Newsletter – Feb 2020

 
LAST UPDATED: 14-JAN-2020 – 0647 ET
PLEASE NOTE: Newsletter may be undergoing updates

Proposed Minutes
CLICK TO VIEW MINUTES

Subscribe
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

Announcements

  • WELCOME TO 2020

  • General Member Meeting PBC Boca Library 7pm 4-FEB-2020
  • 2020 Winter Field Day 25+26 Jan 2020 – Results
  • PayPal available for 2020 dues, donation, and purchased items
  • 2020 Membership Dues will be accepted 1-October 2019
  • 2020 HamCation Carpool Plans, have you made your reservation?

PROFILE IN ACTION

Stanley Pulitzer W5JYK

Stan has always been connected with kangaroo characters and memorabilia. Friends and family would donate these treasure pieces to Stan and he in turn would register and certify them; the donor would automatically become a member of his exclusive Kangaroo Club. Stan pursued obtaining his vanity callsign  W5JWK callsign and his kids announced it to mean “Jumping Yellow Kangaroo“. He has the logo to prove it.

Stan summers with his son Donald and his wife in Greensboro, NC and winters with his daughter Nancy and husband in Boca Raton FL. Stan’s family has a long lineage to the Pulitzer of Hungary and Czechoslovakia; and yes, The Pulitzer Prize. Stan was first licenced as a 13 year old and continues to work CW. As a 14 year old one day, he was hearing a word repeated over over. He thought he was hearing the other station’s name: “PEARL”. What he heard was Pearl Harbor had been attacked and later that day all operators we ordered to cease transmissions and listen and report questionable activity. In the below painting rendered by his daughter Nancy, Stan is working CW with his “JYK” logo on his dress shirt. He’s a blessed man to have such talented and loving family.

Often San and Maxine (SK) spent the day together. Maxine  was an accomplished artist with many painting works and sculptures. They were married over 50 years. On shopping days, Stan would drop her off for shopping and he would travel around various neighborhoods looking for towers and other antennas. When he spotted one, he approached the home, knocked on the door and explained to the owner he saw the antena and that he too was a amateur operator. He usually got invited into the home and a lengthy discussion of the hobby occured.  Hope he did not forget Maxine  was shopping and in need of a ride.

Stan has a few passions aside from amateur radio and one includes photography and interviewing people. Often he’d invite a person to talk with him and gather that person’s story and yes take pictures. He loved hearing these tales. His work was published in local amateur radio club publications and public news outlets. Stan once had a QSO with an Italian operator and they exchanged common interests. Over time several of Stan’s family and his Italian friend would would visit each other and share stories all due to amateur radio and Stan’s willingness to reach out to people.

For many generations beginning in the 1800’s, Stan’s family lived in New Orleans LA running the long established wholesale family business in the downtown near the French section and the superdome. Stan is a long time New Orleans Saints football fan and never misses a game. Just before hurricane Katrina, Stan and his wife Maxine left their home in New Orleans to ride out the storm.

Stan is old school and has one of the most quiet and pleasant personalities always being a good listener and wealth of knowledge and good stories. As you can imagine Stan has many amateur radio friends all over the world with a few special buddies In Greensboro and yes to all of us in south Florida.

Contact:   John.C N1QFH wirehead52@gmail.com

LINK:       2020WFD Sponsor

FMI:         CLICK FOR BRARA DETAILS 

Calendar


CLICK TO VIEW CALENDAR

CLICK TO VIEW EVENTS

 

This Month’s Speaker

  • Jan: John.C N1QFH on 2020 Winter Field Day
  • Feb: Jim.T N3JT on radio development and CW technology

Ham Shack News

  • Station-1 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-2 In use, see Larry K4KGG for training
  • Station-3 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-3 Yaesu Amp and tuner working normally
  • Station-4 FT-1000MP working normally
  • Station-5 TESTING STATION
  • Station-6 Various VHF/UHF radios are working normally with exception of IC-706

SHACK ITEMS WE NEED
We are in need to replacing the HF tuner for station-1. If a willing member is able to help finance or donate such an item, our club members and The Shack would be so very grateful and it would help protect our HF assets.

Please see Bruce KO4XL or Art WA8VSJ for details.

ITEMS FOR SALE

CLICK FOR DETAILS

Special Projects

The following are project and watch weekly emails for status

  • Satellite TOWER BASE installation
  • Satellite ANTENNA and radio installation
  • Install amplifier to the 2m analog repeater
  • Shack outside power replacement
  • Replace cabinets at repeater site
  • Relocate microwave dish at repeater site

Use PayPal for BRARA member dues

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

  • 2020 DUES accepted starting October 1 2019
  • First time members join for the remainder of 2019 and 2020
  • Dues amounts have not changed from last year.

PAYMENT CONFIRMATION

A recent change to our payment process is to notify you via email that your payment was processed. This could be for dues, a donation, HamCation CarPool, etc.

Below is a SAMPLE of an email to you.

