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ARRL¡¯s Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is October 5 - 6, 2024
Team,
Interesting article from the ARRL: Has WCARG participated in this previously? Do we have plans to participate this year? -- Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free *Seek to be better today, than you were yesterday N2TXS, WSCT237 830-992-1334 TEXAS PATRIOTS ROOM: WIRES-X 60755 OR YSF 60755 -- Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free N2TXS, WXCT237 |
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Re: NanoVNA-H4 - Network Analyzer - New toy - used to check Antenna SWR, Coax TDR etc.
The ¡°WHAT¡± and ¡°WHY¡± ?of antenna system analysis using the NanoVNA tool.
Youtube instructional video parts I and II.
Each are ~1 hr long¡ stick with it, a middle school physics teacher on a zoom call with a UK ham club. These are not ¡®how to¡¯ use the tool video¡¯s, rather, what components can be tested, what tests to run, interpreting the results, and understanding what the results are telling you.?
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NanoVNA-H4 - Network Analyzer - New toy - used to check Antenna SWR, Coax TDR etc.
My new toy, the NanoVNA-H4. I checked SWR on my G5RV dipole, and a used "go-box" antenna I picked up at this past weekend's Houston County swap meet. Neat tool but required watching a half-dozen Youtube video's to figure out how to use it to test antenna SWR, Smith charting, impedance and the TDR feature to check coax length and integrity.?
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I can't speak to its accuracy, however a few Youtubers did a comparison with their Rig Expert brand analyzers and found the test results comparable. I also installed the 3rd party PC software that provided the ability to operate the device and real-time full-screen graphic charts as I moved dipole legs around. Also has the ability to export images to record baselines.
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I now know why my dipole will not tune-up on 30m (see chart attached).
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<$100 on Amazon:
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[W5SC] JOTA 2024 Oct 19th
Info from the SADRC if anyone is interested.? Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton -Freedom Isn't Free *Seek to be better today, than you were yesterday N2TXS, WSCT237 830-992-1334 TEXAS PATRIOTS ROOM: WIRES-X 60755 OR YSF 60755 Sent from an Android mobile device. Please excuse brevity and disregard any spelling or grammatical errors. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Bill Craft via <billc851=[email protected]> Date: Fri, Sep 13, 2024, 10:05 Subject: [Special] [W5SC] JOTA 2024 Oct 19th To: <[email protected]> OTA-JOTI is the world¡¯s largest digital Scout event taking place online and over the air. The educational event brings together more than 2 million Scouts every year in October for a weekend of Scouting and friendship. Young people can learn about communications technology and connect with fellow Scouts from over 174 countries. JOTA will be held at the McGimsey Scout Park Cub Pavilion, 10810 Wedgewood San Antonio, TX 78213. We will be setting up the stations on Saturday the 19th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Anyone wanting to participate can operate a station as much or little as they want. Any adult working will need to take the Youth Protection Training online and send John Douglas the certification. Information on requirements, map, etc ? -- Catch you on the air,
Jason Hampton
*Freedom Isn't Free
N2TXS, WXCT237
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Re: Running your generator for extended periods during a major outage
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýI was in the cellphone business seemingly in another life. We had A/C and Transmitters loads in these sites, and were using 40 kW generators with 500 gallon propane tanks, enough for two days or so. In Charleston, SC after Hurricane Hugo all of our sites were on generator and we had to get some political influence to get deliveries before the two days ran out, due to demand and supply issues. So we upgraded our tanks to 1,000 gallon. The issues was not the two day capacity, per se, but the first two days were a disaster. ? - Wes, W5ZZO ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rick WA2HRF Fell
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 7:16 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [w5hvl] Running your generator for extended periods during a major outage ? I had my 500gal LP tank topped off today. 80% on the gauge = full = 400 gallons. Prior to filling, the gauge was reading 60%. I consume ~ 8-10% per 24/hrs running the whole house with the A/C. ?The LP tech (Lamb Propane in Coldspring), reported during warmer months, I can run the tank to empty without pressure loss. Below 20 degrees F, your generator may stop at 10%. I think I¡¯ll still request a refill when under 60% prior to a weather event. ? Related, link to Generac¡¯s article on extended run maintenance. Keep oil on-hand, shut down daily for an hour, top off oil as needed. Depending on hours run, an oil change may be needed. It¡¯s a quick DIY option. ? |
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Running your generator for extended periods during a major outage
I had my 500gal LP tank topped off today. 80% on the gauge = full = 400 gallons. Prior to filling, the gauge was reading 60%. I consume ~ 8-10% per 24/hrs running the whole house with the A/C. ?The LP tech (Lamb Propane in Coldspring), reported during warmer months, I can run the tank to empty without pressure loss. Below 20 degrees F, your generator may stop at 10%. I think I¡¯ll still request a refill when under 60% prior to a weather event.
