Come one, come all, to see what Ham Helpers has received in donated radio equipment. The Free Flea will take place at 2725 NE 14 Ave. Wilton Manors, 33334 from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
It is open to all hams, family and friends. Free tailgating.
There will be an ICOM IC-7610 for auction with a starting bid of $750.00. The winning bid will be announced Saturday at 2 pm. Contact information : kennyh4600@gmail.com (ke4nc).
You must come and see what Kenny has scooped up in his trips around Florida. We will see you there!
Submitted by Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT
Many of you do not know what goes on in planning a Field Day so I thought I would review some of the processes of this past Winter Field Day.
When someone volunteers to head up the committee, in this case Joe McGee NX4T, they map out what they would like to see happen. Joe wanted to see as many different hams as well as club members attend the Field Day and have a good experience. He first thought of how to bring that about and came up with an idea to reach out by Post Cards to hams all over the Broward County area. Normally we had only used the emails we have in our database in the past. The Board agreed to support the project and Joe went to work designing the post cards with the help of Tom Savoca K9TJS, our PIO and webmaster over the December break period. After the design was complete it was sent off to the printer and when they were received by Joe, he went busily to work hand addressing the Post cards using the info from the FCC database for all the general and extra license holders in Broward County. He addressed some 400 cards and since he had not included call signs on them and the general thought was that it would be a better way to bring attention to the cards, a great friend to the club and most gregarious member, Aurora Figueiredo WD4AGF, then took the cards and added all of the call signs to them and sorted them by zip code for easy mailing. I then took all to the post office and put them in the mail.
Of course, although the hopes were that people would RSVP for food prep purposes, we did not get any and thought perhaps the Post cards may not yield any results. On WFD, we found that we got a 3% response in attendees and the visiting hams were delighted to be invited and meet our worker bees for the club. Some had issues with their antennas and other things in their shack but they were introduced to Jeff Stahl K4BH, Ricky Eaton KD4HGR, Tom McClain N3HPR, and Joe McGee NX4T to discuss the issues and get better ideas and the promise of future help with the problems.
It was wonderful to have satisfied people in our midst and we felt the Post Card effort was not in vain.
Joe McGee NX4T also felt that it was of the utmost importance for all visiting hams get a chance on the air during a Field Day so Joe again enlisted the able aid of Tom Savoca K9TJS to write a program where people could register for a time slot on the air of their choosing in half hour increments. This would, one, insure everyone got a chance to get on the air when convenient for them and two, the radio would be busy all day and night long. Thanks to these two gentlemen, who worked all through the Christmas holidays on the program project, its objective was met. Someone was on the radio at all times supporting the club by operating. We had over 15 different operators as opposed to the usual 3 or 5 we normally had on the radio. Some were first time operators and were given a chance to get their feet wet on the air. The GCARA Board were all happy with the result of the efforts of Joe and Tom and the support staff at the WFD. It was a first and it won’t be the last!
Now, if this intrigues you, we would like to invite your participation in the summer ARRL FIELD DAY. With the new ideas Joe spawned for inviting and operating, we managed to gather 54 visitors, all of whom were treated to a good time. The opportunities to shine are endless and Joe has more fun up his sleeve for the summer, as a consultant, to the contest. I admire his enthusiasm and genuine desire to mentor hams. He works with many newbies or shut ins who need help with equipment or whatever. He is one of the most socially active hams among us and I am so pleased he serves as a director in the club. I am also pleased with the hard work and creative designs of Tom Savoca KJ9TJS who saw these 2 involved projects through all of the time constraints and effort it took with such positive feedback and energy. Gentlemen, GCARA thanks you.
……….and that’s the rest of the story!
Submitted by Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT
Saturday morning ” ham” breakfast.
From 7 to 9 AM interested Hams meet since 1994 at JJs Cafe for breakfast.
Everyone is welcome to join.
JJs Cafe
6051 NW 31st Ave,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
http://jjcafefood.com/
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
CQ, CQ, CQ, Calling ALL HAMS!!
GCARA has a job for you!!!
This is September of 2025 and it is far from the end of the year for GCARA. We are still in full swing, making plans for next year and improving on our reputation for this year. I once heard someone call this club a “Social Club” and I was somewhat offended. Upon thinking on it, however, I realized that YES, we are a socially inclined club but we DO NOT simply SOCIALIZE.
