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The HOTLINE |
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HOTARC Field Day at Hewitt Park Saturday June 28 (subject to change) Setup begins: »10:00 am Lunch: 12:00 noon Operations begin: 1:00 pm VE Testing: »2:00 pm Dinner: 6:00 pm Sunday June 29 (subject to change) Breakfast: 7:00 am Operations end: 1:00 pm Tear-down begins »12:00 pm |
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Scenes from Field Day 2007… |
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
The young man shown is this article is sure the bravest I have seen in a long time. I don’t even know if he is a ham but sometimes, when people are in emergency situation, anything goes. Remember, ham frequencies in his country could be used for Citizen Band communications. I have included the link so that each one of you can read more about the terrible destruction in Mumbai, India.
Rain, rain, go away come again another day...
Our BMC officials only want to play..! (from
IBN Live)
Abhijit Pant and other amateur ham operators
are taking part in a novel initiative – they are using ham radio as a rescue
tool during the monsoon season in Mumbai.
When telephone lines fail and mobile networks get jammed, voices crackling over the airwaves could save citizens caught in waterlogged areas.
“When everything fails, we rise. This is a challenge and Ham really works during crucial occasions. This radio is better than other means of communication,” Abhijit said.
When they receive information about stranded people, mobile Ham stations and Ham operators relay information to a centralized control room which helps those in distress get access to emergency services.
Ham enthusiasts point out that the system would be a huge success as Ham radio is regarded as the best back-up communication system during calamities.
“During the killer earthquake in Bhuj we used it. It is also used during bomb blasts,” Trustee of JNA wireless, P Venkatraman said.
It may have started as amateur radio, but with the skills involved, it’s far from being just amateur. So during a heavy downpour, Ham radio could help make life easier for Mumbaikars.
For the whole story, visit the IBN Live web site.
Rodney
Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
May 22, 2008
HOTARC’s May Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC, Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Chaplain Dell Bredemeyer KE5MZS opened the meeting with a prayer.
Present were twenty-one full members, one associate member, one family member, and seven visitors. Visitors were: Rachel McDaniel KE5TEP of Waco, Paul Moore KE5UBN of Hewitt, Mildred Tollison KD5NER of Waco, Wendell Gustafson KE5UBL of Waco, Josh Pointer KE5SRZ of Waco, Gene Funk N5UIN of Robinson, and Trish Buro.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the April meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, with second by Joe Funk AF5D, and approved by the members.
A motion to approve the April Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Terry Williams KD5KJU, with second by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, and approved by the members.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 6,165.25 Income Dues $ 150.00 Interest 1.31 TOTAL Income $ 151.31 Expenses Liability insurance $ 320.00 Nick Piesko dinner 14.52 HOTARC trailer registration 42.24 TOTAL Expenses $ 376.76 Ending Account Balance $ 5,939.80 Outstanding (as of 6-16-2008) Submitted by |
Committee Reports
· ARES: K5YKC reported about the exercise at the Waco airport, and the use of some new frequencies.
· Trailer: K5YKC reported that the trailer was use at the recent Komen race. Directors are considering an auction to sell the Icom IC-2720 (2m/440 rig) now in the trailer, and replacing it with an Icom ID-800 (D-Star capable), which cost about $600 new, or about $480 used. Following discussion, a motion was recognized from Larry Bush W5NCD to buy and install the ID-800 and then auction the IC-2720, seconded by Al McDaniel KE5ISO, and approved by the members.
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146.98 repeater cavities |
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported interference (from the DFW repeater) on our registered frequency of 146.88 now being used for the D-star repeater, so recommends switching the D-Star repeater to 146.98 MHz. Norris brought the actual repeater equipment for both repeaters to the meeting tonight (for show ‘n tell), hence both are off the air now. KB5SLI reported that the 98 cavities are malfunctioning; W5NCD agreed to fix them. A discussion ensued, including possibly buying a newer, tunable repeater for 88. In the end, a motion was recognized from Roger MilesWB5MBO to move the D-Star repeater to the DPS location and operate it at 146.98 MHz, seconded by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, and approved by the members. Another motion was recognized from WB5MBO to abandon the 146.88 MHz frequency rather than continue trying to coexist with the DFW repeater, seconded by Mark Plough AC5DE, and approved by the members. Another discussion ensued about placing a 440 repeater on the Hewitt water tower location. The Committee will investigate and report.
· D-Star: See discussions under the Repeater Committee..
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that a page was added about using Gmail.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that the ATV repeater is working well, when it is accessed.
· Education: No report.
· Public Relations: No report.
· Special Events: K5YKC reported that we still need a volunteer for the Special Events Committee chairperson. Thanks to all who participated in the Komen Race. A discussion ensued about plans for our 2008 Field Day. John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that he will not be able to attend (and manage trailer setup) as planned, so AC5DE agreed to manage the trailer setup. Other assignments are shown in the table (see below).
K5YKC invited all to accompany him to HamCom in Plano.
