Month: August 2020

Subject: Louisiana Section Managers Newsletter July 2020

LOUISIANA SECTION MANAGERS NEWSLETTER JULY 2020

Silent Keys:
Paul Strickland, WB9SUG
Roger Ley, WA9PZL
William “Hank” Toohey, N5ITX

Below is listed in August 2020 QST:
Cletus P. “Clete” Bauer, N4MPI
Mary L. McDonald, WB5LBR
Andrew L. “Andy” Pedneau, KD5LNU
Elgin W. Austin, WA5NB
Arrisia G. Sorey, KA8WZO

New Hams:
Report for 2020-07-02
Judah D Wolf, KI5JOA
Destrehan, LA 70047-2510
Christian P Counts, KI5JLF
Gretna, LA 70053-3124
Johnathan D Breaux, KI5JKQ
Marrero, LA 70072-6522
Christopher Orban, KI5JLL
New Orleans, LA 70115-2401
Will Trufant, KI5JKA
New Orleans, LA 70117-7824
Rebecca E Workman, KI5JIO
New Orleans, LA 70118-1917
Daniel Tullemans, KI5JJR
New Orleans, LA 70119-5826
John D Rawlins, KI5JJQ
New Orleans, LA 70122-5401
Thomas W Steffen, KI5JIP
New Orleans, LA 70124-1760
David B Guidry, KI5JJO
Lake Charles, LA 70611-6224
Daniel J Hebert, KI5JIR
Brusly, LA 70719
Michael P Laxen, KI5JHN
Walker, LA 70785-5221
Sabrina V Huezo, KI5JNY
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-7029
Christopher Reine, KI5JSE
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-2828
Walter D Stampley, KI5JIS
Baton Rouge, LA 70810-1627
Matthew Vicari, KI5JNZ
Baton Rouge, LA 70815-6246
Michael Evans, KI5JLC
Greenwood, LA 71033-3329
Perry A Culver, KI5JRH
Shreveport, LA 71105-2022
Eric A Reedy, KI5JSZ
Shreveport, LA 71105-4238
Gary W Lowder, KI5JIV
Eros, LA 71238-8375

Upgraded Licenses:
Report for 2020-07-02
Mark A Ferreira, KI5IVH
New Orleans, LA 70118-1917
Ronnie P Voorhies, KI5HBA
Madisonville, LA 70447-3269
David Keesling, KI5JQU
Lake Charles, LA 70601-3126
Myron C Brown, KI5ARK
Lake Charles, LA 70605-2311
Glen A Guidry, WB5WSK
Ragley, LA 70657-5912
Dawson G Andrews, KI5IMY
French Settlement, LA 70733-2540

New/Renewed ARRL Members:
Report for 2020-07-02
Christian P Counts, KI5JLF
Gretna, LA 70053-3124
Dennis A Barhorst, N5QVU
Gretna, LA 70056-5231
Austin Fellows, KF5SOA
Gretna, LA 70056-5237
Christopher Orban, KI5JLL
New Orleans, LA 70115-2401
Salvador Suau, KP4ENU
New Orleans, LA 70124-3307
Edward A Sicard, K5AZR
Folsom, LA 70437-3229
Daniel D Marsalone, AE5XK
Mandeville, LA 70448-7042
James D Dillon, N0KWA
Talisheek, LA 70464-0015
Tom Maher, N9ESR
Mandeville, LA 70471-3605
Thomas M Chapman, KF5HDK
Lake Charles, LA 70607-3651
David S Dancer
Deridder, LA 70634-3427
Andrew K Kearney, N5YGJ
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-3900
James R Giammanco, N5IB
Baton Rouge, LA 70810-1134
Dennis D Watters, WB0TAX
Elm Grove, LA 71051-8053
Henry Felan
Shreveport, LA 71105-4203
Robert W Mc Donald, WB5CMI
Bossier City, LA 71111-4822
Terry J Peek, KD5BIO
Bossier City, LA 71112-3705
Vance K Thomas, N5DUH
Bossier City, LA 71112-8713
William F Hensel, K5KYD
Alexandria, LA 71303-7741
John Gregory, KF5HLF
Gorum, LA 71434-0053

FROM THE ARRL:
The July/August Issue of Digital QEX is Now Available!
06/19/2020
The July/August issue of Digital QEX is now available for viewing on
your desktop or laptop. Click here to go the ARRL Magazines page and
scroll down to access this and other ARRL publications. QEX is also
available for reading on your Apple, Android, or Kindle Fire device.
In this issue:
● Gene Marcus W3PM/GM4YRE, builds a project that includes a
two-channel VFO, WSPR source, frequency counter, and a clock.
● Steve Franke, K9AN; Bill Somerville, G4WJS; and Joe Taylor, K1JT,
describe the FT4 and FT8 digital modes implemented in WSJT-X.
● Steve Stearns, K6OIK, discusses the crest factor of sinusoidal
electromagnetic fields.
… and much more!

Rescued Radio Amateur Says, “Ham Radio Saved My Life”
06/22/2020
ARRL member Alden Sumner Jones IV, KC1JWR, of Bennington, Vermont, is
thankful for amateur radio, after he suffered a medical incident and
lost consciousness on June 15 while hiking with others along a remote
section of the Long Trail, not far from his home. An EMT from
Appalachian Mountain Rescue (AMR), who was hiking nearby, saw Jones pass
out but was unable to connect with 911 via his cell phone. Jones, 41,
regained consciousness and was successful in contacting Ron Wonderlick,
AG1W, via the Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club’s K1FFK repeater
on Mount Greylock, and Wonderlick initiated what turned into an 8-hour
effort to get Jones off the trail and to a medical facility, acting as a
relay among Jones, emergency crews, and other agencies involved. As the
Bennington Post reported, “The Vermont State Police also received
assistance from several licensed amateur radio operators who helped
facilitate communications, greatly assisting in the rescue.”
Matthew Sacco, KC1JPU, headed to a staging area where rescue crews were
gathering. When he could not make it into the repeater, he employed some
ham radio ingenuity to fashion a J-pole antenna from some window line he
had on hand, casting it into a tree using a fishing pole. That did the
trick. An individual on site was able to obtain an accurate location for
Jones using the GPS on his cell phone.
After it was determined that rescuers could not reach Jones using an
all-terrain vehicle, arrangements were made to have a search-and-rescue
crew from New York retrieve Jones by helicopter. Amateur radio
participants were able to relay critical information, including an
accurate location, as preparations continued.
Jones, meanwhile, took advantage of his time with the EMT and other
rescuers to talk up amateur radio and explaining how to get licensed.
According to one account, rescuers were having trouble making contact
with the helicopter, so Jones loaned them a better antenna he happened
to have.
Jones was eventually flown to a hospital in Albany, New York, again
taking advantage of the occasion to promote amateur radio to the
helicopter pilot and crew. Jones is said to be recovering.
“Ham radio saved my life last night, and I am very thankful for how
everyone helped me,” Jones said afterward. 

Registration Open, Plans Firming Up for ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications
Conference
06/23/2020
Registration is open for the 30th annual ARRL-TAPR Digital
Communications Conference (DCC), which will be a virtual event later
this year. The conference is planned for Friday and Saturday, September
11 – 12, with activities starting at 1300 UTC and ending at 2130 UTC.
Tentative plans call for having 26 half-hour timeslots.
“We will be encouraging talks from all around the world,” said Steve
Bible, N7HPR, of TAPR, who explained that times will be arranged to
favor European attendees in their afternoon. Bible said participating
speakers may submit a recorded presentation, if they wish. The plan is
for a 20-minute talk followed by a question-and-answer session. An
updated speaker schedule will be on the DCC web page.
“We also plan 15-minute slots for shorter topics, such as the
lightning talks that we have at the in-person DCC,” he added. “These
shorter slots also provide opportunities for demonstrations of projects
and ideas.” 

WSJT-X Update Released
06/23/2020
The digital modes suite WSJT-X version 2.2.2 has been released. The
update is a bug-fix release. The primary change is to incorporate the
new Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Prince Edward Island (PE) Section PE
into the FT8/FT4/MSK144 contest mode for ARRL Field Day. Operators
planning to be on the air for Field Day should upgrade to this version
to enable accurate logging.
Another change: the FT8 decoder has been sped up in “normal” and
“fast” modes. This offers a decoding speed closer to that of version
2.1.2 without compromising the number of decodes. It is particularly
targeted for slower, single-board computers, such as the Raspberry Pi
Model 3 or similar.
Also, the DX grid field now clears automatically whenever the DX call
field is changed.

ARRL to Hold National Convention at Orlando HamCation in February 2021
06/23/2020
ARRL has announced that Orlando HamCation® will host the 2021 ARRL
National Convention in Orlando, Florida, February 11 – 14. The
convention will mark the 75th anniversary of HamCation— one of the
largest annual ham radio gatherings. The convention theme, “reDiscover
Radio,” is a rallying call for radio amateurs committed to developing
knowledge and skills in radio technology and radio communication.
The convention will kick off on Thursday, February, 11 with a series of
day-long ARRL Training Tracks and a National Convention luncheon at the
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld. A complete program and
list of presenters will be available later this summer. Registration
will open in the fall. HamCation will host the rest of the convention
Friday – Sunday, February 12 – 14, at the Central Florida
Fairgrounds and Expo Park in Orlando.
HamCation is sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC), an
ARRL-affiliated club. OARC is supported by volunteers from radio clubs
throughout the region. This year, an estimated 24,200 people attended
all 3 days of the event. Details on tickets and information about
forums, exhibits (including information for vendors and tailgaters),
testing, travel, and preferred hotels with special rates are on the
HamCation website.
Online ticket sales begin in August. Tickets purchased (postmarked) by
December 1, 2020, will cost $15 and are valid for all 3 days.
ARRL and HamCation acknowledge that this year’s pandemic has
introduced uncertainty into any long-term planning. Both organizations
will follow all government and health requirements and guidelines as
plans are committed for the 2021 event.

QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Set for August
06/24/2020
QSO Today podcast host Eric Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, has announced that the
first QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will take place Saturday and Sunday,
August 8 – 9. Attendance is free to all, registration is open, and
there are early bird prizes for registering now.
Built on a live, virtual reality platform used by Fortune 500 companies
and major universities, the ARRL-sanctioned hamfest will feature a
lineup of well-known speakers. Guth and his team, including George
Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU, have assembled more than 50 of the best ham radio
mentors in multiple tracks to address this conference from the virtual
Expo’s auditorium.
Presenters will include Ward Silver, N0AX, on grounding and bonding;
Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, on DXpeditions, and John Portune, W6NBC, on
building slot antennas for antenna-restricted locations. Demonstrations
of new amateur radio gear will be presented, and attendees can speak
with exhibitors via video/audio or chat, as well as interact with others
online.
“This platform simulates a full convention experience, with an exhibit
hall and exhibit booths staffed by live attendants, speaker auditorium,
lobby, and lounges,” the announcement said. Guth, an ARRL member,
decided to go forward with the virtual event after many in-person ham
radio conventions were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARRL
will be among the exhibitors filling the virtual exhibit hall.
Attendees will be able to share ideas and network with each other via
the virtual platform. Following the 48-hour live event, audio/video from
presentations and resources published by exhibitors will remain
available to registrants on demand for 30 days.

