August, 2019
Ham Radio in Forsyth County 1912 - 1920 by Don, WS4NC
This month we will go exploring early ham radio in Forsyth County, with some minor excursions to Charlotte and Greensboro AM radio.
There is little to be found but occasionally an item or two turns up. At Field Day John Snow brought over some pictures of Doug Lee’s station from 1912, 1914 and 1915. I am so grateful for the
pictures. Notice the picture of Tomas A. Edison in the 1912 photo? It was obviously treasured and still exists today (picture at right).
The best I can find Doug never received a ham license, such niceties were not always observed in the early teens. Doug was very involved in Continued on Page 4 Add me to Newsletter email List
Some emails accidently got lost when I transistioned the Newsletter list to Mail Chimp. If you are inside Forsyth County and have a ham license please join the club. If you are outside FC (or you don’t have a ham license) and want to be added send me an email with FARC Newsletter in the Subject and in the body of the email include your email address, name and call so I can easily paste it into the list. Send to dedwards
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 1 FCC Exams Report Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Inc is a non-profit (IRS and FARC 501(c)3) North Carolina corporation for the promotion of Membership Amateur Radio, and for the education and training of hams by, Dale Mierisch, and the general public primarily in Forsyth County, North Carolina. WB9SZL VEC Session Manager
FARC was originally incorporated as the Winston-Salem Congratulations the Radio Club on December 31, 1930 and has been in following new licensees operation ever since. We currently maintain a state-of-the- from July’s testing: art ham station in the basement of the Red Cross, 690 Coliseum Dr., Winston-Salem, NC and also maintain two 2- meter repeaters, 146.64 (100 Hz tone) and 145.47 (100 Hz tone) and a 444.275 repeater (100 Hz tone). BRYAN L NIX KN4VOA T DONALD R SCOTT KN4VBS G FARC has a general membership meeting with a program on CHRISTOPHER R HAMPTON KN4VOB T the 2nd Monday of every month at the Red Cross building, 690 Coliseum Drive in Winston-Salem. The club conducts Amateur Radio License Testing! its main business meeting (the Board Meeting) on the 3rd Monday generally at 66 Pizza on Stratford Rd just past Hanes Mall Blvd. This is where most of the club’s business is Amateur radio testing is available for new applicants as conducted and all attending members have a vote. All club well as upgrades. Exams will be given the 2nd Monday members are strongly encouraged to attend the business of every month, except December, prior to the FARC meeting. For more information about FARC mail us at regular meeting. The normal starting time is 6:20PM. FARC, Inc., PO Box 11361, Winston-Salem, NC, 27116; call The place is the Red Cross building on 690 Coliseum 336-245-5740; or visit out web site at www.w4nc.com Drive in Winston-Salem. Pre-registration is required via Club email is to info
We trade newsletters with other clubs, and many clubs are Our biggest challenge continues to be encouraging on our mailing list. If your club has a newsletter and would upgrade candidates to bring a copy of their license to like to trade please send us a copy. exam sessions. Effective July 1, 2016, upgrade candidates forgetting copies of their license, will be Submissions and inquiries please send to dedwards
For new hams, or upgrades, please complete the information on the FARC application (usually the last page of the Newsletter), if you have not already done so, for a free Membership to the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club (FARC). Mark the form "New Ham - Exam date". Once the form is completed, bring to the next club meeting, or please scan and email to me.
Exams are offered before the FARC meeting (2nd Monday at the Red Cross) and start at 6:30 PM in room 109 at the Red Cross building. You are Encouraged to arrive early at 6:20 PM Preregistration is strongly suggested at info
3. Click on “Download Electronic Authorizations” in the links on the left hand side. GE Ham News 4. Select your call sign in the box labeled “My Authorizations” and click on the Add button to copy it into the “Authorizations to Download” I received a nice email from Ray, K4ZGV over the box. GE Ham News I included last month. 5. Click on the Download button to download an official copy of your license in PDF format. Don, This is the official version you need for your wallet card and to display in your station. The reference copy does not satisfy the legal requirements. I look forward to reading the latest Newsletter. Your inclusion of the GE Ham FCC Exams in Thomasville Radio News brought back many fond memories. I lived in Owensboro for over 30 years. Amateur exams are administered on the third Saturday of the month at 9:30 AM at the Thomasville Public Library at 21 Randolph Street which Owensboro was the home of the GE Receiving is just down the street from the "big chair" at the railroad tracks at the Tube Plant and Ham Radio News. I remember square in Thomasville NC. Walk-ins are gladly accepted. Bring 2 ID's the great folks involved with both. with one being a photo ID and your Social Security number or FRN number. Ray, K4ZGV PLEASE NOTE: NEW CORES REGISTRATION EFFECTIVE 3-1-19. FCC WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR FRN NUMBER BEFORE TAKING A TEST. Pop Quiz Math Question
If licensed bring a photo ID and a signed copy of your license for What is 8/2x(2X2) = ? This has actually been upgrading exam. Also any CSCE credits you have which may apply. The fee is $12.00 cash--NO CHECKS-- for each applicant. Also the trending on the internet. So take your time. There NEW General Class Question Pool questions effective July 1, 2019. actually are two answers - but one has to be justified by method. email dedwards
I can see from the 1914 photo that he had stepped Radio reception problems (1925). Robert C. Kauffmann (American, 1900-1999). Illustration for cover of Saturday Evening Post, May 2, up to a rotary sparkgap. Probably in the 20-100 watt 1925. Oil on board. In the early days of radio (1920’s), stations were often quite distant from the general public and few transmitted with a lot of power. For good reception in rural areas and most small towns, a good external antenna was required. Usually about 100’ of wire, class. That means with receivers of the day he insulated on both ends was strung up on the roof, tall poles or from house to barn with a lead in wire connected to radio’s antenna input. would have been lucky to get out to 75-100 miles - https://books0977.tumblr.com/post/27467972730/radio-reception-problems-1925-robert-c/amp but better was doable when conditions were right.
D.V. Musten, W4TY, in Kernersville claims “established 1913”, see QSL page 8. I can’t find any reference to a Musten in the old call books or anywhere. He may have been the same as Doug without a license - it was common then.
World War 1 started in August, 1914 and it would take a book to describe all the effects on radio, not to even mention that no one really knew what to do with radio. Indeed books have been written on radio and WW1, with the Navy and North Carolinian Josephus Daniels with starring roles. The US was late to the party by ratifying the 1906 Radio conference but not actually licensing stations until 1912. Start with Wilson’s Proclamation in 1914, fights with Marconi Co, hysteria over various spies, with not just transmitters but even civilian receivers banned in 1917 and the transmitting ban not lifted until October 1, 1919, with licenses not issued until close to the end of 1919. So 1919 we pick up with 4AA - page 9 - but first go to page 5.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 4 1920s Ham Radio in Forsyth County from QSL Cards by Don, WS4NC
Some time ago I went through all the early call books I could find and made a list of the hams that were in Forsyth County. That may sound hard - but up until the 1930s there really weren’t that many names on the lists. The following were what I found (based on the callbooks that I could find). I have collected a number of these post 1919 QSLs over the years - but some slipped through my fingers and I didn’t get photos.
1913-1914 Radio Stations of the US, Dept of Commerce none - but see W4TY QSL on page 8. I can’t find 4TY or a Musten listed in the books from 1913-1916.
