[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff

[Bill]

Greetings to all,

June was a busy month for us in the SFL Section. Every week there was
either a club meeting, ARES event, government meeting, club picnic or
activity that I was able to attend, not to mention Field Day weekend. I
appreciate the opportunity to meet with our members at these various
activities in our section.

Field Day 2016 Report- Our annual SFL FD Tour conducted by ASM Barry
Porter, KB1PA and yours truly visited 13 FD sites operated by 16 clubs
in 6 counties. I received 5 FD messages from the following clubs: Boca
Raton ARA , Fort Myers ARC, Fort Pierce RC, Gold Coast ARA & Platinum
Coast ARS. Club PIO’s worked overtime to obtain print and electronic
media coverage of SFL FD operations as well as state, county and
municipal proclamations for Amateur Radio Week. Field Day is the most
popular event in Amateur Radio. I hope everyone had the opportunity to
participate in some capacity and had a meaningful, safe and enjoyable
FD experience.

After a delicious dinner at the Ft. Pierce/ Pt. St. Lucie club’s FD,
I had the pleasure to present Ft. Pierce RC President Harold Levy,
N3UY, the club longevity award for 55 years of ARRL affiliation.
Congratulations to all !

Please welcome Ricky Deluco, K4JTT as our new Assistant DEC for the
Space Coast District, Pete Rimmel, N8PR as a new Technical Specialist
and Ed Johnson, W2PH as a new Official Relay Station. Thanks for
joining Team SFL !

Our congratulations to Pete Rimmel, N8PR  in at placing 3rd worldwide
in the W1AW Chase with 2452 QSO’s with W1AW stations during the ARRL
Centennial.   Good show, Pete !

The 13 Colonies Special Event Gets Under Way on July 1

The eighth annual 13 Colonies Special Event takes place from 1300 UTC
on July 1 until 0400 UTC on July 7. Stations working the special event
station in at least one of the original 13 states — or all 15
participating stations — will be eligible for a certificate. A
Liberty Bell endorsement will be attached for stations contacting
sister special event station WM3PEN, in Philadelphia, where
independence was declared. Back this year, is a second sister station
GB13COL in Durham, England.

Stations will be on the air from each of the original 13 colonies —
Connecticut (K2D), Delaware (K2E), Georgia (K2G), Massachusetts (K2H),
Maryland (K2F), North Carolina (K2J), New Hampshire (K2K), New Jersey
(K2I), New York (K2A), Pennsylvania (K2M), Rhode Island (K2C), South
Carolina (K2L), and Virginia (K2B). All HF bands and all modes will be
in play, with the exception of 60 meters. Operation on 2 and 6 meter
simplex is encouraged.


FCC’s OET Clarifies Emissions Compliance Testing for RF LED Lighting
Devices

The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has clarified
that all RF LED lighting devices falling under Part 15 rules as
“unintentional radiators” must meet conducted and radiated
emissions limits set forth in those rules.
“Operation of Part 15 unintentional radiators is subject to the
condition that no harmful interference is caused,” the OET reminded,
in a knowledge database paper released on June 17. “Manufacturers and
users should therefore note that lighting devices are required to cease
operation, if harmful interference occurs.”

The OET said radiated emissions measurements must be performed at least
from 30 MHz to 1000 MHz to adequately demonstrate compliance with Part
15 (§15.109). Its guidance, the OET continued, applies to RF LED
lighting devices that, in the past, have been considered to operate on
frequencies below 1.705 MHz. Previously, devices operating between 9
kHz and 1705 kHz had to be tested only for radiated emissions up to 30
MHz, where no specified radiated emissions limits exist, and were
exempt from testing from 30 MHz to 1000 MHz. The OET said it recognizes
that routine radiated emissions measurements are needed under Part 15,
based on the highest frequency generated or used in the device.