MARS Announces HF Skills Exercise
06/26/2020
Members of the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) will conduct an HF
skills exercise July 20 – 24 to hone their operating skills and
messaging-handling capabilities.
MARS members will be reaching out to the amateur radio community via the
60-meters Channel 1 Net (5330.5 kHz dial) twice a day, the SATERN HF net
(14.265 MHz), and by contacting various stations via HFLink throughout
the exercise. MARS members will be requesting assistance with collecting
county status information as well as airport weather information, called
METARs. MARS members will also be passing ICS 213 messages to numerous
Department of Defense (DoD), federal, and amateur radio addressees.
This exercise will be announced via WWV at 00:10 and via WWVH at 00:50
starting on or about July 13. WWV and WWVH listeners will be asked to
take an online listener survey. This HF radio training event will not
impact regular communications. — Thanks to Paul English, Chief, Army
MARS 
Maritime Mobile Service Network Comes to the Aid of Vessel in Distress
07/06/2020
The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) on 14.300 MHz came to the
assistance of a sailing vessel on June 25. MMSN control operator Steven
Carpenter, K9UA, took a call on 20 meters from Ian Cummings, KB4SG, the
skipper of the Mystic Lady, then some 40 miles east of Florida. Cummings
reported that his engine had failed as he was attempting to return to
his home port of Stuart, Florida. He not only had insufficient wind, but
a strong current was carrying the vessel out to sea.
Cummings had been unable to reach any station via his VHF marine radio,
since he was too far from the coast. Assisting in the call was Robert
Wynhoff, K5HUT, also an MMSN net control operator. Cummings said his
vessel, with one passenger on board, was drifting northwest toward the
South Carolina coast.
“A major concern was that the vessel was heading directly towards a
lee shore,” the MMSN reported. “Lee shores are shallow, dangerous
areas which are a hazard to watercraft. Vessels could be pushed into the
shallow area by the wind, possibly running aground and breaking up.”
Carpenter contacted Cummings’ family, who had already called the Sea
Tow marine towing service. Sea Tow advised Carpenter to tell the captain
to head closer to shore by sailing west, if possible. Carpenter told
Cummings that if he was unable to get nearer to shore, he would notify
the US Coast Guard, which was already monitoring the situation.
As the MMSN reported, “The Mystic Lady was able to make some headway,
but it was very slow. Members of the MMSN made additional calls via
landline to the captain’s family as to the ongoing status of those on
board. The family was concerned but relieved that communication was
established and that all were well.”
Several hours later, the captain advised that the wind had picked up,
allowing him to head close enough to shore for Sea Tow to reach the
vessel and take it back to port.
The Pacific Seafarers’ Net, which monitors 14.300 MHz from the West
Coast after the MMSN secures at 0200 UTC, kept in touch with the Mystic
Lady into the night while it was under tow.
The tired, grateful captain later messaged the net, “A million thanks
to everyone last night who helped rescue us on 14.300. Everyone chipped
in as we drifted north in the Gulf Stream 60 miles headed to a lee
shore. The MMSN net control and several others stayed with us for hours,
phoned people, and were immensely helpful. The situation on board was
dangerous. We are now safely under tow home. You folks are amazing!”
In operation since 1968, the MMSN monitors 14.300 MHz 70 hours a week to
assist vessels and others in need of assistance. — Thanks to MMSN Net
Manager Jeff Savasta, KB4JKL

 Introducing The ARRL Current
07/09/2020
ARRL has a new way to let members know when the digital editions of QST
and other publications are available. Distributed via email, The ARRL
Current offers a monthly overview of ARRL publications and member
benefits. The inaugural edition launched in June.

AMSAT-DL Submits Lunar Lander Proposal to European Space Agency
07/13/2020
Germany’s amateur satellite organization AMSAT-DL has submitted a
comprehensive proposal to the European Space Agency (ESA) for its Lunar
Amateur Radio Transponder (LunART) lunar lander — a communications
platform on the Large European Lander to support communication and
payload experiments. AMSAT-DL’s Peter Gülzow, DB2OS, and Matthias
Bopp, DD1US, say that a LunART (called “LunaART” in the AMSAT-DL
proposal) would support direct communication with Earth via amateur
radio, support university and student payloads and offer direct access
to their experiments, and expand the reach of radio science. It could
also provide backup communication capability and capacity during an
emergency, or when the ESA network is busy.
The comprehensive radio platform would use the European frequency
protocol of 2.4 GHz up and 10.45 GHz down (approximately 100 W),
pioneered in the QO-100 satellite, the first geosynchronous amateur
radio payload. The platform would also include a VHF/UHF transponder.
AMSAT-DL would develop and build the necessary hardware and software and
provide ground station support via the 20-meter dish at AMSAT-DL
headquarters in Bochum, Germany. They envision developing a smaller
ground station with an approximately 1-meter dish to support groups,
including schools and universities. Low-power beacons would transmit on
various frequencies from VHF (145 MHz) through SHF (up to 24 GHz or even
47 GHz), AMSAT-DL’s proposal says.
“This transponder would also be an ideal platform to develop new
transmission schemes with novel modulation and coding techniques
optimized for long-distance communications with the corresponding high
latency (long delays),” AMSAT-DL said. “This would provide essential
knowledge in preparation of a future Mars mission.” In addition,
LunART could include the capability to transmit still or slow-scan
television images and video to schools “from cameras attached to the
lander monitoring the moon surface and perhaps the Earth in the
background [which] would be ideal stimuli for getting school kids and
STEM organizations further interested in space.”
The proposal is on open access at the ESA website and is now being
evaluated. AMSAT-DL’s LunART follows the Lunar Amateur Radio
Interaction Experiment (LARIE) proposal from Andy Thomas, G0SFJ. Both
refer to weak signal modes and suggest the same frequency bands. Thomas
said he welcomes LunART as a well-developed proposal and hopes ESA will
support it as well. — Thanks to Southgate Amateur Radio News,
AMSAT-DL, and ESA

ARRL Seeks Awards and Programs Assistant
07/09/2020
ARRL has invited applications for the position of Awards and Programs
Assistant at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. This is a
full-time, non-exempt opening in the Radiosport and Field Services
Department. The pay range is from $16.08 to 19.30 per hour.
The Awards and Programs Assistant assists with all Radiosport and Field
Services Department activities, with an initial priority on Logbook of
The World (LoTW) support. Other duties may involve supporting DXCC and
other awards programs, W1AW operations, and contest program and field
service support. This individual also may be assigned special projects
and would represent ARRL in public forums worldwide.
The successful candidate should have a well-rounded knowledge of amateur
radio, an Amateur Extra-class license, and 2 years of operating
experience; the ability to quickly understand and explain software
functionality, and proficiency in keyboarding and data entry. This
individual should have attained DXCC, regularly submit contest logs to
sponsors, use LoTW, and be able to resolve issues efficiently.
A bachelor’s degree is preferred. The ideal candidate will have
excellent interpersonal, telephone, and listening skills and be
proficient in public presentations. Some overnight travel may be
required.
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume via mail, email, or fax to
ARRL, c/o Monique Levesque, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (fax
860-594 -0298). For complete position information, visit ARRL Employment
Opportunities and scroll down to “Awards and Programs Assistant.”
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.

Former North Texas Section Manager Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, SK
07/14/2020
Former North Texas Section Manager Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, of Dallas,
Texas, died on May 14. An ARRL Life Member, he was 65. Blackwell served
as North Texas SM from 2005 until 2009.
Blackwell graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in the
College of Business Administration. He attended graduate school at the
University of Texas at Dallas. He was an original petitioner in the
Petition for Rule Making that resulted in a new FCC rule that allowed
radio amateurs who are employees of public safety agencies and other
entities, such as hospitals, to participate in drills, tests, and
exercises in preparation for such emergency situations and to transmit
messages on behalf of their employers during such drills and tests under
“certain limited conditions.”
During his tenure as Section Manager, Blackwell served as State
Government Liaison, Public Information Officer, and Technical
Specialist.

FCC Announces Closing of Filing Window at its Headquarters
07/14/2020
The FCC permanently closed its filing location at FCC Headquarters —
Open Window Counter, 445 12th Street SW, Room, TW-A325, Washington, DC
20554 — effective on July 7. This change is for security measures, and
in anticipation of the upcoming FCC Headquarters move. Hand-carried
documents will no longer be accepted at the FCC Headquarters.
After COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, Maryland 20701, will be the only location where hand-carried
documents for the FCC will be accepted. The filing window for
hand-carried documents will be open from 8 AM until 4 PM, Monday through
Friday.
“These changes are being made to enhance security measures and in
conjunction with the Commission’s upcoming relocation to a new
headquarters building located at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
which is scheduled to occur later this year,” the FCC said in
announcing the change.

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on Track for 2020
07/15/2020
Registrations for this year’s popular International Lighthouse
Lightship Weekend (ILLW) appear to have been largely unaffected by the
current COVID-19 pandemic. The event will take place this year over the
August 22 – 23 weekend. By mid-July, more than 200 entries had been
received, and some 400 are expected to have signed up by the event
weekend.
New to this year’s event is Corsica at Phare d’Alistro, which for
ILLW purposes carries the French number of FR0030. Two lighthouses in
Ghana will be on the air for the first time, as well as Buck Island
Lighthouse in the US Virgin Islands (VI0001). Germany is well in the
lead with 54 entries, followed by Australia with 29 entries, and the US
with 27 entries.
This event is designed as a fun weekend to encourage exposure to amateur
radio and lighthouses to the visiting public, and ILLW stresses contacts
should be more than just an exchange of signal reports. All participants
are urged to observe local COVID-19 safety guidelines. —Thanks to
Kevin Mulcahey, VK2CE

Radio Club of America Announces 2020 Award Recipients and Fellows
07/17/2020
The Radio Club of America (RCA) has announced its 2020 award recipients
and fellows, several of whom are radio amateurs. Recipients and fellows
will be celebrated at RCA’s 111th Banquet & Awards Presentation on
Friday, November 20, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
•	Barry Goldwater Award: Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for unique
contributions to the field of amateur radio.
•	Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation Award: Tokuzo Inoue, JA3FA, for
noteworthy contributions to the success of the radio industry.
•	The Jack Poppele Award: John Schadler for important and long-term
contributions to the field of radio broadcasting.
•	The Jay Kitchen Leadership Award: Michael T.N. Fitch in recognition
of achievement of a high level of success leading a wireless
association.
•	The Ralph Batcher Memorial Award: Eric P. Wenaas, Ph. D., for
significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic
communications.
•	RCA President’s Award: Ron Jakubowski, K2RJ, for service and
dedication to the Radio Club of America.
•	RCA Special Services Award: Ernie Blair, WA4BPS, to recognize an RCA
member who has performed significant work to advance the goals and
objectives of the Radio Club of America.
•	The Sarnoff Citation: Robert Rouleau, VE2P, and Norman Pearl,
VE2BQS, for exceptional contributions of a technical or non-technical
nature to the advancement of electronic communications.
•	US Navy Captain George P. McGinnis Memorial Award: CTRCM John A.
“Gus” Gustafson, USN (Ret.) for service and dedication to the
advancement and preservation of US Naval Cryptology, as nominated by the
US Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA).
•	The Vivian Carr Award: Emily Calandrelli, KD8PKR, in recognition of
an outstanding woman’s achievements in the wireless industry.
2020 RCA Fellows
Elevation to Fellow is made by nomination of members in good standing
for at least 5 years, in recognition of contributions to the art and
science of radio communications, broadcast, or to the Radio Club of
America.
•	Jim Bugel
•	Raymond L. Grimes, N8RG
•	Tracey M. Hilburn
•	Paul A. Scutieri
•	Alan S. Tilles
•	David Witkowski, W6DTW
A complete listing of RCA awards and previous recipients is on the RCA
website. 

