Short Skip Aug 2014

August 201 4, Issue 8, Volume 62

From Your Editor Benjamin Straw, KC9UNS

The last few weeks have been very interesting for me. As most of you know I put together a spreadsheet of all the nets I could find in the Chicagoland area. The project started over 2 years ago or just about when I first started this hobby. One of the things that helped me with mic fright was nets. After I started cataloging what nets that were out there, I found one list that was published back in 2003. It was a PDF, not updated, didn't have that many and only one that I didn't know about. So I started going to club sites which as you know, are outdated. I also asked fellow hams if they knew of any.

One of the side intents was for VE's to hand new hams this list and say "TALK YE NEW HAM".

That's if the new ham doesn't buy an HT as his or her first radio​. Getting new hams to talk is a big problem in our hobby, to many clicks and empty repeaters. Nets provide a newly minted ham an environment to talk and say hi.

Then about a week ago it started getting passed around the internet via newsgroups, websites and word of mouth. I got emails from fellow hams wanting me to update it for their net. So far over 200+ people have viewed it.

Last Sunday I got a call from an unknown number. I sent it to voicemail thinking its another creditor looking for someone. 2 minutes later I got a notification, I thought to myself damn thats one long voice mail, then decided to listen to it. To my surprise it was Hap Holly KC9RP. He called me back the next day and we had a good 45min conversation about the spreadsheet.

Hap is planning on sending me some updates of nets than I can't hit or listen to and I plan on doing some updates to make it more printable. If you want to check it out go to http://www.tinyurl.com/chicago-ham-nets I guess its a nasalga thing to look at old catalogs, hell I sometimes do(Bathroom reading). The guys who put all the Radio Shack Catalogs online have now created a new site for Allied Radio catalogs from 1 929-1 981 . Allied Radio was founded in 1 928. But 6 years prior, "The Radio Shack" company began. Although Radio Shack had been in business since 1 921 , they did not release their first catalog until 1 939. Today Allied Electronics is a small order, high service level distributor of electronic components and electromechanical products with over 50 sales offices across the United States and in Canada. With more than two million parts online and more than 1 1 0,000 products featured in the Allied Catalog, engineers and purchasers often look to Allied for a broad range of product solutions from over 300 world-class suppliers. Allied Electronics and RS Components are trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products headquartered in Oxford, England.

Allied Electronics continues to sell electronic components by catalog and Internet ordering.

Check it out at alliedcatalogs.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meeting

August 8, 201 4 Lake County EMA Building

2900 W 93rd Ave. Crown Point, In. General Meeting: 7:30 PM Board: 6:30 PM

Club Event

Sat September 6, 201 4 N9D - Indiana Parks On The Air and Club Cookout

Indiana Dunes State Park - Tremont Shelter 1 0:00 AM - 4:00 PM Side Dish and Appetite Required

Hamfest

Sun Aug 3 Hamfesters Radio Club Hamfest

Will County Fairgrounds, Peotone, IL

Sat Aug 9 Angola Hamfest

Angola Community Church of the Nazarene, Angola, IN

Sun Aug 1 7 Lafayette Hamfest

Cary Boy Scout Camp, Lafayette, IN

Nets

LCARC Information Net

Thursday @ 8:00 PM LCARC Repeaters

RACES Net

Wendsday @ 8:00 PM EMA VHF Repeater

NWI Skywarn Net

Tuesday @ 8:00 PM N9IAA VHF Repeater

Once again I would like to remind everyone on Saturday September 6th, LCARC will be having its annual N9D Indiana parks on the Air and Club Cookout at the Indiana State Dunes - Tremont Shelter. Setup will begin at 1 0:00 AM with the contest starting at 1 1 . Fires will be lit just after. Everyone is invited to come out and have a great time. The club will be providing the meat, so all you are required to bring is side dish, something to drink and your appetite. If you would like to operate as N9D at the park you will also be required to bring a copy of your amateur radio licence and * must be a club member. We plan on operating N9D till about 4:00 PM so come early. As a note the park has an entrance fee/day pass of $5 for Indiana residents and $1 0 for non residents and this is per vehicle.

Hope everyone has a great month, and hope to see you at one of the next meetings.

