All year long, there are opportunities for you to use your Ham Radio skills in events other than contesting, or rag chewing (chatting mindlessly with other hams about nothing in particular).
Coming up in the next couple of months, the event schedule is a bit lighter than the rest of the year, primarily due to all the holidays, or is it?
After the remodeling of my shack I still have the following items for sale that I would like to sell asap. If anyone is interested let me know and we can work out a deal……
W2IK | 
ARES, Disaster Response, General Ham Radio, Hurricane, Skywarn | 
11 24th, 2009| 
No Comments »On Sunday, November 29th, members of the Bexar Operators Group will conduct HF communications tests using NVIS antennas along two evacuations routes on RT 37 and RT 10. These tests will allow us to determine the best bands and locations to deploy should there be a hurricane striking the coastal area. Unlike our earlier tests and drills, the locations we will be operating from will be further east of the locations used (Seguin and Three Rivers). We will be using areas such as near George West, Mathis, Schulenburg and Columbus. If you are an HF operator in the San Antonio or Austin area who would like to participate as a local receiving station, please email us at: alonestaryank@aol.com for frequencies and times. Be a part of this unique and important test without leaving your home.
73 Bob W2IK – W5BOG
On the morning of Saturday, November 21st, Gary K5GST and Lee N5NTG took a field trip up to New Braunfels, having breakfast with members of the Guadalupe Valley Amateur Radio Club at their favorite restaurant, Los Gallos on Loop 337 near Commons Street.
After stuffing ourselves on some very excellent Mexican breakfast food, we poured ourselves into Gary’s truck and headed further north on IH-35, looking for the San Marcos Public Library on East Hopkins Street. This was the location of a meeting for the Hayes Caldwell Hams, a group of hams who has been very active in our recent Hurricane Evacuation Drills. They were showing a movie from CQ Magazine about Ham Radio, produced in 1994, before the spread of the Internet and Email addresses.
W2IK | Antenna Design, Bexar Operators Group, General Ham Radio, New Hams | 11 21st, 2009| No Comments »2009 National Weather Service
Skywarn Recognition Day
December 5, 2009
0000-2400 UTC
SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day SKYWARN operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world.
The National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio TX will be a part of this year’s Skywarn Recognition Day event. If you wish to be a part of the Austin-San Antonio effort, contact Wade Bolling who will be spearheading the schedule. Please contact him at: w5erx@arrl.net
W2IK | Antenna Design, Bexar Operators Group, General Ham Radio, New Hams, W2IK | 11 9th, 2009| 2 Comments »
As explained in the November issue of “QST” (page 66) the ARRL examined the use of ladder-line and did some rudimentary testing of this cable in dry vs wet conditions.Unfortunately, their tests were not complete.
K5STX | Bandera 100k, Chaparral ARC, General Ham Radio, Public Service, REACT | 11 6th, 2009| 1 Comment »
Start/Finish Line at the Lodge
Where: Hill Country State Natural Area – Bandera County Texas
When: January 9 and 10th, 2010
What: Tejas Trails – Bandera 100k Ultra Marathon
This event is three races in one, a 25k, 50k and 100k that incorporates nearly every trail on the 5400 acres of Hill Country State Natural Area.
This is a unique situation to train and test EmComm abilities in a remote environment, provide a service, as well as enjoy the Texas Hill Country!
After a meeting with the Race Director during the Cactus Rose 100 this weekend, we have found that the population of this race is anticipated to increase substantially from the 549 last year. A new sponsorship of the event, will be bringing in more out of state participants. Expect up to 800 this year for the three different races!
Please read the following information carefully so you know what is happening, and what is expected of our ham volunteers…
Duties: This is a 24 hour all weather event! Amateur operators man the Aid Stations and duties are basically like any other bike or running event (BP150, MS150, River Safari, etc), relaying supply needs, runner counts and times, and coordinating the Horse Patrol for SAR operations! Operators support Race Control, Aid Stations and the HCSNAP Coordinated Horse Patrol! We are encouraging everyone to actually set-up stations within the Aid Station tent, or within a few feet. Most Aid stations are situated in a manner, to which we could attach and additional EZ-up type canopy to facilitate station set-up! Operators will be required to stay in constant touch with the Aid Station Captain, in order to keep the Database up-to-date.
Been a busy, busy weekend, and I’m behind on my postings…
This past weekend was the Tour de Gruene bike event (tour and races) between New Braunfels and Canyon Lake. I’ve got lots of photos and videos from this event, and Gary K5GST also has some to share.
Saturday night was Halloween night at Sattler, TX. Got photos and videos from that….
Next weekend is another full scale deployed Mock Hurricane Drill, starting 11am Saturday, November 7th, and ending about 2.5 hours later. Amazing how fast a hurricane (and recovery) can happen when you are running on “ham radio time.” 🙂
Also on last Sunday (November 1st), as a personal note, my dealership for Clear.com activated and I spent 4.5 hours at Clear’s HQ (6am – 10:30am) getting set up and entering my first customer orders. Been working on the new website, www.wimaxsatx.com, but it’s not nearly done yet. This is the new wireless hi-speed Internet that is now available to us in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Bulverde, San Marcos, and Austin, as soon as they finish installing about 90 more cell sites, that is. 🙂 They expect to have about 200 cell sites in the San Antonio area alone.
I’ll post more details soon! Promise!
Lee N5NTG
To All,
Last night I received email from Michael Haertel, the son of Keith Haertel-KD5UYH, announcing the passing of his father. Many of us know Keith from his volunteering for numerous Bike to the Beach events. Many of you also know Keith’s father Hermann Haertel, N5CNH. I know that our thoughts and prayers go to Michael, Herm and the rest of Keith’s family.
Sincerely,
Milton Johnson, N5HMJ
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