The RCARC Beacon“Uniting The World Through Amateur Radio”

Repeaters sponsored by RCARC on Roosevelt Mtn.KE4RX/r 147.015 + (pl 110.9) Roane County ARCKE4RX/r 443.975+ (pl 110.9) Roane County ARCKE4RX/r 441.8125 + DSTAR Roane County ARC KE4RX-1 144.390 APRS Digipeater Roane County ARCK4APY/r 147.120 + (pl 82.5) K4APY Repeater K4APY/r 224.840 - (pl 82.5) Coming SoonVolume 60● Issue 9September 1st 2020A Newsletter from The Roane County Amateur Radio Club

Visit Our website at www.ke4rx.org RCARC Meeting : September 10th, 2020 Will Be Held At Kingston City Park

News From The TreasurerHello Everyone!!

I hope everyone is doing well. The September and October RCARC meetings will be held at The Kingston City Park Main Pavilion 333 West Race Street Kingston TN at 7:00 PM. This is located directly behindthe Caramella restaurant . The Club officers recognized the importance of having a face to face meetings and hope that having an outdoor meeting while the weather is more comfortable will encourage people to come and feel safe. We hope to return to the normal meeting location at The Rockwood CommunityCenter in November and December. Keep check on the Monday Night Net on 147.015+ PL 110.9 Mondays @ 8:00 PM.. for breaking news and updates.

Are you suffering from Cabin Fever!! Don't forget that The Sevierville Hamfest is this month on Saturday September 19th at The Sevier County Fairgrounds, 754 Old Knoxville Hwy, Sevierville, TN. Www.seviercountyars.com. Sevier County still has a mandated mask requirement, but this is one of the few hamfest in Tennesee since others including the RACK hamfest were cancelled. The next Hamfest opportunity is Chattanooga Hamfest on October 16 & 17th 2020.

You Can Practice your social distancing by getting on the air!! RCARC has 2 repeaters just eager to be used. 443.975+ and 147.015+. Both have PL tones of 110.9 . Check out our Monday Night Net on 147.015 (pl 110.9) at 8:00 pm every Monday. Membership is not required to participate . Also check out our Roane County ARES net on Tuesday at 8:00 PM on the same frequency. The Third Tuesday is reserved for the ARES meeting, but when the meeting is cancelled, we will have a online Zoom Meeting or Net.

Finally the Roane County VE Team at this time will hold a VE Test Session next month. The next test session will be by appointment on Saturday October 10th, at 9:00 AM in the Trenton Street Baptist Church in Harriman. If you need to take a HAM test contact Keith Dalton WV4G wv4g.keith(at)gmail(dot)com to schedule an exam. This date is fluid and could be cancelled if public safety warrants.C-ya!! Jim White K4APY

FCC Studying re-emplementing Ham Radio Licensing FeesAnd Invites Comments From The Public

Copied from The ARRL Websitehttp://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-to-reinstate-amateur-radio-service-fees

“8/28/2020 [UPDATED 2020-09-01 @1845 UTC] Amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio license application if the FCC adopts rules it proposed this week. Included in the FCC’s fee proposal are applications for new licenses, renewal and upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as changes of address, and annual regulatory fees.

The FCC proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in MD Docket 20-270, which was adopted to implement portions of the “Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act” of 2018 — the so-called “Ray Baum’s Act.”

The Act requires that the FCC switch from a Congressionally-mandated fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. In its NPRM, the FCC proposed application fees for a broad range of services that use the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the Amateur Radio Service that had been excluded by an earlier statute. The 2018 statute excludes the Amateur Service from annual regulatory fees, but not from application fees.

“[A]pplications for personal licenses are mostly automated and do not have individualized staff costs for data input or review,” the FCC said in its NPRM. “For these automated processes — new/major modifications, renewal, and minor modifications — we propose a nominal application fee of $50 due to automating the processes, routine ULS maintenance, and limited instances where staff input is required.”

The same $50 fee would apply to all Amateur Service applications, including those for vanity call signs. “Although there is currently no fee for vanity call signs in the Amateur Radio Service, we find that such applications impose similar costs in aggregate on Commission resources as new applications and therefore propose a $50 fee,” the FCC said.

