San Antonio Hams

Basic talks are underway to help our “Wounded Warriors” find a new path within the military, unencumbered by their physical restraints. Bob Hejl, W2IK – NNN0KSI (MARS Ecom), who works at CFI (Center For The Intrepid) at BAMC/ Ft. Sam, has begun discussions with officials at BAMC and CFI for ways in which our soldiers can redirect their abilities by using amateur radio as a stepping stone with their next goal being communications careers within the armed forces or in the private sector after their military careers are completed.

Planned are a special events/demo station so soldiers can see the possibilities of communications and the vital roles they can assume during an emergency or in everyday military communications work. Tri- Service MARS operations will also be integrated so they can get an actual “taste” of  military communications in a relaxed atmosphere.

An amateur radio course will be offered with actual “hands on” operation using W2IK’s portable MARS Ecom station. After the classes have been completed, there will be on base testing so many can obtain their amateur radio licenses.

If any local ham or group is interested in this project, please write W2IK at alonestaryank@aol.com.

In case you have not heard, the 2008 Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Party is Thursday, December 4, 2008.

Here are the details:
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Received my ballot from San Antonio Radio Organization (SARO) in the mail on Tuesday, December 2nd.  3 director slots on the board are up for election this year (2 yr terms) and there are 4 candidates on the ballot to choose from…

• Mike Check, K5UCQ
• Eric Olson, WB5ZJQ
• Dale Robinson, KB5YSJ
• Gary Tangrady, K5GST

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I recently received an unsolicited official looking manila envelope in the mail (not e-mail) from the Amateur Radio Service, telling me “Amateur Radio License Expiration Alert – It’s time to Renew!, Renewal Notice Enclosed”   It has a warning block saying “failure to renew will void your operating authority and could result in the necessity for you to be re-examined and the loss of your station call sign”

Today is December 1, 2008, and my license (N5NTG) doesn’t expire until March 24, 2009.  I’m not within the 90 day time window prior to my expiration date, so I can’t renew this early.

This friendly reminder service was a courtesy service of The W5YI VEC, Inc., one of two major VEC (ham testing) services in the USA.  This is a legit company, don’t get me wrong.    The other major VEC group is of course, the ARRL.   There is no clear intent to deceive in this letter, it simply doesn’t mention that you can do it direct for free.

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At the November membership meeting of Hill County REACT, elections were held for the team officer positions.  The following were elected to serve 2 year terms of office:

• President – Wade Bolling, W5ERX
• Treasurer – Barbara Manley, KA5RLF
• Secretary – Charles Manley, KD5ESX

Because this created a vacancy by Wade moving from VP to President, Lee Besing N5NTG was appointed Vice President until the next membership meeting in January at which time a special election will be held to fill the term.

Gary Tangrady, K5GST, was elected as the Team’s Operations Officer, with the duty to coordinate public safety and emergency communications support by the Team.

More information about this local REACT team can be found at www.HillCountryREACT.org

Yesterday was the inaugural event for the Rock-n-Roll Marathon, formerly called the San Antonio Marathon.  Hams have now worked 14 San Antonio Marathons in a row, under the leadership of AARO and the cooperation from hams belonging to almost every club in the area.  This event, like all the other larger events we work, is an exercise in cooperation by the ham community because there is no one single club able to handle these events 100% in-house.   And I believe that’s a good way to run it

For the past 13 years, ham radio operators have been helping with this event, providing communications for every phase of the logistics and support functions.  In previous years, we had staffed to put hams in supply trucks, hams in the SAG vans roving the course, hams with the medical supervisors, hams acting as “shadows” for various race officials (like the race director, safety director, etc.).   We had stationed hams at the start line, hams riding bikes on the course with APRS packs, stationed hams at every water stop and at key safety risk areas like the train crossing on Mission Road (just north of IH-10 & Steves Ave).

But this year was different.

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I was contacted by phone yesterday by a local non-ham who was interested in talking further with the ham operator who drives a full sized white panel van which had ham license plates on it.  Of course, he didn’t remember the call sign (what’s a call sign?)  that would have been on the plates, but he remembered the “Radio Opr” wording.

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Teri says that more hams are needed for this Sunday’s event.  She’s got 4 slots left open for Hams to drive 15 passenger SAG Vans to pick up runners and deliver them back to the south end of the Alamo Dome.  Shift hours are from 6:30am until no later than 3pm on Sunday, November 16th.  Passes, t-shirts, and “stuff” can be picked up Friday evening at 6:30pm at the Alamo Dome, but if you are already a volunteer, you already knew that.

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The SARC Board of Directors announced the 2009 Dues schedule which includes the “Early Bird Special” effective immediately. All members may renew their registration, or New hams may register as a new member, by paying only $12 for their 2009 dues.  Deadline for this special time limited offer is the date of the Radio Fiesta, January 10, 2009.  Regular dues rate is $15/household per year.  (Flat rate for all hams in same household.)  A PDF copy of their membership application can be downloaded here.

The SARC Board of Directors also set an “advanced admision price” for the Radio Fiesta of $4/person.   No deadline was stated in the announcement, but obviously you need to pay up before the date of the event.  Check out their website at www.w5sc.org for details.

Alamo Area Radio Organization (AARO) will hold their next monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 12th, at a new location, Martha’s Mexican Restaurant, located at the corner of Huebner and Babcock Rd.  Meeting starts at 7pm, dining is optional, but at your own expense.  See their website at www.aa5ro.org for details.

San Antonio Radio Club (SARC)will hold their next meeting on Thursday, November 13th 2008 at K-COMM The HAM Store. Meetings start at 7:00pm.  This month’s meeting will have a special program featuring the recent DX trip to Belize by Tom O’Brien. Three radio operators from this area made the trip.  November is also the month to elect officers for the 2009 year.The address for K-COMM is 10815 Gulfdale and is located near the intersection of US HWY 281 and Isom Rd.  See their website at www.w5sc.org for details.

Radio Operators of South Texas (ROOST) hold their meetings on the 2nd Friday of the month, which would make that November 14th at 7:00pm.  They serve a meal, so the club suggests bringing a donation of $5 and a side dish to help out.  Visit their website at www.w5ros.org for more details..

Hill County REACT Team (REACT) has changed their monthly meeting date from the 3rd Monday to the 3rd Wednesday, same location, the Bulverde Volunteer Fire Dept on Cougar Bend Rd and FM1863.  This month, that would set their date as November 19th, starting at 7pm. They will be holding elections for various officer positions during this meeting.  All voting is done in person, not by mail-in ballot, must be present to vote. Visit website for details www.HillCountryREACT.org

For the November meeting times for other ham clubs in the area, visit the Area Clubs Web Page Here.