HARMONICS
THE VOICE OF THE ROWAN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
April 2014 -Issue 333
IMPORTANT:THE APRIL 14 MEETING WILL BE AT THE ROWAN RESCUE
SQUAD BUILDING ON JULIAN ROAD
FCC TO REINSTATE MORSE
CODE TEST
"It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse
Code test," admits FCC official
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU
say, it really does get through when other modes
can't."
Not only will new applicants have to take the
test, but General Class licensees who have never
passed a code test will have one year to pass a 5wpm code test. Similarly, Amateur Extra class licensees that never passed a code test will have one
year to pass a 13-wpm test. Those amateurs that fail
to pass the test will face revocation of their operating
privileges. Materials for administering the examinations will be distributed to Volunteer Examiner Coordinators by the end of April, so that they can begin
the testing on May 1, 2014.
Washington, D.C. – April 1, 2014 - Today, the
Federal Communications Commission (Commission
or FCC) approved Report and Order 14-987af which
reinstates the Morse Code test for General Class and
Amateur Extra Class licensees. "It was a big mistake
eliminating the Morse Code test," admits Dotty
Dasher, the FCC's director of examinations. "We
"This isn't going to be one of those silly multiplenow realize that being able to send and receive Morse
Code is an essential skill for radio amateurs. As they choice type tests," noted Dasher. "We're going to be
sending five-character random code groups, just like
we did in the old days. And, applicants will have to
prove that they can send, too, using a poorly adjusted
straight key."
April meeting place ..................................1
FCC Reinstates Code tests .......................1
March Minutes .........................................2
April Program ..........................................2
Finances ....................................................3
March Testing ..........................................3
Radio History ...........................................4
Upcoming ‘Fests .......................................5
NC Ham News ..........................................5
Operating Events .....................................6
Technician Class licensees will not be required to
take a Morse Code test, nor will a test be required for
new applicants. "We discussed it," said Dasher, "but
decided that since most Techs can't even figure out
how to program their HTs, requiring them to learn
Morse Code seemed like cruel and unusual punishment."
When asked what other actions we might see
from the FCC, Dasher hinted that in the future applicants taking the written exam may be required to
draw circuit diagrams, such as Colpitts oscillators
and diode ring mixers, once again. "We're beginning
to think that if an applicant passes an amateur radio
2 - Harmonics Issue - 333 - April - 2014
license exam it should mean that he or she actually
knows something," she said.
For further information, contact James X. Shorts,
Assistant Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Public Relations for the FCC at (202) 555-1212 or
jim.shorts@fcc.gov. For more news and information
about the FCC, please visit www.fcc.gov.
(I hope everyone saw the date this change was
announced. Editor,WB4AQK)
================================
Dan, KB6NU, is the author of the "No-Nonsense" amateur radio study guides and a leading amateur radio blogger. You can find his study guides by
going to his blog at www.kb6nu.com. You can contact Dan by e-mail at cwgeek@kb6nu.com, or, after
you pass the test, by CW. Look for him at the bottom of just about any HF band.
March Minutes
Rowan ARC Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2014
Meeting brought to order at 1904 hrs by President Neal Goodman, W4JNG. Twenty-nine members including guest and program presenters were
present. The February Minutes were approved as
amended.
Neal, W4JNG opened the meeting by asking all
members to identify themselves and let us know
what they do. Vice President Gary Lang, K4GHL,
advised the members and guest that a Technician
Class license exam will be scheduled in the near future for those interested in becoming a licensed ham.
NOTE: The Fox Hunt scheduled for March 29
was rained out.
NEW BUSINESS: The April 14 meeting will be
at the Rowan Rescue Squad on Julian Rd. just east
of Interstate 85 at 1900 hrs.
Gary, K4GHL reported the new repeaters should
be backup by the end of the month.
Gary Burleyson, KK4ZAE, was approved for
club membership. Welcome aboard Gary!
The Rowan Amateur Radio Society
P. O. Box 593
Salisbury, NC 28145
The Rowan amateur Radio Society exists to secure for its members the pleasures and benefits of associating with persons commonly interested in amateur radio in any and all its facets. Its purpose is
to facilitate the exchange of information, radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency among members. Society
programs and activities are intended to advance the general interest
and welfare of amateur radio in the general community.
The Society is a nonprofit organization and seeks no payment
for services it provides the community’s agencies.
Membership
Membership in the Society is open to all applicants who express
a willingness to abide by the Society’s Constitution and By-laws.
