Author: n4mqu

Launch on need vehicle

Amateur Radio, BRTC, Testing

As the shuttle program came to a close NASA decided to prepare a shuttle in case STS-134 had any issues they would be able to launch another shuttle to rescue the crew.     See Launch on needThe rescue shuttle launch was not needed and NASA launched the last shuttle as STS-135 and the Russians provided the launch on need support.

The Banks Road campus was offered to the FCVET for a test facility when the various fire stations closed their doors to the community due to the pandemic. Our first exam at Banks Road was March 7, 2020.

Thanks to the owners of Supreme. T-shirts & Apparel Paulette (K4PKD) and Stan (W2CK) Disbrow that allows us to use their office in the capital city of Raleigh for amateur radio testing. While some the other established clubs in the area were cutting out the in-person exams in favor of the on-line exams or not doing it all the informal Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts (FCHRE) clubs VE team FCVET decided to continue to offer regular scheduled amateur radio exams. Here is an article  when we celebrated our first anniversary.

At our last scheduled Saturday testing session I congratulate the following upgrades to Extra.

KK4MZS of Fayetteville

KO4TWA of Wake Forest

I congratulate the following upgrades to General

KO4RNG of Garner

KM4BMQ of Cary

And the following  new amateur radio amateur radio Operators

New Generals

KO4RUA of Holy Springs

KO4RUG of  Cary

New Technicians

KO4RUB of Apex

KO4RUC of Hillsborough

KO4RUD of Raleigh

KO4RUE of Raleigh

KO4RUF of Clayton

KO4RUH of Raleigh

Please sure to welcome them as they get on the air.  

We will not have exams in July on the third Thursday but will continue testing at Banks Road on the Third Thursday of the month starting in August.  We will also continue testing by appointments at anytime agreeable to any FCVET deputy directors and two other VE team members. If you need this accommodation just check other on the   Registration page and make a comment about what day of week and the time frame.

FCHRE New Wendell Venue

Amateur Radio, Testing

Wendell United Methodist Church

By: Mark Gibson(N4MQU)

Lately I felt it necessary to explain FIve County Ham Radio Enthusiasts didn’t start off as a amateur radio volunteer examiner team.  A few of us wanted to have a place to go to locally where we would not have to drive to Smithfield and Raleigh but still get together to discuss amateur radio.  We started testing in 2018 in Wendell and found the fire stations in nearby towns very agreeable to allowing us to use their facility to test in.

When the pandemic closed the facilities to us one of our members offered to allow us to use their private office on Banks Road in Raleigh.  Due to the pandemic and parking limitations we had to start scheduling exams instead of having one session in a day we had several. We adapted and had over 130 Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) issued from Banks Road.  

So that brings us to today.  I started checking around for venues specifically in Wendell and found Wendell United Methodist Church agreeable to allowing us to use the facility.

The first Saturday in July wasn’t scheduled to be our exam date due to Independence Day but since the facility was available and we found VE’s willing to serve we decided to hold one.  This was mainly for us to check out the facility to see what was available to us.  The volunteers examiners for the inaugural testing session was KK4QEF, N4EVT, K4EUP, AJ4NX, AI8U, N4MQU, W2CK.  All but two were from Wendell! We had four visitors come to the meet and greet event.  One of them Gary Ybarra (KO4LRJ) decided to volunteer to become a VE. Two of the guest decided to take the extra class examination.  One of the guest suggested with this facility we could handle a amateur radio workshop event and offered to take the lead in this effort.  

FCVET was recently recognized by the largest amateur radio fraternity in the United States the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) North Carolina section manager for their superior efforts involved in organizing Volunteer Examination Sessions during the COVID 19 Pandemic. 

There are over 3,000 amateur radio operators in Wake County.

The team was the first team in North Carolina to offer no charge amateur radio exams.

Wendell amateur radio workshops will be held on the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 PM.  The no charge amateur radio exams will be held at 2:30.  Study tips and registration.

Thanks to the Wendell United Methodist Church for allowing us to use this facility.  

I had to put my portable office back in service

AI8U, W2CK, N4MQU, KK4QEF, AJ4NX, N4EVT

Fully equipped kitchen

Independence Day Net

Amateur Radio, Testing, Weekly Report

Happy Independence Day!

Amateur radio is one hobby that happens every day including on holidays! One year I was privileged to call the Virginia Fone Net on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
I will be your substitute net control tonight. Hope to hear you. A couple of weeks ago I received a message on Facebook about someone hearing our net from the Sandhills area. I gave them some information on getting a license and encouraged them to get licensed.
Please join us tonight at 7:00PM for the Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts net on the Carolina 440 network. You will be able to find your closest repeater at https://www.carolina440.net/440uhf-repeaters/repeaters-on-link.html. If you are not close to the repeater or are unlicensed and you would like to listen on line try https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/34503 Tony Hall (WW4TCH) is our regular net control station.

