May 2022 Newsletter
The purpose of Georgia AUXCOMM is to promote, support, and lead emergency communications activities that support community needs. This is our monthly newsletter and here's what we have for you in this edition:
- 2022 Atlanta Hamfest - Georgia AuxComm forum
- Athens Radio Club N1D Special Event
- Ham Radio Comes to our Rescue
- Georgia AUXC Monthly 60m Net - 6/12/22
- Georgia AUXC Monthly D-Star Net on REF030B - 6/20/22
|
|
Atlanta Hamfest - Saturday, June 4th at 8am
Georgia AuxComm Forum at 11:30am
We hope you'll join us at the Atlanta Radio Club's 2022 Atlanta Hamfest on Saturday, June 4th at Jim Miller Park in Marietta, starting at 8am. Georgia AuxComm will be presenting a live forum about AuxComm starting at 11:30am. Please join Georgia AUXC Manager John Davis, WB4QDX, and PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, for the forum.
AuxComm Manager John Davis, WB4QDX
AuxComm PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK
The forum will be a high-level overview of the AUXC program, the role of Georgia AuxComm in the state, a recap of some of the recent Georgia AuxComm activations, future plans to work in partnership with Georgia ARES (all of our AUXC members are also in ARES), and a question/answer period.
IMPORTANT - We have decided to CANCEL the May 2022 online training meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, May 26 in the hopes that you would join us IN PERSON at the hamfest.
More information about the hamfest:
https://atlantahamfest.com
All hamfest attendees are welcome to attend this forum. You do NOT have to be a member of AuxComm, ARES, or any particular organization.
|
|
Athens Radio Club - N1D Special Event
Athens, GA, April 30, 2022
Here at Georgia AuxComm, we love to highlight some of the other radio-related activities of our members. Our own Bob Herrin, KE4JLL, is very active with AuxComm and his home radio club - the Athens Radio Club. During the football season, they provide communication between the Red Cross and Public Safety at the home football games. We previously wrote about that in the November/December 2021 edition of our newsletter.
On Saturday, April 30, 2022 the Athens Radio Club put on a special event station commemorating the National Championship win of the Georgia Bulldogs football team by operating special event station N1D "Number One Dawgs". Here's some images from the event.
All pictures were provided by the Athens Radio Club.
Go Dawgs!
|
|
Ham Radio to our Rescue
Lake Toxaway, NC -- May 22, 2022
This past weekend, my wife Mary Catherine (KI4HHI) and I went up to the mountains to take part in the SASQ SOTA activation of the tallest peaks in the Southeast. You can watch a YouTube video of our SOTA activation below. We decided to stay up in the mountains for the entire weekend.
On Sunday, 5/23, we were driving home from the mountains of Western North Carolina (the day after our SOTA activation of Sassafras Mountain). We decided to take the scenic route. As we were turning off Silversteen Road onto NC 281 (west of Lake Toxaway), I heard a loud bang and we lost motive power. I pulled over on the side of the road. What was an otherwise great weekend, literally ended with a bang. She pulled out a cell phone and said, "no service either". We both looked at each other and said "ham radio" at the same time.
I had my Icom ID-52 HT which is loaded with a US repeater directory that locates nearby repeaters using the built-in GPS. A nearby repeater came up and I switched over to it, but couldn't hit it. I gave her an extra HT and put it on simplex and told her I was going to walk down the road to get a better signal. We stayed in contact via simplex. I did not want to leave her alone at the car without communication. Thankful we had the second HT. Here's a picture of KI4HHI waiting in our car with our dog. (see below)
I walked a short ways away and was able to find a clearing to hit the Pickens County repeater and make contact with "Brad" KD4FOS. I asked Brad if he could take down a message and relay it via phone to a few people, which he did. Here's a picture of me making contact with Brad using my HT (see below). You can see our disabled car off in the distance.
