Nov 21
 Results of the Bexar Operators Group “Ladder Line” Testing
 
It was a great day for doing a few tests involving 450 Ohm “ladder line” as several members of the Bexar Operators Group met at the John James Park to compare the findings of the recent ARRL tests on this lead-in vs real life testing.
 
If you read the ARRL article in the November issue of QST, you’d note that the readings and findings they did were “static tests” using measuring equipment and NOT actual operating tests. For our testing we did the same “static tests” they did with basically the same results. After this initial testing, we then did what they failed to do: We used this setup but applied varying amounts of RF power through the water – saturated (near ground level) ladder line while observing the swr readings.
 
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Nov 11

I found some more video footage from Halloween in Sattler, and just had to put some of it together.  There’s about a 25 second section that will raise your eyebrows, or at least it did ours when we first watched it happen live…

Untouched sound tracks, no music on this one, and a lot shorter than the first video.

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Nov 9

An annual tradition in the Canyon Lake area, is for all the area merchants and non-profit organizations to set up booths / tables along FM2673 that runs thru the main stretch of Sattler, Texas (just east of Canyon Lake, west of New Braunfels, TX).  This stretch has grown over the years from the north side of town down past River Road, to where it now reaches a total of about 2.5 miles in length.   Comal County Sheriff deputies in their patrol cars, supplimented by by local Constables, provide some safety issues at designated crossing points to allow participants to cross the busy road, especially after dark.

The event is sponsored by the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce.  Hill Country REACT has been participating in this annual event for at least 15 year, first as Comal County REACT and now as Hill Country REACT.    The Chamber in recent years, has been providing REACT with the candy to distribute, and this year we passed out nearly 80 pounds in about 2 hours.

Here is a short 8 minute video montage taken during this 2 hour event…  Watch it in full screen mode for best viewing, especially when video gets a bit darker toward the end…

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Nov 9
 
450_Ladderline_coilAs 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.
 
They had test gear to measure the SWR and other concerns. At the end of the testing they reported that beyond a simple re-adjustment of the tuner they used not much in the form of variations occurred.
 
Unfortunately, their tests were not complete.
 
This weekend, the Bexar Operators Group will do some “real life” testing of ladder-line and the implications of getting the dry line saturated to prove that the ARRL’s final assumptions are “all wet”! Having done some experimentation 20 years ago using ladder-line as a feed cable, W2IK came up with some very different findings.
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Nov 6
Start/Finish Line at the Lodge

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.

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Oct 24

Members of the San Antonio Repeater Organization met Friday night at the Martha’s Mexican Restaurant, corner of Babcock & Huebner, for their quarterly membership meeting. About 30 members were in attendance, to hear the latest club news, learn about past and upcoming events, watch some videos about recent events, and nominate folks to run for the SARO Board of Directors.

The following five persons were nominated from the floor, and will run for 1 of 4 open positions on the SARO Board of Directors.

  • Gary K5GST
  • Bob K5AUW
  • Pat AD5BR
  • Linda KC5QPQ
  • Lee N5NTG

Ballots will be mailed out to all members in good standing (i.e. you paid your 2009 dues) sometime in November, with instructions on where to return them by what deadline.    Ballots will be counted after that deadline, and the new directors will be seated after January 1st. At that time, the board will chose who will serve in what officer capacity. There are only 4 vacancies, 1 current director is up for his 2nd term, the other 3 directors either declined or were limited by term.

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Oct 21

Repeating this announcement since this VE Team will be testing on 10/24, this Saturday at the Great  Northwest Library branch…

stll_alarm_clock_snoozeSARC VEs get to hit the snooze alarm a few more times!

In case you haven’t heard, our city leaders thought the library hours needed to be changed. As of October 1, the Great Northwest Library will be opening on Saturdays at 10 AM. Since we don’t want to start the test session in the parking lot, we’ll need to change the SARC VE session time to start at 10 AM when the library doors open.

Thanks for those of you who have been helping us, for your continued service at our test sessions. Our next VE session will be:

 Saturday, October 24, 2009, 10 AM
Great Northwest Library
9050 Wellwood, San Antonio, TX 78250

There will not be one held in December due to the holiday schedule at the Library branch.

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Oct 21

QUARTER CENTURY WIRELESS ASSOCIATION
SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER 38
October 2009

Officers for 2009

  • Larry Higgins  W5EX,  President
  • Clay Laster  W5ZPV,  Vice President
  • Chetto Cumpian  WB6BIE,  Secretary
  • Terry Platt K5ADF,  Treasurer

Chapter on-air net every Sunday evening:

8:30 p.m.  local time
146.34/94   Repeater
Net Control:  Clay W5ZPV and  Danny WA5KRP

Next Meeting Date:

Date: October 24, 2009 @ 11:30AM
Location: Sea Island   210-651-7000,  located at 11715 Bandera Rd.
Restaurant is inside Bandera Point Shopping Center just inside Loop 1604  Time:11:30 a.m. but many start showing up at 11:00 a.m.
Program: Amateur Television
Presented by: Lother Harris  K5LEH

Notice: If any member needs transportation to the meeting, contact Larry W5EX  at 210-341-2910

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Oct 19

ATASCOSA COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Would you like to get YOUR Amateur Radio License?

Have you thought about the hobby of “Ham” Radio, but weren’t sure where to start? Perhaps you think that it’s just too hard to learn, or that the test is expensive, or that you have to know that dit-dah stuff; y’know, Morse Code. Well, here’s where we can help!

Atascosa County Amateur Radio Club wants to help bring more people into the “Ham” Radio community. We are gearing up to offer classes for the Technician Class License, the first license that a person earns to become an Amateur Radio Operator.

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Oct 19

Members of the San Antonio Radio Club W5SC and Alamo Area Radio Organization AA5RO put on their annual JOTA event out in Castle Hills, at the McGimsey Scout Park, located off NW Military near Lockhill Selma Road.   This is an annual event held the 3rd Saturday of each October.  

Another local JOTA event was held up at Canyon Lake, but we don’t (yet) have any photos or details to share.

Andrew KD5NNN attended the event, and was kind enough to share these photos with us…

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