? According to QST, overall QSO were down 9% from 2017

?

From the DEC 2018 DECEMBER on line QST-

?

K4NAB 8,876 points, 5A was 4^th overall in the nation for 5A.? (6^th overall in 5a in 2017)

?

WR4EC 3,098 POINTS, 2A Edgefield Co ?SC ARC

?

K4KNS 1,678 points, 4A? ARC Columbia County GA

?

W4DV 1,640 points, 4A ARC Augusta GA

?

?

?

?

I made a major mistake…

?

The results are for the 2017 FD…. Not the 2018!

?

The link takes you to the DECEMBER QST…. But the Dec 2017.

?

2018 results should be out soon.

?

Sorry,

Kent

KQ4KK

?

?

?

K4NAB 8,878 points, 5A was 6^th overall in the nation for 5A

?

K4KNS 2,102 points, 4A? ARC Columbia County GA

?

W4DV 1,940 points, 4A ARC Augusta GA

?

K3NP 1,154 points, Aiken Contest Club SC

?

?

?

587 TOTAL CONTACTS

?

27 DX including Namibia and Romania

31 SCHOOLS

12 CLUBS

55 STATES/PROVINCES (missed Utah, Hawaii and 3 Canadian Provinces)

151,446 TOTAL POINTS

23 HOURS 58 MIN OPERATING

?

406 CONTACTS ON 40M

181 CONTACTS ON 20M

?

20 STUDENT OPERATORS… “We may need a bigger boat”

?

ELMERS – DAVE WB5NHL, KENT KQ4KK, JIM? KG4ZNN , BRIAN AA4UJ, DARBY KK4PEQ, JIM KN4OQD, TRAY KK4FCI,

?

We have been having some parents stop by. It is great to watch their faces when they watch their son/daughter operate

?

RICHARD DELOWREY brought 4 dozen cookies. Gone in 30 seconds.

?

With 20 (2 new) student operators, we were very busy. ??

It is real interesting to watch former students, or current experienced students act like experienced ELMERS!

?

FRIDAY was PIZZA DAY! We had 6 PIZZAs today, around 4PM. Took a little longer than 30 seconds to eat them, but not much.

?

An interesting observation. WE saw fewer college Ham club stations this time. The ARRL also started a separate College “contest” for them in September. Maybe they did this because colleges were tired of getting beat by a small middle school in SC beating them all the time<g>.

?

All the contacts were done on our 20/40 inverted V wire antenna we setup each day. Made out of $5 of Home Depot house wire.

?

If any of you have FREE coupons for those RED VOMs from Harbor Freight, we could use some more. PLEASE do not BUY any. ?

?

Kent

KQ4KK

?

461 TOTAL CONTACTS

22 DX

30 SCHOOLS

53 STATES/PROVINCES

104,647 TOTAL POINTS

19 HOURS 00 MIN OPERATING

?

326 CONTACTS ON 40M

135 CONTACTS ON 20M

?

17 STUDENT OPERATORS

?

ELMERS – DAVE WB5NHL, KENT KQ4KK, JIM? KG4ZNN , BRIAN AA4UJ, DARBY KK4PEQ, JIM KN4OQD, TRAY KK4FCI,

?

We have been having some parents stop by. It is great to watch their faces when they watch their son/daughter operate

?

Kathy (Newland) ?and Brian’s XYL sent cookies. Gone in 30 seconds.

?

With 17 (2 new) student operators, we were very busy. ??If you can spare the time, please come by and help, or watch these students operate.

It is real interesting to watch former students, or current experienced students act like experienced ELMERS!

?

FRIDAY IS PIZZA DAY!

?

Kent

KQ4KK

?

387 TOTAL CONTACTS

16 DX

25 SCHOOLS

52 STATES/PROVINCES

82,431 TOTAL POINTS

14 HOURS 32 MIN OPERATING

?

267 CONTACTS ON 40M

120 CONTACTS ON 20M

?

16 STUDENT OPERATORS

?

ELMERS – DAVE WB5NHL, KENT KQ4KK, JIM? KG4ZNN , BRIAN AA4UJ, DARBY KK4PEQ, JIM KN4OQD, TRAY KK4FCI,

?

