2026-09-29 Net Minutes

Check-ins (41)

Weather has been changing:
- cooler mornings
- a little sprinkle earlier this afternoon

David Bailey (K5DKB)

Chance of severe weather over the next couple of days
- Heavy rainfall with potential for localized flooding
- Channeling, KJ5EFO: “Be weather-aware!”
Very thankful for the chance of rain: this part of the world really needs it right now!

Tom Johnson (KI5ZPG)

Keep Winter Field Day in your minds
- It’s coming fast: 2027-01-23/24
- Would like to hear your ideas for meals and programs (presentations, build kits/projects, etc.)

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

Question #294 for conversation: Digital Mobile Radio (DMR): Do you use it? If so, through a local repeater or a mobile hotspot? How do you DMR?

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

DMR is my favorite mode
allows me to talk world-wide on hotspots
Have 2 in operation: 70 cm and 23 cm
- Both on Brandmeister network
- Spend a few hours on it each week
DMR in my car hasn’t been connected for a while (TAMU repeater out of service)
- N5ZKF: John Bosshard (AD5RN) offered to look at repeater, but unable to get to it
I had planned to demo DMR at last meeting, but ran out of time
I’m happy to answer questions if you have them… if I’m able to, that is. ;-)
Note: if it’s been a while, your radio number might’ve been deactivated/reassigned to someone else
- Running out of IDs for the increasing number of people on DMR

Brazos County ARES:
- Monthly ARES Net next week, 2026-10-05 20:30 (or after W5BCS net) on KD5DLW repeater
- Next meeting 2026-10-19 18:30 (3rd Monday)
- Visit https://brazosares.org/ for more info
SKYWARN update:
- Heavy rain possible later this week (Thu/Fri)
- Be aware of possible flooding
- Visit https://brazosskywarn.com/

I’ve been interested in DMR for a while
I have a DMR ID and hoped to get a radio, but didn’t have the budget at the time
Might go for a hotspot intsead, but we’ll see.

Was doing DMR since before it was available to Amateur Radio
Involved with Motorolla design team
- Cool advantages: about 3 dB more range over analog
DMR single-channel system at RELLIS for work
Working on firmware to treat single-channel like trunking system (auto time-slot)
Monitor local talk groups (Brandmeister, maybe? Maybe not…)
- Bryan UHF machine