San Antonio Hams

Here are the details for the March Fox Hunt:

We will have the next Southside Lyons Park on Sunday, 19 March, 0900 – 1200. Hud, W5ZBR, will hide the MicroFox (15mw). The Fox will be transmitting once a minute on 146.565Mhz.

Hunter’s starting point is any parking lot for the park. No need to wait for the group. As soon as 0900 hits, you can begin hunting. If you can’t be there at 0900, that’s ok. The hunt will continue after the first person finds it. The Fox will still be transmitting and hidden till 1200.

Please consider bringing non-hams out with you—especially kids who really seem to enjoy this activity. Fox Hunting is an excellent event for newcomers to radio as it doesn’t require a transmitter to find the Fox.

Park maps can be found at:

https://sartopo.com/p/RK813

Those that find the Fox will need to follow the instructions on the card with the Fox to get credit.

The first person to find it will get the option to hide the Fox next month. Hud will monitor the AA5RO repeater 147.38 Pl 162.2 for talk-in and hints. Hints will be provided after 1100 if requested. He will also be monitoring 147.435 if you can’t reach the repeater.

If you have any other questions, please let me know at n9eod@n9eod.com

If you need instructions on how to build a simple directional antenna to aid in direction finding, please navigate to www.n9eod.com

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting out at Shavano Park City Hall where the San Antonio radio club is set up under the big pavilion. Lots of digital logging systems. Running voice and computer. There are cables everywhere, antennas everywhere. Just had some folks show up who were interested in learning about ham radio.  Within the first 15 or 20 minutes, they got her son on the radio, using the GOTA station.

Good evening.

I am a retired Marine writing a book about an October 1979 typhoon, fuel spill and fire at a U. S. Marine Corps training camp on the lower slopes of Mount Fuji, Japan. The incident left 73 injured — most of them Marines, many horribly burned. Thirteen died. 38 of the injured were evacuated from Japan to Brooke Army Medical Center.

Among the many people in San Antonio who rallied to help those Marines and their families were volunteer MARS operators who set up a station on the hospital’s seventh floor. They spent hours arranging phone patches for the Marines’ families — allowing them to avoid long-distance telephone charges while keeping relatives updated on their loved one’s health, and taking care of business in their hometowns.

The help made it easier for family members to remain by their Marine’s bedside — which doctors said increased patients’ likelihood of survival.

Would your club (sent ot SARC originally) by chance have any sort of historical records documenting this kind service? Might any of the volunteer operators who helped be available to share recollections?

I will be doing research in San Antonio from Saturday, May 21 until Saturday, May 28. Should it be possible to learn more about this aspect of the story of the Camp Fuji Marines, I would be most grateful for any available information.

More about me — and examples of my work — can be found at ChasHenry.com.

Thank you for your consideration.

Gratefully, and Semper Fidelis,
Chas Henry

Mobile: +1 703.303.3083

Important re FCC FRN! Please do this before your ham exam day.

The FCC requires you to obtain an FRN (FCC Registration Number) from them and use it instead of a Social Security number on your ham exam paperwork. If you have already obtained an FRN from the FCC, be sure to bring it with you and use it on the paperwork for your exam.

You only need one FRN. (Hams and GMRS licensees already have an FRN on their license.) If you do not have an FRN please do this. Go to

https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do

In the middle of the page you should see “Need a Username?” Under that, click Register.

You then will give information to the FCC, will create a password, and will obtain an FRN.

BRING YOUR FRN WITH YOU TO THE HAM EXAM SESSION!

Bring the following items to your exam in addition to that very important FRN number. (Ham licenses have an FRN.)

– Ham license (if you are a ham) and any CSCE newer than your ham license. Bring a copy we can send with your paperwork. Please contact me if you need help getting a printed copy of your license.


– A government-issued photo ID (preferably drivers license)

– Form NCVEC 605 (updated March 2018) filled out and printed on your computer or in black ink, from
https://tinyurl.com/2021NCVEC605

– Black pen and a pencil

– A simple calculator may be helpful. No phones, no iPads, etc.

– Earplugs that only reduce sound (no electronic device) may help you to concentrate if noise bothers you.

