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The ARCLITE November 2014
Garland Amateur Radio Club
Where Amateur Radio is Fun Again
Monthly Newsletter
November
2014
Steven Lundgren, KE5BTS, Editor
Club Meeting Minutes & Board Meeting Minutes .15
Contents
Christmas on the Square .....................................................16
Station Grounding by John Abbott .....................................17
Garland Development Code & Comments by John Abbott22
R.A.C.E.S., A.R.E.S., and A.R.R.L. .............................26
Newsletter Editor Comments
Howdy,
................................... 1
Newsletter Editor Comments ........................................ 1
From the President – November, 2014........................ 2
License Classes: ................................................................... 2
2014 Dallas Marathon .......................................................... 2
Board Members................................................................. 3
Blue LED Inventor Wins Nobel Prize .................................. 3
Tower of the Month.......................................................... 4
This month’s ARCLITE is full of fun ideas and
good advice on station grounding, thanks to
John Abbott. He shows how to do the job
right.
There are some big events on the horizon:
Christmas on the Square and the Dallas
Marathon!
HRO to open a new store in Plano next year ........................ 5
Club Meeting – September 22, 2014 ............................ 6
Crony Lunch – October 2, 2014..................................... 7
Hands-On at the ECC – October 4, 2014 .................... 8
Crony Lunch – October 9, 2014..................................... 9
There are classes for our friends to get their
Technician’s licenses and meetings with very
interesting subjects.
Thank you for all your support.
Open House at the ECC – October 18, 2014 ............ 10
Crony Lunch – October 23, 2014 ................................ 11
Birthdays.......................................................................... 12
73 and Happy Thanksgiving!
Steven Lundgren, KE5BTS
Items for Sale from SK Estates .......................................... 12
Meetings and Area License Testing ........................... 14
1
From the President – November,
2014
is being installed. Be ready for a call to help in that
moving.
Greetings,
Also, look in this ARCLITE for photos and
descriptions of equipment that is for sale from silent
keys. Actual equipment is available for inspection and
evaluation at the EEC. Contact a Board member to get
access to the ECC.
Hope things are going good for you and your family.
We have several opportunities to participate in public
service events in the next few months. Please find
information in this issue of the ARCLITE.
The interior of the ECC has been painted in
anticipation of having new carpet being installed. Still
do not have an estimated date for that. Should this
happen, we will need to act quickly to move everything
from the floor, including the operating position
counters, radios, and anything not nailed down. We
have tentatively made arrangements for an enclosed
trailer to store things in for a few days while the carpet
We look forward to seeing you at the Membership
meeting on Monday night, October 27. Dick Sanders,
K5QY, is scheduled to be our speaker and the topic is
antenna basics, part 1.
Jim, W5DTG
License Classes:
A General class has ended. There will be a Technician class starting on October 28, 2014. Contact John Abbott,
KF5FWK, to join the class and you too can enjoy the magic of radio.
2014 Dallas Marathon
Greetings all,
Well, we’re finally off and running (no pun intended) for the 2014 Dallas Marathon. December 14th is the date for
the event. There are numerous changes to the route from previous years. Changes are mainly because of construction
in areas along the route. I am told that Water Stop numbers and Mile Markers will coincide this year. This probably
means there will be more Water Stops than before.
Anyway, our services will definitely be needed again this year. If you have not already notified me that you can work
this event, please do so ASAP. You can sign up by emailing either myself at <[email protected]> or John Galvin at
<[email protected]> . If you have a preference of assignment, please so state in your email. We should have more
information after our initial meeting with staff in mid-October.
If you have not already joined the Dallas Marathon Yahoo Group, please do so immediately. Email <[email protected]> to get signed up or contact John Galvin. It is on this Yahoo Group that we disseminate
information and updates pertinent to the event.
As in previous Dallas marathons, the beneficiary is the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. We need to
perform our communications service to the best of our ability in support of this cause. Please help if you can.
