Author Archives: N3LRG

Two Repeater Is Back UP

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Two Repeater Is Back Up

I have turn the repeater back on again.  So far the 2m repeater is behaving and Echolink is confirm to be working again.  If you see or hear any issues please email tech@w3kwh.com to let the tech team know what going on.

On a side note the two meter net that was on our 440 machine was lightly attended.  Do you have the 440 machine programmed into all your radios?  Remember the UHF machine is always our back up machine.  The 440 machine is a DUAL MODE repeater it can handle C4FM and FM modes.  You can use it like any other FM repeater.  So make sure you program 444.450 Mhz + with an PL of 103.5.  {Remember to turn on the T-SQL so you wont be bug by the digital signal}  And if you have an digital radio program it again for 444.450 Mhz + C4FM to let you switch between modes easily. During any nets the link to the Keystone Room will be turn off.

Ok What Next?

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First:  We got an answer LCTOTA goes until tonight at 8:00 PM EDT and the website has been fixed so you can upload the ADI files still.  I want to thank everyone that help out with the event.  We did a good job at getting SCARC on the air for LCTOTA.   Go hunting today if you want to get some for your own call.

STEEL CITY GOT A CLEAN SWEEP!

Second: Business meeting Tuesday Night at 7:00 PM. Be there there will be a nice snack to celebrate out efforts with the LCTOTA.  Plus a will finalize our plans for Field Day June 24 & 25, 2023. We will take of other summer plans during the meeting.

FIELD DAY PLANNING @ MEETING

Third: Field Day – Help needed SCARC members we need not only operators we will need setup/tear down crews.  We need a chief cook and bottle washer. and most important we need LOGGERS.  Even if you dont want to operate please come up and help LOG.  There no better way to learn a contest than by doing some logging.  Long range forcast is calling for scattered thunderstorms so we might be operating in between some rain drops.

FIELD DAY – OPERATORS – COOKS – LOGGERS – ARE NEEDED

Fourth: The Next Event – 13 Colonies – Fun Night –  The last burger night was a big success so for 13 colonies this year I want to have another Fun Night with Burgers.  We will set the date at the business meeting. 13 Colonies runs from July 1st – July 7th.  I hope all of our members get a chance to work this fun event.

13 COLONIES FUN NIGHT WITH BURGERS

Field Day 2023

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Field Day 2023

Open to the general public – come for a visit!

It that time of year the super bowl of ham radio is going to take place on June 24 & 25.  So keep those days open for ham radio.  Grab a family member and bring them up to log for you.  Invite your family and friends to come up for a visit this is the best day to see SCARC in action. This will be an 24 hour operation.  Going from 2pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday.  Your welcome to try to do it for the duration if you want.  But we will need people to help setup at 12 noon Saturday and clean up after 2pm on Sunday.  We will need operators for the over night shift and people to be equipment managers to help maintain the radios, generator, and even the club house.  We need cooks too  if you have a family member wishing to help out let us know.

SIGN UP SHEET
https://docs.google.com

FCC Got Hacked

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The Federal Communications Commission has alerted broadcasters to a disruption of its Universal Licensing System (ULS). Various services have been unavailable since Friday, June 9.

Affected systems include the commission’s Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS), E-106 System and Antenna Structure Registration System (ASR). The FCC says this disruption is due to technical issues. During this time, no applications may be filed through the database.

As of June 13, there is no timeline for recovery, although the commission says it anticipates resolving these problems

Here the full story here:
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/fcc-announces-disruptions-to-universal-licensing-system

Private land use restrictions bill

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06/13/2023

Congressmen Bill Johnson (OH-06) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) reintroduced a bill in the US House of Representatives on June 12 — H.R.4006 (see full text of bill in this PDF) — to remove private land use restrictions that prohibit, restrict, or impair the ability of Amateur Radio operators from operating and installing reasonable antennas on property that they own or control. Similar legislation, H.R. 9670, was introduced by Congressman Johnson in 2022.

“I reintroduced the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act to remove barriers to disaster and emergency communications and training, and to promote education in STEM subjects related to critically needed wireless technology,” Congressman Johnson said in a release. “Passage of this bill will promote developing and sustaining our nation’s wireless future and facilitate and encourage amateur radio operations as a public benefit.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Lewis & Clark On The Air

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Join Steel City ARC as we kick off the 2nd year of the National Special Event – Lewis & Clark On The Air!  Steel City ARC will be representing the state of Pennsylvania as one the the 16 states following the Lewis & Clark trail across the nation.  Work all 16 states and you can get some great wall paper to show your accomplishment. Check out the LCOTA website for more information and all the other club that will be assigned to each state.  Also click on “Find an Activator” to find out when SCARC will be operating.

https://lctota.org/
https://lctota.org/hunter/find_an_activator
Find out when we are on – Just select Pennsylvania for the state

ENDS SUNDAY – GET YOUR CONTACTS IN

We are getting down to the wire since June 18th is the last day you can work an Lewis & Clark station. Click on the “Fine An Activator” link above to see which states are on.

