GREENVILLE, ALABAMA

COME ON DOWN

(or up or over) 

BUTLER COUNTY RACES 

PRESENTS

HAMFEST ‘09’

AT THE

BUTLER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

1 MILE EAST OF I-65 ON ALA 10  ON THE RIGHT

HOURS 8 AM UNTIL

Contact:
Jerry McCullough, KE4ERO
Box 709
Georgiana, AL 36033
Phone: 334-301-5007 or 334-382-7644
Fax: 334-371-7732

Email: KE4ERO@gmail.com

TALK-IN  146.67

The next MARC meeting will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held in classroom A of the Central Alabama Red Cross, 5015 Woods Crossing Drive.

After a brief business meeting, we will listen to several disaster preparedness themed presentations. Mike Watkins, WX4AL, the ARRL AL district 4 emergency coordinator, will make a presentation about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and its role in central Alabama. El Erby, the Montgomery county emergency coordinator will tell us about the local ARES situation and Otto Arnoscht, the central Alabama Skywarn, Alabama Emergency Net Golf (AENG) net manager will make a presentation about the Skywarn program and it assists the National Weather Service when severe weather happens.

I hope you will take a couple hours from your busy schedule to join me next Monday evening for what's sure to be an entertaining and informative meeting.

As always, many of us stop by Schlotzsky's around 5:30 - 6:00 for dinner and fellowship before the meeting.

73,
Scott Poole, W4SPA
President, Montgomery Amateur Radio Club

The progression of our hobby is dependant on new blood, as well as continued interest in the different aspects of amateur radio. I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by amateurs who not only see the importance of this, but step up to the plate to do something about it. You see it in the meetings where different modes are demonstrated to introduce those of us who may not have known about them. It is evident at Field day when amateurs come out of the wood work to help setup, operate and break down. Last years rash of devastating hurricanes brought amateurs from coast to coast to assist those in need while the members of the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club provided local support and coordination.

Though everyone seems to pitch in and help out, I would like to commend two individuals for their most recent efforts in not only bringing new amateurs to the hobby, but for helping others progress in their licensure. WB5NMZ and W4SPA enthusiastically began instruction of the General Class theory and Morse Code tutoring on the 2nd of March. The interest in the class was far more than I expected, nearly filling the classroom with students and even some amateurs already possessing the privileges wanting to audit the class and refresh their memory of the rules, theories, and best practices.

I (KG4PNL) took the class mainly to be able to assist during disaster relief efforts. HF honestly didn't interest me, with so much unexplored in the Technician band plan, the only lure was the ability handle much needed traffic during times of a disaster. During the class, I began to see facets of HF I had not considered. Scott and Mark were not only able to give us the tools to pass the exam, they brought a perspective of the General class privileges that excited me.

Beginning Thursday April 13th, these same two Elmers begin instructing a Technician Class License Course and have managed to nearly fill the classroom with students that will be new to the hobby. There is a number of young students which is very promising.

A huge Thank You goes out to Mark and Scott for doing such a great job!

73,

Scott Poole, W4SPA

President, Montgomery Amateur Radio Club

73, de W4SPA

On 10 April 2008, our most senior member, Pete Sides (W4AUP), celebrated his centennial. A special party to commemorate this milestone was sponsored by the Alabama Historical Radio Society and held on 12 April in the Alabama Power Building here in Montgomery. This top-notch affair was attended by his son and over 50 of Pete's closest friends. Many pieces of historical radio equipment (including a spark gap transmitter) -- all built by Pete -- were on display. Besides the usual birthday cake, he received special recognition from the ARRL for 72 continuous years of membership, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club.

Contgratulations!

At the April MARC meeting, we will continue our disaster preparedness theme with a guest speaker. Mike Stodenmier, director of the Montgomery City/County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) will be speaking about his office's role and how we, as amateur radio operators fit into EMA disaster response plans. Mike will also discuss his plans for integrating amateur radio into upcoming city events and EMA drills. This will be your chance to talk with Mike one-on-one and to ask questions about emergency management's plans for dealing with various disaster scenarios.

Also, Ken and I will be sporting the latest in MARC apparel. We have been working with AKD on a new Field Day T-Shirt design as well as a MARC polo shirt and we'll have both available for you to see and purchase at the April meeting. We will be kicking off the Field Day fund raiser by offering Field Day T-shirts for sale.
This will be a great meeting so please make plans to come out and join us Monday night.
April 2012 MARC Meeting
Monday, April 16, 2012 - 7:00PM
Central AL Red Cross Chapter
5015 Woods Crossing Drive (just off Carmichael Rd)
dinner at Schlotzsky's @ 6:00

Host for the "2009 ARRL Alabama Section Convention".

