Due to a conflict, the location for Amateur Radio Exams has changed for the April 14 session. We will be in the McEntee Meeting Room at Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye St., in Newport. The time is 9 am, as usual. We usually get there at the last minute, so don’t worry. Park in the lower parking lot, and enter through the downstairs door.

Walk-ins are welcome, but it can be helpful to know you’re coming:

choirboy1953 at gmail.com
541 270 4114 (texting works)

Update: No change to the tone on 145.370 yet. Sometimes things take a little longer than anticipated. We now have a link to a document listing local repeaters and other frequencies, under the “Documents”  tab here on the LCARC N7OY.org website.

Recently the Club purchased a Yaesu System Fusion DR-1X for the 147.300 repeater. The repeater is set in Automatic Mode Select (AMS), so it can be used in either YSF digital or FM modes. For FM use, set to Tone Squelch 156.7. The use of Tone Squelch is to prevent FM users from having to listen to the digital noise. There is no “tail’ on the repeater.

Several improvements are being made to the 145.370 (ACS) repeater. The tone will change very soon to 156.7, and eventually the same tone will be added to the output, so you can use Tone Squelch if desired.

We will be back at Samaritan Center for Health Education, 740 SW 9th St. in Newport for the foreseeable future.

Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) meets at 6pm, followed by the Club meeting at 7pm. All are welcome to both meetings.

A 2-day license preparation class is being offered August 26 and 27, 9am to 3pm on Saturday, at Samaritan Center For Health Education, 740 SW 9th St in Newport. 1pm to 5pm on Sunday. Sign up on Eventbrite.

Members of the Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club (LCARC) will be participating in Amateur Radio Field Day, June 24 – 25 at Waterfront Park in Toledo.

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of Amateur Radio. This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

Please come join us!

The Club recently bought a new Yaesu System Fusion repeater for the 147.300 on Otter Crest. A small group made the initial installation, and it is up and running now. Set tone Squelch to 156.7, and try it out!

We’re making plans for our Special Event, the Oregon Coast Total Eclipse, call sign N7E, August 20-22, 2017. Because we anticipate unprecedented crowds and traffic, we will not plan to travel to a central location, but will operate from “distributed” locations, at home, or locations within walking distance. We have designated frequencies in General portion the 80, 40, and 20 meter bands, and in the Technician portion of the 10 meter band, which we will plan to operate “at or near.”

3.820 MHz

7.200 MHz

14.245 MHz

28.350 MHz

For members of Lincoln County Amateur Radio Club (or local hams who wish to partici;ate with us), sign up for your preferred bands and times at SignUp.com.

For more information on the Special Event, click on the Eclipse menu above.

Our usual location is not available this month, so come see us at First Presbyterian Church, 227 NE 12th St., in Newport. Saturday April 8, 2017, 9am as usual.

Legislation that may affect Amateur Radio is under discussion in the 2017 Oregon Legislature. News and resources to assist Oregon Section amateurs will be posted here from time to time as warranted. Here are some resources:

1. This document from ARRL provides useful information but note that we don’t wish to change definitions within the bill, only retain the current exemption for FCC licensed Amateurs. Here is a link: Mobile Radio Policy
2. Here is the current exemption and the best language for us to get back into the bill: (h) Holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued or any other license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and is operating an amateur radio.
3. These “talking points” may be useful in your correspondence with your representatives:
   1. Amateur Radio Operators are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. There are 18,000 FCC licensed Amateurs in Oregon.
   2. Amateurs play an important role in providing communications during emergencies, disasters, search and rescue operations and large public events such as the annual Hood to Coast Run and Cycle Oregon, The events depend on mobile radio ham capabilities. Many governmental and non-governmental organization also depend on mobile radio ham communications.
   3. The use of a ham radio during while driving is very different than using a hand-held cell phone; most of the time it is just listening to the radio. Microphone use is typically very brief.
   4. In a letter dated August, 2009, the National Traffic Safety Council commented:
      ” We are not aware of evidence that using amateur radios while driving has significant crash risks. We also have no evidence that using two-way radios while driving poses significant crash risks. Until such time as compelling, peer-reviewed scientific research is presented that denotes significant risks associated with the use of amateur radios, two-way radios or other communication devices, the NSC does not support legislative bans or prohibition on their use”
   5. In contacts with your Senators and Representatives, always be polite and thoughtful.

Thanks you for your support of Amateur Radio.

John Core KX7YT, Oregon Section Manager

Feb. 10th, 2017

The location for our license testing session will be at First Presbyterian Church in Newport. This change is only for January and February 2017. The church is located at 227 NE 12th Street, behind Oscar’s. 9am, as usual.