|
|
The HOTLINE |
|
|
|
|
|
Expanding Our 2-Meter Capability |
by Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT |
|
VoIP readily supports voice |
When we speak of amateur radio to our friends and family, some may think that it’s made up of old men and tube radios. Well, it’s more than that—a lot more!
Amateur radio today continues to be a hotbed of experimentation. In just the past few years, we’ve witnessed many progressive trends from surface-mount technology to a plethora of digital communication modes. We’ve also seen the marriage of what appeared to be two disparate technologies—amateur radio and the Internet. It’s now time to bring VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to Central Texas.
This month, Ed Middlebrook KC5NT will discuss the setup of an EchoLink station for one of our Club repeaters. While testing is underway, there are some components that may still need to be purchased to complete the installation. Ed will cover how EchoLink works and how it can be implemented locally. He’ll even describe the legal issues involved in running such a station.
Why do this? Beyond the need to “push the technology envelope”, as with many other aspects of the Amateur Service, there is a need to improve our service to the public. Spring is coming and with it, the severe-storm season. The Baker’s Dozen Weather Net and the local ARES organization has need to include other operators from “over the horizon”. For example, with EchoLink, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth can take part in our emergency nets as if they were here in Waco. Or, in the event of other emergency situations, contact with key Salvation Army offices in other cities could be easily made on the same frequency. It’s time that we put VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to use!
Come join us for this important and informative training and planning session.
(You may have several questions in your mind about the legal issues surrounding VoIP and amateur radio. If you want to really be prepared for the discussions at the meeting, the ARRL has prepared a very good FAQ about this topic. —Editor)
|
President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
|
|
|
Rodney, K5YKC |
A New Year
I would like to welcome everyone to a new year in HOTARC. We still have challenges facing us from last year and probably new ones coming this year. BPL is now a big issue since it is coming to the Waco area. But some of the problems that were inherent in the European BPL equipment are not problems present in the American BPL equipment .
If you hear of BPL problems or rumors of BPL problems be sure you let Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT, or myself know. Don’t try to handle them yourself because our ARRL West Gulf Division and North Section have hams dealing with this directly. All are trying to show a solid front and we don’t want to leave a “bad taste in anyone’s mouth” about ham radio operators. Remember, we are ambassadors for the amateur radio all over the world. These problems can only handled by a “TEAM EFFORT”.
I don’t know if I can make the next meeting or not. So I have asked our Vice President, Terry Williams, KD5KJU, to preside over the meeting. I will be assisting my daughter in a moving project from Dallas to Houston.
Thanks you for you membership in HOTARC and all that you do for your community.
73
Rodney A. Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
|
For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
December 1, 2005
HOTARC’s 2005 Annual Meeting was called to order by President Rodney Baden K5YKC at 7:02 PM. Present were fourteen full members, and one visitors: James Woodlock of Lacy Lakeview.
The Minutes for the October meeting were approved as published in the HOTLINE, on a motion by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, second by Grant Gilliam KE5ERW, and unanimous vote by the members present. The October Treasurer’s Report was also accepted as published in the HOTLINE following a motion by J.W. Roach W5AYX, second by Bill Cox W5JRM, and unanimous vote by the members present.
Announcements
· Dues: Don’t forget that Club dues are due January 1 each year. See the web page for the renewal from and other information.
· Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Volunteers: K5YKC passed along the request of ARRL for anyone who contributed to the relief effort in any way (comfort to victims, radio contacts, handling traffic, etc.) to please register at the ARRL web site.
Committee Reports
· ARES: K5YKC reported that the WMD exercise has been cancelled.
· Trailer: W5JRM advised all to remember to check that the television is tied down before moving the trailer. Mike Ross N5MVL will work on a checklist to help prepare to move the trailer.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that the renewal request forms had been submitted to the Texas VHF-FM Society for the 2-meter repeaters (145.15, 146.98); the 440 repeater is still pending. K5YKC apologized that the 146.88 repeater was still not installed at his home.
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that the calendar function has been upgraded on our web page. Anyone can browse the calendar. Only members can add/edit/delete items from the calendar. Contact AC5CV to learn how to login as a Member.
|
The Treasurer Reports... |
|
|
|
Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 4,210.99 Income Dues $ 180.00 Interest 1.76 TOTAL Income $ 181.76 Expenses Skywarn donuts $ 29.80 P.O. Box rental 38.00 Christmas luncheon door prizes 50.00 TOTAL Expenses $ 117.80 Ending Account Balance $ 4,274.95 Outstanding (as of 1-16-06) Submitted by |
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that a new ATV repeater input antenna was installed and is working well.
· Education: K5YKC reported on the feedback given to the organizers of the Disaster Expo in November (want more advance notice and more opportunity for exposure to students). AC5CV reported on Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge training at Baylor University on November 12 and 19. AC5CV reported on BSA Camporee on February 11 at Wings for Christ ranch, at which they’ve requested a ham radio demonstration and assistance in completing Radio Merit Badge for the Scouts. KE5ERW and Ed Middle brook KC5NT volunteered to help.
· Public Relations: Nothing to report.
· Special Events: Grant Gilliam KE5ERW reported that we still have the meeting room at the Summer Palace reserved at noon on Saturday, December 10 for the HOTARC Christmas luncheon.
Old Business
· Toy Drive: KD5SMC agreed to ship the toys we collected for the ARRL Toy Drive, with the Salvation Army paying the shipping costs. A big thanks to the Salvation Army!!
