Website Updates: March 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Dale's Tales for April 2017 has just been published..

Hi Gang,

Just wanted to let you all know that I just published the April Edition of Dale's Tales..

Go take a look.. >> Click Here <<

73,

Scott, N8SY..

The Ohio Section News Update – March 31st Edition

Inside..

- FirstNet Project

- ARES Leadership Conference

- NIMS / ICS

- Handbook Give-Away

- NORC net

- Getting this Newsletter

- We’ve Gotten New Bands to Operate On

- My Final

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FirstNet Project

The United States Government is going to award AT&T with FirstNet Project – it’s a $6.5 billion deal with AT&T to build a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders, a project that was proposed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks but has struggled to get off the ground.

The decision is a major step forward for FirstNet, as the program is called. A nationwide wireless broadband network that police, fire and other first responders could use exclusively during an emergency was one of dozens of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission in 2004. Currently, first responders share wireless networks with regular customers, meaning communications can get clogged due to network congestion during an emergency.

Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the 25-year contract to AT&T and its partners, which include Motorola Solutions, according to people familiar with the matter.

We're going to make history building America's first nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety.

Working with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), AT&T will build and manage a network that will strengthen and modernize public safety's communications capabilities, enabling them to operate faster, more safely and more effectively when lives are on the line.

Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO, said, "We are honored to work with FirstNet to build a network for America's police, firefighters and EMS personnel that is second to none. This is an unprecedented public-private investment in infrastructure that makes America a leader and public safety a national priority."

AT&T will work with FirstNet to deliver a dedicated, interoperable network and ecosystem that will cover all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, including rural communities and tribal lands in those states and territories.

The network will help improve communications among members of the public safety community. And that's something that everyone – first responders, employees, customers, shareholders, and even those who don't do business with us – can benefit from during an emergency.

Our work on FirstNet is expected to create 10,000 U.S. jobs across our company and contractors over the next two years. The network buildout will begin later this year.

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ARRL Ohio ARES Leadership Conference

The 2017 Ohio ARES Leadership Meeting is being held on April 01, 2017 at the Marion Technical College / OSU - Marion Campus, 1467 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Marion. Check-in is at 8am. Folks, that’s this coming Saturday!!. This conference is open to anyone and everyone that is interested in emergency communications and the Ohio ARES program. We do ask that you register so that we know just how many to plan for.. The conference room as electrical hookups for your laptop or tablets and there’s very comfortable seating provided as well.

You won’t be sorry that you came and spent the day!! Here’s where to register..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/form.html

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NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers are growing for sure! Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members in the database 701. Members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 491. Total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database 4628, Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html

During a recent conversation, it was mentioned that some folks in border counties in Ohio may be registered in our surrounding Section ARES programs (Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania or Michigan) and that these other Section’s may not require the 4 basic courses for ARES membership as Ohio does. Please take note, it IS a requirement for membership the Ohio ARES, and you still need to get these courses in, and copies of your certificates to your Ohio County E.C. and to me, regardless of another Section’s requirements.

Also, for those outside of Ohio in the bordering states, if you have these 4 courses in, please feel free to send me copies of your 4 certificates and we’ll be very happy to get them entered into our database as well. Please make sure that you have your call sign either in the email or as part of the file name on the certificate.

For those just starting out, we have a webpage with all the information about how to get started.. http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/training.html. This page contains a lot of information about what is needed. Each course takes about an hour or so to take, that’s really not much to ask now is it? You spent way more than that to get your Amateur Radio operators license!

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Handbook Give-Away

Have you gotten registered for the “Handbook Giveaway” drawing yet, tonight is it! That’s right, April 1^st is tomorrow!

To enter the drawing all you need to do is fill in a couple of boxes on the form.. (your name and email). That’s you need to do to be entered into a drawing to win a 2016 ARRL softcover Handbook. There’s nothing else required (Oh.. You do need to be a resident of Ohio to win..)

The winner will be mailed the Handbook at my cost. This is being offered just to see how many folks are really checking in on the website. Got the idea? Best of luck to you!!

Here’s a link to the form.. http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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NORC Net

(from Dan Stahl, Seneca County EMA)

The Northwest Ohio Regional Communications or “NORC Net” is designed to provide backup emergency communications between the 18 County Emergency Operation Centers in Northwest Ohio. Check-ins from the County EOC’s are encouraged, but all check-ins are welcome on this net.

Ohio Counties in the NORC area, almost the same footprint as Ohio ARES District 1 & 2, are: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams and Wood, and recently there have been 2 additions to ARES District 1, Hardin and Wyandot. We want to include them in this net too.