Thank you and 73,
Bob, W5BJ
2
Board Members
ELECTED MARCH 24, 2014
[email protected]
(TO ALL THE BOARD)
Blue LED Inventor Wins Nobel Prize
Shuji Nakamura (中村 修二, Nakamura Shūji?, born May 22, 1954) is a
Japanese-American professor at the Materials Department of the College of
Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB),[3] and is regarded
as the inventor of the blue LED, a major breakthrough in lighting technology.[4]
Together with Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, he was one of the three
recipients of the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics "for the invention of efficient blue
light-emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light
sources".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuji_Nakamura
3
Tower of the Month
November 2014
GARLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER
1027 AUSTIN STREET SUITE B
GARLAND, TX 75040-5608
972-272-4499
K5QHD
Garland Amateur Radio Club
“Where Amateur Radio is Fun Again”
K5QHD is the Bill Folsdtadt Memorial
Station
4
HRO to open a new store in Plano next year
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Gilmore
Office: 800-444-4799
Email: [email protected]
Ham Radio Outlet, the world’s largest Amateur Radio
product and accessories retailer, announced a new
retail Super Store in Plano, TX. This new store will
include a multi-thousand foot retail floor plan, which
will stock and have on display a vast selection of
amateur radio products and accessories. Included
within the facility will be a large demonstration area,
which will have many of the current amateur radio
products connected to antennas for use and display.
"We believe the Dallas / Fort Worth area has been
under served for some time," said National Sales
Manager, Steve Gilmore. "With this new super store in
Plano Texas, we will have a retail and shipping facility
to allow customers in the Dallas / Fort Worth area a
place to shop for amateur radio products and
accessories. This allows for our Company to better
serve surrounding areas by being able to ship products
often within one (1) day to Oklahoma, most of Texas,
and parts of Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana."
"We have a plan, we have a manager, and we have a
facility. We are ready to go," said National Operations
Manager, Chuck Wyrick. "It's a big job to open a store,
but in this case, it is absolutely necessary and
important to serve Texas. Participating in amateur
events, such as Hamfests, within the Texas and
Oklahoma areas will now be far easier."
"It's an exciting time for us at HRO," indicated
President, Robert Ferrero. "We are extremely proud to
have the opportunity to move into Texas and provide a
place for Hams to be able to come in and shop. So
much is mail order today, however that does not
provide the hands on experience. Our new store in
Plano will be a new retail model, vast in size, with
significant on-hand inventory. If our customer wants
an amateur product, I expect to have it in Plano in
2015."
Ham Radio Outlet expects the opening of its new
facility at 701 E. Plano Parkway, Suite 406, Plano,
Texas 75074 in the first quarter of 2015.
HRO, Inc. (dba. Ham Radio Outlet) is a family owned
business with twelve (12) stores located throughout the
United States as well as the largest amateur radio E
Commerce website, making it the largest Ham Radio
dealership in the world. Ham Radio Outlet is
headquartered in Danville, California and has been
serving the amateur community both nationally and
internationally since 1971.
I had some extra time on October 15, 2014 so I dropped by this address which across the street from the
Plano Fry’s store and took a few pictures. I guess the current business is moving somewhere else.
5
Club Meeting – September 22, 2014
The Garland Amateur Radio Club Information Net
transmits every Thursday night at 8 PM local time (currently 0100 hours Friday morning UTC, it will change at 2:00
AM on Sunday, November 2)
The script is easy to read. It is fun to control the flow of the check-ins. The only tricky part is hearing and writing
down the call signs and the names. Please email [email protected] and you too can have a turn at Net Control.
6
Crony Lunch – October 2, 2014
This month’s tower comes from the website of N5ZXJ:
http://www.n5zxj.us/towerpics.html located near Temple, Texas.
7
Hands-On at the ECC – October 4, 2014
There was lots of talking, some donuts, of course, some interesting projects going on. Bill Engle verified his prototype
controller for the backup repeaters at the hospital to be controlled by a phone call to a modem. Perry Nettles, KF5SMU
and Don Reznicek, KE5FWK were programming software for packet and other digital modes in preparation for the
SET that happened on October 4th and 5th, 2014,
8
Crony Lunch – October 9, 2014
9
Open House at the ECC – October 18, 2014
10
Crony Lunch – October 23, 2014
11
Birthdays
BIRTHDAYS!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!
JAMES STAFFORD
WAYNE WILLIAMS
BILL NELSON
IF YOU DON’T GIVE US YOUR BIRTH MONTH, WE CAN’T HELP YOU CELEBRATE!
