|
|
The HOTLINE |
|
|
|
|
|
President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
Club Members Hard at Work
A lot of progress has been
made this month for HOTARC by club members.
First, Scott (KD5MLY) has gotten the 145.150 Mhz repeater antenna back like it was before the coax was shared by a 450 Mhz system. Thanks to Scott’s tenacious work style, he saved HOTARC several hundred dollars by getting this project completed.
Second of all, the HOTARC Trailer has been readied for Field Day by Roger (WB5MBO), Bill (W5JRM), David (KC5UOZ), Norris (KB5SLI), Ed (KC5NT), Wayne (WD5SMC), Jim (KE5FDR), and myself (K5YKC). A new battery was bought and installed, the inside was cleaned from stem to stern, the door handle was repaired, the antenna mast has been “unstuck,” tires checked and aired up, and the coaxial cables neatly tie-wrapped together.
Third, the Salvation
Army RV (W5TSA) was moved from Austin to Waco by Wayne and myself, and has been put into shape by
the work crew. The pneumatic pole was raised and coax was traced out to see
where it went in the RV. Wayne is getting the RV inspected, brought into compliance
with a 2005 license plate, and vacuumed out this week. We will use this RV for
our CW station during Field Day. Thanks to Grant (KE5ERW) for helping
check out the RV’s 2m/440 rig. It works great. If you happen to see Captain Tim
Gilliam of The Salvation Army in Waco (or some of his employees) in the future,
please thank them for making this and other equipment available to HOTARC.
Field Day is just around the corner. I hope to see all of you at the club meeting on June 23, 2005 1900 hours and especially at Field Day June 25th and 26th at Hewitt Park. We will begin setting up around 1000 hours and start operating at 1300 hours. We will be there all night long until 1300 hours on Sunday. We do need help setting up and tearing down. Even if you don’t stay very long, please join us to make at least a few contacts, and visiting a little to let us know how you are doing. We would love to have an “eye ball QSO” with you.
73
Rodney A. Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
P.S. Congrats to the new calls awarded to new HOTARC member Jim Finch KE5FRD and his son Glenn Finch KE5FDQ!
|
|
HOTARC Field Day at Hewitt
Park Saturday June 25 (subject to change) Setup: 10:00 am Pizza Lunch (Dutch treat): 12:00 noon Operations begin: 1:00 pm VE Testing 2:00 pm Dinner: 6:00 pm Ice Cream Social: 10:00 pm Sunday June 26 (subject to change) Breakfast: 7:00 am Operations end: 1:00 pm Tear-down: 11:00 am until ??? |
.gif)
|
From the White House, Washington, D.C. |
provided by Allen G. Pitts, W1AGP, |
|
June 16, 2005 "I send greetings to those celebrating the annual Field Day for Amateur Radio, hosted by the American Radio Relay League. "Across our country, radio plays a vital role in relaying important information to the public and emergency service personnel in times of need. By providing emergency communications at the Federal, State, and local level, licensed amateur radio operators help first responders and law enforcement officials save lives and make our country safer. Your efforts help ensure the right assistance gets to the right people at the right time. "I appreciate all ham operators who give their time and energy to help make our citizens more secure. Your good work reflects the spirit of America and contributes to a culture of responsibility and citizenship that strengthens our Nation. "Laura and I send our best wishes."  George Bush |
 White House photo by Eric Draper |
|
For the Record... |
|
HOTARC Meeting of Members
May 26, 2005
Meeting called to order by President Rodney Baden (K5YKC) at 7:02 PM. Present were: sixteen full members, one life member, and six visitors. Visitors included: Glen Finch, Jim Finch, Pat Hynan KK5KN, Alex Nix, Grant Gilliam KE5ERW, and Joan Roach KA5MND.
The Minutes for the April meeting were approved as published in the HOTLINE, on a motion by Rusty Keyes AD5JY, second by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, and unanimous vote by the members present. The April Treasurer’s Report was also accepted as published in the HOTLINE, following a motion by Larry Bush W5NCD, second by Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, and unanimous vote by the members present.