We made some more school contacts and Alaska today. We have been having some parents stop by. It is great to watch their faces when they watch their son/daughter operate.

?

One of our seasoned students said she knew why the bands have been bad. Kathy (Newland) has not sent any cookies. Think they are coming before the end of the week.

?

With 16 (3 new) student operators, we were very busy. ??If you can spare the time, please come by and help, or watch these students operate.

It is real interesting to watch former students, or current experienced students act like experienced ELMERS!

?

Kent

KQ4KK

?

239 TOTAL CONTACTS

13 DX

19 SCHOOLS

46 STATES/PROVINCES

39,913 TOTAL POINTS

9 HOURS 01 MIN OPERATING

?

158 CONTACTS ON 40M

81 CONTACTS ON 20M

?

17 STUDENT OPERATORS

?

ELMERS – DAVE WB5NHL, KENT KQ4KK, JIM? KG4ZNN , BRIAN AA4UJ, DARBY KK4PEQ, JIM KN4OQD, TRAY KK4FCI,

?

With 17 (Mostly brand new) student operators, we were very busy. ??If you can spare the time, please come by and help, or watch these students operate.

It is real interesting to watch former students, or current experienced students act like experienced ELMERS!

?

Kent

KQ4KK

?

155 TOTAL CONTACTS

8 DX

15 SCHOOLS

34 STATES

16,585 TOTAL POINTS

4 HOURS 29 MIN OPERATING

?

137 CONTACTS ON 40M

18 CONTACTS ON 20M

?

14 STUDENT OPERATORS

?

ELMERS – DAVE WB5NHL, KENT KQ4KK, JIM? KG4ZNN , BRIAN AA4UJ, DARBY KK4PEQ, JIM KN4OQD, TRAY KK4FCI,

?

With 14 (Mostly brand new) student operators, we were very busy. ??If you can spare the time, please come by and help, or watch these students operate.

It is real interesting to watch former students, or current experienced students act like experienced ELMERS!

?

Kent

KQ4KK

?

ARRL SCHOOL CLUB ROUNDUP OCT 15 -19 2018

SCEMD Hurricane Michael Operational Plan

Posted on by

October 10, 2018 @12:30 PM

Hurricane Michael is starting to impact parts of South Carolina as outer bands bring rain and increasing winds.? The storm’s major impact will be felt early on Thursday with windy conditions and periods of heavy rain.? The center track of the storm is projected for the midlands with 3 to 6 inches of rain.? There is a possibility of tornadoes and power outages.

SCEMD will be monitoring the SCHEART network starting at 0700 Thursday morning and continuing through the day for damage reporting around the state.? ARES/RACES members should monitor their local Tactical Frequencies and SCHEART through the day.

The normal SCHEART Healthcare net will take place at 0900.? This will be an abbreviated net targeted to healthcare facilities and agencies.? Operators who support these facilities and members of PHRC are encouraged to check in.? General amateur check ins will not be taken during the net.

After the net, SCEMD will reconfigure the SCHEART system to allow for statewide monitoring of conditions and receiving damage reports until the threat passes.

?

The Aiken EM/North Augusta-Belvedere Radio Club/Aiken ARES and other CSRA HAMS will be at the 33rd annual S.E.E.D. (Science Education Enrichment Day) at USC-Aiken on October 6, THIS SATURDAY. Each year about 3,600 youngsters attend for 100’s of exhibits in many phases of science, the CSRA’s largest STEM festival.?We will teach them to send their names using Morse Code using code oscillators. Other activities at our booth including making beaded bracelets with colored beads indicating the dits and dahs of Morse Code with their name, and coloring QSL cards for the youngest attendees.? At the same time some of the members talk to the parents about the scholarships available to Amateur Radio Ops.?

If you were not lucky enough to volunteer for this great event, you can still bring your kids, grandkids, and yourself to have a great time at all the booths, and stop by and say hello to the volunteers in the booth.

?

