VHF Propagation

 

ARRL North Texas Mentor Fest is this Saturday April 2nd, 2022 This is a FREE event

Please join us a reward our Presenters with your attendance
I will be Providing One door prize at each presentation as well as
Numerous Prizes given out during the Great Pizza break
The New Dual Band Yaesu HT drawing for thos that RSVP'd
by the 28th of March will also be drawn

Steve KG5VK

How I use Stream Deck and Node-Red tools at my Station KG5VK

Stream Deck and Node-Red tools at KG5VK

 A buddy of mine (K8KI) recently said 

"He had heard of both tools but was unsure how he would benefit from their use"

I decided to document my answer here...

Stream Deck (Manufactured by Elgato)

I use the Stream Deck tool for two things:

• Allow quick access to buttons which launch Aps
• Allow use of Macros via other Software on my Desktop 

The first is the Aps, which I could easily navigate to on my Computer Desktop via mouse movements, but I find much easier with a one button click are pictured below on the Main Stream Deck profile I use

From Top left to Bottom right, I have the "Next Profile button, SDR, DAX, CAT, Tune etc.

SDR launched my FlexRadio SDR software, Dax and Cat are launchable if I have terminated them for some reason (They normally launch when Smart SDR is launched)
Tune allows quick access to Enable/Disable of the SDR Tune button versus movement of the mouse
TQSL simply launches that app versus mouse usage and the same with N1MM+, Antenna Genius Software, DxLabs, FRStack and Slice-Master are there for less mouse use as well.

The CQ Test button takes me to another profile set within within my Stream Deck

allowing use of buttons to send Voice keyer messages, The FlexRadio Power button keys the shut shutdown of my radio locally in the shack.

Pressing the Commander button allows me one button selection of tools within the DxLabs Commander control of my radio allowing one button selection of keys like A=B VFO, A/B VFO, etc. which would other wise require mouse movement and mouse clicks.

I find pressing a button or even two or three buttons easier 

than dragging a mouse and clicking several times

much easier especially under contest or working a needed DX entity much less stressful.

My Stream Deck is the smaller 15 key version, however keep in my 

we can have many different profiles for different page sets of keys and what they do for us

Some of my keys launch a new page profile, some of the keys simply launch an App versus dragging the Mouse, the key is you setup your Stream Deck for your needs.

Node-Red

First off what the heck is Node-Red......

Node-RED is a programming tool for wiring together hardware devices, APIs and online services in new and interesting ways.

It provides a browser-based editor that makes it easy to wire together flows using the wide range of nodes in the palette that can be deployed to its runtime in a single-click.

IOW it is a Browser based tool for building a Program to do something with Hardware or other software, without the requirement to get a degree in C# Computer programming or even have a basic understanding of C#

Want to learn more there is a fantastic Groups dot IO email reflector with lots of 

Flows (Scripts) on Node-Red for use in Ham Radio here is a link to it.....
https://groups.io/g/nodered-hamradio/messages

So how do I use Node-Red tools:

Mainly for both local and remote control of equipment with my Ham Radio shack

I mainly built this to use when I am on the road and want to use my station remotely and be able to select different antennas, rotate an antenna etc.
My display layout is a bit rough, but it works for me
You will note two exact columns of beam heading on the right side

The Left column is for my 40m beam and the right one is for my HF Log periodic

I do not have a Flow installed on my Raspberry Pi that holds my Node-Red software and Scripts
which would show the Radio's different meters, I do have two other Node Display pages, which are available by clicking on the ICON to the Top Left of My Callsign on the page shown.

They look like this....

The Top one controls relays to a Receive antenna , changing the direction it is favoring

The lower screen controls a board with eight different relays mounted to my Raspberry Pi

for other tools in the shack, such as selecting an entirely different Receive antenna.

There are more than a few different tutorials on YouTube of getting started with use of Node-Red

my recommendation is just jump in and play with it

Start with small sketches and build-up from there.

I am far from a programmer, having only learned a bit of basic programming in the 70's in high school with Basic and punch cards.

I barely know what C Sharp (C #) is  :)

Node-Red Flows are built using Sketches versus writing Scripts or Code

I will tell you building Stream Deck profiles is supper easy

Cheers!

Steve

KG5VK 

Presentation of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award to ARRL North Texan

 The First North Texan

and the first Young lady in Texas

to receive the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial

youth award. 

