[HIham] SM Report Pacific Section March 2013

[Robert Schneider]

This report is for March 2013. 

Field day information is up including maps to FD sites.  So far two sites appear in the Pacific Section in Hawaii State.  Where are the rest of you?  There is no Kauai or Oahu only one on Hawaii and one on Maui.  Also missing are Guam, CNMI and American Samoa.  Remember it is the fourth full weekend in June or June 22/23 not the “last” weekend as many people believe.

Both the March and April QST have articles concerning activities in the Pacific Section.  In the March Issue on page 131 is a write up about KH6BB on the USS Missouri and the Battleship Missouri Amateur Radio Club.  Since the March issue is focused on antennas, it talks about the need to upgrade the antennas and asks for donations to help the cause.  Also in March were the results of the 2012 IARU World HF Championships held in July 2012.  There were several Hawaiian Stations mentioned however WH7M (K1YR op) made 1,667,079 points and KH6LC (NH6V op) made a total of 1,490,580 points.  In April there is a write up about the International Humanitarian Award bestowed by the ARRL Board at its Annual meeting on page 78.  Also in April on page 93 is an article about Jim Kennedy, K6MIO/KH6 and his six meter work.  Also included is his picture.

Below is a listing of clubs in the Pacific Section of ARRL.  Most clubs have had their elections and it is past time to pay this year’s dues.  Please let your SM know of coming events & news.  We hope to be welcoming a new ARRL affiliated school club shortly.  It is the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Radio Club (HPARC). Their “mentor” club is the Kohala Hamakua Radio Club (Which is also an ARRL affiliated club).  Schools and senior centers require only one ARRL member to qualify for ARRL affiliation whereas regular clubs require over 50% membership in ARRL to remain active.  The Pacific Section webpage is:  http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/pacific-section.  It now contains this SM report.  Each affiliated club should send in an activities report to ARRL at least once every year or they are put on inactive status however once an affiliated club, always an affiliated club.  Inactive clubs need only send in an activities report to revert back.  For more information go to: http://www.arrl.org/club-update 

The Kauai ARC website is:  http://www.kauaiarc.org/ 
Their last report to ARRL was April 18, 2012.  Their Meeting is the 1st Monday at 7PM at KIUC Main Office, 4463 Pahee Street in Lihue.  Check their website for a map. Their affiliation Date is Jan 19, 1977.  They should be updating their annual report to ARRL ASAP.  

On Saturday, March 30, 2013, the club has a class on Digital Communication using Fldigi at 9:00 AM at the KIUC Conference Room - 4463 Pahee Street in Lihue.  The Saturday morning workshop will be a hands-on event utilizing the Fldigi program for radio amateurs interested in digital communications.  Please download the latest version of Fldigi, Flwrap, and Flmsg to your laptop computer and bring it and a handheld radio to the workshop.  The free downloads are available at:  http://www.w1hkj.com/download.html. This workshop is free and open to the public.  All Emergency Coordinators (EC) and amateurs interested in emergency communications are encouraged to attend.  For more information please contact Tad Miura ZSSQ at hotmail.com, John Montalbano, KH6JMM at hawaii.rr.com or Bob Anderson KH6AS at att.net 

Saturday, April 27, 2013, is the MS Walk at Kapa’a Beach Park. Volunteers are needed for communications support. KARC helped these folks last year, and they really appreciated it and have asked for assistance again this year. The event is on Saturday April 27 at Kapa'a Beach Park.  Check in 15:30 to get checked in get assignments, etc.  They would like 2-meter simplex communications help at 3 to 4 locations along the walk.  Please call 320-3897 for more information.

New breakfast venue at The Feral Pig (formerly The Tiki Room and Main Street Diner) located in Harbor Mall at Nawiliwili. Folks begin arriving around 0730. Remember to get your parking ticket validated (while the attendant is hardly ever there for Saturday breakfast, it's a good idea to validate just in case).

In their last testing session they had four new technicians, two generals and one extra. They test about every three months with the next license exam Saturday May, 11, 2013.  

The Emergency ARC website is:  http://www.earchi.org  
Their last report to ARRL was Jan 31, 2013 so they are up to date.  Their meeting is on the 3rd Tuesday at 7PM (except June & Dec) at the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 46, 891 Valkenburgh St. Honolulu.  Their next meeting is April 16th. Their affiliation Date is Jan 12, 1987.  Contact G.Lo at wh7bte at yahoo.com and let her know what you are bringing for the potluck.  

The annual Hawaii State Science Fair is April 7 to 9, 2013.  We are looking for those that would like to be judges on behalf of the EARC. If you would like to participate please contact Wayne by email at kh6mei at earchi.org ASAP. Judging will take place on Monday April 8.

