BANNER DEBUTS AT CLUB PICNIC

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BCARC Club Meeting - Tuesday, August 18 th, 7:00 p.m., H & C Burnside Center Branch August 2015 Signals Volume 14, No.

Thirty- one Club Members, spouses, family and friends attended the annual BCARC Picnic on Tuesday evening, July 21 st.

The Club provided chicken and meatballs and the balance of the chow was filled in by dishes brought by the attendees.

Check out more photos on pages 3, 7 and 8 of this issue.

1 BCARC Club Meeting - Tuesday, August 18 th, 7:00 p.m., H & C Burnside Center Branch August 2015 Signals Volume 14, No. 8 Official Newsletter of the Branch County Amateur Radio Club BANNER DEBUTS AT CLUB PICNIC Visit the BCARC website at Founded in 1960 An ARRL Affiliated Club Since 1961 OFFICERS 2015 An ARRL Special Service Club President ROY MCCLOUD AB8RM Thirty- one Club Members, spouses, family and friends attended the annual BCARC Picnic on Tuesday evening, July 21 st. Hosts, Gene and Jacquie Hesse, once again pulled off an outstanding evening of food and friendly conversation. The Club provided chicken and meatballs and the balance of the chow was filled in by dishes brought by the attendees. The occasion provided the perfect opportunity to show off the new Club banner. Check out more photos on pages 3, 7 and 8 of this issue. Secretary/Treasurer TED HADFIELD - KU8F BOARD MEMBERS Butch Hedges KD8NKJ Jim King KC8UGV Justin Lopshire KD8JEL Emergency Coordinator Pat Beeman N8VM IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Work A Lightship! Page 4 Michigan Ham Fined Pages 3, 7 & 9 BCARC Picnic Photos Page 9 RFI From Lighting Devices CLUB REPEATERS * Hz PL Hz PL *Net 7:00 p.m. Backup Simplex Page 1

Roy McCloud, AB8RM Hope everyone is enjoying our summer weather; my problem is it just seems to go by so fast.

During the month of July we had two events to participate in with the club. First was the Fox Hunt which 8 of us attended, plus the Fox. This was not a competitive hunt but was a co- operative hunt.

Branch Signals, August 2015 PRESIDENT S COLUMN There were a couple of technical glitches to start but, they got worked out and a new Fox Box was tested successfully.

What made it a learning tool for those new to fox hunting was after the start we coordinated our search by communicating with each other on the 2- meter repeater.

2 Roy McCloud, AB8RM Hope everyone is enjoying our summer weather; my problem is it just seems to go by so fast. I must be getting spoiled though because I don't know how we lived so many years just using a couple of fans. I certainly have learned to love central air. But, I really do love the warm weather. During the month of July we had two events to participate in with the club. First was the Fox Hunt which 8 of us attended, plus the Fox. This was not a competitive hunt but was a co- operative hunt. Used as a learning experience for the people who were new to this facet of amateur radio. Branch Signals, August 2015 PRESIDENT S COLUMN There were a couple of technical glitches to start but, they got worked out and a new Fox Box was tested successfully. We all left from the 911 Center when the fox started broadcasting and started our search. What made it a learning tool for those new to fox hunting was after the start we coordinated our search by communicating with each other on the 2- meter repeater. This was a successful approach and gave the new people a feel for what it was like and not getting them totally lost. The weather that night cooperated and we all had a good time. Thanks to our Fox for the night and all who attended. We are planning to have another Fox Hunt in the near future. Our other big event for July was the annual club picnic held again this year at Angel Cove Camp Ground and coordinated by Gene & Jackie Hesse. This year s picnic was a big winner with Mother Nature giving us the best weather we have had for this event so far. Temperatures were very comfortable and no rain even after all we've had this year. Attendance was also the best we've had with about 30 members and guest coming out. As usual the club provided the meat for the picnic, fried chicken and meatballs, and those who attended brought a dish to pass. The food was great and so was the company and conversation. This picnic seems to be getting better every year. I think we are getting the hang of it. A big thanks goes out to all who participated, that's what makes this such a rousing success. A couple of things to mark on your calendar for the next month are on August 1, 2015 the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention in, I hate to use the word, Columbus, OH. Also, the Angola Hamfest August 8, Don't forget our club meeting on Tuesday August 18, 2015, Dave King from the Hillsdale County Amateur Radio Club, will be providing our program with a presentation about Astronomy. Well that's all folks for this month. Hope to see you soon and feel free to contact me at any time. 73 Roy, AB8RM Lightship Registers A Fun- Event Milestone A former important marine navigation aid, the Lightship Finngrundet in Sweden, is the prestigious 400th registration in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, August These moored ships that remain stationary in very rough seas, radiate a brilliant light to provide vital marine navigation to seafarers. Some were replaced by lighthouses, but others remained because it was too dangerous or not practical for a permanent construction. The Lightship Finngrundet built in 1903, is moored in Stockholm now serving as a museum, with her signature of two consecutive light flashes every 20 seconds that could be seen 11 nautical miles. It will be put on air by the Södertörns Radio Amateur club 7S0SFJ - most fitting because the light vessel previously had the radio callsign SFJ. Among other lightships so far are those in England, Germany, The Netherlands and the USA. Under international regulations, each have their names painted in large white letters along the sides. A standout country this year is Cuba, that had only really joined others in 2013 with five lighthouses, but so far this year has 12 registrations. In 2014 there were a total of 56 countries and 544 registrations to set a record, and indications are that there will be plenty of action a- gain this time. The leader board has Germany in first place (70), fol- lowed by Australia (63), USA (55) and England (40). To see all registra- tions, the simple guidelines or online registration form for the ILLW in August 15-16, visit the website Thanks to QRZ.com Thanks to The DX Zone Page 2

