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| It is with sadness we report the passing of Theodore P. “Ted” Irwin WB3DCZ, 78, of Gardner Hill. Ted was active in the early days of the 147.39 K3PS repeater and was a regular fixture on VHF FM and SSB. He was known far and wide as a man of strong opinions, and a regular voice on the repeater.
Long-time members will remember him on the repeater, at club meetings, field day, hamfests and other activities.
He was a retired Navy SeaBee, and built his home atop Gardner Hill in Fox Township. He fell into poor health, and his license expired in 2007. We wish him a final “73”. |
 The big brother of the Baofeng UV-3R micro-HT is now available for a few dollars more. The UV-5R has a numeric keypad for entering frequency and DTMF tones, 128 memory channels, and 5 watts output power. It features a true drop-in charger, and a 7.4v 1800mAH (13.3 WH) Li-ion battery pack. The dot-matrix, alphanumeric display features tri-color LED backlighting, and the keypad has backlighting as well for night operation. See the article in the April Parasitic Emission for a review.
 The group price is $60, and shipments are arriving within a week of ordering.
I am looking into sourcing for extra battery packs. The best pricing I can get is $16 each with approximately two week shipping time. This situation should quickly improve, as this is a brand-new model that was just released this month. So far in our area, 10 have been purchased. They sound great on the air, and no complaints have been registered! This radio is every bit as good and in many ways superior to its nearest competitor, the Wouxung dual-band HT and only costs half the price!
RIGHT-CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS AND SELECT “SAVE LINK AS” FROM THE MENU!!!
Here’s the manual: 
Here’s the programming software: uv-5r (Caution! Primitive!)
Here’s a USB-Serial driver for “Prolific” chipsets that works with 32 and 64 bit Windows: PL2303_Prolific_GPS_AllInOne_1013
Here’s a local frequency list: QC-HAM+PS
Here’s a schematic for building a serial programming interface: 
 The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club 70 Cm net debuted Sunday April 1 five minutes after the conclusion of the QCARC 2 meter net. 12 stations checked in.
We will do this again on Sunday, April 8th. Please consider joining us. We will be using the K3EDD repeater on 444.625. The purpose of the net is to familiarize area amateurs with the characteristics and capabilities of the 70 Cm band. So circle your calendar and prepare to join in!
You might be surprised to see how well UHF works with today’s equipment!
SUSPENDED AT REQUEST OF 444.625 REPEATER OWNER
RESUMED June 3 on 443.475 N5NWC Repeater
Amateur Radio Volunteer Examiners from Clearfield and Jefferson Counties administered FCC license examinations for members of recently completed training classes and others hoping to obtain or upgrade their Amateur Radio licenses. The classes and the exams were held at the PA Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross in DuBois.
“This is the largest turnout for Amateur Radio exams locally for a significant number of years,” commented Volunteer Examiner Team Liaison Bryan Simanic WA3UFN of DuBois.
 Recently Licensed Radio Amateurs (l-r) James Withers KB3YJF, Ian Gerard KB3YJM, Joel Best N3UOA, Wayne Kocher KB3YJE, Jay Lorance KB3YJL, Bob Thunberg N3DIR, Nick Lorance KB3YJJ, Devon Lorance KB3YJK, Bev Hudsick KB3YJI, Jim WickerKB3YJG, Greg Donahue KB3WKD, Larry Whitten KB3YJH, Ed Stewart KB3WRX Ranging in age from 10 years old to senior citizens, those participating in the exams came from DuBois, Curwensville, Reynoldsville, Luthersburg, Brookville and surrounding areas. They became involved in Amateur Radio for a variety of reasons, ranging from interest in science and electronics, to emergency and disaster preparedness, and the desire to serve the public.
They will now be able to get on the air and join with thousands of other “hams” nationwide and around the world to participate in this growing and active radio service. Over the past year, the news has carried many reports of ham radio operators providing vital communications during emergencies across America including wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio—also called “ham” radio—was often the only means of communication with stricken areas. When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio volunteers are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications.  Volunteer Examiners (l-r) Charlie Lindahl N3DEO, Scott Mathewson WA3FFC and Bryan Simanic WA3UFN score the exams. Not pictured, Herb Murray W3TM and Joe Shupienis W3BC Their slogan, “When all else fails, Ham Radio works!” is more than just words to hams as they prove they can get the message through without the need of telephone, cable, cellular or internet systems which are usually rendered unavailable in a crisis.
In the local area, The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club offers training classes to prepare for license exams, and schedules regular examination sessions. The Club meets monthly in the Hiller Building at Penn State DuBois on the third Friday of each month at 7:30 pm. Meetings are free and the public is invited to attend. Following each meeting are programs and activities for radio amateurs and those interested in radio and electronic communications.  Getting It Right – Prospective hams concentrate while taking their Amateur Radio Exams
 NEW Baofeng UV-3R Dual-Band HT I will be ordering 5-unit lots of Baofeng UV-3R HTs from China as orders come in. The cost is $46.00 per radio, shipped. I will program them with all the local ham radio frequencies of interest free of charge. (If you prefer to do it yourself, here’s the file: QC-Ham)
I can also obtain spare batteries at $3.95 each. Better deal: I found a supplier of 1800 mAH batteries for $4.00 each, which gives 20% longer battery life for a nickel more!!!
