Next NABRC meeting - July 8 at PS#2 in North Augusta
Happy 4th to everyone. At Monday's NABRC meeting there will be a couple of items of interest. ? ?1. Joe Taylor, aka WSJT-X has made a release candidate (RC5) available. RC5 provides a new mode for Dxpeditions called SuperFox. We'll have a very brief discussion on what it is, advantages and how to use it. ? ?2. We will also have a live demo of hamdash by VA3HDL Hamdash is a free easily configured PC dashboard (see figure below) ? ?  -- Dave,? WB5NHL Treasurer,? NABRC
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ARRL Roanoke Director Petition for N2ZZ
Club Members, At the upcoming NABRC meeting on?Monday July 8th in?North Augusta,? I will be?collecting?signatures on an ARRL nominating petition for Dr. Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, for the upcoming Division Director election.? I need 15 signatures. To sign the petition, you must be a "dues paid up"? ARRL member, and reside in South Carolina. I hope to get your support for Dr. Jim. Have a safe Holiday and I will see you at the Club meeting. 73 Carl Juvrud KP2L NABRC Director
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LoTW is up and running at 12:00pm ET July 1 according to ARRL. I am going to wait before I upload my contacts. Hope it doesn't crash when everyone start uploading at one time.
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Re: How to improve a key operating/ logging skill
Good point Dave WB5NHL.?
After gaining proficiency in copying calls using a pencil, I'd also encourage people to start typing them out on a keyboard. Improving typing ability will help your operating ability in more than just one area. Computers are a big thing for both logging and for handling emergency communications traffic.?
Your mentioning State QSO parties is spot on too. Local nets are good practice, but another often overlooked skill people should practice is copying when signals are NOT full quieting and in the clear as they usually are when on a VHF/UHF repeater. State QP's will train your ears to pull signals out of the muck. QRM/QRN are likely to be present should you be called on to handle HF or simplex VHF/UHF FM traffic in emergencies.
Missed working with NABRC this year. If anyone's been wondering where I've been, people here in Greenwood have been pushing to revamp their Field Day effort. They asked me to help last year and I am now President of the local club so I've felt obligated to work with them. We're unlikely to ever catch up with your group though. NABRC has a fantastic Field Day setup!
Kevan N4XL On Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 11:28?AM Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL via <dave= [email protected]> wrote:
One thing in evidence on Field Day was the wide range of operating and logging skills. You might think these skills are acquired by simply being a ham a long time. This is only partially true. Some skills can be acquired by practice even for new hams. One such skill is to quickly and accurately convert a received callsign from the phonetic alphabet to their characters. Obviously, this is the primary skill for logging. But it is particularly critical when operating solo i.e. both operating & logging.
So how do you practice copying callsigns? There are 2 nets every week where stations check-in by giving their callsigns phonetically. To practice all you have to do is, as quickly as you can, write down the station callsign checking-in. To verify if you got it right simply listen to NCS acknowledge the stations callsign, often also by phonetics. You might even catch the NCS in an error, hihi.
So when and where are these nets. Both are on the SCHEART repeaters when linked. Thus, in the CSRA the Beech Island VHF repeater at 147.345 MHz, +600kHz 91.5 Hz tone is probably the easiest heard on a simple HT. Of course, you can also check-in to the net when it's your turn.
The SCHEART Healthcare Training Net operates every Thursday morning at 9 AM local
The SC ARES net operates every Sunday at 8 PM.
Who knows maybe you'll become an NCS someday.? Finally, if you have HF radio capabilities don't overlook state QSO parties to hone your operating skills.?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Re: How to improve a key operating/ logging skill
Thanks Dave.? Also remember for Field Day logging and some other contests you log the Class ( consisting of a number and a letter) and the Section (2-3 letters).? ?Google ARRL contest multipliers or Section list to see.
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How to improve a key operating/ logging skill
One thing in evidence on Field Day was the wide range of operating and logging skills. You might think these skills are acquired by simply being a ham a long time. This is only partially true. Some skills can be acquired by practice even for new hams. One such skill is to quickly and accurately convert a received callsign from the phonetic alphabet to their characters. Obviously, this is the primary skill for logging. But it is particularly critical when operating solo i.e. both operating & logging.
So how do you practice copying callsigns? There are 2 nets every week where stations check-in by giving their callsigns phonetically. To practice all you have to do is, as quickly as you can, write down the station callsign checking-in. To verify if you got it right simply listen to NCS acknowledge the stations callsign, often also by phonetics. You might even catch the NCS in an error, hihi.