Our club has traditionally brought together the most hams with our Field Days in the Summer and Winter as well as served as an introductory club to other organizations i.e. ARRL, other viable and important clubs in our area and we focus on learning about Ham Radio with our monthly educational meetings. We meet in person so that you may network with other hams and WE SUPPORT ALL GOOD EFFORTS around us. We project friendship, camaraderie amongst hams, promote peace among the ranks and strive to be a positive influence on the hobby. In a world where everyone seem to have an agenda, ours is to keep communications open to all, to encourage learning of the craft of amateur radio, prepare hams for the world of
volunteering and steer those interested and still capable to do that in that portion of the hobby.
We do many things to support amateur radio in our everyday lives and we should not feel less needed because we are not all capable of volunteering at all times. Many of our club, to be clear, have had a lifetime of volunteering already in their youth. These are people who support us financially but are too frail to do what they used to do. They are our instructors, our mentors, our “elmers” if you will. I want to applaud them for their history with the hobby and our club. We are grateful you are part of us.
I am seeing wonderful things around me in other clubs and I want to support everyone’s efforts. It is essential that we remain an introductory club but we need to point our members to other clubs for what we ourselves cannot provide. Many of the clubs are doing in house training in various aspects of ham radio. You can learn soldering, how to make an antenna, how to do NET CONTROL, how to send a message by radiogram, how to get more experiencing with DXing on the remote radios available and most of all, how to join a group and just have plain old, enjoyable FUN. The skills you learn will take you fascinating places in your everyday lives. Rather than focus on just getting the largest number of people in this club, let’s all strive to continue to be good ambassadors and share our knowledge and contacts with one another. Lets let everyone have a voice in the hobby, not impose strict restrictions on the hobby.
Everything will be, in it’s own time, I believe. One interest leads to another, and one contact could open new vistas for us all.
To those ends, I would like to give a shout out to our “techy” people who have a penchant for sharing their craft and have a small bit of time to give occasionally to teach others new to the hobby. The worst feeling in the world, I have felt was having a lot of book knowledge that I could not use to the fullest. We need to get those newbies into the ranks first by being a good example, and next by teaching and leading them to hone their own craft. Let’s expand other people’s worlds in ham radio and give them an opportunity to learn from the best. We are currently looking for people who wish to learn about the repeater, functions and upkeep and to be familiar with how to keep it going under the direction of our Repeater Trustee Ricky Eaton
KD4HGR and his partner, Eric Rodriguez KF4LZA. You will not be given full access to our repeaters but you will learn about their proper care and function, troubleshooting for problems, and how to be useful in their upkeep. Ricky will decide who can help with his work list and what he needs to be done. These members will also be invaluable to teach others how to do tasks necessary to home brew their own equipment. While there is still home brewers with us, lets take advantage of their vast experiences and learn.
Next, we need people who like to be hospitable. At the moment, we are lucky to have two people on the Hospitality Team but we need some reinforcements for the TEAM. First, I would like to work with some people who are interested in helping to put out the food, keep it at safe temps and to help clean up after our picnics and Field Days. We need people interested in doing small parts for the whole project. It may be making phone calls to other hams, it may be helping transport drinks to the affairs or other odd jobs we have to do. You will enjoy making new friends and getting closer to other hams. Our club is known for being supportive of one another. Let’s keep it up.
Third, I would like to have a group of people who are willing to call about ten hams at a time to follow up on important tasks we need to accomplish. We need a team of people who want to talk to other hams. It is a perfect job for a shut in or someone who wants to stay involved but cannot physically meet the demands of volunteering or getting to meetings. It is a way to keep in the loop and be a part of something bigger than oneself. Call Melanie to be a part of the Membership Team. My number is 954-560-3706.