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Field Day Tasks |
Assignment |
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Oversee safety at the site. |
Rodney Baden K5YKC |
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Manage the CW station. |
Ed Middlebrook KC5NT |
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Manage the HOTARC trailer (10-15-20-80 HF station) setup. |
Mark Plough AC5DE |
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Manage VHF sideband operations. |
Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW |
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Manage GOTA station. |
Grant Gilliam KE5ERW |
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Manage food for noon and evening. |
Grant Gilliam KE5ERW |
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Manage public relations efforts. |
Scott Shafer KD5MLY |
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Manage “traffic handling” efforts. |
JW Roach W5AYX |
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Manage education-related activities (e.g., Boy Scout troop planning to visit). |
Rodney Baden K5YKC |
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Transportation of HOTARC trailer to Hewitt site. |
Mark Plough AC5DE |
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Manage and conduct VE testing. |
Linda Hynan AC5QQ |
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Manage generators. |
Need volunteer! |
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Bring ladders. |
Paul Holroyd KE5MZF |
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Manage computers for logging. |
Ed Middlebrook KC5NT |
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Manage transport and setup of Salvation Army vehicle (CW station). |
Wayne Branscum KD5SMC |
Announcements
· KE5ISO reported that the Baylor Amateur Radio Club (BARC) may be revived soon. He also encouraged all to visit and support the Mayborn Museum amateur radio exhibit, for which a old CW key and operating station are still needed. Unfortunately the Baylor President doesn’t like the idea of antennas, and so the Club must find a way to setup and use “hidden antennas.”
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Detective Trish Buro |
· An upcoming ARISS contact In June at a local area school is being arranged by Pat Hynan KK5KN. We anticipate a need for HOTARC to support this effort. Stay tuned.
New Business-
· New Members: New member applications were received from Henry David Canfield KI5UJS, Paul Moore KE5UBN, Joshua Pointer KE5SRZ, and Drew Dickenson KE5UBO. A motion to accept all the applications was made by KC5UEW, seconded by KE5ISO, and approved by the members. Mildred Tollison KD5NER was approved for Family membership.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from WB5MBO at approximately 8:03 pm.
The program for the evening was a presentation about the problem of identity theft by Detective Trish Buro of the Waco Police Department. Highlights: Get a free credit report every year. When a victim, 1) File a fraud alert at one of the three reporting companies (Equifax: www.equifax.com; Experian: www.experian.com; TransUnion: www.transunion.com). 2) Close all the accounts that have been compromised. 3) File a police report. And 4) Contact and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. For additional info, visit the FTC’s ID theft web site.
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Hurricane season began on
1 June and ends on 30 November. It is during this time that Hurricane Watch Net,
(HWN) the primary wide-area amateur radio hurricane response and information
source, is activated. The HWN serves as eyes and ears for the National
Weather Service, and relays official weather bulletins to those monitoring
the net in affected areas. The net also serves as a back-up communication link
between NWS forecast centers, EOCs, and other disaster relief efforts. As with
our local Bakers Dozen Weather Net, we provide real time confirmation of severe
occurrences to the NWS. The HWN does the same over a wide area.
The HWN is activated for all hurricanes that are a threat to land in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. The net will normally activate when a hurricane is moving towards land at a range of 300 miles. The National Hurricane Center may occasionally request activation for a tropical storm or a storm that is over 300 miles from land.
Once activated, the HF HWN has the following primary functions:
1. Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean island nations, emergency operations centers, and other interests in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.
2. Obtain weather information from reporting stations and observers who are not part of the routine network for the National Weather Service.
3. Function as a back-up wide-area communication link for the National Hurricane Center, emergency operations centers, and the National Weather Service, and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during, and after hurricane events.
4. Relay initial damage assessments to the National Hurricane Center.
The HWN and the operation at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center in Miami are staffed entirely by volunteers. Net operations are usually conducted on 14.325 MHz, although when band conditions warrant the net moves to 3.950 MHz. Standard operating procedures, operating tips, reporting forms, and tips on taking observations can be found at http://hwn.org. This information is also covered extensively in the ARRL Emergency Communications Course Level 3.
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Join the D-Star Net |
by Lynn Gustafson KD5DZUr |
Everyone is invited to join the W6DHS net, taking place on the D-Star Reflector 001C. (Watch for announcements of dates and times on the Members email list.) After voice check-ins, the net will switch over to dChat which is an instant-messaging-like terminal for D-Star. The dChat software is a small, free text terminal. A script will automatically switch you over to the reflector.
Here is a link to a PDF containing the pin out for the OPC-1384 cable: http://cobalt.n5zpr.com/Media/icom_cables.pdf I bought one 10-foot cable, cut it in half, and soldered a female DB9 to the cut end. It works great! Ed KC5NT and I have been successfully using these cables.
I added two new features to the D-Star Gateway. The first is a linked status indicator. Program your radio with UR call as W5ZDN^^I and RPT1 as W5ZDN^^C and RPT2 as W5ZDN^^G. Key up your radio for a second or two. Once you unkey your radio you should hear one of two messages. If you hear “This is the W5ZDN repeater” then the gateway is not connected to a reflector. If you hear “Remote system linked” then the gateway is connected to a reflector.
The second feature is an echo. Program your radio as stated above, but for UR call use W5ZDN^^E. Remember the carrots “^” are spaces. The E and I must be in the 8th position. Now when you key-down and say something, the message will be repeated after you key-up. This is a great technique for hearing how well your signal is being received by the repeater.
Hope everyone can make it to one of these nets. This is a great time to test the radios. Let me know if you need help.
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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2008 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2008 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
Director (2008): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Director (2009): Mike Ross N5MVL, 836-1083, N5MVL@juno.com
Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.88 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-star)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session is Saturday June 28,
2008 about 2:00 pm at the HOTARC
Field Day site in Hewitt Park. As usual, you
must bring: 1) testing fee
of $14 (cash only); 2) a photo
ID (two for first-time licensees); and for already licensed amateurs: 3) current license and photocopy of it;
and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. You
must bring the photocopies!
Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe June Meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 26, 2008 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Are You Ready
for June 28-29?