Thanks to the Carolina 440 net for the use of the repeater. If you would like to help see https://www.carolina440.net/membership/support.html. Tell them FCHRE sent you.

Our next no charge amateur radio exam is next Saturday July 10. https://fivecountyhre.org/study-tips-and-registration/ This is our last scheduled exam at Banks Road. We will hold exams there by appointments and maybe continue our once a month weekday exams where the applicants get their call sign in a couple of hours. The VE team is discussing our options.

Two New VE teams formed

Amateur Radio, Testing, Weekly Report

 

A little history

As most of you know FCVET was the first Laurel VE team formed in North Carolina. I had never lead a VE team and maybe had participated in two or three VE sessions before. That first exam wouldn’t have been successful without WD1U coming all the way to North Carolina from Virginia to help with our first exam. We had a tech in a day class with an exam to follow on the same day. 5 of our 9 students passed. My passion is for free exams. AA5AZ approached me about doing an exam in the Goldsboro area. The Neuse River Basin Team is now set up in that area. W4CEC announced his technician class with the exam to follow the only cost was for the exam fee. I couldn’t let that happen. I got volunteers from several VE teams to sign up with Laurel. I twisted Chris’s arm to form his own team to serve his area and his merit badge and radio classes he teaches. He conducts his classes all they way to Camp Durant to the American Legion building in Wake Forest.

Central Carolina VE Team

Now that things seem to be opening up and K7RLH has decided to start his Central Carolina VE team and serve the Central Wake county area. He has excellent on hands experience and has been a great help on giving exams at Banks Road. He most likely will be testing at the American Legion building in Fuquay-Varina.

Westmoreland Amateur Radio Club VE Team

I also would like to welcome a new Virginia team to the Laurel VEC. I am a member of the Virginia Fone Net and they recently held their convention. I suggested to the manager to hold a VE session there and he agreed I needed a couple of volunteers from the local area and KX4ZG, KC8VFN and W4GMF were the first three from the local area to jump on board. Westmoreland Amateur Radio Club decided to start a new VE team and KX4ZG agreed to become the team leader. They are a ARRL special service club and now they can give exams for free. We tested Friday and Saturday and got two to upgrade to General and one upgraded to Extra. Thanks to the VE’s that volunteered to Friday and or Saturday N4WDC, KC8VFN, KX4VG, AA4GB, N4MQU and WD1U.

FCVET Future

As far as Banks Road we are limited for parking. We are able to keep Banks Road open for appointments and maybe keep our third Thursday exam going. I have an extra set of supplies I can use for testing at special events or private exams or I am also hoping to find a suitable place in Wendell where we could have exams. We have signed up a couple of new VE’s in the Wendell area to help.

Thank you

I really appreciate 76 people that have volunteered to be a FCVET member. I appreciate the 118 applicants we have tested this year (until end of May)This worked out to 65 new Technicians, 31 new or upgraded Generals, 8 new or upgraded to Extra. This represents a savings of $1,770 for the applicants. This does not include the fee for retakes. We had a recent upgrade to Extra class after taking the exam four times. That would cost them $60.00.

Thanks to the ARRL for promoting non-ARRL teams on their website. Thanks to Laurel VEC for offering free exams.

June Dinner Gathering

Our June dinner will be on June 24 at Mclean’s in Zebolon. 418 W Gannon Ave, Zebulon, NC 27597
Dinner starts at 6:00 PM tell them at the front the radio club.
444.875+ 100.0 PL. KF4AUF Wendell, NC

Astronomy

The new moon was Thursday. I still want to take that camping trip the Staunton River State Park.

Thanks for reading,

Mark Gibson (N4MQU)
FCVET Team Leader

Weekly Report

Amateur Radio, Weekly Report
Next Testing session

The next FCVET exam will be Thursday May 20 by appointment. We have to restrict the number of our applicants due to parking limitations so we do ask that you register here.

South Wake ARC Swap fest

Souhwake will be hosting a swap fest Saturday May 22, 2021 from 8 AM until Noon.  The cost is free and all are welcome.  at the Golden Corral 3551 Grinnell Street, Raleigh, NC.  

JARS Monthly Meeting

The JARS will have their monthly meeting Thursday May 20, 2021.  If you will be eating dinner show up about 6.  Meeting starts at 7:00. The meeting is at the Cleveland Draft House, 461 Shotwell Rd, Clayton, NC 27520.  

