The San Diego ARES have put together a series of short videos to help those new to Winlink navigate Winlink Express software. Topics include installation, configuration, ICS forms and more.
You can find the playlist for this Youtube series here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-7mirT-kjfs84FQzLr-qv066Kl94rtYM
Updated Friday March 27, 2020
Canceled WCARES and related events
Due to concerns over the potential risk of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) infection spread by group gatherings, our EC, Ed Hudgens, WB4RHQ has made the decision to cancel the March 21st monthly meeting.
Self-isolation is currently considered a best-practice for reducing the risk of infection and may be key in slowing the virus so as not to overwhelm our medical infrastructure.
This may be a good time to stay in touch with each other using our local repeater system. If anyone becomes ill and needs groceries or other items dropped off at your doorstep, please reach out. We’re all in this together.
Please also note that the informal weekly Chew & Chat has been canceled until further notice and that the Hamvention Executive Committee has decided to cancel Hamvention for 2020.
Sources of information:
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has established the COVID-19 Unified Command Hub to streamline coordination across the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Military. This page provides information, maps and resources about the coronavirus response in Tennessee, symptoms and recommendations:
https://www.tn.gov/unifiedcommand.html
Williamson Co. COVID-19 Related Closures, Resources & Procedures:
https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/1876/Covid-19-County-Closures-Procedures
Williamson Co. Office of Public Safety status:
http://www.williamsonready.org/266/Coronavirus-Disease
Tennessee Department of Health information related to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) can be found here:
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
See the CDC for more information on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
and steps to prevent illness, to protect yourself and others:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html
Mar 4, 2020 – As a part of the new Plant The Seed initiative by the Delta Division of the ARRL to get ARRL publications in libraries, the Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WCARES) donated and presented an ARRL Library Book Set to Sheila Taylor KI4IBX and Sharon Reily of the main branch of the Williamson County Public Library system in Franklin, TN.
Ed Hudgens WB4RHQ, Emergency Coordinator for Williamson County and Jeff Standifer WB5WAJ presented the set of books.
This set will replace the over ten year old well-used set currently in their system. Included are the 24th edition of the Antenna Book, the 4th edition of the FCC Rules, the 2020 Handbook, the 12th edition of the Operating Manual, the 3rd edition of the RFI Book, the 2nd edition of Understanding Basic Electronics, and copies of the current edition of the Technician, General, and Extra Class License Manuals.
The WCARES Technician and General license classes for 2020 wrapped up over the weekend.
Thank-you to all of the students and teachers who took part.
The next Nashville VE Team exam session is March 14th (on our calendar here.)
See http://www.NashvilleVETeam.org/ for more information.
You can also search for exam sessions in your area here: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
See you in 2021!
Dave, KI4PSR gave the Technical talk at the February Monthly Meeting with the first in a series of presentations on antenna tuners.
In this first installment Dave covered the basics of antenna tuners and dispelled some myths (a tuner does not improve the radiation efficieny of the antenna.) An overview of reactance concepts, reactive matching and an introduction to L-network tuner configurations were next followed up with a brief demonstration.
Dave says this presentation was inspired by the work of Davide, IZ2UUF
https://www.iz2uuf.net/wp/index.php/2019/03/22/how-does-a-tuner-tune/
and provided a link to one of IZ2UUF’s youtube videos on tuner losses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmVMQbXmaHA .
Dave’s presentation is here:
https://wcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KI4PSR_HOW_DOES_AN_ANTENNA_TUNER_WORK.pdf
along with pictures of his demonstration setup:
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SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY OPERATOR REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE!
SKYWARN Recognition Day was created in 1999 by the National Weather Service
and the American Radio Relay League. Amateur radio operators comprise a
large percentage of SKYWARN volunteers across the country, providing vital
communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal
communications become inoperative. During this special event operators
working from NWS offices contact other radio operators across the world.
Where & When:
NWS Nashville Forecast Office,
500 Weather Station Road,
Old Hickory, TN
December 7th, from 0000 – 2400 UTC (Local time: 6 PM Friday 12/6 to 6 PM Saturday 12/7) (calendar)
This is a relaxed event with an easy exchange (call sign, signal report,
location and brief local weather description). We’ll have two HF stations
and one VHF/UHF station. Modes will be SSB and FM. Operating/logging time
slots are in 2 hour segments; N4CLO Laura will work out any scheduling
issues with those registering.
Click this link to see available operating times (view-only document):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KA7jRZJpTgGmTJTTZLDuK5K5WoRE3Ae3gCzoGVrfiJM/edit?usp=sharing
Then, to sign up as an operator, click here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8yJaRGNKMPqLi8HKSQVpoRNoNiVYmITELU742YRrMNIQ4Qw/viewform
We still need V/UHF and HF equipment. To volunteer equipment and to help
set up/take down, click here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnWYZwx4c19D8-4mbDZjki0Roo4HY44hwrR9EBgTaj2NPe1A/viewform
Questions? Please email N4CLO Laura Marler at n4clo@arrl.net
Ron, KX4DQ will be presenting an introduction to radio astronomy at the November Monthly Meeting, November 16th, 2019.
Ron has provided a copy of his presentation document in advance of the meeting – you can download a PDF copy of that here: Radio Astronomy Intro.
Check out the calendar for time and location of the monthly meetings and other WCARES events.
Image of the VLA © 2019 The National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Visit https://public.nrao.edu/telescopes/vla/ to learn more.
Tim, AD4CJ and Carl, KB9DKR accepted the ARRL Award plaque on behalf of the entire N4FR team. They won the division for Multioperator, Single Transmitter, Low Power for CW with a score of 89,440. The team was AD4CJ, K3IE, KB9DKR and N4CCB. Congratulations all!
The second Saturday Morse Code Tutor build event was also well attended.
This posting includes pictures from the second Morse Code Tutor build event along with Cliff, N4CCB’s video of Dave, KI4PSR demonstrating the steps involved in the build! Links to the schematics, parts information etc. are included as well.
Check out the build video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0OqeIEH08k&feature=youtu.be
and find pictures and links below.
(Links to the schematics etc. are included below the the pictures.)
Dave’s 3D printed case:
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Links:
https://wcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WCARES_Morse_Code_Tutor_build_Parts_List.pdf
https://wcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WCARES_Morse_Code_Tutor_build_HEADPHONE.pdf
https://wcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WCARES_Morse_Code_Tutor_build_SDcard_wiring.png
Also see the following link at github for more details:
https://github.com/TemporarilyOffline/MorseCodeTutor
along with W8TEE’s talk:
https://github.com/TemporarilyOffline/MorseCodeTutor/blob/master/fdim-talk/MorseTutorTalk002.pdf
This past Saturday saw a number of WCARES members take part in the first of two Morse Code Tutor build sessions coordinated by Dave, KI4PSR and Cliff, N4CCB. Dave put together a very nice kit of parts which included an update of the W8BH version of the W8TEE Morse Code Tutor adding a very nice printed circuit board and 3D-printed case. Some members soldered their kits while others assembled boards Dave had pre-soldered, wired and tested!
For those that have signed up, the second build session will be this coming Saturday, Sept. 21st at the EOC.
Pictures from the first session are included below.
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