The Honolulu Amateur Radio Club (HARC) new website address is: http://ham.aditl.com/harc  
Thanks to Jim, WH6GS for the updated information.  Jim also said that a good website for Hawaii Amateur Radio information in general is: http://ham.aditl.com. HARC meets on the 3rd Saturday at 9:00 AM on odd months only (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov).  They meet at Sizzlers in Aiea. Your SM was at the March meeting.  Their next meeting will be May 18.

The Koolau Amateur Radio Club website is: http://www.karc.net/ .  Their last annual report was sent in Feb 22, 2012 so a report is due from them.  They meet on the second Saturday at 9:30 AM. At Ho’omaluhia Park in Kaneohe.  The next meeting is Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 9:30AM at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Park in Kaneohe. Their affiliation is from Jun 20, 2000.

NEW REPEATER: Kimo KH7U and Clem KH7HO announced the installation of a new repeater at Puu Papaa (makai end of Oneawa Hills) in Kailua. Freq. is 147.0+ MHz with 103.5 Hz PL tone. It is hoped that this repeater will give Windward coverage from Makapuu to Laie, and possibly Kahuku. Eventually this repeater will be linked with others, so upon accessing please give it a second or two to link. (This is good advice for any linked system.  SM note)

PRESENTATIONS: Clem Jung KH7HO related his "Experiences and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy." Clem volunteered as a Hawaii State Civil Defense "EMAC Resource" to help with the recovery and cleanup from Hurricane Sandy in the various NYC Boroughs. Amazing, what damage a 'minor' Category 1 storm can bring on, especially in shoreline areas.

HAWAII QSO PARTY:  Joe AH0A said that the latest version of HI QSO Rules is on line. In addition to the NiMM logging program, two new ones are being adopted: SD and Genlog. The contest website is www.hawaiiQSOParty.org .  Also noted that financial support of HI QSO Party is needed and being solicited from any interested individuals or Clubs. For example, EARC has already committed to the cause. The funds support the costs of preparing and mailing out certificates and other like expenditures those individuals should not be expected to bear.  

MOVED: Walt AH6OZ; SECONDED: Dennis KH7MU: KARC provides $150.00 to support HI QSO Party expenses. PASSED, unanimously.

FIELD DAY: Kevin AH6QO: Never too early to get the ball rolling on this. At this point, we've established that, yes; we do want to have a Field Day at Kualoa Park. The snags encountered at the 2011 Field Day seem to have been ironed out. 

The Waikiki ARC seems to have only the ARRL club listing website:  http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/waikiki-amateur-radio-club/type:club  That site contains a lot of information.  Their last report was Mar 27 so they are the most up to date club. They meet every Tue at 7AM for breakfast at the Sizzlers in Aiea.  Their Affiliation Date: Sep 10th 2008.  

The Pacific Radio Amateur Transmitting Society has only the ARRL club listing website however that website says their regular website is under construction.  Their last report was Sept 15, 2008 so they are overdue for a report to ARRL HQ.  Contact KH6BZF for more information about the club.  They were affiliated with ARRL July 13, 1976.  

The Maui ARC website is:  http://www.kh6rs.org/ .  Their last Annual Report was Jun 13th 2012 so they have three month before their report is due.   Their regular meeting is on the second Wednesday of each month at 7PM in the basement of the CD EOC in the Maui County building also known as 200 South High St.  (Except December).  

The Maui RACES repeater on 147.02+ MHz requires a sub-audible tone of 103.5 Hz for access.  There is an unconfirmed report that the 146.94- repeater now requires a 100 Hz tone.

The Maui Amateur Radio License Examination Schedule for this year is:
Saturday, April 6, 2013 - Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Saturday, December 7, 2013.  Persons planning to take an Amateur Radio license examination should pre-register at least two weeks before the scheduled exam date. Send email to kh6h at arrl.net or call Mel, KH6H, at 250-4591 and leave voice mail, including your email address.  If no one pre-registers, the exam session will be cancelled.  Maui VE (volunteer examiner) sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Maui County Civil Defense Emergency Operating Center, 200 S. High Street in Wailuku.  Exam dates and location are subject to change. Pre-registered candidates will be notified of changes in the exam date or location. Before the exam, you will receive a confirmation email with more information, including directions to the exam site.  The 2013 ARRL/VEC exam fee is $15.00. Bring a check or cash.

