2026-03-03 Net Minutes

opened: 20:00
closed: 20:41

Check-ins (33)

Opening Remarks

Today was voting day!
- Thanks to all of our poll volunteers
- Hopefully you had the chance to get out and vote today or during early voting
Time change coming up this Sunday, 2026-03-08 02:00
- “Spring forward” - lose an hour of sleep (boo!)

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

Nothing to report
Glad y’all are here!

Vice-President

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

Welcome to Mike West (K5TMW): good signal all the way from Cameron!
Nothing to report either
Enjoy the nice spring weather!

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

Minutes will be sent out after the net.
I’m on a team of folks for a project involving remote sensing
- I introduced LoRa Meshtastic to them as a potential solution
- Before the end of that meeting, several of them had already ordered equipment!

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

67 members
Bank balance: $12,544.60
Next license exam will be 2026-03-21 11:00
- at American Legion Post 159
- If you’re taking the Technician exam, please be sure to have your FCC Registration Number (FRN)!

Announcements / Comments

Question #265 for conversation: Have you taken part in a DXpedition or made contact with one?

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

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

Brazos County ARES Net tonight
- 443.425 MHz FM (KD5DLW) repeater
- 20:30 or after this net, whichever is later
CEOC visit this Friday, 2026-03-06 09:30
- If you’re late, just call on 146.680 MHz FM (W5BCS) repeater
I’ve been in Australia and New Zealand the last few weeks, and learned that there’s a reciprocal licensing agreement
1. Have an extra class license
2. prefix your callsign with “NZ” (if in New Zealand)

John Walker (W1JCW)

I really enjoy operating DX!
Bouvet Island is on the air
- Just activated tonight!
- Look for 10 m, 12 m, and 15 m bands in the morning
- N5ZKF: got FT8 on 40 m

Mike West (K5TMW)

Very excited to have a new antenna and be able to reach the repeater!
- Happy to be able to hit the W5BCS repeater!
- Even up into Waco
Haven’t even been on HF yet, so no DX at the moment
- I do operate WebSDR
At last meeting, there was a discussion about putting a new rotor on the trailer
- I don’t have expertise, but would be happy to help however I can
- Good on QRZ

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

I’ve never participated in a DXpedition, but it’s a huge undertaking and very exciting to work
Bouvet Island - inhospitable ice-covered rock in South Atlantic
Navassa Island - another rock, but closer to us (south of Cuba)
Guinea-Bissau in West Africa

Buy / Sell

Matt Robinson (W5XMR)

Selling a Yaesu FTDX-1200 Radio
- Has a Heil Desktop Mic
- Asking $700 for whole package
- Reach out if interested
- Good on QRZ

Information Exchange

Bill Rose (K5WTR)

Does anyone know of a radio that can decode Bryan PD radios?
Can it be done with SDR?
N5ZKF: unfortunately no…
- You’ll need authorization from agency and buy a very expensive radio yourself
- It’s encrypted, so it’s not a simple decode; plus, they probably roll keys periodically

Closing Remarks

Visit us online at w5bcs.radio.