The next NOFARS meeting is Thursday, June 13th at Hogan Baptist Church, 8045 Hogan Rd. The meeting starts at 7:00pm and all are welcome to attend.
Todd, K1KVA and Brian, K4BJS are organizing the Jax Field Day and all are invited to attend and participate. Operators will be contacting similar portable set-ups throughout North America to test the effectiveness of their impromptu installations. Solar panels and mechanical units will provide power apart from commercial mains.
Efficient antennas are critical to successful portable communications. Installation starts Friday afternoon, June 21st. The 24-hour communications marathon begins at 2:00pm Saturday.
Purposes of Field Day include testing equipment and antenna performance while providing experience for operators who may be needed following hurricanes, earthquakes, wide power outages and other disruptions where back-up communications is in short supply, especially during the hours immediately following a disruption.
Those interested in becoming FCC-licensed Amateur Radio Service operators and newly-licensed hams are especially invited to visit and learn more. Jax Laurel examiners will offer FREE FCC testing at 1pm Saturday at the FD site.
The Dames Point remote site and activation of 444.4 followed to provide NOFARS members with a common meeting point at no cost to the NOFARS treasury. Today, W4IZ/R is probably the most important NOFARS activity.
Henry, WB4LEQ has led technical efforts for the past decade. He and Bob, KS4CA showed slides and provided background on the present system atop the Wells Fargo Tower at the last meeting. Original members of Friends Of NOFARS at the meeting included Steve, WA4B; Chris, KF4AAF and Billy, N4UF.
Wayne retired from Prudential as a department head due to severe sight limitations in the 1990s and also served in the Air National Guard starting with the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s.
Wayne started the two-meter NOFARS WWD Net in the 1990s--first on the 146.76 repeater (which was W4IZ/R then) and subsequently on 146.7/444.4. Prior to that time, WWD only had a ten meter net. He served many years as the principal two-meter WWD net control station and maintained a ubiquitous presence on W4IZ/R. He also was an early organizer and participant on the W4SNN Saturday Night Net.
Wayne was always willing to assist other hams and had many friends. Our condolences to his wife Linda and Wayne's family. He will be missed!
Of most interest to hams living in HOA-controlled subdivisions is HB-1203. It passed by large margins in both chambers. HOAs and COAs (condominiums) have been the focus of many complaints from constituents over the past several years including high-profile cases in south Florida. HB-1203 had several co-sponsors including Rep. Kimberly Daniels of Jacksonville.
It provides residents cited by HOAs time to remedy violations without being fined. This could be an opening for easily removable antennas.
And all violation notices and rejected applications must cite specific CCR or bylaw references that support the denial. Prohibiting changes not specifically cited in CCRs and bylaws is discouraged. If a subdivision's documents do not prohibit outdoor antennas, it should be more difficult to deny permission for at least a basic antenna, especially if not visible from the street or other lots.
There are also new limits on fines and placement of liens on homes for unpaid fines. Unfortunately, a provision to provide appeal panels for applicants denied permission by HOA architectural reviewers was removed. These panels would have been able to overrule rejected applications. Similar appeal panels are already mandated for those ordered to pay fines. Panels consist of at least three residents who are not HOA board members or officers (or related to same).
If problems continue to attract bad publicity for HOAs, expect more legislation next session.
WANTED
**Tube-type Transmitters, Receivers, Test Equipment, Accessories.
**Hasselblad Camera Equipment
Contact Bob Meadows, W4RRD at 904-264-2946
E-mail rpmeadow@bellsouth.net
President----John Reynolds, W4IJJ
Vice President----Billy Williams, N4UF
Secretary----Chris Russell, KF4AAF
Treasurer----Todd Lovelace, K1KVA
Activities Manager----Mike Robinson, KG2MM
Director----Roger Knight, KI4PIL
Director----Randy Bahr, KI4RHQ