Jeffrey Kopcak

K8JTK

ARRL Ohio Section Technical Coordinator

Biography

Born, raised, and live in Westlake, Ohio
Computers at an early age
Windows 3.1 & GeoWorks
FOSS
Current: Home networking, Home Lab, Self-Hosted, Linux daily driver
Music

More: Computers

Education

Westlake High School
- WHBS-TV
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
- WBGU-TV
Cleveland State University (CSU)
- Information Systems & Technology
- Masters of Business Administration

Work Detail

(2004-2008)

Intern
Desktop Support
Break fix
Server & Networking

(2009-current)

POS Analyst/Developer: Escalations, Linux System Admin, everything
POS Analyst/Developer: Merchandise, Unix, Payments
InfoSec & Networking Sr Analyst: Integrations, NAC, Firewall, Web proxy, VPN

Ham Radio

Interested in amateur radio at a young age through my father, Tom N8ETP
Licensed right before my sophomore year of high school in 1999
Novice & Technician exams
General & Extra exams (2008)

img: RigReference

Ham Radio

Computers, networking, & digital modes

Early VoIP, aka EchoLink
D-STAR, Fusion, DMR, AllStar, HamShack Hotline, NXDN, P25, Hams Over IP, AmateurWire
HF: mostly FT8 & Winlink. JT65, JT9, PSK, Olivia, SSB, FreeDV.
SDR
Mesh
DVMIS: linking 9 modes - 14 ham radio VoIP networks

More: On Air

Clubbing

Life Member of the Wood County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC)
- Webmaster
Life Member of American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
- Volunteer Examiner (VE)
- Technical Specialist (TS)
- Maxim Society
Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA)
TAPR
West Chester Amateur Radio Association
Skywarn spotter/NCS

More: Clubs and activities

And NOW...

ARRL Ohio Section: Technical Coordinator

ARRL Field Organization

The ARRL divides the United States and its territories into 71 administrative sections. Many sections are comprised of a single state, but a few of the larger states, such as Texas or California, are divided into two more sections.

The membership in each section elects a Section Manager (SM) once every two years. The SM is responsible for managing the Field Organization programs in their section. Through coordinators, the SM recruits ARRL volunteers to staff various crucial program areas.

ARRL: Structure

ARRL Officers
- President, First & Second Vice President, COO, ...
ARRL Board Committees
- Executive Committee, Administration & Finance, Programs & Services, Public Relations, DX, LoTW ...
Divisions
- 15 Divisions
- Director & Vice Director

imgs: About ARRL

ARRL: Structure - Sections

Section Manager (SM)
Section Traffic Manager (STM)
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
Assistant Section Manager (ASM)
Technical Coordinator (TC)
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC)
Public Information Coordinator (PIC)
State Government Liaison (SGL)
Section Youth Coordinator (SYC)

https://www.arrl.org/field-organization

Technical Coordinator

The ARRL Technical Coordinator (TC) is a section-level official appointed by the Section Manager to coordinate all technical activities within the section.

Supervise and coordinate the work of the section's Technical Specialists (TS)
Refer amateurs in the section who need technical advice to local TS

Encourage amateurs in the section to share their technical achievements with others through the pages of QST, at club meetings, hamfests, and conventions

Technical Coordinator

Be available to assist local technical program committees in arranging suitable programs for local club meetings, ARRL hamfests, and conventions

Promote technical advances and experimentation at VHF/UHF and with specialized modes, and work closely with enthusiasts in these fields within the section

https://www.arrl.org/technical-coordinator

Technical Specialist

For a section team to be effective in one of the most important arenas in Amateur Radio, technology, there must be a cadre of qualified, competent Technical Specialists (TS).

"Advancement of the radio art" is a profound obligation we incur under the rules of the FCC.

TSes help meet this obligation.

Technical Specialist

TS supports the TC in two main areas of responsibility:
Radio Frequency Interference and Technical Information.

Technical Specialist can specialize in certain specific technical areas, or can be generalists.

https://www.arrl.org/technical-specialist

What does the Technical Coordinator really do?

Your guess is as good as mine.

What do the
Technical Coordinator
and
Technical Specialists
do?

We play around with stuff!!!

§97.1 Basis and purpose

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

Section Manager's Goals

I want every ham in the Ohio Section to get involved and have more FUN with their hobby than they ever thought possible!
I want every citizen of the State of Ohio to be aware that YES – Amateur Radio still exists and it’s as much fun and more exciting than ever
I want to see the hobby grow. New Hams, and new ARRL members. There is strength in numbers!

- WB8LCD, OSJ 2021-06. First published OSJ 2021-02

TC Responsibilities

Review Technical Specialist applicants
Ohio Section Journal articles
- Technical in nature, explain for non-techies
- Computer topics for techies
- Encourage and promote ideas
- Devices, gadgets, projects
- Reports from Technical Specialists
- Upcoming meetings, hamfests, or events
Point of contact for technical and RFI requests
Available for meetings, hamfests, and conventions