San Antonio Hams

APRS setup information from http://www.billdiaz.dynip.com/aprs_info.htm

A number of APRS users frequently incorrectly configure their APRS trackers, fixed stations, digipeaters and client applications. Some well meaning users are compounding the problem by providing “expert” advice to newbies. This “expert” advice has caused trackers to become inoperative, and has clogged 144.39MHZ due to excessive and totally inappropriate paths. Poor APRS operating practices not only affect our local area, but adversely impact users hundreds of miles away. Poor operating practices can cause the network to fail when we need it most, during emergencies such as SkyWarn etc.

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Just thought I would give you a heads up on this. I am taking a very large trailer load of surplus electronics to the Last Saturday Sale at Kcomm tomorrow the 25th. ALL of it will be sold for $1.00 Per pound. I tried this last week at the Belton Hamfest and it was a huge hit.

DMM, Scopes, Signal Generators- Older Tube type gear, Military Radios, Transit Cases even WWII ammo Cans.

I am posting it on Craig’s List as well. Feel free to pass it on to the loacal ham network.

Thanks
Phil Galloway, Owner
Hangar 18 Surplus
Bulverde, Tx
210-240-4803 cell

The FCC Proposes to Allocate 20 MHz of Spectrum in 413-456 MHz Band For Implanted Neuromuscular Devices.

The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM – ET Docket 09-36) seeking comment on a proposal to allocate 20 MHz of spectrum in the 413-457 MHz band for use by wireless medical devices that could be implanted into the human body and used to restore sensation and mobility to paralyzed limbs and organs. The devices would act as a wireless medical micro-power network (MMN) within the patient. Among the conditions that could be treatable using MMNs include polio, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries.

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Due to severe t-storms which dropped as much as 10 inches of rain or more across the route being used for the 2009 BPMS150 event, and the prediction of 60% chance of more severe t-storms dropping another 6-10 inches of rain on Saturday, the executive committee met on Friday night and pulled the plug on the first day of the 2 day event.  Riders will be transported Saturday afternoon to La Grange, TX (or will find their own way there in private vehicles) where they will spend the night, and take off as normal Sunday morning for the ride to Austin, TX where the finish line awaits.

Here is a YouTube video showing the La Grange Fairgrounds area on Friday, the day before the BPMS150 (video only, no audio) …

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Attention all prospective & committed Tour de Cure Volunteers

May 30th – 31st

Here is an update for the 2009 Tour de Cure. It’s time to begin making duty assignments for all ham volunteers, but there have been some major changes regarding SAG Van duty.

There are only 4 full sized SAG Vans plus 5 Toyota Pickup Trucks to be driven by Ham Radio Operators, due to a donation of SAG services by a local San Antonio company who is providing both the vehicles, the drivers and paying for their fuel.

First, let me clarify points of contact… The following hams are coordinating different segments / times of the event:

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Yesterday, I prepared the April 2009 San Antonio Hams Electronic Newsletter and shipped it out (well, emailed it out) to more than 300 hams in the area.

This issue included the following News Items From The San Antonio Area:

• FREE CLASSIFIED ADS FOR HAMS
• 2009 Tour de Cure Update – May 30th-31st
• 2009 Field Day Plans in San Antonio – June 27-28
• Current Top Headlines, including April 1st Jokes

If you did NOT receive a copy of this informative newsletter, and want to, please send an email to me and we’ll make it happen.  I’ll need your name, call sign and email address in order to fill in all the blanks for the email manager that I’m using.

Of course, most of what was in the newsletter, is also on this Blog and the rest of the website, if you hunt long enough for it. 🙂

What the VE forgot to tell you, and the FCC didn’t print on your ham license…

Almost every ham radio related event will require you to get up before the chickens do. Yep, the early bird gets the worm!

Question: When is the best time for bargains at Ham Swap-Fests?  

Answer: During the first hour of the event, which will mean getting up, driving across the town or even part of the state, to get there first in line when the doors open at 8am.

Question: When do you need to be ready to drive your SAG van for the big bike tours?

Answer:  5am for the Houston BPMS150, 6AM for the San Antonio BikeMS

I’m being sort of sarcastic here, but the point is that 99% of the ham radio events, other than Field Day (which involves staying up way after the chickens go to sleep, and stay awake until way after the chickens have rested comfortably all night), require you to get up before dawn if you want to participate.   FD starts around Noon or 1pm, and runs 24 hours straight, non-stop, but the operators can change out and take breaks. You aren’t chained to your chair / stool for 24 hours without a potty break. 🙂

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The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are co-sponsoring the annual Military/Amateur Radio Crossband Communications Test in celebration of the 59th anniversary of Armed Forces Day.

The AFD Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will be conducted on May 9 – 10, 2009. The annual celebration features traditional military to amateur crossband communications SSB voice tests and copying the Secretary of Defense message via digital modes.

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I was doing some call sign lookups of our newer hams today (04/05/2009), and found these 4 pages on the web, with a list of 3,004 licensed hams in San Antonio, TX. (Note – turns out some of the hams on the list have expired licenses, so the actual number of “active” hams is a few hundred less than 3k. – Lee)

If you want to check and see who’s who, starting with AA5DB Oscar Delgado Lee Cook, visit this site when you have time to peruse it.

Click Here For The 4 Page List

Meeting has been POSTPONED – Stay Tuned for New Date.   April 16th was suggested, but has not been confirmed.

The next meeting of the Guadalupe Valley Amateur Radio Club is coming up:

Thursday, April 9 @ 6:30pm
Northwoods Apartments #602 ( model apartment )

We will be planning Field Day and discussing the current projects.

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