– $15 session fee — exact change, please

You may have heard about an FCC application fee. It will not be paid on the date of the exam. New licensees will receive an email from the FCC with details about paying the $35 application fee directly to the FCC after you pass your exam. That email will be very important and it will explain that your payment to the FCC is due in a very short time, or you will not receive your license.

Youth without a government-issued photo ID need two documents for identification. Suitable documents include a school report card, birth certificate, and a Social Security card.

Study link

I highly recommend this web site’s flash cards and practice tests.

http://hamstudy.org

Select “Read Questions” and it will focus on just the correct answers. If you tap the top right corner of the card, you will see an explanation of the answer. Many of our test candidates have found that the flash cards there help them to review/study more thoroughly than other practice tests.

73,

Pat Knight AD5BR
210-273-5927 iPhone

by Stan Waghalter
Put Wednesday, December 8th on your calendar for our Christmas/Holiday Party.

NOTE: This is a new location.

The party will be held at La Hacienda de Los Barrios, 18747 Redland Road.
Party starts at 6PM.

This year, the grand prize will be a Yaesu FTM-300DR. 2nd Prize will be a Yaesu FT-70DR. There will be other prizes to be won as well.

Hosted by AARO & SARC

When: June 5th, 2021,
8:00am to 2:00pm

Where:
Encino Branch Library 2515 E Evans Rd, San Antonio, TX 78259 Off US281 (N)

Description:
San Antonio Radio Club (SARC) TAILGATE 2021

Admission: Buyers FREE, Sellers-$5 donation to support library programs

Commercial Vendors welcome

What is up? SARC is starting a new event for those interested in selling or buying some used ham radio gear and equipment. This is a opportunity for sellers to bring their Ham gear, open their trunks and let your stuff find a new home! Buyers can walk the parking lot looking for good deals from local hams you can trust.

Note:
• No AC power available
• Generators OK –
• Must take away any trash you create
Contact: Rosendo M Guzman, N5YBG President 210-570-0303 info@w5sc.org

The San Antonio Radio Club his announced that it would be changing the dates of the Radio Fiesta, from January, to the weekend in June that was previously in use for HamCom up in Plano. Here is the official announcement:

San Antonio Radio Club is planning Radio Fiesta 2022. We have moved the event from January to June 17 &18, 2022 at the Schertz Civic Center. We will be using Eventbright for reservations of specific locations.

More details to follow as the date gets closer. Contact radiofiesta@w5sc.org for more information.

Save the date- June 17 & 18, 2022 Radio Fiesta

Estate sale at 634 Pilgrim, SAT 78213.

Lots of Ham Radio stuff belonging to SK, W5UBJ, William Kiley. Tubes, tools, Kenwood, miscellaneous parts. Today and tomorrow. (3/11-3/12)

http://www.grissomroadcoc.org

https://www.estatesales.net/TX/San-Antonio/78213/2777103

As of today, the day before Field Day weekend, almost all of the local clubs have canceled their field day plans and a few of them are planning to use the amended rule that lets the members operate from their homes and congregate the point for a final score.

The San Antonio Radio Club (SARC) is canceling their field day operation, after originally planning to do a smaller version over at Joe Bruno’s place on FM 78. The members have decided that operating from home would be a safer bet.

The Radio Operators of South Texas (ROOST) Club will be holding a normal, but perhaps scaled down, Field Day event at their clubhouse. No camping overnight as they normally have done in past years. Masks are required to be worn for any visitors. Radio equipment such as microphones, headsets, etc., will be sanitized between operators. See their website, www.w5ros.org, for location and details.

Alamo Area Radio Organization (AARO) has decided to cancel their participation in field day. Individual members may be operating from their homes.

Kendall Amateur Radio Society (KARS) has canceled their group Field Day event, but their members will be operating from their homes.

Guadalupe Valley ARC (GVARC) will not be holding a field day operation this year. They are looking for alternate locations to hold VE Testing, but they think their July session may not happen either. They have resumed their Saturday breakfast tradition, but attendance is limited due to the restrictions on how many people the restaurant can hold under the current government orders.

Medina County (McARC) will not be holding a group field day, but their members will be operating from home under the new rules.