September 2012 Technician Class & Portable Ops Demo

Our September two day Technician License class concluded on the 22nd. I am happy to report the entire class passed their test. The students were John Nienstedt, Jacque Carte', Carl Dunkin and Henry Lasher. They are also joining the club. The instructors were Don Cornelius KK4DWC, Greg Morrison KG4LFS, Gary Bills AJ4KY and Greg Lane N4KGL. The VEs were Jerry Rego KE7YG, Don Cornelius KK4DWC, Greg Lane N4KGL and test coordinator Gary Bills AJ4KY.The class also included a portable ops demo near the club house. Bob WB4BLX, Jim K4LIX, Marv KK4DKT and Greg N4KGL setup rigs. Thanks to all participants and looking forward to having four new hams in the club.

 John Nienstedt, Jacque Carte', Carl Dunkin and Henry Lasher pass Tech exam 

Portable ops outside clubhouse

JOTA Scout Event at Panama City ARC October 20 2012

Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) 2012

The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio contacts. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves.

When Scouts want to meet young people from another country they usually think of attending a World Jamboree or another international gathering. But few people realize that each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides "get together" over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the--Air (JOTA). Modern communication technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving home.....

Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers. Once at the ham radio station, the communication typically requires speaking into a microphone and listening on the station speakers. However, many forms of specialized communication can also take place, such as video communication, digital communication using typed words on the computer screen transmitted by radio, communication through a satellite relay or an earth-based relay (called a repeater), and many others. The exchanges include such information as name, location (called QTH in ham speak), Scout rank, age, and hobbies. The stations you’ll be communicating with can be other Scouts across town, across the country, or even around the world! The World Scout Bureau reported that the 2010 JOTA had just over 700,000 Scout participants from nearly 6,000 amateur radio stations! A participant patch is available, as is a certificate/log sheet that can also be used to fulfill a Radio merit badge requirement.

Date:  October 20 2012 9 am - Noon

Location: Panama City Amateur Radio Club 130 N. Church Ave Panama City, FL

Cost: None other than patch $4

More Info:  http://www.scouting.org/jota.aspx

Scheduling:  Scoutmasters, please provide an arrival time and number of scouts.  Expect about an hour per group of 12.

Amateur Radio Contact:  Rick Gutknecht NZ2I     email rick.gutknecht@gmail.com

Amateur Radio Web sites: www.W4RYZ.org and http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

Register for Technician License Class Sept 15 and 22

The Technician license is your gateway to the world-wide excitement of Amateur Radio    

• Earn your ham radio Technician class radio privileges
• Pass your FCC amateur radio license exam right in class on the second day
• Multiple-choice exam, *No Morse Code Required*
• Live equipment demonstrations
• Learn to operate on the ham bands, 10 Meters and higher
• Learn to use the many VHF/UHF FM repeaters in Florida
• Find out how to participate in emergency communications
• Find out how to communicate with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS)

There is no cost for the class (donations accepted) However, students must have the required study guide: Gordon West Technician Class 2010-2014 guide, 7th Edition $20.95 And pay the FCC Exam Fee: $14.00  The text book is available on Amazon.

The two day class will be held on September 15th and September 22nd 2012 at the Panama City ARC Club House. Advance registration is required (no later than September 1st, earlier is better!) To register for the class, contact: Dave Clark W1EVG at n7734E@gmail.com  

Class Location: Panama City ARC Club House 130 N. Church Ave Panama City, FL. 

Preparation for first class: Read pages 1 through 125 of the Gordon West Technician Class Book Optional: Read the entire book and start taking online practice exams Bring a sack lunch to class

For more information on amateur (ham) radio visit www.w4ryz.org,  www.arrl.org or www.wedothat-radio.org

Amateur Radio Week June 18-24 Proclaimed

The plaque was presented by Commissioner Guy Tunnell at the Bay County Board of Commissioners meeting today. The plaque was accepted by the club represented by Helen KI4OLP, Dave W1EVG, Don KK4DWC, Chuck W4CWS, Vic K4GXV, Bob WB4BLX, Bob KK4CVU, Joby KK4CVT and Greg  N4KGL. My remarks were as follows:

On behalf of the Panama City Amateur Radio Club and all the hams in Bay county we are honored that ham radio is being recognized. There are about 400 hams in Bay County. Many of those hams prepare for emergency operations if needed. If all else fails amateur radio works. This Saturday we will have a 24 hour Field Day operation at The Bay County EOC starting at 1PM. We invite the commissioners and the public to visit our operations, We value our continued relationship with the county via Chief Bowen and Joby Smith at the EOC.

I encourage all hams and the public to visit Panama City ARC Field Day Operations this weekend!

The Panama City Amateur Radio Club will participate in Field Day on June 23/24 at the Bay County Emergency Operations Center 700 Highway 2300 Southport, FL. We will be having fun contacting as many Hams as possible operating with similar setups around the United States. However, this will also demonstrate a capability to support emergency communications should normal systems be unavailable. The operating hours are 1 PM Saturday to 1 PM Sunday. A good time for visitors is between 2PM and 6PM Saturday but you can come at anytime. We will have various radios and antennas to operate voice, digital and morse code. The general public is welcome and youth groups are encouraged to attend.

We thank Mark Bowen and Joby Smith of the EOC for giving us an opportunity to operate at this venue. The Bay County Emergency Operations Center is 4.9 miles North on Highway 77 from the intersection of  Highway 77 and 390 and then West on Highway 2300 2.3 miles.

Greg Lane

Panama City ARC President

Amateur Radio Field Day June 23 and 24 at the Bay County EOC

The Panama City Amateur Radio Club will participate in Field Day on June 23/24 at the Bay County Emergency Operations Center 700 Highway 2300 Southport, FL. We will be having fun contacting as many Hams as possible operating with similar setups around the United States. However, this will also demonstrate a capability to support emergency communications should normal systems be unavailable. The operating hours are 1 PM Saturday to 1 PM Sunday. A good time for visitors is between 2PM and 6PM Saturday but you can come at anytime. We will have various radios and antennas to operate voice, digital and morse code. The general public is welcome and youth groups are encouraged to attend.

We thank Mark Bowen and Joby Smith of the EOC for giving us an opportunity to operate at this venue. The Bay County Emergency Operations Center is 4.9 miles North on Highway 77 from the intersection of  Highway 77 and 390 and then West on Highway 2300 2.3 miles.

D-Star Brief

—Vic Johnson K4GXV updated the club on the —Panhandle Digital Group, —K4GXV Hot Spot and
—KK4IQW Repeater. See the brief at this link.

General Class License Class is offered

 The only cost is the study materials and $14 for the test. The class presumes pre-study of the book. The classes will be held on 6/16/12 and 6/30/12, from 08:00 to 17:00 with the test at 2:30 on 6/30/12. Please contact Dave Clark N7734E@gmail.com if you are interested.