PICNIC PHOTOS Branch Signals, August 2015 UPCOMING DX HIGHLIGHTS Vanauta YJ8RN 3 14 August Galapagos Is. HC8 3-24 Aug. Ogasawara JD1 6-9 August Cayman Is. ZF2EE 7 8 Aug. Faroe Is.

1 Corsica IW1RLS 24-29 Aug. Fernando de Noronja PY0F 26 31 August Iceland TF 31 Aug. 7 Sept. Thanks to NK3K.com WEBSITES TO EXPLORE NOT AFRAID TO USE YOUR SCREWDRIVER?

3 PICNIC PHOTOS Branch Signals, August 2015 UPCOMING DX HIGHLIGHTS Vanauta YJ8RN 3 14 August Galapagos Is. HC Aug. Ogasawara JD1 6-9 August Cayman Is. ZF2EE 7 8 Aug. Faroe Is. OY 7 10 August Luxembourg LX9YL 7 10 Aug. Monaco 3A 7 15 August Mariana Is. NH0J 8 13 Aug. Seychelles S79DPX 9-23 Aug. Iceland TF August Dodecanese SV Aug. Gambia C5WP 15 Aug.- Sep. 1 Corsica IW1RLS Aug. Fernando de Noronja PY0F August Iceland TF 31 Aug. 7 Sept. Thanks to NK3K.com WEBSITES TO EXPLORE NOT AFRAID TO USE YOUR SCREWDRIVER? When I graduated high school, nearly a half-million people subscribed to 'Popular Electronics' magazine. Soldering up some radio or hi-fi amplifier on the basement workbench was not just a personal passion - a lot of young people were doing the same. The magazine expired in 1999 for lack of interest. Seth Shostak Since the inception of Ham Radio, it has been the desire of hobbyists to do things to their gear. Check out modifications that can be made at this website. (Make these mods at your own risk!) Page 3

BCARC Club Meeting - Tuesday, August 18 th 7:00 P.M. H & C Burnside Center The subject of this month s program will be Astronomy and will be presented by Dave King, KQ8R, an accomplished amateur astronomer.

It s rumored that Debby is anxious to upgrade to make her presence known on the HF Bands. Congratulations to our newest Ham.

