We like calling
Orange County North Carolina home! Our area is known for:
| Eclectic Carrboro, historic Hillsborough, world famous Chapel Hill |
| The University of North Carolina and the best ACC basketball |
| Succulent barbeque and the area's best VHF/UHF repeaters |
The Orange County Radio Amateurs ("OCRA") are an organization of area ham radio operators dedicated to:
Providing emergency communications through our  Orange County ARES group | | Empowering the next generation of Amateur Radio operators: maybe YOU! (Need some REASONS?) |
| Maintaining an up-to-date website listing upcoming events |
| Conducting both formal and informal OCRA membership meetings and on-the-air nets |
| Administering regularly scheduled VE test sessions every month (see upcoming events) |
| Celebrating our members' accomplishments, both on and off the air |
| Enjoying the art, science and fellowship of radio operating |
2009 Upcoming Events of Interest:
 Wednesday, July 1 - Sunday, July 5: Original Thirteen Colonies Special Event. Work special event stations in each of the original thirteen colonies and request a commemorative certificate. Full details are here. |
 Saturday, July 4: Orange County ARES Net beginning at 0930L (9:30AM) on W4UNC 442.150MHz repeater. Net Control is Steve (KZ1X). |
 Tuesday, July 7: DFMA Monthly Meeting at Bennett Pointe Grille in Durham, dinner at 1800L (6:00PM) and meeting at 1900L (7:00PM). |
| Wednesday, July 8: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
 Thursday, July 9: Happy Birthday, Dewey Thompson (WA4AHR). |
 Thursday, July 9: Central Carolina D-STAR Net beginning at 2030L (8:30PM) on the KB4HG 442.5375MHz repeater. |
| Saturday, July 11: Orange County ARES Net beginning at 0930L (9:30AM) on W4UNC 442.150MHz repeater. Net Control is Dee (KU4GC). |
| Sunday, July 12: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
 Monday, July 13: Orange County Radio Amateurs (OCRA) Monthly Membership Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Open board meeting begins 1830L (6:30PM) at Casa Ibarra Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough. Our special guest speaker, from Piedmont EMC, will give a short presentation about the company's electric power generation and distribution. |
| Monday, July 13: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1930L (7:30PM) during the OCRA Membership Meeting at the Orange County EOC. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
 Monday, July 13: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Tuesday, July 14: Happy Birthday, Mark Wright (KB2EHJ). |
| Wednesday, July 15: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
 Thursday, July 16: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Thursday, July 16: Central Carolina D-STAR Net beginning at 2030L (8:30PM) on the KB4HG 442.5375MHz repeater. |
| Tuesday, July 21: Happy Birthday, Karen Snyder (KD4YJZ). |
| Wednesday, July 22: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Thursday, July 23: Central Carolina D-STAR Net beginning at 2030L (8:30PM) on the KB4HG 442.5375MHz repeater. |
| Sunday, July 26: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Monday, July 27: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
 Tuesday, July 28 - Wednesday, July 29: Delta Aqauarids meteor shower. |
| Wednesday, July 29: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Thursday, July 30: Happy Birthday, David Sanders (W4DES). |
| Tuesday, August 4: DFMA Monthly Meeting at Mayflower Seafood in Durham, dinner at 1800L (6:00PM) and meeting at 1900L (7:00PM). |
| Wednesday, August 5: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Saturday, August 8: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1000L (10:00AM) to 1200L (noon) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
| Monday, August 10: Orange County Radio Amateurs (OCRA) Monthly Membership Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). OCRA President Woody Woodward (K3VSA) will give the first presentation in a series on demystifying the Amateur Extra examination. Meet at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Open board meeting begins 1830L (6:30PM) at Casa Ibarra Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough. |
| Monday, August 10: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Wednesday, August 12 - Thursday, August 13: Perseids meteor shower. |
| Wednesday, August 12: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Friday, August 14: Happy Birthday, Andy Yates (W4KIL). |
| Wednesday, August 19: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Thursday, August 20: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Monday, August 24: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
| Wednesday, August 26: DFMA 6M Net on the OCRA 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) Repeater beginning at 2030L (8:30PM). Net Control is J.R. (KG4NNT). |
| Saturday, August 29: Happy Birthday, Reid Morine (W4RSM). |
| Sunday, August 30: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Tuesday, September 1: DFMA Monthly Meeting at Mayflower Seafood in Durham, dinner at 1800L (6:00PM) and meeting at 1900L (7:00PM). |
| Monday, September 14: Orange County Radio Amateurs (OCRA) Monthly Membership Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Open board meeting begins 1830L (6:30PM) at Casa Ibarra Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough. |
