North Carolina
ARRL
Section Information

Please see Hurricane Milton Updates (word document) for important information about keeping frequencies clear for emergency communications. In particular, keep Winlink frequencies clear.

** Note from NC-ARRL Webmaster - NCARRL is not affected by this outage. The latest newsletter that did not go to all members is available on this page. **

As you may know, various IT systems at ARRL have been down for nearly three weeks due to an outage that began on or about May 15. My May 21 newsletter apparently was not sent out through the ARRL mail system and I am not currently able to directly communicate with members except by entering individual email addresses. Because the ARRL email system is down I cannot communicate with 2812 NC ARRL members who receive my newsletters through the ARRL mail system.

1. Section Managers, like me, have no information beyond the ARRL statement that can be found at the top of the ARRL homepage (arrl.org) in which ARRL has described the outages to many ARRL IT systems as being due to a "sophisticated network attack by a malicious international cyber group".

2. If you plan to operate, Field Day information for your group should be posted at https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator. This will allow visitors and others the opportunity to come to your site and learn about amateur radio.

3. No information has been given out as to when Logbook of the World will resume operation.

4. The ARRL Learning Center remains unavailable at this time.

5. Persons who have signed up for ARRL email forwarding using an arrl.net address should be able to receive email but the arrl.org email addresses are not operative at this time.

6. License exam processing has been restored at the ARRL VEC. and exams beginning on May 22 are being sent to the FCC.

7. Telephone service to ARRL has been restored and you may contact HQ staff at 1-860-594-0200 or Toll-free at 1-888-277-5289.

8. ARRL is accepting renewals as well as orders for books or apparel by phone or email (hq@arrl.org).

9. Hamfests will be held in July in Salisbury, Cary and Waynesville. Information about the hamfests can be found at http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search.

10. The latest information on ARRL system restoration can be found at arrl.org.

June 6, 2024 is the 80th anniversary of the storming of beaches in France during World War II. I will close with a tribute to the brave men and women who gave their lives to preserve freedom and to repel the forces of tyranny in the battles in Europe and in the Pacific.

--Marv Hoffman, WA4NC

Ham Radio Legend Danny Hampton, K4ITL passed away Wednesday, February 28. He will be greatly missed. Very few have accomplished what he did technically. Funeral will be at noon on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at McCullers Rd Baptist in Raleigh.

Mark your calendars now for the next Roanoke Division Town Hall. It will be Thursday, September 14th, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM. Meet your elected ARRL officials as they discuss recent events at ARRL, including the purpose behind the dues increase, plus an update on legal and regulatory matters impacting Amateur Radio.

Join Division Director Jim Boehner N2ZZ and Vice Director Bill Morine N2COP along with Section Managers Dan Ringer K8WV from West Virginia, Jack Smith KE4LWT from Virginia, and John Gendron NJ4Z from South Carolina, You’ll enjoy this fast-paced videoconference as you learn what issues are affecting you and other Hams in our region. Watch your email, our Facebook Page, and the Roanoke Division facebook page for a hyperlink.

We are sad to inform you that Carl Starnes, W4EAT, became a silent key on Monday, July 17, 2023. He was a former NC STM and remained active in traffic handling. Carl was well-known in North Carolina and beloved by many.

Information about arrangements is at https://www.hartsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/carl-starnes

Each Spring for the last 48 years, the Raleigh (NC) Amateur Radio Society has presented RARSfest, our radio club's hamfest.

This year, RARSfest will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023 in the air-conditioned Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. This is the largest hamfest in the mid-Atlantic, typically attracting nearly two thousand visitors from North Carolina and neighboring states. In addition to a huge indoor flea market (230+ tables) and dozens of commercial vendors, we also offer license exams, demonstrations, a build-an-antenna session, hourly door prizes, ample free parking, DXCC card checking, meetings and forums – and this year's ARRL North Carolina State Convention.

We did not mail sales flyers this year (it was getting too expensive.) You can purchase tickets online. We now take credit/debit cards in addition to PayPal. https://www.rarsfest.org/admission.php or you can print out an order form and mail in your check. Tickets are $10 before April 1st; $12 at the door.

We won't be mailing you your tickets (again, expense). Simply pick them up at the dedicated Will Call table.

If you have items to sell, you can either get a flea market table https://www.rarsfest.org/fleamkt.php

We have lots of exciting returning and new vendors.

Please check out our re-vamped website: www.rarsfest.org

Nancy KB2TNR Torborg RARSFest 2023 Chair rarsfest@rars.org

Charlotte Hamefest - March 10-11, 2023 Sponsored by W4BFB – Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society, Inc.

