The Ohio Section News Update – April 28th Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- Handbook Give Away

- NVIS Day

- Winlink Net

- Getting this Newsletter

- Field Day

- Upcoming Hamfests

- Contests this Weekend

- New Survey Question

- My Final    

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

NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers are growing! Ohio ARES folks realize that they need to be properly trained, and you don’t get that by just being a bystander or having an HT in your hand! It takes some additional effort on your part! Having these numbers grow every day proves that we are doing this for the right reasons. We need these courses, and we need to continue our education. It doesn’t stop just because we got our Amateur Radio license. In fact, it just starts there! Stan and I have added a new wrinkle to all of this just this past week. We have joined with Ohio Responds. Now by doing this we have an obligation to fulfil a requirement of theirs, which is to have these 4 courses in. Now, what is Ohio Responds you ask? And how does this affect me? Stan and I will dive into that subject a little later. But know this, it will definitely have a great benefit for the Ohio Section, and YOU!!

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Total amount of active members in the database is 711. The total amount of members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 511 and the total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database is 4777. We’re now over the 500 mark, but that’s only about a third of the Ohio ARES membership. Now the push is on to get all the others to join in as well.

Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list. This list is being updated pretty regular, so if you don’t see you name on it, and you have just submitted your certificates, please be patient.   

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

Now, I want to talk to the folks in border counties of Ohio, you may be registered in our other surrounding Section ARES programs (Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania or Michigan) and that’s ok.. They may, or may not  require the 4 basic courses for ARES membership, BUT Ohio does! Please send me, and your EC, copies of your certificates, 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!

Now here’s a link that Ed, KE8ANU found that breaks it all down for you as to what the classes are:

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials.htm     Thanks Ed..!!

And here’s an additional link to the FEMA First Responder Catalog  www.firstrespondertraining.gov  Thanks Michael, N8QHV

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

Handbook Give Away

 

Have you seen that the NEWEST “Handbook Giveaway” drawing on the website yet? Time is running short. The contest ends at the end of the month, so if you haven’t entered yet, you don’t have much time!

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 2017 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 get registered..  http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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

NVIS Day

Hey Gang,

 

Did your club or group do NIVS Day this past weekend? If so, did anyone take pictures of your setup? Please, send all the pictures you can to me so that I can get them added to our growing collection of “Hams In Action”. Also.. it’s time to start looking for a photographer for Field Day as well. Yes folks, I want all the pictures that you can send me from Field Day as well.  Send them to:  n8sy@n8sy.com 

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

Winlink Net

Every week operators in Hamilton Co are encouraged to send a message via Winlink to each other. Now, we would like to encourage Winlink use state-wide.

I would like to start by creating a list of ARES Winlink users in Ohio. Send a Winlink message to KC8EGV and I'll add you to the list. At least once a week I'll send a general message out to the list to give everyone practice. We'll start with plain text formatted messages and hopefully move up to forms.

So if you use Winlink (or want to give it a try) send a message to me via Winlink. It does not matter if you use a local gateway, HF or telnet to get started. Actually, Telnet is a good way to get used to the software without having to interface with a radio.

I hope to get a message from you soon. For more information, please contact me at: hoffgroup@gmail.com

73,

Bryan - KC8EGV

Hamilton Co EC

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

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

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

Field Day

Hey Gang,

I know that a lot of you are already deep into planning your Field Day activities as well as getting everything ready for that big weekend, well I have some additional goodies for you.. I have the Ohio Governor’s Proclamation posted on the website.. Thanks to our State Government Liaison, Bob Winston, W2THU we have it and it’s posted on the website.

There’s also a suggested Press Release there as well as a lot of other information about Field Day too.  Go take a look:  http://arrl-ohio.org/FD_Message.html

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

Upcoming Hamfests

April

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/

May

05/19/2017 | Ohio State Convention (2017 Dayton Hamvention)
Location: Xenia, OH
Sponsor: Dayton Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://www.hamvention.org 

By the way..  Did you know that you can see all of the upcoming hamfests by just a click of a link?

