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NORTH CAROLINA SECTION NEWS - February, 2013

Posted Feb 23, 2013

NC QSO PARTY THIS WEEKEND - Starting this Sunday, February 24th, at 10:00 AM Local (1500 UTC), the NC QSO Party will kick off. Even if you're the most casual of operators, get on the air this weekend and show some Tar Heel pride to the world. Two of the most popular logging programs - N1MM and N3FPJ's AC Log - have updates available to incorporate this year's changes. The significant modifications are the two hour earlier starting and ending times respectively of 10:00 AM Local (1500 UTC) and 8:00 PM Local (0059 UTC Feb. 25), plus 6 and 2 meter categories. Keep an ear out for the "Expedition" classes of operators who will operate from less populous counties, and for the bonus categories: NI4BK aboard retired Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, Raleigh Amateur Radio Society's W4DW, and stations from Cherokee and Dare counties. Full details are available at: www.ncqsoparty.org Good luck and let's get lots of North Carolina stations on the air.

NORTH CAROLINA'S YOUNGEST HAM is 5 year old Ethan Kemp, KK4ORG, of Fairview. Ethan passed the Technician exam at WCARS's February 21st test session in Asheville. Ethan is the son of proud parents Kevin, KK4LMP, and Mitzi, KK4OJD, Kemp. Preliminary research suggests Ethan might currently be the nation's youngest Amateur Radio operator.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - For those deserving young Hams who missed the February 1st deadline for ARRL scholarships, there is still time to apply for scholarships from F.A.R., the Foundation for Amateur Radio. Many high school senior and present college students may qualify for scholarships to help with their higher learning expenses, including graduate studies. Make a note for ARRL's next application period of October 1 - February 1 for a deserving young operator. Meanwhile, the deadline for F.A.R. scholarships is April 15th. More information at: http://www.farweb.org/2013-scholarship-application

COMMENTS WELCOMED - One of the things ARRL does on behalf of Amateur Radio is to advocate with federal and international regulators. The Western Hemisphere falls under Region 2 of the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union), the international body which coordinates Amateur Radio frequencies and use. ARRL is seeking comments on proposed IARU revisions which would bring 40 meter CW and digital modes in Region 2 into alignment with Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia) and Region 3 (China, SE Asia and Australia/New Zealand). IARU bandplan recommendations are just that - recommendations - and are not codified by the FCC, however once adopted are generally observed. In IARU Region 2, narrow band modes are permitted 7.0-7.125 MHz. The IARU proposal would be to cut narrow mode use from 7.0 to 7.04 MHz in Region 2. You can learn more about this at http://www.arrl.org/news/iaru-region-2-seeks-input-on-hf-band-plan If you'd like to make comments, ARRL needs your comments soon so go to the hyperlink above to learn how to file them.

HAMFESTS - Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, Charlotte Hamfest, Cabarrus Arena & Event Center 4751 Highway 49 North, Concord, NC 28025. Talk-In: 146.655 (minus) No Tone. More information at: www.charlottehamfest.org Saturday, March 30, RARSfest (North Carolina State Convention), Jim Graham Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Talk-In: 146.64 (minus) No Tone. Details at: http://www.rars.org/hamfest

PUBLIC SERVICE - Saturday, March 2, Odyssey Of The Mind (OOTM), Chapel Hill. More information at http://rars.org/public-service.php

SPECIAL EVENTS - March 16 & 17, N4G, Battle of Guilford Courthouse Commemoration, Greensboro. Details at www.w4gso.org/n4g

LICENSING CLASSES - General level class, February 28 to April 11, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Skyland Fire Dept., Skyland. Details at: http://www.arrl.org/courses/skyland-nc-28776-9

NTS JANUARY SECTION TRAFFIC REPORT - QNI (total check-ins) 3082. TOTAL MESSAGES PASSED 672. STATION ACTIVITY REPORT (SARs) W2EAG 258, W4DNA 234, WK4P 119, KS4PG 99, WB4ZIQ 98, KC4PGN 92, WB4Y 85, W4TTO 55, K4IWW 49, KJ4RUD 49, AK4RJ 47, W3HL 46, KE4AHC 45, K4JUU 40, KJ4JPE 35, KK4BVR 28, N2RTF 24. PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR ROLL (PSHR) WK4P 175, W4DNA 160, WB4ZIQ 155, K4IWW 130, KJ4JPE 130, AK4RJ 120, W4TTO 120, W2EAG 110, KK4BVR 108, K4JUU 105, KJ4RUD 100, N2RTF 89, KS4PG 85, WB4Y 85.

SILENT KEYS - we regret to report the passing of the following operators: Andy Griffith, W4ULD, Morehead City; Edward Breeden, N4SSU, Raleigh; Milton Saxman, KB3GIR, Seagrove; Randy McCray, K4XRM, Durham; Ron Moore, N4JQS, Marshall; and Marv Whatley, AA4YW, Oriental. Marv was known for years both as an active NTS traffic handler and for his column in the SERA Journal, "Look At It This Way".

QUA* - This past week my lovely XYL, Pam, and I took a few days on Bald Head Island in Brunswick County. Bald Head Island, or "BHI" as the locals call it, is at the tip of Cape Fear and is the southernmost point in North Carolina. It's accessible only by ferry, and transportation on the island is only by golf cart. There are miles of pristine beaches, and that's where I set up my QRP station last Saturday. You can see my setup on my Facebook page. I crafted a vertical with some old telephone wire as radials. To my surprise, the world came booming in. I squeezed in a couple of QSOs on 17 and 30 meters before the snow clouds came in and the temperature plunged. It was the most fun I've had on the air in a while. Let's take that same kind of fun and apply it this Sunday in the NC QSO Party. I've preached enough about putting North Carolina on the air this weekend, but go out and have some fun. I'll be on board retired Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington and look forward to working you.

*QUA - CW net control signal meaning "Have you news for me?".

73 de Bill Morine, N2COP ARRL North Carolina Section Manager

Follow the North Carolina section on its webpage at www.ncarrl.org and on Facebook at NC ARRL

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ARRL North Carolina Section
Section Manager: Mr William C Morine, N2COP n2cop@arrl.org
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