CLUB CONSIDERS

PLANS FOR 2015 The first 2015 meeting of Newton County Radio Club, ARES, RACES and Skywarn was called to order at 1900 hours (7:00 p.m.). The meeting was held at Covington/Newton 911 Center, where the first meeting of each quarter is held during the year. President Gary Chambers K4MDC began by introducing his son, Kevin, from Lo-ganville. Kevin had passed the Technician Test the past Saturday at the Butts County Ham Cram and was awaiting his call sign (KM4HOW—subsequently posted on the FCC website). Others "around the room" introduced themselves. Plans for 2015 were on everyone's mind and Vickie Henry KK4VUG submitted a query about the amounts and timing regarding annual dues. Club dues are due by the May meeting of each year. Del Davis W4DEL said he will publish dues information, including amounts due, in the next newsletter. Jim Marston K4DOI reported that he, Gary K4MDC, and Del W4DEL had recently gone to the Newton Medical Center to try to locate the source of RF interference at the station (K4NMC). A high degree of RF noise appears to be coming from a direction toward an X-Ray/MRI lab establishment in the neighborhood. Further tests will be done to confirm the source and frequency with an eye toward a solution. Charles Davis WA4UJC, Newton County ARES Emergency Coordinator, advised that any member that hasn't received an ID badge should email him a suitable self-portrait so he and Brian Fain KI4JIL can get their badge made. ARES members present were reminded of the upcoming Georgia State ARES Meeting on January 24th at For-syth. Several members indicated they plan to attend. Gary K4MDC and Jim K4DOI requested help with net control on Thursday nights. Jim said it's everybody's net and that if there are not enough regular volunteers we could end up not having a net at some point. A possible visit/tour to the National Weather Service at Peachtree City was briefly discussed. This was tabled until more information is available so the event can be planned at an appropriate time. Del W4DEL asked if there are any short-wave broad-cast stations in the area that we might be able to tour. Nobody was aware of any (a sub-sequent Internet search revealed the closest one is in Irondale, AL—a 173 mile trip

from the Covington area). A conversation ensued about contacting the District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America regarding recruitment of new Am-ateur Radio enthusiasts. Several possibilities were mentioned including the annual Jambo-ree-On-The-Air (JOTA), recruitment of stu-dents for a possible Club-sponsored Techni-cian Class, and involvement in the Scout or-

Weekly Nets

The Newton County Radio Club /ARES/RACES/Skywarn® Net

meets every Thursday at 8:00 p.m. on 146.925 MHz (88.5 PL) and

444.800 MHz (88.5 PL). ῼ

The FM Digital Net meets every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. on 146.925 MHz (88.5 PL). The net starts out in MT-63-2KL Mode (1500 Hz Center), then sometimes switches to another mode. ῼ

http://ncrcga.org

http://facebook.com/k4ncr

<k4ncr@ncrcga.org>

Monthly Meetings

Newton County Radio Club

/ ARES / RACES / Skywarn®

meets on the 3rd Tuesday

of every month at 7:00 pm.

SKYWARN TRAINING IN LIEU OF

FEBRARY 17, 2015 MEETING.

