opened

20:00

closed

20:44

Check-ins (27)

• Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)
• Jeff McDowell (KI5CES)
• Larry Shiver (KJ5KFU)
• Garrett Martin (W5HVS)
• Don Ling (WB5CKO)
• Kevin Walton (N4RMF)
• Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)
• Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)
• David Bailey (K5DKB)
• Brad Snyder (W5BLS)
• Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)
• Mike Wisby (KA5HIA)
• Elizabeth Shutt (KJ5IDP)
• Thomas Sanborn (KJ5DAA)
• John Graesser (KC5DWD)
• Brian Gaskamp (KA5BKG)
• Harold Turbyfill (KG5SDG)
• Ron Hambric (N5SBN)
• Ricardo Pena (WN5RMP)
• Russ McDonald (KL2PB)
• Rick Pfeil (W4RDP)
• Bill Rose (K5WTR)
• Matt Robinson (W5XMR)
• Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)
• Phil Gates (N5ZKF)
• Pierre Catala (WA1UAT)
• Jon Edwards (KI5YZR)

Opening Remarks

• Hope everyone has remained safe and dry in today’s rainy weather!
  • Lots of street flooding!
  • 3.3 inches on N5ZKF’s weather system

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• Lots to report (in various sections tonight)
• May started “early” in the weekly cycle this month.
• Upcoming club meeting will be 2025-05-17 09:30
  • American Legion Post 159, 101 Waco St, Bryan [Google Maps]

Vice-President

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

• ARRL Summer Field Day is coming up
  • If something interests you, let me know at tomdj56@yahoo.com
  • Working on schedule and programs
  • Zoom committee meetings will be starting soon

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

• Minutes will be sent out after the net.

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

• 74 members
• Bank balance: $10,188.77
• Next License Exam
  • 2025-05-17 11:00 after W5BCS club meeting
  • American Legion Post 159, 101 Waco St, Bryan [Google Maps]
• 2025-05-29 08:00 is Kolache Thursday (with Veterans)
  • Also at American Legion Post 159
• Robertson County ARES meeting this weekend
  • Saturday, 2025-05-10 09:30
  • at Volunteer Fire Department in Franklin [Google Maps]

Announcements / Comments

Question #222 for conversation: Voice Modulation: what have you used other than FM and SSB?

(If interested in submitting a weekly question, email n5zkf@arrl.net)

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

• First Tuesday of Month: Brazos County ARES net tonight
  • 443.425 MHz FM (KD5DLW) repeater
  • 20:30 or after W5BCS net (whichever is later)
• CEOC Visit this Friday, 2025-05-09 09:00

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• NOAA has announced that on 2025-06-16 18:00Z, they will decomission the last of the VHF POES satellites:
  • NOAA-15, 18, and 19
• They are getting old: 16 years for the youngest, 21 years for the oldest
• They will continue to operate for a time, but some things will be switched off

Brian Gaskamp (KA5BKG)

• Parks on the Air activation in Huntsville
  • 10 m band was dead
  • Made 50 contacts on 20 m band in about an hour
  • Packed up and had radio on 146.520 MHz FM (national calling frequency)
  • Saw radio plates on a car travelling in the opposite direction
  • Called on radio and made a simplex contact from a passing car!

Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)

• Arm Forces Day crossband test is this Saturday, 2025-05-10

Jeff McDowell (KI5CES)

• Anyone know of a radio repair place that does Yaesu handhelds?
  • VFO A is not working on my FT-1D
  • Email me at jeffjmcdowell@gmail.com or call me at (979) 595-6916

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

• I enjoy working Crossband Test
• Split-band:
  • Receive on one frequency in one band
  • Transmit on different frequency in a different band
• Lots of interesting places to talk with, including the Pentegon: callsign WAR

Buy / Sell

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• Another item for sale by the club from the estate of Ernie Laney (K5ENL/SK)
• Will be available at the meeting on 2025-05-17
• Elecraft KX3 Transceiver “Shack-in-a-Pack” kit:
  • Transceiver
  • PX-3 Panadapter
  • Keyer Paddle assembly
  • ES-80 Carrying Case
• Additional equipment:
  • Box of cables, connectors, and brackets
  • Microphone, but appears to need repair
  • AX1 Multi-band Whip antenna
  • Elecraft T1 Automatic Antenna Tuner
• Price is about $3,400 new
• Offered to club members for $2,500

• Additional Stats:
  • Ultra-portable, all-band/all-mode, high-performance for home/mobile/field use
  • 160 m through 6 m; 2 m with KX3-2M module (might or might not be included)
  • SSB/CW/DATA/AM/FM modes; 10 W+ PEP (100 W with KXPA100 amp)
  • Low current drain (150 mA); takes 8 AA cells
  • DSP with dual-watch, noise reduction, noise blanking, auto notch filter, stereo effects, audio peaking filter (APF)
  • Software-Defined radio (SDR)
• Sale procedure:
  • Available for inspection 2025-05-17 09:00 before club meeting
  • Taking offers through 10:30, silent auction style for multiple bidders
  • 48 hours “buyer’s remorse” window

Information Exchange

Bill Rose (K5WTR)

• Signal report for KI5FIZ
• unusually weak/noisy tonight
• Something might’ve happened with the storms earlier today

Closing Remarks

• Visit us online at w5bcs.radio.