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The HOTLINE |
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Field Day Plans AND…“Hints and Kinks” Night |
by
Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
At the June HOTARC meeting, we
will be fine-tuning the Field Day plans for June 24th and 25th.
But after that, we will have a “HINTS and KINKS” NIGHT.
Field Day, Saturday June 26 through Sunday June 27
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HOTARC Field Day at
Hewitt Park |
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Here’s a summary of the Field
Day plans to date: The HOTARC trailer will operate HF station #1 (primarily SSB
phone) that will use the rotatable beam antenna. The trailer will be set up for
VHF/UHF and ATV capabilities. HF station #2 (CW and SSB phone) will be setup
under the pavilion with the “40m electrician’s vertical” for an antenna. The
GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) Station will also be under the pavilion. The antenna for
this station will be a 40-10 trap dipole provided by Rusty Keyes, AD5JY,
supported by a push-up pole (or maybe the park flagpole).
Just like in a real emergency operation, we need all available hands to assist in a speedy—but safe and efficient—station setup. We need you at the Hewitt Park site on Hewitt Road at 10:00 am Saturday, when we will begin erecting the stations and antennas. Afterwards you are very welcome to stick around for a group lunch, which will be a “Dutch treat” of pizza and soft drinks. The cost for lunch will be $3.00 per person. “Taking orders” will occur about 11:00 am, and eating should commence around 12:00 noon. Then…at 1:00 pm: “Let the games begin!” and we’re on the air for 24 hours straight using only generator power! The Salvation Army will graciously serve us a complimentary dinner about 6:00 pm. Please invite your family and friends to come out and see what ham radio is all about!
You are also invited (please!) to assist Sunday morning with the dismantling of the stations. Depending on how fast the contacts are still coming, we usually begin winding down a little before around noon Sunday. Those who have been operating all night will really appreciate seeing some fresh faces to help with the tear-down!
“Hints and Kinks” Night
The official program for the HOTARC meeting this month will be a sharing by the members of their best “Hints and Kinks.” We’re talking about those specialized tools and short cuts that you use at your operating location to make things easer to operate. One example could be that special tool that you have made or bought, or that perfect technique you’ve discovered to adjust a 20-turn potentiometer inside of your radio. Another example could be that special curved pair of needle nose pliers you found at a hamfest years ago. Other examples could be a special soldering iron, Exacto knife, alligator wire clip jumpers, or different sizes of solder. Please bring these items and be prepared to let your fellow Club members in on some of your secrets! We can all learn from each other!
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QRV? (Are You Ready?) |
by
Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT |
Field Day and more…
We are right on top of Field Day –
June 26-27! During this Thursday’s meeting, we will go over final plans for the
big event. All of the prep work is done and now comes our time to execute the
plan. So, come on out and let’s make sure that all is well and ready. CQ FIELD
DAY!
Also, since the Field Day discussion will go rather quickly, come
prepared to share your “hints and kinks”. For newer and younger hams, the ARRL
publishes “hints and kinks” for the radio amateur in each monthly issue of QST.
Some of the better topics have made their way into several editions of a “Hints
and Kinks” book published by the League from time to time as well. What we want
for Thursday, are those handy hints and common work-arounds for your
amateur radio related activities. Don’t hold back! You may present something
that no one else has ever thought of! It’ll be great fun.
See you Thursday!
73
Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
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HOTARC Meeting of Members
May 27, 2004
The May meeting of the Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club was called to order by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT at 7:06 pm at the specially announced location of the Salvation Army Church in Waco. Present were ten full members and one visitor: Charlie Cavin N5BMB of Elm Mott.
The Minutes for the April meeting were approved as published in the HOTLINE, following a motion by Roger Miles WB5MBO, second by Rodney Baden K5YKC, and unanimous vote by the members present. The April Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was also accepted, following a motion by WB5MBO, second by Otto Hackfeld KI5QT, and unanimous vote by the members present.
Committee Reports
· ARES: Nothing to report.
· Trailer: The trailer is parked outside for all (including the Technician class students) to see. Mike Ross N5MVL reported possible SWR problems on coax connected to new high-power VHF rig. He also reported that David Bush KC5UOZ was going to review the trailer’s ATV setup.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that we were still waiting on a tower crew to work on the 145.15 antenna.
