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The HOTLINE |
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Volume XLIV, Number 2 |
February 2019 |
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Baylor Bearathon 2019 |
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HOTARC will provide communications support for the Baylor Bearathon again this year. The Bearathon is Saturday March 23. We need 20 radio communicators to fully staff this event. Most station volunteers would need to be in place shortly after 7:00 am to support the race start at 8:00 am. The entire event should be over and done by Noon. Please make every effort to help us fulfill this Club commitment—just a few hours of your time, and a great chance to practice your radio skills. Contact Clint Anderson, AE5CA at AE5CA@grid-em11.com if you are able to help. Thanks! (See our News page for the latest info, links, and assignments.) |
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From the President |
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As they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” I can’t believe it’s time for our February meeting already!
Skywarn had a good turnout—although I’ve seen larger
attendance, but I think the weather played a part in that. But, for those of us
that attended, we learned a lot.
We welcome your help planning our meetings and programs. So, can you please send me some names of contacts and suggestions for topics or presentations that would interest you, and we’ll try to make some of them happen. Otherwise you might end up with MaryKay presentations every month! LOL For example, someone suggested “remote control aircraft”—an awesome idea, but I don’t know where to start with that. If that was your idea, please help me with a contact name, etc. I also plan to start some Field Day discussions at this month’s meeting, since it will be here before we know it.
I did get compliments on having the Directors sitting at the front during the meeting, so I do want to say “Thank you, Directors,” as we continue that practice. Speaking of the meeting: let’s remember to be respectful of whoever has been given the floor by the President, and give them our undivided attention while they are talking.
We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you this month and can’t wait to see what you’ve gotten into.
73’s and we will see everyone in a few days!
Dwan Needham, KE5JWY
HOTARC President
For the Record |
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HOTARC Meeting of Directors
January 24, 2019
Attending: Dwan Needham KE5JWY – President
Mike Needham WB7SKK – Vice President
John Chamberlain AC5JC – Treasurer
Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS – Secretary
Ed Hynan KC5KNI – Director (2019)
Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW– Director (2021)
The meeting was called to order by President Dwan Needham at 6:36pm.
A motion to elect Bill Cox W5JRM a Life Member was made by John Chamberlain AC5JC and seconded by Ed Hynan KC5KNI. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 6:46pm.
Submitted by
Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS
HOTARC Secretary
HOTARC Meeting of Members
January 24, 2019
President Dwan Needham, KE5JWY called the meeting to order at 7:00pm in the W5NCD Workshop Meeting Room.
Bill Feltenberger, KD5UEW gave an invocation.
18 members were present. One visitor, John Clark KG5JJT, was also present.
Previous Meeting Minutes. A motion to accept the Minutes from November 29, 2018 as published in the HOTLINE was made by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW; seconded by Jim Jud KA5QKL and unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s report. The Treasurers Report for November 2018 as published in the HOTLINE was filed.
The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’
Texas Amateur Radio Club
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Committee Reports:
The President asked for reports from various committees.
· ARES: Reminder of SKYWARN training scheduled for February 2, 2019 and advised to check schedule due to the government shutdown.
· Trailer Committee: No report.
· Repeater Committee: All club repeaters working at this time.
· Web Committee: Website is still working.
· ATV: David Bush, KC5UOZ reported project still progressing.
· Education Committee: Mark Plough AC5DE volunteered to head the committee this year. A new Technician class will be scheduled after the next SKYWARN training. VE testing is scheduled for February 16, 2019.
· Public Relations: No report.
· Special Events: Clint Anderson AE5CA volunteered to head the committee for this year. Bearathon is coming up on March 23. Field Day is coming the weekend of June 22-23.
Unfinished Business
No action taken.
New Business
· Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW made a motion that the club provide $70 to Ed Hynan for Skywarn Training refreshments. Mark Plough AC5DE seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
· Robert Scott KC5PRG and David Wilkins KF5YAH were appointed to the Audit Committee for this year.
Meeting Adjournment
Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW moved for adjournment. President Dwan Needham, KE5JWY adjourned the meeting at 8:06pm.