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

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

Contests this weekend

Feld Hell Sprint         

10-10 Int. Spring Contest, Digital     

Helvetia Contest        

Florida QSO Party     

AGCW QRP/QRP Party

Want more information on the above contests, or any that are coming up? You can find it all on the Ohio Section website:  http://arrl-ohio.org/sm/sec-info.html   Just scroll down to Contest & DX area.

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

 

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..!!

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

My Final..    

Today is April 28th and it’s FRIDAY!!! And, it’s National Arbor Day. Go and plant a tree!! That way you can hang your dipole from it in about 20 years from now!!

Amateur Radio has its serious side, but it can also have a FUN side too.. So, as we go through our training and exercises learning from our past and learning from those who are willing to take the time to teach us, let’s remember to have FUN too.. It’s what keeps us alive and vibrant..!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

The Ohio Section News Update – April 26th Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- Emergency Communications

- Grand Prize Winner at Portsmouth Hamfest

- Weekly Nets of Interest

- Getting this Newsletter

- Handbook Give Away

- NVIS Day

- Field Day

- My Final    

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

NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers just keep growing! WHY? Well, the answer is simple, our Ohio ARES folks realize that they need to be properly trained, and you don’t get that by just being a bystander or having an HT in your hand! It takes some effort on your end and our folks are showing very clearly that they will make that effort count! Just having these numbers grow every day proves that we are doing the right thing for the right reasons. We need these courses, and we need to continue our education. It doesn’t stop just because we got our Amateur Radio license.

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Total amount of members in the database is 724. The total amount of members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 508 and the total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database is 4778. We’re now over the 500 mark, but that’s only about a third of the Ohio ARES membership. Now the push is on to get all the others to join in as well.

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 

Now, for the folks in border counties of Ohio, you may be registered in our other surrounding Section ARES programs (Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania or Michigan) and that’s ok.. They may, or may not  require the 4 basic courses for ARES membership, BUT Ohio does! Please send me, and your EC, copies of your certificates, 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!

Now here’s a link that Ed, KE8ANU found that breaks it all down for you as to what the classes are:

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials.htm     Thanks Ed..!!

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

Emergency Communications Driving Increase in Amateur Radio Operators

Hams standing by and ready to help during disasters or other events.

BY JAMES CARELESS / APRIL 11, 2017  Emergency Management Magazine

More Americans than ever have been licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as Amateur Radio operators, and those in the know say that emergency communications is driving their passion to be “hams.”

“There has been a tremendous amount of interest in emergency preparedness since 9/11 and Katrina, and this is true for the Amateur Radio community as well,” said Mike Corey, the emergency preparedness manager for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). “Emergency communications is a gateway into Amateur Radio, and many join our ranks through an interest in being better prepared themselves and as a way to serve their community.”

The public’s growing interest in amateur radio for emergency communications is a legacy of 9/11, when Americans saw their cellular telephone networks become overwhelmed by excess traffic and system outages. When regular phone service fails, Amateur Radio operators fill the communications gap with their independent transceivers and battery power backups.

Amateur Radio operators played a substantial role in restoring vital communications links in the wake of 9/11, hurricanes, tornadoes and other major disasters that have affected the United States. They assist in directing first responders to victims, providing real-time situational updates from the disaster scene to emergency management agencies, and offering victims a way to contact their families and friends when normal communications channels have failed.

“Generally, Amateur Radio operators assist other organizations and agencies by adding communications capacity when normal means of communications are down or overloaded,” Corey said. “Amateurs work with local emergency management, first responders, hospitals, National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center and VOADs [Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters] and the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Many also use amateur radio as part of their own family communications plan and use the skills they learn as amateurs to assist neighbors during emergencies and disasters.”

Emergency managers have taken note the usefulness of amateur radio operators during manmade and natural disasters — and many have ongoing relationships with their local ham communities. This includes assigning Amateur Radio operators specific roles within each agency’s emergency response plan, and even setting space aside for hams in their EOCs.

This is certainly the case in Colorado. In 2016, the state Legislature officially designated qualified hams as members of Colorado’s new Auxiliary Emergency Communications Unit, under the authority of the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in the Department of Public Safety.