?
Related, link to Generac¡¯s article on extended run maintenance. Keep oil on-hand, shut down daily for an hour, top off oil as needed. Depending on hours run, an oil change may be needed. It¡¯s a quick DIY option.
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NHC Initiates Advisories on Developing Gulf Cyclone
At 4 PM
today the NHC initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone 6, which
will officially be renamed Tropical Storm Francine--probably on Monday--as
the system gains strength.? It should become a hurricane on
Tuesday.? The 7 PM intermediate advisory is included below. The system is still in the
organization stage and satellite images indicate that convection associated
with its poorly defined center is elongated north to south. Potential wind impacts to southeast
Texas will be highly dependent on the storm's future track.?
Preliminary NHC wind arrival and probabilities graphics are
attached. For southeast
Texas, our rainfall chances will increase into Tuesday-Thursday but the
amount we receive will depend on the track and structure of the
system.? If the storm develops a well defined center which remains
offshore, most of our rainfall should occur near the coast but it is still
to early to forecast rainfall amounts for a particular area.?
Generally, though, our storm related rainfall should be ending on
Thursday.? Please see the notes on rainfall potential in the message I
sent this morning and the attached initial rainfall forecast
graphic. Residents in
southeast Texas should closely monitor developments with this
system. Jim Robinson,
W5ZYX BULLETIN Potential Tropical Cyclone Six
Intermediate Advisory Number 1A NWS National Hurricane
Center Miami FL? ? ? ?AL062024 700
PM CDT Sun Sep 08 2024 ...SYSTEM GRADUALLY ORGANIZING OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF
OF? MEXICO... ...INCREASING
RISK OF LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND DAMAGING WINDS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS AND LOUISIANA COASTS BY
MID-WEEK... SUMMARY OF 700 PM CDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...21.9N 94.7W ABOUT 320 MI...510
KM SSE OF MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE ABOUT 555 MI...895
KM S OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50
MPH...85 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 320 DEGREES AT
5 MPH...7 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003
MB...29.62 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS
ADVISORY: None SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN
EFFECT: A Tropical Storm
Watch is in effect for... * Barra del Tordo northward
to the Mouth of the Rio Grande A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions
are possible within the watch area, generally within
48 hours. For storm
information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological
service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 700 PM CDT (0000
UTC), the elongated disturbance was centered near
latitude 21.9 North, longitude 94.7 West.? The system is
moving toward the northwest near 5 mph (7 km/h).?
A slow northwestward to northward motion is expected
over the next day or so, followed? by a faster
motion to the northeast beginning late Tuesday. On the? forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move just
offshore of? the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico
through Tuesday, and approach the? Upper Texas
and Louisiana coastline on Wednesday. Air Force reconnaissance data indicate that maximum sustained
winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. The
system is expected to become a tropical storm on
Monday, with more significant intensification forecast
to occur on Tuesday.? The system is forecast to
become a hurricane before it reaches the northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast. * Formation chance through
48 hours...high...90 percent. * Formation chance
through 7 days...high...90 percent.?? Tropical-storm-force winds extend
outward up to 185 miles (295 km), primarily west of
the center. The estimated
minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches). HAZARDS
AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND:? Tropical storm conditions are possible within the
watch area along the northern coast of Mexico
beginning Tuesday. RAINFALL:
Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts to
12 inches, from the coast of far northeast Mexico
northward along portions of the Texas Coast and into
Louisiana through Thursday. This rainfall would lead
to the risk of flash and urban flooding. For a complete depiction of forecast
rainfall associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone
Six, please see the National Weather Service Storm
Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood
Risk graphic at
hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ero. STORM SURGE: Minor coastal flooding is possible along the
Mexico coast within areas of onshore flow. SURF:? Swells generated by this
system are affecting portions of the Gulf coast of
Mexico and are expected to spread northwestward across the northwestern Gulf of Mexico coastline through midweek.?
