The Blue Ridge Echo . . Echo Echo . ..
Official Transmitter of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club - W4YK -
Volume 24, Number 5 – May 2011
The Prez Sez — Spring has sprung and along with it come spring storms. Be prepared. I can only
imagine what a lightening strike like the one that took place a Brevard College would have done for ones radio
equipment. The important thing is to do all you can such as grounding your equipment, disconnecting your
coax and telephone or internet line and unplugging your power cord. Once you have done everything you can
then everything else is in God’s hands. Hopefully the house does not get blown down like many homes down
east. Once again be prepared. Once a disaster takes place it is too late to get prepared. Helping out in events
such as the upcoming Biltmore Ride will help you prepare and learn to operate your equipment. Come on out
and join in the fun. PS: Keep your manual handy.
73’s Danny, NA4X
Our Next Meeting: May 3, 2011
7:00 pm
MEETING MINUTES OF April 5th, 2011 — The April meeting of the Blue Ridge Amateur
Radio Club came to order with Danny Rector, NA4X, club president, presiding. We had twenty one folk in
attendance. If you are a club member and haven’t been to a meeting in a while, please come on back to see us.
We miss you!
The treasurer’s report was given by Lil Clark, KG4GFP. Lil reported that the club had $1,823.23 in the bank at
the time of meeting. The report was approved by vote of those present. The minutes of the March 2011 meeting
was approved by vote of those present as was recorded in THE ECHO.
Andy Kilpatrick, K4YKZ, updated his meeting results with the Laurel Park planning committee. As you might
remember, the Town of Laurel Park is trying to regulate towers in the town. The planning committee included
amateur towers in the mix with commercial towers. Andy reported that the committee hasn’t made a decision as
of yet.
Announcements were as follows:
Catawba Hamfest will be held in Morganton, N.C. on April 16.
The Biltmore horse ride will be held on May 7th. Dick Smith is the contact person.
W.C.A.R.S. testing on May 14th, Mountain Home Fire Department, 9:00 a.m. Contact person, Sid Hendricks.
Field Day will be held on June 25th-26th, at Fletcher Recreation Park.
Ronnie, K2SST, announced that the Q.C.W.A. meets the first Wednesday of the month. You do not have to be
a member to attend. Contact Ronnie Parham for details.
The featured presentation of the evening was a discussion of packet use, with a show and tell aspect. This was
lead by John Quinn, N9JZX. The demonstration was very useful, as the A.R.E.S. group was going to use this
mode to cover the DuPont Half Marathon.
Respectfully submitted,
Sid Hendricks W4IOE
Clean Sweep is Confirmed – Last November after the club completed the November Sweepstakes
we thought we had made a Clean Sweep, that is, contacted each of the 80 USA and Canadian sections. But we
knew that our log would be scrutinized by ARRL’s computers looking for busted QSOs, and some of our
contacts could be deleted.
Well, good news! We made it through the log check without losing any sections. So we now have confirmed
our first Clean Sweep. There were only 287 Clean Sweeps from the 4500 participants.
Good Work team BRARC!
Mark Your Calendar —
7-8 May – 10-10 Int. Spring Contest, CW
28-29 May – CQ WW WPX Contest, CW
11-13 June – June VHF QSO Party
25-26 June – Field Day
Please notify the editor if dates change, or as new events arise.
ITEMS FOR SALE
Kenwood HF Transceiver TS-50S (Estate Sale item) HF 160-10m incl WARC bands, SSB, FM, CW, AM 100
WATTS [25 AM] Receives 500 kHz to 30 MHz. Can be modified for MARS operation (simple).
Clean and operational. With manual. Asking $400. Duke W4DK 891-4359
If you have items for sale, or need something, notify the editor.
PTT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ As violent storms swept through Alabama,
Mississippi, Arkansas and North Carolina, served agencies called upon Amateur Radio
operators to help provide communications support and real-time weather observations.
More at http://www.arrl.org/news/tornadoes-and-thunderstorms-keep-radio-amateurs-
busy-in-midwest-southeast
—— K2DRM is clear.
Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Points of Contact
President: Financial Report: April 2011 - Lil Clark
Danny Rector, NA4X - 828-698-3231
rectordl@bellsouth.net Balance as of 3/30/11 $ 1823.23
Vice President:
Jonathan Williams, KF4NVX - 828-429-1007 Plus: Deposits 25.00
jsw007@bellsouth.net Less: Expenses 0.00
Secretary:
Sid Hendricks, W4IOE - 828-684-8130
Balance as of 4/26/11 $ 1848.23
w4ioe@bellsouth.net
Treasurer: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Lil Clark, KG4GFP - 828-877-5223
peregrine13@citcom.net
Members-At-Large:
Craig Miller, KE4DFV – 828-884-5773
ke4dfv@arrl.net
Rusty Jones, N4SAA - 828-674-9350 Purpose: The purpose of the club is to further the
n4saa@arrl.net exchange of information and cooperation between
Antennas: Walt Wernsing, KO4JN - 828-891-9956 members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism
walter134@mchsi.com
Echo Editor: Dan Maxwell, K2DRM - 828-243-1347 and individual operating efficiency, and to promote
danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com and conduct programs and activities as to advance the
Webmaster: Dick Smith, K4KQJ - 828-687-9531 general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the
k4kqj@arrl.net community.
ARRL Emergency Coordinator: Bob Felt, W4RYF
828-696-4103 w4ryf@arrl.net Elmers: We have many “Elmers.” An Elmer is a
VE Testing: Sid Hendricks, See above knowledgeable amateur radio operator who is willing
Membership: - Lil Clark, See above to help new hams and “students” with questions or
Public Relations: Dick Smith, See above procedures and help them to understand more about
Trustee: Steve Smith, KC5F - 828-697-6388
the hobby.
kc5f@arrl.net
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Volunteer Examinations: Every 3 months, our
volunteer examiners provide an opportunity to get your
Club Information amateur license or to upgrade your status.
NEXT SESSION: May 14, 2011
Address: Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 831, Horse Shoe NC 28742 Contact Sid, W4IOE, for details.
Website: http://www.radioclub.org/ Classes: We occasionally have classes so you can
learn how to get your own amateur radio Technician
Dues: Our dues cover the period from January through
class license.
December. Dues for additional related members in the
same household as a Full or Associate member are
one-half the applicable rate. Dues for full-time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
students of an accredited school are one-half the
regular rate as long as student status is maintained.
A message from the editor....... Articles and
New members joining between July and December pay
submissions for the Echo should be sent by the
one-half the applicable rate for membership through
15th of each month.
the end of the year. This year’s dues are $20.00 per
If you have something to add to our newsletter,
person; $10.00 per additional family member.
send it to: Dan, K2DRM.
Please send your renewals to: Lil Clark, 15 Autumn Call me at: 828-243-1347 or E-mail me at:
Glen Ct., Brevard, NC 28712 danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com
Meetings: We meet at the Stoney Mountain
Activity Center at 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
each month.
Nets and On-The-Air Activities
Net Freq / PL Day Time
BRARC Net 146.640 MHz/ 91.5 Sunday 8:00 PM
Henderson County ARES Net 146.640 MHz / 91.5 Wednesday 8:30 PM
High Country Swap & Rag Chew 442.225 MHz/107.2 Monday 9:00 PM
Red Cross Communicators 146.640 MHz/91.5 Sunday 9:00 PM
Mount Mitchell 6m Net 53.630 MHz/100 Friday 9:00 PM
QCWA Chapter 76 3.625 MHz (SSB) Saturday 8:45 AM
Buncombe ARES Net 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 Wednesday 9:00 PM
Good Morning Net 146.760 MHz M-W-F 9:00 AM
WCARS Info. Net 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 Monday 9:00 PM
6600 Net 145.190 MHz Saturday 9:00 PM
Blue Ridge Traffic (SC) 146.610 MHz Daily 9:00 PM
Mount Pisgah 220 Net 224.260 MHz Sunday 9:00 PM
Mount Mitchell 220 Net 224.540 MHz Monday 8:00 PM
NC ARES Area 15 Roll Call Net 146.640 MHz/ 91.5 Thursday 8:00 PM
Tarheel Emergency Net 3.923 MHz (SSB) Daily 7:30 PM
NC Morning Net 3.926 MHz (SSB) Daily 7:45 AM
SATERN Net 14.265 MHz Daily 10:00 AM
NC Evening Net 3.923 MHz (SSB) Daily 6:30 PM
Carolinas Slow Net 3.571 MHz (CW 5-8 wpm) Daily 8:00 PM
Carolinas Net (Late) 3.573 MHz (CW 15-18 wpm) Daily 10:00 PM
Carolinas Net (Early) 3.573 MHz (CW 20-22 wpm) Daily 7:00 PM
If this information has changed, please contact Dan at danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com.
Club Meeting Tuesday
January 4, 7:00 pm
Stoney Mountain Activity Center
Subsequent club meeting
February 1, 7:00 pm
Stoney Mountain Activity Center
Henderson County ARES
Training Session
Fourth Monday of month
Etowah Lions Club, 7pm
— Find us on the web at < http://www.radioclub.org > —
