SCHH ARC “This & That” — May 6, 2025

The Weekly Newsletter of the Sun City Hilton Head Amateur Radio Club (SCHH ARC)

Editor – Harve Hnatiuk, KB3FW

ARRL Leadership Team Zooms Into May Meeting

Roanoke Division Brass and SC Section Manager Discuss Hot Topics with ARC

The SCHH ARC welcomed our Roanoke Division Director Jim Boehner (N2ZZ), Vice Director Bill Morine (N2COP), and SC Section Manager Matthew Crook (W1MRC) to our May Membership Meeting for an hour of interesting discussions about ham radio. Jim joined us from his home QTH in Aiken, SC; Bill was at home in Wilmington, NC; and Matthew came to us from his home in Lexington, SC.

We all endured the COVID-19 things a few years ago but a silver-lining of that unfortunate episode of our lives was the emergence of wider usage of video conferencing. We were blessed to have these three gentlemen join us on a Thursday night, beaming into our meeting from from their homes!

Jim (N2ZZ) upper left, Matthew (W1MRC) lower left, and Bill (N2COP) lower right all did a fine job in updating the SCHH ARC

Bill began the evening’s program with a quick PowerPoint about the ARRL organization and the Roanoke Division. Jim, Bill, and Matthew then addressed questions and topics that our ARC had asked about. The group was updated about the lifting of restrictions on amateur radio antennas in HOA communities, the apparent influx of transceivers that could be used by non-licensed people in “emergencies”, potential loss of radio spectrum to commercial interests, and modifications to HF privileges for technicians.

SCHH ARC members paid close attention to our ARRL leaders discussing important issues.

Fifteen club members were in attendance for the presentation including Bill Albro (K3WPA), Frank Pollino (K2OS), Jim (NH6BS) and Jean (NH6EI) Shaner, Charlie Bess (AD5EN), Ron Frick (AI4HH), Jack Frisch (K2ITZ), Lon Seward (WB4KSG), Chip Miller (KQ4JKI), Bob McCormick (KD8IH), Rick Garan (WA8NLX), Ed Stratton (W1ZZ), Harve Hnatiuk (KB3FW), Chuck Nehonsky (W8NCA), and Sherwin Tames (W4QNW).

The club expressed its gratitude to Jim, Bill, and Matthew not only for their time on Thursday evening but also for their ongoing efforts on our behalf as volunteer leaders in the ARRL.

During the general membership meeting that followed the presentation, members were updated on ongoing items as well as plans for ARRL Field Day in late June and August’s POTA activation.

Results from the April 27th Hidden Transmitter Hunt were cheerfully reported. Some additional photos from the Hunt are included below.

Bob Officer (WA6WAY) asked for volunteers to assist him in taking down a tilt-over, crank-down tower and antennas in Hardeeville so that Jasper County Emergency Management could move and install the tower at a new fire station near SCHH. The impressive antennas on top of the tower are to be given to the Okatie Repeater Association. Twelve of the fifteen members at the 5/1/2025 meeting signed up (including WA6WAY of course). The volunteers will meet up in Hardeeville this morning to make it happen!

More from the April 27th Hidden Transmitter Hunt

As promised, here are a few more photos from the “Fox Hunt”! Thanks to Lon (WB4KSG) and Judy Seward for the photos!

Our “fox” for the hunt, Bob Kennedy, N0DQD watched a lot of the action comfortably from the Lakehouse!

Lon Seward (WB4KSG) and Judy Seward were the first to find the hidden transmitter.

Ken Finke (KN8F) was not looking for a lost golf ball here. He just found the Fox!

Jim (NH6BS) and Jean (NH6EI) joined the group at the excellent Post-Hunt lunch at the Okatie Creek Clubhouse.

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs!

Or, more correctly, Cat and Dog being a part of our great hobby!

Keeping a watchful cat’s eye on the logging of QSOs.

This is “Petey”, who is mic’d up well but may have some trouble hearing incoming signals. He could be sniffing around for some DX though.

What’s Coming Up

Thursday, June 5, 2025 — June Membership Meeting and ARRL Field Day Planning Meeting at the Lakehouse.