Brad stayed on the repeater with me the whole time. I radioed back to KI4HHI via simplex that contact had been made. When we got confirmation of the tow truck, I headed back to the car. Ham radio not only helped me make a phone relay, but also allowed Mary Catherine and I to stay in contact. Glad I had two radios in the car. Here's a picture of the tow truck loading us up (see below)
Our car was towed to Brevard, NC. Fortunately, it wasn't the transmission - it was the CV axle boot. Looks like we'll be heading back to Brevard at the end of the week to pick up our car (there goes my new radio money). You can bet we'll have not one, but two radios with us.
In almost 20 years as a ham, I've never had to use it in an emergency for myself until now. So glad we had our radios and were licensed to use them.
Feel free to share this story. Ham radio really does work when all else fails.
Stay safe and 73,
Joe KI4ASK & Mary Catherine KI4HHI
|
|
REMINDER - Georgia AUXC Monthly 60m Net - June 12th, 2022 (always the second Sunday at 1400 Local)
Georgia AUXCOMM has been conducting a monthly net on 60m Channel 5 on the second Sunday of each month at 1400 local. Recognizing the growing importance of 60m as an interoperability band, we've been practicing our own skills and testing our gear to ensure we can effectively communicate on 60m. We'd like to invite each of you to participate in the net. Please ensure that you have the proper radio licensure to participate. Amateur radio operators that are General class or higher are authorized to use the band. Please note that amateur radio is a secondary service on the band and must not interfere with other services such as government agencies.
Our net takes check-ins via 60m Channel 5 Phone (5.403.5 MHz, USB) and Winlink to the tactical address GAAUXC. Most of our operators check-in using both SSB and Winlink. Winlink check-ins should include your location, power level, and equipment used. The net starts with a preamble, roll call of AUXC leaders, and then open check-ins. If Channel 5 is not available, the backup is 60m Channel 4.
Want to know more about the 60m band?
We hope you'll join us for the next net, scheduled for Sunday, June 12th, 2022 at 2pm (local) on 5.403.5 MHz, USB (Channel 5).
|
|
REMINDER - Georgia AUXC Monthly D-Star Net on REF030B - June 20th, 2022 (Third Monday of each Month)
Georgia AuxComm recognizes the utility of leveraging the Georgia D-Star Network, which links repeaters and hotspots all across the state using REF030B. Georgia AuxComm also uses REF030A as a backup. During the Winter Storm Izzy incident, it became apparent that AuxComm and ARES could work together using the network for statewide coverage.
Want to know more about D-Star? Check out https://dstarinfo.com
We hope you'll join us for the next net, scheduled for Monday, June 20, 2022 at 8:30pm (local) on REF030B. In the event that reflector is not available, please use REF030A as a backup. If you have D-Star picture capability, be ready for a special image transmission at the conclusion of the net!
|
|
GaAUXCOMM needs your support!
We have established a non-profit membership organization to support our mission. Consider becoming an early bird member with a $30 donation. We need your support so we can continue serving the community. Here's a link you can use to apply for membership and make a donation.
https://gaauxcomm.org/membership
|
|
|
FAQ and Social Media
Keep in touch with Georgia AUXCOMM! We've prepared a handy FAQ about the organization and will regularly communicate updates from this monthly newsletter and via social media outlets.
This newsletter is our primary official communication outlet. If you're getting this newsletter, then "you're on the list". Feel free to share this newsletter.
Other information sources include:
Website
https://gaauxcomm.org
FAQ
https://www.gaauxcomm.org/media/GaAUXCOMM-FAQ-Version12-2020-April.pdf
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/georgiaauxcomm
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtgAs5ps7IZI-zSRPMZqiA
Twitter
https://twitter.com/gaauxcomm
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/georgiaauxcomm
Please direct all general questions and press inquiries to Georgia AUXCOMM PIO Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, at joe.domaleski@gaauxcomm.org.
###
|
|
|
|
|