CLICK FOR DUES FMI

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Currently 81 of 172 members or 47% have paid 2020 dues.

Every member will be shown 2020 dues status when logging onto our website.

For 2020 paid members, they will see the following:

The gentle dues reminder looks like the following:

Further details may help:

Report (by Ed N4II)

TBA

Ed N4II

Dx Operating News and Information
CLICK TO READ MORE

The very latest information on DX Operating News, including DXPeditions, DXCC, and QSL information

Contests and Special Events
CLICK TO READ MORE

Looking for upcoming contests and special events from around the world?

Hamcation


Save the date 8-February 2020

CLICK FOR CARPOOL PLANS

New Website Capability

Before the end of 2019, wanted to add one more enhancement. When you’re on any webpage and you experience LONG scrolling via the scroll bar, when you’re at the top or bottom or you just want to GO HOME, these little enhancements have been added to help:

There are three (3) new ways to navigate

  • BOTTOM
  • TOP
  • HOME

One the MENU BAR, hover on HOME and CLICK on BOTTOM to go to bottom of the current webpage. When you are looking at the FOOTER there are two (2) links. HOME takes you to the HOME page and TOP takes you to the top of the current page.

See the following to help explain.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Look and Feel Change

When you visit our website you’ll see some changes to the icons that support items like SUBSCRIBE, NEWSLETTER, and PAYPAL

Member Online Auction is LIVE

Please stay tuned for updates

Public Classified Section is LIVE

Please stay tuned for updates

Please note: items are Negotiable 

Training Video 

  • No new Training videos

Training Classes
CLICK FMI

Free Laurel VEC Testing
CLICK TO READ MORE

About Our Members

We honor and remembered our members who have passed

  • Keith McPhail K3SKM
  • Linda Lindeman N4JNL
  • Sidney Gogel W2FUR
  • Bob  Dobski KB8WJF
  • Nob Fox W1VEI
  • Myron Goldstein WA2PWJ CLICK FOR OBIT 
  • Hap Patterson WA4ZLJ CLICK FOR OBIT

Good and Welfare


If you know of an amateur or their family dealing with health issues or may have lost someone, please let us know. Robert.K K3SUH is our go to person to send a communication in the form of a card to the person or family.

CLICK HERE to email details.

New Membership Form
CLICK FOR MEMBERSHIP APP AS PDF

We welcome the following new members:

  • N2QLQ Steven Meltz
  • KB1VGH Bennett Beres
  • KO4AQI Daniel Kreshak
  • KF4LZA Eric Rodriguez
  • AC2NI Benett Rosen

Statistics

  • 7 Member renewals Jan
  • 81 Paid members YTD
  • 5 New members
  • 4 Pending online applications
  • 6 Silent keys
  • 172 Regular members (2018 to 2020)
  • 2 Associate members
  • 13 Family members
  • 1 Lifetime

Our Scheduled Nets

COORDINATED NETS BEING REFORMED
We have modified the Voice Com NCS Script:

  • Has been shortened
  • Changed theme to technical support, projets, and announcements

CLICK HERE FOR REVISED NCS SCRIPT

BRARA Machines
The BRARA repeaters are located at the Social Security building in Boca Raton FL USA

NET DETAILS FOLLOW

SUNDAY
8.00pm ET SEFL DMR Tech-Net – USE TG-311037

  • BRARA 442.875+ CC-1 TS-2 
  • GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1 
  • WARA 145.19(-) CC-2 TS-1 (new discovery)

MONDAY
7.00pm ET Voice  Com Net
BRARA analog 145.29- PL110.9

7.30pm ET DMR BrainWaves Not-A-Net – USE TG-311037

  • BRARA 442.875+ CC-1 TS-2 
  • GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1 
  • WARA 145.19(-) CC-2 TS-1 (new discovery)

8.00pm ET SoCounty NBEMS Net
BRARA analog 145.29- PL110.9 (uses FLDigi and FLMsg)

Other Local Analog Repeater Nets

  • Daily 6.00 pm SEFL Traffic 146.61 MHz
  • Tue 7.30pm CERT Plan-B 145.29- PL110.9

Club Repeaters

  • 144.390 APRS Repeater (NOW ACTIVE)
  • 145.070 Packet Repeater (OFF LINE)
  • GPS Location: 26.39724 –80.09485

Please use 3102 on your pi-star or any replated hotspot.

Local DMR Repeaters
CLICK FOR REPEATER LIST

Scheduled DMR Nets
CLICK FOR DMR NETS

  • Sun 8.00 pm TG-3110037 SeFL DMR Tech Net
  • Mon 7.30 pm TG-311037 BrainWaves Net 
  • Wed 9.00 pm TG-3  NA Tech Net
  • Thu 8.20pm TG-31777 NotQuiteRight Net
  • Sat 12.00 noon TG-1 WW
  • Sat  8.00 pm TG-310035 GCARC KnowItAll Net

BRARA Open House

We meet every Wednesday and Saturday morning between 10:00 and 13:00 ET for our Open House, and for any work that needs to be done at the Shack. Anyone interested in exploring Amateur Radio is encouraged to stop in for a visit.