Newton County Law Enforcement

Center, 15151 Alcovy Rd., Covington

6:00 p.m. Ω

QRX Page 1 of 4

Newton County Radio Club Officers

President: Gary Chambers K4MDC

(404) 218-9538 <k4mdc@arrl.net>

VP / Trustee: Jim Marston K4DOI

(404) 376-5107 <k4doi@arrl.net>

Treasurer: Brian Fain KI4JIL

(678) 439-6883 <ki4jil@gmail.com>

Secretary/News: Delbert Davis W4DEL

(404) 229-7555 <w4del@arrl.net> Ω

QST A Newton County Radio Club, ARES, RACES, and Skywarn® Publication

FEBRUARY

2015

Edition

Page 2 of 4 QRX

ganization's Radio Merit Badge program. Volunteer teachers would be needed for these ham radio educational opportunities. Another possible activity for the Club's 2015 plans is a Special Event Station on the Covington Square in celebration of our 10-year anniversary. An available date, cost and other details would need to be coordinated with "Mainstreet Covington." A Club-sponsored VHF Contest — based on working one or more stations in as many Newton County grid squares as possible — is another idea for a future Newton County Radio Club activity. A new date for the Club's annual Hamfest was proposed. The consensus was to have the event later in the year (than July) in hopes of cooler weather. Brian KI4JIL will contact Chuck at Berry's Christmas Tree Farm concerning availability of the site. Jim K4DOI and

Brian KI4JIL will come up with a new date for the Hamfest (the date that was subsequently agreed upon will not work due to conflict with the GA SET). Vickie KK4VUG was selected as 2015 Hamfest Coordinator by acclamation. Gary K4MDC asked members to consider coming up with some programs for 2015 meetings. Jim K4DOI said he will do a

program on "Analog-Digital Conversion" at the March meeting. Gary K4MDC is consulting with Tom Welty N4TAW regarding the presentation of "An Introduc-tion to Raspberry Pi." The Club consensus was to have a "Field Day" of its own this year in hopes of promoting fellowship among Club members and their families (as opposed to joining with another club). A Saturday evening cookout was mentioned as a way of encouraging the participation of family members. Brian KI4JIL will see if we can have Field Day at Berry's Christmas Tree Farm. The meeting was adjourned at about 2025 hours (8:25 p.m.). Ω

Newton County Radio Club

2015 Club *Dues Reminder

Pay by May 19 Meeting

Dues amounts are as follows:

Individual Under Age 65 $34.00

Individual Age 65 or More $29.00

Full-Time Student $14.00

Family Membership $44.00

Make Checks Payable to Brian Fain

For your convenience, mail check to

Brian Fain, NCRC Treasurer

3545 Briscoe Dr.

Monroe, GA 30655

* Includes ARRL Liability Insurance ῼ

NEWTON COUNTY

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

OFFICERS

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY

SERVICE® (ARES)

Emergency Coordinator (EC)

Charles Davis, WA4UJC

(770) 786-6546

wa4ujc@arrl.net

Assistant EC (AEC) — Administration

Bob Carter, W4NNN

(770) 785-7318

w4nnn@arrl.net

AEC — Net Operations

Jim Marston, K4DOI

(404) 376-5107

k4doi@arrl.net

AEC — Digital Operations

Brian Fain, KI4JIL

(678) 439-6883

ki4jil@gmail.com

AEC — Law Enforcement

Donna Reeves, KJ4CAU

(770) 780-9758

kj4cau@gmail.com

RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL

EMERGENCY SERVICE (RACES) RADIO OFFICER

Charles Davis, WA4UJC

SKYWARN® EVENT COORDINATOR (EC)

Charles Davis, WA4UJC

Assistant EC (AEC) — SKYWARN®

Greg Davis, KI4NWD

(404) 483-6312

ki4nwd@yahoo.com Ω

CONGRATULATIONS to our neighbor to the South,

Buzz Kitcher K3GWK (far

right).

Buzz, who is Butts County

Amateur Radio Club Presi-

dent and ARES Emergency

Coordinator for Butts Coun-

ty, received the prestigious

“Ham Of The Year” award at

the State ARES meeting in Forsyth on January 24.

(Thanks to the Butts County "Repeater" Newsletter for the photo) Ω

IMPORTANT! - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SKYWARN

TRAINING

WILL BE

IN LIEU OF

FEBRUARY

MEETING.

