ARRL NC Section Newsletter
Posted Aug 31, 2015
Greetings from Karl W4CHX, your ARRL NC Section Manager!
HR 1301 AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2015 (UPDATE) - As of August 28th, HR 1301 has 94 co-sponsors, including 4 Representatives from North Carolina: David Price (D-NC-4); Walter Jones, Jr (R-NC-3); Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10); and, David Rouzer (R-NC-7).
S 1685 AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2015 (UPDATE) - In June, it was
announced that S 1685 Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 had been introduced in the US
Senate. The wording in S 1685 and HR 1301 are identical. Senator Roger F. Wicker
(R-MS) introduced S 1685 into the US Senate. As of August 28th, there is only 1 co-
sponsor, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who is the original co-sponsor of the Bill.
For comments by Senator Wicker on the benefits of S 1685, see
AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2015 PAGE ON ARRL WEBSITE - A combined
web page has been setup by the ARRL to accommodate activities related to HR 1301
and S 1685, and to provide a central location for information on these identical Bills.
ARRL members are urged to contact their Members of Congress in the House of
Representatives and the Senate and ask them to sign on to the Bills as a co-sponsor.
For further information, see
AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT WOULD NOT VOID "PRIVATE CONTRACTS,"
ARRL GENERAL COUNSEL SAYS - Chris Imlay, W3KD, ARRL General Counsel, has
responded to concerns that the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 would represent an
unlawful intrusion into "private contracts" and would invalidate architectural limitations
and rules regarding the installation of ham radio antennas in residential neighborhoods.
For further information, see the article on the ARRL website at
ARRL "CLARITY ON AMATEUR RADIO PARITY" STATEMENT SEPARATES FACT
FROM FICTION - THE Steps have been taken by the ARRL to address concerns raised
by community associations about HR1301 and S 1685 Amateur Radio Parity Act of
2015. The ARRL has just released a statement entitled, "Clariy on Amateur Radio
Parity." For further information, see
DR. MARVIN HOFFMAN, WA4NC RECEIVES 2015 KB4C - MIRIAM SMITH MEMORIAL AWARD - The recipient of the KB4C - Miriam Smith Memorial Award for 2015 is Dr. Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC, of Watauga County. The award was presented to Marvin WA4NC by Carl Smith, N4AA, at the WCARS Hamfest in Waynesville on July 25, 2015. The KB4C - Miriam Smith Memorial Award, a Roanoke Division Award, honors an amateur radio operator within the 16 western counties of North Carolina who is active in their commitment to emergency and public service communications through the ARES/RACES programs.
The following information about Dr. Hoffman was provided by Bob Rodgers, KC4TVO: "Marv WA4NC presently holds the following offices within the ARES and AUXCOMM community: Watauga County ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) Watauga County; Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (ADEC), NC ARES Area 12, and is one of the most active amateurs in the area. He presently hosts 3 repeaters (2 DMR, 1 Analog) in the high country area. Dr. Hoffman presently holds an Extra Class Amateur License and has completed 12 of the 16 courses listed on the NC AUXCOMM database. He is directly responsible for the installation and operation of two Mototrbo DMR repeater systems in Avery and Watauga Counties, allowing connections to many parts of the NC, SC, and VA systems through the NC PRN network. Dr. Hoffman has completed all requirements for the NC Communications Unit Leader (COM L) AHIMT Type 3 and is presently awaiting State credentialing." Congratulations to Dr. Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC on receiving the 2015 KB4C - Miriam Smith Memorial Award; and, thanks to Bob Rodgers, KC4TVO, District Emergency Coordinator (Area 12), for providing this information!
