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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:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.shtml
Also check out the web site on ways lightning strikes people at:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/struck.shtml
The Quad County Amateur Radio Club is a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador
“Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo
are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
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.
 License exams for all license classes will be given at the Field Day site on Saturday, June 25th at 11:00 am. The location is the Community House on the Clearfield County Fairgrounds. The address is North Weaver Street and Stadium Drive, Clearfield, PA 16830.
There is a $15.00 fee, payable to ARRL for as many exams as you can pass. Retests at the same session incur an additional fee. Those taking tests must present a photo-ID, a copy of their existing license (if licensed) and any CSCE forms.
Although we have recent memories of snow, the summer heat really is on the way. All too many times we hear of children or pets left in a vehicle during hot summer days, sometimes with a heartbreaking ending. There are days when the temperature may seem rather low but with the sun shining through the vehicle windows, the vehicle becomes a greenhouse and the interior can heat up quickly to dangerously high levels.
View more information on this serious topic that can effect everyone at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
 The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is a WRN Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
The Quad County Amateur Radio Club will hold a “New Ham Radio Operator Event” at the regular meeting on June 17, 2016. The meeting will be held at the Penn State Du Bois Campus, Smeal Building at 6:30 PM. This event is open to those who recently obtained their amateur radio license and who have been licensed but inactive for some time. The meeting is also open to the public who may be interested about amateur radio.
The Quad County Amateur Radio Club, which serves amateur radio operators in; Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk and Cameron Counties, was founded in 1975. Regular meetings are held monthly on the third Friday, 6:30 PM at the Penn State Du Bois Campus. For more information visit the Club website at www.qcarc.org
Sometimes we peer out the window and the sky looks ominous then the wind picks up and possibly it begins to rain or hail. What may happen next can be a matter of protecting our life and property, a good reason to understand the difference between Watches and Warnings. Being prepared is a relatively simple matter, there are several good methods to personally become involved that will help yourself, your family and friends. The National Weather Service SkyWarn Spotter program is a great way to become actively involved and you do not have to be a weather background! A more passive manner may be purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio that will sound an alert when various forms of weather effect your locale. Cell phone are also a good method as many have an alert function built in as well as the availability of weather apps that can be configured to match your needs.
If you are having a problem setting up your system whether it is a NOAA Weather Radio radio or cell phone app, you can obtain help through the Quad County Amateur Radio Club, A Weather Ready Nation Ambassador. Check the announcement panel at the top of the home page for meeting dates and times.
 
The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is a WRN Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
Already this Spring has proven that we should be prepared for some of our wildest weather! One of the best aids in keeping abreast of developing weather issues is the NOAA Weather Radio system. Having a radio at home provides an advantage to be aware of upcoming severe weather. Some of the later models of amateur radio transceivers have the NOAA frequencies programed from the factory. For the latest NOAA weather radio operational information that may effect your area and what frequencies cover your area, check out the web site at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ .
 Remember that saying, “Turn Around Don’t Drown”. There is more to that than just the rhyming of the saying, it really is life saving information! Ignoring that life saving information not only effects the people who decide to cross a flooded area but also the emergency responders whose lives are needlessly placed in jeopardy when they get involved in a rescue of someone that fails to heed the warning.
The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is a WRN Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
June 22, 2016 – petition dismissed.
Download the entire document 3 pages.
There is a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760) that asks the FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio Licenses. The FCC is seeking comments on this petition that would revise §97.25 to indicate the license is granted for lifetime as opposed to the current 10 year term.
Individuals may submit comments through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System.
Additionally, the complete article on this petition can be read at the ARRL web site.
For many hams the go-to 12 VDC connector is the Anderson Powerpole®. I feel the same, this connector is the only one that makes sense for convenience and durability of connection among my own radios and if the need arises other power supplies. This form of 12 VDC power connection really makes the issue of interoperability for a power source a non-issue. The connector is recognized across the Country as THE power connector to use for ARES and other public service applications.
