ARRL NC Section Newsletter
Posted Jul 25, 2014
Greetings to all Hams across North Carolina from Karl W4CHX, your ARRL NC Section Manager!
HR 4969 AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2014 AND THE ARRL GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN – The following announcement is an alert that your help is needed during the next few weeks. Recently, there have been 2 announcements from the ARRL regarding HR 4969 Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014. This bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives and it calls on the FCC to apply the "reasonable accommodation" three-part test of the PRB-1 federal pre-emption policy to private land-use restrictions, such as neighborhoods with antenna restrictions enforced by Home Owner Associations (HOAs). Antenna relief in neighborhoods with private Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) is critical in North Carolina because, according to the North Carolina Home Owners Association, 62% of housing units in the state fall under HOAs, and the 2007 state antenna law does not apply to HOAs. HR 4969 would overturn private CC&Rs.
HR 4969 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), chairs that panel's
Communications and Technology Subcommittee, which will consider the
measure. According to the article which was posted on June 26th, ARRL
Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB said the most urgent task
now is to get additional co-sponsors to sign onto HR 4969. For further
information on the first announcement, see
In July, a follow-up article was published regarding a grassroots
effort, which was underway to encourage radio amateurs to promote
co-sponsorship of HR 4969 Amateur Radio Parity Act. The grassroots
campaign is focused on contacting Members of Congress or their staffers
at or through their district offices. The article discussed strategies
for making such contacts. The primary point that needs to be
communicated is that the greatest threat to Amateur Radio volunteer
emergency and public service communications is restrictions that
prohibit the installation of outdoor antenna systems. For further
information, see
Other links regarding HR 4969 Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014 include:
>From the standpoint of clubs and individual members, it is recommend
that discussions are initiated about HR 4969 Amateur Radio Parity Act,
that decisions are made about the grassroots actions that could be
pursued, and that letters are prepared. Please note that specific
"talking points" need to be included in the letter. Again, the
supplemental information at
Thanks to Bill Morine, N2COP, Assistant Section Manager; John Doolos, WB5EVF; Gerry Agliata, W2GLA; Chuck Decourt, W3WZN, State Government Liaison; and, Steve Ewald, WV1X, ARRL Supervisor, Field Organization Team, for their assistance with this matter!
ARRL AND FEMA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AT NATIONAL CENTENNIAL
CONVENTION – ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the
ARRL and FEMA on July 18th at the ARRL National Centennial Convention
2014. The MOA will enhance cooperation between the League and the
federal agency in the area of disaster communication. Fugate was the
keynote speaker at the ARRL National Centennial Banquet later that
evening, with more than 800 people in attendance. For further
information, see
To read the full text of the Memorandum of Agreement, see
W1AW CENTENNIAL QSO PARTY – Even though the ARRL National Centennial
Convention is over, the 100th anniversary of the ARRL is still being
celebrated! The W1AW Centennial QSO Party is still “on the air”
and it consists of two main activities: 1) portable operation of W1AW
in each state and most territories; and, 2) The Centennial Points
Challenge which is the accumulation of points from qualifying contacts
made throughout 2014. For further information on the W1AW Centennial
QSO Party, see
COMMENTS FROM TIM SLAY, N4IB ABOUT KEEPING YOUR ARRL-AFFILIATED CLUB
ACTIVE – In the last two newsletters, I described some of the
requirements and benefits of ARRL affiliation. Once your club is
affiliated, it stays affiliated. But you need to update the club’s
records at ARRL HQ at least once per year. An on-line form is
available for this at
NC MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR AND SPECIAL EVENT STATION, N4F (September 5-14) – Several months ago, I became aware of an initiative undertaken by amateur radio clubs in western North Carolina to introduce amateur radio to the attendees of the NC Mountain State Fair. This Fair, a major event, extends over a 10-day period and last year, it attracted more than 190,000 people. The club members staffed their fair booth and they ran a special event station, N4F, during the Fair. I was impressed, to say the least! The clubs want to repeat their efforts for 2014. Since it is believed that you would like to know what these clubs are doing to promote amateur radio, I asked Howard Hazelrigg, W4PH of Asheville and Philip Jenkins, N4HF of Fairview to provide information about their experience. Here is their edited report:
The NC Mountain State Fair – held for 10 days the second week in September at the Agricultural Center near the Asheville Airport – has had various ham radio demo stations over the years, but on a small scale, and not every year. The Road Show ARC, which is based in Skyland, NC, contacted as many ham clubs in western NC as we could find. We visited several of those clubs with a PowerPoint presentation to show exactly what our plans were and to solicit their help. It was not possible for the Road Show ARC to do it alone. The following clubs contributed greatly by providing manpower (set up, break down, operating, answering visitors' questions) and financial support: Blue Ridge ARC (Henderson County), Haywood County ARC, CARGO (Catamount Amateur Radio Group, the Western Carolina University radio club), and Cleveland County Amateur Radio Service. In addition, other individuals were welcomed as well to help with the effort.
