THE LIVE WIRE

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        The Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society has traditionally worked to be a leader in Field Day activities.  Frequently Field Day was an event not to be missed.  The social atmosphere rivaled any other affair availavle within the amateur radio community.  Sunday morning's highlight was always the sausage and biscuits done by WA4LUQ.

        Coffee was abundant and very fresh since it was poured frequently by the night shifters busty behind microphones or knocking CW contacts.  Usually a fire or heater was available as a central place to gather and swap stories (it really never was too important about truth!).

        Saturday evening always saw an unbelievable spread of goodies.  Hams from all over the area would gather to enjoy the picnic spread that rivaled an old church reunion.  It also provided the energy to get ready for the evening' s story swapping around the fire! Many would stay around all night an others would leave during the wee hours -- all full of the vitality of active amateur radio.

        Another highlight of the annaual field day was always the NOVICE station.  Although the Novice license has been replaced by the Techinician license as the entry level to amateur radio, its importance remains.  Perhaps today's station would more appropiatley be called the TECHNICIAN PLUS station, the need is the same.  It is a rare opportunity for those who are active as well as those who are inactive on CW to hone their skills under the tutoring of an old time, volunteer "Elmer".  I can still remember the delight years ago when the Novice station worked the 50th state during a field day exercise.  They had actually recorded the 50th state prior to the main CW or SSB stations.  We took as much pride in their beating us as they did in doing it!

        Much has been said about the relative importance of Field Day today.  I believe it to be as important or perhaps more important today as it was years ago.  Our dependace on VHF as a means of communication for emergencies is dangerous.  Repeaters are nice.  VHF is handy.  However, in the event of a true disaster, VHF becomes, at best, of limited value.  If repeaters are down, the range of VHF, particularly FM, is handicapped by terrain. At best, it is of use as a local means of communication.  In 1996, I was in Puerot Rico for 3 hurricanes.  VHF communications only served to let San Juan know where the problem areas were.  Since San Juan was a major problem area, there was little benefit.  The HF communications served to coordinatre relief from mainland US or other islands.  I had my HF rig and was able to power it from the battery of my 4 wheel drive vehicle by driving under a window and running a pair of wires.  I would periodically start the vehicle to maintain a good charge and never lost contact with the US.  I had an 80 meter dipole run from palm tree to palm tree.  I was able to put a temporary 40 meter vertical up just after the storm by getting a line over a palm and pulling a wire up.  The wrought iron fence around my house there served as a counterpoise and I fed it with a short run of RG58.  It performed like a champion high dollar antenna!  Part of that was learned during a Field Day years before.

        Another benefit of Field Day is the publicity generated.  Points are awarded for obtaining local news coverage.  If we do a good job of not only SELLING the story, rather TELLING the story, we can gain good will beyond any price.  Any amateur radio operator that has run into antenna restrictions can tell you how important it is that the community recognize the inherent value of amateur radio as a service.  It is our hobby,
but if we can keep it as a service, restrictions are less likely to be added and likely to
be easier to work through.  Current legislation in Virginia is aimed at preventing restrictions for amateur radio antenna structures.  The right kind of publicity will help get South Carolina on the bandwagon with similar legislation.

        Field Day is not limited to HF either.  There are lots of stations that focus on VHF.  The growth of the Technician license as the entry license means lots of activity on 6 meters as well as 2 meters.  The development of the new sunspot cycle has led to almost daily band openings on 6 meters with Europe and South America showing up regularly and the east coast becoming routine.

        I encourage you to participate in Field Day.  If you have specific equipment or talent, make it available.  Do you have a “perfect site”?  Do you have that newest mega-dollar rig you are dying to show off?  Are you struggling to make that next Morse
code level?  (Would a little coaching help?  What about an opportunity to participate?)
Would you like to serve as an operator?  Not comfortable as an operator – how about
serving as a logger?  Maybe you have the latest PC logging program.  Make it available. Would you simply like to operate?  Traditionally, there have been multiple stations offering SSB, CW, slow speed CW, specialized modes, and VHF multi-mode.  How many of you have worked Canada on 2 meters?  We did it during a Field Day (no repeaters or satellite) on 144.100 CW!  That was an experience for me.

        Field Day is in its roughest form, a contest.  In its purest form, it is a measurable activity to demonstrate emergency communication capability and capacity.  Winning is
nice.  Competing is fun.  Participating is necessary!

        If you want to participate in Field Day this year as a club, contact one of the
officers right away. If we get enough interest, a working committee must be organized quickly to plan and start preparation for the club station. Hopefully some of our newer members will want to participate for the first time and several older members be provide guidance based on their experience with field days past. Don’t Wait!! Time is running out.

Minutes of the  4/6/98  Club Meeting
 

•  Meeting was called to order by KA4END, Buddy with introductions of members and guests.  (41 total present)

• The following applications were approved for Membership by the members at the April 6, 1998 meeting by the membership:

• The HAMFEST status was reviewed, with special note that:

 More ticket sellers are needed, including some for Friday evening early
 tailgaters.
 (Contact ND4N, John if you can help )
 Help is needed Friday afternoon for SETUP  - Tables, Tailgater setup, Indoor
Flea, PA System, ETC.....  AND Help is needed Saturday afternoon for TEAR-DOWN, transporting things back to storage, etc.....
 
  HAMFEST Highlights:
     9:00am  to  11:00am . .QRP Forum with several good speakers on QRP’ing,
             several QRP kits for door prizes.
   11:00am  to  11:30am . .ARRL Forum
   11:30am . . . . . . . . . . . .At ARRL Booth in HAMFEST area  -  Presentation of
                                           ARRL Plaque to SC SSB Net for 40      years of activity.
                                           At ARRL Booth in HAMFEST area  - Presentation of
                                           ARRL Plaque to Sidebander of the Year.
    1:30pm . . . . . . . . . . . . Bingo for the ladies and whoever.
    1:30pm . . . . . . . . . . . . Amateur License Examinations at Anderson College
                                           at Watkins Hall.

•  FIELD DAY ANYONE??   A short discussion indicated that there is some interest. Les, K4NK, Johnny Allison, WD4DYH, and others are looking for some possible sites.  More discussion will be at the May Club Meeting.  Meanwhile, be

thinking about it.
 
• Treasurer, WA4WYE, Carroll, presented a treasurers report.

 
•  Announcement was made that the March of Dimes walk would be on Saturday,

4/25/98.  See Sue, N4ENX if you can help.  A few more folks are needed to
provide communications for the event.  (Event, now past was a huge success
with many volunteers and good coverage.)
 
•  K4SUG, Ray, presented a program on “The History of the BRARS Sponsored

Repeaters”, and the “’61 NET”, which was well received by all.
 
• Door Prize won by ND4N, John Chism.

 
• No Applications received for action at the 5/4/98 club meeting.

 
• Meeting adjourned.

 
• Next meeting - May 4  (The Monday before the HAMFEST) at the Greenville Tech

Meeting Room.
 

Any comments, suggestions, articles, etc. regarding the newsletter should be sent to livewire@brars.org

The Livewire Editor is Dr. Carl Rogers, WA4ULE and this webpage is maintained by Jonathan Nalley, KE4ZVU who is a member of the 

Send your comments or inquiries to: brars@brars.org

©1998 Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Society, Inc.