Anyway, where this is leading is the issue with installing the connectors on the wire. It really is not difficult but there is a standard, in order to interface with the rest of the world! Amateur radio has adopted the standard that when viewed from the contact side, the mnemonic for remembering the arrangement for the positive connector is: “Red Right — Tongue Top“.
Of  course red is positive while black is negative. Even though there is a standard, I feel it is still a good idea to confirm the connection that your rig may be connected to is verified visually and also electrically using a volt meter or one of the LED connectors that indicate if the connectors are configured to the standard.
The installation of the connector contacts can be problematic if the proper crimp procedure is not used. I’ve used the crimping pliers type  crimp tool, until now. I finally invested in a crimp tool made for the Powerpole® connector contacts. I have to say that I should have done it sooner, no exaggeration! There are are several styles of crimpers available with the special dies for the crimp, study their operation and style then decide for yourself which one suites your needs. The version that I settled on has a feature in the tool that helps maintain the alignment of the contact while the crimp in done (see photo). My opinion is that the crimp done with the pictured tool is far superior than the crimping pliers style. Along with the quality of the crimp, there is no distortion to the contact. With no distortion there is no reforming the contact which results in a much easier insertion into the Powerpole® shell and much better contact surface for maximum conductivity.
I expect that many of us have witnessed a scene very similar to the above photo. In our immediate area it is a natural event to have severe winter weather that impacts driving conditions, sometimes to the extent that we really should not be on the road. Often just postponing travel for an hour or two may enable road crews to treat the roads and give the chemicals time to take effect on the snow and ice to provide a safer traveling environment.
If you have to travel, be prepared. First off be sure you are aware of what you are getting into with severe winter weather driving. Be sure your vehicle is ready to go with a full tank of fuel and appropriate tires in good condition. Consider some additional items such as a small shovel, sand or traction mats, chains for times it gets really bad and even a very good blanket such as wool or a Mylar reflective emergency blanket. Remember to keep the cell phone charged too. Common sense helps but too often it is not so common!
Many amateur radio operators who travel have an additional resource at hand that will help with gaining a little more information about the weather. That resource can be the 2 meter transceiver which may have the capability to receive the NOAA Weather Radio announcements. Some transceivers even have a feature that will activate an alert when the NOAA radio station broadcasts their severe weather alert. Another useful service often provided through APRS digi-peaters are text alerts about road conditions that may relate to road closures due to various issues such as traffic accidents. Also some repeaters transmit bulletins relative adverse weather and road conditions.
For much more information that may make your winter and 
your travel safer check out the link
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/index.shtml
The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is a WRN Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
This year the SkyWarn™ Recognition Day will be Sunday December 5. This special event started in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay Le ague to recognize the contributions of amateur radio operators during SkyWarn™ events.
Operations are December 5 from 0000Z – 2400Z. This is not a contest but an operating event that encourages operators to contact as many amateur stations as possible, whether they are on the air at a Weather Service Office or otherwise. Stations exchange call signs, signal reports, locations, and a one or two-word description of the weather at their respective locations. Bands that are activated for this event are typically 80 meters through 70 centimeters using all modes, including digital.
Updated details are available on the National Weather Service SkyWarn™ Recognition Day web site http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio/
It’s that time again when Mother Nature will soon shift into another season that some folks love and some hate! Winter can bring some rather enjoyable times but also some treacherous times. It is the treacherous times, with winter storms, that we have to be ready to deal with in order to make those times as safe as possible.
Winter weather issues highlighted during the week can be found by clicking the weekday tabs at: http://www.weather.gov/ctp/WinterWeatherAwarenessWeek
Be sure that your NOAA Weather Radio is operating properly and has fresh batteries in the event the electric goes out.
You can find some addition information about the NOAA Weather Radios at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/index.php
Also remember to check out the 2015 Fall edition of the SkyWarn Spotter Newsletter at: http://www.weather.gov/media/ctp/Spotter%20Newsletters/Fall2015.pdf
The 2015 – 2016 winter outlook can be found at: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/videos/2015-16-winter-outlook
Last but not least, another site for winter weather information can be found at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/index.shtml
The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is a WRN Ambassador “Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ and the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, used with permission.”
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