[SFDXA] A Message from Jeff
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Nov 30 14:30:58 EST 2017
Holiday greetings to all,
We hope you and your families had a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday as we
have much to be thankful for. No hamfests to report on in December in
SFL, however, many clubs hold their annual holiday parties this month.
Join with your fellow club members and their families for a festive
evening to celebrate the holiday season.
Mark your 2018 calendars for the upcoming Southwest FL Hamfest in Fort
Myers on January 19 & 20 and our Southern Florida Section Convention in
Stuart on March 17 .
Southwest Florida Hamfest
Start Date: 01/19/2018
End Date: 01/20/2018
Location: Riverside Church of Fort Myers
8660 Daniels Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Website: http://swflhamfest.info
Sponsor: Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 147.345 (PL 136.5)
Public Contact: Harold A Drew , KM4WNF
12407 Davis Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33905
Phone: 239-309-3660
Email: dfoy50 at gmail.com
Southern Florida Section Convention
Start Date: 03/17/2018
Location: Martin County Fairgrounds
2616 SE Dixie Highway(A1A)
Stuart, FL 34994
Website: http://www.stuarthamfest.com
Sponsor: Martin County Amateur Radio Association
Talk-In: 147.06
Public Contact: Doug Shields , W4DAS
PO Box 1901 Stuart, FL 34995
Phone: 772-349-7820
Email: w4das at comcast.net
If you need to satisfy your hamfest cravings this month, visit our
friends in the West Central Florida Section at their convention at Plant
City on December 8 & 9.
West Central Florida Section Convention
Start Date: 12/08/2017
End Date: 12/09/2017
Location: Strawberry Festival Agriculture Center
2508 East Oak Avenue
Plant City, FL 33564
Website: http://www.tampabayhamfest.org
Sponsor: Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 145.410 (PL 131.8)
Public Contact: Bill Williams , AG4QX
3215 West Tambay Avenue Tampa, FL 33611-1539
Phone: 813-837-3833
Email: ag4qx at arrl.net
And don’t forget the 2018 ARRL Florida State Convention in Orlando.
Hope to see you at these events next year.
Florida State Convention (Orlando HamCation)
Start Date: 02/09/2018
End Date: 02/11/2018
Location: Central Florida Fairgrounds
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32801
Website: http://www.hamcation.com
Sponsor: Orlando Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 146.76 (no PL tone during hamfest)
Public Contact: John Knott , N4JTK
PO Box 574962 Orlando, FL 32857
Phone: 407-841-0874
Email: info at hamcation.com
Another successful ARISS contact was held at the South Florida Science
Museum on November 6th. The museum partnered with members of the West
Palm Beach ARC assisted by SFL ARISS mentors Ryan, W4NTR and Steve,
W1HQL. SFL SM.Jeff , WA4AW was on hand for moral support.
Congratulations to all !
December Youngsters on the Air Event Set
The annual Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) event takes place during the
entire month of December, with YOTA stations attempting to contact many
other young radio amateurs around the world. The event offers an
excellent opportunity for get radio amateurs in their teens and early
20s to get together on the air.
“The idea of this is to show the Amateur Radio hobby to youth and to
encourage youngsters to be active within the hobby,” said
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU-R1) Youth Working Group
Chair Lisa Leenders, PA2LS. “Consider giving a demonstration at a
school or local club, gather together with your friends, grab a pizza,
and make some QSOs, or enjoy a great pile-up. Let’s show this great
hobby to the world!”
This is not a formal contest but a way to get young people on the air
with their peers. Numerous participating stations, primarily in Region
1, will be sporting YOTA call sign suffixes.
2017 SFL Field Day Results
# Call Score Category QSOs Power Mult GOTA
Call Section Participants Club
1 K4LRA 8,848 4A 2,424 2 SFL 14 Lighthouse AR Alliance
2 W4MLB 6,056 2F 1,454 2 AF4Z SFL 32 Platinum Coast ARS
3 N4BP 5,402 1D 1,313 2 SFL 1
4 N2JF 4,724 2A 1,346 2 SFL 35 Palms West ARC
5 N4BRF 4,524 3E 1,024 2 SFL 18
6 W4LX 3,354 5A 601 2 SFL 20 Ft. Myers ARC
7 W4OT 2,566 5A 338 2 SFL 54 Vero Beach ARC
8 K4ZK 2,150 2A 424 2 WX4MC SFL 27 Martin Co ARA & ARES
9 NA4DC 1,796 2A 277 2 SFL 15 Davie Cooper city ARC
10 K4FAU 1,776 2A 443 2 SFL 15 Florida Atlantic Univ ARC
11 K4HRS 1,466 2A 253 2 K3VN SFL 15 Harris-Intersil ARC
12 N4J 1,452 3A 192 2 SFL 41 West Palm Beach ARG
13 K4YHB 1,124 4AC 297 2 SFL 15 ARASWF
14 W4AKH 1,064 2AC 85 2 SFL 23 Ft Pierce ARC
15 KJ4LQX 992 1B1C 178 2 SFL 1
16 N1KSC 966 2A 129 2 SFL 18 Kennedy Space Center ARC
17 W4J 950 1A 50 2 SFL 12 Jupiter Tequesta Repeater Group
18 AJ4IR 934 3A 178 2 SFL 11 Indian RIver ARC
19 WB2FAU 591 1D 541 1 SFL 1
20 AG4BV 290 1E 8 5 SFL 4
21 KS3K 248 1D 51 2 SFL 1
22 N3EQF 210 1B1 40 2 SFL 1
23 K3TZ 198 1D 48 2 SFL 1
24 WD8JPX 174 1E 12 2 SFL 1
25 AA4GT 106 1D 33 2 SFL 1
26 KE4UZL 100 1D 25 2 SFL 1
27 K4XZ 94 1D 22 2 SFL 1
28 KB4FB 94 1D 22 1 SFL 1
29 WA4HWH 92 1D 21 2 SFL 1
30 KC3D 35 1D 35 1 SFL 1
SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 2
A heads up: SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD) will take place this year
on Saturday, December 2 from 0000 until 2400 UTC (starts on the evening
of Friday, December 1, in US time zones). During the SKYWARN Special
Event, ham radio operators will set up stations at National Weather
Service (NWS) offices and contact other radio amateurs around the
world.
