N5NTG | 
02 18th, 2013| 
AB5UE called & asked me to send this out.
The Southwest Lynx Repeater System will be down for a couple of weeks for maintenance.
I don’t have any other details.
Thanks & 73s –
Mark, KE5GL
Kendall Amateur Radio Society
Feb
18
Feb
18
Guadalupe Valley Amateur Radio Club (GVARC) is now offering the opportunity to test for your FCC Amateur Radio License through the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner (VE) program.
When: April 6, 2013, Testing starts at 10:00 am.
Location: New Braunfels Fire Department Training Center Emergency Operations Center (1311 Industrial Dr. Suite A New Braunfels, TX 78130)
Exam Fee: $15.00 – Payable by cash or personal check
Requirements: Photo ID or 2 alternate forms of identification, plus your Social Security Number (SSN) or Federal Registration Number (FRN – Free registration on FCC.GOV website). Note: Testing for License class upgrade also requires applicant’s ORIGINAL License or Certificate of Successful Completion and an additional photocopy of such documentation.
Morse code is not required for any Amateur Radio License
Contact: Gary S. Tangrady K5GST – Volunteer Examiner (VE) via email – K5GST01@gmail.com
or call one of the VE’s at phone – (210) 619-6217
GVARC is now sponsoring an ARRL affiliated VE Team and will conduct test sessions on a quarterly or more frequent basis as the demand for such requires.
Feb
11
When: March 2nd and 3rd, 2013 0600 hrs briefing, 0700 event start
Where: Hill Country State Natural Area, Bandera, TX
Ham Radio support needed for the 2013 AERC Heart of the Hills Endurance Ride.
We will be providing communications and check point support during the event.
The team will be the eyes and ears of the Event Director by providing timely and accurate tracking of the horses/riders on the course and any safety/medical coordination as needed!
We have a briefing at 0600hrs at event control with enough time to disperse and set-up prior to the start.
Voice Communications will be on VHF simplex for the majority of the event. We do have access to an off-site repeater should HT communications be weak.
Packet: if you have portable packet capability, that is a plus, but not required! The set-up we use is similar to the Texas Water Safari program!
For more information or to volunteer, contact Louis – K5STX at k5stx at arrl dot com!
Hill Country REACT Team #4804 is the coordinating group of this event. All licensed Amateur Radio Operators with an interest in Public Service and Emergency Communications are invited to participate!
Thank You,
Louis – K5STX
Feb
6
Tighten up those seat belts, and start your SAG Van engines!
It’s that time again again for Ham Radio Operators to transplant their radios into large 15 passenger vans, or other vehicles, stick their magnetic mount antennas on the roof, turn on your amber light bars (optional, but handy to have), and start looking for those tired, but grateful, bicycle riders on the side of the road who need a lift to the nearest break point.
Riders might just be tired, they might be having mechanical issues with their bicycle, or they may have decided it was just to hot outside and wanted a ride in an air conditioned vehicle that might have some cool bottled water inside. Or they just might like your smiling face!
April 20th-21st is the BPMS150 ride from Houston to La Grange to Austin.
Two days, 13,000 bicycle riders, 50+ SAG vans, 12+ SAG Trucks with a school bus following them around like a little lost puppy, 150 Motorcycle Safety Marshals (all ham operators), more than 300 ham radio operators working together on a network of linked repeaters that stretch from Houston to La Grange on Saturday, and Houston to Austin on Sunday.
The famous phrase “Houston, We have a problem” has happened before, and every time it does, the hams come thru with a timely solution.
Unfortunately with this many riders, there is always a higher chance of something going wrong, but with the ham radio coordinated medics and law enforcement, response time has never been faster!
Hams from the San Antonio metro area have helped support this ride for many years, and in return, hams from this ride have come to San Antonio in October to help us with our local MS150 ride as well. This ride builds friendships on and off the radio.
Feb
3
At the end of 2012, without any trumpets blaring or other fanfare, Gary WF5Y, aka Grumpy, opened his new store location at 2002 CeeGee Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.
He’s currently offering a line of Ham Radio pieces and parts, plus some Baofeng HT radios, antennas, wiring and coax, the various kits and electronic parts available thru his website, www.grumpyshop.net, etc. He has a small selection of used equipment on consignment, and takes the attitude of “if you don’t see what you want, ask me about it.” He is waiting on a shipment of stuff from MFJ, who apparently back ordered it.
To get there from where ever, get on Loop 410 and travel to Broadway. Exit Broadway and go north (outside the loop) to the 2nd traffic light. Turn left on CeeGee (toward the airport) and follow the street until you reach the end of the block. GrumpyShop is on the left. He has one sign up out in front, but it’s facing Aero Blvd, which is the street that CeeGee dead ends into. Parking is on the side of the building, off CeeGee, since the front parking area is mostly fenced off with chain link fencing.