73, Ben KC9UNS

In this Issue of Short Skip 2. Meeting Minutes, For Sale 3 - 4. Ham News 5. GMRS for Hams, Message from ARRL Pres.

6. Support for clubs, Can't find Johnson 7. Elecraft Opinion 8. Membership Form

ARTICLES N EEDED!!!

If you have anything pertaining to amateur radio that you would like to contribute to, and share with others in Short Skip, we would be happy to include your offering in any future edition. Anything you would like. Hints and kinks, antennas, technical talk, operating tips, public service, classic radio, club activities, etc., would be heartily welcomed!!! All articles must be Bob WB9NUG in by the 23rd of every month. Copyright rules and permission apply to all submissions. Please send your submission to: KC9UNS / Short Skip Editor kc9uns@gmail.com If we missed your birthday or get it wrong, please let us I hope you enjoy this month’s Short Skip as much as I did putting it together! know.

Meeting Minutes

201 4 Officers President: ................. KB9HO

Benjamin Straw, KC9UNS Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM Attendance: 1 1 Attendees

Reading of Minutes:

The minutes of the previous board meeting read by Ben KC9UNS was approved as read

Treasure Report:

Treasurer Report read by Jim KF9EX, was approved as read

Committee reports:

DX: Mark K9MQ reported 6 has been open, Ben KC9UNS reported 1 0m is up and down RC: None.

Repeater; All 3 Repeats, Mark K9MQ replaced the remote controller board with a new board, he also replaced the 4v power supply and added a power tripp lite surge protector,that was donated by Bill N9QLS. Mark also is planning on fixing the fence at the repeater site.

RACES: None

Old Business:

Still on for INPOTA Sept 6th.

New Business:

Russ McComb Vice President: ...... WD9EZB Bob Wiberg

Secretary: .............. KC9UNS

Benjamin Straw

Treasurer: .................. KF9EX Jim Harney Trustee: ....................... WV9O Marv Boetcher

Directors Bill Young ................. N9QLS Ken Brown ................ KE9TC Bob Nelms ............ WD9FNY

Mark Skowronski .......... K9MQ John Gianotti ................. W9WY Carter Garcia ............. KC9YGU

NONE

Program: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM local.

Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief ...... KC9UNS

._.. _._. ._ ._. _._. ... .... _ _ _ ._. _ ... _._ .. ._ _.

STUFF FOR SALE

MFJ Hamsticks. I have one for each of the following frequencies: 20 Mtr - http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1 620T 40 Mtr -- http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1 640T 1 5 Mtr - http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1 61 5T List price of each is $1 4.95 plus shipping. He will sell all three for $30.00 ($1 0 each and no shipping).

Contact John W9WY - w9wy@sbcglobal.net ======== Behringer Xenyx 1 204USB - 1 2 input 2/2-Bus Mixer, USB cable, Rackmount, Power cable. $1 00 OBO Ranger RCI-2950 1 0/1 1 Meter, 30 watts, original microphone (Radio is not the DX version) $1 00 OBO Antron99 CB/1 0M antenna $30 2 mobile fiberglass 1 0M antennas with dipole bracket for portable or shack use (New never used) $30 Contact Ben KC9UNS, KC9UNS@gmail.com ======== Ameritron AL-81 1 H amplifier. Very good condition. Strong tubes, strong output on all bands. Amp currently wired for 220VAC. Asking $625 or best offer, pick-up only.

Contact: Marty, WJ9Q, martyd64@sbcglobal.net or cell 21 9-789-0374. ======== Arrow GP52 antenna for sale. It is unopened in the package. http://arrowantennas.com/gp/gp52.html Cost is $45 Contact Robert W9RBC at W9RBC@arrl.org

Benjamin Straw

(kc9uns@gmail.com)

Club Resources

W9LJ/R ......................... 1 47.000 + PL 1 31 .8 W9LJ/R (St. John) ..... 1 47.240 + PL 1 31 .8 W9LJ/R ......................... 442.075 + PL 1 31 .8 Repeater Nets Thursday Night @ 8:00 PM: LCARC Weekly Infomation Net