Participating Amateur Radio stations will exchange a brief description
of their current weather with as many NWS-based stations as possible on
80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meters plus 70 centimeters. Contacts via
repeaters are permitted.
SRD was developed jointly in 1999 by the NWS and ARRL to celebrate the
contributions SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS mission — the
protection of life and property. Amateur Radio operators, which comprise
a large percentage of SKYWARN volunteers, also provide vital
communication between the NWS and emergency managers, if normal
communications become inoperative.
Year-Long NASA On The Air Event Kicks off on December 11
The Amateur Radio clubs at National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) centers around the US have invited the Amateur Radio community to
join the NASA On The Air (NOTA) special event. NOTA gets under way in
December 2017 and continues through December 2018. In addition to being
the agency’s 60th anniversary, 2018 will mark 50 years since NASA
orbited the first human around the moon, and 20 years since the first
elements of the International Space Station (ISS) were launched into
low-Earth orbit.
Starting on Monday, December 11, 2017 (UTC), Amateur Radio club stations
at various NASA centers and facilities will be on the air with special
event operations to celebrate these monumental achievements, as well as
current milestones. Some clubs will offer commemorative QSL cards, and a
special certificate will be available indicating the number of NASA club
stations worked on various bands and modes.
“We plan to have a web-based system for you to check your points total
and download a printable certificate at the end of the event in December
2018,” the NASA announcement said. “Points will be awarded for each
center worked on each band and mode (phone, CW, digital, and ‘space’
modes — satellites, meteor scatter, EME, ISS APRS).” That would, of
course, include contacts with any of the Amateur Radio stations on the
ISS.
Key anniversaries during NOTA include the 45th anniversary of Apollo 17
on December 11, 2017, which kicks off the event; NASA’s founding on
July 29, 1958; the 20th anniversary of the ISS first element launch on
November 20, 1998; the 20th anniversary of the ISS Node 1 Launch on
December 4, 1998, and the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8 — launched on
December 21, 1968, and returned on December 27 — marking the end of
the event.
Ham radio clubs at various NASA facilities will sponsor their own
special events to commemorate and celebrate specific events.
“We hope to be on the air for casual contacts and contests as well.
All contacts with NASA club stations will count toward your total,”
the announcement said. “QSL cards can be requested from each club you
work and details will be on the individual QRZ.com profile page for each
club call sign.”
More information is on the NASA On The Air website. Participating
Amateur Radio clubs, and the NASA On The Air (NOTA) event are
independent of — and not officially sponsored by — NASA. —
Status Report: The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017
The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 – S. 1534is alive, but with
legislative action slowed to a glacial pace on Capitol Hill in recent
months, there’s been no real progress to report since this past
summer. At present, the bill is under consideration by the US Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and it remains an
active concern for ARRL. The League is working diligently to shake the
bill loose and move it forward.
While it may appear that time is short, S. 1534 does not need to pass
the Senate by this years’ end. We have until the current session of
Congress adjourns, which is not until December 31, 2018. Once the bill
passes both Houses, the FCC would still have to implement its essence in
the Part 97 Amateur Service rules.
Introduced on July 12, 2017, S. 1534 marked another step forward for the
landmark legislation. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard
Blumenthal (D-CT) sponsored the bill in the Senate. The US House version
of the legislation, HR 555, passed the House of Representatives by
unanimous consent in January 2017.
ARRL Seeks Nominations for 2017 ARRL Bill Leonard Award
ARRL is seeking nominations for the prestigious Bill Leonard Award.
Created as a tribute to the late CBS News President Bill Leonard, W2SKE,
an avid radio amateur and advocate for the service, the award honors
three professional journalists whose outstanding media coverage
highlights the enjoyment, importance, and public service value of
Amateur Radio each yea. Awards are given for audio, visual, and
print/text journalism.
The ARRL Public Relations Committee judges nominations, and the ARRL
Board of Directors makes the ultimate decision, announced at its January
meeting. The award consists of an engraved plaque, and a $250
contribution made in each recipient’s name to a charity of their
choice.
