Re: Kilgore Marathon Help
Jason,
8:45 am or 8:45 pm?
Put me down for tentative.
--
73,
Rod
KN0WER
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Tony mentioned the Kilgore Marathon coming up April 27th at our meeting last night, but no one shared any interest with me at the meeting. It's really pretty simple, you just need a handheld radio and a position on the course where you can be eyes and ears for our race coordinator. You will usually report the first racer by you, the last racer by you and then any unusual or emergency conditions that arise between them. If you've not done an exercise like this before, it's truly rewarding! If you do not have a radio but would like to participate, please come along and I will loan out one of my radios to you!
So with that I am asking, is anyone interested in working the Kilgore Marathon on Saturday April 27th? I believe the race begins at 8AM and the last racer will probably be through the final checkpoint by 8:45 at the latest. I will double-check on times because that's not confirmed yet, I am just estimating based on previous events I have worked.
Thanks in advance and 73s Jason - KE4CPC
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Band Conditions Explained
During last nights excellent DX presentation by Steve Smith (KG5VK) he discussed propagation and mentioned solar index as well as the A and K index. If you have visited HAM radio related sites you have probably seen a graphic similar to the one below.
It was created by Paul? Herrman (N0NBH) and it's very busy with A LOT of info. Knowing what all the numbers mean and what is good vs what is bad can be difficult to figure out on your own. I found a pretty good article that explains a lot of the info on this graphic but most importantly, it tells what are GOOD numbers vs BAD numbers. So, enjoy!
-- 73 William Collier KG5SVM
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Anyone know where I can find a map of Gregg county
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The webinar ¡°NWS Fort Worth Advanced SKYWARN Class¡± has been cancelled due to a conflict with the presenters.
It was scheduled to occur from:
Wed, Feb 28, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We have another Advanced Skywarn class scheduled for March 21st that you may register for, and we will schedule another virtual Advanced Skywarn class for another day in late March or early April.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dunn, WCM NWS Fort Worth
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Fw: [letarc] NWS Storm Spotter Combined Basic and Advanced Class in Gilmer
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Don Gamble KG5CMS <gambledon@...> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2024 at 04:54:51 PM CST Subject: [letarc] NWS Storm Spotter Combined Basic and Advanced Class in Gilmer
Hello LETARC and happy Friday.
John Keith and our friends at the Upshur Area Amateur Radio Club have been kind enough to invite us to Gilmer for a storm spotting class.? Details are below.? Thanks John!
Hope to see everybody tomorrow morning at our meeting.
-73 Don KG5CMS.
NWS - Shreveport Office will present Storm
Spotter Class
February 29, 2024
in
Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Auditorium
19:00 until 20:30 local
This is combined Basic and Advanced Spotter Training
With plenty of room, anyone interested in Spotter Training
is Welcome
Refreshments will be provided
Sponsored by Upshur County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency
Service),
Shreveport NWS and URECC
John L Keith
W5BWC
EC, Upshur County ARES
903-797-2353 O
903-220-3377 C
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Re: The Phones are Out: Will Radio Help You?
Tommy, As always, Thanks for the info
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73,
Rod
KN0WER
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The Phones are Out: Will Radio Help You?
This morning's "fun" news updates included nationwide outages on AT&T networks. Fox Business reports, "Tens of thousands of AT&T customers have been reporting outages on Thursday morning for their home phone, internet and mobile phone services, according to Downdetector."
Meanwhile, "We are aware of the reported wireless outages, and our Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is actively investigating," the Federal Communications Commission said in a statement to FOX Business. "We are in touch with AT&T and public safety authorities, including FirstNet, as well as other providers.""
Source:
Now, this is probably not new news for most of you; my head is usually in the sand and I wouldn't have known if somebody hadn't asked me if I was on AT&T. My service is still working as of 13:21 local. But there is something to be learned from this, or at the very least, reminded of.
As radio operators, we control the infrastructure. That's a big responsibility: we have to manage our own repeaters, power supplies, antenna systems, and radios. This produces a distributed network of radio operators who can communicate because, except for repeaters, there aren't centralized services that we must depend on. The problem is, unless we actively monitor specific frequencies, and train to operate in grid-down conditions where users may have to use alternate power sources and communications tactics, we won't be able to communicate. Why? Because unless multiple users are "online" at once, no contact can be made.