· Web Page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that the web page is once again accessible.
· ATV: AC5CV reported that the Skycam was now working properly after another trip to the Hilton rooftop.
· Education: KC5NT reported that the Technician class is underway, starting with six students, now down to two students. A substitute teacher is needed next week to teach the “basic electronics” portion of the class since AC5CV will be out of town.
· P.R.: Scott Shafer KD5MLY reported that he is working on a Field Day public service announcement (PSA), and will also try to create a generic version to share with the ARRL.
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The
Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart
O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 3,367.52 Income Interest $ 0.73 TOTAL Income $ 0.73 Expenses Postage and Directories $ 87.71 TOTAL Expenses $ 87.71 Ending
Account Balance $ 3,280.54 Outstanding (as of
6-16-04) Submitted by |
Old Business
· IRLP: K5YKC reported that it looking hopeful that Time-Warner will donate an Internet connection for the project.
· Donation of RV: KC5NT reported that the Directors have not yet had a meeting to discuss this issue.
New Business
· Club Directory: KC5NT offered kudos for the Club Directory to AC5CV. It was suggested that the time had come to include cell phone numbers for members to facilitate contacting members for emergency response. AC5CV will contact members top solicit cell phone numbers. Otto Hackfeld KI5QT noted a correction: the Hillsboro repeater PL tone should be 123 Hz.
· Field Day: A discussion of this special event planning was held after the meeting adjournment.
KC5NT heard a motion by K5YKC to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 pm.
The rest of the evening was a point-by-point discussion about plans for the Club’s Field Day station. Here’s a summary of items discussed:
· Trailer: It’s ready to go!
· Computers: need two PCs (AD5JY and KIC5NT); AC5CV has LCD monitor.
· Press release, radio/TV: KD5MLY will handle.
· HF station #1: AC5CV will oversee trailer setup.
· HF station #2: KC5NT will provide rig. WB5MBO will oversee pavilion setup.
· GOTA station: use Club’s old TS-140, and/or K5YKC rig. AD5JY will oversee station setup.
· Antennas: Yagi and 40m dipole for trailer; 15/40/80 vertical for pavilion; trap-dipole for GOTA (provided by AD5JY).
· Public Info Booth: no volunteers; see if K5WAR has last year’s display.
· Food: K5YKC will oversee.
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Other planning issues:
ATV? See if KC5UOZ can coordinate.
Satellite: See if K5WAR can coordinate, or at least advise.
Traffic handling: See if W5AYX can help via 2m, as in years past.
Battery powered: Must remember to make five QSOs under solar power.
ARRL Bulletin: KC5NT will try to copy CW version from W1AW.
Photos: K5YKC will ask Otto Caldwell and/or Bob Gentry to photograph our
site; others bring your cameras!
Logging: KC5NT will coordinate software installation.
Operator schedule: K5IMC agreed to operate CW at HF#2 until 10pm, and
back at sunrise; other slots are open! Come one and all!
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
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News from HamCom 2004 |
by
Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT |
I’ve just returned from my yearly pilgrimage to Arlington and here is a sampling from my notes:
Ø During the ARRL North Texas Section forum much talk centered on Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and what roles we radio operators can bring to this new avenue of emergency operations. I had the opportunity to address the group and there is definitely interest in establishing a new section level appointment of Official Training Station. This appointee will reside in each area that has a weekly ARES training net and will present training information to the net. Topics will include emergency and general operating practices for the net participants thereby moving the net to a level of real training, and not just merely a weekly check-in.
Ø The North Texas QRP Club asked Doc Drake, W5TB, to discuss taking amateur radio on camping and canoeing events. Doc discussed how to protect your equipment from the elements, how to setup an effective antenna and overall, how to have fun with 5 watts on the open trail. TenTec presented a gift of a new TenTec 1340 40-meter QRP transceiver kit. **I was the lucky winner!** and I’ll now have something to show off during the October home-brew night!
Ø The inclusion of the Boy Scouts organization was prevalent this year. They took part in many aspects of HamCom, including testing for their licenses on Friday and working toward their radio merit badge on Saturday. I hope to see this addition every year in the future.