Items for Sale from SK Estates
We will entertain offers
for less but feel these
are fair prices
Kenwood TS 870S
$ 1500
Astron PS-20A Power Supplies (2)
$125
Mirage 2 meter Amplifier
$150
Radio Shack Speaker
$10
ClearSpeech Noise Filter
$100
Micronta 22-161A AC Volt/Ammeter $40
12
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
OCTOBER - 2014
(FOURTH)
22 - Wednesday
23 - Thursday
24 - Friday
25 - Saturday
26 - Sunday
27 - Monday
28 – Tuesday
CRONY LUNCHEON
License Exam – Garland
License Exam – Denton
☺☺☺☺☺☺ GARC – CLUB MEETING ☺☺☺☺☺☺
Technician Class Week 1
(FIFTH)
29 - Wednesday
30 - Thursday
CRONY LUNCHEON
31 - Friday
HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY
NOVEMBER - 2014
(FIRST)
1 - Saturday
2 - Sunday
3 - Monday
4 - Tuesday
5 - Wednesday
6 - Thursday
7 - Friday
ECC “Hand’s On” from noon until 3pm
License Exam – McKinney
Technician Class Week 2
CRONY LUNCHEON
(SECOND)
8 - Saturday
9 - Sunday
10 - Monday
11 - Tuesday
12 - Wednesday
13 - Thursday
14 - Friday
GARC – BOARD MEETING
Technician Class Week 3
License Exam – Plano
License Exam – Dallas, Sachse
CRONY LUNCHEON
(THIRD)
15 - Saturday
16 - Sunday
17 - Monday
18 - Tuesday
19 - Wednesday
20 - Thursday
21 - Friday
ECC “Open House” from 9am until noon
License Exam – Irving, Wylie
Technician Class Week 4
CRONY LUNCHEON
License Exam – Richardson
(FOURTH)
22 - Saturday
23 - Sunday
24 - Monday
25 - Tuesday
26 - Wednesday
27 – Thursday
28 – Friday
License Exam – Denton
☺☺☺☺☺☺ GARC – CLUB MEETING ☺☺☺☺☺☺
Technician Class Week 5
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
“Black Friday”, Merry Christmas!
(FIFTH)
29 - Saturday
30 - Sunday
13
Meetings and Area License Testing
☺ GARC – CLUB MEETING ☺
Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.
Garland Women’s Activity Center
713 West Austin Street
Garland, TX 75040
GARC – ECC Open House / ECC Hands On
Doors Open: 9 a.m. till Noon / Noon till 3 p.m.
Emergency Communications Center
1027-B West Austin Street
Garland, TX 75040
CRONY LUNCHEON
Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.
Golden Corral
1440 E Campbell Rd
Richardson, TX 75081
License Exam – Garland, K5QHD
Time: 7:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 4th Thursday of the month
WB9ZPH VE Team-Garland
Contact: Janet Crenshaw, WB9ZPH
Phone: (972) 302-9992
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://wb9zph.dyndns.info
Freeman Heights Baptist Church
1120 N Garland Avenue
Garland, TX 75040-4903
License Exam – Dallas, W5FC
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 2nd Saturday of the month
Sponsor: Dallas ARC
Contact: Larry W. Herring, WR3J
Phone: (214) 614-8980
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.w5fc.org
Business Jet Center, 2nd Floor Cafeteria
8611 Lemmon Avenue
Dallas, TX 75209-2652
License Exam – Irving, WA5CKF
Time: 8:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 3rd Saturday of the month