The FCC is not proposing to charge for administrative updates, such as mailing address changes for amateur applications, and amateur radio will remain exempt from annual regulatory fees. “For administrative updates [and] modifications, which also are highly automated, we find that it is in the public interest to encourage licensees to update their [own] information without a charge,” the FCC said.

The FCC also proposes to assess a $50 fee for individuals who want a printed copy of their license. “The Commissionhas proposed to eliminate these services — but to the extent the Commission does not do so, we propose a fee of $50 to cover the costs of these services,” the FCC said.

The Ray Baum’s Act does not exempt filing fees in the Amateur Radio Service. The FCC dropped assessment of fees for vanity call signs several years ago.

Deadlines for comments and reply comments will be determined once the NPRM appears in the Federal Register. Interested parties may file comments by using the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), posting to MD Docket No. 20-270. This docket is already open to accept comments, even though deadlines have not yet been set.”

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings to file a comment on this. Please be professional!

The FCC implemented a licensing fee in the 1970's / 1980's for a short period according to JimDalton K4FPG. Most of us have not been hams that long, but this will hurt HAM radio encouraging new hams and add added expense to people on limited and fixed incomes who enjoy Ham Radio. I encourage everyone to file a comment and also write to your US Senator and US Congress Persons about it. Be Informed!! Also if you are not an ARRL member, Please consider joining it if you can. They are our Advocate . Www.arrl.orgJim K4APY

Roane County VE Team offers Ham Radio ExamsThe Roane County VE Team offers ham Radio Exams on every even numbered month at the Trenton StreetBaptist Church in Harriman at 9 am. If you are interested in scheduling a HAM radio exam, get in touch with Keith Dalton WV4G to make arrangements.Send E-mail to:Keith Dalton:wv4g.keith(at)gmail(dot)comWhat they need is your name, the date you want to take an exam and your phone number for them to be able to contact you. The next exam is on October 10th by appointment. Several folks have asked about Virtual Testing.The Roane County VE Team does not offer virtual testing. Good Luck!!.

Meet the Roane County VE Team!!

(Left to Right)David Rogers AC4DR, Mike Winters AG4OT, Jim Dalton K4FPG, Buddy Miles K4CPF (certifiedpipe fitter!!) and the VE Team Leader Keith Dalton WV4G.

They are always ready to answer any ARRL Testing related questions and to schedule an exam. Exams areoffered on the second Saturday of every even numbered month at 9:00 am By Appointment at the Trenton

Street Baptist Church in Harriman, TN. E-mail Keith for more information or to schedule your exam.Wv4g.keith(at)gmail(dot)com

Jewelry Television in Knoxville, TN has been providing RCARC with Generous donations of retired equipment that has been a welcome financial benefit to our club. Thank You Jewelry Television!!

WWW.JTV.Com

ROANE COUNTY VE INFORMATIONThe Roane County Amateur Radio ARRL Volunteer Examiner (VE) Testing Team provides the followinginformation. First time test candidates need to bring to the test session:1) a photo ID,(2) Social Security Number, and(3) $15.00 test fee.Please bring correct change. Test fees are subject to change as directed by the ARRL. If you are planning to upgrade to a higher class license, or modify your license in any way, bring:(1) a copy of your current license which we are required to send in with the paperwork,(2) a photo ID,(3) your FRN* or Social Security Number, and(4) $15.00 test fee.If you have just passed an Amateur test for the first time, you can normally find your new call sign posted on the ARRL data base at http://www.arrl.org/advanced-call-sign-search or the FCC data base at http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp by Friday of the week after your test. Once you seeyour call sign posted, you can legally get on the air on any frequencies assigned to your class of license.The Roane County Amateur Radio Club meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Conference Room in the Roane County Rescue Squad Building on Hwy 58 South at 7:00 PM. We encourage you to join the Club and participate in its activities. Additional Information about the Roane County Amateur Radio Club can be foundat: www.ke4rx.org/The Roane County Amateur Radio Club has a Net each Monday night, except on major national holidays, at 8:00on the Club’s KE4RX repeater. The repeater frequency is 147.015+ with a tone of 110.9. The backup repeater for KE4RX is K4APY 147.120+ with a tone of 82.5.

