nofars.net

NOFARS 1986-1999

By Billy Williams, N4UF

1986 started with the first Jacksonville packet radio group being formed on Jan. 18th.  Ten members signed up at the first meeting. The group would eventually be known as FiCADA.  Digital activity on ham radio was boosted when FCC relaxed a requirement that a control operator be present when a digital repeater was forwarding third-party messages. FCC monitors busted twenty hams on an 80 meter swap net for mentioning prices of their items on the air. FCC rules were hazy on this practice and later regulations were clarified to allow mentioning of prices.

NOFARS members W4FHP and WD4PFN were pictured on the cover of a new ARRL brochure called The ARRL Field organization.  They were shown operating the W4IZ ARES station at American Red Cross. Novices received voice privileges on part of ten meters as well as on 220-225 and 1246-1260 Mhz in June. Repeater frequency coordination organizations were given enhanced status by the FCC. Coordinated repeaters were to be given priority when interference problems occurred.  Ham radio operators gathered details of the Chernobyl nuclear explosion.  TV news reports showed hams at the FCCJ club station K4JAX listening in.

With the Civic Auditorium to be replaced soon with a new convention center, the 1986 Greater Jax Hamfest  drew 1,500 paid and brought in proceeds of around $3,000.  The 1986 W4IZ Field Day at Geis Marine Center  placed first in Florida and 14th nationwide in the highly competitive 3 transmitter category.  The year closed out with a presentation to 70 in attendance by satellite video pirate Captain Midnight from Ocala at the NOFARS December dinner meeting at the Mandarin Holiday Inn.

1987-89

In April 1987 the Wacky Wingdinger (WWD) Net was reactivated after being dormant for a few years.  The frequency was shifted from 28.690 to 28.390 MHz so that novices could participate through their new 10 meter phone privileges.  Duval ARES received praise for their communications assistance after a school bus overturned on McDuff Ave. 40 riders were transported to hospitals.  Hams provided links between the accident site and five hospitals.  The packet BBS on 145.01 MHz. was improved.

NOFARS membership exceeded 300 for the first time in May. Although the Civic Auditorium was to be kept open, a 50% rent reduction incentive caused the Greater Jacksonville Hamfest to move to the newly opened Osborn Convention Center in August 1987. The result was a record gain of over $5,000.  Selling of ARRL publications at NOFARS meetings was very popular in the ‘80s.  Warren, WD4KHI started the project and was followed by Vern, W4NEK. Proceeds went to the NOFARS treasury.  Hans, KA4OMI organized the NOFARS library which included Callbooks and ARRL books that members could check out on loan at meetings.

ARES expanded into Amateur Television (ATV) in 1987.  Several hams bought cameras and RF gear to transmit on  fast-scan, color video and sound on 420-430 MHz. A ten-watt beacon transmitted on 426.25 MHz.

Portable equipment allowed ATV transmission to originate from emergency response locations or sites of public service projects.  In an unusual moment of candor by FCC Private Radio Bureau Chief Ray Kowalski at the Dayton Hamfest repeater meeting, he said “the biggest (ham radio) problem is that there are too many kooks in the ranks.”  Hams lost access to part of the 220-225 MHz band as FCC reallocated the bottom 2 MHz.  The 18 MHz (17 meter) ham band opened in November.

W4IZ Field Day continued at the Geis Marine Center. In 1989, 70 operators and six transmitters totaled over 2,626 contacts in spite of bad bands.  The 1988 and 1989 Greater Jacksonville Hamfests brought in around 2,000 paid admissions and thousands of dollars in proceeds for participating clubs.

As the ‘80s ended, public service took over the ham radio spotlight.  In September, Hurricane Hugo devastated a large swath from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC. One of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the US, Hugo wiped out just about all conventional communications.  NOFARS members provided much assistance.  

Some were patched into local broadcast station programs to relay status reports from the areas of destruction gleaned from nets on 40 and 80 meters.  Others accompanied and/or coordinated caravans from Jacksonville headed into the devastated area during relief efforts.  Dozens of local hams pitched in to bring assistance to victims of Hugo.

1990

In 1990, Florida ranked second among the states with almost 29,000 hams. NOFARS membership reached 384.   Signals filled the bands and the sunspot cycle peaked.  Some local governments in Florida included strict antenna restrictions as part of growth management plans that the state government mandated.  