Newsletter Guidelines

Thanks for all who submitted articles and I hope you continue to do so. We’re also looking for new writers as well. Here are some guidelines for article submissions.

  • Text should be in MS Word or equivalent, saved as a .DOC file
  • Write your best stuff, but don’t sweat the grammar. That’s why there’s an editor.
  • Please submit pictures/illustrations as separate files, don’t embed them in the text.
  • Be sure to submit clear, in-focus photos

Club Ham Shack

West Delray Regional Park
10875 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33446

Board of Directors Scheduled Meetings

We hold scheduled monthly Board meetings at 12:00 Noon at the Shack on the Sunday preceding the next General Meeting.

Donations and Contributions

 

 

 

Contributions to BRARA— a 501(c)(3) organization—are tax deductible as charitable donations. As you complete your membership renewal or begin your year-end tax planning, please consider making a donation to BRARA.

Please donate to BRARA via Amazon Smiles:
Search for:  Boca Raton Amateur Radio Association

CLICK HERE TO SMILE AT BRARA

Planned Giving: Please also consider BRARA when updating or initiating planned giving (including charitable gift annuities, bequests and gifts or retirement plan assets) and other assets.

For More Information

Website:    www.brara.org  Twitter: BRARA@N4BRF  Instagram: #BRARA_N4BRF

Facebook:    CLICK VIEW FACEBOOK

Please be advised that the above are the official BRARA social media sites. No other social media sites are recognized by BRARA.

Newsletter Contributions

Got an idea for an article? Or constructive critique? Want to share club news and events? How about writing a short 30-minute project idea? Your submissions to the Radio Flyer are needed to help keep this one of the best club newsletters in South Florida.

Please send articles to   BRARA@BRARA.org

Ham Shack Access Rules

To obtain a key to the BRARA Ham Shack you must be a member in good standing for a minimum of one continuous year, hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio License, and complete a short training session with one of the Club officers.

Address

the Radio Flyer
P.O. Box 480162
Delray Beach, FL 33448-0162

Copyright and Protection

Copyright © 2019 Boca Raton Amateur Radio Association (BRARA).

Reproduction of material from any BRARA web page without written permission is prohibited.

Regards and 73 from The Shack
de N4BRF

DMR: Pi-Star Users – Change your default password ASAP

Attention Pi-Star (digital hotspot Raspberry PI operating System) Users:

PLEASE change your default passwords before exposing your pi-star to the internet. As in, GO DO IT NOW.

It takes less than 2 minutes for a hacker to query for open-to-the-internet pi-stars (CLICK HERE FMI), randomly pick one, use the default creds, and get a remote SSH shell into your home network. You’re basically locking your front door but leaving a window open. Once inside your home network, the hacker can sniff your traffic, spoof your identity, and do a whole host of other stuff. Getting into a network is the hard part, and you’re leaving it wide open.

Oh also, since your callsign is on it, a hacker can not only do stuff from your home internet, but knows where your home is and can impersonate you by name!

This only affects you directly if you have the “Dashboard Access” or “SSH access” set to public, but you should change the password either way.

CLICK HERE FOR HOW-TO BRANDMEISTER SECURITY

73

Al AF4FA

Newsletter – Jan-2020

LAST UPDATED: 11-JAN-2020 – 0819 ET
PLEASE NOTE: Newsletter may be undergoing updates

Proposed Minutes
CLICK TO VIEW MINUTES

Subscribe
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

Announcements

  • WELCOME TO 2020

  • General Member Meeting PBC Boca Library 7pm 7-Jan-2020
  • 2020 Winter Field Day 25+26 Jan 2020 – Made your station reservation yet?
  • PayPal available for 2020 dues, donation, and purchased items
  • 2020 Membership Dues will be accepted 1-October 2019
  • 2020 HamCation Carpool Plans, have you made your reservation?
  • BRARA Nets transition to TG-311037 on Sunday 5-Jan-2020

Contact:   John.C N1QFH wirehead52@gmail.com

LINK:       2020WFD Sponsor

FMI:         CLICK FOR BRARA DETAILS 

Calendar


CLICK TO VIEW CALENDAR

CLICK TO VIEW EVENTS

 

This Month’s Speaker

  • Jan: John.C N1QFH on 2020 Winter Field Day
  • Feb: Jim.T N3JT on radio development and CW technology

Ham Shack News

  • Station-1 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-2 In use, see Larry K4KGG for training
  • Station-3 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-3 Yaesu Amp and tuner working normally
  • Station-4 FT-1000MP working normally
  • Station-5 TESTING STATION
  • Station-6 Various VHF/UHF radios are working normally with exception of IC-706

SHACK ITEMS WE NEED
We are in need to replacing the HF tuner for station-1. If a willing member is able to help finance or donate such an item, our club members and The Shack would be so very grateful and it would help protect our HF assets.

Please see Bruce KO4XL or Art WA8VSJ for details.