These prices are for 5 units or more, so orders will be held until I get at least 5.
Please note, these are the improved “Mark II” version with the dual frequency display and 19 menu functions. Color (red, blue, yellow or camo) units are $49.00 each and take longer to ship (two weeks). The regular ones take a few days. The first group order was for 8, I expect them to be here in time for the Meeting Friday.
 The winter air was filled with the happy shouting of nearly 400 Cub Scouts at Camp Mountain Run on Saturday, February 11th, as they gathered for their annual Klondike Derby. “It’s a great way for them to enjoy winter activities in the great outdoors,” explained District Director Carl Hall.
This year, there was a new activity that captured the interest of the Cub Scouts from the north-central Pennsylvania region served by the Bucktail Council. That activity was an Amateur Radio station and exhibit set up by members of the Quad-County Amateur Radio Club. Nearly 400 Cub Scouts got on the air to experience Amateur Radio first hand, as Quad-County hams volunteered to help. Club President Joe Shupienis W3BC led the hams in greeting each 50-60 Scout unit as they entered the room. Quad-County members Don Jewell KB3LES and Lars Kvant KB3WBT/SM7FYW demonstrated VHF antennas they built, and answered questions from the Scouts and their parents. Jesse Tucker KG4ZXC and President Shupienis W3BC discussed how Amateur Radio is a lifelong activity which can lead to careers in engineering, science and technology.
 Club Member Kevin Hoynoski W3PIG showed the Scouts his “Go Box”–a portable amateur radio station in an easily carried container.
Next, the Go-Box was put into action on the Quad-County 147.315 repeater, and each and every Cub Scout got to speak on the air with Phil K3PJ at his home in Clymer. They learned from talking with him that he is a Scoutmaster for a unit in Indiana County.
After putting 381 Cub Scouts on the air, both groups were very happy with the operation and look forward to working together again!
Photo Gallery:
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- Kevin demonstrates his Go Box as the Cub Scouts eagerly await their turn at the controls!
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- Show and Tell. Lars and Don exhibit their antenna craftsmanship for the surprisingly interested Cub Scouts!
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- Jesse and Club Technology Coordinator Lars ready the equipment for flawless operation before using it to put hundreds of Cub Scouts on the air!
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- Don KB3LES, Lars KB3WBT, Jesse KG4ZXC and Kevin W3PIG prepare displays and handouts.
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- Cub Scouts gather around the radio and await their turn to say "Hello" on the air!
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| From Tom “Sparky” Orzetti WB3IGM:
It is with much sadness I am writing this. I received a call at 2:15 today that Ed Zettle W3LQA passed. He had a massive heart attack. He was at the Kane Hospital in Intensive Care.
He passed shortly after being visited by two friends. He will be missed.
Sparky
WB3IGM |
Kevin W3PIG made a very nice ecomm box. Here are some photos.
 
Great Job!!!
Our February meeting will be held on Friday, February 17 at 7:30 pm in the Hiller Building Quiet Lounge on the Penn State DuBois Campus. There is plenty of free parking, within a few feet of the meeting location. Please see the map for details. Talk-in will be on the 147.315 repeater.
On the Program
 We welcome Trooper Bruce Morris, Public Information Oficer, Troop C, Pennsylvania State Police, and a representative of the DuBois City Police Department. Trooper Morris will present a program on the Crimestoppers and Crimewatch programs, and will also discuss Burglary Prevention.
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An e-mail, that I received from Sean Kutzko, confirmed that The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club is now entered in the ARRL Contest Club List. When you enter the club affiliation in your log you must spell out “Quad County Amateur Radio Club“, otherwise the entry will not be accepted. Entering “QCARC” will not be accepted.
73 & Happy Contesting
Bryan – WA3UFN
 TTHE JANUARY MEETING will be held at the DuBois Eat ‘n Park Restaurant at 7:30 pm, Friday, January 20th. Members and guests who want to eat should arrive by 6:30 pm, and the meeting will start at 7:30. Following the business meeting, Herb Murray W3TM will present an interesting program on Amateur Radio Contesting, and how to get started in this exciting facet of our hobby.
Please plan on attending, and note the new location at Eat ‘n Park is for this month only. (Beginning in February, our meetings will be at the DuBois Campus of Penn State, in their extremely nice conference center!)
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 An Executive Board meeting has been called for 9:30 am, Saturday morning, February 4th at the DuBois Diner in the “Coca Cola Room.” All officers and Executive Board members are requested to attend.
Breakfast service will be available, including the Diner’s famous Weekend Breakfast Buffet and Omelet Chef, at affordable prices!
Quad-County Executive Board meetings are open to all members, but only officers and Executive Board members may make motions, debate and vote.
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TTHE JANUARY MEETING will be held at the DuBois Eat ‘n Park Restaurant at 7:30 pm, Friday, January 20th. Members and guests who want to eat should arrive by 6:30 pm, and the meeting will start at 7:30. Following the business meeting, Herb Murray W3TM will present an interesting program on Amateur Radio Contesting, and how to get started in this exciting facet of our hobby.
An Executive Board meeting has been called for 9:30 am, Saturday morning, February 4th at the DuBois Diner in the “Coca Cola Room.” All officers and Executive Board members are requested to attend.
