Amateur Radio

20210206 Testing Session Results

Amateur Radio, BRTC, Testing

Our first Saturday of every month testing session schedule resumed on Saturday February 6, 2021. Session Manager Richard Hall, (K7RLH) managed his first testing session Saturday.

Session Manager, Richard Hall (K7RLH)

We thank the VE Team Members Lannie Godwin, (KK4QEF), Anthony Hall (WW4TCH) Michael (Glenn) Tylor (NC4KG), Stanley Disbrow, JR (WA2KQY), John Stein (K9JWS), Martin Brossman, III (KI4CFS), Mark Gibson (N4MQU) and non VE helper Christopher Lougee (KO4GQM). Chris helped us with the registration desk.

Thanks to Chris for helping at the registration desk.

Waiting their turn.

Thanks to KI4CFS for producing this video showcasing FCVET on his YouTube channel.  

KK4QEF, Wa2KQY, K9JWS

Martin (KI4CFS), Glenn (NC4KG), Tony (WW4TCH)

We have the following applicants that gave me permission to take the photo in order of the FCC response file. I honored all request for anonymity.  

William Mullins (KO4LYR)

Dan Hamm (KO4HAT)

Sammy Estridge III (KO4LZN)

Cormac Meiners (KO4LZS)

Robert Sepe (KO4LZT)

Angus Clark (KO4LZU)

Henrique Farinhail (KO4LZW)

Andrea Smith (KO4LZX)

Duane Cutlip (KY4EC)

Walt Paulson (KO4LZZ)

David Smith (KO4LZV)

20210130 Testing Session Results

Amateur Radio, Testing

The little train that could came thru once again Saturday. Thanks to the owners of Supreme. T-shirts & Apparel Paulette (now K4PKD) and Stan (WA2KQY) Disbrow that allows us to use their office in the capital city of Raleigh for amateur radio testing. While all the other established clubs in the area are cutting out the in-person exams in favor of the on-line exams or not doing it all the informal FCHRE clubs VE team had another in-person exam with 12 successful applicants. In addition to the office they have provided us with a turn key facility where all I have to do is show up with two other VE’s and we can do an exam.  Our host supplies us with the computer and just recently a brand new scanner/printer. 

VE KK4QEF Lannie Godwin

It has been reported to me from some of our applicants the requirements for on-line testing is just too strict for some applicants.  We took an added precaution Saturday and are limiting our applicants to 4 per hour.  This will keep our total number in the facility down to 10 due to covid requirements. This made a half day testing session into a 7 hour testing session. This presented a scheduling challenge but I think our first session with the new requirements went smoothly.  In addition to limiting the number of people we spray down the desk after each exam. I also request all applicants take the CDC Self-Checker prior to coming to the exam.  We do not take this covid thing lightly.

We had two applicants from as far away from  Chocowinity, NC and 1 from Siler City. It’s funny how this was the only time I was able to take a picture of all the applicants at once.  This is from the first hour. It’s just a coincidence our longest distance commuters was in our first hour.

Clarence Owens (KO4LRD) and Travis Wiggins (KO4LRF) of Chocowinity. and Stephen Lask (KO4LRG) of Siler City.

My VE teams likes to make fun of me taking pictures but I can’t help it. As you hear  (In order of the FCC response file) Jeremy Whorton (KO4LQR), Raymond Mcguinness (KO4LQS),Charlie Owens (KO4LRD), Jonathan Horvath (KO4LRE),Travis Wiggins (KO4LRF), Kelly Padgett (KO4LRH), Kenneth Florentine (KO4LRI),Gary Ybarra (KO4LRJ), Robert Randsdell, Jr (KO4LQZ) and Stephen Lask (KO4LRG). Not all applicants are mentioned. I honored everyone requesting anonymity. As you hear them on the air be sure to welcome them to amateur radio.  Please practice courtesy when you hear someone give their call on the radio especially after a conversation with someone else tell them you have to excuse yourself but wanted to let them know you are getting out.  I got to speak to one of our applicants from Saturday this morning Raymond Mcguinness (KQ4LQS).  That made all the work worth while.  We are full for our exam February 6, 2021 but register for March here.   We can also do exams on a weekday. Select other if you wish a weekday exam and indicate your preferred day of weekday request in the comments section. We will try to work out a date for you. Also we do exams for groups like we did last week. Here is our Banks Road Testing Club Stats – Sheet1-3 since we started at Banks Road last year.  Pretty interesting.