Persons may apply at regular meetings and are considered elected
when approved by two-thirds of those members present
Meetings
Regular meetings are held on the second Monday night of the
month at 7:00 PM at the Rufty-Holmes senior Center at 1120 Martin
Luther King Jr. Ave S.
2014 Officers
President - Neal Goodman, W4JNG, 704-202-7077
rottk9@windstream.net
Vice President - Gary Lang, K4GHL, 704-237-7142
k4ghl@arrl.net
Secretary - Mike Litaker, KJ4WGU, 704-932-6962,
mlitaker@hotmail.com
Treasurer - Frank Waring, AF4D, 704-857-9792
fwaring@ctc.net
Harmonics, the club newsletter is published mostly monthly. Submit
articles, complaints, corrections, or comments to the club Editor. Material
may be reprinted provided proper credit is given.
Editor - Ralph Brown, WB4AQK, rkbrown5902@bellsouth.net
On the web
www.RowanARS.org
April program
At this time the hoped for program is to be
“ARES, What It Is and What You Can Do
To Help”
We also hope that you saw the box on the
front page concerning the meeting place
for the April meeting. If you didn’t notice
it go back and look at it.
Disregard the “FCC change notice”.
3 - Harmonics Issue - 333 - April - 2014
MEETING PROGRAM: Lee Sossamon, the Assistant District Coordinator for SKYWARN presented the evening program. His slide presentation
covered the purpose of SKYWARN, which is the
local dangerous weather-reporting source to the National Weather Service and local emergency responders.
Ham operators are the “boots on the ground” for
this service. Extensive training and certification is
offered and required to participate this program. It
isn’t complicated or expensive. Complex equipment
is not required. This a great opportunity for hams to
get into community service.
In depth info is available at the following wed
sites:
www.charlotteskywarn.com
www.piedmontspottergroup.com
http://www.erh..noaa.gov/gsp/
Listen in on Spotter Group SKYWARN business, training and rag chews on repeater 145.230 (w/118.8).
ARES ACTIVITY: (HOT STUFF) The Catawba
Nuclear Exercise will take place on March 18 at the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg EOC.
Tony Lewis – KE4VVF
Mecklenburg County ARES EC
Meeting adjourned at 2030 hrs.
DitdahDitdardit
Mike, KJ4WGU
••••••••••••••••••••••••
March Finances
Balance 1 March 2014
Income
Dues
Refreshment
Expenses
Sloan Park (FD)
Tech Class Books
Balance 31 March 2014
WD4JKZ Fund
Club Fund
Repeater Fund
$6421.36
$110.00
7.00
$77.00
$409.10
$6052.26
$4877.12
$ 236.57
$ 938.57
Frank AF4D
A Mecklenburg ARES Resource Net supporting
this drill is scheduled to start around 0845 hrs and
will last until around 1400 hrs. NC4DP will be the
call sign used by net control. This net will be called
on the 146.940-(118.8tone) repeater linked to the
145.290 (118.8 tone).
Simulated message traffic or check-ins can also
be sent via: Winlink 2000/RMS Express to NC4DP
or Packet to NC4DP on CLTBS/W4BFB-9 (Access
CLTNE/KE4IYH-4 or Spence/W4BFB-6 and type
BBS for easy access to CLTBBS)
Echolink is also available if you are outside the
Charlotte area. The echolink node is K4NET-L.
All amateurs are cordially invited to check in. I
look forward to hearing you all on the net.
73,
^^^^^^^^^^^^
March testing
From:
Billy Stewart WA4PVI
Co-Chairman W4VEC
Shirley Bignell Technician KK4ZPF
Glenn Stebe Technician
KK4ZPG
Chesley Whitehair Technician KK4ZPH
Don Shupe Technician
Levi Shadrick Technician
KK4ZPI
KK4ZPJ
Nelson Norwood Technician KK4ZPK
4 - Harmonics Issue - 333 - April - 2014
Congratulations
Billy, WA4PVI
@@@@@@@@
Radio History
One very important, but lesser-known, advance
in weaponry developed during World War II was the
proximity fuze. Its cover name during the war years
was the "variable time fuze" or VT fuze. Many of the
engineers who developed the fuze were hams whom
I knew during the post-war years, when I worked at
the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins
University. The following comments are from my
conversations with two APL hams who played significant roles in the development of the VT fuze -Lorry Fraser, W3LMZ, and Ralph Robinson,
W5FDF.
