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The HOTLINE |
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Connectors—The Right Way |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
Making your own cables with wire and connectors is a valuable amateur radio operator skill, not to mention a way to save hundred of dollars. One of our own HOTARC members has proven himself to have outstanding skills at creating and labeling such cables using a wide variety of connectors. It does take some time, but the result is well worth it. He suggests: if you have any length of RG8 or RG-213 needing connectors, bring it to the meeting!
Being able to make your own cables also empowers you to repair worn-out cables. Frayed wires and faulty connectors can cause all kind of mysterious problems. Sometimes it can take hours to locate the problem in a malfunctioning system, only to find the problem is just loose or leaky connector. Grrrr!
Well, have you guessed who our presenter might be? Come see a very practical and helpful demonstration on the right way to make and repair your connectors. You may be able to go home and solve your radio problem immediately!
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
Ham radio equipment need not be expensive
Becoming an amateur radio operator may seem like a costly venture, but with some luck and good shopping skills, even the tight-budgeted ham can be nicely equipped for action.
A brand new portable 2-meter radio, about 50 watts reaching out about 50 miles, can be obtained for $130. Most hams install these 12-volt radios in their vehicles. But another option is using a 12-volt power supply to operate from home for an additional cost of about $100. That same power supply can run other radio gear you purchase later. So we’re not really talking about incredible amounts of money.
All radios need an antenna. A 2-meter car antenna (usually called “mag-mount”) can be purchased for about $20. At home you’ll probably prefer one you can mount up high on your rooftop, mast, or tower. That one costs a bit more: from $40 to $70. Coaxial cable to reach that high-mounted antenna usually costs about 60 cents/foot. For the do-it-yourselfer, you can make your own home antenna. And it’s fun to do!! If built correctly, handmade antennas will work just as well as a store-bought model.
You can usually find used equipment at “hamfests,” too. Sometimes used gear can be bought for 50% or less than the brand new cost. The Temple Amateur Radio Club has just such an event in October at the Bell County Expo. Ask a veteran Club member to go with you to help you spot a good deal. Most of them will be glad to go; I know I would.
Those with big bucks can spend between $500 to $1000 on very nice equipment that provides some additional features, but generally it will work about the same as the less expensive versions.
Rodney Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
July 24, 2008
HOTARC’s July Meeting was called to order by Terry Williams KD5KJU, Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 7:02 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Chaplain Dell Bredemeyer KE5MZS, opened the meeting with a prayer.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas
Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 4,860.97 Income Deposit 7/31/08 $ 60.00 Interest 1.03 TOTAL Income $ 61.03 Expenses Field Day gasoline 74.68 TOTAL Expenses $ 74.68 Ending Account Balance $ 4847.32 Outstanding
(as of 7-13-2008) Submitted by |
Present were twenty full members, and two visitors: Larry Black KE5VMF and John Stewart KE5UBM of Waco.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the June meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Rusty Keyes AD5JY, with second by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the June Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, with second by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports
· ARES: KD5KJU reported that a pipe holding up an antenna rusted out of its concrete base at the City Hall EOC. They are currently looking into getting it fixed.
· Trailer: Mike Ross N5MVL, Mark Plough AC5DE and Paul Moore KE5UBN reported several issues being worked on for the HOTARC trailer. The lights on the outside of the trailer are being worked on along with looking into some pricing on some new tires. An adapter is also needed to allow for the electric brakes to be hooked up. The trailer is also currently overloaded by about 5000 lbs. A possible upgrade to the generator is needed because it is running at its maximum and the electric fuel pump is out.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that Larry Bush W5NCD has the parts for the 440 and that we need a new feedline at the Hewitt water tower site to replace the RG8.
· D-Star: No News
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that Waco Wild West Century Bike Ride info will be coming to the site soon and that Lynn Gustafson KD5DZU and he are working on some new forms for D-Star registration.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that the ATV repeater is well and that the Skycam needs to come down to repair some possibly stripped gears.
· Education: No News
· Public Relations: No news
· Special Events: AC5CV reported that the Waco Wild West Century Bike Ride is coming up on September 27th. All new technicians are encouraged to participate.
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Ed KC5NT gave a Field Day recap |
New Business-
· New Members: New member applications were received from John Stewart KE5UBM and James M Judd KA5QKL. A motion was made by AC5CV with second by KC5NT for KE5UBM. A motion was made by KC5NT with second by AD5JY for KA5QKL. The motions were approved by the members.
· Kenwood TS430 Repair: A motion was made by KC5NT with second by N5MVL not to exceed $300 on repairs. The motion was approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5KJU at approximately 8:10 pm.
The program this evening was an overview of Field Day results by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT.
Our totals from Field Day included 544 SSB, 507 CW and 21 Digital QSO’s. Our points total was 4,530.
Submitted
by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
The primary storm season (Spring) is over, but we are getting ready for
the secondary season (Fall). In addition we are in the middle of the hurricane
season. Remember, the BDWN is normally activated on a direct request from The
National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Ft Worth. The amateurs of Central
Texas have always been there to support this request. The net will be activated
on the HOTARC 145.15 repeater (tone 123.0), and the HOTARC Club Call Sign W5ZDN
will be used by net control. Net control is located in the Waco-McLennan County
Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the Waco City Hall. The back-up
repeater will be the 146.88 repeater (tone 123.0).
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Continue to monitor the weather a. Be aware of the pending weather conditions through Weather Radio and or local TV and Radio broadcasts. When activated, check in to the net—indicating your call sign, name, location, and whether you are fixed or mobile. Remember your safety during net operations is the most important consideration. Whether fixed or mobile, always have a plan to get to a safe location—always have an escape route and don’t hesitate to use it. Should you move because of safety concerns or have to go off the air please notify net control as soon as it is safe to do so.
Activations are normally made for severe thunderstorms and/or tornados. These activations (a Warning for McLennan County) are usually based on Doppler radar observations and are indicated as such in the Warning text. Once a Warning is issued, NWS requires verification of the Warning criteria. This is where we come in. As trained amateurs radio operators, along with police, fire and EMS personnel, we provide this important verification.
WHAT TO REPORT?
Report tornados on the ground, funnel clouds, wall clouds—with or without rotation—beaver tails, strong inflow areas, winds in excess of 50 mph, hail reports (use coin sizes or diameter of the hailstone in inches; ball sizes OK for large hail), water flowing over roadways (4 inches or more), and any damage, injury or deaths associated with the above criteria.
The above are the critical criteria reports that are needed at NWS as soon as possible. Net Control will relay these reports to NWS. Reports of rainfall not causing flooding, winds less than 50 mph, or other conditions that do not meet the severe criteria, while important, should be saved and passed to Net Control on request. Don’t feel that because you have checked in that you must report. Many spotters will check in and then not heard from again during the Net—as none of the severe criteria occurred at their location. Please advise Net Control if you are checking out of the Net for any reason. Also, Net Control will not direct specific routes for mobile spotters to follow. Net Control may ask for spotters to move towards a specific area and this movement should be by the safest route as determined by the mobile spotter.
Keep up the great support that you have always provided to NWS, attend SKYWARN, and above all be safe in your spotting activities.
`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)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-Star)
442.875 MHz (input at +5.0 MHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next
session is Saturday September 20, 2008 10:00 AM. Location:
Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg
(#70 on the map), Room 109. 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.
Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe August Meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday August 28, 2008 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Special
Events: WWWC Sept 27
We Need You!!