The net will be begin on 3.915 +/- Once we’ve got all the check-ins that we can get there, they we will switch over to 7.215 +/- and get all the check-ins there as well.. This net is generally held monthly on the 1st Saturday of the month at 11:00 AM.

Let’s have some fun, let’s get everyone that can get on this net!

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Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

Heck, just send me an email: n8sy@n8sy.com and let me know that you want to be added. It’s really just that easy. Please, if you know of anyone that would be interested in this information, feel free to pass it on to them. You don’t have to be an ARRL member or even a ham to receive these emails.

You are always free to “Opt-Out” at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting. Just send me an email with the email address that you used to opt-in on, and you will be removed. It’s that simple.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it. http://arrlohio.org

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New Bands! FCC Issues Amateur Radio Service Rules for 630 Meters and 2,200 Meters

(from the ARRL Bulletins)

[CORRECTED to UPDATE information on effective date: 2017-03-31 @ 1315 UTC] It’s been a long time coming, but the Amateur Service will get two new bands in the near future. The FCC on March 28 adopted rules that will allow secondary Amateur Radio access to 472-479 kHz (630 meters) and to 135.7-137.8 kHz (2,200 meters), with minor conditions. The FCC Report and Order (R&O) spells out the details. It allocates 472-479 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis and amends Part 97 to provide for Amateur Service use of that band as well as of the previously allocated 135.7-137.8 kHz band. The R&O also amends Part 80 rules to authorize radio buoy operations in the 1900-2000 kHz band under a ship station license. Just when the new Part 97 rules will go into effect is difficult to determine just yet; more on that below.

Here are the highlights:

Amateurs operating on 472-479 kHz will be permitted a maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of 5 W, except in parts of Alaska within 800 kilometers (approximately 496 miles) of Russia, where the maximum would be 1 W EIRP. [EIRP is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and the antenna gain in a given direction, relative to an isotropic antenna (absolute or isotropic gain). EIRP is equal to ERP multiplied by 1.64.]

Amateurs operating in the 135.7-137.8 kHz band will be permitted to run up to 1 W EIRP.

The FCC is requiring a 1-kilometer separation distance between radio amateurs using the two new bands and electric power transmission lines with PLC systems on those bands. Amateur Radio operators will have to notify the UTC of station location prior to commencing operations.The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will provide details on the notification process later, but ARRL is urging radio amateurs interested in operating on either band to register at the earliest opportunity, to avoid having to protect any “post-notification” PLCs.

The FCC placed a 60-meter (approximately 197 feet) above-ground-level (AGL) height limit on transmitting antennas used on 630 meters and 2,200 meters.

The bands would be available to General class and higher licensees, and permissible modes would include CW, RTTY, data, phone, and image. Automatically controlled stations would be permitted to operate in the bands.

In an unrelated action, the FCC allocated 1,900-2,000 kHz to the maritime mobile service (MMS) on a primary basis for non-Federal use in ITU Regions 2 and 3, and limited the use of this allocation to radio buoys on the open sea and the Great Lakes.

Amateur Radio was upgraded from secondary to primary in the 1900-2000 kHz segment in 2015. The FCC said it believes Amateur Radio and radio buoys “can continue to share this frequency band as they have done for many years.” It declined to make additional spectrum available for radio buoy use.

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My Final..

Today is March 31, it’s National Tater Day! It’s also TGI Friday, the last day of the week, and anything after 4pm is considered the weekend!! Now, go and have FUN this weekend!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

The Ohio Section News Update – March 29th Edition

Inside..

- Weekly Wednesday Nets

- ARES Leadership Conference

- NIMS / ICS

- State Parks On the Air

- Handbook Give-Away

- Survey Question

- Getting this Newsletter

- My Final

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Weekly Wednesday Nets

Hey gang, don’t forget to check-in on the weekly Wednesday night DMR net tonight, there are averaging around 60 check-ins each week, and it’s really growing in popularity for sure. Come join in on the fun, Wednesday nights at 8:30p local on the 3139 Ohio statewide Talkgroup.

Want to know more about DMR? Here’s a link. http://arrl-ohio.org/digital/digital.html

I’ve also got some new information about some 6-meter nets too..

>> LOCAL 6 METER NETS <<

(from Steve, W8TER)

Wednesdays at 9:00 pm

1st Wednesday of the month is on 50.400 AM mode.

2nd Wednesday of the month is on 52.525 FM mode.

3rd Wednesday of the month is on 50.125 USB mode.

4th Wednesday of the month is on 52.525 FM mode.

5th Wednesday of the month is on 52.525 FM mode.

