The SELARC "Hamster"
Vol. 46, No. 6 ................................ June 2019
 
The SELARC "Hamster"

*Serving Amateur Radio Since 1974*
Published Monthly by the Southeast Louisiana Amateur Radio Club Inc.
P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404
Visit our website: www.selarc.org
See 2019-06.pdf for a printer-friendly version of this document
Vol. 46, No. 6 ................................ June 2019
* Club Meeting *

Tuesday, June 11, 7:00 PM
Ponchatoula Community Center
(300 N. Fifth Street, Range Road)

Pre-Meeting Social: La Carrettas'
In Ponchatoula, Next to the tracks!
(147 NW Railroad Ave, Ponchatoula, LA 70454)
Starting around 5:15PM

 

If you would like to become a member of SELARC, please print out and complete the application/renewal form and return it with your check to: P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404. Thanks!

Election of Officers

Election of Officers is at the general meeting of Tuesday July 9, 2019.
The board will provide a listing of nominees at the June meeting. Additional nominations may be made by members at the July meeting prior to the election.

Nominees must affirm intention to hold office if elected by the majority of SELARC members present.

Prize Drawing

SELARC still has a Yaesu FT-891 to be awarded to one lucky winner.
Please see Carol KE5GOC at the next meeting for details and to obtain
your chance to win: for a $10 donation per chance ticket (1 out of 60).

Special Events, Other Hamfests & VE Sessions

2019 ARRL Field Day - June 22-23, 2019

OARC / Slidell EOC Hamfest - Sat July 20 - http://w5sla.net/hamfest.htm

... W9DYV's Amateur Radio Symposium - (One day before the Slidell EOC Hamfest) - http://www.ce-multiphase.com/

2019 MS Bike Ride: Dats How We Roll - October 5-6, 2019

Hammond VE Group - ARRL/W5YI tests are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month [with the exception of holiday conflicts] in Room "B" of the North Oaks Medical System Diagnostic Center at 2pm with $15 testing fee. Bring photo ID and any appropriate CSCE. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.

AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program for contacts 3/3/19 to 12/31/19

Happy Birthday!!

Birthday Wishes for June go out to - Dean KG5AAE, Jason KC5WDH, Scott KD5PCK, and James K5QNT

If we missed your birthday, please let us know.

Get Well Soon —
Best wishes for continued recuperation go to SELARC members Tom Simpson N5HAY, Sandy Blaize W5TVW, and Homer Jones KA5TRT. We look forward to hearing you on the air!
 
Tyke's TidBits

On behalf of "Summer" It's On!. It looks to be a scorcher again this year along with the usual precipitation. Be careful out there, stay hydrated, keep an eye peeled for the ticks and those outrageously unpredictable wasp, hornets, ground bumble bees and yellow jackets and any other flying critter that I failed to mention. In this heat, one well placed sting can cause a lot of grief for the recipients. Use wasp and hornet spray "profusely" in any location you find the culprits.

Keep Benadryl or other brand antihistamines on hand. I find that the clear gel-caps work fairly quick to help reduce the swelling and /or other allergic responses. Sting sticks or other ammonia based relief agents help reduce the immediate pain, Calamine lotion also helps with associated rashes! Ice compresses also help to reduce swelling and ease the pain. Epi-pens are great, but not everyone can get them!

Field Day is around the corner so start making plans for it at the club meeting. Also, election of officers for 2019-2021 are here.

By the way, 6 meters did open for a little while on Memorial Day weekend. I managed to make 32 contacts on Museum Ships Weekend. There were 116 ships/Special Event stations on the air, and condtions were really bad, so to make these contacts was a great achievement!

Well, that should round out the highlights for this month.

CU at the meeting, Ponchatoula Community Center - 7:00 pm

Minutes of SELARC Meetings of May 2019
The minutes for two club meetings held during May are shown below:
  • May 14, 2019
  • May 21, 2019
Meeting of May 14, 2019 at Options

President Tyrone N5XES called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a self-introduction/recognition of all present.