| Monday, September 14: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1930L (7:30PM) during the OCRA Membership Meeting at the Orange County EOC. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
| Monday, September 14: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Thursday, September 17: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Friday, September 18: Happy Birthday, Mac MacAulay (WQ8U). |
| Sunday, September 20: Happy Birthday, Aleasha North. |
| Sunday, September 27: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Monday, September 28: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
| Tuesday, October 6: DFMA Monthly Meeting at Mayflower Seafood in Durham, dinner at 1800L (6:00PM) and meeting at 1900L (7:00PM). |
| Saturday, October 10: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1000L (10:00AM) to 1200L (noon) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
| Monday, October 12: Orange County Radio Amateurs (OCRA) Monthly Membership Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Open board meeting begins 1830L (6:30PM) at Casa Ibarra Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough. |
| Monday, October 12: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Thursday, October 15: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Sunday, October 25: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Monday, October 26: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
| Thursday, October 29: Happy Birthday, Wilson Lamb (W4BOH). |
| Monday, November 2: Happy Birthday, Dave Snyder (W4SAR). |
| Tuesday, November 3: Happy Birthday, Bruce Meier (N1LN). |
| Tuesday, November 3: DFMA Monthly Meeting at Mayflower Seafood in Durham, dinner at 1800L (6:00PM) and meeting at 1900L (7:00PM). |
| Sunday, November 8: Happy Birthday, Laurie Meier (N1YXU). |
| Monday, November 9: Orange County Radio Amateurs (OCRA) Monthly Membership Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Open board meeting begins 1830L (6:30PM) at Casa Ibarra Restaurant on South Churton Street in Hillsborough. |
| Monday, November 9: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1930L (7:30PM) during the OCRA Membership Meeting at the Orange County EOC. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
| Monday, November 9: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Sunday, November 15: Happy Birthday, Michaela Woodward. |
| Tuesday, November 17 - Wednesday, November 18: Leonids meteor shower. |
| Thursday, November 19: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Monday, November 23: Happy Birthday, Andy Meyer (N4GMG). |
| Monday, November 23: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
| Sunday, November 29: Happy Birthday, Woody Woodward (K3VSA). |
| Sunday, November 29: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Saturday, December 12: Amateur Radio license testing by OCRA's ARRL VE team from 1000L (10:00AM) to 1200L (noon) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). Contact VE Team Leader Dave Snyder (W4SAR) at (919) 644-8681 for further information. |
| Sunday, December 13 - Monday, December 14: Geminids meteor shower. |
| Monday, December 14: Alamance Amateur Radio Club Monthly Business Meeting beginning 1930L (7:30PM). Meet at the K4EG shack in Burlington, information here. |
| Wednesday, December 16: Happy Birthday, Grant Morine (W4GHM). |
| Thursday, December 17: KnightLites monthly QRPigOut beginning about 1900L (7:00PM) at the RTP Golden Corral, half a mile south on NC Highway 55 at I-40 exit 278. |
| Saturday, December 19: Happy Birthday, Milt Forsyth (W4MDF). |
| Monday, December 21: Happy Birthday, Bill Morine (N2COP). |
| Saturday, December 26: Happy Birthday, Rick Taylor (KI4GND). |
| Sunday, December 27: Orange County ARES Emergency Communications Team Meeting beginning at 1800L (6:00PM) at the Orange County EOC Building, 510 Meadowland Drive, in Hillsborough. See directions here (PDF). All interested OC ARES members are invited to attend. Contact Laurie (N1YXU) for further information. |
| Monday, December 28: Alamance Amateur Radio Club monthly Eat-n-Meeting beginning 1830L (6:30PM) at the Western Charcoal Steak House, 142 North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, more info here. |
| Thursday, December 31: Happy Birthday, Christina North. |
2010 Upcoming Events of Interest:
| Saturday, February 27 - Saturday, March 8: Ham Radio Cruise 2010. Board the "Carnival Freedom" at Ft Lauderdale and spend eight days visiting ports of call in the Caribbean while working HF at sea with provided IC-7000s and Tarheel antennas. More info here. |
| Friday, January 30: Happy Birthday, Jim Jingozian (KG4NEL), Robert Little (N4ZAK) and Meg Millard (KI4LLL). |
| Tuesday, February 3: Happy Birthday, Jackie Little (KD4OFG). |
| Thursday, February 5: Happy Birthday, Bill McClymont (W1REP). |
| Tuesday, February 16: Happy Birthday, Moriah North. |
| Sunday, February 28: Happy Birthday, Vivian North. |
| Thursday, March 11: Happy Birthday, Dave Belt (NA4VY). |
| Sunday, April 4: Happy Birthday, Brian McLamb (KI4YSZ). |
| Sunday, April 25: Happy Birthday, Patrick Brooks (KJ4EWX). |
| Friday, April 30: Happy Birthday, Deborah North. |
| Saturday, May 1: Happy Birthday, Chris Lawless (KG4HNC). |
| Sunday, May 16: Happy Birthday, Lisa Woodward (KG4PFB). |