Fourth, no organization can attract others without people creating a way to publicly advertise, promote and get the word out. Our Club is so very, very fortunate to have the leadership of Tom Savoca K9TJS in that realm. He, with the help of Carol Sjursen KJ4AWB, another bright and super achiever in ham radio, have been able to promote all of our affairs, meetings and such to the world. They work on social media, maintain the webpage, create ads for our Field Days and get our PROCLAMATIONS from city officials. Although he is filled up to the brim with his personal endeavors, he has expertly, patiently and artfully kept us alive on Social Media and the Internet. I, personally have much admiration for his talents in electronic media and the use of proper techniques in communication with the masses, and am very grateful he is helping us in that venue. If not for him, I would not be able to do some of the computer things I do now. He is a patient teacher, an encourager and one who can keep an artful eye on things while guiding the messages being sent. I consider him one of the most important blessings of our club and I enjoy working with him very much. Thank you Tom and hopefully this message will reach others with a penchant for working in social media and with people who can work under your leadership in the PIO task. Please, if you like to do little projects like , making brochures or working on handbooks or doing little catchy ads for upcoming events, please consider joining our PIO Team.
Now that I have given you the plans we are working on and trying to get started officially, let me praise our two new helpers, Cara and Jean-Marie Basting, who cooked and served for the August 9th Picnic at Vista View park. We were delighted to see the new faces and have the help. They provided us with great food and good conversation about flying, given both are pilots!! We are blessed to have them join us and I understand that they both will be learning amateur radio and taking their tests soon and eventually will become members of our club. I am so excited for them. They have agreed to do the next picnic on November 8th at Vista View as well and we look forward to having their help for the January Winter Field Day in 2026.
In closing, I hope that all will join in our re-energized vision of building our club and join me in serving others for the good of all. We NEED this! Let’s DO this! Thank you.
God Bless All of You,🙏
Melanie KJ4VCT❤️
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
Please join us Tuesday, 8-26-2025, for the GCARA General meeting in person at Imperial Point Hospital, 7:30 PM or on Zoom.
Speaker Frank Haas KB4T will be talking on Locating & Eliminating Power Line Interference.
Imperial Point Hospital
6401 N FED HWY
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308PLEASE ENTER THROUGH MAIN ENTRANCE BY 7 PM, OTHERWISE ENTER THROUGH EMERGENCY ROOM AFTER 7 PM TO COME to THE AUDITORIUM.
5 PM – Dinner in Cafeteria
6 PM – TESTING in Auditorium
7 PM – Socialization before meeting
7:30 PM – Business Meeting starts
7:50 PM – 50/50 Drawing and auction**
8 PM – Speaker
8:50 PM – Q&A; subsequent adjournment
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 823 3968 9781
Passcode: 565513
Brief Bio of Frank N. Haas KB4T
Frank Haas KB4T has been licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator since April 1965. Haas earned both Amateur Extra Class and First Class Radiotelephone Operator’s Licenses in 1979.
Haas serves as the Technical Coordinator for ARRL’s North Florida Section. He recently retired from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) as a Power Line Interference Investigator and Land Mobile Communications Specialist for FPL’s North Area. His work included servicing and maintaining sophisticated EDACS Trunked radio systems, P25 Digital Trunked radio systems, Microwave and Data communications systems.
Haas specialized in Power Line Interference Investigation and Mitigation. Over his 20-year career with FPL, Haas investigated hundreds of Interference issues, both power line related and non-power line related. He has a 99% successful resolution record. His success in this specialty won him a seat on the IEEE Working Group that recently published “Recommended Practices and Standards for Power Utilities”, the first document of its type ever created defining standards for the handling of power line interference complaints and resolutions.
Hams from around the United States contact Haas for assistance in resolving Interference issues of all types. While Ham Radio is his primary hobby, Haas is an Instrument Rated Private Pilot, former Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker and personal computing expert and consultant.
FPL’s Power Line Interference Investigation Process (with some useful supplemental commentary)
- Customer Care receives complaint from customer via phone or website. When calling Customer Care use the phrase “RADIO INTERFERENCE.” If the call taker doesn’t seem to understand, tell them you believe the power lines are interfering with your television. You can sort it out with the Utility Interference Investigator.
Important things to remember when speaking with Customer Care:
a. The person taking your call IS NOT AN EXPERT on everything that goes on at the utility. In most cases, the person taking your call won’t even be able to spell “interference” much less explain to you how the company will deal with it. Just make it clear that you need someone to investigate interference to your radio (or television.)
b. The person taking your call must be polite. They really appreciate it when you are polite, patient and to the point. Lectures, anecdotes, opinions, insults and threats will only slow the process and confuse the issue.