The Roane County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Net is called each Tuesday evening at 8:00 on KE4RX 147.015+ repeater with a tone of 110.9, except on the third Tuesday of the month when the monthly meeting is held at 7:00 in the Roane County EOC at Kingston.

Amateur radio tests are given on the second Saturday of even months, i.e. Feb, Apr, Jun, etc. by appointment only. A VE testing team member must be contacted prior to the scheduled Saturday or the team will not be at the test location. Applicants should have studied from the current license study guide for the license class they will be tested.Roane County VE team members are:Keith Dalton, (Team Leader) WV4G: wv4g(at)arrl(dot)net or wv4g.keith(at)gmail(dot)com Buddy Miles, K4CPF: jbuddymiles(at)msn(dot)com Phone: 865-376-7842David Rogers, AC4DR: ac4dr.tn(at)gmail(dot)com Phone: 865-435-0159Mike Winters, AG4OT: preachermike77(at)yahoo(dot)com Phone: 865-382-1054 Jim Dalton, K4FPG: k4fpg(at)arrl(dot)net or jsdaltonk4fpg(at)att(dot)net Phone: 865-882-2639 Jim White, K4APY: k4apy(at)yahoo(dot)com 865-603-7212Tests are given in the Fellowship Hall at Trenton Street Baptist Church in Harriman at 519 Trenton Street. Coming through downtown Harriman on US 27 (Roane St.) turn East at traffic light # 7, go one block on Queen St., turn left on to Trenton Street, then immediately left into the church parking lot. Signs will direct you to the Fellowship Hall.*First time license applicants are allowed to use their Social Security (SS) number on Form 605, however after that, if an applicant needs to modify their license in any way, they must use an FCC Registration Number (FRN). The FRN uniquely identifies an applicant in all future transactions with the FCC, and avoids the need to continually provide a SS number on application forms. You can obtain your individual FRN from the FCC by going to the following FCC website:https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Learn About RCARC At

WWW.KE4RX.ORG

RCARC Net News!The Roane County Amateur Radio Club net is back on 147.015 PL 110.9 each Monday evening at 8:00 pm. Join us every Monday evening for a great informal 2 meter net!!

Net Controller Schedule:First Monday night : Lee Grace KM4AKESecond Monday Night: Cliff Segar KD4GT Third Monday Night: Don Coffman KJ4VWEFourth Monday Night: Jim White K4APYFifth Monday Night and Alternate: Bill White KK4AGX

Jim Dalton K4FPG was our 5th Monday Night Net Controller for many years and retired from that this past week. Many Thanks to Jim for his years of dedication and support for The RCARC Monday Night Net!Anyone interested in calling a net or being an alternate net controller, please let Jim White K4APY know and we will put you in the roster. k4apy@yahoo.com

The Roane County ARES Net is every Tuesday on 147.015 +pl 110.9 at 8:00 pm except the third Tuesday which is the monthly meeting at The Roane County EOC , 230 N. 3 rd Street in Kingston, TN. Roane County ARES welcomes anyone interested in emergency communications and training. Contact Bill Farnham KI4FZT for more information on ARES/DEC bfarnham(at)utk(dot)edu COML (Type III All Hazard Comm Unit Leader)Division of Emergency Communication Roane County Office of Emergency Services & Homeland Security

Important Dates To Remember!RCARC Monthly Meeting for September 10th 2020 Will Be Held at The Kingston City Park Main Pavilion 333 West Race Street Kingston, TN. 7:00 PM. I hope to see folks at the open air meeting.

RCARC KE4RX Roane County N4OESMonday Night Net 147.015+ PL 110.9 ARES/DEC Net 147.015 + PL 110.9

Both Nets Held @ 20:00 hours

9/7/20 Labor Day NCS KM4AKE 9/8/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net9/14/20 NCS KD4GT 9/15/20 RC ARES Meeting @ EOC & Zoom9/21/20 NCS KJ4VWE 9/22/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net9/28/20 NCS K4APY 9/29/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net10/5/20 NCS KM4AKE 10/6/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net10/12/20 Columbus Day NCS KD4GT 10/13/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net10/19/20 NCS KJ4VWE 10/20/20 RC ARES Meeting @ EOC & Zoom10/26/20 NCS K4APY 10/27/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net11/2/20 NCS KM4AKE 11/3/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net11/9/20 NCS KD4GT 11/10/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net11/16/20 NCS KJ4VWE 11/17/20 RC ARES Meeting @ EOC & Zoom11/23/20 NCS K4APY 11/24/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net11/30/20 NCS KK4AGX 12/1/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net12/7/20 NCS KM4AKE 12/8/20 East TN ARES / Emcomm Net

I hope to hear you all on the nets!

