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The HOTLINE
Official Newsletter for the
Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club
Waco, Texas

Volume XLIII, Number 8

August 2018

 

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR)

by Mike Needham WB7SKK
HOTARC Vice President

Toby Driscoll N5SIM, owner of Troy Radio will deliver a presentation at the August HOTARC meeting about Digital Mobile Radio, better known as DMR. Compared to other digital modes, HAM DMR RadiosDMR is becoming popular in amateur radio circles for its lower cost and complexity.

Toby will share with us some first-hand perspectives about DMR: What is it? How does it it work? What equipment do you need? And so forth. I suppose you could call it a “dummies guide to DMR radio.”

It’s my understanding that Toby recently was successful in connecting DMR with Fusion—linking the Fusion repeaters with the DMR repeaters along the I-35 corridor! Digital is where it’s at these days, and DMR is catching on fast! Come learn more about it at the Club meeting!

 



From the President

 

Time once again for summer break to end, and school to start again. For me, this means getting the house cleaned out and straightened up and ready for school homework and projects. While cleaning I found a great number of parts for various projects kd5dzu-2017b.pngthat, for various reasons, I have not finished or, in some cases, even started. Hopefully we will soon see some cooler temperatures so that some of these projects can be completed! October is coming up soon, when we celebrate “Home-brew Night!” This would be a great time to bring out those projects of your own to show off and inspire others.

Just as a reminder, also coming up in October, is the Waco Wild West Century Bike Race on October 20. I ask that all of you set aside that day so that you can come out and help work the race. The meeting this month is a good time to bring in your APRS Trackers. This will give Clint time to make sure they are working, and are configured to work for the race.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the meeting.

Lynn KD5DZU
HOTARC President

 

 



For the Record

 

HOTARC Meeting of Members
July 26, 2018

President Lynn Gustafson, KD5DZU called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the W5NCD Workshop Meeting Room.

Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW opened the meeting with prayer.

16 members were present, and two visitors: Lisa Corbett (Field Day visitor), Ed Landers KI5ARO.

Last Meeting Minutes. Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS moved to accept the Minutes of June 28, 2018 as published in the HOTLINE, seconded by Mike , and unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s report. Mike moved to accept the June 2018 Treasurer’s report as published in he HOTLINE; seconded by Drew, and unanimously approved.

Committee Reports:

·         ARES: Ed Hynan KC5KNI commented that we have not had any opportunity this year to apply our “SkyWarn skills.” So, we all need to be ready!

·         Trailer Committee: No report.

·         Repeater Committee: Clint reported that our APRS digipeater has been somewhat intermittent.

·         Web Committee: John Chamberlain AC5JC reported web site is working well. Possible problem with mail server (July HOTLINE announcement did not go out properly.) will be investigated.

The Treasurer Reports...

Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club
Treasurer’s Report, July 2018

Starting Balance

$8,983.88

Income

 Interest

$  0.07

Total Income

$  0.07

Expenses

 Field Day gasoline

($  35.75)

 Motor Home Repair Donation

( 400.00)

Total Expenses

($435.75)

Ending Balance

$8,548.20

Uncleared activity:

 Field Day Food

($257.16)

Amount in acct. as of

8/10/2018

$8,291.04

Includes Flower Fund:

$178.10

Submitted by
Norris Martin, KB5SLI
HOTARC Treasurer

·         ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that digital ATV will be operational soon and presentations may be coming.

·         Education Committee: Clint Anderson AE5CA has had to change his plans, and now unable to commit to a Tech Class this Fall. Upcoming Cub Scout rocket program might include a ham radio angle. Boy Scouts also planning another Radio Merit Badge College plans at Baylor this Fall.

·         Public Relations: Dwan distributed newly made member name badges printed by Dan Hapenny AG5HF. She also has a couple t-shirts made by Marie Adams KG5NJK that have not been picked up.

·         Special Events: Clint AE5CA reminded us that WWW100 will be our next special event, scheduled for October 20. We need 15-20 members to work this event.

Old Business

·         DMR discussion. The Club received a letter from Jason Johnston KC5HWB, seeking to set up a DMR repeater with HOTARC support. Lynn reported that Jason is willing to supply the Club with repeater hardware. Contrasted with D-Star, this seems more cost effective. Let’s wait until after the August program to consider this offer.

·         Future Meeting Programs. Mike WB7SKK reported that TobyDriscoll N5SIM of Troy Radio, has been invited to deliver a program on DMR at the August meeting. Mike showed us a new Baofeng RD-5R DMR radio.

New Business

·         New member application. Ellie Langley KG5RDA of Roanoke, after visiting last month, applied for Full Member status. Clint AE5CA moved to accept, seconded by Dwan KE5JWY, and unanimously approved.