Newton County

Law Enforce-

ment Center

February 17

6:00 p.m. Ω

Upcoming Events & meeting CALENDAR Approximate distance to Hamfests listed in [brackets]

FEBRUARY 13-15 Orlando Hamcation & ARRL Southeastern Division Convention (hamcation.com) [421] 14 VE Testing—Spalding County <nq3i@aol.com> 17 *** SKYWARN TRAINING IN LIEU OF NCRC MEETING *** Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 6:00 p.m. 15151 Alcovy Road, Covington 21 VE Testing—Henry County <aj4gt@bellsouth.net> 21 Brooksville (FL) Hamfest (hcara.org) [405] 28 Dalton Hamfest (w4drc.com) [124] MARCH 7 BirmingHamfest (Irondale, AL) (w4cue.com) [173] 17 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. PROGRAM: "Analog - Digital Conversion" by J im Marston K4DOI <k4doi@arrl.net> 20 Fort Walton Beach (FL) Hamfest (w4zbb.org) [353] 21 VE Testing—Butts County <w4ded@arrl.net> 21 Ellijay Hamfest & Preparedness Fair (w4hhh.org) [113] 28 Blue Bird Blue Grass Festival, 9:00a.m — 4:00 p.m. (Butts County Special Event Station) APRIL 11 VE Testing—Spalding County <nq3i@aol.com> 11 Mobile (AL) Hamfest (w4iax.net) [358] 18 Cheerios Challenge <k4doi@arrl.net> 18 VE Testing—Henry County <aj4gt@bellsouth.net> 21 *NCRC MEETING — Covington/Newton 911 Center, 8146 Carlton Trail New Club Officer NOMINATIONS MAY 2 Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society Hamfest (Spartanburg, SC) (blueridgears.org) [169] 15-17 Dayton Hamvention (hamvention.org) [549] 19 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. New Club Officers ELECTIONS Club Dues Deadline JUNE 6 Atlanta Hamfest & Georgia State Convention (Marietta) (atlantahamfest.com) [55] 16 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. New Club Officers ASSUME OFFICE 27-28 Field Day (Ber ry's Chr istmas Tree Farm) JULY 21 *NCRC MEETING — Covington/Newton 911 Center — 7:00 p.m. AUGUST 15-16 Huntsville (AL) Hamfest (hamfest.org) [215] 18 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 15 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. OCTOBER 20 *NCRC MEETING — Covington/Newton 911 Center — 7:00 p.m. NOVEMBER 7 Stone Mountain Hamfest & ARRL Georgia Section Convention (Lawrenceville) (stonemountainhamfest.com) [27] 17 *NCRC MEETING — Newton County Law Enforcement Center — 7:00 p.m. DECEMBER 8 *NCRC CHRISTMAS DINNER

For Meeting Program Scheduling — Contact Gary Chambers K4MDC

<k4mdc@arrl.net> ῼ

1st FRIDAY EACH MONTH: "VETS & HAMS" BREAKFAST

Merryvale assisted living, oxford — 9:00 a.m. Contact Neal Browder W4OVS <w4ovs@outlook.com> ῼ

ALWAYS . . .

REMEMBERING

Club MEMBERS

And Amateur

Radio friends

and family

EXPERIENCING

DIFFICULT times

Page 3 of 4 QRX

Please submit

Hamfest dates

and other event

information to

w4del@att.net Ω

Page 4 of 4

WEEKLY COVINGTON AREA & GEORGIA NETS — HF, VHF/UHF

Sunday [9 am] Friendly Southern Neighbor Net 3990 kHz (NCS: Joe K4APT) Sunday [4:30 pm-winter] GA ARES Digital Net 3583 kHz (USB) (or 7042 (PSK-31) (Center 1000 Hz)

