Balanced Modulator Online

The Balanced Modulator newsletters are official publications of the North Florida Amateur Radio Society (NOFARS). Most articles on this web page, the Balanced Modulator Online, are from past issues.

To stay informed on current events affecting Amateur Radio in NE Florida, join the North Florida Amateur Radio Society to receive the printed and e-mail editions of the Balanced Modulator which are FREE to members.

Send your name, call sign and mailing address along with $5 annual dues to P.O. Box 9673; Jacksonville, FL 32208-0673.  Also include your telephone number if you wish it published in the NOFARS roster.  You may join for multiple years at the low $5 annual rate.

 
 

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CONTENTS

FCC ORDERS UNWELCOME HAMS TO AVOID REPEATERS

MARCH MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

JACKSONVILLE RADIO HISTORY IN BALANCED MODULATOR

JAX HAMS ASSIST AFTER BIG EXPLOSION

146.73 STARKE REPEATER

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR FLORIDA SEDAN SYSTEM

FCC CHIDES MOBILE HAMS

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HAMS

NORTH FLORIDA TRAFFIC WEB PAGE

COGNITIVE RADIOS

NOFARS ROSTER

BALANCED MODULATOR ONLINE  PAGE TWO

 

 

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FCC TELLS TWO HAMS TO STAY OFF LOCAL REPEATERS
(Via Amateur Radio Newsline)

Two hams in different parts of the country have received warning letters from the FCC. Letters that tell them to stay off of certain repeaters in their respective geographic areas.

In New York, the trustees of the K3TSA 2-meter repeater system had requested in writing that David R. Henry, W2DRH, refrain from use of that repeater. The request was issued as a result of Henry's alleged failure to follow operational rules set forth by the licensee and or the control operators of the repeater and of the FCC rules. The FCC says that Henry had previously been requested to refrain from using the system, but had apparently ignored both verbal and written requests.

The FCC not only warned Henry that any further unauthorized use of him by the repeater will bring enforcement action against his license. It also noted that his license expires on April 21, 2009. It says that his license will not be routinely renewed unless this matter is resolved.

A warning letter has also been sent to Edward R. Drone, W0NYF. In this instance the trustee of the St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club repeaters K0STL, N0TYZ, W0FF and W0SRC had requested in writing that Drone refrain from use of the repeaters. The request was issued as a result of his alleged failure to follow operational rules set forth by the licensee and control operators of the repeaters for their users.

In a conversation with the FCC in February 2008 Drone reportedly acknowledged that he had been directed to stay off of the repeaters and stated that he would comply. However, the FCC says that on March 31st he was heard utilizing the K0STL repeater and reportedly stated that he would not refrain from using it.

Now, in its April 2nd letter to Drone the FCC warns him that it expects him to abide by the request to stay off of the repeaters and any other such request by a repeater licensee, control operator or trustee. It warns W-Zero-N-Y-F that failure to do so will lead to enforcement action that could include revocation of his license , or a
modification proceeding to restrict the frequencies on which he may operate.

Drone was also asked to contact FCC rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth.

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MARCH MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The March 13th NOFARS meeting included two excellent presentations.  Mike Gondeck, KI4QLT is Manager of Radio Services for the City of Jacksonville.  He described communications which is available to city agencies.  The First Coast Radio System became operational in 1999 and uses 10 repeater sites.  It is a challenge to provide reliable communications to a very large geographic area and the system has performed well.  Each repeater site includes battery backup with automatic generator transfer, ample fuel supply and redundancy.  If a failure threatens to disrupt a path, alternate options quickly engage to work around the problem until repairs can be completed.

Full HT portable coverage in Duval County and reliable mobile multi-county coverage is available through the system.

The city radio shop includes a staff of 13 technicians and engineers to provide quick repair of communications equipment along with vehicle radio, satellite, video camera and wireless data installation.