Meetings

Second Friday of Each Month BOARD MEETING LCEMA OFFICE, 2900 93rd Ave Crown Point (41 .449555,-87.36893) (Across from Gov. Ctr.) 6:30 PM Second Friday of Each Month CLUB MEETING 2900 93rd Ave Crown Point (41 .449555,-87.36893) (Across from Gov. Ctr.) 7:30 PM

LCARC is an IRS-certified 501 (c)3 charitable organization and donations are deductible pursuant to the IRS rules. If you have working radio equipment and ancillary equipment that you can and wish to donate to the club, please contact one of the board members and we will be happy to talk to you about the process. Many companies will either grant or match employee’s gifts to nonprofit organizations like LCARC.Please determine if your com pany is among these and contact a board member so we may help fund and grow LCARC. We cannot accept certain donations, and have to place some restrictions around them (no hazardous materials, nothing we could not sell, etc.). If you are interested, look me, or any other board member up at one of the meetings, or contact us via email (our addresses at the end of this newsletter)

Vol. 62 No. 8

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A M AT E U R R AD I O N E W S

Passengers Now Must Be Able to Power Up Some Electronics During TSA Screenings

Airline passengers boarding direct flights to the US from overseas may be asked to power up certain electronic devices being carried aboard, including cell phones. The announcement did not single out any other electronics. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the US to “implement enhanced security measures.” All electronics typically undergo screening during pre-boarding TSA inspections.

“DHS continually assesses the global threat environment and reevaluates the measures we take to promote aviation security,” DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said on July 2. “As part of this ongoing process, I have directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures in the coming days at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States. We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible.”

During security inspections, TSA officers may ask passengers to power up some devices, including cell phones. Devices that are unable to be turned on “will not be permitted onboard the aircraft,” DHS said, adding, “The traveler may also undergo additional screening.”

While the TSA generally permits Amateur Radio equipment aboard aircraft, including that packed in carry-on baggage, such items, according to existing TSA policy, “may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint, if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”

DHS said that the TSA “will continue to adjust security measures to ensure that travelers are guaranteed the highest levels of aviation security conducted as conveniently as possible.”

FCC Seeks to Raise Vanity Call Sign Fee to favorable one of the morning — Stoddard was $21 .60 listening to both 1 45.800, the FM voice The FCC is requesting to raise the Amateur Service vanity call sign regulatory fee from its current $1 6.1 0 to $21 .60 for the 1 0-year license term. The $5.50 increase would be the largest vanity fee hike in many years. The proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), “Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 201 4; Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 201 3; and Procedures for Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees,” which appeared in The Federal Register on July 3.

The FCC reported there were 1 1 ,500 “payment units” in FY 201 4. The Commission said the vanity program generated $230,000 in FY 201 3 revenue, and it estimated that it would collect nearly $248,000 in FY 201 4.

Interested parties have 30 days to comment on the NPRM. Changes in the vanity call sign fee typically take effect in late August or early September. ==================== ISS Astronaut Activates ARISS During

ARRL National Centennial Convention

Satellite enthusiast Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, and a crowd of onlookers got an unexpected treat July 1 9 at the ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut.

Stoddard was outside the Connecticut Convention Center, hoping to perhaps demonstrate the digipeater aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during some favorable passes and, if he really got lucky, to actually speak to an ISS crew member.

On the first pass, just before the convention opened for its final day, Stoddard was able to “bounce a few packets” through the ISS digipeater, using his Kenwood TH-D72A and Elk dualband log periodic antenna — both handheld devices. On the next pass — the most

Vol. 62 No. 8

Portland, Oregon, office on May 1 3, 201 4, used radio direction-finding techniques to pinpoint the frequency, and to 1 45.825 MHz, the digipeater source of the interfering signal to Price’s frequency. While he didn’t hear anything from residence and, further, observed that Price was the digipeater, he thought he heard “something” transmitting music and did not identify at the end on 1 45.800. He called NA1 SS — the US of each communication, as required.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) call sign — and NASA The FCC has called on Price to submit within 20 Astronaut Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, came back days a written statement explaining each to him. violation, stating specific actions taken to correct each violation and preclude their “My audience went crazy, and I was happy to recurrence, and include a time line to complete make contact and have a nice 3 to 4 minute any pending corrective actions. chat,” Stoddard told AMSAT News Service. “I asked Reid if he might be on the microphone for The FCC said issuance of the NoV “does not the next pass over the eastern USA around preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further 1 200 local/1 600 UTC. He said he would try, and action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of we were outside for that as well.” Wiseman had Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the violations thrilled numerous ARRL Field Day participants cited. in June by getting on the air from NA1 SS for the event. ==================== Word of his successful contact spread, and Stoddard had an even larger crowd looking on for the third pass, which he described as “shallow,” given its maximum 6° elevation.