We had a large tent for the general public with information and demonstrations, including: D-STAR; Echolink; IRLP; APRS; WinLink; MARS; an SDR receiver (paired with a Drake tube transmitter!); a MESH (Broadband- Hamnet) network with cameras linked to the internet; videos on the history and contributions of ham radio, and the facets of ham radio; and, a quite popular 2 meter GOTA station. Behind the tent, there was a smaller operations trailer where the Special Event Station contacts were made. Icom generously loaned the Road Show ARC two high-end HF rigs, a D-STAR mobile rig, and a D-STAR HT.
Even with all of this manpower, we still had expenses, so we solicited private and business sponsors, either for equipment loans or cash donations. We didn't expect to make money, but neither did we expect to go into the hole like we did. To that end, we decided for this year's effort – and we already have verbal commitments from several of the clubs who participated last year – to have the funds up front for such expenses.
This year, we welcome ham visitors from wherever – not just NC – to come and visit, to help with logistics (set up, breakdown) and operating, and especially, to answer questions from our non-ham visitors and explain the demonstrations. We had visitors in 2013 who had been inactive, but are now on the air again; visitors who had never heard of ham radio, but are now licensed; and, visitors who had always wanted to get into ham radio, but had been putting it off or didn't know any hams, etc. Our goal for the Fair last year was to license 50 new hams. We know of at least 15 individuals who got their license, either directly or indirectly, because of the Fair. We can do even better than that this year!
The NC Mountain State Fair will be held at the Western North Carolina
Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC and it will run from September
5-14, 2014. For further information, see
GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY PROCLAIMS JULY “AMATEUR RADIO RECOGNITION AND
APPRECIATION MONTH” – Although this has been reported previously,
here is the link to the proclamation,
MEDIA HITS – The following media hits are included in this month’s newsletter: During the week of June 23-27, 2014, members of the Carteret County Amateur Radio Society visited the Croatan Trails Cub Scout Day Camp at Camp Sam Hatcher, Broad Creek (NC). They set up a “hands-on” amateur radio display and answered questions about ham radio. Participants included Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE; Sterling Hudson, N4WKG; John Hopkins, KJ4EJH; and, Joe Frohwitter, WO3F. Thanks to Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE, ARRL PIO, NC Section, for providing this information!
On the Field Day activities of Forsyth Amateur Radio Club and 6
year-old Frankie Lansing, KM4CBQ, believed to be the youngest licensed
ham in NC, see
On July 2nd, the Iredell County Amateur Radio Society Field Day exercise was featured on WSIC 1400am – TV 21.2. Thanks to Howard Hecht, W1HO for providing this information!
On the Field Day activities of the Union County Amateur Radio Society,
see
On July 9th, Michael Callam, KD4UJC, discussed amateur radio and the
Johnston County Amateur Radio Emergency Service during an interview on
WARZ TV 34, see
On July 12th, the following report regarding Hurricane Arthur in NC was provided by Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE, ARRL PIO, NC Section: Members of the Onslow County Amateur Radio Club helped repair a 2 meter antenna damaged by Hurricane Arthur the week before, July 3-4 2014. The eye of the storm touched down on Cape Lookout in Carteret County at 11:15 PM with over 100 mph winds, Category 2. The outer bands of the storm reached many miles causing power outages and flooding all along its trip through North Carolina, leaving through the Outer Banks later on July 4th. Newport SKYWARN was activated at 4:00 PM, July 3rd, by NWS Newport Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Cole. Newport SKYWARN EC John Hopkins, KJ4EJH and Net Control Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE ran the net from 4:00 PM, July 3rd through 12:15 AM, July 4th using multiple repeaters and an IRLP link to reach all 15 counties in our SKYWARN. We were in touch with NWS Newport and NHC Miami as well as NC AUXCOMM. The local Crystal Coast was well represented with ARES members in the counties of Onslow, Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret. County ECs Jeff Thigpen WM4YD, Ed Wafford W4EDW, Mike Hurm K4HPS, and Bob Chambers K4GRW worked with their EOCs staffing ARES nets and shelters through out the storm. Thanks to Janice Hopkins, KJ4JPE, ARRL PIO, NC Section, for providing this information!