Ms. Katherine M. Forson KT5KMF, amateur radio Extra class Licensee, was presented the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Youth Award. The presentation was orchestrated by Sean Kelly W5SPK President of the Plano Amateur Radio Klub (PARK) at a gathering of fellow amateur radio operators and dignitaries on the 20th of September in Plano, Texas

(Seated Left-Right, John Robert Stratton N5AUS The ARRL West Gulf Division Director,
Steven Lott Smith KG5VK ARRL North Texas SM, and Deputy Mayor Maria Tu of  Plano, Texas)
 

                   

John Robert Stratton N5AUS ARRL West Gulf Division Director
Presents Katherine Forson KT5KMF the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial plaque

Attendees included friends and family members of the award recipient, as well as officers and members of more than a few ARRL affiliated clubs from North Texas and the former ARRL North Texas Section Manager Jay Urish W5GM

The Check accompanying the award is presented by
West Gulf Division Director John Robert Stratton N5AUS and ARRL NTX SM Steven Lott Smith KG5VK, while the honorable Deputy Mayor Maria Tu of Plano, Texas looks on.

              
                    

While Katherine is the first ever North Texas amateur Radio op and the first YL in Texas to receive this prestigious award, she is far from a stranger to receiving awards and making milestones. Having received her first Amateur Radio license at the young age of 15, in 2018 she was the recipient of the First place award in the Plano, Texas District Science Fair and went on that same year to secure second place in the Dallas Texas Science and Engineering Fair.

In early 2019 while campaigning to become the ARRL North Texas Section Manager (SM), I was afforded the opportunity to see a Ms. Forson do a rehearsal presentation for her third science fair competition, I was so impressed I decided that if I became the new SM  I would waste little time asking her and her parents if she could be our Section Youth Coordinator.

In May of 2019, I appointed Ms. Forson KT5KMF as  the ARRL North Texas Section Youth Coordinator, She has of course excelled at her position being one our most active and engaged ARRLNTX Section Staff Members. It is a great honor to have come to know her and her parents. (Steve KG5VK)

 

 

 

  

 Mic Gain Setting on a FlexRadio

KG5VK updated Bio as of 2021

 

KG5VK 
Steven Lott Smith

Born Miami Florida September 1955
First Licensed in 1972 as WN0FOI
Graduate of Parkway High School Manchester Missouri 1974 (But I am class of 75)
Entered Active Duty with The United States Air Force September 1974 where I trained as an Aircraft Electrician.
Met my Wife who is from North Texas, while we were both stationed in California.

Next tour was at Spangdahlem AFB in West Germany for three years.
We lived in West Texas from 1981 - 1985 (Dyess AFB)
During that time, I was twice president of the Key City Amateur Radio Club in Abilene, Texas.

From Abilene we went to Grissom AFB in Indiana.
Following that assignment we were at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, where I was the President of the Shreveport Amateur Radio Association for 3 years consecutively and two more years later.
I served in Desert Shield / Storm from December of 1990, through March of 1991 with the 801 Bomb Wing (B-52's)

August of 1993 I served as the Electro-Environmental NCOIC on the KC-135 maintenance team at Riyadh Saudi Arabia during Operation No Fly.
Retired from the USAF October 1st 1993 and started a Professional Photography Business (Lott's Photo), continued that line of work and also began teaching photography at Bossier Parish Community College in 2001 to late 2014
In 2015 My wife and I moved from Louisiana to North Texas
In 2016 I started work at Main Trading Co. Paris, Texas.
In 2018 I retired from working a day job and ran for election as the ARRL North Texas Section Manager.

In 2021 I ran as the ARRL NTX Section Manager again, this time unopposed.
I greatly look forward to hearing your concerns and accolades on what the league can and has done, for you my fellow ARRL members as well as recruiting new ARRL members.

A member of the Dallas Fort Worth Contest Club,
Lone Star DX Association, CW OPS (#1806),  A-1 Operator Club and of course The ARRL.

DXCC awards:
5 Band DXCC Award,
DXCC CW with 298 entities
DXCC Phone with 283 entities
DXCC Digital with 127 entities
Early 2021 Attained confirmation of entity 331 (mixed)
and was accepted in to The DXCC Honor Roll

I pledge to be Transparent and available to your communications
KG5VK at ARRL dot ORG  

 

This morning January 21, 2021
I officially became a proud member of the DXCC Honor Roll

I started this journey back in 1981, when my DXCC mentor
Tom Blackley KR5D told me "Steve,  Just submit your cards, you have plenty for Mixed and Phone DXCC certificates" Of course since I started my Ham Radio journey in 1972 he was very correct.

About a week ago I worked my 331st Current DXCC Entity
Leaving me in need of nine more countries to have all 340 confirmed  

I thank Tom KR5D for getting me started on this journey
and Marshall KA5M for the continued encouragement to stay in pursuit of our goal.

The Nine I still need are: 

North Korea
Bouvet Island
Crozet Island
Johnston Island
Kerguelen Island
Pratas Island
San Felix Islands
Syria
Turkmenistan

My Journey to get all current entities continues
And I also start focusing on Top Band (160m) DXCC
If I live long enough, after that maybe Moon Bounce.

73

Steve
KG5VK

I am Seeking a Second Term as your ARRL North Texas Section Manager Steve KG5VK

From the Desk of your ARRL North Texas Section Manager
Steven Lott Smith
Steve KG5VK

Greetings fellow ARRL North Texas Amateur Radio OPS
I am seeking a second term as your ARRL North Texas Section Manager

I have proudly served 17 Months as of this writing
I am asking for your continued confidence in me
by way of nominations for SM for the period of 2021/2022

I took office on April the 1st, 2019

During my Campaign to be your Section Manager
I pledged I would be a visible Section Manager,
I hope you feel I have done that and much more.
I am now seeking a second term.

Before taking office, I gladly took many phone calls, and emails with questions and comments, I continue to talk with fellow ARRL members on a weekly sometimes daily basis.
While I have not solved everyone's concerns. I have always listened and followed up with answers to questions that I may not have had at the time of initial contact.
I have been publishing a Monthly Newsletter since my appointment as your Section Manager, this is a small part of the process of staying in touch with the members I serve.

Some highlights of specific accomplishments:

• Appointed a Section Youth Coordinator, which is one of Youth.
  Katherine Forson KT5KMF should, by now be well known to any ARRL NTX member.
  She was highlighted in QST the same year she was appointed with a full page article
  and continues to serve us proudly by sharing what Ham Radio is with both young and old.

• Asked and Received Nominees for an ARRL North Texas Ham Radio Operator of the Year 2019/2020.  Appointed an award committee from the Section Management team to vote on the nominees.  I presented the Award to Jim Erickson KB0DBJ president of MJARS at their September 2019 club meeting. (I will soon be forming another Team to vote on ARRL NTX Ham of the Year 2020/2021 Nominees)
  
  
• Within the First Seven months of taking office as your Section Manager
  I attended Nine Ham Fests, Seventeen Different Club Meetings, Two JOTA events and a visit to the EOC at the Plano Balloon fest. I also appeared at Eleven different ARRL FD sites.
  
  
• I have attended the Belton Ham fest 3 times since taking Office, this is significant because the ARRL members from that area had for several years been in pursuit of being realigned by the ARRL with South Texas, until I showed them the support they deserve.
  
  
• Began Monthly ARRL NTX Section Management Team Staff meetings, held virtually with Teleconferencing tools.

• As of October 2020 we now have Quarterly Zoom conferences with ARRL NTX Affiliated Club officers and the ARRL NTX Section Staff members.  These meetings came from a suggestion received by one of the club officers during a recent round table conference with myself and John Robert Stratton N5AUS our ARRL West Gulf Division Director.
  
  
• I continue to attend club meetings on a Virtual basis with those clubs that are having Virtual Meetings during this time of COVID19 Social Distancing
  
  
• Built a strong working relationship with Section Managers and their Staff near and far from our Section, doing so betters our readiness to respond to neighboring Sections that need our assistance with ECOM and allows them willingness to assist us in times of need.  I feel we can always learn from others and therefore maintain contact with all the fellow Section Managers within the ARRL West Gulf, and Delta Divisions, as well as several Section Managers beyond those borders.
  
  
• I have assembled an outstanding team of assistants, from Greg Evans K5GTX our Section Emergency Coordinator, to all the other Assistants on the Section Management team. Our team works as a cohesive unit for the betterment of our fellow ARRL members which we serve.
  Our complete Team may be viewed at https://arrlntx.org/WP/about-us/ntx-officials/
  
  In summary, I would appreciate your Nomination for another term as your Section Manager. This will allow myself and the ARRL North Texas Section Management team to continue the progress which will benefit all North Texas Amateur Radio OPS.
  
  News Flash !!!
  Thanks to Greg Evans K5GTX and Aaron Hulett K8AMH for many hours of work and planning,  our team has just unveiled our new ARRL North Texas website https://arrlntx.org
  
  The ARRL has announced that prospective Nominees may solicit Nominations with electronic signatures during this continued time of COVID19 Social Distancing.
  I can email anyone that request it, one of these Electronic Nomination forms,
  just drop me an email with the request KG5VK@ARRL.NET
  
  Thank you for your time and your service as an ARRL member!
  
  Steve KG5VK
  Please call or Email me any time
  318-470-9806

ARRL NTX Section September 2020 Newsletter

 Greetings fellow North Texans!

Update:
Since the ARRL North Texas Website Update
Now contains all of my newsletters, including the current one

I no longer duplicate those posts here.

So Please visit https://arrlntx.org/WP/news/newsletter/

*** Many of you are already aware that the ARRL Now has a new CEO

You may not know that he is a very active On The air amateur Radio operator
He is a Life Time member of CWOPS group and a fellow DXER and Contest OP
He received over 2/3rds of the Votes by the Board of Directors, which to me shows
the over whelming majority of our Board Members at ARRL have confidence in him
He is David Minster NA2AA

*** The Board also seated a member to a brand new position at Headquarters....

The ARRL ECOM Director is Paul Gilbert KE5ZW

We can all be proud that Paul Gilbert KE5ZW is a fellow Texan
Paul is the current South Texas Section Manager, he has a wealth of background in Federal, State and Section Level ECOM and will be a valued asset to all of us. A new Section Manager will be elected for South Texas, watch ARRL News for more info.

*** The Second West Gulf Director Round Table meeting with ARRL NTX Club Officers and myself was held on the 29th of this past month (August). Due to COVID19 this round table was held virtually
by way of Zoom conferencing. We had over 24 club officers represented and I feel it was a very progressive meeting. Your Club officers gave Director John Stratton and myself more than a few issues we could work on.
Per the request I have formed an On-Line discussion area where club officers can have a working dialogue with myself and the rest of the North Texas Section Management Staff on any topics that their members wish addressed.
A couple of your officers mentioned what happen to the ARRL Club Coordinator position that the Board of Directors were working on. This position was not seated before we found the need to find a new CEO.  Now that Mr. Minster NA2AA has been appointed as the CEO and once he has found his way around the inner working of Headquarters, we hope to see some momentum on this new position.
The Club Coordinator at Headquarters will allow greater attention towards affiliated club needs.

*** Once again I make my plea for Safer Tower Climbing to everyone.

If you think Free climbing, or climbing with a Climbing Belt is Safe
You are only kidding yourself.
Every Ham Radio Club should take time out to present a video or two on Safe Tower Climbing
Every amateur radio OP owes it to their family and loved ones and them self to learn the right way to climb and work on towers. By the way Climbing Belts have not been OSHA approved for many years.
The right Gear begins with Boots and a Climbing Harness that has two Fall arrest lanyards and a positioning lanyard as well as the knowledge of when it is safe and unsafe to climb.

The recent fatality was from only a 50 foot tower!

Here is a link to an Excellent Video https://youtu.be/uJO-L3td_p8
If you are unable to view the Video,  please email me for another link.
I implore Clubs to help promote Tower Safety, maybe even an OSHA approved climbing kit for member use, everything but the Boots.

*** ARES and ECOM

Please never self  Deploy, you will only burden resources that are not prepared for your arrival.
Greg Evans K5GTX and I work closely with all neighboring Section Leaders and we would love for everyone to take heed of the following message he and I have created on this subject.....

"If you are considering volunteering as an ECOM resource during any emergency
Please make sure you first notify Section Management (SM & SEC) within your Section before
expressing your willingness and readiness to any served agencies and/or other Sections.
We appreciate willingness, however we need to do our part as a Team.
Please, allow us to do so by communicating with us first.
Steven Lott Smith KG5VK
ARRL NTX Section Manager
Greg Evans K5GTX
ARRL NTX Section Emergency Coordinator"
One should also consult their respective County ARES EC and if your an EC up channel to the District (DEC)

*** ARRL North Texas Ham of The Year 2020/2021

As of Today (September 3,2020)  I have received only one Nomination !!!
I am again accepting nomination packages for the ARRL North Texas
Amateur of the Year award
Please title the email with the Nomination "ARRLNTX 2020 HOY"
The Nominee must be an ARRL member and Reside in North Texas
Deadline for nominations is 1 October 2020
Nomination packages emailed to myself should include the full name and call sign of the Nominee
and Bullet statements of accomplishments with short paragraphs or a few sentences of justification under each bullet statement.  Again the Deadline for nominations is the First of October.

Please remember I am available to attend any Virtual Club Meetings while we all continue to Social Distance, my last announcement of this last month netted only Two invites to attend meetings.
Most important I still come bearing a Door Prize or two, dependent on how many attendees are in the meeting. I can bring a presentation that last about 15 minutes or just be on had for questions your group may have. Of course you can always drop me a line any time, email is preferred but I am welcome to phone calls as long as you are willing to leave a message if I do not answer with the topic.

No sign of Fall weather, yet.  So please stay safe in this heat.
Hydrate, Hydrate, and take cool breaks away from the heat.

73

Steve KG5VK
Tele 318-470-9806
KG5VK@ARRL.ORG

August 2020 ARRL NTX Section Manager Newsletter

ARRL NTX Section Manager August Newsletter August 3,2020

Many Amateurs are wondering if the Newly proposed Band plan with additional Technician privileges

is actually in effect now,  The Proposed Band Plan allowing more privileges for Technicians is just that
a proposal by the ARRL to the FCC.

Let me state it this way..............
Nothing has changed on where and how you can operate if you are a Technician class Licensee

And I will add............

The next step will be the drafting and filing a request to the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to adopt the proposed band plan.

    This ARRL proposed band plan is a result of the requests of both the Rappaport/White/Kolarik supporters and the "Winlink" folks. It is a compromise based on those "members" compromise discussions. 

Any FCC action within the next year is not likely and approval, in my opinion, is doubtful.

-------------------------------------------------------------

If you have not yet heard of the ARRL Learning Network's new speaker forum/seminars
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-learning-network

These are 30 minutes presentation with 15 minutes allotted for Question and Answer session following the presentation
These presentations are online using GoToWebinar
Which is safe Industry standard software

Recently the New Forums kicked off with our Very own Section Traffic Manager Aaron Hulett, K8AMH

presented "Relay Stations and the Art of Traffic Handling"
Aaron's presentation was on July 28, 2020
His presentation has received rave reviews from the many folks that watched his presentation
Presentations are archived here.........

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4275483259008807176

The next Five presentations are...........

HF Wire Antennas
George Cooley, NG7A, ARRL Life Member
Thursday, August 6, 2020, 12:30 PM PDT / 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC)

Introduction to Digital FM Modes
Korey Chandler Sr., WA5RR
Tuesday, August 11, 2020, 5 PM PDT / 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Wednesday, August 12)

Introduction to Computer Logging
Steven Lott Smith KG5VK
Thursday, August 13, 2020, 12:30 PM PDT / 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC)

Capture the Magic of 6 Meters
Jim Wilson, K5ND
Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

The Sport of Finding Hidden Transmitters On Foot
Robert Frey, WA6EZV, ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Committee
Thursday, August 20, 2020, 12:30 PM PDT / 3:30 PM EDT (1930 UTC)

-----------------------------------------------------

If you are a Club Officer in an ARRL affiliated Club within North Texas
and you have not heard about the upcoming round table discussion with our Division Director and myself your ARRL NTX Section Manager, which had been scheduled for the 1st of this month has been rescheduled.

Then you either not getting my Newsletters via the ARRL server
Not subscribed to ARRLNTX on Groups.io

Or just missed it when you read the newsletter...

The "Virtual" Round table session has been rescheduled to the 29th of this month.
To RSVP if you have NOT already done so, send an email with the title
"RSVP for ARRL NTX Round Table" to  KG5VK@ARRL.ORG
The meeting is for Two Officers from each club
(Typically the President plus one Board member)

--------------------------------------------------

ARRL NTX Mentor Fest at this time is still scheduled for October 17, 2020
Our main push is offering License Testing
If you desire to take an exam please RSVP to Bill Caldwell 

mentorfest@arrlntx.org

We would love to have some presenters confirm that they are willing to present on this new date

please use the online registration form.....

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b49afa728a4fa7-mentorfest

Or just browse over to https://www.arrlntx.org/mentorfest2020

------------------------------------------------

Reminder myself and the whole ARRL North Texas Section Management Team

are available to do presentations at your Virtual Club meetings during this COVID19

limited socialization period.
If you would like us to attend just drop us an email invite

Our Section Emergency Coordinator Greg Evans K5GTX, Aaron Hulett K8AMH, myself and many of the other team members are prepared to talk with your group on many different topics.
If you have not heard Katherine Forson KT5KMF speak, virtually in a web conference or in person you are really missing out - she is our Section Youth Coordinator for a good reason
More on Katherine may be seen here............

https://www.arrlntx.org/youth-coordinator

----------------------------------------------------

ARRL NTX Ham of The Year
I am again accepting nomination packages for the ARRL North Texas Amateur of the Year award

Please title the email with the Nomination "ARRLNTX 2020 HOY"
The Nominee must be an ARRL member and Reside in North Texas

Deadline for nominations is 1 October 2020

--------------------------------------------------
ARES Message for DEC and EC's
Our Section Emergency Coordinator Greg Evans K5GTX

has scheduled an online conference call via Zoom for August 11

This conference will start at 7:30 pm and will last no more than 90 minutes
All EC's and DEC's must attend this conference
If you will not attend contact Greg Evans now!

FTdx5000 with Station Monitor For Sale

FS: Yaesu FTdx-5000MP with Yaesu SM-5000 Station Monitor

Serial number 1F280021

New OLEDS and Finals installed and serviced at Yaesu California in 2014

Other than some light Dust on knobs etc

this is a very clean radio and station monitor

Comes with all original packaging, double yaesu boxing

Power cords and cables, hand mic

Includes a well read User manual

Does NOT include the FH-2 Remote Control Keypad

 

$2500.00

-SOLD-

ARRL NTX May 2020 Newsletter

Greetings fellow North Texas Amateur Radio Operators

Mentor Fest 2020  New Date October 17, 2020

ARRLNTX Mentor Fest has now been rescheduled
details will be posted at the http://arrlntx.org website soon
we are very hopeful that by October we are able to have gatherings
and proceed with Mentor Fest, but remain flexible for any change.
We appreciate any and all Speaker commitments and should have the schedule block opened back up this week.
Mentor Fest is only a success with Presenters on various Topics
I will Not hold anyone's feet to the fire if they commit and back out later,
if you have a topic that you may like to present you are welcome to call me with any concerns  Telephone 318-470-9806 or better yet drop me an email KG5VK@ARRL.ORG

I continue to be available to speak with your clubs via Video Conferencing

This past month I visited with two different clubs, with Video Conferencing tools
and can do the same for your ARRL affiliated club.
Just like face to Face meetings, I still arrive providing door prizes.
To schedule me at your next virtual club meeting,
just ask one of your club officers to contact me.

Spring 2020 American Red Cross
National Communications Exercise May 30, 2020

Watch for more information on this Nation Wide Exercise
on http://arrlntx.org
and on the ARRLNTX ARES Group of Groups.io 
https://arrlntx.groups.io/g/ares/topics

ARRL Field Day Plans

I would like to hear about your club's ARRL FD plans
what is your team planning ?
Are you promoting members work FD from their home, their back yard ?
Or something entirely different ?
Are any clubs planning Remote use of one station with rotating virtual seats "in front" of the radio ?

Section Management travels & Other ramblings

I will be traveling to the Wichita ARC meeting (February 20th) and the
West Fork ARC meeting in Bridgeport the following Saturday (February
27th)

New!!!
February 29th Hella Hams Sidewalk Sale at the Hella Shrine in Garland
Texas.
More info on this event below....

March 7th is the Irving Ham Fest
this is one of the best Flea Market style events in North Texas

March 13/14th is the Belton Ham Fest (Temple,Texas)
always a big turn out and lots of used gear for sale.



ARRL Awards:

We should have many of our fellow North Texas ARRL members getting
nominated for awards that are provided by the League each and every
year, details may be found on the ARRL website with a simple search
string "Nominations Solicited for 6 ARRL Awards." It would be great if
club's in our section would each form a nomination committee to get
select amateurs from their club or community nominated for these awards.
I know folks this kind of stuff takes time, but if we don't nominate
someone, none of us will get recognition that we all deserve. Pay it
forward, one day you may get an award. As of today, I have forwarded two
nominations for awards to our Division Director.
Mentor Fest

Mentor Fest this year will be held on the third Saturday of April, April
18th. This is an all-day event that you should plan on attending. If
you’re a Mentor and you do presentations, I really would like to have
a conversation with you Now!!!  Telephone 318-470-9806  Email
KG5VK@ARRL.ORG. You may also signup at ARRLNTX.org
New...  Hella Ham's Flea Market/Sidewalk Sale

Starting February 29, 2020 at the Hella Shrine in Garland. This will be
an ongoing event each month of the year that has a 5th Saturday. Just
like February 2020 has a 5th Saturday on the 29th. Shriner Clowns that
are Ham Radio Ops, hosting a sidewalk sale - what could be more fun!!!

73,

Steve, KG5VK
ARRL NTX Section Manager

Our use of Spectrum is again under attack

FCC Formally Adopts Proposals to Remove Amateur 3-GHz Band, Invites Comments

At its December 12 meeting, the FCC formally adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348 and invited comments on its plan to remove “existing non-federal secondary radiolocation and amateur allocations” in the 3.3 – 3.55 GHz band and relocate incumbent non-federal operations. The FCC said it’s seeking comment on appropriate “transition mechanisms” to make that happen. ARRL has indicated that it will file comments in opposition to the proposal. The amateur 9-centimeter allocation is 3.3 – 3.5 GHz

Our use of the Spectrum is again under attack

If we sit by and don’t speak up in defense and or support the ARRL through donations to the Spectrum Defense Fund, we will again loose frequencies that we are using.

While I know many of you do not personally use the 3.5 GHz band

Many of the clubs and organizations in larger Metropolis areas do use this band,

They use it to help protect you and I during Severe Weather by the way of  Mesh Networks known as AREDN,  you may live in an area where 3.5 GHz is in use by fellow amateurs to help protect you, your loved ones and your property and not even know it.

The Bottom line is they are after more of our Spectrum
without Spectrum to operate we will all be off the air

There are several ways you can help prevent this……

File Comment on the notice of proposed rule making on the FCC website
https://www.arednmesh.org/content/templates-submit-comments-3-ghz-fcc-docket-19-348

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-comment

If you file comment and I encourage you to do so,

be professional in your comments, no rants and definitely no cuss words
Stick to the facts as you know them.

Donate to the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund, even small amounts will help
please donate what you can reasonably afford and/or encourage your Ham Club to do the same  http://www.arrl.org/spectrum-defense-fund

For more info go to the ARRL website  Regulatory & Advocacy Tab
http://www.arrl.org/regulatory-advocacy

January 2020 ARRL North Texas Section Newsletter

Happy New Year fellow North Texas Communicators!

Events This Month:

The ARRL North Texas Section Convention will be held at the Cow town Ham fest

Date 17-18 January 2020  Friday from 3 PM - 7 PM  and Saturday from 7 AM - 3PM
Complete Details may be found at cowtownhamfest.com
This is a great ham fest, with a great flea market and seminars, I look forward to seeing you all there. 

The CW OPS Group is Celebrating it's Tenth Year
with an on the air event throughout January.
More info may be found here on their website cwops.org
CW OPS members pride themselves in slowing down when someone wants a QSO, so don't be shy.
Non members are welcome to join in the fun and work member stations that will be signing with CW10 before or after their call sign, There will also be members such as myself using a One x One Call signs, mine is K5N.     

Don't forget to take a glance at National news headlines from the ARRL website by clicking on the News and Features Tab Near the Top of  the page.

In fact if you have not visited the ARRL.ORG website in awhile I encourage you to do so, and browse around it, you might find something new you were over looking.

Awards from the ARRL and Certificates of Merit from your Section Manager:

Certificates of Merit from your Section Manager:
In the last two newsletters I called for your help in providing me info of those in your community that deserve recognition for what they are doing for their fellow amateur radio ops and or their community, I received one such nomination and promptly created a certificate and citation letter to accompany the certificate of merit. We have over 4,480 ARRL members in North Texas, I am sure you all can help me find more than one deserving person in two months.

Submitting someone from your local club or even a non club member

is not hard to do.  Just drop me an email with a half a dozen bullet points

on what they do that merits a certificate from their Section Manager

If,  I get over whelmed with Nominations I will pick several, each month

and get the certificates mailed.  I will give priority to nominations from Club officer/members,  that does not mean you can't nominate who you want if they are a member of the league.

Email me KG5VK@ARRL.ORG

I will announce last months Section Manager Certificate of Merit recipient at the Cow town ham fest.

ARRL Awards:

We should have many of our fellow North Texas ARRL members getting nominated for awards that are provided by the League each and every year, details may be found on the ARRL website with a simple search  string "Nominations Solicited for 6 ARRL Awards"

It would be great if club's in our section would each form a nomination committee

to get select amateurs from their club or community nominated for these awards.

I know folks this kind of stuff takes time,  but if we don't nominate someone,  none of us will get recognition that we all deserve. Pay it forward, one day you may get an award.

Mentor Fest
Mentor Fest this year will be held on the Third Saturday of April
April the 18th, this is an all day event that you should plan on attending.
If your a Mentor, if you do presentations I really would like to have a conversation with you
Now !!!  Telephone 318-470-9806  Email KG5VK@ARRL.ORG

New....  Hella Ham's Flea Market/Side Walk Sale

Starting February 29, 2020 at the Hella Shrine in Garland.
This will be an ongoing event each month of the year that has a 5th Saturday
Just like February 2020 has a 5th Saturday on the 29th
Shriner Clowns that are Ham Radio Ops,  hoisting a side walk sale
what could be more fun !!!

73

Steve

KG5VK

ARRL NTX Section Manager

Tower Safety

Watch this Video

Amateur Radio Tower Safety Presentation for the Billerica ARS

By Jim Idelson November 9, 2019

It could save you life or the life of your favorite tower climber
It is chock full of solid information and is based on facts.
Click here for the Video

Now how many of us want to change the tide of the numbers lost to tower accidents?

Steve
KG5VK

KG5VK Shack as of December 2019

   KG5VK 

Shack
December 2019

Louisiana QSO Party 2020

2020 Louisiana QSO Party (LAQP)

The 2020 Louisiana QSO Party will run from 14:00 UTC, April 4, 2020 to 02:00 UTC, April 5, 2020

Louisiana Stations work everybody. Non-Louisiana Stations work Louisiana Stations. Multipliers - by BAND and MODE - for Non-Louisiana Stations are the 64 Parishes in Louisiana.

Three (3) new CATEGORY-OVERLAY: have been added: WIRES, TB-WIRES, and POTA. Stations can compete with other stations with similar antennas or those operating Field Day style from a park, campground, or wildlife refuge.  

For complete updated Rules please see http://www.laqp.org

Please make plans now to get on and operate.

Finaly Tower Number 1 at the new QTH

Top 4el M2 40 Meter at 140 ft
Lower Beam M2 6El 20m Long Boom at 125 ft
KG5VK

CWOps 10th Anniversary Celebration

CW Operators’ Club 10^th Anniversary Celebration

January 2020 marks the 10^th anniversary of the CW Operators’ Club (CWops). 

In our ten years of promoting the use of CW in amateur radio communications, we’ve grown to more than 2,400 members worldwide. To honor our members’ devotion to CW and the efforts of many volunteers toward promoting its use and educating new devotees, we’re celebrating with a month-long on-air event in January, 2020. 

To learn more about CWops, visit our Website at https://cwops.org

All radio amateurs are invited to participate in our Celebration. Certificates will be awarded in various categories including certificates for working at least 25 members of CWops.

CWOps Members work everybody. Non-CWOps Members work only CWOps Members.

A number of unique Special Anniversary Celebratory Calls—e.g. K3CWO, GB10CWO or K5N, will be active during the celebration. 

Complete rules and QSL information are available at https://cwops.org/cwops-10th-anniversary-celebration/

​

Look for CWops members and special event stations near 28 kHz up from the bottom of each band. We also suggest using the CW Club RBN Spotter at https://rbn.telegraphy.de/