Volume1 Issue 2

April 2012 Calendar  14—15 April 2012 8am Technician class Lucas Fire Department.

President’s Corner

 21 April 2012 Great American Cleanup Sachse

Well folks, after 6 months we are well on our way. It's getting harder to schedule presentations at our meetings as more and more folks volunteer with valuable information to share. Our calendar is getting fuller too, Ham Radio in the Park, Fox Hunts, community events like the Great American CleanUp next week, the "Save the Frog" special event that we've been invited to participate in, and the list goes on and on. As more and more members get active, we see more and more activities popping up. To me, this is great evidence our club is what we make of it. Our growth has been phenomenal and I look forward to our continued growth during the summer. Jeff - N5LOC President, Sachse Amateur Radio Association. Sachse, TX

 24 April 2012 12pm Fox Hunt & HRitP Sachse4  26 April 2012 7pm Club Meeting Steak Kountry Sachse  12 May VE testing at Sachse Library. 8:00 am  19 May Richardson Wildride

Inside this issue: President’s Corner

1

Meeting Minutes

2

Tech Bits: Antenna Connections

3

FoxHunt Roundup

3

Silent Key

4

Tech Net Anniversary

5

We have started having our Sachse VE Test sessions in Sachse. The location is at Sachse Library, 3815 Sachse Road Building C, the room next to the library south end, Sachse, Tx 75048. We are scheduled for the 2nd Saturday every month thru August. We will not have a test session in June, due to HAMCOM being held on the same weekend and they offer testing as well. We have a team of 5 VE accredited hams to help and would like to invite others that are extra class licensed to join us. We will be using the W5YI and ARRL tests, alternating. I would like to thank the Sachse Amateur Radio Association for their sponsorship and help. Again thanks to our team and the club for their support and please let other hams and clubs know we are ready when they are. Please email if you would like to participate at a test.

Weather Station

6

73 de AC5BC Bill Caldwell VEC ARRL and W5YI-Sachse [email protected]

Page 2

Club Meeting Minutes

(22 March 2012)

CALL TO ORDER:

Club President Jeff called the meeting was called to order at 8:02 pm at Steak Kountry, 7010 Hwy 78, Sachse TX. Eight members and four visitors were present Introductions were made OLD BUSINESS: 1. Minutes from the 23 Feb 2012 meeting had been posted to the Yahoo group page and was accepted and passed. No other old business was discussed TREASURER REPORT: Treasurer Jeri McGrath read the Treasurer’s report, an account balance of $452.83 was reported; report was accepted by member vote NEW BUSINESS:

1. Club President Jeff announced that Dick sanders had won the FoxHunt. 2. Announcements were made concerning the Belton Hamfest 13 -14 th of April. 3. An announcement was made about the 14 April – Great American Clean Up Day – at least 10 volunteers are needed for this event. Things that those who attend need to bring: a first aid kit and radios. Hams will be shadowing the command staff, handing out water to the clean-up teams, and providing safety to the event. Those attending need to be at the amphitheater near city hall at 8 am. 4. The first issue of SARA SKYWAVES, the club newsletter was handed out and was approved. All who wish to have articles in the newsletter need to get them to the editor, Michele W7LIF by the second Saturday of the month (14 April). 5. HamCom will be in Plano 8 – 9 June 2012 at Plano Centre, in Plano. 6. Bill Caldwell AC5BC was elected “Member at Large” by unanimous vote. 7. SARA will have a community out-reach at the Sachse Library Saturday 2 June from 1 pm thru 4 pm. Need everyone to turn out. 8. Jerri KE5QQR made the recommendation that the club buy a special set of reference books for the library, to be used for those interested in ham radio. Set is put together by the ARRL and sells for $200.00. 9. Jerri KE5QQR made the suggestion that the club join the Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor program. It was determine that until we can get a Federal tax exempt number we do not qualify. 10. Bill AC5BC announced that the first club sponsored VE session would be 7th of April at the Sachse Library. Jeff Locke N5LOC announced that the club can now accept Pay-Pal as payment for club dues ADJOURN: A motion was made to adjourn the formal club meeting prior to a presentation by Bill AC5BC. A second to the motion was made and approved by the membership.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm

Antenna Connection – A Common Problem

Volume1 Issue 2 Page 3

Tech Bits

Note from the editor Thanks for all the articles this month.