1914 Radio Stations of the US, Dept of Commerce none
1916 Radio Stations of the US, Dept of Commerce 4CK Charles W. Clodfelter, 41 S. Pleasant St., WS 4DN William C. Hege, 1007 Patterson St., WS 4CR J. Lee Keiger, 1140 Balsley St., WS 4DI William S. Rothrock, 517 Ridge Ave., WS
1920 Amateur Radio Stations of the US, Department of Commerce 4AA Wayne M. Nelson, Kernersville, N.C. (4AA gets an article all by himself - see page 9) 4AL Charles W. Clodfelter, 42 St. Pleasant St., WS 4CK William E. Lineback, Jr., 843 Piedmont Ave., WS 4CX Roy R. Lineville, 646 13th St., WS 4BB William S. Rothrock, 517 Ridge Ave., WS Above 1924 QSL from Norman Miller to 4FT in Wilmington. 4BN Fred W. York, Clover St., WS John was an SWL, or as they were called back then, a BCL (Broadcast Listener). 4FT had a commanding signal and apparently a massive tower system. He passed away only a few years ago and I have a number of his QSLs in my collection. Below is a simliar BCL SWL to 2BY in NY from John Miller. Just a guess but I suspect that the two Millers were related.
4CX - The earliest Forsyth QSL (1921) I have found “in the wild” so far. A 1KW spark transmitter would have been LOUD! continued on page 6 August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 5 1922 Radio Stations of the US Dept. of Commerce
4AA Wayne M. Nelson Kernersville, N. C. (see page 9) 4AL Chas. W. Clodfelter .42 S. Pleasant St., Wins. -Salem, N.C. 4BM David E. Day 228 Spring St., Winston - Salem, N. C. 4BN Fred W. York Clover St., Winston- Salem, N. C. 4CK Wm, E. Lineback. Jr 843 Piedmont Av., Wins. -Salem, N. C. 4CX Roy Linville 646 -13th St., Winston -Salem, N. C. 4EN Taylor M. Simpson 411 Cherry St, Winston-Salem, N.C. 4PA F. E. Beaudry 515 W. -2nd St., Winston -Salem,N.C. 4FP James N. Plaster 512 N. Highl'd Av., Wins. -Salem,N.C. 4GG Robert L. Byrum 131 Poplar St., Winston -Salem, N. C. 4JQ Robert E. Grunert 612 S. Poplar St., Winston -Salem,N.C. 4KX Galloway G. Reynolds Country Club Rd.. Winston- Salem,N.C. 4LJ Allie Hege 119 Poplar St., Winston -Salem, N. C. 4MV Walter F. Newman 718 Marshal St., Winston -Salem, N.C. 4NV Robert N. Day 232 Spring St., Winston -Salem, N. C. 40U Newton G. Ebaugh Alexander Apts.. Winston -Salem. N. C
Earliest card (1923) I have from 4FA. Read the detail about Winston-Salem on the back. Another 4FA card is on the next page. Note reference to YMCA Radio Club.
1924-1926 4AF Fracis Jenkins, 1246 W. Fourth St., WS 4AL Charles W. Clodfelter, 65 S. Pleasent St., WS 4BM David E. Day, 228 Spring St, WS 4CZ Roy R. Linville, Route No. 3, WS QSL page 5 4EN Taylor M. Simpson, 315 High St., WS QSL page 7 4FA Francis E. Beaudry, 5015 W. Second St, WS 4GG Robert L. Byrun, 131 Poplar St., WS 4KX Gallaway C. Reynolds, County Club Road, WS 4LJ Allie Hege, 119 Poplar St., WS 4LO Nat Wheeler Curl, Watson Ave., WS 4LY David A. Fisher, 321 Cascade Ave., WS 4MV Walter F. Newman, 718 Marshal St., WS QSL page 7 4NV Robert H. Day, 232 Spring St., WS W4AA QSL page 9 4LJ - Al Hege deserves a full Newsletter article by 4OG Hanes Carter, 110 W. Dale Ave., WS QSL page 7 4QK Raymond A. Hartsfield, 245 ½ N. Main St., WS himself - and I plan one. Both QSL are from 1923. Al 4QQ William K. Bodenheimer, 935 W. Bank St., WS was a founder of Dalton-Hege Radio Supply 4TW Clyde R. Brewer, 411 West Dale Ave., WS QSL page 8 Company in Winston-Salem and was a President of FARC (then WSARC) several times. August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 6 Notice the line about the Y.M.C.A. Radio Club. I have found a couple of references to a group meeting at the WS YMCA - but this is only the second and third piece of confirming evidence I have. The other belongs to a collector in California. Blalock may not have held a station license. Another 4FA QSL on page 6.
1926 It’s available, but I never finished it in time. I’ve only been working on this for about 30 years.
1927-1929 4AF Francis Jenkins, 1246 W. Fourth St, WS 4CX Roy Linville, Glenn AVe, PO Box 593, WS 4EN Taylor Moten Simpson, 315 High St, WS Hanes Carter, 4OG, was a prolific QSLer. A number of his 4LJ Allie Hege, 32 Brookstown Ave., WS QSLs survive. 4LO Nat Wheeler Curl, 820 Watson Ave., WS 4NV Robert Day, 232 Spring St, WS 4OG Hanes Carter, POB 1815, Westdale Ave., WS 4QW A. L. Blalock, 1501 Twenty-fifth St, WS 4TW Clyde R. Brewer, 2420 Sunnyside Ave., WS
1920: The Joseph Horne Department Store in Pittsburgh advertises ready-made radio receivers that can pick up a local broadcast station. Commercial radio is just weeks away. source: https://www.wired.com/2010/09/0929ready-made-radio-receivers/ August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 7 Above 4TW - 1925 QSL card from C. R. Brewer. Clyde Brewer would later play a pivital role in the Winston-Salem Amateur Radio Club. Above 4QW, A.L. Blalock operator QSL card from 1924. Below is Below is 1929 QSL from W4TY - I don’t have any information on Musten. 4QW, S. Alexander operator QSL from 1924. Notice that multiple His card claims his station was established in 1913. He may have, but operators often shared a station. like Doug Lee had an unlicensed station. This needs research, but for now that is the 2nd earliest claimed station in Forsyth County.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 8 Undated photo, probably about 1950 based upon the equipment If you look carefully at his first 1919 license, shown. On the left is a Hallicrafters BC-610 and behind Wayne’s head is a Hammerlund HQ-129-X. Just to the right of the BC-610 reproduced on the following page, you should note is an early Harvey-Wells bandmaster transmitter (50W). that it is Number 1. It was also issued in November, 1919. 4AA had been assigned to Alfred Bradley in 1919 4AA - Wayne Nelson Athens, Ga. in 1912 but he lost it due to WW1. WNRC - WBIG Licensing had been suspended for WW1 and didn’t by Don, WS4NC restart until the end of 1919.
In 1919 callsign 4AA was assigned to Wayne Nelson Operators were earned either Second Grade or First who lived in Kernersville. He also lived in Grade licenses. The First Grade license was first Greensboro, High Point and Concord over the offered in 1921, you had to appear in person, pass a years. While I don’t think he was a member of the text continues on page 12 Winston-Salem Amateur Radio Club, all here in Winston-Salem knew him. Besides being an accomplished ham Wayne was also one of the early broadcasters in North Carolina. WNRC history in on page 13.
