San Antonio Hams

After a 6 month hiatus, the SA Hams Monthly Newsletter will be returning on a monthly basis starting in February.  I’ll try to get one published around the end of the month for the following month.  i.e. February’s issue ought to go out near the end of January, etc. We had a small issue where our mailing software wasn’t compliant with the Windows 7 64 bit operating systems we had previously upgraded all of our computers to, so we’ve now setup one dedicated laptop computer at our office to run the older 32 bit version of Vista <gasp>, and the software seems to be happy now.

If you have any CLUB news, Ham Radio related news or stories (that you didn’t already post on the website blog area), send them to me no later than the 20th of the month to be included in the upcoming issue.  

The easiest way to get your stuff included, is of course post it on the Blog.  I’ve been adding other hams as authors, so they can post their own stories without my needing to be involved directly.  That’s my preferred manner of submitting.  Let the visitors to the site read about what you or your club is doing, and then I’ll mail it out to the list of subcribers (currently about 400+ hams) at the end of the month.

SUBSCRIPTION IS FREE!  ARTICLE SUBMISSION IS FREE!

If you wish to subscribe to the newsletter, or confirm you have already subscribed, send email with your name & call sign to subscribe@sanantoniohams.org.   How much easier can that be?   Each newsletter will have a prominent “unsubscribe” link in case you changed your mind.   The newsletters will be focused on ham radio news, and may contain a minor amount of advertising by hams who want to do business with you (like my ads for example), but the majority of this HTML based newsletter will be news & photos from events.

From SARC’s website, as of 04/16/2011, San Antonio Radio Club extends dues-free membership to area active-duty military…

The following provision was made at a recent Board Meeting to SARC Constitution, Article VI – Membership

2. Military Membership in the Club of all active-duty military personnel will be at no cost for membership dues. This condition extends to only active-duty personnel assigned in the metro area and not to any other personnel not activated as active-duty, or to any retired personnel of any military service. This membership status will continue for as long as the active-duty person is assigned in the metro area. Upon reassignment away from the metro area, membership may continue if the individual maintains residence of record in the metro area. Metro area will be defined as Bexar and adjacent counties. [change 4-16-2011]

I don’t know the final figures for attendance at this event last weekend, but the main vendor hall area was packed!  I was there handling the radio talk-in, as I’ve coordinated for the past 15-17 years or so, plus I was a paid vendor in the back corner of the room as well!

It was really nice to see friends from around Texas that I hadn’t seen in ages, or since last year’s event in some cases. 

Here are some photos that I took from this year’s event, using my handy dandy Sprint HTC EVO cell phone…  (love that 8 mega pixel camera feature).

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For the past couple of years, I’ve had a free classified ads section on this website.  Every day I get multiple submissions for ads to be posted, but all ads require moderation.   The main reason I set it up for moderation?  999 out of every 1,000 ads submitted are SPAM.   The ads are from India, from folks trying to earn $77/hour from home by posting ads, Scam Ads, and in general, ads that have nothing to do with ham radio or the person posting being a ham radio operator.

We’ve had no new legitimate ads posted within the past 90 days, just SPAM ads.  Got 4 more of the bogus ads over night last night.  

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Location:

Hill Country State Natural Area – Bandera, Texas

 When: 7th and 8th of January 2012

Description:

It is that time of year, to start forming the roster and making preparations for the 10th Annual Bandera 100k Ultra-Marathon held at Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera County.

Tejas Trails Communication Group – Sponsored by Hill Country REACT has been the lead team for communications for this event the past 6 years with the assistance of many hams from the San Antonio, Austin and other areas around the state..

This event typically requires 15 – 16 Amateur Radio Operators in a situation that is similar to what an Emergency Communications Operator would experience in a disaster zone. UHF, VHF and Packet communications are involved in this event.

This is a fun event with challenges.  The participants of this event, are of a type you will not encounter at most other events we deal with throughout the year.  Over the years, we have made some lasting friendships!

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Title: 13th Annual Skywarn Recognition Day
Location: Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service Office – New Braunfels Airport
Description: The Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service Office will be participating in the 2011 Skywarn Recognition Day, which will occur from 1800hrs 2 December 2011 to 1800hrs 3 December 2011.