?As you know, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center will proudly host the 33rd Annual Science Education Enrichment Day (S.E.E.D.) at USC Aiken.? Science Education Enrichment Day (S.E.E.D.)?is a family themed festival celebrating science, technology, engineering and math. The 33rd annual?S.E.E.D.?will provide opportunity for engagement and exchange between children, teens, families, and local STEM professionals. The CSRA’s largest STEM festival will take place on?Saturday, October 6, 2018?from 10:00am until 3:00pm and will feature exhibitors who will provide hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and family-oriented STEM entertainment. We have found that experiences like S.E.E.D. can have a profound effect on children’s attitudes about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.??

?We currently have 29 volunteers for 2018.

?Thank you again for your support of HAM Radio in the CSRA

Kent

KQ4KK

khufford@...

?***

?33rd Annual S.E.E.D. - Science Education Enrichment Day

Saturday, October 6, 2018

10am-3pm /?USC Aiken Campus

?

Segment will air Thursday, 9/20, at 7:30 on SC PBS TV channels.

?

?

From: Aimee Crouch <acrouch@...>

Good timing on this….stay safe everyone. Segment will air Thursday, 9/20, at 7:30.

Thanks for everyone’s help = Aimee

?

?

Airs Thursday, Sept. 20^th. Thanks for everyone’s help – Aimee

?

?

?

Aiken County EOC is currently manned with AIKEN ARES Ham volunteers. The Aiken County EOC will shut down at 2400L tonight.

SCHEART repeaters are currently linked state wide. K4EMD is the state NCS. PLEASE do not do radio check, etc on any of the SCHEART repeater while the emergency is in progress. Do not “checkin” unless you are a ?agency or have an emergency. Do not provide WX reports to this net.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers Radio Room is not currently activated, since all normal comms are operational.

The Columbia National WX Service is monitoring the CSRA SKYWARN repeater 145.49. Currently the CSRA SKYWARN net has NOT been activated.

Kent, KQ4KK

*

FROM K4EMD-

After the storm has passed SCEMD and ARES will be looking for hams that can deploy to areas that are trying to recover from this storm. Deployment will be probably for up to 72 hours until we can get the South Carolina State Guard in to take over comms. We are really looking for folks who have taken the Auxcomm training (ICS training from FEMA) but we can put you to work if you haven't had that training. If you are interested AND YOU CAN DEPLOY please contact me...KK4F.?? PLEASE DO NOT SELF DEPLOY.

?

?

?

The South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide is available for download on the? ?website.

?

?

September 13, 2018 @ 5:30 AM? FROM ?

24 Hour Operational Response Plan for SC ARES, RACES and AUXCOMM

Twenty-four coverage at the SC ?EOC radio room began at 0800 on Thursday September 13, 2018.

the SCHEART VHF/UHF will remain linked for the duration of the storm.?? Periodic nets to brief field staff and/or confirm stations will happen at four-hour intervals.? The first net will be at 10:00AM Thursday.

SCHEART Analog VHF/UHF Scheduled Net Times are:

02:00 AM, 06:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 02:00 PM, 06:00 PM, 10:00 PM

SCHEART DMR system is in emergency mode which restricts PRN talk group to South Carolina and terminates all dynamic talk groups. ?ARES and AUXCOMM members are requested to monitor the PRN talk group for coordination information and instructions and keep the analog system open for tactical and emergency traffic.

Statewide Simplex Channel is 146.595 with PL of 156.7 Hz and can be used for relaying traffic to the SEOC.

HF operations will begin at noon on Thursday.? HF is a back-up to the statewide VHF/UHF network. The published frequencies for SC ARES nets are 3.990 or 3.995 +/- for nights and 7.232 +/- days bands permitting.

State EOC will monitor the SCHEART repeater networks, Simplex and HF? frequencies.? Field operators should follow guidance and frequencies listed in the South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide which is available for download on the? website.

Tactical Call Signs will be used during this response effort.? Operators are responsible for following FCC regulation on proper station identification.? Stations should call “State EOC” when calling the radio room.?? The State EOC will call County EOC’s by the county and healthcare facilities by name.? Stations not associated with with a partner agency will use their normal call sign. All operators are encourage to 1) Keep transmissions short, 2) Pass essential information as clearly as possible, 3) Follow Net Control Station directions? 4) When you check into a net indicating you are staffing a partner facility, or offering to assist in the response,? do not leave the frequency without obtaining a release from Net Control Station.? The only except is at an agency location where there’s multiple operators and the frequency is being monitor by another operator if you step away from the radio.