Sponsor: Irving ARC
Contact: Doyle L. Taylor
Phone: (972) 579-9809
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.irvingarc.org
Betcha Bingo #2
2420 W. Irving Blvd.
Irving, TX 75061-4255
License Exam – Denton
Time: 3:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 4th Sunday of the month
Sponsor: Jonathan Gumfory
Contact: Jonathan D. Gumfory
Phone: (940) 300-0243
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.dcara.net
Denton County EOC
9060 Teasley Lane
Denton, TX 76210-4010
License Exam – McKinney
Time: 2:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 1st Sunday of the month
Sponsor: McKinney ARC
Contact: Stephen E. Reinen
Phone: (214) 937-9982
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.mckinneyarc.org
Heard Museum
1 Nature Place
McKinney, TX 75069-8840
License Exam – Mesquite, WJ5J
Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 1st Monday of the month
Sponsor: Ham Assoc. of Mesquite
Contact: Marina D. Calverley
Phone: (972) 285-2966
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.wj5j.com
Burger Style Café
1200 East Davis
Mesquite, TX 75149-4977
License Exam – Wylie
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 3rd Saturday of the month
Sponsor: Plano Amateur Radio Klub
Contact: John C. Scanlan
Phone: (972) 442-2592
Email: [email protected]
URL:
Wylie UMC (country club)
1401 FM Road 1378
Wylie, TX 75098-7704
License Exam – Sachse
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 2nd Saturday of the month
Sponsor: Sachse Amateur Radio Association
Contact: Bill C. Caldwell (AC5BC)
Phone: (214) 500-3472
Email: [email protected]
(door to left of main entrance)
Sachse Library Classroom
3815 Sachse Road
Sachse, TX 75048-3835
License Exam – Richardson, K5RWK
Time: 7:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Date: 3rd Thursday of the month
Sponsor: Richardson Wireless Klub
Contact: Bill Owens, AD5EW
Phone: 972-380-2859
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.k5rwk.org
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church
1220 West Beltline Road
Richardson, TX 75080-5801
License Exam – Plano, K5PRK
Time: 6:00 PM
Date: 3rd Monday of the month
Sponsor: Plano Amateur Radio Klub
Contact: Scott Brubaker, AE5SG
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.k5prk.net
Wheelus Hall at Grace Presbyterian Church
4300 West Park Boulevard
Plano, TX 75093-3710
License CLASS – Garland ECC
Time: 7:00 PM through 9:00 PM
Date: CALL FOR SCHEDULE
Sponsor: Garland Amateur Radio Club
Contact: John Abbott, KF5FWK
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
URL: www.k5qhd.org
Emergency Communications Center
1027-B Austin Street
Garland, TX 75040
14
Club Meeting Minutes & Board Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2014 Club Meeting
The meeting was called to order by Jim W5DTG with the Pledge of Allegiance. Selfintroductions were made by the large group of 28 plus all of our officers except Lowell. Jim
reported that a copy of our club’s FCC license has been posted at both of our repeater sites and at
the ECC. He was “surprised” that more of the GARC members did not take the $3 tour of our
main repeater site, but because it was on such short notice and was not really announced might
have something to do with the very sparse attendance. We hope to have another opportunity to
visit in the future and let everyone know in plenty of time to plan. Kathy’s Treasurer’s report
was approved by the members and the minutes were approved as printed in the
ARCLITE. Ralph reported that he and Bill Engel K5DHY are doing some work on the repeater
equipment we have for 6 and 10 meters. Bill is also working on equipment to be able to control
our UHF and backup VHF repeaters by telephone. This would be needed in case of a receiving
malfunction with the controller. John is teaching a General class with 3 students for the next 5
weeks. Todd went over the speakers for the rest of 2014. Steven appreciated the inputs and
pictures for the Arclite. In new business, we voted to approve Bruce Lawire KG5DYX for free
membership until February 2015 since he has taken one of our classes. The renovations at the
ECC are progressing. Everything is packed up to paint the walls but the carpet replacement is on
hold. Thanks to Charles Anderson KE5RFS for donating two gallons of paint. We discussed
what to do with the donated magazines and decided to be sure and save anything that was not
archived on ARRL.org. The disposition also depends on what the Library plans on doing with
the QSTs. Steve Polansky KF5LUP introduced two scouts that were interested in HAM radio;
Jennifer Standard and Aaron Mixon. We voted to donate instructions books to NMLS to
encourage study leading to new HAMs. Bill Caldwell AC5BC reminded us about the emergency
preparedness program available at FEMA.GOV. Eric Vines KF5QDQ (eric_vines at yahoo.com)
reported on “Radio on the Rocks” from noon to 5 PM and “Stars on the Rocks” (astronomy
party) from 5 PM until midnight at Shores Park in Rockwall. Charles Anderson KE5RFS moved
and Bob Jones W5BJ seconded a motion that eventually ended up passing by a 24 to 1 vote to
spend up to $700 for a controller like we have for the UHF and backup VHF repeaters to replace
the main VHF controller if we are able to acquire a UHF repeater at our main site. After the
break, we had a very interesting meeting by our own Bill Engel on electronic logging of contacts
when DXing. (Thanks to Kathy for taking notes since I was out of town.)