New Business
· Elections: The Nominating Committee (Norris Martin KB5SLI [chair], Mike Ross N5MVL, and Wayne Branscum KD5SMC) identified a complete list of Officers and a Director for 2006 Board, as posted in the November HOTLINE. The President heard a motion from Roger Miles WB5MBO that the nominations be closed, seconded by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, and unanimously approved by the members present. K5YKC then heard a motion from W5JRM, and a second by Marshall Mabry KD5IQ, for each position in turn, to have the Secretary cast a vote for the nominee. In each case the members present unanimously accepted the motion, and the Secretary cast a single vote for the nominee, as directed. The result was the following Officers and Director were elected:
o President: Rodney Baden K5YKC (re-elected to second term)
o Vice-President: Terry Williams KD5KJU (re-elected)
o Secretary: John Chamberlain AC5CV (re-elected)
o Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI (re-elected)
o Director (expiring 2008): Wayne Branscum KD5SMC
Motion to adjourn heard from Roger Miles WB5MBO at approximately 7:35 PM.
There was no after-meeting program this evening.
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
|
|
HOTARC Meeting of Directors
December 1, 2005
A Director’s Meeting was called to order by President Rodney Baden K5YKC at 7:44 PM. Present were:
· President Rodney Baden K5YKC
· Secretary John Chamberlain AC5CV
· Treasurer Norris Martin KB5SLI
· Director Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW
· Director Wayne Branscum KD5SMC
· Past-President Ed Middlebrook KC5NT
K5YKC heard a motion from KC5NT to authorize up to $50 to be spent for door prizes at the HOTARC Christmas luncheon, a second from KD5UEW, and a unanimous approval by all present.
K5YKC heard a motion from KC5NT to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm.
Submitted
by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
|
SKYWARN 2006 |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI, |
Make your plans to attend SKYWARN 2006 at the Waco Convention Center,
Bosque Theater on Saturday, 4 Feb 2006, from 9:00 AM to about 4:30 PM. Gary Woodall and some staff from the Fort Worth Office of the National
Weather Service (NWS) will travel to Waco to present the McLennan County annual
severe weather training program. Both Basic and
Advanced programs will be presented. McLennan County will
be the site of one of only six Advanced sessions presented this year.
HOTARC will have the Club Trailer on display and will be available to “talk in”
attendees on the 145.15 repeater. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Plan to
attend, even if you have attended in the past. A refresher on storm spotting
and reporting techniques benefits everyone, and will serve to prepare the
spotters of the Bakers Dozen Weather Net for another storm season.
Regarding our Bakers Dozen Weather Net: activation procedures remain the same. NWS will request spotter activation when observed or potential severe weather threatens the area. The net is automatically activated any time a severe thunderstorm or a tornado warning is issued for McLennan County. As the storm season nears, please be aware of conditions that could lead to net activation. Monitor local television, radio, and the NWS Weather Radio for potential severe events. The net will be activated from the Waco-McLennan County EOC or by one of the ARES Net Control Stations until the EOC can be opened.
Things can happen fast when spotting. As activation is a result of a warning
issued by the NWS office, reports should relate directly to the type of warning
issued. For severe thunderstorm warnings:
report winds of more than 50 mph and any size hail (using coins for size), with
exact location and time of occurrence. For tornado
warnings: report wall clouds, wall clouds with rotation, funnel clouds,
and tornados on the ground, again with exact location and time of occurrence.
In the case of an actual tornado on the ground, direction and speed of movement
are needed. Report any visible damage and/or injuries associated with either
type of storm. All other weather related reports should be held until requested
by net control.
Good training and continued excellent spotter participation should see us through the severe weather season.
|
It’s time to renew your HOTARC membership! Send in your HOTARC
Dues and Membership
Renewal Form now and |
|
|
HOTARC Membership Renewal FormMembership renewals
and dues payments are Please print and complete this form and send with your dues to: HOTARC · P.O. Box 32 · Waco, TX 76703-0032(or bring to the next HOTARC meeting) |
|||||||
|
Name: |
|
Call: |
|
|||||
|
Renewing as (circle one): Full Member, $30 Associate, $15 Family*(no charge) |
||||||||
|
Are you an ARRL Member? (Y/N) |
|
Is all your info in last year’s Directory correct? (Y/N) |
|
|||||
|
If your Directory info is not correct, please provide the corrected information in the space below: |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Please provide your current email address, so we can contact you more easily. (Optional) |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
May we share your email address with local ham clubs who wish to contact you? (Y/N) |
|
|||||||
*A Family Member must be a member of the immediate family of a Full Member.
The HOTLINE is the monthly newsletter of the Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club (HOTARC), Inc., a nonprofit corporation, chartered by the State of Texas and principally located in Waco. It is permissible to use any of the original material contained herein, provided proper credit is given to the source.
Edited and Published by John Chamberlain AC5CV, AC5CV@arrl.net
|
|
|
2006 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2006 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: John Chamberlain AC5CV, 855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Director (2006): Scott Shafer KD5MLY, 848-5888, ScottShafer@clearchannel.com
Director (2007): Bill Feltenberger, KD5UEW, 756-1397, bfeltenb@swbell.net
Director (2008): Wayne Branscum, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.88 MHz (input at –600 kHz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session Saturday January 28, 10:00 am. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#63), Room 109. Bring: 1) testing fee of $14 (cash only); 2) current license and photocopy of it; 3) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees), and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe Annual Meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday January 26, 2006 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Meetings generally last about 75 minutes consisting of fellowship, general Club business, and an interesting program. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Ham Radio AND the Internet…
What
a great partnership!