Ham Chatter - February 1998

The Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club will have its monthly meeting on February 10, at 7:30 PM at St. Peter's School on 4th Street. The program will be about the new RF Interference and Safety Regulations. Cake and Ice Cream will be served for Brightleaf's 31st Birthday. All members, past members and guests are invited to attend. There are many members that haven't attended meetings lately. Come on out to help celebrate BARC's Birthday. The next board meeting will be February 25. The meeting is opened to all members.

January was the time to renew your membership. Please be sure to fill out and send in or bring to the club meeting the application that was inserted in the December issue of Ham Chatter. For those that have Internet access, and you need an application, go to the Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club web site, http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/4208/application.html and print out a copy. The application form is needed so your information can be updated when you send in your dues.

Dues must be paid by the last week in March to guarantee that you will received the April issue of Ham Chatter - W4YDY

The new RF Safety regulations are a mystery to many. They are now included in questions on Amateur Radio exams. There are several references to be found and the February BARC club meeting will have a discussion of the new regulations for the program.

The regulations went into effect on January 1, 1998. Amateur Radio licensees and grantees will be expected to routinely evaluate their stations for potential human exposure to RF fields that may exceed the FCC adopted limits for maximum permissible exposure (MPE). If the evaluation shows that potential exposure will exceed the MPE limits, the amateur licensee must take appropriate corrective action to bring the station into compliance before transmission occurs.

The January 1998 QST has an excellent six page article starting on page 50. It has information about the new rules, who needs to do an evaluation, who can do it and how to correct problems. A copy of all applicable articles in QST, links to all FCC material and RF exposure rules can be found at http://www.arrl.org/news/rfsafety/. A short article was printed in the December Ham Chatter on page 6.

The February 1998 CQ magazine covers the subject in the Washington Readout column on page 95. - W4YDY

While celebrating BARC's 31st Anniversary, we want to say a special thanks to the Founding and Honorary Members for their service and dedication to the Club over the years.

Heber Adams, W4GDF
Lucy Adams, WA4BVH
Hassell Bailey, N4BSI
Jack Edwards, Jr., W4DXJ
Bob Holt, K4NU
Brother Simon Jaworski, KQ2V
Jack Kear, K4MI
Mary Knapp, W4UTO
Charlie Knowles, K4NBH
Joe Melton, WB4SLF
Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK
Charlie Wells, Jr., K4SKI

Eugene Underwood, KE4JZU, our Second Vice President for 1998, is a native of Ayden, NC. Like many of us, Gene's interest in amateur radio goes back a long way - to the 1940's in his case. He has spent about fifty years of short wave and ham listening and was a pioneer in citizens band radio in the 1950's. Gene got his license on February 22, 1994. He notes he joined BARC the first meeting after he passed his test in November 1993 - that's the kind of club support we like to see. He is also a charter member of Pamlico Amateur Radio Club.

He describes his high frequency equipment as "boat anchors". He is proud of his Hallicrafter S38A and Hallicrafter S40B and describes them as working "like new". His multi-band E. F. Johnson Viking Challenger throws out the signal. He actually prefers the other end of the spectrum in the two meter range. His favorite is a Realistic HTX-202 with 35 watt kicker and an eight element beam up about 30 feet. (No wonder he works Chicago on simplex!) Gene also has a HTX-404 with only a rubber duck for closer to home qso's.

Gene is a graduate of East Carolina University in Education. It didn't take Gene long to find out teaching wasn't for him - he taught for one year. He is also a graduate of Devry Technical Institute in Chicago, IL. In the past he was a shoe shine boy, a radio and television repairman, mechanic, and is currently a broadcast engineer for a local AM radio station and serves as a consultant to other commercial radio stations in the area.

Gene has other sparks in his life besides radio. He has two children and 5 grand children. There's got to be some more hams in there some where.

Gene has stepped forward this year to help guide the club and has meeting programs as his prime responsibility. Please support Gene as he works hard to provide an interesting and educational year for all of us in BARC. - KF4FQB

I'm sure everyone knows by now of the loss of our friend and "Elmer" Chuck Tucker. I remember Chuck for a lot of reasons but, most of all, he was my friend. From the very beginning Chuck worked with me and built my 2-Meter beam, something he enjoyed. He also worked with me for the Red Cross and installed an antenna there for emergencies which still stands ready for the next hurricane. I have had occasion to use that antenna during several emergencies and can attest to its worthiness. Each time I sign on at the Red Cross I will remember Chuck.