On the Hurricane Watch Net activities during Hurricane Arthur, see
On the 29th Annual Firecracker Hamfest, Rowan Amateur Radio Society,
July 12th, see
NTS SECTION TRAFFIC REPORT FOR JUNE, 2014 – QNI (total check-ins): 2,679; Total messages passed: 638. Station Activity Reports (SARs), total number: K4IWW 404, WK4WC 213, W4DNA 195, W2EAG 184, AK4RJ 173, WB4ZIQ 135, KC4PGN 88, KJ4JPE 75, KF4OCU 65, W4TTO 64, KK4BVR 60, KE4AHC 45, N2RTF 26, WB4Y 18. Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR), total number: W4DNA 400, KJ4JPE 250, KK4BVR 200, K4IWW 180, WB4ZIQ 170, WK4WC 160, AK4RJ 130, W4TTO 115, W2EAG 110, N2RTF 106, KF4OCU 80, WB4Y 68. Thanks to Dave Roy, W4DNA, Section Traffic Manager, for providing this information!
PUBLIC SERVICE – Please consider checking into the Ham Public Service
Net, which meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM EST on the Carolina
440 Link System. The Ham Public Service Net is a great place to learn
about public service events that need your participation or it can be
used to solicit help for your upcoming public service activity. For
further information, including the location of a 440 MHz repeater close
to you, go to
SILENT KEYS – An email communication has been received about a Silent Key. However, it is not possible to post information about amateur radio operators that have become Silent Keys without confirmation via a copy of an obituary or death certificate.
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS –
September 4-15: North Carolina Mountain State Fair, 1900Z-0500Z, N4F,
Fairview, NC, sponsored by The Road Show Amateur Radio Club, Inc. 40 20
15 10 Meters; 7.245. Certificate and QSL. The Road Show Amateur Radio
Club, Inc, 57 Echo Lake Dr, Fairview, NC 28730. Check website
throughout the event for live video feed and current operating
frequency. Send SASE for QSL, Large SASE ($0.98 postage) and $5 for QSL
and Certificate. For information, contact Mountain State Fair Special
Event Chairman at
UPCOMING HAMFESTS –
July 26: WCARS Hamfest 2014, Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society,
Waynesville, NC,
QUA* – I had a great time at the ARRL National Centennial Convention 2104! I departed Raleigh on Wednesday (7/16), and drove to Hartford, CT. That journey took longer than expected! The next morning (7/17), I attended DX University, a series of presentations for individuals interested in DX and DXpeditions.
On Friday and Saturday (7/18-19), I assisted at the convention registration booth in the morning. It was great seeing friends and making new acquaintances during this time! Thereafter, I visited the exhibit hall featuring ARRL program representatives, amateur radio manufacturers and sellers, and a small indoor flea market; and, listened to several presentations. In addition, I attended the ARRL Centennial Banquet with keynote speaker, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, KK4INZ (Friday evening); the ARRL Wouff Hong Ceremony (Friday, 10:00 PM); the Presidents Breakfast (Saturday morning); and, the closing ceremony (Saturday afternoon). I toured ARRL headquarters and W1AW on Friday afternoon. I left Hartford on Sunday morning and drove to Reston, VA to visit my son, Brooks K4BRX. On Monday afternoon, I returned to Raleigh.
I thought the highlights of the ARRL National Centennial Convention
were the luncheon on Thursday (7/17) featuring guest speaker, ARRL
First Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR (“…..what is your
legacy?”); DX University; the presentations by FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ (Friday evening) and Nobel Prize winner, Joe
Taylor, K1JT (Saturday noon); and, the Section Manager meetings. For
further information on Dr. Taylor’s presentation, see
Over the next 6 weeks or so, I plan on attending the WCARS Hamfest in Waynesville (7/26); the CFARS Swapfest in Fayetteville (8/23); and, the NC State Convention/Shelby Hamfest in Shelby (8/30-31). I look forward to seeing you at one of these events!
In closing, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions or want to provide input on our Section. I can be reached via
email at