Thanks to the Laurel VEC for allowing no charge amateur radio exams.  Click on the link to see who is testing at no charge in your area or for more information on how to start a group.

Jeremy Whorton (KO4LQR)

Raymond Mcguinness (KO4LQS)

Gary Plante (KO4LQX)

Charles Owens (KO4LRD)

Jonathan Horvath (KO4LRE)

Travis Wiggins (KO4LRF)

Kelly Padgett (KO4LRH)

Kenneth Florentine (KO4LRI)

Gary Ybarra (KO4LRJ)

Robert Randsdell, JR (KO4LQZ)

Gary Plante (KO4LQX)

Stephen Lask (KO4LRG)

Thanks to the greatest VE team in the world AJ4NX, WA2KQY, KE4QEF.  Not pictured but another valued team member KK4QDZ.

AJ4NX, WA2KQY, and KK4QEF

 

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20210123 Exam Results

Amateur Radio, Testing

 

Thanks to the Volunteer Examiners K7RLH Richard Hall, KK4QEF Lannie Godwin, WA2KQY Stanley Disbrow for volunteering and Laurel VEC for not making us charge for the exams. We had a great exam session Saturday for a private group in Cary, NC. 

K7RLH, KK4QEF, WA2KQY, N4MQU

 

We welcome the following new hams (not in order of the picture) to the hobby, Brian Boender KO4LHQ, Lynn Morrow KO4LHR, Philip Morrow KO4LHT, Ricky Johnson, KO4LHU, Mary Johnson KO4LHV, Zachary James, KO4LHS. Also Crystal Suazo KO4KPS upgraded to her general class license.

The New Amateur Radio Operators

The Five County VE Team may be able to give your group an exam contact markgibson6822@gmail.com

 

20210109 Testing session results

Amateur Radio, Testing

Thanks to the VE Team Richard Hall K7RLH, Anthony Hall WW4TCH, Lannie Godwin KK4QEF, Mark Gibson N4MQU, Glenn Taylor NC4KG for Giving their time to conduct the exam.  

We have two new amateur radio technicians to announce. and two new upgrades. Anthony Doura KO4KTZ and Dennis Maher KO4KUA. Be sure to welcome them to the amateur radio ranks as you hear them on the air.

Stanley Disbrow, JR  WA2KQY upgraded to Extra, and Yang LU upgraded to General. 

Our next exam is February 6, 2021. Registration required registration. We will continue to support testing on the first Saturday of the month except in July.  We will conduct the exam on the second Saturday.  

2021 FCVET Statistics

9 Applicants 5 Technicians 3 Generals 1 Extra. 

We saved our applicants $135 this year


 

Dennis Maher KO4KUA

 

Stanley Disbrow JR WA2KQY upgraded to extra

Yang LU KO4JZQ Upgraded to General

Network Etiquette

Amateur Radio, Contributed Article, Member Submitted, Net

By: Richard Hall (K7RLH)

For Amateur Radio Operators and Net Controllers (NC), there are some protocols that should be followed to ensure proper and efficient use of the repeater system and allow all who desire to check-in to do so.

  1. Net controllers often open the scheduled net with announcements, such as type of net (formal or informal, etc.) and a request for any Emergency or Priority traffic.
  2. Following the opening comments, the Net Controller may then describe how check-ins will be accomplished, e.g., by call sign prefix.  The NC will then call for check-ins and, after a suitable period, he/she should then acknowledge those received and ask for any additions or corrections to call signs.  If the check-ins are taken in segments, e.g., prefixes A to J, then NC should follow the above recommendation and acknowledge those received in each segment.  Once this has been accomplished the NC may then call upon each sign-in for comments.  Those who checked in as ‘In/Out’ should be acknowledged but not called upon further as it is assumed they had nothing to comment upon.
  3. Amateur Radio Operators choosing to check in should address NC with his/her call sign followed immediately by the operator’s call sign.  There is no need to ‘unkey’ between calling the NC and identifying yourself.  If you were calling CQ on simplex or a repeater you  would typically not unkey when trying to reach another station.  Too many times when this occurs, there not only is wasted time, there is the opportunity for doubling.  However, one caveat-on DMR it’s best to actually wait 10-15 seconds before responding because you are using the Internet for your transmission.
  4. Sometimes an operator may wish to ask a question or add something to another operator’s dialogue; to do so, simply say ‘Comment’ and NC should acknowledge that operator for follow-up remarks.
  5. When it’s time to close the net, the NC will thank the repeater operator for use of the system and ask for a ‘final’ round of check-ins.  By doing so, this allows operators who didn’t happen to be on the air during the formal check-in period to have their say and be recognized as a participant in the net.
  6. Most importantly, both NCs and operators should be courteous and respectful; remember, there is no profanity allowed as well as no political or religious discussions.  Every properly licensed individual has a right to participate in net discussions, and, by following these guidelines, nets should run efficiently.
  7. Some of these suggestions work well when contacting hams on HF as well.  If you find a frequency where folks are talking, be courteous and wait for a break in the conversation before throwing out your call sign.  This is true particularly if you can hear both sides of the conversation, otherwise you may have to anticipate when a break has occurred.
  8. Have a good time and enjoy your radio license privileges.