When WW II began, anti-aircraft artillery fire
was a game of chance. Rounds seldom made direct
hits on aircraft. Modern aircraft of that day had a
great advantage over the defense provided by AAA.
The Navy needed a fuze that would detonate when it
was close enough to attacking aircraft to cause major
damage. Enter the VT fuze.
The concept of the VT was simple: Build a
range-only radar small enough to fit inside the fuze
of a 5 inch naval gun, and make it rugged enough to
be fired from that gun. But it had to be done with
components available in the early 1940s.
A cutaway view of a Variable Time Fuze.
APL found that ruggedized hearing aid vacuum
tubes could be fired from a 5 inch Navy gun and survive. They designed a radar employing those tubes,
which would detect the Doppler shift of the signal
reflected from a target, determine when the shell was
nearest the target, and trigger the explosive charge.
Powering the VT fuze was a wet-cell battery without
its electrolyte. When the round was fired, G forces
would break an ampule of electrolyte, flooding the
battery, and bringing it and the electronics to life.
After many months of development, tests, and
trials, the VT fuze was ready for deployment. Robinson received a direct Navy commission, so he could
deliver and put into action the first batch of fuzes.
The Crosley Corporation was then chosen to manufacture VT fuzes on a production-line basis. VT fuzes had tipped the balance of power from attacking
enemy aircraft to the Navy gunners, just in time.
WW II and ARRL
In 1940 and 1941, the US Army continued its
road to full mobilization, holding large-scale
"maneuvers" in various parts of the country. The
Army needed more frequencies on HF, and plans
were made to turn over the entire 80 meter band to
the Army. In return, US hams were allowed to use
voice on 40 meters for the first time.
Then, on December 8, 1941, President Franklin
D. Roosevelt delivered his famous "date which will
live in infamy" speech, asking Congress to declare
war against Japan. Soon, the US was fully involved
in World War II. Amateurs were immediately ordered off the air, with a special exception for
W1AW to alert the few hams who were unaware of
the FCC order. On January 10, 1942, all stations,
including W1AW, were put off the air for the war's
duration. ARRL continued to lobby for permission
for hams to operate for civil defense purposes, however.
WERS licenses were given to communities and
not individuals, but participants had to hold an Amateur Radio license. Civil Defense radio volunteers
transformed the auto radio in this auxiliary police
car into a short-wave War Emergency Radio Service
set, permitting auxiliary police communications officers to maintain two-way contact with their control
center. [Farm Security Administration/Office of War
Information photo]
In June 1942, the FCC established the War
Emergency Radio Service (WERS). It allowed radio
amateurs to supply communication for their communities. An interesting sidelight is that the Government Printing Office was so overwhelmed at the
time that the WERS order and information were promulgated via the ARRL and QST.
ARRL again offered its and its members' support
to the war effort, but this time, Amateur Radio had
become a well-known and respected entity within
government circles, and the government quickly
5 - Harmonics Issue - 333 - April - 2014
took advantage of the offers. Because radio manufacturers weren't able to keep up with the military's
demands for new equipment, the ARRL put together
lists of equipment that hams were willing to sell to
the government. Many hams volunteered for military
duty, and more than a few times a newly sworn-in
military operator would find himself sitting down in
front of the equipment he had recently sold to the
government!
By March 15, 1942, about 15,000 hams were
known to be in the military. Many other hams were
working in critical defense jobs. Once again, hams
answered the call!
The ARRL and QST were soon working hard to
issue publications used by the military, by training
schools, and by radio clubs throughout our country
to train more radio operators and repairmen. In addition, the ARRL started making plans to ensure the
reappearance of Amateur Radio after the war ended.
Credits: The previous two items came from the
ARRL Letters in March. Editor
05/10/2014 | 10th Annual Rockingham County
Swapfest
Location: Reidsville, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.rcarc.com
5/17/2014 FreeGate:
8:00 to 12:00 Greensboro at RFMD headquarters Bldg. At 7628 Thorndyke Road. One
half mile South of I-40/NC 68 interchange. Talk
in is on W4GG repeater 145.25 (-600 offset, 88.5
tone) (No entrance charges!)