October 13, 2014 Board Meeting
The meeting was attended by all board members (except Todd and Kathy). We voted to approve
Bill Engel’s request for reimbursement of up to $140 for the equipment to allow touch-tone
phone access to the controller at our UHF and back-up VHF site. John found out that the library
would accept the donation of our old QST magazines but with more stipulations than we had first
understood. We decided to wait and see if the new shelves we have been offered will be strong
15
enough to hold them at the ECC or what other options we might come up with since if we give
them to the library, they will be gone forever. John is planning to start a new technician class on
October 28th, the day after our next club meeting. The painting of the ECC walls is about 75%
complete and we are just waiting to hear more about the time frame for carpet installation. We
discussed the membership application and our “business card” but are still waiting to find out if
we can use the Garland logo (stylized Firewheel flower). We started discussing the new location
for HamCom in Irving and are concerned about participation from our club to man a table that
far away. Jim will check on the price and possible location of tables for sale items and
information / visiting. The telephone answering machine needs to be checked out at third
Saturday to determine if the donated one is of any use or the club needs to buy a new one.
Respectfully Submitted, Lowell Allen, Jr. KD5RFD
Christmas on the Square
It is “Christmas on the Square” time in Downtown Garland!
Christmas on the Square will be on Thursday, December 4, 2014. The event will
be very much like years past, with a few exceptions. Jackie Justice will be in
charge of the event for the city and has some great new ideas to make the event
much more exciting and fun. The main combination of both the tree being lit in
sync with music and the involvement of the crowd with the use of XYLOBANDS,
free LED wrist bands that also flash with the music, should bring a new level of
enthusiasm to the event. I will be coordinating the amateur radio involvement in
making sure the all the lights on the buildings come on in unison, as that part has
not been automated. The practice the day before, Wednesday, December 3th, will
be a little more organized and is being billed as “A Sensory Friendly Tree
Lighting”.
I hope those of you who participated in past years enjoyed it enough to come back
and help us again. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like your
same position, try something new, or especially if you are unable to make it this
year.
For all of you new people thinking about coming out to help, I welcome you. I
will make sure you are not neglected and that you will feel comfortable in
whatever position you are assigned. We always try to have a primary and a backup
for every switch position. This is a short, fun, family friendly public service
event. Only an hour or so for two nights is all that is required. Any 3 to 5 Watt
HT should work fine in our confined area. If you do not have a hand held, don’t
worry, we have extras to loan you for the event.
Thanks again,
Lowell Allen
KD5RFD
[email protected]
16
Station Grounding by John Abbott
Here are my solutions to electrical noise on my HF radio. The electrical noise problems were
static, electrical birdies, and my voice coming out of the speakers on Kathy’s personal computer.
This article will be mostly pictures. I needed to ground all my equipment. That included the HF
and VHF radios as well as Kathy’s and my computer components. My antenna system is well
grounded. I needed to ground everything inside the house and tie the inside ground to the outside
ground. The additional grounding eliminated some of the static and the problem of my voice
coming out of the speakers on Kathy’s personal computer. I replaced the network cables to the
personal computers in my radio room with special shielded CAT-5e cables. All of my network
devices had sockets that connected with the shielded cables. I placed the network modem and
network router inside a spare copper box that I had in the garage. I replaced the Wall Warts
powering the network modem and network router with uninterruptible power supplies that were
electrically noise free. This eliminated more static and the birdies on the HF radio.
Let me say something about ground loops. In my electronics career we had ground loops on
communications lines that were hundreds of feet and thousands of feet in length. Sometimes you
could see a spark when the different grounds touched. We never had any problems with short
communication loops. My radio room is on one electrical circuit in my house. I have about
fifteen ground rods at my house. They include locations at the antenna base pole, antenna
outland support poles, fence, flagpole, outside electrical sockets, TV antenna, coax entry point
and electrical service point. This is a single system ground in accordance with NFPA 70:
National Electrical Code and NFPA 780: Installation of Lighting Protection Systems.
Here is the ground bus behind my radios and behind Kathy’s personal computers. On my side of
the room I grounded everything. On Kathy’s side I grounded her personal computer and her
sound system.
17
This is where the ground passes through
the coax entry point. This is where the
inside ground system connects to the
outside ground system.
This is also some lightning protection.
Currently I disconnect the coax during
lightning storms. In the future I am going
to add some Poly Phaser lightning
protection.
18
This picture is inside the house. This is the surge protector for the radio and personal computer
on my side of the room. This is another ground where the inside ground system connects with the
building ground system.
This picture is outside the house. This is another ground where the inside ground system
connects with the outside ground system.
19
This picture shows that all power strips have been opened and a ground point added. These
insure that the ground leg in the power strips is grounded to the inside ground system.
These are the lightning arresters where the TV antenna cable and Time Warner internet cable
enter the radio room. There are additional lightning arresters where the overhead lines enter the
house.
