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Recent Aricles - see left and below NewsDurHamFest 2019 is Almost Here!Hamfest Saturday (and before that Friday) is later this week. This year's DurhamFest will again be at the Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center. (See detailed instructions by pressing on the DurHamFest button on the left.) We can still use more help. There is still time to let Jack, KM4MBG, our Hamfest Chair, know that you are ready to sign up for specific tasks. Specific areas that can always use more help are: Parking, Food Sales, Club Table and Talk-In. You can mail Jack at durhamfest at km4mbg dot org to let him know you will be helping. If you can not make a fixed time commitment, you can still just show up and help. Key times will be assisting with Friday evening setup from 6pm to 8pm. Then Saturday at 7am we’ll do final setup and, where needed, help vendors move in as well. During the event, you can help out where needed. Someone may need to take a break at would be thankful for even brief relief. Then at 12:30pm we’ll shut down and many hands will make the work go faster and seem much lighter. And, even if you can’t find time to help, do drop in. Buy something. Say hello to some old friends and make some new ones. Have a free cup of coffee. Don’t miss our super hamburgers and hot dogs. Everyone can use a good lunch. We hope we'll see you there! Dee, KU4GC 5/20/19 ps: The 2019 DFMA Directory & Repeater Guide will be available to pick up at the ticket table for DFMA members whose dues are current. Ask for your copy. (You can also renew your membership there if you forgot that earlier.) May 7 Program: DurHamFest & Workings of the DFMAAt the meeting I'll cover the logistics and how you can help for DurHamFest. While we do great work that weekend, there is also work that goes on behind the scenes for much of the year. I'll shed light on that work and talk about what I have learned running DurHamFest for the past three years. Since I started working on DurHamFest, I've also learned about the other work that needs to happen to keep the club running smoothly. I'll talk about that work as well. It ranges from getting miscellaneous equipment cataloged and ready to sell at the club table to the duties of named officers such as treasurer and, or course, vice president. After the meeting, I hope that your fondness for the club will grow as your knowledge about it increases, and you will appreciate the value we are creating by doing things together. 73 Jack Hill, KM4MBG, 5/1/19 April 13 VE Testing Session CANCELLEDDave, W4SAR, coordinator for the local VE team reported that due to a facilities scheduling problem, the site would not be available and therefore the Saturday, 4/13 VE test sessision had to be cancelled. He has notified the ARRL and any candidates that made their plans to attend known to him. F.Y.I There will be a VE Testing session at RARSfest on April 20. See https://www.rarsfest.org/ for further information.
73, Dee, KU4GC 4/11/19
April 2 Program: Sorry Programming Languages & SurprisesMark, KR3AM will present on "The sorry state of modern programming languages, and other rants, with surprises." Mark always presents an interesting program. He's keeping details close to the vest, but there will be some interesting artifacts. You'll have to come to find out...
73, Dee, KU4GC 3/27/19
March 5 Program: TARPNTadd, KA2DEW, will be at Bullocks this Tuesday to talk about what VHF/UHF packet radio is, what operators of a TARPN station see, what hardware it uses, what people do in the group, and how to join in the fun. We'll have a couple of systems, radios, Raspberry PIs, antennas and a very short slide show.
