-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Besing <lee@...>
To: GVARC list <gvarcllc@...>, Hill Country REACT <HillCountryREACT@...>, w5sc@..., Bexar County ARES list <bexarcountyares@...>, Hayes Caldwell Hams <hchams@...>, STXARES@..., KARS List <kb5tx-kars@...>, STXDXCC@...
Cc: lee@...
Sent: Wed, 31 Aug 2016 10:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: [San Antonio Hams] Fall 2916 News and Events

Please share the following information  with any interested hams.

My usual email list server program has crashed, so I’m unable to send out the usual individually formatted messages with individual names and matching call signs.  I’m working on it, but in the mean time, I’m dependent upon the various yahoo group lists to help spread the word.

I may end up switching over to a service like MailChimp which offers free accounts for non profit or small business services.  But that hasn't been determined yet and the info in this message is time sensitive.
 – Lee N5NTG

Lee Besing
210-771-7075
San Antonio, TX

-----Original Message-----

San Antonio Area Hams

Serving the Amateur Radio Community in San Antonio and South Central Texas since 2003

"A Friendly & Informative Ham Radio Web Site"

Fall 2016 News and Events
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Central Texas Tour de Cure - Hams needed September 17-18th 2016

Everybody is likely familiar with the American Diabetes Tour de Cure bicycle
rides. San Antonio held their ride last May. Austin will holding their 2-day
event in September 17th and 18th.


If you have an Emergency Go-Kit, this is the perfect opportunity to dust it
off and test it. If you have a mast and portable beam antenna available,
this would be a great time to use it. Mobile radios will be required on high
power. A few locations might, maybe, be close enough to the repeaters to
hit, or at least monitor using your HT, but don't count on it.

The 2-day Austin Central Texas Tour de Cure ride this year, will start in
Dripping Springs, loop out west around Blanco, TX, and then head south on
Saturday over to Gruene, TX, just north of New Braunfels. On Sunday, that
2-day ride will leave Gruene and wander north thru Wimberley, on it's way
back to Dripping Springs of course.

This ride is a bit different from those we have supported with ham radio
communications in the past. Their SAG vehicles are provided by the Austin
based ABC Home and Commercial Services (formerly ABC Pest Control with that
Ant Eater logo). Rest stop supplies are coordinated by Austin Energy
vehicles, with a few Penske trucks thrown in for good measure. So that
leaves mostly Rest Stops that need ham radio communications, plus a few
trouble shooter hams that will be roaming the route in support of the
MSET-TX motorcycle EMS group.

We've got some hams from the Hays / Caldwell ARC on board, thanks to Mike
Wilmore KF5ACH. Jeff Schmidt N5MNW is the overall ham coordinator, operating
from the Austin / Dripping Springs main hub. Lee Besing N5NTG is
coordinating from the south end of the route. Primary net control will be in
Dripping Springs, with a backup net control in Gruene at the Saturday finish
line. Frequencies are being tested and will likely be using IRLP linked
repeaters on 2 meters, but that may change depending upon the testing.

If you can help out either or both days, please contact Jeff Schmidt at
n5mnw@... and Lee Besing at info@.... If you are a
member of Hayes Caldwell ham club, please contact Mike Wilmore at
mikewilmore@....
  _____ 


Ham Volunteers needed Karnes County Hospital Support- Sept 2016

(Karnes County) The Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital in Kenedy, Texas, has reached out, asking for help in joining the 21st century of ham radio communications.

I put them in touch with the ARES leaders for that district (Karnes County) and some others. Ongoing discussion is starting up to cover a NDMS drill on the morning of September 20th.

The problem is that there are only about 10 hams licensed in that immediate area, with 2 of them (husband / wife) being registered hams and over the road truck drivers.

The hospital has a Kenwood dual band TM-D700 mobile radio that they are in
the process of moving to a new location within the hospital. They also want
to establish HF Packet / Winlink capabilities. Help with designing the
antenna system and equipment will likely be needed. I'm presuming the
hospital is willing to budget for the equipment, but you know that presuming
can be dangerous at times.

The latest word that I received was that the hospital would like someone to also
teach a class for some of their hospital employees and area volunteers to
create a new batch of hams. Of course, using HF would require a ham license
of at least General class.

If you would like to help, please email me at info@... with
the words "Karnes County" in the subject line. I'll forward your information
to John Taylor KE5HAM (STXARES District 10 DEC) in Victoria.