Stoddard made several attempts to make lightning strike twice in the same place, but he never heard anything on 1 45.800. Nonetheless, the crowd gave him a round of applause, and Stoddard was able to answer several questions about working Amateur Radio satellites with a relatively simple setup.

FCC Alleges Deliberate Interference, Failure to Identify in Proposing Substantial Fines for Two Radio Amateurs

FCC Alleges Oregon Radio Amateur Interfered with Others, Aired Music, and Failed to Identify

The FCC Enforcement Bureau came down hard on two radio amateurs this week, proposing substantial fines for alleged deliberate interference to other Amateur Radio communications — in one case by transmitting music and animal noises — and failure to properly identify. In similar Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NALs) released July 22, the Commission proposed fining Michael Guernsey, KZ8O (ex-ND8V), of Parchment, Michigan, $22,000, and Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, $1 1 ,500. In both cases, the FCC said the evidence indicated that the transmissions at issue were aimed at interfering with other radio amateurs with whom each “has had a long-standing and well-documented dispute” that had spilled out onto the air.

In a Notice of Violation (NoV) released June 5, the FCC has alleged that Thomas Ryan Price, W7WL, of Sweet Home, Oregon, caused malicious interference to other radio communications on 3908 kHz, transmitted music on the same frequency, and failed to properly identify. The FCC said agents from its

The FCC in both instances responded last March to “several complaints of intentional interference” on 1 4.31 3 MHz. Commission agents used radio direction-finding techniques to pin down the source of the transmissions.

According to the NAL issued to Guernsey, the FCC agents monitored transmissions from his

Stoddard has posted a presentation on YouTube from his successfull contact. — Thanks to AMSAT News Service, and Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK =====================

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station for approximately 40 minutes on March 7, 201 4, “and heard him transmit a prerecorded song and various animal noises on the frequency.”

According to the NAL issued to Crow, FCC agents monitored transmissions from his station for approximately 3 hours on the morning of March 1 4, 201 4, and heard him transmit slowscan television (SSTV) signals and “a prerecorded voice transmission of another amateur station on the frequency.”

“These transmissions prevented other amateur licensees from communicating over the frequency,” the NALs said, adding that neither Guernsey or Crow transmitted their assigned call signs while the agents were listening.

The FCC agents later the same day visited Crow’s residence and asked to inspect his station, which they confirmed was capable of operating on 1 4.31 3 MHz. Crow denied operating his station that morning, however, and claimed that he was not at home when the interfering transmissions occurred.

The Enforcement Bureau has warned both Guernsey and Crow in the past regarding interference to other Amateur Radio operators.

In Crow’s case, the FCC said the fact that he subsequently interfered with other amateur operators “demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission’s authority,” and warranted an upward adjustment of $3500 to his proposed base forfeiture. Guernsey first came to the Enforcement Bureau’s attention in the late 1 990s and, the FCC said in the NAL, “has a history of causing interference to the communications of other Amateur Radio operators and has been warned repeatedly in writing.” Guernsey’s lengthy history with the Commission warranted an upward adjustment of $1 4,000 to his proposed base forfeiture.

The Commission gave both licensees 30 days to pay their fines or to file written statements “seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.”