My CQ Magazine came in yesterday and while perusing through it's many fine articles, I stumbled on a paragraph that leaped out and grabbed my attention. The paragraph I am leading to was part of the article "The Art of Getting QSL Cards From Rare Stations" or "Why Don't I Get a Card?". The paragraph I am referring to went like this: "Don't send IRCs which are stamped in the right-hand box. Formally speaking, this means that they have already been cashed in. Hence, they have no value any longer, no matter how fresh they look or whatever you try to tell the cashier at the post office". This article by Rolf T. Salme, SM5MX, sent me to my QSL folder and, lo and behold, the IRCs I had remaining were all stamped in the right-hand corner. I now know why a lot of my cards have not been returned. The bottom line here is that the postal clerks are not always sure where to stamp the IRCs since they don't read French. The left-hand block is the point of origin. I guess we have to educate the clerks and make sure what we buy and send to our DX friends are usable. By the way, if you haven't ready this article, you will find a lot more good hints in it.

This morning's newspaper brought good news about the Voice of America Site "C". The headline "Feds approve city-county application for VOA site, brings closer our dreams of a permanent home for the club. It may still take several years, but everything is on track. Just think! a place to hold meetings, classes, exercises, and a host of other activities. With such a large area available, we could even have the boy scouts camp out on JOTA weekend. What a publicity feat that would be.

During the BARC January meeting we chose the topics for the classes which follow our meetings for the next six months. After the meeting, some of us informally discussed a pre-meeting code class. We will make our first effort at the February meeting (from 1900-1930), the speed will be determined by the attendees. This opens up several other opportunities such as upgrade classes to General and Advanced. Most of us would not care to stay later but, would be willing to come a half hour earlier for a group session. We can conduct several sessions simultaneously if there is enough interest. Here is your chance to get help on that upgrade. What's holding you back now?

This is your club. Please don't hesitate to talk with me or any one of the board members and let us know what you want. We represent you, not just ourselves.

The Pitt County ARES was added to the BARC Internet site in January. A short description of the ARES and a list of officials are on the home page. The officials that have email addresses have links to their addresses.

A link is provided to a Net Control Station Format for calling ARES nets. The ARES Net meets every Monday night at 9 PM on the W4GDF repeater. The frequency is 147.09 MHz output and 147.69 input.

Thanks to Wayne Ross, WD4JPQ, and Byron Highland, KA4KGZ for the assistance. - W4YDY

It looks like that the Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club is going to have another busy year. All members are needed to join in the activities and receive more pleasure and knowledge from Amateur Radio. BARC hopes to participate in several festivals and other community activities. Upgrade license classes are being planned. Interesting programs are planned for the meetings. The May meeting is being worked out now. Plans are for a junk-in-the-trunk and cookout in Farmville. The club plans to visit VOA site C. The Federal Government has approved giving the site to Greenville and Pitt County. Good things are in the works.

The Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club was saddened by the sudden loss of Chuck Tucker, AD4ZJ, in January. He was very active in local Amateur Radio activities and helped anyone that he could with his knowledge. He was one that always wanted everything to go exactly right at VE sessions. He made sure everybody was treated fairly and that regulations were followed as they should be. Two meters in Eastern North Carolina will be a little quieter now with Chuck's voice missing.

I lost another friend at the end of January. Many old timers knew John Sherwood, Jr., W4DRJ, from Cary. He became Silent Key on January 29. When I was in high school and had just had my license for a few months, I stopped to see him in Cary. While in his shack talking to him, he was also in a QSO on CW running about 35 WPM. He carried on the conversation with me and copied CW in his head at the same time. I guess he learned that from his old Navy days in World War II. He was working at the WPTF radio transmitter when I first knew him. He later went with the FAA at RDU in Raleigh and spent two years in the Canal Zone using the call, KZ5MS. His son, John, III, is N4BWO in Charlotte. His wife, Margaret, and daughter, Frances, live in Cary.

If you should see upon the street
A man who walks with dipole feet,
With a train of little pips behind,
He's a radar man with a micro mind.

With microseconds and microwaves,
And microvolts he fills his day,
Thus in the course of time we find
His brain has shrunk to a micro mind.

His eyes give out a neon gleam,
His ears fan out like a radio beam,
As he chews, his molars oscillate,
And his heart pumps blood at a video rate.

This man obtains with passing years,
Infinite impedance between his ears.
At last he succumbs to a heavy jolt,
When he gets what he thinks is a microvolt.