It was m/s/passed to accept minutes for the April meeting as published in the "Hamster"

Ernie N5NIB presented a financial report that had been prepared by Carol KE5GOC.
It was m/s/passed to accept the financial report.

Attendance (16): Jimmy AG5EJ, Tyrone N5XES, Lyle KD5JRY,
Keith KF5VLX, Scott KD5PCK, Louis N5SWJ,
Bill Harris KF5YBY, David K5DZ, Eli Wilson KI5ADM,
John AA5UY, Judy AA5UZ, James Redmond K5QNT, David W5NPV,
Jerry N5GKJ, Bob WB5FBS, Ernie N5NIB

Committee Reports:

(Tyrone N5XES): Repeaters are on the air; there was a "burp" at the UHF site/ where equipment seem to have issues when on generator power.

ARES Report Bob WB5FBS gave the report from Pat KE5KMM, EC, who was absent: There was some bad weather this past week with rain & water not wind; A weather net was held, and (passing along thanks to the ARES members checking in and for their support of the weekly nets).

Old Business

Strawberry Festival: A detailed handout with operators and statistics on bands and contacts made was shown. (Lyle KD5JRY): W5S Special event station was held. Everything went smoothly. Friday setup crew enjoyed delicious fried fish and shrimp+open bar. Saturday people were there early, operating the radios, socializing, and had a lunch of smoked pulled pork;... ; ice cream, Ponchatoula strawberries.

Elections Coming Up: Tyrone mentions Elections and potential By-Laws Changes may be discussed further at next meeting.

The board is expected to provide a slate of nominees and open the floor for further nominations. It was m/s/passed to open the floor for nominations now.

Announcements

Field Day - It was reminded that field day is next month June 22 - 23.

Upcoming Classes: Test Session

Hamfests: 
Dairy Festival MS (Jun 1) 
New Orleans Hamfest (Nov)
Hamvention Plano (Aug)

OARC Hamfest - Sat July 20, 2019 - John Slidell Park Gymnasium
W9DYV's Amateur Radio Symposium: 1day before

Survey/Questionnaire
Tyrone passed around a questionnaire for members to answer.

Educational Program/Presentation:
The presentation related to digital voice modes and the repeater system of the Ozone Club in Slidell was given by David Hartley & John Guthans.

It was m/s/passed to adjourn at 8:26 PM

Special Meeting of May 21, 2019 at Ponchatoula Community Center

President Tyrone N5XES called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at the Ponchatoula Community Center. The special meeting was called to consider the purchase of a Yaesu DR-2X repeater before an application deadline at the end of May.

Attendance (10): 
Jimmy AG5EJ, Tyrone N5XES, Lyle KD5JRY
Bob WB5FBS, Ernie N5NIB, Judy AA5UZ,
John AA5UY, Ed KE5GMN, Pat KE5KMM, Jerry N5GKJ,
David W5NPV

Lyle reported the repeater committee's recommendation for digital options of the Yaesu Fusion 2 system as a quickest means for the club to make a step into digital modes, based on Yaesu's program still available for $900, for the DR-2X.

The proposal was made for funding this as an immediate replacement for 440 repeater equipment. After discussion; it was m/s/passed to approve.

Adjournment: It was m/s/passed to adjourn, and the meeting adjourned at 7:16 PM.


Submitted by Vice-President/Secretary Jimmy Hess AG5EJ
For Sale

Tower for Sale
Rohn 25 for sale - 4 straight and 1 top (approx. 50ft),
  with a short or long section for concrete,
  with house bracket - no rotor plate - $400.00

Also: 1- Rohn HDx-45 free-standing tower - $150.00
1- Spaulding HDx-45 free-standing tower (pre-Rohn buyout) - $150.00
additional loose sections of Rohn 25 available - price varies on condition of tower sections
all items.........no dickering...no trades...u pick up!!
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Hustler Vertical 6BTV+, 17 Meter Add-On
Omni 6 rig with power supply
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 985-630-2200