Most people won't know outages occur until calls get dropped and their messages aren't delivered. If people do what I do and plug everything in when I know that some centralized service is down, they are behind the proverbial 8 ball, or "right of bang" as Patrick Van Horne & Jason Riley would write (authors of Left of Bang): we are reacting to a problem rather than being proactive and managing our operations before something bad happens. We will always be one step behind the problem.
There are a few solutions I recommend. First, run routine, grid-down simulations with all of your equipment. No Internet or grid power allowed. Second, coordinate time-slots and frequencies with other operators to improve network reliability and procedures for communications in abnormal conditions. Third, make alternate communications a part of your standard operating procedures (SOP): this allows you to fall back to alternate links (radio, word of mouth, etc.) in the event that a primary link (i.e. Internet or cellular phones) fails. Fourth, regularly monitor the coordinated frequencies during normal conditions so that when outages of other services occur, there will be seamless fall over.
I recommend using a handheld or desktop scanner that can be left running 24/7 in a location from which it can be easily heard. The next best solution is to carry a handheld radio on a set frequency or scanning a small bank of coordinated channels. Having a handheld near by allows quick and portable communications should another user need assistance or information.
Just because we have a ticket nailed to our wall and a radio on our shelf doesn't mean they will help us: just like any other tool, we have to learn how to use them and make them a part of our lives. Otherwise, they probably won't be there when we or someone else needs them.
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Re: Richard Crowder update
Thanks for the updates. I've added Richard and his wife Judy to my church's prayer list and we are lifting them up every single day. Cancer is a force to be reckoned with and it takes a strong and courageous person to fight it. It also takes a strong support team to provide the survivor with the love and encouragement to put up a fight. I know it's taken its toll on Richard and Judy but I pray they will come out stronger than ever!
73s
-Jason KE4CPC
On Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 08:28:43 PM CST, Larry L Neely KI0R via groups.io <neelyll@...> wrote:
Richard Update CLANG CLANG CLANG YIPPEE My treatments are DONE and I got to ring the bell in the radiation center!!!!! What a fun day!!!!! Judy came and took pics(that is me behind the mask) which her coming made it special for me. Now the healing can begin. We won¡¯t know the outcome for some weeks (my guess early to mid April) but at least this phase is over. I can now get back to a more normal life. The process has not been as horrible as I thought¡.Luckily. That said this past week+ by far has been the hardest for me. I still have a SCREAMING MIMI sore throat that must heal. Then there are the other pesky unpleasant side effects that are lingering in inbut they too will go away with time. I would like to Thank all of you for the prayers etc. I truly believe in the power of prayer. Trust me when I say, it helped a bunch, cause it did¡.Thank You. I will probably do one last update once I know the outcome. All of you deserve to know either way since you have been with me the entire time. My plan is to be in the 97%cure side not the 3%oops sorry side. So please keep those prayers coming. I appreciate them all. Yours in CHRIST r
?
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Richard Update CLANG CLANG CLANG YIPPEE My treatments are DONE and I got to ring the bell in the radiation center!!!!! What a fun day!!!!! Judy came and took pics(that is me behind the mask) which her coming made it special for me. Now the healing can begin. We won¡¯t know the outcome for some weeks (my guess early to mid April) but at least this phase is over. I can now get back to a more normal life. The process has not been as horrible as I thought¡.Luckily. That said this past week+ by far has been the hardest for me. I still have a SCREAMING MIMI sore throat that must heal. Then there are the other pesky unpleasant side effects that are lingering in inbut they too will go away with time. I would like to Thank all of you for the prayers etc. I truly believe in the power of prayer. Trust me when I say, it helped a bunch, cause it did¡.Thank You. I will probably do one last update once I know the outcome. All of you deserve to know either way since you have been with me the entire time. My plan is to be in the 97%cure side not the 3%oops sorry side. So please keep those prayers coming. I appreciate them all. Yours in CHRIST r
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Please distribute to group.
NWS Ft Worth is having virtual Skywarn classes on February 26 (basic) and 28 (advanced).
See link to investigate and sign up.