Field Day 2020 is Shaping Up to be One for the Record Books
07/16/2020
ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, reported that ARRL has
received more than 8,700 online Field Day entries by mid-week, and
paper-only entries have started arriving too.
“As many participants chose to operate from home this year — and
given the 2020 rules waivers, we have seen a tremendous increase in
entries over last year’s event,” Bourque said. “Most of the
entries received have been through the online web app, and Headquarters
staffers have begun processing the paper entries this week. The 2020
waivers allowed individual club members to attribute their scores to
their clubs.
Participants who submitted entries online are encouraged to check the
Field Day entries received page to verify that their entries are marked
as complete, and that the club name entered is correct. Entries with a
status of “pending” are incomplete entries that are missing one or
more items, and these need to be completed for an official entry. Share
your stories and photos using the ARRL soapbox or via social media, such
as on the ARRL Field Day Facebook group. 

http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2020-06-25
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2020-07-02
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2020-07-09
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2020-07-16

FROM AROUND THE SECTION:
Section Traffic Managers Report:
Sessions          QNI         QTC          QTR
17.                    717          38.            485

73,
Jimmy Lewis AB5YS
Louisiana Section Traffic Manager

Section Emergency Coordinators Report:
1. ARRL Section:  Louisiana
2. Month:  June
3. Year: 2020
4. Total number of ARES members:  394
5. Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month:  9
6. Number of ARES nets active:  64
7. Number of nets with NTS liaison:  2
8. Calls of DECs/EC reporting: W4NDF NS5W KD5BNH KE5BMS AG5LR KD5DFL
W5GAS KD5IGZ KE5GMN 
 9a. Number of exercises & training sessions this month:  31      
  9b.  Person hours:  463
10a. Number of public service events this month:  1     10b. Person
hours:  3
11a. Number of emergency operations this month:  0   
11b. Person hours:  0 
12a. Number of SKYWARN operations this month:  6 
 12b. Person hours:  137 
13a. Auto Sum 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a:  38
 13b. Auto Sum 9b,
        10b, 11b, 12b:  603
Jim Coleman, AI5B
Section Emergency Coordinator

http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2020-06-17
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2020-07-15

Effective immediately the following appointments are made for the
Louisiana Section ARES:
Region 5 ADEC Jimmy Miller, N0MSW.
Region 8 EC Ouachita Parish Ricky Little, KI5GEI.
Kevin Thomas, W5KGT is stepping into the role of AEC Ouachita Parish
from EC to allow more time for other activities but will remain active
in ARES.
Thanks to Jimmy, Ricky and Kevin.


Region 4:
From:  Volume 60, Number 07 ACADIANA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOC., INC. -  July
2020
A Message From Chris Ancelet N5MCY 
June 2020 Field Day: We all understand that with the current state of
affairs, many folks were unable to attend the AARA Field Day on June
27th and 28th. We also respect the decisions that many of you chose for
this event. Whether you operated from home or attended the AARA Field
day, I am certain that everyone made several contacts across the USA.
The AARA would like to extend a special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Steve Webre
for allowing their property to be transformed into an antenna farm for
the 24-hour event. It was an absolute pleasure to set up in a low noise
area and gain some additional function from your portable set up.
Overall the event was a success and we had a great turnout of over 25
people. When you combine Friends, Food, & Fellowship, you will always
have a winning combination. We were spared by rain showers even though
we had a few rumbles of thunder in the distance – we were not,
however, spared from the heat and humidity. We are looking forward to
future club events and we certainly hope to see you there. Veteran’s
Day Special Event Station: As of June 29, 2020, this event is still
being viewed as a possible cancellation. Due to the COVID virus, the
Veteran’s facility has been keeping a close eye on visitation and at
this point there is no end in sight. The staff has informed me that in
the event they begin to relax the visitation restrictions, they will let
us know because our presence is a big hit with the residents. July 2020
General Club Meeting: We will be hosting the July General Club Net on
Thursday July 2nd on the air. Please join us as we will begin taking
early check-ins beginning at 6:30 PM until the start of the net. This
will expedite time spent checking in and allow time for a Field Day
recap and general club information. 147.040 MHz + 0.600 PL 103.5 W5EXI 
Chris Ancelet N5MCY 

Wasn't a large turn out for testing but we did wind up with an upgrade
to General. The upgrades was Ronald Bertucci ~ KI5AGS ~ of Lafayette.
The VEs in attendance were Greg - K5LFT, Michael - KI5ARX & Chris -
N5MCY (1st test session ever) Great big TNX to the VES and
congratulations to Ronald.

Birthdays:
07-02 WA5KNC Eugene
07-04 KI5JMD Jake
07-19 AI5O Stephen
07-22 KI5DHK Andrew
07-23 WB5GAF Ralph
07-28 KE5AHD Greg
08-06 W9HUT Alton
08-07 KF5PCH Jackie
08-09 KF5FNP Glen

Acadiana Amateur Radio Assoc., Inc.
P. O. Box 51174
Lafayette, LA 70505-1174
Website: http://www.w5ddl.org

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES (Easy) Ingredients: (can be
doubled) 1 Cup of brown sugar 3 Tablespoons white corn syrup 3 Cups of
oatmeal 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 Cup of chocolate chip morsels (I
use semi-sweet milk chocolate but you could use dark chocolate**. 1/2
Cup of margarine 3/4 Cup of peanut butter 1/2 Cup of roasted chopped
peanuts or pecans Melt margarine and sugar in a saucepan. Add in all
other ingredients and melt together under low heat or in a
double-boiler. Drop by spoonsful onto parchment paper and put in
freezer. LO-CAL----HA,HA,HA **Note: Can use 1-3/4 cup of combined
chocolate/peanut butter chips.

Region 6:
From:  The BRASS KEY July 2020
The Prez Sez…..
July 2020 We will not have a club Field Day at the Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries Outdoor Education Center in Woodworth. Per
current guidelines from the state government, we cannot operate inside
the building or stay overnight at the facility. I encourage you to
operate Field Day under your own call sign, with the privileges
specified for your license, and submit the results to ARRL. You can do
this and specify credit to go to Central Louisiana Amateur Radio Club.
The information on how to do that is contained in a recent e-mail from
our club secretary, Lisa, KW5LC. Remember to spell out Central Louisiana
Amateur Radio Club correctly and with no abbreviations. During all of
the health and social chaos and the no-sun-spot-non-stellar propagation,
there have been enough openings on 6m through 40m to make life
interesting. Thank goodness we have amateur radio and the ability to
communicate with people, who are more or less in the same boat we are
in, just about anywhere from the comfort of homes or our vehicles.
Despite the best efforts of 2020 to make life miserable, we plan to have
a club meeting on Tuesday, July 7, and to conduct VEC testing. The venue
will be the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church Pineville. This room
is large, and we can spread out. We will send an e-mail with details.
Get on the air, and stay safe. 
Vy 73 DX John N5CM

CLARC congratulates our own who again qualified for the ARRL Certificate
of Code Proficiency, improving to 15 words per minute! Check out the
July issue of QST Magazine, Page 86. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, STACEY!!!

REGION 6 ARES COORDINATOR SEEKING HELP As most of you know I am the
Region 6 District Emergency Coordinator for Amateur Radio Emergency
Services. I am looking for help. We have positions open for Emergency
Coordinators as well as regular ARES members. If you are interested
please contact me at kd5dfl@hotmail.com. I met with our Louisiana ARRL
Public Information Coordinator, Joe Holland, KB5VJY on Thursday, June
18th, in Pineville. Joe is from West Monroe and would love to hear from
any of our club members regarding anything ham radio. If you are putting
up an antenna, working on a radio, participating in an event, please
email me whatever you have and I'll forward it to Joe for the ARRL
monthly newsletter. 73, Scott Wren, KD5DFL La. ARRL ARES DEC

NOTICE: CLARC Sunday Evening Prayer Net to be Suspended The Central
Louisiana Amateur Radio Club Prayer Net will be suspended following the
net Sunday, June 28. An e-mail was sent to club members on 06/10/20
requesting new net control operators to volunteer to serve. There were
no responses to that e-mail. When sufficient members volunteer to serve
as net control operators and one member as a net coordinator, operation
of the Prayer Net will resume. John N5CM CLARC President

From: The BRASS KEY August 2020
The Prez Sez……                             
August 2020 
We plan to hold the August meeting on Tuesday, 08-04-20, at the usual
time. We will announce a 
location when those details have been secured. We will communicate with
Jim, AE5ZE, to determine 
if testing will be available, and we will announce that information as
well. 
 
Some of you have expressed an interest in CW. I would encourage you to
check out the Straight Key 
Century Club (SKCC). Membership is free and registration can be handled
easily online. The group is 
very welcoming and accommodating to new folks. Code speeds are slow to
moderate. The 
requirement is that the code must be mechanically generated, no keyers
or paddles. Members can 
use a straight key, a bug, and a side swiper, also known as a
“cootie”. The website for SKCC is: 
https://www.skccgroup.com. In a typical SKCC QSO, operators exchange the
following information: 
QTH (state), name, and SKCC number. SKCC frequencies (MHz) are: 50.090,
28.050, 28.114, 
24.910, 21.050, 18.080, 14.050, 14.114, 10.120, 7.055, 7.120, 3.530, and
3.550. Take a listen when 
you get a chance. 
 
On 07-14-20 at 00:40 UTC, I worked Dave, K7TRT, in Billings, MT on
10.120 MHz. It was my 
pleasure to be his first QSO as a new member of SKCC. He was using an
FT-891, a 130-foot long 
wire, and an old Soviet army key that he bought recently. He was a bit
apologetic about his fist (ability 
to send code), but it sounded good to me… gud copy. 
 
SKCC is a good place to get your feet wet in CW. Because I was
apprehensive about my CW skills, I 
joined a little while after I got back on the air in February 2018. If
you want to look at this way, it is a 
“safe space” for new and returning CW operators. Members range from
complete newbies to well-
seasoned, and accomplished CW operators like Bert, W5ZR, in St.
Martinsville. I’ve heard Bert hang 
with the high-speed contesters, but when he’s on SKCC, he takes it
easy. 
Well, we look forward to seeing you in August assuming your
circumstances will permit it. 
Get on the air, and stay safe. 
Vy 73 DX 
John N5C 

Region 9:
From: The SELARC "Hamster"   Vol. 47, No. 7 .........................
July 2020
Hammond VE Group - ARRL/W5YI - The Hammond VE Group has changed names
to: Florida Parishes VE Group. Testing sessions are now held at the new
permanent location: AmVets Post #68; 26890 Hwy 42b (jct. of Hwys 42 and
43) - Springfield, La. 70462
(approximately 3 miles south of I-12 at exit 32)
Sessions are still held on the last Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm !

K5R Special Event
Scott KD5PCK has secured the 1x1 event callsign K5R for August 28 - 30,
2020, the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; looking for people
interested and hoping to run the special event at the Community Center
this year.
Community News / Announcements
Sadly, Paul Strickland WB9SUG of the Ozone Amateur Radio Club and a past
EC / organizer of St. Tammany Parish's ARES group - became a silent key
on July 6, 2020. ( http://w5sla.net/sk.htm )
A new Fusion repeater is up and running down in Manchac on 444.875 +
with a DG ID of 01. Yesterday the node became active which ties the
repeater into the DWARN.org network. The repeater callsign is under
KD5KNZ. The node is being hosted by KI5FMA in Hammond.
Happy Birthday
Birthday Wishes for July go out to - Roger KG5WQI, Michael KE5KMH
If we missed your birthday, then please let us know.
Get Well Soon —
Best wishes for continued recuperation go to SELARC members Tom Simpson
N5HAY and Homer Jones KA5TRT. We look forward to hearing you on the
air!

