NC SECTION NEWSLETTER APRIL 30

Up here at 3850 feet above mean sea level, Spring has finally arrived.  Overnight lows are at or around50 degrees and daytime highs have at times touched 80.  More than half the trees have green leaves but at higher elevations the percentage of trees with leaves is closer to 25%.  Down in Boone the lawns have been mowed at least twice.  Last Thursday I drove down to Hickory and as soon as I started down the mountain below Blowing Rock, everything was in in bloom.

There is real concern on the part of farmers and fire fighters due to the continuing drought.  Rainfall totals apparently are 13 inches below typical yearly values at this time of year.  Each Thursday, the Drought Management Advisory Council posts a map (at https://www.ncdrought.org/).  The current weekly drought advisory posting lists 61 counties in the Extreme Drought category and 32 more counties in the Severe Drought category.   

The continuing drought conditions across the state have caused heightened concern over wildfires and a statewide burning ban remains in effect. 

The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources has a website that posts statewide information about the location, number and size of wildfires across the state.   The wildfire map can be accessed at https://ncfs.firesponse.com/.  It is very clear that Hurricane Helene took downs many trees and limbs so the floors in our forests have significant amounts of debris that are dry and can quickly spread due to embers from burning trash, leaves or even a discarded cigarette.

Another effect of the continuing drought is its impact on public water supplies due to decreased stream flows and lower lake and reservoir water levels.  A number of water systems have urged voluntary water conservation measures to conserve water by stopping use of automatic lawn sprinklers, topping off swimming pools and washing cars.  If the drought continues without significant rainfall, it is likely that more stringent steps will be ordered to conserve our water supplies.

ARRL continues its efforts to secure passage of a federal law that would prohibit HOA and POA groups from imposing rules that would limit construction of antennas within subdivisions.  A major part of the ARRL strategy involves having ham operators petitioning US House members and Senators to lend their support and vote in favor of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act which would allow amateur operators to have antennas on their property in subdivisions so the operator can communicate to authorities during disasters. 

Be part of the campaign by going to the ARRL website and put in your callsign.  An automated system will retrieve your name and address and produce a form letter that points out why have adequate antennas are needed as part of disaster readiness.  You can be part of the ARRL campaign by signing in at https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation .

During a Zoom meeting last week, ARRL HQ staff asked each Section Manager to remind clubs in their section to update the information that ARRL has in its database concerning each club. Clubs are requested to designate someone to sign in at arrl.org and in the search box, put in “clubs”.  This will take you to a database listing all the clubs in America.  Choose to search on NC and find your club and update the information about meeting times and places, officers and information on what the club does.  ARRL wants the information to be current so that the ARRL staff can contact a club and direct the public to club meetings.

While on the topic of clubs, you might find that your club is not listed in the ARRL database.  This would mean that visiting hams or local persons who want to find out about ham radio in your area would be unable to find information about your club. 

You may want to get your club listed with ARRL through a process called affiliation.  Information on how get your club affiliated with ARRL can be found at https://www.arrl.org/application-for-affiliation .

ARRL also has a special designation for clubs that do more than have meetings.  Such clubs are called “Special Service Clubs” can earn their Special Service Club designation.  Information on how to earn this designation can be found at https://www.arrl.org/ssc-application

Finally, on the topic of clubs, ARRL recently updated and posted a document focusing on how to keep clubs functioning.  Suggestions are offered on keeping club meetings interesting, arranging programs, and how to have effective communications with club members.  You can download a copy of the Club Primer at https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Clubs/ARRL%20Club%20Primer-rev%20March%202025.pdf .

We are not far off in time to Field Day which is always held on the last full weekend in June.  If you or your club plan to operate over Field Day weekend, please post information at https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator .  Once you have posted information with ARRL, please send me an email giving times your group will be operating so I can see if it feasible to visit My email address is mkhoffman2006 at gmail dot com.

Clubs are urged to consider working with your local public school and making an application to be selected for an opportunity that will allow local school kids to speak over amateur radio to an Astronaut on the International Space Station.  The next deadline for applying is May 22. Information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact .

The Dayton Hamvention, held at the Green County Fairgrounds near Xenia, Ohio is fast approaching with the gates opening at 9 a.m. on May 17.  Info at https://hamvention.org/.

If you haven’t been there in the past, here is what you can expect:

·        ARRL and the Dayton Amateur Radio Association will be holding several forums over the three days of Hamvention.

·        MARS, SATERN, and NWS typically have tables where you can meet with agency representatives.

·        The major manufacturers (ICOM, Yaesu, Kenwood, Flex) and dealers selling peripherals (modems, power supplies, software, cables, connectors, weather stations) will be there and the larger dealers and manufacturers typically will have new models of their rigs.

·        A large boneyard fleamarket (located inside a large oval track) filled from end to end with 4 or 5 rows of tents and tailgaters, mostly selling used gear or products from small manufacturers, will be there.

