I'm really encouraged about the future of our  Dixie Amateur Radio club! Incorporation papers have finally been mailed to the IRS and by God's grace we will soon realize that objective. The DARC a non-profit, tax exempt Corporation ready to head into the 21st century.We are now an organization with no limits- no dreams too big for us and our community!

This is the eighth year I've been involved with the club and now better than five years helping with the DARC Sunday evening net. And I've enjoyed every minute of my time invested in the club. Every month I receive e-mails through our ARRL affiliated website link from newcomers in our community. Many thanks to Ron Sappington, WI7Z, for his vision and wisdom in getting the DARC affiliated with the ARRL again after so many years.

The last club meeting and VE session saw James Barker, 10 years old, attain his General class license! One goal for the coming year is help those who are entering the hobby and want to upgrade by offering some type of license class study course and directing them to the limitless resources on the internet to help fulfill their dreams as ham radio operators.

This message came from Walt, KA7STK, regarding recent activation of an IRLP link on top of Washington County Adm Bldg:  "Chuck (KC7CO) and I set up the new Diamond duo-band antenna on the court house today and the IRLP is working on 146.58 now---- Walt" .

Emergency preparedness is always on our minds and I look forward to seeing Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) come alive again in Washington County. For those who are interested in helping in the community there are ongoing monthly classes offered by our local Red Cross Chapter ham liaison Richard Caulfield, KL0QL. All of these programs and projects take time and much effort from those involved.

Our DARC 146.64- machine is now at the Rocky Point site owned by Russ Bateman, K7SG. This repeater site is on the hill behind the Stone Cliffs development project. This is an open repeater with no access tones and currently there is no autopatch function. Many thanks to Russ for his generosity - again! The 147.260+ machine is currently off the air and is stored at the Rocky Point location for future use.

Dean Cox, Bill Wells and Ron Sappington have all been instrumental in offering encouragement and possible future repeater site locations for the club. Below is a shot of the RCA machine and cavity cabinet. And Dave Owens,KD7VNH, aboard the tower installing the "Stationmaster" antenna.


Many thanks to Dave for all of his help on projects like this in the last several months!

I have started a small ham related business-in self defense this month (Radio Recycler-complete with city business and tax licenses). For the past six months I have had phone calls and e-mails requesting help with antenna projects and help in liquidating local ham estates. I figured I might as well take advantage of the time and energy spent and get a little tax write off!
So far the response to my efforts have been astounding. I was contacted by a Sam Jones, a local ham, to help find some new homes for equipment left by his brother.

One ad on EHam classified website has generated over $1000 dollars in sales of ham gear and everyday they just keep coming. Bottom line is I'm having fun with it and learning a lot.

I now have a cell phone (talk about me moving into the 21st century!) 435-668-2436. I try to keep this with me continually except when at work at the WAL*MART Distribution Center.

Thanks to all who attended the December Banquet on Saturday, December 6th, 2003 at The Pasta Factory in Ancestor Square. The dinner was fairly well attended and was a fun time for all who came out.  The grand prizes were provided by AES and included a Yaesu VX-150 2Meter 5 watt HT and an Icom IC-2100H25N 50 watt mobile unit. Below are a couple of shots from the banquet:



My hope and vision is to see all of our club members step forward and offer their time and expertise to see these goals become a reality.

                    Vy 73,
                Dan Farwell W8EQA

St. George (DARC) area repeater info:
146.82 is still down. Casey Lofthouse and Dan Farwell attempted to go up to clean up repeater site
145.49 & 146.82 (repairs) but were turned back by a foot of snow.

146.91 is currently up but has been down due to insufficient solar power to run the Sheriff's equipment and the 146.91 ham repeater simultaneously.

The 146.64 is no longer associated with Simmons Media. It is located at Rocky Point instead of the 147.260 which is in storage at that location. It does not have an autopatch facility.(146.64)

Kanab area repeater info (from Gerry WA7RDC in Kanab):
Repeaters are 146,72 100 Htz sub. Located on Spencer bench. 147.30  100 Htz sub located Jacobs lake. 146.88 above the bluff in Kanab. Echolink 144.93 simplex in Kanab

"I became interested in 'Ham Radio' in about 1954.  I saw our new next door neighbor, W0LAK, stringing wire into trees around his house and as any typical young lad, went over and asked him what he was doing.  He explained a little about his hobby and I was 'hooked'.  He sold me an old NC-33 receiver and I became an avid SWL.  (I still have my original log book.)   Over the next several years I got to meet several other hams, including W0BB and W0COU, with their big antennas and 'home-brew' floor-to-ceiling, rack mounted transmitters and amplifiers.  I knew that some day I would get a license.
 
Although I never lost interest in radio, it was not until I was in college that a friend, WA6TGG, actually worked with me to get a license.  I received WV6VOP in January, 1962.  I held the call WA6VOP until we moved to Hawaii, where I became KH6GKI, in 1967.  We subsequently moved to Connecticut in 1970 and I became WA1OYK.  From there we moved to Japan, where I concurrently held KA6MS and later KA7MS.   In those days, these calls were administered by U.S. Forces Japan.  From Japan, I transferred to Virginia and became WB4BZR.  In 1980, my family and I moved back to San Diego where I received the call KD6TB and became acquainted with CC&Rs.  Subsequent transfers permitted operation as KD6TB/DU2 (1985-87) and KD6TB/KH2 (1987-89); and after another stint in San Diego, as KD6TB/0 in Colorado.  In 1998, my wife and I had the opportunity to live in Romania for two years where I operated as YO/KD6TB.  Finally, in August, 2002, my wife and I moved to Saint George.  In May, 2003, I received KM7DX (my final call).
 
Throughout the years, my primary interest has been DX-ing.  I also enjoy contests.  My prinicple mode of operation is CW, however I still have a microphone, if it is ever needed.  I have some interest in RTTY and PSK31.
 
My wife and I have been married for 40 years.  We have three children and eight grandchildren."