You don’t want to create delays. Once the call taker understands that you are experiencing (some kind of) INTERFERENCE, they will ask a series of questions. Just answer the questions simply and courteously. Save the details for the Utility Interference Investigator. Before you hang up on the call taker, ask for the Service Order Number.
- Customer Care creates a Service Order in the FPL Mainframe which is routed to Radio Operations. All FPL Interference Investigators are Radio Techs thoroughly familiar with radio systems and the impact of power line interference. Some actually have respect for Amateur Radio Operators.
- Service Order is assigned to an investigator. Interference Investigation Service Orders are assigned to investigators typically twice a week. The Investigator is obligated to make contact with the customer within 2 to 3 days of the service order’s creation. If you haven’t heard from an investigator by the 11 th day after you call, make the call again. (Did you keep the Service Order Number from your first call so you can ask about its status?)
- The Customer is contacted for a detailed description of the problem.
The Utility Interference Investigator needs to know at least these 5 things:
a. Is the interference continuous or intermittent. If intermittent, what Days and Times does it occur?
b. What is the highest frequency at which you can detect the interference?
c. What (make & model) of equipment is being affected? What kind of antenna is used by that equipment?
d. Will the Investigator be allowed to listen to and observe the affected equipment in your home or business?
e. Does the interference go away when it rains?
Try to avoid offering any more. Answer questions simply. Even if you think you know what pole might be the offender, don’t share that with the investigator now. See if he finds the same pole during his survey. Please be polite. Please be brief and to the point. Just answer questions.
Some investigators are hams. Most are not. Resist the urge to impress the investigator with your knowledge, expertise, experience and DXCC status. Stick to facts relevant to the interference. Do not speculate about what you think might be the cause. That information is of no value to the investigator. He must find and verify the source. If you are convinced the problem originates from a certain pole or device, keep it to yourself. See if the search turns up the same result.
- Investigation is done. The investigator is obligated to fit interference work in with many other duties.
Investigators also maintain voice and data two-way radio equipment used by the utility. It may take more than one survey to locate the source or sources. There is no specified time limit for completion of interference investigations.
Most get done within 2 to 3 weeks. Good investigators will keep you informed about the progress of the work. If you aren’t informed, call the investigator. You did get his contact info, right? - Utility-owned source located. Work request created ordering repairs. Investigator enters data into a computer system creating a “work request.” GET THE WORK REQUEST NUMBER! The work request goes to a scheduler. If an outage is required to complete the repairs, then additional time is required to notify customers of the planned outage. Internal policy dictates that interference work requests are supposed to be
scheduled and the work completed within 10 to 30 days. The utility rarely meets that timeline unless the case affects public safety or aviation. Routine interference resolution work is the lowest priority. Ask if the investigator will accompany the crew when the work is done. If so, the problem will be resolved more quickly.
Special Note: Under current utility policy, the investigator’s responsibility ends when the Work Request is created and sent to scheduling. The investigator has LITTLE, if any, INFLUENCE whatsoever over the scheduling and completion of any work request. Only the customer can exert influence to escalate a work request. That’s why you want the Work Request number. If the utility takes more than 30 days to complete the work request, you should call Customer Care, ask for a supervisor and ask about the status of the work request. Only YOU can do this. The
investigator cannot. Asking a supervisor escalates the matter and inquiries are made. This usually greases the skids but only if 30 days have passed since the work request was created. Current utility practice is to send the repair crew out accompanied by the investigator to insure the crew’s work actually fixes the problem. A good investigator makes sure he is there but the utility does not require it. If the investigator accompanies the crew, the problem usually gets resolved during the first crew visit. Ask if your investigator plans to accompany the crew. - NON-utility owned source located. The utility cannot and will not resolve interference sources that originate from non-utility owned equipment. If the investigator determines that your interference originates from non-utility equipment, policy dictates that the location of the source not be revealed (for liability reasons.) You will have to locate the source yourself and work out the problem on your own. The process ends here.
- Work Request Completed. A good investigator will verify with you that your interference problem has been resolved to your satisfaction. If multiple sources are found in the survey, this verification will come after the last source has been repaired. The process ends when you indicate you are satisfied.
Additional Details:
Weak Additional Sources Occasionally, repairing one source will reveal one or more weaker sources that could not be heard or located until the loudest primary source is fixed. A good investigator will find all sources and insure they are repaired.
