June 2020 Volume 06-2020 Nacogdoches Amateur Radio Club 2020 CLUB OFFICERS many contests, even if just Pres: Bill Rascher – KT5TE for a few contacts. It’s Vice Pres:Steve Bartlett–WB5IDY wonderful practice and a Sec/Treas: Army Curtis - AE5P great way to improve your abilities in Ham Radio. Visit our web site at https://w5nac.com/ The San Jacinto Day Special Event Station was MAY MINUTES held the weekend of April MISSION 25-26, using the special The May meeting of the STATEMENT call sign K5T. Club Nacogdoches Amateur members operated in this The Mission of the Radio Club (NARC) was event from their home Nacogdoches Amateur held as scheduled on May stations. A total of 1,022 Radio Club is to support 6th. Because of the contacts were made using and promote Amateur current ‘Stay at Home’ SSB, CW, and FT8/FT4. Radio by public service, order, the meeting was All contacts were offering training to again held as a virtual confirmed via LOTW and unlicensed interested meeting using 2 meters. we are seeing a very high parties and licensed President Bill KT5TE percentage of those Amateurs, mutual support opened the meeting at contacts confirmed. We of other Amateurs, 7:00 p.m. on the club’s have answered engaging events that 147.32 repeater. Eight approximately 50 paper promote Amateur radio to members checked in. QSL requests. the general public and Minutes of the previous other Amateur radio meeting were approved as Field Day is scheduled for operators, and continuing published. The Treasurer’s June 27-28. At this point, fellowship by regularly report was read. it appears members will scheduled organized have to operate their own meetings and events and Members were encouraged stations from home as having fun. to try their hands in the 2 Nacogdoches ARC either Class E or Class D. pair of wires from the Members who do operate right hand battery to the during Field Day are asked FROM THE radios. Last year the to inform the Club PRESIDENT ATAS 120 would not work Secretary of their correctly because the participation. Wet 2M Summer Yaesu FT-859D didn’t have enough power. The Army AE5P reported that FT-991 would warn if it he is actively working on Summer has arrived with didn’t have enough power finding another location the month of June, so to tune the ATAS 120, for VE testing and hopes with this in mind it’s time but the FT-857D just to be able to resume to get the truck ready keeps on trying with no testing by the third for the second VHF results. The FT-991 was Wednesday in June. contest. This year the sold to my brother, truck is almost ready. KG5RZT, for his The truck has new tires observatory, and it would Program: Army AE5P and a monster 60 gallon be best if I didn’t snitch presented some ideas on fuel tank. The 60 gallons it while he was gone. So possible Field Day equals more than 1,000 this time the wires from operation. Several miles for the unloaded the battery to the radio different scenarios were truck (21mpg * 60gal – are 10awg with no discussed, most of which heavy foot to keep up connections except the would require a change in with N6RH). For the VHF fuses about 6” from the the ARRL Field Day rules. contest that means never battery. The original wire If there are no changes to having to do a fuel stop still goes to the the rules, then members the whole weekend even RIGrunner 4004 USB on will have to operate from with heading home the RAM mount pedestal. their home stations using Saturday and back That USB RIGrunner has their home callsign as contesting Sunday. The been very useful for all either Class E or Class D. tank was replaced sorts of items, but mostly because the factory 26 it free ups the two utility gallon tank meant having plugs in the truck for the to do several fuel stops video screen. The horse on trips around the state and stock trailers have to horse contests or cameras that help backing stock sales. up and they make my XYL One of the last things happy when she can watch that needs to be done is her horse while heading to run a second home run down the highway. The 3 Nacogdoches ARC trailers are a full 8’ wide cable into the vehicles so seeing a tailgater stereo’s AUX in. This is without a camera is very close to hands free FROM THE VP impossible. driving and definitely CHAIR The same display is used beats having to hold the Amateur Radio in the tractor to watch HT to one’s ear. the equipment directly You don’t want to miss Operators - Public behind the tractor. The this month’s meeting Servants? windows were tinted a since we’ll be talking little too dark making it about Field Day in After 36 years in private difficult to see what is addition to the VHF practice, I sold my going on in low light roving contest. Boy, will business. I was fortunate conditions directly behind it feel good to get away enough to find some the tractor. Yes, work from the farm for a younger engineers to take has continued into the couple of days. So pay over my practice, bless night, and no, the lights close attention to time their little naive hearts!! aren’t enough. and place. :-) I then took a job as the Another item that needs City Engineer (because I to be added is the ICOM 73, Bill KT5TE am crazy) and had to speaker since the radios learn a whole new way of [email protected] are under the back seat. life as a public servant. For 1.25m Alinco DR- As it turns out, all you 235TMKIII is plugged guys and gals are now my into the trucks sound boss. What? Dealing with system. For the contest the public can be a the 1.25m is used for the challenge. A real control band and truck challenge, and it is 75% speakers help keep the of my job. In reality, I mics separate. When had trained for this all you’re using multiple my life and did not know radios on the highway it is it. helpful to know which mic My “retirement job” got to grab and there is me to thinking about our nothing like surround amateur radio service and sound to get your how our foundation as attention. If an HT is Hams is really public used then it is handy to service. We provide have a mike for the HT communications during and to plug a sound out 4 Nacogdoches ARC disasters, training, to public service in education, testing, and general. Your church has general contributions to numerous jobs that could NOTES FROM our community. It is, in use your help. The City OUR EC fact, our main mantra has tons of volunteer through organizations like boards ranging from the Skywarn, RACES, ARES, Mayor’s Council on It's June (well almost) and and the like. Our Field Disabilities, to Parks, you know what that means, Day exercises and weekly Visitors Bureau, Historic Hurricane Season 2020 is nets are simply practice Commission, and Planning starting. I think most of for times of public and Zoning. Hams are us would prefer to see the service during a crisis. some of the smartest baseball season get going rather than this. Do you participate? If folks I know and would be welcome board members you are not registered as The season started early a RACES/ARES in a number of areas. Yes, I can hook you up! this year, imagine that. It participant, or contribute has started early for the something to a field day The point is, Public last 6 years. Tropical exercise, or participate in Service opportunities Storm Arthur kicked weekly nets, you need to abound all around you and things off 16 May with reconsider what I believe I believe we as the radio maximum sustained winds is a foundational part of operator community have at 60 mph. Tropical Storm, our hobby. I will go as an even greater obligation now Tropical Depression far as to say; some public to set this example. No Bertha, added to the service for a Ham is an matter your age, health festivities 25 May. Bertha obligation. “I don’t have condition, or expertise, had maximum sustained time”, I’m too busy”, “I your friends and winds of 30 mph. Bertha's am too old or too young” neighbors need you. winds have lessened since are simply not valid Oops, the box just land fall. excuses. Sure, we can collapsed. Too many only devote time and Oreos … The prognosticators, energy to some level, and forecasters, weather participating in all things prophets, and shamen have is not always possible, but 73, Steve WB5IDY looked at the charts, you can DO SOMETHING. [email protected] scanned in the data and Before the soapbox om read the bones on the collapses under my hide. This is what they growing quarantine- have come up with. caused weight, I will Hurricane season 2020 will extend my finger shaking be above normal and I'll 5 Nacogdoches ARC let you define normal. Last month I asked about 73 de John Chapman Named storms 13-22, applications/software that KC5MIB hurricanes 7-11 (may want you might use for tracking to bet these numbers at weather and weather [email protected] the dice table) and 3-6 radar information.