San Antonio Hams

The ARRL newsletter has the following story in it:

“FCC Seeks to Assign Entire Amateur Portion of 160 Meter Band to Primary Status to Amateur Radio Service, Proposes New LF Amateur Band at 135.7-137.8 kHz”

 “Most of the NPRM does not concern the Amateur Radio Service, but the FCC is requesting comments on the three parts that do: changing the allocation to the amateur portion of the 160 meter band, allocating a new Amateur Service band at 135.7-137.8 kHz and cleaning up the rules for the 10.0-10.5 GHz band. ”

“In the US, the 130-160 kHz portion of spectrum is allocated to the Fixed Service and the Maritime Mobile Service on a primary basis for both federal and non-federal use. Delegates at WRC-07 allocated 135.7-137.8 kHz to the Amateur Radio Service in all ITU Regions on a secondary basis”

That’s right! The end is finally near. According to one of the three Mayan Calendars, the End of the world will occur on December 21, 2012.

To celebrate this—literally—oncee in a lifetime event, Special Event Station N0D (Now Zero Days) will be activated for three days during and possibly after the end of the world. December 20; is a celebration of the end of the world. December 21, the day of destruction, we will be on the air as long as possible. December 22…that is a little iffy right now.

Amateur radio stations around the crumbling globe are invited to contact N0D, who will be operating from a secret undisclosed location. QSL with SASE to the address in QRZ. If Doomsday actually does happen, we regret that a QSL will not be possible so hold on to your SASE until the 22nd at least.

You can celebrate Doomsday by contacting N0D directly on the air. Amateurs can also become an official Doomsday station by registering on our website. You will be given a registration number and the authority to identify yourself as an Official Doomsday Station. followed by your Doomsday number.

73, N0D

N0D-Now Zero Days
Special Event Station for Doomsday!
The End of the World!

Contact Us On Dec. 21, 2012 
It might be your last 73.

www.nowzerodays.com
N0D.Doomsday@gmail.com

Countdown to Doomsday

Here is the list of hams who worked the marathon at what mile markers.    Dave Espinoza W5QS started out really early (before 4am) at the start line, acting as Net Control until 9am.  Lee Besing N5NTG was at mile marker 4 at 6am, and assumed Net Control duties at 9am, and continued until the race ended at 3:30pm when Lee was the last vehicle to cross the finish line. Literally the last person and vehicle, playing the Porky Pig tune “That’s all folks!”…

Here is the list…

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Okay, it’s time to unveil the full length, 140 minutes, runners video that we took at Mile Marker #4 on Camden Street.   It has minimal editing, mostly to add titles at the front / back, and a running date / location stamp during the video.  All sound is original once the video portion begins.  (The video file itself was more than 2gb in size, and it was only 640×480 screen size.)

I’ll be posting more info about the race itself, who the volunteers were from AARO and other ham volunteers, etc., in another post.

This post is just for the runners.    This is the view from Mile Marker #4 on November 11, 2012, starting around 7:45am, after all the bicycle riders are gone.  You can see the approaching lead vehicles, watch the guy and my son, David KD5MTJ, relocate the mile marker and clock closer to the curb, and hear all the spectator comments (uncensored) in the background.  The video with the bicycle riders is found here http://sanantoniohams.org/blog/?p=6394

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When I got home late this evening I had a message on my answering machine that Doris Patti N5QEL passed away this morning.  Those who knew Doris will surely miss her.  Those who knew her will remember her generosity such as serving as editor for our KARS Newsletter for so many years.  There will be no service, however, I believe her church will accept flowers/donations on her behalf.  The Kendall Amateur Radio Society will certainly donate where appropriate.

73s

-Mark Rosier, President
Kendall Amateur Radio Society

Joseph Richard Funk, AF5D, 83, of Robinson, Texas passed away, Thursday, September 27, 2012 at his home. Joseph was born January 16, 1929 in Ironton, Missouri to Oscar and Jewell Funk. He graduated from Esther High School in 1947 and received a teaching certificate from Flat River Junior College.

He served as a Corporal radio relay operator in the US Army during the Korean War during which he received the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Upon returning from the service he continued his education in electronics and communication equipment in Port Arthur, Texas. On May 25, 1957 he married Ruby Gene Culpepper in San Antonio, Texas. He was employed by Missouri Pacific Railroad later known as Union Pacific Railroad as a communications maintainer.

He enjoyed his hobby of being an Amateur Radio Operator for over 60 years under the call letters of AF5D. He shared his knowledge and love of radio operations by helping many young and old to pass their tests to become amateur radio operators, including his wife, sister in-law and sons. He had a fascination with radios, electronics and computers that helped him form many friendships that spanned out across the world. He enjoyed traveling back to visit with his friends and family in his birthplace known as Funk Branch as often as was possible for their reunions.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, his three children; Kathryn Funk-Baxter (Steve) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Keith Richard Funk (Kim) of San Antonio and Karl Matthew Funk (Crystal) of Robinson, Texas; six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. He is proceeding in death by his parents and only brother Carl Franklin Funk.

Louis B. Turner, K5LT,  age 75, passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2012 in San Antonio.  Louis was an extra class ham.

He was born May 2, 1937 in Kemp, Oklahoma to Andrew and Inez Turner. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas; his daughter Barbara; and his wife, Betty. Louis is survived by his sons, Les Turner and his wife, Laura and Lyle Turner KB5BSU and his wife, Mandi; and grandchildren, Brooke and Luke Turner.

The following video was shot at Mile Marker #4 along the route of the 2012 San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon, and is for the Bike Tour part of the event only, no runners in this clip.   The Bike Tour, with about 1,000 riders, started at 6:45am, before the 7:30am main start for the Marathon.

Ham Radio Operators from the Alamo Area Radio Organization (AARO) and other volunteers, staffed every mile marker along the routes to ensure the timing clocks were started accurately at 7:30am when the net control (Dave W5QS) gave the count down over the radio.  This year’s event started without a hitch, other than some timing clocks had dead batteries or other malfunctions, but the operational end of from the ham radio operator perspective went fairly smoothly this year.

We’ll be posting more videos and photos later this week, as we find more “free time” to do the editing. This was the short one, so be warned!