05/24/2014 | DurHamFest
Location: Bahama, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Durham FM Association
Website: http://dfma.org
06/07/2014 | Winston-Salem Classic Hamfest
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Forsyth Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.w4nc.com
%%%%%%%
Upcoming Hamfests
04/19/2014 | Catawba Valley Hamfest
Location: Morganton, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: McDowell Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://cvhamfest.com
04/19/2014 | Roanoke Division Convention
(Raleigh Hamfest)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Raleigh Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.rars.org/rarsfest
05/03/2014 | 24th Annual Down East Hamfest
Location: Kinston, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Down East Hamfest Association
Website: http://www.downeasthamfest.org
NC Ham News
2014 NORTH CAROLINA QSO PARTY
Top Score – Digital In State: Jim W4SDJ
(Cherokee County)
Most NC Counties – In State: Louis K4BYN
(Wake County)
Single Op/In State/Mixed: Jim K4QPL
(operating from Pender County)
Single Op/in State/Phone: Nate N4YDU
(Franklin County)
Single Op/In State/ CW: Jack W0UCE
(operating as N4C)
Single Op/ In State/QRP: Jim W4UX (Forsyth
County)
Mobile/In State/Lone Ranger: John AD8J
Expedition/ In State/Mixed: Mike N4GU
(Wilson County)
Expedition/In State/QRP: Patrick KI4SVM
(operated from mountain tops in
3 counties)
6 - Harmonics Issue - 333 - April - 2014
Club/ In State/Mixed: K4MN, Cape Fear ARS
(Cumberland County)
Club/ In State/Phone: NC4AR, Tri-County ARC
(Alleghany County)
NC GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS JULY AMATEUR RADIO RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION MONTH – North Carolina Governor Pat
McCrory has proclaimed the month of July 2014 as,
"Amateur Radio Recognition and Appreciation
Month" in honor of, among other things, the 100th
anniversary of the founding of the American Radio
Relay League. Thanks to Raymond (“Woody”)
Woodward, K3VSA, ARRL Public Information Coordinator for North Carolina (an ARRL-trained Public Information Officer), for providing this great
news!
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Operating events
Notice:
The following are two emails Tommie, N4YZ,
sent a few of us earlier. I’m hoping he will have
some more info for us and that we can get a
whole lot of our members involved.
GM Tommie
I have registered N4UH as part of our team for
2014. Welcome to the group! I have a lot to discuss
with you about how we coordinate our operations,
etc. But there's plenty of time for that. As you probably know, our K2J NC team finished #1 in last
year's event. We literally went from worst to first. In
addition, Nate N4YDU was the recipient of the Paul
Copeland Award as Top Op which made us even
more proud, especially since Paul Copeland was a
native son. Although it's not a contest by any means,
there is certainly a rivalry that has developed between the colonies- HI. I think we shocked the hell
out of the others last year. I have no doubt that we'll
be well represented again this year, and I'm really
looking forward to having the N4UH members make
a meaningful contribution. So please QRX until I
get more info from Ken KU2US, the organizer. I'll
be in touch and maybe we can meet for lunch one
day for an eyeball QSO to go over the details. In the
meantime, feel free to e-mail me if you have any
questions.
..............................................................
Ok guys, we are in. N4UH will be a part of the
K4J team during the 4th of July week. As you can
see from the email, North Carolina was #1 during the
2013 13 Colonies Special Event so they are expecting us to put forth our best effort. Wayne and I both
worked all thirteen colonies last year and it was really a fun effort. We can discuss more at this month's
meeting and I will have more details when I sit down
with Marc, W4MPS.
Tommie - N4YZ
For anyone working on their WAS award, there
is a mess of State QSO Parties going on in April. The
following are the dates and sites for full info on
them.
12 th
New Mexico www.newmexicoqsoparty.org
Georgia www.georgiaqsoparty.org
19 th
Michigan www.miqp.org
Nebraska www.qcwa.org/chapter025.htm
South Dakota www.w0blk.com
North Dakota www.w0nd.com
26 th
Florida www.floridaqsoparty.org
In addition there is an event Newbies will like.
On the 20 th work the ARRL Rookie Roundup
(phone only) www.arrl.org/contests
From the editor:
I hope no one “blew his finals” on that FCC
headline. I saw a pretty good number of April Fool
Articles this month.
In fact, just a month or so ago I got an email
from a ham asking me about a paint mentioned for
antennas he had read about in a Harmonics on our
web site. I had to look it up to find out he was talking about an April issue in which was printed a picture of my G5RV with my “invisible painted
triband” in the background..
And that is no April Fool joke.
73 WB4AQK