As a result of this new law, Colorado ARES teams are now part of their state’s emergency management team, with their own roles with their state’s emergency management plans and facilities.

It is worth noting that hams also aid emergency managers in less dire situations. For instance, “throughout the United States, amateurs assist the National Weather Service’s SKYWARN program in providing ground truth reports during severe weather events,” Corey said. All told, the growing number of Amateur Radio operators in the U.S. are self-funding, fully equipped communicators, many of whom want to support local emergency managers and first responders any way they can.

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

Grand Prize Winner from the Portsmouth ARC Hamfest

We want to thank all of you for your warm welcome at each of the Hamfests we attended and sold a chance to win a Yaesu FT-991 transceiver at. I am so glad to announce our grand prize winner was KW8GNU, Shawn Garrett from Columbus Ohio. Thanks to all that purchased tickets for a chance to win.

Gary Caldwell, WX8G

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

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

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

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.

There’s also the North American Tech Net that meets Wednesday 9pm EST TG: 3 and of course there’s the  After HamNation Net  following the HamNation program on Wednesday’s on TG: 311

Want to know more about DMR? Here’s a link. 

http://arrl-ohio.org/digital/digital.html

Here’s another DMR net that you may not have known about. I got this information from Dave, KD8BQN. Dave runs the TAC310 net every Sunday on DMR at 0000Z. So be looking to check into that net as well, if you can.

>>  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

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

Handbook Give Away

 

Have you seen that the NEWEST “Handbook Giveaway” drawing on the website yet? 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 2017 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 get registered..  http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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

NVIS Day

Hey Gang,

Did your club or group do NIVS Day this past weekend? If so, did anyone take pictures of your setup? Please, send all the pictures you can to me so that I can get them added to our growing collection of “Hams In Action”. Also.. it’s time to start looking for a photographer for Field Day as well. Yes folks, I want all the pictures that you can send me from Field Day as well.  Send them to:  n8sy@n8sy.com 

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

Field Day

Hey Gang,

I know that a lot of you are already deep into planning your Field Day activities as well as getting everything ready for that big weekend, well I have some additional goodies for you.. I have the Ohio Governor’s Proclamation posted on the website.. Thanks to our State Government Liaison, Bob Winston, W2THU we have it and it’s posted on the website.

There’s also a suggested Press Release there as well as a lot of other information about Field Day too.  Go take a look:  http://arrl-ohio.org/FD_Message.html

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

My Final..    

Today is April 26th and it’s HUMP Day!!! It’s also Pretzel Day. Are you a lover of a soft or hard pretzel. Either way, today is the day to celebrate.

Amateur Radio has its serious side, but it can also have a FUN side too.. So, as we go through our training and exercises learning from our past and learning from those who are willing to take the time to teach us, let’s remember to have FUN too.. It’s what keeps us alive and vibrant..!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

The Ohio Section News Update – April 24th Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- News Flash

- Getting this Newsletter

- New Survey Question

- Handbook Give Away

- NVIS Day

- Field Day

- My Final    

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

NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers just keep growing! WHY? Well, the answer is simple, our Ohio ARES folks realize that they need to be properly trained, and you don’t get that by just being a bystander or having an HT in your hand! It takes some effort on your end and our folks are showing very clearly that they will make that effort count! Just having these numbers grow every day proves that we are doing the right thing for the right reasons. We need these courses, and we need to continue our education. It doesn’t stop just because we got our Amateur Radio license.

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Total amount of members in the database is 723. The total amount of members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 507 and the total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database is 4765. We’re now over the 500 mark, but that’s only about a third of the Ohio ARES membership. Now the push is on to get all the others to join in as well.

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 

Now, for the folks in border counties of Ohio, you may be registered in our other surrounding Section ARES programs (Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania or Michigan) and that’s ok.. They may, or may not  require the 4 basic courses for ARES membership, BUT Ohio does! Please send me, and your EC, copies of your certificates, 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!

Now here’s a link that Ed, KE8ANU found that breaks it all down for you as to what the classes are:

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials.htm     Thanks Ed..!!