Front and back of 4AA’s operator license. This was wallet sized. Notice there is no call. Calls were assigned to the station license, a separate process.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 9 }
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 10 Wayne Nelson November, 1922 Radio Operator Amateur First Class License. Only a very few were issued in 1921-22. (I remember reading somwehere it was 16 - but I can’t find the reference). Greatly reduced - these were diploma-sized. Still no call - the call belonged to the station license. August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 11 Back of Amateur First Grade License on page 11. Continued text from page 9 rigorous essay-type exam in front of a Radio Inspector and a 20 WPM code test, sending and receiving. Very few were issued.
In 1927 the Dept. of Commerce Callbook lists W4AA on 724 Pearson St., In Greensboro with a 500 watt station.
The earliest QSL card I have found for 4AA was for operator Robert Day. Remember that hams often shared stations - I’m not quite sure of the regulations in the 1920s but they probably had to use the station call, which in this case was 4AA.
W4AA was by all accounts a very accomplished ham - a ham’s ham. As you can see from his card he earned most of the main operating awards and was even a member of the prestigious Radio Club of America (NY) which was founded in 1919. (Your editor is a member - but his dues, ahem, may not be current.) He was also a member of Antique Wireless Association, Life Member ARRL, Old Old Timer’s Club (who was certainly qualified!), QCWA, and the Society of Wireless Pioneers,
In 1975 Wayne offered to FARC the 1915 Navy 500 watt rotary spark gap transmitter shown at the bottom right apparently for a planned museum, probably at the Nature Science Center. I don’t know if the Club accepted, nor do I have any idea what happened to the transmitter. For a sense of scale those meters are about 10-inches in diameter. It was 57-inches high. And this is without a power supply. This was a beast. I suspect that it suffered the fate of the station on the following page. All items above are from FARC archives. continued on page 13 August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 12 WNRC Tower
The last photo I have of W4AA’s station (above) shows the individual band (4-1000?) amplifiers built into the attic of the house. They may have been built in place. They were destroyed, sadly.
I have heard references to Wayne’s major collection of antique radios at Myrtle Beach museum but I don’t know Above is a late 1920s picture of Greensboro showing WNRC of any photos of the collection. Wayne is now a silent key. tower on top of the Jefferson Standard building. This was the tower that was struck by lightning in 1934. Below is a 1930s brochure for Western Electric broadcast transmitters that From 4AA to WNRC and WBIG mentions WBIG.
Around 1920 Wayne founded the Wayne Nelson Radio Corporation and licensed WNRC in Greensboro. Earliest information tells me the station started under an experimental license with first 5 then 50 watts. On May 22, 1926 became WNRC, then in 1930 became WBIG for We Believe In Greensboro.
WBIG’s tower was on top the Jefferson Standard building in Greensboro. In 1934 it was struck by lightning. The lightning strike destroyed the tower and greatly damaged the transmitter and building - it nearly bankrupted the station - that is when Jefferson Insurance bought the station and it soon became affiliated with CBS.
In the 1940s, WBIG was instrumental in helping to raise funds to build a state polio hospital. 1956 brought a move to Battleground Avenue. It was still popular with locals but rock-and-roll was soon to hit the air.
WBIG enjoyed radios Golden Era and then was basically a general middle-of-the-road format station. Radio plays were carried up through the 1950s. In the late 1950s WCOG took much of the younger audience who was going to rock-and-roll. Up through the 1970s and 1980s WBIG was adult contemporary. FM grew bigger, AM audience shrank and WBIG dropped in the ratings. On 6PM, November 20, 1986 WBIG went off the air. It was an emotional moment for all of those with history of the station. It had celebated its 60th aniversary only 3 August, 2019 continued on page 14 FARC Newsletter Page 13 transmitter in the Greensboro Historical Museum but I haven’t made a trip over there to check.
I found out that Wayne had taken the original 1926 control panel to the Shelby Hamfest. I couldn’t find a picture of it, or what happened to it.
Some had hoped that WBIG would go back on the air. 1470 is, but not as WBIG. The 1470 frequency came back in 1999 as WWBG (Truth Broadcasting). In 2002, it became a Spanish-language station owned by Que Pasa Media.
I understand that Wayne also owned or part-owned stations WMFR in High Point (tower on top of down town bank building - see 1936 QSL on bottom right), and WHIP in Mooresville and WAYN in Rockingham.
sources: http://cc-awa.club/images/pdf/fall2003.pdf FARC archives WNRC listed in Annual Radio of the FRC to Congress in 1927 as 500 watts https://www.qcwa.org/members/publications/1964-yearbook-04.pdf W4AA/W4ABC Nelson, Wayne M ...... P. 0. Box #72, Concord, N. C. http://archives.greensborohistory.org/manuscripts/wbig-radio
months earlier. Sadly, the property held more value than the station and moving it would have been too expensive.
Some of the air staff over the years were DustyDunn, Jim Light, Bob Poole, Ken Karns, Willie Dailey, Lloyd Gordon, Henry Bogan and Charles Mitchell. Allen Wannamaker was the manager in the 1950s. Wanda Pearce managed the books.
I can’t find any pictures of the transmitter or studio but I do know in 1930 they had a 1KW Western Electric Doughtry (essentially Class B with low level modulation) transmitter - I know this because the 1930s Western Electric broadcast transmitter brochure shows WBIG as one of the buyers. In the 1920s efficency was not so important for an AM transmitter - but by the 1930s electricity was getting more expensive. The Western Electric 1 KW transmitter was considered super efficient 1936 BCL QSL card from WMFR in High Point signed at 7.5% (about 14 KW input power for 1KW output). by Wayne Nelson, W4AA. WMFR is still on the air Portions of the transmitter brochure are reproduced page and their tower in on the bank building in downtown 13. I think there may some pictures of the studio or High Point. The transmitter room is on the 10th floor.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 14 One Dead, One Injured in New No official determination has been made regarding Hampshire Ham Radio Tower the cause of the structural failure, but a radio Mishap amateur who visited the scene afterward observed that two of the tower's three legs were clearly from ARRL News compromised and split cleanly and the third leg bent, just above the fully intact tilt base. [Editor’s note: I can’t stress enough how dangerous taking down old towers is. I have The New Hampshire Amateur Radio tower-related dealt with older towers and taking down more fatality is the second such deadly incident in a little than a few as part of a crew. One of the greatest more than 6 weeks. In mid-June, a Pennsylvania danger points is water coming down inside the radio amateur died when the tower he was installing legs - which will rust the legs near the ground (or collapsed as he was attempting to attach a guy line elsewhere) from the inside out. The danger may to the structure's bottom section. not be apparent. I always tap the legs with a hammer first - but even that is no guarantee. One of our SK FARC members - we went to take his More on Ham Safety tower down and partly up the tower the leg crumbled in the hand. We carefully came off the This is not a situation to be taken lightly. With the tower and left it. No access for a crane and growth of the modern cell phone system so has insufficent space to cut it and drop it (also a very tower fatalities. Tower workers are professionals dangerous operation!) It was sold with the who take tower safety seriously, as if their lives house with the statement that it was a hazard. depend on it - because it does! In an article from We are not sure how the new owners dealt with it. May 22, 2012 nearly 100 fatalities were reported I have seen more than a few like this.] among tower workers in the past 9 years. And these are the professionals. The reported death rate is A tower dismantling about 10 times that of construction workers. turned tragic on Saturday, July 27, in Deerfield, New Please practice care. I don’t want to have to use my Hampshire, when two “fill-up page” - which is what this page was, to make radio amateurs working an even number of pages - for an article like this. some 40 feet up on the And while I’m preaching - as a fan of early QSTs - tower were carried to the there were way too many SKs reported for ground when the carelessly dealing with high voltage. Today that is a structure collapsed. much lesser danger - but not with tube-type linears Joseph Areyzaga, as they pack potentially lethal voltages. Crowbars K1JGA, 52, of Goffstown, and one hand in the pocket. New Hampshire, did not survive injuries sustained source: https://www.propublica.org/article/cell- in the fall, while the Joseph Areyzaga, K1JGA-SK tower-fatalities tower's owner, Michael Rancourt, K1EEE, 65, was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. Rancourt was taking down the tower in preparation for selling his house, and the pair had nearly completed their work. They were tied into the tower and went down with it as it collapsed.