Wayne Chandler, N4KWC took over from W4FHP as Duval County EC. An unusual snowstorm led to Red Cross opening two shelters in southeast Georgia. 833 persons took shelter in St. Marys and 36 in Folkston.  Ham radio provided a communications link between these shelters and Jacksonville. AMSAT launched six small satellites called Microsats.

By June, N4*** (1 by 3) calls had been exhausted. The 2x3 Kx#xxx calls designated only for Novices were also being assigned to Technicians and Generals in the 4th district.  Ham Radio magazine went out of business. Mayor Tommy Hazouri proclaimed June 18-25 as Amateur Radio Week. Forty operators and excellent band conditions produced 3,500 contacts--the most in nine years--at the 1990 W4IZ Field Day at Geis Marine Center.

NOFARS finished first in Florida and seventh nationwide in the our category.  Gainesville city officials put a moratorium on ham towers until new restrictions could be enacted.   The 1990 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest was the largest until then with 57 exhibitor booths occupied at the Osborn Convention Center.  Vern, W4NEK was Exhibitor Coordinator and NOFARS Liaison.  A surplus of $6,673 was distributed to seven participating clubs.  NOFARS membership grew to 430 by the end of 1990.  More good news--the FCC’s dilapidated printer was being replaced.  The printing on ham licenses had become so faint as to be almost unreadable.

NOFARS members N4QLC and KB4WEC handled around 200 messages for US soldiers and sailors en route to Saudi Arabia.  AMTOR (Amateur Radio Teletype) links provided delivery in as little as 4 hours.  For the second year, NOFARS members provided communications at the Dorcas Drake Christmas Party for Underprivileged Children in the Coliseum in 1990.  Problems included 20 lost children and 12 persons fainting because of unusual hot weather in December. Gainesville hams fought successfully to get tower restrictions softened. The height limit was increased to 80 feet but a detailed application was mandated for most antennas and towers. 

1991

As 1991 began, skirmishes in the decaying Soviet Union escalated.  Hams had the inside scoop in Lithuania when a Vilnius ham transmitted as Soviet tanks  approached the parliament building of a newly-elected democratic government..  All three Jacksonville network affiliates carried reports about ham radio in their newscasts.  Three days later, the Gulf War started.  Until early 1991, Morse Code was required for all Amateur Radio licenses.  A boost in licensees was expected with deletion of the 5 word per minute code requirement on technician exams.  NOFARS examiners offered the no-code Technician test for the first time at the February exam session.

Florida hams gained some protection against unreasonable antenna and tower restrictions. A bill to establish FCC declaration PRB-1 as a statute became law without the Governor’s signature on April 28th.  Opposition from organizations representing city and county governments produced loopholes which have diminished our protection over the past decade and a half.  A clause to extend antenna protection to include growth management plans was rejected.  The fourth Space Shuttle mission with ham radio onboard took off.  An AMTOR demonstration by Steve, WA4B at the April meeting produced contacts with stations in Illinois and Texas.  The June meeting program included a demonstration of the North Florida DX Assn. packet cluster spotting system.

The W4IZ Field Day at Geis Marine Center logged 2,989 contacts.  144 plates of food were served to 65 participants. 1991 marked NOFARS 21st top Florida FD score from four different sites. We were sixth nationwide in the four-transmitter category.  The Greater Jacksonville Hamfest continued to grow in 1991.  The exhibitor area sold out with 69 booths and attendance of 2,500 set a record.  Sixty persons passed exams at NOFARS hamfest test session. Twenty NOFARS members helped with communications at the Dorcas Drake Christmas Party.  Seasonable weather and few emergencies.

1992

In early 1992, a TV news report on channel 17 (the ABC affiliate), labeled a CB operator who regularly interfered with neighbors as a “ham operator.” Teasers throughout evening programming blasted this inconsiderate “ham operator.” After complaints from NOFARS members, the station included a follow-up report a few days later which promoted our activities.  The interferer was relabeled as a person “with an illegal transmitter.”

33 volunteers assisted with communications at River Run in March.  In May, NOFARS operators linked Mandarin Middle School in Jacksonville with a school in Maryland for a dual-site track meet sponsored by Hershey Chocolate Company.  Results of six events were relayed between the schools using two meters and twenty meters.

