Author: David

Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS)

Posted on by David
The Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS) meets monthly in Floyd, Virginia. This group is also the local ARES group (Amateur Radio Emergency Service for Floyd County). All amateur radio operators and interested persons are welcome to join with the FARS group-Contact Tom W4VZH or any FARS member for information. The Foundation for Amateur Internatioinal Radio Service (FAIRS) is also located in the Floyd Professioinal Center and works closely with the FARS. Projects in process are helping obtain a co...
More

FAIRS Present at Many Local Events

Posted on by David
FAIRS has been present at many local functions with event stations, booths, and press articles to make folks aware of our ability to provide emergency help and training.  Highlight events of ’11-’12:  FAIRS 20th Anniversary On-Air Celebrations; Floyd Town Jubilee, where we sponsored fun radio talk and activities for children; hosting Cub Scouts and other groups at Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station; Amateur Radio Field Day 2011; as supporter of local music at Oak Grove Pavilion; as supporter ...
More

FAIRS History

Posted on by David
Radio Station Call Sign N4USA - A 501(c)(3) foundation Check out FAIRS YouTube Playlist! FAIRS was created as an idea during a train trip from Moscow to the Western Ukraine. There were five Americans David KK4WW and Gaynell KD4GMV (now KK4WWW) Larsen, Bob W6YMR and Virginia KD6- NBW Friebertshauser, and John Douglas N0ISL) and host Victor Goncharsky US5- WE. The date was May 9th, 1991. This sparked the name “59 Group”. We visited to set up/ distribute donated equipment in Russia and U...
More

Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd.

Posted on by David
"Building Global Friendships" between peoples and nations is the purpose of FAIRS. This goodwill is created by providing training, equipment, volunteers, and other forms of assistance such as disaster relief. FAIRS is a 501 (c)3 foundation. Promoting Goodwill Through Amateur Radio FAIRS works to: Support Amateur Radio Emergency Services; maintains FAIRS Emergency Communications Center as support for first responders in the event of an emergency Provide equipment, funds and training for a...
More

March, 2014

Posted on by David
FAIRS directors David (KK4WW) and Gaynell Larsen (KK4WWW) are recently home from a mission trip to the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica. They were accompanied this time by grandson Dustin Thompson- a first mission trip and his first time flying! The group carried large suitcases stuffed with medical and school supplies, shoes, clothes, and items requested by program leaders who carry out work on the island which is supported by FAIRS. After taking time to activate a phone and organize ...
More

Medical and School Assistance in Dominica

Posted on by David
The days are going by very fast and each one is a busy one with projects. Here is some of the past two days.. Assisting with Medical Supplies The Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service (FAIRS) has bring medical supplies to the clinics in Dominica for years. The main hospital has also been on our list and many times we help furnish surgical and other supplies . Their is always a shortage of supplies and even simple things like Tylenol, Aspirin are always in short supply.  Things l...
More

Apple iPad for Bioche, Dominica

Posted on by David
Today (2/23/14) we donated a new Apple iPad computer  to the Dominica community of Bioche to help raise funds for repairs at the fishing village and start up of sustainable agricultural projects.  Bioche is a small fishing village of about 200 on the North West coast of Dominica. I am normally discussing vintage computers here on the blog but this project is part of a mission visit representing "The Foundation Amateur Radio International Service"  (FAIRS).   My wife Gaynell and I represent FAIRS...
More

October, 2013

Posted on by David
On October 19th, we were a host location (one of several in the region) at Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station to a Simulated Emergency Test held from 9am until noon.   The test emulated weather conditions that occurred during the Flood of 85 which was a result of Hurricane Juan and a low pressure system that combined.  The ground had been saturated by four days of rainfall prior to the arrival of the major rainfall.  The hardest hit areas were the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.  Th...
More