RADIO ACTIVE Newsletter of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club September 2003 Serving Las Vegas since April 1961 ------------ President's Corner Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ There's so much to read in this month's newsletter already, that I'm going to say – read it all. Participate in what you can. Enjoy the hobby! 73 Charlie AA5QJ ------------ Secretary's Report Paul Webster, KC7QJR Minutes of the General Meeting of the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club Tuesday August 12th, 2003 Call to order 7:01pm Tom Petrakis KE4ULL conducting Welcome and Introductions -55 People attending Reports Secretary: As contained in newsletter. Motion: Dennis Cornell N7HRO Second: Unidentified, Passed Treasurer: Not Present Trustee: Old repeater from the Trop possibly going to Logandale for backup. Newsletter: Gary Hartman KK7LV, has been appointed new newsletter editor. Librarian: Not present. Comm Trailer: Recent activity: painting A/C wiring, returned some original equipment to service. New power supply/battery charger installed. Will be ready for Determined Promise next week, and stationed at Logandale. Old Business Silver State: Elliott Kushner WD6FXK has volunteered to be coordinator. Truck Race: September 27th We have booth F-8. This is a food stand. Must be open 11am to race end. MS 150: Oct 18-19. Need sags, rest stop operators and etc. Flamingo to Flamingo. See Joe Scanlan N7XSD. Website: www.qsl.net/n7xsd Net Control Ops: Need one operator. See Howard Mark K3HM, or e-mail hmark@earthlink.net HF Remote: Now running again. See link on web page or send e-mail to charlie@chaskunz.com Donations Given: Lauriann Bradford KD7UWE: $100 for MS 150 entry. LV Repeater Association: Old QST antenna for 146.88 repeater and FAA surplus computer. Donations Rec'd: Letter given to Dave Friedman N0CLU for donation of SuperAntenna and 10 meter mobile. New Business BPL: Gary Hartman KK7LV: Get on FCC site and comment. Donate to ARRL BPL Defense Fund. Announcements: Operation Determined Promise: Aug 20-21. Trailer to be deployed to Logandale. Need to keep good attitude Break 7:53pm Reconvene 8:10pm Program: Tom Allen N7GBJ: of AES Weather station and GPS products available at AES. Raffle: The following won prizes: Bag and Pen Jim Kartheiser N7USV Hat, Pen, Bag Dave Friedman N0CLU ARRL Field Resource Manual Pat O'Gara N7QE Multi-meter John Rees KD7QYB Etrex GPS Glenn Tubbesing N7GOT Etrex GPS Dan Starr AA7I Meeting Adjourned 8:50pm ------------ Treasurer's Report Jamie Gorr, N3TOY July 2003 Beginning Balance 9,153.93 Deposit 1,327.00 Sub-total 10,480.93 Expenses NV Corp Fee 15.00 Raffle Prize 157.49 Newsletter exp 175.80 Refreshments 104.00 Total 452.29 Ending Balance 10,028.64 ------------ ARES / RACES Report Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ, Clark County ARES Emergency Coordinator Clark County RACES Officer August 2003 ARES/RACES Report - Membership is now 201, an increase of 10 over last month. On Aug 18th we had 54 check-ins to the Monday night net, the most for any net since Feb 02 when I became EC and started looking at the totals. - Participated in Determined Promise exercise conducted by DOD Aug 18-21. After-Action report and comment summary attached. - Upcoming Exercises- please mark these on your calendars and plan on participating: 1. Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Oct 4. We will be activating as many operating locations as possible and passing traffic between them and to the North during this exercise. 2. Full-scale Aviation Disaster Exercise October 22. See more information below. - The equipment for the ARES/RACES station at Las Vegas Fire Rescue was installed into a portable cart, the 2 dual band antennas were installed on the roof and coax run into the ceiling above our operating location. The VHF/UHF and packet capabilities were tested at various times by Bill Marple AA7ZW AEC Las Vegas, Charlie Kunz AA5QJ EC, and Jim Bassett W1RO. - The first shipment of equipment was received for the Emergency Communications Center at the Clark County Government Center from a Homeland Security grant. Included were additional Heil headsets, foot and hand switches and connecting cables, coax and PolyPhasers for 6 additional antennas, Diamond antenna for the packet station, discone antenna for the scanner, Pathfinder automatic antenna tuner, 2 Astron 35 amp power supplies, 2 12 port RigRunners and PowerPole connectors. - Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training and Gary Hartman KK7LV AEC Henderson and Asst Section Manager briefed the Frontier Amateur Radio Society on ARES/RACES at their monthly meeting. - Charlie Kunz AA5QJ EC and Don DeCaria NF7R AEC NE Clark County briefed the Moapa Valley Amateur Radio Club on the Determined Promise exercise and the vital role they would play in the activities slated for Logandale, including providing primary manning for the deployed LVRAC Communications Trailer. - Vern Garman K0EGA AEC Operations/Training attended a planning meeting for the Triennial Full Scale Emergency Exercise to be held Oct 22. Although we do not anticipate any request for direct airport support, we may be tasked to support Red Cross