The Heath Company, a main ham gear source since the 1940s, abandoned kit production.  Heath president Bill Johnson said the company was “changing our focus from the rapidly shrinking electronic kit business to the burgeoning electronics education market.”  He added that “folks just aren’t buying and building many kits any more.”  He cited discrete components being replaced by integrated chips and printed circuit boards. Also, the price of fully assembled electronic equipment had dropped so low that it became impossible to save money by building gear from a kit.

The W4IZ Field Day moved to a new location in 1992--the football stadium at First Coast High School in Oceanway.  A California earthquake on Sunday morning led to extensive television coverage of our capabilities at Field Day.  80 participants logged 3,245 contacts to place first in Florida and sixth nationwide in the four transmitter category. Every contact was important since we finished ahead of the 7th place entrant by only 18 points.  A huge 7-element, 40 meter beam produced 870 contacts.

The founder of NOFARS exam program, Pete Nissen, W4PTT passed away in August.  Pete was a tireless NOFARS volunteer who served several terms as Vice President.  Herb Taylor, N4YHS became NOFARS Chief Volunteer Examiner.

Hurricane Andrew tore up the Homestead area in August.  Al, W4FHP reassumed duty as ARES Emergency Coordinator and organized the deployment of a dozen Jacksonville hams to Homestead.  NOFARS operators provided relays and handled messages on the Florida Midday Traffic Net and other Florida NTS nets.  For the first time, two-meter packet radio systems were used for relief traffic on a large scale.

1993

ARRL held its January 1993 Board of Directors meeting in Jacksonville the Omni Hotel. Hot issues included allowing unattended control of digital stations on segments of HF bands and changing the name of ARRL.  

The new Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year Award was named in honor of Pete Nissen, W4PTT. W4FHP reported 92 check-ins to the Weds. ARES net on Jan. 6th. The EPA called for “vast research on potential dangers from electromagnetic fields.”  It stated that little was known about hazards from exposure to power lines, cellular telephones, televisions and even hair dryers.

Jacksonville Sheriffs Office Communications Chief Captain H. M. Nelson spoke at the March  NOFARS meeting about new upgrades.  These included increased usage of 800 Mhz trunking and a new communications backbone to link many county and state agencies.  Cost is about $25 million.  The old system used six county-wide frequencies with 14 satellite receivers on each.  The last major upgrade was in 1970.  

An unusual late winter storm brought 70 mph winds on March 13th.  Downed power lines left many without heat.  Red Cross opened three shelters in Jacksonville and three more in surrounding counties.  The W4IZ Red Cross station communicated with shelters using a dozen volunteers.  River Run was postponed until Sunday when 27 degree temperatures produced shivering weather.

 The Southeast Emergency Digital Amateur Network (SEDAN) packet system started in April.  Tom Nolan, KD4MWO developed plans to include SEDAN in local ARES activities to pass large volumes of digital traffic using a network of eventually 60 nodes on 145.77 MHz.  NOFARS Field Day at First Coast High School produced 3,729 contacts using four transmitters.  A satellite station organized by Gene, WI4Z made 90 contacts--the most ever at a W4IZ FD.  We ranked first in Florida and sixth nationwide with 10,176 points.

The VEC system worked so well for Amateur Radio that the concept was adopted for commercial license exams.  The 1993 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest at the Osborn Convention Center attracted an all-time attendance peak of 2,576 with 70 exhibitor booths filled. NOFARS tested almost 100 candidates.  A slow decline started the next year.  By 1999, attendance would dip to 1,000.   NOFARS quarterly exam sessions moved to Arlington Middle School.  In November, Al Elmore, W4FHP was selected as the first Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year.

In September, FCC relaxed restrictions against business and organizational communications on ham radio.  The Balanced Modulator stated “under previous rules, logistical communications including those at public service events were questionable.  Logistical use will now be permissible if not done on a “regular basis.”  Communications for hire or for direct financial gain remained outlawed. “For example, it would now be legal to order a pizza over the ham radio auto patch or to call around to the liquor store to determine the availability of a bottle of Jim Beam.”

An important aspect was relaxation of rules against using ham radio when other means of communications such as cellular telephones were available. On June 9th, 103 check-ins were logged on the Weds. ARES Net by KB4WEC.