History:
Just as DxCluster, APRS and working digital satellites are all different ways of using packet over VHF/UHF Amateur Radio, TARPN has yet another. TARPN is building an off-the-grid text chat network which is attractive to builders, tinkers, preppers, VHF enthusiasts and especially to young adult hams. The Central North Carolina TARPN has 22 on-the-air stations between Wendel and Mebane. There are TARPNs in NC, Pennsylvania and Michigan and experimenters in a few more US locations including Puerto Rico, as well as in England and Japan. The TARPN email reflector has 140 participants world-wide. Two interesting elements about the TARPN project are that they've overcome the saturation problem where packet radio networks fail when they get too crowded, and TARPN permits (nay, insists) that each and every participant have a fully expandable piece of the network. Nobody is a dependent. Everybody is a builder. 73, Tadd, KA2DEW 3/1/19 ARES Meeting Tuesday, February 26Come join us at the ARES meeting. For more info click of the [DC ARES] button on the left. February 5 Program: Lightning TalksAs a DFMA member, and person responsible for presenting programs at club meetings, it is great to be part of such a knowledgeable community. To celebrate that knowledge, the February meeting will feature lightning talks A lightning talk is a short presentation, usually under five minutes, of an interesting technique, fact, artifact, practice, story from a past adventure, or anything else you think would be interesting to the club. It will be a bit like our show-and-tell meetings, but there is no need for a physical object to show. To make this work, I need your participation. Let me know by emailing me privately at km4mbg AT km4mbg DOT org if you'd like to present. Now is your chance to inflict your interests on the club without having to fill a full length presentation! 73, Jack, KM4MBG 1/28/19 ARES Reorg Meeting Tuesday 1/22A number of hams have come to DFMA meetings expressing interest in ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and public service events. Some have become involved in the CERT program and seen ham radio and ARES as a natural extension to that program. In the past we have had to say that not much was going on and that reviving ARES was planned for the future. Well the future has come and here is your chance! Durham ARES will be having a re-launch meeting on January 22 7:00 PM at the Durham EOC (Emergency Operations Center), 2422 Broad Street Durham NC 27704. The purpose is to identify Hams who want to participate in ARES, conduct initial training on how to function in the EOC as part of the AUXCOMM (Auxiliary Communications) unit and solicit for ideas on future training and opportunities to provided ARES services. Contact Charles McComas KN4PTU, clmccomas at gmail dot com acting interim Emergency Coordinator for more information. If you are interested but can not attend this meeting, please be sure to let us know of your interest. If the problem is one of scheduling, let us know. If there is enough interest in a different time, a schedule change may be possible. Also, let us know if you are interested in a leadership role. - Charles, KN4PTU & Dee, KU4GC 12/31/18 January 8 Program: New Ham in HawaiiHeather Flewelling, WH6FTQ, will be talking about her first year experiences in ham radio from Hawaii. Aloha Join us for what appears to be an very interesting meeting - Jack, KM4MBG 12/31/18 Reminder: DFMA January Meeting One Week LaterThe normal meeting schedule for the DFMA is the first Tuesday of each month. Sometimes that produces awkward results like for our next meeting which would then fall on January 1st. You probabaly wouldn't have wanted a meeting then and, of course, Bullock's will be closed on New Year's Day. So this time we will meet on Tuesday, January 8th. I hope we'll see you there. Happy New Year! - Dee, KU4GC 12/28/18 December 4 Program: DFMA Christmas Party
We are continuing a tradition of having the DFMA pick up the tab for members at our December Christmas Dinner Meeting. The festivities will be at Bullock's Barbecue Restaurant in Durham starting at 6:00 p.m. You will be able to order from the menu. Members can bring one guest — bring your spouse or friend! This is our Christmas Meeting — In that tradition you may (optionally):
In past years some people have dropped a check in the hat. You can make it out to any charity you like. We can forward it and the cancelled check can be handy at tax time. But, if you are not in a position to donate anything this year, please come anyway. Or if you are making a special effort through your church or at the office, don’t feel pressured to do more than you really should. Your presence at this dinner is a gift to all of us. Since this is our annual Christmas Party we won’t have a program as usual. However, we will continue the fun tradition of soliciting “Ham New Year’s Resolutions.” Please join us for some wonderful holiday fellowship. - Dee, KU4GC 11/25/18 OCRA Christmas Dinner Postponed to 12/17The OCRA Christmas Dinnner, originally scheduled for 12/10 has been postponed for one week due to scary weather forecasts. It is now scheduled for 6pm, Monday 12/17. As before, it will be held at the Exchange Club in Hillsborough. See NCOCRA.org for details. - Dee, KU4GC 12/8/18 December 4 Program: DFMA Christmas Party
We are continuing a tradition of having the DFMA pick up the tab for members at our December Christmas Dinner Meeting. The festivities will be at Bullock's Barbecue Restaurant in Durham starting at 6:00 p.m. You will be able to order from the menu. Members can bring one guest — bring your spouse or friend! This is our Christmas Meeting — In that tradition you may (optionally):