PLEASE JOIN US…on the air

There is also a 6 meter net on Thursday at 9pm on 50.255 USB

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ARRL Ohio ARES Leadership Conference

You won’t be sorry that you came and spent the day!! Here’s where to register..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/form.html

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NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers are growing for sure! Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members in the database 699. Members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 488. Total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database 4620, Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html

Why are these courses so important? The simple answer is this - without these courses, you are not trained! Without the training, you can’t be used! Now, I’m not going to kid you.. These courses are just the beginning of your training. These 4 courses are the BASICS only, but they are extremely important to me and to your Emergency Coordinator.

Here’s where you can get all of this information http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/training.html. This page contains a lot of information about what is needed. Each course takes about an hour or so to take, that’s really not much to ask now is it? You spent way more than that to get your Amateur Radio operators license!

I also highly recommend that you get used to looking at the Ohio Section Website.. http://arrl-ohio.org as it changes all the time. You’ll also want to visit the Ohio Section Emergency Coordinators page frequently too http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/default.html

By the way.. When submitting copies of your certificates to us, please don’t forget to include your call sign!!

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State Parks on the Air

(from John, KD8MQ and PCARS)

There's some interesting stuff happening in the State Parks On the air world.

First of all, the inaugural Florida State Parks On The Air Operating Event is coming up this weekend. You can learn all about it on their website at https://flspota.org/

Next on the list is the Michigan State Parks On The Air; a 3 year operating event that kicks off on Saturday. You can read all about it at http://www.mspota.org/

And, finally, on April 8th & 9th, is Texas State Parks On The Air. You can learn more about it at http://www.tspota.org/ (Ignore the annoying rotating globe on the page, HI HI)

And there's more coming. Don't forget that this year is the 10th anniversary of the grand-daddy of them all; OSPOTA!

73 all, and have fun out there!

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Handbook Give-Away

Have you gotten registered for the “Handbook Giveaway” drawing yet, you only have until Friday night! That’s right, April 1^st is this coming Saturday!

The winner will be mailed the Handbook at my cost. This is being offered just to see how many folks are really checking in on the website. Got the idea? Best of luck to you!!

Here’s a link to the form.. http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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Survey Question

Hey Gang,

Have you checked out the Newest Survey question on the website?. There is another brand new question up there! You’ll find it on the left side of the main page.. http://arrlohio.org Don’t forget, once you’ve voted to go back and take a look at how your answer stacks up with everyone elses..!!

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Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it. http://arrlohio.org

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My Final..

Today is March 29th, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, be sure to give thanks to a veteran for his service.

Now, go and have FUN today!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

Monday, March 27, 2017

The Ohio Section News Update – March 27th Edition

Inside..

- NVIS Research Paper

- ARES Leadership Conference

- NIMS / ICS

- Handbook Give-Away

- Survey Question

- Getting this Newsletter

- My Final

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NVIS Research Paper Available

(from ARRL Bulletin)

A thorough and fully annotated discussion of Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) is available in the research paper, “Radio Communication via Near Vertical Incidence Skywave Propagation: An Overview,” by Ben A. Witvliet, PE5B/5R8DS, and Rosa Ma Alsina-Pagès.

First investigated in the 1920s, NVIS propagation was rediscovered during World War II as “an essential means to establish communications in large war zones such as the D-Day invasion in Normandy,” the paper notes, adding that the US Army subsequently sponsored a lot of NVIS field research, especially between 1966 and 1973. More recently, NVIS has become a popular means to enable close-in communication on Amateur Radio HF bands between 3 and 10 MHZ. NVIS can be used for radio communication in a large area (200-kilometer radius) without any intermediate manmade infrastructure, and it has been found to be especially suited for disaster relief communication, among other applications, according to the paper.

“A comprehensive overview of NVIS research is given, covering propagation, antennas, diversity, modulation, and coding,” the Abstract explains. “Both the bigger picture and the important details are given, as well as the relation between them.” As the paper describes it, in NVIS propagation, electromagnetic waves are sent nearly vertically toward the ionosphere, and, with appropriate frequency selection, these waves are reflected back to Earth.

In case the link for the research paper gets broken..

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11235-017-0287-2

PS.. Ohio’s NVIS antenna day is scheduled for April 22. In addition to 40 and 80 meters, we want to add 160 and 60 meters (a good 160 antenna should also operate on 60). With the band conditions in the trash, we need to work up alternative bands and plans to maintain communications across the state! These new bands should make for some interesting antenna construction projects, so get your teams busy!!

Want more information on how to make a NVIS Antenna? Here’s a link.. http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/nvis.html

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ARRL Ohio ARES Leadership Conference

You won’t be sorry that you came and spent the day!! Here’s where to register..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/form.html

************

NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers are growing for sure! Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members in the database 697. Members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 481. Total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database 4609, Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list..

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html

By the way.. When submitting copies of your certificates to us, please don’t forget to include your call sign!!

