From the President’s Desk
A monthly column, written by President Frank Mellott, KB3PQT,
where you can expect to find something of interest each and every month.
Volume 4, Issue 12 — Posted November 25, 2024
Greetings! — This is the December 2024 ISSUE.
Here we are. December 2024
Quite a year this has been! Do you agree?
Your club and individual member accomplishments include:
Attained 60 years serving the community and the hobby.
Published 14 How Do I… articles on the club’s Know-How Resources site.
Successfully promoted Parks On The Air (POTA) with 22 member participants.
Held Field Day @Shaffer Park with 23 participants who scored 2,446 points.
Ran a special event station honoring the National Railway Historical Society.
Celebrated our own 60th anniversary with a special event station.
Served the community by providing communications support for the Dillsburg Farmers Fair Parade Chairperson and Parade Marshals.
Lit approximately 400 Holiday Luminaries at Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs, PA.
Operated weekly 10 meter nets on Wednesday at 8 p.m. local time.
Operated weekly 2 meter FM Simplex Phone nets on Sunday at 7 p.m. local time.
Operated 2 meter digital data nets using analog FM and FLDIGI sound card technology modes to communicate.
At the November meeting we elected officers for 2025.
President Frank Mellott KB3PQT
Vice-President John Luthy WA3KCP
Treasurer Garry Fasick K3EYK
Secretary Paula Anstine KC3UVH
Membership Secretary Richard Johnson N3EPY
Dave Smith W3SOX is the appointed trustee for the club call sign-K3IEC.
Not to forget our other Club Leaders and Volunteers:
Doug Stenger KC3CPT Vice-President 2024
Steve Hancock N3FWE Technology Guru, Photographer
Maura Smith-Mitsky KC3JJH Historian, Archivist, Holiday Event Planner
Mark Anstine KC3UVG Operations Guru
Paula Anstine KC3UVH Operations Guru
Harry Fasick K3EYL CARC Representative to Farmers Fair Parade
Garry Fasick K3EYK CARC Representative to Boiling Springs Civic Association (Luminary Sponsor)
Doug Stenger KC3CPT Quartermaster
Frank Mellott KB3PQT QSL Manager
R J Harris W3HP Amateur Radio Advocate
Bobbe Rothermel WA3BKK CARC Member since Day 1 in June 1964
Roger Wheeler K3SU CARC Member since Day 1 in June 1964
Doug Stenger KC3CPT Net Control Station for 2 Meter Phone Net
Garry Fasick K3EYK Net Control Station for 10 Meter Phone Net
Valli Hoski N8QVT Net Control Station for Farmers Fair Net
Andrew Forsyth AF3I Net Control Station for 2 Meter Digital Net
We saw our club grow to 46 members with a gain of six new members this year.
That is at least a modern record.
Cumberland Amateur Radio Club members have the skills, and we have the talented people to advance the club along its journey for the next 60 years.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
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Volume 4, Issue 11 — Posted November 09, 2024
Greetings! — This is the November 2024 ISSUE.
November for me, has been the historic start of “radio season”. The days are shorter and colder. Good reason to stay indoors and play radio. November is also the start of “160 season”. For me, that is when the 160 meter band becomes usable.
What an exciting year 2024 has been. The club celebrated its 60 year anniversary; we had two special event stations; introduced members and friends to Parks On the Air (POTA); performed public service work at the Dillsburg parade; lit the luminaries at Childrens’ Lake in Boiling Springs; held Field Day at Shaffer Park; and participated in the PA QSO Party.
At the November meeting we will elect officers for 2025. As we have no competitive races your 2025 officers will be:
| Office | Name | Call Sign |
|---|---|---|
| President | Frank Mellott | KB3PQT |
| Vice-President | John Luthy | WA3KCP |
| Treasurer | Garry Fasick | K3EYK |
| Secretary | Paula Anstine | KC3UVH |
| Membership Secretary | Richard Johnson | N3EPY |
Dave Smith W3SOX is Trustee, an appointed position not subject to election, for the club call sign-K3IEC.
The winter months can be a great time to hone skills, add gear to the shack and perhaps add new skills or upgrade your license.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 10 — Posted September 23, 2024
Greetings! — This is the October 2024 ISSUE.
Fall, ya all !
Lots of radio events take place in the Fall. The State QSO Parties save the best for last. California is October 5 and 6. Pennsylvania is October 12 and 13. CARC will defend their York County, Multi-Operator, Multi-Transmitter, Portable, Low Power title with a Top Notch Operation from Ponderosa Park in Dillsburg on Saturday October 12.