In past years some people have dropped a check in the hat. You can make it out to any charity you like. We can forward it and the cancelled check can be handy at tax time. But, if you are not in a position to donate anything this year, please come anyway. Or if you are making a special effort through your church or at the office, don’t feel pressured to do more than you really should. Your presence at this dinner is a gift to all of us. Since this is our annual Christmas Party we won’t have a program as usual. However, we will continue the fun tradition of soliciting “Ham New Year’s Resolutions.” Please join us for some wonderful holiday fellowship. - Dee, KU4GC 11/25/18 Tim Nibbe, KW4GP, sk
Tim, KW4GP, at the 2016 DFMA Christmas Party
From the Hudson Funeral Home web site:
DURHAM- Mr. Timothy “Tim” Allen Nibbe, 62, passed away Monday October 29, 2018. Mr. Nibbe was born April 10, 1956 in Fargo, N.D to Verne and Patricia Nibbe. He proudly served his country in the United States Airforce. Mr. Nibbe will be lovingly remembered by family and friends. Mr. Nibbe is survived by his parents Verne and Patricia Nibbe; partner, James Ervin Dixon; sons, Nick and Lucas Nibbe of Ohio; sister, Cindy Ricks of South Carolina. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hock Family Pavilion at 4023 North Roxboro St., Durham, NC 27704. Online condolences can be made at www.hudsonfuneralhome.com. After moving to Durham from Conyers, GA, Tim had his amateur radio flame rekindled. During his service in the Air Force, he worked on a number of different radio systems, so he had 6 years of knowledge that he wanted to put to use. He decided that he wanted to go from Technican to Extra and started studying. As a part of the process, he started looking for local resources, and found DFMA. After a couple of meetings, Tim decided that we should both join the organization and we did. A couple of Tim's passions, was still with airplanes and radio tubes. There were many a night that I would get lots of information about this history of tubes, who made what tube He continued to study for the exams, and in January 2015 took both sessions and passed. While Tim started experiencing more pain associated with his Fibromyalgia, he still continued. He dropped off attending meetings and activities due to the pain. He would putter around the house and would work on his "shack". During this time, he started having problems with his lower abdomen. After some tests, they discovered that he had a problem with his gall bladder and had it removed. After adapting to new diet, he continued to have pain issues with his lower abdomen. He went from eating big meals, to eating single servings of things. The pain continued. After more tests, he had discovered a tumor on his liver approximately 8 cm in diameter (just over 3 inches). This was what was causing his pain. After a visit to a hepatologist, his case was presented to the Duke Tumor Board. On Tuesday, September 18th, he learned that it was cancer. He was given the option of chemotherapy and a prognosis of 6 to 12 months. His other option was hospice with a prognosis of 6 months. Tim chose the later. During this process, Tim went from 306 pounds to a skinny 179 pounds. After spending a month at in-home hospice care, he was admitted to in-patient hospice to get his pain management under control. On Wednesday, October 24th, we met with the medical team, and were looking for options of 24/7 care for Tim. He was also told that his prognosis was not 6 months, but, actually 2 to 3 months. However, on Friday, October 26, the medical team decided that in house hospice was the best place for him. Tim got his celestial discharge from hospice on Monday, October 29th at 7:10 AM. At the present time, there is no memorial service planned for Tim. 73, Jimmy -- KF4KHU 10/31/18 November 6 Program: Hams Helping Hams
What do these photographs have to do with hams helping hams? The glue that ties the story together is likely to emerge any time you have an extended conversation with another ham at a club meeting, a Have Another Meal (HAM) gathering such as the recent “HAMnic”. It is during that discussion, perhaps of one’s lifetime experience whether it be past or current profession, the ham hobby itself, perhaps past military service or some other hobby unrelated to ham radio, that yet another reminder emerges that ham club members as a group have a very wide and deep set of skills and experiences that can come to the aid of most any challenge or requirement. Dan, KR4UB; 10/29/18 `DFMA MCU at the Jamboree on the Air - Help NeededThe DFMA will be helping a local pack of Cub Scouts participate in this year's Jamboree on the Air the afternoon of Sunday, October 21st, 2pm to 4pm. The scouts we will be hosting will be 10 year olds. The primary objective of the event will be for the scouts to talk with people (both other scouts and hams in general) whom they ordinarily wouldn't be able to. The plan is to bring the MCU to the Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr, Durham (near Duke General Hospital and the County Stadium). There we'll be operating HF on 20m using the MCU's Tarheel mobile HF antenna. We may also demonstrate the use of our VHf and UHF repeaters. Who would like to help? Please let me know (email: km4mbg AT km4mbg DOT org). 73, Jack -- KM4MBG 10/16/18 Hamnic on Saturday, 10/20, 3pm--, W4BOH QTHHAMNIC is ON for Saturday, 10/20, 3PM, 1500 hrs, at the Field Day site, 3117 Moorefields Rd., Hillsborough 27278 Fishing allowed. Swimming too, if you are hardy, small model planes and drones. I'll have a hot grill and maybe a fire in the smoker. I'll have burgers and dogs and I heard there may be some ribs. If you don't eat oink or moo, bring what you like and finish it here, as you wish. The rest is up to YOU, so PLEASE let me know SOON how many in your party and what you want to bring. (mail to: infomet AT embarqmail DOT com or use the email reflector OCRA-DFMA AT groups DOT io ) It's possible I might suggest a change, if it looks like too many chocolate cakes.... I'll bring out plates and the FD silver, if the butler can get it polished in time... I'll get out my big coffee pot.
