Yesterday members of the technical team met to work on the repeater project.  Right now all work is focused on the repeater equipment itself.  The D-Star equipment was installed in the new 6 ft cabinet and placed in the new equipment room.  Both the VHF and UHF repeaters were removed from the short cabinets and installed in a new 6 ft cabinet.  The taller cabinets allow for more room in the equipment room.  The team also prepared some high speed data equipment and cabling that will be used for a temporary high speed data link to the tank.  This circuit will be used until the permanent DSL circuit can be installed.

Today team members installed the high speed data equipment.  A Wifi link was established on the 900 MHz band which will allow for the D-Star and Allstar equipment to be brought up for testing.   Progress is being made with the team putting in more than 40 hours each since the beginning of the year.  The team would like to thank those who have generously provided their time, other resources or financial support towards the repeater project.

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May.

Many VARC members and area amateur radio operators have either served or are serving in one of the branches of the armed service.  Please join with them in the remembrance of those who served with their lives in the defense of our great nation through the display of the stars and strips. Most of all please continue to pray for our nation on this special day of observance…

Today was the second Saturday of the odd month so the testing team met to give amateur radio exams in the greater Valdosta area.  Here are the results of this month’s session.  The total number of people who came t0 the exam session was five.

This morning more progress was made on the new repeater room at the repeater site.  A lightening protection rack was installed in order to terminate the big 1 5/8 hardline into the poly-phaser shelf.  Poly-phasers are a inline protectors that quickly absorb surges on coax or hard-line center conductor.  Lightening protection is very important to any radio system which needs to be operational 24 hours and 7 days a week.  Proper lightening protection is the lowest cost insurance that any amateur radio operator should consider for there station.

There is more work to be scheduled at the repeater site in the coming weeks in order to complete the project.  There will be plenty of opportunity for VARC members to learn more about advanced radio technology.

VARC members and other area hams met this evening to enjoy each others company at “Chow Town” which is a fairly new oriental restaurant located over by the mall.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the meeting area was very pleasant for socializing about ham radio.   Discussions centered around HF, DX, antennas, HamCram, repeater system upgrades, ways to promote amateur radio to the younger generation, field day in June, social networking tools, etc.   In order to encourage more activity and accessibility for members it was decided to change the meeting time from the first Tuesday of the month to the last Saturday of the month.   All those who are interested in amateur radio are always invited to socialize and to enjoy their favorite interest.

Yesterday members of the technical team assembled in order to move the club’s VHF and UHF repeaters to the new equipment room located inside of the water tank.  Everything went very smooth with the move.  The biggest worry were the heavy hard-lines going to the antennas.  But in the end they proved to be a non-issue.  More work will need to be done later in order to finish up installation,grounding and other cabling.  Now the VARC has enough room in order to install the D-Star repeater and Allstar equipment.

Today the VARC held its first ever HamCram session with five dedicated participants present.  Two hams were prepared for their upgrade to general class while three remaining persons were “craming” to become technicians or new hams.

HamCrams are a excellent way for people wishing to obtain their ham radio license in our fast paced club.  A one day session consists of six question pool modules which take approximately six hours to go over.  Sessions are directed by VARC members but they are self study for each individual.  Each participant is given a copy of the question and answer pool which then they familiarize themselves with the questions which will on the exam and the associated correct answer.  Each module lasts for one hour after which participants are given a fifteen minute break to rest.  It has been found that breaks help provide for a better success rate.

After the HamCram session has been completed then the exam immediately is given.  Since a HamCram session revolves around short term memory then it is important to go ahead and test while the information is fresh in ones mind.

At today session four of the participants took their exams.

The VARC is dedicated to both the promotion and development of Amateur Radio in the South Georgia area.  We encourage all those who are interested in Amateur Radio to attend one of our future sessions.

Saturday the technical team finished installing the HVAC unit, sealing the entry door, installing the port for the hardline cables, and painted the walls.  The last task is to paint the floor and then the room is to be ready to move into.   When the floor is completed then a work day will be schedule to move equipment and antenna cabling into the new area.  This is all exciting because there will now be enough room for the new D-Star repeater equipment and for new Allstar equipment which will interface with the 146.760 repeater.  Once the equipment is installed VARC members will be able to work the world on the VHF and UHF bands both with digital and analog voice.  More work days are to be scheduled.  VARC members say thank you to our technical team for their great work!

Amateur Radio license testing was held again at the public library in Valdosta on Saturday March 10th.  Only one preregistered amateur came to take an exam.  They tested for extra class and passed in very little time with flying colors.  VARC members would like to express their congratulations to you on passing extra class!

We would like to take time here to show our appreciation for our testing volunteers Larry Leonard and Gene Milton who generously give of their personal time to help those who want to become amateurs or to advance the ranks.  Thanks guys for the super job you are doing!

Remember the next testing session will May 12th at the Valdosta public library.  Please contact us if you plan to attend the session.

On Saturday March 10th members of the VARC met at VSU for the Azalea Festival 5 K run.  The weather was cool and very pleasant for the event.  As usually members were positioned in order to provide synchronized timing for the run.  Members were placed at the 1 and 2 mile locations with a time keeper.  A radio transmission on the 146.760 repeater was sent at the exact time that the run started in order for the time keepers to set their stop watches.  As runners would pass the mile markers they could keep up with their time.  VARC members reported runners as they passed their station locations.

The first runner to the finish line was a young boy who said that he was about to be first because he was able to take the inside line and beat out two other runners.  Everyone made it back to the finish line with no injuries.  After the run many members went over to the festival to enjoy the food and fun.  Once again the Parks and Recreation leadership expressed their gratitude to VARC members for their continued support of  events like the 5 K and the bike rides.