Amateur Radio license testing was held again at the public library in Valdosta on Saturday November 12th.  The preregistered folks where not able to make it to this testing session for personal reasons but they are still planning on testing at a later date.  There was one walk in who tested for general and passed with flying colors. Congratulations on passing general and we hope to hear you on HF soon!

We would like to take time here to appreciate our testing volunteers Larry Leonard, Gene Milton, Jim Freeman, and Frank Thompson for the giving 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 January 14th at the Valdosta public library.  Please contact us if you plan to attend the session.

On November 5th through the 6th was Georgia’s largest hamfest located in Lawrenceville in east Atlanta.  If you are reading this post then you missed one of the best and largest hamfests in the southeastern U.S.  Several amateurs from the south Georgia region attended and had a great time buying and selling gear. Many also enjoyed seeing and visiting with others of amateur radio family.

Even with the slower economy there were more vendors and hams selling in the flea market areas than ever.  Great deals where everywhere to be found.  Whether if you wanted to build a new station or expand a existing ham shack this was the place to be.  So if you missed this one then make the resolution now to be there next year the first weekend of November!

Up coming hamfests are the Stark, FL (November), Tampa, FL (December) and Orlando, FL (February).

On a beautiful Saturday October the 8th amateurs from the VARC and the local area assisted the Valdosta / Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Department with the 2011 Honey Bee Festival Bike Ride by providing communications and GPS tracking support. Amateur radio voice communications were carried out via the 145.310 repeater in Nashville and the 147.075 repeater in Valdosta.  Both of  the VARC repeaters are still offline due to lightening damage from earlier in the year and are still awaiting funding so they could not be utilized for the event this time.

Packet data communications were carried out on Digi-repeaters operating on 144.390 MHz which were located in Adel and Valdosta.  These stations carried the GPS tracking data from the “Sag wagons” or route vehicle to the I-gate through to the internet.   Both the internet and cell phone technologies where heavily relied upon by both the participating amateurs and event sponsors since there are fewer eligible amateur radio operators available to support these types of events.

This year’s bike event based out of Hahira consisted of a 31, 63 and 103 mile ride.  The 103 mile ride goes far north as Enigma on Highway 82 and is the most grueling ride of the three courses.  The other two lesser courses can be just as challenging as described from the words provided by some of the riders.

Two from the area amateur radio community rode in the event this year.  Not only did one of them test their skills in physical endurance but actually finished route and came back conduct communications support.  Now that is dedication!

The next bike ride support event will be during the first part of March 2012.  The VLCPR leadership says they need your support and the hope you will be there!  So take time to become a eligible amateur radio communications provider.

On Saturday September 10th the dedicated Amateur Radio exam team met once again to give exams to two new potential hams.

For a number of years now Larry Leonard- KI4JKB, Jim Freeman- KF4OVP and Gene Milton- N1AZZ have been meeting on the 2nd Saturday of each odd month to give exams at the Valdosta Public Library.  Though they are not affiliated with the VARC they have been faithful to the Amateur Radio community in their efforts to see that exams are available to both amateurs and non-amateurs in the Valdosta area.  Hats off to all three of these guys for their true volunteer ham spirit.

Congratulations to the two new amateurs who are from Florida!

Last Saturday July 9th the dedicated Amateur Radio exam team met once again to give exams to new potential hams and to others looking to upgrade their license class.

For a number of years now Larry Leonard- KI4JKB, Jim Freeman- KF4OVP and Gene Milton- N1AZZ have been meeting on the 2nd Saturday of each odd month to give exams at the Valdosta Public Library.  Though they are not affiliated with the VARC they have been faithful to the Amateur Radio community in their efforts to see that exams are available to both amateurs and non-amateurs in the Valdosta area.  Hats off to all three of these guys for their true volunteer ham spirit.

Congratulations to the following on their new license or upgrade-

William H. Albaugh-KK4CNI from Tallahassee who upgraded to General.

Aubrey B. Hutchison- KK4AXI from Valdosta who upgraded to Extra.

Sometime around June the 30th the VARC repeater site suffered a catastrophic electrical event that has left all equipment off line.   One of the volunteer technicians reported that the large breaker panel feeding the site looked as if it had a welder cut a hole in the front of it. It appears that as the breaker panel caught fire it sprayed fire hot molten metal over all area in front to the panel its self.

So for the time being the repeaters will be offline until the repairs to the site electrical systems can be repaired.  VARC volunteer technicians are presently working with the site owners and making previsions to check VARC equipment for damage.  So far it has been confirmed that the W4VLD-1 digi-repeater was damaged by the event.

It is believed that either lightening or a electrical short caused the electrical damage.  Once new information is discovered it will be posted.

VARC members and area amateurs are encouraged to utilize other area repeaters in order to carry out their communications activities.  You are thanked for your continued support of the VARC.

CQ CQ CQ Field Day this is Whisky Four Victor Lima Delta… W4VLD….

These were calls given out over the amateur radio bands from VARC Field Day operators.  During the twenty-four hour event over 900 contacts where made with stations all over the country making this one of the most successful VARC Field Day events in recent history.  Several amateurs came to operate but others came to enjoy barbeque, fishing or to just enjoy each others company.  Still others who are not presently amateurs came to learn more about “Ham Radio.”  Field Day is a national event sponsored by the ARRL and is held during the last week end each June.

Several members of the VARC gathered Saturday June 11th in order to operate in the ARRL sponsored June VHF contest.  The contest was a real blast because 6 meters was open for most all of the the operating period!  Several contacts were also made on the 144, 222, 432, 1296 MHz bands. Everyone had a great time taking on the challenge of “pounding” on the higher bands. Look for the contest results which will be posted soon…  Contact us if you want to join us for field day!

On Thursday June 2 the technical team met with the EMA director during lunch to discuss various logistic issues related to the installation of the new D-Star repeater systems. Main topics covered were system housing and communications connectivity for the new system.  The technical team is continuing forward with the system installation.

The VARC technical team met on Saturday May 21st to brave the heat and to install the new antenna for the new D-Star repeater systems scheduled to come online later this year.  The view from the repeater site was fantastic!