The Blue Ridge Echo . .

Echo

.. Echo. .

Official Transmitter of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club - W4YK -

Volume 24, Number 11 November 2011

The Prez Sez As the holidays approach we are hitting a very busy time of year. There are contests, parades and dinners to look forward to. Dan will have the upcoming schedule later in the Echo. First thing coming up is our elections. We really need some people to step up and take leadership positions. Lil has been Treasurer for 12 or 13 years and she is ready to step down. We need someone who can collect dues and keep our bills paid. Sid has been Secretary forever and he is having more health concerns so he would like to see someone replace him. His main job is to keep the minutes and forward them on for posting in the Echo. I have been President for 3 years which is a year over the limit. We need some new blood to preside over the meetings. Jonathan has been our Vice President and has done a great job of scheduling varied topics for our meetings. Please be thinking of who can step up into these positions at next meeting as we have elections.
73's Danny, NA4X

Our Next Meeting: November 1, 2011 7:00 pm

MEETING MINUTES OF October 4th, 2011 The meeting was chaired by the clubs President,
Danny Rector, NA4X. In attendance were 17 members and 3 guests. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. The Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as printed in The Echo. Treasurer Lil Clark, KG4GFP, reported a balance of $1,768.42, which was accepted by the club. The 5 participants at the Hunger Coalition walk were thanked by the President. Danny reminded us that we need volunteers for the 4 officer positions by next months meeting. He reported that shirts for the club will continue to be colored a shade of yellow. There are two styles available: a pullover at

about $27 and a button-front at about $32. Details will be forthcoming. Dick Smith announced that we will be assisting with Fletchers holiday parade on December 10th; 10 12 operators will be needed from the club. We will also help with the Hendersonville parade on December 3rd. Al, W2GJS, reported that former club member Tom Hewlett, W5KRL is SK. Michael, AI4GR, gave a brief review of upcoming contests and ongoing DXpeditions. The featured program for the meeting was presented by the clubs vice-president, Jonathan, KF4NVX. His presentation, Computers in the Shack, covered the use of computers for logging, rig control, digital modes and CW. He clearly demonstrated how computers have become an essential part of the ham shack. The 50-50 drawing was won by Lil, KG4GFP. Meeting was adjoined at 8:15pm. Respectfully submitted, Michael Parente, AI4GR

CQWW 2011 From 8:00pm Friday, 28 October until 8:00pm on the 30th, the CQWW SSB contest will be saturating the amateur contesting bands. This year the BRARC will join the melee from the shack. We need you to operate with us.
It is a chance to reach new countries world-wide using the clubs call sign, W4YK. Experienced members will be challenged by the early pile-ups, but those of us new to contesting will find plenty of calmer hours toward the end. Newcomers will have plenty of help; just ask. Given sufficient interest, we can set up additional antennas and run two rigs simultaneously. That would require an antenna party before the contesting starts. Let us know if you can help contest with the club, and what operating times are best for you. Send email to Michael at ai4gr@arrl.net. Michael, AI4GR

DX on the air Listen out for a team of German and Polish operators to be signing 3XY1D from Guinea
between October 18th and November 1st. Operation will be on 160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. One station will be exclusively dedicated to RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. QSL via DL7DF, direct or via the bureau. F5HRY will be active stroke FY from French Guiana during the CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest on October 29th and the 30th. This, as a Single Operator Single Band 10 meter only entry. QSL as directed on the air. Excerpt from ARNewsline Report 1784

Mark Your Calendar

5-7 November 19-21 November 26-27 November 2-4 December 3 December 10 December 10-11 December November Sweepstakes, CW http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes November Sweepstakes, SSB CQWW DX Contest, CW ARRL 160-meter Contest Hendersonville Parade Fletcher Parade ARRL 10-meter Contest

Please notify the editor if dates change, or as new events arise.

ITEMS FOR SALE

If you have items for sale, or need something, notify the editor.

PTT

If anyone has additional information of relevance to the club between issues of the newsletter, please call me at 828-243-1347 in addition to sending the information via email. This will ensure that I check the email account and am able to forward the information in a timely fashion. Thank you and please accept my apologies for the delay in forwarding some recent information.

K2DRM is clear.

Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club Points of Contact

President: Danny Rector, NA4X - 828-698-3231 rectordl@bellsouth.net Vice President: Jonathan Williams, KF4NVX - 828-429-1007 jsw007@bellsouth.net Secretary: Sid Hendricks, W4IOE - 828-684-8130

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Financial Report: October 2011 - Lil Clark Balance as of 9/30/11 Plus: Deposits Less: Expenses Balance as of 10/24/11 $ 1818.42 71.50 42.70 $ 1797.22

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

n4saa@arrl.net
Antennas: Walt Wernsing, KO4JN - 828-891-9956 walter134@mchsi.com Echo Editor: Dan Maxwell, K2DRM - 828-243-1347

danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com
Webmaster: Dick Smith, W4RSS - 828-687-9531

w4rss@att.net
ARRL Emergency Coordinator: Bob Felt, W4RYF

Purpose: The purpose of the club is to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to promote and conduct programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the community. Elmers: We have many Elmers. An Elmer is a knowledgeable amateur radio operator who is willing to help new hams and students with questions or procedures and help them to understand more about the hobby. Volunteer Examinations: Every 3 months, our volunteer examiners provide an opportunity to get your amateur license or to upgrade your status. NEXT SESSION: November 12, 2011 Contact Sid, W4IOE, for details. Classes: We occasionally have classes so you can learn how to get your own amateur radio Technician class license.

828-696-4103 w4ryf@arrl.net
VE Testing: Sid Hendricks, See above Membership: - Lil Clark, See above Public Relations: Dick Smith, See above Trustee: Steve Smith, KC5F - 828-697-6388

kc5f@arrl.net
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Club Information
Address: Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 831, Horse Shoe NC 28742

Website: http://www.radioclub.org/ Dues: Our dues cover the period from January through 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. New members joining between July and December pay one-half the applicable rate for membership through the end of the year. This years dues are $20.00 per person; $10.00 per additional family member. Please send your renewals to: Lil Clark, 15 Autumn Glen Ct., Brevard, NC 28712 Meetings: We meet at the Stoney Mountain Activity Center at 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A message from the editor....... Articles and submissions for the Echo should be sent by the 15th of each month. If you have something to add to our newsletter, send it to: Dan, K2DRM. Call me at: 828-243-1347 or E-mail me at: danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nets and On-The-Air Activities

Net BRARC Net Henderson County ARES Net High Country Swap & Rag Chew Red Cross Communicators Mount Mitchell 6m Net QCWA Chapter 76 Buncombe ARES Net Good Morning Net WCARS Info. Net 6600 Net Blue Ridge Traffic (SC) Mount Pisgah 220 Net Mount Mitchell 220 Net NC ARES Area 15 Roll Call Net Tarheel Emergency Net NC Morning Net SATERN Net NC Evening Net Carolinas Slow Net Carolinas Net (Late) Carolinas Net (Early)

Freq / PL 146.640 MHz/ 91.5 146.640 MHz / 91.5 442.225 MHz/107.2 146.640 MHz/91.5 53.630 MHz/100 3.625 MHz (SSB) 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 146.760 MHz 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 145.190 MHz 146.610 MHz 224.260 MHz 224.540 MHz 146.640 MHz/ 91.5 3.923 MHz (SSB) 3.926 MHz (SSB) 14.265 MHz 3.923 MHz (SSB) 3.571 MHz (CW 5-8 wpm) 3.573 MHz (CW 15-18 wpm) 3.573 MHz (CW 20-22 wpm)

Day Sunday Wednesday Monday Sunday Friday Saturday Wednesday M-W-F Monday Saturday Daily Sunday Monday Thursday Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily

Time 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 8:45 AM 9:00 PM 9:00 AM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 8:00 PM 8:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:45 AM 10:00 AM 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 7:00 PM

If this information has changed, please contact Dan at danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com.

Club Meeting Tuesday November 1, 7:00 pm Stoney Mountain Activity Center Subsequent club meeting December 6, 7:00 pm Stoney Mountain Activity Center Henderson County ARES Training Fourth Monday of Month in the County Building 100 King Street, Hendersonville, 7pm

Find us on the web at < http://www.radioclub.org >