Larry KI0R
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Richard Crowder KG7JKK update
Richard update, 2/10:
?I am over 3/4 of the way thru my treatment process. I have 1 chemo (Monday) and 8 radiations left. Two of my main Drs remain amazed how well I am doing at this stage of the treatment process. I am steadfast in my belief that this is due to the power of your prayers for me. I want to thank all of you for them but please don¡¯t stop yet I still need them for a few more weeks. I¡¯ll need to heal well. All that said, I do have a very very sore throat, my neck skin is looking like an active 12 yr old's leather football that has been left outside since he was 4 and my fatigue level is creeping up daily. I take many naps now. These are just from the radiation. They are not all of the unpleasant side effects but good enough. Needless to say I¡¯ll dealing with a bunch. Thank GOD for Judy being here for me. She keeps me on the straight and narrow. I know I could not have done this without her help. We are still cocooning here at the farm and are looking forward to returning to a normal ish life after Feb 21 (last radiation). I¡¯ll update again after then
Yours in CHRIST
r
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Found this in another reflector and thought I would share. also, anyone up for joining me this week for a POTA activation at Tyler Nature Center? I'll be happy to provide the radios, computer, chair, table, etc. If you're not a General or not even licensed but would like the opportunity to get out on HF, this would be a key opportunity. I'll go on Monday or Wednesday morning, depending on anyone else's interest in coming along. (After contests are cooled down) 
73's,
Jason - KE4CPC
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FYI ¨C See attachment for details. ? °±ð±ô±ô²â¡ KD5S
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Reminder: Morse Code Class
This Saturday, January 20th, 10:00 AM local time. There will be Donuts and Coffee!
(Open Range Cowboy Church) 10536 FM 1650, Gilmer, TX 75645 -- Just a few miles North of Longview, South of Diana, not far from Orr City, just a little hike from Big Sandy, Gladewater and Kilgore. Generally speaking, it's not far!
There
is no fee for this class. (Donations are accepted but not necessary.)
This is a beginner class, expected to last about 2 hours and will give everyone a chance to experience the basics of Morse code. We will start by discussing the history, purpose, benefits and modern application of Morse Code. We will learn the function of "weighting" and dive into the alphabet of easy characters. We will explain how you distinguish sounds that become code, which in turn becomes letters, words, phrases and so on. The goal will be to get you to the point that you will have the ability to send and hear all the letters, numbers and certain symbols by the end of this class. After that, it's on you to build your proficiency. I will show you how to practice sending later on. And we will work together on building your proficiency in receiving.
If
you do not know Morse Code and are interested in learning it, with the
intent to use it on radio someday, please join me! You aren't going to
become proficient in one day but we will get started here and I will
show you how to develop your proficiency over time at your own speed.
Also I still need some basic straight keys
and code practice oscillators for the students to learn on. If you have
either of these, please help us out because I only have a limited supply
myself.
Please
contact me directly at jasonturcyn@.... You may also call or text
706-341-8330. Do not reply to this thread in the groups.io please!
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Re: Morse Code for beginners class
Jason,
Thanks, that sounds great.? I would like to start learning Morse.? Let me know more.? Will you be at the Jan Meeting?
--
73,
Rod
KN0WER
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Jason,
That is To Funny :)? thanks for sharing.
--
73,
Rod
KN0WER
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Reminder: Morse Code Class
Saturday January 20th, 10:00 local time.? (Open Range Cowboy Church) 10536 FM 1650, Gilmer, TX 75645
There is no charge for this class. (Donations are accepted but not necessary) Please let me know if you can make it, but do not miss out if you aren't sure till that Saturday.
This is a beginner class, expected to last about 2 hours and will give everyone a chance to experience the basics of Morse code.
If
you do not know Morse Code and are interested in learning it, with the
intent to use it on radio someday, please join me! You aren't going to
become proficient in one day but we will get started here and I will
show you how to develop your proficiency over time at your own speed.
If
you're already proficient with Morse code and would like to assist me
in teaching others,? please contact me. I need some basic straight keys
and code practice oscillators for the students to learn on. If you have
either of these, please help us out because I only have a limited supply
myself.
Please
contact me directly at jasonturcyn@.... You may also call or text
706-341-8330. Do not reply to this thread in the groups.io please!
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Re: Morse Code for beginners class
(Location updated)
Saturday January 20th, 10:00 local time. Location: 10536 FM 1650, Gilmer, TX 75645
This is a beginner class, expected to last about 2 hours and will give everyone a chance to experience the basics of Morse code.
If you do not know Morse Code and are interested in learning it, with the intent to use it on radio someday, please join me! You aren't going to become proficient in one day but we will get started here and I will show you how to develop your proficiency over time at your own speed.
If you're already proficient with Morse code and would like to assist me in teaching others,? please contact me. I need some basic straight keys and code practice oscillators for the students to learn on. If you have either of these, please help us out because I only have a limited supply myself.
Please contact me directly at Jasonturcyn@.... You may also call or text 706-341-8330. Do not reply to this thread in the groups.io please!
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Tommy Brooks
Kelly G. Spencer (KD5S)