Antenna Connections – A Common Problem I have run into a small antenna problem recently. Since it has happened to both our daily drivers more than once, I think it is a relatively common problem and an easy one to check. In both our cars, the main body of the radio is mounted remotely. In Juanita’s car, the radio is mounted in the truck. In my pickup, it is mounted behind the seat. This means that checking the problem means opening the trunk and reaching up or sliding the seat forward and looking down. This doesn’t take too much time. In fact, I just walked out to the garage and sure enough, found the problem in my truck although Juanita’s car was fine. This took less than 2 minutes total. Not bad to check and solve a problem that will knock you right off the air. By now I am sure you would like me to quit rag chewing and tell you what the problem is. That is, if you haven’t guessed from the title of the article. Okay, the problem is the antenna connection vibrates loose from the radio. You just have to twist in back tight and the problem is averted. See, I told you this was simple.

Keep it up.

Arti-

cles need to be in to me by the 2nd Saturday of the month. I also reserve the right to edit all submissions. Michele W7LIF

73

Come find me

Richard KD5PXM

on Saturday April 28th at 12 pm.

FoxHunt Roundup Bill AC5BC found the fox on 24 March 2012.

Page 4

W5YI, Fred Maia goes SK The holder of one of the best-known US Amateur

by General Manager Larry Pollock, NB5X, newly

Radio call signs, Frederick (Fred) Maia, W5YI, died

appointed President of the W5YI-VEC and National

of cancer Wednesday, March 28. He was 76 and

Radio Examiners organizations. Maia continued

was a resident of Arlington, Texas.

writing "The W5YI Report" newsletter until July 2003.

Fred was a leading Amateur Radio journalist for nearly 35 years and a pioneer of the volunteer ex-

A graduate of the US Air Force Radio Operators

amining program adopted by the FCC in 1984.

School, Fred was an avid CW operator. He was first licensed as a teenager as W1NTK in Brockton,

Maia published "The W5YI Report," dubbed

Massachusetts, where he grew up. Maia was later

"America's Oldest Ham Radio Newsletter," from

licensed as W5UTT, and held DXCC CW awards

1978 to 2003, and has been a CQ contributing

and EU-PX-A CW. He was a member of QCWA and

editor since 1985. His regulatory affairs column, first Life Member of the ARRL. titled "Ticket Talk," then "Washington Readout," offered news and perspective on FCC Regulations

For several decades, Maia also served on the Na-

and ITU actions. His final column will appear in the

tional Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordina-

May 2012 issue of CQ.

tors (NCVEC) as a member of the Question Pool Committee that oversees the development and

After the FCC adopted volunteer examining for all

maintenance of the Amateur Radio license exami-

levels of Amateur Radio licensing in 1984, Fred be-

nation question pools.

came the first Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) appointed by the FCC. Fred subsequently

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ,

founded The W5YI Group in 1986 to develop, pub-

commented: "Amateur Radio is healthier today be-

lish and sell amateur and commercial radio license

cause of the tireless efforts of Fred Maia. While

study materials. In the realm of FCC commercial

Fred did not always see things quite the same way

radio licensing, Fred formed National Radio Exam-

as the ARRL, in my experience he always had the

iners to provide examination services.

best interests of Amateur Radio at heart. He was a major figure who will be sorely missed."

Maia served as President of the W5YI-VEC until his retirement in October of 2000 when he sold The W5YI Group study material products to Master Publishing, Inc. The retail operations were purchased

From ARRL newsletter

Volume1 Issue 2 Page 5

By John Briggs KC6TVF

Dallas Amateur Radio Club celebrated the second anniversary of the clubs wildly popular Tech Net with a Tech Net in the Park event on Saturday 31 March. Over 60 folks were on hand to have a good time, socialize, and learn ham radio. There was an antenna build for the tape measure 2 meter beam antenna. This consisted of a few items of PVS pipe and some tape measure material. Kevin, N5KRG is seen below testing his newly built antenna. There was a test and check setup for you to test your equipment to see if your radios were up to specifications. Several HF antennas were erected for folks to get on the air. DARC had their Emcom trailer there for folks to see and operate from. Several nets operated out of the trailer that evening. Bill, AE5BK brought his “camper” for everyone to see. It’s quite small, but fully equipped with ham gear and the necessities. Dallas county CERT was there talking to folks and passing out information. Several Sachse club members were in attendance. John, KC6TVF was one of the hot dog grillers, Charlie, KE5RFS was there with Bill, AC5BC.