JARS Multi-club cookout big success

The JARS multi-club cookout was a big success Saturday May 15. I saw multiple clubs and many graduates from the FCVET in attendance.  

Randall and Robby

KE4NKY and wife

KG4BBS Tim Davis

Weekly net
Please join us 7:00PM Sunday for the Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts net on the Carolina 440 network. You will be able to find your closest repeater here If you are not close to the repeater or are unlicensed or you would like to just listen on line try here. Tony Hall (WW4TCH) is our regular net control station. Thanks to the Carolina 440 net for the use of the repeater. If you would like to help out or join the group click on the link.Tell them FCHRE sent you.

Astronomy Events

A couple of years ago I took a photography course from a friend that is also a member of the Raleigh Astronomy Club. He is a award winning and accomplished photographer and astrophotographer.  He invited me to his observatory and the pandemic hit.  Our schedule finally worked out and I got to go to the observatory Friday night.  He made my camera do things that I didn’t think was possible.  Here is just one result.  I will be posting more on my personal website here.  

We have the first quarter moon on the Wednesday.  It is very interesting to look at the moon with a telescope or a pair of binoculars. Take a look at the area of the terminator to see how the shadows change what you are able to see thru the course of the month.

M65 and M66 and NGC 3628
25 sixty second exposures stacked 102mm F/6.9 refractor

 

Thanks for reading. 73’s and clear skies

Mark Gibson (N4MQU)

Weekly report

Amateur Radio, Weekly Report

Weekly net
Please join us 7:00PM Sunday for the Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts net on the Carolina 440 network. You will be able to find your closest repeater here If you are not close to the repeater or are unlicensed or you would like to just listen on line try here. Tony Hall (WW4TCH) is our regular net control station. Thanks to the Carolina 440 net for the use of the repeater. If you would like to help out or join the group click on the link.Tell them FCHRE sent you.

JARS Picnic 5/15/2021 

The Johnston Amateur Radio Society is holding a Multi Club Picnic May 15th, 2021 at the Farm of Todd Lee(N4USS). The address is 298 Allen’s Crossroads, Four Oaks, N.C. 27524.

The picnic is from 11am – 3 pm. Please let us know you are attending so we may be able to provide everyone with hotdogs and hamburgers. Sign up at JARS.NET.See the images from last year’s field day at the same site on N4MQU’s website.

Weekday testing availability 

Thursday May 20 we will have a scheduled exam session.  The FCVET decided to have add a weekday session in May and June. Please pass this onto all your friends interested in taking their exam. Please register here

FCHRE ham badges available 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


N4AED of The Ham Badgers announced the availability of ham badges with Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts Logo and your call sign on them for purchase.  They can be ordered here.

 

 

 

 

 
Thanks for reading.
N4MQU

Our return to regular in-person gatherings

Amateur Radio, Dinner

 

 

 

With the overall pandemic requirements seemingly relaxing and one of our members asking when are we returning to our dinner gatherings we did so tonight. We chose to return to our original dinner location where we had three or maybe four show up at our first meeting.  Tonight we had 14!

 

 

 

 

 

FCHRE return to dinner

Members and guests attending tonight included AJ4NX, N4AED, KJ4QNX, KC2ARG, KC2ARH, KJ4TUC, KK4QDZ, KB2TNR, KA2DEW, KC2BXN, and daughter Evelyn, AC1Y, N4MQU, WA2KQY.

The little business that was conducted introducing each other and perhaps changing dinner gatherings to the fourth Thursday.  Individual informal discussions were made. N4AED of The Ham Badgers announced the availability of ham badges with Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts Logo and your call sign on them.  They can be ordered here.

 

Plenty of room to expand

 

 

20210502 First Sunday Report

Amateur Radio, BRTC, Testing, Weekly Report

Weekly net

Please join us 7:00PM Sunday for the Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts net on the Carolina 440 network. You will be able to find your closest repeater here If you are not close to the repeater or are unlicensed or you would like to just listen on line try here. Tony Hall (WW4TCH) is our regular net control station.

If you have thought you would like to serve the community during an emergency the best way to get ready is to learn to call a net. Let me know if you are interested in becoming a net control operator. This net is checkin driven meaning you can bring up other subjects like, building models or astronomy.

Thanks to the Carolina 440 net for the use of the repeater. If you would like to help out or join the group click on the link.Tell them FCHRE sent you.

Our  in person dinner gathering returns!