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

NEWS Flash!!

Here’s a teaser news flash for you..  This past Friday Stan and I met with Rhonda Meggitt from the Ohio EMA.. Our topic of discussion was the ARRL Ohio ARES joining forces with Ohio Responds. I won’t let the cat out of the bag on the details, I’ll let Stan fill you all in on them later, in another message. What I will say is that we had a great meeting and we have decided to join in with Ohio Responds.

Stan will have more details about all of this in a later edition.

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

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

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

 

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..!!

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

 

Handbook Give Away

Have you seen that the NEWEST “Handbook Giveaway” drawing on the website yet? 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 2017 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 get registered..  http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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

NVIS Day

Hey Gang,

Did your club or group do NIVS Day this past weekend? If so, did anyone take pictures of your setup? Please, send all the pictures you can to me so that I can get them added to our growing collection of “Hams In Action”. Also.. it’s time to start looking for a photographer for Field Day as well. Yes folks, I want all the pictures that you can send me from Field Day as well.  Send them to:  n8sy@n8sy.com 

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

Field Day

Hey Gang,

I know that a lot of you are already deep into planning your Field Day activities as well as getting everything ready for that big weekend, well I have some additional goodies for you.. I have the Ohio Governor’s Proclamation posted on the website.. Thanks to our State Government Liaison, Bob Winston, W2THU we have it and it’s posted on the website.

There’s also a suggested Press Release there as well as a lot of other information about Field Day too.  Go take a look:  http://arrl-ohio.org/FD_Message.html

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

My Final..    

Today is April 24th and it’s Monday once again!!! It’s also “Poem in Your Pocket Day.” Today is also remembered for – In 1925 highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in April, it was a balmy 88°F. Was global warming of concern back then?  Hi.. Hi..

And since the Cavs did win their first round in the championship run, I’ve gotta’ say it loud and clear..  GO CAVS..!!!

Amateur Radio has its serious side, but it can also have a FUN side too.. So, as we go through our training and exercises learning from our past and learning from those who are willing to take the time to teach us, let’s remember to have FUN too.. It’s what keeps us alive and vibrant..!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..

The Ohio Section News Update – April 21st Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- ARRL Hamvention Forum Topics

- Getting this Newsletter

- NVIS Day

- Handbook Give Away

- Upcoming Hamfests

- My Final    

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

NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers just keep growing! WHY? Well, the answer is simple, our Ohio ARES folks realize that they need to be properly trained, and you don’t get that by just being a bystander or having an HT in your hand! It takes some effort on your end and our folks are showing very clearly that they will make that effort count! Just having these numbers grow every day proves that we are doing the right thing for the right reasons. We need these courses, and we need to continue our education. It doesn’t stop just because we got our Amateur Radio license.

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Total amount of members in the database is 720. The total amount of members completing all 4 required NIMS courses 503 and the total Number of the Courses taken by everyone in the database is 4755. We’re now over the 500 mark, but that’s only about a third of the Ohio ARES membership. Now the push is on to get all the others to join in as well.

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 

Now, for the folks in border counties of Ohio, you may be registered in our other surrounding Section ARES programs (Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania or Michigan) and that’s ok.. They may, or may not  require the 4 basic courses for ARES membership, BUT Ohio does! Please send me, and your EC, copies of your certificates, 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!

Now here’s a link that Ed, KE8ANU found that breaks it all down for you as to what the classes are:

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials.htm

Thanks Ed..  This is a really great link and explains a lot!!

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

ARRL Hamvention Forum Topics Will Encompass Makers, Youth, HamSCI

(from the ARRL Bulletins)

When Hamvention® opens on May 19 for the first time in Xenia, Ohio, the focus of ARRL activities will be the ARRL EXPO in Building 2 of the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. ARRL will sponsor a slate of forums on all 3 days of Hamvention.

To highlight the new location, some fresh ARRL forum topics will accompany the old standards. Space is limited at some forum venues.