The tower, a tilt-over model said to be 40 to 50 feet, had been bolted to prevent it from tilting as it was being dismantled.
A law enforcement source said a number of people were at the site for a social gathering as the tower was being taken down, and they witnessed the tragedy. August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 15 WB4KZK Boy Scout Station ------Thanks Randy by Don, WS4NC I was hoping this might hit some fertile ground. I I did hit a nerve with at least one club member with last month’s didn't know much about that troop and the station. WB4KZK QSL. The following is an email exchange with Randy I was program director at Raven Knob in 1976 and a Thompson, NC4RT: couple of hams from the group were on staff that year. I remember Scott (I'm fairly that was his I just opened the June newsletter and was drawn to name). He was Nature Staff (either that or Scout- the photo of the WB4KZK QSL. craft). I am fairly sure he was the one who had some trouble with kids on a field trip being I was a member of Troop 924 from 1964-1971, and got distracted by grasshoppers flying around as they my Novice there (WN4OZG). walked through a field - Scott reached out - caught one and ate it. Legs were kicking out of his lips. The troop station was the brainchild of Bruce Kerr He had everyone's attention after that! We had a (W4MFN-SK), a member of the Club I'm sure many of phantom line telegraph system on the field phones you remember. Bruce was an engineer at Western and would run Morse code between staff cabins at Electric. He and Florence had two sons in the night. Troop. 73 es dit dit, WS4NC Bruce sold the troop and church leadership on the value of a ham radio station, and negotiated all the various other hoops: FCC licensing and station ------documentation; obtaining a brand new TR-4 at cost from R.L. Drake and Co.; building a dandy antenna Folks on the Troop 924 Facebook page confirm Scott tuner for the station's EF longwire; donating the McNeely was a Raven Knob counselor in 1976, and that Novice station and a batch of crystals to let us he was active in the Troop ham station. roam around; teaching us all our theory and code; monitoring our safe use of the station; etc. etc. I remember him very well as an 11-13 year old boy... etc. his sister Marsha was a year younger than I, and a Facebook friend. They lived just a few blocks from I was glad to see your notation that the station was me, and Marsha was a cheerleader when I was an still fairly active in 1976. After I left for athlete. college, I hoped it would continue. The Troop has since disbanded I think; although the Sea Scout So I've sort of kept up with Scott, and have been a Ship relocated to New Hope Methodist and is still up customer of his since Day 1 at McNeely Pest. and running. I'll reach out to him to see if I can track down the We owe so much to our parents, but how much we owe to station log... the others, the coaches and scout leaders and folks who work with children not their own! Bruce and Again, thanks for posting the blurb in the Flo, thank you so much. newsletter.
And thanks for the nice reminder in the newsletter. 73 de NC4RT
73 de NC4RT
Reynolda Presbyterian Church BSA - Ham Group by Don, WS4NC I knew in the 1970s there was a ham group at Reynolda Presbyterian Church. With some of these Scouts I helped set up a phantom-line CW system on the field-phone system at Raven’s Knob - we would send CW to each other. That was in 1976 when I was Program Director there. I found one of their cards down inside a piece of equipment from an estate with a schematic for a tuner. The call is no longer active and I think the group is long gone.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 16
August 30 Shelby Hamfest, Shelby, NC, Shelby Amateur Radio Club, http://shelbyhamfest.org
August 31 - Sep 8 HP Maxim, W1AW, Birthday Celebration see ARRL website for details
August 17 - 18 Huntsville Hamfest, Alabama State Convention, Huntsville, Alabama
August 23 - 25 West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia
August 24 Cedars of Lebanon Hamfest, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Lebanon, TN, Short Mountain Calendar of Upcoming Ham Repeater Club, http://www.smrclub.com Events September 7 Virginia Section Convention, Virginia Beach, Virginia Hamfests, Special Events, October 5 (Unconfirmed) Rockhill, SC Hamfest, York Contests, Club meetings, etc. County Amateur Radio Society, [email protected], By Don WS4NC http://www.ycars.org
[Ed. Note: Newly updated. There really isn’t one source to find this information and putting this together requires digging across various club Newsletters, NC ARRL Section newsletter (thanks October 12 Winston-Salem Hamfest, Robinhood Road Karl!), QST, CQ and other sources. If you know of a correction or something that should be here Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC http://www.w4nc.com please send it to ws4nc
2nd Saturdays GSO/HP VE Testing The Greensboro 3rd Mondays(?): Guilford Amateur Society usually held session is the second Saturday of each month (except for at Tex & Shirley's Restaurant in the Friendly Shopping March) at Hinshaw United Methodist Church located at Center on Pembroke Rd. 6:00 PM to eat, 7:00 PM to meet. 4501 High Point Road, Greensboro, NC 27407. Verify the dates at http://www.w4gg.org/ Reservations are not required, but advised. Please contact David Macchiarolo by e-mail at [email protected] Testing 4th Mondays(?): Guilford Amateur Radio Association starts at 9:00 AM. Eat at 6:30pm and the meeting is at 7:15pm. Captain Bill's You need to bring two forms of ID including a Photo ID and a Seafood & Steakhouse, 6108 West Market St., photocopy of any previous licenses and/or CSCE's. The Greensboro, NC 27409. Verify the dates at testing fee is $12.00 payable by cash only. Other dates and http://www.w4gso.org/ locations can be found on the W4VEC.ORG web site. (Updated 7/12/19 Thanks to David AJ4TF) 1st Saturdays(?): Tri-County Amateur Radio Club, Thomasville: 2nd Saturday at Loflin's Rest. 108 Randolph 1st Tuesdays Durham FM Association: Meets for Dinner St., Thomasville. 8:00a to eat, 8:30 to meet. (Updated (optional) at 6:00pm and the business meeting and program 7/12/19 by Bill KK4ZIU) at 7:00pm. We are meeting at Bullock's BBQ, on 3330 Quebec Drive in Durham. For more info on each meeting, check http://www.dfma.org/ Last Mondays: Stokes County Amateur Radio Society SCARS http://k4stk.com/index.html 1st Tuesdays Davie County Amateur Radio Club: The last information I have is that this club is no longer active. Knightlites QRP Club http://www.knightlites.org/ Usually Several SKs and a small ham population have made it hard. meets in Cary. Spread the word. See website for details.
2nd Mondays: The Orange County Radio Amateurs Briarpatch Amateur Radio Club - Next club meeting is ? ; meet at 1900 at the Orange Count EOC in Hillsborough. the meeting will be held at TCRH. Meetings and FCC Test Sessions Test sessions are held at the Twin County 2nd Mondays: Raleigh Amateur Radio Society General Regional Hospital in Galax, VA unless otherwise Meeting on second Monday of each month, Location: announced. http://galaxbarc.tripod.com (This has not Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, been updated for a while.) NC, 27607. Time: People begin arriving at 7 PM, The meeting officially begins at 7:30 PM. RARS also meets for a monthly dinner on the first Tuesday of each month for the RARS dinner. Dinner begins at 6:30 PM. Next Dinner at Golden Coral, 6129 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh 27612.
