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The HOTLINE |
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Home-brew Night |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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Have you been tinkering with some do-it-yourself project? Perhaps modifying an existing device to make it better? Maybe you ordered a kit to assemble and are not even finished with it yet. Whatever it is, if it’s involving your hands and seems interesting to you, get it out of your shack and show it off at this month’s meeting. Each year, October at HOTARC means “Homebrew Night!” Of course we’re talking about home-brewed projects! As licensed amateur radio operators, we have the privilege to not only operate radios, but also repair, modify, and even create radios. (Of course, we agree to abide by the FCC regulations.) But Homebrew Night is not only about radios. We’re eager to see just about any project you’ve been working on. We’ve seen some pretty interesting things over the years. So, don’t be bashful. Even if it is not finished, bring it to the meeting. You might just get a surprise from your colleagues and get some extra ideas. Come on, “Show your Stuff!”
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
2009 Is Fading
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Rodney, K5YKC |
Well, the year is starting to fade away. Soon it will be time to elect a new set of officers for HOTARC in 2010. I would like for you to be thinking about what you can do to help.
We have to nominate a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Director.
We also need a place to hold our annual Christmas party. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know. In the past it has been at Chinese Palace on Valley Mills Drive. If we would like to change, please make a recommendation.
I would like to thank everyone for supporting the projects that we have worked this year. We have been asked to do some more during the year such as the Tri-Waco and the HOTRAC hospital net. We also are installing a 440 repeater in the next few weeks.
I would like to wish each one of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May you and your families be blessed.
Rodney,
K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
September 24, 2009
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas
Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,322.06 Income TriWaco donation $ 300.00 Interest 0.22 TOTAL Income $ 300.22 Expenses Repeater power supply $ 169.95 TOTAL Expenses $ 169.95 Ending Account Balance $ 5,452.33 Uncleared
activity (as of 9-16-2009) Submitted by |
HOTARC’s September Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, September 24, 2009 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 16 full members, 1 associate member, 2 family members and 2 visitors. Our visitors were John Hulbert of Spring and Tim Hood of Waco.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the August meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from James Jud KA5QKL, with second by Jerry Tollison KD5JML. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the August Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from KD5JML, with second by Mike Ross N5MVL. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: No News
· Trailer: No News
· Repeater: K5YKC has the duplexers and coax ready at his home.
· D-Star: No News
· Web page: No News
· ATV: No News
· Education: No News
· Public Relations: No News
· Special Events: James Jud KA5QKL reported that the Boy Scouts JOTA will be on Oct 18th.
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KD5DZU Lynn |
New Business
· A motion to approve a New Membership Application from John Hulbert was heard from John Chamberlain AC5CV with second by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT. The motion was approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from Mark Plough AC5DE at approximately 7:37 pm.
Tonight’s demonstration was given by Lynn Gustafson KD5DZU on D-STAR, its data capabilities, and how they are used.
Submitted
by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
I would like to get an early start on the 2010 ARES Net Control schedule. I currently have eight individuals serving as Net Controls in 2009.
The ARES/Bakers Dozen Training Net is held each Monday night at 8 PM on the 145.15 Repeater. I would like to provide this excellent training opportunity to all current members of McLennan County ARES.
Veterans are KC5KNI, KC5NT, N5MVL, K5YKC, KD5KJU, KA5QKL, AC5DE, and W5ZAK. These individuals have done an excellent job and the nets have run very smoothly this year.
For the current Net Controls, please let me know if you would like to continue on the schedule for 2010. Yes or no, but I need to hear from everyone. For any other members, if you would like the opportunity to serve as a weekly Net Control please let me know via e-mail— KC5KNI@arrl.net. Let me know if there are any Mondays that would not be convenient (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and/or 5th).
For those who would like to volunteer, I will add you to the 2010 schedule, and provide you with a copy of the preamble, log sheet, and a letter of Instruction. If you want to participate, please let me know by 10 December 2009. Please respond via e-mail as I can not be at the annual meeting (because of something called “ROTC Parents Night” at school). Again, current Net Control operators should let me know if they would like to continue to serve.
I am hoping to hear from many of you willing to give a very little bit of your time just a few times a year. This is a big part of what amateur radio is all about—preparing for emergency service.
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Special Event: JOTA |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
Each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA). Scouts can earn a patch by participating in this largest annual Scouting event. Occurring on the third full weekend in October, the event starts at 0000 hours local time on Saturday and concludes 48 hours later at 2400 hours local time on Sunday, although each station can choose its own operating hours within this period.
This year Waco area scouts congregated at the Waco Skeet and Trap Club (aka “Waco Gun Club”). The primary draw for the day was the opportunity to shoot some shotguns at clay pigeons. But the Scout leaders acknowledged that it was also JOTA weekend and invited HOTARC to assist. Dave Boehner K5HOT and John Chamberlain AC5CV set up an HF operating station for the scouts. We built a 20-meter dipole on the spot using a spool of copper wire, and strung it between the flagpole and a deer-stand (serving as a clay-pigeon-shoot stand), and used John’s Icom-746PRO running 100 watts.
The weather was fabulous: clear, sunny, cool, and hardly a breath of wind. Pile-ups were common and signals faded in and out in the Saturday morning conditions, as we alternated between calling “CQ Jamboree” and answering others’ calls. We enjoyed contacts mostly from the northern U.S., such as Michigan and Minnesota, although we also made contacts with Maryland and California.
One young scout stayed on the radio for over 30 minutes, and will likely have a future in amateur radio—if someone waters the seed.
Thanks also for the contributions to this event by HOTARC members AE5CA Clint and N5MVL Mike.
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Scouts operate JOTA 2009 with HOTARC’s help |
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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 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 October 22, 2009 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Home-Brew Night:
October 22
Bring YOUR stuff!