Submitted by
Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS
HOTARC Secretary
Severe Weather Season 2019 |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI
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Bakers Dozen Weather Net (BDWN) activation
procedures remain the same. National Weather service will request spotter
activation when observed or potential severe weather threatens the area. The Net
is automatically activated any time a severe thunderstorm or a tornado warning
is issued for McLennan County. As the storm season nears, please be aware of
conditions 
that could lead to Net activation.
Monitor local television, radio, and the National Weather Service Weather Radio
for potential severe events. The Net will be activated from the Waco-McLennan
County EOC or by one of the ARES Net Control Stations until the EOC can be
opened.
Things can happen fast when spotting. As activation is a result of a warning, reports should relate directly to the type of warning issued. For severe thunderstorms, winds of more than 50 mph and any size hail (using coins for size) should be reported with exact location and time of occurrence. Remember that the size of hail for a thunderstorm to be considered SEVERE is 1 inch. Please continue to report all occurrences of hail when spotting for the BDWN. This gives us an indication which cells are producing hail and could be an indicator of larger hail to come. For tornados, wall clouds, wall clouds with rotation, funnel clouds, and tornados on the ground, insure that time of occurrence and specific location are reported immediately. In the case of an actual tornado on the ground, direction and speed of movement are needed. Report any visible damage and/or injuries associated with either type of storm. All other weather related reports should be held until requested by Net Control.
SKYWARN 2019 in McLennan County was held on 2 Feb 2019. All BDWN Storm Spotters should attend a SKYWARN session at least every other year. We had 20+ in attendance this year.
Good training and continued excellent spotter participation should see us through the severe weather season.
US Amateur Radio Population
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From ARRL News 2/14/2019 |
The US Amateur Radio population once again grew by about 1%,
based upon 2017 and 2018 year-end FCC database statistics provided by Joe
Speroni, AH0A. The 755,430 total licensees represent nearly 7,300 more
ticket holders than those that were in the database at the end of 2017. 
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License Class |
2018 (year-end) |
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Novices |
8,360 |
1% |
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Technicians |
384,145 |
51% |
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Generals |
175,949 |
23% |
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Advanced |
39,607 |
5% |
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Amateur Extras |
147,369 |
20% |
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TOTAL |
755,430 |
100% |
Advanced and Novice licensee populations continue to decline, as the FCC no longer issues or Novice licenses. A more significant statistic is 31,576 new FCC licenses last year, although that’s 620 fewer than came aboard in 2017.
“New amateur licenses granted by FCC are down 2% over last year,” noted ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, “but this is the fifth year in a row the total has been greater than 31,000. I predict that the number of new licensees will be more than 30,000 at the end of this year as well, and I’m optimistic this trend will continue.”
Upgrades also are down slightly, compared to last year: 9,456 in 2018 versus 9,576 in 2017, she added. “For the fifth year in a row, we have conducted more than 7,000 Amateur Radio exam sessions in a year—an important milestone for the ARRL VEC,” Somma recounted. “Our program continues to provide outstanding service to the ARRL, its members, and the entire Amateur Radio community.”
ARRL VEC filed a total 30,393 license application forms last year, compared to 31,014 in 2017. That includes new, upgrade, modification, renewal, and club station filings. At 7,035 in 2018, the number of exam sessions conducted by ARRL VEC marginally trailed the 7,075 held in 2017. ARRL VEC served 34,493 exam applicants in 2018, compared to 35,352 in 2017. Exam elements administered by ARRL decreased from 47,152 last year to 45,817 this year, Somma said. Nearly 1,800 new Volunteer Examiners (VEs) have been added to the ARRL VEC program.
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 2019 Board of Directors
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President:
Dwan Needham, KE5JWY Vice
Pres: Mike Needham WB7SKK Secretary:
Jeb Leutwyler, KG5WHS Treasurer:
John Chamberlain, AC5JC |
Past‑Pres.:
Lynn Gustafson KD5DZU Director
(2019): Ed Hynan KC5KNI Director
(2020): Keith Adams KG5AWC Director
(2021): Bill Feltenberger, KD5UEW |
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)
The HOTARC VEs will hold a test session at 10:00 AM on Saturday March 30 at W5NCD Workshop, 12772 Chapel Rd in Lorena. 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 NoticeHOTARC will hold its monthly Meeting of Members at 7:00 PM on Thursday February 28 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! |
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