2026-04-14 Net Minutes

Check-ins (33)

David Bailey (K5DKB)

April monthly meeting this weekend at usual time and place:
- Saturday, 2026-04-18 09:30
- American Legion Post 159, 101 Waco St, Bryan [Google Maps]
POTA activation afterwards
- El Camino Real (US-4568)
- Picnic Area off Hwy 21, about 1 mile west of Cook’s Point [Google Maps]

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

Hoping that weather cooperates for us on Saturday
Will have ice chest with bottled water
Will be asking for Field Day 2026 volunteers
- Looking for ideas for programs… What interests you?

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

71 members
Bank balance: $12,560.29
Next ham license exam this Saturday, 2026-04-18 11:00
- If you’re planning to take Technician exam, you must obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN)

Question #271 for conversation: Do you listen to aeronautic transmissions?

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

I listen to ATC on my mobile rig
- Houston Approach 134.3 MHz AM
- ATIS weather system (updated hourly)
Today is National Dolphin Day! 🐬
- Those who know me know of my affinity for the creatures!

Couldn’t get through last week,
Listen to Coulter Field (KCFD) traffic
Would anyone have any issue if I ran to POTA site early and operated on 2 m?
- K5DKB: No issue! We’d love to see you at the meeting, though.
- Last time we had a POTA activation, we were able to just talk from about 25 ft away.

I’ll listen to ATC every now and then
I also monitor 146.52 MHz
- Aeronautical mobile operators
- Someone frequently goes between Ft. Worth and Houston Hobby
20 m Maritime Net (14.300 MHz USB)
- Will sometimes hear mobile operators on commercial aircraft making the long flight from Seattle

Went to Belton last weekend
- Haven’t been there in about 20 yrs, and it’s amazing how not much has changed in that time!
- Picked up some new stuff
- Saw people from W5AC there, too
Mike Linger, WA5MOE has had a stroke and is on Hospice
- Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers
Looking forward to getting back on HF bands!

I have all of my scanners programmed to receive ATC frequencies
Also listen to US Air Force global HF comms system
USB multi-frequency system
Has been very active lately
If this has piqued your interest, here are some local frequencies:
- 118.5 MHz AM - Easterwood (KCLL) Tower
- 128.7 MHz AM - Easterwood (KCLL) Ground
- 126.85 MHz AM - Easterwood (KCLL) ATIS

I’m building a WisBlock Meshtastic assembly…
Originally ordered a battery with the kit
- Didn’t realize how big the battery was (probably intended for solar node)
- Wires had the wrong polarity and needed to be swapped!
Decided to get smaller battery so I could 3D print an “off-the-shelf” case, but the connector is different
- New batteries have JST SH 1.25 mm connector (common for Heltec nodes)
- WisBlock board uses larger JST PH 2.0 mm connector
Just ordered some connectors of both sizes that I can solder together to make an adapter
Lesson learned: read all the specs, plan ahead, and be careful!
- There are a lot of different alternate standards for doing kit builds!