Much of the equipment is Motorola and the staff is trained to factory standards in preventive and corrective maintenance.  Many also have military communications background.  The radio shop is on call around the clock to take care of any priority needs for service.

Jacksonville Fire & Rescue and Jacksonville Sheriffs Office personnel are among over 10,000 users supported by the radio shop.  The staff has been of assistance to NOFARS and area hams over the years.  Thanks to Mike for an informative presentation.

Paul Eakin, KJ4G traveled from Tallahassee to present his vision for the American Radio Relay League in Northern Florida.  An election for Section Manager will be conducted in April and Paul is on the ballot.  He has forty years of experience in Amateur Radio.  Members will receive an election brochure containing information on each candidate along with their ballot.  Paul said he would appreciate support in helping him to win a two-year term and work to improve our section.  Thanks to Paul for an excellent talk.

These two speakers became available on short notice.  The program on nets has been postponed until April 10th.  NOFARS members participate in over a dozen different nets with local, statewide, regional and national coverage.   Net purposes, procedures, legalities and history will be covered along with message format.  Those attending the May meeting are requested to tell us about the net(s) in which they participate.

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NOFARS FIFTY YEARS SERIES IN THE BALANCED MODULATOR

The printed Balanced Modulator newsletter includes articles about the history of Amateur Radio in Jacksonville.  NOFARS was founded in 1957 and marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2007.  With over 300 members, NOFARS is one of the largest radio groups in the Southeast.

The printed Balanced Modulator is mailed quarterly to all NOFARS members.   Articles in the series include:

1957-1960:  The Space Age began and the small transistor radio appeared.  An upstart group organized after an impromptu backyard barbecue where one person brought in a tape recording of Jax hams talking on the air.  The tape recorder ran erratically which brought a comment that the sound sure sounded "wacky."  Local hams wanted an alternative to the staid Jacksonville Amateur Radio Society (JARS).  Revisit ham radio in Jacksonville '50s style and learn how NOFARS started with only a few members toward becoming a group of hundreds.  (March-April 2007)

1960-1969:  Ham radio progressed into the age of incentive licensing.  Field Day became a major activity and W4IZ was assigned to NOFARS.  The wonder of long distance communications had a great appeal to many.  Single Side Band "duckywucks" started outnumbering AM operators. (May-June 2007)

1970-1979:  The FM VHF repeater progressed from an experimental stage into the mainstream.  Reliable local communications became a major objective for many. The Jax Hamfest began at the Beach Flag Pavilion and W4IZ continued its tradition of Field Day effectiveness.  (July-August 2007)

1980-1984: If the '70s was the decade of the repeater, the '80s was a period during which the microprocessor and computer emerged into wide usage in Amateur Radio.  New technologies such as packet gained popularity. The philosophy of "de-regulation" replaced the incentive licensing concept at FCC.  ARES in Jacksonville continued to improve under the leadership of two outstanding Emergency Coordinators. (September-October 2007)

1985-1989:  The volunteer exam system got underway and attendance peaked after our hamfest moved downtown. New digital applications and technologies gained popularity in Florida with construction of statewide links.  (November-December 2007)

1990-1994:  No-code licenses became available.  A new alternative for the masses, Internet, began to change the landscape.  (January-March 2008)

1995-1999:  The Jacksonville Hamfest was fading but a highlight of the '90s was the ARRL National Convention here.  NOFARS decided it was time for a change.   Cellular telephones became ubiquitous. The W4IZ Repeater System started operation on 146.7 and 444.4 MHz. The e-mail Balanced Modulator began as a supplement to the printed edition. (April-June 2008)

2000-2003: After declining during the last half of the '90s, NOFARS membership began to grow again.  This contradicted the trend in most other ham groups.  Read about reasons for the reversal.  Repeaters were losing their luster.  Two free-flea hamfests each year offered a sustainable alternative.   The Greater Jacksonville Hamfest folded after the 2003 gathering following four lackluster events away from downtown.   (July-September 2008)