·         W5ZDN call sign renewal. Clint AE5CA completed Form 605C to apply for the renewal of W5ZDN, got the required Director signatures, and will submit to the FCC. Next month Norris KB5SLI will need to do similarly for the K5ZDN renewal. There was some discussion of changing the designated “trustee” for the club call signs.

Meeting Adjournment

Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW moved for adjournment at 7:42 pm.

Program

KD5DZU demonstrated how to use an inexpensive RaspberryPi or Arduino to drive relays that could be used to remotely switch On-Off the power delivered to radios, repeaters, or almost any electric appliance.

Submitted by
John Chamberlain AC5JC
Acting Secretary

 



Supported Agencies

Ed Hynan, KC5KNI
McLennan County Emergency Coordinator

The following is the beginning of the Supported Agency section of the McLennan County ARES web site. I thought it might be a good review for all ARES and HOTARC members.

https://hotarc.org/images/hotarc_logo_color_large.png

ares_logo_hi_resHEART O’TEXAS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (HOTARC)
Dual support. A.R.E.S. uses the club trailer, repeaters and provides manpower for club events. HOTARC sponsors the weekly McLennan County A.R.E.S. Net and the Bakers Dozen Weather Net on its repeater and allows the use of the club call sign, W5ZDN, to simplify changes in Net Controls. http://www.hotarc.org

Image result for WACO-McLENNAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT logo

WACO-McLENNAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (W-McEM)
McLennan County A.R.E.S. provides back-up communications support for W-McEM. W-McEM serves as the focal point for all emergency communication requests from agencies within McLennan County.

Image result for NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE logo

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS)
Amateur Radio is almost synonymous with the SKYWARN program—the “eyes and ears” of the National Weather Service during severe weather emergencies. Hams comprise the majority of SKYWARN volunteers, who report “ground truths” to local NWS offices, supplementing the sophisticated NWS weather monitoring equipment. ARRL has had an agreement with the NWS, effecting this support, since 1986. The agency consists of a national headquarters in Washington, DC, with regional offices throughout the country, and has undergone considerable reorganization in the last few years. The SKYWARN program is one of the finest examples of hams providing public service. McLennan County A.R.E.S. supports the Fort Worth Office of the NWS: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/.

Image result for american red cross logo

AMERICAN RED CROSS (ARC)
ARRL and the Red Cross have had cooperative agreements since 1940. The current statement was signed in 2002. Chartered by Congress in 1905, the Red Cross provides relief to victims displaced by disaster—from the onset of disaster conditions to the recovery phase. Their national headquarters is located in Washington, DC, but most of the action occurs at the state and local chapter levels, where “the rubber meets the road.” Local ARES Emergency Coordinators work closely with their counterparts in the chapter offices. Look at just about any summary of a disaster event, and you’ll find reports of amateurs out on missions with Red Cross personnel, and providing communications for shelter managers.

Image result for salvation army logo

SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army is particularly active in the recovery stage of disasters, and has communications needs often filled by ARRL volunteers. ARRL staff meets with Salvation Army representatives each year at the annual meeting of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) in Washington, DC. ARRL is a member-organization of NVOAD.

 

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 AC5JC, AC5JC@arrl.net

HOTARC 2018 Board of Directors

President: Lynn Gustafson KD5DZU
President@hotarc.org

Vice Pres: Mike Needham WB7SKK,
VicePres@hotarc.org

Secretary: Dan Hapenney AG5HF
Secretary@hotarc.org

Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI,
Treasurer@hotarc.org

Past‑Pres.: Clint Anderson AE5CA,
PastPres@hotarc.org

Director (2018): Terry Williams KD5KJU,
Director3@hotarc.org

Director (2019): Ed Hynan KC5KNI,
Director1@hotarc.org

Director (2020): Keith Adams KG5AWC,
Director2@hotarc.org

Club Repeaters

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)

VE Testing

The HOTARC VEs will hold a test session at 10:00 AM on October 27 at Baylor University Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Building, meeting upstairs in Room 207. Test takers will need to provide 1) testing fee of $15 (cash only), and 2) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees). Already licensed amateurs must also provide: 3) Reference copy or photocopy of current license; and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 254‑666‑4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.

 

Meeting Notice

HOTARC will hold its Annual Meeting of Members at 7:00 pm on Thursday August 23 at the W5NCD Workshop, 12772 Chapel Rd in Lorena. Meetings generally last about 75 minutes consisting of fellowship, general Club business, and an interesting program and discussions. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed!

 The weather outside is steamy,     
but amateur radio is dreamy.
Since it’s even too hot to walk,
    get on the air and talk, talk, talk!