San Antonio Hams

Today marks 8 years ago that the United States was attacked by terrorists. 8 years ago, today, amateur radio stepped up to the task of supporting the relief efforts during this most trying time. Below is the story of what one ham, who now resides in San Antonio, did to help his country.

http://www.w5bog.com/world-trade-center.html

W2IK

Finally, the rain has returned to San Antonio!    It’s pouring down outside at 11am while I’m writing this entry, and I need to leave soon to go assist a customer near the Stone Oak Parkway side of town.

Yesterday (09/09/2009) while I was driving across town on Loop 410 from Bandera to Hwy 281, I took about a minute of video, dropped in some headers, posted it to youtube. Here is the video…

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MARK YOUR CALENDERS…….

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH 2009 @ 9:30 AM

IT IS TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR AN UNUSUAL SUSPECTS MEET AND GREET EVENT!

COME ONE, COME ALL…….GREAT TIMES HAD BY ALL

Hope to see everyone there…..

Please RSVP using (N5XO@satx.rr.com)  so we can know how much area to set aside for the group.

Taco Cabana @ Pat Booker Rd and Kitty Hawk…….
in Universal City, TX

Does anyone in the area have the ability to program a Motorola Radius M1225 – M43DGC90E2AA?

I am pretty sure it will program where I want it too! 

Please Reply to k1stx@arrl.net,

Thank You,

Louis Upton, K1STX

Topic: AFTER ACTION REPORT
Event: NAVY-MARINE CORPS MARS / REACT HURRICANE EXCERCISE
Conducted : AUGUST 29, 2009
Written by: Bob Hejl – W2IK – W5BOG – NNN0KSI – NNN0GBY2 NMC MARS STX ECOM 
Report Released: September 4, 2009

The joint exercise as conducted by Navy-Marine Corps MARS, REACT and Bexar Operators Group on August 29, 2009 also encompassed other groups who wished to test inter-service communications during the scenario of a hurricane hitting the Texas gulf coast just north of Corpus Christi.

These other groups included / covered:

• Guadalupe County OEM
• Hays County Sheriff’s Office
• Caldwell County EOC
• San Marcos Police Department
• Nueces County EOC
• National Weather Service – Corpus Christi
• National Weather Service – New Braunfels
• Central Texas Medical Center
• Chaparral Amateur Radio Club
• Hays/Caldwell Hams Amateur Radio Club
• Hays/Caldwell ARES Guadalupe VOAD
• Lockhart Police Department
• Driscoll Children’s Hospital – Corpus Christi
• One Army MARS Station
• Guadalupe Valley Amateur Radio Club (provided the VHF repeater)

If we left out any additional groups who participated, please contact us with the proper details. – Bob

We were testing out the MOU’s between REACT and NMC MARS as well as intercommunication skills. The exercise began at 11 AM local time with three phases: Pre-Land Fall (testing evacuation communications) , Land Fall (testing up to date weather conditions and storm damage) and Post Land Fall (evacuees returning to their homes, damage assessment, etc) In the spirit of cohesiveness, the operation was a success.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m sorry to report that my vehicle was broken into and burglarized, here in San Antonio.

They got the following equipment:

• Yaesu FT-857
• Yaesu FT-7800
• 2 MFJ Mighty-Lite 25 amp switching power supplies
• 2 Puxing VHF handhelds
• Rigid Cordless Drill
• Ryobi bit set
• ECG soldering gun

The radios and power supplies were marked with my call sign (NS5D).     A police report has been filed.   Please be on the lookout for this stuff and contact the police and myself if you find it.

There have been a rash of “smash-and-grab” car burglaries in San Antonio recently.   I thought if I kept my stuff out of sight in a box in the back of my truck, it would not be noticed.   No dice.  

73,
Shane NS5D

Here are a few photos provided by Ray KE5KHN, taken during the Hurricane Drill while out at the Seguin Westbound IH-10 Rest Stop at the 619 mile marker.

Ray says…

I was the rookie of the bunch and what I learned most, was that I have a lot more to learn regarding antennas, HF, and emergency communications procedures.  I really enjoyed the experience and the camaraderie of the fellow HAM operators working together for the same cause.
 
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Photos provided by Bob W2IK covering the operators stationed near IH-37 South and Hwy 181 exit, monitoring contra flow, plus the Floresville RV Park on Hwy 181.

Bob, W2IK – NNN0KSI – NNN0GBY2, Bexar Operator Group and NMC MARS) reported from Floresville on weather conditions, traffic flow and relays information from MARS into the REACT ham system. He also acted as a MARS relay station when propagation conditions prevented communications between a few MARS stations.
Read the rest of this entry »

The following news was found at the
www.texasbugcatcher.com website.

Effective October 31, 2009,  GLA Systems will cease to manufacture the  Texas BugCatcher Antenna.  It has been a fun 30 years but it is time to hang it up.  I would like to thank everyone that has made this experience possible. I have made many friends (maybe an enemy or two) but overall it has been a great trip down a long road.

All orders received before October 31, 2009 will be filled.   Effective  November 1, 2009 only orders for items that may be in stock at the time will be accepted.

Also effective December 31, 2009 the 1-800-588-2841 toll free line will be discontinued.

73 and Happy Hamming to all
Good luck and best wishes.

Henry, K5BUG & Tina Allen
GLA Systems
2802 County Rd 2226
Caddo Mills, TX 75135
1-800-588-2841
www.texasbugcatcher.com