ARRL: IBEC Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Systems Interference Violates FCC Rules

From the ARRL news desk:

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission documenting ongoing harmful interference and egregious rules violations by Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) systems installed by IBEC, Inc. in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. ...Full Story

My comments:

The ARRL is doing a good job protecting the interests of amateurs across the nation.  It is important that we hams through organizational support of this institution continue to hold the FCC's feet to the fire when it comes to enforcing its rules.

Thanks to the ARRL for doing this in our interest.  Although I don't live in any of the states this complaint addresses, I know that if the FCC gives an inch, the businesses will take a mile!

Northeast Louisiana Regional Ham Radio Fest - 2011

Louisiana State ARRL Convention


Come join us on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 for one of the premier Hamfests in the region. Meet friends, enjoy great food, see the latest equipment, attend informative forums, or find a great flea market deal!


Take I-20 (Exit 120) then East on Frontage Road just past Sam’s Club aprox. 1 mile.
Look for the Barak Shrine Temple on right.


Dealers & Vendors Include:

• Signman of Baton Rouge

• Palmetto Antennas

• More to be announced soon

Forums. . .

• Louisiana Contest Club 10:00 AM

• ARRL State Convention, 11:00AM

Guest: Dan Henderson, N1ND (Regulatory Information Manager)

Hamfest Grand Prizes . Must have a Amateur License to win Grand Prizes

1st prize: Icom IC 718 HF Rig

2nd prize: Yaesu FT 7900R Dual Band FM Mobile

3rd prize: MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer

Lots of Door prizes

Doors open at 8:00 AM on Saturday, set-up for vendors and flea market on Friday, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Saturday morning at 7:00AM
$5 Entry Fee . . . Tickets available at the door and include a chance at the grand prizes. Additional prize tickets also available for purchase for $1 each or 6 tickets for $5 or 25 for $20.  

Reserve Your Table Today!!! Tables are $10 each; electricity is an additional $10.

Send e-mail to: tables@tchams.org, or by mail at: Table sales, PO Box 1871, West Monroe, LA 71294

ARES Information for Northeast Louisiana

District ARES Briefings

First Tuesday of each month @ 6:00 p.m. (Prior to TCHC Meeting)

Ouachita Parish Fire Training Center / EOC
1000 New Natchitoches, West Monroe, LA


Statewide EOC HF Tests: The state EOC in Baton Rouge will be conducting a series of HF tests on a bi-monthly basis. These tests will be conducted on 7.285 and 3.873 MHz. For a current schedule and results of the tests, visit: http://www.eacom.org/

There will be a Skywarn Class conducted at the Fire Training Center Feb 12.  I'm not sure on the time, probably 0800 central time zone.

ARRL Straight Key Night: A Return to Amateur Radio’s Roots

From the ARRL news desk:

Always on New Year’s Eve and Day, Straight Key Night gives hams a chance to return to the time when Amateur Radio was just a bit simpler -- a time when a straight key or an old bug, along with a basic transceiver, was all that was needed to communicate around the world. In fact, that’s still all that is needed. Keep the CW paddle or computer keyboard on the shelf this night and send CW the way it’s been sent since the beginning.  ....full story
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This sounds like fun.  This is the first I've heard of this event.  I am an aspiring CW operator, but seldom take the time to practice.  When I do practice, I improve quickly. I go here to practice.

When I think of using the computer to send and receive CW, I think of it as 'the easy way'. I think it's like using an M-1 Abrams to go deer hunting... there is no sport to it what so ever.

so, I like this retro-going-back-to-basics event.

Freewheeling in the New Year on 3.916MHZ

If you're looking for a fun way to bring in 2011, join us for The Tailgaters & Freewheeler's Nets on Friday/New Year's Eve. The fun will start at 8:30 PM Central with the Tailgaters and will go into high gear at 10PM as the Freewheelers blast off.


Net Control will be Mr. Jimmy himself...KC0MQS!!
HISTORY WILL BE MADE NEW YEARS EVE!!


We're expecting to hit 1,000 members on the Yahoo Groups on Friday and will commemorate the occasion by awarding the 1,000th member a special, one-of-a-kind T-Shirt.


Pass the word that the BEST place to be on New Year's Eve will be 3.916 Mhz.


Happy New Year!

Stranger Repeater Calls Ignored: Now is that Nice?

Repeater Friendly, Is it for Locals Only?


I’ve traveled through towns of all sizes with my repeater directory in hand hoping to make a few repeater contacts along the way.


Some communities, unfortunately, don‘t seem to like talking to strangers. I’ll give my call and get no replies.


Some of the communities are pretty large so the excuse of not having hams listening, doesn‘t hold water.


When this phenomenon occurs, I know there is a slight possibility that folks are just busy, but using my area as a template, I find people are always listening and ready to talk.


Question. What is the real reason for this phenomenon? I think it’s just plain unfriendliness.


When people, strangers even, ID on our area repeaters, he/she will be greeted by a friendly ham, because that the kind of people we are.


What kind of ham are you? Are you one that doesn’t want to talk to strange call signs? Or, are you the kind of ham who welcomes strangers to your area?
Of the above two types of hams, which kind would you like to talk to when passing through a strange town?

Santa & the Freewheeler's Livestreaming on Ham Radio Christmas Eve

At 9 PM Central time on Christmas Eve, Santa will be transmitting on the Freewheeler’s net! His elves have installed a screwdriver antenna on his sleigh, and his mobile HF radio has 1:1 SWR on 3.916.

Anyone with a shortwave receiver can listen in, and General class operators with 3^rd party children are invited to join in the fun.

I will also be live streaming this event over the internet for anyone else who wants to listen in. Click here for the live show on Christmas Eve.

Ham Radio while Hospitalized - Hospital Hamming isn't a Problem for Me

I was in the hospital in Jackson, Mississippi for all of last week. I live in Louisiana, and have repeater frequencies programmed in my handi-talkie for both areas. That said, last week I found out one of the frequencies is in use in both areas.


145.450mhz there is a repeater I found when I was scanning my memory channels. I was able to speak to a few folks there.


This repeater is echolink enabled. I was surprised to learn of this, but never did hear any unusual stations speaking.


I normally use the 146.760 and 146.940 repeaters. Occasionally, I use the 147.300 when someone has difficulty hearing my h/t.


The ..7.300 is very close to the VA hospital and I can get into it without standing by a window.


Talking to hams is a great way for me to pass time while in the hospital. So far, I have had no complaints from doctors and nusing staff.


As a matter of fact, many of the doctors are impressed and curious when I answer their inquiries about the h/t charging on the bedside table.


One night when a starmwarn net was activated, a doctor stood by listening intently to damage reports as they cam in.


I love ham radio… what a hobby!


Pardon my spelling and grammar here tonight.