4 BCARC Club Meeting - Tuesday, August 18 th 7:00 P.M. H & C Burnside Center The subject of this month s program will be Astronomy and will be presented by Dave King, KQ8R, an accomplished amateur astronomer. NEW LICENCEES AND UPGRADES It s time for a round of applause and a pat on the back for Debby McCloud, KE8BPS, who is proud to have joined the ranks of Amateur Radio Operators this month. It s rumored that Debby is anxious to upgrade to make her presence known on the HF Bands. Congratulations to our newest Ham. Branch Signals, August 2015 MICHIGAN HAM FINED $22,000 And The and FCC has dropped the other shoe hard in the case of Michael Guernsey, KZ8O (ex- ND8V), of Parchment, Michigan, imposing the full $22,000 fine it had proposed in 2014 for causing intentional interference with other Amateur Radio communications and for failing to identify. In a Forfeiture Order issued on July 22, 2015 exactly 1 year from its Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) proposing the hefty fine the FCC cited Guernsey s long history of causing interference to other Amateur Radio operators and noted that he has been warned repeatedly in writing. Guernsey s interactions with the FCC Enforcement Bureau date back well over a decade, and, at one point agreed to have his license suspended for 9 months. Despite repeated warnings from the [Enforcement] Bureau regarding his on- air behavior, Mr Guernsey s violations included the deliberate playing of music on top of the transmissions of other amateur operators in order to obstruct their ability to communicate on the frequency, the FCC recounted in the July 22 Forfeiture Order. Mr Guernsey further used various animal noises to prevent the communications of other stations with whom he had a longstanding and well- documented dispute. The FCC said the egregiousness of Guernsey s repeated willful acts of malicious interference warranted the assessment of the full $22,000 forfeiture it had proposed a year earlier. Nothing in the record in this case, including Mr. Guernsey s financial condition, warrants any leniency or mitigation of that amount, the FCC added. In responding to the 2014 NAL, Guernsey denied responsibility for the interference, in part noting that FCC agents had not inspected his station and may have heard the signal of a nearby radio amateur. He also sought a cancellation or reduction of the fine based on inability to pay. The FCC was having none of it. The Commission said its agents positively confirmed the source of the interfering trans- missions as Guernsey s residence and monitored them for 40 minutes. Further, the FCC said that inability to pay a fine was but one criterion it uses in determining an appropriate financial penalty. Considering the entire record, we find no reason to cancel, withdraw, or reduce the proposed penalty, the FCC said in the Forfeiture Order to Guernsey, who has 30 days to pay the fine or arrange to do so on an installment plan. In a related enforcement case, the FCC in January affirmed an $11,500 fine against Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for causing deliberate interference. The FCC The Enforcement Bureau had proposed fining for both Crow and Guernsey in separate, but similarly worded Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued a year ago. Crow did not respond to the 2014 NAL. In both instances, the FCC said, it responded in March 2014 to several complaints of intentional interference on MHz, and Commission agents used radio direction- finding techniques to pin down the transmission sources. Thanks to the ARRL and WB8R Page 4

CONTEST CALENDAR August 1 Intercontinental Lightship Contest 10-10 Int.

Test August 6 NRAU 10m Activity Contest August 7 NCCC RTTY Sprint NCCC Sprint Ladder August 8 WAE DX Contest, CW SKCC Weekend Sprintathon Maryland-DC QSO Party 50 mhz Fall Sprint August 12 NAQCC CW

CW August 16 ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY August 17 Run for the Bacon QRP Contest August 22 Hawaii QSO Party Ohio QSO Party August 29 YO DX HF Contest Kansas QSO Contest August 30 North American SSB

Once again, they have provided a great site for our gathering and their planning has proven to be excellent as ever!