activities. - Charles Kunz AA5QJ EC attended a meeting called by the Red Cross to address unmet needs relating to the flooding in NW Las Vegas. A side purpose to the meeting was to bring many agencies together as a start to revitalizing Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) in southern Nevada. - The ARES/RACES net script was revised to start with check-ins and updates from leadership, followed by check-ins from other members. Determined Promise Exercise Charlie Kunz, AA5QJ Determined Promise 03 After-Action Report The Determined Promise exercise took place in the Las Vegas area Aug 18-29. Much of the exercise was table- top or simulation, however many participatory activities took place Tues through Thurs Aug 19-21. I am very pleased at the number of members who volunteered to take part: about 50 members sent emails, called or told me personally of their intention to take part. Many responded to assignments to the Clark County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the Emergency Communication Center (ECC) at the Clark County Government Center, and to the Mobile Command Post (MCP) deployed to Logandale. In addition, Bill Cornelius K8XC, Carolyn Cornelius K9XC and Dennis Cornell N7HRO prepared for an extended deployment to Indian Springs to support an exercise staging area and clinic, complete with Dennis' tower on a trailer. However, when they arrived at the EOC to be briefed, we found out that there were only simulated National Guard in Indian Springs, and so the deployment was aborted. I'm sure many of those who volunteered, like myself, are disappointed that the physical play we had anticipated during the exercise did not occur, other than in the EOC, ECC and MCP. We were not written into the original script created by the DOD's Joint Task Force for Civil Support, whose exercise it really was, to the degree we had thought. The members assigned to the EOC attempted to educate the other EOC team members about ARES/RACES capabilities and encourage our use, but met with only moderate success. With the fast moving pace and stress of the overall scenario, listening to us was not a high priority. However, during the night, the scenario had the loss of the microwave relay to Carson City. At 2:27 AM we were deployed to the Thomas & Mack to process message traffic and at 3:13 AM we were deployed to support LVMPD after loss of their VHF antenna and car-to-car communications. Both of these were simulated. Others had their equipment and vehicles at the ready, including Frank Kostelac N7ZEV with Amateur Television (ATV). Since the initial incident - the release of aerosolized pneumonic plague - occurred on the Strip, in order to eliminate the effect of an exercise on the economy, the actual 'play' was relocated to Logandale. In the scenario there was a 1000 bed hospital set up at the LV Convention Center and 8 schools were used as triage and medication distribution points. 2 Red Cross shelters were also established. There would have been more opportunities for us if these locations had not been simulated, but had actually been manned. Our folks in Logandale not only had the distinction of being the only true 24 hour operation other than the security guards, but were instrumental in getting the National Guard on the air by helping them assemble their equipment and get their HF antenna up in the air. Later they did field service on the National Guard SGC Power Cube amplifier. In addition, they constructed an 80/40 meter dipole, got it 30 feet in the air and improved our HF link to Carson City and the ECC. Jack Cook N8RRL took his own home packet station down and installed it as a temporary digipeater on Beacon Hill to enable a consistent packet link between the MCP and ECC. VHF/UHF were plagued with intermod and a bad microphone connection at the Government Center, as well as a variable path from Angel Peak to Beacon Hill and back which we relied on for voice communications between the ECC and the MCP. HF conditions were spotty at best, but we managed to check-in to most of the hourly nets held by Nevada RACES at the Division of Emergency Management in Carson City. John Neeley K6YDW set up a portable weather station at the MCP. Weather reports were sent by voice or packet hourly to the ECC and recorded on a digital map of Logandale maintained in the EOC One of our major goals in the coming months is to present briefings on ARES/RACES to the Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Emergency Manager's Group, and wherever else we can, to ensure our capabilities are considered and called on in the future. I thank all members for checking into the nets and standing by, or for working an assigned shift. Thanks to the Moapa Valley Amateur Radio Club for the use of their 147.39 repeater on Beacon Hill, Mark Hinds KI7D for the use of his 449.200 repeater and remote links and remote base, Andy Gagliardo for the continuing use of his 447.325 repeater on Angel Peak dedicated to ARES/RACES, and to the Las Vegas Repeater Association (HXO), the Nellis Amateur Radio Club and Steve Hernandez N7YOR for permission to use their repeaters. Thanks to the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club for the use of their Communications