Yesterday a story broke regarding an Ocala resident who blames issues with her insulin pump on a nearby amateur radio operator. While in this instance the operator has not been a league member for several years, the ARRL is working on this this issue.

There are several lessons to be learned from this:

• If you’re active, it pays to be an ARRL member! The league can get involved early, and help collapse situations before they get to this point. For example, RFI to medical devices are an issue for the FDA. “The medical device manufacturer is obligated to report it to the FDA as specified at 21 CFR Part 803.” That would have involved the manufacturer, who are likely eager to resolve this issue.
• Be very CAREFUL when speaking to the press. As an example, if you watch the video, you’ll see the amateur asking why he should lose a hobby that he has enjoyed “half my life” juxtaposed with the complainant saying “I could die.”
• Be INVOLVED in your community. Give them the opportunity to work things out with you, personally, so YOU can help collapse the situation! Don’t ignore complaints – be proactive!
• Be AWARE of the FCC mandated RF Exposure requirements and BE ABLE TO PRODUCE the calculations for your own station. Check out http://www.arrl.org/rf-exposure and use the references there and GET HELP from the ARRL Field Organization if you need.

There will be further updates on this, but I’d suggest we all keep apprised of what’s going on, and if your membership isn’t current, this would be an excellent time to renew. If you’re a new ham, there’s never been a better time to join!

https://www.arrl.org/membership

Please check the classified ads and if you have anything listed that has been listed more than 4 weeks, please contact ab4ka@protonmail.com if you’d like it to still be listed, otherwise it will be removed.

Since not everyone knows how long a dipole (or 1/4 wave vertical) antenna should be, because maybe they just don’t know or it’s been so long since they built one that they forgot, here’s an interesting website that has on it (among other things) some antenna calculators. For instance, your blogmaster (I know I just update the blog but that sounds so good I had to use it) wanted to know how long to make a 1/4 wave vertical antenna to put on a scanner for the aircraft band, so a quick search later and viola!

https://www.66pacific.com/calculators/default.aspx

The ARES newsletter from the ARRL recently had some guidance from FEMA on when they recommend you should shelter in place. Regardless of anyone’s opinion of FEMA, there’s some good information here…

• FEMA Shelter-in Place GuidanceFEMA has released Shelter-in-Place Pictogram Guidance for 10 hazards and three building types. The pictograms provide clear, visual guidance to the public on shelter-in-place actions classified by both hazard and building type to ensure the public takes effective protective actions when instructed to shelter-in-place during emergencies.The guidance provides recommended interior locations for specific hazards, additional actions for protection, and the recommended duration for staying sheltered-in-place. The 10 hazards are:Active Shooter, Chemical Hazards, Earthquake, Flooding/Flash Flooding, Hurricane, Nuclear/Radiological Hazards, Pandemic, Thunderstorm, Tornado, and Winter Storm. The three building types are:Manufactured or Mobile Home, 1- or 2-Story Buildings, and Multi-story Buildings. The shelter-in-place pictograms can be used by community partners in multiple communication channels, such as posters, websites, just-in-time social media posts and by emergency managers for Integrated Public Alert & Warning System Wireless Emergency Alerts. The Shelter-in-Place Pictogram Guidance can be downloaded.The FEMA document is available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_shelter-in-place_guidance_5-25-2021.pdf

While all of it may not be applicable, the parts that do apply are just another tool in one’s toolbox.

Just sayin… 😉

The upcoming TARCFest held by the Tampa Amateur Radio Club that was scheduled for Saturday, August 21 has been cancelled.

But if you’re in the mood for a hamfest, there’s some good stuff coming…

• 8/14 Fort Pierce Hamfest (http://fparc.org/)
• 10/8-9 Melbourne Hamfest (http://pcars.org)
• 10/16 Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club Hamfest (West Pasco)

Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming events on the ARRL Hamfest calendar at http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar

Note that there will be no testing at the LARC general meeting this evening. If you needed to take a test this evening then it will need to be postponed until the September general meeting on the evening of the second Monday.

On Monday, August 9 the Lakeland Amateur Radio Club will have it’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Parkview Baptist Church.

The “special treat” this month is that Fred Delany, K1DU and Jim Stewart, W4XDS will be selling some equipment from two of our recent Silent Keys. Fred will be selling a Kenwood TS-130S station that belonged to Top Smith, WB6ZEQ (SK). Included is the TS-130S with a power supply and a desk mic for $350. He will also have some Hustler mobile resonator coils. Jim will have an Astron RS-35 power supply that belonged to Chet Carruth, AB4XK (SK), along with other miscellaneous items. Cash is gladly accepted, any other payment methods or arrangements will have to be made with them.

See you at the meeting!

Historically (for at least two years), the first club meeting following Field Day consisted of going out to eat at some fair to middlin’ buffet. But not this year…

A couple of months ago the board decided to do something different this year. Since 2020 was a washout, and we haven’t done much in 2021 (although at least we’re meeting in person now), a decision was made to have a barbecue dinner, paid for by the club.

Dinner was catered by Mission Barbecue, and there was plenty to go around. We had a good turnout and everyone had a good time. We even sang Happy Birthday to a young visitor!

The August meeting (sans dinner) will be on Monday, August 9. See you there!