The NALs to Guernsey and Crow came in the wake of a June 5 Notice of Violation (NoV) alleging that Thomas Ryan Price, W7WL, of Sweet Home, Oregon, caused malicious interference to other radio communications on 3908 kHz, transmitted music on the same frequency, and failed to properly identify. The FCC said issuance of the NoV “does not preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the violations cited.” ====================

FCC Invokes “Red Light Rule” in Denying K1 MAN License Renewal Application The curious Amateur Radio enforcement case of Glenn Baxter, now ex-K1 MAN, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, appears to winding down and may be at an end. The FCC dismissed Baxter’s long-standing license renewal application on June 23, invoking its “Red Light Rule,” which gives the Commission authority to turn down a pending application if the applicant has an unpaid fine on the books. Baxter was liable for a $1 0,000 FCC forfeiture stemming from violations over a period extending back several years.

“Anyone filing an application [who] is found to be delinquent in debt owed to the FCC and who fails to pay the debt in full or make other

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satisfactory arrangements in a timely manner will have their application dismissed,” said the Notice of Dismissal appended to Baxter’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) file.

“Because you have failed to resolve this matter timely, your application is hereby dismissed.”

ARRL works this congress to introduce bill to ectend PRB-1 to incude CCR' s

The ARRL reports that a bill with bipartisan support has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. One that calls on the FCC to apply the reasonable accommodation three-part The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau test of the PRB-1 federal pre- emption policy to private land-use restrictions. dismissed Baxter’s 2005 renewal application “without prejudice,” which means that if Baxter The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 201 4 also wants to be licensed again, he must file a new known as HR.4969 was introduced on June application — and the FCC could again invoke 25th at the request of the American Radio Relay League which worked with House of its Red Light Rule. Baxter’s license expired in Representative staffers to draft the proposed October of 2005, but FCC rules gave him the authority to continue operating while his renewal legislation. The bill's sponsor is Representative application was pending. He lost that privilege Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and it has initial cosponsorship from Representative Joe Courtney effective on June 23. of Connecticut.

“If you are currently operating under authority provided by the Commission’s rules based on If the measure is approved by the 1 1 3th your submission of [a renewal] application, you Congress, it would require the FCC, within 1 20 days of the bill's passage, to amend the Part 97 must immediately cease operation until such Amateur Service rules to apply PRB-1 coverage time as you come into compliance with the to include homeowners' association regulations rules,” the dismissal letter said. and deed restrictions. These are often referred to as covenants, conditions, and restrictions and The legal history in the case is extensive. In presently PRB-1 only applies to state and local 201 1 , the FCC issued a Hearing Designation zoning laws and ordinances.

Order to determine, among other things, if Baxter’s Amateur Radio license should be renewed. According to the Order, “Baxter has HR.4969 has been referred to the House Energy apparently willfully and repeatedly engaged in and Commerce Committee. Representative Greg Walden, W7EQ eye of Oregon chairs that unlawful Commission-related activities, panel's Communications and Technology including causing interference to ongoing Subcommittee, which will consider the measure. communications of other amateur stations, transmitting communications in which he had a ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, pecuniary interest, failing to file requested information pursuant to an Enforcement Bureau N2YBB, is a principal advocate for the current legislative initiative to gain PRB-1 recognition for directive, engaging in broadcasting without communicating with any particular station, and CC&Rs. Lisenco said the most urgent task now is to get additional co-sponsors to sign onto failing to exercise control of his station.”

HR.4969.

In 201 2, On January 1 0, the US District Court ======================== for the State of Maine issued a ruling in the FCC’s lawsuit to collect Baxter’s fine, initially Largest Collins Radio AM shortwave $21 ,000. In writing for the Court, Chief US transmitter saved from extinction District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr agreed with the FCC on the first two counts — willful or repeated failure to respond to FCC requests for A historic radio transmitter has been saved information, and willful or malicious interference from the scrap-heap thanks to three — and granted summary judgments to the FCC organizations who worked diligently to preserve it. in the amounts of $3000 and $7000, respectively. The Court declined to rule on the The announced transfer of the Voice of America third issue —communications in which an amateur station licensee or control operator has broadcasting station in Delano California to the a pecuniary interest — asserting that issues of General Services Administration for disposal had potentially sealed the fate of the last material fact remained to be litigated in the compete Collins Model 821 A-1 250,000 watt Court.

High Frequency Autotune transmitters in the world.

