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The HOTLINE |
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Field Day 2010 is Here! |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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Sure it’s going to be hot, but that’s part of Field Day! Make your plans now to come out and join in the fun of contacting as many amateur stations on as many different bands as possible in one 24-hour period.
HOTARC will set up their emergency-powered stations at Hewitt Park beginning about 10 AM Saturday, June 26 and operate non-stop from 1 PM to at least noon Sunday. We earn points for every contact made, so we’ll strive to hold our rank as the top performing station in central Texas.
Other important events include the group meals at Noon Saturday, 6 PM Saturday evening, and light breakfast Sunday morning (usually about 7 AM). The HOTARC VEs will sponsor a test session at 2PM Saturday for those wishing to earn their first license or upgrade. We usually are treated to visits by the news media and government dignitaries (e.g., state representatives, mayors, etc.) Saturday afternoon and evening.
Of course, the highlight of the weekend is getting on the air! If you’re new to ham radio, this is absolutely your best opportunity to jump headfirst into HF contesting. Don’t worry—there will be plenty of help to get you past those first-time on-the-air jitters, and soon you’ll be racking up the points! Last year we made 1,180 contacts for a total score of 4,756 points!
For more information, maps, contact info, and the latest news, see our web site: http://hotarc.org/news.html
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President’s Corner |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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Field Day 2010! Woo-hoo! Need I say more? I hope you are as excited as I am and have made plans to be there for at least a few hours this year. We still have some need for volunteers for some simple tasks, so please contact Jim KA5QKL as soon as possible if you can help.
I’ve had several folks asking for help with their radios the past few months. This is a prime opportunity to bring out your rigs and try them out with good antennas and a quiet radio environment. You can make a few quick Field Day contacts from coast to coast in a matter of minutes—proof that it really works!
John
AC5CV
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
May 27, 2010
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart
O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 6,606.60 Income Dues $ 30.00 Interest 0.25 TOTAL Income $ 30.25 Expenses TOTAL Expenses $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance $ 6,636.85 Uncleared
activity (as of 6/14/2010) Submitted
by |
HOTARC’s May Meeting was called to order by John Chamberlain AC5CV Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:07 pm at the EOC at Waco City Hall. Chaplain Dell Bredemeyer KE5MZS opened the meeting with a prayer.
Present were 15 full members and 1 guest. Our guest was Mike Penix of Waco.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the April meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Jim Judd KA5QKL, with second by KE5MZS. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the April Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Terry Williams KD5KJU, with second by Rodney Baden K5YKC. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: KD5KJU reported that Ed Hynan KC5KNI needs some more EOC net control operators.
· Trailer: Mike Ross N5MVL reported that Roger Miles WB5MBO and he did some more cleaning in the trailer. A motion was made by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW to spend up to $150 for 3 new tanks and accessories needed to replace the gas tanks on the trailer. Second was by KA5QKL. The motion was approved by the members.
· Repeater: No News.
· D-Star: No News
· Web page: Mike Ross made a motion to compensate AC5CV’s brother $70 for providing a web server for our club. Second was by K5YKC. The motion was approved by the members.
· ATV: No News
· Education: No News
· Public Relations: No News
· Special Events: KA5QKL reported that $200 will be needed for Field Day supplies.KD5UEW made a motion that we spend up to $200 for supplies, with second by John Hulbert AE5PZ. The motion was approved by the members.
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Frank Patterson, KE5MZB |
New Business:
· New Membership application was received from Mike Penix. KD5UEW made a motion that he be accepted, with second by Norris Martin KB5SLI. The motion was approved by the members.
· New Membership application was received from Peter Maurer AE5GU. KA5QKL made a motion that he be accepted, with second by Mark Plough AC5DE. The motion was approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5UEW at approximately 8:39 pm.
Tonight’s presentation was located at the EOC at Waco City Hall. Frank Patterson KE5MZB gave us a tour of the facilities and talked about what happens at each station during an emergency.
Submitted
by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, HOTARC Secretary
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Hurricane season began 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 the 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. Just as our local Baker’s Dozen Weather Net provides real time confirmation of severe occurrences in central Texas to the NWS, the HWN does the same over a much wider 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. Function 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 at 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: www.hwn.org You can certainly monitor these frequencies to stay abreast of the latest action when storm conditions exist. This information is also covered extensively in the ARRL Emergency Communications Course Level 3.
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Scenes from last year: Field Day 2009 |
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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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2010 Board of
Directors |
HOTARC 2010 Board of Directors
President: John Chamberlain, 855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director (2011): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Director (2012): Clint Anderson AE5CA, 855-5080, AE5CA@grid-em11.com
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)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session is scheduled for Saturday June 24, 2010, about 2:00 PM. Location: HOTARC’s Field Day site at Hewitt Park, Hewitt, TX. Bring: 1) testing fee of $15 (cash only); 2) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees); and for already licensed amateurs: 3) current license and photocopy of it; and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. (NOTE: We will not have a test session in July.) Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe next Meeting of HOTARC Members will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 24 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Field
Day: THIS Saturday!
See inside for details.