Archives July 2011

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.