The Doc looks up from his microscope,
And says to his nurse, behold this dope,
No trace of brain cell can I find.
He's a radar man with a micro mind.

(As a former FAA radar technician, the above is printed without comment and no smart remarks expected!) - W4YDY

Well, the holidays are over and I hope each and everyone of you and your families had a very nice Christmas and New Years. Now we can look forward to the coming year and whatever it might bring our way regarding emergency communications.

I want to announce the following new appointments for the NC ARES Organization which are effective February 1, 1998:

From Forsyth Co. EC to Area 9 DEC is Dave Flemming, KE4JHJ. New Forsyth Co. EC is Jim Curran, KF4KYD. Both of these Amateurs are active on the THEN (3923 kHz each night at 7:30 PM) and I invite all of you to join the net and congratulate these Hams for agreeing to serve the NC ARES Organization in their respective locations.

Just as an update the following appointees have successfully completed the EC Training and Certification Course: Gene Scarborough-W4YBQ Alamance Co. EC; Dennis Bell-KD4RYE NC Western Branch ASEC; Gary Covington-AE4NN Davidson Co. EC; Bill Edwards-AE4GA Western Area 11 DEC;Ed Zane-N2JLE Haywood Co. EC.

Big congratulations go to each of these Hams for going the extra mile and completing the ECT & CC program. As you should know, Reed and I are looking for each ASEC, DEC, and EC to complete this course. There is a wealth of info that can be gained by each Ham that does participate in this Training Course as well as a Certification Sticker which can be added to your Certificate. If you do not have a current Certificate please let me (k4mpj@aol.com) or Reed, NC Section Manager, AB4W, (ab4w@arrl.org) know.

As all of you should know, the SET deadline has come and gone and I hope that all Amateurs responsible for submitting their SET scores have done so. It will be a little while before we find out the results. From the activity that was reported on different frequencies, we should have had a fairly good 1997. However, as with anything like the SET, the job is not done until the the paper work is completed.

Therefore, if all of the SET reports were not turned into the League, then the paper work was not done, and we will not look as good as we should when the final results are tabulated. I do, sincerely, want to thank each of you who participated in any SET operation and hope that you did receive some useful training that can be used in any emergency when needed in our State or surrounding areas.

Please REMEMBER that by continually training, YOU can BE PREPARED for the time that our abilities are needed to provide the necessary emergency communications that we, as Amateur Radio Operators, are know for providing, when and where needed.

The Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club welcomed two new members at the January club meeting. They are Stephen H. Cullipher, KF4VHI, Farmville and Jim Smith, KF4VHH, Winterville.

They completed the recent BARC Amateur Radio classes and passed their exams in December. - W4YDY

Exams will be held at JC Penny conference room, Golden East Crossing Mall, NC Hwy 43 and US 301, Rocky Mount NC. Please use the catalog pick up entrance. Exams will start promptly at 9 AM.

Contact Bill Thomas N2BT
VE Team Coordinator
652 Short Spoon Circle
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
wpthomas@MCI2000.com

If W1AW's 20-meter signal has sounded especially robust in the past couple of weeks, you can thank the generosity of manufacturers and lots of hard work on the part of the W1AW and the ARRL Lab staffs. As a first step in upgrading and replacing some of its aging station components, W1AW has purchased and installed a new Ten-Tec OMNI VI Plus transceiver and a custom-built Command Technologies single-band, three-tube, grounded-grid linear amplifier. Eimac donated the three 3CX800A7 power amplifier tubes for the Command amp. With help from other Headquarters staffers, W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, installed the new gear during January to replace the older Harris commercial transceiver and amplifier used to air W1AW code practice and bulletin transmissions on 20 meters. Carcia praised both manufacturers for going the extra mile. "Ten-Tec modified our OMNI VI Plus by installing additional crystal ovens," he explained. "The result is a clean and very stable signal." Carcia said Command Technologies had to redesign its HF-2500E 5 kW linear, normally a desk top unit, so it would fit easily in the W1AW equipment racks. The RF deck was modified to allow a maximum of 1500 W output. The unit also has overdrive protection to ensure longer tube life. Earlier this year, the station also installed two new MFJ-812B VHF SWR/wattmeters, donated by MFJ, plus a new two-meter bulletin transmitter--a Kendecom MT-4 repeater transmitter. - via ARRL Letter Online, 1/30/98

The FCC in Gettysburg reports it has run all vanity applications received through December 22, 1997. All work in process (WIPs) also has been processed. The FCC granted 174 new call signs on January 22.--FCC - via ARRL Letter Online, 1/30/98

4. December Meeting Minutes per motion of Gary Gasperini, KU4NQ, 2nd by Lily Fainter, KE4UGD and approved by group as published in the Ham Chatter.

