January 2003 Newsletter

Officers

President: Glenn/KD4FNI Vice-Pres: Sonny/KD4IDG Sec/Treas: Rick/N4JAG Public Info: Jim/KL0LN

16 Jan - Thursday at 7:00pm: EARS Meeting at Enterprise State Junior College, Room S-100

25 Jan - Saturday at 8:00am: Troy Amateur Radio Club Hamfest at the Pike County Fairgrounds on US 231 (see complete info in this month's EARS newsletter)

01 Feb - Saturday thru 02 Feb - Sunday: Tropical Hamboree® in Miami, Florida (see info in this month's EARS newsletter)

07 Feb - Friday thru 09 Feb - Sunday: 2003 Hamcation^SM in Orlando, Florida (see info in this month's EARS newsletter)

20 Feb - Thursday at 7:00pm: EARS Meeting at Enterprise State Junior College, Room S-100

15 Mar - Saturday at 9:00am: Fort Walton Beach Hamfest

20 Mar - Thursday at 7:00pm: EARS Meeting at Enterprise State Junior College, Room S-100

17 Apr - Thursday at 7:00pm: EARS Meeting at Enterprise State Junior College, Room S-100

Each Wednesday at 11:00am: Lunch at the Deli in Daleville

Each Saturday at 7:00am: Breakfast at the Enterprise Restaurant on North Main Street

Each Saturday at 8:00am: Breakfast at Ann's just off Hwy 231 in Ozark

Amateur Exams are given after each monthly EARS meeting. Note that you must contact Tom/WA4YQT at 763-0532 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule an exam.

The Troy Amateur Radio Club and Butler County RACES present the South Alabama Amateur Radio and Computer Fest Show to be held on Saturday January 25, 2003 at the Pike County Fairgrounds on US 231 just 3 miles south of Troy (on East side of highway).

• Hours are 8am until ???
• VEC testing on site starts at 9am
• Admission is $3.00
• Talk-in is 146.86-
• Food will be available on site
• Tables are $10 (one admission per table)
• Table setup is Fri 5pm to 8pm and Sat at 6:30am

Please note that the following member's annual dues of $20 ($5 Associate) are due:

• Oct - N2BVO, KE4ITU
• Dec - KK4HC, N4SJN
• Jan - N4RYC, WA4AKG/NNM, KD4IDG/IDK, KE4AYL, KC4CYA (Assoc)

The Alabama Area Navy-Marine Corp MARS needs a few good operators. Navy MARS is a group of highly trained operators with the primary emphasis on emergency (HF) communication. It is probably more structured than the NTS as military operating procedures are followed. This is also a good way for Technician Licensees to operate HF.

If you want to know more, please contact:

The Boll Weevil Net meets every Tuesday evening at 8:00pm on the 147.24+ repeater frequency. Recent activity has been as follows:

    Date   Net Control   QNI Total
    -----  ------------  ---------
    12/10  WA4WQW/Duane     10
    12/17  W4UZR/Jack        8
    12/24  WA4WQW/Duane     10
    12/31  KD4IDG/Sonny      7
    01/07  WA4WQW/Duane     11
      

Along with the installation of the UHF voice repeater, we plan to move the APRS equipment from Victoria to the repeater site. TSU is planning to close that Victoria site, plus moving the equipment to our repeater tower will give us much better coverage. (The trees at Victoria have grown a lot faster than the antenna mast!)
More later ...

The 43rd Tropical Hamboree® and ARRL Florida State Convention, sponsored by Dade Radio Club of Miami, will be held Saturday February 1st and Sunday February 2nd, 2003 in Miami, Florida.

The location is the same as it has been for many years ... the Fair Expo Center at SW 112 Avenue & Coral Way (SW 24th Street).

Tickets are $6 both days in advance, $8 at the door. For more information:

The 2003 Orlando Hamcation^SM, sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, will be held Friday February 7th through Sunday February 9th, 2003 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando.

Tickets are $8 for all three days in advance, $10 at the gate. For more information:

Contributions (articles, stories, equipment ads, tidbits, etc.) to the EARS newsletter are definitely welcome! Please Email your creative works to:

... or catch Gary/WA9WZV on the Boll Weevil Net.