So when and where are these nets. Both are on the SCHEART repeaters when linked. Thus, in the CSRA the Beech Island VHF repeater at 147.345 MHz, +600kHz 91.5 Hz tone is probably the easiest heard on a simple HT. Of course, you can also check-in to the net when it's your turn.
The SCHEART Healthcare Training Net operates every Thursday morning at 9 AM local
The SC ARES net operates every Sunday at 8 PM.
Who knows maybe you'll become an NCS someday.? Finally, if you have HF radio capabilities don't overlook state QSO parties to hone your operating skills.?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Unable to make it to Field Day this weekend! Thanks to Crystal you can checkout the photos here.? Scroll down for 2024
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Thank you, Mr. Dave (WB5NHL) Mr. Carl (KP2L), Mr. Mike (NC8N), Mr. Kevin (KJ4IVJ) & Mr. Kent (KQ4KK) for everything you did to make field day happen (and anyone else missed!). We can't forget Mr. Paul (KE4SC) for allowing us the space and equipment and Mr. Fred for transporting the trailer to and from the site.
We had a blast! Seems like everyone else did as well. Terry (Dad, KQ4MMA) asked me to thank everyone for allowing him to attend and for your hospitality. He'd be happy to join if invited back again next year. We'd have more experience and a better system down by then if so.
Thanks to all for the learning experience, great company and great food. Oh, and special thanks to Jim Matson (KN4OQD) for introducing me to and training me on FT8. That was a first for me. It's a bit slower, but still pretty neat.
I hope we did well!
Thanks again,?
Crystal Renew, KQ4LMT
On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 11:42?AM Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL via <dave= [email protected]> wrote:
A big THANK YOU to all that made Field Day a tremendous success. Specific results will be posted later as they are tallied. Below is some preliminary info.
First and most importantly a THANK YOU to our served agency, Aiken County Emergency Management. without the use of the Communications trailer provided by Paul Matthews, EM Director, Field Day wouldn't happen. Equally deserving of praise was the onsite support of Crystal Renew, KQ4LMT, EM Program Manager. For 2 days, Crystal pitched in wherever she saw a need whether setting up, operating, logging or tearing down.
Many individual NABRC members contributed to the success and I apologize if I don't acknowledge you below. I think everyone knows it was a real team effort.
Carl Juvrud, KP2L, once again arranged an excellent BBQ meal on Saturday night.
Jim Matson, KN4OQD supported by his son Winston,? KO4YTT captained the Get-On-The-Air station under a canopy outside the trailer i.e. no A/C. Through the recruiting efforts of Winston and member Brad Pond, KQ4FMW, we had lots of GOTA activity. Jim reports that 8 operators made contacts who had never been on a radio before (bonus points). Most were under 18 of age (more bonus points).
Of course, the success of any field operation depends on the stations. I, (WB5NHL) supplied a Flex 6600 and projected the screen on the trailer wall end wall for visitors to watch the operation. Kent Hufford, KQ4KK, brought his Yaesu FT-710 for the second HF SSB station. Kent also provided the Carolina Windom antenna. Kevin Kingery, KJ4IVJ, provided his Flex 1500 with amplifier for use as a digital station on FT8. Kevin also copied the W1AW FD bulletin on RTTY for bonus points. Again this year, we depended on Kevin's laptops for logging. Kevin's hex beam and NVIS antennas made the 800+ (non-GOTA) contacts possible.
I believe everyone that wanted to operate or log got plenty of opportunity. A first for the club, we had Terry Volk, KQ4MMA operating Saturday afternoon making many contacts on 20 meters. Terry is TOTALLY blind but was able to operate supported by his daughter, Crystal doing the logging. NOTE: Terry and Crystal make a hell of an operating team.
Finally if I missed someone I apologize. Please if anyone has thoughts, results, comments, improvements for next year, etc please reply to this post and share it with the club.
? ?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Excellently said, Jim
On 6/24/2024 12:30 PM, James Matson
wrote:
?
Paul:
?
In my role as President of the North Augusta Belvidere Radio
Club I wanted to send you a thank you for all the support that
the Aiken County Emergency Management provided to the NABRC
radio club for this past weekends ARRL Field Day. We greatly
appreciated EVERTHING that you and your department did to
support us ¨C from the location at the county center, to the
deployment of the emergency trailer, to the port-a-potties,
the use of tents, chairs and even extension cords. We do want
to express our thanks and let you that we do not take it for
granted.? If you could share our thanks with your team.? We
could not have done it without them.? A few key points of
contribution
??????????????? Crystal was amazing during the entire event.?
She was there from start-up to take down.? ?This was the
longest that I have worked with her directly and I was greatly
impressed.