2nd Mondays Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Inc. at the Red Cross Building on Coliseum Drive. FCC Exams are offers starting at 6:20 PM (please preregister at info
2nd Mondays Rowan Amateur Radio Society at the Rowan County Rescue Squad Building at 1140 Julian Road. Monthly meetings usually begin at 7:00 PM local time, except for the July and December meetings which are “dinner” meetings and thus start a little earlier, usually beginning about 6:00-6:30 PM. Programs may include equipment demonstrations, movies, guest speakers, or just open discussions on radio. We look forward to seeing you at
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 18 stations in their listening area. The early years programming was only 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. By 1927 they moved to the roof of Coddington Building in Charlotte.
Eventually WBT moved up to a 50,000 Watt clear channel station with nighttime listeners from “Maine to Miami”. If you are my age you remember Ty Boyd as the morning man personality. If you are older you may remember Grady Cole who was the main personality for over 30 years, starting in 1929. Possibility also Charles Kuralt and Nelson Benton. A program that later became Amos & Andy was first on WBT. Most of the Golden Age of Radio programs were carried on WBT. Two early country music
WBT - Charlotte 1110 AM by Don, WS4NC
Yes, this Newsletter is about (mostly amateur) radio in Forsyth County - but I’ll get to WSJS in a later Newsletter since they didn’t officially get started until 1930. First we have to cover a major powerhouse of a station that started in Charlotte in 1920. Yes, in a chicken coop. In December, 1920.
Fred Laxton, 4DD*, 905 Realty Building, 1000 Watts; Earle Gluck, 4CQ, 11 S. McDowell St, 15 Watts; and Frank Bunker, 4CE, 505 Cresent Ave, 250 Watts, all of Charlotte had a ham station in Laxton’s backyard - in a chicken coop. At the time hams had a station license and an operator license and power levels had to be listed. Many hams shared one station. Fred Laxton worked with General Electric, Gluck was with Westinghouse and Bunker worked for Southern Bell. They formed a corporation called the Southern Radio Corporation. These three started doing experimental broadcasting from the chicken coop with the experimental license 4XD.
Starting December 1, 1921 the Department of Commerce required broadcasters to hold a Limited Commercial License and limited operation to either 360 meters (833 kHz) for entertainment purposes or 485 meters (619 kHz) for market and weather reports. WBT was licensed March 18, 1922 for 833 kHz as WBT. They claimed (according to the Little-Long Company advertisement for a Charlotte Observer) approximately 20,000 receiving crystal radio receiver capable of picking up *See discussion about 4DD callsign at the end of the article. WBT's programs (October 1922) Source Wikipedia August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 19 shows the “Briarhoppers” and “Carolina Hayride” national emergency. 1949 brought WBTV, NC’s first (inspiration for The Grand Ole Opry?) and then in the TV station. Our own Reese Felts, KB4FOX was on 1950s and 1960s Arthur Smith. Fred Kirby deserves WBTV. For many years WBT-1110 was number 1 in his own full article. Andy Griffith applied for a job in the ratings but dropped down to #9 by the late 1941 but was turned down because he wanted $75 a 1970s. week. Arthur Smith and the Crackerjacks started in 1943. 1944 WBT became the first 24-hour station in In the early 1970s WBT went to adult contemporary the Southeast. music. Bob Lacey with “Lacey Listens” in the afternoon helped bring it back to number 1 status You may listen today to the syndicated program Bob again. Early 1970s it changed from CBS to ABC, and Sherri in the Morning - not on WBT - but Bob NBC in 1987. Changes in 1990 to talk format and I Lynch started at WBT about 1971. I remember stopped listening, except on rare occasions. Talk listening to him commenting on the construction on radio - blah! Sugar Creek Parkway which seemed to go for decades about 1971. On Tryon and 3rd streets in Charlotte there is a marker (page 19) where the Wilder building stood Charlotte could have become the center of country that contained the studios from 1924 to 1955. Later music with WBT’s influence. RCA Victor and Deca sales of the station are too much to track here. In records were in Charlotte as was Arthur Smith’s 1955 WBT studios moved to One Julian Price Place. recording studio. WBTs “Briarhoppers” and Today WBT AM & FM are owned (along with WLNK, “Carolina Hayride” were sponsored by The Crazy which hosts the Bob and Sherri show today, and Water Crystals Company, a laxative manufacturer in other stations) by Entercom. Texas. Programs that were super popular in the 1930s and 1940s “Radios Sweetest Singing Family - WBT had three of the The Johnson Family”, “The Crazy Waters Crystals famous 1930s Blaw-Knox Show, “The Rebel Yell”, “The Dixie Mammoth towers. They were blown Minstrels”, “The Lone Ranger”, “Carolina Hayride” down by Hurricane Hugo (later “Carolina Calling”), Whitey and Hogan, in 1989, killing Chief “Fiddlin’ Frank Warren”, and Big Bill Davis. As far as Engineer Bob White. the center for country music WSM in Nashville won (May 5, 1989 also took that battle in the later 1930s. down the Winston-Salem “Sosnick’s” I-40 tower Kurt Webster’s 1940’s “Midnight Dancing Party” (then WFDD transmitter) played an old 1933 recording of “Heartaches” by Ted across from the Baptist Weems’ orchestra. It got many, many requests and Hospital, That tower it launched the song to national success. The once was WAIR before it vocalist was a then-unknown guy by the name of moved to behind Mr. Bar- Perry Como. Ever heard of him? B-Que due to I-40 construction that Ownership of WBT changed several times over the years. Laxton sold the station for $50,000 in 1925, but stayed on as station manager and control of the station. It pays to be the first at something. Shortly after it was sold to the owner of the Charlotte Buick dealership (Watch Buicks Travel - get it?). November 11, 1928 WBT went to clear channel status (1080 kHz) and later boosted to 50,000 watts about 1932. Bought by CBS in 1929. Then Jefferson Standard Life Insurance became owners. 1941 moved to 1110 kHz. Started an FM station in 1947 (didn’t last - today’s WBT-FM started in 1969). 1941 WBT was designated a “Key Station” by the FCC and the source for 25 other stations in case of August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 20 To be thorough, WSB in Atlanta came on the air first in the south. In NC, WLAC in Raleigh also was on the air in the fall of 1921 (Josephus Daniels), but that was an experimental license and went off the air in destroyed WAIR’s ground plane.) WBTs Blaw-Knox May 1923. WFAJ in Asheville begain broadcasting towers have since been rebuilt. Today WBT still May 4, 1922 but stopped in 1923. Raleigh’s WPTF operates 50,000 watts but in a directional pattern came on the air in 1924. WSJS was licensed April with a null to the west (to protect KFAN in Omaha, 17, 1930 (but was on the air without a license prior to NB). That degrades the coverage some here and that according to some). Coming soon to a especially to the west but it can still be heard all up Newsletter near you - History of WSJS, as WBT’s and down the east coast and even some in the Fred Kirby would say “stayed tuned boys and girls”. Carribean and in Ontario and Quebec. More WBT pictures on pages 22-24, 32.
