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The HOTLINE |
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Field Day—Making the Mark! |
by Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT |
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Field Day 2006 is upon us, and it is definitely one of the most important operating events of the year. While we get an opportunity to practice putting up antennas and setting up field stations in a matter of hours, there is another part of Field Day that sometimes takes a backseat—communications!
The communications function of Field Day is akin to amateur radio contest operations, and that part of our service is not always enjoyed by most. The leisurely QSOs of daily rag chewing give way to rapid-fire contacts that often raise the blood temperature of operators. However, there is much to be learned in this “machine-gun” style of exchange—including proper voice (and CW) techniques, information organization, and better understanding of radio propagation. This month I will identify and lead a discussion on the finer aspects of Field Day operations. Come prepared to share your ideas, tips and techniques as well. We’ll soon be ready for “CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day. This is...”
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
Field Day 2006 is here! This year, HOTARC members have a greater opportunity than ever to show a lot of our served agencies why amateur radio is the only fail proof way of communicating when all else fails. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and now the May 2006 Waco Tornado have provided amateur radio with a greater participatory function than ever for dealing with pre- and post-disasters. It would be very nice if all members could come to FD—even if for just an hour.
A lot of planning has been done for your enjoyment. Our FD Chairperson, Grant KE5ERW, has made sure we won’t go hungry. One of our members, Scott WD5MLY, has achieved another milestone for the Club by creating Public Service Announcements that the ARRL is now sharing with clubs all over the United States to help meet their publicity requirements. And another one of our members, John K5IMC, will participate in his 50th consecutive FD! Come and thank Scott and John for all they have accomplished as amateur radio operators.
73
Rodney A. Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
May 25, 2006
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,049.39 Income Dues 180.00 Interest 1.00 TOTAL Income $ 181.00 Expenses LCD monitor for trailer $ 464.44 2-wheel trailer registration 64.59 20A power supply 70.00 TOTAL Expenses $ 599.03 Ending Account Balance $ 4,631.36 Outstanding (as of 6-14-06) Submitted by |
The May meeting was called to order by President Rodney Baden K5YKC at 7:03 PM at the Kultgen Automotive Center. Present were seventeen full members, and four visitors: Al McDaniel of Waco (waiting on call sign), Bert Wilson KD5ZYQ of Waco, and Joan Roach KA5MND (wife of J.W. Roach W5AYX) of Waco.
Wayne Branscum KD5SMC opened the meeting with a prayer.
The business meeting was suspended until after the evening’s presentation by Officer Steve Dieterich of the Waco Police Department. Steve gave a very interesting presentation about the current drugs manifesting themselves in Waco, showing samples of marijuana, cocaine, and others, and the dangers of using such drugs.
Following the presentation, the business meeting resumed. The Minutes for the April meeting were amended by removing the wording that stated K5YKC would pay for the small trailer registration, and then approved as published in the HOTLINE, on a motion by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, second by Rusty Keyes AD5JY, and unanimous vote by the members. The April Treasurer’s Report was also accepted as published in the HOTLINE following a motion by Scott Shafer KD5MLY, second by KC5NT, and unanimous vote by the members.
Announcements
· None.
Committee Reports
· ARES: K5YKC emphasized the need for training; see our web site or go to the FEMA web site.
· Trailer: Mike Ross N5MVL reported that all is well with the trailer. Larry Bush W5NCD reported that K5YKC sand-blasted and painted the mini-trailer, and changed it to a 2-inch hitch. Decking, etc. will make the trailer ready by Field Day. KD5UEW made a motion to reimburse K5YKC $25.98 for the cost of the new hitch, seconded by Mike Ross N5MVL, and unanimously approved by the members present. N5MVL made a motion to authorize $38.61 for the mini-trailer registration, seconded by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, and unanimously approved by the members present. Letter of thanks will be sent to K5YKC for the sand-blasting and painting donation.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that 145.15 is still operational on the Channel 25 tower using his own personal power supply. K5YKC reported that he purchased a 20A power supply for $70, as approved last month. Grant Gilliam KE5ERW reported that (acting on their prior interest) he will ask the Channel 25 management for 1250 feet of hardline (at a cost of about $7/ft) plus installation, and leave the old line up to 600 ft for use as backup.
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that links were added to the home page for the various online training courses available. (See ARES report above.)
· ATV: KC5UOZ reported that a new ATV station was being planned for Laguna Park area.
· Education: K5YKC reported that he is still waiting on callback from Hillcrest Hospital regarding amateur radio class.
· Public Relations: Scott Shafer KD5MLY promised to produce a Field Day public service announcement (PSA), which will be shared with area radio stations and available on our web site. Scott also reported that he was approached about installing a ham radio in the Clear Channel bomb shelter.
· Special Events: KE5ERW gave update on plans for Field Day.
Ø Meals: Donation from Bush’s Chicken was a probable, and several others have been contacted.
