about to run our, please renewal via the Tar River Amateur Radio Club. It is easy, just complete the ARRL renewal form and send that form and the renewal fee payable to TRARC to me and I will do the rest.

Mail to:     TRARC

                   C/O Lonnie Pridgen

                    P.O. Box 267

                    Sharpsburg, NC 27878-0267

Bert Carter WA4TLI@arrl.net

According to the statistics on the QSL.NET ham radio web site, 94 percent of the hits are coming from users with either the Netscape or Explorer browsers. The rest are using either AOL or WEBTV.

Are you experiencing slow downloads of web pages? This is obviously a function of your modem speed. A 28.8 modem is slower than a 56 K modem. About the fastest you will see is 48 K because of limitations of copper. However, there are a number of things you can do to improve the quality of your connections. First, be sure your telephone line is as clean as possible. Remove any old telephones or other attachments. Listen to your telephone line without the dialtone. If you hear static then this will cause your modem speed to slow down. You may have RFI which will slowdown your speed. Check for poor connections or dirty contacts. The outside telephone company interface box is a source of dirty or wet connections. Likewise, you may have some loose connections in the circuitry in your home. The best solution is a dedicated Cat 5 cable direct from the telephone company interface is to your telephone jack where you connect the modem.

There are some settings on your computer and your browser that will also improve your connection speed. I can send them to you if you want to make the relatively minor configuration settings.

On the horizon, the next big technology is Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). It is being deployed throughout the US as we speak. It will offer a pure digital direct connection without tying up your regular telephone line. Speeds for residential use are available up to 768 k. This speed is almost 30 times faster than 28.8. The connections aren't as susceptible to noise. The connection is always on-you just click the browser icon and you are on the Internet. It is available in many areas already perhaps in Rocky Mount. One limitation is that you must be less than 15,000 line feet from the telephone company central office. In RM the CO is on Washington Street. The 15,000 foot requirement may change but there may be other equipment limitations. There are other DSL suppliers who do not use the telephone company wires that may be able to supply DSL.

The DSL initial equipment typically is about $250 and the monthly service fee depends on the speed you get. 368 k typically will cost $60 per month. You can get a host of features. Eventually everyone will be on DSL. It solves the low speed bottleneck between your high speed processor and the high speed Internet.

DSL is probably available in RM. There is no doubt it will be before the end of 2000.

For more information or to search for DSL in RM, just go the Dogpile multi search engine and type in "DSL Rocky Mount" and see what happens. Sprint is also deploying it in some areas.

The technology for working DX is almost automated. You can obtain DX spots off the Internet which in turn tune your computer controlled radio to that frequency which keys your transmitter and your voice ID and then logs the contact. The hang up is that there is no real software available to recognize the DX station returning your call through a pileup. The old human interface can't be beat. I am sure someday someone will figure out a way to make it happen.

The Tar River Amateur Radio Club dues will be due in January. Full Membership is $15.00 and Family Full is $6.00 each. Associate Membership dues are $10.00 and are for Non-license persons only.

Please make check payable to the TRARC, and bring to the January meeting or mail to Lonnie Pridgen, the club's treasurer. Please complete the application form at the end of the Newsletter.

Three License Classes, One Code Speed

From The ARRL

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 30, 1999--Amateur Radio will get a new look in the new millennium. The FCC today issued its long-awaited Report and Order in the 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review of Part 97--more commonly known as "license restructuring." The bottom line is that starting April 15, 2000, there will be three license classes--Technician, General, and Amateur Extra--and a single Morse code requirement--5 WPM.

"We believe that an individual's ability to demonstrate increased Morse code proficiency is not necessarily indicative of that individual's ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art," the FCC said.

Besides drastically streamlining the Amateur Radio licensing process, the FCC said its actions would "eliminate unnecessary requirements that may discourage or limit individuals from becoming trained operators, technicians, and electronic experts."

Although no new Novice and Advanced licenses will be issued after the effective date of the Report and Order, the FCC does not plan to automatically upgrade any existing license privileges. The ARRL had proposed a one-time across-the-board upgrading of current Novice and Tech Plus licensees to General class, but the FCC declined to adopt the idea. This means that current licensees will retain their current operating privileges, including access to various modes and subbands, and will be able to renew their licenses indefinitely.

Starting April 15, 2000, individuals who qualified for the Technician class license prior to March 21, 1987, will be able to upgrade to General class by providing documentary proof to a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, paying an application fee, and completing FCC Form 605.

The FCC's decision not to automatically upgrade Novice and Tech Plus licensees means the current Novice/Tech Plus HF subbands will remain and not be "refarmed" to higher class licensees as the ARRL had proposed. The FCC said it did not refarm these subbands because there was "no consensus" within the amateur community as to what to do with them.

As it had proposed earlier, the FCC decided to lump Technician and Tech Plus licensees into a single licensee database, all designated as "Technician" licensees. Those who can document having passed the 5 WPM Morse code examination will continue to have the current Tech Plus HF privileges. "If documentation is needed to verify whether a licensee has passed a telegraphy examination, we may request the documentation from that licensee or the VECs," the FCC said.

In addition to reducing the number of license classes from six to three and eliminating the 20 and 13 WPM code tests, the FCC also will reduce the number of written examination elements from five to three, authorize Advanced Class hams to prepare and administer General class examinations, and eliminate Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) station licenses. RACES will remain, however. "After review of the record, we conclude that we should eliminate RACES station licenses because RACES station licenses are unnecessary for amateur stations and amateur service licenses to provide emergency communications," the FCC said.