Club Members, Family and Friends celebrated the club’s 60th anniversary on Saturday September 21 with a picnic and Special Event station at Ponderosa Park.
The October meeting is Wednesday October 16, 2024 at Hoss’s in Mechanicsburg.
This is an important meeting as, among other things, we nominate candidates for elected office who will serve the club next year — President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary. And the volunteer service positions are pleading for your attention – Membership Secretary, QSL Manager, Newsletter Editor, Website Administrator. The Club License Trustee is untouchably safe from challenges.
CARC members will once again provide communication support for the Fantastic Parade in Dillsburg, PA on Saturday October 19.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
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Volume 4, Issue 09 — Posted August 27, 2024
Greetings! — This is the September 2024 ISSUE.
Note: There was no August 2024 issue.
Wow…Where did the summer go? As I write this, it’s nearly Labor Day. Many kids are back in school. Most colleges have resumed classes. The days are already noticeably shorter now that sunset occurs before 8:00 p.m..
September is a good month for radio. The State QSO Parties are back from summer hiatus. The fall contesting season kicks off.
Your club celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024. On Saturday, September 21, 2024, CARC members and friends will meet at Ponderosa Park in Dillsburg, PA for a 60th Anniversary picnic. We will also operate a special event station that day. The fun starts Friday night at 8 p.m. local (0000 UTC) and will last until 7:59 p.m. (2359 UTC) Saturday. How long we are at Ponderosa depends on the weather, but we are figuring 0900 to 1500 local time, but if it is a nice day we may stay later.
The CARC Radio Road Show is prepping to activate York County once again in the PA QSO Party the 2nd weekend in October — Saturday October 12. The Fantastic Parade will be held in Dillsburg, PA the following Saturday October 19, 2024. CARC will once again provide communications support to the parade staff.
The September CARC meeting takes place on the third Wednesday — September 18 at Hoss’s in Mechanicsburg, PA. This September, that date comes late enough in the month so that you should be back from summer vacation. Please arrive 1700-1730 local time for supper. Meeting starts at 6:40 p.m.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 07 — Posted June 27, 2024
Greetings! — This is the July 2024 ISSUE.
July!
Remember the Chevy ad from the 70s? “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet”?
How about Canada Day Monday July 1, 2024, Thirteen Colonies July 1 at 1300 UTC through July 8 0400 UTC Website 13colonies.us, and radio?
Editor’s Note: Not to mention CQ World Wide VHF Contest. 6 meters and 2 meters. Saturday July 20 through Sunday July 21, 2024. Rules can be found at: https://www.cqww-vhf.com/
The ARRL Field Day is over. What went well? What can be done better next time? Please tell us.
Looking ahead, On Saturday August 24, 2024 K3IEC will have a special event station celebrating the National Railway Historical Society and the 2024 Harrisburg National Convention.
On Saturday September 21, 2024 CARC will celebrate its’ 60th anniversary with another K3IEC station and a picnic.
Have you been to a club meeting lately? We meet on the third Wednesday of the month (January through November) at the Hoss’s Steak and Sea House Restaurant located at 61 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA (Upper Allen Township). Arrive about 5:15 p.m. so that you will have time to chat, order, and enjoy your meal and perhaps some dessert (dessert comes with the salad bar). If you cannot join us at Hoss’s please consider attending via Zoom. If fellow club members can provide help with Zoom please reach out.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 06 — Posted May 28, 2024
Greetings! — This is the June 2024 ISSUE.
June! Dairy Month! Strawberries! Radio!
Really. June is an awesome month to play radio. The 4th weekend is the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day. Field Day was designed almost 90 years ago to encourage operators to operate in the field. CARC uses the cabin at Shaffer Park in Carlisle. CARC will operate as K3IEC in Class 3A and hopes to have a GOTA station running as AF3I.
Want to practice for Field Day? The West Virginia QSO party is the weekend before (June 15, 2024 Noon to Midnight This website address currently says UNDER CONSTRUCTION https://www.qsl.net/wvsarc/
You can find the contest particulars at https://www.contestcalendar.com/contestdetails.php?ref=49
Looking ahead, on August K3IEC will have a special event station celebrating the National Railway Historical Society and the 2024 Harrisburg National Convention.
In September, CARC will celebrate its’ 60th anniversary with another K3IEC station.
Have you been to a meeting lately? If you cannot join us at Hoss’s, and would like help with Zoom,
please reach out Contact Us — Cumberland Amateur Radio Club (radioclub-carc.com)
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 05 — Posted April 27, 2024
Greetings! — This is the May 2024 ISSUE.
