The Blue Ridge Echo . . Echo Echo . ..

Official Transmitter of the Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club -

W4YK -

Volume 24, Number 2 – February 2011

The Prez Sez — I want to say thank you to Jonathan for setting up the speaker at our last meeting. We
had a great turn out and I thought the meeting went well. I am excited about a number of the subjects that you
have suggested and I am looking forward to the presentations coming up over the next few months. Also thank
you to those who came out and helped with the North American QSO Party on the 15th. We had 1 new person
get involved along with 9 others. Keep bringing visitors. The thing I learned in this contest is contesting is like
fishing. You have to keep changing your tactics throughout the day to adapt to the changing conditions. When
the contacts stop coming in you have to change the bait. Please keep in mind there are quite a few events
coming up this spring where our services will be needed. Keep your radios ready. See you at the next meeting
and remember we go by the Blue Ridge Tech schedule. If they do not have evening classes on the day of the
meeting due to weather then we do not have a meeting.

73’s Danny, NA4X

Our Next Meeting: February 1,

1, 2011

7:00 pm – "Hands On!! - Building a dual band (2m/440) J-pole"

MEETING MINUTES OF January 4th

4th,
th, 2011 — The January meeting of the Blue Ridge Amateur
Club came to order at 7:00 p.m. at our regular place of assembly. Danny Rector, NA4X, (note the new call
sign), was the presiding officer. We had 23 present for our meeting.

We began the meeting with the pledge of allegiance to our national flag. After welcoming everyone, Danny
alerted us to several public service events that would be coming up the first half of the year. There was input
from the floor also on upcoming events. These public service opportunities include:
In the month of April:
The DuPont Half Marathon April 9th
The MS Walk
St Jude’s Walk for Children

In the month of May:

The Biltmore Horse Endurance Ride, May 7th

Rusty Jones, N4SAA, (new call), gave us an update on upcoming contests.

Dick Smith, W4RSS, told the club we now have a tweet address: radio club- brarc

Eric Mauney, W4ENC; and John Johnson, WA4KNI brought forth the discussion of the evening. Eric did most
of the talking while John did the visuals. The topic of discussion was DSTAR digital radio. Eric answered
questions from the floor, as he was leading the discussion.
John has a DSTAR repeater in operation on Dana Road (147.255), and as quickly as weather allows, the
repeater will be set up on Pinnacle Mountain. The 440 repeater will be on frequency 442.025.
Thanks Eric and John for the “how to” on digital radio. The website “dstarusers.org” was given as a reference
to find out more about this topic.

The 50-50 drawing was won by Lil Clark, KG4GFP.

The club voted to donate $40.00 to the fund to help supply plaques to winners in the N.C.Q.S.O. contest.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Sid Hendricks W4IOE

BRARC Sets the Bar Higher – On January 15th, eleven of us at the shack set a new club record score
for the North American QSO Party.

Our 38,190 points easily surpassed last year’s

record of 25,070 points. And this was with less
than ideal propagation and lots of noise on the
low bands. The 10m band was non-existent and
15m not much better. However, the late-night
operators were able to make 45% of our contacts
on 80 meters.

The K3 rig served us well, helping to pull out

335 contacts and 114 multipliers. Because of
poor conditions on the high bands, only a quarter
of contacts were made with the Quad antenna.
We used N1MM for logging.
Frank, WN4NC Operates as Harry, N4ZVX Logs
Comparing past efforts: in 2009 we scored 7,865; in 2008, 13,806. We must be rising in state rankings, but
won’t know until results are published.

Participating were: Michael, AI4GR; Ron, KF4HAT; Frank, WN4NC; Jonathan, KE4NVX; Bob, KD4OKT;
Dick, W4RSS; Bob, W4RYF; Rusty, K4SAA; Danny, NA4X; Andrew, KJ4ZLP; Harry,N4ZVX.

Mark Your Calendar —

19-20 February – ARRL DX Contest, CW

25-27 February – CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB
27 February – NC QSO Party
5-6 March – ARRL DX Contest, Phone
26-27 March – CQ WPX SSB

Please notify the editor if dates change, or as new events arise.

ITEMS FOR SALE

ICOM – IC 7000
Yaesu VX-7R
Alinco DR-235
For information, contact Jim, KI4GGD: jfbehan@bellsouth.net

If you have items for sale, or need something, notify the editor.

– DUES FOR 2011 ARE DUE –

PTT ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bob Felt has been named the new EC for Henderson
County. Let’s all show our support as he takes on this role.

All news of interest to the club is encouraged, so please send it my way.

