February 2020, Monthly Newsletter
- Details
- Category: The Hamster
P.O. Box 1324, Hammond LA 70404
Visit our website: www.selarc.org
Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 PM
Location: Ponchatoula Community Center
(300 N. Fifth Street, Range Road)
Elevator Access
Pre-Meeting
Social in Ponchatoula at: La Carreta Ponchatoula
147 NW. Railroad Ave, Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Starting around 5:15PM
Talk-in 147.00 (-600) w/107.2 Tone -- Handicap Access
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!
The SELARC 39th Annual Hammond Hamfest was held on Saturday January 18, 2020; thanks to all those who sold tickets and participated in the event. The results of the main prize drawing are shown below:
- 1st Prize: Yaesu FT-450D — Lyle Wales–KD5JRY
- 2nd Prize: Yaesu FTM-400XDR — John Beicher–KF5OPB
- 3rd Prize: AA-230 Zoom Antennae Analyzer — Ralph Shaw–K5CAV
- 4th Prize: Yaesu FT-70DR — Bob–WB5FBS
60th Annual Acadiana Hamfest 2020 - http://www.w5ddl.org/hamfest.htm
2020 ARRL Field Day - June 27-28, 2020
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 [email protected] or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.
Birthday Wishes for February go out to - John Guthans AA5UY, Pat KE5KMM, David N5QOX, and Lyle KD5JRY
If we missed your birthday, then please let us know.
Congratulations to the following new Amateur Radio Operators and upgrades!!
18 Jan 2020 - Hammond Hamfest - Hammond VE Group
- Technician
- Billy Orehowsky / KI5HZE - Saucier, Ms.
Adam Permenter / KI5HZD - Clinton, La.
Devin Martin - Greenwell Springs, La. - General
- Randall Davis / KF5TEW - Picayune, Ms.
- Extra
- Charles Freeman / W5CCF - Summit, Ms.
John Barnes Jr. / N5WWL - Denham Springs, La.
26 Jan, 2020 - Hammond VE Group
- Technician
- Joel McClure / K5KZX - Madisonville, La.
Many thanks to all the VEs' who came out and helped with the sessions! Your time and dedication is greatly appreciated!!!
73
Tyrone / N5XES - Hammond VE Group
President Tyrone N5XES called the meeting to order at 7:05pm 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 January meeting and Chistmas Party as published in the "Hamster" and partially read.
Treasurer Ernie Bush N5NIB gave a financial report. It was m/s/passed to accept the financial report.
Attendance (14): Tyrone Burns N5XES, Bob Priez WB5FBS, Butch Roper KG5WQI, William R Harris KF5YBY, Keith Samrow KF5VLX, Ralph Shaw K5CAV, Carol Redmond KE5GOC, James H. Redmond Jr. K5QNT, Pat Mason KE5KMM, Ed Mason KE5GMN, Jerry Burg N5GKJ, David Muller W5NPV, Carmen Ray KF5VXO, Jimmy AG5EJ
Tyrone passed around a Hamfest event uties sheet.
A new membeship application from Christopher Patron, W5CLP was voted on and passed.
Committee Reports
Repeater Committee -
(Tyrone N5XES): All repeates ae on the air. However, the 147 repeater's local time is incorrect as it is still in daylight savings time mode.
Old Business
SELARC Hammond Hamfest
Tyrone N5XES reminded members that the deadline for ticket pe-sales is Friday evening before the Hamfest, and the forum schedule for the event: A DMR Forum at 10 AM, then a combined ARRL/ARES forum at 11 AM.
There were additional Prize donations for the Hamfest from Mastrant, Heil, ARRL, and $100 DX Engineering gift certificate.
Chamber of Commerce A motion made in November to consider SELARC joining Chamber of Commerce is still tabled for discussion at a future meeting.
Tyrone made a call for new business.
There was an announcement from the Jackson Amateur Club for their Hamfest occuring on January 24th and 25th
It was m/s/passed to Adjourn at 7:42 PM.