DAVE PRICE, K4KDP RECEIVES BSA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ("SQUARE
KNOT") / ARRL AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE TO SCOUTING AWARD - Dave Price,
K4KDP of Goldsboro received the BSA Community Organization ("Square Knot") / ARRL
Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award at a special meeting of the Wayne County
Amateur Radio Association and Kinston Amateur Radio Society on August 13, 2015 in
Goldsboro, NC. The award recognizes Scout leaders making important contributions by
providing Scouts with memorable and valuable experiences in amateur radio. Dave
K4KDP has provided extensive service to Scouting. Based on information in the
Nomination Forms, his activities include: organization and direction of Radio Merit Badge
(College) in support of Merit Badge Day yearly for the last 10 years; participation in
teaching the Radio Merit Badge at the District level on more than 5 occasions; assisting
the Program Director at Camp Tuscarora in Summer, 2013, with others, and provided in-
depth HF radio demonstration to the camp attendees; organizing and leading JOTA at
the District level since 2003 and elevating it to the Council level in 2008; participating in
the JOTA events and demonstrating Morse Code, HF voice, and HF PSK31;
participating in more than 3 Council Camporees by setting up and demonstrating
amateur radio to Scouts; teaching the Morse Code section of the Signaling Merit badge
to more than 300 Scouts; setting up a radio exhibit for Radio Merit Badge for two Troops
(2009, 2014); teaching Morse Code to a Cub Scout Pack in 2010; providing a radio
communications hands-on exhibit for 2 Cub Family Campout weekends in 2014; and in
2015, responsibility for the amateur radio exposition at the SR-7B Order of the Arrow
Conclave, the largest in the nation, which exposed more than 1200 Scouts to amateur
radio. In addition to his activities in amateur radio, Dave K4KDP provides leadership
and guidance to Scouts as the Council Chaplain. Congratulations to Dave Price, K4KDP
on receiving the BSA Community Organization / ARRL Amateur Radio Service to
Scouting Award! And, thanks to Peter Wene, WA5T, President of the Wayne County
Amateur Radio Association and Christopher S. Henson, Assistant Council
Commissioner, Tuscarora Council, Goldsboro for providing the nomination information,
which is included in this announcement! For further information on the award, see
59th ANNUAL SHELBY HAMFEST/ARRL ROANOKE DIVISION CONVENTION (9/5-6) - The 59th Annual Shelby Hamfest/ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, sponsored by the Shelby Amateur Radio Club - W4NYR, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 5th and 6th, at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 1751 East Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28152. Gates open at 7:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. The inside Dealer Buildings will be open 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Saturday, and 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Sunday. Talk-In: 146.880 MHz (-), no tone, W4NYR Repeater.
VE testing will be done on site at 4:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday at the Fairgrounds
and at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 5th at Cleveland Community College. WCARS
is providing the VE testing for a cost of $10.00. For more information on VE testing,
please contact
Please be certain to visit the ARRL Booth and assist us in the letter-writing campaign for HR 1301 and S 1685 The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015. All you need to do is provide us your call sign and we will generate letters to you US Representative and Senators for your signature. The letters will then be hand-delivered by ARRL representatives on Capitol Hill.
For further information on the Shelby Hamfest, including forum times, VE testing, flea
market, vendors, camping, accommodations, tickets, and prizes, see
We look forward to seeing you there! Dr. Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, Roanoke Division Director; Bill Morine, N2COP, Roanoke Division Vice Director; and, Karl Bowman, W4CHX, North Carolina Section Manager.
LARGEST HAM RADIO DEMONSTRATION IN THE SOUTHEAST - N4F AT THE NC
MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR (9/11-20) - The following information was received from Philip
Jenkins, N4HF: "The LARGEST ham radio demonstration in the Southeast - N4F will be
held during the 10 day-long NC Mountain State Fair! To see what we've done in past
years, check out the article in September 2015 QST, pages 65-66, and
CLUB UPDATE INFORMATION ON ARRL WEBSITE AND SPECIAL SERVICE CLUB
PENNANTS - The following email message from Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Assistant
Manager, ARRL Field Service and Radiosport Department was forwarded by Steve
Ewald, WV1X, Supervisor, ARRL Field Organization Team. The message is being
included in the NC Section Newsletter because it contains information on the Club
Update process on the ARRL website and the new SSC Pennants for ARRL Special
Service Clubs. Here is the message from Norm W3IZ: "The Club Update mechanism
has been upgraded. Now when a club updates the information on the ARRL club pages
the changes are displayed as soon as the information is submitted. The tutorial on the
club page
At the July meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors, the board directed HQ to issue one
of our new SSC pennants to each Special Service Club. Please reach out to your
Special Service Clubs and have them verify that the club information is correct and that
their Special Service Club status is up to date.
