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 21

DSCF3012Gary K5GST loaned out three of his cameras to other hams, and I’m not sure who took what photos from the following collection of parade photos.  

 This was the 39th Annual Veterans Day Parade in Universal City, Texas, held November 14th, 2009.   

Ham Radio Operators, coordinated by Hill Country REACT, worked closely with the Universal City Police Department to control traffic and general safety issues along the parade route.

Enjoy!

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Nov 21
KE5HDL Curtis

KE5HDL Curtis

Hello all, this is Curtis Briley, KE5HDL.

I had volunteered to supply Radio Communications for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon and to set-up reference clocks for runners to see the time as they ran the race.

I was initially assigned the 24 MILE marker time clock. Then I was assigned this additional email assignment of a second clock. And I figured it was no problem and accepted the additional assignment.  
KE5HDL Curtis using his cross-band radio

KE5HDL Curtis using his cross-band radio

I got tied up with other things on my mind and forgot to attend the Friday night pass out of  info and clocks. I got with Teri (our coordinator) the next day and got the clocks and other materials that were passed out.
I drove to my 24 Mile marker the next morning and turned off my engine.    I setup my car based cross-band repeat capable radio as a repeater and setup my HT (Handheld Transceiver) in simplex mode to use the cross-band repeater in my car.
When net control got to my check-in point, I checked in with my HT.   After a bit there seemed to be no activity on my HT and I thought nothing of it.
Next thing I knew, the start time was past and still no “Start the clock message.”  
I then found my car battery had run down (and the cross-band repeater did not work) in the first hour of use and I did not catch it until after we were supposed to start the clocks.

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