Remembering Darrell Penrod

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We think of our friend Darrell Penrod – K9MUG (SK) often. Members of the group has a million stories about Darrell.

One thing Darrell loved was to design and implement wire antennas. He often reminded us “Any tree without a wire in it is a wasted tree”.

Well, Darrell changed his wire antenna configurations so often that he didn’t take the time to solder the joints. He just twisted them up and untwisted them to suit the occasion. After a time, the HODARS members gave this technique the name “The Penrod Connector”.

As we said, there are many more stories!

Website Launched!

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The updated Heart of Dixie Amateur Radio Society website has been launched. It will yet need corrections, additions, and other changes, but we are eager to produce this updated version for the public. Please help the webmaster by sending suggestions either by using the “Contact” feature on the site, or by direct E-mail. The webmaster acknowledges that he is not going to win any spelling bees, so please feel free to provide even these types of corrections.

Progress Being Made On New Website!

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Substantial progress has been made on the development of the new website for HODARS. In fact, the site is almost ready for launch. Thank you to KD4PK and KI4TWB for their guidance in this process. Once the site is launched, the webmaster hopes to get feedback from the group on impressions, suggestions for additions, changes, deletions, imagery used, and so on. Be “on the lookout” for the new site!

Twain720

DMR – A Live Hands-On Introduction / June 26, 2018 / Opelika, AL

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AFCRAS will be sponsoring and conducting a live, hands-on Introduction to DMR Amateur Radio on June 26, 2018.

  • Totally FREE to attend
    • Pre-registration is NOT required, but it would be helpful if you will email the AFCRAS Media Committee as soon as you can and at least a couple of days before the presentation and let us know you’re planning to attend, so that we have some idea of how many people will be attending and how to arrange the classroom.
  • Location: 930 Ave A in Opelika (Rice Realty building) / Main classroom
  • Time 7-9 p.m. (Central time) June 26, 2018
  • We will meet at Breezeway restaurant (213 S. 8th St in Opelika) for dinner at 6 p.m. prior to the presentation if you care to join us. Breezeway is on South 8th street, only a block from the meeting location.

Topics to be covered in this live Basic DMR Workshop/Orientation Program:This workshop/presentation is geared toward any amateur radio licensee (or those interested in getting their license) looking to get started in the exciting world of DMR ham radio. Perhaps you’ve recently purchased a DMR radio (and possibly a “hotspot”) but you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all? Maybe you’ve decided to “take the plunge” but would like to actually put your hands on some of the various popular radios and “hotspot” devices to help you in deciding which new toys to buy? Or perhaps you already have one or more DMR radios and/or “hotspots” but you just want to try out other brands and models before buying another one? If any of these apply, then you will want to take part in this workshop/presentation!

  • The Basics — A brief introduction to DMR (Digital Mobile Radio)
    • How is it different from analog FM?
    • What are the advantages of DMR over analog FM?
    • Basic terminology you’ll hear when using and discussing DMR radio
    • Getting your DMR ID number
  • DMR radios
    • Radio models from various manufacturers will be shown
    • Things to consider when selecting and purchasing a DMR radio
  • “‘Hotspots,’ and ‘Nanos,’ and ‘Zumspots’… Oh, My!”
    • Affordable devices available for giving your DMR radio access to the DMR network from almost anywhere
      • No DMR repeater within range of your radio? No problem!
      • Usable anywhere there’s internet or wi-fi available
      • Excellent for use on-the-go, at home, at work, in your car, from a boat… your imaging is the only limit!
  • Hands-on (Playtime!)
    • Experience is the best teacher!
    • Grab one of the demo radios on-hand
    • Actual QSO’s between attendees using hotspots on-hand and a local repeater

If you plan to attend and already have a DMR radio and know how to program it, you are encourage to program at least one channel in your radio for the following and bring it with  you, especially if you are willing to let other attendees try it out:

  • Frequency: 442.175(+) repeater (standard +5 MHz offset)
  • Talkgroup: 310023 (East Central AL DMR Talkgroup)
  • Timeslot: 2
  • Color Code: 1
  • For more fun during the hands-on part of the workshop, also add a second channel with the following:
    • Frequency: 442.175(+) repeater (standard +5 MHz offset)
    • Talkgroup: 311342 (Columbus Area DMR Talkgroup)
    • Timeslot: 1 (*** Using timeslot 1 for this channel will allow demonstration of simultaneous QSO / dual timeslot feature of DMR repeaters ***)
    • Color Code: 1

This program is being sponsored and conducted by the Alabama Frequency Coordination & Repeater Advancement Society (AFCRAS). Provider of modernized, convenient frequency coordination services for the Alabama Amateur Radio community, and to education and sharing of information between hams, all for the purpose of carrying out our mission to make ham radio in Alabama more even more exciting and enjoyable.

