Two pass License Test today

Saturday October 4, 2014, besides being unseasonably cool, was a banner day for Ross Goodall from Jacksonville, FL and Tom Cannaday, from Blue Ridge, GA.  Both passed their licensing test today at the EARS 4th Quarter, 2014 VE test session. 

Ross upgraded his license from General to Extra, while Tom got his initial Technician ticket.

Best wishes from the EARS membership to both.  Have fun with your new privileges.

VE's for today's testing were Dave Meadows, K4LDI; Bret Smith, W4HBS and Jody Huneycutt, K4EPH.  Thanks to all for donating their time to help other hams.

If you are interested in becoming a ham radio licensee, or, if already a ham with either a General, Advanced or Extra classification, and you're interested in becoming a Volunteer Examiner, contact Dave Meadows at  706-276-4043.  He can tell you how.

EARS Members help provide ARES radio communications at Georgia Jewel

From early Saturday morning, September 27 thru early Sunday morning, September 28, EARS member and Gilmer County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Emergency Coordinator (EC) Jim Hadder, KE4ZX, and his crew of radio operators manned the radio station set up on Manning Mill Road on the Pinhoti Trail in south Walker County, for the 2014 Georgia Jewel trail race. 

They passed traffic on runner locations and safety with continuous updates from radio stations all along the 100 mile course of the Jewel, providing race officials with an almost real-time picture of how the race was progressing and making sure that any injuries or lost runners were reported to the appropriate officials as quickly as possible.

Assisting Jim on the early morning shift, running from about 9:00 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m. were Ron Pace, AA4RP and Don Nickle, KK4HJP. 

Manning the late afternoon/evening shift were Sharon Huneycutt, KK4NTD; Jody Huneycutt, K4EPH and James Huneycutt, KM4AUX.  Jim worked with that shift also, while trying to get a few hours of sack time in the front seat of his pickup during the early evening hours.

Coming on at midnight were David Ross, KK4NTC and Jimmy Hitt, KK4QGN, and Jim was right there with them, all night, until the end of the race, around 8 a.m.

No flooding was reported this year.

EARS Foxhunt Report

On Saturday October 4, 2014, the Ellijay Amateur Radio Society held it's 1st foxhunt (ARDF - Amateur Radio Direction Finding event).  The hunt was held at the ETC pavilion on Legion Road, immediately after Bama's annual Ham Operator picnic.

Four EARS members attended the picnic and stayed over for the fox hunt.  Winn Hall, WA4KKW;  David Ross, KK4NTC; Jody Huneycutt, K4EPH and Kirk Kirchgasler, KK5USA.  Sharon Huneycutt, KK4NTD also attended the picnic, but did not participate in the foxhunt.

The first fox was hidden by Winn, and hunted by Kirk, Jody and David.  Then Jody hid the fox so that Winn had an opportunity to try out the antennas.  This fox was a low power one, provided for our use today by member Ed (Fitz) Fitzsimmons.

On the second hunt, only one hunter searched and the fox was found after several false starts.  The fox transmitter for this hunt was a higher power model than the first one, and in addition to transmitting a carrier wave, it also transmitted a code identification, W4HHH, the club callsign.  This antenna is also an Ed Fitzpatrick design and build, using an old HT for a transmitter.

Several owners of fox hunt antennae were unable to attend, due either to other commitments or to illness.  We missed you all and hope you can come next time we have a hunt.

Don't forget our regular monthly meeting next Thursday evening at 6:30 for fellowship and 7:00 for the meeting, United Community Bank.  See you there.