ITEMS FOR SALE

CLICK FOR DETAILS

Special Projects

The following are project and watch weekly emails for status

  • Satellite TOWER BASE installation
  • Satellite ANTENNA and radio installation
  • Install amplifier to the 2m analog repeater
  • Shack outside power replacement
  • Replace cabinets at repeater site
  • Relocate microwave dish at repeater site

Use PayPal for BRARA member dues

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

  • 2020 DUES accepted starting October 1 2019
  • First time members join for the remainder of 2019 and 2020
  • Dues amounts have not changed from last year.

PAYMENT CONFIRMATION

A recent change to our payment process is to notify you via email that your payment was processed. This could be for dues, a donation, HamCation CarPool, etc.

Below is a SAMPLE of an email to you.

CLICK FOR DUES FMI

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Currently 81 of 172 members or 47% have paid 2020 dues.

Every member will be shown 2020 dues status when logging onto our website.

For 2020 paid members, they will see the following:

The gentle dues reminder looks like the following:

Further details may help:

Report (by Ed N4II)

TBA

Ed N4II

Dx Operating News and Information
CLICK TO READ MORE

The very latest information on DX Operating News, including DXPeditions, DXCC, and QSL information

Contests and Special Events
CLICK TO READ MORE

Looking for upcoming contests and special events from around the world?

Hamcation


Save the date 8-February 2020

CLICK FOR CARPOOL PLANS

New Website Capability

Before the end of 2019, wanted to add one more enhancement. When you’re on any webpage and you experience LONG scrolling via the scroll bar, when you’re at the top or bottom or you just want to GO HOME, these little enhancements have been added to help:

There are three (3) new ways to navigate

  • BOTTOM
  • TOP
  • HOME

One the MENU BAR, hover on HOME and CLICK on BOTTOM to go to bottom of the current webpage. When you are looking at the FOOTER there are two (2) links. HOME takes you to the HOME page and TOP takes you to the top of the current page.

See the following to help explain.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Look and Feel Change

When you visit our website you’ll see some changes to the icons that support items like SUBSCRIBE, NEWSLETTER, and PAYPAL

Member Online Auction is LIVE

Please stay tuned for updates

Public Classified Section is LIVE

Please stay tuned for updates

Please note: items are Negotiable 

Training Video 

  • No new Training videos

Training Classes
CLICK FMI

Free Laurel VEC Testing
CLICK TO READ MORE

About Our Members

We honor and remembered our members who have passed

  • Keith McPhail K3SKM
  • Linda Lindeman N4JNL
  • Sidney Gogel W2FUR
  • Bob  Dobski KB8WJF
  • Nob Fox W1VEI
  • Myron Goldstein WA2PWJ CLICK FOR OBIT 
  • Hap Patterson WA4ZLJ CLICK FOR OBIT

Good and Welfare


If you know of an amateur or their family dealing with health issues or may have lost someone, please let us know. Robert.K K3SUH is our go to person to send a communication in the form of a card to the person or family.

CLICK HERE to email details.

New Membership Form
CLICK FOR MEMBERSHIP APP AS PDF

We welcome the following new members:

  • N2QLQ Steven Meltz
  • KB1VGH Bennett Beres
  • KO4AQI Daniel Kreshak
  • KF4LZA Eric Rodriguez
  • AC2NI Benett Rosen

Statistics

  • 7 Member renewals Jan
  • 81 Paid members YTD
  • 5 New members
  • 4 Pending online applications
  • 6 Silent keys
  • 172 Regular members (2018 to 2020)
  • 2 Associate members
  • 13 Family members
  • 1 Lifetime

Our Scheduled Nets

COORDINATED NETS BEING REFORMED
We have modified the Voice Com NCS Script:

  • Has been shortened
  • Changed theme to technical support, projets, and announcements

CLICK HERE FOR REVISED NCS SCRIPT

BRARA Machines
The BRARA repeaters are located at the Social Security building in Boca Raton FL USA

NET DETAILS FOLLOW

SUNDAY
8.00pm ET SEFL DMR Tech-Net – USE TG-311037

  • BRARA 442.875+ CC-1 TS-2 
  • GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1 
  • WARA 145.19(-) CC-2 TS-1 (new discovery)

MONDAY
7.00pm ET Voice  Com Net
BRARA analog 145.29- PL110.9

7.30pm ET DMR BrainWaves Not-A-Net – USE TG-311037

  • BRARA 442.875+ CC-1 TS-2 
  • GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1 
  • WARA 145.19(-) CC-2 TS-1 (new discovery)

8.00pm ET SoCounty NBEMS Net
BRARA analog 145.29- PL110.9 (uses FLDigi and FLMsg)

Other Local Analog Repeater Nets

  • Daily 6.00 pm SEFL Traffic 146.61 MHz
  • Tue 7.30pm CERT Plan-B 145.29- PL110.9

Club Repeaters

  • 144.390 APRS Repeater (NOW ACTIVE)
  • 145.070 Packet Repeater (OFF LINE)
  • GPS Location: 26.39724 –80.09485

Please use 3102 on your pi-star or any replated hotspot.