VE Session Results
Florida Parishes VE Group - 28 June, 2020 VE Session
Congratulations to the following "NEW" Amateur Radio Operators and
upgrades!!
Technician
Lawrence Gallup - Clinton, La.
Lawrence Lima / KI5JVY - Hammond, La.
Bryan Vincent / KI5JWA - Covington, La.
Stephen Thieneman / KI5JVZ - New Orleans, La.
James Soileau / KI5JWB - Mandeville, La.
David Burnstad / KI5JWD - New Orleans, La.
General
Westin Cobb / KI5FRF - Pine Grove, La.
Justin Cline / N5ZCW - Baton Rouge, La.
Robert Lennon / KI5JWC - Bay st. Louis, Ms.
Chris Orban / KI5JLL - New Orleans, La.
Many thanks to the faithful VEs' who take the time to come out and help
with these sessions and make then a success!!! We could not give exams
for Extra class because we lacked the third Extra class VE needed!!
Please if you are an Extra class licensee, then please consider becoming
a VE with our group!!!
73
Tyrone Burns - N5XES - ARRL VE Liason

Everyone stay safe and hydrated!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Louisiana Section
Section Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMR
k5jmr@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

LOUISIANA SECTION MANAGERS NEWSLETTER JUNE 2020

SILENT KEYS:
Andy Pedneau, KD5LNU

NEW HAMS:  Welcome to the hobby!
Report for 2020-06-02
Gilberto Rodriguez-Cruz, KI5IZZ
Hammond, LA 70403-4722
Stephen J Fortunato, KI5JAA
Covington, LA 70433-4528
Timothy J Zenner, KI5JAB
Mandeville, LA 70471-6730
Kathleen M Boudreaux, KI5IWU
Lafayette, LA 70503-5220
Burke Huner, AG5ZA
Lafayette, LA 70508-5372
Rodger L Ballard, KI5IYV
Ragley, LA 70657-3111
Ronald K Page, KI5IZX
Holden, LA 70744-0021
Cid I Dillard, KI5IZY
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-6700
Jerre A Hurst, KI5IXO
Bastrop, LA 71220-6870
James L Longsworth, KI5JBK
Leesville, LA 71446-4110
Nicholas De La Portilla, KI5JBL
LEESVILLE, LA 71448

UPGRADED LICENSES:  Congratulations!
Report for 2020-06-02
Brandon D Willmott, KI5IPD
Kenner, LA 70065-3219
Thomas B Harang, KF5DKN
Thibodaux, LA 70301-3503
Adam J Melancon, KD5QZG
Lafayette, LA 70503-4730
Matthew B McKellar, KI5IPZ
Lafayette, LA 70506-3634
Jeremy A Hoof, KI5GIY
Church Point, LA 70525-4817
Lawrence J Arena, KF5FNT
Opelousas, LA 70570-1548
Ryan J Baiad, KI5GZO
Lake Charles, LA 70611-4658
Charles R Richardson, KI5ILL
Holden, LA 70744-6506
Daniel W Lott, KF5TQN
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-6510
Bruce E Eilts, KD5GRC
Baton Rouge, LA 70810-1241

NEW/RENEWED ARRL MEMBERS:  Welcome/Welcome Back!
Report for 2020-06-02
Brian M White, WB5BMW
Metairie, LA 70003-7632
Mark A Ferreira, KI5IVH
New Orleans, LA 70118-1917
Ned J Plaisance, N5DPL
Cut Off, LA 70345-3578
Brian E Wetzel, N5YHM
Abita Springs, LA 70420-3417
Ronnie P Voorhies, KI5HBA
Madisonville, LA 70447-3269
Matthew Lewis, KI5HQV
Mandeville, LA 70448-6289
Steven K Jones, KG5RMY
Ponchatoula, LA 70454-4699
George R Macri, KC9BCD
Slidell, LA 70458-2218
Timothy J Zenner, KI5JAB
Mandeville, LA 70471-6730
Matthew B McKellar, KI5IPZ
Lafayette, LA 70506-3634
Shaina K Johnson, KC5FDO
Lake Charles, LA 70607-0931
George Carr, KB5ILL
Lake Charles, LA 70611-3734
Scott E Wetmore, W5RTO
Deridder, LA 70634-9219
Christopher W Fuselier, AF5XP
Sulphur, LA 70664-0456
Travis L Tharp, KI5ILN
Denham Springs, LA 70726-7279
Joseph M Frederick, KA5VJO
Baton Rouge, LA 70806-6848
Charles E Foster, KG5ZLC
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-3501
John J Tate, KC5JVY
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1885
Cid I Dillard, KI5IZY
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-6700
Darron W Gaddis, KD5QKP
Pleasant Hill, LA 71065-4648
Joe S Frazier, N5RRC
Shreveport, LA 71107-9251
Sara Howes
Bossier City, LA 71111-5839
Van D McCain, AC5DM
Ruston, LA 71270-3290

AROUND THE ARRL:
Director, Vice Director Nominations Invited in Five ARRL Divisions
05/22/2020
Nominations are being invited in five ARRL Divisions for the volunteer
positions of Director and Vice Director, for 3-year terms that start
January 1, 2021. Affected Divisions are Atlantic, Dakota, Delta, Great
Lakes, and Midwest. A nominee must be at least 21 years old, hold a
valid amateur radio licensee, and have been a full ARRL member for a
continuous term of at least 4 years immediately preceding nomination.
Nominees will be asked to provide information concerning employment,
ownership, investment interests, and other financial arrangements to
ensure compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy spelled out in
the ARRL Articles of Association and Bylaws.
The incumbent Directors and Vice Directors in the affected Divisions
are:
•	Atlantic: Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM; Vice Director Bob Famiglio,
K3RF
•	Dakota: Director Matt Holden, K0BBC; Vice Director Lynn Nelson,
W0ND
•	Delta: Director David Norris, K5UZ; Vice Director Ed Hudgens,
WB4RHQ
•	Great Lakes: Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK; Vice Director Thomas
Delaney, W8WTD
•	Midwest: Director Rod Blocksome, K0DAS; Vice Director Art
Zygielbaum, K0AIZ.
Prospective candidates or those planning to nominate an individual
should obtain an official nominating petition form, which any full
member living in an affected Division may obtain. Send a written request
to ARRL to ceo@arrl.org, by noon EDT on August 14, 2020. Using only the
official form, a candidate must obtain the signatures of at least 10
full members of the Division and provide information required to
determine eligibility. Petitions must reach the ARRL Secretary by noon
EDT on Friday, August 21, 2020. The Secretary will notify each candidate
of the name and call sign of other candidates for the same office.
Candidates will have until Friday, September 4, to submit a 300-word
statement and a photo for distribution with the election ballots.
If only one eligible candidate is nominated for an office, he or she
will be declared elected by the Ethics and Elections Committee.
Balloting in Divisions where more than one candidate qualifies to stand
for election as Director or Vice Director will take place this fall,
with ballots counted on November 20. The formal “Call for Nominations
for ARRL Director and Vice Director” appears on page 69 of the July
2020 issue of QST.    

The Latest Episode of ARRL Audio News is Now Available
05/22/2020
Listen to the new episode of ARRL Audio News on your iOS or Android
podcast app, or online at http://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/. Audio
News is also retransmitted on a number of FM repeaters. Click here and
then scroll down to see the list.

Temporary Rule Waivers Announced for 2020 ARRL Field Day
05/28/2020
With one month to go before 2020 ARRL Field Day, June 27 – 28, the
ARRL Programs and Services Committee (PSC) has adopted two temporary
rule waivers for the event:
1)      For Field Day 2020 only, Class D stations may work all other
Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points.
Field Day rule 4.6 defines Class D stations as “Home stations,”
including stations operating from permanent or licensed station
locations using commercial power. Class D stations ordinarily may only
count contacts made with Class A, B, C, E, and F Field Day stations, but
the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows Class D stations to count
contacts with other Class D stations for QSO credit.
2)      In addition, for 2020 only, an aggregate club score will be
published, which will be the sum of all individual entries indicating a
specific club (similar to the aggregate score totals used in ARRL
affiliated club competitions).
Ordinarily, club names are only published in the results for Class A and
Class F entries, but the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows
participants from any Class to optionally include a single club name
with their submitted results following Field Day.
For example, if Podunk Hollow Radio Club members Becky, W1BXY, and
Hiram, W1AW, both participate in 2020 Field Day — Hiram from his Class
D home station, and Becky from her Class C mobile station — both can
include the radio club’s name when reporting their individual results.
The published results listing will include individual scores for Hiram
and Becky, plus a combined score for all entries identified as Podunk
Hollow Radio Club.
The temporary rule waivers were adopted by the PSC on May 27, 2020.
ARRL Field Day is one of the biggest events on the amateur radio
calendar, with over 36,000 participants in 2019, including entries from
3,113 radio clubs and emergency operations centers. In most years, Field
Day is also the largest annual demonstration of ham radio, because many
radio clubs organize their participation in public places such as parks
and schools.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many radio clubs have made decisions to
cancel their group participation in ARRL Field Day this year due to
public health recommendations and/or requirements, or to significantly
modify their participation for safe social distancing practices. The
temporary rule waivers allow greater flexibility in recognizing the
value of individual and club participation regardless of entry class.
ARRL is contacting logging program developers about the temporary rule
waivers so developers can release updated versions of their software
prior to Field Day weekend. Participants are reminded that the preferred
method of submitting entries after Field Day is via the web applet. The
ARRL Field Day rules include instructions for submitting entries after
the event. Entries must be submitted or postmarked by Tuesday, July 28,
2020.
The ARRL Field Day web page includes a series of articles with ideas and
advice for adapting participation this year.

Temporary Rule Waivers Announced for 2020 ARRL Field Day
05/28/2020
With one month to go before 2020 ARRL Field Day, June 27 – 28, the
ARRL Programs and Services Committee (PSC) has adopted two temporary
rule waivers for the event:
1)      For Field Day 2020 only, Class D stations may work all other
Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points.
Field Day rule 4.6 defines Class D stations as “Home stations,”
including stations operating from permanent or licensed station
locations using commercial power. Class D stations ordinarily may only
count contacts made with Class A, B, C, E, and F Field Day stations, but
the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows Class D stations to count
contacts with other Class D stations for QSO credit.
2)      In addition, for 2020 only, an aggregate club score will be
published, which will be the sum of all individual entries indicating a
specific club (similar to the aggregate score totals used in ARRL
affiliated club competitions).
Ordinarily, club names are only published in the results for Class A and
Class F entries, but the temporary rule waiver for 2020 allows
participants from any Class to optionally include a single club name
with their submitted results following Field Day.
For example, if Podunk Hollow Radio Club members Becky, W1BXY, and
Hiram, W1AW, both participate in 2020 Field Day — Hiram from his Class
D home station, and Becky from her Class C mobile station — both can
include the radio club’s name when reporting their individual results.
The published results listing will include individual scores for Hiram
and Becky, plus a combined score for all entries identified as Podunk
Hollow Radio Club.
The temporary rule waivers were adopted by the PSC on May 27, 2020.
ARRL Field Day is one of the biggest events on the amateur radio
calendar, with over 36,000 participants in 2019, including entries from
3,113 radio clubs and emergency operations centers. In most years, Field
Day is also the largest annual demonstration of ham radio, because many
radio clubs organize their participation in public places such as parks
and schools.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many radio clubs have made decisions to
cancel their group participation in ARRL Field Day this year due to
public health recommendations and/or requirements, or to significantly
modify their participation for safe social distancing practices. The
temporary rule waivers allow greater flexibility in recognizing the
value of individual and club participation regardless of entry class.
ARRL is contacting logging program developers about the temporary rule
waivers so developers can release updated versions of their software
prior to Field Day weekend. Participants are reminded that the preferred
method of submitting entries after Field Day is via the web applet. The
ARRL Field Day rules include instructions for submitting entries after
the event. Entries must be submitted or postmarked by Tuesday, July 28,
2020.
The ARRL Field Day web page includes a series of articles with ideas and
advice for adapting participation this year.