Want to hear a broadcast from 1957 by J. B. Clark? Go to http://btmemories.com/sounds/way_back_radio.html
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 21 More WBT pictures
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 22 More WBT pictures
sources: "Radio Station Here Complete", Charlotte Observer, March 23, 1922, page 11 North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. from https://www.ourstate.com/history-friend-dial/ Wesley Herndon Wallace, “The Development of Broadcasting in North Carolina, 1922-1948” (Ph.D. dissertation, Duke University, 1962) WBT website Pamela Grundy, “’We Always Tried to Be Good People’: Respectability, Crazy Water Crystals, and Hillbilly Music on the Air, 1933-1935,” Journal of American History (March 1995): 1591-1620 Charlotte Country Music Story: http://www.historysouth.org/recordedinclt.html%22 http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMX3GP_FIRST_Television_Statio n_in_North_Carolina_Charlotte_NC Wikipedia Dave Rawley, N4XO https://wbt.radio.com/wbt-celebrates-95-years http://btmemories.com/sounds/way_back_radio.html and other web sites, plus my memory (which means I’m getting old)
*Some newspaper accounts state that the call sign for Laxton's home amateur station was either 4BX ("Mayor Gets Wireless Message From Harding", Charlotte Observer, February 22, 1921, page 4) or 4CL ("WBT Third Broadcasting Station to be Licensed", Charlotte Observer, March 20, 1927, Section 3, page 6). Official government station lists report that these call signs were actually assigned to individuals in other communities. QST’s January 1921 Directory of Calls shows F. M. Laxton, 4XD near Mecklengerg, N.C. (Near Charlotte). As of June 30, 1920, Laxton's station is listed in the annual government report as 4DD, located at 905 Realty Building in Charlotte, with Frank L. Bunker assigned 4CE at 734 East 4th Street, and Earle J. Gluck assigned 4CQ at 1418 East 7th Street. ("Amateur Stations: Fourth District", Amateur Radio Stations of the United States (Edition June 30, 1920), page 59.) The November 1920 issue of QST magazine also stated that Laxton's call sign was 4DD. ("The Operating Department", (Roanoke Division), QST, November 1920, page 30). August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 23 A WBT picture of the North Carolina Bluegrass band the Briarhopper’s from the early 1920s. Essentially unknown today, they were exceeding popular in early radio. Upcoming Programs
May’s Program was Ken Kayser, K2KXK on RemoteHams and how to use the radio at the Red Cross using RemoteHams. The first part of the program is available on www.w4nc.com . Sadly the internet went down and we lost the last half of the program.
August Program: Mike Atkins, N4VE will present on grounding and bonding your ham station.
September: TBD
The main FARC meeting night is always the Second Monday night at the Red Cross Building on Coliseum Drive with the meeting starting at 7:30 PM (7:29:56.5 PM this month!). FCC testing is usually available, please preregister at info
The FARC Business Meeting is on the Third Monday of the month at 66 Pizza on Stratford Rd just west of Hanes Mall Blvd. The meeting starts around 7:30 pm. (We usually arrive a little earlier and order dinner.) All are welcome. August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 24 Minutes of the Forsyth Amateur photos, please see Stacey (W1LLO) for your badge photograph at the next club meeting if you haven't Radio Club Meeting – 08 July 2019 already. Training previously announced for July 20th will need to be rescheduled due to a By Stacey MacArthur, W1LLO miscommunication on room scheduling. Secretary, Forsyth Amateur Radio Club 7. Program: This month's program was Remote 1. Call to Order and Welcome: The 08 July 2019 Hams by Ken Kayser (K2KXK) on how to operate meeting of the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club at the the club equipment remotely. Software is free of Red Cross Building, 690 Coliseum Drive, was charge and can be found at called to order by President Sam Poindexter http://download.remotehams.com/. The Free (NI4TG) at 1930 hours. Sam welcomed all Android software can be found at attendees, approximately 37, for coming out this http://Bit.ly/2L6VFuV. evening, and invited each to give their name and Topics included client setup, connection, operation, callsign. and sign off. SSB and CW operation (CW by Brian Kuebert (NZ4N)) was discussed, and a quick demo 2. Announcements: Next month's presentation is by was conducted at the end of the presentation. Due Mike Atkins (N4VE) on Grounding and Bonding. to internet issues, a partial presentation can be found at https://youtu.be/eb43iMzlzOA. 3. Field Day: Henry Heidtmann (W2DZO) gave a quick debrief of Field Day. We had approximately 8. Business Meeting: Sam (NI4TG), along with the 81 people participate, not including those who announcements reminded everyone about our neglected to sign in. All bonuses were achieved upcoming business meeting next Monday at Sixty- sans the satellite bonus which is very difficult to get. Six Pizzeria on Frontis Plaza Street, right near 2330 bonus points with a total 15,054 points overall. Academy Sports. The meeting starts at 7:30; we get Ranking information should be available in the there between 6:00 and 7:30 to eat and hang October or November issue of QST. around until 9 or so.
4. Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Kent Englebert 9. Adjournment of Meeting: A motion was made (K4HKE) gave a brief treasurer's report. Our and seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 2129. balance in the bank is $3007.84, with no upcoming expenses. 10. Partial List of Meeting Attendees: Below is a partial list of FARC meeting attendees. 5. Testing and Repeater Report: Dale Mierisch (WB9SZL) presented the testing and repeater Don Edwards WS4NC, Stacey MacArthur W1LLO, report. There were two testing sessions with a total Sam Poindexter NI4TG, Ken Worland KW4UC, of seven tests taken, with two passing the Linda Worland KW4UD, Michael Pope K4OLD, Technician and one passing the general. Baptist Harlan Cobert W1HRC, Jerry Minor K4GW, Mary hospital 146.64 is up but has limited range, and the McClellan KM4WPO, Bob McClellan W3AVB, Van 444.275 repeater still needs a new antenna. 145.47 Key KC4WSK, Mike Vernon W4MAV, Harold repeater is up, and internet fiber network has been Richardson N4HER, David Shoaf KC4X, Randy installed on Sauratown mountain. Echolink server Thompson NC4RT, Jim Register KV4SJ, Dale is back up, but still needs testing for iOS clients. Mierisch WB9SZL, Terry Brown AK4D, Doug MacArthur W4STH, Steve Patterson WA3RTC, 6. Auxcomm/Ares: Harlan Cobert (W1HRC) Kent Englebert K4HKE, Doc Holiday WB4QIZ, Jim presented the Auxcomm report. The Tour 2 Bielski KJ4FIN, Wayne Collins KK4ZHL, Sparky Tanglewood MS bike event is coming up on Ramey KE4TES, Jim Atkins W4UX, Brian Kuebert September 28th and 29th. SAGs, rest stops, net NZ4N, Steven Mierisch KG4JWU, Tim Yarbrough controllers and shadows are all needed, still very KF4HHG, Bryan Nix, Jim Sarfert NA4J, Gene low on volunteers just two months out. A sign-up Bowman WB4MSG, Bruce Thompson AD4ET, Gaff sheet was passed around. The new Auxcomm Pearce W4GYP, Ken Kayser K2KXK, Bill Kennedy badges were again shown, these badges have WD4OTY, Doug Spriggs W4DCS.
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 25 ARRL SANCTIONED FORSYTH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC FALLFEST
NEW DATE! (INSTEAD OF JUNE) October 12, 2019 At our new location: Robinhood Road Baptist Church 5422 Robinhood Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 7AM until Noon. See W4NC.com for additional details.
$5 at the entrance to parking
Talk-In: The talk-in frequency will be 145.470 MHz, pl tone 100 Hz.
Dealers will be attending in the INDOOR area.
Door Prizes: Yes, many
Indoor Tables: On a first come-first serve basis, a limited number of tables will be available inside for a $10 fee per table.