She was a great participant in the Field Day.? Whenever there
was a need, she was johnny on the spot with a potential
solution- without making it about her.? She left on Saturday
night at abut 10pm and was back at 7am to open the trailer.
She was a great addition to the team.
??????????????? Fred in addition of getting the trailer and
diesel set up for us. ?even stopped by with his wife on
Saturday evening.? He does so much to help us throughout the
year and we are grateful.? I was so happy to see him at Field
Day.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I felt the as both an outreach and training
event our deployment for Field Day was highly successful.? A
few highlights were.
????????????- We had 10+ Non-ham
operators on the GOTA (Get On the Air) Station.? ?of those 8
had never been on a radio before and 6 were under 18 years
old.
????????????- At least 6 community members
stopped by and toured the Emergency Trailer.? This included
the Mayor of Aiken- Teddy Milner.
??????????????? ??????????????? -We
contacted almost all but three of the Section locations in the
US and Canada during the 24 hours of Field Day.? (missing AK,
South FL and Northern Territories of CA)
??????????????? ??????????????? -Several
members of our club who had not participated in ARES or other
emergency management activities gained familiarity with the
trailer.
-Members
who participate in ARES had a chance to have a longer period
of practice and use of the trailer.
-We
used some equipment such as an endfed antenna that there is
not enough time to deploy in our regular monthly trainings.
Overall it was a great opportunity to be
more prepared for the emergency that we hope never happens.
??????????????? Thanks again for your
support on this Field Day and all that do for us.? We are
thrilled to be a small part of the team to for emergency
management in Aiken County.
Until Soon,
Jim Matson
President NABRC
???????????????
???????????????????????????????
--
Dave WB5NHL
8 band DXCC, 317 (320 worked) countries confirmed (Mixed , current)
Hamshack Hotline 5555
-- Dave,? WB5NHL Treasurer,? NABRC
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I was remiss in my last post in not acknowledging the superior work done by Mike Newland, NC8N in publicizing our field day. As a DIRECT result of his efforts we had a visit by the Mayor of Aiken, Teddy Milner. She delivered a proclamation acknowledging Field Day and the service ham radio provides.
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
|
A big THANK YOU to all that made Field Day a tremendous success. Specific results will be posted later as they are tallied. Below is some preliminary info.
First and most importantly a THANK YOU to our served agency, Aiken County Emergency Management. without the use of the Communications trailer provided by Paul Matthews, EM Director, Field Day wouldn't happen. Equally deserving of praise was the onsite support of Crystal Renew, KQ4LMT, EM Program Manager. For 2 days, Crystal pitched in wherever she saw a need whether setting up, operating, logging or tearing down.
Many individual NABRC members contributed to the success and I apologize if I don't acknowledge you below. I think everyone knows it was a real team effort.
Carl Juvrud, KP2L, once again arranged an excellent BBQ meal on Saturday night.
Jim Matson, KN4OQD supported by his son Winston,? KO4YTT captained the Get-On-The-Air station under a canopy outside the trailer i.e. no A/C. Through the recruiting efforts of Winston and member Brad Pond, KQ4FMW, we had lots of GOTA activity. Jim reports that 8 operators made contacts who had never been on a radio before (bonus points). Most were under 18 of age (more bonus points).
Of course, the success of any field operation depends on the stations. I, (WB5NHL) supplied a Flex 6600 and projected the screen on the trailer wall end wall for visitors to watch the operation. Kent Hufford, KQ4KK, brought his Yaesu FT-710 for the second HF SSB station. Kent also provided the Carolina Windom antenna. Kevin Kingery, KJ4IVJ, provided his Flex 1500 with amplifier for use as a digital station on FT8. Kevin also copied the W1AW FD bulletin on RTTY for bonus points. Again this year, we depended on Kevin's laptops for logging. Kevin's hex beam and NVIS antennas made the 800+ (non-GOTA) contacts possible.
I believe everyone that wanted to operate or log got plenty of opportunity. A first for the club, we had Terry Volk, KQ4MMA operating Saturday afternoon making many contacts on 20 meters. Terry is TOTALLY blind but was able to operate supported by his daughter, Crystal doing the logging. NOTE: Terry and Crystal make a hell of an operating team.
Finally if I missed someone I apologize. Please if anyone has thoughts, results, comments, improvements for next year, etc please reply to this post and share it with the club.
? ?
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Re: SPECIAL NOTICE FD OPS TERMINATED EARLY
Since Field Day was terminated because of extreme heat, I hope everyone still did Field Day from their home. I made 101 contacts on FT8. I did not work the whole time, Worked about 8 hours.
