|
|
The
HOTLINE |
|
|
Volume XLIV, Number 5 |
May 2019 |
|
From the President |
|
Greetings and Happy Memorial Day!
May has been an awfully wet one and, at this writing, we
just had quite a storm roll through!
I hope everyone is “pumped” about our upcoming Field Day. I know everyone will come through as we always have. I want to thank our new member Ken Ezzell KI5DNJ for volunteering to manage Field Day food, AND also working to get new HOTARC and Field Day t-shirts. Also thanks to Marie Adams KG5NJK for printing the shirts. You both ROCK! And to all our members working on this year’s Field Day—a huge THANK YOU to you all. Let’s have some fun!
As we get closer to summer, Field Day and vacations, I hope all of you remember to be safe and apply plenty of sunscreen. Also stay cool and hydrated as the temperatures continue to rise.
I know that John asked for others to send in some articles and I hope you will help him out and start throwing some articles his way.
To the women and XL’s of HOTARC, I want to thank those of
you that show up regularly and if you don’t come, I wish you would. I really
rely on your being at the meetings. I know I don’t get to talk to you at the
meetings as much as I would like, but believe me: your presence is so appreciated!
I hope to see everyone at the May meeting, as this will be the last meeting before Field Day, and so it will be full of important information about this big event. And oh, before I forget: let’s all remember to pitch in and clean up the meeting room before we leave. Thanks for joining in and making it happen!
Again, Happy Memorial Day! And if you served in our military, THANK YOU!!!
73
Dwan Needham, KE5JWY
HOTARC President
For the Record |
|
HOTARC Meeting of Members
April 25, 2019
The Treasurer Reports... |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Heart O’
Texas Amateur Radio Club
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President Dwan Needham KE5JWY called the meeting to order at 7:07pm in the W5NCD Workshop Meeting Room.
Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW gave an invocation.
The President led us in the pledge of allegiance.
15 members were present. 2 visitors were also present: Don Daze N5DD and Philip Price KI5EIU.
Previous Meeting Minutes. A motion to accept the Minutes from March 28, 2019 published in the HOTLINE was made by Mark Plough AC5DE seconded by Ruth Bush KF5PGJ and unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s report. The Treasurers Report for March 2019 as published in the HOTLINE was filed.
Committee Reports:
· ARES. Jim Jud is stepping down at liaison for the hospital net effective May 1. The position is available if anyone is interested.
· Trailer Committee. The trailer workday will be May 3 at 9.00am. Both Trailers are registered.
· Repeater Committee. All the club repeaters are working. Clint will have a new DMR repeater working on 441.300 in about a week.
· Web Committee. The mail lists have been receiving a lot of spam recently, but John has the problem under control.
· ATV. No change.
· Education Committee. The Technician class on March 30th had 21 students. 18 people took the test with 12 passing. One person also upgraded to General.
· Public Relations. Field Day invitations have been sent out to public officials from around the area.
· Special Events. Field Day is coming June 22 and June 23. WWW100 will be September 21.
Unfinished Business: None.
New Business: None.
Meeting Adjournment. Mark Plough AC5DE moved for adjournment, Mike Needham WB7SKK seconded. President Dwan Needham KE5JWY adjourned the meeting at 8:14pm.
There was no after-meeting program this month.
Submitted by
Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS
HOTARC Secretary
Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI
|
Hurricane season begins on 1 June and ends on 30 November.
It is during this time that Hurricane Watch Net (HWN), the primary wide-area
amateur radio hurricane response and information source, is activated. The HWN
serves as eyes and ears for the National Weather Service, and relays official
weather bulletins to those monitoring the Net in affected areas. 
The Net also serves as a back-up communication link
between NWS forecast centers, EOCs, and other disaster relief efforts. Members
of our local Bakers Dozen Weather Net provide real time confirmation of
severe occurrences to the NWS. The HWN does the same over a wide area.
The HWN is activated for all hurricanes that are a threat to land in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. The Net will normally activate when a hurricane is moving towards land at a range of 300 miles. The National Hurricane Center may occasionally request activation for a tropical storm, or a storm that is beyond 300 miles from land.
Once activated, the HF HWN has the following primary functions:
1. Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean island nations, emergency operations centers, and other interests in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.
2. Obtain weather information from reporting stations and observers who are not part of the routine Network for the National Weather Service.
3. Serve as a back-up wide-area communication link for the National Hurricane Center, emergency operations centers, and the National Weather Service, and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during, and after hurricane events.
4. Relay initial damage assessments to the National Hurricane Center.
The HWN and the operation of W4EHW at
the National Hurricane Center in Miami are staffed entirely by volunteers. Net
operations are usually conducted on 14.325 MHz, although when band
conditions warrant the Net moves to 3.950 MHz. Standard operating procedures,
operating tips, reporting forms, and tips on taking observations can be found
at: hwn.org
Looking Back: Field Days of Yesteryear |
by John Chamberlain,
AC5JC
|
As we turn our focus to this middle-of-the-year special event, I encourage everyone to check back over the record of past Field Day’s maintained on our web site—extending back two decades! It is reminiscent for long-time members like me, and will be illuminating for new members. Clicking the links to past years, you’ll see current members looking a lot younger, members now-SK, and youngsters who have gone on to earn their licenses. You’ll see past challenges and experiences: rain and heat, satellites and balloons, and of course, FOOD! Wow. A lot of history!
OK, back to
the present. For the sake of newcomers to the Club, you should at least check
out last year’s summary for a
sense of what’s to come. We are allowed to have Hewitt Park overnight—a very
rare privilege. Beginning about 10AM we set up—in about 2 hours!—three stations
capable of worldwide communications! Then the 24 hours of fun begins! Make your
plans to be there, at least for a few hours! Bring your family, too, to see ham
radio in action!
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
|
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 are NOT
scheduled to offer a test session during May. Stay tuned for our next
testing plans, or check the ARRL-VEC web site for nearby test sessions. FYI: 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 May 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! |
|
Have you made plans for |
|