Local DMR Repeaters
CLICK FOR REPEATER LIST

Scheduled DMR Nets
CLICK FOR DMR NETS

  • Sun 8.00 pm TG-3110037 SeFL DMR Tech Net
  • Mon 7.30 pm TG-311037 BrainWaves Net 
  • Wed 9.00 pm TG-3  NA Tech Net
  • Thu 8.20pm TG-31777 NotQuiteRight Net
  • Sat 12.00 noon TG-1 WW
  • Sat  8.00 pm TG-310035 GCARC KnowItAll Net

BRARA Open House

We meet every Wednesday and Saturday morning between 10:00 and 13:00 ET for our Open House, and for any work that needs to be done at the Shack. Anyone interested in exploring Amateur Radio is encouraged to stop in for a visit.

Newsletter Guidelines

Thanks for all who submitted articles and I hope you continue to do so. We’re also looking for new writers as well. Here are some guidelines for article submissions.

  • Text should be in MS Word or equivalent, saved as a .DOC file
  • Write your best stuff, but don’t sweat the grammar. That’s why there’s an editor.
  • Please submit pictures/illustrations as separate files, don’t embed them in the text.
  • Be sure to submit clear, in-focus photos

Club Ham Shack

West Delray Regional Park
10875 West Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33446

Board of Directors Scheduled Meetings

We hold scheduled monthly Board meetings at 12:00 Noon at the Shack on the Sunday preceding the next General Meeting.

Donations and Contributions

 

 

 

Contributions to BRARA— a 501(c)(3) organization—are tax deductible as charitable donations. As you complete your membership renewal or begin your year-end tax planning, please consider making a donation to BRARA.

Please donate to BRARA via Amazon Smiles:
Search for:  Boca Raton Amateur Radio Association

CLICK HERE TO SMILE AT BRARA

Planned Giving: Please also consider BRARA when updating or initiating planned giving (including charitable gift annuities, bequests and gifts or retirement plan assets) and other assets.

For More Information

Website:    www.brara.org  Twitter: BRARA@N4BRF  Instagram: #BRARA_N4BRF

Facebook:    CLICK VIEW FACEBOOK

Please be advised that the above are the official BRARA social media sites. No other social media sites are recognized by BRARA.

Newsletter Contributions

Got an idea for an article? Or constructive critique? Want to share club news and events? How about writing a short 30-minute project idea? Your submissions to the Radio Flyer are needed to help keep this one of the best club newsletters in South Florida.

Please send articles to   BRARA@BRARA.org

Ham Shack Access Rules

To obtain a key to the BRARA Ham Shack you must be a member in good standing for a minimum of one continuous year, hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio License, and complete a short training session with one of the Club officers.

Address

the Radio Flyer
P.O. Box 480162
Delray Beach, FL 33448-0162

Copyright and Protection

Copyright © 2019 Boca Raton Amateur Radio Association (BRARA).

Reproduction of material from any BRARA web page without written permission is prohibited.

Regards and 73 from The Shack
de N4BRF

BRARA / N4BRF Winter Field Points and Rules

Bands

  • All Amateur bands, HF, VHF, & UHF except 12, 17, 30 and 60 meters

Modes

  • CW, SSB, AM, FM, DStar, C4FM, DMR, Packet, PSK, SSTV, RTTY, Olivia, Satellite

HF CW

  • 1810-1820
  • 3.530-3.550
  • 7.030-7.050
  • 14.035-14.055
  • 21.030-21.050
  • 28.030-28.040

HF SSB

  • Lowest 30 kHz of the US General Class Phone bands (160m- 15m)
  • 28.400-28.425MHz (10m)
  • 6m/VHF/UHF – not on nationally recognized simplex calling channels

Entry categories

  • HOME by nature of permanently installed antenna system or station components

Entry Class

  • 3

Exchange

  • N4BRF 3H SFL (Call sign, Class + Category, Section)

QSO Points

  • 1 point per Phone QSO
  • 2 points per CW & Digital QSO

Mode and Band Multipliers

  • Count 1 multiplier for each mode operated per band

Power Output Multipliers

  • 2x: 100W or less

Bonus points

  • No Commercial power: 1500 bonus points
  • Remote: 1500 bonus points
  • Satellite: 1500 bonus points

Claimed Score Tabulation

  • (QSO Points x Power Output Multiplier x Band/mode multiplier) + Bonus Points

Log submission deadline and contents

  • Email before 0000 UTC March 1st

2020 Winter Field Day

Save the date 25 and 26 January 2020. 

You may signup early for a day, time and station to work by sending John.C N1QFH an email to:  wirehead52@gmail.com

Please specify:

  • Your callsign
  • Desired station to work 
  • Desired day and time slots 

Day and Time Slots

  • Any 1 hour block(s) from 2pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday
  • You may work as many hours as you can handle

Stations you may work

In HF Room

  • Station-1 ICOM-7600
  • Station-2 ICOM-7600

In UHF/VHF Room

  • Station-3 Yaesu FT-1000MP (c/o Mike.S W2RT)

Below are some helpful links

2019 WFD FOOD ITEMS

Are you able to bring a food item for 2020 Winter Field Day?