Huntsville Hamfest Canceled
06/04/2020
The 2020 Huntsville Hamfest has been canceled due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the event’s Board of Directors has announced. The Huntsville
Hamfest was sanctioned as the 2020 ARRL Southeastern Division
Convention. Full refunds to prepaid commercial and flea market vendors
will be processed via the mode in which payment was made. Online ticket
purchases will be credited to PayPal accounts. Embassy Hotel
reservations will be automatically canceled. — Thanks to Hamfest
Chairman Mark Brown, N4BCD

International Postal Service Disrupted
06/09/2020
The US Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily suspended international
mail acceptance for items addressed to certain destinations due to
service impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation could
result in the return or loss of mail, such as QSL cards, addressed to
affected parts of the world. The USPS has posted a list of affected
countries, which is updated regularly. The Postal Service will, upon
request, refund postage and fees on mail bearing a customs stamp
that’s returned due to the suspension of service, or the sender may
re-mail returned items with existing postage once service has been
restored. When re-mailing under this option, customers should cross out
the markings “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender.”

ARRL Contest Program Issues Field Day 2020 FAQ
06/09/2020
The ARRL Contest Program has released some Frequently Asked Questions
related to the Field Day temporary rule waivers. On May 28, the ARRL
Programs and Services Committee (PSC) adopted these provisions only for
the June 27 – 28, 2020, event: (1) Class D stations may work all other
Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points, and
(2) an aggregate club score will be published, which will be the sum of
all individual entries that indicate a specific club. Contact the ARRL
Contest Program with any questions related to Field Day 2020.
Q: Several of our club members are going to operate independently and
wish to attribute their scores to the aggregate club score. What call
sign should they use?
A: Participants should use their own call signs. Except for Class C
(mobile) entries, all transmitters, receivers, and antennas must be
located within a 1,000-foot-diameter circle may operate using a single
call sign. This prohibits the use of a single call sign from more than
one location. Under the 2020 waiver, those operating from home,
including backyard operations, must use their own station call signs.
Multiple home stations operating with a club call sign or modified club
call sign, such as W1AW-1, W1AW-2, W1AW-3, etc, are not allowed.
Q: How does my club submit an aggregate club score?  Does the club need
to add up each participating member’s scores and submit a club entry
with the aggregate score under the club call sign?
A: Each participant will submit his or her own independent entry under
his or her call sign. ARRL will calculate the aggregate score based upon
the club name entered on the official Field Day entry form via the web
applet (preferred method) or on the paper Field Day entry form. In order
for results to be tabulated correctly, all club participants must enter
the club’s official name exactly the same, avoiding abbreviations or
acronyms. This is important!
Q: Our group is still planning to operate at the usual Field Day site,
but some members do not feel comfortable gathering in a large group this
year. Can we still submit an entry using the club call sign, as well as
have members operating from home using their own call signs?
A: Yes. If your club is still hosting a group Field Day effort, it will
submit an entry as usual, using the club call sign. Club members
operating at home will submit separate entries with their own call signs
and will enter the club name on the entry form for club aggregate
scoring.
Q: Can a club member operate from home using the club call sign?
A: Yes, but the call sign may only be used in one location. The member
must receive permission from the trustee of the club call sign.
Q: Our club normally enters Field Day in Class A. If we operate from our
home stations, in which class should individual members enter in order
to be included in the aggregate club score?
A: Each member will operate independently and will submit the entry
using whatever class that applies to their operation. Typically, home
stations running on commercial ac power are Class D, while home stations
running on battery, solar, generator, or the like (i.e., not from ac
mains) are Class E. When the results are published, each club member
will be listed in the results under the class in which they operated.
For 2020 only, aggregate club scores will be listed by the club name in
a separate listing.
Q: Our club will have 10 members operating from home as Class D
stations. Should they worry about working the same station on the same
band and mode (duplicates)?
A: Because members are operating as separate entries using their own
call signs, the contacts are not considered duplicates.
Q: Does the club need to be an ARRL-affiliated club to participate in
Field Day?
A: No. All clubs and groups are welcome to participate in ARRL Field
Day.
Q: How will bonus points be calculated for the aggregate club scores?
Can individual club members still earn bonus points?
A: All individual scores, including bonus points, will be added together
to determine the aggregate club score. Refer to the complete rules to
determine eligibility for bonus points. — Thanks to Paul Bourque,
N1SFE, ARRL Contest Program Manager

Volunteer Monitor Program Recognizes Good Operators
06/11/2020
Volunteer Monitor Program Coordinator Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, said
the program has recognized numerous radio amateurs with Good Operator
Notices.
“One facet of the ARRL and FCC agreement that set up the Volunteer
Monitor Program calls for ARRL to recognize especially good amateur
radio behavior, in order to encourage compliance with FCC rules and
further the efficiency of the Amateur Radio Service,” Hollingsworth
said. “Seventeen operators in 15 states received Good Operator Notices
in the first quarter of 2020. The Good Operator Notices went to veteran
operators as well as newcomers, including a 13-year-old in North
Carolina for CW operation during the Youth on the Air Special Event, and
a 14-year-old in Wyoming for SSB operation.”
Hollingsworth also said that a 2-meter repeater operator received a Good
Operator Report for establishing and managing a COVID-19 net in
Pennsylvania, while other operators of various license classes received
notices for everyday SSB and CW operation on the HF bands. Recipients
were nominated on the basis of operation observed by Volunteer
Monitors.
According to Hollingsworth, Volunteer Monitors reported 2,035 hours
monitoring on HF monitoring, and 2,856 hours monitoring on VHF/UHF and
other frequencies during May. Two cases were referred to FCC.
After kicking off on January 1, the new Volunteer Monitor Program ramped
up to operational status earlier this spring, starting with a “soft
rollout” that started on February1, designed to familiarize Volunteer
Monitors (VMs) with issues on the bands and to put into practice what to
report — and what to ignore, based on their training.
VMs not only look for operating discrepancies, but for examples of good
operating. Hollingsworth is using a system called VMTRAC — developed
by a VM — to measure the work of VMs and determine instances that
qualify for good operator or discrepancy notices, referral to the FCC,
or follow-up with FCC requests to the VM program. — Thanks to Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH

Youth on the Air in the Americas Announces At-Home Bonus Summer
Activities
06/16/2020
Youth on the Air in the Americas is planning additional home-based
activities for this summer, due to the postponement of its inaugural
summer camp at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in
West Chester Township, Ohio. Virtual YOTA Day will take place on
Wednesday, June 24. Activities will include a series of youth-led forums
and some competitions that can be done from home — even without a
radio. Virtual YOTA Day begins at 1800 UTC on June 24 and continues
until 2400 UTC.
Those who had been selected to attend YOTA camp 2020 will be able to
meet on Zoom for a day of learning and fun, plus a chance to win prizes,
but anyone interested will be able to get in on Virtual YOTA Day via the
official Youth on the Air YouTube channel and play along at home. Some
activities will include learning how to track down the location of a
transmitter without leaving your chair, sharpening contesting skills,
and more.
During the week of June 21 – 26, when the camp was to take place,
special event station W8Y will be on the air on all bands and modes.
Those selected to attend YOTA Camp 2020 will take turns operating as W8Y
throughout the week from the station of their own choosing. Campers
should contact Marty Sullaway, NN1C, to be added to the schedule.
Youth on the Air will operate Field Day using a remote station in
southwestern Ohio. Logging will be done by remote desktop. Campers can
sign up at YouthOnTheAir.org for a time slot on the remote station
provided by Jay Slough, K4ZLE. Contact Chris Brault, KD8YVJ, with
questions.
Youth on the Air will be a club choice for Field Day score submissions.
Participating operators age 25 or younger choosing to operate Field Day
from a home station can contribute their scores to an aggregate club
score for this year only. Enter “Youth on the Air” as the club name
on the Field Day entry.
More information about YOTA in the Americas can be found at
YouthOnTheAir.org and on YOTAregion2 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and YouTube. 


FROM AROUND THE SECTION:

Louisiana Section Traffic Manager’s Report:
Sessions     QNI     QTC     QTR
30.               750     42.        600

73,
Jimmy Lewis AB5YS
Louisiana Section Traffic 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator’s Report:
ARES Monthly Section Emergency Coordinators Report
1. ARRL Section:  Louisiana
2. Month:  May
3. Year:  2020
4. Total number of ARES members:  395
5. Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month:  9
6. Number of ARES nets active:  50
7. Number of nets with NTS liaison:  1
8. Calls of DECs/EC reporting:  W4NDF NS5W KD5BNH KE5BMS AG5LR KD5DFL
W5GAS KD5IGZ KE5GMN 
 9a. Number of exercises & training sessions this month:  36      
  9b.  Person hours:  432 
10a. Number of public service events this month:  0     10b. Person
hours:  0
11a. Number of emergency operations this month:  0   
11b. Person hours:  0 
12a. Number of SKYWARN operations this month:  5
 12b. Person hours:  21
13a. Auto Sum 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a:  41 
 13b. Auto Sum 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b:  453
Submitted by Jim Coleman, AI5B:  Section Emergency Coordinator

All Ham radio operators in the Louisiana Section are encouraged to
register with ARES CONNECT.  You do not have to be an ARRL member or a
member of ARES to join and stay informed.  Please remember that your
username MUST be your call sign:  https://arrl.volunteerhub.com/lp/la

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2020-06-17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region 2:  As always please go to K5ARC.org and see the latest
“Ascension Airwaves” newsletter ….!

Region 4:
Volume 60, Number 06 ACADIANA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOC., INC. June 2020
A Message From Chris Ancelet N5MCY 
Good afternoon AARA Members, I would like to welcome everyone to join in
or our 2 Meter General Club Meeting Net. Last month's meeting was
successful and considering that we are still unable to meet in person, I
wanted to again capitalize on our ability to meet via radio. The meeting
will take place on June 4th at 7pm on the 147.040 MHz + 0.600 PL 103.5
W5EXI repeater system. We will follow the same net rules as the normal
Monday night net; taking check-ins by alphabetical order.
Agenda: 
1. Check-ins 
2. Pledge of Allegiance 
3. Prayer 
4. General Announcements 
5. 73 round for your comments 
We need to anticipate a large crowd so we will attempt to streamline
this to the best of our ability. I am looking forward to hosting this
event and hope to hear you on the air. 
Chris Ancelet N5MCY

Birthdays:
06-05 KE5RPI Karen
06-07 K5VXX Joseph
06-08 Michael
06-11 KE5KJF Sandy
07-02 WA5KNC Eugene
07-04 KI5JMD Jake
07-19 AI5O Stephen
07-22 KI5DHK Andrew
07-23 WB5GAF Ralph
07-28 KE5AHD Greg

SMOOTHIE (Peanut Butter, Chocolate & Banana)
Very nutritious
In a blender, mix 4 ice cubes, 1 cup of cold milk, 2
tablespoons of PB Fit powdered peanut butter (or 2
tablespoons of peanut butter), 1/2 of a ripe banana, 1
tablespoon of un-sweetened cocoa powder, and 2 teaspoons
of sugar or artificial sweetener. Blend until smooth.
Using 2% milk, with the PB Fit and Artificial sweetener =
220 Cal.
Using 2% milk, with peanut butter, and sugar = 375 Cal.

