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The HOTLINE |
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Meet Our NTX Section Manager |
by John Chamberlain AC5CV |
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Jay Urish W5GM |
Our guest speaker at the August meeting will be Jay Urish W5GM, our newly elected North Texas ARRL Section Manager. Jay started out playing with CB radios at age 10, and got his first ham license when he was 15. He currently holds an Extra class license and has a lifetime membership in the ARRL. He’s served as secretary of the Dallas Amateur Radio Club (DARC) for one year, and president of the Denton County Amateur Radio Association (DCARA) for two years. During this time he also became a VE for ARRL and W5YI, and the main CVE for Denton County.
Jay says he’s active on most bands from 80 m all the way up to 23 cm, enjoying DXing and contesting, as well as the occasional rag chew on HF or a local repeater during the commute to and from work. He is most interested in the technical aspects of amateur radio, owning and operating several repeaters in Flower Mound. When the Denton club needs a tower climber or help installing radio equipment in a car or truck, they often give Jay a call.
Jay is now making the rounds of north Texas clubs, fulfilling his pledge to be open and available to hams in this area, and represent our concerns to ARRL Headquarters. Come on down to the August HOTARC meeting, hear an update from Jay as he makes the drive down to Waco, and let’s give him a big HOTARC welcome!
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
Are You Ready?
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Rodney, K5YKC |
I guess I’m a little more ready for hurricane season this week. Things have been really hopping! There is a hurricane exercise call MOBEX in which ARES, RACES and MARS are working with the DPS and Governor’s Division of Emergency Management next week to prepare for our next hurricane. Let’s hope it never gets here (but we sure could use the rain!). I know the state of Texas will be more ready after MOBEX. I thought Bill KE5UEW, and I were going to have to go to San Antonio for this next week, but with a little persuasion and good fortune, we won’t have to go after all. <whew!>
Be sure to remember that there is a Burn Ban in McLennan County and most counties around us. I helped respond to a wildfire the first part of the week and it was very difficult to withstand the heat of the fire and the sun. I must have drunk a gallon or more of water while we were on scene. This fire was started with a cutting torch and it just “got away” from the welder. In fact, he told me that he had never seen something get going so fast like that in all of his life of welding. He said he learned a real lesson—the hard way.
At our August Club meeting, I sure hope all of you will come and meet Jay, W5GM, our NTX Section Manager. I am sure he will talk about a lot of things that are happening in Texas, and also nationally, with amateur radio. I will look forward to seeing each one of you.
Please, especially remain alert for details about our September meeting. Plans are almost final for our Club to have the honor of hosting Astronaut Sandra Magnus as our special guest speaker. If so, we expect to change our regular meeting date to Tuesday September 15. Be watching your email Inbox and the web site for details and an official announcement. This would be a great occasion to invite friends and family!
Rodney,
K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
July 23, 2009
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,591.35 Income Flower fund $ 40.00 Interest 0.23 TOTAL Income $ 40.23 Expenses Repeater repair $ 56.00 N5TD flowers 70.00 Generator repair 183.75 TOTAL Expenses $ 309.75 Ending Account Balance $ 5,321.83 Outstanding (as of 8-15-2009) Submitted by |
HOTARC’s July Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 8:02 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus.
Present were 12 full members, 3 family members and 2 visitors. Our visitors were Toby Tollison of Waco and Larry Blare KE5PIV of Oglesby.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the June meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from James Jud KA5QKL, with second by John Chamberlain AC5CV. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the June Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Jerry Tollison KD5JML, with second by Terry Williams KD5KJU. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: Ed Hynan KC5KNI reported that Gary Woodall has moved to Phoenix, AZ.
· Trailer: No News
· Repeater: No News
· D-Star: No News
· Web page: AC5CV reported that everything is running well.
· ATV: Repeater has to be reset often due to some power issues.
· Education: Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW has some General and Technician study guides available for purchase.
· Public Relations: No News
· Special Events: James Jud KA5QKL reported that he needs a minimum of 5 people to work the Triathlon. The primary repeater for the event is 145.15, the backup is 147.14.
Old Business:
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Larry Blare KE5PIV |
· Since the Trailer Cleanup Day was rained out we need to schedule a new time to complete this project.
New Business:
· None
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5UEW at approximately 8:35 pm.
Tonight’s presentation was given by Larry Blare KE5PIV, Waco Operations Supervisor, on how the Waco trunked radio systems work and what re-banding is going to mean for them.
Submitted
by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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Communication in an Emergency |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Communication during a declared communications emergency is very different from routine day-to-day amateur communications. A communications emergency exists when a critical communications failure puts the public at risk. It could be a storm that knocks down telephone lines or radio towers, a massive increase in the use of a specific communications system that causes it to become overloaded, or the failure of a key component in a system that has widespread consequences. Whatever the reason, amateur radio operators are routinely called in to assist.
Licensed amateur radio operators fit into the equation because we are considered communications experts by the agencies we are asked to support. We have the skills, equipment, and frequencies to create emergency communications networks under emergency conditions. We are licensed and pre-authorized for both national and international communications. We have the ability to rapidly enlarge the communications capacity to meet the growing needs of an emergency situation. The skills that we would need are practiced daily, skills used in everyday amateur communications.
As important as what you are, is what you are not. There are limits to your responsibilities as an emergency communicator, and you need to know what they are. You are not a “first responder”—no need for flashing lights and sirens. You really have no authority. The only decision that you can make is whether to participate or not. You cannot do it all. Helping in a pinch is fine, but you are there to facilitate communications. Finally, you are not in charge. You are there to temporarily fulfill the needs of an agency whose communications system is unable to do its job.
Remember: for us, communicating is Job #1. While you are proud of your skills, equipment, and systems, it is important to remember that your job is to communicate. If requested to deliver a long list of needed supplies to the headquarters, you should be prepared to use any means required—including the fax machine if it is still working. The job is to get the message through, even if it means using smoke signals. Ham radio may not always be the best way to accomplish the communication. Fax, phone, CB radio, an agency’s radio system, or even a messenger on foot may be a faster way to accomplish the task. Remember: communicating is Job #1. Get the message through via amateur radio or any other means.
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Special Event Next Month: WWWC! |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
HOTARC provides radio communications in support of the annual
Waco Wild West Century (WWWC) bike ride, this year occurring
on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Indian Springs Park in downtown Waco,
starting at 8:00 am. This day-long event accommodates riders with
courses of varied lengths: 10 miles, 25 miles, 50 miles, 65 miles, and 100
miles—all of which are supported by rest stops, SAG vehicles, and, of course,
radio communications.
Contact Jim KA5QKL or by phone at 254-235-2315 to join the fun and help him fill all the necessary assignments in a timely fashion.
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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2009 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2009 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 (2009): Mike Ross N5MVL, 836-1083, N5MVL@juno.com
Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director (2011): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@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 scheduled for Saturday September 19, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#70 on the map), Room 109. Bring: 1) testing fee of $15 (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 next Meeting of HOTARC Members will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday August 27, 2009 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Communications Volunteers needed:
Waco Wild West Century Bike Ride: September 26