The Big Island ARC website is: www.biarc.net . They last sent in a report May 02nd 2012 so their reports are up to date. They meet at 2PM on the 2nd Saturday Monthly at 2 PM at the Keaau Community Center. Their Affiliation Date: May 20th 1978

President Barbara Darling, NH7FY and her husband Richard, AH7G, just got back from their extended vacation to the South Pacific and New Zealand.  Vice President Doug Wilson, KH7DQ has been running the show in her absence.  

Milt said a record 16 candidates tested Feb 21 with 14 passing including two who also took and passed the General.  The new General class started March 14.  The next Testing will be April 25.  Contact Milt Nodacker, AH6I, at 965-6471 for more information or write nodacker at gmail.com 

Congratulation go to Rob Van Geen, NH6V, who operated KH6LC in the November 2012 Phone SS contest.  He took first place in the A or low power division with a score of 273,568 points with 1,648 QSO’s and all 83 multipliers.  Also see the second paragraph of this report about write-ups in QST magazine. Go to:  http://www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles 

Kona Amateur Radio Society webpage is:  http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~veillet/hwars.html  . Their last report to ARRL was Mar 27th 2009 so they are overdue. KARS meets on the third Sunday, which will be April 21, from 2PM to 5PM at Wawaloli Beach Park at NELHA.  They affiliated on Jan 12, 1987.  The potluck food theme is healthy food in celebration of Earth Day.

The Kohala Hamakua RC (KHRC) website:  http://www.hamradioandmore.com/khrc.htm
Their last report was Aug 27, 2008 so they are also a little behind in their annual report.  Their next meeting is Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7PM (aka 1900W) at Hawai`i Preparatory Academy (HPA), Energy Lab, in Waimea. The street address is 65-1692 Kohala Mountain Rd (Hwy 250).  They became affiliated with ARRL on Aug 7, 2006.  Lately their meeting place has been changing to check before you go.  

Eric Grabowski, KH6CQ, DEC for North Hawaii, has been sending out periodic reports on the North Hawaii repeater project and other happenings in his area.  Eric lives in Waikoloa and the repeater will be located on the northwestern slope of Mauna Kea at a Parker Ranch Pump site.  The frequency 147.84/24 has been coordinated but is not published since the repeater is not yet in operation.  In his report Eric details the hardware he already has and what he needs.  He said Bill, KH6BI, has sent the proposal to Parker Ranch and is waiting for their final decision in writing.  For those of you unfamiliar with how to put up a repeater, this planning, permission and general paperwork part of the process can be harder than actually putting up the machine.  

The Hilo ARC last sent in a report Aug 30th 2012 so they are up to date.  They meet daily 6:30-8:30 AM at Jack in the Box Hilo.  Their Affiliation Date: May 19th 1999.  This club is actually the oldest on the Island of Hawaii however there was a break in existence of several years until former Section Manager Dean Manley, KH6B and several others reactivated it.  They also sponsor the Council of Radio Club which meets once monthly at various restaurants in East Hawaii for lunch.

The Hawaii QRP club last sent in a report Aug 30th 2012 so they are up to date too.  They also meet daily with a listed time of 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM at “Jack In the Box” however the time varies depending on who comes.  It is very informal.   Their Affiliation Date:  is Jul 20th 2000

The Hawaii DX Association has become less active with the loss of several key members.  Their last report was Jun 15th 2009. Their Affiliation date was July 20, 2000.  These two websites are still active however the tripod site has an excess of advertisement and is almost unusable.  They both contain good information.  http://hiqrpclub.homestead.com
http://hawaii.dx.tripod.com/

The Marianas ARC website is: https://sites.google.com/site/ah2gmarc/home
However it is out of date.  They last sent in a report Jan 06th 2010 so they are overdue.   They meet on for first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM.  Their Affiliation Date: Mar 13th 1954.  Their next meeting is April 2, 2013. Beware of the dateline when figuring time and date as they are one day ahead of Hawaii. The meeting is at the KSTO radio studio on Nimitz Hill.  There is plenty of parking behind the building on the lower level. Entry to the meeting room is from the south side of the building.  There is also another website with some Guam information however it is also sadly out of date.  MARIANA ISLANDS DX ASSOCIATION NH2DX  The website www.guamham.com does not work.

Your SM visited the South Point ARC or “SPARC” near South Point on Dec 2.  They meet on the first Sunday at Noon at Manuka State park.  

There has been no news from American Samoa or in the last several months.

Ron Hashiro’s webpage always has a good collection of news of local happenings.  See:
http://www.qsl.net/a/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html .  Look especially at the 2013 events.

Hawaii's Official Amateur Radio Repeater Coordination Site is: http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/ .  


73,
Bob Schneider – AH6J
ARRL Pacific Section Manager
ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™ ah6j at arrl.org
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