·        Several clubs will bring and display their comm vehicles or trailers at Hamvention..  Touring the area housing these vehicles may give you ideas as to how to equip a vehicle for your locality.

·        There are four air-conditioned buildings filled with vendors that you can talk with about their equipment.

·        There is on-site food options which offer a variety of types of food.

·        MAY 2, Goldsboro, UNFEST, sponsored by the Wayne County Amateur Radio Association, held at First PH Church, 1100 First Church Rd, Goldsboro. Info at https://k4cyp.com/information/

·        May 9, Clingman (Wilkes County).  This is a relatively small hamfest that also offers testing for new or upgraded ham licenses.  Located at the Clingman Community Center, 3371 Clingman Road, Ronda, NC.  Take Exit 272 off US 421, head back towards Ronda / Rt 268. - Clingman Community Center will be on the right.  Info at https://www.clingmanhamfest.com/ .

·        MAY 23, Morganton, WPARC TAILGATE, sponsored by the Western Piedmont Amateur Radio Club, held at Catawba Meadows Park, 701 Sanford Drive, Morganton. Info at https://www.wparc.com/home .

·        July 11, Salisbury, Firecracker Hamfest, sponsored by the Rowan Amateur Radio Society, held at  Salisbury Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Ave., Salisbury.  Info at http://rowanars.net

·        July 18, Cary, 53rd Annual Cary Mid-Summer Swapfest, held at Cary Ritter Park, 301 W. Lochmere Drive, Cary. Sponsored by Cary Amateur Radio Club.  Info at https://caryarc.org/

·        July 25, Waynesville, WSCARS Hamfest, held at the Smokey Mountain Event Center, 758 Crabtree Rd., Waynesville.  Sponsored by the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society.  Info at https://wcars-club.org/hamfest-annual/docs/hfnotice.pdf   

·        August 8, Fayetteville, 26th Annual Cape Fear Amateur Radio Swapfest, Cumberland County Shrine Club, 7040 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville.  Sponsored by the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society.  Info at https://cfarsnc.org/swap-fest

·        September 4 & 5, Shelby, Shelby Hamfest, ARRL North Carolina State Convention held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 1751 E. Marion St., Shelby.  Sponsored by the Shelby Amateur Radio Club.  Info at https://shelbyhamfest.com/.  SARC will have an on-the-air station at the Fairgrounds as part of the ARRL Year of  the Club activity and will be operating as W1AW/4.

If you are new to ham radio and have hf privileges, you may not know of this event which celebrates the founding of our country and involves ham operators across North America and other parts of the world.

There will be several designated special event stations in each colony on at various times and bands operating in each of the 13 original colonies as well as two bonus stations at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and a second bonus station operating in Great Britain.

An attractive certificate can be earned by making contacts and submitting your log for the contacts you make with stations in the 13 Original Colonies, along with the bonus stations.

This may sound easy but it is actually quite a challenge. 

Each of the former colonies operate several stationsat varying times when there are operators available; this can differ from state to state.

Propagation and band conditions add to the challenges.  For example, a state that is operating on 20 meters may be heard thousands of miles away but cannot be reached one state over.  Static crashes and lightning storms add to the challenges.

Pile-ups happen for some states like Delaware, Rhode Island or Maine in which there are not many hams to be operating from that colony in the contest.  Pile-ups are more frequent on the last days of the contest, particularly for states that have been hard to contact earlier in the contest.

Some colonies will be operating split frequencies in which they transmit on one frequency but are listening on a different frequency.

Do a web search for 13 Original Colonies and be ready for the fun and challenges involved with this operation that begins on July 1.

Amateur Radio Authorized to Participate in DoD Armed Forces Day Cross-band Test on May 9, 2026

Amateur radio operators will participate in the Department of Defense’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Cross-band Test on May 9, 2026. The annual event will not impact any public or private communications.

For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have participated in this interoperability exercise between the amateur and government radio services. The AFD Cross-band Test provides a unique opportunity for hams to listen on military frequencies and making contacts with various military stations who will be listening on amateur frequencies.  Contacts will involve signal reports and getting callsigns into the log books on both sides.

Info can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-to-participate-in-dod-armed-forces-day-crossband-test-on-may-9-2026.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other highway safety groups continue to push for laws that would prohibit the use of wireless devices while driving.  With good reason, there is concern that watching video, using a computer, talking on a cell phone while driving pose risks; the driver may have to reach for the phone and manually put in the number being called. Reading news on a computer is probably worse due to the driver being distracted and taking their eyes off the road for longer periods of time..

Legislators in Raleigh are working on a law that would allow emergency personnel including law enforcement, fire, EMS and utility workers to use their wireless devices.  Efforts are underway to include amateur radio operators as being allowed to operate while driving during emergencies and hopefully to allow testing of systems and equipment before disasters occur.