DMR Repeater in Auburn/Opelika

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DMR 70cm Opelika/Auburn area repeater went online this morning! It is fully operational and working well.

It is the KK4ICE 442.175(+) machine (DMR ID 310023) located in the Gold Hill Community, just north of Opelika/Auburn, and southwest of LaFayette. The analog FM Mastr II was pulled out of service and replaced with this full-time, dedicated DMR machine. Clear QSO’s already being conducted from locations such as Tuskegee and Opelika.

The repeater is a Fusion DR-1X converted to DMR using Zimmerman’s newest modem board – the STM_32 — attached to a Raspberry Pi. The repeater antenna is a 16-element Andrews mounted at the very top of a broadcast tower, so it has a nice coverage area. TS:2 CC:1 is “static” linked to Talkgroup # 310023, which serves as the “East Central Alabama DMR TG.”

There is discussion of making Timeslot 1 a static DMR link to the Columbus area repeater group using TG 311342. Both timeslots will accept dynamic/PTT links; however, it is asked that if you wish to do a dynamic/PTT link to the Columbus group, please program your radio’s codeplug to do so on Timeslot 1, using CC:1 (blue.)

 

 

 

 

 

We’re about to fire up a few new goodies…

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You might want to bookmark this site and start dropping in even more often. We are about to start posting more content (including some video content), and exciting things are taking shape for us. Some of that involves further upgrades to our repeater system, although the exact timing of those upgrades depends on the timing of some of the necessary work being performed by contractors, which we don’t have direct control over. Still, the Spring and Summer of 2018 is shaping up to be very exciting, so drop in often and see what’s new and what’s next!

HODARS Ham Store

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Just added, the HODARS Ham Store, through association with Amazon.com. HODARS will receive a small commission on purchases through our store outlet. All proceeds will go to the club to help with future projects. Link to store page is at top of main page.

Thank you for your support.

 

 

New Photo Album – Filling The Pit

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There is a new photo album in the link at top of page. We call it filling the pit. Photos of construction and installation of our US Towers motorized crank up tower and Tenadyne Log Periodic antenna. There is a slide show of the photos on right side of page.

April Meeting

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April meeting was held on Wednesday, April 13. Richard, AI4RY presented program on WSPR setup for the HODARS club station.

The project is progressing nicely and will be complete soon. The station is receiving and sending signals all over the world.

Dick, K4IQJ is working on building a switch so we can switch the WSPR station over the the Beverage antennas.

It was great seeing all of the members who came tonight.

Finally back!

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It has been a busy, hectic year and few months for Admin. Health issues, work, etc. Lots has happened, our club lost one of our dearest members and one of Admin’s close friends in October 2014. Darrell Penrod, K9MUG passed away suddenly and he is so very missed.

HODARS has added another tower and antenna, thanks to generous donations from two area hams.

A US Tower Model TX-472 and a Tennadyne T-12 log–periodic antenna. These were donated by Ted, W4DUF and Jimmy, AE4HF. So very generous of them. We are enjoying them immensely. Photo albums later.

73 for now,

AA4YL

Scheduling Requests for W1AW/4 For Operating Slots Open March 1

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To: All Amateur Radio Operators in the State of Alabama
 
Probably every ham operator in the state is aware that this Special Event is currently happening.  Notices have been sent to all of the clubs statewide and announcements have appeared on the ARRL website and also on the Alabama section of the ARRL website.
 
The Alabama Contest Group (ACG) has been tasked with organizing W1AW/4 operations within the state and work has been in progress towards making that task successful since late last year. 
 
To that end, the ACG is pleased to make the following announcement:
  
THE “W1AW in AL” SECTION OF THE ACG WEBSITE IS NOW UP AND RUNNING AND WILL BE READY TO TAKE REQUESTS FOR OPERATING SLOTS COMMENCING 01 MARCH, 2014!!!
 
Remember, this event is open to ALL amateur radio operators in the state of Alabama. No club or League membership is required.
 