Flea Market Area:Fleamarket spaces are available for $5 per parking space until sold out.
FCC Testing: Not planned, but there will be the normal license session at the next FARC club meeting on Monday, 14 October Saturday, October 12, 2019 August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 26 community sales table for club members was Minutes of the Forsyth Amateur discussed. More details to come later. [see page Radio Club Business Meeting 28] - 15 Julye 2019 6. VHF/UHF: Revisiting the tabled discussion of a new VHF/UHF radio for the club to replace the old By Stacey MacArthur, W1LLO RadioShack unit. The decision was made to Secretary, Forsyth Amateur Radio Club purchase a Yaesu FTM-100DR. This Radio is a 1. Call to Order and 2m/70cm with APRS TNC and is System Fusion Welcome: The monthly capable. Board of Directors Business Meeting, 7. Auxcomm: Harlan Cobert (W1HRC) presented Forsyth Amateur Radio the Auxcomm report. Tour 2 Tanglewood is fast Club, was held on approaching, and as many people as possible are Monday, 15 July 2019 at needed to volunteer, as this will be a sizable event Sixty Six Pizzeria, 3440 this year. See Harlan to sign up. Training Frontis St, Winston previously announced for July 20th will need to be Salem. The meeting was rescheduled due to a miscommunication on room called to order by FARC scheduling. President Sam Poindexter, NI4TG, at 8. Adjournment of Meeting: Motion to adjourn the 1935 hours, welcoming all meeting attendees. meeting was made, seconded and meeting was adjourned at 2022 hours. 2. Meeting Attendees: The 21 meeting attendees were Jerry Minor K4GW, Don Edwards WS4NC, Ian MacArthur W4STH, Stacey MacArthur W1LLO, Sam Poindexter NI4TG, Harold Richardson N4HER, Michael Pope K4OLD, Kent Englebert K4HKE, Stephen Patterson WA3RTC, David Shoaf KC4X, Pedro Tomas KN4GKY, Bob McClellan W3AVB, Marry McClellan KM4WPO, Harlan Cobert W1HRC, Ken Kayser K2KXK, Geoff Rudy KK4MOV, Gaff Pearce W4GYP, Terry Brown AK4D, Jim Register KV4SJ, Van Key KC4WSK, Mark Gaines KM4TUK.
3. Field Day: Final discussion on Field Day. Sam (NI4TG) would like to see wheels on the generators as well as cargo ramps to facilitate easier setup and take down. Also discussed was the possibility of relocating the generators to deal with exhaust in the third floor.
4. Club Internet: The internet at the club shack will be sectioned off into separate networks with varying bandwidth priorities. One for general Wi- Fi, one for presenter Wi-Fi, and a 3rd via ethernet for streaming and shack services.
5. January Ham Fest: Stephen Patterson (WA3RTC) has confirmed Robin Hood Road Baptist Church for the January 11th Ham Fest. A August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 27 FARC Hamfest Table FORSYTH COUNTY AUXCOMM – by Don, WS4NC ARES MEMBERS ARE BUSY It was suggested that a table be provided to FARC members who have a few items to sell at the next Hamfest. There are by Harlan Cobert, W1HRC some rules: Members of Forsyth County 1. Be a member (does that need to spelled out?) AuxComm – ARES have been a busy lot. Not only 2. Please limit it to a few items or a relatively small space. The table manager will have final say over how much space does an average of 21 you can have. members check into our weekly Thursday evening 3. List your asking price. Whomever is in charge of the table training nets (8:30pm on will have a list of your minimum price. 145.470+ 100hz), they have been working public 4. We are not responsible for your stuff. Period. service events and 5. Pick up unsold items after the hamfest - we may assess a attending other training. dumpster fee if we have to dispose of it. It has happened that someone will leave a gastly large item and say dump it if Tour to Tanglewood doesn’t sell. We don’t have a dumpster or the manpower for that. (Now if we are tlalking about a nice K3 or simliar radio then just ignor that!) The Tour 2 Tanglewood MS bike event is coming up on September 28th and 29th. SAGs, rest stops, net 6. You may have to volunteer to help man the table for a controllers and shadows are all needed, still very while. low on volunteers just two months out. A sign-up I hope all that sounds fair, but maybe a little roughly worded. sheet was passed around at the past meeting and will be again at this meeting. This is a really big event and is our prime training. You don’t need to have done other courses - but this is a great training opportunity and it’s fun. Contact me if you want to help.
EmComm 101 – Basic Emergency Communications Course
On May 25th, twenty members attended the first EmComm 101 (Basic Emergency Communications Course) at the FARC headquarters in the Red Cross Building. This course is one of several courses members have to complete to be qualified as a COMMUNICATOR for emergency and public safety events. The 8-hour course provides a lot of information at members including the basics of emergency communications, proper prowords, tactical call sign use, and much more.
After completing training these AuxComm – ARES members are qualified as:
RADIO OPERATOR (These member are still completing the ICS courses and will be Communicator qualified once these courses are completed): Steven (KM4OCR), David (WA4MKK), Continued on the next page August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 28 Ron (W4UDB), Wayne (KK4ZHL)
COMMUNICATOR (Qualified to perform communications functions during emergencies in the field or at shelters or other locations as needs dictate): Tim (KF4HHG), Derek (KN4OCW), Mark (KM4TUK), Steven (K2MLN), Michael (K4OLD), Mary (KN4LKO), Don (WS4NC).
EOC – COMMUNICATOR (Qualified for EOC and Command Post Net Control Operations): Linda (KW4UD), Ken (KW4UC), Van (KC4WSK), Jim (KV4SJ), Bruce (WB4QCM), Judson (KG4OHQ), Steven (KG4JWU).
EOC – COMMUNCIATIONS TEAM LEAD (Qualified as the team leader for EOC / Command Post communications operations. This is the top level qualification for AuxComm - ARES): Gaff (W4GYP), Jim (WA4NOT)
CONGRADULATIONS TO THESE MEMBERS!
FORSYTH COUNTY AUXCOMM – ARES STAFF
AuxComm – ARES does not If you are interested in filling one of these staff operate solely on with one positions please let Harlan (W1HRC) or Jim person. It takes a team of (WA4NOT) know. You may also email your desire to serve to ARES at W4NC dot Com. people dedicated to making the program work. Currently we have five staff personnel however we AUXCOMM – ARES STICKERS AND are seeking others to fill specific roles. At the top is PATCHES ARE AVAILABLE the AuxComm Manger - ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC). Below that person is the We now have the official Forsyth County AuxComm- Assistant Emergency Coordinator(s) (AEC). ARES emblem in a 3” patch and sticker available for sale. The patches cost $4.00 and stickers are $1.50 each. These items will be available for purchase at any FARC Club meeting and select activities. Cash is preferred and exact payment is appreciated. See Harlan (W1HRC) for these items. Continued on page 30
Typical spark-gap transmitter from about 1914. Source: http://home.windstream.net/ adye/webpages/Spark%20G ap.htm
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 29 Support the Thursday night ARES/AuxComm Documentation: ARES/AuxComm training net: Some important downloads for ARES/AuxComm The Forsyth County ARES/AuxComm Training Net are available and can be downloaded by going to meets each Thursday evening at 8:30 PM local time. www.w4nc.cm and clicking the ARES link.