Committee Reports
· Trailer Committee: Mike Ross N5MVL reported that Roger Miles WB5MBO will try to get casting to repair door handle. K5YKC secured commitment from several members to meet for a Trailer Workday June 11 at 2:00 pm at the workshop of WB5MBO (where the trailer is stored).
· Repeater Committee: W5NCD read a summary submitted 5/20/2005 by Norris Martin KB5SLI (who was unable to attend):
- 442.875 MHz: AA5RT removed his equipment, so we need a location for the HOTARC 442.875 repeater.
- 145.15 MHz: The Channel 25 tower repeater has been deactivated, and Hillcrest Tower repeater activated.
- 146.88 MHz: The Channel 25 tower site was reconfigured for 146.88 (duplexers and repeater), but it failed to ID per FCC rules, so it was turned off, pending reprogramming.
- 146.98 MHz: alive and well.
- K5YKC listed several negatives to the Waco PD tower offer that have surfaced: 1) access is restricted; 2) grounding is improperly done; 3) equipment housing must be provided by HOTARC; 4) very low altitude of site; 5) existing antennas are unsuitable/defective. Terry Williams KD5KJU agreed to talk over these issues with Ryan Holt of Waco PD. Club will hold off pending further research.
· ARES: Ed Hynan KC5KNI reported that check-ins are down during weather events and the Monday-night net.
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that a “photo slide-show effect” has been added to our home page.
· ATV Committee: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that the ATV repeater is down; repair trip is planned.
· Education Committee: K5YKC reported that the Young Marines event went well with about 50 youngsters and 10 HOTARC volunteers. Thanks!
· Public Relations Committee: Scott Shafer had nothing to report.
· Special Events Committee: Field Day will be discussed as the after-meeting program.
|
The Treasurer Reports... |
|
|
|
Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 3,820.55 Income Interest $ 0.90 Dues 60.00 WWC Donation 500.00 TOTAL Income $ 560.90 Expenses TOTAL Expenses $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance $ 4,381.45 Outstanding (as of 6-15-05) Submitted by |
New Business
· Salvation Army RV: KD5SMC reported that the RV was waiting for license by W5TSA. HOTARC will help prepare the RV to operate like ARES for Salvation Army use. We hope to use the van at HOTARC’s Field Day site.
· Member Applications were received from the following:
§ Jim Finch, Associate Member. Motion to accept by N5MVL, second by KD5SMC. Motion carried.
§ Grant Gilliam KE5ERW, Full Member. Motion to accept made by AC5CV, second by KD5SMC. Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn recognized from KC5KNI at 7:43 PM.
Two after-meeting discussions were heard:
Pat Hynan KK5KN invited HOTARC to participate in an ARISS contact to possibly occur at Baylor’s Mayborn Museum on the week after Field Day. Would like to include HOTARC trailer, possibly with ATV, SSTV, HF, with demonstrations geared to children. Volunteers noted: KK5KN, KC5KNNI, K5YKC, KD5ERW, KD5SMC,K5IMC, and Jim Finch.
Ed Middlebrook KC5NT summarized the current HOTARC Field Day plans. June 25-26, setup to begin about 9:30 am, operate from 1:00 pm Saturday to 1:00 pm Sunday. K5YKC agreed to try to replace the “Thanks to Hewitt Emergency Management” sign. We’ll have 3 computers (including 2 laptops from Dan Ward), equipped with logging software, one with CW interface. Operating “2A” with three transmitters: HF in the trailer with yagi tribander; HF in the Salvation Army RV with dipoles; HF and 6m under the pavilion as the GOTA station, using a log periodic from W5NCD.
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
|
Who Are You? |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI,McLennan County Emergency Coordinator |
Suppose a major disaster
has occurred and communications are disrupted. You pack your equipment and
drive to the scene of the incident…only to be turned away for lack of
identification. The ARES ID Card provided
to all registered ARES members might be all you need to gain access to the site
and begin to help in the recovery efforts. Local emergency personnel have been
briefed on the capabilities of ARES and are aware that all registered members
have been provided ID Cards. Know where your ID Card is—keep it with you or
in your vehicle. The card is valid with your signature on the back side.
