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C.A.R.S. News |
Callsign Lookup and News
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Logos are incorporated for illustrative purposes only and are
incorporated under the fair use provisions of U.S. Copyright Law. They
remain trademarks of their respective owners.
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Welcome to the
Crawford Amateur Radio Society
w3mie.tripod.com & www.qsl.net/w3mie
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A big welcome to the newest member of Crawford County's ham radio community, KB3TSI. We look forward
to hearing this lovely 10 year old on the air. Enjoy the hobby and don't be afraid to ask questions.
The Crawford County Amateur Radio Emergency Simplex Radio Frequency is 147.525 When an
event requires an activation of a net on simplex this is the frequency that will
be used and 146.52 will be used for a calling frequency and should not be used
to run a net in Crawford County. The Sunday night Emergency Communciations Net
will now use the new 147.525 frequency when that alternate frequency is tested.
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Crawford Amateur Radio Society is a nonprofit organization in Meadville, Pennsylvania, devoted to the
promotion of Amateur Radio. The Club sponsors activities and programs to promote growth in Amateur
Radio, as well as furthering the experience of those already licensed, and to create international
good will.
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Despite a larger pool of 2A transitters for field day, W3MIE was again the top score in WPA section.
A big thank you to N3QQH and everyone that helped make field day such a success. Results are now
published in the QST magazine published by the ARRL.
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On December 5th the 147.03 repeater had antenna work completed thanks to
tower climber Shawn Hiles and ground support from the following:
K3TLP, N3CUP, WW3S, KB3DTN, K0ZP, WA3GSH, WA3MCH, N3CUP, KB3QHH, N3QFA, KB3EGG,
and WA3NSM. Thanks to all that helped on this cold Saturday morning and
please submit signal reports to determine the repeater's coverage range.
The repeater is on the air with an installed GE Master II and another
CAT controller.
The 145.13 new Vertex repeater has been installed at the primary repeater site and is on the air with
the Cat1000 controller and Weather radio receiver. The autopatch is now active and available with the same features and codes
as previously used when it was connected to the old repeater on that frequency.
Many thanks to Crawford County Emergency Services for our site and new equipment.
All C.A.R.S. repeaters are currently full time PL 186.2 and transmit the same PL tone.
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A district wide ARES section net on HF will be conducted on December 19, 2009 at 10am. The net
will take checkins by county at about 3983 and hopefully will become a regularly scheduled net for the future.
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Congress is taking a look at the valuable role that ham radio plays in times of natural or
man made disasters.
Better known as the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009, HR 2160
would promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency
communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees in the Amateur Radio Service.
This, by undertaking a study that would identify unnecessary or unreasonable impediments
to use of ham Radio emergency communications. It would also make
recommendations for relief of any unreasonable restrictions so that the uses of
Amateur Radio communications can be expanded for Homeland Security planning and response.
HR 2160 has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. If enacted into law,
the measure would instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security to undertake its own study
and report its findings to Congress within 180 days. That study would also spell out the
capabilities and specific uses of amateur radio communications in emergencies and disasters. (ARRL)
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If you would like to become a member
Click on this link for an application. Print it off, fill it out, and mail it in or bring it to the next
meeting. We hold club meetings the third Tuesday of each month. The next meeting of the Crawford Amateur Radio Society
is
January 19, 2010
at 7:30pm. We will meet at St. Brigid's Church Social Hall on Arch Street in Meadville.
Club Dues are $15.00 for 2009
C.A.R.S.
P.O. Box 653 Meadville, PA 16335.
At the October 2009 CARS meeting, a a presentation was conducted by Allen Clark, N3YLP of
the Crawford County Office of Emergency Services. He discussed the
state of emergency communications that involve amateur radio and other public services.
He emphasized information from the PA Auxuilary Communications Services Program that examined
how volunteer involvement is important to the preperation of disasters.
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WA3NSM shot this photo of the Icebreaker run in Meadville
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We are a member of the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section (WPA)
Section Manager is John V. Rodgers, N3MSE
803 S Main St. Butler, PA 16001-6326 n3mse@arrl.org 724-287-0424
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Echolink Status
Dave, AB3I has the Echolink interface functioning on the 147.03
repeater (PL 186.2) with the same codes as before. The audio for the
echolink will be tweaked over the next couple of weeks but feel free to
use it.
There is a known problem at the repeater site that occasionally makes
accessing
the machine difficult. Just because echolink is not responding, don't
assume
that it is not on the air. Try increasing power to see if you can
overcome the
interference until the problem can be repaired.
You can also access
echolink
on your own computer (you don't even need a radio...just a license)
Echolink is also provided by KB3NDO-L on the 147.09 Corry area repeater and AA2AD-L on the 146.70 Union City
area repeater, but over the air control on the repeater is not permitted.
***************
The creator of LOG-EQF and Win-EQF had decided to discontinue new versions of the program
and will be providing very limited updates for existing versions. Tom, N3EQF, says "
It has been a labor of love for most of that time, but sadly it's time to move on and
let younger programmers fill the void." Log-EQF has been available for more 20 years
but the constant work involved in supporting a Windows
program for ham radio has become too time-intensive.
The advent of Windows 7 was probably the last straw,
on top of the never-ending changes required to
accommodate new rigs, rotors, keyers, clusters, modes,
contests, awards, callsign databases, etc.
***************
Time is running out, the current IRC will expire at the end of 2009. Unlike the old style coupons, the current
types all have an expiration date giving them a maximum life of 3 years. Even if you
purchased a current IRC today, they will still expire on December 31, 2009.
The current issue (Beijing 2) IRC may be exchanged up to 31 Dec 09 (date printed
on coupon). In principle, Beijing 2 coupons will no longer be sold from 31 Aug '09.