—— K2DRM is clear.
 Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Points of Contact
President: Financial Report: January 2011 - Lil Clark
Danny Rector, NA4X - 828-698-3231
rectordl@bellsouth.net Balance as of 12/21/10 $ 1543.83
Vice President:
Jonathan Williams, KF4NVX - 828-429-1007 Plus: 2 Deposits 339.50
jsw007@bellsouth.net Less: Expenses 0.00
Secretary:
Sid Hendricks, W4IOE - 828-684-8130
Balance as of 1/21/11 $ 1883.33
w4ioe@bellsouth.net
Treasurer: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Lil Clark, KG4GFP - 828-877-5223
peregrine13@citcom.net
Members-At-Large:
Craig Miller, KE4DFV – 828-884-5773
ke4dfv@arrl.net
Rusty Jones, N4SAA - 828-674-9350 Purpose: The purpose of the club is to further the
kg4jgq@arrl.net exchange of information and cooperation between
Antennas: Walt Wernsing, KO4JN - 828-891-9956 members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism
walter134@mchsi.com
Echo Editor: Dan Maxwell, K2DRM - 828-243-1347 and individual operating efficiency, and to promote
danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com and conduct programs and activities as to advance the
Webmaster: Dick Smith, K4KQJ - 828-687-9531 general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the
k4kqj@arrl.net community.
ARRL Emergency Coordinator: Bob Felt, W4RYF
828-696-4103 w4ryf@arrl.net Elmers: We have many “Elmers.” An Elmer is a
VE Testing: Sid Hendricks, See above knowledgeable amateur radio operator who is willing
Membership: - Lil Clark, See above to help new hams and “students” with questions or
Public Relations: Dick Smith, See above procedures and help them to understand more about
Trustee: Steve Smith, KC5F - 828-697-6388
the hobby.
kc5f@arrl.net
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Volunteer Examinations: Every 3 months, our
volunteer examiners provide an opportunity to get your
Club Information amateur license or to upgrade your status.
NEXT SESSION: February 12, 2011
Address: Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 831, Horse Shoe NC 28742 Contact Sid, W4IOE, for details.
Website: http://www.radioclub.org/ Classes: We occasionally have classes so you can
learn how to get your own amateur radio Technician
Dues: Our dues cover the period from January through
class license.
December. Dues for additional related members in the
same household as a Full or Associate member are
one-half the applicable rate. Dues for full-time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
students of an accredited school are one-half the
regular rate as long as student status is maintained.
A message from the editor....... Articles and
New members joining between July and December pay
submissions for the Echo should be sent by the
one-half the applicable rate for membership through
15th of each month.
the end of the year. This year’s dues are $20.00 per
If you have something to add to our newsletter,
person; $10.00 per additional family member.
send it to: Dan, K2DRM.
Please send your renewals to: Lil Clark, 15 Autumn Call me at: 828-243-1347 or E-mail me at:
Glen Ct., Brevard, NC 28712 danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com
Meetings: We meet at the Stoney Mountain
Activity Center at 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
each month.
 Nets and On-The-Air Activities

Net Freq / PL Day Time

BRARC Net 146.640 MHz/ 91.5 Sunday 8:00 PM

Henderson County ARES Net 146.640 MHz / 91.5 Wednesday 8:30 PM
High Country Swap & Rag Chew 442.225 MHz/107.2 Monday 9:00 PM
Red Cross Communicators 146.640 MHz/91.5 Sunday 9:00 PM
Mount Mitchell 6m Net 53.630 MHz/100 Friday 9:00 PM
QCWA Chapter 76 3.625 MHz (SSB) Saturday 8:45 AM
Buncombe ARES Net 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 Wednesday 9:00 PM
Good Morning Net 146.760 MHz M-W-F 9:00 AM
WCARS Info. Net 146.910 MHz/ 91.5 Monday 9:00 PM
6600 Net 145.190 MHz Saturday 9:00 PM
Blue Ridge Traffic (SC) 146.610 MHz Daily 9:00 PM
Mount Pisgah 220 Net 224.260 MHz Sunday 9:00 PM
Mount Mitchell 220 Net 224.540 MHz Monday 8:00 PM
Rutherford County ARES Net 147.240 MHz/ 94.8 Wednesday 8:00 PM
Tarheel Emergency Net 3.923 MHz (SSB) Daily 7:30 PM
NC Morning Net 3.926 MHz (SSB) Daily 7:45 AM
SATERN Net 14.265 MHz Daily 10:00 AM
NC Evening Net 3.923 MHz (SSB) Daily 6:30 PM
Carolinas Slow Net 3.571 MHz (CW 5-8 wpm) Daily 8:00 PM
Carolinas Net (Late) 3.573 MHz (CW 15-18 wpm) Daily 10:00 PM
Carolinas Net (Early) 3.573 MHz (CW 20-22 wpm) Daily 7:00 PM

If this information has changed, please contact Dan at danmaxwell@dan-maxwell.com.

Club Meeting Tuesday

January 4, 7:00 pm
Stoney Mountain Activity Center

Subsequent club meeting

February 1, 7:00 pm
Stoney Mountain Activity Center

Henderson County ARES

Training Session
Fourth Monday of month
Etowah Lions Club, 7pm

— Find us on the web at < http://www.radioclub.org > —