Just a note that the State College NWS, Fall 2016 edition of the SKYWARNNEWS is available.
The .pdf is available to download at: http://www.weather.gov/ctp/SkyWarn
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Should QCARC continue giving VE Exams before club meetings in even months?
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The week of November 7 – 11, 2016 is the National Weather Service Winter Weather Awareness Week in Pennsylvania. Currently it sure does not seem like winter is coming but rest assured it is! Some of the indicators seem to predict a harsh winter. I have a boatload of acorns on the ground which is supposed to be indicative of a bad winter but I recall at least once before when there was a plentiful crop of acorns and the winter was rather mild. To keep up on the information that the National Weather Service will be posting during the week, be sure to visit the web page daily at
Many amateur radio operators have equipment operating on 12 VDC power supplies. There are times that the equipment needs to quickly switch to a 12 volt battery back-up. There is a very easy way to accomplish this without any intervention needed to switch back and forth from the AC operated power supply and the battery back-up as needed. I’ve found that the PWRgate meets the need to control a supply of 12 volt power to equipment when the AC power supply fails. The latest model of the PWRgate has three output connections for the equipment that you may need to power, up to 25 amps. There is a connection for your back-up battery to charge your battery and power your equipment when the AC power supply loses its 120 VAC supply, as well as the input from an AC powered 12 VDC supply. I can say from experience, I have one in use, this unit works as advertised. It is great to maintain 12 VDC to equipment that may otherwise lock up if the power is removed then reapplied when an orderly shutdown/restart should be done. The PWRgate is offered by an amateur radio operator, who provides fast shipping and super service if an issue may arise. You can visit the web site http://ki0bk.no-ip.com/~pwrgate/LLPG/Site/Welcome.html for more information on the PWRgate and other devices that are available.
With hurricane Matthew’s track that effected Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba, it is probable there will also be issues in the Bahamas, Florida and points north Remember that 7.268 MHz & 14.325 MHz are used for the Hurricane Watch Net http://www.hwn.org/ and given the nature of the communications please refrain from operating nearby to prevent any interference with the relief efforts. Please do not check into the emergency or weather nets unless you have something relevant to contribute. 14.325 7.080 14.265 7.045 7.268 3.740 7.120 3.720 7.110
For more information on directions to Sharon and a map of the campus with parking lot locations,
During this week, to be prepared, you should: > Understand actions you can take to be prepared for emergency  Build a kit. Include enough food, water and medical supplies for your needs in your emergency kit to last for at least 72 hours. Ready.gov/myplan. Brought to you by the Ad Council and Ready. Information and graphics provided by FEMA
A surprising statistic in the U.S.A. for 2016, as of August 21 there have been 27 fatalities due to lightning, which is the total for 2015! It is difficult to definitively determine why so many people have been killed by lightning strikes so far this year. It could be that the word is not getting out. It could be that people are not hearing the information about the seriousness of lightning. It could be that people are just plain ignoring the fact that lightning is a major factor in deaths, especially during outdoor activities. Personally I believe it is the last possibility.  Lightning strikes the Empire State Building and other buildings Please heed the warnings especially about moving indoors when you first hear lightning. I have first-hand experience when it comes to seeing the “bolt out the blue”. When the “bolt out of the blue” struck, I believe the storm was about 10 miles away. By the way, myself nor the other fellow who I was talking to heard thunder! Fortunately we were in his house but only about eighty feet from the tree that was struck. That was one lesson learned but everyone does not have the luck of a safe experience of a close strike to talk about. Click on the photo of lightning striking the building for and interesting list of “Lightning Myths and Facts”. Check out the National weather Service web site about the lightning strike statistics at: Also check out the web site on ways lightning strikes people at:
The Quad County Amateur Radio Club is a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo
The best place to go for a good review of the radio is: http://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_5X3.php
For the entire article relating to the burn ban see the GantDaily.com website http://gantdaily.com/2016/08/16/breaking-clearfield-county-lifts-burn-ban/ Jefferson County PA has also lifted their burn ban.
Amateur radio clubs are all over the place, some make their presence known while others seem to hide from the amateur radio world. There are different reasons amateur radio clubs exist. Some appear to be very focused as to their reason for existence, while others try to be the club for all reasons. Some clubs even appear to exist only on paper for reasons known only to the person in charge. Clubs really should not exist just for an individual’s benefit, I believe that it is counterproductive. Amateur radio operators who are in the locale of an amateur radio club that really is active should join and take advantage of this valuable resource. Experienced amateurs can also benefit by adding to building the resource. It is rather easy to find out if there is a club in your area and the style of club will quickly become apparent if you attend only a few meetings. Take advantage of the experience and knowledge of amateurs who have been licensed for a number of years by getting involved in an active amateur radio club. It is rather true that the only question that is “stupid” is the one that is not asked. Join an active club, listen to what is going on and ask questions in order to build your knowledge about amateur radio. Having your questions answered, by knowledgeable people, will enhance your amateur radio hobby. You can even ask for help with an antenna installation. If there are folks in the club who are able to help, they are likely to be more than happy to help you get on the air with a good antenna installation. Face it, just because you passed a test does not equate to “knowing it all”, you will never know it all. This rationale applies to all aspects of life where a test is passed to attain a certification or license. Life is a continuous learning event, for many people. Amateur radio is a very good hobby for learning. An active club can provide a good environment to learn, given that the right people are involved in the hobby to learn from in your area. Take advantage of the resources at hand – join and participate in an active amateur radio club whether you just passed your exam or getting back into the hobby or someone who is a seasoned well versed amateur.
Information released by the American Radio Relay League July 7, 2016 indicates that as of June 28, processing amateur radio and commercial applications by the FCC has either stopped or is proceeding slowly. The issue may be related to a problem with your license or upgrade being issued. For the complete article on this issue go to: http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-investigating-amateur-radio-commercial-application-processing-glitch
Many of us drive regularly and deal with the varied issues associated with driving, how ever small or large, on the highways. I may be able to offer some information that will make your commute four times safer! Whether you are going down the street to the convenience store or several states away to visit relatives or friends takes concentration. That “special advice” is – park your cell phone or park your vehicle, use one at a time. It has been determined that using a cell phone increases your chance of a vehicle incident four times. Amazingly with all the ads on television, radio and in print that people still choose to drive distracted, they think they can “multitask” in other words drive four times less safely. Do not kid yourself, we humans cannot “multitask”. What many consider “multitasking” is only quickly shifting your focus from one task to another for a short time span. In other words distract yourself from one task to another. Just remember there are others who are placed in harm’s way when you drive distracted. Some may feel this is all hype but just Google the term “distracted driving” and read what has happened to others involved in distracted driving situations. By the way there are some distracted driving situations that cannot be published. Not because of the content but because the people involved were killed due to the distracted driving issue. Just think before you pick up the cell phone to read a text or answer a call, otherwise that may be your last time you see your cell phone. Let’s remember distracted driving is not only a cell phone issue. How many times have you seen a driver looking at a map or reading a newspaper while driving down the interstate? Remember that distracted driving is also considered as bad if not worse than driving under the influence. Folks, it is ALL distracted driving, that distracted action can kill you and others. Be safe – park the vehicle or park the distraction.
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along the coast as well as inland from the coast. The following frequencies have been posted, by Sean Kutzo of the ARRL, as frequencies that may be used by relief agencies and would be advisable to avoid for general contacts. Check 
American Radio Relay League, Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF is scheduled to speak at the 
The countywide burn ban that was enacted at the the July 19 Clearfield County PA, Commissioners meeting, was lifted as of 8/16/2016.
