White County Amateur Radio Club
KK4NLS – Sparta, TN
The National Weather Service in Nashville is offering online SKYWARN Spotter Classes.
Classes are FREE & for ALL AGES!
All classes will run approximately 1.5 – 2 hours
No prior training is necessary & registration is only required if noted.
NOTE: Classes may be canceled with short notice due to severe weather!
Head to https://www.weather.gov/ohx/skywarn for more information and to sign up.
Submitted by KD4WX
Tennessee Severe Weather Awareness Week will be Feb 28 to Mar 6, 2021. More information can be found here: https://www.weather.gov/ohx/swaw2021
Submitted by KD4WX
Information to register for the virtual, international amateur radio expo. The event will take place August 8 and 9, 2020.
https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
Submitted by KW1LL
In lieu of recent events regarding COVID-19, WCARC meetings will be held via radio on the 146.685 repeater until further notice.
The date and time remain the same, second Tuesday each month at 7:00 pm. The on-air meeting will take the place of the ARES net on this night. The 443.775 repeater will also be monitored during meeting time.
More information about the repeater frequencies and PL tones can be found on the “Nets/Repeaters/Frequencies” page on this website.
Additionally, for 2022 we are waving all dues to WCARC. Our account is in good standing and we now have a reserve of money to help handle issues that come up during the year. That said, we think it is prudent to waive fees as a way of supporting those who have supported the club over the last two years. Also, if you know of anyone who would like to join, this is a great opportunity to join for a time at no charge.
We hope everyone is safe and healthy, and hope to hear you on the air!
From ARRL
Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/international-space-station-resupply-mission-to-carry-new-ariss-ham-radio-gear
02/28/2020
The scheduled March 7 SpaceX CRS-20 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will include the initial Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit. The IORS is the foundation of the ARISS next-generation amateur radio system on the space station. The ARISS hardware team built four flight units, and the first will be installed in the ISS Columbus module.
A second flight unit expected to be launched on a later 2020 cargo flight will be installed in the Russian Service Module. NASA contracts with SpaceX to handle ISS resupply missions.
The IORS represents the first major upgrade of on-station ARISS equipment. The package will include a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice repeater, and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space station segments.
The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVCKenwood TM-D710GA transceiver, an AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables. Once at the space station, the IORS will be stowed for later installation.
Submitted by KD4WX
From ARRL
(source: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-creates-new-hf-band-planning-discussion-group)
ARRL Creates New HF Band Planning Discussion Group
02/11/2020
ARRL has created a new HF Band Planning Discussion Group. HF Band Planning Committee Chair Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, will moderate the group, which will focus on the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee’s recommendations and other band-planning activities. Earlier this month, the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee invited comments and suggestions from the Amateur Radio community on its report to the ARRL Board. At the Board’s January meeting, the committee presented its specific recommendations in graphical form for each HF band and each US license class, with the goal of increasing harmony on the HF bands, particularly between CW and digital users. Those responding to the initial call for comments and suggestions are encouraged to cross-post their remarks to the new HF Band Planning Discussion Group.
Submitted by KD4WX
The UHF repeater is currently down for maintenance, but the backup UHF repeater is on air in it’s place.
Backup Repeater Details:
Freq: 443.775(+)
PL: 123.0
More information can be found on the “Nets/Repeaters/Frequencies” page on this website.
From ARRL
Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/ares-volunteers-establish-plan-b-communication-network-in-puerto-rico
01/21/2020
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) volunteers in Puerto Rico continued over the weekend to report for daily duty at an American Red Cross (ARC) distribution center in Mayagüez and at ARC Headquarters in San Juan. The two sites are at the ready to provide a “Plan B” communication backbone in the event the seismic situation worsens. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southwestern Puerto Rico on January 7, fast on the heels of a magnitude 5.8 tremor the day before, damaging homes in Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and Guánica. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL this week that the situation is relatively “calm and quiet” for now and starting on January 22, volunteers would begin monitoring from their homes or vehicles, permitting most, including Resto himself, to get back to their jobs and homes. Continue reading “Article: “ARES Volunteers Establish “Plan B” Communication Network in Puerto Rico””
Here is a list of upcoming (2020) net controls for the WCARC Tuesday night ARES net:
Feb – Steve NN9J
Mar – Jay WS4JM
Apr – Will KW1LL
May – Larry K1MBF
Jun – Robert K1RCE
Jul – John KD4WX
Just a reminder the White County ARC is having their election of officers tomorrow evening, 1/14/20, at 7:00pm at the 1st Methodist Church (23 N Church St) in Sparta.
Hope to see you all there.
73,
White County ARC
White County Amateur Radio Club 