Having this [club update] information correct will reduce the number of items returned to
HQ because of a bad address. ..... If you have any questions about any of this or other
club business please contact me at
FCC UNIVERSAL LICENSING SYSTEM AND OTHER APPLICATIONS TO BE DOWN
FOR MAINTENANCE (9/2-8) - FCC website maintenance in early September will make
the Universal Licensing System (ULS), the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS),
the Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS) and other public applications
unavailable for more than 5 days. The outage will begin at 2200 UTC on Wednesday,
September 2, and continue through the Labor Day weekend. The FCC website work
should be completed by 1200 UTC on Tuesday, September 8. During the ULS outage, it
will not be possible to file any Amateur Radio applications. For further information, see
FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON PROPOSED RULES FOR NEW LF AND MF
AMATEUR ALLOCATIONS (8/31, 9/30) (REMINDER) - The FCC is requesting
comments on its recent proposals to authorize Amateur Radio operations on two new
bands: 135.7 to 137.8 kHz (LF, 2200 meters); and, 472 to 479 kHz (MF, 630 meters).
Amateur radio operations would be secondary on both bands. Please note that
comments are due by August 31, 2015. Reply comments - in other words, comments
on comments filed - are due by September 30, 2015. For further information, see
JOTA: JAMBOREE ON THE AIR (10/16-18) (REMINDER) - Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, will be held on October 16-18, 2015. If you, or your club, are planning on participating in JOTA, please send information on your plans so that it can be included in the September Newsletter, which will be published at the end of that month.
LICENSING CLASSES -
Jacksonville (NC): Technician licensing class, September 24-27, 2015, sponsored by
Onslow County Amateur Radio Club, contact Michael Pratt by phone at (570) 768-6922
or by email at
MEDIA HITS AND REPORTS - The following media hits and reports are included in this
month's newsletter:
On Field Day 2015 and the Kinston Amateur Radio Society, see
On the Rural Heritage BikeFest and amateur radio, see
The following report was received from Keith Andrew, KK4LGM: "Twelve members of the Stanly County Amateur Radio Club participated in the "Tour de Elvis" Bike event on August 15, 2015. This was organized by the Albemarle Parks and Recreation Department. The funds raised from this event go towards the Roger F. Snyder Greenway Fund for the City of Albemarle. This was the first time ham radio operators participated in this annual event.
There were 3 biking courses for this event: 65 mile, 45 mile, and 25 mile. The 65-mile course circled almost the entire 405 square miles of the county. There were 9 club members stationed along the 65 mile course (5 at crossroads: Clyde Sawyer KM4HSO, Hal London WB4ZIQ, William Thomas KI4JDA, Chad Peckham KM4KDW, and James Jarrett KK4ZAL; 4 at rest stops: Lane Kendall WK4WC, Ed Griffin W4KMA, Tom Finley KE4UFG, and Jesse KM4AVJ; 2 in support vehicles: Marc Hunt KM4HXX and Keith Andrew KK4LGM; and, 1 served as Control at the start/finish line: Ray Sipe KI4UDZ). We used a 2m repeater with 3 repeaters ready for backup. One station (William KI4JDA) sent a packet test to an offsite monitor (Carl Starnes W4EAT) during this event.
Interestingly, about 30 minutes into the event, we started receiving chatter from a few Georgia Hams, 240 miles away. Turns out, they were using the same frequency and PL tone as we were, and the atmospheric conditions were just right or wrong (depends on how you look at it!). Fortunately, they were friendly and moved off frequency when Ray KI4UDZ advised them we were participating in an event." Thanks to the Stanly County Amateur Radio Club for participating in this public service event; and, to Keith Andrew, KK4LGM, Emergency Coordinator, Stanly County, for providing this report!