Sunday [4:30 pm–winter] Butts County FM Training Net 147.285 Mhz (131.8 PL) Winlink Checkins: WX4BCA Sunday [5 pm–winter] GA ARES SSB Net 3975 kHz (LSB) WINLINK Checkins: WX4GMA Monday [8 pm] Walton County ARES FM Net 147.270 (88.5 PL) Monday [8:45 pm] Rockdale County ARES 10-METER PHONE Net 28.325 Mhz (USB) Monday [9 pm] Rockdale County ARES FM Net 147.210 Mhz (162.2 PL) Monday [9 pm] Southern Crescent FM Net 145.170 Mhz (146.2 PL) & 444.875 Mhz (123.0 PL) Tuesday [7:30 pm] NW GA *CERT Digital Net 3583 kHz (USB) (PSK-125) (Center 1500 Hz)

Tuesday [8 pm] GA *CERT FM Net 146.805 Mhz (100.0 PL) *Community Emergency Response Team

Wednesday [8 pm] NEWTON COUNTY DIGITAL NET 146.925 Mhz (88.5 PL) (MT63-2KL) (Center 1500 Hz)

Thursday [8 pm] NCRC/ARES/RACES FM NET 146.925 & 444.800 Mhz (88.5 PL) Winlink Checkins: K4NCR

February: (NCS KD8TDJ) (ANCS K4DOI) (WL2K NCS OPEN) March: (NCS KD8TKJ) (ANCS OPEN) (WL2K NCS OPEN) April: (NCS WA4UJC) (ANCS W4DEL) WL2K NCS OPEN) May: (NCS W4DEL) (ANCS OPEN) (WL2K NCS OPEN) June: NCS K4DOI) (ANCS OPEN) (WL2K NCS OPEN) September NCS: K4DOI

Saturday [11 am] **SATERN Net (Southern Section) 7262 kHz [1 pm] **SATERN Digital Net 14.065 (Olivia 8-500) **Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (Ctr 1000 Hz) ῼ

QRT

Please submit Newton County Ham-Stir contributions & suggestions to Del Davis <w4del@arrl.net> Ω

ALL TIMES

ARE EASTERN

MONTHLY NETS — HOSPITAL & ARES — HF, VHF

1st Sunday [3 pm] GA Hospital Net 7188 kHz (LSB) (Alternate: 5.3305 MHz (USB) (Digital Tests TBA) GA Hospital Net Manager / NCS: Ken Reid KG4USN, ASEC—Public Health GA ARES: Barry Kanne W4TGA

1st Sunday [4 pm] Metro ARES FM Net 145.430 Mhz (107.2 PL) Also on Echolink at WB4NWS-R (Node: 593209) ῼ

DAILY GEORGIA NETS — HF

[7 am] Georgia Cracker Net 3995 kHz (Daily Except Sunday) [8 am-1pm] SouthCars Net 7251 kHz *South Coast Amateur Radio Service

[9 am] Georgia Geritol Net 3995 kHz (Daily Except Sunday) [1 pm] GA Traffic Net - Cycle 2 - 3987. 5 kHz (or 7287.5) (Daily Ex. Sunday)

[6 pm-winter] GA SSB Association Net 3975 kHz [7:15 pm] 3982.5 kHz GA Traffic & Emergency Net [9 pm] GA CW Training Net 3549 kHz [10 pm] GA State CW Traffic Net 3549 kHz ῼ

VE TESTING =====================================

Butts County ARC

Next Session

March 21 — 9:00 a.m.

3rd Saturday — ODD Months

Dan Darsey W4DED

<w4ded@arrl.net>

Butts County

Community Center Ω

VE TESTING =====================================

Henry County ARC

Next Session

February 21 — 8:30 a.m.

3rd Saturday — EVEN Months

Roy Baker AJ4GT

<aj4gt@bellsouth.net>

Piedmont Henry

Medical Center Ω

VE TESTING =====================================

Spalding County ARC

Next Session

February 14 — 9:00 a.m.

2nd Saturday — EVERY Month

Charles Clark NQ3I

<nq3i@aol.com>

Spalding Regional

Medical Center Ω

Jim Marston K4DOI, AEC Net Operations

<k4doi@arrl.net> (404) 376-5107

Download the Net Script at

http://ncrcga.org ῼ