REGION 5:
Submitted by George Carr, WA5KBH
First up is the new DX sensation, RS-44. It's strong downlink and
exceptional sensitivity has allowed for several QSOs beyond its
theoretical 7,942 km maximum surface range. Hector Martinez, W5CBF,
in Lake Charles, LA reports working Antonio Gutierrez, DL4EA, in
Böblingen, Germany on May 26, 2020 at 23:07 UTC - a distance of
8,357km. The previous record of 8,314 km by KI7UNJ and EB1AO stood
just
nine days.

For the QSO, Hector used an Alaskan Arrow antenna and an Icom
IC-9700 on the roof of the 310' tall Capital One Tower in Lake
Charles, LA, offering an exceptional view of the northern sky.
--
WA5KBH
Chip Carver


Region 6:
From the June 2020 “Brass Key”:
Words from our President, John Dempsey, N5CM
Well, Covid-19 strikes again. Kees Park will not be available for our
June 2 meeting, so the June meeting is canceled. That is a big
disappointment, but it is what we have now, and we don’t have any
choice in the matter. Today (05/20/20), I spoke with the manager of the
Woodworth Outdoor Education Center, our Field Day site. At this point,
he does not know if the facility will be open for our use or not. That
decision is above his pay grade. He did say that if the situation
changes for the better, he will notify us as soon as possible.
Personally, I am up for having our Field Day exercise at Woodworth if
the facility is available. I believe we are informed enough to conduct
ourselves in a manner that we don’t compromise our own health or that
of our fellow members. I do recognize, however, that some members may
not feel comfortable engaging in this exercise if the facility comes
open. That’s entirely understandable, and I would not think poorly of
anyone if he or she chose not to participate based on concerns for
health. My guess is that we will not know about the status of the
facility until mid-June or a little later. One option is to plan for
Field Day at Woodworth and be somewhat prepared perchance we get a more
or less last-minute authorization to proceed. Let me know what you think
about Field Day. Vy 73 DX John N5CM

Spring Time Brings Equipment Maintenance! Some reminders from H. Ward
Silver, N0AX, St. Charles, Missouri The best thing you can do for your
ham radio station is to spend a little time doing regular maintenance.
Maintenance works for cars, checkbooks, and relationships, so why not
ham radio? Be sure to keep a station notebook. Open the notebook
whenever you add a piece of equipment, wire a gadget, note a problem, or
fix a problem. Over time, the notebook helps you prevent or solve
problems, but only if you keep it up to date. You also need to set aside
a little time on a regular basis to inspect, test, and check the
individual components that make up the station. TREASURER'S REPORT
Houston Polson, KD5YS, Club Treasurer Along with the equipment, check
the cables, power supplies, wires, ropes, masts, and everything else
between the operator and the ionosphere. Check these items when you plan
to be off the air so that you don’t have to do a panic fix when you
want to be on the air. Your equipment and antennas are of no use if
they’re not working. You can make routine maintenance easy with a
checklist. Start with the following list and customize it for your
station: - Check all RF cables, connectors, switches, and grounds. Make
sure all connectors are tight because temperature cycles can work them
loose. Rotate switches or cycle relays to keep contacts clean and turn
up problems. Look for kinks in or damage to feed lines. Be sure that
ground connections are snug. - Test transmitters and amplifiers for full
power output on all bands. Also, double-check your antennas and RF
cabling. Use full power output to check all bands for RF feedback or
pickup on microphones, keying lines, or control signals. - Check
received noise level (too high or too low) on all bands. The noise level
is a good indication of whether feed lines are in good shape, preamps
are working, or you have a new noise source to worry about. - Check
standing wave ratio (SWR) on all antennas. Be especially vigilant for
changes in the frequency of minimum SWR, which can indicate connection
problems or water getting into the antenna or feed line connectors.
Sudden changes in SWR (up or down) mean tuning or feed-line problems. -
Inspect all antennas and outside feed lines. Use a pair of binoculars to
check the antenna. Look for loose connections; unraveling tape, ties, or
twists; damage to cable jackets; and that sort of thing. - Inspect ropes
and guy wires. Get into the habit of checking for tightness and wear
whenever you walk by. A branch rubbing on a rope can eventually cause a
break. Knots can come loose. -Inspect masts, towers, and antenna mounts.
The best time to find problems is in autumn, before the weather turns
bad. Use a wrench to check tower and clamp bolts and nuts. Fight rust
with cold galvanizing spray paint. In the spring, check again for
weather damage. -Vacuum and clean the operating table and equipment;
clear away loose papers and magazines. Sneak those coffee cups back to
the kitchen, and recycle the old soft-drink cans. Make sure that all
fans and ventilation holes are clean and not blocked. - You may not want
to haul the vacuum cleaner into the radio shack, but it may be the most
valuable piece of maintenance gear you have. Heat is the mortal enemy of
electronic components and leads to more failures than any other cause.
The dust and crud that settle on radio equipment restrict air flow and
act as insulators, keeping equipment hot. High-voltage circuits, such as
in an amplifier or computer monitor, attract dust like crazy. Vacuuming
removes the dust, wire bits, paper scraps, and other junk before they
cause expensive trouble. As you complete your maintenance, note whether
anything needs fixing or replacing and why, if you know. You’ll
probably get some ideas about improvements or additions to the station,
so note those ideas too. Over time, you’ll notice that some things
regularly need work. In a mobile station, for example the antenna mounts
may need cleaning, vibration loosens connectors, and cables can get
pinched or stretched. Always be on the lookout for these problems. If
you do routine maintenance three or four times a year, you can
dramatically reduce the number of unpleasant surprises you receive. 

The MIGHTY Six Meter Dipole John Dempsey, N5CM Well, one of the support
lines for my 6-meter dipole became abraded by the movement of the tree
limbs in the wind and broke. I knew that would eventually happen when I
put the antenna up. I shot a new line in the same place and had the
antenna back up in short order. The little dipole has worked
surprisingly well, and I have received good signal reports with it,
mostly on CW. When 6 meters opens, there is quite a bit of activity
between 50.090 and 50.315 Mhz. Here is what I have observed. 50.000 to
50.080 Mhz – beacons 50.080 to 50.0999 Mhz – CW 50.100 to 50.125
Mhz
– DX window 50.125 to 50.160 Mhz – SSB 50.313 to 50.315 Mhz
– most
FT8 (LOTS of activity here during an opening) Six meters opens and
closes entirely as it pleases. Some openings last for hours, and others
last for minutes. Given the uncertainty of the length of the opening, CW
exchanges tend to be somewhat brief and consist of an honest signal
report and a 4-character grid square e.g. 569 EM31 from N5CM to another
station. If an operator has some confidence in the opening, a name and
QTH will be added to the exchange. A dipole for six meters is fairly
easy to build, rather unobtrusive, and effective. The length of each leg
of the dipole is calculated by using the equation: Length (feet) =
234/Frequency (Mhz) For a dipole centered on 50.1 MHz, the length of
each leg should be: L = 234/50.1 = 4.67 feet Convert decimal feet to
inches: 0.67 feet x 12 inches/foot = 8 inches. Each leg would be
4’8” log from the point at which it passes through the insulator
back to the point at which the coaxial feed line is split into center
lead and shield. Cut each leg around 6 inches too long and wrap the
excess wire around itself. Get the finished antenna up a few feet and
check the SWR. Adjust length as required, rewrap the wire at the
insulator, tape it, and add a zip tire to prevent slippage.
The pipe is spray painted black to help it blend into the background. I
should have painted the insulators but forgot to do so. The two wires
from the pipe to the insulator are pieces of coat hanger wire. They
serve to support the feedline and choke and keep the weight of the
feedline off the point where the feedline is split and attaches to the
legs of the dipole. The choke appears to work. I have no evidence of RF
getting back down the outside of the coax into the shack. My dipole is
up around 60 to 65 feet between a couple of trees. The legs are oriented
more or less East-West, so the antenna favors North-South propagation.
On the meter on my radio, the SWR is 1:1 in the CW window of 50.080 to
50.099 MHz. The rig is happy. Thus far, I have contacts that range from
Canada to Mexico to Puerto Rico and several states in between all on 100
watts and this little bit of wire. Also, I’ve had a contact with
Florida and with Arizona… off the ends of the dipole! To check for a
band opening, look at DX clusters such as DX Summit and DX Heat. Listen
for beacons from 50.000 to 50.080 Mhz. Listen at 50.145 and 50.125 Mhz
for SSB activity. Listen around 50.313 MHz for FT8 activity (15-second
tones)

Region 9:
From:  The SELARC "Hamster"  Vol. 47, No. 6 .........................
June 2020
Hammond VE Group - ARRL/W5YI - The Hammond VE Group has changed names
to: Florida Parishes VE Group. Testing sessions are now held at the new
permanent location: AmVets Post #68; 26890 Hwy 42b (jct. of Hwys 42 and
43) - Springfield, La. 70462 70462
(approximately 3 miles south of I-12 at exit 32)
Sessions are still held on the last Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm !

K5R Special Event
Scott KD5PCK has secured the 1x1 event callsign K5R for August 28 - 30,
2020, the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; looking for people
interested and hoping to run the special event at the Community Center
this year.

Happy Birthday
Birthday Wishes for June go out to - Dean KG5AAE, Scott KD5PCK, James
K5QNT, and Jason K5WDH.
If we missed your birthday, then please let us know.

Get Well Soon —
Best wishes for continued recuperation go to SELARC members Tom Simpson
N5HAY and Homer Jones KA5TRT. We look forward to hearing you on the
air!

Florida Parishes VE Group - 31 May, 2020 (formerly Hammond VE Group)
Congratulations to the following "NEW" Amateur Radio Operators and
upgrades!!!!!
Technician
Rebecca Workman - New Oleans, La.
Thomas Steffen - New Orleans, La.
Robert Beasley - Hammond, La.
Daniel J.Hebert - Brusly, La.
General
Dawson Andrews - French Settlement, La.
Walter Stampley - Baton Rouge, La.
Eric Pray - Denham Springs, La.
Extra
Mark Ferriera - New Orleans, La.
Thanks again to all the VEs' who attended to make this happen every
month. Your time is greatly appreciated!!!
Tyrone Burns - N5XES - VE Liason
Florida Parishes VE Group (formerly....Hammond VE Group)

Stay Radio active -- Hope to see you at a future meeting: to be
announced. Be sure to monitor your weekly nets, e-mail, and the SELARC
website at https://www.selarc.org .

The Slidell EOC Hamfest has been rescheduled:
10/09/2020 - 10/10/2020
Slidell EOC Hamfest 2020
Location: Slidell Auditorium
2056 2nd Street
Slidell, LA 70458
Sponsor: Ozone Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://W5SLA.net
Talk-In: 147.27 (PL 114.8)
Public Contact: David Hartley , K5OZ
Phone: 985-707-8010
Email: dehartley@charter.net

Congratulations to June Prize winners!
Affiliated Club: K5LSU Amateur Radio Society at LA State University
(Book).
ARRL LA Section Member: N5GJQ Michael O. Canady (Book).
and the winner of the radio and bonus meter is KF5YBY William R.
Harris.

Mid-Month Prizes were won by Pat Mason, Bill Hoover, Mel Sojka, and
Terry Partigianoni.

Again, If you have already sent your call sign to me I still have
it.....if you have not please send on Facebook, email or text me.....we
will have some other prizes to give away soon and the next Book/Radio
drawing will be July 1st.

73,

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Louisiana Section
Section Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMR
k5jmr@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

SILENT KEYS:

Daniel Grafton Murphey, KE5YSK Bernice, LA

Paul B. Smith, AB5HA Bossier City, LA

 

NEW HAMS:  WELCOME to the hobby!