| Monday, May 17: Happy Birthday, John Shadle (W4PAH). |
Here's What OCRA Folks Have Been Up To:
| OCRA was once again covered favorably in a national ham radio publication when Efland-Cheeks Elementary School's weather station got coverage in "CQ" magazine. The July issue of "CQ" published an account of the weather station dedication, including a photo of Kristen Bedell (KI4LLO), in its "Public Service" column on page 36. |
| OCRA President Woody Woodward (K3VSA) was in attendance at a dedication ceremony for the weather station that OCRA members installed at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School for Kristin Bedell (KI4LLO), a teacher there. The school presented recognition plaques to OCRA, Piedmont EMC (which funded the project through a grant), and the Orange County school system's maintenance department (which ran the wiring). The station consists of a weather fax receiver and weather station, both mounted on a rooftop tower, and the software needed to keep track of the data and post it to the school's website. |
| Former OCRA member Noah Blach (KF4YBG) has graduated from Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio TX according to a report published on page C3 of the "Durham Herald-Sun" on Sunday, April 12th. Noah is the son of OCRA member Chip Blach (KF4WBK). |
| At the RARSFest on Saturday, April 11th, OCRA Treasurer and Repeater Manager Dan Eddleman (KR4UB) presented a plaque to Wade ("Danny") Hampton (K4ITL) in recognition of years of support with our repeaters that Danny has provided to OCRA. The plaque, half in ordinary script and the other half in Braille, proclaimed Danny as an honorary life member of OCRA. "I've been given plaques before, but I never got one printed in Braille," Danny remarked. Several hours later, it was announced at RARSFest that Danny would be named "Ham of the Year" at the 2009 Dayton Hamvention. |
| OCRA's own Jim Jingozian (KG4NEL) has once more been named to the dean's list at Virginia Tech, where he is a senior majoring in business information technology. He was one of two Hillsboroughites attending Virginia Tech who were mentioned in the April 1st edition of the News of Orange County. |
| Orange County, North Carolina hosted the Winter Swap Meet of the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association on Saturday, January 31st at the Mebane Antique Auction Gallery on Highway 70, just inside the Orange County line. Probably about a hundred old radios in varied condition, mostly broadcast receivers, were for sale. Several OCRA members showed up to enjoy the free admission and to gaze at the antique sets. Wilson (W4BOH) was seen in the parking lot, leaving with a newly purchased Hallicrafters Sky Buddy that appeared to be in excellent condition. He was accompanied by Mac (WQ8U), who appeared to be leaving empty handed. |
| OCRA's press release concerning the Christmas cake giveaway was published in the January 7th issue of "The News of Orange County." The page eight story was almost a verbatim copy of the press release, and it included KG4PFB's photo of the OCRA President's daughter, Michaela, in a Santa hat, presenting cakes to EMT Amy Turner of the Orange Emergency Management organization. |
| New Years Day 2009 saw a fair sized group of OCRA members gathered at the Mary Ellen Jones building on UNC for the annual repeater equipment familiarization and maintenance event. Judging from preliminary reports, we're getting significantly closer to having IRLP operation on our 2M machine. More details and a photo to follow, standby! |
| 2008 Events Archive |
| 2007 Events Archive |
Our W4UNC repeaters:
| 442.150MHz (PL 131.8Hz) --the flagship, with coverage throughout Piedmont NC |
| 443.475MHz (PL 131.8Hz) --local coverage in the Chapel Hill vicinity |
| 145.230MHz (PL 107.2Hz) --soon with an IRLP link, we hope |
| 53.450MHz (PL 107.2Hz) --improved coverage after June 12th? |
OCRA Meetings and Nets:
| Monthly OCRA Meeting on the second Monday of the month at 1930L (7:30PM) at the new Orange County EOC Facility in Hillsborough at 510 Meadowland Drive. Directions to new EOC here (PDF). All members, other licensed ham radio operators and interested individuals are welcome to attend. |
| Weekly Saturday Mornings about 0930L (9:30AM) at the Hillsborough Bojangles, 330 South Churton Street, you'll usually find at least several of us getting our quota of cholesterol, caffeine, and carbohydrates. (Unless there's a hamfest nearby!) |
| Weekly Orange County ARES Net Saturday mornings at 0930L (9:30AM) on the W4UNC 442.150MHz repeater. |
| Weekly OCRA HF Net Monday evenings (except the second Monday of the month) at 2000L (8:00PM) on or about 28.380MHz (USB). |
OCRA Officers for 2009:
| Raymond ("Woody") Woodward K3VSA, President (president "at" ncocra "dot" org) |
| Ken Kauffmann KR4FM, Vice-President (vp "at" ncocra "dot" org) |
| Dan Eddleman KR4UB, Treasurer (treasurer "at" ncocra "dot" org) |
| Adriano Marcuz KI4OTN, Secretary (secretary "at" ncocra "dot" org) |
OCRA Board Members:
| Chris Ferrer N2JFP (term expires 2011) |
| Robert Little N4ZAK (term expires 2010) |
| Brian McLamb KI4YSZ (term expires 2010) |
| Dave Snyder W4SAR (term expires 2010) |
| Karen Snyder KD4YJZ (term expires 2011) |
The Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (TIN# 58-2064632)
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