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf
and rip current conditions.? Please consult
products from your local weather office. NEXT
ADVISORY ------------- Next
complete advisory at 1000 PM CDT. $$ Forecaster Cangialosi |
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Development likely but track uncertain
The 7
day odds of disturbance 91L developing into Francine rose to 90% this
morning in the NHC's 8 AM tropical weather outlook, with an 80% chance of
development through 48 hours. Looking at the latest model runs, all four of the major global
models now develop the system into a tropical storm.? ECMWF and GDPS
are favoring a track that would bring the center very near or over the
Houston-Galveston region and eventually into Louisiana while GFS and ICON
are keeping the center off shore and ultimately moving it into Louisiana
around Vermillion Bay. Looking specifically at southeast Texas, our weather on Tuesday
and Wednesday will clearly depend on 91L's eventual track, and some effects
could continue into Thursday depending on development.? As I have
consistently noted, it is extremely difficult to forecast a track, timing
and impact for a tropical system that has yet to even develop. This uncertainty also extends to
forecasting possible rainfall coverage.? In a worst case scenario
those parts of southeast Texas near the coast could potentially receive up
to 12 inches of rain with 3-4 inches extending as far inland as the Brazos
Valley.? On the other hand, in the low case scenario there might not
be any rain north of the Houston metro area and perhaps not much more than
an inch or so along the coast.? Given the track spread in the models,
both of these scenarios are within the realm of possibility. In the meantime, we wait for Mother
Nature to do her thing. The
latest tropical weather outlook follows below. Jim Robinson, W5ZYX Tropical Weather
Outlook...Corrected NWS National Hurricane Center
Miami FL 800 AM EDT Sun Sep 8 2024 Corrected category for the 48 hour
probability for AL92 For the
North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico: 1. Western Gulf of Mexico
(AL91): Showers and thunderstorms have increased this
morning in association? with a broad area of low
pressure located over the southwestern Gulf? of
Mexico. This system is forecast to drift slowly
northwestward? during the next couple of days,
and environmental conditions are? expected to
become conducive for additional development. A tropical? depression is likely to form during the next couple of days as
the? system moves generally northwestward and
then northward near or? along the Gulf coast of
Mexico and Texas through the middle of the? week.
Interests along the western and northwestern Gulf Coast
should? closely monitor the progress of this
system. Watches could be? required for portions
of the western Gulf coast later today or? tonight. An Air-Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is
also? scheduled to investigate the system later
today.? * Formation chance through 48
hours...high...80 percent.? * Formation chance
through 7 days...high...90 percent. 2. Central Tropical Atlantic (AL92):? Showers and thunderstorms associated with an elongated area of
low? pressure over the central tropical Atlantic
continue to show some? signs of organization.
Environmental conditions appear conducive for? additional development of this system, and a tropical
depression? could form while the system meanders
over the central tropical? Atlantic through
Monday and then begins to move generally westward? at around 10 mph through the rest of the week. * Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40
percent.? * Formation chance through 7
days...medium...60 percent. 3. Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic: A
trough of low pressure located several hundred miles southwest
of? the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a broad
area of disorganized? showers and thunderstorms.
This system is expected to move very? little
during the next couple of days until it potentially
interacts? with a tropical wave that is forecast
to move off the west coast of? Africa on Monday.
Environmental conditions thereafter are expected? to be favorable for gradual development of this system, and
a? tropical depression could form by the middle
or latter part of the? week while the system
begins moving slowly west-northwestward.? *
Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent. * Formation chance through 7 days...medium...50
percent. Forecaster Papin Get for Desktop |
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Introduction to Digital Radio Modes
Below linked presentation given by a fellow a TX-RACES member. David approved sharing this information and offered his email address if you would like to reach out to him with any questions.