Please email John.C N1QFH wirehead52@gmail.com with the food item you can bring and THANK YOU!

2020 Orlando HamCation: Carpool travel plans

RESERVATION REQUEST

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT

If you

  • Encounter an ISSUE with the above RESERVATION LINK
  • Do not get this RESERVATION REPLY in 2 days

Contact John.C N1QFH at    wirehead52@gmail.com

In all cases you will receive an email REPLY to your reservation.

FREQUENCIES

REPEATERS

  • Orlando Metro – DMR Brandmeister
  • 70CM DMR 443.1625(+) CC-11 TS-1 TG-311037 (DEFAULT 70CM FREQ) 
  • Orlando Analog
  • 2M 146.730(+) PL-103.5

SIMPLEX

  • 2M ANALOG 146.550 (DEFAULT 2M FREQ) 
  • 70CM DMR 441.000 TS-1 TG-99

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

With this large number of people traveling in 2 vans to Orlando, please try to pair up with someone to help ensure continuity in our group and let us know if you plan on attending any speaking lecture sessions that may last over an hour or two.

Everyone will be given the Passenger Contact sheet at departure time and we’ll do a radio check in the parking lot of all radios.

Once we have arrived at Orlando, at the top of each hour we’ll all check into the 2m simplex frequency 146.55. When we begin to feel we’re all ready to stage for departure, we’ll be making announcements on 146.55 of our status report and plans. This usually occurs between 2 and 3pm with departure hopefully no later than 4pm.

If anyone needs guidance or has a suggestion or question, please use 146.55.

For those with DMR radios we have access to the Orlando DMR Brandmeister repeater and we’ll be using the frequency defined above with TS-1 and TG-311037 which is the BRARA Net TG.

Please note as the day progresses, you may hear people being advised to QSY to various frequencies and TG’s. The fall back frequency will remain simplex 146.55.

If you do not hear anyone on frequency or need assistance, please text John.C N1QFH at 207.239.0268 or someone on your Passenger Contact sheet and let them know your status.

PASSENGER LIST (Confirmed and Standby)

As of 2020-01-15

PREPAYMENT

For confirmed PASSENGERs, payment for this trip must be completed

  • No later than Tuesday 28-January-2020 @ GCARA Monthly meeting

STANDBY passengers: if a reservation opens, we will connect with you on status and payment.

When paying you must include your NAME and CALLSIGN

There are two way to pay for this trip and we do not accept cash.

  • Personal Check ($30.00)
  • PayPal ($33.00)

PAY BY PERSONAL CHECK: Mail a check for $30.00 to

BRARA
PO Box 480162
Delray Beach, FL 33448-0162

On the check please add “2020 HAMCATION with YOUR CALLSIGN”

PAY BY PAYPAL

You may use PayPal to pay for this trip.

These are the details we need:

  • Send Money to: payments@brara.org
  • Amount: $33.00 (includes PayPal service fee)
  • Nature of the payment: “2020 HAMCATION with YOUR CALLSIGN”

CLICK HERE FOR PAYPAL PROCESS

See example after the PayPal payment is processed

Links

Suggestion

  • Purchase your Hamcation Tickets ahead of time.
  • Check that your handheld radio works and battery charged 

Details

Car pooling details follow:

  • Travel Date: Saturday 8-February 2020, up and back in 1 day
  • Depart Location: BRARA Shack PBC West Delray Park
  • Arrival at Shack:  5.45am
  • Depart Time: 6.00am SHARP
  • Vehicle:  ONE or TWO 14-person Chevy or Ford vans
  • Max travelers:  12 people per van
  • Payment: expected before departure, details to follow
  • Approx fee: $25 to $35 per person depending on number of travelers
  • Sign Up: first come, first server while available seats last (HAS BEGUN)
  • What to bring: your handheld radio, water, rain gear, power bars
  • While in transit:  perform radio checks and share cell phones
  • Break: FL Turnpike mile mark 185 Fort Drum service station
  • Arrival at Orlando:  approx 9.30am
  • Staying in touch: by RF and cell phone
  • Planned return: Meet at vehicle approx 2-3pm based on QSL on frequency
  • Pickup Location: at ticket booth so you need not walk to vehicles
  • Return trip departure: approx 2-3pm
  • Break: FL Turnpike mile mark 185 Fort Drum service station
  • Arrive at shack: approx 6-630pm

Van Seating Plan

Though this will accommodate 14 people, we prefer to limit travelers to 10 to 12 people

Cost Calculations

The cost per person estimates based on fuel, tolls, van rental, and passengers.

AS OF 16-DEC-2019

 

DMR: NY Metro and TG-311037

The following is a kind offering by Bernie NY4Z to adjust the following DMR repeaters in the NY Metro area. Our thanks to Bernie for this helping hand.