Dates – Times – Location

Friday, March 10, 2023: 3:00PM – 7:00PM Saturday, March 11, 2023: 8:30AM – 4:00PM Location: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center – Gold Hall Address: 4551 Old Airport Road, Concord, NC 28025 Talk-In: 146.655 (No Tone), Backup on 146.940 (118.8Hz) Minutes from I-85, Concord Mills Mall, and Charlotte Motor Speedway

Admission Ticket Prices All Tickets are good for both Friday and Saturday $12 Pre-Order $14 (Cash) / $15 (Credit) at the door Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult Free Parking Concessions will be Credit only

Hamfest Prizes

At the Charlotte Hamfest, you will always have several chances to win some great prizes! We offer a pre-registration prize for simply ordering your admission tickets ahead of time. We will also have a Grand Prize offered on both Friday Night and Saturday Afternoon. You do not need to be present to win any of these three prizes. We will also be giving away many Hourly Prizes. You must be present to claim the Hourly Prize when your name is drawn. All Hourly Prizes must be claimed by 2:30PM Saturday. Be sure to pick up extra prize tickets in advance, at the front entry door, or the show office for $1 each, or 6 for $5! *Prizes are subject to change Deluxe Coax Crimp Kit

Pre-Registration: Deluxe Coax Crimp Kit LDG AT-600 Pro II

Friday Grand Prize: LDG AT-600 Pro II Yaesu FT-710

Saturday Grand Prize: Yaesu FT-710

One $50 ARRL Gift Certificate, Two $25 ARRL Gift Certificates $50 - Lifetime Access to all N3FJP Logging Software

$50 - Lifetime Access to all N3FJP Logging Software Alpha Antenna

Hourly Prizes: (5) $100 Alpha Antenna Gift Certificates Easy Way Ham Books

Hourly Prizes: (5) Easy Way Ham Books DX Engineering

Hourly Prizes: (2) $100 DX Engineering Gift Certificates

May 2, 2022 Special Information Bulletin (Microsoft Word File - opens in Word or Equivalent)

1. Webinar with information on grants for club projects from ARRL Foundation
2. ARMY MARS special interoperability exercise
3. Difficulties with ARRL Email to officials
4. Communicating field day plans to officials

All section traffic reports are now available at the top of the page just below the Section Manager Reports.

The March, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021_03_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

Contrary to what you may have heard or read, the collection of application fees for the amateur radio service and certain other services will NOT begin on April 19, 2021.

Although April 19, 2021 is the date the rules in the FCC Report and Order adopted last December generally take effect – i.e., one month after the R&O was published in the March 19, 2021 Federal Register – certain parts of those rules, including collection of the application fees for the amateur radio service, will NOT begin on that date.

The effective date for new amateur radio fees has not yet been established. The FCC explicitly states in the published Notice that the fees will not take effect until:

• the requisite notice has been provided to Congress; AND
• the FCC’s information technology systems and internal procedures have been updated; AND
• the Commission publishes [FUTURE] notice(s) in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of such rules.

The League’s counsel for FCC matters estimates that the effective start date for collecting the fees will be some time this summer, but regardless of the exact timing we will have advance notice.

The February, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021_02_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

Irv McWherter, K3IRV has started creating a series of officer biographies. These will be linked from the officer's names on the Section Officials page. The first is now available. It is about our Section Manager, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC.

The January, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021-01_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The December, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_12_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

See https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/AUXCOMMServiceAwardsfor2020.html for a listing of the 2020 AUXCOMM Service Award recepients. The North Carolina Section did well. These awards and recognitions were conferred by DHS-CISA-ECD and originally posted publicly at https://www.facebook.com/groups/466989700032535 on January 1, 2021.

The November, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_11_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The October, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_10_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The September, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-09_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The FCC issued a notice on 8/28/2020 that it intends to update its fee structure in response to a directive from Congress to raise revenue and to capture the cost of processing various applications. One of the proposals in a very long document is to charge a $50 application fee for new, renewed or vanity call amateur radio licenses, all of which currently carry no fee. More information is available in the September 1, 2020 Newsletter and at http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-to-reinstate-amateur-radio-service-fees.

A list of NC Senators and Congressional Representatives is available at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NC.

The August 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-08_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The July , 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-07_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

North Carolina Emergency Management has asked Auxcomm to be ready to provide backup communications should the need arise as a result of Hurricane Isaias.

Auxcomm leadership is currently engaged in adapting its Emergency Communications Plan to a unique situation which has never occurred before since a hurricane will be occurring within a nationwide Pandemic. The Pandemic will limit the amount and type of assistance that North Carolina will have available to respond to areas affected by the hurricane.