5 CONTEST CALENDAR August 1 Intercontinental Lightship Contest Int. Summer Contest, SSB European HF Championship North American QSO Party, CW ARRL UHF Contest August 2 RSGB RoPoCo CW SARL HF Phone Contest August 4 ARS Spartan Sprint August 5 Phone Fray CWops Mini-CWT Test August 6 NRAU 10m Activity Contest August 7 NCCC RTTY Sprint NCCC Sprint Ladder August 8 WAE DX Contest, CW SKCC Weekend Sprintathon Maryland-DC QSO Party 50 mhz Fall Sprint August 12 NAQCC CW Sprint RSGB 80m Club Sprint, CW August 15 SARTG WW RTTY Contest ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest Russian District Award Contest Keyman s Club of Japan Contest North American QSO Party, SSB CVA DX Contest, CW August 16 ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY August 17 Run for the Bacon QRP Contest August 22 Hawaii QSO Party Ohio QSO Party August 29 YO DX HF Contest Kansas QSO Contest August 30 North American SSB Sprint Contest THANKS, AND A TIP OF THE HAT! A bob of the old bonnet goes out this month to our Club Picnic hosts, Gene and Jackie Hesse. Once again, they have provided a great site for our gathering and their planning has proven to be excellent as ever! They even arranged to fit the event into a nice break in the summer Michigan weather! Be sure to give both of them a serious atta- boy (or girl as applicable) next time you see Gene or Jackie! WEEKLY FACE-TO-FACE BREAKFAST AND RAGCHEW Every Saturday morning, beginning at about 8:00, local amateurs, spouses and friends gather at the Prop Blast Café for breakfast and rag chewing. Wear your call sign name badge! Located at the Branch County Memorial Airport Branch Signals, August 2015 UPCOMING HAMFESTS 8/1/2015 Great Lakes Division Hamfest Location: Columbus, OH greatlakes.org/ 8/8/2015 Angola Hamfest Location: Angola, IN 8/16/2015 Seaway Trunk Swap Location: Port Huron, MI Great Lakes Maritime Center 8/23/2015 Cuyahogo Falls Tailgate Hamfest Location: Stow, OH FOXHUNT!!! Saturday Sept. 19th Treasurer s Report For the Month of JULY, 2015 Beginning Balance 6/30/2015 $2, Deposit 7/13/ Deposit 7/20/ Check #699 for Decals 7/21/ Deposit 7/22/ Check #700 for Picnic Expenses 7/23/ Check #698 for Picnic Expenses 7/23/ Balance as of 7/31/2015 $2, /30/2015 $2, Page 5

Branch Signals, August 2015 BCARC FLASHBACK - FEATURING EXERPTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 85 BRANCH SIGNALS The June, 1985 meeting of the BCARC was called to order by President Harold Sharp, K8ZGO, at 1948

6 Branch Signals, August 2015 BCARC FLASHBACK - FEATURING EXERPTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 85 BRANCH SIGNALS The June, 1985 meeting of the BCARC was called to order by President Harold Sharp, K8ZGO, at 1948 hours and the Secretary s report from May s meeting was read by Steve Williams, N8CTI and accepted on a motion from Max, WB8RYR and seconded by Jim, KA8MPM. Amos Fleming, WA8LGO, gave the Treasurers report and there is $ in the checking account and $11 cash on hand. Amos reported that the new Exciter is on hand and built for a cost of $ and the ID er is on order at a cost of approx.. $161. Jim, KS8D, reports that the Field Day Packet would be sent for and that he would see to it that there were news releases made in the paper. Harold, K8ZGO, reported that so far the best idea to have come forward on the Auto-Patch is that it would be installed in a private home and controlled by the repeater. There should be a tape recorder that will come on when the Patch is in use. The cost would be split up equally among those interested in using the Patch. The initial cost would be approximately $500. Under New Business, Jim, KS8D, reported that the FEMA Tests were all in. The Sister City Committee requested 8 people for communications for the run and 6 people for the Parade. Jim also mentioned that the Fair was coming up and that the Fair Board would be needing help (with communications ed.) again this year. Harold, K8ZGO, reported that when all the new parts for the repeater get here and are put together it would be necessary to take the repeater off the air for approximately a week for installation. Chuck, N8BYI, reported that the builders group has got some new printed circuit boards which are guaranteed which should make their projects turn out much better. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Chuck, N8BYI, and seconded by Herb, WD8JOO. The meeting was followed by a movie on Transmission Lines. The September meeting will be held in the Mall area of the Branch Area Careers Center at 7:30 p.m. local time on Spetember 12 th. The program will be a presentation on The Frontiers of Space. Steve Williams, N8CTI, Secretary Earn This Unique Certificate By Checking In To The Branch County Net Twelve Times. The Net is called at 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday except on Clubmeeting night on the WD8KAF Repeater (100hz pl) Page 6 6

7 Branch Signals, August 2015 CLUB PICNIC, JULY 21, 2015 Photos courtesy of Roy McCloud, AB8RM Page 7

8 Branch Signals, August 2015 MORE CLUB PICNIC PHOTOS Thanks to South Shore Fox Hunters Fox Hunters FOXHUNT PLANNED FOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 19TH Another 2015 Foxhunt is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 10 AM until 12:00 PM, weather permitting. It will start from the 911 Center Parking lot. Page 8 6