2004-2008:  The W4IZ Repeater System became the most active in the area.  Morse Code was deleted from testing and licenses were restructured.  Broadband over Power Line came to Jacksonville. (October-December 2008)

Ham Radio in Jacksonville Before NOFARS (1920-1957):  Learn about Amateur radio in the old, old days.  The first large ham gathering, the pre-war Jacksonville Radio Club,  War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) activity during WWII, the Jacksonville Amateur Radio Society and emergency communications services provided by local hams.  Meet some of the unique characters who laid the foundation for ham radio in Jacksonville.  (January-March 2009)

If interest warrants, these articles may be combined and reprinted in a publication to be available to NOFARS members.  Be a part of the great radio tradition in Jacksonville by being a NOFARS member.  Dues are affordable for everyone at only $5 per year. Click here for more information on NOFARS membership and an application form.

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JAX HAMS ASSIST AFTER BIG EXPLOSION

Around 1:30PM on December 19th, Amateur Radio operators provided communications following an explosion and fire at T2 Laboratories in north Jacksonville. Much of the city was jolted by the huge blast with possibly-toxic gas rising to the sky visible from downtown.

The first report from the JEA Northside Generating Station--only a mile or so away from the explosion--came from Todd Lovelace, K1KVA, a JEA engineer over the NOFARS W4IZ 146.7/444.4 MHz repeater.  Todd contacted Wayne Norton, WB4YTJ and Wayne relayed details to JEA HQ downtown by telephone.

T2 Labs produces specialty chemicals that replace conventional toxic and dangerous industrial chemicals.  A preliminary investigation indicates that a chemical reactor ruptured and caused the blaze that killed 4 people and injured several others. Large portions of the reactor were carried as far as a quarter of a mile.  Investigators said that the T2 blast is believed to be one of the most powerful industrial explosions on record.

“All electric generation from JEA Northside Unit 1 and Unit 2 was lost due to damaged power transmission lines next to the plant. Unstable wind conditions began to push a black plume over our plant,” according to Todd.

“Our company security force was unaware of our forced evacuation – with no phones, no email, and the radio playing hard-to-get.  I went to my truck radio system (mobile ham set-up) and called the ever-present Wayne Norton, WB4YTJ.  Wayne land-lined JEA security headquarters downtown and they relayed the evacuation announcement to our neighbor next door, St. Johns River Power Park. To the best of my knowledge this call was the first communications out of Northside Generating Station concerning the explosion.  Later, I made a second call to Wayne later to have him relay another request.”  Non-essential plant workers were evacuated.

Duval County ARES activated quickly and the Florida Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee was notified through the Florida SEDAN system. A Red Cross shelter opened at Oceanway Elementary School in case an extended evacuation became necessary. But by 5PM, gasses that had belched from the damaged plant were determined not to be a threat and the fire had been extinguished.

For more details, read the January 10th ARES E-Letter.

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146.73 MHz STARKE REPEATER

The 146.73 MHz. Repeater in Starke has good coverage for those traveling U.S. 301 and other roads in Bradford County. It is located on the WEAG radio tower on SR100 and is operated by NOFARS VP Ben Dickerson, K4EL. The Bradford ARES net meets each Thursday at 7PM on the repeater.

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EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR SEDAN

Florida SEDAN needs spare VHF rigs and accessories such as TNCs and power supplies. This gear is placed at relay points (nodes) to connect emergency operation centers and relief agency HQ into a backup system which uses Amateur Radio. If you can help with a donation or a good deal on your used gear, contact SEDAN Coordinator Tom Nolan, KD4MWO TNolan1013@aol.com

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Guidelines for stations wanting to be considered include third party capability with the United States or waiver from their telecom agency, ability to speak and understand English, 24/7 access and availability of station, willingness to support scheduled contacts at various times, phone patch capability, effective antennas and  tracking system along with output power greater than 70 watts.

Those desiring to be considered to serve as one of the new ARISS ground stations, should send an e-mail to ARISS-telebridge@amsat.org with details about your station.