Several NOFARS members were among participants in a DXpedition organized by the North Florida DX Assn. to Providenciales Island in the Turks & Caicos for the CQ Worldwide SSB Contest.  Seventeen operators pulled in 13,223 contacts.  

Instructions for building the Jim-Tenna, a two-meter portable antenna, were included in the December Balanced Modulator.  It was authored by NOFARS member Jim Havard, KR4GY.

1994

The city turned over management of the Osborn Convention Center to Spectacor, a private group.  Spectacor representatives hinted that in 1994, it would require us to hire their workers to take over functions that our volunteers used to handle.  The Balanced Modulator stated “the cost of these featherbedders may force us to relocate the hamfest.”

Are local repeaters infested with blowfish?--asked a Balanced Modulator editorial. Seemed that some users sounded like clones of talk show hosts on commercial radio.  Their political diatribes seem to drone on forever.

Vern, W4NEK organized a ham radio license course in Orange Park.  26 hopefuls passed at least one exam element.  FCC suspended the license of longtime scofflaw K6KPS of Los Angeles for a year.  A new tower and tri-band beam went up at the W4IZ Red cross station on Riverside Avenue near the Warren Bridge.  

In February, several NOFARS members “borrowed” an AM broadcast station to operate the CQ magazine 160 meter contest.  Despite only operating after WNCM on Atlantic Blvd near the Intracoastal Waterway signed off at night, the contesters made 574 contacts in 53 states and provinces and 18 DX countries.

Internet began making an impression on the consciousness of the masses. Access had been limited mostly to government and commercial users but introduction of  simpler user interfaces along with rapid advances in computer hardware and technology accelerated development of this universal high-speed digital network.  The vision of a “world wide web” appeared.

In early 1994, a dozen NOFARS experimenters planned a high-speed microwave digital backbone to be funded by private donations and eventually if initial progress justified, a grant from NOFARS hamfest proceeds.  Plans called for capability of handling up to 200 connects at full speed.  A 150-foot tower was erected in Yulee to relay signals using the 10 GHz ham allocation.  But test links between Jacksonville locations and the relay point were unreliable causing delays and complications.  

Before hardware improvements could be accomplished, the phenomenal growth of Internet bypassed the applications of our project and it was canceled.

On a smaller scale, Earl, WX4J, developed an Aplink relay in Northern St. Johns County.  Aplink is an AMTOR-to-packet digital linking system that used a worldwide network of 100 or so Amateur Radio stations to pass text messages over long distances using unattended relay stations.

The 1994 NOFARS Combined Club Roster listed 828 entries from six organizations.  An amateur television (ATV) demo at the April NOFARS meeting by Henry, AA4QI picked up signals from a local 430 MHz. repeater that was retransmitting video from the Space Shuttle mission.  KC4FWX, a NOFARS member who was also a magician, put on a magic show at the May meeting. FCC looked for ways to overcome the ten-week wait for new hams to receive their callsign and license to get on the air.  A plan to grant temporary calls was rejected in favor of developing an on-line data base where new hams could discover their calls quickly via Internet.  

A Tallahassee ham requested ARRL to rotate Field Day each year.  Over a 12-year cycle, FD would occur during every month of the year.

34 hams provided communications at the 1994 River Run. Ten NOFARS members served as voice gateway stations to link northeast Florida relief agencies during a drill to test a new communications structure at the Florida Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee.

The weather was bad but the bands were hot at the W4IZ 1994 Field Day in the First Coast High School football stadium.  Operators brought in 3,792 contacts and 10,532  points.  A nine-element, 40 meter curtain array designed by Ray, AB4XA produced almost 1,100 contacts.  Two bad storms with 50 mph winds and several inches of rain passed through on Saturday afternoon and during the early hours of Sunday morning.

A special guest at the 1994 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest was astronaut Jay Apt, N5QWL.  NOFARS hamfest exams produced 72 new licenses or upgrades.  But flat attendance and increased expenses caused proceeds to go down about 40%.    It became evident that the future was not bright for large hamfests with high overhead costs. Optimistic ham radio growth forecasts following introduction of the no-code Technician license had faded and exhibitors were diverting an increasing share of their ham radio promotion budgets to establishing a presence on Internet and improving toll-free telephone ordering systems.

NOFARS funded improvements to the Jacksonville 145.07 MHz. BBS with part of its share of hamfest proceeds. Hamfest Chairman Wayne Oehlman, WB3DBE was chosen as the 1994 Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year.  Wayne retired after ten excellent years of leadership during the peak of popularity for our hamfest.