NOVEMBER 14, 2009

Sponsored by:
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 3141
Montgomery, AL 36109
http://www.w4ap.org

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009

Location: Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive, just West of Coliseum Blvd. in North Montgomery
Time: 9:00 A.M. Until 3:00 P.M.

Repeaters:Hamfest Talk-In: 146.84 MHz (-) call W4AP
RagChew: 147.18 MHz (+) (123.0Hz tone)
444.50 MHZ (+) (100Hz tone)
146.920 MHZ (-) (W4AP C) (D-STAR)

VE Testing: 8:00A.M. (bring any original and copy of CSCEs, copy of current Amateur Radio License, and copies of and original photo ID or two forms of ID without photo )

Forums - 2009

ROOM 1(BY KITCHEN)
10:00-11:00 Alabama Section Emergency Communications, ARES. Hosted by: Jay Isbel (KA4KUN).
11:00-12:00 S.E. Div/AL. Section, ARRL Forum. Hosted by Greg Saratt (W4OZK) and Jay Isbell (KA4KUN).
1:00 -2:00pm: Alabama D-Star and hospital users. . Hosted by: Greg Sarratt (W4OZK).
ROOM 2.(Adjacent to Rm. 1)
10:00-11:00 Alabama Section Youth Forum. Hosted by: Kaitlyn Cole (KS3P)
11:00-12:00 Alabama Repeater Council: Hosted by David Drummond (W4MD)
12:00-1:00pm D-Star Gateway Administrators meeting. Hosted by : Ken Adkinson (WB4FAY).
ROOM 3, (Testing Room).
10:00-12:00pm MARS forum. Hosted by Army MARS, Larry Vine.
12:00-1:00pm: Stratosphere or Bust (SOB) Gas filled balloon adventures. Hosted by SOB Group.
Vendors:
C.T. Morgan
Ham World, INC

VIS
Cedar City Sales
The Sign Man

Vendors of special note:
The Wireman (Press Jones)
N.L. Williams, author of 'A Matter of Destiny', a ham radio sci-fi thriller.

Hamfest Chairman:
Rik Doll, KU4PY
Phone: 334-277-0864
E-Mail: KU4PY@ARRL.net

Security: Security on duty overnight

Vendor Support: Drive-in for setup and tear down. Pre-show breakfast served for vendors.
Setup times: Friday, Nov 13th: 3:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.
Saturday, Nov 14th 7:00 A.M. until 8:50 A.M.
Table prices: In Advance: first table $15 ($10 ea. additional table)
At the door: $15 Ea.
Table Rentals:
Phil Salley, K4PO
Phone: 334-272-7980 after 5:00 P.M.
E-Mail: hamfest@w4ap.org
Reserve Your Table Today
Tailgate: $5.00 in a great NEW area!
Admission: $6.00, ages 15 and under FREE!
Parking: FREE Parking!

If you are HURRICANE AWARE you will be able to answer these three questions:

1. What are the Hurricane Hazards?
Storm Surge, Marine Hazards, Tornadoes, High Winds, and Inland Flooding

2. What does it mean to you?
Do you live in a Surge Zone? On a Barrier Island? In an area prone to flooding? In a strong sturdy home?

3. What actions should you take to be prepared?
Family Disaster Plan, Disaster Supply Kit, Secure your home, Have a place to go, and Stay Aware

Be sure to ask other family memebers, friends and neighbors if they are HURRICANE AWARE too.

TAKING ACTION is as easy as 1-2-3:

1 BEFORE Before Hurricane Season Starts YOU SHOULD: Assemble your Disaster Supply Kit. These items are often scattered around your home and simply need to be brought together into one location. Write out your Family Disaster Plan. Discuss the possible hazards with your family. Determine if you are in an evacuation area. Identify an out-of-town family contact.

2 WATCH When a Hurricane Watch is issued YOU SHOULD: Check your Disaster Supply Kit. Make sure nothing is missing. Determine if there is anything you need to supplement your kit. Replenish your water. Activate your Family Disaster Plan. Protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time (for example, securing a boat or leaving a barrier island).

3 WARNING When a Hurricane Warning is issued YOU SHOULD: Ready your Disaster Supply Kit for use. If you need to evacuate, you should bring your Supply Kit with you. Use your Family Disaster Plan. Your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.