NEEDS:
I know it's late, but I was pretty low with stomach/spine issues for a while, now looking better. I know some have made other plans, but I'm hoping for a good crowd. We can take a light rain, if we want to stay in the garage, but heavy rain would do us in. SO, get those emails out and let's have some fun and many eyeball QSOs! Wilson, W4BOH; 10/16/18 Saturday's VE Session Moved to Efland Bahai Center!I was just advised by Kirby Saunders that the EOC has been diagnosed with a severe mold problem, severe enough that operations will be moved out of the EOC to alternate locations starting Monday, remediation may take up to several months. He said we could have proceeded with the exam session Saturday, but at our own risk. Therefore, after verifying availability, the exam session will be held at the Efland Baha'i Center at 10:00am this Saturday (119 Maple St, Efland, NC 27243). I am contacting the ARRLVEC to see if they can change the published location on short notice. Examiners, let me know if you got the message about the change, I will advise any candidates that I know are coming. I will also place a notice with directions to Efland on the door of the EOC to redirect any candidates who may show up there. Dave, W4SAR; 10/9/18 Technician License Classes Coming UpNick, KA1HPN, will be teaching a Tech License Class Saturday mornings in October. Basic information:
Technician License Classes
This classed was organized for the Chatham County CERT Program, but all persons interested in amateur radio are welcome to attend this course. Contact Nick, KA1HPM, by email at KA1HPM at ARRL dot NET to register and/or get more details. Nick, KA1HPM; 9/28/18 October 2 Program: Free Software for Ham RadioJack, KM4MBG, will be talking to us about free software for ham radio. He summarizes: Do you understand the impedance matching between your transmitter and antenna? For many hams, the answer is “yes,” or, “I know it is important and where I can learn more.” We would certainly be frustrated if we couldn’t use an antenna that was not pre-approved by manufacturer of our transmitter. How many of us can say the same about the software that we attach to our transmitters? We'll explore the benefit of Free Software, software which is free from author-imposed restrictions, for ham radio. I'll set the stage by giving a tour of exciting software, but we'll spend most of the time covering the basics of what you need to know to be as at home when working with Free Software systems and communities as you are with antennas and transmission lines. Jack, KM4MBG; 9/27/18 September 4 Program: Repeaters and MoreCharlie, NC4CD, will be talking to us about Repeater Basics and the DFMA Repeaters, along with some basic info on how the cellular phone systems work and be sure to read his column in this issue of The Link. As usual, we will be meeting at Bullock's BBQ at 6:00pm. The formal meeting will begin at 7:00pm with some brief DFMA business. (You may skip the meal and just come for the program. But eating with friends is a good part of the fun.) Dee, KU4GC; 8/31/18 August 7 Program: Elections and Show & TellWe will first hold our yearly election of Board of Director Officers and At-Large Members. That will only take a few minutes so we will have time for the always fun and informative Show and Tell. Please bring something of interest and plan on spending about 5 minutes talking about it." Dee, KU4GC; 7/31/18 July 17 Program: Civil Air Patrol – an OverviewThe program will be presented by Dawn Stange and her son. The Civil Air Patrol is an all volunteer auxiliary of the US Air Force. Adult members participate in Search and Rescue operations and deployment efforts during natural disasters. There is also a youth cadet program. Many initiatives of the Civil Air Patrol are of interest to amateur radio operators. Find out how amateur radio operators can participate in Civil Air Patrol operations. Check, KW4KZ; 7/11/18 New DFMA UHF Net on the 444.1 RepeaterThere will be a new rag-chew net on our TV Hill 440 repeater. It will be held on Tuesday evenings at 8pm execept when we have a DFMA membership meeting (normally the 1st Tuesday of month). Normally the net control will be J.R. (N4JQR). That's 444.100+ with PL 82.5. Join us! J.R, N4JQR; 7/10/18 |