You may be asked to show additional ID to verify who you are. This card
documents your amateur status and your willingness to help. As indicated in the
letter you received with the card, you may add your photograph and laminate the
card.
If you are not a member of McLennan County ARES, you can find an ARES application on the HOTARC web site http://hotarc.org/faq.html#ares). Follow the directions for completing the application and returning it to me.
The time to join ARES is before a major event occurs, not after the fact. Should an event occur, all efforts would be directed to assisting at the current event. Processing new requests for membership must wait until the situation has returned to normal. So, 1) join ARES today, and 2) have your ID card with you at all times!
|
ARISS QSO Coming to Central Texas!!! |
By John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
Pat Hynan KK5KN is working closely with NASA and Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum to schedule a student contact with the International Space Station (ISS) using amateur radio. Barring any unforeseen complications (always a possibility with anything like this), Pat is facilitating a student QSO with Astronaut John Phillips KE5DRY on Monday June 27 beginning around 11:05 am CDT.
The Museum is planning to wrap a full day
around the radio event, starting at 10:00 am and lasting until 3:00 pm. Along with the actual
contact, they will have additional volunteers to help in the communications
room, be making straw rockets, have a “stomp” rocket available (weather
permitting). They would like to welcome HOTARC’s trailer, the Salvation Army
RV, and the KC5UOZ ATV Van alongside the Museum (in the bus parking areas),
where they will make available 115VAC (20A) with extension cords, if needed.
These vehicles need to be in position by approximately 8:30 am.
HOTARC participation is requested to present various radio-related topics to the students throughout the event. Ideas for topics include: HF communications, message traffic handling, Morse code, storm spotting exercises with handheld radios, “fox” hunting, portable ATV, SSTV with digital cameras, and so forth. Volunteers should come equipped with amateur radio name badges for identification.
|
“SuitSat” (with SSTV!) Coming This Fall |
From ARRL Letter Online |
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) US Team has delivered its hardware contribution to the “SuitSat” project to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. If all goes according to plan, the ISS crew will deploy SuitSat—a surplus Russian Orlan spacesuit equipped with Amateur Radio gear, a DVD of school artwork and other experiments—this fall during a spacewalk. SuitSat will fly to the ISS aboard a Progress supply rocket in August or September.
|
Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, poses aboard the ISS with an Orlan spacesuit of the type to be deployed as “SuitSat” this fall. [NASA] |
SuitSat will beam down special messages and an SSTV image from within the Orlan spacesuit as it floats in space. The SuitSat radio system will allow hams and students to track the suit and decode special international messages, spacesuit telemetry and a pre-programmed Slow Scan TV image through its specially built digital voice messaging system and Amateur Radio transmitter.
The brainchild of the ARISS-Russia team headed by Sergei Samburov, RV3DR—SuitSat will have transmit-only capability operating from the suit’s battery power. The concept has evolved from extensive discussions held during the joint AMSAT Symposium/ARISS International Partner meeting last October.
The ARISS-Russia team is building a launch container and has assembled systems consisting a transmitter, digi-talker assembly, control box, dummy load, antenna cable and control cable. SuitSat’s call sign, RS0RS, and voice greetings—along with educational materials solicited from schools—have been burned into memory. Among other things, SuitSat will carry voice greetings to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Russia’s Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Once deployed, SuitSat is expected to orbit the planet for several weeks before burning up when it enters Earth’s atmosphere.
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
|
|
|
2005 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2005 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: John Chamberlain AC5CV, 855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Director (2005): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director (2006): Scott Shafer KD5MLY, 848-5888, ScottShafer@clearchannel.com
Director (2007): Bill Feltenberger, KD5UEW, 756-1397, bfeltenb@swbell.net
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)
Next session Saturday June 25, about 2:00 pm. Location: HOTARC’s Field Day site, Hewitt Park (Hewitt, TX). Bring: 1) testing fee of $14 (cash only); 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.
.gif){kind=link}
Meeting NoticeThe June meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 23, 2005 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! |
We’re making
plans for
Field Day 2005!
Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 32
Waco, TX 76703-0032