Tuesday May 4 6:00 PM Mclean’s 418 W Gannon Ave, Zebulon, NC 27597


April by the numbers

22 applicants 11 New Technicians 2 New Generals 6 Upgrades  to General 2 Upgrades to Extra 

Sunday net checkins 

I think the system is missing a net somehow but what it shows is 33 but I know that is in error. I think it is missing the net I called.  Help the numbers look different this month by checking in. You can check in even if you are not from the area.  Check the Carolina 440 link above.

Groups IO

We hit 202 members in April and had an all time record (since June 2019) of 350 messages that means everything was counted responses to posts etc. I’ve had people leave the group due to the number of posts.  Please don’t do that. At the bottom of the email are options like no emails or mute topics.  You have options.

May 1 testing session 

19 Applicants 11 new Technicians 3 New Generals 2 Upgrades to General

A visit from the section manager 

 

WA2KQY, NC4KG, WA4NC, KK4QEF, K7RLH, N4MQU

 

We had a visit from the ARRL North Carolina Section Manager Marvin Hoffman (WA4NC) at the test session May 1.  He presented the FCVET with the SUGAR award.  Supporting Upgrading Growing Amateur Radio. The certificate reads in part “Recognizes The Five County Amateur Radio Enthusiasts for their superior efforts involved in organizing Volunteer Examiner Sessions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Thank you For coming Marv.  We also welcome Marv to the FCVET.  Several times during the year when COVID news got bad I had asked the team to make sure they were still willing to conduct the exams and never got one to say no. 

Astronomy Events

Photo Credit: KD4WJD Hugh Cashion

I see the local astronomy club went out last night.  The weather has been great for astronomy.  I was out Tuesday night. With the pink moon waning looks like May 4 – 6 is a good night for ETA Aquariid meteor shower.  Looks to be partly cloudy but maybe we’ll get lucky.

20210425 ham radio enthusiasts weekly report

Amateur Radio, Weekly Report

Weekly net

Please join us 7:00PM Sunday for the Five County Ham Radio Enthusiasts net on the Carolina 440 network. You will be able to find your closest repeater here If you are not close to the repeater or are unlicensed or you would like to just listen on line try here. Tony Hall (WW4TCH) is our regular net control station.

If you have thought you would like to serve the community during an emergency the best way to get ready is to learn to call a net. Let me know if you are interested in becoming a net control operator. This net is checkin driven meaning you can bring up other subjects like, building models or astronomy.

Thanks to the Carolina 440 net for the use of the repeater. If you would like to help out or join the group click on the link.Tell them FCHRE sent you.

Are things opening up?  May activities for hams every Saturday 

FCVET no charge amateur radio monthly testing May 1 or Thursday May 20. Must register here. We’ve had a couple of people postponing their exam until June.  This may be the calm before the storm. I am happy to announce two deputy team leaders. K7RLH and WA2KQY.  They will be able to do most of the things I do with the VE team when administering exams.  This will help out In June because I will be taking off for the first exam in June for the Virginia Fone Net convention.  The operation should be seamless. 

AB4OZ Hamfest

AB4OZ hamlets is on May 8 at 10:00 AM setup for tailgating 9:00 AM. Weather permitting. Pleasant Valley Shopping Center Parking lot,6200 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC

JARS Picnic 5/15/2021 

The Johnston Amateur Radio Society is holding a Multi Club Picnic May 15th, 2021 at the Farm of Todd Lee(N4USS). The address is 298 Allen’s Crossroads, Four Oaks, N.C. 27524.

The picnic is from 11am – 3 pm. Please let us know you are attending so we may be able to provide everyone with hotdogs and hamburgers. Sign up at JARS.NET.

See the images from last year’s field day at the same site on N4MQU’s website.

SWARC Swapfest

May 22 from 8:00 AM until NOON.Golden Corral 3551 Grinnell St Raleigh, NC.  

W4CEC Technician Class

May 21-22-23, 2021 at Camp Durant in Carthage, NC must register at W4CEC. See photos from last years class here.

Astronomy Events

Take a look up at the night sky sometime. Not really astronomy but you never know what you might see.  Did you know we can see launches from the cape in the Five County area?  Randall Edge (KO4MSN) and Larkin Folsom (NC4AU)  sent me their video’s from yesterday’s launch.  Thank you Randall and Larkin!  The two video’s show an interesting perspective. The first one is from the Raleigh area and the second one is from Mebane. 

 

 

 

 

With full moon on April 26 not much to look at except the moon.  Take a look at it with binoculars.  Have you tried to look at it through your telescope with different filters?  Here is a look back at the total lunar eclipse video I made in 2019.

 

Thanks for reading.

73 and Clear skies

Mark Gibson (N4MQU)