Field operators who observe a potential life-threatening situation, should immediately ?contact 911. If you are unable to reach 911, use your county tactical frequency (reference ARES/RACES Tactical Guide link above) to contact the county EOC.? If you are unable to make local contact, the emergency may be reported to the State EOC radio room.? Information they will need: Complete and specific information on situation location, name of the person making the request, your call sign, and facts about the emergency condition.? The State EOC radio room will attempt to assist but the process to get back to local emergency management take longer than making local contact.

All Operators are reminded to be polite and respectful as this situation is very stressful. Please be professional as possible. Field Operators do not self deploy and put yourself in harms- way.? ARES/RACES operators should follow direction provide by their field management and local emergency officials.

This plan will adapt as conditions change.? All amateur radio operators are encouraged to monitor the SCHEART network for updated information from the State EOC and listen to their county designated repeater for local information and reports .

?

Aiken County EOC is currently manned with AIKEN ARES Ham volunteers, 24 hour operation.

SCHEART repeaters are currently lined state wide. K4EMD is the state NCS. PLEASE do not do radio check, etc on any of the SCHEART repeater while the emergency is in progress. Do not “checkin” unless you are a ?agency or have an emergency. Do not provide WX reports to this net.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers Radio Room is not currently activated, since all normal comms are operational.

The Columbia National WX Service is monitoring the CSRA SKYWARN repeater 145.49. Currently the CSRA SKYWARN net has NOT been activated.

Kent, KQ4KK

*

FROM K4EMD-

After the storm has passed SCEMD and ARES will be looking for hams that can deploy to areas that are trying to recover from this storm. Deployment will be probably for up to 72 hours until we can get the South Carolina State Guard in to take over comms. We are really looking for folks who have taken the Auxcomm training (ICS training from FEMA) but we can put you to work if you haven't had that training. If you are interested AND YOU CAN DEPLOY please contact me...KK4F.?? PLEASE DO NOT SELF DEPLOY.

?

?

?

The South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide is available for download on the? ?website.

?

?

September 13, 2018 @ 5:30 AM? FROM ?

24 Hour Operational Response Plan for SC ARES, RACES and AUXCOMM

Twenty-four coverage at the SC ?EOC radio room began at 0800 on Thursday September 13, 2018.

the SCHEART VHF/UHF will remain linked for the duration of the storm.?? Periodic nets to brief field staff and/or confirm stations will happen at four-hour intervals.? The first net will be at 10:00AM Thursday.

SCHEART Analog VHF/UHF Scheduled Net Times are:

02:00 AM, 06:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 02:00 PM, 06:00 PM, 10:00 PM

SCHEART DMR system is in emergency mode which restricts PRN talk group to South Carolina and terminates all dynamic talk groups. ?ARES and AUXCOMM members are requested to monitor the PRN talk group for coordination information and instructions and keep the analog system open for tactical and emergency traffic.

Statewide Simplex Channel is 146.595 with PL of 156.7 Hz and can be used for relaying traffic to the SEOC.

HF operations will begin at noon on Thursday.? HF is a back-up to the statewide VHF/UHF network. The published frequencies for SC ARES nets are 3.990 or 3.995 +/- for nights and 7.232 +/- days bands permitting.

State EOC will monitor the SCHEART repeater networks, Simplex and HF? frequencies.? Field operators should follow guidance and frequencies listed in the South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide which is available for download on the? website.

Tactical Call Signs will be used during this response effort.? Operators are responsible for following FCC regulation on proper station identification.? Stations should call “State EOC” when calling the radio room.?? The State EOC will call County EOC’s by the county and healthcare facilities by name.? Stations not associated with with a partner agency will use their normal call sign. All operators are encourage to 1) Keep transmissions short, 2) Pass essential information as clearly as possible, 3) Follow Net Control Station directions? 4) When you check into a net indicating you are staffing a partner facility, or offering to assist in the response,? do not leave the frequency without obtaining a release from Net Control Station.? The only except is at an agency location where there’s multiple operators and the frequency is being monitor by another operator if you step away from the radio.