Under the new licensing scheme, there will be four examination elements. Element 1 will be the 5 WPM Morse code exam. Element 2 will be a 35-question written test to obtain a Technician license; Element 3 will be a 35-question written test to obtain a General license, and Element 4 will be a 50-question written test for the Amateur Extra license. The FCC has left it in the hands of the National Conference of VECs Question Pool Committee to determine the specific mix and makeup of written examination questions. Current Amateur Radio study materials remain valid at least until the new rules become effective in April.

The FCC's new licensing plan means someone will be able to become a ham by passing a single 35-question written examination. The plan also simplifies and shortens the upgrade path from the ground floor through Amateur Extra--especially since amateurs will only have to pass one Morse code test.

Elimination of the 13 and 20 WPM Morse requirements also means an end to physician certification waivers for applicants claiming an inability to pass the Morse code examination due to physical handicap.

The effective date provides a window of upgrade opportunity for current Advanced licensees. Between now and April 15, current Advanced holders may take the existing Element 4B, a 40-question test, giving them credit for having passed the current Extra written examination. Likewise, holders of a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for Elements 3B or 4B dated on or after April 17, 1999, will be able to qualify for General or Amateur Extra respectively when the new rules go into effect on April 15, 2000.

The FCC disagreed with the League's suggestion that it undertake a restructuring of operating privileges along with licensing restructuring. "We believe that in light of ongoing discussions concerning implementation of new and more modern communications technologies within the amateur service community, we should accord the amateur service community an opportunity to complete such discussions and possibly reach a consensus regarding implementation of new technologies before we undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the amateur service operating privileges and frequencies," the FCC said in its Report and Order.

In its amendments to Part 97, the FCC's Report and Order refers to a "Club Station Call Sign Administrator," something that does not exist under the current rules and which was not explained in the R&O itself. An FCC spokesperson said the Commission plans to issue a Public Notice soon to explain the program and to solicit qualified entities to serve as call sign administrators for club station applications.

The FCC says only a small minority of the Amateur Radio population has registered in the FCC's Universal Licensing System, which was deployed for the Amateur Service on August 16, 1999. If you're unregistered because you're not sure how to register, here's a ULS primer for those registering on-line.

1.    Go to the Universal Licensing System home page,

2.    Click "TIN/Call Sign Registration" on the main ULS screen. Left side of screen.

3.    On the next screen, check "Register Now" and click "Continue".

4.    On the next screen, check "An Individual" and click "Continue".

5.    You should now be at the Form 606 screen, identified in tiny print on the upper     left. Complete only the "Licensee Information" part of the form--the top part. You do not need to complete "Contact Information." (That's designed for those who deal with the FCC via a communications law firm or other third party.)

6.    The "Taxpayer Identification Number" or "TIN" is your Social Security Number. Enter your SSN without any hyphens or spaces (ie, 123456789)

7.    Complete your name and address information. First name, middle initial, last name, and any "Suffix" such as "Sr", "Jr , or "II", as appropriate. You may provide a PO Box address, a street address, or both. You must include a ZIP code. The system will detect if the ZIP code does not match the state provided.

8.    Form 606 still requires you to put something in the telephone number field, even though the FCC has said that a telephone number is not now required of amateurs and that it will not make telephone numbers public. If you do not wish to give the FCC your telephone number, you can fill this field with zeros or with your area code plus 555-1212. A fax number is not required. The FCC does not require an email address, so if you prefer not to provide it, leave that field blank.

9.    Once you've provided all the "Licensee Information" scroll down to the bottom of the screen.

10.    At the bottom of the screen you must pick a password of at least five characters. We recommend that you do not use your call sign for this. Enter your new password in the "New Password" field. The characters you type will be displayed as asterisks (*) on the screen, so type carefully.

11.    Verify the password you've selected by entering it again in the "Verify Password" field. Again, the characters you type will be displayed as asterisks (*) on the screen.

12.    Type in a personal identifier in the next field. The FCC suggests using your mother's maiden name, but any word or name you prefer will suffice, provided it fits the field.

13.    If you click "Notice to Individuals" it will tell you that everything but your Social Security Number will be available for public inspection. The FCC has told the ARRL that it will not make telephone numbers or e-mail addresses public. We have no reason to date to believe that this has not been the case.

14.    Once you're happy with your choices, click "Submit".

15.    If you leave out anything or make an error, the ULS will list "Error(s)" when you attempt to submit the form. If this happens, go back and correct the errors identified and click "Submit" again.

16.    Once you have the form correctly completed, you'll be asked to submit your call sign(s). Click "Enter Call Signs" and follow the directions. If you are not yet licensed (you don't have a call sign yet) you can click "Continue" without entering a call sign. If you have no call sign yet, skip over the next item.

17.    You should now be on the screen that requests you to enter your call sign(s). Enter your individual Amateur Radio call sign in the first space provided. If you are a club station trustee, you may enter your club station call signs, but this is not necessary. The FCC requires a separate registration and an Assigned TIN for club stations.

18.    Once your call sign(s) are entered, click "Submit" at the bottom of the form.

You now should be registered in the ULS. Your screen should display a form that shows your "Licensee Information" (name, address, etc) as well as Licensee ID Number, personal identifier and password. It's a good idea to print this screen and keep a copy in your files for safekeeping (primarily in case you forget your password).

That's it! You're done! You're now registered in the Universal Licensing System. ULS registration is required before amateurs can transact business (ie, file applications, renewals, vanity call sign requests, address changes, etc) with the FCC.

Click here for TRARC application form.

January 2000 Newsletter

December 1999 Newsletter

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Tar River Amateur Radio Club
P. O. Box 267
Sharpsburg, NC 27878
E-mail to WB4BZZ

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