Saturday, June 28, 2025 — ARRL Field Day at Lake Somerset. More info to follow in upcoming issues of This & That.

Saturday, August 9, 2025 — KE4HAM Parks on the Air Activation at Lake Warren State Park. More info will be in This & That in the coming months.

SCHH ARC Nets

Net News

Wednesday nets are on the 147.135 Okatie Repeater until further notice.

Our nets continue to have a lot of support, which is much appreciated. All SCHH ARC members and licensed friends are invited to join the fun!

Can you help our nets be even greater? Volunteering to be a Net Control Station would be a big HELP. Please let Harve, KB3FW know if you want to give it a try (hnat463@gmail.com). It is indeed a lot of fun to “run” the net!

Weekly SCHH ARC Nets

Sunday’s Net (8 PM) operates on 147.550 MHz simplex on the last two Sundays of the calendar month. The Sunday net will be on the KE4HAM repeater (147.135 + with a tone of 91.5 on both the input and the output) on all other Sundays of the calendar month. Check-in can be done even if you don’t have a radio up and running via EchoLink by using the link KE4HAM-L when the net is on SIMPLEX and KE4HAM-R when the net is on the SCHH Okatie Repeater.

Wednesday‘s Net (8 PM) will operate until further notice on the KE4HAM Okatie Repeater (147.135 + with a tone of 91.5 on both input and output). The net can be accessed via EchoLink using the link KE4HAM-R.

Next 10m SSB Net: Tuesday, June 3rd @ 8 PM Local Time on 28.450 MHz SSB.

Net Control Stations and EchoLink Coordinator

Thanks to our regular 2m Net Controls: Frank Pollino, K2OS; Rick Garan, WA8NLX; and Harve Hnatiuk, KB3FW.

Thanks to Bob Officer, WA6WAY, for being an alternate Net Control Station and overseer of our KE4HAM repeater.

Thanks to Ron Frick, AI4HH, for working diligently to keep EchoLink up and running for our nets.

Net Control Schedule:

— Wednesday, May 7, 2025 @ 8 PM: Frank Pollino, K2OS (KE4HAM Okatie Repeater).

— Sunday, May 11, 2025 @ 8 PM: Frank Pollino, K2OS (KE4HAM Okatie Repeater).

— Wednesday, May 14, 2025 @ 8 PM: Rick Garan, WA8NLX (KE4HAM Okatie Repeater).

— Sunday, May 18, 2025 @ 8 PM: Frank Pollino, K2OS (Simplex).

— Wednesday, May 21, 2025 @ 8 PM: Harve Hnatiuk, KB3FW (KE4HAM Okatie Repeater).

— Sunday, May 25, 2025 @ 8 PM: Frank Pollino, K2OS (Simplex).

— Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 8 PM: Frank Pollino, K2OS (KE4HAM Okatie Repeater).

SCHH ARC Net Reports:

Thanks to ALL who checked in to our SCHH ARC nets last week.

Last week’s check-ins and traffic:

— Tuesday, April 29th 10m SSB Net: KE4HAM/K2OS, K2ITZ, WA6WAY, KB3FW, KQ4JKI, WA8NLX, W1ZZ, KO4AQI, AI4HH. QNI=9, QTC=0.

— Wednesday, April 30th 2m Repeater Net: KE4HAM/WA8NLX, AI4HH, KJ4BSM, WB1DXN, K3WPA, K2ITZ, WB4KSG, KB3FW, K2OS, AA4KK. QNI=10, QTC=0.

— Sunday, May 4th 2m Repeater Net: KE4HAM/K2OS, AI4HH, WA2LWO, AA4KK, KJ4BSM, WB1DXN, W1ZZ, K2ITZ, WA6WAY, W8NCA, KD8IH, KB3FW, KQ4TAY, K3WPA. QNI=14, QTC=0.

Note: QNI = Number of Check-ins to the net, including Net Control; QTC = Traffic handled (Radiograms).

Other Operating

Daily — Monitor the KE4HAM Repeater: 147.135 MHz + with a tone of 91.5. You may get some good DX spots from time to time and other members may be there if you want to connect/chat. If you are listening to the repeater, feel free to announce your call and that you are “monitoring”!