Field operators who observe a potential life-threatening situation, should immediately ?contact 911. If you are unable to reach 911, use your county tactical frequency (reference ARES/RACES Tactical Guide link above) to contact the county EOC.? If you are unable to make local contact, the emergency may be reported to the State EOC radio room.? Information they will need: Complete and specific information on situation location, name of the person making the request, your call sign, and facts about the emergency condition.? The State EOC radio room will attempt to assist but the process to get back to local emergency management take longer than making local contact.

All Operators are reminded to be polite and respectful as this situation is very stressful. Please be professional as possible. Field Operators do not self deploy and put yourself in harms- way.? ARES/RACES operators should follow direction provide by their field management and local emergency officials.

This plan will adapt as conditions change.? All amateur radio operators are encouraged to monitor the SCHEART network for updated information from the State EOC and listen to their county designated repeater for local information and reports .

?

The South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide is available for download on the? ?website.

?

?

September 13, 2018 @ 5:30 AM? FROM ?

24 Hour Operational Response Plan for SC ARES, RACES and AUXCOMM

Twenty-four coverage at the SC ?EOC radio room began at 0800 on Thursday September 13, 2018.

At 0900 SCHEART conducts weekly communications check with healthcare facilities.? After the healthcare net, the SCHEART VHF/UHF will remain linked for the duration of the storm.?? Periodic nets to brief field staff and/or confirm stations will happen at four-hour intervals.? The first net will be at 10:00AM Thursday.

SCHEART Analog VHF/UHF Scheduled Net Times are:

02:00 AM, 06:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 02:00 PM, 06:00 PM, 10:00 PM

SCHEART DMR system is in emergency mode which restricts PRN talk group to South Carolina and terminates all dynamic talk groups. ?ARES and AUXCOMM members are requested to monitor the PRN talk group for coordination information and instructions and keep the analog system open for tactical and emergency traffic.

Statewide Simplex Channel is 146.595 with PL of 156.7 Hz and can be used for relaying traffic to the SEOC.

HF operations will begin at noon on Thursday.? HF is a back-up to the statewide VHF/UHF network. The published frequencies for SC ARES nets are 3.990 or 3.995 +/- for nights and 7.232 +/- days bands permitting.

State EOC will monitor the SCHEART repeater networks, Simplex and HF? frequencies.? Field operators should follow guidance and frequencies listed in the South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide which is available for download on the? website.

Tactical Call Signs will be used during this response effort.? Operators are responsible for following FCC regulation on proper station identification.? Stations should call “State EOC” when calling the radio room.?? The State EOC will call County EOC’s by the county and healthcare facilities by name.? Stations not associated with with a partner agency will use their normal call sign. All operators are encourage to 1) Keep transmissions short, 2) Pass essential information as clearly as possible, 3) Follow Net Control Station directions? 4) When you check into a net indicating you are staffing a partner facility, or offering to assist in the response,? do not leave the frequency without obtaining a release from Net Control Station.? The only except is at an agency location where there’s multiple operators and the frequency is being monitor by another operator if you step away from the radio.

Field operators who observe a potential life-threatening situation, should immediately ?contact 911. If you are unable to reach 911, use your county tactical frequency (reference ARES/RACES Tactical Guide link above) to contact the county EOC.? If you are unable to make local contact, the emergency may be reported to the State EOC radio room.? Information they will need: Complete and specific information on situation location, name of the person making the request, your call sign, and facts about the emergency condition.? The State EOC radio room will attempt to assist but the process to get back to local emergency management take longer than making local contact.

All Operators are reminded to be polite and respectful as this situation is very stressful. Please be professional as possible. Field Operators do not self deploy and put yourself in harms- way.? ARES/RACES operators should follow direction provide by their field management and local emergency officials.

This plan will adapt as conditions change.? All amateur radio operators are encouraged to monitor the SCHEART network for updated information from the State EOC and listen to their county designated repeater for local information and reports .

?