|
|
Area amateurs recently had an opportunity to actually test preparedness at the Baker Trail Ultra-Marathon where amateurs provided communications along a 50 mile trail where cellular communication was mostly unavailable. This was the real deal in testing the functionality of equipment and abilities of the operators to set up effective station to provide needed communications from areas that were really out in the sticks. Setting up in the driveway is easy, it is pretty much a known quantity with few if any surprises that will need to be contended with. When amateurs are out in real conditions all bets are off that it will be easy, there are typically issues that will have to be addressed that are difficult to anticipate and simulate in the driveway.
 The only real way to prepare for providing public service communications is to get out and do it. Yes, it is good talk about how to do things and what can be done but those plans can so easily fall apart under actual conditions. Taking advantage of a public service event is a real event where a need is real and adverse conditions, that often need to be overcome, are real.
This year we were a few stations short, even though the event was promoted soon enough to plan to help and learn. The learning process does not stop once a person obtains a call sign, it actually ramps up. With the license folks can actually press the microphone button and learn to communicate. That learning can also be obtained by participating in contest which are to some folks find scary and something they shy away from. Contests also provide a great environment for on the air training due to the variety of signal strengths you encounter and sometimes the varying accents from across the country as well as around the world.
The bottom line is that practice makes perfect, in most activities, in our lives. Actually you can believe that practice makes perfect in our hobbly. Think about practicing at an event or a contest so when the real deal occurs you will more likely be prepared.
This year the QCARC Field Day site will be at the Sandy Valley Community Church, located just off Rte. 950, between Falls Creek and Reynoldsville.
— CLICK THE MAP FOR LARGE DISPLAY — — CLICK THE RED FD 17 LOGO FOR NATIONAL EVENT INFO —
 
The SkyWarn presentation has been rescheduled for July 19, 2017. This training is open to amateur radio operators as well as the general public.
 It is not required but if amateur radio operators could, also email me if you anticipate attending at: “bryan at wa3ufn dot com”.
Since I initiated the planning I would like to know how many are planning to attend, just curious. Thanks!
See the following information from Peter Jung, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, State College :
1 – SkyWarn Training: July 19th at 6:30 pm.
2 – Location: 911 Leonard Street in Clearfield, the Clearfield County 911 Center.
3 – Register by sending an email to: Scott Mignot at “smignot at clearfield911 dot com”
Registration in this method is important so that we can get an accurate count of who will attend, and a way to directly reach out via email should we need to do a last minute cancellation or change.
GENERAL REMINDERS FOR SKYWARN CLASSES
- Classes are free and open to the public
- Attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
- Classes typically last about 90 minutes
- Bring a pen/pencil to the class
- If possible, bring the Latitude and Longitude of your home
(see this page to determine your coordinates: http://www.latlong.net/convert-address-to-lat-long.html )
- Current spotters bring your old ID Card or Spotter Number
 American Radio Relay League, Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF spoke at the Penn State Shenango Campus, Sharon, PA. The presentation was attended by approximately 80 amateur radio operators from clubs across the WPA section, Ohio and others. QCARC had two representatives at the event.
After Mr. Gallagher’s presentation, he opened the floor for questions and comments. An interesting challenge was presented to the attendees. The challenge was, while enjoying the coffee and donuts, folks were encouraged to introduce themselves to someone they didn’t know. This would serve both parties in expanding their amateur radio acquaintances.
American Radio Relay League, Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF is scheduled to speak at the Penn State Shenango Campus, 147 Shenango Ave., Sharon, PA 16146. The presentation, to be held in the auditorium, is scheduled for November 9, 2016 at 7:00 PM. All amateur radio operators are welcome.
For more information on directions to Sharon and a map of the campus with parking lot locations,
visit this web page: http://shenango.psu.edu/visit .
 The Quad County Amateur Radio Club will operate Field Day June 25-26, 2016, at the Clearfield County Fairground Community Building, yes we’ve been there before. Operating hours are scheduled to be from 2:00 PM Saturday to 2:00 PM Sunday, antennas have to be installed after the VE exam session. All amateur radio operators are welcome as well as the general public. Since the public as well as a number of Clearfield County officials and TV stations have been invited, as Club secretary, I ask that members please wear their Club shirts if possible. Thank you – in advance.
Volunteer examiners are reminded that the exam session is scheduled for June 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM. 
Operations are scheduled to start 2:00 PM, Saturday June 25, continuing through the night, with the hopes of taking advantage of any changing propagation characteristics. There is to be a Get On The Air (GOTA) station activated. The GOTA station will give new hams and those not even licensed, the opportunity to experience operating the HF bands under the supervision of a licensed amateur radio operator.
Location Coordinate information: 41°01.840 N 78°26.540 W.
Follow the route depicted by orange arrows, on the map, after you turn off Rte. 322.
You can also try the inserted interactive map to zoom and obtain directions. You can use the satellite view on the small map to compare the orange arrow map to the right.
If you operate APRS, there will be an object beacon to help you locate the Field Day site.
Please consider what will make Field Day comfortable for you, like in the real deal you will be responsible for your own comfort and personal operating conveniences such as chairs, clipboards, pens, pencils, paper. flashlights, etc. – remember to mark your property -. The main equipment will be provided, such as transceivers and antennas. I do not recall that the building is handicapped accessible. If you have a spare HF radio or antenna to bring, all the better as a just in case but only 2 will be on the air plus the GOTA station. Additionally if possible, please bring along some type of food to share.
Plans are in motion to have breakfast Sunday morning and some picnic style food for later times.
To help with the items and food for Field Day, please down load the 2 page checklist and email the Club secretary (secretary@qcarc.org) as to the items that you will supply. I’ll try to keep all the updates current on the download list. If you have anything to add, please email your input to the Club secretary.
Amateurs who are attending the QCARC Field Day, please advise the FD Coordinator by email at secretary@qcarc.org . This info is for overall planning purposes.
 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.
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
SkyWarn Recognition Day has come and gone! I was able to contact 16 stations, for the time that I was on the air band conditions were rather weak not to mention the QSB. For my efforts I was able to print the certificate inserted below. It’s not all that big of a deal but it’s something to show for the effort. After all, one of the aspects of ham radio is communicating regardless of conditions and it was a National event to participate in.
 The 2015 QCARC Christmas Dinner will be held at the Arrowhead Restaurant, Rte. 322 East of Clearfield – Saturday December 19, 6:00 PM No Reservations are required. There will be a buffet available as well as the availability to order off of the regular menu.
With some of our members being involved in local fire departments, I felt this may b e of special interest.
The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum will celebrate its 20th Anniversary, with an on the air special event. As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum , in conjunction with the Harrisburg Radio Amateurs’ Club (HRAC) , will sponsor a special event. The Special Event Station will be on the air on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Sunday, Nov. 15, from noon to 4:00 PM, operating from the museum in Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum opened on November 17, 1995. Housed in an 1899 Victorian firehouse of the former Reily Hose Company No. 10, the all-volunteer museum features a collection of firefighting artifacts, from hand-drawn equipment to the equipment of today. For more information, contact Richard Lenker, KB3YRC.
QSL cards can be obtained by sending a S.A.S.E. to:
PNFM S.E.S.
1820 N. Fourth Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
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/
|
|
Loading ...
The only real way to prepare for providing public service communications is to get out and do it. Yes, it is good talk about how to do things and what can be done but those plans can so easily fall apart under actual conditions. Taking advantage of a public service event is a real event where a need is real and adverse conditions, that often need to be overcome, are real.