Here are some items of interest to keep in mind:
 
Each state has been assigned two 1-week periods for this event. As a reminder, the dates that have been assigned to Alabama are:
 
First Week: Starts at 0000Z 04 June  and ends at 0000Z 11 June, 2014
                (Local time 1900 03 June and ends at 1900 10 June, 2014)
 
Second Week – Starts at 0000Z 15 October and ends at 0000Z 22 October, 2014
                      (Local time 1900 14 October and ends at 1900 21 October, 2014)
 
The website for the Alabama Contest Group is alabamacontestgroup.org 
 
On the ACG website there is a menu item entitled “W1AW in AL”.  Clicking on this menu item will yield several choices.  The items that will likely be of most interest are “How to Request Op Time” and “Op Schedules”.
 
Clicking on the “Op Schedules” tab will give you two options: time slots during the operating period in June or time slots during the operating period in October.  
 
Here you will find the June Op Schedule broken down hourly by band and mode. This is a very large breakdown so you will need to use the “Previous/Next” button in the lower right hand corner of the page to page through all the available time slots.
 
If, when looking at the Op Schedule, you see a call sign in one of the boxes, that means that particular time slot for that band and mode has already been reserved and you will need to pick another time slot and/or mode.
 
Requesting time to operate W1AW/4 from your home and/or club station is a simple process.  To make your request, follow the steps described below:
 
Three stop process:
1.  Find an open Date/Time/Band/Mode slot you would like to reserve for your use as Control Operator of W1AW/4.
2.  Submit a request for your desired slot to the schedule coordinators
3.  Wait for confirmation from the schedule coordinators that your desired slot has been reserved for your use.
 
How to do it:
To facilitate this process a few links (pages) have been set up here on the site.  To find open operating slots click on Op Schedules.  On this page you’ll find links to the dates available for W1AW/4 in Alabama.  Click on the desired operating period (June or October).  A table with All Operational Slots for that period will open.  Use the search window at the top of the page to find a slot available.  You will know a slot is available if the Control Operator field is blank.
 
Once you identify an open slot, jot down the information, i.e. the date/band/mode/time block.  Then click on the link at the top of the Op Schedule page to “generate request.”
You’ll be taken to a form.  Fill in the form with the requested information.  Once complete, click “Submit.”
 
That’s it.  An email will be sent automatically to the Schedule Coordinators.  Once they approve your request, your call sign will be placed in the Op Schedule indicating the slot is reserved.  In the unlikely event that your requested slot is already reserved (but the schedule not yet updated) you will be notified ASAP.
Please let us know if there are questions/confusion related to this process!  To do so, use the “Contact Us” link in the main navigation area of the web site.
 
Although the slots are broken down into one hour increments that doesn’t mean you can only request a one hour operating time.  If you have the desire to operate 4 straight hours on 40 meter SSB then just submit your request that way. There is a box on the request page that allows you to to request a 1, 2, 3, or 4 hour operating slot.
 
Also, keep in mind that these time slots are in GMT(Zulu) time.  During this Special Event we will be in Daylight Savings so our local time will be 5 hours earlier than GMT.
 
Some other points to keep in mind:
 
Although this is not a contest, the goal is similar: make as many contacts as possible when you’re operating.  The only exchange required between stations is a signal report and your state.  Anything else you want to add to your contact is up to you but it is suggested to keep contacts short because the pile-ups on these Special Event stations so far have been fairly large.
 
Also, you must use a computer logging program to record your contacts because all contacts will be uploaded to the LOTW website.  No paper logs will be accepted.
 
Additional instructions can be found on the Alabama Contest Group website but if you still have questions about anything concerning this event, please feel free to  use the “Contact Us” link in the main navigation area of the web site.
 
Good luck and have fun.
 
73, Tom Schwinn, W4NBS
Secy, Alabama Contest Group

Fun Meeting

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Great to see Dick, K4IQJ; John, WB4LNM; Tom, KE4KW; Reta; Darrell, K9MUG; Bob, KD4PK; Richard, AI4RU;  Bob, KA4PKB; Gene, KI4EEY; John, KI4KUT and guest, Scott, KC4Z.

Good meal at Outback prior to meeting, with a fascinating program later with Dick, K4IQJ at the Health Resource Center building.

We briefly discussed the W1AW/4 operation and future club meeting programs.