Come Join US! www.sachseradio.org KF5NBO

Getting involved is easy. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator, join our weekly “OnThe-Air” Information Net each Tuesday night at 8pm on the N5LOC repeater (145.25, PL 141.3). Visit our web site at www.sachseradio.org to learn more. Or come to a meeting.

Page 6

A Slight Risk Area can turn High Risk at any moment. Something we all need to remember. Last Tuesday was a perfect example. A Micro scale situation that many computer forecast programs doesn't account for turned a Slight Risk Day into a High Risk Day. Outflow boundaries from prior storms lay over the DFW area on Tuesday morning. That was the microscale condition that mixed with a little daytime heating, and all the other ingredients already in the mesoscale forecast set off a tornado outbreak over the area. Five days later, the last reports I received were that we had 16 tornadoes in North Texas last Tuesday. A Tornado Emergency was declared by the NWS for the Metroplex. Most were EF-0 and EF1's in Burleson, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mesquite, There were several EF-2s in Tarrant County, Arlington/Kennedale south of Ft. Worth also in Rockwall County in Royce City. In Dallas County, City of Lancaster. The EF-3 in Forney. I worked the Skywarn Net for Southwestern Collin County while coordinating my school's tornado emergency plan. There were reports of activity from Addison and Far N. Dallas/Carrollton areas. I haven't heard of these being confirmed tornadoes yet. I observed and confirmed a rotating wall cloud over Far North Dallas that was confirmed by other spotters. A partial funnel formed, but never fully came to fruition. These potential tornado events occurred time and time again over the area. Sirens were activated in all affected communities several times. Children were sheltered on ground floors for approximately 2 hours in area Photo provided by Bill Caldwell’s daughter schools. from her neighborhood in Forney. Just a lesson from mother nature. She does what she pleases at a moment's notice. When conditions become "fluid" anything can happen. So stay on your toes, even on a Slight Risk Day! We were very lucky that no one was killed and only a handful injured. I feel that our warning systems worked well. Media was all over it and so were the spotter groups. Let's take a deep breath and pat ourselves on the back for this one and cross our fingers for the next one! 73's KE5AYC Scott Whitfield, Weather Officer

Volume1 Issue 2 Page 7

Since my appointment as Section Manager last fall, I have been in search of a Section Emergency Coordinator. This week John Galvin, N5TIM, accepted the appointment as the North Texas Section Emergency Coordinator. John has served as the ASEC in North Texas ARES and heads up the North Texas amateur radio RRTF team. I look forward to working with John in this new capacity. John is very dedicated and passionate about emergency communication. Please join me in welcoming John to this appointment. John was first licensed in 1991 as N5TIM and holds an Advanced Class License. Since receiving his license he has been involved with public service events and emergency communications. Over the years he has participated in and coordinated numerous public service events including the March of Dimes Walk, the MS150 2-Day Bike Ride and the White Rock Marathon. He maintains a public service web site listing events and information on public service amateur radio operations. John also served as part of the communication support team in San Augustine with the Shuttle Columbia Recovery. John also hosts a public service web site at www.n5tim.info and makes many public service related presentations at Ham-Com. John is also interested in APRS and has made many APRS presentations for local clubs. He has been a Garland RACES appointee for over 18 years and served as the RACES Radio Officer for 10 years and is now an AEC in Garland RACES/ARES. John developed the Garland RACES web site which offers a host of emergency communications information. He also serves on the City of Garland Crisis Action Team, volunteers in the Garland Office of Emergency Management office, and is member of and has served in leadership positions with the Garland Amateur Radio Club. John is also a member of the Plano Amateur Radio Klub and Collin County ARES. John was the primary architect of the Communications Resource Function Guide for Amateur Radio EmCom and Public Service Events. This guide also fits in well with NIMS resource guidelines. This guideline grew out of an issue with assigning amateur radio operators, with the necessary equipment to various positions needed during Public Service Events. He has presented this Guide to a number of amateur radio clubs and for several years at HamCom. -------------------------------------------------------------------ARRL North Texas Section Section Manager: Walt E Mayfield, KE5SOO [email protected]