Earlier this month, in a seeming game of “hot potato,” FCC Chief Administrative Law Judge Meantime the?Collins Collectors Association Richard L. Sippel turned down an FCC and the Antique Wireless Association had Enforcement Bureau request that he dismiss Baxter’s renewal application with prejudice. The formalized an alliance named the Collins Radio Heritage Group. Hearing of the potential Enforcement Bureau filed a Request for loss of the transmitter the latter working in Dismissal of Application and Termination of cooperation with members of the Arthur A. Proceeding in March of this year.

Collins Legacy Association began campaigning to save some of the significant historical “Mr Baxter did not submit a substantive opposition to the Request,” Sippel wrote in his artifacts related to the Delano Voice of America transmitter site.

June 20 Order. While Sippel said the Bureau made a “convincing” case for him to drop the In December of 201 3 a proposal was submitted other regulatory shoe in the Baxter case and to the Voice of America and the Government end the matter, he said he did not have that broad authority and turned the matter back to Services Administration to recover, preserve and display the transmitter and the studio the Enforcement Bureau, which dismissed control console from the Delano site. This past Baxter’s application 4 days later.

May the proposal was approved and recovery began. The effort was recently completed Sippel said that upon dismissal of Baxter’s application “by appropriate authority,” he would with the transmitter, studio board and other terminate the proceeding upon the Enforcement associated remote gear being removed and shipped to the Antique Wireless Association Bureau’s motion.

Museum in Bloomfield New York where they will be displayed. ====================

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FCC Turns Away Petition on Non-Certificated Transmitters on GMRS for Hams ARRL

The FCC has denied a Petition for Rule Making (PRM) filed by a Florida radio amateur that sought to permit hams who also hold General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) licenses to operate on GMRS channels with transmitters that have not been certificated for GMRS use, provided the transmitter meets GMRS technical standards. Mark Friedlander, KV4I, of New Smyrna Beach had asserted in his May 29 filing that the proposed rule change would facilitate interoperability in emergency situations, since many emergency response groups utilize both radio services.

“I think it would facilitate emergency communications with CERT groups and other EmComm workers if we could eliminate the need to check with the FCC for each radio,” Friedlander said in a statement seeking support for his petition and which was posted on the East Coast District ARES (Florida) forum. “Doing so would also minimize confusion about the permissibility of ham operators using their radios for transmitting on both services.”

Transmitters used in the Part 95 GMRS must have FCC certification prior to sale and marketing; in general, Part 97 Amateur Radio transmitters do not.

In a June 20 letter to Friedlander, the FCC pointed out that GMRS transmitters that also can be used on Amateur Radio frequencies will not be certificated. The FCC said it adopted that rule “to prevent the possible proliferation of GMRS equipment that is also capable of operating on frequencies for which the GMRS licensee is not authorized.”

Friedlander has noted that the Amateur Service and the GMRS operate on similar frequencies. He argued that Amateur Radio operators who are authorized to design, build, and operate transmitters without equipment certification in the 420-450 MHz amateur band should be allowed to do so on the 462/467 MHz GMRS channels, the FCC said.

“We conclude that the proposed rule change would undermine the prohibition on GMRS equipment with Amateur Radio frequency capability,” the FCC said. “An exception to [the rule] would allow for the proliferation of home-built, non-standardized transmitters in the GMRS, with no practicable way for the Commission to monitor and enforce regulatory compliance for these devices.”

ARRL President Issues Call to Action to Gain Support for HR.4969 ARRL

In a video, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has issued an urgent call to all radio amateurs to get behind a grassroots campaign to promote co-sponsorship of HR.4969, “The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 201 4.” HR.4969 would require the FCC to extend PRB-1 coverage to restrictive covenants. It was introduced in the US House with bipartisan support on June 25 at the request of the ARRL, which worked with House staffers to draft the legislation. The measure would require the FCC to apply the “reasonable accommodation” three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to private land-use restrictions regarding antennas. The bill’s primary sponsor is Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). It had initial co-sponsorship from Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT).

President Craigie also exhorted all radio amateurs regarding support for HR.4969 in remarks appearing in the The ARRL Legislative Update Newsletter. Craigie stressed in the Newsletter that the legislation stands to benefit not just today's radio amateurs but those in the future.

