2021-02-16 Net Minutes

Net Minutes

date
2021-02-16
opened
20:00
closed
20:36

Check-ins (23)

  • Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)
  • John “Pocat” Walpole (K5ZY)
  • Bill Rose (K5WTR)
  • Avery McIntosh (N7ALM)
  • Don Ling (WB5CKO)
  • Clint Loggins (KG5OQV)
  • Ralph Cobb (W5RYC)
  • Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)
  • Jim Snell (WA5PMO)
  • Rick Pfeil (KI5DUJ)
  • Randy Field (K5RLF)
  • Garrett Martin (W5HVS)
  • Zach Browne (KG5SDH)
  • Harold Turbyfill (KG5SDG)
  • Ron Hambric (N5SBN)
  • Mark Coppock (KG5PDT)
  • Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ)
  • Bennie Naiser (KA5TWB)
  • Gerald Golub (W5VUI)
  • Jeremy Carter (KF5YAA)
  • Phil Gates (N5ZKF)
  • Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)
  • Joe Napoli (KG5SDF)

Officer Reports

President Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

  • Does anyone need help with anything during this cold snap?
    • nothing heard
    • No news is good news…
    • Be sure that you’re taking care of yourself and others
    • Red Cross and TAMU have Reed Arena where you can keep warm
    • Homeless shelter still has beds and warmth
    • TAMU has cancelled work and classes through Thursday
    • cell service and Ham Radio have held up well
      • thanks to all who maintain this infrastructure!
  • Not much on the air due to rolling blackouts.
  • Club meeting this weekend: 2021-02-20
    • Brief presentation by N5ZKF (and door prize!)

Vice-President Rick Pfeil (KI5DUJ)

  • Alternate Field Day locations:
    • Veterans Park or Sue Haswell Park
  • Stay warm and stay off the roads if possible

Secretary Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

  • minutes at conclusion of net
  • See you at the meeting

Treasurer Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

  • Current balance: 5821.09
  • 26 Renewals
    • 59 members last year
    • hopefully more in PO Box

Announcements / Comments

Questions for conversation: Have you ever used ham radio for any emergency communications? Are you using emergency power for the cold snap?

Gerald Golub (W5VUI)

  • got to run impromptu net when tornadoes came through Snook area
    • had record rainfall
  • called National Weather Center in Houston and relayed info through repeater
  • Running gas-powered stove, fireplace, and generator.

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

  • ARES on standby for emergency communications if necessary
  • few members on standby for Winlink
  • operating on battery

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

  • before cell phones, got to call in to 911 using ham radio at scene of accident
  • power is hour on, hour off
  • W5VUI: I remember that; it happened on Mary Lake

Joe Napoli (KG5SDF)

  • have a tub of water and drinking water standing by in case pipes break

Bill Rose (K5WTR)

  • not BTU’s fault: ERCOT’s fault:
    • mandated that BTU back down by 100 MW
    • system peak maximum is 3 times that
  • will be fined large amounts if they produce above that amount
  • W5VUI: blackouts are political; not technical
    • Texas senate will investigate
  • N5ZKF: I used to work at BTU and remember having to deal with ERCOT
    • some outages are due to power distribution system
    • poor planning: other power generation methods have been taken offline

Clint Loggins (KG5OQV)

  • anyone with diesel pickups:
    • we should be done with temperature below 10°F
    • fuel has gelled up, leaving some stranded

Mark Coppock (KG5PDT)

  • thanks to VEs who helped with the exams last Saturday
  • upgraded to general!

Info Exchange

Bennie Naiser (KA5TWB)

  • have a reverse-threaded antenna if anyone wants:
    • Diamond RT-771 wide band antenna

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