NC ARRL leadership are working with legislators on this topic and on restrictions that HOA’s seek to impose and amateur radio antennas on hams living in subdivisions.  Chuck deCourt (W3WZN) and Max Hopper (K4BMN) are appointed NCARRL State Government Liaisons (along with your truly as NC Section Manager); all three of us are closely monitoring both issues and making sure that sponsors of legislation know why amateur radio is vitally interested in being able to safely use wireless devices during emergencies and tests.

If you are personally acquainted with a local legislator through church, PTA, sports sponsorship or campaigning, please let me know so that amateur radio can use your contact to help pass laws that help amateur radio be ready to help in emergencies.  Please advise who you know so that when time counts we can get you talking points to mention to your legislator friend about various proposed laws and to help your friend understand how amateur radio will be impacted.

Each week there are several additional radio id’s that include callsigns added for DMR radios  that perhaps were recently purchased at a hamfest or over the web.  Because many of the new id’s are going to complete newcomers to DMR so it may be helpful to post some basic points.

·        Each DMR network is managed over a computer server that is programmed so that certain DMR repeaters can connect to the CBridge.  In turn, the CBridge is programmed as to where digital conversations coming into the Bridge should be routed.  Do you want your traffic to go to all stations in the network or one or just a few?  Users can choose talkgroups that communicate with other stations according to rules set up by those who maintain the CBridge.

·        The PRN system is currently comprised of 60 DMR repeaters in North Carolina and i20 or so in South Carolina.  There are separate CBridges for the two states so that traffic in one state can be blocked in the other state during hurricanes or tornado outbreaks.  In normal times the two CBridges are linked together to provide contact with any or all of the repeaters in either state.

·        There is no connection between either PRN CBridge with other DMR networks.  Several repeaters were damaged when users activated “Worldwide” which normally stays busy around 15 hours per day. 

·        Users who keyed up Worldwide 91 when it was carried over the PRN system in order to hear traffic from around the world unknowingly burned out the final output transistors in some of the repeaters and the repeater owners incurred considerable cost to get the DMR repeater repaired.  If you want to talk around the world with your DMR portable spent $100 to get a hotspot and connect to the Brandmeister server.

·        Mobile and portable DMR radios initially arrive with userid “1” or they may have another userid assigned to a former owner.  Users should log into radioid.net and get an id tied to your FCC callsign.

·        DMR is based on Time Division Multiple Access.  DMR radios have two timeslots and talkgroups are assigned to one of the two timeslots as shown in the listing at https://ncprn.net/?page_id=12. A talkgroup that hase been assigned to timeslot 1 but programmed in your codeplug on timeslot 2 will be rejected by the CBridge and the traffic will go nowhere.  Similarly using a talkgroup that is not listed on the NCPRN webpage will be rejected by the CBrdige and go nowhere.

·        The PRN system managers program the CBridge at the request of repeater owners so that the local talkgroup on two or more repeaters can be linked 24/7.  For example, in the Charlotte area the CBridge is set up so that repeaters in downtown Charlotte, Wingate, and Crowders are programmed so that talking on the local talkgroup on one of the three will also be transmitted over the local talkgroup.

·        While traffic over the PRN talkgroup lights up all 80 PRN repeaters, once contact is made (for example someone in Charlotte makes contact over PRN with someone in Hilton Head, both those persons can switch to Chat 1 after which only two repeaters instead of 80 will be connected.  After the conversation ends, the link will automatically break after five minutes or by kerchunking on the CLEAR TIMESLOT talkgroup.

·        The NCEM Western Coordinating Center is being moved from Conover to a facility shared with Caldwell County in Lenoir.  When construction is complete, counties in the Western Branch will be able to communicate on the local talkgroup directly with the NCEM office when it is activated for disasters or exercises.

·        The North Carolina CBridge programmed so that each Tuesday evening at 8 pm the local talkgroup on 18 DMR repeaters in the Western third of the state are tied together for one hour for the High Country UHF Digital Net. The net allows users to become familiar with the coverage of the linked repeaters and allows managers to determine if everything is operation property.

·        Auxcomm managers in the Western Branch area have special talkgroups in their radios which initiate linking of the 18 repeaters as needed for actual emergencies and system testing and training.  Plans have been made are to add additional PRN repeaters when funds are available to purchase repeaters, antennas, cables and duplexers.  County EOC’s will have direct radio contact with the Western Regional Coordinating Center in Lenoir when funding is available.

 

This newsletter is a little longer than normal due to an uptick in the number of upcoming hamfests and time critical items like ARISS, potential state legislative action during the current short session of the General Assembly, explaining the antenna bill and including a tutorial about DMR and the PRN system I North Carolina.

I have spent a lot of time over the past six years producing newsletters to keep you informed. 

Communication goes both ways.  Let me know If you have an issue that you think I can help with.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Marv, WA4NC

NC Section Manager

Boone