1995

New communications options appeared to consumers during the middle 1990s which encroached on applications that ham radio had offered for decades. The rise of Internet and rapid advances in technology produced more effective computers and cellular telephones which offered a more attractive choice compared to repeater auto patches and high frequency communications.  E-mail was preferable over ham radiograms.  Internet provided  cheap long distance communications and social interaction with discussion groups and chat rooms.  

Ham radio continued to grow but at a much smaller pace than the 8% annual increase during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Repeater activity declined and clubs lost membership. The late 1990s were a half decade of decline in most facets of Amateur Radio.  A QST editorial added that “until now, hams have enjoyed practically a monopoly on long-distance, unstructured communication between ordinary people.”

An article in Monitoring Times magazine was titled “Internet Phone: The Successor To Ham Radio.” The premise was that communicating cheaply with a foreign country no longer required a ham ticket.  For about a dollar an hour, a computer, telephone software and Internet--one could beat the hassle of passing an exam, putting up a big tower and living with interference.

Attendance at the Greater Jacksonville Hamfest peaked during the early 1990s.  Introduction of the no-code Technician license in 1991 and an active sunspot count extended the growth of Amateur Radio.  By 1995, growth driven by these factors had diminished.  NOFARS membership reached its peak with 529 members in early 1995.

A new Jacksonville Emergency Operations Center included Amateur Radio equipment to serve as a backup link between Jacksonville and the Florida Dept. of Emergency Management office in Tallahassee.  The vanity call system was introduced in 1995. Hams could choose, within certain parameters, their call sign.  Two-letter suffix calls and those with an operators initials were the most popular.  Fred Johnson, meteorologist at the Jax NWS office, revived the Amateur Radio component of the Skywarn program.  Skywarn spotter training sessions began in May.

NOFARS purchased equipment for the first segment of a new 9600 baud packet radio backbone to improve the Florida Crown Digital Network.  In March, two nodes at Methodist Hospital and Mt. Carmel retirement home went into service. These were linked to the W4IZ-2 node on 144.99 MHz and to the WX4J NTS Aplink BBS.  Other digital repeater sites were placed in Palatka and Starke.  In combination with SEDAN, about 80% of the Florida Crown ARES District was covered by digital communications capability.  AC4WZ maintained a BBS. The ARES voice gateway system included two meter FM and 80 meter SSB.  It was expanded to link EOCs and agency headquarters during relief efforts and drills. The April NOFARS meeting program topic was Internet and how it could be useful to hams.

An explosion at the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19th brought a hundred hams to assist with relief efforts.  Telephone circuits failed and operators coordinated efforts by the Salvation Army and other agencies.

Some newspaper articles linked hams to militia efforts.  But most of the extremists were transmitting on commercial short wave broadcast stations adjacent to our 40 meter band.  The WWD net changed time to 9PM each Monday on 28.390 MHz.  FCC reallocated 50 MHz of spectrum around 2400 MHz.   Half went to hams with the remainder assigned for unlicensed personal communications devices like cordless phones and wireless security systems.  The River Run used a new course and hams assisted with communications in March.

Spectacor, a private management group, took over supervision of the Osborn Convention Center from the city.  Tightened restrictions and a 35% rent increase were imposed for the 1995 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest.  A think tank, sponsored by House Speaker Newt Gingrich, proposed a reduction in the number of FCC employees from 2200 to 500 by September 1996 and repeal of most FCC regulations within three years.  Three field offices closed including the one in Miami.  FCC closed all monitoring stations and replaced them with a centralized system to keep track of on-the-air activities.

The W4IZ Field Day scaled back to two main transmitters plus novice, satellite and packet stations at First Coast High School for a more realistic scenario of relief efforts.  In previous years when as many as 7 transmitters were in operation, communications was hampered by interference between stations.  The 1995 Field Day operators did very well by finishing first in Florida and sixth nationwide in the 2A category with 2,773 contacts and 8,098 points.