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Development Chance Now 80%
The NHC
has assigned designation AL91 to the low pressure area in the Bay of
Campeche and is giving the system a 60% chance of development over the next
48 hours and 80% over the next 7 days. All four of the major global models now agree that development
will occur with solutions ranging from a tropical depression (ECMWF),
tropical storm (GDPS and ICON) and low end hurricane (GFS).? The 18Z
run of ECMWF only extends out 90 hours so isn't yet forecasting a landfall
but the other three models are trending toward the Beaumont-Lake Charles
area.? The NHC's HWFI 18Z model is forecasting landfall on the middle
Texas coast. While GFS seems to favor a landfall close to Lake Charles, it
does bring the center fairly close to Galveston.? The model solutions
will become clearer once a closed low actually develops. We should begin feeling some affects
from the developing system by Tuesday as deep tropical moisture from the
approaching low gets closer to the Texas coast.? Rain chances will be
increasing and is likely to be heavy at times, especially along the
coast.? The WPC has placed a marginal risk (Level 1 of 4) for
excessive rainfall along the coast for Monday and Monday
night,? The excessive
rainfall risk increases to slight (Level 2 of 4) on Tuesday for areas in
southeast Texas along and south of I-10.? For Wednesday, the slight
risk area is extended to include most of southeast Texas along and east of
the US-59/I-69 corridor with a marginal risk for the remainder the area
with the exception of the Brazos Valley.? Bear in mind that these
forecasts may change considerably as the system develops and the models get
a better handle on its future track. The 8 PM EDT tropical weather
outlook follows below. Jim
Robinson,, W5ZYX Tropical Weather Outlook NWS National
Hurricane Center Miami FL 800 PM EDT Sat Sep 7
2024 For the North
Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico: 1. Western Gulf of Mexico
(AL91): An area of low pressure located over the Bay
of Campeche is? producing disorganized showers
and thunderstorms. This disturbance? is forecast
to drift slowly northward during the next several days? while it interacts with a frontal boundary. Environmental
conditions? are forecast to become more conducive
for development, and a? tropical depression is
likely to form while the system moves? generally
northward near or along the Gulf coast of Mexico and Texas? through the middle of next week. Interests along the western
Gulf of? Mexico coast should closely monitor the
progress of this system. * Formation chance through 48
hours...medium...60 percent.? * Formation chance
through 7 days...high...80 percent. 2. Central Tropical Atlantic:? Shower
and thunderstorm activity associated with an area of low? pressure over the central tropical Atlantic has begun to show
signs? of organization. Gradual additional
development is possible while? the system
meanders over the central tropical Atlantic through? Monday and then moves generally westward at about 10 mph through
the? rest of next week. *
Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.? * Formation chance through 7 days...medium...50
percent. 3. Eastern and
Central Tropical Atlantic: Disorganized showers and
thunderstorms associated with a trough of? low
pressure are located several hundred miles southwest of? the Cabo Verde Islands. The disturbance is expected to move
very? little during the next few days until it
potentially interacts with? a tropical wave that
is forecast to move off the west coast of? Africa
by early Monday. Environmental conditions are expected to
be? favorable for gradual development of this
system, and a tropical? depression could form by
the middle or late portions of next week.? The
system is expected to begin moving slowly westward by the
end? of the week.?? * Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0
percent. * Formation chance through 7
days...medium...40 percent. Forecaster D. Zelinsky Get for Desktop |
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Gulf storm formation this week becoming more likely
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SARC Tailgate _ Encino Park Library
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýTeam,
Details: The SARC (San Antonio Radio Club) is having a
HAM Tailgate event on September 21st at the Encino Park Library,
from 8am - 1pm. If you have any questions or concerns please
reach out to: Doug N8IQT@... Description Date and Time Location: -- Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free N2TXS, WSCT237 830-992-1334 -- Catch you on the air,
Jason Hampton
*Freedom Isn't Free
N2TXS, WXCT237
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Getting Started with WPSD & YSF
Team,
I got this from our sister club SADRC in San Antonio. It has some great information on the "new" WPSD software - for anyone wishing to learn about it. -- Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free N2TXS, WSCT237 830-992-1334 -- Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free N2TXS, WXCT237 |
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GMRS: Licensees comment on FCC's linked repeaters guidance
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýMore info on the new Part 95 ruling for GMRS
repeaters. Catch you on the air, Jason Hampton *Freedom Isn't Free N2TXS, WSCT237 830-992-1334 -------- Forwarded Message --------
-- Catch you on the air,
Jason Hampton
*Freedom Isn't Free
N2TXS, WXCT237
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Jason N5DRI Hampton
Rick WA2HRF Fell
Wes W5ZZO Howe