Rodney WM4RT
On Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 7:06?AM Carl Juvrud KP2L via <cjuvrud= [email protected]> wrote: AIKEN COUNTY EMD FIELD DAY OPERATIONS TERMINATED EARLY DUE TO FORECAST EXTREME HEAT INDEX. SHUTDOWN TODAY @ 8AM. COME HELP IF ABLE.
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SPECIAL NOTICE FD OPS TERMINATED EARLY
AIKEN COUNTY EMD FIELD DAY OPERATIONS TERMINATED EARLY DUE TO FORECAST EXTREME HEAT INDEX. SHUTDOWN TODAY @ 8AM. COME HELP IF ABLE.
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Reminder - ARRL Field Day This Weekend
Just some items as reminder for everyone supporting Field Day this weekend at the Aiken County Government Center (back side, southwest corner up on hill)
? ? 1. There is a short MANDATORY safety briefing both Friday night (early antenna setup) and Saturday morning.
? ? ? ? ? ?Most important DO NOT OVER EXERT YOURSELF, STAY HYDRATED AND USE SUN BLOCK
? ? 2. Friday night antenna setup starts at 6pm
? ? 3. EVERYONE (members and visitors) needs to sign-in as we need a accurate participation count. Please read the safety info at sign-in
? ? 4. ALL visitors must be escorted while at the event. Any media visitor should be directed to Mike Newland for information.
Finally, while Field Day is an excellent exercise of our emergency preparedness the goal is to have fun in the process.
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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NABRC Member Michael McMahon, W4UNK -- SK
I received the following email from Tina, Michael's wife today.
This is Tina, Michael McMahon¡¯s wife. I am sorry to say that Michael passed away on June 10th. He had been feeling unwell for a week or so and went to the ER on May 31rst. A CT scan showed that he had stage 4 metastatic cancer. He was in the process of getting a definitive diagnosis in order to start treatment, but his body gave out before he could. It all happened so fast.?
?
I am going through his emails and saw that you have a function coming up. I apologize for not reaching out sooner and if he missed anything that he may have committed to.?
?
Michael really enjoyed learning about HAM radio and he especially enjoyed spending time with you and your group. Thank you for being so kind.
?
Tina?
?
?
-- Dave,? WB5NHL Treasurer,? NABRC
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Congratulations, Elizabeth KQ4SWN
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Re: ***NABRC Field Day Friday June 21 6pm confirmed***
I should be able to make it out as well to assist.? On Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 10:19?AM Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL via <dave= [email protected]> wrote:
The Friday June 21 Field Day antenna setup is confirmed for 6pm at the Aiken County Government location, 1930 University Pkwy. It is anticipated we will work approximately 2 - 2.5 hours depending on weather. Monitor the N2ZZ repeater on 145.350 for any last minute changes Fri evening.
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Last chance NABRC Field Day Meal signup
If you plan on joining us for a BBQ sandwich meal at? NABRC Field Day on?Saturday June 22 at about 5pm, you need to reserve a spot with me by tomorrow, Friday June 14th. The NABRC club is providing this meal.? The? food is from Pot Smoker BBQ.? ?Email me OFF LIST at cjuvrud? ?at? ? to sign up.? Hope to see you there. Carl Juvrud KP2L ARES EC NABRC Director
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Re: ***NABRC Field Day Friday June 21 6pm confirmed***
I¡¯ll be there on Friday to help out
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 11, 2024, at 12:26?PM, Crystal Renew KQ4LMT <CrystalDawnRenew@...> wrote:
? Not sure how much help I'd be,? but I'm willing?to help. On Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 10:19?AM Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL via <dave= [email protected]> wrote: The Friday June 21 Field Day antenna setup is confirmed for 6pm at the Aiken County Government location, 1930 University Pkwy. It is anticipated we will work approximately 2 - 2.5 hours depending on weather. Monitor the N2ZZ repeater on 145.350 for any last minute changes Fri evening.
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Re: ***NABRC Field Day Friday June 21 6pm confirmed***
Not sure how much help I'd be,? but I'm willing?to help. On Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 10:19?AM Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL via <dave= [email protected]> wrote:
The Friday June 21 Field Day antenna setup is confirmed for 6pm at the Aiken County Government location, 1930 University Pkwy. It is anticipated we will work approximately 2 - 2.5 hours depending on weather. Monitor the N2ZZ repeater on 145.350 for any last minute changes Fri evening.
--
Dave,? WB5NHL
Treasurer,? NABRC
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Dave Kjellquist, WB5NHL