Doc Staples, W4SME passed away in June.  Doc was a mainstay at the W4IZ Field Day in the early ’90s and a active Jacksonville ham for many years.  Another enthusiastic FD participant, Tex Kern, W4MET and  long time member Tony Bernard, W4BRZ died during Summer 1995 as did Lo Padgett, WA4RQT.  A news feature on channel 12 explained the role of the W4IZ station at Red Cross HQ during relief efforts for Hurricane Luis in Puerto Rico.  Menard, KE4IOR and Wayne, N4KWC told the audience about what ham radio could do.

The 1995 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest included 50 exhibitor booths and an attendance of 2100.  These figures were significantly lower than the peak year 1993.  But around  $3,000  in proceeds were distributed to the participating groups.  ARRL announced that the 1997 National Convention would be in Jacksonville as part of our hamfest.

Glynn O’Steen, WB4PHG was selected 1995 Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year.  Glynn was a senior technician at Xerox and arranged free printing of the Balanced Modulator for many years.  He participated in numerous public service projects and helped many newcomers.  

John Hollister, W4FWZ passed away in late 1995.  John was 91 years of age and owned Hollister Electronics, our only ham store.  John was City Auditor of Jacksonville until retiring in the late 1960s.  He served as ARRL Section Communications Manager in the early 1950s.  Hams again assisted at the Dorcas Drake Christmas Party for Underprivileged Children.

1996

The 1996 Combined Roster of nine area clubs listed 846 hams. It was produced and mailed by KI4ZL, WB4PHG, WD4JWR and W4LTJ.  Band conditions were "bottom of the barrel” because of low sunspot counts.  But six meters was hot during the summer and conditions were above average during the 1996 Field Day weekend. 3,124 contacts were logged by W4IZ operators.  The novice station organized by KD4UJK pulled in over 600 contacts.   W4IZ finished 6th nationwide and first in Florida in the 2A category.  The Red Cross ERV and City Communications Van provided shelter for the two main stations. New RF safety standards that included ham transmitters were approved in September.  Hams using over 50 watts would be required to make an evaluation of RF exposure.

Attendance and financial proceeds decreased only slightly for the 1996 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest despite a rapidly accelerating downward trend for hamfests nationwide.  Hurricane Bertha threatened Jacksonville before passing offshore in July.  A dozen shelters opened in Nassau, Duval and St. Johns Counties for evacuees.  The new Duval EOC and the W4IZ Red Cross ham stations provided links to the shelters.

In September, NOFARS members voted to use $2,000 from our hamfest proceeds to install APRS digital and weather reporting equipment at several sites.  In the October Balanced Modulator, a series “Ham Radio In The 90s And Beyond” began. The ten-part series included articles on changes in the distribution system for ham gear, increasing alternatives to ham radio for youngsters and potential newcomers, ham radio being bypassed by Internet, changing demographics, declining hamfests & radio clubs and shifting requirements for serving relief agencies.

1997

After the 1997 roster purge, we had 290 members, a reduction of over 200 since the peak in 1995.  Ham radio population growth was less than 1% per year.

Manufacturers and distributors of ham gear were folding.  Even hosting the ARRL National Convention was not a guarantee of financial gain.  The 1996 ARRL National Convention in Peoria drew 10% fewer people than the usual hamfest there did in 1995.

In early 1997, the ARRL Planning Committee proposed the biggest facelift of our license structure since 1950.  The novice would be eliminated and the General class code requirement dropped to 10 wpm with expanded voice privileges.   NOFARS members at a meeting indicated they were happy with the status quo. ARES was active after a train wreck in Dinsmore when an Amtrak with 203 passengers struck a semi truck.  

Long time NOFARS Activities Manager Marla Nassau, N4UTV passed away in early February.

Another reminder of the shift toward new technology. The final edition of the printed Amateur Radio Callbook, a fixture in many shacks, came out in 1997.  Future issues would be available only on CD-ROM. On May 27th violent storms produced winds over 100 mph and knocked out power to 75,000 homes.  Debris hit a gas storage tank near I-10 and I-95 leading to evacuations. Duval ARES provided communications to assist Red Cross and provide reports to the Florida EOC in Tallahassee.  

The new NOFARS web site www.nofars.org  went into operation in June. Totals at the 1997 W4IZ Field Day were down because of depressed band conditions.  2,760 contacts were logged and the resulting 7,844 points was good enough to place us #1 in Florida and in the top ten nationwide in the two transmitter category.

