The meeting began at 7:00 Pm and the main discussion was about field day activities.
Field Day will be at the park, across from Midtown Market on Broadway.
We Will be operating 3 stations this field day. One station for CW, one for RTTY and another station for SSB.
2 of the stations (RTTY and SSB) will be housed in the County EOC Bus that Mike Thomasson will be providing
for our use that day. Set up for field day will start between 7-8 am on the 27th with operation starting around 1800Z.
Operators are needed and encouraged to participate in field day. If you can take one hour, or 4 hours, please come
help to operate. This will help man the stations for the duration of the event.
Contact Jeff: KB9BVL (Trwxxa62@aol.com) if you are interested in helping to man one one of the stations
for field day.
Frank, Ky4LDS also showed a short video on the progress of his redwood and sequoia trees.
Well done Frank! Keep ’em Growing!
Net control operators were set for the next 5 weeks. To view the NCO’s Net Control Operators
Monday, May 11th was our latest monthly meeting of the Paducah Amateur Radio Association with another good turnout of 19 hams.
Field Day 2015 was the main topic. At the present time we’re thinking of having 2 stations operating instead of the usual 3 stations. We’ll have one more meeting on June 8th to finalize all Field Day plans. For those who have never been to Field Day the objective is to work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2015 is June 27-28. We are always in need of operators for this event. If you are interested in operating please contact one of the club officers and let them know. Even if you don’t want to operate stop by and see what it’s all about.
President Ken KW4DI got in touch with the right people and got approved 2 new highway signs with the club’s repeater information on them. The picture below gives you an idea of what the sign will look like.
The Dayton Hamvention is May 15 through the 17th in Dayton, Ohio. This is the biggest ham radio related event of the year. If you’ve never been it’s worth it for sure. For directions to the event click here.
Net Control Operators have been set for the next month. To view the NCO’s click here.
The new club shirts are in and they look really good. You can still order a club shirt if you are interested. The price is $22 unless you supply your own shirt and the price is a little less. If your interested in the club shirts contact Ken KW4DI and he’ll get you the information. Below are some examples of the new shirts.
The April meeting was another success with 20 in attendance.
Among topics discussed were the Dayton Hamvention coming up May 15th through the 17th. Dayton is probably the biggest ham radio event of the year. For more information visit the Hamvention.org website.
The Princeton Hamfest will be June 6th.
Field Day 2015 was also discussed. Only 3 stations will be operating this year instead of the usual 4. Also, we are in need of CW operators this year. Anyone interested in operating Field Day this year please contact a club officer.
Net control operators were set for April/May. To view the NCO’s click here.
At the March Meeting we had a nice presentation from Dave Perry N4QS about his recent trip to Kuwait to operate in the CQ World-Wide CW contest with the VooDoo Contest team. View the video below.
Finally, condolences to the family of Bud Jenkins WF5B who passed away Monday, March 30. The following was written by Paul ND4X about Bud and is a nice tribute:
It is with a very sad heart that I am writing this. Bud Jenkins, WF5B, passed away Monday morning (March 30, 2015) at 4:14 AM.
Please check the newspaper for arrangements, but right now I understand that visitation will be at10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 1, 2015, in Paducah, KY at Lindsey Funeral Home. Burial will follow later in the day at the military cemetery in Hopkinsville, KY, with full military honors.
Many of us have known Bud for – not years – but for decades. Bud was the type of friend, that no matter what you needed help with, he was the first to show up, and the last to leave. He was always ready to help, no matter what, where or when – freezing cold or blazing hot – wet or dry.
Many of us have seen Bud put on a climbing belt and ascend where no one else would even dare. If you needed a tower put up, or an antenna replaced, Bud was always there.
Bud always had a great station. A couple of his favorite ham stories are about the time several of us operated the PA QSO Party from his station. Our score was so good the PA contest committee decided that we must have been an in-state station instead of an out-of-state submission, and rejected our out-of-state submission. True story, I swear.
Another time the Navy could not contact one of their ships afloat. Several hours had passed since they were supposed to check in with the fleet, and people were becoming concerned. Bud was in Navy MARS at the time, and they asked him if he would try to contact the missing ship. Yep, you know it, Bud was able to contact the ship and relay the status back to the Navy communications team. If you ever saw Bud’s tower and antenna system before the ice storm did its damage, you would understand how he could reach out and touch someone.
I started to put “Silent Key” in the subject line, but for those of you who knew Bud, you will understand. Some of us remember the time Bud almost caused a small riot at Dayton when we realized we were on a bus of CW QRP fans riding from the motel to the arena. You could always count on having a great time when you were with him.
Bud’s passing is truly a great loss for everyone that knew him. Bud will be missed.
Monday night was our monthly meeting and we had another decent turnout with 21 in attendance.
Our 2014 W4NJA Field Day scores were passed around for everyone to view. Final FD score was 5,810, and we made 1,375 QSO’s. We also
achieved WAS this year, working the elusive Rhode Island! Congratulations and thanks to all who attended Field Day! If you haven’t seen this years scores you can check them out here.
Bruce Huyck VE, noted that those with expired Amateur licenses can take the Element 2 exam, or Technician Class, to regain their former Amateur Radio license, according to the new FCC rules. Also, the new question pool is out July 1st. Bruce added that the ARRL website has free practice exams you can take, that now refer you to the test manuals for more background theory on the questions.