“[W]e have found that emissions from RF LED lighting devices are
non-periodic, broadband in nature, and are produced as a byproduct of
the internal driver circuitry within the RF LED lighting device,” the
OET “knowledge data base” paper said. “These types of emissions
have adequate energy and potential to generate radiated emissions well
above 30 MHz.”
The ARRL Lab’s Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineer Mike Gruber,
W1MG, said he was pleased to see the FCC’s OET clarify the test
measurement requirements. He said ARRL is generally hearing more RFI
complaints stemming from RF LED bulbs.
“Not only are the emissions limits higher for Part 15 LED bulbs —
as opposed to Part 18 fluorescent and CFL bulbs, they seem to be
winning out in terms of consumer popularity,” Gruber said. “Higher
limits and more bulbs probably make for more complaints.” Gruber said
the Lab has seen LED lighting devices causing problems in the 2 meter
band. “Since conducted emissions limits do not apply above 30 MHz,
radiated emissions limits can be the first line of defense against RFI
at these higher frequencies.”
Gruber pointed out that noise generated by street and traffic lighting
can be widespread. In such instances, he suggested that Part 15b limits
for residential areas should apply. “These limits are lower than Part
15a limits, which are intended only for commercial and industrial
environments,” he explained. “This is especially critical in cases
where a pole transformer connected to the lighting device also feeds a
home or residence. The 240 V split-phase secondary system can conduct
RF into a residence through the service entrance panel.” He suggested
that the lower limits may benefit mobile users.

The OET noted that the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C63® -EMC
standards development committee is drafting measurement procedures for
lighting devices. “When complete, we expect it will address in
greater detail the measurement procedures and configurations to be used
in determining compliance,” the OET said.

ARRL to Sponsor 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar

The ARRL will sponsor a 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar on
Thursday, July 21, at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on Friday, July 22, UTC). The
approximately 90-minute session will address the role of Amateur Radio
during the 2016 Hurricane Season. Anyone interested in hurricane
preparedness and response is invited to attend this online
presentation.

Topics will include a meteorological overview of the upcoming season;
Amateur Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center: Who We
Are and What We Do; ARRL Media and Public Relations; the Hurricane
Watch Net (HWN); the VoIP Hurricane Net, and ARRL coordination and
interface.

The program will include presentations by representatives of the
National Hurricane Center and WX4NHC, the VoIP Hurricane Net, the HWN,
the Canadian Hurricane Centre, and the ARRL. Webinar registration is
open to all, but should be of particular interest to radio amateurs in
hurricane-prone areas. The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.

For additional information, contact ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager
Mike Corey, KI1U.

May EmComm report from SEC Larry, W4LWZ

Total number of ARES members: 440

Change since last month (+, -, same): +1

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 11

Number of ARES nets active: 11

Number of nets with NTS liaison: 3

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KC4SJU, K1UQE, AD4RZ, KB1PA, WA4ASJ,
WA4PAM, W9GPI, WW4RX, KJ4AWB, N4ZIQ, KK4ENJ.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 46

Person hours: 534.5

Number of public service events this month: 3

Person hours: 93

Number of emergency operations this month: 1

Person Hours: 13

Total number of ARES operations this month: 50

Total Person hours: 640.5

Comments: the Southern Florida Section participated in the statewide
hurricane drill Hurrex.  This was primarily a communications drill,
testing comms between the counties and the state capital.  The drill
was quite successful according to state officials.

May Traffic report from STM Mike, KM2V

SAR

CALL    TOTAL

WA4BAM    208
KE4CB    062
W9GPI    002
K9GZT    009
KK4KAH    005
K4KFF    144
KA3PYO    006
KR4ST    111
NT4TS    004
KM2V    155
W4ZE    020

PSHR

Callsign    Total

WA4BAM    110
KE4CB    130

K4KFF    110
KM2V    140

NETS
NET    ABB.    QNI    QTC    QND    SESS    MGR

All Florida CW Traffic Net     QFN    230    55    351    31  WA4BAM
Florida Medium Speed Net    FMSN    189    56    413    31  AG4RJ/AB4XK
Southeast Florida Traffic Net    SEFTN    495    67    767    32  KM2V
Southwest Florida Traffic Net    SWFTN    415    44    1625  27   
  KE4CB/N9WS

Happy Birthday to the FCC ! On July 1, 1934, the Federal Communications
Commission replaced the old Federal Radio Commission as the regulatory
agency for radio and telephone communications in the USA.

Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
following SFL members:

Charles M. “ Charlie “ Lord, NR2F of Coral Springs. Charlie was a
very active traffic handler and a member of many traffic nets including
the SEFTN.

James A. “ Jim “ Yelton, W4CMC of Hollywood. Jim was a member of
the Davie-Cooper City ARC. Services for Jim will be held on July 9th at
10:30 AM at “ Christ the Rock “ , 11000 Sterling Rd., Cooper City.

Well, I guess that’s about it for now. My thanks for all that
you do
for Amateur Radio. Get on the air, Elmer a new ham, support your local
club and ARES group but most of all, have fun. And have a safe and
enjoyable Independence Day holiday !!

Vy 73,

Jeff, WA4AW

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
wa4aw at arrl.org