Hono Amateur Radio Club

Volume 7, Issue 8 An ARRL Affiliated Radio Club November 1, 2003

NOVEMBER IS A HARC MEETING MONTH!
Mark your calendar - PLEASE ATTEND!
Saturday November 15, 2003
0900-1100
ZIPPY'S on Vineyard Blvd
Corner of Vineyard and Mauna Kea Streets
Entrance on Maunakea Street

Inside This Issue
1 President's Message de K1ER
2 THE BPL/PLC THREAT TO HF
3 FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Log
4 Calendar of EventsFCC News

President's Message

Here we go again

John D. Peters K1ER

President HARC


MORE CHANGES IN 2003

MORE IN 2003

I have a new ham next door, actually several of them. DXers at that. AH7C and KH6BK will be joining the fun on DX or RF hill. I'll get them to our meetings.

The power outage in August, which created confusion and blacked out most of the Northeast USA is a warning to every ham. The fires in Calif right now are as well. If YOU do not have a generator large enough to carry the loads in your home including your radio station, YOU SHOULD. I recommend a 5 kW unit with electric start. I used to routinely, every year, lose power for at least a week in Virginia. REA power in the middle of winter is unreliable. But a power outage from failed transmission line, or tower, or serious storm is a real consideration in Hawaii. You can get a quiet, reliable generator from many dealers such as Home Depot, SAM'S, COSTCO, Kilgos, et al. The price is right and the selection is good while the weather is nice and the demand is low. Do not wait until you need it to shop. Just because the last storm missed Hawaii is not a sign of good times forever. (Except for DXers where good times are normal.)

If you are not active and on the air because you think the Sun Spots are down and there is nothing to work, you're making a big mistake. The bands are open all the time to some DX you need. You must work harder and longer because the openings are sometimes short, but the chase is the fun. The Flux went to nearly 300 the last week in Oct but with remarkable accompanying absorption. Major solar activity has been common in this cycle. A ham in the Soloman Islands, H44MD, who graduated in the first radio school class supported by HARC is frequendy on the air every day. He is a youngster and a good operator. Look for him in the early evening around 14.195. HARC will continue to support the government radio school in H4. There are major expeditions in progress or planned in 2003 and 2004. You must be ready for really rare AND NEW dx or you'll miss out on the fun.

If you prefer working locals, 7088 at 4 pm local finds a gaggle of KH6 talking about the local weather.

And if you like politics, you really should be an active member of ARRL AND concerned about the very real threat to hf radio from BPL. Broadband over powerlines looks like the worst man made QRM problem we have ever faced. The ARRL test showed high level pulse noise from 2 to 80 MHz which could destroy HF amateur radio. I just learned our HARC Member Kevin Bogan, AH6QO will be ronning for SCM. VOTE when you get your ballot from ARRL. I'm sure Kevin will make a short speech at the Nov meeting.

The point is, don't let the declining sunspots keep you off the air. And don't fail to heed the warning provided by the power outage in the Northeast states.

We can discuss SAFELY using emergency power at a future HARC Meeting. In November we'll focus our attention on SAFE TOWER AND ANTENNA WORK

 

73 John K1ER

TREASURER'S REPORT

A few members have paid their dues for 2004 and you may do so anytime.

Balance on act 17 (latest statement) $4,093.04 Includes a cost of $44.62 for Sept newsletter and bank fees for the "privilege" of holding our money.

The cost of printing and mailing the HARC Newsletter is our only recurring expense. If you have not renewed your dues, please pay now for 2004. Other infrequent expenses are for the repeater and support of the school in Soloman IS and local HARC ham events.


THE BPL/PLC THREAT TO HF

I SHALL BRING SEVERAL COPIES OF THE 35 P AGE REPORT BY ED HARE WlRFI

CALCULATED IMP ACT OF PLC ON STATIONS OPERATING IN THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

ED IS THE ARRL LABORATORY MANAGER AND ED WAS OUR SPEAKER AT THE LAST HAWAIl HAMFEST IN HONOLULU

YOU'LL FIND MUCH MORE ON THE ARRL WEBPAGES.

BPL/PLC - WHY SHOULD I CARE? HOW ABOUT 70 db INCREASE IN PEAK LOCAL NOISE

NOISE LIKE IGNITION COVERING FROM 160 THROUGH 6 METERS!

NOISE THAT IS S9 + 18 on YOUR HF RECEIVER!

NOISE CARRIED ON EVERY POWER LINE !!!!!

THAT IS WHY YOU CARE! IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF ARRL --- JOIN!


TREASURER'S REPORT

A few members have paid their dues for 2004 and you may do so anytime.

Balance on July 17 (latest statement) $4,108.54
Includes a deposit of three dues $45.00 and a bank fee of 35c for the "privilege" of holding our money.
The cost of printing and mailing the September HARC Newsletter will appear in the next report.

 

FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Log
August 9, 2003


A representative listing of recent reports on Amateur Radio enforcement-related actions from the files of the FCC Enforcement Bureau:

 

THIS SPACE NORMALLY DEVOTED TO THE FCC ENFORCEMENT LOG WILL BE USED INSTEAD TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF THE INFORMATION FROM THE ARRL WEB PAGES ABOUT THE TERRIBLE THREAT TO AMATEUR POSED BY BROADBAND OVER POWER LINES (BPL) also called PLC.

BOTH ARRL AND JARL AND OHTER NATIONAL AMATEUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS SYSTEM IN THEIR COUNTRIES. ARRL NEEDS OUR SUPPORT TO PREVENT THE EFFECTIVE LOSS OF THE HF BANDS FROM 160 TO 6 METERS FOR WEAK SIGNAL RECEPTION.

GO TO THE ARRL WEBPAGES HTTP://WWW.ARRL.ORG AND SEARCH BPL.


Member Application Form

New or renewal, same form. The best way to learn what your new license can mean is to chat with the old timers who've been there. Mail a check to HARC. Mail a check to HARC.

Name __________
Callsign __________
Address __________
City __________
StateZIPCODE __________

ARRL Member? (Yes) (Life) (No)

Dues for 2003-4 are due and remain $15
Mail to:

John D. Peters K1ER
98-1547 Akaaka Street
Aiea, HI 96701-3051

 

HARC WANTS YOUR INPUT!

What do YOU want HARC to do?

What would YOU like to do in HARC?

I need material for this Newsletter. Do you want me to copy material from the Pacific Division ARRL Newsletter? ARRL Bulletins? Why don't YOU write something and send it?

W5YI VE Session at HARC Meetings

The W5YI VE team is headed by Lee Wical KH6BZ.

The VE Session will follow the HARC Meeting. If you have any question, contact Lee. The fee is set by the FCC. You need your current license and a copy of it, plus a photo ID, if you plan to upgrade.

HARC, John D. Peters K1ER
98-1547 Akaaka Street
Aiea, HI 96701-3051
USA