For details, see Hurricane Isaias AUXCOMM Bulletin #1.

If you are an AUXCOMM member, please fill out the attached questionnaire (word docx) and submit as instructed.

The June, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at www.ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.html

The May, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.xlsx -- opens up in Microsoft Excel

• The Shelby Amateur Radio club announced on June 11 that the 2020 Shelby Hamfest will not be held. See shelbyhamfest.com for more information.
• The Cary Amateur Radio club announced on June 12 that the 2020 Cary Midsummer Swapfest is also canceled.
• Contact your local club for specific information about Field Day. Field day is happening this year. Many clubs are holding it using home stations under the special 2020 only rules. A few clubs are having modified on-site versions of their regular events.

Follow the ncarrl Facebook page for the latest announcements. Please inform the Section Manager, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC (wa4nc@arrl.org) and the Webmaster (ncarrl-webmaster@nc.rr.com) of future changes.

A Message to the NC AUXCOMM Community (word)

The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) outbreak is causing considerable social and economic disruption around the world, as well as in the United States. Each new day brings reports of areas affected and additional persons positively diagnosed. A State of Emergency in North Carolina directed that public schools close for two weeks and that universities and community colleges switch to remote course delivery. Questions have been raised as to what Auxcomm is doing in response to this situation.

• There is no communications emergency and we have not been assigned a mission. All primary communications systems are operating properly.
• Each Auxcomm operator is advised to check their equipment and resolve any issues with batteries and antennas during this standby period.
• Each of us should avoid situations which would expose us and our families to the COVID-19 virus. Follow CDC Guidelines to avoid crowds greater than 50 persons and rigorously practice hand washing.
• Check on neighbors, particularly the elderly and those persons with compromised immune systems and chronic diseases; do what you can to insure that they continue to have adequate food and water.
• If you become aware of a critical shortage of food or fuel or an extended communications or power outage affecting your community, you should advise your County Emergency Management Agency and the undersigned

If there is a change in the tasking situation for Auxcomm personnel, you will be contacted. Meanwhile, make sure that all of your contact information in the Auxcomm database is correct.

RARSfest 2020 that was scheduled for April 11. It will not be rescheduled. See https://www.rarsfest.org/ for information on refunds of pre-payments.

Not a NC event, but many people in NC attend: Dayton Hamvention 2020 has also been cancelled.

If you have any further cancellations of statewide interest to announce, send them to webmaster@nc.rr.com and to our Section Manager, Karl W4CHX, w4chx@arrl.org

The QCWA meeting scheduled for March 21 in Siler City NC has been cancelled. It will not be rescheduled.

Down East Hamfest in Kinston will not be held on April 4 as scheduled. The venue, Lenoir Community College has cancelled all events for at least 30 days. They hope to reschedule at a later date.

If you have any further cancellations of statewide interest to announce, send them to webmaster@nc.rr.com and to our Section Manager, Karl W4CHX, w4chx@arrl.org

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC of Boone will be the new ARRL NC Section Manager beginning April 1, 2020.

Marv WA4NC is a Life Member and former President of the Watauga Amateur Radio Club. His primary interest is emergency communications. Marv WA4NC is credentialed by the NC Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) as a COML Type III AHIMT; a credentialed COMT; and, he is a member of NCEM’s Western Branch Incident Management Team. Marv WA4NC is currently the Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (Area 12) for NC ARES-NC AUXCOMM. In addition, Marv WA4NC is an ECD-recognized Instructor of the AUXCOMM curriculum. In 2015, Marv WA4NC received the KB4C – Miriam Smith Memorial Award, which 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. Marv WA4NC is one of the most active amateurs in western NC and presently hosts three VHF/UHF repeaters (2 DMR, 1 FM analog) in the “high country” area. Dr. Hoffman is a retired faculty member from Appalachian State University. Marv WA4NC holds an Amateur Extra license.

I have known and worked with Marv WA4NC for an extended period and I am very confident he will provide outstanding leadership for the NC Section. Please take the time to meet Marv WA4NC and support him as the new ARRL NC Section Manager.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be your Section Manager. Your friendship and support made Section Manager tasks easier and fun. As always, thanks for all that you are doing for amateur radio and for your community. It is appreciated greatly!

Former NC Section Manager, Dr. John Malloy Clayton Covington III, W4CC (SK) of Charlotte, NC became a Silent Key on April 17, 2019. John was the NC Section Manager from 2000 – 2006. He was a great friend to all and he will be missed. For further information, see this obituary.