May! Why does May always seem to start with May Day! and end with “May Day! May Day” ? May is a busy month.
Saturday May 4, 2024 CARC Derby Day! Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Furnace Stack Pavilion.
In case you just found this page, CARC Derby Day is more than an opportunity to put on your favorite hat and play radio. It is an outdoor operating event.
This year, our event takes place in a Pennsylvania State Park, so members can have a Parks On The Air (POTA) activation under their own call sign.
In addition, CARC will have a couple stations operating as K3IEC participating in the various state QSO parties that day.
The ones we are most likely to have success in are:
a.) Delaware QSO Party (tough because it is so close and only has 3 counties with a small population),
b.) Indiana QSO Party, and
c.) 7th Call Area QSO Party.
If band conditions are good, we should do well in those. The 7th Call Area is Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Most QSO parties encompass a single state but there are so few amateur operators in many of these states to support a QSO party.
Field Day planning continues.
Preliminary planning for a Special Event Station in late August spotlighting the National Railway Historical Society national convention in Harrisburg, PA has begun. Watch this space and the events tab on the website for more information.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 04 — Posted April 01, 2024
Greetings! — This is the April 2024 ISSUE.
As I write this note, it is late March and still pretty chilly. Maybe not unseasonal, but not what your favorite groundhog predicted! April should be fun. Hopefully its nice enough to get outside and play radio!
If we make significant progress completing the Google Sheets Field Day planner, we will have a super short business meeting and then have a program at the April 17 meeting.
Field Day@Shaffer Park 2024 should be a lot of fun. Mark your calendar for Saturday June 22 and/or Sunday June 23, 2024.
We believe we have sufficient qualified operators to run a successful Get On The Air (GOTA) station. One of our newer members is talking-up the use of solar power as a way of earning 100 easy-picking Bonus Points. Another member is talking-up activating a Free VHF station.
Have you been to a club meeting lately? If you cannot join us at Hoss’s, and need help with Zoom, please reach out Contact Us — Cumberland Amateur Radio Club (radioclub-carc.com)
Looking for help? Information? Our Groups.io is a great place to ask questions and get answers. Many of these eMail chains become How Do I…? articles Know-How Resources and Downloads — Cumberland Amateur Radio Club (radioclub-carc.com).
Andrew Forsyth, AF3I, the editor and publisher has put together a team that has compiled some 150 articles ranging from “what is ham radio?” to very technical aspects. You will find operating tips, equipment reviews, and ideas for setting up home stations.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 03 — Posted February 26, 2024
Greetings! — This is the March 2024 ISSUE.
Wow — 2024 is just rolling along.
Since our last chat, CARC members have participated, on an individual basis, in Parks on The Air, several State QSO Parties and a variety of other events.
Planning continues for the Derby Day ©Outing on May 4, 2024 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. That’s right, May The 4th is not only CARC Derby Day ©, The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, and four State QSO Parties, but is also Star Wars® Day!
I have some nice Tangible Rewards® for CARC members earning a new ARRL Code Proficiency Certificate. Other Tangible Rewards® await those who appear at club events, are radio active, and help the organization!
At the February meeting, a couple lucky members received Tangible Rewards® in the form of ARRL Repeater Directories.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 02 — Posted February 04, 2024
Greetings! — This is the February 2024 ISSUE.
Wow. Time flies!
Since our last chat, CARC members have participated in the Luminary Lighting at Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs, PA; Straight Key Night; the Weekly RTTY Test; the Weekly Phone Fray; Winter Field Day and many other events. Modes used include CW, SSB, Olivia, PSK31, FT8 and others. Individual members are honing their operating skills as POTA Hunters and eagerly awaiting warmer temps so they can activate parks. Hopefully Punxsutawney Phil, French Creek Freddie, and Minnie were correct. With some luck Octoraro Orphie’s prognostication of six more weeks of winter is incorrect!
At the January meeting, we continued planning Field Day@Shaffer Park! 2024© and our Derby Day ©Outing on May 4, 2024 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. That’s right, May The 4th is not only CARC Derby Day ©, the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, four state QSO parties, but is also Star Wars® Day!
I have some nice Tangible Rewards® for CARC members earning a new ARRL Code Proficiency Certificate. Other Tangible Rewards® await those who appear at club events, are radio active, and help the organization!
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####
Volume 4, Issue 01 — Posted Month Day, 2024
Greetings! — This is where the January 2024 ISSUE should be found.
Nothing yet.
What have you done today?
For more information, or if you want to get onboard and be a part of the CARC Radio Road Show,
please see https://www.radioclub-carc.com/touch-base/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT
#####