Branch Signals, August 2015 ARRL Complains to FCC About The Home Depot's Marketing of RF Lighting Devices The ARRL has filed a formal complaint with the FCC, alleging that The Home Depot retail chain

9 Branch Signals, August 2015 ARRL Complains to FCC About The Home Depot's Marketing of RF Lighting Devices The ARRL has filed a formal complaint with the FCC, alleging that The Home Depot retail chain has been marketing certain RF- ballast lighting devices in violation of FCC Part 18 rules. Accompanying the League's July 14 letter to FCC Enforcement Bureau Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Bruce Jacobs and Office of Engineering and Technology Laboratory Division Chief Rashmi Doshi was a 20- page report prepared by the ARRL Laboratory's Mike Gruber, W1MG. His report outlines four instances in which ARRL investigated The Home Depot's marketing and sale to consumers of non- consumer- rated RF lighting devices. In three cases, The Home Depot sold non- consumer devices having far greater emission limits and intended for commercial use to consumers who specifically expressed plans to use the devices in residential settings. Although notices accompanying the store's display and included with some devices purchased indicated that they were for commercial use, the information did not specify that the devices could not be used for residential purposes. In the case of products that did include such a notice, the information was not visible without opening the packaging. "Clearly Home Depot's marketing and sale of non- consumer ballasts is not adequate to ensure compliance with FCC Part 18 requirements," Gruber's report concluded. The ARRL asked the FCC to "investigate and commence an enforcement proceeding" regarding The Home Depot's retail marketing and sale of RF lighting devices in the US. In its letter, the League noted that it has received numerous complaints from the Amateur Radio community of "significant noise" in the bands between 1.8 and 30 MHz from so- called "grow light" ballasts and other RF lighting devices regulated under FCC Part 18 rules. Gruber said emissions from grow light ballasts have been measured in the ARRL Lab to be way above both non- consumer and consumer Part 18 emissions limits. Although otherwise- legal non- consumer rated ballasts - - the subject of ARRL's complaint - - are not nearly as problematic as grow lights, they can still cause interference beyond what would typically be expected or easily addressed in a residential environment. The devices at issue in the League's complaint are only legal in commercial and industrial environments, and they should not be used for residential purposes due to the higher Part 18 emission limits permitted for industrial and commercial devices. The League said its investigations in several states revealed an alarming number of instances in which non- consumer- rated ballasts were mixed in with consumer ballasts and other consumer products. "In most of the stores surveyed, unsuspecting consumers have no way of knowing the significance of consumer vs. non- consumer ballasts," the League said. "In some cases, 'commercial' grade ballasts, with their associated non- consumer emission limits, appeared to be a heavier duty or superior product. The display signage typically used implies, therefore, that commercial ballasts are also a product upgrade for home use." The ARRL said that store display signage typically did not mention or adequately address applicable FCC Part 18 requirements, as they pertain to interference in a residential environment. The League said consumers in three of the four instances it investigated made actual purchases of RF lighting devices at The Home Depot retail outlets and "specifically asked about residential deployment of non- consumer RF lighting ballasts." The ARRL said it's apparent that The Home Depot - - and, by inference, other similar retail stores - - is "actively and knowingly engaged" in selling commercial RF lighting products to customers for use in residential settings. "If this activity is left unchecked the Commission will continue to note a deterioration in ambient noise levels and preclusive interfering signals for both AM broadcasters and Amateur Radio licensees in the entirety of the high- frequency bands," the League's complaint said. The ARRL asked the Commission to "take appropriate action" with respect to The Home Depot and other retail outlets marketing such RF lighting devices "without delay." A copy of the letter was sent to The Home Depot's Atlanta, Georgia, Store Support Center. A commercial ballast on sale in The Home Depot marketed to consumers. There is no FCC warning to indicate that this product may not be used for residential applications. Thanks to ARRL Page 9 6

QSP. July VE Report. QSP On-Line at: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club. July 2012

QSP. July VE Report. QSP On-Line at: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club. July 2012 Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club QSP QSP On-Line at: http://www.centralksarc.com/qsppage.htm July 2012 The July Meeting is Friday July 27th at KWU s Peters Science Hall Room 211 7:30 PM Inside this issue: