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Archives

Updated January 1, 2022

Random QRM from the President’s Shack

December 2021

   Even though we are right in the middle of the hectic Holiday season, I see some signs of “spring” and returning to some normalcy as far as Amateur Radio is concerned.

  • After being QRT for two years, Dayton Hamvention is planning an in-person show in May 2022!

  • Cowtown Hamfest is happening! January 14/15, 2022!

  • Emory is planning a Hamfest on April 23, 2022!

  • Solar activity is up recently, signs that our HF propagation may slowly improve!

   Yes, our “toy stores” (aka Ham Radio retail providers) are struggling through supply chain and shipping issues, as well as labor shortages. So, we may need to be a bit patient as the pandemic continues to evolve.

   But we can continue to enjoy the “gift of communications,” reaching out at light speed across town—or the US—or the world. Radio to me still has a magical quality. It is still amazing that our tiny signals with compromise antennas can allow us to communicate with others.

   I know this season gets busy but try to find time over the holidays to spend it with your gear. Fire up a radio, spin around and listen. Try a band or mode you haven’t before. Maybe make a resolution in 2022 to get that license upgrade you’ve been putting off!

   Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the President’s Shack! I hope you and your family have a safe and prosperous season!

—73, David, K5GIL president@KB5A.org

ARISS Contact

November 29, 2021

Raja Chari KI5LIU

   NASA astronaut Raja Chari, KI5LIU, made direct contact by amateur radio with students at Colegio Pumahue in Temuco, Chile. The school is part of the international group of Cognita Schools and a certified Cambridge International School. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) gives opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering, and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground-based amateur radio units. Members of Radio Club Temuco, CE6TC, supported operations during the ARISS contact. For more information, please visit these links:

https://www.cognita.com/school/colegio-pumahue-curauma-curauma/

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=337

Field Day Results Are In

   In spite of the pandemic, close to 27,000 participants joined the fun this year. ARRL reports hams made over 1,400,000 contacts. It looks like the Club as a whole did quite well.

   A group of MARS hams set up for an unofficial Field Day at Carrollton’s McInnish Sports Complex. Working under the special event call, W5N, Kevin Grantham, N5KRG, Andy Parcel, KE5KOF, David Duke, KM5YQ, Ron Reeves, NN5R, Tom Yenny, K5LOL, Fred Lusen, W5CWO, and Steve Darrah, KD5YPB, turned in an impressive score of 1,164.

   Working from home Dennis Allen, WA5LXS, Darrell Crimmins, KG5E, Mike Brown, W5MDB, Allan Batteiger, WB5QNG, David Gilpin, K5GIL, Dave Lewis, AC5DL, and George Williams, KG5GXU, added a combined score of 2,990 to the aggregate. The total score for the Club was 4,154. Congratulations go to all who worked the event.

   Please go here to download the complete list of club scores: http://contests.arrl.org/ContestResults/2021/Field-Day-2021-FinalQSTResults.pdf

   You can download a list of individual line scores here: https://contests.arrl.org/ContestResults/2021/Field-Day-2021-FinalLineScores.pdf

KS5L SK

It’s with great sadness we report that Bob Riska, KS5L, passed away Saturday, November 13, 2021, peacefully surrounded by members of his family. Bob was a long time ham radio operator and held an Amateur Extra license. He was prominent in the ham community and active in several groups such as RACES, ARES, and MARS. We offer our deepest condolences to his family. Please go here for more details.

NTECC Revealed

   At the November 11 meeting, Tom Rushing, Wireless Communications Manager for the City of Carrollton, explained how the North Texas Emergency Communications Center https://www.ntecc.org/ serves the cities of Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Addison, and Coppell.

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