"Chances are, those Americans of the future will grow up in communities having private land use restrictions," she said "That is the way the country is going, and it is very bad for Amateur Radio. How can Amateur Radio thrive, if more and more Americans cannot have reasonable antennas at home? You and I have to stand for the Amateurs of the second century."

If the measure passes the 1 1 3th Congress, it would require the FCC to amend the Part 97 Amateur Service rules to apply PRB-1 coverage to include homeowners’ association regulations and deed restrictions, often referred to as “covenants, conditions, and restrictions” (CC&Rs). At present, PRB-1 only applies to state and local zoning laws and ordinances.

An HR.4969 page now is open on the ARRL website. It contains information and resources for clubs and individuals wishing to support efforts to gain co-sponsors for the measure by contacting their members of Congress.

.- .-.. .-.. -.-- --- ..- .-. -.-. .-- -... . .-.. --- -. --. ... - --- ..- ...

I was going thru one of my dads photo albums and came across this picture. Thought you might like to see it. L-R; Jack Meade, Doc Miner and Chuck Reberg.

James W. Harney Sr.,KF9EX

Vol. 62 No. 8

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ARRL support for clubs could use some improvement Dan Romanchik, KB6NU

Often, when you hear ARRL officials speak, they extol the virtues of amateur radio clubs, saying things like, "Clubs are the lifeblood of amateur radio." For example, Dale Williams, WA8EFK, in response to my e-mail congratulating him on his appointment as the new ARRL Great Lakes Division director, said that his "plans are to push to keep things local, club-related, and bottom-up driven."

Of course, that kind of set me off. When it comes to club support, the ARRL is more talk than action.

One example of this lack of support is that there hasn't been an issue of the ARRL Club News newsletter for years. Even so, if you log into the ARRL website and look at your e-mail subscriptions page, you'll see that it says that it's supposed to be a monthly newsletter.

I'll also note that the ARRL CEO Harold Kramer, WJ1 B,left this particular newsletter off the list of available newsletters in his June QST column. I don't know who at HQ is responsible for producing this newsletter, but the fact that there hasn't been one for so long speaks volumes to me.

Another example is the club commission program. Under this program, clubs get a $1 5 commission when they sign up a new member. That's not bad, but the commission falls to only $2 for renewing members. According to a former treasurer of ARROW, my club here in Ann Arbor, MI, $2 just wasn't enough to make it worth his while to process renewals.

To be fair, it's not all bad news. The ARRL website does have a page with information on how to set up and run an active club (http://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-resources). The ARRL also has a club liability insurance program is a decent deal for clubs, but that program probably doesn't require much effort on the ARRL's part. The ARRL is also supposed to refer new hams to clubs, but I'm not sure exactly how they do that, and I don't think ARROW's gained any new members from this recently.

Let me ask you. Is your club getting the support it needs from the ARRL? If so, I'd like to hear about what you think they're doing right. If not, I'd like to know what you think they should be doing to help your club. =================================================== When he's not writing this column for club newsletters, Dan, KB6NU enjoys working CW on the HF bands and teaching ham radio classes. For more information about his operating activities and his "No-Nonsense" series of amateur radio license study guides, go to KB6NU.Com or e-mail cwgeek@kb6nu.com

Man Can’t Find Johnson HamHijinks.com

CHOUJIAN, China — Taking a cue from a popular Coca-Cola trend, Pofung has announced a new branding effort. But, it’s left at least one ham disappointed.

New handheld radios will feature first names printed on the front of the device, along with the phrase “Share A Pofung With.” More than 1 ,000 names will be available, according to the company.

“Our radios cost about the same as a soft drink, so we thought we would try it,” Pofung executives said in a news release.

The company says they hope that ham radio operators will consider buying the inexpensive radios in bulk, too. New advertisements will encourage customers to “share a six-pack with your club.”

Some ham radio operators aren’t impressed, though. “I can’t find my name on one,” said Johnson Longfellow, W7XXO. Look for the personalized Pofungs at ham radio stores in the U.S. and U.K. next month. ### HamHijinks.com

No-Nonsense Study Guides

Technician, General, Extra-Class License Study Guide Free PDF Version or purchase on Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook Download at KB6NU.com/tech-manual

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Vol. 62 No. 8

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Elecraft - my personal opinion Larry Makoski, W2LJ

II have been involved in the Service Industry for all of my adult working life. I have worked in photo studios, photo laboratories, photo retail, professional photographic equipment distribution and service, and most recently in the IT field through inventory control and logistics.

