West Texas Section News April 2011

4/15/2011

News From Around West Texas.

March winds were supposed to bring April showers but Mother Nature has not been cooperating. The result is that West Texas is ablaze from one end to another. ARES reports were a bit sparse this month because many of our team members, especially in the rural areas, also are volunteer firefighters and have little time for filing reports. With close to one-third million acres burned/burning in West Texas, it has been hard to keep track of ARES and amateur radio involvement. If we ever get our spring rains, I hope to give you a full report. You will notice that the SEC report is missing this month. J. T. (WA5JZH) was involved in an auto accident that temporarily slowed him down and then the fires came. He and his wife were placed on a possible evacuation alert as one of the Midland County fires approached their home. That brings up a very important point in that we need someone to back-up and assist our SEC. J. T. and I need some help.

Thanks to internet postings, I have been able to keep up with many of the month’s WTX events. Some ARES groups are beginning to use Twitter to communicate with other ARES groups around the region. As amateur radio operators, we are well known for our communication’s skills. There is nothing in the “book” that requires that communications to be on 75 meters. The individuals/agencies that we are serving are more concerned with speed, accuracy, and reliability then they are our mode of operation. I have to commend the National Public Radio affiliate radio station in Alpine. The NPR Affiliate and other radio stations in the area did great work in keeping residents of Brewster, Jeff Davis, and surrounding counties informed of the Ft. Davis fire situation. Jeff Davis and Brewster ARES groups were featured on the ARRL Web http://www.arrl.org/news/hams-provide-communications-support-during-west-texas-wildfires

As I type on the Newsletter, the TV just announced that the community of Rotan had been spared and the residents could return. Earlier, the town had been ordered to evacuate as the Cooper Mountain fire moved from Kent County into Stonewall and Fisher. If you were faced with such a situation, would you be ready? I am not sure if I am. Carla’s radio has been acting up lately and my radio is in her car. That means I have no radio in the truck! The radio in the 4X4 is suffering from bouncing over all those pasture roads. I need to scalp the yard to get rid of the close-in vegetation but I have a flat on the mower. Plenty of water hoses and sprinklers available and the storage tank is full of water but what if we lose electricity? Probably been a couple of months since I started the generator. How many of these situations might apply to you? Now I realize that not all of you live in the middle of a mesquite pasture like Carla and I do but the folks who lost their homes in Ft Davis and Colorado City didn’t either. The two residents of Cross Plains that perished in 2005 lived on suburban lots. That takes us right back around to the fact that everyone in the ARES chain-of-command needs a back-up. You may be like J. T. was earlier in the month, when he was having to ignore the sounds of the radio and decide what to take and what to leave. ARES is pretty low priority when flames or on YOUR horizon.

Out of the WTX area, but we mourn the passing of Leo Meyerson (W0GFQ). Leo was a longtime leader in the ham radio industry and the founder of World Radio Labs (WRL), which built the “Globe” line of transmitters. Many of you will identify the Globe Scout, Globe King, Globe Champion and the like as being part of the “Golden Age” of amateur radio. I first met W0GFQ many years ago at the first West Gulf ARRL Convention that I ever attended. West Texas was still in the North Texas Section back then. Brownwood had just built a new coliseum and their local club bid for and won the WG Division Convention. Leo was the featured speaker. The highlight of the convention was dinner and dancing in the Starlight Room atop the twelve story Browntowner Hotel with organ music courtesy of W0GFQ himself. I wonder how many of us from WTX are still around that attended that ARRL event. I know of at least one West Texan that was there because R. L. Howard K5ABO (now WC5E) of Howard Radio had a booth there. Probably got some of my money. Maybe yours also?

We have several events coming up soon. Don’t forget the Earth Day Special Event from beautiful downtown Earth Texas on April 23, 2011. http://www.arrl.org/Events/view/31001 If the smoke clears, Carla and I hope to visit Earth next week.

You should have received information from West Gulf Division Director Woolweaver (K5RAV) regarding the Antenna Ordinance Webinar that he is hosting on April 27, 2011 8:00-10:30 PM CDT. The webinar will have several featured speakers and will give an overview of the impact of local antenna regulations on tower installations and how to deal with local city officials. Amateurs wishing to participate or just listen-in may register on-line at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/967072785

For more information, contact David Woolweaver at k5rav@arrl.org

The Panhandle Amateur Radio Club will have their Picnic/Swapfest on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Thompson Park Area 17 on the west side of Wonderland Park in Amarillo. Lunch will be catered by Desperadoes. Tables are free. Slight charge for the BBQ. More info at http://www.orgsites.com/tx/w5wx/_pgg1.php3

Texas ARES and the Rapid Response Task Force teams are planning an exercise from 9AM to noon on Saturday June 4, 2011. The scenario will be a large hurricane affecting the Texas coast along with tornados, flooding, etc. WTX ARES members are invited to monitor/participate. J. T. will have more information for you later.

Don’t forget the West Gulf Top Ten Membership Contest. The San Angelo ARC won 1^st place last year. I hope that West Texas clubs will rank high again this year. The membership contests ends in May. Ask your club officers for information. Your registered ARRL club contact has all the details. Many of you responded to our request for assistance with the 440 MHZ bill (HR 607). It appears that our voices have been heard and favorable modifications will be made in committee.

I hope that I have not left any important information out of this month’s Section News but the fire pager has been going off almost continuous as I type this report. I keep losing my train of thought as I hear authorities discuss the evacuation of area towns. It is frightening when you realize that I am only hearing what is happening in a 30-50 mile radius. There is a lot of Texas between here and El Paso and Amarillo. Protect yourself first and then be prepared to assist your community as you can. There may not be a “communications” emergency in your area that requires your radio but there are numerous agencies that need or will need your assistance.

John Dyer

AE5B

West Texas Section Manager

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West Texas Net Reports March 2011

Name/sessions/checkins 
El Paso Area
 WTRA (K5ELP) Monday Night Net: 4/77
 SCARC Thursday Night (K5WPH) Net: 5/95
 QCWA (W5RO) Chapter 64 Net: 4/29
 El Paso D-Star Net 5/36
Big Bend Area 
 Big Bend Emergency Net: 4/185

 Big Bend 2 Meter Net 4/60
San Angelo Area 
  Concho Valley 2 Meter Net:   4/77
  Tom Green ARES Net:  4/45
Panhandle Area 
  Panhandle Amateur Information Net: 3/20
  Panhandle ARES Net: 1/10
Taylor County ARES Net:  no report

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Silent Key Report

Walt Walters W5MXW El Paso
Mack Wilson NK5T El Paso
Neil Keith N5KJP El Paso
 

Coming Events  

April 23 Earth Day 2011 Special Event Station W5E Earth, Texas

http://www.arrl.org/Events/view/31001

May 14 Panhandle ARC Hamfest

at http://www.orgsites.com/tx/w5wx/_pgg1.php3

June 10-11 ARRL National Convention (Ham-Com 2011) http://www.hamcom.org/

Big Bend Emergency Net/ West Texas Section Net 3922 Khz Sunday at 8:30 AM CST