San Antonio Hams

Everybody is likely familiar with the American Diabetes Tour de Cure bicycle rides.  San Antonio held theirs last May and Austin will holding their 2-day event in September.   There are also rides held in Corpus Christi (April) and a new one being held in Laredo later this year that could use some ham help in the future.

If you have an Emergency Go-Kit, this is the perfect opportunity to dust it off and test it.  If you have a mast and portable beam antenna available, this would be a great time to use it.  Mobile radios will be required on high power.  A few locations might, maybe, be close enough to the repeaters to hit, or at least monitor using your HT, but don’t count on it.

The 2-day Austin Central Texas Tour de Cure ride this year, will start in Dripping Springs, loop out west around Blanco, TX, and then head south on Saturday over to Gruene, TX, just north of New Braunfels.  On Sunday, that 2-day ride will leave Gruene and wander north thru Wimberley, on it’s way back to Dripping Springs of course.

This ride is a bit different from those we have supported with ham radio communications in the past.   Their SAG vehicles are provided by the Austin based ABC Commercial Services company (formerly ABC Pest Control with that Ant Eater logo).   Rest stop supplies are coordinated by Austin Energy vehicles, with a few Penske trucks thrown in for good measure.   So that leaves mostly Rest Stops that need ham radio communications, plus a few trouble shooter hams that will be roaming the route in support of the MSET-TX motorcycle EMS group.

We’ve got some hams from the Hays / Caldwell ARC  on board, thanks to Mike Wilmore KF5ACH.  Jeff Schmidt N5MNW is the overall ham coordinator, operating from the Austin / Dripping Springs main hub.  Lee Besing N5NTG is coordinating from the south end of the route.  Primary net control will be in Dripping Springs, with a backup net control in Gruene at the Saturday finish line.  Frequencies are being tested and will likely be using IRLP linked repeaters on 2 meters, but that may change depending upon the testing.

If you can help out either or both days, please contact Jeff Schmidt at n5mnw@arrl.net and Lee Besing at info@SanAntonioHams.org.  If you are a member of Hayes Caldwell ham club, please contact Mike Wilmore at mikewilmore@me.com.

(Karnes County) The Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital in Kenedy, Texas, has contacted us asking for help in joining the 21st century of ham radio communications.   🙂   I put them in touch with the ARES leaders for that district (Karnes County) and some others.  Ongoing discussion is starting up to cover a NDMS drill on the morning of September 20th.   The problem is that there are only about 10 hams licensed in that immediate area, with 2 of them (husband / wife) being registered hams and over the road truck drivers.

The hospital has a Kenwood dual band TM-D700 mobile radio that they are in the process of moving to a new location within the hospital.  They also want to establish HF Packet / Winlink capabilities.  Help with designing the antenna system and equipment will likely be needed.  I’m presuming the hospital is willing to budget for the equipment, but you know that presuming can be dangerous at times.

The latest word that I received (yesterday) was that the hospital would like someone to teach a class for some of their hospital employees and area volunteers to create a new batch of hams.    Of course, using HF would require a ham license of at least General class.

If you would like to help, please email me at info@sanantoniohams.org with the words “Karnes County” in the subject line.  I’ll forward your information to John Taylor KE5HAM (STXARES District 10 DEC)  in Victoria.

The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club, located in Kerrville, TX, invites you to our next meeting on September 1, 2016.

We meet the first Thursday of each month at the American Red Cross building, 333 Earl Garrett (corner of Earl Garrett and Jefferson) in downtown Kerrville. Meet and greet from 6 – 7 PM; business meeting beginning at 7 PM followed by a monthly program. Visitors are welcome!

The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club has over 90 members and is a general interest club. We have a full HF and VHF station (N5HR) located at the American Red Cross which is available to club members. We also operate an open repeater (N5HR) 146.98- (PL 162.2).

For more information call 830-257-0073, email k4dg@arrl.net or visit our website at www.kerrhams.org or our Facebook page.

When: Four Saturdays beginning September 3, 10, 17 and ending September 24^th. Classes will run from 9 AM until 3 PM, with a 45 minute break for lunch.

Where: American Red Cross building, 333 Earl Garrett St., Kerrville.

Cost: $30 for the course, plus $25 for license course book. We will use the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 3rd edition. It is available from ARRL.org and Amazon.com. Or I can purchase it for you. The $30 course fee will be waived for any public service employee or active/retired military.

Deadline to Sign Up:  August 28, 2016.

Content of Course:   The course will cover everything you will need to know to pass the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License Exam. The course book includes all informational materials, and all the questions that may be on the exam. No Morse code is required for any amateur radio license, only the written exam. I will email a copy of the syllabus of the course to registered students when we get closer to the first class date.

Additional Licensing Information: You will have an opportunity to take the FCC amateur radio license exam immediately following the conclusion of the last class on September 24^th. The cost is $15 and is payable at time you take the exam. This fee is not included in the course fee. As part of my course, I will go over the exam process, what to expect on the day of the exam, and the paperwork you will need to bring with you. You will also have the opportunity to take several practice exams as part of the course.

Information on Your Instructor:  Dale Gaudier holds an Extra Class amateur radio license, call sign K4DG. Dale has over 48 years experience as a ham radio operator. He has a background in physics and electronics. He is a registered amateur radio instructor and license examiner.

Need more info? Call Dale Gaudier at 830-257-0073 or email at k4dg@arrl.net for more information on these classes.

Sponsoring Organization: This license course is sponsored by The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club located in Kerrville, TX.  The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 PM at the American Red Cross in Kerrville. Visitors are welcome!