Around 2,000 attended the 1997 ARRL National Convention & Jacksonville Hamfest at the Osborn Convention Center in early August.  W1AW/4 was on the air from the convention and there was a comprehensive schedule of forums and programs. Because of lower attendance and higher expenses, the convention was a break even proposition.  But it was well received by most who attended.

25 volunteers participated in Regency Mall Watch between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1997 according to Menard, KE4IOR.   367 total hours of service was up 10% from the previous year.  The Saturday Night Net (SNN) started in December 1997 on 146.46 MHz. simplex.  It would become a weekend tradition in Jacksonville with dozens of check-ins.  Its popularity continues today.

1998

An aggressive slate of 15 projects were planned for 1998.  These included an improved web site, an ambitious membership goal, a BBS with dial-in capability, APRS enhancements and a study of delivery options for the Balanced Modulator.  A new public service activity was the Spring 1998 Cherokees of Georgia Pow Wow just north of the state line. W4NSS, N4JFT, and KF4DMC were among NOFARS members helping with logistics.

FCC approved the Universal Licensing System to allow hams and users of other services to file applications on line.  Field Day went very well for W4IZ operators in 1998 with 3,011 contacts from the First Coast High School football stadium.  Long time NOFARS treasurer Bob Cutting, W2KGI passed away in July.  Hamfest meetings were mostly devoted to methods of increasing attendance, cutting costs and dealing with changing economics.

The Osborn Convention Center again would be our site.  But attendance was kept below 1,500 by monsoon-style rains on Saturday.  35 exhibitor booths and 200 swap tables were occupied.

In December 1998, an announcement was made that the Balanced Modulator printed edition would end publication in January 2000.  All NOFARS newsletters would be distributed by e-mail.  Lewis Jolly, W4LTJ was selected 1998 Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of The Year for his tireless work with the Balanced Modulator, public service communications and at Field Day.

1999

The number of hams declined for the first time in over 20 years during early 1999.  Changing the name of ARRL again was under consideration.  In March, two Duval County co-Emergency Coordinators were appointed. Miller Norton, W4EMN joined Al Elmore, W4FHP to administer ARES.  25 hams provided River Run communications support for the 22nd year.

In late May, a new repeater system appeared in Jacksonville.  First proposed in 1969, the NOFARS W4IZ repeater became reality after thirty years.  The W4IZ call sign had been used on RANGE repeaters since 1984. Several NOFARS members who worked on the technical committee for RANGE repeaters were impeded and then dismissed by a new administration.

Fortunately, they decided to bring their talents to NOFARS .  A group called “Friends of NOFARS” acquired around $3,500 to cover start-up costs for a repeater to serve NOFARS members.   We were approved to operate on 146.7 and 444.4 MHz by the Florida Repeater Council.

The e-mail Balanced Modulator (EBM) began distribution in June. Elimination of the printed edition was delayed.  Members received both printed and e-mail newsletters.  Hurricane Floyd caused a panic and huge traffic jams on roads out of town.  ARES organizations throughout Florida Crown District went into action.  The storm veered east of Jacksonville at the last minute.   Rising costs to use the Osborn Convention Center caused the hamfest to move away from downtown.  Slightly over 1,000 persons attended the 1999 Greater Jacksonville Hamfest at the Morocco Temple Shrine Auditorium on St. Johns Bluff Rd.  The gathering was scaled back to Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Quality suffered at the new location.

A plan by two participating clubs to reduce NOFARS share spurred our group to choose to leave the Greater Jacksonville Hamfest Assn. and receive a return of our capital investment.  Remaining in the association would have subjected NOFARS to the risk of a much smaller payout at a later date.  Two other groups also pulled out when their shares also were targeted for reductions. At the November meeting, the NOFARS Board voted unanimously to redeem our share and withdraw from the Greater Jacksonville Hamfest. 

Herb Taylor, N4YHS was honored as 1999 Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year for his work as NOFARS Chief Volunteer Examiner and his support in public service projects.  Regency Mall Watch turned out a record number of volunteers.

As the 1990s ended, NOFARS steep membership decline had been reversed.  We had an excellent repeater system and planning started on developing a new hamfest format that was in harmony with changing financial conditions for hamfests nationwide.   Computerists scampered to avoid chaos when Y2K arrived--possibly with disastrous consequences for our microprocessor dependent society.


This article appeared during NOFARS Fifty Years series published during 2007-8 in the Balanced Modulator.