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The HOTLINE
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by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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Have you been tinkering with a do-it-yourself project? Or modifying an existing device to make it better? Maybe you tried your hand with a kit to assemble. Whatever it is, if it involves making something interesting, come show it off at this month’s Club meeting. October at HOTARC means “Homebrew Night!” Of course we’re talking about home-brewed projects! As licensed amateur radio operators, we have the privilege to not only operate radios, but also repair, modify, and even create radios. Non-licensed members of the public can be fined for such activities! But Homebrew Night is not only about radios. We’re eager to see just about any project you’ve been working on. We’ve seen some pretty interesting things over the years. So, don’t be bashful. Even if it is not finished, bring it to the meeting. Come on, “Show your Stuff!”
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President’s Corner |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
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HOTARC said a final 73 to a very dear and valuable member this past month, Ed Middlebrook, KC5NT. Ed’s contributions to central Texas amateur radio and over 18 years as a HOTARC member are too numerous to list here. We will never forget Ed’s infectious smile and always-positive outlook on any challenge that presented itself to the Club or the ham radio community. A wonderful group of HOTARC members and other hams served as honorary pallbearers at Ed’s funeral service, and the Club donated a nice flower spray to Ed’s funeral. If you would like to contribute in honor of Ed, please send/give your gift to our Treasurer, or donate to our Flower Fund online. Thanks! Ed and his wife donated all of the KC5NT radio gear to HOTARC, and we plan to hold an auction at the January 2011 meeting.
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The 2010 HOTARC year is drawing to a close. Although we’re always “at the ready” for stormy weather, we have no more special events to which we’re committed. So, we typically wrap up the year with a show-n’-tell evening at the October meeting which we affectionately call “homebrew night.” I hope you’ll not be shy, but rather bring out a project or two that you’ve completed this past year to share and inspire the rest of the members.
And looking ahead to the closing of the 2010 HOTARC year, we will be having our Annual Meeting on December 2, at which we will elect our Officers and Directors for 2011. Would you consider helping to lead in our Club?
Finally, we’ll soon be announcing our annual HOTARC Christmas Luncheon to be held in December. Stay tuned to your email InBox for that news, and I hope you and your family can make plans to join us!
John
AC5CV
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC
Meeting of Members
September 23, 2010
HOTARC’s September Meeting was called to order by John Chamberlain AC5CV on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Rodney Baden K5YKC opened the meeting with a prayer.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart
O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 6,256.49 Income Dues $ 15.00 Donation @ WWWC 20.00 Interest 0.26 TOTAL Income $ 35.26 Expenses Generator parts $ 14.34 Generator parts 98.85 Ice Cream 35.41 TOTAL Expenses $ 148.60 Ending Account Balance $ 6,143.15 Uncleared
activity (as of 9/15/2010) Submitted
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Present were 16 full members and 1associate member and 1guest, Yolanda Gustafson.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the August meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, with second by Scott Hamilton K5ZOH. The motion was approved by the members.
A motion to approve the August Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from K5YKC, with second by John Hulbert AE5PZ. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: Need more volunteers for Net Control.
· Trailer: Mike Ross N5MVL reported that a new fuel pump didn’t fix the generator problem. So, the carburetor was cleaned, spark plugs replaced, and the diaphragm replaced. The trailer generator is now working! New U-bolts were installed on the tribander, and the coax has been secured properly. A motion was made by KD5UEW to reimburse N5MVL $98.85 and Jim Jud KA5QKL $14.34, for repair parts, with second from K5ZOH. The motion was approved by the members. K5YKC and Ron Bowden AA5RT reset the processor on the trailer’s HF rig, and all is well. Accidental operator error or power glitches during Field Day probably the cause.
· Repeater: The 145.15 repeater has been removed from the Channel 25 tower. Larry Bush found that it would cost $600 for a tower crew to attach our 300ft of coax to an existing 200ft of coax and antenna already on the tower. N5MVL made a motion to proceed with this option, with second by K5YKC, and approved by the members.
· D-Star: No News
· Web page: AC5CV reported that an email address of chaplain@hotarc.org has been setup for any prayer requests or communications that you would like to have with Chaplain Dell Bredemeyer KE5MZS.
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HOTARC Ice Cream Social |
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that the ATV repeater seems to periodically need resetting, and discussed the idea of installing a timer on the repeater to turn it OFF/ON every night at 3AM, for example.
· Education: AC5CV and K5YKC suggested that a future meeting program could bring several HF rigs to the meeting, to give everyone hands-on experience operating various HF rigs (probably with dummy loads).
· Public Relations: Mark Plough AC5DE volunteered to act as the Club’s PR contact.
· Special Events: No News
New Business:
· KD5UEW made a motion to repay Norris KB5SLI $35.41 for the Ice-Cream Social supplies, with second by K5YKC, and approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from KD5UEW at approximately 8:01 pm.
Tonight’s meeting concluded with an Ice-Cream Social, update from Jim Jud KA5QKL on the positions for the upcoming WWWC Bike Ride, and a slideshow of pictures from the TMOM special event.
Submitted by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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Communication in an Emergency |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
Communication during a declared communications emergency is
very different from routine day-to-day amateur communications. A communications
emergency exists when a critical communications failure puts the public at
risk. It could be a storm that knocks down telephone lines or radio towers, a
massive increase in the use of a specific communications system that causes it
to become overloaded, or the failure of a key component in a system that has widespread
consequences. Whatever the reason, amateur radio operators are routinely called
in 
to assist.
We fit into the equation because we are considered communications experts by the agencies we are asked to support. We have the skills, equipment, and frequencies to create emergency communications networks under emergency conditions. We are licensed and pre-authorized for both national and international communications. We have the ability to rapidly enlarge the communications capacity to meet the growing needs of an emergency situation. The needed skills are practiced daily—skills used in everyday amateur communications.
As important as what you “are,” is what you “are not.” There are limits to your responsibilities as an emergency communicator, and you need to know those limits.
- You are not a “first responder”—no need for flashing lights and sirens.
- You really have no authority. The only decision that you can make is whether to participate or not.
- You cannot do it all. Helping in a pinch is fine, but you are there to facilitate communications.
- Finally, you are not in charge. You are there to temporarily meet the needs of an agency whose communications system is unable to do its job.
Remember—communicating is job #1. While you are proud of your skills, equipment, and systems, it is important to remember that your job is to communicate. If requested to deliver a long list of needed supplies to the headquarters, you should be prepared to use any means required—including the fax machine if it is still working. Our job is to get the message through, even if it means using smoke signals! Ham radio may not always be the best way to accomplish the communication. Fax, phone, CB radio, an agency’s radio system, or even a messenger may be the best way to accomplish the task. Remember—communicating is job # 1. Get the message through: via amateur radio or any other means.
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2010 Hurricane Season—To Date |
by John Chamberlain, AC5CV |
Although the hurricane season is not officially over until November 30, it seems that we may have dodged the proverbial bullet forecast for this year. We’ve definitely had an active hurricane season, but we’ve really seen little severe activity striking the US—in contrast to the previous several years. In light of the country’s economically tight belt right now, we can all be very thankful!
I found some nice graphics to convey the 2010 history to date. Click the images here to visit the source web page for larger, up-to-date versions.
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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 December 4, 2010, 10:00 AM. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#70 on the map), Room 109. 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. 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 October 28 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Homebrew Nite!
October 28! Bring yours!