Beachside Realities If you live in a beachside community, you will likely experience frequent power line interference problems. The salt climate is corrosive causing continuous deterioration of all metal devices. The utility can’t possibly do enough maintenance to prevent this. You have two choices: 1) learn to work well with the utility to get problems resolved or 2) relocate to the mainland.
Interference can be seasonal. In the winter months, the cool dry air causes wooden poles to shrink. Nuts and washers work loose creating gaps that can arc continuously. This part of Florida is subject to lightning strikes almost every month. Lightning damage to certain devices on poles can cause severe interference. These are simple facts of Florida life. The utility cannot prevent these types of failures.
The Junk Invasion Importation of cheap, poorly designed and built electronics is raising the noise floor everywhere. Many faulty electronic devices produce interference that is quite similar to power line interference. The flood of these nuisance “transmitters” into homes everywhere has resulted in an increasing incidence of interference from within the home. As long as interference investigation is offered by the utility as a free service, it is wise to take advantage. Just keep in mind that privately-owned interference sources cannot be dealt with by the utility. Learning to recognize and locate privately-owned sources from utility-owned sources may be a worthwhile skill to develop. (Learn to DF interference sources.)
No Speculation When searching for interference it’s important to trust your equipment. It is equally important to ASSUME NOTHING about the source. It’s easy to be fooled by your eyes. Only your equipment will lead you to the actual source. Assuming that what you are hearing might be from some specific source is foolhardy. Your eyes can’t see RFI. Your ears can’t hear RFI directly. You must rely on your equipment to lead you directly to the source.
One of the reasons that a good investigator has no interest in your speculation is his desire to keep an open mind and not color his perceptions during his survey. Assuming nothing insures an accurate find with the fewest number of tries.
Leading causes of Power Line Interference:
- Lightning arrestors
- Loose hardware
- Poorly designed and built Consumer electronic equipment including battery chargers, computer power supplies, computer monitors, electronic door bell systems, poorly shielded microprocessor-controlled equipment
- Switching power supplies
- Door Bell Transformers
- Thermostats
- Cycling Street Lights
- Transformers (extremely rare sources of interference. That’s the reason they are listed LAST.)
Learn the telephone number for the utility. Keep it handy. Use it when necessary.
10 Rules to Successful Power Line Interference Resolution
by Frank N. Haas KB4T
1. Call the electric utility promptly. Investigations are free.
Reaching the utility is easy via a local phone call, 800 number or you can use their web site.
2. Keep a log of interference episodes, even after the investigation begins.
Share your log with the investigator. (Day(s), Time(s), Frequencies, Duration).
3. Keep a log of all contacts with the utility. Get names and phone
numbers.
4. Be Polite. Just as with all things in life, you get what you give.
5. Be Patient…very…very…very…very patient. The utility’s definition of reasonable time is not the same as yours. Your interference problem is not an emergency to the utility. Investigation and resolution is sandwiched in with other work. Federal Law obligates
the utility to do its job in reasonable amount of time.
6. You are entitled to be informed about the progress of the investigation and resolution efforts. Make sure you stay informed by staying in touch with the Investigator. The job’s not done until the interference is gone.
7. The FCC is not your friend. The Feds will do nothing to help resolve your interference problem (unless the problem has not been resolved after 10 years.)
8. The State Public Service Commission has more influence than the FCC. PSC is a four letter word to the utility. Don’t go to the PSC first. Always give the utility a chance to do its job first.
9. Take the time to learn and understand the investigative and resolution process. Always ask, “What is the next step? When can I expect it to be
completed?” (see notes below for more detail.)
10. Be Polite…ALWAYS!!!! It’s important enough to say again.
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
General-Meeting-Minutes-2025-07-22AUGUST 9, 2025, SATURDAY at VISTA VIEW PARK 9 AM – 3 PM
Come on down to Davie for a Ham SHOW and TELL Picnic!! ALL are welcome to join us. We will meet at Pavilion 1 located just inside of the entry gates. This is a chance to meet the Hams in our area and see some helpful tools.
Time:
9 AM – 3 PM
ADDRESS:
Vista View Park
4001 S W 142 Ave
Davie, FL. 33330
Kindly RSVP BELOW so we know how much food to buy. The cook appreciates it.
Thank you. See all of you there. 
Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.