Report for 2020-08-04

Omar Aldahir, KI5KAW
Metairie, LA 70005

Terrell F Robinson, KI5KAY
Harvey, LA 70058-2004

David C Burnstad, KI5JWD
New Orleans, LA 70114-6814

Kirsten L Watson, KI5KAZ
New Orleans, LA 70115-4118

Henry D Lipkis, KI5KAC
New Orleans, LA 70117-5635

Stephen W Thieneman, KI5JVZ
New Orleans, LA 70131-3351

Charles J Lapointe, KI5KBZ
Berwick, LA 70342-2001

Lawrence L Lima, KI5JVY
Hammond, LA 70401-4814

Ryan A Creel, KI5KAX
Covington, LA 70433-4569

Bryan A Vincent, KI5JWA
Covington, LA 70435-9204

James S Soileau, KI5JWB
Mandeville, LA 70471-8514

Roy Wygant, KI5JTZ
Sulphur, LA 70665-7210

Nicolas R Farmer, KI5KEZ
Converse, LA 71419-9648

 

License Upgrades:  CONGRATULATIONS!

Report for 2020-08-04

Westin L Cobb, KI5FRF
Pine Grove, LA 70453-0985

Ronald J Bertucci, KI5AGS
Lafayette, LA 70506-5113

Michael P Laxen, KI5JHN
Walker, LA 70785-5221

Julius A Cline, N5ZCW
Baton Rouge, LA 70817-1367

Michael Evans, KI5JLC
Greenwood, LA 71033-3329

 

NEW/RENEWED ARRL MEMBERS:  WELCOME/WELCOME BACK!

Report for 2020-08-04

Terrell F Robinson, KI5KAY
Harvey, LA 70058-2004

Clint L Guillot, AE5TZ
Kenner, LA 70065-1559

Brunella Falgout, KG5WOD
New Orleans, LA 70114-6130

Kenneth P Watzke, N5MON
New Orleans, LA 70129-2827

Richard S Vander Heide, K8VH
New Orleans, LA 70130-5726

William M Floberg, KF5SYT
Slidell, LA 70458-2928

Peggy M Goertz, W5PMG
Slidell, LA 70460-3636

David G VanSomeren, KI5IWA
Slidell, LA 70461-2007

Guy H McMillan, KK4WEQ
Slidell, LA 70461-5578

Karl F Bailey, W5DHP
Lafayette, LA 70508-7760

Kenneth G Goss, KI5HQ
Crowley, LA 70526-6705

Clayton J Rogers, N5FMX
Delcambre, LA 70528-2015

Dwight Hawker, KE5CHX
Lake Charles, LA 70611-3430

Wilfred F Luttrell, WB5UAX
Deridder, LA 70634-5838

Lawrence Jones, KB5GPM
Geismar, LA 70734-3244

Chris J Reine, KI5JSE
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-2828

Pamela E Welsh, KF5IPJ
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-9014

James M Wark, AG5MP
Greenwood, LA 71033-2989

Perry A Culver, KC5REV
Shreveport, LA 71105-2022

Michael R McCrary, K5TNK
Shreveport, LA 71107-2421

Joseph R Holland, KB5VJY
West Monroe, LA 71292-1219

James C Whitman, KI5DLG
West Monroe, LA 71292-8961

Bottom of Form

 

FROM THE ARRL:

The September Issue of Digital QST is Now Available!

08/07/2020

The September issue of Digital QST is now available for viewing on your desktop or laptop computer. Click here to go to the ARRL Magazines page to read QST and all other ARRL magazines in digital format. You can also read them on your Apple, Android, or Kindle Fire device with the ARRL Mags app.

In this issue . . .

• Make your own optical encoder.
• Build an easy-to-use portable antenna mast.
• Read the story of Caribbean shortwave giant Trans World Radio.

… and much more!

 

ARRL Hires Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, as Director of Emergency Management

08/12/2020

As another step in ARRL’s increased focus on strengthening its emergency communications capabilities and long-standing working relationships with federal and state agencies and private emergency response organizations, ARRL has hired Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, of Cedar Park, Texas, as its first Director of Emergency Management.

Gilbert brings more than 30 years of experience in public service in both his professional and amateur radio endeavors. Beginning with his appointment as Emergency Coordinator in 1987, he has held multiple positions in the ARRL Field Organization. Currently in his second term as South Texas Section Manager, he has also served for more than a decade as the West Gulf Division’s Assistant Director for Public Service, acting as liaison between Division leadership and local, state, and federal emergency management organizations.

Professionally, Gilbert most recently was Radio Officer, HQ Staff, for the Texas State Guard, where for the past 6 years he has been responsible for planning and implementation of the organization’s communications capabilities. Previously he was a Public Safety Radio Coordinator for a Texas agency, charged with overseeing that organization’s large-scale disaster communications response and identifying and eliminating in-state interoperability issues.

Gilbert, who has an Amateur Extra-class license, is a member of Army MARS, and holds numerous DHS certifications, including COML, COMT, COMT Instructor, and AUXCOM Communicator. He is a member of the FEMA Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECCWG), a graduate of the FEMA Emergency Management Institute’s Exercise Design Course, and was a founding member of the Texas Division of Emergency Management Communications Coordination Group.

In his new role, Gilbert will manage a team responsible for supporting ARRL Emergency Communications (EmComm) programs and services, including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) and National Traffic System (NTS), as well as lead the continued modernization of those programs in consonance with the future emergency communications needs of the public and ARRL’s key partners.

 

 

FROM AROUND THE LOUISIANA SECTION:

Louisiana Section Traffic Manager Report:

Sessions      QNI      QTC      QTR

30.           836      42.        169

 

73,

Jimmy Lewis AB5YS

Louisiana Section Traffic

———————————————————————————————————————————–

Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator Report:

1. ARRL Section: Louisiana
2. Month: July
3. Year: 2020
4. Total number of ARES members: 365
5. Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 9
6. Number of ARES nets active: 50
7. Number of nets with NTS liaison: 4
8. Calls of DECs/EC reporting:

W4NDF NS5W KD5BNH KE5BMS AG5LR KD5DFL K5JMR KD5IGZ KE5GMN

9a. Number of exercises & training sessions this month:  21

9b.  Person hours:  235

10a. Number of public service events this month:  0     10b. Person hours:  0

11a. Number of emergency operations this month:  0

11b. Person hours:  0

12a. Number of SKYWARN operations this month:  5

12b. Person hours:  21

13a. Auto Sum 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a:  26

13b. Auto Sum 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b:  256

Jim Coleman, AI5B

Section Emergency Coordinator

————————————————————————————————————————

Region 2:  Check out the latest edition of the “Ascension Airwaves” at K5ARC.org.

 

Region 4:

BEARS Club W5BMC in Morgan City
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE AND LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND – August 21 – 23, 2020
BEARS will again be taking part in this international ham radio event starting the evening of August 21 and running until early morning on the 23rd.  We will be set up at the Ray Rasberry Tower in Lighthouse Park on the riverfront in Berwick, Louisiana on the Atchafalaya River across from Morgan City.  We will be using the call W5BMC and operating on 20 & 40 meters.  More information will be posted on later e-mails. Councilman Raymond Price generously donated the new Cushcraft A3S tri-band antenna and rotor.

As soon as this event is over, we will begin advertising nationally that the tower, antenna and rotor are there for the use of any ham who would like to set up his radio and make contacts from The Southwest Reef Lighthouse located in Lighthouse Park in Berwick.  This will be a first of its kind anywhere that we know of, and we are hoping we will have many visitors

RUMOR, RUMOR – There is a possibility that Franklin, Louisiana will reschedule the Black Bear Festival in November.  So, we are waiting for more word.  This is our most fun one right on the bayou side, so hopefully they will be able to do this. Will keep all of you posted.

 

Happy Birthday – Leading off, KE5DJA – Virginia, KI5IGQ – Steve, AI5BR – Carl, WD5JTZ – Mike, W5YOP – Esther

Happy birthday to each of you!!!

 

Congratulations BEARS – We have had TWO winners of prizes presented by John Mark Robertson.  Frank-NOD  was the winner of a little AM,FM, SW radio and BEARS has just won a book for our library.  Thank you, John Mark.

 

Boy Scout RADIO MERIT BADGE –  Four BEARS members attended the Thursday meeting of Boy Scout Troop 49, sponsored by the VFW.  We will begin classes soon and you will be advised.  The class will be conducted in the conference room on the second floor of the building at 201 Everett St.  It will always be on a Thursday at p.m. and any member is invited to attend.  The entire bookless will be covered in two weeks.

 

Volume 60, Number 08 ACADIANA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOC., INC. –  August 2020

A Message from Chris Ancelet N5MCY: Good morning AARA Members, I have been contacted by Mr. Lamperez with the 2020 Tour du Teche race. I have been asked if we would be willing to participate in this 3 day event. The dates are October 2, 3, &4. Just like the events in the past, we would be manning the various checkpoints and providing real time information to the command post. Even though the event is scheduled, there is still a chance that this event will be cancelled due to our current situation. What we need to provide to the committee, is a list of people wanting to participate. I have received 1 confirmation from Tom Dischler thus far and we will need the following spots filled as well as someone that wants to coordinate the event. Unfortunately, I will not be able to spearhead this event due to my work schedule. Below are the checkpoints that need to be filled. Please let me know if you are wanting to chair this event and/or want to man a checkpoint. We will need to get this information to the committee as soon as we can. Check Pts. Location Operator Name Call Sign Friday October 2nd

1. Arnaudville, LA ??? Myrans’ Maison de Manger 1023 Neblett St 30.396282° N & 91.930858° W
2. Breaux Bridge, LA ??? Poche’s Market & Restaurant 3015 Main Hwy 30.311667° N & 91.904167° W
3. St. Martinville, LA ??? St. Martinville Festival Grounds 30.124556° N & 91.826111° W

Check Pts. Location Operator Name Call Sign Saturday October 3rd

4. New Iberia, LA New Iberia City Park ??? 30.003889° N & 91.811667° W
5. Charenton, LA ??? Chitimacha Boat Launch 3548 Chitimacha Trail 29.883055° N & 91.528888° W
6. Franklin, LA ??? Parc Sur la Teche 29.792222° N & 91.499444° W Sunday October 4th
7. Calumet, LA ??? East Gate, Calumet Cut Atchafalaya Levee 29.702256° N & 91.368989° W
8. Berwick, LA ??? Southwest Reef Lighthouse Atchafalaya River 29.692500° N & 91.215278°

Chris Ancelet N5MCY 337-591-8871

 

Our next club meeting will be held on the air on August 6, 2020 on the W5EXI repeater. Check-in will begin about 6:30 PM with the meeting beginning at 7:00 PM. Repeater: 147.040 MHz + 0.600 PL 103.5 W5EXI

 

A BLAST FROM THE PAST Field Day 2001 Some of you “older” AARA members may remember 2001 AARA Field Day that was held on June 23 & 24 at Cajun Field. That was some 19 years ago, It was a good time with many good friends, some are now Silent Keys. It was one of our better Field Days. A lot of paperwork (crossing “T”‘s and dotting “I”‘s) went into procuring this site thanks to Field Day Chairperson Phil Caubareau KB5EKD. Our tower trailer had a winch driven telescoping tower which would reach in excess of 100 feet. We had it near 100 feet with a American Flag which could be seen from anywhere around Cajun Field especially from Congress Street and Bertrand Drive. A husband & wife were driving down Bertrand Drive and noticed the tower with the flag and both were ham radio operators just passing thru Lafayette on their way to San Antonio, TX to visit his father and decided to investigate. The couple were Skip & Cindy Douglass KA9DDN & KA9PZG of Grafton, Wisconsin. They came over to our Field Day site and visited for a while. We exchanged e-mails and after a short while they continued on their trip to San Antonio. I managed to keep in touch with them. Between 2001 and the present time, they have passed thru Lafayette and visited me at my QTH on four or five occasions. The main reason for this article is that Skip KA9DDN became a Silent Key on July 17, 2020. Skip was an avid amateur radio operator KA9DDN and belonged to the Ozaukee Radio Club. He also was a member of the Ozaukee Amateur Radio Emergency Services, the Saukville Rifle and Pistol Club, and had a passion for photography, woodworking, building computers, camping with his family, and loved listening to music. Ham radio can be fun and one way to meet people and become good friends is on Field Day. 73 de Herman KN5GRK

 

EGG CREAM A New York Egg Cream contains three ingredients: milk, seltzer water, and chocolate syrup. Ironically, it contains neither egg nor cream. 1 Cup Cold Milk ¼ Cup Seltzer Water Cold 2 Tbs Chocolate flavored syrup Place a 12 oz. Glass in the freezer to chill. (This is important to keep the theme.) Pour the cold milk into the glass. Pour the seltzer into the glass until the white head reaches the top of the glass. Spoon the syrup into the glass and stir to combine. Serve with a straw. Note: If you follow the directions exactly, you will have a white foam at the top. This is called the Brooklyn-style. If you mix the chocolate with the milk before adding the seltzer water, it will have a brown foam. This is the Bronx-style.