==> ARRL to Argue for Continued Access to 3 GHz Spectrum as FCC Sets Comment Deadlines
At its annual meeting on January 17 - 18, the ARRL Board of Directors instructed Washington Counsel Dave Siddall, K3ZJ, to prepare a strong response to protect amateur access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC proposed to relocate all non-federal operations, including amateur uses, to spectrum outside the 3.3 - 3.55 GHz band. The Commission anticipates auctioning this spectrum to expand commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broadband services ...
==> New Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
The new Amateur Extra-class license examination question pool, effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators (NCVEC) website.
The 2020 - 2024 Extra-class pool incorporates significant changes compared to the current 2016 - 2020 question pool ...
==> HuskySat-1 With VHF/UHF Linear Transponder Set to Deploy Soon
The University of Washington's HuskySat-1 3U CubeSat, launched November 2, 2019, is set to deploy on January 31 after the vehicle that carried it to the International Space Station undocks. HuskySat-1 has remained stowed aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply vehicle. Within 24 hours after Cygnus' departure from the ISS, HuskySat-1 and SwampSat 2 will be deployed into orbit.
After deployment, HuskySat-1's 1,200 bps BPSK beacon on 435.800 MHz should be active and decodable with the latest release of AMSAT's FoxTelem software. HuskySat-1 is expected to carry out its primary mission before being turned over to AMSAT for amateur radio operation...
==> Massachusetts Club Offers Support to Arecibo Observatory Following Earthquakes
Although not in the hardest-hit earthquake zone, Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory nonetheless has been affected by the recent spate of earthquakes and aftershocks. The landmark Arecibo radio telescope and ionospheric radar facility was a victim of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) have stepped up to assist in support and recovery efforts for the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope and ionospheric radar facility. NVARC members Phil Erickson, W1PJE; Rod Hersh, WA1TAC, and Jim Wilber, AB1WQ, participated in daily scheduled radio contacts with Arecibo's lead telescope operator and spectrum manager, Angel Vazquez, WP3R. Other NVARC members volunteered to serve as back-up stations...
==> ARES Volunteers Establish "Plan B" Communication Network in Puerto Rico
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) volunteers in Puerto Rico continued over the weekend to report for daily duty at an American Red Cross (ARC) distribution center in Mayagüez and at ARC Headquarters in San Juan. The two sites are ready to provide a "Plan B" communication backbone in the event the seismic situation worsens.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southwestern Puerto Rico on January 7, fast on the heels of a magnitude 5.8 tremor the day before, damaging homes in Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Yauco, and Guánica. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL this week that the situation is relatively "calm and quiet" for now and starting on January 22, volunteers began monitoring from their homes or vehicles, permitting most, including Resto himself, to get back to their jobs and homes....
==> US Air Force Space Fence Nearing Operational Acceptance
According to NASA's most recent Orbital Debris Quarterly News, the space agency calculates about 17.6 million pounds of objects are in earth orbit, a number that will grow as launches proliferate -- including thousands of small satellites -- presenting a huge problem. The US Air Force Space Fence -- a second-generation space surveillance system now nearing completion -- is expected to play a crucial role.
Using advanced solid-state S-band radar technology, Space Fence is located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Such critical space-based technologies as weather forecasting, banking, global communications, and GPS navigation are under threat from space junk orbiting Earth. Collisions already are frequent, and defunct satellites and rocket boosters have increased the amount of space debris.
The Air Force Space Surveillance Network tracks about 25,000 objects. When Space Fence comes online, the catalog will expand considerably, and when fully operational, it will be the world's largest and most advanced radar system, offering unprecedented space situational awareness. Beyond cataloging objects, Space Fence will detect closely spaced objects, breakups, maneuvers, launches, and more...
--The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League
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Stay Radio active -- See you at the next meeting, Tue, February 11, 2020; 7:00PM at:
the Ponchatoula Community Center
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