Ø Radios: GOTA station will use our backup HF rig. HF station #2 (primarily for CW) will use rig and computer provided by KC5NT; AC5CV will provide LCD monitor.
Ø Club trailer: W5JRM agreed to pull the trailer to the Field Day site in Hewitt Park.
Ø P.R.: Radio stations will be given the PSA to be developed by KD5MLY. Inviting Representative Doc Anderson and Mayor DuPuy. AC5CV will obtain brochures from ARRL.
Ø T-shirts: Bill Russel K5WAR delivered finished FD t-shirts to those who had placed orders.
Old Business
· None
New Business
· None.
Motion to adjourn heard from KD5UEW at approximately 8:45 PM.
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
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ARES Membership/Training Status |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI, |
Member Information Updates
The ARES member
information update is limping along. Prior to the request for updated
information (done every 2 years), we had 65
registered members. As of today, the roll stands at 32.
Since I got a late start in the update, I will wait until the end of the month
before I delete the members who have not responded from the active rolls. If
you received my request for update and have not replied, please do so by the
end of the month. As of 1 July, all members who have
not updated their information will be removed from the active rolls.
The following members have updated their data:
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WD5KAL |
WD5GRU |
K5WAR |
WB5MBO |
N5SKF |
K5YKC |
KC5ATR |
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K5VRJ |
N5MVL |
AB5BA |
KD5VIF |
KD5KJU |
K5HOT |
K5BXC |
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KB5KTR |
KC5QIH |
KE5EGI |
AC5QQ |
KD5WGT |
KC5GVT |
KC5NT |
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KD5SMC |
KB5VVD |
KD5UEW |
W5TAH |
KB5SLI |
KI5QT |
AD5CK |
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AC5CV |
KC5KNI |
K5UOR |
WB5OXO |
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Training
Completion of requested training is also far behind where it should be. Training is necessary so that we can interface with the using agency and understand their communications needs. We need to know how they intend to operate and be able to provide emergency communications to support their organizational structure. When I sent out the request for members to update their information, I suggested several training courses—all provided free of charge on-line from FEMA—as a good foundation to better prepare the ARES team to provide support in times of emergency. Completion status of these courses is listed below:
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FEMA, NWS, and ARRL courses completed: |
100% |
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IS-700 |
National Incident Management System (NIMS) |
12 of 32 |
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38% |
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IS-100 |
Incident Command System Intro (ICS100) |
3 of 32 |
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9% |
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IS-200 |
Incident Command for Single Incidents (ICS200) |
2 of 32 |
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6% |
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IS-800 |
National Response Plan (NRP) |
3 of 32 |
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9% |
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IS-317 |
Intro to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) |
7 of 32 |
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22% |
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NWS SKYWARN |
19 of 32 |
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59% |
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ARRL Emergency Communications Course ECC 1 |
6 of 32 |
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19% |
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ARRL Emergency Communications Course ECC 2 |
5 of 32 |
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16% |
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ARRL Emergency Communications Course ECC 3 |
2 of 32 |
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6% |
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While the accomplished training does show a positive trend—better than no training—our percentages should be in excess of 50% for all courses, with NIMS and ICS at 100%. Our supported agencies are expecting our best effort. The only way we can provide that is to complete the necessary training.
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Finally! Action by the FCC on BPL Interference |
from ARRL Web |
In two strongly worded letters, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has directed the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system to take appropriate steps to eliminate harmful interference to Amateur Radio operators. Several hams in the Manassas area have complained, some repeatedly, about severe interference from the BPL system, operated by COMTek on the city-owned power grid. The FCC minced no words in detailing what it wants the city and BPL operator COMTek to do to ensure its system complies with Part 15 rules governing BPL systems and even hinted that it may shut down all or part of the system. For more information, read the full story here.
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ISS in Repeater Mode for Field Day! |
from ARRL Web |
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) equipment will be on the air in crossband repeater mode during ARRL Field Day Saturday and Sunday, June 24-25, but pass times for North America are iffy. Crew members Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, and Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, may work some stations personally, but they’re already booked pretty heavily during FD weekend. For more information, read the full story here.
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ARRL Online Courses |
from ARRL Web |
Registration remains open through Sunday, June 25, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE). Program on-line courses:
Ø Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001)
Ø Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006)
Ø Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009)
Ø Analog Electronics (EC-012)
Ø Digital Electronics (EC-013).
Classes begin Friday, July 7. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page or contact the CCE Department.
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
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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 KD5SMC, 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 June 24, about 2:00 pm. Location: HOTARC Field Day site, Hewitt Park in Hewitt, TX. 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.
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Meeting Notice (NOTE: SPECIAL LOCATION)The June meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 22, 2006 at the Salvation Army Center, on the I-35 service road (near 12th street). 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! |
Field Day is the
opportunity…
to show our “stuff!” Will you?