  _____ 

2016 San Antonio BikeMS Valero Ride to the River - Oct 1st - 2nd

The 2016 BikeMS ride starting from San Antonio on October 1st is only a
month away from us now. Hams are used on this ride for lots of positions.
Hams are the glue that holds the event together on the day of event,
actually 2 days of the event. If you have APRS capabilities, please plan on
using APRS. Frequencies will be all on 2 meter repeaters, other than perhaps
medical. SAGs may be using dual band, with the Scooter Net simplex frequency
on 440mhz. (Same frequency as prior years, same as used for the BPMS150
ride.)

Hams are used for driving rental SAG Vans and trucks on both days, picking
up riders from the side of the road and taking them to the rest stops. SAGs
also take riders from rest stops up the line, sometimes to the finish line,
if the rider had non repairable breakdown of their bicycle, or they were
just too tired to finish on their own. Although we don't emphasize it much,
we have had some serious accidents or injuries in the past where the ham
equipped SAGs and Motorcycle Safety Marshals have saved the day. It's a
serious business, but we try to have fun while doing it. SAG assignments are
for a 2 day commitment due to the nature of the rental vehicles.

Hams are needed for Shadow Positions, riding with medical units, police
cars, event officials (think Tour Directors, etc.) and for Rest Stop
communications. While we prefer 2 day commitments for these positions, we
understand that some folks are only available for 1 day at a time.

At present time, Charlie says we mostly need rest stop hams for Saturday,
but I think some shadow positions are still available. Enough SAG drivers
have been lined up, but backups are always appreciated in the event someone
has to drop out suddenly.

The lead volunteer contact is Charlie Land KC5NKK who can be contacted via
email at kc5nkk@....

  _____ 

Hill Country Amateur Radio Club - Kerrville

The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club, located in Kerrville, TX, invites you
to our next meeting on September 1st.

We meet the first Thursday of each month at the American Red Cross building,
333 Earl Garrett (corner of Earl Garrett and Jefferson) in downtown
Kerrville. Meet and greet from 6 - 7 PM; business meeting beginning at 7 PM
followed by a monthly program. Visitors are welcome!

The Hill Country Amateur Radio Club has over 90 members and is a general
interest club. We have a full HF and VHF station (N5HR) located at the
American Red Cross which is available to club members. We also operate an
open repeater (N5HR) 146.98- (PL 162.2).

For more information call 830-257-0073, email k4dg@... or visit our
website at http://www.kerrhams.org/ or our Facebook page.

  _____ 

QCWA - San Antonio Chapter

If you have held your Amateur License for at least twenty-five (25) years,
you are eligible to become a member of the Quarter Century Wireless
Association. Visit http://www.qcwa.org/ for info about the national group.
The local chapter meets on the air each Sunday at 8:30pm local time on the
AARO 147.38 / 443.785 repeater (+ offset, 162.2 tone). The club meets in
person for lunch every 4th Saturday at Sea Island restraint, Bandera & 1604.


For information on joining Chapter 38 or for any questions about the club
please contact Ernie Reich at wreich @ iconadv.net

  _____ 

All posts to the Blog automatically get sent via Twitter immediately using
"N5NTG" as the Twitter ID, regardless of who actually made the post. So you
can understand that we screen very carefully, those who request permission
to make original postings on their own. Conversely, feel free to subscribe
to N5NTG on Twitter to get notified every time a new blog article gets
posted, rather than waiting for this newsletter to come out.

We love having the extra editorial help, but we are careful about selecting
those who seem to be reasonable in their postings. For example, postings
ought to mostly positive in nature. Constructive criticism is fine, pure
complaining is not productive regarding solving the problem at hand,
whatever it might be.

  _____ 


Disclaimer: San Antonio Hams is Not a Ham Club!


I've been providing this website for the benefit of Ham Radio Operators in
Central Texas since 2003, and will continue to do so for as long as there is
the need & desire to keep the information pipeline open... Articles from
other Hams & Ham Clubs, for the Blog and the website in general, are always
invited and welcomed!

This newsletter is always Free & by subscription only, so if you know of
anyone who want to receive this, but didn't get it, please have them contact
me direct via email or phone. Feel free to forward / share this information
with any other hams.


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San Antonio Hams
Send any emails regarding this newsletter or the web site to
info@...
Send Snail Mail Correspondence to: Lee Besing N5NTG, 5804 Babcock Rd #383,
San Antonio, TX 78240
Phone contacts are always accepted at 210-771-7075 (cell)