The Net is conducted on the W4NC 145.470 + WHAT IS ARES/AuxComm??? (T100) repeater and is used for Emcomm training, ARES/AuxComm is the function of the Amateur practice and training in emergency / disaster Radio Relay League Field Organization which response and public service communications. All coordinates ham radio responses as amateurs are invited and encouraged to participate communicators in disaster situations and public in this net. Our backup repeaters are the K4GW service events. Local ARES/AuxComm units are 147.315 + (T100) repeater and the W4NC 146.640 + formed at the county level led by an appointed (T100). All repeaters cover the Forsyth County Area. volunteer Emergency Coordinator. A ham radio license is required for ARES/AuxComm For forms and more information go to membership, as is a registration form listing contact www.w4nc.com and check the AuxComm/ARES information and band / mode capabilities. This form link on the left of the page. NOTE: AuxComm/ARES is available from the Emergency Coordinator. There members do not self-deploy. are no fees or dues; nor is club membership required.
All hams may participate by volunteering their time SERVED PARTNERS and the use of their radio equipment for WINSTON SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY ARES/AuxComm activities. Currently almost all of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT our local activities use VHF / UHF FM; so hams with AMERICAN RED CROSS any class of license can participate. MS SOCIETY Locally, ARES/AuxComm is sponsored by the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club which allows the use of the club’s repeaters and some of the club’s equipment for ARES/AuxComm needs. NEW FEMA COURSE, IS-1160, DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OPERATIONS TRAINING Our primary disaster service partners are the American Red Cross and Forsyth Emergency FEMA has introduced a new on-line course ion the Management. We participate in training exercises FEMA Emergency Management Institute for with them, and in communications emergencies can Damage Assessment. This course is recommended be activated to serve in their responses. The most for all Forsyth County ARES/AuxComm Members likely activation is to provide backup as we may be tasked with such operations following communications in Red Cross shelters when they a disaster. To be part of the Damage Assessment are opened. Team (DAT) you must have completed formal DAT training. This course is 8-hours long and fulfills the The major public service event for Forsyth County formal training requirement. To take the training you ARES/AuxComm is the annual, two-day Tour to must be registered with the FEMA Emergency Tanglewood Bike MS event. Hams are stationed at Management Institute and have been issued a rest areas and in event vehicles to provide point-to- Student ID number. The course can be accessed at: point communications. https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?c For more information or to join ARES/AuxComm, ode=IS-1160 check into one of the ARES/AuxComm nets or contact the Emergency Coordinator at a FARC club Future Training Being Planned: meeting. A fill-in form to join ARES/AuxComm can First Aid and CPR/AED be downloaded at www.w4nc.com. August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 30 PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ASHEVILLE RADIO MUSEUM Newsletter Classified
We’ve tried this before but there seems to be little interest. We’ll give it a run again. If you Radio Wizardry. The Asheville Radio Museum want to sell something please write your own ad (funny helps) and list yourcall callsign along will be open on Saturdays from 1 PM – 3 PM with either your email or your phone number. I’ll run it in the next two Newsletters. I can include small pictures. Please let me know if it sells so I can remove it - it will drop after two during June through August 2019. We welcome months. There was a suggestion that donations be solicited for this. Any offers? Send your ad to dedwards
An interesting visit is guaranteed for all!
https://www.avlradiomuseum.org/ August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 31 Amazon Smile Program
Do you buy stuff from Amazon? If you do there is a way for FARC to earn a little money here. Go to the Amazon Smile link below and register and select Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchases to FARC. It costs you nothing more, but it benefits the club. Anything you order has to be ordered from the W4NC Web Page Amazon Smile link – if, after you register, you forget to order through the smile program it will usually remind you. Again it costs you nothing Terry has just done a lengthy update to the "Past Meeting and Event more. Amazon is supporting legal 501c(3) organizations through this Info/Downloads" tab on the left side of the main club webpage. Links program. As of May, 2018 this has generated $383.78 for FARC. to available videos and information for many meetings over the past Thanks Amazon and thanks to Raja, KB6MTH for pointing this out. few years are available. Additionally, he continues to reorganize the www.smile.amazon.com information on each section of the webpage to make future editing easier. He highly suggests that you do a refresh each time you access each page on the website to make sure that you are getting the most recent info. Please go check it out: www.w4nc.com
W4NC Live
If you goto www.w4nc.com you will see a link to W4NCLive. That will take you to youtube and you can see many of our past FARC meetings and some training programs there. The meetings are streamed live and then stored on youtube for future access. Several people contributed to getting this started but it took a lot of effort. Henry, W2DZO got most of the details worked out, Don, WS4NC, helped Above and below left are two more photos from WBT I with the audio. But somebody has to actually couldn’t fit in elsewhere. Above is a Fred Kirby show at the produce the programs. That has fallen to Pedro, State Theater in Charlotte from the 1920s - check out the car. WK4GKY. Be sure and thank him for his efforts - it wouldn’t be possible if someone didn’t sit back there through the meetings and get the video processed. If you will notice the older videos and the newer videos there is a world of difference between them. Diddle-De-Dah-De-Don And we are getting better! That’s All Folks . . . Hope you enjoyed this month’s Newsletter. One month I really will write a short one. Doing this Newsletter is kind’a my therapy. Most months this gets knocked out in 4 to 8 hours. This month’s took me 30+ years to write. That is how long I’ve been trying to dig up this information. I really didn’t get done, I just ran out of time this month. And this isn’t a doctoral disseratation - I may not be perfect on some things but I tried to quote the sources. There are other early QSLs from Forsyth County Hams I have recently heard about and am trying to at least get copies. That I have been able to find any of these is something of a miracle.
Thanks to contributors this month, Jon Snow, Dale, WB9SZL; Stacey, W1LLO; Harlan, N1HER and all the sources named. Dave Rawley, N4XO in particular. He has been an inexhaustable source of information about NC radio, ham and broadcasting. Hope you enjoyed a long trip back to the Golden Days of radio this month. 73, Don WS4NC August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 32 Forsyth Amateur Radio Club Membership Form New Member Modification Or Renewal Memberships 2 Call Sign/Class First Name Last Name ARRL (N,T,G,A,E) ARES/Auxcomm3 Address City
State Zip Date of Birth E-Mail1
Home Phone Mobile Phone Work Phone
Emergency Contact Emergency Contact Phone Number(s)
Family Member4 Call Sign Newsletter Delivery1 Family Member4 Call Sign E-Mail U.S. Mail
Special Interests Yearly Fees are Due January
CW Satellite Kit Building Dues $24. SSB EME Antenna Building If over 65 or full Digital Microwave Test Equipment time student, SSTV L/M Wave Microcomputers dues are $12 ATV Contesting AuxComm - ARES D-Star QRP SWL Donations System Fusion DX Nets (Appreciated!) DMR Fox Hunt Vagabond Net ______S.T.E.M. Discussion Total 1Please be sure your e-mail address is correct. The FARC Newsletter is normally sent via e-mail due to increasing postage costs. Mailings to postal addresses for special circumstances is upon special request.
2We track ARRL membership as we are required to maintain a percentage to retain our ARRL certification.
3If you are an ARES/Auxcomm member, or would like to become one, please indicate and fill out the appropriate form.
4Family members residing in the same household may also become members at no additional cost. Please indicate the members on this form, as well as filling out an additional form for each family member.
Complete and return all forms with applicable payment to the mailing address below, or to an officer at the next club meeting.
Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Inc. PO Box 11361 Winston-Salem, NC 27116 http://www.w4nc.com Date Rcvd Rev. 01 2019
August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 33 August, 2019 FARC Newsletter Page 34