News from ARRL

==> Emergency Messaging Demonstration for Red Cross, FEMA is a Success
On May 23, with Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials monitoring, dozens of radio amateurs along the US east coast demonstrated Amateur Radio's ability to deliver messages without commercial power, infrastructure, or permanently established stations. The event took place in coordination with ARRL, as a mock response to a simulated disaster scenario -- a major hurricane with mass casualties. During the event, radio amateurs at portable stations from New England to the Carolinas delivered message traffic to W1AW, which coordinated and delivered the information to officials attending a joint Red Cross-FEMA meeting in Baltimore. ...

==> China Set to Launch New Amateur Satellite with "Sail Ball" Stabilization
Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT) has announced the impending launch of the CAS-7B satellite, also designated as BP-1B, a short-lived spacecraft that will carry an Amateur Radio payload. An unusual feature of the spacecraft is its "sail ball" passive stabilization system. The 1.5 U CubeSat is attached to a 500-millimeter flexible film ball -- or sail -- that will offer passive "pneumatic resistance" stabilization, the announcement said. CAS-7B is expected to remain in orbit for up to 1 month. ...

==> Mexican Amateur Radio Volunteers Provide Communication in Wildfire Response
Mexican radio amateurs provided communication support in late May from a fire scene in a remote area to civil protection authorities in Monterrey, Mexico. Two-member teams of volunteers were flown in via helicopter since May 20, the first day of radio support, when the fire had already been burning for a couple of days. The fire in Pajonal -- about 20 kilometers south of Monterrey -- covered more than 200 acres in rough terrain. Temperatures topped 100 °F.
Fueled by hot and dry conditions, Mexico's 2019 fire season has been intense, leading to poor air quality. By mid-May, more than 100 wildfires were active in 17 Mexican states.
Teams had been using Winlink but added the weak-signal software Vara HF, after José Alberto Nieto, EA5HVK, provided a Vara license on short notice. Tom Whiteside, N5TW, in Georgetown, Texas, supported the effort from across the border, aiming his 40- and 20-meter arrays in the direction of the fire in Nuevo Leon. Alfonso Tamez, XE2O, president of Mexico's IARU member-society Federación Mexicana de Radioexperimentadores (FMRE), was been among the volunteers.
In addition to HF digital traffic, the volunteer teams took advantage of VHF repeaters. HF antennas consisted of a 40-meter dipole for 40 and a steerable portable dipole. A generator is providing electrical power.

==> Magnetic Loop Antenna Designs Multiply
Magnetic loops have become popular as effective and compact antennas for traveling and stealth applications. An HF magnetic loop design by John Chappell, W3HX, was an honorable mention in the 2018 QST Antenna Design Competition. Chappell's mag loop offers coverage on 80 - 20 meters, and he runs FT8 at 50 W. See his article on page 39 of the June 2019 issue of QST. ...

==> FCC Re-Charters Technological Advisory Council for New Term The FCC has re-chartered its Technological Advisory Council (TAC) for a 2-year term. Comprised of a diverse group of leading technology experts, the TAC provides technical expertise to the FCC to identify important areas of innovation and develop informed technology policies. ...

==> June Event in Europe to Assess Activity, Ability to Share Spectrum on 6 Meters
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has thrown its support behind an upcoming operating event on 6 meters aimed at assessing activity on 6 meters and the ability of Amateur Radio to share spectrum with government users on the band. The worldwide Amateur Radio community is invited to participate in the Czech-sponsored Pohotovostní (readiness) Test -- or "P-Test" -- which will take place on June 13. Agenda Item 1.1 for World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) will consider an Amateur Service allocation in the 50 - 54 MHz band in Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Asiatic Russia), taking into account studies looking into sharing between the Amateur Service and the mobile, fixed, radiolocation, and broadcasting services, "in order to ensure protection of these services." ...

--The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League

 

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Stay Radio active -- See you at the next meeting, Tue, June 11, 2019; 7:00PM at the Ponchatoula Community Center
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