20210102 Testing Session results

Amateur Radio, Testing

We welcome, Kent Mahoney KO4KPR, Crystal Suazo KO4KPS, and Donald Shuffler, JR KO4KPT to the amateur radio hobby. Kent made it all the way to General. As you hear them on the radio be sure to welcome them to the amateur radio community. We also welcome James Crawford Jr KO4JZR to the general class.

Passed his technician and general class exam at FCVET at no charge.

Passed a no charge exam from FCVET

FCHRE Net Preamble

Amateur Radio, Net

Calling the Five County ham radio net Calling the Five County Ham radio net. The purpose of this net is to promote amateur radio activity among ham radio operators. This net is directed meaning to go thru the net control station to address your traffic to another party. If there is any emergency traffic break into the net by saying emergency traffic and your call.
Do we have any net announcements of interest to the ham radio community this is (Your Call Sign)
The topic of the net is fluid meaning it can be checkin driven. If you have any topic of interest to the ham radio or other hobbies you may bring it up. Net control may restrict any topic and topics must be compliant with the repeater trustee and fcc regulations.
I will stand by for stations to checkin by the first letter of your suffix
Stations Alpha – Gulf
Stations Hotel – November
Stations October -Zulo
Do we have any echolink stations wishing to check in                                                       I will now accept check-ins from any stations who missed the earlier call up. Call net control, (call sign).
(Call each station for their comment or discussion)
I will now accept check-ins from any stations who missed the earlier call up. Call net control, (call sign).
(Call remaining stations for their comment or discussion).
Before I close the net, are there any stations with announcements, questions or comments?
We hope everyone enjoyed the net tonight. I want to that the Carolina 440 System for the use of their repeater network and for their support of ham radio.
This is (call sign) and I am securing the Five County ham radio net and returning the Carolina 440 repeaters to normal amateur use. Stations may now contact each other without going through net control. (call sign) clear.

 

W4CEC Technician class and Exam at Camp Durant

Amateur Radio, Camping, Class, W4CEC

Some groups have had to change the way we do things during Covid.  This is definitely true with groups testing for amateur radio.  When Chris Cancilla (W4CEC) offers a amateur radio class you should take it! See his About page for his credentials. Chris found a outdoor venue using Camp Durant in Carthage, NC. Chris offered anyone wishing to camp to do so. Only three of us ended up camping in the Cold winter of North Carolina. The only problem I had was that I got cold Friday night.  The 23 degree weather we had Friday Night on December 11 gave me an issue. Chris insists that the low was 43 but I know It was 23. I had camped earlier this year with putting a sleeping bag in my Ford Flex but hadn’t done any tent camping in 28 years.  This was billed as a free amateur radio technician class and exam. Free amateur radio exams you ask? Check the LAUREL VEC website for testing near you or how to start your own free VE team.  

Chris built a small repeater for the licensed attendees to use while at camp.  You can get the details here. https://www.facebook.com/chris.cancilla/posts/10160339222342738

Chris went thru all the technician questions and students were able to practice fox hunting, hunting for a hidden transmitter.

 

 

Father and Son practice finding the hidden transmitter

 

We also heard the repeater on the International Space Station (ISS) Check this Youtube Video

Group shot getting ready for ISS

We were not successful in making a contact but it was fun trying.

Chris had 8 students register but some had to cancel out at the last minute due to other issues. Exam results revealed 6 new technicians, 1 General Upgrade, and 2 upgrades to Extra Class. 

We were successful with the HF radio contact. Making contents in Maryland and Georgia.  The radio was a Icom 7100 using a 40 meter commercial dipole antenna. 

 

 

Icom 7100 Demo for Tech Class

40 Meter Dipole Commercial Antenna

Sorry about the formatting for the images but I haven’t quite got the word-press formatting figured out.