Ø Riley Hollingsworth (the “Enforcer”) from the FCC spoke on enforcement issues and he commented that enforcement issues are on the decline. This is a good sign for our service as the more notorious hams among us are being taken off the air. Riley made a very poignant statement by saying, “The microphone is the greatest threat to ham radio”. His point? Our on-the-air behavior says a lot about us and is used against us when other services want to take our spectrum. The moral of the story? “When you are on the air, imagine you are showing off amateur radio to a new friend.”
Ø During the West Gulf Division meeting, director Coy Day commented on the “professional amateur”. Even though we carry the “amateur” moniker, we are truly expert communicators and that will play well for us with the government and served agencies.
Ø We now have a new North Texas Assistant Section Manager. Our very own Rodney Baden, K5YKC, is now a NTX ASM with a focus on CERT. Wow! Central Texas is now even more represented in the North Texas Section.
See you next year at HamCom 2005!
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Remembering
Last Year’s Field Day |
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Come help us make this
year’s memories! |
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ARES
Update: Terrorism/Weapons
of Mass Destruction Exercise |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI, |
NEED YOUR HELP!!
Waco-McLennan County will participate in a Department of Emergency Management
exercise on 13 through 15 July 2004. This is the second such exercise that the
city/county has participated in since 9-11. The first exercise simulated the
use of amateur radio operators to fill 
in
for lost police and fire communications systems. The evaluators were impressed
and have given amateur radio a bigger part of this exercise scheduled for mid
July. The actual exercise will run on 13 and 14 July from 0800 to 1700 with an
hour for lunch. Wrap-up and critique will take place on the morning of 15 July.
This exercise is scheduled to be a major biological event, among other
surprises.
The McLennan County ARES listing shows 21 hams that indicate they would be available 24/7. In order to support this exercise a minimum of 7 operators will be required. This fills the positions needed one-deep. I would like to have at least two hams for each position. Current planning shows a need for the following locations:
· Small Pox Clinic set up at AJ Moore Academy, McLennan County Public Health District Building
· Incident Command Post at the Fire Department Training facility on University Parks
· Emergency Operations Center in City Hall (radios installed)
· Hillcrest Hospital (radio installed)
· Providence Hospital
· Clifton Hospital, Bosque County, Test communications
I foresee running two nets for the exercise—command net and medical net. We can utilize the Baylor ARC repeater for the command net—or simplex. The medical net could use the 145.15 for McLennan County and either the 147.18 or the new Bell County emergency wide area repeater for out of county medical links. I would like to have 2 operators available for each location.
If you can assist both days, one day, or a portion of a day please let me know via e-mail (KC5KNI@arrl.net). I would prefer to have planned volunteers, but could go down the list on the day of the exercise. Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.
In addition to this article, I will e-mail this update to all those who have indicated 24/7 availability. Hope to hear from a number of you. Thanks!
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Mark Your Calendars! HOTARC Field Day:
June 26-27, 2004 at Hewitt Park Friends and Family are very welcome! |
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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2004 Board
of Directors |
HOTARC 2004 Board of Directors
President: Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Rodney Baden K5YKC,
857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Secretary: John Chamberlain AC5CV,
855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI,
829-2138, NMartin@tstc.edu
Past-Pres.: Rusty Keyes AD5JY,
662-1461, RustedKey@aol.com
Director
(2004):
Bill Cox W5JRM, 863-5149, W5JRM@aol.com
Director
(2005):
Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director
(2006):
Scott Shafer KD5MLY, 848-5888, ScottShafer@clearchannel.com
145.15 MHz
(input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.88 MHz
(input at –600 kHz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz
(Cable 60)
Note schedule this month: 2:00 pm at the HOTARC Field Day site. Bring: 1) testing fee of $12 (cash, please); 2) current license and photocopy of it; 3) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees), and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting Notice
This month’s
meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 24, 2003 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of
the TSTC Waco Campus. Meetings generally last about 90 minutes
consisting of fellowship, general Club business, and an interesting program.
Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Come out to our Field Day site!
Saturday June 26, Hewitt Park