Posted in: Newsletters

Newsletter- September

Written by John Cole
LAST UPDATED: 12-September-2020
Newsletter may be undergoing periodic updates
  • General meeting Tuesday 1-Sept 7pm via Zoom
  • Speaker: Mike Pikgrim K5MP on Groups.io
  • BRARA Aug General Meeting Minutes CLICK HERE
  • BRARA Aug General Meeting Recording CLICK HERE
  • Subscribe to BRARA Weekly Updates CLICK HERE
  • PBC Regional Parks and Shack opening status
  • BRARA Website new look and feel
  • BRARA dues via PayPal updated
  • ARRL 2020 FD – Watch for Results
  • BRARA Remote Station advisory
  • BRARA Zoom Auction – watch for details, view below items
  • BRARA Tower Climbers Needed (see below details)
  • BRARA Calendar of Events CLICK HERE
  • Contest and Special Events CLICK HERE
  • DX Operating News and Information CLICK HERE

BRARA Monthly meeting Tuesday 1-September at 7pm via Zoom conference.
Join Zoom Meeting: CLICK HERE TO JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 865 5255 5294
Password: 123456

OUR AUGUST SPEAKER

2020 Shack Status

To ensure the safety of our members, we the full BRARA Board have decided to postpone our plans until the pandemic stabilizes in the state of Florida. We all feel very strongly that our club must not in any way, however small, add to the risk of spreading the virus. We will revisit and resume our plans as soon as we are confident that it is safe to do so.

   BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUGHT

The BRARA Board of Directors are asking any person interested in becoming a Director beginning in 2021 to submit your name to Bruce KO4XL via his email KO4XL@brara.org. You may obtain more information with a quick read of the BRARA Bylaws (CLICK HERE).

 NEW CAPABILITY: Groups.io 

The BRARA Board gave the approval to roll out over the next month a new capability for members  and offering each member to join BRARA@Groups.io.  Mike Pilgrim K5MP is our September 2020 speaker and shall explain the benefits and how this tool works.

An exiting, dynamic communication tool, watch Mike explain how we all may benefit.

  WEBSITE NEW LOOK AND FEEL

Our website has a completely new look and feel. The web content now resides in our WordPress tool and leverages many capabilities of WordPress. We are still learning about other WordPress capabilities and as we discover and implement these, you shall be advised.

Some of what’s new:

  • BRARA Board minutes are public
  • Easy to use lists and search
  • Easy to use Menu navigation
  • BLOG Integration

What has not changed? Member Tool remain accessible using your logon credentials.

Why was this change implemented?

  • Minimal training
  • Most popular content management system
  • Online publishing available to everyone
  • Favored by non-techie users 

CLICK HERE to access our website 

  BRARA Dues via PayPal Updates

BRARA members now have an enhanced way to via PayPal to pay dues, make donations, and help support projects. CLICK HERE to view how that now appears.

   ZOOM AUCTION

DATE AND TIME TBA
Our shack is overflowing with gear. We have to free up space. To that goal, we’re be doing a Zoom Auction to encourage folks to place bids. The process is being fine tuned but it may be as simple as  adding your bid in the Zoom Chat. These items will be priced aggressively to move them out of the shack. Also, about 1/3 of the items will be FREE to the first person posting they want it in the Zoom Chat. These are recent items donated that need TLC and still have value but take up space and are not considered an asset to BRARA future projects.  To review a few of the items, CLICK HERE

Tower Climbers needed

GOAL

  • Adjust microwave dish if needed to FAU and repeater site
  • Install angle iron and pulley for wire antennas

CREDENTIALS

  • Proven climbing tower experience
  • References

WHEN and WHY
The microwave team consisting of Jerry.Z and others will define the exact date. We’re hoping ASAP for the IP feed to the remote station project. The tool line supports a dipole antenna and needs to be replaced with a dedicate support freeing up the tool line.

EQUIPMENT

  • BRARA has climbing harness with the latest and greatest safety hooks
  • BRARA will provide tools
  • Climbers should have their own hardhat, gloves, and boots

CONTACT
If you have the skills or know of a person who has the skills, please contact John.C N1QFH wirehead52@gmail.com

REMOTE STATION ADVISORY The next key component is to get a solid microwave IP signal from the repeater site to the shack (see above request for Tower Climbers). Once that is done, we can begin testing the process. Contact John.C N1QFH with questions.