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FCC TELLS MOBILE HAMS TO USE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO AVOID BPL INTERFERENCE

The arrogant attitude of the FCC and purveyors of “dirty” interference-prone BPL toward hams continues. Requests by ARRL to force BPL providers to obey interference standards were denied although FCC did recognize the "historic and ongoing importance of the amateur service."

An FCC BPL ruling in August contained a provision aimed against hams operating mobile. It reasoned that these operators have a choice of taking a different route if subjected to BPL fallout. The rule states that BPL operators need not do anything in response to complaints from mobile hams except to notch specific frequencies.

Those who do not notch have little to fear. Despite many complaints, enforcement actions against BPL offenders have been minimal according to ARRL. Following the lead of former Commissioner Kathleen "Broadband Nirvana" Abernathy, FCC continues to tell a rosy story saying that BPL is a good technology and that there is no problem with interference. The spin machine at work.

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR HAMS

The Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) administers 55 scholarships to assist Amateur Radio operators who are planning post high school, full-time courses of study at an accredited university, college or technical school. Awards range from $500 to $2,500. For application forms, contact FAR Scholarships; P.O. Box 831; Riverdale, MD 20738.

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YOUR INVITATION TO JOIN NOFARS


At only $5 a year, NOFARS membership is a bargain that is hard to beat.  NOFARS membership offers many advantages and shows that you support organized ham activities in this area.  Whether you are a newcomer or a longtime operator, you are invited to join our group.  Your membership includes the Balanced Modulator newsletter--mailed to each member six times per year.

To  join or renew your NOFARS membership, send your dues to Billy Williams, N4UF; P.O. Box 9673; Jacksonville, FL 32208.  Please make checks payable to NOFARS. You may join for multiple years at this low rate.

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NORTHERN FLORIDA TRAFFIC WEB PAGE


NOFARS member Earl Leach, WX4J has established a web page which lists items of interest to traffic (message) handlers.  It can be accessed via http://home.comcast.net/~wx4j

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COGNITIVE RADIO
 

According to FCC, A "cognitive radio" is one that can change its transmitter parameters based on interaction with the environment in which it operates.  This interaction may involve active negotiation or communications with other spectrum users and/or passive sensing and decision making within the radio.

ARRL officials believe that most cognitive radios will be software defined radios (SDRs). The ARRL says it generally supports the proposals contained in an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O), ET Docket 03-108 relating to so-called cognitive radio (CR) technology. But the League urged the FCC to avoid large-scale deployment of CR technology--and especially of unlicensed devices in spectrum regularly used by licensed services until further experience with the technology is obtained.

The ARRL objected to a proposal to allow cognitive radio technology devices to operate under Part 15 in rural areas at up to a sixfold increase in the currently permitted power level in several UHF bands that include amateur allocations--including 902-928, 2400-2483.5,  5725-5825 MHz and in the 24 GHz band.

The League said the Commission should not view cognitive radio as an opportunity to increase permissible Part 15 power levels and questioned why the FCC was willing to put forth such proposals without real-world test deployment of the systems it wants to authorize.

 

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NOFARS  ROSTER

The NOFARS membership roster can be accessed by clicking here.  Send updates and corrections to n4uf@nofars.org   (700kB--may load slow)

The roster also is available in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format by clicking here.

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FOR MORE ARTICLES, CLICK BELOW

BALANCED MODULATOR ONLINE   PAGE TWO


 

 

BALANCED MODULATOR ONLINE NEWSLETTER NEW HAM ADVISOR GETTING STARTED IN HAM RADIO HAMFEST MEETINGS & EVENTS
FIELD DAY NETS FCC TESTING W4IZ REPEATER SKYWARN
MEMBERSHIP INFO HAM OF THE YEAR PHOTOS  LINKS SEDAN
WACKY WINGDING NET HRAUS HOME ROSTER CONSTITUTION