Now that you have gotten your new site and TG internet connectivity I have made changes to accommodate your new talk group 310037. I have set you up as a PTT with a 15 minute timer (TS1) on the machines below which should give you 100 plus miles of coverage in most directions around NYC with a mobile radio and many of these areas have good HT coverage.

GW Bridge, NY N2NSA 443.8875 + 5.00 Color Code 1
Time Slot
#1 – Group Call TG 444 NY Metro System Wide – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 333 = DMR Plus Reflector 4604 (NY Reflector) PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 310037 BRARA (Boca Raton ARA) Local Talk Group -PTT
#1 Group Call TG-9998= Parrot audio test (PTT)
#2 – Members Only private Talk Group

White Plains, NY NY4Z 442.10625 +5 MHz Color Code 3
Time Slot
#1 – Group Call TG 444 NY Metro System Wide – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 333 = DMR Plus Reflector 4604 (NY Reflector) PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 310037 BRARA(Boca Raton ARA) Local Talk Group -PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 347639 Disney – PTT
#1- Group Call TG 31660- Ocean county NJ (PTT)
#1 Group Call TG-9998= Parrot audio test (PTT)
#2 – Members Only private Talk Group

Glen Oaks , NY WB2WAK 438.51250 -5 MHz Color Code 1
Time Slot
#1 – Group Call TG 444 NY Metro System Wide – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 1 = World Wide -PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3 = North America – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 347639 Disney – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 13 = World Wide English – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3172 = NE / Regional – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 310 = Tac 310 – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 311 = Tac 311 – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 333 = DMR Plus Reflector 4604 (NY Reflector) PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3110037= BRARA (Boca Raton ARA) Local Talk Group -PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 31660 = Ocean county NJ- PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 9998 = Parrot , Audio Test Server – PTT
#2 – Members Only private Talk Group

Mt. Beacon, NY NY4Z 441.450 + 5. MHZ CC7
Time Slot
#1 – Group Call TG 347639 Disney – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 9998 = Parrot, Audio Test Server – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 9 Local Talk Group – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 31361 = Upstate NY – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 333 = DMR Plus Reflector 4604 (NY Reflector) PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 310037 BRARA (Boca Raton ARA) Local Talk Group -PTT
#2 – Group Call TG 444 NY Metro System Wide – FT

Manahawkin , NJ K2HR 445.4250 – 5 MHz Color Code 3
Time Slot
#1 – Group Call TG 444 NY Metro System Wide – FT
#1 – Group Call TG 347639 Disney – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 1 = World Wide – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3 = North America – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 13 = World Wide English – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3172 = NE / Regional – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 123 = UA English 2 Talk Group – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 310 = Tac 310 – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 311 = Tac 311 – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 333 = DMR Plus Reflector 4604 (NY Reflector) PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 3134 = New Jersey StateWide – PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 9998 = Parrot , Audio Test Server – PTT
#1- Group Call TG 31660- Ocean county NJ (PTT)
#1 – Group Call TG 310037 BRARA (Boca Raton ARA) Local Talk Group -PTT
#1 – Group Call TG 9 Local Talk Group – FT
#2 – member only private Talk Group

You are welcome to share this information if you desire.

Regards,
Bernie NY4Z

DMR Microwave Update

Today 25-Nov-2019 Jerry W4BFL, Lew W4LEW, Jerry’s son Anthony KM4MFX and Grant W4KEK teamed up to address improving the existing setup at  the site which were:

  1. Remotely control the repeater settings and controls
  2. Improve data transfer rate between the repeater site and FAU

The following are some picture of the repeater site closet

This is the current state front look of the DMR repeater

These are some of the controls that help enable access remotely

Another view of the repeater and power supply

The 2m duplexer cans that are now used as band pass filters given we have split antennas. This arrangement resolves the intermod and desensig issues.

This is the 2m analog repeater with various pieces of gear on top.

Jerry W4BFL, Anthony KM4MFX, and Grant W4KEK discussing and accessing the repeater

Father and son debating next steps.

The front panel with various ethernet connections to one of the control devices

In maintenance and equipment room of the SS building where Anthony and Grant are working.

Another picture of our DMR machine.

After the team was ready, they split up into two groups

  1. At the repeater, finish DMR configuration to remotely control machine
  2. On the roof, swap out current microwave dish for an upgraded version
  3. One the roof, adjust dish for better reception 

Below are some photos of roof work and view.

Facing west toward Parkland. The structure on the right houses an assortment of cell equipment and has warning signs not to wander into that area.

This is the same cell housing area and the antenna is now used for 2m analog transmission. The solution to the intermod was to split the transmission from reception. This antenna was already in place, we were not using it but it was repurposed to solve a problem.

Another view facing north west toward The Shack at the West Delray Park

This view is of the transmission antenna on the left and the reception bow-tie antenna on the right. The pipe in the middle is not currently used.