Our website is now Ad-Free! On occasion our site would put an ad in the posts which was not control by the club. As of Wednesday, July 16th those ads should no longer appear.
Net control operators have been set for the next 4 weeks. To view the NCO’s click here.
Daniel, KG4JXH mentioned the 443.000 KD4DVI repeater is available and has great area coverage. All hams are encouraged to use the repeater. Also, starting this coming Thursday at 9PM on the W4NJA 147.060 repeater Daniel will be starting regular Thursday night nets. These will be general ragchew nets and any radio friendly topics are welcome.
Paul Smith also noted the second week of the ARRL Centennial and W1AW/4 Kentucky is coming up July 30, and those interested in operating in it should contact Tim Totten, N4GN via email.
Logan, KG4VKB gave an excellent presentation on Echolink. For those not familiar with Echolink it is a computer-based Amateur Radio system distributed free of charge that allows radio amateurs to communicate with other amateur radio operators using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them. For more information on Echolink visit their website at this location. Thanks again Logan, great job.
Please remember that this Saturday and Sunday is Field Day !!!
We need some members to show up at around 6 AM Saturday (yea – I know that is early Ha Ha), to secure the covered shelters that we will use. Mike Newman is one of the early risers, and will help lead that effort.
Some of the other members are meeting at Cracker Barrel by the mall around 6 AM. Contact AB4IQ if you wish to join the group there.
The main setup effort will start around 8 AM.
Please come out and join us for 30 minutes anytime or the entire operating period. Everyone is welcome.
Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC (1:00 PM Central Time)Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2014 is June 28–29.
We really, really, really need a couple of people to copy the ARRL Bulletin Friday night. It is worth 100 Points (which is equal to 100 SSB QSOs, or 50 CW QSOs.) The schedule follows: W1AW Field Day Bulletin Transmission Schedule
Day Mode Pacific Mountain Central Eastern UTC
FRI CW 5:00 PM6:00 PM7:00 PM8:00 PM 0000 (Sat)
Digi 6:00 PM7:00 PM8:00 PM9:00 PM 0100
Ph 6:45 PM7:45 PM8:45 PM9:45 PM 0145
CW 8:00 PM9:00 PM10:00 PM11:00 PM 0300
CW frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675, and 147.555 MHz.
Digital frequencies are 3.5975, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095, and 147.555 MHz.
Phone frequencies are 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590, and 147.555 MHz
We will be at the same location we have used for the last several years. Keiler Park, Broadway, Paducah, KY
We hope to see you there. We will have 4 stations on the air, and at least 2 of them will be in air conditioning…..
The June monthly meeting was another success with 19 in attendance with 2 guests.
Field Day is the 28th and 29th of this month. For those not familiar with Field Day it is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year. Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. A great resource for Field Day can be found at the ARRL website. For more information about W4NJA’s Field Day click on this month’s meeting minutes.
Starting this month all VE testing will be done on the EVEN numbered months directly after the monthly club meeting. So the next testing session will be after the meeting in August. If you are interesting in testing or upgrading please contact Bruce KS4V here.
Net control operators were set for the next 4 weeks. To view the NCO’s please click here.
WA9WJL asked about log submission of check ins on Sunday’s Weather Net. New info: Check in logs should
be submitted to Garry Wheatley, EC, then to Jim Brooks, KY4Z, but only when there is an actual emergency or
weather event. On a side note, W5CPT asked about the Echolink connection to the 147.060mHz W4NJA repeater, and KG4VKB
mentioned the EM protocol says “No Echolink per RF connection”, which means connection by computer only.
PC, MAC, Android and IOS is supported. For more information on Echolink check out there website.
We really hope to see many of you at Field Day this year. Operators are always needed and it’s a great time to forget everything else and play radio all day. Hope to see you all there!
Dave – N4QS asked me to forward this to the group for Field Day CW operator planning.
If you want to sign up for one of the available CW slots, please send a message to Dave at ( n4qs@comcast.net), so that he can update the master list. The master schedule list can be seen at the bottom of this e-mail.
Dave – N4QS and Gene – N4FZ are CW co-captains this year.
Also, we are always looking for Alternate Ops for all slots to help fill in during drink and food breaks. If you don’t want to be a primary, but willing to be a CW alternate, please let them know that also.
Their goal is to have the CW station manned 100% of the time this year. Gene, thanks for taking the really difficult slot to fill. The first few hours are always brutal, Dave thanks for taking that shift.
Remember – there will be lots more Field Day planning Monday night at the June club meeting. That will be the last club meeting before the big event. Come on out for suggestions, questions, and comments on Field Day setup and operations.
Remember, Field Day is for everyone. We will have a station set up for those who just got their license and never made a contact before or those who very seldom get on HF (GOTA station, with clubs members to help you out and answer your questions) to stations for the most experienced contesters, and stations in-between. Out goal is to have 4 stations on the air at all times. w4nja cw 2014
The Field Day team has asked me to put out a call for CW operators at Field Day.
If you want to operate CW, please email Ed here. 10 minutes or 10 hours, just let Ed know.
Of course, we will have plenty of operator openings at the GOTA, SSB, and Mixed Mode (SSB/RTTY/CW) stations. Come on out and enjoy the fun at the end of this month.
More planning will occur at Monday’s regular monthly club meeting.
PADUCAH AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION - GET ON THE RADIO! 