From the August 2015 edition of The Official Organ, the official newsletter of the
Johnston Amateur Radio Society, Inc: "We have succeeded in forming the Johnston
County ARRL VE team. Our first session will be on Monday, September 28th, 7PM at
the Four Oaks Chamber of Commerce located at 204 North Main Street in Four Oaks,
NC 27524. If you are a current ARRL certified VE and wish to help, contact Mike Callam
KD4MC at
NTS SECTION TRAFFIC REPORT FOR JULY 2015 - QNI (total check-ins): 1,572; Total messages passed: 489. Station Activity Reports (SARs), total number: K4IWW 290, AK4RJ 153, W2EAG 137, WB4ZIQ 136, WK4WC 136, KC4PGN 85, W4DNA 80, W4TTO 64, KE4AHC 44, KW4EMG 42, KJ4JPE 32, W4EAT 30, N2RTF 22. Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR), total number: KW4EMG 220, KJ4JPE 192, W4DNA 170, WB4ZIQ 140, K4IWW 130, WK4WC 130, W2EAG 110, W4TTO 100, AK4RJ 95, N2RTF 92, KK4LGM 86, KM4HXX 80. Thanks to all stations for participating in NC Section traffic activities; and, to Dave Roy, W4DNA, Section Traffic Manager, for providing this information!
SILENT KEYS - With deep regret, the passing of the following amateur radio operators is reported: Clarence B. Beaver, Jr, K4SHU (SK) of Salisbury; James Howard ("Jim") Brown, N4ZY (SK) of Vale; William George ("Bill") Ewald II, K4WGE (SK) of Apex; Douglas Marx, N3DUG (SK) of Point Harbor; Sidney Henderson ("Sid") Purvis, WA4VBC (SK) of New Bern; Milton W. Rice, Jr, KC4YOT (SK) of Gastonia; Dr. Ernest E. Rossi, KY8U (SK) of Cary; and, Charles Gary ("Chuck") Wright, KD4TLG (SK) of China Grove. Please note it is not possible to post information about an amateur radio operator that has become a Silent Key without confirmation via a copy of an obituary or death certificate.
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS -
August 29: 125th Anniversary of Casar, NC, 0900Z-2359Z, K4C, Lawndale, NC. W4JL
David Ledford. PSK 14.070 7.070; 14.262 7.262. Certificate. David Ledford, 2333 Curt
Ledford Rd, Lawndale, NC 28090.
September 10-21: The North Carolina Mountain State Fair, 1300Z-0100Z, N4F, Fletcher,
NC. The Road Show Amateur Radio Club. 7.245; 40 20 15 10 meters. Certificate and
QSL. Bill Van Nuys, N4OOC, 57 Echo Lake Dr, Fairview, NC 28730. Check club website
throughout the event for current operating frequencies on 40, 20,15, and 10 meters.
Send SASE for QSL, large SASE ($0.98 postage) and $5 for QSL and Certificate.
UPCOMING HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS -
September 5-6: 59th Annual Shelby Hamfest/Roanoke Division Convention, Shelby
Amateur Radio Club, Shelby, NC, see
During August, I visited one hamfest and 3 club meetings. On Saturday, August 8th, I drove to Fayetteville to attend the 17th Annual CFARS Swapfest. On Tuesday, August 11th, I drove to Greenville to attend the Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club meeting and made presentations on the NC Section and the Collins HF communications receivers, focusing on the 51S-1. On Thursday, August 13th, I attended a special meeting of the Wayne County Amateur Radio Association and the Kinston Amateur Radio Society. At that meeting, I participated in the BSA Community Organization / ARRL Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award ceremony for Dave Price, K4KDP. On Saturday, August 22, I got up early and drove to Morehead City to attend the breakfast meeting of the Carteret County Amateur Radio Society. Thank you very much for the opportunity to visit Swapfest, make presentations at your club meetings, and participate in your special events! As always, it was great to see everyone and learn more about your club activities! By the way, the sunrise during my drive to Morehead City was pretty!