WWW.KE4RX.orgHamfests within About 100 miles

9/19/2020 Sevier County Hamfest (Rescheduled) Sevier County Fairgrounds, Sevierville, TN. Www.seviercountyars.com (This is still scheduled at press time)

10/16/2020 and 10/17/2020 Chattanooga Hamfest , East Ridge, TN. https://www.hamfestchattanooga.net/

Join RCARC Today!! Learn How on www.ke4rx.org

RCARC Temporary Meeting Location!Directions to the meeting location: From Knox / Oak Ridge / Lenoir City. I-40 to exit 352. Follow 58 S (Kentucky Street ) to Race Street. Turn right at the light and the park will be about1 mile on the left. From Harriman, Rockwood , Crossville and Midtown , take I-40 to exit 350. Exit to the right and at the light by Walgreens turn left. The park will be about ½ mile on the right after crossing the Hwy 70 bridge into Kingston. From Ten Mile , Paint Rock and SOR.

Take Hwy 58 N to Kingston. At the first redlight turn left and the park will be about 1 mile on the left. Talk In on 147.015+ (pl tone 110.9) I hope to see everyone there!!

RCARC Officers for 2020

President : Lee Grace KM4AKE Vice President : Cody Anderson K4ZXT lgracetn56(at)gmail(dot)com ceanderson3(at)gmail(dot)com

Secretary : Becca Anderson K4BEC Treasurer : Jim White K4APY rmbyers16(at)gmail(dot)com k4apy(at)yahoo(dot)com

WWW.KE4RX.ORG

HumorBorrowed from

https://newhams.info/ham-humor/

And Finally!

I hope you all enjoyed a light hearted Ham Humor I found online!

And many Thanks to Eric Barger KG4RJR of Barger and Sons for their help anddonations on our tower project!

Join Us On Facebook!!Search for The Roane County Amateur Radio Club Group

Do you use Facebook? If so RCARC has a facebook group. It's a great way to stay in touch with whats going on at RCARC and share ideas for the club and events. Check it out. Just search for The Roane County Amateur Radio Club and it should be there! If you need a link, just drop me an e-mail and I'll send you one. Hope to see you in the group!!JimK4APY k4apy(at)yahoo(dot)com

Check Us Out On The Web! WWW.KE4RX.ORG

>>>>RCARC Classifieds<<<<Icom IC-28H 2 meter transciever. It is in working condition. Display backlight is out but still readable. $50 Contact Jim K4APY k4apy(at)yahoo(dot)com

Comet H422dipole Used 1 year. After move will just use wires.. Been sitting in back.. rotatable, 40_20-15-10m.. used on 17 also. Elements 24'6" horizontal or v. Worked very well for me up only 30'. $150.00. 779-770-3148 text please or email me n9imhqsl(at)gmail(dot)com . N9IMH good on qrz.

1 TB Computer Hard Drives RCARC has a large number of 1TB hard drives suitable for a desktop, RAID Array, or even put in a portable Hard drive case to make a portable external drive.

These drives have been wiped and tested to be good by Sterling N4VAV . 1TB drives are $20 each. 750GB drives are $10 each. Contact Cliff KD4GT or Jim K4APY k4apy(at)yahoo.com

If your a club member and want to list something in the RCARC Classifieds that is ham radio related, Just shoot me a e-mail to k4apy (at) yahoo (dot) com and we will get it in next month!!

The RCARC Beacon is published by: The Roane County Amateur Radio Club

WWW.KE4RX.ORGPO Box 1104

Kingston, TN. 37763Editor: Jim White k4apy(at)yahoo(dot)com

www.k4apy.com