Our station will again be operating for the entire 24 hours time period, utilizing 2m, 440, multiple HF bands, as well as Echolink and IRLP contacts.

This is the 13th year for the program, and I believe will be the 9th year this station has participated. Each year, our station, thanks to the dedication and perseverance of many dedicated hams from throughout the South Central Texas area, has improved on its contact status, and rating in the Skywarn Recognition Day program.

All Licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to participate in this fun event.  Yes, Technician class licensees are encouraged to participate, as we do utilize 2m, 440 and the digital modes!

We schedule operators in 2 hours blocks of time, with a maximum of 3 operators per block! Of course, if you choose to, you may request scheduling for multiple blocks, either consecutive or broken. Such as one evening shift and one early morning shift.

Due to limited security, space, and the fact the NWS staff is still operating, we can only have 3 operators, and try to keep the noise level to a minimum. Although, many members of the staff enjoy hearing the goings on, when things are not busy on their end. We have had severe weather events occur, during the SRD.

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Once again, the AARO Ham Club has been tasked with providing Hams to assist the San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon on Sunday, November 13, 2011. 

We don’t have much time to get this organized, but we need volunteers at every mile marker, and a few other odd ball locations along the route.  We need about 2 dozen (minimum) volunteers to staff each of the assigned positions.

Duties include picking up the timing clocks prior to the event, (See #3 below for details), then being on-site at your assigned location prior to 6am, ready to turn them on when Dave Espinoza W5QS gives us the countdown over the radio.  We’ll send out exact locations for those of you who sign up to work the event.

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Hi. Max, at the Red Cross, built a beautiful radio/workbench for the Red Cross radio room.          Then, he built this second one that is now available. It is about 8 foot wide. Max moved to Ohio and we are trying to help him out. If you have an interest in this please contact Jack Pike at the Red Cross or Ray at raym701@yahoo.com for more info. Thanks 73 Ray

Hams are still needed to fill a few key spots for this year’s BikeMS (MS150) event, being held on October 15th and 16th.  The event starts in San Antonio at the AT&T Center on Saturday, ending that evening in New Braunfels.  Sunday starts in New Braunfels, and ends back at the AT&T Center.

Spots still open are “Shadows” for event officials, police cars (ride in front seat, not back), and medical response vehicles. There may still be a few openings for SAG Drivers (Background check & DMV check required), SAG Navigators, or Rest Stop hams, etc.  Shadows simply ride along & provide communications for their designated official, sort of like a SAG’s navigator but you won’t be loading bikes in the back. 🙂   Shadow positions usually start earlier & end later than other positions, due to the need to link up & install radios before heading out on the route.

If interested, contact Charlie KC5NKK via email at charlesdland@gmail.com or Lee N5NTG at info@sanantoniohams.org.   Phone contact available at 512-796-7565 (Charlie)  or 210-771-7075 (Lee).

Earlier today (10/3) we received confirmation from persons close to the family of Tex Kennedy N5TX, that he had passed away this morning at the age of 87.   Tex was well known in the ham radio & commercial radio community.  Kennedy Communications over on Rigsby Road, was a tremendous support to the REACT Teams since the mid 80’s, supplying REACT with multiple GMRS Repeater sites & equipment on a very affordable site lease.  Tex also operated KComm The Ham Store, and BK Tower company.

Most recently in 2010, he allowed Hill Country REACT to change out their GMRS 462.600 repeater up near Startzville, for an Amateur Radio repeater on 445.500 mhz, which is now linked by IRLP to other area repeaters in Hays/ Caldwell Counties via the “Devils Backbone”  (where do they come up with these names?).  Kennedy Communications was sold back in the early 2000’s (time?), but first they arranged for 99 year leases to be signed on behalf of REACT to preserve our GMRS repeater sites.   Only the original 462.675 site in NE San Antonio is still on the air, due to the above mentioned change to the 462.600 site.

As we find out more details regarding funeral arrangements, etc, we will be posting them here.

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