Throughout that period, there was one Prime Directive (to borrow the term from Star Trek), and that is that Customer Service is, was, and always will be #1 . Coming up close to 40 years in the field now, I can attest to how that's not always the easiest philosophy to live up to; but it is paramount. For truly, years of hard work to build up a solid reputation can be squandered in mere seconds by an instance of lousy customer service. And once you have squandered your reputation and credibility, even with one person and in one instance, word can get around so quickly that it can take years to get back to where you started from.

"What has this to do with Amateur Radio?", you are probably asking yourself.

There are many service and product providers in the Amateur Radio market, as small as this niche is. We have many places where we can spend our heard earned dollars. There are many very good companies out there that will bend over backward to make sure that your experience with them is the best possible one that you can have. On the other hand, there are also companies out there who quite literally (excuse my language) don't give a damn what you care about or want. All they want is your dollars and once they have them, you are pretty much dead to them. Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully these companies are the smallest minority and they usually die a pretty quick death, going out of business rather quickly.

On the other end of the spectrum are the companies that go out of their way to ensure that you are happy and satisfied. In my experience, Elecraft has done an exemplary job in that department. I have been a happy Elecraft owner since 2003, when I first bought my K1 . Since then, I have purchased and built a K2, a K3 and a KX3, along with numerous sub-kits and accessories. In each instance, I had a great experience. The manuals are extremely well thought out, leaving (at least in my case) no doubt as to how things are supposed to go together. In the two instances where my kits were missing parts, or had a wrong part shipped - a quick e-mail to Elecraft got me the needed pieces in literally a day or two.

I have been fortunate that my radios worked right off my assembly line. However, I do know of instances where that has not been the case for other Hams, for one reason or another. In those cases, it seems that the help that was received from Elecraft via the telephone from their outstanding staff, or from the Elecraft e-mail reflector(s) where other Elecraft enthusiasts congregate got them up and running quickly. I also personally know of instances where "stuff has happened" and telephone calls to Elecraft brought timely solutions, even though the equipment in question would have been considered out of warranty by any other manufacturer.

All that being said, the clincher came for me just prior to Field Day, this year. On QRP-L, many of the guys were beginning to list where their QRP Field Day efforts were going to be held. I chimed in with information about where the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club's effort was going to be, and I also mentioned that we were going to be all QRP, using my KX3s as our HF transmitters. Out of the blue, that night I received a private e-mail from Wayne Burdick N6KR, one of the principal owners of the company. In the e-mail he informed me that he read my posting to QRP-L and saw that we were going to be using my KX3s. So from there, Wayne proceeded to tell me how to set up the KX3s so that they would cause minimal interference to each other in close quarters. And that information, which he also posted to the KX3 and general Elecraft e-mail reflectors, turned out to be a life saver. After we first got going, it turned out that the SSB station was just swamping me out, and I was basically doing the same to them. When that became apparent, I whipped out the printed e-mail from my back pocket (it was next to my Swiss Army Knife), made the setting changes and from there we were in like Flynn. The two stations sat side-by-side and hummed along for the rest of Field Day - fat, dumb and happy!

This boggled my mind. One of the owners of Elecraft was keeping his eye on QRP-L, saw that one of his customers would be using their product and then graciously offered tips on how to make the radios work even better. That, my friends is ADVANCED customer service - the stuff upon which legends are born.

Now don't get me wrong. No company in this world is perfect. Far from it. Heck, just go to the Elecraft reflectors and you'll find lots of instances where people feel they haven't been satisfied and take ample opportunity to vent. Some of it may be justified, and some of it is pure nonsense. But in my mind at least, Elecraft is a very bright spot in the Amateur Radio market, and I would recommend them highly to anyone. And aside from Amateur Radio, I think that they are a shining example to all industries on what great Customer Service is and should be.

72 de Larry W2LJ QRP - When you care to send the very least! http://w2lj.blogspot.com

Vol. 62 No. 8

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