 * ARRL has reached out to the Maker movement, and “Ham Radio Makers and Hackers” will kick off the League’s forum schedule on Friday at 10:30 AM (Room 4). The ham radio community has always promoted the DIY (do it yourself) approach — what some hams call “homebrewing.” The panelists at this hour-long session will share experiences about how ham radio is finding kinship with the new generation of creators, makers, hackers, and innovators. Panelists will include ARRL author Glen Popiel, KW5GP, and ARRL Education & Technology Program instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX. Also on the panel is Cara Kouse, Innovation and Makerspace Manager at the Xenia Community Library, who will talk about the new Makerspace opened at the library early this year.

 * Also new at Hamvention 2017 will be the “HamSCI, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation” forum, Saturday at 9:15 AM (Room 4). Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, will answer the question, “What is HamSCI?” A group of panelists will share information about professional research programs supported by radio amateurs. Presentations also will address investigations related to the total solar eclipse in August, and Frissell will discuss “The Solar Eclipse QSO Party: Ionospheric Sounding Using Ham Radio QSOs.”

 * One popular forum at the Orlando HamCation focused on the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI). Andy Milluzzi, KK4LWR, will bring the discussion to Hamvention on Saturday at 12:30 PM (Room 4). A growing number of campus radio clubs and student radio amateurs have begun to share ideas and suggestions on the CARI Facebook page to rekindle interest in ham radio on college and university campuses, bringing students together, and developing career connections. Students, alumni, and faculty will present at the forum. The ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative is sponsored in part by the W1YSM Snyder Family Collegiate Amateur Radio Endowment.

 * Learning. Discovery. And FUN!” on Sunday at 9:15 AM (Room 2). ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX, will introduce teachers to a variety of tools, as well as a curriculum to take back to their classrooms. Topics include an introduction to basic electronics, the science of radio, space technology, and satellite communication, as well as weather science, introduction to microcontrollers, and basic robotics. Gober will share strategies to motivate students to learn and to inspire interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

 * ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK, will moderate the ARRL Member Forum on Saturday at 11:45 AM (Room 1). It’s an opportunity for ARRL members and prospective members to hear from local and national ARRL officials on key areas of membership interest. Learn how ARRL supports dozens of ways to get involved, get active, and get on the air.

 * The wide-ranging “Public Service Communications Panel Discussion” on Saturday at 1:45 PM (Room 4) will offer a chance to hear from representatives of organizations active during disasters and emergencies. ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, will moderate. There will be presentations by representatives of the VoIP WX Net and VoIP Hurricane Net; the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS); the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN); the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN), and the US Department of Homeland Security’s SHARES network.

 * At “Ham Radio and the Law: Antenna Permits and Problems” on Friday at 2:45 PM (Room 2), attorney Fred H. Hopengarten, K1VR — the author of Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur — will head a panel of Amateur Radio attorneys in a discussion of legal issues to include avoiding restrictive covenants, tower permits, and recent court rulings on the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. The forum will present the latest information on H.R. 555, the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017.

 * “ARRL National Parks on the Air Recap” on Sunday at 10:30 AM (Room 2) will review the highly successful NPOTA activity that commemorated the centennial of the US National Park Service last year, inspiring more than 1 million contacts during park activations. ARRL Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, and ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, will moderate.

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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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NVIS DAY

Ohio’s NVIS antenna day is scheduled for April 22, that’s this coming Saturday folks. 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!!  More information – Times and Frequencies can be found on the Ohio ARES website..  Just go to: 

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/default.html   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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Handbook Give Away

Have you seen that the NEWEST “Handbook Giveaway” drawing on the website yet? 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 2017 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 get registered..  http://arrl-ohio.org/handbook.html

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Upcoming Hamfests

April

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/

May

05/19/2017 | Ohio State Convention (2017 Dayton Hamvention)
Location: Xenia, OH
Sponsor: Dayton Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://www.hamvention.org 

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My Final..    

Today is April 21st and it’s TGI Friday!!!  Have a great weekend..!!

Amateur Radio has its serious side, but it can also have a FUN side too.. So, as we go through our training and exercises learning from our past and learning from those who are willing to take the time to teach us, let’s remember to have FUN too.. It’s what keeps us alive and vibrant..!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..