|
|
The HOTLINE |
|
|
|
|
|
Transmitting Data via D-Star |
by Lynn Gustafson, KD5DZU |
|
|
Handling message traffic is very important for emergency communications support via amateur radio. Lynn will demonstrate and discuss the radio equipment necessary to get on D-Star, how to connect your computer to the radio, and run DCHAT and DRATS programs that will enable you to handle message traffic and other data transfers via D-Star.
For example, here’s another data transfer that is being done with D-Star…are you familiar with APRS on common 2m packet frequencies? Hams use APRS is used to communicate position, weather, messaging, date/time, and much more. On D-Star, Lynn will show how DPRS can digitally accomplish everything that APRS does via analog communications.
|
President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
And The Rain Came
|
|
|
Rodney, K5YKC |
I don’t know how much rain all of you got, but we got over 8 inches last week end in Lorena. It was great! The McLennan County Burn Ban has been lifted.
We sure hope all of you enjoyed meeting Jay, W5GM, NTX Section Manager at the last meeting. He has enjoyed working with us. Keep up the good work, Jay.
|
|
|
Sandra Magnus, KE5FYE |
Astronaut Dr. Sandra Magnus was outstanding last week as our special guest speaker. She “held us in the palm of her hand” for over an hour. She is also one very nice lady—and so graceful. We thank her very much. She also said she would maybe come back for a regular meeting. Wouldn’t that be great? Thank you, Sandy.
As you have already seen in emails, preparations for the WWWC are in full swing. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so. We need your help for this big event!!
And I will remind you now that next month we will need a Nominating Committee to select officers for next year. Please consider taking part in the leadership of HOTARC. It’s your Club.
I hope to see you at the September meeting.
Rodney, K5YKC
HOTARC President
|
For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
August 27, 2009
|
The Treasurer Reports... |
|
|
|
Heart O’ Texas
Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,321.83 Income Interest 0.23 TOTAL Income $ 0.23 Expenses TOTAL Expenses $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance $ 5,322.06 Uncleared
activity (as of 9-16-2009) Submitted by |
HOTARC’s August Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus.
Present were 16 full members, 2 associate members, 1 family member and 4 visitors. Our visitors were Jay Urish W5GM of Flower Mound, Jay McPhail of Waco, Clarence Hammer KL7CH of Anchorage, AK and Michael Carter KF5CQB of Robinson.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the July meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, with second by James Jud KA5QKL. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the July Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from KD5UEW, with second by Jerry Tollison KD5JML. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: No news.
· Trailer: KA5QKL is going to buy some no-slip pads for the trailer steps.
· Repeater: No news.
· D-Star: No news.
· Web page: No news.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that everything is working.
· 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 someone to deliver the trailer for the WWWC Bike Ride and take it home after the race. The Boy Scouts JOTA will be on Oct 17th. We will need a few helpers and someone to pull the trailer.
|
Jay Urish W5GM |
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5UEW at approximately 7:34 pm.
Tonight’s speaker is our North Texas ARRL Section Manager, Jay Urish. He gave us an update on things that have been going on in Congress and some changes that he will be making as our new Section Manager.
Submitted
by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
|
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Imagine setting up for Field Day and spending a 24 hour period contesting with other amateurs around the nation and the world without keeping station logs. When the contest period is over you are required to submit your results and you send in an estimate of the numbers that you contacted. Who would be declared the winners? With estimates, no one would really know. Some would be low estimates, some right on, and I imagine that most would be overestimates. No real documentation of what took place.
Now translate that contest (demonstration of emergency
capabilities) into a real life emergency situation—Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane
Rita, or any other real disaster situation.. Now, it is not a
contest, a game, or a fun challenge. People’s lives, health, and welfare depend
on the communications getting through: medicine needed here, food and water
needed there, hazardous materials discovered, flood and damage reports, casualties,
and so forth—all communications that are critical for those affected and those
trying to provide and coordinate relief. How do you know that the correct information got to the
correct persons or agencies? How do you know who requested the items? How do
you know who approved and released the request? How do you know who is
responsible for getting it there? Remember: as amateurs supporting an
emergency, we are just the messenger. Those affected or supporting the
emergency depend on us—the messenger—to get the right info to the right agency.
That is why amateur logs are so important. In the heat of the emergency,
you might just want to pass the information and provide the requested
assistance. But, if something goes wrong or is misunderstood, the messenger is
the first one to “receive grief.” So, always take the time to log each
communication. You may use your own brand of shorthand, as we do with
weather nets, and then transcribe or fill in the blanks later. Document what,
when, where, why, and especially who is making the request or who is responding
to the request. Get it on paper or computer so you, the lowly messenger, can
provide the necessary specifics.
The ARES net controls for the Monday night nets all keep and submit logs. This is documentation that the net took place. We need to practice this in all our other organized support events, so that it becomes automatic when we are the messengers in times of real emergency.
|
Special Event: WWWC! |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
HOTARC provides radio communications in support
of the annual Waco Wild West Century (WWWC) bike, 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.
This event requires many volunteers in the pace cars and at the many rest stops around the course. Amateur radio operators at the rest stops permit relaying of timely progress information as well as break-downs and injuries, need for supplies, and so forth. We also use APRS to keep track of the many support vehicles, displaying their current locations on a map back at the starting line.
Contact Jim KA5QKL to join the fun and help him fill all the necessary assignments in a timely fashion.
|
Announcement: Texas Young Ladies Round-Up Net (TYLRUN) is having its 54th annual meeting on October 2-3 in Denton, TX. President Dorothy Jones KA5DWR will be hosting the party. Contact Linda Hynan AC5QQ for more details. |
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
|
|
|
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 October 24, 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 September 24, 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