20
This is a picture of the copper box that I used to isolate the electrical noise of my network. The
box contains the network modem and the network router. There are plenty of holes for heat
exchange.
These are the Belkin uninterruptible power supplies that are used to power the network modem
and the network router. One uninterruptible power supply is used to power my weather station.
As you can see, two of the uninterruptible power supplies have had their output voltage
modified.
21
Garland Development Code & Comments by John Abbott
The City of Garland is rewriting all of its various codes and regulations into one complete code
titled the Garland Development Code (GDC). You may find more information about the GDC at
http://www.garlanddevcode.org/gov/lq/pcd/projects/gdc/default.asp. This rewrite has been going
on for about a year and includes meeting with the general public. There was one meeting in
September that was attended by Jim Stafford, W5DTG, Lowell Allen, KD5RFD, and John Abbott,
KF5FWK. We presented ourselves as individual HAM operators and not as representatives of the
Garland Amateur Radio Club. We asked a couple of questions and became confident that the
Garland HAM community is well represented. The Honorable Mayor Douglas Athas reminded us
that even though the rules in the new GDC are friendly to HAM operators we should be aware that
Home Owner Association (HOA) rules and Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs)
[deed restrictions written into subdivision plats] rules can and may be more restrictive than the city
rules. Here are just a few things included in the new GDC.
“No more than two (2) antenna support structures for licensed amateur communications shall be
allowed per lot of record in a residential district.” “The Director of Planning may administratively
approve additional antenna support structures.” ““Antenna support structure” means a structure,
such as a mast, tower or pole that is placed, erected or constructed to support one or more
antennas for the purpose of engaging in licensed amateur communications.” Two antenna support
structures are fine for the average lot size.
“Buildings and associated roof mounted equipment shall not be considered as antenna support
structures.” This means that antennas and antenna support structures attached to the building or
placed on the roof of a building are not counted in the limit of two (2) antenna support structures.
“The maximum height for an antenna support structure in any district shall be eighty feet (80’).”
This is fine for the average lot size.
“Guy wires shall be permitted in required side and rear yards.” This means that guy wires may
extend right up to the property line.
The cost of the HAM Antenna building permit remains $70. That is $55 for the building permit
and $15 for the processing fee.
The city’s rules are kind to HAM operators. HAM operators need to be kind to the city and your
neighbors. Put up the antennas that you want and are allowed. When you are done with any antenna
then take it down. Keep your location neat and free of trash. Step back. If your antenna parts looks
like trash to you they look like trash to others. Lots of antennas may look cool but if they are no
longer in use take them down. If we are not good neighbors then the city may change its mind and
make HAM radio more difficult for everyone.
The Garland Development Code is still in draft form as of July 31, 2014. Below are Divisions 5 &
6 of Chapter 2 that affects licensed amateur communications.
22
CITY OF GARLAND
Garland Development Code
Chapter Two: Zoning Regulations
DRAFT
July 31, 2014
Division 5 – Telecommunications Towers & Antennas
Section 2.62 Applicability
●●●
(D) Antennas and antenna support structures used in licensed amateur
communications are regulated under the below Division 6 and shall be exempt
from the requirements of this Division 5.
●●●
Division 6 – Licensed Amateur Communications
Section 2.66 Applicability & Definitions
(A) The provisions of this Division 6 apply only to antennas and antenna support
structures used in licensed amateur communications. The provisions of this section
shall control in the event of a conflict with Division 5. If the communication facilities
do not comply with the applicable district development standards and the following
regulations, then a Specific Use Provision shall be required.
(B) Definitions.
(1) “Antenna” means “private antenna” for purposes of determining allowed uses
within the Land Use Matrix, Article 5 of this Chapter.
(2) “Antenna support structure” means a structure, such as a mast, tower or pole that
is placed, erected or constructed to support one or more antennas for the purpose
of engaging in licensed amateur communications. Buildings and associated roof
mounted equipment shall not be considered as antenna support structures.
(3) “Licensed amateur communications” means amateur radio operations, also known
as the amateur radio service, as regulated and licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission pursuant to 47 C.F.R. Part 97; and
(4) “Compelling communications need” means a need for relief based upon the
inability of the applicant to obtain reasonable communications goals due to
engineering or technical limitations or physical characteristics, such as trees,
buildings, or structures located on the subject and adjacent properties that obstruct
or significantly impede communications to and from the subject property.