The new international reply coupon (Nairobi model) is due to go on sale from 1 July '09,
and will be valid for exchange until 31 December 2013.
To see what the new International Reply Coupon looks like, go to the U-R-L found by
clicking here
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On Aug 5, the Cochranton Fair Parade was held with support from a few of the club members. A simplex crossband
repeater was used to provide handheld coverage of the entire parade route.
Here is some photos of the hard working volunteers
Mark, KB3DTN is keeping track of the parade units
Gary, WA3NSM at the ready to help out the ladies
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Tom Jennings and the entire participates from the Oil Creek 100 would like to
send A big thank you. This public service event proved the value of ham radio to pass emergency,
routine, as well as health and welfare traffic for over 300 people over 2 days. The happened a weekend
in early October and helped feature the Titusville area to the world as runners/walkers from all over
the world particiapted in the 32 hour non-stop event. Special
thanks to KB3OXV, N3PBQ and KB3DTN and all the others that assisted with planning and operating
during the event. With the help of NBEMS digital technology and the dedicated hams that operated, we passed
the latest information about the location of each and every participant, supply need, and helped coordinate
the search for missing participants. The event is already being planned for its 2nd year to take place in
early October of 2010.
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Get mobile or email alerts straight from the National Weather Service. You can set it up to alert
you by county or using the new pologyn regional system. Signup at
inws.wrh.noaa.gov The Cleveland NWS office is also looking
to develop a YAHOO group devoted to early statement to upcoming severe weather and general
discussion of weather events in the County Warning Area. The National Weather Service has also
began to experiment with a new radar system called Ridge 2. View it using google maps
at radar.srh.noaa.gov
NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter is on 162.475 With
special receivers you can be alerted to severe weather information using codes
specific only for the counties you want.
Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings are also simulcast on the 145.13 repeater when they are issued for Crawford County, PA
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We are the backup communications for EMA, Red Cross and more
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 Skywarn Storm Spotting is probably
one of the most active activities of the Crawford Amateur Radio
Society. Every year, members, and non-members alike, participate in
Spotter Training, giving them the tools needed to be able to identify
severe weather and give reports to the National Weather Service.
Get ready for the next outbreak of severe weather, download the National Weather Service skywarn report form.
We have seen severe thunderstorms even in the winter months in NWPA.
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A CB website is warning trucker CB'ers and Freebanders to keep out of the 10 meter
ham band. The home page post on LiveCBRadio.com tells readers that mobile ham operators
all over the United States are now observing and reporting truckers talking above 28 MHz.
The website notes that the hams will not just report the truck and it's company to the
FCC, but that they often include video and audio as evidence with their complaints.
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2 federal agencies have established a mobile communications emergency public warning
technology standard. The FEMA and the FCC announced the adoption of design specifications
for a gateway interface enabling wireless carriers to provide alerts via cell phones
and mobile devices.
The CMAS project is part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. It will be able
to provide the President of the United States a means by which to notify Americans of
national emergencies. The system would also be available for Amber alerts and regional
warnings in the form of 90-character text messages. (
AR newsline)
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When checking out Pittsburgh's downtown skyline, you'll see plenty of tall buildings but one
in particular at night flashes a message from the top of its building.
The 33-story Grant Building, has red neon lights flashing, in Morse Code, a one-word message:
"P-I-T-E-T-S-B-K-R-R-H" Wait, that's not right, said Tom Stepleton, as he decoded the message
while waiting to see the city's 4th of July fireworks.
The flashing beacon atop the Grant Building has been famous for spelling out "Pittsburgh" since they
flipped the switch during a dedication in March 1929. The radio tower erected atop the 500-foot
structure served KDKA Radio, which then was housed in the Grant Building. Newspapers at the time
said it was decided that the tower should have an aerial beacon flashing on it "to comply with the
recent request of Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, so that aviators might recognize the city."
Red neon was chosen because it was the color best visible through fog.
The word "Pittsburgh," transmitted via 3.25 million candlepower, could be seen by pilots from 75 to
125 miles away, depending upon conditions, and was registered with the Bureau of Lighthouses in the
Division of Aeronautics. Representatives of McKnight Property Management, said the company is
aware of the flawed flashes.
Mr. Stepleton, spelled out where the errors are. First, there is a stray
flash which could be construed as a dot representing the letter "E" between the 2 dashes
that represent the 2 "Ts" in Pittsburgh. Then there is a dash that should be a dot at the start of the
7th letter, turning what ought to be a "U" into a "K." Finally, there is a dot that should be a dash
at the start of the 9th letter, changing the "G" into "R"
To read more click to see the full Post-Gazette
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Inexpensive VHF & UHF transceivers made in China that transmit & receive on the 2m & 70 cm bands
appear to be illegal for hams to buy from overseas dealers and have shipped into the USA.
This is because the radios have not passed the FCC certification procedure nor can they as they are
designed to transmit on frequencies outside of the United States amateur radio allocations right out
of the box.
The radios in question bear names like Puxing, FDC, Wouxon, and numerous others. They are being
mainly sold on eBay and similar on-line auction sites world-wide at prices ranging
from $30 to $80 plus shipping. Most of the ads originate from dealers in Taiwan or Hong Kong though
some have come from other Pacific Rim nations as well.
For more information about this story checkout qrz.com
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Have you made changes to your radio station and have lost or gained new communication
modes?
The Crawford County Emergency coordinator, WW3S Jamie, has requested that everyone that is interested
in ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) or those that have registered in the past to please
fill out the form at this link. You can return it to
his email account.
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ARRL Amateur Radio News
Send us comments or radio news to w3mie@qsl.net