B. Secretary's Report by Juanita Humbles, KE4JWK: See Newsletters. The Club received a letter from Ed Petrie asking for advice on antennas for his location and is interested in upgrading to General if there will be a class held by BARC. The annual BARC Dues are due. Please fill out the applications for updates when paying dues. Red Dots will be placed on the labels of unpaid members at the end of Feb. Members will be dropped before the April Issue of HAM CHATTER is mailed, if dues not paid by the March meeting. Charleston, SC Hamfest set for Feb. 7, 1998. See pre-registration forms if interested.

C. President's Report by Tom, W4TEP looking for interest in new HAM Radio Classes. Next BARC VE Session set for Feb. 20, 1998.

D. VOA Site C - Paul Fletcher, KS4YF awaiting further word on approval for purchase from the Fed. Government, most likely to come in the Spring.

E. Absentee Ballot - Paul, noted Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, Bob Fainter, KE4UGC, and himself to set meeting soon.

H. Special Events Committee: Gary, KU4NQ to head. Looking for individuals to organize each event as follows: JOTA - Tom volunteered; International Festival - Murray Merner, KF4FQB volunteered; Shad, Dogwood, Collard, Watermelon, and Bethel Harvest Festival; ECU Purple and Gold Pigskin Pigout; and QRP. Mac Manning, KD4AFL looking for HAMS to help April 25th with the Teddy Bear Safe Walk for the Community Center. Bernie voiced a Non-Club member HAM asked about putting a HAM Education Booth at the Mall for Public Awareness.

I. Silent Key - No report from Byron Highland, KA4KGZ, James Eubanks, KD4JOV, or Joe Melton, WB4SLF.

J. Instructor Group - Awaiting interest for new 12-week class and anyone wishing serve on group, let Tom know.

K. Field Day - Bernie, WA4MOK, volunteered to be Chairman this year after encouragement from the group present.

L. BARC-ARES Committee was proposed by Paul and approved by the group to associate the two and better emergency communications. Byron to Chair, Paul and Bob to serve thus far on the committee.

A. An error was made at the Christmas Party in that Paul Fletcher, KS4YF did not receive the annual plaque for the 1997 Outgoing President Award. The Plaque has been ordered and will be presented at the next meeting.

B. BARC Brochure - Juanita, KE4JWK to bring in the rough-draft she had created, for the group to review and give ideas to complete it.

C. Recruiting and Training - Having General or Advance classes. Let Tom know of anyone interested.

B. Annual VOA Field Trip - Paul to inquire about possibly going to Site "C" instead of Site "A" this year. Paul, W. R. (Davy) Crockett, WA4MGR, and Rick Niswander, K7GM are on the VOA Site "C" Committee thus far.

8. Other: Mike Langley, KD4MTT asks all ARRL members to please send in your ballots for NC ARRL Section Manager. Mike Cohoon, KB4TOH asking about Linking System and to have a liaison from Pitt Co. for the Net.

11. Tonight's Program: Discussion by the group for possible future Club Programs. Ideas thus far are as follows: WX Training Basic and Advanced, Disaster Training, RF Interference & Safety ( FCC Requirements), Fox Hunt, Antennas, Moon Bounce, Slow Scan TV, Club Contest for number of contacts on various modes, Packet, DX Cluster, DXpedition - Murray Adams, WA4DAN going to the Caribbean Island next week for his latest Contest, Bernie, WA4MOK suggested having a contest on HF Bands to prepare for Field Day and gain good experience.

While conducting a study of sexual behavior, a researcher interviews an amateur radio operator.

Having heard something of the lack of interest in sex among amateur radio enthusiasts, the researcher was sympathetic. "That's an awfully long time!" she says.

"I suppose," says the ham, glancing at his watch, "But it's only twenty-one fifteen now."

New Bern Amateur Radio Club/Eastern NC 220 Association for the WD4JMS & WD4DAN Net, Monday, 2000 on 146.61 and 224.84 MHz

Coastal Emergency Linking Net, Wednesday, 2100 on 145.11 MHz and linked repeaters.