 

 

Region 7:

Shreveport Amateur Radio Assn. (SARA):

Saturday, September 5, 8:30AM:  Ham & Coffee Breakfast at the Greenwood Flea Market Cafe.

 

Tuesday, September 8, 6:00PM:  September General Meeting, Century 21 Elite Training Room.  Park in rear, enter last door on the right.

 

As always, each Thursday evening brings a parade of scheduled nets on which SARA is well-represented.  During this pandemic the nets are a great place to keep in touch with other Ark-La-Tex hams.

K5SAR Net (KC5PQL net control):  Thursdays, 6:30PM, 146.820MHz

10-10 Steamboat Net (KD5DE net control):  Thursdays, 7:00PM, 28.430MHz

N5SHV Net (KB5LE net control):  Thursdays, 8:00PM, 146.760MHz (186.2 tone in/out)

 

In addition, please monitor k5sar.com and the SARA Facebook Page for news updates.

 

Region 8:

Louisiana Delta Radio Club KC5DR

Attention!! The Louisiana Delta Radio Club is proud to announce its First Annual Swap Fest honoring the courage and perseverance of Carter Robertson, son of John and Sunni Robertson, Carter’s strength is a beacon for all those who have obstacles to overcome. Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 8:00 AM CDT

The Fest will be at the Cheniere Lake Pavilions 1 B and 1 C. Located about 2 miles SW of West Monroe, Louisiana

The Grand Prize will be an Icom IC-705

Second Prize a Yaesu FTM-300 VHF/UHF Mobile Third Prize a Yaesu FTM-70R VHF/UHF HT Door prizes given out every hour starting at 9:00am. Doors open at 6:00 am for vendors 8:00 am for the public. Admission is a$5.00.

Ricky Little KI5GEI will be whipping up a huge pot of Jambalaya , Hot Dogs, drinks and Chips..

Vendor, and flea market tables Spaces (if you bring your own tables) is $5.00 per table. If you need a table it will wan additional $5.00 and electricity another $5.00. Tail gating area $5.00 per spot.

LIMITED SPOTS.. most spots under the pavilions are directly accessible for loading and unloading.

Current Vendor List:

Palmetto Antennas

Brinson Bling – $5.00 Jewelry

Rhonda’s Vinyl Creations (callsign license plates, window stickers) Hosted by Joe Holland KB5VJY and Louisiana Delta Radio Club – KC5DR

 

Region 9:

The SELARC “Hamster”

Vol. 47, No. 8 ……………………. August 2020

Special Events, Other Hamfests & VE Sessions

OARC / Slidell EOC Hamfest and Amateur Radio Symposium – Oct. 9 – 10 – http://w5sla.net/hamfest-2020.htm

The Greater New Orleans Hamfest – Nov. 14, 2020 – Hamfest page

Florida Parishes VE Group – Testing sessions are scheduled for the last Sunday of each month [with the exception of holiday conflicts] at AmVets Post #68; 26890 Hwy 42 (jct. of Hwys 42 and 43) – Springfield, La. 70462 (approximately 3 miles south of I-12 at exit 32) at 2pm with $15 testing fee. Bring photo ID and any appropriate CSCE. For more information contact n5xes@arrl.net or Find an Amateur Radio License Exam in Your Area.

K5R Special Event

Scott KD5PCK has secured the 1×1 event callsign K5R for August 28 – 30, 2020, the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; looking for people interested and hoping to run the special event at the Community Center this year.

Community News / Announcements

MSBike Tour 2020 – Cancelled

For your information, I received notice that the MSBike 2020 ride scheduled for Oct. 3 & 4 has been cancelled. I’m sorry we will not be doing the tour this year, but I certainly appreciate and thank you for your past participation. More info can be found at VolunteerMS@nmss.org 73, Bob WB5FBS

Happy Birthday

Birthday Wishes for August go out to – Mark WX5RN, Trent KD5PCM, Tyrone N5XES, and Carmen KF5VXO.
If we missed your birthday, then please let us know.

Get Well Soon —

Best wishes for continued recuperation go to SELARC members Tom Simpson N5HAY and Homer Jones KA5TRT. We look forward to hearing you on the air!

VE Session Results

Florida Parishes VE Group – 28 June, 2020 VE Session

Congratulations to the following new Amateur Radio Operators and upgrades!!

Technician

Richard Braniff – Prairieville, La.
Brandon Farris – Pride, La.
Justin Richter – Denham Springs, La.
Daniel Daigle – Jefferson, La.

General

Lawrence Gallup / KI5JVX – Clinton, La.
Omar Aldahir / KI5KAW – New Orleans, La.

Extra

Robert Deeb / N5BKG – Covington, La.
Julius Cline Jr. / N5ZCW – Baton Rouge, La.

Another great session this month, thanks go out to all the volunteers.
The new facility is working out great!!!

73
Tyrone Burns – N5XES – ARRL VE Liason

 

Tyke’s TidBits

Greetings to all members and visitors to our newsletter page. I hope that this newsletter, finds everyone in somewhat decent spirits and that you have not had the misfortune of being sick from the COVID-19 virus that seems to have everyone in a tizzy!! Stay safe and remember SOCIAL DISTANCING and FACE-MASK in PUBLIC….it does work, if you do it properly!!!

Things have really been on the quiet side for SELARC repeaters lately, but hopefully that will soon change with the activation of the 444.250 machine on the somewhat statewide DWARN linked repeater system. There are quite a few surrounding region repeaters on this link now, with probably the greatest majority from the Region 1, Region 2, Region 3 and Region 9 areas. These repeaters are a variety of brands and digital modes. I am not yet familiar with all the different talk groups and how to access them, but that will come with trial and error and a lot of keyboard time.

If you are interested in finding out what DWARN is, just go to their website at http://www.dwarn.org and read up on it.

They also show a coverage map that is very accurate for our terrain. The DWARN system uses a combination of Yaesu-System Fusion and DMR equipment and I think even has some P-25, Moto-Turbo and NexEdge format talk groups. If you cannot access a repeater in your are….no problem…..all you need is a digital format HT, and a RF Hotspot that uses the VHF/UHF HAM bands for access. The HotSpots work through your Wifi or hard-wired internet connection. There are also WiFi Bridges that can be use with your cellphone, if it has Hot-Spot capabilities through your provider!

If you are not sure of what digital format repeaters may be in your area, go to the following link : http://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/index.php?state_id=22.

This page shows all the different types of links, reflectors and networks available!

Currently, I think most groups are hosted on Brandmiester…. on DMR….3122 statewide is one and also 31225…not sure of others as there are so many in the state!!

Now for those of you who are kind of new to SELARC, the old 444.250 machine earned the nickname “THOR” for many years because of the BOOMING voice ID’er….. it was very bassy and may have even had a touch too much deviation…but it was definitely a presence when it ID’ed!!! It is now sitting in retired status, but is sitting there ready to go back in service if needed. Maybe, it is possible to clone the audio from that old Controller board and put it on a voice module to interface into the new machine…..who knows….anything is possible in this day and time!!!

Take care and hope to see you on ZOOM for the virtual club meeting!!!

73
Tyrone – N5XES

 

*** Last day to send in your nominations for 2020 Louisiana Section Amateur of the Year is August 31, 2020.  Email me for the nomination form and instructions:  K5JMR@ARRL.ORG ***

 

### As of today, we have TWO interesting disturbances that may enter the gulf next week.  Everyone please keep your eye on the weather updates as it pertains to Louisiana.

 

From Jim Coleman, AI5B

Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator as of Noon today:

 

Emergency Managers of Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi –

Here is an update concerning newly named Tropical Storm Laura (formerly TD 13) and Tropical Depression 14.

Changes from previous update:

TD 13 has strengthened slightly and is now TS Laura The forecast tracks for both storms have shifted slightly westward The forecast intensity for TD 14 has also decreased slightly as it moves into the northwestern Gulf

Overview:

Tropical depression 14 and TS Laura could both bring impacts to the northern Gulf Coast region during the Monday through Thursday time frame next week

Confidence: We have average confidence in the potential for heavy rainfall across the area next week. We have lower confidence in the potential for wind and tidal impacts or where the heaviest rain might fall. Please continue to monitor the latest official forecast for updates as the expected impacts could change.

Impacts:

• There is higher than normal uncertainty in specific impacts due to the complexity of the forecast and how the systems may interact with each other
• Currently, heavy rainfall currently appears to be the greatest threat to the local area, mainly during the Monday through Thursday time frame. 2 to 6 inches of rainfall is forecast through Thursday, with locally higher amounts possible.
• Strong winds and elevated tides could affect portions of the area depending on the eventual tracks and intensities of the two systems

Additional Information and Resources:

NWS New Orleans Website: www.weather.gov/neworleans

NWS New Orleans DSS Website: http://www.weather.gov/lix/embrief

NWS New Orleans Tropical Page: https://www.weather.gov/srh/tropical?office=lix

River Gauges and Forecasts: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lix

NWS New Orleans Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSNewOrleans

NWS New Orleans Twitter: https://twitter.com/NWSNewOrleans

Online Severe Weather Reporting: https://www.weather.gov/lix/submit_storm_report

National Hurricane Center Website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Next Update and Contact Information:

The next update will be sent following the 4pm advisory.  If you have any questions in the interim or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We can be reached by phone at 504-522-7330 or 985-649-0429.  Use extension 4 to speak with a forecaster.  Alternatively, you can reach us by email by replying to this message or sending an email to sr-lix.forecasters@noaa.gov. Both methods will be delivered to the forecasters on shift at the office.

Regards, Danielle Manning

Meteorologist

NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge

 

Request For ARES Assistance

The following has been received from:

Steve Irving

DST Lead

Louisiana Region

American Red Cross

“The approaching storms may require the opening of several  Red Cross shelters in Regions 6, 7 and 8. If shelters are opened Red Cross will need ARES operators to provide backup communications. Red Cross will provide PPE for all operators who are deployed to assist in shelters. The number of shelters and location will be determined by the evolution of the storm situation. For planning purposes we need to know the number of operators available to assist”.

Based on this request,

COML, COMT and RADO personnel interested in providing assistance should contact the American Red Cross via :

steve.irving2@redcross.org

Steve Irving

225 933-4993

DST Lead

Louisiana Region

American Red Cross

 

Everyone be safe!

 

73,