trailer as our MCP. Their financial support is what made the MCP possible, and donations of cash or equipment are appreciated and still needed. There was lots of work completed on the trailer in the 3 weeks preceding the exercise - removing cabinets and installing additional operating locations, DC wiring, painting, etc. Vern Garman K0EGA and Jack Cook N8RRL did most of the work with others pitching in. Many helped in other ways. I apologize if I failed to mention you personally for your contributions to this exercise and to ARES/RACES, but we certainly value them. Prepare for the next exercise or real disaster by taking the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses, Red Cross courses, making sure your gear is ready, put PowerPole connectors on all your radio DC power connections, get involved in writing plans or helping setup the hospitals and other EOCs, or volunteering to work on the trailer. Don't let the fire go out - we need to be there - when all else fails.... Please monitor our repeaters 147.18 (+) PL100 or 447.325 (-) PL127.3, and take part as you can. If you haven't updated your information in our database lately, or have yet to join, applications are available on our website at www.qsl.net/ccnvares. If you have comments or questions, please contact me at 334-1196 or by email at aa5qj@arrl.net. I estimate that we provided 1200 hours to the active portion of this exercise, plus untold hours in preparation. Active participants included Vern Garman K0EGA, Don DeCaria NF7R, Bill Marple AA7ZW, Art Sheldon K7ZE, John Neeley K6YDW, Jim Bassett W1RO, Jack Cook N8RRL, Bill Cornelius K8XC, Carolyn Cornelius K9XC, Dennis Cornell N7HRO, Gayle DeCaria KD7ODF, Mark DeCaria KD7SXA, Dudley Emer KK7IF, Dave Friedman N0CLU, Glenn Hale KB7REO, Al Hess KD6DYZ, Ulla Hess K6UDK, Mark Hinds KI7D, Fred Homuth K9GAJ, John Hudrlik KD7TGX, Ken Johnson W7BES, Ruby Mignon KD7ODC, Bob Nelson KD7UHG, Sandy Nelson KD7WYD, Bob Nelson WA3PAD, John Rees KD7QYB, Joe Scanlan N7XSD, Tim Thurman KD7TOK, Paul Webster KC7QJR, Robin Wilmer KD7ODU, and Roy Wilmer K7YWF. Others who volunteered, but because of the lack of 'play' were not deployed, included Gary Hartman KK7LV, Fred Boughton KB2CT, Bill Croghan WB0KSW, Blayne Ence KG7SS, Steven Goldman N7JAZ, Sharon Goldman KC7TGG, Frank Kostelac N7ZEV, Linda Kostelac KC7IIT, JD Jones N7WL, Larry Simon KC7QJO, and Glenn Tubbesing N7GOT. ------------ From the Editor Gary Hartman, KK7LV National Awareness Day I felt it was important to pass this along so you will know what it is about in the event someone asks or you have the opportunity to respond. This was sent forward to all the clubs in town and hopefully they have taken advantage of this opportunity. The following press release was sent to Don Carlson, our Section Public Information Coordinator. It reflects the need to get the information out to the public about what we do and what we are about. I also know that Don is looking for people willing to be part of a public speaking bureau. This would provide speakers for public events, schools and organizations to help educate them about Amateur Radio. "PRESS RELEASE For More Information: (Local Contact Name) (Address & Phone) For immediate release Radio Enthusiasts celebrate National Awareness Day When the lights went out in several Northeastern states on August 14, Amateur Radio ("Ham Radio") operators were there to fill essential communications needs. They don't need commercial power and they don't rely on cell phones, but they're far from being "behind the times." Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 13, recognizes the nation's 687,000 ham radio operators, who make significant contributions to technology and education, and exemplify the spirit of volunteerism. Awareness Day is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) – the national association for Amateur Radio. "Some people think ham radio is obsolete, but that couldn't be farther from the truth," (says your club spokesperson). "Many of us are experimenting with the latest in digital communications and serving our communities in times of emergency. We're helping school children talk to astronauts on the International Space Station. I'm proud to be a ham radio operator." Volunteering to provide or supplement communication during disasters is one of the most important facets of the Amateur Radio Service. Earlier this year, ham radio operators were called in to assist during the shuttle Columbia debris recovery effort. They've also lent their communications expertise during tornadoes, wildfires, telephone outages and other emergencies. Amateur Radio operators often work in conjunction with local emergency management official and relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Amateur Radio enthusiasts come from virtually every age bracket and from every profession. There are more than 2.5 million worldwide. For more information on Amateur Radio contact (your club name and phone number)." The URL for ARRL's home page is www.arrl.org. Don Carlson – KQ6FM Public Information Coordinator Nevada Section Kq6fm@arrl.net ------------ Silent Keys LVRAC Member Bob Hodges, KD7NWI, became a silent key following a brief but intense bout with