Section 2.67 Maximum Number of Antennas and Antenna Support
Structures
No more than two (2) antenna support structures for licensed amateur communications shall
be allowed per lot of record in a residential district. Upon a showing of a compelling
communications need, the Director of Planning may administratively approve additional
antenna support structures.
Section 2.68 Height
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The maximum height for an antenna support structure in any district shall be eighty feet
(80’). Upon a showing of a compelling communications need, the Director of Planning may
administratively approve a maximum height of one hundred feet (100’). An antenna support
structure that exceeds one hundred feet (100’) in height shall be allowed only with the
approval of a Specific Use Provision.
Section 2.69 Antenna and Antenna Support Structure Standards
(A) Number and Size. The number and size of antennas placed upon an antenna support
structure used for licensed amateur communications shall be limited by the wind load
requirements contained in the current version of the City’s building codes or by the
manufacturer’s specifications for wind loading, whichever is more restrictive.
(B) Setbacks.
(1) Front Yards: Antenna support structures (including guy wires, foundations,
anchors, and other components of the structure) shall not be permitted in required
front yards. The Director of Planning may administratively approve the location
of guy wires in a required front yard if it is demonstrated that there is compelling
communications need for such location or if there are limiting physical
characteristics of the subject property that necessitate the location of guy wires in
the front yard.
(2) Side and Rear Yards: Guy wires shall be permitted in required side and rear yards.
Minimum setbacks for antenna support structures shall be the same as those
required for accessory buildings in the applicable residential district and as for all
buildings in nonresidential districts, except that side yard encroachments equal to
that allowed for fireplaces under single-family district regulations shall be
permitted.
(3) Separation: There shall be no minimum or maximum separation requirements for
antenna support structures from other structures on the same lot of record.
(C) Lights. Lights mounted on antenna support structures shall comply with all
requirements of Article 7, Chapter 4 of this GDC.
(D) Construction Standards. Antenna support structures shall be installed and may be
modified in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications or under the seal of a
registered Professional Engineer of the State of Texas.
(E) Maintenance. Antennas and antenna support structures that have, due to damage, lack
of repair, or other circumstances, become unstable, lean significantly out-of-plumb, or
pose a danger of collapse shall be removed or brought into repair within ninety (90)
days following notice given by the Building Official; provided that the Building
Official may order immediate action to prevent an imminent threat to public safety or
property.
(F) License Required. Only licensed amateur radio operators shall be permitted to install,
or have installed, and operate licensed amateur communication facilities under the
provisions of this section. Proof of license shall be required at the time application is
made for a building permit to install and operate licensed amateur communication
facilities under the provisions of this Division 6.
(G) Discontinuance. Within 180 days of the date of discontinuance, the owner of property
on which an antenna structure is located shall remove the structure from the property
in the event licensed amateur communications will be discontinued at the property
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due to change in ownership from a licensed amateur radio operator to a person not
licensed to engage in licensed amateur communications, the death of the licensee, or
the loss or surrender of the FCC license authorizing those communications.
Note:
No trees were killed in the
sending of this message.
However, a large number of
electrons were terribly
inconvenienced.
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R.A.C.E.S., A.R.E.S., and A.R.R.L.
R.A.C.E.S.
Garland RACES is authorized by the Office of Emergency Management, Garland, Texas.
Garland R.A.C.E.S. on the air training each first, second, third, and fifth Thursday.
Garland ARES® on the air training each fourth Thursday.
All training is at 9:00pm on 146.66/06, PL 110.9Hz (Primary) 147.24/84 (Secondary)
No training Thanksgiving or the last 3 Thursdays of December.
(147.54 Garland Simplex) Garland Winlink RMS Node - WG5EOC-10 on 145.070
A.R.E.S.
ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a program of the American Radio Relay League.
Anyone serious about Emergency Support should have a go-kit, or maybe more than one. It may be
something you keep in the car or something mostly packed and ready to go at home. Even if you
don't have one, you should think about what you might need to have in case of an emergency.
The ARRL offers online training for hams who want to participate in the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service.
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-offers-online-public-service-training
A.R.R.L.
American Radio Relay League.
In addition to receiving QST by mail each month, ARRL members have access to the digital edition of QST.
You can choose to read QST online, or download the entire issue to your computer or laptop.
Digital QST offers enhanced content, convenient access, and a more interactive experience.
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