Beaufort County Emergency Communications Net, Thursday 2000 on 147.345 MHz. Preceded by Newsmen at 1930.

Ham Ads will be run, free of charge in Ham Chatter for three months for each renewal. Ads must be received by the last week of the month to be included in the following issue. Send ads to: Ham Chatter, PO Box 8387, Greenville, NC 27835, ATTN: Dave Langley or email to: w4ydy@sprintmail.com

To anyone that can use large capacitors in a High Voltage Power Supply. Two large size GE 15 Ff, 5000 VDC, each.

1) Johnson Viking II HF transmitter with model 122 VFO. All tubes in place, excellent condition, ready to go.

2) Hallicrafters model SX-101A HF receiver. Also excellent condition, ready to go. These radios would make an excellent set for the back-to-the-basics ham, or someone who wants to see what makes a radio work. They'll also keep the shack warm on a chilly winter night! Original owner's manuals for both. I have a couple early AM broadcast radios, too.

TS-830-S with fox tango filters plus outboard VFO (Remote VFO240) and a genuine hand held mike. Comes with original cartons and instruction manual. $ 650.00 plus UPS. Works good. Icom 738. Original carton plus manual. $900.00 plus UPS. Also works good.

For Sale: These items are from the estate of Chuck Tucker, AD4ZJ. The items are all in good condition and the prices are negotiable:

February 10. . . . . . . . Regular Meeting
February 21-22 . . . . . ARRL CW DX Contest
February 20. . . . . . . . BARC VE Session
February 25. . . . . . . . Board Meeting
February 27-Mar. 1 . . CQ WW SSB 160M Contest
February 27-Mar. 1 . . North Carolina QSO Party
March 1 . . . . . . . . . . Ham Chatter Deadline
March 7-8. . . . . . . . . ARRL SSB DX Contest
March 10 . . . . . . . . . Regular Meeting
March 22 . . . . . . . . . Hamfest at Kinston
March 25. . . . . . . . . . Board Meeting
March 28-29 . . . . . . . CQ WW SSB WPX Contest

April 4 . . . . . . Grifton Shad Festival
April 5 . . . . . . Ham Chatter Deadline
April 5 . . . . . . Raleigh Hamfest
April 14 . . . . . Regular Meeting
April 17 . . . . . BARC VE Session
April 18 . . . . . Purple Pigskin Pigout
April 25 . . . . . Farmville Dogwood Festival
April 29 . . . . . Board Meeting
May 2 . . . . . . . International Festival
May 3 . . . . . . . Ham Chatter Deadline
May 12 . . . . . . Reg. Meeting - Farmville Cook Out

BARC 2 METER NET - MONDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00 PM - 147.09 W4GDF REPEATER
PCEC 2 METER NET - MONDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM - 147.09 W4GDF REPEATER
BRIGHTLEAF AMATEUR RADIO CLUB STATION

Meet the Members-Gene Underwood, KE4JZU	February BARC Meeting
President's Corner	Yakkey-Dee-Yak
Attention All Members!!	February BARC Program
Brightleaf ARC Honorary Members	Chuck Tucker, AD4ZJ - SK
Pitt County ARES on the Internet	THE RADAR MAN
North Carolina ARES Announcement	Two New Amateurs Join BARC
Rocky Mount VE Sessions	W1AW Inaugurates New Rig
Vanity update	Busy Hams
	Happy Birthday
BARC Monthly Minutes	Nets
Ham Ads	Calendar of Events
Return to Ham Chatter Menu	Return to BARC Home Page

Ham Chatter Editor - Dave Langley, W4YDY
w4ydy @arrl.net
(No spaces in email address)

Contents

An Official B. A. R. C., W4AMC, Publication

Content of this Newsletter by other writers is not necessarily the opinion of W4YDY

If there is any content that is objectionable, please EMAIL me immediately!

1	KE4JWK	Juanita Humbles
9	W4GDF	Heber Adams
15	KE4JZU	Gene Underwood
17		Maryanne Fletcher
18	KE4JZV	Lynn Ross
20	KE4UGG	Michael Metcalf

Ham Chatter Editor - Dave Langley, W4YDY w4ydy @arrl.net (No spaces in email address)

Contents

An Official B. A. R. C., W4AMC, Publication

Content of this Newsletter by other writers is not necessarily the opinion of W4YDY

If there is any content that is objectionable, please EMAIL me immediately!

Ham Chatter Editor - Dave Langley, W4YDY
w4ydy @arrl.net
(No spaces in email address)