Want to learn about NBEMS? What is it? Who uses it and why? You can begin learning the basics by  CLICKING HERE. Join us Wednesdays at 8pm on 145.29 where we practice all aspects of digital communications and yes problem solve and train. 
  • PLANNER: George WA2VNV
  • STATUS: ON-HOLD 
  • WHEN: TBA 
  • WHERE: The Shack @ West Delray Park
  • WHAT: Install satellite system
  • WHO: All able folks who can help 
  • CONTACT: Email George sintchak@optonline.net

FOLLOWS ITEM NEEDED

  • Power supply (20 amp / 13 volt) for the transceiver
  • Up to date computer to support the satellite and EME operation

VHF / UHF Room at The Shack: WEAK SIGNAL STATION 

We are looking for donation of an ICOM IC-706-Mk2g to replace the current 6 meter weak signal operation. The current transceiver is intermittent and not repairable.

If you have knowledge of an ICOM IC-706-Mk2g, please contact George WA2VNV by emailing him wa2vnv@optonline.net and let him know the details
  • Station-1 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-1 Amp being repaired
  • Station-2 Available space
  • Station-3 IC-7600 working normally
  • Station-3 Yaesu Amp and tuner working normally
  • Station-4 FT-1000MP working normally
  • Station-4 FT-897 offline
  • Station-5 TESTING STATION
  • Station-6 Various VHF/UHF radios are working normally

The following are project and watch weekly emails for status.

All project are ON-HOLD until we have the all-clear to enter the park and shack

  • Station 1 AL-82 Amp repair WIP
  • Satellite TOWER BASE installation COMPLETE
  • Satellite ANTENNA and radio installation WIP
  • Shack outside power replacement WIP
  • Repeater case and shelve replacement ON HOLD
  • Repeater microwave relocation and maintenance TBA

We honor and remembered our members who have passed

  • Frank London W1IVB
  • Keith McPhail K3SKM
  • Linda Lindeman N4JNL
  • Sidney Gogel W2FUR
  • Bob  Dobski KB8WJF
  • Robert Fox W1VEI
  • Myron Goldstein WA2PWJ   CLICK FMI 
  • Hap Patterson WA4ZLJ         CLICK FMI
  • Jackson Quarquesso KM4MFZ  CLICK FMI

We welcome the following new members:

  • WB2LSU Bruce Berenson
  • W6WGT Thomas Clements
  • K5MP Mike Pilgrim
  • KO4FUM Jose Berrios
  • WA3OPX Joseph Steinberg
  • KB2NQN Stephen Yacullo

New Membership Form
CLICK FOR MEMBERSHIP APP AS PDF

Statistics

  • 6 New members
  • 2 Pending online applications
  • 8 Silent keys
  • 124 Regular members
  • 2 Associate members
  • 26 Family members
  • 2 Lifetime
  • 155 Paid members

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.

Analog 2m

145.29(-) PL110.9 50 watts out.
Status: Art and Lew have been addressing various issues at the 2m repeater site.

DMR Brandmeister

70cm 442.875(+) CC-1 TS-2 TG-311037  50 watts out. The FAU IP is working normally.

Monday to Saturday 

7am Ad Hoc Free Net
Analog 145.29- PL110.9  


Sunday

8.00pm South East FL DMR Tech Net TG-311037
BRARA 442.875+ CC-2 TS-2  
GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1  
Wellington ARA 145.19- CC-2 TS-1  


Monday

7.00pm Voice Com Net  
BRARA 145.29- PL110.9 


Monday

7.30pm DMR BrainWaves NotANet TG-311037
BRARA 442.875+ CC-2 TS-2  
GCARA 443.350+ CC-11 TS-1 
Wellington ARA 145.19- CC-2 TS-1 


Tuesday 

9.00am Breakfast Club Net 
BRARA 145.29- PL110.9 


Wednesday

8.00pm Southeast Florida NBEMS Net 
BRARA 145.29- PL110.9 

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

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
  • Tue 8.00pm MA DMR Tech Net TG-31630 via any Brandmeister / hotspot 
  • Tue 8.00pm VT DMR Tech Net TG-3150 via CANTURBO server 
  • Wed 7.30 pm TG-3149803  Wellington DMR Tech Net
  • Wed 9.00 pm TG-3  NA Tech Net
  • Thu 8.20pm TG-31777 NotQuiteRight Net ON HOLD
  • Sat 12.00 noon TG-1 WW
  • Sat  8.00 pm TG-310035 GCARC KnowItAll Net

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 © 2020 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

             GOOD HEALTH