cancer. He was remembered at a memorial service held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Arrowhead Chapel in Henderson on Friday August 29th. Earl Peterson, KF7TI, a long time active Ham in the community, became a silent key while diving in Lake Mead. No formal service will be held. Our sympathy goes out to both families for their loss. ------------ From the ES steamed desk of Bill Cornelius, K8XC Packet Radio "All Las Vegas area hams, especially those interested in learning an important method of emergency data communications, are invited to attend a free introductory class on Packet Radio on Monday, September 29, 2003, from 7 PM until about 9 PM in the Wengent Room at the Nevada Power Building, 6226 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas (Enter the parking lot on the North side of Sahara, just west of Jones Blvd). This program, sponsored by the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club and the Las Vegas Packet Users Group, is intended to expose those operators who have little or no experience with packet radio to the equipment and procedures used in that mode. Topics will include an introduction to the TNC, how it interfaces with a data terminal (computer), transceiver requirements, and the mechanics of hooking it all up as a packet station. There will be an introduction to packet messaging, networking, digipeaters, and in basic terms, how to get a packet message from you to your intended recipient with as much hands-on exposure as time permits. A live packet station will be demonstrated but at this introductory level class there will be little emphasis on advanced theory. However, if there is sufficient interest a subsequent class will be offered on Sunday, October 12. For ARES/RACES and SKYWARN members, completion of this program will provide you with enough information to permit the operation of the packet station at the National Weather Service, in the LVRAC communications trailer or at any of the stations soon to be located in hospitals in the Las Vegas Valley. You need not be a member of any club to attend, and there is no formal pre-registration required. But, the room has a limited capacity which is enforced by Nevada Power security. So, as a means of estimating the level of interest and to assist in planning the room layout a signup sheet will be available at the September LVRAC meeting or you may express your interest in attending by sending an email to Bill Cornelius, k8xc@aol.com. Best wishes to all, Bill Cornelius, K8XC k8xc@aol.com 897-9626 ------------ Calendar September 6th License Exams 9th LVRAC Meeting, 7:00 pm 14th Silver State Race 21st Silver State Race 27th Truck Race / Food Booth October 3rd & 4th Simulated Emergency Test (SET) 3rd & 4th Pahrump Festival 4th License Exams 14th LVRAC Meeting, 7:00 pm 18th & 19th Bike Race to Laughlin 22nd Airport ARES exercise ------------ Raffle Prizes for September Meeting Prizes include: 1. Solar Panels (four to be given away) 2. Assorted Smal prizes; pens, hats, mini volt meter 3. Grand Prize: Radio Shack Pro-79 200-Channel Scanner Program: Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle Let me tell you a Secret. You need to buy a ticket to win a prize. And I thought we voted…. ------------ East Coast Blackout I thought it was the Lochness Monster… ------------ Volunteers Remember the NASCAR Truck Race on September 27th. The club could use your help so please give Tom Petrakis a call, drop him an e-mail or confront him at the meeting and force him to put your name on the list. I heard Pat was going to be on the grill so we will need a good fire suppression team. Silver State Races are coming up on September 14th and 21st. Volunteers are needed to help staff this event. Please contact Eliot Kushner at 896-5630 or eliotk@cox.net ------------ News Headlines You will hear more about these items in the near future. Antenna Analyzer repaired and available for checkout. Holiday Party on Friday December 5th at the Henderson Elks Club. Revised bylaws will be presented at October meeting for vote in November. ARRL is asking for those that are able to donate to the Broadband over Power Line (BPL) fund to help defeat it. Consider running for office. Volunteers should contact Hoard Mark. ------------ Information Alert New 2 Meter Link Glenn Hale, KB7REO, and Bill Cornelius, K8XC, reported that we now have an alternative communications path other than HF to some of the far corners of the county and other parts of Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas Repeater Association did some work on the Red Mountain 145.110 repeater. This repeater is now linked full time to Highland Peak 145.220. There is a little bit of noise that is believed to be caused by Angel Peak but that will be addressed next week. In the mean time, the link is very usable. Highland is a bit north of Caliente and west of Pioche. This opens the Las Vegas Valley to a large portion of the highway 93 and highway 318 corridor traveling to Ely. It also extends the reach of the Monday evening ARES / RACES net run at 1930 hours. Our gratitude and appreciation go out to the Las Vegas Repeater Association and to all those involved in this important venture. ------------