The 2012 Offciers are:

President - Scott, W4SPA
Vice President - Ken, KJ4CJP
Secretary - Rick, AJ4ZZ
Treasurer - Jim, AK4FP
Publicity Officer - Bruce, KI4OZW
Trustee - Phil, K4PO

The launch of SOB IX was right on schedule at 6:30 AM CDT on Saturday, August 1, 2009. We filled the balloon with hydrogen gas until it was pulling upward about 4 1/2 pounds. Then we attached the 35 oz payload to it and released it. It disappeared into some low clouds just a couple of minutes after launch. We continued to track the payload via APRS signals by using truck mounted decoding equipment and computers. The balloon drifted Eastward at around 15 mph until it reached an altitude of about 55,000 ft. Then, just South of Shorter, it made a "U" turn and traveled back to the West. It passed directly over the city of Montgomery still moving West. When it passed over the I65/I85 intersection, it was over 103,000 ft high and was beginning to pick up speed. While still continuing to ascend and increase in speed, it moved to the West of Montgomery, roughly paralleling Hwy 80. The speed continued to steadily increase, reaching a maximum of over 70 mph. After the balloon reached about 120,000 ft, the ascent rate really started to decrease. It was still going up, but getting slower and slower. We continued to wacth the telemetry data come into our our computers and cheered with each higher altitude report. Then without warning, at approximately 8:52 AM and an altitude of 122, 457 ft, it suddenly stopped transmitting. We continued to monitor the frequency, calling N4AU, KU4PY and W4FDD, who were recording the data at their respective home stations but they didn't hear it either. We called N4UZZ, KI4CSQ, K4DJL and KE5GDK who were downrange; but nothing from there either. Minutes went by without any additional transmissions. What had happened? Who knows. The payload is bright white and it's labeled with a weatherproof placard so hopefully someone will find it and send it home.

The SOB project will go on. We're already discussing the new payload. Stay tuned.. there's more to come.

On behalf of the entire SOB team, thanks for your continued interest in and support of our adventures!! 73, --Scott

On April 15, 2011 a series of tornados and severe thunderstorms crossed our area, and Skywarn was in overdrive, tracking storms, gathering reports from the field, and forwarding severe reports to the National Weather Service. We had over 35 check-ins from the four counties (Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, and Montgomery) and none of the counties were spared severe weather. We also assisted some traveling hams with weather condition reports as they were making their way through our area. The Skywarn controllers did yeoman’s work as the nets started near 3pm and ran all the way to midnight. N4BTB, W4EGR, N4UZZ, AK4FP, KR4JY, WA4BO, K4GDW, K4GR, KI4CSQ, K4LIA, K5VGU, KA4RRV and many others contributed to the Skywarn effort.

>SKYWARN ACTIVITY / LOWNDES & BUTLER CO.

By Bob Overstreet, WA4BO
Central AL Skywarn Net Controller

Beginning on the afternoon of the recent storm, several stations in our area began reporting observations to the Central Alabama Skywarn Net, then up & running on the 146.84 repeater. Over a period of 3-4 hours, 3 stations sighted & reported the appearance of distinct “wall clouds” in the Fort Deposit area, as the storm rolled through. These sightings occurred during late afternoon. Specific times not recorded, locally. Total time observing & reporting was about 3 & ½ to 4 hours.
Stations & geographic locations:
1- WA4LR LARRY NORTH BUTLER CO. (approx 3 miles south & slightly west of Ft. D).
sighted wall cloud from his QTH, looking west, moving generally along hwy 185, from Greenville to Ft. D. Brief periods (5-10 min) of very heavy rain. Moderate to heavy rainfall throughout the rest of this time period. Station was operating from inside his home on an H.T., attempting to relay to the ’84 via the ’67.
2- WA4BO BOB SOUTHEAST LOWNDES CO. (approx 2 miles west of I-65 / hwy 185 intersection). QTH is east central edge of town.
-sighted 2 distinct wall clouds during the period of observation (3-4 hrs). The first appeared at a cloud base due south of home QTH. Wall cloud was clearly visible thru a gap in tree line. The drop down from the cloud base was easily visible due to the contrast with the much lighter colored background. Also, the lower edge of this feature was a bit ragged, appearing as an occasional vertical column rotating very slowly around the center of the structure. Think maypoles. The second distinct wall cloud is believed to be the one described below in item #3, though viewed from the WEST side, at the QTH noted above.
3- KZ4J SPENCE SOUTHEAST LOWNDES CO. (approx 2 miles e/ne of the WQ4V CAROL intersection of U.S. 31 & Hwy 185, Logan, AL).
-sighted distinct wall cloud about 20 min after the first one reported in item 2. This wall cloud was noticeably larger, wider at the cloud base than (item 2). Extending one’s arm fully, palm upraised, it appeared 2 & ½ palm widths wide. General line of movement placed it just east of I-65, moving parallel to the interstate. Again the drop down feature was clearly distinct from the cloud base, due to contrast with the much lighter background shading. Neither station viewing this one ( viewed from both the east and the west) was able see any rotation.