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Handbook Give-Away

Have you gotten registered for the “Handbook Giveaway” drawing yet, you only have until the end of this week! That’s right, April 1^st is this coming Saturday!

The winner will be mailed the Handbook at my cost. This is being offered just to see how many folks are really checking in on the website. Got the idea? Best of luck to you!!

Here’s a link to the form.. http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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Survey Question

Hey Gang,

Have you checked out the Newest Survey question on the website?. There is a brand new question up there! You’ll find it on the left side of the main page.. http://arrlohio.org Don’t forget, once you’ve voted to go back and take a look at how your answer stacks up with everyone elses..!!

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Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

You can always “Opt-Out” at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it. http://arrlohio.org

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My Final.. On this day in 1884 the first long-distance telephone call was made from Boston to New York. In 1958 CBS Labs announce new stereophonic records. Wow.. It just took off from there..

Now that you have some fun facts for water cooler, go and HAVE FUN!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

Friday, March 24, 2017

The Ohio Section News Update – March 24th Edition

Inside..

- AM Rally Coming

- ARES Leadership Conference

- NIMS / ICS

- Handbook GiveAway

- Survey Question

- Getting this Newsletter

- Upcoming Hamfests

- My Final

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AM Rally on April 1-3 Weekend an Opportunity to Try a Vintage Mode

(from ARRL Bulletins)

If you’re not familiar with full-carrier amplitude modulation (AM) or have never used it on the air, you’ll have a chance during the AM Rally during the April 1-2 weekend, on the bands between 160 and 10 meters (except 30, 17, and 12 meters) plus 6 meters.

Once the primary voice mode on the ham bands, AM eventually gave way to SSB, a form of AM. Yet AM has remained popular among dedicated radio amateurs who consider it their primary operating mode. Many modern transceivers include an AM button.

“Whether your rig is software defined, solid state, vacuum tube, hybrid, homebrew or broadcast surplus, you’ll be a welcome part of the AM Rally,” said Clark Burgard, N1BCG, who is spearheading the event with Steve Cloutier, WA1QIX, and Brian Kress, KB3WFV.

The AM Rally starts on Saturday, April 1 at 0000 UTC (Friday, March 31, in US time zones) and concludes at 0000 UTC on Monday, April 3. Certificates will be awarded to high-scoring stations in each of five power classes, both for most contacts and most states/provinces worked.

The AM Rally website has full details.

In case the links get stripped.. Here’s where to find the AM Rally http://www.amrally.com/

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ARRL Ohio ARES Leadership Conference

The 2017 Ohio ARES Leadership Meeting is being held on April 01, 2017 at the Marion Technical College / OSU - Marion Campus, 1467 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Marion. Check-in is at 8am. This conference is open to anyone and everyone that is interested in emergency communications and the Ohio ARES program. We do ask that you register so that we know just how many to plan for.. The conference room as electrical hookups for your laptop or tablets and there’s very comfortable seating provided as well.

You won’t be sorry that you came and spent the day!! Here’s where to register.. http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/form.html

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NIMS / ICS Training

Hey Gang, The numbers just keep growing, and that’s absolutely fantastic! Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members in the database 694. Members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 478. Total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database 4593, Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list.. http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html

By the way.. When submitting copies of your certificates to us, please don’t forget to include your call sign!!

************

Handbook GiveAway

Have you gotten registered for the “Handbook Giveaway” drawing yet? Well, if you haven’t it’s time you do.

The winner will be mailed the Handbook at my cost. This is being offered just to see how many folks are really checking in on the website. Got the idea? Best of luck to you!!

Here’s a link to the form.. http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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Survey Question

Hey Gang,

Have you checked out the Survey question on the website yet?. This one will have you doing an inventory in your shack for sure! You’ll find it on the left side of the main page.. http://arrlohio.org Don’t forget, once you’ve voted to go back and take a look at how your answer stacks up with everyone elses..!!

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Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

You can always “Opt-Out” at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it. http://arrlohio.org

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Upcoming Hamfests

April

04/01/2017 | Portsmouth Radio Club Hamfest

Location: Portsmouth , OH
Sponsor: Portsmouth Radio Club

04/08/2017 | CFARC 63rd Annual Hamfest
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Sponsor: Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cfarc.org/hamfest.php

04/29/2017 | Jackson County Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Location: Jackson, OH
Sponsor: Jackson County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://jacksoncountyarc.org/page3.html

04/30/2017 | Athens Hamfest
Location: Athens, OH
Sponsor: Athens County Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://ac-ara.org/

Want the full list of ARRL Ohio Hamfests..

Go to: http://arrl-ohio.org/hamfests.html

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My Final.. It’s TGI FRIDAY!!

Relax this weekend, and definitely have FUN!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..