Breeze Shooter Hamfest

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HAMFEST IS BACK!
Sunday – June 4th @ 8AM
Back at the original Butler Farm Grounds

This is starting to look like the event of the summer.  Many clubs are going to the hamfest to show off their clubs.  Steel City is also planning to do this too… The difference we are going to be showing our fellow operators that Steel City is an active club.  Members should plan to stop by our tables and rest your feet and grab a mic to make some contacts for the Lewis & Clark Special Event.  We will be on the HF band and also on the VHF bands.  Attendees will be able to contact our table on 2m to get a official Lewis and Clark contact.  Also Steel City is planning to have a big  informational setup at the show.  We are getting three tables at the hamfest with plans to use them this way

  • Table 1 – Information for the club
  • Table 2 – Special Event station for the Lewis & Clark remote operation
  • Table 3 – Steel City selling table – Sell off your junk

Steel City VE team members will be doing the VE testing session at the Hamfest.  For more information on the VE testing please contact Chris K3PQ.  VE testing will start at 8:30 AM in the Arts & Craft build next to the big exhibit halls.  See the map below for directions.

Directions to the Butler Farm Show Grounds

Click Map For Full Size Image

  • Educational Forums – 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30
    • POTA (Portable, Parks on the Air, SOTA) https://parksontheair.com
    • Introduction to Digital Modes FT8, FT4, Computer Interfacing Plus Advanced
    • Digital
    • Important Roles for Hams with Severe Weather Forecasting (NWS)
    • EMCOMM Operations including Live Demo of WEARS Mobile Unit
    • QSL Cards via ARRL, DXCC Card Checking on site
    • Construction and Operation of an Earth-Moon-Earth Station in Western PA
    • Introduction to Kit Building in Amateur Radio
  • Vendors & Sponsors include:
    • Alpha Antennas https://alphaantenna.com
    • Bioenno Power https://www.bioennopower.com/
    • DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com
    • Hammond Mfg https://www.hammfg.com
    • ICOM America https://icomamerica.com/en/amateur
    • KB3IFH QSL Cards http://kb3ifh.homestead.com/
    • KJI Electronics http://kjielectronics.com
    • Mastrant Antenna https://www.mastrant.com/
    • MPD Digital https://mpddigital.us/
    • MFJ Enterprises https://mfjenterprises.com
    • NatCom Group https://cometantenna.com
    • N3ZN Keys https://www.n3znkeys.com/
    • Pacific Antenna http://www.qrpkits.com/index.html
    • PiShop https://www.pishop.us
    • Power Film Solar https://www.powerfilmsolar.com/
    • Quick Silver Radio https://qsradio.com/index.html
    • Satellite Headquarters
    • Tigertronics http://www.tigertronics.com

 

National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station Annual Test

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From The ARRL News Website

The amateur radio station of the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC (NHC), located on the campus of Florida International University in Miami, will conduct their on-the-air Annual Communications Test on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 9 AM – 5 PM EDT (1300z- 2100z).

This is the NHC’s 43rd year of public service. NHC Amateur Radio Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R/WX4NHC, reports that the purpose of this event is to test amateur radio equipment and antennas at the NHC as well as operators’ home equipment, antennas, and computers prior to this year’s hurricane season. The 2023 hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

This event is good practice for amateur radio operators worldwide to practice amateur radio communications during times of severe weather.

Ripoll said WX4NHC will be on HF, VHF, UHF, 2- and 30-meter APRS, and Winlink, To contact the NHC’s amateur radio station send an email to wx4nhc@winlink.org. The subject of the email must contain //WL2K.

WX4NHC will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency, 14.325 MHz, for most of the time, as well as 7.268 MHz depending on propagation. They may also change frequencies due to potential QRM.

You may be able to find WX4NHC on HF by using one of the DX spotting networks, such as the DX Summit website at http://www.dxsummit.fi.

The VoIP Hurricane Net will also be active from 4 PM – 5 PM EDT (2000-2100z), RLP node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203. Visit their website for more information.

WX4NHC will also make a few contacts on local VHF and UHF repeaters, as well as the Florida Statewide Amateur Radio Network (SARnet) system to test station equipment.

QSL cards are available via WD4R with a self-addressed stamped envelope. More information about the NHC is available at their website.