Recipients will receive the award based on their work, in English,
covering Amateur Radio topics in an audio format, such as broadcast
radio or podcasting; a visual format, such as television, movie, or
other video media, and print and text format, such as newspapers, news
websites, magazines or journals. The scope of the work nominated may be
a single story or series. The work for which a nominee is considered
must have appeared between December 4, 2016, and December 1, 2017.
Only one submission per entrant will be accepted, and only one award
will be granted for a team effort. Copies of the work for which the
journalist is nominated must be submitted with the nomination.
Submit entries to ARRL PR Committee, c/o Communication Manager, ARRL,
225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Entries are due by 5 PM EST on
December 1, 2017.
For more information about the award or to obtain a nomination form,
visit the ARRL website or contact ARRL Communication Manager, David
Isgur at disgur at arrl.org or call 860-594-0328. The Official Nomination
Form is also available to download.
JOTA “Alive and Doing Well,” Although 2017 Participation Down from
Last Year
Nearly 8,000 Scouts got on the air for the 60th Jamboree on the Air
(JOTA) over the third weekend in October, National JOTA Coordinator Jim
Wilson, K5ND said. Wilson this week released the 2017 JOTA report, which
declared, “Radio Scouting and Jamboree on the Air are alive and doing
well.” Facilitating the October JOTA activity were more than 900 radio
amateurs at 525 stations.
“Propagation wasn’t our friend, but, even so, [radio amateurs in]
almost 90 countries and all 50 states engaged in conversations with
Scouts during the weekend,” Wilson said. “In addition to HF, VHF,
and UHF many Amateur Radio digital modes were in use, as well as online
Jamboree on the Internet channels.”
The tally for JOTA 2017 was 7,872 Scouts on the air, which, Wilson
pointed out, was down from the 10,761 who took part in JOTA 2016, but
more in line with 2015’s participation. Reports were filed by 226 JOTA
locations.
“The Boy Scouts of America National Radio Scouting Committee will be
exploring several improvement projects for 2018,” Wilson said. These
would include establishing a JOTA Frequency Task Force to explore
updated frequency listing and operating recommendations, looking into
new ways to alert participants in real time about other JOTA stations
that are on the air.
The Radio Scouting Committee’s work in 2017 resulted in the
introduction of new Radio Merit Badge requirements, which included a new
option for Amateur Direction Finding (ARDF) — or “foxhunting.” The
panel also developed documents to help Scout leaders incorporate radio
and JOTA in their unit activities — “Cub Scout Program Helps for
JOTA” and “Boy Scout Troop Meeting Plan for Radio.”
Wilson pointed out that the "very successful" K2BSA operation at the
2017 National Scout Jamboree in July introduced Amateur Radio to nearly
2,500 Scouts, with 305 earning the Radio merit badge.
Miami Marathon Sunday January 28, 2018
Once again we are ready to begin preparations for the upcoming Miami
Marathon on Sunday January 28, 2018, and once again I ask for your help.
This will be the 16thrunning of the Miami Marathon, and we have all
played a critical role in providing communications since year one. We
are expecting close to 25,000 participants this year, and the need for
our communications is even greater than last year. The marathon has
become a truly world class event, a big asset to our community, a major
boost to child fitness programs in our schools, and a real opportunity
for us to help by doing what we do best. Miami Marathon runners raise
millions of dollars for more than a dozen charities working to fight
cancer, diabetes, and many other worthwhile causes. As always, returning
volunteers have priority in selecting post assignments. Please let me
know if you prefer your previous post or a different location.
Although the Venetian Causeway has re-opened, the race route may be
different from prior years.
Please let me know if you would like to participate, and please pass
along this information to any other hams you think may be interested.
Also, if you have changed your email, mailing address, callsign, or
phone number in the past year, please be sure to advise me of your
current contact information.
Now that the Venetian Causeway has reopened, parts of the race course
and some of the aid station locations will be different this year. You
can find more information about the marathon on
http://www.themiamimarathon.com/. I Look forward to seeing all of you on
Sunday January 29th
Best regards and 73
Ben Nemser WA4DZS
bnemser at nemal.com
cell 305-439-7190
Silent Keys- It is with deep regret that we report the passing of the
following SFL members:
Retired Southern Florida Official Observer Coordinator Harry Newell,
N3HN, SK
Retired ARRL Southern Florida Official Observer Coordinator Harry
Newell, N3HN, of Homestead passed away on September 22. He was 82.
Harry served the ARRL Southern Florida Section for many years in various
capacities as Official Observer, Official Emergency Station and Local
Net Manager in Miami-Dade County as well as OOC.
William “ Bill “ Kennebeck, W2DRX of Hobe Sound passed away on
October 30. He was 95. Bill was an active member of the Martin County
Amateur Radio Association.
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 with ham radio.
On behalf of the entire SFL volunteer Field Organization Team, Myra and
I wish you all the very best of the holiday season and a happy, healthy
New Year.
Vy 73,
Jeff, WA4AW
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Jeff Beals, WA4AW
wa4aw at arrl.org
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