These are one of our best investments: commercial grade tow-die dipole antennas. The 2m is on the left and the 70cm antenna on the right.

This is the 70cm bow-tie dipole antenna on a day that is just amazing to be on the roof. The elements face west.

Another view on just an amazing day.

This is the 2m transmission repurposed antenna that is used to solve our intermod issue with our gratitude to Erik Rodriguez KF4LZA who worked on the duplexers. He repurposed the 2m duplexers to act as input filters from the bow-tie antenna.

The connectors at the 2m repurposed antenna.

Another view and notice the 2m transmission feed line that was painted probably hardline.

Looking up at the top of the 2m transmission antenna.

The very top. The connectors had to be replaced when Erick was on site.

This is the base of the 70cm antenna feedline.

This is the base of the 2m assembly and pole holding the antenna. The chrome moly pipe is hardened and will sustain hurricane winds.

Looking at the transmission antenna on the left and the reception antenna on the right.

Looking north-north east toward downtown Delray Beach. The green water tower in the distance near the middle of the picture is the Delray maintenance facility.

This north west shot is looking directly at The Shack.

70cm antenna facing west with Boca to east in background.

The current microwave dish facing FAU engineering building roof. RT95 is in background and this is about 10 stories high.

An up close view of the current dish.

This is the white protection unit.

Taken from the microwave dish facing north, another view if the 2m transmission antenna secured to a pipe.

View of the top of that 2m transmission antenna.

2m bow-tie antenna elements.

Middle element

Bottom element

Another view of the base of the 2m reception antenna.

Upclose of that same water tower in Delray.

Getting ready to replace the current dish with an upgrade more sensitive dish.

Doing the disconnect work.

All hands on deck.

It’s off and what no signal. Had fun with Anthony when I had my Tyt380 UV and set it to GCARA PMB parrot and made a call. Yes, it echoed back and Anthony’s look of puzzlement was interesting. I did not get that picture only exists in my mind.

Setting up the right driver heads.

This is the upgraded dish with bracket begin removed because it was too small. Note the adjustments for the 3 axis for the dish.

Looking at downtown Boca.

Getting the new dish up.

Team work of course. Takes many hands

Yes team work.

This is a cell configuration that is about 3 feet from our dish. Notice south bound RT95 ramp traffic

Anthony looking at that naked lady sunbathing.

This is the view he’s looking at.

On the distance is the FAU engineering building and dish on the roof.

The assortment of lines feed that cell near our dish.

Close, very close.

Grant in focus.

Ethernet feed and connector about to be plugged into the horn.

Note the plastic water tight cap the cable passed through.

Now plugged into the horn.

Good image of the horn with ethernet connected.

Finished job. Now to make it work. May adjustments and trials and errors.

What is the end result?

  1. The DMR repeater can be remotely controlled
  2. FAU to SS dish from 39 mbps to 84 mpbs
  3. New dish was replaced with old dish because it did not work as needed

Hope you enjoyed this and our many thanks to:

  • Robert Eng W1ENG for enabling us to acquire this highly sought repeater
  • Jerry Zaza W4BLF for his many hours and time off from work to make this happen. There are so many things he as done for our benefit we’ll never know, all of which enable us to have a better environment and enjoy our hobby
  • Lew  Lehman K4LEW our repeater trustee for enabling us to access the repeater location and ensure the 2m machine is working as needed.
  • Art Lewis WA4VSK for partnering with Lew and Erik to get the 2m issue addressed. Yes Art is one of our key contributors like Jerry and has spent countless hours at the site and resolving HF issues.
  • Erik Rodriguez KF4LZA for providing his technical expertise and analysis equipment to partner with Art and Lew in solving the 2m issues.
  • Anthony Zaza KM3MFX and Grant Baron W4KEK for proving their youth and expertise and helping hands getting the project complete.

And, yes have probably missed some folks. Will add them as i discover their contribution.

73

John.C N1QFH

BRARA Repeater Coverage

Today I took a road trip looking for the general coverage area for the analog 145.29 machine and the DMR 442.875 machine.

For DMR I used the parrot TG-31000 to echo my voice message and for the analog machine i kachucked and where possible held a brief QSO.

The trip started at FL turnpike at mile marker 81 Delray Beach and I proceeded south to exit at Sawgrass and continued heading south to RT595. Once on east bound RT595, proceeded to RT95 north. Once on RT95 north, proceeded to Southern Blvd and back to FL Turnpike south to Delray Beach exit 81. This was just a big loop.

There were several pockets where DMR surprised me such as on RT595 eastbound.

The coverage area of the 2m machine was much less than the 7cm machine. I’m suspecting this is due to only 15 watts out of the analog repeater.

Overall the DMR repeater performed much better in coverage area and of course audio

For the DMR machine I could hit the machine at Lake Worth Blvd and even spots of Southern Blvd. Also hit it along the Sawgrass consistently until Sunrise, then RT595 and RT95.

The 2m machine was good from Boynton Beach Blvd to the Sawgrass and to the turnpike.

73

John N1QFH